An Arm and a Leg vs. Peace of Mind. Catfish, Shrimp and Bleeding Hearts.

Back sometime in the 80's a friend of mine was laying on his bed, underneath a skylight watching TV. Some high winds blew in, not unusual in Virginia Beach, and toppled a tree in the next yard.
The whole tree fell on my friends house and a huge branch came right through the skylight and speared the bed right next to him.
Aside from needing a clean pair of pants and a good stiff drink, my friend was fine. Nerves were rattled for a few days, but he was fine.

To this day, I have a huge fear of high winds when I am near trees. So when we built this house we were going to build it further back on the property. What is now our house started out as a garage. It was going to be a nice big garage. One room.
But sometimes the best laid plans change.
What we started building as a garage became over time our house. We keep adding onto it and it ended up on one side right under a couple of trees that started to lean...and lean...and lean.
Until I found myself a nervous wreck everytime the winds would blow.
So this is what happened around here this past week...
He took the first one down little by little using the bucket truck.


TIMBER !! This one he pulled down using cable and the truck as a pulley.


Right where he wanted it to land..YAY !!

Tree Service for 2 Trees- 450.00
Trees Down in Yard- lots of clean up work
No More Frazzled Nerves- Priceless

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A Few Pics...

Bleeding Hearts


Lunaria or Honesty or Silver Dollar Plant...This is why it's called silver dollar Plant.....when dried...

Tarragon...I like to plant herbs in cinder blocks at the ends of my garden beds...

Broccoli in the greenhouse....
An apple tree I am growing from an apple I ate last year...
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I made some catfish and shrimp the other night.
My new breading mix;
Crushed potato chips
Panko bread crumbs
Bayou Blend Seasoning or Seafood seasoning
egg
1/2 c. water
1 lb. fish fillets, I use catfish
1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and butterflied.

2 cups peanut oil.

Heat oil in wok or frying pan.

I just eyeball how much. About half and half on the chips and bread crumbs.
About a tsp. of seasoning. Mix together.

Put egg and water in large bowl and stir. Put fish fillets in egg mixture and coat letting excess drip off.
Roll in crumb mixture.

Place in hot oil and fry until golden about 3-4 minutes per side.
Do same with shrimp, but fry about 1-2 minutes.

Drain well.

Biga** Hot Pockets

Larry calls these Bigass Hot Pockets. He is so funny. He renames things all the time.
I just call them,

Easy Chicken Turnovers.

2 pie crusts. (Homemade or store bought).
1 Tbl. Olive oil or canola oil
2 chicken breasts.( Boneless skinless is fine, but bone in has more flavor when cooked).
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
a nice sprinkle of sea salt or 1/4 tsp regular salt
3 nice carrots chopped. (about 1 1/4c)
4 medium potatoes cut into bite size pieces.
1/2 can of peas, fresh or frozen or canned.
2 cups of chicken gravy. Thick. Homemade or store bought.

I use bone in chicken with the skin on because it has a lot more flavor when cooked and makes a good gravy. Season chicken with seasonings and cook through, about 15 minutes on the skin side then turn over for 10 minutes on the back side. If you are using boneless skinless, cut into chunks first and pan fry until all pink is gone. About 5 minutes.

Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
(If using homemade gravy, use chicken drippings to make a gravy at this point and steam potatoes and carrots in a small amount of water, in another pot just till done, then add to gravy, I am using gravy I had left over from a previous meal). Take pie crust out of fridge so it can come to room temperature.

Add potatoes and carrots to skillet with a small amount of water and cover to steam, While veggies are steaming cut chicken up into chunks if on the bone, give skin to dogs.
Add gravy and peas to steamed veggies, stir well.
Add chicken chunks. Turn off burner and preheat oven to 375'.




Unroll 1 dough and fold gently in half to make a crease so you can see where the middle is. Lay out flat on cookie sheet.

Spoon filling onto one half and gently fold dough over and crimp edges.



Poke a few fork pokes into to to let steam out while baking. Lay the second dough next to the first, fold and crease, open up so half lays over onto 1st dough, fill, fold over and crimp, poke with fork.Place onto center of rack and bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes before cutting.

