ARE YOU READY FOR FOOTBALL? SUPERBOWL PARTY SUNDAY!

So who are you rooting for?  Does it even matter to you? Or is it just all about the party?

Yep, it’s that time again – time for football food, coolers full of cold ones, and the big game-day buffet. Bring over your chips and dips, chili and chowders, all your wings and party things!  We all want to have lots of great party foods to chose from for the big day!The Tailgating Time blog hop will be open from noon today until February 10th, one week after Super Bowl 2013 to give you plenty of time to link up all your favorites. Your links do not have to be new ones – think appetizers and party foods you’ve posted throughout the year. Link any goodies from holidays, celebrations, tailgating treats through football season, or anything that would go great for a Super Bowl party. There is no limit to the amount of links you add, the more the merrier!

It’s time to get this party started!

ROLLS OF SHARON aka CINNAMON RAISIN ROLLS

ROLLS OF SHARON aka CINNAMON RAISIN BUNS

ROLLS

2 packages Fleischman’s Rapid Rise Yeast

1/2 cup + 2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 cup WARM water

1 cup scalded milk (2 minutes in the microwave)

1/2 cup Crisco stick

5 cups flour, divided

2 large eggs, well beaten

1 teaspoon salt

  • In a small bowl combine the warm water, 2 teaspoons of sugar and both packages of yeast until well blended. Set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl combine the scalded milk, Crisco stick, 1/2 cup sugar and salt. Blend well.
  • Add yeast mixture and blend well.
  • Add the well beaten eggs and half the flour. Mix until well blended.
  • Add the remaining flour (a little more if too sticky) and mix well until dough leaves the sides of the bowl and is elastic.
  • With vegetable oil, wipe the inside of another bowl.
  • Place dough in bowl and turn once.
  • Cover with wax paper and a towel.
  • Let rest in a warm place until double in size.
  • Punch down and divide into 2 balls.
  • Put one on the pastry board and one back in the bowl.
  • Let rest 10 minutes.
  • While resting prepare the filling ingredients.
  • Roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness in a rectangle about 18×24 inches.
  • Spread half the melted butter over the dough and sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar.
  • Spread half the raisins over that.
  • Roll tightly jelly roll style and cut into 18 rolls.
  • Place rolls in greased pans 1/4 to 1/2 inches apart.
  • Cover with wax paper and a towel.
  • Let rise again until double in size.
  • Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.
  • While baking prepare the icing.
  • When rolls come out the oven, put globs of icing on each one. Return to the oven for a minute or two to melt icing all over the rolls.

FILLING

1 stick melted butter

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1 cup golden raisins

  • Whisk together the sugar and cinnamon until well blended.

ICING

1 stick butter, softened

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon powdered vanilla

4-6 tablespoons milk

  • Mix all together until smooth.

When re-heating rolls, put a pad of butter on top of roll before microwaving.

These freeze really well.

PORK CHOPS in ORANGE SAUCE

PORK CHOPS in ORANGE SAUCE

4 boneless pork chops

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup cold water

  • Combine paprika and pepper.
  • Rub both sides of all pork chops with mixture.
  • Melt butter in skillet and brown pork chops over medium heat.
  • Combine the orange juice and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
  • Pour over pork chops.
  • Reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 minutes until chops are cooked through.
  • Remove chops and keep warm.
  • Whisk together the flour and water until smooth.
  • Whisk into orange juice mixture and bring to a boil, simmering until thickened.
  • Serve over the chops.

With just the 2 of us, I take the leftover pork chops and shred them into the sauce. We then eat the leftovers over noodles or mashed potatoes.

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL

A few years ago we purchased an investment house that came with a multitude of problems.  One of the least was the 35 gallons of ancient paint in the basement.  Some was even lead based.  This was a small town and no local hazardous waste facility.  It took a lot of research, but I finally found through the local trash company’s main office a knowledgeable woman who gave me the instructions on how to dispose of all the old paint.

It took 6 months, a 5 foot tall stack of cardboard and newspaper and 300 pounds of kitty litter to accomplish.  We only have 4 gallons to do here so this will be a quick process.

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL 1STEP 1 – Arrange the cardboard boxes on top of plastic drop cloths .

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL 2

STEP 2 – Open the cans and arrange the lids paint side up along the bottom of the boxes on top of several layers of old newspaper.

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL 3

STEP 3 – Sprinkle a substantial layer of clay based kitty litter over the can lids.

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL 4

STEP 4 – Pour the first can of paint over the kitty litter and spread even with a paint stir stick.

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL 5

STEP 5 – Sprinkle another layer of kitty litter on top and allow to dry.  This process can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on the paint consistency and amount.  Ideally you want to make very thin layers and not make the boxes too heavy to lift.

STEP 6 – Sprinkle kitty litter all over the insides of the empty cans.

