Parsnip “French” Fries

  Tonights dinner feast….

“Sausage” Pattie Frittata and Julienne ‘Snip Fries (as in PARsnips):

A Frittata defined in Wikipedia…

A frittata is a type of Italian omelette that frequently features fillings such as meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Like a traditional French omelette, a frittata is prepared in a skillet. However, whereas an omelette is cooked on a stovetop and served folded, a frittata is first partially cooked on a stovetop but then broiled (grilled) to finish, and served open-faced.Nowadays, Italian-style frittatas are cooked in a pan designed for the purpose. It is dual-handled (usually nonstick) with a hinge that allows the pan to be opened or closed with a lid. The egg mixture is poured into the bottom portion and additional ingredients placed on top. After the bottom begins to cook the frittata is lifted slightly with a spatula so any additional egg rolls off the top and cooks on the bottom. This way the ingredients are baked only slightly into the top. Then the lid is closed and the frittata cooked to the desired consistency, traditionally well done

 

In Neapolitan cuisine and other similar cuisines in southern Italy, the frittata often contains spaghetti, macaroni, or another kind of pasta. Usually this pasta is left over from a previous meal and has sauce (e.g. tomato sauce) on it. A traditional peasant frittata might contain onions and Parmesan cheese–a simple meal for a farmer or laborer.

Julienne: Instructions from Ehow.com

1. Clean your cutting board and knife.
2. Peel the skin from the vegetable if necessary.  
3. Trim away any root or stem parts of the vegetable.  
4. If the vegetable is round like a potato or carrot, cut it in half and lay it cut side down on the board. This will keep it from rolling. 
5. Cut the edible part of the vegetable into slices about 1/4-inch thick. Cut around the seeds if necessary.
6. Cut these slices into even strips 1/4-inch thick.

About now, you’re wondering if I will write any of this post myself.  The following recipe is all me, Guys.  Enjoy.

 Vegetarian Sausage Pattie Frittata   Serving 4 – 6.

• 2 TBS olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 4 Morning Star Breakfast Patties * You might want to chop up into little cubes now or you can break apart while cooking if they are too hard from being frozen.
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup Egg Whites or Egg Beaters
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 TBS Plain yogurt
• Pinch crushed saffron threads
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup Grated cheese of choice (I used a 3 cheese italian mix)

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Heat large skillet on stove top over medium high heat. Add oil and when hot, add onion, peppers, patties. Saute approx. 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute another minute.  Add spinach, salt and pepper and saute JUST until spinach wilts..about 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

Beat together the eggs and yogurt. Mix in your saffron threads.

In a greased baking dish (brush with olive oil or spray with non-stick spray or line with butter), add your sauteed veg and patties. Pour the beaten eggs and saffron over the top.  Sprinkle on the cheese and bake for about 18-20 minutes.

Julienne ‘Snip-Fries * These are SO good!

• 5- 6 Parsnips. Peeled and julienned as instructed above.
• Water for boiling
• 1 TBS olive oil and 1 TBS Canola oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tsp paprika or to taste

Place prepared parsnips in boiling pot of water. Cover. Boil 6-7 minutes or until JUST fork tender (not mushy).  Drain and dry on paper towel.  Heat oils in saute pan on high heat. When nice and hot, add the dried ‘Snips and season with salt (liberally like a french fry), pepper and paprika.  Saute on high heat until nice and brown…again, like a french fry.

 

 I’ll wish you all a good night and leave you with a beautiful email sent from my Uncle Ralph who lives in the UK:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people.

He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’

The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’

  

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Nothing Fancy

This mornings healthy start was nothing fancy.  It was a Cappuccino Spiru-Tein shake. A bowl of Cream of Rye with 1 TBS Buckwheat Groats.  The cereal was cooked with 2 Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea bags. Half of a very juicy orange on the side.

Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Cream of Rye with Buckwheat Groats added

The packet of Spiru-Tein said “High Protein Energy Meal”.  It dawned on me that I never checked the carbohydrates of these Spiru-Teins, only the protein.  There are 11 grams of carbs in this shake.  That’s quite a lot considering the shake is coupled with a bowl of hot cereal AND fruit.  However, if one is going to go for a carbohydrate overload, the best time to do it is in the morning after exercise.  

Did you know that sometimes when you get that really tired feeling e.g. driving to work in the morning or after lunch, that it just might be your body processing all those carbohydrates?  Solution: Cut down on the carbs. and increase your protein.   If you don’t eat breakfast nor lunch and STILL feel tired…first – Shame on You! and second..your body is telling you it needs some fuel so EAT.

Working the bod… 

• 32 minute treadmill run
• 40 minutes back and tricep workout. The cable machine was used for the back and ending with close grip pull ups.  For triceps, dumbbells were used and tricep dips were the beginning exercise for arms.
• The morning walk was a 3.5 mile walk with a little jog here and there. Beautiful morning to get out there.

As for any mishaps last night? Can you believe there WERE?!! Call me Ms. Klutz lately. 

1.  While trying to step over and avoid Shane, I whacked my arm on the microwave door and suffered one of those burn type scrapes.  You know …the ones that really hurt when exposed to water.

2.  While pulling out my little egg cooker (previously mentioned in “Gadgets“), the lid fell off and broke leaving glass chips in the cupboard and on the floor.  Bummer.  

The egg cooker will still work, it has to be covered with a make-shift foil lid.  A bit of an inconvenience but the nifty little tool still gets the job done.

I’m now off to get the Jeep’s oil changed. Oh Yippee! It’s such a long drive up those hills and around those curves to Richfield Springs…. not looking forward to it.   Saving Grace… it is a scenic route.

You all have a great day and make the most of it.

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