March 14, 2009

You probably know that it’s almost St Patrick’s Day, but did you know that it’s also Potato Ho Down time too?  I bet you didn’t!

I was thinking about the two events, and two words came to mind:  green potatoes!  That’s right, you heard me correctly…green potatoes.  And no green food coloring is involved; just good edible ingredients.

I browsed my cookbook collection for an idea, and thumbed through “Savoring the Day: Recipes and Remedies to Enhance your Natural Rhythms” by Judith Benn Hurley.   It’s mostly vegetarian, and a little bit hippy-dippy, but it’ a pretty good cookbook, although it’s out of print now.  I found one of her lunch recipes called Dilled Potato Pie, which is supposed to be calming.  I figured we could all use more calm, and the recipe fit my criteria of green and potatoes so away I went.  I made a few changes and here’s what I came up with.  My entry in this month’s Potato Ho Down is Madame Potato Ho Wolfie Lee’s Dilled Potato Pie!

Green Potatoes with Pesto

Madame Potato Ho Wolfie Lee’s Dilled Potato Pie
(adapted from “Savoring the Day” by Judith Benn Hurley)

2 pounds red potatoes, peeled and sliced
1/2 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, pressed
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided usage
1/4 cup milk
1-1/2 cups watercress leaves, chopped
1/4 cup fresh Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced
2 tablespoons fresh chives, snipped
3 eggs, lightly beaten
6 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the sliced potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water.  Add a big dash of salt, and boil until completely tender, about 15 minutes, depending on how thick the slices are.  While the potatoes are cooking, saute the onion and pressed garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil until translucent.

When the potatoes are tender, drain them and add them to a large bowl.  Mash them with the milk and 2 tablespoons olive oil.  Add the cooked onions and garlic, watercress, parsley, dill, chives, eggs, parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.

Spray a pie dish with non-stick spray, and spoon the potato mixture evenly into the dish, smoothing the top.  Bake until hot throughout and beginning to brown, about 40-45 minutes.   Serve hot with pesto or a pat of butter.

Green Potatoes with Butter

I have to say I was skeptical about this recipe…I was afraid it would be too bland, or just look too “Kermit-the-Frog-in-a-blender”.  Sorry for that visual, Kermie fans.  I’m a fairly adventurous cook though, so I plowed through and resisted the temptation to substitute spinach for the watercress.  The only time I’ve ever had watercress was raw in the vegetarian chef salad at Cafe Express; I’ve never had it cooked or even bought it fresh.  I was very pleasantly surprised though.  I didn’t get a watercress flavor at all.  All of the flavors blended together very harmoniously, but mildly.

The pie was really delicious!  I liked it with a pat of real butter on top (you are dealing with mashed potatoes, after all), but it was equally good with a drizzle of pesto over it or sitting in a pool of pesto with more parmesan sprinkled around.  I think this recipe could be modified to accommodate any flavors you like: different cheeses, adding hot sauce, or substituting other herbs.  You could also play with adding other vegetables to the potatoes, including spinach, broccoli, asparagus, corn, whatever you like!  But do try the watercress!  And do remember it for your St Patrick’s Day menu if you need an unusual side dish.

Green Potatoes: Over the Top!

See the complete collection of March’s Potato Ho Down dishes hosted by Evil Chef Mom on March 18th.  For more info on the monthly Potato Ho event, get the scoop at Noble Pig.  And don’t be afraid of eating green potatoes!

~BigSis

March 12, 2009

Lean Mean Green Cuisine!

I really do eat this way.  While it’s true that LilSis and I are 1/8th Irish, I’m not having this green cuisine in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. This is how a too-tired-to-cook vegetarian can eat, and still get some nutrition.  I put this dinner together on the fly and then realized it was all green so I had to get a photo of it since March 17th is right around the corner!  It’s not a prize-winning photo, but you get the idea.

I’m obsessed with asparagus right now, it’s like vegetable crack to me.  I can’t get enough of it.  Same with hummus.  This version of my Healthy Hummus has a small handful of fresh chives thrown in.  I also have some delicious green beans that SisMama made, without bacon or ham, thank you very much!  Add a green salad, and my lean mean green cuisine is complete (OK, it’s just lettuce, but it’s all I had and I put dressing on it, so TA DA, it’s now salad).  St. Patrick’s Day or not, it was a scrumptious meal!  It’s funny how your palate can change.  The longer I eat clean, the more I crave pure unprocessed good foods that are fuel for the bod.  Now, if I could just lose my craving for Kettle Chips!

Happy Patrick’s Day everyone!  And don’t forget to eat your green stuff!

~BigSis

March 10, 2009

Thanks for the scoop on your favorite mascara, LilSis! I love mascara, and don’t leave the house without it. No mascara means skimpy lashes that don’t show up, but the right mascara means long, thick lashes. It may be the most important part of my morning face, so I’m not willing to compromise on it.

