MEMES & LINK PARTIES – Page 91 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & LINKS week 33 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

Good morning my friends! I hope that you all had a wonderful week and are healthy and happy. I know many of you have kids that just went back to school or are about to, effectively bringing your summer to an end. 😀

Hey guys, I hate to be the one to point this out, but, Halloween is only 77 days away which also means there are only 101 days until Thanksgiving and 132 until Christmas! I saw Halloween costumes for sale when I was in Costco the other day and worse yet I saw Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations in Joanne’s last Friday.

It seems like the days are just flying by and while we are still in the throes of summer, fall is almost here which will go by all to fast for my liking and then Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here bringing in winter which I love.

Hot water and my last Raspberry Lemonade yogurt are breakfast. I’m hoping that I can find some more yogurt when I go shopping this morning, but it is a flavor that has been hard to find. 🙁

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get everything up to date and tidy over the weekend.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m running into town this morning to do my grocery shopping and then running to water Trudy’s yards on my way home.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS We’re going to take a day and go bowling later this week and are planning a trip to the butterfly farm. Thursday is our anniversary and we’ll be going out for a nice dinner. Because it’s a Thursday there shouldn’t be a crowd.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING August is completely planned manu wise and I’m still working on a “LINK” week in September for some new recipes. I’m really trying to work the next several months around the freezer and pantry to clear out everything I can. At the end of the year I’m going to donate anything leftover to the food pantry so I can reorganize and downsize everything.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We’ve finished NCIS through season 4. Locke & Key season 2 is here so we just began that. We also watched DOOM Anihilation.
DISCOVERY + MYSTERIES at the MUSEUM
CABLE On Saturday nights hubby and I watch really old SVENGOOLIE movies – even have a bowl of popcorn. But, this week it just wasn’t any fun so we switched it off. FUN/DOCUMENTARY American Pickers, Mysteries of the Abandoned NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – BBQ USA with Michael Symon, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, Masterchef, Big Bad Budget Battle

I just finished Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune #23 SWAMP SPIRITS and loved it, as always a fun read!

We went to the County Fair last Friday, and while I’m used to MUCH larger fairs, the one thing about ANY county fair is how cute the animals are. We love seeing the FFA and 4H kids and their animals. Unfortunately, I always have higher hopes for the other categories 🙁 There were very few quilts and homemaking entries which I found very disappointing. 🙁 In our old area it would have taken us 2 days to do the WHOLE fair – here it took only 2-3 hours.

	8/15 MONDAY	8/16 TUESDAY	8/17 WEDNESDAY	8/18 THURSDAY	8/19 FRIDAY	8/20 SATURDAY	8/21 SUNDAY
DINNER	TACO PIE & SALAD	PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLIDERS & SALAD	BEEF BURRITO BOWLS	OUR ANNIVERSARY dinner out at the PARROT HOUSE	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	STRAWBERRY CHICKEN SALAD	KENTUCKY HOT BROWN SLIDERS & SALAD
DESSERT			RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE BUNDT CAKE				RASPBERRY ALMOND RICOTTA CAKE

CHICKEN BLT PASTA SALAD

This recipe has needed a makeover for years and especially needed a new picture! I posted it 13 years ago when I was hosting a now defunct food blog with a friend and we had many ongoing regular memes, such as Stretch Your Food Dollar.

CHICKEN BLT PASTA SALAD
SALAD
16 ounces macaroni (or your choice)
1 pound of bacon, chopped in small pieces and fried crisp, for garnish
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1 LARGE red onion, chopped
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 1/2 cups chopped Romaine Lettuce
1 1/2 cups chopped Ice Berg Lettuce
3 cups total shredded Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack or flavor of choice
FRESH chopped tarragon, for garnish

Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and cool.
In a cast iron skillet, render the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon to drain on paper towels.
In a LARGE mixing bowl, mix together the cooled pasta, chicken, onions, tomatoes, lettuce and shredded cheese.
Pour the dressing (recipe below) over the salad and mix well.
Cover the salad and place in the refrigerator for at LEAST 2 hours before serving.
Garnish with the crisp bacon and fresh herbs before serving.

