Kitchen

[Winifred]

I have already eaten my black eyed peas, cornbread and collards. Found some hot house tomatoes the other day so had one of those sliced also. My kind of food. Course I have enough to last forever so will keep it out for a while - like some more later on - and then freeze it.

Am trying to make some decisions about Stripes. I cannot continue to stay up half the night trying to get him in the house. He has always been independent but this past month has been a nightmare. If I had ignored him or mistreated him I can understand - no such thing. I simply cannot figure out why he runs a lot of the time when I go out and call him - when I see him - or then just disappears. I had thought of several things but with cats, if he has bonded somewhere else then being a macho male cat, he will just stay there. I am still convinced of one thing, however, someone around me knows exactly what he is up to. He hardly eats his food here so he is getting food somewhere else. I may just take his outside bowl and water dish up and see what he does. I cannot try and run him down 24/7. Always something isn't it? I sure worry about him but I cannot make him stay here if he is getting attention somewhere else - that's a given. Cats are as fickle as can be - never have seen one that you own - they are way too independent.

Hope all had a great day - and Soushi, how did your DH's golf game go. Ahhhhhh, these golfers - nothing like it.

[birkin baby]

JeanLoiseFinch, so glad to know your tests came out negative;and sending prayers your way for what lies ahead!

Winifred,I am a cat person....sitting here with three Hemmingways (two brothers and a sister found on the side of a busy street in a box that said free kittens)dn my lap as I type.I hope you won't take up his food and water....you just want Stripes to know he has a place if he needs to eat. Is he neutered? I cannot recall reading if he was. I know my sister's cat disappears alot and then shows up. Cats are so odd and wonderful!!

nomar,cabbage is so delicious...and healthy. Good luck with those changes in your diet.

Madam j,I am alone too.I like sweet potatoes so much.I got the recipe on recipe swap to fill a baked sweet potato with pork bbq w/bbq sauce.OMG!!!

Predawn,I do enjoy your pics.I don't know how to post pics...lol.

Soushi,Florida sounds great.(and so does cubed steak for breakfast! Never thought of that ..and now I must try it!)Here in NC it is warmer today;but I like really hot hot weather.

Today I cooked nothing.My mom brought me some new years food....black eyed peas,collards,cornbread,and a pork chop.I already had the hot pepper vinegar for those collards!.I did make hot tea.I am still in my pajamas at 9:17 pm....it feels wonderful! LOL.. 2014 is off to a good start!!

[Preds]

[JeanLouiseFinch]

Good morning, ladies!
Thank you for the good wishes about my upcoming surgery.

nomar - I've seen "Cabbage Soup" recipes come around from time to time. I enjoy making soup in the fall and winter so this is one I'm going to try. Who knows, if I like it, it might become a weekly thing so I can have it for lunch, to help in my weightloss. Good luck with your plan. After trying aspartame, sucrose, agave, etc., I've gone back to good old-fashioned sugar in my tea and coffee. I can't drink them without, but am trying to use less.

Winfred - I only learned about the NY Day tradition a few years ago, but have never actually done it myself. It's a good thing you enjoy it. I'm sorry to hear about Stripes and his disappearing act. Our cats have always remained in the house. I bet outdoor cats think more about their bellies than any emotional attachment so if someone else is feeding him, well, he's going to hang around. I hope he finds his way back to you. Do you have a garage or screened-in porch where he can stay so he won't wander so much?

Madame J - I'm with you on the pork chop and sweet potato, but what exactly is "hoppin' john"? I remember when I was in the hospital when one of the kids was born, on the breakfast menu there was something on the list called "pettijohn" (spelling might be wrong). To me, it sounded like it might be a mini long john so I selected it. When my tray came the next morning, no long john, but something I didn't order....a bowl of very loose creamed hot cereal of some kind. Ha!

birkin baby - I think we all need one of those lounging days from time to time. Who cares if we spend the day in our jammies once in awhile?

We are in the midst of a good blizzard today. My DH usually works from home one day a week, but was intending to return to the office today. When my son got home from work early this morning, he said it was pretty bad out. It took him close to 2 hrs. to get here and said he could only see the road about 8% of the way. Whew! So when DH's alarm went off, I told him about the roads being bad and he decided he'd be better off working from home today. When he got on the computer to leave a message for his boss, the boss had already emailed and told everyone to work from home today. Technology is something, isn't it?

I've got a sheet pan full of potatoes baking. Once they're done and cooled, I'll be making a big batch of baked potato soup for lunch. I'm so glad I went shopping on Tuesday. There's lots of food in the house and I don't have to go out!

Everyone have a great day....stay warm and dry. If it's snowing where you are, stay home!

[beckyb1012]

On 1/1/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:

Good Morning and Happy New Year, Everyone. December was not a fun month for me and I didn't post in the thread at all. In late November, I finally made it to a very long put off and very long needed GYNE exam. By now, at my age, I should be over menopause but I've still been having random bleeding. Not knowing what to expect as I went through the process, I thought I was in a tapering off stage, but she said no, that I'm having abnormal bleeding. Here I thought I was just going in for a pap smear, but I ended up having a pelvic ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, a D & C w/hysteroscopy, another biopsy....ugh, that waiting for results was the worst part. I'm very happy and grateful to God, that all the tests came back negative for cancer, but the doc still thinks a hysterectomy is in order, to eliminate any future risks. I see the doc next week for the follow-up from the D & C and to plan for my surgery. I don't relish what I'm in for, but I know it's the best option. I'm trying to turn it into a positive and believe it's just one more thing on the list for me to return to good health in 2014.

