It's been a little while since I posted, and the turns that life has taken, it'll be a little while longer.
No boys in the picture. I've been hanging out out mostly at home with my doggie, but a little bit with friends.
A couple of weekends ago, A and I went to the April Fools Fest at James River Cellars winery. Three other local vineyards were there, too. We had a blast! sampling the wines from the various vitners. A picked up a couple of bottles, and, not wanting the day to end, we went to a wine and cheese shop that I know to pick up a Barboursville Cab France, because I wanted to show here what a real Cab Franc tasted like. And then some food to grill, back to my place to pick up the dog, and finally to her new place - huge back yard! Her husband grilled. Her daughter and my dog tired themselves out but running all over the place! and finally,a huge fire in the fire pit for over 5 hours! And we finished all the wine. It was great. And very relaxing.
Then, the other day, I had lunch and a movie with my grandmother, and met a friend, G, for happy hour. She's been having a time of it. She's probably going to leave her husband; he hasn't made any of the changes he said he would, and he's still cheating on her. So . ..
And then this weekend, hopefully I'll be seeing the new Freddy movie with some other friends, but that is iffy. Because last thursday, my Dad had to rush to upstate New York and hastily make arrangements to bring his mother down here to live in my folk's house.
I took off early from work on saturday to come and help my Mom clean out and ready a room for Gramma. And Dad and Gramma arrived early that evening. She is very confused, exhibiting signs of dementia. I had arranged to go to work late on monday, but Dad said not to worry. However, at 6:24 am monday morning, I got a phone call to come and stay with her until Dad got home for lunch. However, she did not handle being alone for a few hours after lunch until Mom got home.
So, after confirming with Mom, I re-arranged my work schedule so that I can close at work for the rest of the week. That means that I can stay with her in the mornings. And currently, me and my doggie are spending the nights in my old bedroom at my parents house. And my poor cat is left all alone at my apartment.
Last night, after work and the gym, I went home, made a mac and cheese (actually it was rigatoni and soy cheese). I gathered a few things, including my doggie, and headed over to my folks. I stopped by a friend's place, chilled for a little and had a Mike's Hard Lemonade, and the finally arrived at my folks.
Gramma would not settle down. I had to finally sit with her from about 10pm till about 12:15, 12:30. (I had gotten to my folk's house about 9p last night) Needless to say, I'm tired. My doggie is loving it over here, with the other dogs and cats, but he also won't settle down. And I have an interview with the DM of Barnes & Noble today that I need to do well on.
So, as you can see, my life just got busy. But not necessarily in a good way. It'd be nice to find a boy, but . . . I'm hoping I can cook something soon, but we'll see. . .
in any case. . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Roasted Potato salad . . .
Ok. I'm just posting the recipe, because I blew myself away!
6 to 7 medium potatoes, diced into 1/2 cubes
1 onion, diced and divided in half
the usual spices : Oregano, basil, dill, parsley, red pepper, black pepper, paprika
4 to 6 cloves of garlic, minced
extra virgin Olive Oil
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 large can of pitted black olives, minced
Pre-heat oven to 325 F.
In a 9x13 pan (a baking pan that you would make lasagna in), coat the bottom with oil and add the potatoes, garlic, the usual spices, and half of the diced onions. Mix well, adding more oil if necessary to coat the potatoes.
Cover pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven for about 45 minutes.
Uncover, stir, and back into the oven for about 15 minutes.
Let cool on the stove top while making the dressing.
2 6oz containers (soy) yogurt
~ 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
the juice from 1 large can pitted black olives
In a bowl, whisk together all of the above. Add a hint of black pepper and paprika (about 1/4 tsp)
Pour roasted potato mixture into a large bowl. Add the other half of diced onions, peppers, and olives. Mix well. Pour balsamic yogurt dressing over top and mix well.
One thing to note with the dressing, using yogurt (instead of Nayonaise, the vegan version of mayonnaise)there is about half of the calories, 5% of the fat grams, and 2% of the sodium! Imagine how bad using real mayonnaise is, then?!?!? WOW!
in any case . . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
6 to 7 medium potatoes, diced into 1/2 cubes
1 onion, diced and divided in half
the usual spices : Oregano, basil, dill, parsley, red pepper, black pepper, paprika
4 to 6 cloves of garlic, minced
extra virgin Olive Oil
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 large can of pitted black olives, minced
Pre-heat oven to 325 F.
In a 9x13 pan (a baking pan that you would make lasagna in), coat the bottom with oil and add the potatoes, garlic, the usual spices, and half of the diced onions. Mix well, adding more oil if necessary to coat the potatoes.
Cover pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven for about 45 minutes.
Uncover, stir, and back into the oven for about 15 minutes.
Let cool on the stove top while making the dressing.
2 6oz containers (soy) yogurt
~ 1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
the juice from 1 large can pitted black olives
In a bowl, whisk together all of the above. Add a hint of black pepper and paprika (about 1/4 tsp)
Pour roasted potato mixture into a large bowl. Add the other half of diced onions, peppers, and olives. Mix well. Pour balsamic yogurt dressing over top and mix well.
