.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
That's sort of been the theme here at Turtle Creek for the past 9 months or so. Think of it as a pregnancy, only there's no giggling little bundle of joy at the end of the turmoil.... just two people that are getting very tired of each other's constant company. I haven't talked a lot about it because it's family, but generally if you've been following along these months - you would have noticed the change in the tone of the posts.
To bring you up to date:
Back in July, Jane had a heart attack and a mild stroke as a result of the first procedure. As operations go (it was a multiple stent thingy) it was fairly easy. In for a couple of hours - slide in the tiny mesh things and out... easy peasy. Then there was the stroke, and an alarming drop in her vitals, and eight stressful days in CCU trying to get her lucid... only to go back in and repeat the whole exercise 2 months later. Due to her health, we felt it safer to give her body a chance to catch up before they did the next set of stents. Late November, with what we expected to be the end of things, Jane started having issues with walking across the room. Her cardiologists (and I'll use that term loosely) poo-pooed her concerns, patted her on the head and sent her home. The breathing became more labored, and in January we sought out a new heart specialist. They found an un-repaired blockage that was from the beginning of her problems back in July. Thankfully, in February - after another trip to the money pit, that was corrected.Jane's been on the mend and is continuing to improve. But there is depression. It's common after any surgical procedure and whether you're prepared for it or not... it can be a bitch pushing through the day. I'm staying on (for the time being) as her caregiver until she feels she no longer needs me in that regard. However, the stroke has left her with a slight visual impairment and she can't drive - so I'm the designated chauffeur, cook, nurse, really bad housekeeper and gardener.... Like I said - patience is wearing thin on both sides of the fence.
The morel recipe contest that Marx Foods recently hosted gave me a chance to focus on something else for the time being. And while that contest is over and packed away in a dark dusty room somewhere in a side alley of the internet, I still had a couple of dried morels left over. So, here now without a whole lot of fanfare are the last two of the morel recipes.
This works exceptionally well as a matre'd butter on steaks, or as a pre cooking marinade for chicken or pork
Makes 1 Cup
Ingredients
1 Cup Butter Substitute (Try to use something with less than 35% or so water)
4 Dried Morels
1 Teaspoon Minced Parsley
1 Clove Garlic - Minced
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Teaspoon Agave Syrup
1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Small Bowl
Spatula
- Soften the butter to room temperature
- Crush the dried morels into a fine powder
- Add the powdered morels and all the remaining ingredients
- Mix well
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours
with Black-eyed Peas and Morels
Makes 4 Cakes
Ingredients
1 Cup Hot Water
6 Dried Morels
1/2 Cup Dry Rice
1/2 Cup Cooked (or Canned) Peas
1 Shallot - Minced
1/4 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
Couple of Dashes Hot Sauce
Salt / Pepper to Taste
1 Egg White
2 Cups Panko
1/4 Cup Oil
Skillet
Spatula
Medium Mixing Bowl
Rice Cooker
- Re-hydrate the morels in hot water for 30 minutes; remove and roughly chop - save the liquid
- Cook the rice adding the steeping liquid as part of the rice cooking water
- Drain the peas and mash with a fork
- Add the peas, cooked rice, morels and seasonings to the bowl and mash well until they will form a tight ball
- Form into patties and chill for 15 minutes or so so that they will hold together better
- Beat the egg whites until frothy and dip each patty then dredge in the panko
- Fry in the skillet with the oil for 5 minutes per side on medium heat
- Drain slightly and serve.
Note: if you want a GF free version, substitute rice cracker pulsed in the processor for the panko
Posts
