COMFORT FOOD

I am doing an update on this post, originally posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008,to include information for our feline friends as well as further information that I have learned about potatoes. The original post begins,  "I recently joined a cooking group on Facebook where I can practice my literary craft and write about food. Here is one of my posts." This is another comfort food and, yes, if you aren't careful with aspects of the recipe you can be doing some serious daisy pushing or at least have some icky nausea. With those legalities out of the way, it is time to make Egg Mess.

Ingredients:

*One small onion diced This is actually good for your health because onions have wound-healing properties and are antiseptic. So if you slip with the knife when dicing this plant, there's a built-in cure.

However, onions and other members of the Allium family like garlic are toxic for your feline friends because these foods contain a chemical called N-propyl disulphide that can cause destruction of red blood cells in cats (and dogs) and resulting, life-threatening anemia.

*Margarine or Butter Don't eat too much of either because both can lead to those so difficult pounds to shed. 

Cats should not have margarine because of unknown ingredients and butter can cause gas and diarrhea.

*Potatoes diced (I prefer red potatoes) Here is the potentially toxic part. Potatoes are a member of the nightshade family that has the temptress belladonna as cousin. Potatoes that have gone green or that are sprouting in your pantry have the poisons solanine and chaconine and can give you dreadful cramps.   

Cats should not have potato eyes or green parts because of the toxins.

*Pepper and Salt to Taste

No black pepper or salt for cats because black pepper is poisonous for cats and salt can cause an electrolyte imbalance. 

*Eggs I usually use six to eight eggs because I am feeding four people (six if you count two growing children). Washing your hands after cracking eggs is important because salmonella is a risk from uncooked eggs. Salmonella causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and food borne illness. More toxins! Yea!

Raw eggs are bad for cats because the whites contain the chemical avidin that can bind to biotin and cause a biotin deficiency. The symptoms are thickening of the outer layer of skin, hair loss, increased salivation, diarrhea and dry secretions around the nose, eyes, and mouth.Cooking the egg thoroughly removes the avidin and makes the cooled egg safe for your kitty.

Where was I? Oh, instructions. They are very facile.
Wash the onion and potatoes. Cut both into small chunks. Put the butter in a frying pan (not the non-stick kind). Add the onion and fry until clear. Add the potatoes and fry until brown. Add the eggs, sprinkle on pepper and salt to taste, and stir until the eggs are scrambled. Remove from heat and enjoy.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

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EASY-PEASY SOUP

UPDATE_2/07/2018 This post was initially a reference to the television series, New Tricks, but the original cast has departed since the publication date of August 25, 2008. Furthermore, the actor Dennis Waterman is no longer someone I admire. However, I am keeping the title Easy-Peasy Soup.

Easy-Peasy Soup

Two cups of lentil soup mix

I favour a gluten free generic mix of split yellow peas, split green peas, French lentils, red lentils, and long grain brown rice.

Three cups of water

32 ounces pre-packaged vegetable broth, or homemade vegetable stock

The broth that I use is Pacific or Imagine brand but any will do. The Pacific brand has thyme, bay, onion, carrots, tomatoes, celery, onions, leeks,sea salt, and parsley. It is more robust than the Imagine brand. With a pre-packaged broth you do not have to worry about storing celery that may release poisonous, phototoxic furocoumarins from the spoiled plant.

A pinch of rosemary if you would like it sweet.

Two carrots; peeled, washed, and chopped

Just the root, not the leaves because the greens can give you contact dermatitis if your skin is exposed to sunlight. 

One medium onion, washed and chopped

A can of diced tomatoes, if you wish

Pepper and salt to taste
***********************************************DIRECTIONS:

Rinse the lentil mix in a sieve. Drain. Put the lentil mix in a large saucepan or soup pot.
Pour in the water and broth into the soup pot. Dump in the carrots and onion, tomatoes optional. Sprinkle the soup with rosemary, if you wish. Bring the liquid to a boil. Turn down the heat. Simmer the soup for an hour to an hour and a half. This makes a better crock pot recipe, basically a six hour commitment on high and eight on low.

This is nice to serve with small red potatoes and bread. It is a good soup that will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Serves 3

NOTE: This is my 100th post on The Writer's Home.

ANOTHER POEM OF THE MONTH

The violet-lapped Muses' lovely gifts belong
to you now, children, and the piercing lyre, the friend of song.

My body, that before, was supple, age already has taken by surprise, my raven tresses are turned white,

my spirit has grown heavy and my knees too weak
to carry me, that once were quick to dance as fauns.

I grumble at them often but what good is that?
For human beings to be ageless is not possible.

They say that once, for love, Dawn of the rosy arms carried Tithonus aboard her golden bowl to the world's end

when young and handsome, but all the same in time gray age.

Sappho

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POEM OF THE MONTH

This place is sacred to the goddess. Here her constant pleasure is to watch the sea as it shimmers from the shore, and ensure the comfort of sailors; all around the ocean trembles as it gazes on her statue, oil-smooth.

Anyte of Tegea

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THE BROOM AND MOP MARKET

Have you ever noticed that small concerns in the publishing area do not know where to advertise for help?

I write of those employers who hire intermediaries such as Elance or similar chop shops that charge fees either to the buyer of services or to the provider. Sometimes these outlets charge a cut of the provider's wages.

The wretched innocents who patronize the scam artists get for what they pay. Elance, Guru.com et cetera are like the broom and mop markets of nineteenth century England. Those were the hires who applied without the written recommendations of a satisfied patron. In that era Mrs. Beeton, a Victorian Martha Stewart, wrote the proper manner in which to find service.

"IN OBTAINING A SERVANT’S CHARACTER, it is not well to be guided by a written one from some unknown quarter; but it is better to have an interview, if at all possible, with the former mistress. By this means you will be assisted in your decision of the suitableness of the servant for your place, from the appearance of the lady and the state of her house. Negligence and want of cleanliness in her and her household generally, will naturally lead you to the conclusion, that her servant has suffered from the influence of the bad example."

There are better sites for hiring employees such as MediaBistro. An insignificant publisher will not be more than it is unless the employer discards pay sites as mere carnival tricks.

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I'M AN AUTHOR

I received a copy of the magazine, Optical Prism, that contains the article that I wrote. It is a small but necessary contribution to my career as a writer.

I'm a published author! I am excited and very cogent of the fact that commercial work is more viable than fiction. Still, when I am not searching for writing or editing gigs, I manage to crank out about a chapter of fiction every two weeks. I think, without the push of what I love in writing fiction, that commercial work would be extremely dull.

However, this gives me the street cred to say to an agent or a publisher that I can sell material albeit only now this very fortunate request from the magazine's editor. Today eyewear, tomorrow a Red Cedar! Don't I wish.....


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