Creme Fraiche....made AT HOME???

Why pay out the wazoo for things you can make AT HOME?!?!?! After living and shopping on the German economy for almost 4 years, one can get quite accustomed to having gourmet/organic cooking ingredients at your fingertips. I miss being able to go down to the local markets to buy...at very reasonable prices: warm brotchen, fresh flutes (baguettes), shinken, light Gouda and Lasiter cheese, krauterbuter, Lurpak and Kerrygold butter, fleur de sel, truffle oil, mascarpone, creme fraiche, organic vegetables, fruits and herbs...etc., etc., etc.!

Now my reality is living in rural-ish Oklahoma and not having much access to many of these. When I have been able to locate some of these items....it's at a premium! There is always the internet you might say....but that means shipping costs...which means something that is already expensive is even more so. Ugh! Sooo, I decided that I am not going to miss out on all my faves from Germany. I am going to start making some of these things at home. One item that I am most pleased to make is....CREME FRAICHE! It is surprisingly easy to do. Anyone could do it!! Plus, it saves me an arm and a leg. You have no idea how happy I am that I can make this in my home. I have been unable to find it locally. I would have to drive to either Wichita Falls (45 mins) or Oklahoma City (1 1/2hr) to purchase it. I got used to cooking with it overseas. I would mix it with fresh dill to use on Smoked Salmon, spoon it into soups, and blend with herbs for dips. My most favorite food using creme fraiche....

 

FLAMMKUCHEN!!!
MMmmMMM Flaaaammmkuckennn!
(eyes roll back)
OHHH YES, you delicious little tarte flambe, you! I WILL be making you very soon!! And I will slowly savor your creamy, salty, oniony goodness like never before!!!!
(shakes head to return from my Alsatian dreamland)

Ahhh yes, back to my story! I made this creme fraiche for a Pumpkin Soup recipe that a friend of mine shared. The Pumpkin Soup recipe is from the Hoffest Hitscherhof (scroll to the bottom for English). This farm is located near Massweiler, Germany. The town has been around for 700 years. They have a huge craft, food and family fun fair in September to mark the Autumn Equinox. When my son and I went there, we ate the Flammkuchen, of course! We should have tried the soup as we soon found that we had really missed something delicious! I have heard numerous raves about their soup and really, really wanted to try it. Thank you Tephanie for sharing!

 

I made two versions of creme fraiche. One slightly thick and one slightly thin. You can see the difference on the double spoons pic.

Recipe for THIN:

1TBS Yogurt (I used greek) and 1 cup of heavy cream.

FOR THICK:

2TBS Yogurt (same greek) and 1 cup of heavy cream.

 

Mix well in jar. Cover with clean cloth (to keep the bugs out, but allow air) and leave out on the counter or warm spot overnight (between 12-24 hours depending on how tangy you like it). The pics here are shown at about 16 hours. When they are to your liking, cover with lid or press and seal. Refrigerate. These will keep up to 10 days in the fridge. On one of the jars, I have a brown area. I sat the jars on my stove to warm them up and start the process. It was a little chilly last night and my cream was cold out of the fridge. I had just broiled dinner so I thought I'd set them up there to gently heat (the top of the stove didn't feel that hot..lol). Wrongo! The immense heat still coming up from the stove vent scorched the cream in the area that was closest to the hot air. THANKFULLY, it did not affect the flavor of the creme. Here are the results.

PUMPKIN SOUP AND FLAMMKUCHEN...HERE I COME! :)

The thin one is on the left and the thick is on the right.

Thinner one.

The consistency. It slowly dripped off of the spoon.

Thicker one.

Consistency. It stayed put on the spoon.

Here you can see the difference.



 

 

With love, from my kitchen to yours....

Shrimp Stuffed Poblanos with Roasted Tomato Salsa

In my family, there are a two ethnic foods that reign supreme: MEXICAN AND ITALIAN!

My husband and I dabble in other areas, but we thoroughly enjoy creating dishes in these two areas. We also love to experiment with different vegetables, spices, cheeses, etc.

With that said, I would also like to point out that we like to cook on a small budget.

We use what we have on hand and try to keep it as cheap as we can.

