When life gives you... crystals?

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m trying to work out some of my candy recipes. Since I have lots of rum left over from making rum truffles, I decided to try one of my older recipes - buttered rum caramels.

This recipe was very “hit or miss” when I was originally working with it. It was a recipe I found on the internet somewhere. When it worked, it was amazing. When it didn’t, it was weird, crystallized, fudge-like stuff. I was hoping that with my years of practice with caramel, I might be more consistently successful now.    

Definite nope.

Mmmm. Crunchy.

This was a different version of “didn’t work” than any of the previous ones. There were small puddles of caramel interspersed with crystallized pieces. It tasted pretty danged good, but that texture. Ugh. At first, it seemed like a complete waste. But then, I had an idea. I scraped the mess into a saucepan, mixed in some heavy cream, and simmered it until it was a smooth, thick caramel sauce. It is AMAZING over vanilla ice cream.

Mmmm. Creamy.

It feels like this could be some deep symbolic moment, you know? Sort of a reflection of how things are going in my life right now. Currently, life feels like a frustrating wreck, but I’m trying to create something good out of it anyway. “When life crystallizes your caramel, you make caramel sauce.” It doesn’t have the same ring as the old lemons/lemonade adage, but it’s probably more appropriate for a chocolatier.

(By the way, I trashed that recipe and tried another one that worked much better for the actual candy. My testers should be receiving their boxes shortly. Yay!)

Mmmm. Creamy AND crunchy!

Snack Attack

There's something so relaxing about having the house to myself and time to experiment. I spend most of my time in the kitchen because I have to. I know that when I eat quality food, I feel better. On our budget, that means cooking all the meals, most of the snacks, and some of the desserts. (Thank heaven for plantain chips in coconut oil, pre-made organic guacamole, Hail Mary tarts, and Sejoyia cookies!) I used to love cooking, searching out new recipes, and learning new techniques, but lately I mostly feel like a galley slave. Today I had an exceedingly rare combination - time alone in the house AND a short to-do list. So I was inspired to level up my snacking!

I love fresh-ground almond butter. There's usually some in my fridge, but not a lot of it (because I ate most of it already). A crisp apple and some plain almond butter has been my go-to snack since I started following a paleo/primal eating plan. It's tasty and satisfying, and somehow I never really get tired of it. I've been seduced by those plantain chips with guac lately, and it seemed like it might be a good idea to get back onto a healthier track. Fancy almond butters should do the trick.

Apple Dip

1/2 cup fresh ground almond butter or plain almond butter
1/2 cup coconut butter/coconut manna
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt

Add all ingredients to the top of a double boiler or bowl over a saucepan of steaming water. Once the coconut butter starts to melt, mix well. Stir occasionally until coconut butter and almond butter are very soft and all ingredients are well combined. Dip apple slices (or whatever your taste buds want) and enjoy. This should probably be stored in the fridge, but will need to be warmed before using. Coconut butter gets pretty danged solid once it's refrigerated.

And because I like salty snacks almost as much as I like the sweet ones, I made a savory almond butter, too.

Celery Stuffin'

1 cup fresh ground almond butter or plain almond butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
pinch of garlic powder
pinch of onion powder

Warm the almond butter in the top of a double boiler or in a bowl over a saucepan of steaming water. Once it softens, add the seasonings and mix well. Dip celery sticks (or whatever makes you happy) and enjoy.

This one might be a bit subtle for some taste buds, so you might want to increase the amounts on the seasoning. If you like heat, I suspect some sriracha would be good in it, too. Let me know in the comments if you create any tasty variations!

Much yum

Winter munchies

Right this minute, all I want is a big plate of cheese fries with real bacon and a good beer.  Ah, winter weather, you are making me want all the wrong things.  Tasty...but it's the wrong thing to do.  I will eat my applesauce and cinnamon walnuts and go for a run later.  Boring...but it's the right thing to do.

Sigh.

Depression and Bacon

Grief + depression = massive amounts of "please can't I stay in bed today" (hint: no, you can't). One of these days I'll write a eulogy for my little cat baby, but this is not that day.  I'm still disoriented without her.  I've been depressed for so long that I alternate between actual depression, frustration with the continued depression, and sheer boredom with being depressed. 

