random amusements

Pseudio

Well, it's not a patio...it's a pseudo-patio...a pseudio. (SUE-dee-oh)

No, not like the Phil Collins song; that was Sussudio.


We're planning on putting in a concrete slab in the back, and above you see Casey measuring out the proposed dimensions. I think it's like 20' x 23' or thereabout.




We set up the table and chairs to give us some perspective with regards to how eventual outdoor furniture would fit, and still allow you to scoot you chair back from the table without tumbling over backwards. I thought that that might be amusing to watch. But Casey was concerned that someone could get hurt. Spoil my fun. [humor]


Our friends who live in that green house you see in the background (above photo) came over to help us do a test run of sitting outside drinking. They did a fine job, lemme tell ya!

When the project is done, I'll post the "making of" photos and the finished product. I'm happy that we're finally getting this done, after being in the house for two years. Next year, I get my garden no matter what!!!

Now all I have to do is find a table and chairs that we like...we are open to suggestions. End-of-summer clearance sales are my friend!


NOTE: You can click on the photos to get a better look at them; then hit the "back" button on your browser to go back.

random amusements

Dinner Dice

This is brilliant! Dinner dice! You roll the dice to see what you're going to make for dinner tonight!
I don't know about you, but even with this foodblog as an ongoing project—or maybe because of it!—I have a hard time deciding on what to cook for dinner.

My options are usually limited to end-of-week, we-need-to-go-grocery-shopping food items that didn't yet get consumed. I take stock of the pantry after determining what hasn't gone bad in the fridge.

So, I guess this "game" would not necessarily be practical for me unless I sneak over to pilfer from my neighbors' garden. (We STILL don't have anything more than a few tomato plants! Grrr!) Maybe you roll the dice and then go to the store, huh? Sounds reasonable.

I may end up creating my own set of "dice" using scrap pieces of wood that…hey! Uncle Kevin might have some! We shall see…


Linky:
what to cook? dice set

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August = Chocolate Pie Month

I've made a decision. August will from now on be known as Chocolate Pie Month.

Don't argue with me. Don't even think about trying.

Throughout the entire month of August, I will be making many forms of chocolate pies, tarts, flourless cakes, and whatnot. Anything that I determine is "close enough" will be featured in this category.

I also encourage you all to make chocolate pies in the month of August. C'mon, it'll give you a purpose—a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Now you have something to look forward to. Aren't you happy?!


Related:
Mocha Custard (Pie)

Marble Cake in Cat Pan

Okay, I know this is just too darn cute, so I had to share the photo!

All I did was take a Duncan Hines marble cake mix and put it in my cat cake pan, to make it look like a calico cat.

You can't quite tell from the photo, but there are actually two different chocolate patches. One is the regular cocoa batter from the package of mix. The other is batter with Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder and about 2 heaping teaspoons of raspberry jam mixed in. It didn't have enough raspberry flavor, so I'll have to tinker with that concept a little more next time.

random amusements

Creepy Skulls Family Lounge Pants?

Family?

For the entire family? Really? LOL!

Okay, this completely cracked me up when I flipped through the Lakeside Collection catalog and found this bizarre item.

Honestly, when you happen upon a fabric with creepy skulls on it, and you want to make a quick buck, why would the first thing that went through your mind ever be, "hey, I know, how about lounge pants for the whole family?!"

Still, it was worth the laugh, I suppose. That's why I had to share. :)


Linky:
Creepy Skulls Family Lounge Pants

Fluffy Bananas Foster Pie

Fluffy Bananas Foster Pie

1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 c. banana, sliced
4 slices of Sara Lee pound cake, cut into 1/2" cubes
1/4 c. caramel ice cream topping
1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (6 oz.) graham cracker pie crust

1. Mix together sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping in large bowl until blended.
2. Stir in bananas and pound cake.
3. Have someone taste it...
4. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon into crust.
5. Freeze 5 hours or until set.
6. Let stand 30 to 40 minutes before serving.
7. Garnish with additional caramel topping and banana slices.

