For anyone who tried "Chicken soup for the sensitive soul" or is planning it, here is the advanced version:
The best risotto you've ever eaten
Instead of turning the stock left over from cooking the chicken (see chicken soup for the sensitive soul) , we're going to turn it into an orgasmic risotto.
You need to heat up the stock (I'm assuming that after you cooked the chicken, you froze the stock & ate the chicken. If you tore some meat off the chook & put that & maybe even some bones in you have an amazing stock ready to use). So get about 4 cups of it in a pot & heat it up.
At the same time you're heating the stock put a cup of arborio rice in a decent sized pot with a bit of oil & cook it for a couple of minutes.
If you're a 'normal' by all means fry off some diced onion before you start on the other ingredients. I don't because of the whole sulfur thing. If you can tolerate sulfur you're probably going to be able to make this even more awesome by adding a small amount of white wine (1/8-1/4 cup).
Dice some pumpkin into 1cm pieces, and chop some spinach.
Chuck the pumpkin & 1 cup of the warm stock in with the rice.
Wait until the rice has absorbed most of the stock and then add the second cup.
Do the same again with cups 3 & 4 of the stock, waiting between each for the stock to be absorbed before adding the next lot.
After you've added the fourth cup of stock put in the spinach. You don't want that to turn into over cooked mush, it's nicer this way.
While the risotto is still wet, but everything is cooked (rice should be al dente), take it off & it's ready to go. And it is divine. So prepare yourself.
I really think this recipe is going to work well with really decent tasting mushroom in it, but I have tested myself on mushrooms yet so I haven't tried, but you will know what I mean & if you are a mushroom person by all means go for it. In fact you could even switch the pumpkin for mushrooms. It would be oh so tasty. Especially with some truffle, but I'm guessing most of us don't keep that in our kitchen. I wish.
You can top it with parmesan if you can tolerate dairy. I like to toast some pine nuts just briefly & chuck those on. But honestly this stuff is so good it doesn't need any mucking about with. I'd just bung it in a bowl & eat it.
Don't think you can get away with using a carton of chicken stock. It will not be orgasmic risotto. It will be very average risotto. I will be able to tell.
One you've tried this one, let me know how blimmin' awesome you thought it was. I know loads of people are making the soup, but this is a whole new level for your tastebuds. Yum.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Les oiseaux & le pain
This morning the birds at our house are enjoying what I would like to think of as a "French" breakfast, in spite of its lack of coffee or chocolate. I remember fondly when fruit & bread would have seemed a perfectly civilised lunch at our house. That was before gluten intolerance. Still though, I am enjoying thinking that our birds are treated to the highest class of food in the neighbourhood.
They seem to think so at any rate. Brownie (the name we've given our frequent blackbird visitor) was there even before I had finished cutting up the pear cores. If I don't cut it, Brownie will steal the entire core, leaving nothing for Chunky (Chaffinch) nor any of the assorted (and unnamed) wax eyes.
I am beginning to think the physiotherapist I went to see the other week does not know as much about hypermobile joint syndrome as I would like to think she does. "Push up off the floor, breathe out & let your back slump toward the floor...". My vertebrae promptly slid into unaccommodating positions. I would be tempted to tell her "you broke it, you bought it", but the ramifications are too serious.
If there could possibly be a good side to a soft tissue lumbar injury then it is that I finally broke down & confessed first to my husband & then my GP how severe my pain actually is. The poker face usually maintained by my GP slipped briefly into amusement when I described my reaction to the tricyclics that had been proffered to reduce my pain. "I have never been so depressed in all my life", I wailed, as she smiled on.
It was all seriousness after that, but the letter from the latest specialist must have been "special" indeed as the GP decided to break out the "good" drugs.
As we left the clinic we passed Dr Arse, smiling kindly at us. A broken woman, I returned the smile. It turns out he is the registrar my husband saw & thought was really good. Since it was "random act of kindness day" I decided to forgive him. Perhaps "Arse" was a little harsh. Besides, it isn't like there aren't other health professionals for me to actively detest.
They seem to think so at any rate. Brownie (the name we've given our frequent blackbird visitor) was there even before I had finished cutting up the pear cores. If I don't cut it, Brownie will steal the entire core, leaving nothing for Chunky (Chaffinch) nor any of the assorted (and unnamed) wax eyes.
