Saturday, August 14, 2021

Great Stuff Saturday

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  You already know about my pesto revelation--we talked about it last week, how I learned that I could control the quantities in a recipe, and I could make much less than it called for.

 Well, yeah, you say. Duh. But hey, we learn when we need to.

And this idiotic pandemic, for all its horrors, has taught me a few other things, too. Philosophical things? Yes, but we won't go into that today.

Today: practical things.


1. Bread crumbs. Bread crumbs are great. In the before times, I never understood why people would take perfectly good food and sprinkle deadly carbs on it. In the pandemic, it was no holds barred, so I tried it one day when I decided to make chicken paillard. It was so yummy.

 The next time, I thought--huh. What if I put the green beans in the SAME pan? And put the leftover bread crumbs on them, too?

WHOA.

Now I have gone crazy putting bread crumbs on everything.

Corollary: Searing. I learned how to sear! Oh, it is SO much fun, and so easy, and it makes everything delicious. Thin chicken cutlets. Or shrimp. Or scallops. Or vegetables. Put oil in a very heavy pan. Turn up the heat. Heat til the oil shimmers. Throw on the food, in one layer. GO AWAY for five minutes or so.

DO NOT move the food! When it's properly seared, the "sear" will not let it stick to the pan. DO not nudge it!  But when it's easy to flip--flip, and do the other side the same way. PERFECTION. I have also learned to fold  the laundry during the time it's searing, so how efficient is that??


2. Cold Brew coffee. Well, another revelation. All the baby children (all fully vaccinated) came to stay for the fourth of July--in that tiny window when we all thought it was safe. Paul and Krista raved about cold brew coffee--so sure, we thought, we'll try it. Take a Mason jar, mid-size. put in 2/3 cup of coffee grounds. Fill to top of jar with cold water. Let stand on the counter for 24 hours. Filter into another jar. 

WHOA.

Now I have gone crazy drinking cold brew. We use --and this is so funny--Act of Valor coffee. My writer pal Brian Andrews and his co-author write military thrillers, and to raise money for veterans, they're working with a coffee company called BoneFrog Coffee. It is SO good (And now we have a subscription to it!) I think fine grind works best, but apparently this is the stuff of endless debate. YEMV.


3.  Reading on the treadmill.

How did I not know this? You can prop a Fire or an iPad on the treadmill stand, and read read read while you walk! It is SO great, and I am riding longer because when I am in the midst of a good book, I don't want to stop, and I don't allow myself to read it unless I am walking. How great is that?

And: ta dah!  THAT burns off the carbs from the breadcrumbs!

Reds and readers, what pandemic revelations have you experienced?


AND THE WINNER of THE LAST COMMANDMENT is: Jay Roberts!

AND THE WINNER OF  WAIT FOR IT is: Emily Dame!

Email me at hank@hankphillippiryan.com


 

77 comments:

  1. Pandemic revelations? Peanut Butter Cookie Brownies [or, if you have a grandbaby who is allergic to peanuts, Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies].

    I’ve always read while I exercise [I have an elliptical machine], so I can’t claim that as a pandemic discovery, but it certainly makes exercising much more palatable . . . .

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    1. Yummy! How are they different from regular brownies?
      Xx

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  2. You make brownies using your favorite recipe and spread the brownie batter in the pan; then mix up a batch of peanut butter [or chocolate chip] cookies . . . drop the cookie dough by spoonfuls onto the brownie batter; bake for the time indicated for the brownies. The cookie dough sinks into the brownies and you get a yummy combination brownie/cookie . . . .

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  3. I have rediscovered something. I was determined to get my screened-in back porch in order this year so I could enjoy it. I used to sit out there and read and listen to Saturday night jazz on NPR. Well, I didn't have workers come in and do an overhaul like I thought I might, but my husband had painted the inside last fall, and the first of this summer, he painted the floor a new tan color that was more soothing than the old green. I bought some new furniture for it and put a plant or two on the shelf that goes all the way around. I bought some new rugs, and I even have a bed for our new rescue dog Lulu. Because I'm still not going out much at all because of the pandemic and the new Delta variant, I wanted a porch that I could use and feel comfortable on. Well, I rediscovered just what a peaceful feeling I get sitting out there. I do have a couple of fans, as it's been so hot, and there have been a few days it's been too hot to go out there, but I have that place I've needed for the whole last year, a place where I can close my eyes and feel good. The other night I sat out there in the dark for an hour just soaking in the peace. It has done wonders for my anxiety problem.

