Positively Monday

It is barely still Monday, but I am writing this with 45 minutes to spare so at least I made it in time.
For the past couple of weeks I had been keeping a daily list of whatever positive happened that day, but I had a positively glorious week in NYC so I am listing fantastic things that happened with no particular order.

To begin with we had a direct flight to Laguardia.  This may not seem like a big deal to most of you, but Birmingham is a secondary airport and nearly all flights lead through Atlanta which also includes at least an hour and a half layover. (We have learned to hard way to never book connecting flights through Atlanta with less than an hour and a half between flights.  Ditto for flights through Charlotte)
So we flew direct and it made all the difference in the world. Our total trip time there was just a tad over 2 hours.  Then when we got to the airport we ordered Lyft for our ride to the hotel and made it to the Upper West Side in about 20 minutes.  I have never gotten there that fast before!

Son 3 had been in late rehearsals so he met us for a late dinner at the restaurant next door to the hotel. We had not planned on seeing hime until the next day, so it was a bonus. (However I have noticed an incredible availability when Dad picks up the check)

Over the next several days we managed to eat at Peruvian, Turkish, French, Italian, Latin and standard American restaurants so we did score some really delicious food. We did not make it to Cuban or Dominican restaurants or the Ethiopian one I wanted to try.  Oh well, next time! (We are going again in April)

We met Helena and found out she is as lovely in personality as she is beautiful.  It seems Son3 has become very smitten with this Nordic beauty who is smart, talented and has a personality large enough to not be overshadowed by his big one. She is teaching him Swedish and helping him with his German.  He is teaching her "Redneck" speech, and now she is saying "Bless her heart" right before she says anything ugly about anyone since we all know blessing her heart cancels out calling anyone a crack whore .

We were able to see a smoking hot jazz concert (Music of Oliver Nelson) and a Mahler symphony which was perfectly beautiful.  Thanks to the students who provided us with tickets!  I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed the performances. There was also a free to the public Chamber Quartet at the Lincoln Center Atrium.

Saturday was the reason for our trip.  Son3 had his senior recital (a requirement for graduation) It was a lot of fun and again I can't begin to express my appreciation for the young men who were part of the band. I know part of being in school is playing with each other, but I also know they had to devote some of their very scarce free time for a couple of rehearsals, so thank you Julius, Dan, Doug, Chris and David.

We did have one unplanned complication.  Son3 mentioned it was customary to have a little get together after the recital.  He just forgot to mention it until late Thursday Night.  We went into scramble mode to try and find accommodations for a party of about 20 people with just a day and a half lead time. At the last minute we talked with the concierge at our hotel and found they had a "deal" using the existing hotel bar and some finger foods which was about 500 bucks less than all other available options. As it turned out, about 30 people came, so the 2 hour open bar  (beer, wine and champagne only) was actually not too horrible per person. I think a couple of rogue hotel guests even had a drink or two on us while congratulating Son3.

And now we are back and I am getting to take care of everything I could not do for Mom while I was gone.  I did have Son3's roommate video the recital so Mom could see it. There were only 7 pieces played and 4 of them were original songs (You have to have at least 2 original compositions for the recital, but most students opt for at least half of them) Since Mom only knew one of the remaining 3 pieces she only liked 1 tune.  And her taxes are not done (because we are still waiting on another 1099 and K-1, but she made me take the incomplete info to her accountant anyway)  And her new phone that she insisted I install before I left is not to her liking and somehow she had turned the volume as low as it would go and she couldn't hear anything. And its call list is different than her old phone.  And her toilet sound funny! And she wants the fringe taken off her Iranian carpets in the living and dining room, but I did not take care of it today! And now I am back to my reality! Ah but the week away was so worth it!!!!

I am providing a link to my new favorite jazz song.  Wednesday night the conductor set the song up this way___Imagine you were a slave on a plantation and the news of the emancipation proclamation had just surfaced.  This is the day you are leaving what you have known and entering the life of freedom.

                                                 Emancipation Blues by Oliver Nelson

p.s. I have been reading all your blogs, but did not respond to many because my Ipad is a pain in the butt. I will start commenting again tomorrow!

