Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food

30 April 2010

Video: Louisiana Chef Makes Crawfish Etouffee

From Denny: This video is great for demonstrating how to make a roux fast and furious on the stove. If you are unfamiliar with how to make a roux then this video will prove useful. Making a roux to the desired color of choice is all about preference. New Orleans uses a very dark roux the color of milk chocolate, sometimes darker. In Baton Rouge we go for a lighter roux about the color of caramel candy.

The traditional roux most people know is what you use for a cream sauce - but you don't take it to the darker stages before adding water, milk or cream. A traditional roux is where you heat a pan, add butter or oil, then add flour until well dissolved, then adding the liquid quickly. The key to a good roux in Louisiana cooking, besides the color which adds a richer roasted flavor since you are basically pan roasting the flour, is to cook the roux and liquid for at least 30 minutes to cook out the flour flavor and glue like texture. That's when the dish gets to shine as awesome flavor, playing up the spices.

Since this is a local food video, and the local media doesn't usually keep embedded videos available past one year, I've included some recipes for crawfish etouffee and smothered crawfish (about the same thing).

Smothering your food sounds a bit psychopath to people outside the American South but it's a favorite of the slow food mindset in country Cajun cooking. What are some of the essentials for this smothering technique? You have to bring on board The Holy Trinity of diced onions, bell pepper and celery - along with some salt, pepper and garlic powder.

The smothering technique is also used for meat dishes like pan fried pork chops that are then covered and cooked with a small amount of liquid and veggies, creating a gravy. Basically, it's a kind of braising. First you sear the meat, then add the onions, bell pepper and celery, then the flour. When you add the flour this way you get a lighter brown roux. Add your liquid of choice and you don't have to worry about getting lumps in your gravy. Just cover and slow cook for a while until desired tenderness. Easy as can be!

It's one of those low maintenance dishes you can ignore for 30 minutes to an hour or keep on low heat until ready to serve. These kinds of slow food smothered dishes work well for busy households where everyone is on the go with different schedules but want a home cooked meal ready and waiting with ease. In the South we even smother potatoes and other vegetables besides meat dishes.

Chef Joe Caton, of Louisiana Lagniappe restaurant in Baton Rouge, serves up a classic Louisiana crawfish etouffee. He only offers this dish when the crawfish are in season and fresh. Be sure to visit Louisiana during crawfish season which lasts through May! The rest of the year you will only find the crawfish tails frozen.

If you don't have access to crawfish in your area then consider using shrimp, oysters or a meaty fish as any of those choices are equally wonderful!











Smothered Crawfish

From: The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crawfish cookbook by Jerald and Glenda Horst

Serves: 4-6


Smothered Crawfish

Ingredients:

1 stick butter
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 small bell peppers, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbls. flour
2 lbs. crawfish tails
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Cooked rice

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a cast-iron Dutch oven over low heat. Add the onions, bell peppers and garlic. Sauté over heat until the onions are transparent.

2. Add the flour and stir until blended.

3. Add the crawfish, salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve over cooked rice.

Tip: Smothering works best in a cast-iron pot over low heat. Take your time and do not rush this dish.





More recipes for Crawfish Etouffee from this blog:

Louisiana Crawfish Etouffee From Lafittes Landing - Famous Louisiana Chef John Folse

New Orleans Recipes: Crawfish Etouffee, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Jambalaya, Sazerac Cocktail


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Chocolate Wonders: Kentucky Derby Pie, Make-ahead Chocolate Soufflé



Here's a version of the pie I found over at flickr and it was so beautiful and creative I just had to share it with you! Chocolate pecan derby pie with caramel bourbon sauce, berry-ginger coulis by Greencolander @ flickr


From Denny: With the Kentucky Derby season upon us with the running of the horses the food displays and competitions are also out in full force. Here are a couple of yummy chocolate recipes to get you in the mood for the horse races.

