tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65172686860617390562024-02-06T23:21:43.812-06:00Butter my KitchenLiving the good life in a small town....that I'm still not fromtamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-66699720770426589402012-11-11T19:35:00.000-06:002012-11-11T19:35:31.781-06:00Starting our Year of Firsts(Recipe for Lemon Bars will follow)<br />
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We are starting our Year of Firsts-firsts that happen now that Howie is gone. After losing him, the first 'first' was what would have been his and Joan's 61st anniversary. It fell the weekend we had his memorial picnic. It was a beautiful day-sunny, warm-not hot. So many stories. So many people we hadn't seen in years. The whole family wore red shirts so people would know who his family was, an idea used earlier in the year by our sister-in-law whose sister had passed. Red was the color of his beloved pickup truck.<br />
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Over the summer and fall we didn't have many firsts. Birthdays of the family, but those are more about each individual than about him. Until now. Joan's birthday is next week. Thanksgiving is the following week. His birthday is in the middle of December. Then Christmas.<br />
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What is weird to me (well, probably not really if you know me) was a small first we had a couple of weeks ago. Dude and I had gone up to see his Mom. We chatted and had dinner and then our nephew came over. He stops over either on Saturday or Sunday, depending on his work schedule (and what parties may be happening). He and Joan will usually play a game of some kind-games are big in Dude's family. We decided to play Rummy 500. This was the game that the four of us had played hundreds of times since I first met Dude. And Howie was my partner every single time. And we lost most every game.<br />
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Josh and I partnered up. I haven't played 4 handed Rummy 500 since Howie died. Sitting across the table, it was so weird to not see Howie, laying down his 8's and saying "8, skate and donate". I got up once to go to the bathroom just because I thought I was going to cry. But he was there-laughing at the jokes we told and at all the bad hands Josh and I had.<br />
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Yeah, we lost.<br />
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What does this have to do with lemon bars? Nothing really, other than Howie loved treats. He loved when all his kids came up to the lake house because he knew there would be lots of good things to choose from!<br />
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Lemon Bars</div>
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2 cups flour</div>
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1 cup powdered sugar</div>
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pinch of salt</div>
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2 sticks of butter, room temp</div>
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4 eggs</div>
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2 cups sugar</div>
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6 TBSP flour</div>
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6 TBSP fresh lemon juice</div>
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grated lemon peel from lemon</div>
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. For crust, mix together flour, powdered sugar and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes.</div>
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For filling, beat the eggs and stir in the sugar. Grate the lemon into mixture, then juice the lemon. Stir well. Remove the crust from the oven and pour filling mixture on top. Bake for another 22-25 minutes.</div>
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Cool the bars, then shake more powdered sugar on top.</div>
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These got 2 thumbs up from everyone at work and I was asked to make these again soon.</div>
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Howie-I know you would have loved these.</div>
<br />tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-45652510077148031792012-10-17T21:25:00.000-05:002012-10-17T21:25:08.510-05:00Perfect Pumpkin Muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ahh, so the cobbler I made (twice) for Bryan's birthday wasn't a hit with him. He isn't a big fruit-in-desserts fan. But he did say he likes pumpkin, so I went about finding a recipe for some muffins to bake for work. I like muffins/cupcakes as they are easy to transport, they are the perfect serving size and they look cute.<br />
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Pumpkin just screams Fall. Well, maybe it just speaks it loudly. It is a beautiful color, the smell is amazing and you can make a savory or a sweet dish with them. You carve them for Halloween, use small and big ones for decorations and throw them in the compost pile when you are done.<br />
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I searched the Internet and found a recipe on the Libby Pumpkin website. The original recipe was a diabetic friendly recipe as it had sugar substitute, but since we don't have to deal with that issue here, I made some changes to the recipe. They were a big hit at work. The only 'complaint' I had was that there wasn't cream cheese frosting. Duly noted; however, I didn't have any in the fridge or I would have made some frosting.<br />
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Pumpkin Muffins (<i>adapted from the Libby's website)</i><br />
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1-1/2 cup flour<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
2 TBSP brown sugar<br />
2 tsp. baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp. baking soda<br />
1 tsp. cinnamon<br />
1/2 tsp. ginger<br />
1/4 tsp. nutmeg<br />
1/2 tsp. salt<br />
1/2 cup chopped nuts<br />
1 can pumpkin (not pie filling)<br />
2 eggs, beaten<br />
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP buttermilk<br />
1/4 cup + 2 TBSP sour cream<br />
2 TBSP oil<br />
Turbinado sugar<br />
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 18 muffin tin cups with non stick spray. In large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a smaller bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients in the large bowl, stirring just to combine. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin tins; sprinkle each one with a pinch of Turbinado sugar.<br />
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Bake for 32 to 35 minutes, checking after minimum time. Cool in pans for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.<br />
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Everyone commented that they liked them as they were not overly sweet. Sometimes you want a 'sweet' but don't want to be overcome by sweetness.<br />
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These fit the bill perfectly.tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-1825975512815753342012-10-14T15:57:00.002-05:002012-10-14T15:59:04.007-05:00I love a good partyTo celebrate Fall, Dude and I had a small gathering of friends last night. And a boat load of food. Tami has the mindset of "Go Big or Go Home" when it comes to entertaining. No one is leaving my home with the slightest amount of room left in their tummies.<br />
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I had a Sous Chef helping yesterday. E is the son of one of our friends. He learned to cook with his Dad when he was but a wee lad. He came over to help me get ready for the Fall Frolic; he chopped, diced, mixed, sliced and baked. It was a very fun day.<br />
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We made several recipes that are already posted on my blog-the Ham and cheese glazed sammies, the Spring ring salad, garlic cheese stuffed bread-but we made a couple of new things and some improved things.<br />
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Here are a few photos of our fun night. Recipes will follow in the next couple of days, including one from E. He made an awesome breakfast-one I can't wait to try!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wine and cocktail bar is ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKLaxAl8naIQ8O6UdzWIOFeSRN5-7o9ddrrkj0GjKwIsX8isWxlK9URhof2uokCQHZeBinnK-gdFCt36CYokuiqvgbfxxNW4l-A_Q-AnVA4tMmfY3h6qr2yActRpsuEvTru2SOua_cKKg/s1600/Fall+Frolic+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKLaxAl8naIQ8O6UdzWIOFeSRN5-7o9ddrrkj0GjKwIsX8isWxlK9URhof2uokCQHZeBinnK-gdFCt36CYokuiqvgbfxxNW4l-A_Q-AnVA4tMmfY3h6qr2yActRpsuEvTru2SOua_cKKg/s400/Fall+Frolic+2012+004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love baby pumpkins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even made him help me prep the decorations</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E and I with some of our dishes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glazed ham and cheese sammies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 Corn casserole-is it awesome</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly spicy salsa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXWHUwuqMVRoOD5nVmLmpmuhyphenhyphen8n3-XS1p7lF5uoTuQlBAp__Bz06gzpBpI0mFGiMvnExdJyldt1OW41e-kb_8AWeNYho72H8YAL-KuPKnHENgNlVWVJbZM2BNYNbbMpH3I3q-3CSvbd5i/s1600/Fall+Frolic+2012+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXWHUwuqMVRoOD5nVmLmpmuhyphenhyphen8n3-XS1p7lF5uoTuQlBAp__Bz06gzpBpI0mFGiMvnExdJyldt1OW41e-kb_8AWeNYho72H8YAL-KuPKnHENgNlVWVJbZM2BNYNbbMpH3I3q-3CSvbd5i/s400/Fall+Frolic+2012+025.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">empty wine glasses</td></tr>
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Thank you to my wonderful friends who came and made this night so special. You all rock!tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-57407091334619293072012-10-12T22:50:00.000-05:002012-10-12T22:50:28.511-05:00The Kinky Wolfman<div style="text-align: left;">
I love a good cocktail. I'm pretty picky about what I will try though. Usually if it is sweet, I'm game to try, but usually ones that are made with harder liquors-I tend to shy away. Not a fan of the burning sensation when it goes down. I remember sneaking little nips of Jack Daniels when we went camping when no one was looking. I couldn't figure out how my Dad loved it so much when it burned like liquid fire going down.</div>
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Last Spring I was able to attend a fund raising function for Second Harvest Hope in the Heartland. As I work for a food company, many people were invited to this fundraiser. My boss knows that I love to cook and asked if I would like to take one of the tickets given to her boss. It was such a wonderful event. There is a silent auction, a live auction, many local restaurants came and served tastes from their establishments. It was the first time I had pork belly. Oh. My. God.</div>
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They also pick a signature drink for the night. On that night it was the Kinkytini. It was fabulous. I went right out that weekend and bought the ingredients. I will share that one later.</div>
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The one tonight is called the Kinky Wolfman. I believe the recipe said the name of the Irish whiskey had the name "Wolf" in it, but I couldn't find it. I found this recipe in our grocery store circular of all places. Here in Minnesota, you cannot buy liquor in grocery stores, but some grocery stores have liquor stores next door.</div>
