A while back now, I had broke down and made my version of home made pizza again. The only challenge to doing so, is that you can't just spur of the moment decide to have some. It takes me over two hours to make them. You have to make the dough, and let it rise for an hour, and then roll it out, and put the toppings on them (you know I can not possibly only make one for around here! Usually it's at least three.) And bake them (and only two fit in the oven at once). So yeah, the time factor is definitely prohibitive to spur of the moment stuff.
I had 'planned' to keep making them on a regular basis. You know how well 'planning' usually works out for me. The back and forth movement of rolling out dough, mixed with the fact that it's round shaped dough, and then spreading the sauce around, a-n-d, ... well, it just has not sounded like a wise thing to do in my current condition! Maybe I'm a wimp, but hey ...
The thing is, that not only did all of 'my guys' make sure they were home the night I made home made pizza, Brent's girlfriend Kayla was here as well. And Kayla was v-e-r-y impressed!! Honest, I think it's good, but not THAT good .... another 'but hey' here ....
So not only have 'the guys' been inquiring if I'm up to making pizza yet, Kayla has to. Honest, ALL of them HAVE been very polite about it. It's just been numerous requests, not left to chance that they think I know they want some ;-]
Then last week Brent made a request - if Kayla and him helped, if I just sat and instructed them, could we make home made pizza some night. Sure :->
So we were going to last weekend, only Kayla got sick :-(
Yesterday I worked on the checkbook, and balanced it, and that is a process which involves looking back and forth from the computer screen to my record book, to ... . I knew it wouldn't be pleasant, but it surpassed that. I went straight back to bed. Without passing go. Without collecting my two hundred dollars.
When I came down around seven p.m., I was met with quite the surprise. A very pleasant, heart warming surprise. Brent and Kayla were in the process of rolling out and putting toppings on pizza doughs. :-D They had got out my recipe, Brent figured he had helped me with it enough times, and they were the ones wanting it .... :-]
This mom's heart was so thrilled!!! And let me say they did a good job of making the pizza too!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!! :-} They even bothered to not put mushrooms on a section for this person, and .... Definitely a wonderful parental moment!!! :-]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
a parental moment here -
Byron had entered into a Chili Cook-off a local bar near their home was hosting. He had taken my recipe, added his own twists to it, tweaked it some more, and wrote down the recipe.
The cook-off was this past weekend. He placed sixth out of eleven :-D !!!!
For his very first time entering such a contest, all of us thought that was a very good placing!!!
In fact, his dad (my husband) said, "At that placing, I wouldn't even consider changing the recipe. I'd just keep entering more contest with it. If after five or six times I didn't move up any, then I'd look into slow gradual changes. But I think sixth out of eleven is really impressive for his first go!"
:-D Good job Byron!!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
{you can go congratulate him yourself at his blog - A Lord, A Lady and a Cute Little Princess }
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The cook-off was this past weekend. He placed sixth out of eleven :-D !!!!
For his very first time entering such a contest, all of us thought that was a very good placing!!!
In fact, his dad (my husband) said, "At that placing, I wouldn't even consider changing the recipe. I'd just keep entering more contest with it. If after five or six times I didn't move up any, then I'd look into slow gradual changes. But I think sixth out of eleven is really impressive for his first go!"
:-D Good job Byron!!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
{you can go congratulate him yourself at his blog - A Lord, A Lady and a Cute Little Princess }
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
:->'s via 'snail mail'
I found the 'snail mail' setting on the kitchen counter when I got back up yesterday afternoon. I started flipping through it in quite an uninterested fashion. I mean, bills, and junk mail, and ... wait! There were three pieces of 'snail mail' from friends for me!!! :-D I get THRILLED when I discover one piece of 'snail mail' that's actually personally for me. Can you imagine how I felt finding three?!!! God knew I needed the smiles and encouragement, and I thanked him profusely!!
The first item I looked at was a 'Save the Date' postcard from Reva (& Michael). I (cough, cough, I mean we, as in Brian and I) actually made the guest list :-D So-o-o cool!!! I already had the date penciled in, due to planning on giving her a certain gift whether I was actually invited or not, the penciling shall now be gone over in INK! Oh yeah!!
The second thing I opened was an envelope with Robin P.'s handwriting on it. For those of you whom might not have know me that long, Robin P. and I became very good friends back in about sixth grade (we think it was). Let's see, since we graduated in '76, yeah, just a 'few' years ago ;-} Over the years our friendship grew, and blossomed, and grew, and ... well, she has never moved down from being near the very very top of my "thankful for" lists!!!
The 'snail mail' from her was an encouragement card. Actually, it was a blank on the inside note card, that she had hand written me a note on. The outside of the card was a picture of a basket (o;-]) over flowing with freshly clipped (evidenced by the clipping shears laying next to the basket) purple lilacs (one of both of ours favorite flowers).
The card read "... to my best "ditsy" friend, Oh wait, you're my best "dizzy" friend, I'm the ditsy one. :-} Sorry. I had to get in the jokes, just once. ..." ;-p
We are getting together soon for some "therapy" time. So-o looking forward to it!! !! !! Of course, this time we might just be sitting still, what with my "head problems" (;-p) and her current hip problems. But we're pretty sure that if we really try, you know, give it our best efforts, we'll be able to come up with enough things to talk about ... o;-p
The third piece of 'snail mail' was a letter from Jessica (D.) P. (Jim & Julie's daughter). She had been cleaning out her desk and found an old letter from me and sat down very apologetically, to write me back. No need to apologize. I haven't written her in ever so long either. Sure do wish they had internet!