I still have fond memories of when we lived in Atlanta, Georgia, of The Dessert Place bakery. They sure had an awesome version of the famous Kentucky Derby Pie! Did you know the origin of the Kentucky Derby Pie? The recipe can be traced back to a lunch restaurant in Prospect, Kentucky, which is in the Louisville area. This pie was created in 1950 by the restaurant owners of The Melrose Inn, Walter and Leaudra Kern. The family sold the inn in 1960 but retained the copyright to the Derby Pie and to this day the famous recipe is "still under lock and key."

When you Google Kentucky Derby Pie recipe over 104,000 recipes show up in the search with over 221,000 recipes showing up for Derby Pie! There are a lot of admirers and imitators out there.

A Derby Pie can be frozen - after it has thoroughly cooled. This particular recipe is from our local newspaper writer, Camile Cassidy, who received it from a friend.

The second recipe here really caught my eye when I realized a chocolate souffle could actually be made a day ahead and refrigerated! Talk about being able to sit back and enjoy your guests without having to jump up half way through the dinner to pop the souffles into the oven to be in perfect timing when people are ready for dessert! These individual serving souffles can be partially made a day ahead and then you finish baking them when you are ready to serve. We are a big fan of anything special we can make ahead and it still tastes wonderful when you serve it.

This dessert presents beautifully and you might want to consider it for a special celebration like Mothers Day, birthday or other celebration. Placing a scoop of ice cream on top finishes the look, not to mention your tastebuds!

This recipe produces a light and airy souffle with that desired intense chocolate flavor with all love, enjoy! Make sure as soon as you bake them to top with your favorite ice cream immediately to serve. For me it would a French Vanilla ice cream to complement this rich wonderful chocolate flavor.








Derby Pie by stu_spivack @ flickr



Kentucky Derby Pie

From: Camille Cassidy and her friend Dianne Collins.

Serves: Makes 1 (9-inch) pie. Recipe is shared by Camille Cassidy, who said, “My friend Dianne Collins gave this recipe to me. She would make it for me on my birthday. It has become a family favorite.”

Ingredients:

1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust pastry
1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (6-oz.) pkg. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Fit pie crust into pie plate.

3. Melt butter in small microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, but don’t let it get so hot that you “cook” the eggs.

4. Mix sugar and flour in mixing bowl.

5. Beat the eggs in a small bowl and add eggs and melted butter to sugar-flour mixture. Stir to mix well.

6. Stir in chopped pecans, chocolate chips and vanilla.

7. Pour filling into pie crust and bake for about 40-45 minutes.


Camille Cassidy’s testing note: The original recipe said bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. We like it a little undercooked so that it tastes more like chocolate chip cookie dough.







Photo by NESTLÉ AND FAMILY FEATURES EDITORIAL SYNDICATE


Make-Ahead Chocolate Soufflés

From: Nestlé and Family Features Editorial Syndicate Inc.

Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
Granulated sugar
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/4 cup baking cocoa
4 large eggs, separated
2 tsps. vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar
Vanilla ice cream for topping dessert

Directions:

1. Spray eight (6-ounce) ramekins or custard cups with nonstick cooking spray; coat lightly with granulated sugar.

2. Microwave morsels, butter and baking cocoa in large, microwave-safe bowl on High power for 1 minute; stir well. Microwave at additional 10-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Do not overheat.

3. Stir in egg yolks and vanilla extract.

4. Beat egg whites in large mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 1/3 cup sugar until stiff peaks form.

5. Stir one-fourth of the beaten egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining egg white mixture gently but thoroughly. Spoon into ramekins, filling 3/4 full. Cover individually with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove plastic wrap from soufflés. Place soufflés on baking sheet. Bake on center oven rack for 18 to 20 minutes or until puffed and center still moves slightly. Top with scoop of ice cream. Serve immediately.

Note: To bake immediately, reduce baking time by a couple of minutes.


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

28 April 2010

Those Funny Mothers Day Quotes and Trivia

From Denny: Check out the sampling from one of many funny posts just in time to enjoy for Mothers Day! From the latest Mothers Day cartoons to funny facts about Mothers Day traditions around the world to funny quotes from mothers and about mothering to laugh out loud "how you know you are a mother when..."






Check this out on the way to facts about Mothers Day:

So when do they think the first celebrations of a Mother's Day were honored? As with so many traditions it goes back to ancient Greece where that culture celebrated the Mother of the Gods, Rhea. Their version of the perfect mother received gifts of cakes made with the sweetest honey, lovely flowers and drinks at dawn. Sounds pretty good to me. Make my drink a Margarita on the rocks with Silver Patron Tequila - though I'm not so sure alcoholic drinks were on that Mother's Day menu. :)

Well, we all know you can't talk "ancient" without bringing up the ancient Egyptians into the conversation. They honored the glorious goddess Isis because she was celebrated as the Mother of the Pharaohs - and we all know it's good PR to talk good about the government when getting your head cut off is at stake.

Speaking of an ancient culture, the Chinese are rather sentimental about how they celebrate motherhood. The tradition with them is that their family name often begins with the character for the word "mother." It's the way they like to honor their ancestral mothers who brought their line into this world.





You Know You Are Really A Mom When...

* You want to take out a contract on the kid who broke your child's favorite toy and made them cry.

* You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance.

* You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching.

* Your child insists that you read "Once upon a Potty" out loud in the lobby of the doctor's office and you do it.





My Mother Taught Me...

To Value A Job Well Done: If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.

Time Travel: If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!

Logic: Because I said so, that's why.


*** Make sure to pay a visit to The Mother Post for the full post and all the funny links from several other Mothers Day posts to enjoy:

Funny Mothers Day Quotes and Trivia - Cheeky Quote Day 28 Apr 2010


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

27 April 2010

5 Easy Recipes 4 Chicken and Sausage Gumbo



Another version of Chicken and sausage gumbo by Southern Foodways Alliance @ flickr who compete in cook offs

From Denny: When shrimp and crawfish are not in season or too expensive then folks on the Gulf Coast turn to chicken and sausage to make their gumbos. There are as many variations of gumbo as there are people!

This recipe comes from our local newspaper writer, Corinne Cook, who has devised a short-cut on making the roux. She uses the bottled version made by Savoie that is called Savoie’s Old-Fashioned Dark Brown Roux. I've often sent this product out of state included in a Louisiana basket for gifts as it is great for novices who don't know how to make their own roux.

Let me know how you like this version of gumbo. I've included links to other variations of Chicken and Sausage Gumbo I've posted on this blog too, enjoy!





Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

From: Corinne Cook, local food writer for The Advocate newspaper

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

2 links Savoie’s original pork sausage
Water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 large chicken, cut into pieces
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt, pepper and cayenne pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup chopped green onion tops
Cooked rice

Directions:

1. Chop sausage into 2- to 3-inch lengths. Cook in 1 cup water for 15 minutes to soften the sausage and remove some of the fat. Drain and set aside to cool slightly, then cut into about 1/2-inch slices or bite-size pieces.

2. In large heavy pot over medium-high heat, make a dark brown roux using flour and oil. Stir constantly until it turns the color of cocoa powder.

3. Add celery, bell pepper and onions to roux. Cook until vegetables are softened, stirring occasionally, as needed.

4. Add the chicken pieces to the pot along with the garlic and about 1/2 gallon water. Season to taste with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.

5. Cover and cook for 30 minutes over low heat. Stir in the reserved sausage and put the top back on the pot and continue cooking for another hour or until chicken is tender.

6. Add chopped parsley and green onion tops about 5 minutes before serving, while the gumbo is still hot. Serve over cooked rice.

NOTE: Corinne Cook said she actually used Savoie’s Old-Fashioned Dark Brown Roux when she made our pot of gumbo. “I can’t tell the difference in taste. If using the prepared roux, I sauté my vegetables first in a bit of oil, and if that’s too dry, I add a little water to it until they’re soft, then add the water, roux and chicken. Or, follow the recipe on jar, if necessary, but I use a little less than the amount of roux they call for,” Cook said.


