It Doesn't Hurt To Get A Little Help!

Yesterday I went to my local library with the expressed purpose of checking out some basic cooking books for beginners like me. Of course there were a lot of books to choose from but I'm starting off with the most basic of them!

I checked out two books and since I have three weeks to go through them that gives me some time.

As I said I'm starting off with the most basic of the cookbooks and I will work my way up from there.

If you're new to cooking or want to learn more about it don't be afraid to go to your local library and check out some of the more basic cooking books. They won't cost you a thing - except for maybe signing up for a library card - LOL!

I have also been taping some cooking shows on TV so that I can learn at my own pace as well - this is how I learned to make my first Thanksgiving Turkey!

Yuck!

Well I tried to make pancakes from scratch even though I did have some instructions in front of me - it didn't turn out too good!.

Actually the first time I tried to make the pancakes from scratch they just didn't look like pancakes! And they certainly didn't taste like pancakes either! So the second time that I tried to make them from scratch, while they did look like pancakes they certainly didn't taste like pancakes! And I could tell from the taste that I put too much baking soda in the batter!

I actually think that this is my first really bad attempt - but that just makes me want to make right! So I'm going to try again as soon as I have all of the right ingredients!

Winter Weather Supplies!

There's nothing more better than being able to have a warm, hot cup of hot chocolate on a cold winters day! And believe me this is a cold winters day! My area was hit with a major snowstorm over the last 24 hours and the wind chills are going to go down to zero!

I posted on my Homeowner's Blog about how cold it is tonight and how the rooms are drafty because of the gusty winds! So its great to be able to have a nice cup of hot chocolate to drink! This is one of my little pleasures in life!

However sad to say that I am running out of hot chocolate


I'm grateful that I have enough money to buy me some more hot chocolate but I have to brave those inches of snow to get it!


I named this blog post "Winter Weather Supplies" mostly to remind myself of all the things / groceries that I should be stocked up on just in case I'm snowed in - LOL!

• hot chocolate!
  
  
• tea (and sugar and lemon and honey and brandy!)
  
  
• coffee (and sugar and non-dairy creamer/milk)
  
  
• rock salt! - have to clear the sidewalk!
  
  
• soup!
  
  
• aspirin - when I feel a flu or virus coming on

I'm sorely lacking in supplies but at least I'm grateful that I have enough money to be able to stock up once again!

I'm Going To Be Baking Once Again - I Vow!

A long, long time ago I used to bake cakes! I even think I had one of those easy bake ovens as a child!

Thoughts of baking again have again entered my mind and I was recently reminded of it when I was watching one of Martha Stewart's shows!

I haven't baked in so long that I am sorely lacking in baking materials! I did manage to find my old rolling pin and found the sifter that sifts the flour. I have maybe one or two baking pans and I know that there is a mixer around here somewhere but I haven't found it yet - LOL! But it will be fun to buy some new baking tools and I look forward to that!

About the closest that I have come to baking in recent times was when I last bought some cornbread mix (they were on sale - 3 for a $1 - LOL!) I had bought the mix but I didn't have any eggs or milk to add to it and I had to wait. But once I did get the eggs and milk and made - it tasted great! - and this furthered my longing and desire to bake once again!

I have been buying my pastry items from the bakery at my local supermarket mostly because its quick and painless but I have been longing to get back to baking once again and its something that I really want to get back into.

Recent Salmonella Outbreak(s)

Unfortunately there is another case of a salmonella outbreak!

An Ohio peanut butter distributor issued a voluntary recall Saturday for two brands of peanut butter after health officials in Minnesota on Friday said they had found salmonella bacteria in a tub of peanut butter that is distributed to schools and hospitals..........

source

The Washington Post

There has been a peanut butter recall!

The King Nut Companies of Solon in Ohio, announced it had issued a recall of all peanut butter distributed under its label and manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America, of Lynchburg, Va. The company also recalled its distribution of Parnell's Pride peanut butter, which is also made by Peanut Corporation, according to a prepared statement by King Nut.

The company, in its statement, said it took the action after salmonella was found in an open five-pound tub of King Nut peanut butter.

