Dutch Baby with Onion and Sharp Cheddar

Posted on February 8, 2012 by jphilo

Savory Dutch Baby 300x200 Dutch Baby with Onion and Sharp Cheddar

In last Wednesday’s recipe post, I shared a sweet version of an eggy, fluffy pancake called a Dutch Baby. It was my adaptation of the Dutch Baby featured in Pam Anderson’s CookSmart column in USA Weekend Magazine‘s December 23-25 issue. Today, you get my rendition of the savory version also featured in the column.

I substituted onions for the leeks in Pam’s recipe and turned it vegetarian by leaving out the ham. Believe it or not, despite my sweet tooth I preferred this savory variation over last week’s sweeter one. If you try them both, leave a comment about which one is your favorite. Or, share your adaptations for this way easy breakfast treat.

Dutch Baby with Onion and Sharp Cheddar

1 cup skim milk (original recipe calls for whole milk)
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 cup grated, extra-sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter

Adjust rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Whisk milk, eggs and salt in a medium bowl; vigorously whisk in flour until mostly smooth with a few small lumps; let stand for a few minutes and whisk again. Or use a blender for instantly smooth batter. (I used the blender method – super easy.)

Meanwhile heat butter in a heavy-bottom 10 inch skillet (cast iron works well) over medium heat. Add onions and saute until transparent. Add tarragon; cook a minute or so longer. Pour milk mixture into skillet. Transfer to oven and bake until puffed and golden brown, 15-17 minutes.

Without removing Dutch Baby from oven, sprinkle with cheese and turn oven to broil. Broil until very puffy and golden brown, a couple minutes longer. (Careful on this step. As the picture shows, it goes from golden brown to that’s-not-burned-it’s-nicely-browned-now-shut-up-and-eat-it in a flash.) Serve immediately from the skillet.

Queen of Word Play

Posted on February 7, 2012 by jphilo

1115815 queens analogy Queen of Word Play

Last weekend a friend sent an email about the Washington Post’s Annual Mensa Invitational. According to the email, this year’s invitational consisted of two parts. In the first, “The Post invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. For those of you who, like me, can’t follow all that in your head, here’s one entry.

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high

The email described the second part of the invitational which asks readers to supply alternate meanings for common words. Such as:

Flatulence, n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

By the time I finished reading the 17 entries in the first category and the 16 entries in the second, my sides ached with laughter. This response confirmed a long held, secret suspicion that if I could be queen of anything, I would choose queen of word play. The email made me so happy, I also decided to blog about it.

That’s when an internet search disclosed a disturbing truth.

The Washington Post’s Annual Mensa Invitational doesn’t exist. Once upon a time, someone ran a contest and an almost identical list has been circulated year after year…since 1998. The news kinda broke my queen of word play heart.

Until I stumbled upon the WPM Invitational website.

WPM took the idea, though they clearly state they are not associated with the Washington Post, and now oversee their own annual contest. Their rules are identical to the first half of the original contest. At the site, you can see:

You can also:

My fave in the 2010 contest was…Ussues Issues shared or inherited by virtue of being in a committed relationship which was submitted by Michale Bertani.

Now if you will excuse me, it’s time to wrap up this blog and get to work on my entries for the 2012 contest. If you’d like to vote for them, just look for the ones by Queen of Word Play and vote for royalty.

This queen will be quite amused.

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Posted on February 6, 2012 by jphilo

draft lens1361556module76901801photo 1305748774Sue Grafton V is for Veng 300x214 V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Are you fighting cabin fever? Are you longing to escape to another world? Somewhere warm and sunny, exciting and mysterious?

Sue Grafton’s latest Kinsey Milhone novel, V is for Vengeance, is your ticket to ride. The 22nd book of her alphabet series takes you to the shadier side of sunny, fictional St. Theresa, California. Grafton populates the landscape with familiar reoccurring characters. The protagonist Kinsey still acts like a twenty-something holding commitment and permanence at bay, though she’s about to turn 38. Henry, her octogenarian landlord and best friend, puts in his usual, comforting appearance. So does his brother, William the hypochondriac, as well as William’s wife, Rosie and her shudderingly awful Hungarian cooking.

