Peace and Quiet

Outside my window... the sun is shining now; the thunderstorm has ceased for the present.


I am thinking... that the mail should be here soon. It’s usually delivered between 3:30 and 5:00 pm.


I am thankful... for the chance to take it slow today. I slept tons yesterday due to a headache and slept again overnight, but I still feel drowsy and lame-brained.


In the kitchen... I made Cherry-Almond Oatmeal for breakfast and tuna salad to eat on saltines for lunch. For dinner, I’m thinking Lentil Salad using a cucumber from my garden.


I am wearing... my pajamas. I haven’t dressed for the day yet, and since it’s nearly 3 pm already, it’s doubtful that I will. I love pajamas; they are the comfiest clothes.


I am creating... an awesome recipe collection and perhaps a cookbook someday. At this moment I have almost 1,900 recipes on my ZipList account, a portion of which I’ve tried and approved and others that seem worth making at some point. On my Delicious account, I keep a record of and tag the “keepers” although only the ones from public sources may be viewed. (I have also typed up some of my favorite recipes from my cookbooks to have on hand in digital format, but I don’t share those out of respect for the authors’ labor.)


I am going... to push my errands back a day: the fingerprinting and the TB test. It mightn’t be wise, but the delay better fits my energy level.


I am wondering... if other people have watched the movie or read the book Under the Tuscan Sun and how they would rate them. I just watched the movie and though some of the values did not line up with mine, I enjoyed the gentleness and the humor of the movie. And of course, the vistas of the region. Florence was my favorite of Italy’s cities that we visited during my childhood. Good memories.


I am reading... I finished Carved in Bone and will go on to the next in the series, Flesh and Bone, as soon as I can stop by the library again to borrow it. In the meantime, here’s a list of the nonfiction I’m skimming through:

1. Southern Living The Half-Hour Hostess
2. Christmas with Southern Living 2010
3. Doodle Stitching
4. Magazines: Knit ‘n Style, Taste of Home, Family Circle, Southern Living

I am hoping... to be more energetic and productive tomorrow.


I am looking forward to... fall, my second favorite of the seasons. I love when the weather gets chilly and windy and seeing all the glorious colors of the leaves against blue skies.


I am hearing... the end credit music of In Harm’s Way, the ticking of a clock, and the a/c running.


Around the house... I ran the “hand wash” pans through the dishwasher without soap after giving them a cursory scrubbing by hand. Now I need to empty and reload the dishwasher to get all the dishes clean.


I am pondering... what movie to put on next for background noise. I think I’ll go for Rio Bravo.


One of my favorite things... is peace and quiet. Luckily, I’m stocking up on both today. ;-)


A few plans for the rest of the week: Back to errands. I should also plan some meals so I know what produce to shop for at the grocery store.


This journal entry is part of The Simple Woman's Daybook project.

The Struggle to Stay Awake

Outside my window... Once again the blinds are closed since the sun has gone down. Eastern cottontails and song birds (especially robins) frequent my yard, but today my attention was directed indoors.

I am thinking... that it has been an uneventful day.


I am thankful... for meals that are quickly & easily prepared. I ate blueberry-hazelnut oatmeal (my impromptu variation of Quinoa Porridge with Blueberries and Pecans) this morning (3 minutes in a very large bowl in the microwave using old-fashioned oats) & a sardine sandwich and an apple for dinner. Despite their reputation, sardines really do taste good! No lunch-- a handful of Ghiradelli bittersweet chocolate chips instead. Bad decision, I know, but I was too tired to care.

In the kitchen... Despite last night's grand plans, the kitchen is in roughly the same condition as yesterday. The trash is a little fuller and will be rather aromatic by tomorrow morning thanks to the empty sardine can.

I am wearing... the same pajamas I wore last night. In fact, I wore them all day. Too little sleep triggered a headache and difficulty keeping my eyes open. I spent most of the day sitting in my recliner in my knitting room with my DVD player and laptop going. I did launder a load of towels.

