Ratatouille's Ratatouille

One of my favorite things to do is entertain and cook for friends. This has become even more enjoyable since my gluten free needs arose and eating anywhere but home can be a challenge and end in pain despite the best efforts.  A good friend of ours that knows my love of cooking, has been asking about ratatouille for quite some time and when he, his wife and their three kids came to visit this weekend I decided to prepare the dish he had built up in his mind for so long.  I had a feeling that he was not interested in the authentic dish, but rather the colorful pretty one that had been featured in Disney's movie Ratatouille that the family had watched and fell in love with. After some searching, I found a beautiful version created by Smitten Kitchen and with a few slight modifications our Ratatouille's ratatouille was prepared and graciously gobbled down by kids and adults alike (well, some kids).  Though it is not authentic, it is delicious and visually appealing and went wonderfully with the smoked chicken, roasted potatoes and wonderful company we shared.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. - Proverbs 15:17

Ratatouille's Ratatouille

as adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients:

1/2 Onion, Finely Chopped
3-4 Garlic Cloves Garlic, Minced

1 ½ cup Tomato Sauce or Puree

Olive Oil
1 Eggplant
1 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
1 Red or Orange Bell Pepper
Italian Seasoning Blend (fresh herbs are best of course)
Salt and Pepper

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

• Spread tomato sauce in the bottom of a round or oval baking dish and add the onion and minced garlic.
• Using a mandolin, slice the egg plant, zucchini, yellow squash and bell pepper in thin medallions.
• Toss the vegetables in a large bowl with olive oil, herbs, salt and pepper.
• Layer the vegetables in a pattern, circling the baking dish. 
• Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 40min
• Remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle parmesan cheese.
• Enjoy!

Construction Begins

This past weekend began work on our chicken coop.  I have been working on providing a cleaner diet and life for my family for awhile and fresh eggs are the next step on the list.  We are building an 8x12 coop and hope to house 10-12 chickens.  After a year of helping at the neighbors and being paid in fresh eggs, Abby is leading the chicken care and prep work.  Giddy with anticipation of our new feathered friends, Abby has been dancing around the house and spending free time reading all the books on chicken raising she can get her hands on.  The other kids are also excited, but Abby has been blessed with the gift of love for all animals and cannot wait to be able to care for some of God’s creatures in her own yard.

This coming weekend we hope to have walls and a roof and have already ordered the chicks to arrive soon.  Perhaps an omelet or quiche party this summer? 

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. - Romans 14:1-23

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Hazelnut Flour (I imagine almond flour would work as well, though I have never tried it.)
• 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
• 1 Tb Italian Seasoning
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• 1 Large Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• 1 Beaten Egg
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil      

Directions:

1. Preheat the olive oil in a skillet. 
2. Combine hazelnut flour, garlic, seasonings and salt and pepper in a bowl and set aside. 
3. Cut chicken into desired size pieces.  Gently tenderize chicken pieces to ¼  to ½ inch thick. 
4. Immerse chicken in egg wash.  Place egg coated chicken into hazelnut mixture and coat thoroughly.  
5. Gently set chicken into the preheated pan with oil, be sure not to over crowd the pan.  Brown chicken on both sides and then place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 or until chicken is cooked through.  

Tangy Tomatillo Salsa

I tend to make fresh Pico de Gallo (Or Simple Summer Salsa) on a near weekly basis.  I have gotten bored with the same old combination and tiring chopping and was not going to make it at all tonight.  The bottle of Chi Chi’s salsa looked mighty fine to me.  However, as I was clearing my counters to start cooking, I found I still had three lonely tomatillos waiting to be called to duty.  How could I let these little green balls, swaddled in their husks down by ignoring them for one more meal?  So, Tangy Tomatillo Salsa was born.  Welcome to the world Tangy Tomatillo Salsa, you are loved by all in this house and I am sure many others to come.

Other things I have learned today:

• Holding a three day old baby can be great therapy.
• No need to apologize for who you are.  If they don’t like you, saying sorry won’t change that.
• Emily likes to turn off all the lights in the house and relax in the living room as a family.  Why?  That is yet to be discovered, but it is very nice to have the hum of electricity silenced for a bit.
• Everybody is busy.  Just too darn busy all the time.  Everybody.  Go make some salsa and relax.

