Munch ado About Nothing

Person of Interest - The TV series

2014-09-03T22:58:00.001-05:00

If you haven't seen it, you're missing one of the best TV series ever made. Strong characterization, intense plot within plot within plot. You are constantly on edge, surprised and humored. Action scenes are as good as any major movie production and each main actor brings life and complexity to their role. Breathtaking soundtracks. The emotional aspects of the series, while subtle,are realistic and multi-layered.

Be forewarned, it is highly addictive. Set your alarm and be ready to give up your social life before you pay for it. We bought it via Vudu but it's available on Amazon too.

Enjoy!

Easiest Way to Cook Chicken

2014-06-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

2 Whole Chicken in A Crockpot. No kidding, that's all you need for your chicken supply of the week.

Usually in our house, we make the famous Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Rice ( better if cooked with chicken stock and basil), sliced up Chicken, garlic and red peppers pureed sauce, dark soy sauce , ginger pureed sauce and chicken soup.

Shredded cucumbers, carrots, green onions , even slices of tomatoes really lighten the whole dish.

If you don't like it deconstructed, you can make a combination sauce of all the condiments. So it would look like this:

Just shred some chicken on top of hot rice and add sauce.

More left over chicken? Fry and slice up an omelette, more vegetables and you're ready for wraps.

Wine to pair.

Because the taste is rather bold, I would pair with something white and fruity like a full-bodied Pinot Gris from Alsace, a full-bodied Grüner Veltliner from Austria, German Reisling or Champagne.

What do you do to never forget?

2013-09-11T22:59:00.002-05:00

Today is a day where hate seems appropriate.

12 years ago, America suffered a mortal wound. Yet the country went on to vote in a 2 term Marxism-driven Presidency, whose policies and leadership have done more to dismantle America than Al Qaeda ever did.

A year ago, four Americans who stood post for Obama , namely, Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed when their commander in Chief traded his backbone for sleep. A year later, there is still no real closure for their sacrifice.

Via Wikipedia

In an August 12, 2013 interview with WMAL radio in Washington DC, Joe DiGenova, a former U.S. attorney who represents one of the Benghazi whistleblowers, said that 400 American surface-to-air missiles were stolen during the terror attack. DiGenova is quoted as saying: "We have learned that one of the reasons the administration is so deeply concerned" is that "there were 400 surface-to-air missiles stolen, and that they are ... in the hands of many people, and that the biggest fear in the U.S. intelligence community is that one of these missiles will be used to shoot down an airliner."

Last night around the dining table, my husband reminded the family of this special day. My 7 year old asked what it meant. And we explained to him that there is an enemy who has and would like to kill Americans because what we believe is different from what they believe. My 7 year old was clearly disturbed by the concept of an enemy so bent on evil that they would anything, including killing themselves, just to destroy us.

“I hate that, mommy”. He exclaimed.

He’s right. We ought to hate evil actions.

It must have bothered him all night. After he brushed his teeth and jumped into bed, my son said “ Mommy, do you know why Voldermort didn’t kill baby Harry Potter?” .

“ Isn’t it because of the scar he had?”

“ No, mommy, the scar came after the first attempt to kill him.”

“ No, I don’t remember. Why?” I replied, as I slipped his pillow in a newly washed white pillow case.

“It’s because of love, his mother loved him so much that she died in order to save him. And Voldermort couldn’t destroy Harry because he doesn’t understand what love is.”

And there, once again, my little acorn led me to the tree.

Our enemy cannot defeat us because they would never understand what greater love is. What it means to unconditionally love one’s country and neighbor. The road might be long and arduous and more blood would be shed. The true devastation of the Obama regime would reveal itself. But as long as we hold pure love in our hearts, we do not fear.

With that, I shall focus on the Hero stories with my children today.

What about you? Which hero story would you be telling today? What else do you do to Never Forget?