A Much Healthier Banana Bread

While I was doing my baking frenzy last week to get rid of as much kefir as possible, I remembered I had a bunch of frozen overripe bananas, so banana bread seemed like a really good idea. Unfortunately the really delicious banana bread I make has nothing remotely healthy except bananas, so I monkeyed with the recipe, changed flours, sugar and coconut oil for butter and came up with something a good bit healthier and still very tasty.
This is the result of my mad scientist experiment.

1 1/4 C whole wheat pastry flour (I imagine any ww would work)
3/4 C unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 C sugar (I used turbinado)
3 very well mashed bananas
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, beaten
1 C kefir or buttermilk
1/2 or so cup walnuts, chopped  (I probably used less)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan (I used coconut oil spray)  Mix all the dry ingredients together (flours, baking powder, baking soda and sugar) and whisk to blend well.  In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients (Coconut oil, eggs.kefir, vanilla and bananas) until they are very well blended.  Stir the wet stuff into the dry stuff and mix until it is combined, but do not over mix.  Stir in the nuts, and spoon it out into the prepared loaf pan.  Bake about  20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean . (For a loaf like this I use spaghetti instead of a toothpick because it is longer and reaches the middle a little easier)

Remove  and let it cook at least 30 minutes before slicing.  When I made this by the original recipe I would cut the loaf in half and freeze 1 half while we ate the other. This time since I am eating no sugars and TheHub still has cake left, I froze the cake in 2 bags, one sliced and 1 unsliced, minus one tiny  slice (think business card paper thin slice so I could taste it)  It has much less of the bad stuff (butter, all white flour, granulated sugar) than the former recipe and delivered all the taste. (OK not all the taste, the old recipe had 3/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup of butter so it is less sweet and has no buttery flavor, but I used an extra banana which compensated for the lesser sugar amount)  Unless I was doing a side by side comparison I would not really taste the difference.  If you want something sweet, full of flavor and not so bad for you give these a try!

p.s. I wrote this on. Sunday since I knew I would be gone this week. So far I have eaten Peruvian and French food (plus American stuff of course) with the promise of Latin tonight. Food heaven!  Oh and the whole 30 thing was over just in time!

Positively Monday and Positively Blueberry Coffee Cake

EEKS!   I forgot Monday is supposed to be my positively Monday day so I am adding it to the blueberry coffee cake post.

Monday
For the first time in a very long time, Mom went to her usual Monday activity and had a good time. There were no complaints about anything, which never happens. Huge win!

Tuesday
I had a truly wonderful Valentine's lunch with Mom and My Beloved Sister.

Wednesday
I did not get home for the evening until shortly before 6 and it was still light outside!

Thursday
While I was out driving I saw a yard filed with blooming daffodils.

Friday
I finished getting Mom's tax info ready to take to her accountant.  Did I mention FINISHED!

Saturday
I caught up on the laundry and started getting my duds in order for a trip next week, plus I managed to use all the accumulated kefir during my baking spree!

Sunday
This was another Sunday TheHub did not have to go into the office just to get things in order for the next week, so we went to church together again. It is a great way for me to start my week!

I will be traveling this week so my positives will have a different slant to them.  It should be interesting!

Now back to the blueberries!


What do you do when you begin a baking frenzy and realize that not only do you have a ton of kefir to use but you also have a couple of clamshells of blueberries in the refrigerator.  Normally I would look at this as a gift.  I mean, who doesn't want to start the week with enough fruit for a couple of days? This would be a dream come true for me most of the time, but we are leaving early Tuesday for a week long vacation. And that means we would either have to eat tons of blueberries quickly or do something with them.  I have made this coffee cake using whatever excess fruit we have and I also knew I could substitute thick kefir for the yogurt. So game on!

Blueberry (actually any berry or fruit) Coffee Cake

2 cups  unbleached flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar (I used turbanido)
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup kefir or yogurt
1 cup blueberries (You can use fresh or frozen or canned, drain and rinse them)

Streusel topping
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
3 teaspoons melted butter
large pinch of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350º.  Grease an 8x8 baking pan.

Mix the dry coffee cake ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt) and set aside.
Make the streusel topping and set aside  (Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and stir to mix. Add the butter  and stir until it is the consistency of crumbs.)

Coffee cake
Beat the  butter and sugar in a large bowl until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and kefir until  the batter is smooth. Add the flour mix and stir until it is just combined.  Gently fold in the blueberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the topping and pop it into the oven for 30-40 minutes.  Test for doneness with a toothpick.  Cool a bit before serving.

