It’s a quiet day (so far) with nothing in particular planned – how’s YOUR day going? Our weather has dropped in temperature due to rain/thunder storms intermittently; right now it’s overcast & cloudy (the weather channel says it’s 70 degrees out – sure doesn’t FEEL like 70!) Supposed to get up to 80 with more chance of thunderstorms. Looking at the coming week, it’s supposed to be in the 70-80 degrees F. range – interesting!
Do you have plans for the Fourth of July/Independence day? It falls on a Tuesday and (due to my not planning well) is also scheduled as a Knit/Crochet Night…hmmmmmm. I’m pretty sure MOST of my ladies will NOT show up; my problem is: at Log Cabin Day a lady & her husband came and were VERY excited/interested in the group – they just moved to the area. I’m wondering if SHE might show? Just in case, I’m going to Panera & knit about an hour (with my little group sign on the table) – we’ll see what happens. (Don’t want to lose a new member before actually GETTING one, right?).
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Easiest Strawberry Cake
1 (store bought) Angel Food cake
1 large pkg. strawberry Jell-O
2 C. boiling water
1 small tub Cool Whip, thawed
1 large pkg. frozen strawberries,
with juice (not whole frozen)
–
Spray a 9 X 13″ baking dish
with nonstick spray.
Break half of cake into chunks &
place in bottom of pan. Mix
Jell-O in a bowl with 2 C. boiling
water until dissolved. Add straw-
berries & stir. Stir in spoonfuls
of Cool Whip until well mixed.
Spoon half of mixture over cake
in pan; repeat layers & refrigerate
several hours until ready to serve.
Cut into squares & serve.
(recipe: supercookingideas.com)
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Sausage/Cream Cheese Crescents
(appetizers)
16 oz. bulk sausage, cooked/crumbled/
cooled
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls
1 C. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
–
Preheat oven 375 degrees F.
Spray 9 X 13″ baking dish with
nonstick spray.
In large bowl combine cooked/cooled
sausage, cream cheese & shredded
cheese. Separate rolls into triangles.
Cut each triangle in half lengthwise;
scoop a heaping tablespoon filling
on each & roll up. Place rolls in
prepared pan & bake 15 minutes
until golden brown.
(recipe: all-my-recipes.com)
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Jack’s Potato Salad
5 lb. new red potatoes, skins
left on
1 T. salt
6 room-temp uncooked eggs
3 T. white vinegar, divided
1 1/2 T. cider vinegar
1 C. finely minced sweet onion
2 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. poppy seeds
1/4 C. granulated sugar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
3 C. mayonnaise
1/3 C. olive oil
1/3 C. canola oil
–
Wash unpeeled potatoes & place in
a large pot of water; cover potatoes
about 6 inches above potatoes. Add
1 T. salt & bring to boil – reduce heat
to medium boil & cook 30-40 minutes
(depending on size of potatoes) prick
with a fork to test if they’re done.
Bring medium pot of water to boil;
add 1 1/2 T. white vinegar & gently add
whole eggs using a slotted spoon, being
careful not to crack the shells. Boil
rapidly 5 minutes; turn off heat & let
eggs sit in hot water 15 minutes. Drain
eggs & shake the pan back & forth to
crack the shells (Makes peeling much
easier!). Under running water, remove
shells. Roughly chop the eggs in large
pieces. In medium bowl mix 1 1/2 T.
white vinegar, cider vinegar, onions,
celery salt, pepper, poppy seeds, sugar,
mustard & mayonnaise – refrigerate.
Mix both oils in a measuring cup or
other small container. Once potatoes
are cooked, leave them in hot water &
remove, one-at-a-time, using a slotted
spoon, to your cutting board. Cut
potatoes into chunks & place in large
bowl. (once you are about 1/4th way
through cutting the hot potatoes, pour
one quarter of mixed oils over cut
potatoes & combine gently.) Continue
with cutting & oiling until all of oil &
potatoes are in large bowl. Add
mayonnaise mixture to hot potatoes &
gently mix; add cooked eggs & gently
mix. Pour entire contents out onto a
sheet pan, spreading evenly. Cover with
plastic wrap & refrigerate until chilled to
below 40 degrees F. Once cool enough,
remove to serving container & serve.
