Doggie Risotto

I like to make my own doggy food. 

Why?

  My dog is quite large due to his bad habit of swiping the kids food when they aren't looking,
  and
  food for fat pups is quite expensive.
  and
  I know what is in it and can modify it according to his needs (ie Low-Fat)

What I end up doing when I can is something like the recipe below...

(You can use whatever you have in your fridge or freezer, or meat that you get on sale at the grocery store also and it works great.)

 Doggie Risotto

1. Cook 2-3 cups of rice according to directions.  (I normally use brown rice but had some risotto/arborio that needed to be gone from my cupboards.) 
2. Brown meat in large pot.  (I used 5 lbs of turkey meat that I got on sale.  Also added some cutlets that I had in the freezer that had slight freezer burn.)
3. To cooked meat add a bag or so of frozen veggies or odds and ends of veggies from fridge you need to get rid of.  (I like to use the pea/carrot/bean/corn mix that comes frozen in a bag when it's on sale for about $1.)
4. Mix the cooked rice to the meat mixture and stir.  
5. At this point if you need to add a little water to make it sticky do so, or you can add broth.  (I actually used a jar of turkey gravy that I didn't want to eat.) 
6. Stir and cool.  
7. Store in fridge and serve OR make into patties and freeze.  

My dog LOVES this recipe and it's much healthier than the dog food I normally buy.  (Have you READ the labels on the dog food cans and bags?)

Indiana Jones Cupcakes

Here were the cupcakes from my 6 yr old's birthday in December (yes, I am very behind!)

maps, crystal skull, hats, whips, snakes...

The Crystal Skull

More hats, snakes, coins, flowers for the girls

He wanted Indiana Jones (of course) so we all pitched in to make little fondant toppers.   The hats and whips (all brown things) we made from warming Tootsie Rolls in the microwave for about 6 seconds  then shaping.  The rest was regular fondant that we painted with petal dust or food markers.   The cake was just Devil's Food with chocolate buttercream icing.  I sprinkled crushed Oreos on top to make "dirt."
It was fun and I think they came out really cute!

Resolutions

I have made a resolution to myself to be mindful of eating out and plan meals better. We ate out WAY too much last year because of poor planning and a busy schedule.  This year we have only eaten out ONE TIME so far!  I'm very excited!


We put a dry erase board calendar up in the kitchen and I put a tentative menu on it.  If anyone has suggestions or disagrees we can change them before I hit the grocery store.  I make the plan and go through my coupons before shopping.  I don't plan my menu to the coupons unless I have some REALLY good ones (not usually.)

Does anyone have any meal planning tips or ideas to share?

¡Patacones!

Patacones are what we call them in Panama.  In some places (Puerto Rico for example) they call them tostones.  
Nothing brings back memories like a good plate of patacones.
Yummy grilled chicken and patacones on the beach... 
I remember saving my money to ride my bike to the KC (Knights of Columbus) in Margarita to get a hamburger and patacones.  Later I found their sancocho was the bomb and had that and patacones instead.  

We have always had problems in Arkansas finding good green platanos (plantains.)  Usually the stores have them, but they are maduros (ripe) and I despise ripe plantains.  (I know, most people love them.)  When mom moved to Puerto Rico she discovered the island secret of using green bananas, which are much cheaper in PR (and Arkansas.)  So, now I use green bananas if I can't find good platanos.  They really taste almost the same if they are very green although maybe a little silkier in texture.  They are easier to peel and cheaper. 

Patacones

• Peel plantains or green bananas.  You have to do this quickly and right before frying or they turn black.  Be careful as they will also turn your fingers black if you don't wash right away! 

Score on several sides and peel skin off

Cut into thumb sized pieces

Fry one time and drain

Put between waxed paper or brown paper and squash!

Fry again til golden

Drain and salt!

Chicha de Saril

This is one of those recipes that takes me back to my childhood...

Here is my recipe using dried flowers (because, I am in Arkansas and can't get fresh ones!)

Saril, is the calyx of the hibiscus flower.  You can find dried ones at most Mexican or Latin American grocery stores.  In Mexico they are called "Jamaica" flowers because the drink originates from Jamaica.  (Well, technically it comes from tropical Africa...)

When it's boiled you get a lovely deep red drink (similar to a Kool Aid punch) which actually is very good for you.  As a kid, I was told by my baby-sitters that it was good for your liver and iron and would keep you from getting colds.  Unlike other concoctions I didn't mind drinking this because it was very, very, yummy. 

The truth?

Hibiscus tea, Chica de Saril, Jamaica, Sorrell Punch, Hibiscus punch... whatever you call it
HAS BEEN SHOWN to:
Lower cholesterol,
Lower blood pressure,
Help sugar levels,
Boost immune system
and aid in weight loss!

*Now, with all the sugar in it I'm not sure how much of a help it can be in lowering blood sugar...