Chopping Onions

I'm not much of a cook, but Wendell's been golfing twice a week lately, so I've been trying to contribute in the dinner department.

I think chopping onions is my least favorite thing to do.  Here's how I do it. 

Dd's Barbocoa Beef

Didi says:  This was really yummy!!  And so easy!  Brown meat . . . dump everything in pot . . .

Barbacoa Beef

 

2# chuck roast, 1½ inch cubes

Garlic salt, freshly cracked black pepper

2 tsp. olive oil

1 c. beef stock

4 cloves garlic

3 chipotle, in adobo sauce

¼ c. apple cider vinegar

¼ c. lime juice

3 bay leaves

1 TB each ground cumin, oregano, onion powder

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Salt, freshly ground black pepper, as needed

1 small onion, thinly sliced

4 oz. chopped green chilies

Service: flour/corn tortillas, avocado, shredded lettuce, pico di gallo, shredded cheese, favorite Mexican rice**

 

Season chuck with salt and pepper. In a large saucepan over medium heat; brown chuck on all sides in oil. Add stock, garlic, chipotle, vinegar, lime juice, bay leaves and seasoning.

Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cover; leaving lid ajar to allow steam to escape. After 1 hour; taste for seasoning.  Add onion and chilies.

Continue cooking 45-60 minutes with lid ajar.  

For service; serve with toppings as desired. Serves 4.

**Favorite Mexican Rice: Cook 1 cup of basmati rice as directed. After rice is cooked; stir in 2 TB lime juice, 1 tsp. lime zest, pinch of kosher salt and ¼ cup chopped cilantro.

 

Note: This recipe makes a great chili. After 1 hour of cooking, add 12 oz. drained kidney beans and 14 oz. fire roasted tomatoes. Continue cooking on LOW with lid off 45-60 minutes stirring as needed.

Vaccinated

I took my mom to Pier 2 a couple of days ago for her vaccination. 

It was very well organized, taking less than 1/2 hour including a 15-minute wait time to make sure that there were no serious side affects.

We go again in 3 weeks for the second shot.    

Golden Coin Fried Chicken Mix

One of my sisters used this recently to fry some chicken and her son's friend said that it was better than Popeye's!  She said that she picked it up at Times.

Negative Painting

Here's another video.  It's a little longer than usual . . . a little over 4 minutes.  And I added in music!  

The footage is kinda unsteady because I have the phone in my left hand while I'm painting with my right, but I did click on that stabilization button again when I edited. 

Here's the finished painting.  The top part of it looks weird because it's an old watercolor pad that I got at the swap meet and the paint doesn't adhere properly.  But I don't mind. The pad has served me well, and after a year it's almost totally filled. 

Yesterday's Lunch

I made another short video.  It's about 1 1/2 minutes long.  Been having fun editing the clips.  This time around I learned how to do slow motion.  The first two clips were too short so I had to figure out how to stretch them.  I ended up slowing them down a smidgin, and it worked.

I also learned how to add stabilization.  I think.  I found the button and clicked on it. 

For my lunch I used the stuff below along with leftover Vietnamese Tomato Soup which I just heated up in the microwave.  You can find that recipe here.  

Washi Tape

I saw this bag of washi tape on the ground on a tarp yesterday at the swap meet. Before I said a word, the gal said, "$2 for the whole bag."

I said, "Oh no!"  And I bought it. 

Gouache

I'm finding that painting with gouache paint is funner and less stressful than with watercolor.  You can cover up mistakes easier with gouache. 

I followed this YouTube tutorial done by artist Philip Boelter.  He actually did four separate videos for each plant. 

He says this:   "Follow along with your art supplies or simply just zen out to it. These videos of me painting have been known to help with anxiety and stress. Have you ever tried painting with gouache? It's similar to watercolor, but gouache it's more opaque. Please, enjoy and zen out to me painting! "

I enjoyed painting along with him.  It really was stress relieving and zen-like.  

And BTW here's my finished peony drawing. 

Dd's Italian Meatball Wedding Soup

 

Italian Wedding Soup 

Adapted from Food Network, Giada DeLaurentis

 

Turkey Meatballs:

1/2# ground turkey

2 TB breadcrumbs

2 TB ricotta cheese

2 TB onion, minced

2 TB celery, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 large egg

½ tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 TB olive oil

Soup:

2 TB extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 

1 small onion, chopped 

2 cloves garlic, minced 

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

4 c. chicken broth 

½ bunch spinach washed, roughly chopped 

2 oz. ditalini or fregola pasta  

Chopped fresh parsley, for topping 

 

Preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl combine turkey, bread crumbs, cheese, onion, celery, garlic, egg, basil, salt and pepper. Shape into 12 1-inch meatballs. Place meatballs onto baking sheet. Brush with oil. Broil until lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes.

 

Warm olive oil in a medium saucepot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, spinach and pasta. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes. Add meatballs and simmer, uncovered, until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle each serving with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan and parsley.

Serves 2 as entrée, 4 appetizers.

360 Degree Spirited Away Railroad Trip

 Veeeery cool.  Make sure to look behind you.