BREAD AND THE BEST PORK CHOPS YOU WILL EVER EAT!

I have decided that one of the culprits of modern society weight gain is bread.  First of all we eat way too much bread and we eat really awful bread. I have tried not to eat any bread at all and of course that does not work. What about sandwiches? What about French Toast? What about Grilled Cheese sandwiches? Hamburgers, Hot Dogs? I believe I just gave you an old, old recipe I have had forever for French Bread, I keep this loaf frozen and just slice off enough to go with a bowl of soup, stew, or casserole. If we leave our bread in the bread box or out on the counter in plain view........we will eat more. I have found, my personal preference to be, Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat VERY THIN bread. If we must eat bread, this is the way to go.........if you haven't tried it, give it a try. Makes great sandwiches and you are eating at least half of what you normally would.

I was so hungry for Pork Chops and saw someone on a cooking show, making something similar to this..........sooooo good!
Started with an extra thick beautiful pork chop salt and peppered and browned really well on both sides in a little olive oil.  Remove from the pan.
To the pan add chopped red onion and a couple cloves of chopped garlic........throw in a sprig of rosemary and stir until onions are soft.........don't burn the garlic.
Then add about 1/4 cup of white wine and 1/4 cup of chicken stock. Double this for 2 pork chops. Add a tsp or so of capers, a Tblsp of Dijon mustard and a couple Tblsp of butter.............Stir well. Now add the pork chops back to the pan......place in the oven til cooked through......only 5-10  min. Don't over cook. My pork chop was so moist and tender could cut it with a fork. Loved the sauce, a little different from the norm.

I was thinking this morning.........Do you remember when we didn't have to make a decision about what conditioner to use.....because we didn't use one!? We had only a few shampoos to pick from and no conditioners at all. Many people washed their hair with hand soap. Boy, has everything changed...........sigh.

MAKE UP AND GUACAMOLE!

I guess I have got to buy one of those lighted, magnifying make up mirrors.  I am seeing strange things on my face.......I had NO idea were there. Have you ever seen an old lady with a black hair growing out of her face somewhere and thought OMG why wouldn't she get rid of that hair?! Well, now I know.......she can't see it, folks. That poor old lady cannot see that hair or any of those other strange things. Even if she has glasses....makes no difference. Do you wonder why she has those rosy cheeks, black eye brows and red lips that go out of the lines? Well, that's it........she doesn't have a clue! She can't see. The moral of this story is...........more patience and understanding for these poor old ladies that tend to look like clowns, now you know why.

So, did you love the play offs on Sunday? Well, anyway, the Broncos, Patriots game was really exciting. Sorry for the Cardinals, was really cheering for them, since I lived in Phoenix for 10 years and still have family and friends there. Peyton and Cam.....wow, am hoping for a good game, will be a fun day! So, on Sunday I told you I would be eating chili and apple pie, I ended up eating guacamole and home made chips and a chocolate angel food cake! Did eat the chili the next day.
I know there are many ways to make guacamole........I will give you my real Mexican recipe. First and foremost.........NEVER put your avocados in the blender and turn your guacamole into mush or baby food!
2 perfect ripe avocados, peeled and spooned into a bowl
Mash up a bit with a fork.........not too mushed, just a little.
Add Chopped purple onion, 1 small chopped serrano pepper (seeded) , juice of a lime and about 1 tsp salt. I use Kosher salt for almost all of my cooking. I keep it and my course ground pepper in two little fancy Mexican dishes by my stove. This is the way the Mexicans make guacamole.   I usually add  a chopped tomato. Its up to you. AND people fry your own chips.......cut up fresh tortillas and fry.......so simple and sooooo much better!
Remember if you miss some of these posts or you are just looking for something to read........you can always google Cooking For Bob.  I really enjoy hearing from you. Also, if you have a recipe you are searching for.........I have it.

