Salsa and some good news

 Like most people, we eat lighter meals in the summer months.  Salsa plays into a number of those meals.  I've been making this same salsa for probably 25 years or more.  Chips and salsa was my go to lunch living in hot and humid SW Florida.

Salsa

2 cups diced tomatoes

1 diced onion-white or red

1 diced jalapeno

4 diced garlic cloves

1/4 cup diced green chiles

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 cup torn cilantro

Everything in this salsa came from our garden except for the onion and the sea salt.  I used 1 red heirloom tomato and about 10 or more heirloom cherry tomatoes.

I can't make salsa without using some of it for nachos.  This was dinner one night this week.  Beef nachos.

 Now for some awesome news.  I'm a great aunt now!  Meet Wylder who was born 7/14/2021.  10 pounds and 7 ounces.  They live a few hours away so I haven't gotten to see him in person yet but this is one of my favorite pictures of him.  He looks so much like my fathers side of the family.  My brother and I both had this same face and hair when we were born.

Have a great Saturday!!

My Week

 The Big Guy enjoyed his birthday Friday.  He requested chicken tikka masala with rice and naan and a pineapple walnut cake with cream cheese frosting.  

Because of Covid, we lit the candles but he did not blow them out on the cake.  That is a tradition I miss but I guess it is a little gross when you think about it.

We had a lot of rain this week.  Friday alone dropped about 7 inches.  That is way too much rain for our garden, pots and flower beds.  I have to pick all of the basil today and make pesto.  I noticed the bottom leaves have turned black  which means too much water.  At one point Friday evening our yard was more flooded than I've ever seen.  This picture is the right side of our yard.  The left side is where our garden and flower beds are.  It did all soak in or drain off relatively quickly.

A number of small towns in our county were not so fortunate.  One town completely flooded and they are still flooded today.  A 25 year old young woman has been missing since 3:30 am Saturday.  They believe her car was swept off the road. Apparently they can tell where her cell phone is but the water hasn't receded enough for them to find her.  It doesn't sound good and I've been praying for her and her family.

The sun did come out yesterday and I was able to sit outside for awhile and read Blue Plate Special by Kate Christensen. Last week I finished I Loved, I Lost, I made Spaghetti.  It was a good read.  I've been averaging one or two books a week which is above average from last year.  

I know so many need rain right now and I wish I could send it your way.  How is the weather in your area?

I'm off to get my day started.  I have a few things to do to get ready for the work week.

Stay safe and have a great Sunday!

It's FINALLY Friday!

Sunday I crossed off my garden to do list.  I took a lot of herbs to a few of the doctors I work for.  They greatly appreciated it.  In return I got a lot of zucchini and yellow squash.  Not a bad trade.  This weekend I need to go out and pick more of the two basils and make more pesto.  It will be a nice fall/winter treat.

One night this week I made lamb burgers and oven 'fried' zucchini.  It was so good.  I am going to make zucchini bread tomorrow and I think we will have zucchini pillows Sunday for dinner.  I'll post the recipe when I make them.  It involves ricotta so you know it is good.

We had a lot of salads and veg focused dinners but I did sneak in another BLT because it's summer and I have to get my fill while I have fresh tomatoes.

I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I like to have chocolate sauce for the occasional bowl of ice cream or the even less occasional glass of chocolate milk. I have made chocolate sauce a number of times.  It's very easy but what I find is that I don't use it up quickly enough and end up throwing some away.  Well this chocolate sauce is the answer.  

Today is the big guys birthday.  He requested rice, chicken tikka masalla and naan.  With of course a birthday cake. Which I need to go make now.

I hope everyone is staying safe.  It's been raining here off and on all week.  In the last two days alone we've had over 6 inches.  I wish there was a way to push it west where they desperately need it.  

What's happening at your house?

Summer Time

I have been really enjoying this summer so far.  I've been spending quite a few hours outside every chance I get.  Between working in the garden and enjoying my lifelong passion of sitting out in the sun reading, I have been a happy woman. I've already read more books so far this year than I did in all of 2020. I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more cookbooks for awhile since I have such a large collection but I saw this and had to order it. https://food52.com/blog/26378-a-new-cookbook-with-old-recipes-thanks-to-70-grandmas  This looks like a great book.

My garden is doing amazingly well this year which I really needed after last years outcome. The heirloom cherry tomatoes I'm growing for the first time are so delicious. We have been eating salads for weeks we have had so much lettuce.  Between our garden and the farmers market, veggies have been the star of dinners lately. It's time now to start putting some of the herbs away for the winter months.

 Tomorrows list...

1. Cut arugula to make pesto for the freezer
2. Cut Thai basil, pack in ice cube trays with a bit of water, for the freezer.
3. Cut Greek oregano to dry.
4. Cut rosemary to dry.
5. Cut thyme to dry.
6. Cut Genovese Basil and make pesto for the freezer.
7. Cut some of everything to take to work

One of my husbands Tae Kwon Do students brought us a HUGE bag of blueberries from her farm and they are delicious.  I made blueberry muffins, we had them on waffles and I have a lot frozen to use later.

Last Friday we enjoyed our first BLT of the season.  We will only eat them with fresh garden tomatoes so it's been since last September since we've had one.  I think eating seasonally when things are at their best makes you appreciate them so much more. 

We had our first house guests since 2019 over 4th of July weekend.  It was nice seeing them and we had a good time but it was also a little strange for us since we've been so isolated for so long. To celebrate the holiday I smoked ribs, chicken wings and enjoyed deviled eggs, slaw, pinto beans, grill setting off some fireworks and enjoying the ones our neighbors set off.  It was a nice weekend and the weather could not have been more perfect.

I've been spending any rainy days we have inside cleaning out closets, drawers and each and every room.  This weekend I am going to straighten out the pantry and make a list of things I want to stock up on for the next several months.  Covid numbers here in our area are spiking up again.  If you saw how crowded the water park is each day you would not be surprised.  Over half of our population here has not been vaccinated yet people are acting as if the virus is gone.  I want to be prepared for this fall and winter.

Now that I'm caught up on everything I plan on getting back to regular posts.

How is your summer going?

Japanese Sweet Potatoes

I'm not a sweet potato fan unless you're talking about Japanese sweet potatoes.  They are on an entirely different level.  When I found them a couple of years ago at the grocery store that we go to I didn't think I had ever had them before but after eating one I quickly remembered that my grandparents grew these when I was a kid, even though they just called them purple sweet potatoes. I  may look into growing some.

The purple version has a deep magenta skin and white flesh that turns gold as it cooks.  They are drier and creamier than the orange variety which means when you cook them the edges get crispy while the center stays creamy.  I enjoy them baked, cubed and boiled, fried or oven 'fried'.  I did make a sweet potato pie out of them once.  The big guy said it was good but he prefers  orange for a pie.  Not surprised since he is a sugar addict.

Nutritionally they are better for you than the orange variety and any of the regular variety of potatoes, especially because they have much lower levels of glucose, the highest overall levels of phenolics, a high level of antioxidants and a high level of soluble dietary fiber. 

Do you eat Japanese sweet potatoes? Give them a try, I don't think you will be disappointed.

My Week

 Well I had plans on posting a couple of times this week but something always came up.  I have been spending time outside after work tending the herbs and veggies.  I love being able to walk outside and snip whatever is coming up and incorporating it into our meals. The arugula, radishes and leaf lettuce is doing great and we've enjoyed all of them throughout the week. Tomorrow I plan to make arugula pesto for the freezer before it bolts.

                                                    Thai and Aleppo peppers are doing well.

                                                                        Thai basil 

                                                                    Genovese basil

                                                                       Greek oregano

Our meals this week were pretty boring as I waited until Thursday for my dentist appointment.  I thought I had lost a filling so I was very leery of eating something and breaking the tooth.  Come to find out I did  not loose a filling but the enamel of a crown came off after 16 years.  The good dentist had already made notes in my chart that when this one went there is nothing that can be done but pull it.  Long story short, the metal part of the crown is still very much intact so everything is protected.  If and when it starts to bother me it will have to be pulled.  I'm still being careful but feel more comfortable eating now.

This week I have been reading Apron Anxiety by Alyssa Shelasky and am enjoying it.  I've written down a couple of cookbooks and memoirs that she has mentioned   It's a memoir about "My messy affairs in and out of the kitchen.  I'm actually really enjoying it.  On the menu for tonight is a recipe she included Lamb Meatballs garnished with pomegranate seeds.  It sounds amazing. The recipe was inspired by a home cook who submitted a recipe to Food52.com under the screen name "My Man's Belly"  I will share the recipe this week and let you know how they are.  

 Jet just jumped up on my lap and is half on the laptop so I guess that is my clue to wrap this up.  I hope everyone is enjoying this Summer Solstice.  Stay Safe!

My Week

 Happy Sunday!  My week was OK, nothing fabulous, nothing horrible so OK.  It has been hot and humid here because well, it is almost summer.  The very near forecast is in the low 80's and lows in the low 50's and I will appreciate that. 

Yesterday I sat outside in the sun for a couple of hours reading which is my favorite summer past time.  I'm reading Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang the owner of Baohaus.  I'm about half way through and so far it's been a funny light summer read.

I lost a filling yesterday so the first thing on the agenda Monday is to call the dentist.  Luckily, no pain so far.  Eating will be light today though.

Meals this week:

Monday- BIG salad of red leaf lettuce, arugula, radish, red onion, snow peas, tomatoes, hardboiled eggs and shredded cheddar cheese.

Tuesday-  Mushroom, red onion and green pepper pizza

Wednesday- Beef short ribs, rice noodles, veggie, beef stock bowls.  I don't cook the veggies but put them in the bowl, add the hot broth, noodles and meat.  So good.

 

Thursday- Chicken Tikka Masala I usually make this from scratch but a friend of mine told me she always keeps a jar of this sauce for a quick and easy dinner.  Since she is Indian I trusted it was a good sauce and it did not disappoint.

Friday- Fried chicken, macaroni salad and corn on the cob.

Saturday- Steak, macaroni salad, baked potato and stuffed mushrooms all cooked on the grill.

Even though I spent my first 18 years in the Midwest I never would even try Macaroni Salad.  Something about cold pasta just did not interest me.  Well, I tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was good.  So I asked my friend for the recipe and made it.  While it's not something I will make often, I can now appreciate the cult following it seems to have.

Macaroni Salad

1 pound pasta

3 hard boiled eggs, diced

2 celery ribs, minced

1 red bell pepper, minced

1/4 red onion, minced

1/4 Cup sweet pickles, chopped

1 Cup Mayo

1/4 Cup sweet pickle juice

2 tsp honey or sugar

1 1/2 Tbs. Dijon

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box.  Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until cooled.  Let pasta fully drain.

In a small bowl, mix the mayo, pickle juice, sugar and Dijon.  

Combine all ingredients and toss until fully coated.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Hope you all have a great week.  Are you a macaroni salad lover?

Things That Make Me Smile

I was finally able to get a couple pictures of one of the hawks that visit our yard.  The pictures do not reflect just how big it is.  Plus it was taken from inside so I wouldn't scare it off.  In the past week I have watched a hawk swoop down and get a cardinal.  Then one day I was sitting outside and there were a group of birds making a ton of distressed noise.  I looked up to see a hawk perch on the neighbors roof and proceed to de-feather a bird it had apparently taken out of a nest.  A group of birds were dive bombing it to no avail.  Once the poor bird was stripped the hawk carried it off I'm assuming to it's nest to feed it's own babies.

Nature is beautiful but cruel at the same time.

My Week

 I enjoyed my four day weekend.  I took advantage of the time off and relaxed quite a bit.  Pretty much all routines were out the window this week.

Yesterday we went grocery shopping.  Our first stop was our local meat processing shop. It is a local family owned store. Their prices are pretty much the same and the quality on beef and chicken is superior. We do not eat much ham but their 'deli ham' is actually real sliced ham, no processing.  It was beautiful and delicious. At the other two stores we shopped at the prices on everything has increased.  One price jump that really stood out was on the ground lamb that I usually buy.  It is a grass fed lamb that I used to pay about 5.00 a pound.  Now it is 11.99 a pound.  That is a huge increase.  I wish our local shop sold lamb. 

My focus this week is going to be working on projects around the house.  I believe in the future I will have to move my Mother down here with us and I am going to need to be prepared mentally and physically as much as possible for that. 

The weather was nice this week.  Pretty close to normal temperatures with a few days of rain.  The garden is doing very well.  So far the squirrels and ground hog have left it alone.  Fingers crossed, this continues.  I don't want a repeat of the heartbreak from last year.

I didn't take any pictures this week and I didn't even keep track of dinners which is very unusual for me but we did eat.

How was your week?

Stay Safe!

My Week

 It has been a good week here. Weather wise it has been a bit above average temps for a few weeks until Thursday brought a pretty bad storm along with record breaking cold temperatures for this time of year.  The storm didn't last long thankfully but the winds and the rumbling thunder were a little nerve wrecking.  My rose bush took a beating but thankfully it and everything else seems to be fine now. I love the sunflowers that are continuing to bloom.

I have been enjoying a four day weekend.  I went to the library for the first time since Covid and picked up a couple of books.  I'm trying to simplify the things I own so only want to buy books that are true treasures.  Cleaving from Julie Powell, the author of Julie and Julia is not a great story but I'm half way through now and it is interesting enough I want to see how it ends.  It is about her wanting to learn everything she can about butchering.  I also picked up Milk Street Tuesday Nights Mediterranean.  I have flipped through it and see about 10 recipes I will be trying soon

Everything in the garden is doing well so far.  I pulled up the garlic that was planted in August. I didn't grow as much as I usually do but what came up looks pretty good.

Meals this week: 

Monday-Steak, corn and potato

Tuesday-Thai chicken and veggies with Udon noodles. 

Wednesday- Big Salad

Thursday- Chili (I take every cool front I can get and make a soup or chili)

Friday- Baby back ribs, salad and bread

Saturday- Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage with Pasta and Alfredo Sauce.  The Alfredo Sauce I made was so delish!

For some reason, I didn't remember to take many pictures this week.

How was your week?  Are you cooking anything special for Memorial Day?

Stay Safe!

Chicken Parmesan

Kim at http://outmywindowtoday.blogspot.com/ asked for my Chicken Parmesan recipe so I'm adding it here.

I made this a couple of weeks ago and I can't tell you the last time before that. I'm not sure why because it is delicious. It will be going in a more regular rotation.  Especially this winter when I'm craving comfort food. I have this written in my recipe notebook and I'm not sure where the recipe originally came from.

 I usually half this recipe for the big guy and I because this easily could be 4-6 servings.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast split or pounded thin

2 cups all purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper

4 large eggs, beaten with 2 tablespoons of water

2 cups Panko bread crumbs (or your personal choice)

1 cup olive oil

Red sauce of your choice either jar or homemade

1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

1/4 Cup fresh grated Parmesan

Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, Dredge each breast in the flour and tap off excess, then dip in the egg and let excess drip off.  Finally, dredge on both sides in the bread crumbs.

3. Over medium high heat add chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides.  About 2 or 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and top each breast with some of the tomato sauce, a few slices of the mozzarella and a tablespoon of the Parmesan. Bake in the oven until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 5 to 7 minutes.  Remove from the oven and garnish with basil or parsley.

I serve over pasta noodles but they are not necessary.

Chapter 54

Yesterday I started Chapter 54 of this journey through life. I actually worked on my Birthday which because of my Mother I never do but it was a Tuesday and I took a three day weekend this past week and have another one this week. When I was growing up my Mom made a big deal out of our Birthdays.  Nothing extravigant but we did not have to go to school, we could spend the day doing whatever we wanted to do. I've always continued this tradition.  She always told us that this was our special day. When she called yesterday afternoon she asked what I had been doing all day.  and I told her that I worked she sounded disapointed so I promised her I would never work again on my Birthday. She never makes a big deal out of her own birthday but always has for everyone else.

As each Birthday aproaches I like to think about what the past year was like and what I want the next year to hold.  My 10 personal goals for Chapter 54 are...

1. Make 12 new to me recipes
2. Make 12 desserts (this big guy will love this one)
3. Do 12 random acts of kindness (strangers)
4. Do 12 random acts of kindness (friends)
5. Do 12 random acts of kindness (family)
6. Read 12 books (I used to triple this amount but lately haven't come close)
7. 12 day trips with the big guy
8. Continue to be grateful every single day
9. Continue to stay mindful of each moment
10.Continue to pay attention to the little things in each day

I put these in my journal with space to put a check mark each time I accomplish one and I left enough pages to write what I do.  It is always fun to look back on these and remember the things I did.

Anyone have any Birthday traditions that they still do?