ginger margarita

Ever since I hurt my foot, my hips and knees have hurt more.  Especially on the left side.  I know it is because I am not walking correctly.  My figure skating coach (who is much more than that) says drink more, especially when I am trouble with something like a sit camel.  It is an old time move that nobody does anymore that has high levels of difficulty.

He knows I like margaritas and came across this recipe.  It combines the my like of margaritas and ginger.  It also helps that "drink more" statement.  I made my life a bit easier then the original recipe in the Houston Chronicle.  I went with what was in the house.

Which is a good thing.  Especially with a complete fail making a dress (I think the fabric is really wrong) and my foot swollen and hips hurting during my lesson.

ginger margarita

1 1/2 ounces tequila

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

1/2 ounce Cointreau

1/4 ounce to 1 ounce (or taste) ginger simple syrup

ice

Sparkling wine, I used Cinzano moscato asti (it was what was in house)

Mix everything together but the wine. Put ice in a ten ounce cup.  Pour the margarita mixture over it.  Top with sparkling wine.  Stir.  Taste if there is enough ginger for you and adjust.

Very yummy.

We are off for the next week and half doing business and having family celebrations.  I probably will not be able to blog until we get back.  It is that bit of having no internet or cell phone access.  Hopefully, I will come back with much inspiration!

The Paloma

I came home to five pounds of grapefruit yesterday.  Before yesterday, I would have said that I really do not care for grapefruit.  Now, that I have been taught how to eat them and if they are Texas grapefruit, I can say I like them.  My Beloved had a customer teach him and give him the grapefruit.  The funny thing was that I had come across a recipe for an adult beverage using grapefruit early in the day that I wanted to try.  Life is interesting.

I find I actually like grapefruit better then orange.  Who knew?  

To make the grapefruit syrup that this recipe calls for, I used a cup of grapefruit pulp and juice in my normal syrup recipe (1 cup water and 1 cup sugar).  

the paloma

2 ounces tequila

1/2 ounce lime juice

2 ounces grapefruit syrup

ice

soda water

Mix the tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit syrup together.  In a glass (about 12 ounces), put ice.  Pour the mixture over.  Fill the rest of the way to the top with soda water.

The recipe I say called for salt and grapefruit soda.  I do not care for salt with my tequila.  I made my own soda, really.

I started another quilt while I have been working on Baby Nacho's.  This is actually for an adult friend.  I am very excited about it.  I wanted to send her a hug but Connecticut is a little far for my arms.  A quilt will just have to do.

smokey roasted beef strips with goat cheese queso salad

I bought myself a new kitchen tool.  A mortar and pestle.  I had to wait because the one I wanted most was back ordered.  I could have ordered it from the UK but that did not make much since so I worked on patience.  I have been using a dying burr grinder to grind spices.  The problem is 1) it is dying 2) I use both spice and sweet spices and not always together, and 3) what am I supposed to use when I do not have 110W power.  This is my answer.  I will have to say, after its first use, I am quite pleased.  The surfaces on this one are much rougher then my last one.  It means it works.  

I found a recipe yesterday that I felt would be a first good test.  I also have been craving mexican flavors.  I did not want to go out but I wanted something different.  This was a good change.  I saw a recipe for smokey roasted chicken and spicy goat cheese queso tacos that I thought sounded interesting.  I would not get my Beloved to eat chicken (unless he raised them himself) so I decided to try it with beef and on a salad.  That way I got a better balance of protein and carbs (less pain tomorrow).  This I will do again.  It was also much faster the the chicken version!

smokey roasted beef strips with goat cheese queso salad

about 1 pound tender beef (I used a New York strip steak), cut into thin strips and bite size

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon new mexico chile pepper

salad greens (I used a mix of romaine, micro greens, and arugula sprouts)

1 tablespoon butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 pinch ancho chili

1 pinch chipolte chili

1 tablespoon sorghum flour

1/2 cup goats milk

about 1/3 pound of a soft goat's cheese (soft like brie)

Italian dressing

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.  Put olive oil on the baking sheet or pizza pan.  Grind the paprika, salt, pepper, cumin, and chili pepper together.  Coat the meat (I put the meat in a bowl and tossed it with the spices).  Place on the pan and roast for about ten minutes or the donesss you wish.

Place the greens on two plates (or as many people as you wish to feed).

In a skillet, melt the butter.  Add the garlic, ancho, and chipolte.  Mix well and let the garlic start to brown.  Give it an occasional stir.  Add the goat's milk.  When bubbling, add the cheese and melt in.  If you want, leave some lumps.

Put the meat on top of the greens.  Sprinkle with the Italian dressing if you wish.  Drizzle with the goat's cheese queso.

Enjoy.

Small Mister ate the greens, queso, and meat juices.  I think that says it all.

chocolate cake for one that became for four

I found another one of those recipes that is supposed to be just for one, chocolate cake.  I figured before I even started that it would be for four though.  Just a portion size thing.  The Tall Short Person said dessert before dinner.  The Small Mister did not even help stir!  He was helping Grandpoppa.  But eat it he did! 

Now, since I have been eating so many more meals based around protein and vegetables (my arthritis pain is greatly decreased), my sweet tooth has lowered.  This was good but you know, I really preferred the slice of fresh out of the oven bread I had later this evening.  Yes, I am strange.

chocolate cake for one (really four)

1 egg

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

3 to 4 tablespoons sugar (I used 3, faerie would have liked 4 (I think she is a crow girl))

4 tablespoons almond flour 

2 tablespoons pecan flour

2 tablespoons arrowroot flour

3 tablespoons cocoa

3 tablespoons small semi-sweet chocolate chips.

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Butter four small ramekins.

Mix the egg, oil, milk, vanilla, and sugar together in a bowl.  Add the flours, cocoa, and salt.  Mix well.  Mix in the chocolate chips.  Spoon evenly into the four ramekins.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the edge pulls away from the ramekin and a knife comes out fairly clean.

Small Mister liked it so much he needed two forks.

The Tall Short Person thought it was this horrible.  She volunteered to take one for the family and eat everyone's.

chocolate chip cookies for two

Small Mister is in my charge a lot of times when I get home from work.  He is always looking for me in the kitchen.  I guess that really says something about my life.  My Beloved says Small Mister brings him things that I should be cooking.  I can believe this.  

I figured that I should make cookies for after work.  And just enough for two.  I had seen a recipe for chocolate chip cookies for one.  I tried it but was not completely pleased.  It gave me a framework to work within.  Small Mister helps me mix the doughs and dumps in what I have measured.  He makes sound effects with stirring.  It is pretty funny.

Now, I will say, I always make small cookies.  I make two to many peoples one.  Or maybe it was three.  I expected more cookies then two.  Like six.  But with changing the flours to gluten free, it was sixteen.  Enough for four in our house.  I can shrug now, yes?

 

chocolate chip chookies for two

2 tablespoons soft butter

4 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar

4 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 egg yolk

1/8 teaspoon vanilla

5 tablespoons almond flour

5 tablespoons hazelnut flour

5 tablespoons pecan flour

 5 tablespoons arrowroot

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cover a baking sheet with a silplat or parchment paper.

In a small bow, cream the butter and sugars together.  Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla.

Mix in the flours, salt, and baking soda.  Mix in the chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoon on the baking sheet.  Remember, I made 16 small cookies.  Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

Enjoy.  Especially with a cup of tea and after a long day of work.  Think of the sound effects made.