Debbie Delozier :: A Casual Affair

At least that is what J says. This morning (the morning of our 30th wedding anniversary) I was met with this little bag of sweets that will probably last me until our 31st anniversary and a sweet, romantic card.

Today is busy, busy. I have lunch for the Rotary members in the oven as we speak. Today’s menu is Boneless BBQ Pork Ribs, corn on the cob, broccoli slaw, sliced tomatoes and my very own freezer pickles with double chocolate, fudgy brownies for dessert.

This afternoon I will be watching the teenager’s shadow for a bit while she goes and has more purple added to her hair. I also have plans of making a new batch of sour-dough starter (new as in different from any I’ve done before). If I get around to making it and after I try some bread from it I’ll let you know how it works out.

Other than that, I’m off to work a bit and then enjoy the rest of my anniversary. We have big plans for later in the week, I’ll fill you all in on that afterwards.

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Last week I had the television on while I was doing my computer postings. Good Morning America was on and they had the world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck on doing a grilled chicken k-bob and couscous salad recipe. This is the couscous salad, I made it for our dinner last night and it was wonderful. The only difference in what I made and Wolfgang’s recipe was I used lime instead of lemon because that is what I had. J and the teenager both loved this salad also. This recipe will feed 6-8 people.

You’ll need:

2 cups chicken stock
10 ounces instant couscous *
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground cinnamon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 small red onion, peeled, diced
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, diced
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, diced
1 bunch green onions, minced
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Freshly ground black pepper

*Be sure it is instant couscous or the cooking directions will be different.

This is what you do:

In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil.

Place the couscous in a large, heatproof bowl. Stir in the salt and the cinnamon. Pour the boiling stock over the couscous mixture, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove cover, fluff couscous and allow to cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice and zest, red onion, cucumber, bell pepper, and green onions. Add the cooled couscous and toss until well blended. Stir in the cilantro leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

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Sorry, I don’t have a picture of these plated, once they hit the table they were gobbled up.

Here is what you’ll need:

4 pork chops (yes, there are only 3 in the skillet as there are only 3 members in my family)

Salt & pepper
2 tblsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 tblsp chopped fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tblsp honey
1 cup chicken broth

We’ll start by heating our skillet and1/2 the oil. Season the pork chops with the salt and pepper and add them to the heated skillet. Cook about 5 minutes per side (until you have a nice color to them). Remove the pork chops to a platter and cover with foil.
To the skillet add the remaining oil, onions, thyme, rosemary and garlic. Saute 4-5 mins.

Add balsamic vinegar, honey & chicken stock. Cook until liquids have reduced by half.

Once the glaze is reduced return the chops to the pan, coating them in the glaze. Cook until done and serve.

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A delicate cookie with a delicate taste.

Preheat the oven to 350 and grease (or spray) the cookie sheet.

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 ½ tsp grated lime zest
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Powdered sugar for decoration
Cream the butter and sugar

Add the egg and the egg yolk, mixing well.

Add the lime juice and the lime zest,mix well.

Add the mixed dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, a little at a time, mixing well after each addition.

When everything is mixed well together, spoon small “balls” (about 1″) onto a greased cookie sheet (yes, it is a very used cookie sheet) and bake approximately 10 minutes until they are just beginning to brown around the edge. Let cool on sheet about 2 minutes then gently move to rack,sprinkle with powdered sugar and let them cool completely.

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The things that made me laugh yesterday:

• Lunch with J.S. at the next table: during our conversation he was telling us (among other things that had me holding my side) that Mrs. Roberts was a very pretty lady when she was younger and asked if I remembered. Mrs. Roberts is in her 70s, and being only 48 at the moment I didn’t know Mrs. Roberts when she was younger.
• A teenager dying her hair purple (my teenager dying her hair purple). Actually it looks really good although I think she should have a little more added.
• A 6 year old chasing me around the yard with a water hose.
• Some of the reactions from the Rotary club members after lunch yesterday. You’d think some of them had never had guacamole.
• Sharing a red popsicle with a 6 year old and comparing how red our tongues were.

