OWEEEE!

Have you ever used that term to describe a hurt on your children? Let me kiss that Oweeee. Now does that feel better? They look at you with the sincere look in your eyes and your smile and they think, "Are you kidding that's all I get"? But instead, they stop crying and say "yes Daddy" and then you start crying because they are so darn cute! Well, to make a long story short I had an Oweeee with my new kneeee, I had a knee replacement on my first knee, the other one is just as bad, and will be worked on later this year, but it was an experience. Being in and out of a drug enforced stupor for about 4 week, I couldn't think of anything important to write or think. Isn't that sad? Now, that I am on the mend and the end of my short term disability leave from work, I am able to think about what is new and exciting again. Yea team! Let's see what have I been in the mood for lately? When I was recuperating I ate a lot of really bad food, or commonly known as crap. I would sit and watch the Boob-tube and catch up on all of the really bad TV like the "View". But I was able to get back to my friend "Ellen" and now "Bonnie Hunt", both are equally fun to watch. Albeit Bonnie is the new kid on the block, but really funny, sort of like how "Ellen" used to be when she started. They are great and have different spins on their "Moms" and experiences when they were younger and their family life. If you haven't seen "The Bonnie Hunt Show" yet, do it. It is a hoot. What do you think of that new "Top Chef" on the food channel? I think that the other chef the young lady should of won, but if it weren't for her "assistant" that talked her out of her gut feelings on the food to be cooked she would have probably won. Oh well, Hosea is great and will be a great "Top Chef" Fabio is a crack up. Don't know what to think about him…Oh, I have just seen the funniest thing on TV, it showed my Idol Paula Deen. She was in Florida for a food convention and she walked up on stage and her familiar voice and down home comments she said to the audience that her "britches" were too loose and they were falling down. She pulled up her blouse and showed how far they had fallen. She started to walk off stage to adjust her "britches" and they fell all of the way down…I am sure you can see it on YouTube. I did and here it is…I hope you can see it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkKjbEgr-Sw), she is a crack up, and I love her.

This is going a back a little, but I had a "Secret Santa" at work and she was terrific. You give small little gifts starting on Monday and they give the one "big" gift on Friday and identify themselves. Well "Pam" did the most outstanding things. She gave me some ceramic mugs and some really pretty Christmas plates and then my favorite cook book from Paula Deen, also a favorite Rachael Ray magazine. Can you believe that? Well, "Pam" is my most favorite person in the World. Thanks Pam.

Back to Paula Deen, I was looking at more YouTube about Paula, and there are a lot of very bad things that you will have to ignore but there was one about Paula's heart attack, which was a large Carl's Jr size bacon hamburger on a bun, but instead of a bun she used two Krispy Kreme donuts. I couldn't believe that, but her guest and she said it tasted good. I am going to leave that one of the shelf for later (yea, right!)

Here are some of Paula's new recipes:

Salmon Burgers
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
• 3/4 cup panko
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds salmon fillets, skinned and finely chopped
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Cooking spray
• Sesame Mayonnaise, recipe follows
• 8 buttered and toasted sandwich buns
• 8 lettuce leaves
• 8 slices tomato

Directions
In a medium bowl, combine peppers, panko, garlic, and salmon.
In a small bowl, combine egg, soy sauce, lemon juice, and salt; add to pepper mixture, tossing gently to combine. Form mixture into 8 patties.
Lightly coat a grill pan or skillet with cooking spray. Heat it over medium-high heat until hot. Grill or cook patties, 5 minutes per side, or until desired degree of doneness. Spread Sesame Mayonnaise evenly over toasted buns. Top each with a lettuce leaf, tomato slice, and salmon patty. Cover with tops of buns.
Sesame Mayonnaise:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and chill.
Yields: 1 cup

Waffle Cones

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch salt
• Nonstick cooking spray

Special Equipment:

• Pizzelle iron
• Cone-shaped mold

Directions

In a large bowl, add sugar, vanilla extract and eggs and beat until creamy with a hand held electric beater. Add butter and mix well.
In a medium bowl, add flour cinnamon and salt. Slowly blend into wet ingredients.
Spray pizzelle iron with nonstick cooking spray and allow to warm up. Pour 3/4 tablespoon of batter onto the iron and cook until baked and brown.
While still hot, quickly roll the waffle around a cone-shaped mold, sealing the point. (The cones will harden as they cool; remove from the mold when cool.) Repeat with remaining batter.
Parmesan and Garlic Potato Chips
Recipe courtesy The Deen Brothers
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 8 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients

• Peanut oil, for frying
• 3 russet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Special equipment: mandolin

Directions
In a deep-fryer filled halfway with peanut oil, heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
Slice potatoes using a mandolin into thin strips.
In a bowl, mix together the cheese, garlic powder, parsley, and black pepper.
Add a small amount of sliced potatoes at a time into oil. Fry until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain the chips on a paper towel lined plate. Once drained immediately add the Parmesan mixture.
Corny Coleslaw
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Prep Time: 20 min
Inactive Prep Time: 1 hr 0 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients

• 1/2 head purple cabbage, shredded
• 1/2 head green cabbage, shredded
• 2 carrots, peeled and shredded
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (15.25-ounce) can nib let corn, drained
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon House Seasoning, recipe follows
• 1 lime, juiced
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
In a medium bowl, combine the cabbage, carrots, onions and corn.
In a small bowl combine the sugar, cumin, House Seasoning, lime juice and mayonnaise*. Pour over slaw mix and gently combine. Season it with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
*Cook's Note: You may not need to use all of the dressing.
House Seasoning:

• 1 cup salt
• 1/4 cup black pepper
• 1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Leopold's Huckleberry Sauce
Recipe courtesy Stratton Leopold
Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 3 to 4 servings
Ingredients

• 2 cups huckleberries
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons water

Directions
In a saucepan over medium heat, add huckleberries, granulated sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Slowly stir into the huckleberry sauce and heat until thoroughly combined and thickened.
These sound really good and I am going to try these right away, especially the Huckleberry Sauce on some French Vanilla Ice Cream. Yummmmm!