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Our local liquor store didn't have any Irish Whiskey in small bottles and I had no idea if I would like it, so I didn't want to buy a large bottle. Dude doesn't like the darker liquors, so I substituted Canadian Whiskey I could get in a small bottle. Oh yeah, this was a keeper.</div>
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The Kinky Wolfman</div>
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1 ounce Irish Whiskey</div>
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2 ounces Kinky Liqueur</div>
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3 ounces Ginger ale</div>
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In small shaker, mix the Whiskey, the Liqueur and a couple of ice cubes. Shake until cold. Pour into cocktail glass and top with the 3 ounces of Ginger ale. Give a stir and enjoy.</div>
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I taste tested 3 tonight. I'm suppose to be getting food prepared for our Fall Frolic at our house tomorrow. I'm thinking sleep is a better idea!</div>
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tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-42742142640908572772012-10-09T20:44:00.001-05:002012-10-09T20:44:33.126-05:00That Cheating Cobbler<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's face it-we all need to take shortcuts. Those of us without Domestic Help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dude loves blueberry desserts. Just ask him-his Grandma made the best blueberry pie. Mine is good; hers was divine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This dessert however was made for another man in my life-my dispatcher Bryan. I work in a small office-like it is about the size of my living room and there are 4 people in there everyday, sometimes we expand to 6 or 7 depending on the day and what is going on. We don't have many secrets and we probably share way too much. I wouldn't have it any other way. I lucked out when I got this job 2 years ago. It was like God was looking down saying "Well, since you can't work with your friends at the bank anymore, let's put you with some more funny people". This isn't to say that I didn't like the people I worked with at the plant; I did, but not all of us could work on the same phase. If we did, we would have never made cereal because we would be too busy laughing. I can now laugh all day long and still get my work done.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Md6whyphenhyphenqIrt8AlWV0igQJPXrBwd5U6FUXlFXehb29RDY5dwEaChZq3G2QwsMNp6iaqHHs4QuUke39trJGFpzAGJYlQyoVrr5NTodZ0WrTeDgqE7_9jnC29EYGN5eBxzLDaLmPwVCS8zAs/s1600/Baking+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Md6whyphenhyphenqIrt8AlWV0igQJPXrBwd5U6FUXlFXehb29RDY5dwEaChZq3G2QwsMNp6iaqHHs4QuUke39trJGFpzAGJYlQyoVrr5NTodZ0WrTeDgqE7_9jnC29EYGN5eBxzLDaLmPwVCS8zAs/s320/Baking+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, it was Bryan's birthday last week. We are going through this HUGE conversion to a new computer system. It sucks. We can't find the information we need, we don't know what items we are short on, we have drivers waiting for DAYS for their load because of how the carriers can see the loads. It sucks. To help with the stress-mine and everyone elses-I have been baking treats at least 3 times a week. On Bryan's birthday I looked in the pantry and there wasn't much I could make quickly. I had a can of cherry pie filling, some white cake mix, butter, etc. So I remembered a recipe I had done that was a short cut cobbler. I brought it in, still warm for the oven........and he hates cherries. Sigh. It went-everyone else liked it-but not the Birthday Boy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I woke up early this morning and decided to try it again, but I would use blueberry pie filling instead. The house smelled so good, with blueberries and lemon. I slid a still steaming serving into a dish for Dude to take to work. I wrapped it up and brought it into the office. It was still steaming when I unwrapped it. I giddily walked over to his desk and told him I was making up for his birthday fiasco of cherry-and had made blueberry. Yep, he hates blueberry too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cheating Cobbler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 can pie filling, any flavor you like, but cherry or blueberry were big hits</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 box white cake mix (I used French Vanilla)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 lemon, zested and juiced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 stick of butter, melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup chopped walnuts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">freshly zested nutmeg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Turbinado sugar</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease baking dish. I used a 7 x 10 stone baker, but 9 x 9 works too. Pour pie filling into bottom of dish, spreading so it is an even layer. Zest/grate nutmeg-just a little over the pie filling. Zest the lemon over this and then add the juice of half of the lemon. Sprinkle the fruit with the dry cake mix, leveling out. Sprinkle a little more zested/grated nutmeg over top-just a little. Pour melted butter over the top of the cake mix. Sprinkle the nuts over the top of butter/cake mix. Squeeze some more lemon juice over this and then </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sprinkle the </span>Turbinado<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> sugar over the top. I used about 2 TBSP.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Set in the middle of the oven and bake for 40-43 minutes at 350.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is great with ice cream or whipped cream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As for Bryan, guess I need to go back to chocolate desserts-he always eats those!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a personal note-I'm so happy to be back. I may have lost every reader I ever had after being gone so long, but I realized it isn't about the comments (which I do love) but it is about the process and recording successes and failures, talking about what makes us happy and sad. It is about cooking for those that we love. And that is the most important thing in the world-for me anyway. Even if Bryan doesn't adore everything I bring in.</span>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-60167844781957241782012-10-08T21:41:00.000-05:002012-10-08T21:41:32.670-05:00A wonderful man<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamIiil1Ijd41C4G7h6klKa31UmF1JzaJvzUy0m5ogrMmLi7Cga7ojlJW7UVda8HhfBjTb969UqR6Goepy1yedmG2m8dc5dMSSVhc31ogXFvjJUOw8O9aotrxhE6utr1dzT4BIS9JoA3Pv/s1600/Howie+and+Joan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamIiil1Ijd41C4G7h6klKa31UmF1JzaJvzUy0m5ogrMmLi7Cga7ojlJW7UVda8HhfBjTb969UqR6Goepy1yedmG2m8dc5dMSSVhc31ogXFvjJUOw8O9aotrxhE6utr1dzT4BIS9JoA3Pv/s320/Howie+and+Joan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard and Joan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSBB36R-sNUrI3ek36NFexLvOt96WJwPJN2MzSSkKcVpvJBvNKPdtfDnB_MD0uB9zLuKWN6tU7Bucpjp6qg6J3dMdFqDZWxwVMpKwfGEtWnIAYRC5GsVMtspt3a_Z1bh5-ouojYt5WECa/s1600/Howie's+party+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSBB36R-sNUrI3ek36NFexLvOt96WJwPJN2MzSSkKcVpvJBvNKPdtfDnB_MD0uB9zLuKWN6tU7Bucpjp6qg6J3dMdFqDZWxwVMpKwfGEtWnIAYRC5GsVMtspt3a_Z1bh5-ouojYt5WECa/s320/Howie's+party+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard's truck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatQPpCt3nOARsliSO4_RWBMbOKLx_cyg77_xgrBIfb0yXtc0OnDliFaVHnbyzohVKTuP1-mm13865Fu0nsonhYTjOR7TBqbcEouuSinNKq1ZJDpyb1dNWEoxEWJ_Auz1lbURR6apHzBxY/s1600/Howie's+party+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatQPpCt3nOARsliSO4_RWBMbOKLx_cyg77_xgrBIfb0yXtc0OnDliFaVHnbyzohVKTuP1-mm13865Fu0nsonhYTjOR7TBqbcEouuSinNKq1ZJDpyb1dNWEoxEWJ_Auz1lbURR6apHzBxY/s320/Howie's+party+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small snapshot of Howie's life<br /><br />On February 4th, we lost Randy's Dad. What a strange phrase- "We lost Howie". We didn't lose him-he died. He had been diagnosed with Melanoma in October of 2009 and the doctors gave him 9 to 12 months. He lived for another 27 months. Until the very end, you would not know he was sick. He was always smiling, always joking. He looked healthy, he had an appetite. He didn't look sick. He amazed his doctors with how well he doing.<br /><br />I never thought that his death would hit me this hard. As I write now, tears are streaming down my face and I'm doing that little hiccuping cry.<br /><br />Howie treated me with such kindness. He never treated me like just some girl who married his son; he treated me like family. The day I married Randy, he gave me a hug and told how much he loved me. I don't know that I have even told Randy that.<br /><br />Randy's family loves to play games. They taught me how to play Rummy 500. Howie was my partner for almost 24 years. I can count on maybe 2 hands how many times we beat Randy and his Mom Joan. But damn, we laughed until we cried almost every time we played. On the few occasions we won, we would whoop and holler-you would think we had just won the Super Bowl. "Eight, skate and donate" was something he always said when he would lay down a set of 8's. I realize now I never asked him what it meant-but I said it out loud to a driver at my window last week when he said the word eight. He looked at me like I was crazy, but I just laughed and said "It was something my father-in-law said".<br /><br />Every day I touch the that flag folded in that case on my way out the door and thank God that he gave me this wonderful family I married into. Thank you Howie for your love, your laughter and your son that has been the love of my life for almost 25 years. You were an amazing man that I miss every day, and not a day passes that I don't think of you-either with laughter or with tears.</td></tr>
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<br />tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-35238721280983255652012-10-03T23:16:00.002-05:002012-10-03T23:18:53.760-05:00It's been a long time friendsMy last post-it was over a year ago.<br />
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What a difference a year makes. We have had so many changes occur in our lives over the last 12 months, it seems a little surreal.<br />
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Our Drama Queen started college...and dropped out. She met a man that may some day be her husband. She moved out.<br />
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Our Hermit Crab is in her senior year of college. She is deciding on her Master's program. She got engaged. We will have a son.<br />
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We lost my husband's wonderful father, though we are thankful we had him much longer than the doctors ever said we would. We had the most beautiful day of the summer to have a party to celebrate his life.<br />
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We became empty nesters....and we are digging it. We just pick up and go on the boat, take the street rod for a cruise, or drive up to the UP to celebrate a birthday without having reservations or a plan.<br />
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It is awesome.<br />
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I also lost my love of creating food. Be it the weird hours that I work or the repetition of 24 years of doing it-my inspiration was gone.<br />
