Meatless Fridays - Flounder

Panfried Flounder
serves 4

Ingredients:
Flounder - de-boned filets
3 eggs
2 cups milk
4 cups Unbleached Whole Wheat flour
Either: 1 cup breadcrumbs or 1 cup 'instant' potato flakes
Dash salt, pepper, paprika
1 cup Cooking Oil (Crisco/olive oil blend)

Soak the fish
Make sure the Flounder is de-boned. In a 9x12 casserole dish, mix the eggs and the milk (well, as if scrambling eggs). Soak the flounder filets for 30 min in the mixture.

Tip: Use tweezers to extract those pesky little flounder bones.

Bread the fish
On a flat plate (I use a pie dish), mix the dry ingredients.
Dredge the filet in the milk/egg mixture, and then bread and flour each filet. Pat each side in the flour mix until no more 'wet spots' show. Let the breaded filets sit for about 10 min (sets the crust).

In a frying pan, heat the cooking oil (I use a blend of crisco and olive oil, about 1 cup crisco and 2 tablespoons of evvo). Do not let the oil smoke.

Frying the fish
Carefully fry 1-2 filets at a time. Let each side brown. Flounder is thin, so it cooks quickly.

Tip: To 'dry' the fish (absorb excess oil) - Use old newspapers for the first layer, and then top with unbleached coffee filters. Paper towels work well, but since I'm brand loyal to paper towels (Bounty only) and that can get expensive, the coffee filters (store brand, $1 for 100) are a less-expensive and equally quality alternative for 'drying' fried foods.

Serve:
With homemade tarter sauce (mayo, relish, dash worschester, blend well) or topped with chutney, salsa, relish, etc.
Or - put on a bun with cheese and have fish sandwiches.

Tasty!

cooking for an aspie...

and a NYC acclaimed Chef, at that.

Scooping peanut butter spoons for the boy with dark clouds in his blue eyes back when happy appy was fresh out of grad school and had her own clouds in her eyes did not prepare her for the absolute joy that she now knows in the kitchen. happy appy loves to cook, and she owes all her knowledge about food and its alchemy to her beloved Hubby.

More random thoughts:

Random Thought 1: Happy Appy once costumed this chick. Back in college. For a play - Antigone. And she was Antigone. A very very hippie Antigone. It was a 60's take on the play, very innovative - opened with the Kent State event. Who knew?

Random Thought 2: The boy with the dark clouds in his blue eyes - was a child Happy Appy cared for who had autism. We bonded. Very unusual, given his level of autism. The boy babbled, and occasionally a word or two would slip through the filters. Enough so that I understood. He would say my name, his parents and brother, name things he wanted "peanut" "out" "tram[poline]" "this" "go fish" "swing" "tree climb". I filled entire notebooks with my notes about what we did, his IEP and progress, things he said, behaviors good and bad - all kinds of stuff.

I so wish I had those now, because lately I've been wanting to write a book about what I did with that kid and what he accomplished (and the rest of the story). And I would love to have those journals. They are - of course - destroyed by now. That was almost 15 years ago. The ending is sad though. Sweet boy. We would swing for hours, together on the swing at first, until he learned how, and then side-by-side. His face would explode with joy, and for just a second - the storm clouds would dissolve in those blue eyes and the sun would beam through.

Random Thought 3: Tomorrow: Meatless Fridays - Flounder (a couple of ways) and a Happy Appy tip!

Random Thought 4: Hurry Warm Spring, I miss thee so!

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!
Sitting Bull

These random thoughts made possible by the coming of the 21st century to hillbillburbia - bonafide high-speed internet. DSL. 5.0 MBs. Oh yeah, that's what I'm smiling about!

still skunky!

Almost three weeks later, and still stinky! No one tells you on the websites and pet forums that the worst part is the BREATH! Like an old man smokin' cigars, Happy Appy says, it's BAAAADDDD! But we love him all the same. Which is why Stinky is now back on limited time in the house - on the bed.

Sigh.

I do love him!

mirror reflections

O Gravity, thou art a bitch.

Final thought on the state of women today

Dissolute \DIS-uh-loot\, adjective:

Loose in morals and conduct; marked by indulgence in sensual pleasures or vices

Meatless Fridays - No Meat Lasagna

Homemade Lasagna

Tip: Prepare ahead and freeze. Thaw and rebake before serving.

