This is what I made for him with the spiralizer and its wavy blade:
These were fried, but not deep-fried. With salt on them, they were hard to avoid.
Friday, June 29, 2018
Food Friday: Wavy Spiralizing
That spiralizer is having happy days! Dear One was edgy for something to eat the other night. I thought a salad would be nice. Nope. Not him. He wanted fried potatoes.
This is what I made for him with the spiralizer and its wavy blade:
These were fried, but not deep-fried. With salt on them, they were hard to avoid.
This is what I made for him with the spiralizer and its wavy blade:
These were fried, but not deep-fried. With salt on them, they were hard to avoid.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Wildlife Near Us!
Sister F., one of our Church Service Missionaries, called today and asked if we would like some rhubarb and garden lettuce. YES!!! Of course we would!
A little while later she and Elder F. showed up with lots of fresh leaf lettuce and rhubarb for crisp. I can hardly wait to make that crisp. (We had missionary council tonight so it was not tonight...). We did NOT wait on the lettuce.
It is always a good idea to wash produce, whether from your own garden, or from the store. I was about halfway through the washing when, EEK!!! What was this?!!! I thought it was a giant beetle and dropped the leaf into the sink. I could not stand not knowing so I picked up the leaf carefully and checked again. It was a big fat garden snail in its shell!
After a moment I noticed the snail was vacating his premises. Oh, man. That was icky. I opened the cupboard under the sink and shook the snail off into the waste basket, began to breathe easier, and continued with the rest of the lettuce.
EEK, EEK!!!! There was ANOTHER ONE! Great big fat guy. I told Dear One it was time to take out the trash. He reminded me that he is always the one who does that...well, I was not interested in doing it myself. What if the snails climbed out onto my hands or arms or something?
Well, he came over to look. In the meantime I had tried to drop the second snail into the wastebasket. He slid off the leaf onto the floor! That was it. Dear One had arrived on the scene by this time and was flabbergasted at the size of the guys. He had thought they were those little tiny snails you often find around Vermont gardens. Nope! These guys were huge.
Thankfully Dear One was able to pick up the snail, drop him (or her) into the wastebasket, collect the rest of the trash, and head for the dumpster. They will probably have a great time in the dumpster and might possibly get out. I could not bear to hurt them. I just did not want them in our house.
You might think this would put me off the lettuce, and sometimes it might have, but not tonight. That lettuce was so good. I prepared a bowl for Dear One to eat with sugar sprinkled on it, a tradition in his home, though not my home. For myself, I took many leaves, folded them in half, put a dab of mayo on some nice whole wheat bread and had a sandwich. There is nothing like fresh tender garden leaf lettuce. Thank you, Elder and Sister F.!
A little while later she and Elder F. showed up with lots of fresh leaf lettuce and rhubarb for crisp. I can hardly wait to make that crisp. (We had missionary council tonight so it was not tonight...). We did NOT wait on the lettuce.
It is always a good idea to wash produce, whether from your own garden, or from the store. I was about halfway through the washing when, EEK!!! What was this?!!! I thought it was a giant beetle and dropped the leaf into the sink. I could not stand not knowing so I picked up the leaf carefully and checked again. It was a big fat garden snail in its shell!
After a moment I noticed the snail was vacating his premises. Oh, man. That was icky. I opened the cupboard under the sink and shook the snail off into the waste basket, began to breathe easier, and continued with the rest of the lettuce.
EEK, EEK!!!! There was ANOTHER ONE! Great big fat guy. I told Dear One it was time to take out the trash. He reminded me that he is always the one who does that...well, I was not interested in doing it myself. What if the snails climbed out onto my hands or arms or something?
Well, he came over to look. In the meantime I had tried to drop the second snail into the wastebasket. He slid off the leaf onto the floor! That was it. Dear One had arrived on the scene by this time and was flabbergasted at the size of the guys. He had thought they were those little tiny snails you often find around Vermont gardens. Nope! These guys were huge.
Thankfully Dear One was able to pick up the snail, drop him (or her) into the wastebasket, collect the rest of the trash, and head for the dumpster. They will probably have a great time in the dumpster and might possibly get out. I could not bear to hurt them. I just did not want them in our house.
You might think this would put me off the lettuce, and sometimes it might have, but not tonight. That lettuce was so good. I prepared a bowl for Dear One to eat with sugar sprinkled on it, a tradition in his home, though not my home. For myself, I took many leaves, folded them in half, put a dab of mayo on some nice whole wheat bread and had a sandwich. There is nothing like fresh tender garden leaf lettuce. Thank you, Elder and Sister F.!
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Wednesday Wonders: Rainbow in the Western Sky
In Vermont the only rainbows we have ever seen are always in the east. Even here in Oregon all the rainbows we have seen have been in the east. Until Monday morning! On this day, we were pulling into the parking lot at the office, and there in front of us was a lovely wide short rainbow, though very pale.
Here it is:
What do you suppose a western-sky rainbow means?
Here it is:
What do you suppose a western-sky rainbow means?
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
A Tiny Embarrassing Accident
On Saturday some families in our ward got together to have a "Random Acts of Kindness" activity. We met at the church. The ward mission leader's wife had printed out a list of options to go along with what we had already thought about doing. There was a table with a bucket filled with long-stem flowers, hand made book bags, a stack of books, ice water in bottles, etc. Lots of things to share.
Each family put their name on a slip of paper which was put into a box. One of the children drew out the names so two families went together. Dear One and I got to go with the bishop and his wife.
Things we did:
Took bottles of bubbles to a family who lived next door to the bishop where he knew there were several small children.
Went to the house of the very elderly father of the bishop and washed his car. Washed ours, too!
Went to a skate park to give bottles of ice water and "rooting for you" root beer to the young people there.
Went to the home of an elderly lady and gave her some flowers and visited a few moments.
Took two bags of returnable bottles to a family where two young boys are saving money for cub scout day camp.
