Practicing Mindfulness

I've been missing my mom these days...and my dad, and Winston, too.  

As the weather is getting nicer, I find I am wanting to wander in the woods, but that makes me feel extremely untethered. I don't want another dog right now, but I miss my hiking buddy.  I am working on learning to be comfortable in my untethered feelings, to enjoy my alone time, and on being mindful.  My alone time is not necessarily a good thing.  Certain tasks allow more time to ponder life.  Alone... I clean my house, and I think.  Alone... I mow my yard, and I think.  Maybe the reason I enjoy music so much is because it distracts my brain.  I am a thinker, but thinking when one is so alone can be dangerous.  My brain is still asking old questions and trying to rationalize what happened: How did I got to this point in life?  Why did things happen as they did?  Maybe if I... Maybe if this... Am I destined to be alone forever?  What if this is as good as it gets?  What if this is all I get?  What if I had my chance?  What if no one wants me? What if I'm too much for someone else to handle?  I know I am smart, strong spirited, capable, a problem solver, and generally, I have a happy heart.  I know I am empathetic, and kind.  A part of what brings me joy is my need to give back.  

So, what's wrong with me???  

I realize that's not the right question to be asking.  NOTHING is wrong with me. I remind myself that I spent almost 30 years trying to make everything in life perfect.  When things didn't go the way they were supposed to, I took the blame.  Whether it was my fault or not. Emotionally, I'm in limbo. I KNOW what I should be doing, but I don't know how to get to the next point.  I am learning to be intentional in my thoughts; to be mindful.  This is my plan B. When I start to feel down, I allow myself to feel the heaviness in my heart for just a few minutes, and then I breathe a few deep breaths.  I consciously think, 'why am I thinking these thoughts right now? I can't change how things are, but I can change my thoughts.' I try to identify my trigger, then, I acknowledge, right this moment, something that brings me joy.  I think about those things for which I am grateful.  It doesn't have to be something big.  It could be simple things like the tea I'm sipping, or Toulouse or Berlioz, or the smell of lilacs, as the scent wafts inside my house through my opened windows.  It could be as simple as my flowered bed sheets  or something funny that happened at school.  This is a conscious effort that takes practice.  

I have disliked weekends for a long time now.  I have a to-do list for school and one for home.  Both are extensive, so it isn't hard to work myself to exhaustion.  However, I know that in order to heal, I need to make, and take, time for myself.  I am working on finding balance.  This past Friday night, I stayed after school until about 7, even though I know I will be going back on Sunday to finish planning out my week.  Was I avoiding going home to an empty house?  Yes.  As I pulled into my neighborhood I could feel the loneliness creeping into my mood.  I'll be honest.  There are times when I think, maybe I should just have a few drinks, numb the pain, block out the loneliness.  Except, that isn't me. I am responsible.  Damn it!  

One time, about a year ago...I grabbed the bottle of Marker's Mark from my cabinet when I got home. I sent a text to one of my friends and my sister, knowing full well that my sister was busy.  "Here's what I'm doing...," I said.  My friend responded almost immediately, he's been through a divorce. He understands my pain.  He has healed, and is in his second marriage.  "Three shots only," he told me. I had to promise to put the bottle away.  I kept my promise.  It helped in the moment, but it didn't really help.  Also, I know it is unfair of me to put my burdens on others.  It doesn't matter if my sister, or my friends tell me they don't mind, it is not right.  I am reminded that life is not fair, but life is beautiful.  In order to see the beauty, we need to be proactive and live in the moment. So, plan B.  

Friday night, I knew I was starting to feel the weight of my untethered-ness. I allowed myself to acknowledge my feelings. I even allowed a few tears. Crying is a good way to release.   Tears released, I asked myself, why am I feeling like this?  Answer:  It's the weekend, and it's a holiday.  I don't have enough time to travel to be with my siblings and get done what I need over this weekend, so I will be alone.  I am also on my self-imposed sabbatical from church, and I don't want to attend another church on Easter, especially by myself.  So, no family and no church.  Deep breaths, and center.  I focused my thoughts on what I was grateful about at that very moment.  I was grateful that I had a house to come home to.  I was grateful that I had a bed to lay on, and kittens who are happy to see me. My kitties nuzzled my nose. My mood was shifting.  Earlier in the day, one of my cousins on my dad's side, had asked a bunch of us if anyone had a certain family recipe.  I did, but I was at school when she asked.  Remembering this request, I got off my bed, and I found that recipe.

circa 1963

  
I shared it with my cousins.  "Look!," I said, "bonus recipe, Pigs Feet!"  (Bleh!!!!) Our parents certainly grew up in a very different time.  

I thought about having a drink, but I came up with a different game plan.  What if I baked the blues away???  I went to the store and I picked up the ingredients to make Easter Cheese, plus a few other things.  I came home and went to work in my kitchen.  I turned on some blues...jazz blues and started creating. 

