Cooking: Building your Vocabulary 4

Pick the best definition of the word provided:

1. bisque a. cracker b. thick soup c. beverage d. circular biscuit
2. gnocchi a. potato dumpling b. pasta c. lasagna noodle d. layer of bread
3. fricasse a.very curly lettuce b. poultry dish c. gravy d. tenderizing meat
4. tempering a. tantrum of chef b. towel drying c. dish washer cylce d. slowing melting chocolate over double boiler
5. potsticker a. turnover b. calzone c. steamed asian dumpling d. tartlet
6. shiitake a. breading b. type of mushroom c. morel d. pouring hot water over foods
7. profiteroles a. cookie wrapped around spoon b. rossette c. any powdered sugar cookies d. shortbead cookie
8. plantains a. big garden b.type of banana c. mango d. persimmon
9. empanada a. mexican turnover b. torte c. bread pudding d. flan
10. chow chow a. a chinese greeting b. jam c. cooked vegetable relish mixture d. reduction sauce

Good Friday Memorial

Answers to yesterday's blog: ACBABDCADC



On Good Friday at 3 PM we remember one of the most important acts ever done in human history, Jesus died on the cross. It was the Friday after he walked into Jeruselem on a donkey with people praising Him as he entered. He walked the road to Calvary and faced his death with several other thiefs facing crucifixion. At one point, Simon the Ciren asked to take his cross. Jesus was given a crown of thorns, given mockery by the sign they hung on the cross with him, tormented with people casting lots for his clothes, given vinegar based hyssop branch to burn into his wounds, and was eventually pierce in his side to make sure he was dead. Jesus did his fathers plan for me and you. He actually suffocated on the cross. It took awhile for him to die (from noon to 3PM). Immediately after the cross, all the earth was darkened and the vail was split in two in the temple.

The last words he said were the following:

(As Jesus walked to the cross)

Daughters of Jerusalem , do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children



Woman behold your son. (to Mary at cross). Behold your mother (to disciple at cross).



(To the people preparing him for the cross)

Forgive them, for they know not what they do,



(To one of the two being crucified next to Jesus)

Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.



Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.

Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani (means My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?)



I thirst (then given a sour wine hyssop)

Cry out in loud voice, It is finished! (just before he gave up his spirit.)


But never fear, Jesus rose by Sunday morning, the third day after his death. Mary Magdalene went to annoint Jesus' body with some precious oils, but the stone was rolled away. The stone was extremely heavy cause it took multiple soldiers to move it in place. The soldiers were ordered to stand guard of the tomb cause government thought something like this might happen. When the women did arrive, they were met by an angel telling them not to weep for Jesus had arose. They immediately told the disciples. The disciples had to check it out for themselves. It was true, and they spent the next years telling others and making inspired scriptures about the event (at least Matthew, Mark, Luke and John did). Jesus did appear later to the disciples before he finally stayed there. This is a true story, but many try to make it false, even today.

I thank you Jesus.

Irish Words

Soda a. basic ingredient of irish loaf of bread b. donut c. irish beverage d. favorite irish song

Ring of Kerry a. ruby ring found in Dublin museum b. religious cult c. road to travel around Kerry d. ring given to princesses

Blarney Stone a. something used for sport of cricket b. stone to kiss for goodluck c. Freeform stone in middle of Ireland d. place where irish flags are placed

Celtic a. people group name for the irish b. bagpipers c. beer drinkers d. chefs of ireland

Guiness a. a pie b. brand of beer c. smile of an irish d. Town near Belfast

scone a. scarf b. twig c. instrument d. biscuit for tea

Shepherd’s Pie a. thick stew b. pub grub c. lamb pie d. pie only shepherds eat

Kelt a. skirt of irish b. shirt of irish c. irish hat d. Celtic belt

Bagpipe a. smoking tool b. song c. music d. instrument

brogue a. leprechaun's hat b. scorcerer c. irish accent d. big gemstone

Answers appear tommorrow.

Getting the Green Inside!

Changing your behavior to "think green".

· Eat twice the servings of vegetables as starches per meal (i.e, 2 c vegetables with 1 c pasta/rice/potato) Half of your plate should be veggies.

· Pack a salad each day with lots of color. Incorporate some spinach. Prepare for the entire week on weekend.

· Prepare at least two meatless meals per week. For example, broccoli n cheese sauce over baked potatoes.