That was all we had time for before heading back to the church for the wrap up and light refreshments. A good time was had by all.
It was at the skate park where the mishap took place. I had just handed my bottle to to the bishop's wife when down I went, all the way to the ground. Not even just on all fours, but all flat, well, as flat as you can get when you are as round as I am...! Fortunately it was not cement, but it WAS very sharp and hard bark mulch meant to keep the grass at bay, which it was doing very very well, I must say! With both Dear One and the bishop giving me a hand, I was able to rise up onto my feet again amidst cries of, "Are you okay?" Well, of course, I was okay. Just miffed that I had been focussing on the project and not watching my feet. It turns out the mulch was covering up a water plug. I would like to say it was six inches deep but it was less that three inches, probably only an inch deep, but for some reason my foot saw fit to drop be right to the ground.
It was noted that the skin did not look broken so I was probably okay. Well, I really was okay but kind of embarrassed, except at the time it was almost as if I was not there so it was not humiliating embarrassment. Strange feeling. I hope not to have that feeling again.
As you can see, it was not much of an injury, but rather disconcerting. When we finally arrived home, I thought I should put some first aid spray on it to keep any unpleasant germs away. Didn't have any, so off I went to find some. Well, and on the way there were several other things I thought I should do. Arriving home four hours later with a depleted exchequer and totally exhausted, I put some of the "no sting" first aid liquid on the non-broken-skin leg. Well...someone lied! There was a LOT of stinging, so I rather think the skin was broken somewhere. And whoever thought they would put the "no sting" tag on that bottle of goop must be laughing up his sleeve when he thinks about all the people who are surprised by the amount of sting they actually get. Meany.
What a baby I am....
As you can see, it was no big thing. Hope it does not happen again, though. I might not be so lucky.
Each family put their name on a slip of paper which was put into a box. One of the children drew out the names so two families went together. Dear One and I got to go with the bishop and his wife.
Things we did:
Took bottles of bubbles to a family who lived next door to the bishop where he knew there were several small children.
Went to the house of the very elderly father of the bishop and washed his car. Washed ours, too!
Went to a skate park to give bottles of ice water and "rooting for you" root beer to the young people there.
Went to the home of an elderly lady and gave her some flowers and visited a few moments.
Took two bags of returnable bottles to a family where two young boys are saving money for cub scout day camp.
That was all we had time for before heading back to the church for the wrap up and light refreshments. A good time was had by all.
It was at the skate park where the mishap took place. I had just handed my bottle to to the bishop's wife when down I went, all the way to the ground. Not even just on all fours, but all flat, well, as flat as you can get when you are as round as I am...! Fortunately it was not cement, but it WAS very sharp and hard bark mulch meant to keep the grass at bay, which it was doing very very well, I must say! With both Dear One and the bishop giving me a hand, I was able to rise up onto my feet again amidst cries of, "Are you okay?" Well, of course, I was okay. Just miffed that I had been focussing on the project and not watching my feet. It turns out the mulch was covering up a water plug. I would like to say it was six inches deep but it was less that three inches, probably only an inch deep, but for some reason my foot saw fit to drop be right to the ground.
It was noted that the skin did not look broken so I was probably okay. Well, I really was okay but kind of embarrassed, except at the time it was almost as if I was not there so it was not humiliating embarrassment. Strange feeling. I hope not to have that feeling again.
As you can see, it was not much of an injury, but rather disconcerting. When we finally arrived home, I thought I should put some first aid spray on it to keep any unpleasant germs away. Didn't have any, so off I went to find some. Well, and on the way there were several other things I thought I should do. Arriving home four hours later with a depleted exchequer and totally exhausted, I put some of the "no sting" first aid liquid on the non-broken-skin leg. Well...someone lied! There was a LOT of stinging, so I rather think the skin was broken somewhere. And whoever thought they would put the "no sting" tag on that bottle of goop must be laughing up his sleeve when he thinks about all the people who are surprised by the amount of sting they actually get. Meany.
What a baby I am....
Monday, June 25, 2018
Munchie Monday: Quick and Easy Ice Cream for Breakfast!!!
Today we had ice cream for breakfast! And I feel totally virtuous about it...
This had no added sugar. No added fat. No added salt. This had a LOT of flavor.
Several years ago we were at Britta's house for Book Group. When it came time for refreshments after a great discussion, she got out some frozen fruit plus a couple other things that I have since forgotten. Forty-five seconds later she had some fabulous ice cream.
Well, we did the same thing today with a little variation.
Quick and Easy Ice Cream
2 cups frozen mixed berries and pineapple from Costco
1 cup fresh strawberries.
1 cup milk
Put the milk in the jar of a high-speed blender. Add the strawberries then add the frozen fruit on top. Blend it until ice cream. It will take less than a minute. You may need to use the tamper to get all the fruit into the blades. You also may need to add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.
To make this creamier, instead of the fresh strawberries add a couple of frozen bananas that you chunked up before freezing.
This was so quick and easy and so delicious...and it was all fruit. If I had had some almond milk open, I would have used that instead of the dairy milk. It is hard to believe how delicious and refreshing an ice cream with no additives can be. Yummy!
Try it! You will like it. It may be the thing that gets you saving for a high-speed blender. That first ice cream was what got me really thinking about making the high speed blender a reality in our family. It only took about four years to get there after Britta's ice cream...
This had no added sugar. No added fat. No added salt. This had a LOT of flavor.
Several years ago we were at Britta's house for Book Group. When it came time for refreshments after a great discussion, she got out some frozen fruit plus a couple other things that I have since forgotten. Forty-five seconds later she had some fabulous ice cream.
Well, we did the same thing today with a little variation.
Quick and Easy Ice Cream
2 cups frozen mixed berries and pineapple from Costco
1 cup fresh strawberries.