*** MORE Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and Gumbo recipes from this blog:

New Orleans Recipes: Crawfish Etouffee, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Jambalaya, Sazerac Cocktail

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Recipe: Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Gumbo


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Easy Moist Chocolate Mayo Cake From Bon Appetit

From Denny: Have you ever made a chocolate cake without butter but with mayonnaise as the substitute for oil? It's surprisingly good too while it creates an extra moist mouth-watering chocolate treat! Bon Appetit was on The Today Show this week touting their latest cookbook.

Well, it gets better. I've made this kind of chocolate cake - once out of desperation - only to find it was a great idea to substitute mayo for butter. I was about to pass on the video and recipe until I saw the cool update Bon Appetit came up with to create one awesome presentation: a chocolate collar to wrap around the cake.


Here's the new cookbook and already discounted at Amazon:




Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes by David Lebovitz


Review from Bon Appetit: Trained as a baker in France and Belgium, Lebovitz spent 12 years in the pastry department at Chez Panisse (his strongest baking influence was Lindsey Shere, founding pastry chef of the restaurant). He has authored three cookbooks including Room for Dessert and The Perfect Scoop. The Paris-based baker also writes an award-winning blog, davidlebovitz.com, where he shares recipes, cooking tips, and his picks for culinary experiences in La Ville-Lumiere.



Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy







Here's the demo on how easy it is to dress up a holiday cake or use this chocolate collar band on this cake:









Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

From: Bon Appetit magazine

10 to 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

Cake:

• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (do not exceed 61 percent cacao), chopped
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 13/4 cups boiling water
• 23/4 cups all purpose flour
• 11/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 1 1/3 cups mayonnaise (do not use reduced- fat or fat-free)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate (do not exceed 61% cacao), chopped
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted (measured, then sifted)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Special equipment:

• Three 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides

DIRECTIONS

* Mayonnaise replaces the oil that is typically used in chocolate cakes. It makes this cake — which would make the ideal birthday cake — incredibly moist and tender.

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour three 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Combine chocolate and cocoa powder in medium metal bowl. Add 1 3/4 cups boiling water and whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Sift flour, baking soda, and baking powder into another medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat both sugars and mayonnaise in large bowl until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 4 additions alternately with chocolate mixture in 3 additions, beating until blended after each addition and occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Divide batter among prepared cake pans (about 21/3 cups for each).

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 30 to 32 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 20 minutes. Run small knife around sides of cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto racks and cool completely.

Frosting:

Place chopped chocolate in medium metal bowl; set bowl over saucepan of simmering water and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove bowl from over water; let chocolate cool until lukewarm, stirring occasionally.

Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar and beat until well blended, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add melted chocolate and beat until well blended and smooth, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.

Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over top of cake layer to edges. Top with second cake layer; spread 3/4 cup frosting over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting decoratively over top and sides of cake. Cut cake into wedges and serve.

Do ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.


Here's the new cookbook and already discounted at Amazon:




Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes by David Lebovitz



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

26 April 2010

Roundup of Late Nite Funnies: Colbert Lampoons Arizona Immigration Law

From Denny: Here's a fun sampling of the laugh out loud funnies going on over at The Social Poets on Mondays where I round up the late night jokes, political cartoons and funny videos lampooning something, someone and somewhere. It's a great way to get through the work week with a silly grin on your face. Maybe your boss will actually think you are enjoying your lame job - or looking at eight hours of porn on company time just like the weirdos over at the SEC. "Our government at work..." :)





David Letterman's Top Ten Goldman Sachs Excuses





10. Huh?

9. You're saying 'fraud' like it's a bad thing

8. Planned on using money to buy everyone in America delicious KFC Double Down sandwich

7. Distraught over George Lopez's move to midnight

6. We were framed by evil menswear company Goldman Slacks

5. Since when are financial institutions not allowed to screw their customers?

4. Hey sport, how much to make these questions go away?

3. America needed a villain both Republicans and Democrats can hate

2. Everyone we ripped off got an 'I Got Cheated By Goldman Sachs' tote bag

1. Uhh, it's Obama's fault?







*** Colbert pokes jabs at the state of Arizona for passing controversial bold new immigration bill which basically legalizes the harassment of Latinos. Colbert thinks the new strategy is one to irritate and frustrate the Latino community to the point they will get fed up and leave on their own.







