Catnipped Cats
Lucy was wallowing in the catnip, having a grand time, when suddenly.
Stupor.
Ollie stumbled into the living room, collapsed, and was hanging onto the rug for dear life. His eyes unfocused. Just waiting ~~~~
for the rug to stop moving so he could get up.
Cooking Class!
*for free!
I can show you how to trash your kitchen with every supper. You just make your meals from scratch! And the best meals are those where you need to make at least three things at once! With lots of ingredients! And make sure it's a new recipe so you have no idea what you are doing!
Lesson learned? PREP YOUR INGREDIENTS BEFOREHAND.
This was Home-Style Pastitsio
Recipe review: Mixed
one loved it
one said it was good, except for that white stuff
one said "meh"
Next class:
How to cook a huge brisket in a Crockpot.
I always put my Crockpot outside because I get tired of smelling food all day in the house. So anyway, cut your brisket in half and put it- with some onions, garlic, and spices- in the crockpot. Then add water. Then check it later and notice that the meat had swelled up and raised the lid and a lot of the liquid had boiled away. Add more liquid...
...and balance a heavy nail magnet on it to hold the lid down.
Then check on it later and notice...
....it is now overflowing...
Oh. Joy.
So, clean up most of the mess with a wad of paper towels before it rus down the side of the washer, quickly scoop out some liquid, and then clean up the rest.
Bon Appetit!
Another fun thing to cook is steaks in a cast iron pan.
Seriously. Fun. As in entertaining because it's kind of scary and kind of fascinating. And the sound effects are great. You will feel like a master chef!
Seriously. Fun. As in entertaining because it's kind of scary and kind of fascinating. And the sound effects are great. You will feel like a master chef!
The most important part of the instructions is to disconnect your smoke detector. Especially if it is as sensitive as mine. Mine can't even bear it if I make popcorn in the hot air popper. And you probably won't have time to disconnect it while cooking. Just warning you.
This way of cooking steaks is awesome though.
You can cook a steak in 5 to 7 minutes flat.
You use a very hot oven and a stove burner on high.
So there is a LOT of sizzling.
The Perfect Restaurant Steak
Pan-Seared Rib-Eye
I mostly follow the first recipe but the other one is interesting too. I basically preheat my pan in the oven, then put it on the burner set on high, but I only wait about 30 seconds before putting my meat in.
And this is a sure fire way to cure cast iron pans.
My pans are coming along so nicely!
Remember what they were like when I got them?
Check. Them. Out!
I use them almost daily and they are almost perfectly seasoned.
I use them almost daily and they are almost perfectly seasoned.
Beautiful!
Coyote (and cricket) Chorus
"Along towards evening, the coyotes come out of their dens and set up a howl. Actually, the word "howl" doesn't begin to express the variety of sounds they make. Sometimes they howl and sometimes they bark, and sometimes they make eerie, tormented screams that almost defy description."
Just listen:
And a short, but heartfelt ode to the full moon:
"In my Hank the Cowdog stories, Hank is attracted to the coyotes because they live adventurous lives. They revel in the joy of being uncouth, ignorant, and irresponsible. Hank likes that, and every now and then he feels the urge to quit his job as Head of Ranch Security and join up with them.
But he is also aware of the danger of being in their company. They are always trying to eat him, and that does complicate a relationship."
-John R. Erickson
I need to check out these CD's from the library again. I miss Rip and Snort, and Scraunch, and Chief. They are so funny. And, it's healthy to laugh.
Plus- it's fun!
Plus- it's fun!
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*This post was brought to you by the letter "C"