weekend

Weekends are so nice! We are having very unusual weather these days, so the weekends have been rather cool, not so sunny! I work this Saturday, but come Sunday, I just love that day of rest! I had been merchandising for Nabisco for 5 years and recently got released from that job because of the economy, so that means I have a total day of rest, no working!!I recently heard a Jewish rabbi talk about a day of rest and how important it is to the Jewish people. Not that I want to go to the extremes they do, but it's a day to do no work as far as labor for me! Oh, I do the laundry, cook meals, but I don't do my job at the store or think about the store! Do you observe a day rest, maybe not necessarily Sunday?? Maybe we all should consider it! Blessings!

weekend

This weekend we are getting another grandchild! Our 9 yr old is coming for 4 days! We are very excited to get her and spend some time with her, maybe bowling??? Auntie is coming over and taking to breakfast, then down to "The Potter's Shed" for a morning of crafting something! I love having the kids, hoping to impart something from my life or perspective on life! Mommy and Dad are so busy,working so hard, it's hard on a family these days! The photo is an old one of Shea, but she is still the pretty girl we love!!!

salsa

Calling all cooks, I need a great salsa recipe! I have one and like very much, but always looking for something new to try! I have alot of jalapenos coming on and need to do something with them, so salsa was the first thing that popped into my mind! The salsa I make is very easy! Recipe: 2 cans 15oz size of diced tomatoes, 3-5 fresh tomatoes, 1-2 jalapenos(depending how hot you like it), 1 medium size onion,2 cloves of minced garlic, and 1 bunch of cilantro chopped very well! I added the canned tomatoes a few years back and it just adds something more to the salsa! Enjoy with chips, YUM!!! Blessings!

garden

We are starting to get some produce from our garden. Gordon has done wonders this year in making the garden produce! We had a terrible garden last year with not much coming out of it! We already had some potatoes,eggplant, green peppers, and a few tomatoes! So, the other night I made ratatouille, it's very easy to make! Recipe: 1-2 eggplants(you can leave the skin on if it's a small eggplant), 2 green peppers, onion, and tomatoes. I used the grape tomatoes! Put all the veggies on a sheet pan or roaster pan after you have chopped everything, pour a little olive oil on them and add a little salt. Peel about 2 cloves of garlic and chop, add this to the veggies and put this into a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. You can serve this with pasta, or as a side dish! Excellent!!

chicken

On the new website, tastykitchen.com I found a recipe for "hot and sweet chicken". It uses legs, but I'm not a big fan of legs, so I made the recipe using thighs. I made it in the crock pot and it was very done when I got home! Gordon said it looked like chocolate on the chicken it was so caramelized!! It was yummy!! So, here's the recipe: 1 small jar of apricot jam,1 package of thighs(or whatever pieces of chicken you like),2 teaspoons of hot sauce, 1/2 cup of ketchup,3 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Mix that together and pour over chicken, place in 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until chicken is brown! Enjoy!!! Blessings!!!

hippies

We had a fun evening with Gary and Kathy! Gary made the comment that we are like hippies living off the land because of our garden! We went to the 4H fair and walked through the barns! What beautiful chickens!!! I want chickens so bad, but my very practical husband says no! There were these 2 roosters that were so pretty!! It was nice to dream for the moment! Lasagna was a big hit!YEAH!!!!!
Well, we are off to church and breakfast! I do have a brownie recipe to share before I go. Recipe: 1 brownie box mix, 1 1/2 cups of choc. chips and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. Make brownies according to directions, just before putting in oven add the chips and walnuts. When they are done baking (about 25 minutes), let them cool slightly, add caramel sauce! YUM!!! We had a little ice cream with that and savored every bite!

Jalapeno Popper spread

I have a new recipe to share with you! We did this yesterday at work and it was a big hit!! It's on the spicy side, but nothing over the top!!
Recipe: 2 8oz packages of cream cheese, 1 cup of Mayo, 1 small can(4oz.) green chilies diced, 1 small can of diced jalapenos(2oz), mix the softened cream cheese and mayo together well! Add the chilies and peppers, mix in 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and microwave for 3 minutes(watch that you don't burn the cheese). Chill for overnight and serve!! Excellent! Enjoy this dish and blessings!!

company

Gordon's brother and his wife are coming for supper tonight. We are having Gordon's new favorite meal, lasagna! I really have to tell you that after working all day, I don't want to come home and stand for hours putting lasagna together, but I found a recipe awhile back that makes it so.....stinkin' easy!!! Yes, I know I say stinkin' alot!! Anyway, back to the recipe, go to thepioneerwoman.com website,and go to the cooking area, then click on main course(on the left side of the screen),then click casseroles, it is the very last recipe! I changed 2 things, I don't use the sliced mozzarella cheese, I buy the big bag of shredded cheese. And I use spaghetti sauce with tomato paste added, not the canned tomatoes. I have used quite a few of her recipes and had really good luck, maybe changing a few things out as I didn't have them on hand and I'm not running back to the store where I have spent 8 hours already!!! I was going to take a pix of the bread salad I made, but I ran down the batteries and no extra ones laying around!! After putting this together and baking it, plans changed and they aren't coming till Saturday, but hey, I'm all ready for the meal!!

