Scattered thoughts on a Thursday

Not much going on – finished the yellow crocheted baby blanket today; haven’t quite solidified my pattern idea for the next blanket (am sort of hovering at a Granny Square one – yes, I know – that’s CROCHET and you HATE crochet!). Found lots of nice patterns knit & crochet, but want to use this donated yarn to it’s best potential. Most of the yarn is a sort of fuzzy baby yarn (skeins in white & lavender; have a few small skeins of a dark purple, a large skein of a kinky light pink, and some light mauve). Have a large ball of leftover yellow from other afghan; am thinking of making the squares like flowers: bright yellow center, then varying outer rings – we’ll see.

My special needs friend I drive each week brought me his afghan (the one I knit him about 1 1/2 years ago) – it seems he caught it on something and now it has a small hole. Washed & dried it first and a little later on today will go looking for the hole. Upon first sight I didn’t find one – we’ll see.

Our weather is still chilly, gray and yucky 56 degrees F. (could be worse: it could be raining – sigh). Gas prices are on the rise: now up to $2.69/9 – guess they’re upping them for the holiday weekend. My oldest son just told me that the price of eggs will be going up a LOT soon – I guess there’s a bird flu that’s killing commercial chickens, making egg prices go through the roof. He’s an Executive Chef and has been trying to order ahead on eggs, but his suppliers tell him that they are now limited on how many they can sell due to this new development.

Managed to make it through our Knit/Crochet Movie night Tuesday – we watched a movie we all voted on (not exactly knowing what it was about but the girl that brought it just got it from Netflix and said it was NEW!). The movie: “Still Alice” – Alex Baldwin & Julianne Moore – about a lady professor who slowly goes downhill with early-onset Alzeheimer’s – certainly NOT a happy/fluffy chick flick like we hoped! About half way through one of the ladies blurted out: “OK WHO brought this DEPRESSING MOVIE?” It was well done & acted, just not a easy-to-watch one, for sure.

At the movie night one of the ladies brought “Pineapple Fluff” – THIS is a dessert recipe you need to keep on hand! Don’t think there was ANY left later, we all glommed on it!

—

Pineapple Fluff Dessert

2 (3 1/2 oz, ea) pkgs. Instant pistachio
pudding mix
2 (12 oz, ea) tubs Cool Whip, thawed
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple
–
Mix pudding with pineapple & juices;
let set a few minutes then fold in
Cool Whip. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Serves 10-12

NOTE: Can also add
2 C. chopped walnuts
1/2 C. maraschino cherries, chopped
1 (1 lb) bag miniature marshmallows
(If adding marshmallows, refrigerate
at least 24 hours to let marshmallows
soften.)

(recipe: http://www.food.com)

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Hawaiian Pasta Salad

8 oz bow tie pasta
1/2 C. pineapple, cut into small cubes
(fresh or canned- drain if using canned,
but do not throw the juice – use for the
dressing)
1/4 C. roasted red pepper, diced
2 C. diced ham
1 green onion, thinly sliced
–
Dressing:
1/2 C. mayonnaise
1/4 C. plain Greek yogurt
1 T. honey barbecue sauce
1/2 C. pineapple juice
salt/pepper
–
Cook pasta accordg to pkg directions;
drain & cool under cold water (Pasta
must be cold). Mix all dressing
ingredients together. Combine all
ingredients in large bowl; gently
toss with dressing. Refrigerate
at least 1 hour before serving.

(recipe: allfood.recipes)
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Chicken Taco Pie

1 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 can refried beans
2 C. salsa
3 C. chicken breast, cooked/chopped
1/2 C. sour cream
5 (10 inch) flour tortillas
3 1/2 C. Mexican-blend cheese (up to
4 C., shredded)
1 C. whole kernel corn
–
sour cream
shredded lettuce – garnish
–
Preheat oven 400 degrees F.
Mix together chicken, chili powder,
garlic, salt & sour cream in bowl. Using
a 10″ springform (or cake pan) layer 2
tortillas. Spread 1/2 the can of beans
on top & sprinkle evenly with 1/4 C.
cheese. Layer another tortilla, top
with 3/4 C. salsa, 1/2 C. corn & 1 1/2
C. chicken. Repeat layers one more
time. Top with a tortilla, 1/3 C. salsa &
1 to 1 1/2 C. cheese. Cover with foil &
bake 20 minutes. Remove foil & bake
5 minutes more until all cheese has
melted. Top with shredded cheese &
sour cream. Cut into wedges to serve.
Serves 6

(recipe: backforseconds.com)
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Creamy Carrots

