A Jab at the End of the Year

 

Another Year Gone - Bye Bye 2021

 There is not much to say for 2021.  We're hoping for better in the new year.

That being said, I leave you with something beautiful.  We had a volunteer sunflower come up along the sidewalk where we winter feed the birds.

It brightened our summer.

Here is how it started.  

And then...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Review: Sumo Orange

 My Japanese cooking Facebook group has been singing the praises of the 'sumo orange'.  So much so that when I saw them in Publix I decided to try one.  

The sumo orange is not an orange at all.  It is a giant mandarin grown only in Japan.  It is touted as easy to peel - Yes.  It is distinctively sweet - Yes, it has a honey-like taste.  It is seedless - Yes.  It is expensive - YES, one small orange sized sumo cost $4!

I realize that a lot of loving care goes into growing them.  The small trees are hand pruned so each fruit gets sunlight.  They are tree ripened so the shipping time is short.  They are hand picked.  They are transported on a water conveyor belt.  All processing and packing is done by hand.

They are delicious.  But in my opinion, they are not worth $4 each.

Korokee

 Last new recipe for the year - Korokee.  Basically a Japanese potato croquette.  They are favorite of Japanese children and Deane's favorite so far too.

Dry smashed potatoes

Forming the patties

Fry carefully - they brown really fast

Ready to eat!

 Korokke - ala Teri:

 1 lb starchy potatoes

½ lb ground beef

1/4 cup mushrooms (shitake are great), minced

2 TBS finely minced fresh ginger

1/2 TBS olive oil

Oil for deep frying (amount depends on the size of your frying container)

Salt and pepper to taste

Coating:

1 egg

4 TBS flour

3 TBS water

2 TBS Yum Yum sauce

2 cups (maybe more) PANKO bread crumbs

 

Peel and quarter potatoes.  Boil for about 10 minutes or until skewer goes thru easily. 

 Drain completely, and then put potatoes that are still in the pot back on still-warm stove burner to dry off completely.  As you put them on, give a little shake to rough up the surface (helps in drying off).  Then mash potatoes with potato masher to a rough mash (still has chunks). 

 Make batter from first 4 coating ingredients.  Put in shallow wide mouth bowl.  Put Panko into a separate wide mouth bowl.  Set aside near your cooking area.

 While potatoes are cooking, heat olive oil in fry pan.  Add ground beef, mushrooms, and ginger.  As ground beef cooks, break it up to very small pieces.

 Add meat mix to cooked mashed-up potatoes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well.  Let mix cool so you can handle it to form ovals, but it still needs to be pretty warm.

 When potatoes are cool to handle, divide into 8 equal amounts.  Form each portion into a flat oval.  Place on a plate.

 Heat deep fry oil until it is about 350*. 

 Take one potato ovals, dip into batter, then the Panko.   Slip into hot oil.   Quickly repeat with another one or two more ovals depending on fryer size.  Remember, the interior is already cooked so you are just getting the golden crust on the outside.  It goes quick!  Make sure you remember to turn them so both sides brown evenly.  Drain on a paper towel lined plate while you continue to cook.

 Serve immediately.

 

A Great Product for Uber Dry Hair

 Been studying on the pure poison that is put into shampoo.  Dimethicone, silicon, paraben, sulfates and more.  We use 3 different brands that are supposed to be 'good ones'.  Ha!  Each have at least one nasty ingredient.

 Really good ones cost $20 and up (searching Amazon).  Uff-da!

 One whim I pulled out Persia's sensitive cat shampoo.  It is a better product than what we have!!!!!!!  No garbage whatso ever.  Fragrance free.  And it costs about $6 a bottle.  I almost tried using it!

 But I found a new product made for people.  Backing up for a moment, all my African-American girlfriends have issues with dry brittle hair.  Hair that breaks.  And as it would turn out, my menopause 'gift' has been dry, brittle, breaky hair.  So... I hear about this product for African-American women's hair.  And I think "Why not?"  Better yet, I can order it from Walmart and get it delivered out to my car.   

 This stuff is AMAZING!!  It is light and does not weigh my hair down or make it look greasy.  And it smells so good.  I have seen such an improvement in my hair condition since I started using it in June.  

Snake Plant in Bloom

What a surprise I had recently!  Did you know that Snake Plants (Dracaena trifasciata) bloom? 

