Because. . .

Since we all know that my secret ambition in life, besides being a domestic goddess and page-turner-novel-writer, is to attend culinary school and become a chef, I thought I would do what I do in my not-so-neat-thoughts blog: write about recipes I've tried. Even though my folks are in denial about food (you know, 60+ year grudges against poultry, refusal to eat sweet meat).

Smoked Salmon Scramble

I got this from Food Network Magazine. They had a special with 50 egg dishes. After a while, scrambled, boiled, omelettes, scrambled, etc., loses its luster. I'll post the initial recipe and any changes I made.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, 2 teaspoons chopped chives, and salt & pepper. Whisk until just set. Serve on toasted whole-grain bread with smoked salmon.

I used everything sans the chives (since I haven't planted my seeds yet). What I did was the following:

1. The non-stick pans we have here suggest not heating above medium heat. Also, the whisk is wire, so whisking in pan is not going to be functional.

2. Used butter & did not oil the pan before hand. Oil the pan (my method is paper towel with oil rubbed about pan). The eggs stuck a bit so will oil next time.

3. I heated the cream cheese for about 15-20 seconds in the microwave, cracked the eggs in the bowl and stirred with a spoon. I would use the whisk in the bowl on this. I also switched out salt & pepper for Mrs. Dash original blend. I bit more flavor, considering the omission of chives.

4. Used whole-grain english muffins. I also used Chicken of the Sea Smoked Salmon in the Tuna area of your local supermarket (if lucky). I found this worked pretty good, but my guess is if you find said salmon in the meat department, you can probably get the thin cuts used in the recipe & accompanying picture.

On a whole, it was a filling breakfast. I had yogurt as a side and still am feeling pretty good, four hours later. It has good taste and is different. The cream cheese makes the eggs fluffy. The only other thing I may try is possibly using the Garden Vegetable cream cheese in place of the regular/lite I used.

5/5 stars.

Mindy, chef wannabe

Holiday? What's a Holiday?

It used to be that on Memorial Day, my friend Kim & I would join members of the American Legion post (long story short, our Star Trek group's leader was the elected head at the AL Hall we had our meetings at), go out to the old cemetery here in Bremerton (as in right smack in the middle of town) and put flags on the graves of all service men. I liked it as I was only one, even with a map, that could find the two British officers buried there. We'd be up at 5am and out there placing flags by 6am.

Most think of it as the beginning of summer, for kids, a holiday that officially starts the countdown to the end of school. It's important to remember Memorial day's purpose.

**

I need to get myself moving and to the dump. Garbage isn't going to take itself and its closed tomorrow. I figure I'll hit the grocery store this evening. I like shopping either early in the day or later in the day. Weekend with a holiday--all bets are off.

Let's see: Watched about 15 minutes of South Park last night before I dropped off. Woke up to 9-11 Conspiracy Theories on History (don't get me started--really!!) Today will be listening to the races and figuring out what to buy for the week. Jack has an appointment with the diabetic dietician on Wednesday (I think). We need to get his replacement insurance card. On the agenda for the week.

Mindy of bad cartoons and theories on why they are bad..

You'd think with all this time...

That I would be posting more. Hah!! When it takes 1.5+ hours to fill out a job application, plus juggling medical stuff (Jack), house stuff ('nuff said about my moving in to the kitchen) and watching the grass grow by leaps and bounds...

Job searching is still on-going. I had a screening interview at Fred Meyer's this week. Hopefully, I'll be forwarded on to the manager. I could handle doing cashier--although I admit I haven't done anything with money since I was seasonal at the long-defunct Drug Emporium, probably 16 years ago and a meh tenure at Fabricland. The sad thing is this: job applications usually ask for either your last four employment ventures or the last ten years. I have had longevity and retail experience but it is now getting to the point where I can't add those.

Is working for FM, or, for that matter, any thing other than what I spent $1000's on school for, defeatist? Nah. I for one cannot take much more day-time television and I really want to be out of my folks house. A job is a job.

In other news...

Our yard here is in need of livestock misplacement. The lawnmower starts for about .005 seconds and out it goes. The yard is too much for merely a weed-whacker, so I feel defeated. Why me? Because without BIL Greg to help out, I'm on my own. Seriously, can anyone see my dad or mom lugging about a weed whacker? I don't. Yet another thing that falls on to my shoulders. I tell you, if I were being paid for this, life would be swell.

Animals are doing fine. Emmi has decided that she needs to not only lick the bejesus out of my hand, but knaw on it as well. Squatch already knaws. Skye comes to me anywhere between 3:30am and 10am to go out and she doesn't always make it (you know who cleans that up). But I will cut Skye some slack. We almost thought we were going to lose that canine in March when it looked 'drunken' doggy or she'd had a stroke. It was something older dogs get (vestibular something or other) that if I had to describe it, is inner ear infection with sea-sickness. She's fine and takes half a pain pill per day for arthritis in her hips. But baby-dog is now 15 and officially the oldest in house. Where does a 15 year old dog sleep? Anywhere she wishes.

Jack has been better. We are trying to find pain control that does not involve narcotics. Surely, there is something he can use for pain that doesn't involve Oxycodone. Haven't found it yet. It knocks him out so a majority of the day is sleeping. Which is good in some ways because he can't hear the crap the rest of us are subjected to on TV. (Note: I swear I am going build my dad something with flips, levers, dials, buzzers, buttons, flashing lights...so he'll relinquish the tv controller and telephone).

Other than that...nothing new. off to finish my Macy's application. Spatula makeup and stilletos (hell no) here I hope to not come.

Mindy, pooper scooper patrol.