I like to serve with a salad and applesauce.
You can also make this with chicken, potatoes,broccoli and cheese.
Or ground turkey, onions, peppers, pinto beans and cheese.
Or Turkey pastrami, drained sauerkraut and swiss cheese. Sprinkle 1 Tbl. of flour on crust before filling to soak up any moisture from sauerkraut.

What Our Boys Eat - Recipe

(Don't forget to enter my HUGE blog follower Love Giveaway, it's around here somewhere. New stuff added daily to the box.)

When we first got Jack he was a mess. Scared of everything, would pee himself in his sleep, would not go to Larry when we would come home from being off until Larry would sit down, seemed a bit depressed.
We got him from a couple that have a few Jack Russells for sale now and then and we had originally called them about buying a pup. When we got out there, Jack was in a fenced area along with a little puppy. Jack was older almost 2 and they said he had been brought back from the previous buyers.

We brought him home. We knew someone would take the cute tiny puppy, but we were not sure Jack would get a home.

His coat was very coarse. And he smelled a bit. Even after a bath.
So I started making his food. And after last years scare over pet food from China making pets sick and even killing some pets...well I'm really glad I make the boy's food now.
So I thought I would write what I do. I also make treats for them. And the next time I get out the cookie cutters and roll out the dough, I will post that also.

But here is their basic every day food.
I feed them twice a day. They are very high energy dogs so they get their main meal in the mid morning and a bit more when we eat dinner. I really believe dogs view us as a "pack" and I think it is important that when Larry and I eat our dinner we eat it as a "pack", I think this helps us in the bonding with our boys. (No we do not all sit at the table together, we all eat on the floor...kidding)

Turkey and Brown Rice with Vegetables

2 lbs of ground turkey, browned in 1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cup of dried soy beans (soaked in 2 cups of water overnight) - or you can use 2 cans of great northern or red beans or chick peas
2 lbs brown rice, I never use white rice for anything
1 lb of carrots- cut into bite size pieces. You can also use brocolli, zuchinni,spinach.
Enough broth or water to cover everything

Heat olive oil in large pot.
Brown turkey in oil till just done.
Add rice and stir till coated with oil.
Add dried beans if using dried. If using canned put in at end.
Add enough broth or water to totally cover all about 5-6 cups.
Bring to a boil, cover turn down heat and simmer about 20 minutes, add veggies and simmer 20 more min.
Keep an eye so that water does not evaporate and so that rice does not burn. Add more water if needed.
When time is up, stir in canned beans if using canned. Let cool and bag up to freeze.

I also stir in a spoonful of cottage cheese when I put the food into their bowl. This helps in digestion, plus they are cheese freaks and love it. I also add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast when I feed them.
When I make soy milk I save the pulp and use that instead of the dried beans.

Our boys have bright eyes, soft shiny coats and play all the time. They are muscular, but not fat.
They love their meals. And Jack, well Jack is the most well behaved, loving sweet boy. He no longer cries in his sleep,doesn't pee in his bed, actually smells pretty good, have a soft shiny coat and acts like a young pup.

Ricky Pickles checking the soy bean bin.

Lemonycello and the Blueberry Pancakes

We had a Pancake Day here at the homestead. Blueberry pancakes actually.
This past Tuesday was Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday. The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins.
In many countries Shrove Tuesday is the day of parades and much merriment as Lent is observed with abstinence. The reason for pancakes is that religious families abstaine from eggs and dairy begining Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. So in order to use up all the eggs, milk and butter...PANCAKES !
I no longer observe Lent, however always the one looking for a good excuse to make pancakes (actually I make them at times with no excuse whatsoever..) I thought Larry and I would join in with Gusto.
Gusto being the Lemoncello of a previous posting.

Years ago (don't ask how many) I hitch hiked out to CA and ended up in Venice Beach. Every week some friends I stayed with would treat me to brunch at a little German restaurant. And every week I would have German pancakes. Very thin, crispy around the edge, rolled up with powdered sugar and lemon sprinkled on. I would butter those babies up, pour on the maple syrup and thank the carballicious Gods for putting me in that exact spot in that exact moment.