NOTES:

• This pie did not set up well because I didn't have it in the freezer long enough before serving, and that was a BIG mistake.
  
• Also, I think I should have used an electric mixer to beat the sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping so that it would maybe fluff up some more.
  
• And don't let your Cool Whip get too warm—I think that was also a factor in the lack of volume in this pie.
• I would also suggest putting the mixed ingredients into the fridge or even the freezer prior to filling the pie crust, to help it set up partially, and build more volume.
• Another option I thought of was to saute the bananas in the caramel sauce before adding them to the pie, but you'd have to be sure to let them cool off first.
  

Niçoise salad w/ Salmon

This was dinner tonight—it was fantastic!!!

Niçoise salad w/ Salmon

2 (4 oz. each) salmon fillets
4 t. molasses
dash of chili powder
dash of salt
2 c. mixed greens salad
4 to 6 small red potatoes, boiled
1 c. fresh green beans, steamed
1 (14 oz.) can mushrooms (or fresh, of which I didn't have handy)
2 baby zucchini, peeled & cut into matchsticks, then sautéed
1 hard-boiled egg, sliced

1. Tear off two equal pieces of heavy-duty foil. In the center of each, drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil. Place each salmon fillet in on top of oil, then spoon 2 teaspoons of molasses to cover the fish. Dash with salt and chili powder, and seal packets by folding up edges.
2. Prep other veggies, as directed above. This is a good dinner for the summer when you may already have some of these things leftover in your fridge.
3. For the mushrooms, I melted about a tablespoon of butter in a small saucepan and then added one tablespoon of flour, to make a roux. Then, instead of using milk, I added most of the liquid from the can of mushrooms. (FYI: Had they been fresh mushrooms, I'd have sautéed them first, removed them from the pan, made the roux with milk/cream, and added the mushrooms back in.)
4. Grill the salmon foil packets over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes.
5. On one end of an oblong plate, create a bed of salad greens, and place a fillet on top; pour any liquid from the foil packet on top. Arrange the other ingredients on the plate in an aesthetically-pleasing way…if you can wait that long before eating…
   

NOTE: It's pronounced "nee-SWAH" in case you were wondering.

Gripe Of The Day

My cheese knife broke!!!

So I bought a replacement at Meijer, and I hate it. It looks sort of like this:

It does not work as well as my old one did, damnit. This new one mangles the cheese, rather than slicing it. The holes in the blade are too large and it sort of double-cuts the cheese as it slices through it, making a mess of the whole process. Grrr....

So now I'm searching online to try to find a knife like my original one.

Here are my options so far:

A) igourmet.com Signature Cheese Serving Knife: $9.99

B) Kitchenworks cheese knife: $6.50


C) Henckels TWIN Collection Cheese Knife: $19.99

D) Wusthof Grand Prix II 5-in. Soft Cheese Knife: $59.95


Of course I'm also going to shop around and see what Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Kohl's, and other stores have...I'm so bummed about my knife... WAH!!!

Dad's chip dip

When I was a kid, my dad never cooked, baked, or even mixed anything in the kitchen. Well, he made peanut butter toast for himself, of course. But otherwise, this was his only culinary effort: cream cheese chip dip. It's simple yet fabulous. Try it!

Dad's Cream Cheese Chip Dip

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. milk
big dash of garlic powder
dash of onion powder

1. Make sure the cream cheese is softened sufficiently or heat it very briefly in the microwave so that it is easier to work with.
   
2. In medium mixing bowl, mash it with a fork and add seasonings.
3. Add the milk a little at a time, blending with the cream cheese, until it reaches your preferred dip thickness.
   

NOTE: You can use an electric mixer, if you choose, but the traditional way was always to mix it with a fork. Or one of those old-fashioned hand-held egg beater things with the crank handle on the side, ya know? Us kids made plenty of messes with that good ol' tool! LOL!

