Debbie Delozier :: A Casual Affair

Tonight’s dinner was Indian Cuisine. I donned my new apron, pulled back my hair and headed into the kitchen to start the Potato Cakes with Stuffing.

First step was to make mashed potatoes, starting with the peeling of the potato. I peeled 4 potatoes

After boiling the potatoes I simply fork mashed them with a bit of salt, pepper and milk.

Next step was chopping onion.

Next: sauteeing the chopped onion with garlic, fresh ginger, ground coriander, ground cumin, fresh chopped cilantro and chopped mint.

When the onions were translucent I added ground beef and chopped green beans (the recipe called for peas but my Jim doesn’t care for peas).

Now comes the messy part. Divide the mashed potatoes into 8 equal parts. Pat each part out into your hand.

Add a spoonful of the meat & onion mixture to the center of the mashed potato, gather the sides together to enclose the meat. Flatten it slightly to make a round.

Dip each round into beaten egg and then into bread crumbs.

Final step; shallow frying, browning both sides.

These are pretty darn tasty too. I mean, they’re fried mashed potatoes with meat inside for goodness sakes.

With the potato cakes with stuffing we had Chicken Naan Pockets.

The dinner was topped off with homemade peach ice cream made in my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker.
A Christmas present

Yum, Yum

Jim loves ice cream

I guess that wraps up our evening. I’ll talk to you next year, teehee.

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Hello, Hello! I don’t know why you say goodbye; I say hello!

Yes, today we say goodbye to this year and tomorrow morning, we usher in a spanking, brand new year. It is probably a good thing we’re saying goodbye to 2007 too; I tried to consume, use up and get pleasure out of every single day of this old year (except for those last few days when I was sick in bed).

Last evening at dinner Jim, Kati and I had the same conversation as probably every other person in the world; we discussed the changes this New Year will bring; things or habits we would change about ourselves, changes we can make to our (as in this part that we are directly involved in) world, home, family, careers, etc. I think the whole world makes the same “exercise more, eat less or better, lose weight, spend more time with family, etc.” resolutions. I, too, have made them, kept them, broke them along with the rest of the world’s population.

This year we’ve decided not to make resolutions. This year we are making promises. My promises this year have nothing to do with me, as I am a work in progress, always have been, always will be. I am a life-long masterpiece. My Lord and I are working on the things together, through prayer (lots of it) and some trial and tribulation (hopefully not too much) that I need to improve on.

This year, my promises are to others and, through others, to the Lord. I realized there are many days of the year that come and go that I spend time, energy, and thoughts only on things that have to do with me, my surroundings, my home, my family (you get the drift). This year I’ve learned IT is not about me; IT is about HIM. Therefore, my promise is: I will be more mindful (and active) of kindnesses that I can do for others. It might not be anything huge (I’m sure many won’t be) but each kindness (I will try for 1 a day) will take me away from myself and closer to the me of that life-long progressive masterpiece of Me. I will not be reporting the progress on my promise to you because then that would be about me and not a kindness at all.

I will be spending the last day of this year out of bed, feeling like my old self, cooking (an Indian dish, I’ll let you know how it turns out), doing laundry, cleaning, etc; and being thankful for the blessings we’ve been given.

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Yes, I’m feeling more like my accepted “me” today. I woke feeling almost normal and ready for a nice hot shower. Plus, I actually got dressed, not just clean pjs but real clothes and did my hair which would make anyone feel a bit better.

Although I wasn’t quite up to going to church, in case I broke out into all consuming, total body jerking cough. I did watch last week’s service on our town’s local KGCT station. If you’ve never been able to watch our taped service on the local network (received only in Nowata and Bartlesville I think) I must tell you (and this is an unbiased assessment) the taping of the service is very well done (my Jim does the taping teehee).

When Jim and Kati returned home from services they brought Get Well Soon wishes from everyone as well as many messages of “tell her I miss her” and “let her know we asked about her”. I can not tell you enough how special my church family is to me.

