Memories of dumplings./ Lany kluski

Last night, it was Valentine's Day, my son was working till 8:30p.m. and I just can't do dinner that late, so I thought my husband and I would have a hearty bowl of soup to tide us over till then. If the soup isn't filled with stuff, my husband considers it water. So while the chicken soup was delicious, I decided to make these dumplings to put in along with the veggies. The first time I met my husbands grandfather he was making these, he managed to get them lovely and thin and evenly distributed amongst us. I'm not that good. After reading the Pioneer's Woman Reflections, I thought I must post this little recipe just because. My mother made these as well, but she always put them into warm milk, which just didn't rock my world, so I don't. I consider this an alternative to noodles.

2large eggs, whisk, measure 1/2c. of flour and add gradually,(the more flour you use the harder these will be, so if you achieve thickness, because your eggs are smaller, stop adding flour, keep whisking until your batter is really smooth, it should be sort of thick, and cling to your fork, or spoon.
Boil a pot of water, and salt if you desire. Drop batter by tsp. full, slowly, so the batter hits the boiling water and forms some kind of shape, the less condensed the batter is when it hits the water the softer and tastier the noodle is. When all your noodle/dumplings rise to the top and your water returns to boil, they are done. Drain, I rinse, but I'm not sure you have to. Divide noodle/dumplings up into bowls, pour hot soup over and enjoy. May be served with stew as well.

Cooking your fish in the dishwasher! Yuk

I don't remember who it was that I was discussing this with, but the person with whom this conversation took place was suggesting that she didn't know how to prepare fish, and she thought she might try doing it in her dishwasher. Well!!!!! Yesterday, I wasn't feeling quite up to par so my husband loaded the dishwasher, he doesn't do a very good job, but I was willing to let it go, just because I didn"t have the energy to do it. My dishes didn't come out all that clean, and when I protested he said he didn't know what happened. So I got a burst of energy and said "O.K. we're cleaning the dishwasher" ( I do this periodically, just because I know the soap doesn't get rinsed away all that well) I had him take the door off so I could get in deep, when the door came off there was all this crud in the bottom, which took me forever to clean, once I had that done I suggested he clean out the little reservoir for the sparkle liquid stuff, when we took that apart it was gross, we scrubbed and scrubbed, and then I ran the dishwasher with some vinegar to rinse things through, so .... The moral of the story is even though I now know my dishwasher is sparkling clean (I had visions of it not working when we put it back together) I most certainly would not be doing food prep in it. What happened to cooking fish the old fashion way in the oven?

My family likes fish, they are after all sons of a hunter/angler, so I've hunted out a few basic recipes for the upcoming lenten season. Our favorite remains the Honey Curry Salmon I have a few more to test, and I'll be posting my favorites. Forget the dishwasher.

Chocolate Chow Mein Clusters

Here in Canada our Chinese community is beginning their celebration for Chinese New Year, which happens to be on Febuary 14th. This will be the year of the Tiger. The chow mein noodles in these cookies gives them an oriental flavour. Great no bake cookies, do add them to your list of must make.

Chocolate Chow Mein Clusters

1 ½ cups chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
½ cup butter
¼ c. smooth peanut butter
2 cups dry chow mein noodles
1 c. salted peanuts
Candied cherry halves

In top of double boiler over hot (not boiling) water, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips, butter and peanut butter, stirring often. In bowl, stir noodles and peanuts: pour in chocolate mixture and mix well.

Spoon into 1 inch mounds on waxed paper-lined baking sheets: garnish each with candied cherry half. Let stand 30 min. or refrigerate for 20 minutes until firm. (Clusters can be refrigerated in air-tight container for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 3 months. Let come to room temperature before serving) Makes about 4 dozen.

Yes we have no banana's today...

I've never really understood that phrase in the song, and I'm too sick to sing. I took this shot to show my family that the bananas have to be very ripe for banana cake/bread/muffins. It seems my husband thinks these are "bad" and garburates them, and then I go out and buy ones off the reduce shelf so I can have them for baking. My son won't eat a banana but he'll gobble down this cake. I got the recipe from a co-worker many years ago and it always works. Have a Mellow Yellow Monday

Karen Scarpone’s Banana Bread

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1tsp. baking soda dissolved in 4 tsp. boiling water

3 bananas mashed

2cups sifted flour

2 tsp. baking powder

Pinch salt

1 cup nuts (*walnuts or anything you have hanging around)

1 tsp vanilla

• I often substitute chocolate chips for the nuts, just in case I have a nut allergy person around.

Cream together, butter, sugar and eggs.

Dissolve soda in water, mix with mashed bananas

Sift and mix together dry ingredients. Add alternately with banana mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Add nuts/chocolate chips and vanilla.

I bake this in a bundt pan, but you can certainly make it a loaf or cupcakes. Bake at 350 degrees in a greased pan. Enjoy.