1 cup milk
Put the milk in the jar of a high-speed blender. Add the strawberries then add the frozen fruit on top. Blend it until ice cream. It will take less than a minute. You may need to use the tamper to get all the fruit into the blades. You also may need to add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.
To make this creamier, instead of the fresh strawberries add a couple of frozen bananas that you chunked up before freezing.
This was so quick and easy and so delicious...and it was all fruit. If I had had some almond milk open, I would have used that instead of the dairy milk. It is hard to believe how delicious and refreshing an ice cream with no additives can be. Yummy!
Try it! You will like it. It may be the thing that gets you saving for a high-speed blender. That first ice cream was what got me really thinking about making the high speed blender a reality in our family. It only took about four years to get there after Britta's ice cream...
Friday, June 22, 2018
Food Friday: (Quick) and Easy Aquafaba Mozzarella
If you are trying to be vegan and you love cheese, AND you don't want to buy highly processed fake cheeses, then you need to make your own. In the past I think I shared one or more failures along this line. Today I have a success. Sort of. I found the recipe at Avocadoes and Ales.
This recipe really works. You really do have a tasty cheese-like food. The only glitch is the percentage of fat. I suppose one should be happy that this is plant fat, but still, it is fat.
Here is the recipe I used to make the cheese in the pictures.
1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight in the refrigerator
2 cups aquafaba (the water that you cook garbanzo beans in...though you don't have to cook your own. Just open a can or two of garbanzos from the store and use that water.)
4 Tablespoons tapioca flour
4 teaspoons kappa carrageenan
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
2/3 cup REFINED coconut oil, melted . (use the refined to avoid coconut flavored cheese)
Blend the soft cashews and aquafaba in a high speed blender. If you use a less high speed blender you will have to blend longer then strain the slurry through a fine-mesh strainer. You do not want chunks of cashews in your cheese.
Put the wet back into the blender along with the tapioca flour, carrageenan, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and salt. Pulse to combine everything fully. I did not pulse. I just turned on the blender. When I was done, there was still a few dry clumps of the tapioca flour on the side of the blender...so I scraped it down and blended again.
Add the melted and cooled coconut oil and blend again briefly until smooth and slightly thick.
Put this mixture into a heavy-bottomed sauce pan over medium low heat and start stirring. It takes quite a while. The recipe I used said you had to get the mixture up to 170 degrees F which you would recognize by the bubbles around the edges. At this point it should be uniformly thick and remain thick when you run the wooden spoon through the food. For me, I stopped stirring at 20 minutes. I was sick of stirring. The mixture was sort of glossy and thick but it never bubbled around the edges.
At this point pour it into a mold of some type. I used a glass bowl then smoothed the top.
Put into the refrigerator to cool for several hours. You can slice this, and theoretically, grate it, but we did not get that far. We used it on mustard and "cheese" sandwiches, between fresh tomato slices (good, but would have been better with garden fresh tomatoes, field grown, and local...not commercially grown greenhouse tomatoes), and finally, we used it in lasagna. Dear One ate lasagna two nights in a row with NO complaints about leftovers...that says something!
So, I would call this a success. It did work. Was not a pain to make, except for the stirring, and it tastes good. Unfortunately, I have made a semi-commitment to knock off the fat consumption so it will be some little time before I make it again. Sad.
This recipe really works. You really do have a tasty cheese-like food. The only glitch is the percentage of fat. I suppose one should be happy that this is plant fat, but still, it is fat.
Here is the recipe I used to make the cheese in the pictures.
1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight in the refrigerator
2 cups aquafaba (the water that you cook garbanzo beans in...though you don't have to cook your own. Just open a can or two of garbanzos from the store and use that water.)
4 Tablespoons tapioca flour
4 teaspoons kappa carrageenan
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
2/3 cup REFINED coconut oil, melted . (use the refined to avoid coconut flavored cheese)
Blend the soft cashews and aquafaba in a high speed blender. If you use a less high speed blender you will have to blend longer then strain the slurry through a fine-mesh strainer. You do not want chunks of cashews in your cheese.
 |
| Aquafaba drained off the garbanzo beans. |
 |
| Garbanzo beans cooked in Instant Pot. I cooked them an hour because I DO NOT LIKE garbanzos that are even slightly firm. These are perfect for my taste. Now, on to hummus... |
Put the wet back into the blender along with the tapioca flour, carrageenan, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and salt. Pulse to combine everything fully. I did not pulse. I just turned on the blender. When I was done, there was still a few dry clumps of the tapioca flour on the side of the blender...so I scraped it down and blended again.
Add the melted and cooled coconut oil and blend again briefly until smooth and slightly thick.
Put this mixture into a heavy-bottomed sauce pan over medium low heat and start stirring. It takes quite a while. The recipe I used said you had to get the mixture up to 170 degrees F which you would recognize by the bubbles around the edges. At this point it should be uniformly thick and remain thick when you run the wooden spoon through the food. For me, I stopped stirring at 20 minutes. I was sick of stirring. The mixture was sort of glossy and thick but it never bubbled around the edges.
At this point pour it into a mold of some type. I used a glass bowl then smoothed the top.
Put into the refrigerator to cool for several hours. You can slice this, and theoretically, grate it, but we did not get that far. We used it on mustard and "cheese" sandwiches, between fresh tomato slices (good, but would have been better with garden fresh tomatoes, field grown, and local...not commercially grown greenhouse tomatoes), and finally, we used it in lasagna. Dear One ate lasagna two nights in a row with NO complaints about leftovers...that says something!
So, I would call this a success. It did work. Was not a pain to make, except for the stirring, and it tastes good. Unfortunately, I have made a semi-commitment to knock off the fat consumption so it will be some little time before I make it again. Sad.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Vegetation Near Us
The other day as we returned home from the office I was so pleased to notice these lovely flowers. They have been there for some time but today I snapped a phone. They are so cheery.
How I love flowers! They surprise you. They brighten your day. They make you wonder on many levels.
