Delicious Shoes!

Charlie prepares a feast.

about garlic

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive,^[1] and rakkyo.^[2] Garlic has been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The garlic plant's bulb is the most commonly used part of the plant. With the exception of the single clove types, the bulb is divided into numerous fleshy sections called cloves. The cloves are used for cloning, consumption (raw or cooked), or for medicinal purposes, and have a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking.^[3] The leaves, and flowers (bulbils) on the head (spathe) are also edible, and being milder in flavor than the bulbs,^[2] they are most often consumed while immature and still tender. Additionally, the immature flower stalks (scapes) of the hardneck and elephant types are sometimes marketed for uses similar to asparagus in stir-fries.^[4] The papery, protective layers of "skin" over various parts of the plant are generally discarded during preparation for most culinary uses, though in Korea immature whole heads are sometimes prepared with the tender skins intact.^[5] The root cluster attached to thebasal plate of the bulb is the only part not typically considered palatable in any form. The sticky juicewithin the bulb cloves is used as an adhesive in mending glass and china.^[2]

The irrational fear of garlic is alliumphobia.^[6]

midnight snack:

Am pooped but need a little some thing to tide me over. I made myself a sour dough English muffin with earth balance marge and fresh berry preserves. I know this is not terribly interesting however am too tired to start cooking.

Shabbat,Late start...

Had a late start preparing this shabbat. I have saved laundry cleaning for today and got home after 2:00 p.m.etc and this old girl is slowing down.So went back to a few easy things. When all else fails ...apricot chicken always works . I mixed some organic apricot jam with crushed garlic, lemon ,salt ,paprika,pepper, cane sugar and some fresh sliced apricots. You would really have to be a incapable person to fail this recipe. Just mix ingrediants lay on top of chicken and Bake uncovered at 360 degrees for an hour ,give or take.Look how good they look!

Salade cuite or Moroccan cooked salad is ALWAYS a must. recipe to follow. See photo.

Also ,had to make southern corn cakes .Thank goodness my daughter is baking her famous killer chocolate chip cookies and some of the salads for this meal.

How to make tea with love:

Moroccan mint tea can be intoxicating.The perfume of fresh spearmint and orange blossoms can take you to far away places in your mind. Fortunately living in California mint grows very well and I have it in my garden. I also have orange, tangerine and lemon trees .I occasionally will pick some small blossoms and add them to my tea.Most Moroccans use a green tea known as gunpowder.I like bancha tea roasted a bit.First rinse teapot with some boiling water.Put in one tablespoon of tea to into a teapot.and two handfuls of fresh spearmint.,Cover with boiling water and steep for three minutes.Sweeten to taste. This is a delightful tea,make it with love.

I liked the way the artichokes at Trader Joe,s looked today. They will get steamed with cut up lemon.Tonite will be organic chicken on the bbq.I am a bit lazy so just a dash of tamari,crushed garlic, olive oil and rosemary marinade.Marinate for one hour,and grill. Brown Rice medlly is so satisfying.It is packaged at T.J.s with black barley and daikon radish seeds. Cook as directed on package then, I will chop fresh Italian parsley,basil, salt pepper and cranberries that I pre soak in hot water.Drain and add to medley.Steamed fresh vegetables, whatever I have a la dente of coarse. T.B.D

o I did not get around to grating chocolate for the banana bread that I never made. I opted for a "farm chop."Farm chop is the nme of organic fresh vegetables cubed and steamed . I add organic pinto beans, cilentro, parsley, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper.Avocado cubes are added after with finely minced red onion and chives.

What to make?

When your brain cells misfire and you are fasting it is not so easy to be inspired. Oh I forgot to share with you the whole grain cous cous that I made last night. Remind me later cause its very good. The one with anise, saffron and root vegetables. okay back to my dilemma ,what will I make for breaking the fast. my mind keeps going to a banana bread with grated chocolate and a Americano (Peets) coffee my fave!So...... it has to be light and easy ..... May be a butternut squash soup with a little cumin and cinnamon....or a minestrone.... My mind keeps going back to cravings. Buttermilk Pancakes with maple syrup and strawberrys and whipped cream?????

Potato Pancakes:

I have to admit James McNair inspired me for this recipe. I was pondering what to prepare with the Orange Roughy Kabobs. I decided on a crisp potato pancake. I peeled one pound of baking potatoes. I grated them(with the help of my food processor).I put them in a bowl of ice cubes and water,let them sit for 5 minutes and poured out the water. I squeezed all remaining liquid and starch out by placing the grated potatoes in a towel.I squeezed out all liquid.I placed potatoes in a bowl .I beat four eggs,chopped 1/2 cup of onion,I measured 4 tbsp of unbleached flour.salt and pepper big pinch.I then added beaten eggs,flour ,salt and pepper to the bowl . I chilled this in freezer 10 minutes.

In a large skillet I poured canola oil to cover bottom of the pan on medium heat.I added potato mixture and made a large pancake. I flattened it so it was not thick.I let it cook until golden and flipped it.I waited a few more minutes for the other side to get crispy.

Now if you want to be creative, add grated celery root, carrot, butternut sqaush to potato mixture. Or.... chopped scallions, basil, garlic, parsley .

It tasted perfect! Crisp out side and soft inside.A hit!

Before Tisha b'av :tonights meal:

Before a fast it is not a good idea to eat anything salty, oily or heavy. Since we are not eating chicken or meat I have decided on A kabob of orange roughy.I soaked some bamboo skewers in water. I sliced a purple onion into moons, yellow and orange peppers, large beef steak tomato in moons,mushrooms (whole) and artichoke hearts. I started threading with the mushrooms and added the rest of the ingrediants. About three piece of orange roughy chunks per skewer.I have laid them on a tray . I decided to pour agave maple on them and squeeze some juice of Mayer lemon. .Next a little crushed garlic and a drizzle of organic extra virgin olive oil. I added a bit of sea salt and mixed crushed pepper corns.Then on to the grill for 10-15 minutes.Its smelling great! Still on the grill.