House Rules on Casual Dining

You may not eat in the good chair.

You may not eat on the couch.

 You may not eat in bed.

Got it?  Alright, you may have your rawhide now.

Good girl.

A Visit From Some Pelicans

Nevermind that naturalists say you live in a different state.

Just leave some fish for the fishermen, please!!

When Mildew Resistant Caulk Surrenders - It's Just Got To Go

Sorry, been a bit busy to blog much.

Conversation when hubby comes home from work.

"Welcome home dear!  I am very sorry for making your spike knife dull again.  Could you be a dear and apply the new caulk, because you have such nice wide fingers to smooth the bead?  Remember last time when I tried?  The caulk job looked really horrible.  Even when I  tried using my thumbs, they were not wide enough."

My waistline isn't what it used to be, but at least I still have petite fingers?

Marketing Demographics Run Amuck

Let's see, what shall we do today?

This Old House sent me an email on how to "Start Getting Your Lawn in Top Shape for Outdoor Living."  It is hilarious how various forms of media start suggesting "outdoor living" to the entire country in March, even those of us in zones 3-4.  Ok, just for giggles, has the trend of nice weather continued from Saturday?  Let's have a look.

Guess not.  What lawn?

Perhaps the Garden Party is out of the question too,

since any food would quickly freeze to the plate.

Although it is difficult to guess how many people would appear if I fired up the grill - maybe later.

Snow Day

Introducing the tools for today:

Chucky (the snowblower)

Chippy (the ice chipper)

Hernia ( the shovel)

and Pushy (da yooper scooper)

Why join a gym, when I can do this for free?

Finally, warm inside the house where I can do some "indoor living", let's check out some gardening catalogs.  Ah, look at the pictures of beautiful green plants, flowers, fresh vegetables and fruits.  The catalog promise of "Order now and we will ship you items at the right time for planting." stirs a memory of a previous March.  I had ordered some sort of fruity shrubberies along with seeds back in January.  On March 31st during a snowstorm a package arrived; it contained the shrubberies.  A call was placed to customer service.  "Hello, customer service, your shipment was a bit premature.  How am I supposed to plant these shrubberies now?  The ground here is frozen, and you did not include dynamite in the shipment to dig the hole.  I have no place to store the shrubberies that you sent until planting time.  Please re-ship my order at the end of April.  Thank you."

At least the electricity is staying on today.  Thankfully, yesterday's power outage was not long enough to cause any frozen pipes.  Hubby's drive home from work last night was quite an adventure with strong winds, slippery roads, and the blindingly bright glow of lightning in a snowstorm.  Thankfully, no tornadoes.

If you hadn't guessed already, we have cabin fever!

Dear Friends far away, we missed you at the party!

Happy Kurdish New Year 2711!

Friends

Lots of food

Dancing

Conversation & tea

More dancing

Yousif, Shadia, Hassan, Sara & Mo,

You were strangers, and we took you in.  You are no longer strangers, but you have made a wonderful addition to our already strange family.

All our love and prayers that you will return to us soon.

Happy Kurdish New Year and many more!

ESL and the dangers of speed reading:

I stopped at the bank for a little cash with a friend who was just learning English.  When I got back into the car, she asked me where the free chicken was.  Slightly puzzled, I said, "the bank does not have any chickens; we get those at the grocery store."

She asked, "well then what about that sign?"

"Oh, you mean the free checking sign."

We both laughed - it was all we could do for a while. 

Ironically, we could have really used a free chicken for dinner that night.

Language tidbits.

Never complement an arabic speaking woman's baklava by calling it nice and gooey, because goo is the arabic cuss word for crap.  This came from a discussion on a certain city in southern Iraq where a large weapons depot was found.  The American news sources were avoiding naming the place on broadcasts, probably not because of any security issues, but because the city's name sounded like the spanish cuss word for crap.  Sometimes, it's just impossible to say the right thing, because it means something completely different in another language. 

Spring - hiding around the corner?

You know spring is coming soon - not when the crocuses pop out of the ground, but when you hear the sound of returning wildlife.  This is not necessarily the chirp of birds but the thu-thu-thu-thu-vroom of Harley-Davidsons being driven by ardent bikers.  Even with long underwear under the leather, they are probably still shivering with the wind chill made at highway speeds, but at least there are no bugs yet to get stuck in their teeth.

Why food is not safe on the counter.

She has a springs.

(Sorry, for some reason the .mpg file no longer loads properly.)

Out of bread, gotta bake again.

With this shape there is no need for scrubbing the corners of loaf pans!