How I love flowers! They surprise you. They brighten your day. They make you wonder on many levels.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Wednesday Wonders
Recently I was out walking around the ponds in the park across from our office. Mainly I had gone to see if I could clap my eyes on the Canada Goose family...a mom, dad, and four babies. Eventually I did see them but in the meantime, I saw the coolest thing.
As I was about to step onto the bridge, I heard some chirping birdsong. I looked up and above my head a mother bird was just leaving her nest, probably to go find some more baby bird food.
This is what I saw--as I was too slow to get a photo of Momma Bird...
There are so many fabulous sights to be seen if we keep our eyes open...
As I was about to step onto the bridge, I heard some chirping birdsong. I looked up and above my head a mother bird was just leaving her nest, probably to go find some more baby bird food.
This is what I saw--as I was too slow to get a photo of Momma Bird...
 |
| It is hard to see but there are some twigs from the bird nest sticking out above to the left of center. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Tuesday Thoughts
So today this message is mostly for me but I am sharing it anyway.
Last night I went to bed with plans to get up early. Go swimming. Go to Cash and Carry for a few items since they open at 6 AM 6 days a week. I went to bed happy because I was planning to be more committed to health practices. I even discussed it somewhat with Dear One and tried to suck him into the same health plan. He was mildly willing. Of course, the heavy eating of vegetables was a less palatable part of the plan for him, but still...mildly interested.
So this morning I woke up early. At 1:06 AM. Then at 3:01 AM. Then finally at 5:35 AM...not that early since I always read scriptures first thing, but still I would have time to get to Cash and Carry pretty early after reading. Got dressed. All souped up to get going on this new healthy life.
No glasses! No name tag!! So what do I do? I had to search the whole house, admittedly not very large but since my stuff slops over into every crevice and can and bucket and flat spot, it was quite a bit. Twenty minutes later I still had not found the glasses and name tag (though I have others so this name tag thing was not a big issue). I crawled back into bed to drown my sorrows in hugs and kisses. For about five minutes, then popped up and started searching again.
The result: one table cleared off and more or less tidy. One batch of magazines put away. Empty saved (for some unknown reason) envelopes put in the trash, other obvious bits of refuse put in the the trash. Potatoes baking in the oven. So, things are better, but still no glasses or tag.
Now I decided to drown my sorrows further by sharing my terrible housecleaning habits with my friends, in hopes that it would shame me into bucking up, getting it together, and actually having a tidy, everything-in-its-place house, all the time.
Sat down at my computer to write this blog post and there, under the paper with the recipe for Munchie Monday, straight ahead of me as I looked into the distance thinking about my bad behavior, there were the glasses and name tag. Too late to go to Cash and Carry today. It is a very popular store. (When I get there at 6:05 there are already half a dozen cars and vans and trucks in the dooryard and many more by the time I leave ten minutes later...at least that has been the pattern in the past on the two times I have been there early morning. We went there once on a Saturday afternoon and parking was impossible.) . Not only no Cash and Carry, no swimming. What a bust! All because I did not put my glasses and name tag away where I "always" put them. Well, no, actually, all because I am a disorganized so and so who allows fatigue and sloth to get the better of me.
So, what is the upshot? Hopefully, I will organize every needful thing, and keep it that way. AND I hope I have enough intestinal fortitude to continue with the new health plan, even though deflected today...Let us get our acts together and move forward together...if anyone else needs the pep talk. Thanks for listening.
Last night I went to bed with plans to get up early. Go swimming. Go to Cash and Carry for a few items since they open at 6 AM 6 days a week. I went to bed happy because I was planning to be more committed to health practices. I even discussed it somewhat with Dear One and tried to suck him into the same health plan. He was mildly willing. Of course, the heavy eating of vegetables was a less palatable part of the plan for him, but still...mildly interested.
So this morning I woke up early. At 1:06 AM. Then at 3:01 AM. Then finally at 5:35 AM...not that early since I always read scriptures first thing, but still I would have time to get to Cash and Carry pretty early after reading. Got dressed. All souped up to get going on this new healthy life.
No glasses! No name tag!! So what do I do? I had to search the whole house, admittedly not very large but since my stuff slops over into every crevice and can and bucket and flat spot, it was quite a bit. Twenty minutes later I still had not found the glasses and name tag (though I have others so this name tag thing was not a big issue). I crawled back into bed to drown my sorrows in hugs and kisses. For about five minutes, then popped up and started searching again.
The result: one table cleared off and more or less tidy. One batch of magazines put away. Empty saved (for some unknown reason) envelopes put in the trash, other obvious bits of refuse put in the the trash. Potatoes baking in the oven. So, things are better, but still no glasses or tag.
Now I decided to drown my sorrows further by sharing my terrible housecleaning habits with my friends, in hopes that it would shame me into bucking up, getting it together, and actually having a tidy, everything-in-its-place house, all the time.
Sat down at my computer to write this blog post and there, under the paper with the recipe for Munchie Monday, straight ahead of me as I looked into the distance thinking about my bad behavior, there were the glasses and name tag. Too late to go to Cash and Carry today. It is a very popular store. (When I get there at 6:05 there are already half a dozen cars and vans and trucks in the dooryard and many more by the time I leave ten minutes later...at least that has been the pattern in the past on the two times I have been there early morning. We went there once on a Saturday afternoon and parking was impossible.) . Not only no Cash and Carry, no swimming. What a bust! All because I did not put my glasses and name tag away where I "always" put them. Well, no, actually, all because I am a disorganized so and so who allows fatigue and sloth to get the better of me.
So, what is the upshot? Hopefully, I will organize every needful thing, and keep it that way. AND I hope I have enough intestinal fortitude to continue with the new health plan, even though deflected today...Let us get our acts together and move forward together...if anyone else needs the pep talk. Thanks for listening.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Munchie Monday: Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars
Somehow I found a recipe for pecan pie bars. I made them to take to a fiesta at the Spanish church last week to celebrate Father's Day. They are really good. I probably won't make them again unless it is for a party, because they are so calorie-dense and mostly sugars and butter, but they sure do taste good.
