BostonZest

Fall for Braising! It's One of Our Favorite Cooking Techniques

Braising is a great cooking method for fall and winter. With a little bit of preparation time and a few hours of letting a big pot of food slowly simmer, you can create a wonderful meal plus leftovers that can give you days of enjoyment.

We enjoyed three meals from one pot of braised chicken thighs. First we had them with brown rice and vegetables, then in a big batch of fried rice, and finally in a frittata.

What Is Braising?

The New Food Lover's Companion defines braise as, “A cooking method by which food (usually meat or vegetables) is first browned in fat, then cooked (tightly covered) in a small amount of liquid at low heat for a lengthy period of time. The long, slow cooking develops flavor and tenderizes foods by gently breaking down their fibers.”

 

Favorite Braises

Braised dishes can be as simple and homey as pot roast with potatoes and carrots. Or you can create zesty dishes like our favorite lamb shanks in a coffee chipotle sauce with carrots and onions or marinated chicken thighs flavored with ginger, garlic, soy, and scallions in the photo above.

That lamb is a dish we often make for company. Lamb shanks are a tough, bone-in cut of meat and are perfect for braising. The connective tissue and bone marrow melt into the braising liquid giving it an unctuous mouth-feel. 

Penny always cooks the dish the day before and lets it sit in the refrigerator overnight. That lets her remove the fat that comes to the top before tucking it back in the oven to reheat. While the lamb bubbles away, she makes a big batch of cheesy polenta to serve alongside. The next day leftovers become one of the best lamb chilies you’ve ever tasted.

We enjoy braised chicken thighs more often as a way to stockpile good food for a busy week.

After the chicken has marinated, it’s cooked in the marinade plus some wine and Asian chicken stock. When the meat is meltingly tender, we enjoy a wonderful supper. In addition we have two great products to make other meals – the chicken thighs and a rich, Asian flavored chicken sauce. (Penny often freezes a bit of that sauce to enrich the next chicken braise.)

Second Acts!

A recent batch of chicken thighs was served the first night with brown rice and fresh vegetables. The following day, leftover rice and shredded chicken became a wok full of fried rice (shown above). As a last act, the remaining chicken appeared in a frittata for Sunday brunch (shown below).

Bonus Points for Braising

It can make entertaining a breeze because a braised dish is often better a day or two after you make it. The cook can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying guests.

One year we made braised turkey for the holidays and cut back the work on the day of the meal.

The best cuts of meat for braising are the inexpensive ones. If they're on the bone, it adds to the flavor and, by the end of cooking, the meat will be falling-off-the-bone tender.

Removing excess fat can make a braise a healthier option allowing you to include a lot of vegetables to balance your plate.

A braise fills your home with lovely, warm, comforting aromas – just what you need on a stormy day.

Finally, as Michael Ruhlman writes in his book Ruhlman's Twenty, “Another great facet of braising is that it’s easy. Anyone can do it and do it well. It’s not like decorating a cake or boning a chicken in one piece. Everyone can get a pan hot, get a good sear on a piece of meat, add some liquid to the pan, slip it in the oven, and then find something else to do for hours.”

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2008-2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our Fresh & Local newspaper columns.)

Thanks to the Animals!

When you counted your blessings on Thanksgiving, did you include the creatures that settled under the table or wound themselves around your legs? Are you thankful for your own companion animals and all the service animals that make our lives safer, healthier, and more fulfilling?

Pets Are Good for You

Study after study confirms that having companion animals is good for your health. Certainly city dwellers with dogs seem more likely to enjoy the fitness benefits of daily exercise.

The National Institutes of Health has funded studies that showed people who walked their dogs “... were more physically active and less likely to be obese than those who didn’t own or walk a dog.” For individuals age 71-82, “Those who regularly walked their dogs walked faster and for longer time periods each week than others who didn’t walk regularly. Older dog walkers also had greater mobility inside their homes than others in the study.”

 

Heart Health

Stroking a cat or dog has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase a feeling of calm. The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement about pet ownership and cardiac risk this year.

They reported that, “Owning pets is associated with reducing your risk of heart disease, and there are a variety of reasons that may be at work that influence this relationship. It may be that healthier people are more likely to be pet owners or that people with dogs tend to exercise more. Pets also play a role in providing social support to their owners, which is an important factor in helping you stick with a new habit or adopting a new healthy behavior.”

