Light and shadow seems to be the theme these days. Below is AC the Groundhog's shadow on a tree trunk.
I couldn't resist snapping the moon between the trees.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Light and Shadow
One doesn't want to get too optimistic and excited at this time of year, but a hint of spring was in the air yesterday. After being locked in winter's icy grip for about six weeks, the temperatures actually hovered slightly above freezing yesterday. And the sun was out and the wind was down, making it a most pleasant day, a fine day to grab a coffee and reconnoiter at the park for a while.
Light and shadow seems to be the theme these days. Below is AC the Groundhog's shadow on a tree trunk.
I couldn't resist snapping the moon between the trees.
Light and shadow seems to be the theme these days. Below is AC the Groundhog's shadow on a tree trunk.
I couldn't resist snapping the moon between the trees.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
By Popular Demand ...
... here is the Zucchini Lasagna that some of you requested.
It's quite a bit of work to slice and dry the zucchini, but it's worth it because this is a really good recipe. Really good. It seems that everybody who tries it loves it. I slice the zucchini with a knife because I can't seem to get the cheese slicer thing going for me.
INGREDIENTS
3 large zucchini, washed but not peeled
2 teaspoons of salt, or less, as needed
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon fennels seeds
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (26 oz) jar marinara sauce (3 cups)
nonstick spray
1 1/2 cups fat-free ricotta
4 oz shredded fat-free mozzarella
1/4 cup pasteurized egg substitute
1 tsp freshly grated or ground nutmeg
1 tbsp whole wheat bread crumbs
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. Slice zucchini into long 1/4" thick strips with cheese plane. Dry zucchini by laying on paper towels and sprinkling both sides with salt. Let stand for 15 minutes, turning once as they sweat out moisture.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in saucepan set over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Add red pepper and fennel and cook for 30 seconds. Crumble in ground beef; stir and cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in marinara sauce, bring to simmer, cover, reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 10 ,minutes.
3. Preheat over to 350F. Spray a 9" x 13" baking dish with nonstick spray.
4. Thoroughly combine ricotta, mozzarella, egg substitute, and nutmeg in large bowl and set aside.
5. Use fresh paper towels to wipe salt and moisture from zucchini strips. Gently squeeze the strips between fresh paper towels to remove any excess moisture, but take care not to crush or tear them.
6. Build lasagna by sprinkling the bottom of the prepared baking dish with 1 teaspoon bread crumbs. Lay 1/3 of zucchini slices in bottom of pan, overlapping as necessary. Spoon 1/3 of red sauce over them, then spread 1/2 cheese mixture over sauce. Sprinkle with 1 tsp bread crumbs, then layer 1/2 remaining zucchini. Spoon 1/2 remaining sauce over them, then spread the rest of the cheese mixture over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp of bread crumbs. Finish with remaining zucchini slices and sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake until bubbling and quite hot, about 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
It's quite a bit of work to slice and dry the zucchini, but it's worth it because this is a really good recipe. Really good. It seems that everybody who tries it loves it. I slice the zucchini with a knife because I can't seem to get the cheese slicer thing going for me.
INGREDIENTS
3 large zucchini, washed but not peeled
2 teaspoons of salt, or less, as needed
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon fennels seeds
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (26 oz) jar marinara sauce (3 cups)
nonstick spray
1 1/2 cups fat-free ricotta
4 oz shredded fat-free mozzarella
1/4 cup pasteurized egg substitute
1 tsp freshly grated or ground nutmeg
1 tbsp whole wheat bread crumbs
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. Slice zucchini into long 1/4" thick strips with cheese plane. Dry zucchini by laying on paper towels and sprinkling both sides with salt. Let stand for 15 minutes, turning once as they sweat out moisture.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in saucepan set over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Add red pepper and fennel and cook for 30 seconds. Crumble in ground beef; stir and cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in marinara sauce, bring to simmer, cover, reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 10 ,minutes.
3. Preheat over to 350F. Spray a 9" x 13" baking dish with nonstick spray.
4. Thoroughly combine ricotta, mozzarella, egg substitute, and nutmeg in large bowl and set aside.
5. Use fresh paper towels to wipe salt and moisture from zucchini strips. Gently squeeze the strips between fresh paper towels to remove any excess moisture, but take care not to crush or tear them.
6. Build lasagna by sprinkling the bottom of the prepared baking dish with 1 teaspoon bread crumbs. Lay 1/3 of zucchini slices in bottom of pan, overlapping as necessary. Spoon 1/3 of red sauce over them, then spread 1/2 cheese mixture over sauce. Sprinkle with 1 tsp bread crumbs, then layer 1/2 remaining zucchini. Spoon 1/2 remaining sauce over them, then spread the rest of the cheese mixture over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp of bread crumbs. Finish with remaining zucchini slices and sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
7. Bake until bubbling and quite hot, about 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
About the Chicken ...