A long time ago, I used Lancome Definicils regularly, but it’s just too darn expensive for me ($24), especially when it seems to dry up fairly quickly. I’ve also used lots of the drugstore brands, and didn’t like any of the Cover Girl, Maybelline, Max Factor or Almay mascaras. The cult favorite in the pink and green tube smears and flakes like crazy on me.  At some point, I heard that the same company owns both Lancome and Loreal, and that many of their products are very similar; they’re just marketed differently under different company names to target a different consumer at a different price point.

I have two favorite mascaras now, both Loreal, and I use both of them every day. This may sound like overkill but let me splain; I’m not a high-maintenance girl but this method has worked for me for many years now. First I use two thin coats of Loreal Voluminous in black or carbon black.  It gives thickness and volume (hence the name) to the lashes. Next, I add a light coat of Loreal Lash Out. Lash Out is a thinner formula that won’t give me the volume I want, but it lengthens (without fibers) and helps preserve the curl I’ve gotten from my Shu Eumura eyelash curler. Without the Lash Out, the Voluminous would let the curl straighten out during the day.  I like both of these mascaras with the straight brush rather than the curved brush.

Loreal Voluminous Mascara

I love both of these formulas. I have oily skin, and neither of these smears, smudges or flakes AT ALL. They make waterproof formulas of both of these, but I only use them if I’m going to be in the water since the regular formulas wear so well. They whisk away cleanly with my favorite makeup remover; Lancome BiFacil.  As I’ve said before, BiFacil is definitely a product worth the higher price point!

If I need to spend extra money for a quality product, I will, but there is no need with mascara, which is great since you replace it so frequently. The Loreal mascaras run around $6 to $8 depending on where you buy them, and there are frequently $1 or $2 coupons in the Sunday paper for them. Unless there’s a new miracle mascara to hit the shelves, I’m pretty happy with my Loreal mascara duo!

~BigSis

March 8, 2009

Did we have spring break when we were kids? Waaayyy back when we were kids? I don’t remember ever having a spring break; only 2 weeks at Christmas and a full 3 months of summer. Maybe we did have spring break, and I just forgot. Perhaps my memory lapse has something to do with all those brain cells I murdered unceremoniously in the 80s. Surely not.

At any rate, it seems like spring break season is in full swing in school districts around the country, and spring makes me think of summer which makes me think of vacation. I’ve heard on the news for a while that more people are doing the “staycation” thing, where they stay close to home and enjoy local attractions to save money in this treacherous economy. The same can’t be said for expectant moms who are heading to Babymoon Destinations for one last adult only holiday.

But if you’re going to take a real vacation, let me share this cool site I just heard about from my friend SA. It’s vrbo.com, which stands for Vacation Rentals by Owner. Instead of paying exhorbitant hotel rates, this site allows you to search all over the world for condos, homes, apartments, villas, etc., that are offered for rent by the owners. I’m not planning a vacation, but I had a ton of fun browsing all of the homes available for rent. It was amazing to see how many there were, but it was even more fun to see all of the gorgeous homes for sale in the Caribbean. I couldn’t stop myself from imagining being in a beautiful house in Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica, just enjoying myself, but that’s just a dream for now. However, it doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to a little traveling. Someday (soon!) LilSis and I will take our dream trip to Greece and Italy, and this will be a great resource! Here are a few of the homes I found for rent:

• A luxury vacation log home in Wasilla, Alaska. Yep, the same Wasilla where Sarah Palin served as Mayor before she went on to become the Governor of the state. For $1300-$1800 per week, you get 3 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths, a cook’s kitchen, wi-fi and cable in a woodsy setting.
• A condo on a private island on Lake Travis in the Hill Country of Texas. $109-$159 per night gets you 1 bedroom, 1 bath, a 42″ flat screen TV, views of the lake and marina, and access to tennis courts, fitness facilities, and hot tubs.
• A chalet on the peak of Mt. Kanimbla in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Talk about an escape! For $365 Australian dollars per night (about $234 US), you get a one bath studio with a private hot tub, fireplace, and a kitchen stocked with food staples! And you’re surrounded by the native wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and eagles. Trust us, it is the most breath-taking scenery, sounds, smells. You won’t regret it. Australia is a perfect place for road trips too, so if you’re feeling adventurous, you could look up hiring a van to drive around in. Maybe you could go up to Brisbane. There are some great van rentals there too. Click here for more information.
  

  Australia Chalet

• A villa in the village of Kefalas on the Greek island of Crete. Check out the 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, private pool and equipped kitchen, all for 60 to 200 Euros per night (about $76 to $253 US).
• A penthouse apartment with a view of the Coliseum in Rome, Italy. This penthouse has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths on 2 levels, with a year-round terrace on the upper level. It’ll run you 180 Euros per night ($228 US).
  

  View from Rome Penthouse

• A villa in Tramonte in the Lucca area of Tuscany, Italy. How about a 1600s antique villa with 4 floors, 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, a private pool, and an onsite caretaker? The property features an antique olive oil mill, fruit trees, olives, vines, forests, and horses. The rates start at 2380 Euros per week and go to 4760 Euros per week, depending on the season (about $3013 US to $6025 US per week).
  

