Our Shopping Trip

I just hung up the phone with my Mom when I felt amazed at this woman! Earlier in the week, she asked me if I would take her shopping for some summer shoes and I told her I would. Mom has not driven for a few years now due limited eye sight and Dad is no shopper. So, this morning I phoned her and said,"How would you like to go buy those summer shoes?" Her immediate answer was, "Well, if you are too busy, I don't want to go...but..." "No, I am not too busy," I answered. She hesitated and then replied that she didn't want to keep me from doing what I had to do. I went on to tell her that today is actually a really good day to go and that I had even found some coupons for both Herberger's and Penney's in today's paper. So, she agreed to go.

She chose the time, 1:00 pm because I wanted her to go when it worked out best for her, although she was reluctant to do that, too.

I am excited to take her & I know we will have a good time. I hope I remember to be more like her when I get to be her age and my daughters ask to take me shopping!

Pumpkin Cookies...Fun &YUM!

There is nothing greater than cooking with Kane. He is a trooper and keeps on going until the last cookie is baked, cooled, iced and decorated. And don't forget tasted.

"Julie and Julia"

Yesterday, Dale & I decided to celebrate our anniversary (8/19) with a movie & dinner. Well, I told my hubby that "Julie & Julia" were definitely on my movie list. He agreed...& off we went.
I was entertained through almost the entire film, afterall, it was about cooking & blogging.

I never doubted that Meryl Strep is one of the finest actresses around, but now I know it for sure. She had Julia Child to a "t!" And, the gal that played Julie was also very good, although right now I am having a senior moment!

After the movie, of course, I had to make my almost daily pit stop at the grocery store because I really don't like to plan much ahead, nor do I stock well anymore. It just seems like a waste of space in my fridge and cupboard. My thought is this: the grocery store can store things just as well as me & I am in town everyday. So, I grabbed a baquette, broccoli, gouda cheese and eggs. We had wine, cheese, bread, stir-fry veggies and steak on the grill. Absolutely delicious...!

We are in for a busy, fun-loving, week as we head to Sculpture Park (cheery & spoon site) for our sons wedding. It was wonderful to take the time to celebrate a little early!

Alicia's Avocado Salsa

This is quite delicious...& I did get permission from Alicia to post it here...thanks, Alicia!

Dice & put in bowl:
1/2 red onion
2 jalepenos
2 avocados

Add:
a smalll can of niblet corn
1/2 lime squeezed

Stir & serve with chips...Enjoy!

Note: I have successfully made 1/2 recipe, too.

Kale Laced Potatoes

I actually got the idea for this recipe from a blogger on WCCO website under "bite of minnesota." Heather, I believe, is linked to 101 Cookbooks & so, I adapted this recipe to fit my WW points...so I could eat more! It turned out quite good.

Kale Laced Potatoes

Partially peel & boil about 6 potatoes until about 2 minutes of boiling time remains. While the spuds are boiling, chop up 1/4 c red onion, 1-2 cloves of garlic and set aside. Also, rough chop the kale after removing all the stems. Add all the chopped veggies for the last 2-3 minutes of cook time & then drain all in colander. Put drained veggies in a bowl big enough to mash all adding milk, butter, sour cream or whatever else suits you. (I use fat free half & half because that does not interfere with my digestive system like milk does). Mash to your desired consistency, add salt & pepper to taste...it turns out quite pretty, too! Enjoy!

I do have a footnote to add...kale is in our weekly "garden box" delivered to us by our CSA gardener & I have been committed to using all veggies in order to experience food outside the box. Both Dale & I have been impressed and our taste buds are handling this quite well, too.

CSA, aka Community Supported Agriculture

Dale & I opted for a different gardening option this summer because our summer is so-o-o busy (but fun) and yesterday we picked up our 2nd bundle from our gardener buddy, Paul. It is fantastic...& keep in mind we only bought 1/2 share in his garden.

We received two kinds of spinach, leaf lettuce, head lettuce and spicy greens along with Lamb's Quarters. We also received a few radishes, garlic flowers, herbs, rhubarb and honey. We have decided not to cross over to eat the greens we think of as a weed, the Lamb's Quarters, also known as "pig weed." I am going to give them to one of my co-workers who will feed them to her Llamas.

He gives us a newletter along with our delivery of goods and it also contains a recipe or two. Yesteday's letter had a recipe for rhubarb scones, so my plan is to try that & if it is good, I'll post it here.

Paul is an adjunct Geography professor at BSU and just loves gardening, so he decided to turn a hobby into a money making hobby. And we are the benefactors of it!

So far, so good...who knows, we may decide to give up vegetable growing for good.

My New Favorite Drink

Okay, Gary, you do have a point...I haven't blogged for quite sometime, so here is a great new drink. At least it is new to me. The last time we were here at the cabin, we meet a new couple, Bea & Ken...they have a cabin right down the lake from us. She said to me while we were eating at the Emily bar..."please come to our cabin after you are done eating...I have this wonderful new drink to share with you." So, we did. Her recipe is:

1/3 glass of Jeremiah Weed's Sweet Tea Vodka
1/3 glass of Crystal Light Lemonade, & (you guessed it!)
1/3 glass of Sprite Zero
garnish with lemon, add ice.

I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I searched & searched & called & called but I was unable to locate Jeremiah Weed, but I did locate Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, & the taste and results were the same.

In fact, we are enjoying one right now. Enjoy!