Hmmm, I guess ole AC confused a few of y'all when he wrote about purchasing a rotisserie chicken for lasagna. Actually, I'm quite glad of the confusion because it's nice to see someone other than me confused ... for a change. lol
It's very simple, really. I mostly do light cooking and have come across three recipes for lasagna, only one of which calls for the usual ground beef. And, no kidding, that one doesn't even use lasagna noodles. Really! For that recipe, I slice up three or four zucchinis which I use in place of the noodles. It's a very yummy dish actually, probably the best of the three lasagnas that I do. It's from Dr Phil's diet cookbook by the way.
The other two versions, including yesterday's, are from Crazy Plates by Janet and Greta Podleski. One is a vegetable dish, where I roast a combination of veggies as the main ingredient. Yesterday's lasagna simply calls for chicken as a variant. Just as they do for several other recipes, including Butter Chicken and Chicken Corn Chowder, the authors recommend using a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket because they are quite moist, tasty and pre-cooked.
Anyway, company came, and the lasagna was good. We chatted and laughed. One odd thing did happen though. A coffee shop featuring fair trade coffee has opened in the town that is the nearest neighbour to ours, so we decided give it a try. We trooped in, looked around, turned around, and left. You see, there were only three little tables, and they were each for two — and we were a group of four. Weird!
But that's okay! Canada's favourite coffee stop, Tim Hortons, was just around the corner. You can always rely on Tim's!
It's very simple, really. I mostly do light cooking and have come across three recipes for lasagna, only one of which calls for the usual ground beef. And, no kidding, that one doesn't even use lasagna noodles. Really! For that recipe, I slice up three or four zucchinis which I use in place of the noodles. It's a very yummy dish actually, probably the best of the three lasagnas that I do. It's from Dr Phil's diet cookbook by the way.
The other two versions, including yesterday's, are from Crazy Plates by Janet and Greta Podleski. One is a vegetable dish, where I roast a combination of veggies as the main ingredient. Yesterday's lasagna simply calls for chicken as a variant. Just as they do for several other recipes, including Butter Chicken and Chicken Corn Chowder, the authors recommend using a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket because they are quite moist, tasty and pre-cooked.
Anyway, company came, and the lasagna was good. We chatted and laughed. One odd thing did happen though. A coffee shop featuring fair trade coffee has opened in the town that is the nearest neighbour to ours, so we decided give it a try. We trooped in, looked around, turned around, and left. You see, there were only three little tables, and they were each for two — and we were a group of four. Weird!
But that's okay! Canada's favourite coffee stop, Tim Hortons, was just around the corner. You can always rely on Tim's!
Friday, February 23, 2007
A Memory and a Chore
Not having an original thought of my own these days, permit me to relate a memory that bubbled to the surface upon reading Cate's most recent post. She wrote about wondering why their young son was not calling them Mom and Dad in the normal and time-honoured fashion. Then she realized that he was attempting to use their first names.
I can only remember our kids doing that once; it was the youngest, Bug, who resorted to our first names in a moment of frustration. My memory informs me that Cuppa and I were doing something or other in the kitchen, and Bug was just outside in the hall, frustrated by the kiddie-gate between us. We weren't paying her much mind, but I recall being dimly aware of Bug calling for alternatively, first Mom and then Dad. After a bit, I was shocked and greatly amused to hear our first names being used. It worked too; she really got our attention.
Meanwhile, it is time to go shopping — again. I need to pick up a rotisserie chicken for a lasagna that I want to make for company tomorrow. Well, I want to make it today and serve it tomorrow. Lasagna is almost always better the second day anyway. I was supposed to pick it up yesterday when we were shopping, but I am very absent-minded. Cuppa said, "I'll get the bread, and you go over and pick up the chicken." Unfortunately, I got waylaid in the cheese section and completely forgot about the chicken until we got home. With a memory like mine I'll never run out of things to do ... although I may forget what they are.
What I did remember to do yesterday was to restore a photo for our neighbour. It's her birthday, so this will be a little gift for her. I was able to coax the computer along fairly well yesterday.
I can only remember our kids doing that once; it was the youngest, Bug, who resorted to our first names in a moment of frustration. My memory informs me that Cuppa and I were doing something or other in the kitchen, and Bug was just outside in the hall, frustrated by the kiddie-gate between us. We weren't paying her much mind, but I recall being dimly aware of Bug calling for alternatively, first Mom and then Dad. After a bit, I was shocked and greatly amused to hear our first names being used. It worked too; she really got our attention.
