QuiltLady – Page 94 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

The Revival of the INCREDIBLE MYSTERY FUDGE

Last weekend my friend who is the local Eagle’s Auxiliary president held her last fundraising function for the year. We did a Paint-N-Sip event at the post. We had a great turn out and in the end made a hefty sum to add to the scholarship fund. We did raffle tickets for some incredible baskets, served a small lunch, sipped mimosas and had a great time. It wasn’t my pick for a painting, but it was for a good cause 😀

One of the things we did to raise money was hold a guessing raffle. I made a BIG batch of my incredible mystery fudge. This recipe originated 15 years ago or so when I was approached by Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce to promote their cookbook and sauce. I can’t find the sauce anywhere around here, but it tastes suspiciously like A1 sauce so that makes a great substitute. No one was able to guess the mystery ingredients, but we had some wild guesses – everything from mayonnaise to pop rocks 😀

INCREDIBLE MYSTERY FUDGE
12 ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
2 sticks butter
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce or A1 sauce
2 pounds powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
3/4 cups heath bar bits (optional)
3/4 cups chopped pecans (optional)

In a microwave safe bowl combine the Velveeta, butter, Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce and chocolate.
Microwave on high 2-4 minutes, stirring every minute until mixture is smooth and well blended.
Pour the powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl.
Gradually add the chocolate mixture while beating with an electric mixture until well blended.
Beat in the vanilla.
Stir in the nuts, heath bar bits or your desired combination totaling 1 1/2 cups.
Pour into a greased 9×13 pan.
Cover and chill until firm.
Store in the refrigerator.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU PLANS week 6 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week.

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I had a very busy weekend and well I’m just beat today and coping with food and tummy issues still. I’m hoping to find some energy laying around.

Well, our rain never materialized and we have been having quite a bit of “stagnant” air. Day in and day out have been foggy, dewy mornings that burn off into 1-2 hours of semi-sun shine just before the sun begins to set. Highs in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s which is still good for Levis, comfy hoodies and UGG’s 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be doing a deep clean on the kitchen this week since we’ve been infested with “winter” ants again, you know the ones looking for water and warmth. I’ve set a dozen or so traps around the house.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Not much this week which is good because I’m just a bit worn out lately and lacking enough energy.
PROJECTS Hoping it get sunny enough an afternoon or two to finish covering the rust on the cafe table and chairs that sit by the front door and the barrel rings of the front planters.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING The next couple of weeks are planned.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

PEACOCK Frasier reruns at bedtime
DISNEY+ Sulphur Springs season 2
CABLE OLYMPICS, Rawhide reruns, HGTV – Fixer Upper, COOKING shows – Girl Meets Farm, Beat Bobby Flay, Alex vs. America, Kids Baking championship

I finished up Return to Sapphire Bay – THE LAKESIDE INN by Leanna Morgan and started BUNDLE OF TROUBLE by Diana Orgain this week. Bundle of Trouble wasn’t on my original list for the year, but popped up as a free kindle read in my email so I thought I’d try a new to me author. I’ll then double back to grab book #2 for The Return Sapphire Bay.

My friend came for dinner the other night before our big paint day and brought me this beautiful teacup of flowers. Originally I wasn’t fond of this picture we painted for the fundraiser, but it has grown on me 😀

Everybody probably already knows this, but a single mini marshmallow in the bottom of your cone can keep it from dripping all over you 😀

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	SPICY SHRIMP TEMPURA BOWLS	CHICKEN & PROSCIUTTO PENNE	MOZZARELLA CHICKEN	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	OUT	HAMBURGER HASH	TEX MEX POT PIES
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

ELVIS COOKIES
CHEESY GAME DAY DIPS
MARINATED BEAN SALAD
TUSCAN STYLE HERB CHICKEN
MARINATED PORK CHOPS & FRIED POTATOES
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHEWY BROWNIES

INCREDIBLE MYSTERY FUDGE
GERMAN APPLE PANCAKES
APPLE PIE STREUSEL MUFFINS
NO KNEAD (SALAMI) BREAD
CITRUS VINAIGRETTE SALAD with GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

SUPERBOWL PARTY DIP TRAY ~ CHEESY GAME DAY DIPS ~ BUFFALO CHICKEN, BACON & CHEESE, SPINACH & ARTICHOKE, PHILLY CHEESESTEAK

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? or FOR SOME RACING? or HOW ABOUT SOME OLYMPICS? On this weekend we are doing grazing meals and this recipe I found on Facebook will be perfect!