However, cheap doesn't have to mean flavorless!

We make sure that the dish is loaded with as much flavor as we can fit in.

Last weekend, I decided to throw down some delicious SEAFOOD MEXICAN!

MY FAVE!!

Seafood Mexican really is a treat for me. I fell in love with it on a trip to California.

We were cruising along the coastline and decided to stop at Laguna Beach.

We spent the day on the beach enjoying some much needed family time.

As we were leaving, we noticed a little place right off of the beach named

 WAHOO'S FISH TACO.

 The name alone piqued our interest. The Fish Tacos and Enchiladas were AH-MAY-ZING!

Since then, we have found another favorite place to get seafood with our beloved Mexican dishes.

If you are ever in the San Antonio area, you must try

LOS CUCOS!!

 We enjoy the Enchiladas Del Rio and the Shrimp Burritos. Our son always gets the Puff Tostada.

MMMMmmm, just thinking about it makes me wanna go there right now!

 

Back to my original story about last weekend's delicious meal. I found these recipes a long time ago and cut them out of a magazine. I didn't use them at that time and kinda forgot about them...as I am known to do. While cleaning out the fridge, I decided to use up some poblanos that were getting to the point of no return in the crisper. Also, I had about 12 roma tomatoes that I had bought on sale that needed to be used. Obviously, I planned on making a lot of salsa! (wink)  I had 2 serrano peppers and that were starting to turn a slight orangey-red...shame on me!

 

Seeing as how I had been on a salsa kick lately, I initially wanted to make something "roasted".

I miraculously remembered the magazine clippings with the roasted salsa recipe and that "other one" that looked interesting. Afer reviewing the ingredients, I learned that the "other" recipe needed shrimp. Thankfully, the week prior I had printed out some coupons for shrimp. I sent my Hubby to the Commissary with coupon in hand to buy the bag while I started prepping. Come to find out the shrimp was on sale. With the addition of the coupon, we got it for quite a steal!

Woohoo! Now that's my kind of shopping!

 

Now that I've bored you beyond belief with my storytelling, here is the actual recipe!

 

Shrimp Stuffed Poblanos

 

1 pound fresh or frozen shrimp

2 TBS olive oil

2 TBS butter

1c. chopped onion

3/4c. chopped red sweet pepper

3/4c. fresh or frozen corn kernels

(I used fresh because I froze ziplocs full of them after purchasing a bunch of corn on clearance.)

1/4c. dry white wine (sauvignon blanc, reisling)

1 tsp. chili powder

(I used new mexico chili powder)

1c. each Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack, shredded

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Non-stick cooking spray

5-6 poblanos, roasted

 

Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Peel and devein if needed. Rinse and pat dry. Chop shrimp and set aside. Roast poblanos on a cookie sheet lined with foil. I broiled them 6" away from flames for about 8 minutes. Wrap them completely in foil and leave to steam for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet. Add onion and cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the shrimp, red pepper, corn, wine and chili powder. Allow to cook on med-high heat until shrimp are cooked and turn opaque, about 4 minutes. Allow to cool. Then, stir in cheese and the beaten egg, salt and pepper. Once the poblanos are finished steaming, carefully remove the shriveled skin from the pepper. Make a slit lengthwise and remove the seeds and veins. I always rinse mine under warm water to remove all of the seeds.

 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a square or rectangular dish with cooking spray. Lay poblanos flat in the dish. Spoon shrimp mixture into each poblano and pour the remaining on top. I sprinkled it with a little bit of pepper before placing in the oven. Cook for 20-25 minutes. Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.

I topped the dish with a cream sauce prior to serving.

 

Roasted Tomato Salsa

 

6 roma tomatoes, cut in half

1/2 onion, quartered

3 cloves of garlic, peeled

1 serrano pepper, halved and seeded

2 TBS canola oil

1c. fresh cilantro, snipped

small squeeze of lime juice

1/2 tsp. sugar

 

Line rectangular baking pan with foil. Place all vegetables into a large bowl and toss with the canola oil. I added a little sea salt and cracked black pepper. Place vegetables into pan (tomatoes and peppers cut side down). Broil 6" from the heat for about 8 minutes, turn over and broil for about 8 minutes more. Check periodically to prevent burning. When finished, pinch tomato skins off and discard. When cool, coarsely chopped tomatoes, serrano and onions and add to small bowl. Mash roasted garlic and mix into salsa. Add sugar and a tiny bit of lime juice. Season with salt if needed (I added it prior to roasting, so it didn't need anymore.)

