Wish List Wednesdays: Seki Japan Silicone Egg Separator

On a cooking vlog I watched recently, the vlogger used a unique egg separator that I decided I had to have.  The Seki Japan Silicone Egg Separator ($19.81) uses suction to separate the yolk from the egg (see image below).  You simply break the eggs into a bowl and use the separator to lift each yolk out.  Best of all, in my opinion anyway, the device is shaped like a cute little yellow chicken!  There is also a pink chick if yellow does not appeal to you, and if chickens do not interest you, check out these other suction egg separators which come in the shape of a pig, frog, or fish (there are other options that are not animal-shaped if for some reason that is your preference, but why?).

Foodie Fridays: Chicken Parmesan Patties

I am always looking for easy and different dinner ideas, so when I saw the recipe for Chicken Parm Burgers on the Framed Cooks website I thought I would give them a try.  I rarely eat burgers, but felt that the patties would be just as satisfying without the bread, served as a quicker and less fussy version of traditional Chicken Parmesan.  Of course if you are a burger person then serve them as suggested in the original recipe, but I actually loved them served without bread and with a green vegetable as a side dish (I had them with broccoli and also Brussels sprouts).  However you decided to serve them, I think you will find them to be a great meal for either lunch or dinner, and now I have a great new main dish recipe to add to my repertoire!

Chicken Parmesan Patties

1 lb. ground chicken
½ C. panko breadcrumbs
½ C. Parmesan cheese
½ tsp. Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 C. marinara sauce
2 T. oil
4 slices provolone or mozzarella cheese
fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Shape the chicken into four patties.  Mix the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper together in a pie plate or dinner plate. Put the chicken patties one by one into the crumb mixture and press gently to coat on all sides.

Heat the marinara sauce in a small pot over medium heat.  Pour the oil to a large skillet or griddle and heat over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the patties and cook for 4 minutes.  Turn the patties over carefully, top with the sliced cheese, and cover the pan.  Cook for another 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.

Plate the chicken patties and spoon a little marinara sauce on top of each.  If desired, garnish the patties with basil leaves.  Serves 4.

Note: You will have a lot of the bread crumb mixture left over, but not to worry - there is a use for them!  After removing the chicken patties from the skillet, simply add more oil if needed to cover the bottom, and when the oil is hot again, add the crumbs and fry them for a couple of minutes until they are golden brown.  Use them to top almost any portion of your meal - I put some on the steamed broccoli as well as the chicken patty.  They would also be tasty on just about any pasta dish.  Honestly, these crumbs are so good I was tempted to just eat the entire panful for a meal!

Wish List Wednesdays: Everly Quinn Makris Appetizer Plates

 

 

Now that spring is here, I want to set an appropriate table, but decided to do something different from the usual pastels and bunnies.  When I searched the Wayfair website and saw the Everly Quinn Makris 7.9" Appetizer Plates ($33.99 for a set of four), I found my tablescape inspiration.  Decorated with colorful birds and butterflies, the pattern is quite spring-like, but I chose to go with the black background for a more dramatic look.  These gold-rimmed porcelain china plates look delicate but are chip-resistant as well as dishwasher, microwave, and even oven safe.  Although they are appetizer plates, they are good-sized and I intend to use them as salad or dessert plates.  I am looking forward to the arrival of my order so I can set my unconventional version of a spring table!

Foodie Fridays: Baked Feta Pasta

Apparently TikTok has become a popular source for recipes to try during the pandemic lockdown.  I am not on TikTok, but it is not hard to find other sites that feature these viral recipes.  Recently I found a recipe for Baked Feta Pasta that I decided sounded tasty enough to try, even though I am not a big fan of feta cheese.  For some reason, I had a hard time finding feta cheese in my usual food stores that was not the crumbled variety.  I did finally find a block of feta, and even though it was not the ideal type (sheep's milk) I used it anyway, knowing my sauce would not be as creamy but willing to put up with that difference.

