Saturday, January 28, 2012

January Recipes

Use on Anything Sauce Makes a pint
1 C mayonnaise
1/4 C ketchup
1/4 C chili sauce (DO NOT substitute Thai Chili Sauce)
1 heaping TSP Dijon mustard
1 TSP onion powder
1/2 TSP garlic powder
2 TSP Worcestershire sauce
1 TSP ground black pepper
1/4 TSP Tabasco sauce
1/4 C light olive oil
Juice of one lemon

Mix all ingredients well and store in refrigerator. Let set overnight for flavors to ‘merge.’ Use more or less of the ingredients for your taste. It does work best, however, if you keep the ratio of mayonnaise, ketchup and chili sauce the same.

Buttermilk Chicken (Baked)
Vegetable oil, for baking sheet
Bread crumbs – your preference – I like crushed corn flakes mixed ½ & ½ with Panko.
1 C buttermilk
1 TSP Tabasco sauce
Salt and pepper
3/4 C grated Parmesan cheese (2 1/2 ounces)
1 TSP dried thyme
4 pounds chicken parts, rinsed and patted dry

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously rub a baking sheet with oil.
In a large bowl, stir together buttermilk, Tabasco, salt, and pepper.
In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, thyme, and pepper.

One piece at a time, coat chicken with buttermilk mix, remove chicken and let excess drip back into bowl; dredge in the breadcrumb mix, turning to coat evenly. Place coated chicken pieces on baking sheet. Leave space between the chicken pieces so that they crisp.

Bake until chicken is golden brown, about 35 minutes.

Rice Pudding Crock Pot
3 C instant white rice (uncooked)
3/4 C raisins (Optional – I’ve used dates, dried cranberries, dried blueberries)
1 TSP vanilla
1 can(14 ozs) sweetened condensed milk
1 TBSP sugar
1 can (12 ozs) evaporated milk
1 TSP cinnamon

Spray inside of 3 1/2 Crock pot with pan spray. Mix all ingredients and pour into pot. Cover and cook on low 3 to 4 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Stir every so often; if it gets too thick, turn cooker off and let set in crock pot with lid on until rice is cooked. Refrigerate leftovers.

Corn Chowder Crock Pot
6 slices bacon, diced
2 C. potatoes, peeled and diced
2 10-oz. pkgs. corn kernels, frozen (or 2 cans)
1 can cream-style corn
1 med. onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 small red pepper, diced
1 14 oz. can chicken broth
1 to 2 cups milk

Fry the bacon until it is crisp. Remove the bacon from pan, reserve the drippings.
Add onion and potatoes to the drippings and saute for about 5 minutes. Drain well.

Combine all the ingredients in the crock pot. Cover and cook on Low for 4 to 7 hours.

Broccoli and Shrimp Chowder
1 medium uncooked potato, peeled and diced
2 C uncooked broccoli florets
1 medium uncooked shallot, minced
2 C chicken broth
1/4 TSP dried thyme (This is also good with dill instead of thyme)
1/2 pound cooked shrimp, peeled
1/2 C sour cream
1/2 C milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine potato, broccoli, shallot, broth and thyme, bring to a boil, partially cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to blender and purée; return soup to pot. (I use my immersion blender.)

Add remaining ingredients to pot; simmer on low until hot, about 3 minutes. (Do not allow to boil.)

Cream of Anything Soup Mix
2 C instant non-fat dry milk
3/4 C cornstarch
1/4 C low-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1 TSP onion powder or 2 TBSP dehydrated onions
1 TSP dried basil, crushed
1 TSP dried thyme, crushed
1/4 to 1/2 TSP black pepper

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container.
Yield: 3 cups mix.

To make soup equal to 1 can (10 3/4 ounce) blend 1/3 cup mix and 1 1/4 cups water in a 1 quart saucepan or a microwave safe bowl until smooth. Bring to a boil or microwave 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Stir occasionally; cool.
Add asparagus, broccoli, celery, mushrooms, cooked chicken, etc. as desired. Microwave the vegetables to soften before adding.
I like to puree it in the blender or use my emersion blender to puree the vegetables in the soup.

January 15 - 27

January 15th Made it up to 70 degrees but cloudy, humid and dreary. Didn't go to church and didn’t hoof it up the hill for ice cream. Did some odds and ends of no-exertion-needed tasks.

