Quail Eggs made into Scotch Eggs

Scotch Eggs are a favorite from going to Renaissance Faires! Normally I make these with chicken eggs. But I came across Quail Eggs and had to give them a try!

Youtube video of cooking scotch eggs!

So many dinners, so little time!

I have moved. With this move I have the freedom to cook to my hearts content again. No restrictions on my muse and creativity. And with this gorgeous view from my windows, well, my muse is highly stoked.

I will post a few recipes soon. But for now, lets just review a few of my creative and beautiful meals I have made in the past few weeks. I even have a new recipe for Pork Roast that tastes like it came from Germany. I just need to make spätzle's to go with it. And believe me, I will for the next time I make this.

Steak & Artichoke Salad with greens and grilled veggies. The cheese is Kashkaval.

Salad with Edible Flowers and Focaccia Toast

Pork Roast with Cabbage, Carrots and Apples in a Raw Apple Cider Vinegar sauce. Better than Sauerkraut!

Recipe will follow soon. But this was really an easy meal to prepare. Would be perfect to slow cook in a crockpot! And since the flavor really reminded me of something my Dad would have made I think serving over Spätzle's would be perfect.



Next is two meals created from left over Gyro meat from lunch at Spiro's Greek Restaurant in Pasadena, FL. I love going to this restaurant as they have a lovely deli and produce market connected to them. I get my Goat Butter, Manouri (Sheep's Milk Cream Cheese) and other lovely sheep and goat cheeses here. They also have fabulous prices on locally harvested produce.

The first is just a Gyro plate of the meat with homemade tzadziki sauce and grape tomatoes.
The second pic is my version of a Greek Omelet with Kashkaval Cheese and Focaccia toast.

Homemade Baked Chicken Taquitos with Guacamole to dip in. These were to die for and super easy to make! I will make and post these again too!

So that is just a sample of the massive fun I have had cooking in a really nice large kitchen again! I will be trying to make some cooking demo videos too as I get more comfortable with this kitchen. 

Dinner and a Movie Night!

So to get away from all the packing and house hunting and stress, I decided it was a dinner and movie night. I had a gift certificate for the movie so I felt I could afford a dinner. My favorite Chinese Buffet is $9.95 for dinner and so I went there. Of course I had my water with me, since I drink nothing else these days.

China Buffett, on Fowler, never fails to have things that I really love to eat on their buffet and tonight I really wanted some coconut shrimp and they delivered. Along with many more yummy items that I chowed down on.

I had a nice selection of their sushi/sashimi to start with. Note, I had already eaten several items before remembering to grab my camera. LOL It's just that good.

Then I had the Coconut Shrimp with Fried Rice, some bok choy and a spring roll along with a little beef bbq and stuffed mushrooms.

I had to get a picture of my friend's Sweet and Sour Soup as it looked darned delicious too.

After this fabulous feast, we rolled ourselves out the door and off to see Beauty & the Beast! So glad we saw this at one of the Sing A Long showings. Not because we wanted to sing, though yeah, I did. But because we could follow along with the songs and know what was being sung.

If you have not seen the movie yet with Emma Watson (From Harry Potter) as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast, then get going and see it. The singing is spectacular and the cinematography is breathtaking! The story is well crafted and you will adore Kevin Kline as Belle's father, Maurice. Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts is truly inspired. But the show stealer for me was Luke Evans as Gaston! He is so perfectly pompous and deliciously self absorbed. You know you are supposed to hate him, but even as you do, you just have to adore the acting. And if you don't get massive giggles from the portrayal of Lumier by Ewan McGregor and Cogsworth by Sir Ian McKellan well, you need to get your funny bone checked. They are perfect. Another show stopper for me was my favorite character actor, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza! He was brilliant as always!

Honestly, this is well worth the price of a ticket to see this movie on the big screen! But you can guarantee this will become a part of my permanent collection the day the movie hits Blu Ray!

Restaurant Review: Joe's New York Diner!

I was worn out after both having my moving sale and cleaning and packing more of my kitchen. So I decided to use part of my small money from the sale and go get dinner. I tried to go to KFC as it's really close, but they closed as I pulled up. Same with Portillo's on Fowler. Then it hit me, I have been dying to try Joe's! I was just blocks away so off I went back towards Florida Ave as Joe's is right on the corner of Florida and Fowler!

