A Tangle of Random Thoughts

Tomato-Zucchini Bake

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:50:42 GMT

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 zucchini, sliced thinly

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 heirloom (or large) tomato, sliced

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon fresh basil (or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil)

2 or 3 large eggs (depending on how quiche-ey you want it), lightly whisked

Handful of shredded Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly grease a 10-inch quiche/tart pan (or a 9-inch pie plate)

In a medium frying pan, cook the garlic and zucchini in the olive oil over medium-high heat until the garlic is tender and the zucchini is pliable, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and cook about 5 minutes more.

Put the vegetables in a bowl and add the flour, salt and pepper and basil and stir to combine. Add the egg and stir well. Pour into the prepared pan, sprinkle mozzarella on top and bake for about 15-20 minutes, until the egg is set and the top is lightly browned.

Kidnapped from NPR's "Cooking for One: A privilege, not a chore", then modified by Sara and I.

State Fair Chicken Marinade

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:42:25 GMT

2 eggs
1c oil
2c cider vinegar
1/2 tsp pepper
3tbs salt
1tbs poultry seasoning

Lo Mein

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:02:28 GMT

2 tbs. dark soy
2 tbs soy
scant 1/2 tbs sesame oil
1/2 tbs ginger
1/2 tbs garlic
1 tbs better than bullion
1/8 c. water
1/4 tsp. black pepper

16 ounce package noodles, if not cooked, cook as directed

1/4c vegetable oil

2c veggies, by eater's preference. I used 3-4 spring onions, 1/4 onion, 1/4 cup or so of sliced bamboo shoots, small handful of bean sprouts (add sprouts 2 minutes before you 're done, not at the beginning, so they don't get over cooked), some water chestnuts, a little shredded cabbage or bok choy, whatever floats your boat.

1/4 tsp of ginger
1/4 tsp garlic

Directions:

Mix sauce in small bowl

Lightly stir fry veggies in 12" frying pan so onions aren't raw, set aside in dish

Add oil to pan, pan fry the noodles a bit, 2 minutes or till a little crisp here and there. Add the veggies back in, and add sauce mixture. Mix well. Add bean sprouts if you have them, then cook two more minutes. Add that extra 1/4 tsp of ginger and garlic after cooking is finished.

Nom Nom.

Baked Egg Rolls

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:19:03 GMT

2/3c chopped celery
1/2c chopped carrots
2 1/2c shredded cabbage

1/2 onion
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp garlic

Meat/meat seasoning
1/2 lb turkey, shrimp or chicken
1 tbs. dark soy sauce
1/2 tsp. rice vinegar
1 tsp. sherry
1/4 tsp. black pepper

2 1/2 tsp soy sauce
Egg roll wrappers
1 egg white
cooking spray

Directions:

Pulse celery and carrots in food processor

Add cabbage to bowl with carrots and celery, cover, microwave for 5 min.

Cut Pork into slices, mix with seasonings

Cook, adding with any additional marinade liquid once meat is mostly cooked
Remove meat from pan, chop finely, add back into pan to absorb any liquid left in pan (important, absorbs more flavor)
Add meat to cabbage/carrot/celery bowl

Sautee onion, ginger and garlic

Chill for 15 minutes

Wrap egg rolls according to directions on package, with 2-3 tbs of filling inside. If on your first try, the egg roll wrappers are too thick and not bubbly and delicious, try a different brand of wrappers. It does make a difference.

Spray the egg rolls lightly with cooking spray, this is what makes the shells bubble up nicely when you bake them.

Cook for 18 minutes in 425 degree oven, flip halfway through.

Spray with cooking spray

Bake 425 degrees for 18 min

Avgolemono Soup w/Meatballs

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:07:21 GMT

1/2 lb Ground chicken or turkey
3 eggs
3 slices of bread, crumbled
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup dill
1/3 cup mint
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup orzo
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 1/2 cups water

Combine chicken, 1 egg, bread, garlic, 1/4 cup dill, mint, 1/2 tsp salt and lemon zest. Make into 30 small meatballs.

