Pasta and cheese

We did not have any of the pasta shells the dish called for but we used some pasta called radiatore. We also felt it was a little dry maybe less bread crumbs or because we used the wrong pasta?
1 lb small or med pasta shells
5 Tablespoons unsalted butter divided
1 cup heavy cream
8 oz. fontina cheese shredded
salt
pinch of nutmeg
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 fresh grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 400
cook pasta according to directions just till 1 2 minutes shy of al dente
dice 4 tablespoons of butter in a large mixing bowl. Warm cream in a small sauce pan or microwave. Cover and keep warm
When pasta is cooked add to bowl and toss to coat well, next stir in warm cream and cheese till it starts to melt.
Salt to taste and nutmeg
Pour into a butter 2 quart casserole dish. Melt remaining butter and mix in panco breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, toss with a fork and sprinkle evenly over pasta.
Bake until sauce is bubbling and top turns golden brown about 20 minutes.

What I have been up to

Hello everyone I cannot believe it has taken me so long to post anything but let me tell you why I have been away.


It all started when it was wash day and wife thought she heard water running. Trip out side found a lake growing in the back yard and under the house. Not good.

I was out of town the coming week so all running of water was cut to a minimal so it could dry out and I could get under the house next weekend. We did have a loose pipe and thought that was it but when we washed there it was again and we could not see where it was coming from. So that meant under ground. OH NO.

Another week went by with out using much water no cooking just sandwiches so we didn’t use much water again to dry out.

Had a plumber come out that Sat and he ran a snake down the hole and thank the Lord it was not a broke pipe but roots. Yea! I was getting tired of sandwiches.

Above is one of the other Toms that come by for a snack we call him Badger.

Chicken with Green Sauce

We had enough of the Salsa Verde left to make this dish and again it was lip smacking.
4 chicken breast filets\
1 cup flour
4 Tablespoons butter
2 and 2/3 cups salsa Verde
1 cup chicken broth
3 cloves of garlic minced fine
1 fresh jalapenos seeded and minced
3 Tablespoons cilantro minced fine
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup sour cream
3-5 green onions

We pounded the chicken to flatten it out some you do not have to do this.
Salt and pepper the chicken
dredge on both sides with the flour shaking the excess off
Melt butter in a large heavy bottomed pot
Add chicken and cook over med high heat turning once until both sides are well browned but not quite cooked about 6 to7 minutes per side. Remove and keep warm.
Pour chicken broth into the pot and scrape up the bits from the bottom of the pan
Add green salsa garlic,jalapeno,cilantro to the pot bring to a boil
Just as the sauce begins to boil, reduce the heat to a slow simmer, add the chicken back to the sauce and spoon over each piece of chicken.
Cook until chicken is cooked through and tender about 15 minutes
Add more salt and pepper if needed
Plate chicken and spoon over sauce top each with a teaspoon of sour cream and sprinkle some chopped green onions.

Carnitas

Wow we just love this dish. As of this past Sunday this is the 3rd time to make this. It is really tasty.Now it is a weekend dish but you can still be doing other things around the house.
3 lbs boneless pork shoulder or pork butt cut into 2 inch cubes. We used country style ribs and we did find some cubed pork pieces at Sam's last week that worked out great another time.
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
4 cloves garlic crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
pinch of cayenne pepper

Corn or flour tortills
avacado slices,cilantro,
sauted onions and bell pepper
what ever garnish you like.
 Place pork in large dutch oven or heavy pot. Add orange juice, lime juice,garlic, cumin,
 salt and enough water to baarley cover the meat.
Bring to a rip roaring boil then reduce to a bubly simmer and cook for two hours uncovered. Do not touch meat.
After 2 hours increase heat to med high and occasionaly stir turning the pieces, cook for about 45 minutes until all liquid is gone. You should have a little pork fat sizzling to brown the meat in. Turn till all sides are brown. When browned on all sides yhey are ready.
Serve with warm torillas and fixings.
Yum Yum

Sunday Cat Baby Girl

Well we had hoped to find Baby Girl but it looks like she will be staying with us. We would still like to find her a home so if any one is interested let me know. She is a sweet cat and small about 8 lbs. She is stronger and is getting around much better. She still falls over and sounds like thumper in her room. She can not jump up so we have used boxes so she can use to get up on the bed. She loves to be petted and we have not heard her make any sounds other a slight purr.

Guacamole

Another side dish we made and must say it was as good as the restaurant. And it was really easy.
2 ripe avocado's peeled and pitted
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 medium tomato halved
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
Place all ingredients in bowl and use a potato masher and squish.
Blend till mixed
do not over mix leave a little chunky.
Serve with chips.

