Vegetarian Pasties

Since my wife likes veggies, I have taken a Pasty recipe and omitted the meat. So, for all you pasty purists out there, please forgive me for taking liberties with the recipe; and for those of you who are vegetarians, you can now have the same great taste, but without the meat. So, without further ado…

What you need:

Stuff you need

Pasty Crust
3 Cups Flour
1 ½ sticks of cold margarine, butter, or shortening (you choose)
1 tsp Salt
1 Pastry cutter
1 Cup Cold Water


Pasty Filling
1 Onion, diced
5 potatoes, diced
4-5 Carrots, diced
1-2 Turnips (1 large or 2 small), diced
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper


Putting it Together:

• Take 3 cups of flour and add to a large bowl
• Add 1 tsp of salt and mix into flour

Flour with salt added

• Take the margarine and cut it up into slices (about 6-8 slices. The number of slices does not matter. It just makes it easier to cut into the flour)

Sliced butter

• Add a few of the slices into the flour and using the pastry cutter, cut into the flour until crumbly

Butter added to flour prior mixing

• Add a few more slices of the margarine into the flour and repeat until all the margarine is added
• Continue cutting margarine into the flour, until thoroughly incorporated
• Take the cold water and add about ¼ cup to the dough and mix with fork
• Continue to add water a little at a time until dough comes together and forms a ball

Completed dough ready to rest

• Wrap dough in plastic wrap and put in refrigerator while you prep the veggies
• Take the onion and dice into small pieces and add to a large bowl
• Peel and dice the potatoes into small pieces and add to bowl
• Peel and dice the carrots into small pieces and add to bowl
• Peel and dice the turnip into small pieces and add to bowl
• Add the salt and pepper to the veggies and toss with your hands to coat them.

The diced and salted veggies

• Take the dough and divide into 4 equal parts (for large pasties) or 6 equal parts for smaller ones
• Roll each dough portion into a ball and set aside
• Take 1 ball of dough and roll it out into a circle (think about it like making mini pie crusts)
• Take 2/3 cup of the veggies and add to the middle of the dough
• If there is room on the dough, you can add more
• Just make sure that you have enough room to fold the dough and enclose the veggies
• Add 1-2 tsp (does not need to be precise. This is just to add moisture to the pasty as it bakes) of margarine to the top of the veggies
• Wet the edge of one side of the dough with water (the other half of the dough will be dry)
• The water that you used to moisten one half of the pasty crust will act as a sealant to the other half and thus seal the entire pasty

Filled pasty. Wet the bottom half of the dough and bring both
bottom and top together and crimp

• Take both halves of the dough and join them at the top of the pasty and crimp to seal
• Seal entire pasty in this manner
• Place on baking sheet and pierce a few times with a knife (to vent)
• Repeat with remaining pastries

Filled and folded pasties

• Set oven to 425⁰
• Bake for 45 - 50 Minutes or until pasties are golden brown

Fresh out of the oven

For any leftover veggies:

• Place in an oven-safe bowl
• Add a few dollops of margarine
• Cover with foil
• Bake in the oven

Cabbage Soup

This soup is great for weight loss. My wife has been eating this for suppers for the past few months and she has lost over 20 pounds. It is a very filling soup and can also provide a "cleanse" to the digestive system (your results may vary). Even if you don't use this soup to lose weight, it is very good and makes a great comfort meal. This goes well with Naan Bread or a roll. You can also add crumbled sausage (which defeats the weight-loss portion), tofu, or any other type of veggie you may wish to add. Be warned, this recipe makes a HUGE portion, so you will need a large stockpot or two.  

Ingredients for Cabbage Soup

 What you need:

• 1 Large head of cabbage (shredded) (or 2 small heads of different colors)
• 8 Carrots (peeled and diced) 
• 4 Onions (diced) 

Slow Cooker Farina (Cream of Wheat)

This farina recipe will make anywhere between 5-10 servings, depending on how large a breakfast you like :)  Once cooked, you can place into portion-sized containers, take to work, and then heat in the microwave. Making this on the weekend can save you valuable time during the week.

Ingredients for slow cooker farina

What You Need:

• 2 Cups- farina
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar or honey (cinnamon sugar is perfect just omit the 1-tsp of cinnamon) 
• 1/2 Cup White sugar (if you think this might be too sweet for you, reduce to 1/4 cup) 
• 1 can of pumpkin (optional)
• 2-tsp pumpkin pie spice OR 
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ginger
• ¼ tsp cloves

Vegetarian Slow Cooker Chili with Lentils and Quinoa

If you’re looking for a great tasting chili, but want to go sans meat, then this is the chili you need to try. While the chili is entirely vegetarian, you wouldn’t know it by tasting it.

