A Picture To Ponder

08.24.84

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

MARY-KATE!

Mrs. K's Loaded Baked Potato Salad

I don't know exactly where I came up with this recipe. I think it has just sort of evolved over the years. Anyway it is delicious, and you should try it. The only thing I might caution you on is that if you cook the potatoes in any way other than boiling...they tend to dry out. So, in that sense it doesn't keep well, but you can always make extra "sauce" to add to it the next day and problem solved.

Here is what you need, and feel free to adjust the quantities to suit your own tastes:

• 2 lbs of potatoes (if you are taking this to a BBQ for a group I would do the whole 5lbs bag) and I use the the little red ones. I wash them, but do not peel them.
• A bottle of Ken's Buttermilk Ranch dressing
• A pound of bacon cooked EXTRA EXTRA crispy. Cool it on a paper towel, and chop into tiny pieces.
• 16 oz. of sour cream
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• A few stalks of celery, finely chopped (enough to make a cup)
• 1/4 cup real mayonnaise
• 5 hard boiled eggs, chopped and cooled

1. I chop the potatoes into pretty small chunks and cook them in a frying pan with some butter and salt. Basically, you are making home fries. Put them to the side to cool.

2. The sauce. I hate mayo. So, I tried to make a similar consistency without a mayo taste or smell. Basically just mix the sour cream, ranch dressing, mayo, onion, and celery all together.

3. Toss the egg, potatoes, and bacon together together.

4. Mix the sauce in until everything is coated.

ENJOY!

Let me know what you think.

I'm Baaaackk....

Did you miss me?

Don't lie.

I can't believe I wrote nothing for all of July. My excuse is that I went back to work after my foot resting episode and I took an accelerated summer class. I enjoyed the class even though it was super demanding. Monday through Thursday 6:00 to 8:30. We had a paper due and a test every Monday. Lots and lots of reading, but I found the subject matter interesting, so it wasn't too bad. It wasn't required for my degree, but it boosted my GPA. I got an A. The fall semester starts on the 25th, so I have a little time to myself and OD in the meantime.

Speaking of OD, I officially hate my job. I feel so burnt out. I don't have any pride or passion for what I do. I have looked around a little bit, but so far nothing. I really just want to go to school and get it done, but that is a scary idea for Mr. K, since he is a $$$$$ man. I say you need to spend $ to make $, and my education is an investment and the sooner I get done the better off we all will be.

What else? I got a hummingbird feeder. And, I have been watching like a little kid waiting for Santa for them to come. Up until 2 days ago...nothing. But, after my horrible day on Monday I was sitting outside with Cori and sure enough one came. It was really cool 'cause he came at sat in the tree, then he flew right up to my face...so close I flinched. Then I told him about the feeder and he flew away like he was leaving, but then turned and went over to it. YAY! His name is Sheridan.

Mark's brother and his wife are expecting a baby girl. Better them than me.

I started experimenting with essential oils. I wanted them to add to my homemade cleaning products. So far I have really only put them in the laundry, but I have read about mixing a few drops into the box of baking soda and scenting it for say, sprinkling on the carpet. I got lime and mandarin orange. And, its no joke...A LITTLE GOES A LOOOONG WAY.


Happy 25th Anniversary to Bobby & Jan!

I am off to buy some stones...

Hope your all having a great summer!

The Queen Of Marinades

I don't cook.

But, since my new organicness requires that I actually turn on the stove...I have been giving it the old college try.

The most versatile skill I have been developing is the use of various marinades.

Last week it was the beer and garlic concoction.

The other day it was the mustard...which if I just may say was extremely yummy!

Last night is was half a bottle of white Merlot and a Tbl each of rosemary, basil, sage, and thyme.

And, tonight it is lime juice and coconut milk...and I am cooking my rice in coconut milk as well.

I love that I can throw everything in a giant bowl and let it soak overnight.

I feel like since whatever I am cooking makes the house smell so good and comes out with such flavor...that I have really accomplished something.

If any of you have ideas for really good marinades let me know!

Mrs. K's Mustard Chicken

I was watching Food Network last night and saw this recipe used for catfish. Since I would never ever eat catfish, I substituted chicken. I must have been hungry, 'cause I usually don't like to try new things, but I have to say it was pretty good.

Mustard Chicken

Cut chicken breast into strips (as many as you like)

Dredge chicken through mustard, and then seasoned bread crumbs.

bake until chicken is fully cooked and they are golden brown.

Easy and deliscious!

A Reason To Love July

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

The International Ice Cream Association (IICA) encourages retailers and consumers to celebrate July as National Ice Cream Month. In 2008, National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 20.

The U.S. ice cream industry generates more than $21 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for thousands of citizens. About 9% of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, contributing significantly to the economic well-being of the nation's dairy industry.

Founded in 1900, IICA is the trade association for manufacturers and distributors of ice cream and other frozen dessert products. The association's activities range from legislative and regulatory advocacy to market research, education and training. Its 80 member companies manufacture and distribute an estimated 85% of the ice cream and frozen dessert products consumed in the United States. IICA, as a constituent organization of the International Dairy Foods Association, can be found online at http://www.idfa.org/.

