Quote, Diva challenge zentangle, recipe, less pain

    I've been thinking about my blog lately and have decided that I will be sharing more of my happenings and thoughts than I've done up to now. 

Today it's about 60 degrees here in Indiana with a little wind and a lot of sun.  While I was out shopping I saw several convertible cars with the tops down.  I don't even have a sun roof on my car, but I did open the window. 

My back is feeling better after the shots on Thursday - hopefully when I go Thursday for another shot, it will relieve all the pain so that I won't have to have surgery.


Today's challenge is #98 by The Diva.  She challenged us to use the tangle pattern called "keenes" by
Donna Hornsby.  I like the pattern and in my mind I always think of the song, "Teeney Weeney Yellow Poka Dot Bikini" whenever I use that tangle in one of my zentangles.  Anyway, since the pattern is a round shape and I'm in the Christmas mood already, here's mine:

 

 

Since I am feeling better, I even decided to bake.  I looked through the pantry and for some reason, I had 4 cans of pumpkin.  Why?  Who knows but since they were so many cans, I chose to make pumpkin bread.  I searched through my file for a new pumpkin bread recipe because I haven't really liked the recipe I've been using. When I say my file, it's actually a big box with recipes from magazines, friends, family, etc. that I just knew I'd get organized.   Eureka!  There was a hand-written pumpkin bread recipe (in my hand-writing on a scrap of paper so who knows where I got this recipe.).    The results using this recipe is the best pumpkin bread I've ever made.  It's spicy, but not too spicy and very moist:

 

Pumpkin Bread

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

 

1 cup liquid oil (corn oil is what I used)

4 eggs

15 oz. (appr. 2 cups) pumpkin (I used Libbys pumkin)

2 1/2 cups sugar.

2/3 cup pumpkin ale beer (or water if you prefer)

 

Mix the above ingredients. 

 

Mix together :

 

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

 

Add the dry ingredients to the first mixture and mix well. 

Add apprx. 1 cup chopped pecans, and mix well.

 

Pour into two greased lg. loaf pans filling each 2/3 full.

 

Bake for 70 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

 

 

I forgot to mention, that since you use only 2/3 cup of pumpkin ale, drinking the rest of the bottle while mixing the dough could be a good thing (if you like beer  - I don't, so I'm saving the rest of the bottle for my hubby after he gets home from work).

 

 

 

Well, since the bread turned out so well, I've decided to make some chex-mix.

It's in the oven now.  I don't know if being in so much pain is the reason I've been so hungry this past week or what, but I've eaten every package of chips, etc. in the house. Honestly it's like I have a tape-worm.    Thus, the reason I'm making the chex mix. 

 

Hopefully tomorrow, I will feel even better and I will get out the Christmas decorations.  That will add to my festive mood even more. 

 

 

Pie recipe, quote

Quote of the day...."Love your parents. We are all so busy growing up, that we forget their aging too. Don't take the days for granted and make each moment count."

When Bob and I were first married our house had a concord grape vine in the back yard.  My wonderful Mother-in-law not only helped me make and can grape jelly each year, she also introduced me to "grape pie".  The recipe was in an old edition of a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and I try to make at least one pie each year; not only because it tastes so good, but it also brings back memories of my Mother-in-law.   I've discovered that most people look at me quizzically when I mention grape pie, and they always wonder how I get rid of all those seeds!                I encourage you to try one -  it is delicious.

Ham Casserole recipe, another favorite quote

This is another one of my favorite quotes:

 

"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food."
W. C. Fields

Here's a new recipe I've customized from a recipe I found in a magazine.  I was looking for a way to serve leftover ham in a new way.  I found a recipe for the potato gratin and then added my own touches, including the diced leftover ham (along with a little humor)

Toffee cookie crunch recipe

TOFFEE COOKIE CRUNCH RECIPE:

4oz. saltine crackers ( 1 sleeve of crackers)
1 cup stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 oz. choc. chips or white choc. chips (your preference)
3/4 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer

In a saucepan combine the sugar and butter.  Melt, then bring to a boil and boil for 4 minutes.  Immediately
pour over saltines and spread to cover the crackers completely.

Bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.  Let set until chips are soft, then spread chocolate and top with chopped nuts. 

Cool, then break into pieces.


This is so easy and people rave about them.  I love them!  What a surprise when you tell them that the recipe contains saltine crackers. 

Chicken Artichoke Casserole

I came up with this casserole yesterday.  Thought I'd share it.  Yummy!

8 chicken tenders
1 can artichoke hearts, well-drained
1 sm. can mushroom bits and pieces (well-drained)
1/4 cup sherry
1 stick butter
1 tsp. garlic
1 tsp. rosemary
3 eggs
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup diced celery
1/3 cup Miracle Whip
day old bread (I used a dark bread)
1 cup of shredded cheeses (I used  Mizithra Cheese purchased @ The Spagetti Factory which is a combination of Ricotta cheese and Romono cheese).

Saute chicken in melted butter, garlic and rosemary until lightly browned on both sides.   Layer crumbled bread crumbs in the bottom of a large casserole dish.   Cut chicken into bite size pieces and place on top of bread crumbs.  Cut up artichocke hearts and layer on top of Chicken.

Saute mushrooms, celery, cheeses and almonds in remaining butter for about 5 minutes.   Layer over top of casserole ingredients.

Combine cream of chicken soup, sherry, eggs, Miracle whip and milk in seperate bowl and wisk until blended.  Pour over the ingredients in the casserole dish.

Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 1 hr.

Veggie soup

Here's my new recipe for Veggie Soup that I made over the weekend.  Yummy!

Put the following in the crock pot and simmer for 6 to 8 hrs:

1 can beef broth
1 lb. beef stew meat cut into chunks
1 pkg. Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 can Coca Cola
1/4 cup Sherry (if desired)
cup of carrots cut into bite size pieces
cup of celery diced
1/4 head of cabbage (chopped)
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1 can mushroom slice
1 can diced tomatoes

Add 1/2 or so of water if you prefer a thinner soup

That's it!  You could add diced potatos if you like, I didn't have any on hand, so I didn't.