Friday's demo

On Friday, we'll be doing a pink salad(that's what it is called, I don't make these names up). The recipe is as follows: 1 can of condensed milk, 1 container of cool whip, 1 can of cherry pie filling, 1 can of crushed pineapple-drained. Mix and chill over night. It sounds yummy!!! Have you found the new website called Tasty kitchen? You need to check it out! It's home cooks with lots of ideas and the recipes just keep coming!

bread salad

I have learned a fast and easy way to make bread salad! Bread salad is usually made with day old bread. The Italians use day old and then soak the bread in water, which we can't do it justice in the States to replicate, I'm not sure why, but when we do it that way, the bread is just a soggy mess!! So,I came up with a crunchy style which my family has enjoyed for years, but last weekend I made it different and everyone enjoyed it alot! So, here's the original recipe: 1/2 loaf of french bread cubed, 2 garlic cloves-minced, butter, olive oil, onion, balsamic vinegar and tomatoes. Heat a skillet and heat it up with the oil, add 2 tablespoons of butter to the oil, add the garlic and the bread cubes. Stir all together and fry for about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. In a large bowl add balsamic vinegar(about 2 tablespoons),1/4 cup olive oil, 1 onion chopped and 3 tomatoes- chopped. Then add the bread cubes and toss all together!

New recipe: 1 bag of onion and garlic croutons, 2 cartons of grape tomatoes, 1 onion and 1-15oz. can of diced tomatoes. In a large bowl add 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and 5 tablespoons of olive oil, add 1 clove of garlic minced. Open can of tomatoes and pour into bowl, add the grape tomatoes and onion. Stir very well. I usually refrigerate over night or for about 2hours before I serve. It was very good.

tea party

Yesterday, 2 of my granddaughters (who are staying with us) went with me to a friends house for tea! We had so much fun! I hadn't had such a fun time with friends in a long time! The girls loved Diane's house! It was beautiful because of the pool(kid size), pigs, cat, and play area!

antiques

I absolutely love antiques! I am looking for a few special pieces and hoping to sell a few special pieces I have, but no luck so far! I'm not into the primitive look, but I know that is so popular! I love the pieces for the 30's! Probably like that looked as I looked at that all the time when I was growing up!
I also would love to learn how to do mosaics! I see where "the Potter's Shed" in Shell Lake teaches you! I'm going sometime this summer and either do a serving tray or a clock! What is the look you like??? Do you do any arts and crafts?? Have a blessed day!

husbands

Gordon and I have been married a long time(37 yrs), yet he surprises me every now and then as he did the other day!! We have wild raspberries growing in the backyard, so when I got home from work there sat 2 cups worth of raspberries!!! What a great surprise!! I love raspberries! So yesterday morning I made pancakes for us and had raspberries on top with syrup!! YUM!!! So there is a little leftover and that's what for breakfast here!! Do you ever get a great surprise by your loved one??? I hope so, or do you surprise your loved one? It's always the little things that pull our heart strings, isn't it?? I guess it's my turn to figure out something to surprise him!!Have a blessed day!

new sideline

Good morning friends and family!
I joined Pampered Chef last Friday! I am so excited in this new side job! As you all know I love to cook and this is such a good fit!! Anyone who wants to book a party, let me know!
Today our twin granddaughter's turn 6, how did that happen??!! Just seems like yesterday we were driving to the twin cities to see them born! We are going in to help celebrate and hopefully the weather will cooperate! Have a great day! Blessings!

Blessings

Last night I had a jewelry party with this Christian gal from Chetek! What a wild time we had here, it turned into a prayer and healing night!!! How exciting for all of us to be here! Some of the gals were healed from issues that have bothered them for months! The jewelry that Amy makes is amazing! I got a ring from the party! God is so..............GOOD!!! Have a blessed day in Christ!

salad

Friday's demo will be a bean salad. It's called "Black and White Bean salad". The ingredients are as follows: 1 cup of v8 juice, 15oz. can of black beans,15oz can of navy beans, 8 oz. can of corn, 1/2 bell pepper, 1 small onion, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Chill for 2 hours before serving! Pretty easy! I hope you will try this and let me know what you think of it! Blessings on your day!!!

Tuesday

It's cloudy and cool here today! We need rain so bad! If I didn't work, I would have baked all day and cleaned house! I love baking on the cooler days, it's so fun and relaxing for me! What do you do when the weather cools off??? The recipes for this week are kinda fun! The first one is a take off on a appetizer my sister made a long time ago. You need a 8 oz. package of cream, crab meat from a can and cocktail sauce. It's a dump and pour recipe. Put the cream cheese on a plate, cover with cocktail sauce and then the crab meat, YUM!!!! But for the public, I will mix the soften cream cheese and cocktail sauce together, it's a safety issue! Have a wonderful evening!! Blessings!

Summer

Man, summer is flying by! It's hard to believe that summer is half over! We are going over to Kate and Kurt's on Saturday and bringing home 2 grandchildren! It will be the oldest and the youngest this time! Alex is 11 and will go fishing with Grandpa(please Alex, take Grandpa fishing). Kora is 3 1/2 and will hang out with me. We may go to a friends house and make soap! Kora has never been here without parents, so it will be interesting! We love having the grandkids, it gives everyone a break and gives us time with them, so we are able to see personalities and have some sort of input into their lives! Do you have any favorite stories of visiting grandparents?? I do and someday will share! As you can see by the photos, the kids were smaller when they were taken, about 2 years ago.

soup's on

Today I'm making Italian wedding soup. Never made it before, so I hope it's a winner! It's a take-off on Ina Garten's recipe, so it should be good! I've got frozen homemade meatballs (made from venison) that need to be used, so that's what inspired me today. The basic recipe is: 1 onion, chopped, 1 large carrot, chopped, 5 cups of chicken broth, meatballs, small pasta like orzo, and add spinach at the end! Pretty easy and simple, I like simple! I decided to make this in the crockpot while at church, so we'll have it later! I love the crockpot, I use it alot especially when I'm working, dinner's ready when I get home, how neat!! Today it's cooler weather, so soup will be nice and light, served with a salad! Do you make a favorite soup? Do you use your crockpot? Any recipes to share?? Have a blessed day in Christ!

Dog

Here's our newest member of the family! We love dogs and have had 4, this is number 5. His name is Diesel and he is 15 months old! Such a baby, makes me laugh most of the time! Gordon has a shadow and companion, trying his patience on training for hunting, but what funny guy(dog)! Do you have a dog or cat?? What funny antics do they pull?? Let me know! Have a great day and God bless your homes!

Farmer's market

I love spring, but when summer arrives, I know it is farmer's market time! We have a garden and a pretty large one! Gordon is the gardener, I'm just the canner, preserver, freezer person! Tomorrow is Saturday, I go to the local farmer's market with $20 and see how far I can stretch it! I usually stay in that budget, but as summer progresses I sometimes go overboard! Right now, there's radishes, snap peas, beets, onions, lettuce, spinach, new potatoes, beautiful flowers, cilantro, and strawberries! I think I named everything, I just know it's alot of produce and I LOVE it!! My head starts spinning on what I can make for the week ahead with all the goodies! I hope you come to the farmer's market, meet the farmers and enjoy the company of other shoppers! If you see me, let's walk around together and maybe later go for coffee downtown!

cookbooks

How many cookbooks should one person have?? I think that's a question for the ages! About 5 years ago I got rid of 25 cookbooks that I didn't use or intend to use, now isn't that a shame! One person bought all of them, so what does that say? I marked them too cheap!!! I have to admit, I'm a cookbook junkie! My husband said he wasn't buying anymore and then brought home a cookbook from a local church where he had repaired their furnace! How many do you have?? And now I've started to collect printed copies of recipes I have found online, man, it's too much!! Now, I have to organize them! Some of the best recipes I have found recently are from 2 websites: 1. smittenkitchen.com. Deb doesn't update as quickly as I would like, but hey, that's me. 2. thepioneerwoman.com Ree has many recipes I have used in the last 3 months. The best ever sheet cake is probably the best sheet cake I have ever had, her lasagna is very good( I have made it 5 times) and I don't do lasagna as it's too putsy,but I've made hers!I did change a few things with her recipe, not so much meat and grated cheese as compared to her sliced cheese! Her cinnamon rolls are ok, mine are better! Her friend, Hyacinth's cookies with apricots are very good.
I'm still hoping some of you friends and family members will quit lurking around this blog and actually jump in and send me some recipes! Talk to you later!