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    1. That sounds simply marvelous, Kathy! love it!

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    2. I feel at peace just reading your description, Kathy. Lovely!

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    3. Spectacular! What a great place to rest, relax, and recharge.

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    4. Oh my goodness, that sounds spectacular. How very very wise of you, and what a wonderful result!

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    5. Thank you ladies for sharing in the happiness of my special place. I wish for everyone a place where peace and comfort prevail.

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  4. After a couple of week of going out to dinner, off for retail therapy -- I hadn't bought a pair of shoes in more than a year -- and enjoying the company of vaccinated friends, we are back to last years precautions, masks in public and when around other humans, vaccinated or not, social distancing, bingeing and rebingeing on TV series, watching the covid numbers, and here, in NYS, seeing our governor unseated.

    At least National Kool-Aid day passed without incident, and the My Pillow Guy imploded in a rapidly emptying banquet hall. Lovely to watch.

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    1. Oh! I did not see that about the emptying banquet hall. I have to look that up. Thank you!

      Oh my gosh, that’s hilarious about national Kool-Aid day. But I think this has been Kool-Aid year, actually…

      Xxxx

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    2. Oh Ann, MyPillow guy says antifa was outside threatening people and he had to leave--I love that reporters went out to check the action and found only three people singing gospel.

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  5. These are all lovely, but I don't think I have any pandemic discoveries, unfortunately.

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  6. Like Edith I haven't made any pandemic discoveries either. Maybe I don't try hard enough.

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    1. Here are some new ideas, then! See? You discovered us!

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  7. My discovery hardly counts as rocket science, but here it is: I have learned that the twice daily walking-to-and-from-the-bus exercise (that I got for years and years while getting to work off site) kept me trim. When I started working from home and my commute shrank right down to bedroom/bathroom/kitchen/desk in living room, that paltry bit of exercise disappeared and I am feeling it around my waist. Who knew that the simple act of regular walking even a short distance had such impact? Not me. I am trying to reform my ways by getting out and about on my bike more.

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    1. I agree with you so much! When I was at channel 7 every day, I would walk the six blocks or so to get lunch, and do other errands, and then walk back. Losing that was a huge change! So I am on the treadmill now. I had no idea it was making such a difference either. Amazing!

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  8. I learned the joys of cooking and eating breakfast. For years breakfast was a microwaved breakfast something now it's a sit down meal. Sometimes cooked, sometimes as simple as yogurt and berries, but it's a space to take stock before starting the day.

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    1. Oh, I miss newspapers! No dailys up here. Don't even ask me what I would do for regular delivery of the Sunday Times.

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  9. Eleven months into the pandemic, my oven died.

    Great first line, right? Fortunately, the NYT and WaPost publish weekly stove-top, one hour meal recipes. My kids introduced me to French Truck Coffee from New Orleans, Le Grand Coq Rouge blend, which I order in 5 lb sacks.

    And my replacement oven might be here in December.

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    1. Oh no! I heard there was an appliance shortage of sorts… Apparently everyone home all the time using their appliances, everything broke! How incredibly frustrating… And good for you for being so resourceful!

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    2. Our main through-the-wall air conditioner died in 95 degree heat on Wednesday night. After 35 years of good service we should not complain, but replacing it was a dance we had to learn overnight. New unit expected on Tuesday. Better weather expected tomorrow. DON'T ASK HOW MUCH $$$.

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    3. Our one a/c unit quit late Thursday. We sweated through until today when Mr. Air (the company name!) came and fixed it zip zap.
      He isn't sure how long he can stay in the business. This past year all the suppliers increased prices for parts by 25%! And the quality is way down. Frustrating for him and us.