It turns out that this recipe really is fantastic!  I made a few changes, such as adding bell peppers and onion and using garlic-flavored oil instead of crushed garlic.  The end result was so good that I cannot wait to make this recipe again.  I will try harder to find the right type of feta, but really I did not mind the more grainy texture from the feta I used.  I think I need to check out more recipes from TikTok, especially if they are as easy and tasty as this pasta dish!

Baked Feta Pasta

2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
2 bell peppers, medium-diced
1 red onion, medium-diced
1/4 C. olive oil
2 T. garlic-flavored oil
6-8 oz. block feta cheese
8 oz. pasta of choice (I used linguine)
fresh basil to finish (optional)

In a large baking pan, toss the tomatoes, peppers, and onion with the oils, adding salt and paper to taste.  Place the feta in the middle, turning it to coat in oil.  Bake at 400°F for 30-40 minutes.

While the feta is baking, cook the pasta according to package directions.  Save 1-2 cups of the pasta water, then drain well.

When the feta and vegetables are done, remove from the oven and stir everything together until the vegetables and feta combine into a creamy sauce.  Stir in the pasta until well coated and creamy, adding in pasta water as needed to loosen if the sauce is too thick (I ended up adding a little over one cup of water).  Season with salt and pepper to taste, and top with torn fresh basil if desired.  Serves 3.

Wish List Wednesdays: Animal-Inspired Sweatshirts from J. Crew Factory

During the colder months, my standard outfit when at home is almost always a sweatshirt with long-sleeved tee and jeans.  Most of my sweatshirts are in solid colors, and recently I was on a mission to find some sweatshirts with interesting prints or patterns.  Luckily J. Crew Factory came through in grand fashion, with three designs in animal prints and patterns, and at great sale prices.  I am a sucker for animal designs anyway, but the three sweatshirts I found and ordered featured a leopard print, a zebra print, and a crab logo.  I had been searching for a leopard print, and if you know anything at all about me you know that equids and crustaceans are two of my favorite animals.  I was particularly taken with the Printed Crewneck Sweatshirt (on clearance sale for $39.99 - only smaller sizes left) shown above, with its mix of plentiful zebras cavorting on a camel leopard print background.

The Logo Crab Sweatshirt (on sale for $29.50) in a warm rose color was also quickly added to my shopping bag.  I love the crab design, and a sweatshirt in this color is perfect for these cooler months of spring.

The third sweatshirt I found is in the leopard print design I was originally seeking when I began my search for print sweatshirts.  The Leopard Crewneck Sweatshirt (on sale for $29.50) features a leopard print on a warm camel background.  This print and color can also be found on a couple of sweaters (see here and here).

If you are looking for some wardrobe additions at great sale prices, you too may want to check out the J. Crew Factory website.  Happy shopping on this St. Patrick's Day (and here is a link to a lucky clover sweater on their site in honor of the day)!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #10

The weather here this past week has been a crazy roller coaster ride.  It started out mild and felt like spring, only to turn cold and blustery by the weekend.  Luckily we did not get the blizzard that hit to the north of us in Colorado, but I do look forward to the return of warmer temperatures and especially less wind this week!  My essentials shopping trip into town was on one of the mild days - it was actually warm enough that I was able to wear a vest instead of a coat.  I decided that I would wear one of my favorite southwestern-inspired necklaces (shown above) since my vest was unzipped for most of the day and the necklace would be visible.  I have had this necklace for so long I do not even remember where it came from, but it was most likely another gift from my husband.  It is such a fun design and just makes me happy when I wear it.  Here is the entire outfit I wore:

Clockwise from top left: St. John's Bay Cable Women's V Neck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Teal Marl (color no longer available); Southwestern-Inspired Necklace (from my collection); Calvin Klein Full Zip Puffer Vest in Black (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MediPEDS Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Rachel Comey Norm Straight-Leg Jeans in Khaki (similar to my much less expensive pair - no longer available); Ultrasofts Mock Turtleneck in Black (similar to mine - color currently unavailable).