I am beginning to think the physiotherapist I went to see the other week does not know as much about hypermobile joint syndrome as I would like to think she does. "Push up off the floor, breathe out & let your back slump toward the floor...". My vertebrae promptly slid into unaccommodating positions. I would be tempted to tell her "you broke it, you bought it", but the ramifications are too serious.
If there could possibly be a good side to a soft tissue lumbar injury then it is that I finally broke down & confessed first to my husband & then my GP how severe my pain actually is. The poker face usually maintained by my GP slipped briefly into amusement when I described my reaction to the tricyclics that had been proffered to reduce my pain. "I have never been so depressed in all my life", I wailed, as she smiled on.
It was all seriousness after that, but the letter from the latest specialist must have been "special" indeed as the GP decided to break out the "good" drugs.
As we left the clinic we passed Dr Arse, smiling kindly at us. A broken woman, I returned the smile. It turns out he is the registrar my husband saw & thought was really good. Since it was "random act of kindness day" I decided to forgive him. Perhaps "Arse" was a little harsh. Besides, it isn't like there aren't other health professionals for me to actively detest.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Ranty pants goes to the doctor
Today I went to the doctor. It was just to talk about the fluid I've had in my ears for 2 weeks. But he decided to take the opportunity to play "Twenty Questions".
"So, how's your pain?"
"It's worse than ever" I reply.
"What's changed lately?"
"Well, nothing really. I have hypermobile joint syndrome."
"Yes, I see that. But you would have known about that all your life, right?"
"No."
"Oh well. I wouldn't worry about it too much."
Really. I shouldn't worry about the severe & chronic pain I suffer every single day. About my pelvis & upper back subluxating at least once a day. Huh. Good to know. I wish I had known that when I was spending the last few days in tears scared I can't breed because my pelvis won't cope with pregnancy, that this condition is inherited & the drugs I am on are not conducive to baby-making.
"Well, I wouldn't if it didn't hurt so much", I say. "I'm really only here because my ears have been blocked for a fortnight."
"Yeah, well it says here benign hypermobile joint syndrome, see?"
You're an Arse. Don't you know the difference between hypermobile joints & benign hypermobile joint syndrome? One means you're a little bit more flexi than average. The other one stalks you like death. It changes the way you live your life. It's like the difference between CF & ME/CFS. It's the difference between a headache & migraine. A cold & pneumonia. Do they not teach you anything at school these days? You are an Arse & if I didn't need you & your prescription pad I would tell you that you are an Arse.
Maybe you can tell I don't really like doctors all that much. This one had a band-aid on his finger that looked like it had been there a week; fraying & dirty. He asked me about my meds but didn't know any of them when I told him. When I stood to leave he didn't move toward the door to see me out. I waited politely & then opened the door & let myself out.
"So, how's your pain?"
"It's worse than ever" I reply.
"What's changed lately?"
"Well, nothing really. I have hypermobile joint syndrome."
"Yes, I see that. But you would have known about that all your life, right?"
"No."
"Oh well. I wouldn't worry about it too much."
Really. I shouldn't worry about the severe & chronic pain I suffer every single day. About my pelvis & upper back subluxating at least once a day. Huh. Good to know. I wish I had known that when I was spending the last few days in tears scared I can't breed because my pelvis won't cope with pregnancy, that this condition is inherited & the drugs I am on are not conducive to baby-making.
"Well, I wouldn't if it didn't hurt so much", I say. "I'm really only here because my ears have been blocked for a fortnight."
"Yeah, well it says here benign hypermobile joint syndrome, see?"
You're an Arse. Don't you know the difference between hypermobile joints & benign hypermobile joint syndrome? One means you're a little bit more flexi than average. The other one stalks you like death. It changes the way you live your life. It's like the difference between CF & ME/CFS. It's the difference between a headache & migraine. A cold & pneumonia. Do they not teach you anything at school these days? You are an Arse & if I didn't need you & your prescription pad I would tell you that you are an Arse.
Maybe you can tell I don't really like doctors all that much. This one had a band-aid on his finger that looked like it had been there a week; fraying & dirty. He asked me about my meds but didn't know any of them when I told him. When I stood to leave he didn't move toward the door to see me out. I waited politely & then opened the door & let myself out.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Extreme recycling
Recycling at our place (with help from Dad) has really taken off. At our new home I've been amazed at what we can recycle. Back living in an apartment in The Big City we'd separate our waste from paper, plastics & glass & that seemed alright. But I've attained a whole new level of recycling now we've got a spot with a section. It's a level I like to call "extreme recycling". Yeah.
