Do You Like Hot?

I have loved the flavor of horseradish on sandwiches for many years. Once you get use to the flavor, something is missing when you don't have it. I use to buy fresh, homemade horseradish from Briese, Ill. I had a friend who had family there and every time he went to visit he bought all that was on the small hometown grocery store shelf. This stuff was made in a garage by mom and pop and would take the top of your head off when you first opened the jar and had on sandwich.....oh, it was good. After we both left the workplace I found their address and they would ship it to me, via mail. The last order I received I found a note in my mailbox that I had a package to be picked up at post office. I couldn't remember ordering anything but drove to town, went in, presented the card and they said "Oh My What Did You Order"? One jar broke inside of box and rural mail carrier, couldn't breathe, eyes watered and he took package back to the post office. Well, entire crew couldn't handle the odor so the box was stashed in back corner of building waiting to be picked up!!! I started laughing and said Oh No you didn't break one of my jars of fresh horseradish.....It was so funny. Mom and Pop have retired and don't make this wonderful stuff anymore so now I buy this brand at Wal Mart. It is pretty good, but not like theirs....



Last week I picked up this brand for a supercharged HOTNESS! You better be careful of this one.... It starts in your nose and spreads through sinuses and into eyes rapidly!!!



When Solar was in high school and I packed her lunch, usually turkey sandwiches, she would sometimes have to remind me to "Lighten up on the horseradish" ha
When I first introduced it to my husband, his comment was that it was like eating battery acid, (don't know how he knew that). Then he would ask if he had to suffer through a sandwich? He has since acquired a taste for horseradish also. I'm telling you it is habit forming.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Canasta

When I was very young my family taught me to play canasta, as it was The Game! I have such great memories of my brother and I going down the street to our grandparents house and playing canasta all evening. Then through the years the foursome became dad, brother, sister in law and me. Mom thought the games lasted too long! Well this week I have been moving some of my dad's books, etc from my stepmother's house in preparation to sell and when I opened the drawer on the coffee table this is what I found;



It took my breath away! I haven't seen this tray for so many years that it shocked me when I saw it. For those of you who play canasta you recognize this tray. Even the cards that were in it were ones we played with many times. What a fun game it is and I have not even taught my girls to play. I have dropped the ball on this tradition and really need to teach them. Late in my grandad's life, you could go in his house and hear him talking or laughing and he was there alone. We would ask, "granddaddy who are you talking to"? (He was sitting at a card table with 4 hands dealt) He replied "well I am playing for mr. north, south, east, and west, and mr. north is cheating"!!!! He was having fun all by himself. That is how much he loved to play canasta.

Do any of you know how to play? We also had many hours of fun playing rook. I don't think families play cards as much as we did years ago. It is sad too because we talked, laughed and spent time together. I miss it!

Time to start dinner, Chicken and Dumplings tonight, yum, yum!
Have a good evening all!

Mouli Julienne

Am I the only one who likes to grate cheese and not use prepackaged?????







There seems to be so much more flavor if you grate your own cheese. How I love my mouli julienne...I have had it for years and don't know if you can still buy anything this handy. It has 3 different size blades and is dishwasher safe...yes...

I have missed my time blogging and commenting for the last several days...life is hectic...hope it settles down soon.

Have a good evening all!

Mexican Night!

Don't you love good quesadillas? This recipe is so quick easy and tasty! I cut 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts into chunks. Stir fry with one can of rotel until all juice has cooked away and chicken is tender.










I made them as healthy as possible by using 2% cheese, whole wheat tortillas and blue corn chips for the homemade salsa.














Fill half of a tortilla with chicken mixture and cheese, fold over and brown on warm skillet or griddle.
End result was a plate of yummy mexican food and salsa that I can't quit eating!!!













Guess I'll take a pepcid (just for good measure) ha
Have a good evening all!

My New Dip!

I have been eating Roasted Red Pepper Hummus from Wal Mart and really like it. Solar told me about Sabra Classic from Sam's and now it is my favorite. I love it with pretzel sticks or carrots. From The Belly Off! Diet, "This spread made of mashed chickpeas, tahini, and olive oil is rich in protein and fiber. The tahini, a paste made of ground sesame seeds, delivers omega-3 fatty acids. You don't need to eat much; it's filling and high in calories. It makes a terrific high-fiber, high-protein sandwich spread instead of mayonnaise." I told my husband it is dip and he likes it.....doesn't know what it is made of, (he wouldn't have tasted it) A wife has to do what a wife has to do!!!

The book also has a section on the 6 best foods you're not eating, but should. Let's talk about 1 of the 6.
Kimchi...
"This spicy pickled cabbage, eaten at almost every meal in Korea, is packed with vitamins and immune-system-boosting phytochemicals. Its main ingredient, fermented cabbage, contains lactic acid, which helps with digestion and may weaken infections. Several years ago, kimchi made big news when Korean researchers found chickens infected with the avian flu recovered more quickly after being fed an extract of kimchi. More recently a study at the University of New Mexico suggested that eating cabbage might help ward off breast cancer. Kimchi is low in calories and rich in dietary fiber."
All of those reasons are good enough for me to look for a good kimchi recipe!! I love the store bought and know homemade would be better! Do you have a recipe?