It was a fantastic choice! The manager/owner greeted me as I entered. I found out his name is Moe! I knew from his greeting that I would be really happy I stopped here. He had Dawn, a really sweet server, get me a menu and take my order.

First, this menu is HUGE! They are open 24/7 so they have it all. And I was hard put to decide. I considered trying a few appetizers, but then saw they had Eggplant Parmesan Heroes, but oh, they had a Chicken Parmesan also.  Then I glanced up and saw the moment of saying "Eureka" they had a Reuben! The answer was found. Then I asked what the soup was, and when Dawn said Matzo Ball Soup I almost squealed in joy! So a Reuben with Soup it was!

I got the food to go since I had Uno with me. And even with them making everything fresh daily, I got my meal in less than 10 minutes. I thanked Dawn and Moe and headed home with my food and had my reveal as a Live Video on Facebook!

food thoughts

So I saw this post on facebook and thought about how yummy it would taste, but also how high in cholesterol and carbohydrates it would be. Then I thought, Mashed Cauliflower to substitute for Mashed Potatoes would work. I use it when making my shepherd's pie and it's wonderful. So why not this? Then I thought, why not make actual homemade Pierogi's with the Mashed Cauliflower instead of Mashed Potatoes?

I think I have a new recipe rolling around my head. And I happen to have a gorgeous head of cauliflower in the fridge along with wonton wrappers which work really well for the pasta shell for making pierogi.

I think if I make them I would like to have some minced green onion in them to give them added flavor and for the pretty contrast in both the visual and flavor. I will post pictures and possibly a video of me making them later!

I am also wanting to make the vegetable rose tart that I also found on Facebook. I think these both would be wonderful recipes to make to take for a dinner party. Say for Easter or a dinner for 8 deal.

On this I would have to make my own ricotta which I haven't done since moving to Florida. This would be an ideal time to try since the air is very dry right now. Ricotta sets best when the humidity is low.

So that's my food thoughts for now!

Recipes and pictures to come soon when I do make my versions of these.

Jerk Hut on Fowler Ave in Tampa! 2 Thumbs UP!

Fantastic dinner tonight at  The Jerk Hut in Tampa on Fowler! My friend and business partner Jessie Reid Nelson called me today and said she wanted to take me to dinner. I was more than ready for a fun night after a long and not so successful day with my moving sale. So I was all in. Now anyone who knows me, knows I don't do hot spicy. Because of this I have passed this restaurant a few times and thought I could never eat there. Boy was I ever WRONG!!! The atmosphere is fun and a bit Island! The staff were all so friendly, especially the manager Joseph who really helped me to order something spectacular.

I tried the Goat Curry and really loved it. If you have never had goat, its really good, very tender, but when cut up, they cut it bones and all. So be prepared to pick bones out when eating. The bones just make the sauce all that much better though. This was just the goat meat and potatoes in a relatively mild curry sauce. I say relatively, because for me it was top of the scale of what I can eat without pain or an allergic reaction. For someone from the islands or other countries that go heavy on the hot peppers, it was childs play.  I had my dinner with the white rice since the other rice had beans in it. But I will admit, I really wished I could have that rice with beans. But since I still had to get home safely I passed on that possible allergic trigger. But they looked so good. I also had the cabbage which is so universal just steamed and has a nice buttery flavor.

Jessie had the rice and beans with her chicken and the cabbage also. And she ordered a side of Plantains for us to share. Oh those were wonderful too.

Her hubby had their amazing BBQ Jerk Chicken with a double serving of the rice & beans. He was the only one who needed a to go box. Half a Chicken was a huge amount. (no picture, he came late and we were already eating when his food came, so I forgot to snap a shot of the plate. But it was a huge serving,)

The food was so good that conversation even stopped as we plowed into our food.

Jessie had their Bread Pudding with a caramel sauce and it looked amazing. I may go sometime and order a serving to go. I love bread pudding, but since it is made with milk and eggs, it does have a 50/50 chance of not loving me back. It was dense and loaded with currants and I so wanted to try it. She inhaled it so fast I did not have time to react and get a picture.

