Quote

"I cannot live without books: but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object." -- Thomas Jefferson

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Mug O'Rice, Chicken, and Vegetable Stew

A Twist on Mug Recipes, Mugifiying Full Recipes 
 
I have gained enough confidence to try and convert full recipes into Mug recipes.

 
Original Recipe:
Hayley Turner's Chicken and Vegetable Risotto


My Version:
Mug O'Rice, Chicken, and Vegetable Stew
 
 
Ingredients:

1 Dab Vegetable Oil
1/2 Tspn Onion Flakes
1/2 Tspn Garlic and Black Pepper Powders
A Grind of Black Pepper (to taste)
1 Dash Hot Sauce (Optional)
1/3 Cup Rice
1 Heaping Tbspn Canned Chicken, diced, drained
3 Tbspns Mixed Vegetables, canned or frozen
2 Slices Bell Pepper, diced
1 Tbsp Canned Mushrooms, drained
1 Dollop water to moisten.


Process:

Add oil, onion flakes, garlic and black pepper, black pepper, and hot sauce to mug.
Stir well.
Cover and microwave on high for 15 seconds.
Add rice, chicken, mixed vegetables, bell pepper, and mushrooms.
Add a small dollop of water.
Stir and mix well.
Microwave on high for 1:30 minutes.
Empty mug into a bowl.

Caution: It will be hot.



Friday, September 23, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II - 1926 - 2022

 


The death of Queen Elizabeth II was an historic event. She reigned as Queen of England and the United Kingdom for 70 years. For many, she's the only British Queen they've known.

British residents and others lined the streets following her casket and stood in line for hours to see the Queen's casket before it was moved to the Westminister Abby for the funeral service.

 

(Note: Map does not show full route.)


These pictures hardly cover the various events and ceremonies over the nine-day funeral following the Queen's casket from Balmoral Castle to London and finally to Windsor Castle.


 



 






 


Among the hundreds of dignitaries and Royal Family members on The Queen's guest list, there were a few surprises, such as The Duchess of York.

Many have noted The Queen demonstrated, in many ways, her desire for her family to heal from its many tragedies. 

 










 




 

While the Queen's funeral was a very public event, it was also a private family event where family tensions were visible on the public stage.

I feel the monarchy will struggle for years to reconstruct its image and importance.


Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Salmon and Corn Chowder

Salmon and Corn Chowder
(Adapted from Tin Can Cook o129, by Jack Monroe)


Ingredients:

1 14oz Can Diced potatoes, drained
A few Grinds Fresh Black Pepper
1 Chicken bouillon cube
2-3 Cups Water
1 8oz Can corn, drained
1/4 Salmon paste (See fish paste recipe below)
2 TBspns Milk
S/P to taste
2-3 TBspns thawed frozen spinach (optional)



Fish Paste
(Adapted from: https://jackiem.com.au/2015/05/19/how-to-make-fish-paste/)


Ingredients:

1 8oz Can salmon, drained
3+ TBspns of flour
and a bit of water
S/P to taste
 

Process:

Basically, in a bowl, add enough flour and water to the salmon and mix the ingredients thoroughly by hand until it is a smooth thick paste.
 
 

 
 
Salmon and Corn Chowder

Process:

Add potatoes to medium sauce pan.
Add water.
Add grinds of fresh black pepper.
Stir.
Add bouillon cube.
Stir.
Bring to a boil.
Stir to mix bouillon with water.
Reduce to a simmer.
Add corn.
Stir to mix ingredients.
Add fish paste.
Stir until mixture is smooth.
Simmer until potatoes are soft.
Stir.
Simmer for 15 minutes.
Add milk.
Add s/p to taste.
Add spinach (optional)
Simmer for a minute or two.
Serve.

This came out great.
 

 

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Mug O'Full English Breakfast

Mug O'Full English Breakfast
(Adapted from Meal in a Mug)


Ingredients:

1 8-10 Oz Mug
1 Tspn Vegetable Oil
A Few Grinds Fresh Black Pepper
Hot Sauce, to taste
1 Tbspn Canned Mushrooms, drained
1/2" Slice of Spam, sliced into 4-6 pieces
3 Heaping Tbspns Canned red beans in tomato sauce or Baked beans

1 Slice Bread
A Dribble of vegetable Oil
A Few Grinds of Black Pepper
1 Egg
1-2 Tbspns Canned Salsa
 
 
Process:

Pre-Preparation:
Make toast, spread a dribble vegetable oil over toast, grind fresh black pepper over toast. Cut in half, on a diagonal.
 
Make poached egg.
See How to poach an egg using a microwave (https://www.wikihow.com/Poach-an-Egg-Using-a-Microwave)



In a mug, add oil, black pepper, hot sauce, Spam, and mushrooms.
Cover.
Microwave on high for 1 minute.
Add beans.
Cover.
Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.
Serve Spam and bean mixture on a plate.
Top with poached egg.
Add side of salsa and toast.
 

 

Pizza Toast

 Pizza Toast
 

Ingredients:

1 Slice Bread
1 Drizzle Vegetable Oil
A Few Grinds Ground Black Pepper
1 Tbspn DIY Marinara Sauce
1-2 Tbspns Cheese, mozzarella or other cheese, grated, shredded or slivers or crumbled
Optional toppings: diced ham, or chicken, or Spam, diced bell pepper, pineapple chunks, or sliced olives
 
 
Process:

Toast slice of bread.
Remove.
Drizzle vegetable oil over toast.
Add black pepper.
Spread marinara sauce over toast.
Cover top with the cheese.
Add topping of choice (optional)
Place toast on a piece of aluminum.
Place piece of aluminum with toast on a toaster oven tray.
Bake in oven / toaster oven until cheese has melted.
 




DIY Marinara Sauce

DIY Marinara Sauce
 
I originally made this sauce for a Chicken Cacciatore recipe.
 
Later, I used it, again, for Pizza Toast.
 
I found it amazingly tasty.

 
Ingredients:
 
1-2 Dabs Vegetable oil
1 Tspn Black Pepper & Garlic Powder
1 Tblspn Onion Flakes
3 TBspns Salsa
3 Strong squirts of Ketchup
DIY Mixed Italian Herbs (1/2 Tspn Basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and 2 shakes of oregano powder)
1 Capful Hot Sauce
 
 
Process:

Put oil in pot.
Add onion flakes and black pepper & garlic.
Heat on high on hotplate for 1-2 minutes.
Add salsa, ketchup, herbs and hot sauce.
Stir and mix well.
Lower temperature to a simmer.
Simmer for 1-3 minutes.
Remove pot from hotplate.

Mug O'Frittata with Chorizo

I have gained a lot of confidence in some areas of cooking.
 
Mug meals are one of my favorite types of recipes.
 
Now, when I see a recipe that appeals to me, I consider mugifying the recipe.
 
It works.
 
So, here is my Mug version of an Egg Frittata Recipe.

 
Mug O’Frittata with Chorizo
(Adapted from: Egg Frittata Recipe | Incredible Egg)
 
Sadly, Incredible Egg did not keep the recipe ingredients online.


2-Step Process

Step 1

A dab of Vegetable oil
1 Chorizo, quarter-sized portion
1 Tblspn Onion Flakes
1 Tspn Garlic and Black Pepper powders
1-2 Drops Hot Sauce

Add oil, chorizo, spices into mug.
Stir well.
Microwave on high for 15 seconds.
Remove.
 
Step 2
1 egg
1 Tspn Canned Salsa, drained
1 Tspn Canned Mushroom Pieces, drained
1 Tspn Canned Mixed Vegetables, drained
1-2 TBspns Milk
1 Tspn Lime Juice
1 Tspn Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
 
Toast is optional.
 
Break egg into mug.
Add salsa, mushrooms, vegetables, milk, lime juice, and cheese to mug.
Stir and whip well.
Cover mug.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes.