kaellite's Journal

4:16pm: Cooking steaks
So today my folks bought me meat.  No not James Marsden or Henry Cavill or Ian Somerhalder.  I wish

Nope, rib eye steaks

So, II am making a porcini rub from Nancy Silverton's cookbook "Mozza" for the steaks, as well as two salads from the same book (Mozza Chopped Salad and Nancy's Little Gem Salad with dates) and broccoline with chili garlic oil.

We shall see how this turns out.

2:57pm: Pasta with squas, Peanut butter cookies with truffles.


After a long time away I checked out "The Kitchn" blog again and found numerous recipes I wanted to try.   Starting with a pasta dish and peanut butter cookies.  For the cookies you make your own expresso truffle (no big deal, ganache is basically chocolate and cream)

Um, no leftovers, does that tell you something.

Oh, the Kumquat cocktail was good too.

Next up is 2 salads from the Mozza cookbook as tested and adjusted by "The Tipsy Baker"


( Recipes here )

12:32pm: Making croissants is a pain.

I wanted to see if I could, so I'm using Julia Child's recipe from her "Art of Baking."

It appears I can make them, but it's not worth the hassle.  I am NEVER doing this again.

6:30pm: Short rib sandwich.
Tis awesome.  We braised short ribs last night and I shredded the meat of one and took it for lunch, along with a brioche roll, cheese and a small container of sauce.

Let me tell you, that sandwich heated in a toaster oven? YUM

6:42pm: CBS rips off "Sherlock", and more bad ideas.

CBS has announced they are developing a modern day 'Sherlock Holmes" seriies for the fall.  They fail to mention that it's already been done, and quite well.  One guess as to the reason why they are doing this.

They are also developing a "Bewitched' remake for the 2012 fall season.

The CW is developing a remake of the 80's series "Beauty and The Beast".  By the way, this one I can get behind as Linda Hamilton essentially killed it by leaving in the middle of the 2nd season.

TNT has "Dallas" coming back in the summer.

Um, did the fail of "Charlie's Angels' teach them nothing?
 

8:14pm: Roasted Cauliflower and Apple soup
1 head cauliflower (about 2 pounds)
2 sweet apples, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
1 onion, cut into 8 chunkds
1/4 cup sliced fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves peeled
salt
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 cup chicken stock
grated nutmeg for garnish.

Heat oven to 350f.  Cut off and discard the very tough bottom of the cauliflower.  Half the cauliflower lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/2 inch thick slices (including the central stalk).  Transfer to a roasting pan with the apples, onion, ginger, garlic and 1/2 teasoiib sakt,  Add the oil and toss to coat.

Roast for 40 minutese

If you have an immersion blender, dump the veggies and broth into a stock pot and puree till smooth.

If, you don't have an immersion blender, transfer some of the veg and some of the broth to a blender, cover and hold the cover down with a towell, and puree.  Then transfer that mixture to a stock pot and repeat until all of the veg and stock are combined and liguified

Heat the soup, then serve with a grating of nutmeg on top.

4:51pm: A day in the kitchen
I don't know why I'm on a apple kick but I am.

I made Chicken legs and thighs braised in cider vinegar
Cheesy polenta
sautee'd chard
cumin carrots
Apple/cranberry crisp.

All while sipping dry hard cider

6:23pm: Red Blood Cell count is up
2 whole points in 6 weeks

That may not seem like a lot but remember, before I went to the ER in Oct, I was at 3, then after 4 units of Blood 6.5

Now it is at 9.

Still not within "normal' range, but improving. 

I am happy.

Time for Haggan Daaz Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream.

4:57pm: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, RPing and more.
I went and saw "Tinker. Tailor, Soldier, Spy" this afternoon, and I liked it quite a bit.   The book is one of my favorites (and for my money, the best spy novel ever), and I had seen on DVD the 70's miniseries.

I have several problems with that one.  Alec Guiness (while a brilliant actor, tis a shame most know him now as only "Obi K") was too old for the part by about 20 years.  That and the producer, director and screenwriter focused on the story as a bloodless whodunit.  When in fact, if you read the book,, it's about the dehumanizing consequences of betrayal (as most Le Carre books are).

