Apropos of Nothing v.12

Pony, I'll take over since I was one of the catalysts for the thread anyway.

But that's really distressing about the furbabies. Do you know about DG's "Angel Fund" for subscriptions? Last I heard, it was full up & didn't even need contributions. You could probably just ask Terry.

Erm... I don't know Terry, and I'd feel kinda awkward accepting a freebie anyway. I like to pay for my own stuff, ya know? Stubborn pride kinda thing.

Thanks for taking on the thread- I appreciate it. Who knew it would be so popular? :)

Hopefully my babies will still live long healthy lives- their chances are increased since they are indoor-only. Still scary though. And good lord, the food they have to eat now is $23 for a teeny bag... so crazy.

Aw, that's tough.

I'm probably going to give my own dog some dread disease while getting acclimated to being back in the workaday world. Osita has been without food for days but the cats have plenty, so it's like "Here, just have some Friskies or something; Momma too busy to go to Safeway."

Pix I'll dmail the recipe when I have a few minutes. It's yummy and people who do not have celiac ask me to make it all the time. It is also dairy-free - uses coconut milk. The rule about pre-existing conditions in adults starts in 2014. For children it is this year.

Pony - we'll miss you! Hurry back!

I thought it expired on the 12th, but it's the 14th- so I still have a few days left.

We'll have to chat fast, git yer money's worth.

Judi - Yum, I love all things coconut!! I have to stay away from wheat as well.... But sadly the Italian in me will not give up semolina pasta and white bread 100%... just 92%

Have you tried any of Elana's recipes at elanaspantry.com? She has some good ones... My SIL made the German chocolate cake recently - it was scrumptious!

Oh, you're right, Judi. I did read that it's 2014 for adults. Too bad they didn't start that immediately. They should have.

Kur thanks for posting that website. I'm going to visit that. None of us is actually guten intolerant, but it's probably better to make things without the wheat when possible. I have to stay away from dairy of all kinds because I am sensitive to the protein. I have had no ear infections since I stopped eating things with milk products in them. I have to read labels. My allergies would probably be even better without any gluten. I already eat the rice bread from Trader's Joes. I really like it.

Kur I have tried some of Elena's recipes. I have a big collection of GF cookbooks and have tried many recipes from websites. I finally found the best cookbook and that's where I got the coconut cake recipe - but I used lemon curd cake filling in between the layers. The very best book is Gluten Free Baking Classics by Annalise Roberts. The cornbread is amazing, as are all the other recipes. I highly recommend it! I like it a lot better than Elena's stuff.

Kur - sometime give corn pasta a try!

http://www.foodforlife.com/sprouted-grain-difference/ezekiel-4-9.html

I've heard great things from the raw food people about Ezekiel bread. I'm going to start eating this.

oh it's yummy & sticky & not so sweet. I used to eat this back in the late 70's - early 80's.
Some flavours are better than others. Sprouted grains have a very lovely taste.

Oh lordy, coconut cake with lemon filling! That's what we had at our wedding. It's my favorite cake. I haven't had that in years.

I love Ezekial bread. It's delicious.

This message was edited May 10, 2010 10:43 PM

Well then I had better make time to get that recipe to you!

First of all I think being a vet I could pay for your subscription Pony and you could see it as a discount on vet fees.
Next I had a wonderful kayak paddle out to an island in Fredrick sound. I was acossted by the same bull sealion but I have his number and slapped the water hard with my paddle and he quit charging my kayak. I rode the ebb out and sat on the island to watch the sunset on the costal range. It reminded me of my times with Sophie and I decided to find a heart shaped rock to take back to her garden bed. I miss you Sophie!

Pony, Happy birthday my friend. You are now current for one more year. Thank you for accepting my gift that finished my day with joy.

Oh geez... Steve, that was awfully sweet of you. Thank you! I owe you a big hug. :)

Henry ate a little food tonight- for the first time since Saturday. Needless to say, we're thrilled. Hopefully he'll feel much better soon.

Sofer, here is a warm sitbeside because you are thinking of Sophie, and because you are you.

Thanks Judi, I'll check out that cookbook! :) I LOVE a good cookbook... I know my SIL will want to see it as well...

Kur, your baby ducks are soooooo cute! Nothing cuter than baby ducks and chicks! What a wonderful surprise.

Pony, I hope your kitty gets better. Having a furry with health problems is heart wrenching.

Health insurance.... POOH.... no further comment.......

Sofer, you are truely a gallant gentleman. I hope you found the right rock for your Sophie.

Our Soferdig struts the testosterone, and then shows he is all heart.

I'm down one Shubunkin. It was probably the heron. At least the koi are safe. Now the pond is ugly, covered with netting, but I won't worry and the fish are safe.

Portland - can you eat chestnut flour?

do heron's have to wade for food? or to make the edge area less amenable to a heron's approach?

This message was edited May 11, 2010 5:25 PM

Been there, done that, Laurie. I had fishing line strung around and across the pond and had my big wooden chair, a potted plant and a table against the edge of the deck that overlooks the pond. Last year the heron stood on that deck to do her fishing. It's possible it was a kingfisher, although I have not seen one this year. Last year there was one lurking in the birch tree trying to have an opportunity to take fish. Mike thought he heard a loud prehistoric squawk this morning - the sound a heron makes when startled.
At least it wasn't one of my koi. The shubunkin was the slowest moving fish in the group, with long fins. The koi are faster, and also smarter. I'd like to think that most of them are too big for a bird to take, but herons are pretty big themselves.

