happy monday!

Okay…I really need to give an update!  I posted barely at all last week, but things happened! 

On Tuesday of last week, I got my braces off!!!  Really excited about that!  I can finally eat whatever without having to worry about dirty teeth!  : D  I used Dr. Fitzgerald in Ada, and really liked his “bedside manner.”  And…I love my smile!!!  He is great!

 Two Sundays ago (Super Bowl Sunday) I tried out that recipe from Jamie Oliver.  Mom and I made some changes and were pleased with the taste. 

Steve and Mom’s Skillet Stroganoff

7 ounces white rice
Oil (for cooking)
1 medium red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely sliced
3 medium-sized beef steaks, fat removed, trimmed and sliced into finger-sized pieces
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
Package of button mushrooms, sliced
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 Cup beef broth
2/3 cup sour cream
 

We put it together the same as Jamie did, so check the older post(“Back to Basics” 2/2) to see what I’m talking about.  I think I overcooked the meat, but other than that it was good.  Actually, we had made some french fries for the little ones, and my sister said that the sauce from my Stroganoff was great for french fry dipping!  : )  It was too!  I think ours tasted a little more Mexican than British, which was fine with me because British food can sometimes be a little bland!  : )

Hope you all had a good Monday…I’ll talk to you all later this week!

stephen

back to the basics

Jamie Oliver (know him?) has a new show on Food Network. It’s the first new show he’s had in a looong time, at least over here in the States. He’s a Brit chef who has the most comfortable dishes there are. His new show is called Jamie at Home, and it comes on at 8:30 central on Sat mornings. That was too early for a Sat for me, so I’ve missed it the first few times. This weekend, however, I had to get up to let the neighbor’s dog out (I’m housesitting for them), so I was able to catch it. It’s good.

haggis

Okay, I heard them talking about Scotland’s national dish HAGGIS on The House FM, and it reminded me of an article I had read in Scottish Life or British Heritage.  It was actually quite interesting about how they prepare it and the different recipes for it. 

 However, it’s also a little bit gross…

Here’s a recipe I picked up from Alton Brown, the scientific chef off Food Network.

Haggis Recipe courtesy Alton Brown Show:  Good Eats Episode:  Oat Cuisine

1 sheep stomach 1 sheep liver 1 sheep heart 1 sheep tongue 1/2 pound suet, minced 3 medium onions, minced 1/2 pound dry oats, toasted 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried ground herbs Rinse the stomach thoroughly and soak overnight in cold salted water. Rinse the liver, heart, and tongue. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook these parts over medium heat for 2 hours. Remove and mince. Remove any gristle or skin and discard. In a large bowl, combine the minced liver, heart, tongue, suet, onions, and toasted oats. Season with salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Moisten with some of the cooking water so the mixture binds. Remove the stomach from the cold salted water and fill 2/3 with the mixture. Sew or tie the stomach closed. Use a turning fork to pierce the stomach several times. This will prevent the haggis from bursting. In a large pot of boiling water, gently place the filled stomach, being careful not to splash. Cook over high heat for 3 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes, if you serve it at all.

It’s not exactly something you’d serve for dinner on a regular basis, huh?  ; )  In fact, like Mr. Brown says at the end of his recipe, you may not want to serve it at all! : D  St. Patty’s Day is coming up in a month…though, I think I’d prefer corned beef and cabbage! LOL  Watched the latest episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 tonight.  That show really grows on you…

Till I post again-

stephen