MM 63 Weeks

                                    

Japanese White Pine that survived the Hiroshima Bombing, 400 years old

                                                                 Absolutely beautiful. 

If you want to learn more about the tree check out the video.

Caramelized Chicken Ga Kho

The last of the frozen thighs were thawed and needed to find something that I could make with what I have left in the house.

ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds chicken thighs -skinless, you can debone them, I didn't.

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup fish sauce

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup water

4 cloves garlic - crushed

2 tablespoons chopped ginger

2 shallots minced( used green onions)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil


marinade:

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Directions:

1. In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons of the fish sauce and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar and mix well.  Place the chicken in a air tight container and add the fish sauce and brown sugar marinade and let it sit for 1/2 an hour.

2- In a medium bowl make the sauce- mix the brown sugar,water,rice vinegar and the fish sauce and mix until dissolved. Add the ginger, onion and garlic and set aside.

3- Heat the oil to a large pan and place the flat surface of the thigh facing down. Don't touch for a minute and allow to sear. Pour in 1/4 of the sauce.

4- The chicken will caramelize, don't move it around and let it sear.

5- The sauce will start to thicken and the chicken will brown after a few minutes.

Garnish with roasted sesame seeds and green onion tops cut into bite size

adapted slightly from Food

Jane Todd Crawford

Have you heard of her? Let me tell you a little about this incredible woman.

Mrs. Crawford was diagnosed with a ovarian tumor in 1809. She begged  Dr. McDowell to keep from a slow and painful death. He told her the procedure to remove her type of tumor had never been preformed and that the best doctor in the world thought it was impossible to be removed. Mrs. Crawford must of trusted Dr. McDowell because she told him she wanted the tumor taken out. Dr. McDowell agreed but told Mrs. Crawford she had to travel 60 miles to him to preform the surgery. Mrs. Crawford did not travel by coach, she rode her horse!

On Christmas morning Dr. McDowell operated on Mrs. Crawford. This was done with NO anesthesia! HERE is a photo of Mrs. Crawford. She was given a oral dose of opium and several attendants to hold her down. It was reported she sang hymns and repeated psalms during the procedure!

Dr. McDowell removed the tumor, which was 22.5 pounds ( no wonder she wanted it out). She returned home in 25 days and lived
another 32 years.

WOW!

More information can be found Here

Michelle's Creole Oven Fries

 I've mentioned that Gabe loves  potatoes. A 50 pound bag has made the trip to Florida with us a few times. This year I'm going to repeat what he has been saying to me "Florida does have grocery stores"!

I'm always on the look out for new potato recipe and when I saw this one on Ms. enPlace , I  knew we both would love it. Michelle has a wonderful blog and I love recipes passed from Mother to daughter.

Michelle used Tony's Creole Seasoning. I alternate between Tony's and Slap Ya Mama. Both are excellent.

ingredients:

6 large potatoes ( about 2 pounds) peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 teaspoon paprika ( used smoked paprika)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon Tony Creole seasoning ( used Slap Ya Mama- they have hot and mild, I used the hot)

1/4 cup olive oil*

salt and pepper ( didn't use)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place the potatoes on a large pot and cover them with water.

Bring the water to a boil and cook until almost tender.

Mix the paprika, chili powder and Slap Ya Mama in a small bowl and mix well.**

Drain the potatoes.

Spread the potatoes on a large baking sheet and sprinkle the seasoning from the small bowl on to the potatoes. Toss with your hands to coat all the potatoes.

Drizzle with the olive oil and make sure all the potatoes are fully coated with the olive oil

Bake for minutes, turning every 10 minutes for 35-40 minutes.  They will be crisp on the outside.


Also want to thank Michelle's mom for sharing this recipe.

**I did a few things different preparing the potatoes. I emptied the spice mix in a zip lock bag. Add the potatoes and shook. All covered in a matter of minutes.

* I used PAM Olive Oil spray. Sprayed the pan, added the potatoes and sprayed them on the pan. Did this every 10 minutes to make sure the potatoes were covered. 

They came out spicy with a nice crunch. 

MM 62 Weeks

                                                          Max likes cream cheese.

Beneath The Sea --- Part Two

This was taken in 2003. We were on our way to Palua. The plane was a twenty seater and no a/c. 

Information regarding Palau HERE

Hundreds of tiny mushrooms islands around Palua. Quite an adventure I had while in Palau  One of the guys in our group had a hit while diving. A hit means, the person could be suffering from decompression sickness. We were on a live-a- board, two to three hours from a hospital. No helicopters to help out. I was asked to help out on the way to the hospital. It was a moonlit night, and we got to the hospital in 1/2 a hour, we were moving! Traveling in a tiny boat moving at super sonic speed weaving in and out of tiny islands.

                                                                                                                 Brittle Star

Southwest Quinoa

Gabe was on the boat and I wasn't sure what time he would be home. I planned to give him whatever was left in the fridge which wasn't enough for both of us.

Wanted to make something different and a texture that was soft since I'm having dental work done.

No source for this recipe since I just put it together.

ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 can Rotel, do not drain
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup carrots-chopped and semi-cooked
2 cups chicken broth 
1 cup quinoa
1/4 teaspoon salt


directions:

Sauté  onions and garlic in olive oil in a sauté pan until the onions are translucent. When done set aside.

Rinse quinoa, if you are unsure on how to cook quinoa please check out this Link.

Cook 1 cup rinsed quinoa, 1/4 teaspoon salt in 2 cups chicken broth in a medium size saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. Lower heat and cook covered for 15 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, covered.

 Add the fluffed quinoa, Rotel, red kidney beans, carrots and the onion and garlic to a large saucepan and simmer until most of the liquid from the Rotel is absorbed.

Carrots should be soft but not falling apart.

I served it warm but you can cool it and serve as a salad

Next time I'll add some Slap Ya Mama for additional spice.

Pink Lemonade Cookies

I have to give a huge thank you to Carol, not only for this recipe but for sending boxes of the cake mix. It's not available in our area.

The first person who was my taste tester was Jake. When I told him I was making these he came over everyday to see if they were ready. When I finally made them, he was at the door asking for cookies. I took out the tin his little hand was ready to grab as many as he could. I told him to wait and gave him one to try, I didn't have to ask how it was. He gobbled it up with a huge smile on his face.

The second person was my friend Rita. On our way to the dentist I wanted to drop off a few things and added the cookies to the stuff I wanted her to have. When she tasted a cookie, same reaction as Jake.

I made up a small container for the dentist. She had one and I have no idea if she liked them because my mind shuts down in the dentist and all I can think about is getting out of there.

As far as I can tell, the verdict is in. Fantastic cookie.

You can find more information about the cookie that Carol made HERE. 

ingredients:

1 (18.25 ounce) Pillsbury Pink Lemonade Cake Mix *(please see note)
1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. Lemon Extract
Grated zest from one large lemon
Granulated Sugar for rolling
Confectioners Sugar for dusting

This cakemix does not come in 18.25 ounces anymore. Carol was kind to send me these instructions:

Three ounce Cake Mix upsizer

source: Jill Cataldo

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Whisk all the dry ingredients together. Store in a air tight jar.

Whisk each time before using.

To increase a 15.25 ounce cake mix ( which this box was) add 3 ounces or 8 level tablespoons plus 1 level teaspoon of this up sizer to the cake mix.

directions:

Cream butter until soft and creamy. Add the cream cheese and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Add the egg, lemon extract and the lemon zest to the cream cheese/butter mixture and combine.

Add the cake mix to the bowl and don't forget the up sizer above ( in addition to the cake mix add 8 level tablespoons plus 1 level teaspoon- this is from the up sizer you made earlier).Mix well until everything is combined.


The dough might be to soft to roll into balls. Put the bowl that contains the mixture into the refrigerator for a few hours.

When you are ready to make the cookies preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Take the bowl with the mixture out of the refrigerator and roll the dough into balls about one inch size. 

Roll in granulated sugar.

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

You can use flatten them or leave them rounded, it doesn't make a difference. These are so good either way.

Bake in your oven preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. When you take them out of the oven they look a little underdone.

Leave the cookies on the cookie sheet for an additional one to two minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let them completely cool.

Source: Carol adapted the recipe- found in a cookie club newsletter.

MM 61 Weeks

                        It was time to visit relatives and Max was the star . 
  

                                                             Ready for another kiss?

The Things......

Ritz Cracker Crunchy, Cheezy Chicken

One of my favorite things to do is find recipes that I think we will enjoy. I saw this one on Breezy Boo's Blibber Blabber Blog.