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    4. Margaret, that's a long time to go without an oven, but I'm impressed with how well you've coped. So many shortages that I don't think were anticipated. I was wanting to get a new vehicle this year, but a computer chip shortage is affecting the production of new cars. Of course, I'm not going anywhere, so I really don't need a new vehicle now anyway.

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  10. Amen to the joys of screened porches! My discovery was pearl couscous. I tried for the first time a recipe that included this marvelous ingredient. I know it is just pasta in a different shape, but, oh my! Where have you been all my life pearl couscous?

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    1. I will look that up! and you make it by boiling it, then covering, and turning the heat off?

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  11. HANK,

    Bread crumbs...I was reminded of when I babysat a kid donkey years ago and we baked fried chicken with bread crumbs or was it grape nuts cereal? She was using a kids' cookbook and I supervised. I never like fried chicken and I have to say that this fried chicken was delicious!

    speaking of the pandemic, I was thinking about which habit I probably will continue even after the pandemic is over? I think I will be washing my hands for 20 seconds, which is an habit by now...

    I am checking in here before I go over to the virtual EDINBURGH BOOK FESTIVAL and it is FREE! They are wonderful about captioning many of their events, including talks with one of my favorite authors, Alexander McCall Smith.

    Congratulations to all of the winners!!!

    Diana

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    1. Oh, that sounds delicious, Diana! I will try that. And I have also used oat brown, which is also crunchy and delicious. Have fun today… Keep us posted!

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    2. Diana, I am so laughing right now. I read part of your first sentence as, "when I babysat a kid donkey," not, "when I babysat a kid donkey years ago." I read on through, thinking that it would become clearer about the kid donkey. Then it was cooking? What? I finally was able to read the sentence correctly.

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    3. Kathy, in my family we say, "dog's years" for a vast amount of time. I have no idea why.

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    4. I had the same thought as Kathy! I would babysit a kid donkey. I think. But I doubt I would cook special for him.

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    5. Hank,

      I heart "crunchy"..Perhaps I could try oat brown if it is gluten free...

      Perhaps I forgot the comma before "donkey years ago"? LOL. Thanks for a good laugh, everyone!

      Diana

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  12. These are all lovely, but I don't think I made any pandemic discoveries, alas.

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    1. Edith, how about discovering you could write and launch books during an international pandemic? That's pretty gritty stuff, there.

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  13. My pandemic discovery was the joy of riding my bicycle for hours, casually, no pushing myself, no hills. Fresh air, sunshine, movement. And I learned that I can make macarons. They are fiddly but not difficult.

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  14. I made a wonderful discovery just last night--or maybe I just combined two things I already knew into a nifty new thing. Anyway, back in the spring I'd had a little time to talk to my second grandson (step-daughter's son). I've known this young man all his life, but without his Grandpa Warren there to keep the connection going we hadn't been close. But we reconnected at the spring event, and last week he texted to ask if we could get together to talk. I'm reluctant to go out now, but I invited him to Zoom with me and wow! Grandson + Zoom = a wonderful conversation! We could see each other's faces, gauge each other's reactions, and wound up talking for 2.5 hours, late into the night, about life and science and the world and everything! It was fabulous, and he wants to do it again, soon. I can't wait.

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    1. Gigi, what a gift to both of you. My grandparents (including a step-grandmother) were so important in my life, both as a child and then later as a young wife and mother. It's wonderful to have an adult who cares about you, but who doesn't have the history and investment a parent has.

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    2. Oh, that is wonderful wonderful wonderful...xxoxo

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  15. Just stopping. I learned to look at my fear and ask is this a real fear or something else.
    I learned and am still working at just stopping when I get anxious. For example, my brother in law's surgery was successful. My daughter's covid experience is long in the past. Just stop and be glad; which is very hard for me to do.

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    1. Coralee, I think that's hard for SO many of us, both in this pandemic and before it. Being in the moment is a real skill.

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    2. SUCH a good lesson. Trying to learn that one myself...

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  16. Well, I discovered that I won’t die if I stay home. But I still don’t like it!!

    Oh, and I discovered First Chapter Fun, and that there’s no such thing as “too many books”!