This morning I had an order for 5 dozen assorted cookies. I made chocolate chip/pecan/oatmeal, Key Lime, Orange Crispies and chocolate. The teenager and her summer shadow went with me to deliver them to town. We kept some of each aside for J (I think the poor guy feels like I cook for everyone in town except him) and gave the rest away.

J and one of his managers are in Sand Springs all day today (and most of tomorrow) for meetings and then dinner tonight. This morning he stopped by the house and quickly told me of an exciting moment he had. He was on his way to Sand Springs and between here and Talala drove past an area where the DOT are mowing (I think he said mowing, the teenager said he said weed eating), anyway, something was thrown and hit the back window on the passenger side and busted it out. He talked to them a bit and made arrangements for them to come to the house to check the vehicle out before turning around, returning to the house and parking his company vehicle in the garage and taking his pickup for the day. I’m anxious to find out the details. I’m sure it scared both he and Bo nearly to death. At least neither of them were hurt from the flying glass.

Well, I’m going to try to get a few things done around here so I’ll chat with ya later.

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The weekend, although fun, was busy, busy. J did yard work on Saturday, he was able to get rid of some of the stuff laying around but no longer in use. He made another burn pile and set it on fire to get rid of some of the wood that we are still dealing with from the winter storms. He was able to get the mowing of the yard and the lots all done too.

The teenager. . . well, I don’t really know what the teenager did, do we really ever know what teenagers are doing. I do know she vacuumed and I really appreciate that.

I went to the Heart of Tulsa arts & crafts show on Saturday. I walked every aisle and stopped (and bought) at almost every booth. There was jewelry, clothes, paintings, yard art in wood and metal, bird feeders, baskets, food, and hundreds and hundreds of other items. I bought jewelry, a basket, some soup mixes, and some art pieces among other items. I had a grand time and my arms were so full of merchandise I had to catch the shuttle to take me to my car or I never would have made it.

After I had finished up there I called J to let him know I would be heading home after stopping for a tank of gas. He said that he and the teenager had been talking about heading to Owasso to do a few errands and grab a late lunch. We decided to meet up and I could do a few in-town tasks also. We met at Panera and the teenager had a smoked turkey breast panini, J had an Italian something or other sandwich and I had a Strawberry Fields salad and the Summer Corn Chowder; yum!

After lunch I went to the grocery store, the teenager went clothes shopping at Kohl’s and J went to Lowe’s. Afterwards we all headed on back home where I put up groceries, J went to haul a truckload of stuff to town and the teenager. . . well, again I don’t know what the teenager did.

On Sunday we had a guest speaker during the Sunday School hour so I had made arrangements so that I could sit in on that instead of teaching a class myself. The speaker was from our town’s Jewish community, well actually, we live in such a small town, her family IS our town’s Jewish community. Mr and Mrs Roberts’ family have been part of our community since the 1930s. She had been asked by my mother-in-love (they are very good friends) to come and speak to us about their faith, holidays and ceremonies. And as things sometimes happen, Mom and Dad were not able to be present for the discussion as they are in Colorado for the time being. Dad’s uncle (who is in his late 80s I would imagine) had a motorcycle accident. Mom and Dad drove up late last week to take care of Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Rex (who now is out of the hospital and resting, although uncomfortably, at home).

But I digress; Mrs. Roberts shared some of their customs and laws of faith with us. She shared stories of their food preparation rituals (which I found so fascinating, as you can imagine) and stories of their family. It was all so very interesting. Although I had never met Mrs. Roberts before I had talked to her on the phone once. Mr. Roberts used to serve on the board of directors at the bank I do catering for. It was around the time of Passover and I surely didn’t want to serve some food that he was not able to eat so, timidly (I know, you all are wondering if I have ever been timid, but there have been a few times) put a phone call to her to ask about some of their food laws. She was so pleasant and made me feel at ease. She was a fount of information on the whys and wherefores of their laws of food and the items that he could or could not have at certain times of the year because of their high holidays.

After church service we headed home to change clothes. J had some business over in the Pryor area so we decided to stop in for a bite of lunch at JL’s BBQ before checking on his customer. Afterwards we drove on over to the lake cabin to drop off the pickup load of firewood for this winter’s fires.