I didn't have Ritz crackers but had Town House, which is a favorite in our home. 

ingredients:

4 large chicken breast ( I used two)

2 sleeves Ritz crackers ( used one sleeve Town House)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1/2 cup milk (  took Breanna's suggestion and used one egg. She said it helped the cheese and cracker crumbs stick)

3 cups cheddar cheese ( used 1 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese)

1 tsp. dried parsley ( used fresh- chop very fine)

1 10 ounce can cream of chicken soup*

2 tablespoons sour cream *

2 tablespoons butter *

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees 

Wash and dry the chicken breast and place them on a clean plate

I unwrapped the sleeve of the Town House crackers and into my Cuisinart they went.  Made sure all the crumbs were crushed fine. Added the salt and pepper to the cracker crumbs.  Placed the mixture on a large dish. I usually use a dinner plate.

 Whisk the egg in a shallow bowl.

 Added the shredded cheese to a medium size plate.

The chicken is first dipped in the egg then the cheese and then the crumbs.  It was easier for me to split the cracker crumbs and cheese, half on one plate and the rest on another plate. 

 The cheese stuck to one side of the chicken but when I flipped  to coat the other side some fell off. I pressed addition shredded cheese to both sides by using  cheese on the other plate ( from the 1 1/2 cups that was shredded). 

The cracker crumbs that were split,  pressed the chicken with the cheese into the crumbs on the first plate and flipped chicken over and pressed into crumbs on the other plate . **

Sprayed baking dish ( size will depend on how many breast you want to bake) a with non stick spray. Placed the chicken in the dish.

Breanna  preheated oven to 400. I switched to 350 for 45-55 mins .

I didn't cover with foil. I added additional butter to the top of the chicken. Placed a slice less then a teaspoon on each breast.

It came out with a crunch and had no problem with the coating sticking to the chicken .

* I didn't make the sauce.

** Yes, I had two additional dishes to wash but the coating was even on both sides. I don't usually coat chicken this way but with this recipe it worked out.

Free Books From Dolly

Did you know that Dolly Parton thinks it's really important that every child has a book to read?

 She started a foundation that will mail children age an appropriate book every month from birth to their fifth birthday.

What a wonderful thing to do!!!!!!!!!

To check the availability, please click on this LINK

Banana Oat Breakfast Cookies

It was time to make our annual visit to Gabe's parents in Montreal. Max also went along for the ride and it was the first time Max got to meet Grandma and Grandpa, even though he wasn't allow in their building.

On the drive to Canada, Gabe had to have a bagel to nosh on and I made these to nibble.

Picked up a few bananas and adapted this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens. 

 Our area doesn't have a Walmart. Carol was so kind and sent me  Watkins Caramel Extract. I used the caramel in place of the vanilla. Thank you Carol!

ingredients:

1 large banana mashed - about 1/2 cup
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter( I used Skippy Honey Nut)
1/2 cup honey
1    teaspoon vanilla ( used Watkins caramel extract)
1 cup rolled oats ( used Quaker Quick Oats)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour ( used white flour)
1/4 cup dry powdered milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ( used Saigon cinnamon)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Lightly coat cookie sheets with cooking spray and set aside

In a large bowl stir together the banana, peanut butter, honey and vanilla.

In a small bowl add the oats, flour milk, powdered milk, cinnamon and baking soda and mix well.

Add the oat mixture to the banana mixture and stir until well combined.

Place dough with a rounded teaspoon onto the greased cookies sheet. I did a sheet of drop cookies and another sheet I flatted the cookies with a spatula dipped in water. 

The recipe calls for a larger cookie but I prefer smaller ones.

Baked 10-12 minutes.

Remove and place cookies on a wire rack to cool.

Chinese zodiac animals.

                            The artist is Diam Chau - this is her website

Before & After Cell Phones

MM 60 weeks

                                                                    Beggin for bacon!

                                       Luna is back and this was the reunion!

St. Andrew's Dune Church

I've always wanted to see the inside of this church. I knew the stained glass windows had to be beautiful but I didn't know how exquisite they were till I actually saw them.

If you would like to read more about the church please click Here


Windows

This Tree Rocks

This was built by Eric Landman in memory of his wife, Kerry.

Additional information can be found  HERE

The apple is the perfect touch.

Retired But Not Tired

                                                          Another one from Reddit. 

              94 year old man gave this card to his new neighbor. 

I don't know about you but I would love to spend time with this gentleman. I would bring him some coffee and we could sit a spell and get to know each other.

Cheesy Onion Casserole

I know it doesn't look like much in the dish but it makes up for it when you taste it!

Janie, from a recipe board I visit did a wonderful review on this dish which I hope she posts in the comments.

As per the photograph I didn't use french bread which the recipe called for. I had cornbread stuffing in the cabinet and wanted to use it up. I didn't add the whole bag, I used about 1/4 of the bag.



2-3 Tbs butter or margarine (used butter)

3 large sweet onions or 4 medium white or yellow onions( yellow onions)

2 c. shredded Swiss cheese (8 oz.)( think I would add a little more next time)

1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted( Cream Of Chicken with mushrooms)

2/3 c. milk(skim milk)

1 tsp. soy sauce

8 or so slices of French bread(cornbread stuffing, someone else used Texas Toast and said it was very good)

Slice the onions and fry them in a large pan with the butter. I cooked my for about 20 mins, nice and slow.

In another small pot I combined the soup, milk, soy sauce and stirred until combined on low heat ( I cook on an electric stove in florida).

I added the soup mixture to the onion in the pan and also added part of the swiss cheese.

Put the onion/soup/cheese mixture in a 2 qt. casserole dish, that I had sprayed with butter pam.

Added the cornbread stuffing to the mixture and added more cheese on top of the cornbread stuffing.

Baked at 350 for 15 min, took it out and pushed the cornbread into the soup/cheese mixture. Be careful, casserole dish will be very hot,and added more cheese. Baked for another 15 mins.

I adapted the recipe from Forkable

Unusual Measuring Cup

Friday Night Bistro Chicken

This recipe was extremely popular on a board I post on. At the time it was posted there were so many recipes and not enough time to make them. 

Nancy from NJ was the original poster and I like to source it back. It might of come from here.

I made another chicken recipe and Carol and Janie mentioned that this was good and wanted to give it a try.

2 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoon olive oil

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 tsp. salt ( didn't use- soup has plenty of sodium)

1/2 tsp. ground pepper ( only did a few twist of the pepper grinder)

1/2 cup chopped shallots ( used red onion)

1 ( 14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes- don't drain!

1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme ( used 1/2 tsp.)

1 can Campbell's condensed French Onion Soup

1 cup grated Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a large ovenproof skillet, melt the butter and add the olive oil to the melted butter. Sprinkle the chicken with half of the salt and pepper and brown the chicken on both sides but make sure the chicken does not cook through.

Take the chicken out of the skillet and place on a plate.

Add the shallots to the skillet, that the chicken was browned in and saute about 3-4 minutes or until soft. Add the tomatoes and thyme to the shallots in the skillet and cook until the sauce has reduced which should be 4-5 minutes. Add the soup the reduced mixture and cook another 5 minutes and add the rest of the salt and pepper.

The original directions call for the chicken to return to the skillet and add the cheese and cook for 20 minutes. I put some of the sauce in the bottom of a sprayed baking dish, placed the chicken on top of the sauce and covered the chicken with the rest of the sauce.

I cooked it in the oven for 20 minutes and added the cheese the last 5 minutes. 

MM 59 weeks

                                        Someone has to have his share ! 

Max has been with us almost a year and to mark the occasion a very special friend send him a new ball. It's now one of his favorites along with a red dinosaur from another special friend.

This Weekend

Is the 8th anniversary of hurricane Katrina. It killed over 1,800 people. Our son who works offshore was in the gulf as the storm approached. The company finally shut down and he was able to come in and manage to get to Texas. He was one of the lucky ones.

As I watched the news, each broadcast I had tears in my eyes. I HAD to do something, anything. No way would I just write a check. I had to do something that would directly help those affected by the storm.

I truly believe things happen for a reason and at the time I was working at a job where I had a conversation with a board member about a friend he had in Louisiana. 

Some of people who did get out of New Orleans were sent to a town in northern Louisiana which had a shelter.

The people who were evacuated had nothing, only the clothes on their backs. The man running the shelter was at his wits end. How could he help these people?

After our conversation I knew I was going to help. No matter what I would get it done.

Never in my life had I ever attempted anything as enormous and important as this. No matter what, it was going to happen.

Asking for help I got tons of no's. I can not to this day understand why. Doesn't matter, I got my yes and ran with it.

We managed to send two tracker trailer loaded with water, clothing, bikes and many other necessities. Everything was sorted and clean and at the end of the day you knew that what you did was helping. That's what it's all about.

This post isn't about me and what I did, it's about kindness. It's also about if you want something bad enough, just do it. Don't wait for someone else to do it because it may never get done.

Recently I heard a sermon about people's talents. As he read off the talents, I sat there and thought well, I don't have any of those but the last one was kindness. That I know I have.

I believe everyone has kindness in them, let it out. The world would be a better place.