Cooking for Studly: An Update

Since Thursday I have cooked three major meals for Studly. That might be a record-setting accomplishment for me. We’ve had roast chicken and potatoes, steak with some healthy veggies, and French dip sandwiches. I even have his meal for tomorrow night planned.

What has happened to the carefree, happy-go-lucky member of the No-cook Cathedral of the Coast? I guess I’ve been converted, baptized into the House of the Holy Homemaker.

I have had help from friends all over the country, indeed, from all over the world! Recipe suggestions, cooking tips, do’s and dont’s have been so welcome. I guess I’m not as alone as I imagined. Thank you friends!

Studly has raised an eyebrow at the amount of money I’ve spent on various cooking gadgets and ingredients. I told him the initial outlay would pay off in the long run.

I bought a new, larger crockpot, a tenderizing hammer, a new hand mixer (my old one was a wedding gift in ’76, and somewhere along the way I lost one of the beaters), a new grater, a new paring knife, and a new Calphalon saucepan to match the cookware we bought when we moved to Tallahassee.

My poor old mixer. Goodbye old chum.

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I’ve spent quite a bit on spices, too. And I’m making an effort to cook healthy. Continue to send good thoughts and recipes. I hope this is a journey and not just a phase.

Peace, People.

Aging Gratefully

When I am old
My cheekbones will be
Exquisite reminders of the
Beauty I never had,
My lips will quiver with
Unsaid words:
Apologies,
Explanations,
Regrets.
Unlike some,
I always knew I could
Not stay young forever.
I could always picture
The veiny hands,
Crepe-y skin,
Varicose legs
Beneath my youth.
Now I find myself
Somewhere between;
Not young
Not old,
Past the boundaries of one
On the brink of the other.
If I could I would
Not go back, but
I gladly go forward with
Small apologies for what I
Might have been, but no
Excuses for who I’ve
Become.

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Cooking for Studly: What, Again?

One would think that after I’d produced a beautiful roast chicken dinner on Thursday that I could rest on my ass, er, my laurels, for awhile, but noooo! Studly is asking what I plan on cooking tonight. Slave driver.

I did get a reprieve since Friday was pasta night at the golf club, and there is a steak in the fridge. All I need to make are a couple of side dishes. Of course Studly Doright would be quite happy with corn and a salad, but by golly if I’m going to cook, I’ll put some thought into it.

He needs the exposure to veggies, so I’ll fix a salad anyway. Now, what else? His little heart would flutter if I made a green bean casserole. I hate green bean casserole, but this is cooking for Studly, not cooking for Nana, after all.

I’ll cook some squash or Brussels sprouts in a little skillet for me. What do you call it when it’s not fried, just cooked with a little olive oil? Is that sautéing?

Any thoughts? Tips? Suggestions for mild, yet lingering fictitious maladies that might get me out of this cooking gig?

Peace, people!

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Occupied/Ocupado

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Picture this, if you will: You find yourself far from home and in need of using the restroom. Your only option is at a convenience store gas station. The bathroom is a one-seater, and you carefully lock the door behind you before placing at least three layers of tissue on the well worn public toilet seat. Even with the toilet thus protected you still hover slightly above the seat, anxious to keep a distance twixt your pristine nether cheeks and the oft used porcelain. Whew!

Then, someone turns the knob, or gives a polite knock. What is your response?

“Just a minute!”

“Someone’s in here!”

“Hold your horses!”

“Ocupado!”

My personal favorite is, “Hey, don’t get your panties in a wad!”

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I heard this question posed on NPR’s “A Way With Words,” last week. Surprisingly, a good many English speakers admit to saying “Ocupado” (Spanish for “Occupied”) in this situation. The hosts of the show thought perhaps this response could be traced to the bilingual labeling on restroom door locks on airplanes. It also could reflect Americans’ love of foreign phrases: ciao and adios for goodbye, for example.

I’m curious. What do you say in this bathroom scenario?

(Program plug: I highly recommend the program, “A Way With Words.” They can be found at http://www.waywordradio.org and on Facebook, as well. If you love words, like I love words, check them out.)

Just in case you need a bathroom etiquette guide, I found this one on Pinterest:

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Peace, people!

Looking American: On culture, nationality, and immigration

Worth a read, my friends. Reblogged from notesfromtheuk.com.

Ellen Hawley's avatarNotes from the U.K.

A few months ago, M. told me, “You’re looking very”—and here you have to imagine a short pause— “American today.”

When I stopped laughing, I asked what American looked like, and you can insert another, somewhat longer pause before you go on, because he had to think about it. Or else he was looking for a gentle way to say it.

“You walk as if the sun always shines on you and you own the world,” he said. Not unkindly, I should add, although from someone else it might have sounded like a complaint.

Semi-relevant photo: The sun shining on a herd of cows. (Actually, they were making sure we left their field, and I can't remember if the sun was shining on them or not--it looks like diffuse sunlight. Does that count?) Semi-relevant photo: The sun shining on a herd of cattle. Actually, they were making sure we left their field, and I can’t remember if the sun was shining on them or not–it looks like diffuse sunlight. That may or may not count.

The sun wasn’t shining on me that day. I’ll skip the details, because they’ll…

View original post 1,003 more words

A Walk in the Park

The weather this week in Tallahassee has been just beautiful. Temperatures have been in the low 70s with no wind, so I’ve been walking every day, which happens to be real exercise, or so I’ve been told.

