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Dark Chocolate Brownies

05 Monday Sep 2011

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Happy Labor Day Everyone!

This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and doing your own work.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 TLB

(I keep this tucked in my pocket at work and it has been very helpful over the years.)

The base of this recipe comes from the “Joy of Cooking”. I received it from my Aunt Bernice as a wedding shower gift 25 years ago. I love the inscription inside….

A well prepared meal, graciously served will be helpful to Todd’s Air Force career.

This note will make a few of you gasp, but my Aunt was correct in coaching me. She was a great cook, I can still taste and see her crepes stacked 12 high with chocolate in between each one.  She was a Nurse anesthetist in the  Navy and married in her 50’s to our beloved Uncle Fred.  If you do not own the “Joy of Cooking” click on the GFCF Lady link on this website and order one from Amazon.

Turn to page 701 and use Brownies Cockaigne as your guide.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and get started early in the morning.  We have had over 70 days over 100 degrees and today is our first day we have been able to open the windows here in Texas.  (I have made dinner very early each morning and setting in the fridge given the extreme heat later in the day.)

In a double boiler melt 1 stick of unsalted butter, 4 tbsp. of evoo, 12 tbsp. of Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa and whisk till smooth.  Set aside to cool.

Beat 4 eggs and 1/4 ts. salt till light and frothy.

Add 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 and 1/2 cups of brown sugar and blend gently with a spatula.

Add 1 cup of flour, folding in carefully and taking the time not to over mix.

Bake in a 9 * 13 for 22-25 minutes.

The taste is not sweet and is a delightfully dark.

Serve in very small square servings with petite glasses of milk on a serving tray for your guests or family.

Huguenot Torte

05 Friday Aug 2011

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Our daughter returned from spending most of June in Europe, seeing a few cathedrals along the way.  When she returned we headed straight for the beach for time with family.  Each of the cousins took turns sharing their summer adventures on designated nights, and for our daughter’s special evening I whipped up a light, sweet, summer dessert called a Huguenot Torte, inspired by her visit to France, and with consideration of another cousin’s Huguenot heritage (French Huguenots of the 1700s were a severely persecuted Protestant people under Catholic  France for thefoftheir Reformation theology, an irony not lost on this Iowa raised Catholic).

Enjoy this Midwestern twist on an old Southern favorite, and while you do, remember that the religious freedoms we now enjoy were paid for by people of faith who came before us.

Tread carefully…

Step one:

Candied Pecans

Heat skillet to very hot, place two handfuls of pecans and one cup of sugar.  Keep a wooden spoon stirring and start lightly spraying with water.  Watch closely as the pecans carmelize and lower the heat slowly.  The whole process is very quick keep watching closely and stirring.  Place candied pecans on marble to cool.

4 eggs

3 cups of Splenda  ( A couple of people at the beach house were watching sugars and this substitution was not noticed by anyone to my great surprise)

8 -10 tbsp. flour

5 tsp. baking powder    ( you may also use 1/4 tsp. of baking soda and 5/8 tsp. creme of tartar for each tsp.) for leavening agent

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 cups of chopped apples/ 1 cup of chopped pears

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine everything in blender, but fold in apples and pears,  pour into a 9 * 13 pan.

Place candied pecans in a bag and hammer into broken pieces.  Toss pieces gently on top the batter.  Place in oven for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Camille Southard’s Brazillian Chicken

07 Thursday Jul 2011

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10 Chicken Breasts

Brown long grain rice (6 c of rice and 12 cups of water)

2 large onion diced

2 clove of garlic

Red Wine Vinegar ( 1/2 bottle)

1 c of white wine

6 limes juiced

1 bunch of cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Mrs. Dash

evoo

Saute diced onions and garlic in evoo.  Plate and save onions and garlic in a bowl.  Slice chicken breasts in half and pound till tenderized.  Fry chicken on medium high in evoo till a crusty brown forms on the bottom of a pan.  While chicken is frying, heat water in a tea kettle till boiling.  Pour 1 c of sizzling water onto pan leaving chicken in pan and scrape all browned substance ( deglazing the pan). Pour onions and garlic back into pan, add a liberal dose of Mrs. Dash. Salt and pepper to taste. Add Red Wine Vinegar and 1 c of white wine and 1/2 c of boiling water.  Squeeze lime juice in last.  Simmer on medium low for 6o minutes.   Save chicken broth to serve over chicken and rice.

