A Spring City Walk

It is the birthday of Victorian poet and playwright Robert Browning born May 7, 1812 in Camberwell, England. "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is one of his most famous works and was written for the young son of one of Browning's friends. This ballad was written in 1842 with fun rhymes and vivid images that paint colorful pictures in the reader's head. Here is a link to the text http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15700

His relationship with fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett is one of the most famous in English literature. They began a prolific correspondence — hundreds of letters during their 20-month courtship — which began when he sent her fan mail. They eventually eloped, against her father's wishes, and moved to Italy. Browning's poetry was largely overshadowed by his wife's, at least during her lifetime. She was popular and successful, and a serious contender for the post of poet laureate in 1860, though that honor ultimately went to Tennyson.

Browning also wrote several plays, none of them successful. But writing for the stage taught him how to use the dramatic monologue to reveal character, and he adapted it to his poetry. It became a defining characteristic of his work, and his most important and lasting contribution to the art, inspiring the likes of Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Robert Frost. 

Today I thought of Elizabeth's famous love sonnet to Robert as I took a spring city walk through the neighborhood and park counting all the things I love about spring. It's barely been two weeks since our last snowfall. Maybe just maybe spring is here to stay. For us in Minnesota it is the small things that count the most.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Blue skies and fluffy clouds

green grass

budding trees

ball players practicing

a very noisy chorus of frogs in the pond

kids playing frisbee

and a tiny crocus just starting to sprout.

Asian Meets Mexican

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

by Lao Tzu

The following two recipes are versatile. Using the same ingredients one can be a main course or an appetizer.

Appetizer

Open-Faced Burritos with a margarita

Cook's notes: How much chili powder and hotness of salsa depends on your taste.

I used medium flavor salsa and 1-1/2 TB chili powder.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1/2 can (16 oz.) vegetarian refried beans
• 3/4 jar ( 16 oz.) chunky salsa
• 1-2 TB chili powder
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1 small onion diced

Directions:

• Cook hamburger with onion and crumble into small pieces-drain and return back to frying pan
• Add in rest of ingredients and cook on low heat about 25 minutes uncovered

Serving:

• For burritos place on warmed shells: diced tomatoes, lettuce and meat mixture-optional adding black olives on top and serving with a dollop of guacamole/sour cream on the side  
• For appetizer serve meat mixture on large chips, adding diced tomatoes lettuce, olives and guacamole  

Asian Chicken Salad Wraps

Cook's notes: The original recipe started with one from Southern Living May 2013 Asian Chicken Salad Wraps but then I made several additions by adding in a dressing, coleslaw and nuts.

Ingredients:

• Wishbone Lite Vinaigrette Dressing Asian with Sesame and Ginger 
• pea pods
• 2-3 cups cooked chicken-diced
• 1- small bag 3 color coleslaw from produce section 
• 1 package Sun- Dried Tomato= Basil Flour Tortilla 
• 1 bag China Boy Rice Noodles 
• optional chopped cashews

Directions:

• For easier wrapping tortillas should be at room temperature
• In a large bowl mix 1 cup coleslaw mixture, 1-1/2 cup pea pods sliced in half, chicken and dressing. Start out with 1/4 cup dressing (I always start out small) and mix with chicken, coleslaw and pea pods 
• Refrigerate 1/2 hour
• Add in 1 cup rice noodles, you may want to add in a drizzle more of dressing at this point
• Divide mixture between 2-3 wraps and roll tightly-cut in half on diagonal 

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo which is Spanish for the fifth of May is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla. It is the anniversary of a victory in 1862 in the fight for independence from French forces. The festival originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War.  

Today the date is observed in the United States as a day to celebrate the culture, achievements and experiences of people with a Mexican background, who live in the United States.  There is a large commercial element to the day,with businesses promoting Mexican services and goods, particularly food, drinks and music. Other aspects of the day center around traditional symbols of Mexican life, such as the Virgin de Guadalupe, and Mexican-Americans who have achieved fame, fortune and influence in the United States.