Fairy Tale

Happiness.

Like a unicorn
or a dragon-

A rumor, a tale
of something that existed
Once upon a time,

A long time ago.

I feel like this unicorn really understands my poem...

Yeah, depression is pretty boring.  More interesting--this weekend I invented a new comfort breakfast.  My primal version of the cinnamon roll is a bacon-wrapped banana, which is exactly as awesome as it sounds.  Wind a piece of bacon around a peeled banana and bake it at 400F until the bacon is as done as you like--crispy bacon, gooey banana.  And it's easier to make than the cinnamon rolls you get in the can.  It's not particularly easy to share, though, so I created THIS:

Baked Bacon-nanas

1/2 lb bacon
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/8 tsp cloves
4-6 bananas, sliced
Butter

Place the bacon on a wire rack over a cookie sheet.  Bake at 400F for 15 minutes.  Cut into bite-sized pieces.  Butter an 8x8 baking dish and place banana slices in the bottom.  Combine the spices and sprinkle over the banana slices.  Scatter bacon pieces on top.  Bake at 375F for 10-15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Still pretty danged easy to make and very easy to share.  Or not, because you may be tempted to keep it to yourself.
 

Huevos Whatever

Here's another "open a can of" recipe that works for any meal.  It's particularly good as second breakfast after a long run.  There has been some controversy over what to call it, as my roomie thought it looked Christmasy but I feel that the number of green things in the dish was more important.  (I also suspect that giving it a holiday name might limit the number of weekends that some people would be willing to eat it.)  We have currently settled on calling it "Huevos Verdes" when it's snuggled under a blanket of guacamole* or using "Huevos Navidad" when it's topped with golden shredded cheese.  Whatever the name, I call it stupendous weekend food:

Huevos Whatever/Huevos Verdes/Huevos Navidad

approx. 1 tsp butter
14 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 bag of frozen chopped spinach (they are 12 oz, I think?)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
2-4 eggs
Guacamole or shredded cheese

Melt the butter in a frying pan or saute pan over medium heat.  Add tomatoes (with their juice) and heat until simmering.  Add frozen spinach.  Heat, stirring occasionally, until spinach is warmed through.  Thoroughly mix in cumin and chili powder.  Simmer until liquid has thickened/evaporated to your taste.  Turn the heat down to medium-low and use a large spoon to make one depression in the mixture for each egg.  Break the eggs into the nests you made for them.  Put a lid on the pan and cook until the egg is done the way you like it.  (I like runny yolks, my roomie prefers solid ones.  He's a bit odd.)  Scoop into bowls and top with guacamole or shredded cheese.  Enjoy!


What will you call yours?  Leave a comment and let me know!  (Or leave a comment and correct my admittedly faulty Spanish--whatever pleases you most.)

*Thanks for that description, Papa Don.  It's a comforting dish and that was the perfect phrase for it.

Three Good Things: Snow Daze Edition

Ugh.  Snow.  It's looking like work may be closed for the next day and half.  Super.  (When will there be a sarcasm font?!  I NEED IT.)  So I'm looking at lots of time all by myself and it doesn't make me all that happy because I'm once again wishing that things were different.  I'd much rather spend the time snuggled with my partner, and theoretically he feels the same way, but once again it just can't happen.  Knowing that is making it tough to look on the bright side.  I'm gonna try to do it anyway:

1. Being alone makes it much more likely that I will get plenty of sewing and crafting done.
2. No one will be around to see how much popcorn and/or chocolate I can consume in one sitting.
3. I don't have to share the sources of warmth (heater, blanket, cats) or the remote control.

So there you have it.  Snow days are for crafting and junk food.  And cats.

From the ilikeCATS Etsy Shop

 If it's cold and/or snowy where you are--stay warm and snuggle up with whatever or whoever is close by (and consents to the snuggles, of course--always get consent).