When I made this I was in the middle of a bakeathon, but I am eating no sweets and TheHub was already full from eating  chocolate cake.  I was wondering what to do with it (freeze? refrigerate?) when TheHub had a great idea.  He did not have to go into the office Sunday morning and suggested we take the coffee cake, some paper plates, plastic forks and napkins and share it with our Sunday School class.  Perfect solution! They enjoyed it and I got rid of most of it.  I think I have 2 small squares left and they will either be eaten Monday or frozen. Regardless, it was a great way to get rid of it  share fellowship.

It is a really nice, very moist, and delicious coffee cake that is about as easy as anything can be.  I have made it through the years with strawberries, raspberries, fresh crushed pineapple, peaches, and plums.  They are all good in the cake, but I honestly prefer the blueberries or raspberries.  So if you find yourself with excess fruit you need to use right away, this is a truly delicious method of disposal!

Chocolate Cake Kinda

I think in a previous post we had established I had entirely too much inventory in my faux baking center, so after I shook the cobwebs out of my head this morning I decided it would be a good day to bake. It was overcast and dreary, and I had not planned on going anywhere specific anyway, so I commenced baking. (I didn't mention I have kefir running out of my ears right now and needed to use it, so that was the biggest motivator for the baking frenzy)

I started looking for a recipe that firstly used kefir, and secondly would not be too decadent, which might be an oxymoron since any recipe touting kefir as in ingredient is going to be a healthier variation. I found this recipe for Chocolate Cake here and thought I would give it a try.  I am writing the recipe with the changes I made and the taste test obviously used those changes.

Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cup flour (I used 1/2 unbleached AP flour and 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour)
3/4 cup sugar (I used turbinado sugar)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup oil (I used melted coconut oil)
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 cup Kefir or buttermilk
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange extract

Preheat oven to 375F.
Butter an 8-inch cake springform pan and dust it with cocoa powder.
In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients
Add the remaining ingredients and beat until the batter is smooth and free of lumps. (Just for giggles I beat it with a wooden spoon and counted strokes.  It took a little over 500 to get a smooth batter)
Pour the batter into the pan and bake for about 45 minutes.  Use the toothpick test to check for doneness (Tooth pick inserted into the middle of the cake is crumb and goo free)



After the cake is cool make the glaze.
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
enough hot water to make heavy syrupy glaze  (I used maybe 2 teaspoons)

Spoon the glaze over the top of the cake.  After a few minutes it will "set" and be easy to cut.

Obviously this is not a traditional cake and it is anything but light.  TheHub really did like it though. In fact, I served him a slice before I took the picture of it, and he was back for slice number 2 and couldn't wait for the photo.  He wanted it right then.  I tried a piece about the size and depth of a postage stamp just so I could describe the flavor.  It was dense and a little gummy.  I could taste the apple sauce, but I knew it was in there.  TheHub did not notice it at all..

The cake itself is very attractive and it is said we eat first with our eyes. The chocolate/orange combo is very nice and flavorful, but I had an issue with the consistency. I am a tactile eater and even with the tiny bit I tried I didn't care for it. I will try this again using eggs rather than the applesauce, which should lighten it a little.  So I guess I will give this a 3 out of 5 stars as it is and will update this another day.

Ah, Nuts!

What I miss most while doing this Whole 30 thing is crunchy.  I mean something really crunchy and delicious, so celery and hard apples don't count. My mouth and ears want something to bite and hear at the same time that delicious crunch that certain treats bring. (Honestly, right now I would even settle for a piece of unbuttered toast.)

Since nuts are whole30 compliant I have been eating them, but I am tired of raw nuts. Knowing a cracker or toast is not going to happen I tried doing a little something different with those blasted nuts.

For Christmas Mom gave me one of those copper ceramic pans (best non-stick pan ever!) so I put about a cup of assorted raw nuts (pecan pieces, cashews and almonds) in the pan and whirled them around with a wooden spoon over medium high heat, until they smelled nice and toasty. (5 minutes maybe) I have one of those Misto oil sprayers I keep filled with olive oil so I gave then a couple of squirts with that then sprinkled them with my double secret sweet potato seasoning blend.(equal parts of ground cumin, chili powder, and ground coriander, a dash of oregano and 1/2 the amount of garlic salt.  I used 1 tablespoon of the 3 ground spices to 1/2  tablespoon of the garlic salt for my measures because I am  eating  baked sweet potatoes often and I wanted to have it made ahead of time to grab and shake.)



