It's been a while since I posted a recipe. Here's one that I have thrown together that comes out surprisingly well. This pasta sauce starts with a creamy garlic base and then gets the tomato added in. It's not a super thick consistency like a marinara or hearty garden-style pasta sauce, but the flavah is fab-o plain jane, or with chicken or shrimp.
Garlic Cream Tomato Sauce
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1/2 stick butter
1 to 2 tsp minced garlic (depends on how strong you like it...)
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup parmesan/asiago/romano cheese blend, grated
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup white cooking wine
1 T basil, dried -- use fresh if you've got it!!
1 tsp parsley (or a little more if it's fresh -- chop it coarsely).
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
salt and pepper to taste -- remember that cooking wine already has salt in it
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optional additions include:
chopped fresh tomato (canned tomato, drained works OK too)
onion or green onion
bell pepper strips -- I like the red and yellow ones' flavor best in this sauce
chicken -- grilled or sauteed, it's great in this sauce
shrimp -- if you want something more special than chicken
a tiny amount of fresh spinach, just wilted (Do not use canned! Ick.) It doesn't take many leaves to be "enough".
You'll also need a box o' pasta. I have used linguini and penne with this sauce, and either works just fine. Regular spaghetti doesn't have enough "tooth" for my liking to go well with this flavorful sauce.
Here's how you do it:
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the buttah. Add the minced garlic and cook briefly until the color starts to change and you can smell that it's cooked. Garlic burns easily if you're not watching it, it doesn't take long to cook it.
Add the sour cream and cheese blend, stirring until combined and heated through. I generally use a whisk rather than a spoon just to make sure it's good and smooth. Add the milk and white wine; stir until blended. Add the basil, parsley, tomato sauce, and salt and pepper (to taste).
Simmer over lo to med-lo heat (depends on how hot your burner is) for about a half hour, stirring frequently to prevent burning on the bottom. Cook your pasta in a separate pan while the sauce finishes up.
If I am adding bell pepper strips or onion (or both), I generally add them at the beginning of the simmering process and let them enjoy a hot-tub experience for the full half hour. This lets their flavor really penetrate the dish while softening the veggies. Add the spinach at the end, as it does not take long for the leaves to wilt. (You don't want them completely mushy and slimy, they should still have some body to them).
If I add chicken, I use either diced or strips of pre-cooked chicken -- I do not cook the chicken in the sauce. I don't know that it matters, but I want to ensure that it's done all the way through and depending on the temperature of my simmering sauce, it doesn't always get thoroughly cooked. I wait until the end and add the chicken to the sauce just to heat it through.
Shrimp is a whole other ballgame. If adding (uncooked) shrimp, I add them the last 2 minutes and watch carefully to make sure the shrimp are not over-cooked. Shrimp cooks very quickly; as soon as you see that it is opaque and almost completely pink, remove the pan from heat. The residual heat in the pan will finish the cooking process and leave the shrimp tender without making them rubbery. If the shrimp are completely bright pink, they chance being over done by the time they sit in the pan and are served a few minutes later. If you're using pre-cooked shrimp, add them right at the end to just warm them and try to prevent that unfortunate rubbery texture.
** note -- do make sure the shrimp is fully cooked before consuming it. This is not a fusion recipe of Italian cuisine and Japanese sashimi.**
Other notes:
I'm a basil junkie. I could bathe in it. (I'm sure there's a 12-step program for people like me, but I'm reveling in my addiction at the moment). Accordingly, the amount that I put in the sauce may be too much for the average palate. As always, put in what you like in the amount you like it. I view recipes as a loose framework that give you the opportunity to let your own creativity and personal style shine through.
The sauce thickens as it cools, so don't despair if it seems a little thin initially.
Enjoy!
Monday, May 17, 2010
To Pee or Not To Pee
To Pee, or Not To Pee? THAT is the question. At least, it is in our household.
I have supreme bragging rights on my son, A, who has been in cotton undies for a whole month now. He stays dry 99% of the time during the daytime -- I can count his "#1" accidents during the last month on one hand, and have fingers left over. Even as recently as the New Year, A would/could not do this. We've tried the cotton undies before and had very messy results. We're just so glad that something is finally clicking with him about the toileting, even if it's taken 6 1/2 years to do it.
We are still working on the #2 aspect, though. If he's in briefs, this is not such a big deal (even though it is very messy). We took a gamble and lost when we combined boxer-style undies and a pair of shorts one day. He was at home when we became aware that that combination was not a good one. Nothing some good ol' Chlorox can't handle, both in the laundry and on the floor.