Rodeo

Rodeo time is here! It's a big deal for little Spooner, Wisconsin! People come from all over to see this rodeo! So in honor of the cowboys and cowgirls, we will be doing a bean salad on Friday!
Best -of -the-west Bean Salad: 1 cup of salsa, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 large green pepper, diced, 1 medium red onion, 1 can(15oz,) kidney beans(rinsed and drained), 1 can(15 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained. Mix all to gether and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally, garnish with cilantro. YIPPEE!!! If you make this, let me know what you think of it! Happy trails to you!!!

warm summer day

Summer in the northland has arrived and it's warm! The store was buzzing today with visitors to our area! I was looking online today for easy salads, appetizers, and any easy kind of snack to demo for the general public . It's a harder job than most people think, as I don't have access to a stove or oven to bake something wonderful or cook something. What I've been doing lately is cold salads and dips that are easily mixed. Any ideas let me know!
My niece said I should have my photo, several of my grandchildren and one of the store on the site, I just had to laugh! I work at the only grocery store in town, no recent photo of me or the grandkids! I will try and figure it out in the next few weeks!

Monday, Monday

Monday's are the day I set up the demos for the week ahead. It can be a long day especially after a holiday weekend! This day seems to be long for some reason today!
This week we will have 2 easy recipe demos to serve to the public! One is this dessert dip recipe: 1-8oz. package of cream cheese softened, 1-7oz. jar of Fluff. Soften cream cheese and whisk in marshmallow cream. Serve with fruit or graham crackers and a little piece of chocolate(fake out s'mores). You could make fruit kabobs and use the dip on the side! I will let you know how the public liked it! Also, I will give you the other salad recipe tomorrow, so you have to stay tuned for more of this rambling!!

Sundays

Welcome, Sunday, a day of rest! What a great concept for us all! Today is a doing all that I can do day at home before I start the work week again day! I have a friend who every Sunday asks me what am I going to do today after church? I basically give her the same answer, laundry, cook a few extra things for lunches, laundry, clean a bathroom, laundry, vaccum, laundry(how do 2 people have so much laundry?) and maybe read a book. What do you do on Sunday?

Happy Birthday, America!

Hi, it's officially 4th of July! I'm so proud to live in America! So appreciative of the men and women who have served and are serving our country proudly! Thank you from a grateful heart!
Yesterday's demo went well. It was Shrimp dip. Here's the recipe: 1-8oz. cream cheese, 1-10 3/4oz. condensed cream of shrimp soup(yes, there is such a creature), hot sauce like Tabasco about 1 tsp., 1 small onion diced and 1 stalk of celery, diced small. Soften cream cheese, then add soup. I used a whisk to get it creamy, then add the rest. If you taste it now, you'll think it's not so great, but wait till it chills for 2 hours, WOW!!! So stinkin' easy!
I was also given this dip recipe from a customer today for Beer dip. 1 -8oz. cream cheese, 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese, 1 pkg of Hidden Valley ranch dressing(dry), and 1/3 cup of beer. Mix the cream cheese and cheese together, add the rest. Be sure to chill for 2 hours. I don't know if I will be able to make this and serve the public because of the beer, so I'll let you know about that later!
Thanks for checking out this blog! Make sure you leave me a comment!!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July America! Tomorrow is the 4th and we usually gear our summers in the north by things happening by the 4th of July! Summer is 1/3 over and rodeo is next weekend, WOW! Summer is flying by!
I am working tomorrow and will be serving the public! Come in and say "hi"! Gordon and I will be enjoying a cookout later that evening with friends! Let me know what your favorite 4th of July food is or what you enjoy cooking out! Remember to sign in the comment area!

vote

Ok, as I was making the corn salad yesterday, there was in the bakery kitchen a big discussion about mayo vs. Miracle whip! Who knew that this would launch a world wide discussion and tempers would rise over this! I grew up with mayo and have not let Miracle whip cross my lips if I have a choice, but as we all know, when you eat other peoples salads or hot dishes , you have no control over whether they use mayo or Miracle whip! So, let me know what you think about mayo or Miracle whip!
I think tomorrow's demo will be a shrimp dip, made with cream of shrimp soup and cream cheese with hot sauce. I will let you know how it was received and how it tasted!

corn salad

Corn salad adapted from Paula Deen's recipe:
2 cans of corn 10 3/4 oz.
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
1 cup of mayo
1/2 small red onion chopped very finely
1 green pepper chopped finely
Mix this together and chill. Just before you serve this salad, add a small bag of crushed Frito Lay chili cheese chips. This is so easy!
Come in and let me know if you have seen this blog. Enjoy the holiday weekend! Happy 4th of July! May we continue to be a blessed nation under God!