Now it is Monday and I’m cooking again, getting ready for tomorrow’s Rotary lunch. I am happy to report that things are beginning to slow down a bit here as far as the catering is going. I have been sending up prayers that things would slow down a bit or that I’d learn how to say no so that I might put some of my energy into other loves. Last Thursday was my last bank director’s meeting that I will be doing as they finally have their office in Tulsa ready to do business in and will begin to meet there. I still will be doing their other lunches but that cuts back on at least one Thursday and will give me 2 more days a month that I’m able to do other things; every day counts you know.

Now I best be getting to the chicken and cookies for tomorrow. Catch ya later.

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J came home with another present last evening. This time he made 1 present count for all 3 of us girls (the teenager, myself and Jade the cat). He brought me an automatic (works by infrared sensor) trashcan (I have been wanting a new trashcan because the lid on my current one is broken and doesn’t lift when you step on the foot pedal). With this new one you stand close to it and ta-da, the lid opens and you insert your trash. Too cool!

The teenager’s part of the present was: the bubblewrap.

She loves popping the stuff. The 3rd part of the combined present was for Miss Jade and she totally loved it.

What a guy!

J likes to tease me that every time there is a birthday, holiday, anniversary that I celebrate, as in My birthday or Our anniversary (which just so happens to be the end of this month),Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day,4th of July (you get the drift) I want to celebrate and get presents all month long. Actually, it isn’t that I want a present every few days or once a week throughout the month of the occasion, the problem lies in the fact that J buys a present (with all intentions of hiding it away until the actual day arrives “this is not to say that the trash can is my anniversary present”) then he just can’t stand hiding the present. The man can’t keep a secret surprise to save his life. That is one (and only one) of the reasons I love him so much.

Today is an easy-peasy play day. I did make up next week’s menu (we’ll see if we can stick to another one) and grocery list and still need to run into the bank and get my dishes from yesterday’s lunch but that will be it. I think I’ll take J and the teenager out to supper this evening.

Next week is also an easy-peasy week. I have only 1 lunch to do for the Rotary Club on Tuesday. I am planning a special surprise for a loved one if things (as in schedules, etc) work out. Actually I’m planning 2 surprises (one for later this month). I’ll let you know how things pan out. I do have to ‘watch’ the teenager’s young charge for a few hours on Tuesday afternoon while the teenager goes and gets her hair done.

Now I need to get me a bite of lunch; I’m thinking fresh fruit because the fridge is full of fresh cut pineapple, cherries and grapes (Yum) and then get to the bank.

Have a wonderful weekend.

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That would be my J; and I realized he was my one in a million exactly 30 years ago.

Last evening when J came home he brought me this little bouquet along with a sweet little card and a box of my very favorite coconut candy. He brought all this to me for absolutely no reason at all other than he said he thought about me while he was out and about during the day. Do I need to tell you why I married him 6 weeks after we met? I know a great deal when I see it!

I promised to tell you about our dinner last night: J grilled 2 ham steaks with pineapple.

To go with the grilled ham and pineapple I tried a new recipe: Summer Vegetable Roestis: (roestis means twice cooked)

The outside (top and bottom) is hashbrowns. In the center is corn, basil, grated zucchini and cheese. It is really fairly simple, the hardest part was flipping it out of the skillet onto a plate so that you could slip it back in and cook the 2nd side. Once I perfect the measurements I will pass the recipe on to you, of course I’ve told you what is in it and you could go ahead and try it yourself, just be sure not to add too much basil like I did. We all agreed the amount of basil I added sort of over-powered the rest of the dish.

If you want to go ahead and give it a try yourself, just grate your potatoes (about 4 large baking potatoes which have been boiled about 10 minutes or so “spending the night in the fridge helps too; the potatoes, not you”) and in a separate bowl grate about 1/2 cup zucchini add some corn kernels (maybe another 1/2 cup), some fresh chopped basil (not too much now), a good amount of grated cheddar and some salt and pepper; mix this all together (not the potatoes) well.