The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - No Problemo
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorFox News








*** For the full post full of late night jokes from all the guys, please visit:



Colbert Lampoons Immigration and Pot Smokers - Roundup of Late Nite Comedy 26 Apr 2010





*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

25 April 2010

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs 25 Apr 2010



From Denny: Reading is such a pleasure because we can learn new information or take a mental trip into someone else's world to see what they discover. These days I seem to be on the writing end rather than the reading end. Maybe that's what happens after you spend so much time reading: you start writing! :)

I love to poke around and see what I find and then share it on my blogs. Here are some of the latest posts and also many of the most popular ones from my many eclectic interests, enjoy! And hey! - if you cook anything wonderful from these recipe posts, send a sample dish my way - and let me know how you have altered the recipes to your tastes. We love trying new foods at our house!





The Social Poets:


Whats Happening in America This Week - Political Cartoons 24 Apr 2010

Prez Clinton Versus Violent Wingnuts and Blowhard Limbaugh

Hey, Tea Party, Give Up Your Socialism Social Security Checks - Roundup of Late Night Comedy 19 Apr 2010

Pollen Storms poem - Libations Friday 9 April 2010

Top 15 Bestsellers of What America is Reading: 15 Apr 2010


The Smallest Earth Day Poem

Release Your Dreams & Spring into Life - poem

Funny Allergy Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day 7 Apr 2010

Funny Tax Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day 14 Apr 2010

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs - 18 Apr 2010






Dennys Global Politics:


Greedy Opportunistic Wall Street: Political Cartoons, Opinion Post

Icelands 2nd Volcano, Haiti Food Stops, Wayward Nukes Seized, Freaky Unschooling, Earth Day - News Headlines 21 Apr 2010

Prez Clinton Versus Violent Wingnuts and Blowhard Limbaugh

Poison Politics Meet Domestic Terrorists, Volcano Axes Economies, Wall Street War, Octupus Thief - News Headlines 20 Apr 2010

Prez Clinton Interviews, Slamming Wall Street, Tea Party Spat With Fox, Volcano Effect - News Headlines 19 Apr 2010






Beautiful Quotes:


How Is Your Relationship With Your Inspiration Muse?

What Spiritual Tests Develop Good Character And Our Talents? - with over 12,700 views the first day that sure was a happy surprise. Thank You!

Your Dreams: 5 Common Characteristics

Does Your Life Feel Like a Disaster?

3 Quotes About Facing Tough Times

Uplifting Soul Quote: What is Your Power in the World?

Spiritual Energy: Can Simple Words Add to Our Quality of Life?







Humor Blogs:

Greedy Opportunistic Wall Street: Political Cartoons, Opinion Post

Ridiculous Outrageous Extra Airline Fees: Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons: Iceland Volcano Wrecks World Economy

College Grads Chances of Finding Jobs: Political Cartoons

Funny Earth Day Cartoons

Take the Test: Whats Your Sex IQ?

Crazy Limbaugh Blames Iceland Volcano on Obama

Outrageous Tea Party Tax Signs and the Perverted Fools That Carry Them





Food Blogs:


Cooking 4 Men, Teaching Men to Cook 2

Gorgeous Whiskey Chocolate Brownies

2 Crowd Pleasing Easy Casseroles: Mexican Lasagna, Turkey Tetrazzini

Awesome Cajun Barbecued Shrimp — New Orleans Style

Yummy Homemade Coconut Cream Pie

Awesome Sauces 4 Louisiana Seafood

New Orleans Recipes: Crawfish Etouffee, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Jambalaya, Sazerac Cocktail

Kid Friendly Recipes: Chocolate Quesadillas, Very Best Fudge

Spring Into Grill Season: Mouthwatering Steaks

Chef Rocco Dispiritos Cheap Yet Healthy Comfort Food

Forget the Birds: Awesome Recipes 4 Stale Bread

Flourless Passover Chocolate Cake

Kid Chefs Offer Tasty Recipes 4 Sandwiches Adults Will Like






The Soul Calendar - science:


Political Cartoons: Iceland Volcano Wrecks World Economy

Icelands Volcanic Ash: Hurting Us And Our Planet?

