Happy New Year to ALL!

Happy New Year to ALL! 

 Welcome 2015, 

the year of ACHIEVEMENTS!

Last year Master had me write 14 New Years Eve Resolutions. Then every Sunday I had to post what progress, if any, I had made on each.

It kept me focused and trying to achieve each and everyone. Some were accomplished, some continue to need work, some just failed.

For this year, Master wanted me to write a wrap-up of them and discuss before I ventured to write 15 new ones for this next year. Not just resolutions, but accomplishments I will achieve. I have a wonderful Master who takes His responsibility to heart and makes His slave work to be the best I can become.

Perfection is not a goal, rather the pursuit of perfection is.

So lets look at slave's 2014 New Years Resolutions

1.) #2014Resolutions Increase income:

Wow, this had been a hold over from 2013 and still it has eluded me. I have not found even part time work. That does not mean I give up, only redouble my efforts for the coming year. I can do this. Mark this one Fail!

2.) #2014Resolutions find affordable housing and move. This has been achieved! I sit, writing this, in my own apartment. My home! It is wonderful – it is mine! Mark this one DONE!

3.) #2014Resolutions make a budget, a plan and follow it every week, every month. My weekly schedules are posted each Sunday and taped to my computer so that I can check them off each day. It provides me with a daily guidance, a path to follow. Mark this one DONE!

4.) #2014Resolutions get serious about losing weight. Started and re-started, over and over. I will not admit defeat in this. It is another that my efforts must be redoubled to make. Mark this one fail

5.) #2014Resolutions Learn to market when I have written. Such a slow and tedious task. It requires constant work and effort. It is not something that can be achieved once and forgotten, like quitting cigarettes was for me 2 years ago. Mark this one as on going!

6.) #2014Resolutions Continue to write everyday without fail. This also had become a constant for me. It that I do this by habit now, is an achievement, but again it is never finished. Mark this one DONE!

7.) #2014Resolutions Research and enroll in low cost classes. This has morphed into studying something new every week. For the learning and studying are as important to me as breathing. This too has almost become a habit. Mark this one DONE!

8.) #2014Resolutions Set aside time each day for music. Now music has been incorporated into each part of my day. Not as a background noise, but as a focus -- a goal in itself. Mark this one DONE!

9.) #2014Resolutions Create and publish two recipes a week. This schedule has been paying off. I recently hit over 15,000 views on the blog. People are reading it! Just last year I was so excited to hit 5,000! Mark this one DONE!

10.) #2014Resolutions Start attending The Club House three times a week. This has been a major disappointment. The person who was head of the organization, proved to be a bully more interested in their own authority then in the well being of the people who were “members”. It is a shame, but a problem that was not mine to fix. So now my focus is on finding daily activities, such as a part time job or volunteering. Mark this one as FAIL.

11.) #2014Resolutions Write-up three films a week for discussion group. While I have still written and re-written discussions of films, a proper venue has not been found, so this has not taken the attention I have been giving other resolutions. Mark this one as on going.

12.) #2014Resolutions If no money to buy food for recipes: will write tips and just a column. More and more, I have written columns on various related topics and they seem to be well received. Mark this one as DONE.

13.) #2014Resolutions Will set limit of 5 hours a day spent with computer. My computer time has been rather easy to limit now. While it is the most important form of communication for me, I can and do have a life away from this keyboard. Mark this one as DONE!

14.) #2014Resolutions Plan and participate in out of home activities. Really enjoyed going to the Christmas Chinese Buffet! I am much freer to come and go now. So the world does not have to wait so long....! :-) Mark this one as on going!

That's three “fails”,

three “on going”,

and EIGHT as “DONE!”

Well it has been a wonderful experience working on these resolutions every week. Having a goal and a verifiable progress measurement has allowed me to achieve these. Yes, at times it was a pain, but reporting each week kept me at my tasks and I am a better person for that training. I owe so much to my Master. He has so much more patients than I. He understands the value and has the ability to “reset”, without taking His eyes from His goal.

He believes in me even when I have doubts.

Some one asked me “Why would you want to be a slave?”. I replied: “ I want to be HIS slave”. Master Indy completes me.

socialslave

Crocked Chops

There are many “Good Luck” dishes that are traditional for New Years. Most follow superstitions and what the food looks like. For example, if you cook green leafy vegetables – you will make money in the coming year. Also for eating carrot “coins”. Like the people in the far east believe that eating long noodles will foreshadow a long life, making a meal out of cheaper ingredients will improve your wealth in the next year. Many believe the most prosperous fortune will come to those who feast on pig. Also, they will have the best sex, health, whatever!

Lets face it, pork can taste great! Any excuse will do. So slave put together this for your “families” benefit and enjoyment.

Ingredients:

1½ – 2 lbs boneless pork chops (thick cut)

8oz. sliced mushrooms

1 medium yellow onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can condensed chicken soup

1 bottle of beer

2 tbs Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp ground ginger

Directions:

Wipe out the slow cooker and spray with cooking spray. Turn on to high and cover while you prepare the food.

Put the mushrooms on to rinse.

Do your cutting.

Cut up the onion, set aside, then mince the garlic and sit aside.

Carefully trim all of the fat off of the pork chops. Normally if you were grilling or even just sauteing them, the fat would supply needed flavor. However since they will be sitting all day in a crock pot, they would end up swimming in fat, so cut it off now.

Put those pieces of fat into a skillet with 1 tbs oil over medium heat. Add the onions. Let them cook for about 10 minutes or until they turn translucent and start to brown around the edges. Remove the pieces of fat and put the onions in a bowl. 

