A Little Caribbean to Soothe the Soul

Get your taste buds ready for this weeks New Food Night! Do you guys ever wonder what we are eating on Tuesday nights?

Well, this week we went with a Caribbean theme.  Do you hear the Jamaican music playing in your head?

Gary decided to make Caribbean Jerk Pork. He said he would need my help. This usually  means that I clean up after him LOL -- but not this time.

I mixed up the seasonings - ginger, onion powder, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, some other kind of chili pepper, soy sauce, lime juice, -- I know there's more but just don't remember what all it was.  Put this in a Ziplock bag - add some pork tenderloins - rub the seasonings in and let it sit for a couple of hours. Then bake in oven. How good does that look?  And although some Jerk recipes can be spicy this was not overly so.

Miss Annette went with Cuban Red Beans and Rice.  She had some Cuban seasoning - I don't know what that would be - and used it in the beans.  Didn't she make this dish look pretty?  It tasted yummmers!

K.C. made a dessert dish.

This is Banana Pando.  It's typically served for breakfast - a cross between a pancake and a  donut - thus we made up the word Pando and now I don't remember what the real name for it was.  LOL  It's served with Nutella.  Don't you love that serving tray?

Now when I think Caribbean I think drinks.

 So, I made up a pitcher of Grenadine Fruit Punch.  It's orange juice, pineapple juice and Grenadine Syrup.  Very refreshing


Gary put Caribbean music on Netflix for us to listen to while eating.

How good does that look?

Guess it was all pretty good because there weren't many leftovers.

Does anyone have a challenge they want to throw at us or an old recipe they would like to see us try a new way?  We're open for suggestions.

New Food - New Dishes

So we only had one New Food Night last month.  Sometimes conflicts come up and we postpone and that was what happened.

So my title is New Food - New Dishes.  We did eat our new food in some new dishes; but some of you who follow me on Facebook may think I'm talking about new dishes I got. But I'm not.  Let's start with those though just because I'm so excited to have them!

Some time ago a friend sent me a picture of some dishes she was getting rid of to see if I wanted them.  She knows I love dishes.  I went back and forth with myself on whether or not to get them and had really forgotten about them with all that we had going on.

Now fast forward a year and it's time for Gary's mom's annual trip to Tulsa for his birthday.  She had him bring in a big box and said it was for me.  Well - that's kinda nice that I get a present on Gary's birthday weekend.  My friend had sent those dishes down to me!

Man was I excited!  These dishes are BEAUTIFUL!!

Now what makes these even more special is that they are Remington Red dishes.  Yep, you know where I'm going with this.  My Best Bud is named Remington.  I could not wait to show them to him.
Gary put these dishes to use last night for our Valentine's dinner.

Don't they make a beautiful setting?

So now back to our New Food Night.  Gary had been wanting to make Lasagna Soup. So that was what we planned our New Food Night around.

Here's the soup going in the oven to melt that fresh Mozorella on top!

See those soup bowls?  Those are kinda sorta new.  We had four like that but needed more so I went online to order more.  The new ones I ordered came with matching spoons.  How cool is that?

I made a simple salad to go with this.  Put all the tomatoes on top as there are a couple of people in our group who don't like tomatoes.

K.C. made some Onion Cheese bread.  Doesn't that look good?  Well it was  LOL  I am a big bread lover.

Now how good does this look?  Perfect winter evening meal - if we had had had winter weather.  LOL  It was good though!

Now how do you finish this meal off?

With a chocolate cookie topped four different ways of course.  Miss Annette know Gary well and since his birthday was the day before our new food night she made this for him.  One section had chopped pretzels, one had nuts, one had white chocolate chips, and one had chocolate chips.

Now that is some good eating right there!

So tell me, which one of these are  you wanting to try?

Planting Seeds

I know it's not spring but we have certainly been having spring-like weather here in Tulsa.  It was in the 70's just a coupe of days ago!  Now I don't garden really but when we bought our new house last year it had some gorgeous flower beds!  I will be trying my hand at keeping them up.

I'm talking about gardening because of church.

You might wonder - 'What does one have to do with the other?"

Well, at our church we have cards to carry and hand out to people inviting them to our church. The back side is blank so that we can put information on it - start time - our name - that sort of thing.  Our pastor mentioned that he had passed one out to someone. He saw this person on several occassions after and the guy always said, 'I'm going to come visit your church."  Well just a few weeks ago when he saw the same gentleman the guy said. "I lost that card do you happen to have another one?"

So a seed had been planted in the guys head. He hasn't acted on it but it is germinating there as he has asked for another card since he misplaced the first one.  That reminded me of a poem I wrote some time ago.

PLANT A SEED

Plant a seed as you go

Although you may not see it grow.

Plant a seed wherever you are,

The outcome is seen near and far.

Plant a seed every day,

Fertilize it as you pray.

Plant a seed, do your deed,

Help to choke out every weed.

Plant a seed, spread God’s word,

You never know who might have heard.

Plant a seed, tell it with care,

Let others see as you share.