HERB DRESSING
1 cup DUKES mayonnaise
3 tablespoon Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix
3/4 cups WHOLE milk
Juice of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped tarragon
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 pinch red pepper flakes

Whisk all the ingredients in a jar.
Place the lid on the jar and shake until the dressing is completely mixed.
Chill until ready to serve.

NOTES:

Add more milk a little at a time until you have the consistency that you want.
If you’re in a hurry, you can substitute 1 1/2 cups Buttermilk Ranch dressing.
If you plan to have leftovers, toss with lettuce just prior to serving each time.

This post originally ran at 3 Sides of Crazy for these memes:

Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Tuesdays at the Table is normally hosted by Andrea over at My Chihauhau Bites but Andrea is taking a break while she has her baby and is being hosted by Cole for a while. Trista over at Southern Fried Mama hosts Tasty Thursday and Joy of desserts hosts Vintage Recipe Thursday.

Originally posted at OKK July 8, 2009
Updated August 31, 2022

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & LINKS week 32 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

This past week was EXTREMELY pleasant and it looks like it will continue into this week – YAY for us here 😀 Afternoons have gotten quite warm and even a bit sticky a couple days, but all and all it has been very pleasant with a cool ocean breeze.

I’m going to be puttering around here all day so just have on some worn out Levis, a favorite old t-shirt and am barefoot. 😀

Well, we all know how this category goes for me – it’s quite boring! Hot water and Raspberry Lemonade yogurt for me.

As for how I’m feeling… mainly good, but a bit anxious by all that is going on in this world… Omicron variant COVID cases are on the rise here locally and I have a few friends who have been struck badly by it, multiple global tensions exacerbated by bad political decisions, prices and greed, lack of ethics, staffing issues, weird weather phenomena – excessive heat, floods, drought and strange storms, medical provider issues… etc … Why can’t we all just be kind to one another and look out for each other.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get all the laundry done on Saturday while I was making FRESH tomato sauce from some of the many tomatoes that are finally turning ripe. I had started the plants last winter in my indoor aero garden and while they are SUPER tasty, they are quite strange plants – very tight and compact in stature with super dark green leaves and you really have to hunt “inside” the plant for the ripe tomatoes. I used some homemade chicken bone broth I made last Friday as a base with the homegrown tomatoes so was quite happy the outcome.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS A couple of appointments in town this week on Tuesday and Thursday and will work in the groceries and errands into those days. Hubby and I are going to go to the county fair on Friday which is always fun in a rural area. I just love seeing the kids and their 4H animals. My new glasses should be in this week and I’m hoping to coordinate picking them up with the existing schedule.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I FINALLY got some resolution on one of the long term issues that has been going on and was able to get 2 more appeals out that have been pending, I have yet another 2 more to get done this week. It’s so frustrating that those who should be in the “know” make you jump through hoops and red tape providing the same documentation over and over and over… to get to the obvious outcome when they already have the data they need in the file.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I ordered a how to make your own plant based proteins cookbook this past week that I’m hoping to try out the last week of the month. I’m also looking to do a week of trying new recipes that I’ve found on my WHERE I LIKE TO PARTY journeys that will feature other blogs. I saw a similar style post over at Miz Helen’s Cottage.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched The 2nd, NCIS season 2 and Recurrence
AMAZON PRIME We watched SHOCKWAVE Countdown to Disaster
PARAMOUNT + Hot in Cleaveland reruns
CABLE NASCAR, American NINJA Warrior, Svengoolie’s Devil’s Rain which had really BIG names in it, but a horrible plot – must have been from when they were still on salary and had to participate no matter what 😀

I haven’t been reading much, so am still reading last week’s book, Heather Webber’s, In The Middle of Hickory Lane and am going to savor it as she doesn’t publish as often as I’d like.

We took the back way home the other day. I’m still looking for that perfect picture of my favorite working barn. I’ll keep trying.

And I was really surprised to see the osprey in their nests this late in the year. It’s been a late blooming kind of year.

