Saving time in the Kitchen

Prep time is the stage where most of us spend the most time.

It's often the easiest to hack, though. Preparation is key if you want to cut down on kitchen time.

Things I do:
Don't just brown the beef I need - I usually buy ground beef in the big family packs. I used to just do a little at a time, but now I brown the whole package and use what I need, freezing the rest.
2 cups of cooked ground beef = 1 pound uncooked.
So to make best and easiest use, I freeze a pound's worth at a time.

I would not have believed the ease at which one can assemble a casserole when the meat's already cooked, and it's fast too.

Save the gravy - Use ice trays to freeze the leftover gravy for use in flavoring or thickening later. Once it's frozen, pop the cubes out and store in freezer bags. This also works for wine - good use for that end of bottle.

1001 Books

I've done quite a bit of reading recently, but I haven't been posting my completes.

Is anyone else reading this doing the 1001 thing? I'm finding it opens my eyes to a world of new experiences.

1001 Albums - #518 Kevin Rowland and Dexy's Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ay

This is the album bearing one of those staples of 80's radio - "Come On Eileen". I sat back and listened to the rest of the album last night. Three are some real stand out tracks in here besides the one most people know. I really liked "Let's Make This Precious".

Overall, while it's an excellent album, it feels like Kevin Rowland was trying almost too hard for a new sound. Some of the tracks seem overworked. But it's still a landmark album. I remember the first time I heard it, as a high schooler back in the Eighties. I was babysitting for some family friends, and was making the kids suffer through my music (battered self-recorded cassettes, mostly). They stopped fussing when this album came on, and all three of us were up and dancing around in the sunlight streaming in the windows when "Come On Eileen" came on. You just can't sit still to that one.

Internet issues

Not too thrilled with my internet right now. :(

There and Back Again

Yep, like lots of folks, we went to see the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey today. It made me mad.
Now I have to wait two years to see all of it.

But seriously, it was great. You'll enjoy, though I think if I didn't know the story I'd be a lot more frustrated at the wait.  :)

Gluten Free Pie Crust

1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts

Finely chop together in food processor. Press into pan.

Digitizing the Cookbook

If you all haven't figured it out, I've been taking the recipes I've collected over the years and typing them up to post here. I'll keep adding to it over time.
We survived Thanksgiving, and now I'm in the mode to holiday bake. Expect the next few things up here to be dessert recipes, and there may be multiple versions as I figure out lo-carb versions, and/or gluten free versions to my favorites.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi, everyone!

We're all together for Thanksgiving, and we've cooked up a storm. I'll be posting up a few more recipes soon, hope you all are having a wonderful day!