I am creating... a mansion, composed of Pinterest photos. When I was a teenager I thought would grow up to be wealthy. Now I know better! I've been recording my likes and preferences for design and decor in images with captions as if the collection would actually matter. My mansion has a conservatory and lush, well-tended gardens and grounds (porch, fire pit, fountain, a tunnel of wisteria-covered arches, etc.). The kitchen has a separate pantry stocked with the additional cooking and baking ingredients I need. Everything is beautiful, including the laundry room-- and magically clean! Such are my fantasies. ;-)

I am going... to bed soon, and I'm very happy about that!!!

I am wondering... when I'll get around to watching Under the Tuscan Sun, my current Netflix DVD. I'm usually very prompt about watching so that I'll have the opportunity to mail the disc back and receive the next item in my queue.I am reading... nothing still. If I'd had the energy, I could have stopped by the library; it's only a couple minutes drive from my house.


I am hoping... to feel better tomorrow after a good night's sleep.


I am looking forward to... getting some tasks crossed off my to do list. I hate when the unfinished hangs over my head.


I am hearing... insects' bodies clicking against the window. The moths are drawn to the indoor light even with the blinds closed. Sometimes I sing a fragment of song to them, "You keep on knockin' but you can't come in..." I am also half-watching The Guns of Navarone as I type. I love Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. Actually, David Niven is great too. (As actors-- I don't know anything about their personal lives.)


Around the house... all is about the same as yesterday since I did little.I am pondering... which pictures to share today.


One of my favorite things... is waking up refreshed though it doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like.


A few plans for the rest of the week: chores and errands and paperwork... but I will try to get to the library shortly. I'd like to pick up Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass. It's the first in the Body Farm series. I've never read any of the author's works and might not like them, but I'd like to find out. The trouble is that the library's catalog says there's a copy though in person, there isn't. I should opt for Interlibrary Loan to avoid the expense of purchasing. That's what I'll do-- good idea! ;-)

This journal entry is part of The Simple Woman's Daybook project.

Just Beginning

Outside my window... The blinds are closed because it's late at night/early morning (3rd shift). I should be in bed, but I'm excited about writing to these prompts on a daily basis and sharing the results with others.

I am thinking... about journaling. There are so many different approaches, and some are wonderfully creative. I want to find what works for me. I have used Blogger in the past and currently post to Facebook throughout the day, sometimes via GetGlue. I want something cohesive that encourages my creativity and allows me to look back to remember and reflect.

I am thankful... for Pinterest. Users there have shared links to journaling ideas and that is how I learned about The Simple Woman's Daybook. 

In the kitchen... For dinner I made Pecan-Crusted Chicken Tenders and Indiana Succotash. Dessert was brown sugared strawberries. The succotash was a new-to-me recipe which I would make again-- it's flavored with celery seeds and paprika. I used green beans fresh from my garden. Yum!

I am wearing... my favorite pajamas: 100% cotton black cropped pajama pants and a ratty hot pink knit tank.

I am creating... a card journal. There will be 365 index cards, one for each date of the year. A single line is added to one card per day with the result that I can look back at what I was doing on the same date in previous years. Four months of cards are ready and two entries are complete.

I am going... to bed soon I suppose. However, I slept 9 hours overnight then napped for another 3.5 during the day to combat a bad headache and fatigue (hormonal fluctuations). As usual, I'm out of sync with the rest of the world's time table.

I am wondering... if I'll be able to settle down and sleep.

I am reading... nothing right now-- between books. I renewed my four magazines and two library books on Tuesday, but truthfully it's time for me to stop by the library for something new instead. Not too interested in my current selections.

I am hoping... to be very productive tomorrow. I need to complete a job application for substitute teaching including ordering transcripts. Also, I want to get my kitchen cleaned up: empty the fridge of "science experiments," scrape and polish the stovetop clean, and "hose down" the microwave's interior. Lots of laundry needs doing too (towels, clothes, pajamas).

I am looking forward to... starting a CNA (certified nursing assistant) course soon. I'm hoping to get an entry level position in the medical field and then maybe move up from there.

I am hearing... the ticking of the clock in my knitting room/den (where I am at present), the soundtrack and dialog of Jurassic Park (not really watching it, but I like a little background noise), and the a/c kicking on to keep the house cool.

Around the house... the fabric squares of my first potential quilting project are on the dining room table, there are dish towels to fold in a living room chair, and my knitting room is a disaster of paper, books, yarn, etc.