My Easter Cheese draining.  

First, I made the Easter Cheese.  As kids, my brother and I called it Egg Cheese.  Looking at the ingredient list, Egg Cheese makes sense. 

Breakfast!

Over ripe bananas were on my counter...which lead to banana bread being baked.  I also whipped together some basil pesto.  I'll be making focaccia bread to go with the basil pesto and cheese tortellinis.  Fresh bread out of the oven cannot be topped!  

Another thing I know to be true about myself is that I am capable in the kitchen.  I love having a reason to cook and share my culinary talents with others.  

I wasn't planning on getting out Easter decorations, and then my sister unintentionally tore at my heart strings.  She started sending pictures of the decorations she had out. She was sharing decorations that our mom had made.  Crumbs.  Up to my attic I went.  I got out the bare minimum...only treasures crafted by our mother's hand...plus two critters she loved.  

Ceramic treasures created with love.  

I do miss my parents.  Having little treasures like these ceramic bunnies and eggs to pull out help remind me of the care my mom showed in all she did. I am very much like my mom.  Having the hand-written recipes above, remind me of previous generations.  As I read the Pigs Feet recipe, I recalled family members actually eating and enjoying these.  Uck!  It speaks volumes though about what they had or didn't have.  It also emphasized to me how resourceful our prior generations were.  Waste not, want not.

My dad would have celebrated his 84th birthday a few days ago, and my mom would have been 75 this year.  I feel their presence in my home, and in my heart.  

~Lisa Kroll

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After my morning edits, I must add these Sunday notes: 

Before I went to write last night, my daughter called.  My kids wanted to use my house to share a movie with their friends.  They wanted to show their movie outdoors!  My house is, and always will be, my children's home.  When I returned from writing, I found my carport had been transformed into a drive-in theatre. Food was grilled, beer bottles opened, the porch swing was moved from out back, and camp chairs were scattered about.  Time for the movie.  

Before I had gone to bed, my kids asked if we could share the late morning today.  My heart smiled. When I woke this morning, I found one child and her bf asleep on the porch swing (it folds down into a bed). I made my way back into my kitchen.  Soon, the smells of coffee and cinnamon scones drifted out into the carport.  Banana bread and Easter Cheese were available, too. My son soon joined us and we had the perfect Easter breakfast.  

Cinnamon Scones

Easter Cheese...with salt

Happy Easter to all.  

God is great, and he has risen indeed!  

I am consciously mindful of how blessed my life really is these days.  

Mocha Lisa's Homemade Mocha Frappuccino Recipe

It is suddenly feeling like summer here and I need an afternoon cup of java!  

Here's my suggestion for a fun afternoon drink 

and directions on how to make it.  

*****

First: You'll need some leftover, cold coffee from the morning and chocolate syrup.  

 Depending on what kind of a day you are having, 

you will either want to use milk (I use Skim) or Half & Half and a little bit of sugar. 

DO NOT LEAVE THE SUGAR OUT!  

Trust me, it makes all the difference!!!

Skim Milk=less calories
Half & Half = full flavor

 The last ingredient to add...the ice cubes!

 Add all together and Frappe for about a minute.  

You can tell you need new appliances when...
their color says 'circa 1986'

 Top with whip creme and an old Starbucks straw.  

Did you notice my new Rip-and-Tear Napkins?
Who, who, who do you think made them?  

Mmmm.....the best!  

Mocha Lisa's Mocha Frappuccino  Recipe

1 C cold coffee

1 C Half and Half OR milk

1 TBS sugar

2-3 TBS Chocolate Syrup

1 C ice cubes

Whip topping, optional, but I wouldn't leave it off!  

Add all together in a blender and Frappe for about a minute until smooth.  

Enjoy!  

Christmas Baking

Last week I enjoyed one of my favorite past times...baking in my kitchen!

The treats I made are: Christmas Tree Spritz Cookies, Snowball looking Almond Cookies, Buckeyes, English Toffee, Puppy Chow (not really baking) and Kolacky.

I love having many choices to offer my family after dinner this time of year.  Growing up, my grandmother on my mom's side would make several different cookies too.  I remember 6 or 7 huge Tupperware containers that she'd have in her cold, garage from Thanksgiving through Christmas.  Each container was a different type of cookie.  She would have one container filled with of each of her children's favorites and then another one or two cookies.  My mom had three brothers and a sister.

My own mom wasn't much of a cook, but she did make Buckeyes when I was little.  It's her recipe I use in my kitchen.  My siblings, and a few good friends, know to expect a container of these from me each year.