What Do All the Recent Global Earthquakes Mean?

Come to Iceland: Experience Living With a Volcano in Your Back Yard

Moon Water: Order Up Your Cocktail Today

New Astronomy Photos: Cosmic Rosebud, Winds of Change Black Hole, Orion Nebula





Visual Insights - photos:

Happy Birthday to Our Humanitarian Friend Peter

Dennys Photo Gallery: How to Know Its Spring

Funny Odd Couples: Cats and Their Weirdo Friends

Dennys Photo Gallery: Spectacular Sunrises

Dennys Photo Gallery: Beautiful Blues in Our World

Photography, Beautiful Metaphor for Life: 17 Boats

Only White Theme: 26 Photos

Photo History: 1st Lady Gowns, Michelle Obama Donates Hers





*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

24 April 2010

Whats Happening in America This Week - Political Cartoons 24 Apr 2010

From Denny: In the interest of getting these pages to load faster for you I thought I'd try something different. You know about the traveling dinner concept? That's where you go to one person's house for the opening cocktail or appetizer, then travel on to another house for a salad, then somewhere else for the entree and finally the dessert.

Well, since I have such a love of the satire from clever political cartoonists lampooning our society, current culture and politics the weekly posts have gotten far too long. Fun but long. So, I thought I'd treat you to a traveling post among my various blogs to enjoy the flavors at each "house."

In this "house" post weapons seem to be the main theme: Iran working on becoming a nuclear state, concealed weapons carried by college students on campus and coffee drinkers into Starbucks coffee shops. It's no big surprise that NASA and the Air Force are preparing to weaponize space. More weapons loose on deck are the "nuclear option" of the Republican filibuster, the financial sledgehammer from Wall Street bankers and - leading up to celebration of Earth Day - planet Earth setting off the Icelandic volcano to scream its message of "Enough already with the fossil fuels, people!" Yeah, that Iceland volcano sure got the attention of the airline industry. It cost $200 million per day worldwide, wrecking a weak economy in Europe and America.

Check out what the cartoonists had to say about this week's news...






Where Obama, the Tea Party, Nukes and NASA intersect:


















































Congress and their voting dilemmas:















Oh, NASA, Oh, NASA, where art thou?










Our Earth:














*** Check out the rest of the Saturday series of political cartoons this week:

Greedy Opportunistic Wall Street: Political Cartoons, Opinion Post

College Grads Chances of Finding Jobs: Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons: Iceland Volcano Wrecks World Economy

Ridiculous Outrageous Extra Airline Fees: Political Cartoons

Cool Earth Day Links, Message From Our Prez

The Smallest Earth Day Poem - Libations Friday 16 Apr 2010


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

23 April 2010

2 Crowd Pleasing Easy Casseroles: Mexican Lasagna, Turkey Tetrazzini

From Denny: Our local newspaper often runs some very easy recipes that are real crowd pleasers. They are great to have on hand for entertaining, gatherings for christenings, homecomings, reunions or funerals. Even though this is a big city people still rally together when there is a death in the family. When that happens neighbors always bring over a dish of food so the grieving family does not have the burden of cooking during a stressful time when friends and relatives gather.

Other times neighbors pull a dish out of their freezer, ready to go, when there is a new baby born or other special homecoming like a soldier returned from Iraq or Afghanistan. Around here in south Louisiana people love to cook and love to share their simple food with everyone. It's just tradition to give of your food!