I found this recipe on Facebook a couple years back and it was written for 4 dips done in a rectangle. Since it’s usually just the 2 of us I make much smaller quantities and have adjusted the flavors to our liking. I’ll then take the leftovers and mix them together if they are compatible and make another plate for the next day!

CHEESY GAME DAY DIPS

serves 12 people if you make ALL 4 dips

1 pound of your pizza dough
 Avocado oil

BACON and CHEESE DIP
1 3/4 cup sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, split
1 cup cooked bacon bits
1/4 cup chopped spring onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1-4 to 1/2 cup Frank’s original hot sauce (depending on your level of heat)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup FINELY grated cheddar cheese
1 clove garlic, FINELY minced
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped chives

SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped artichokes
1/2 cup chopped spinach, thawed
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
FRESH ground sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK
1 cup cooked beef, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
cooking spray
1 cup diced red onion
1 cup diced red pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces shredded mozzarella “provolone” cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350°.
Grease and line a deep sheet pan.
Mix together all ingredients for each dip until combined.
Roll pizza dough into ping pong size balls (20 grams) and place around the edge of the sheet pan and across through the middle to create four equal quarters. If only making 2 or 3 dips adjust your size and shape accordingly.
Spread one dip into each of the areas and smooth out.
Brush the dough balls with avocado oil and let proof for 20 minutes.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until dough balls are golden brown and dips are bubbling.
Serve while warm, enjoy!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHEWY BROWNIES

These are made from one of the gift jars I made for Christmas presents. They are a simple and perfectly delicious treat for any day 😀

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHEWY BROWNIES
Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 22 mins Total Time 27 mins

1 cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Sift together all dry ingredients.
Place into a jar or airtight container.
Add chips to top and seal tightly.

On a tag add the following:

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
½ cup butter, melted, then cooled
2 LARGE eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°.
Spray an 8×8 square baking dish.
Melt butter and set aside to cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla.
Mixing with a wooden spoon gently add the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined.
Add melted butter into mixture mixing just until incorporated.
Spread batter in a prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes based on your consistency desire.
Cool completely before cutting.

MARINATED BEAN SALAD

MARINATED BEAN SALAD
2 – 15 ounce cans green beans
1 – 15 ounce can wax beans
15 ounce can sliced carrots
4 ounce jar pimientos
1 SMALL red onion, halved and sliced thin
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 cups sugar
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Drain beans, carrots and pimentos REALLY WELL and place into a covered dish with enough room for the liquid.
Toss in red onion slices.
In a sauce pan dissolve the sugar and salt into the vinegar and bring it to a boil.
Let it cool.
Pour it over the bean mixture.
Marinate at least 24-48 hours for the best flavor.

MARINATED PORK CHOPS & FRIED POTATOES

MARINATED PORK CHOPS & FRIED POTATOES
2 Yukon potatoes per person, diced bite size
2 tablespoons butter (for potatoes)
1 tablespoon butter (for pork chops)
2 green onions, minced
1-2 thin bone-in pork chops per person
1/2 cup of your favorite Italian dressing (I use Ken’s usually)
1 1/2 cups white wine
1-2 shallots, sliced thin
4 slices bacon, diced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

8-10 hours before dinner arrange pork chops in a deep covered tupperware.
Pour wine and dressing over pork chops, turning to coat. Add lid and chill in refrigerator, turning every so often to keep pork chops marinated well.
Melt butter in skillet.
Add potatoes and green onions, season well with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
Stir frequently, cooking until crisp and golden. Set potatoes aside.
Drain marinade from pork chops, but DON’T throw it out!
Using the same pan add 1 tablespoon butter and pork chops in a single layer, frying until browned and JUST cooked through. Remove pork chops and keep warm.
In the same pan add shallots and bacon pieces, cooking until bacon is done, but not too crispy.
Add the drained marinade to the pan and bring to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until gravy consistency.
Add fried potatoes to gravy, simmering a minute or two.
Add pork chops to pan to warm, turning to coat in the gravy.
Serve immediately.

ELVIS COOKIES ala DUFF GOLDMAN

Duff says that the King deserves a cookie. And you know what, he’s absolutely right, and I for one am so glad Duff created a cookie for him! Elvis was known for some odd eating combos and this cookie showcases them all – bananas, peanut butter, garlic, bacon, pretzels… YEP I said garlic. I always make a recipe as written the first time and then adjust from there. I did include the garlic, but I WILL omit it next time. Hubby couldn’t taste it, but I could.

ELVIS COOKIES ala DUFF GOLDMAN yields 30 cookies
3 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla extract
BIG pinch of baking powder*
1 garlic clove, minced **(optional)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3 VERY ripe bananas
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
3/4 cup pretzel crumbs (about 5 ounces hard pretzels smashed)
10 bacon strips, cooked crisp and chopped FINE

Preheat oven to 350°.
Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl combine the butter, peanut butter, molasses, sugar, baking powder, garlic and salt, mixing until all one color.
Add the bananas, mixing until all the same consistency.
Add flour and gently mix until incorporated with no lumps.
Fold in the chocolate chips, pretzel pieces and bacon.
This is my little addition – chill the entire batch of dough for 1 hour before using.
Place large walnut sized spoon fulls onto prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart.
Chill baking sheets 10 minutes.
Bake for 12 minutes or until golden on the outside and gooey in the middle.
Cool on wire rack.

*NOTE: Duff qualifies this by saying yes, he said a BIG pinch of baking powder and to get over it 😀

**NOTE: Duff claims that the garlic isn’t weird and that there is actually a long standing tradition of putting garlic in chocolate chip cookies. I have to admit t does sound weird, but in reality no weirder than the bacon 😀 But like I said hubby couldn’t taste it, but I could so I will omit it next time and leave it up to you.

OVARIAN CANCER

Set Goals To Help You Overcome Cancer  Anyone who wants to turn their hopes and dreams into realities can benefit from writing about their goals. This is especially important if you have been diagnosed with a serious illness, form mesothelioma, fibromyalgia to even autoimmune disorders. When faced with a serious diagnosis, people sometimes stop trying to achieve goals because they’re afraid they won’t be able to accomplish them in their lifetimes or feel that nothing matters besides their illness. However, setting and achieving goals can help you live a high quality life despite your diagnosis and might aid you in living a longer, healthier life despite a stated prognosis.   Short-Term Goals
Patients often focus on short-term goals such as getting through treatment or going into remission for a year. Writing about these tangible goals can help them cope with treatment better. Just as anyone who sets a goal is more likely to achieve it, patients who set goals for their treatment have a better prognosis than those who do not.   Patients can approach these short-term goals in a variety of ways. Writing down their goals and hanging them up where they can see them helps remind them of what they are trying to achieve and keeps them focused on recovery. Some patients also find it helpful to keep a journal about their treatment. Journaling is an effective way to release negative feelings about disease so that patients can remain in the positive state of mind necessary for cancer recovery.  Quality of Life
It’s important for patients to avoid focusing exclusively on their disease and its treatment. Before getting ill, most people had hobbies and things they looked forward to, and it can sometimes be difficult to focus on these things after a diagnosis. However, enjoying life as much as possible for as long as they can after diagnosis can help patients recover better. In addition, individuals should make as many good memories as possible—-positivity is uplifting and guides healing.   Thus, patients should add some daily goals to their treatment goals. For example, some patients may set a goal of reading a certain amount of pages in a book. Writing down these goals can help patients remember the things they enjoy and give them things to look forward to, both of which can help improve their chances of recovering from cancer.

The Elephant in the Room…

November 9, 2009 at 4:04pm

When you google dementia this is what you get:
Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases.

Symptoms ~ Problems may involve language, memory, perception, emotional behavior or personality, and cognitive skills (such as calculation, abstract thinking, or judgment). Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.

