Food: A Study in Still Lifes 9

Wedding Ideas – Mango – Weddbook.

A lovely change of color from the usual red for Valentine’s Day, perhaps? I believe the original site this gorgeous creation comes from is defunct, so alas I could not find a recipe. I did find several sites listing it as an orange chiffon cake rather than a tart. Well, that just leaves the possibilities open to your imagination! I love mango with cake, and the absence of elaborate icing techniques makes this even more divine for me, lol. I think a tart would also be fab. You could add a little extra flair with a bit of sweetener: a dusting of powdered sugar or maybe an apricot/fruit glaze.

My mom was just recently watching a cooking show, and I happened to catch a few minutes of it. The chef was preparing a tart by grating her pastry dough with a hand grater (I’m assuming maybe the dough had been in the refrigerator previously). So, she ended up with what looked like a mound of grated cheese inside her tart tin. She then simply pressed the dough up the sides and to the bottom of the tin. As I’ve said, I am not an avid confection baker (though I have had some training, to no avail 😉 ), and this was the first time I have seen this method. The chef mentioned that this technique keeps the dough from being overworked. Very interesting, so perhaps I will give it a shot someday. A much easier alternative to rolling out your dough.

A Night of Blues Dancing at Maker House, Tucson, AZ

My friend invited me out to a dance class at a local venue called Maker House. From their website:

“Maker House is a reflection of our community. Maker House is a home for the creative and makerspace for artisans, inventors, entrepreneurs, musicians and those interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Science. Maker House is host to over 40 events of all sizes each week and offers amazing coffee, delectable eats, cold beverages, craft beer and fantastic wine for here or to go!

Some the best local and regional bands perform each week on the outdoor stage.”

We had a great time blues dancing. The lesson was conducted in a circle with rotating dance partners. My fave partner actually threw in a couple of country moves in between the blues. Gotta love that! I would love to stop back for more dancing, but I think these Sriracha Garlic Knux (knots) will bring me back for sure (for the longest time, I thought it was siracha):

OMGoodness…SO good! I think I might try to re-create them with a healthier twist. Perhaps they will not be as grand, but it’s worth a shot. Check out some of the dance classes if you’re in Tucson, and for sure check out the garlic knux.

The instructor giving a demo:

The courtyard at night:

A great DIY project, perhaps? Wall-sized Scrabble letters:

Growlers to-go:

Coffee, wine, and beer bar, also serving up a few bites:

Free local artists jukebox and free arcade games:

I love this burlap sack ceiling!

Having a fab time grooving to the beat:

My Way, No. 13

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Very interesting piece: Umami Taste Buds Are Important for Your Overall Health. It seems kelp tea helps if you have decreased umami taste sensitivity. I’ve never tried kelp tea, so maybe I’ll check it out.

— I told you that I tend to accumulate far too many kitchen gadgets, etc. So, of course I immediately thought, oooh, I need this banana guard, sandwich box with a bamboo lid/prep board, and stainless utilitarian soup canister.

— I’ve found that seemingly little things can make me feel so luxurious…a bit of rich cream added to a special dish, fresh picked flowers on the table, a candle lit bubble bath with symphony music playing in the background. This weekend, I felt a little luxury when I used my homemade coconut oil for a soothing hot oil & deep conditioning hair treatment, followed by using it as a body rub (with a little essential oil added). It’s nice when we have a bit of time to pamper ourselves. After my last coconut endeavor was so successful, I decided to purchase even more. As I said, it can be a labor of love, but it is so worth it. I had an idea that coconut milk/oil/flour/butter making would be a great “party” idea. You know, like when your so-called friends invite you to a painting or moving “party” (basically a way to get cheap labor, lol). Or, you could make it a family tradition like making pies, tamales, etc. You could end the party with pina coladas or something.

— My coconut milk, cream, and flakes went into several of my recent meals. I forgot to mention a quick tip in my last coconut post: I wrap the coconuts in a towel before giving them a few good whacks (to crack them open). This eliminates the sometimes flying shards from going all over your kitchen. I’m sure you can find all kinds of additional wisdom online, but my other suggestion is that you make sure you have a very sharp paring knife handy (and possibly a knife sharpener). This will make removing the brown “skin” from the meat much, much easier. A dull knife is nobody’s friend.
I started craving turkey as soon as I saw this recipe for Thai Turkey Meatballs with Lemongrass Coconut Sauce. But, I didn’t have any turkey 😦 and didn’t feel like going to get any. Then, I remembered the recipe I recently posted for Lentil “Meatballs” with Lemony Pesto. So, these recipes collided, and I was extremely pleased with the results:

I took the basic ideas for the lentil “meatballs” and gave them the flavorings from the Thai turkey dish. For the “meatballs”: lentils (1/2 whole, 1/2 mashed), egg, little olive oil, tofu (frozen, thawed, liquid squeezed out), s&p, whole wheat bread crumbs (taken from the innards of the Niçoise sandwich I made), shallots, lemongrass, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, cilantro, homemade chili-garlic paste (oven-dried chiles & garlic cloves), and finely ground walnuts. The pesto sauce called for walnuts, so I decided to use them in the actual “meatballs” instead. I popped them into the freezer for an hour or more, then browned them on the stove. After browning them on all sides, I had “meatsquares” vs. “meatballs,” haha. I reshaped them after they cooled a bit. I finished them in the oven. I made the recipe for the Lemongrass Coconut Sauce, using fresh turmeric and foregoing the star anise (as you know, anise is not a fave flavor of mine). The recipe called for full-fat coconut milk, but I used my coconut water to dilute the cream’s fat content a bit. I tried to make up for the lack of anise and coconut fat by punching up the flavor with: red pepper flakes, onion powder, a little sweetener, and a pinch or two of mustard. This flavor combo satisfied me, and the finish of cilantro and lime zest made this recipe sing. Served up with soba noodles, this meal was fab! It was made better by maple bourbon milk. I have to find ways to use my Holiday gift of bourbon, so this was my second go round (the first was the Sage-Peppercorn Old Fashioned I previously posted). I’m not a mixologist, so forgive me if the portions, ingredients, etc. are not scientifically correct. I just make what tastes good to me 🙂 3:2 fresh coconut milk to bourbon, maple syrup to taste, blended for froth, served over crushed ice, garnished with fresh grated nutmeg. I separate the coconut cream from the water so I can mix them together at my whim for different recipes. I think the cream to water ratio for this drink was 2:1.
I also made the Low-Fat Banana Pecan Cranberry Granola Bars, subbing coconut for some of the nuts. I actually used a combo of walnuts and pistachios. I had cranberries in the freezer, so I decided to dry them myself instead of purchasing them. I used a little less than was called for and added a bit of maple and wheat germ. They were just mildly sweet and do actually not call for any added sugar. The sweetness comes from the banana and applesauce (also acting as binders). After cutting them, I stuck them back in the oven for 15 min. They were soft and chewy, and I was craving a crunchier bar. It’s probably because I really enjoyed the last crunchy batch I made wherein I accidentally turned up the oven too high, haha. I used the Low Cal Almond-Raisin Granola Bar’s method of grinding part of the oats:

— Tofu 2 Ways: I had baby bok choy to use up, so that’s what attracted me to this recipe: Sesame Seed Salmon with Mirin. I didn’t have any salmon, though! So, tofu it was. I was so hungry by the time this hit the plate, so it doesn’t look as good as it could. I tried to make it appear more dignified by only putting a small portion on the plate, but I really gobbled up twice this much:

One of my new top ways to prepare tofu! So simple, yet SO good! Can’t wait to try it with salmon. After looking at the ingredients of my store-bought mirin, I thought I should start making it myself. Here’s a recipe if you dig making your own condiments, etc: Homemade Mirin. If you’re really serious about it, try brewing your own sake for the mirin: Home Brewed Sake. My second new top way to prepare tofu is as a steak alternative in this Fajita Salad with Chipotle Salad Dressing I recently posted:

I made the marinade in the morning and by dinner time, this tofu was fajita flavor-packed! I only changed the recipe by adding a little balsamic and a pinch more sweetener. The tofu I used in both of the recipes was frozen, then thawed. I really love the texture freezing gives, as I’ve said before.

— Super cute and easy for any craft-skill level DIY Geometric Canvases. Also, very cool Aluminum Foil Drawings.

— DIY Black Lace Manicure & DIY Draped Skirt.