I have to admit the hot nuts did add a little crunch and a whole lot of deliciousness to what had been just plain old boring nuts.  I have no idea why I didn't think of doing this a little sooner. I ate a few and stored the rest in a jar.  Next time I need a snack I am going to pour a few in a ramekin and pop them in the microwave to heat them, because they taste really good and right now I need/want flavor . . . and texture . . . and something chocolate!

p.s. next time I make these I will probably bake them in a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes for more even roasting. I will also use pecan halves instead of pieces, but I only had pieces today.

VD Greetings

It seems that for everyone out there Valentine's Day means something different. I have gotten roses and chocolates and jewelry and just about ever other traditional love token throughout the years, but now we just go out to eat and give each other a card. A day sans flowers and gifts is still perfect and more than enough. A couple of years ago we went to a very nice restaurant and even with reservations, we did not get a table until nearly 9:30.  Neither of us want to eat that late, especially on a weeknight. Since we are having beautiful weather and have steaks in the freezer I suggested we grill them and stay home. TheHub was more than happy with that suggestion so those are our plans for the evening.

For years My Beloved Sister and I met our parents for lunch on Valentine's Day, which over the years became known as Valenlunch.  Last year was the first holiday since Dad died and Mom did not want to go, but this year Valenlunch is back on and we will be headed out to  Taziki's for our traditional meal. (Taziki's is the closest restaurant to My Beloved Sister's office so we always meet there, and exchange homemade cards after eating Greek food. ) My Beloved Sister and I try to make the other laugh so our cards are filled with all kinds of inside jokes, including "Happy VD".

When we were kids this commercial aired all the time, especially on Saturday mornings. As we got a little older we began calling Valentine's Day "VD" because we are sick puppies and like to make each other laugh. Now every Valentine's Day one of us will call the other and start singing this song, which makes the other giggle, or snort coffee, or howl like a hyena. (It all depends on timing and how and where you catch the other with the call) This year I snuck the call in first, by calling her right as she got to work. Too bad it was a few minutes before her official work time began since she had not grabbed a cup of coffee, so no coffee spewing. Drats!

In closing this post, my wish is that you all go out and spread a little VD cheer and share a good belly laugh with someone you love!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Positively Monday

After thinking about this concept instead of 5 positives, I have decided that I will end each day recounting the positive things that happened that day. When Monday gets here I will hit Publish and start all over.  Hopefully it will adjust my thinking.

Monday
I spent Monday housebound by choice, so I had a nice rainy day at home with no negatives and few true positives It was just a very even keeled day. I will count serving turkey for the 4th day in a row and having TheHub really like it as my big win of the day.

Tuesday
I started the day out butt early with Mom for an appointment with her Neurologist. It was pouring down rain during drive time when we got there. (Bad) Luckily the office has valet parking (Good) but I couldn't drop Mom off then go park since this was her first visit and she didn't know where to go. If I had let her off she would wander who knows where. (Neither good nor bad, just how it rolls with her) Since it was the first visit, we had to be there 45 minutes early to fill out a virtual novel's worth of paperwork. (Bad) The doc was running behind and we did not get out of his office until after noon. (Bad) Mom was having a melt down because she missed her mid morning nap (Bad) Valet parking lost both my keys and my car (Bad) 1 hour later they found both (Good) and refunded my valet charge. (Really?) Drove home soaking wet after waiting in a partially covered area while they tried to find my car. (Uncomfortable, but at least I had my car). It was nearly 2 when we finally got to Mom's so all plans I had after taking her home flew out the window because I would have to take a shower and start over with hair, clothes and makeup. (Neither good nor bad, just the way it was) The rest of the day was uneventful but I did have 2 big positives. 1. The doc is not concerned that Mom's tremors are Parkinson's. 2. TheHub had an unexpected work related dinner out, so I didn't have to cook.  Cold turkey and dill pickles for me! (And now the turkey is gone forever, except I had another turkey breast thawed so I had to cook it?!?)

