Good Morning/Afternoon!(recipes)

........Good Morning! Afternoon!.... Everyone! . Want another cuppa? Help yourself.
We have a few clouds & IF ya look really hard you can see blue sky..........BUT think we are gonna get rain.......again today........sometime!
Will make everything grow fast....including the weeds!
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Thought for the Day:
The Best Attitude to Have Is Gratitude!

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What is everyone doing today? I have a few errands to do and then the day is mine!

I spent the weekend catching up with some of the groups I had lagged behind on! This one being one of the "most lagged".....lolol.

Things have NOT changed too much for me since I was coming in regularily......except that business is waaaaaaaay off! I am down about 27 calls per month,,,(equals around 50 stops x's average $100 each!!!!)......so now ya know "the rest of the story"! I have printed flyers and circulated them.....now we just wait & see, right. We also printed some flyers for dh to clean windows.....for apartments and small condo/townhouses. Hafta be in-ventive!...lolol. They say the recession is over here in Toronto/[Canada-wide?],...but again it is a "wait & see" thingy!

How has everyone been? Maybe I didn't read back far enough BUT I don't recall seeing any negative posts?...maybe my eyes are not seeng like they used to?

We did have a 'bout with Harley-dog 2 weeks ago. She started on a Sunday night of not eating her food and then by Monday night she had the runs....I fed her stuff to stop that BUT it did not and by the time we came home Thursday from work...she had "deposited" 7 piles of goodness-knows-what!.....on the living room carpet! I called and took her to the vet.....he gave me some special food..., 2 bottles of pills to be given 1-each-twice a day......and today she appears to of never been sick at all! I did hear there was a "flu called H3N8".....going around, comparible to the pig flu,(H1N1) that is affecting the humans. I have no idea IF that is what she had BUT I do know she is a full-fledged addict! She will come to me morning & night now and sit and wag her tail......until I give her the tablets! She almost tilts her head bad...(well she does do that!).....I only hafta to toss in the pills!!
Animals!......much better to deal with than sick humans....right?

Speaking of which..dh has been sick since last Thursday with a cold.......he is sucha "weiner"~~WHINER!!!!!!!!....lolol
Okay.......wanna look up a couple more recipes to add...

Have a great day everyone. I may not be "in" every day BUT will come in when I can. It feels great to be "back".

Take Care.

Be Safe.

ciao.........

Carol/CSW/cas




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Spinach Dip:.......(old faithful)

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 300 frozen chopped spinach
  
• 300g ricotta cheese
  
• 190g sour cream
  
• 30g packed spring vegetable soup mix
  
• 4 spring onions, finely chopped
  

Procedure

Blend the spinach, sour cream, ricotta, soup mix, and onions until smooth.
Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Serve with crisp vegetables (carrots...) or biscuits.
Can be prepared a week in advance.





Preparation time: 30 minutes
Total cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves 6-8.
Ingredients

• 1kg brussels sprouts, trimmed
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 4 shallots peeled and sliced
  
• 400g fresh chestnuts or 200g can
  
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
  
• Pinch ground cinnamon
  
  

Procedure


Make slits in the chestnuts and put them in saucepan. Ocver with cold water and bring to boil over hig heat.
Simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and allow to cool a few minutes. Peel off the skins.
Trim the sprouts and cut a cross in the base of each.
Blanch the sprouts in a pan of boiling salted water for 5 minutes.
Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the chestnuts (until they begin to brown) and fry shallots till crispy.
Add sprouts, lemon juice and cinnamon. Cook heated enough.
Season well with salt and pepper.
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Southern Fried Squash:........

4 yellow squash, washed and sliced lengthways
2 cups yellow corn meal
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Mix corn meal, sugar, salt and pepper together and dredge each piece of
squash in mixture. Pour vegetable oil in skillet and heat until hot. Add
squash and pan fry until golden brown.

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Sliced Cucumber & Onion Salad/Homemade Fresh Honey Dressing:...........

[This is a recipe I have used on many occasions when I have a great
supply of cucumbers on hand. I think this would also work really well IF you used firm ripe tomatoes!]