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I think it may be back.tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-62160641353456795952011-09-04T13:18:00.000-05:002011-09-04T13:18:51.818-05:00Well, it smelled good anyway<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6WKYzAA50ki0s8Fgeo7bPfy49mWqxaPbfY9lr0UXwk_Qp4lXwDk9ws3sBhiElkSWtdQ-330HkbyjaPUFclup_dUxEeMi2JBysg_glJMRu95jHHymTz9_yIkhobWqtFCwWjLBs1VtX9kC/s1600/Plums+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6WKYzAA50ki0s8Fgeo7bPfy49mWqxaPbfY9lr0UXwk_Qp4lXwDk9ws3sBhiElkSWtdQ-330HkbyjaPUFclup_dUxEeMi2JBysg_glJMRu95jHHymTz9_yIkhobWqtFCwWjLBs1VtX9kC/s320/Plums+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>We have several plum trees in our backyard. We hate the trees because they have prickly branches and we have scraped hands, arms and legs when dealing with them. But the best grass in our yard is under these tree......?</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Usually we only see the plums on the ground after they are over ripe and bees are busy feeding on them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo3ruAzrrg0au3e4pwu31GxbRXZn6WncSfNoLv4Q_XnSx9NVOxGwDx1upI38YMY_OeAzR0n-G-5W-WaMla3Lj4sAbrihdr7fZ8CC7l09JDo0lMAvV6w6Ra0VdCD7okv6OIp8-DrkxBA27/s1600/Plums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo3ruAzrrg0au3e4pwu31GxbRXZn6WncSfNoLv4Q_XnSx9NVOxGwDx1upI38YMY_OeAzR0n-G-5W-WaMla3Lj4sAbrihdr7fZ8CC7l09JDo0lMAvV6w6Ra0VdCD7okv6OIp8-DrkxBA27/s320/Plums.jpg" width="320" /></a>This year I wanted to finish something on my to-do list. I was going to bake with the fruit in our yard. I could reach a few branches by standing, then I went and got the golf cart and stood on the seat, stretching to reach ones higher. They were a nice reddish-purple color and they smelled really good. I searched on line for recipes using plums from trees in Minnesota. I found one that looked promising.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOkl-qlYM7Y-owAnGzVDUPN0YdmdT2Wn_hV_GMrnLf17owy4pc296eNz8efjg0SJGnl63AYb7GC3hWUzgvoB9rg8Dc7u1YT1Vz1p4xSriRcAUi9tSo2ztZhNq5lZwKT9q0bEw2tKh4i53/s1600/plum+cob+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOkl-qlYM7Y-owAnGzVDUPN0YdmdT2Wn_hV_GMrnLf17owy4pc296eNz8efjg0SJGnl63AYb7GC3hWUzgvoB9rg8Dc7u1YT1Vz1p4xSriRcAUi9tSo2ztZhNq5lZwKT9q0bEw2tKh4i53/s320/plum+cob+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>It took quite awhile to chop all the plums as they are quite small. I tried to peel a couple, but it took so much flesh with. I was hoping if I cut the pieces small, they would disintegrate while baking in the oven. I was concerned with the amount of sugar in the recipe-1/2 cup sugar and 3/4 cup of corn syrup. I followed the directions and it smelled so good in the kitchen.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhSmgKZJoBEs7dzW-4nyy5nzADvUNqEdFYKNbvVB7r6y9tGqi9psIJf8vk-YZcJALW1livp2Sxlk4NlvovLFCyEj-OoaZPMhl-bcsZyfuguFVKwsbhyphenhyphen-0BL9UH_XbUidoQ4bmK25F-FD8/s1600/plum+cobbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhSmgKZJoBEs7dzW-4nyy5nzADvUNqEdFYKNbvVB7r6y9tGqi9psIJf8vk-YZcJALW1livp2Sxlk4NlvovLFCyEj-OoaZPMhl-bcsZyfuguFVKwsbhyphenhyphen-0BL9UH_XbUidoQ4bmK25F-FD8/s320/plum+cobbler.jpg" width="320" /></a>I eagerly waited for Dude to come home and have some. Yep-not a good experiment. The peels didn't disintegrate and the cobbler was waaaaaaay too tart. With all that sugar? But I crossed part of my baking with fruit from the yard. As we speak (or as I write this) I have about 6 pounds of apples off our tree stewing to make home made apple pie filling I can throw in the freezer and make Dude a pie in the middle of winter-and it will taste like summer. So I add this to the fail category, but nothing ventured, nothing gain. On to the next challenge.</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-26620948363390135052011-08-28T14:34:00.000-05:002011-08-28T14:34:23.987-05:00Grandma Oney's Pickles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBbCXI067MxLALXoQ1GvyqlPTiYNovFwzrDHcbZb5fg2iPul5pDSFlBp9TZ6pz_gZvs6qhO9vRwG0NJ73RxQagU-vhlQq4ZUxOwcUYgC91wz9kVwqkTQLF-gJrlBzKPbqYG_4uLBAcByl/s1600/Camping+and+boating+Aug+2011+218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBbCXI067MxLALXoQ1GvyqlPTiYNovFwzrDHcbZb5fg2iPul5pDSFlBp9TZ6pz_gZvs6qhO9vRwG0NJ73RxQagU-vhlQq4ZUxOwcUYgC91wz9kVwqkTQLF-gJrlBzKPbqYG_4uLBAcByl/s320/Camping+and+boating+Aug+2011+218.JPG" width="320" /></a>My Grandma Oney was a really good cook. She made meals out of nothing it seemed like sometimes. Having been through the Depression she knew how to stretch a buck. She had a large garden up into her late 60's. It was really no secret that Grandma didn't really care for my Mom a whole lot-other than birthing me. Mom said while it seemed petty, she got a kick out of it when my Dad proclaimed that Mom's fried chicken and potato salad were better than Grandma's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> While Grandma was never outright <em>mean </em>to my Mom, she would be condescending and snarky. However, she did share some recipes with Mom so she could keep her little boy fed. This is a refrigerator pickle that my Dad really likes, so when Mom found it in a drawer with other recipes, she collected several cards and sent them down to me. Dude really liked the pickles. Of course, there are several jars in the fridge since the cukes are going crazy, but on the recipe it says "these last a really long time in the fridge". I am going to bring some to work though-just to clear some room for more pickles!</div><br />
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<div align="center">Grandma Oney's Refrigerator Pickles</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">6 cups unpeeled thin sliced cukes</div><div align="center">1 cup onion, sliced thin</div><div align="center">1 TBSP salt</div><div align="center">1 tsp celery salt</div><div align="center">1 small green pepper, cut into thin strips</div><div align="center">1 small red pepper, cut into thin strips</div><div align="center">1-1/2 cup sugar</div><div align="center">1 cup vinegar</div><div align="center">Dissolve sugar in the vinegar. Toss the cukes, onion, peppers, salt and celery salt in bowl and let stand 2 hours. Pack the pickle ingredients into freshly cleaned jars. Pour the liquid over the veggies and place in fridge. It made 2 full quart jars for me.</div><div align="center"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7zzqOIZs1J0kJS2Td6MwVDARVC9QJ4_cl4WZQ-70EKzF0QYvTUunLKnm8ObmvPz9OFaH4JLA-1tRz7RSVrMFN7yL0yrcW7v1ZYCgy6aIyFIKHGkHIg8YmgkfkfnQwX3pMcTVXslOWfE4/s1600/Camping+and+boating+Aug+2011+267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7zzqOIZs1J0kJS2Td6MwVDARVC9QJ4_cl4WZQ-70EKzF0QYvTUunLKnm8ObmvPz9OFaH4JLA-1tRz7RSVrMFN7yL0yrcW7v1ZYCgy6aIyFIKHGkHIg8YmgkfkfnQwX3pMcTVXslOWfE4/s320/Camping+and+boating+Aug+2011+267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Dude and I spent a glorious 5 days camping and boating on the St. Croix river a week ago. We had so much fun-we cruised, we beached, we swam, we ate. The best vacation I could have asked for.</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-1133030245951821112011-07-21T07:31:00.000-05:002012-10-16T19:53:47.428-05:00Snicker Salad and the Photo that didn't happen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I never thought it would be so hard to photograph a plate of food. I tried inside, I tried outside, with a flash, without-I just couldn't make this look pretty.</div>
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But it does taste good!</div>
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Snicker Salad</div>
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3 medium Granny Smith apples</div>
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2 standard size Snicker candy bars, chilled</div>
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1 tub of Cool Whip</div>
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lemon juice</div>
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Cut apples into bite size pieces. Sprinkle with the lemon juice so they don't brown. If you have juice that has accumulated in the bowl, carefully pour it out.</div>
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Remove candy bars from fridge. Cut in half length-wise and then cut the each half into small slices. Chilling the candy bars makes them easier to cut.</div>
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Place candy bar pieces in the bowl with the apples. Scoop the Cool Whip into the bowl and stir to combine all of the elements.</div>
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Lick the Cool Whip spoon.</div>
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While it didn't photograph well, it was gobbled up quickly.</div>
tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-71006505121337796502011-07-13T20:38:00.001-05:002011-07-13T20:52:34.550-05:00I've LinkedinI've linked up my apple salad recipe to the Hearth and Soul Hop. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%3E%3C/a%3E%3Ca%20href=”http://www.premeditatedleftovers.com/”%3E%3Cimg%20src=”%20http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/rrocknrollgoddess/Blog%20photos/HearthandSoulBadge-1.jpg”%20alt=”Hearth%20and%20Soul%20Hop%20at%20Premeditated%20Leftovers”%20width=”135″%20height=”135″%20/%3E%3C/a%3E"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><img albums="" alt="”Hearth" and="" at="" blog%20photos="" f290="" hearthandsoulbadge-1.jpg”="" height="”135″" hop="" i49.photobucket.com="" leftovers”="" premeditated="" rrocknrollgoddess="" soul="" src="”" width="”135″" /><br />
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<a href="http://premeditatedleftovers.com/hearth-and-soul-hop-with-premeditated-leftovers-711/">http://premeditatedleftovers.com/hearth-and-soul-hop-with-premeditated-leftovers-711/</a><br />
Yeah, I still can't figure out the linking thing....old dog, new tricks ya know.<br />
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Check out Alea's site. She has so many great ideas about saving money, using fresh ingredients, and has wonderful recipes!tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-81521055442732783202011-07-11T21:46:00.001-05:002011-07-11T22:08:19.368-05:00Apple Salad<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Real heat has hit Minnesota. It is hot. It is humid. No one wants to cook in this heat.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">We took our boat out to the St. Croix river which separates Minnesota and Wisconsin in the middle section of the state. The St. Croix is a nice river for water sports-tubing, skiing, jet ski(ing) and just taking a ride.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">We brought our friend J along again, this time with both of her daughters and Dude and I. We boated for about an hour and a half, then beached our boat on one of the several islands that sit between Hudson WI and Lakeland MN. Most of them were pretty full, but we motored around one larger one and found the one side empty. We got our bag of snacks, the cooler and the portable gas grill out and set up camp on the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAwoXo6eP_7suDpbTTN5fG9OXEVHGVoCYWoHR4CWtmy9PiFST9e8foKLetIhrRm7m7bpzB4wEzNWlSsEi1XKkD97jT6tXAEUrKhZgh7jLeMuNrFYStglx-2_EAzqZ6uM1zbiErtPzXQ4d/s1600/apple+salad+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAwoXo6eP_7suDpbTTN5fG9OXEVHGVoCYWoHR4CWtmy9PiFST9e8foKLetIhrRm7m7bpzB4wEzNWlSsEi1XKkD97jT6tXAEUrKhZgh7jLeMuNrFYStglx-2_EAzqZ6uM1zbiErtPzXQ4d/s320/apple+salad+1.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I had made hamburger patties and wanted something a little sweet, a little tangy for a side dish. Something without mayo that could sit out for a little while when we had our picnic.