Most days I just stroll around the neighborhood, but yesterday afternoon I left the crockpot on low to cook Studly’s much-anticipated dinner and drove into town so I could walk around Lake Ella.

Just about a mile from the Florida capital building sits this scenic little lake surrounded by gigantic oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Lake Ella is a popular destination for walkers and bird watchers.

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Above is pictured my favorite feature of Lake Ella, a huge oak tree that spreads its generous branches near the ground for children to climb on and around. Such a sweet tree!

Little parks like Lake Ella are just a part of what makes Tallahassee so appealing to a girl from the arid southwest plains of The Texas panhandle. When I die, don’t bury my heart on the lone prairie, just spread my ashes somewhere near a lake. The little fish will love feasting on me!

Peace, people!

Cooking for Studly: A Rousing…

Success!

I’ve had three lovely glasses of wine, and can now report that dinner was a huge hit. Studly walked in the door and declared something “smelled good enough to eat!’ Thank goodness, since that was the intended purpose.

Truthfully, I thought the chicken was slightly overcooked, but Studly Doright declared it was just right. He is a fan of the slightly overcooked, you see. The seasonings were absolutely perfect. I believe I’ll add a little olive oil to the mix next time, maybe that will make it a little more moist. I’m open to suggestions.

There is one thing that’s missing–someone to clean the kitchen. I hardly ever have to do the clean up when we go out for dinner.

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Studly gave the meal two thumbs up!

Peace, people!

Cooking for Studly: In Progress

My roast chicken and potatoes are in the sixth hour of slow cooking. The odors emanating from the crockpot are seriously mouth watering. Since I could no longer resist the instruction manual’s admonition against lifting the lid, I did so very briefly. Mmmmmm.

The chicken is tender and appears to be as potentially tasty as it looks. Now is the time my anxiety kicks into high gear. In my limited cooking experience I tend to screw a meal up in the final stages of cooking. So the time is ripe for doing something ill-advised.

I never know what form the screw up will take–over cooking? Under cooking? Dropping said meal? Realizing too late that the instructions were continued on another page that I didn’t read? Opening the lid one too many times? Oh yes, I’ve done them all, and more.

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Damn! I opened the lid again, but I need input. How does it look to an experienced cook? I wish I had an “add aroma” button on the iPad.

Studly should be home around 5 p.m. Eastern time. I’ll cook corn and put together a salad to complete the meal. And just for good measure, I’ll have a fortifier, or two, ready. Tell me, white whine or Blue Moon or both? I think both.

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What’s the old adage, “Cooking Lasts, Kissing Don’t”? I’m planning on puckering up anyway, just in case the cooking goes awry.

Here’s the recipe:

Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Potatoes
Serves 4

1 whole chicken, skinned (4-5lbs.)
4-5 garlic cloves (Studly doesn’t much care for garlic, so I used only 2)
1 onion, quartered
4-5 golden potatoes
2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Onion powder
1/2 tsp. Dried thyme
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper (I used freshly ground pepper because I feel chef-like turning the grinder.)

1. Scrub potatoes, prick with fork, wrap in foil, and place in bottom of slow cooker.
2. Clean, skin, and rinse chicken; pat dry.
3. Stuff cavity with onion and garlic.
4. Combine seasonings and rub over chicken.
5. Place chicken over potatoes, breast down.
6. Cook on high 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Because I’m really slow at prep work, I got the chicken ready last night, and let it hang out in the fridge wrapped in foil. I sure hope that was ok.

Peace, People!

Cooking for Studly: The Adventure Begins

Today is the day! If you’ve followed my blog at all you know that I am:

1) a 58 year old narcissist
2) married for 38 years to a man I lovingly call Studly Doright, and
3) about to embark on a long overdue adventure in cooking for Studly.

By cooking, I mean real, healthy “cooked at home” meals. Heretofore, my cooking has consisted mainly of heating things in the microwave and making reservations at my favorite restaurants. I excel at both.

In preparation I’ve bought some kitchen gadgets. I even know what some of them are.

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I’ve also solicited advice from friends and complete strangers. Pinterest has been consulted. I’ve got this.

Here are my choices for tonight’s dinner:

1) Chicken Tortilla Soup
2) Chicken Stroganoff
3) Roast Chicken and Potatoes

Notice a commonality? Yep, chicken. That’s because Studly really likes chicken and very little else.

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I am open to suggestions for future healthy, EASY meals for two. Just keep in mind that Studly will not consume seafood of any kind, any type of pasta with marinara sauce, ground turkey, meat loaf, mushrooms, any vegetables except for corn and green beans.

He does like plain old steak and potatoes, some Mexican food, rice, and the aforementioned chicken. If food poisoning doesn’t kill us, boredom most likely will.

Wish me luck, and send recipe suggestions! My life might be in your hands.

Peace, People!

Losing Weight

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Weigh in scheduled for
11:30 a.m.
Jenny Craig awaits.
Still in bed at 9:05 trying to
Decide if I will weigh less
By doing nothing productive
Before my appointment, or
If I should arise and run
Frantically around exercising
Enough to make up for the
Non-exercise I did all week.
Questions arise:
Which non-activity
Burns more calories?
Not riding a stationary bike or
Not walking for two miles?
Opting for option #2 I slip back
Beneath the covers and
Dream of key lime pound cake.

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Peace, People!