2 cucumbers
1 large red onion, cut into rings
Honey French Dressing (below)
Paprika for dusting

With a sharp knife, peel the skin from the cucumber in narrow strips
then cut cucumber in think round slices. Place on a small platter and
arrange slices of onion over cucumbers. Right before serving
pour Honey French Dressing over all. Dust with paprika.

Honey French Dressing:

1 cup salad oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients and put in tight-fitting covered jar.
Shake vigorously.

Thought for the Day: There are two ways of exerting ones' strength....One is pushing....The other IS pulling up! Booker T. Washington
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Here it is morning again!
(can't we start the day maybe around 3:00 p.m.?.....lololol).
Many may remember we moved last Sept.?......(we have a townhouse now, with a small yard); BUT along with the plus-es..we also hafta pay our our hydro & gas,.(the negative side). We do NOT have central a/c but we do have 3 window a/c's WHICH I refuse to allow dh to install..(at least for this year). I want to see just how "bad" it is and also just how much "control we have" on the utilities! So far I seem to have the "upper hand"...lolol
(Hydro for this month was: [electricity>>$26.73; delivery>>$29.69; regularory>>$3.32; debt retirement cgarge>>$3.16; GST tax>>$3.15==$66.05<>$10.00;Delivery charge>>$13.70; Gas supply charge>>$17.22;GST tax>>$$2.93;Water tank/heater rental>>$11.64<I am very happy with those bills. I do laundry on the weekends and hang the clothes outside to dry!
I am NOT doing this to "save the enviroment"...I am doing this all to save my pocket-book!!!..lolol
I hear the Toronto garbage strike may be over? Didn't effect us in Etobicoke tho, they had already jobbed out to a private company, so we had pick-up all through the last 35-36 days. (do I pick where to live or what!) Apparently they are taking a vote today OR tomorrow and we will see....whatever they decide...they say the stored PILES in parks & parking lots may not be picked up until some time next week!!!!
I think I have run outta things to say.....(amazing I know),........so will hunt up a couple of recipes to share and toddle off to post some more places..... Have a great day everyone...see ya'll maybe after work.
Take care!
Be safe!
ciao!
Carol/CSW/cas
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Mexican Cheese Wreath


2 (8-ounce each) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 (8-ounce) package Kraft Mexican Style Shredded Cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped pitted ripe olives
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped red pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder

1. Beat cream cheese and shredded cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
   
2. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
   
3. Place drinking glass in center of serving platter. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of cheese mixture around glass, just touching outer edge of glass to form ring; smooth with spatula. Remove glass.
   
4. Garnish with additional parsley and red peppers, if desired.
   
5. Serve with assorted Nabisco Crackers and Stella D'Oro Breadsticks.
   

Makes 24 servings.
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Aunt Emily's Soft Caramels


2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup Butter
1 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Butter a 13 x 9-inch pan; set aside. Combine all ingredients except vanilla in heavy 4-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil (15 to 20 minutes). Continue cooking, until candy thermometer reaches 244°F or small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms a firm ball (about 25 to 30 minutes).
   
2. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Cool completely. Cut into 1 1/2 x 1-inch pieces; wrap candies. Store refrigerated.
   

Makes 6 dozen caramels
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Easy Fiesta Christmas Tree


1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
Yellow or green bell pepper
1 (2-inch) piece green onion
1/4 cup Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1/4 cup apricot preserves or orange marmalade
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
Assorted tortilla chips, crackers or sliced vegetables, if desired

1. Cut block of cream cheese diagonally in half; arrange on serving plate with shallow rim to form triangle.
   

Cut star out of bell pepper with star-shaped cookie cutter; place at top of tree.

1. Place green onion piece at base of tree.
   
2. Mix salsa and preserves; spoon over cream cheese. Sprinkle with cilantro.
   
3. Serve with tortilla chips.
   

Makes 8 servings.
Special Touch Tip:
Add presents to your tree when you arrange small crackers at the base of the spread.
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Pork Piccata


1 whole pork tenderloin
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons lemon pepper
2 teaspoons butter
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 to 6 thin slices lemon
4 tablespoons capers, drained

1. Slice tenderloin into 8 equal pieces, flatten each piece gently to a cutlet 1/8-inch thick. Dust cutlets lightly with flour, sprinkle with lemon pepper.
   