 

Add another tbs of oil and brown the chops. About 3 or 4 minutes per side. You just want to start that tasty brown layer. Remove to a paper towel to drain.

Add the mushrooms and let the water cook out of them, about 5 minutes. Then remove the cover and cook another 3 minutes, to start to brown, Finally add the garlic for a last minute, but no more. (garlic burns easily).

While that is cooking down mix the condensed soup into a medium sized bowl with the Worcestershire sauce and ginger. Mix well.

Spoon a bit of the soup mixture into the slow cooker to place the chops on. Then add the onions, mushrooms and garlic.

Stir about half of the beer into the bowl with the soup mixture until well incorporated and pour onto the chops. Add the last of the beer by pouring around the edges. Cover and reduce the heat to LOW. Do not forget this step.

Let that cook for 7 to 8 hours.*

*Note: if you could not get thick cut pork chops (at least ¾ inch thick), then drop the cooking time by 2 hours. Thinner chops will cook faster and might fall apart if left in for the full 8 hours.

Slave served this with roasted yellow potatoes and roasted green beans.

They both roast in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. While they are cooking, Mix 3 tbs of cornstarch into about ½ cup of water. Stir well and add this to the crock pot. Recover and raise the heat to HIGH.

This makes not only a wonderful meal, but the aroma of that pork and beer gravy will drive your neighbors mad! He He!

So happy to be serving my Master Indy.

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon

Swish Steak

This recipe calls for an eclectic combination of tastes we have used recently to give a unique twist on an old favorite.

The name “swiss steak” has nothing to do with the country of Switzerland. To break down the sinewy fibers of the tougher cuts of meat, chefs would pound it with a special hammer covered in sharp points. They call the process: “swissing”. The meat is typically coated with flour & seasonings then cooked in a gravy made from tomato, sometimes onions, and peppers. In fact the Swiss chefs would call a steak prepared this way: "roast mincemeat".

But this dish cooks in a slow cooker and a different approach that does not use tomatoes. Why not try it?

Ingredients:

• 1 lbs. of any tough cut of beef
• 8 oz fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 tsp Herbs de Province
• ¾ cup chicken stock
• ¼ cup white wine balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup flour
• 4 tbs oil
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 tbs fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• ½ cup heavy cream
  
  Wipe out the slow cooker and spray with cooking spray.

Do your cutting. Rinse the mushrooms and slice. Slice the onion.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tbs of the oil. Stir in the mushrooms; cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and continue cooking until mushrooms begin to brown. About 2 – 3 minutes more. Remove from pan and place in the slow cooker.

Return the pan to the heat. Season the steaks with salt & pepper. Add 1 tbs of oil and brown the blade steaks on each side, depending on the thickness, no more than 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and set aside.

Return the pan to the heat and add 2 tbs of the oil. Add the sliced onions and the Herbs. Stir and cook for about 1 minute. Add the flour and stir well, cooking for about 1 minute.

Whisk in the balsamic vinegar and chicken stock, scraping up all the browned bits at the bottom of the pan.

Add the entire contents of the pan to the slow cooker.

Place browned steaks on top of the mushroom/onion mixture. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, (High for 4-5 hours)

Remove steaks to a serving plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep them warm. Stir the cream and parsley into the liquid. Heat for another 10 minutes while the meat “rests”.

Slave serves this with baked sweet potato slices and roasted broccoli. You will find a completely different taste without the traditional tomatoes. Hope you like it.

Serving my Master Indy

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon

California Chicken Peanut Bowl

The other day as slave was exploring the food section of the local dollar store, a bag of California mix vegetables were found. That started the old wheels to turn and focus on some left over chicken breasts sitting in the refrigerator.

Why not try something different? A unique take on some Thai flavors that will put that food to good use.

Ingredients

• 1 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (left-overs)
• ½ cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1½ teaspoons shrimp cocktail sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 8 ounce whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1 bag Frozen California blend vegetables
  

---

Directions

Put a large pot of water on to boil for cooking pasta. (A covered pot will heat faster).

Cut the left-over chicken into bite sized pieces.

Mince the garlic. Since it has been awhile, lets go over that process. Pry off 2 – 3 cloves from the garlic head. Using the flat side of a chefs knife hit the clove. (don't smash it, just hit it) Now the skin will slide right off.

Always make the first cut lengthwise. If there is any green growing in there, pry it out with the tip of the knife. It will make the dish bitter if you forget that step. Then chop the pieces into tiny bits so that you end up with about 2 teaspoons full of minced garlic.

When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and reduce the heat by about half. Just so the water continues to roll and simmer with bubbles.

If the pasta calls for 8 minutes to cook, set the timer to 5 minutes.

When it goes off, add the frozen vegetables and when it returns to a boil cook for another 4 minutes. Drain and shock with some cold water, then drain again.

Meanwhile, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger and garlic til it is well mixed. If you like a bit of heat, add 1 ½ tbs. of shrimp cocktail sauce! Add this to a skillet over medium high heat and stir occasionally until it starts to bubble.

Add the chicken pieces and reduce the heat to a simmer for about 4 – 5 minutes, just to heat the chicken and blend in the flavors. Scoop out 1 cup of the boiling water from the pasta and mix this into the skillet.

When the pasta and vegetables are finished and drained, add to a large casserole dish and mix in the chicken peanut mixture. Toss well to coat. Serve warm or chilled. Either way this makes a cheap, healthy dish from left-overs. Just make sure no one has an allergy to peanuts! 
 

This is a great go to dish when you have over-tapped the budget on the holiday.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Time to start planning for the New Year!




Serving my Master Indy


socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon