Pages, Pucks and Pantry

Blogging By Mail

My friend Barbie2Be had tried to get me to join in on the Blogging By Mail event even before I had officially started this blog. But I was hesitant to participate until my blog had been going for a while. When the latest round of Blogging By Mail started this past January I figured it was about time I gave it a try.

Blogging By Mail is where food bloggers, from all over the world, send goody boxes to other food bloggers.  You send your name to the event host who passes it on to another blogger. In turn, you are  sent the name of a participating food blogger (the person you send to isn't the person who sends to you). I let this events host, Dispensing Happiness, know that I would be willing to do international shipping (international obviously costs more, you did have the option to stay within the US). This Blogging By Mail's theme was "Little Things Mean A Lot". You were supposed to send some of your favorite things: spices, teas, chocolates, recipes. I figured I could do that, and sent my name in to participate.

I was very excited when I got the name of the person who I would be sending a goody box to.  Karen, from the blog Bucaio, lives in the Philippines. Since my mom was born and raised there finding Karens blog was a treasure. She mentions food and places that I've heard my mom mention. I've had fun reading her reviews of Filipino restaurants and checking out her wonderful recipes.

But once I actually had to gather those "little things" my mind went blank. What do I send? What could I show Karen of my life? I decided the best thing to do was just pick up little things here and there as I lived my life for the next month (you know I had to send her a Sharks pin!) . Once I'd gathered some things, I sent my package of goody's off.  I got worried that it might have gotten lost since it took so long to get there, but it seems to have found a home at the post office for a while before it made it to it's final destination. You can check out her report of what I sent her here. And do check out the rest of her blog, it's a fun look into life and food in the Philippines.

As for the goody box that was to have come my way? Alas, I am one of the six folks, out of the 85 bloggers who participated, who got stiffed. Whoever had my name didn't end up sending me a package. But I haven't lost hope. Maybe mine will show up someday. Even if it never does, I'm still prepared to participate in the next Blogging By Mail.

Small Plates - May 17, 2008

MORE FREE ICE CREAM - I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but it's been pretty dang hot here. We pay extra to live in the Bay Area to have "nice" weather. I thought that only meant horrible heat a few times during the summer...not in the middle of spring. Even walking from an air-conditioned car to the house is difficult. Of course back in the days when I owned a black car without air-conditioning and a non-air conditioned house, I was acclimated to the heat. Not so much anymore.

So if you are anywhere in the US and in the middle of a heat wave, you might want to see if you need to go shopping at your nearest Wal-Mart. Seems Sunday May 18th from 11 AM to 4 PM you can get a free ice cream sundae sample from the Wal-Mart frozen food section. To find out more go here. I've read that you can get your choice of toppings on your free sundae which include Edy's Loaded Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Smucker's Triple Berry Sauce, Breyers Chocolate Crackle among many others.

Around here, the high for Sunday is supposed to be 88 degrees. Though I probably won't be headed anywhere near a Wal-Mart I think I may need to get me some ice cream to help cool off.

Chicken Chili Verde

I can't tell you how this tastes with the dish fully completed as I forgot the garnish. Yes, I had the sour cream, cilantro and the cheese all ready but just forgot to put it on the finished dish. Mr. L and I got home to the most wonderful smells coming from the slow cooker. I never bothered to look at the recipe before plating, I just opened up  that slow cooker and dished out dinner (did I mention we didn't even bother to cook veggies or a side dish to eat with this?).

The smell was so good that I also almost forgot to shred the chicken into the sauce once I'd served it, something you really want to do. As you can see, I even photographed the chicken before I shredded it. Did I mention it smelled so good we just wanted to dig in? Okay, I'll even admit we had started eating it before I remembered the shredding. If you just eat the chicken whole, it's kinda dry, but once you shred it and mix it with the sauce it's pretty good. And I'm sure adding the sour cream and cheese will help. If you use hot green salsa (which I did) the dish can get pretty spicy. For those that don't want the spice, use mild salsa but do add the jalapenos for a bit of  bite.

I did have a problem with the "chicken bouillon" as I put the two teaspoons on the top as directed but when I went to take the dish out of the slow cooker they hadn't dissolved. It was just kind  of a blob on top of the chicken. I scraped the bouillon stuff off and mixed it with the salsa sauce before serving.

