So...whats for dinner?
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Hi everyone! Hope all is well. Just got back from the first high school basketball game of the season. DD is on the dance team and they dance at half time. I was very impressed with how well those kids played. Maybe I am easily impressed, but they looked professional to me.
I was impressed with myself too, I managed to cook salmon over spinach, mushrooms and garlic with roasted Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes. All came out well.
Congrats to your DD Michelle. As a fellow CPA, I know the stress of that exam. I also passed on my first try. I think I was the only person in my firm to do that. Do they not allow you to take all the parts at one time any more?
Lacey, I understand the fear of mice. I am scared to death of them. I have to tell you a funny story. My son was ten and played ice hockey. The equipment bag smelled terrible with the sweat and everything, so he kept it in the garage. I was always after him to keep the garage shut, but they were always leaving th door open. He went to a game and was putting his skates on. He couldn't get his foot in the skate, so he turned it over and gave it a hard shake. Out fell a mouse. The kids were trying to get it with their hockey sticks. He was mortified. If they have mice at that rink, I guess it's all my fault.
I don't know how well they work, but Home Depot sells something you plug into an outlet that supposedly gives out a sound that people can't hear, but keeps mice and things away.0 -
All the stories about mice reminds me that when we bought the home we are in, we discovered it had a rat infestation in the attic. The rats had been trapped but their mess was still there, so we threw a fit and the Seller had to pay to have it cleaned and sanitized. I had difficulty going to sleep the first couple of nights after we moved in:( Since we're in Fl we also get lizards in our house and sometimes it hard to tell the difference in the droppings...their's are pointed if anyone is interested (TMI)
Tonight we had a coupon 2 for one so we went to Smashburger for a hamburger and fries. We first discovered this place in Denver on our way to skiing and I was thrilled when they opened up a franchise in our local area. We commented that somehow it doesn't taste quite as good as the one we have on the way to our ski town...probably the altitude makes it better...LOL!
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We have a farmstand here in Salem that not only had beautiful veggies, flowers, fantastic corn on the cob, but it was far less expensive than the grocery store. I was amazed by their low prices. I can't say if it was organic, but it certainly was fresh. I think their crops were planted in fields behind and across the street from the farmstand and I often saw them hauling a huge container across the street that was full of fresh produce.
It was hard to part with some of my cookbooks, but the reality is that unless I'm baking, I use Chef Google for recipe ideas. My first look is usually foodnetwork.com. And I have less than half the space I had - my kitchen has NO space for books. I have a buffet in my dining space and I have some on the bottom shelf. If you've been here, you know what I am saying!
We had mice here last winter and I've seen signs in one of my storage areas. They were here before we moved in - the landlord had set traps before we moved in. They don't freak me out, they're just nasty. When we moved into our MO house, we had mice the very first night! And every winter afterwards, we had families. One year we trapped the mom and eight babies!!! Yucky!
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I love Whole Foods, but any store that displays their produce like Tiffany's jewels, you know has to be expensive!
We're lucky that we have so many Farmers Markets year-round here. Always something healthy and fresh to get.
We haven't had mice here, but a few years after we built our house we had rats in the back yard. BIG rats. Big HONKIN' rats.
Turns out the developer had built our fences up against the fences of the next development over (with a few inches in between), so there was this rat freeway that stretched all the way down the block.
Initially, they came into our yard to climb up the bird feeders to get to the food, but DH started setting those massive traps with peanut butter.
That year we caught 22 rats!!!!!
Kay_G - I think they'd have to call 911 if I tried to put my foot in a shoe and there was a mouse in it......
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We bought our first house from my in-laws. It had an unfinished, partially daylight basement. Once, before we bought it they had a rat get in through the open door when Pop had gone outside and left it open. He tried trapping it but she was too smart. One day he was soaking some things in the laundry tub and forgot to take it out when he did a load of clothing. When he went down after they finished washing he found five baby rats, eyes still closed laid out on the bottem step. Mom was gone. It was as though she had said "This is no place for me to live, you killed my babies!"
When we lived there DH used the garage for his mail order aviation book business. Sometimes we would get mice out there. Our 7 lb. part Manchester Terrier would hunt them down and leave the bodies beside the waste basket. Once a mouse got in and delivered her family under one of the shelving units. She would not let anyone near the nest while the babies were still in it. Once they were grown she caught and killed the whole family. But then she was the consumate mother and would try to protect and care for the young of any species she encountered. When a friends infant fussed while we were eating dinner she insisted the Mother take care of it. Once she even tried to nurse some newly hatched chicks.