	8/8 MONDAY	8/9 TUESDAY	8/10 WEDNESDAY	8/11 THURSDAY	8/12 FRIDAY	8/13 SATURDAY	8/14 SUNDAY
DINNER	PEPPER JELLY CHICKEN and ROASTED CAULIFLOWER STEAKS	BLOODY MARY POT ROAST and MASHED POTATOES & GREEN BEANS	TUNA CASSEROLE & TOMATO TART	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	ORANGE PECAN CHICKEN, RICE PILAF & MUSHY PEAS	ULTIMATE CHICKEN CASSEROLE & SALAD	CHICKEN COBB SALAD and TWISTY ROLLS
DESSERT					CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 31 of 2022 with RECIPE LINKS & MENU PLANS

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 absolutely LOVE doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively so that it helps keep me on track and it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for me to follow this week.

Our heat has returned to a normal level of hot. I have to refrain from rolling my eyes and sighing every time someone complains about the heat and humidity here. Fortunately for me I’m from south east Texas and grew up in the desert of southern California so while it’s very warm here, it’s not going to be anywhere close to truly “humid” or anything close to “HOT” and is something that can be dealt with pretty easily by staying indoors as much as possible 😀 BUT that said, the winds shifted on Saturday and gave us an inversion layer of smoke that made it pretty muggy over the weekend, even for me. So, I spent a lot of time at the computer inputting recipes and getting pictures uploaded and posts scheduled for August. I’m actually going to be posting EVERY day in August which is a first in a long time for me. I’m hoping to do the same in September and October as I remake some recipe favorites to get better pictures. I need to spend some serious time in the winter then linking the recipes to the index.

Fortunately, we’re supposed to be in the mid-high 80’s this week with lows in the low 60’s, which is really tolerable.

I have a sundress, cute cover up and sandals on today as I’m heading to town to get my shopping done.

I’m going to have some yogurt and hot water before I go.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got all the laundry done on Saturday when we stayed in because the muggy smokey weather was just plain yucky!
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a long list and hope to accomplish it all today 😀
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS This is a never ending category. I swear EVERY time I get caught up with something two more things have taken its place 😀
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Our menu is made through the third week of August. I’m planning on sorting through older recipes on my food blog that need new pictures and work the menu around those through September. I KNOW A LOT of my early days of blogging had substandard pictures and I’m trying to update those as I can.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We started watching a new series, Keep Breathing and I started the new season of Virgin River. We’re just into season 2 of NCIS. We also watched Trading Paint with John Travolta and Shania Twain as well as Gray Man with Ryan Gosling was fun.
PARAMOUNT + We’re watching Hot in Cleaveland Reruns late at night.
CABLE NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEACH BRAWL, GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, SUPERMARKET STAKE OUT and BEAT BOBBY FLAY and a few CHRISTMAS in JULY HALLMARK MOVIES

I finally started Heather Webber’s In The Middle of Hickory Lane and am going to savor it.

Even here in our little small town burb we seem to encounter road work everywhere lately, even on the short cuts! LOL, the Pilot car took off and the sign still said STOP so he had to back up and remind her to turn the sign around so we could follow 😀 It was a slow go as the ENTIRE road from this point which is about 7/8 of the short cut route was complete gravel as they are literally redoing the ENTIRE road 😀

The fence post was the most exciting view I had while we waited for the sign to turn.

Callie is growing into THE cutest kitten! My friend who wants to adopt her has asked me to start calling her LuLu. 😀 and there was an AMAZING sunset on Wednesday night.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN ala ORANGE, RICE & VEGGIE	STEAK & TOMATO SALAD with CORN BREAD	CUBAN CHICKEN & RAMEN SALAD SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	CHICKEN BLT PASTA SALAD, HONEY BEER BREAD	MEXICAN MEATLOAF & MARMALADE CARROTS	BALSAMIC CHICKEN PEACH SALAD
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BUNDT CAKE			CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD PUDDING

RUM RAISIN CARROT CAKE
COCONUT MACAROONS
SHORT CUT APPLE PIE CUPCAKES
CHEESY SNACKS
JALAPENO POPPER WONTON CUPS
SWEET & SOUR BRISKET

RUM RAISIN CARROT CAKE with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

This has been a family favorite for many years and is the first dessert I taught my niece, Amber how to bake with so it has some seriously “sweet” memories 😀

