Strange start to the day – I awoke to the sounds of faint fire/police truck sirens and my husband saying: “Do you HEAR that?” My answer – check the toy box. Turns out somehow one of our grandson’s police or fire truck toys got shifted around in the toy box, setting off it’s alarm. Next I hear my husband say: “Ben’s car door is open!” (reason for freaking – it had been that way all night: was there a break-in or did my son forget to shut it last night around 1 a.m. when he came in?) Husband shut the car, then I asked: “Did the car start?” (ie: leave the door open all night, pretty good possibility of battery not working) – Car started. I went back to sleep. Next interval of awakening (might make that ‘rude awakening’ ) husband sort of rushing through house saying: “Did you find it yet?” Middle son & husband were looking for son’s lap top AND his wallet- turns out they found both of them in the house – WHEW! Well, that did it for my going back to sleep – I was fully awake! As we tend to say around this house: Never a dull moment!
Not much going on here at the moment, laundry in my near future. Started another baby blanket – this one in a regular worsted weight peach-colored yarn. Turns out I had a large (almost 1 lb.) ball of it so I figured I’d give it a go. This one is in a familiar pattern for me; it’s called “Imitation Embroidery #1” in the Mon Tricot knitting book, circa 1960’s. (there are three of the Imitation Embroidery patterns, all a little different, each with holes in the pattern). I’m hoping to knit the whole ball and see how big it makes it; if it’s not exactly as large as I’d like, I’ll probably crochet a white border around it. Let’s see- currently working on: chemo caps (bag in my car-work on that when I’m riding to & from church while husband drives – keeps me from freaking at his driving!), the peach blanket and the bright pink crocheted squares. Found out last night that I can get about 10 6 1/2 inch x 6 1/2 inch squares from one skein (and I have 2 in that bright pink), so I’m figuring another 2 skeins of white, same pattern should make a decent sized baby blanket (40 squares will make it 32.5 inches wide by 52 inches long, plus a single crochet border around the entire blanket). I guess it’s my OCD:(Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder) that makes me have to have more than one project going at a time. It’s sort of the thrill of beginning a project and wondering how it will turn out when you’re done.
Food-wise, lots of summer-type, grill recipes:
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Black Forest Coffee Cake
3 eggs
1 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. oil
1 1/2 C. milk
2 T. vanilla
3 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 C. chocolate chips
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie
filling
Beat eggs; add sugar, oil,
milk & vanilla; mix. Add
flour & baking powder, mix
again. When well mixed,
add chocolate chips. Pour
into a large greased baking
pan. Drop cherry pie filling
by the tsp. in even rows into
the batter.
Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
Topping:
1 C. Bisquick
1/2 C. sugar
1/4 C. butter or margarine
1/2 C. chocolate chips (garnish)
Blend Bisquick, sugar &
butter with a pastry
blender to form loose crumbs.
Sprinkle over top of cake,
garnish with chocolate chips.
Bake 50-60 minutes until
golden brown.
(recipe: Peg-Marys Recipe
Exchange – original recipe:
The Apple Dumpling Gang)
——————–
Pork Chop/Apple/Bean Packets
(grill)
2 (15 oz, ea) cans pork &
beans, drained
1 1/2 C. sliced, quartered
red skin apples
1/2 C. chopped onion
1/2 C. barbecue sauce
4 bone-in pork chops (6 oz,
each)
1/4 tsp. salt
Preheat outdoor grill to medium-
high heat. Stir together drained
beans, apples, onion & barbecue
sauce in medium bowl. Place four
18 x 12 inch pieces of heavy
foil on counter. Spray each
with nonstick cooking spray. Place
1 pork chop in center of each
square; sprinkle with salt. Spoon
1/4th bean mixture over pork in
each packet. Bring up short sides
of each foil packet & double
fold top. Double fold both ends
to seal each packet, leaving
space for steam to gather.
Place packets on grate of covered
grill. Grill 15-20 minutes or
until pork chops are cooked
through (160ºF.) and apples
are tender. Carefully open
packets. Serves 4.
NOTE: Packets can be baked
on shallow pan in oven 20
minutes or until
pork is cooked through &
apples are tender.
(recipe: readyseteat)
-----------------------
No-Melt Sundae Pie
15 Oreo cookies, crushed
3 T. butter, melted
1 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed
/divided
1 (3.4 oz) pkg. vanilla instant pudding
1 C. cold milk
2 squares Bakers Semi- Sweet
chocolate, melted
1/3 C. canned sweetened condensed
milk
Mix cookie crumbs & butter; press onto bottom
& up sides of 9 inch pie plate. Reserve 1/2 C.
Cool Whip; refrigerate until ready to use. Beat
pudding mix & 1 C. cold milk in medium bowl
with whisk 2 minutes. Stir in remaining Cool
Whip; spoon into crust. Mix melted chocolate
& condensed milk; spoon over pie. Swirl gently
with knife. Freeze 6 hours or until firm. Let pie
stand at room temperature 15 minutes before
serving to soften slightly. Top with reserved
Cool Whip. Serves 10 (recipe: Kraft Foods)
———————–
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken
breasts
2 Cups torn romaine lettuce
2 eggs, beaten
3 T. olive oil
1/4 C. lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T. spicy brown mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
shredded Parmesan cheese
(optional)
Spray cold grill grate with non- stick
spray. Preheat grill to medium heat.
Place chicken on grate; cover. Grill
10 minutes or until no longer pink in
center (165 degrees F.), turning after
5 minutes. Cool chicken 10 minutes;
cut into strips. Place lettuce in large
bowl; add chicken & mix lightly. Mix
eggs, oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard,
salt & pepper in small bowl with wire
whisk until well blended. Pour over
salad; toss to coat, serve immediately.
Sprinkle salad with shredded Parmesan
cheese, if desired. Serves 6.
(recipe: readyseteat)
—————————–
Durango Potato Salad 2 lb. small red potatoes 1 (10 oz) can Ro*tel diced tomatoes & green chilies 1/2 C. mayonnaise 2 T. spicy brown mustard 1 C. chopped celery 2 green onions, sliced 3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled In large saucepan, boil potatoes in enough water to cover; about 15 minutes or until tender; drain & cool slightly. Cut into quarters. In large owl combine Ro*tel tomatoes, mayo & mustard. Add potatoes, celery, green onions & bacon; toss to coat. Cover & refrigerate about 1 hour. Makes 8 servings. (recipe: Sandy-Marys RecipeExchange) ---------------------- Pizza Margherita on the Grill 1-2 T. cornmeal 1 pizza crust mix or prepared pizza crust 1/4 C. olive oil 1 t. fresh basil, chopped 1/2 C. finely shredded Mozzarella cheese 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese 1 large tomato, thinly sliced (blot with paper towels to absorb moisture) 1 large clove garlic, minced 15 basil leaves, stacked, rolled & sliced to make ribbons (chiffonade) Brush grill rack with oil. Preheat grill to medium heat. For charcoal, place rack 3-4 inches above coals. Dust surface of a large baking sheet with cornmeal. Shape dough into 10-12 inch circle or rectangle, 1/4 inch thick. Take care to maintain even thickness. Blend oil & 1 T. chopped basil leaves. Place basil/oil mixture, shredded cheeses, tomatoes, garlic & fresh basil chiffonade on a platter & place near grill. Carefully lift dough & drape over grill rack. Within a minute or two, dough will begin to puff, the underside will firm up & grill marks will appear. Using tongs, flip crust over. Brush 1/2 of basil/oil mixture over pizza crust to within 1/2 inch of outer edge. Scatter mozzarella & parmesan cheeses evenly over crust. Add tomato slices & garlic; drizzle remaining basil/oil over crust if desired. Continue to grill another 4-5 minutes until cheeses are melted & grill marks begin to appear on underside of crust. Scatter basil chiffonade over crust and remove from heat. Slice & serve immediately. (recipe: Spartan Foods, MI) --------------------------- Perfect Picnic Cake 1 box lemon cake mix 1 (3 oz) pkg. lemon instant pudding mix 1 C. plus 1 T. water 4 eggs 1/3 C. oil 1 (6 oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed but undiluted 2 1/2 C. confectioners sugar Combine cake mix, pudding mix (dry), water, eggs & oil; bake according to cake mix directions in 9 x 13 pan. While cake is baking, combine lemonade concentrate with confectioners sugar. After baking, immediately poke holes all over cake with a long-pronged meat fork or something similar. Pour lemonade mixture all over top and let it seep in. Return cake to oven 5-10 minutes more. (recipe: Sandy-Marys Recipe Exchange) ----------------------- Mexican Grilled Corn 4 ears corn 1/2 C. mayonnaise 1 1/2 C. sour cream 1/4 C. freshly chopped cilantro 1 C. grated Parmesan 1 lime, juiced ed chili powder, to taste 2 limes, cut into wedges, for garnish Remove husks from corn, leave the core attached at end (to hold onto). Grill corn on a hot grill or cast iron griddle pan until slightly charred. Turn so it gets cooked evenly all over. Mix mayonnaise, sour cream & cilantro. Place Parmesan cheese in another bowl. While corn is still warm, slather with mayo mixture, squeeze lime juice over corn & shower with Parmesan cheese. Season with chili powder and serve with extra lime wedges. Serves 4 (recipe: Food Network) --------------------------- Chubby Hubby Bars 2 C. flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 3/4 C. unsalted butter, room temperature 1 C. light brown sugar 1/2 C. granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 T. vanilla 1/4 C. chunky peanut butter 1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/2 C. coarsely chopped pretzels Topping: 1/4 C. peanut butter chips 1/4 C. chocolate chips 1/4 C. coarsely chopped pretzels Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda & salt. Using a mixer, beat butter & both sugars at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs & vanilla. On low speed, beat in dry ingredients just until incorporated. Stir in peanut butter, chocolate chips & chopped pretzels. Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle peanut butter chips, chocolate chips & chopped pretzels on top for topping. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. (recipe: Kristin-justapinch.com) ================================== Sometime today I need to go on-line and order husband some walking shorts for Father's Day. Now, I hear you say: "Isn't that a little LATE to be ordering, as Father's Day is THIS coming Sunday?" Yes, and no; my husbad adhears to the ridiculous idea/rule that Father's Day is NOT a holiday, ergo - no presents, no acknowledgement of the day, etc. (Don't ask me why-he's sure it's a conspiracy by all candy/flower/card companies to make UN-holidays like Mother's Day/Grandparents Day/Valentine's Day, etc. - he hates them all). Anyway, that said, I'm still going to order him some shorts - whether he accepts them as a 'present/gift' is up to him, we still made the effort (sigh). (I should preface that all of our collective relatives/parents are not living now, so that makes his idea of not celebrating a little easier). Nice day out - windows are open, sun is shining, slight breeze, birds are singing, 72 degrees! I might try to get a walk in today before it gets hotter. Enjoy your day!!! Hugs; Pammie
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