To make a 9 by 13 pan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
To make the crust:
In a medium bowl place: 1 1/4 cups butter, softened, 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Mix really well until completely combined and light. I used a wooden spoon because I did not want to have to wash up the mixer afterwards. It takes a while but was a satisfying workout...!
In a small bowl combine 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. When well-combined, mix into the flour/butter mixture until all combined. Press into an un-greased pan. If you can make a little lip up the edges, as if it were a pie dish, that is great. I did not do that and it was fine.
Bake for 15 minutes or so until set but not brown. Bring out of the oven and let cool a bit.
Filling:
In a medium bowl mix well 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened, 1/2 cup corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed.
When this is all combined, put it in a saucepan and bring to a low boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the 1 tablespoon heavy cream, and 1/2 pound chopped pecans. Stir well.
Pour it over the cooked crust then bake for 25-30 minutes until well set. Bring out of the oven and place on cooking rack. Let cool mostly then cut into pieces and put in the refrigerator.
Really yummy. People like them. Dear One likes them. I like them. As a matter of fact as I was typing this post, Dear One asked where the bars were hidden. Uh, well, in the refrigerator!
To make a 9 by 13 pan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
To make the crust:
In a medium bowl place: 1 1/4 cups butter, softened, 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Mix really well until completely combined and light. I used a wooden spoon because I did not want to have to wash up the mixer afterwards. It takes a while but was a satisfying workout...!
In a small bowl combine 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. When well-combined, mix into the flour/butter mixture until all combined. Press into an un-greased pan. If you can make a little lip up the edges, as if it were a pie dish, that is great. I did not do that and it was fine.
Bake for 15 minutes or so until set but not brown. Bring out of the oven and let cool a bit.
Filling:
In a medium bowl mix well 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened, 1/2 cup corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed.
When this is all combined, put it in a saucepan and bring to a low boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the 1 tablespoon heavy cream, and 1/2 pound chopped pecans. Stir well.
Pour it over the cooked crust then bake for 25-30 minutes until well set. Bring out of the oven and place on cooking rack. Let cool mostly then cut into pieces and put in the refrigerator.
Really yummy. People like them. Dear One likes them. I like them. As a matter of fact as I was typing this post, Dear One asked where the bars were hidden. Uh, well, in the refrigerator!
Friday, June 15, 2018
Food Friday: Quick and Easy Pickled Beets
Beets have never been my favorite vegetable. I do remember my mother making Harvard Beets with tiny new beets when we were young. I did like those, but that was where I drew the line for many years. Recently I learned that beets have some very good-for-you nutrients in them, though I cannot tell you right now what those nutrients are.
Since then I have been trying to eat beets from time to time. The best beets I have eaten were pickled beets in the salad bar at Godfather's Pizza on Cornelius Pass. Because these were surprisingly good, when I found that you can make pickled beets at home, and in the refrigerator, I thought I would give them a try.
This is what I did:
Quick and Easy Pickled Beets in the Refrigerator
2 15-ounce cans sliced beets
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon stone ground mustard with whole mustard seeds visible
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
2 small peeled garlic cloves
Drain the beets.
Place the garlic cloves and mustard in a 1-quart wide mouth Mason jar.
In a 4 cup measuring cup, mix together the vinegar, water, and salt and stir well.
Place the drained beet slices in the quart jar. Pour the vinegar mixture over the slices, leaving about 1/2 inch space at the top.
Cover with the lid and gently shake the jar until you think that the liquid has gotten to all the beets. Place in the refrigerator for at least 24 hour or better yet, 48 hours.
For myself, I let them pickle for four days before trying them. Not bad, but it is a pretty good bet that I failed to put in the Kosher salt. Oh, well, I can salt them as I eat them if I feel strongly enough about the saltiness issue. Right now I would find them fine to eat with my breakfast baked potato, which is what I plan for tomorrow morning's breakfast....I want to use up the last little potatoes, and maybe a spring roll with peanut sauce (which was fabulous, if I do say so myself) which I made for the office potluck lunch earlier this week.
There you have it: Quick and Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beets.
Since then I have been trying to eat beets from time to time. The best beets I have eaten were pickled beets in the salad bar at Godfather's Pizza on Cornelius Pass. Because these were surprisingly good, when I found that you can make pickled beets at home, and in the refrigerator, I thought I would give them a try.
This is what I did:
Quick and Easy Pickled Beets in the Refrigerator
2 15-ounce cans sliced beets
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon stone ground mustard with whole mustard seeds visible
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
2 small peeled garlic cloves
Drain the beets.
Place the garlic cloves and mustard in a 1-quart wide mouth Mason jar.
In a 4 cup measuring cup, mix together the vinegar, water, and salt and stir well.
Place the drained beet slices in the quart jar. Pour the vinegar mixture over the slices, leaving about 1/2 inch space at the top.
Cover with the lid and gently shake the jar until you think that the liquid has gotten to all the beets. Place in the refrigerator for at least 24 hour or better yet, 48 hours.
For myself, I let them pickle for four days before trying them. Not bad, but it is a pretty good bet that I failed to put in the Kosher salt. Oh, well, I can salt them as I eat them if I feel strongly enough about the saltiness issue. Right now I would find them fine to eat with my breakfast baked potato, which is what I plan for tomorrow morning's breakfast....I want to use up the last little potatoes, and maybe a spring roll with peanut sauce (which was fabulous, if I do say so myself) which I made for the office potluck lunch earlier this week.
There you have it: Quick and Easy Refrigerator Pickled Beets.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
A Father's Thoughts
Today in our office devotional the brother who was sharing the thought told us some things his father had taught him growing up. I thought they were pretty good.