Many of the new characters introduced by Grafton are rich and multifaceted. An organized crime boss who turns out to be anything but stereotypical. The superficial society woman who reveals a surprising depth of character. The low-level career criminal devoted to a wife who discovers she’s a natural cosmetics salesperson. Grafton weaves all these characters into an intricate plot, lacing it with enough suspense and mystery to keep the reader engrossed to the very end.

Other than a preachy tone when describing the details of retail theft rings, Grafton serves up pure entertainment in V is for Vengeance. She is a master at recreating the world of detecting in the late 1980s. Kinsey goes to the library to look at phone books. Phone calls wait until she finds a phone booth or reaches her office or home. Grafton’s also one of the few authors who writes about daily activities beyond food and sex. She mentions trips to the bathroom, doing laundry, cleaning the office, setting the table. She makes Kinsey so real, her protagonist becomes your friend. The kind of friend you miss when you’re apart, but drives you a little crazy whenever you’re together. Those are some of the reasons Grafton’s fans have stuck with her from A through V and are eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

I’m already wondering what W will stand for. Secretly, I’m hoping the book comes out early next winter. By then, I’ll be ready for another adventure in sunny, warm St. Theresa. By then, I’ll miss Kinsey again. By then, I’ll be ready for another of Grafton’s perfect antidotes to cabin fever. How about you?

Stretching and Bending

Posted on February 3, 2012 by jphilo

1199969 yoga silhouette series 2 Stretching and Bending

Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;
I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly,
after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:26-27

I do not like exercise. At all. Ever. It took me almost two years to learn to walk, three months to get the hang of jumping rope, an entire summer to catch onto playing jacks, and three years to ride a bike. Consequently, I can’t fathom why anyone would willingly engage in painful activities like bending and stretching.

Similarly, I never understood why anyone would consult a physical therapist until a sore knee landed me in physical therapy. Where the therapist, who must be a direct descendent of Attila the Hun, decided my weak glutes cause my gait to alter which stresses my knee and makes it sore. So week after week. she assigns new, torturous glute-strengthening exercises to make my mornings miserable.

And every morning after exercising and “feeling a burn” I lived without quite happily for 55 years, an image of Paul training forms in my mind. I picture him wrestling in prayer after God struck him blind. Defending Gentile freedom from Hebrew law during the Jerusalem Council. Attacking spiritual strongholds in city after city, taking the gospel to far countries floundering in darkness. Sparring with with Felix and King Agrippa in Caesarea.

How did he develop the spiritual muscle to engage in such spiritual sport? Perhaps it has something do with the three years he spent in Damascus after his conversion, but before beginning his missionary work. I sure would like to know what happened in Damascus. Was he under the tutelage of a spiritual therapist who revealed the apostle’s weak spots and prescribed spiritual strengthening exercises? Did Paul have to bend in ways he’d never bent before? Was he stretched to show compassion to those he once despised? Did the stretching and bending hurt? Did he ever want to quit? What motivated him to keep going, day after day, until he gained muscle and aim and purpose for the race set before him?

Still thinking about Paul, I pick up my Bible, journal, and pen. My muscles ache. My glutes burn as I ask God to reveal my lack of spiritual muscle and make me strong in him. I open the Bible and with pen in hand, start studying God’s word. Each day he stretches me in ways I’ve never stretched before. Sometimes it hurts. Most mornings I want to quit. But the passages about Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, hanging on the cross, and finally released from the tomb are the motivation needed to keep going.

With my eyes upon Christ, I press on.

Three Thoughts for Ground Hog Thursday

Posted on February 2, 2012 by jphilo

451066 breaking out1 Three Thoughts for Ground Hog Thursday

Today is Ground Hog Day and it’s time for Three Thoughts for Thursday. That’s way more excitement than necessary for your average rodent. But to avoid hearing Thumper or Mickey or Chip and Dale call me a party pooper, these three thoughts will remain right on schedule.