FOOTBALL-CHILI RULE

I am not sure if this is written somewhere......in the Bible, in History Books, maybe even the Constitution but I know it is a written rule somewhere.......... that you must eat Chili on the day of Football Play Offs! Maybe its because the weather is generally cold and believe me, it is going to be a cold game in North Carolina tomorrow! The Cardinals.......are in for a jolt! Leaving balmy Arizona and the Panthers have already been practicing in the snow.
And, who isn't excited about watching the Manning/Brady Show!! I can't wait!

I really doubt if there are many out there that have made more batches of Chili in their lives, than I have. Unless of course, you are a Chef in a Mexican restaurant. I have always loved Chili and have tried lots of different recipes, some much better than others. I believe when making Chili.......if you like it really spicy, as I do, you must be careful as you don't want to ruin the taste of the Chili with too much spice......theres a limit. Also, big difference between green chili and just good 'ol red chili. (American)
I also know that Chili is always better the second day........another rule......make a day ahead. Okay, heres my recipe for a really good old fashioned chili.
Brown, in your large cast iron pot, a lb of hamburger and about a lb of cut up sirloin.
Next add chopped onion (lots) and chopped garlic. When this is browned good add:
a can of diced tomatoes.....(I like fire roasted), about a cup of beer or more, any left over coffee from breakfast, about a cup of beef broth and a couple Tblsp of tomato paste..........stir and bring to a boil.
Now, here are the spices: 2 or more Tblsp of any of the following......Sriracha, Chipolte Tabasco, Cholula Hot Sauce.......whatever you have on hand.
a couple tsp of cumin, a sprinkle of Mexican oregano, a good tsp of New Mexico Chili Powder and a bunch of salt to taste.
Now add a couple cans of whatever drained beans you want. I like pinto but I guess I also like dark kidney beans or even black beans......what ever you have. Bring to a boil and simmer for an hour or so. You may want to add more liquid....beef broth or tomato sauce........just depends on how you like it.
Now, you just have to decide what to eat with..........crushed up soda crackers, always a favorite, tortilla chips, a quesadilla (my favorite) or even a grilled cheese sandwich.
I hope you enjoy the day of football tomorrow and your bowl of chili as much as I am going to. I think there might be another rule that you must eat homemade apple pie for dessert!

TIRES AND CHEESECAKE FOR ONE

First, if you didn't try the bean soup in my last blog.......you really need to. So good, I just finished my last bowl yesterday.
Okay, so a couple days ago I decided that while my car was cold I needed to check a few things. I checked the oil, fine, I checked the water, fine and then I checked the air in the tires, 5 #'s low. Oh, dear. Now I know that in cold weather your tires loose some air but I felt 5 #'s was a little too much. Being alone, I worry about having a blow out or some kind of tire problem. So, I pulled the car around to my garage door, got out the air compressor but do you think I could figure out how to attach my valve stem attachment to the air compressor? NO. The reason you are hearing this story......is that, as much as I hate it, my memory is slowing waaaaay up! I stood in the garage going through all of Bobs tools, talking loudly to myself, furious that I could not remember how to attach the two together. Finally I gave up. A few days later Bobs son, Bill, reminded me of how I did it before with the coupler. Oh, yes, now I remember. But he also said, 5#'s is not too much. I just need to watch it. Okay, that's done.
Do you ever get so hungry for cheesecake but don't really want to make one? I do. I refuse to buy a frozen one and to make one is just too much. But, I found the best recipe for one or two people.  Its so simple and believe me, it tastes just like a real baked cheesecake!
First make your crust: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 c. melted butter and 2 T sugar
Mix and press into a buttered 9" pie tin. No cooking.
Now, mix tog. 8 oz softened cream cheese. 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tblsp lemon juice, dash of vanilla and dash of salt.......beat in 2 eggs, one at a time and pour into the pie crust. Bake for 25 min at 325 degrees.
Remove and stir tog. 3/4 c sour cream and 2 Tblsp sugar  and smear over the warm cheesecake and back into the oven for 10 more min. Cool on the rack for an hour and then in frig for a couple hours.
I was so impressed with this.......serve with strawberries or blueberries or both thawed. I keep those in the freezer at all times.
Now, I was thinking. Does anyone still eat tapioca or tuna fish casserole? I do. My poor daughter Misty, had to sit at the dining room table for a couple hours, when she was about 5 years old because she refused to even take one bite of tuna casserole! She still hates it!  Enjoy the cheesecake!