Jim and Kati also made ham and turkey sandwiches for lunch and told me that if I felt up to it later this afternoon they would like to get me out of the house and take me either to Olive Garden or Pei Wei (my choice, whichever one I’d rather have) for dinner.

Jim spent most of the afternoon selling items on the internet. He posted a few items on Craig’s list and has had some questions and requests for pictures. If he sells a couple of these items it will help clear out a few nooks and crannies around the house-shed-barn-lots.

Now that I’m feeling better I have big plans for the week. Kati is still out of school and Jim (I think) is still off work for the most part of the week. He was off last week but I’m afraid I wasn’t much fun to be around; I’m awfully glad he was here to at least give Kati someone to talk to when she wasn’t playing the new Playstation 2 game her aunt gave to her at Christmas. Some of my plans include making some soft-serve ice cream with my new Cuisinart ice cream maker. Plus it had a few recipes for dairy free frozen dessert I would like to make for my great-nephew, Graham. I know I’ve mentioned his restricted diet and he has never (ever) been able to have ice cream in his life. So I have cleared the ingredients with my niece and we’re thinking we might give this a try. If he likes it I might be have to make a batch for him every week or so, especially during the summer.

I’m also planning an Indian dinner one night. I’m not quite sure which dishes I’m making but I’m already soooo excited about it.

Jim and I have been discussing a few things here at the house we’d like to get organized in the next few months (sort of starting the New Year off right). Quite a few of my small appliances (many I have duplications of, ie: 2 roasters, 4 grills (2 flat, 2 folding), 2 electric skillets, 2 slowcookers (different sizes) ) and serving dishes are in disarray out in the garage. Items are just shoved helter-skelter, here and there. It was actually organized when I started putting things out there but over the last 2 years it has become a real mess. Project #2 should be cleaning up the glass crafting area; but it isn’t. The next item for organization is the back bedroom. This used to be Cass’ bedroom when she was home, then became an office and now is just a catch-all room. Project #3 is, of course, all the tree limbs, cleaning up the back lots, etc. This last project will probably run clear into Spring if not Summer.

I’m off to do something with the rest of my afternoon and enjoy the sunshine while we have it.

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I woke this morning feeling pretty good (other than the hacking, barking seal cough). I had a couple cups of coffee and a bowl of cereal and my morning antibiotic before doing the breakfast dishes and straightening up the kitchen and living room a bit. I also cleaned myself up a little and changed into a nice clean fresh pair of pajamas before I was worn out, it’s a wonder what a clean pair of pjs can do for your outlook.

I never returned to the bed (today’s nap was on the couch) feeling too well for bed but not well enough to actually ‘do’ anything.

Good news though, temperature was normal all day and my throat is not quite as sore. My voice is back to hoarse instead of whisper now.

Jim ran to Tulsa to do a favor for Cass & Travis and make a trip to the Indian Spice store for me. I’ve been wanting to go every since Christmas when I received a new Indian cookbook. I was wanting to do an Indian dinner, but as my Jim often told the girls when they ‘wanted’ something “people in Hell want cold water”. It looks like the odds of me doing the dinner and those people getting cold water are about the same.

While Jim was gone today Kati made lunch for me. I had a black forest ham and cheese panini and a nice cold glass of ginger ale. I can not tell you enough how I appreciate this child of mine. This afternoon she also did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen up again.

Jim returned home with frozen Naan and a medium size box of Saffron. If you’ve never been to an Indian Spice or an Asian food store you should really go. The price of their spices is quite minimal compared to grocery stores. Jim said the Saffron was only $7 for 2 grams, but this will last quite a while. Saffron, as you know, is the world’s most expensive spice as it is the dried stigma of the saffron crocus. I think I read once that it takes somewhere in the vacinity of 250,000 flowers to make 1 lb of saffron. Fortunately, we only use a small amount in any dish.