I am pondering... why I am so long-winded. I do love details! ;-)

One of my favorite things... is beginning new projects. My mom calls me a "dabbler," and I admit it's true. Finishing is the challenge!

A few plans for the rest of the week: There's not much of the week left at this point, and if I'm unable to accomplish some of the things I hope to do tomorrow, I'll just roll those tasks over to the following day. No particularly exciting plans. I need to run by my parents' to pick up a check, to the bank to deposit it, to the pharmacy to grab a prescription refill, and on Monday, I have my bi-yearly appointment with the pulmonologist (sleep specialist). All routine stuff.

Today's picture is of my dinner. I do love to cook.

A Full Rich Day

I love the M*A*S*H TV series, and watch the DVDs far more often than any sane person should/would. This post title is taken from one episode of the series.

But, it has indeed been a full, rich day for me. (Or rather yesterday was-- I can't sleep and am taking advantage of my insomnia to write this, but I can't keep my tenses straight, so bear with me.)

I got to church this morning, which was great. Moved to tears by the very first worship song-- a fast-paced old hymn. I can't even say why, but it really got to me (in a good way). First message from the new senior pastor too. I'm looking forward to having him; apparently he'll start officially at the beginning of June (after leaving the church where he presently ministers and moving his family up to Kentucky). Yay! The long search and wait is over.

A good friend shared some personal information with me privately on Facebook; I was glad she opened up and honored to have been trusted.

My brother and sister-in-law are moving to a new apartment. Their new duplex neighbors are people they go to church with, and they won't have to commute any more. So awesome.

I did lots of cooking and baking as well: granola, crustless pumpkin pie, and a pseudo-Thanksgiving meal of turkey meatloaf, scallion mashed potatoes, and green beans. I had so much fun playing in the kitchen. I was singing at the top of my lungs and doing my private "funky chicken" and booty-shaking dances between chopping and measuring and stirring. It was gray & raining outside, so it was the perfect way to spend a drippy day: celebrating life, life, life-- and that more abundant! The giving thanks of my pseudo-Thanksgiving was real. ;-)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

An Interesting Day

I woke up at 5:30am to the intermittent beep of smoke alarms. The sound has a certain quality/pitch that cannot be ignored (at least by me). So I got up to investigate, figuring they probably needed new batteries. I thought I'd just remove the drained batteries and then replace them at my leisure. However, even with batteries removed the alarms continued to beep. So in the pre-dawn hours I drove to Wal-Mart to buy fresh 9-volts (and to escape the nerve-grating noise). But after I returned and installed the new batteries, the smoke alarms continued to beep!

During all of these efforts, it hadn't occurred to my tired mind that the alarms must have another power source, but a friend responded to my Facebook help request (thank God someone was awake), giving advice that jogged my thinking. So I headed for the circuit panel in the laundry room and cut the power to the three bedrooms and the hallway (which is unfortunately on the same breaker as the dining room and part of the kitchen). At last, silence reigned!

An electrician that my mom recommended is due here first thing Monday morning. I'm glad he responded to my request so quickly!

So I've spent the day in partial blackout conditions in order to have peace & quiet. I made myself tea, boiling water in a pan on the stovetop instead of using the microwave. I always use the microwave timer to remind myself when the tea is finished steeping. I set the timer as usual and then it occurred to me that if I could set the timer, that meant the microwave had power. I bust up laughing at how silly I'd been. ;-)

But no Internet! The wireless router is on a jack in one of the bedrooms. A real loss-- no Facebook friends for company, no quick lookups of info (such as garden frost warnings or farmer's market times), no emails or job searching.

And only one kitchen light-- so I made dinner in the dark: salmon with a marmalade-chipotle-five spice glaze. The glaze was mild-tasting-- pleasant but nearly bland, but the salmon itself was delish. (I've eaten so much seafood lately-- can't seem to get enough!)

And no movies! I've about "musiced" myself out listening to all the songs on my iPod that I enjoy-- I'm "full" now! I seriously considered moving the TV and DVD player into the living room where there is power. But surely I can live one day without a movie??? ("My name is Angel, and I'm a movie addict...)