Ever since, whenever I have made pancakes, I sprinkle them with lemon juice, in memory of that time. Plus I just love them that way.
Well, this past week when I wrote my Lemoncello post, a friend of mine suggested drizzling vanilla ice cream with it. And I will be doing that very soon. But now I was making pancakes, and I had no fresh lemons and then I remembered what she said about drizzling it...HEY, I know,
add it to the soy milk to make buttermilk for the pancakes, stir it into the syrup....the ideas were bombarding my brain.

And I did it, I stirred 2/3 c of maple syrup together with a tablespoon of Lemoncello, and I added one tablespoon to a cup of soy milk for the blueberry pancakes and then I thanked those carb Gods all over again.

Suet cakes are a hit, plus a recipe for Orzo

Just take a look at these crazy Cardinals. They are cuckoo over suet cakes.


There are 5 couples that have all but hogged the suet cake in the past few days. We had three couples that have been here for years but there are more that have moved in.
this picture was snapped from inside the house. Look how fat these females are hahaha\

Thats also a bird feeder with seed inside leaning up against the house. The suet cake is inside the red onion bag. well whats left of it.Going to put a fresh one out tomorrow as the snow is still falling and it is hard for them to find food right now.
I took this pic out my studio window across the whole yard about 70 feet. Love that "zoom" feature on my cannon Powershot.


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Have you ever had Orzo?



It is a rice shaped pasta. A good alternative to potatoes, regular pasta or rice.

Here is a recipe I made up. Now I did not measure so I have to "guesstimate".




Orzo with Whatever

About 3-4 cups whatever veggies you have on hand. I used fresh cauliflower, green onions, mushrooms, baby carrots, yellow onions, frozen artichoke hearts, and frozen asparagus.(squash, green peppers, and spinach are good if you have any)
3 Tbsp. Olive oil ( or canola)
3 C. fresh chicken broth or 2 cans (14 oz. fat free)of broth
2-3 C. water
1 Tbsp.Chicken bullion ( this is all the salt I use, what"s already in the bullion)

2 nice size boneless skinless chicken breasts (shrimp or pork are good too)
1/2 lemon
1/4 white wine --optional ( I use white zinfandel as that is what I usually use, or any white wine is fine...but it is optional)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 nice bay leaf
Some ground pepper
12 oz. Orzo
Fresh Parmesan to sprinkle over top
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1. Cut veggies into bite size pieces.
2. Heat up 1 1/2 olive oil in dutch over or very large skillet.
3. Saute' veggies, longest to cook to fastest cooking. just till tender.

While cooking,
4. Cut chicken breast into bite size pieces.
Season with garlic powder and a couple grinds of pepper.



5. Remove veggies into large bowl.
6. Put pan back over heat, add other 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil and saute chicken breast.
When just done on all sides ( about 5 min.)
7. Stir veggies back in.


Pour in all broth and water and bullion. Add any herbs you like in stew I had bay leaf, oregano (just a bit) is good.

8. Bring to a low boil.
9. Stir in Orzo. Halfway cover and set timer.





Cook about 8 min... test that orzo till al dente' that means "just done".
Stir in wine if using, and lemon juice.



Turn heat to low and fully cover till most liquid is absorbed. Dish into serving bowls or platter. Sprinkle with fresh ( or packaged) Parmesan cheese.

3 Day Coconut Cake...Yeah Right.

I love coconut. Gosh, I love just about everything....and that can be a problem and a blessing.
Take this cake for instance. I have been making this for years. The name of it is '3 Day Coconut Cake'. "3 day" because it's actually SUPPOSED to SIT for 3 days before you cut into it.
Therein lies two problems. This cake has never in the 30 years I've been making it, sat for 3 days until being cut into.
Should it sit for 3 days? Yes.
It gets better and better with each passing hour.
The flavor of the coconut permeates the cake and the frosting and it is so much better than Pepperidge Farm Coconut Cake. Which, for store bought cake, I actually like.
But this 3 Day one, I love.
A problem and a blessing.
A problem because I do not have people around to share this with right now, only Larry and I in the immediate, half snowed in, area.
Our neighbor came by and plowed our driveway the other day, but he is getting married soon and is on a big diet.
So it is just us to eat this.
Guess I should not have made it...yeah, right.