· Put garlic cloves in olive oil to be used during cooking process.

· Increase steam, stir-fry, oven roasting methods of cookery in vegetable selections.

· Eat more raw foods or buy fresh foods to cook. Make a Tupperware divided lazy susan of variety of toppings.

· Post picture reminders on refrigerator and in office of favorable vegetables.

· Think veggie first, then add meat to the dish.

· When going out to eat, divide your protein serving in half and add it to your next day’s veggies.

· Plain marinara sauce or vegetable soup would give you extra vegetable boost. Keep these always in the refrigerator. Avoid the creamed sauces, if you have them, prepare with soy milk.

· Eat as much as you want of the zero point veggies on Weight Watchers.

· Increase the normal amount of veggies to broccoli/rice casseroles, Rotini and Brocolli Cheese, Veggie Soups.

· Locate creative new recipes for vegetable combinations your family like to eat.

· Juice your veggies and fruit for drinking. Make various combinations of mixed juice drinks.

· Keep baggies of fresh CHOPPED veggies ready to fix into meals. Clean celery and carrots immediately. Freeze pepper slices for omelets, etc. as needed. Onion chopping or shaving will save time in the process.

· Use olive oil or canola oil in sauté of veggies.

· Place uneaten veggies in soup container to freeze. When full, it is time to make soup.

· Visit the farmer’s market or neighboring farmstands for fresh veggies. Make more frequent stops to use up veggies.

· Use a cover on pans veggies. The cooking time will decrease.

· When you think your veggie is right tenderness, take and submerge veggie into ice cold water to preserve green color (ie., broccoli).



Amounts to Eat:

· Select two veggie servings per night; one salad per day (use spinach more in salad -4 x weekly)

· Select 3-4 servings of crucifers per week: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, kale, brussel sprouts

· One daily tomato or choose tomato juice (or V8) to drink. Combine it with fruit in a smoothie. Make some salsa for night snack.

· Keep packets of quick low calorie snacks: sugar snap peas, raw veggies, tomato juice

· Select a variety and cook together in soups, etc./ assemble variety in sandwiches/ meat salad dishes

· Select veggie or bean soup recipes.

I have Irish descendants!

I have roots from Ireland; Milligan is the irish name. My maternal grandfather, Henry Milligan, came by himself from Ireland to America and married a well-to-do widow English women, Mahedable Albright, who recently lost her husband in Hoopston, IL from pneumonia. My Irish grandfather and grandmother had two twins (Leo & Lena) born together on 4/26/86 and a boy named Jack 2 yrs older. A girl named Viola was her child from the first marriage. In the late 1800’s, it was not uncommon for women to have several mates due to death. To make a better life, the couple set out west in 1887 in a covered wagon with their one-year old twins (my grandmother) and 3 year old Jack to homestead or claim a piece of land for ownership in 7 years. The U.S.homestead act made it possible to stake out 160 acres of land to claim your own if you stayed on the land for 7 years and improved that land. The daughter Viola “Vollie” from her first marriage, age 11, stayed behind with Mathilda’s parents. The Milligan’s found 160 acres in the Ogalla, NE area that they began to farm to homestead and they built a sod house to live in. Lena, my grandmother, did not have a normal childhood. They were very poor; in fact, Lena’s mom would split one egg three ways with the children to keep them from starving; great grandmother Mahedable was a waitress in the town to to get extra money. Stories had it that the children would go to the North Platte River to catch frog legs and throw back the rest in hope more legs would reappear. Lena told her children that “she raised herself” and did a fine job of it. Lena had accepted Christ during her NE years; she was baptized in a river they had to cut the ice to do so. After Lena turns age 11, the family headed back to Hoopston, IL after selling the homestead, to where the Albrights (great grandmother’s side) lived. The Albrights were highly educated and both girls went to college. Aunt Nellie was an accomplished piano player and sang opera and eventually married Judge Atwood from Danville, Il. Lena seemed to have a closer connection to her mother than her father. Volie died a few weeks after giving birth to her second little girl. She died of TB. Volie’s husband later married Ethel’s grandmother’s stepmother’s daughter.