So I highly recommend the Jerk Hut in Tampa, FL on Fowler Ave just East of the I-275 exit.

 I will definitely go again! Good food, good friends, fun atmosphere!!!

Savoury Bits n' Bites: Veggie, Cheese and Pasta Soup

Savoury Bits n' Bites: Veggie, Cheese and Pasta Soup: I bought kale and gorgeous bok choy the other day. So I was busy cleaning it today and decided I want to make some soup. So I reserved some ...

Veggie, Cheese and Pasta Soup

I bought kale and gorgeous bok choy the other day. So I was busy cleaning it today and decided I want to make some soup. So I reserved some of the bok choy after cleaning it and diced it up thin. Leaves & stem, I love bok choy because it is so delicious and unlike it's cousin cabbage, it's never bitter and doesn't make my stomach upset.

I cleaned peeled and added three heirloom carrots. One red one yellow and one purple. Plus I added some diced up beat, and one yellow potato. Yukon Gold, my favorite.

 I added 1 heaping tablespoon of chicken Better Than Bouillon! Which is such a good base for stock. It is a bit salty so I did not add more salt to the dish.

I did add Chives, Black Pepper, Curry and Turmeric for seasoning. No garlic, mostly because I was out and I like fresh over powdered.

I cooked this 15 minutes over medium heat with 3 cups of 9.5 water. When the vegetables were tender I added in the 6 oz package of Chevre, 1 cup of Goat Cheddar and 1/4 cup of shaved Pecorino Romano.

To this I added 1/2 a bag of Penne Pasta and stirred occasionally to prevent sticking.

Seriously this was a fantastic lunch! And so loaded with veggies! Though you can't tell since the penne swelled up so much.

Comfort Foods

After cleaning the fridge I had a Hodge podge of items left that I could throw together for dinner. I had fresh beets, half a beef smoked sausage, a bag of sauerkraut, a granny smith apple and frozen cranberries and frozen peas. So what the heck, I went sort of old school and came up with a dish that would have done my German Grandmother proud!

I washed the Apple and the Beets in 11.5 water to get rid of any pesticides. I also rinsed the Sauerkraut in 9.5 to reduce the sodium. I peeled and chopped up the beet and just sliced up the apple leaving the peel on. (Side note, I used to never eat beets, I was just not a fan. But lately I am more open and so glad I did. This really added a fun flavor to this dish.) I sautéed the apple, sausage and beets in 2 TBSP of Goat Butter.I seasoned with oregano, black pepper and garlic. I added the frozen cranberries and peas, the sauerkraut and once everything was hot I added 1 cup of 9.5 water and the No Yolks noodles, covered and let cook.



I loved how warm and tart this came out. Great flavor. Truly comfort food.

Potato Leek Soup with a twist!

I was feeling energetic tonight and it is on the cold (for Florida) side tonight. So I decided to make Leek and Potato Soup. But I want to make it healthier so I got creative. I am trying hard to be more conscious of what I am eating. And while Leek and Potato is oh so heavenly and delicious, it is also very high starch and that would raise the blood sugar.

Since I am becoming more aware of my health and trying to lose weight, I wanted to make this healthier. So I have added a head of cauliflower along with the leeks and Yukon Gold Potatoes. I cleaned all the vegetables with the 11.5 water before cooking. And instead of stock I am cooking with the 9.5 water and seasoned with fresh Garlic, Pepper, Parsley, Smoked Paprika and Curry Powder. I love that smoky warm flavor. I also added a tablespoon of a chicken bouillon seasoning. Because this Bouillon is salty I did not add any additional salt.

When this has slow cooked for 4 hours I plan to use my stick blender to cream this and will add a cup of Yogurt (Goat) to the pot and I will add some fresh kale just before serving to allow it to cook just enough to tenderize it. I will add pictures shortly!

Repost of recipe for my Corned Beef with Brussels Sprouts

 This recipe was inspired when I found Brussels Sprouts on the stem. They were beautiful and I bought 2 stalks. I don't know if you have ever seen how they grow, but that long stalk is totally loaded down with little green heads that look like mini cabages. I swear there were about 50+ sprouts on each stalk. What to do with that many Brussel Sprouts? Well, besides my usual dish that is. And then it hit me, Corned Beef in the Crock Pot with carrots, an Onion diced up and about as many Brussel Sprouts as I could make fit. They worked so much better than cabbage and the flavor was fabulous. I have the Hamilton Beach 2/4/6 quart Crock Pot. For this dish I used the 6 quart.