While the movie could not get every line in the book in, it did get that right, which is more important.  And the cast was to a man, perfect.

Gary Oldman more than makes up for being miscast as S Black in the HP movies (again too old), here, and reminds you just how good he can be.

On a different note, I am RPing again after a year away, and I'm liking it a lot.  It's a next gen game where I am playing Neville's son, and Michael Corner's daughter.

Moving on,

Time to start cooking.  beginning with Roasted Tomoato soup.

8:17am: Sherlock on the "Enterprise"?
Per Empire Magazine's site, Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast as the villian in the next "Star Trek" movie.

Interesting

8:28pm: Dinner!!!! Yum
So, the upper back has stopped hurting (which is a start), and I decided to celebrate by cooking.

I made chicken legs braised in hard cider, a chard salad with pears, and tuscan white beans.

And can I mention how happy I am that I didn't lose what I had recorded on DVR when we moved.

2:15pm: Russell Brand has developed good taste.
A least a little.   That's encouraging.

10:59am: No internet for New Years....
I am moving tomorrow and the internet company won't send a rep to hook up services at new place till Monday. 

So after tonight, no internets until Monday night sometime.

I am sad.

So, Happy New Year to everyone in advance.

8:37am: A fiance for Christmas?
No, not for me, I've got a guy.

But appparently the niece brought her boyfriend home for Christmas.  I can't help wondering if this means something, or if it's just he had no where to go.

I guess we will find out.

Anyway.

I hope this is joyous day for all of you.

3:08pm: Hey all you bakers, check this out.

I found a blog called tipsybaker and I like it lot.  From it, or links given by it, I have made the following today

1.  Mocha buttercrunch pie
2.  A tart of chard and cheese
3.  Chocolate/Cherry Bread

FYI none of these are low in calories

http://www.tipsybaker.com/

BUT, I liked her book "Make the bread, buy the butter" and her blog is great too, as she tries recipes and tells what worked and what doesn't (and what worked but her famiy didn't like).

Unlike a lot of "Foodies' (online or otherwise) she's not a snob, she just wants food that looks and tastes good (and hopefully is good for you, or better than the fast food equivelent or something loaded with chemicals)

Check it ou.

8:56pm: What were they smoking?
LOl.  I haven't watched "The Wizard of Oz" since I was in elementary school, but it's on right now, and all I can think "Is what were they on when they were making this?"

And what kind of selfish cow was Glinda?  She was a witch for crying out loud. Dorothy didn't have to walk to Oz, Glenda could have taken her or sent her.

LOL, I know, late to the parrty.

But, I've been busy, cleaning out shelves for the move, and in the process I must have pulled something because my right hip and thigh hurt when I move.  So, I've also been drinking and cooking.


Barley and pomengranate salad
chard cakes
chickpea, tomatoe and bread soup
spicy moroccan carrot salad
roast chicken with preserved lemons
vanilla/cocoa nib cookies

8:03pm: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
boneless pork shoulder roast 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
1/2 cup water (I used white wine instead)
3 tablespooons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Wrcesershire sauce
1 teaspoon cumin or ground chili powder
2 cups bottled bbq sauce

Trim fat from roast.  If needed cut roast to fit into 3 1/2 or 4 quart slowcooker.  Sprinkle roast with salt and peper.  In small bowl stir together water, vinegar, worsteshire sauce and cumin. Pour over roast in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on ow for 8-10 hours or on medium for 4-5 hours.

Using tongs remove meat, discard cooking liquid.  Using two forks shred pork meat.  and return it to cooker.  Stir in 2 cups BBQ sauce, cover and cook on high for 30-45 minutes. 

Now serve.

8:58pm: A Vegitarian Supper.
Got a new cookbook last month for my birthday.  "Plenty" and it's all vegetable dishes.

So tonight I made a vegitarian (not vegan) supper

We had

Roasted Vegetable Tart
Quiona salad with Fennel and Pomengranate seeds
Carrot and Ginger soup.