— RECIPE TIME! I made this Spinach, Lentil, and Sweet Potato Curry, and it was delish! I didn’t have the exact curry ingredients, so I had to improvise. I served it with brown rice and added a little kale. I didn’t take a pic because I started in on it as soon as it was finished. Speaking of curry…I always like to keep a ready-made spice blend in the pantry as a back up to my own blend (as with many other items like stock, condiments, and such). I quickly grabbed what I thought was a SQUEAL DEAL for curry powder and found it contained MSG 😦  . Why does curry powder need MSG??? Anyway, this recipe was fab, and I think I will be making it again this week. I have yet to try pho, but this recipe looks quite yummy: Umami Crispy Pork Pho. Months ago, I was saying to an acquaintance, “I want to try this pho I keep reading so much about.” I pronounced it ‘foe,’ and she said it’s ‘faaaah’ with your voice raising like another octave at the end of the word. Just like I said ling-er-ee when I first read lingerie, haha. Afternoon Tea delights from those in the know. Banana Split Cake, Honey Beer Bread, Jam Roly Poly with a2 Milk Custard, Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Cheese, Black Beans, and Corn with Avocado Crema, Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza.

‘Til next time!

The Many Uses of Coconut, pt. 2

How to Make Coconut Oil.

I purchased coconut a couple of weeks ago, but kept delaying my usage of it. I think it’s because my last coconut seemed to fight me tooth and nail. It was very difficult to remove the meat. If you’ve never tackled one, don’t be discouraged if this happens to you. This recent coconut was actually quite easy to deal with, so I feel a sort of consolation from the previous attempt.

Continuing from my last post on The Many Uses of Coconut, I thought I would share a few links about making your own coconut oil. Homemade coconut oil can be made in a few different ways, and I think the above link gives some great insight. It can be a labor of love…but, once you make your own, it can be an addicting activity. If you are more of a visual learner, take a look at this video for extra guidance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK6G2CPD95w This vid will give you a good idea of what your product will look like during different stages.

I also wanted to include this link I found several months back: Homemade Coconut Oil. I wanted to try this method out because it seemed like a science project, haha. You use a 2-Liter bottle, and it was quite fun. I’m sure some of you might be concerned about the plastic, but you might give it a go. I think kids would really love this, and it’s a great opportunity to get them into the kitchen.

Once you’ve made your oil, don’t forget about the DIY Antiperspirant/Deodorant (made with coconut oil) I posted. Or, check out this recipe for Coconut Banana Bread. If you make a bit of milk/cream while you’re at it, I also found these recipes: Simple Coconut and Bean Soup and Gemma’s Easy No-Machine Coconut Ice Cream (watch the vid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvclbHE-ZI8

Arthur: We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of Knights who will join me in my court at Camelot. I must speak with your lord and master.
Guard: What, ridden on a horse?
Arthur: Yes.
Guard: You’re using coconuts!
Arthur: What?
Guard: You’ve got two empty halves of coconut and you’re banging ’em together.

I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to squeeze that quote in, lol. Besides using empty coconut halves for faux horse sounds, haha, you might try using them for a cute little plant pot. The natural eyes would provide drainage, or you could drill some holes into the other half. Also a great children’s project!

Homemade Coconut Milk, Flour, and Butter

I mentioned that I had only become acquainted with coconut flour just last year. So, I must say that my first attempt at making it was the most exciting “culinary” event for me in quite a while. I know it’s just dehydrating and flour-making, but I was thrilled, nonetheless. Things like this make me happy. I used most of the coconut I had purchased for the flour, some for flakes, oil, and some for milk. I finally got around to making the Low Cal Almond-Raisin Granola Bars, so I replaced some of the almonds with the flakes. Coconut is the one addition I always want in granola. BTW, the bars were FAB! I pretty much kept to the recipe otherwise (just used a combo of dark and golden raisins). I baked them in a cast iron pan and accidentally turned the oven up to 375 degrees instead of 325. Uh oh! Haha, they were fine, though. You know I love cast iron because it’s easy to clean. It can be so frustrating removing food particles from metal pans. Even if you missed a spot on a cast iron, it’s black…who’s gonna know, lol. Sometimes, I like to pop granola bars back in the oven to heat up for a few minutes (if I’ve left a little moisture in them). They are kind of reminiscent of baked oatmeal that way. Pics (the flour looks like white sugar):

I would love to try this Simple Coconut Flour Cake. It also uses coconut oil and milk and gives coconut flour:baking ingredient ratio wisdom. Coconut flour is not all about sweets, though. These Curried Cauliflower Cakes look tempting.