Last night I conked out early. DH said he came to the bedroom for our New Year's kiss and I was already sleeping hard. He said he kissed my head, but I didn't feel a thing. This morning I made an Ortega Breakfast Casserole and Blueberry Coffee Cake. Both were delish! And now it's a day of football in this house. Since we had a bigger breakfast than usual, we're skipping lunch, except for maybe a piece of fruit, and then later on I'll set out some snacks that will serve as our dinner.

Cheers to all and may you all be blessed with a healthy, happy 2014. I hope to become more of a regular here this year.

Girl I hope and pray all goes well with you this new year. For myself I had a hysterectomy way back in 1995 when I was 34 for endometriosis and it was the best thing I ever did. Once all the recovery and such was over the freedom I felt from no more pain or inconvenience was wonderful.

Of course after the surgery if I acted like a "b--ch" then it was all me and not a symptom of something else. Never ever regretted getting rid of my parts. I do still have one ovary and to this day I have no idea when or if I went through menopause.

Cooking just black-eyed peas right now but yesterday had with the peas a full Christmas meal with yeast rolls that I put away in the freezer for my New Year lunch. Pumpkin pie and cheesecake was eaten as well that I saved from Christmas dinner.

[RetRN]

Made a small stuffed pork roast in the crock pot, just added broth, white wine, seasoned pepper, baby red potatoes, and carrots. It was delish.

[spix]

Well more shoveling & DS has been around also with the snowblower & plow in my alley, not that I'm going anywhere, but cabin fever is setting in, we're planning a little block get together for supper tonite, I have some stuffed shells in the freezer to contribute, so we'll all commiserate together

beckyb lucky you w/all those yummy leftovers, enjoy. I agree about the hysterectomy sounds just like mine, glad I did it

RetRN you meal sounds good, I never did a pork roast in the crock pot, will have to try that did you cook it all day?

Winifred Stripes will drive you to drink, do what birkinbaby said leave his food out & go to bed, I think he's very independent & might just be testing you, cagey little imp that he is

Nomar I haven't tried that diet maybe some of the others have, no "white stuff" it sounds like, has to be difficult but from all I've heard it's the way to go, very healthy, hmm wonder if I could do it

OK ladies this white stuff is still coming down, think I'll take my book & retreat for an hour or two, pretend I'm at the beach, yeah right!

Take Care

[RetRN]

Hi SPIX, I cooked it on low for eight hours.

[Winifred]

What I do re Stripes depends strictly on what HE does or does not do. I do know for about a month now almost nightly I have to keep checking through the night as i worry about him. Where I live is a Wash nest to me and while the wild critters are not as abundant as they once were, there are still some coyotes and other critters who can nail him in there - many neighborhood cats have been lost through the years. Have had cats my entire life so I know how most act but he has been so strange lately that it bothers me. He was completely feral the first two plus years of his life but since he moved in with me, he has had a life of royalty. I may still take up the food as he is not eating it and it brings other critters by - dogs AND cats - possibly possums, etc. I just cannot figure out what is going on with him. He has always been independent and I fully understand that but the running away when I walk into the yard is unreal. He has always stayed near me and yesterday he hung out here after two days of the disappearing act. He could not wait to get in last night and today has been outside walking with me and bugging Conrad. LOL. He is neutered and is in great health - we shall see!!!!!

Had some more black eyed peas today - guess I will have some more later on and then freeze the remainder - I always cook way too much but they sure are good.

JeanLouiseFinch, your breakfast this morning sounds fantastic. I do hope this month will be much better for you healthwise.

Madame J your meal sounds really good to me - Spix, you and Soushi can keep your lobster - never could understand why anyone would like seafood of any description. I know, many have told me I am nuts. When I lived in New Orleans the cookouts there were NOT burgers but tubs of squiggly stinking things. I always asked they fix one burger - I would even bring the hamburger meat. My Dad loved shrimp and he and my daughter would battle over it on occasion - that was to see who get eat the most. She started eating that stuff as a toddler. Then she shared lobster with my grandmother off and on for a few years and once a month I even bought her a can of sardines but made her eat it outside. That girl just loved seafood. I often wonder if she is getting her fill of seafood up with her grandfather and great grandmother and others who loved their seafood.

birkin baby we love having you here also - so keep stopping by. Soushi, my BIL said his part of Florida is 62 but said it was 11 degrees at home in Flint so he was happy.

nomar, hope the health issues in your household improve and keep stopping by also. predsfan truly enjoy your welcoming each day.

Hope I didn't forget anyone - ok Cowboy, where did you disappear to again? We sure want to know what has been on your menu, how the girls are doing and did you finish all the redoing of your new home?

Enjoy the day everyone.

[Evansmom]

Hi everyone. I made a prime rib for the very first time. My fiancee really enjoyed it. Happy new year!