4 Jan 2012: Back in the Saddle. Stir Fry. Chick Wings

I didn't have time to think about withdrawal pains on Wednesday morning as I busied myself for getting ready to head out to Community Meals.  With lots of spinach from a produce run, I decided to make Chicken Florentine.  Titles are used very loosely since when cooking for 150, a dish with a similar name for four will look very different when cooked for 40 times that.  I made a spinach cream sauce and mixed it in with the sauteed chicken, onions and peppers which resulted in a very visually unappealing green mass.  Fortunately, it was very tasty but still... I had two blocks of feta cheese which I crumbled on top forming a white layer and that helped considerably.

With the temperature soaring into the 50s and the sun shining gloriously with only a modest wind, I was itching to squeeze in a bike ride before having to prep food for dinner and going off to massage Joe.  David arrived home while I was at Community Meals, so I chatted with him while cutting vegetables for the stir fry that was on the menu.

Zucchini, carrots, green beans and onions.  What is missing from this picture?  Broccoli!

I was very curious how it would feel when I got back on the bike as I was concerned that the touch of my bottom to the saddle might somehow elicit a response of, "Oh, no.  Not that again!"  But, I was very glad to see that my body responded very positively and warmly to the touch.  "Ahh!" was the sensation that ran through my body.  It was amazing how rejuvenated I felt after only three days off of the bike.  I was energized and eager to ride.  And, I didn't realize how fatigued my legs had become until yesterday when I rode with some well rested muscles.

I only had time for an hour ride (well, longer, if I didn't stop to take pictures) but it was a beautiful day for a much longer ride.  Old ways die hard as I checked the timer at the end of the ride to make sure I had ridden an hour and then remembered that the clock no longer applied.

Back at the homestead, I prepared the chicken wings that would bake while I was at Joe's.

Chicken wings, lightly coated in oil, rubbed with paprika, salt and a garlic herb seasoning plus about 4 tbsps of sugar.  Pour one bottle of beer into pan. Coat well.  Bake at 325 for about 90 minutes.  Note: the pan will probably be very sticky after cooking.  Pour very hot water in pan and let sit (even overnight) to allow coating to loosen.  Or cook on parchment paper.

Sweet potatoes were also thrown into the oven, wrapped in foil.  I have found that, like commercial tomatoes that have been bred to become basically tasteless, the same has happened to sweet potatoes.  But, the organic ones at Ozark Natural Foods are definitely worth the extra price as they are very good.

 Back home from Joe's, I got the wok fired up.  I like to cook the veggies one at a time for a couple of reasons.  One, the different cooking times needed for the different vegetables.  Two, since I cook enough for leftovers (a Rachel request so that she can take them for lunch), there are way too many to cook well.  And, cooking a small portion at a time, they get crispy instead of soggy.  Once a veggie is almost done, I place them in a pan and then in the oven to stay warm.

The green beans I cook in water first to get tender and then add them to carrots when done.  With the carrots, I add honey.  This time around I also used sesame oil and added sesame seeds.  After all the veggies are done, I mix together.  Oh, yes.  Rachel cooked black quinoa.  I liked it more than regular quinoa but Rachel found it too coarse.

On tap today:  Carrot Cake and perhaps blackened salmon.