Long Live the Queen

A tragic thing happened to us today. Our family member of 11 years died of pneumonia. Sugar has been a part of our lives for so long. She has been all over the world, and has fascinated dozens of people with her beauty, personality and girth. We are all in tears at our house, this special cat talked to us, loved us and she let us love her.

Please watch this special memorial to our dearest pet.

Scary Sounds

We all listen to the radio right? Everyone has their favorite type of music or listening preference. I have gone through stages where I will listen to talk radio exclusively for years. Art Bell from Pahrump, Nevada has given me some of the best listening memories of my life.

One stage in my life,I would drop off newspapers to carriers in the wee hours of the morning. Art Bell and his show Coast to Coast AM, kept me company as he gave creepy reports from area 51 and the aliens who were out to get us, or government conspiracies, chupacabra sightings, and my favorite....ghost stories.


Scene: I was in a remote farm location out north of Payson, UT. It is quiet and pitch black except for my headlights on my truck. The next stop is a split level home, located in the middle of nowhere, I have never been to this stop before, and I noticed there were large hedges on either side of the drive way. On the radio is a creepy ghost story about a haunted school, that neighbors claim the attic lights flicker on and off and they can hear high pitched children's voices singing in the middle of the night.

I am going around the front of the truck feeling creeped out from the dead kiddie ghosts, and I am opening the van's side doors to unload and from over my back, behind the hedges comes the loudest horse whinny I have ever heard in my life "Neeeiiigghhhh!!!!!".....I nearly peed myself on the spot.



Art also used to play the sound from the Siberian hole researchers dug in the 1960's. They put a microphone down the 22 mile long hole and instead of hearing seismic sounds of geological plates moving, they heard the sounds of screaming. They claim it was the hole to hell. Sometimes Art would play it at random, and it used to scare me to death!!! Here is a fun version of it I found on YouTube

Any way, the reason I write about this, my whole purpose of this post is to laugh at an email a friend sent me. It was one of those random thoughts emails where men or women with too much time leave their very observant
Random Thoughts of the Day: Examples

1. More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think
about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own
story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize
you're wrong.

3. I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to
have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks
when they've invented the lighter?

The kicker is this...

5. That's enough, Nickelback.

( Now you older folks won't understand this part)
Nickleback is the joke of the Pop/Alternative Rock world. THEY are so bad. They care nothing about their music, and they are ready for the grave. They make really scary sounds. I kind of got off on a tangent with my other scary sounds examples and this is just a last moment post anyway. Write back if you hate Nickleback.

Flower Power

As promised, here are some Homecoming photo's of Tiny and her cute guy Brandon. I am so excited to say, we found this dress for 20.00 at Dillards. We added the cute white shoulder shrug, and the grand total for this wearable dress...$40.00

I think it looks very Vera Wang, or Valentino.

Homecoming was fun. They had a good time and they are glad they went.

Can I just give one girls quick take on raising teens? These two kids are proof that teens can stay morally pure, modest, and maintain high ethical and spiritual standards. That being said, I watch them like a hawk. I think Satan is out to get them but he's got to get through me first.

Pasta Caprese is Easy Peasy!!!

I know, I know, I was supposed to use my new skillet and post about it. But, I got carried away by this most awesome of awesome "almost no cook" pasta dish.

Do you have an excess of :

• tomatoes?
• belt holes in your belt?
• taste buds that need exercise?
• bored brain cells?
• children who turn their nose up at anything?
  

If you answered yes to any of the above questions.....well then let's just get on with the fun!

Simply whisk together:
the juice from 2 lemons,
1/4 cup of Extra Virgin olive oil,
1 finely minced clove of garlic
And a minced shallot. Add some salt and pepper and then add 1 1/2 pounds of chopped fresh tomatoes to the vinaigrette.

Let these marinate for no more than 45 minutes at room temperature or until you complete the following:

Dice 12 ounces of FRESH mozzarella cheese. Put it on a plate and freeze for 10 minutes.
Cook 1 pound of tubular pasta, such as ziti, rigatoni, penne etc. in salted water. Drain, and add to the tomatoes, add the semi frozen cheese. Wait 5 minutes then stir in a handful of chopped fresh basil, adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, or sugar. EEEAATTT

The folks at Cook's Illustrated are responsible for my expanding waist line. They really are.