*Note: I roasted these before the poblanos to free up the oven for the main dish.

 

And there you have it! A simple, yet delicious meal. Serve with cilantro rice or red Mexican rice. I used this salsa with a pinch of mexican oregano and cumin for a quick version of "red rice" in the pic above. I pulsed the salsa in a processor first.

With love, from my kitchen to yours.....

 

 

 



HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

So, it has cooled off a little here in Southern Oklahoma. We have had temperatures ranging from the cool high 60's to the warmer high 90's. That's Oklahoma for ya. Don't like the weather....wait a few minutes! This time of year brings some of our favorite family things to do 'round here. Although it starts a little bit before Fall, we still love to watch our favorite football team throughout the season...OU SOONERS, baby! Of course, we like OSU...but, only if they're playing teams we don't like AND they're not outranking us! lol We have the Oklahoma State Fair happening in September. We went on the 15th and had a blast! In October, we have the Pumpkin Patch in Cyril at the Jahn's Farm and the Corn Maze in Weatherford. I can hardly wait to go this year. We have not been since we moved back from Germany. Now that my son is older, he'll get to enjoy the Haunted Maze and Laser Tag with his friends instead of Dear Old Mom and Dad. :) Although my son will not be trick-or-treating this year, we will still take part in some of the festivities. Maybe this year, he is old enough to walk WITH DAD (:oP) through the Trail Of Fear. Then, we'll make our way into November where our family will gather around a monumental smorgasbord of good-ole-down-home-cooking! Yup, I'm talkin' 'bout Thanksgivin'!! I make my same specialties every year. Every now and then I'll venture out and try something new, but I have been cooking these dishes for so long that my family expects these favorites to be on the TG menu. The Big Hungry Bear, aka The Husband, starts asking if I'm making the Potato Casserole days in advance. He knows I make it every year, but he just has to ask to make sure that "I" haven't forgotten about it. I am getting up in age ya know! ;)



Jahn's Pumpkin Patch

I hope each of you have a wonderful time outdoors as you get this much needed break from the heat. In Oklahoma, it doesn't last that long so we'll take it when we get it!! It's the perfect time to for you to: ride your horse(s) more often, knock some of those "honey-dos" off the list, rotate your wardrobe, plant some mums, paint some pumpkins, go on a photography road trip, pick some apples and plan more family outtings. The third season of the year makes it more pleasurable to do more of these things.

In addition to the changing landscape and getting to sport our favorite hoodies, there is another seasonal transformation that takes place...IN THE KITCHEN! With cooler weather comes our cravings for comfort foods. You know the ones.....all savory and hearty, cheesy and rich. Throw in a few Autumn-spiced sweets and you'll have a well- rounded Fall feast.

 

I have been cooking like a champ for the last few weeks. I've doled out some delicious Mini Apple Pies, Shrimp Stuffed Poblanos, Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Lobster Ravioli with Tomato Cream Sauce to name a few. I'll start posting some of these delicious recipes along with a few others soon. If  a particular recipe looks good, like the post . If you have a question, ask. Critique or advice, drop a line in the comment section. I would love to hear from you!

 

And now....here are a few pictures from the past for you to enjoy.

.

 

A FEW COSTUMES

A Truck Driver (complete with Preperation H)

As Daddy



A Black Eyed "P"

George Washington

 

iPhone

Soldiers Dressed Up For A Fall FRG Party

 

A Little Fall Fun

Decorating Your Yard

Smores And Roasted Marshmallows Around The Firepit



Yes, in the military life...sometimes you gotta combine Thanksgiving AND Christmas!



Getting Stuffed!

With Your Beloved Animals

Taking A Few Family Pics






Enjoying A Nice Ride In The Cool Weather



 

      Again, thank you for joining me as I blog along

and I wish you all a....

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

 



Squirrel!