Fajita Grilled Chicken

Sorry I didn't get a photo of this, but we made it and then we sat down to eat. It was too good for me to even think of stopping to go get the digital camera! LOL!

Fajita Grilled Chicken

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 packet taco seasoning (probably about one tablespoon, maybe?)

In medium bowl, mix olive oil with taco seasoning. Place chicken in bowl and turn with fork to coat chicken completely. (I also stab the chicken with the fork a little, to help tenderize the meat.) Allow to stand in this marinade for at least 30 minutes. Grill as usual; discard leftover marinade.


NOTE: Leftover chicken would make a great salad addition!

Independence Day...a good thing

Above: Fearless family member who served in Iraq. I cannot even tell you how proud I am of him!!! God bless you!!!

Compassion is the basis of morality.
~ Arthur Schopenhauer

Happy 4th of July to everyone!

Mediterranean Dip

1 1/2 c. feta cheese, crumbled
1 can black olives, drained & chopped
2 medium tomatoes, seeded & chopped
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 can artichoke hearts, chopped
1 green onion, minced
1/2 t. oregano
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil

In medium bowl beat cream cheese until smooth. Add other ingredients, except basil. Mound mixture on serving plate. Press basil around edges. Serve with your favorite crackers, tortilla chips or pita chips.

Rustic Salmon-Artichoke Tart

I made this up because I wanted to make stuffed mushrooms, but unfortunately, they had gone bad in the fridge. I was in the mood to cook, so a search through the pantry came up with these ingredients...and it turned out wonderful!

Salmon-Artichoke Tart

1 can salmon, cleaned
1 c. mozzarella cheese
1/4 c. parmesan
1/2 jar artichoke hearts, chopped
1 box Jiffy pizza crust mix
1/2 c. Ranch dressing
cheese and sour cream as topping/garnish

1. Mix salmon and cheeses in a small bowl; add artichoke. Stir well.
2. Prepare pizza crust mix according to directions, press into 9x13 baking pan.
3. Pre-bake crust for 5 minutes at 350˚.
4. Carefully remove crust from oven and spread with Ranch dressing—you can add more than 1/2 a cup, if you like it goopy—and top with salmon-cheese mixture. Lightly press additional shredded cheese onto salmon layer, like making a pizza; then add some blobs of sour cream to garnish.
5. Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is browned to your liking.
6. Serve with additional sour cream or Ranch dressing.

random amusements

"Why did Dr. Halaburt give me a pink bandage?!"

Thumper and the vet

I just want to remind everyone that although being a very "pretty" cat, Thumper is a BOY.

And I found out an interesting fact yesterday, when we picked Thumpy up from the vet. The tech told us that the pain medication we've been forcing down his throat with a syringe is chicken flavored.

Think about that. Chicken-flavored pain medication for cats. On the one hand, it's brilliant. On the other hand, this could very easily lead to kitty addictions. Of course, this was where my imagination took it and ran…

Thumper: Hey, I think I need more of that chicken liquid…
Me: No, you're only supposed to have it every three days.
Thumper: Hasn't it been three days already?
Me: Nope.
Thumper: Are you sure?
Me: Yes.
Thumper: But I really think I need some chicken liquid…
Me: Not yet.
Thumper: I want the chicken liquid!
Me: No.
Thumper: Give me the chicken liquid!!!
Me: No. Not yet.
Thumper: Mrrrrrrr!!!!!! Rrrrowr!!!!



The full history behind this is that I've had Thumper for 12 years—it'll be 13 this August (happy anniversary, kitty!)—and although he is still not acting his age, his teeth were starting to go bad. For the past few years, we've been taking him to the vet to have a kitty dental cleaning once a year, but recently, that has not been enough to keep his gums healthy.

