Monday, March 24, 2014

Mu Shu Pork

Ingredients
4teaspoons cornstarch, divided
8teaspoons soy sauce, divided
5teaspoons dry sherry, divided
8ounces boneless lean pork, cut into matchstick pieces
3dried mushrooms
2dried wood ears
1tablespoon water
1/2teaspoon sugar
1teaspoon sesame oil
7teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
2eggs, lightly beaten
1teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/2cup sliced bamboo shoots (1/2 of 8-ounce can), cut into matchstick pieces
1small carrot, shredded
1/2cup chicken broth
2cups bean sprouts (about 4 ounces)
2green onions with tops, cut into 1-1/2-inch slivers
1/2cup hoisin sauce
16Mandarin Pancakes (recipe follows)
1. For marinade, combine 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 2 teaspoons soy sauce and 2 teaspoons sherry in large bowl. Add meat; stir to coat. Let stand 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place dried mushrooms and wood ears in small bowl; cover with hot water. Let stand 30 minutes; drain. Squeeze out excess water. Cut off and discard mushroom stems; cut caps into thin slices.
3. Pinch out hard nobs from center of wood ears; discard. Cut wood ears into thin strips.
4. For sauce, combine remaining 3 teaspoons cornstarch, 6 teaspoons soy sauce and 3 teaspoons sherry in small bowl. Add water, sugar and sesame oil; mix well.
5. Heat 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil in small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 of eggs, tilting skillet to cover bottom. Cook eggs just until set. Loosen edges and turn omelet over; cook 5 seconds. Remove omelet from skillet. Repeat with another 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil and remaining eggs.
6. When omelets are cool, cut in half. Stack halves; cut crosswise into thin strips.
7. Heat remaining 6 teaspoons vegetable oil in wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir in ginger. Add meat; stir-fry until meat is no longer pink in center, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, wood ears, bamboo shoots, carrot and chicken broth; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add bean sprouts and onions; stir-fry 1 minute.
8. Stir cornstarch mixture; add to wok. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce bubbles and thickens. Stir in omelet strips.
9. To serve, spread about 2 teaspoons hoisin sauce onto each pancake. Spoon about 3 tablespoons pork mixture down center. Fold over bottom; roll up.
Mandarin Pancakes
Makes about 20 pancakes
 
Ingredients
2cups all-purpose flour
3/4cup boiling water
2tablespoons sesame oil
  
1. Place flour in bowl; make well in center. Pour in boiling water.
2. Stir flour mixture with wooden spoon until dough looks like lumpy meal.
3. Press dough into ball. On lightly floured surface, knead dough until smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes. Cover with clean towel and let rest 30 minutes.
4. Roll dough into 10-inch long log. Cut into 1-inch pieces; cover with plastic wrap.
5. Cut each piece of dough in half, keeping remaining dough pieces covered. Roll each half into ball; flatten slightly. On lightly floured surface, roll each dough piece into 3-inch circle; brush with small amount of sesame oil. Stack two dough circles together, oil-side in.
6. Roll the pair of dough circles together into 6- to 7-inch circle with rolling pin; cover and set aside. Repeat with remaining dough, keeping remaining dough pieces covered.
7. Heat nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook pancakes, one pair at a time, turning every 30 seconds, until cakes are flecked with brown and feel dry, 2 to 3 minutes. (Be careful not to overcook pancakes or they will become brittle.)
8. Remove pancakes from pan. Separate each pancake into two pancakes while still hot. Stack pancakes on plate; keep covered while cooking remaining pancakes. Fold pancakes into quarters and arrange in serving basket. Serve immediately.
 
Note   Pancakes can be prepared ahead and refrigerated or frozen in resealable plastic bags.
 
Note   To reheat, wrap pancakes in clean towel (thaw completely, if using frozen). Steam over simmering water 5 minutes.

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Ingredients
4boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1/4 pound each)
1/8teaspoon salt
1/8teaspoon black pepper
 Nonstick cooking spray
1/2cup finely chopped onion (about 1 small)
1/2cup orange juice
2teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1teaspoon sugar
2teaspoons cornstarch
1/4cup cold water
1can (11 ounces) mandarin orange segments, drained
2to 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
2cups hot cooked rice
 Additional fresh cilantro (optional)
1. Pound chicken slightly between 2 pieces of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thickness using flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin. Broil chicken 6 inches from heat source 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Or, grill chicken on covered grill over medium-hot coals 10 minutes on each side or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Spray medium nonstick saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Add onion; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender. Add orange juice, ginger and sugar. Heat to a boil.
3. Combine cornstarch and water in small bowl; add to juice mixture, stirring until thickened. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in orange segments and cilantro. Serve chicken over rice; top with sauce. Garnish as desired.