Heat remaining salt, broth, and water to a boil, add orzo, cook 7 minutes.

Reduce to a simmer, add meatballs, cook 5 minutes or until are cooked through.

Whisk lemon juice and remaining 2 eggs. Take soup off heat. Add a ladle of broth to the lemon-egg mixture while whisking. Slowly, while stirring, add egg mixture to the pot. Add remaining dill. The end! (nom nom)

Fancy Pants Cole Slaw (No Mayo)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:30:39 GMT

Dressing:

1 cup canola oil
5 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 ½ tsp. salt
1 clove of garlic
2 Tbs. sugar
pepper to taste

Slaw:

Angel Hair Slaw (1 package)
Sunflower kernels (to taste)
1 granny smith apple (or more if you like)
feta cheese (to taste)
salt
pepper
green onions (to taste)

Mix up dressing and chill.
Mix up slaw ingredients and pour dressing over all and toss.
Chill until ready to serve.
Best if served the same day as the dressing will start to wilt the slaw

Lemon-Chicken Orzo Soup

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:18:56 GMT

8c chicken broth
1c orzo
Fist sized ball of chopped chicken (1 smallish breast)
1 small onion
1/3c fresh lemon juice
1 tbs lemon zest
3 eggs
1/2 tsp (or more to taste) fresh ground black pepper
Fresh parsley to garnish, or 1/2 tsp dried parsley

Put broth on to boil. Brown onions and chicken in frying pan. Add orzo to broth when broth reaches a boil. Add chicken/onion mixture to soup 10 minutes after orzo is added. Whisk eggs in a bowl, add lemon juice and zest to eggs. Pour a ladle full of hot soup into the egg/lemon mixture, stirring as you add the broth. This will condition the eggs so they won't get goopy when you add them to the big pot of soup. Add the egg/lemon/broth mixture to the full pot of soup, stirring as you add. Pepper and parsley may be added to taste. (I like to have enough pepper in it for it to be called "Lemon pepper chicken orzo soup", but thats just me)

Day 6

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:51:07 GMT

Cutlets

1 can tuna
2 potatoes
1/2 tbs ginger
1/2 tbs garlic
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 green chili, chopped
6 curry leaves, sliced up
1 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp cardamom
2 tsp salt
1 tbs oil
2 eggs
breadcrumbs
oil for frying

Boil Potatoes. Heat oil in pan, add garlic, ginger and cinnamon. Add onion, chili, curry leaves, garam masala, and cardamom. Drain tuna and save liquid. Add tuna, cook till not wet. Add tuna liquid, cook until liquid is absorbed. Add potatoes, add salt, mash all together. If it needs any salt or pepper, add to taste. Next form the mash into patties and coat with egg, then breadcrumbs, then fry.

Day 5

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:34:36 GMT

Not Lomein

1 1/2 c veggies (should include a small onion, and then whatever you want, peas, carrots, celery, snow peas etc)
1/2 boneless chicken breast
1/4 c water
2 tbs flour
1/3 c soy sauce
1 tbs molasses
2 tbs sesame oil
3 cloves garlic
2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp chili paste (optional)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 pound hokkein noodles (precooked noodles come in a package, not 1/2 lb of raw pasta)

Slice veggies and meat, cook together in frying pan.
In seperate dish, mix flour and water until smooth. Add soy, molasses, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, chili and pepper to flour mixture.
Put the hokkein noodles in a pot of hot water to separate, drain noodles.
When veggies and cooked but not mushy, add noodles, then pour the sauce into the pan. Stir, keep on the heat for a minute or so stirring while the sauce thickens.

Day 4

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:22:18 GMT

Korean Barbecued Beef

1/2 lb steak
2 tsp garlic
1 onion
1 kiwi
4 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs sesame oil
1 1/2 tbs sugar
1 tsp black pepper

Freeze steak. Slice steak as thin as you can, being frozen helps with this. Crush kiwi, slice onion, combine all ingredients in bowl with beef slices, let marinate for several hours. Since I'm a loser and don't have a BBQ, and the meat pieces are little and would fall through any grill I could find, so I'm using a frying pan. Heat frying pan, add a tbs of vegetable oil, cook until liquid is mostly evaporated and meat is slightly browned. Serve with rice.

