Yes, I'm still doing this, no, I didn't forget =D

Errrrg, I have failed for like two months now. Haven't been cooking many things of note recently, you know, the "Ugh, F it, we're having ramen and uhm, whatever's in the freezer" phases. =)

I'll backtrack a bit and post what few things I have done since last post. I came down with a cold around the beginning of March, and that meant one thing. Chicken and noodles together in a soup. I stumbled around, oozing virii and droopy-eyed, into the kitchen. Chicken, check. Carrots, yup. Broth-in-a-can, yes. Garlic, celery, and thyme, sweeeet. Now, the noodles. Uhm, we had spaghetti, shells, macaroni, and angel hair pasta. no, No, NO!!! When I'm sick and feel like crap, I get all cranky and fidgety, and I tend to get what I want. So I bundled up and went to the store, sanitizing and scarved up (I realize my grumpy indignation shouldn't make other people sick lol), despite Michael's request to take it easy and rest. NO, I will not rest until I get....

my egg noodles. Sweet success.

For a sizeable pot of Cold-Cure Chicken Noodle Soup:

2-3 carrots, peeled and cut into coin-shapies
2-3 celery ribs, cut up
chopped garlic (I love it, so just throw as much in as you want)
6-8 cups chicken broth (the noodles suck up a lot, so its good to have extra on hand)
1/2 - 1 tbsp thyme
1-2 cups egg noodles (I eye it, you don't wanna see lots of noodles at first. They suck up broth as they cook)
Cooked and shredded chicken (I'll say about 1-1 1/2 breastises)
salt and pepper
olive oil/vegetable oil

Start by sauteeing carrots and celery (onions too if you want!) in your cooking oil, then add your garlic in towards the end so it doesn't burn. Pour in your broth, thyme, and s&p and let it come to a boil, then dump in the noodles. Let those cook until tender (5-10 minutes). Now, you can pre-buy your chicken or make your own, I usually boil and season chicken breasts if I'm gonna shred them. It makes it easier to shred. Anyhoo, start shredding your chicken and add as much as you want. Again, make sure you have more broth showing than other shit, cause it will go away as it cooks. I ended up having to add more constantly cause I'm awesome. Once the chicken is warm and everything's all, you know, soupy, then get crackers and omanomnom.

Do this, and you too can have blurry, color-lacking but ooooh my god SO GOOD and comforting Chicken Noodle Soup!

Super Bowl was like, 2 weeks ago??

So in keeping with "tradition", I'm way behind on posting. Also doesn't help that two holiday events are happening in WoW. I am now both the Love Fool and Elder. What what!!! So, tangent over, back to FOOHBALL. Saints and Colts, it was a reeeally exciting game! The quarterback of the house is helping me learn the game, he's being really very nice and explaining whatever questions I spout out. Since none of our teams (Broncos for us, Boris claims the 'niners, and Miss Bennett loves her Cowboys) were in, we really didn't care who won as both teams had played really well. However, us ladies were pulling for the Saints while the guys backed the Colts. Although we had ample opportunities to sing "Oh When the Saints...", we were nice and only did it once. =P

I was excited for the Bowl for the more obvious reasons. Food. A very helpful butcher at Smith's helped me pick out a lovely brisket so I took it home and threw together some stuff I thought went in barbeque sauce for cooking brisket. Into a glass dish went:
a bottle of JD's barbeque sauce
2 tbsp worcesrteresisiirrerchierestire sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tsp dry mustard
....and Lawry's seasoned salt and black pepper until I thought it was enough.

Mixed that up, plopped in the brisket, coated and covered. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, then woke up at 630 to load it into the crockpot (along with a splash of Jack). Then, back the F to bed. When it came time for gametime, lo and behold, there was brisket.

Not really the best shot, but it kept sliding off my knife while I was trying to aim the camera. But, Boris came through with the bitchin' camera phone yet again, and he brought the hamburger buns. I set to loading the table up with chips, salsa, plates and napkins when Mike-o began to lament the lack of wings. "I usually go to Wing Stop, but I didn't this time, and..." Now I wasn't about to let him go without wings, so 10 minutes later I'm walking through Smith's again searching for wings. The deli was nearly out but had...10 for $6???? FFFFFUUUUUU. No. Back to the meat department where good old Tyson had hot wings, 20 or so for $5. Schwing! Back home, pop 'em in the oven, and here we have, the 2010 Super Bowl lineup:

 

My aunt gave me the chips'n'dip sombrero a couple years ago and I just love it so much. Miss Bennett also supplied delicious cannolis and I tried to make blue and black frosting for the cookies I made later. We did have blue...and purple. 

