For Today

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...it's sunny, but cold. (my window is dirty, think I'll go wash it)
I am thinking...when am I ever going to be finished cleaning.
I am thankful for...to have slept in a little today.
From the learning rooms...(if this applies)
From the kitchen...veal cutlets with mixed vegetables
I am wearing...my pjs.
I am creating...a mess at the moment, just sorting through some candles.
I am going...to return my library books
I am reading...my Canadian Scrapbooker
I am hoping...it gets warm enough for me to straighten my garden hose.
I am hearing...my cat complaining about the window being closed.
Around the house...I need to desperately hang some art on the walls.
One of my favorite things...that first cup of coffee
A few plans for the rest of the week:paint, visit my mom, bake a cheese cake.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...(add your picture here)

This meme is hosted by The Simple Woman's Day Book.

Foodie Friday

Missed Foodie Friday this week as well, so here it goes on Scrubbing floors Saturday. On many an occasion my sisters and brother and our kids and our spouses gather for special occasions or not so special. Sometimes the kids my three nieces who are close in age would visit with each other. My sister's daughter Jen is the eldest of the three girls and she would often set up a school room and be the teacher, "vocabulary improvement" would often be the topic. On one such occasion the word of the day was "constipated". Well for one of the younger of her students this was quite a mouth full and she just couldn't get it. So on her way out "the teacher" shortened it for her and said "remember today's word is "STUCK". Here's a recipe that ensures this never happens to you.

Six Week Bran Muffins

2c. all bran cereal
1 c. Crisco oil
5 tsp. Baking soda
3 c. sugar
1 quart Buttermilk
5c. flour
2tsp. salt
4eggs
1 c. raisins
Add all dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, and oil. Mix well (don’t beat)
Store in covered container in fridge until ready to bake (as long as six weeks). Bake @ 400 degrees F. for 20 min. in well greased muffin tin.

Makes 4 doz.

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man... I eats my spinach

My youngest son (we'll call him S. Vincent) loves to eat his lunch out at school by Thurs, he's had enough. I swear pizza is flowing through his veins. Anyway he always talks about Popeye' I'm thinking when did we ever see Popeye eat shrimp or chicken it was spinach. So here's my inspiration for POPEYE's healthy menu. Fat chance. I've never eaten at |Popeye's and I probably will never, since I have such issues with eating fast food chicken, but bom appetit.

Red Pepper Chicken with Spinach and Pine Nuts

This my adaptation of a recipe from Guiliano Bugiallis crunchy and colourful “Calamari in Zimino, squid with spinach, (I don’t do squid, but I love spinach) the recipe also calls for the use of olive oil, well if you watch Dr. Oz you know that when you heat olive oil it becomes a trans fat, not to mention that I don’t care for the smell of hot olive oil. I use my olive oil to dip the bread, I’m not suppose to be eating and to toss the salad.

4 boneless/skinless chicken breast, cut into strips

Mix together the following and marinade the chicken

½ c. white wine

2 tbs. paprika

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

¼ -1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 ½ lbs. spinach cooked and squeezed out.

In a wide skillet or wok, heat oil, add chicken and marinade and stir fry 3 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

3tbsp. oil

2 small onions, chopped

2 carrots*, chopped

1 red pepper chopped

½ c. pine nuts

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice*

Sauté onions, carrots and red pepper for 2 min. add chicken and spinach, and pine nuts, stir fry for 3-4 min. to blend.

*I didn’t care for the carrots in this so I replaced them with ½ lb. chopped mushrooms, these need to sauté a little longer, so delay adding the red pepper, pine nuts and spinach until they are cooked to desired doness. When this has all been combined squeeze out the lemon on top (did you know you get more vitamin bang for your buck when you add a citrus to the spinach, more iron absorption, I think)

Serve with buttered noodles and parmesan cheese. Or creamy risotto. Yummy.

See no fried chicken or shrimp in a basket.

Cherry Cream Crown

2 pkgs. Lady Fingers,
1/4c.(or more) brandy or cherry brandy, or any liqueur you like
(I like to use amaretto)
8oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. sugar
1 pint whipping cream (2c.) before it's whipped.
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tin cherry pie filling

Brush Lady Fingers with brandy. Line the sides of a 9" spring form pan with the lady fingers facing out towards the pan.(If you think you'd like a crust on the bottom, and you have enough cookies place the brushed cookies to make a bottom layer, it will not fill it entirely because the pan is round, but it looks very nice when you cut your slices and you have these lovely little surprises throughout, but this is optional.)

Beat whipping cream with vanilla until firm, set aside. In another bowl beat cream cheese, sugar until smooth, fold in whip cream mixture. Spread 1/2 the mixture inside the lady fingers, top with lady fingers and spread remaining mixture over. Refrigerate, for 24hrs if possible, but at least 4hrs. Spread cherry pie filling just before serving. Refrigerate any leftover, which there will not be any. Enjoy.

*P.S. If you decided to put cookies on the bottom, try to arrange the middle layer of cookies in a different direction it give the slice of cake a marble effect, very pleasing. DO NOT REMOVE RIM FROM PAN UNTIL YOUR CHERRY PIE FILLING IS ON TOP AND IT TOO HAS BEEN REFRIGERATED FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR.
My sister-in-law always says her cookies fall away from the cake, I have never had that happen to me, but if for some reason you feel this might, (could happen if you take the cake out of the fridge too soon.) tie a ribbon around the cake an then cut. My kids always love that part, they want me to tie a licorice string around so they can eat it. But they are weird.

P.P.S. I don't have a photo of this cake it is never around long enough for me to focus.

Mellow Yellow Monday, Lemon Spaghetti, Yummy

It's Mellow Yellow Monday in the kitchen as well, you can tell I'm thinking of my weight, (Mushrooms in my Irene's Desk post, and spahetti in my kitchen) truth be told we eat little pasta these days, my pasta kid moved away to school and hasn't come home very often, I make pasta only when I'm lonely for him, (which is always) but I'm getting better at controlling the pasta diet. Anyway this is a favorite of his and mine around this time of year, when I think we might be getting scurvy because of the long winter. (another thing my pasta kid worried about)

This recipe is from the foodnetwork, by Giada De Lorentas (isn't she beautiful)

Ingredients

* 1 pound spaghetti
* 2/3 cup olive oil
* 2/3 cup grated Parmesan
* 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon lemon zest
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.