Tortilla Española

Ingredients:

.

1 medium onion
5 medium potatoes
3 large eggs, beaten lightly
olive oil
Vegetable oil

Salt

Pepper

.

Directions:

1. Heat up vegetable oil on medium heat. Peel and cut potatoes length wise. Slice each side thinly.

2. Fry potatoes until soft. Don't let them get crispy, just cooked enough so they are soft. Let them drain on a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.


3. Cut and slice onion the same as the potato. Fry in olive oil until golden.

4. Combine the cooked potatoes, onions and eggs and stir lightly until well incorporated.

5. Heat up a little olive oil in a non stick skillet and transfer the potato mixture to it. Cook until golden.

6. Flip the tortilla over using a plate that's wider than the pan, place it on top of the pan. Put one hand (with a glove) on the plate. Use the other hand to grab the pan and with one swift motion, flip the pan so the plate ends up on the bottom and the tortilla on the plate. Put the tortilla, cooked side up, back in the pan and cook for another few minutes, until golden.

7. Remove form heat and enjoy. It's the breakfast of champions! Truly! If you're an onion fan, don't be shy to add them, it's what give it its taste. Thanks to this site for the great idea!

Pan d'Epi

I am having so much fun with this bread baking, that I just can't stop. My dough is always ready and waiting for me in the fridge and when I am out, I just quickly mix everything together for a new batch in less than 5 minutes!



I attempted making a wheat stalk bread (pan d'epi in french). You can find the complete tutorial here. I made this form the "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day recipe. For the recipe click here.






* The book recommends to use a pizza peel to slide the bread in the oven easier. Mine broke during the move so I just use parchment paper. When using the parchment paper, the bottom of the bread doesn't get much color. I feel like it almost stays moist during the baking process. They recommend to remove the parchment paper during the last few minutes of baking, if you're having this problem.

Glazed Chicken Legs

Directions:

1. Heat broiler. Rinse chicken wings; pat dry. Place on a baking sheet, wing tips down.

2. Broil until golden brown, rotating sheet occasionally, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer wings to a large bowl. Drain off fat from baking sheet.

3. Toss wings with desired sauce, and return to baking sheet, wing tips down. Reserve sauce in bowl. Broil wings again until glazed, 2 to 3 minutes, rotating sheet once. Toss wings with reserved sauce. Serve hot, with celery and carrot sticks, and Blue-Cheese Dip.

Yet another Martha Stewart recipe. I was surprised. They tasted like they were cooked on the grill. I have a gas oven, so maybe that's why.

Chicken Thighs Braised in A White Wine Sauce

Ingredients:

Serves 4
8 bone-in skinless chicken thighs (about 2 3/4 pounds)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 lemon, cut into 8 thin slices, plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Cooked rice, for serving (optional)

Directions:

1. In a 12-inch skillet with a tight-fitting lid, arrange thighs, bone side up; season with salt and pepper. Add garlic, wine, and thyme. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook, 30 minutes.

2. Turn chicken over. Place a lemon slice on each piece; cover and continue simmering until tender, about 15 minutes. Leaving garlic and liquid in skillet, transfer chicken and lemon slices to a platter. Cover tightly with foil to keep warm.

3. Bring liquid in skillet to a boil; cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Add butter, parsley, and lemon juice; stir until butter has softened and sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken with sauce and, if desired, rice.

.

This recipe is from Martha Stewart. . The chicken was very moist and the wine taste was not over powering. Very nice turnout.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Wow! I can't say enough great things about this new book I bought. What are the chances to mess up such an easy recipe? Well, I did, not once but twice...So much for following instructions.

I just finished my last loaf after 7 days in the fridge. The taste was heavenly. It tasted like genuine European bakery bread. This method is so easy, a six year old could do it. The book has so many great bread and desert recipes in it that are all based on the same concept, no kneading but refrigerating. I will NEVER bake bread any other way or buy bread from the grocery store again!

3 cups warm water - 100 degrees warm

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt
6 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, more for dusting dough
Cornmeal.

1. In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees). Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).

2. Bake at this point or refrigerate, covered, for as long as two weeks. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal; let rest 40 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough or refrigerate it.

3. Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes.

4. Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour one cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.
Yield: 4 loaves.

Chicken Pesto with Peas

I found this recipe in one of my cookbooks. Not my favorite pesto pasta, I must say. 9 cloves of garlic is a bit excessive, don't you think?


If you like Ina Garten's stuff, give it a try.

Words to live by...

The Narrow Way, 7:13-14


"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The Rich Young Man, 19:16-35

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and 'love your neighbor as yourself."

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first".

Hearers and Doers of the Sayings, 7:24-27

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."


The Answer of a True Prayer, 7:7-11

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him"'


True Loyalty, 6:24

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


Treasures In Heaven, 6:19-21

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."


The Lord's Prayer, 6:9-13

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."


Seeing and Believing: The Thomas Incident


Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Paying Taxes 12:13-1

At that time, the chief priests and scribes sent Jesus some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to entrap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.



1. Blessed is the man who is poor in spirit, that is, one who feels so-the humble one, because humbleness is the gate which leads to the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are the mourners, who long to enter the kingdom of God, but who face many difficulties, such as sin and other impediments which block the way to the kingdom of God. Our merciful God will comfort them.

3. Blessed are the meek, the people who are not disturbed by their own desires, but trust in the Lord (cf. Ps. 37:11, LXX). Their attitude will be rewarded with the inheritance of the earth, which means through their convictions and trust in God they will inherit the age to come.

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. They feel the impulse and desire to fulfill the Will of God by their worship of and obedience to God.
Blessed are the merciful not only for giving alms, but especially for giving of themselves in helping others, who in turn obtain mercy (cf. 6:14; 18:33).

5. Blessed are the pure in heart, the upright, the sincere, the honest in every thought and activity (Ps. 24:4). They will feel the abiding companionship of God.

6. Blessed are the peacemakers, between neighbors and between nations, who have a peaceful mind to resolve human discrepancies. They should be the treasurers of divine peace from above in order to provide this peace for others who shall be sons of God.

7. Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness' sake. People who are armed with virtues of the previous beatitudes are well shielded to face persecutions for the establishment of divine principles of life. The kingdom of God is expanded to their hearts.

8. Blessed are ye (my Disciples) who resist evil and undergo persecutions by words and acts for My sake.

9. The blessedness of God is the source of men's rejoicing and gladness not only in themselves but also for the reward in heaven, as it happened to the persecuted prophets (cf 23:20; Lk 11:33-38).

Raspberry Brownies

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) can semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1/2 cup butter
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts


Directions

1. PREHEAT oven to 350°F.

2. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips and butter in large, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and let cool.

3. Stir in eggs. Stir in eggs, careful not to scramble. Stir in flour, sugar, vanilla extract and baking soda.

4. Stir in remaining chocolate chips and nuts.

5. Line baking pan with raspberries and spread mixture on top. Poor from the outside in, making sure the outside is layered thicker, so that it may not dry out during backing. Batter will even itself out once done.

6. BAKE for 18 to 20 minutes.



These can be made with your own brownie recipe. Just line a pan with raspberries and poor the brownie mixture over the berries. Serve hot with ice cream. The berries stay fresh and don't dry out and the flavor is fruity and intense, but yet not over powering at all. Very yummy!

You can play with the amount of chocolate chips and nuts you use, depending on your taste. These are best when eaten the same day.

Corn Fritters

Ingredients:

1 cup of fresh corn kernels
1 cup of pureed corn kernels
1 small onions - chopped
1 small bunch of cilantro - chopped
1 small bunch of chives - chopped
1 egg
1/4 cup of milk
1/2 cup of flour
1 tsp of baking power
1/4 tsp of garlic powder
1/2 tsp Mrs Dash
salt and pepper to taste


1. Mixed all above ingredients well.

2.Drop a tablespoon of batter into the oil and cook over medium heat. Cook on both side until golden brown. Serve with a dipping sauce.


You can add chopped shrimp to it as well.

We are Walking!

Baby started walking a couple weeks ago and he's become quite good at it.

He can only walk holding on to his walker for now.

