tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82492561981716528132024-03-04T21:48:44.500-08:00Musings on the Path to Frugality2009 - A Year of Living Well, Well Within Our MeansJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-65622900936491444272010-04-17T18:48:00.000-07:002010-04-17T18:48:20.711-07:00WE'RE MOVING!We have an exciting new home and I hope you'll all come with us. I know I've been behind in my posts these past couple of months and I can only claim being busy and not being terribly excited about where I've been food-wise lately.
Well I am very excited about our new home; the look, the tools that it will provide me to make more exciting content and also about the food of spring. Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-11424557975562771962010-04-14T20:59:00.000-07:002010-04-14T21:01:15.275-07:00A post from a real estate blog where I contribute occasionallyHere's a post I added to my friend Scott's real estate blog, Classic Homes Northwest. Take a peek, it's a bit more ramble-ey than I've been these past few months but I like it.
Keeping up with who?
We'll be moving soon and all the details will be posted here as I post in both places for a month or so. Keep an eye out and all will unfold before your eyes :-)
HastaJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-13828030061189085632010-02-04T22:03:00.000-08:002010-02-04T22:03:15.048-08:00Ode to Rotisserie Chicken
How I lovemy fast food chickenmeat so tenderjust for pickin'from my fingersI'd be lickin'juice from myrotisserie chicken
All right so a great poet I'm not but I need to write about my favorite fast food. Relatively healthful, pretty cheap (Costco, ~3 pounds for $4.99 just blocks from my house and better yet, on the way home!), tender, juicy and tasty. Does anyone disagree this Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-78615441152798880032010-02-02T20:56:00.000-08:002010-02-02T20:56:38.872-08:00Tuesday 2nd February 2010Here is is a Tuesday evening, had a hankering for some south of the border flavors so decided I better dig in and make myself some.
Henry and I tried a new place (for us anyway) the other night, La Casa Azul in Shoreline and it was quite delicious. Henry's carne asada with home made tortillas was top shelf, world class, etc on the adjectives. My enchiladas de pollo con salsa verde Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-55620657827357236652010-01-26T23:32:00.000-08:002010-01-27T21:24:38.509-08:00Veggie Pie with a Whole Wheat CrustHey everyone, glad to be back after my computer problems of the past couple weeks. Clicked on a new game site advertised on FB and POOF! a virus embedded in my registry. Well needless to say, I'm starting from scratch and although it is kinda nice to have a completely clean slate it's also a mighty pain in the arse as well.
So last weekend we ran into a weekly phenomena at Casa Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-17570544944492718202010-01-10T10:29:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:36:26.115-08:00Quick ChilaquilesSo there I was, a Saturday morning that both the lad and I slept late. Looking for something a bit different and easy to wake my foggy brain along with the fine brew in the coffeemaker. Hmmm... chilly outside, need to get us going and through the morning as we head to the beach with the dog to take in a lovely sunny January day here in the PNW. You know we need to take Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-91023887873904207312010-01-07T21:22:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:31:40.418-08:00Lighten Up A ClassicThe other night I felt like something with lots of vegetables but still hearty for a cold evening. I had some leftover rotisserie chicken that had pulled from the bone and a big bag of broccoli crowns and a pound and a half of button mushrooms. All of this made me think back to an old classic casserole, Chicken Divan.
Now if we were to analyze just what went into this classic, I Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-47897163816646255282010-01-04T20:30:00.000-08:002010-01-04T20:30:06.254-08:00New Year, New RecipeHey all, a Happiest of New Year's to you all. I haven't posted for a bit but as this is the time of resolutions I am committed to a minimum of 2 posts per week all year long but am shooting for an average of 3 which would mean 156? EEEK! Well after the post everyday of November, I know I can write more than I have been these past couple weeks. Tonight I'm gonna stickJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-27397134555478181802009-12-22T20:47:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:38:29.291-08:00Thai Red Curry With Pork
I ask you fair readers, what does a cold winter night, a head cold, a few ounces of pork tenderloin in the fridge equal on a weeknight? Well if you said Thai red curry then you are correct! Seems like a great antidote to the cold weather (hot, hearty), the over indulgence of the holiday season (simple, straightforward) and a head cold (spicy) all on a budget.
Now Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-5479802278819724372009-12-17T20:11:00.000-08:002009-12-17T20:11:49.704-08:00Delicious!So it seems the past few days have gotten away from me and I haven't had a chance to post for a bit. Work, life, a head cold, etc. Anyway, tonight was the first night I felt like cooking since the weekend and Henry was out with friends so I treated myself and did a pan roast pork tenderloin with a big pile of broccoli with shallots and red peppers. Healthy, fast, simple, Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-26962253044060788832009-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:002010-01-12T18:41:35.770-08:00Prosciutto, Walnut & Blue Cheese Crostata
Home late from the doc, need to get some work done, need dinner and a coupla cocktails after a usual Monday...
Need I say more?
Prosciutto, Walnut & Blue Cheese Crostata
Slice & toast the baguette, pugliese, ciabatta or whatever good bread you might have around
Top with blue cheese crumbles, I used Point Reyes cuz that's what I have right now
Top with folded thin sliced prosciutto
Top Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-38467896587299044502009-12-06T20:05:00.000-08:002009-12-06T20:08:14.080-08:00Yummy Pozole On A Cold Night
It's just below freezing at the moment outside Casa Hunger and the low is supposed to get down to 20ish tonight. Today was a day for chores as yesterday was kind of a wash after a really fun night out with friends and enjoying a John Doe show at a local club. The show started out a bit lame with the opening act being pretty poor. Then John coming out and letting us all know he Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-53821234508495309672009-12-03T20:43:00.000-08:002009-12-03T20:43:49.677-08:00Weeknight Pan RoastIt's cold here in the Puget Sound area and with the lad home tonight it invokes a hearty dinner. Tonight we're keeping it simple but still a favorite around Casa Hunger - pan roast chicken breasts dijonaise with buttered carrots and oven roast Dakota russets from our garden this past summer.