DOGS AND ME, BEAN SOUP AND BREAD EVEN A VEGETARIAN WILL LIKE

Okay, I survived the extraction of the piece of root that was left after I pulled my tooth. Still a little temperamental so have been eating soups and soft foods...recipe later.
So during this past week, if you are on Face Book, you know the story of my new adopted dog, Pistol.  Pistol isn't a new dog, has been hanging out at my house off and on for a couple years. He is a Lab/Pit mix and his parents abandoned him, he ended up in the pound and I adopted him. So, now I have 4 wonderful dog companions! Oh, and by the way, Mollys eye seems fine now. But, oh, dear, when it comes time for me to move west this spring.......4 dogs are going to be a challenge. When I go to town, of course, they all want to go. Problem is, they all want to sit in the front seat by me! I wish I could video this, the two big dogs and Molly in one seat and Poncho the Chihuahua on my lap! When I run into the store, they all howl in unison! I'm sure I am the only one that thinks its cute!
I did make the most delightful bean soup. So easy and it could be a vegetarian soup, its up to you.  Wonderful on a cold night with the homemade French bread.
Bean soup:
Put a little olive oil in a large pot and saute: chopped onion, chopped carrot, chopped
                                                                       celery and chopped garlic. Sprinkle with
                                                                       salt and pepper
When soft, add a drained can or two (depending on how much you are making) of cannelli beans or (I didn't have cannelli beans) small white butter beans (limas)
One or two small cans of tomato's either diced, chopped or whole
2-4 cups of chicken broth OR you could use vegetable broth
I threw in a sprig of fresh rosemary and thyme
A bunch of chopped Kale...........simmer about 20 minutes or more and serve with French bread. This French Bread recipe is so easy, I have been making this same recipe for 50 years! Now, I know you can buy a baguette at any grocery store but there isn't anything that smells better then homemade bread baking on a cold day, is there?
In a large glass bowl (run bowl under hot water to warm it up) place 1 1/4 cups of warmish/hot water............sprinkle over 1 pkg yeast..........stir til dissolved.
Then add 1/2 TBLsp of salt and 1/2 Tblsp melted butter.........stir
Now add about 3 1/2 cups of flour or less.......knead and form into a ball......place in a clean lightly greased bowl and cover with a clean towel and let raise in a warm place until dbl in size. This is so easy..........I usually turn my oven on to low and let the bread raise on top of my stove on a cold day.
Now, punch the dough down after it has risen. Sort of roll it out just a little and then roll it up in a log shape, tucking under the ends. Place it carefully on a greased baking sheet, sprinkled with cornmeal. If you don't have cornmeal........you can just forget it but cornmeal should be a staple in your kitchen.
Let raise again........covered......until doubled. Set oven at 450 degrees.........when bread has doubled.........with a razor blade, slice 4 diagonal slices on the top....carefully.
Bake for 25 minutes, remove and brush on some egg white that you have mixed with a little water and return to oven for 5 more minutes! You will absolutely love this......so easy and so delicious! You can easily double this recipe and have 2 delightful loaves.

MOLLYS EYES MY TOOTH AND NO RECIPE

Okay, so this was a very hard day yesterday. I noticed that my dog, Mollys left eye was rolling back in her head. I was devastated. Molly came from the Humane Society in Cabo San Lucas. We think she is about 10 or 11 years old. I have noticed that she was getting cataracts quite awhile ago but she still seems to see fine. So, I spent most of the day, crying, every time I looked at her. We had another dog from Cabo, Ruth, that went blind in her old age but died of a stroke shortly after she lost her sight. But, this morning when we woke up, her eye seemed normal. I know there is not much I can do for her. I've done some research and we'll just take it a day at a time.
Then, over Christmas I had a loose tooth, the only tooth left on my bottom left side to chew with........sigh. Went to Dentist, wouldn't pull til off Plavix for 7 days.......two days later, I pulled it myself. If you ever do this......place a wet tea bag on the cavity and it stops the bleeding right away! Anyway, I didn't get all of the root, so today back to the dentist to dig out rest of the root. Oh, dear, will be sore for awhile.
So you are reading all of this.........why? Because, I won't be posting a recipe for a couple of days.......made chicken soup and jello......I'm prepared........everyone surely knows how to make chicken soup and jello........?
I wanted to post a picture of Molly but still can't figure out how to do it from my phone!! Maybe someone can give me an idea..........?

FOOTBALL SUNDAY AND CHICKEN WINGS! AND HALF OF A CAKE!

Well, I have discovered there are good things and there are bad things about living alone. One good thing I have found is that I can eat whatever I want to, whenever I want to.  So today, I ate an entire half of a chocolate angel food cake! Actually it was a half of a half. I saw a cooking show where Trisha Yearwood made a chocolate angel food cake. It looked so good.....I jumped up and made a half of one......I have a small bunt pan so made it in that. I ate half of it while watching the Seahawks and the Vikings. Can you even believe how exciting these playoff games are?!
So, I am also a creature of habit. On Sundays Bob and I always had chicken wings while we watched our Nascar races. So its chicken wings for the playoff games today. Now I know there are lots of recipes for chicken wings. There are Chinese sticky wings, there are barbeque sauce wings and there are hot wings. Well, really the original chicken wings were the hot ones and that is what I make. I have given you this recipe in the past but I'll give it to you again. So easy and by far the best hot wings you will ever eat. I promise.
Cut your wings into three pieces.....I always fry the tiny ends......worth a bite.
Deep fat fry the wing pieces for about 10 min a batch. I have a deep fat fryer but you can fry them in a heavy pan on the stove top also. (about 350-375 degrees)
remove, place on paper towel and then into a 9 x 13 pan. I always use a glass pan
In a saucepan on stove melt one stick of butter and pour in one 12 oz bottle of Louisianna Hot Sauce.........stir.....bring to a boil.......shut off the heat.
When you have finished frying all of the wings......pour the sauce over all of them and turn them to coat.
Into the oven 350 for about 30 minutes.........I always turn them once while cooking.
Serve with celery sticks and ranch dressing.
That's it folks.......Now back to the game.
AND No, I didn't win the 900 million but will shoot for the 1.3 billion on Wed. I did get the power ball.......worth $12.00!

SNOW! GREEN CHILI AND 1 BILLION $ JACKPOT

Opened the blinds this morning to a dark, gloomy day. Okay, you can either choose to go into depression and slink around all day in your pj's or you can make green chili and go buy lottery tickets! I chose the latter. For those that know me, you know I am a gambler but I only allow myself one lottery ticket a week. Well, that just went out the window! The jackpot is at 900 million as I write.........wow.......I know, I know the odds but someone has to win and it could be me! So, I loaded up all the dogs, warmed up the car, drove through blinding snow (just kidding, we only got a dusting) into town to buy my tickets. Now back home and green chili.
Every time I make green chili, it is different. Everyone seems to make it a little different. My son, Dustin, the Chef, uses tomitillos in his, its delicious. I tend to use what I have on hand. Remember, it is called green chili for a reason....its made with green chilis.
I had 1/2 of a pork loin in my freezer, thawed it, cut it into cubes and browned it in a tiny bit of oil. Loins don't have much fat. Remember to be patient when browning meat, the meat will turn loose from the pan, when it is browned.
Chopped about a cup of onions, white and purple, and dumped those in. Sitr
Then added the spices: 1 tsp cumin, New Mexico Chili Powder, a sprinkling of Mexican oregano, salt and pepper Stir and sprinkler with a couple Tablespoons of flour
Now, add a couple cups of chicken broth and stir to bring all together. Now, in real life, I would char, peel and seed a bunch of Pablano chilis but I don't have any. So, I am adding canned chilis. Its okay, people, you do what you have to do!
Add a cut up and cubed tomato
And again, in real life, I would add a can of beer but again, I don't have any beer, so I added 1 cup of white wine. Perfect. Taste test. Perfect.
Chopped a bunch of cilantro and added. You can always add more water as you go. Just before serving I mix a couple Tblsp of flour with a couple Tblsp of soft butter and stir in as a thickener.
I have some tamales in the freezer so will thaw a couple, warm them and add to chili in my bowl. Is there anything better on a cold day than chili? Sorry, Vegetarians. I know, I know, you are healthy.
Enjoy. Good luck tonight with the lottery draw! Wouldn't it be fun if someone we know would win?!
Oh, as soon as I figure out how to move the pictures from my phone to my PC I will be publishing pictures of my food!