Bread - 1 loaf (or 2-3 pizza crusts)

(For thin crust pizza dough, make dough, do not let it rise, and refrigerate it for 8 hours before rolling)

Preparation time: 3 hours, Servings 8-12, Shelf life 1 week, freezes well

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 Cup warm water (100-125 deg. F)

1 Tbs. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 packet or 2 1/4 tsp. dry yeast

1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

4 Cups flour

VARIATIONS:

Honey Wheat:

3 1/2 C white flour,

1/2 C whole wheat flour (Include the whole wheat flour in the first 2 cups of flour used in the recipe)

Substitute 1 Tbs. honey for the sugar.

Remainder of recipe is the same.

Molasses Wheat:

3 C white flour,

1 C whole wheat flour (included in first 2 cups used in recipe)

Substitute 1 1/2 tsp. molasses and 1 1/2 tsp. sugar for 1 Tbs. sugar.  Remainder of recipe is the same.

Fennel Rye:

3 1/2 C white flour,

1/2 C rye flour,

Add 1/2 tsp ground fennel seed.  Remainder of recipe is the same.

Equipment: Oven, baking stone or pan, Heavy duty mixer with dough hook recommended, or strong arms.  A double batch will fit in most heavy duty mixers.

Instructions:

Pre-warm mixing bowl with warm water and dump it out.  Refill with measured warm water. Dissolve sugar and salt in water. Sprinkle dry yeast over the surface and allow it to soften before adding oil.  Using the batter paddle, mix in 2 C flour; mix well.  Switch to the dough hook; mix in the remaining 2 C flour.  Knead a bit.  Transfer to a bowl or large food storage container, cover, and let rise in a warm place until double.

Remove dough from bowl, Form dough into desired shape and place on heavy baking stone or in large cast iron frying pan dusted with flour, semolina meal, or corn meal.  Cover with large bowl and let rise for 30 min. to 1 hour or until almost doubled.  (Rising time will depend on room temperature.  The warmer it is, the faster the bread will rise.)

Pre-heat oven to 370 deg. F.  (A higher temperature may be needed if using a gas oven.)  Put the bread dough in the oven and if desired, spray 3 or 4 sprays of water from a squirt bottle, and close the door quickly.  This should help produce a crisp crust and allow the bread to expand a bit more when baking.  Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when thumped.

Something sweet for my sweetie.

Coffee bread with hickory nuts and maple syrup frosting.

(Heart healthy-sort of)

Coffee bread
1 pkg. or 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast
3/4 C very warm water or coffee
1/4 C sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 C flour
1 egg
1/4 C non-virgin olive oil
3-4 handfuls of hickory nuts (1/4-1/2 cup)
Dissolve yeast in warm liquid.  Add sugar, salt, and 1/2 of the flour.  Mix 2 minutes until dough forms sheets when stretched from spoon or mixer paddle.  Add egg and oil; mix.  Add remaining flour and mix until smooth.  You may need to switch to the dough hook to avoid straining the mixer.  Oil pan.  Drop dough by spoonfuls to cover bottom of pan (8-10" round or #8 cast iron skillet), sprinkle on nuts, cover pan and let dough rise till double.  Bake at 350-375 deg. F for 30-35 minutes or until browned on top.  Cool and turn out onto large plate.
Frosting
1 teaspoon Smart Balance Light or butter, melted
powdered sugar
1-2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Melt smart balance light in a coffee cup, mix in some powdered sugar.  Add the syrup and vanilla, and mix in more powdered sugar until it reaches good drizzle consistency.  Frost Coffee bread & enjoy.

Hidden "Treasures"?

Hidden "Treasures"?

It is amazing the variety of things found in and around an old house.  Ours was built in 1875.

The pieces of glass and the plastic dog were buried in the yard.  The square nail was in the attic.  The remaining items fell out of the kitchen ceiling when I took down the plaster to access the kitchen electrical  and the 2nd floor plumbing.  If Glenn the plumber ever comes looking for his tape measure, I will slap him with a bill for structural damages done during the 2nd plumbing remodel in the 1960's.  The plumber who did the first remodel (also known as structural sabotage) in 1939 has probably died of old age.  Death is a very effective way to avoid being sued.

Not shown are the "horsehair" matting and newspapers from the spring of 1924 which were used to stop drafts in the walls.  We left the article on "the benefits of prohibition" in the bathroom wall for future home owners to find.

Slushy days are here again. Sunshine!!

We have a saying here.  If you don't like the weather, just wait; it will change.  At least for now it has changed for the better here.
Two days ago I was playing tug-o-war with the snow-blower.  I lacked the patience to walk very slowly backwards with it in reverse after each pass, so my shoulders were sore yesterday.  It must be a liability issue; the blasted thing has five forward speeds, but heaven forbid it move any faster than a turtle in reverse.  Today, the sun is shining brightly and the snowbanks are turning into giant, slushy snow cones.  Remind me why I bothered clearing the snow?  (Well there is that little matter of a whopping fine from the city if I don't clear the snow within 24 hours of its falling.  The city also has a really stupid law against throwing snowballs; thankfully, that one does not get enforced much.)
Chloe is as-always enjoying prancing around the yard and eating snow.  She will miss it when it's gone.


