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Just a couple of fans and running the AC for a few hours brings the cave, and myself, well into trim heat wise. I am impressed. I had forgotten how well that worked. Though health might be better, and that might be a part of it. It is so very difficult to know which is what, or is when the mind isn't able to think outside of the box, pretty much literally, with me being the box. Oh, I can think, and usually have been able to, but not necessarily as it relates to the world around me, other people, and such. Not always. I forget, often, when doing well, just how isolated I can be. Some might suggest that I still am, but that is only if I am pushing things, and not always even then. Simply, just like anyone else who is hungry, thirsty, tired, sore, feeling vulnerable, or such, capacity to cope declines. That is simple reality.
I think the girls are even liking having it more moderate in here, up to a point. When it hits 90, nobody is exactly happy. Well, in this environ. Sam likes to go out and roll in the grass for a bit, where it is shaded, and perhaps look and listen for a free range meal, but only just a bit, preferring earlier or later forays.
Plumbing? Not quite yet, but it is still possible. Food first. Once I cool off, then I can tolerate a bite or two. If health and works continue, and if I can find a little more in there to do some extras, I'd like to figure out summer menus. A cool meal, once in a while, wouldn't be at all bad. Cook it in the evening or early morning, perhaps in parts over a few days, then just have it ready. Hmm... there is always cold grilled chicken. And I suppose I could figure out a salad or three. Coleslaw is fantastic, potato salad is nice to keep on hand, and regular if deep green salad would be okay. But romaine lettuce goes bad fast. You know what else would be good? Sea food ceviche... shrimp, scallops, and perhaps even some types of fish. But a cold soup? I have been... wanting to tinker that for some very long time. Back in Iowa, I thought about it, but only after my chief bottle washer and I went quits. Some sorts of borscht are good. But I am thinking more of a meat soup. Hmm... and of course, carpaccio... with a little olive oil, capers, maybe on a bed of romaine. But finding the right beef, and fresh... I've also heard of raw beef chopped instead of sliced. Yes... I do have a culinary curiosity, some knowledge, and the daring to try different things.
I best eat something, after all of that. Later.
Keep us posted on how your cold soup attempts work out. There are times when that sounds like it'd hit the spot.
ReplyDeleteI have an absolute passion for good potato salad. Never tried borscht but have always been open for the opportunity to do so.
Will do. I'm in the research stages currently. Most beef stews and soups don't taste quite right cold. Too grainy. Hmm, raw beef, with something else? Maybe. I can't swear that it would sound delicious, necessarily. But I'll be going for flavor and texture, if to my liking which... might be considered a bit different, so there is that.
ReplyDeleteI would think that a cream soup, like vichyssoise, would be best cold. I'm envisioning something making use of broccoli or asparagus.
ReplyDeleteGood choices of vegetables. They have to have enough flavor to handle the cool serving. That is the trouble with serving anything cold... flavor. Texture seems easier, but that flavor bit... Needs more of all spices, plus bold flavor, to really shine. But fat isn't good cold, so...
ReplyDeleteHow about diced chiles in the soup? The amount depending on your personal preferences?
ReplyDeleteYeah, you are talking gazpacho. Most people eat, and like, that chunky, big or little chunks. But I have heard of it being pureed, or a mix of those two. Usually tomato based, but I have seen squash cooked and pureed, then adding finely chopped or pureed other veggies and/or meats for a fuller flavor, or straight for those who can stomach it. Lots you can do with that.
ReplyDeleteIndia Indians have some fine flavor mixes, masala, for something more exotic (I've made many variants of masala, before I knew what it was... my kitchen is a lab and herbs and spices used to be on stock in at least 40 varieties, mind you). I just have to avoid curry, the actual spice/herb... allergies or distaste for it (curries are actually masalas, Brits just got it wrong).
A nice mix, one of my favorite local plates, offers gazpacho, all diced, mixed with shrimp ceviche. Absolutely fantastic.
My problem with pure veggie meals is... I am a cat. :)
Well, as you might have noticed, I'm something of a wolf . . . but I occasionally enjoy a dish of rice and beans.
ReplyDeleteShrimp cerviche sounds wonderful. I'd also want scallops.
I'm actually a bit jealous. While I enjoy beans, sometimes, with meat. And I like rice, again, with meat. Mixing the two as an attempt at a whole protein, and I only use brown rice mind you so it is definitely solid, I... can't like it. I have tried, and tried, and tried, but it isn't there. Nice and cheap, relatively easy to fix. Do have to soak beans, I generally prefer dry bean, black, pinto, kidney, whatever, or a mix, sometimes. I've even tried melting in cheese, and adding various spice and herb mixes. Nope... gotta have meat in there. Hamburger or ham do well.