Wednesday
Headed to Bed Bath and Beyond with coupons in tow to pick up a couple of needed/wanted items. While there I noticed table after table of clearance items.  I managed to pick up 2 Christmas presents super cheap. 60 cent slippers for Pip, and 1.93 fleece lined leggings for My Beloved Sister. I count this as a huge financial positive!

Thursday
Heard bad new about my BIL's PET scan first thing out of the chute this morning, which set the stage for a bummer of a day. (Bad)  Read Lauralynne's post about food inventory and decided to do one of my own.  Got one area completely cleaned out (including consolidating some duplicate items) and inventoried (Good) Took  Mom's meat slicer from her basement. It had never been used and was a great help in slicing the turkey breast for freezer storage, plus it cleared an area from her basement bar.

Friday
Went to bed insanely late (4:30 a.m. Bad)  and slept in.  It felt great  (Good) Had a "No Mom Issues" day (Better than good), and went out to eat for dinner. (Good for no cooking. Bad for not using up some of the excess in the kitchen)

Saturday
Did not get called to Mom's house one time today, and I really did enjoy having the day for myself.  I did talk to her about 4 times but it was good.  I am 3/4 of the way though my 3rd book for February, so I should easily be able to read the 4 I planned on this month.

Sunday
For the first time in a long time on a Sunday morning TheHub did not have to work and we were able to go to church together. I go alone if I have to but like it so much better when he gets to go.

I Guess I Am A Spice Girl After All

I have one of those corner cabinets with a built in double tray lazy Susan.  I tried putting all sorts of things there but found it did not fit my cooking style, so I finally declared it would be my spice cabinet.  Eventually I had to add 3 more free standing shelves to it so everything would fit, but I have to be careful when I turn it.  Some of the containers are so light they will fall off into the dark hole at the back corner and then I have to take everything off of it so I can go fishing for the kamikaze bottle with a pair of tongs. Inevitably the item I need is the jumper.
After doing the spice inventory I found I really should have done this long ago. I had partially used duplicates of about 5 things, plus I have 3 unopened containers of thyme. Anything I could consolidate was and those 3 blooming jars of thyme are all still in there. I have the bottom shelf with my savory items.  I use them much faster than I do seasonings for baking so I keep them within easy reach.  I also am a little funny about how they are organized on the trays.  I lump like seasonings together, so all seasonings that are blends are in one quadrant, the hotter one are in another. seeds and pods occupy their own space and herbs share the last.  The white free standing shelves go no where. They are rubber banned together by their rear legs on either side of the center rod. it gives me one side for garlic and onion based containers and the other side holds small jars of seasoning blends.  It has an additional shelf on it so I can double all those small jars. I should never be allowed to walk into Penzy's. I tell myself the jars are so tiny and they won't take up any room__until I have about 20 of them

Savory Things

Powdered things
chipotle
coriander
hot chili
chili
jalapeno
cayenne
cumin
annatto
pepper (black and white)
paprika (regular, Hungarian sweet, and smoked)
garlic
onion
tumeric

Seeds and whole things
coriander
dill
cumin
celery
mustard
fennel
caraway
peppercorns
sesame
fenugreek
red chili
thai chili

Herb things
basil
oregano
dill weed
lemongrass
tarragon
marjoram
bay leaves
rosemary
sage
thyme

Blended things
Italian
poultry
Brazilian
Moroccan
Chinese 5 spice
bon apetit
garam masala
Old Bay
zatar
Bankok
soul
Szechuan
steak
Rogan Josh
sandwich sprinkles
hot curry
Balti
Greek

Salt things
garlic
onion

Sweeter Things

Whole things
cinnamon sticks
cloves
allspice
juniper
cardamon
nutmeg
orange peel
lemon peel
poppy seed
vanilla beans

Ground things
cinnamon
cloves
nutmeg
ginger
allspice
mace
cardamon
lemon peel
mint
vanilla powder
pumpkin pie spice

Extract things
vanilla
almond
lemon
rum
butter
peppermint
orange
coconut
sherry
brandy

Other things
baking powder
baking soda
1 quart crab boil seasoning
1 pint butt rub
4 pack food coloring
dehydrated lemon juice
dehydrated lime juice
butter buds
fruit fresh
alum
cream of tarter
Mexican fruit seasoning

My oils, salts and thickeners  live in a cabinet right by the stove

Oil things
olive
grape seed
safflower
sesame
toasted sesame
hot chili
truffle
oil spray (regular, olive oil, coconut oil)
baking release spray