She included a picture of her little family. The kids are 5 and 4 years old now ... my, my, my ...I can still picture her as a babe in arms.
Her husband has been out of work for ten months now. He has picked up odd jobs here and there ... but the economy here in MI is just in such a hurting state right now .... May he find work and better be able to support his little family SOON!!
It was so-o good to hear from her!
Then I got on line to type this up and found an email from "my" Kate :-D
Oh Lord, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!!!!! You have blessed me with true friends! I AM blessed!! !! !!
[I had also found an encouraging email from my dad when I had gotten on line earlier in the day :->]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The first item I looked at was a 'Save the Date' postcard from Reva (& Michael). I (cough, cough, I mean we, as in Brian and I) actually made the guest list :-D So-o-o cool!!! I already had the date penciled in, due to planning on giving her a certain gift whether I was actually invited or not, the penciling shall now be gone over in INK! Oh yeah!!
The second thing I opened was an envelope with Robin P.'s handwriting on it. For those of you whom might not have know me that long, Robin P. and I became very good friends back in about sixth grade (we think it was). Let's see, since we graduated in '76, yeah, just a 'few' years ago ;-} Over the years our friendship grew, and blossomed, and grew, and ... well, she has never moved down from being near the very very top of my "thankful for" lists!!!
The 'snail mail' from her was an encouragement card. Actually, it was a blank on the inside note card, that she had hand written me a note on. The outside of the card was a picture of a basket (o;-]) over flowing with freshly clipped (evidenced by the clipping shears laying next to the basket) purple lilacs (one of both of ours favorite flowers).
The card read "... to my best "ditsy" friend, Oh wait, you're my best "dizzy" friend, I'm the ditsy one. :-} Sorry. I had to get in the jokes, just once. ..." ;-p
We are getting together soon for some "therapy" time. So-o looking forward to it!! !! !! Of course, this time we might just be sitting still, what with my "head problems" (;-p) and her current hip problems. But we're pretty sure that if we really try, you know, give it our best efforts, we'll be able to come up with enough things to talk about ... o;-p
The third piece of 'snail mail' was a letter from Jessica (D.) P. (Jim & Julie's daughter). She had been cleaning out her desk and found an old letter from me and sat down very apologetically, to write me back. No need to apologize. I haven't written her in ever so long either. Sure do wish they had internet!
She included a picture of her little family. The kids are 5 and 4 years old now ... my, my, my ...I can still picture her as a babe in arms.
Her husband has been out of work for ten months now. He has picked up odd jobs here and there ... but the economy here in MI is just in such a hurting state right now .... May he find work and better be able to support his little family SOON!!
It was so-o good to hear from her!
Then I got on line to type this up and found an email from "my" Kate :-D
Oh Lord, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!!!!! You have blessed me with true friends! I AM blessed!! !! !!
[I had also found an encouraging email from my dad when I had gotten on line earlier in the day :->]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
the world moves in circles
Okay, so, I have always known that the world moves in circles. Okay, wait. I do not claim to have been born with such knowledge, therefore I should change that statement. Um mmm, While I have forgotten lots of things I learned in school (such as where in the heck some of the countries these Olympic athletics are from, are actually located) I have never had problems remembering that in actuality, it's not the sun and moon moving in the sky, it's actually that the world that we live on is rotating and thus we are the ones 'moving'.
Another way to put that, is that the earth continually rotates in a circle. I KNOW that. And at it's basis, I've always KNOWN the rest of this too, I'm just not sure it's ever all dawned on me / been made ever so apparent to me all at the same time / to such a high degree as this, before.
Our earth rotates in a circle.
Most all of the Olympics winter activities either involve going in varying sizes of circles, or weaving of some sort.
[Brian and I had been attempting to watch them the other evening. He REALLY enjoys them. I really don't mind them. But man oh man, I was getting ever so dizzy while sitting perfectly still, all by myself, on a couch. Yikes!!! It must have showed, because after looking long and hard at me at one point, Brian switched channels. "Oh, this is a good movie, and they say it's absolutely amazing with surround sound!" The beginning music was very pretty!! But it turned out the movie was about NASCAR racing. Yup, driving in circles. Geesh! He changed the channel yet again. I felt so bad!!!]
Dogs usually turn in circles at least a couple of times before laying down.
[Usually Boo only does so one or two times. Lately of course, it can take him six or seven times. And yes, I close my eyes, but if he has chosen to lay beside me on the couch, I can FEEL his going in circles!! :-/ And he hasn't a clue why what he's doing is suddenly bothering me so!!]
In order to load the dishwasher, you turn back and forth, from the sink to the dishwasher, and back to the sink, and back ....
[and I'm feeling off kilter just thinking about the process ;-/ ]
To hand wash dishes, you turn slightly to get the next thing from the dirty side of the sink, you wash the item [which usually involves moving your wash cloth in circles inside the serving bowls or your pans], turn a bit to rinse the item in your other sink, turn even more to put the item on the drying towel, and then turn way the opposite direction to get something else off of the dirty side [while sometimes hesitating a moment and clinging to the sink reassuring your brain that you are not spinning].