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsHb83ZCROP1ecgj-vghFQ8ucceGKEOsweckhXRdmOum1nUg1APwlMo7ijfxvMlwg7XnMQnANXAO9NAdKpbagr-X9H710-RP-AgE4ZIUMOv3ApWspuTJrDmkQt1Ra9PAWu__16lciN3HM/s1600/apple+salad+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsHb83ZCROP1ecgj-vghFQ8ucceGKEOsweckhXRdmOum1nUg1APwlMo7ijfxvMlwg7XnMQnANXAO9NAdKpbagr-X9H710-RP-AgE4ZIUMOv3ApWspuTJrDmkQt1Ra9PAWu__16lciN3HM/s320/apple+salad+2.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Enter the apple salad. I first had this dish about 23 years ago when I was first dating Dude. We had gone up to his parent's lake home for a weekend and my MIL (to be at this time) put this dish out with our grilled burgers and brats.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuO2kKYfPSji5EDDfM9nn2WcPMBQ5dUOU0sfTKTUzG2vfvIsP4GTw9VtUSQZSy_RNNhHASTr6NJla1dXzZeZ_snGgVa8nsCPwCHzr9I42X112uza5aPNJr0ZtEJyF1BOaBU8d4SUVQuI7/s1600/apple+salad+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuO2kKYfPSji5EDDfM9nn2WcPMBQ5dUOU0sfTKTUzG2vfvIsP4GTw9VtUSQZSy_RNNhHASTr6NJla1dXzZeZ_snGgVa8nsCPwCHzr9I42X112uza5aPNJr0ZtEJyF1BOaBU8d4SUVQuI7/s320/apple+salad+3.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I have stated (numerous times) that I'm not a big salad person, but have come to like several over the last 10 years or so. This one however, it was love at first bite. It included three ingredients-6 if you count the lemon, water and cornstarch-and I love all three.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8axqizjxqzPzZ_dChMLYyDsqhEegXV6COAR18xO1i2Myg2cbOw53dchKUyrMXuGUCNvlXSHgxxQiHI0ifuNdEmPTuLRy5e2CPrycWlMonLuHP0uNL5CJ3FMBkp5Q6b1cc32WyKzBSWd5/s1600/apple+salad+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8axqizjxqzPzZ_dChMLYyDsqhEegXV6COAR18xO1i2Myg2cbOw53dchKUyrMXuGUCNvlXSHgxxQiHI0ifuNdEmPTuLRy5e2CPrycWlMonLuHP0uNL5CJ3FMBkp5Q6b1cc32WyKzBSWd5/s320/apple+salad+4.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It is sweet from the pineapple, tart from the Granny Smith's and just plain tasty.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Apple Salad</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">3 Granny Smith apple, washed, sliced and chunked into bite size pieces</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1 small can of pineapple tidbitd (6-8 oz), juice drained into small saucepan</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">2 TBSP cold water</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">1 to 1/2 tsp cornstarch</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Half of a lemon</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Drain pineapple juice into small saucepan. In small container, shake the water and cornstarch together until well mixed. Heat pineapple juice to slight boil. Shake the water-cornstarch mixture again, and slowly pour into hot juice, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil and stir until thickened-maybe a minute. Remove from heat, and pour into another container to help it cool faster.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Chop the apple slices into bite-sized pieces, place in a medium size bowl and squeeze lemon juice over apple pieces several times as you are chopping the apple so it does not brown.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Place drained pineapple in bowl with the apple chunks. Chop the walnuts into smaller pieces so they are easier to chew. Place them in bowl with the fruit.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Pour cooled dressing over the fruit and stir to distribute the dressing over all of the pieces.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Cover and chill in the fridge until serving time.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NffEASxtkwyUo1pI0qp8AAHUuE50InmlFFdpCpBxUCP4z1RKUp-h3kMtL3gSYRdIvf0RHfQ8z4jQ7tPQEQrsbnOVCWBtO4D7sMRqzD8E0Ek8m1ji7gqDxeuUiQ696J5Q_4W3QNufRT3s/s1600/apple+salad+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NffEASxtkwyUo1pI0qp8AAHUuE50InmlFFdpCpBxUCP4z1RKUp-h3kMtL3gSYRdIvf0RHfQ8z4jQ7tPQEQrsbnOVCWBtO4D7sMRqzD8E0Ek8m1ji7gqDxeuUiQ696J5Q_4W3QNufRT3s/s320/apple+salad+5.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Sneak some into a small container and hide in the back of the fridge to take to work the next day.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and if a boat beaches next to you that has a dog.....make sure all the meat is off the grill and eaten or stored in the cooler. We had a guest help himself to our last burger while we were all chatting. It was the funniest thing ever! His owner came over with a $10 bill and offered to pay for whatever his dog had grabbed. We laughed and waved away his offer and told him it was just a burger and we hope he enjoyed it.</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-14683075769642892132011-07-09T20:06:00.000-05:002011-07-09T20:06:05.271-05:00Independence Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th of July. We celebrated with our good friend and one of her daughters. You may remember me speaking last year around this time about my friend. Her and her husband were our very best friends. We went on vacation, had BBQ's, went to car shows, out to dinner, spent most of the past 17 years together on New Year's Eve eating junk food and playing cards. He cheated, for the about the whole time we knew them, and it broke her heart. She is picking up the pieces of her life and mess he left her with.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had been waiting to get her out on the boat and as we normally spend the 4th together, we thought this would be the perfect way to celebrate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We laughed so much-all day. After boating and tubing we came back to our house and grilled up dinner, played a game and laughed some more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was the ultimate 4th of July celebration-my hubby, my girls and our dearest friend. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are so very blessed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBCBEvoBUTRM8DAS6XHP_h2e7u92V56W7DKZU-tEDFj1ZIA1OrsdloHBEXSdgBA478T0UNvy_dT3KVZZ_Rsjc9b9alMzy_g7hdWmK1wRASU3IT6M8nrRdnMDhXsqQWgzG0CZkafXa4q56/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBCBEvoBUTRM8DAS6XHP_h2e7u92V56W7DKZU-tEDFj1ZIA1OrsdloHBEXSdgBA478T0UNvy_dT3KVZZ_Rsjc9b9alMzy_g7hdWmK1wRASU3IT6M8nrRdnMDhXsqQWgzG0CZkafXa4q56/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hermit Crab</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OhC7H1GJ5C-1Uyr8h2SYK-8O9TamYOMrj5Pl69QwOLWSx9RnGilbj4WocPejacOEf4dHbfnf5vkeUxZEiADPgizn4Wv7gyksEOWNYdtrgp5X4tPPfE9073B2_ISiWPOIz_o3fmCjy-D-/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OhC7H1GJ5C-1Uyr8h2SYK-8O9TamYOMrj5Pl69QwOLWSx9RnGilbj4WocPejacOEf4dHbfnf5vkeUxZEiADPgizn4Wv7gyksEOWNYdtrgp5X4tPPfE9073B2_ISiWPOIz_o3fmCjy-D-/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Drama Queen and Hermit Crab holding on for dear life!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivqY1x4NC8oX_Q1PdcaS1pSHRI48xBIczIY5gTMQINKdqb4-VKcmi90FQjIFNWgbxxhlFiT2YtXXjUag95GUkj8wWRUAAFGI0t6DHR2jpnFU9EC43WOiS0tBupSIGhdr6xxXv8PJAWNck/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivqY1x4NC8oX_Q1PdcaS1pSHRI48xBIczIY5gTMQINKdqb4-VKcmi90FQjIFNWgbxxhlFiT2YtXXjUag95GUkj8wWRUAAFGI0t6DHR2jpnFU9EC43WOiS0tBupSIGhdr6xxXv8PJAWNck/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our friend J and her daughter B</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqjaDPE3c-us1aKzrv58TfittxsfCvzGgzhZIKGCFwQ9cJ0d_TDM2_lq-xZAz7-6o_2Qw4z-LTJ52MFcemsk7Sip1qBeP_t86YuN2887knCcpAfXBeBsX28XcaWe-ZymjTq1OqoMNV6ds/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqjaDPE3c-us1aKzrv58TfittxsfCvzGgzhZIKGCFwQ9cJ0d_TDM2_lq-xZAz7-6o_2Qw4z-LTJ52MFcemsk7Sip1qBeP_t86YuN2887knCcpAfXBeBsX28XcaWe-ZymjTq1OqoMNV6ds/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> J and B on the tub-squealing</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj459iR3V-BnRf92yIvxeZquP09fRWueKUH0Oz3rt4Y-iS8uAh68wiZVdBBl_E5xaxTpIrNuTICcNquz1DYba9c4oNM5gpp3Hx6haeg7C8a709IiPR-UWB3zI8-DKG04HTDWkiiGsalTuAC/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj459iR3V-BnRf92yIvxeZquP09fRWueKUH0Oz3rt4Y-iS8uAh68wiZVdBBl_E5xaxTpIrNuTICcNquz1DYba9c4oNM5gpp3Hx6haeg7C8a709IiPR-UWB3zI8-DKG04HTDWkiiGsalTuAC/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Drama Queen and Hermit Crab-one last ride before we leave</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-62983306312014436502011-06-25T14:10:00.000-05:002011-06-25T14:10:41.077-05:00What has been happening around here.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3oDc4Tkp4Mx4JbLhDqmQXC_YWULDzFJi2u1NuJMYozQo7wQQOuy1tf0gyoFk6RIUTlg6GgsIaT7VLcWePYfCzfDoEqQONa39OvseXJ5XoOGoYqRT4hxhGU9yMjY81m1l1PzSNbhjM-q2/s1600/Birthday+weekend+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3oDc4Tkp4Mx4JbLhDqmQXC_YWULDzFJi2u1NuJMYozQo7wQQOuy1tf0gyoFk6RIUTlg6GgsIaT7VLcWePYfCzfDoEqQONa39OvseXJ5XoOGoYqRT4hxhGU9yMjY81m1l1PzSNbhjM-q2/s320/Birthday+weekend+040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I celebrated my 45th birthday. Dude took me away to Minneapolis for a weekend.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIN9GPq_6MZR6gQKHE5K4c67fR5Xzm64vB2I_Xg7E41bhjEpC5Txt_kFbNRnv_OPF9JtnVgZFWRl-L093p4su8iQ1Mp_VTsOygIZvnfzMiYA5uaa07FxcnhYp0GxT5P09mfR2Laxd_ucW/s1600/Birthday+weekend+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIN9GPq_6MZR6gQKHE5K4c67fR5Xzm64vB2I_Xg7E41bhjEpC5Txt_kFbNRnv_OPF9JtnVgZFWRl-L093p4su8iQ1Mp_VTsOygIZvnfzMiYA5uaa07FxcnhYp0GxT5P09mfR2Laxd_ucW/s320/Birthday+weekend+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We enjoyed rooftop bars, an awesome dinner, and just hanging out.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN2WvSTClCo-sJ3BmtKZ4J2vUsRza8JztOLukg0-7PICPpuDY0Bm25hgoqgY7PgMqmjE2S4CjSSpi0WCGgmZHxxhCG0GxxbrdFtSHrysdSG0di4um3fs4igva2cegfqn7AX3MrdQkp3fm/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN2WvSTClCo-sJ3BmtKZ4J2vUsRza8JztOLukg0-7PICPpuDY0Bm25hgoqgY7PgMqmjE2S4CjSSpi0WCGgmZHxxhCG0GxxbrdFtSHrysdSG0di4um3fs4igva2cegfqn7AX3MrdQkp3fm/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drama Queen graduated high school. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWG_CjtYhlGOeB-Tvtf99cr3P-zwofNGaEDCJSYikZlh4wUqN8GGoDanBjZeYsrUjVBlk33lEjxMNyGh3EPT-rS_Q9grEBLJNT65P-qQKaqwO76J0jk0RvNWQWgxcMUW-0uECouDtxnjX/s1600/Boog+getting+diploma2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWG_CjtYhlGOeB-Tvtf99cr3P-zwofNGaEDCJSYikZlh4wUqN8GGoDanBjZeYsrUjVBlk33lEjxMNyGh3EPT-rS_Q9grEBLJNT65P-qQKaqwO76J0jk0RvNWQWgxcMUW-0uECouDtxnjX/s320/Boog+getting+diploma2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How did this happen so fast?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZHefvoBRBgQ0xY3bvrcDcrzMHAG6kXGd2vtOohpE0asXmiz1arwCA07PowytQawULUZyZPOlIlavNMUvcUuDEejjGAmtZ_mg6Lhs-p90yfonGv4-86wOWddym-4LzrNOfo1Em_r9ujMz/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZHefvoBRBgQ0xY3bvrcDcrzMHAG6kXGd2vtOohpE0asXmiz1arwCA07PowytQawULUZyZPOlIlavNMUvcUuDEejjGAmtZ_mg6Lhs-p90yfonGv4-86wOWddym-4LzrNOfo1Em_r9ujMz/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have cruised the local lake in the boat.</div><br />