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Hopefully the last mouse post from me.....I'm not really fearful of them (I guess....not having seen one since I was a child) just grossed out by their "residue"... and in my kitchen where I cook!! The school I recently left was an old building with intermittent mice families taking up residence, and I used one of those sonar devices....had the only office where the mice did not keep showing up, and I have had one plugged in in the kitchen in our lake house, with the same good result... so I'm a believer, or at least a magical thinker! I left the one in my school office for the next person, (not anticipating our fate here)and hope it is still there to benefit my current replacement. I recently learned that the totally incompetent first replacement who was let go after two weeks of creating chaos, helped herself to several of the expensive curricular resources I'd left as well as a hand crafted one of a kind dollhouse a parent gave me to use with the kids. I would not be surprised if she took the mouse repeller also since I told her how it could be useful....leaving the current gal more likely to have a parade of Mickeys and Minnies. Hope not. I am still furious about the theft of the dollhouse, which I understand the kids really miss using.
I also use Chef Google for many new recipes I try these days....especially easy with the Ipad...so simple to have it right there on the counter...and no paper to print! So maybe I will be able to say goodbye to some cookbooks!0 -
I have lots of cookbooks but havn't looked at them in a couple of years, not sure what to do with them, hate to just thow them away any suggestions? Being able to get recipes on line including betty crocker reecipes it is so much easier.
Laurie- How did your day go with your son's BD party? Hope you all had fun and you and your sons feel better!
Going to a friends house at 11 am for brunch tomorrow she asked me to bring bloody mary mix and the vodka since she loves my mix. (its spicy) I put lots of horsradish, worcheshire, hot sauce, celery salt, lemon juice S&P garnish is, pickled green beans, olives, celery and peppadews. We just will have to go easy on the vodka. haha!
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Debbie - that's quite a bloody mary concoction! I'll bet it's delicious! If you want, you can donate the cookbooks to the Goodwill - they take almost anything and sell it to recyclers by the pound. I was surprised when I talked to one of the workers - they said they would take "unwearable" clothing (think underwear) and "rags" because of how they sell stuff.
Chabba - your terrier sounds like quite a dog!!! I never really thought about dogs being "mousers" but I guess terriers are hunters so it makes sense.
Lacey - it makes you wonder how that first replacement passed the backround check???
This afternoon I am going with my smarty-pants daughter to a "marshmallow rally" which will take us to the New Hampshire Speedway in Loudon to see their Christmas lights display. Apparently there will be a "marshmallow social" at the dealership before we head out. This should be fun - I wonder how many kinds of marshmallow treats they'll have! DD bought a mini-cooper convertible a few months ago, a two-seater convertible, so DH will stay home and watch football while we head north. And it's going to be a nice day for driving.
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ewww ewww ewww! Love your Santa doggie Michelle
Last night I took some frozen whiting and dipped it in milk then bread crumbs, dill, red pepper flakes salt and pepper and baked it. It was yummy! I had it with baby carrots boiled then seasoned with salt and pepper, butter parsely and thyme. Not much of a challenge for most of you, but I rarely cook real meals and now eat fish, so I felt like I was back in the 60's in Momma's kitchen. Actually, she couldn't have done that.
the way I remember what to put on carrots is the Simon and Garfunkle song Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme. But I didn't have all of that
It was so good I think I'll have it again tonight!
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Kay, love the mouse in the shoe story! I can imagine that scene and it brings a big smile. I caught our little intruder last night. He/she will intrude no more.
Michelle, the mini-coopers are so cute. We have quite a few around here.
Lacey, I'm appalled that a so-called professional would steal items that were there for the children's benefit. I guess it would be too involved for the school to press charges and try to get the items back.
Debbie, I like bloody mary's but they go down so easily. I find it challenging to sip them. We used to make them with tomato juice with clam juice. Then add some tomato hot sauce and celery salt.
We'll be eating an early dinner at a restaurant tonight after a Christmas concert at 3pm.
I bought some nice hardback recipe books at a Goodwill in SD this summer. I think they were $2 each. I didn't need them but I have a cookbook addiction. I read them from front to back. I print out or type and print my favorite recipes and have them in a big notebook. I bought a 2nd notebook because the first one is about at capacity.
