The Interloper Cat Learns From The Queen Cat

(Queen Cat Meets the Interloper Cat, Part Two)
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The Queen Cat was quite pleased to show off some of her Queen behaviors to The Interloper Cat. This Cat would never be staying in her territory and would never be a threat to her. Besides, the Non-Cats in her territory were terribly boring right now.

"Okay, Interloper Cat, let's start with some basic feeding skills. You must always assume there is an interloper in your territory when you approach your food bowls. Creep stealthily towards the food as if you are tracking prey"...

"You then observe the food bowls to make sure no interloper is nearby before approaching"...

"Hey No! Interloper Cat! You are just observing my skills! You are NOT allowed to eat from MY Royal Food Bowls! Back away, Interloper Cat!"

"Sorry Queen Cat, I got hungry waiting for you to finish showing me how to approach the food bowls. But if you are the Queen Cat, you just attack and take back your food bowl by force, right?"

"Alley Cats fight over food. The Queen Cat removes the interlopers without force. They recognize her superiority without needing to use force. That is why she is The Queen Cat. Here, start to eat this food and I will demonstrate my technique"...

"I have decided that I do not want you to eat that food"....

"I have, in fact, decided that I will eat it"....

"I am eating the food, and you are history...without one claw being flexed"...

"Dang, Queen Cat! That was so cool! Can I try it?"

"No, I will demonstrate the technique, but I will not participate in actively teaching an Interloper Cat. Back away..."

"But Queen Cat, you made it look so easy..."

"Hey!!! Interloper Cat you are showing yourself to be an imbecile who cannot follow directions!"

"Sorry Queen Cat, my youthful exuberance got the best of me. It won't happen again."

"Okay, Interloper Cat. After you have satisfied your hunger, let a Non-Cat in your territory give you a royal brushing. But don't enjoy it too much, you must always maintain control."

"Oh, and let them know when the grooming session is over."

"I can do that Queen Cat"....

"Hey Queen Cat, does this make me look cute?"

"Pearls before feline swine...."

To Be Continued.....

The Queen Cat Meets The Interloper Cat

One day the Queen Cat of the NonCat Colony was lounging on her royal bed. Her thoughts were free from worry. "My Colony is free from The Intruder Cat, my Non-Cats are all busy making sure the Colony is running smoothly, my box is scooped and my food bowl is full. Life is good."

Suddenly, her olfactory sense of smell was flooded with the stench of an interloper entering her territory. It did not smell like The Intruder Cat, who had long been a thorn in her royal, padded paw.

The Queen Cat jumped from her Royal Perch to investigate. The Non-Cats could not possibly appreciate all she did to keep this Colony safe. As she reach the stairs that led to the upstairs territory, she was greeted by this sight...

An Interloper! The darn Non-Cats had let an Interloper Cat into the Colony! Interloper Cats are dangerous. They threaten the very existence of a Non-Cat Colony. They come to maim and destroy, especially The Queen Cat herself.

"You are not welcome in this Colony," the Queen Cat stated with much authority. "Show yourself, now!"

Slowly, the dangerous Interloper Cat showed herself...

"Hi Queen Cat! I am so excited to meet you! I have heard so much about you! You are legendary! Teach me how to be a Queen Cat, please....let me learn at the paws of the Master!!!!"

How were you able to gain entry into my territory? Tell me now before I destroy you!"

"A small Non-Cat let me in. She said you would be happy to grant me audience," the Interloper Cat quickly stated.

"Ah, of course," said the Queen Cat. "I know exactly which small Non-Cat you speak of."

"She is the one Non-Cat in my Colony that is a rebel...hmmm.....

"Although your words are flattering (and correct), one does not teach a feline how to become a Queen Cat, one IS a Queen Cat. There is a difference. However, I do not find you threatening, so I will let you leave my territory in peace."

"OOOOh, the 'Queenly, Over-Indulgent Squint!' All the feral felines talk about it! It is rumored that you give that look to Non-Cats who think that by scratching behind your ears, they have made you happy. But in fact, you believe they are simpletons, and wish they would scoop the poop out of your royal toilet rather than touch you," the Interloper Cat excitedly exclaimed. "All of us homeless felines practice the squint hoping for the day a Non-Cat touches us and we can squint just like you. Watch me Queen Cat, I can do it!"

The Queen Cat was amused. "Alright Interloper Cat, I will show you a few Queenly behaviors. You will never be a Queen Cat. However, I am bored by my Non-Cats at the moment and rather pleased by your attention."

"Follow me Interloper Cat," stated the Queen Cat. "Time to learn the difference between grooming your coat, and just plain licking, and scratching."

"What? We're gonna clean ourselves? My mom taught me that already!"

"Don't be stupid, little Interloper, or I may change my mind."

To Be Continued..........

This Past Week at My House

Spring is just around the corner! I am so excited about that. However, winter wanted to make it's presence known this past week, but my town decided to fight. We received little more than a dusting of snow. However, we went to Charlottesville, Virginia for an overnight trip and that area received 9-12 inches of very heavy, wet snow. There were tree branches down all over, and utility companies were working hard to restore power to their customers. By the weekend it was melting fast in the 60 degree weather!







