Another Snow Day in Austin

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Today was a real white day in Austin, The snow was heavy, just like TX rain can be, and snowflakes fluffy enough to bounce off of windshields. And we actually saw the ground covered in snow. It only lasted for a few hours, but those kind of hours only happen something like once in a decade!

Is This What Nesting Is Like?

I went a little overboard with cooking last night. :)

I usually go grocery shopping on Saturday and then try to cook two meals on Sunday afternoon that last me through the week. I had visitors this Sunday, and didn't get to cook, so I decided to do it on Monday evening, because I had some extra time and knew I won't have it on other weeknights.

I still had one serving left over from the previous meal: sauted, or caramelized onions, baby carrots, green zucchini, and brussels sprouts, with thin veal schnitzel in a mushroom sauce, and cucumber and green onion in sour cream salad.

Since I already thawed ground beef and some left over stuffing mix the day before, I had to make the stuffed yellow zucchini that I had planned to make this weekend. The left over mix was not sufficient, so I had to add a bit more with the thawed ground beef mixed with rice, carrots and spices. That went into the oven for about 45 min.

But, I wasn't in the mood to wait and eat that for dinner last night. There were narrow sides of the zucchini left over that were not good for stuffing, so then I decided to use the zucchini to make pizza sauce. I saute the onions and garlic, then blend them in a mixer with tomatoes, zucchini, a little bit of bell pepper, catchup, spices and water. This then simmers for about 30 minutes. After it cools down, I pack it in jars and freeze the sauce.

But, I wasn't in the mood for pizza either, and didn't want to wait for the sauce to be ready and cool enough. The logical next move is to make something that I DO want to eat. I was craving some pasta. While the water was heating up to boil the pasta, I prepared the topping/sauce. First, I sauted mushrooms to get the water out, and added some vinegar to get the odor out. In another pan, then sauted onions and added chicken cubes. After they were brownish, I mixed them with mushrooms. When this was almost cooked through, I added sour cream to make a nice saucy consistency. This is then mixed in a bowl with some mayo, and topped over pasta. Salad: cherry tomatoes.

This all lasted just over an hour. I got the dinner that I wanted, and now have food for over a week. (and my hands still smell like garlic :()

Hungry, anyone? :)

Backyard Massacre

There was a massacre of some sorts in my back yard. There was a pile of feathers, and a bird lost at least one toe. Yesterday we saw a bird chase a squirrel, but didn't see how it ended.

What a violent world! :)