Wow!

Little evil would be done in the world if evil never could be done in the name of good.

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

Tomato Quotes?

Too much time out in the sun plucking ripe tomatoes off the plants, I guess. How else would it have made me think there could possibly be quotes about tomatoes?

A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins." - Laurie Colwin

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard

Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good." - Alice May Brock

How did the Italians eat spaghetti before the advent of the tomato? Was there such a thing as tomato-less Neapolitan pizza?” - Elizabeth David, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine

Revisiting memories today . . .

 

Looking back and remembering aspects of the recent trip my son and I enjoyed. These are views of King Ludwig of Bavaria's castle, Linderhof - one of three residences. Although I liked them all, I think this one is my favorite. It is the only completed one and very rich and impressive. King Ludwig was a great admirer of the French King so you can see many aspects of the French influence.

King Ludwig is considered by some to have been crazy. Perhaps, but his collection of art, his revival of the handicrafts, and his inventions are still seen/used today. His castles may have been an extravagance in his time but they bring a lot of people to visit and learn. Since my mother was born and raised in Bavaria, the word 'crazy' and King Ludwig were not allowed to be used in the same context as he was well-loved by many of the Bavarians.

Tomato harvest . . .

 

Between the unexpected rainstorm, last week, and the sunshine, the tomatoes are doing well this year . . . almost too well as we picked three, large bowls full of them today. Since they were totally ripe, they had to get used immediately so a large pot of fresh spaghetti sauce is bubbling away on the stove. This is a basic, all-vegetable sauce. I freeze it in serving containers and can use it as it is or add meat to it.

In case you didn't know this, peeling tomatoes is very easy. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, dump in your tomatoes and then quickly strain them out into a bowl of iced water. The skins split and you can usually pull them off with your hands. If you leave them in the boiling water too long, you start the sauce process with some tomato stems and leaves in the mix - not tasty.

I believe I posted the recipe for the sauce under Italian sauce but will check and post it if I'm incorrect. Besides this blog, I run a recipe blog under Philling Philosophy and it could be there.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

I don't know how many times I've decided on a dinner prepartion and discovered I didn't have the necessary ingredient. Barbecued chicken comes to mind! No matter how many bottles of barbecue sauce I remember seeing in the cupboard, they aren't there when I want/need them. Here is a way around the missing sauce that still produces a sweet and spicy main course. Who knows, you may even want to give up the tomato version after this.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken

2 chickens cut into serving pieces (or just thighs, legs, etc. whatever is on sale!)
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Good pinch of chili flakes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt to taste

Combine all the ingredients except for the chicken. Brown the chicken in a bit of oil in a frying pan. You aren't cooking it, just giving it a nice golden glow. Place the chicken pieces in a large baking dish. Pour the sauce over the chicken, turning a few times to make sure every piece has a coating.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately an hour - depending on the size of your chicken pieces. Basting the chicken every 15 minutes really incorporates the tastes.

Ideas . . .

You can tuck in chunks of peeled, slice carrots with the chicken as the flavor of the sauce goes well with this vegetable.

Have some hot, buttered rice ready to serve with this dish.

A sprinkling of finely chopped, green onion over each serving is good.

A deep sigh for the willingly uninformed . . .

I was amazed and saddened to see someone show up at morning Mass wearing a loud tee shirt picturing a very, very anti-life political figure. Naturally, he came up to meet and greet with me and all I could see was this adamantly outspoken anti-life person starring at me from the front of the tee shirt. I mentioned to the person that I found it offensive to extoll the virtues of someone who is against protecting the life of the unborn. Typical liberal mentality as he prosed on about 'how that when it is all said and done, many of the things we objected to today will all be clear'. Huh? I went on and said it is kind of hard to find any reason to be 'reasonable' about someone who promotes abortion. I got a pat on the shoulder and a sad smile at my apparent lack of understanding of the big picture.

I have four children. The doctor tried to talk me into terminating two of the pregnancies. One, because of a test that has since proved to be questionable regarding results. He basically said, "So, go ahead and have a Down's baby." I was 38 years old and I could tell he thought I was an idiot to be pregnant in the first place. I delivered a healthy child meanwhile the same doctor's office delivered two other women in their 20's of Down's babies that same time period. The fourth pregnancy, the doctor said it was to 'save my life'. No, I wasn't in any immediate danger, the baby was healthy . . . it was just the easiest way to go. Guess what, 18 years later, that baby and myself are just fine.

Maybe I don't look at the big picture. Perhaps, I just focused on the immediate life I was carrying and wanted to do the best with what had been gifted to me. I had to wonder how the guy with the tee shirt would have advised me. Even as he walked into Mass and participated in the Eucharist, would he turn his back on the precepts of our Faith and God in order to see the big picture? Seems to me that the only One in the whole world who has the view of the big picture is God and not someone who puts the economy and such ahead of life which is the whole picture.

Normandy . . .

 

This was one of my favorite churches in Normandy. It is heartwarming and amazing at how much the United States is remembered for their help and service in this country. Sharing some favorite pictures from that visit.

Homemade Buttermilk Bread

As promised, here is one of the recipes I tried, yesterday. My daughter took one sniff of the baking bread and said it would make wonderful French toast for breakfast. The neighbors didn't seem to mind the loaf I gave them, either.

Homemade Buttermilk Bread

2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup softened butter (Margarine need not apply here!)
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons dry yeast
3 teaspoons salt
Approximately six cups all-purpose flour
Cool (not too warm or hot) water as needed

Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, butter, sugar and yeast. Let it start to bubble a bit, about three to five minutes. In a large mixing bowl, pour in your buttermilk mixture with the salt. Add flour and stir in water until you get a workable dough - not too soft but definitely not stiff and hard. You might need more water or flour but bread is very forgiveable! Turn the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until double.

When your dough had doubled, punch it down and form into two loaves and place in greased bread pans. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise, again.

Bake in a preheated, 375 degree oven for about 45-60 minutes our until golden brown. When slightly cooled down, remove from pans to complete cooling.

Ideas . . .

You can make this dough into rolls, brush with beaten egg, and dust with poppy seeds.

You can take half the dough, roll it out, brush with melted butter, sprinkle heavily with cinnamon and sugar, roll up and fit into the bread pan.

You can take half the dough, roll it out, sprinkle with cheese, and roll it up and fit it back into the bread pan.

Oh, especially the last quote!

"There are people who, instead of listening to what is being said to them, are already listening to what they are going to say themselves."
       -- Albert Guinon

 

"Never confuse movement with action."
       -- Ernest Hemingway

 

"Television is a new medium. It's called a medium because nothing is well-done."
       -- Fred Allen

Simply true . . .

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

Arthur Schopenhauer