Phisch's blog

Cocoa Syrup

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:53:00 -0500

Directly lifted from Alton Brown, published on Foodtv.com.

Cocoa Syrup

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Show:	Good Eats
Episode:	Art of Darkness II: Cocoa

1 1/2 cups water
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups Dutch-processed cocoa
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons light corn syrupIn a small pot, bring water and sugar to a boil and whisk in cocoa, vanilla, salt, and corn syrup. Whisk until all of the solids have dissolved. Reduce sauce until slightly thickened. Strain and cool to room temperature. Pour into squeeze bottles. Squeeze into cold milk and stir for delicious chocolate milk or serve on your favorite ice cream. And, hey, it's fat free!

I made some yesterday and it's a hit. It thickens quite a bit upon standing and even a little more upon cooling so it's thicker than the stuff in the brown bottle. We've had it on ice cream (yum) and yogurt (not so yum) and later I'll make chocoberry shakes with lots of strawberries. You need to make sure you really like the cocoa you're using because its taste will become more pronounced in the syrup.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Italian Sausage Pita Pizzas

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:56:08 -0500

I tried a sample of these at the grocery and I wanted to make sure I saved the recipe because they were really good. I am guessing that how good depends very much on the tomatoes and sausage.

4 links Italian sausage
4 c. fresh spinach
4 whole wheat pitas
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
4 roma tomatoes, sliced and seeded
2 c. crumbled feta cheese

1. Remove sausages from casings and pan fry until well-browned and crumbled. Add spinach and wilt with coked sausage.

2. Lay four pitas on a non-stick baking sheet adn brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Spoon sausage and spinach over pitas. Lay slices of tomato on top and sprinkle with feta crumbles.

4. Bake until cheese is soft and pita is crispy and hot.

Makes 4 individual pizzas.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

And Yet More Books

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:57:25 -0600

IMG_5128

Another package came from Amazon today. I think we just need one more maybe because that's from a non-Amazon seller. More history books! Hehe. This time the reception was certainly warmer from both boys. We got binders for both of them to make their own American History books with. They're excited!

Speaking of excited, the more we are at it, the more I love the Feingold diet. Sad, but we know for sure it's the salicylate foods that are affecting NM. After have none or very very little in a few days, his demeanor is back to what it should be. Enthusiasm for completing work, new projects, lots of hugs and affection, etc. is just too cool so we're back to avoiding them for now.

Proof: he wanted us to take in this little green anole (I think that's what it is) that he was the first to spot on our windowsill. My NM isn't generally the sort who quickly adopts animals but it seems like he's slowly warming up to them. There would have been no interest or even aversion from him six months ago if a lizard came to visit. When our neighbor was walking his dogs, I reminded NM not to run around the dogs and he didn't complain about the reminder but just listened and slowly went back with his brother to look at the lizard. NM---not J!---was trying to catch it. Heehee.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Wow. And an update.

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:26:23 -0600

Maybe it's the long vacation pause or maybe it's the Pizza Hut personal pan cheese pizza, but school work today was not easy! Sadly, I think it's the pizza. Granted, we've had lots of ketchup and other salicylate-laden foods so it could just be a build up of salicylates in his body that was responsible. Pizza Hut personal pan cheese pizza is Feingold acceptable, but I got it at Target instead of at Pizza Hut so it might be why there was an issue.

So I have what someone I know has called "curriculum fever." I've ordered some guides and books for us to use and I'm getting giddy. The nice thing is they come in a bunch of different boxes over several days so it will be like Christmas :)

Hubby was up a lot last night coughing. Yes, he's still sick unfortunately. Fortunately, he's the only one but it's not much consolation when one part of your family is sick. It's like losing your arm or leg or both: it's harder to function. Well, lack of sleep isn't too good either. May I whine? I'm a little tired, too. I need to come up with a menu for the week but I can't think.

Well, the boys are laughing and raising a ruckus which is fun but their abba is in a phone meeting so I think we'll go get the mail.

