The End of 2011

    So we are at the end of another year, 2011 wasn't so bad but I'm never sad to see a year end.  A new year means a fresh start, just like the dawn of a new day means a fresh start.  I do not make resolutions because I never  keep them but I do make plans.  Last year I wanted to teach myself some things and I did get every one on my list done!!
   This year I have a new plan, and it's a BIG one because it will effect many things in my life,  but it's a simple plan too.  I am going to cook something different for dinner everyday.  The reasons I have decided to do this are simple.
   1. Blaze has Asperger Syndrome a form of Autism.  He has a very hard time with change and trying new things so this is going to be a learning experience for him!!
   2. I love to cook but I am a picky eater myself so if I'm going to make Blaze try new things I'm going to have to do it myself!!
   3. It will get rid for the boxed easy to make foods that I KNOW are bad for us.  Cooking from scratch takes longer but is much more healthy.
   4. I will blog more. 

     I already know that somethings will be cooked more than once when it comes to side dishes( Blaze couldn't make it through a year eating Mashed Potatoes just once) and my husband said "what about chili"? so my answer to this is lunch will be exempt from this experiment.  Also I don't cook everyday when Blaze goes to his grandparents Keith and I go out to eat.  So this is part one of  my plan for 2012, part 2 has to do with the garden that went so well last year I'm going to make it bigger and better this year.   I haven't finished the plan for that yet but when i do I'll let you know.   I hope you all have a Happy and safe New Year!

Was it the Snow? or my Cousins?

   I'm not sure what happened today,  I did not get up in the best mood.  Blaze (who has the day off) woke me up before the alarm.  I went to get a cup of coffee and realized there was SNOW in my back yard Yuck!!!! But even I had to admit it was pretty covering all the branches, even the wood that was still in my burn pit looked like it had glitter covering it.
   I jumped on Facebook still not feeling very nice, but then I started reading posts from some of my favorite people.  Everyone is thinking Christmas and I realized how soon it will be here.  I had no intentions of starting this weekend but now I am feeling inspired.  I see that a trip to the Eastwood Mall and Plaza is in my immediate future.  Hobby Lobby and Micheal's and Target oh my!!!  I want to make something for my cousin's that is very me and also very them.  I think that I will even enlist Blaze so that he knows that a hand made gift is even more special than what you can buy at a store.  So I'm not sure if it was the snow or my cousin's who put me in a better mood today but either way I'll take it.

Trying new things

 I decided to make stew Friday it was chilly and I had been craving it so I started it around 9:30 it had a little of everything in it.  I slow cooked it on the stove and the smell was wonderful.  I jumped on foodtv's website just to check some recipes and decided to make some horseradish sour cream to top it off (a good choice) and grabbed some fresh garlic chives from the garden.  My husband offered to go get some fresh Italian bread but I have been wanting to make my own and it seemed like the perfect time to try.  The problem was I spent so much time trying to find a recipe I started to run short on time so I went with a crusty French bread that could be made into rolls. They didn't look like the picture from the recipe but the tasted great. I also wanted to try to make my own butter.  I bought a pint of whipping cream last weekend so I pulled out my "magic bullet" and made the best butter I have ever tasted.  It was quick and easy, but everything I have read on it warns that if you don't get all of the buttermilk out the butter will go bad faster so it should be used within 5 days.  That was not a problem, because I made garlic bow-ties and chocolate banana bread Saturday.  I know I will be making butter often because it is definitely worth the time although I need to get cheesecloth so I can be sure to get all of the liquid out. I'm really glad I tried making my own bread and butter because now I know it's easy enough and so worth the extra time.   

I can't wait to Grocery Shop and do Laundry this weekend

Bet you never thought you'd hear anyone say such a thing but I really am excited to do both.  I said in my first post that I wanted to try to do a lot of things and I am well on my way. First, I have a list and I'm gonna hit 3 stores 1 I've never been to before (D'nofrio's) but they have really good prices on meat this week so I'm gonna try them.  And for once I'd like the weather to stay cool so I can do some cook ahead meals. I think this will make my day's much easier and I can spend more time with Blaze because we really need to get started on his art classes.  As for the laundry I made my own laundry detergent this week (thank you Pinterest) and it smells so good. I didn't even add any essential oil to it. A couple of weeks ago I started to clean with vinegar/water and peroxide/water mixes so I still need to get essential oils for those but they do clean very well. I have a jar of lemon rinds soaking in vinegar for the next batch and it smells a lot better.     

