I'd like to teach the world to cook....

I realized something walking around the store today so many people in this country don't cook really don't cook. It got me thinking ya know when Steve and I go to the store we kind of stick to the perimeter where the whole real foods are we occasionally drift down the aisles for the odd canned vegetable or bag of rice, beans or flour. But on the whole I hope we don't do too badly when it comes to the choices in our shopping cart.
My pantry isn't perfect. I have cake mixes and pre-made cake frosting. There is always a brownie mix or 2 in there also the odd side dish helper. The top shelf has lunch stuff and popcorn more of the junk food things we seem to never eat but that's besides the point. I confess to some pre-packaged convenience food short cuts on occasion!!! However, overall I think it would be fair to say that I don't really cook with that stuff.
I was noticing carts around me at the store tonight with piles of tv dinners stacked like tall buildings cushioned by pillowy potato chip bags on a foundation of diet pop the biggest irony of all... (I do confess an abiding love for pepsi and a stubborn reluctance to even consider its removal or reduction in my life...is a 12 oz can a day really that horrific?? I try not to think about it...I drink like a gallon of water a day lol ok I'm going to stop justifying my horrible behavior now) I couldn't imagine dinner being whatever I could pull out of the fridge/freezer and then microwave into existence or wait whoa some of them even work in a skillet... mmm yummy....
Good REAL food doesn't take more time it doesn't take more money( I promise I'm CHEAP) it doesn't even take a lot of skill... all it takes primarily is just a little thought. The ability to handle a knife and a decent spice cabinet can help you along the way too.

***** BREAKING NEWS*****

This type of cooking doesn't even necessarily require a recipe...

If you have taste buds you're all set!

Retire your microwave. Buy a cutting board did you know those shriveled dried up colored bits in the "flavor pouch" aren't really shriveled up things in real life and they don't have to be glazed in ice either! ( right now I'm trying to remember why we own a microwave?? Popcorn? a placed to store baked goods? ) Meat doesn't come pre-cooked and real chicken doesn't look like that. It makes me sad to think of all the culinary joys and adventures in the world and to see how our society lives and thrives and drives on over salted faked to be cheap pre-processed dehydrated food on a daily basis... I know this rant has been ranted 100 times but still our stores are filled with a new "just add Water" or "microwave for only 90 seconds" package every day and grocery carts seem to be taking them into our homes also....

I'd like to teach the world to cook...

Randomness... because its been awhile...

Random thoughts for the week:

* I wonder if Steve and I will ever get tired of baked sweet potatoes I think we've been eating them like once a week lately....

*I searched high and low for a silly pattern to crochet a stuffed turtle for nephew #3 Asher Levine Southwell who will be born on July 8, 2009 when I finally found a pattern I liked the woman wanted $8 for the pattern so I looked at her picture very carefully and invented my own... Pictures will follow as soon as the sweet squirt is stitched together (the turtle not the baby)

* The veggie soup I made way back whenever probably around the time of my last random post is still stupendously delicious after its long sojourn in the freezer and is especially soothing to the sore throats that are currently visiting the Gobles this week... silly allergies! We hope its allergies is anyone else sick?

* That banana picture reminds me of the 5-6 blackened bananas sitting in my freezer waiting to be delicious banana bread... My friend Jessica said she freezes banana's when they get too soft I adopted this idea and think of you every time I freeze them Jess! :)

* I had some really great chicken salad this weekend when we took my Dad out for Father's day. My Mayo-cautious husband even agreed it was delicious and agreed I could try concocting my own delicious chicken salad!

*I miss the rain! Lord please bring back the rain it was delicious perfect weather the house was cool... Now its too hot to cuddle my husband at night and that makes us sad!

* I saw the most beautiful blog about a loaf of bread complete with a gorgeous picture made me miss the sensation of kneading dough being up to my elbows in it and creating soft pillowy bread warm from the oven with honey drizzled on it... Someday Lord can I stay home and raise my children in the fear and admonition of you and bake bread?

* Speaking of children all these babies popping up everywhere sure makes a girl think about being a mommy... sometimes I cuddle Izaiah and nuzzle his soft little head and wish it was my turn soon... I hear about books that are helpful and things and wonder if maybe I shouldn't start researching and reading up on this stuff... beyond passing decisions about natural labor, doulas and cloth diapers....