The bird feeder
Crusts & mouldy bread rates pretty highly with the birdlife at our place. They also get our apple & pear cores (and any other fruit bits), fat (skimmed from the top of the Chicken soup for the curiously sensitive soul). Cooked rice that has been sitting in the fridge for a day too long is very popular, as are the flax seed innards from my recently worn through heat pack.
The birds do very well out of this deal & I have to admit to supplementing their diet with seeds bought from the store as well as jam. But mostly they just eat what we have left over. They get a feed, I love watching the birds & so does my cat.
The worm farm
The worms eat pretty much anything the birds don't. Except meat & dairy. Which is fine because we don't eat those either, except for the chicken. The worms enjoy the vege trimmings & peelings. Vege that sat in the fridge a day too long they love. Egg shells are good in there too. Plus this is where any paper or cardboard that has already been recycled (e.g. egg cartons) go. The worms are going gangbusters, to my amazement. I honestly thought they'd all be dead inside eight weeks. The worm farm is in a shed out the back. I don't think they'd have coped with the snow the other week.
The worm farm itself is made from recycled bins that were left at the property when we moved in, with a bit of info on how to build a worm farm from ye olde internet.
I got a council subsidised "Bokashi Bin" as well, but the worms are developing quite an appetite & I might not be using it much longer.
After that we do the glass/plastics/paper/cardboard separating & what's left is not much.
We've also (thanks to my Dad), had some joy recycling some other bits & pieces.
So far our "new" house has gained:
The bird feeder
Crusts & mouldy bread rates pretty highly with the birdlife at our place. They also get our apple & pear cores (and any other fruit bits), fat (skimmed from the top of the Chicken soup for the curiously sensitive soul). Cooked rice that has been sitting in the fridge for a day too long is very popular, as are the flax seed innards from my recently worn through heat pack.
The birds do very well out of this deal & I have to admit to supplementing their diet with seeds bought from the store as well as jam. But mostly they just eat what we have left over. They get a feed, I love watching the birds & so does my cat.
The worm farm
The worms eat pretty much anything the birds don't. Except meat & dairy. Which is fine because we don't eat those either, except for the chicken. The worms enjoy the vege trimmings & peelings. Vege that sat in the fridge a day too long they love. Egg shells are good in there too. Plus this is where any paper or cardboard that has already been recycled (e.g. egg cartons) go. The worms are going gangbusters, to my amazement. I honestly thought they'd all be dead inside eight weeks. The worm farm is in a shed out the back. I don't think they'd have coped with the snow the other week.
The worm farm itself is made from recycled bins that were left at the property when we moved in, with a bit of info on how to build a worm farm from ye olde internet.
I got a council subsidised "Bokashi Bin" as well, but the worms are developing quite an appetite & I might not be using it much longer.
After that we do the glass/plastics/paper/cardboard separating & what's left is not much.
We've also (thanks to my Dad), had some joy recycling some other bits & pieces.
So far our "new" house has gained:
- 1 recycled rimu lounge floor
- 1 shower door, circa 1970s. It was in the family house when we moved in & it wasn't new then. It's now our shower door.
- 1 glass panel door, origin unknown (that is, Dad was asked to store it by someone who has never returned to collect it. Dad can't remember who that was). The door is not an exact fit for the doorway. Actually there's an inch gap at the bottom.
- 1 weather proofing strip. I can't remember how long Dad said this had been sitting upstairs at the shop. Maybe 10 years.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Precious things
I've never been one for stuff & clutter.
I like things in my home to have a practical purpose, otherwise they are just there to take up space, time & energy. They collect dust & create work.
No, I prefer the practical - everything has a use. It does something worthwhile. It contributes to my life in a meaningful way. It makes my life easier, more enjoyable.
Not for me the purely decorative, no, no, not at all. If I can't use it, I don't need it. Sentimental reasons are not enough to hang on to an object that is cluttering up a room.
As life goes on however, I am developing a greater tolerance for these kinds of items.