Overall, A has done an outstanding job with keeping himself pretty clean. As frustrating as the streaks of fecal material (and sometimes a little extra) are in his underwear, his daddy and I also realize that A really can't help some of it. Some of it. There are times when he knows he has to go, and will bypass the bathroom to go hide in his closet to do his business. Z and I are still trying to figure out a way to effectively discourage this activity, short of super-gluing our child to the toilet seat. The last option, while effective in one regard, does have its obvious limitations.
We are still having some issues with overnight bed-wetting, which happens 3 or 4 days out of the week. Z and I finally went out and got some nighttime pants, for nocturnal use only, just to save us from washing blankets, sheets, pillows, and mattress covers every single day. Our aging septic pit can't handle large quantities of water, we have to space out showers/baths, dishes, and laundry over the course of the day. Adding two more laundry loads per day was maxing out our system, so it was the better part of valor to suck it up and buy the disposables for overnight use.
As wonderfully as A has been doing, his sister has decided to take a very different course. She has started peeing in her panties again. We're not entirely sure why she is regressing all of a sudden. I'm wondering if my going back to work about a month ago has anything to do with it, since that is about the time we started having these issues. K was totally embarrassed this weekend -- twice -- because she peed herself in public, so we're hoping that will help solve the situation.
The first time she did it, we were working with the youth. I had told her to go to the bathroom as soon as we reached the building and she ignored me; then she peed in her pants about 10 minutes later. I did not have a change of clothes with me, so she had to stay in the (tile floored) bathroom by herself for 3 hours. I couldn't have her sitting on the carpet or upholstered seats in her wet pee clothing, and I wasn't going to let her run around naked in front of a bunch of teenagers.
The second time was during church the next morning; the ladies teaching her class had no choice but to put her in a "baby diaper" (K's words, not mine). K was especially miffed because they were boy pants with Spiderman on them.
Let's hope that did the trick.
I have supreme bragging rights on my son, A, who has been in cotton undies for a whole month now. He stays dry 99% of the time during the daytime -- I can count his "#1" accidents during the last month on one hand, and have fingers left over. Even as recently as the New Year, A would/could not do this. We've tried the cotton undies before and had very messy results. We're just so glad that something is finally clicking with him about the toileting, even if it's taken 6 1/2 years to do it.
We are still working on the #2 aspect, though. If he's in briefs, this is not such a big deal (even though it is very messy). We took a gamble and lost when we combined boxer-style undies and a pair of shorts one day. He was at home when we became aware that that combination was not a good one. Nothing some good ol' Chlorox can't handle, both in the laundry and on the floor.
Overall, A has done an outstanding job with keeping himself pretty clean. As frustrating as the streaks of fecal material (and sometimes a little extra) are in his underwear, his daddy and I also realize that A really can't help some of it. Some of it. There are times when he knows he has to go, and will bypass the bathroom to go hide in his closet to do his business. Z and I are still trying to figure out a way to effectively discourage this activity, short of super-gluing our child to the toilet seat. The last option, while effective in one regard, does have its obvious limitations.
We are still having some issues with overnight bed-wetting, which happens 3 or 4 days out of the week. Z and I finally went out and got some nighttime pants, for nocturnal use only, just to save us from washing blankets, sheets, pillows, and mattress covers every single day. Our aging septic pit can't handle large quantities of water, we have to space out showers/baths, dishes, and laundry over the course of the day. Adding two more laundry loads per day was maxing out our system, so it was the better part of valor to suck it up and buy the disposables for overnight use.
As wonderfully as A has been doing, his sister has decided to take a very different course. She has started peeing in her panties again. We're not entirely sure why she is regressing all of a sudden. I'm wondering if my going back to work about a month ago has anything to do with it, since that is about the time we started having these issues. K was totally embarrassed this weekend -- twice -- because she peed herself in public, so we're hoping that will help solve the situation.
The first time she did it, we were working with the youth. I had told her to go to the bathroom as soon as we reached the building and she ignored me; then she peed in her pants about 10 minutes later. I did not have a change of clothes with me, so she had to stay in the (tile floored) bathroom by herself for 3 hours. I couldn't have her sitting on the carpet or upholstered seats in her wet pee clothing, and I wasn't going to let her run around naked in front of a bunch of teenagers.
The second time was during church the next morning; the ladies teaching her class had no choice but to put her in a "baby diaper" (K's words, not mine). K was especially miffed because they were boy pants with Spiderman on them.
Let's hope that did the trick.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Garden
Things have been so nuts after I started working. My poor flowerbeds are still completely wild. My grand plans to have most of my garden dug up and planted have been thwarted by rain on my available evenings to veg with the veggies.
But I persevere. I'm good like that, yo.