There are people who learn from the experiences of others.
There are people who learn from their own experiences.
There are people who never learn.
What kind of person are you?
What kind of person would you like to be?
When Elder W went away to university his father had more thoughts for him.
You can study hard, go to class, and learn a lot.
You can work hard and support yourself.
You can play hard and socialize and have a great time.
You can do two of these three.
Elder W said that he tried to do all three when he first got to university. He learned that his father was correct. You cannot do all three.
These seemed like reasonable things to teach our children and grandchildren if they have not already learned them and so I am sharing them with anyone who wants to listen.
There are people who learn from the experiences of others.
There are people who learn from their own experiences.
There are people who never learn.
What kind of person are you?
What kind of person would you like to be?
When Elder W went away to university his father had more thoughts for him.
You can study hard, go to class, and learn a lot.
You can work hard and support yourself.
You can play hard and socialize and have a great time.
You can do two of these three.
Elder W said that he tried to do all three when he first got to university. He learned that his father was correct. You cannot do all three.
These seemed like reasonable things to teach our children and grandchildren if they have not already learned them and so I am sharing them with anyone who wants to listen.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Forty-Five Big Ones!
Forty-five years ago today Dear One and I entered the Holy Temple in Cardston, Alberta, Canada and were married for time, and for all eternity. Now, eternity is a long time, but I think we have made a good start. It has not been all sweetness and light, but we are still plugging along hand in hand. And we still begin each day with delight and eager anticipation of what lies ahead together.
To celebrate we broke down and went to a restaurant one of our sweet friends in Vermont used to tell us about. Well, actually, he would sing a little ditty made up of the title of the restaurant. I always wanted to try it out and recently, by a fluke because I was looking at the scenery as we crossed the highway bridge, there it was! So we went on Saturday.
It is called Red Robin. When we came in the host invited us to sit in the bar, even though he made note of our name tags and told us he knew we would not want alcohol but he thought it would be more comfortable for us there since there was barely anyone up there. The main dining room was jammed with diners so we appreciated his thoughtfulness.
We had two different servers, both of whom were lovely young men. I think the first one was ill all of a sudden and had to leave. Dear One had a fabulous veggie burger with all the toppings PLUS endless steak fries which were not as endless as I had thought he might choose. I had fish and chips with a wedge salad. The wedge salad was enough and I should have stopped there, but I decided to eat on the rest of the meal and eventually I finished it. They have some really delicious "campfire sauce" that we both liked on the fries. Dear One was able to help me out with my basket of fries. The server was surprised I left some in the bottom of the container, but I just did not want one more bite.
At the front door are these darling cheeseburger seating pieces for people waiting. It must be a popular place because both burgers look like people have been sitting on them for long periods of time.
Today at the office we are having a potluck lunch. I look forward to them because I enjoy trying other people's cooking. I plan to make Vietnamese Salad Rolls. I stopped in at the Can Tho Market to get some Hoisin sauce and some fish sauce to use in the dipping sauces. The proprietor, when I asked if there were smaller bottles, said no...one was 500 ml and the other was 700 ml! The 500 ml bottle was five dollars more costly that the larger bottle. I asked him why. He said, "It is the best! You need to get this one." I asked what made it the best. He told me it was the flavor and that it was much better.
As I was leaving with the items, I had the more expensive bottle. He said, "If you have some Vietnamese friends and they see this bottle, they will think you really know what is good." Or something like that. Now I am going to have to find many recipes to use the fish sauce with. I am taking suggestions! One good thing: it does not need to be refrigerated. Also it lasts forever!
Tonight we hope to attend the temple here in Portland to remind ourselves of that day forty-five years ago. I do remember it as if it were yesterday, though. Such a sweet day with his friends and my parents with us.
To celebrate we broke down and went to a restaurant one of our sweet friends in Vermont used to tell us about. Well, actually, he would sing a little ditty made up of the title of the restaurant. I always wanted to try it out and recently, by a fluke because I was looking at the scenery as we crossed the highway bridge, there it was! So we went on Saturday.
It is called Red Robin. When we came in the host invited us to sit in the bar, even though he made note of our name tags and told us he knew we would not want alcohol but he thought it would be more comfortable for us there since there was barely anyone up there. The main dining room was jammed with diners so we appreciated his thoughtfulness.
We had two different servers, both of whom were lovely young men. I think the first one was ill all of a sudden and had to leave. Dear One had a fabulous veggie burger with all the toppings PLUS endless steak fries which were not as endless as I had thought he might choose. I had fish and chips with a wedge salad. The wedge salad was enough and I should have stopped there, but I decided to eat on the rest of the meal and eventually I finished it. They have some really delicious "campfire sauce" that we both liked on the fries. Dear One was able to help me out with my basket of fries. The server was surprised I left some in the bottom of the container, but I just did not want one more bite.
At the front door are these darling cheeseburger seating pieces for people waiting. It must be a popular place because both burgers look like people have been sitting on them for long periods of time.
Today at the office we are having a potluck lunch. I look forward to them because I enjoy trying other people's cooking. I plan to make Vietnamese Salad Rolls. I stopped in at the Can Tho Market to get some Hoisin sauce and some fish sauce to use in the dipping sauces. The proprietor, when I asked if there were smaller bottles, said no...one was 500 ml and the other was 700 ml! The 500 ml bottle was five dollars more costly that the larger bottle. I asked him why. He said, "It is the best! You need to get this one." I asked what made it the best. He told me it was the flavor and that it was much better.
As I was leaving with the items, I had the more expensive bottle. He said, "If you have some Vietnamese friends and they see this bottle, they will think you really know what is good." Or something like that. Now I am going to have to find many recipes to use the fish sauce with. I am taking suggestions! One good thing: it does not need to be refrigerated. Also it lasts forever!