Chicken and Vegetables with Mustard Sauce

Ingredients
1tablespoon sugar
2teaspoons cornstarch
1-1/2teaspoons dry mustard
2tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2tablespoons water
2tablespoons rice vinegar
1pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
4teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
2cloves garlic, minced
1small red bell pepper, cut into short thin strips
1/2cup thinly sliced celery
1small onion, cut into thin wedges
3cups hot cooked Chinese egg noodles (3 ounces uncooked)
  

1. Combine sugar, cornstarch and mustard in small bowl. Blend soy sauce, water and vinegar into cornstarch mixture until smooth. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces.
2. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in wok or large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and garlic; stir-fry 3 minutes or until chicken is cooked though. Remove and reserve.
3. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to wok. Add bell pepper, celery and onion; stir-fry 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
4. Stir soy sauce mixture; add to wok. Cook and stir 30 seconds or until sauce boils and thickens.
5. Return chicken with any accumulated juices to wok; heat through. Serve over Chinese noodles. Garnish with celery leaves, if desired.

 






 

Barbecued Pork

Ingredients
1/4cup soy sauce
2tablespoons dry red wine
1tablespoon brown sugar
1tablespoon honey
2teaspoons red food coloring (optional)
1/2teaspoon ground cinnamon
1green onion with top, cut in half
1clove garlic, minced
2whole pork tenderloins (about 12 ounces each), trimmed
 Green onions (optional)
  

1. Combine soy sauce, wine, sugar, honey, food coloring, cinnamon, onion and garlic in large bowl. Add meat; turn to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight, turning meat occasionally.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Drain meat, reserving marinade. Place meat on wire rack over baking pan. Bake 45 minutes or until no longer pink in center, turning and basting frequently with reserved marinade.
3. Remove meat from oven; cool. Cut into diagonal slices. Garnish with green onions, if desired.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Really ?

A cat is forbidden from leaving the house without three bells around its neck

Apparently the inhabitants of Longbern were upset about cats killing their birds.

A law was passed with the specific intent of stating the punishment for stealing crayfish.

RS 14:67.5 § 67.5. Theft of crawfish; penalty
A. No person shall knowingly, willfully and intentionally fish or take any commercial crawfish from any crawfish farm, except with the consent of the owner thereof.
B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft of crawfish when the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of five hundred [...]

A new law (reported in The Guardian newspaper April 2005) in Turin imposes a fine of 500 Euros for dog owners who fail to walk their dogs at least three times a day.

A person may not cross state lines with a duck atop his head.

A person must obtain a permit to spread rat poison.

Sec. 5-2. Putting out poison.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to scatter or put out or otherwise distribute on his premises within the city any poison in any form or manner whatsoever which is or may likely be sufficiently lethal or of such strength as to cause death to any animal or [...]

A person who dyes, stains, or otherwise alters the natural coloring of a bird or rabbit commits a Class B misdemeanor. (Ind. Code 15-2.1-21-13(b)

IC 15-2.1-21-13 Birds or rabbits; sale restricted; exception; discoloring prohibited Sec. 13. (a) A person who sells: (1) a bird under the age of three (3) weeks; or (2) a rabbit under the age of two (2) months; commits a Class B misdemeanor. This subsection does not apply to commercial breeders or distributors whose facilities [...]

A policeman may bite a dog to quiet him.

A product made with a pig’s leg or thigh and drumsticks of a turkey is a ham

In 1990 the House of Representatives came to this conclusion.

Against the law to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp.

All bees entering Kentucky shall be accompanied by certificates of health, stating that the apiary from which the bees came was free from contagious or infectious disease.

All bees entering Kentucky shall be accompanied by certificates of health, stating that the apiary from which the bees came was free from contagious or infectious disease. -KRS 252.130 (Passed in 1922; Repealed in 1948)

All cats must wear three bells to warn birds of their whereabouts.

All dog waste must be removed from any yard within seven days.

6.24.015 Removal of materials between January 15th through May 15th.
(a) During the period from January 15th to May 15th of each and every year, it shall be unlawful for any person to permit any animal or fowl manure, excrement or other fly breeding material to remain on or at his premises for a period [...]

All dogs sold for consumption must have a government approved tattoo.

All families must be given a hog from the town’s mayor.

All garbage must be cooked before it can be fed to any hogs.

Sec. 7-187. Preparation of garbage, etc., fed to hogs.
All garbage, refuse, offal or other material other than grain foodstuffs to hogs must be cooked on the premises just prior to the feeding of the hogs.
(Code 1961, § 4-39)

All horse drawn vehicles must have brakes

Each horse-drawn vehicle engaged in carrying loads on the streets and highways of the District shall be equipped with an effective brake.

All persons must carry a bag with them at all times when they walk their dog in case said dog “poops”, or risk a $100 fine.