The Kolacky is a newer cookie to my baking.  It is a polish cookie made with poppy seed filling.  My grandmother on my dad's side made very traditional Polish/Slavonic food...which is part of my heritage.  I loved our Christmas Eve's with my dad's family.  If you enjoy reminiscing, click on this memory from my past: My Christmas History.  I loved my grandmother's poppy seed bread, but I don't know that my family would like it, so I have opted for a cookie version.  I like the results, but I still think my grandmother's bread was the best.  Maybe I'll try making a loaf this next week.

The English Toffee is a recipe I discovered about 20 years ago.  My daughter loves it so much that it was what she requested this summer for her birthday; no cake, just toffee.

Do you have any special treats you make this time of year?

Delicacy!

I am not a mushroom hunter. But, a few weeks ago I found a Morel Mushroom!

Sorry for the "small" shot, I sent this photo to my husband via my cell phone. Guess I forgot to grab the regular camera too!

Typically I will happen across one Morel during the season. I will gingerly take my treasure home, cart it around like the trophy that it is for a few hours, cut it up, saute it in butter and share tiny bites with my in-laws, DH and son. My daughter doesn't like mushrooms...yet.

*****

This year I have Winston and we walk and walk and walk each day. We were out for about an hour when I looked down and saw a patch of these tasty treats at my feet! Fortunately I had my just-in-case-I-run-across-some-mushrooms bag with me. :)

Since I usually only find one morel, I wasn't really sure what to do with all these.

But, fear not, I cut them up, sauteed them and then snacked all night long.

The next day for lunch I had a wonderful Morel, provolone cheese, spinach, tomato and onion mix on a toasted bun. Mmmm! Heaven!

Hootie's Almost Famous Cinnamon Scones

I have had several requests for my almost famous scones recipe.  This is a recipe that I created...hence the fancy name! My words of caution are: the hardest ingredient to find is the Cinnamon Chips and, once you make them they will disappear quickly.  I order my chips by the case because they are not available in the stores where I live.  I prefer Hershey's Cinnamon Chips and they should cost about $2.50 a bag.  If they cost more than that you are getting ripped off.  When I head out of town on vacation, etc I always check the local grocery stores to see if their shelves carry this baking treasure.  

Hootie's Almost Famous Cinnamon Scones

1 1/2 C all-purpose flour

1 C rolled oats

1/4 C packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 C (one stick) unsalted  COLD butter

1/2 bag (between 3/4 & 1 C) Cinnamon Chips

1/2 C milk

Cinnamon & sugar  

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

**********

Mix all dry ingredients, but DO NOT add chips yet!  

Cut in cold butter, use a knife first and then a pastry blender.  

Mix should resemble pie crust dough before any liquid is added.  

Stir in chips and milk using spatula.  

Fold onto stone...dough will be dry.  

Shape with hands, dust with flour and roll to a 12 inch circle 

(approximately 1/4 inch thick)

Cut into wedges, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar then bake.

Scones bake in 400 degree oven for 15-17 minutes.  

Finished product!  

Re-cut and enjoy!!!!!

Yields 12 scones

Celebrating a Friendship!

I've had many friends in my life.  

But, I've had one girl friend in my life for almost 21 years now.  

We have shared everything.  Marriage, death, college life, work life, births, children raising, problems (that's a pretty broad category!), relatives, moves, vacations, fires - house/apartment and camping.  If I didn't mentions something, I'm still pretty sure we've visited that event in life together.  :)  Although we aren't blood, I would turn to my friend as quickly as I would to my own siblings.  Her friendship means everything to me.  

My favorite story about our relationship has to do with when I found out I was pregnant with my first child.  My DH and I had been trying to get pg for a few years.  At that stage in our lives we lived three hours away from our friends.  So we kept in touch mostly by phone and weekend visits.  It was so easy to travel without kids!  

On a Friday morning in October I took a home pregnancy test.  It was positive!  I was so excited!  I was worried about calling my friend though because I know they had been trying to get pg for a long time too.  That night after work I called her with my news.  "Guess what.  I took a home pregnancy test today and it was positive."  I told her and then I waited to hear the touch of disappointment in her voice.  "Well," she said with a hint of her own excitement, "I was going to call you tomorrow because I am taking a home pregnancy test then!"  This was back in the day when for the best results one took a home pg test first thing in the morning.  

As luck would have it, my mom was coming to visit us on that Saturday.   A cousin was getting married near where I lived.  I would be able to tell my mom my great news in person.  I'm not sure I slept much that night.  I couldn't wait to tell my mom and I couldn't wait to hear my friends news.  

It was later in the day on Saturday that my friend called me.  Her test did show positive.  Some how I knew it would!  My mom had just arrived in town and my DH and I went to her hotel.  I was poised to tell her the news.  

"Mom, I just got the best news," I started.  "Remember Joann? Well, she took a home pg test this morning and it came back positive!  Isn't that great!"  I can still see my mom.  She was sitting in a chair in her hotel room, shoes off, legs crossed, stretched out propped up on her bed, arms folded behind her head. "Well, yeah.  That's good news," my mom responded.  I could see that puzzled and then distracted look on her face.  "Mom, that means her parents are going to be grandparents! Isn't that great!?" "Sure," she said.  "But mom, even better than that...I'm pregnant too!"  