This goes great with nacho chips, naan bread (Naan Bread recipe here), crackers, or just by itself. You can eat it heated or cold; makes no difference, as it tastes great either way. So, without further ado…


Ingredients for chili

What you Need:

• 1- Cup of lentils (rinsed)
• ½ Cup of Quinoa (rinsed well)
• 1- Onion (diced) (red for a sweeter taste or white for stronger taste)
• 1- Bell pepper (any color, but I used red) 
• 5- Carrots (peeled and diced. You can just slice them for a heartier texture) 

How To Make Onion Salt

While it is very easy to just go to the store and buy your own onion salt, you might want to take a moment and see just how inexpensive and easy it is to make your own. If you have a pantry, there is a good chance that you already have sea salt and onion powder. If not, you can get them from the bulk bin at your local store. For example, at Winco, sea salt goes for around $0.24 per lb, while onion powder sells for about $3.64 per lb.

In the stores, you can purchase a 5.5 oz bottle of onion salt for around $2.93 or a 32 oz bottle for just over $12. By making your own, you can save around $1.50 for a 5.5 oz size or $8.00 for 32 oz. Oh, and by the way, you can also make garlic salt by following the same directions.


The only important part to remember, is to follow the ratio of 3:1: That is, 3 parts salt to 1 part onion powder. You can use any measuring device you wish, just keep to that 3:1 ratio and you'll be fine.


For example, let's say you just need to make a small amount; you can use a teaspoon for measurement. If you need a larger amount, you can use a 1/3 measuring cup (which is what I used when making this).



Onion Salt Ingredients

What you Need:

• Sea salt
• Onion powder (or garlic powder if making garlic salt)
• Measuring device (cup, tablespoon, teaspoon)

Putting it Together:

• Take 3 parts salt and put in bowl
• Take 1 part onion powder and put in bowl
• Using a whisk to mix thoroughly

Mixing the salt...assault with a whisk :)

• Put into bottle

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie (with Vegan Substitutions)

I have to admit, that I'm used to making this pie with meat. However, since my wife can no longer have meat, I made the leap to the "other side" and made it using vegetables. Many recipes you find out there give the proportions for making just one pie, however, I feel if I'm going to go to the trouble of prepping all the veggies, I might as well make several pies instead of just one. The recipe that follows will make 3 (9-inch) pies; you can eat one now and then freeze the others for a later time. This recipe can also be easily converted to a Vegan recipe; I will provide the alternatives throughout. So, since you came here for a recipe and not a story on why I'm making it with vegetables, let's get on with the recipe.


Interior of the pie

What you need:



For Potato Topping:

• 1 bag of potatoes (10-pound bag. I used Russet potatoes) I told you, it will make more than one pie :)
• 8 Oz's. low fat cream cheese
  • Vegan option:  Tofutti, Follow Your Heart (both made with soy), or GO Veggie!^® (made with coconut oil and soy
• 8 Oz's Buttermilk
  • Vegan option: You'll have to make your own... take 1 Tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar and add it to 1-cup of soy or almond milk; Stir and let it set for 5-10 minutes
• 1/2 cup of butter or margarine (1 stick)
  • Vegan option: Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
• 1 tsp salt to start. (Add more to taste)
• 1/2 tsp pepper to start. (add more to taste)
• Cheddar Cheese (optional)
• Vegan option: Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds, GO Veggie!^® Cheddar Cheese Alternative, and Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheddar Cheese

For Veggie Portion:

• 2 Onions
• 1 stalk of celery
• 8 carrots
• 4 cloves of garlic (or 1 tablespoon of minced)
• 1 packet of mushrooms, about 8 Oz's (I used cremini)

Making Your Own Hummus

Ingredients to make hummus

Here is the recipe I use to make our own hummus. My wife loves to take this for her lunch. If you pair it with some Naan Bread, you have yourself a delicious meal.