RUM RAISIN CARROT CAKE with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
CAKE
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup butter, softened
3 JUMBO eggs
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
1/4 cup golden rum** SEE NOTE
3 cups grated carrots
8 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained well
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Pour rum over raisins and set aside for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease and flour 2-9 inch cake pans or line cupcake tins.
In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugars.
In another bowl cream together the butter, brown sugar, vanilla and 1 egg.
Add additional eggs and beat until well creamed.
Add dry ingredients gradually until well blended.
Add carrots, pineapple and walnuts until well blended.
Drain raisins and fold in last.
Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes.
Invert cakes onto rack and cool completely.

**NOTES:

As an option you could soak the raisins in orange juice instead of the rum and then substitute 1 teaspoon maple flavoring for the rum.
This recipe also makes scrumptious cupcakes.

FROSTING
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar

In a medium bowl beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add lemon juice and vanilla, beating.
Add powdered sugar gradually until well blended and smooth.
Ice first layer and then add 2nd cake top and ice again including sides of cake.
Refrigerate 1 hour to set icing before serving.

Originally posted 7-26-2010 for OURkRazZykitchen a food blog a friend and I hosted 😀
Update posted 7-26-2022

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 30 of 2022 with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS

Well the heat wave has finally reached the Pacific North West. Fortunately for me I’m from south east Texas and grew up in the desert of southern California so while the heat is going to be hotter than normal for here, it’s not going to be humid AND something I can deal with pretty easily 😀

We’ll be in triple digits all week so I’ll be doing more indoor activities, only watering early in the morning and after the sun sets. At least the nighttime lows will be in the 60’s cooling it down for some nice mornings.

Bare feet and flip flops are my friends this summer! I’m wearing my favorite capris and a lightweight blouse.

Oh and today is the 25th, so you know what that means? It’s time to weigh in on the countdown to Christmas with a public service announcement. I took advantage of PRIME DAY to source out a couple gifts and stocking stuffers. Please don’t hate me 😀

My friend found me a yogurt for me that it my new favorite! It’s Chobani’s Raspberry Lemonade. It actually makes breakfast a little less boring with so few options. It’s almost like having a dessert the flavor is

They also have a strawberry cheesecake that is quite good 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Completely done, or at least good for now since it’s a never ending process 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Not much going on this week at all except picking up what I need for the 3 dozen Apple Pie Cupcakes I’m making for the Eagles Friday night dinner.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still working on the same pile and issues :SIGH: Seems like for every one thing handled two more take its place.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I had the menu planned out through August and then a few snags came up and I just got through re-working it. I am in charge of 2 Friday night dinners (the first and the last Friday) at the Eagles in August. The first one will be BLT Chicken Pasta Salad with Honey Beer Bread and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding. The last one is Tex Mex Bacon Cheeseburger Bake with Broccoli Coleslaw and Lemon Drop Cake.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched the Gray Man with Ryan Gosling which was far fetched, but okay.
AMAZON PRIME We watched the movie Ice Soldiers and started the series Star Trek Strange New Worlds
PARAMOUNT + OLD NewsRadio reruns, though we never saw it the first time through 😀 OLD Hot in Cleaveland reruns – just LOVE Betty White, OLD 3rd Rock From the Sun reruns which are just goofy, but fun.
CABLE On Saturday nights hubby and I watch really old SVENGOOLIE movies – even have a bowl of popcorn.This week was BRIDES OF DRACULA. FUN/DOCUMENTARY American Pickers, Mysteries of the Abandoned NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – BBQ USA with Michael Symon, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, Masterchef

I’m between reads since I finished the Charlotte Dean series that I REALLY enjoyed. I certainly hope there are more to come from that author. I have a pre-order that will arrive tomorrow on Kindle for Heather Webber’s In The Middle of Hickory Lane so am trying to hold off on starting anything new for now.

The kittens are getting so BIG and have become great little mousers, a much desired trait since we live on the edge of the highway. Mom is starting to look more like herself again too! She likes to eye the hummingbirds, but leaves them alone fortunately. I’ve never had so many hummingbirds that actually perch and sit still – so cute!

