Category Archives: Food
Food of the Gods
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Yes, it is chocolate. I always have some in the house. I blame my Grandmother. She was a true chocoholic. She taught me the joys of dark chocolate.
A few days ago, I was in a grocery store and spotted an irresistible display. They had a sale on Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie mixes. It was a two for the price of one sale. I’d never tried them because I no longer do much in the way of baking—don’t need the extra calories. I read the back of the box and I bought two, one of their ultimate dark chocolate brownie mix and the other their dark chocolate brownie mix. I would’ve bought more if they hadn’t been out of the turtle ones. There wasn’t a single box of those left.
Last night I made the dark chocolate brownies. They were so good they were very nearly orgasmic. I hope they have more mixes when I go back to the store. I intend to keep a box or two on hand for when a chocolate crave hits me, or if I have drop in company.
DH was in heaven when I served them up still warm from the oven for dessert with fresh coffee.
Posted in Food
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Chocoholism, Chocolate, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Luddite vs. technophile in the dog world
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Patty is a Luddite while Gavin is a technophile. Gavin loves the electric back massager, nail grinder, and whipped cream shot from a can. Patty, on the other hand, hides when we turn on the back massager and nail grinder. She’s not very sure she cares for the can that shoots whipped cream.
You can blame Linda of Crone and Bear it for me trying this. Both dogs had their introduction to canned whipped cream after we had our pecan pie. Their reactions were clearly opposite.
Gavin leapt about scolding and begging for more after the first blast. “Wow. That stuff comes out of a can? Hit me with your best shot.”
Patty’s was clearly a low-tech approach. “Don’t point that thing at me just let the white stuff drop on the floor mom. I’ll get it from there.”
I doubled over in the giggles shouting ‘food fight’ sending blasts of whipped cream streaming into the dogs’ mouths. We managed to annoy DH who was trying to watch TV but the pups and I were having a good time. Sometimes DH can be an old stick in the mud.
Posted in Dog related, Food, Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
What recipe?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A while back, I heard that turmeric was good for people with MS. DH loves a good curry so I learned to make my own curries. His favorite is my lamb curry. I followed a few recipes but, as I usually do with many things I cook, I began to throw the thing together more by ‘feel’ than measurements. Yes, I’m one of those cooks.
I think I learned the throw together method from my father and the way he made the most heavenly turkey soup every year from the left over Thanksgiving turkey. I have that soup down pat now although I make it with chicken because DH isn’t fond of turkey. The worst thing to do is ask me for ‘the recipe’ because I don’t really have one. I modify most recipes to suit our taste.
If you want a copy of one of my recipes, you have to come to my kitchen and watch me cook because I don’t have many of them written down. My white clam sauce recipe is in my head. I learned it from a local Italian restaurant owner/chef after I complimented him on how delicious his was. Before I knew it, he whisked me to his kitchen to teach me how to make it.
Posted in Food
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Cooking, Craft of writing, Curry, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Recipe, Writer, Writing
Spare us from the food police
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Another major city is trying to introduce a new ‘eating healthier’ food regulation for restaurants. Good grief, spare us from the food police. Sure, it’s true we have an obesity problem in this country but for heaven’s sake don’t go regulating everything we eat.
When we go out to dinner, an extremely rare event, I want what I want for my meal. I don’t care if it’s high in fat. I’m dining out to enjoy myself, to consume something I don’t make at home, and not have to cook.
I’d say that out of the 365 days in a year we go out for dinner maybe ten times. This year, I’m not so sure we made it out anywhere near that many times. So please don’t tell me I shouldn’t eat that luscious cheesecake they have on the menu or indulge in that butter heavy sauce I never make at home. Don’t tell me not to have a medium rare steak, if I want one I’ll have it. Dining out is supposed to be a pleasure.
What would make my dining experience more pleasurable? That’s a whole other post…
Posted in Food
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Cooking, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Eating, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The frost absconded and the green tomatoes fried
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The other night there came a dire weather prediction. Possible frost! I nipped out to the garden with shears and a basket. I cleaned all the tomatoes, ripening and green ones, from the vines. The last two eggplants joined them in the basket. We didn’t get the frost and now I have a large basket of green tomatoes on my table.
Last night for dinner, I took advantage of having green tomatoes on hand. I sliced them, dusted them with seasoned flour, dipped them egg then a seasoned cornmeal and breadcrumb mixture, and fried them to a lovely golden brown. I placed them on a cookie sheet and kept them warm in the oven while I cooked the rest of our dinner.
Which, since I’d already headed down south with the tomatoes, and had a hot frying pan ready, made me make a quick decision to turn DH’s hamburger steak and my steak into chicken fried steaks. Well, then when the steaks were done, I had to make redeye gravy didn’t I?
At least I stopped there and didn’t add mashed potatoes. We would’ve burst had I made them too. As it was, we were full.
Posted in Food, my garden, Weather related, Writer
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comfort foods, Cooking, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, fried green tomatoes, Gardening, Gardens, Home, home cooking, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, redeye gravy, Tomato, Writer, Writing
A simple summer meal
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m always looking for quick and tasty summer meals. (Especially things that I can make with leftovers.) One of my favorites is my curry chicken salad. It’s simple because I use left over store-bought rotisserie chicken to make it. I buy those once in while when I know I’ll be too tired to cook when I get home from grocery shopping. With only two of us, we have at least a half a chicken leftover when we’re done.
You have to understand that I seldom measure things when I cook. I can give you the ingredients but you’ll have to make it to your own taste.
Leftover chicken cut up into bite-sized pieces, golden raisins (a handful), chopped celery one or two stalks, 1 small chopped onion, one sweet cherry pepper seeded and chopped, enough Miracle Whip to moisten everything, curry powder to taste (I use approximately 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons.) Mix thoroughly and chill for at least two hours.