Recently I discovered we have Create channel. Yesterday I watched Lidia prepare three pasta dishes and learned something from her. She transfers her pasta into the big saute pan of sauce and finishes cooking the pasta in the sauce with additions of pasta water if the dish needs more liquid. She doesn't drain the pasta, just grabs it with tongs. If I didn't have to watch carb consumption, I could eat pasta once or twice a week and so could dh. It isn't easy to eat a small portion because it tastes so good!
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We had a terrier next door who would come into our yard and catch our moles. Good dog! Now we have a mastiff with the head the size of a basketball. As far as I can tell, he doesn't do anything but intimidate strangers (even though he's a sweetie pie). Good dog!
Debbie, that's my kind of bloody Mary. I feel that that particular drink should be an appetizer in a glass.0 -
Debbie Yum on the gourmet bloody mary...goes great with a brunch.
Funny stories on the mice and the doggies
Laurie Cant wait to hear how the birthday weekend went. Hope you are all feeling better
Michelle Cant imagine what fun they will cook up at that marshmellow festival. was at bed bath and beyond yesterday and saw a marshmellow shooter... like a plastic water gun only for marshmellows.
Bedo the fish sounds light and good...wish my DH would like it as much as I do, I would have it a couple times a week.Your DD dog is adorable no matter the haircut.
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Michelle, nice day for the trip north. Have a great day! Love the Mini Coopers, especially the convertibles.
Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends!
Hope Santa's Village weekend happened and was fun, Laurie.
Mini Schnauzers were used as "ratters" in Germany...I think that's why they were bred to be small and quick. Ours (we had three over 39 years) were jets running after squirrels in the backyard. Tho not so great for having the kindergarten hamster visit us for the weekend, many years ago!
The dirty little secret about the bad hire is that the person hiring was so smitten with something about the interviewee, who was full of pizzazz (and serious pathology in my clinical opinion which was ignored) that she irresponsibly never checked her references!! I learned that at the time she was being let go...from someone the hirer admitted it to. Now the "hirer" is supposed to be going after her for the stolen items, but she has yet to follow up with me about the outcome, after expressing initial outrage when I told her about the expensive missing items. I know she dislikes confrontation so she may avoid doing anything. I see this "hirer" at a holiday dinner later this week, so she will either update me or make something up to look like she's followed through if she dropped it. I have to get over it since I have no power to do anything effective about this...but it makes me so enraged. If people would just do their jobs responsibly! Guess it's good I'm no longer there.... Now the good news is that I am so pleased with the eventual good hire whose work I now supervise weekly. She is devoted to the kids and families, works well with staff, and is doing a wonderful job with compassion and integrity.
Now that the sun is back out, we'll go a tree hunting today.....0 -
Brunch was fun, and mostly delicious. My husband pulled the brioche out of the fridge at 5am, but didn't wake me. He didn't know that it needed to be shaped so it sat in the plastic bucket for a couple of hours before I shaped. The results were a smidgen gummy, but somehow everyone was able to choke it down with one of the jams. It will be great for the next few mornings toasted since there is a bunch left. The lemon-ginger scones were perfect. I made a fruit salad and a yogurt-honey "thing." The eggs were baked in small ramekins rubbed with butter and parmesan cheese. Not perfect. I baked these and then turned on the broiler. In the past I have done this in a water bath on the stove top which gives a firm white and runny yolk. Again, I couldn't eat my eggs fast enough so they were delicious enough. Some sausage and bacon finished the offerings.
And yes, my guests did read last night's post so I was able to surprise her with the type. [~~~~~ waving]
Dinner is my husband's 60th b-day celebration at Rendezvous. He and the kid are going to the Bond movie before we head to dinner.
*susan*
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Rodents!!! Yuck. We have had rotating mice in the house for a number of years. The last bunch were sick. They lost all fear of humans. The even ran around the second and third floor of the house! Our cat caught those last two, and was dead within a week. This was the first time he had killed any of the mice. Since then, we have plugged all the holes in the foundation and we seem to be, at least for the moment, mouse free.
My dad was raised in the inner city core of Cleveland. His family didn't flee to the suburbs as part of the depression white flight. To this day, he likes his sandwiches cut into "Hobo Sandwiches." When they gave sandwiches to the men who came to the kitchen door, they were always cut into triangles. Anyhow, he had a terrier that was locked into his bedroom every night to kill the rats. That just makes me shudder.