Monday woke to 64 degrees, sunny and no wind! Still coughing but managed to set o outside for awhile. We all think it is the allergy to the dust/gravel/sand - whatever all that stuff is blowing in the air. Had I known it was going to bother me this much, I would have hitched up the trailer and headed to central TX for a few weeks – but they have cedar pollen!

My big air cleaner died; motor finally gave up the ghost. I have had it since I was in the house so I could not complain as I loaded it up to toss in the trash. I did dig out my other (smaller) air cleaner and it is working fine; probably plenty big for the RV so I'm not in the market for another one unless I can find a oldie-but-goodie at Castaways sometime.

Actually cooked and did dishes on Monday. Found my recipe for buttermilk oven fried chicken and fixed chicken breast (with skin on it!) for supper. Sure wish I could leave my door open but I can still hear (and smell) the dump trucks and construction stuff out front.

Went to bed all excited about making it up to the coffee on Tuesday - WRONG! 68 degrees, 98% humidity! Had to run into town for ‘essentials,’ so met Donna for lunch at Hammerheads and then to the grocery. Was hoping Kathy could make it for lunch. She got down here from Iowa about a month ago and have only seen her a time or two….but she is busy making beaded bracelets for some organization and doing crafts at Happy Camper park where she stays.

Love visiting with Donna; we split a Reuben sandwich basket (comes with sweet tator fries) and each had a cup of soup. I had lobster bisque....yummy! I'm sure glad I have to escape to get into town at least once a week for 'essentials' - dog and cat food, kitty litter, eggs, bread, milk! I'm getting a good case of cabin fever and if I don't get over this crap soon, I'm going to go bloomin' MAD!!!

Tuesday afternoon the temp went to 80 humid degrees and I started sneezing - and I didn't care - I had door and windows open and the vent fan going! And I’m glad I did ‘cuz Wednesday AM it was 45 degrees with 40 mph winds blowing thru! Even the dogs didn't want to go out! Normally I like the winds coming in from the gulf, blows in all that nice salt air that I like. Now they just blow in the dust from the construction. And this too shall pass and I’ll have a nice wide road to travel.

At least I got my dishes done, some paperwork sorted out and a pot of broccoli/cauliflower/shrimp chowder made. It was just to be broccoli/shrimp chowder, but I had a bag of frozen mixed broc/caul and I wasn't about to stand around and pick out just the broccoli!

56 degree fog rolling in from the bay on Thursday. Hadn't planned on boiled shrimp for lunch but took them from the fridge and started peeling the ones I had cooked for the chowder the day before (about 1/2 pound left.) Decided to eat one while I was peeling so got some shrimp sauce out; so much for shrimp fried rice. I ate the shrimp like a shrimp cocktail! ALL OF THEM! Got to the point where I didn't have many left and decided I’d finish them for lunch!

Made it up to 78 sunny degrees. Sat outside and read for awhile - you know me and a picnic table, a book, my ice tea! That's about all I need! Guess I wouldn't be setting outside reading with my ice tea if I was still at Shady Oaks! I miss everyone from up there. Too bad their winters are so snowy and cold!

The crock pot was full of potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, parsley, and dill in some chicken broth. Guess who cleaned out the vegetable bin in the fridge? Let it cook on low all nite, then smushed it up in my fancy blender. Sure do like my $2 (or was it $3!) blender! After cooking all night, I added some sour cream and milk and had a pot of cream of everything soup! The following day I added the left over fish! Good thing I'm not cooking for a family - they would have moved out long ago the way I mix everything together!

Friday brought 68 degrees with 94% humidity and very little wind....don't think it will snow today! Off to a late start; stayed up reading for awhile and decided to sleep in. Good thing ol' Caleb has learned about Li'lBit's pee papers! She dribbles all day; he pees gallons twice a day. Good thing I remembered to put down extra papers!

Someone, at one time or another, evidentially tried to train Caleb to newspapers. He doesn’t quite understand the puppy pee pads I get for Li’lBit so I have to put a piece of newspaper on top! Now, Li’lBit doesn’t understand what has happened to “her spot!” Thanks to Carole and Ron here in the park, I’m being well supplied with daily papers.