Mental Health

Other researchers are looking at the benefits of pets or exposure to therapy dogs for disorders like depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Caring for an animal keeps people active and can help prevent someone from becoming withdrawn. From companionship to silly antics that make you laugh, a dog or cat can be a mood booster.

Dodie is a real service dog in training. 

Therapy and Service Dogs

Don’t be surprised if you find a dog at a medical appointment in your future. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell – 1,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than ours. Medical detection dogs are now used to alert doctors to human conditions from hypoglycemia in diabetics to skin, bladder, and ovarian cancer.

Some of these canines work with professionals in medical research settings, others are trained to alert their person to spikes and drops in blood sugar levels in diabetes, or to protect and try to get help for someone with a seizure disorder.

You’ll also see service dogs who act as guides and helpers for people who are blind, deaf, confined to a wheelchair, or unsteady on their feet. And there are emotional support dogs who help a person stay calm in stressful situations.

These geese wrangler dogs work in the Public Garden.

Working Dogs

Beyond animals that serve as companions, there are hundreds of working dogs that deserve our thanks. They help law enforcement officers track criminals, locate drugs, guns, contraband, and bombs. They work protecting livestock on farms and offering comfort to victims in courtrooms and in the aftermath of a crime or disaster.

Yes, these same creatures can be a source of stress when they misbehave or are ailing themselves. However, overall, scientists are showing that we should be giving thanks for our dogs, cats, and other furry and feathered critters when we count our blessings.

 

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

Holiday Visiting Etiquette for Dog People

Holidays can be stressful and sometimes the issue of dogs and cats can be divisive, especially if one person considers them family members and another can’t stand animals in the house. We have always considered our dogs family members and that our home is their home. However, we don’t expect other people to open their homes to our dog.

We also are very specific when we make invitations to friends with dogs. For years dogs were included because our Maggie Mae loved having company and was great about sharing. Poppy, on the other hand, will bark at any dog in her territory, so we’ve been reluctant to test her reaction to other dogs in her home.

When someone invites us to visit, we assume that invitation does not include Poppy. Even when she would love to come and has dressed for the occasion to convince us to take her as she did in the photo above.

We would never ask anyone, even people who have dogs or who love dogs, to include her in our visit. What’s more, sometimes a dog or cat waiting for you at home might just give you the perfect reason to limit the time you spend visiting one of your less amusing relatives.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

Winter & Holiday Preparations for Families that Include Dogs

When you think about preparing for winter, your first thoughts might be about snow tires or weatherproofing windows, but there are some dog related items you might want to add to your winter preparation list.

Maxie looks great in her winter sweater!

Before all the de-icing supplies for your building are purchased, you might ask that pet safe de-icer be used rather than salt or other toxic chemicals. This will not only benefit your dog, but also all the dogs who pass your home. It may even help some inside kitties since the people in the family won’t track in potential poisons.

Poppy loves winter more than we do. This is her response when we say she's been out too long.

If your winter gear is in storage, it’s time for a switch. Put away the beach gear, life jackets, and sun shades. If you haven’t taken a good look at your dog’s winter supplies, such as jackets, boots, sweaters, and your own cold weather walk equipment, now is a good time to assess and resupply before a sudden storm calls for full winter gear.

If you have a car and your dog travels with you, winter requires protection for seats from snowy, muddy paws. If you use car services, be sure to bring a towel or waterproof pad when your dog shares your ride. We always contact the driver to say we’re bringing a dog and something to protect your car seat.

Zipcar requires that members use a travel crate or bag when they take a pet along. In addition to the crate, we cover the back seat with waterproof pads so that Poppy can walk to her crate without leaving behind paw prints, sand, mud, or salt.

Here are a few more of our winter tips for dog families:

• A Folding Alternative to Our Dog Boot Drying Hack
• Once-a-Block Dog Boot Check
• 7 Salty Winter Tips for Boston Dog Lovers

 

Marley is a well-traveled dog and a perfect guest in any home.

Travel Plans

The holiday season often requires special arrangements if you plan to travel or spend time with nearby family or friends.

