So Much Time and So Little To Do (Strike that and Reverse it)

So Much Time and So Little To Do.......Strike That and Reverse It~Willy Wonka
BRIOCHE
The doomed Marie Antionette is often quoted as saying "qu'ils mangent de la brioche," which means "let them eat brioche," not "let them eat cake (gaiteau)"!~artisan bread in 5 minutes a day

Several days ago I prepared a Brioche recipe from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The recipe makes four 1-lb. loaves. I finally got around to using it Friday night. This is what became of the dough:



This is what is known as Almond Brioche "Bostock". It is a combination of buttery brioche, almond cream and orange zest-infused sugar. HOLY FRICKIN FRIJOLES is all I have to say. Life is Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood!!!!

Then today I used another pound of the dough for this:

This is a Brioche Loaf FILLED WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE

~As Fred Sanford would say "I'm Coming Elizabeth, I'm Coming"

I still have 1 1/2 lb. of the dough left to which I will make another "Bostock" and send it into work w/my hubster on Monday for his peeps.

Ham and Italian Bean Soup
On Friday, This:
Became This:
Which in turn, became this: It was one of those DUMB ASS moments.........don't even ask. All is good though. The soup was saved. Really good too. I used a combination of both chicken and beef stock and white wine, carrot, celery, shallot, bay leaf, thyme, garlic, dried Italian beans and a spiral sliced ham. Let's just say I need a new crockpot.

Tonight was Chicken Quesadillas on the BGE



Rotisserie white wine/herb pulled chicken, roasted red/yellow/jalapeno peppers, black beans, corn, cotija and cheddar cheese on sundried tomato/spinach tortillas, topped off with shredded romaine lettuce and a homemade salsa of diced pineapple, corn and black beans tossed in a mango vinaigrette.

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO ATE A HORSE.........SHE'S FULL OF COURSE!!!!

Capeo and Cirque

Last night was date night..........we haven't had one of those in.....well I can't remember the last one. It has been some weeks. Went to Cirque Du Soleil Satimbanco http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ . We also stopped at Ristorante Capeo
http://www.capeo.us/ down the street from the Alltell Arena. We had a spot right in the front of the restaurant in the nook right by the big window facing the street. We were able to people watch which is always fun.......especially when it is COLD and WINDY and calling for a winter storm warning in the south. Dinner was ok for the price. It should have been a lot better. I wouldn't go back. I had:
FRIED FISH
Calamari, Shrimp and Scallops dusted with Flour, fried crisp, and
Drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
An ancient Roman recipe. This Creamy Spaghetti dish is made with Egg,
Pancetta and Pecorino Cheese
HOUSE SALAD
Mixed Greens with Tomato and Onion tossed with a sweet

The Mr. Had:
THE HUNTER
A variety of sliced Italian meats served with the Chef’s
Own Grilled Italian Sausage accompanied with Condiments
PESTO ALLA CÁPEO
Chestnut Pasta, Broccoli and Potatoes laced with Pesto (a combination of
Basil, Pine Nuts and Parmigiano Reggiano)
Tuscan White Bean Soup
Then we shared a Tiramisu, which was the best part of the meal.

I Am A Marxine

This was forwarded to me from my Aunt Mary Lou. I in NO WAY take credit for this but thought it was hysterical. Since it deals w/the very source of what I talk about I had to post it.

*Martha's Way* Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
*Maxine's Way * Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!

*Martha's Way*To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
*Maxine's Way*Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix , keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

*Martha's Way*When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
*Maxine's Way*Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.

*Martha's Way*If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up."
*Maxine's Way*If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!"

*Martha's Way*Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
*Maxine's Way*Celery? Never heard of it!

*Martha's Way*Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
*Maxine's Way*The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't.

*Martha's Way*Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
*Maxine's Way*Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!

*Martha's Way*If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
*Maxine's Way*Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you.

*Martha's Way*Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
*Maxine's Way*Leftover wine??????????? HELLLLLOOOOO !!!!!!!

WTF

And what is up with this???? People that call themselves vegetarians but still eat chicken or seafood. I guess if a shrimp doesn't scream it doesn't count???? Do you eat 5 shrimps or 5 shrimp....I guess it is the same a 1 deer or 25 deer or 1 fish or 100 fish. I don't know about you but I am bucking the system and I next time I am ordering 6 shrimps. Who decided there was no sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

A Picture Tale of Vegetarian Enchiladas~Pulp Fiction Style

Grasping For Straws

Sweet n "Saur" Cabbage Soup

Does anyone ever feel like Rachael Ray is sometimes just grasping for straws???? Today is one of those days where I am like "Why is she on the air". I don't know. I like cabbage and I even like sauerkraut but this to me is just "blah". It reminds me of Willy Wonka and when Charlie and his family have to eat cabbage water for supper every night. I am all for imagination when cooking but sometimes there are those recipes where you are thinking "WTF". She is also making a toasted cheeze w/pickles and mustard.......I am sure it IS delish but no thanks.