Rain, Rain and more Rain!!!!!
Off to watch America's Got Talent!
Have a good evening all!

Where's Mama?

I thought they were gonna come into the yard. I kept getting closer and closer to them for pictures and they just stared at me. They were so cute and I didn't want to scare them. I think this cool weather has everyone confused. I have all windows up and a/c off!!! Maybe the bill will be less next month,,,,sure hope so.

Have a good evening all!

Blue!

As I relaxed outdoors today I began to notice all of the beautiful "blues" surrounding me.....
This one was cool and refreshing....




This one made my hands feel good (as it has for many years)


My comforting summer friend...


How beautiful after a week of cleansing rainfall...





I actually feel asleep in this one....



Hope you had a wonderful weekend...and relaxed!!!

Don't Blink!

Theme Thursday -- Stage (s)
Join here




I blinked and she went from dragging the blanket to buying a blanket!!! I hope she has half the fun that I did........I'm sure she will and I am also looking forward to my new granddaughter!!!

Time sure flies....

Have a good day all and enjoy all of the stages!!!!!

Today's Flower

I have had several colors of Lantana through the years and this one is my all time favorite. Every stage of this bud/bloom growth has been so pretty. Join Today's Flowers here!









Have a great day all!

Salty and Sweet!!

If this great snack is only 100 calories......



That makes it ok to add a few of these little jewels....Doesn't It????



I love the two of these together! I have to have the same amount, can't run out of tootsie rolls before I run out of popcorn or vice versa.....

What do you put together for your snack????

FRIDAY!!!!

No construction on pool house today so it is MY DAY alone!!!!!
Have a good day all!

Ghosts!

AMERICA'S MOST HAUNTED RESORT HOTEL?
The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
Eureka Springs, Arkansas



Theme Thursday.....Ghosts!

The drive to this Hotel is worth the trip! It is located on the top of a mountain with the quaint city below. Take the winding road to the top and the view is spectacular! For the history, more stories and ghost photos click here

GHOST STORIES FROM OUR GUESTS
Others Tell Their Tales Unexplainable things have been seen, odd noises have been heard, strange occurrences have happened. Our guests tell their stories of what they have seen and heard in the haunted hotel.

Never Been One to Believe
Steve Garrison, a cook for the hotel's Crystal Dining Room restaurant for the past fourteen years recounts, "I've lived here (Eureka Springs) all my life and I have never been one to believe this stuff." That all changed two different mornings in the restaurant's kitchen.

Morning 1: Garrison was "slicing and dicing" vegetables when he looked up and saw a little boy with "pop bottle" glasses, dressed in very old-looking clothes such as knickers, who was skipping around the kitchen.

Morning 2: When opening that same kitchen early one morning he flipped on the lights only to see "some or all of the pots and pans come flying off their hooks." He was quick to add, "I don't drink on the job. In fact, I don't drink... period."



Members of TAPS, The Atlantic Paranormal Society as they arrive along with a crew from the Sci-Fi Channel to film a segment featuring the ghosts of the Crescent Hotel for the Sci-fi Channel's show, "Ghost Hunters".

We spent a pleasant weekend at the Crescent years ago, didn't encounter any ghosts!!! But we made sure to locate the exit on the floor we were on/ha

Have a good day with no ghosts!!!!!

Tuna Boat

I got this recipe from my sister in law years ago and don't know where it originated.. thinking probably Southern Living. Anyway it has become a favorite with the family.

6 sourdough french rolls (I couldn't find these, so I used 3 sub rolls)
1 (7-oz can tuna, drained (mine were 5 oz cans, used 2)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped water chestnuts
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
2 T grated onion
2 T olives, sliced
dash of Worcestershire sauce
dash of hot sauce
1/3 cup salad dressing

Cut a 1/2 inch slice from top of each roll; scoop out center, leaving a shell. Combine tuna and next 9 ingredients. Add mayo, toss gently to coat. Spoon tuna mixture into shells; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400 deg. for 15 minutes.

I love the texture of all the ingredients.....crunchy tuna boat!

Enjoy!

Red & Green!

Good Monday Morning All! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are ready for a great week! I am so proud of my container tomato plants, also hot peppers and jalapenos. A friend told me last year to plant celebrity plants, if I was was using containers and he was right! They have grown and produced more tomatoes than any I have ever tried. We like to slice, cover with salt and pepper and refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer before eating and the flavor is so good. I have made one jar of pepper sauce and from the looks of my plants I will get to make more.

We got a wonderful rain yesterday afternoon....you know what that means? I'm going out to mow while it is not so dry and dusty.

Have a good day all!

Happy 4th of July!

No matter where I see this beautiful site, the feeling is always the same...pride and joy that I live in this wonderful country!








You are ALL invited to sit and watch the fireworks from my back porch tomorrow night! Be here early and stay late....the view is spectacular...all the surrounding towns put on a free show for us to see...bring your chair and relax....

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!!!!

The Front!

It moved in..


And around..

And around..

And out..

And it never saw me over here doing the rain dance... Not a drop on my yard...
Gonna be a long summer..