Plant a seed, there’s needs to fill,

We can’t be caught standing still.

Plant a seed; it is God’s plan,

And spread His word throughout the land.

Written by:  Kathie Marrs

                     July 25, 2010

Just a reminder that you may not see the outcome of your efforts. You may share the message 100 times (or more) with someone. It may take the 101 time from someone else for it to click.  

So tell me, do you plant seeds?  

Age is Relevant

My brother turned 66 a few days ago.

I thought to myself - 'Man he's really getting old - almost 70!"

Then I thought to myself -- "Man - I'm going to be 60 this year. I'm getting old!"

Funny thing is - I don't really feel old. There are times my body tells me that yes you are getting older. But in my head - nope - I'm not that old.

Now I have always said that anyone who lived to be in their sixties was old.  Any one who was past their mid-sixties was REALLY old.  My brother is getting to the REALLY old part.  But I don't think of either of us as old.

Then I think - "Wow - I have aunts and uncles still alive!  They must be ancient!"  No offense meant to them because they don't look as old as they must be considering how REALLY OLD my brother is.

I know I said I don't feel that old but I can say that my kids act like I am REALLY OLD.

     "Do you need help getting down the stairs?"
      'Don't try to lift that - it's to heavy for you."
     "You have no business thinking of riding a Seque!"
     "Want me to order for you? I know how confused you can get?"
     "You have no business driving that far by yourself."

Now I know they mean well and yes, I do sometimes have trouble with stairs. And in regards to the ordering - that was because there was a new restaurant with the menu on the wall and it was humongous. Those things do confuse me.  Heck - a menu that has more than two pages to choose from can confuse me.  I don't need that much to choose from.

Then I think about friends of mine whose parents are still alive!  I'm like WOW!  I can't fathom it!  Te me that's mind-blowing!  (Keep in mind my mother died at the age of 48 and my dad at the age of 51.)

Then I got to thinking about looks. Some people really look old!  And they may not be.  Now I happen to think that my family has some pretty good genes because my girls and I don't look that old.

This picture was taken 3 years ago. So I would have been 56 - making the girls 36-34-32 (yes contrary to what one or more of them may tell you they are in the thirties).  I think those girls look pretty darn good!



So tell me - what do you think of as old or REALLY OLD?

Winter Weather

We live in Oklahoma.  Our weather is bi-polar.

Yep - 70 degrees one day then we will have a 40 degree drop. We may have snow - we may have ice - we may have wind - we may have rain - we may have fog.  Take your pick - they all happen here and you never know when . We may  have all of them in the space of 24-48 hours

Now why am I telling you this?

Because all week long our weather forecasters have been advising of the approaching winter storm.

Yep - we already have this in effect.  I got notification yesterday when it was 70 degrees outside.

Last week we had great weather - then on Friday a front came through we had MAYBE 1/4 inch of snow.  The school closed (yes it was very cold and I understand that this may be why they closed the schools but let's get real here.  The temperature wasn't that cold and I know that there are resources available for students to get coats if the parents want to avail themselves of the resources. I also know of students who have the proper clothing but choose not to wear it).

So school closed last week - it was cold Friday and Saturday then we warmed up.  BUT -- even before the warm up came on Monday our forecasters were telling us to brace ourselves for the next round of cold weather.

I know the storm is bad and there are areas that will receive severe snow and ice from this but I do not understand the hype that we are receiving here. It started Sunday - advising of the upcoming storm - ice - freezing rain.  Now keep in mind - they also advised that it was to early to do an accurate determination of the location this would take - it might go north of us - it might go south - it was to early to tell.

So Monday - I start receiving calls wanting to know how will they be notified when we don't have class on Friday.  Really?  Who told you we wouldn't?

This has continued all week.  The forecasters are still saying it's hard to determine the exact line of the storm and what we will get.  We are in an area that seems to be a dividing line for all storms whether winter, tornado, etc. It goes north or south of us - sometimes right in the middle.

Now I know that in 2007 we were hit hard with an unexpected ice storm and there were people without electricity for 10 days or longer. I know that they want people to be prepared but I'm wondering  - are they over-preparing us?  Now I kinda secretly hope we do have some bad weather and that classes are cancelled - I'd love a snow day.  But at the same time - I am not preparing for it before it happens in my head.

Yes, it's smart to be certain you have food and water and necessary supplies but don't you usually have those on hand anyway?  Do you go to the grocery store before every meal or even every day. Is it necessary to compare a storm that isn't here yet to one from 9 years ago?  We don't know what this one will bring to us.

I also know that it keeps my brothers who live in Michigan and Pennsylvania amused.  We closed for temps at 16 and less than 1/4 inch of snow. In Michigan it was minus 2 and some lake effect snow -everything was normal. Pennsylvania had 2 feet of snow - it had been snowing for 2 straight days but all was normal.

So how about you?  Do you think the forecasters over-prepare us?

Christmas Thoughts

If you know me very well, and even if you don't know me but have been reading my blog, you know that I love Christmas!

