h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today was the day for Herman's annual vet appointment. He's as healthy as can be, hasn't gained an ounce (since 2004), and put up a helluva fight while getting his claws trimmed (though he cooperated nicely for ear cleaning and the rabies and distemper shots, which was nice!).

Now I'm making mushroom puff pastry thingies for a late lunch. Used a frozen puff pastry, and made a nice filling of sliced white button mushrooms, criminis, shitakes, fresh thyme, grated Parmesan, roasted garlic, shallot, salt and pepper, and heavy cream. They're in the oven now. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Would anyone be able suggest a pasta sauce I could make, other than pomodoro, for whole grain pumpkin ravioli? Whole Foods had some in the fresh pasta section, and I couldn't resist. Hurrah for pumpkin (and squash) season!

I have to learn to cut guinea rabbit claws.

That shroom thang sounds like it would benefit from some porcini and chantarelles. Do they sell those your way? I sometimes see chantarelles on sale here, but only dried porcini. Never mind - it's easy enough to pick your own. Scotland exports chantarelles to France!

I do like shitake, though. I must tell you about my shitake, water chestnut and leek steamed pudding some tome.

Pumpkin ravioli: The classic thing would be to just fry some fresh sage leaves in butter. (add a little olive oil to stop it burning). Top with shaved pecorino.

Or maybe a walnut/cream sauce and parmesan.

Sage- sounds good! I was thinking basil infused olive oil, but sage butter sounds much more complementary.


I wish I could take an allergy med that worked for nuts the way it does for cat dander. Walnut cream sounds decadent. And I see so many lovely-sounding recipes with pistachios I could scream. It can suck being a vegetarian and unable to indulge in nutty goodness.


I didn't notice any porcini or chantarelles while I was there. I imagine the selection may vary, though, so if I try it again I will look out for those. I was quite excited that they sold the shitakes and criminis "open stock"; partly because it wastes less packaging, but also because the suckers sell for $11.99 a pound.

Incidentally, I learned a new "trick" while peeking briefly at a cooking show on PBS this afternoon. It's quite difficult to find vegetarian Parmesan cheese at times. Apparently, one can substitute white miso in creamy sauces that would normally have Parmesan cheese blended in. It'd also have the added benefit of containing less fat.

Oh, and good luck figuring out how to trim those critters' claws. We don't have the nerve to try it on the cat. He struggles so much and we're afraid we'll cut to the quick.

We did find out today that we'll need to either have his canines removed, or he'll need root canals done. When he slides off the furniture, sometimes he lands on his chin, and he's cracked both teeth a bit. We don't want to see them infected. I can't believe that in addition to root canals for K and wisdom tooth extractions for me, we'll have to fork over for a cat dentist within the next year as well.

I can do claws. No animal has resisted my techniques yet; though i draw the line at swans; yet the bloody Queen hava go, vicious bastards. But gaffer tape was invented for crocs & swans & evil blond masochistic ER nurses who will NOT be told "ztart wrtitng a thesesis on "this peron does not have veins, so stabbing wildly produces no result other than loud noises & the sort of extensive bruising usually assocoated with 5 rouènds with tyson."

I can't even go out now, i look like a junkie who has finally given up on even groin veins.

Never mind; i went in with only two addictions, both of which i was reducing very nicely. Now, depite massive protests i have a nic swirly box of tranx to produce braindeath & quick fix solutions. Thankfullyy the major trigger for the death of bronchi has removed himself 90 miles away, leaving only the 3 day busker;(still here 2 weeks later) in their kindness they have taken upon it to self to hide:drink:smoke my booze & cigs. Never mind; i can get more on credit & finally given up on eating. What a wonderful world.

Ever felt in control of trying to sort "yourself" out? Nah; just leave it to those who twang noisily outside your shut bedroom door whil you try & sleeep stufff offf "Just checking you aren't dead yet."

I hate tranks meds; i begged them not to give me them; they mkake me a zombie, i would ratyer be angry than nice & docolilebut i guss they have usese; society doesnt like people making noises; i maynachieve zennitude & become acceptable to viking types who tonight claimed "actually, i never loved you at alll;after the first mohth ." Lovely. i would call that infatuation & convenient rezscue from the last ex. Plus he confesses he likes my soup & cake.

ah well. Back to bed with & nice pink pill i think.

zdt

Hi Pcandy

Does "whole grain pumpkin ravioli" mean that they are stuffed with pumkin flesh or with pumpkin seeds?
If it is pumpkin flesh:

sauce 1: smash some garlic and fry it in a bit of olive oil, mix it with the pasta, oregano and dices of cheese and tomato, salt.

sauce 2: this one is used to dress boiled or raw pumpkin( sliced thinly) but it can be useful for the pumpkin ravioli too:
smashed fried garlic with pimentón, vinegar and salt.

Ooh! Those would definitely work.

I keep forgetting about the nut allergy.