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	HOT HONEY PORK CHOPS & GRILLED POTATO CORN SALAD	GREEK CHICKEN & SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	COLA GLAZED PORK LOIN, PEROGIES & SALAD	CHICKEN & DRESSING BAKE with MUSHY PEAS	CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SNOW PEA SALAD	SONORAN CLAM CHOWDER & CHEESY SNACKS
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BUNDT CAKE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 29 of 2022 with RECIPE LINKS & MENU PLANS

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

It was a really productive weekend here. I got a surprise call late Friday morning and the sprinkler guy who was supposed to be calling me to schedule an appointment was able to show up a couple weeks early and same day! He was here for several hours and was able to fix one part of a 2 or 3 part problem and while we still have a problem he was able to rule out several other potential issues.

It’s been toasty here, but only for a few hours a day. We’ve been cooling off really well at night so I have no real complaints. 😀

I know I’m tired of feeling this way, so you’re tired of hearing it, but I’m constantly worried about everything going on in the world 🙁 I just pray and pray for things to turn around and soon. Breakfast is a never changing palette for me so guess what I’m having this morning? You got it, Hot water and yogurt 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Completely up to date – can’t say that often! I even did a major clean on the oven.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby and I need to make a run to the transfer station to get rid of some junk. We each have appointments this week so I will get the few errands done when we are in town for those. We are laying low the next couple weeks. COVID cases are on the rise here (AGAIN), people are back to mask wearing with the threat of it being mandatory soon AND with the World Athletic Championships just up the road a ways from us there are a lot of unknowns in town so we’re playing the BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY card and avoiding ALL unknowns.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still whittling down my pile, BUT LOL it seems like 2 things replace every one I get finished!
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Still working on August and am now also providing 2 meals and a dessert for the Eagles next month. Each of those are for 40 people. So, I made a few samples (Tex Mex bacon cheeseburger bake, chicken BLT pasta salad, snap pea coleslaw, honey beer bread, apple pie cupcakes, chocolate chip banana bread pudding and chocolate macaroons) this past weekend for a friend who will be helping me to sample.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

PRIME WHITE SKY, JURASSIC PARK FALLEN – getting ready to see WORLD DOMINION
PARAMOUNT+ STAR TREK DISCOVERY, NEWS RADIO, HOT IN CLEVELAND, THE NANNY, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN
CABLE NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEACH BRAWL, GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, SUPERMARKET STAKE OUT and BEAT BOBBY FLAY and a few CHRISTMAS in JULY HALLMARK MOVIES

I didn’t get much reading accomplished last week and am still reading books 3 & 4 of Phillipa Nefri Clark’s Charlotte Dean mystery series.

The momma cat and kittens haven’t been around much, but made an appearance yesterday for a few hours. 😀 I could only get a few pictures though.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	We were going to have some SMOKEY WINGS but then we received a better offer for wine and BBQ on the neighbor’s deck 😀	SMOKEY WHISKEY WINGS, COLESLAW & DOWN HOME BAKED BEANS	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	STUFFED BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS & RANCH SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	HOT HONEY PORK CHOPS & GRILLED POTATO CORN SALAD	CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SALAD
DESSERT		LEMON DROP CAKE

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CHICKEN – PAN SEARED CHICKEN with a TANGY & CREAMY STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE SAUCE

This recipe is tender, juicy, looks elegant and pairs wonderfully with any green vegetable. It is truly my intention to try AT LEAST 1 recipe a week from my RECIPE SCRAPS. My original version was a CREAMSICLE CHICKEN.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE CHICKEN – PAN SEARED CHICKEN with a TANGY & CREAMY STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE SAUCE serves 4
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (see notes)
3 tablespoons brandy
1 1/4 cups pineapple juice (see notes)
4 green onions, minced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounce CHOBANI raspberry lemonade yogurt (see notes)
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon water
scant tablespoon avocado oil
Strawberry and lemon slices for garnish
Jasmine rice, prepared per package
Vegetable of choice, prepared accordingly

Heat avocado oil in a heavy skillet over medium high heat.
Generously season chicken pieces with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
Saute’ chicken breasts 2-3 minutes per side until golden.
Remove chicken to plate, tent with foil and keep warm.
De-glaze pan with brandy.
Add the pineapple juice, garlic and green onions.
Bring to a boil for 2 minutes.
Reduce heat to simmer 2-3 minutes.
Whisk together cornstarch with water.
Whisk cornstarch mixture into yogurt.
Whisk yogurt mixture into pan sauce and adjust seasoning.
Simmer until thickened and cooked through.

NOTES:

If you prefer 8 thighs substitute easily.
I sometimes use a pineapple orange juice to alter the flavor a bit.
CHOBANI yogurt flavors work beautifully. Raspberry lemonade is another favorite.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 28 of 2022 with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS

Today is going to be REALLY warm (for us), BUT, I will not complain! By comparison to the rest of the country it’s absolutely beautiful here!

I’m having so many conflicting feelings about EVERYTHING going on in the world these days! I keep thinking it all has to level out and life will go back to a relative normal, but then something new happens and I see those “normally” reasonable people around me are at each other snapping, arguing and disagreeing about the simplest of things… when will this merry go round stop so we can take a break?

Today will quite warm so I have no real intention of going outside much. Levis, bare feet and a favorite t-shirt is my attire. 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Everything is pretty clean and the laundry is done for now.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Have an appointment in town tomorrow so am putting together my lists to get everything done at the same time. 😀
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still working on a few things, but have made serious headway. 😀
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Beginning to research for lighter August meals and need to pull together a couple recipes for the Eagles Auxiliary meals and desserts.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched WILD CARD with Jason Stratham and AWAKE
CABLE Last week for the 4th we watched JAWS, INDEPENDENCE DAY and INDEPENDENCE DAY RESURGENCE. Svengoolie’s The Deadly Mantis is cued up as are cooking shows like The Food Truck Race, Beat Bobby Flay, Beachside Brawl and Supermarket Stakeout

I’m on books 3 & 4 of Phillipa Nefri Clark’s Charlotte Dean mystery series.

We were going to go to the annual Graffitti weekend car show last Saturday, but the event we were particularly interested in was moved from where it “usually” held to a smaller, hard to get to, lack of parking location and decided to forgo it for a picnic and hike along the river. The river is still quite high for this time of year and was absolutely gorgeous. The area is really beginning to bounce back from the Archie fire almost 2 years ago. We started with favorite sandwiches from the trading post. LOL I will still be eating my sandwich tomorrow!

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	GRILLED CHICKEN SPINACH ARTICHOKE PASTA BAKE	ENCHILADAS SUIZA & SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	SKILLET PASTA with VODKA SAUCE & SALAD	JALAPENO POPPER WONTON CUPS	SWEET & SOUR BRISKET and GRUYERE POTATO GRATIN	SHEET PAN PANCAKES
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD PUDDING			LEMON DROP CAKE & NO CHURN ICE CREAM	COCONUT MACAROONS	PEACH COBBLER

TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
CORN SALSA SALAD
JALAPENO HONEY STICK WINGS

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN
BALSAMIC MOZZARELLA WATERMELON SALAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 27 of 2022

Happy 4th of July! It’s Independence Day! I hope you have something FUN planned for today. I also hope everyone stays safe if you are doing fireworks!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful!! I have ZERO complaints 😀

I’m really trying to take just one day at a time! I’m really happy that I have no where to go today and nothing to do that I don’t want to 🙂 We’re just going to hang out, do a little grilling and minimal cooking to make the potato salad and apple crisp for dinner.

