HL Topic of the week 3/24 to 3/30 Spring Makeover for your Pantry!

Hi Jolene   it is me,,Shirley   just want to tell you that our Maple Festival that is always held the Thursday after Easter has been postponed until April 10th to April 13. Chardon Ohio  has had over 90 inches of snow and the ground is just too wet and unsafe for the rides and concessions.   I hope we have nice weather then but the way it is going , who knows.   take care and I love to read all the news in this group.....Shirley

Good Afternoon!

Dawn, I will have to check those books out too. I will return Miss Nancy's book next time I go over. I went over today to get everything ready for her but forgot to take the book. I need to copy a couple of the recipes from the back anyway- especially the "Heavenly Caramel Cake" but I think I have a caramel frosting recipe that is better than that one just by looking at the ingredients. :) 

I picked up some packages at the front desk for Miss Nancy(she is Christmas shopping already,lol)  and bought her a fresh qt. of milk and a small container of chicken salad- she has assorted frozen breads,biscuits and even bacon,  and I put a little of each into baggies and and transferred to the fridge so she is set should she be starved when she gets home. Plus, she has soups, and other foods as well. I know what she eats so hopefully she won't starve.lol  I am thinking her DS will be thoughtful enough to make sure she has a nutritious evening meal before he takes her home. She should be home about  5pm. The plane lands about 4.   Since housekeeping comes tomorrow to clean her appt., I think she will probably want to relax and rest up from the trip- may not need to help her until Friday. I will see when she calls today.

Dusta, thanks, I will remember that recipe. So, instead of milk, you sub in cream and use real butter. Sounds yummy. DH had another slice of the key lime pie a few minutes ago and I resisted. :)  I may have an itty bitty slice later after supper though. :)

Hi Debbie and Shirley!

Hugs,

~Muril~

Dusta,  we have not been to the shops by the water yet,  Actually haven't found it.  We did go the the Tangers Outlets, I had to have some clothes I left on the dresser at home.  Then we drove through another shopping place and Richard found a tool store to stop at.    We also drove down to the dam and saw how high the water was.     Would have liked to see the show at American Bandstand, but didn't have time.  Have you been to any of the magic shows there?

Dawn,  Yes,  I love garage sales for baby clothes,  When I can get name brand stuff or under $1 that's a bargain.  

Debbie

FINALLY!   Feel like I've been moving nonstop today.   Got Jake to school, then did errands and got Tim's dr appt moved up.   Picked Jake up from school.   Lunch.   Got Tim out the door to appt.   He has severe bronchitis, they gave him an antibiotic and an inhaler.   Said chances are, I have it too, since I have the same symptoms.  Yipee!    Jake has been a bear today, since I haven't been able to devote 100% of my time to hime.   Just sat him in front of a video, and I'm hoping that will keep him busy til bath/bedtime, I'm beat.

Debbie, good to have you back with us  :)   You deserved a nice getaway, I'm glad you could get away and now sending nice dry thoughts so you can get going in the field!    I bet David will do just fine with Gertie  :)  He's such a cute little thing.

Dawn, you weekends sounds nice  :)   LOL about cutting the grass, I do believe we have snow forecast for tomorrow night here.    Get anything good at the bookstore?   I'm zipping through DOUBLE CROSS (Paterson).   I like the Cross books, I think they are the only ones he writes by himself now.   Jake loved his basket, but didn't get out to ride his bike, it was too darn cold.

Jet, I'm so with you on the ham!    I ended up with a free 7lber, and there's tons left.   Will freeze about half, and we'll pick at the rest over the week.    Jelly beans were good, I got them at WM too, Jolly Rancher brand.   I love Jellybellys best, but they carry a nut warning, bleh.

Muril, I've never had Strawberry Rhubarb pie, but it always looks so good!   Will post the Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch next, Debbie is right, it is addictive though.   I've got about 6c of frozen rhubarb, FIL has a nice patch out back and he's great about sharing   :)   Boy, Miss Nancy is on the ball, shopping for Christmas already!

{{Jolene}}   Sorry about the snow!  We just finally got down to grass, but lots of places in NH still have 2ft on the ground.    That's awesome about the kids trying new fruits, I did that for myself last year, 1 new fruit or veggie a week.    Asian pears you really have to catch at the right time, same with star fruit.     Yep, he's got training wheels on his bike, he never showed any interest in a big wheel or a tricycle, so he's gone straight to a 2 wheeler.    I'm dreading skateboards and such   LOL

Dusta, LOL about packing up the winter clothes and it gets cold, I've always said that about me and sunglasses.   The minute I buy a pair, it rains for a week.    LOL     I love farmer's markets.   I am so glad that we live where we do, right between 2 or 3 big farm areas.    I love straight from the vine tomatoes, I can eat them like apples.    :)

SHIRLEY!  :)    So good to see you.   Sorry to hear your festival has been postponed, bummer.   Maybe because Easter was so early this year!    I like reading the producer's webpages, they say they've been out collecting, boiling etc.    Exciting!    :)  

 Ok, going to try and read for a few mins while Jake is occupied, after he goes to bed tonight I've got a bunch of laundry to fold.    