Pan roasting a piece of meat is a favorite technique of mine and much used in restaurants where I Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-76268401397818413712009-12-02T19:48:00.000-08:002009-12-02T19:48:15.588-08:00December 2nd...So as predicted I didn't post last night but that was because I had to fight the need to write. Oh no need to worry about me, I was fine once I got through that brief period where I was curled up in a fetal position chanting "must write, must write..." but seriously I did miss it after a full month of writing every day. I think this will make me a stronger writer overall and it Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-6926121165698044042009-11-30T19:45:00.000-08:002009-11-30T19:45:39.368-08:00Day 30 Mish-Mash And Some Blogger FriendsLiving the frugal life is not just about saving money at the grocery store but about many things. One thing is for sure, running your Xmas lights a full month before Xmas is NOT frugal for your utility bill or the planet. I don't want to offend but SHEESH people! The solstice is not even for another 3 weeks and that's the tradition for the lights. To ward off the longest Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-30036262254782093102009-11-29T21:09:00.000-08:002009-11-29T21:09:10.286-08:00Home Again...
After the post holiday drive with relatively light traffic for this stretch of highway and we're home. With all due respect to Mum and the fine citizens of Oregon, it terrific to be home. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed after 8 nights away.
We arrived to a rather large bloom of algae in the pond so had to deal with that right away but after that and unloading the car, Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-9817450984265111342009-11-28T19:35:00.000-08:002009-11-28T19:42:15.062-08:00I Was True To My Word......Traditional Turkey Day feast is in the books for another year!
With a pre-prandial snack of chanterelles on toast and a bit of Truffle Tremor from Cypress Grove we got to work. The bird was already in the hotbox and Mum had done the stuffing on Wednesday so I scrubbed some real baby carrots and boiled some spuds. Henry & Mum had formed rolls from a no-knead recipe that was a Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-43818140553575009552009-11-27T21:55:00.000-08:002009-11-27T21:57:31.292-08:00Traditional Turkey Day; Part DeuxFor the best laid plans...
Today was a day of errands and so after treating Mum to a fine Vietnamese lunch at Bambuza in Tualatin we picked up the Younger Hunger from his Mum and then ventured to Whole Foods where MY Mum had never been before. We were on the hunt for some cheeses that were freshly cut or would be freshly cut to our order. When Mum went for a chunk of St. Andre I Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-2932282814946972092009-11-26T21:02:00.000-08:002009-11-26T21:02:13.430-08:00A Traditional Turkey Day......Tomorrow that is!
The Younger Hunger spent the day with his Mum at friends in Vancouver today and tomorrow they're headed to Mt. Hood for a festive killing of an Xmas tree and some inner tubing on the mountain. Then the lad will join Mum and I for a traditional Thanksgiving feast in the evening and some helping of the G'ma around the house on Saturday before heading home to Seattle Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-87872551885999983832009-11-25T23:41:00.000-08:002009-11-25T23:41:43.037-08:00Aww, Nuts!
Or should I write - ahhhh, nuts!
As I while away the hours here in Oregon and spend some great quality time with my Mum, one of the things she alway keeps on hand is nuts and I do like my nuts! (not those nuts you dirty readers you but frankly I'm rather fond of those as well if I must say).
My Mum keeps a mix of roasted nuts around at all times as one of her pre-prandial Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-88704312860935704042009-11-24T21:20:00.000-08:002009-11-24T21:20:08.588-08:00Big Day TodayDad died this morning. The day has been filled with visits and phone calls full of both laughter and tears.
I said one too many goodbyes todayJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-2062535727987434962009-11-23T22:56:00.000-08:002009-11-23T22:56:56.609-08:00Why I'm In OregonOriginally the Younger Hunger and I had planned to be here to visit for Thanksgiving and Wednesday was the day we were to travel but things took a turn for the worse here and we came early so I could get a chance to say goodbye to one of my Dads.
He has been failing for a while now and although he wanted to make it through his favorite time of year, the Holidays it is now just a matter of hours.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-32033103584552631782009-11-22T22:39:00.000-08:002009-11-22T22:40:37.216-08:00The End of Another WeekCopper river salmon that me Mum had in the freezer from the season.
I broiled and finished it with lemon olive oil and we tried a number of finishing salts Mum had that were new; my favorite was the Turkish black salt as it added a lovely salty and minerally flavor that was clean and robust at the same time without overpowering the fish. Now Copper River salmon can keep up with a Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-5091717887970685252009-11-21T20:19:00.000-08:002009-11-21T20:19:52.619-08:00Day 21; 9 To Go...I'm in Oregon watching football with me Mum (yes, American throwball cuz she wants to and cuz I can give a little integrity for Mom but I don't have to like it). Leftover lasagna from the freezer and 2006 Tre Nova Bonatello Sangiovese from nearby Carlton; seriously good juice. Not a lot to write about right now other than it was a nice drive down and although slow because we Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8249256198171652813.post-12895330712145593272009-11-20T21:07:00.000-08:002009-11-20T21:07:17.339-08:00Burgers and Buffalo Waffle FriesTomorrow is a travel day and we'll be gone for a week rather unexpectedly so we had a last 1/2 lb of ground beef in the fridge so it was cheeseburgers on the grill for us tonight. The usual Friday fare is pizza but since we were out for that last night we still coulda but didn't wanna.
The highlight of the meal tonight was another attempt at oven waffle fries and this time we used Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118391846703354287noreply@blogger.com6