I love watching cooking shows. They give me inspiration and ideas. Even if someone is cooking something that I will probably never fix, I still like watching the whole process. And cookbooks, I love looking through cookbooks also.
There are plenty of cooking shows to choose from nowadays, on PBS, Cooking Channel, Food Network and even on regular TV. They come and go, some are on for a few years while others may last only a few months. There are usually "themes". For instance, one show may be about making sandwiches every which way, one may be about Indian food, fast meals, southern cooking or even entertaining. You can find almost any thing you want.
Right now I have two favorite shows that I really enjoy watching. I love watching The Pioneer Woman. She has a blog and a show on Food Network. She lives on a working cattle ranch with her husband and kids. http://thepioneerwoman.com
As she says herself, her food is simple and delicious and I must say that everything I've cooked from her cookbook has been delicious. As a matter of fact, I have shown some of her recipes in this blog. She is not a trained chef, just a homecook. She uses everyday ingredients and food that anyone can get easily. From lasagna and chocolate cake to breakfast sandwiches and homemade French fries and donuts. I'm dying to fix her enchiladas, they look delicious. Her show/blog has introduced me to numerous new (new to me that is) ingredients and I will introduce you to them as they come up in a recipe.
Some critics might say her food is too simple or she sometimes uses some canned ingredients and, oh the horror, Cool Whip!! She also has a garden and uses lots of fresh ingredients. The way I feel about this is that this is the way everyday people cook. They come home from work and have to get dinner on the table for their families. Also, she lives on a ranch, about an hour away from a supermarket. I like her recipes and they give me good food to cook and a basis for a recipe that I might start with and make my own.
My other favorite cooking show is a new show, Heartland Table with Amy Thielen. She is a chef and moved back to her small town in Minnesota. She has a HUGE garden and buys a lot of her ingredients from local sources. There have only been three episodes so far, but I like it. I like her understated, calm way of working in the kitchen. Of course some people have commented that she is too understated and mellow, but I think it's a nice change. You can't please everyone.
I hope her show stays around, it's apparently on a 6 episode trial. The one things that solidified my feelings for this show was she was looking a particular utensil and when she opened the drawer it looked just like mine!! I have one big drawer where all the non-everyday utensils are stored, the measuring cups, whisks, biscuit cutters, meat mallet, ladles etc. and they are just all in a jumble. I just have to dig in there and find what I need. She had a drawer just like it, made me happy to see that. heartland table.
I've provided a couple of links above and I hope they work. I've never done it before and I'm not sure I did it right, but I guess I'll find out.
Happy Cooking
Kathy
Heartland TableHeartlandtable
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Renewed And Refreshed
I haven't been on here for a couple of weeks, I've been too busy "manufacturing snot". I'm sure that is way more information than you want to know, but that's the way it is. It has had me tired and "draggy" and I've hardly been online at all. My allergies have been going crazy, but I guess that shouldn't be any surprise since I live in the 4th worse place for allergies. Now, I've always suffered from allergies and Autumn is always the part of the year that I have the most problems, but this year has been extraordinarily bad. I just can't seem to get over the hurdle.
Despite all the coughing, spitting, blowing and hacking, I was able to finish up my Fall cleaning last weekend so now I am able to get back to my favorite thing which is cooking something special and/or different on the weekend. YAY!!! I've missed it.
So, today, on this beautiful, cloudless, 73 degree day, this first day of Autumn I made peanut butter cookies. And I must say, this cookie recipe is one of the easiest that I make. I got this recipe from a Weight Watcher book surprisingly. It only calls for 4 ingredients, all you do is mix them together and bake them. Nothing could be easier or quicker.
Here are the list of volunteers.....1 cup of crunchy peanut butter (actually it calls for just plain peanut butter, but I like the texture of the crunchy), 1 tsp. of vanilla, 1 egg and 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar. Bake at 325.