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There is a new skipper in town, or so she thinks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQIgjOzU8BC4qisAbYtW7n2oYeKujhQ1-tzCIRIwKtdU8kH8JR2AVDUAGY_IPTK8mLxbWjUZVg7XNMP2EtQK-ldSpuVwSLO5OaVcFZEdzyPl4bGRDTlcVD9hpSs4dsgy-uokXz5h47dvH/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQIgjOzU8BC4qisAbYtW7n2oYeKujhQ1-tzCIRIwKtdU8kH8JR2AVDUAGY_IPTK8mLxbWjUZVg7XNMP2EtQK-ldSpuVwSLO5OaVcFZEdzyPl4bGRDTlcVD9hpSs4dsgy-uokXz5h47dvH/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoying Father's Day night on the boat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been really busy-graduation, the party, getting her registered for college-that starts in 4 weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been a little overwhelmed and taking some time to get stuff in place and trying to relax. Throw in a couple health'ish things and I'm looking for a lounge chair, a pool boy and a bartender!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Off to make some stuff to hopefully put up here soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope all is well with everyone, and I will see you soon!</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-83396266832951353852011-05-04T08:51:00.000-05:002011-05-04T08:51:42.082-05:00Where in the World is Waldo?Just a quick note-I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, but we have our youngest daughter graduating in about 4 weeks and her party in 5. We are busy with projects, planning, renting, yard work and finally enjoying some sunshine!<br />
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Whatever has been on our table lately is not blog worthy (burgers, sandwiches, grilled chicken) so once the madness is done, I'll be digging in again.<br />
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Until then, have a wonderful Mother's Day to all you Mom's!tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-17232814551464108062011-03-27T20:37:00.000-05:002011-03-27T20:37:13.590-05:00Creamy, dreamy pie<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a beautiful, sunny day out today. After rising pretty early, Drama Queen and I went to the grocery store for food for the week. We have pantry items up the ying yang, but got some fish, shrimp, veggies and dairy. And almost fainted at the bill.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UWRNNG10R3u8ub6yoSKwTJKuzvJv25g3DI9PNwdbQ3d6gmiWNakhOqEbiSRcmfTQlaoFEna-qMjJS8w4AVLhZ2NHdO7XFpECm1wkVXZJh_P9zf6UonVEDZTLHty4ZKLz2Xy6l-Kn5C7G/s1600/coconut+cream+filling+in+shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UWRNNG10R3u8ub6yoSKwTJKuzvJv25g3DI9PNwdbQ3d6gmiWNakhOqEbiSRcmfTQlaoFEna-qMjJS8w4AVLhZ2NHdO7XFpECm1wkVXZJh_P9zf6UonVEDZTLHty4ZKLz2Xy6l-Kn5C7G/s400/coconut+cream+filling+in+shell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I was in the mood for baking and had asked Dude recently what other types of pie he liked. He popped off a few and then said "coconut cream". Hmmm, don't ever remember seeing him order this in a restaurant or at his grandma's house, but I was game.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimArWKL_odturGFqPlSKWr1OiJCN8aaPfTIEy4RFA4_64-01LfGsitz4dxg_Z4V4nVUuXmx8Gw3rq4pkBY17PB4wGOcfKEnBibTS_TAQktoxUfArBfZQqthHoD7fkl2Z_LmG8V00swYRpj/s1600/meringue+on+coconut+cream+prebake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimArWKL_odturGFqPlSKWr1OiJCN8aaPfTIEy4RFA4_64-01LfGsitz4dxg_Z4V4nVUuXmx8Gw3rq4pkBY17PB4wGOcfKEnBibTS_TAQktoxUfArBfZQqthHoD7fkl2Z_LmG8V00swYRpj/s400/meringue+on+coconut+cream+prebake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I looked in a couple of cookbooks......and the recipe was exactly the same in all 3. Is there really only one recipe for Coconut Cream Pie?</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGHVvJJZKxW-6aq7Evr4H_CB0pjWcEmFqW6NZKFhApOCMKQSkbIzIdf5-ibBV-7yUo6rhJk9uqVrySLuKptI2R_iHQM-GVkf8c9TvToUHr6wHiz_pN4e-6ymLIoDGR2kEZvWgCxeWagdn/s1600/baked+coconut+cream+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGHVvJJZKxW-6aq7Evr4H_CB0pjWcEmFqW6NZKFhApOCMKQSkbIzIdf5-ibBV-7yUo6rhJk9uqVrySLuKptI2R_iHQM-GVkf8c9TvToUHr6wHiz_pN4e-6ymLIoDGR2kEZvWgCxeWagdn/s400/baked+coconut+cream+pie.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This is from Best of Country Pies-Taste of Home-but it was the same in a church cookbook from Idaho and also community cookbook from, well, I think it was Wisconsin.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTqBGiKiz80L5AIqR6YWDoYcLbm0-M3wUqBQmZDCcc3NZpy-pzul5CW677gI8M-kdLiEDdR6lZxcKBwD4boF1bJDu7PyB62wFa4V8v66-6RgD14MlHTRQ6agfUYCcjoiLkMfFN_Hs7lwe/s1600/slice+of+the+coconut+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTqBGiKiz80L5AIqR6YWDoYcLbm0-M3wUqBQmZDCcc3NZpy-pzul5CW677gI8M-kdLiEDdR6lZxcKBwD4boF1bJDu7PyB62wFa4V8v66-6RgD14MlHTRQ6agfUYCcjoiLkMfFN_Hs7lwe/s400/slice+of+the+coconut+pie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Coconut Cream Meringue Pie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 unbaked pastry shell</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 TBSP sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">5 TBSP flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups whole milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 egg yolks, slightly beaten</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup flaked coconut</div><div style="text-align: center;">TOPPING</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 egg whites</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp cream of tartar</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 TBSP sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup flaked coconut</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of tinfoil. Bake at 450 degrees F. for 8 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool. Lower oven temp to 350 degrees F. In a saucepan, combine sugar, flour and salt. Slowly pour in milk and whisk together. Turn heat on to a medium-high and heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and cook two more minutes while still stirring. Add a small amount of hot milk mixture to beaten egg yolks, then stir yolk mixture into the saucepan containing the milk mixture, stirring while slowly adding. Stir constantly while bringing mixture to a gentle boil. Cook and stir for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and then coconut. Pour into cooled shell.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For meringue, pour egg whites into stand mixer bowl. Add cream of tartar and beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. With mixer still running on medium, add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. Pour over topping and spread over filling, making sure you cover all the filling. Sprinkle with the coconut. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let cool on a wire rack. Store in the fridge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTSq03ai92K6pE1oAk5j1SWaSTO7L2fCVAoTsJOXM1IQYJLfKdHQOeocu4iElAVQJ90gBngrL0EgZAKsBnyvYs_kF4QxXxriE5ZEIIXLI9MAX4i9p9Fsu-BHkMxFoWrEc6DM67Tx9uXEV/s1600/cc+pie%252C+empty+plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTSq03ai92K6pE1oAk5j1SWaSTO7L2fCVAoTsJOXM1IQYJLfKdHQOeocu4iElAVQJ90gBngrL0EgZAKsBnyvYs_kF4QxXxriE5ZEIIXLI9MAX4i9p9Fsu-BHkMxFoWrEc6DM67Tx9uXEV/s400/cc+pie%252C+empty+plate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Dude was a member of the clean plate club-times two!</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-56566618774898607932011-03-20T22:55:00.001-05:002011-03-20T22:55:50.835-05:00Haters need not reply<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm a nice person. Really-I have been told on numerous occasions that I always have something nice to say to someone, a ready smile, and a helping hand.While I know how FAR from perfect I am, I think when I reach the pearly gates they will know I always tried to be a nice person.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KNIdgsJayws-EHUoYiaRXjAhurpMztdVoyNB6s2gSELwPbFvLQc3fVXBlJPYdxLSinN8NUPTNuj0qv8tXBlWFR2yUA6K1MG-7fjId0QZn4N9dF_D3bGbCZVdUl-abwAuxpLNkoR9K549/s1600/1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KNIdgsJayws-EHUoYiaRXjAhurpMztdVoyNB6s2gSELwPbFvLQc3fVXBlJPYdxLSinN8NUPTNuj0qv8tXBlWFR2yUA6K1MG-7fjId0QZn4N9dF_D3bGbCZVdUl-abwAuxpLNkoR9K549/s640/1052.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="color: #073763;">our Ash tree that succumbed to the evil bug</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I received an email a while back regarding my blog. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't full of loving remarks regarding my blog either. Briefly, I am boring, food is bland and not imaginative and pretty much people are looking for more than I had to offer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDK_cZCh7ROH5Vib-ADnuYdf5nRhMQsTRVQBgtUnCkKpJ91uVyc5P4Z9asq61Oqyj9b6jrXMXj3g_wBJOT_drakQnFd9bhKb5J9Lr_81l4sr6DF7_6bUv3YSn7mds5CiBkvCLxa5C1mdw/s1600/1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDK_cZCh7ROH5Vib-ADnuYdf5nRhMQsTRVQBgtUnCkKpJ91uVyc5P4Z9asq61Oqyj9b6jrXMXj3g_wBJOT_drakQnFd9bhKb5J9Lr_81l4sr6DF7_6bUv3YSn7mds5CiBkvCLxa5C1mdw/s400/1053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="color: #073763;">the fire pit is almost visible!!</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I was thinking back to what another blogger I follow posted about people who say they create recipes, etc on their blogs but they truly don't (I'm paraphrasing here). Hmmm, maybe this person has a point. While I have never, ever stated here that I create my recipes, maybe I don't make it clear enough that I make old family favorites from my childhood that I 'created' out of memory, but surely didn't make up Tater Tot hotdish. I get recipes from my MIL. I get recipes from other blogs. I get recipes from cookbooks that I mashup together because of an ingredient I or another family member do not care for, or we may not have it on hand. I have several subscriptions to different cooking magazines that I read cover to cover the day I get them. I get recipes from friends. I get recipes from co-workers. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8elAMSU4SM7uIOQRjiDdvcZ7Eu9ktzktBYLDDT_JesU60qizzndyfe13YB0UEzuQLvBfEtYn5kwr9vDf5FUiHy9gzOPIAqqHqeNPhnhELFM7AxHdNtE5t9LkfjYhS7CL2ZEiqCPix91i/s1600/1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8elAMSU4SM7uIOQRjiDdvcZ7Eu9ktzktBYLDDT_JesU60qizzndyfe13YB0UEzuQLvBfEtYn5kwr9vDf5FUiHy9gzOPIAqqHqeNPhnhELFM7AxHdNtE5t9LkfjYhS7CL2ZEiqCPix91i/s400/1055.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em><span style="color: #073763;">I love how the ice formed around the leaves and in the indents in the stones</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">While I stated that I feel that I am a nice person, I also suffer from being very shy and I always have had a problem with self esteem. I admit I was <strong><em>this</em></strong> close to taking my blog down completely. Not out of spite or hurt feelings, but more from the feeling that if one person was <strike>honest</strike> ballsy enough to email me, maybe others felt the same but never said anything.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CNXpa2MmrkRiisnj_xF4MQ2805usQ9-bbudXsQN3LXivv0KQYBgOemtVPX64MeYosn2azZMwuaceWJ5gv_D0dSHWhN0n2sR-aJz3eBb1_dg_ZyYwkAGnpBxvReYSbmKs8y_SZif3wU4g/s1600/1058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CNXpa2MmrkRiisnj_xF4MQ2805usQ9-bbudXsQN3LXivv0KQYBgOemtVPX64MeYosn2azZMwuaceWJ5gv_D0dSHWhN0n2sR-aJz3eBb1_dg_ZyYwkAGnpBxvReYSbmKs8y_SZif3wU4g/s400/1058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #073763;">my strawberry leaves never died off this fall-I don't know what that mean for this spring</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">After several weeks of re-reading my posts to make sure that I had given credit to others, or said that I combined recipes from various sources, or that it was a family favorite on a battered old recipe card-I realized something. Who cares if this person doesn't like my blog. Like I say to people who complain about music or programs that offend them-<strong><u>TURN THE CHANNEL!</u></strong> If what I offer isn't what you think it should be, there are 1,498,633 other blogs you can look at. Maybe they are professional chefs or actual recipe creators, cookbook authors or just way smarter than me. I. me.