Chicken Enchilada and Black Bean Casserole

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Cook’s notes: Be sure to use corn tortillas.  This is a hearty flavorful dish so you won’t even miss using regular cheese and sour cream

Ingredients:

• 2 large chicken breasts
• ½ tsp. cumin
• ½ tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. fresh lime juice
• ½ cup sweet onion
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 TB. fresh cilantro
• 1-15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small can corn drained
• 1/2 cup diced red or green peppers
• 1 small container of lite sour cream
• 1-10 oz. can red enchilada sauce-medium flavor
• 8 – 6 inch corn tortillas
• 2-1/2 cups shredded low-fat Mexican blend cheese(set ½ cup aside for topping)
• ½ cup chopped green onion
• Black olives

Directions:

• In a small bowl mix cumin, coriander, chili powder
• In a glass dish place chicken breasts and rub in spices, drizzle with lime juice-set aside
• Preheat oven to 450 and spray cookie sheet with PAM (Olive Oil)
• Crisp tortillas for 2-3 minutes per side (watch carefully so as not to overbrown)
• Chop chicken and sauté with sweet onion and garlic-cook till chicken is done
• Transfer cooked chicken to a bowl and stir in cilantro, drained black beans, drained sweet corn and peppers
• Spread half of the enchilada sauce in bottom of a 11 x 7 baking dish
• Place 4 tortillas over the sauce
• Spoon half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas and sprinkle ½ cheese and ½ lite sour cream
• Spoon the remaining enchilada sauce over the cheese and make another layer of tortillas with chicken mixture and ending with low fat cheese and lite sour cream
• Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes
• Remove foil and sprinkle more cheese cook for about 5 minutes
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving then add chopped tomatoes, chopped black  olives and a few sprinkles of chopped green onion

 

Margarita Cake

Cook's notes:This recipe was originally published in Cook's Country magazine

It makes a large recipe and is perfect for celebrating Cinco de Mayo or your summer crowd. Despite the fact there are several steps-trust me well worth the effort!!!

Serves 10

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut that has been toasted
• 1 teaspoon grated lime zest plus 1 lime, sliced thin (2 limes) 
• 3 cups crushed pretzels (use food processor)
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 
• 3/4 cup water 
• 4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 
• 1 (10-ounce) can frozen margarita mix, thawed 
• 1/4 cup tequila 
• 1/4 cup triple sec 
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled 
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

Directions for the crust:

• Place oven rack in middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease 9-inch spring form pan and line perimeter with 3-inch-wide strip of parchment paper
• Process coconut and lime zest in food processor until coarsely ground; reserve 1/2 cup
• Add crushed pretzels to remaining coconut mixture and process until finely ground
• Add melted butter and pulse to combine. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Bake until edges are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely. 

Directions for the filling:

• Combine 1/4 cup water and gelatin in small saucepan and let sit until gelatin softens, about 5 minutes
• Add margarita mix, tequila, and triple sec and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until gelatin dissolves, about 5 minutes
• Cool 15 minutes
• Using mixer whip cream on medium-low speed until foamy then increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form
• Use a clean bowl, whip sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese until combined
• Add in 1 cup margarita mixture and whip until incorporated. Fold in one-third whipped cream, then gently fold in remaining whipped cream. Pour filling into crust. Refrigerate until just set, about 1 hour. 

Directions for the topping:

• Stir remaining 1/2 cup water into remaining margarita mixture
• Pour mixture through fine-mesh strainer into 2-cup liquid measuring cup
• Pour over filling and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. Remove sides of pan and parchment. Press reserved coconut mixture onto sides of cake and top with lime slices. 

