Pens, Paper, & Ammo

Nothing exciting to report (as usual) - just tried another sourdough recipe:

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A picture (albeit a bad one) of said yummy focaccia.

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I tried making a rye loaf for the first time and I was thrilled with the result!

Recipe here!

After four failed attempts at sourdough, we (I say we since my husband made the starter and I did the baking) finally got something that looks and tastes like sourdough!  It’s not the prettiest bread, but it has a lovely flavor.  Recipe is here!

Wow, it’s only day two of NaBloPoMo and I’m already out of ideas of what to post.  Instead of anything deep and profound, I’ll leave you with this quick recipe:

 Spicy Cracker Dip

Cheap, plastic skull goblet optional.

• 2 pks. soft cream cheese (regular or low fat) - softened to room temp.
• 1 small jar of salsa
• 1 lb hot, lean turkey sausage - casings removed
• 1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brown turkey sausage, drain fat, and set aside
3. Mix all ingredients together and place in casserole dish
4. Top with mozzarella cheese
5. Bake until hot and bubbling.  Serve with Ritz crackers.

Not to be confused with Salad Fingers.  (it’s disturbing, don’t say I didn’t warn you)

This must be one of my favorite meals from childhood.  I remember my mom making it a lot during hot summer days.  It’s also a good way to tricking kids into eating lots of fresh veggies. 

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-baked pizza crust (this is the recipe I used) - cooled
• 1 small head cauliflower - cut into tiny pieces
• 1 small bunch of broccoli - cut into tiny pieces
• 1 large carrot - grated
• 1/4 c. light ranch dressing
• mozzarella cheese (to taste)
• Chili powder or paprika - for decoration

1. Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Slather pre-baked crust with ranch dressing.  Top with veggies and then cheese.
3. Completely forget what you were doing, watch an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and entertain 1 year old for half and hour.  (optional step)
4. Throw entire thing in oven long enough to melt the cheese.
5. Sprinkle with either chili powder or paprika for extra pretty-tude.
6. Let sit in fridge to cool, forget that you made supper and eat a chunk of husband’s homemade pizza bread.
7. Eat eventually.

I make some really good fish sandwiches.  I mean, I can even get the Mecha-Hubby to eat them.

Super easy too… dip some tilapia in egg, coat in bread crumbs, fry with non-stick cooking spray until flaky.  Yummy and healthy.

Oh yeah… and THIS:

My Kiwi came today!!!

Really, do I need to say anything else?

I’ve named him (I’m convinced that Kiwis are male…) Ytterbium.

The first spinning session went pretty smoothly

Ignore the stuff nearest the orifice… that was my poor attempt at an artsy yarn.  The green in the back is probably the most evenly spun singles I have ever made.   I am in love.

I was fiddling around with a few oatmeal cookie recipes last week and eventually came up with these:

This plate of cookies lasted for all of 5 minutes.

They’re even kind of almost good for you… almost.  Kind of.  Well, maybe if you have the self-control to only eat a couple… Anyway, here’s the recipe:

Chocolate Chip Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. applesauce
1/4 c. Smart Balance
1/2 c. firm-packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. fat free half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 c. oatmeal (quick cook or regular)
6 oz. package chocolate chips
2/3 c. chopped walnuts

Stir together the flours, baking powder, and salt.  In another bowl, mix the butter, applesauce, sugars, egg, half-and-half, and vanilla.  Slowly add the flour mixture and blend well.  Add the oatmeal, chocolate chips, and walnuts.  Drop by spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly brown around edges.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Om. Nom. Nom.

Well, I made it!  I managed to post every day - even if the posts weren’t anything ground-breaking.  Either way, we’re still unpacking so I really don’t have much to report yet.  In the meantime, here’s a great site for crockpot recipes!

Oh apples, how I love you!

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore receiving gifts of fresh produce.  Thoughtfully, my best friend recently brought me a gift of a peck of lovely apples from a local farm.  Excited to break out the crock pot, I sat down and began the task of peeling, coring, and slicing the red beauties.  Even before they hit the pot, the smell that filled our small apartment was the very embodiment of autumn.  This simple act started a love affair with homemade applesauce and apple-butter.   Later that evening my mother called asking if I had need for some apples from the apple tree in their backyard.  When I visited I was greeted with bags upon bags of apples at my disposal.  I was thrilled!  Again, I started the arduous task of peeling and chopping dozens of apples.  The hard work paid off twelve hours later in the form of the most wonderful applesauce I had ever tasted - warm, right from the crockpot and bursting with such comforting spices.  Half of this applesauce was then turned into apple-butter which was given as gifts to my mother and mother-in-law.  Another small portion (taken out before sugar and spices were added) was ground smooth and frozen into cubes for the Nooblet - which I am happy to report was well-received!  All-in-all, I think I have a new traditional fall favorite!

Basic applesauce recipe:

• 1 dozen apples - peeled, cored, cut into chunks
• Sugar - to taste
• Spices - nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves

Directions:  Put prepared apples into crockpot at medium, cook for 12 hours or until mushy.  Add sugar and spices to taste.  Mash with a potato masher until desired consistancy.

To make into apple-butter - continue cooking with lid off crockpot until mixture thickens, add additional spices to taste.

Easy enough!