I'd definitely make this again, just for the wonderful smell alone! Of course I'm curious as to how it tastes with the garnishes.

This was supposed to be low carb, but I can totally see putting this in taco shells or tortillas or serving over noodles!

The recipe came from the 200 Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipe book.

CHICKEN CHILI VERDE

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups prepared salsa verde
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon minced garlic or 2 cloves garlic crushed
1-2 tablespoons jarred, sliced jalapeno (2 can make it hot)
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon concentrate
Guar or xanthan (optional)
Sour Cream
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped fresh cilantro (2 tablespoons makes the chili hot)

Place the chicken in your slow cooker and add the salsa verde, onion, bay leaf, pepper, cumin, garlic, jalapenos, and bouillon on top. Cover the slow cooker, set it to low, and let it cook for 9 to 10 hours.

When the time's up, shred the chicken with a fork. Stir it up, thicken the chili a little with the guar or xanthan if you think it needs it, and serve with sour cream, cheese, and cilantro on top.

Serves 5; 190 calories each (analysis does not include garnishes)

Note: I used organic chicken, hot salsa verde, crushed garlic. I did not use the guar or xanthan. I completely forgot the garnishes.

Note: I used the two jalapenos and the hot salsa and even though it was spicy, it was a good spicy. Mr. L doesn't like things as hot as I do but he didn't find it too hot. I'm sure the sour cream and cheese would cut the spice if needed.

Current Cookbook - 200 Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes

200 Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes: Healthy Dinners That Are Ready When You Are! - Dana Carpender

This cookbook has a copyright of 2005. I have no idea where I bought this book. I have never cooked from this before.

I bought this book several years ago when I was trying to eat low carb. I wanted the convenience of using a crock pot without the standard crock pot staples of lots of potatoes, rice and carrots. This book still uses carrots but it's not in every recipe. Some of the recipes aren't exactly low calorie. Some of the meats used aren't friendly to South Beach, Somersize or Atkins.

The introduction section gives some tips on how to use slow cookers. One section about timing mentioned something I learned the hard way when I first started using crock pots....just because the recipe says to leave in the pot for 7 or more hours, doesn't mean it will actually taste good if you leave it heating for more than the 7 hours  listed. There is an ingredient section that goes over ingredients that some people might not be familiar with. The chapters are divided into standard sections: Poultry, Pork, Soups, Desserts etc.

To me there really weren't any "out there" ingredients...if she lists things like "rice protein powder" she'll tell you where to get it or what to substitute. Most of the recipes call for poultry/meat/fish and herbs or veggies. She does use turnips and carrots in some recipes which doesn't work for some low-carb diets. If she lists a low carb ingredient (like low carb ketchup) I figure I'll just use regular (or non sugar). She does give recipes in the back  of the book (non crock pot recipes) for low-carb ketchup, barbecue sauce etc.

The one thing I don't like about the recipes is that a lot of them call for guar or xanthan as a thickener. I'd probably just leave this out (and I did in the recipe I cooked).

Lots of good sounding, easy recipes to make. Except for browning the meat or chicken before putting it in the crock pot, you usually just have to put the measured ingredients into the pot before turning it on. I really like the convenience of using the crock pot and having the meals low-carb friendly. If you're trying to eat low-carb, I think this book would have quite a few things to try that might work for whatever diet you are on (most of the reviews on Amazon were positive taste wise.) That being said, if you don't care about carbs, you can always make the recipes and serve them over rice, noodles or potatoes :)

Note: She has written many other low-carb cookbooks.

McDonalds Chicken Biscuit

So I stopped at my local McDonalds this morning to pick up a free McDonalds Chicken Biscuit. I have mixed feelings about this "new" product. It tasted fine. But. It was just the biscuit and the chicken patty. That was it. Biscuit.
Chicken. Pretty dry together. I ate the chicken separately which had an okay flavor. The flavor came from the light breading, not the chicken though. I then put butter on the biscuit and ate that separately. My Dancing Assistant went and got the free Chicken Sandwich and had the same complaint. It was just the bun, the chicken and oh yeah, there was a pickle or two. The product supposedly had a "buttery tasting bun"...uh yeah, not butter flavored, not buttered, just "buttery tasting". Hmmm...I doubt this is something I will order again in the future (unless it's free of course).