Here are just a few of the MANY things I have learned while raising a child with ADHD.

1) Never assume that the child heard you the first time. EVER!!

2) Even if he did hear you, he probably heard the first two words and that's it.

3) If you send him to look for something and he says he cannot find it, walk into the room yourself and look in the most obvious spot. It is usually there. If you gave him directions on where to find it, look there first.

4) While engaged in a conversation, expect that you only have 3.5 seconds to say everything you need to say. After that, he is contemplating the theory of relativity...the psi of the tires on the vehicle your driving....and what he should wear to school tomorrow....simultaneously.

4A) While still engaged in the above conversation and you've completed your 3.5 seconds of it, expect to him to interrupt you at that point and begin to discuss at length....at remarkably long lengths.....the topics mentioned above.

4B) While he discusses the topics above, expect him to interrupt himself as he sees something of interest. It will go a little something like this....."The theory of relativity can be, OMG did you just see that 1962 Chevy Nova with the 350 v8 420hp engine whoooaaa, can be divided into special relativity and general rela.....do you think general tires are better than goodyear tires? I don't think so. General relativity is the theory of gravitation. Will you fix my hair in the morning?"

5) Give him time throughout the day to expend his energy is a positive way. If you do not, you can guarantee that he will eventually morph into "Hammy the Squirrel on REDBULL" at the most inappropriate time.

6) If you are driving long distances and your husband left a red SHARPIE in the back seat of the car, you can expect that eventually...he WILL find it and he WILL entertain himself with it. Hopefully, you peek in the backseat using the rear view mirror right before he decides to color his blonde eyebrows red!

BORED ADHD KID ON A 4 HOUR DRIVE + A RED SHARPIE =
A FRENCHMAN'S MUSTACHE THAT LASTS FOR DAYS
(pic is after we scrubbed it with soap in a truck stop bathroom lol)

7) Unless you own a Demron suit and are prepared for a nuclear meltdown, DO NOT...I repeat...DO NOT allow the over-consumption of sugar, caffeine, chocolate, high fructose corn syrup, or red #35!  It will result in your child glowing soft blue as charged particles emitted by the reactor (hyped energy from said products) pass through the dielectric medium (kid's body) faster than the phase velocity of light!

7A) If you are made to feel guilty for limiting sugar/caffeinated products to your child...say at a relative's house who thinks its OKAY for "kids to be kids" and eat these things and they end up giving a bunch of it to your child anyway....leave your child there for about an hour or so. It will be an isolated incident, promise!! ;o)

8) Hide the Bologna! It makes for greasy, albeit creative, "bologna art" all over the kitchen cabinets, stove, walls, and doors after the child discovers it sticks to everything.

9) Do not purchase a bunk bed for a young child without impulse control. His best friend will need an xray after being pushed from the top bunk because "I just wanted to see if he could land on his feet like a cat!" (Thankfully nothing was broken. And noooo...he did not land on his feet like a cat!)

9A) Speaking of ER visits, he'll need plenty himself. My little adrenaline junkie put me through the ringer many times as I sat in a stark, white hospital room while they sutured his head or splinted his wrist. I was sick with worry while he was in awe of the COOL black strings tied on his bottom lip!

10) Most importantly, I learned that I love him for who he is and who he is not. He is just trying to find his place in this world like the rest of us. He is a unique and sensitive being. He is creative, intelligent and one the funniest kids I know. ADHD does not define who he is, it merely plays a small part in the whole of him. I LOVE HIM ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS!

Initial Frames For Your Little Musician

Yesterday, I created some initial frames for my son. I wanted something that would fill the blank space above his piano.

