So I wanted to make some dirty rice to go with some Cajun fish. However I did not want to use any liver, nor did I want to go to the store. So I improvised. The result was quick and tasty, and just a little bit like dirty rice. Hence Quick and Dirty Rice. Is it authentic? Hell no, I'm from New England. But it's good and a lot lower in sodium. And it's made in your electric pressure cooker for convenient, hands off cooking!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped bacon (I used the Bacon Crumbles from Costco, something my husband always keeps around!)
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 red pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups dry parboiled rice (like Carolina Gold)
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 tsp Badia Creole seafood blend seasoning
1 tsp Badia Cajun seasoning
1 bay leaf
1 tsp Tabasco or New Orleans style hot sauce
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Directions:
1. Saute bacon & veggies on saute mode. Bacon should crisp up and veggies soften.
2. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant. Turn off saute mode.
3. Add rice, broth, and seasonings, stir well.
4. Add lid, lock, seal and hit "Rice". Cook 12 minutes. Let pressure release naturally 10 minutes.
5. Release rest of pressure and open. Remove bay leaf, stir well. Enjoy!
Note: You may need to adjust the amount of broth/time for cooking if you are using a different kind of rice. This is for parboiled rice, which is 1.5 c water for each cup of rice, and 12 minutes on low pressure.
Nutritional Information: 8 servings. 225 cal, 295 mg sodium, 1 gram sat fat, 1 g fiber, 7 g protein.
April 08, 2019
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo with Chicken & Asparagus
This goes together really quick if you already have cooked chicken! I usually have a few bags in my freezer in 2 cup portions. I roast a turkey a couple times a year (Thanksgiving and spring, sometimes again at Christmas time!) and after we've eaten it for a couple of days I chop up the rest and freeze it. This becomes the soup, pot pie, and casseroles for the winter and spring. If you bake chicken breasts or thighs, make extra, chop and freeze for quick meals later!
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp garlic flavored olive oil
1 bunch of asparagus (apx 1 lb), washed and trimmed into 1 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 box (16 oz) orzo (whole wheat or regular)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder/granulated garlic
1/2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp dried parsley
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups 1 % milk
4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I just use Kraft but hey, go ahead and be fancy and use the fresh stuff)
1. Heat oil in a large dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot on the stove. Stir fry the asparagus for about 3 minutes until tender-crisp. Remove asparagus and put aside.
2. Cook onion and garlic, stirring frequently until onion is soft and garlic is fragrant.
3. Add orzo and toast it a little in the pot, about 1 minute, stirring so it does not stick.
4. Add broth, milk, and seasonings. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium so pot simmers gently, cover and cook 5 minutes.
5. Add chicken after 5 minutes and remove lid. Continue to cook 5 more minutes.
6. Remove from heat, stir in parmesan and asparagus. Let sit for a few minutes before serving.
Nutritional Info: 8 servings. 504 cal, 15 g fat (4 sat fat), 498 mg sodium, 597 mg potassium, 4 g fiber, 37 g protein.
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp garlic flavored olive oil
1 bunch of asparagus (apx 1 lb), washed and trimmed into 1 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 box (16 oz) orzo (whole wheat or regular)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder/granulated garlic
1/2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp dried parsley
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups 1 % milk
4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I just use Kraft but hey, go ahead and be fancy and use the fresh stuff)
1. Heat oil in a large dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot on the stove. Stir fry the asparagus for about 3 minutes until tender-crisp. Remove asparagus and put aside.
2. Cook onion and garlic, stirring frequently until onion is soft and garlic is fragrant.
3. Add orzo and toast it a little in the pot, about 1 minute, stirring so it does not stick.
4. Add broth, milk, and seasonings. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium so pot simmers gently, cover and cook 5 minutes.
5. Add chicken after 5 minutes and remove lid. Continue to cook 5 more minutes.
6. Remove from heat, stir in parmesan and asparagus. Let sit for a few minutes before serving.
Nutritional Info: 8 servings. 504 cal, 15 g fat (4 sat fat), 498 mg sodium, 597 mg potassium, 4 g fiber, 37 g protein.