The toilet didn't flush right, so you flush it again and watch to make sure it doesn't decide to rise too high [HELP!!!!!!!].
Getting things out of the fridge, and the pantry, and putting everything on the counter so you can start prepping a meal, involves oh my goodness so many 'circles' and weaving!
To get from your table at the restaurant, where your husband treated you to a nice steak dinner for Valentines, involves weaving through crowds of people, and sometimes brushing shoulders with them (didn't previously realize that could cause such a tilt a world effect), and walking a straight path is no where near possible, and people make the strangest faces at you, and whisper the rudest little comments when you suddenly just stop because you are absolutely sure your going to take them all out due to how hard your spinning.
o/~ The wheels on the bus go round and round o/~ thus it's best not to watch traffic while your going down the road. [No, I have not driven in weeks!!]
Washing your hair and taking showers is usually pretty much a stand basically still process. But it also involves scrubbing your head (Yowsa!!!), and washing your body [who doesn't wash their main torso by going in circles?!!!], and closing your eyes while standing under water which is cascading down your body .... [No wonder they so often include shower scenes in horror movies ;-p]
And I've listed enough examples that now I am not only feeling very off kilter, but also getting nausea, so I'm going to end this posting.
Brian says that a way he's been explaining it, which people seem to get the most, is that your brain is like a battery. Usually, both of your inner ears feed the battery 100 % voltage and thus equal balance is maintained. However, as last weeks testing showed (I did not actually post all of that information, just sent it out to some in an email. If you did not recieve the information, but would like to, just ask ;-]) my right ears inner ear is only producing about 40% voltage. Thus the brain is getting 100 % voltage from one side and 40 % from the other, so it tries to compensate. But then my eyes send their own information that I am not actually spinning, or tilting, and the brain isn't sure what it should do. [At least that's how I think he put it. If it doesn't make sense, let me know, and I'll have him type it up and post it.]
I'm headed back up to bed, to lay on my right side, and hopefully settle everything down again.
No, I have not heard back from my own doctors office yet. Could be that they are waiting for my actual doctor to get back in tomarrow. He has been on a missions trip to Africa. One of the other doctors in the office granted me the refills on the perscription and referred me to the specialist/clinic. My docor or his office will have to schedule the CAT scan, and perscribe any new medications, etc..
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Another way to put that, is that the earth continually rotates in a circle. I KNOW that. And at it's basis, I've always KNOWN the rest of this too, I'm just not sure it's ever all dawned on me / been made ever so apparent to me all at the same time / to such a high degree as this, before.
Our earth rotates in a circle.
Most all of the Olympics winter activities either involve going in varying sizes of circles, or weaving of some sort.
[Brian and I had been attempting to watch them the other evening. He REALLY enjoys them. I really don't mind them. But man oh man, I was getting ever so dizzy while sitting perfectly still, all by myself, on a couch. Yikes!!! It must have showed, because after looking long and hard at me at one point, Brian switched channels. "Oh, this is a good movie, and they say it's absolutely amazing with surround sound!" The beginning music was very pretty!! But it turned out the movie was about NASCAR racing. Yup, driving in circles. Geesh! He changed the channel yet again. I felt so bad!!!]
Dogs usually turn in circles at least a couple of times before laying down.
[Usually Boo only does so one or two times. Lately of course, it can take him six or seven times. And yes, I close my eyes, but if he has chosen to lay beside me on the couch, I can FEEL his going in circles!! :-/ And he hasn't a clue why what he's doing is suddenly bothering me so!!]
In order to load the dishwasher, you turn back and forth, from the sink to the dishwasher, and back to the sink, and back ....
[and I'm feeling off kilter just thinking about the process ;-/ ]
To hand wash dishes, you turn slightly to get the next thing from the dirty side of the sink, you wash the item [which usually involves moving your wash cloth in circles inside the serving bowls or your pans], turn a bit to rinse the item in your other sink, turn even more to put the item on the drying towel, and then turn way the opposite direction to get something else off of the dirty side [while sometimes hesitating a moment and clinging to the sink reassuring your brain that you are not spinning].
The toilet didn't flush right, so you flush it again and watch to make sure it doesn't decide to rise too high [HELP!!!!!!!].
Getting things out of the fridge, and the pantry, and putting everything on the counter so you can start prepping a meal, involves oh my goodness so many 'circles' and weaving!
To get from your table at the restaurant, where your husband treated you to a nice steak dinner for Valentines, involves weaving through crowds of people, and sometimes brushing shoulders with them (didn't previously realize that could cause such a tilt a world effect), and walking a straight path is no where near possible, and people make the strangest faces at you, and whisper the rudest little comments when you suddenly just stop because you are absolutely sure your going to take them all out due to how hard your spinning.
o/~ The wheels on the bus go round and round o/~ thus it's best not to watch traffic while your going down the road. [No, I have not driven in weeks!!]
Washing your hair and taking showers is usually pretty much a stand basically still process. But it also involves scrubbing your head (Yowsa!!!), and washing your body [who doesn't wash their main torso by going in circles?!!!], and closing your eyes while standing under water which is cascading down your body .... [No wonder they so often include shower scenes in horror movies ;-p]
And I've listed enough examples that now I am not only feeling very off kilter, but also getting nausea, so I'm going to end this posting.