Meanwhile, it is time to go shopping — again. I need to pick up a rotisserie chicken for a lasagna that I want to make for company tomorrow. Well, I want to make it today and serve it tomorrow. Lasagna is almost always better the second day anyway. I was supposed to pick it up yesterday when we were shopping, but I am very absent-minded. Cuppa said, "I'll get the bread, and you go over and pick up the chicken." Unfortunately, I got waylaid in the cheese section and completely forgot about the chicken until we got home. With a memory like mine I'll never run out of things to do ... although I may forget what they are.
What I did remember to do yesterday was to restore a photo for our neighbour. It's her birthday, so this will be a little gift for her. I was able to coax the computer along fairly well yesterday.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Stressing and Savouring
I appreciate your commiseration with my computer woes. Said woes continue. Backing up files, which I haven't done for a while, is even problematic because even that process tends to cause a crash. So, I drag a few at a time to Cuppa's computer, and will put them on an external hard drive from there. I am doing the extra step of loading them onto her computer first because not having to deal with an additional item is one less thing to tax my sadsack machine. It's all very odd because I can usually do things like type this without running into trouble.
We didn't get around to exploring new pathways as I had wished the other day. We returned rather late from ogling Butterfly's shower presents; it was downright nippy by that time, and the shadows were beginning to lengthen, so we stuck to tried and true paths. Nevertheless, Cuppa thought to bring her camera along, and I was able to snap the following picture. It's a little creek right next to the river in the park near our house, and I think it looks pretty fine in this photo. As you can see, I continue to experiment with methods of processing colour into black and white.
Perhaps because I remember the days when it was so cool to advance to colour photography, I am not quite as taken with b&w as many. I probably prefer colour to b&w about 99.9% of the time. But it's still fun to experiment, and I only crashed the computer once while doing that — or maybe it was twice. Sigh. Nevertheless, while the computer causes some angst and stress, I appreciate being able to spend time playing with pixels like this and generally savouring my days, for there looms a time when there will be no more days to savour.
Meanwhile, Butterfly has posted some photos and I know that Cuppa will also do so either today or tomorrow. I know because I uploaded a half dozen for her last night, and they merely await proper and lucid explication. Wow! Did I say that?! lol
We didn't get around to exploring new pathways as I had wished the other day. We returned rather late from ogling Butterfly's shower presents; it was downright nippy by that time, and the shadows were beginning to lengthen, so we stuck to tried and true paths. Nevertheless, Cuppa thought to bring her camera along, and I was able to snap the following picture. It's a little creek right next to the river in the park near our house, and I think it looks pretty fine in this photo. As you can see, I continue to experiment with methods of processing colour into black and white.
Perhaps because I remember the days when it was so cool to advance to colour photography, I am not quite as taken with b&w as many. I probably prefer colour to b&w about 99.9% of the time. But it's still fun to experiment, and I only crashed the computer once while doing that — or maybe it was twice. Sigh. Nevertheless, while the computer causes some angst and stress, I appreciate being able to spend time playing with pixels like this and generally savouring my days, for there looms a time when there will be no more days to savour.
Meanwhile, Butterfly has posted some photos and I know that Cuppa will also do so either today or tomorrow. I know because I uploaded a half dozen for her last night, and they merely await proper and lucid explication. Wow! Did I say that?! lol
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Sunday Babbling
I guess, I'll just ramble a bit this morning. I don't really have anything particular on my mind but feel like typing some words anyway. Am I the only one who ever feels that way?
It looks like a nice Sunday out there. It's sunny, and temperatures will be in the mid-teens F this afternoon, so it's time to get out for a walk. Somehow, what we plan to do every day (i.e. go for a walk) doesn't get done on many days. In fact, I think we've been sedentary for three days now although I have worked out once in that time. We have recently heard that there are some walking trails out on the edge of town, so maybe we'll try to find them. The directions weren't terribly clear to me, but I can get to the general area anyway.
What I have been doing is getting very frustrated at/by the computer. It has the tendency to shut down with no advance warning when I am working on it,particularly when I am working with Photoshop. At first, I thought it was a heat issue. I work on a large screen laptop, and, sometimes, laptops do have heat issues. So I forked out money for a cooling pad — a device that has fans to help keep the machine cool. But it's just gotten worse, so it isn't a heat problem. Next, I suppose shall try adding more memory (as Photoshop is very memory-intensive program). Although I should do that (add memory) regardless, I suspect the problem is deeper than that. I do not look forward to taking it in somewhere or reformatting and starting over, but it may come to that.
Meanwhile, I will continue to be somewhat frustrated in my attempts to get things done. While I can usually type and surf the net without too much problem, the things that I shall call work for want of a better word are problematic: work such as restoring a photo for our nice neighbour. It's a school picture of her son but has faded and been splattered over the years. Since it is both her favourite and her son's, I would like to help her/them out.I think I can, but it's really difficult to make headway when the computer keeps crashing. Sometimes I laugh; sometimes I cry; sometimes I bang my head against the wall; one time I may pitch the things out of this second story window — without bothering to open it first!