PROPER PAINT DISPOSAL 6

STEP 7 – When the paint is dry, toss the whole mess in your trash can.  Simple as that.

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LIVING YOUR DREAM LIFE

WEEK 1:  SELF DISCOVERY

  • ACHIEVEMENTS 10-20
  • TALENTS/STRENGTHS/ABILITIES
  • HOBBIES/INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES/FUN
  • 5 PRIORITIES IN MY LIFE
  • 5 THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
  • VALUES
  • OBITUARIES

WEEK 2:  DESIGNING MY DREAM LIFE – DETAILED DESCRIPTION IN PRESENT TENSE USING YOUR VALUES, PRIORITIES, TALENTS & GIFTS FROM LAST WEEK’S SESSION AND FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE

  • DREAM BIG
  • MONEY IS NO OBJECT
  • LIVING HOW YOU WANT
  • LIVING WHERE YOU WANT
  • DOING WHAT YOU WANT

DESCRIBE:

  • WHERE YOU LIVE – ATMOSPHERE, FURNISHINGS, LANDSCAPING, LOCATION, ETC…
  • YOUR JOB
  • HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME
  • WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN
  • HOW YOU VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME
  • YOUR FAMILY LIFE
  • ETC…

WEEK 3: UNDERSTANDING MY DREAM LIFE – PROS & PROS LIST

  • MAKE 2 COLUMNS – TITLE THEM DREAM LIST & WHY
  • TRY TO GET TO THE UNDERLYING “WHY”,  NOT JUST THE SURFACE
WEEK 4:
  • Look at your  WHY  list and see if you are already doing something that answers that why. If you are, CONGRATULATIONS! YAY FOR YOU!  Begin to see this in a different way beginning NOW. Give yourself a pat on the back and start appreciating and seeing this part of your life in a NEW WAY! WOW!  You are living part of your DREAM LIFE! How does that feel? Can you embrace the feeling that you are living part of your dream life NOW?  I’ll be talking a bit more about this in another session.
  •  Take your list of “WHYS” and find a way to make each dream happen NOW by simplifying it and/or creating it in a different way. This is going to take brainstorming and lots of creativity but YOU CAN DO IT! If you are really having a difficult time coming up with a different way to answer the “WHY”, you can e-mail me for thoughts and ideas or put out a comment for others to give suggestions.  Don’t give up on this assignment. For some of you this may come easily and others it might be difficult. Keep at it and let me know how it’s going. Don’t get “stuck” on your original list. There is a reason behind that dream that you can modify and accomplish NOW.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! What are you waiting for, head over to sign up too!

FRIDAY FILL-INS

FFI

And…here we go!

1. Sniff, sniff…what is that wonderful aroma coming from my kitchen?

2. Listen up sports fan, yelling is permitted during football, in fact it’s mandatory!

3. What in the world to make for Superbowl Sunday snack food.

4. I LOVE MY peace and quiet.

5. One of my dreams is to get out from under all the paperwork from the VA red tape.

6. Too many books, but yet so few.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to dinner out with hubby to celebrate 2 years cancer free (2-1-2011), tomorrow my plans include a country drive and lunch and Sunday, I want to watch the Superbowl!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

FLASHBACK FRIDAY @ SEASIDE SIMPLICITY

I am playing along with Martha at Seaside Simplicity with the meme Flashback Friday.   Come join in on the fun and link up your photo.

You can just see the teenage angst in my posture alone.  I started out looking for a picture of a Holly Hobbie dress for Martha to see and have yet to find it, but I now have found so many others I don’t even know where to start. I do remember that the hat I’m wearing and I were never far apart for quite some time.  It looks like I was about 15 and obviously didn’t want to go Sequoia with my parents, kid brother and eccentric grandfather.

FF - 03012013 - hat

 

Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

“It happened at a New York Airport. This is hilarious. I wish I had the guts of this girl. An award should go to the United Airlines gate agent in New York for being smart and funny, while making her point, when confronted with a passenger who probably deserved to fly as cargo. For all of you out there who have had to deal with an irate customer, this one is for you.

A crowded United Airlines flight was canceled. A single agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly, an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS.”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these folks first; and then I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the agent smiled and grabbed her public address microphone. “May I have your attention, please?”, she began, her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him with his identity, please come to Gate 14”.

With the folks behind him in line laughing hysterically, the man glared at the United Airlines agent, gritted his teeth, and said, “F*** You!”

Without flinching, she smiled and said, “I’m sorry sir, you’ll have to get in line for that, too.”