King Nut distributes peanut butter through food service accounts and does not sell it directly to consumers, the statement said.

The statement added, "King Nut does not supply any of the ingredients for the peanut butter distributed under its label. All other King Nut products are safe and not included in this voluntary recall."

"We are very sorry this happened," said Martin Kanan, president and chief executive officer of King Nut Companies. "We are taking immediate and voluntary action because the health and safety of those who use our products is always our highest priority."

King Nut customers are asked to take all King Nut peanut butter and Parnell's Pride peanut butter out of distribution immediately.

The recall and the potential link to the multi-state outbreak come two years after ConAgra recalled its Peter Pan brand peanut butter, which had been linked to at least 625 salmonella cases in 47 states.

Potato pancakes, also known as latkes or latkas (Yiddish: לאַטקעס, Hebrew: לביבה levivah, plural לביבות levivot), are shallow-fried pancakes of grated potato and egg, often flavored with grated onion. Potato pancakes may be topped with a variety of condiments, ranging from the savory (such as sour cream) to the sweet (such as applesauce or sugar), or they may be served ungarnished. Potato pancakes are sometimes made from mashed potatoes to produce pancake-shaped croquettes.[1]

Potato pancakes are commonly associated with traditional Czech, Ukrainian, Yiddish, German and Polish cuisine, although other cuisines (including those of India and Korea) also have similar potato pancakes.[2] It is also the national dish of Belarus. In Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian cuisines potato pancakes are commonly known as deruny (Ukrainian: деруни) or draniki (Russian: драники, Belarusian: Дранікі). In Bavaria, Germany, potato pancakes are also very much liked under the name Reiberdatschi or Kartoffelpuffer, and they are eaten either salty as a side dish or sweet with apple sauce and cinnamon.

source
Wikipedia

Latke Recipe

Potato Latkes

Makes: 24 / Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 35 minutes

4 large russet potatoes, peeled

1 large onion

3 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup self-rising flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Oil for frying

Sour cream or applesauce for serving

Using a food processor fitted with a large grating blade, grate the potatoes. Remove the grated potatoes and squeeze the water from them. Using a smaller grating blade, grate the onion. Set the grated onion aside to drain.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, salt and pepper and oil. Blend well.

Using a large skillet, heat about 1/4-inch of oil.

Working in batches, use a large tablespoon to drop the potato mixture in the hot oil.

Watch for the edges of the latkes to turn golden brown. Once browned, use two forks to gently flip over the latke.

When the latkes turn golden brown, with crispy edges, place them on brown paper or paper toweling to drain.

Yes, I Am Going To Make A Turkey On & For Thanksgiving!

Yes, I plan to make a turkey for Thanksgiving! - LOL!

I'm still quite in love with the turkey that I made last year because it came out so great! I was sad to see it go!

I didn't have hardly any experience with making a turkey but I wanted to do so so badly so what I did was watch some of the cooking shows and take notes. I watched both Rachel Ray and Emeril's Thanksgiving-related cooking shows to get ideas and help! I'm glad that I watched those shows because they gave (and showed) me a lot of good things to do!

I haven't yet bought my turkey for this Thanksgiving yet but hope to do so by next week! My local grocery store is having a promotion where you'll get a free Thanksgiving turkey if you buy a certain dollar amount of groceries!

The timing of buying everything gets me kind of stressed because I don't want to buy the produce and vegetable too early! Have you ever been at the supermarket just a few days before Thanksgiving? It's a crazy time!

I plan on having a Thanksgiving turkey, along with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beens, rolls and sweet potatoe pie! I'm not too much a fan of gravy but it seems easy to make so I may try to make some. I have never been a fan of cranberry sauce!

I just would like to take the whole day and spend it first by preparing my turkey and watching the Thanksgiving parade on TV.



Update!

I did manage to have everything that I mentioned above!

I I bought my turkey the day before Thanksgiving but I had a great time! Yes the supermarket was crowded and yes there were a lot of people shopping on the day before Thanksgiving but everybody seemed to be in a good and friendly mood! (Although I have to mention that I couldn't wait to get home and relax!)