The women had a baby shower for Butterfly yesterday. Two of her friends and their spouses drove all the way across province from our former hometown to hold it for her. That's sure committed friendship because it's a six hour drive — at speeding best; it was certainly more than six hours for Cuppa and me when we used to make that trip, but, of course, I was greatly impeded by the necessity of making many more pit stop than the young ones are required to. Since I wasn't there at the shower, not anywhere remotely proximate, I won't try to talk about it, but I presume that Cuppa will write about it at some point in time — and possibly post photos (do ya think?). Cuppa had to leave early, so we'll head over to Butterfly's later to properly and thoroughly examine the various gifts. For whatever reason, Cuppa must actually touch something in order to see it, and she didn't get a chance to do that yesterday.
So, that's what I have to say when I don't have anything to say.
It looks like a nice Sunday out there. It's sunny, and temperatures will be in the mid-teens F this afternoon, so it's time to get out for a walk. Somehow, what we plan to do every day (i.e. go for a walk) doesn't get done on many days. In fact, I think we've been sedentary for three days now although I have worked out once in that time. We have recently heard that there are some walking trails out on the edge of town, so maybe we'll try to find them. The directions weren't terribly clear to me, but I can get to the general area anyway.
What I have been doing is getting very frustrated at/by the computer. It has the tendency to shut down with no advance warning when I am working on it,particularly when I am working with Photoshop. At first, I thought it was a heat issue. I work on a large screen laptop, and, sometimes, laptops do have heat issues. So I forked out money for a cooling pad — a device that has fans to help keep the machine cool. But it's just gotten worse, so it isn't a heat problem. Next, I suppose shall try adding more memory (as Photoshop is very memory-intensive program). Although I should do that (add memory) regardless, I suspect the problem is deeper than that. I do not look forward to taking it in somewhere or reformatting and starting over, but it may come to that.
Meanwhile, I will continue to be somewhat frustrated in my attempts to get things done. While I can usually type and surf the net without too much problem, the things that I shall call work for want of a better word are problematic: work such as restoring a photo for our nice neighbour. It's a school picture of her son but has faded and been splattered over the years. Since it is both her favourite and her son's, I would like to help her/them out.I think I can, but it's really difficult to make headway when the computer keeps crashing. Sometimes I laugh; sometimes I cry; sometimes I bang my head against the wall; one time I may pitch the things out of this second story window — without bothering to open it first!
The women had a baby shower for Butterfly yesterday. Two of her friends and their spouses drove all the way across province from our former hometown to hold it for her. That's sure committed friendship because it's a six hour drive — at speeding best; it was certainly more than six hours for Cuppa and me when we used to make that trip, but, of course, I was greatly impeded by the necessity of making many more pit stop than the young ones are required to. Since I wasn't there at the shower, not anywhere remotely proximate, I won't try to talk about it, but I presume that Cuppa will write about it at some point in time — and possibly post photos (do ya think?). Cuppa had to leave early, so we'll head over to Butterfly's later to properly and thoroughly examine the various gifts. For whatever reason, Cuppa must actually touch something in order to see it, and she didn't get a chance to do that yesterday.
So, that's what I have to say when I don't have anything to say.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Arizona Bling
Well, what blogger doesn't like to make the most out of a bit of a predicament. Of course, that's partly what I did yesterday with the ... er ... em post. However, most of Valentine's Day was actually fine. We had wanted to splurge on a breakfast sandwich at Tims after the procedure; in fact, being mindful of our waistlines lately, we had planned on it as sort of a break-diet breakfast for about a month. But, we got out of the hospital a little too late. However, on the drive home I remembered the Thruway restaurant and was pretty sure we could get breakfast there even though it was close to lunch time. It turns out that we could, and it also turns out that it was very good and satisfying.
Once we got home, I gave Cuppa the card that I had prepared for her featuring the photo below. It was just over a year ago that I took the photo at Monument Valley, Arizona. She has climbed a bit of a ridge to look out over the vast view of monuments (buttes and mesas). Monument Valley was the highlight of our wonderful trip to Arizona. I superimposed the portrait of Cuppa with those earrings which she also purchased somewhere in Arizona. Not one to normally notice such things, I really like
those earring — find them very hot, eh? You should see the heavy metal necklace she's wearing today though. I also notice that!
Once we got home, I gave Cuppa the card that I had prepared for her featuring the photo below. It was just over a year ago that I took the photo at Monument Valley, Arizona. She has climbed a bit of a ridge to look out over the vast view of monuments (buttes and mesas). Monument Valley was the highlight of our wonderful trip to Arizona. I superimposed the portrait of Cuppa with those earrings which she also purchased somewhere in Arizona. Not one to normally notice such things, I really like
those earring — find them very hot, eh? You should see the heavy metal necklace she's wearing today though. I also notice that!
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