Birthday fish?

Had an epic night last night at some friends of ours. I can not take credit for anything that was cooked or not cooked. I can take credit for the just alright pictures and over eating. Salmon was on the menu. Mat and Ray cooked up some very tasty platters of it. All the fish shown is dauphin safe. Rod and real caught and flash frozen. Seasoned just right and cooked to perfection. The only one that was not cooked was the ceviche which was in limon juice and ginger. The others were blacken, teriyaki, limon seared and a few others. I over ate and then ate more. Then went in for dessert. Mint chocolate cake and chocolate brownies. There were side dishes of salad and fruit but in skipped over them and ate the fish. Thanks a lot guys and girls for inviting us over. We had a blast and I can't wait to see what you do next year. Birthdays included mine on the 20th, Michaela on the 21st and sitting is Ray on the 24th. Michaela and Ray are marries and hosted the party. I was there for the awesome food and amazing friends new and old. God bless, thanks for reading and sorry you missed out. NOT!!!  More for me.

Epic FAIL!!!!

Well they all can't be winners and I would not be doing you all the justice if I only showed you the meals that turned out. Tonight was an epic fail of a dinner. I went to a grocery store that specializes in fresh and frozen vegan, non vegan, and loads of healthy foods. Well I wanted to surprise Ellen with dinner and boy was she surprised. Almost to the point of being sick. I bought the large prongs ( fake large shrimp ) see attached picture. I made the shrimp into a scampi over pasta for her and a chicken one for me. She had the same type of shrimp in California a few years ago and did not like them. I thought I could do something different with them and maybe she would like it. Well boy was I wrong. She took one look at the dish and said "No I can't eat that". She took one of the " shrimp" to her mouth and when her tongue and front teeth touched it she scraped it off the fork and looked sick. I got an A for effort but an F for dinner. She said I was lucky she did not vomit. So needless to say we will not be eating those ever again. I will stick with the dishes I know and next time ask before I buy. Thanks for reading, God bless and don't ever eat fake shrimp.

Chips and eggs

Thanks to Little Everett's in #hanover pa , my #chickens and my wife I had a really good lunch. Left over #chips (French fries) and two fresh eggs made a really good omelet. Everett's lilevsbbq.com  have the best #frenchfries around and after warming them in the microwave then browning them in the pan I poured in two whipped eggs. Flipped when done and browned the other side. I added a little catchup on most of it and the other side was fresh hot sauce made right here in town by the owner of Dos Amigos Mexi-mart. Spicy but very tasty. Sorry you all can't have the same thing but it is something you can do with your local foods. God bless, thanks for reading and Live long and prosper #Spock #LeonardNimoy 1931-2015

Garlic kale with chicken wrap

Just a short update. Ellen made some roasted potatoes with onions, garlic and cabbage. A cold garlic kale salad with tahini dressing. I also made a chicken breast wrap with vegan suruchi mayo. Great dinner. Not to heavy but filling. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Post cathetherization lunch Sorry Doctors

Today I had a right heart cathetherization at #UMMC in #Baltimore Maryland.  It was a recheck of my heart pressures for being on the #hearttransplant list.  Things went well and my numbers were good.  Ellen told me we could have lunch anywhere I wanted. So what did I pick?  #Pizza.  And not just any old pie.  We went to http://www.matthewspizza.com/ Matthews Pizza in Highlandtown Baltimore.  They have been serving up the same pizza recipe  for 72 years.  Yeah that's right.  Since 1943 this award winning pizza joint has been a go to location for all the locals.  After Travel Channel spotlighted them last year the number of people wanting to eat there jumped.  Ellen and I went at an off hour and off day and were the only ones eating in.  A few locals came in for carry out and one older couple came in and the waitress knew what they wanted right away because that is the type of place this is.  They are a small town pizzeria in a big city.  They know and remember their regulars.  I know if I lived closer they would know me as well.  They even have pre-made frozen cheese pizzas that you can take home which I did for my mom.  It is her favorite pizza place and grew up a few streets away.  No I would not get the pizza every time but I would go just to have a soda and salad.  I just like that kind of local owned place.  I would give them my money over any chain restaurant any day of the week.  So if you are ever in Baltimore and want or crave pizza, skip #PappaJohns or #PizzaHut and hit up Matthews.  Parking is not so good (all street parking) but be patient and you will get a spot.  Would I eat there again?  Do I even need to answer that?  YES a million times YES.  So what are you waiting for? You have the website and the menu.  Now get off your behinds and eat some pie.  God bless, thanks for reading and pizza is the staple of living. The following pictures are from that day and yes the one of me in the hospital is before the pizza..It did not put me into the hospital..

Pot to bowl 13.5 minute vegan snack

Got home and wanted a healthy snack. What did I find?  Half can unsalted diced tomatoes and some kale. Water and a little oil in a pan along with garlic (3 cloves or more if you want), 5.3 drops of sriracha for a tad of heat, Mrs. Dash garlic and herb, garlic powder. Cover, steam and wait till the water is gone and the kale is tinder but not over done. Plate it hot or bowl it. Use chopsticks if you can if not learn how then continue. That's all folks God bless, happy eating and be inventive.