Lastly, I wanted to mention that I am still not sure about the glycemic index/load of coconut palm sugar. I tried to research it out (as I mentioned in my bagels post), but am finding conflicting info. It’s not so much that it’s conflicting, as much of what I was able to find comes from companies that are selling the product (not third parties, etc.). Anyway, I wanted to share the American Diabetes Association’s link with their recommendations: ADA Coconut Palm Sugar. I also made crystallized ginger for the first time this week with brown palm sugar. It has been on my mind for a bit, but I finally got around to it. I remembered a Dr. saying he chews a small piece for a sweet treat. I didn’t use a recipe, I just made it similarly to candied citrus peel (without pouring off the water). Just a little dab’ll do ya when it comes to the ginger — it packs a punch. I think they would be a great alternative to after dinner mints.

Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you sometime next week!

DIY Brick Door Stops

door stop – fabric covered brick | For Our Home | Pinterest.

What to do with extra bricks? I want to make door stops, I thought. I was going to just spray paint them, but then decided to go searching. You know that I am not a craft expert, so I looked for a quick and simple project. I found that many people covered their bricks with fabric. Easy enough and not very time consuming. I decided to use the same leopard fabric remnant as my homemade yogurt slow cooker cover. I wanted it to stand up vertically, so I hot-glued a small piece of wallpaper to the bottom. A little protective fabric spray, and it was finished. Easy peasy!

I thought I would round up a few more ideas I came across. My faves are the brick “books” and penguin. Check them out!

“Books” Bricks Doorstops

Penguin Brick Doorstop

DIY Garden Herbs Bricks Doorstop

Union Jack Brick Doorstop

More “Books”

Beach Glass Mosaic Brick Doorstop

Colorful Duct Tape Brick Doorstop

Mosaic Tile Brick Doorstop

Teacher Appreciation Brick Doorstop

Steak Fajita Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing

Steak Fajita Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing.

This Fajita Salad looks excellent! It doesn’t have to be summer to cook up a flank steak and get the fajita party started. My love for fajitas comes from my stay in the Lone Star State (where you ‘go big or go home’ when it comes to fajitas). Luckily, my Tucson friends are not that competitive about it, lol. I’m thinking this salad would be fab for the Super Bowl. You can serve it up as a salad and have few hearty tortillas on the side (giving guests an option). If you’re not a fan of beef, possibly think of substituting chicken, tofu, tempeh, fish, or even legumes. Or, serve it over chips for a twist on traditional nachos. Get creative as you like and improv the ingredients if necessary. Enjoy!

DIY Shelves

DIY Bathroom Shelves with L brackets! | DYI | Pinterest.

 

OK, once I had my shelf wood stained & oiled, I needed to decide how to support it. I found these cute bathroom shelves, so I thought I would share the link. If you didn’t read the last ‘My Way‘ post, I power sanded and stained a cedar board with a mixture of coffee and tea, producing a rich caramel color. I finished it with soybean oil, but mentioned you could use any fixed oil that dries (like hemp, linseed, walnut, or sunflower).

The lighting isn’t great in any of these pics, but I did the best I could. Again, here’s that before and after pic of the wood:

The shelf with the brass corner braces (3.5 ft. x 5.5 in.):

A little bit closer:

A pretty simple project, and more importantly…pretty inexpensive. Now, you might think that a pre-made shelf doesn’t cost that much, but I just like working with wood.

Take a look at the link and see what you think.

My Way, No. 12

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— I was extremely busy this past week and could not find the time to blog. So, I will try to let you know some of the things I’ve been up to. But, before we get into all of that, I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to the late Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family. I, like so many others, would have never had the opportunities that have come my way without them. I believe MLK’s legacy has been felt across all of the nations. So, today, we honor that legacy. It encourages one to stand up for what one believes in. Common men and women have sometimes had as great an impact on society as royalty and world leaders (if not greater, in some instances, perhaps).

— From the Arizona Jewish Post, I thought this was a very thoughtful MLK, Jr. Day article.

— You know I love food and often write up all sorts of food-related tidbits on this blog. On this MLK, Jr. Day, I thought it would be cool to showcase a few chefs and recipes from the US and Britain (as you know, I adore British culture & food). Speaking of Britain, have you ever seen the television show Chef? I do not recall when it ran because many times we (the US) receive British programming much later than the original air dates. Perhaps it was from the 90’s…it was such a fab and funny show. I’m sure it’s in some sort of digital format, so check it out if you get the chance.

