Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

So, I've decided, the Burger Kink Texas Double Whopper is the closest thing to a whataburger I've had out here, and is pretty damned tasty to boot.

Yes, I know I wrote Burger Kink. It's a typo, but I'm leaving it in for your imaginations.

Finally, the pile of dishes and messy kitchen from two weeks of flu and two weeks of a pinched nerve is DONE. I'm so happy given the pinched nerve had not gone away (but has gotten better), and if I can just keep up with the kitchen, it shouldn't result in weeks of working while I can to clean it.

"Witness the blood moon's rise. When its red glow shines upon the land the aimless spirits of slain monsters return to flesh. Just as they did in a war long past. The world is threatened once again."

"Listen, roomie, laundry isn't gonna do itself."

#Tearsofthekingdom

2023: You're laid off.
Jenn: Okay, not a problem. I'll get some creative work done while I wait on interviews.
2023: Like hell you will....

Jenn, you cook so much awesome food. Where'd you learn all that?

I am 15 minutes into Strange New Worlds, and I'm ready to rename this to The Commander Pelia Hour. Carol Kane is this show already playing a character type I've NEVER seen in Star Trek before: The michevious grandma.

Waiting on Strange New Worlds, Season 2. :)

This Week's Meals (3/3): Hylian Tomato Pizza

This came out better than I expected, which is great, cause once they came out, I completely destroyed them because I forgot to flour my pizza pan, and they cooked directly into the pan. Oops. Made for a nice casserole.

Thankfully, I didn't do that with the second pizza. :9

Some changes between my first attempt and rewriting the recipe. I put everything on the pizza BEFORE adding the mozzarella, so the mozzarella could bind the ingredients better. That doesn't look like the Zelda picture, but mades for a pizza that holds together better. Also, there was FAR too much tomato in my original recipe, and were far too large. Smaller ones will fit onto the slices a bit better.

# Hylian Tomato Pizza

Personal Trainer: Cooking
1.0 pizza

1.0 cup bread flour
0.5 tbsp dry yeast
0.5 tsp sugar
0.25 tsp salt
0.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
7.0 oz fresh mozzarella cheese (diced into 1/4 inch cubes)
1.0 oz black olives (sliced)
0.5 whole bell pepper (sliced into rings)
0.75 cup water
0.5 medium tomato (sliced into 8 wedges per 1/2 tomato)
0.5 cup tomato sauce

1 - Put the warm water into a bow! and add the dry yeast.
2 - Stir in the sugar
3 - Leave the yeast and sugar in a warm place for 15 minutes to activate the yeast.
4 - Put the bread flour in a mixing bow and add the activated yeast mixture.
5 - Add the salt and olive oil.
6 - Mix together well using your hands.
7 - Knead the dough until it starts to stick together.
8 - Knead the dough on a cutting board. pressing with the palms of your hands as you push the dough away from you.
9 - Rotate the dough 45 degrees and fold it over. Continue to knead a you did before.
10 - Knead the dough until the surface of the dough is smooth and moist.
11 - Dust a deep dish with flour.
12 - Gather the dough into single lump then cut into the number of pizzas you'd like to make. Roll each portion of the dough into a ball.
13 - Wait a few moments before transferring the balls of dough to the deep dish.
14 - Cover the dish with a dry dish towel and leave it in warm place for approximately 50 minutes.
15 - Preheat an oven to 475F.
16 - Remove the dough from the deep dish and press down to release any air that has built up.
17 - Dust the dough and rolling pin with flour and roll the dough balls into flat round pizza crusts.
18 - Spread tomato sauce over the pizza crust, about 1/2 cup per pizza.
19 - Layer eight tomato wedges in a spiral pattern over each pizza crust.
20 - Scatter an equal amount of black olives over each pizza crust, about 1 ounce per pizza.
21 - Scatter an equal amount of bell pepper rings over the pizza crust.
22 - Scatter an equal amount of mozzarella completely over each pizza crust., about 7 ounces per pizza.
23 - Put the pizzas in the preheated 475F oven and bake until they are crisp and golden.

#tearsofthekingdom #thisweeksmeals #cooking #hyliantomatopizza

My friends. It is here.

Hylian tomato pizza.

Recipe soon, cause I seriously need to tweak it.

#tearsofthekingdom #cooking #hyliantomatopizza

I might have over estimated the amount of tomatoes I needed and underestimated the mozzarella.

