I Could Quiche You!

Due to technical difficulties with Blogger, the recent heat wave we are presently incurring and my usual lazy ass self (upon which I blame the heat), I am just now posting my review of last month's Cheese Calendar Recipe. For those of you not familiar with these recipe reviews, please click on the "cheese calendar" label at the bottom for the history of these reviews because, frankly, I'm just too hot and bothered (and not in a good way) to do the links.

At any rate, May's recipe called for a quiche - namely, a bacon quiche. Now, I'm not a great fan of eggs in the first place but the recipe calls for, basically, scrambled eggs with bacon, cheese and baked in a pie crust. I like scrambled eggs. I like bacon. I like pie crust. Oh, and I like cheese. A no-brainer!

It’s a very simple recipe and great for a brunch and would even suit as a dinner entrée for those who want protein without having to mess around with too much cooking after a long days’ work. Oh, and did I mention it has BACON!

Bacon Quiche

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs, beaten
• 12 (or more) slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
• ½ cup of milk
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 cup grated Havarti cheese
• 1 deep dish pie crust (in the frozen section of your grocery store – or, hell, make one yourself!)
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Beat eggs, milk, bacon, salt, pepper and basil until frothy
• Pour mixture into pie crust
• Sprinkle cheese over mixture
• Bake for 35 – 45 minutes or until knife inserted into centre comes out clean

That is the basic recipe in the calendar but you could dress it up anyway you want. For instance, the bacon they sell here is very fatty, rather expensive and without much flavour (yeah, it sometimes sucks to live in the Bahamas – we get all the crappy food) but you could use a nice pancetta or capocollo (spicy or not) or some other flavourful meat.

Even though I made this dish to the specifications of the recipe (as I promised to do with all of recipes in the calendar), I would likely add sweet peppers, onions and some Worcestershire sauce.  As it is a quite versatile recipe, one could use it for those leftovers that won't make a full meal.

So, guys, real men can eat quiche.
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Happy Happy Joy Joy**

In my last article I expressed my frustrations of not being able to post comment responses on my own blog.  Some other members of Blogger were (or still are) experiencing the same problem along with another glitch of not being able to publish articles on their own sites.

Another issue I was having was not being able to install Disqus on my blog and gave up on it a few weeks ago until this commenting problem arose.  Hoping to circumvent this recent commenting problem, I tried and tried and tried again to install Disqus with no luck.  I even went as far as to disable a majority of my internet security features but it still would not install.

Finally, and after a major mondo-blondo moment (three days), success!!  Disqus is now installed on my blog.

Disqus would not install because my internet browser (Internet Explorer) would not allow it, suspecting a cross-scripting (malicious) attack on my blog site.

As for the Blogger issues (commenting/posting/signing-in), my major concern was responding to comments on my own site (which I was prevented from doing), but I could still publish articles to my own blog and comment on other Bloggers' sites without problems.

(June 3, 2011 Update:  I posted a comment (using IE v.9) to one Blogger member's site, but later could not do it on another Blogger's site (while still using IE v.9).  I could, however, post a comment using another browser.)

Hmm, you say.

In the hope that I can shed light or some assistance to those who are experiencing some of the same problems I've encountered with Blogger and/or installing Disqus, I offer the following (please note, however, I am NOT a computer techie):

FYI (some shit that may or may not be relevant):

• My platform is Windows 7
• The internet browser I normally use is Internet Explorer (v.8 then, v.9 now)
• I was born blonde (not that it really matters)

For Blogger:
I think it (Blogger) is still experiencing the same issues - now that I have Disqus, my only issue was commenting on my own blog and is now resolved.

Anyway, it may be your browser - try using an alternative for the time being.  I used Google Chrome.  It allowed me to sign in, sign out, post comments and articles through Blogger without problems.  Yeah, you probably won't like it much either but it got the job done for me.  Do a 'test' publish - it can always be deleted and you can alternate between browsers.


For Disqus (not being able to to install it on your site):
If you merely want to circumvent the commenting issue on your own site (I cannot speak to the problems others are having with commenting on other Blogger sites) and want to install Disqus but it is blocked because of a "cross-scripting" error:

• If using IE (Internet Explorer), don't even bother to turn off the XSS filter(s) or related toggles.  They won't work.  Trust me, it don't work and you might save yourself a few clumps of hair (and from possible virus attacks).
• Try an alternate browser (my "mondo-blondo" moment) to install it.  Again, Google Chrome worked for me - you can always go back to your regular browser afterwards (as I have).

I hope this was helpful and informative to those may still have problems.


;-)


**Ren & Stimpy / Happy Happy Joy Joy Song

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Testing ...

One, two, three.


(two seconds later ...)


Oh, shit!  It worked!!

Sure, I can publish a post on my blog but can't comment on it?? WTF??  Is it just my site or what??

