First Decision Of The Day

Usually begins with what cup do I want my coffee in, or what shall I be today? A cow, a horse, a sheep, or a pig? Whoa Nellie for those of you who think I have a self-esteem problem. As a matter of fact, I think quite highly of myself. I blog after all. More than one too. And what's the big deal of starting your day as an animal? (psst you already do.)

  

These mugs represent my country collection of perfection.  I pick the horse when I have gallop through the day, often drinking only one mug of super-charged jet fuel.  I like the pig on days like today - cloudy and cold yet happy and mellow. The cow, well being a Taurus, I happen to think cows are pretty darn neat. And having lived on a cattle ranch, I know there is something to Larson's cartoon of cows playing doorbell ditch on the farmer.

  

The Blue Sheep is reserved for special days when I stay home and play with my cat. Si is a water sheep in Chinese astrology.

As you can see, these cups are copyrighted. Little faces and skinny legs are Art. Know that.

Oink! It's time to fry up some bacon.

Valentine's Day Dinner

Chicken Pot Pie

I use what I have around, but usually potatoes, carrots, leafy greens work good and are healthy. On your right (from back to front) on the cutting board are tri-color carrots (one orange, one purple, one white, amazing what they can grow these days), a peeled Yukon gold potato, a slice of yellow bell pepper, a peeled baby turnip, and four small leaves of rainbow chard, which are from my garden. I chopped them all up in bite size pieces and put them into a stoneware baking dish that is about the size of a soup bowl that you might get at a restaurant.

  

Below right is the easy part. Add one jar of chicken gravy. Oh yeah, I also chunked a cooked chicken breast and added it to the vegetables. It might not seem like enough gravy, but as it

 heats up, the gravy get more liquid-y. (Spellchecker didn't give me a problem with liquid-y.)

Now I defrosted one sheet of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry and placed it on the pie (above left) and pinched it all around, and then I got creative and cut out little stars and trees and free-formed the crescent moon. With a touch of egg whites, I applied them all and coated the whole surface.

  

Baked at 350 degrees until golden brown. It should look kind of like the last picture. This took about 45 minutes. 

  

This was a signature dish for me for years. I used to make my own gravy and pastry too. I have to admit the gravy part was always the wild card, so I decided the jar stuff is just fine and who needs the anxiety. The pastry part though was really fun and easy, and it usually tasted better than Pepperidge Farm, but if you don't have those techniques down, you can make a perfectly acceptable pot pie this way. 

  

And nothing says I Love You, Honey like home cooked meal. 

Over Wintering Sunflower Macro Monday

 The bird situation in the backyard is active and crowded. The neighbors feed the birds, and I grew a dozen sunflowers and left most the seed heads to the birds. They have cover, and the sprinklers pond water in the front yard.

  

Doing the Lisa thing this Marco Monday.

California Cheese Burger

California Sourdough Bread (toasted). Fresh Sirloin Ground Round (grilled). Havarti Cheese (melted on the burger). Bubbie Pickles (sliced length-wise). Best Foods Mayo (real). Dijon Mustard (Grey Poupon).

Local Pale Ale (Whatever).

Sunday Lunch. 

Super Bowl Saturday

My kind of salad loaded with pine nuts and sesame seeds.