Breakfast is my normal hot water and yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get everything accomplished on Sunday so we can just relax and play today. 🙂
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have my mammogram and a pedicure tomorrow so will try to get most errands and shopping accomplished between these 2 appointments. When I’m in town like that I would normally get a mini snack quesadilla and ice tea at Del Taco but, sadly it burnt down a few days ago in the middle of the night. 🙁 It’s so hard for me to eat out for lunch and that was one thing that agreed with me. 🙁
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I finished my quarterly “LIST” update that I’ve been doing along with Jean – you can find it here. Despite this being a shorter week I’m bound and determined to finish a pile on my desk that’s been getting shuffled around when other things have come to the forefront.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m good through July despite some last minute changes, but am starting to work on August. I had been putting off working on August, but since we’re pushing our trip to September I need to start thinking more seriously about it.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched quite a few on this streaming channel this past week. Back Trace with Sylvester Stallone, The Man From Toronto with Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart, The Do-Over with Adam Sandler and David Spade, The Mist based on a Stephen King story and Coin Heist
PRIME Killer Joe – not a favorite 🙁 though I love Matthew McConaughey normally.
CABLE Tried to watch Taxi Driver as I had never seen it and deleted it pretty quickly – not my kind of movie! Cooking shows, NASCAR

I’ve really been liking this Australian author Phillipa Nefri Clark and have started her Charlotte Dean Mystery Series. I’m just finishing Book #1 Deadly start and will follow up with #2 Deadly Falls. There are 5 in the series that take place over a year in time. The series is a follow up to the River’s End series I just finished.

Hubby and I took a painting class last Saturday and it wasn’t as easy as it looked like it would be! THIS IS CERTAINLY A WORK IN PROGRESS! Imagine an adirondack chair or two under the umbrella with a cooler and maybe a corona on top 😀 That was my original plan so we’re still a long ways off! I may start completely over and lose the clouds altogether!

AND A FUNNY 😀

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	GRILLED STEAKS, POTATO SALAD & APPLE HAND PIES	CHILI CHICKEN, POTATO SALAD AND MELON BALLS	STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC CHICKEN SALAD	PAPRIKA CHICKEN & SNAP PEA SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR OR YOUR ON YOUR OWN NIGHT	CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SALAD	BBQ PORK CHOPS, POTATO SALAD & MELON
DESSERT	GRANNY’S APPLE CRISP

CORN SALSA SALAD
GARLIC BUTTER PARSLEY CHICKEN
WINE MARINATED FROZEN GRAPES
BUFFALO CHICKEN MUFFINS or MEATBALLS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 26 of 2022

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 busy and productive weekend despite the heatwave that descended on us this past week. Yesterday I volunteered at the Eagles cooking and serving brunch for new members and brainstorming with a friend on some new recipe ideas. I also got some indoor chores accomplished.

I hate to be the bearer of this news, but we are officially at the midway mark for 2022 and Christmas is only 181 days from Christmas. Which also means we’re only 187 days from the new year, 2023.

We began a heatwave over the weekend and while it isn’t as horrible as so many others are experiencing everywhere else in the country and the world or as bad as the southern California desert when I was a kid, it did happen literally overnight for us! Last weekend I needed a jacket when we went to dinner with our niece and her boyfriend. We went from early spring type temperatures to summer temperatures hitting triple digits yesterday in literally just days. We’re slated for the low to mid 90’s with lots of sunshine yet today and then it will incrementally drop back into the 70’s by next weekend. At least there’s no humidity to speak of. 😀

Mt heart hurts. 🙁 I don’t normally get political in these posts. I’m all about personal space and people doing what is right for themselves.

Personally, I DO NOT believe in abortion, BUT it is NOT my place to decide what is right for anyone else and in what instance! You can be both PRO LIFE and PRO CHOICE. So I don’t think the government (federal or state) having the control to make that decision for them is a good thing either. It’s a personal choice between a woman, her family and her doctor – there are too many gray areas…. We do not live in other people’s lives or bodies. I have enough trouble making the right decisions for myself… As a woman I can see the potential for so many other issues that women have been fighting against for so many years…

But! No matter your religious, moral or ethical beliefs… This isn’t ONLY about abortion…

Government control over personal rights and how you act/react on YOUR PERSONAL religious, moral or ethical beliefs… The biggest point to be had in the events from this week is that this is only the beginning of an agenda and that it opens MANY, MANY doors… doors that COULD send us spiraling backwards in society on soooooooooo many levels.