So THIS weekend was nice, because I am very nearly caught up to where I thought I'd be at this time of spring:
My beds are mostly dug. I have one more that I will be putting sweet potatoes and yellow straight-neck squash in that has not been started yet -- the sweet potatoes grow below the ground and the vines on top deter squash beetles. Companion planting at its finest.
I was trying to figure out what to do about peppers and tomatoes, because my neighbor's bad kitties got into our sunporch area and knocked all my pots off of the windowsills. So much for seedlings. God blesses over and abundantly, however, because even though we never said anything to our neighbor, he showed up this afternoon with six pepper and six tomato plants that were leftover out of his garden. He didn't have room for them, so he gave them to us.
As of today, my peas, turnips, onions, potatoes, carrots, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, and early corn have all been planted, along with some mammoth Russian sunflowers. I plan to add some late corn, okra, canteloupe/muskmelons, pumpkins, some bush and pole beans, and some winter acorn squash to the mix, as well as the above-mentioned sweet potatoes and yellow summer squash.
Most of my herbs are also started, although I need to plant the sage, summer savory, and chives in their permanent home. The dill, oregano, and parsley are gaining momentum. But I'm having a dickens of a time getting any rosemary to grow! I must have gotten a bad seed packet or something, because none of the seeds I tried to start early in pots have sprouted, and neither have any of the seeds scattered outside. I might have to break down and buy some rosemary that's already started.
We're supposed to be getting rain for the next three days, then a short break, and rain again next weekend so I think my planting days are over for a little while. All that good rain will just make everything that's already in shoot up.
All I want now are two or three hens, and I'm good. I just need to convince my husband that hens are a good thing. (You don't need a rooster for a hen to lay eggs; you do need a rooster if you want chicks). : ) Maybe if I promise not to give them names like Queen Latifah or FifiTrixieBelle, he'd be more apt to consider it...
But I persevere. I'm good like that, yo.
So THIS weekend was nice, because I am very nearly caught up to where I thought I'd be at this time of spring:
My beds are mostly dug. I have one more that I will be putting sweet potatoes and yellow straight-neck squash in that has not been started yet -- the sweet potatoes grow below the ground and the vines on top deter squash beetles. Companion planting at its finest.
I was trying to figure out what to do about peppers and tomatoes, because my neighbor's bad kitties got into our sunporch area and knocked all my pots off of the windowsills. So much for seedlings. God blesses over and abundantly, however, because even though we never said anything to our neighbor, he showed up this afternoon with six pepper and six tomato plants that were leftover out of his garden. He didn't have room for them, so he gave them to us.
As of today, my peas, turnips, onions, potatoes, carrots, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, and early corn have all been planted, along with some mammoth Russian sunflowers. I plan to add some late corn, okra, canteloupe/muskmelons, pumpkins, some bush and pole beans, and some winter acorn squash to the mix, as well as the above-mentioned sweet potatoes and yellow summer squash.
Most of my herbs are also started, although I need to plant the sage, summer savory, and chives in their permanent home. The dill, oregano, and parsley are gaining momentum. But I'm having a dickens of a time getting any rosemary to grow! I must have gotten a bad seed packet or something, because none of the seeds I tried to start early in pots have sprouted, and neither have any of the seeds scattered outside. I might have to break down and buy some rosemary that's already started.
We're supposed to be getting rain for the next three days, then a short break, and rain again next weekend so I think my planting days are over for a little while. All that good rain will just make everything that's already in shoot up.
All I want now are two or three hens, and I'm good. I just need to convince my husband that hens are a good thing. (You don't need a rooster for a hen to lay eggs; you do need a rooster if you want chicks). : ) Maybe if I promise not to give them names like Queen Latifah or FifiTrixieBelle, he'd be more apt to consider it...
Friday, May 14, 2010
Crazy
Crazy.
Anyone who knows me knows that I might have a slight tendency to be a tad on the (hopefully fun) crazy side. Occasionally, of course. I'm not up to the "runs with scissors" level, but still love to be with people and have a good time.
Anyone who knows me also knows I like to coordinate things so they flow together: outfits, my home decor, my (planned, in my head) garden space.
Guess what? Now my schedule matches the rest of me: it's crazy, too!
The good thing is, I'm always super busy at work so my days zip by in what seems like a blink of an eye. In fact, I am rarely even at my desk. I deposit files as I rush by, but have not had time to actually sit and work on any of them until today. My desk chair is so neglected...and my files were forming a manila folder and paperclip jungle in the confines of my office space. No worries about being attacked by a rogue stapler, though, the only wildlife I encounter on a regular basis are some of the clients. No, seriously; I'm glad we have guards -- they've already saved my bacon as recently as last week. Desperate times make for desperate people.
