Urology, Tornado Disaster, Mardi Gras, Traditions,

It turns out Matt has a small kidney stone. I understand they can be painful although the doc said it was about 75% through. He now has pills to relax his urethra at night to assist the passage. I know one person who had a lot of kidney stones over the years and suffered quite badly with them. I don't really know what causes them, I will have to look it up.

Terrible news about the Tornadoes in Alabama yesterday. They flattened a swath about a mile wide and at last count I heard 23 dead. One family survived by crouching into their bath tub. Trouble is not all bath tubs are iron any more so I imagine wouldn't be as safe. Apparently one of the tornadoes had 170 mph winds and was an EF-4. My sympathies go out to all the people with such great losses. Apparently the storms started so quickly people didn't have time to take shelter. Scary things tornadoes. Two on virtually the same path at the same time is horrific.

As you know, today is Mardi Gras and I have just heard about King Cake, think I might have heard of it before, looked up a recipe, somewhat complicated. It also includes a plastic baby and whoever gets that has to host a Mardi Gras party the following year. It's amazing how many different country traditions have something hidden in a cake. I remember as a kid we had a silver sixpence hidden in our Christmas Puddings. Whoever got it was supposed to have a lucky year. Once upon a time I had a charm bracelet which was all silver sixpenny pieces. I gave it to my cousin and it was stolen from her. Pity, this one is for sale on Etsy for almost $90. 

Since it is Mardi Gras, here's another southern recipe.

Singing Shrimp

Here is a dish from the famous Commander's Palace restaurant in New Orleans, where it is often

prepared at tableside. It's quick and easy, and oh so elegant.

8 Tbs (120 ml) butter
2-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped scallions (spring onions), green and white parts
1/2 cup (125 ml) sliced fresh mushrooms
4 to 6 large shrimp per person, peeled and deveined
2 Tbs (30 ml) brandy
1 tsp (5 ml) Worcestershire sauce
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
Toast points for garnish

Heat the butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and sauté the garlic, scallions, and mushrooms until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink, about 3 minutes. Add the brandy, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and cayenne and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.Serve over toast points or rice.

Servings: 4

Source: WW Recipes

Have a great day
 

Shopping, Urology, Delicious Recipe,

I have bitched about the shopping before, had arranged for someone to help on Wednesday, nobody available, so decided to go ahead and pick up Monday. When I got home, I discovered a bunch of stuff was missing, it didn't seem to have transferred through at all. Not sure why. The young man who delivered the groceries to our trunk was really helpful with a couple of things though. We have a chandelier which takes bulbs with the tiniest threads and he finally found them for us. Also a couple of those Grand Ferero Rocher I talked about last week. Yes I know, shouldn't have them, but... they really are delicious. We both ate the whole outside chocolate again this evening. Greedy pair.

Liz Seckman asked if we didn't have some young men in the building who would help with the shopping. Not as far as I know. She has four hulking great sons. Wish we were close.

So, hopefully the driver will be here tomorrow (today now) to take us to Matt's hospital appointment with the urologist. Talking of which, I seem to be having pain in my right kidney, will try and ask him about it when we get to the hospital, or before we leave.

This is a recipe I have just come across and have bought some drumsticks with which to make it. I do like drumsticks very much for their moist meat. This is  actually delicious. I cheated a lot, used coriander powder and dried tarragon. Crème fraîche was sour cream or cream with a little lemon juice. However, we both thought it was good. Forgot, no crusty bread, served it with egg noodles. However, the times quoted are a lot of nonsense, took a lot longer to brown the drumsticks for a start. But I do highly recommend this. Certainly a recipe I will cook again. I had 10 drumsticks in the end, had 3 each tonight, 2 for tomorrow. I could have eaten 5 quite happily. I might make up the quantity with some chicken breast.

Chicken Dijon

Melissa Clark's favorite part of the chicken is the drumstick, because it's juicy and easy to brown. She likes using only drumsticks in this mustardy stew—thickened with tangy crème fraîche—so that all

the meat cooks at the same rate.

1 tsp coriander seeds
2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
8 medium chicken drumsticks (about 3 pounds)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbs whole-grain mustard
3 Tbs crème fraîche or sour cream
2 tsp chopped tarragon
Crusty bread, for serving

1. In a large skillet, toast the coriander seeds over moderately high heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer the seeds to a mortar and let cool. Crush the seeds coarsely with a pestle.

2. In the same skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Season the chicken drumsticks with salt and pepper, add them to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until golden brown all over, about 10 (at least 20) minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 (5) minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and crushed coriander and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over moderately low heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

3. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover and keep warm. In a small bowl, whisk the mustard with the crème fraîche and tarragon. Whisk the mixture into the skillet and simmer the sauce over moderate heat until thickened, about 5 (nearer 10) minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet and turn to coat. Serve the chicken with crusty bread.

Servings: 4

Author: Melissa Clark
Source: Food and Wine

Have a great day