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/

Did You Know?

Did you know that a 2% drop in your bodies H2O can cause a decrease of up to 20% in your energy levels.1

Another great reason to ensure that you are drinking regularly throughout the day.  Often 8 - 8 ounce glasses a day are recommended.

1.  source:  www.spryliving.com
Photo by Jorge Barrios http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

This Cranberry Orange Relish is a Thanksgiving Tradition

     This is a recipe that has been in my family for as long as I can remember.  As a kid I was not very fond of this Thanksgiving tradition and refused to eat it for years.  But as the years have passed my taste buds have grown to enjoy this treat.   It is a staple part of our Thanksgiving table spread, along with the turkey, oyster stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. This recipe is made with fresh cranberries. Cranberries are a great berry for a healthy urinary tract (helps to fight off bacterial infections in the bladder). They are also an anti-oxidant that is linked to cancer prevention.

     Although cranberries can typically be found in cranberry sauce in the form of a jelly, and many times served in the shape of a can. Although I will confess that I do enjoy cranberries this way at times. I prefer fresh cranberry relish made with all fresh ingredients.

Ingredients are:

How to Make Magic Reindeer Food

It’s that time of year again. We are all busy with office parties and special holiday events and last minute shopping for Christmas presents. Everyone remembers to make cookies and leave the milk for Santa Claus, but many forget his reindeer. The reindeer must fly all around the world in one night and will need their energy as well. Here is a great recipe for Santa’s reindeer that will help them find your house during the night.

What You Need:

½ cup oatmeal
Glitter
Small plastic bag
Construction paper
Markers
Ribbon

Steps:
1. Mix the oatmeal and the glitter until well mixed and add to the plastic bag.
2. Cut the construction paper 2 ½ X 4 ½ inches.
3. On the construction paper write this poem:
Sprinkle this magic reindeer food outside tonight.
The moonlight will make it sparkle bright.
As the reindeer fly and roam.
This magic dust will guide them to your home.

4. Attach the construction paper to the plastic bag. Make a bow out of the ribbon and attach to the bag with the construction paper.
5. On Christmas Eve scatter the magic reindeer food in your yard. The magic in the glitter will help to lead the reindeer to your house.


Photo by: Anthere at fr.wikipedia (photo by fr:Utilisateur:Anthere) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Make Homemade Pound Cake from Scratch

    Pound Cake is a great dessert for the holidays, not only can you add any kind of topping you like but it is easy to make and to store until the big day.  Serve this dessert along with pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or with the ham on Christmas.
    This is an easy dessert that most people have all of the ingredients on hand. Pound cake can be eaten plain or served with any number of sauces like lemon sauce. It is fun to make with young children who love to help in the kitchen. Historically pound cake was so named because there was approximately a pound of each ingredient that was added (butter, sugar, eggs, and flour). It is obvious that this recipe isn't in the truest sense a pound cake (only 1/2 pound of butter). If this recipe was doubled it would more closely resemble the pound cake of earlier times).


Things You'll Need:

* 1/2 lb of butter (bring to room temperature)
* 1 3/4 c. sugar
* 5 eggs
* 2 c. flour, sifted
* 1 t. vanilla
* pinch of salt


Step 1 - Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare loaf pan by greasing.

Step 2 - Cream the butter and sugar thoroughly (about 10 minutes).

Step 3 - Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each egg.

Step 4 - Add salt, then flour gradually while beating.

Step 5 - Add vanilla and mix well.

Step 6 - Pour the pound cake mixture into your prepared loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until cake pulls away from the side of the pan.  You can test the pound cake by inserting a paring knife into the top center of the pound cake if it comes out clean it is done, if it has uncooked batter you need to cook longer.


Pound cake is great served plain, or with fruit sauce drizzled over top. There are many varieties of pound cake (lemon, poppy seed, chocolate marble, etc...). I like it plain with a lemon sauce over top.


The first time I made this pound cake, I forgot to remove the pizza stone out of the oven before cooking and it was a flop. I've made it sense with good results.