The Good Life....

I must admit...today was spectacular!  A hundred million, billion times better than yesterday.  I lost nothing, hit nothing, hit no one, didn't trip, didn't fall, didn't have any sort of wardrobe malfunctions.  What I DID have was a spectacular conversation!  Magnificent one might say...the Yahoo rocks..sorta, kinda like the You Tube, but on a different level. Oh, and if you were a curious cat such as myself....part-time chainsaw jugglers are the bee's knees..  I happen to know one...I keep it on the DL...  I probably should think twice about saying such things out loud.  I don't want to jinx my one-day lucky 'streak.'

"Yeah, Mama....zip those lips...I am quite familiar with your 'luck.'  I'm off to hide under the bed..."

Quite the sassafras, that gal.  We worked, cooked, ate, visited the 'Wall' for inspiration, then blogged.  Basically the entire crew was out there this evening,  discussing the usual.  This evening everyone was sooooooooooo cold.  Whereas, Sunday, everyone was sooooooooooooooooo hot.  They are just a hoot!  Oh, and we talked about hoodies and their importance in keeping one warm.  I tried convincing them we need to form a committee, one of which I offered to spearhead.  A shelter needs to be erected and ready to go when the rain shows up.  Apparently they hang out on the 'Wall' during  inclement weather.  I explained conditions on said 'Wall' could greatly improve if we put our minds to it.  They weren't too interested.  Such is life...

"Ah, Mama...you had good intentions....did your best...I'm just here to be your support."  What a sweet pea....if only I felt that way about her at 3am when she needed a walk...

Alrighty people, back to my real purpose.  I made dinner AND I also did something else.  Can you guess???  Do you feel like guessing??  *Tap* *Tap*...this thing on???   Tonights meal was an invention of sorts.  Kinda, sorta, possibly a deconstructed type of stew, soup, thingy... Allow me to explain.  I made beef stock...that was my secret.  Yawn and double-yawn...I know.  Good thing you saved the balloons and confetti for another occasion.

I had leftover steak from last evening and had found this fabulous crispy gnocchi recipe.  I thought...why not combine the two.  What could be better!?!?!  Well, lots of things..like that new Willis Coach bag in mahagony I requested two weeks ago for my birthday.  (mom, are you reading????)...nothing has shown up as of today.  In case you were concerned.  As I digress...I started with soup bones...

E.V. rather enjoys these babies after the stock has finished cooking...

Beef stock.  Bones, herbs, garlic, peppercorns, potatoes, carrots, onions (and a bonus...dried chanterelle mushrooms!  I was able to snag a few from the house).

Boil for a bit and allow it to steep for a bit, then strain and put into jars for later use.  I used about a cup for my sauce.

My sauce was lonely....so I thought I would cheer him up and add some crispy gnocchi and steak from last night.  Just returning the favor, as T.G. really cheered me up.  Just trying to do what's right!

Essentially a dumpling/rivel with mashed potatoes.  I added fresh herbs, garlic, flour, parmesan and a some egg.  Again, the parmesan was absent for this photo.  I send out these memos to remind all ingredients where they need to be an what is going on....no one ever reads them!  So frustrating!...  Brown eggs are beautiful, BTW.  Just like brown hair!

Once the dough is created you roll it out and cut it into pieces.

Here is the dough rolled out...after it is cut, you boil in water until it floats, drain and then fry in some peanut oil. 

Frying anything in peanut oil makes it THAT much better.  As I have professed before, I would eat my own flip-flop if it were deep fried.  mmmm.. Then I sprinkled with a little parmesan. 

To accompany my main dish...I'm still at a loss for an official title.  If any of you have any comments or suggestions for a name, I can be reached at 1-800-PINK-NINJA.  It is toll-free...please dial carefully...

I broiled green beans, carrots and zucchini tossed in olive oil and some pepper.

My Public Service Announcement for this evening.  While you are waiting for your beef stock to reach a rolling boil so you can add your slurry of cornstarch and water, do not, under any circumstances, use that as an opportunity shake your booty in the kitchen and use your whisk as a drum stick while listening to MMMBop.  You burn vegetables.  See for yourself. 

Distraction is ugly.  I blame that song.  It is ALL Hanson's fault!  Fortunately I had extra vegetables in the refrigerator.

On a positive note, I have now perfected the air drum....I could totally play drums for Hanson, but only if they begged...Oh, and whisks make excellent drum sticks, in case you were wondering.  I feel it is my civic duty to inform the public of things, especially those of the utmost importance.

I re-broiled a new batch of vegetables....disaster averted!  Can I get a 'yay' for a contingency plan??!!!???!!  It's a good thing I roll in this manner...and have a cape!  It's pink, in case you were wondering.... :-)

Here is my deconstructed, sorta beef 'stew' with crispy gnocchi instead of egg noodles...

It really tasted very good.  E.V. had zero complaints, yet she never does...in that respect she does NOT take after her Mama...

"Mama, I love it!  And I love you, too!!"

Again, we rather enjoyed your company.  We'll be here tomorrow.  I felt it necessary to make such claim in the event you were concerned, anxious, apprehensive, bothered, troubled.....I could go on and on and on, but, again, you know that already.  Oh, an go listen to the acoustic version fo Foo Fighters, Everlong.  Great stuff, I kid you not...I'm not the kinda gal that kids..but you already knew that!

To Be Continued....