Three Good Things 1.27&28.15

Walking to work in below-freezing weather is so frustrating.  Because I’m wearing office-appropriate garb, my legs are freezing but my core is sweating.  Maybe I need to find a good pair of snowpants to walk in.  They’re like a coat for your legs!

1. I got to be part of unleashing a secret resident into one of our exhibits at work. I'd tell you more, but then I'd have to kill you and that's more effort than I care to invest in right now.
2. Had a tasty dinner with good company at a local restaurant instead of running in the frigid wind on Tuesday, but did a kickboxing routine on Wednesday to make up for missing my run.
3. The dinner that I made up inside my head turned out to be pretty danged tasty.

I don't have a recipe for the dinner, but I can give you the basics.  I peeled a couple of butternut squashes, cut them into bite-sized pieces and tossed with olive oil and a bunch of spices (cinnamon, garlic, cayenne, nutmeg, cloves, salt).  I roasted them until they were completely cooked.  Cooked and sliced a couple of Irish Bangers (though any sausage you like would work).  The next evening, I turned the production over to my partner.  The squash went back in the oven to reheat while he diced and sauteed some onion in coconut oil, tossed in a box of baby kale (plus a little water) and sauteed that with the onion.  Then the sliced sausage went in the pan to reheat.  We piled everything together on a plate and ate it like someone was going to take it away from us.  Well, I ate mine like that (because I had just finished kickboxing--Hiiiiiiiiya!).  He was much more civilized about it.

 

Three Good Things 1.24&25&26.15

Time got away from me yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to put together a blog post.  Here are my three good things from this weekend:

1. Managed to run 9 miles and got to do the last two with a friend.
2. Finished all the cooking that I planned to do.
3. Had a fun trip to the thrift store and my partner* bought me a dress that makes me giggle whenever I look at it.

The dress is one of those snazzy cotton blend straight up and down dresses from the 90's.  This particular dress is black with zebras and hibiscus flowers.  Who knew that zebras were native to Hawaii?! (hint:  zebras do NOT live in Hawaii unless they are in a zoo.)  I plan to take the dress apart and create something that will fit my shape better--a swirly skirt or a sundress.  Can't wait to show off my Hawaiian zebras!

And now for my three good things from yesterday:

1. My mom sent me a cool pair of short boots with no heel and they fit perfectly.
2. Had a long lunch with a couple of my favorite guys.
3. Nearly finished a project at work much sooner than the higher-ups anticipated (again).

Receiving the boots was extra-lucky because I was on my feet all afternoon.  I was wearing pumps that weren't terribly comfortable, so I was very glad to have more comfortable footwear to get me through the day.
 

The Hawaiian Zebra Hermit Crab is as close as Hawaii comes to a native zebra

*I use the term partner because some of my friends are married and some are dating, and because I believe the terminology should be the same across the board, whether you are gay or straight, married, living together, or dating.  You are romantically involved with that person currently (and if you’re romantically involved with more than one, you have partners—simple as that).  It’s easier all around, but I doubt it will catch on since it doesn’t give anyone a social cue about the status of your romantic relationship or if your significant other (or others) happen to be the same gender as you are. Humans are so illogical.  I did discover that one of my heroes defines it similarly, so if you have a moment check out Laci Green.

 

 

 

Three Good Things 1.16.15

Spent a good portion of the day trying not to listen to myself.  (My irrational, pointlessly panicky self, not my usual adult-ish self who has some common sense and patience)  Sigh.  When is Spring?

1. Lunch was leftover carnitas and also included potatoes AND cheese.  Yum.
2. Picked up a copy of The Addams Family TV show at the library and thoroughly enjoyed watching an episode with my best guys.
3. Someone else heated up/plated dinner and let me relax with my hurty head.

This list seems a bit sparse, but the other good thing was a conversation that is too personal to share here.  Sometimes we’ve stumbled a bit on the path from mad infatuation to something deeper, but we keep trying.

Three Good Things 1.14.15

The winter blues have got me by the throat again and it’s been particularly bad for the last few weeks.  I’m going to try to go back to an old anti-depression technique and start looking for three good things each day.  I’m also going to try to post them here, since this is such a handy spot to write stuff down.  Yesterday was particularly horrible:  feeling incredibly isolated, getting bad news, going to a meeting for work instead of meeting my friends for a run.  Finding three good things in yesterday has taken some effort.