Symptoms include:
*Changed feeling (sensation) or perception
*Changed sleep patterns
*Change in sleep-wake cycle
*Insomnia
*Need for increased sleep
*Decrease in problem-solving skills and judgment
*Disorientation
*Confused about people, places, or times
*Unable to pick up cues from the environment
*Disorders of problem-solving or learning
*Trouble making calculations
*Unable to learn
*Unable to think abstractly
*Unable to think in general terms
* Impaired recognition (agnosia)
*Trouble recognizing familiar objects or people
*Trouble recognizing things through the senses
* Lack of or poor language ability (aphasia)
*Unable to form words
*Unable to name objects
*Unable to read or write
*Unable to repeat a phrase
*Unable to speak (without muscle paralysis)
*Unable to understand speech
*Have impaired language skills
*Repeat phrases
*Speak poorly (enunciation)
*Use slang or the wrong words
*Memory problems
*Unable to remember new things (short-term memory problems)
*Unable to remember the past (long-term memory problems)
*Motor system problems
*Gait changes
*Impaired skilled motor function (apraxia)
*Unable to copy geometric figures
*Unable to copy hand positions
*Unable to dress self ~ and lack of desire to bathe, brush teeth and the ability to live with those smells and without regard to those around them.
*Inappropriate movements
*Other motor system problems
* Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations) and having false ideas (delusions)
*Severe confusion
*Personality changes
*Anxiety
*Decreased ability to care for oneself
*Decreased interest in daily living activities ~ often accompanied by frequent “woe is me I’d be better off dead” drama scenes
*Depression
*Inappropriate mood or behavior ~ such as blurting out whatever they may be thinking without censure, often creating ambivalence in those around them.
*Irritability
*No mood (flat affect)
*Not flexible
*Only concerned with self (self-centered)
*Poor temper control
*Unable to function or interact in social or personal situations
*Unable to keep a job
*Unable to make decisions
*Withdrawal from social interaction
*Unable to be spontaneous
*Unable to concentrate

Other symptoms that may occur with dementia:
* Incontinence
* Swallowing problems

Treatment ~ The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of dementia. Treatment depends on the condition causing the dementia. Some people may need to stay in the hospital for a short time.

Stopping or changing medications that make confusion worse may improve brain function. Medicines that contribute to confusion include:
* Anticholinergics
* Central nervous system depressants
* Cimetidine
* Lidocaine
* Painkillers (analgesics)

Treating conditions that can lead to confusion can often greatly improve mental functioning. Such conditions include:
* Anemia
* Decreased oxygen (hypoxia)
* Depression
* Heart failure
* Infections
* Nutritional disorders
* Thyroid disorders

Medications may be needed to control behavior problems. Possible medications include:
* Antipsychotics
* Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) for Alzheimer’s-type dementia
* Dopamine blockers (haloperidol, risperdal, olanzapine, clozapine)
* Mood stabilizers (fluoxetine, imipramine, citalopram)
* Serotonin-affecting drugs (trazodone, buspirone)
* Stimulants (methylphenidate)

A person’s eyes and ears should be checked regularly. Hearing aids, glasses, or cataract surgery may be needed.

Psychotherapy or group therapy usually does not help because it may cause more confusion.

LONG-TERM TREATMENT:
A person with dementia may need monitoring and help at home or in an institution. Possible options include:
* Adult day care
* Boarding homes
* Convalescent homes
* In-home care

Family members can get help caring for the person with dementia from:
* Adult protective services
* Community resources
* Homemakers
* Visiting nurses or aides
* Volunteer services

In some communities, support groups may be available (see elder care – support group). Family counseling can help family members cope with home care.

Other tips for reducing disorientation:
* Have familiar objects and people around
* Keep lights on at night
* Provide environmental and other cues with reality orientation
* Reward appropriate behaviors and ignore inappropriate ones to control unacceptable or dangerous behaviors
* Stick to a simple activity schedule

Advance directives, power of attorney, and other legal actions may make it easier to decide about the care of the person with dementia. Seek legal advice early in the course of the disorder, before the person with dementia is unable to make such decisions.
Causes

The two major causes of non-reversible (degenerative) dementia are:

Alzheimer’s disease ~ Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a term that is used to describe a group of brain disorders. These brain disorders cause memory loss and make it harder to carry out daily tasks. Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly over time. The symptoms begin to appear so gradually that it is often mistaken for normal aging.

Loss of brain function due to a series of small strokes (vascular dementia)

The two conditions often occur together.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a leading cause of dementia in elderly adults. People with this condition have abnormal protein structures in certain areas of the brain.

The structures and symptoms of DLB are similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease, but it is not clear whether DLB is a form of Alzheimer’s or a separate disease. There is no cure for DLB or Alzheimer’s.