Between the political upheaval, COVID, earthquakes, floods, massive heat waves, spiraling economy and inflation… I PRAY we see relief from all of these things, but more importantly that people wake up and realize that we are NOT in control here and need to act accordingly… As I said, my heart just hurts 🙁

You guessed it 😀 … Hot water and peach yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Finished the laundry over the ungodly hot weekend while staying indoors.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a small list for this week, but will work it in with a doctor appointment this afternoon. I also have a painting class Saturday afternoon and have convinced hubby to tag along and do a date night.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I need to update the quarterly follow-up for the yearly list I’m doing along with Jean to post on Friday. I’m finishing up a few pieces of correspondence that need followed up on also.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are done through July, but would like to find some fresh salads and new dressings/vinaigrettes for August.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Maze Runner – The Cure
DISNEY+ Doctor Strange Multiverse, FREE GUY with Ryan Reynolds
CABLE NASCAR races, Cooking Shows, The Haunting and a REALLY old black and white called Down Three Dark Streets with Broderick Crawford and HIGH SIERRA with Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino

I finished the River’s End series and am reading Last Known Contact by the same author. I’m really enjoying her.

There are many photos I could post here, but today is and always will be a tough day for me as it is the anniversary of my dad’s death. He was gone WAY TOO young and has been for WAY TOO long now 🙁 so instead I’m posting this old favorite of mine that was taking many years before I was even born.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	ENCHILADAS SUIZA	BBQ CHICKEN & CORN SALSA SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	CHILI & CORNBREAD	CHICKEN COBB SALAD & TWISTY ROLLS	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	BUFFALO CHICKEN MEATBALLS & HOT SLAW
DESSERT						BROWNIES?

OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE with GRAVY
CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN THIGHS
BBQ MEATBALLS & BACON CHEDDAR BAKED POTATOES

TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER BAKE
GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN
SHEET PAN SWEET & SPICY BBQ CHICKEN
WINE MARINATED FROZEN GRAPES
TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 25 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 am loving the weather we’ve been having (mid 50’s over the weekend), but hope to actually have some late spring weather (70’s and 80’s) this week. Weather.com says we will, but they have been saying that the past several weeks without materializing and then things change and we end up cloudy and much cooler than expected. So, I’ll believe it when I see it.

I’m trying to concentrate on finishing some long overdo projects, but things seem to keep popping up that delay the progress!

This is just a sad 🙁 category for me as it NEVER seems to be able to change 🙁 Hot water and cherry yogurt again this morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m as up to date as can be since laundry is a never ending thing… 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS No appointments per se this week, so will put together a small list and make a run to town one day later in the week.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a stack that I’m bound and determined to get through this week.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned through the middle of July and then I’ll do a freezer inventory and plan for the next 6 weeks. Grocery costs have me streamlining many things.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched INTERCEPTOR which was pretty good and RED NOTICE which was super fun with DWAYNE JOHNSON and RYAN REYNOLDS. I can’t wait for sequels 2 & 3 which are already in the works. We also started SPIDERHEAD with CHRIS HEMSWORTH, but it was slow moving and we moved on… POWER OF THE DOG was just weird too so stopped about halfway through.
CABLE MASTERCHEF, ON THE ROAD WITH GUY FIERI, GREAT AMERICAN FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEAT BOBBY FLAY, GIRL MEETS FARM, AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, THE CHASE, NASCAR

I’m on the 4th in Phillipa Nefri Clark’s River’s End series, The Christmas Key.

The flowers are perking up a bit more with the roses finally making an appearance. We’ve still been having really cool weather – mind you I’m not complaining as I know most of the country would give anything for it – but things are just now blooming that should have bloomed months ago so the veggie garden will be iffier this year. I’m hoping this week is as warm as they say it will be and I think the flowering plants will really take off. Oh, and the color of these Calla Lillies – I’m in love!

And the kittens are still as adorable as can be! They make a Mosh Pit at night in one of the patio chairs – it’s so cute!

I had fun at the flag day class, but will probably do a few more touch ups.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	BBQ MEATBALLS & BACON CHEDDAR BAKED POTATOES	CHICKEN SCAMPI & SALAD	STUFFED SHELLS & TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE	GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN & SCALLOPED POTATOES	CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE and SALAD
DESSERT		COBBLER of some sort

CHERRY CRUMBLE BARS

Category: MEMES & LINK PARTIES