[chocomouse]

We had chicken stir fry, with carrots, broccoli, sweet red pepper, and onions, on rice. An unexpected addition to the menu this week because the asparagus isn't quite tall enough for picking yet.

[chocomouse]

I use my food processor to grate butter into the flour for scones. Just don't mix it in the processor, do it by hand; I think that would overwork the dough and make it tough. However, I have also tried KABC's method of squeezing small chunks of butter between your fingers to make different sized flat pieces, and I've like the layering of dough with larger pieces of butter left between them. I've only done it a couple of times, but I do think it make lighter scones. I will say the food processor is faster and easier!

[chocomouse]

Today I made Raspberry Cream Cheese Rolls. They are like cinnamon buns but with a cream cheese and raspberry filling. They smell wonderful!

[chocomouse]

Yesterday I baked a carrot cake, with pineapple and walnuts, and a cream cheese frosting. I use a recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction, but substituted apple sauce for 1/2 cup of the oil. It is very good. I need to stop telling myself that because of the fruit, vegetables, and nuts it is a health food.

[chocomouse]

I also make a faux lasagna in spaghetti squash. You simply bake the squash (the way Mike does) and shred the strands. Then layer typical lasagna ingredients, minus the pasta, on top of the strands. Bake, I recall probably about 20 minutes at 350. I've also done the same thing using favorite pizza ingredients, and plan to try taco salad and chicken alfredo the same way. I should think most favorite casseroles with pasta would work for this, or a sauce you would serve on pasta.

[chocomouse]

We had pizza, also!

[chocomouse]

I grew strawberries for about 10 years, 3 rows, each about 25 ft long. They were extremely labor intensive - to grow and to pick. So I quit. However, my husband had put in a 30 ft long curving flagstone walkway from the porch to the garden -- to keep his feet clean and dry, since he walked early every the morning through the wet grass and into the dirt garden to pick berries for his cereal, resulting in muddy feet -- and that walkway is still there.

[chocomouse]

We had liver, sauteed onions, potatoes (cooked successfully in the air fryer!) and cole slaw. This used to be one of our favorite meals, but we haven't had it for well over a year.

[chocomouse]

Salads tonight: seafood, broccoli, potato, and cole slaw.

[chocomouse]

My new Breville Smart Oven Air with Super Convection has 13 pre-set functions, including air fry, proof, dehydrate, and the usual bake, roast, reheat, etc. I bought it because my oven/stove is 37 years old and not working consistently well, and replacing it would require some major remodeling, rethinking of my kitchen.

I've never fried foods in my entire life, and air frying is not something I've ever wanted to do; I don't know how to cook or eat that kind of food. It's been a steep learning curve to use this Breville, but I think I do really like it and would buy it again.

Onion rings are the ONLY food I have air fried in it that came out really good!! I bought Alexis brand frozen, breaded onion rings - and they came out perfect! The second time I cooked them, they were not as good - dry, overcooked, but that was my fault because I used an incorrect temperature. There is no simple cookbook (that I have found) for the Breville. I am gradually making my own - a lit of temps and times for different foods.

I have tried doing french fried potatoes, several times - not good. Not crisp and crunchy, cooled off (got cold!) very quickly. I tried chicken thighs - made a greasy mess of the oven and smoked up the whole house. I'm not sure if I should air fry in place of roasting fresh vegetables, but some cooks say to do that.

Sorry, this is more about the Breville than air fryers --and I have read many comments on line from owners that if you want to air fry, get an air fryer, not a Breville convection oven. I think a lot of the problem is me - I like vegetables plain steamed or roasted, usually with herbs. I like meat marinated and roasted or grilled. After 78 years eating that way, it's not easy to change.

Janie, I would suggest you find an air fryer forum online and follow the discussions. Choose carefully - I think many of the air fryer users (of course, not all!) are new (pandemic?) cooks who are looking for a simple (toss it in the air fryer and push start) "magic" way to cook food at home, replacing their usual their usual fast-food take out.

Sorry for the rant, and hope this might be helpful.

[chocomouse]

We had ham steaks, potato salad, and cole slaw.

I plan to buy my tomato and pepper seedlings tomorrow. I'll hardened them off on the covered back porch for a couple weeks, but not transplant them to the garden until at least after May 15, possibly not until June 1. We need to get the electric fence set up, and try to get rid of the woodchuck before I plant, also. I think the bear and the bobcat are not likely to eat garden plants.

[chocomouse]

Dinner tonight was beef stroganoff with asparagus. Unfortunately, not fresh from the garden but the freezer and last year's garden. Still delicious.

[chocomouse]

I have dough for chocolate chip - oatmeal cookies chilling in the fridge.

[chocomouse]

Last night we grilled marinated chicken thighs, with smashed potatoes and buttercup squash.

[chocomouse]

I baked 2 loaves of buttermilk whole wheat bread.

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