HERE I AM AGAIN! AND POTATO SOUP

Okay, I have decided I must do something constructive every day, so I am going to pursue my blog. I just checked into my Blogger.com and saw that I have had over 12,000 views! Wow, I am excited about that, I always thought only family and friends looked at this. This blog will be a bit about growing older and a bit about eating. Whom is not excited about both of those subjects!?!
For those that don't know me........a little info.......I will be 73 in March.  I am a widow. I live alone with my 3 dogs.  I am the Mother of four, I lost my oldest son to cancer when he was 48 yrs old in 2011.  I have 8 grand children.  I lived in Mexico for 21 years.  I lost the love of my life, my husband Bob, in April of 2014.  I love to cook and even though I am only cooking for myself now........I still love to read recipe books, watch cooking shows and cook up a storm in my little kitchen.
I am afraid that as we grow older we tend to get in a routine or a rut. Doing the same things everyday in a certain order. It feels comfortable but oh, dear, very destructive to our lifestyle and our adventurous senses. So, I decided to shake things up a bit. Dr. Oz says to try brushing out teeth with our left hand......I tried.....I ended up missing my mouth and brushing tooth paste over the side of my face!  Then, I decided to really shake things up and vacuum my carpet starting at the end of the carpet that I have always vacuumed last. That was a real adventure. Okay, I won't watch the regular TV shows that I like, instead I will read. I spent an hour looking at my library of books, trying to decide on one. I have many that I have started and not finished........is my mind loosing interest too soon? Is this common for the elderly? I decided against Fifty Shades of Grey (a friend gave me) probably not a good idea.........zeroed in on David and Goliath (underdogs, misfits and the art of battling giants) a book my brother gave me long ago, I thought I had read but after thumbing through, I realize I hadn't. So, today I will read and make potato soup.
Now I know that most of you know how to make potato soup but sometimes, its just seeing the suggestion that refreshes your taste buds to give it a try. Since most of us in the US are experiencing some cold weather, any home made soup is wonderful. We usually have all the ingredients for potato soup on hand, always good for a last minute meal.
First brown about 4-6 slices of bacon.........I like mine crispy
While that is cooking......cut up and dice a couple potato's 
Put the diced potato's in a pot with water, bring to boil and boil and cook just til a bit soft but still a little crispy
In your soup pot put a little of the bacon drippings and saute a diced onion until soft. At this point you can add chopped celery if you like that flavor in your soup. Sprinkle the onion and/or celery with a little flour and stir
Now pour in your milk, about 3 to 4 cups depending on how much you are making
You can use 1/2 n 1/2 for part of the milk if you like it a little richer
Sprinkle in salt and pepper and Tabasco.
Do not boil........just simmer until almost a boil and add your diced potato and chopped bacon. Love this with crispy French bread. Enjoy
I WILL BE POSTING THIS TO FACE BOOK BUT YOU CAN ALSO GOOGLE MY BLOG AT "COOKING FOR BOB".........I WOULD LOVE COMMENTS ON ANYTHING........GOOD OR BAD! THANKS!