More Latest Addictions

It's still officially winter here, though Austin's are notoriously short. The trees are starting to bloom, so hopefully I'll be out and about snapping new photos soon. In the meantime, I'm holed up with a flu, so this edition of Addictions will be homebody-related.

• Ru Paul's Drag Race - Tracy turned me on to this and I lurve it. I so miss the drag scene in San Francisco, and this show manages to be terribly campy while still kind of heartwarming and poingiant.
• Homemade Cough Syrup - this stuff works better than codeine. Recipe below.
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer in Sin - Drag-queen worthy, this stuff is a great highlighter, and if you wear it under your shadow and liner, nothing will budge for hours. Bellydancers, take note!
• Battlestar Galactica, Season 4 - The best show on TV, and one of the best sci-fi epics ever. I am such a nerd for this show.
• Soups and Stews (list below) - The best bet for dumping all my CSA veggies into something comforting and tasty.

Homeopathic Cough Syrup

2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp Cider Vinegar
4 Tbsp Water
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Simmer for a few minutes. Take by the teaspoonful. The ginger and honey is soothing, and the cayenne acts as an expectorant.

Soup and Stew Recipes

• Chicken Green Chili with White Beans - I use way more green chili than the recipe calls for.
• Tagine of Lamb and Apricots in Honey Sauce - David's favorite.
• Southwestern Pork Soup - super fast, sub canned hominy for beans for a faked up posole.
• Orange Saffron Shrimp and Snapper Stew

On a lighter note

I have perfected the art of light stuffed French toast, and I now share it with the world. (or the three people who read my blog) I give you:

Blueberry Stuffed French Toast

1. 8 slices brioche or challa type bread (if you can get the Apricot White Chocolate bread from Central Market, it's amazing)
2. 3/4 C egg beaters
3. 1/2 C 2% milk
4. 2 t maple syrup
5. dash cinnamon
6. 4 oz. Neufchatel
7. 1/4 C part skim ricotta
8. 1 bottle DanActive vanilla
9. 1 tsp vanilla extract
10. 1 tsp honey
11. 1 C fresh blueberries
12. cooking spray
13. Turbinado sugar
    

Preheat oven to 350. Generously coat 8/8 glass pan with cooking spray. Combine ingredients 2-5 in a shallow dish, whisk to combine. Combine ingredients 6-10 in a blender, pulse until smooth.

Toast bread to remove extra moisture, allow to cool, and then soak in egg mixture until soft and saturated. Layer the first 4 slices on the bottom of the pan. Layer blueberries on top, and then pour the cream cheese mixture over it evenly. Top with the remaining 4 slices of egg-soaked bread. Sprinkle top with Turbinado sugar. Bake approx. 40 minutes, or until top is browned and the cream mixture has turned purple and set up a bit.