I love everything about Christmas.  

I love the anticipation. Countdown to Christmas -- you bet!  Advent calendars to help keep track of the days. Paper chains where you can tear off one chain each day.

This year I found a Gingerbread house with doors to open.

I know these aren't new but they are usually expensive and I tend to pass on buying one. I found this one for half-price when I was Black Friday shopping and knew I had to have it.

I love the lights at Christmas time. Lights on the Christmas tree, lights on houses, lights in the snow. I remember as a kid Mom would make popcorn balls and we would get in the car and Dad would drive us around to look at the lights around town.  Gary and I drive around several times each season looking at lights. That's the difference between a big city and a small town. In the big city, you can go to a different neighborhood each night to see lights. In a small town you see the lights in one night. But either way it's fun.

I love decorating for Christmas. Pulling out all my tubs and tubs and tubs and tubs (do you get the idea I have lots of decorations?) from the attic. Unwrapping each one - remembering where it came from, who gave it to me. Smiling as I pull out the Christmas books and remembering my daughters reading "The Animal's Christmas Eve" every year. The angel at the top of my tree was on my tree growing up. I wrap her up carefully and put her in a special box. Every year, Gary is worried that her lights won't light up.

Kind of a blurry picture but that's our special angel. Her wings are a little bit tattered but she keeps lighting up for us every year.  For some reason, every time I get her out I think of my Mom.

I have a couple of grand kids who live close and they like to help me decorate for Christmas. I love watching them decide where to put items on the trees and around the house.

I love the songs at Christmas. I play Christmas music all year long intermingled with other music; but, at Christmas time - straight Christmas. I love Silent Night, Mary Did You Know, Frosty, You Gotta Get Up, The Grinch, Felix Navidad. Yeah, I love Christmas music!

I love traditions at Christmas time.  We always have cheeseburgers and homemade french fries for Christmas Eve. We have started doing an annual Christmas movie night. We have certain candies we make at Christmas. And what has become one of our favorite traditions is that everyone gets 1-2 cans of Silly String in their Christmas stocking. We then have a silly string fight in the house on Christmas morning.  We always look forward to this.

We have a lot more cans than this and we certainly have fun with it. You would be amazed at how big a ball silly string will make when you start cleaning it up.

I love Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church. Reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth. Thinking of what Mary and Joseph went through - thinking of where Jesus was born.

In a manager.

As we heard at church yesterday during our Advent series; He came from the lowest of lows to be the Highest of Highs. Born in a manger, His birth was first proclaimed to the shepherds, people who slept with animals. But He came to fulfill a purpose - He came to save us. And that is why we celebrate Christmas Day. The greatest gift of all - which was also awaited with anticipation for YEARS - and some never saw it but the still awaited.

Wishing each of you a joyous Christmas and asking that you take time during this special of seasons to remember the Reason.

Leftovers

Who likes leftovers!  Not me!  There are very few foods I eat left over -- I'm pretty picky.  Potato soup is good leftover. Goulash is good left over. Mashed potatoes are good to use for potato pancakes or potato salad.

But what about those Thanksgiving leftovers you have?  Well I will kind of eat them. But we decided to do something different this year.  We decided to have a Thanksgiving Leftover New Food Night!

Now to be honest - we didn't have to many left overs from Thanksgiving and by the time we had our New Food Night we had to make new 'leftovers'.  LOL  But here you have it - some of our leftovers.

Here you can see that we are set up waiting to sample some goodness!

Let's start with some Turkey Tortillas.  Turkey, Swiss cheese, some cranberry -- this was very very good.  This was made by K.C.. You know you are always looking for new ways to use up that turkey.

K.C. also made some Sweet Potato biscuits.  Very good - but not a lot of sweet potato flavor to them.  I could detect the flavor but it was not a strong sweet potato flavor,

Gary and I made some Turkey Wontons.  Man were these good!  Turkey, dressing, cream cheese, turkey gravy!  May not sound yummy but it sure was.

We added some cranberry salsa to go along with the wontons.  It went well with the tortilla to.

Miss Annette made some dressing with cranberries and walnuts.  Gotta love dressing.

And to be certain we had dessert (didn't want anyone to be disappointed) I made up some snickerdoodles.  Now this classifies as Thanksgiving leftovers because it was some frozen cookie dough I had bought from a school fundraiser before Thanksgiving. It was sitting in the freezer during Thanksgiving so therefore it is Thanksgiving leftovers.  :)

Here's a plate of everything but the cookies.  I did have a few more wontons and tortillas but I wasn't sure if I would like them so strarted with just one of each.

Wanted to show you our full table. Jessica and Steven, Michael's daughter and son-in-law, joined us this week. Also, at the end of the table you will see Katie, a foster that K.C. and Michael are assisting. Now you cannot see the plump little girl in the high chair at the end on the other side of Lily but that would be Amelia, Michael and K.C.'s granddaugher!



Now tell us how you use your leftovers?  We are always open for new suggestions.