#tearsofthekingdom #cooking #hyliantomatopizza

Pivoting the Hylian Tomato Pizza recipe from 6 small single serving pizzas to 2 larger 3 slice serving pizzas. I blame the pain for me thinking 6 small pizzas was better than 6 slices of pizza.

Also, HOW THE HELL DO YOU CUT BELL PEPPER RINGS?!

(Note to self, consider a mandolin)

#tearsofthekingdom #cooking #hyliantomatopizza

Woke up this morning, added an icepack for about two hours to my neck, and managed to get the dishes partially done, and still feel decent.

You know what that means.

Hylian Tomato Pizza

#tearsofthekingdom #cooking #hyliantomatopizza

My "Hero's Path" journey through Hyrule. I died more than the one time listed on the map. I died TWICE (my first run at Gannondorf ended badly).

#tearsofthekingdom

Time well spent.

#tearsofthekingdom

Still my bestie. :)

#tearsofthekingdom

You know you're in for a world of hurt when the music changes and you see "Saving" in the corner.

#tearsofthekingdom

Main Quests - Destroy Ganondorf - Complete

#tearsofthekingdom

My left arm and neck aren't having anymore cooking today, so we're pushing the pizza off to tomorrow, as it looks to be pretty involved and may take most of the afternoon to make.

But I do have a possible recipe written up. At least what I plan to do tomorrow.

This Week's Meals (2/3): Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Thankfully, my parents sent me some ground chuck roast for the carne guisada, and Lissa and Crystal gave me some of their pork chops, so that opened up my budget to do a week of nice meals again this week. And these were the perfect way to respect the pork chops. :)

Remember when I couldn't cook?

# Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Cafe Delites
4.0 chops

4.0 whole pork chops
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
1.0 teaspoon garlic powder
2.0 tablespoons olive oil
1.0 tablespoon unsalted butter
6.0 cloves garlic (minced)
0.25 cup honey
0.25 cup water
2.0 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 - Preheat oven broiler (or grill) on medium-high heat.
2 - Season chops with salt, pepper and garlic powder just before cooking.
3 - Heat oil in a pan or skillet over medium high heat until hot.
4 - Sear chops on both sides until golden and cooked through (about 4-5 minutes each side).
5 - Transfer to a plate; set aside.
6 - Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter in the same pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
7 - Sauté garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
8 - Add the honey, water and vinegar.
9 - Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook until the sauce reduces down and thickens slightly (about 3-4 minutes), while stirring occasionally.
10 - Add pork back into the pan, baste generously with the sauce and broil/grill for 1-2 minutes, or until edges are slightly charred.

#thisweeksmeals #cooking

This Week's Meals (1/3): Carne Guisada.

Okay, I'm really glad I sat down and worked to measure this one out, cause it's the BEST carne guisada I've ever made, and now I've got foolproof (well, probably) instructions on how to make it, now....

# Carne Guisada

Ama

2.0 pounds beef chuck roast
0.5 whole bell pepper
0.5 whole white onion
6.75 ounces diced tomatoes
4.0 tsp pepper
Water (as needed)
1.0 tbsp vegetable oil
2.3333333333333335 tbsp salt
2.25 tsp garlic powder
2.25 tsp onion powder
1.5 tsp cumin
0.3333333333333333 cup flour

1 - Cut the beef chuck roast into cubes of roughly 1/2 inch square. (You can substitute pre-cut stew meat here if you'd like).
2 - Dice the bell pepper and onion.
3 - Using a colander, drain the tomatoes.
4 - In a mixing bowl, coat the meat with the flour by hand mixing the pieces
5 - Add the oil to the large pan and heat it on medium high until the oil becomes runny.
6 - Add the meat to a large pan at medium high heat and stir fry it until the meat is greyish-pink.
7 - Add in the bell pepper, white onion and tomatoes, and continue stir-frying until the meat is lightly browned.
8 - Add in hot water so that the meat is nearly covered.
9 - Add the spices and stir to combine well.
10 - Set stove to high, and bring to a boil.
11 - Drop the heat to medium high. Allow to stew and reduce the gravy to half of the original amount of water, stirring occasionally, about 30 to 45 minutes.
12 - Once reduced, take off heat. The gravy will thicken as it cools.

#thisweeksmeals #cooking