New Orleans

Have you ever been to New Orleans ?  I have been there four times and I love that city, everything about makes me feel alive.  But what made me think of it today is the Food.  I made a favorite dish for dinner two nights ago and I had left over crab cakes so I made it for Thomas and I for breakfast.  On out 3rd visit we decided to take a cemetery tour from the French Quarter we booked it the night before and with it came a complimentary breakfast at a small restaurant called the Sun Cafe.  So off we went and being an egg benedict lover I decided to try one called Egg's St. Phillip.  I've been hooked ever since I even made them once on a camping trip I just prepped the crab cakes and cheese sauce before we went.  Ive looked for the recipe and the restaurant on the internet but I cant find either of them.  All of the recipes call for bread or english muffins which I think just takes away from the flavor of the dish.  So here is my recipe and I hope that if the owner were to ever find it here he would be proud of the fact that I thought it so good that it needs to be shared.  I wanted to put a picture up but I forgot untill  they were half gone oh well maybe next time :)

                                       

                                        Crab Cakes 

2 Large cans of good quality crab drained well and make sure there are no shells 

3 pieces of kinda stale Italian bread chopped into fine crumbs (dont use dried ones if you like moist crab cakes) 

toss lightly to keep crab chunky 

in a separate bowl  mix (i think this is called a slurry)

2 large eggs 

3 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped 

4-5 finely chopped green onions 

2 teaspoons Old Bay

1/4 c Mayo 

1 teaspoon dry Mustard 

Mix well and fold into crab mixture again be careful  to keep the crab chunky.

Refrigerate for a couple hours to blend flavors and make the cakes easier to form.

To cook cover the bottom of your pan in oil and heat then form your cakes you should get 12. (I use an Ice cream scoop)  Lightly dredge in flour and fry about 4-5 mins each side untill golden brown.

               The Cheese Sauce

I use 2 dry packages for the Hollindaise Sauce but  I dont follow the directions on the package so here's my way .

1 stick of Butter melted in a small pot put in the dry mix and make a rue 

3 c milk added 1 at a time bring to a simmer betweeen each cup 

bring to a boil and add 1 cup shredded sharp chedder and 1/2 cup chopped Crawfish. 

I baste my eggs because I dont like runny whites but if you like poached you can make them if you perfer then put it together crab cake on the bottom,  Then I put a thin slice of tomato (I grow my own so we put them on everything) the egg and top with the cheese sauce.  I garnish with ground red pepper for taste and color.  Then we top it with hot sauce because we like it spicy but if you dont then just leave it off.

     So if you try these and think they are as good as I do come back and leave me a comment and if your Ever in New Orleans check the French Quarter for a Little place called The Sun Cafe I promise you'll be happy you did.  They also have a burger called  "The Heart Attack Burger"  My Hubby ate one and someday I might even try to make one of those if I do I'll share it with you. 

Busy Busy

     I had every intention of getting here more but so far that hasn't worked.  In the last week we had a Family reunion on my dad's side and it went really well.  There were a lot of people who didn't make it but that's o.k.  Sadly we are not a close family 21 cousins from 7 siblings and now we all have kids too I cant even begin to give a head count on our kids.  But the ones who came had a GREAT time and our kids played non stop even though it poured on us.    We all cooked and there was enough food to feed a small army everyone took home left-overs I don't think anyone cooked Monday.

I home-school my youngest son Blaze and we started school on Tuesday,  last year we started half way thru the year and so I had a lesson plan and him and I worked very hard to get everything done every day, but he missed being around other kids.  This year we have virtual classes so he gets to talk to other kids everyday and he has a teacher for each class (yay!!) He hasn't really had much work so far because they are learning to use the program but I'm really hopeful that it's going to be an easier year for both of us. 

When I learn how to post pictures here I'll start to put some of my favorite recipes up with pics.  

In the next year

There is a lot I want to get done in the next year and a lot more that I want to learn.  I am going to try to learn to make Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese, and make my own cleaning supplies.  I want to make time to do the things I love to do.  This is the place that I'm going to write it all down because it's easier than finding a tablet.