He gets very determined and takes off like he's got some business to take care of.

Wanna-be Papa John's Pizza

I found this dough recipe here and the sauce recipes here. The dough is very fluffy. I, of course, forgot to grease the dough and poke holes in... blah blah blah. This is an easy dough recipe and tastes great too. Papa John's?....almost. I topped mine with chicken, mushrooms and tomatoes. I have rewritten the recipe the way I made it:

For the Dough:

2 1/2-3 cups flour
1 tablespoons sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons fast rising yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup very warm water(120 to 130 degrees)
2 tablespoons olive oil

1. In the food processor, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt; blend well.

2. Gradually add water and oil to mixture. Blend at low speed until moistened, then pulse for 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 to 2 cup of flour until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.

3. On a floured surface, knead in 1/4 to 1/2 cup flour until dough is smooth and elastic. Cover loosely with plastic and let rest in a warm place for about 15 minutes.

4. Press out dough onto (2) 12-inch pizza pans (*I would recommend using 1 larger pan, since this dough has no problem rising to the same Papa John's thickness). Prick randomly with a fork. Let rest again in a warm place for 10-15 minutes.

5. Brush crusts lightly with oil then prebake them in a 450 degree oven for 5 minutes.

6. Top as desired, then bake again in 450 degree oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.

Special Garlic Sauce:

1/2 cup margarine, spread
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix well until completely blended.

2. Place the bowl into the microwave and cook on 1/2 power for 20 seconds. Stir to blend.

I made this with butter and fresh garlic - not the same taste.

Pizza Sauce

1 (14 ounce) can tomato puree
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/8 teaspoon basil
1/8 teaspoon thyme
1 small minced garlic

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir well as bring to a boil.

2. When the sauce begins to bubble, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir often.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Chicken:

2 chicken breasts - cut into chunks
2 tbsp corn starch
1 egg white
salt and pepper

Mix corn stach, egg white, salt and pepper together. Coat the chicken in it and deep fry until golden brown. Drain on a paper towels.

Sauce:

2 tbsp of ketchup
2 tbsp of sweet chili sauce
1 tsp of sugar
1 tbsp of vinegar
1 1/2 tsp of corn starch
3/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Whisk all but the cornstarch and 1/4 cups of water together.

2. Over medium-high heat, bring the sauce to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat.

3. In a small cup, mix the cornstarch into the water until dissolved.

4. Stir into the sauce and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, approximately 5 minutes.



Vegetables:

1 half red and 1 half yellow pepper - cut to bite size pieces
1 cup of pineapple
1 small sliced chili-more or less depending your spiciness preference
3-4 slices of ginger
1 small onions - cut into chunks


1. Heat up wok with 1 tbsp of oil. Saute the onions & ginger until lightly browned.

2. Add in all the vegetables and stir fry for 1 min.

3. Add in sauce and toss the fried chicken until it's well coated. Serve with warm rice.

Archangel Gabriel

This festive Synaxis is celebrated to the glory of the Archangel Gabriel, since he ministered to the marvelous mystery of God's incarnate dispensation.

FEAST OF THE annunciation of Our
Most holy lady, the theotokos
and ever virgin mary

Introduction

The Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on March 25 each year. The Feast commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would become incarnate and enter into this world through her womb.

Biblical Story

The biblical story of the Feast of the Annunciation is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (1:26-39). The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who was living in Nazareth, and said to her, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you.” Mary was perplexed and wondered what kind of greeting this was.

The angel told her not to be afraid, for she had found favor with God. He said, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary responded to the angel by asking how this could happen since she had no husband. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit and the power of God would come upon her, and that the child to be born of her would be called holy, the “Son of God.”

The angel then proceeded to tell the Virgin Mary that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age (John the Baptist), and affirmed that with God nothing is impossible.

In faith and obedience to the will of God, Mary replied to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be according to your word.” Upon her response, the angel departed.

It is on the Feast of the Annunciation, that Orthodox Christians commemorate both the divine initiative of God, whereby He took on flesh from the Virgin for our salvation, and the human response, whereby Mary freely accepted the vocation offered to her. He elected to become man, and He desired to do this with the willing agreement of her whom He chose as His mother. Mary could have refused, for she was not a passive instrument, but an active participant with a free and positive part to play in God’s plan for our salvation. Thus, when on this and other feasts the Orthodox Church honors the Theotokos, the Mother of God, it is not just because God chose her but also because she herself chose to follow His will.

Icon of the Feast

The icon of the Annunciation is one that presents the joy of the announcement of the coming of Christ. It is an icon of bright colors, depicting the Archangel Gabriel (1), who has descended from heaven, and the Virgin Mary (2), who has been chosen to be the Mother of God.

1. The Archangel Gabriel presents the good news of the coming of Christ to Mary (detail).	2. The Virgin Mary, who was chosen to be the Mother of God (detail).

The Archangel is shown with his feet spread apart as if he is running to share the good news with Mary (3). In his left hand is a staff, the symbol of a messenger. His right hand is extended toward Mary as he delivers the message and announces the blessing bestowed upon her by God (4).

3. The position of Archangel Gabriel's feet suggest that he is running to share the news with Mary (detail).	4. The Archangel's right hand is extended towards Mary as he announces the blessing bestowed upon her [Mary] by God (detail).

On the right side of the icon the Virgin sits on an elevated seat, indicating that as the Mother of God she is “greater in honor than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word.” In her left hand she holds a spindle of scarlet yarn (5) which depicts the task she was assigned of preparing the purple and scarlet material to be used in making the veil for the Temple in Jerusalem. Her right hand is raised in a gesture of acceptance in response to Gabriel’s message (6). Her posture expresses willing cooperation with God’s plan of salvation. The three stars on her garments (7) represent that she was a Virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ.

5. Her left hand holds a spindle of crimson yarn depicting the task that she had of making the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem (detail).	6. Mary's right hand is raised in acceptance of Gabriel's message (detail).
7. The three stars on the garments of the Theotokos represent that she was a Virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ (detail).	8. A depiction of the divine realm and the Holy Spirit coming upon the Theotokos (detail).

At the top of the icon the segment of a circle represents the divine realm (8), from which three rays emerge. This demonstrates the action of the Holy Spirit coming upon her.

My Perfect Thai Dinner

What a delightful dinner this was! I had to use the rest of my veggies and kind of threw everything I had in the wok. I turned out to be the best dinner this week.

Here is what I used:

Chicken, julienned carrots, green pepper, onion, chilly pepper, sprouts, scallions, garlic, ginger and cilantro. AS for the sauce, I used soy sauces and a spicy ginger teriayki sauce. Served it with Jasmine rice and egg.




Now this might not be considered a Thai meal to some but these are the flavors I remember from dinning out.

My Garden

Sweet Basil
Tomatoes


Jalapeño - bloomed after only a few days!!

Parsley


Rosemary

Failure!

I found this test on this website. Hilarious!!! ....And I thought I was doing 'ok'....

19 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Chinese Scallion Pancakes

I am so delighted with these goodies! We ate them with sour cream. The ideal dipping sauce would be a ginger soy sauce or even a sweet and spicy jelly. I can't say enough about how great these turned out!

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
1 cup hot boiling water (or little more or less if needed)
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup scallion, sliced thinly
vegetable oil for brushing and cooking

1. Combine flour and salt in a food processor. Add the oil and the boiling water to the flour. Mix thoroughly to form a dough then knead by hand for 5 minutes. Let rest for 20 minutes.

2. Form the dough into a log and cut into 14-18 pieces. Roll each piece into a round disk.



3. Brush disk with oil, sprinkle with scallions and roll it up like a cigar. Pinch pinch the ends closed.

4. Coil the cigar into a snail-shaped disk. Cover with a wet paper towel and let rest for 15 min.

5. Flatten the snail like dough with the heel of your hand into a disk and roll it into a flat pancake.

6. Heat a non stick skillet over medium heat and fry in vegetable oil.

Classic Tote

I recently won these fabrics here. I tried to follow this tutorial online to make a tote but that didn't really work out. I eye balled my measurements and got rather inspired by it.



This turned out better than my first project.