Both of these recipes can be made ahead and then reheated, often tasting better as the flavors have a chance to sit and have a long conversation of mingling. :)

The Mexican version of lasagna will please all your beef eaters in the family. Ground beef is cooked along with green bell peppers and taco seasoning spices and diced Ro-tel tomatoes (jalapenos and tomatoes). Then this ground beef mixture gets layered up with a cream cheese and sour cream combination, then layers of lasagna noodles, yummy cheese and olives.

Now Turkey Tetrazzini is one of those comfort food casseroles you like to make for someone when they are recovering from a cold or the flu. You can also make it with chicken or include bits of ham.

This recipe comes from the local newspaper food writer, Carol Anne Blitzer. She adapted this recipe from Mrs. Lenton Sartain’s Chicken Tetrazzini recipe from local but nationally popular cookbook, “River Road Recipes.” She doubles the recipe so she can freeze one casserole to have ready to go.





Another version of Mexican lasagna by moacirpdsp @ flickr


Mexican Lasagna

From: Lynette Nolan, "This makes a big dish so I always make this for company. It’s one of those dishes everyone likes, and all you need to go with it is a vegetable and a big green salad."

Makes: 12-15 servings

Ingredients:

2 tbls. vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs. lean ground meat
1 (10-oz.) can Ro-tel tomatoes and green chilies (original or mild)
2 tbls. chili powder
1 (1-oz.) pkg. taco seasoning mix
2 (8-ozs.) cans tomato sauce
8 ozs. lasagna noodles (either the precooked or the type you cook)
1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 or 2 green onions, chopped
1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese
with jalapeño peppers (or plain, if desired), shredded
1 (2.25-oz.) can sliced black olives
1/4 cup sliced pimento-stuffed olives

Directions:

1. In skillet, heat oil and add onions, bell peppers, garlic and ground meat. Cook until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are beginning to soften. If any fat accumulates around edges, remove it with a spoon. Add Ro-tel tomatoes, chili powder, taco seasoning and tomato sauce. Continue simmering for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Meanwhile preheat oven to 325 degrees and cook the noodles according to package directions. Some brands do not require cooking beforehand.

3. Blend sour cream and cream cheese together until smooth. Stir chopped green onions into cream cheese mixture and set aside.

4. Spray 9x13-inch baking dish or pan with nonstick coating. Layer bottom of dish with lasagna noodles. Spread half of the meat mixture over noodles. Add half of the sour cream/cream cheese mixture. The easiest way is to drop spoonfuls of the creamy mixture over surface and then spread. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.

5. Repeat layers but add olives before adding grated cheese: (noodles, meat, sour cream/cream cheese mixture, olives, then grated cheese). Cover with foil but tent it slightly so top will not stick to cheese.

6. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven for 1 hour or until bubbly and noodles are tender.








Another version of Turkey Tetrazzini by jasonlam @ flickr


Turkey Tetrazzini


From: Mrs. Lenton Sartain from “River Road Recipes” is adapted by Carol Anne Blitzer, food writer from 2theadvocate.


Fills 2 (9 x 11-inch) aluminum foil, deep-dish pans, each of which serves about 8.

Ingredients:

1 to 1-1/4 lbs. spaghetti
1 stick butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 qt. whole milk
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning, to taste
4 to 5 cups chopped cooked turkey
1 (8-oz.) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1/2 to 1 lb. cheddar cheese, grated


Directions:

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions to the al dente stage.

2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter and blend in the flour. Slowly add the milk, stirring over low heat until mixture forms a medium white sauce. Add dry mustard, black pepper, lemon juice and Tony Chachere’s seasoning.

3. Mix in the turkey and the drained mushrooms.

4. Drain the spaghetti and add into the sauce mixture.

5. Divide into 2 casseroles. Top with cheese. At this point, Carol Anne Blitzer freezes the casserole(s) until needed. When ready to serve, thaw casserole in the refrigerator and reheat at 350 degrees until bubbly. Be careful to make a tent of a sheet of aluminum foil to place over the casserole as it bakes so that the cheese does not stick to the foil and the spaghetti doesn’t dry out.






*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
Related Posts with Thumbnails

Ratings and Recommendations by outbrain