IT’S ABOUT THE PROTEIN – FLOUR TUTORIAL

Wheat flours contain a protein called gluten which, in the presence of water, forms an elastic network throughout the dough. This is the stuff that gives bread doughs their rubbery consistency. The whole point of kneading bread dough, in fact, is to organize the strands of gluten running through the dough into a strong, resilient, interconnected web. It is this web of protein that will entrap the bubbles of CO2 given off by the yeast as it ferments, enabling the dough to rise. Without the gluten, the CO2 would just bubble up to the surface and be lost.

But flour vary greatly in both the quantity and quality of the gluten they contain because different strains of wheat from different regions and different growing seasons have different gluten profiles. There are times when gluten is not your friend; in a cake batter, excess gluten will create a chewy, coarse-grained cake, and in pastry doughs it will produce a tough pie crust. But for bread you want lots of strong gluten to produce a well-risen and well-shaped loaf. This is why there are special flours for special purposes: cake flour, pastry flour, bread flour, etc.

All-purpose flour is typically a blend of “hard” and “soft” wheats which will perform pretty well in most roles. It usually contains 10-12% gluten. It can be used for bread, but will tend to produce a denser, flatter loaf. Some people will add 1T extra per cup of flour when using all-purpose for bread.

Bread flours have from 12-14 percent protein. They will feel decidedly more elastic while kneading, and will give full, rounded loaves. These flours are made from hard winter wheats from northern states.

Besides the quantity, the quality of the gluten will vary. Some glutens are better at forming the elastic network than others. You can judge this for yourself by making a “gluten ball” from different flours: make a stiff dough using just water and 1/4 c of flour. Knead it until it becomes quite elastic, then continue kneading it between your fingers under a stream of water. This will wash out the starch from the flour and after a few minutes of this you will have a ball of pure gluten. By playing with this ball, stretching and folding it, you will see that some are far more resistant to tearing than others. A good bread flour will enable you to pull the gluten into a thin membrane.

SOURCE

CANNING & PRESERVING – A WAY OF LIFE

One thing that many of you don’t know about me is that I love to cook (LOL) AND to preserve. To me there is nothing that says I love you more than preparing those special meals and treats for my family. Canning is easy, but it is time consuming and you do have to follow sterile rules to make it safe. You can be as plain or as inventive as you want.

Hubby pointed out this would be a good time to share my award pictures that I began to scrapbook about before the move and have yet to finish. I always thought it a little ironic that I was ‘preserving’ my preserving ribbons. Here are a few pictures.

How I got started on entering the county fair is actually a cute story. I was still working for a major phone company and I make a Spiced Pear jam that really is awesome. We had a cafeteria in the building I worked in and the engineers would stop by my desk to buy a jar of jam before their coffee break so they could put it on their pancakes and waffles. I loved making it and only charged them enough to actually cover my expenses so I could make more.My boss kept trying to get me to enter it into competition, but I was reluctant as I really didn’t think I had what it took to compete against women who had been doing it all their lives (1 woman had an entire 4×8 foot wall with just her entries and had been winning 1st and 2nd place awards for over 20 years) because I was a self-taught newbie and ‘shy’. Unbeknownst to me, one of the guys entered me in the upcoming county fair. He knew I went every year to drool over the jams and jellies and crafty items in the home building. You have to picture my jaw actually dropping to the floor on this particular year when I see my name, my jam and an actual 3rd place ribbon attached to it! I was literally speechless especially since I hadn’t entered the fair. Long story short I will always be eternally grateful to him for giving me the courage and confidence to enter each and every year after that for 10 years until I moved away. I have also been published in several of their cookbooks for the years I won first place. I hope to start again soon.This year I want to try my hand at some of the local indigenous fruits (cranberries, blackberries, blueberries and apples to start).

Here a bean, there a bean, everywhere a bean…

Not too long ago I researched Navy beans for my Navy Bean & Ham soup. During that research I also found that navy beans, named that for the bean of choice of the U.S. Navy, are the main bean used in Boston Baked Beans. I have been making my BBQ Bean dinner for years using canned BUSH beans, but decided it was time to make true Boston Baked Beans my way. I found that most versions used salt pork, but I like the bacon too so I chose to use both. You could substitute if your prefer though. I also eliminated all mustard due to an allergy, but also because I prefer the sweeter version.Here is my version:

BOSTON BAKED BEAN DINNER

2 pounds ground beef

1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/2 pound salt pork, cubed & browned

2 large Vidalia or Maui onion, chopped small

4 tablespoons liquid smoke

1 cup ketchup

1 cup molasses

3 cups packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cup vinegar

1 pound navy beans

  • Soak beans overnight.
  • Brown hamburger, drain and layer into the bottom of your slow cooker.
  • Cube and brown the salt pork. Add to slow cooker.
  • Fry bacon until crisp. Crumble bacon into pieces. Add to slow cooker.
  • Chop onion into small pieces and scatter over the meat.
  • Add the beans to the slow cooker.
  • Scatter the brown sugar over top evenly.
  • Stir together the molasses, ketchup, vinegar, liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce. Pour evenly over everything in the slow cooker slow cooker.
  • Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
  • Serve with Beer Bread or Cheddar Cheese Biscuits.
  • Great dish for a church pot luck.