*Several crochet projects I've seen recently have required buttons I wish I had my grandma's button collection it'd be so handy... I miss my Grandma more than her buttons tho.

*My birthday is coming up soon and my sweet husband has been putting money away to treat me to a delicious dinner... I think right now its a tie between a fancy dinner at the Bistro Napa or Sushi and dessert at the Chocolate Bar...

*Do I ever talk about anything not related to yarn, food or my Steve?

What Gobles Gobble... Summer Supper

I think after the rains of the past week have past and the gray clouds have parted into Clear blue sky that the time has come to welcome summer! We discovered this recipe in the middle of the cold winter a genius idea Steve had to make Chicken with guacomole... a yummy enough idea til I took it to the next step with this fresh salad... It was a welcome and delicious taste of the summer to come. It was so delicious I decided it would be a great meal to share with friends so I made it for our friends Brad and Kelly once who also loved it... Since Kelly asked for the recipe I figured while I was typing it up I might as well share it here too :)

Mexican grilled chicken with Guacomole and Black Bean and Corn salad.

This will probably serve 4 adults with leftover salad

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1-2 limes, juiced

1 pkg of taco seasoning

1 gallon size ziplock bag

1-2 good pinches of salt

Marinate the chicken breasts in the lime juice, salt and taco seasoning for at least an hour. Of course you can make it a day a ahead if you'd like. Cook the chicken to your preference BBQ it or pan fry etc...

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Mix the following together in a bowl

1 can of rinsed black beans

1 can of corn, drained

1 red bell pepper diced

1 good handfull of chopped fresh cilantro

3-5 green onions, chopped

2-3 limes, juiced

1-2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tsp of cumin

salt and garlic powder to taste the salt is important its what makes everything pop.

This tasting step is important!

You can easily double this just by using 2 cans of beans and corn... Its also very easy and better if made ahead so the flavors can kind of blend :) This also makes a delicious high fiber salsa with the addition of a chopped jalapeno which is optional if you're not a spicy wimp like me :)

Guacomole ( you can buy it pre-made or this is my basic recipe)

2 ripe mashed avocados

the juice of 1/2 lime

garlic powder, to taste

seasoning salt, to taste

pinch or 2 of cumin

1/2 tomato, diced

some fresh chopped cilantro

Stir together and taste for seasoning.

I like to serve the chicken with a spoonfull of guacomole on top but you can do whatever you like. :)

Welcome sunshiney days and bbq dinners swimming pools and popsicles! :)

What Gobles Gobble... simple side!

Ok so they're really the simplest of things but they're delicious sweet creamy and extremely good for you full of lots of good things the more colorful the fruit or vegetable the better it is for you and these are day glo! Steve and I love them so much and its a guilt free side dish (almost) cuz I serve it like a potato but its more like a vegetable... Baked sweet potatoes...

They're simple to make there's really only a few simple steps

1. Buy the potatoes we buy one per person but you could buy a big one and share.
2.Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F
3. Rinse your sweet potates and place them on a cookie sheet
4. Bake potatoes for one hour-90 min or until knife inserted goes in easily.
5. remove from oven and split the same as a baked potato.

We eat them with some butter and a drizzle of honey but they're just as delicious with some salt and pepper or experiment with your spice cabinet see how they taste with a pinch of curry powder or cinnamon...

Sweet Potatoes aren't just for holidays anymore.. but if you must have marshmallow once finished split open add a bit of butter a sprikle of brown sugar your desired amount of marshmallows and return to oven for 5 min...

To Aunt Dea's house

The meaning of the name Izaiah is God Is Salvation
Izaiah Adrien Elwell was born at 3:50am on May 14 2009
weighing 6lbs 3.5 oz and 20 inches long

That little face has so much personality it almost seems like too much for such a tiny person. You look like your Great Grandma Elwell (at least in this picture) I dunno if anyone else sees it but I do and, since I supposedly look like her in a round about way I guess that means you look like me. You look like your your Uncle Bubba sometimes too except for that nose I dunno where that came from but its a cute nose its yours. I get to see you tomorrow for the first time outside the hospital, I'm very excited. Its been a week since I saw you last. I hate working I hate that my hours are so crazy and that I couldn't come see you I've missed you very much. I feel like I've missed so much of your short life it makes me sad. I'm itching to hold and kiss you to kiss your sweet baby feet and kiss the soft fluff of hair on your head. I don't want to rush these sweet precious days when you're so small and soft still new and tiny. I am however very anxious for smiles and giggles toothy grins but you can stay this tiny for a year or so I know its not possible I know someday all too soon I'll be re-reading this page marveling at how quickly time has gone by...but today I'll savor your first trip to Auntie Dea's house...