Brian says that a way he's been explaining it, which people seem to get the most, is that your brain is like a battery. Usually, both of your inner ears feed the battery 100 % voltage and thus equal balance is maintained. However, as last weeks testing showed (I did not actually post all of that information, just sent it out to some in an email. If you did not recieve the information, but would like to, just ask ;-]) my right ears inner ear is only producing about 40% voltage. Thus the brain is getting 100 % voltage from one side and 40 % from the other, so it tries to compensate. But then my eyes send their own information that I am not actually spinning, or tilting, and the brain isn't sure what it should do. [At least that's how I think he put it. If it doesn't make sense, let me know, and I'll have him type it up and post it.]
I'm headed back up to bed, to lay on my right side, and hopefully settle everything down again.
No, I have not heard back from my own doctors office yet. Could be that they are waiting for my actual doctor to get back in tomarrow. He has been on a missions trip to Africa. One of the other doctors in the office granted me the refills on the perscription and referred me to the specialist/clinic. My docor or his office will have to schedule the CAT scan, and perscribe any new medications, etc..
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Monday, February 8, 2010
adding a gas cutter
I can not honestly remember if I have ever posted this particular cooking tip or not. I know I have mentioned it on various sites, in comments I have left after some of their particular postings ... I 'think' I have actually included the info. in a posting I have done ... but I'm not sure. And seeings how I am currently off of all types of medications in preparation for the testing tomarrow morning, there is no way I am going scanning through old postings to see!!! No way what so ever!! So I'll just post it here and now, and you'll either be reminded of it, or learn it new.
The {very important, ever so helpful, "oh my gosh I wish I knew that when ...") 'tip', has to do with adding a very small, untasteable amount, of a particular product to foods, which usually have gas producing side effects. You know, the non-nice smelling type.
Ginger is a natural gas cutter. Especially ground ginger. And it works best when it has been slowly cooked in undetectable amounts into products.
Overall, I really do not care for ginger. (Okay, so I liked 'Ginger' on Gilligan's Island ... I'm talking about not liking the taste of the cooking type of ginger o;-p). Every once in awhile, I do enjoy a ginger snap cookie. But overall, I don't care for the taste of ginger at all.
Thankfully, you do not have to add enough ground ginger to what your cooking or baking to be able to detect it's taste, in order for it to cut the gas in the product. It only takes a VERY small amount!! And it really works!!
A story example. One year while doing the cooking at camp for Memorial weekend, we had done our usual 'picnic theme' meal. You know, hamburgs on the grill, potato salad, deviled eggs, baked beans, etc.. During the weekend that year, other volunteers were working on various roofing projects. So when the guys came in and saw the baked beans on the buffet, the comments started. And they scraped the pan of them clean. They planned on seeing who could clear the roof first. (totally a guy thing 8-/).
What they did not know, was that I had heard of this secret 'tip' and had put it to use. They came in for dinner that night DEMANDING to know what I had done to the beans and why no matter how hard they tried, they could not produce much gas. They didn't appreciate my much thought out effort on their behalf. Actually, they didn't appreciate the joke being on them and this cook having the upper hand (o;-p). It was great!!!!!!
So, how much ground ginger do you add? Like I said, it only takes a very small amount. To an institutional can of beans for baked beans, I only add about one quarter (1/4) of a teaspoon. If that.
What all can it be added to? I recommend adding it to: Baked Beans, Chili, Meat Burritos, Baked Broccoli or Broccoli soups, Baked Cabbage products, Baked Califlower or Califlower soups, etc..
Let's see ... how to end this ... "May the stench never be with you again". (go ahead and moan, I can take it).
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Mom2my9, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "I am Blissfully Domestic", hosted by Kim (from 'Up North Mommy'), at 'Blissfully Domestic' (your life, your bliss) (http://blissfullydomestic.com/i-am-blissfully-domestic/).
~ "What I Learned this Week", are hosted by Jo-Lynne, at 'Musings of a Housewife' (http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The {very important, ever so helpful, "oh my gosh I wish I knew that when ...") 'tip', has to do with adding a very small, untasteable amount, of a particular product to foods, which usually have gas producing side effects. You know, the non-nice smelling type.
Ginger is a natural gas cutter. Especially ground ginger. And it works best when it has been slowly cooked in undetectable amounts into products.
Overall, I really do not care for ginger. (Okay, so I liked 'Ginger' on Gilligan's Island ... I'm talking about not liking the taste of the cooking type of ginger o;-p). Every once in awhile, I do enjoy a ginger snap cookie. But overall, I don't care for the taste of ginger at all.
Thankfully, you do not have to add enough ground ginger to what your cooking or baking to be able to detect it's taste, in order for it to cut the gas in the product. It only takes a VERY small amount!! And it really works!!
A story example. One year while doing the cooking at camp for Memorial weekend, we had done our usual 'picnic theme' meal. You know, hamburgs on the grill, potato salad, deviled eggs, baked beans, etc.. During the weekend that year, other volunteers were working on various roofing projects. So when the guys came in and saw the baked beans on the buffet, the comments started. And they scraped the pan of them clean. They planned on seeing who could clear the roof first. (totally a guy thing 8-/).