Even with hotels and other lodgings you have visited with your pets in the past, confirming current policies and fees can prevent a nasty surprise when you arrive. We find that some fees are unreasonable. For example, Disney recently decided to allow pets in some of their hotels. However, they are charging a $50 per night cleaning fee.

Should you plan to have your favorite pet sitter, boarding kennel, friend, or family member take care of your critter while you are away, it’s a good idea to discuss this now before all spots are filled or other plans are made.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

It Looked Like This in 1889. What Will You Find in This Spot Today? Let's Play Attention to Detail!

Let's play Attention to Detail! We give you a clue, in this case a photo of the scene in 1889, and you have to figure out where you've seen it around Boston. And, in this case, what's in that spot today?

Here are some hints:

• This photo was taken because there was a major construction project underway nearby. 
• This spot is near some of Boston's most important architectural gems.
• In 1889 this building had lots of convenient transportation nearby.
• Some people call this spot South End, others call it Back Bay. 

Ready? Click through or scroll down past this great book about Boston for the answer.

 

 

Assistive Devices for Dogs with Injuries or Disabilities

Almost a decade ago, we were introduced to Eddie’s Wheels for pets when we met a senior Weimaraner named Kepler rolling along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. His hind legs were gently harnessed into a wheeled cart. Kepler had always been a very active, athletic dog. At age 13, his wheels gave him the freedom to stay that way.

Eddie’s Wheels is a company based in Shelburne Falls, MA. They build custom wheelchairs for dogs and cats and improve the quality of life not only for companion animals with disabilities, but also for the people who love them.

We were reminded of all the progress that has been made with assistive devices for dogs and cats when we spotted Bernie, a young Samoyed, wheeling his way along the mall in a far more streamlined rig.

Ramps, Stairs, and Lift Assistance

Cha Cha is a dog Penny sees on her morning walks. She's 16 years old and, like many a little old lady, needs a bit of help with her daily activities. Her guardian has added a lift assist harness to her walking gear. Cha Cha moves at her slow pace and when she needs a bit of an assist, a gentle sling around her belly allows her person to add support.

We had a visit from one of our rescue Westies, Swiffer, in his later years. He was having problems getting into the right position to relieve himself. We tore a wide strip off an old beach towel and used it exactly the way Cha Cha’s lift assist works. Assistance can be simple and homemade or something designed for that purpose.

 

This is one of our favorite portraits of our little pal Swiffer. How we all miss him!

Small footstools have been used by our dogs, as they aged, to get up on chairs and sofas. But there are also ready-made stairs and ramps that help a disabled or injured dog or cat reach a favorite spot. For example, there are special ramps designed to make getting a large dog into a car easier for everyone.

Tools for Special Needs

While we can hold an ice pack on our own sore spots, we need help to use ice to heal an injured animal. Now there are purpose-made, physical therapy icing devices that wrap around and stay secured on a leg, shoulder, neck, or paw. 

Special splints, wraps, and booties can protect injured paws or skin and fur. Around the house, where wheels might not work, there are drag bags for paralyzed pets. 

Today we address incontinence in pets with indoor puppy pads, diaper suspenders, disposable diapers, belly bands, and sometimes medication. 

A halo harness for blind dogs protects their heads by bumping into things before the dog does.

For a deaf dog, you can use a vibration collar to help train the pup to recognize that you want their attention. (Since we have always been vehemently opposed to shock collars as training devices, we want to be clear that this assistive device emits a simple vibration like the one you have on your phone when you put it in silent mode.)

Before you decide to struggle along and make the best of a difficult situation, check with your pet care pros. Your veterinary team may suggest physical therapy where some of these products are commonly in use. A local pet shop may stock or be willing to special order the right assistive device. And pet sitters see the problems that others have solved, so be sure to ask their advice as well.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

 

Where Would You Find This Dormer? Let's Play Attention to Detail

Let's play Attention to Detail! We give you a close-up clue, like the dormer with lots of windows above, and you have to figure out where you've seen it around Boston.

Here are some hints:

• This building was once a florist shop.
• Today the property has a mixture of commercial and residential units.
• All those windows in the dormer should provide a view of a lot of greenery in summer.
• This is in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Ready? Click through or scroll down past this great book about Boston for the answer.