Your cat seems to be a bit naughy, isn´t he? Have you ever read a comic book from Gilbert Shelton named Fat Freddy´s Cat? or The Freak Brothers by the same author? I´m sure you´ll like it.

Both of those sauces sound lovely, too! I especially like the idea of using pimenton.

As far as I can tell, it's the stuffing that's made from the pumpkin. Though I did see (on that same cooking show yesterday) some pumpkin gnocchi, prepared from a dough made with rice and semolina with pumpkin puree mashed in, that looked to die for. I may have to try that one.

No worries about forgetting about the nut allergy- I don't expect people mention them to torture me. It just gets a bit annoying having to substitute for them all the time when sometimes they sound fantastic.

I've never read (or heard of) that comic, but I am going to look it up! I guess Herman can be a bit naughty; he does put up quite a struggle and fuss. This time, he only growled a bit about the shots, but he *really* does not like having his paws handled. The vet's nurse, K and I all had to don the long, thick gloves and hold him down. I usually get to stand near his head, cover his face, and massage his ears. Much hissing and spitting! K got the hind paws, which meant dealing with lots of vigorous bunny-kicking, and an enormous poo.

Terri, even if you're not supposed to be smoking or drinking, it's rude of your house guest to use up (or hide) all of your stuff. I've sent you an email, BTW. I don't understand why they've prescribed tranquilizers for you, though. I'd have thought they might start with something for your lungs?

Never heard of the Fabulous Furry Freak Bros. I grew up on them.

"Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope." etc. etc.

I'm sore. One of the guinea rabbits (Patch) has just sunk his teeth right into my hand while I was trying to separate a fight in their new outdoor run. The bugger!

Oooh! They have sharp little teeth, too. Probably sharper than the cat's? Do guinea pigs fight a lot? My grandpa (maternal) used to keep them when I was little. They always smelled dusty and they squeaked and squealed like hell, but I never got bit.

Checked out some "Freak Brothers" on the web- interesting. Something to look at until the boys get up.

I think I'll wait to make the pumpkin ravioli till next weekend, when K's off in the southern 'burbs doing a gig with the Geezers, and won't be able to make good on his threat to carve faces into them before serving.

Which of course means he's poking fun at my "austere" cooking. Apparently I have no sense of humor; fun is detrimental to efficiency. Is it so wrong to ask that there not be candles lighted inside my pasta when I eat it?

(I do hope that everyone realizes the guy is just busting my chops, and I'm laughing really hard on the inside. )

Unfortunately I won't be able to do a Pumpkin-a-Thon this year because I'll be in 'Yurterbury' (Swedish pronunciation of Gothenburg), so here's a reminder of last year's:
http://oxfampumpkins.blogspot.com/

Hello everybody!

Guinea wigs *do* bite, but they aren't nasty with it (unlike gerbils) & some ham(p)sters & on occasions. It's usually self defence.
Do make sure you don't pick them up by their tails or they eyes pop out.

The hospital in its wisdom deciced getting me hoooked on tranks might e better for my liver, since it's quite obvious that if i carrry on in such a state of massive frustration & anxiety with Life, Universe & Everything i am unlikely to achieve the state of zennitude which is apparently what we should all aspire to. Shiny happy people everywhere; all good Stepford wives carry convenient packs of pretty pink pills, ver convenient they are too. The fact i have resisted these thi,gs for many years just goes to prove it. They work. I reallly tend not to give a monkeys, i don't bother arguining & i may build a house from lego tomorrow if i can be bothered.Or maybe not.

They don't make you fat either & the hassle of buying, finding, lighting, smoking cigarettes recedes as does getti,g wound up about other peole.And the nice people give you them free & they are very light to carry around. You stop scarily walking fast & yakking to strange peole too sometimes you fall over but it doesn't really matter.

I think Aldous Huxley called it Soma?

The only problem seems to be if "they" decide you should come off them; but i doubt they will do that at my age with my track record of creative troublemaking cos apparently it's worse than alcy junkies on crack with machetes; nah, leave 'em be. Amazing how quick it gets you thogh, lesss than a week. But i will be nice & quiet now i promise.

*worries* I have a certain mistrust of tranquilizers. I don't like the fact they put you on them. I hope my misgivings are misplaced, and that you will feel okay soon.

* silently wonders where the Bonobo will end up if he asks a Swede about directions to "Yuterbury". Inner Siberia?*

I phoned NHS24 and explained the guinea rabbit situation...and it seems I have to have a tetanus shot tomorrow.

Explanation for those of you without socialised healthcare: we have a free telephone advice line to help you work out whether you need a doctor or a band-aid and a wee lie down.

Ah! For that, I'd just call my doctor. Luckily I have a good one who won't suggest I come in to see him if he doesn't think it's warranted. An advice line would be very convenient, though!

Tetanus shots aren't so nice, though. The last time I had one, I had a fever for a few days afterward.

Now that Herman's claws are a bit shorter he's biting harder to compensate. No wonder he needs dental work.