Now that I myself am a purely decorative object with no practical purpose that takes up space & creates work, I have some sort of empathy with similar objects in my home. Sure I might need taking off the shelf once in a while for a quick dust. But that isn't the sum of my value. I have less tangible attributes. Perhaps I don't make life easier in a practical way, but I make it more fun. Or better looking.
;o)
I like things in my home to have a practical purpose, otherwise they are just there to take up space, time & energy. They collect dust & create work.
No, I prefer the practical - everything has a use. It does something worthwhile. It contributes to my life in a meaningful way. It makes my life easier, more enjoyable.
Not for me the purely decorative, no, no, not at all. If I can't use it, I don't need it. Sentimental reasons are not enough to hang on to an object that is cluttering up a room.
As life goes on however, I am developing a greater tolerance for these kinds of items.
Now that I myself am a purely decorative object with no practical purpose that takes up space & creates work, I have some sort of empathy with similar objects in my home. Sure I might need taking off the shelf once in a while for a quick dust. But that isn't the sum of my value. I have less tangible attributes. Perhaps I don't make life easier in a practical way, but I make it more fun. Or better looking.
;o)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sweet nothings
Last night I said to hubby "If I were a car you would have taken me back to the dealer by now".
"No, not at all honey" he said reassuringly.
"If you were a car I would have pushed you over a bank".
"No, not at all honey" he said reassuringly.
"If you were a car I would have pushed you over a bank".
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Chicken soup for the curiously sensitive soul
Ingredients
1 small organic chicken (whole for 2 or more, half for one person)
2 carrots
spinach
rice noodles
water
Method
First up, I'm going to say that if you can tolerate onions & garlic you should put them in. In fact use chicken breasts instead, chop them up & marinate them overnight in a whole lot of crushed garlic (trust me).
I can't so for this one we're going without. Get your big stock pot. If you don't have a pot big enough for this chicken you are already in trouble. You might be able to get around it by chopping the chicken into bits but I'm not promising anything.
Chop the spinach & carrot (and any other veges you can tolerate & want in here, but definitely not onions if you're onion intolerant) & chuck them in the pot. Put your chicken in there & top up the pot with water.
Simmer for, I don't know, maybe an hour, maybe a bit longer longer. This isn't a cooking show you know. I've got mine on & it's 90 mins until dinner time.
When all is cooked take the chook out of the pot - unless you started with chicken breasts done in garlic, in which case leave it in. Oh you are in for such a treat.
The chicken stock with the veges in it can go in the freezer for a while because you now have several days worth of really good tasting chicken to eat. No cooking for the next week - yeah!
Remember to act surprised every time you offer your cat a bit of chicken & he turns his nose up at it. But don't offer your cat chicken if you used onion &/or garlic, it's toxic to cats.
When you want to use the stock & vege, heat it up & prepare the rice noodles (you can use another type of noodles, the instant variety are pretty popular. We're sticking with rice, because of the whole gluten issue). Chuck them in, cook for a bit & you're all good.
1 small organic chicken (whole for 2 or more, half for one person)
2 carrots
spinach
rice noodles
water
Method
First up, I'm going to say that if you can tolerate onions & garlic you should put them in. In fact use chicken breasts instead, chop them up & marinate them overnight in a whole lot of crushed garlic (trust me).
I can't so for this one we're going without. Get your big stock pot. If you don't have a pot big enough for this chicken you are already in trouble. You might be able to get around it by chopping the chicken into bits but I'm not promising anything.
Chop the spinach & carrot (and any other veges you can tolerate & want in here, but definitely not onions if you're onion intolerant) & chuck them in the pot. Put your chicken in there & top up the pot with water.
Simmer for, I don't know, maybe an hour, maybe a bit longer longer. This isn't a cooking show you know. I've got mine on & it's 90 mins until dinner time.
When all is cooked take the chook out of the pot - unless you started with chicken breasts done in garlic, in which case leave it in. Oh you are in for such a treat.
The chicken stock with the veges in it can go in the freezer for a while because you now have several days worth of really good tasting chicken to eat. No cooking for the next week - yeah!
Remember to act surprised every time you offer your cat a bit of chicken & he turns his nose up at it. But don't offer your cat chicken if you used onion &/or garlic, it's toxic to cats.
When you want to use the stock & vege, heat it up & prepare the rice noodles (you can use another type of noodles, the instant variety are pretty popular. We're sticking with rice, because of the whole gluten issue). Chuck them in, cook for a bit & you're all good.
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