Now here is where the recipe and I differ. It says to bake for 10 minutes and that you should get 3 dozen cookies. But that's not how I roll! Keep in mind that this is a Weight Watcher recipe, and if you were to get 3 dozen cookies from this recipe, they would probably be just a little bigger than a quarter. Of course, if you are on a restricted diet I can understand but I like my cookies just a little bigger than that.
So the baking time is more that 10 minutes, probably more like 15 or 20, you just have to keep checking for doneness. I got 13 cookies out of this recipe which will last me a week or so. I just like a couple of cookies after lunch.
I know there are only a dozen here, Lola and I had to test one and I gave two away to a friend. They are really very good and a little soft and chewy, just the way I like them. I hope you will try this recipe, it will be worth it.
On the gardening front, I believe I'm seeing some teeny, tiny sprouts coming up. Or it could just be weeds, but I guess I will know soon enough. Hopefully, I will have some little round carrots and brussel sprouts soon enough.
See ya soon......
Kathy
Despite all the coughing, spitting, blowing and hacking, I was able to finish up my Fall cleaning last weekend so now I am able to get back to my favorite thing which is cooking something special and/or different on the weekend. YAY!!! I've missed it.
So, today, on this beautiful, cloudless, 73 degree day, this first day of Autumn I made peanut butter cookies. And I must say, this cookie recipe is one of the easiest that I make. I got this recipe from a Weight Watcher book surprisingly. It only calls for 4 ingredients, all you do is mix them together and bake them. Nothing could be easier or quicker.
Here are the list of volunteers.....1 cup of crunchy peanut butter (actually it calls for just plain peanut butter, but I like the texture of the crunchy), 1 tsp. of vanilla, 1 egg and 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar. Bake at 325.
Now here is where the recipe and I differ. It says to bake for 10 minutes and that you should get 3 dozen cookies. But that's not how I roll! Keep in mind that this is a Weight Watcher recipe, and if you were to get 3 dozen cookies from this recipe, they would probably be just a little bigger than a quarter. Of course, if you are on a restricted diet I can understand but I like my cookies just a little bigger than that.
So the baking time is more that 10 minutes, probably more like 15 or 20, you just have to keep checking for doneness. I got 13 cookies out of this recipe which will last me a week or so. I just like a couple of cookies after lunch.
I know there are only a dozen here, Lola and I had to test one and I gave two away to a friend. They are really very good and a little soft and chewy, just the way I like them. I hope you will try this recipe, it will be worth it.
On the gardening front, I believe I'm seeing some teeny, tiny sprouts coming up. Or it could just be weeds, but I guess I will know soon enough. Hopefully, I will have some little round carrots and brussel sprouts soon enough.
See ya soon......
Kathy
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Wendell Berry
I've been reading articles by and about Wendell Berry. Have you heard of him? He is a farmer, writer, activist and academic and his subjects are agriculture, rural life and community. He has written novels and essays. He has taught creative writing and protested wars, nuclear plants and environmental causes. He lives on the family farm in Henry County, Kentucky.
I have never read any of his novels, but I plan to after reading several articles about him in several magazines and online. I have read a couple of his essays. I found him to be a fascinating person and I fell like I can identify with a lot of the things he writes about.
But for now I would like to share some of Mr. Berry's quotes that I particularly like and agree with.
"Individualism is going around these days in uniform, handing out the party line on individualism"
"I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world and I am free."
"Our model citizen is a sophisticate who before puberty understands how to produce a baby, but who at the age of thirty will not know how to produce a potato."
"Once plants and animals were raised together on the same farm which therefore neither produced unmanageable surpluses of manure, to be wasted and to pollute the water supply, nor depended on such quantities of commercial fertilizer. The genius of America farm experts is very well demonstrated here: they can take a solution and divide it neatly into two problems."
"Today, local economies are being destroyed by the "pluralistic," displaced, global economy, which has no respect for what works in a locality. The global economy is built on the principle that one place can be exploited, even destroyed, for the sake of another place."
"The passive American consumer, sitting down to a meal of pre-prepared food, confronts inert, anonymous substances that have been processed, dyed, breaded, sauced, gravied, ground, pulped, strained, blended, prettified, and sanitized beyond resemblance to any part of any creature that ever lived."