There is no excuse for my lack of a photo here. Except to say. We pigged out and ate this before we thought to photograph. Oink. Okay, I thought to photograph, but I didn't care, and I was afraid they would eat it all gone before I could snap the shot and claim my share.

Out of the Woods and into the Kitchen

Well, what the heck? It has been so long since I have updated! I have been in Arvada, Colorado with my dear cousin Edie. I am so happy I was able to help her for just a few days. She has been a big sister to me and
I know she will be fine.Speaking of fine. Meet the newest member of my pots and pans family.

Run, don't walk. All-Clad ...the "Cadillac" or at least the "Buick" of cookware has marked down this 12" skillet to the silly price of 89.95. With the lid it is a 180.00 value. All of you foodies out there know this pan retails without the lid for 135.00. This skillet rarely goes on sale and it has a lifetime guarantee. Go now to get this Cook's Illustrated top rated skillet. A must have in my kitchen at least.

metrokitchen.com
offers free shipping.

I will cook something incredible with this skillet tomorrow and return and report. Tune in...

Shameless Plagerism or Is it Publicity?

I had been staring at this magazine cover below daily. It was haunting me, speaking to me from it's invisible little mouth "Make me, Eat me, Glean compliments from me, Then Make me again!!!" I succumbed to its tempting call. I am humbled once again by BBQ master Steve Raichlin's, mastery of flavor and bbq perfection (visit his blog). You will NOT be disappointed by this winner of a recipe.

• I used pork spare ribs.
• I used Thai fish sauce. The one in the Yellow label named "Tiparos". Do not dispair or omit this ingredient; that rotten fish smell will disappear, and heaven will be translated into your mouth. If you live close to me come and borrow some of mine. But it is cheap to buy.
  
• Interestingly enough, I had every single ingredient in this recipe on hand, except the fish sauce. Since I took a Thai cooking class while on vacay in Phuket, I was converted to the use of this transforming sauce many years ago, and bought some to keep in the pantry.
  

So, I made this for company yesterday and it was soooo wonderful. I went to Epicurious, copied the photograph and the recipe and threw them here on my blog. I hope I don't get in trouble for that. I want Epicurious to know that I have been a loyal member of their website for at least 8 years and I have utmost love for their recipes.

Ginger and Honey Baby Back Ribs
from July 2009, Bon Appetit

Ribs and marinade:

• 2 2 1/4-to 2 1/2-pound baby back pork rib racks, cut into 6-to 7-rib sections
• 1/4 cup chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)*

Dipping sauce:

• 6 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
• 6 teaspoons ground white pepper, divided
• 3 large limes, halved
• Nonstick vegetable oil spray

For ribs and marinade:
Place rib racks on work surface. Using small sharp knife, carefully pry papery membrane off underside of each rib section (use caution—it will be slippery). Place ribs on large rimmed baking sheet.

Combine ginger, garlic, sugar, 1 tablespoon coarse salt, and black pepper in processor and puree to blend well. Add honey, soy sauce, and fish sauce and process until blended. Spread spiced marinade on both sides of ribs (about 2 tablespoons marinade per side for each rib section). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead; baste ribs occasionally with accumulated marinade on baking sheet. Keep chilled.

For dipping sauce:
Place each of 6 very small bowls on each of 6 small plates. Place 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon ground white pepper in neat mounds side by side in each bowl, then place 1 lime half on plate next to each bowl.

Spray grill rack with nonstick spray. Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Spoon any juices from baking sheet with ribs over ribs before grilling. Place rib racks, rounded (meaty) side down, on grill rack. Grill ribs, uncovered, 8 minutes per side, then cover barbecue and grill until ribs are cooked through, about 8 minutes longer per side.

Transfer ribs to cutting board. Cut between bones into individual ribs. Transfer ribs to platter. Before serving, allow each diner to squeeze juice from lime into bowl with coarse salt and white pepper and stir until mixed, then dip ribs into sauce.