What you need:

• 1/3 Cup of Tahini (follow this link for the easy recipe)
• 1 Can of Black beans
• 1 Can of Garbanzo beans
• 1/4 Cup Lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. Salt (add more if desired)
• 1/2 tsp. Paprika
• 1/4 Cup Olive oil
• 1 TB Lipton's onion soup mix (Optional)(Follow the link to get the recipe)
• 1/4 Cup Parmesan cheese (Optional)
• Food Processor (note: if you do not have one, you can use a blender instead. Although, it will be a little more difficult making sure all the ingredients get blended smoothly)

Tahini Recipe



Ingredients for tahini

While there are a variety of uses for tahini, I usually just use it as a base in my hummus recipe. While you can spend $6.50 or more to get 16 ounces of if from the store, you can make your own and customize it to your taste. The recipe that follows is a basic tahini recipe and you can add other flavors to get the taste you desire. for just a fraction of the cost. As with my Lipton Onion Soup Mix recipe, I used items I got from the bulk bin at our grocery store (Winco). The cost of one pound of sesame seeds at Winco was $3.83. For this price,  you get a massive amount, since sesame seeds weight next to nothing. You can easily make this recipe 3 or more times. In addition, if you make your own hamburger buns, the sesame seeds make a great topper to them. Well, enough talk.


What you need:

• 4 Cups: Sesame seeds (toasted)
• 1/4 - 1/2 Cup: Olive oil

Lipton Onion Soup Mix Copycat Recipe

Here is a recipe for making Lipton Onion Soup Mix.

Lipton Onion Soup Mix

While you can always go to the store and spend anywhere from $1.50 to $3.00 for a few ounces of the original, this recipe can save you a bunch of money without sacrificing taste. I use this in my Chicken with Rice recipe and also in my hummus, soups, and dips, just to name a few.  Now, while there are many styles of this recipe out there, this is the one that I found that tastes the best .This makes quite a lot, so you'll need to store it in an airtight container. The following recipe was made using ingredients from the bulk bin of our supermarket.

Ingredients needed to make the mix (direct from the bulk bin)

What you need:

• 3/4 Cup: Minced onion (onion flakes)
• 1/3 Cup: Beef bullion
• 4 tsp: Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp: Celery seeds (crushed)
• 1/4 tsp: Sugar  

 What to do:

• Add all the ingredients into a bowl

Ingredients before being mixed

• Mix using a whisk or your fingers

Ingredients after being mixed

• Transfer to a jar

Lipton Onion Soup Mix in a jar

Since the ingredients have a tendency to settle, be sure to give the jar a good shake before using.
Enjoy.

Sour Dough French Bread

I made some French bread today, but instead of just using the active sour dough starter, I added yeast as well.  It came out pretty good, with the added bonus of a much shorter rise time of 2 hours instead of 6.

What you need:

• 1 cup of active sour dough starter
• 2 1/2 tsp yeast
• 1/2 cup of warm water
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 2-3 cups of flour (you may need more or less depending on humidity)

Putting it together:

• In a bowl, add the sour dough starter
• Add 1/2 cup of flour and mix until combined
• Allow to sit for about 30 minutes
• Put yeast and sugar in small bowl and add water
• Once yeast has bloomed, add to sour dough starter
• Mix to combine
• Add salt and egg, mixing to combine
• Begin adding flour 1/2 cup at a time
• Continue adding until well mixed. Dough should be somewhat sticky, but not TOO sticky.
• Once kneading is complete, cover and let rise until doubled in size: 60-90 minutes.
• After first rise, take out, punch down gently, and shape into loaf(s)
• Cover and let rise an additional 30 minutes
• Preheat oven to 425
• Bake for 18 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees
• Remove and let cool at least 30 minutes before slicing
• Enjoy!!

Charting my Heart Rate

photo courtesy of...http://media.askideas.com/06/Exercise-Some-Motivation-Required-Funny-Picture.png
This is my first week back exercising after a week off and for the next 6-8 weeks, I have decided to switch from strength training to straight cardio. Because of this switch and to have a good way of judging my progress, I am starting to keep track of my heart rate (beats per minute-bpm's). I am going for a goal of reducing my immediate post exercise bpm's by 50+ within 1 minute. This is a very lofty goal, but something that I can strive for. This 50+ rate is what athletes are expected to achieve, not just regular folks like me. However, it is a goal and while I may not be able to attain it within the next several weeks, it will be interesting to see how close I can get.

This week, my immediate post exercise bpm was 149bpm's, after 1 minute, the average was 124bpm's...difference of 25. This falls into the normal catagory, but now I have a goal and, since I was stupid enough to post this, I also have motivation to continue :) Oh, I do not have a fitbit, so I'm doing it the old fashioned way...OH NO, MATH!!! :0

Zucchini Casserole

I made a zucchini casserole last night. It was fairly easy to do, I basically just chucked whatever veggies I could find and added them to the zucchini. I then added some feta, Parmesan, and some panko breadcrumbs. This is a good recipe to use if you want to empty out some veggies that you might not know what to do with.