What they did not know, was that I had heard of this secret 'tip' and had put it to use. They came in for dinner that night DEMANDING to know what I had done to the beans and why no matter how hard they tried, they could not produce much gas. They didn't appreciate my much thought out effort on their behalf. Actually, they didn't appreciate the joke being on them and this cook having the upper hand (o;-p). It was great!!!!!!
So, how much ground ginger do you add? Like I said, it only takes a very small amount. To an institutional can of beans for baked beans, I only add about one quarter (1/4) of a teaspoon. If that.
What all can it be added to? I recommend adding it to: Baked Beans, Chili, Meat Burritos, Baked Broccoli or Broccoli soups, Baked Cabbage products, Baked Califlower or Califlower soups, etc..
Let's see ... how to end this ... "May the stench never be with you again". (go ahead and moan, I can take it).
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Mom2my9, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "I am Blissfully Domestic", hosted by Kim (from 'Up North Mommy'), at 'Blissfully Domestic' (your life, your bliss) (http://blissfullydomestic.com/i-am-blissfully-domestic/).
~ "What I Learned this Week", are hosted by Jo-Lynne, at 'Musings of a Housewife' (http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thursday, February 4, 2010
WONDERFUL perception!!!
I just got done reading the latest posting on "my" Kate's xanga blog. What she posted needs shared even more, and since hers is a 'closed' blog, I couldn't just send you to it. So I copied and pasted most of that particular posting and I'm now posting it myself so you can read it too.
"Recently in a large city in France, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea, and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.
Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me:
I want to be a whale.
P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends. With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good grief, look how smart I am!" "
Kate has also written: "Also, for extra credit, check out Operation Beautiful."
Here is what I left in Kate's comment box:
"WOW!!! This is great!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!
Teacher, I did do my extra credit assignment and went to the 'Operation Beautiful' site.
Do I get extra extra credit if I tell you that it inspired me? No, I can not tell you how yet ... that would ruin um mmm 'things' o;-p
And do I get extra extra extra credit for copying your posting and posting it today on my blog {giving you full credit of course} ?
o/~ You (Kate) are so-o-o-o beautiful to me, can't you see?! Your everything I ever hoped for (in a friend) ... o/~ "
And NO, I can not tell the rest of you what idea I got inspired with either .... not yet anyways .... o;-}
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Recently in a large city in France, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea, and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.
Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me:
I want to be a whale.
P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends. With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good grief, look how smart I am!" "
Kate has also written: "Also, for extra credit, check out Operation Beautiful."
Here is what I left in Kate's comment box:
"WOW!!! This is great!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!
Teacher, I did do my extra credit assignment and went to the 'Operation Beautiful' site.
Do I get extra extra credit if I tell you that it inspired me? No, I can not tell you how yet ... that would ruin um mmm 'things' o;-p
And do I get extra extra extra credit for copying your posting and posting it today on my blog {giving you full credit of course} ?
o/~ You (Kate) are so-o-o-o beautiful to me, can't you see?! Your everything I ever hoped for (in a friend) ... o/~ "
And NO, I can not tell the rest of you what idea I got inspired with either .... not yet anyways .... o;-}
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
from Monday -
My doctor's office called on Monday, to let me know that not only had they been able to make me an appointment with the Vertigo clinic, but due to the clinic having just received a cancellation, they were able to make me one for next week Tuesday. :-}
"And by the way, while they do deal with Vertigo, they are actually a "Balance Clinic". You (I) will be seeing several different doctors / specialists whom will all do their own specialty's tests, the end result of which will help them determine if you are well balanced."
Go ahead. I know that most of you are just bursting with some wise comment to make. "If I'm well balanced". ... ... ... ... ... This defense knows better than to even try and present any arguments.
~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~
I had the TV remote sitting on my lap early Monday evening as we were watching TV. (Did you notice that I said I had the remote, and yet 'we' were watching TV. Rare occurrence indeed o;-p) Boo walked up to me, flopped his head down on my lap, effectively turning off the TV. Oh my goodness dog! Chuckle, chuckle.
Brian and Benson were both amused. Boo does not understand how 'mommies' playing with Boo makes her way dizzier. :-{ I feel so bad!
Not an hour later, he managed to turn the TV off again. And that time the remote was in my hand. "D O G!!!"
Brian piped up with, "You thought it was cute when he did it to Brent. You even wrote about it on your blog." grumble, sheesh, sigh, ... Man I hope this all goes away soon (the vertigo that is).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"And by the way, while they do deal with Vertigo, they are actually a "Balance Clinic". You (I) will be seeing several different doctors / specialists whom will all do their own specialty's tests, the end result of which will help them determine if you are well balanced."
Go ahead. I know that most of you are just bursting with some wise comment to make. "If I'm well balanced". ... ... ... ... ... This defense knows better than to even try and present any arguments.
~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~
I had the TV remote sitting on my lap early Monday evening as we were watching TV. (Did you notice that I said I had the remote, and yet 'we' were watching TV. Rare occurrence indeed o;-p) Boo walked up to me, flopped his head down on my lap, effectively turning off the TV. Oh my goodness dog! Chuckle, chuckle.