3 day Coconut Cake

You're going to mix the filling the night before so plan accordingly. It is worth it.

Your best recipe for a yellow or white or whatever kind of cake you like. Or a cake mix. I use a yellow cake recipe. Lowfat is fine.
But use coconut milk if you can for the liquid. NOT 'Pepe Lopez' cream of coconut. Just plain coconut milk in the can like you would use for a curry. Or just use water.

14 oz. Unsweetened coconut if you can get it. I used sweet.
1 cup sour cream- lowfat is fine.
1 cup white sugar or sucanet or raw sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
12 oz.container frozen whipped topping, thawed- lowfat is fine.

Night before you bake the cake, Mix half the coconut with the sugars and sour cream. Cover and stick in the fridge. Chill over night.
Next day :
Bake that cake however you do. but use a bundt or tube pan or 2 8" round or square pans and cut the tube or bundt into 3 layers. If you do the 8" pans cut each into 2 layers.

Cool completely. Cut into layers.
Remove 1/2 cup of filling and put in bowl, set aside.

Smear filling between layers.

Fold whipped cream into reserved sour cream mixture. Fold gently. Then frost that cake.
Take the rest of the coconut and sprinkle all over cake. Keep in the fridge. Covered.
Now see if you can wait 3 days. (wait at LEAST till late in the evening, 10 hours if you can)

There is a season...

Fall. I love it. When the air turns crisp and the sweaters come out. I love to smell bon-fires and drink hot coffee outside. I enjoy watching the squirrels so busy at stocking up. I close my eyes and smell the aroma of homemade apple pie.


We live in the woods and there is no better show than looking out your window and seeing this.....



Time to pick the last of the tomatoes whether they are ripe or green....

Winter squash almost ready.....

The woodstove is keeping us cozy inside, nice to smell the smoke when you go outside from the chimmney....

Wood is all laid in and ready to go....

Dahlias are putting on a grand display before sleeping for the winter....

Castor bean seeds are ready to harvest....

Last of the gherkins ready to pickle....



And at the end of the day, you come in the house to a great meal of Lentil stew and cornbread....
* 2 large onions
* 2 big handfulls of baby carrots or 3 big carrots chunked up
* 3 TBSP olive oil
* 1 bay leaf
* 2 cans of chicken broth
* 2 cans of water (use the broth can)
* 1 and 1/2 c. brown lentils
* 3-4 potatoes, cut into chunks
* 2 chicken breast cut into chunks and season with a couple sprinkles of garlic powder
* 1/4 tsp. of tumeric
* Salt, pepper

Directions

1. Peel and dice onion
2. Peel and dice carrot
3. In large pot, heat 1 TBSP olive oil, stir in carrot and about 1/3 of the onions untl onions are ‘glassy’
4. Add bay leaf and chicken broth
5. Add lentils, cover, cook for approx. 30 min. at low heat.
While thats cooking....
6. Wash, peel potatoes, cut into cubes
7. Using 1 TBSP olive oil, saute potatoes and 2/3 of the onions until onions are glassy
8. Sprinkle with tumeric
9. Stir until evenly covered
10. Add to the lentils
11. Cook another 10 to 20 minutes or until both lentils and potatoes are almost soft
12. Wash chicken breast, pat dry, cut into cubes.
13. Heat remaining 1 TBSP olive oil to fry chicken at medium heat, turning with spatula till cooked
14. Throw into pot with the potato/lentil mixture
15. Now, season the mixture with pepper and salt.
16. Serve with cornbread or home made bread and some butter.

Fried green tomatoes...yum

88888
There are ways to pick end of the season tomatoes and store them for use in the fall and into the winter.
There are also varieties made for long storage ie:'Long Keeper'

I always pick the green ones around this time for frying up. We love Fried Green Tomatoes.
Here is a favorite recipe.

2 large green tomatoes
1 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Cannola oil for frying


DIRECTIONS

1. Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.
2. Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
3. In a large skillet, pour cannola oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

Also the Movie 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' is one of my all time favorite movies. You could rent the movie and make up a batch of these and be set.


Oh, does anyone besides me see a pattern here?