Well... That happened...

So I made the pancetta Brussels sprouts with a couple exceptions. I had to substitute macadamia nuts for the chestnuts (BIG mistake...) and salted pork belly for pancetta (BIGGER mistake...), but, all in all it was okay. It was my first attempt, and, as I sat in my chair and tossed the pork belly, I realized something. I need a bigger skillet. I had to transfer everything to a saucepan, and it caused the sprouts to fall apart a bit, because I had to stir instead of toss, and also, the macadamias didn't toast off properly. Also needed a hand grater to grate the lemon zest, and Brooke had to cut the pork for me because A) The knives we have suck, and B) My hands are useless for fine motor skill requiring functions...*sigh* The point here is I need a lot more equipment, and I'm starting to be afraid, a new body to actually pull this off, lol. We shall see. Keep me in your prayers, and...

Jesus Loves You and So Do I!
- Cody

A First Time For Everything or Let's Try Again

So, I ruined dinner for the first time ever last night... It was an epic failure... I forgot turkey loins don't make their own juice... SIGH... So I am trying it again tomorrow night. Rehearsal for the ten minute play I am directing that EVERYONE keeps quitting... Grr... And I have to shoot tomorrow... So, tomorrow night I will make the Brussels sprouts and pancetta... I have everything to do it, except, we are going to have to use macadamia nuts in place of the cashews. I will deliver, guys, I promise. Tonight it is probably bacon-flavored hot dogs. Don't judge me!

In other news, the foot is better, it has gotten a bit of rest and is feeling okay~ish. All in good time, I guess it's just another part of my anatomy I have to start worrying about. Everyone tells me I need to get the spurs removed, but wounds on my feet/legs scare me to death because they heal so slowly and because of all of the blood pooling... Oh well, goodnight all!

Jesus Loves You and So Do I!!!

-Cody

Tonight, Tonight or Pancetta Peril

With all of the business of yesterday, and of the stuff I had to finish up, and the fact that I ended up just having dinner with my family at this amazing little Mexican restaurant, Maria's, in Sallisaw, (Their fajita meat is not frozen! That was amazing to me.) I ended up not making Brussels sprouts with pancetta. But, tonight is another day! Tonight we have (at least a partial) GoRam dinner!!!! It is happening, dangit. Now off to get ready to see The Great Gatsby. 

Jesus Loves You and So Do I

-Cody 

Soft Tissue Damage or Something for the Meantime

Well, the foot was not broken. It was just soft tissue damage, but they found another bone spur. This one is in my "good" foot. YAAAAAY! Bullocks.

Since we are still waiting on the book, and I don't want to start cooking full GoRam (That one's for you, Firefly fans!) dishes until I get it, I am going to do something tonight for dinner to tide us all over:

This is a GoRam recipe courtesy of goodtoknow.co.uk:

Gordon Ramsay's Brussels sprouts with pancetta:

Ingredients

• 1kg Brussels sprouts, outer leaves removed
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1–2 tsp olive oil
• 200g pancetta, cut into lardons
• 200g vacuum-packed chestnuts
• 2 lemons

Read more at http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/531424/brussels-sprouts-with-pancetta#Dv6UxxqKMFwi8dbt.99 

So here we are going to cut these sprouts lengthwise, blanch 'em, fry 'em up with pancetta and chestnuts, and serve 'em warm. I will be serving these with an oven baked chicken breast with my own blend of spices I call the "Cody Spice" (Onion, garlic, italian 3-spice, Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice, cayenne, salt, pepper, and good old fashioned lovin'.). Tomorrow morning I'll come at you guys with a full play-by-play, including nerve-damaged fumbles and numb-handed flubs. Oh, and, of course, pictures of the food. Come for the food, stick around to watch the funny disabled guy try to do normal everyday things. Stick around, it will, at very least, be a good laugh!

Jesus Loves You and So Do I!

-Cody

The Waiting Game or My Left Foot

Well, the book is shipping. It's estimated delivery date is June 4-17? What the what? It won't take that long. I have ordered from Bahamut before, and they are quick, quick, quick. I am expecting it to be here by monday so we can get started!

In other news, my good foot may be broken. I went to the clinic today because it has been giving me trouble for a couple of weeks, and it got worse because I walked too much yesterday. Today it is all bruised and swollen, and, my doctor thought it was broken promptly followed by the disclaimer, "I am not a radiologist, though... I would give you crutches, but you would come in with a head injury next if I did." She knows me and my crazy body too well. Point is, it hurts. I go very soon for my mid-programs interview to talk about how we need to move forward with my degree and whatnot, and tonight's dinner is looking like a turkey breast tenderloin that is, sadly, frozen and pre-seasoned. Not much I can do with this foot like this. It limits me even more than I already was... So that'll get popped into the crockpot before I head to shoot some stuff for my buddy Michael Pharis' new independently independent film "The Rock of Gibraltar" tonight. Come to think of it, I need to go look over my lines. Keep me in your prayers, I am in a lot of pain... And someone come do my laundry for me... :(

Cody and Ccccccc....Gordon...

My fiance puts in "Julie and Julia" the other night. I groaned internally, because I have never appreciated the genius of Meryl Streep before now, shame on me, and because I expected it to be a HORRIBLE farcical exploitation of one of the culinary geniuses of our time. It wasn't. Suffice it to say, since this isn't a film review blog, that it inspired me. Headed to my door is my favorite iconic cook's first cookbook, Passion for Flavour. Those of you who know the fiery ex-footballer's work already know the elephantine task I am undertaking. Especially since I am disabled and can't stand in front of a stove for hours, or even very many minutes at a stretch without needing a sit down. But, with the help of the Good Lord, my lovely fiancée, a chair in the kitchen, and the good old fashioned determination that has helped me walk again and go back to school so I can one day jump off the government-dollar when I was told I never would, I am going to do the same thing as the title character from the above movie. As soon as this book gets to my door, for 3.33333333- months I will be cooking Gordon Ramsay's world renowned fare from the cookbook that helped make him the sensation that he is, hopefully learning more about my foul-mouthed hero along the way. It may go slow at times. I may have to skip days for whatever reason, health or otherwise, but, you know me. I'll do my level best to stay on task. These blogs will have to be short and sweet because dictation software is annoying and neuropathy makes typing just this side of unbearable, but, I will try to write them in pieces and make them as detailed as I can. Hop on and hold tight. This is bound to be one F-Word of a wild ride!


Jesus Loves You and So Do I!

Cody