Kitchen

[Preds]

[Winifred]

We sure got a turn in the weather last night. Am sitting here wrapped in my slanket but windows are still WIDE OPEN. It's 52 degrees right now - yesterday I was sweating like a stuck pig. STarted cooling off about 7, once it got dark and the winds were really blowing. Suppose to stay cool for a couple of days and then warm up again. ACtually this is more like our normal nights this time of year. They are predicting an even drier "winter" than what we had the past couple years so am really discouraged about that.

Did get the feeders filled and bird bath cleaned and filled up again yesterday. My feathered friends are surely happy about that. Stripes spent the night away from home, darn him anyway. With the cooler night I really figured he would come bouncing in last night but he was no where to be seen.

Got all my washing finished yesterday morning. And of course the hamper is filling up rapidly. Just do not know why but Tessa goes thru about 3 sets of clothing each day - girls!!!!!! Now if I could just get her brother to change at least ONCE a day. Sigh.

Cooking? did not do any last night as I was tired and so the kids ate their frozen dinners - they were happy. Night before last I had fried cabbage, pickled beets and muffins - I loved it but the kids did not but they ate it. Well I should change that, Tessa ate it as she grew up with her grandma's rules which were you do not have to like something but you cannot say you do not like it until you have eaten it. In other words she ate everything I cooked - still does. Davey, however, is unbelievably picky. Drives me nuts. So what for tonight, do not have a clue. May fix a pot of stew - to welcome the cooler nights. Sounds kind of good to me.

Have a great day everyonle.

[chips]

I decided to drop in and visit as I am up way too early this Sunday. Could not sleep past 5:30. Anyway, will give me an early start on cleaning. The weather is very nice here in northern Michigan. In the seventies during the day and 50's at night. I spent yesterday shopping at the farmer's market; my husband juices during the week to lose weight and needs a lot of fresh vegetables. I drink his juice too but I am not as motivated as he is. Also picked up 50 spruce trees to plant on the property. We live in the woods but there is a lot of hardwoods and no evergreens. We have probably planted 500 trees through the years and 1/4 of them make it. And then we had to move a bunch as we put in a big garage and now a new driveway in the back. It never ends. We had a great salad last night, unstructured cheeseburger salad. All the "stuff" of a cheeseburger, but no bread. I used cooked and crumbled good quality ground beef and some bacon and our favorite vinegar and oil dressing. Added cheese and some cut up pickles, onions, and tomatoes. It was yummy and filling. We are trying to decrease the bread we eat, which really is not a lot. I am going to barbeque some chicken today and make some spaghetti squash alfredo with garlic and a little almond milk and a side salad. I have some home grown potatoes that need to be used up but I will probably take some to work and nuke them for lunch. Wow....I did ramble on. thanks for listening. Enjoy this forum when I have the time.

[Soushi24]

Morning all,

Had a good night's sleep. We did errands yesterday, yes, Saturday. We have all week and then get out in everyone else's way to shop.

Started in Amish country after a fish lunch out. Love this little Amish store. They sell a big variety of cheese at good prices. I love Swiss cheese so had to have some of that again. I like their frozen homemade pie crust. I'm not a pie crust making so these a good to have on hand. Also bought cookies, sausage, and apples. Nelson likes the Gala apple.

We then headed to Wal-Mart. Later we bought groceries and felt we had spent the whole day on shopping. But we were doing it together and the weather was just outstanding. It was 78 degrees and more of that to come this week.

CHIPS! love hearing from you. So interesting about your trees. You must have some easier way to plant all of them, maybe a backhoe? I try to cut back on carbs too. Never eat a sandwich bun. I like the sound of your salad. PLEASE, please comeback often. Stop in to say hi. We would love to have you.

Enjoy the day.

[Winifred]

Chips, great to see you here. Your living environment sounds absolutely heavenly - I envy you. What a job to plant all those trees but bless you for doing it. My sis and her family live in Flint and one or two of her kids may not live there but just minutes away - have been there but a long time ago. I love veggie juices but have gotten too lazy to fix them. LOL. Please come back and visit again.

Last night I had some collards and then took the rest of the pork roast I had and cut it into small pieces, and put it in gravy and ate it over bread. Also finished up the candied yams and we had salad - all made from just greems. I thought it was a good - plus cleaned out the leftovers in my fridge - Tessa thought it was good and as usual Davey thought it was perhaps ok. Geesh. Tonight? not sure yet.

My friend I usually pick up for church called last night and said she was not feeling well. She worked really hard while in San Diego for a granddaughters baby shower and was exhausted when she came home. She said she drank some coffee Fri night - she does NOT drink coffee and could not sleep and then got a little sleep after daybreak yesterday. At any rate she is not up to church this morning - she was upset also as this is the third Sunday she has missed. But she said she planned to be there for the senior luncheon on Wednesday.

Another very cool morning but as the weather man said by the end of the week it will be hot again - and I mean hot, not just warm - up into the 100s again. Enough of that stuff but to be honest I do not like cold weather either. Very overcast but am sure we will NOT have one drop of rain in the process.

Have a great day everyone.

[Soushi24]

• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 3 cups apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped nuts..I used pecans, walnuts would be good too

1. Cream together butter, sugar. Add eggs, and vanilla and beat till well blended.
2. Stir in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Fold in chopped apples and nuts.
3. Pour into a 9" by 13" greased pan and sprinkle topping over cake.
4. Bake in 350 oven for 40 minutes.
5. Cool, serve with whipped topping and a drizzle of caramel sauce if you like.

Topping:

• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 tsp flour
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts
• 1/4 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup toffee bits
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• Crumble this together and sprinkle over cake batter.

This is a recipe for Autumn Apple Cake. The picture looked so good. I do want to make it.

Heading to VA this morning. DH is due for annual x-rays on his stents. They keep checking to make sure all is well. We are very pleased with the VA here in Indiana and Grand Rapids. Could ask for better care.

Enjoy this day.

[Soushi24]

Morning,

Hope all is well with everyone. I'm feeling stressed. Too much on my calendar. I have had to cancel 2 things this week that I would love to do. Need to keep saying "Keep calm and carry on" and this too shall pass.

I have wimped out and bought 2 quiches at Costco yesterday. I'm suppose to take a casserole tomorrow morning and just don't feel like it. Also bought cupcakes there for MahJong tomorrow. Feel guilty.

Best to you all.

[Winifred]

Soushi, you've earned the right to sit back and calm down - you do far more than most and for sure I could not accomplish a small portion of what you do. Nothing wrong in buying prepared food to take to gatherings - I now do that for every single thing I attend. Do NOT have the energy or desire, to cook extras. One grocery store here has a deli that is outstanding. Most all the stores have them but most are not really good - this one is and a lot of people buy prepared food there, not only to take to events but eat at home. This great deli is Von's - not sure what other states Von's is located in other than California but their deli is soooooooo good. Am headed there either late today or sometime tomorrow morning, time permitting, to get something for the senior luncheon at the church in Beaumont tomorrow.

Had a roast last night - was going to finish up the spaghetti but suspect Davey will do that for me - and cooked it in the slow cooker with a big sweet onion. I cooked baby carrots separately, had mashed taters and finished up the collards we had the other night - good dinner and a lot of meat and potatoes left over.

This morning it is Curves and then get some chores done around here. The kids and I cut back the lilacs down back yesterday so now they are all cut back. Cut them back heightwise to the fence line - easy job as they did not do well this past year. Usually they are many feet higher and super thick and lush - not so this year. So sad as so many things are doing poorly.

Hope all have a great day.