^_^

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

For the Curious

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:47:40 -0600

IMG_5086
Originally uploaded by Phisch

Links to the photos we took while we had visitors and vacation time:

J's birthday

Zilker Park Nature Center

Wimberley, San Marcos, State Capitol Building

San Antonio

And further updates:

Monday, Feb. 4
Our friends did make it out and on the road to Mexico so we didn't see them again (good thing for them in this case). I'm looking forward to seeing them in six months again. In the afternoon, we took my MIL to Zilker Park/Town Lake to walk our favorite hike as well as stop at the Nature Center. The boys were tired to begin with and to call them weary when we were done is not exaggerating.

Tuesday, Feb. 5
We didn't do much of anything Tuesday morning. The boys had time to recover :) In the afternoon, we trekked up to Round Rock for NM's Lego class. While he was doing his thing learning programming, we opted to go check out Sun City, an active retirement community in Georgetown. I had no idea what to expect, but I was suprised. The average age of resident is 62, they have 80+ clubs/groups, several pools (indoor and out), tennis, etc. etc. etc. Get this: kids can stay for 90 days straight and they have summer kids camp. Maybe my MIL will come retire out here. Her sister, who lives in Colorado, is planning on moving and mentioned that she has heard nothing but good things about Sun City. E'sa, you reading this? Later, my MIL watched the boys so hubby and I could go have dinner for our birthdays. Sushi at Uchi! Yum! I loved everything except the white fish. It was really not good and I don't want that again. Ever.

Wednesday, Feb. 6
On to the Alamo! Photos here. First we did the river cruise and had the same guide as the first time we did that. Yes, he told the same joke about the gargoyle looking like his SIL. Afterwards, we walked along the river and wandered around La Villita, the site of the original settlement by Spain then we had lunch at a place called Cafe Rio. NM had a quesadilla and fries and we're pretty sure that something he ate had preservatives but even if he had a reaction, it wasn't that bad (yay!). After lunch, we headed to the Alamo and I took way too many photos of windows and doors. It was funny: inside one of the buildings on the grounds was a poster of "Doors of San Antonio." Everything was gorgeous, the weather was cold but not icky cold and it was great fun.

Thurs.- Fri. Feb. 7, 8
My birthday! We just chilled at home. My MIL went to the airport bright and early on Thurs. Mostly we napped or read or did things like that. We were all tired but also hubby has been sick with a cold. We put the boys to bed early both days.

Today
"Early to bed" helped the demeanor in both boys. J was all smiles and hugs and kisses for me. NM made me so proud because he fixed breakfast for himself and his brother (that means hubby and I got to sleep in). NM and his soccer team had their first game this season. J and I stayed home so J could get a good nap (boy...you have no idea how badly that was needed). We missed a good game! The Rattlesnakes played against the commissioner's team and WON! NM was goalie in the second half and he said he stopped a few attempts (w00t!). One of our guys twice kicked the ball and someone on the other team stopped it with their chest and found themselves on the ground, crying (same person both times). Another one of our guys scored the last goal to make it 3 to 2 and hubby says the kick was so hard, the goalie tried to stop it but couldn't. I guess the boys are getting bigger?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

White Lasagna

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:54:41 -0600

Beyond Macaroni and Cheese

4 chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped to bite-sized pieces
1 c. ham, chopped (original recipe called for 2 c.)
9 lasagna noodles
1 tbs. plus 1/3 c. butter
1 pkg. fresh mushrooms, sliced (I used brown)
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
3 c. milk
6 oz. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. whipping cream
4/3 tsp. dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz. italian blend cheeses, grated

Heart attack on a plate? Yeah...but mmm mmm good! Adapted from a recipe in the book.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix chopped chicken and ham in a large bowl.

Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain (or not, if you're lazy like me).

Melt 1 tbs. butter and saute mushrooms in a large skillet over medium-high heat until they give off their juices. Mix them in with the chicken and ham.

Melt the rest of the butter in the skillet. Add flour and whisk together for a minute, stirring constantly. Keep stirring and slowly add your milk in a steady stream. Let it cook for about three minutes or until bubbly.

Stir in parmesan, basil, salt and pepper. Cook until the cheese is completely melted. Add it to the meat and mushrooms and stir well.

Spread some of the mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 pan just to coat it. Add a layer of three lasagna noodles followed by 1/3 of the remaining sauce. Repeat with two more layers and top with Italian cheeses.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for ten minutes.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Beef & Mushrooms Over Noodles

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:00:35 -0600

3 lbs stew meat
8 oz. brown mushrooms
1 bay leaf
3 tbs. each butter and flour
1 1/3 c. beef stock
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbs. chopped fresh parsley

Finely chop half of the mushrooms and slice the rest. This is so little ones with mushroom apprehension disorder can still enjoy them and can't pick them out.