Heat a skillet with some oil and layer 1/2 the grated potatoes, add salt & pepper. Top the potatoes with the zucchini mixture (leave a border of potatoes so that it will seal) and then top it off with the rest of the potato. You want to have nice layers. Now let this cook about 12 minutes or so, until the bottom is set and nicely browned.

Now comes the hard part. Invert a plate onto the top of the skillet, now carefully (use potholders) flip the skillet and plate over. Return the skillet back to the heat and add a bit more oil. Once the oil is nicely heated, slide the roesti back into the skillet (uncooked side down) and continue to cook another 12 minutes or so.

This morning I prepared made the trifle and the horseradish spread for the bank lunch. Then after completing my paperwork and cleaning up a bit I went to town to prepare the rest of the lunch. Afterwards I ran by J’s office to drop off my paperwork and then headed on home to have a bite of lunch with the teenager who had just gotten home from her morning’s appointment in Bartlesville. After lunch I started on the laundry and then worked outside a little. And now that I have finished a nice big glass of freshly brewed ice tea I should be getting to those pickles I prepared yesterday. After all, they are going to put themselves in the freezer.

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Tomorrow will finish off my busy, busy week, and oh boy, am I looking forward to Friday and the weekend.

Monday was spent getting cucumbers ready for the freezer and and also getting things in order for Tuesday’s special Rotary lunch. It isn’t that the lunch was a big or difficult, I just had to have my own (many) goodies (spices and equipment) so that the actual making of the lunch would go smoother. In the evening I rinsed (and rinsed, and rinsed) and soaked the basmati rice and prepared the cream for the fresh berries so that both could sit in the fridge overnight.

I also made a weekly menu for our dinners here at home, which so far (I know it is only Wednesday), we have stuck to. Monday we had rotisserie chicken, Tuesday, of course, was Kohlupari leftovers, and tonight we will be having ham steaks done on the grill with pineapple, roesti (I’ll post more on this tomorrow) and I haven’t decided on a green element as of yet. Tomorrow we will have lasagna, salad and bread followed up on Friday with grilled flank steak (I haven’t decided how I’ll fix it yet though).

Tuesday I gathered all my spices, my soaking rice and pot, the chicken and the skillet for the Kohlupari, the bowl and ingredients for the salad and dressing and the fresh berries and cream plus the dessert glasses and headed to the community room.

An hour after I arrived, ta-da, Chicken Kohlupari with basmati rice seasoned with sliced onions and cumin seeds. I served a fresh baby green salad topped with blueberries, feta cheese and toasted almonds and dressed it with a home-made mustard vinagrette. For dessert I served fresh berries and cream.

The reviews were mixed; the heat was a bit much for some palates but quite a few of the diners said not to change a single ingredient.

J and I shared our usual Tuesday lunch date in town. I say usual, however, for the last 3 weeks we haven’t been able to meet for our lunch date due to one or both of us having scheduling conflicts. After lunch, he dropped me off at the community room where I began clean up.

I was beat by the time I returned home (that old not sleeping well lately thing, you know). After a short, refreshing nap I woke energetic once again and was able to continue through my afternoon tasks.

This morning I was out the door early as I had an appointment in Bartlesville at 9 am (had to do the yearly x-rays on the “girls” you know). I was in and out in less than 15 minutes, so I’m good for another year. While I was in the city I did some last minute shopping for Thursday’s lunch for the bank directors.

Returning home I readied more cucumbers/pickles, quickly parboiled some potatoes and cleaned 2 pineapple (1 for tonight’s dinner and 1 for tomorrow’s lunch).

While I was cleaning and slicing the pineapple my dad stopped by. We had a nice, albeit, short visit before he headed on home.

In the morning, although I am fixing lunch for 15, it should be fairly simple. I will be making roast beef on onion rolls with cheddar and a horseradish spread with the usual sandwich sides of pickle spear and chips. For dessert I will be serving A Casual Affair’s Death By Chocolate Trifle and also a fruit platter for snacking later in the afternoon.

Now I need to go make a glaze for the ham steaks and grate the parboiled potatoes for the roesti (I sure hope this is turns out well) and figure out what green veggie I will be serving for our supper.

That’s the buzz!!

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1st stage

2nd stage

3rd (final) stage

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