Salt things
sea
kosher
pink Himalayan
black diamond
Molokai red
smoked

Thickening things
corn starch
arrowroot starch
agar agar


Vinegars I use all the time hang out on a tray on the countertop (Easy access )
red wine
white wine
lemon
champagne
balsamic (regular, basil infused, and aged)
fig
strawberry

Other than the fridge and the bread box, that is is for food stored in the kitchen.  I do have a second refrigerator and a freezer in the laundry room.  I also have a small cabinet with more food storage there.  I will have to inventory those later.  The laundry room is my big clean up/ clean out  and reorganize room for February. I will work on  those areas sometime next week.

On To The Pantry__Yikes!

Oh the horrors! The horrors!

My pantry is not a big pantry, in fact it is just a little narrow closet at the end of the kitchen hallway. It has 4 fixed shelves (standard wire rack shelving) and 2 free standing shelves underneath the last fixed shelf.  And yes, I would love to have wooden shelves instead of the wire ones, but it is not in the time budget at the moment.

I am almost horrified at the amount of food I have in there.  I am also extremely curious as to how several things got in there.  I do the majority of the shopping but I have mentioned TheHub's recreational Publix visits on his way home from work. Today I caught a glimpse of some of his handiwork.

This is a complete list of every single item in there and before you go deeper into this understand it is a terrible example of an out of control food inventory.

And yes this is a bad photo of my personal pantry. How the blazes I have so much stuff stored in this small space is beyond me.






3 cake mixes
1 brownie mix (TheHub)
3 boxes cereal
3 containers bread crumbs
1 box steel cut oats
2 boxes instant brown rice
1 lb white rice
1 box Hungry Jack mashed potatoes
9 boxes pasta (assorted)
1 bag spatzle
2 lb oatmeal
2 lb grits
3/4  lb whole fat instant milk
6 qt packs instant fat free milk
1/2 box bisquick
1 box pancake mix
4 ganola bars (TheHub)
i box assorted crackers
1/2 box oyster crackers
1/2 bag powdered stevia
1/2 bag splenda
1 carton mulling spices
8 containers crystal light (TheHub)
3 cans mandarin oranges
1 can spiced peaches (TheHub)
1 can pineapple chunks
1 can fruit cocktail (TheHub)
1 jar spiced apples
2 cans evaporated milk
4 cans coconut milk
1 can coconut cream
3 cans sweetened condensed milk
6 cans tuna
3 cans salmon
1 can manwich
3 jars red salas
2 jars green salsa
2 jars artichoke hearts
1 can hearts of palm
2 cans black olives
1 jar bean sprouts
2 jars bamboo shoots
4 cans water chestnuts
4 cans chipotle in adobo
3 cans chilis
1 jar parmesan cheese
1 qt dehydrated onion
1 qt dehydrated mushrooms
1 jar red cabbage
1 jar pimento
2 cans hot dog chili (TheHub)
2 cans green beans
1 can mushrooms
1 can black eyed peas
1 can northern beans
2 cans garbanzo beans
1 can chili beans
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
2 can petite chopped tomatoes
1 can baby corn on the cob
1 can niblet corn
1 jar roasted red and yellow peppers
4 jars spaghetti sauce
1 jar alfredo sauce
2 jars nacho cheese
2 jars kosher dills
1 jar blue cheese stuffed olives (?)
1 bottle liquid smoke
1 bottle mirin
1 bottle slaw dressing
1 bottle hot sauce
1 bottle peppered vinegar
2 bottles steak sauce
1 bottle wasabi sandwich sauce
1 bottle ketchup
1 jar whole grain mustard
8 jars assorted jams and jellies (cousin who cans)
1 jar ghee
3 jars jalapeno relish (cousin who cans)
1 bottle braggs aminos
1 bottle wing sauce
2 bottles bbq sauce
1 bottle Worcestershire sauce
1 bottle orange blossom water
1 bottle elderberry syrup
1 bottle table syrup
2 bottles maple syrup
5 bottles flavored honey
honey cream syrup
honey butter
coconut syrup
molasses
1 jar hazelnut cream (?)
1 bottle lime juice
6 assorted vinegars
3 packs rice crackers (TheHub)
1 bag veggie chips
2 bags tortilla chips (TheHub)
11 cans assorted soup (tomato, cream ofs, clam chowder) (mainly TheHub)
6 types bouillon (chicken, beef, veggie, ham, tomato and anchiote)
5 pouches cornbread mixes
1 qt chicken broth
12 individual cups apple sauce (TheHub)
7 jello pudding mixes (all cook and serve chocolate or vanilla)
6 boxes jello (assorted flavors)
9 types dried beans (pinto, butterbeans, kidney, great northern, black, red beans, lentils, navy, black eyed peas)
4 boxes sure gel
1 box unflavored gelatin
1 pouch veggie soup mix
1 box family size tea bags
5 packs microwave popcorn (TheHub)
5 packs yellow rice (TheHub)
4 pouches flavored mashed potatoes
2 pouches of pasta side dishes (TheHub)
1 jar cookie butter
1 1/2 jar peanut butter
1 pack tum yum soup mix
1 pack risotto porcini
1 jar cacao spread
1 jar cocoa nibs
2 lbs couscous
1/2 lb quinoa
1 lb barley
7 packs dried fruits (apple, mango, dates, cherries, blueberries, bananas)
2 packs raisins (regular and golden)
2 bottles juice
1/2 gallon white vinegar
2 bottles apple cider vinegar
1/2 gigantic can cocktail peanuts
4 packs seaweed chips