I've played a lot of solitaire on my iPod today too; I'm up to $51,000+ in winnings. (Lest my readers fear for my sanity, it has taken more than 3.5 months to reach that level.)

I did some chores: dishes & laundry. I quick-read a magazine and a cookbook (which is where the salmon recipe originated). I also napped for three hours, making up for the time the smoke alarms stole.

And naturally I keep flipping powerless light switches on. Can I just say that I'll be glad to get back to normal?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Quick Account of the Day

I should be going to bed right now but wanted to post something.

I woke up a trifle late this morning because I couldn't get to sleep last night-- I was starving, having forgotten to eat an evening snack. Oops! too busy recording song snippets to notice hunger. Overfocusing again.

Had a great laugh while drinking my morning tea and facebooking-- all about wascally wabbits in the garden and the Elmer Fudd solution. Sentimental memories of childhood's Saturday mornings to boot. And amazement at the quality of those old cartoons-- great facial expressions and vocal intonations. True art!

Once I was able to get going, I headed out to the garden and put up the second grid. A robin and a male cardinal oversaw the process. I planted 2 squares-- romaine in one and Brussels sprouts in the other. I suspect the weather is going to get too warm too soon to get good results from either plant, but I wanted to try.



I still need to plant some mesclun (but I want a free-standing container for that so I can keep it right by the back door) and some pansies. Also, I should trim the excess weed fabric from the beds and PLANT that blueberry bush-- no time today, but it needs to be outdoors ASAP.

Afterward, I showered off the garden and dressed to do errands. I had to get groceries TODAY since I was out of ALL the staples-- milk, eggs, bread, cheese, fruits & veggies. (I ate some odd meals today, making do.) So happy to have cooking ingredients on hand again. My pantry is usually stocked thanks to my parents, but I can't live on canned foods and dry goods alone!

I also picked up a device that allows me to transfer digital photos directly from the camera's memory card through the USB slot of my laptop. I've been using my printer as a "router", but this device eliminates the printer from the process. For $8, it seemed worth it!

I came home, unpacked groceries, ate, and caught up with my Facebook account, then took a short walk-- I saw at least 3 plant subjects I want to photograph, but I forgot to bring the camera along. Bummer. Hopefully tomorrow.

I'm amazed at how quickly the evening flew by. I had a DVD on, but simultaneously played on my iPod doing who knows what. Solitaire, Facebook, prioritizing for tomorrow, changing my wallpaper, etc. Day is done.

A good day. Not a lot of projects accomplished, but some significant ones. Got to turn in-- my brain is falling asleep. ;-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Animal-Proofing

Yesterday I did some errands then selected a book to read while eating my lunch; the next thing I knew, it was dinner time! (It was a nonfiction health book, not particularly suspenseful; sometimes I overfocus.)

I took a lovely dusk walk to stretch out the kinks. Someone was barbecuing, and the smell of the sauce was torturously wonderful. Maybe my mom will make some BBQ chicken for us soon. (I can make it, but I think it tastes better when she does it.)

Anyway, my gardening time was a short period just before sunset. All I had the opportunity to do was to cut and secure some bird netting over each bed with the corner stakes assisting; however, I don't think it's going to be effective at animal-proofing. In fact, I may have given the cats a comfy hammock to curl up in.

I woke this morning at 4:30am, scheming about other possibilities: What if I...? Maybe I could try...? Would it work if...? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of using...? Since my brain was definitely awake, I got out of bed shortly after 5am.

It's going to be a rainy day, so I can scheme to my heart's content, but in all likelihood I won't be able to try out any plans today. That's okay though. I need to wash dishes. ;-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

St. Patrick's Day

Had a good day yesterday. Did some errands-- checked in for 6-week unemployment review, paid vehicle tax and registration fee, and bought the last of the compost for the raised beds I plan to build today.

Celebrated St. Patrick's Day by making Martha Stewart's Irish Beef Hand Pies (okay-- not great) and watching The Quiet Man (a family tradition). The movie has some really funny and charming moments. Definitely enjoyed it!

This morning I've had my tea but need some breakfast and have a few things to attend to such as filling out & mailing my census form, loading the dishwasher, folding pajamas, etc. But AS SOON AS POSSIBLE I'm headed out to the back yard to build and fill my raised beds with the potting soil I will mix-- while enjoying the "abundant sunshine" forecast for today!!!