2. Melt butter in nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Quickly sauté cutlets, turning once, until golden brown, about 7 to 8 minutes total.
   
3. Add wine add sherry and lemon juice to skillet; shake pan gently and cook 2 minutes, until sauce is slightly thickened.
   
4. Serve garnished with lemon slices and capers.
   

Serves 4.
Wine Suggestion: For white, try a dry Sauvignon Blanc; for a red open a medium-bodied red such as a Sangiovese from Italy or California.



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Assembled by Sandra [/center]
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Assembled by SandraN [/center]

Wow girl, I love the recipes, love them, love them, love them.

Good Morning Peeeeeeeeeeeps!
Here I am!....Wish I was There>>>>>That's all that seems to be missing from this beach pic!....lolol
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Thought for the Day:
The door to a friend's heart can only be opened from the inside.
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Home today!.....alone! Shipped dh off with his brother & his "so".....The day is mine & Harleys!.......yeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw!
Not gonna be a lot going on around here..hafta go for a loaf of bread so that means I hafta get dressed.....crap! IF I am lucky....they won't be back until about 8 or 9 tonight so I can even ESCAPE cooking supper!
Works for me!
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Now for my rant!

Our "experience" yesterday at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) was NOT a good one...wish we had of stayed home. Mothers with damn strollars were the biggest obsticle, second were people standing with no apparent purpose.....just blocking the places to walk and thirdly was the lack of "Exhibition things", & fourth were the prices.

Most significant price gouge was: 1 roasted cob of corn & a 12-ounce fountain drink was $6.50!!!!!

1 dozen "Tiny Tom" donuts was $5.00.

A cardboard tray with 21 frozen french fries,(I counted them!).....was $2.09.(Paul was hungry so I fed him!..lolol)

1 bottle of diet coke was $3.00 plus tax(think it was the 500ml size)

There was NO Domestic Science of any sort(preserves, canning, baking, needlework...that kind of thing)

We saw maybe 12 cows, about 10 pigs/2 of which had piglets & 1 was in a farrowing pen~due to deliver, 1 "maybe quarterhorse", (lovely sorrel color), a pony with a foal, 1 clydesdale with foal, a few goats, a few sheep, 2 ostrich<<(sp),2 llamas, & 5 alpacas<<(sp). 16 chickens (8 brown & 8 white) that "came with" 12 eggs!(someone wasn't "putting out")..lolol, 19 turkeys....starting from 2 weeks of age up to what would fill yer oven at Thanksgiving!(4 stages)

That was the livestock!

There "had been" a horse show BUT they "do it" before the Ex opens!!!!

......................what's up with that?

There was however...at least 15 or more vendors selling socks & underwear, The Brick had a furniture/appliance HUGE booth, Bad Boy Furniture store had another HUGE booth and there was maybe 100 venders selling "cheap yellow/tarnished" jewerly, head wear of various products.

I would suggest that you could have a far better time IF you went to your local flea market this weekend.....& it wouldn't cost you near as much, plus there likely would not be a fee to park your vehicle.

The cost to get into the ex yesterday was $1.75 each..(Today & everyday until the CNE closes on Labour Day, is $15.00 per person. IF you go after 5 p.m.(someone said).....it then costs $5.00 admittance) ...Cost us a total of $7.00 for bus & streetcar fares...

Think I spent in all....around $30.

We did not drop any money in the arcade area OR the rides. That does not interest either of us. We suspect the games are rigged like most carnivals.

We left home around 2:00 and got back just minutes before 10:00....
We could of stayed home and watched "our Friday night television programming"!...lolol

There was NOT a single free sample of ANYTHING!!!!!!!

Live & learn, right?
Anyway....I have nagged enough about this....
Have a great weekend.
See ya!