This is the list that never ends and it is teeming with ridiculousness.  Next up the spice cabinet and oils. 

Checking to See Exactly What Is in There

Lauralynn at All That Junk In My Trunk posted a pantry inventory list which I thought was so clever. I have several food storage areas in my kitchen and beyond and I never know exactly what I have on hand.  Using her post as my inspiration, I started a complete inventory but after one area I saw something shiny  and lost interest in finishing. Then I  decided I would just inventory one area at a time. 

Today's list is what I fondly call my baking center.  I have a free standing counter in my kitchen which functions to separate my kitchen from my breakfast area. When I had it built I decided I wanted it movable because I had this vague notion I would shift it around different areas. It has been in the exact spot I put it originally and has not been moved ever. Yeah, cause I am not a creature of habit or anything like that.

I also have no idea why I call it my baking center, except for holding my baking ingredients and some baking pans, but everyone in the family know what I mean when I call it that so the name stuck. I actually do all my measuring, mixing, rolling, and everything else on my kitchen counter.  When I had to cabinet built I temporarily lost my mind and bought a tile for the top that was esthetically pleasing but not a great work surface for what I intended. It turns out that really cool tile that looks like black crocodile hide does not work well as a prep surface. So I guess in reality I should call it the Faux Baking Center.

This is a list of every single item in there. I would like to say that some items were bought and shoved to the back of the cabinet then forgotten, but when I designed it I had it made so there are doors on both sides. I will admit I am mostly aghast  and embarrassed at the number as well as the quantities of things.  I am going to have to do some serious baking in the next few months to use this inventory.

6 oz. organic vegetable shortening
2 sticks butter flavored crisco
2 pk. Jiffy Cornbread mix
1 pk pumpkin cornbread mix
3/4 container nutritional yeast
1 lb coconut sugar
1 lb demerara sugar
1 lb turbinado sugar
1/2 lb evaporated cane juice sugar
8 lb organic cane sugar (granulated)
3 lb regular granulated sugar (cane)
1 1/2 lb confectioners sugar
2 lb light brown sugar
3/4 bottle agave 
1 lb cacao powder
1 1/2 tins cocoa powder
1 1/2 bags chocolate chips
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 bag peanut butter chips
13 ounces white chocolate
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
34 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 pack Aubilita solid chocolate
3/4 container custard powder
1 container assorted Christmas sprinkles
gold, silver, red and green sanding sugar
7 lb unbleached ap flour
3 lb unbleached self rising flour
1 lb whole wheat pastry flour
2 lb coconut flour
2 lb masa
2 lb cornmeal
3 bags unsweetened shredded coconut
1 bag sweetened coconut
3 lb pickling salt
2 lb raw cashews
2 lb raw almonds
1 lb roasted almonds
1 lb pistachios
1/2 lb raw walnuts
1 lb pecan halves
1/2 lb roasted sunflower seed
1 cup raw pumpkin seed
1/2 can  Cafe Du Monde coffee with chicory
2 lb expresso beans
1 lb blond coffee beans
1 lb regular ground coffee
1/2 lb decaf coffee ground
1 lb decaf  coffee beans
1/2 box stevia packets
1 jar coffee creamer
1 jar instant macha tea
117 tea bags (speciality teas and herbal teas)

Wow!  And next up__the pantry.