Anyway, thanks to both teams for giving us such an entertaining game, and congratulations to the New Orleans Saints!! What a well-placed win, I bet Mardi Gras is even more animated for it. =)

Champagne taste, Keystone Light budget.

That being said, I do not condone the use of that particular beverage. I do, however, wholeheartedly approve getting things done for half of nothing. =) As I wait for payday, and subsequently grocery shopping day, here are a few cheap ways of making that dollar (or quarter) work as hard as it can.

Mmmm, cappucino. Delicious, but how can I have one every morning without paying monetary homage to Starcrack? Go pick up a canister of the offbrand instant cappucino mix. Then grab a bottle of water or fill up your thermos with tap. Dump the H2O into the coffeemaker, then put as much 'cino mix in your bottle as you like. When your water's done, proceed to fill, lid, shake, and out the door. Hey, I didn't say I was Martha with her innovations and whatnot. =P

Next, if you've made a pot of coffee but still have a little teensy bit left, I like to add it to a glass of milk. Makes a tasty coffee-ish drink, and it doesn't taste like reheated bleh. Or, if you have a blender, add the rest to some vanilla ice cream, or milk and ice. Leftover coffee also makes a nummy red-eye gravy. Just add your leftover coffee to any grease/drippings from frying up bacon or breakfast meat.

If you're wanting to start eating breakfast or want a quick fix, get a large container of vanilla yogurt, a frozen pack of mixed berries, and a bag/box of cheap granola.I like to use loose granola for this, but you could break up a bar and that'd work too. Make yourself a little parfait before you go to bed and stick it in the fridge. That way, it's ready for you in the mornin, all nice and pre-prepared. You can get quite a few breakfasts this way.

Now this won't be a complete post of frugality if I don't mention ramen at least once. Grab some of your favorite veggies, make your ramen as you normally would, then drain the noodles and fry them up with your added chopped veggables. Cheap (and marginally more healthy) faux-yakisoba.

 Now then. Back to my regularly scheduled evening of grinding rep for Old World factions. *sigh* After Loremaster, what's next? "The Insane".....

CONAN POR VIDA

Alright, so you want to know the official stance of this blog on the Conan/Leno/NBC fustercluck?

Well, there it is. Pic is from Mike Mitchell and I think it says exactly my take. Also, new blog coming within the next few days. Also, Mike-o failed at China-food-picture-taking, and I found out last week my own mother does not read my blog. That all being said, Nara out.

Bake, bake, bake, Senor(it)a

Ah, holiday time. I wish I could eat like it still was just one more time without having to wait another 11 1/2 months. Oh wait. I can. Mom and the G-ma got uber-sick over Christmas =( so we delayed our festivities until this weekend. Gamma's making her universe-famous dressing (stuffing, whatev) so I get one more sweet taste of celebration and *meltface awesomeness*. We chose this weekend cause I went up to Denver for New Year's to visit Mike-o-rama. And then he left my ass for some lady named China. Yeah, that's right, boarded a plane and said, "Peace, cracka." His sister works in Shanghai, so he got to go visit her for 2 weeks. I have been vaguely promised that he will *try* to get some pictures of food for me, seeing as how this is a blog of nom.

Anyway, everyone knows Christmas means more baked goods/candy items than can be held by a button or zipper, so on to them. I was invited over by Boris' familia for Christmas Day dinner, and hooo boy, can they cook. I ate HAM there, if that tells you anything ; ) I wanted to bring them something to enjoy, so I tried my hand at a Yool Logg. After I'd already started mixing up the gingerbread batter, I realized I only had small square baking dishes....so Baby Logg was born. Anyway, neat technique I read online, after the gingerbread comes out of the oven (line dish with wax paper for easy removal), place it on a towel and then just roll that sucker up. Let it cool, then when you unroll it, it's that spiral shape and can be easily frosted. I beat up some whipped cream and threw in some cinnamon, clove, and some chai spice I found somewhere, then used that to cover the Baby with. Sprinkled some dried mint on top, donezo. *Note to self: do not make more whipped cream than you need. I still have not heeded this lesson.*

Boris offered a suggestion on the gingerbread after sampling it: treat it like cookies and  take it out juuuust before it's done. Mine turned out just a hair overcooked. Starting to think this might just be a good general application for any bready/cake/baked thing.

My friend Srah caught the oven-bug as well and I was presented with a big plate of biscochitos and fudge she made. I was secretly hoping she'd make them again this year, so I was stoked when she made the 2009 Bisco-nnoucement. Biscochitos are the state cookie of New Mexico, so delicious and spiced, they're like pretty much the only cookie I like in both chewy and more hard form. Srah the Bisco Queen made hers in bell and tree shapes, they were adorable and just like they were last year: perfecta. I was *supposed* to try to save some for Monkey, but nope. Noooo frikkin way. These babies were my date and mine alone to the Biscotheque.

