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It's not often I do this so pay attention!

Many of you may not know I am a good cook. I don't talk about it very much mostly because it's one of those menial, everyday, un-extraordinary things I do most everyday. At least I think of it that way. I do enjoy it, though. I enjoy the mixing and measuring and assembling of a dish much more than I enjoy the tedium of baking. I relish the stirring of the pot as the seasonings and the flavors all meld together. I enjoy the ritual of cooking, the sacredness in its every day monotony.

Here is a recipe for homemade hot chocolate. To be sure, it's nothing fancy but Manthing asks for it as soon as the weather turns and I've never known anyone to pass it by. It's so not lowfat but it is relatively low-carb so if you are keeping an eye on those things... now you know. =)

Spiced Hot Chocolate for Two

1 qt. traditional half and half
1/4 cup of cocoa powder*
1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar or splenda*
1 tsp. Real vanilla extract*
1/2 tsp. Almond extract*
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon*
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg*
Whipped cream**

*The measurements on these ingridients are all a rough estimate. I don't actually use measuring utensils for this because I've been making it so long. I just dump them in till it looks right. ;)

**Canned whipped cream works fine for this but you can also whip up some heavy whipping cream with a little confectioner's sugar and vanilla for an extra treat.

Pour the half & half into a medium sauce pan and set on medium high heat. Add cocoa powder and all other ingridients and whisk or stir till well blended and hot.

Pour into tall mugs and top with whipped cream. Dust the whipped cream with cinnamon to make it look pretty.

Makes approximately 3 to 4 1.5 cup servings.

NaBloPoMo #21 :: Mutant Yams

I know it's Wordless Wednesday but I could not resist adding words to this week' s entry!

While shopping for ingredients for the dishes I will be bringing to the Family Feast tomorrow, I decided to make a Yam/Sweet Potato Casserole. I could only find these:

:: click image to enlarge ::

These suckers weigh 4 pounds a piece and why I bought TWO of the damn things, I'll never know; I only need 3 pounds for the casserole!

Wanna Play? Check out Wordless Wednesday HQ!! 

NaBloPoMo #19 :: Today's Supper

Well, because I mentioned that I cook almost daily in yesterday's post, I got an e-mail asking what I cooked, especially since I need to watch the carbs as Manthing & I are both diabetic. So today, I figured I'd share my turkey burger concoction. I've tried several recipes but Manthing didn't care for any of them as much as the one I came up with on my own several years ago, off the cuff.

I was tired, hurting badly and I really just didn't give two shits. You know those nights when you think you are just throwing any kind of slop together to feed the hungry pieholes and they end up loving it and asking for more. Go figure...

Off-the-Cuff Turkey Burgers

2 pounds ground turkey
parmesan cheese*
garlic (fresh or powder)*
onion (fresh or powder)*
parsley (fresh or powder)*
2 eggs
Buns and fixings, if you desire.

There are no measurements or quantities beyond the ground turkey and eggs because I don't really use exact measurements for anything but baking. I just add enough spices and stuff in till it looks right to me.

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Form a ball about the size of a pool ball with the turkey mixture and flatten into a patty. Pan fry in a hot, shallow pan; 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until they are nicely browned. On the electric stove I am forced to cook on, I use the medium high setting.

I prefer these plain with a salad or a steamed vegetable but they'd probably be good with onion straws, fries or chips but that'd ruin the whole low-carb thing with this meal. Italian Green Beans are pictured above with the burgers.

Woo. Now I feel all Betty Crocker-ish. I need ruffled cobbler's apron.

If you make these, and you like them, let me know.
If you make these, and hate them, keep it to yourself.

Heh.