It is Hard to Run Uphill With the Enemy

     So guess what? My small town, is kinda not so small anymore. Not in the respect that it grew triple fold overnight, but rather it has turned down a very dark path. When I first moved here 20 years ago, I thought to myself, "OK this is a lot like Alaska". Nobody locked their doors at night, and everybody knew your name. That was attractive to me, the chance to belong, finally I was steering my own ship.

     Many of my readers do not know, that I was what you called a "Military Brat". Meaning that my father was an officer in the Coast Guard and we moved a whole bunch. That is how I ended up in Alaska, from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We hung our hats just long enough to become attached. It was exciting and painful all at the same time.

     Since then, I have rooted myself in Vermont and kept a promise to myself. To allow my children to grow up with the kids they attended kindergarten with and see it through to graduation.

     Lately, this decision has been a bitter pill to swallow. Interstate 91, has become a breeding ground for drug trafficking. Now, instead of just driving by, they are moving in.  Drug related murders are a new symptom to an already uncontrollable situation. The statement getting caught in the crossfire is a very real possibility these days.

     It just doesn't end there, our economy is going down the toilet, and unfortunately we all get a ticket to the show. In the last two weeks, we have had two very senseless murders. This makes you want to lock your door, pull your shades and being anonymous is a lot more attractive than being neighborly. Try this little experiment, smile at everyone you meet, you will be surprised at the number of people that don't smile back. What has happened to us?

     Some say it is the summer, the heat and blah, blah, blah. I kinda have to agree. Time to close the bait shop, put the tanning lotion away, and take inventory of ourselves again. When was the last time, that you sat down and played a board game with your family?  Without all the outside stimuli? For us the Gould's, a really long time. Been too long.

     We played Monopoly yesterday, and it seems that my husband, could have taught our oldest son, the fine art of total world domination. Within the first half hour, I managed to hand my entire game strategy to him, how does that happen?
But I have to say it was entertaining watching my husband, pass the torch.

Summer has flown by, the mornings are feeling a bit cooler. I am so bummed that I saw Halloween decorations at the Dollar General. While I do enjoy the seasons, gardening has become more enjoyable. I should move to Arizona. Nice weather all year long. Florida is too humid, and I don't like to sweat.
 
     Our internal clocks must be connected to some remote season detector, because everyone was in the house by 6pm last night. I was able to get the laundry done, dinner cooked, dishes cleaned, and still have time to do a little blogging, before my guilty pleasure HBO True Blood at 9pm. Can't help it I heart True Blood.

     Speaking of hearts, I should be loving what's left of the summer, just about two weeks left. I signed up for this challenge the I Heart Summer Slim-Down Challenge. I have two weeks to drop a size, by doing 6 small steps to a smaller me. This should be interesting. I might get grumpy, I am just warning you all.

Healthy Chicken Soup

2 ready roasted chickens from your local grocery store
1 stick or 1/4 cup butter
1 pound rough chopped celery
1 pound peeled, rough chopped carrots
2 medium onions rough chopped
5 cloves garlic roughly chopped
2 32 ounce containers of chicken stock
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup brown rice
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp black pepper
salt to taste
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup water

Pull off all the meat from the grocery roasted chickens, keep the bones if you are completely ambitious, otherwise toss, set the meat aside. In a soup pot, melt the butter add the vegetables and sweat until translucent. Add the can of tomatoes and chicken stock, bring to a boil. Add the brown rice and simmer the soup until the brown rice is soft. When the rice is soft, combine the cornstarch and water and thicken the soup and season with the thyme, pepper and salt.

In my humble opinion, the world is in need of a good spanking.

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.  ~Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ, c.1420

 


     

Coffee Makes Everything Better

     We have finally hit the countdown till the big day. Soon the kids will be tied down nestled all snug in their beds, with visions of how to get out of bed sugarplums in their heads.  Like these two in the picture. Santa doesn't look too thrilled either.

     During this time of year, it is easy to kill someone get wrapped up in the commotion. Heck yesterday at Walmart, I was ready to play bumper carts.  The lines are long, people's patience are nonexistent thin, and all everyone wants is for that annoying little girl to get her hippopotamus for Christmas.

     Usually I am reluctant to buy things for myself, only because I have a hard time justifying it. Every year, my mother gives me a gift card from Wal-mart (Thank you, Mom and love you) and normally I would use it for my sons. This year, I bought a mini Keurig and wow!, already it is proving to be a wise purchase. In my house, we have the bad habit of brewing 12 cups of coffee, for two people. Somehow, if we don't brew the
the whole pot it will taste funny. What's worse is that my husband, eyeballs it, and the coffee comes like some highly caffeinated redneck Redbull.