 

Well, I hope everyone's holiday season was enjoyable, filled with fun and food. I shall leave you with the cats and their stocking-presents on Christmas morning. Foop's is blurry cause he wouldn't stop playing with his. Well, hers....see, he sniffed his toy then picked up his sister's and carried it to the floor. So, she took his and that was that. Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

 

Yuletide = Slackeritis

So yeah, the season is upon us...you know, that season where your 55 degree house seems like a tropical paradise after being outside, your wallet has more receipts in it then cash, you know. Christmayulakkah. Or as the cats call it, "box-and-paper time." I've been a little preoccupied as of late, and I will admit. I have not posted shit from 3 or 4 weeks ago because I've been trying to complete the World of Warcraft Winter Veil achievements, and aiming for Loremaster before 2010. But that matters not, my snowy owls of the intarwebs......for I have the greatest gift of all for your cold winter nights. Frito Pie. **Courtesy of Mr. Boris' spiffy camera phone, he bestows another gift of visible, clear pictures! Thanks Boris!**

That's right. To make enough for 6-8 people, saute up 1 good sized chopped onion and a regular pack of poor cow *ahem* ground beef in some EVOO. Once that's nice and browned, toss in 1 large chopped bell pepper and as much garlic as you like. I add 1 large chopped jalapeno for some extra flavor.  I love the smell of hearty veggies cooking up (and the heat from the stove didn't make me sad either). After those cook for about 5-7 mins over medium-high heat, in goes a can of kidney beans (optional of course), a can of diced tomatoes (or fresh) and some tomato sauce until it looks how you like it. I seasoned this pot with salt, pepper, ancho chile powder, oregano, and cumin (again, little by little, tasting all the way). Let it come to a boil, then turn it down to simmer for 15-20 mins.

That small pot in the back is the brave voice of animal kindness (yeah, I'm not a complete veggiehead, well pffffft). It's made with this Quorn brand fake ground beef stuff, expensive as hell, but worth it cause it goes a long way. All of that brand's products are delicious, especially their "chicken" and gruyere cutlets. Anyway. Set the table with sour cream, cheese, and green onions, load the chili over the fritos....and hot damn. Yes. the damn......is hot, my friends.

I shall leave you with this.....whose bowl of nom is this? My compassionate, moocow-friendly bowl, or those barbaric men?

Muahahahahaha. Well, off to feed the cats now. They're so mistreated. *rolls eyes*  Happy holidays to everyone, wishing you all the best that this new year can possibly hold. May you have warmth and love from your kitchen, from front door to back, and from everything beyond. 

Trippin' on Tryptophan

Well, I hope everyone has sufficiently recovered from Thanksgiving foodcoma! I went down to southeastern New Mexico (Pecos Valley por vida! lol) to spend it with mom, grandma, step-dad, and the rest of the gang to eat ourselves redonkulous and enjoy time with them all. I had such a great time! Really thankful for those awesome folks. (Love you, mom!) Without further ado, here is the as-always lo-fi shot of our Thanksgiving bounty.

Step-dad Rand-o started the 23 pound turkabird the night before, letting it cook allllll night. Now I'm not the biggest carnivore you'll meet, but I had a few pieces and HOT DAMN. Grandma manned the kitchen with mom and I acting sous-chefs. All in all, there was dressing, cranberry relish, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and I still felt two things were missing: my Aunt Rene's homemade noodles and rolls. She was a greatly missed presence.

Now, now, I know, we're getting to it. The pies. Oh, there was pies. In less than 3 hours, grandma had cranked out a coconut cream pie (the reigning fave of everyone), a chocolate meringue pie, and a pumpkin pie. I will never choose. I took all three.

 

I then had to drive all the way back home that night and all I wanted to do was stay another day and relax with the familia. NOH, said the universe. So Dane-o-rama and I headed out (he was headed back the same time as well) and we spent the rest of the evening drinking coffee on my front porch with a nice drizzly rain coming down. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday weekend.

MonkoMikeyPants came back from his holiday on Sunday, and asked me to help unload the trunk. By the beard of Zeus, what did I find? A flippin' tree. I love him. Yesterday was spent buying cheap but legendary ornaments, then glasses of eggnog and decoratin'. It is the most baddest, raddest tree to ever stand on metal legs. The cats have unsuccessfully tried to ninja their way around it, slowly raising paws to bat at the awesomeness that is our tree. I think we have it on lockdown though. *hope*

So, from our little feline-dominated family to yours, we hope everyone has a great, warm, love-filled holiday season. Cheers!