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So there it is. I'm just a middle aged wife and Mom. I enjoy my job. I enjoy my kids and hubby. I enjoy my cat (who wouldn't-she is cuter than the dickens). I like to make people feel good with my food. I enjoy watching them eat something and really enjoy it themselves. I enjoy beer, and wine, and apparently last night a <em>little </em>too much Cuervo. I love bonfires, camping, fireflies, tulips, fresh cut grass and riding around our yard on our white trash golf cart.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">And I like hanging out here.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #073763;">all the pics were taken today on a walk around the yard. I can't wait to plant the garden, use the fire pit, and barbecue. It has been winter waaaay too long!</span></em></div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-75973932378103572842011-02-26T08:59:00.003-06:002011-02-26T12:02:45.401-06:00It's Easy gettin' Cheesey<div align="center">I love bread. Like, A LOT. I am the first one in the bread basket when it arrives at the table. Bread, butter.....a match made in heaven.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I get email updates from Kraft, Betty Crocker and Pillsbury and I click and look and will say "Hmm, that might be good" or "my family would bolt from the table if I ever served that". One day I got the email and it was a round Sourdough loaf that was cut, drizzled with butter, stuffed with cheese and then baked.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I'm really not a Sourdough fan. Please do not send the hate mail (like the ones I received when I admitted to not liking ice cream, strawberries or any pie other than pecan and chocolate). I know lots of people enjoy the taste of Sourdough, but not in this house. I kept looking for a round loaf I could use and finally found this in the bakery section of our local grocery store.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7s32Pso0rz_XS9lCrZhIwy8y7k756uuuaLLWWtyY85SY6SlZOPlsp0zzBlmB71JAsh_d-aLDsbWZViPzkznREg1r1EYWtijA7MXdy_I75oAm6oPCY5PGXO_RDNasqTVwvrv_376nggs3/s1600/bread+wrapper.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578014358653434434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7s32Pso0rz_XS9lCrZhIwy8y7k756uuuaLLWWtyY85SY6SlZOPlsp0zzBlmB71JAsh_d-aLDsbWZViPzkznREg1r1EYWtijA7MXdy_I75oAm6oPCY5PGXO_RDNasqTVwvrv_376nggs3/s400/bread+wrapper.jpg" /></a> <em><span style="color:#663366;">mmmmmm, bread</span></em></div><p><em><span style="color:#663366;"></span></em></p><p><em><span style="color:#663366;"></span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#000000;">The recipe, if you can even call it that, is pretty much 3 ingredients-bread, butter and cheese. I, however, wanted to bump up the flavor, so I added a fourth element. Garlic powder. I mean, c'mon-who doesn't like garlic bread?</span></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4ANpr3OneGQRZ2_39i6nx4WfqgwcXUT6G-4R-2Z_MOrZ99-ppTKLgnAhnWffXT0hvjZ5UohNozHAnOBn50vA37aBzjjtc7fvaXDN45Gd0mpearHuHpCUyi2xojtSD0TbhDeyLCVEK5OM/s1600/round+loaf+sliced.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578014354653045378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4ANpr3OneGQRZ2_39i6nx4WfqgwcXUT6G-4R-2Z_MOrZ99-ppTKLgnAhnWffXT0hvjZ5UohNozHAnOBn50vA37aBzjjtc7fvaXDN45Gd0mpearHuHpCUyi2xojtSD0TbhDeyLCVEK5OM/s400/round+loaf+sliced.jpg" /></a><br />Cheesey Party Loaf</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;">(adapted from on-line recipe**)</span></em></div><p align="center"><span style="color:#000000;">1 loaf round bread</span></p><p align="center">1/2 stick butter, melted</p><p align="center">1/2 tsp. garlic powder</p><p align="center">1 cup shredded cheese</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Slice across the loaf in 1-inch increments, not cutting through the bottom of the bread. Turn the loaf 90 degrees and cut across the loaf again in 1-inch increments. The bread will have 1-inch 'fingers' now. Fan the bread a little to open it up. Stir the garlic powder into melted butter. Pour the melted butter down the rows of the cut bread, making sure to cover horizontal and vertical rows. Take pinchfuls of the shredded cheese and stuff down each row, again making sure to go across all rows, tucking the cheese down into the crevices. </p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Wrap the loaf in heavy duty tin foil, or a double layer of regular tin foil. Place wrapped loaf on your oven rack that is placed in the middle of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is all melty and gooey. </p><p align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG04tHFaFnr5Gff0sWpmVBcqSrrEVEZ9yLISDT89hH9DZFiSb7RdPDAyzlCsIqcNiu4RQKnpH_g1T7EP4-IHk_KM1Bz7_tPQshqavSm5Yw3SC0qPA5jjJ97aTxnu-j9I02l2qeQUtZsYYf/s1600/round+loaf+with+cheese+melted.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578014351527371970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG04tHFaFnr5Gff0sWpmVBcqSrrEVEZ9yLISDT89hH9DZFiSb7RdPDAyzlCsIqcNiu4RQKnpH_g1T7EP4-IHk_KM1Bz7_tPQshqavSm5Yw3SC0qPA5jjJ97aTxnu-j9I02l2qeQUtZsYYf/s400/round+loaf+with+cheese+melted.jpg" /></a> The second time I made this, I melted a little extra butter and just sprinkled a little more garlic powder in then brushed it over the top of the loaf.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It is so simple but oh so good. My family devoured it at our family Christmas a couple of weeks ago. You just break off a hunk and go. I also made it last weekend for our Girl's Night and brought the half loaf home and we re-warmed it to go with our leftover Prime Rib.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Your tummy-and your family-will thank you.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0yuiDGUbn5wMHBnvZYQSCsRr_sSL6B4U0pjf1R8Y6AamXOtD_EgB7JM2KcY53FDap_rrqy8Bx1tZTH6D-A_G5lcopXcvtdwuNAqB4QlKzu7MAvtifLPYzo85Jf_LmyYLgslDBF545P4C/s1600/Ally+newborn.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578014344211192594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0yuiDGUbn5wMHBnvZYQSCsRr_sSL6B4U0pjf1R8Y6AamXOtD_EgB7JM2KcY53FDap_rrqy8Bx1tZTH6D-A_G5lcopXcvtdwuNAqB4QlKzu7MAvtifLPYzo85Jf_LmyYLgslDBF545P4C/s400/Ally+newborn.jpg" /></a> On to other business.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Twenty years ago at about 5:25 AM, we were blessed with our first daughter Ally. Happy Birthday Baby! I love you even more now than I did when they placed you in my arms all those years ago. I'm sad that I don't get to make you a special dinner or a cake, but I know you have fun plans tonight with your high school BFF and your sister who are driving up North as we speak. Be good, be careful, have fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#993399;">** I checked all of my on-line recipe e-mail sites and can't find the original recipe, so I'm not sure who gets proper credit.</span></em> <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">UPDATE: it is from Taste of Home, just got an update and checked their site :)</span></em></div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-26301476946666190632011-02-20T20:43:00.006-06:002011-02-20T22:41:01.734-06:00Raise your hand if you are sick of winter...Or, how delish are these leftovers?<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DAf99eU9zYIBGh2vaB12BFVlSE0Rr5iXFByn6B9suElZkySTlSo3o3IYzL9SdMmDm5lCcdOxaO-gcKDqr-oscsGbl9qPXWb0IJ1jV14eYCzWIuRH6NayjKO4RqKH4ctPU5_ePPG59bFw/s1600/Feb+20%252C+2011+storm.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 435px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575968728909655122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DAf99eU9zYIBGh2vaB12BFVlSE0Rr5iXFByn6B9suElZkySTlSo3o3IYzL9SdMmDm5lCcdOxaO-gcKDqr-oscsGbl9qPXWb0IJ1jV14eYCzWIuRH6NayjKO4RqKH4ctPU5_ePPG59bFw/s400/Feb+20%252C+2011+storm.jpg" /></a></p><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">photo by Amanda Glaus from MN</span></em><br /><p><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#330033;">This is what the weather looks like where I live right now, and this is good compared to what it was like down in the country where we live. It was Girls Night tonight, but got pushed to Girls Afternoon due to the impending weather. I get together with my friends C and M, whom I used to work with at the Bank. We get together not as often as we would like, but usually every other month or so. We all make food then sit and eat said food and talk about what is new in each of our lives. Today, our food was awesome like always! C made turkey meatballs with a glaze of Cocktail sauce and grape jelly and some mustard and her famous guac, M brought veggies and dip and a pan of chocolate chip cookie bars and I made popcorn salad and made a loaf of cheesy bread (which I will share this upcoming week). I also brought a bottle of Rose Regale for them to try-it was a 10 on everyones list.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4Kk4DNqW3b8AqFUcUlWWZZahyphenhyphen_ucFpdV2LQf350UrMTO1ycwvFmDtkmXeOWc8l_n-jI5xVXu1pGnXuMD_XzTJKOGrc2l38KT9Lle36tBrHnHe2WfwpBMSCVD7odAccpotvGLBWzT3etv/s1600/plate+of+food+at+Caseys+house.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 501px; HEIGHT: 429px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575968718839372450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4Kk4DNqW3b8AqFUcUlWWZZahyphenhyphen_ucFpdV2LQf350UrMTO1ycwvFmDtkmXeOWc8l_n-jI5xVXu1pGnXuMD_XzTJKOGrc2l38KT9Lle36tBrHnHe2WfwpBMSCVD7odAccpotvGLBWzT3etv/s400/plate+of+food+at+Caseys+house.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">My plate of food this afternoon</span></em></div><p><em><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#330033;">Last night Dude and I were going to have date night and decided to ask Drama Queen to come since we were going out for Prime Rib-and she hadn't had any for a long, long time. We went to Wiederholt's in Miesville, MN. It is an old fashioned supper club that has been owned by the same family for maybe 60 years. It is old school. Dark paneling, red curtains and carpeting, old fashioned chandeliers with the orange bulbs. They serve you a tray of crudities with dip and ice sprinkled over the veggies to keep cold, an assortment of crackers and fresh buns, a stick of REAL butter, salads and your main course. It is always busy on the weekends, so a nice man offered DQ and me his chairs and we all enjoyed a cocktail while we waited-DQ had a Shirley Temple only (she was our sober cab-I must say it is quite handy!) We all ordered the Prime Rib-Dude and I had the 24 ounce cut will Boo had the 16 ounce. We knew we would have enough to bring home and enjoy this evening. I made some baked potatoes, warmed the meat in au jus and reheated the remaining cheesy bread from this afternoon. It was delightful. Just enough for a small supper after watching an awesome Daytona 500. We are not big sports buffs in our house, but we love us some racing! We have a local track only 16 miles from our house, so we like to get to at least one race each year.</span></p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4M3Xxk40N4Y_2nYj7xzPXKMS6O3uOJWmzmvqMnL228V-fDolQnGuwXOyUxEztJzuG4ewW94QQqR10CkjnkS1ieCWygbkCdc07CjYpwQ93G_Jm8lhHpCZR_ifoQ35sNFLwoX-X4rMJhMT8/s1600/prime+rib+leftovers.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 497px; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575968725863363778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4M3Xxk40N4Y_2nYj7xzPXKMS6O3uOJWmzmvqMnL228V-fDolQnGuwXOyUxEztJzuG4ewW94QQqR10CkjnkS1ieCWygbkCdc07CjYpwQ93G_Jm8lhHpCZR_ifoQ35sNFLwoX-X4rMJhMT8/s400/prime+rib+leftovers.