For supper Jim made beef stroganoff and a green salad. Yum!! Afterwards Kati cleaned off the table and Jim cleaned up the kitchen. You know, if it wasn’t for the feeling bad part, this being taken care of is a pretty nifty gig if you can get it.

When all is said and done, today has been better than yesterday and I’m expecting tomorrow to be even better. I might even take a bath; I’m sure that in itself will be a boon for my attitude (or at least for those around me).

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I’ve been in bed the majority of the day, only getting up long enough to make the appointment with Dr. Jeff that Jim made for me this morning. Dr. Jeff prescribed an antibiotic to help with the throat infection, Tylenol for the fever, body aches and chills, and cough syrup with expectorant for the frog croaking cough and chest congestion that may be the death of me.

Because I’ve been in bed and sleeping most of today I really don’t have to much to tell you about. I can, however, tell you that even though I feel pretty lousy physically I also feel very much loved. Kati and Jim are taking such good care of me, bringing me medicine, drinks, food (as my antibiotic is very strong and has very adverse effects on my stomach if I don’t eat). Jim brought me a walkie-talkie so that I can just buzz him instead of trying to call him and hurt my throat more. Kati brings me tylenol and ginger ale along with my lap-top. The 2 of them even went grocery shopping for me today (for some reason they brought home alot more items then were on the grocery list) and Jim finished up all the laundry for me yesterday.

Jim also made grilled chicken, dressing and green beans for supper (along with a pitcher of iced tea, which is really saying something as Jim doesn’t drink tea or coffee) saying that I needed a good meal so that my medicine wouldn’t make me sick. After dinner he even brought me some cookies (store-bought, but that doesn’t bother me in the least bit) to snack on.

I have had 2 doses of antibiotic today so hopefully I will be up a bit more tomorrow, I can’t stand being immobile. Still, even though I feel pretty miserable and probably look even worse, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have Jim and Kati.

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This was last night’s meal, tidbits on 2 of my new plates. After all the work of undecorating yesterday morning and delivering Cass & Travis’ presents to them in Tulsa I was a bit too tired to fix a full fledged meal. Kati and Jim both love these types of snacky meals.

As the evening progressed I realized I wasn’t just tired but I just wasn’t feeling very well at all. I doped myself up on sinus medicine before heading off to bed. I slept all night, fitfully as it was and woke this morning feeling worse than when I went to bed.

Today has been spent on the couch with a blankie and pillow with my sweetheart of a daughter taking care of me. Kati has made me soup for lunch and kept me in apple juice, iced tea, Zicam and throat drops. She is such a sweetie. This evening when Jim needed to run to Lowes for a few items and asked her if she wanted to go, she just looked at me as if I needed her here to watch over me. I assured her I would be fine and that she should go and get out of the house.

That just about wraps up my day. I’m headed back to the couch to keep my kitty company until Jim and Kati return home.

Keep well.

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1 tblsp orange zest
3 tblsp fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tblsp finely chopped shallots
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 lbs trimmed asparagus
2 tblsp extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 450

In a small bowl, whisk zest, juice, shallots, sugar, ½ tsp salt & 1/8 tsp pepper.

Place asparagus on a large baking sheet and drizzle with evoo. Season with remaining salt & pepper. Toss to coat. Arrange so that spears are in a single layer.

Bake 5 minutes, stir well, return to oven and bake another 5 minutes. Remove from oven, drizzle with vinagrette, toss to coat well. Return to oven and bake another 5 minutes until crisp/tender.

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This is really a yummy salad.

1 cup buttermilk
1 8-oz frozen Cool Whip, thawed
1 3-oz package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 16-oz can mandarin oranges, drained
1 16-oz can crushed pineapple, drained
5 (more or less) crushed Pecan Sandy cookies (or butter cookies, or chocolate stripe cookies, etc.)