Image source (edited):Backgrounds app
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Family Stories

After this morning's resolution, I did try to get some things done. I was able to check off all but 1.5 of the important things on my list before the evening meal (including the task of sprucing up the bathroom). I'll roll the unfinished items over to tomorrow's list.

With the aid of another Martha Stewart recipe, I improvised dinner to use up one remaining pork chop-- at least three adaptations were needed since this was an impromptu meal that I hadn't shopped for. The result was quite edible though-- braised red cabbage and slices of yellow-fleshed red potatoes with a seared then braised pork chop. A one-pot meal but the cooking did take some time. Luckily, I started early-ish.

But today's best activity has been reading three family stories that Ree Drummond shared about her brother Mike on her blog, The Pioneer Woman. She posted them one at a time which built up the anticipation. The first is probably my favorite and is called The Oyster Incident. I do love her writing! ;-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dinner Divine

Tonight's evening meal tasted better than any cheese fondue I've tried, and with nutritious vegetables incorporated, it's a definite keeper!

Portobello, Broccoli, and Red-Pepper Melts. Umm-umm good (to steal a soup slogan).

The recipe is from Everyday Food and is available on Martha Stewart's website. A garlic-mayo is spread on thick-sliced country bread, topped with broiled veggies and Gouda, then popped into the oven until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

I broiled extra veggies, so guess what I'm having for lunch tomorrow! Can hardly wait.


Prior to fixing my dinner, I took a fifteen-minute walk. It wasn't a power walk, just an ordinary stroll to enjoy the day and introduce myself to exercise. The terrain was almost entirely flat, but the two (very) slight inclines had my breathing picking up. I also suspect that I'll feel the exertion in my muscles tomorrow.

Bottom line? "You might be out of shape if... a fifteen-minute amble kicks your butt."

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Catch-Up Account

I need to wash dishes, shower, and do some errands, but I've had insufficient sleep for 3 nights running; all I really want to do is crash.

The TMD specialist I saw yesterday sent me home with the equivalent of a fat book's health reading and an appointment for next week to adjust my bite guard. I read some of the info last night, and already discovered a few new facts.

I also stopped by a branch of the Louisville public library. I borrowed some great books: Deerproofing Your Yard and Garden, Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd, and a DK sushi book that's downright amazing! Coincidentally, Ree Drummond (who's blog I follow) has posted an account of a sushi night she hosted (which I just discovered this morning). I decline to eat raw seafood, but I think sushi-making is in my future-- a wonderful intersection of art and cooking and eating!

When I got home, the garden supplies I had ordered the previous day were waiting on my front porch. I was astonished and thrilled-- now that's service! I sent an email to Gardens Alive to thank and compliment them.

I did end up with a bad on-and-off tension headache for which I took Tylenol. I also took 2 whole sleeping pills instead of 1.5 as usual but still awoke a couple of hours early-- with a bad tension headache. I took Midrin, and thankfully that seems to have given the headache a kick in the rear. Now if I could just summon some energy.

I did call the unemployment office to get information about financial assistance for medication. I'll have to go to the appropriate office and apply as soon as possible. $165 for a 1-month supply of one medication (no generic available)-- yikes!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Busy Morning

This morning I did order two more types of compost over the Internet. Lucky me, it only cost what I would have paid in a store because I had a $25 coupon that took care of the shipping. Those supplies will arrive in two weeks or so. Now I need vermiculite.

I did a load of dishes then a little cooking/baking. A Facebook friend posted a recipe for Bacon, Cheese & Egg Biscuit Cups. I didn't have sufficient bacon, so I substituted breakfast sausage. They taste good, but since I did it ALL from scratch-- even shredding the cheese-- it was a time-consuming recipe to make. By the end, I was ready to toss 'em in the oven come what may. Of course, this may have had something to do with being awake since o'dark-thirty!

I ended up having to sleep a few hours, doctor's orders not withstanding. I was so tired and so painfully keyed up at the same time.