1. Went to the library and got some interesting-looking books plus a new TV series to watch during the couch-sitting that goes on so regularly these days.
2. Ran into an ex-coworker/friend at the evening meeting and had a chance to catch up with her.
3. Ate leftover Jambalayish for dinner, which is just as tasty on Day 3 as on Day 1 (recipe below).  It was tasty enough to overcome my sads and get me to eat a reasonable dinner.

The only thing missing from the dinner was cornbread.  I know this because someone in the household WAS eating cornbread and it smelled yummy enough to make my mouth water a little.  Normally, I try very hard to stay away from the Primal/Paleo baked goods substitutes, but a lightly sweet, slightly crumbly bread product would be such a great compliment to the dish.  This is another “throw stuff in the slow cooker” recipe because minimal effort works well for me right now.

Jambalayish

Ingredients:

Chicken (approx 1 lb) in bite-size pieces (I used leftover chicken breast)

Andouille sausage (approx 1 lb), cut in 1/4” slices (cook it first—it slices better that way)

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 c. okra (optional) (I used a 12 oz bag of frozen, sliced okra—minimal effort again)

1-2 c. chicken broth or stock (if you’re spooning over rice or like it more soupish, use 2 c. broth)

14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes

6 oz. can tomato paste

2 bay leaves

1 rounded Tbsp Tony Chachere’s original seasoning blend

½ tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried parsley

1 lb raw, deveined, peeled shrimp

 

Instructions:

Toss everything except the shrimp in the slow-cooker.  Mix well.  Cook on Low for 6 hours.  Add shrimp and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes (until shrimp are just cooked).

Serve with Frank’s Hot Sauce or some sriracha (if you like it spicy) and spoon over rice, cauliflower rice, celery root “grits,” or salad greens.  Or skip the fancy stuff and serve it like the stew it is.  Enjoy!

I have no idea if this would freeze well because we’re eating it all up too quickly to try that.  I suspect the thing to do would be to freeze it without the shrimp in it and add them whenever you thaw it.  If you try the recipe, leave a comment and let me know what you thought!  And if you know of a good Primal/Paleo cornbread substitute, please tell me where to find the recipe.

And if you have time, read this because depression doesn't always look like you might think it does.

Pizzukes

New recipe!  My friends had a party this weekend to celebrate their snazzy new grill/smoker.  They provided the meat and the beer and the rest of us brought side dishes and dessert.  A darned good time was had by all.  It also provided me with a captive audience of taste-testers (muahahaha).  I’m forever craving pizza, but money was tight so I invented a new recipe involving zucchini (which is in season and therefore pretty cheap).  You may recognize the sauce from my previous pizza casserole recipe. It’s the best pizza sauce ever IMHO, but I can’t credit the author because I have no idea where it originally came from.  Sorry, pizza genius, I wish I could thank you personally for this sauce.

Pizzukes

Sauce:

2 Tbsp olive oil

6 garlic cloves minced, or 3 heaping tsp of minced garlic from a jar

15 oz can tomato sauce (use a good name brand--Muir Glen organic is my fav)

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook about 1 minute.  Add herbs, then stir in tomato sauce.  Cook a few minutes until flavors are blended then set aside.

Big pile of zucchini, sliced

1-2 onions, diced

1-2 Tbsp coconut or olive oil

Heat oil in a large frying pan or dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onion and cook 3-5 minutes until translucent.  Add zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini texture is where you like it.  Stir in pizza sauce and heat through.  Serve with mozzarella or feta cheese.

I’ve never been a big fan of zucchini.  I come from the sort of place where people leave sacks of it on the neighbors’ porches in the middle of the night and run away.  Pretty sure that one zucchini plant can supply an entire small town, so why does everyone plant a couple?  That said, this is one of the ways that I am willing to eat the green monsters.  (The previously posted zucchini noodles is the other way—tomato sauce and cheese makes everything better).

Drooling commencing now.