*susan*
p.s. Lacey, that woman disgusts me, as does the hiring person.
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I have to BRAG that I was the guest at Susan's this morning. Her description does not begin to showcase her cooking talents which brought all these elements together into the most perfect brunch. And the delightful company enhanced it even more.........can we come back next Sunday?
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OMG Susan, the mice killed your cat??! Think they had been poisoned?
Happy birthday to Mr. 02143!0 -
Errrrr..... I have to be fingerprinted for my job and it always comes up
1) Disturbing the peace 1970 Sarasota NY (Hitchiking)
2) Trespassing and using an alias 1970 Boulder Colorado (Going to a party in a hotel room when the parents weren't there and then telling the police my name was "Amanda" because I didn't want my Mom to kill me)
3) Possession of Dang drugs. 1970 Serasota NY.I swear they abbreviated it from Dangerous but it always comes up Dang. (At hitchiking incident they found 2 cold pills and later dropped the charge when they realized what they were)
4) Vagrancy 1970 Newport RI (Don't ask, I had less that $50 in my pocket)
1970 was a bad year.
So now you know. There is a criminal in your midst. I've never been turned down for a job even with my spotty past.
I just tell them that I now own a car and don't hitch hike or go to parties with strangers. In fact if they want to watch me they will fall asleep from boredom. I'm going to make some split pea soup and read Where did you go Bernadette. So arrest me.
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LMAO! You were very busy in 1970. Good luck with the job. Is this a new job?
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AlwaysHope, this is not a new job, but Thank You! I try not to change jobs too often in order to avoid above embarassment.
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Bedo, you certainly got around in 1970 lol!
Sigh, lemon ginger scones, be still my heart!
Tonights dinner is mini pizzas with Canadian bacon, multi colored peppers and roasted tomatoes on low carb flat breads. You wouldn't confuse it for the real thing (it's more like the illusion of pizza) but it will satisfy DH's craving. We've both been doing well on our low carb regimen and his blood glucose readings are much improved. He'll consider a mini pizza a mini reward for good behavior.0 -
Bedo, what a checkered past. What happened in 1971?
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Auntie,
I think the mice were sick, not poisoned. Don't know the disease, but the mice were not behaving the way mice should. It was all very sad. I like to believe that our cat wanted to save us from these rodents.
*susan*
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At the time we had the mouse hunting terrier we got a major mole invasion in our back yard. She wasn't at all interested in hunting them but we had kept one of her puppies, he was full grown by then. He decided mole hills made the perfect place to take a dump. The moles all moved next door.
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Michelle- What a great Idea! Don't know why I never thought about the good will, we have one about a mile from us, just never occured to me. I love mini coopers such a cute fun car have fun with your smarty pants daughter haha!
CArole- I love Lida she is a hoot to watch. I save my pasta water for my sauces too.
Nancy- More like a buffet with all the stuff I put on it. haha!
carrie- Your salmon dish sounds really yummy!
Lacey- That's so terrible that someone would take a doll house knowing it's not theres. Has anyone reported it or asked her about it? I would give her a call and ask her to return it.
Bedo- LMAO!! Thats just too funny. Sounds like you had a great time in the 70's I did too but don't remember much of it. hehe! Surprised though that those still come up I thought that stuff gets taken off after 10 years geesh!
Brunch was very good, My friend Dianne made eggs benedict with crab and a delicious hollandaise sauce, applesauce, cinammon muffins, fruits. Sausage, bacon and ham so much food. Drank 2 bloody marys with vodka and 2 without. We listned to christmas music and looked at old pictures really had a nice day. but it is nap time for me.
Hi to those I missed!
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Bedo, I'm sure your colorful past would pale in comparison to the lady who was hired to replace me....if anyone had bothered to look. Yes, Susan I am also disgusted.
Meanwhile, after reading your brunch
post I was about to write that it would be hard to imagine any of your offerings being hard to swallow, but was saved from the effort by your friend with her first hand account!
I am curious (but maybe not intrepid enough to learn ) about how one does a lamb dividing party. And oh, your poor kitty.....
Tomorrow first thing, I have a pest guy comig....even before DH's cataract surgery....priorities, ya know. I was about to cancel the Pest company contract we've had for years since we have not had an pests, even ants....so now I'm glad I forgot to do that.
