Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Cornmeal-Fried Artichokes
I haven't tried this yet but it sounds yummy!
Cornmeal-Fried Artichokes
Prep: 30 min., Fry: 5 min. per batch. These are a delightful surprise and worth the time. You really do remove all the leaves. This is based on the Italian fritto misto, or mixed fry, that includes small pieces of battered and fried meats, fish, and vegetables, especially artichokes. Keep fried artichokes warm between batches on a rack in a jelly-roll pan in a 225° oven for up to 30 minutes.
- YIELD: Makes 3 to 4 servings
- COURSE: Appetizers, Side Dishes/Vegetables
Ingredients
- 4 fresh artichokes (about 3/4 lb. each)
- Canola oil
- 1 1/2 cups plain yellow cornmeal
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Mayo Mixtures:
- Chipotle-Lime Mayo
- Garlic-Lemon Mayo
- Herb-Shallot Mayo
- Pepperoncini Mayo
Preparation
- 1. Cut 3 inches from top of each artichoke, using a serrated knife. Discard top portion. Remove and discard leaves from bottom portions of artichokes. Trim green skin from sides and stems, using a paring knife, being careful to leave stem ends intact. Cut each artichoke lengthwise into fourths. Remove and discard chokes.
- 2. Pour oil to a depth of 3 inches into a Dutch oven; heat over medium-high heat to 350°.
- 3. Combine cornmeal, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Whisk together buttermilk and egg in another bowl.
- 4. Toss artichokes in flour. Dip in egg mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture, shaking off excess.
- 5. Fry artichokes, in batches, in hot oil 5 minutes or until tender and golden brown. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels. Serve with Mayo Mixtures.
- Fast Fried Artichokes: Substitute 2 (14-oz.) cans artichoke bottoms, rinsed and drained, for fresh artichokes. Reduce salt to 1 tsp. Pat artichokes dry with paper towels; cut each into fourths. Proceed with recipe as directed, beginning with Step 2. Makes 4 to 6 servings; Prep: 15 min., Fry: 5 min. per batch.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Choosing Happiness and a Life Worth Breathing
Choosing Happiness and a Life Worth Breathing
Neat Post from another Blogger (see link above). I know what's being added to my reading list.
See the excerpt from the blog below:
Here are a few key messages that I absolutely loved from the book.
For new yoga students who are worried what other people will think about them during class, I absolutely loved this quote: “Remember that you are surrounded by friends, people of like mind, who are focused on growth and kindness. They are not judging you; they are wishing you well. They know what it’s like to discover the power of yoga.”
So, there you have it, a few servings of Max Strom nuggets of wisdom. You can get the super-size order of nuggets when you read A Life Worth Breathing. Did the book change my life? No, but it did inspire me, made me rethink some of the priorities in my life, and definitely helped improve my breathing practice. To me, those are all signs of a really good book.
Neat Post from another Blogger (see link above). I know what's being added to my reading list.
See the excerpt from the blog below:
Here are a few key messages that I absolutely loved from the book.
Choose Happiness
“It is time to stop asking for certain things or circumstances to make you happy.
Why not just choose happiness.”
Wow. That is a really simple concept. Like I said, a lot of the book just smacks of common sense. But how many of us think that true happiness will only come when we get the perfect job, the perfect mate, or just win the lottery (I know that is one of my favorite fantasies)? Max poses the question: If you are praying for things to come into your life to make you happy, why not just pray/ask for happiness?What is True Abundance?
“Let’s quit thinking about abundance. Stop asking for abundance. Instead, focus on healing, focus on gratitude, focus on forgiving; these things lead us into the state of pure love. Practice and live this way and true abundance will come, and we will love ourselves and others more deeply and joyfully.”
This passage has santosha written all over it. Santosha (one of the niyamas) is all about being content with what one has and where one is instead of wishing for things you don’t have or daydreaming about the future. It is about living in the present and feeling true satisfaction. I love how Max weaved this concept into a new way to focus our lives through healing, gratitude, and forgiveness.Two Very Important Yoga Practice Tips
“Avoid the trap in your practice of looking ahead for the posture to be over. This is a syndrome that will cause you to look ahead, again and again, never being in the moment. This keeps you forever focusing on a future that never arrives. It never arrives because it cannot, for when the future arrives, it is by nature now the present…”
Okay, totally busted on this one. Who hasn’t sat in a pose like chair and just wished for it to be over. Next time this happens to you, try putting a smile on your face, focusing on your breath, and feeling gratitude that your body is supporting you in the pose. The pose is over before you know it, and you will have had a lot more fun with your yoga practice.
