Simple Greeting Card Video

I bought this cell phone holder from the swap meet for $2.  I wondered if I could use it to record videos On Da Desk. 

I tested it out yesterday and except for it shaking whenever the desk shook, it worked good. 

This is the video.

Costco's Gyro Kit

The meat in Costco's gyro kit was just as ono as in Sam's version.   

It did come with diced tomatoes, cucumbers and onions which Sam's kit didn't include, but the tomatoes were kinda soft and not too fresh tasting so it might've been more of a minus than a plus.

Sam's had a "Fire Feta Sauce" which added to the ono-ness, and I kinda missed that in this Costco one.

 

The kit makes 6 and was $20.18.  Sam's kit also made 6 and it was $13.98.   I think you know which one I'd pick if I had to choose.

  

Avoid Avoiding Anxiety

Emma McAdam is my favorite YouTube therapist.  She says that avoiding doing things that give me anxiety only increase and fuel them.  Instead of procrastinating I need to tackle my fears.  

Positive outcomes will help my brain to lay down new neuropathways, resulting in the release of less cortisol, adrenaline and other stress hormones.  I do want less stress hormones.

Cleta's Green Onion Salt

I had never heard of this before but thought it was such a great idea!  

 

GREEN ONION SALT

2 to 3 bunches of green onion

1-1/2 cups of coarse salt

Wash and clean green onion cutting away spoiled areas. 

Cut into roughly 2 inch pieces and place in a food processor and process until it’s a paste.  Add in the salt and process again until well combined and the salt is ground fine.

On a parchment lined baking tray, place the green onion mixture and smooth out as thin as possible.  Place in a 170 degree oven.  

About 30 minutes later, remove and break apart the mixture, smashing it fine.  Put back in oven and continue to bake, checking every 30 minutes, until it is thoroughly dry.  

Let cool and store in airtight jars.

Cy's Breakfast

 Rice soup and fish from Naty's Kitchen in Maunakea Market $7.   Vietnamese coffee $6.50.

 

 

Dd's Pork Carnitas

I like how Didi serves her pork carnitas!

PORK CARNITAS

 

3 dried New Mexico chili pods

Water as needed

1 small onion, quartered

4 garlic cloves, smashed

2 chipotle peppers

3 # pork shoulder, cut into 4 chunks

garlic salt, salt, freshly ground black pepper

1 TB olive oil

1-1  ½ c. water, as needed

1 tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. chipotle chili powder

½ tsp. paprika

½ tsp. salt

1 c. white wine

For service: cilantro leaves, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, 

sour cream, warmed tortillas, Mexican rice

 

In a bowl cover chili pods with water. Allow to sit 15-20 minutes. 

Generously season pork chunks with garlic salt, salt and pepper.  In a large saucepot over medium heat sear pork on all sides in oil. Do not overcrowd pot. Add water into pot scraping any browned bits. Bring to a boil; reduce to simmer. Cover and simmer 1 -1 ½ hours. Turn pork chucks every 30 minutes. 

Remove chili pods from water; reserve 2 TB -4 TB soaking liquid. Remove stems and seeds from chili. Transfer into a food processor with onion, garlic and chipotle peppers. Process until smooth adding soaking liquid as needed to bring to desired consistency. Reserve. 

Into saucepot add water. Scrape any browned bits. Stir in chili puree, chili powders, paprika, salt and wine. Return to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Allow to simmer 1 hour until pork is tender. 

Remove pork from sauce. Shred with 2 forks. In a skillet over medium heat brown pork as desired. Add sauce as needed (I prefer it dry). Serve with desired garnishes. Serves 4-6.

On Da Desk

Me and Wendell are going to Japan next month.  We're normally never together 24/7.  Pray for me.  😂

Cleta's Pickled Garlic

Next time you buy the huge bag of USA garlic from Sam's you should try make this.  Cleta gave us a jar and it was gooood. 

Here's Cleta's recipe:

Blanch garlic in boiling water for 2 minutes.  Put into ice water to stop the cooking.  