Fruit Platters Ideas

2013-03-19T18:30:00.002-05:00

28 Spring and Easter Mantel Decor Ideas

2013-03-17T23:47:00.000-05:00

Easter Cakes

2013-03-17T23:31:00.000-05:00

Easy to jazz with M& M cake

Rose Cake

Cream cheese frosting with chocolate eggs decor

Raspberry Lemon Easter Cake

22 Easy Easter Desserts

2013-03-17T23:09:00.001-05:00

Spring chicks cake

Spring Showers Petit Fours

Bunny Crepe

Heavenly Angel Cake

Easter Philly Dessert

Amaretto Cream Cheese Strawberries

Chocolate Mousse in egg cups

Bunny Marsh Mellows

Pretzel Sticks with cream cheese frosting and yellow M&Ms eggs

Pineapple Coconut cupcakes

Nutter Butter Banana Pudding

Strawberry-Fromage Blanc Tartlets

Rice Crispies bird nest

Oreo cakesters Easy Easter Pops

Sheep Cake Pops

Bunny Cake Pops

Chick cake pops

Easter Bunny Maracoons

ice cream cone with jelly beans and candy string

Cut cake and add coconut to make rabbit fur. Use green food color for coconut grass.

Easter Lemon Meringue Nest

Beautiful Fairy Gardens

2013-03-16T19:43:00.000-05:00

Spring is here. Time for CREATIVE experiments in the backyard!

via nesting place.com

Singapore Popiah

2013-02-07T18:49:00.002-06:00

A Dog's Prayer

2013-01-06T10:48:00.002-06:00

To Those Who Love & Those Who Love Me
When I am gone, release me, let me go-
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you have each shown.
But now it is time I traveled alone.
So grieve awhile for me if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust,
It is only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart,
I will not be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can not see or touch me, I will be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile and “Welcome Home”.

Oil less Cajun Fried Turkey

2012-11-19T11:43:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is around the corner, needless to say, it's my favorite holiday because it is ALL ABOUT FOOD!

I have experimented with many Turkey recipes over the years and found fried Turkey to be the most flavorful which is moist inside and crisp on the outside. But there are several things I don't like about the traditional fried Turkey. The injection liquid tastes artificial; simply unacceptable to the foodie. The whole frying process, with gallons of expensive peanut oil can be overwhelming and wasteful. Then, there is the risk of murdering one spouse with the excess calories or stress before the evening is up, trying to watch the frying pot, cook all the sides, keep the children out and decorate the house.

I have finally found the way to fry a Turkey which would lock all the natural tastes of fall and crispy on the skin without an oz of extra calories other than the big bird itself. The answer is Char-Broil The Big Easy Oil-Less Infrared Turkey Fryer.
( If you like Cajun and prefer baking it, you can prepare the same way like I described in the feed and stuff fall aromatics, like apples, pears, rosemary, onions, carrots etc and bake according to the instruction on the Turkey package).

Recipe as follows:

After thawing the bird ( about 15-16 pounds), prepare the Brine about 2 days before day of serving.

For the brine:

1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries ( or 5 spice powder)
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water

Combine the vegetable stock (or chicken stock) , salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate. Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining.

After removing the bird from brine, it is time for the rub.

Ingredients For the Rub:

25 medium dried bay leaves
3 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
3 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
3 tablespoons hot Creole seasoning
2 teaspoons garlic powder

Directions

Pat the turkey dry. Finely grind bay leaves in spice grinder; transfer to small bowl. Finely grind thyme, oregano, and peppercorns separately; add to bay leaves. Mix in Creole seasoning and garlic powder.
Rub 1/3 spice mixture on inside of turkey, 1/3 under skin of breast, and 1/3 on outside of turkey; place in roasting pan. Cover; marinate overnight in refrigerator or up to 24 hours.

Finally, when you are ready to fry. Use a paper towel and wipe off as much marinate "debris" as possible. Then gently place the bird in the cage and into the Oil less Fryer. Depending on the weather condition, it takes about 5- 10 minutes a pound. Go Ricochet and check the bird in a couple of hours and pull it out of its cage when the temperature of the thickest part (usually the thigh) hits 170 degree.

How to make a Rubberband Gun

2012-11-06T11:49:00.001-06:00

2012-09-17T07:41:00.001-05:00

They say that an oak tree is brought into creation by two forces at the same time. Obviously, there is the acorn from which it all begins, the seed which holds all the promise and potential, which grows into a tree. Everybody can see that. But only a few can recognize that there is anther force operating here as well-the future tree itself, which wants so badly to exist that it pulls the acorn into being, drawing the seedling forth with longing out of the void, guiding the evolution from nothingness to maturity. In this respect, say the Zens, it is the oak tree that creates the very acorn from which it was born. ( Elizabeth Gilbert). This is why we become more of who we are and all of our past makes sense, when we nurture another human being.