Yes, I've been absent. not my usual MO in January. But I haven't been able to do much this season.
Have you seen the advertisements about Hernia Mesh failure? sadly, the Y had had that problem. several years ago, he had prostate cancer and had surgery. He has been cancer free with excellent PSAs since. The surgery was done laparoscopic and he was out in days. unfortunately, the incisions, all six of them, failed to close on the muscle layer. so, he went back in for repair. he had herniated between the incisions so instead of 6 small ones, he had 2 large ones. that repair failed, leaving us to do it again two years later and THAT has failed.
And, in the interim, the Y has, shall we say......indulged.
Please gentlemen, get your PSA tested. I have never been more terrified in my life than when his doctor told me his biopsy was positive. even then, I didn't realize the full implications. thank heavens we handled the issue or I would be a widow these last 10 years, most likely. everyone over 50, for those with it in the family, at 40 and black men, 10 years before both ages. if you miss this one, it is not good.
anyway, having indulged, especially since he has retired and begun the second career, making people mad for a living, he has also been doing less physical labor. he went from Elevator Mechanic, 18 flights of stairs per day, on average, carrying a 25 pound tool box, to riding the elevators and carrying a clipboard.
so, for the last 3 months, the Y has been on a weight loss plan that meant low carbs. To his credit, he has done very well. But I'm going NUT! (no comments from the peanut gallery on that one, I know it is a short journey with no need to stop for gas). So I have not been able to indulge in my usual winter baking. no bread, no tarts, no cakes, no cookies. I'm lost!
Well, no able to stand it any longer, I finally said Heck with it last weekend. GOSH I feel better!
Last weekend, Alsatian Onion Tart. which is actually a gorgeous deep dish quiche of home made buttercrust with luscious crream custard and Gryere cheese and carmelized onions. I took pictures but I am sorry to say they didn't come out well and, I'm sorry, but I was too eager to dig in to check the card before indulging. My apologies.
I've also been reading and learning about Korean History and trying to learn a little of the Korean Language. this has, of course, led to trying Korean Food.
It began with Mandu Yaki. meat dumplings, made with the same dough used for Ramen Noodles, rolled thin and stiffed with meat and some chopped veg. Yaki is fried, so pan fried and AMAZING! Dipping sauces of choice!
Fine cooking cooperated with a terrific story on Ramen this last issue, so, we made Ramen. and BOY was it good! hand made noodles, a deep, rich broth and various veg in the bowl. Ramen is basically Korean/Japanese Second Day Stew. Fantastic stuff! the broth made from what would be the dripping from any roast, add chicken stock to make it a soup, serve over noodles, made chewy with alkaline water, and bits of all the veg in the bowl. VERY filling and so savory, the Y and I both were making ourselves stop. and we just reheated it and had it again the next night!
Then, this AM, I was dying for breakfast pastry. so I decided to try Hoetteokk. Korean filled pancakes. lean yeast dough, kneaded and rolled out, a spoonful of filling, sugar & walnuts, or jam or you could go savory and make it a meaty/cheesy dish, cooked/baked/fried in a skillet. Asia isn't really a country of ovens, so the breads are usually steamed or panfried. this is kind of a combination. fried, then a lid on the pan to make a minioven to steam/bake the bread. They are street food in Korea and understandable why they are so popular! Yummy, chewy inside out pancakes, but not pancakes as it is lean yeast dough rather than batter.
Yes, I'm bragging! I haven't been able to enjoy this much time in the kitchen since Before Christmas! I need to shoot some of the Hoettoek before they're all eaten but for now, enjoy the Ramen pics. I'll probably be back to no carb cooking again, fast, but for the moment, for a week, it has been wonderful getting to bake again. good to know i haven't forgotten how!
<SIGH>
Back to behaving myself. SO sad and boring!!
At least it's finally time to start the seeds for Spring! Happy Eating!!
Have you seen the advertisements about Hernia Mesh failure? sadly, the Y had had that problem. several years ago, he had prostate cancer and had surgery. He has been cancer free with excellent PSAs since. The surgery was done laparoscopic and he was out in days. unfortunately, the incisions, all six of them, failed to close on the muscle layer. so, he went back in for repair. he had herniated between the incisions so instead of 6 small ones, he had 2 large ones. that repair failed, leaving us to do it again two years later and THAT has failed.
And, in the interim, the Y has, shall we say......indulged.
Please gentlemen, get your PSA tested. I have never been more terrified in my life than when his doctor told me his biopsy was positive. even then, I didn't realize the full implications. thank heavens we handled the issue or I would be a widow these last 10 years, most likely. everyone over 50, for those with it in the family, at 40 and black men, 10 years before both ages. if you miss this one, it is not good.
anyway, having indulged, especially since he has retired and begun the second career, making people mad for a living, he has also been doing less physical labor. he went from Elevator Mechanic, 18 flights of stairs per day, on average, carrying a 25 pound tool box, to riding the elevators and carrying a clipboard.
so, for the last 3 months, the Y has been on a weight loss plan that meant low carbs. To his credit, he has done very well. But I'm going NUT! (no comments from the peanut gallery on that one, I know it is a short journey with no need to stop for gas). So I have not been able to indulge in my usual winter baking. no bread, no tarts, no cakes, no cookies. I'm lost!
Well, no able to stand it any longer, I finally said Heck with it last weekend. GOSH I feel better!
Last weekend, Alsatian Onion Tart. which is actually a gorgeous deep dish quiche of home made buttercrust with luscious crream custard and Gryere cheese and carmelized onions. I took pictures but I am sorry to say they didn't come out well and, I'm sorry, but I was too eager to dig in to check the card before indulging. My apologies.
I've also been reading and learning about Korean History and trying to learn a little of the Korean Language. this has, of course, led to trying Korean Food.
It began with Mandu Yaki. meat dumplings, made with the same dough used for Ramen Noodles, rolled thin and stiffed with meat and some chopped veg. Yaki is fried, so pan fried and AMAZING! Dipping sauces of choice!
Fine cooking cooperated with a terrific story on Ramen this last issue, so, we made Ramen. and BOY was it good! hand made noodles, a deep, rich broth and various veg in the bowl. Ramen is basically Korean/Japanese Second Day Stew. Fantastic stuff! the broth made from what would be the dripping from any roast, add chicken stock to make it a soup, serve over noodles, made chewy with alkaline water, and bits of all the veg in the bowl. VERY filling and so savory, the Y and I both were making ourselves stop. and we just reheated it and had it again the next night!
Then, this AM, I was dying for breakfast pastry. so I decided to try Hoetteokk. Korean filled pancakes. lean yeast dough, kneaded and rolled out, a spoonful of filling, sugar & walnuts, or jam or you could go savory and make it a meaty/cheesy dish, cooked/baked/fried in a skillet. Asia isn't really a country of ovens, so the breads are usually steamed or panfried. this is kind of a combination. fried, then a lid on the pan to make a minioven to steam/bake the bread. They are street food in Korea and understandable why they are so popular! Yummy, chewy inside out pancakes, but not pancakes as it is lean yeast dough rather than batter.
Yes, I'm bragging! I haven't been able to enjoy this much time in the kitchen since Before Christmas! I need to shoot some of the Hoettoek before they're all eaten but for now, enjoy the Ramen pics. I'll probably be back to no carb cooking again, fast, but for the moment, for a week, it has been wonderful getting to bake again. good to know i haven't forgotten how!
<SIGH>
Back to behaving myself. SO sad and boring!!
At least it's finally time to start the seeds for Spring! Happy Eating!!
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