 

I didn’t either; I was amazed when I pulled open the curtain so it could get light and saw 3 spikes with nectar dripping flowers.  The flowers had no scent but they lasted a long time.

What fun!

On The Edge of the Quad State Storm

 Saturday 11 Dec 2021

 The entire night Friday had been spent watching... praying... prepping as an insane weather system rolled towards us.  The night time temperature here was 73*F. 

 At 10pm news of a bad hit in Kentucky started making the news.  About 80 miles NNW of us a factory had been hit in Mayfield.  People trapped.  Then more reports...  The downtown of this Mayberry-ish town gone.  Destroyed.  Debris was lifted 35,000 ft into the sky.  To give that some context, a commercial jet cruises at that altitude.

 

(Mayfield, KY - to the right is what remains [nothing] of the destroyed factory.) 

At 12 midnight there were 3 tornado reports 30 miles WNW in the Dover, TN area. 

At 12:24 am the Clarksville airport reported a wind gust of 61 miles an hour. 

At 1:15am Bowling Green, KY was hit. 

Because of the weird arching shape of the front line, areas north and west were hit well before we were.     

Around 3am the wind started blowing here.  For the next 20 minutes the thinnest part of a weather band stretching from Texas into Ohio crossed over our home.  This area was spared.  At the same time south of us in Dickson and Greater Nashville was taking a hit.  The Nashville airport recorded a 78 MPH gust (the 3rd highest ever record there). 

I finally went to bed at 7:40am this morning.  Got up at 3pm.  The afternoon temperature is now 46*F (tonight will be around 28*F).  There are a few branches down.  We still have power. 

We are grateful.

If you wish to help in a very real and tangible way, I suggest a donation to Samaritan's Purse.  Semi-trucks were being loaded this very morning to head out to Arkansas and Kentucky.  The crew will be clearing debris and helping people gather what remains.  Blue tarps will be covering roofs to protect against farther damage.  And they will be listening to and holding shocked grief-stricken victims.

https://samaritanspurse.org/     

Edit:  This interview was on Sunday.  Worth watching and confirms what I said about Samaritan's Purse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1lLmgqlUyI  

 

 

#3 Is Done

 

On Friday I received my 3rd Covid vaccine.  I had my strongest reaction yet.  My arm actually hurt to touch this time.  

And tiredness?

First and second time a nap was a very good idea.  This time SLEEP was mandatory... as in all of Saturday and most of Sunday I could not keep my eyes open.  I'm very thankful I'm retired because I would have not been able to work.  Face planting on one's desk just is not good!

But I didn't get sick or have pain so it's all good.

Honor

 It is estimated there are fewer than 100 survivors left...  Give them honor.

Review: USB Laptop Light

 My computer sets on the end of our kitchen table for my ease of use.  Love being able to cook and have something to do while I'm waiting for bake - boil - saute to finish.

The not so great thing about my space is the terrible lighting at night.  My keyboard was liking trying to see into a black hole.  While the keys have 'back light', it only lasts about 10 seconds after the last key stroke.  So much for thinking about anything while typing.

So I headed over to Amazon to see if there was some solution to the problem.  

Oh yes...  

Just what I was hoping for!

I found this little jewel!

It clips onto the monitor frame and has a notch so your camera lens isn't covered.  It is hinged so you can adjust the angle of light.

The light quality is adjustable.  There are 10 brightness levels and you can have 'warm' or 'cold' light... or inbetween.  

It has made a 'night and day' difference with my computer use experience.  

The light I purchased can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NPBRVHP?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

(I was not paid or compensated for this endorsement.  I just love the product!)

Cleaning for the New Year

 OK, I'll admit my house cleaning routine has taken a hit these last 2 years.  Sure, we keep up the necessary stuff.  But when you know that nobody is going to come through your door... why bother to keep the dusting up or chase dust bunnies (or as we say 'dust kittens') from under the furniture?  

I've decided this has to change!  

This year I am going into 2022 with a CLEAN & ORGANIZED house.  As in floor shined and ceiling cob web banished, along with everything between.

Being I completely recognize how lazy I've gotten (no smirking!) I've decided the month of December is just about the right amount of time to get  ~ in sloth cleaning time (I get it done when I get it done).  No working on Sundays or an appointment day.

I'm weirdly excited about this...

ROASTED CHICKEN STUFFED WITH CHORIZO

 Did a Gordon Ramsey cooking lesson tonight.  Roast chicken with chorizo stuffing.  Good!

 ROASTED CHICKEN STUFFED WITH CHORIZO

 Ingredients

1. • 1 tsp olive oil

2. • 6 ounces chorizo sausage, diced

3. • 1/2 onion, diced

4. • 2 cloves garlic, minced

5. • 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, half-dried

6. • 14 oz cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

7. • 1 tsp fresh thyme

8. • 1 whole chicken (4-5 lbs.)

9. • 1 lemon

10. • 1 tbsp olive oil

11. • 1 tbsp paprika

12. • salt and pepper

13. • 1 cup white wine

14. • 1 cup water

15. • 4 sprigs thyme

 (I used more chorizo and beans because it looked so good.  Glad I did!)

 Instructions

 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

 2. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add chorizo and sauté until browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, beans, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook until vegetables have softened, about 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat.

 3. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Stuff the cavity with the sausage mix. Place the lemon in the cavity and tuck the legs together to hold the stuffing and lemon inside.

 4. Rub olive oil on the outside of the chicken. Season with paprika, salt and pepper. Place chicken in a roasting pan. Pour wine and water in the pan with the thyme sprigs. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and roast the chicken for 1 hour.

 5. Remove foil and continue cooking the chicken for 30 minutes or the internal temperature reads 160 degrees F. Remove chicken from the oven and let rest for 15 minutes.

 6. Remove the lemon and stuffing from the cavity. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the cooking juices. Strain the juices.

 7. Break down the chicken, cutting the breast, thighs and drumsticks. Drizzle the strained juices onto the chicken and stuffing. Serve.

 By GORDON RAMSAY

Red Moon in the Sky

 

The lunar eclipse last Thursday was fantastic!  We had a perfect view from our back door, popping in and out of the 28*F night.  I would call the color it turned more 'rusty' than 'red'.  At least it wasn't cloudy!

However, that viewing added a new thing added to my to-do list...  I've got to get my camera stuff organized!  I'm really discovering I'm nowhere near being as organized as I thought!

My Canon Rebel DSLR, had dead batteries and I couldn't find the charger.  My stand-by Nikon Coolpix is dying and destroying its batteries.  My new cell phone... don't know how to do pictures with it yet.  So my wee little Canon pocket camera was the only one working (tho I don't know where its charger is either) to take a photo with~ although its battery was low too.  

All this stuff was supposed to be in my camera case or a drawer next to my computer.  Just what I need, another project!

Ahhhhhh...

 

Operation Christmas Child via the 'Net

 

             

It's Operation Christmas Child shoebox time again.  We won't miss it if we can at all help it. 

 In the times BC (Before Covid) we would pick up items throughout the year when I would find a good sale.  Then on 31 October we would make a list of those things we still needed to finish up our boxes.  We would head out for some fun shopping.  After we were done, a meal out ended the evening.

 Can't do that anymore.

 But we can still give OCC shoeboxes!  

By going to the Samaritan's Purse web site you can "build a shoebox online".   https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/buildonline/    You can select what age and gender you'd like to make a box for.  "Essential" items (school supplies, toothbrush, grooming kit) are then added in.  The "WOW" item is next - doll, stuffies, or soccer ball.  Then comes 3 small toys to pick from a list... (I wonder how many harmonicas are throw far away by a mama who is sick of hearing them?)   Two accessories are next... we pick flip flops and a T shirt.  Your box is now full!

 Final thing to do is to include a note and photo to go in the box (so get a nice picture of your family ready in advance).

 The total cost for using the build a box option is $25 - which includes the $9 shipping & handling costs.  All that stuff inside for only $16... what a bargain.   And if you wish, you can add $6 to fund a Bible school afterwards for each of the children.  This is where they will hear what these boxes are all about.

 This year we did 6 boxes... 

I picked for my three boxes to go to baby girls in the age range of 2 years to 4 years old.  Just like this little nugget!

Himself chose to do his three boxes for boys in the oldest range... ages 11 to 14 years old.  This group is the least selected by people packing shoe boxes. 

If you decide to do the online box building, you can do it even after the national drop-off time is over.

Man Stuff: Moving Things Out

Remember me telling about all the decluttering we've been doing?

In trying to get the culled things to people who could best make use of it, we ended up with a pile of what I jokingly called "man things".  Metal bars, odd screws, surplus tools, shelf braces, ... you name it, I probably had it in my stash.

When the sorting was done we headed out to the Possum Trot Forge where our blacksmithing friends hang out.  These guys can find a use for pretty much anything.

There's a pavillon next to the shop where we set up a couple FREE table to give away everything we brought.

In a very short amount of time... everything was GONE!

He is She and She is a Mommy

 

 

We know we have a resident Rat Snake in our house who lives in the space between the basement ceiling and the floor to the house.  This snake is welcome as our primary rodent control system... as in mice are dinner and I hope he gets really fat.

We will sometime see him or find a shed skin in the garage.  The other day we watched him climb his 7 foot self straight up the wall next to an electrical conduit pipe.  OooooKaaay...  That was a little disconcerting.

Recently we found Mini Me (see above) in the garage.  A baby!

The reason Himself has gloves on is that tiny little cutie has a totally 'ratty' temper.  He'd strike over and over (even latching on) with a "I'll kill you!!" attitude.

After entertaining us for a while, said brat was released behind our shed to grow into a fine big snake like Mommy.

Beef Yakiniku

 Tried a new Japanese recipe.  It was SO good and fast to make.

 

 Beef yakiniku for sandwich or rice bowl

 4 slices of bread,

8oz of thinly sliced beef (I used very rare leftover roast beef),

2 tablespoons of sugar,

5 tablespoons of soy sauce,

1/2 tablespoons of potato or corn starch,

2 tablespoons of water,

1 tablespoon of butter,

1 tablespoon of salad oil or more if needed

 3-4 pieces of lettuce,

Mayonnaise or “Yum-Yum” sauce (Yum-yum sauce is the orange-ish sauce they service at Habachi steak houses.  You can get it at Walmart.)

 First measure into ramekins the sugar & soy sauce – mix well, the potato or corn starch & water – mix well, and the butter.  There will be 3 containers.

 In skillet cook beef in oil, using the least amount possible. 

 While beef is cooking, prepare bread with a nice lettuce leaf and a spread of mayo or Yum-yum sauce.

 When ready to your doneness add sugar/soy sauce mix.  Stir.  Then add the starch/water mix.  Stir until just thickened.  Add butter stirring in well.  Pile beef portions on to bread.  Enjoy!

 It also goes very nicely in a rice bowl.

Fully Vaccinated

On the second day we were eligible by the Tennessee system, Himself and I received our first dose of the Moderna Covid vaccine.  Our local pharmacy offers the option of coming out to your car in order to lower your exposure risks.  Thank you! 

 Our only reaction was incredible tiredness.  As in a nap was always a really good idea.

 Thirty days later we were back for our second injection.  More tiredness and some body aches this time.

 Four months later Himself had his third injection because of his immune situation.  He had a stronger reaction this time; tired, aches, and chills.  They only lasted 24 hours.

 As soon as I am eligible, my sleeve will be up for my third stick. 

Even though we are both fully vaccinated, we will continue to be fully masked in public and fully maintain distancing.  

Our choice...

Calm?

 Whoa!  Tried this with one of my Walmart pick up orders. 

 Thought "calm"... I could use 'calm'.  Thinking lavender, vanilla, chamomile...   Got the first two right.  Last scent?  MUSK!!!!  Bleh!  That is all you smell and it is absolutely masculine.  Softener for dudes!

 And it was so strong that even after 5 rewashing I could still smell it.  One item so badly I finally gave up and threw away.

 No thank you!  I sent it to the center for the homeless veterans.

Salt Sampling

 Getting some little nit-picky stuff done today.  Like refilling my salt grinder, I don't like the chemical taste of Morton's et al.  I used last time pink Himalayan salt.  In looking thru my spice stash I found 5 little packages of exotic salts I'd bought a while back.  Time for a salt tasting session!!

First, lime coconut from Bali.  

Second - Murry River basin from Australia.  

Third - French grey (that Julia Child loved). 

4th - Hawaiian Red.  

And 5th - Cypress Black lava.

 

Lime coconut was used in my celery-cilantro salt blend.  French grey will be used for a finishing salt... very clean taste.  Murry River and Hawaiian Red have been mixed for my table salt. 

And the black lava I'm keeping around cause it is so cool looking!