Hi Ya Folks

Ya say you got old fruit lying all over the kitchen counter and ya can't even walk into the kitchen cuz of all the fruit flies swarming in the air.  And your down in the mouth cuz ya can't get your favorite snack let alone make dinner for fear of being carried off.  Is that's what bothering you, Bunky?  Lift your head up high and take a walk in the sun with dignity and sticktoitiveness and show those flies, show those flies where to get off!  You'll never give up, never give up, never give up!

Fruit Fly Trap

Apple cider vinegar

Dishwashing liquid

Pour vinegar into a small bowl.  Add a few drop of dishwashing liquid.  Set on counter, possible near ripe fruit.

Next time I am going to use a very small bowl and fill it to the top so there is little room for the little buggers to sit and chat. 

Goin' Green

Garden Bounty

Cherry Tomatoes with Parsley

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped mild onion
• 2 pints red cherry or grape tomatoes
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

• In a large skillet, melt 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup chopped mild onion and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes, until onion begins to soften. Add 2 pints red cherry or grape tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 5 minutes, until tomatoes begin to soften. Stir in 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley and transfer to a serving dish. Serve hot. Serves 8.

All You
DECEMBER 2006

Grapes from the Garbage

DS (name not designated son) saw a spot of mold on a grape and ask me what to do with them.  Throw it away.  Key word being it.  Not them.  The audacity. The unmitigated gall.  Grape, DS?   

Easy Chicken Pasta Salad

Makes a lot

4 cups of your favorite chicken salad or diced cooked chicken

1 pound box of shells, I prefer the small

4 cups of grape, or desired amount

Mayonnaise

Salt

Prepare pasta shells according to package directions.  Let cool.  Can be slightly warm.  Add chicken salad.  Cut grapes in half.  Mix.  Add more mayonnaise if desired.  Salt to taste.  Can add shredded cheese if desired.

It Can Always be Rinsed

Even if chicken is cooked and has turn dry yet slimy, the slime can still be rinsed off.  Then to moisten it add back the slime, like say mayonnaise. 

Chicken Salad Sliders

From Paula Deen

Serves 12

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 1/2 cups finely diced cooked chicken
1 cup finely diced celery
1/3 cup slivered almonds
12 mini slider rolls 

In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, mayonnaise and salt. Toss with the chicken, celery, and almonds in a medium bowl. Serve on mini slider rolls or any small roll.  

Winter Squash

Winter squash takes up so much room in the garden.  To rectify that I sent mine down the garden wall as my garden is in a planter that is raised from 3 to 6 feet off the ground.   Another option is to let the squash climb a wall or lattice such as Martha Stewart shows here.  Pick winter squash when the stem is dried out and leave the stem on the squash.  Pick before frost.  The taste will not be as good if frost hits the squash. 

The Perfect Match

Around these parts when milk is going to expire soon gets marked down to $1 a gallon. So I stock up. Sometimes it takes a little chocolate to polish off those 10 gallons I bought.

Big Single Serving Chocolate Milk

2 T. cocoa or to taste
3 T. sugar or to taste (or powdered sugar, honey, or maple syrup)
dash of salt
2 T. water
1 1/2 c. milk


Place cocoa, sugar, and salt in a 12 oz. microwavable glass. Stir in water. It will be lumpy. Microwave for 30 seconds until mixture is dissolved. Stir in milk. Chill if you can wait. See pic.

Salted Chocolate Milk
From the foodnetwork.com
Serves 4

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 cups cold milk
• Kosher salt

Make the chocolate syrup: (Make more and keep for later)

Combine the sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool completely.

Spoon about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the chocolate syrup into each glass. Add 1 1/2 cups milk and a generous pinch of salt. Stir until the syrup and salt dissolve.

 

Rich Chocolate Milk
From the foodnetwork.com
Serves 2 (or one :) )

Bring 2 cups whole milk to a simmer, then whisk in 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder and 1/3 cup superfine sugar (or powder sugar) until smooth. Puree in a blender to fully dissolve (if desired); use right away or chill.