One thing to note with the dressing, using yogurt (instead of Nayonaise, the vegan version of mayonnaise)there is about half of the calories, 5% of the fat grams, and 2% of the sodium! Imagine how bad using real mayonnaise is, then?!?!? WOW!
in any case . . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
Baklava . . .
Ok. I made this baklava on tuesday, and it has been a huge hit! Right now, I'm making a potato salad, with lots of twists, while watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, and staying at home on yet another friday night. After work, I went to the gym and had a pretty good workout. But now, it's quality time with my doggie.
It is so hard to meet anyone if you're not going out to bars et alia. Single men don't shop, so I can't meet them at work. My friends don't have a lot of potentials ~ either married or robbing the cradle. It's just very frustrating, especially because I can't afford to go out. And if I could afford to go out, I would. And I'd have the chance of meeting someone. But hey . . . eventually things will work out.
And, since there is really nothing to talk about on the dating scene, here's the cherry chocolate baklava. With pistachios (instead of walnuts).
Baklava is a Greek desert, and the authentic Greek recipe I have uses walnuts and honey. Since honey isn't Vegan, and walnuts aren't my favorite, I decided to tinker with things a little bit. I had seen a recipe using pistachios, and I had seen a recipe using chocolate. So, I thought I'd try a few different things. I think cashews might actually be a good nut to use as well - it's meaty yet open to flavor.
16oz bag pistachios, coarsely chopped
8 oz phyllo dough
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
4 to 5 tbsp margarine, melted
pastry brush
1 square, semi-sweet baking chocolate
cheese grater
syrup (recipe to follow)
Mix coarsely chopped nuts, sugar (brown sugar might taste bette than white sugar, but I didn't have brown sugar in my pantry), cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves in a bowl. Set aside.
Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
In an 8x8 pan, use the pastry brush to brush the sides and bottom with the melted margarine. Then, start one pastry sheet at a time, placing them in the pan, making sure the dough goes up the sides. Most phyllo dough is rectangular, so I usually alternate long in one direction then the next direction, hence one sheet at a time. Every 2 sheets, brush with margarine. At the 4th sheet, sprinkle evenly the nut mixture. Using the cheese grater, grate the block of chocolate over the nut mixture. Two layers of phyllo dough. Brush with margarine. Grate chocolate. Two more layers of dough. Nut mixture. Grate chocolate. Dough. Etc. . .
Try to finish with four layers of dough on top. Chocolate grated atop that. Fold the over-hanging edges of dough, so a crust-edge forms. Cut into diagonal squares.
Bake until golden brown, at 350 degrees farenheit. About 50 to 55 minutes.
ok . . . the syrup . . .
1 16 oz jar Maraschino cherries
1 cup sugar
Drain the juice from the maraschino cherries. Top off with water to equal 1 full cup. (Shouldn't be more than 1/4 to 1/8th of a cup). In a saucepan, heat maraschino liquid and add the cup of sugar. Stir well, dissolving sugar.
When the baklava is ready out of the oven, pull out. Pour syrup over top. Let sit for a few minutes. You'll need to re-cut the diagonals (and when you see how hard it is now, you'll be happy you pre-cut them!)
Ok, long recipe, I know. But it's definately worth it. I shall talk to ya later. And if the potato salad comes out, you'll have that recipe next.
in any case . . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
It is so hard to meet anyone if you're not going out to bars et alia. Single men don't shop, so I can't meet them at work. My friends don't have a lot of potentials ~ either married or robbing the cradle. It's just very frustrating, especially because I can't afford to go out. And if I could afford to go out, I would. And I'd have the chance of meeting someone. But hey . . . eventually things will work out.
And, since there is really nothing to talk about on the dating scene, here's the cherry chocolate baklava. With pistachios (instead of walnuts).
Baklava is a Greek desert, and the authentic Greek recipe I have uses walnuts and honey. Since honey isn't Vegan, and walnuts aren't my favorite, I decided to tinker with things a little bit. I had seen a recipe using pistachios, and I had seen a recipe using chocolate. So, I thought I'd try a few different things. I think cashews might actually be a good nut to use as well - it's meaty yet open to flavor.
16oz bag pistachios, coarsely chopped
8 oz phyllo dough
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
4 to 5 tbsp margarine, melted
pastry brush
1 square, semi-sweet baking chocolate
cheese grater
syrup (recipe to follow)
Mix coarsely chopped nuts, sugar (brown sugar might taste bette than white sugar, but I didn't have brown sugar in my pantry), cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves in a bowl. Set aside.
Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
In an 8x8 pan, use the pastry brush to brush the sides and bottom with the melted margarine. Then, start one pastry sheet at a time, placing them in the pan, making sure the dough goes up the sides. Most phyllo dough is rectangular, so I usually alternate long in one direction then the next direction, hence one sheet at a time. Every 2 sheets, brush with margarine. At the 4th sheet, sprinkle evenly the nut mixture. Using the cheese grater, grate the block of chocolate over the nut mixture. Two layers of phyllo dough. Brush with margarine. Grate chocolate. Two more layers of dough. Nut mixture. Grate chocolate. Dough. Etc. . .