OLD FASHIONED BOSTON BAKED BEANS

1 pound Navy beans, washed and sorted

1/2 pound salt pork, diced small

1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped

1/4 cup ketchup

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/8 cup PURE maple syrup

1/4 cup molasses

  • Dice salt pork and layer on bottom of slow cooker.
  • Chop onion and scatter over salt pork pieces.
  • Wash and sort beans.
  • Place beans in slow cooker on top of salt pork.
  • Cover with 5 cups water.
  • Cook on low overnight for 12 hours.
  • Drain beans, reserving liquid.
  • Return beans to slow cooker.
  • Add vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, maple syrup and molasses and blend well. Add in 1/2 cup of bean water as desired for consistency.
  • Heat through.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY / MENU PLANNING

Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

  

Outside my window/WEATHER… a light rain is falling and fog is still hugging the pavement.

I am thinking…it’s going to be a long week!

I am thankful… for my family and their love.

In the kitchen… we have a few new recipes still brewing for the January menu.  

I’ll post the successful ones on my food blog ALWAYS EAT ON THE GOOD CHINA.

  • Kentucky Hot Browns 
  • Cream of Tomato Soup w/ Rice
  • Cream of Vegetable Soup
  • Pork Chops w/ Roasted Apple & Onions

I’M WEARING… very worn levis, my comfiest turtleneck and cozy socks.

I’M CREATING… some organization for the VA files, recipe files and various other paperwork, some quilt pieces that have been needing finished for a while (I just have problems sitting for any length of time due to the scar tissue from my cancer surgery), Christmas gifts for next year – quit laughing, these things take time and I’m also creating some new recipes.

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

 DATE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
Monday 1/28 Cereal Sandwiches Marry Me Champagne Chicken
Tuesday 1/29

 Toast C.O.R.N. Week Night Chicken Enchiladas
Wednesday 1/30

 Yogurt Soup Chile Lime Chicken Patties with Lime Remoulade Sauce 
Thursday 1/31

Fruit Cheese & Fruit Experiment Night
Friday 2/1

Oatmeal Sandwiches Fried Egg Sandwiches
Saturday 2/2

 Hash Brown Ham and Cheese Quiche Out C.O.R.N.
Sunday 2/3

Baked Eggs C.OR.N. Roasted Red Pepper and Ham Statas

I am going… nowhere until I’m done scanning in ALL the VA documents and composing more letters to our congressman in hopes of clearing things up – yay, like that’s going to happen, but I have to follow procedure.  For every step forward we seem to take 3 backwards!  This week though we’re moving onto multiple letters.

I am wondering… just who to contact next regarding the VA mess.  We’re finally meeting up with a new service officer this morning – seems like we’re always starting over.

MY READING LIST… 

  • Cook’s Illustrated The Science of Good Cooking
  • The 4 Hour Chef
  • The Fortune Quilt

MY TV LINEUP THIS WEEK…  is a long list, but that’s the beauty of all of them being on the DVR – we can do series marathons on rainy days and still skip the commercials

  • BUNHEADS
  • SWITCHED AT BIRTH
  • HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
  • BONES
  • CASTLE
  • NCIS
  • NCIS LOS ANGELES
  • RISSOLI & ISLES
  • VEGAS
  • CRIMINAL MINDS
  • ARROW
  • L & O SVU
  • CHICAGO FIRE
  • BIG BANG THEORY
  • PERSON OF INTEREST
  • SCANDAL 
  • ELEMENTARY
  • BEAUTY & THE BEAST
  • CSI NY
  • ONCE UPON A TIME
  • THE GOOD WIFE
  • THE MENTALIST

I am hoping… things turn around soon

I am looking forward to… getting away for a few days next month.

I am learning… how to be patient, but also how to squeak the wheel for oil!

Around the house… organization is finally winning – rooms are being painted, baseboards are getting painted and fine dusting is being done.

I am praying… to live in the day and not worry about the future as much.

A favorite quote for today…

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”  ~Eleanor Roosevelt 

SOME my favorite things 

  • my morning coffee
  • my new kindle
  • the laundry being done
  • the grocery shopping being done 

MY TO DO LIST 

  • Creating a few new recipes
  • getting into a new exercise routine to keep getting my energy back
  • laundry
  • grocery store
  • research
  • blog catch up

Favorite picture from my camera this week… this guy has been hanging around for several weeks.  I’ve been trying to get a picture of him in the backyard, but he’s always too quick for me.  I did catch him on the power pole out back though.  He loves to annoy the dogs!