It’s sunny in Iowa again today, which means 6 weeks of winter for us. Neither I nor the woodchuck under our shed are complaining, since the winter of the 2012 has been mighty springlike so far.
Bad news for Buddy Holly fans. The Surf Ball Room Winter Dance Party (Feb. 2, 2012 in Clear Lake, IA) , which commemorates the last concert performed by Holly, Dion and the Belmonts, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper before they died in a plane crash, is sold out. That’s bad news for Pat Boone fans, too, since he’s on stage that night. I’m guessing that in a Venn Diagram, the circles representing the two fan groups would not intersect.
Our local grocery store’s convenience fresh produce section carries plastic containers of peeled clementine oranges. But doesn’t that defeat the reason to buy clementines? Because they’re easier to peel than their bigger rellies?

Dutch Baby with Cranberry-Orange Syrup

Posted on February 1, 2012 by jphilo

Sweet Dutch Baby 200x300 Dutch Baby with Cranberry Orange Syrup

According to the calendar, this is the first day of February. According to the pile of grease-spatted notes on my desk, all the new recipes from our family Christmas celebration still haven’t be shared with y’all. So it’s time to look at another of the delicious treats we sampled when the kids were home.

Today’s recipe for Dutch Baby with Cranberry-Orange Syrup comes from Pam Anderson’s CookSmart column in USA Weekend Magazine‘s December 23-23, 2011 issue. I’d never heard of them before, but knew it would make a hearty, vegetarian breakfast treat. So see what you think of the sweet version of this eggy, puffy pancake and come back next week for its savory companion.

Dutch Baby with Cranberry-Orange Syrup

1 cup skim milk (original recipe calls for whole milk)
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup marmalade
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons butter

Bring marmalade, cranberries and 1/4 cup water to simmer over medium heat; continue to simmer to light syrup consistency, just a few minutes; cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile heat butter in a heavy-bottom 10 inch skillet (cast iron works well) over medium heat until light golden brown. Pour milk mixture into skillet. Transfer to oven and bake until puffed and golden brown, 15-17 minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil until very puffy and golden brown. (Careful on this step. As the picture shows, it goes from golden brown to that’s-not-burned-it’s-nicely-browned-now-shut-up-and-eat-it in a flash.) Serve immediately from the skillet and drizzle with sauce.

Speaking of the Weather…

Posted on January 31, 2012 by jphilo

767009 dry Speaking of the Weather...

For a couple weeks after the caucuses, Iowans were conditioned by political pollsters to give short answers on the phone we almost forgot how to engage in casual conversation. But since the ISU Cyclones defeated fifth ranked KU over the weekend, conversation has picked up quite nicely in our little state. Even after the “How’s about them Cyclones?” talk dies down, I think the weather will give us plenty to talk about.

Optimists can talk about how nice it is to walk to the mailbox in shirtsleeves in January.
Environmentalist can talk about how this month’s weather is a sure sign of global warming.
Farmers can talk about how Elwynn Taylor thinks the drought of ’12 is coming down.

For those of you who’ve never heard of Elwynn Taylor, he’s an uncannily accurate Iowa State University extension climatologist. He studies long term climate patterns and predicts long term trends rather than day-to-day weather.

In July, if he predicts a snowy winter, you’d be wise to buy a snowshovel.
But if he predicts a mild winter, don’t buy a new winter coat.
In January, if he predicts the summer will be wet, cancel the cabin at the lake.
If he predicts a flood, buy a boat.
And if he predicts a drought, take it seriously.
Guess which one he’s predicting for this summer?

A drought.

Which means I’m taking out stock in a garden hose company.
Because the last time Elwynn predicted a bad drought was in January of ’88.
When the dry fall and winter weather pattern was similar to this fall and winter.
When La Nina was getting old.
When Alaska had lots of snow.

I was three months pregnant with Anne way back then. By the time Anne was born in July, the drought was awful. To be clear, Elwynn didn’t know about my pregnancy, so it didn’t figure into his prediction.

But, even if ISU loses every game for the rest of the summer, my shelf of conversation starters is well-stocked for the rest of 2012. I’ll be the life of every party, chatting about Elwynn Taylor drought predictions, pregnancy during drought stories, and labor during drought stories. Really fascinating stuff.

So, when would you like me to come to dinner at your house?