  Tuscan Villa

  I’m ready to pack a suitcase, how about you? Once you get your rental reservations made, don’t forget to check out the airfare deals available now! You can even use this private jet charter cost estimator if you want a bit of luxury!

~BigSis

March 6, 2009

Thanks for the Borba update, LilSis.  I’m still using the Borba Firming Body Trio, and still liking the results.  I’m really bummed that QVC isn’t carrying the products any longer, since their price was so great.

What is it that makes me STILL wonder if there is a better anti-cellulite solution out there, even though I like the Borba products?  I don’t know if that’s a woman thing, or if I’m just fickle and always searching for more when it comes to beauty and body products.

I’ve been digging around the internet for a couple of hours looking for well-reviewed anti-cellulite products without caffeine.  Guess what?  I can’t find any. Seems caffeine is the primary ingredient in all of these products, but I’m determined to stay away from it.  My search will go on, but meanwhile I’ll keep using the Borba trio.

~BigSis

March 4, 2009

What the “L” is BigSis up to?

• Loving the thought of taking long after-work walks next week…thanks to Daylight Savings Time!  Bring it on!
• Looking forward to spring.  It’s been a weird winter in Texas this year.
• Lusting over tonight’s Lost reunion episode!

More of this tonight??

• Lunching on these meatless Gourmet GardenSteaks in the Baja variety.  These are not your usual critter-free patties; they’re very delicious, well-seasoned and filling.
• Livid that I got suckered into this season’s Bachelor!  Livid, I tell you!  Snarl!

And most of all:

• Lifting up in prayer all those around me going through a rough time…my friend who just lost her dad, my friend whose long-time BF just came to light as a long-time cheater, my friend who’s trying to discern if her dating relationship is of God or not, my friend whose brother is struggling with the path his life is taking, and LilSis and her family dealing with Sarah’s increasing health problems.  Love all of you!

~BigSis

March 2, 2009

Remember the other day when I talked about my undying love for the OXO Good Grips Pop Containers?  I’ve been skipping up to Bed Bath & Beyond every weekend to buy a few more containers.  If I only buy 2 or 3 each trip, it seems to my little brain that I’m not spending as much money on this project as it would if I got them all in one fell swoop.  Just a little psychological game I play on myself.

So today, I made another trip to BB&B and picked up the last two containers I need for Phase 1 of my pantry organization project.  All of my flours, sugars and cocoa are contained and labeled!

OXO Good Grips Pop Containers at work

They fit nicely on one shelf, and make me a verry happy girl!  I could go crazy and start Phase 2, which will be containing the lentils, popcorn, beans, and rices… all of those little bags of stuff, you know.  But I’m pretty content for now and the bags aren’t bugging me at this minute.  Next week may be a different story, but everything’s good in BigSis’ pantry today!

~BigSis

February 28, 2009

Happy Caturday!  Thanks to ICanHasCheezburger, we can start our weekend with a laugh or two!  You KNOW by now how much I love me some Cats in Hats:

These two kitty pies aren’t in hats, but they crack me up…look at their cute little expressive faces.

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

~BigSis

February 26, 2009

Today’s post is being slightly delayed due to technical difficulties.  To be completely honest, BigSis sent a virus of some horrible magnitude to LilSis and she’s still trying to get rid of it today!  So sorry, LilSis!  I found some bikini photos of Heidi Klum that showed her to be a normal woman with the usual kinds of body challenges that we all face, and thinking it was funny, I forwarded them to LilSis.  So, when LilSis opened those photos, her computer sustained an astronomical virus attack.  That’s what I get for spreading photos that are unkind.  Sorry, LilSis.  Sorry, Heidi.   I hope I’ve learned a lesson from this (head hanging in shame).

~BigSis

February 25, 2009

I was out running errands the other day, and happened to notice a small sticker on the back of the SUV in front of me.  It said “Wag More, Bark Less”.  It’s a simple arrangement of 4 little words, but such a profound statement, don’t you think?  It struck me immediately as a great philosophy for life, kind of like those “my dog taught me all I need to know about life” books.

Think about it with me for a minute.  What if we did wag more and bark less?  What would that look like?  First of all, to me wagging more would mean outwardly and gratefully showing our joy at the things that please us – without reservation or self-consciousness.

The other part of that is that more things would please us.  Have you noticed how little it takes to make a dog’s day?  It seems that they think this walk will be the best walk ever, that this meal will be the most delicious thing they ever tasted, that this game of frisbee has to be the most thrilling experience in their life, and that sitting near you on the couch is the greatest fulfilling moment they could imagine.  How would it change our lives if we were a little more dog-like, and focused on celebrating the simple joy in our lives and being thankful for it all?

Now the “bark less” part.  When I think about barking in human terms, it conjures up images of people complaining, being angry or being verbally aggressive or even abusive…all things we could absolutely use less of.  All things that reflect the opposite of gratitude and joy.

I know that we don’t literally have tails to wag or barks to silence, but I think this sentiment is going to be on my mind this week.  I hope it will.  Wag more, bark less.  I like it.

~BigSis