Since I found him as a stray, he has had some digestive issues which prevent him from eating any dry, crunchy cat food. As a result, he gets tartar build-up on his teeth, his gums get irritated, and he gets infections. Similar to how people can get gingivitis and/or abscessed teeth. But you can't tell a cat to brush and floss. Well, not successfully, anyhow.

The only real solution has been to have his bad teeth extracted. So over the past, oh, five years or so, he has had to forfeit teeth in order to stay healthy. This time, recognizing his age and increased risk with anesthetic, we decided to have the majority of his teeth taken out. That may sound like a drastic move, but for a strictly indoor cat who can't eat crunchy food anyway, it's the most logical way to prevent dental problems and infections.

Maybe I'm just writing this to convince myself because I have been a freakin' nervous wreck since last Friday night when I saw a little drop of blood on his lip and thought his jaw looked swollen…but now that he's eating so much more than he had been, I think it was definitely the right decision.

When I first rescued Thumper, I made him a promise that I'd always take care of him. I intend to keep that promise forever.




Thumper in the "meatloaf" posture.

random amusements

Caseykitty!
(If you know my husband, you'll get the joke.)

Greek Chicken on the Grill

Portion control. This is actually A LOT of food for me, though! LOL! Along with the chicken there is a salad with Raspberry-Hazelnut vinaigrette, sauted cabbage, corn, and baked beans.

Greek Chicken on the Grill

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 c. lemon juice
1 t. crushed Greek oregano
1/4 t. salt
2 T. olive oil
dash of black pepper (to taste)

1. Combine all ingredients in Ziplock bag and allow to marinate at least 30 minutes, or overnight if preferred.
2. Heat grill to high temperature, then turn down to medium-low.
3. Place chicken on grill and cook for 6-8 minutes; flip and continue cooking until chicken is firm and juice coming from within is no longer pink.

Options:

• Cube the chicken in place it on pre-soaked wooden skewers to cook as shish kabobs.
• Slice cooked chicken breasts and put on a salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese.
• Slice cooked chicken and put on pita breads with sour cream and onions.
  

Easy Baked Beans

Easy Baked Beans

1 can red beans, undrained
1/4 c. ketchup
1 to 2 T. molasses
1 t. bacon bits (optional)

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients. Stir well and warm over low heat.


NOTE: This recipe is super easy! I made it up spur of the moment when my husband said he was hungry for baked beans.

Grilled Salmon in Foil Packets

That's a grilled turkey sausage and some scalloped potatoes with my salmon fillet.

Grilled Salmon in Foil Packets

2 (4 oz.) salmon filets
salt
olive oil
optional: BBQ sauce

1. Preheat grill to hot.
2. Tear off two pieces of foil, large enough to enclose each filet.
3. Spread a teaspoon or so of olive oil on the foil with a pastry brush.
4. Salt the salmon filets on both sides and place each in the center of each piece of foil. Top with BBQ sauce, if desired.
5. Close foil to seal everything in.
6. Place packets on grill and turn heat down to low. Keep lid closed and allow salmon to cook for 12 to 15 minutes. Fish will flake easily when it is done.

random amusements

This is so sweet, it almost made me cry!

Smoked Salmon Spread

Here's a little hint: the "L" in salmon is silent. Please, please, remember this!

Smoked Salmon Spread

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 (16 oz.) can salmon, cleaned
2 t. onion, chopped very fine
1 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. salt
1 t. liquid smoke
1/2 t. prepared horseradish

1. Beat cream cheese with a fork until it is smooth.
2. Add salt, lemon juice, onion, liquid smoke and horseradish; mix until well-blended.
3. Stir in salmon; mix well.
4. Serve with melba rounds or crackers of your choice.
   

random amusements and procrastination

Take THAT, procrastination! HA! I finally beat you!

I made time today to clean and organize my huge curio cabinet, which has been sitting empty in a corner of my living room since we moved in here two years ago. Yah, I know, two whole years. I suck.

BUT not anymore! I got out the Windex Powerized Multi-Task with Vinegar Commercial Line glass cleaner (not a product endoresment!) and tried my damnedest to get the glass to stop streaking and being covered with paper towel lint. At least the dust and fingerprints are gone. That's the best I could do.

What I need is a bottle of the purple stuff that my dad always had in the backseat of his car for cleaning the pipesmoke soot off of his windows. I'll have to ask him what the heck that was...you wouldn't think his car windows would ever come clean, and yet, they did. Amazing. Heh, yeah, I'll have to ask him.

Anyways, back to my amusement...

I collect these little mouse figurines called "Charming Tails". Look it up. They're adorable. When I bought my house back in '95, I got a few of them with a Christmas theme, I think my mom & I went shopping at Highland Pharmacy (remember that place?!). And the rest is history, as they say. Not sure how many I've got by now. I'll have to take a count of them and some photos to post.

After putting it off for this long, it was like finding a lost treasure all over again. Maybe I'd forgotten how much I love my little mouseys. Next time you come over, you'll have to be sure to check them out.


Here is a pic I found online:

random amusements

I kinda found this by accident: Choclatique

Can you believe how elaborate those chocolates are? Can you believe how expensive?! LOL!

It does look good, though, doesn't it? Mmmmmm, chocolate....

Fun birthday cake

This was Casey's birthday cake. It was a concept I'd come up with months ago, and it finally became a wish-come-true for him. LOL!

It's just a layer cake with Ding Dongs on top. Brilliant, huh? I made a 10-inch base layer and an 8-inch top layer, covered it with "tripple fudge chocolate chip" frosting, and then we sliced the Ding Dongs in half and positioned them on top.

I think I like the Duncan Hines box mix the best--it always turns out so moist. Yeah, I coulda made it from scratch, but we had some people over for a little casual BBQ and I was running out of time. As it turned out, the cake was just coming out of the oven when they arrived.

A very fun night, and a happy birthday to my sweetheart. <3

Potato Peasant Bread

I made this bread on Wednesday and it was gone within 24 hours. We did give one loaf to the neighbors, but still...I think it is addictive!!!

Potato Peasant Bread

3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 packets yeast
2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. water
3 T. butter or margarine
3/4 c. mashed boiled potato (*for instant potatoes, see note below)
1 T. flour

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, contents of yeast packets, and salt.
2. In small bowl, microwave water, butter and mashed potato until very warm (120 to 130˚).
3. Gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
4. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
6. Divide dough in half. Roll each half to 8 x 12-inch oval.
7. Beginning at short end, roll up tightly as if for jelly roll. Pinch seam and ends to seal. Place both, side by side, on a large greased baking sheet.
8. With sharp knife, cut 3 diagonal slits (1/4-inch deep) on top of each loaf. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
9. Bake at 400˚ for 15 to 20 minutes or until done. Remove from sheet; cool on wire rack.

*To use instant potatoes: Combine 1/2 cup water and 3 tablespoons milk in saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup potato flakes or buds. Cool to room temperature.

Hawks win game 3; lose game 4

Get ready, Hawks...

Game 5 is tonight, and it is a must-win. I have been offline a lot because we had a birthday weekend, and I've been spending more time in the yard. I didn't see much of game 4 because we were outside most of the day, but every time I came in to check the score, it turned my stomach. It still pisses me off, and I don't really want to talk about it. However, looking forward, this team CAN play a good game and they CAN beat the Deadthings. Get your heads straight, and get to work, boys, you can do it!!!!

I'm planning a birthday cake for Casey, but it'll probably have to wait til the weekend. Another project on my mind is that we're looking for a cement contractor so we can get a nice patio put in behind the house. I'd like to be able to sit out there in my jammies and drink my morning coffee. Not that there's a lot of people around here to begin with, but sitting in the back yard would be less conspicuous than on the front porch.

