Between U.S.A. and Spain.

SHERLOCK HOLMES RIBS

Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Sweet and Sour Ribs:

June 24th, 2010

Time of the crime: 6:30 PM

All day I had been anticipating the moment I would sink my teeth in the juicy, sweet

and sour ribs I was making for dinner. Just the thought made me drool. The stick to

your fingers sauce, the fall of the bone meat, the aroma filling the house  as they bake

in the oven....aaaahhh, nothing like them. Definitely, one my family's favorite. When I

make them I buy enough ribs to feed an army. Pepe can eat a  whole rack. Mayra will

eat until she can't breath. Chris, don't even speak to  him while he eats them, or he

will growl at you. Sandra has a bottomless stomach for them. Raul, what can I say

about Raul... his plate ends with a mountain of rib bones. And lets not forget about

Beth, She looks like she doesn't eat much, but don't let her looks fool you....the 

girl beats them all. Oh, and my neighbors... today they were knocking at the door

asking for the recipe again! But, I will never give it out. How could I ...it's MY secret

recipe! Unfortunately, a mastermind was after it!!!

Earlier in the day I had bought whole rib racks, and cut off the meatier part to make

other meals with.

A little more work, but a lot more cash in my pocket! Then I added salt and pepper

and put in a pan practically covered with water...just like this....

                     I covered them with aluminum foil and  into the hot oven to bake! 

I checked now and then, and when they were tender I took off the paper, lower 

the heat and started basting them with the sauce... over and over again....until done.

             The water evaporated and the sauce turned into a delicious glaze.

Once done I put the ribs in serving platters and was ready to call my family to the 

table when I got a phone call. It was my sister Cary that  wanted the recipe for 

my ribs! I felt horrible ...her boss was coming to dinner next weekend and she 

wanted to impress him, but I couldn't give it out! She should have known better ...

I walked back to my kitchen and noticed all the ribs were gone.

                    NOOOOOOOOO!!!! THEY WERE GONE!!!!!!!!!!! 

I ran around the house asking everyone if they had seen them. No one knew how ...

or when they disappeared. HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED, I cried out!!!

Someone must have come  into the house and STOLEN them...but WHODONIT!!!

Hmmmmm....hmmmmmmm...This is a case for  Sherlock Holmes and his helper 

Mr. Watson, but I will have to settle for the Auburn police...so I dialed 911 and

reported the theft!!!

Minutes later a squad car parked in my driveway and two officers  knocked at 

my door. I opened the door with tears in my eyes...and said

-"Thank goodness you are here...someone stole my ribs!!!"

-"Evenin'  M'am, My name is Deputy Sherriff Merlock Homes. Did you just

say someone stole your ribs? Can you breath right, should we call an ambulance??"

-I rolled my eyes..."not MY ribs ...someone stole the ribs I cooked for 

dinner!!!"

-He put his hands on his big belly and made circular movements with them...and 

slowly said with a southern accent  ..."Well then...no wonder! BBQ ribs are a favorite

'round these parts...mighty tempting if you is hungry."

-"They are not BBQ Deputy Homes...they are  sweet and sour Sir!! My very own 

recipe!" I said offended.

-"Now, now...don't get flustered. Lets go in and see what we've got. C'mon officer

Matson...let's find some clues."

"Don't worry M'am ...

we will find them ribs

or my name ain't

 

Merlock Holmes!!!"

While Deputy  Homes

did his thing...Officer Matson 

did his.... 
 

They interrogated my entire family, the neighbors, and even brought hound dogs!

Nothing!!! Not a finger print....not a clue!!! 

Deputy Homes left feeling defeated...Whoever took the ribs had planned it very well...

                                    

Somewhere...someone was enjoying our dinner.... 

 

While my family and I were left sad, mad and hungry!!!

Although...looking at the bright side...I could always make them next week....

 

  

AT LEAST I CAN PRETEND TO BE IN HAWAII PUDDING.

It's June and it feels like August... how depressing!!!

I need a vacation. How about you?

It's hot, humid, sticky, and I am fighting huge mosquitoes. Am I in the

Amazon? NO! This is Georgia. Good old Southern heat you all...!!! I don't 

feel like cooling off with iced tea or watermelon like the folks do down

here. Heck no! I have had enough of that already. I have had enough of 

the mosquitoes too!

OH, how I would love to be somewhere else...far away... in the Hawaiian

Islands, I said to myself. Well, I can't go but...I can cook something 

that will transport me far away from Auburn, Georgia to a beautiful,

relaxing beach in Hawaii!!! Yeah, that I can do.

So, I got off my sofa where I was daydreaming with Waikiki, and headed 

to my kitchen. I always keep a couple of cans of coconut milk for those 

times when I need to "escape" to Hawaii. The ingredients for Haupia,

 the favorite Hawaiian dessert, are definitely cheaper that an

airplane fare. 

It's this easy:

2 cups coconut milk

1cup Moo Moo milk. (cow milk)

3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 tsp vanilla extract

a pinch of salt

I

I mix the cornstarch with the 

Moo Moo milk, making sure

there are no lumps.

 

 

Then I mix the rest of the 

ingredients in a pan. I will

stir, stir, stir in medium high

heat until it thickens, making

sure to lower the heat if 

necessary. Oh, that coconut

aroma....Ummmmm!!!
 

 

 

When it has thickened and looks

like this it is time to remove it

from the heat. It's done.....

Now, it's time for me to lick 

that spoon!!!

Then...just pour that thick

 pudding in a greased mold  and

let it cool for a couple of hours

Meantime, I will go to my garden

and look for a pretty flower to 

decorate it with....

Time to take a nap now and dream with the surfers...

I mean dream with the surf....

2 hours later....and some very, very nice dreams....WOOO!!!

Now... I flip it and it's ready to

be served. Now don't do like

me, I actually was talking to my 

husband on the phone when I 

flipped it and it cracked...but

doesn't the flower do a good job

at hiding it? Don't worry ...

be happy, I say to myself...

I am almost

dipping my toes in the Pacific Ocean....

 

 

Now, I am ready to leave Georgia ...but first I will click this video. 

You do the same and keep reading!!!

 

So, I cut a slice, and poured some strawberry sauce that I had

prepared in minute by  adding a couple of tablespoons of water to

 1/4 cup seedless strawberry jam, heated in the microwave and stirred. I 

decorated with whipped cream and topped it all off with Hawaiian

Macadam ia nuts...can't wait for that first bite!!!

 
As I sit in front of my TV watching Lilo and Stitch  eating this

Hawaiian delight... I say...

AT LEAST I CAN PRETEND TO BE IN HAWAII and forget

this southern heat  y'all !!!

            ALOHA!!!!!!!!!!!

 

WEEK 16

112 DAYS.

ADRIANA GOT MARRIED.

I TRY...I REALLY DO.

Yes, 4 months...16 weeks...112 days..2,688 hours...16,128 minutes have passed since my husband Pepe

left. I try to distract myself with this blog. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I miss Pepe. 

I miss him everyday...and every night. I have to admit that I am sleeping better after 3 months of  a 

nightly routine of getting in bed turning myself to his side as if he were there, then turning and

facing the other way, falling asleep tense and waking up stiff...I finally get in bed as anyone would and

fall asleep. However, I can't seem to invade "his" space in bed. Such a big bed all to myself and I sleep

in just one third of the mattress! Maybe it will be another 3 months before I can enjoy the whole bed

 to myself....

Every day I look forward to his phone calls more and more. I admit some phone calls haven't ended well

especially when I am stressed, but most are uplifting. I must say the distance has really improved

our relationship. I truly can't wait until I move back to Spain. I don't care ...I don't care if it's a little 

place. Although I enjoy my trees and flowers, at this point in my life I just want to spend as much time

as I can with my husband. 

I also don't want to miss  those fantastic family get together. I was so sad I missed my niece Adriana's

fun bridal shower and her beautiful wedding to Ruben. My sister Cary posted photos in face-book and

I don't get tired of looking at them! Everyone looked amazing ....especially Adri. Hilda made the most

original bouquet for her. My gosh...my sister is so talented!!!

My last post was WEEK 14. So what have I been doing the last 2 weeks? Not much...

I have tried catching up on yard work, but the weeds keep winning.

I have tried watching movies, but I keep falling asleep.

I have tried writing, but I wasn't inspired.

I have tried cooking and taking photos, but I end up eating whatever is in the fridge and I can't find

the charger for the camera.

I have tried calling my sister Maribel to talk about her daughter's wedding, but she doesn't answer.

I have tried to look better, but I keep forgetting to buy foundation.

I have tried to rest, sometimes I can, but most of the time it seems to be impossible.

I have tried making plans, but that never works for me.

I have tried getting my 40 hours at work, but I am always a couple of hours short.

I have tried working in my garage to set up a garage sale, but my nephew David, who was going

to help me got sick. Too much for just one person ...so I will try again as I can...little by little.

I have tried to eat right, but ended up over eating.

I have tried not to loose my nerves, but I did when I checked my bank account and saw that I was over

charged 5 times for the same transaction....gaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

I GUESS I WILL JUST KEEP TRYING.......

AMNESIA FLAN

Who am I...?

What was I thinking...?

Do I think at all...?

Where am I? I looked around. I wondered whose house... I

wondered why I was standing in the middle of a dysfunctional 

kitchen full of  ugly pots and pans! Do I know how to cook? Am I

married? Is there money in the bank? 

I don't understand what's happening to me!!!

Was there a time when I did???

All I know right now is that on the kitchen counter there is 

condensed milk, lemon rind, whole milk and 3 eggs. 

 
 

Hmmmm.....something is coming to my mind...a famous mouse?

Naaahhhh, I must be loosing it. Oh, wait I already have!

I also see...I see....something in the toaster oven. I had to open

the door and check it out, then I said:

What the heck is this?

 

So I grabbed a wooden spoon and poked it... 

 

Hmmmm....looks like lava, hot, bubbly...Oh, I know! It's caramelized

sugar! But that's not the way my mother made it! She made it in a

pan and she added a couple tablespoons of water to the browning

sugar. So I did, then stirred it around ...and pushed it back into the

oven to melt completely.

WAIT A MOMENT ....WHO'S MY MOTHER?

Hmmmmmm....something told me I knew what to do next. So I

looked around the  cabinets and found a microwavable bowl. Next

I poured the condensed milk, (An 8 oz. can? My guess is as good 

as yours!) the whole  milk, a cup of water, and the lemon rind.

Without giving it a second though I mixed the ingredients and 

heated them in the microwave. How long?

I can't remember my own name...so don't ask!!!

Oh, wait...my memory is coming back? The pain...the pain...the pain

in my brain!!!

Ah...got it! I need to heat it through without boiling. But that's all

I remembered.

When the milk was cool I mixed the eggs well beaten. I forgot that

at this point I could add a teaspoon of real vanilla extract. Since

I didn't remember ...I didn't. Either way it's good....I suppose.

Oh, better check on the sugar! I remembered that if it burns it

tastes bitter...but this looks just right...and I twirled it around the

Pyrex mold to  cover the sides. 

 

WOW....this is hot, I better be careful. This can cause a 3rd degree

burn. That's all I needed.

 

 

I waited a few minutes for it too cool. Then when it looked like hard

candy I put the mold inside a larger mold. Iwas ready to pour

the milk mixture in...now, I knew I needed a strainer....

But I had to use a colander 

because whoever's kitchen 

this was

did NOT 

have a regular strainer, or at least I could not 

find it.

 

So the caramel wouldn't burn I put it "al ban~o Maria"...Hey, I speak

two languages...cool! That means you make your own double boiler.

I Added water to the larger pan and covered the mixture with 

aluminum foil and put into the oven for about an hour or until its

firm to the touch. I will take this time to snoop around the house 

and see if I can find out something about myself. As I passed a 

mirror I thought: Hey, your not a bad looking woman and I laughed. 

Well I have found out this is my house. I have a beautiful family. 

Maybe when someone comes home I will get my memory back!

Now it was time to take the "whatever it's called" and let it

cool before I run  a knife around the edges and flip it onto a plate.

Then I cut a piece and added whipped cream and strawberries.

I guess the amnesia made me hungry, so I grabbed a large spoon 

dug into it, and opened my mouth wide. OOOHHHH MY!!!! 

OOOOHHH MY!!! Light, sweet, delicious!!! It brought back

memories...I REMEMBER!!! I REMEMBER!!! THIS IS FLAN...

DELICIOUS FLAN, UMMMMMMMM!

 

As I ate I remembered my name, Juana Aragon. I am married. I am a

mom. I do know how to cook...even with a dysfunctional kitchen 

and ugly pots and pans. Now the big question:

IS THERE MONEY IN THE BANK???
 
 
 
 

   
 

WEEK 14

Like any human being I have feelings. The anti-depressant help control them....but once in a while...those

feelings fight back and overwhelm your mind and soul. Oh, no! You are probably thinking I don't want

 to read about her being mad....or sad....that's no fun. NO...that's no fun, but this is MY BLOG and 

as I have said before I cry if I want to....cry if I want to...

No, it's not about my Pepe 

RUNNING WITH BULLS McCHORIZO

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Why Mac and Cheese all the time I ask? WHY ???...when

there are so many other options that children and adults

as well will love....

In Spain, the most popular macaroni dish is:

"Macarrones con Chorizo". Translated it's Macaroni with

Chorizo, but because it's the equivalent of American 

Mac and Cheese, I call it ....

McChorizo!!!

I really wish I could tell you 

chorizos grow in plants ...

like the one

I have here, but

 ....they don't . 

So what to do? Shop around and look for them like I did!!! And

if you find them buy a few packages and throw in the freezer. 

Now, just make sure they are Spanish chorizos....not Mexican...

they are totally different and will not do the job for McChorizo!

So go on....start searching for your chorizos. I bought these at

Publix!

Don't forget the macaroni either! I always make extra because I 

love to have leftovers...and  add a couple of fried eggs

on the side. That is just very Spanish...and it goes so well!

 

OK! You are thinking...those are not macaronis! Yes they are. 

To us 

they are! Oddly, 

enough in Spain macaroni is actually what

we call 

penne

 pasta in 

the States. Who knows why....who cares??? 

I am 

not here to debate on the correct macaroni. I just want to 

share 

my macaroni with you...So boil 

the pasta until tender. Forget

" al dente"...Do your kids ask for Mac 

and Cheese al dente? NO!!! 

They are probably missing teeth...so nice and tender, without being

mushy!

Make sure you grab a couple of 

cans of good tomato sauce.

Plain tomato sauce...it doesn't

matter what country it's from.

I like this brand "DEI FRATELLI"

If I was in Spain I would buy

"Orlando" tomato sauce. It's 

delicious straight out of the can.

and I didn't  have to add anything... 

Because I like to add some

flavor to the tomato sauce I

will toss an onion and a large

clove of   garlic to the pan 

and let them flavor the olive

oil. Just let them cook for a 

few minutes. This trick I love

because my son Chris, when 

he was growing up, could find 

the tiniest piece of onion, pepper or garlic....and if he did ...it was

drama time!!!

Then I add the chorizos cut

in slices. I must tell you that I 

use this type because it's

what I found. But, in Spain

I would have bought a softer

one. The important thing here

is the flavor....and these deliver

that great  flavor of Spanish pimenton, or 

Spanish paprika, garlic, and spices. 

These are cured chorizos, so just let them cook a couple of minutes in low heat.

 

At this point the chorizos are

smelling so good, that the

tomato sauce will just take a 

dive into the pot!!! But... before 

it does...I will take a piece of 

bread and crown it with a fried

sausage, close my eyes, smell

the aroma, take a bite and with

a mouthful of deliciousness say OLE, OLE, 

OLE!!!

To the beautiful colored sauce

I will add some oregano and

a teaspoonful or so of sugar.

Then lowering the heat I will

relax and have a glass of wine.

You should do the same...but 

don't relax SO much that you forget 

about the sauce...it's not siesta time!

Once the sauce is ready discard the onion and garlic. It's time to 

mix in the macaroni now, make sure they have plenty of sauce...

I was in such a hurry to eat them I didn't garnish the plate! Does

it matter? NO!!! I sprinkled Parmesan cheese and enjoyed. YUM!

                  

 
After you eat a plate of these "macarrones"

you will have a better understanding of why

Spaniards run with bulls....