Freyja and Loki

Corned Beef Recipe

I love corned beef and a good Ruben sandwich is a comfort food to me, so obviously I wanted to learn how to make my own corned beef.  Buying corned beef in a grocery store is super expensive and the quality is lacking.

Pickling Spice
2 T mustard seeds
2 T coriander seeds
1 T black peppercorns
1 T whole allspice
1 T whole cloves
8 whole cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in pieces
3 bay leaves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp crushed red pepper

Combine all ingredients and set aside.

Brine
1 gallon water
2 c kosher salt
1 T pink curing salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c pickling spice, reserve the rest for later.

In a large pot, combine all ingredients and bring to a simmer.  Ensure that all the sugar is dissolved and remove from heat.  Allow the brine to cool at room temperature.  Place liquid in a 2 gallon re-sealable bag and place in a shallow pan.

Corned Beef
3 1/2 to 4 lb brisket, flat cut
1 medium head cabbage, cut in wedges
1 onion coarsely chopped
4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions:  
1.  Place brisket in the bag with the brine.  Refrigerate for 5 days while turning occasionally.
2.  Rinse the brisket with cold water.  Place in an large pot and cover with fresh water.
3.  Place the remaining pickling spices in a cheesecloth and add to the pot.
4.  Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 3 hours - or until the brisket is fork tender.
5.  Add the cabbage, carrots, and onion during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
6.  Remove the spice bag, thinly slice corned beef, and serve with the cabbage, carrots, and onion.


Photo credit: jeffreyw via Foter.com / CC BY

Mississippi Comeback Sauce Recipe

Mississippi Comeback Sauce

I was looking for a great sauce for my fried oysters.  I came upon this recipe that I had seen many times before and had never tried.  It looked amazingly good and easy to make, so I did.  I can only imagine how good it will be on French fries, tater tots, onion rings, sandwiches, pork. The possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup chili sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- juice of one lemon

Nematodes to Control Fleas

My two dogs have had a bad time this year with fleas.  Even after treating my snorkie and English Pointer with flea treatments according to the directions, they still scratched and fleas could still be found on them.  We figure that even after treating our dogs they go into the yard and pick up new fleas, probably coming from our neighbors direction.  The pointer, Maggie, really chewed her haunches raw.

The weather has turned cold and I no longer see any fleas on the dogs, however there is always next year.  I've been doing research because I do not want to have another flea season like this next year.  A natural fix for fleas seems to be using beneficial nematodes that target flea larva as well as other pest larva in the yard.

I've looked online for price and they seem to range from $15 - $50 for treatment.  I have a small yard, but our house is right up against a large exspanse of grassy park land, where many in the neighborhood come to walk their dogs.

There are thousands of species of nematodes out there so when ordering them for use, please be sure you are ordering the correct species.

I am adding a few links to places that I can order nematodes.

arbico-organics.com
buglogical.com

I am always looking for ways to save money; are you looking for ways to save money? There are a number of areas in day-to-day living where you can save money. Your grocery bill is just one of those areas.

• Do not buy pre-processed food, whenever possible use whole ingredients, there is less processing and therefore the food tends to be less expensive, however You should always compare the price per ounce listed on the price tags. 
• Keep a price book with a list of the cost of the most commonly purchased groceries, check these to ensure that the “sale” prices are really good deals. 
• Build a shopping list on your computer, use it to help develop your shopping list Stick to your shopping lists, do not be tempted by items you do not need. 
• When on “sale”, stock up on staples, buy them in bulk quantities if the price is compelling enough and you are able to use them before the freshness date. 
• Plan your meals and shopping based on what is on sale (check your price book to ensure that those prices really are good). 
• Shop at more than one store – they all tend to have deals on different items – do your price comparisons and split your purchases, if it makes sense to do so. 
• Buy your fresh foods in season and local for the best prices and tastiest foods. 
• Only buy what you can use, or if you enjoy canning buy enough for a full canner load. 
• Learn to make your own bread, pasta, spice mixes, cakes, etc.. the food will be healthier, tastier, and less expensive. Plus there is a great feeling of accomplishment. If you do not currently do this, try just one and perfect it then try another. 
• Begin cutting and using coupons on things you already use, do not buy something you do not already use even if it seems like a great deal. 
• Cut down on the meat portions. Use less meat in your cooking because meat is an expensive form of protein (beans, eggs, and nuts are also protein sources). Instead of using meat as a main dish you can use it as an accompaniment (in stir fries, and pastas).    
• If you do not already have a freezer, a minimal purchase can allow you to stock up on great purchases (turkeys at thanksgiving, ham during the holidays are usually on sale). You can eat well and spend less money doing so. 