Lena met John on a blind date arranged by Lena’s girlfriend who was dating John’s best friend. Lena was a pretty girl that wore the long dresses and eventually married in 1912. To show an ankle would be unthinkable in their time. Lena was bound and determined that her children would have food to eat, clothing and roof over their heads. She worked very hard daily in providing for the needs of her family….a motivation from a deprived state in her younger years. She was full of praises for John and told him so on a regular basis. She would say, “I could look the whole world over and not find a better man than my John, he is a good provider.” The farm they purchased was lost and they had to start over later to purchase other land. The family still ate very well, in fact the post outside the farm was marked by individuals traveling the rail who sought a meal. The train depot (swithching depot-Hustle) was about one mile from their farm. They had three children, two girls and one boy. Grandma Milligan, a small lady, stayed with Lena after the death of Grandpa Milligan, 1 year before Ethel’s birth. Harold (Lena's only son) worked the fields. My mother, Ethel, loved to run home to eat on homemade yeast rolls or washing day dinner. My mother loved her mothers cooking and gardening. She made the best Sour Cream Apple Pie in the world. She helped with projects around the house with her sister, Esther.



John died near age 65 from a heart attack in the fields; Lena had 20 years by herself after that. She eventually moved to rural town house, where she continued a much smaller garden, preserving to age 80. As Lena aged her feet began to slant and appeared crippled because of arthritis and the freezing of her feet during her young years. She listened to WMBI on the radio to many different religious preachers from Moody Bible Church. She loved to rock in her rocker and listen to George Beverly Shea and read her Bible. Lena referred to my sister, Mary, as the “little mouse” and told both of us to not wear shorts. She appeared to very religious and even though her hands were crippled with arthritis she wanted to make our family the finest meal she could put together when we would visit. It hurt her so in her 80’s she could not do those tasks as in past years. She was very happy when I told her I collected recipes! Her last years was in a nursing home in Paxton, IL. She died in 1974 at the age of 87.

Destination: New Orleans, LA

This is what I remember about New Orleans (do not know if it still there because of the flooding):

Garden District and West of Town:

The Garden District is just off the Streetcar Route heading west. Streetcar goes to and from Canal Street/St Charles Street and circles back to the west. Streetcar goes to a stopping point then returns back to the city. Along the way are businesses and many stately houses. You may find in the garden district nannies taking care of younger children. Commander’s Palace and the graveyards can be found near there. The huge Audubon city park is beautiful with its majestic trees lined up and is a good place for walking. At the base near the river is the zoo area. Also there is a paddlewheeler that travels to Canal St from zoo area. Across from the Audubon Park is Tulane University. Within a couple of streets north of the park is shopping. Just as the streetcar takes a right turn, to the left is Camille’s. This is a nice stopping point for eating. It is crowded there and usually a line, but it displays southern food and hospitality. You can watch the cooks cook and all sit along the counter hubs to request their favorites. It is rather nostalgic and was rated a must see in a magazine read. Not too much is north at this point, but you can travel couple more miles on the trolley line. To make a stop on the trolley you pull the cord. Magazine Ave (nearer the zoo) has buses that allow you to travel this street lined with second hand shoppes and antiques until you reach Canal St. So that is another alternative to taking the streetcar back into town. [Note: If traveling there around St Patrick’s Day, many people line the streetcar boulevard at Garden District area for a Saint Paddy’s Day Parade where the locals bring their laundry basket to load up on beads, cabbage, cornbeaf, potatoes, carrots and the like tossed from floats and walking pedestrian males gave out green flowers perdiodically throughout the parade route. People left with full boxes of these beads….probably to feature at their own party.]



Downtown is along Canal St:

All along this street are department stores. One Canal Street has a nice high-quality shopping center. Major hotels line each side of the major thoroughfare. Small and large department stores can be found. Some side streets have shops too. The French Quarter streets are just off this main street to the east. If you walk to the base of Canal you are very near the RiverBend (multi-shopping enclosed building along the river). There is a second Café du Monde in the center of this shopping mall. Eating food court allows the hungry to stop and eat. Within the north of town you can see the Superdome. The AMTRACK rail lines go to the area near the Superdome. Also the bus stop is just southwest of the Superdome. The airport is by Lake Pontchartrain.