It's funny, I've got my night stash and my plan to sit quietly in the dark if I awake in the middle of the night. But when I woke up at 3:45am, the plan didn't even occur to me. I flipped on the light switch, ambitions and schemes racing through my head, and started singing. I was revved. I wonder if the author of Restful Insomnia has any ideas for that scenario. I still haven't finished the book; I've been reading my way through it incrementally.

Image source (edited): 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-eobVPdeATMlp6JLaCKar8kgMKY9JX2ldUUgCsowbu9mhbkBzTpXiV-dtmJKoOGaiI82cd51ovEDzTwvB2r7HI2Ro21D8ATfNu_JoiMnnNEcIMrzVkTPn-5KICffiF8AKAkgYmKcFBA/s1600-h/P2153559.JPG

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Recipe & Tonight's Plans

My mom sent my dad over to my place with some leftovers-- beef roast in gravy with mashed potatoes on the side. I love gravy, but seldom make it.

She sent 3 meal-sized portions at least! So I ate one helping for dinner as is, but the next day I morphed a portion into Shepherd's Pie for lunch (Leann Ely's recipe from Saving Dinner for the Holidays). Yum! I definitely want to remember that strategy-- sauté some chopped onion and carrot, add the beef and gravy, seasoning with crushed rosemary, garlic powder, and pepper. Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with the mashed potatoes. Bake until warm. Delicious!

As for today, I'm going to apply for more jobs, sending out my resume repeatedly. (And also eat that last portion of beef and gravy for dinner.)

Then tonight, my parents and I are going to see my brother's art displayed in his church's gallery. We won't stay long-- my parents have B&B guests-- but of course we have to be there; my brother has talked of nothing else for weeks! ;-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

iPod apps are great!

I tried out a new one today-- Martha's Everyday Food. For the past several years, I've subscribed to the Everyday Food magazine, and this app indexes and includes most of the recipes. With the push of a button, I can now save copies of the recipes I've tried and approved or ones that I'd like to try but didn't get to yet. The app will also make grocery shopping lists for me based on recipes I select-- for 99 cents, I can carry a whole set of magazines in my purse. That means the next time I'm at Whole Foods, it will be easier to remember to buy fennel or a bunch of watercress and to know what I want to do with the ingredients once I get them home! ;-)

The recipe pictured below is one I've tried and liked-- in addition to the scrumptious visible components, the dish also contains roasted garlic, toasted walnuts, and a squeeze of lemon juice. It tastes like summer, but fortunately the ingredients are readily available even through winter. Plus, folks who do not have an iPod can access the recipe at Martha Stewart's website by clicking on the recipe title.

Pasta Salad with Roasted Broccoli

 

Sent from my iPod

"What's Happening?" "Good Times"

This afternoon I headed over to my parents' for "Thai chicken" which is our shorthand for rice noodles with spicy ginger peanut sauce and veggies (but we actually use ordinary pasta for the noodles). It's a Martha Stewart recipe my brother got from a friend and my mother adapted (and continues to adapt-- different tweaks all the time).

Image source:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7ZhzF6zgTfJRcwtYHOB50lcz5VwEM9zAof3Li4AGd81vFmIOCTXVtMWSn-OMFrx8xbDrDS0b_2wQfTcEnU1H51TybkyjwF4rIvSpRi_4u-YQKWOZKWdMGcfTCgzuFIWOIzTBWklJvb8/s1600/ShreddedSaladPeanutSauce_500front.jpg

My sister-in-law initiated this gathering which was made possible by a change in my brother's work schedule. They finally get one day off in common so perhaps we'll get to see more of them this year. Hooray!

Among many other things (like the Olympics-- including curling!), we discussed my brother's art which will be part of a presentation at their church's gallery this coming Friday. The theme is worship with images drawn from Psalms and Proverbs. I'm looking forward to it and am happy for my brother. This has been a positive experience for him because he's had the chance to team with other Christian artists in working toward a common goal.

My brother also involved us in the project. Our task was to write names on scrolls he had assembled to represent the tears God's people have shed-- which He notes and remembers. We're never alone in our pain and struggles. Amen! ;-)

Super Bowl Sunday

As mentioned in my previous post, I'm not into sports-- I mean, I do know that the Super Bowl is today and that it's the Saints versus the Colts. That knowledge would be difficult to escape since it's everywhere-- radio, Facebook, grocery store, etc. However, I don't have any preference at all for either team.