That was one of the best moments in my life.  The shock, realization and then joy that spread across my mom's face still brings tears to my eyes.  Life was good.  

My friend and I shared that pregnancy.  We have photos of our big bellies and then photos of our bathing boys together.  The boys are only separated by 12 days.  

Today my friend and I are fortunate enough to live just 18 miles apart.  Our lives do not allow us to talk daily, but twice a year we do get together to celebrate each other's birthday even months after our true birthday date.  Her B-day was in August, a few nights ago I made dinner for her.  Here is a look into the food of the night, she allowed me to make a bunch of my favorites for her:  

Gnocchi Soup

Tiny Cheese Puff Pastries

I forgot to take a picture of our salad!  But it was an apples, spinach, bleu cheese walnut dish.  Here's the recipe anyway!  Inn at Cedar Crossing Spinach Apple Bleus Salad recipe.

Stuffed mushroom caps started the night, red raspberries were our snack and homemade almond joy bars our dessert.  

We drank too much wine and were as giddy as teenage girls, so my teen told me later!  She should know...I've heard the same giggles and seen the same happy faces on her and her girl friends!   

I am convinced we should all have one person we are not married to or related to in our lives to keep us grounded.  

Thank you Joann for being my one person!  

Mama Mia!

"Life itself is the proper binge." -- Julia Child 

When I was a little girl I thought my mom was the best cook in the whole world!  She made homemade spaghetti sauce.  I recall the sweet smell of the tomatoes and the herbs wafting through the house as she cooked her sauce for hours and hours.  Late in the evening, Mom would scoop out a bowl of sauce and we would sit at the table and dip buttered bread into it.  Mm mm!  

As I grew up I realized my mom really didn't enjoy cooking all that much.  She liked simplicity and she wasn't very good at following recipes.  She just didn't seem to have the patience for them!  I think it was the artist in her...I've noted those same personality traits in my crafting daughter.  :)  

When I went off to college I asked my mom to give me her recipe for her sauce.  She told me I'd have to watch her make her sauce because there wasn't a recipe she used.  

So I watched and I wrote.  For years I have made my mom's sauce making a few tweaks here and there.  

Last week I was glancing through an old cookbook I own.  It is The NEW Antoinette Pope School Cookbook published in 1961.  The previous published editions were in 1948 and 1952!  This may have been one of the first cookbooks my mom owned.  On the inside cover of this treasure my dad's oldest sister inscribed a note of congratulations for my parents wedding.  It's dated 3-3-62.  

My mother's parents were Italian and Irish.  The Italian was my grandpa and the Irish, my Grandma.  Grandma was the cook in that household.  I don't recall ever having spaghetti over there.  So I am thinking...where did my mom's special spaghetti sauce recipe come from?  I believe I have solved that mystery!  
Can you click on the photo above to enlarge it?  It's a hoot to read!  "Standardized recipes of foreign dishes are a thing of the past.  Each chef now adds his individual touches."  Remember, this was originally published in 1948.  

Can you read the recipe?  As a lazy cook I imagine my mom would leave certain, time consuming and tedious, items out of her recipe.  There is no celery in the recipe I wrote down!  Also, nutmeg was not a spice my mom had on hand.  Italian Cheese?  Seems to me this could mean a number of varieties!  My mom left out the baking soda because she did cook her sauce for hours and hours.  

I found the adding of the baking soda the most interesting fact.  I like that this cookbook explains it's purpose: to neutralize acid in tomatoes!  Of course!  I am considering this info the key secret!  As I am aging I have noticed that I can't stomach my own Spaghetti sauce as much any more...too much acid!  In the past year I had started buying canned sauce.  (I am feeling shameful here in admitting that!)

But this past weekend the weather was cool and I was able to make up a huge pot of this recipe.  

I didn't cook this new recipe as long as my mom would have, so I added the soda.  The sauce was wonderful!  

My family didn't see me as I scooped out a little bowl of sauce and grabbed a piece of buttered bread.  I sat alone in my kitchen and my mom was there stirring the pot.  

A Cool, Wet Summer...

Last weekend my husband and I went to our local Farmer's Market.  It seemed like every other booth had these interesting looking orange mushrooms for purchase.  

We were curious so we asked, what are they?  We were told they are called Chanterelle Mushrooms.  We also learned that they grow wild in our area and it's been a boom year for them.  What my husband and I found the most interesting is that on our walks over the last few weeks we've been  seeing these treats!  We had no idea that anything other than Morels were edible!  Sunday morning we went out for our walk and I took a bag with us.  