Check out these sites:

Horizon Organic

Green & Blacks Chocolate


Ben & Jerry's Organic

JUNE 20TH

MIKE

June Is National Iced tea Month

That a homemade glass of iced tea has more antioxidants than a full serving of fruit or vegetables?

It's true.

It is good for your skin, lowers cholesterol, and even fights cancer! read more here. Don't forget, too, that you are getting all these benefits in a giant glass of water. So...ZERO CALORIES!

I have had an iced tea maker for about 12 years and I use it all the time! It is made by Mr. Coffee and it has lasted all this time. It is incredibly easy to use...there is literally 1 button and 10 minutes later ready-to-drink!

I love mine so much, I bought my grandmother one for Mother's Day. They are cheap too..I think it was $19 in Wal-Mart or something.

Now, if you are a tea drinker you'll know what I am talking about here. You need to find real tea. It does make a difference. The teabags you buy in the store are not tea...they are tea "dust" as Mary likes to call them. I guess the best thing to do is try different ones and find one you like...I have been buying the Celestial Seasonings Organic Black Tea.

My thing is...I like tea and not any sort of flavorings, like say passion fruit (inside joke) for example.

Anyway, last weekend at Jan's, she was telling me about some guy on The View who did a whole segment on tea. One of the interesting things she learned (and passed on to me) was that almost all teas come from the same plant, cameliasinensis, and that the color variations that we get sold on (green tea, black tea, etc) are the same plant at different stages of processing. The "guy" on The View is Mark Ukra, AKA Dr. Tea, and owns a tea garden in West Hollywood.

A few things you need to keep in mind:

1. The amount of tea, NOT the brew time, determine the strength of the tea

2. Use good water, if it doesn't taste good out of the tap, it won't do anything for the tea either

3. Don't squeeze the bags (anymore)...this just adds tannins to the pot which = bitterness

Another benefit to brewing at home instead of stopping @ Dunks or Starbucks, or wherever...is the price. At Seattle's Best...a large iced tea which is 20 oz...is $2! At that is a plain no frills iced tea! For another $1.50 or $2...you could get an entire package of tea or tea bags and make several pitchers at home.

Now...if you are into the frilly stuff here are a few ideas:

1. The Arnold Palmer - 1/2 lemonade and 1/2 iced tea

2. The Twisted Palmer - 1/2 limeade and 1/2 iced tea

3. The Boston - 1/2 cranberry juice and 1/2 iced tea

4. Jazz up your ice cube by freezing berries, lemon slices, or mint inside the cubes

5. Freeze ice tea cube so your drink doesn't get diluted as the cubes melt.

6. While the tea is brewing add your own herbs, like lavender or jasmine

7. Use simple syrup to sweeten instead of the white granulated kind...it mixes and sweetens better.

8. Instead of the traditional lemon, why not oranges or pineapple?

If sweet tea is more your bag (ahemKathy) here is a pretty easy recipe, but you definitely give up the zero calorie factor.

Southern Sweet Tea

4 cups water
8-10 regular-sized

Simple syrup (1+ cups)

Pinch of baking soda

Additional water

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan.

Turn off the heat, add teabags (tie the strings together to make 'em easy to pull out) in the pan with a pinch of baking soda. Once it's suitably darkened, and still hot, pull out the bags.

Stir 1/2-1 cup of the simple syrup into the tea until it's thoroughly blended.

Pour the mixture into a 1 gallon glass or metal pitcher, and fill to the top with water. Stir, cool to room temperature and chill in the refrigerator.

Once the tea has cooled, serve it in tall glasses 2/3 filled with ice, with sugar syrup on the side so that guests may sweeten according to their personal taste.

*Simple Syrup is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir constantly until cool and clear.

And since I am all about maximum usage these days...save the old teabags. After brewing (and NOT squeezing) throw the used bags into a baggie and into the fridge. When you are heading into a bath or just need a quick decompression after work...lay down with the cool bags on your eyes for 15 minutes. The teabags help reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes!

Mrs. K's Flatbread Philly

They say not to shop when you are hungry, but this time it paid off! I found this Indian flat bread at Whole Foods the other day, and I thought it would be so yummy warmed with a little olive oil and herbs.

Anyway I ended up making these steak and cheese jobbies, and Mr. K said "This is the best thing you ever cooked...EVER!" Even though he meant it as a compliment, it was insulting because I threw it together in about 10 minutes...and I instantly recalled the numerous times I have been in the kitchen for hours at a time.

The bread was called NAAN, and it came in a few different flavors.

The meat was just a top sirloin that I cut into strips and marinated overnight in terryaki sauce. You can marinate in any sauce you like.

Here is the recipe:

1/2 lb. marinated top sirloin (cut into strips)
2 pieces of the NAAN
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbl olive oil
1/2 cup of cheese (whatever kind you like)

Preheat the oven to 350.

Lay 2 pieces of NAAN on a cookie sheet. Brush each with 1/2 tbl of olive oil. Sprinkle each with 1 and 1/2 cloves of minced garlic and 1/4 cup of cheese. Place cookie sheet in the center of the oven.

While, the bread is in the oven, saute the meat in a pan on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Remove the bread from the oven and plate. Divide the strips of meat evenly over each one, and enjoy!