Margarita 

Cook's note: 
I have saved my best Mexican recipe for the last and certainly the easiest of them all :)

• 6 shot glasses of plain ( no alcohol) margarita mix ( I like to use Jose Cuvero) 
• 2 shot glasses of Tequila
• 1/2 shot glass Cointreau
• 1/2 shot glass Grand Marnier
• 1 tray of ice cubes

Directions:

• In a blender crush ice cubes
• Add rest of ingredients and blend  till smooth
• Dip rim of glass in lime juce and then into salt

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby 2013 results are in for Saturday's huge thoroughbred horse race at Churchill Downs. With muddy conditions on the track as you can see from the picture 

Orb was the winner at 2:02.89 seconds. Coming in second was the #4 Golden Soul, followed by #3 Revolutionary, and #5 Normandy Invasion. Orb was the favorite earlier in the week coming into the race, and then became a co-favorite again right before the race started along with Revolutionary which finished in third.

But for me it was all about the hats and the food.

Check out some of these elaborate creations

The mint julep is as important to the Kentucky Derby as the horses, or the jockeys, or whatever it is everyone seems to be cheering about. It’s the quintessential Southern drink often served in silver cups. This lady sure must like her Mint Juleps.

I heard on the news today that over Friday and Saturday for the Kentucky Derby the crowd consumed 

127,000 Mint Juleps 

66,000 Derby Pies

28, 000 lbs of shrimp 

Kentucky Derby Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe

Note: This recipe makes a large amount of batter, so be sure to use a 10-inch deep dish pie pan. A stoneware pie pan with high sides works well. When shaping and fluting the pie crust, make sure to bring the sides up high enough to hold all the pie filling.

Recipe for 10-inch Single Crust Pie Crust  

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup Karo light corn syrup
• 4 large eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 3/4 cup gourmet chocolate chips
• 1-1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, shelled and chopped in half if desired

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roll pie crust out from your favorite recipe or use a store bought pre-baked pie crust
• Line a 10-inch deep dish pie pan with the dough, and flute the edges as desired.
• In a large mixing bowl on medium speed mix butter, sugars, corn syrup, eggs, vanilla and bourbon together until frothy.
• Fold in chocolate chips and pecans or walnuts. Blend well.
• Pour into prepared pie crust and cover edge of pastry with 2-3 inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning 
• Bake at 350 for 45-50 or until set.
• Serve warm, or cool completely before serving with whipped cream

Mint Julep

The Mint Julep has been the traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century. 

Each year, almost 120,000 Mint Juleps are served over the two-day period of Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs Racetrack. That’s a feat that requires more than 10,000 bottles of Early Times Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.

Mint Julep makes 2 servings

Total time: 5 minutes, plus more for simple syrup preparation

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons simple syrup (see below)
• 4 fresh mint sprigs
• Shaved ice
• 2/3 cup bourbon
• Powdered sugar
• Mint leaves

Directions:

• Pour 1 tablespoon Simple Syrup into 1 tall glass
• Add 2 sprigs mint, crushed slightly and add ice
•  Stir in 1/3 cup bourbon
•  Add more ice to fill glass and sprinkle with powdered sugar and garnish with mint. Repeat with remaining ingredients for second glass

Simple Syrup

1 cup boiling water

1 cup sugar

Stir boiling water into sugar until sugar dissolves. Simple syrup will keep almost indefinitely refrigerated in covered container

·       

Cooking Tips and A Cookie Question with Some Answers

The good news is the snow is almost gone at the lake with just a few scattered snow piles along the roadside ditches and in the woods.  Some minuscule blades of grass are showing their color. 
The bad news the lake still is covered with ice and is slow to melt due to the cool temperatures. Opening fishing is scheduled for next weekend which for the Up North it is a sacred tradition for many. I have yet to see a loon. The birds seem to be in a frenzy all clustered about the yard chattering "Where's the food? Where's the food?"  Minnesota even made the national news today with a recent 18 inches snowfall in parts of southern MN. I guess I thought winter had been served its "walking papers." 
One local TV station decided enough whining and searched for a positive spin. They gave a list of the 10 best things about having cold, rainy, snowy weather. But sadly, it didn't console me one bit when they list how good it is for maple syrup because the sap is still running, and there are no mosquitoes.