Tangy Tomatillo Salsa

• 3 Tomatillos (With husk removed and sticky outside rinsed clean)
• 2 Red Tomatoes
• ¼ - ½ Red Onion
• 4 Cloves Garlic
• 1 Green Pepper
• 1 Handful Chopped Fresh Cilantro
• Juice from one Lime
• Salt to taste

Chop all vegetables in one inch or smaller chunks.  Pulse in food processer until desired texture is reached (I like a bit of chunk in mine).  Place in large bowl and stir in cilantro, lime juice and salt.  Serve with blue corn tortilla chips (or your favorite) and enjoy!  

Shrimp in a Bacon and Tomato Sauce

I did not know what to make for dinner today, so today I played Chopped.  

My basket ingredients were:

Shrimp

Parsley

Canned Tomatoes

Bacon

(Yes, I know I went easy on myself.  I did want my family to eat the food after all.)

And the results:

Shrimp in a Bacon and Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

• 6-7 Slices of Bacon, diced
• 6 Cloves of Garlic, minced
• 1 Stalk of Celery, diced
• 1 Small Shallot, diced
• 1 Small Onion, diced
• ½ Cup White Wine
• 1 28oz Can Crushed or Diced Tomatoes (depending on how chunky you would like the dish)
• Handful of Fresh Parsley, chopped
• Handful of Basil, chopped
• 1 TB Crushed Red Pepper
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• 2lbs of uncooked Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Brown Rice Pasta for serving

Directions:

1. Place diced bacon in a large preheated skillet or Dutch oven on medium heat.  Add garlic, celery, shallot and onion once the bacon grease begins to form.  Continue until bacon is cooked.
2. Add white wine and cook on low/med for about 2min.
3. Add tomatoes, crushed peppers and herbs.  Simmer together to let flavors marry.
4. Place the shrimp in the sauce and continue to simmer until the shrimp is cooked.
5. Serve with pasta or rice and enjoy!

Chick and Louise a Love Story - The End

Chick passed away today.  As the last few days had become increasingly painful and long for Chick and Louise, prayers of peace and comfort had begun in abundance.  Today the prayers of peace were answered for Chick.  Though there is relief in his new peace, there is sadness in Chick’s absence on this Earth.  Today, Louise lost her best friend and love of sixty-six years and there is an intense amount of loneliness in her heart.  Louise knows that one day they will be united again, but until then she must journey on alone.

On October 30^th, 1946 two souls were joined as one under God and before family and friends.  Two lives were melded into one and went on to create a family full of their love.  Today, though the lives have been temporary separated, is not the end of this love story.  The love story of Chick and Louise lives on in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  In all that they accomplish and all they become.  There is no end to such a love story because there is no end to true love.

“They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies.” ~ Williams Penn

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  - Luke 23:43

Chick and Louise a Love Story Part 1

Chick and Louise a Love Story Part 2

Chick and Louise a Love Story Part 3

Chick and Louise – A Love Story Part 3

Several months have passed since Chick entered the rehab, aka nursing home.   Louise continues to visit him diligently and dutifully, though Chick’s condition continues to deteriorate and there are more bad days then good. 

Today, Chick was asleep for most of her visit, but that does not detour Louise from gently caressing his forehead and cupping his chin to look into his face.  Her furrowed brow and tight lipped grimace, soften as Chick opens his eyes from time to time.  Louise eagerly tries to talk with Chick but the moments are quickly gone with his silent return to sleep and her face falls once again.  Seldom looking away from his face, Louise continues to wait for an opportunity to communicate with her love.

In the months since Chick has been away, many celebrations and occasions have been made new with the haunted memories of what once was.  Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went without Chick at the table and the couple celebrated sixty-six years of marriage.   In the quiet of the empty house, Louise is often brought back to memories of when the house was full of people and happiness.  When house guests were plenty and the kitchen was always warm.  Today, the kitchen is littered with unopened mail and the sink holds one lone glass and plate from Louise’s breakfast.  

As Louise continues to wait for an opportunity to connect with Chick, the clock ticks on and her visiting time comes to an end.  “He doesn't look so good” she mutters seemingly to herself as she straightens his blankets and fixes his hair, most likely talking to the God she feels doesn't hear her right now.  She often calls out in the night, asking what she has done to deserve this, why does He want her to suffer.  The night is filled with a thick silence.   “I will be back tomorrow, Chick” she says to the still body that was once her restless, active husband.  Chick does not move.  Louise bends over and gives him a kiss good-bye and as she stands to go, her face crumbles and her eyes well with tears.   With each step away, she stops and turns back in hopes that Chick has awaken and all is well again.   The departure is painful and it shows on her face.  “Chick is on his way out,” she remarks and slowly, tearfully and torn she returns to the empty house that was once their home.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

Chick and Louise a Love Story - Part 1

Chick and Louise a Love Story - Part 2