Six Marks of a Good Weekend for Him and Her

Posted on January 30, 2012 by jphilo

Six Marks of a Good Weekend for Him

in no particular order of importance

The unranked college basketball team you love, (ISU Cyclones) coached by a guy you admire (Fred Hoiberg)beats the 5th ranked team in the country (Kansas U).
You’re at the end of the potluck line at church and there’s still plenty of food.
It’s nice enough to jog outdoors even though it’s January.
You find time for 2 hours of Suduko.
Your wife suggests going to a movie like Red Tails ’cause she knows you love WWII era flying movies.
You talk to both your kids and their spouses on the phone about how their weeks went…and they’re doing well.

Six Marks of a Good Weekend for Her

in no particular order of importance

draft lens1361556module76901801photo 1305748774Sue Grafton V is for Veng 300x214 Six Marks of a Good Weekend for Him and Her

The library emails on Friday to say it’s your turn for the audio version of Sue Grafton’s newest novel, V is for Vengeance and your husband picks it up for you on his way home from work.
You have the ingredients to make enough food for the church potluck so something will be left for your husband who always is at the end of the line.
It’s nice enough to walk outside even though it’s January.
You find time to watch a few episodes on the Scrubs, Season 1 DVD from the library.
Your husband forgoes popcorn at a boring WWII flying movie in favor of really good coffee and muffins at your favorite coffee house afterwards.
You talk to both your kids and their spouses on the phone about how their weeks went…and they’re doing well.

Not Just Old. But Ancient.

Posted on January 27, 2012 by jphilo

gs 100th mark2 Not Just Old. But Ancient.

Yesterday morning, my first thought was not, “Today, I’m gonna feel old.” But thanks to the Girl Scouts – yes, those cute little cookie peddlers who sell sugar highs in a box – for the first time ever, I am feeling a wee bit ancient.

Not just old. Ancient.

The realization was gradual, increasing the longer I listened to Talk of Iowa on the radio. The topic was the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts, and the host interviewed some Girl Scout leaders and a couple honest-to-goodness present day Girl Scouts. The girls were about the same age I was during my short career as cookie salesgirl and sash wearer.

And they made me feel not just old. But ancient.

It wasn’t their fault. But, while they talked, I thought about how 1912 was a century ago for the little girls. Just like 1865 was a hundred years ago when I attended Girl Scout meetings after school in 1965. So if and when they watch a show like Downton Abbey, the events portrayed there are as long ago and far away to them as the events chronicled in Gone With the Wind were to me.

And that’s when I started feeling not just old. But ancient.

Not because the Civil War seemed like a long time ago when I was a Girl Scout. And not because 1912 is a long time ago to the girls in the radio interview. And not because 1912 didn’t seem like such a long time ago in my GS days. But because the Civil War probably didn’t seem like such a long time ago to fifty-five-year-old adults in my GS days, but I thought those people were old.

But they didn’t seem just old. They seemed ancient.

Which is how today’s Girl Scouts view everybody old enough to tuck an AARP membership card next to the packet of Metamucil in their wallets, old enough to wear sensible shoes, sport age spots, and wear pants with elastic waistbands.

They view us as not just old. But ancient.

Oh my, the depression is coming on thick and fast. I think there’s only one way to fight this thing. I’m gonna find a Girl Scout, buy a box of Thin Mints, and snarf down the whole box. After all, my mom says old people like me have earned the right to eat whatever they want. And she ought to know.

‘Cause she’s not just old. She’s ancient.

Three Thoughts for Thursday

Posted on January 26, 2012 by jphilo

51wMPLvZwVL. SL500 AA300 Three Thoughts for Thursday

This is the last Thursday in January, a happy thought for everybody who doesn’t claim winter as their favorite season. These three thoughts for Thursday are dedicated to anyone who’s glad to be one month closer to spring.

Yesterday, across the street from where I was parked, a crane operator scrambled up the inside of the scaffolding on the machine’s giant arm. He went at least two stories up,and then came back down. I immediately crossed crane operator off my mental list of future career options.
Has anybody else out there noticed the sun rising a little earlier and setting a little later? Hooray for Vitamin D, the comeback kid.
On Tuesday, a radio announcer said it was the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss. However, other sources list March 4 as his birthday. Well, if anyone deserves two birthdays, it’s Dr. Seuss! Help me celebrate by leaving a comment about your fave Dr. Seuss book.

Mine’s The Butter Battle Book. What’s yours?