1 1l2 lb. carrots, peeled, cut
diagonally into thin slices
1/2 C. vegetable broth
2 oz. cream cheese, cubed
2 T. chopped fresh chives (or
chopped green onions)
–
In large skillet bring carrots & broth
to boil under medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to medium-low & simmer
8-10 minutes, covered, until carrots
are crisp-tender. Uncover & simmer,
8-10 minutes until most of broth is cooked
off & carrots are tender. Remove from heat
& add cream cheese; stir until melted then
sprinkle with chives. Makes 6 servings

(recipe: kraftrecipes)
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No-Bake Banana Split Pie

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust
1 (4 oz) carton Yoplait Pina Colada
yogurt
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. sugar
1 (8 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed
3 ripe bananas
–
Topping suggestions:
peanuts
hot fudge
maraschino cherries
sprinkles
your favorite ice cream toppings
–
Whip together yogurt, sugar & cream
cheese until fluffy. Fold Cool Whip into
cream cheese mixture & spoon into pie
crust. Mound sliced bananas on top then
top with your choice of toppings.

(recipe: allfood.recipes)
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Captain’s Quick Cole Slaw

1/2 C. mayonnaise
1/3 C. milk
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/4 C. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 (16 oz) pkg. cabbage coleslaw
mix
–
In large bowl whisk together all
ingredients except coleslaw mix;
mix until smooth & creamy. Add
coleslaw mix & toss until well-
coated. Cover & chill at least
1 hour before serving. Serves 4

(recipe: mrfood.com)
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The Best Crockpot Pork Chops

4-6 pork chops without bone
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 small can mushrooms, drained/
chopped
1/4 C. Dijon mustard
1/4 C. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 potatoes, unpeeled/cut into cubes
1 onion, chopped
–
Combine soup, mushrooms, mustard,
water, salt, basil, salt/pepper. Add
potatoes & onion, stirring to coat. Place
pork chops on top of potato mixture.
Cover & cook on Low 8-10 hours or High
4-5 hours.
To serve you can place potatoes on top of
pork chops or just top with gravy.

(recipe: sixsistersstuff.com)
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Summer Salad

2 C. finely chopped seeded/peeled cucumber
1/2 C. finely chopped/seeded tomato
1/4 C. chopped red onion
2 T. minced fresh parsley
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded/chopped
4 1/2 tsp. minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 C. sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. seasoned salt
–
tortilla chips, for dipping
–
In small bowl combine first 7 ingredients.
In another bowl combine sour cream,
lemon/lime juices, cumin & seasoned
salt; pour over cucumber mixture & toss
gently to coat. Serve immediately.

(recipe: Dana Smith-Facebook)
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Shrimp Orzo with Feta

1 1/4 C. uncooked whole wheat
orzo pasta
2 T. olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 T. lemon juice
1 1/4 lb. uncooked shrimp
(26-30 per lb), peeled/deveined
2 T. minced fresh cilantro
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 C. crumbled feta cheese
–
Cook orzo accordg to pkg. directions.
In large skillet over medium heat, heat
oil. Add garlic; cook & stir 1 minute. Add
tomatoes & lemon juice; bring to boil.
Stir in shrimp – reduce heat, simmer,
uncovered, 4-5 minutes until shrimp
turn pink. Drain orzo & add to shrimp
mixture with cilantro & pepper – heat
through. Sprinkle with feta cheese when
serving. Serves 4.

(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
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Easy Fudge

1 (12 oz) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. sea salt
–
Optional mix-ins:
chopped nuts
cranberries or currents
rice krispies
chili powder (if you like things a little spicy)
–
Line a 9″ square baking dish with aluminum
foil. In medium saucepan combine choc. chips &
cond. milk over Low heat; stir until chocolate
is melted & smooth. Once smooth, remove from
heat & stir in vanilla & salt. Pour into prepared
dish & refrigerate at least 2 hours. Using foil,
remove from pan & cut into pieces.

(recipe: tiphero.com)

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That’s the news from the home front today –
have no idea what’s for dinner tonight; I still
have about 12 hot dogs left over from the
Movie Night – who knew ladies don’t eat
2 hot dogs EACH? I didn’t! (But then there
were a lot of other really tasty things to
try: REALLY good potato salad, taco salad,
KFC coleslaw (the friend who brought this
said: “Why should I MAKE coleslaw when
Kentucky Fried Chicken makes such good
stuff?” Point taken!) and one of the ladies
only eats organic (I didn’t know this): she
brought organic Sweet Potatoes chips,
guacamole and some KILLER Mango
salsa! (she gets it at Sam’s club) – I was
totally STUFFED by the end of the night,
just sampling all the foods (AND I skipped
the chocolate brownies & a triple chocolate
Bundt cake!). Yes, we eat really well on
Movie Night!

Have a great day – try to enjoy yourself,
even a little!!!

Hugs;

Pammie