Category: MISC

Cheese Souffle

CHEESE SOUFFLE
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
6 slices sourdough bread
6 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon Frank’s hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray 8 inch casserole with PURE.
  • Separate eggs and set aside.
  • Soak bread slices in milk and butter for several minutes. If necessary run through food processor to make smooth.
  • In a medium sauce pan bring milk mixture to a SLOW boil and immediately reduce heat to prevent scorching.
  • Add cheese, hot sauce and seasonings and blend until melted and smooth.
  • Add egg yolks and blend with hand mixer until begins to thicken and is deep yellow in color.
  • Fold in egg whites gently.
  • Pour into prepared casserole.
  • Bake 50-60 minutes or until set.
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Last of the Bowling pictures from today’s Game

Pete, the owner and Beth, the manager.

Belinda and Sandy getting ready for some fierce competition.

Robbie at her goofiest! She didn’t think I got this one!

Belinda collecting her poker cards for spares and strikes.

Kay stopped by for a visit.

I think Betty was a bit bored today!

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House Update ~ Chronicles of a bungled real estate deal ~ Front Doors

This old house has two separate front doors, both look like this, but are different sizes by a small bit. They are the original doors with no insulation and single pane glass. They are the worst offenders for heat loss in the winter. We stopped by Habitat Restore today in hopes of finding new doors and SCORED! A local high school recently replaced their doors and a slew of solid oak and double thick doors had come into stock AND they are keyed alike AND they had the keys!

We are having to cut them down as they were quite large. One pane of glass needed replaced also, but that went pretty well. We will leave the insides oak stained, but will probably paint the outsides to match the Chianti colored trim to seal them better. Next we’ll work on new storm doors as those are also original and single paned.


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Wednesday Wishes

One of my favorite one stop shopping places is Overstock.com. Everything from books (many times they beat amazon’s price) to furniture. Right now they are having a special on shipping. It’s FREE on any item with the #1 DAD emblem.

With grilling season upon us, this steak thermometer would be pretty awesome from Home Market Place.
This end/storage/serving table would be so helpful in the living room! You can find it at Improvements Catalog. Christina from The Enchanted Hovel found this coffee table to match for me at this site.
Williams Sonoma is one of my favorite dream places! I’d probably use more FRESH herbs if I had this mincer.
Another of my favorite places to dream is King Arthur flour. I’d really like a bread baker and this doughnut pan.

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Parsnip Puree Potato Skins

Did you know that parsnips are from the carrot family? This vegetarian diet hubby requested is giving me room to try some new recipes and I’m losing weight though he says he isn’t.

PARSNIP PUREE POTATO SKINS
1 1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled & cut into 1 inch pieces
2 medium potatoes, baked & scooped out
1 green onion, sliced thin
2 tablespoons sour cream
3-4 ounces grated cheddar cheese
1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons butter, melted
pinch of nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add parsnips and boil 20-25 minutes until extremely tender.
  • Bake potatoes in oven or microwave. Halve them and scoop out the insides.
  • Puree the cooled parsnips and potato insides until smooth.
  • Add butter, sour cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg and heavy cream and blend well.
  • Fill potato shells with puree. This makes enough to also fill 2 compotes for another meal later in the week.
  • Top with grated cheese and green onion
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Increase to broil and brown tops for a minute or so.
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Tropic Thunder Bars & Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

I didn’t have much going on Tuesdays so I thought I’d join some new memes. These two look really good with fun participants and great recipes.
Tasty Tuesday is hosted by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Tuesdays at the Table is hosted by Andrea over at My Chihauhau Bites

TROPIC THUNDER BARS
1 1/4 cups flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup apricot pineapple jam
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup walnuts, minced

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder.
  • Add the brown sugar and oatmeal and mix well.
  • Fold in the butter until well blended.
  • Spread dough evenly into a well greased 9×9 baking pan.
  • Stir together the jam, coconut and walnuts.
  • Spread on top of the batter.
  • Bake 20 minutes.

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL BARS
1 cup + 2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 cup flour, sifted
1 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1/4 cup walnuts, minced
6 ounces Hershey’s Milk chocolate bar

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cream 1 cup softened butter, vanilla and sugars together until well blended.
  • Add egg yolks and beat well.
  • Add flour and oatmeal alternately and mix until well blended.
  • Spread batter into a well greased 13×9 pan for 20 minutes.
  • Cool.
  • Melt the Hershey bar chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter together.
  • Spread over the bar layer.
  • Sprinkle with the walnuts immediately.
  • Cut into squares.

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House Update – Chronicles of a Bungled Real Estate Deal – Part 10 – Studio/Parlor/Office

Before we bought the house. The previous owner used it as a master bedroom as it is on the main level and they were older people. This room was originally the “Gentleman’s parlor” when the house was built in 1892.

Right after we moved in and I tore down the sun rotted curtains and was still sorting things.

Current day as a functioning studio/office. Don’t you just love that new built in bookcase? It is one of my favorite features of this room now. It doubles as an extra spare room with the futon, but honestly it’s one of my favorite places to read on a Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately right now it’s a sorting and staging area for just about everything, so please excuse the clutter.


I’ll post pictures again after the clutter is gone later in the week.
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Honey-Peach Ice Cream

The house is winning again this week as it commandeers all my time to finish floors and trim paint, so head over to Tommi’s of Brown Interior who selected Honey-Peach Ice Cream on page 437 and see what’s going on. I’ll be back again next week.

I’ll make the honeyed peach in August when I can get some decent peaches up here in no man’s land.

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Dear Dogs & Cats

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door. This is so true it left me rolling on the floor.

Dear Dogs and Cats:

  • The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
  • The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.
  • I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.
  • For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years – canine/feline attendance is not required.
  • The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

  • They live here. You don’t.
  • If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That’s why they call it ‘fur’-niture.
  • I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
  • To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids & teenagers because they:

  • eat less
  • don’t ask for money all the time
  • are easier to train
  • normally come when called
  • never ask to drive the car
  • don’t hang out with drug-using people
  • don’t smoke or drink
  • don’t want to wear your clothes
  • don’t have to buy the latest fashions
  • don’t need a gazillion dollars for college
  • and if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

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Menu Planning


Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

 DATE
 BREAKFAST
 LUNCH
 DINNER
MONDAY

6/15

 HONEY NUT CHEERIOS
 EGG SALAD SANDWICHES CARROTS VICHY
TUESDAY 6/16

 TOAST
 LEFTOVERS
 ONION COMPOTES
WEDNESDAY 6/17
 YOGURT
 SOUP
 RED CABBAGE &
HONEYED ORANGE
THURSDAY 6/18
 FRUIT
 CHEESE & FRUIT
 STUFFED POTATOES
FRIDAY 6/19

 MAPLE
BROWN SUGAR OATMEAL
 C.O.R.N.

CHEESE SOUFFLE
SATURDAY 6/20
 Buttermilk
Cinnamon Pancakes		 Tuna Melts TOO PARSNIP &
CARROT PASTA
SUNDAY 6/21
 Toasted French Toast Grilled Onion
Tomato Cheese 		Potato Pancakes
with SOUR CREAM &
Chunky Applesauce

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