Tonight we hope to attend the temple here in Portland to remind ourselves of that day forty-five years ago. I do remember it as if it were yesterday, though. Such a sweet day with his friends and my parents with us.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Travel Oddities!
When we take little trips with the other senior missionaries we see some amazing things. This little guy was guarding the trash bin at the top of Oregon Health and Science University Hospital (OHSU).
It is amazing what people can create!
It is amazing what people can create!
Monday, June 11, 2018
Munchie Monday: Quick and Easy Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches!
Departing dinner this time was going to be really easy for us to help with. We always make the desserts as it pleases everyone to have homemade desserts. This time we decided on homemade ice cream sandwiches.
Remember those Gooey Butter Cookies I put in the freezer? Well, we used those for some of the cookies. Sister J made her famous chocolate chip cookies. We got vanilla ice cream to go with the chocolate chip cookies and Tillamook Mudslide ice cream for the butter cookies. (I had never heard of Tillamook Mudslide ice cream before our Spanish tutor mentioned it to me. He said it was fantastic. He was right!)
So on the Friday before the Tuesday departing dinner we went to the Mission Home and set up ice-cream-sandwich-making shop on the pingpong table in their garage which was right next to the freezer. We put one cookie down bottom-side up, put on a scoop of slightly softened ice cream and flattened it out somewhat with a dinner knife, then placed another cookie right-side up on top. We wrapped some of them in deli paper and some we left unwrapped, then put them into the freezer. We think people will really like them.
There was one chocolate chip cookie and one butter cookie left. Sister J insisted that I take them both so I made an ice cream sandwich when I got home and put it in the freezer. The next day I gave half of it to Dear One. It was really good.
Remember those Gooey Butter Cookies I put in the freezer? Well, we used those for some of the cookies. Sister J made her famous chocolate chip cookies. We got vanilla ice cream to go with the chocolate chip cookies and Tillamook Mudslide ice cream for the butter cookies. (I had never heard of Tillamook Mudslide ice cream before our Spanish tutor mentioned it to me. He said it was fantastic. He was right!)
 |
| Nope! Not a Tillamook ice cream salesman, just a happy customer.... |
So on the Friday before the Tuesday departing dinner we went to the Mission Home and set up ice-cream-sandwich-making shop on the pingpong table in their garage which was right next to the freezer. We put one cookie down bottom-side up, put on a scoop of slightly softened ice cream and flattened it out somewhat with a dinner knife, then placed another cookie right-side up on top. We wrapped some of them in deli paper and some we left unwrapped, then put them into the freezer. We think people will really like them.
There was one chocolate chip cookie and one butter cookie left. Sister J insisted that I take them both so I made an ice cream sandwich when I got home and put it in the freezer. The next day I gave half of it to Dear One. It was really good.
 |
| Ice cream sandwich frozen and ready to split with Dear One. |
 |
| Messy ice cream sandwich ready to wrap and freeze. |
 |
| The ice cream was lop-sided when it froze. It still tasted good. |
You don't have to use homemade cookies. Any cookies will do. Just soften the ice cream a little bit then put it between two cookies. Yummy life indeed.
Friday, June 8, 2018
Food Friday: Salt and Straw and Waffle Cones
One of our stops on our trip to downtown Portland was a place Sister J really wanted to show us. It is called Salt and Straw. It is an ice cream place. It has many unusual flavors of ice cream. In May they had lots of floral flavors. They allow you up to six sample spoons full. I tried the Rhubarb Crumble and the Lavender Honey. A big thumbs up on the Rhubarb Crumble. Thumbs way down on the Lavender Honey. Yucky! Dear One and I settled on safe chocolate choices. He got a two-scoop cone; I got one scoop. It was plenty. It was also plenty of moolah!
Going into the store after an almost one hour wait in line(!!!!!) I planned on getting my ice cream in a "bowl"--actually a paper cup. However, when we got in there, still waiting in line, I watched a young man make the waffle cones. There were four waffle irons that he kept going. Very impressive. That changed my mind: a freshly-made waffle cone did not seem something to miss.
This is the waffle-cone-making station. Bad picture as you cannot see the waffle cookers but..
This was my cone with one bite taken out of the ice cream. The ice cream scoop is about the size of a small tennis ball. It was $5.10 plus $1.00 for the cone. Very tasty.
Going into the store after an almost one hour wait in line(!!!!!) I planned on getting my ice cream in a "bowl"--actually a paper cup. However, when we got in there, still waiting in line, I watched a young man make the waffle cones. There were four waffle irons that he kept going. Very impressive. That changed my mind: a freshly-made waffle cone did not seem something to miss.
This was the line...across the front of the building and all the way down the other side, plus all the way down the inside of the building. Fortunately there were some nice benches to sit on outside while waiting.
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Vegetation Near Us: Pink Flowers
How I love this beautiful earth Heavenly Father has given us to enjoy! Flowers and trees and grasses are so wonderful. Here is one more. I took the picture but don't remember certainly where it is. I think it is at the church building.
This is one I would love to recreate in watercolor...
This is one I would love to recreate in watercolor...
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Travels: Portland from OHSU
On Memorial Day we all took the afternoon off from the office. Elder J kindly drove us into downtown Portland. Dear One and I have been too gutless to make that trip via car, though we have made it twice by train. Well, not where we went this day, but still, downtown.
We made a couple of stops. This stop was at OHSU hospital, kind of the "top" of Portland. There is a tram that you can ride up to, and down, from OHSU. You could not get me on a tram on a bet! Fortunately, it was closed so no one urged me to "try it"!
It is pretty interesting to look at the city from above. Also that little hump with clouds at the top about straight in front of you is Mount Hood. Hidden, as is often the case, but there anyway.
This is the gang way out at the end of a scary patio. I could not bring myself to go so close to the edge. On the other hand, it was interesting to see everyone taking pictures. There is one more sister there but she is hidden by Dear One in the foreground.