Rice preparation:

Saute 1 c chopped onions and 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped in evoo browning just a tiny bit and pour dry rice on top and crisp rice for 3-4 minutes.  Add 12 cups of Rachel Ray’s chicken broth ( at a roaring boil) a terrible noise will occur ~ use care not to get burned.  Simmer rice 50 minutes.

Serves 15

 

Thai Green Curry and Shrimp by Bri

07 Thursday Jul 2011

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A frequently asked question when we are at the beach house is how do feed such a large crew of people?  We all pitch in and everyone brings their game when it is there night to cook.  No one rides the pine at the beach.  Husbands and wives all have a dish they are known for and creating new dishes is a very important part of the beach cuisine nightly fare.  Where else can you test drive an experimental dish, but with family.

We try to pack as many veggies as we can into every meal. Brian’s latest creation with a twist of Thai.

2 heads of Bok choy, chopped into fairly large pieces

2 leeks, cleaned and chopped into fairly large pieces (1-2 inches)

1 bunch of cilantro (use about 2 cups)

1 bunch of spinach

1 bunch of basil (use about 2 tbsp)

1 red chili, finely chopped

6 limes quartered to squeeze a little zing onto the finished product

1 yellow onion

2 cloves of garlic finely chopped (or minced garlic in a jar 3 tbsp)

1-2 lbs of shrimp

1 small jar of green curry paste by taste of Thai

2 cans of coconut milk

Step One ~ 6 cups of uncooked white rice/ 12 cups of water bring to boil, place lid on top and simmer 20 minutes.  (Perfect match to pour Bok choy and shrimp)

Cover pan bottom with evoo and bring up to a sizzle when you toss a water drop onto the pan.  Begin with onion, Leeks and garlic sautéing till golden in 4 tbsp of Olive oil. Place all remaining vegetables into walk with the Coconut milk and green curry paste into the wok or electric skillet and watch closely.   After veg’s have softened and are cooked in the curry mix, add the shrimp, cilantro and basil for a few minutes until shrimp turns pink.  Be careful to not overcook the shrimp.   Server over rice….drench the rice with the curry sauce.  Yum yum.

Serves 15

Sopa de Pollo con Calabaza

31 Monday Jan 2011

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Don’t be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you.   1 Chronicles 28:20 TLB

makedomondays

We saved our Cinderella Pumpkin from fall and decided to break it open and see if it was still fit for consumption. Our pumpkin was so heavy I could not pick it up so my beloved did the hard work, lifting, not to mention cutting and cooking.

Nobody else can do the work that God marked out for you.   Paul Lawrence Dunbar

We had been storing it in the garage. Todd stepped in at this point cutting one-quarter of the pumpkin up into cubes and simmering it on the stove top for about ninety minutes.  From the sofa reading I watched as he drained off cooked pumpkin and set aside leaving the lovely orange broth in the pan.  He added 2 tablespoons of butter to a small metal dish …floated it on top the broth for a couple of minutes, and dangerously pulled it with his bare hands added 2 tablespoons of flour to the butter and made a roux.

Next he added the breast of one chicken from a rotisserie chicken(hand shredded) from the market.  (I try to keep one on hand at all times as my back up plan) sprinkled a bit of curry, cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, added the roux and garnished with green onions.

The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.     Arnold Palmer

Mega Memory Month 2011

25 Tuesday Jan 2011

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The following simple but powerful instruction is my scripture memorization.
I have it written on small cards, tucked in pockets of coats, my coin purse and bookmarked in all my latest reads.

Be patient with one another, making allowance for each others faults because of your love.  Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.   Ephesians 4:2,3 NLT

As a result I’m doing a great deal of reflection and asking God for forgiveness.

I’ve found by simply writing the verse out long hand during my morning reflection it seems to stay in my mind’s eye.

Attempting to serve a greater purpose in my life than my own needs is very freeing.

Niki’s Pizza

25 Tuesday Jan 2011

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We have a new restaurant in Austin.  We have stopped by three times to Niki’s Pizza at 508 N. Bell Blvd. Cedar Park, TX 78613.  

The lovely couple who own it are from Italy and make authentic Italian cuisine.  We enjoyed a calzone and pizza as we saw them stroll away hand in hand on Bell Blvd. as the sun set thursday evening. ( We traditionally have pasta every thursday evening)  The Chicken Piccata,Chicken Marsala, Shrimp Fradiavio, Linguini FruttiDi Mare, Lobster Ravioli and many other vast selections on the menu are the best we’ve ever had and Todd considers himself an authority on such matters after living in New York and New Jersey.  They toss the dough and you can peak in the kitchen just like Shakee’s when we were growing up.   My favorite part of the experience is the heavenly smell as you pull into the parking lot.  For some reason I have not gained weight eating there so often and I’m wondering if the added blessing of fresh wholesome ingredients are the  cause. 