Anyone else try them today?

Small Plates - May 14, 2008

FREE CHICKEN - McDonalds launched a new sandwich a couple of weeks ago...their new Southern Style Chicken Biscuit (for breakfast) and Southern Style Chicken Sandwich (for lunch and dinner). McDonalds is trying to compete with Chick-fil-A which I guess sells chicken sandwiches for breakfast (this is the first foray into chicken at breakfast for McDonalds). Checking online these sandwiches aren't exactly low cal with the chicken biscuit at 420 calories and the Crispy Chicken Club coming in at 660 calories. But since McDonalds wants you to try these new sandwiches out, they are giving them away for free tomorrow, May 15th. With the purchase of a regular or large drink, you can get for free a chicken biscuit (between 7 AM and 10:30 AM) or a chicken sandwich (from 10:30 AM to 7 PM). I'm sure it's for the "regular" and plain version of the biscuit/sandwich. Since I pass a MickeyD's on the way to work, I think I'll stop and try one of their new chicken biscuits...with a regular coffee of course! For more info go here.

FREE COFFEE - If you don't want McDonalds but do want something free tomorrow, how about some free  Dunkin  Donuts iced coffee? Tomorrow, stop by a Dunkin Donuts between 10 AM and 10 PM and you can pick up a free 16 ounce iced coffee. You can get it regular or in one of their special flavors (like Berry Berry or Toasted Almond). For more info go here.

DANCE LIKE A CHICKEN - Mr. L went by our local KFC the other day only to find it gone. Seriously, the whole building GONE. Just dirt and dust. The last time this happened was to our local KFC when we lived in Campbell...fortunately that turned into a combo KFC/A&W franchise. We can only hope that our disappearing KFC will be reinventing itself to the combo version sometime soon. It's not nice when one has a craving for Hot Wings and there is no place to get them! But what does this have to do with dancing like a chicken? Well, today is Dance Like A Chicken Day (hey folks, I only report them, I don't make them up). So, sometime today, dance like a chicken...just make sure your boss isn't watching at the time or you might have some explaining to do.

Hockey - Ron Wilson, So Long...

and thanks for all the fish.

Now the summer games begin...who will be the Sharks next head coach? Anyone want to take a guess?

I was one of those that wondered what happened to Mike Grier and a few others during the playoffs. Now I understand. I'd love to see the injury list to Calgary and all the other teams already out. I'm sure by the time the Stanley Cup is awarded the list of hockey players that played with injuries will be a mile long. Say what you want about hockey, but dang those guys are tough, the way they play through and with injuries.

Kyle McLaren - groin, he will have his knee revisited next week.
Christian Ehrhoff - high ankle sprain
Brian Campbell - MCL sprain,  MRI on his right knee and shoulder.
Craig Rivet - various injuries to wrist, knee and elbow that will require MRI’s.
Milan Michalek - shoulder injury
Patrick Marleau - will have an MRI done to his shoulder
Jonathan Cheechoo - MCL sprain.
Devin Setoguchi - left shoulder repair and a sports hernia operation.
Mike Grier - right knee scoped
Joe Thornton - MRI on his leg
Patrick Rissmiller - sports hernia operation
Curtis Brown - MRI on his left hand

Happy Mothers Day - and that other thing

I was born on Mothers Day ages, eons, many years ago. I always tease my Mom that I was her Mothers Day gift. Every four years since then, my birthday falls on Mothers Day, as it does again this year.

This is a photo of me with my mom when I was one month old. You can see I only have eyes for her.

Happy Mothers Day Mom.

Feed a Cold, Feed a Fever

Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever...or is is Feed a Fever, Starve a Cold? Doesn't matter. With me, I eat. Even with a fever (which you are supposed to starve) if I'm hungry, I don't really care what's correct, I just want to eat.