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="color:#330033;">So, while the weather is awful (I don't even want to think about us having to drive in this crap-thankfully DQ is off due to the holiday) we had our fair share of wonderful food this weekend. Can't remember the last time we had a dinner bill of $114......darn Cosmos!</span><br /></div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-78732275896776380662011-02-19T11:53:00.002-06:002011-02-19T12:01:01.944-06:00And they didn't even bring a Hostess gift<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSNj9YKbCZFbtgwUE-7gSp56Cho54G3Jmf2vUoGy77cIc8Uc74Dsa5E1SrFdQxFB18Os4uX2OL9x3F69oAxVVZ52JU_J0bOLPL8C1Wth7iU97EZfG-C6benWTr-pTPuMIEFnnpQ-ScDF4/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575460836587539570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSNj9YKbCZFbtgwUE-7gSp56Cho54G3Jmf2vUoGy77cIc8Uc74Dsa5E1SrFdQxFB18Os4uX2OL9x3F69oAxVVZ52JU_J0bOLPL8C1Wth7iU97EZfG-C6benWTr-pTPuMIEFnnpQ-ScDF4/s400/005.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD5KI0nmKACR9t621mW3Le_oCemSLDXsHpv5NzHVj7KPrkYx0cMVHVfFvkRfw0eLdjtZPsDr5fepsbzSsIVp5YenObYldeMPuLR2DmieltXx3KouMJQGVAz80eSkUTmJrHTEFJZEZiKZz/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 359px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575460832284252914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD5KI0nmKACR9t621mW3Le_oCemSLDXsHpv5NzHVj7KPrkYx0cMVHVfFvkRfw0eLdjtZPsDr5fepsbzSsIVp5YenObYldeMPuLR2DmieltXx3KouMJQGVAz80eSkUTmJrHTEFJZEZiKZz/s400/006.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdRm63m7aMTxUO_GIazCEoDRV_B42FAGXJDmDASkF2xTqMjQvXL6MB9cueOHJDOl48hPFX1besxysTqreJo2SZaxzUmeyYn5rind6Eyb9a7UFU1J34O9GBxIAK0O6xCUWNMhsiYjHNSiD/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575460826048522338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdRm63m7aMTxUO_GIazCEoDRV_B42FAGXJDmDASkF2xTqMjQvXL6MB9cueOHJDOl48hPFX1besxysTqreJo2SZaxzUmeyYn5rind6Eyb9a7UFU1J34O9GBxIAK0O6xCUWNMhsiYjHNSiD/s400/010.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br />Some freaking bug has entered my body and refuses to leave. I had to cancel my lunch date with my best friend from high school and feel the need to go back to bed again. So much for plans of cooking this weekend.<br /><br />I do hope to have an appy to share with you, as I am having Girl's Night with my former co-workers tomorrow (if this personal attack on my immune system will allow me). It was so easy-saw it on Kraft or Pillsbury maybe? I made it last weekend for my family Christmas party---and forgot to take a picture, so am making it again for the girls for tomorrow, along with Meg's favorite Popcorn salad.<br /><br />I'm off to drink hot water and honey, gargle with some salt water, and slowly chip away at the layers of skin on my nose.tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-37291331177596335452011-02-16T00:00:00.001-06:002011-02-16T00:00:00.852-06:00Devils Food Heath Bar Cake<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLg2HSNB6wdHmfmY9gt2yTs-NqO_PEblkWphgdKL-hlAMId5MNVPpyNSE7Ps_3u4RzT0opvv7A1ygVjzNTxfBDRTS8h4hk1tA8ph8Fk4Bha4flyuV3Z_T01bmADyCr0rYgmYMRzsIaODt/s1600/cake+collage.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573258855792581170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLg2HSNB6wdHmfmY9gt2yTs-NqO_PEblkWphgdKL-hlAMId5MNVPpyNSE7Ps_3u4RzT0opvv7A1ygVjzNTxfBDRTS8h4hk1tA8ph8Fk4Bha4flyuV3Z_T01bmADyCr0rYgmYMRzsIaODt/s400/cake+collage.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br />While perusing several of the blogs I follow, I found this over at<a href="http://framed-mylifeonepictureatatime.blogspot.com/2010/12/devils-food-butterfinger-cake.html"> Framed</a>. I did change it up a bit as I'm not a big fan of Butterfingers. Plus, since Hermit Crab was home with her boyfriend, I totally missed a step and an ingredient, but I actually liked it better this way. The cake the original way was very good, but it totally fell apart. I like my cake a little more...toothy, or at least in one piece on the plate. It is VERY rich, so we cut it in 12 pieces; next time: 16.<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZypCy5YVgwkPAJKC0lWFnq5I_nLI8wPQOyjwBk-siNZYTQwkuHHNQVac4er-ZvCXELnLCn2p_qhwwZ1u7p-HLk4wmr385SbXWqIhQKi3yO-BZIBAwykxmnyb49O8_x9cZAoGSjGome-Bw/s1600/Devils+Food+Heath+cake.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 529px; HEIGHT: 343px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573258851649966002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZypCy5YVgwkPAJKC0lWFnq5I_nLI8wPQOyjwBk-siNZYTQwkuHHNQVac4er-ZvCXELnLCn2p_qhwwZ1u7p-HLk4wmr385SbXWqIhQKi3yO-BZIBAwykxmnyb49O8_x9cZAoGSjGome-Bw/s400/Devils+Food+Heath+cake.jpg" /></a></p>Devils Food Heath Bar Cake<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />1 box Devils food cake mix<br /> --ingredients called for on box<br />1 jar Hot caramel sauce (for ice cream)<br />1 container Cool Whip (or homemade-I didn't have the facility to whip the cream)<br />2 regular size Heath Bars (I had minis, so we crushed up about 12)<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />Bake cake according to directions on package for two 9-inch round pans. Let cool in pan for about 5 minutes. Flip out onto wire rack, then flip again onto a cookie sheet. Poke holes all over the top of the cake. I used a chop stick. Heat up the Hot caramel sauce in the jar in the microwave for about 40 seconds. Pour over the cake and let it seep into holes and pool on top. Let the cakes cool, then place one top of the other and let cool completely. Right before serving, top with Cool Whip (if you have limited options) or fresh whipped cream. Sprinkle with crushed Heath Bars.<br /> <blockquote></blockquote><br />You can check out Kathleen's site for original recipe from where she got the recipe. The original includes mixing the Hot caramel sauce with a can of sweetened condensed milk, then pouring it over the holey cake. It was terrific, but you need to not layer the cake or it will crumble, and it will crumble a little on the plate.tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-58066349905256747222011-02-13T10:04:00.002-06:002011-02-13T10:18:36.481-06:00A weekend full of food and lazing<div align="center"> </div><div align="center">My family celebrated Christmas yesterday. Yes, we are a little late, but there were circumstances that occured that were beyond our control. We were afraid that we were going to have to postpone again, as my Mom ended up having emergency surgery on Wednesday, but here she is below with my niece checking out said niece's new IPhone and all the cool technology that she doesn't understand.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wd3abBzJ3WgnIWIWZLAv3fkIcHLBKuKDoBCYxP3qNW3HUMUdlqDm-1FFtaLexrRvDlxno_wcMyCREGB5CS-LfKS2ClEB3ZYtl0T_PSAjn4chfkM5UJ3vINvpvPd8g-1SZ7PXOesNcNwZ/s1600/party+2+collage.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573206515626932658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wd3abBzJ3WgnIWIWZLAv3fkIcHLBKuKDoBCYxP3qNW3HUMUdlqDm-1FFtaLexrRvDlxno_wcMyCREGB5CS-LfKS2ClEB3ZYtl0T_PSAjn4chfkM5UJ3vINvpvPd8g-1SZ7PXOesNcNwZ/s400/party+2+collage.jpg" /></a><br />The big surprise was that Hermit Crab and her boyfriend came home for the weekend and we didn't tell anyone so we could surprise the family. It sure was fun to watch every one's faces as they walked into my sister's house and saw them on the couch!</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ52pzX2SYvkeQA7HX_k90FK5_F2mbfCz1d3q9GMQAR-bYnyV9DoWSja3DT28tPk4aLBihUK7Q-YyQSFtwq3DUAJxD4NV2tv3qno6F5YC_gFA9jxPEXznTA63fhNmdej1rxPnM-gOwf7wM/s1600/party+1+collage.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 171px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573206509713830754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ52pzX2SYvkeQA7HX_k90FK5_F2mbfCz1d3q9GMQAR-bYnyV9DoWSja3DT28tPk4aLBihUK7Q-YyQSFtwq3DUAJxD4NV2tv3qno6F5YC_gFA9jxPEXznTA63fhNmdej1rxPnM-gOwf7wM/s400/party+1+collage.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">Today the morning is all about lazing around...mostly with a Tofu on my lap. I think I may go out and make some waffles for the kids and then nap until it is time for our dinner date with some long time friends. We have both heard excellent reviews about dinner, so I may need to bring the camera with!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb48zVvHnSuwuMygY8QwQGr81og2w9Yhy-8ftT3GzJxC0jSzjSrFe113S5wOd3jLfmTWUz5f3tFVaKomAS1DjQyFbbChgxEaILtfxFaPRiM2GYHDsUp5ErgoDXH97YtW_hCgoP6VhwacAp/s1600/Tofu+2+collage.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573206502301876674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb48zVvHnSuwuMygY8QwQGr81og2w9Yhy-8ftT3GzJxC0jSzjSrFe113S5wOd3jLfmTWUz5f3tFVaKomAS1DjQyFbbChgxEaILtfxFaPRiM2GYHDsUp5ErgoDXH97YtW_hCgoP6VhwacAp/s400/Tofu+2+collage.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaES8ycrYGvnnPgZQ4MbO2Pw1G69CcLfx0jm9IltNHm-E-CbCCA6uK8VKpJffOk0kYhU1Xdf7X7Fl-Qyy2OgIT2kSVnBcYG093Vb19rz2k6nwsaiqrmZYw2Vg6UCsuPo7OivNuJCT37w-/s1600/Tofu+1+collage.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573206496044737874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaES8ycrYGvnnPgZQ4MbO2Pw1G69CcLfx0jm9IltNHm-E-CbCCA6uK8VKpJffOk0kYhU1Xdf7X7Fl-Qyy2OgIT2kSVnBcYG093Vb19rz2k6nwsaiqrmZYw2Vg6UCsuPo7OivNuJCT37w-/s400/Tofu+1+collage.jpg" /></a></p>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-73967168426041150522011-01-29T09:46:00.003-06:002011-01-29T10:20:16.276-06:00Divine Swine<div align="center">Oh Paula Deen, I do love you.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I have made many attempts at pulled pork over the last couple of years. Both of my children and I love pulled pork. Dude will eat it and enjoy, but not with the vim and vigor that the girls and I do. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">There is a huge festival in our town called "Defeat of Jesse James Days" that happens the weekend after Labor Day every year. It brings in tons of visitors and it has really grown over the last 21 years that we have lived here. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">They re-enact the famous bank robbery, there are arts and craft fairs, live entertainment, a midway, the rodeo comes to town, and there is food. Good food and bad food, but the town square shuts down and it become the food court for 4 days. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The Lions have a booth and serve the most delicious pulled pork sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. Seriously, I think they put crack in it or something, because they are huge and I have eaten 2 in one day....along with the awesome grape Hawaiian shaved ice....but that is another story. They serve it two ways: plain or barbecue. I love plain the best. The flavor just shines. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">While at the grocery store last weekend, they had a combo pack of loin pork on sale. It was $1.49 a pound and it had 6 pork chops, 6 Country style ribs and a roast in it. I so should have bought at least two. My cousin was on Facebook when I said I was cooking up a storm last weekend and he said his wife had pork roast going to make shredded pork and they were using his "favorite Southern Belle's" recipe. He has a thing for Paula Deen. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I looked up the recipe and hers cooks in the oven low and slow for around 4 hours. Because of my work schedule now, I would need to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to get it done or wait for the weekend. I didn't want to freeze the roast and thaw it and do it the next weekend, so I modified the recipe and used my slow cooker.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GnX3orfD_uwLrk2ccTvKg_tTb-gJ3GcyDy9NvMn52xf6ctASGsHGBg7UNYPhsKkJx12z-R_hz8kEKcK9Bp3E3VzJak43dCDMU1Z7vM95qmzJhJVFK3bTxqYcQm8VPmgdi2NJdpsEDgtl/s1600/shredded+pork+sandwich.