I had a rare treat today! I did absolutely zero interviews so I could (try to) catch up on my paperwork. Wielding my trusty keyboard and mouse, I powered through all the stacks and have a clean workspace for the first time in over a week. Clear-cutting through my paper forest did take its toll: the files eked out their revenge in the form of nasty papercuts. But the files are taken care of. Well, all but two -- I just couldn't get to them, even staying at work late for the fourth night in a row. Staying late is a cardinal sin at my office. We don't get paid over-time, and the work will still be there when we get back the next day. I know this, but I also know that peoples' lives are directly affected by whether or not I can get everything done or not.
"Normal" caseload is 3 or 4 cases a day, and three or four people (normally) rotate throughout the week so no one gets overloaded. Thanks to the economy (both increasing the clientele and decreasing the workers), things are no longer "normal". I've been doing all of the cases solo for 2 weeks straight -- and have over 70 active clients of my own (again, in just 2 weeks), plus I'm helping another girl with her caseload because she's out. I've been interviewing between 8 and 10 clients every day, some of which have to be denied. The denials help with managing it all, in that I don't have to track their file, make additions or phone calls, etc.; on the other hand, each denial has its own unique paperwork that must be done, so that adds to the workload in a different way.
This job is not for the faint of heart or anyone who wants to be rich monetarily. But if you like helping people, and don't care so much about the money aspect, this is a great job. I personally love it. Yes, it's stressful. Yes, there are some days I want to shake some sense into some of my clients. And yes, my heart absolutely breaks for other clients. But overall, I love what I'm doing.
I am helping a lot of people just make it right now, at a time when their options are few and difficult to choose between. I'm saving the world one weary soul at a time -- at least, that's how I look at it. Others would look at the workload involved, see the pay offered, and think I was crazy. But, of course, we've already established that I fall into that category.
Anyone who knows me knows that I might have a slight tendency to be a tad on the (hopefully fun) crazy side. Occasionally, of course. I'm not up to the "runs with scissors" level, but still love to be with people and have a good time.
Anyone who knows me also knows I like to coordinate things so they flow together: outfits, my home decor, my (planned, in my head) garden space.
Guess what? Now my schedule matches the rest of me: it's crazy, too!
The good thing is, I'm always super busy at work so my days zip by in what seems like a blink of an eye. In fact, I am rarely even at my desk. I deposit files as I rush by, but have not had time to actually sit and work on any of them until today. My desk chair is so neglected...and my files were forming a manila folder and paperclip jungle in the confines of my office space. No worries about being attacked by a rogue stapler, though, the only wildlife I encounter on a regular basis are some of the clients. No, seriously; I'm glad we have guards -- they've already saved my bacon as recently as last week. Desperate times make for desperate people.
I had a rare treat today! I did absolutely zero interviews so I could (try to) catch up on my paperwork. Wielding my trusty keyboard and mouse, I powered through all the stacks and have a clean workspace for the first time in over a week. Clear-cutting through my paper forest did take its toll: the files eked out their revenge in the form of nasty papercuts. But the files are taken care of. Well, all but two -- I just couldn't get to them, even staying at work late for the fourth night in a row. Staying late is a cardinal sin at my office. We don't get paid over-time, and the work will still be there when we get back the next day. I know this, but I also know that peoples' lives are directly affected by whether or not I can get everything done or not.
"Normal" caseload is 3 or 4 cases a day, and three or four people (normally) rotate throughout the week so no one gets overloaded. Thanks to the economy (both increasing the clientele and decreasing the workers), things are no longer "normal". I've been doing all of the cases solo for 2 weeks straight -- and have over 70 active clients of my own (again, in just 2 weeks), plus I'm helping another girl with her caseload because she's out. I've been interviewing between 8 and 10 clients every day, some of which have to be denied. The denials help with managing it all, in that I don't have to track their file, make additions or phone calls, etc.; on the other hand, each denial has its own unique paperwork that must be done, so that adds to the workload in a different way.
This job is not for the faint of heart or anyone who wants to be rich monetarily. But if you like helping people, and don't care so much about the money aspect, this is a great job. I personally love it. Yes, it's stressful. Yes, there are some days I want to shake some sense into some of my clients. And yes, my heart absolutely breaks for other clients. But overall, I love what I'm doing.
I am helping a lot of people just make it right now, at a time when their options are few and difficult to choose between. I'm saving the world one weary soul at a time -- at least, that's how I look at it. Others would look at the workload involved, see the pay offered, and think I was crazy. But, of course, we've already established that I fall into that category.
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