Conditions that damage blood vessels or nerve structures of the brain can also lead to dementia.

Treatable causes of dementia include:
* Brain tumors
* Dementia due to metabolic causes
* Infections
* Low vitamin B12 levels
* Normal pressure hydrocephalus
* Thyroid conditions

Dementia usually occurs in older age. It is rare in people under age 60. The risk for dementia increases as a person gets older.

Tests & diagnosis
The following tests and procedures may be done:
* B12 level
* Blood ammonia levels
* Blood chemistry (chem-20)
* Blood gas analysis
* Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
* Drug or alcohol levels (toxicology screen)
* Electroencephalograph (EEG)
* Glucose test
* Head CT
* Liver function tests
* Mental status test
* MRI of head
* Serum calcium
* Serum electrolytes
* Thyroid function tests
* Thyroid stimulating hormone level
* Urinalysis

Prognosis ~ Dementia usually gets worse and often decreases quality of life and lifespan.

Prevention ~ Most causes of dementia are not preventable.

You can reduce the risk of vascular dementia, which is caused by a series of small strokes, by quitting smoking and controlling high blood pressure and diabetes. Eating a low-fat diet and exercising regularly may also reduce the risk of vascular dementia.

Complications ~ Complications depend on the cause of the dementia, but may include the following:

* Abuse by an overstressed caregiver
* Increased infections anywhere in the body
* Loss of ability to function or care for self
* Loss of ability to interact
* Reduced life span
* Side effects of medications used to treat the disorder

When to contact a doctor:
* Call your health care provider if dementia develops or a sudden change in mental status occurs.
* Call your health care provider if the condition of a person with dementia gets worse.
* Call your health care provider if you are unable to care for a person with dementia at home.

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TUSCAN STYLE HERB CHICKEN

TUSCAN STYLE HERB CHICKEN
1 cup chicken bone broth
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 LARGE russet or 6 Yukon gold potatoes, diced bite size
1 cup peeled and sliced carrots
3/4 cup frozen peas
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can diced tomatoes with herbs, drained WELL
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon Garden Gourmet Italian herbs

Preheat oven to 350°.
Whisk Italian herbs and butter into the chicken broth.
Season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
Arrange potatoes, carrots, peas and tomatoes into the bottom of a baking dish. I like to use my enameled cast iron for even baking.
Nestle chicken pieces into veggies.
Pour broth mixture over and around chicken and veggies stirring gently to coat well.
Bake 35-40 minutes until potatoes and carrots are tender and chicken is cooked through.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU PLANS week 5 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week.

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

What an exciting playoff day yesterday was! The sacks, the interceptions, overtime – the games had it all!!! So sorry Jean 🙁 I really thought the Chiefs had it until the very end. When the coin toss for overtime came up in their favor I was sure it was all over. It has been so many years since the Bengals have even made it to the playoffs, let alone through them that I’m not totally disappointed. It was a good game.

The Rams game didn’t start out well, but boy was the second half an edge of the seat worth the wait! I’m not from California, but I grew up there. My dad was an “original’ Rams fan from when they were originally a Los Angeles team so I grew up with them being the home town team. Honestly I would have been okay with the 49ers winning, but am so glad to see the Rams be one of the first teams to go to the Super Bowl in their brand new home stadium.

Our weekend rain didn’t materialize until last night and while it poured A LOT, it was short lived leaving us with an even colder week ahead. Saturday was actually gorgeous – sunny and bright despite being cold. With the sun the temperature actually hit 40 and we were able to take a comfortable hike around the pond. That sun was short lived though and the low was 29° that night 🙁 This week will be in the low 40’s with very little sun making it a bone chilling cold again. Nights will be in the low 30’s. But, I am LOVING the continued turtlenecks, flannels, hoodies and UGG’s though.

I’m a positive, upbeat person 95% of the time who loves to interact with people and be involved in multiple projects, but I can seriously see how easy it would be to become an agoraphobic person.

I seriously question leaving the house EVERY time I do it these days. COVID variants and people’s actions or lack of are on my mind ALL the time these days. I never used to judge people and hate to admit I do now. I try to not even use public restrooms these days, but every now and then it is a necessity and when I see someone leave a restroom without washing their hands I cringe and just want to yell at them!!!!