Have on-line connection problems again with the computer. Park is filling up and the wifi gets really slow! Sometimes I can't get connected at all and my little Verizon thingy sucks down here. Wish I had my old Alltel thingy back but they don't make them anymore! Naturally, something works so let’s stop making it!

Saturday morning,7:30 AM, 69 degrees, 95% humidity, NO breeze and we have a dense fog warning! Off to a good start! At least I don't have to shovel! And I didn’t go to breakfast at the activity building! My blood sugars have been running low -- not LOW - but low for me. Guess I’m burning more energy coughing than I do walking!

Sunday I was running low on some things and made a quick trip into town. I had run out of dish soap and had dishes piling up in the sink and couldn't let them pile up any longer! Of course, it cost me nearly $40 for that dish soap ‘cuz I made the mistake of walking by the fish market! I'll be eating shrimp and salmon this week!
Monday greeted me with 61 humid foggy degrees. Ran into town to get more meds at the drug store. It’s getting quite expensive to keep breathing!

Terrific surprise: Brenda called to say that she will be bringing her daughter down for some of spring break. I’m really excited. They are going to stay in my little travel trailer and use that as their ‘home base.’ Not sure how long they will stay. They will be arriving March 13. It will be nice to have Brenda to visit with for awhile.

My neighbor ended up in the hospital, needing blood transfusions. His wife has been fighting the flu. Fortunately his son and daughter in law are also here to be with him thru this. He came home a few days later. Nice to see him out and about again.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

JAN 9-15

Guess I can’t complain about spending $13 for the roast. Monday I was still eating off of it. Monday brought some much needed rain. My lungs aren't nearly has happy as the rest of me about it, but they so desperately need the rain down here! Been up since about 4 AM listening to the bands of rain come across. Wonder how much SNOW they got in north TX!

Living in the ol' folks RV park, I have come to a definite conclusion. Some ol' ladies can get by with wearing jeans; others should just forget it! They need to stay with their cute little seersucker pedal pusher sets!

Met Deryl & Elke at Jaliscos for supper. Love my combo loco platter, always enough for 2-3 meals, depending on how many chips I eat first!

Temps started dropping FAST and the winds really picked up. Was over 70 degrees at 4:30, at 7:30, it was 55 degrees! Definitely going to be soup weather.

Bought one of those roasted chickens from WalMart awhile back. Ate some of it, froze the rest. I pulled the breasts off to save for sandwiches and put all the bony left over parts in the crock pot with some chicken bullion, carrots and celery. Didn’t have any potatoes - I survived! I made some dumplin’s!

Woke up Tuesday AM to 43 degrees - 18-20mph winds - wind chill 34. Why do I always run out of propane in the middle of the nite! Out in all that wind in my jammies flipping tanks! Sure am glad I just have to open and close the knobs and flip the little lever and run back into bed!

I didn’t even try to walk up to Ladies coffee in the AM – not in that wind.

I do so enjoy my lunches in town with Donna when she comes in during the week. Tuesday HuDat's, 11:30 and Kathy met us. She pulled in from Iowa just about a month ago. Not staying in this park this winter so I don’t see her often. Glad I like the food at HuDat's! Brought home enough shrimp, veggies and fried rice for supper. Still had stuff from Jalisco's the night before. Ended up putting the soup from the crock pot back in the freezer. Can’t say I’m not stocked up with soups for the winter!

Propane guy comes to the park on Tuesday and Friday so I was right there waiting for him with my empty tank...and right behind the propane truck was Cleo on his bicycle -- as soon as my tank was full, Cleo put it in the compartment and hooked it up for me! YIPPEE! Bring on the cold!

WEDNESDAY 11TH Ah- F*#&!!!! Woke up coughing and hacking. Sorry folks but this is getting damn depressing. Thought I was on my way to recovery! 45 sunny, not too windy degrees. No plans for today. Really need to start making a list...can't seem to keep up enough energy to get my little jobs done around here. That's kinda funny - always have enough energy to go out and EAT!

Lots of sirens headed north on the highway when I had the dogs out in the AM - figured it must be a fire, private vehicles with 'whoopy' lights like the volunteers have. Just a parade of vehicles but with the fencing, can't always see what the vehicles are. Heard on the news it was a major accident, 2 trucks head on, 3 died, burned beyond recognition. I did learn one thing - loud-mouth Caleb, the dog that barks incessantly at other dogs and people on bicycles, doesn't howl or bark or whine at sirens! That's a point in his favor!