Bella stands by the water's edge waiting to see what my next move will be.

I thought baking some chocolate chip cookies would be a good mood booster.

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Heloise was born Kiah Michelle Cruse on  April 15, 1951. Her  current name is Ponce Kiah Marchelle Heloise Cruse Evans. She is an American writer, author, and speaker specializing in lifestyle hints, including consumer issues, pets, travel, food, home improvement, and health. 

Heloise's mother, Heloise Bowles, started a newspaper column in the Honolulu Advertiser called "Readers Exchange" in February 1959, later changed to "Hints from Heloise" when King Features Syndicate picked up the column and started syndicating it nationwide. Within just a few years, the column appeared in over 600 newspapers worldwide.

Heloise (the daughter) took over the column in 1977 when mother Heloise died of heart disease. She worked with her mother for several years and contributed to the column as Heloise II. It is still one of the most widely syndicated newspaper columns. She is a contributing editor for Good Housekeeping Magazine  and writes the monthly column "Heloise to the Rescue." She has written 11 books, hosted a national radio show and is a nationally known speaker. She currently resides near San Antonio, Texas.

We all know that Heloise gives tips/hints for organizing and cleaning but did you know she gives out recipes  http://www.heloise.com/recipes.html

Keeping in the"Heloise Mode" I thought I'd pass along some cooking tips and techniques that come from some of my Cuisine at Home magazines.  

DIY Steamer (June 2013)

If you don't have a steamer basket create one with a colander. Set the colander over boiling water and place a lid over the vegetables to steam. If cooking pasta for dinner, just steam the vegetables right on top.

Flavor Boost (June 2013)

To add more interesting flavor to box cakes, substitute for the water strawberry or cherry nectar. It is good with chocolate. Be creative and experiment with different combinations.

Quick Cool (August 2011)

Are there times when you want to take freshly baked goods to a gathering but not quite cool enough to travel? Here is an idea. Set an ice pack under the cooling rack and it will quicken the cooling process. 

Shrimp's On (December 2011)

Rather than serving shrimp at parties on ice that seems to melt quickly try serving shrimp on frozen lemon slices. It adds a little flavor as well as looking nice on a tray.  

Space Saver (December 2011) 

Overnight breakfast casseroles can take up space in the refrigerator. Try storing the mixture in a pitcher overnight. In the morning pour mixture into a baking pan and slide it into the oven.  

Another section of the magazine I enjoy reading is Questions & Answers

This is from Cuisineathome.com June 2013

Question: Why when following the same chocolate chip cookie recipe some cookies sometimes turn out thin and greasy or crispy or even thick and chewy. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie with Nuts 

Answer:  The temperature of your ingredients and dough affect how the recipe turns out. To overcome the variables and ensure consistent results get in the habit of chilling the dough until its very cold. 

This way the fat stays firm long enough for the shape of the cookies to set meaning they won't spread thin. Chilling allows the protein to relax and the liquid to absorb, giving cookies better texture and flavor. Of course, chilling dough is no use if you put the dough on hot baking sheets.  For chewy cookies best to let cookies cool on baking sheet a minute or two before placing them on a cooling rack. 

While I agree with this advice I would like to add another tip of my own. I place the bowl with dough in the freezer and take out what is needed then place it back in freezer till needed for the next batch. I go between two cookie sheets so the dough goes on a sheet that is at room temperature.  Hard to believe anyone would ever think of adapting the basic Nestle Chocolate Chip cookie recipe. But I did. It calls for 2 sticks of butter. For me two sticks of butter make a cookie that is thin and greasy. So I use 1 stick butter and 1 stick margarine. 

I must say there is nothing better than a chocolate chip cookie to lift one's spirit.