Alright, I've had it.  I've got to get Disqus but I don't know how to do it stick it in there, if you know what I mean.  A little help, please?  (Assuming you are able to comment, of course.)

Hey, Blogger:  Blog this (points to Moooooog's crotch - seeing is that I don't have one of 'those').

;-)

Okay, since I can't comment on my own friggin' site, I guess the following will be the only way I can respond to comments for the time being:

Helen:  Whoa, you've changed (love your new pic)!  I see you could get through - nice to know that someone can.  Thanks for dropping in!

Ziva: ...dix, onze, douze.  Yep, that's as far as I'm gonna count because I'm gonna lose it in a moment.  Heh, heh.

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*Snort*

With what little eyesight I have left, I've been neglecting my reading list mostly because I've been misreading things.  When one reads, "Wore" as "Whore", one should avoid reading fine print - or any print for that matter.  And I won't go into my recent Wheel of Fortune incident.

My new eyeballs (glasses) are supposed to "reach" this week.

Reach (as a Bahamian verb):  whenever it/they/whatever arrives at a destination; emphasis on whenever.

At any rate, during my blog skimming I discovered that two blogging awards were recently bestowed upon me by that crazy Arizonan zombie wombat we all know and love as  Quirkyloon.  Imagine my surprise when I saw these:

So, in keeping with true Quirky fashion:

*snort*

 "Stylish"?  Moi? Just be glad that this isn't a video blog.  I didn't know what "matching" meant in fashion jargon until 10th grade but I try to adhere to that rule when I now go out in public.  Alright, I know that that's not what is meant by this 'Stylish' award.  Notwithstanding, I'm still verklempt!

*vapours hand-fan*

"Versatile"?  Granted that I don't really have a 'theme' to my blog and I write about dis, dat, and de udder tingum so, in that respect, I guess I am versatile!

*sheepish grin*

Alas, with greatness comes responsibilities.  Whether it be a Pulitzer Prize or a Blogging Award, obligations are attached, implied or not.  In this case, the cling-ons are:

1. Thank and link back to the person giving you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 10-15 blogs you think deserve this award.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award.

When I was given my first blog award there were "rules" attached, and when I received it I was quite the 'newbie': my task was to award 7+ bloggers and state why I thought they deserved the honour. Gah! I barely knew a handful of people at best and, likewise, they barely knew me. Little did I know then that it wasn't completely taboo to break the rules. And, like Quirks, I'm not all about rules.

Let's just call them guidelines, shall we?

1. I thank ye, O Quirkyloon, and graciously accept the honours ye have bestowed upon me.  (Um, no biggie but you forgot to drop me a nugget note about the awards.  I'll assume it was due to a DDP withdrawal - that or Blogger was still experiencing its own Twilight Zone).  You like me!  You really like me!!
2. Seven things about meself ... well, I've probably already shared more than that and more than you care to know throughout my posts.  Fine.  I'll give you one of which you may not be aware:  I am NOT a cat.   I am, however, a bit of a 'dozo':  I get confused; then again, I am so easily confused.
3. Pass the awards to 10-15 bloggers:  

THE LIST:

Heh, heh.

I could surely name at least ten - probably more - blogs that deserve these awards but I think I'll just stick with the few bloggers I think will have fun with them.  Hopefully I will not overlap any other honourees that may be named by my co-recipients but, you know, shit happens.  So, in no particular order:

• Sandra at Absolutely Narcissism.  She's a beautiful and very funny lady who should try stand-up comedy (or at least write some), and gets up all in your face with her 'naughty bits'.  Really (I mean with the 'naughty bits').
• Nicky, Mike (and occasionally, Jepeto) at We Work For Cheese.  They are wonderfully cheesy people and are responsible for unleashing upon the blissfully ignorant the cacophony of caustic concoctions known as poutine (not to be confused with 'poontang').
• Cheeseboy (Abe) at The Blog O' Cheese.  When he's not role playing as kitchen appliances (his most recent post), you might spot him at the local Chinese take-out dressed as Barney the Dinosaur, waxing his arm hair or doing some other crazy stuff like that.  Hey, he works with kids - young kids - the kind of kids that drive you bonkers - all day long.  Yeah, he's entitled.
• Meleah at Momma Mia, Mea Culpa.  She hails from Jersey, complete with the attitude (she loves the badger), is so versatile that she surfs the 'net while sitting on the john, but above all, she has a heart of gold.

I hope you visit these sites -  they are worth a look-see.  Hey, you might even learn something about your private parts, cheese, kids and/or badgers!

Once this is published, I will be off to complete the last of my obligations.  Speaking of obligations, I'm then off to go pick up some beer booze butter.  Oh, and the newspapers.

;-)

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"Eyeball" update:  They are now to arrive sometime early next week.  Yeah, right.  I won't be holding my breath.

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"Hell Hath No Fury ..."

Honour thy mother on this her special day.

Or else:

Water vapour satellite image of "Mother Nature" courtesy of (stolen from) NOAA

Happy Mother's Day!

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Potatoes Ugh Rotten

Late last year I won a cheese recipe calendar from the wonderfully cheesy people at the site formerly known as We Work For Cauliflower, hosted by Nicky, Mike and - occasionally - Jepeto and in honour of such honour, I declared I would make the recipe that correlated with each month and write a review of same.

It’s April and this month's cheese calendar recipe is "Potatoes Au Gratin" (for those of you who are not familiar with the French language, it is pronounced - more or less - "potatoes aw-grat-eh" and not as indicated in the title of this post). And I’m so proud that I have beaten the end-of-the-month review publishing deadline that I had imposed upon myself.

Yay me!

I had a few little problems with this recipe.  First and foremost was the cheese – no such animal exists on this rock – but the substitute (as suggested by Nicky) is just as good.  Secondly, I did not have, nor could I find, the potatoes that were called for in the recipe. No worries – I used a ‘cousin’ spud which worked just fine. Thirdly, the size of the casserole dish seemed a little large and I thought there might have been a typo. I was so wrong.  I now have a bowl full of potato slices wallowing in water in my fridge, awaiting their fate to one of my many other torturous cooking methods.

The most fretful part of this recipe is – at least for me – that it calls for “thinly sliced” ingredients. Since no one here personally knows me, I love to cook but I am an absolute klutz when it comes sharp objects, particularly knives. So to avoid possible future visits to the E.R. (which I have done quarterly on several occasions in Canada - something one would wish to avoid here), I previously purchased a mandolin – and no, it is not the stringed instrument so don’t even try to play Going to California on one.  It was definitely worth the price (an upper end model), even though I once almost sliced off the entire end of one of my pinkie fingers.

Moving on.

This is a very simple recipe, very tasty and would make a great side for any main entrée. So, without further adieu, I present:

Potatoes Au Gratin

Ingredients:

• 3 tblsp butter
• 2 leeks (white and light green parts only), thinly sliced *
• 8 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced **
• 7 oz. Oka cheese ***
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a skillet, sauté leeks in butter with salt and pepper, stirring occasionally until softened – about 12 minutes. Scrape into bowl and set aside (yeah, right, like I need another dish to clean – just get it off the heat and leave it in the pan until you need it).
• Generously butter (or grease) the bottom of a 10-cup casserole dish. Layer ¼ of the potatoes along the bottom, then spread ¼ of the leek mixture on top. Repeat layering 3 times. Cover with foil.
• Bake on bottom rack of oven until potatoes are tender (about 1 and ½ hours).
• Remove (cut) rind off cheese and slice into thin pieces.
• When potatoes are tender, remove from oven, increase temperature to 450 degrees, cover potatoes with cheese.
• When the oven has reached the higher temperature, bake potatoes (uncovered) until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned, about 5 to 10 minutes.

*Sometimes leeks collect soil or sand in between their shoots (or leaves) as they grow. It has been suggested that you wash them before cooking: cut the shaft lengthwise to loosen the leaves and rinse in water. For this recipe, I used three leeks instead of two – even though they taste like onions, they aren’t nearly as strong but I liked the extra ‘oomph’.

**Since I could not find the Yukon golds, I just used red potatoes. And as for peeling them, forget about it (unless you don’t like the skins) – the skins are full of vitamin C, so just scrub your potatoes well if you don’t want to peel them.

***As I indicated, we do not get Oka cheese here but I found that Gruyere is an excellent substitute.

If you use all the potatoes called for in the recipe, you will need that larger casserole dish.  Personally, I like a crispy top on such dishes and used a rectangular vessel and tried to toast the potatoes before I added the cheese.  Unfortunately the visualisation électroniques foutues (pardonnez mon francais) on my oven heated up and I was unable to read the temp, resulting in slightly overcooked cheese and a overly crisp bottom (not top).  I really gots to gets me a gas range.  Next time I'll just use the broiler.

I vowed to myself that I would cook each recipe of the calendar as it is written (other than necessary substitutions) and so far each recipe is quite good on its own, but there is always room for tweaking if you should feel the need.  I normally use onions in my potato casseroles.  The leeks, though, have a milder flavour and I will probably use them more often.

Next month:  Bacon Quiche  (Does anyone remember, "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche"?  Yeah, right.  If there's bacon involved, they'll eat it!)

;-)

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Punny Stuff

Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but this week ...

... an honour bestowed upon the winner of a weekly caption contest hosted by nonamedufus, given  for my entry for last week's Pause, Ponder and Pun pic.   A new photo appears every Wednesday - that's tomorrow people!  Be there or be square.

But, hey, if captions aren't your thing, comments are always welcome and you just might be the recipient of the Golden Clothespin award:

Collect enough of these and you'll be hangin' with nonamedufus, too!

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On another note, I was glancing through the classifieds the other day and came upon this:

Well, I do own a plunger.  Does that count?

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