For new yoga students who are worried what other people will think about them during class, I absolutely loved this quote: “Remember that you are surrounded by friends, people of like mind, who are focused on growth and kindness. They are not judging you; they are wishing you well. They know what it’s like to discover the power of yoga.”
So, there you have it, a few servings of Max Strom nuggets of wisdom. You can get the super-size order of nuggets when you read A Life Worth Breathing. Did the book change my life? No, but it did inspire me, made me rethink some of the priorities in my life, and definitely helped improve my breathing practice. To me, those are all signs of a really good book.
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies on the Food Network
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies on the Food Network
In a medium bowl, mix the peanut butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until well combined. Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture about 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten the mounds with the tines of a fork, making a crosshatch pattern on the cookies. Sprinkle coarse salt on top of the cookies.
Bake until golden around edges, about 10 minutes, switching the position of the pans halfway thorough baking. Transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
What Makes This Recipe Really Sing: Without the flour getting in the way, you really get that true peanut butter flavor.
BYOC: Try tossing in mini versions of stuff. I love peanut butter chips, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut and even a mini peanut butter cup. Try making a thumb print cookie and add jelly to it. Go crazy, kids and adults love these.
___________________________________
This was my labor of love. Robert said that he loved Peanut Putter cookies. My response, "I'm gonna make you some cookies today!" Robert and I try to be as organic as possible. Fortunately, the recipe called for natural peanut butter. So, I went to Trader Joe's directly. Thinking that chunky peanut butter would be the best, I chose the unsalted TJ brand. I happily made the trek home with visions of delicious peanut butter cookies in mind. And, to be sure, the recipe was easy and quickly done. Scoop, scoop, scrap and the whole jar of peanut butter was in the bowl. Firm tap, and the egg was added to the mixture. Before I knew it the cookies were in the oven. Fast forward and I am removing them from the oven and letting them cook on the baking rack. By the time Robert came over, the cookies were on the table and ready for consumption.
The verdict?
A bite. Chew. Chew. Chew. "What do you think of the cookies? Do you like?" Chew. Swallow. "They are good. Do you think you can put more peanut butter in them next time?"
Silence.
"Babe, I used a WHOLE bottle of peanut butter. The cookies are only peanut butter, sugar and egg. There's no flour or other fillers included."
"Oh."
My response, "Oh."
Guess I'll try another brand of peanut butter next time...
Ingredients
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Coarse sea salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place racks in the upper and lower third of the oven.
In a medium bowl, mix the peanut butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until well combined. Spoon 1 tablespoon of mixture about 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten the mounds with the tines of a fork, making a crosshatch pattern on the cookies. Sprinkle coarse salt on top of the cookies.
Bake until golden around edges, about 10 minutes, switching the position of the pans halfway thorough baking. Transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
What Makes This Recipe Really Sing: Without the flour getting in the way, you really get that true peanut butter flavor.
BYOC: Try tossing in mini versions of stuff. I love peanut butter chips, mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut and even a mini peanut butter cup. Try making a thumb print cookie and add jelly to it. Go crazy, kids and adults love these.
___________________________________
This was my labor of love. Robert said that he loved Peanut Putter cookies. My response, "I'm gonna make you some cookies today!" Robert and I try to be as organic as possible. Fortunately, the recipe called for natural peanut butter. So, I went to Trader Joe's directly. Thinking that chunky peanut butter would be the best, I chose the unsalted TJ brand. I happily made the trek home with visions of delicious peanut butter cookies in mind. And, to be sure, the recipe was easy and quickly done. Scoop, scoop, scrap and the whole jar of peanut butter was in the bowl. Firm tap, and the egg was added to the mixture. Before I knew it the cookies were in the oven. Fast forward and I am removing them from the oven and letting them cook on the baking rack. By the time Robert came over, the cookies were on the table and ready for consumption.
The verdict?
A bite. Chew. Chew. Chew. "What do you think of the cookies? Do you like?" Chew. Swallow. "They are good. Do you think you can put more peanut butter in them next time?"
Silence.
"Babe, I used a WHOLE bottle of peanut butter. The cookies are only peanut butter, sugar and egg. There's no flour or other fillers included."
"Oh."
My response, "Oh."
Guess I'll try another brand of peanut butter next time...
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