It was a really enjoyable day. Once we safely came down off the mountain.... The road is narrow and very zigzag-y and the drop-offs nauseating. To me, at least. The brakes held...
We made a couple of stops. This stop was at OHSU hospital, kind of the "top" of Portland. There is a tram that you can ride up to, and down, from OHSU. You could not get me on a tram on a bet! Fortunately, it was closed so no one urged me to "try it"!
It is pretty interesting to look at the city from above. Also that little hump with clouds at the top about straight in front of you is Mount Hood. Hidden, as is often the case, but there anyway.
This is the gang way out at the end of a scary patio. I could not bring myself to go so close to the edge. On the other hand, it was interesting to see everyone taking pictures. There is one more sister there but she is hidden by Dear One in the foreground.
It was a really enjoyable day. Once we safely came down off the mountain.... The road is narrow and very zigzag-y and the drop-offs nauseating. To me, at least. The brakes held...
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Mission Sewing: Handmade Buttonholes
It was slow going at first. Plus my fingers went numb from holding the needle so tightly. Add to that the issue of eyesight being on the elderly end of the spectrum, the buttonholes are not fabulous or even good, but they will be hidden behind the buttons so I am not too unhappy. Now I can wear the blouse again.
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| You can see where the original threads were located. This made a good template for stitching. |
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| This is a view of when my fingers remembered how to stitch a homemade buttonhole. |
As you can see, not a great job, but it will hold the button in place nicely.
Monday, June 4, 2018
Munchie Monday: Gooey Butter Cookies
Last week I happened onto this cookie recipe. It is by Monica at the Yummy Life. The cookies are very good and really simple to make. The only aggravating thing is you MUST put the batter in the refrigerator for at least two hours and up to twenty-four hours. Trust me on this.
Gooey Butter Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup confectioners sugar, or more
In a bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
In a large bowl beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat again until really smooth and the sugar seems to have dissolved. One at a time beat in the the eggs.
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and beat until completely combined. Cover and put in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Since I made these in the evening I put them in refrigerator for overnight.
Remove from refrigerator and, using a 2-Tablespoon cookie scoop, shape into balls about the size of a walnut then drop into a bowl with the confectioners sugar and roll around until completely covered. Place on parchment-covered cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12 minutes then check to see if they are done. You will know they are done when you don't see any wet-looking spots on the cookies. You want to take them out BEFORE they are browned. If not, they will be hard. Mine were not ready at 12 minutes so I baked another 4 minutes...total was 16 minutes in our oven. Let them sit on the pan for 5 minutes. REALLY DO THIS, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
This recipe made 46 cookies for me. I took a dozen to the office to test them and put the rest in the freezer for another project.
This is the roll-in-confectioners-sugar step.
Gooey Butter Cookies
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup confectioners sugar, or more
In a bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
In a large bowl beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat again until really smooth and the sugar seems to have dissolved. One at a time beat in the the eggs.
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and beat until completely combined. Cover and put in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Since I made these in the evening I put them in refrigerator for overnight.
 |
| This is the batter and the scoop ready to roll. |
Remove from refrigerator and, using a 2-Tablespoon cookie scoop, shape into balls about the size of a walnut then drop into a bowl with the confectioners sugar and roll around until completely covered. Place on parchment-covered cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12 minutes then check to see if they are done. You will know they are done when you don't see any wet-looking spots on the cookies. You want to take them out BEFORE they are browned. If not, they will be hard. Mine were not ready at 12 minutes so I baked another 4 minutes...total was 16 minutes in our oven. Let them sit on the pan for 5 minutes. REALLY DO THIS, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
This recipe made 46 cookies for me. I took a dozen to the office to test them and put the rest in the freezer for another project.
 |
| These are the cookies ready to bake. |
Friday, June 1, 2018
Food Friday: Strange, but, Good, Breakfast
Using the Instant Pot I hard-boiled one dozen eggs. The first thing I made with them was Eggs Goldenrod. This included making baking powder biscuits, which looked successful but I did not want to eat them. Dear One was pleased to be handed a plate of Eggs Goldenrod with fake bacon bits on top.
For myself, I “baked” two small red potatoes in the microwave. When done, I mashed them in my favorite white bowl and spread a little of the eggs goldenrod on top. On top of that I spread the last of the sauerkraut then chopped the dreg ends of a romaine heart. It was really good.
The biggest advantage was that there was no eggs goldenrod leftover to store in the refrigerator. There was no sauerkraut jar to return to the refrigerator. Best of all was that the dying romaine heart was no longer glaring at me from the counter with guilt-producing eyes. The core of the romaine went into my vegetable broth bag in the freezer. (When the bag won’t fit in the freezer door anymore, I will toss it in the Instant Pot along with bay leaves, fill the pot with water, and press broth for 45 minutes...I like to cook the heck out of the vegetable scraps. It makes fabulous vegetable broth after being strained. AND I am absolutely positive I have wrung every last bit of nutrient from the seeds and pitch and leaves and cores of all kinds of vegetables!!)
For myself, I “baked” two small red potatoes in the microwave. When done, I mashed them in my favorite white bowl and spread a little of the eggs goldenrod on top. On top of that I spread the last of the sauerkraut then chopped the dreg ends of a romaine heart. It was really good.
The biggest advantage was that there was no eggs goldenrod leftover to store in the refrigerator. There was no sauerkraut jar to return to the refrigerator. Best of all was that the dying romaine heart was no longer glaring at me from the counter with guilt-producing eyes. The core of the romaine went into my vegetable broth bag in the freezer. (When the bag won’t fit in the freezer door anymore, I will toss it in the Instant Pot along with bay leaves, fill the pot with water, and press broth for 45 minutes...I like to cook the heck out of the vegetable scraps. It makes fabulous vegetable broth after being strained. AND I am absolutely positive I have wrung every last bit of nutrient from the seeds and pitch and leaves and cores of all kinds of vegetables!!)
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