Melt butter over medium high heat and add flour. Whisk until they're blended together. Slowly add your broth while whisking to avoid lumps. Add the mushrooms and boil for a little bit.

Put everything but the parsley in the crockpot and set to cook for 6 or 8 hours.

When it's nearly done, check to see if you need salt or pepper. Add in the parsley and stir. Serve over hot egg noodles.

Note: I think this was a little runny and needs to be thickened. Maybe adding more flour and butter will help with that because a tbs. of cornstarch so far isn't helping. This recipe was based on one in a book called Beyond Macaroni and Cheese which called for canned mushroom soup and sherry so I made quite a few substitutions for those and added the bay and parsley leaves.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:33:50 -0600

NOTE: Yum, yum, yum! The key to this one is a ham that you love the flavors of. I saved the bone from our Christmas dinner which was a Wellshire brand ham. Also, if I had to do it again, I'd probably limit it to 1 qt. plus 2 cups of water because it probably would be better if it were a little less soupy. I think that's a matter of preference.

1 meaty, meaty bone from a ham
1 bag of dried, split peas
1 c. carrots, small dice
2 ribs celery, small dice, include leaves
3 tbs. dried chopped onion
1 tsp. dried garlic granules
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. fresh parsley, minced fine
1 1/2 qt. chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste (I put 2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. pepper, if you have white pepper it will look nicer)

Put everything in the crock pot and set to cook for 8 hours.

A few minutes before you plan to serve it, carefully remove the ham bone, remove the meat and put the meat back in the crock pot. Check the seasoning to see if you want to adjust it.

Serve with freshly baked whole wheat bread.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Impossible Cheeseburger Pie

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:29:31 -0600

Sometimes you just have the urge for good 'merican grub. Actually, I wanted a quiche but only had a few eggs and I don't really like eggs. I remembered my auntie used to make Impossible Pie because she was a Bisquick fan, so I hunted down a recipe. Recently, I came across a cookbook that basically gave recipes for goodies with lots of veggie and fruit purees to sneak in vitamins and minerals into kids without them knowing. Impossible pie seemed like a good thing to sneak veggies into. Here's my attempt and the pickiest eater in our family asked for thirds.

1 pound chopped leftover cheeseburgers (approx. 2 patties or enough to make a layer in your pie pan)
1 chopped, sauteed onion or a heaping tbs. dried
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
1/2 cup Hodgeson's Mill Whole Wheat Baking Mix (or Bisquick)
2 eggs
1 c. frozen sweet corn kernels, heated and pureed with
1 tsp. of sugar

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Or convection oven to 375 degrees F.

Chop burgers. Stir in salt and pepper. Spread in a greased 9-inch pie plate; sprinkle with half the cheese. Stir remaining ingredients with fork until blended. Pour over meat mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Our Menu

nobody@vox.com(Phisch) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:06:58 -0600

I thought I'd share what we had for Christmas dinner. Even with our diet being limited in some ways, we did enjoy a big, big, yummy meal.

Since the youngest member of our family would prefer it if the only things he ate involved carbs and sugars, we decided no red meat and splurged on a ham. Ya it was pricey even though we bought the smallest one we could find. It was worth the splurge, though, to avoid nitrites and nitrates and things that aren't on our diet (cloves). It was so good and we will be dining on leftover ham for days! Best of all, it has a bone so I can look forward to pea soup one of these days. I love pea soup!

I pretended to know what I was doing when I put together macaroni, peas, carrots, mayo, salt, pepper and sugar. It came out well only it needed more salt (I tend to under salt things). We also had smashed potatoes, pineapples, cranberry sauce, campfire biscuits, yams and candy. Yes, if there was a theme to dinner it would have been sugar.

Two really good things though: the biscuits were a last-minute addition and were very well received even though they looked awful. Also (the best part) it looks as if cranberries are ok and aren't causing a reaction for NM. He's been just fine. I'll let him eat more today and tomorrow to see if it's an issue of building up too much in his system or what.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend