Foodie Froday III

I'm late - story of my freakin' life, anyway. I have a Foodie Friday post, though, so that's all that matters!

Tonight's Foodie Friday is a recipe that I enjoy muchly in the summer. We came across it in the August 2004 issue of Healthy Cooking and have been making it since. I realize that it's not quite time for pit fruit to be ripe, but I have been craving this lately, so I am posting it now. Maybe I'll remind you about it again in a month or so, if I remember!

This recipe is the perfect accompaniment to a summertime dinner on the grill. It also packs well, for picnic luches or beach BBQs; just make the sauce beforehand and store it in a Rubbermaid container or even a Ziploc baggie.

My suggested menu would go something like this: fresh mixed greens salad with a balsamic vinegarette; a nice, juicy steak with grilled cheesy potatoes and corn on the cob; crusty bread; grilled plums.

Oh, and you don't *have* to use plums, although they are my fave. You can also use most any pit fruit: peaches, nectaines, pluots, or a combination of them all.

OKAY! The recipe, the way it reads from the page I have, and with my added comments:

Grilled PLums

-6 plums, pitted and halved. [Or peaches, etc.]

Sauce:

-3 tablespoons honey - 1 veeeeerrrrrrry looooooong squirt from the bear, or if you use raw from the jar like us, two overflowing spoons.

-1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar - 1 quick dash from the bottle

-1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice - about half a small lemon

-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon - just one teensy pinch.

-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract - add a couple of drops.

[Mag suggests mint leaves for garnish. I never use them.]

"Preheat grill to medium high. Whisk together dressing ingredients and brush the cut sides of the plums with half the dressing. Grill the plums 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove from grill and drizzle remaing dressing over plums. Garnish with mint leaves and serve. makes 6 servings."

If you're doing it on the go, just dunk the cut sides into the baggie or bowl instead of brushing - much easier that way.

Mag says 54 calories, 14 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 mg sodium; but since I never makes it the same twice who knows how accurate that is.

Bon appetit!

I'm here...

I just haven't had anything to say.

I haven't been crocheting. I need to get a project done for my DCSP, who is a darling, so I can be done with all obligations. [My mom wants some dishcloths, but that doesn't count.]

I have been working, a little, and wrapping up the semester... this is finals week and I had my German oral final tonight. I'd say I did... nicht so gut... LOL, I choked on some vocab and couldn't figure out how to answer some of the questions. Whatever. As long as I get credit, I'll be happy - I need to apply for my degree so that I will hopefully have it by fall. If not, it's not the end of the world, but it might be tricky registering for certain classes without it.

I have been on a shopping binge... perhaps this is why I have been in such a good mood lately, I swear when I spend money I am a happier person. But really - I got a great pair of gauchos 40% off at Pennies the other night, and get this - the capris I bought for work? - one size smaller! I've been on an earrings thing, too - I was gifted/RAOKed a beautiful pair from a great friend at DoD and have discovered they go with *everything!* Prima! It's also totally ego stroking that I've been getting mad compliments since I chopped my hair off... even the waitress at our fav hole-in-the-wall told me I "look much better with short hair!" How can I not love that?

Alright, gotta run... I've been feeling a headache growing on me so I need to grab some Advil!! Hugs, all!

Oh, and Tasha - I was so glad to see your comment!! Drop me an email [nmnenado at yahoo dot com] when you get a chance; I'd love to hear how grad school is going for you!

Foodie Friday: II

I cn't believe I haven't posted since last Friday! Yikes - maybe doing this will encourage me to blog more!

Today, although delayed, I'll be sharing my alfredo formula. It's not exact and it's totally not low-fat. I mix my ingredients up in our Vita-Mix, but you can use whatever's convenient.

1 carton heavy whipping cream - 8 oz, I think?

1.5 cups milk, plus more if needed to thin sauce

1 brick cream cheese - also 8 oz, I think?

1 stick of butter - 1/4 cup, no? - cut in half

1 container of fresh button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced; *or* 1 can sliced 'shroom parts

.5 cup shredded parmesan cheese (although, I always end up using closer to 1 cup)

In a medium to largish sauce pan, saute the mushrooms in half the butter, then turn off the heat.

In Vita-Mix, blender, food processor, or with a stick mixer, combine the rest of the butter, the cream, milk, and cream cheese, and mix until smooth and saucy. Add more milk if neccessary to thin.

Then, pour the sauce into the pan with the mushrooms, add the parmesan, combine and warm. If your sauce is a little too runny, you can let it reduce a bit on the stove, or add a bit of flour. Or, add more parmesan.

Usually, since I am lazy and do not like dirty dishes, when I cook this I will fry up two boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into pieces. When they're nearly done, I add the mushrooms to the same pan and saute those for a little while. Then, I add the sauce to the chicken/mushroom pan, and pour the whole thing over pasta. We usally eat it with some garlic bread and a fresh salad. YUM!!

First "Foodie Friday" Installment

Foodie Friday is a "blog-along" [just named it that] that is the brainchild of a few food-inclined people, that has now taken shape. In fact, there is a web ring to be up soon! While there aren't any "rules" yet, the goal is to share a culinary tidbit every Friday; be it a recipe, kitchen tip, ingredient info, eatery review - what have you.

Now, since I am admittedly not skilled in the kitchen, some of you may be wondering why exactly *I* am worthy of participating in Foodie Friday. The reason is this - I love food - even if I can't cook it. And, eventually, I will have to become self-sustenant, which entails being able to feed myself, LOL, and I'll *have* to know how to cook... So, I might as well start early.

With all that build up you would think my pilot Foodie Friday would be something spectacular - but I'm not to spectacular yet. Plus, I feel unprepared; I'd wanted to post my alfredo formula but can't find the little notes I wrote last time I made it... So, that will have to wait for some other time.

Today, I'll just share a family treat many "outsiders" think is really weird. My Grandma Dory - my mom's mom, who died when I was 5 - used to love this. I don't make it very often, but it is definitely one of my comfort foods.

---

Grandma's Toast -

Toast two slices of bread - I like wheat for this, but any kind works. Smear the slices generously with sour cream, and then sprinkle about a tablespoon of brown sugar evenly over each.

Enjoy with a glass of milk!

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Mmmm; now I have made myself hungry, so I think I might go make a slice!

Full of shit

I don't have anything exciting to share tonight, but since I am all for posting even when there aren't exciting things going on, I figured I should take my own advice. Sooooo... here I am!

I'm wildly excited because I don't have to work tomorrow... things there right now are *ICKY!!* The other part-time girl quit for an intership and they haven't hired a replacement. I am not going to overextend myself like I did at my old job, so right now it sucks. Things are not getting done fast enough; we just got a new shirt machine that is getting customer reviews and generating lots of business so we need that other person more than ever. PLus, it's getting hot. I never thought about how fucking HOT it is at a drycleaning plant... Steam, hot irons, washers, dryers, boilers, more steam... No AC. [It's a warehouse with no duct work.] It's only April and that place is becoming more and more like hell everyday. Thank God *most* of the people I work with are great.

Oh, and thank God for my raise, too.

I've been informed that effective my next check, I've recieved a raise! I have no clue how much, since my boss told my manager to tell me, but didn't tell her how much. Last night I had a [bad] dream that it was only for a quarter. I hope it's more than a quarter...

A bunch of kids at a local Catholic private school got busted with "illegal substances and related contraband" and I have to chuckle about that. Gee, I only went to public school, but at least I was smart enough to not bring my dope to school!! Dumbasses!! [Smoke it at lunch!!]

I think I'll shut up now.

Have a good evening, y'all! Hugs!

Spring Cleaning...

Out with the old, in the new... Spring is a time to lighten up!!

I took this literally today.

This was me this morning:

[Yep, that's me, I swear! Look at that hair! It's not really curly at all - that's just from putting it up wet and letting it dry. :) ]

Okay - anyways!

Here is me now!:




I donated right around 11" to Locks of Love - and got the cute cut gratis! I was so glad to be able to help; I am admittedly vain about my hair, and am thrilled that I might be able to give that opportunity to someone else, who needs it more than I! Even better was seeing all the people that turned out to the event to donate their hair also... everyone from little girls getting their first cuts, to old biker dudes chopping off their ponies. When I left, they were past their 50th cut [with a 10" minimum, mind you!] and still had a long line left to go!!

Things have been going really well for me. I feel like I'm ridding my life of "heavy" things, so to speak. The semester is starting to wrap up - I just gave a huge presentation on Thursday [30% of my grade, if I recall correctly] - I threw it together last minute Wednesday night, expounded upon my guacamole pictorial, and got - get this - a 99%. The one point I lost was for letting my summary slide run over to two slides. It felt great to get that out of the way, and do it well. I also finally drove out to my old school, soon to be my current school again, and had my transcripts sent to the community college so I can get my associate's this spring. Another check off the list!

I still haven't been crocheting. My desire has been squelched for the moment- I hope it comes back soon. I have things to make!

Recommended Reading

Go check out this post by Jessica.

It should be everyone's goal, everyday.

Go, now!

Move Along, Folks.

No drama to see here today.

Hopefully I'll get some hookin' cookin' on this *crochet* blog again soon. For those of you who continute to read and stick with me, I thank you.

Oh yeah, if you're interested, check out the new ring over there in the sidebar that Kari started - Real Crafty - for crafters who aren't afraid to say fuck every now and then.

'Night! [Or, 'mornin'!]