Meal Plan for Week of April 7
I had a few things left over from being sick - mainly asparagus that didn't get eaten (cause I didn't have the energy to make shrimp scampi last week) and leftover priobiotic yogurt. So I tweaked the meal plan a bit and incorporated them into this week's. Very pleased with this week's plan as it's super tasty, and comes in at just what it should be for calories, sodium and is extra high in fiber!
Breakfast: Whole Wheat Toast (Homemade if possible) (300 calories)
AM Snack: Fruit & nut muesli (made with the probiotic yogurt so a bit more sugar than normal!) (225 cal)
Lunch: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo with chicken and asparagus (recipe will be posted), apple
PM snack: 1 oz low sodium almonds, 2 clementines (250 calories)
Dinner: Baked pollock with cajun seasoning, "quick and dirty rice" (recipe will be posted), carrots (350 cal)
Before bed snack: 1.5 oz dried apricots, 1 Moser Roth 70% dark chocolate bar (255 cal)
Total: 2,026 cal, 1600 mg sodium, 38 grams of fiber
(Totals are from MyFitnessPal, so are estimates and based on information in their system, but I tried to match brands and check nutritional info to make sure it is correct)
Breakfast: Whole Wheat Toast (Homemade if possible) (300 calories)
AM Snack: Fruit & nut muesli (made with the probiotic yogurt so a bit more sugar than normal!) (225 cal)
Lunch: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo with chicken and asparagus (recipe will be posted), apple
PM snack: 1 oz low sodium almonds, 2 clementines (250 calories)
Dinner: Baked pollock with cajun seasoning, "quick and dirty rice" (recipe will be posted), carrots (350 cal)
Before bed snack: 1.5 oz dried apricots, 1 Moser Roth 70% dark chocolate bar (255 cal)
Total: 2,026 cal, 1600 mg sodium, 38 grams of fiber
(Totals are from MyFitnessPal, so are estimates and based on information in their system, but I tried to match brands and check nutritional info to make sure it is correct)
April 01, 2019
Reviving ye olde blog
I thought about making a new blog but #1 couldn't come up with a new name and #2 I already have a perfectly good blog so hey, why start over from scratch? I did tweak the name, put on a fresh coat of paint so to speak and will be trying to flesh this out and add stuff on.
There has been some big changes in my life since 2014! That was the year I met G, who in 2016 made me Mrs. G! We bought a house and settled down here in central NJ with Sammy the dog. Life is good.
Our new segment is "Cooks". Now that I'm not just cooking for myself, I'm enjoying it more. I got an electric pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot), and am loving it. G loves food as much as me, though he loves bacon and meat a bit more than beans and veggies. I try to balance it out. I'll be posting meal plans, recipes I make up and links to recipes I've tried and enjoyed. I'm still figuring this all out so try to be patient! Thanks for reading!
There has been some big changes in my life since 2014! That was the year I met G, who in 2016 made me Mrs. G! We bought a house and settled down here in central NJ with Sammy the dog. Life is good.
Our new segment is "Cooks". Now that I'm not just cooking for myself, I'm enjoying it more. I got an electric pressure cooker (like an Instant Pot), and am loving it. G loves food as much as me, though he loves bacon and meat a bit more than beans and veggies. I try to balance it out. I'll be posting meal plans, recipes I make up and links to recipes I've tried and enjoyed. I'm still figuring this all out so try to be patient! Thanks for reading!
July 27, 2013
July 2013
Hooks: Currently almost done with the dress for my second rosebud bear. It's an easy pattern and I may attempt to make some pattern alterations and see what I can come up with. I need to find some cheap teddy bears!!
Books: I finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which once it got going was pretty good. I'm most of the way finished with Plenty. In between them I read Hush, by Donna Jo Napoli, an author I really like. It wasn't my favorite of her books, but it was interesting. It was based off a story about a slave in Iceland who everyone thought was mute, until one day someone heard her singing to her child. She claimed she had been a princess in her native Ireland.
Books: I finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which once it got going was pretty good. I'm most of the way finished with Plenty. In between them I read Hush, by Donna Jo Napoli, an author I really like. It wasn't my favorite of her books, but it was interesting. It was based off a story about a slave in Iceland who everyone thought was mute, until one day someone heard her singing to her child. She claimed she had been a princess in her native Ireland.
June 08, 2013
Goodness I've completely forgotten about this blog! I need to remember to update it, along with Goodreads and Ravelry.
Reading right now: Animal Vegetable Miracle and Fast Food Nation.
Just finished: The last of the Uglies trilogy, Specials.
Making: A secret pal gift. After that I must make another bear dress for a friend's daughter and I think my summer project might be my friend Abby's afghan. Someone sent me a pattern I think will be perfect.
Reading right now: Animal Vegetable Miracle and Fast Food Nation.
Just finished: The last of the Uglies trilogy, Specials.
Making: A secret pal gift. After that I must make another bear dress for a friend's daughter and I think my summer project might be my friend Abby's afghan. Someone sent me a pattern I think will be perfect.
April 15, 2012
The Hunger Games series - Spring 2012
My friends had talked about these books for some time. I remember when Mockingjay came out, it was such a big deal. I had missed the boat so to speak. I knew about them and had not wanted to read them because they sounded violent and horrifying. I mean, a bunch of kids being forced to kill one another for other people's entertainment? How awful!
But after the movie came out and it was obvious that so many - SO MANY- people adored this series, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to go ahead and read them. I got the first on sale at Marshalls for $6, but it still took a little while for me to read it.
Overall, I find the world Collins creates fascinating, and I like Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and the rest of her characters. I enjoy how the relationships between Katniss and the two male love interests develop and grow - they didn't just lock eyes and fall in love without even speaking. I appreciate Katniss as a strong female role model. She's smart, and strong, and independent. Yes she's pretty. Yes, she has 2 men vying for her affections, but that does not consume her. She has more important things to do than fawn over the handsome hunter and the sweet baker. Like you know, take care of her family. Lead a revolution. Survive.
But I do find the violence of the Games disturbing, and it made it hard for me to read this series, and it is why I put it off for so long. I just can't seem to bring myself to read about (or watch tv/movies about) violent or horrific things (slavery, war, the Holocaust) anymore. I've given up watching CSI, SVU and all those other crime shows where people are hacked to death or raped and left for dead on the side of the road. I just can't sleep at night after watching them. But I understand why the author uses the violence in the story, and it's certainly not celebrated or gratuitous. She WANTS the thought of children being essentially sacrificed for entertainment to be driven home and seen for how ghastly and atrocious it is. Because this makes you realize how despicable those in power must be.
The thing I liked best about the series was that it made me think. About government, war, control through fear and intimidation, the media, "panem et circenses" (bread and games aka society giving up political power for food and amusements), and other things too. The race issues that came up following the release of the movie also made me think about our society.
I won't say that I thought it lived up to the hype. Cause in my mind it didn't. Was it a good series? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I read it again? Eh, maybe but probably not. I do think it gained momentum as it went along. Mockingjay was the best of the 3. But I did become engrossed in it, and have true affection for the characters. So I'll give it 4 stars.
ETA: I liked what my friend Mary said on her review in Goodreads so much that I wanted to post it here where I'll remember it in the future:
" A somewhat post-feminist comfort with her female characters. Women can be anything in these books. That includes the plucky, tomboy action heroine, and the healer-mother, but also any other role: resistance leaders, conniving politician, druggy soul-scarred survivor, bootcamp Sargent,propaganda-savvy director included. Come to think of it, men, too, are soldiers and hunters, but also cake-decorators, stylists, prostitutes, producers, and conniving politicians and druggy soul-scarred survivors (there are an awful lot of the last two in the series). And all of this feels surprisingly natural, surprisingly like Collins isn't trying to make a point with it. It's just the way things are."
But after the movie came out and it was obvious that so many - SO MANY- people adored this series, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to go ahead and read them. I got the first on sale at Marshalls for $6, but it still took a little while for me to read it.
Overall, I find the world Collins creates fascinating, and I like Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and the rest of her characters. I enjoy how the relationships between Katniss and the two male love interests develop and grow - they didn't just lock eyes and fall in love without even speaking. I appreciate Katniss as a strong female role model. She's smart, and strong, and independent. Yes she's pretty. Yes, she has 2 men vying for her affections, but that does not consume her. She has more important things to do than fawn over the handsome hunter and the sweet baker. Like you know, take care of her family. Lead a revolution. Survive.