As we came upon the spot, where we had noted about 50 Chanterelle mushrooms before, I was heart broken to see they had all ready been harvested!  Cut off just under the cap!  We continued our walk and thirty minutes later I found another tiny patch of mushrooms.  I had to try them.  

I did a bunch of on-line research about Chanterelle's to see if these I found were the real deal.  Check out this info:  Chanterelle Mushrooms.  

I did find out that there was one look-a-like mushroom.   Although poisonous, these won't kill a person.  Eating the look-a-likes would just make a person sick; diarrhea, vomiting.   I felt confident so I sauteed my find.  In the end, I didn't get sick.  My kids were chicken and didn't want to taste these treats.  My husband waited for about thirty minutes after my first bite before he tried them.  

They were delicious and I can't wait to find some more!  :)

Mocha Monday at McDonalds

Two coffee postings in a row!  I am not starting a trend here, but I am willing to put my two cents in on the McDonald's Mocha Monday campaign and coffees.  

In a pinch, McDonald's coffee will do to kick start my morning.  The key words there being, In a pinch.  

Today I stopped by the nearest McDonald's.  It's Monday and I have seen the campaign...free mocha on Monday.  The Mickey D's I went to was NOT participating.  That's okay since I hear the participating restaurants are only giving out 3 oz (8 oz if you are lucky) samples.  I decided to purchased an Iced Mocha anyway.  

The presentation was fine.   I had my drink made with non-fat milk.  The first sip spoke volumes.  The coffee taste was extremely over powering.  It seemed to leave a taste in my mouth that was too strong and bitter.  I suspect the coffee being used was a bit old.  I did not end up finishing my drink.  The ice chunks were not appealing in the cup.  IMHO, Starbucks has nothing to worry about...provided they WERE/ARE worried.  

Still on a hot afternoon, I prefer to make my own Mocha's.  Here's another recipe I created that I call Mocha Frappachinos for Two.  When I make this, I share it with my daughter, or my good friend, Robert if he's in town.  

Hootie's Mocha Frappachinos for Two

1 cup brewed coffee (cooled)

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

1 TBS sugar

1 cup cream (Land-o-Lakes Fat-Free works great!)

2 cups of ice cubes

Put all ingredients into a blender.  Frappe on high until whipped smooth.  Add more ice for a thicker drink.  Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream.  

-----

P.S. McDonald's does have a coupon you can print off if you still would like to try their drinks.  After all, a free drink is a free drink.  Click here for the link:  Free McDonald's Coffee Drink.  

Searching for Extracts

First, I will admit that I LOVE coffee.  Second, I will admit that I might be a coffee snob.  There are friends of mine who are tea drinkers and they can tell you there is a correct way to brew tea.  The same thing goes for coffee.  But I am not going into those details.  

During my "recovery" time two months ago, my husband did a bit of our shopping and he needed to buy some coffee beans for us.  I do not shop exclusively at Starbucks, but I do admit they have several beans that I enjoy.  We have a local shop that roasts their own beans: Stone Cutters.  Besides having fantastic coffee they have scrumptious homemade cinnamon rolls.  My husband happened to shopping at Target and decided to pick up a different brand of coffee.  I hate to talk badly, but after my first few sips of this coffee, I told my DH I was pouring out the pot he brewed and making a different flavor of bean.  This "different" bean he'd purchased left an aftertaste in my mouth that seemed like cigarettes.  I am not a smoker.  In the end, these beans left our house without being brewed again.  

Shortly after this incident my husband and I went to Stone Cutters to grab a coffee and a cinnamon roll.   We needed more beans and decided on two different pounds.  The owner, Greg, assured me that one we chose only had hints of a fine cigar smell.  I was apprehensive but trusting.  Stone Cutters Espresso Roast was superb.  

One of the reasons I head to Starbucks now and then is to purchase their Hazelnut Syrup.  At home I like to add this flavor to my coffee.  It's frustrating when sometimes they will sell me a bottle and other times they won't.  It all depends on their supply.  Lately I have been thinking I should learn how to make my own syrup.  

After searching the web and not finding anything to my likings, I came up with the following recipe.  This may be my new fav for adding to my home brews!  

Hootie's Hazelnut Syrup for Coffee

2 Cups water

1 Cup white sugar

Mix together in small saucepan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes.  Cool then add 1 TBSP of Hazelnut Extract.  I have stored my concoction in an old Starbucks bottle; one that I have a pump for.  

The trickiest part was finding the Hazelnut Extract.  Thank goodness for specialty stores. 

*****

As an added funny, I must tell that I have been using Starbucks Hazelnut syrup for at least the last 15 years.  When I would vacation with my husband's family on our annual beach vacation, I would always take a bottle of syrup with me.  One morning one of my BILs commented that he'd probably add some alcohol to his coffee too if he was a coffee drinker and wasn't related to this bunch.  I hated to burst his bubble that this was alcohol free.  :)

  

My Cinco de Mayo Feast...for the Belly and the Eyes!

On my menu:  Guacamole, Salsa and chips.  Rice and beans.  And for the main course:  Stacked Green Chili & Grilled Chicken Enchiladas.  

Fresh ingredients!  I spent the afternoon chopping, dicing and mashing.  
A former restaurant in town used to make this fresh salsa that I fell in love with.  It's really my favorite kind of salsa and worth spending the time making.  It tastes even better several hours later (or a day, if you can) after the flavors marry.  
I wanted a picture of the Enchiladas before I topped them off and baked them.  Once they are cooked you can't see the layers as well.  
My friend, Sweetcakes, gave me this recipe.  I wanted something different and this was great!  But I forgot to take a photo of the Enchiladas topped with sour creme and fresh cilantro!  Oh well, too late now...they WERE yummy!  

Jeepers, Creepers....can you hear those Peepers?

Tonight, my husband and I are joining some friends in some nearby woods with plans to celebrate Spring!  We will drink wine, eat appetizers and listen to the spring peepers.    

Peepers are tiny little frogs who start their mating season in late March.  

As a guest, we are supposed to bring an appetizer to share.  My host has a wheat allergy so I have made tiny little finger sandwiches on gluten-free bread I baked.  Think chicken salad for my sandwiches.  They have grapes, celery, mayo and almonds in the mix.  Only the meat is not chicken.  :)

Happy Spring! 

Cookies and Creme....Sweet Treats of the Week!

COOKIES:  Inspired by the events of this Tuesday, I baked  some cookies.  I was listening to NPR on Monday and they were talking about Michelle Obama's Shortbread Cookies.  I just had to try them.  Even the least adventurous person in my family said they were worth repeating!  I LOVED them.  But, be forewarned...they do call for a few "special" ingredients and I had to cook them much longer than the recipe stated.  Next time I will not bake them as a bar cookie.  

*****

CREME:

This is like cookies for your ears.  Mmmmm!  Did you happen to see the Inauguration at noon on Tuesday?  While I was listening to Fred Child this afternoon on Performance Today, he played the above recording AND mentioned he had this link on his blog.  I am documenting it here for me most of all.  I think it's 4 minutes and 17 seconds of sweetness.  

Sweet treats this week!  Yummy!  

Day 25: Part 2, What's for Dinner?

Miracles happened today!  

The oven now heats up!  

I did keep my promise...dinner was tasty!  I christened the oven by baking chocolate chip cookies as our appetizer.  We had corn chowder, bread and wine for dinner followed by more chocolate chip cookies.  


Almost done!  The counter tops did arrive and went in today.  The oven did get fixed!  The sink and faucet are installed!  Tomorrow I hope to have the dishwasher and cook top join the ranks of working appliances.  The crown molding should get done tomorrow too.  It will be just little things to finish up on after that.  My dish pan hands are starting to rejoice!  

For entertainment I did some bird watching today.  I noted the following 12 types of birds at my feeders in about one hours time:  Northern Flicker, Blue jay, Downy Wood Pecker, Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Carolina Chickadee, Dark Eyed Junco, Nuthatch, House Finch, Gold Finch, Mocking Bird and Carolina Wren.  I was bored in the house since it was horrible weather for getting out and the place was filled with various workers.  I'm not into t.v. during the day so watching the birds was great.  I had my binoculars, my laptop (for species identifying) and my comfy chair.  If the workers needed me, and I did get called upon several times, I was easily assessable.  

Of course I did hear about lazing around from a few of the men in my house...one husband and contractor!  Good thing they didn't see me eating Bon-Bons while I had my feet up too!  :)

Day 25: Tomorrow; Day 49: Today

Construction time vs. actual time.  

I really miss my kitchen.  I had hoped that on Friday (Jan.2) the appliance repair guy was going to be able to fix my never-since-it-got-here-has-it-worked oven.  I was wrong.  

I even had it planned out...he'd be here between 8 and noon, I'd make Chocolate Chip Cookies to christen the oven and then homemade pizza for dinner.  No cookies.  No pizza.  Instead we dined on leftover Christmas turkey heated in the microwave.  Good, but not cookies and pizza.  

My FIL offered their oven for making my cookies.  True, I could go use their oven.  That's not the point.  I just really want my own kitchen, the Burrow's kitchen, to be up and running.  My patience is waning.  Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully one week to go.  

When the appliance repair guys (APG) came, they did notice that the power to the oven was not up to the correct voltage.  One line read 120 volts and the other between 40-50 volts.  A quick call to my contractor had the electrician back out here.  He ended up needing to replace a breaker.  Although the APG's were here at noon and the electrician was here at 3, there wasn't enough time in the day to get the APG's back out here.  I tried.  They just need to come back and reprogram (or re-boot) the oven.  This is the downfall of technology.  Nothing can be simple!  The APG's are scheduled to come back out on TUESDAY!  