Ingredients:
Sauce (I make my own. If you use jarred, you'll need about 3 jars)
Lasgana Noodles (uncooked)
2 eggs
Cheeses: Ricotta, shredded parmesian, cubed mozz, sliced provolone
Foil

Step One: Prepare the cheese
In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, eggs, mozz cheese, and parmesian cheese. Blend well.


Step Two: Build the Lasagna
Use a 9 x 12 casserole dish. Layer the ingredients in the following order: Sauce, Noodles, Sauce, Cheese Mix, Noodles, Sauce, Cheese, Sauce, Noodles. Then, cover the top layer of noodles with sauce. Cover with aluminum foil to bake.


Step Three: Cook the Lasagna
Depending on your stove - 300 - 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. After 40 min or so, remove the foil. Top with the provolone slices and bake for 10 minutes or until cheese browns.

Step Four: Serve & Enjoy

Meatless Fridays...Potato Pancakes

Potato Pancakes (Latka)
makes 12 - 16 silver-dollar-sized potato cakes

Ingredients:
4 cups shredded potatoes
2 eggs
1 cup flour
Cooking Oil (Crisco + Olive Oil)
Seasonings to taste: Salt, Pepper, Paprika

Shred Potatoes:
As you shred, deposit the shredded potatoes a strainer in the sink so that the 'potato juice' drains. Before using, press down on top firmly to squeeze out excess. I use a hand grater, but a food processor works fine. You can leave on the skin or take it off, whichever you prefer. I leave it on (lots of nutrients).

Mix:
In a large bowl, stir together the shredded potatoes and eggs (and seasonings). Add flour, mix well. Let sit for about 15 min.

Pan Fry:
On med, heat oil. Do not let it smoke. Oil should be about 1/2 - 1" deep in pan.

Use a tablespoon to scoop potato mixture into hot oil. Carefully use the back of the spoon to 'pat down' the mixture into a silver-dollar-sized 'potato cake'. Brown on both sides.

To make large amounts: Use an electric frying pan, and as the cakes finish browning, layer them on a foil-lined cookie sheet and place in over at 250 degrees to keep warm. Store leftovers in ziploc bags. Reheat in oven or refry in butter (lightly) to reserve. I chop up the leftovers and fry them like hash-browns for breakfast.

Serve:
with sour cream, ketchup, salsa, chutney, melted cheese

Can be served as a side dish (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) or as a main course. I make 1/2 this recipe as full dinner for myself and Hubby (about 8 - 10 cakes).

Dear Bob Weir & Ratdog,

On your trip south in April, from MD to FLA, could you, would you please stop and play a while in Asheville, NC? Not Charlotte. Not Atlanta. Asheville.

Hubby has been a head since Englishtown NJ 1977. It's been an awfully hard year. Please come play. And drink a beer with us (Trappist, of course).




We would be eternally grateful.

Smiles -

Happy Appy & Hubby

today she climbed a tree

Well, almost a tree - a tall shrub with lots of branches.

Her frisbee was stuck about 6 ft up. The Stinky One (on a leash) was busy in the field.

She didn't want to wait for Stinky to finish so I could come retrieve the frisbee for her.

I heard a rustle behind me. I turned and saw her, about 3 ft from the ground. In the branches. Wigging her rear end for leverage, using her back legs to balance, and grasping ahead with her front paws - CLIMBING.

Triumphant, she grabbed the frisbee in her teeth, shook her head, and jumped down to the ground.

She earns several more throws, even in the high winds (which got us into the predicament with the shrub in the first place!).

Stubborn! Determined! Unrelenting in her quest!

Cuppie!

No Meat Fridays - Crab Cakes!

Happy Appy Crabby Cakes

Makes 8 cakes

Ingredients:

1 cup Cooking Oil (Crisco, Olive Oil, Butter)
2 c claw crab meat
1 medium sized egg
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1-2 squirts of Lemon Juice
2 teaspoons Worcheshire sauce
1 teaspoon of dry ground mustard
1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 c bread crumbs
Salt and Pepper to taste

Prepare the Crabby Cakes:
Drain the crab meat. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the bread crumbs. Mix well. Determine the "wetness" of the mixture, and add enough breadcrumbs so that the mixture is sticky but not wet - Approx 1 cup breadcrumbs. Reserve the remaining 1/2 cup breadcrumbs on a flat plate.