"Wendell Berry, born 1934, is a Kentucky-based writer and farmer who believes the good life includes sustainable agriculture, healthy rural communities, connection to place, the pleasures of good food, local economies, the miracle of life, fidelity, frugality and the interconnectedness of life."
(from an essay by Mr. Berry that was printed in the March-April 2010 issue of Edible Louisville)
Just reading a couple of articles about this man really makes me want to look up some more of his essays and novels. To be such a renowned author and activist, he seems to be most at home on his farm. And I just like the whole idea of that.
I must investigate this further.
I hope you've enjoyed some of the quotes.
Kathy
I have never read any of his novels, but I plan to after reading several articles about him in several magazines and online. I have read a couple of his essays. I found him to be a fascinating person and I fell like I can identify with a lot of the things he writes about.
But for now I would like to share some of Mr. Berry's quotes that I particularly like and agree with.
"Individualism is going around these days in uniform, handing out the party line on individualism"
"I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world and I am free."
"Our model citizen is a sophisticate who before puberty understands how to produce a baby, but who at the age of thirty will not know how to produce a potato."
"Once plants and animals were raised together on the same farm which therefore neither produced unmanageable surpluses of manure, to be wasted and to pollute the water supply, nor depended on such quantities of commercial fertilizer. The genius of America farm experts is very well demonstrated here: they can take a solution and divide it neatly into two problems."
"Today, local economies are being destroyed by the "pluralistic," displaced, global economy, which has no respect for what works in a locality. The global economy is built on the principle that one place can be exploited, even destroyed, for the sake of another place."
"The passive American consumer, sitting down to a meal of pre-prepared food, confronts inert, anonymous substances that have been processed, dyed, breaded, sauced, gravied, ground, pulped, strained, blended, prettified, and sanitized beyond resemblance to any part of any creature that ever lived."
"Wendell Berry, born 1934, is a Kentucky-based writer and farmer who believes the good life includes sustainable agriculture, healthy rural communities, connection to place, the pleasures of good food, local economies, the miracle of life, fidelity, frugality and the interconnectedness of life."
(from an essay by Mr. Berry that was printed in the March-April 2010 issue of Edible Louisville)
Just reading a couple of articles about this man really makes me want to look up some more of his essays and novels. To be such a renowned author and activist, he seems to be most at home on his farm. And I just like the whole idea of that.
I must investigate this further.
I hope you've enjoyed some of the quotes.
Kathy
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Pour Me A Cold One
When it comes to "adult beverages", I stay strictly to just a few that I like....beer, frozen margaritas, wine and champagne. In that order. I enjoy coming home after work, sitting on the deck with Lola and having a beer before I start dinner. Of course between coming home from work and enjoying that adult beverage I have walked the dog and straightened up the house a little. I feel that I'm entitled to that little bit of me time.
Usually I stick to the same kind of beer, afterall, I didn't want to buy a whole 6 pack of something that I'd never had before and then not like it. Then about a couple of months ago, my neighbor and part-time taste tester, told me that our local Kroger had something called "build your own 6 pack".
They provide empty cartons and then there is a refrigerated area that is sectioned off with single beers, all different kinds.
It was marvelous, I could try different beers to see what I liked and didn't like. These are some of my favorites.
I think this has been my favorite overall....Leinenkugel, family brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
I really didn't think that I would like a beer with a lemon flavor but it is really very good on a nice hot summer day.
This, LandShark is my second favorite, it's got a light, crisp taste, plus I really like the name.
I believe this is a Budweiser product, but I'm not sure. Again, it has a lemony flavor that I really like, lemon shandy. I'm not really sure what "shandy" means, but it's good. It also comes in orange but I haven't tried that.
This is also on my list of "likes". According to the label, it has an orange flavor, but I couldn't tell. I didn't realize that when I bought it or I probably wouldn't have gotten it. If you order it in a restaurant they stick an orange wedge in the top to squeeze in, but I don't. I like this beer though.