Because of my immuno compromised status I am ALWAYS (and have been for a VERY long time) aware of my surroundings and the actions of those around me, but MORE than ever it makes life a challenge these days.

Hot water and cherry yogurt!

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a load of towels to do, but the rest of the laundry is up to date. I’ll vacuum later. It’s been so cold at night that we are still getting those pesky tiny black ants. They are not in search of anything, but warmth since they never get into food, but boy are they annoying!! So I like to vacuum them up as often as possible.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have hair and pedicure appointments this week so will work the groceries and misc. errands into those appointments. The painting class for the Eagles is on Saturday also, but that’s super local with people I know and in a LARGE room appropriately spaced.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still whittling down a bunch of stuff.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve been reading a couple of new cook books and working on down sizing a few more recipes for February.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

PEACOCK Fraiser reruns
TUBI That Girl reruns
DISNEY+ Sulphur Springs Season 2
CABLE I have some cooking shows (Next Level Chef, Alex VS. America, Girl Meets Farm, The Lost Kitchen), Hallmark movies and some CBS shows (Magnum, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Bull) that haven’t yet gone on Hiatus as well as some Rawhide reruns recorded that I’ve been watching in between things.

I’m finishing up THE LAKESIDE INN by Leanna Morgan and will start BUNDLE OF TROUBLE by Diana Orgain this week. Bundle of Trouble wasn’t on my original list for the year, but popped up as a free kindle read in my email so I thought I’d try a new to me author.

It’s been completely dry and super cold lately with heavy dense fog mornings that haven’t been clearing off until around lunchtime, but that has been creating some incredible sunsets. 😀 I caught this one just in time on Friday afternoon.

Then on Saturday when it actually warmed up a bit with the sun we walked around the pond and were rewarded with this cute beaver sunning himself on a downed log.

Recently they cut back A LOT of brush from around the pond and you can now see all the beaver activity as they begin building their summer home.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	TACO SPAGHETTI	SALAD with GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS and CITRUS VINAIGRETTE	TEX MEX CHICKEN POT PIES	SEAFOOD SALAD & NO KNEAD SALAMI BREAD	SAUERBRATEN, POTATO PANCAKES & HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE	CHICKEN & DUMPLING SOUP with NO KNEAD ONION BREAD	HAMBURGER HASH with MARINATED BEAN SALAD
DESSERT		MOLLY CHOCO CHIP COOKIES

MARINATED BEAN SALAD
TUSCAN STYLE HERB CHICKEN
ELVIS COOKIES ala DUFF GOLDMAN
MARINATED PORK CHOPS & FRIED POTATOES

APPLE PANCAKE

APPLE PANCAKE adapted from MOLLY YEH
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup PURE maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 teaspoons QUALITY ground cinnamon
Pinch kosher salt
1 medium HONEYCRISP or GRANNY SMITH apple, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4 inch (about 1 cup)
4 LARGE eggs
2 tablespoons FINE sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk**
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Flaky salt, for finishing

Preheat the oven to 450°.
In an 8-inch nonstick skillet (preferably cast iron) over low heat, combine the brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, 3/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon and a pinch kosher salt. Whisk together and whisk to combine.
Turn the heat up to medium and bring the mixture to a boil.
Allow to boil vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes.
Carefully add the apple slices and toss until the apples are fully coated in the caramel mixture.
Reduce heat to low and allow mixture to bubble for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the apples begin to soften and appear translucent.
Place the skillet onto a foil, parchment or silpat lined baking sheet to catch any bubbled-over caramel and bake for 5 minutes while you prepare the batter.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar until frothy.
Whisk in the buttermilk, flour, vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and the nutmeg to combine until no longer lumpy.
Remove the pan from the oven.
Carefully pour the batter into the skillet over the apples, swirling around the perimeter and ending in the center. According to Molly beginning on the sides and working inward gives the pancake better structure and will also ensure that the pancake “souffles” evenly.
Place pan back into the oven to bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the sides have risen and the edges are dark.
Remove from the oven and allow to settle for a minute or two.
Carefully invert on a plate.
Sprinkle with flaky salt and serve immediately.

**NOTE: Buttermilk can be made by using a combination of whole milk and vinegar.

Author: QuiltLady

The Elephant in the Room…