Day 3

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:14:10 GMT

Aussie Meat Pie

1 1.2 lbs ground beef
1/4 c flour
1 1/2 tbs vegetable oil
1/2 tbs chopped garlic
1 small onion, diced
1/2 tbs black pepper
1/2 tbs coriander
1/4 c chopped celery
3 tbs worchestershire sauce
3 tbs soy sauce
2 cups beef or chicken stock
2 pie crusts (one top one bottom)

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat oil in pan, add beef and flour, when meat is almost cooked, add garlic, onion, and celery.
Once onions are cooked, ad the spices, soy and worchestershire sauce, cook until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Add stock, cook for a few minutes, then check consistency. The meat should be covered in gravy, if the gravy is too thin, add another tbs flour and let thicken. If the meat is a bit bland, add a tbs more soy and worchestershire.
Cook bottom pie crust 6 minutes, then fill and add top crust. Cook until the top crust is golden brown.

Day 2

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 10:17:48 GMT

Chinese Spicy Pork

2 tbs vegetable oil
1 clove garlic
1 knob ginger (about as much as 1 clove garlic)
3/4 lb ground pork
2 tbs water
1 tbs flour
1 tbs freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tbs chili paste
1 1/2 tbs sesame oil
2 tbs soy sauce***
2 tbs sugar
2 spring onions

***Don't use the first crappy soy sauce you find in the store. The ingredients should read: water, soybeans, wheat, salt. Nothing with hydrolized soy protein in it, or with salt being the second ingredient, or with caramel coloring.

Dice bottoms of spring onions, cut up tops in 1-2 inch segments, like chives.
Heat veg. oil in a pan, add garlic and ginger, quickly add pork, spring onion tops, water and flour.
Once pork is cooked, add pepper, chili, sesame oil, soy sauce and sugar.
Mix well, then add diced spring onion bottoms.
Serve with white rice.

A week in the diet of Me, Day 1

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:54:00 GMT

Yellow Rice (Curried rice)

1 1/2 cup rice
2 tbs butter
1 medium onion
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cardamom
1 1/2 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups coconut milk
(you can substitute 1 1/2 tsp Garam Masala for the cloves and cardamom if you wish)

Wash and drain rice. Heat butter in pan, add diced onion and fry until browned. Add spices, stir, add rice and stir until it's thoroughly mixed. Add coconut milk, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, cook for 25 minutes or until rice is cooked.

Women of the World! (rant)

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:09:24 GMT

Why are you idiots? I have noticed many more signs in bathrooms here saying not to put pads and plastic tampons in the toilet, instructing them to place them in the wastebasket provided. Why would you put something pouffy and plastic in the toilet anyway? What are you, dogs? Push the rug over your mess hoping nobody would notice? Yah, people notice! When the toilets overflow and some poor person has to fish your nasty waste out of the toilet, most likely a middle aged man, how's that for your delicacy? Put it in the garbage! If there's not a bin IN the stall, 98% of the time there is a bin by the sink, it's not a huge deal to put it there! If for some idiotic reason you have a problem carrying it to the can, (OMG, somebody might know you have your period, not like they're all girls too and do the same thing!) wrap it in a tissue or something to carry it to the bin. Quit being stupid.

:D

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 04:14:11 GMT

I've made an exciting discovery. The planet Mars is actually a giant space ship built by floating heads. I'm going to fly it to earth where I will roll it around on the surface, squishing all the earth-life and leaving it free for us to conquer without resistance!

Uh Oh

Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:23:30 GMT

Yesterday at approximately 3pm, Mr. Ipod's life functions ceased. There was no expression on his formerly glowing face. He did not respond to shaking, tapping or manhandling. At 8pm, surgery was attempted. Ask if you want to know his status.

Heehee

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:36:18 GMT

I dropped my ipod in the toilet.