Hence I have decided that I will make NOTHING in the new kitchen until it's all back together.  A test run of the oven will happen, but no baking.  

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In the mean time, I continue to walk on my treadmill and watch the Food Network.  I watched a show called  Everyday Italian and I made myself hungry!  Two dishes were made that I just had to try:  

Fennel Slaw with Prosciutto & Pistachio Pesto

Spaghetti with Olives and Bread Crumbs

Both dishes were easy to make and tasty.  The differences I included were on the Spaghetti...I added more pasta water than the recipe called for and used Italian seasoned bread crumbs.  Both of those suggestions were in the comments on-line AND the chef on the show actually added more water herself.  

My in-laws came over to share this feast with us so I purchased some Italian bread and Spumoni Ice Cream to top things off.  My husband likes his bread warmed and since we had a fire going in the fireplace...well, you can guess how the bread was heated.  The spaghetti looked good too in my new pasta bowl!  My niece gave it to us for Christmas, but you might note I said my new pasta bowl!   

:) 

Construction Time versus Real Time

Today is day 19 in construction time, but it is day 26 in real time.  

Real time without a true kitchen feels really LONG!  

No complaints.  Things are right on schedule and moving smoothly.  I can just taste the completed kitchen and I want it done yesterday so I can get back in to creating in there!  

Crock pot cooking sucks!  Maybe it's just because my CP is 22 years old.  If my CP wasn't so good at keeping chili warm on those few occasions every five years I use it, I'd think about getting rid of it.  I've not been impressed with it's abilities over the past month.  

Remember Palmolive Dish Soap and their ads?  If you are my age, growing up you'd recall Madge, the nail salon gal saying,  "Dish washing liquid, yes.  But its softens your hands while you do the dishes.  You're soaking in it."  Since my dishwasher has been sitting against a wall in the basement, I have decided to abandon my normal dish washing liquid for something to pamper my hands.  Palmolive seems fine on my hands, but nothing in the whole wide world can rescue my finger nails.  They have become brittle from all the dish washing they have had to do.  Poor things!  They break off if I just look at them!  My hands miss the dishwasher!  

And, washing dishes in a bar sink is a challenge.  The dishes need to be done in batches.  Large plates and pots don't even really fit under the faucet let alone in the sink.  I have been trying to figure out if my kids really need to use plates and cups.  I have been recently considering allowing my children to be barbarians and just eat straight from the pans.  Milk drinking should happen right from the jug.  Maybe we should try seeing if we can connect with our medieval roots too and give up our silverware.  

Just a few thoughts.  

Hosting Pilgrims...

Most Holidays at my in-laws house, includes guests.  

The guests are students from foreign counties who are studying at Indiana University. Back in the mid-1960's my in-laws became involved with a group called Bloomington Worldwide Friendship.  

According to the BWF website: BWF is an all volunteer, non-profit, community-based organization that provides friendship and services to international students studying at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  

I can personally recall about 40 different students I have dined with because of my in-laws over the years.  So my guesstimate is that they have hosted between 80 and 100 students since the mid-1960's.  

The students I can recall have come from all over the world: Trinidad, Turkey, China, Korea, Germany, Japan, Bangladesh. They have been both males and females, undergrads and graduate students, fluent English speakers and not so fluent English speakers.  

I have lots of stories I could share, but the best story I know having to do with a BWF student didn't even happen to me!  For years, my in-laws would receive Christmas cards from a man named Joel.  Unfortunately he did pass away a few years ago.  When my in-laws hosted Joel he was a graduate student and my husband was either an infant or still in the womb.  At one of the holiday dinners my in-laws were getting to know Joel and he them.  My brothers-in-law would have been around the ages of 10 and 16.  Through the conversations, my in-laws were bragging about their sons and said that their oldest played the drums in a local band.  Coincidentally, Joel had a son over seas who was also in a band.  Joel engaged in a conversation with my 16 year old BIL and asked if he ever heard of the band, The Rolling Stones?  Mick Jagger was Joel's son!  A True Story!  I witnessed the Christmas cards over the years and read the bragging of Joel as he'd share his proud moments of his children and grandchildren.  

Yesterday we had three students join us for our meal.  For the first time, I thought this is how the Native Americans must have felt as they shared their knowledge of this lands food treasures with the first Pilgrim's.  Our guests, all from China, were willing to taste the treats my MIL and I created.  I think most of the recipes we served were rather common.  Turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, rolls, gravy and pumpkin pie.  Our less common recipes would be for our sweet potato and spinach casserole and our cranberry jello salad.  To me all these dishes are very tasty.  I enjoyed watching our guest reactions as they tried the different foods.  My MIL and I do both regularly listen to National Public Radio.  If you are a listener too, then you might have heard Susan Stamberg's recipe for Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish.  I've heard this recipe for probably the last 10 years and each time I think, 'that sounds strange, but I should try it sometime.'  This year my MIL was so inspired!  It was interesting.  If you try it, I'd try it on turkey...not by itself.  My son described its taste as 'very garlicky strawberries.'  One should note, there isn't any garlic or any strawberries in it!  

Another thought I'd like to push today is that as we all are gathered with family and friends, I hope you will take a few minutes to really listen to one another.  Tell stories, ask questions...share.  Today has been declared as the first annual National Day of Listening.  Check out the link.  Make a promise to yourself to listen to a memory of someone you love by the end of the year.  I know you won't be sorry you have taken this challenge. 

Rations...

Friday nights in the 70's meant homemade pizza.  My dad use to make homemade pizza sauce when I was a kid.  Then my parents would take a can of Pillsbury biscuits and pat them out into little circles.  We, my brother and I, could help add the sauce, cheese and whatever else we wanted to them.  

For my children, Friday nights usually mean homemade pizza and a movie.  When I first went off to college I asked my parents for a few of the recipes they made: Pizza and Spaghetti sauces.  Dad was responsible for the pizza, mom for the spaghetti.  In fact, my mom was not someone who enjoyed being in the kitchen too much.  But, her spaghetti sauce was really fantastic!  Dad seemed to enjoy the kitchen more.  Still, the recipes my parents used were pretty straight forward.  Dad was able to give me his recipe.  My mom had sort of a strange look on her face when I asked for her recipe...she always winged it!  She would take the basics and then add to it each time.  I needed to just watch her once to write down what she did.  Neither of my parent's recipes had anything too special about them, but they both were so good and certainly favorites of mine.  Like my mom, neither of my recipes for these too dishes is written down, exactly.  I have the basics jotted down; someday my kids may want them.  

Unlike my parents, I make my own pizza dough.  I fell in love with the dough at a restaurant in Chicago about a year ago, Geno's East.  Although this is suppose to be a "secret" recipe, thanks to the Internet and lots of sampling on my families part, I have been able to find a version very similar that we enjoy.  Until my own version of the Geno's dough I happily used a recipe in the Disney's FamilyFun Cookbook.  

So, now that I do not have a working oven for at least another four-five weeks, I need to find a creative way to make pizza!  I recalled when my mom would make that delicious spaghetti sauce of hers.  One of the treats of the evening (the sauce cooked for HOURS!) was that when it was done, mom would let us tear off chunks of bread and dip then into a bowl of sauce.  My mom had a secret recipe for her bread too.  We were sworn to secrecy because she didn't want her mom, my grandma- the true baker, to find out what she did.  Grams thought mom made the absolute best bread in the world.  And she did!  But her secret was to take frozen loaves of bread dough and follow the directions on the package.  :)  You'd think Grams would have caught on since her daughter NEVER really liked cooking!  I diverse... my creative way to make pizza...Pizza Fondue.  A simple search on the Internet proved it was NOT an original thought.  Still, I was game for this adventure.  Worst case scenario, we order out.  

In the fondue pot I used a can of Cheddar Cheese soup and added mozzarella Cheese.  Tasty, but it doesn't stay on bread very well.  
On the stove top I made my pizza sauce.  To the sauce I added finely chopped pepperoni and cooked sausage.  
Above is a nice picture of my work and serve area.  I decided to mix both pans together.  My son noted that it turned out more like a queso dip.   It was much easier to dip the bread sticks I bought into this mixture.  My taste-testers decided it was repeatable.  The chef wasn't extremely pleased with the bread though.  Maybe I am spoiled by that recipe I have for dough.  A day later, I bought a loaf of French bread and sliced it very thin...about 1/4 of an inch slices.  I toasted the bread and spread leftover, warm pizza sauce dip on top.  MUCH BETTER!  When the kids got home from school I made up some of these treats for them.  They came back for seconds!  
Last night I decided to try a crock pot recipe.  I cooked a whole chicken with carrots, onion and celery.  Above you can see my creations in progress.  I have been using my computer a lot as a resource.  I am still requesting anyone and everyone to send me their favorite CP recipes!  So far both response I have received with recipes were for pulled pork.  I will definitely be trying that next week!  My MIL happens to LOVE pulled pork.  My other friend who responded is a lot like me when it comes to CP cooking.  Both our CP's are over 20 years old and used mostly to keep things warm.  
After a successful day of CP cooking, here's a picture of our meal!  Chicken in a pot (transferred to an easier to carry dish), green beans, fried apples and Risotto Rice with peas.  We took this meal next door and dined with the in-laws.  It was nice to use their plates and then dishwasher!  My MIL made persimmon pudding the other day so that was our dessert.  YUMMY!  

Not every meal over the next several weeks will be this gourmet.  But I am seriously missing a real kitchen!  I needed to create!