Tomato Paste Addendum

In a previous post about my love of Tomato Paste in a tube......I did a verbal smack down on tomato paste in can. I believe I mocked the can stating "who ever uses a whole can of tomato paste anyway".........well apparently this Texas Red Enchilada sauce recipe is ONE of those few times you really DO use a can of tomato paste. Verbal correction noted.....fat mouth shut.

Weary Travelers Stuck In Dallas~Dinner Postponed

Due to unforseen weather conditions our dinner guests are stuck in Dallas. Good thing everything I have is all able to wait it out. No biggie.

I am taking this time to make mexican tonight. I have been starving for enchiladas. I had been looking around for an enchilada sauce recipe and found one on recipezaar. It is called Texas Red Enchilada sauce. The stuff from a can is too salty and screws with your stomach too much and is filled w/all kinds of "whatchamacallits".

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons flour
5 teaspoons red chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
6 ounces tomato paste
2 1/4 cups water
salt and pepper

Make a roux w/flour & butter. Add the rest and bring to a boil, then simmer until desired thickness. I am excited to make this. Plus, it is all stuff most of us have in the pantry. It has really good reviews so hopefully they aren't all a bunch of closet liars.

I make my enchiladas vegetarian....tonight I am filling them w/black beans, pinto beans, sauteed red/green/yellow pepper and corn.......some 2% cheddar and a little monterey jack and you have a pretty healthy meal......spinach salad on the side. I will post some pictures tonight.

Entertaining Menu

Monday night my hubby has colleagues coming in from Omaha. It started out with me saying :Why don't you invite, M, T, J over for supper. Husband says: That sounds good, but I better invite S and K too. Me: ok. Then I get an email from my husband this morning ( he was at the park) and it states: M,T,J,S,K, T,W, J my wife and I would like to have you over for supper. We will be having fire grilled pizzas, salad and dessert. Me: uh, were did the extra 3 people come from??? That is 10 people including us. And who decided we were having pizza on the BGE???

Story of my life.

So now I have a monstrous container of dough resting in my fridge for tomorrow. I made this poppy seed dressing for a spinach salad w/dried cranberries and toasted pecans, I have espresso panna cotta cooling in the fridge for dessert. I am going to make Pizza Margherita, Pineapple and Ham Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza. I will be tossing pizza all night while everyone else is eating and enjoying themselves. Don't worry.......I WILL be sending him the bill. I feel like a friggin caterer. I feel like I have been cooking all weekend because I HAVE BEEN cooking all weekend. I really need to start sipping hot todies or toddy's or tody's....I don't know how you speel it.

Vegetarians and Vegans Cover Your Eyes and Ears

Short Rib Bourguignonne

http://www.foodnetwork.com under The Rescue Chef

I made this today. It is wonderful. It was quick prep time but cooks for like 3 hours. It was delicious. The short ribs melted in your mouth. I basically ended up taking the meat off the bone (the meat really fell off the bone) and just broke it up into chunks and put it back in the sauce. I thickened the sauce up w/a little cornstarch into more of a gravy. I had added a whole package of baby carrots and extra celery and then we spooned this over asiago mashed potatoes and had green beans. The only thing that weirded me out was the marrow coming out of the end of the bones when I was searing them and the whole connective tissue and fat thing when I was taking the meat off. I am not vegetarian or vegan. I don't think Vegan is possible for me........I guess I am thoroughly convinced that most vegans just hate food. Don't stone me if you are vegan and this is not true. I can see giving up meat, I have done so in the past. But giving up eggs, cheese, cream, ice cream etc. No way. There IS NO WAY IN HELL. Some of those vegan substitutes spook me to no end. And soy......the beans are fine. You can pop them like candy......but I don't want soy dogs or soy cheeze or soy anything else. I don't want fakin bacon. I don't want tofurkey. Tofu is another thing I don't like. It is just plain WEIRD. Meat tends to gross me out on occassion and I could probably easily give it up again, and who knows what the future holds. I do get hungry for a steak now and again or a burger. I make chicken but could definately live w/out it. Bones, blood, skin, connective tissue, veins, and small pin feathers ick me to no end. BLAH! Anywho's, after getting past the whole meat thing......the taste of the short ribs WAS incredible. I mean......take a look at Moby.......you know who Moby is??? The singer.....Moby, who had the beef with Eminem. He looks sickly......when he was on Rachael Ray they went to his house and he showed his fridge open and the only thing he has in there are drinks and vitamins (he is vegan)......he truly looks like he needs a Triple Bacon Cheeseburger......all pale and sallow looking. I don't know. Don't send me hate mail PETA or PITA (pain in the ass) I am just merely thinking out loud here. I mean.....chickens have to lay eggs, it is what they do. Someone has got to eat them......how is that hurting a chicken by eating there egg??? My girlfriend once cracked an egg open for our breakfast and said "instant abortion". THANK YOU SO MUCH.........never looked at it that way before. Took me awhile to eat eggs again but I managed to bring them back into my diet. I never crack and egg w/out thinking that though. Perhaps that will be next weeks QUOTE OF THE WEEK...."Crack an egg, Have you had your instant abortion today".