Try to finish with four layers of dough on top. Chocolate grated atop that. Fold the over-hanging edges of dough, so a crust-edge forms. Cut into diagonal squares.
Bake until golden brown, at 350 degrees farenheit. About 50 to 55 minutes.
ok . . . the syrup . . .
1 16 oz jar Maraschino cherries
1 cup sugar
Drain the juice from the maraschino cherries. Top off with water to equal 1 full cup. (Shouldn't be more than 1/4 to 1/8th of a cup). In a saucepan, heat maraschino liquid and add the cup of sugar. Stir well, dissolving sugar.
When the baklava is ready out of the oven, pull out. Pour syrup over top. Let sit for a few minutes. You'll need to re-cut the diagonals (and when you see how hard it is now, you'll be happy you pre-cut them!)
Ok, long recipe, I know. But it's definately worth it. I shall talk to ya later. And if the potato salad comes out, you'll have that recipe next.
in any case . . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Roux
I just made an interesting roux. Very thick. I don't even want to think about the calorie count!
~ 1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 cup flour
Cayenne pepper
Salt
Black pepper
soy milk ~ 2 cups
~ 2 tbsp peanut butter
Saute the onions briefly in the margarine as it melts in an iron skillet. Add the flour and mix well. Add milk slowly, and not all at once. Stir well, so that you maintain an even consistancy. Add spices to taste while still stirring. Add the peanut butter and mix well. Add the rest of the milk, stir to maintain the consistancy.
I used it to go over gnocchi - store bought, not hand-made. The roux was very thick, but the peanut butter helped provide more structure.
in any case .. . .
Yesterday, a friend and I went to this April Fool's Fest winery festival - four local wineries. We had a blast! After, we hit the grocery store, back to my place to pick up my dog, and then back to her place where her husband grilled and her daughter tired out my dog - and herself! Later, I starteed a bonfire and we spent the next 5 or so hours fedding the fire and drinking wine and chilling out and talking. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable day! I spent the night because it was much safer than driving home after all that wine!
in any case. . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
~ 1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 cup flour
Cayenne pepper
Salt
Black pepper
soy milk ~ 2 cups
~ 2 tbsp peanut butter
Saute the onions briefly in the margarine as it melts in an iron skillet. Add the flour and mix well. Add milk slowly, and not all at once. Stir well, so that you maintain an even consistancy. Add spices to taste while still stirring. Add the peanut butter and mix well. Add the rest of the milk, stir to maintain the consistancy.
I used it to go over gnocchi - store bought, not hand-made. The roux was very thick, but the peanut butter helped provide more structure.
in any case .. . .
Yesterday, a friend and I went to this April Fool's Fest winery festival - four local wineries. We had a blast! After, we hit the grocery store, back to my place to pick up my dog, and then back to her place where her husband grilled and her daughter tired out my dog - and herself! Later, I starteed a bonfire and we spent the next 5 or so hours fedding the fire and drinking wine and chilling out and talking. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable day! I spent the night because it was much safer than driving home after all that wine!
in any case. . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
Friday, April 2, 2010
Fruit Salad
I had a stressful day at work, and couldn't wait to go to the gym afterwards. But then, I started to get a hankering for something sweet for dinner. Since the grocery store is right next to the gym, I stopped in and bought fresh fruit to make a salad.
1 cantelope, cut into 1/2 chunks
2 20oz cans of chunked pineapple
4 medium bananas
2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks
1 lb strawberries, chunked
1 lb grapes (I got green seedless)
Save the juice from one of the cans of pineapple, but mix everything else in one large bowl.
Now, I took a bowl of this mix out so that I would have something to dip into a chocolate fondue. For the rest, I made a dressing using the pineapple juice.
pineapple juice from can of chunked pineapples
2 containers [soy] yogurt (one was peach. the other raspberry, but peach seems best)
1 tsp vanilla extract
sprinkle of cinnamon
sprinkle of nutmeg
Mix all of these ingredients together then pour this over the bowl of fruit. Stir well.
Should satisfy any sweet tooth!
And now back to my boring friday night watching Smallville with my doggie.
in any case . . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
1 cantelope, cut into 1/2 chunks
2 20oz cans of chunked pineapple
4 medium bananas
2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks
1 lb strawberries, chunked
1 lb grapes (I got green seedless)
Save the juice from one of the cans of pineapple, but mix everything else in one large bowl.
Now, I took a bowl of this mix out so that I would have something to dip into a chocolate fondue. For the rest, I made a dressing using the pineapple juice.
pineapple juice from can of chunked pineapples
2 containers [soy] yogurt (one was peach. the other raspberry, but peach seems best)
1 tsp vanilla extract
sprinkle of cinnamon
sprinkle of nutmeg
Mix all of these ingredients together then pour this over the bowl of fruit. Stir well.
Should satisfy any sweet tooth!
And now back to my boring friday night watching Smallville with my doggie.
in any case . . .
slainte . . .
Mulu :>))
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