Made it up to 78 degrees but another cold front was on it’s way. Weather alert for 30 mph winds from the north gusting to 40. Moved my plants under the RV.

By Thursday, I was extremely glad I had plenty of propane! With the winds constantly blowing from the north, the furnace was going non-stop! The extra room I get with the 3 slides is really nice - unless it is cold and windy! No way to stop the wind from blowing in around those slides!

45 degrees, winds sustained at 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. At least the sun was out but it didn’t get above 50. What kills me is the darn wind. It was all I could do to catch my breath outside with the dogs - not so much congested as the wind just sucks the air out of me. Another good day to stay in and on my list of stuff to do was find my tax stuff and get it all in one place.

Guess who had to go out and empty the sewer in this wind and cold! While I was out there the wind chill went right down to the bones so I decided not to even try to make it to the Friendship supper. And to think, I was raised in the midwest and used to live in Chicago! I've turned into a real WHIMP!

Happy Friday the 13th! 32 sunny degrees but very little wind. Definitely had to get up and get moving and get some laundry done! Too cold to go naked! Left here in the AM with the furnace going and came home a couple hours later and opened the vent and the front door.

Took the last of my Christmas money and ordered a Kindle e-Reader. I have looked at ‘em (and the Nook and the i-equipment) but just can’t get used to reading books on the computer (I have an e-reader program on my laptop.)

BUT… I've heard from another 'recipe collector' there is a way to transfer word doc and PDF file recipes to the Kindle. Sure is cheaper and more versatile than that MyDemy thing I was thinking about. Cooking in an RV can be “cramped” experience! I think that is a nice way to put it! There isn’t even enough counter space for a cookbook! So, I’ve been printing off recipes as I need them, but what a waste – I just toss the paper when I’m finished – not enough storage space to keep them all, so I end up reprinting the next time I need it. Can't wait to get it and see if it is going to be as good as I hope for saving recipes!

January Recipes

SWEET POTATO PEAR SOUP (Adapted from Recipe Lion)
1 TBSP margarine
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 C chopped carrot
1/4 C chopped celery
3 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 pears, peeled and diced
1/2 TSP dried thyme
1 TSP paprika
5 C vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
1/3 C coconut milk
2 TSP maple syrup, or to taste
2 TSP lime juice, or to taste
salt and pepper to taste

In a pot, heat margarine on medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and sauté for 1minute. Add sweet potatoes, pears and thyme and sauté for about 2 minutes. Add paprika and broth. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until sweet potato is soft.

Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return to pot. Add coconut milk, maple syrup and lime juice. Simmer for 5 minutes. If soup is too thick add a little extra broth.

Season with salt and pepper, adding more syrup or lime juice as needed.

MOZZARELLA EGG ROLL STICKS
12 Wonton or Egg-Roll Wraps, at room temperature
12 Mozzarella String Cheese
Marinara Sauce for Dipping
Small bowl with water, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Take one wrap (less likely to break and ooze cheese all over if room-temp and slightly wet) and lay on flat surface like a diamond. Put cheese stick in middle, corner to corner (or slightly below).

Take the bottom corner and fold it up over the cheese stick and stick to other side of wrap tightly. You can add a few drops of the water to make the wrap stick better.
Carefully fold over the right and left corners of the wrap onto the cheese stick to completely cover the cheese. (the wrap will tear if not at room temp) Roll up the wrap.

Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until golden brown.

Fried Directions:
Wrap cheese as described above.
Heat 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat.
Add in half of the cheese sticks. Roll/stir sticks around for about 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown, and remove from heat. Repeat with remainder of wraps.

NOTE: I find they do not brown too well in the oven (watch closely) and often the cheese will start to "leak out." But the taste is still good! I will probably try an "egg wash" (egg white with a little water) brushed on the rolls the next time to see if that improves the 'browning." Any left overs can be warmed in a pan with a little non-stick pan spray and be just as good!

INSTANT MARGARITAS (Makes 8)
1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
1/4 C sugar
2 pints lime sorbet
1/2 C tequila

Rub the lime wedges around the rims of 8 stemmed glasses.
Place the sugar on a small plate. Turn each glass upside down and dip the rims in the sugar to coat.