After school, my son and I went to Hobby Lobby in search of musical decor. We were not too happy with the decor selection and prices. We needed to stay within a small budget. Sooo, being the "Martha Stewart" that I am, I decided to make it myself! I purchased only a few materials. Some I already had on hand from previous craft projects. I apologize for not taking before pics. I was so anxious to get started that I forgot. I'll remember next time....maybe! :o) For this project I needed:

Plain Craft Frames

(we purchased ones with a 4x4 opening)

 

Modge Podge- Matte Finish

 

Black Craft Paint

 

 

 

3 Sheets Scrapbooking Paper

(we chose antique sheet music)

 

 

Paint Brush

 

Sponge Brush

 

Printer and Computer

(I used Printshop, but you can use something as simple as MS Word)

 

Directions:

 

First, paint the frames using the black craft paint. Allow to dry completely. During that time, create the initials using a software program. I used Printshop, CloisterBlack BT font, sized to 300. Print the initials onto the scrapbooking paper. Center and cut the initials to a 4"x4" size (or the size of your frame opening). Spread a thin layer of Modge Podge onto the center of the frames. Place the cut-outs into center square. Apply pressure and smooth paper several times to prevent bubbling. Voila! Easy Peasy!! 

 

 

Yes....I had bubbling on the J and a smudge of wet paint in the bottom corner of the R. Apparently, I am not the Martha Stewart craftinista that I think I am. I forgot to check the corners for wet paint and did not smooth the first paper before starting on the next! So....please make sure your paint is dry AND that you smooth...smooth...and resmooth. :oD

 

And now, here is a little treat from my little pianist....

 

 

Thank you for joining me as I blog along!

 

With love, from my home to yours....



Grandma's Cup

"I sat my cup of coffee down somewhere", she would grumble in an irritated tone. Inevitably, I would hear this uttered at least once a day from my Grandmother's lips. I secretly giggled inside as I knew an entertaining scavenger hunt was about to unfold. You'd be surprised where a half-consumed cup of coffee can hide. On one occassion, our search began in the area nearest to her current location...the kitchen. I scanned the counters, even peeking into the cabinets. I checked the window sill above the sink (a vantage point for eyeing the comings-and-goings at Betty's house). Then, we stepped onto the back porch to see if she'd set it on the washer, dryer or possibly the old water heater. Grandma would follow behind me wringing her hands and state that she just had it at "so-and-so". So, we'd go there. I would check the bathroom sink, the side of the pink porcelain tub and on the window sill above the toilet (another perfect lookout to see the happenings down at Joy's or Glenda's house).  She would follow me as I scanned each bedroom's dresser and nightstand in search of her favorite white cup with the blue-striped rim. In the living room, I eyeballed the top of the gas heater, a favorite spot to warm your backside AND a cup of coffee. I peered over to the electric cup warmer next to her recliner. No cup. We surveyed the dining table, the buffet and even the curio in the corner with all the newpaper clippings taped to the glass. Nothing. I had checked all the usual spots, but could NOT find that elusive cup of coffee. Shrugging my shoulders, I told her that I did not know where else to look. I reassured her that it would turn up somewhere and that we'd find it sooner or later. We walked back into the kitchen where I planned to make her another cup...no cream, no sugar. Straight black like she preferred. As I selected a new cup from the cabinet, I turned toward the inner corner of the counter where she kept a small jar of instant coffee. Low-and-behold, sitting patiently beside it was her almost empty white coffee cup with a faded blue stripe around the rim...just waiting to be topped off with fresh coffee crystals and steaming hot water. I let out a giggle while shaking my head, realizing I had checked that area myself and overlooked it. Grandma laughed and said, "Well Angi, I thought you were smarter than me! I'd have better luck looking by myself next time!"

My Grandma had a wonderful sense of humor and a big personality. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with her. She was an energetic woman, full of life and the Holy Spirit. She never met a stranger and would never pass up an opportunity to witness about Christ. She was exceedingly long-winded, but never a bore to the listener (which you most often were). To be a guest in her home, one could expect a genuine hug, a hot meal and a "sermon" or two. She could quote scripture on the spot...book, chapter and verse. She could remember birthdays, anniversaries and the full names of even the most distant of relatives in her huge extended family. She rarely "followed" recipes and never held her nose to a cookbook, yet produced some of the most delicious meals and desserts. She was always current on events happening around the world, in the family and even in town...all without ever leaving the comfort of her home.  I often marveled at how she was able to attain and remember all of these things. However, that innocent cup of coffee managed to trip her up everytime!



*My Grandma was a military spouse too! My Grandpa and Grandma were originally from Texas. They moved to Cache, Oklahoma shortly after my Grandpa was stationed at an Army base nearby.