Serve on a bed of lettuce with tomato wedges. DH loves this. It’s also good as a sandwich filling.
Posted in Food, hobbies, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Chicken, Chicken salad, Cook, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Poultry, Writer, Writing
Hey, Squirrel there’s a contract out on youse
Posted by doggonedmysteries
If you can climb trees and aren’t squeamish about taking out a few squirrels, have I got a job for you. The squirrel pulled a daylight raid on the tomatoes and dared, DARED to nibble on some of my heirloom tomatoes. It didn’t pull them from the vine. No, it chewed a bit here on one and a bit there on another.
I picked all the ripe and almost ripe tomatoes I could find. Later, the danged tree rat left a half eaten half green tomato right where it knew I’d walk just to show me it could get at them any time. I think it’s teaching its children to go after my tomatoes too.
I guess I need to take out a contract on the tree rat and family.
“Hello, is Mr. R. T. Hawk?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“I need to hire you. I’m having this problem with a squirrel.”
“It’s just the one?”
“Well, not exactly. I think there’s a nest of them.”
“Hmmm, young tree rats are quite tasty…um…er…I mean, I’ll do the job for you on the cheap.”
“Thank you. I hope you can do it before all my tomatoes are gone.”
“No problem.”
Posted in Food, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Garden update
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve had enough rain to get the veggies and melons off to a great start. I have tiny peppers on most of the pepper plants. The tomato plants all have flowers now. I have to go out and find another sugar baby water melon plant because I foolishly bought only one and should have purchased two. The one I have is growing like crazy but without another to cross-pollinate I doubt I’ll get any fruit.
The eggplant plants have tripled in size but no flowers yet. I finally have dill growing tall and happy without the nasty earwigs chewing the plant down to the roots this time. Planting it in the pot worked well. The squash plants are loaded with flowers and a couple of them have teensy squash on them. The bush cucumber has flowers but no sign of any cukes yet. I’m not very certain that the plant was marked correctly because the plant certainly isn’t a bush.
G gave me some cannas the other day and I planted them. I hope they come up. The black elephant ears are beginning to look good. The ones in the pot are bigger than the ones in the garden.
Posted in Food, hobbies, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Something special
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Occasionally you need to treat yourself (and your best friend) to something special. G knows I hate to shop and I really hate to shop alone. Today we went shopping for a few items I needed to pick up. We found all but one but that’s okay. I’ll find it elsewhere.
On the way home from the conference I’d spotted a sign for a new restaurant’s grand opening and thought of G right away. After we finished shopping, I rather surprised her by making a right turn where, to go home, I would normally turn left.
I further surprised her by pulling into a shopping mall parking lot, parking the van, and telling her we were having lunch. G was delighted. She told me she was glad she hadn’t had any before we left. That was the idea I’d had when I dragged her out before noon.
Of course, after shopping, by the time we did get there for our lunch it was after the lunch crowds had left. We had a wonderful lunch and a lot of fun. By scoping out the restaurant first, we know we’ll be able to take the DH’s there too.
Posted in Food, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Writers’ bait
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I promised to tell you what we used for writers’ bait. Although Jackie’s guesses were good, she didn’t come close.
Writers’ bait has been a running joke with a few of us for a couple of years. It started one year when we were sitting in another hotel lobby. I put something on the table in front of us. It wasn’t long before more and more people joined us. It seems I found a weakness.
What is it that few people can resist? What was in almost every basket at the Chinese auction?
Throughout the weekend, six bags of Dove Dark Chocolate and three bags of Hershey Dark Bliss candy disappeared. Not only did the night shift hotel staff enjoy the nightly treats I handed out, but all the writers who sat with us did too.
There’s magic in chocolate, my dears.
Posted in Food, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
Pilling the dogs
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We should own stock in the OTC allergy medicine company. I take two a day, the vet has Gavin on three a day, and Patty is on two. Then there are days when the pollen count is high and even DH needs them.
Pilling a Bull Terrier isn’t easy when you have one like Gavin. You want to what? Open my mouth? I don’t think so. Our vet has collapsed in the giggles while trying to get a look inside Gavin’s mouth and he’s a big guy. Gavin will clamp his mouth shut and you can’t get in there with a crow bar. On the other hand, Patty is easy.
At least she’s easy if she hasn’t seen you give Gavin his pill. Gavin gets peanut butter on a spoon with his pill on top. He’d eat a building if you covered it in peanut butter. Patty sees him get peanut butter and she wants hers served the same way.
I don’t blame her I like peanut butter too but I like mine on crackers or in a sandwich with jelly. Have you ever tried a peanut butter and jalapeño jelly sandwich? It’s good. Yeah, I’m weird.
Posted in Dog related, Food, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Does anyone make a coffee maker that won’t pee on my counter?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I love coffee. I love drip coffee makers. However, I have yet to find one that lasts longer than two years. I take care of them. I keep them clean. I follow all instructions. Nevertheless, before I know it, they become senile and start peeing on the counter.
In 37 years, I’ve gone through a multitude of coffee makers. One decided I worked it too hard and in protest shot its on/off switch across the kitchen, nearly hitting G in the head, and then ceased working. That one was the only one that didn’t hang around long enough to pee on the counter.
I have owned every name brand coffee maker out there and not one of them has remained housebroken. I’ve had cheap coffee makers; middle range priced ones, and a couple of expensive ones.
I’m tired of wiping up puddles on my kitchen counter. It’s worse than having an 8 week old puppy. At least as they get older they learn not to wet the floor.
Do coffeemakers mark their territory? Do they perhaps have weak bladders?
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
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