Serves 15-18
NOTE: If serving this outside, try to keep
shaded – as an extra precaution, place
a large bowl of ice (larger than serving
bowl) UNDER the serving bowl to keep it
chilled while serving. Refrigerate leftovers
as soon as you have finished serving.
(recipe: afamilyfeast.com)
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Simple Garlic Shrimp
1 1/2 T. olive oil
1 lb. shrimp, peeled/
deveined
salt, to taste
6 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
3 T. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. cold butter
1/3 C. chopped Italian flat
leaf parsley, divided
1 1/2 T. cold butter
water, as needed
–
Heat oil in heavy skillet over
high heat until it just begins to
smoke. Place shrimp in an even
layer on bottom of pan & cook
1 minute without stirring. Season
shrimp with salt; cook & stir until
shrimp begin to turn pink, about
1 minute. Stir in garlic & red pepper
flakes; cook & stir 1 minute. Stir in
lemon juice, 1 1/2 tsp. cold butter &
half parsley. Cook until butter has
melted, about 1 minute, then turn
heat to Low & stir in 1 1/2 T. cold
butter. Cook & stir until all butter has
melted to form a thick sauce & shrimp
are pink & opaque, 2-3 minutes.
Remove shrimp using a slotted spoon
& transfer to a bowl; continue to cook
butter sauce, adding water 1 tsp. at a
time, if too thick, about 2 minutes;
season with salt, to taste. Serve
shrimp topped with pan sauce. Garnish
with remaining parsley.
(recipe: allrecipes.com)
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Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon
Dressing
6 uncooked eggs, room temp
1 T. white vinegar
1 lb. maple-flavored bacon
10 oz. fresh baby spinach
1 (8 oz) pkg. button mushrooms,
sliced very thin
1 small red onion (half chopped &
half thinly sliced, divided)
1/2 C. white balsamic vinegar
1/2 C. granulated sugar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 C. water
–
In medium or large saucepan fill 3/4 th
full with water – add 1 T. white vinegar.
Bring to boil & gently spoon the eggs
IN SHELLS into water, being careful not
to break the shells. When water comes
back to boil, time 5 minutes then shut
off burner. Leave eggs in hot water
15 more minutes. Pour off water, shake
pan to crack shells (makes it much easier
to remove shells) & peel shells under
running water. Slice cooled eggs into about
4-5 slices per egg. In large skillet cook bacon
until crisp; remove to paper towels & crumble
or rough chop. Reserve 2 T. bacon fat (discard
rest). Heat bacon fat over medium heat & saute
chopped red onion about 5 minutes. Add white
balsamic vinegar & scrape down pan of any
browned bits. Add sugar mustard & water –
stir to combine. Remove from heat until
ready to serve.
In one large bowl layer all ingredients (or
in 6 individual bowls dividing ingredients
between bowls). (Spinach, sliced red onion,
sliced mushrooms, sliced cooked eggs &
bacon).
To serve: heat dressing to hot & serve over
salad or on the side. Serves 6
(recipe: afamilyfeast.com)
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Simple Smothered Chicken
(crockpot)
1-2 lb. boneless skinless chicken
breasts
2 packets dry chicken gravy mix (.87
oz. ea)
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 3/4 C. water
1/8 tsp. black pepper
–
Place gravy mix, soup, water & pepper
in crockpot – whisk until smooth as you
can get it. Add chicken; cover & cook
8-10 hours. Serves 4
(recipe: themagicalslowcooker.com)
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Chicken & Summer Squash
(crockpot)
3 lb. boneless skinless chicken
breasts
2 (10.5 oz, ea) cans cream of
chicken soup
4 small summer squash, sliced
(poster used yellow squash)
16 oz. sour cream
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 1/2 C. Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 T. butter, room temp.