Corned Beef & Brussels Sprouts in Crock Pot
1 corned beef brisket w/seasoning packet
1 bag of baby carrots
1 large sweet onion diced
1 frozen cube of garlic (1 tsp) (I bought these at Trader Joe's)
2 frozen cubes of basil (2 tsp)
Pinch of fennel seeds
About 50+ Brussel Sprouts
2 cups of water

Clean and dice the onion and put in crock pot. I add half the carrots to the bottom of the pot.

I then opened the package with the Brisket and put the meat in the crock with the fat side down. I add the water in the bag to get the juice from the brisket and pour into the crock over the meat. Then I open the small seasoning package and pour it in too. I add the 3 frozen cubes of garlic and basil and the fennel seeds. I then add the rest of the carrots and all the cleaned brussel sprouts.

Put the lid on and allow to cook on High for 2 hours. Turn the meat over immersing the brussel sprouts and continue cooking on High for another hour.

Turn down to Low and continue cooking for at least another hour. (Even better if you let it cook another 2 hours.)

I cooked whole wheat egg noodles to serve the corned beef over. I also took the juice from the crock pot and put it into a small pot on the stove and added brown rice flour to thicken and make a nice gravy.

** Side Note:

This dish is excellent with homemade spätzle's. I think I have posted the recipe before, but if not I will find and post again.

California Tacos, the Skipper Road location!

California Tacos, the Skipper Road location!

As most people know today I am celebrating my birthday, but I am down for the count thanks to pinched sciatic nerve. But thanks to Guillermo at California tacos, I had the best birthday meal ever. 

I had a grouper burrito which he made special for me, and it was to die for. Plus two of the best Churros I've ever had for my dessert! 

At this moment I am quite happily stuffed. Considering Thanksgiving I didn't have any sort of a big meal this was the my birthday and Thanksgiving rolled into one. 

I highly recommend checking out California Tacos. You know they were featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. If Guy Fiero likes them, they've got to be good. And they are great!

Normally I would post pictures, but this was so good I ate like I was wolfing it down. Remembered afterwards Awe geez I meant to take a picture. So next time when I go up and actually eat at their taco truck I will give you pictures.

So if you're wanting your burrito or taco fix I recommend trying California Tacos. You won't be disappointed.

Review of Burger Culture on N Dale Mabry in Carrolwood!

I swear this place just gets better and better! I went with a friend on 11/12/2016 to have lunch before we ran a ton of errands. She had never tried Burger Culture. For those who have never been, this is the Food Truck that has a permanent location at 6920 North Dale Mabry, Tampa, FL 33614. They are just across from Florida Hospital and it's in the parking lot of the Harley Davidson shop.

Evidently a winning location because they are almost always busy. And they do deliveries before 5PM. You can also call ahead to place an order so your food is ready when you get there. The number is (813) 992-7444.

So this time we both had the Chicken Waffle Grilled Cheese and Fries, though I got mine with Goat Cheese and Sweet Potato fries. She had the regular American Cheese and Sharp Cheddar with regular fries. These delightful sandwiches are not fussy, they are just heavenly fried chicken breasts with honey and the cheese sandwiched between two Belgian waffles. I know that may sound funky, but believe me when I say, that is my new favorite sandwich. The flavor not only worked but it sang to me it was so good.

I may never eat a burger again. LOL No, I will, because their burgers are beyond belief great! But just look at how creamy and wonderful this looks!
And it was filling. We both could only eat half at lunch and had the other half later in the day. I used my toaster oven to heat it and fries and it was still perfect.

So yes, I still highly recommend Burger Culture if you are in Tampa and want the best burger around. I like them better than just about all other places around. And they have some really interesting taste combinations.

This is the menu though fair warning the prices have gone up a bit. But the taste is so great you won't mind the inflation. I am sure they had too because the prices of their supplies went up. Be prepared to sit outside at their cute patio area and enjoy some reggae music while you eat.