Carol/CSW/cas
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Sunshine Carrot Salad2 C shredded carrots
1/3 C mayonnaise - I use non-fat
1/3 C sour cream - I use non-fat
2-3 T orange juice concentrate (not diluted)
1-2 T brown sugar (to taste)
1/3 C sultanas (golden raisins)
3 T chopped chives

Mix well to blend and refrigerate several hours
Sprinkle chopped candied walnuts or pecans over the top before serving if desired -- they add a lot to the salad!
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COCA COLA BARBECUE SAUCE
Cook 1 chopped onion and 2 chopped cloves garlic in 2 tablespoons butter until soft.
Add: 2 c. catsup
6 oz. Coke
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Mustard
2 tbsp. Vinegar

Simmer 1 hour or until thick.
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CROCKPOT ROAST
3-4 lb. roast, cheap cut
1 bottle ketchup
1 can Coke
1 pkg. onion soup

Put on low for 48 hours. If you want it thicker, when done add flour and water. Put on buns, potatoes or bread.
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CROCK POT SPARERIBS
2 to 3 lbs. country style spareribs (pork), fresh or frozen
1 c. ketchup
1 c. coke

Combine ketchup and cola. Place ribs in crock pot. Pour mixture over ribs. Cook 2 hours on high and at least 2 hours on low. May cook for several hours on low. Baste occasionally if desired. Serve with a side dish of cauliflower in cheese sauce.
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CHEESE CAKE BARS
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. corn flakes
1 (12 oz.) butterscotch chips
1/3 c. butter
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Melt chips and butter, mix together with crumbs and corn flakes. Put crumbs on bottom of 9x13 inch pan; save some for top. Mix together cream cheese, vanilla, egg, and condensed milk. Pour on crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

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Bon Appetite!

Boy don't you just hate that, I know exactly what you mean, you go expecting to see things (lots of things), and throw this handful of stuff at you and expect you to be greatful you paid to see it.
I would loved the flea market thing myself. LOL
Have a great day girl.

Assembled by SandraN [/center]

Sorry about the links not working..just google the words I have typed.....it will bring up what it is I wanted ya'll to see!

hummm your making me hungry LOL

Chef's Note:

1. Combine the spices with the oil and lemon juice;
2. Cut the chicken into cubes; combine with the marinade and let sit 5 minutes;
3. assemble the skewers; grill for 5 minutes, turning only once after 3 minutes; when done, the cooking juices from the chicken should be clear or a meat thermometer should register 77 °C (170 °F).
4. 
   Lasagna last night was delicious. There are 2 & 1/2 "small" pieces left of a tray that was 3'-deep x 12"-wide x 15"-long!
   The sauce was very mild and they had used ricotta cheese opposed to cottage cheese,(does make a huge difference),... and there also was meat in it. I have to be honest tho....I did heat up the last of a jar of sauce I had made up a few nights ago for our spaghetti, to pour over. It had mushrooms, black olives, tons of fresh chopped garlic & chopped onions in it. Regardless the meal was delish! Dessert was biscotti!...purchased also at the Bazaar!
   
   Who needs to spend money taking holidays with food like this readily available?...........lolol
   
   Okay...that is it...hafta go and "scrub" Harley~dogs head with the medicated shampoo....then the laundry! I also have some more clothes to sort & toss..(bagging them to go to a friend & IF she dun't want it..then Sally-Ann will get it....I presume!)..Also hafta to work double-duty today, because I never moved my arse from this chair yesterday.....except to tinkle & again at supper time!!!!! "Bad Carol"!...lolol
   
   Then we sat and watched the Womens' network last night to the tune of 3 movies until 11:30,... for 2 "Bridget Jones" movies and the first one which had the same actress along with Meryl Streep! Lazy moi!..lolol
   
   Have a great day everyone. I'll see ya'll around the boards!
   
   Take care.
   
   Be safe.
   
   Prayers to those in need.
   
   Ciao!

those are great thanks for sharing them

Thanks so much for sharing Love them

Wow.. lots of recipe, it makes me feel so hungry, I will add all the recipe in my list and try to cook it. thanks for sharing



Christmas Dinner Singapore

Well it's 2012, yeehaaaa brand new year, brand new opportunities

Thanks for the great recipes, I love the brussel sprouts and chestnuts, I just love brussel sprouts.