ReplyDeleteYes, a fellow man food man. Yes, I noticed. I consider myself a carnivore that sometimes gets green things in the meat by dragging it to a safer place to eat. :p I've learned to like them, but... I consider vegetables more like I consider spices and herbs. Only salt and meat are required, the rest is flash and dance, when I have enough going for it... just not necessary.
Umm, I should elaborate here. When I refer to "beans and rice" I of course mean the classic red beans and rice.
ReplyDeletePutting in cheese is a good idea. Tossing in a few jalapeno slices is also nice. And there's nothing wrong with tossing some hamburger or chicken into the mix (finished off some leftover chicken and rice myself today).
And rather than just eating it by itself, you could try rolling it into a tortilla and enjoying it that way (my Tex-Mex background becoming evident).
Oh, hey, tortillas... when I can get to the store to get them fresh enough (if I would still love to figure out how to make them here at home) is always a favorite around these parts. "Look, mom, no silverware!" :)
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I have ever had red beans, though I doubt if they would make a difference. Well, I've had them, just never fixed them, or tried them solo with rice. Jalapenos would be good, but I usually add habanero sauce to stuff I want to flavor. But the crunch might be a good add... texture combos are almost to the level of flavor profiles, to me. Still, just because, I'll give it a whirl. Uhrm, eventually. Though I bet you use white rice with that? My mother, and many of my kin, are quite particular about that one issue in some traditional dishes. Goes back at least to Confucius, actually. One of his sayings has something to do about the greatness of white rice, the whiter the better.
You wrote chicken, I, at first, saw "children". Had a hoot I did. Wolf indeed, I was thinking... if more, hopefully, just a well rounded sense of dark humor.
White rice?
ReplyDeleteWell, sometimes with red beans, but years ago I learned how to make simple Spanish Rice in the microwave and mostly do that (unless, of course, I'm searching for a different effect and I cook rice with chicken broth or beef broth or onion soup to provide more flavor to the rice).
Hmmm, nosh on a child? But today's children are so stringy, ill-mannered and raised on chemicals. My teeth would fall out.
Even with spanish rice, my mother is dead set on it being white, even more so than beans and rice. Don't tell me you use Uncle Ben's or such!
ReplyDeleteYeah, stick with chicken. But... that did make me laugh, for a bit.
Now, what I prefer to do and what happens, and eating offered grub, are all different, mind you. My sense of things, function, and the work of others... I can eat almost anything, and have. Some of it is better, some of it is worse, but I'm still sucking in air, so... Oddly, some of the worst stuff might actually be healthier, if you believe doctors. Then again, I don't, so... Sticking with my own game plan. Where and when I can.
I'm not up to making beans and rice, but not I am hungry for it. Might have to go somewhere that serves that on the side. I mix them, then add them to whatever else I'm eating... Meat in tortillas, in some sort of design, with other stuff. Yum!
No, I do not use Uncle Ben's (although admittedly I can be very lazy on occasion). Rather, I enjoy tinkering with the blank slate which is white rice, seeing what I can produce (one of the nice things about cooking is that you can usually eat your mistakes).
ReplyDeleteSausage is also a nice "throw-in" with rice. I also enjoy mixing in bacon every now and then. The result can really go good with some nice tortilla chips (not Doritos, or anything of that nature. I refer to tostada chips or some such made by a company for whom such products are practically their only business).
Years ago I used to try making my own tortillas with masa meal. Unfortunately the results never came out the way I wanted, although the "masa patties" I produced were a nice side dish when butter was spread on them.
White rice is... favored. I am in the minority, for a dozen reasons. So... you don't have to feel so bad. :p But, seriously, I can see your point. I'm actually just stuck on whole grain. And, yeah... eating mistakes... Have you ever caught yourself grumbling while you stuff your face? Mirror, laughter, all I'm suggesting. Even if it's good, but not what you were aiming for? *grumble*
ReplyDeleteOh, I wasn't thinking corn tortillas. I'd be in it for wheat, and white at that. Never could get into whole wheat. I have never even tried making corn tortillas. I just wouldn't use those very often, just to oven shape for tacos. But as easy as flower tortillas are, I can't really get into corn. - So... sort of a fried polenta cake? Sounds good to me. Could add butter, honey, maple syrup, or herbs. I don't know, I think I like the idea of the corn cake more than the idea of corn tortillas!
Flower tortillas, new and popular around here. Chrysanthemum tortillas are to die for. Gah!
ReplyDelete