App promo

https://offerupnow.com/get-the-app

I highly recommend this app for buying & selling stuff! Very reliable and great response!

Chicken Kangen Style!

Okay, I used my covered baker from Pampered Chef & made my full dinner 🍴 in the microwave! 

What did I change?
 

I used the Kangen Water!
 

First, I used 2.5 to make sure the chicken was safe! Five minutes to soak and then I drained it! 

Next, I seasoned lightly with Smoked Paprika, Garlic, Oregano and I poured in the 11.5 water and sealed to marinate 30 minutes. This removes the growth hormones & junk they inject into the meat. In return it pulls in the seasoning and tenderizes the chicken!

Finally I rinsed with 9.5 and put into the Covered Baker. I added peas & potatoes, covered and microwaved for 18 minutes!

Perfectly tender, not rubbery at all!

Healthy and very flavorful dinner!

If you want to know more about cooking with Kangen Water, check out this video of restaurants using Kangen Water: https://youtu.be/0E3ZHlO2vqg?list=PLQ5PQ76vjCwx7_bo3Q2fMQKM7NRJUyi2j

To learn more about getting your own Kangen Device, please contact me or my business partner Jessie Reid Nelson ( JessieReidNelson.123Look.com )

You will love the difference it makes in your life!

Enagic Changed My Life!

So I just had to give a little testimonial. Two months ago, almost, a new friend came into my life. Her name is Jessie. She took one look at me limping my way into a Networking Meeting and said that wouldn't do. The next day she brought me 2 gallons of water and said "drink this". She also filled Uno's bowl with the water and gave me a smaller bottle to wash him with. I was resistant at first. But, decided the doctors have not been able to help, it was water, so why not.

That night I slept. I mean really slept! It took a few days for me to realize, I hadn't had a migraine since I started! Since my hip was still hurting I did not notice much else until 2 weeks later when I went to see the Doctor again and she weighed me. I had dropped 20 lbs. I was astonished. Since I had pinched the nerve she sent me on to physical therapy. But she was quite encouraged by the weight loss!

Now we are mid August and still no migraines and I am down 33 lbs total. But I realized, other than the pinched nerve, I am feeling so much better! I am breathing easier. I haven't used the asthma inhaler and I did not even have an attack when spending several days at Jessie's new house I realized she had a cat. Not even a sneeze or itching eyes. Cats have always been my biggest trigger! Nothing! Today my hip is feeling better. Still a bit of pressure pain if I sit wrong, but I feel I could stand and do a presentation without crumbling. 

But the best part, Uno, who has been one giant hot spot since moving to Florida, well, not anymore. And that big knot on his back from where he was attacked in 2014, gone! He is relaxed, happy and not itchy boy anymore!

If you want to know how we got to feeling so much better, check out this website: www.kangendemo.com then message me to find out more!

Change your water, change your life! Those words never rang so true to me before now!

No-knead bread - Flourish - King Arthur Flour

No-knead bread - Flourish - King Arthur Flour: No-knead bread: there's no need to knead! This wonderfully chewy/crisp, flavorful bread is a simple combination of flour, salt, yeast, water... and time.

Lamb and Cheesy Spanish Rice with Peas



 

 

Tonight I used the other half of the lamb I got from the Meat Market on Thursday. I love this place because they are the actual butchers and the meat is extremely fresh. They have most everything though no pork as they are Halal.

Ingredients:
2 Lbs Lamb Chops and Ribs
1 Tbsp Pampered Chef Garlic Rub
Pinch Himalayan Sea Salt
Pinch of Rosemary
2 Tbsp Oil to sear meat in.
(Or use Rosemary Infused Oil and skip the dried Rosemary)

(to make sauce)
1/2 cup Catsup
1/4 cup Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp Smoky Paprika
1 tsp each of Basil, Oregano & Cilantro
2 Tbsp Apricot Jam (I got an all fruit no sweetener added variety)
1 Tbsp Honey (Raw Local is best)
1/2 Cup Raw Brown Sugar

(For my version of Spanish style Rice)

1 can Diced Rotel Tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 cup of Rice (I use a blend of Long and Short Grain brown rice with Wild Rice)
1 cup of Cheese (I used Manchego and a Goat Mozzarella)
8 oz Frozen Peas

In  RockCroc Everyday Pan heat the oil.
Season the Lamb with Garlic Rub and Sea Salt
(If plain oil add Rosemary just before starting to sear the meat.)
Put just enough of the meat in to fill pan without crowding and sear both sides. When seared moved to the Pampered Chef Covered Baker and finish with all the meat.