 

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My dog Ruby is almost completely well but still needs to be on antibiotics, and it will be a while before she recovers enough muscle tone to go on long walks.  She had her surgery staples removed last Friday and went on her first short walk with the neighbor dogs the following day.  Ruby did well but got tired quickly, but if we take it slowly I think she will be back in shape in a couple of months.  According to my vet as long as Ruby is able to do these walks they are good for her and will keep her healthy, so even though my girl is 14 years old I will let her come as long as she wants to accompany us.

I hope you are adjusting to the time change and enjoying good weather - St. Patrick's Day is almost upon us and the first day of spring will be here soon, so plan to do a little celebrating if possible!

Foodie Fridays: Rice Flour Pancakes

Although I try to limit my carbohydrate intake, I recently had a craving for pancakes, so I decided to whip up a batch for lunch.  I never eat them for breakfast as they tend to upset my stomach when eaten in the morning, but I can eat pancakes with no problems for lunch or dinner.  I remembered that I had a bag of rice flour I bought a while ago and never used - I had intended to get glutinous sweet rice flour but bought the wrong kind.  I searched for and found a recipe for Rice Flour Pancakes that used the type of rice flour I had, and enjoyed the results very much.

I did find out the hard way that your skillet must be very hot before you add the batter or it will remain a wet sticky mess and cannot be flipped (this batter is not as thick as some and the extra liquidity requires a properly heated skillet).  For best results, cook one pancake at a time in a hot pan because they cook very quickly and will burn if not flipped in time.  The best time to flip is when the edges of the pancake are solid enough to slide a spatula under without sticking - even though the middle will still be wet it will cook through rapidly when flipped.

Once I got the hang of how this batter needed to be cooked the process went very smoothly, and I ended up with ten perfectly cooked and shaped pancakes.  I served them with a little golden syrup (another purchase from a while ago that I probably bought for some specific purpose but now have no idea what that purpose was) and they were quite good.  If you happen to be gluten intolerant of just find yourself with some non-glutinous rice flour for some reason, you should give this recipe a try!

Rice Flour Pancakes

1 C.white rice flour
1 T. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten lightly
1 1/4 C. buttermilk
2 T. oil
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center, add the wet ingredients, and mix just until smooth (do not overmix).  Set aside.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat until it is very hot.*  Drop 1/4 cup of the batter onto the skillet.  Cook until the edges are solid enough to slide a spatula under without sticking.  Flip the pancake and continue cooking, pressing the surface lightly after about 30 seconds to flatten out any trapped air.

Remove the pancake from the skillet when both sides are golden brown (the side cooked first will be darker).  Continue making pancakes with the rest of the batter.  Makes about 10 pancakes.

*If your skillet is not nonstick, wipe it lightly with butter or oil.  This batter is rather thin, and if the skillet is too heavily greased the batter will spread too thinly.  Also, make sure the skillet is very hot before adding the batter or again it will spread too thinly.

This 'n That Thursdays: An Amazingly Self-Sufficient Woman's Vlog

My pandemic-induced obsession with simple lifestyle YouTube vlogs continues, and lately I have been fascinated with those posted by self-sufficient women.  My most recent obsession is a vlog called Primitive Survival Life, featuring a young woman from Singapore who demonstrates the traditional survival techniques of her homeland in her quest to live off-grid.  Her vlog has only been up for a few months, but already she has built a large outdoor covered porch with an enclosed sleeping area, a bamboo villa, two wells, two water filtration systems, two outdoor kitchens, a small swimming pool plus seating area, an outdoor sleeping pavilion, an underground shower, and an underground toilet!  She does all of this on her own with only the simplest of tools and mostly using materials from nature (she even makes her own concrete!).  Above is her first video where she builds the outdoor covered porch, complete with a moat filled with wild-caught fish.  Below is the video showing how she built one of the water filtration systems, which I find particularly fascinating - the water passes through three different filtration tanks, each with progressively finer filtering material, until the fourth tank finally receives the drinkable water. 

I have to confess that I binge-watched all of the vlog posts over a couple of days, and now can't wait to see what she builds next.  I don't think I have ever had the strength, stamina, and determination this young lady has, even when I was her age, and I certainly never possessed the amazing skill sets she demonstrates so effortlessly.  This woman seems to be working with the support of fellow Singaporeans who share a desire to live in harmony with their natural environment while preserving traditional ways of life (she recommends two other similar vlogs by friends at the bottom of the page here).  What I most admire about all of the vlogs I have seen by young people from around the world is that they have no problem blending the demonstration of a simple lifestyle with advanced technology.  They know how to balance concern for the planet with their computer and digital skills, and they are showing the the rest of us how it can be done in unique and creative ways.  I for one hope that this is the way of the future!

Wish List Wednesdays: Studio Ayutaka Cow Poster

I really am not in need of any more artwork at the moment, but when I saw this Studio Ayutaka Cow Poster on a recent YouTube vlog and managed to find it on Zazzle ($17.75 for the medium (24x24-inch) size), I must say I am sorely tempted to purchase one!  I have always been fascinated by farm animal breeds - in fact, on a trip to New Zealand many years ago I was the only one in our farm tour group who was able to name all but one of the dairy cow breeds we were shown!  Studio Ayutaka has quite an impressive collection of animal breed posters in addition to the cows, and they make other products with their animal designs on them as well.  I have to say, I also would not mind owning their horse breeds ($11.40 for 13x19-inch size - ignore the typos designating this as "horned breds") and large dog breeds ($12.00 for 13x19-inch size) posters, and if I keep on looking I am sure I will find way too many others to love!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #9 (and an update on my dog Ruby)

 

 

 

 

Madison and Ruby enjoy sniffing a scent in our yard on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

 

The great news is that Ruby is home now and doing quite well.  She lost a lot of weight because she refused to eat for days, but her appetite is back with a vengeance and she is happy to eat everything but the prescription canned dog food that the staff attempted to feed her at the vet clinic.  Ruby also lost muscle tone while at the clinic because she was on IV fluids and could not move around much, but she is mobile again and is willing to take short walks on our property.  She also roams around the house a lot, which is normal for her, and she seems to be regaining muscle slowly but surely.

Ruby's test results finally came back from the diagnostics lab in Texas (a week later than usual due to their power outage) and confirmed what I suspected was the problem - years ago she ingested a soil bacterium called Clostridium perfringens when we lived in Georgia and it is now established in her gut, where it flares up periodically and causes digestive problems.  This was a particularly virulent flare-up, and she will probably need to be on low-dose antibiotics for the rest of her life to prevent a recurrence.

Now that you have the update on Ruby, let's move on to the outfit I wore last week to run errands in town (including picking up more antibiotics for Ruby).  I recently purchased several JC Penney St. John's Bay cable knit sweaters at a fantastic price, so I decided to wear one of them last week.  I do not usually wear muted colors, and since both the sweater and jeans were rather subdued colors I had to add a hot pink long-sleeved tee to brighten up my outfit.  This is as close as I come to acknowledging spring colors, which are least suited to my coloring.

Clockwise from top left: St. John's Bay Women's Cable Crew Neck Long Sleeve Sweater in Blue Marl (currently only available in Tall sizes); Vince Camuto Chain Tassel Necklace in Silver/Crystal (similar to mine); Craghoppers Women's Venta Lite Hooded Insulated Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MediPEDS Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; prAna Women's London Jeans in Grey Denim (similar to mine); Ultrasofts Mock Turtleneck in Sangria (similar to mine).

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Tomorrow Ruby goes back to the vet for a recheck, and hopefully to get her surgery staples removed.  It will be a while before she resumes going on long walks with Madison and me, but I am just relieved that she is progressing so well on her road to recovery.  The weather here has turned very mild and pleasant, so for now all is well.  I am waiting to hear when I can get my COVID-19 vaccine (the neighbors I walk with in the mornings have just gotten theirs), and then perhaps the world will begin to feel more normal again.  Have a great week, everyone!

Foodie Fridays: Easy Baked Tofu

I have always liked tofu (AKA bean curd), but for years I avoided eating it because it would upset my stomach (as most legumes tend to do for me).  Recently I decided to give tofu a try again, as I have discovered that if I introduce legumes back into my diet carefully I can tolerate them.  I am happy to say that as long as I keep portion sizes small I can once again enjoy tofu!  This recipe for Easy Baked Tofu from the Moosewood Restaurant website is a great way to prepare this nutrient-rich soybean product.  It can be eaten on its own or used in other dishes, such as the Easy Miso Soup recipe I posted last week.  The original recipe includes a stovetop preparation option as well as a sweet and sour variation, so check it out if you are interested.  I am so happy that I can eat tofu again - I have missed it!

Easy Baked Tofu

1 cake firm tofu (about 16 ounces)
1 T. vegetable oil
1 T. dark sesame oil
3 T. soy sauce
2 tsp. grated peeled ginger root (optional)
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

Cut the tofu into slices, cubes, triangles, or sticks (I cut mine into 12 squares).  Place in a lightly oiled baking dish large enough to hold the tofu in a single layer.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients and drizzle over the tofu.  Gently turn or toss to coat thoroughly.

Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the oil is sizzling and the tofu is firm and chewy.  Remove from the oven, cool slightly, and serve.  Serves 4.

This 'n That Thursdays: Reese's Ultimate Peanut Butter Lovers Cup

Image from Food & Wine

Have you heard the news?  In April, The Hershey Company will be releasing a version of their popular peanut butter cup that is chocolate-free!  Both the filling and the shell of Reese's Ultimate Peanut Lovers Cup will be flavored with peanut butter, which should be a peanut butter lover's ultimate dream (and a godsend for those who are allergic to chocolate).  While there are some who have already sampled this confection and were not impressed, I have a feeling that I am among many who look forward to trying this new variation.

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate will probably always be the best peanut butter cup flavor (and there have been so many variations manufactured!), but I actually like the idea of a chocolate-free peanut butter cup, and in fact have had it before.  Some of you may remember the Butterscotch Smoothie Peanut Butter Cup, which is still available and is exactly what the name implies - a peanut butter filling in a butterscotch shell.  I loved that version as a child (and still do, truth be told), because I love peanut butter, so I say bring on those all-peanut butter cups (and it looks like possibly just in time for Easter?)!  And for those who are allergic for peanuts, could a peanut butter-free all-chocolate version of the Reese's cup be in the works as well?

Images from Old Time Candy Company

Wish List Wednesdays: Hanes Men's Ultimate Cotton Heavyweight Crewneck Sweatshirt

Since moving to New Mexico from Georgia, I have had to add much warmer clothes to my wardrobe.  This winter I really felt the need to purchase heavyweight sweatshirts for wearing around the house and out to the barn, and I have found that if you want really warm sweatshirts it is best to check out men's clothing.  I really hit the jackpot at the Hanes website - the Men's Ultimate Cotton Heavyweight Crewneck Sweatshirt is currently on sale for only $15, and if you buy three or more you get an extra 20% off!  These sweatshirts have ribbed cuffs and hem and are generously sized as well as being comfortably warm.  They also come in 13 different colors, so you are sure to find a few that appeal to you.  I like my sweatshirts to be really oversized so I can layer them over other tops if necessary, so I go up a size (they are mostly cotton so they will shrink a little but not much).  Trust me, if you want the warmest sweatshirt you can find for really cold weather, these men's tops are the best!