I've changed my eating habits over the last three months and tend to keep a close eye on what I enjoy and the calorie count. I actually do not feel deprived because the longer I go without extra sugar in my diet, the better fruit and vegetables are tasting. My husband and I still have a splurge but keep it within bounds.
Today, we were out shopping and we remembered a review we had read about a fast food place that was supposed to have terrific fries. We decided to get a small order and share it. An order of fries is usually about 400 calories so we enjoyed the spur-of-the-moment treat. My husband came back to the car with what seems like a large bag for a small order. The fries were interesting, tasty enough, but not terrific as advertised. They were okay. We didn't finish them but were glad to have tried them. As we drove along, my husband mentioned that they had the calorie count next to the menu . . . and the fries were 1,425 calories! I exclaimed that I couldn't believe a small order of fries could have that many calories. My husband got quiet and then said, "Uh, I got a large order . . ."
With that information, I'm firmly of the belief that the fries were not worth ever going back for and I will not send my husband in to buy the next extravagance we might want to try. Fortunately, we barely ate a third each and my teen son happy ate the leftovers we brought home. Does he worry about calories? In fact, he does but only about getting enough as he is a thin guy. It really isn't fair! :-)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Inexpensive meat - expensive-tasting recipes!
A friend asked about recipes and in searching out one that I like to use, I re-discovered an old favorite so thought I'd share both of them here.
This recipe's ingredients seem simple but the combination and taste is excellent. I discovered a
small cookbook of the dishes offered at Rao's Restaurant in New York. It is a very small one, people reserve a table months ahead of time, and some people even have a reserved table for when and if they are in town. Obviously, they are the wealthy and movie star types.
The combination of wine, cream, and mustard is fantastic. Although the recipe calls for hacking the chicken into very small portions, I've often done this recipe with a regular cut up chicken with good results. It goes well over hot rice or with pasta.
Mark Twain understood . . .
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands
explained.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Ascension Thursday . . . Sunday?
In our side of the United States, the bishops decided to move Ascension Thursday to Sunday. It never seems quite the same but there you have it. It is still a feast day to be honored so I'm sharing two of my favorite quotes in honor of the day.
"Be present, O Lord, to our supplications; as we trust the Savior of mankind is seated with Thee in majesty, so may we feel that, according to His promise, He abideth with us until the end of the world."
(Collect from Leonine Sacramentary 5th century)
"Today above the sky He soared, alleluia.
The King of glory, Christ the Lord, alleluia.
He sitteth on the Father's hand, alleluia.
And ruleth sky and sea and land, alleluia."
(Anonymous: Coelos ascendit hodie. 13th century)
"Be present, O Lord, to our supplications; as we trust the Savior of mankind is seated with Thee in majesty, so may we feel that, according to His promise, He abideth with us until the end of the world."
(Collect from Leonine Sacramentary 5th century)
"Today above the sky He soared, alleluia.
The King of glory, Christ the Lord, alleluia.
He sitteth on the Father's hand, alleluia.
And ruleth sky and sea and land, alleluia."
(Anonymous: Coelos ascendit hodie. 13th century)
Summer weather, barbecue, food . . .
Although I didn't lit up the outside barbecue grill for dinner today, I did put a rack of pork ribs in the oven at 300 degrees to cook them low and slow in hopes of some juicy ribs. The fact that I marinated them in soy sauce and white wine didn't hurt that hoped-for result either. To further enhance the summer taste of barbecue, I did a quick mix of a basting sauce.
I usually like to fuss over the sauce starting from scratch and mixing and inventing. Today was one of those days so I took my sneaky easy route. Depending on how many ribs you are making, you may want to add or subtract the ingredients a bit. Basically, I mixed 1 cup of bottled barbecue sauce with three tablespoons of coarse Dijon mustard, dried onion flakes, and a good pinch of chili flakes. After the ribs had cooked for an hour, I brushed the sauce liberally over the meat. Every 15-20 minutes I added another brushing of the sauce. Since I am roasting them in the oven at such a low temperature, it will take about two to three hours to cook. My quick combination gives it good flavor and tastes like you fussed.
I had leftover wild rice mixture from dinner last night. I mixed it with three eggs, onion, cheese, salt, pepper, and some chili flakes. I am gently frying it in a pan heated up with a bit of butter.
It's not hard to come up with a good dinner and still keep some recreation time for the Sunday afternoon. I've come to realize, however, that I like to provide healthy, tasty food for my family and approach my cooking as a vocation not a job.