But I do find the violence of the Games disturbing, and it made it hard for me to read this series, and it is why I put it off for so long. I just can't seem to bring myself to read about (or watch tv/movies about) violent or horrific things (slavery, war, the Holocaust) anymore. I've given up watching CSI, SVU and all those other crime shows where people are hacked to death or raped and left for dead on the side of the road. I just can't sleep at night after watching them. But I understand why the author uses the violence in the story, and it's certainly not celebrated or gratuitous. She WANTS the thought of children being essentially sacrificed for entertainment to be driven home and seen for how ghastly and atrocious it is. Because this makes you realize how despicable those in power must be.
The thing I liked best about the series was that it made me think. About government, war, control through fear and intimidation, the media, "panem et circenses" (bread and games aka society giving up political power for food and amusements), and other things too. The race issues that came up following the release of the movie also made me think about our society.
I won't say that I thought it lived up to the hype. Cause in my mind it didn't. Was it a good series? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I read it again? Eh, maybe but probably not. I do think it gained momentum as it went along. Mockingjay was the best of the 3. But I did become engrossed in it, and have true affection for the characters. So I'll give it 4 stars.
ETA: I liked what my friend Mary said on her review in Goodreads so much that I wanted to post it here where I'll remember it in the future:
" A somewhat post-feminist comfort with her female characters. Women can be anything in these books. That includes the plucky, tomboy action heroine, and the healer-mother, but also any other role: resistance leaders, conniving politician, druggy soul-scarred survivor, bootcamp Sargent,propaganda-savvy director included. Come to think of it, men, too, are soldiers and hunters, but also cake-decorators, stylists, prostitutes, producers, and conniving politicians and druggy soul-scarred survivors (there are an awful lot of the last two in the series). And all of this feels surprisingly natural, surprisingly like Collins isn't trying to make a point with it. It's just the way things are."
April 01, 2012
Rosebud - Dress for 12 Inch Bear
rosebud bear dress for pto auction about 2/3 done
Pattern is from August 2003 issue of Crochet World Magazine. I had to alter it slightly to fit my own bear. I also made it one row shorter, even though it looks longer than it did in the pictures.
Pattern is from August 2003 issue of Crochet World Magazine. I had to alter it slightly to fit my own bear. I also made it one row shorter, even though it looks longer than it did in the pictures.
February 15, 2012
Little House - Winter 2012
My mother gave me a new set of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder for Christmas. These were my ultimate favorites as a child. I read them over and over. I loved imagining myself as Laura (although I'm more like Mary, snotty and goody-two-shoes ish. Must be an oldest child thing lol), a pioneer, living in a little cabin in the woods or in a covered wagon crossing the prairies through Minnesota and Dakota territory, traveling on a train for the first time, teaching in a little one room schoolhouse.
A few years ago I was at the library searching for something, and came across the new series about Rose, Laura's daughter and her only surviving child. I checked a couple out of the library and read them. In reading those I learned there was yet another new one, about Caroline, Laura's mother. I have taken to collecting all these books as well, through Paperbackswap. I have most of the Rose books, and a few of the Caroline books so far. I read the first 5 Rose books (all I had) after getting through re-reading Laura's series. I haven't started the Caroline books, I'll wait until I have more of them. Now there are 2 more series, one about Laura's grandmother, Charlotte, and her great-grandmother, Martha. I plan to collect these as well. So far I have one of the Martha books, but I don't think I have any Charlotte ones.
A few years ago I was at the library searching for something, and came across the new series about Rose, Laura's daughter and her only surviving child. I checked a couple out of the library and read them. In reading those I learned there was yet another new one, about Caroline, Laura's mother. I have taken to collecting all these books as well, through Paperbackswap. I have most of the Rose books, and a few of the Caroline books so far. I read the first 5 Rose books (all I had) after getting through re-reading Laura's series. I haven't started the Caroline books, I'll wait until I have more of them. Now there are 2 more series, one about Laura's grandmother, Charlotte, and her great-grandmother, Martha. I plan to collect these as well. So far I have one of the Martha books, but I don't think I have any Charlotte ones.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)