The two standards when I'm sick are 7-up and Saltine Crackers. Though I usually go for the Diet 7-up, with the crackers, none of this "unsalted tops" crap. I have to have the salted kind. The 7-up and the crackers sit next to me on the bedside table to help me feel better "between meals".

When I was younger, my "sick comfort food" was Cream of Potato Soup. In my twenties, it was Taco Bell Bean Burritos (add sour cream). Yeah, I know, how can I eat that crap when I'm sick? I can remember a boyfriend being horrified that this was my request, and I think he cringed when, with a fever of about 102, I devoured the burritos he had so lovingly brought me...and then went back to bed moaning and groaning with the flu. But if you think about it....the beans aren't really "fried", and with the tortilla, the whole thing is pretty bland. Don't ask about the sour cream. I'm all about the carbs when I'm sick.

In my thirties, my sick food of choice was Kentucky Fried Chickens Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. Of course this was also my comfort food for having my boss yell at me, getting dumped by a boyfriend, my car breaking down...everything could be fixed with those KFC potatoes. I would just order a large batch  of mashed with a side of gravy and any cold or flu (or broken heart) could be conquered.

In my forties (good lord, did I just admit my age?), my sick comfort food has changed to Macaroni and Cheese. But not the Kraft blue box kind, no, the red Stouffer's box kind. Easy to just throw in the microwave. Though if someone like Mr. L  is making it for me, I might ask that it be thrown briefly under the broiler to get a crunchy top before it hits my bedside table.

Recently though, I have found another item to toss into this sickbed food mix. Shedd's Country Crock Deluxe Loaded Mashed Potatoes. Microwave this (it has bacon already in it), add some butter and sour cream (my sickbed condiment of choice) and to me, it helps get rid of the aches and pains of being ill.

But the big thing is, that even if I'm not completely well, the "feed me food" gene kicks in and I want to eat. Everything. Lots of everything. Pizza with jalapenos. Jack in the Box tacos. Girl Scout cookies. Fajitas. A Cheeseburger with extra mayo and pickles. Country Fried Steak with Sausage Gravy. Shrimp in Garlic. Baby Back Ribs. Not to mention, real Coke in the red can. In the middle of fever, aches and pains and coughing up a lung, all I can think of is my next good meal. If left to my own devices, I'd probably  eat the worst foods for me in quantities that would make me even sicker. This is why it's probably a good thing that Mr. L is around to keep me on track.

Why all this talk of sickbed food? Because for the past ten days, I've had one nasty virus. I was out of work for seven days, thought I was going to cough up a lung (thank the Lord for cough syrup with codeine), had to buy a humidifier for the room and, something that is driving me crazy, haven't been able to sleep for ages without propping myself up into a sitting position. Per my doctor (who said he had this same virus by the way) I had the nastiest of the nasty version. I had to cancel my birthday celebration in Disneyland, miss a National Scrapbook Day function with my girls and I completely missed out on the end of the Sharks season (which, considering, might have been a good thing). Having a fever for eight days straight is a first for me and something I hope to never repeat again.

I was able to go through a stack of magazines, read several books and bond with my cat (who loved having me home and in bed all that time) during my down time. Several of the books I read dealt with Italian food so I'm not sure I'm going to rest until I've found a place that makes Deep Fried Zucchini Blossoms and Braised Pork to Taste Like Wild Boar.

I will admit, that with no idea that it was a former sickbed comfort food, Mr. L called this past Thursday on his way home from work and asked if I wanted Taco Bell for dinner. And he ordered pizza last night. Just another reminder of why I married this man.

I'm looking forward to (slowly) getting back into things...cooking, going to work, blogging, scrapping, catching up on TV shows and figuring out who to root for in hockey (most of my favs have been knocked out).  We've rescheduled our Disneyland trip to September, realized maybe "slowing down" a bit may help keep me well (and sane) and I hope to get together to scrap with my friends sometime soon .

Of course all that will have to wait until we find out if the fever and sore throat that Mr. L has had for the past couple of days is something small or the ten day version. It wasn't my fault, I'm not responsible.

The photo above comes from The Wireds Star Wars Fan Captures Secret Lives of Stormtroopers. I thought it only appropriate that the Stormtroopers were eating sickbed comfort food.

Hockey - Sharks/Stars Game 5