I usually like to fuss over the sauce starting from scratch and mixing and inventing. Today was one of those days so I took my sneaky easy route. Depending on how many ribs you are making, you may want to add or subtract the ingredients a bit. Basically, I mixed 1 cup of bottled barbecue sauce with three tablespoons of coarse Dijon mustard, dried onion flakes, and a good pinch of chili flakes. After the ribs had cooked for an hour, I brushed the sauce liberally over the meat. Every 15-20 minutes I added another brushing of the sauce. Since I am roasting them in the oven at such a low temperature, it will take about two to three hours to cook. My quick combination gives it good flavor and tastes like you fussed.
I had leftover wild rice mixture from dinner last night. I mixed it with three eggs, onion, cheese, salt, pepper, and some chili flakes. I am gently frying it in a pan heated up with a bit of butter.
It's not hard to come up with a good dinner and still keep some recreation time for the Sunday afternoon. I've come to realize, however, that I like to provide healthy, tasty food for my family and approach my cooking as a vocation not a job.
Free isn't always worthy . . .
As
long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in
your mind.
- Isabelle Holland
Fanciful Celebrants and wayward Masses . . .
A priest once went to great lengths to emphasize to us that Sunday Mass doesn't begin when you walk into the door of the church. He said we should prepare for the Mass through our dressing and drive to the church. I think he meant we should consider the day totally a holy one and approach the Mass with preparation and dignity. Seems like a good way to look at things, doesn't it?
So, how come so much of the circus atmosphere in our churches today come at the suggestion of the celebrating priest? Nothing worse than trying to do a little praying before Mass and being disturbed by the joking and conversation by the priest as he awaits his 'cue' to begin.
It also seems that obeying the Rubrics assigned to the celebration of Mass would make life easy for the priest. Doesn't work that way as so many priests start adding or taking away bits and pieces of the set liturgy to make it 'friendlier' or 'in tune' with the times.
We hit a rock bottom level on piety and rubrics one Sunday. We were about to sit down for the readings and the priest stopped us short and insisted we all greet each other and welcome each other to our home. I always figured it was God's home, myself! At this point, we have shaken hands with the greeters when we came in the chuch and now were greeting pretty much the same people once more. Things got worse from that point!
We were informed that God is our Father so we are all princes and princesses. I always thought we were God's people and, since Jesus came to earth as a human, we were His brother and sisters. God didn't send His son down to impress the crowds with power and might so why would we be considered royalty? The priest sauntered up and down the aisles, elaborating on his theory in simple terms that we couldn't fail to understand. In other words, he tended to talk down to us like a class of small children. About 15 minutes later, we get to the Our Father and, guess what??? It is hand holding/greeting time, again. My husband figured we could have a goodbye greeting before Mass was dismissed along with the farewell greeters waiting at the back of the church.
I know most of these priests mean well but you have to wonder why they fear quiet prayer and moments of solitude during the Mass? While I'm on a rant, I do not think the dismissal at Mass should be changed to "Go the Mass is just beginning!" If we don't instill a sense of awe in our children, how can we bring them to continued belief?
So, how come so much of the circus atmosphere in our churches today come at the suggestion of the celebrating priest? Nothing worse than trying to do a little praying before Mass and being disturbed by the joking and conversation by the priest as he awaits his 'cue' to begin.
It also seems that obeying the Rubrics assigned to the celebration of Mass would make life easy for the priest. Doesn't work that way as so many priests start adding or taking away bits and pieces of the set liturgy to make it 'friendlier' or 'in tune' with the times.
We hit a rock bottom level on piety and rubrics one Sunday. We were about to sit down for the readings and the priest stopped us short and insisted we all greet each other and welcome each other to our home. I always figured it was God's home, myself! At this point, we have shaken hands with the greeters when we came in the chuch and now were greeting pretty much the same people once more. Things got worse from that point!
We were informed that God is our Father so we are all princes and princesses. I always thought we were God's people and, since Jesus came to earth as a human, we were His brother and sisters. God didn't send His son down to impress the crowds with power and might so why would we be considered royalty? The priest sauntered up and down the aisles, elaborating on his theory in simple terms that we couldn't fail to understand. In other words, he tended to talk down to us like a class of small children. About 15 minutes later, we get to the Our Father and, guess what??? It is hand holding/greeting time, again. My husband figured we could have a goodbye greeting before Mass was dismissed along with the farewell greeters waiting at the back of the church.
I know most of these priests mean well but you have to wonder why they fear quiet prayer and moments of solitude during the Mass? While I'm on a rant, I do not think the dismissal at Mass should be changed to "Go the Mass is just beginning!" If we don't instill a sense of awe in our children, how can we bring them to continued belief?
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