In a mixing bowl combine the buttermilk and pudding mix until pudding mix is dissolved. Add Cool Whip. Stir in the oranges and pineapple. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Just before serving, top with cookie crumbs.

Note from Lori: This is the way the true recipe reads, although I almost always leave off the cookies. They’re not necessary and they soggy up in the left-overs.

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It’s all over but the clean up now. Actually even the clean-up is almost finished here. I love (really love) decorating, but once the party is over I’m ready for it to all be put away. That is what we did this morning, we took down all the decorations, the tree and my yard inflatables and we put them away.

Last evening the whole DeLozier family (except for the Chris Fink family who live in the Boston area, and great nephew Braiden who would not be in Okla until this afternoon) met at church for our traditional Christmas Eve services before heading down to our house for dinner. There were 18 (20 including the sheepdog (see the picture)and shih tzu) of us all snuggly nestled into our house for dinner and presents; good thing we’re a close family.

I was happy with the meal; I was worried about it cooking here at the house without supervision while we were at church. But it turned out okay. Kati helped out quite a bit in the kitchen earlier in the day; I sure appreciated her. I was even able to take a short nap mid afternoon because of her help. Kati had made a creamy horseradish sauce to go along with the tenderloin and she made a citrus vinagrette for the asparagus. She then mixed the spices for the hot punch we would enjoy that evening.

The whole family helped to make things extra special. Jim’s mom made yummy carrots and a 7-layer salad (we all love this 7 layer salad); Aunt Shirley made a tasty fruit salad and Debbie F made deviled eggs (a family meal would not be the same without the deviled eggs, we always run out). Lori brought her scrumptious buttermilk salad (I’ll steal the recipe from her website and put it on here). I truly appreciated all the help.

The tenderloin turned out pretty good, it was tender and juicy and you could really taste the orange zest and cloves (I probably should have cut back on that and used more rosemary and thyme). The twice-baked mashed potatoes went over very well and Kati has made me promise to make them again. Jim even liked the citrusy asparagus; 2 years ago he would have told you he hated asparagus.

This morning my sister, Teresia called to wish us a Merry Christmas. Her kids are home from school for the holiday and are sharing a special day. I called my sister Betty in Wisconsin, to sing Happy Birthday to her and wish their family a Merry Christmas. I then called my Mom and Dad to wish them Merry Christmas. They had plans to spend the day and have dinner with my mom’s sister. I was told my brother had to work so I missed talking to him this morning.

All said and done, I think we’ve all had a wonderful holiday full of family, food and above all the spirit of our Lord who came as a babe as a gift to us all.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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The snow (with some ice sprinkled in) blew in yesterday, stayed the night, and was just a slushy mess by the time we left church at noon. It stayed just long enough to make the morning drive to church a tad tricky. Actually the only precarious part of the drive was the 2 blocks from our house to the highway and a few of the town streets near the church. The highway itself (the majority of our drive) was almost totally clear.

It was certainly a marvelous morning to be in church. It warms your heart and soul to come out of the cold world and be warmed by  God’s loving light. Not to mention the warm hugs we receive in greeting from the rest of the congregation; our family. It was truly wonderful to look up and see Kati’s smiling face in the choir loft once again. Mere words can not even convey the joy (wonder, amazement) of everyone when Megan sang Ava Maria. I know I sat with tear filled eyes in awe of every note she sang. It was absolutely breath-taking. I for one, didn’t even realize she sang; then to sing so beautifully. It was humbling. Oh, how I wished again that I could sing (even a little bit).

After church we dropped the dvd off at the television station and headed home. I had put the leftover roast and gravy in the slowcooker before we left for church so when we walked in the door we were instantly hungry. We reheated the rest of the meal and had a wonderful Sunday lunch.

This afternoon Kati is making a cheesecake for Sarah while I am making one more (please let this be the last) trip to the grocery store to get last minute things. Therefore, I guess I better get on the move.

I’ll write later if anything Earth shaking happens.

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