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567635663133208114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GnX3orfD_uwLrk2ccTvKg_tTb-gJ3GcyDy9NvMn52xf6ctASGsHGBg7UNYPhsKkJx12z-R_hz8kEKcK9Bp3E3VzJak43dCDMU1Z7vM95qmzJhJVFK3bTxqYcQm8VPmgdi2NJdpsEDgtl/s400/shredded+pork+sandwich.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">Here is my adapted version. Paula's can be found here: <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/bbq-pork-sandwich-recipe/index.html">http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/bbq-pork-sandwich-recipe/index.html</a></div><div align="center">(yes, I STILL haven't figure out the link thing so it just shows a word and takes you to it-sorry) <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Paula's Modified Pulled Pork Sandwiches</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">2 TBSP salt</div><div align="center">2 TBSP black pepper</div><div align="center">2 TBSP brown sugar</div><div align="center">2 TBSP paprika</div><div align="center">1/2 TBSP chipotle powder</div><div align="center">4-pound pork loin roast (with nice fat layer on top)</div><div align="center">1/2 cup apple juice</div><div align="center">1/4 cup apple cider vinegar</div><div align="center">1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce</div><div align="center">1 tsp liquid smoke</div><div align="center">1 tsp garlic powder</div><div align="center">BBQ sauce</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Combine in a small bowl the salt, pepper, brown sugar, paprika and chipotle powder. Pat the roast with paper towels so it is dry. Press the rub mixture into the roast and place in a plastic zip-top bag and put in fridge for at least two hours (I did mine for about 4). After marinading, place the roast in a slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients except the BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 9 to 10 hours (I started it when I went to bed). When time is up, remove the meat from the slow cooker. Set aside to cool, then shred. While the meat is cooling, strain the juice from the slow cooker and pour back in. Stir in shredded meat, and squirt about 2 to 3 tablespoons of BBQ sauce in; stir and cover and cook for one more hour. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Serve on hamburger buns, topped with coleslaw (we didn't) and extra BBQ sauce. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">This made about 8 sandwiches. Um, I ate 5 over 3 days....just sayin'</div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-64278383072066660972011-01-23T13:39:00.003-06:002011-01-23T14:04:15.980-06:00Butter is Busy<div align="center">It is a flurry of business here today in the Butter kitchen. My poor family has been STARVING since I took this new job (no, they shouldn't be, but l-a-z-y). "There is nothing to eat" is the mantra of everyone in this place. I have been guilty of that too, but normally at midnight when I want something gooey and chocolate....</div><div align="center"><blockquote><p>I have been reading books, websites and blogs trying to figure out a way to make dinner when the three of us all eat at different times.....and it hasn't been easy. I have done some batch cooking-making double the lasagne or frying up several pounds of ground beef or poaching a lot of chicken to shred and freeze. I am now trying to knock out several meals to have in the freezer, in portion-sized amounts, so we can all eat good food and a healthier option than say, chips and salsa. Oh yeah, that has happened here many times lately.</p><blockquote><p>I am not up for a full on Once a Month Cooking. I just don't have the attention span to do it. Today I worked on 7 things, but it yielded many servings. I even had DQ in there with me chopping vegetables and sausage, cleaning up dishes and re-organizing some cupboards. She even took it upon herself yesterday when we got home from the supermarket to wash out all the crisper drawers and clean out the old, moldy things we found in there. I was quite impressed with her.</p><blockquote>While cooking up a chicken dish, I had two extra chicken breasts left over. She suggested making a burrito type dish that she has had at her friend M's house, who is Latino and will also be her roommate when they go off to school this summer.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_YLgw0qG0nTADnRIQ4aqC5KGjyJj9fblwEetUKee_qgy0L8XChI4i0FlUR0mD33G6NeasvjnM1u7rs5fkVgQqRWBM9SL1Ct2y4YoKinWj77jOCxrTpU0QASB3xwlX4QWJxUk0c6avRkK/s1600/chicken+and+rice+burrito.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565468768315630626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_YLgw0qG0nTADnRIQ4aqC5KGjyJj9fblwEetUKee_qgy0L8XChI4i0FlUR0mD33G6NeasvjnM1u7rs5fkVgQqRWBM9SL1Ct2y4YoKinWj77jOCxrTpU0QASB3xwlX4QWJxUk0c6avRkK/s400/chicken+and+rice+burrito.jpg" /></a><br />Boog's Burritos</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">2 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts</div><div align="center">2 cups chicken stock or broth</div><div align="center">1/2 tsp taco seasoning</div><div align="center">1 can cream of chicken soup</div><div align="center">1/2 an envelope fajita seasoning</div><div align="center">1 tsp taco seasoning</div><div align="center">chopped pepper slices, green and orange</div><div align="center">tortillas</div><div align="center">rice</div><div align="center">shredded cheese</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Poach the two breasts in the two cups of chicken stock and 1/2 tsp of taco seasoning. I added about 1/3 cup water to make sure the chicken was covered by liquid. I poached over low heat (little bubbles, not a rolling boil) for about 2o minutes, until internal temp was 175 degrees. Remove chicken to a plate and cover with some foil to rest and cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, remove skin and bones and shred chicken with your fingers, into bite sized pieces and place in a saucepan. Sprinkle with the fajita and taco seasoning. Pour soup over meat, add about 1/4 cup of water to loosen it up. Simmer over low heat until heated through. While the chicken mixture is heating, put instant rice on to cook (or if you have left over in the fridge, heat up). When rice is done, fluff with fork. Heat the tortillas up in microwave for 30 seconds to make pliable. Top with some rice, the meat mixture and cheese. Roll up burrito style and enjoy. Boog only likes a little cheese on hers, so I didn't get a photo with the cheese on. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Below are some of the other dishes I worked on today: carnitas style pork loin, peppers used for several dishes, sausage for his gumbo and a slow-cooked chicken and veggie dish. Tonight I am tackling a shredded pork dish, some chops and making a large batch of meatballs. </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JDc0X83Oyovm1YziIkHUuybWlpr06cjzOtJrEl8XRCcelQ1lrrbDlYtYnhjDlBiDPAK66mggquOGujC8Ndzp8vNi9piVCCnZHA-b8cHk3KbvnX0u75K0H0daJ-O6EQF5RQeTOQ9-v5IJ/s1600/batch+cooking+collage.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565468760058027346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JDc0X83Oyovm1YziIkHUuybWlpr06cjzOtJrEl8XRCcelQ1lrrbDlYtYnhjDlBiDPAK66mggquOGujC8Ndzp8vNi9piVCCnZHA-b8cHk3KbvnX0u75K0H0daJ-O6EQF5RQeTOQ9-v5IJ/s400/batch+cooking+collage.jpg" /></a></p><div align="center">If I hear one more person utter 'there is nothing to eat' I won't be responsible for my actions.<br /><br /></div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6517268686061739056.post-81721373144908833042011-01-17T10:06:00.004-06:002011-01-17T10:25:12.765-06:00Sauced<div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdawiwGue7KESEaswksC34FTusGq6AP2wRoRCRW7k92y6iQHB4Wyl8kXaAXi99hD8Rp-y3Fwc4wgBsgvd1fJdMR_0j4NFoLh5N8B9oT914v6A8JTbT8_7MvNF9HHI3Evwt7WbLLZC9Tug/s1600/Raw+meatloaf+minis.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 338px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563187687731567810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdawiwGue7KESEaswksC34FTusGq6AP2wRoRCRW7k92y6iQHB4Wyl8kXaAXi99hD8Rp-y3Fwc4wgBsgvd1fJdMR_0j4NFoLh5N8B9oT914v6A8JTbT8_7MvNF9HHI3Evwt7WbLLZC9Tug/s400/Raw+meatloaf+minis.jpg" /></a><br />What exactly did you think you were going to find when you saw the title of my post? Sorry, no fun stories of a drunken weekend in Wisconsin with my family-our family gathering was postponed due to possible inclement weather. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I stayed home all weekend and did all of the laundry, washed many dishes and never got out of my PJ's until I went to a movie on Sunday with a friend. If you get the chance, go see "The Fighter". It was a wonderful movie, and let's face it-seeing Mark Wahlberg without a shirt in many of the scenes is just icing on the cake...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The only way to get Drama Queen to eat meatloaf is to make it in mini form and put a ketchup sauce on top. Having only learned this about a month ago, I put it on the menu for this weekend. Dude had expressed early in our marriage about no sauce on his meatloaf. I grew up with sauce so it took me many attempts to make a loaf that was moist and tasty. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Then we go to his parents and she served mini loaves....with sauce! I nearly threw mine at him.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWl45LrEmUYiUSHuEfqke1xnz-ibgZZp6p2hXJuWdvG3HLiM8qSkj8Yoe12Q99YKNiYNW9XLg2SqwAQiByci0CyApAPs0HQq27-OY5T7tGq5yJ03RGFzEBzxHmJ3aZPT7G1wbE2Sh6M0k/s1600/plated+mini+meatloaf.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 338px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563187681786340322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWl45LrEmUYiUSHuEfqke1xnz-ibgZZp6p2hXJuWdvG3HLiM8qSkj8Yoe12Q99YKNiYNW9XLg2SqwAQiByci0CyApAPs0HQq27-OY5T7tGq5yJ03RGFzEBzxHmJ3aZPT7G1wbE2Sh6M0k/s400/plated+mini+meatloaf.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Sauced Mini Meatloaves</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">2 pounds ground beef</div><div align="center">3 pieces white bread, crusts removed</div><div align="center">1/2 to 2/3 cup milk</div><div align="center">1 egg, beaten</div><div align="center">1 tablespoon Dijon mustard</div><div align="center">1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce</div><div align="center">1 tsp. oregano</div><div align="center">1/2 tsp. thyme</div><div align="center">small pinch of nutmeg</div><div align="center">small pinch of salt</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Sauce:</div><div align="center">3/4 cup ketchup</div><div align="center">2 tablespoons brown sugar</div><div align="center">1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce</div><div align="center">1 tablespoon Dijon mustard</div><div align="center">squeeze of lemon juice (1 wedge)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Soak bread in milk for 10 minutes. Squeeze excess milk out of bread and tear into small pieces and place in medium size bowl. Add rest of meatloaf ingredients. Squish with hands just until bread is absorbed into meat. Shape into 8 small oval loaves. Place on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. While loaves are cooking, mix up sauce mixture. After the 20 minutes, spoon a good amount of sauce on top of each loaf. Bake another 10 minutes. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Serve with your favorite side dish. I usually make mashed potatoes or baked potatoes like his Mom.</div><div align="center"></div>tamilynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11626085014933720695noreply@blogger.com6