Brian and Benson were both amused. Boo does not understand how 'mommies' playing with Boo makes her way dizzier. :-{ I feel so bad!
Not an hour later, he managed to turn the TV off again. And that time the remote was in my hand. "D O G!!!"
Brian piped up with, "You thought it was cute when he did it to Brent. You even wrote about it on your blog." grumble, sheesh, sigh, ... Man I hope this all goes away soon (the vertigo that is).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
inspired by Chef Gordon Ramsey
While I am not a big fan of the cooking show "Hell's Kitchen", I do none the less admire Gordon Ramsey's abilities. There are several different reasons I don't care much for that particular show. First off is his excessive swearing. Secondly is all of the stabbing in the back that goes on amongst the contestants and the extreme competitiveness of the whole thing. And, well anyways, you get the concept.
Usually I have enjoyed the episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" that we have watched. Yes, he still swears way to much, or at least usually he does. But he also often grants us glimpses of his other side. The side that cares about people. The side that wants others to succeed as well.
There is one aspect of this show that often just amazes me, and I think I'll insert it right here. It has to do with the extreme filth that Gordon sometimes finds in the kitchens of these establishments. Unbelievable!!! Yes, unbelievable that the restaurant would allow their kitchens to drop to such levels. But even more unbelievable to me, is that they know Gordon Ramsey is coming to their place of business, and yet they don't totally attack and clean it before he gets there. Unbelievable!! I mean, it's not that he's just popping in unannounced. His arrival has been all set up and arranged ahead of time. Now true, they might not know the exact hour of his planned arrival, but they know he's scheduled to come, and yet leave the mess. Unbelievable.
On a couple of different occasions I have seen episodes of another show of his. I can not at all remember the name of it. Sorry. But this particular show usually shows off his nurturing nature to it's fullest. In this show, he does one on one, hands on training with an individual person, usually in their home kitchen. I got inspired for today's posting by one of the episodes from this show.
In the particular episode I am referring to, his mission (as he put it) was to aid a fellow cook in believing in her own abilities. No, the "fellow cook" was not a trained cook or chef. He explained that a "fellow cook" is one who also thourally enjoys cooking and their love of it shows in the quality of the food they prepare. I liked that description! :-}
But the "fellow cook" had had an horrendous experience happen to her. She had hosted a dinner party, and one of the guest had become so sick from the chicken she had served, that the guest had to be hospitalized, for a week!!! Yeah, horrors!!! Nightmares come to life. The unthinkable had taken on proof. Shrudder.
The "fellow cook" had cleaned down her kitchen and refused to cook ever again. In her house, the refrigerator, microwave, and dish washer got used, and the rest of the absolutely beautiful kitchen just sat there. Her spirit had been badly shattered. Gordon Ramsey was there not only to encourage her to enter and really use her kitchen again, but yes, they were also cooking chicken. "When you fall off the horse, the best way to conquer your fear of the horse, is to not only get back on it, but also to ride it."
But before they had started actually cooking, they had gone to the store. Not only to buy the ingredients, but a couple of other "highly important tools of the trade" as well. One was a meat thermometer. Another was a meat temperature schedule, which they then attached to the inside of her spice cupboard after they arrived back at her home. "No more guessing games."
The way they were cooking the chicken in that episode is what inspired me, and thus led to today's posting. He wrapped the chicken breasts, which had been rubbed with spices, in the papers which blocks of butter come in. I had never heard of, nor thought of such an idea. He claimed first, that people usually waste a lot of butter by just taking the blocks out and tossing the papers. I don't fit there, because I always scrape the papers off first o;-p. And his second point was that your not only paying for the butter, but also the wonderful protective covering they come in. I know that your also paying for the paper and it's protection, but did not know that the 'protection' could extend further than just getting the butter into your home (which was his third point).
I h-a-d to try this some time for myself. Had to!!! I figured that instead of scraping the papers off from now I, I would fold them in half, insert them into a large Ziploc baggie, and store them in the bottom of one of the refrigerator drawers. Easy, and wouldn't take up much room.
But then when I was baking up all of those cookies, and using up so many blocks of butter, well, yeah, no need to keep waiting to try the inspiration :-}
All I did was rub the chicken breasts heavily with garlic powder, roll them up in the papers, and bake them.
Next time, I would definitely use less garlic powder, and I would add another spice or two to the rub.
But all of us were amazed at just how moist and tender those chicken breasts turned out!!! Exceptionally so!!! And no, I had not also covered the baking pan, just sprayed it first.
For the record, I buy my BUTTER at GFS. Theirs is priced considerably less than the grocery stores are. Now true, theirs only come in the solid block form, not cut into quarters with each quarter individually wrapped and then boxed up together. But for the price difference, combined with how darn easy it is to use a sharp knife and cut the block into quarters, re-wrap what I don't need at the time, and stick it back in the fridge, paying the higher price just seems absurd.
Please let me know two things: 1 - what spices you would recommend to rub it with next time. And 2 - how yours turns out when you try this methodology ;-}
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Tuesday is Food Day", hosted by Byron, at 'A Lord, A Lady, and a cute little Princess' (http://byroncyndi.blogspot.com/) .