What you Need:

• Zucchini, large
• Veggies (you can use frozen or fresh)
• Feta cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Breadcrumbs

Putting it together: 

• Take your zucchini and remove the skin
• Remove the seeds. The easiest way to do this is to slice the zucchini lengthwise and use a large spoon to scarp out the seeds.
• Cut the zucchini into bite-sized cubes
• Steam the zucchini until tender (takes about 10-15 minutes)
• Once cooled, in a large bowl add the zucchini and all the other ingredients, except the breadcrumbs
• Add some salt, pepper, and any other herbs and spices you like
• Mix together
• Put everything into a 9 x 13 baking dish
• Sprinkle top with breadcrumbs and extra cheese
• Set oven to 350 and bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes
• Enjoy!

My First Slideshare Presentation

This is my first Slideshare presentation. I wanted to make a trailer for my retaining wall book.

The Zombies are Coming

My daughter just recently got back from vacation and one of the things she brought back with her, is a fun whirligig. Of course, the next day, I put it up out back and have been enjoying it ever since.

A Visitor for Breakfast

Yesterday morning while I was washing dishes, all of the birds that were feeding in the backyard suddenly disappeared. I was wondering what could have caused them to scatter so quickly so, when I looked out the window, I saw this guy, most likely a Sharp Shinned Hawk, sitting on the fence...


Yeah, if I were a bird, I would have scattered too.

A View from the Dump

A few days ago, I had to go to the Ada County Landfill to properly dispose of some hazardous waste. Every Friday and Saturday from 8:00AM- 5:00PM, you can drive up to the landfill and they will dispose of your hazardous waste (old TV's, computer monitors, paint, oil, car batteries, liquid propane tanks, etc.) The view from up there was incredible, so I thought I would share a few of the photos.

  Here's a view of the road leading up to the landfill

  Here's a view looking out over the valley. You can notice the smoke from the fires that are burning around our area. Most notably, the Beaver Creek Fire (by Sun Valley)

Just between the power poles, you can barely see downtown Boise. Although it is very smoky in this picture, it was much worse the day before.

Saying Goodbye to Yum Yum

Picture taken of Yum Yum as my wife and daughters took her for a last walk in the yard
Just before 11:00 AM on Friday, Yum Yum crossed over the Rainbow Bridge to begin her new journey: free from pain and suffering. I firmly believe that she leapt into the arms of our Lord Jesus and will be waiting for us all when it is our time to join her.

She was only with us a few short years, but the impact she had on us all, will last a lifetime. From the way she would steal Katie's seat on the couch; playing with her beloved twist ties; sitting in the sink; jumping up and hanging onto the edge of the cat tree; laying full-length on Mary's legs; sitting on the vent when she was cold; sitting in the kitchen window and watching the birds; stalking Anna while she ate her supper; laying next to me when I was saying my prayers; to walking on the kitchen counter when I was making supper, she imprinted herself on all of our hearts.

Yum Yum, the day we adopted her from the Humane Society 

Yum Yum sitting on the heat vent 

Yum Yum playing with her spring

Yum Yum sitting in her favorite spot 

Yum Yum sitting on a fan 

Koko and Yum Yum sleeping together

Goodbye, Yum Yum. We all loved you dearly and even though you are no longer with us physically, you will forever be with us in our hearts.

Yum Yum Update 8/14

photo taken September 2010

Sorry it has taken me so long to provide an update, but this is very difficult for me to do. Mary talked with the doctor on Monday and she indicated that everything points to FIP and even if it isn't, the Dr. stated that the results of the blood tests indicate that the prognosis is fatal. She suggested that we can take Yum Yum to see an internist to confirm the diagnosis and whether it is FIP, cancer or both. Because the other eye is infected, both eyes will now need to be removed. After all this, the Dr. stated that it would be a case of making Yum Yum as comfortable as possible until she dies. We have made the very difficult decision and have decided to spare Yum Yum all this pain and trauma and will be taking her to our vet on Friday to free her from her pain.

As of this writing, Yum Yum is keeping to herself and only comes out to get a drink of water and to eat some deli meat we give her. She is also having more and more difficulty walking. She seems to be reverting back to how she was when we first got her, since she will no longer allow me to be near her. She will only allow my wife and the girls to pet her (before she was rescued, she was feral the first few weeks after she was born). I understand, but it is still hard.