Got a decent tree this afternoon a my DS2's friend's Farm 'stand' and was happy to see that some of his produce inside was now lower than Whole Foods.....yea! I can actually shop there now and support some nice people. They did also have spinach for 11.99 a lb. .....bit high for my taste, even tho a lb. is a lot of spinach.
I'm about to make a dinner using the broccoli rabe I bought on Friday which I'll pair with roasted butternut squash, walnuts and pasta. I think I'll sort of wing it after checking out a few recipes. DH was just stalking me around the kitchen (for food that is!) so I sent him off with some cheese and crackers or I will never get dinner made.
Have a good evening all.....0 -
Hi everyone, wow! I just logged on and there is 4 pages of posts that I have missed! I will have to try to catch up.
So we decided to go for it and head to Santa's Village after all. The boys were both doing a lot better Saturday morning and we had been 24 hours with out fevers so we headed up. It was pouring rain when we left and we were trusting the weather man who said it would clear....and it did! By the time we pulled in the sun was peaking out and all signs of rain were gone. The people who maintain the park were wonderful, we saw people drying off all the rides and benches through out the park. The boys were dressed in full snow gear so the water wouldn't have bothered them anyway.
We had a great time, not a cough to be had! The boys must have been running on adrenalin because we were there for almost 5 hours and we kept asking if they wanted a break. They did not. They did all of the rides which was a first for them, including the roller coaster! It was a wonderful time- they were both thrilled and did a great job listening and sticking together.
We headed to the hotel around 5. The hotel was disappointing. The pool was freezing cold and there was no light in the water- we didn't even let the boys go in it. (not that they even wanted to once they saw it.) The food was horrible in the restaurant and the bar was closed due to a private party so DH was not happy since there was no place for him tog to hang out when the kids went to bed at 8. But since my boys were so soundly asleep we stayed up chatting and had wine int he room. I was laughing as I did an ice run around 9. Every room as you walked down the hall had screaming kids and parents in it! Every kid was melting down and and every parent was telling them to GO TO SLEEP!! I guess I was laughing because mine were asleep!
So- DS 2 has been not as well today and having a bit of a relapse since we have been home and I will admit I am exhausted. But it was all worth it for him. The only other down side- we forgot our camera. What idiot forgets their camera for a first time trip for your sons birthday?
On top of it my phone died the day before so we have only the pictures our friends took.....there is always next year....hope everyone is well!
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Bedo LMAO afterall the 70's were the 70's and no one should be responsible for what happened during that time.
Susan glad your friend posted to give us the true story of your brunch sounds very gourmet and delicious to me. My Dh got the usual western omelet this morning, no bkfst meats...those are special treats only.
We too got our tree today, only a sm 4 footer, thats all we need for just the two of us and when the kids get here they are so busy they dont really pay any attention.
had grilled turkey and smoked gouda sandwiches with potato salad and husband had leftover chili. Got some locally made mustard that has a little horseradish kick that was perfect on the sand.
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Laurie,
There is so little good food in the North Country. Next time, please ask me where to eat. My mother didn't EVER take me to Santa's Village even though our summer home was 2 miles away. She thought it was, who knows. By the time, my kid came along, this became a Christmas tradition. I still haven't been! Now she spend New Years Eve there on the Pole Roller Coaster. I think my mother is finally allowing herself to enjoy her "inner" child.
*susan*
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We are back from the "Marshmallow" Mini-Cooper rally. The Christmas lighting display was very nice and it's all done for charity. I let my daughter put the convertible top down so we could see better. It was all of 40 degrees but everyone was doing it. I had a coat with a hood so it saved me! I didn't get many good pictures - hard for the camera to focus while in a moving car. I finally gave up and just enjoyed the display.
Frapp - glad you enjoyed your brunch with Susan! We need to figure out a rendezvous!!!
Bedo - LOL, I was having babies while you were causing all that trouble
Laurie - glad you all had a good time in spite of the bad food and no bar for DH to hang out. I'm sure you appreciated wine and quiet time with him.
Lacey - $11.99 a pound for spinach? Maybe I never thought about it before now, the packaged stuff is probably just a few ounces. But wow, that seems outrageous.
Susan - your poor kitty! It's possible the mice had eaten some bait at someone else's house but that's a tragic ending
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