Revisiting Carnival Ticket Baskets

February 25, 2013 I posted a blog on how these unique baskets can be crafted with just a roll of carnival tickets purchased from Office Max or Office Depot. Each colored roll costs about $7.95. These baskets were a huge hit at a recent Oscar party. Note from the photos that one roll can be molded into a variety of shapes. There are multiple uses for the baskets which include: a gift basket with popcorn and movie tickets, putting a vase inside the ticket basket to hold flowers and a basket for snack mix.

This white ticketed one on the left held bread sticks and the flower petals were made from individual tickets. Regular Mod Podge was used on this white vase.










Close up view of flower and petals glued on a stick and flower centers were small pom poms purchased from a craft store

Glossy Mod Podge was applied to these red and yellow baskets

Since I wanted a glitzy look this one was my favorite. It was painted with Mod Podge that has glitter in the glue.

The basic directions can be found following this link

http://modpodgerocksblog.com/2011/04/carnival-ticket-bowl-with-glitter.html

But I did find after making several that one important detail was missing from the directions found on this link; how to actually achieve these shapes. Each roll of tickets need to be placed on top of one or two bowls. Then using both hands and equal pressure slowly press the ticket roll down. 

As an example, I started with these two bowls and placed them on top of each other. I pressed the roll of tickets down to lip of blue bowl. Then removed blue bowl and placed the ticket roll back on green/gold bowl and then finished pressing roll down to the table. Using a higher stack of bowls will achieve a longer shape or by using different size bowls the shape of the bottom can be changed.

Mod Podge comes in three types: regular, glossy, glitter. It all depends on the look you want to achieve.  Using a small foam brush is the best applicator. Use a piece of wax paper to work on. The best parts about this project are each basket can be made in less than one half hour and it will be a conversation piece at your next gathering. This project can also be found on Pinterest.

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While browsing the shelf of Recommended Staff Favorites at a bookstore this title caught my attention. After reading a few reviews online I ordered my own copy from the library. I thought the author was clever to combine the antiquated world of books with the age of digital technology to help solve riddles and puzzles. The hero or protagonist is Clay Jannon, who is a graphic designer with meager programming skills. He loses his job to recession and takes a job at Mr. Penumbra's quirky mysterious 24-hour bookstore in the San Francisco area. After a few weeks Clay begins to notice customers come in but not actually buy anything . The customers go to different corners of the store and find volumes of antiquated books to trade with others. Clay then goes on quest to uncover the secrets of the bookstore. He feels the bookstore is a front for something larger. As the story line develops Clay finds that there is a semi-secret society trying to translate a 500 year old encoded volume in order to learn the secret of immortality. Clay enlists the help from his friends from the techno-geek world to bring the five hundred year old book into synch with the present using all the resources of Google. 

You might find the owner the store, Mr. Penumbra, somewhat like Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter.  

So if you enjoy an entertaining fantasy novel that shows how current technology can help solve mysterious quests and puzzles this may be the book for you.

"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" 
Audrey Hepburn 

Happy May Day

May Day basket ideas perfect for that special someone who loves chocolate and flowers

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.  

~Walt Whitman

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.  
~Gerard de Nerval

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Broccoli Salad

Cook’s notes: For easier prep fry bacon and chop broccoli, red onion the day before, store in a plastic zip loc bag and refrigerate

Ingredients:

• 1 head of broccoli
• 1 small red onion
• 6 strips of bacon-fried crisp and diced
• ½ cup raisins or craisins or 1-1/2 cups red grapes sliced in half
• 1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
• 1 small package of shredded 3 color Coleslaw Mix (carrots, green and red cabbage found in produce) 

Dressing:

• 1-cup lite mayonnaise or lite Miracle Whip
• 2 TB. white vinegar
• 1/3 cup sugar

Directions:

• Mix salad ingredients and chill while making dressing mixture
• Mix dressing with salad ingredients 1/2 hour before serving and return bowl to refrigerator
• If need more dressing make ½ mixture more: ½ cup lite mayo, 1 TB. vinegar, 1/8 cup sugar