What Gobles Gobble.... Hot slaw

Ok so mine doesn't really look like this but its delicious... And its my grandma's recipe :) When i first got to Texas I heard talk about this Hot slaw stuff but I had never eaten it... I didn't think... The first time we made it my grandma came into the kitchen and sat on her walker and talked me through it.. She taught me to make Hot slaw her way... My Aunt Lil said it was the first time Grandma had come into the kitchen since she'd moved to Texas... I'm just thankful she got to teach me... Its a memory I'll always treasure! I remembered eating hot slaw in the first few bites... a distant memory being 4 yrs old at my grandma's old old house in Winnemucca probably kicking my feet under the table... My grandma missed cooking the most she said it was one of the things she dreamt about doing... I could imagine that...I know if after spending 70 some years cooking every day feeding myself my family I would feel like something vital had been taken away from me to not be able to stand and a stove and stir... I tried to do "cooking activites" with her we made apple pie once it was super yummy... but Hot slaw in its simplicity will forever be a favorite quick easy side dish that makes me think of her... It also lends itself very well to exotic variations as Steve and I found out....

Grandma Elwell's Hot Slaw

1 head of Green Cabbage, julienned
1 stick of butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4c Apple Cider or Rice Wine Vinegar
season to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder

In a big frying pan melt the butter down over high heat until its browned watch closely so it doesn't burn. Once its browned and frothy dump in the cabbage and toss you're going to wilt the cabbage and brown it. Cook the cabbage to the desired done-ness. My grandma liked to flash fry it in a hot ban brown it up let the heat kiss the cabbage and finish it off I cook it down some more so the stalkier bits of cabbage still have some crunch but the leafier parts get soft and tender. Pour the egg over the cabbage and toss until the egg is cooked it will look like little bits of scrambled egg clinging to the cabbage. then just before you turn off the heat pour the vinegar over the whole pan and stir to combine. Eat and enjoy... I'm sure you could cut back on the butter and replace it with a healthier fat like olive oil or go 50/50 I think the trick would be to not add the olive oil until the butter browned... Try it i hope you liked it....When you're proficient with this try adding some ground pork fresh garlic ginger green onion soy sauce and wrap it in gyoza for delicious potstickers!!

The most beautiful thing....

Sweet baby face... I love you so much already... and now my secret is out and I can tell the world how much I love you. I got to see your sweet face today on a giant TV screen it was the cutest thing I almost cried. I know I will cry I cried when I met your mommy its impossible to expect I won't cry when I meet you. I can't wait to hug you and kiss you and love you I can't wait to cuddle you close to my heart and say "Hello little one I'm your Auntie Dea" I can't wait to wrap you in a silky blanket that was the most intricate tangle of yarn I've ever done knowing every stitch is a wish and a prayer and filled with love for you... ... I didn't expect to meet you until I had given you cousins to look up to instead you get to be the cousin my kids look up to (Thats a high calling buster). I look at this situation my baby sister (she'll always be a baby to me you see) is gonna be a mommy... my 17 yr old baby sister is gonna make me an Auntie when I've just become a wife. To say I'm not shocked or a little hurt and a lot afraid would be an understatement but you baby boy are not a mistake you are a gift from God. I know you will teach us all many lessons your mommy the most I know... We make choices some of them are good and some of them are bad you may be here because of a poor choice made by my sister but she made the best choice she made the brave choice when she chose to keep you, and to welcome you into our family. I'm proud of her beyond words. I get to be an Auntie sooner than I thought but I love you as much as I love my baby sister your mommy (maybe more you'll be cuter and cuddlier than she is nowadays). I will love you always baby boy and I can't wait to make this world ready for you! Uncle Steve and I love you so very very much and we can't wait to meet you and hug you we can't wait to buy you star wars toys and Spiderman sneakers. We can't wait for all the fun all the laughter all of the giggles you'll bring to our family We hope and pray for you every day we know God is knitting you together perfectly inside your mommy and we pray you would someday come to know him as we do! We pray God would give us the wisdom and allow us to be a beacon for him and show you of his greatness goodness and love.
Come see us soon baby boy screaming healthy and strong...