French Quarter:

Many eateries are located in these streets. Most are from the river up to Bourbon St. and parallel each other going east of Canal Street. There a lot of tshirt shops and Xrated joints. Nightlife goes on in the area until late at night. Yes, there are those who go to drink but many walk the streets. There are some European looking shops. New Orleans is unique for the creole cooking and has origins of a Spanish-Caribean mixture in décor. There is much wrought iron fences and balconies in the French Quarter. Many of the restaurants have chefs. Food is obtainable at all price ranges. Jackson Square is rather unique in that they have mimes at various locations. Shows or jazz players are common in this area. Carriage rides originate from this area. It is cool to eat beinets at the Café du Monde or eat a muffeletta or pralines found near this area. JAX brewery stores are near there and allow you to see over the river. A train extends all along the riverfront. New Orleans has a farmers’s /flea market that can be reached by this train. I believe it to be during the weekend days. Hard rock Café is around this area too. [NOTE: From the stories I have heard, things get carried away during MardiGras and the festivities of that festival.]

Ninth Ward: This is the area that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and water breaks in Lake Pontratran. No building is going on here, nor is there business. The area is vacant.

My favorite IRISH food!

On Monday will be St Patrick's Day. I noticed in the Pantagraph this weekend that St Louis has a big St Patrick's Day parade in the downtown area. Chicago celebrates the day (see picture above) by tinting the Chicago River in the downtown area green. This is an annual event. It must look awesome.

I am going to share a recipe I have made other Irish days. It is called Colcannon. Hope you like it too. I serve it with crockpot corned beef and cabbage. Additionally, I will add a couple of desserts that would make a nice addition to any St Patricks Day celebration.

Colcannon

Ingredients:
2-2 1/2 lbs of floury potatoes
1 small head of green cabbage
1 cup milk
2 or more tablespoons chopped green onions
1/2 stick butter
Salt and pepper to taste



Method of preparation:
1. Scrub potatoes and leave skins on. Place in cold water with a generous pinch of salt, cover and bring to a boil.

2. When the potatoes are about half done, (about 15 minutes), strain off two thirds of the water. Replace lid and place on a gentle heat and allow potatoes to steam until they are cooked.

3. Discard the dark outer leaves of the cabbage. Wash the rest and cut into quarters; remove the core and cut finely across the grain. Cook in a little boiling salted water until soft. Drain, then season with salt and pepper and a little of the butter.

4. When the potatoes are cooked, put the milk into saucepan with the green onions and bring to the boil. Pull the skins off the potatoes, mash quickly and beat in enough of the hot milk to make a fluffy purée.

5. Stir in the cooked cabbage and taste for seasoning.

6. Serve in a heated dish; make a well in the center and add the remaining butter.


Note: Today, many an Irish mother persuades her children to eat their colcannon by wrapping coins in heat-proof paper and hiding them in the dish; in the old days, the rural folk often placed a wedding ring in the colcannon; the first single person to get the ring would marry within the year. It was also customary, before going to bed on Halloween, to put out a plateful of colcannon with a lump of butter in the center for the fairies and the ghosts.

Creme de Menthe Cake

This is a very easy recipe and tastes yummy. Drizzle a little more Hershey syrup just before serving. Store in refrigerator.

1 box white cake mix (prepared as box indicates)
1/4 c creme de menthe
green food coloring (if you aren't satisfied with color after adding creme de menthe)

Prepare cake with above additions. Cool cake. Drizzle the top of the cake with Hershey Chocolate Syrup until covered. Mix more creme de menthe with one large tub of cool whip (lite). Add all to the top of cake and refrigerate before serving.


No Bake Grasshopper Pie
20 minutes to prepare, 4 hours in refrigerator, serves 12

Crust:
1 bag (7 oz) oval chocolate and mint-filled sandwich cookies.
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 T unsalted butter, softened

Filling:
8 oz mascarpone cheese, softened
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 c creme de menthe syrup
2 T confectioners sugar
1 3/4 cup plus 1/3 cup heavy cream

Garnish:
mint and chocolate curls

Slice one inch off one end of each sandwich cookie. Pulse these trimmed pieces in food processor with almonds until crumbs are formed and almonds ground. Add softened butter, pulse until evenly combined. Press crumbs onto bottome of 9" pie plate, covering your hand with plastic wrap to avoid sticking. Prop remaining cookies, cut side down, around rim of plate. Refrigerate until ready to fill.

Filling: Beat mascarpone slightly with hand mixer until smooth. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup water in 1 cup glass measuring cup. Let soften 2 minutes, microwave 15 seconds untnil gelatin is dissolved. Cool slightly.

Gradually beat creme de menthe syrup and sugar into mascarpone until blended; mixture will look curdled. While mixture is running, add 1 1/4 cup heavy cream. Beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in gelatin; beat until medium-stiff peaks form. Pour into prepared crust, swirling top decoratively. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set.

