Green Beans w/ Shallots

I made a plate of green beans tonight.  Are you sitting on the edge of your seat yet for this uber-exciting topic?  Ha ha.

I never did this before and it turned out really good, so I wanted to share.  I'm sure someone, somewhere, has done this before, but it was new to me and it's my blog so I get to write what I want.

I took my non-stick saute pan and sauted some sliced shallots in butter.  Shallots are like "light" onions...much "gentler" flavor than an onion.  Then I put some fresh green beans in there and put the lid on.  Let them cook just a bit-just enough so that they'd still be quite crunchy.  

Take the lid off.  Let the shallots get a bit carmelized.  While this is going on, you'll find that some of the beans are actually getting kind of browned on the outside.  

When things are done ("done" is whatever you consider "done") put your beans on your dinner plate.

Last step-and this is crucial-sprinkle with fresh lemon juice.  Something about the lemon juice with the way it combines with the carmelized shallots is totally awesome.    

Had intended to save some for lunch tomorrow, but they were so good I just ate the whole plateful for my dinner!

Credit Where Credit is Due

I said at the beginning of this that I'd give credit wherever it was due.  I was reminded today that I've inadvertently neglected to give one very important piece of credit.  Credit is more than due to the lovely and incredibly talented Mrs. Robinette Cross.  Robinette was the person who gave me the idea to start this blog, and even suggested the website from which to do it.  

Thanks, Robinette.  I am totally enjoying this "blog-spereince" more than I imagined I would.  You encourage and inspire me every day, Robinette.  

Thanks, and have a great day FOR ME. 

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes & Syrup (sometimes I impress even myself!)

Digital camera is broken, so you'll just have to take my word for things.  I have an honest face; you can trust me.  Really.

Realizing that I had some Bisquick, eggs, and milk this morning, I felt like creating something.  I said to myself, "Self:  wonder if I could make some pumpkin spice pancakes?"  Turns out, I (mostly) could.  I just mixed up a bowl of Bisquick for pancakes, then added some ginger, ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract.  Don't ask me how much.  All I could tell is "right much" of some of it and "not so much" of others.  (For future reference, I should have about doubled all the quantities).  So while the first couple of pancakes were doin' their thing in my new Calphalon (did I just hear choir of angels sing as I said that????), I realized that I had no pancake syrup in the house.  Now we are getting the part where I impressed even myself.  

Since there was flippin' WAY I was putting on clothes and going out to a store to get some, I determined I'd just have to formulate a Big Plan "B."  Did anyone get the Buffett reference?  It's one of my favorites, but I digress.  And don't call me Shirley.  

Rooting around in my cabinets, I realized that what I DID have was some Karo light corn syrup and some molasses.  I figured if those two things mixed together don't make syrup, then my name is Mildred McGee.  So I mixed them together (roughly a 50/50 mix) and added some melted butter.  Whisked them all together and VOILA!  I had me some dadgummed good pancake syrup!  Pancakes were right snappy too.  

Afterthought:  I just this second realized that I have some pumpkin spice coffee creamer in the fridge.  Bet it would have been good to substitute that for about 1/2 the milk in th recipe.  

Sometimes, just SOMETIMES, I impress even myself.  Me and my big head will move on to the next thing now.....Rock on, y'all!!!