This past week I have worked on a place for a corner desk I bought a year ago. I haven't been able to find it a home where I will actually use it. This week I placed it in a corner of the living room.

This is the livingroom without the desk.




I put the recliner on the other side of the room, took away the sofa table, placed the desk where the recliner used to be, and added a picture above the table/lamp.



Here is a closer pic of the desk/chair and lamp.





I would like to add something to the wall beside the desk, and a few knick knacks on it. My plan is to mainly use the desk for my Bible studies.

I was in the market for a food processor. I have never owned one, except a 5 cup model that attaches to my mixer. On Macy's online store, I found this closeout model. It is an 11 cup Cuisinart, for only $89.99. I do love a great deal! Everyday I try to find some excuse to use it. It is so powerful, and more important, the learning curve to use this thing is very low. Perfect for me!




I have been using an online company: www.cutleryandmore.com to build my cookware collection. I have found some fantastic deals with this company. I usually get my items two/three days after I order, and they are always in excellent condition. They have a Deal of the Week, so I always check them out each Monday morning. If you go to Amazon.com and search for cookware, at the bottom of the page is an ad for Cutlery and More and if you click on that, you will save an additional 20% on your purchase.

I read that garlic should be stored in a cool, dark place in a container with holes. It needs to breathe.

I made the Pioneer's Woman "Green Bean Casserole" this past week. It is on page 218 in her cookbook.

Start with your green beans...



Pour on a rich sauce made with onions, garlic, bacon, pimentos, cream, cheese, chicken stock, butter, and seasonings.



Bake at 350 degrees till it's bubbling. This is in a whole other league from the cream of mushroom soup/french fried onions green bean casserole most of us are use to. I was not impressed with it as a leftover...just didn't look appetizing.




I made my own hoagie rolls this week. I calculated each one cost me 33 cents! (one looks more like a sub roll!)



Have a great week!

Thursday's - It's Thyme to Cook

This week I have watched Ina Garten's show, "The Barefoot Contessa" like a preschooler hooked on Dora the Explorer. Her show comes on three times a day, and I think she is amazing.

I have to admit I've developed a slight obsession with Ina Garten, but not in a weird way. I want her to teach me how to cook well. Growing up I watched Julia Child's show so I have a special affection for her, but Ina's style is much more approachable. She makes cooking look not only easy, but she gives me hope that I could pull off a great meal without my hair standing on end like Chef Anne Burrell's hair.




Both Ina Garten and Julia Child write about the importance of making your own stock. It's used in many of their recipes. According to Julia, you have white stock and brown stock. The difference is not the type of meat, but the roasting or braising of the meat, bones, and vegetables prior to the long simmering time (about 4 to 5 hours). These two techniques make the stock brown.

I've never made my own stock and really could not see a reason to, as store bought is so available and easy to use. However, once I made it, I could really tell the difference between the two. Store bought stock tastes like flavored, salted water. Homemade stock, that is made from fresh ingredients, adds so much depth of flavor to a dish. It's as easy as putting the bones/meat of poultry/beef/veal, any vegetables you'd like (root, such as turnips are not recommended), and an herb bouquet bundled in cheesecloth into a big stockpot. Season with salt and pepper. Add enough water to cover ingredients by about two inches.



Simmer together for 4 or so hours, skimming off any fat that comes to the surface. Strain out all the ingredients (best accomplished by pouring contents through a colander into another pot). When the liquid has cooled, strain it through cheesecloth into a clean pot. Pour into storage containers and refrigerate. The next morning skim off any fat that has collected on top, and freeze, if not using immediately. Lesson learned: Don't throw jellied stock down the drain. It's actually a good thing when it jells.

A cook's best secret ingredient...homemade stock!!



I had some leftover turkey and used my homemade stock to make individual turkey pot pies. These were a first for me. Ina Garten says if you can perfect a pot pie recipe, then you have a dish you can use with great variety, such as adding crab, lobster, vegetable, etc.

I made my filling with homemade stock, cream, onions, garlic, rutabagas, carrots, green beans, and a little cheese sprinkled on top.



The crust was made in the food processor: whole wheat flour, very cold butter, and ice water. Just mix salt and pepper, the flour/butter in the processor till the mixture is crumbly. Add ice water slowly, while processor is on, till a ball of dough forms. Wrap in plastic and chill for half an hour. Then roll out slightly larger than the pie pan being used and place on top of filling. Brush dough with egg wash, slash top to vent, and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Lesson learned: wrap any leftover dough in plastic and freeze for next time. No need to throw away enough pastry dough to make an apron.



I actually didn't get to bake these until the next evening. I just covered with foil in the fridge. The next evening I baked at 350 degrees until the crust was golden and the filling was bubbling. So delicious!





This week I learned that homemade stock really makes a difference in the outcome of a dish. It adds a depth of flavor that cannot be achieved with packaged stock. I also learned to not be afraid to make my own pastry dough. I even used soft whole wheat flour, and it was still tender and flaky. Both of these cost less to make homemade than to buy, so you are saving money too!

Have fun cooking!