Betty's

Divingabe use to stop at Betty's on his way home from work to pick up fresh corn, tomatoes and melons. We don't go into town that often now and whenever I do I always check out Betty's.

I've known Betty my whole life. She worked with my grandmother at Southampton Hospital on the second floor. I also worked with her and I can honestly say, if I was sick I would want a nurse like Betty taking care of me.

One of her son's was Gregory's teacher and also got Gregory involved in the Robotics Team.

The "vases" to hold the flowers are "recycled" from the hospital. Water pitchers that would of been thrown out,now hold bouquet of flowers.

The stand is on the "Honor" system and once in awhile we will chat and she tells me of certain people who aren't that honest.
I told her about the NPR article and she just smiled.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

When I started to boil the pasta Divingabe asked me if something was wrong. I smiled because knowing it was his sense of humor because I normally don't eat pasta.  It's way down the list of my food favorites but Divingabe likes pasta. For some reason I gave in (wink).

I saw this recipe and knew I would like it. Knew it was something we both would like.

I changed two things. I used regular pasta not whole wheat as called for in the recipe. I also used ranch dressing because I am NOT a fan of blue cheese. Next time I make it I'll  add more cheese. Thinking velvetta with a can of Rotel. Really spice it up!
 
13.25 oz. box Barilla Whole Grain Pasta (shells, penne or rotini)
1 lb. cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 small bell peppers, red and yellow, seeded and diced
1 bunch chopped green onions, divided
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup GOOD blue cheese dressing
1/2 – 3/4 cup Buffalo Hot Wing Sauce
3 cups shredded cheese, divided (cheddar, mozzarella or a blend)
3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees .
2. Boil the pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and transfer - 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
3. Add the cooked chicken, chopped bell peppers, 3/4 of the green onions, and 2 1/4 cups of shredded cheese to the baking dish. Mix well.
4. Place the garlic, cream cheese, blue cheese dressing and 1/2 cup hot wing sauce in a food processor. Puree until smooth, taste and add another 1/4 cup hot wing sauce if needed. Pour over the pasta and toss.
5. Mix the remaining 3/4 cup cheese and the Panko together. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta, then sprinkle with the remaining green onions.
6. Bake until golden, approximately 30-40 minutes.

 

Onion Fritters and Stuffed Peppers

I had a few bags of onions that I bought at a great price. Hoped that my friend Rita would have more jalapenos for me- she did.
Guess who's making jalapeno relish?

                                                    Last of the jalapenos
 I went to my TOHBB files and found this. It was orginally posted 2009 by Salsarose!

The finer you chop your onions the better they cook this batch made
about 12 patties these are just awesome.


Taste Just Like Onion Rings

3/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt or less
3/4 milk
2-1/2 cups finely chopped onions


Directions:
2-1/2 cups finely chopped onions

Mix dry ingredients together; add milk.
Batter should be fairly thick. Add onions
and mix thoroughly. Drop by tablespoons
into 1/2 inch of oil in skillet.
Flatten slightly when you turn them.
Brown both sides till crisp.

I fried up a few and they just didn't have the kick we enjoy. I added some cajun spice ( Tony Chachere's)  and also added more cornmeal.


I had a few "onion fritters" leftover. Found a recipe on Pinterest for stuffed peppers. I adapted the recipe from Peanut Butter Fingers. Made a crockpot chicken early in the week and had plenty left so added the chicken to the stuffed peppers. The leftover onion fritters- light bulb moment- mix them into this recipe! In place of the onion I crumbled a few fritters. I also used a 1 whole egg.
This was an excellent recipe. Divingabe said it was a
make again. No photos of this. As soon as it came out of the oven it was gone!

1 lb. ground chicken
1 medium onion, chopped( used a few leftover onion fritters)
1/2 c chopped mushrooms ( 1 small can)

1 packet Knorr vegetable soup mix
1/2 c. marinara sauce ( 4-cheese marinara)
3 egg whites( 1 egg)
3/4 c. salsa ( didn't use because I spiced up the fritters)
2 – 4 large bell peppers

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix chicken through salsa in a bowl
3. Cut off tops of peppers and remove the insides
4. Fill peppers with chicken mixture and bake for 40 minutes to an hour, until chicken mixture is fully cooked
5. Enjoy as is, or top with ketchup or hot sauce
6. Note: You may cook any leftover chicken filling in a loaf pan and enjoy it as a chicken meatloaf.

Ride Across The Peconic

Whenever I wanted to get to the North Fork and didn't want to drive around I had to take two ferries. It's gotten very expensive to take the car over that way and this summer a new passenger ferry started. It was a pretty good deal- 20 dollars round trip. The ride takes about 45 mins and the only issue I had with it is where to park while on the North Fork.

So many beautiful summer homes. I took this when going  out of the marina.

 This is Bug LightHouse

 

coming into the North Fork

 

 

 

 

 

 

MM..10 weeks

He's adapting well to his new home. Divingabe is still doing car therapy with him and the potty training is going ok. He knows his name and actually comes!

                                                                               always take time to smell the flowers

                                           Loving his new peanut butter flavor bone from Auntie Myra

Buffalo Chicken Chili

The weather has cooler off and one of our favorite's is chili. Divingabe makes a killer chili- he's nice once in awhile and kicks it down for me so I don't have to have the milk nearby.

This recipe I adapted from Forkful of comfort.
3 Tablespoons butter ( used canola spray)
1 large onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces ( cooked chicken thighs and shredded them before I added them to the crockpot)
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon cumin
2 Tablespoons flour
1/2 - 2/3 cup buffalo sauce ( used almost a bottle of Moore's buffalo wing sauce)
28 oz diced tomatoes ( with jalapenos)
1/2 cup chicken broth (homemade)
2- 15 oz red beans, drained( 1 can black beans, 1 can kidney)
salt & pepper to taste
mozzarella, provolone, ranch, or blue cheese to garnish

In a large pot over medium heat add butter, when melted add chicken and cook until white and no longer pink. Add in onion, celery, and garlic. Season with salt & pepper, continue to cook until tender.
Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, and flour stirring to coat. Then add in buffalo sauce, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add beans let simmer for 15 mins. Stir occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I cooked the chicken the day before. Shredded and added to crockpot. Saved bones from chicken to make chicken stock.
Sprayed pan and cooked the onion and celery and added to the crock. Mixed everything else and into the pot it went. Cooked on low for about 6 hours. IF you think that it needs to be thicken up, take some cool chicken broth and add cornstarch. Mix it up so cornstarch is dissolved. Add to the chili, make sure it's mixed in and cook it longer. I can't tell you how long because it depends on the size of your slow cooker. You can tell when you check it if it's the consistently you want.

This was close to one of my divingabes chili, very easy to tone it down. Cut the amount of buffalo sauce to the degree of heat you want.

Tips to Simply Life - 2

If you are taking your camera on vacation (or anywhere else for that matter) take a photo of an index card or sheet of paper with your first name and google voice phone number or an e-mail. If you lose your camera a good Samaritan may contact you to send it back.
TIPS

Never use your full name or your home/cell number. A creeper could find the camera after you lose it, see your hot swimsuit pics and stalk you.

 If you list your e-mail, make a throwaway email so they can't trace it back to your facebook, linked in, twitter, or even craigslist posts that have your email and number on it. Most email providers let you forward it straight to your inbox. Gmail does at least.

Try to make this the very first photo on the SD card. I would also recommend saving the same photo on your camera's internal memory as well (if applicable) in case the memory card gets separated from the camera.

 Implying a reward if found and returned may help you get your camera back. Remember, if someone is nice enough to track you down and send it back, you need to be nice enough to follow through with your promised reward. I wouldn't recommend giving out your mailing address. It could send a stalker to your house. Instead have it mailed to a PO box, your work, or maybe a friend or relative who can handle themselves.

Shutting off your brain and going to sleep

this is what I Do-

NO caffeine- none. The only thing I sneak once in awhile is chocolate but I have it only in the morning.

Exercise- I walk on TM 30 min and also do elliptical for 30.

Fan- We don't have central air in NY. I love having all the windows open. As you can see from the blog we live in the woods. I love hearing the crickets and the fan on low is just the right touch.

Chamomile tea- Love the stuff or Celestial seasonings sleepy time.

Last one is weird but it works for me- wool socks. I wear them almost 360 days and love them.

Everything I mentioned might help and sure can't do any harm!

 

Other hints from the web are below:

. Read a book in bed with a Red LED Headlamp
Only a book though, not facebook, etc. Any paper-based book, a kindle or e-reader without a backlight will work, but never use a phone or computer, these shine bright bluish-white LED light in your face, no matter what colour is on the screen. Blue Light is stimulating to the brain, and will keep you awake; avoid at all costs! This won't work with a computer screen, a white (aka blue) LED head-lamp, or even an incandescent bulb (too much of the blue spectrum).
 Go for the red, read for a bit, you'll be shocked at how little you can read before the book hits you in the face. When you read with a Red head-lamp, your brain is snuggled down and sedated. It's better than nyquil.

2. Audiobooks = Bedtime Story = Zzzzzzzzzzzzz( My tried and true)
The other trick that works every time at shutting my brain off is to listen to an audiobook or lecture series (like the amazing TTC ones that you can find at your local library, among other places). Music won't do it, it's stimulating, go for a spoken story/lecture.
I keep one of my earbuds in one ear and put my other ear on my pillow and before I get 10 minutes in, I'm in dream-land. Even the most interesting story or lecture series won't be enough to keep me awake, I'll find myself struggling unsuccessfully to stay awake so I can keep listening, but before long, I'm conked right out.

3.Tip from military: Working in the night and sleeping during daylight can be hard if you don't fall asleep. Start breathing as slow as possible. Deep breaths and long exhales. It never takes me more than a minute to fall asleep

Enhancing cell phone signal

Some cell phones actually have an external antenna connector on them. Do a search for an external antenna for your phone, and you may be able to at least use your phone while plugged in to the external

Get two antennas ( one directional like a grid dish or yagi and the other being a small panel or omni antenna for the inside of your house) it will effectively capture your cell phone signal and fire it towards your tower when correctly installed.

.

There are signal boosters/amplifiers you can buy but they're not strictly legal as you need a license to broadcast over certain frequencies. But it's not as if anybody will care that you're boosting a signal.

Terracotta Warriors

I enjoy anything historical and when I received the email from The Discovery Center that Terracotta Warriors were coming to NYC,  I knew I had to see it.

If you have been to Disney in florida they have a miniature display of the warriors but this was the real deal and I didn't have to go to China to see it.

No flash photography was allowed. It was dark in all the rooms but overall the photos came out pretty good.

6 feet tall, 2,000 years old.   A group of peasants discovered some pottery while digging a well.  They found warriors in three pits, pit one having contained over a 1,000 warriors and war chariots. The figures vary in height according to their roles, the tallest being the generals. The three pits contained 8,000 soldiers ,130 chariots,520 horses and 150 cavalry. Other non-military terracotta figures were also found-acrobats,strongmen and musicians.  Most held real weapons such as spears,crossbows and swords.  The original weapons were looted or most likely just rotted away. Upon completion of the warriors they were placed in the pits in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

 

 

 

 

MM 9 weeks

Each monday Max will greet you. It's going to be fun to document his growth.

                                                                        He actually like to pose for pictures!

                                                                              Just so cute

He can go up most of the stairs to the house, which is pretty good considering he's so small.

Beneath The Sea 2

This is the goby

 

Sea Snake

 

Toad Fish

 

 

All the above were taken by Divingabe. I can't remember where or when they were taken. My favorite little fish was a frog fish. I was lucky and saw a yellow one. This link will provide more information.

 

The Lobster Roll

This place is one of our favorites to eat at on Long Island. The lobster bisque is fabulous! I wanted to take Divingabe here for his birthday, which was in july. We drove out to to Amagansett on his birthday which unfortunately was on a weekend. The place was swamped and it was an two hour wait to get a table.

                                                                       Found this at the library today

                                                                                    Lobster Bisque
5 cups chicken stock or clam broth
3  1 1/2 live male lobsters, rinsed in cold water
1  medium onion, peeled and chopped in 1 inch pieces
4  celery stalks, cut into 1 inch pieces
1   bay leaf
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
1/2 cup ( 1 stick) salted butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup tomato puree
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
1/2 cup sherry
3 tablespoons chopped chives, for garnish

In a large pot bring the stock or broth to a boil, and place lobsters in the pot claws first.
Cook and cover for 10 to 12 mins, until the lobsters turn bright red. Halfway through the cooking, quickly remove the lid and turn the lobsters to ensure even cooking. them replace the lid immediately. Remove the lobsters, reserve the broth, and set the lobsters aside to cool.
Measure 4 cups of the reserve broth, and return to the pot. ( if broth measures less than 4 cups, add more chicken stock or clam broth.)

Remove the lobster meat from claws, knuckles, and tail and chop fine and set aside.
Gather all the lobster shells, wrap small batches in clean towel, and use a mallet to crack the shells into smaller pieces.Then chop the body of the lobster into smaller pieces and return with shells to the lobster pot. Add onion, celery, bay leaf, thyme, and 1/2 cup parsley and simmer covered for 30 mins.

Remove from the heat and strain through a fine sieve, discarding the solids. You will need 3 cups of stock for the soup. Add more chicken stock or clam broth is necessary.

In a large pot, melt butter over low heat. Add flour, whisk until blended. Slowly add the reserved stock, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and simmer.

Meanwhile, in a med. saucepan over low flame, heat the milk, cream, and tomato puree until hot but not boiling. Pour the mixture into the stock, whisking continuously. Add the paprika, nutmeg, and pepper and bring to a boil, still whisking. Reduce the heat to medium and add the sherry and simmer for 5 to 7 min. Add the reserve lobster meat and mix well. Ladle into bowls.


I haven't made this yet but wanted to copy the recipe since the above is a library book. I also need to wait until Divingabe goes back on the boat to bring home lobsters.

If you wanted to check this book out from your local library I'm sure your library can do a inter-library loan. It has a bunch of beautiful photos in it also.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chips Cookies

   The peanut butter cookies have always been a favorite in our house. Divingabe doesn't like sweets but does eat my peanut butter cookies. The recipe is from an old Fanny Farmer cookbook that I have owned for many,many years.

Set oven at 350 degrees

Cream Together

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup peanut butter

Beat in

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

Stir in

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup flour

arrange by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheets. Press flat with a floured fork ( I use a fork quickly dipped in water). Bake about 10 min.

 The Chocolate Chip cookie recipe with pudding is a good one and we also like Alton Browns but I noticed Susan from TOHBB posted this recipe on her favorites thread so I knew I had to try it.

I had one problem, keeping an eye on them. I sort of was multi tasking, watching a KD and then oh, check the cookies! Most of them came out great and some were cooked a little to long but overall, very good cookie.

Posted by: wishonastar_OR

A Secret is in the cornstarch-- it works like a charm. You get soft, ooey, gooey goodness--there is a secret in the baking and cooling process too.
3/4 cup margarine or softened unsalted butter
1 cup golden brown sugar
1/4 sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt (only if you're using unsalted butter)
LOTS of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream margarine and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla and blend. Stir in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt (only if you are using butter). Add lots of yummy chocolate chips and stir them in!
Drop by tablespoon onto a greased baking sheet. If you want thick cookies, leave the dough mounded. If you prefer flatter cookies, press the dough gently into a disc.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. It is really important to bake the cookies until the edges are JUST turning brown. If you wait until the cookies are completely brown, they will be crispy!
There is another important step to achieving the ultimate soft, chewy cookie. Once the cookies are removed from the oven, let them cool slightly and then remove them from the baking sheet. If they are left on the baking sheet to cool completely, they continue to cook and will become brittle. It is ideal to let them cool on a wire rack.

Here and There In NYC

                              Random pictures from around the city

                                             Rockettes taken in the Top of the Rock

    Statue of Liberty taken from Top Of The Rock

(Haze due to temp in the 90's)

        Human Art. He is totally in silver, stands perfectly still. I could never stand there that long!

                                                       I like how they even hang wash on the A/C

                                                                  Around Chinatown and Bowery

                                                                            

Memorial Park

The site is 16 acres. You walk in through the southwest part of the site. The two footprint pools have the names of all the people that died along the ledge of each pool. There are 400 white oak trees to symbolize rebirth in the spring,provide shade in the summer and seasonal color in the fall.

I wanted to add this photo to point out the visitors. The pools are very large and have four sides right? When visitors walk in they all gather on one section of the pool. They were 4 to 5 deep. I really don't understand that. People please walk to another part so you can read what's on the ledge and not get pushed out of the way!

I also wanted to add this Link. This article is very accurate. I saw this when I was there. What happened to respect?

9/11...... 11 years ago

Everyone reading this knows what and where they were when they heard the news. I wasn't home, I was working.

It was a beautiful,crisp, fall day. I went in early and part of my job was to drive. I drove the person to where she needed to be and would be back in an hour. I went to one of the stores to look around and the cashier asked me if I heard what happened. I raced back to get the woman and wondered if she knew. Crazy thing was  WE were suppose to be in the city that day. Her son was opening a new store downtown and the grand opening was on 9/11. He wanted her to come in and she didn't want any part of the city. He told her he would get a limo and drive the two of us in and she still didn't want to go. Someone was watching over me.

 After I told her what happened I drove her back to the house. I was done for the day as far as I was concerned and raced to see divingabe. He knew about it and now we had a problem- our puppy.

Rip was from a breeder in Pennsylvania and was suppose to fly in 9/12.  Our DS, who had just started his job in the gulf knew we were getting a puppy and we had to pick up the puppy at Kennedy. The big problem was- he didn't know what day we were going in. All the cell lines were down, calls couldn't get in anywhere in the area. He was scared, he thought we had gone in to pick up Rip. When we finally got in touch ( via land line) assured him we were ok. We wanted our dog, and left the next day to bring him home. Going over the bridge I will never forget the smell from the site. The firetrucks filled with exhausted men, all I could do was cry.

I went into the city in October. The above was taken somewhere downtown. All the photos were taken the same day in October except the last one. 

The fence around the site didn't have a space open to hang anything. Flowers, flags, signs, tee shirts, pictures of lost ones- were all hung around the site.

This is the front of Trinity Church.  The line to get to the site went on for blocks. People needed to pay their respects. I remember hearing on the radio firemen asking the public to attend funerals for fallen brother firemen. Everyone was needed at the site to try to find someone alive. It was heart wrenching.

 Have you ever heard about Rick Rescorla? He's a true unsung hero. I never heard anything about him on the news or read any articles about him. Amazing to think of how many people he saved by going through with an evacuation.The thought that he made it out of the tower alive and then went back to save his employees is without a doubt a true hero. 

more information here

 

Meet Mighty Max

 Saturday VERY heavy rain driving upstate and it rained all day. Sunday morning it was raining but when we drove in to get him, the sun came out!

I wanted Divingabe to be the first to hold him. Loved it. Max is the puppy were were meant to have.

                   Waiting for Pop to get done with the paper work so we can head to Long Island.
                   Considering the length of the trip he was excellent, on my lap the whole trip. 

Not thrilled with the tile in the kitchen but loves the yard, we can't let him go in the woods yet but I can tell when he gets older I know he's going to love it and wait till he discovers the water!

He woke up once last night and went straight to the door in the bedroom. He was awake for awhile and we brought him on the bed. I put him on my chest and held him and waited for him to go back to sleep then put him back on his blanket.

I'm up at 5:30, composing this post and he's still asleep!

                                                           First morning in his new home

Honey Sesame Crockpot Chicken

I saw this recipe and knew I would making it soon. Salsa, from TOHBB posted it a few days ago and it was a sign that now was the time to put those little thighs in the crockpot.I adapted it to suit our taste.

I didn't have enough soy sauce and wasn't a happy camper that I had to run to King Kullen. Best thing about that store, open 24 hours! Went very early in the morning before all the crazies woke up.

I deboned the thighs and used about 8. I also sprayed the crock. With all that honey, I didn't want anything to stick.

Followed the recipe BUT I tasted it before adding the cornstarch. It really needed something. I added about a tablespoon of Hot Chili oil- TA-DA! Just Right!

Served over rice.
 
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thighs would be fine too)( I used 8 thighs,bedoned and skinless)
Salt and pepper
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce( next time I'll use low sodium soy)
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (could also use olive oil or canola oil)( used 1 tablespoon canola and 1 tablespoon sesame oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (doesn't really add heat, just adds more flavor)( I added 1 tablespoon hot chile oil)
4 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 Tablespoons water

Sesame seeds

1. Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper, put into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce. Dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch in 6 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened. Cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or noodles.

You can also sprinkle more red pepper flakes on top if you want more heat but mine didn't need it due to the hot chili oil.

                                                   This was even better the next day cold!
                                             My little fingers were picking away  on it- YUM!

BABY MAX

                          We didn't know what our puppy looked like and
                          FINALLY got a photo and I wanted you to meet
                                                         him!

                                      3 more days till we pick him up!
                                       

                                                                             Does he look like a Roc? Max? Boo?

Kobra Mural

                                      
                                           

                                                                             Street level photo

                                                 This mural is under The Kiss from WWll .


                    I posted a video of Kobra painting
                   this a few weeks ago. Video is here

Update- found on 9/12/18 - This LINK shows that the mural was painted over-

Bucket List

I don't have many things on my "bucket" list and what I do have I want to try to get done before I get to old and physically unable to enjoy them. The walk across the bridge isn't long but you have to be alert. New Yorkers who run and bike don't especially like "tourist" and will get aggressive. My cousin will be the first to tell you that you don't want to mess with me when I'm totally focused on doing something! There's also our move to Florida. Once we move I'm sure I won't be back, thus the reason for getting it done now.

The Brooklyn Bridge was on the list and very happy to say it's been done!!!

My grandmother was born in Brooklyn and use to tell stories about what it was like growing up in the "city". She would roller skate across the bridge. There's a very small wooden section left that might be from earlier times. I thought about her when I started my walk across the bridge.
                                                       

People leave locks along the bridge, as a symbol of their love. There were quite a few on the bridge awhile back but the bridge has parts that are under construction and unfortunately they were removed.A New York newspaper The Daily News had an article that stated tourist were leaving the locks,love has not boundaries and I'm sure many local people had locks on the bridge also.   

Proof!

Next on the list: Scuba in the keys to see underwater Jesus.