    DebRo

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  17. I think fall in line with Edith, no pandemic discoveries, except maybe one. I haven't cut my hair this whole time, well actually since December 2019. The brown hair now has a red hue to it. I've never had red hair. Blond streaks, yes. Both naturally as a kid and artificially as an adult but I stopped the coloring years ago. Weird, huh?

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  18. I'm afraid I'm with Edith. No earthshaking discoveries or even duh moments.

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  19. Zoom meetings are an interesting way to get together, also ebooks rock! Our library closed tight for a few months and put extra budget into ebooks. Reading on my iPad has now become my preferred way.
    I am much better at being a hermit than I ever would have imagined, a new level of being retired . . . and I'm grateful for retirement and in awe of those still navigating school matters, masks, and anti-vaxxers.

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  20. No pandemic related discoveries here. Just trying to keep my head above water is enough work for me.

    Oh, and Hank, I messaged you about being selected the winner for THE LAST COMMANDMENT book but in case it gets lost in the email shuffle, please select another fine poster from the JRW community. I had posted later yesterday that I picked up a copy of the book at the bookstore yesterday. And I want to make sure the wealth gets shared.

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    1. Oh, you are so generous! Will do! (and he will be SO happy!)

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  21. Now that you've discovered bread crumbs, try CORN FLAKE CRUMBS. Use GOOD (not cheap) cornflakes; if you don't like the taste of the flakes, you won't like their crumbs, and there IS a difference. (I prefer Kellogg's.) Put them into a plastic food storage bag and run your rolling pin over the bag till they are crushed. I use them to lighten meatloaf or (my grandmother's secret) potato pancakes.

    And then there's matzo meal....

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    1. Ellen, my mother used to use corn flake crumbs in certain dishes, too. I wonder if it was one of those fifties cooking hacks everyone knew, like using Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup as the base for everything.

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    2. OOOH, trying that, Ellen! Wonder if it would wrk with raisin bran on chicken. Yummy plumy raisins. WOUld that work?

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    3. Worth a try. But I'd plump the raisins first, unless there's a lot of sauce for them.

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  22. I applied your "read on the treadmill" trick to dog walking, Hank - the Maine Millinnial's pup needs a lot of exercise, so I was walking her around 2 miles a day. The SAME two miles, on the safest, most car-free road in the neighborhood. It got old very fast. So I started loading my phone with podcasts and audiobooks (which I only allow myself to listen to during the walk) and now I can't wait to strap Janey's leash on every morning!

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  23. Congrats, Jay and Emily!!! Hank, what a wonderful list. Hub loves the cold brew and has been tired of buying it already prepared. I'm sharing your knowledge with him! Brilliant.

    I'm with Jay. The pandemic has hit me with enough personal losses that if I can just keep paddling to stay afloat, I'll call it a win!

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    1. Oh, let me know if he needs advice. For the first brews, when we didn't have coffee filter paper, we used a gold filter thing with a paper towel in it, and did it twice. It is MUCH better than when you buy it. Especially with Brian's coffee. Let me know!

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  24. Hank, when it was too hot here earlier this summer to drink my usual cup of afternoon tea, I discovered that Trader Joe's instant cold brew coffee is amazing for making iced coffee. Who knew?

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  25. This is such fun, Hank. On breadcrumbs (and Trader Joe's again,) I discovered that Trader Joe's yummy Parmesan Crisps make the best breadcrumbs. I put them in a gallon ziplock and crush with my marble rolling pin. Wonderful topping for roasted salmon with pesto, or anything else that needs breadcrumbs.

    I discovered that I like my hair longer, and that I am, at least for now, perfectly happy to let the gray show. I would never had known either if not for the pandemic.

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    1. Whoa, brilliant! And I always toss the chicken or shrimp or whatever in the breadcrumbs IN a plastic bag, so it's not one bit messy!

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  26. I learned how deeply my introvert roots run! Social anxiety disappeared last year. I enjoyed staying home with hubs. We had fun and did a lot of cooking and grilling. I experimented with more spices, peppers, and salts.

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  27. There is time for everything , we just have to make up our minds to do something and start doing it. I discovered and was suggested that I can make a closet into a pantry, and I did. :) aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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