30-5. Removal of excrement.
The owner shall carry and use a bag or other device to pick up and remove any excrement said dog shall drop on property other than their own.
30-6. Penalties for offenses.
Any person violating the provisions of this Article shall be subject to a penalty of not less than twenty-five [...]

All persons wishing to keep a rhinoceros as a pet must obtain a $100 license first.

Section 8.05.020 Permit–Definition.
Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall possess, keep, maintain or have in his possession or under his control, within the city, any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, panther, ocelot, lynx, cougar, wolf, alligator, fox, raccoon, coyote, monkey, ape, chimpanzee, birds of prey, poisonous reptile, other dangerous or [...]

Alligators may not be kept in bath tubs.

Alligators may not be tied to fire hydrants.

An old ordinance forbids parking for over two hours unless a horse is tied to the car.

Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

Animal Laws in the USA

Weird and dumb animal laws USA


Alaska
It is illegal to shove a live moose out of an airplane whilst in flight.

Arizona
Donkeys must not be allowed sleep in bathtubs.

Arkansas
It is unlawful to walk a cow down Main Street after 1:00 PM on Sunday.

California
Animals must not be allowed to mate publicly within 500 yards of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

Colorado
It is illegal to ride a horse while under the influence of alcohol.

Connecticut
Any Dogs  
 bearing tattoos must be reported to police.

Florida
Elephants tethered to a parking meter will be charged the same as it would for a vehicle.

Georgia
Goldfish must not be given away as an incentive to play of bingo.

Idaho
It is illegal to fish from a camel's back.

Indiana
It is illegal to pass a horse on the street.

Iowa
Horses must not eat fire hydrants.

Kansas
Shooting rabbits from motorboats is illegal

Kentucky
It is illegal to dye a duckling blue for the purpose of selling it unless more than six are for sale at the same time.

Louisiana
Stealing an alligator carries a ten year jail sentence.

Maine
Deer must not be fed.

Maryland
Taking a lion to the cinema is illegal

Massachusetts
Gorillas are not allowed in the back seat of any car.

Michigan
Killing a dog using a decompression chamber is illegal

Minnesota
Entering Wisconsin with a chicken upon ones head is illegal.

Mississippi
Stabling of Horses within 50 feet of any road is illegal

Missouri
It is illegal to provide alcohol to elephants.

Montana
It is illegal to carry sheep in the cab of a truck without a chaperone.

Nebraska
Whale fishing is illegal

Nevada
It is illegal to drive a camel on the public highway

New Hampshire
Any cattle that crosses state roads must be fitted with a diaper type device to gather its feces

New Jersey
Detaining or causing delay to a homing pigeon is illegal.

New Mexico
It is prohibited to hunt in the Mountain View Cemetery.

North Carolina
Elephants may not be deployed to plough cotton fields.

Ohio
It is illegal to display coloured chickens for the purpose of selling.

Oklahoma
It is illegal to have the hind legs of any farm animal in your boots.

Oregon
Canned corn must not to be used for fishing bait.

Pennsylvania
Motorist seeing horses coming in their direction must pull off the road, cover camouflage his car with a blanket or canvas in order that it blends in with the countryside until the horses pass.

Rhode Island Racing a horse over any public highway, or testing the
 of the horse is illegal.

South Carolina
Horses must not be kept in bathtubs.

South Dakota
Horses are not allowed in the Fountain Inn unless they are wearing pants.

Tennessee
Shoot any game other than whales from a moving vehicle is illegal

Texas
It is illegal to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.

Utah
Birds have the right of way on all public highways.

Vermont
It was illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole. (Repealed)

Virginia
Only raccoons may be hunted and then only until 2:00 AM

West Virginia
Road kill can be picked up and taken 
 for supper.

Wisconsin
Livestock have the right-of-way on public roads.

Wyoming
You may not take a photograph of a rabbit from January to April without an official permit.


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Cats with Attitude 2









Clown School Training ?

CATS WITH ATTITUDE

I loves Cat Nip





















I think she's dead Dad

Pecan Pie Muffins

(c) Clarkson Potter 2008
SHOW:
Trisha's Southern Kitchen
EPISODE:
Breakfast for Supper

From Trishas Kitchen

Trisha's Pecan Pie Muffins (03:41)
Total Time:
30 min
Prep:
10 min
Cook:
20 min
Yield:9 servings
Level:Easy
CATEGORIES 

Breakfast Muffin Baking
Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 1/3 sticks butter, melted
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place paper liners in 9 muffin cups and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the pecans, sugar and flour. Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. Pour the egg mixture into the well in the dry ingredients, stirring until moistened.

Spoon the batter into the cups, filling each almost full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in a muffin, about 20 minutes..

Cook Notes: This recipe also makes great mini-muffins; just shorten the baking time by 5 minutes.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/pecan-pie-muffins.html?oc=linkback