Mix all the sauce ingredients together and baste over all the lamb.
Cover with lid and put in preheated over at 375 degrees for 35 minutes, lower heat to 350 and continue baking for another 20 minutes. This leaves the lamb fall off the bone tender.

While the meat is cooking bring water, rotel tomatoes and oil to boil in the everyday pan, add the rice and cover lowering heat to simmer 20 minutes.
Add peas and simmer 5 more minutes.
Take off the heat and stir in the cheese.

Enjoy. This meal was fabulous and is enough to serve 3 or 4 people.

Settling in and Cooking up a Storm

I am getting settled into my new rental. Still have a ton of boxes to Unpack. But at least I don't have half my stuff in storage. It is all here. That is both good and bad. Good because it saves money, bad because my dining room is nothing but boxes right now. I see several yard sales and a big trip to Goodwill in my near future.

But while my kitchen is small, though bigger than my last place in Virginia, I am finding I have more room and am truly enjoying cooking again. I have come up with some fabulous dishes lately. Most recent was a terrific Chicken over noodles that I made a few nights ago. The dish was similar to a Chicken Marsala, but with my own twist.

Chicken Rosy:

Ingredients:
3 Boneless Chicken Breasts, Cut into 1" pieces
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Pampered Chef Garlic and Herb Rub
Olive Oil
2 cans Petite Diced Tomatoes
16 oz Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms
16 oz bag frozen peas
2 Tbsp Pesto

Boiling Water
Egg Noodles
2 Tbsp Pesto



I took 3 boneless chicken breasts and cut up into about 1" chunks....

In a Ziploc bag I mixed 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup Coconut Flour and 1/2 cup of Panko Breadcrumbs. I added 1 tbsp. of Paprika, 1 Tbsp of Pampered Chef Garlic and Herb Rub, shake well to mix.

I put the cut chicken into the bag and shook well to coat all the chicken.

In a large skillet (Or RockCrok Everyday Pan https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/roseross/shop/Cookware/Cookware/Rockcrok+Everyday+Pan/3139 )
coat bottom of pan with 3 Tbsp of Olive Oil and heat over medium heat, add chicken and sear for about 3 minutes each side. (I did this in 3 steps so I didn't over crowd the chicken.) I removed to a bowl and let sit while I added another 2 Tbsp of Oil and added 16 oz of Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms and cooked for 4 minutes before I added a 1/4 cup of white wine to them. I then added 2 cans of petite Diced tomatoes, 2 Tbsp of Pesto and stirred. when the mix starts to lightly bubble I added the chicken, and frozen peas, and covered to let cook for 10 minutes. At the 10 minute mark, I uncovered and stirred well. I then cooked another 10 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce and thicken.

I used egg noodles to serve this with. I cooked them in a separate pot during that last 10 minutes of cook time. After I drained the noodles I added a bit more fresh pesto to the noodles and tossed to coat evenly.

Just a check in update!

For those who don't know, I have left Virginia. I started a GoFundMe page to help with the move. It is also to help me pay a lawyer to get my name changed to hide from the ex. So far I have reached my destination, and found a home to rent. And I have a roommate to help with some expenses. But now I have to make that contact with a lawyer and get the truly hard part of my plan taken care of.

I hope to get back to cooking and posting recipes. I have made a killer Roast Leg of Lamb and tonight a Lamb Curry. My roommate is impressed with my skill. I also made these cheeseburger cups. You take biscuit dough and put it in the spaces in a muffin. Fill with cooked hamburger meat. I will post the recipe later. It was more of a Sloppy Joe mix than an actual cheeseburger. But really good.

I will not post my location. And this blog will close once I have my name change. I will alert people to what ever new blog I start after that happens.

The link for the gofundme is:
https://www.gofundme.com/erfer2hw

Any help will be greatly appreciated.