1 C. bread crumbs
dried parsley, optional garnish
paprika, optional garnish
–
hot cooked rice or pasta to
serve 8
–
Spray insides of crockpot with
nonstick spray. Place chicken
breasts in bottom of crockpot. In
large bowl mix soup, sour cream,
onion, cheese, garlic salt, pepper
& butter. Fold in sliced squash &
mix well to coat – pour over
chicken. Sprinkle bread crumbs on
top. Cover & cook on Low 8 hours
or High 4-5 hours. (chicken should
be fully cooked when it reaches
165 degrees F. using a thermometer).
Serve over hot cooked rice or pasta
& garnish with dried parsley and/or
paprika. Serves 8
(recipe: crockpotladies.com)
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Crockpot Blueberry/Lemon Cobbler
Filling:
32 oz. blueberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 C. sugar
3 T. lemon juice (juice from 1 lemon)
1 T. lemon zest (zest from 1 lemon)
1/4 C. flour
Topping:
2 C. flour
3/4 C. sugar
1 T. lemon zest (zest from 1 lemon)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 C. butter (2 sticks, chilled/
cut into bits)
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla
–
vanilla ice cream or whipped cream,
for topping cobbler, if desired
–
Spray insides of crockpot with nonstick
spray. Place blueberries in bottom of
crockpot; sprinkle lemon juice on top.
In medium bowl mix sugar & lemon
zest, working zest into sugar with your
fingers to release the lemon oils in the
zest. Add flour & stir with a fork to
evenly combine flour with sugar. Sprinkle
mixture evenly over berries & toss to
combine.
Topping:
In medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, lemon
zest, baking powder, salt & nutmeg using
a fork until well combined. Using 2 butter
knives or a pastry cutter, cut in cold bits
of butter into flour mixture until it
resembles a coarse meal with small pea-
sized pieces of butter. In small bowl whisk
eggs & vanilla with a fork & gently toss
egg mixture into flour/butter mixture
until moistened & dough starts to hold
together & create clumps of dough.
Sprinkle cobbler topping evenly over
blueberries in crockpot. Cover opening
of crockpot with paper towels or a clean
kitchen towel; cover with lid. (toweling
will absorb any condensation that will
collect on lid while cooking, preventing
it from dripping onto cobbler.) Cook
on High 3-4 hours until you can see the
juices from the blueberries bubbling
around edges of crockpot. Check
cobbler at 3 hour mark & only cook
for additional time if needed. Turn
off crockpot & carefully remove lid
& toweling. Let cobbler cool slightly
before serving. Serve with vanilla
ice cream or whipped cream, if
desired. Serves 8
(recipe: crockpotladies.com)
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Since it’s such a ‘blah’ day, I’m planning on catching
up on my knitting – still have about one-fourth knit on
the blue/green/white baby blanket and maybe half
done on the ‘tassel stitch’ blanket. I find that my
‘lack of attention’ kicks in a LOT when I’m knitting
a pattern I really don’t care for. Let me explain: I
really wanted to learn/conquer the ‘tassel stitch’
pattern – it looks fancy and thought it would make
a nice baby boy blanket (when knit in medium
blue) – Yes, lots of people have commented on
it BUT, although I conquered it, I’m not fond of
knitting it! (Strange, right?) I find myself hoping
I’m almost done so I can go on to another NEW/
INTERESTING pattern – it’s the old saying: “The
grass (in this case, pattern) is always greener in
the other pasture!” With both patterns I find that
I can only knit about 1 full round of pattern – in
both blankets that would be about 6-7 rows of
120+ stitches each row, before I’m too bored to
go on – pretty bad, eh? Both blankets WILL get
done – remember I still have July 29th Oakland
County Ice Cream Social to knit at from 11 a.m. –
5 p.m. so knitting WILL be done (grin).
Hope YOU are having a GREAT day!
Hugs;
Pammie
Pammie's Place 