Place 2 scoops of sorbet in each glass and pour 1 TBSP tequila over the top of each.
Serve with a spoon

JAN 1-8 -- HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

January 1, 2012 – Happy New Year!
Spent Monday in bed hoping to kick this lung stuff and really getting sick and tired of being sick and tired. Down in the 30-40s at nite, sunny but not much above upper 50s during the day – windy. Fortunately I have lots of soup made up and in the freezer & fridge - sure do like my new fridge! Kids and I nap a lot and seem to go to bed earlier and earlier every evening. It's so much easier to breathe when I am doing nothing but sucking oxygen going thru a face mask! Watched some parades and bowl games, fixed some creamed fish to pour over my left over biscuits.

Still having hard time breathing if I do anything more energetic than set and do nothing! Just wish I had some energy. I get up to do one thing and I’m outta air - oh, well, it will come back eventually - it always does....just seems like it is taking longer -- but we are in another 'cold snap.'

Headed into town on Tuesday to pick up meds and some essentials. 47 sunny, not too windy, degrees but chilly enough to keep me from walking up for ladies coffee. Met Donna for lunch at Whataburger, then went to visit Deryl & Elke; hadn’t seen them since they got out of the hospital on Christmas.

Wednesday I woke up to 62 sunny and not-too windy degrees and coughing again - just when I thought I had it under control. I think this is aggravated by allergies. Will definitely be glad when the road construction is over out front. They have all of the graders and sand/gravel trucks working in front of the park and it doesn’t take much wind to blow it in my direction. Would have been nice to have the windows & door open. I finally just decided to kick on the oxygen, put on the c-pap and go to bed!

I’d love to find some chicken breasts with SKIN on them. I hate buying a whole chicken and cutting it up myself. That’s what I like about shopping Fareway in Iowa, can buy just the breast fresh with all the skin!

Thursday was 60 not-too-sunny degrees, but not too much wind. The graders seem to start earlier and earlier, running up and down the road, on the nice days. I just stay in and stay closed up! Turned foggy later in the day so I avoided huffing and puffing up to the activity building for the pot luck. Had made a chicken casserole to take but divided into 3 portions and froze it!

Friday was another 60 degree day and I WANT BEEF! Going into town while I've still got energy! I need BEEF! Even tho I don't think much of Texas beef, I need BEEF! Also need to take my garbage out and stop and pick up mail. Ended up costing me $13 for a small roast! Oh, well...I'll just have to stretch it out!

Stopped at the little Euro Pizza wagon on the way home and got a slice of their Tuscan Veggie pizza - YUMMY! Nice size slice with lots of chunky veggies and feta cheese. Ate it while setting in the traffic line up waiting for the "pilot truck" to take us on down the road! So much for lunch!

I've been craving pickled beets/onions/hard boiled eggs for a couple of weeks! No, I’m not pregnant! I think it is ‘cuz I’m loosing all sense of taste between meds, respiratory treatments, etc., and I need some thing with strong tastes. I could give up all other foods for those things! I hadn't made them in years. I found they taste nearly as good if I just buy a jar of pickled beets and add the eggs and onions; saves me all that standing at the stove, cooking and stirring!

When I was working home health, I could never understand how the 'little old folks' could eat the same thing over and over, day after day - I know now! I'm one of them!

Oh, Saturday was definitely NOT a good day at my place. Couldn’t get the ball games! Local NBC affiliate is fighting with Time Warner and we can't get NBC on cable. I even brought the TV from the trailer back to the RV so I could hook it up to my antenna (TV in RV needs digital converter box.) No luck; not sure if it is the antenna or the connection, but I caught the games the old fashioned way – on the radio! And what a treat that was – got to use my imagination – and I could do it in bed with the oxygen going!

Saturday I was starting to feel human. Even sat outside for awhile with the dogs; nice weather - 65 sunny degrees, no wind. Sunday I walked up the hill to church without my walker! It's probably about 1/2 block and the hill isn't much - but enough that I notice it! Even managed to huff and puff up the hill for the ice cream social Sunday evening. Maybe I should have avoided the ice cream – by Monday, I was back in bed!