These are some simple tips to saving money on groceries. A little planning can make a large difference in the pocket book.



Photo By Svilen.milev - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Drying Cherry Tomatoes in Your Food Dehydrator

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Earlier this spring my mother gave me 3 small “sweet 100” cherry tomato plants.  I was eager to plant them in my garden.  This would be my very first garden in my very first home (I had always rented before – and was unable to plant gardens).  My three little tomato plants became very large tomato plants (I was pruning them back regularly according to everything I had read).  The plants were tied up using about three stakes per tomato plant and metal tomato support racks.  None of this was enough to hold up the plants.

Once the tomatoes came on, the plants grew over 10 feet tall easily.  And the weight of the plant and tomatoes was just too much for the supports.  The supports are now bent and are at very awkward angles, but most of the tomatoes are up off the ground.  The tomatoes started blooming and have not quit.  It is September 22 (first day of fall) and the plants still have 100’s of blooms on them.  I have harvested gallons of cherry tomatoes. 

Chocolate Peanut-Butter No Bake Cookies

Chocolate Peanut-Butter No Bake cookies is a favorite in my household and it is easy to make. You can never go wrong with chocolate or for that matter with peanut-butter as well. It is also a favorite during the holidays.  

TIME: About 30 minutes

 INGREDIENTS 
  2 cups of sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup of milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
waxed paper  

DIRECTIONS : In a heavy saucepan bring the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk to a boil. Once it reaches a boil allow to boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and immediately add the peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Drop by the spoonful on the waxed paper and allow to cool until hardened.

Where Were You on 9/11?

I have tried not to allow the events of September 11, 2001 define who I am and who I will become. However, with all the talk around the 10th anniversary of that fateful day it is hard not to think about that day and how it has affected us. My thoughts could literally be written down in a book and I am sure everyone has their own compelling story about the events of that day and the days and years that have followed.

I was living in Montana and managing a hotel. I was on my way to work and stopped off for a semi-daily cup of coffee at a local supermarket, when a girl said to me “There he goes again, George W. has got us in another war”. I had no idea what she was talking about (I'm still not quite sure what she was getting at) – I didn't normally turn on the TV at home while I was getting ready for work. The cashier said that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings.

When I got to work at the hotel the TV was on and the second plane had just hit and the stations were showing and reshowing the plane hitting the building. All the guests had come to the lobby for breakfast and everyone was glued to the news in a state of shock. Then they showed people either jumping or falling out of the windows and that is when it really hit me. These people had no other

How to Make Your Own Drain Clog Remover

Make your own drain clog remover with supplies most homes already have. Why spend more money on toxic drain openers or a plumber. Most clogs and slow drains can be cleared with inexpensive ingredients you have in your kitchen.

You can make your own drain opener for a fraction of the cost of using the commercial variety. Here's what you need:

Household Ingredients Used:

A pot of boiling water
1 cup of vinegar
1 cup baking soda


Directions for Drain Cleaner: Place pot of water on high to boil and add one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar to the boiling water. The mixture will fizz begin to fizz. Pour the mixture down the clogged or slow drain. The action of the fizzing from the combination of vinegar and baking soda will dissolve any greasy or fatty clogs in your drain. Allow some time for the mixture to work on the clog, then flush the drain with tap water.

I prefer to use these household ingredients over the more expensive caustic chemicals that are used in store bought or industrial strength clog removers. The benefits are a home free of dangerous chemicals and a healthier and safer home for you and your family. If you have small kids or pets in the house, it is much safer for them. You may avoid a catastrophic poisoning.

How to avoid clogs from grease and grime build up - First it is important to dispose of grease by allowing it to cool and placing it in an empty disposable container that is easily sealed. You can store the container in the refrigerator until it is full and then dispose of through your community grease and oil recycling programs (if you are lucky enough to have one).


How to maintain your pipes grease free - Once a week pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. This will flush the pipes of any new grease build-up. If you have a more serious clog, it may require a plumber snake or a professional plumber. Therefore maintenance is always the preferred solution to drain clogs.

Curry Powder Spice Blend

I love curries. I also enjoy making my own food, so of course I make my own curry at times. Here is one recipe for curry that I use. What is great about curry is that every recipe varies and are passed down from generation to generation. If this is not a tradition of your family (it was not of mine), then try this recipe and make some alterations and make it your own.

