Kitchen Conundrum

I have lots of kitchen utensils, but there are a few things I want - very badly - that I can not, for the life of me, find.  The thing that gets me, is the stuff I want is simple.  I can not find simple.  I can find anything BUT simple.  It's annoying.

There is a recipe I wanted to try for supper tonight - seafood potpies - that I would like ramekins for.  Simple, white, large ramekins would do just fine.  I don't know why I don't already own some, but I don't, and I want them.  This is not the recipe, but the ramekins would work!  I want to make seafood potpies.  If the recipe works I'll share it!

Todd and I went on a fruitless search today for them.  Target had pretty much what I was hoping for, but only had two in stock which isn't going to do.  After Bed, Bath & Beyond, Khols, Penney's and Dillards, we gave up.

I also want scissor tongs.  Silver.  Short.  Rounded ends.  How can this be too much to ask?  None of the above mentioned stores had them either.

And finally, I want an extra large, antique biscuit cutter.  I've searched the antique stores and have found smaller ones, but no biggie.  It's really crampin' my biscuit cutting style! 

The search is ongoing...

Tune(a) in

There are a handful of things I've been craving lately: pork chops, stuffed peppers, and tuna casserole.

There is no rhyme or reason for my cravings.  They're just there.  And I've put off appeasing them until I can barely take it.  So, tonight I caved to the call of the casserole.

I didn't want to make a dish that called for cream of mushroom soup, so I took to the Internet to see what I could find.  What I discovered is there are a lot of tuna casserole recipes out there!  And I didn't like just one.  So, I took an ingredient from one, an idea for thickening from another, and so forth, until I concocted what I thought might make a good combo.

Then I asked Linds H. for her recipe.  She's a good cook and I wanted to compare notes.  Her's was completely different still!

I decided to give mine a shot.

I know what's coming next is not modest at all:  It was freaking awesome!  AWESOME!  Todd and I were both very happy with it.  And I was very proud.

Kim's Kicka$$ Concocted Tuna Casserole
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 c. milk (we use skim around here, which I figure makes up for the use of cream)
1/2 - 1 c. frozen peas
1 13.25 oz. can of mushroom stems and pieces + the juice
3 5-oz. cans tuna packed in water, undrained
16 oz. pasta of choice
pepper to taste
about 5 twists of a salt grinder
5 oz. pkg. of shredded parm
Plain bread crumbs

Throw your pasta in some water and get it going.

While the pasta is cooking, brown onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil over medium-high.  Turn heat to just a little hotter than low, and sprinkle flour over onions.  Whisk in cream and milk, season with pepper, and bring to a simmer, stirring periodically to keep smooth.

Keep checking the pasta - you want it cooked to only slightly more than al dente.  

Add the peas, mushrooms, tuna, and salt to the cream mixture.  Simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up tuna.

Drain pasta and dump into large mixing bowl.  Pour sauce over the noodles and mix.  Add package of parm.  Mix thoroughly.

Pour casserole into a medium-sized baking dish and sprinkle with plain bread crumbs.

Pop in the oven and bake until bread crumbs are crisp and casserole is bubbling through.

Times two

Two is typically better than one, right?

I'm happy I have two hands and two eyes (I would hate being a cyclops).  Doublemint gum built an entire product and campaign on the idea that twice the mint would double your pleasure and your fun.

And let's not forget that Noah rounded animals up by-two onto the ark, which segues nicely into the idea of having two dogs.

I have decided two dogs would be better than one.  Not because I don't love my one dog, but because I love him so much I want him to have a playmate.

I am completely stuck on this idea.  When I first started talking about it Todd said he agreed, but now I think he was just humoring me.  When I told him today we needed to call on some dogs this weekend he balked.  But I'm not giving in.

Rigby's a social puppy and I think it would be good for him to have another dog around when Todd and I are gone to work all day.  I also think it would help socialize Riggs with other dogs, something he's still not very good at.  Everyone I've mentioned this to just happens to have two dogs and they agree - two is better than one.

So, our little household may be expanding...if I can pester Todd into being completely on board.