~ "Tasty Tuesday('s)", hosted by Jen, at 'Balancing Beauty and Bedlum's' (http://beautyandbedlam.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Tuesdays at the Table", are hosted by Cole, at 'All The Small Stuff' (http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tightwad Tuesdays with Canada Girl", are hosted by Mary, at 'Raising 4 Godly Men' (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/canadagirl).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Usually I have enjoyed the episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" that we have watched. Yes, he still swears way to much, or at least usually he does. But he also often grants us glimpses of his other side. The side that cares about people. The side that wants others to succeed as well.
There is one aspect of this show that often just amazes me, and I think I'll insert it right here. It has to do with the extreme filth that Gordon sometimes finds in the kitchens of these establishments. Unbelievable!!! Yes, unbelievable that the restaurant would allow their kitchens to drop to such levels. But even more unbelievable to me, is that they know Gordon Ramsey is coming to their place of business, and yet they don't totally attack and clean it before he gets there. Unbelievable!! I mean, it's not that he's just popping in unannounced. His arrival has been all set up and arranged ahead of time. Now true, they might not know the exact hour of his planned arrival, but they know he's scheduled to come, and yet leave the mess. Unbelievable.
On a couple of different occasions I have seen episodes of another show of his. I can not at all remember the name of it. Sorry. But this particular show usually shows off his nurturing nature to it's fullest. In this show, he does one on one, hands on training with an individual person, usually in their home kitchen. I got inspired for today's posting by one of the episodes from this show.
In the particular episode I am referring to, his mission (as he put it) was to aid a fellow cook in believing in her own abilities. No, the "fellow cook" was not a trained cook or chef. He explained that a "fellow cook" is one who also thourally enjoys cooking and their love of it shows in the quality of the food they prepare. I liked that description! :-}
But the "fellow cook" had had an horrendous experience happen to her. She had hosted a dinner party, and one of the guest had become so sick from the chicken she had served, that the guest had to be hospitalized, for a week!!! Yeah, horrors!!! Nightmares come to life. The unthinkable had taken on proof. Shrudder.
The "fellow cook" had cleaned down her kitchen and refused to cook ever again. In her house, the refrigerator, microwave, and dish washer got used, and the rest of the absolutely beautiful kitchen just sat there. Her spirit had been badly shattered. Gordon Ramsey was there not only to encourage her to enter and really use her kitchen again, but yes, they were also cooking chicken. "When you fall off the horse, the best way to conquer your fear of the horse, is to not only get back on it, but also to ride it."
But before they had started actually cooking, they had gone to the store. Not only to buy the ingredients, but a couple of other "highly important tools of the trade" as well. One was a meat thermometer. Another was a meat temperature schedule, which they then attached to the inside of her spice cupboard after they arrived back at her home. "No more guessing games."
The way they were cooking the chicken in that episode is what inspired me, and thus led to today's posting. He wrapped the chicken breasts, which had been rubbed with spices, in the papers which blocks of butter come in. I had never heard of, nor thought of such an idea. He claimed first, that people usually waste a lot of butter by just taking the blocks out and tossing the papers. I don't fit there, because I always scrape the papers off first o;-p. And his second point was that your not only paying for the butter, but also the wonderful protective covering they come in. I know that your also paying for the paper and it's protection, but did not know that the 'protection' could extend further than just getting the butter into your home (which was his third point).
I h-a-d to try this some time for myself. Had to!!! I figured that instead of scraping the papers off from now I, I would fold them in half, insert them into a large Ziploc baggie, and store them in the bottom of one of the refrigerator drawers. Easy, and wouldn't take up much room.
But then when I was baking up all of those cookies, and using up so many blocks of butter, well, yeah, no need to keep waiting to try the inspiration :-}
All I did was rub the chicken breasts heavily with garlic powder, roll them up in the papers, and bake them.
Next time, I would definitely use less garlic powder, and I would add another spice or two to the rub.
But all of us were amazed at just how moist and tender those chicken breasts turned out!!! Exceptionally so!!! And no, I had not also covered the baking pan, just sprayed it first.
For the record, I buy my BUTTER at GFS. Theirs is priced considerably less than the grocery stores are. Now true, theirs only come in the solid block form, not cut into quarters with each quarter individually wrapped and then boxed up together. But for the price difference, combined with how darn easy it is to use a sharp knife and cut the block into quarters, re-wrap what I don't need at the time, and stick it back in the fridge, paying the higher price just seems absurd.
Please let me know two things: 1 - what spices you would recommend to rub it with next time. And 2 - how yours turns out when you try this methodology ;-}
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Tuesday is Food Day", hosted by Byron, at 'A Lord, A Lady, and a cute little Princess' (http://byroncyndi.blogspot.com/) .
~ "Tasty Tuesday('s)", hosted by Jen, at 'Balancing Beauty and Bedlum's' (http://beautyandbedlam.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Tuesdays at the Table", are hosted by Cole, at 'All The Small Stuff' (http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tightwad Tuesdays with Canada Girl", are hosted by Mary, at 'Raising 4 Godly Men' (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/canadagirl).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Monday, February 1, 2010
roaster into a crockpot
What some people just do not seem to get, is that the big sixteen (16) to eighteen (18) quart roasters, do NOT cook your food in the same manner that a crock-pot does. Yes, I know that some people do get the difference, but trust me, many miss it.
What's the difference?