5 tablespoons ground coriander seeds
3 tablespoons ground cumin seeds
2 tablespoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground chili pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves



Combine all the ingredients and blend well. Place in an airtight, resealable container. A good place to store your spice mix is in the freezer if you have room. Just be sure not to store your spices above your stove, the heat from the stove will drastically reduce the shelf life of your spices as well as other food items.

Are you looking for some great Indian recipes. 1000 Indian recipes Click Here!

5 Spice Powder

Five spice powder is a commonly used spice in Asian cooking. It encompasses the five different tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent. It helps to liven up food and is used commonly in cooking of pork, duck and other fatty meats. It is also used often in fried rice dishes.

3 tablespoons cinnamon
6 star anise or 2 teaspoons anise seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Place all spices in a blender, spice mill, or coffee grinder until of powdery consistency. Use as you would 5 spice powder in your recipes. The freshness of home blended spice mixes is superior to store bought mixes.

I always enjoy making my mixes fresh.  Another spice mix I use a lot is my curry blend.

Photo by Blackberrylaw (Troy Pickard) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Italian Spice Blend

Here's a spicey Italian blend of herbs and spices for all your Italian dishes. Typical herbs and spices in Italian blends are oregano, garlic, basil, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. The red pepper flakes turn up the heat in this recipe but can be adjusted to taste. All these flavors blend to make up the complex, delicious taste of Italian food.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried marjoram
2 tablespoons dried parsley (optional)
1 tablespoon flaked onion (optional)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Blend well and place in a sealed container (preferably glass), store in a cool area. Do not store above or near the stove or the flavor will be negatively affected and will not last as long. I use this recipe which is a blend of many that I have seen and adjusted to my taste. Like any spice blend the maker can and should adjust to their own tastes, however, I would suggest trying new things that you normally would not. It has opened the vast possibilities that is what makes cooking and eating fun.

Chili Garlic Sauce is a Staple in My Kitchen

The chili garlic sauce by Huy Fong Foods is spicy but yet not overpowering heat and can be added to just about any recipe. It is a staple in my kitchen just like mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. I use it in stir fries, in noodles, and in just about any food that needs some added zip. It is spicy, but it is not so hot that you cannot taste the flavor of the food you are adding it to. I also like to substitute the chili garlic sauce in recipes calling for fresh red peppers or any kind of hot sauce. When trying for the first time try small amounts and increase the amount until you have the desired heat.

I have tried other chili garlic sauces that were too sour or too hot. The peppers and garlic are a perfect blend.

It stores easily in the refrigerator door and is very inexpensive. I have been able to find them in most grocery store chains, but I prefer to buy it in a specialty Asian food store it is much less expensive.

A Favorite Recipe of Mine Using Chili Garlic Sauce

Spicy Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons shredded carrot
2 cloves of garlic - crushed
1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
2 tablespoons sugar (divided)
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup water


Directions:
1. Shred carrot and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, set aside.

2. mix the rest of the ingredients together. After the carrot has softened until limp add to the mixture.

Serve with egg rolls, spring rolls, grilled pork or chicken over rice.

A Blast from the Past

Today I received, out of the blue, a message about a facebook page set up for those who were stationed at the 294th USAAG in Flensburg Germany. It was fun to see all of the people that I hadn't seen in years. It made me realize that when we move on in different directions as most of us do eventually, those people don't seize to exist. I remember everyone as they were over 18 years ago. I realize that everyone's lives went on and continued in their own direction. It's also interesting to note that as much as they have changed, I have changed probably as much. I just didn't see the changes, as I have lived with myself for the past 18 years.

My memories of Flensburg are good and bad; yet I like to remember the good, fondly. Papa's Imbiss or "Papa's Pitas" as I remember it are the best Gyros' pitas I have ever had. In fact they spoiled me to eating pitas in the states. What was their secret - I would pay good money to know. Then there was the "Rathskeller" and Flensburger Pilsner - if only I could have another. It is like one of those empty longings. Shopping downtown on long Thursdays or Saturday markets. I loved buying fresh flowers at the market. Brotchen mit kasa (I apologize for my German spelling).

But we grow older and we move on.

My sister sent me these directions on diapering a baby - too funny.

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. ~Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968

afterthought: I am guessing this is the only way some men would've been able to diaper a baby.

Making Invisible Ink with the Kids

It's a snowy and cold day outside and keeping the kids from going stir-crazy sometimes requires some kitchen science. Today we decided to make invisible ink. I started with a lemon and squeezed for the juice, using a paint brush we wrote some messages on some paper and set them aside to dry. We even wrote one for their father who is at work.