Meat and Vegan meals for all

I usually don't like to combine my blog posts but this one has to be done.  Two meals in the same day that were completely different I had to spotlight them in a single post.  The first was the deer back strap I made.  It was marinated in soy sauce for a few months.  It was frozen so I had to defrost it first.  Onions, hot pepper flakes, spinach and garlic were added when I was cooking it.  I made a spicy horse radish honey mustard for dipping.  It was spot on.  I did over cook the deer but with wild game it is not good to under cook it.  I do like my meat rare but I did this by accident and cooked it a bit too long.  It still turned out.  Nice lunch for me.

The second was a dinner on a whim.  Ellen had class and I was going to fix dinner.  She said to me before she left that I always make the same things so make something different.  So I did.  She had some frozen fake fish in the freezer so I took that out.  I got two cans of diced tomatoes, diced an onion, added salt, pepper, sugar, spinach and celery seed.  I toasted a few pieces of her homemade bread to add at the end of cooking.  Stewed tomatoes was the side along with a vegan mac and cheese.  I used her provolone and cheddar cheese (vegan) and her unsweetened almond milk and a little vegan butter.  I cooked the elbow mac and had that sitting on the side while i waited till she got home.  Walking through the door I made her leave the kitchen so it would be a surprise.  I added the cheeses, milk and butter and started the melting.  I was surprised how smooth it came out.  She sad down to eat and when I served her she was loving it.  She has been scared to make the mac and cheese but at my first attempt it turned out well.  Not perfect.  It was creamy and tasty but she added some salt to hers and a little paprika.  If she had different cheesed I would  have used them as well.  The mac and cheese along with the stewed tomatoes were great together.  Just like mom would make as a kid.  Her fish was good as well. She said this is what comfort food is and ate every last bite.  I did good on my first try.  So don't let a little thing like never making something stop you.  You have the talent just jump in and cook.  I do that all the time.  God bless, thanks for reading and eat long and prosper.

Vegan Bacon Cheese Burger Casserole

Ellen had made the best vegan to date.  The vegan bacon cheese burger casserole.  Filled with mashed potatoes, soy meat crumbles, vegan cheese and vegan bacon bits.  Added to the top were sauteed sweet onions and sliced cherry tomatoes.  I gave this the highest score so far of 9.5 out of 9.  I have eaten it 2 times and tomorrow will eat the rest of it for brunch.  I added a few more tomatoes and bacon bits to the top just to add to the crunch.  I can imagine that you can add lettuce and what ever other topping you want.  Oh and there was one thing I forgot.  Steak sauce!! Yes it is vegan.  Just watch your label.  I attached two pictures of before and after serving.  We added sides to the plates.  Hope you enjoy and if you ever want to know how to make any dishes I write about just let me know. je119wk@yahoo.com
Got bless, thanks for reading and expand your food pallet.

Protein breakfast

What you are looking at is sliced chicken breast, one fresh egg (two days old), cheese and homemade spicy honey mustard swaddled by two flower tortilla shells. Lightly browned in the pan after cooking. Great way to start your day. Also I would suggest adding what ever additions to your dish (peppers, onions, salsa) to make it a little more Mexican. More to come later if I make it to a restaurant in Baltimore after I visit my father. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

French Egg and Cheese

I know it has to be out there somewhere in food land but this is my version of it.  I call it the French Egg and Cheese.  When I open my diner Quinns Place it will be a B&B, that's Breakfast and Burgers. Breakfast and lunch will be served.  Open at 4 am and close at 3 pm.  I get up early now for work and wish there was a diner that was open that early so that is where I came up with the outs.  This is all in a really far out there dream of mine.  Coffee, tea, milk, OJ, water and hot chocolate.  That is your drink options.  Tea is hot or cold as is the coffee.  Nothing fancy.  Anyway where was I going with this?  Oh yeah, the French Egg and Cheese.  I made this today for lunch and it was amazing.  Now I know you can do different things with it like add ham or bacon (something that is out of my diet) but this is the basic.  Fresh homemade bread, two eggs from our chickens, yellow American cheese.  That's it.  I beat the eggs with some milk and heated the pan.  Dipped the bread on both sides as the butter (canola oil) heated up.  I fried the bread on just the one side.  Brown and done on that side I removed the toast and let it rest.  I dropped the remaining egg into the pan and cooked it omelet style. It did not take long for it to cook.  I slid it to the side and put the toast back in the pan wet side down, placed a piece of cheese on the cooked side and added the egg.  I then added another slice of cheese and then the remaining piece of bread, wet side up.  Browning the bottom I flipped it and did the same for the other slice.  Cheese melting out of the sandwich and cooking on the pan.  I would prefer Velveeta but you know how it is on a low sodium diet.  I flipped it a few times so to make sure all the egg was cooked well keeping the cheese nice and runny and the egg hot.  I think you know what is next.  I ate it.  Wow. Why have I not done this before?  I wasted no egg and had the best of both worlds.  Some of you might want to add maple syrup.  Go right ahead.  Not me.  Too sweet for my taste but to each their own.  Now you heard it here first.  The French Egg and Cheese.  If anyone is to visit for breakfast and wants the original I will be more than happy to make it.  And if there is bacon in the house I will even add that.  God bless you all, thanks for reading and see you at the breakfast counter.