Archive for February 19th, 2009

My Recipe Invention
February 19th, 2009 | Author: Eric Hays-Strom

Okay, first of all, let me be honest.  I did NOT invent this, as I said in my previous post.  I modified it.  I woke up yesterday morning and thought “Self, we need to figger out what to do with that chicken… I know, how about something with peppers and mandarin oranges?”  So, I set out to find a recipe.  I modified, slightly, what I found… here goes:

1 lg red pepper sliced into thin stripes
1 lg yellow pepper sliced into thin stripes
1 can mandarin oranges (strain, but keep juice)
1 cup green onions (cut to about 1 “)
2 tbsp fresh minced ginger
1 can strained water chestnuts
soy sauce
1 lb Chicken breast cut in to strips
“a large handful of raisins”
chinese noodles (prepare as package directs)
1 can chicken broth
Olive oil

In a skillet, add a little olive oil, 1 tbsp minced ginger, 2 tbsp soy sauce and the chicken.  Grill chicken until no longer pink.  Remove chicken and set aside.

In the same skillet, add another tbsp of soy sauce, a third of the can of chicken broth, the peppers, onions and chestnuts, and stir fry until veggies are crisp but hot.  Remove from skillet.

In the same skillet, add  a third of the can of chicken broth, the noodles, the mandarins and the raisins.  Stir fry, then add back in the veggies and the chicken, a little more chicken broth, the juice from the mandarins.  Stir together, turn off the heat, and serve.

Category: Stayings at home  | Comments off
Day in the Life
February 19th, 2009 | Author: Eric Hays-Strom

What does a day in our life look like you might ask?  I’ll tell you, because it impacts my writing at this stage.

First of all, our household.  Scott and I live in an old “craftsman bungalow” that was built in about 1915.  We’re not sure of the date.  One record source, county records, says 1910.  The other source says 1920.  We provide a home to Gary, a “Little Person”.  That’s a long story, one I’ll save for later.  We also have a cat and a dog.  When we moved here, we had 3 of each!  But, over time, old age, infirmities, and an auto accident has narrowed our menagerie to the 2 animals.  Bosco is a tabby cat and owns Gary.  Nikki is an Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mixed dog that owns Scott and I.

Every morning at 5 a.m., Miss Nikki wakes me up.  Sunday through Friday, Scott gets up at the same time to prepare for work.  It takes him a long time.  We get up, take Nikki out for her morning ablutions… potty time!  Then we sit down to watch TV… morning news for a while, then some saved program from the DVR… and have coffee.  At about 6:20, Scott starts showering and getting ready for work.  At 7:20, Scott leaves for work, not returning until nearly 6 p.m.

After Scott leaves, I return to the sofa with Miss Nikki.  We watch a little more TV, while I check out a couple of web sites, read the night’s blogs, check email, and play a solitair game or two.  About 8:30, I go upstairs, and spend a half hour on the treadmill.  Since January 6, between diet and the treadmill I’ve cut about 15 pounds.

After exercise, I gather up laundry, clean a room and the kitchen (kitchens are a daily necessity), and plan any grocery shopping that may be needed.  Some days, Gary asks if I can make myself scarce.  He has a lover who is very shy and won’t come by if I’m home… even though he knows we’re gay.  So I will generally give Gary 2 hours to get his groove on.

Somewhere in that day, I get in a nap.  That’s essential!

About 4:45, I start preparing dinner.  Now, for 13 years of our relationship, Scott has cooked EVERY meal that we’ve shared, not counting restaurants.  I’m having to learn how to cook all over again.  I invented a new dish last night, I’m quite proud of.  Maybe I’ll post the recipe later.

By 7 p.m., our dinner completed, Scott and I settle in for the night to watch TV.  There’s a number of shows we watch, CSI, CSI:Miami, Ugly Betty, ER, plus lots of documentaries.  

At 10:20, we give Nikki her medications and treats, then take our own, and call it a night.

Why is this schedule interfering with my writing?  Because even though I have lots of down time, I have the TV on whenever I’m on the sofa… and that’s where my my laptop is! 

I need to learn to discipline myself to write, and turn off the boob tube!

Category: Eric's Life, Stayings at home  | 3 Comments