After the juice dried we held the paper up to some light bulbs. The heat changed the dried lemon juice to a brown color and the message appeared. It's amazing how a little science can fascinate and excite the kids. I than asked them what they thought happened to cause the writing to appear. It really is amazing to me how much children really understand the science behind what is happening around them. They just don't understand the full process.

Of course my daughter decided to make invisible bracelets for all her friend.

Other liquids that can be used for invisible ink are apple juice and vinegar

How to Prevent the Tomato Blight

Juicy, red tomatoes sliced thinly with some onion on a toasted slice of bread.  That is my goal when growing tomatoes.  I love  the time of year when the first tomatoes are beginning to redden and I know soon I will be enjoying when of my favorite things.  Tomato growers all want to have a great crop of tomatoes.  However, in 2009 the tomato blight
came on early and hit hard in the northeastern United States and elsewhere. It literally spread within days leaving many tomato lovers lamenting the total loss of their tomato crops. A strain of this fungus was responsible for the Irish potato blight that was responsible for deaths during the “Potato Famine”.

More and more gardeners are attempting to grow their own vegetables in recent years and with tomatoes being one of the more costly vegetables to purchase, the number of tomato growers has increased. Many who attempted to grow tomatoes last year were disappointed in their attempt. I asked my mother recently if she was planning on planting tomatoes this year and she is a bit hesitant – most likely she will scale back the amount of tomato plants she plants.

For those of you who love your tomatoes and do not love the hard, bland, colorless tomatoes you buy in the supermarket, I have looked into methods of preventing or avoiding the tomato blight. Treating tomato blight once it has occurred is extremely difficult, therefore steps need to be taken to prevent the disease from occurring.

There are many methods of treatment

Daughter's Letter to her Mom

My 6 year old daughter was angry with me today for sending her to her bedroom after she decided to hide from me when it was time for her to come in from playing – she also encouraged her 3 year old brother to do the same thing. While she was in her room thinking about what she had done wrong, she decided to write me a note and it said.

“Dir MoM
Sats U Ban So Min I D SIDiDDiD to snicaw t”

Needless to say I needed some help in deciphering her message to me. She had intended to say “Dear Mom, since you been so mean, I decided to sneak out.” Just like a 6 year old to tell on herself. I explained to her that if she ever sneaked out that she would be grounded for a month, not just 15 minutes or an afternoon. She thought about it and said “I don't think I'll sneak out”.

I'm sure I'll have my hands full with her as she reaches the “teenage years”. If there is anyone out there with suggestions on how to get a 6 year old to listen - I am waiting to hear something that will actually work.

A Day at Phipps Conservatory

Sunday, March 28, 2010


Today was my first full day of restructuring and prioritizing my life. I didn't start the day out too great, I slept in until about 10am. I am usually up no later than 7am. My husband and I decided to take our children (3 and 6) to the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh since we are a member. Today was a very rainy, dreary day and it seems as if everyone else in Pittsburgh had the same idea to find some nice indoor activities to do with their family as well. A good day for Phipps, but I enjoy it more when there are fewer people.

We stopped on our way to Phipps Conservatory to get some quick food for the kids since it was lunch time for them. Stopping at a fast food restaurant was not my idea, but after taking one look at my burger, I literally laughed until I couldn't breath anymore, with tears streaming down my face and my husband thinking I'm going bonkers. Because a description of how pathetic the sandwich looked is just not enough, I took a picture of it which made my husband think I was even crazier. I lost my appetite and could not eat it.

The ball of lettuce was just too funny on my hamburger from a well known fast food restaurant.

We finally made it to Phipps after missing the first turn and ended up entering Pittsburgh from the opposite side of the city through the Fort Pitt Tunnel (which the kids loved – and I was less than enthusiastic due to the rain slicked road and the traffic). I only grabbed the “oh shit” handle a couple of times and hit the “right sided brakes” a few times, but I feel I did a great job of keeping my comments to myself. My husband can get a “little” upset if I say anything about the traffic. All things aside we had a great day at Phipps Conservatory (what a wonderful place that would be to work). I have some pictures, although I didn't have my Sony Cyber-shot (battery needed charging), and my Pentax K20D does not have a macro lens for close-ups of individual flowers.

Overall, I think I should get a C+ for the day on my assignment to improve my life and my position. The activity did keep me away from the computer games and I really did not miss it that much.

You can check out Phipps at http://phipps.conservatory.org/