Glad Housewife note:
Serve as suggested with the salt and pepper in tiny prep bowls and the lime. I cut mine into thirds Southeast Asian style.

Malyasian Monopoly Madness

Last night you could find us around the table playing Monopoly the Malaysian version. (For all you Malaysians out there, I bought Gurney Drive et. al. but went bankrupt.) The final battle came between Dave, the land baron, and Malaina, the struggling hippie owner of Langkowi Hotels. Malaina prevailed through several rounds of one on one, but it became apparent that she would have to fold under the thumbs of the Glad Man.

If you look carefully, you will see that Tiny is misbehaving!!

Really Handsome Men Give-Away

Just a few random thoughts:

No wonder the Julia Roberts/Clive Owen movie "Duplicity" was not box office gold.

I could see the ending coming within the first 30 minutes of the movie. (We rented the dvd)

• I have a sixth sense for movie endings though, I can usually guess the ending, blab it to my husband, disgust him with my movie prowess and, ruin a date that way, so we don't go as often as we used too.
• By the way, I have been a Clive Owen fan since his bleached blond hair in "The Croupier". Now that was a good movie. He is so easy on the eyes.
• The movies have just become too predictable. I mean, they are remaking old movies!! I usually hate that. I mean what if some loser director decides to remake "Gone With the Wind" or "Sound of Music"?

Some remakes that I HAVE liked were "Ocean's 11", and "The Thomas Crown Affair". Gulp~ for obvious reasons.

Pictured here are Rene Russo, and Pierce Brosnan.

I will give a 1 year subscription to Entertainment Weekly Magazine to the person with the correct answer, (picked by random number generator). Who are these actors? read the rules: they were in the original "Thomas Crown Affair"

• Her cheek bones should be a dead give away (hint in that sentence)!!! And he is one of the best looking actors ever and he died at the age of 40.
  
• you are on the honor system, you may not cheat by looking it up either online or by any other means. Okay, you can cheat. Just name one other popular movie by this actor.
  
• By the way, this original movie has a really well known soundtrack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rTq6lDtCsU

My other random thought is this:

Why do most men get better looking as they age????!!!!! unless they are abusers like Mel Gibson, or Nick Nolte, they only get more good looking. Why do you think I watch Craig Ferguson every, each night (as Tiny says)? He is ssooooo handsome!

My Glad man has gotten better looking with age too!

Craig Ferguson 2009 new intro

So I have loved Craig Ferguson for years now. I think he is the funniest of the late night talk show hosts and the best looking.
His monologues have themes, but he ad - libs thorough the entire process. It is quite brilliant really, it's basically stand-up comedy every night. Ahem, he leads Jimmy Fallon who has big money, a big band, big studio, and big yawns.

Flat is Where it's AT

I rarely go out to eat as it is, so why not cook for my waistline?

Yes, you read it right. I rarely go out to eat. I just have a hard time finding really "foodie" type food in Provo. I picked up the Flat Belly Cookbook at Sam's Club last Friday and have cooked from it ever since for every single meal. I am on day 4 and I have lost an inch off my waist. My clothes fit better, and I do not feel deprived.

Now let me digress a bit. I like to eat things like Pesto, nuts, avocados, corn tortillas, eggs, hummus, beans, rice, salsa, Asian and Indian food, pasta, etc... I like ingredients like shallots, garlic, basil, goat cheese, edemame, olive oil, lemons etc. So as I read through this book in the store, I liked the recipes; all of my favorite ingredients were in there (A big fat missing ingredient is BUTTER, but ya gotta let something go) . I cook for a vegetarian, and there are many, many vegetarian recipes in there as well. For instance tomorrow's breakfast is Eggs Florentine with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto, turkey bacon (no bacon for Tiny) and fresh squeezed orange juice. It will be eaten with gusto after I get off my "machine".By the way I have estimated 3000+ miles on my machine. I love it.

So I am not on a diet!!! I am not on a diet!!! I am not on a diet!!! The minute my brain thinks I am on a diet-- I fail. I am just cooking from this new cookbook very regularly. If and when I need to eat chocolate covered cinnamon bears and movie theater popcorn, I will do so without hesitation.