And of course, I've always liked my Stella. (I always have an irresistible urge to holler STTTEELLAAA, ala Street Car Named Desire, whenever I drink one.) It's a Belgium brewed beer and it was my first foray into different beers a year or so ago and still one of my favorites.
Here is another Leinenkugel that I decided to try. The first few sips made me think I had made a mistake, but eventually I decided that it wasn't bad, but not one that I will probably buy again. There is that word again. What does Shandy mean???
I've tried a couple of Mexican beers and they were alright. I was really anxious to try the Italian beer, Peroni, but I really didn't care too much for it. The one beer that I haven't been brave enough to try yet is a Guiness. It's such a dark beer and I just can't imagine that I would like it. I need to take a drink from someone elses first!!!
I know that some of the above beers have "fall flavors" that I haven't tried yet, although I'm not a fan of pumpkin so if that is the only choice you can forget it, but you can bet I will be checking it out.
On a different note, here are some scenes from my office window.
Sometimes if someone walks down that sidewalk, they chase them a little bit. Just protecting their territory.
That one had me worried. The street to the left is a very busy street and I was afraid he was going to get to close to it.
Whew....no need to worry, they are headed back to the pond. I can relax now.
Have a good week everyone.
Kathy
Usually I stick to the same kind of beer, afterall, I didn't want to buy a whole 6 pack of something that I'd never had before and then not like it. Then about a couple of months ago, my neighbor and part-time taste tester, told me that our local Kroger had something called "build your own 6 pack".
They provide empty cartons and then there is a refrigerated area that is sectioned off with single beers, all different kinds.
It was marvelous, I could try different beers to see what I liked and didn't like. These are some of my favorites.
I think this has been my favorite overall....Leinenkugel, family brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
I really didn't think that I would like a beer with a lemon flavor but it is really very good on a nice hot summer day.
This, LandShark is my second favorite, it's got a light, crisp taste, plus I really like the name.
I believe this is a Budweiser product, but I'm not sure. Again, it has a lemony flavor that I really like, lemon shandy. I'm not really sure what "shandy" means, but it's good. It also comes in orange but I haven't tried that.
And of course, I've always liked my Stella. (I always have an irresistible urge to holler STTTEELLAAA, ala Street Car Named Desire, whenever I drink one.) It's a Belgium brewed beer and it was my first foray into different beers a year or so ago and still one of my favorites.
I've tried a couple of Mexican beers and they were alright. I was really anxious to try the Italian beer, Peroni, but I really didn't care too much for it. The one beer that I haven't been brave enough to try yet is a Guiness. It's such a dark beer and I just can't imagine that I would like it. I need to take a drink from someone elses first!!!
I know that some of the above beers have "fall flavors" that I haven't tried yet, although I'm not a fan of pumpkin so if that is the only choice you can forget it, but you can bet I will be checking it out.
On a different note, here are some scenes from my office window.
Sometimes if someone walks down that sidewalk, they chase them a little bit. Just protecting their territory.
That one had me worried. The street to the left is a very busy street and I was afraid he was going to get to close to it.
Whew....no need to worry, they are headed back to the pond. I can relax now.
Have a good week everyone.
Kathy
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Unplugged..Offline..And Out Of The Loop
People talk about being "unplugged" from all of their electronic devices, tv and newspapers for a day, a weekend or even longer. Heck, there have even been times when I would take a break from the laptop, cell phone and maybe even the TV for an afternoon or an evening, but it was always of my own choosing. Well this past weekend it was THRUST upon me and I didn't like it one bit.
I had been doing some heavy cleaning on Saturday, curtains blinds, cleaning under furniture and shampooing carpets. I was exhausted so by that evening I was looking forward to sitting back, relaxing and playing some games on the laptop and watching TV. The Big Bang Theory was on from 8pm to 11pm and I was looking forward to watching
Then it happened, some strong storms moved through the area and a tree branch came off my tree and pulled my cable wire out of the house. Now I had no cable TV or any TV of any kind, no internet and no phone (landline). Saturday night on a holiday weekend, which means the earliest I could be back online would be Tuesday.