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

We have seen these green looking tomato like things but had never used them in anything we have cooked.
We had this dish at a Mexican Restaurant called Canitas and this was served with it. Well we were in love with this dish and the green sauce. So wife searched on net for some recipes and I have to say we have made this 3 times now that's how much we liked this. (the computer was acting up so this is from our first time around.)
1 1/2 lb tomatillos about 10 to 12
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 jalapeno pepper or 2 Serrano stemmed, seeded and chopped (we used jalapeno)
salt to taste
Remove paper husk from tomatillos and rinse well
cut in half and place cut side down and place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin.
Place tomatillos, lime juice ,onions,cilantro,chili peppers,sugar in a food processor or blender. Pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed. Season to taste with salt. Cool in fridge.
Serve with chips or as a salsa accompaniment to Mexican dishes. Makes 3 cups.

Spanish Rice

This is a side dish we had for Mexican Night. It was easy but to tell the truth we have found the rice mix is just as good.
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 1/8 cups chicken stock
1 cup rice
3/4 teaspoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
5/8 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
3/4 teaspoon cumin
In medium saucepan combine all ingredients (kinda of squeeze the tomatoes to break up.)
Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low
Cover and simmer for 25 minutes or till rice is done
Garnish with green onions.

Tuesday Cat.

Ok they have changed the blog again and this time it let me up load a picture. Not sure I like this new look I'm an old fart and do not like change when I was used to the last one.
Any way this is Bob again and poor thing I don't know how he gets around looking out at the world with crossed eyes. He appears to be the top Tom in the area for now so it must not be stopping him. He has some battle scars and has lost some fur and he is big and solid. Poor Moonface is the older Tom and we make sure when Bob is at the house they stay apart. Bob and Moonface belong to someone in the neighborhood but seem to come eat at our house.

Still having problems posting

I may have to take a blog vacation as I can not get the posting of pictures here. I resize them to under the 800 px but it is still telling me I have to buy more space which I will not do. So for now I do not know what to do.

Navy Bean Soup

This may be our last soup as the temps are getting warm and this to me is best when its cold. This was fixed at our last cold snap. It was pretty good to. It also makes a lot.
Soak a bag of navy beans (16 oz. )over night per the packages instructions. Drain and rinse.
In large pot add 6 cups water (we did half water half veg stock.)
1 can diced tomatoes (we used rotel)
1 onion chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
1 clove garlic minced
1/2 lb chopped ham
1 cube chicken bullion
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 bay leaf
two to three carrots chopped
salt and pepper to taste
dash of cayenne optional
Combine beans,water,tomatoes,onion,celery,garlic,ham,bouillon,Worcestershire sauce,parsley,garlic and bay leaf in pot bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for two hours.
after two hours add more water (3 cups) Season with salt and pepper and cayenne if using.
Cook for another 2 hours at a simmer till beans are soft.

Flourless Chocolate torte

This really great for the chocolate lovers. It also has no flour, the original recipe uses almonds. We made it with almonds the first time but since we have used pecans. We have a freezer full of pecans and it was just as good so I would think any kind of nut would do. This comes from Susanne Somer's cook book.
1 1/2 cup whole balanced almonds or pecans
8 oz dark chocolate broken into pieces
1 cup (2 sticks unsalted butter) softened
1/3 cup sugar
6 large eggs separated
(To top use some chocolate semisweet melted with a little water or cream and some lime juice to taste. We do this in the microwave. Do not need to do this but sure makes it taste good. Oh also add a spritz of whip cream.)
Preheat oven to 400
Butter a 8 inch round spring form pan (we use a cupcake pan to make individual cakes.)
Coarsely grind the nuts in a food processor. Add chocolate and grind until all the chocolate is broken into small pieces.
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and pale. Add egg yolks one by one mixing well in between each addition.
Now add chocolate and nut mixture, blending until just combined.
In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks fold in 1/4 of the mixture and with large circular motions. Now take this and fold into the remaining egg whites. Pour in batter into pan Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out.

Celery Root

This is what a celery root looks like. We cook it like mashed potatoes and it is much more healthy. To see how to cook it look up post on Feb 19 2009 or click on celery root on side.

Sunday Cat

Well this picture uploaded. So here is Bob a stray that has been comming by to eat. He is a huge kitty Tom. I tried to up load another picture of him but it would not let me. Gerrrrrrr.

Whats going on

Is any one else having problems loading pictures. I have been resizing them to 800 x 800 pix which is supposed to be free uploads. I keep getting a message to buy more space. I do not want to save my pictures in Pi. I have them saved on my computer and disk. And it makes me mad they are nickel and dimming for more money everywhere you turn.
This may be just a tempest in a teapot and just something going on this week will try again later.