7:37pm: McGonagall the COW!!!! Thoughts on Minerva and what a uncaring 'bitch she was.
I have been sorting books due to moving at the end of this month, and in the process re-reading the HP series.  And the more I read the more I LOATHE Minerva (DD too).

Simply put she played favorites and ignored a child in need and she KNEW he was in need.

Minerva favors Harry, giving him a broom and encouragment from day 1.  

Neville however, she has not a kind word for until HBP (noticably AFTER he's been a hero at the DOM).

She knew, had to know, his past, about his parents.  But she had not one kind thing to say, it was all HARRY!!!

DD I understand if not forgive because it is clear that he viewed Harry as a disposable weapon over a human being,  He didn't give a shit about his students only about taking Voldie down

Minerva, who we are to believe was more humane was just a unfeeling BITCH when it came to Neville.

Both Harry and Neville were so similiar at the start of the series.  It took Harry's encouragment and a want for justice to bring him to his own by book 5.  But imagine what he could have become if Minerva had given him even a 1/4 of the encouragment she gave Harry.

But Neville didn't matter, wasn't important.  Only Quidditch winning Harry was.



Sorry if you disagree, but i had to get that off my chest.

8:03pm: NO NO NO
Did not want THAT to happen on OUAT!!!!

Really didn't want that.

8:48pm: Nev Fic: "I'm glad I'm not a teenager:" Part 1 of series

Title: “I’m glad I’m not young anymore” (Part 1 of James S woos Chris Longbottom , while Neville laughs. fic)
Author: Kaellite
Word Count:: 868
Characters; Neville L, Harry P, Hermione G, Ron, W, James S P, Hugo W, Connie L (OC), Chris L (OC) (in this part)
Warning: Pre-slash among younger gen, OC’s,
Summary: James Jr and Hugo both want to date (among other things) Nev’s son. Nev is enjoying the show.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only
Author’s note: This is epilogue compliant (but not JKR interview compliant, as Neville is not married to Hannah).



( Read more... )

6:23pm: Brownies with fig and cherry jam
JAM
4oz/120g dried black mission figs
4 oz/120g dried tart cherries
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

BROWNIES
8oz/240g bittersweet chocolate
9 TSB unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 TBS vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6oz/180g chocolate chips

PreparationPreheat oven to 180 degree C/350 F, butter and flour 13x9x2 inch metal pan.

For Jam:
Mix figs and cherries in bowl, stir sugar with some water in heavy saucepan until sugar is melted and amber colour (DO NOT BURN). Remove from heat and add fruit mixture and cream to the sugar. Let stand about 10 minutes, add vinegar and blend in processor until smooth.

For Brownies:
Stir 8oz/240g chocolate, butter and cream in saucepan over medium heat until melted. Cool for 15 minutes. Whisk sugar, eggs and vanilla in bowl until blended. Whisk in chocolate mixture. Sift flour, baking powder and salt and stir into mixture. Add chocolate chips and spread evenly in pan. Drop all the jam onto the batter in spoonfulls and swirl into batter. Bake until dry looking on top and moist inside.

6:56pm: Rick Perry makes me ashamed to be a Texan
I can't even.

8:07pm: Citrus Cinnamon Punch
Make an orange reduction but combining the following over high heat until reduced to 1 cup (it takes about 8 minutes)

2 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
strips of zest from 2 oranges
3 cinnamon sticks broken into pieces.

Strain redution into another cup and let cool

Then combine the reduction with

3 cups orange juice
2 cups grapefruit juice
2 1/2 cups grapefruit soda

Chill for about an hour

Feel free to spike with grand marnier or vodka

9:50pm: I'm writing Neville fic!!!
more specifically next gen (and I am EWE to an extent cause Nev is not married to Hannah, but is married and does have a kid)

Actually this is kind of a continuation of the Nev's son fic I wrote 3 years ago. link below

http://kaellite.livejournal.com/222226.html#cutid1

and will be James Jr/Nev's son, among others.

Why is I don't think Ron/Hermione lasted?

Anyway, 1st time in forever I have started writing HP fic.