Thank goodness I still had electricity and my cell phone and a radio. My cell phone is not a fancy one so I could text, make calls and get on facebook. I enjoy listening to talk radio during the week at work, but on the weekend there is not much to listen to and I don't want to listen to music all day. As much as I missed my laptop, I could handle not being able to use it for a few days. BUT it was the loss of the TV that drove me up the wall. I like my TV.
First of all, the first big college football game of the season was on TV Saturday afternoon and it killed me not to be able to watch it. I did listen to it on the radio, but it just wasn't the same. I missed watching the news, local and national, I missed seeing the weather. Sure I could get some of that information on the radio, but it wasn't the same.
When I am home I always turn the TV on, kind of like background noise. When I'm cleaning or cooking I like to watch movies or the History Channel or the Discovery Channel. I very seldom sit and just watch TV during the day, I'm always doing something while casually watching or listening. In the evening, when I'm done for the day, I like to relax on the couch and watch the shows that I like to watch. Now I don't pass up going out to do fun things to stay home and watch TV (that's what DVR's are for) but if I'm home I want my TV. I was home cleaning all weekend and I thought I would lose my mind.
How many crimes had been committed, what major accidents on the highway, what is going on in the local politics, what's the weather forecast for the week, what are the sport's scores???? I was in the dark, no outside information, there could have been a zombie apocalypse and I would never know it was coming....oh what is happening out there in civilization?
I know in the scheme of things, being without some of the conveniences of everyday life is a small thing. There is a lot more things in this world to worry about. But for me, on this weekend, I felt all alone (she say's with just a hint of melodrama). But is was fixed on Tuesday and all is right with the world again.
Next time I'm unplugged I hope it's of my own choosing.
Kathy
I had been doing some heavy cleaning on Saturday, curtains blinds, cleaning under furniture and shampooing carpets. I was exhausted so by that evening I was looking forward to sitting back, relaxing and playing some games on the laptop and watching TV. The Big Bang Theory was on from 8pm to 11pm and I was looking forward to watching
Then it happened, some strong storms moved through the area and a tree branch came off my tree and pulled my cable wire out of the house. Now I had no cable TV or any TV of any kind, no internet and no phone (landline). Saturday night on a holiday weekend, which means the earliest I could be back online would be Tuesday.
Thank goodness I still had electricity and my cell phone and a radio. My cell phone is not a fancy one so I could text, make calls and get on facebook. I enjoy listening to talk radio during the week at work, but on the weekend there is not much to listen to and I don't want to listen to music all day. As much as I missed my laptop, I could handle not being able to use it for a few days. BUT it was the loss of the TV that drove me up the wall. I like my TV.
First of all, the first big college football game of the season was on TV Saturday afternoon and it killed me not to be able to watch it. I did listen to it on the radio, but it just wasn't the same. I missed watching the news, local and national, I missed seeing the weather. Sure I could get some of that information on the radio, but it wasn't the same.
When I am home I always turn the TV on, kind of like background noise. When I'm cleaning or cooking I like to watch movies or the History Channel or the Discovery Channel. I very seldom sit and just watch TV during the day, I'm always doing something while casually watching or listening. In the evening, when I'm done for the day, I like to relax on the couch and watch the shows that I like to watch. Now I don't pass up going out to do fun things to stay home and watch TV (that's what DVR's are for) but if I'm home I want my TV. I was home cleaning all weekend and I thought I would lose my mind.
How many crimes had been committed, what major accidents on the highway, what is going on in the local politics, what's the weather forecast for the week, what are the sport's scores???? I was in the dark, no outside information, there could have been a zombie apocalypse and I would never know it was coming....oh what is happening out there in civilization?
I know in the scheme of things, being without some of the conveniences of everyday life is a small thing. There is a lot more things in this world to worry about. But for me, on this weekend, I felt all alone (she say's with just a hint of melodrama). But is was fixed on Tuesday and all is right with the world again.
Next time I'm unplugged I hope it's of my own choosing.
Kathy
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