A roaster bakes like a oven. Therefore, it is a dry type of cooking.
A crock-pot is more like a steamer, thus you usually end up with a moister type of cooking.
And the older model slow cookers, where there is a base unit and then your food goes in a metal type of 'crock' which sits on top of it, is more like cooking on a stove burner.
No, those are not technically correct definitions. They are just the easy for me to remember/keep in mind ones. Or in other words, that is how I think of the differences.
I greatly prefer moist food. Whether it be in cookies, or meat, or .. Yup, to me, moist is best!!! Thus I have always liked how cooking BBQ Ribs in a crock-pot, makes them so tender they fall apart when you try to take them out.
Now true, with crock-pots, even though you (of course!) spray the container, and even though it cooks more like a steamer, it's still best to add some liquid when you start, (or make sure what your cooking contains quite a bit of liquid) or you can end up with dried, 'burnt on' messes.
But with roasters, you need to add a l-o-t more liquid, which can change the consistency of the food your making. Not always good.
For years now I have been saying that I wish the companies that make roasters and crock-pots would make a roaster sized crock-pot. And I have looked high and low for one, both in stores and on line. There is something "industrial sized", available through food service suppliers, which sort of is ... but not exactly. And it's definitely in a whole different price range!
Brain and I got brave, and for the food we did in the roasters for the middle school snow camp, we (with Brent's help ;-}) experimented. Our goal was to see if by adding some water to the inside of the roaster, BEFORE putting the liner in (the part you then put the food into), if it would make the cooking process more like a crock-pot does it.
We are thrilled to report that it did!!! :-D It made a wonderful difference!!! Bingo!! :->
To make your roaster cook more like a crock-pot does, add just enough water to the inside of the roaster, that when you put the liner in (which has been sprayed!) and fill it with your food, the water in the bottom of the main part, not only covers the bottom of it, but also goes up around the sides some. After turning your dial to a bit lower of a temp, put the lid on the roaster and walk away :-}.
Take note, this process will cause steam to rise up around the liner, so you'll want to wear hot mitts, not just use hot pads, when everything is done cooking.
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Make-Do Mondays", hosted by Shari, at 'My Practically Perfect Life' (www.practically-perfect-life.blogspot.com).
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Mom2my9, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Make Your Monday('s)", are hosted by Kim, at 'Twice Remembered' (http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "I am Blissfully Domestic", hosted by Kim (from 'Up North Mommy'), at 'Blissfully Domestic' (your life, your bliss) (http://blissfullydomestic.com/i-am-blissfully-domestic/).
~ "What I Learned this Week", are hosted by Jo-Lynne, at 'Musings of a Housewife' (http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What's the difference?
A roaster bakes like a oven. Therefore, it is a dry type of cooking.
A crock-pot is more like a steamer, thus you usually end up with a moister type of cooking.
And the older model slow cookers, where there is a base unit and then your food goes in a metal type of 'crock' which sits on top of it, is more like cooking on a stove burner.
No, those are not technically correct definitions. They are just the easy for me to remember/keep in mind ones. Or in other words, that is how I think of the differences.
I greatly prefer moist food. Whether it be in cookies, or meat, or .. Yup, to me, moist is best!!! Thus I have always liked how cooking BBQ Ribs in a crock-pot, makes them so tender they fall apart when you try to take them out.
Now true, with crock-pots, even though you (of course!) spray the container, and even though it cooks more like a steamer, it's still best to add some liquid when you start, (or make sure what your cooking contains quite a bit of liquid) or you can end up with dried, 'burnt on' messes.
But with roasters, you need to add a l-o-t more liquid, which can change the consistency of the food your making. Not always good.
For years now I have been saying that I wish the companies that make roasters and crock-pots would make a roaster sized crock-pot. And I have looked high and low for one, both in stores and on line. There is something "industrial sized", available through food service suppliers, which sort of is ... but not exactly. And it's definitely in a whole different price range!
Brain and I got brave, and for the food we did in the roasters for the middle school snow camp, we (with Brent's help ;-}) experimented. Our goal was to see if by adding some water to the inside of the roaster, BEFORE putting the liner in (the part you then put the food into), if it would make the cooking process more like a crock-pot does it.
We are thrilled to report that it did!!! :-D It made a wonderful difference!!! Bingo!! :->
To make your roaster cook more like a crock-pot does, add just enough water to the inside of the roaster, that when you put the liner in (which has been sprayed!) and fill it with your food, the water in the bottom of the main part, not only covers the bottom of it, but also goes up around the sides some. After turning your dial to a bit lower of a temp, put the lid on the roaster and walk away :-}.
Take note, this process will cause steam to rise up around the liner, so you'll want to wear hot mitts, not just use hot pads, when everything is done cooking.
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Make-Do Mondays", hosted by Shari, at 'My Practically Perfect Life' (www.practically-perfect-life.blogspot.com).
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Mom2my9, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Make Your Monday('s)", are hosted by Kim, at 'Twice Remembered' (http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "I am Blissfully Domestic", hosted by Kim (from 'Up North Mommy'), at 'Blissfully Domestic' (your life, your bliss) (http://blissfullydomestic.com/i-am-blissfully-domestic/).
~ "What I Learned this Week", are hosted by Jo-Lynne, at 'Musings of a Housewife' (http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)