In a skillet or omelet pan, heat the oil, about 1/2". Do not let it smoke. I use a combination of olive oil, butter, and a little crisco.

Form the Crabby Cakes:
Use a tablespoon to scoop the crabmeat, then roll gently into a ball. In the reserved breadcrumbs (on a plate), Gently press the crab ball into a patty shape. Press both sides into the crumbs to coat lightly.

Cook the Crabby Cakes:
Brown both sides in the oil. I usually have to add another 2" of oil after the first 4 - 6 crab cakes.

Serve the Crabby Cakes:
With tarter sauce. Homemade is easy - Combine in small bowl or jar: 1 cup mayo, 1 tablespoon sweet relish, and a dash of worchestshire sauce. Mix well.

Enjoy!

more on womanhood, but first, cheesecake

Recently Happy Appy's Hubby discovered this gem in our local grocery store. This is quite a find since the availability of "finer foods" in hillbillburbia tends to be random at best.

This cheesecake is heavenly, highly addictive, and just plain FABULOUS. Happy Appy will frequent the grocery store that does not sell wine, just for this cheesecake.

And guess what - A slice of cheesecake a day, the heavier you will weigh.

Especially in the "midsection to upper leg" areas.

ok, sometimes two slices...

more thoughts on the state of womanhood today, or, how happy appy found herself

It's official: One chooses ones path in this life.

And - while factors like childhood events, parents' choices, and the general travails of living can and do affect the mind, the body, the spirit, and the soul, there comes a moment in time in which every human makes a choice. Actually, human make choices all day long- what to eat, what to wear, what to holler out of the car window at the human who just almost side-wiped you in rush-hour traffic. Where to live, what route to drive to work or the grocery store, or what to cook for dinner, or what to say to the screaming 2 yr old in the back seat who missed her nap because of unavoidable disruptions in her daily routine....all of these, choices.

Yet Happy Appy is often amazed at how many people move through this life cloaked in a fog of self-absorption, unwilling to face the hard truth that every word, every action, every deed, every thought - is a choice.

Happy Appy should be less amazed. Until just a couple of years ago, she too wore the cloak. She too is guilty of embracing the fruits of the flesh, and disregarding the fruits of the Spirit.

2007 was a year of facing hard truths, admitting sins, seeking forgiveness, and committng to change.

Happy Appy is a far cry from who she knows she can be. And she holds more guilt than most because Happy Appy was offered the knowledge and the tools she needed when she was a child. Ever the rebellious child, Happy Appy threw away what she needed the most and jumped into the mire.

The mire - it's not so pretty. Although to those who are blind and do not see, it might appear quite nice, comfy, and warm. In reality, Mire is stinky (worse than fresh skunk oil on dogs). It's sticky (ever been sprayed by wet georgia red clay kicked up by your brothers' spinning - and stuck - tires?). It's gross (think of the grossest thing you can - it's worse). It's filled with sharp shiny objects that entice you and then cut your soul to shreds (think, Hollywood). And all the other little piggies in the mire, snort and rut and consume right alongside you.

Happy Appy woke up one day, shook her head free of the fog, and began to listen to the persistent, unrelenting, pragmatic voice in the back of her head..."What the heck are you doing? Is this who you really want to be? Really? I think you know better than this. Get up, get out, and do something about who you have become."

One day Happy Appy reached a point where she made a choice to make a choice, and that choice was to get out of the mire.

It must be acknowledged that Happy Appy's Hubby wore holes in the knees of his pants, praying for her every single day, for hours, during those years. Happy Appy's Hubby - well, there aren't enough earthly words to describe his Virtues as a Husband and as a Man, but suffice it to say that when God asks Happy Appy who loved her the most (and the most unconditionally) on Earth, she will proudly and loudly declare Hubby's name. It was, after all, Hubby's hand that Happy Appy grasped to keep from drowning in the mire.

Happy Appy leaves on this thought: Titus 2:1 - 5

As women, we make choices as to who we are and how we conduct ourselves. What saddens Happy Appy is the observation that since the early-80's, there seems to be a trend in Societal Role Models for girls and there are many threads that tie together to create the Mardi Gras-esque quilt of women we (as a group) seem to have become (feminism, evolution theory, consumerism).

Happy Appy admits she herself has a long way to go. But if we can start pulling ourselves out of the mire and teaching others to do the same, then maybe, just maybe, there's hope for the future.