     What a difference a perfectly brewed cup of coffee makes. Gotta love my husband though, I am awake less than 30 seconds, and he says "Did you keep the receipt on that coffee maker?", "because I put the water in, and pushed the buttons and all I got was a cold cup of slightly colored water". Hmmmmm, strange? "Did you read the directions? I smirk, knowing the answer.

     I am glad that the holiday season is winding down. It has been quite the nightmare adventure. Looking forward to the weekend, when I can sleep in. Spending time with my family and of course cooking. I have hit my sugar wall, between being at work and it being Christmas. I just want a big comfortable dish of Chicken and Dumplings. Put my slippers on, curl up on the couch and enjoy a holiday film with my family.

Gould's Chicken and Dumplings

1 6 pound broiler-fryer chicken cut up
1 large sweet onion, rough chopped
4 stalks of celery, rough chopped
3 medium carrots, peeled and rough chopped
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and slightly smashed
2 parsnips, peeled and rough chopped
2 small turnips, peeled and rough chopped
1 can chicken broth
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste(around 1 tsp of each)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
water to cover

Dumplings

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp butcher grind black pepper
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons chopped chives

Combine all ingredients in a large pan and add enough water to cover chicken. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for two hours or until the chicken is done.  Remove the chicken set aside and allow to cool. While chicken is cooling, adjust the seasonings to the broth. In a mixing bowl combine the dumpling ingredients and mix well to form a stiff dough. Set aside and allow to rest. Remove the skin from the chicken and discard the bones. On a floured surface,  roll out the dough and cut into squares, and drop into simmering broth and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. Add chicken back to pot and enjoy.

Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.~Richard Carlson

I overshot a Blue Christmas

     Today was similar to standing in the checkout, with one register open. My muscles tight and ready to pounce into a better advantage point. We went to get the Christmas tree, and normally I would inspect and contemplate the perfect tree. But hubby was hauling a-- on a backroad, so I was a little rattled by the time we got there. Maybe, annoyed is a better word. The first one the guy held up "You like it?", "Ya I like it". Within five minutes, the tree was netted, thrown into the back of the car, and we were motoring back to Brattleboro with Johnny Mathis.

     Having a birthday so close to Christmas at times feels really special, and at other times (like now) triggers a need to schedule things. Like a Christmas tree. Not that it is a big job, but my hubby is 6'1" and better equipped to haul a tree into the house, than myself. The whole time I am thinking, Wow  we should have done this last weekend.

     I should not be allowed to shop at Walmart, anytime during the holiday season. Because, Guess What???!!!!! We have a themed tree.  Shush up Barb~Martha!. Any who, I thought it would be super cool, to have some organization to the tree. Only because the rest of my life is dangling from a toe nail. Well my new look is very blue and silver, and thanks to my sister a shade lighter than my childhood tree; blue and gold. By the way, No Amanda, I am not going to wrap the tree in spider webs, a.k.a Angel Hair, because it was deemed hazardous, otherwise..why yes, yes I would.

     One thing I can say, with the lights on the tree is devoid of color. But with the lights off..Hallelujah !!! a blue-bluish-bluesy tree. I guess I just wanted continuity in my tree, I overshot it. HA HA. Typical overachiever behavior. In the words of my golfer friend Fish, I totally duffed the tree.

     The highlight of the day, is that I went to church, I am so blessed to be a part of something so special. I truly believe in the statement: " You go through what you go through, to get where you are". Wow, wish I knew that when I was 21, I would have saved tons of time. But...we all know the moral to this story.. I would not have learned what I needed to learn.

    Christmas Eve in my house is appetizers and the list is endless for things that you can do. One of things that I have done is Chicken and Rosemary in Puff Pastry.

1 package of chicken tenders,chopped
1 tablespoon garlic chopped
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon butter
1 package of Pepperidge farms puff pastry
2 8oz packages of cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons sherry
salt and pepper to taste

Cut the tenders and set aside. Chop the onions, garlic and rosemary set aside. In a saucepan melt the butter and saute the garlic and onions add the chicken and cook until it is almost done. Finish with sherry and cook until the alcohol is gone, on low heat. Add the cream cheese and cheddar and melt on low heat until well combined. Season with the rosemary,salt and pepper. Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll slightly longer and wider. Just a wee bit. Spoon the filling along one edge of the pastry, until the filling is gone. Roll, somewhat tightly towards the top, brush the top edge with egg wash and set on a greased cookie pan, edge side down and baste with egg wash. Cook in a 400F oven for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Cool before slicing. Serve with peach preserves.

And the Grinch,with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something that he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr.Suess

Leaving the Fast Food Nation

     Do you ever have those days when you search in vain for dinner? I have those days all the time. I am not sure if it is because I cook for a living, or it is because I have eaten it already. I miss those times when the decision was made for you.  Maybe that is the problem? I have issues with making decisions. My husband and I never seem to agree on what to eat.  I feed people all day long, and there never is a grey area to what I am doing, as soon as I step into my mom and wife suit, all ability to make a decision flies out the window.

     What baffles me is the over abundance of selection, one faces at the supermarket.  I will use the cereal aisle as an example. Low fat, no fat, low sugar, sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, extra calcium added, high fiber, low fiber, all natural and last but not least organic.  Do you see the insanity? That is just the cereal aisle, there are at least 12 other shelves to look at.  Somehow I think it has been the over manipulation of our food source that has resulted in so many diet related diseases today. I wonder down the line, when we have mastered these diseases with alternate food choices, will it create another problem in different area.

     When I was growing up, you ate was put in front of you, and you never worried about the color dye that was in it. My generation was the fast food era, we were busy, on the go, and needed drive-thrus. We were the age of multi-tasking and having dinner on the table in 10 minutes. We are now suffering those effects of fast and efficient. Obesity among children is rising at an alarming rate. We all are responsible for where we are. Children at 16 years old should not be getting gastric bypass surgery. Grandma(fill in the blank) has been replaced by Doubles, Triples and sandwiches that are wrapped in meat.

     What makes me angry is that healthy food is too expensive and ultimately not available to people that don't have the money to afford it. The only thing that separates those people from me, is that I know how to buy food, based on my cooking knowledge. But what about the young mother, that has no idea how to spread her dollar to feed her family? Guess what, nobody cares about her! She struggles and tries her best to feed her child. In the end, that same child faces, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and that is just medically.  Emotionally and socially they face a life of loneliness and ridicule. What kind of life is that for a child?
     The solution is within us. Don't ignore the elephant in the room. Make healthy food affordable, and spread the message that we need fewer fast food restaurants,moving into our neighborhoods. Include basic cooking classes to all students in high school. Covering the essentials and none of the perks. So that each student graduating can easily feed themselves without resorting to any prepared dinner mixes or trips to fast food establishments.

1 Whole Chicken (3 dinners) save the breast bone from the breast, and save back bone from chicken.

First Dinner~
 2 chicken breasts from a 6 to 8 pound chicken
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Montreal chicken spice
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 Italian breadcrumbs
1 cup canola oil
Mix in a bowl all the dry ingredients, in a separate dish mix together the buttermilk and egg. Heat canola oil in a frying pan. Split the two chicken breasts in half lengthwise, so you have 4 equal sides.
Dredge the chicken in the dry mixture and the buttermilk and then the dry again. Fry in the hot oil until done, about 5 minutes.  Serve like chicken fingers, with the sauces the kids love.

Second Dinner~
Two thighs of the chicken
two wings of the chicken
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried thyme
2 stalks of celery diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
1 can of cream of chicken soup condensed
1 can of cream of celery soup condensed
1 (12ounce) can of biscuit dough
2 tbs canola oil
1 cup chicken stock
In a large pot heat the oil over medium heat, combine the flour with all the spices, dredge the thighs and wings in the flour and brown on both sides. Remove the chicken and add the chicken stock, the celery, onion and carrot and cook until for 10 minutes.  Heat the oven to 350F, reduce the heat and add the soups, season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken back in, open the biscuits and pull apart and top the stew.  Cook in the oven until the dough is browned and done.

Third Dinner~
All bones from original chicken.
water to cover those bones.
Simmer bones and water until a stock develops. Strain bones and set stock aside.
8 ozs cabot unsalted butter
all leftovers from past two dinners
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
4 stalks of celery diced
1 large onion diced
3 cloves of garlic minced
1/2 pound of egg noodles, cooked, drained and cooled
4 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a soup pot and add the carrots,celery, onions and garlic, cook until the vegetables are somewhat soft. Add the leftover chicken(if any) from the past two dinners and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add the stock strained from boiling the bones earlier, (it should be about 8 cups maybe ten cups), simmer for a few minutes and add potatoes, cook until potatoes are soft.  Add the frozen peas. Mix the cornstarch with the water and add to the simmering soup. It should thicken a little..kinda like Cambell's Soup, add the egg noodles and season a wee bit more, dash, dash of salt and pepper. Serve. Wow that was only chicken~o.0

An optimist is a person who starts a diet on Thanksgiving day.~Irv Kupcinet

What's a girl to do?

There are so many diets out there,Low-carb, High-carb, High-protein, no-protein,no-sugar, wave the sugar over the meal with the intent of having sugar, all watercress or cabbage, Hollywood diet,South Beach, in France where women don't get fat.  Should I be in the Zone with Dr. Atkins or was it Jenny Craig? Will I be Fit for Life if I go with the Flat Belly Diet?   When in the Mediterranean should I do their diet or go to a Weight Watchers meeting?  Will I have the Best Life if I join the Biggest Loser Club? See what I mean, what is a girl to do?  Who is right, who has the better plan and is it in me already? 

We all want a quick fix me included, I wanted results yesterday.  What is the clear solution to weight loss?  My brain tells me to monitor what I am putting into my mouth, you know a food diary..Weight Watchers principle is founded on monitoring portions and meals through a point system. I did  Weight Watchers and the first week I lost 6 pounds, very promising, however it was expensive for me, and I had young children that needed the money that I would otherwise spend in that direction. However, I took the point system with me, and it was pretty cut and dry. So what does that mean then?  Like an addict, how far will someone go before they realize that things are out of control.  That is the insidious thing about weight gain we are not outwardly out of control, but inside we are spiraling.  Worrying about every chip that passes our lips, how insane is that?  So it all goes back to that boring health class that I was not paying attention.  Eat to live, not live to eat. Some of us are lucky we dance through life with no problems whatsoever, while others have problems and start the try and fail cycle.(me)  So this is a new venue for me, purging my thoughts over the web, making myself accountable for my dirty tasty little secrets. Lets talk burritos....mmmmm cheese :)

1 pound ground chicken

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 medium onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbs olive oil                                                                      
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1(15 ozs ) can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1(10oz) can whole kernel corn,drained
6(8 inch) whole wheat tortillas
1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar
plain yogurt low-fat and salsa to garnish.

In a saute pan, heat the olive oil and add the diced onion and garlic and saute for a minute or two add the ground chicken and cook until the chicken is done, drain and return to the pan add the 1 cup cooked rice and seasoning add the beans and corn and heat through. Divide up between the 6 tortillas and top with cheese and wrap.  Top with the yogurt and salsa and serve.

There is no such thing as a little garlic.~ A. Baer

A piece of the pie.....

Pot pie, hmmm there is something very nostalgic about this dish, it almost always makes me feel good, it warms the soul.  Pot pies have a very long history in the culinary world.  Ever heard the nursery rhyme "four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie."  During the reign of Queen Elizabeth in England these humble pies where actually the stars of the banquets with ornate designs and were a testament to the chef's abilities and skill.  Among the lower class the crust served as a way to stretch the meal. 
In the New World, the pie tradition followed and immigrants brought their techniques with them.  Because there was not many ways to preserve their food, the pie crust was one way that they could get some miles out of the meal.  As settlers moved westward in the New World so did the components of pot pie, and it became American as apple pie.
When I think of chicken pot pie I almost always get that feeling of fall approaching, the sun is going down early, there is a distinct smell of leaves in the air, and the mornings are brisk with the anticipation that Mother Nature is ushering winter in.   This is the time that I almost always want to cook up feasts of comfort food.  Dishes that warm the heart and soul, and prepare us for the deep slumber of winter. Comfortable meals dressed up in pajamas, furry slippers and soft robes huddled next to the fire watching reruns of Happy Days. There is nothing more satisfying that a humble slice of chicken, vegetables and crust in a luxurious sauce.  Here is a simple version of the classic dish.
1 large rotisserie chicken(supermarket has great ones)
1 onion diced
2 stalks of celery, sliced
1 jar or can or button mushrooms,drained
1 cup chicken stock
1 tbs and 1 tsp of butter
1 tbs and 1 tsp flour
1 tbs heavy cream
1 package ready-made pie crust
salt and pepper to taste

Remove all meat from chicken, freeze and save bones(can make chicken stock at a later date) set aside. In saute pan melt butter add onions and celery cook until slightly soft, add flour and incorporate,cook on low heat for about a minute or two. Add chicken stock and stir until the sauce thickens, add heavy cream and mix, season to taste.  Add picked chicken and mushrooms.  Grease a 9 inch deep dish pie pan, lay the bottom crust in the pan and fill the crust with the chicken filling, lay the top crust over the filling and fold the top crust under the bottom one around the edge, crimp how you would like.  Poke a slit in the top to let steam escape, brush with egg wash(beaten egg with a little water, used to brown) and bake in 350F oven until golden brown

As for butter vs margarine, I trust cows more than chemists.~Joan Gussow