Avocado Tacos & Brown Butter Roasted Tomato Pasta by Latrice Fowler, African-American Chefs Shine in Atlanta, Black America Cooks, The Top Black Chefs Around the World, 3 Black Vegan Chefs You Should Know. From Britain: Mustard, Bacon, and Caramelised Onion Scones & Pea, Courgette, and Parmesan Rosti w/ Tangy Tomato Dressing by Ainsley Harriot, Spicy Curry Carrot Chutney by Jo Wesley and Avril Rogers, Pancetta Wrapped Scallops w/ Quince and Pear by Patrick Williams, Chai-Spiced Ginger and Date Tea Loaf by Kimberley Wilson, Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds Savoury Biscuits by Enwezor, Lamb, Yam, and Butternut Squash Soup by Lenny Henry, Nice and Spicy Thai Chicken Salad (Larb Gai) & Vegetarian Nut Roast Pie w/ Cranberries by Lorraine Pascale, Citrus and Pomegranate Salad w/ Chili Honey Dressing & Lime and Cranberry Bread and Butter Pudding by Levi Roots.

— Also from Britain: Is the Media Industry Sufficiently Diverse?

— Have you ever been under a time crunch and forced to go to places and do things you would rather not? That’s how last week was for me. Sometimes, my whereabouts/locations can make things difficult. I managed to make the Minimalist Entryway Organizer I wrote about. Instead of bungee cords and a wood frame, I went for a solid wood plaque and elastic. I attached the elastic with a staple gun and drilled a hole in the back for hanging. Such a practical idea for your keys, glasses, etc.:

Also, I’m making a shelf, so I stained a cedar board (after power sanding) with a mixture of coffee and black tea (as I wrote about in my post on The Many Uses of Food Powders). I used soybean oil for finishing, but I’m sure you could use any fixed drying oil (like linseed, hemp, walnut, or sunflower). Super easy and inexpensive. The lighting wasn’t great, so I do not think the pic (before and after) does it justice. It’s a rich caramel color — turned out beautifully:

— I had to pick up a few items for my mom and snapped a couple of cute DIY craft pics:

These DIY’s were made by the store staff. The ‘button letter’ would be totally fun in a child’s room. Or, if you have a more eclectic decor, you could probably make it work in any setting (possibly changing up the color scheme). First initials for couples would be a neat idea.

— What have I been eating this past week? Well, I made a few more of the Detox Drinks with a repeat of the Grapefruit-Cado. I forgot to mention that anytime the recipes call for juice, I use whole fruit. It was such a busy week that I didn’t get a chance to make granola bars. Luckily, I found some organic store-bought ones that were wickedly reduced in price. SQUEAL DEAL! They saved me! I always like to carry some sort of snack bar with me when I go out (so I don’t grab at the nearest candy protein bar in a vending machine, haha). And, I had a couple for snacks in place of my (of late) usual nuts, figs, oatmeal & honey, or za’atar roasted chickpeas. I’ve found the chickpeas curb my cravings for sweets (as you know, I have a sweet tooth). I did have time to whip up a quick cream of roasted garlic and white asparagus soup (with olive oil roux & skim milk, finished with a little extra-virgin and chiles):

And, the Sicilian Roasted Potatoes I made for Christmas have made an appearance 4 or 5 times now. Perhaps I will take a pic soon. I’ve started using a mix of baby Yukons and sweet potatoes. Really quite delicious. As I had a lot of running around to do, I made a batch of egg sandwich fillers. I reheat them in the oven or on the stove, but I suppose you could use the micro (not too long, they might get rubbery). I just used leftover veggies and cooked them in oval rings to fit my homemade bagels. I start them on the stove top and then give them a hit under the broiler:

1) Spinach, Red Bell, White Asparagus, Garlic 2) Kale, Black Olive, Red Onion 3) Broccoli, Feta, Chile (just a little bit of cheese, and my body seemed to handle it OK) 4) Marinated & Grilled Artichokes, Capers, Tomatoes.
Other than that, I began to have a few heavier meals starting with a yummy hamburger (on a bagel, of course 😉 ) and a side of healthy Brussels and smashed baby Yukons bubble and squeak.

— I love to collect tea tins, so I was excited when my fave step-uncle brought me back this Burapa Bird’s Nest Beverage from his trip to Malaysia:

— I was inspired by this Pitaya Breakfast Bowl to purchase dragon fruit for the first time. Wonderful! I consumed some raw and threw the rest in the freezer for smoothies:

— Remember the DIY Silk Scarf Kaftan I posted? Well, here’s a DIY Kimono Cape along the same lines. While running errands for my mom, I saw someone with a gorgeous kimono fabric. You can make this piece with just a couple of scarves, needle & thread, though. Also, make sure to check out the link from this blog post on how to dye shoes.

— From organization to DIY suds: 8 Laundry Room Hacks, Tips, and Ideas.

Take care! See you next time!