Boil 1/2 cup each of shoyu and water, 1/4 cup each of sugar and white vinegar* until sugar dissolves.  Let this cool completely then pour over the garlic to cover completely leaving about 1 inch of air space.  Put a piece of plastic over the top to seal off the air and cover.  

1 week later, pour all the sauce into a saucepan and bring to a boil for 1 – 2 minutes.  Cool completely then pour back into the jar of garlic.  This is to kill off any bacteria.  Wait about 2 weeks before eating.  

 

The garlic could be splotchy but it’s okay to eat.  It could have a bluish tinge but it’s okay to eat.  The blue is due to the extreme acidic condition and also because garlic contains blue pigments

 

* Can also use rice vinegar. 

Dd's Lasagna

LASAGNA

 

2 tsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 small carrot, peeled, chopped

1 small stalk celery, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 # Italian sausage

15 oz can crushed tomatoes

2 TB tomato paste

1 TB sugar

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

* 6-9 sheets lasagna noodles, cooked according to package directions, drained

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 TB parmesan cheese, grated

 

In a saucepot over medium heat sauté vegetables in olive oil until tender. Add sausage and mushrooms. Use a spoon to break up sausage into small pieces leaving some larger chunks. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and seasoning. Stir well; bring to a simmer. Reduce 

heat to low; simmer 30-40 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

To assemble, spread meat sauce in the bottom of baking pan* (using the sauciest sauce, not with any large portions of sausage). *I use a 9-inch loaf pan. Layer pasta on top of sauce. Top with teaspoonfuls of cream cheese. Top with mozzarella cheese. Spoon sauce over mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers **2-3 more times (**dependent on height of dish). Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cover or top loosely with aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray. 

Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; continue baking an additional 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and browned. Allow to sit 10 minutes before serving. Serves 4.

Freeze any leftover sauce or use as a dipping sauce with garlic bread.

Cy's Breakfast

 $14 including Diet Coke from Char Siu House on Maunakea.

 

 

Fred Likes Flies

You can click on the photo below to watch a 10-second video of Fred eating a fly.  BTW, the dried-up plant used to be a flourishing mamaki plant.  😢

 

Here's Fred waiting for Landon to catch flies for him.  The pot above the fly swatter holds my dead shishito plant. 

   

Costco's Chicken Cheese Burritos

This was $11.99-ish and the opposite of "Realgood".   The photo on the package is so flagrantly misrepresentative that I wonder how the makers can't help but feel guilty about it.

 

Do they think that we wouldn't notice the difference?  Where's the "chicken breast chunks"?   And look how mooshy it is.  Don't buy.  👎🏻 

 

Wendell's Air Fryer Chicken Wings

 Wendell made these using a recipe from the Natasha's Kitchen site.  I liked it a lot. 

Ingredients 

• 1 lb chicken wings, split into flats and drummettes
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp lemon pepper

Instructions

• Thoroughly pat dry chicken wings with paper towels and place in a mixing bowl.
• Coat in 1 Tbsp oil then sprinkle on 2 tsp garlic salt and 1 tsp lemon pepper. Toss to evenly coat with seasoning.
• Place on air frying basket, spacing evenly and air fry at 400˚F for 8 minutes per side, or a total of 16 minutes, or until chicken wings are crisp and golden brown on the outside.

Beware

 I received this text a few weeks ago. 

 

 I ignored it and 3 hours later received this.

  

I was worried that somebody wasn't gonna get their cake so I replied that this was a wrong number and got this.

   

I said "no problem".

   

I "hearted" this text and said that I hoped that their cake order would work out okay.

   

Then, I got this.  That's when I responded that it's time I said goodbye.  I went online and googled "wrong number phone text scam" and discovered that that's exactly what happened to me.

Happy New Year, Peoples!

Wishing you all a Healthy, Happy, Safe, Stress-free, Russia-Out-of-Ukraine, and Trumpless New Year.

Thank you, Geri, for my favorite New Year ozoni.

And thank you peoples for being here all these years reading my stupid-stuff blog.  Am so grateful.