I should get back to baking...maybe it would improve my mood...

random amusements

This is totally ME as a cat:


http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Leftovers and Eggs

This is a good meal for any time of day; it does not have to be for breakfast. Any leftovers will do. In the photo, it is leftover sloppy joe meat and some zucchini.

Leftovers and Eggs

1. Find some leftovers in the fridge.
2. Put them in a frying pan over medium heat with a dab of butter.
3. Heat leftovers, then add eggs; cook until eggs are done.

You can use basically any leftovers you want, or throw in some fresh veggies with some meat, then add the eggs. There are no rules for this one. It depends on what you can find in the fridge and what you have a taste for. I use this as a meal idea for low-carb cooking options.




Thumper: "Where's mine?!"

Round 3 Game 1

Hawks lose game one

In a high-action game where Chicago out-skated the Deadthings in the first period, the Hawks were only granted one power play, which they did score on, and Detroit was allowed to hook, hold, and slash their way to a victory.

Maybe game two tonight will see the refs pull their whistles out of their asses and actually call penalties at both ends of the ice. Nah, what am I thinking?! I can accept losing when it is fair and square, but that game was anything but. We were out-playing them. Period.


Game 2 Tonight

Chicago Blackhawks
VS.

Detroitsucks

Hawks need to keep hitting and take the wind out of their opponents sails; out 4th line had them running around in their own zone, and we need much more of that. I know these kids can win. They know they can win. But the ice has to be level, or at least close.

C'mon, Hawks. Let's run 'em over and take a win away tonight.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

Garden Party Today

Goldie's garden party/plant swap

This isn't working out exactly the way I had planned it, but I think it'll still be a fun day.

I invited some friends and family over to have some snacks and join in a plant swap. Basically, you bring a flat of flowers or plants, and everybody takes one, then gives you one of theirs. My only requirement was to make one purchased flat for trading, and then you could also bring stuff from your yard that needed to be thinned out.

The issues I ran into were that it has been a cold spring and I didn't want to plan this too early where things could still get hit with frost, and then we have two holiday weekends in May (plus my birthday & Casey's!), so I should probably have stuck with an April date. Next year, I'll do this earlier!

I will also make the next one an open invitation on a first-come-first-serve basis, because of the whole scheduling and weekend activity issue. And maybe it will be a two-day process of swapping whenever you have a chance to stop by. At the start, I didn't want this to get too big or crazy, so I limited the number of people invited, and that kinda didn't work out so well...but I was trying to pick the friends who I knew were interested in gardening, and I over-thought the process.

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone brings. It is always a good idea to share, and this gives people an organized time and place to do it; prompting them to go ahead and dig up some of those daylillies that are going crazy in the yard, ya know?

Below is the text I used in my email and flyers—feel free to borrow it for your own garden party plan:

I'm planning to have a garden party & plant swap on [date] .

The basic premise is to share different types of plants among all the attendees. However, if you are not interested, or aren't available on this date, please let me know a.s.a.p., so I can plan accordingly.

What you should bring:
1) A flat of plants + a few more from any of the local garden centers (grocery stores even have the garden tents put up now). If each person does this, we will each receive a nice variety in the swap.

2) Bring any plants from your yard that need to be thinned out or divided. But you are NOT required to bring extra store-bought plants—this part is strictly voluntary, for those who have the resources in their yard and want to do the digging.

3) Extra seeds or seed packets that you'd like to share. I know every year I save a TON of seeds from my columbines, marigolds, hollyhocks, dill, and all kinds of other stuff.


If you want to join us, please let me know what you intend to bring, so that we can coordinate colors and not get too many duplicates in the swap. I’ll keep everyone updated on this.

Snacks and drinks will be provided, so you only need to bring plants and not food.

Thanks a bunch, you guys! See you soon, I hope!


RSVP:


I will try to post some pictures later or tomorrow...