Once pie is set, beat remaining 1/3 cup cream to soft peaks. Dollop on top of pie. Sprinkle with chocolate curls and mint sprigs.

I have not tried this recipe, but looks like a good easy one you do not have to use the stove!

The Importance of Water

Are you drinking enough? About 75% of all people are chronically dehydrated. In 37% of us, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters of a University study. The lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatique. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math and difficulty focusing on the computer screen. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79% and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Makes you wonder why they do not incorporate beverage drinking as apart of the school day to allow for the drinking you need to consume in a day!

Add Extra Years to Your Life!

Summary of the Real Age Plan of Diet and Nutrition


It was recommended that everyone:

Begin taking vitamins daily (supplements of calcium, folic acid, Vit C and E.)

Dietary intake of:
3,000 mg potassium
1,000-1,200 mg calcium
600 mg folate
4 fruit servings and 5 vegetable servings (1,200 mg Vit C)- best to spread out the Vit C (because it is water soluble)
400 IU of Vit E
Two nonfried fish meals per week
Decrease the saturated fats and choose polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats
6-11 servings of whole grains (good to choose high in fiber choices)
Gradually work up to 210 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a week in 3 or more times. (30 minutes daily is best)
Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily (with meals preferred)
Sleep 7 hours nightly (avoid vigorous exercise within 2 hours of going to sleep to keep relaxed state).
Wear you seat belt.
Floss your teeth.
Keep traveling speed to no more than 5 mph over speed limit.
Analyze your medicines with your doctor to see if adverse drug reactions.
Restrict diet no less than 1,200-1,500 calories to be safe until you get to the range.
Stop smoking, lower the salt intake, limit alcohol consumption to less than one serving per day.

www.realage.com/RALong/planner/myplan.aspx?p=1

Easter is Early this Year- March 23!

Answers for 3-5-08 vocabulary quiz. [ABBCACBACA]


I just received this email which is informational for you.

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:
1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Something to cherish rather than complain about the early date!

Cooking: Building Your Cooking Vocabulary 3

Answers to yesterday's blog 3-4-08 [BAABCABABA]

Some more terms to determine meaning:

1. terrine a.geld mold b. paper doily c. to dust with powdered sugar
2. conserve a.wild game b. thick jam c. to bottle up
3. tarte tatin a. small pie b. to make from raw ingredients c. beverage
4. cous cous a. thick crackers b. square bars c. thick porriage like grain
5. brie a. cheese b. chef hat c. specific casserole pan for souffle
6. trifle a. to divide recipe in half b. knife c. to layer dessert in bowl
7. chipotle a. peach type b. pepper type c. mushroom type
8. calamari a. optopus fingers b. mixing ingredients c. flaming dish
9. panzanella a. brushetta b. a carafe c. mixing big bread croutons with salad
10. orecchiette a. disc shape pasta b. napkin fold c. european bread

Answers on tomorrow's blog 3-6-08.

Cooking: Build Your Cooking Vocabulary

Answers will appear in tomorrows blog. Match the word with its definition.

1. marscapone a. candy b. italian cheese c. macaroni
2. frittes a. french fries b. fried dough c. french toast
3. picatta a. fried meat pounded very thin b. pudding c. cookie
4. andouille a. biscuit b. hot sausage c. herb
5. serano a. milk from goat b. thick paste c. very hot pepper
6. linguine a. flat spaghetti noodle b. cream sauce c. polish bread
7. truffle a. chocolate sauce b. mushroom c. tree bark
8. tiramisu a. italian dessert b. angelfood cake c. gelato
9. tempura a. cake with milk b. batter fried food c. gelatin mold
10. colcannon a. potatoes with cabbage dish (irish) b. English pie c. French stew

Soaring Eagles

We visited Steve and Nicole last weekend. Amongst the shopping and cooking of over 100 meatballs, 5 pizzas and 3 stomboli rings I did, we viewed the bird sanctuary on the Mississippi River at the bridge near Alton, IL. It is amazing how the eagles can see fish coming to the surface of the river and swoop down to catch the fish with their claws. In the little time we were there, five fish were caught. Amazing to view! Guess that is why they say they have eagle eyes; they can see something in water at distance of 1/4 mile. I am glad to hear they are not on the extinct list anymore.