Tag: Healthy Eating

Day Eight – Cooking Impossible

It always seems impossible until it’s done. ~Nelson Mandela

Yesterday was a busy day! Ooh! Wee! As soon as my eyes opened, my feet hit the ground running! My day didn’t go as planned, but it went as well as possible. I started my day by visiting the local Home Depot. I had had enough of being locked out of the house once the door was shut. So, I was finally going to change the lock. But before I could do that, I needed to paint the front door’s exterior. Sadly, the front door exterior hadn’t been painted since the builder painted it over twenty-three years ago. It’s incredible how we can get used to subpar. Well! Yesterday was the day for giving the exterior door an updated look with paint and a new lock.

I returned home and asked my son to remove the old hardware, which he did. Then, he watched as I began to paint. Being an introvert, he prefers to observe unless invited to assist. As a Type A personality, I’ve been trying to avoid taking over projects and have been encouraging him to help when he’s interested. Together, we painted sections of the door, and the final result is fantastic!

As our day came to a close, he had volunteered to cook dinner, but things took a turn. He attempted to follow a recipe from a guy on YouTube, and it didn’t go as planned. Meanwhile, I was at Home Depot picking up more paint for the front door’s interior. Just as I was heading home, he called to say, “You and Mr. Jeff might want to grab something for dinner; the chicken didn’t turn out well.” I could sense the frustration in his voice. I replied, “Son! Gravy can hide a lot of mistakes! I’m about five minutes from home, so let’s see how we can solve this.”

When I got home, I entered the kitchen and discovered a man struggling with his cooking faux pas. I asked if I could taste the chicken he had already pan-fried in a cast-iron skillet. After tasting, I found the meat to have a good flavor. I told him it was great and that we would keep what he had made. Initially, I planned to prepare lemon chicken with capers, but I realized the lemons had gone bad. Instead, I made a roux, seasoning it with chicken bouillon and garlic. I also had him prepare some of those boxed hash browns from Costco. Dinner was ready!

I told him that nothing is impossible in the kitchen. He needed to trust his instincts and lose the thermometer! Why on earth are people cooking with thermometers now? My mom, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other great cooks never used one! Yet, they created amazing dishes! Everyone makes a mistake or two when cooking, but that shouldn’t make anyone feel like they’ve failed because a dish didn’t turn out perfectly. The bottom line is that cooking should never feel impossible! It’s a chance to create something worthwhile to eat instead of relying on fast food, which is usually unhealthy.  

PRAYER

Father God, today marks a fresh start. Assist us in organizing our lives so that healthy eating becomes integral to our cooking experiences.  Amen

OMG! After uploading the picture of my newly painted front door, I realized I also need to paint the trim underneath it! Oh! Well! That’s a project for a later day! Have a wonderful day living your best life! ~Annette

Yummy Sounding Recipes: Brined and Grilled New York Pork Chops with Grilled Peaches

Photo credit: Tiny Oranges
Photo credit: Tiny Oranges

I got this wonderful recipe from Jennifer Scheumann’s post on Tiny Oranges’.  I’m hoping to try it when my hubby returns home.  I think he might get a kick out of it!  Because the man does love food.  And to add a pinch of Colorado I might even try to find some local peaches!

Pork Chop Brine Recipe

9 New York Pork Chops
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
4 T Kosher Salt
2 T garlic powder
1/2 T black peppercorns
1 T allspice (whole)
2 T dried marjoram (or dried thyme)
2 t dry mustard
1/8 t red pepper flakes
ice cubes

Pork Chop Brine Instructions

1.  In a medium saucepan bring all ingredients to a simmer (except pork chops and ice cubes- ha!)  Stir until sugar and salt has dissolved.  Remove from heat and pour over ice cubes to cool.

2.  Once cooled, place New York Pork Chops in the liquid and refrigerate, brining for 1-2 hours.

3.   Remove New York Pork Chops from the brine, pat dry with a paper towel,  lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper and rub with a touch of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Grill It Like a Steak!

Grilling a New York Pork Chop is very easy, you simply grill it like a steak!

Susanne cooked them on a medium heat grill, and turned a total of 4 times, for 2 minutes every turn, to give them the nice grill hashmark.  The length of time you want to cook depends on the thickness.  Click here for an easy cooking times and temps guide.

Grilled Peaches Recipe

4 peaches, quartered, pit removed
2 t maple syrup
2 t balsamic vinegar
2 t brandy (or sherry wine)
2 t Extra Virgin Olive Oil
salt + pepper
fresh basil, rinsed and torn for serving

Grilled Peaches Instructions

Toss the peaches the rest of the ingredients about 15 mins before ready to grill (except basil).

Grill until just browned and caramelized, turning frequently to maintain the structure of the peach.  Remove from grill and return to the balsamic/maple liquid.

Inspirational Fridays: Are You A Carrot, Egg, or Coffee Bean?

Are You A Carrot, Egg, or Coffee Bean

(Author Unknown)

Photo taken from: www.revivedkitchen.com
Photo taken from: http://www.revivedkitchen.com

A young woman told her mother about her life and how things were so hard. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, Mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity — boiling water — but each reacted differently. The carrot went in

Photo taken from: www.newhealthguide.org
Photo taken from: http://www.newhealthguide.org

strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Photo taken from: www.treasurecoastcoffeetrader.com
Photo taken from: http://www.treasurecoastcoffeetrader.com

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of your life. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life, flavor, to them?

SO…..ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?