Just a reminder--

We want to see our food blog friends whether they are furry, feathery or scaly so post a photo of your pet and don't forget a link back to us. Then send your permalink to our e-mail, pbetouffee@gmail.com.

Deadline for November's Food Bloggy Pets of the Month posts is October 30th (or so).

Then everyone drop by around the 1st of November to see who's who at the zoo.

A big thanks to Sweetnicks for adding our event to Sticky Dates.

Something for the Candyman--challenge

I saw this Challenge advertised on Laura Rebecca's Kitchen and decided I'd try a recipe I've had around for a while. The host for this challenge is Chronicles in Culinary Curiosity. The big ingredient should be sugar so what a fine time to test my Grandmother, Lavonne's Sugar Pie.

This is a pie she'd make to use up the leftover pie dough. I'm not sure of the origin but she made it when her kids were little and I suppose her mother made it for her. My uncle called it Vaseline pie because of the texture and color, it is a bit pale. This made me reluctant to eat it as a kid but once I did I was a fan for life. To me it tastes a bit like the base for pecan pie, without the pecans. I've seen variations that use brown sugar but never this exact recipe. It's sweet and make sure you don't overcook it.

Lavonne's Sugar Pie
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oleo
2 cups boiling water

Mix together then add one tablespoon of oleo (margarine or butter). Add 2 cups of boiling water, slowly while stirring. Stir until everything is dissolved. Pour into 8-9 inch unbaked pie crust. (I used a tart pan) Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Bake 350 degrees until filling is just set in center--it should jiggle a bit--about 45-50 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

I remember she kept the leftovers in the ice box but with only sugar and a bit of margarine I can't understand why. If you do, let come to room temp before serving.

Soups on!

The weather has dipped into the 60s which is a sure sign of fall in Southern California. Another sign, we're getting the dreaded Santa Ana Winds. Now before the winds do hit, they usually send the temps skyrocketing, I felt in the need for some tummy-warming soup.

The cafeteria at the Getty Center is very good, for institutional food, and they really excel in the soup category. After trying one last week I came home to create a new one. I just never thought of combining the beans with potato but the taste and flavors work well together.

Garbanzo bean and potato soup with kale

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup diced potato--I used red skinned
about 1 lb of browned sausage--I used chorizo
1/2 cup diced onion, sauteed
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms, sauteed--I like Crimini
1/2 cup chopped and seeded tomato
about a cup of fresh kale, chopped into bit sized pieces
1 teaspoon cumin
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup beef broth
salt and pepper

This was simmered for about an hour. The kale is 'scratchy' if you under cook it.

This soup is pretty much a meal in a bowl, which I like on busy nights, and I'm lucky enough to have a husband who thinks the same. He's quite easy to please. Just add some garlic bread and he's been served dinner. Oh, and make sure there's dessert after.

Blog Action Day: Let's hear from you

The question was asked, "What if every blog published a post discussing the same issue, on the same day?

Today is Blog Action Day and since we are three women concerned with the environment I'm starting a post and hope we get a comment or two. Our question is,

"What do you do to help the environment?"

So use this post to tell the world what you do and then pass this on to anyone; everyone. Let's get talking and working before it's too late.

It's all up to us to help out where we can. Can't think of anything new? Here are fifty ways to leave your old habits behind.

Here are just a few post from PBE that support a better environment.
Here comes the sun
Easy summer supper
You gonna use that?
Kermit was wrong, it's easy being green
Rooftop garden

yes, i'm alive

i apologize for being such a flake, but i've been quite busy with my [ahem] "career." it appears that i have, perhaps unwittingly, put some things in motion that are taking my career to the "next level," and have triggered things like meetings, conference calls, schmoozing, speaking engagements, etc...oh, and, allegedly keeping up with my clients, as well. i'm trying not to panic. obviously, i haven't been cooking a ton. in fact, for dinner last night, we ate something embarrassing and that something rhymes with shmaco shmell. i'm not proud. add that to the fact that our wireless router, which was less than a year old, took a total crap so my internet was basically out. we spent about a month or so trying to trace the problem and then about a month or so in denial about it before we finally broke down and ordered a new one. anyway, all this complaining is by way of explaining that the last couple of months have been a perfect storm for me not posting on pbe.

during the time of broken internet, i did cook a few things and save pictures, so i'll have a few things to put up soon. here's the first one: baked cod with panko crust.



i've never tried panko bread crumbs at home. cate over at sweetnicks l-o-v-e-s them, so i finally broke down and tried them. i didn't think the cod was too bad, but i don't think my husband loved the result. the rest of the plate was pretty tasty, though: quinoa cooked in chicken broth with rosemary, garlic and olive oil; white beans with sage and balsamic brown butter; and homegrown tomatoes with balsamic, olive oil and basil. all the herbs were from my herb garden.

Don't give up on us

We have no excuse other than we are slugs with this food blog lately. If we were to offer something it would be our busy, odd schedules that seem to rule our lives. Doodles, taken by the Gypsies, Lil Bird, chained to her desk and me, well, I am trying to get noticed in the art world; make that art county.

Other blogs seem to run smoothly with loads of photos and recipes while ours languishes with past successes. I'd be embarrassed to show what I've been cooking lately. Throwing a chicken breast on the BBQ and opening a bag of salad with, I know, the horror--bottled dressing. We haven't even been eating out unless you count the takeout from Baja Fresh.

The approaching holidays scare the bejebus out of me. I always cook up quite a pile of Christmas goodies for friends--can't disappoint them--but can't find the time, either. I'm sure it will all come together, it always seems to.

Will we get back to it? I've confidence we will. All three of us have a love for cooking; eating, too so life will settle after a while and out of that dust should come some great recipes.

October Food Bloggy Pets

We have a new pets this month from Sarah at What Smells So Good? A dog and two cats that came by way of rescue from Petsmart. This is just one of her kittehs, named Bitt. Click on the link for pix of the rest. Good for you Sarah and welcome to Food Bloggy Pets for October.





Next is my very own Buddy-dog all done up in his Halloween costume. I know, it's a shame to do this to him but it's too cute to pass up.

Buddy only sat still for this photo session because I had treats in my hand other wise he tries to hide from me. It's a wonder he doesn't kill me in my sleep.

Last, but certainly not least, is Buddy-cat the traveling companion to our Doodles and her hunky husband. Buddy-cat is waiting patiently for the little trick-or-treaters to show up so he can jump them for their candy.

Almost there, but not quite

This is from Cute Overload and will have to do until tomorrow when I post our Food Bloggy Pets for October. So if you've missed the deadline you have another day.

Who can look and this and not smile!?