Speaking of Italy….it shows up in the Bible in Acts 18:2, Acts 27: 1,6 and Hebrews 13:24

Greet all your leaders and all the saints.  Those who are from Italy greet you.     HSB

Grace be with all of you,

Trish

P.S.  I went back for dessert  …. we tried cannolis, cheesecake and of course the Tiramisu.  We have a new tradition in our family with Niki’s.  Prepare yourselves for a healthier, more satisfying future enjoying the art of Italian cooking!

The Big Hairless Spider

22 Wednesday Dec 2010

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On my daily wanderings in Arizona I would often meet big hairy spiders, sometimes wolf spiders, often tarantulas. We nicknamed our backyard tarantula “Minky” for its lovely brown and black fur. The Texas spiders are a bit tougher. I ran into a hairless variety under Todd’s desk.  Writing about it is evidence of my yearly dusting venture. The spider I came upon was a desperado living under my sweet shitzu’s fuzzy dog bed. No hair just large mean looking and reddish black. I was aghast at what I was going to overtake with Todd away.

Sometimes big hairless spiders step into our minds and we cannot reach a friend or sister fast enough to help take them out.  Downloading the issue to a concerned friend or sister or aunt is instant relief.

Or is it.

I wondered why. The years have flown. Unto my hand

Cling weaker, sadder ones who walk  alone –  I understand.        Unknown

The last couple months grief has been the hairless spider.  I’ve not posted, but written on yellow pads.  Marilyn, Todd’s Mom died and the most interesting relationship has developed.  My ninety year old Aunt Virginia calls me on my cell about once a week and just asks me how I’m doing and we both know what she means.  We visit and she does not tell me to move on or get over it she just stays with me

and the raw edge of grief is still present, and so is she.

“Without Mom” By: Thomas E. Southard

11 Monday Oct 2010

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Without Mom there are cobwebs on the stairs going down to the beach.

 Without Mom the stars seem a little more out of reach.

 Without Mom the Carolina sky is not so blue.

Without Mom I don’t know what to do.

Without Mom the smell of the ocean is not so sweet.

Without out Mom I don’t know what we’ll eat.

 Without Mom my Dad has lost his soul mate.

 Without Mom that is the thought I really hate.

Without Mom my heart begins to sink.

Without Mom Christmas will never be the same.

 Without Mom the world is a harder place to tame.

 Without Mom my life becomes a search.

 Without Mom there’s no one to make me go to church.

 Without Mom there is no one to tell me not to drink.

Without Mom the house is starting to stink.

Without Mom there are Yankees coming over the dunes.

 Without Mom there are no more piano tunes.

Without Mom my brothers have lost their Mother.

 Without Mom there will never be another.

Without Mom the world has lost a friend.

 Without Mom it looks like this is the end.

Without Mom there are no more cards to read.

Without Mom she was the only one I really did need.

 Without  Mom the sunrise is not so bright.

Without Mom I hope I don’t lose sight.

Without Mom there are no more stories to share.

Without Mom I won’t know what to wear.

Without Mom there is no one to tell me how to treat a lady.

Without Mom they all seem a little shady.

Without Mom the grand kids will have to do without.

Without Mom that makes me want to shout.

Without Mom the world is not a better place.

Without Mom there is no one up in my face.

Without Mom what will happen to Dad.

Without Mom …that is why I’m sad.

Recited at the funeral of Marilyn Southard, Thursday, October 7th, 2010

The Texas Grab

14 Tuesday Sep 2010

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In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will only think yourself into further wandering thoughts and more confusion. If there is something in your life upon which God has put His pressure, then obey Him in the matter. Bring all your “arguments and …every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”, and everything will become clear as daylight to you.  2 Cor. 10:5   Chambers 9/14

While standing in line at Walgreens yesterday, the woman in front of me poured out more cosmetics on the counter than I have seen in  some time.  My friend Tom, (looks like my Dad and always smiles sweetly at me) the cashier, was ringing her out.  She hears the total and even though all her adult children are with her she flips around, grabs my arm hard and says loudly “Oh My Lord”.  She is not beginning prayer, but is exasperated by the total of her bill, which I think is quite low given the enormous pile of creams, eye pencils, and shadows of all shades.  We were not touchy people in my family growing up, so I gather my nerve back and give her a reassuring “It’s ok” as her forty-year old daughter chastises her for grabbing a total stranger in line.  

Sometimes God grabs me.  What grabs you?