Got the slug beer traps out about an hour ago. Amazing they are coming in droves. Some have already taken their last swig of beer. (even bought the cheep stuff!) Yeah! The have been eating my Iris and DL's...no more ugly slugs!

Pixy, I swear these plastic herons keep the real heron away. After one tried to land in my pond I placed one of these on the edge and the herons have not tied to land since. They fly around but have not landed. It's a good thing!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130388319520

Pixy, A net covered pond with fish is much better than a lovely but empty one, and brings much more piece of mind.

Mom is not only worried about the heron now, but racoons as well. You would think with our wolf pack, the coons would find a better place to hang out, but we have at least one stupid one who hasn't learned (or maybe he has by now) better.

I was getting ready to mow Mom's lawn a week ago when I heard a ruckus in a tree behind me. I looked back just in time to see a few very large clumps of moss/leaves falling down, and then right behind it... bump... bump... bump... out falls a racoon! It fell from at least 20 feet up, and was a bit stunned when I went up to it. It headed back up the tree just out of dog/arm reach and just kind of hung there for a bit. I had work to do, so let the dogs keep an eye on it. I imagine it went further up the tree to find safety until the coast was clear. Definitely NOT something you see every day!

Bea, We cross posted. Hope the beer traps work well for you! I have found that slugs prefer cheap beer (we had this conversation at the Greenshed party...). They tend to completely ignore my Corona bottles that accidently get lost in the garden.

I tried beer traps with only mediocre results. Caught a few, but I was disappointed. The big one I found a few days ago was tossed into the green bin and taken away by the trash collectors. Happy travels you ugly thing!

I have never heard or seen the word "shubunkin" before. I had to google it to see what they look like. I have enough trouble keeping up with my 2 cats and an energetic dog!

Laurie, yes I can eat chestnut flour.

Oh that's it! I used Corona!

Try Hamms..it was like $2.99 a six pack..they seem to love it!

Julie - there have been reports of canine distemper in raccoons in these parts. I believe that one local one (who is now gone) was in the late stages of it. One of the things they do as the disease progresses is hang out near people - whether they are aggressive or just too sick to be afraid I'm not sure. Symptoms are crusty eyes, nasal discharge and neurological problems. If you find a sick one (like the one you're talking about maybe), you might want to put him out of his misery . . .

And Pony, I'm so sorry about your kitties. What a shock. Hopefully they'll fall into the category of kitties with FIV that don't need much in the way of extra care. They are so lucky to have you.

Steve, I'm sorry that you're missing your Sophie right now. Sometimes it does come on hard, doesn't it? I hope you found the perfect rock for her. Maybe the sealion was bringing a message from your girl . . .

These recipes sound marvelous. I think when I have a minute I'll have a go at one of them. Thanks, all!

Oh dear- Julie, that doesn't sound like a healthy raccoon. As Katie said, there has been canine distemper reported in a lot of coons around the northwest- if you see him again, try to off him if possible.

Speaking of nasty raccoons- I've managed to eliminate two of the five that have been damaging our property. I'm a little worried that I haven't seen the 'mama' coon lately, I'm afraid she's holed up having more babies. Argh.

Pony I'm glad you will not have to leave us - thanks Sofer! I hope your kitties get well soon.

Thanks, Judi. :)

(and thank you again, Steve!)

Thanks, also , Steve. We would certainly not want to miss Pony's additions to our threads.

I made this for a friend who also has to eat gluten free -

Sweet Chestnut SpongeCake

This makes a light, moist sponge cake with a superb flavour. Thechestnut gives it a dark colour so cover with a chocolate butter-cream icingor melted chocolate.

Ingredients:to make a 7" sponge

3 oz / 75g unsweetened tinned chestnut pureé
1 large egg
1 ½ oz / 30g butter or soft margarine
2 oz / 50g sugar
2 oz / 50g cornflour
1 oz / 25g potato flour
½ tsp / 2g bicarbonate of soda
¼ tsp / 1g cream of tartar




Instructions:


Beat the chestnut pureé to a smooth pureéwith the egg. This is best done in a liquidiser.

Cream together the butter and sugar.

In a separate bowl sieve together the flours and bicarbonate ofsoda, cream of tartar.

Beat the egg and chestnut pureé gradually into the butterand sugar. This is better done by hand than in a mixer.

Fold the flour into the egg mixture and immediately place the mixturein a greased 7" sponge tin lined with non-stick baking parchment.


Cooking:


Preheated oven

gas mark 3 325°F 160°C


Bake for 20 to 25 minutes when the top should be golden brown andthe sides shrinking away from the tin.

Cool for ten minutes before turning out onto a wire tray.



Variations:


Flavour with 1 tsp cocoa or 1 drop vanilla essence or grated zestof one lemon added to the sugar.


Birthday cake: sponge layer cake


Make an 8" vanilla sponge cake and an 8" chocolate sponge cake.

Sandwich the two cakes together with a layer of chocolate butter-creamicing.

Spread the top of the cake with melted chocolate (not cooking chocolate).

Oooh. Thanks, Laurie. I don't think I've ever seen tinned/canned chestnut puree. I'll have to look more closely next time I go to the grocery store.

One thing I noticed while on the tour of Hinkley's new place was that there were gluten free desserts on the table for the guests. I had to test one to make sure that it was okay. I gave it a thumbs up.

Thank you Laurie - I am going to try it soon. It looks very good. I have those flours and I like chestnut puree. Yum.

I have the Coconut cake recipe in a Word document and will email to anyone who wants it.

Gluten free has become a HUGE thing lately. And it's about time, if you ask me. As a result, there will be yummier and yummier treats available. And that's a good thing!