Not sure if a Tsunami qualifies as weather, but whatever it is our prayers are with the people of Japan and anyone else that gets in the way of all that water.  Except of course for surfers who are stupid enough to go toward it rather than running away.  I pray there is never an earthquake in Lake Michigan.

Dog Day of Winter

Hey ma turn down the heat or give me a haircut

But first a bath - wet dog.

There's just enough time to clean pellet stove while she dries.
The beautiful sight of a warming flame

Some time much later and a bit lighter.
Yeah, I know the Continental clip looks silly,
but the puffy bits keep vital organs and joints warm.

Ah the true motive.  Look into my eyes.
You are feeling very, very generous and are losing you appetite.  Give me that peanut butter sandwich.

A blast from Christmas Past/Cause of the 12 extra egg whites

A quadruple batch of cutout cookies uses 12 egg yolks.
It has become a tradition in my family that I make a whopping batch of cutout cookies at Christmas to give away to friends and family.  All the vanilla in them actually makes them taste good.  You know they like the cookies when they give back more tins than they received.  Return for refill?

The cookies can be made anytime the weather is cool (below 50 deg. F outside at least); otherwise the dough will not roll properly and the frosting will melt too much inside the piping bag.


Radio Cut-out Cookies

Source: old radio program

1. Cut together

  1 Cup Butter

3 Cups Flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2. Add and mix.

1 Cup Sugar

1 tsp. soda

3. Whisk together and mix the following into dry ingredients. Dough will be stiff; use mixer with dough hook, or you may need to finish mixing by squeezing dough through your fingers - similar to mixing meat-loaf.

3 Egg yolks

3 Tbs. milk

2 tsp. vanilla - be generous

Press into a bowl (lined w/plastic wrap for easy removal)

Chill dough overnight or for 8 hours min.

Allow dough to warm slightly before rolling 1/8"-1/4" thick on well floured surface.  Cut to desired shapes.

Adjust oven shelves to middle-low & middle-high locations.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.

If cookie sheets have not been used for a while, oil them, dust with flour and put in oven for a while to reduce the chance of cookies sticking.  Remove from oven, cool, & scrape/wipe off excess flour.

Place cookies on sheets and bake 3-4 minutes on low shelf and 3-4 minutes on upper shelf.  Remove from oven & cool lightly on sheets before removing cookies.

Complete cooling and frost as desired.

Cut-out Cookie Frosting

Cream 1 stick of butter

Blend in 2 Cups or more powdered sugar, Whip until smooth & fluffy

Add 1 tsp vanilla or any other desired flavoring

Add coloring as desired

If using a small piping bag to apply frosting it should be fairly stiff.  For a swirl effect, try alternating colored and white frosting in the bag.  A chopstick inserted & removed will help swirl the colors more.  Heat from your hand will cause the frosting to soften.  Work quickly or put frosting in fridge for a few minutes if it becomes too soft.

Frosting takes 4-8 hours to dry before cut-out cookies can be stacked in containers.  Separate layers of cookies with wax paper - if they last that long.

Chocolate Angel Food cake

Recipe from Country Woman


3/4 C sifted cake flour (works w/all purpose too)
1 1/2 C + 2 Tbs. sugar, divided
1/4 C Cocoa
1 1/2 C egg whites, room temp. (approx. 1 doz.)
1 1/2 Tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Sift together flour, 2 Tbs sugar, & cocoa three times.  Set Aside.
In a large mixing bowl beat egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, & vanilla till foamy stiff.
Add remaining sugar, 2 Tbs. at a time, beating 10 sec. after each addition.  Continue beating until mixture holds stiff peaks.  Gently fold in flour mixture 3 Tbs. at a time.  Spread into 10" angel food pan.  Cut through batter to remove air pockets.  Bake at 350 deg. F for 40-40 minutes or until springy.  Immediately invert cake in pan; allow to cool.

Once cool, remove from pan.  Frost as desired or drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Chocolate syrup:  yield 1 cup         Recipe from Hershey's Homemade, 1991
3/4 C sugar
1/3 C Hershey's Cocoa
1 Tbs. cornstarch
3/4 C water
1 Tbs. margarine, butter, or oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In small saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and cornstarch; stir in water.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; boil for 1 minute.  Remove from heat; add margarine and vanilla, stirring until smooth.  Refrigerate thoroughly.

You know you're getting old when...

You know you're getting old when your wedding gifts wear out.

First to go was the blender.

Then the hand held mixer started smoking.

The toaster died.

Next was the food processor, followed by the spice 

mill/coffee grinder.

But you know you're getting really old when the bearings in 

the rolling pin start to seize half way through making a low 

cholesterol pie crust.

Well, the crust was rolled anyhow.