Hot Brownish

Last night I had planned nothing for dinner and all of a sudden it was 6:30. I knew I had about 2 pounds of sliced turkey in the fridge from a turkey breast I roasted last Thursday. I stuck some in a couple of freezer bags but still had enough left for dinner last night. I had originally thought of making a Hot Brown sandwich for TheHub, but he is not overly fond of a sandwich meal during the week, so I did the next best (and actually easier) thing. I made a Hot Brown sandwich (kind of) in casserole form. Since I made this for 1 I am not giving you the actual measurementsI used, (ha! as if I actually measured!) instead I am scaling this to feed 4 (ish).

                                                      Hot Brown Casserole

Bechamel sauce with cheese

5 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

3 3/4 cups milk (heated, but not boiling)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)

1/2 cup sharp cheddar (shredded)

Melt the butter in a small saucepan.  Stir in the flour and cook while stirring constantly until the flour is the color of very light sand. Slowly add the hot milk, whisking until all the milk is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.  Add the salt and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth and thick. Remove from heat.  Add the cheese shreds and stir until smooth and melted.

Grease lightly a 9x9 inch baking pan.  Pour 1/2 of the sauce in the bottom of the pan

And the rest of the Casserole

4-6 slices of toast (depends on how "bready" you want yours) torn in pieces

Turkey slices to cover the entire pan (about 3/4 pound of hand sliced turkey)

4-6 slices cooked bacon

Put the toast on top of the sauce in the baking dish, then top the toast with the turkey slices. Pour the remaining sauce over the turkey and pop on a 350 degree oven until bubbling and hot.  Put the cooked bacon on top of the sauce and run the pan under a broiler for about 1 minute.

Serve piping hot.  I served a mixed green salad with this and TheHub loved it.  This is another simple meal to add to our rotation and since I still have a good bit of turkey frozen along with another breast to cook today, I think this will come in handy.

Positively Monday!

I read several blogs and love getting new ideas, household hints, recipes, financial advice, shopping tips and everything else y'all share about your lives.  Today as I was reading them I happened on TrayceeBee from Just Keep Swimming Mama Fish.  She posted a list of 5 positives from her week. As I was reading it I thought it was a great concept for an ongoing blog post. This is a great way for me to start my Mondays. Since I am not a big Monday fan this will hopefully give me a boost for the day and coming week.



So here goes my first ever Positively Monday list of 5 positives for last week.

1. The trip to the lake place that I had been dreading turned out to be a fantastic weekend. Saturday we went into town (and yes, it is a tiny town) and browsed through a few antique shops.

2. We found a really nice wine chest while antiquing.  It was more of the just old rather than antique variety, but it works well at the lake place. The cost was minimal so that was a bonus!

3. After we finished the antique browsing we found a new to us sandwich shop that had the best chef's salads I have ever eaten.

4. Mom had a good week which, in turn, means I had a better week. Thankful beyond belief for this small blessing.

5. Gas was just 1.99 when I filled up this weekend, so hurrah for that. I think it was 2.09 the last time I got it.

Honestly now that I am thinking about it, I had so many more positives than negatives during the week.  I think from this week forward I will start posting the most positive thing that happened each day.  Perhaps if I start thinking about the positives daily, my entire thinking might change. This could be the best theme post I have considered doing!

Thanks, TrayceeBee!

Weekend Plans

We decided to head for the lake on this gloomy and chilly weekend. OK, actually the bug man called and needs to service the lake place today and since I have to be there anyway we might as well stay. I am not sure I feel justified by griping about having to go somewhere but I am feeling a little bent out of shape.  I love going there, but it always means a lot of loading and unloading and cleaning for a quick trip. I think I had rather go and stay a week at a time which would make the loading and unloading and deep cleaning before we leave worth it. Ah! First world problems!

Since I have limited internet access there I will be reading your blogs but not commenting. Y'all have a great weekend and "Go whoever is playing whatever other team in the Super Bowl"