I want to take this time and thank you all once again for all your prayers and purrs! They have helped us immensely during this time. I also want to again thank all of you who donated to Yum Yum's surgery fund. It has meant the world to all of us that you would help support Yum Yum in her time of need. Because of recent events, I will be returning your donations. You should be receiving your refund within the next few days.

Once again, thank you and I ask that you please send your prayers and purrs our way as Yum Yum begins her journey across the Rainbow Bridge. I have full confidence that we will be reunited with her in heaven and she will once again lay down next to me while I say my prayers.

Back to the Vet

Thursday night, my wife had to rush Yum Yum back to the ER, because her other eye began to show signs of developing Uveitis. They ran a full panel of tests and we are still waiting for the results. They also treated her eye and gave us eye drops,Prednisolone Acetate, a corticosteroid, to place on her eye every 12 hours. She is also on Doxycycline Hyc., an antibiotic. After the first treatment, her eye looks like it is back to normal and as of this writing, it still looks good. However, her blind eye has developed glaucoma, which places additional pressure on the eye and produces further pain. This further necessitates her having the eye removed quickly. This trip to the ER did not come cheap. It cost us $405.95 and an additional $42.00 for the Doxycycline Hyc. The money, and then some, that I had added to Yum Yum's surgery fund, had to be used for this bill. Please, do not worry, the money you donated is still in the fund and will ONLY be used for her surgery.

Because they work with CreditCare, a credit agency used for Veterinary emergencies, WestVet will not work with us regarding a payment plan or with negotiating a lower price; However, they contacted one of the veterinarians they use to ask if he would do the surgery for the amount we have already raised, but he declined. Since we are in a debt restructuring program, we are forbidden from applying for any type of credit. I have also looked into some cat charities that offer assistance for the type of emergency we are facing, however, before they will look at our application, they require that we first apply to CreditCare; Basically, a never-ending circle.

My sister is also helping by using her craft skills to auction off items. She has sold 2 of the Maxine blankets and is going to be offering additional items to purchase, with ALL proceeds going to Yum Yum's Surgery Fund. I believe she is even going to be making a cat bed. When she is ready to put the items up for auction, I will post the information here so you can bid on them, if you so choose.

In the meantime, we will continue to look for a vet that will work with us.

Saying Goodbye to Yum Yum

Maxine Lap Throw

My wonderful sister posted this on her Facebook page to help Yum Yum...

As many of you may know, my brother's cat, Yum Yum, is in constant pain and needs to have her right eye removed and an implant placed in order for her to return to a normal, happy life. The surgery cost is such that funds need to be raised, as the veterinarian will not accept payments.
In an effort to help my brother and Yum and Yum, I have made this Maxine lap throw and am donating 100% of the winning bid to Yum Yum's surgery fund.

The throw measures:

• 43"  x  54" 
• Top is 100% cotton fabric
• Back is also 100% cotton, ultra snuggle fabric (very soft and cuddly)
• Batting inside the blanket is 100% polyester, non-allergenic, Hi-loft
• The binding is red marble flannel
• This throw is light, but very soft and warm.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional sewist, so please forgive any "not so straight lines" you may see in the binding.

The base price and starting bid for this blanket is $50. If you are interested, please post your interest in the comment section and I will get right back to you. YOUR PURCHASE WILL DONATE 100% OF FUNDS DIRECTLY TO YUM YUM'S SURGERY. ONCE YOUR DONATION IS COMPLETE, MESSAGE ME YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL SHIP YOU THE BLANKET, FREE OF CHARGE, THE FOLLOWING DAY.
To bid, the following link will take you to the actual post.
Credlady
To read Yum Yum's story and to provide your donation, please visit my brother's blog at:
Yum Yum Needs Your Help
He has Yum Yum's story outlined, regular updates, and the cost of the surgery broken down. Little by little we will raise the funds and Yum Yum will be able to return to a normal life. We can't do this without YOU!

Some of Maxine's saying on the blanket are:

• "I love bright colors. It makes up for all the dim bulbs I have to deal with"
• "I keep hitting escape, but I'm still here"
• "Have a nice day, Someplace else"
• "The only home craft project I'm interested in is gluing my butt to the couch"
• "Talk is cheap, and usually it's still not worth it"
• "Age has its advantages. Too bad I cant remember what any of them are"

Thank you, in advance, for reading this post.
The next project is a thermal, fleece cat bed, which I will be auctioning as well.
God bless and thank you again!!
The bidding closes, tomorrow at 12:00 PT on 8/8/2013