I do like the food traditions surrounding the Super Bowl though. ;-) So, I made coleslaw, chili (vegetarian), and maple-corn biscuits for dinner. For a snack, I made 2-ingredient guacamole (avocado + salsa verde) with tortilla chips. And just for good measure, I watched a football movie (Remember the Titans). So there we have it-- a pseudo-Super Bowl event at home for yours truly. ;-)

Incidentally, by the time I finished editing this post, the Saints had won the game.

Image source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmtip21/4304932484/
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Guess what I had for dinner?

I feel like Julia Child! Of course, it took 3 separate cookbooks to inspire me. I made a blender hollandaise sauce (Joy of Cooking) with lime juice (Recipe 1-2-3 Menu Cookbook) and a dash of Tabasco (Joy of Cooking again). Then I poached an egg in the microwave (Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight...). Really, I don't know why a single person would poach an egg on the stovetop-- this was cinchy and the egg looked just like photos I've seen in cookbooks-- the method was superbly successful. I'd never eaten a poached egg before, but this won't be my last. The hollandaise is ideal with it. Delish! I'll make it as often as my waistline can afford the butter. ;-)

Image source:

farm3.static.flickr.com/2444/3761014316_61dd9...

I like the steamed asparagus idea, but I didn't think of that-- I even happen to have some in the frige; I'll go roast some asparagus and a potato to round out my dinner.

Incidentally, I don't know why, but these recipes came together in my head sometime last night when I couldn't get to sleep. Sometimes there IS an "up" side to insomnia. ;-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Singing in the Kitchen

I was cooking dinner (Baked Parmesan Salmon Loaf) and listening to K-LOVE and WJIE (whichever station was playing music instead of ads) when God used some song lyrics to remind me that He is with me and will provide for me. I thought I'd post them so I can encourage myself (and maybe God will use these words to strengthen others too.)

Lyrics from Signature of Divine (Yahweh) by Needtobreathe--

I won't leave you alone, you say.
It will be okay.

Lyrics from Mercyme's Bring the Rain--

I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You,
Jesus, bring the rain.

Incidentally, I did notice that the latter one goes along with Steve's comment, "Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, Rejoice."

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Woke up before 5 am...

So I've already made Gingerbread Multigrain Pancakes. I usually mess up the first couple of pancakes until I get the skillet temperature correct. This morning I wasn't paying attention and used the "quick boil" burner so I ended up with a higher portion of overdone pancakes. When I finally figured out my error, I switched burners. Anyway, with the orange marmalade-maple syrup mixture (1:1) I will use on them, I suspect even the darker pancakes will taste just dandy, plus I did get some lovely golden ones. I'll remember about the burners next time too.

This morning's news on AOL: Haitian children possibly kidnapped by Christians who did not have government authority to remove children from the country and did not ascertain whether the children were in fact orphans. The grief and terror they brought those children and their parents and the misuse of Christ's name makes me heartsick and angry. I am also opposed to Voodoo as a misguided and vain religion, but who are these people to split up families and steal children? How could they think that their actions expressed the heart of God for others? Yuk! Clueless! I hope they'll let their hearts and their thinking be set straight, and I thank God that their deeds were discovered in a timely manner.

Mushroom-Flavored Creamy Pasta with Ham and Rosemary

I made a pasta sauce from a cookbook I received at Christmas entitled The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great. (The book was my request-- no one was trying to give me a subtle hint about my weight.) ;-)

I think the recipe is indeed "perfect" for a wintry day-- hearty flavor but not too hefty on the calories.

It's basically a bechamel/veloute sauce made with half milk and half chicken broth thickened with a roux. The mushroom flavor comes from dried wild mushrooms which are reconstituted in the liquids in the microwave previously (then chopped and added to the thickened sauce). I didn't have fresh rosemary, so I heated the dried herb in the liquids too to get the most flavor out of it. In addition to the chopped ham, drained canned tomatoes give a brighter, warm flavor to the sauce, Parmesan cheese adds a luxuriously rich texture, and fresh parsley perks up the color. Served over whole-wheat angel hair pasta. Easy to make using pantry ingredients and quite tasty! I'm adding it to my repertoire.