:)
Jolene

* Exported from MasterCook *

Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup cold butter or margarine (I use butter)
2 cups quick-cooking oats
6 cups sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb -- thawed
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (3-ounce) package strawberry gelatin
Vanilla ice cream -- optional

In a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in the oats. Press half into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish; top with rhubarb. In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over rhubarb. Sprinkle with gelatin powder. Top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350' for 40-45 minutes or until rhubarb is tender and topping is golden brown. Serve with ice cream if desired. 12 servings.

Source:
"2002 Taste of Home Annual Recipes"

Dar added this note, and I have it marked to try this year:

I had some frozen (whole) strawberries (2 cups) in the freezer so I sliced them and used semi-frozen and added 3 T. (sort of heaping) of Cornstarch instead of the 2 T.

It was runny while warm but today, Viola', it was DELICIOUS!!!!!!

DH raved about it. I think I'll continue to use the frozen strawberries in this recipe - I figure as long as it has Strawberry in the name, jello in the ingredients, may as well add the berry too! *G* LOL

Thanks for posting!

Dar

Morning everyone.    I stayed up way too late with Tim last night, teaching him how to use the inhaler they gave him, making him dinner.    People next door were super noisy this morning, woke me up around 5:45.    I'm expecting Jake up shortly.    No real plans for today, need to start doing some spring cleaning and organizing, especially since I've got the inlaws coming this weekend.   

Does anyone have any topics they'd like to see in the upcoming weeks?    I get several newsletters, plus I like to poke around the websites, would be happy to find info if there's something specific you'd like to see.

Here comes Jake.   Back later.

Jolene

 Good Morning!

Ya'll can slap me - we hit a low 30 degrees this morning, frost & everything. Had to scrape my windows on the car. Here I ws bragging about our 70 degree temps over the weekend.... 

Jolene - I"ll look around some of my  favorite sites & see if I can find any good articles for you. Sorry you were up so early, rude people can put you in a bad mood quick LOL!!!  We just did a lot of spring cleaning ourselves. Well, the throwing out part. Now I need to actually "clean". I"m hoping to take one room at a time so it's not overwhelming.

Muril ~ I hope Miss Nancy has a safe return trip. She'll be thrilled with you for stocking her kitchen :-)

Good morning to everyone

going to be a busy day here ~ lots to do before I leave friday, I"ll be off all next week then I move into my new office space when I get back. I'm ready for everything to get back to normal LOL!!  Have to go grocery shopping tonight so I've got to plan my menu, plus I need a few things to make ahead for dh while I"m gone.  

Hope everyone has a great day!!!

dawn 

Good morning. Chilly here today. As soon as the comissary open going to get something to make muffins, hope they have a small container of plain yogurt, don't have room for buttermilk.

Debbie the new shops are close to downtown. You go through the down twon area and you can see it. I don't know about during the week, but on the weekend they have a light and water show that is pretty. I walked down there with a woman when we were there last spring.It is just a bunch of shops like you see every place you go. Sort of ruined the old part of Branson, but that is progress.

Hi everyone and hope you all have a great day.

Good morning!!!!

Our office today REEKS like moth balls or plastic burning or something. It's giving me a headache.

Sounds like everyone had a good Easter! Ours was too busy like all the holidays. And for some reason we were all having a Grandpa day on my mom's side! LOL! So we kind of sat around and cried into our ham!

Drum roll please.....the wedding invites are in the mail! And I ordered 80lbs of BBQ pork so there is no turnin back now!! We also got all the tablecloths, napkins, dinner ware and most of the stuff for the centerpieces. I ended up getting my flowers at Hobby Lobby. Wasn't planning on having fake but I saw these and they were beautiful! They are purple tinted Cala lilys. Very pretty and match my colors perfectly. We got enough for the girls and to make the boutineers. My bouquet will be real flowers.

Waving to everyone! I thought work would slow down this week but it's not looking like it!

Jen

Thought you might like to read this, there are pictures, but I can't send pictures away from my area.

Forgot to get this one there, said they had looked on Snopes and it wasn't there. But I am leary of anything coming from China and had not looked to see where some of the foods were coming from.

Dottie's Newsletter that I received today had good info.

Hi Ladies

Woke to moe snow, at this point we have so much it will be June until spring gets here!!   Summer will hit in August, with fall starting in September!! 

Well - enough whining - we have most of the Easter candy gone, gave what was left to the kids to take to school,  found some strawberries in the store that looked good, will have them tonight .  Haven't exercised in weeks, was doing good, just lost my ambition,   Noah had a bad dream, so i've been up since 3:30, he fell back to sleep in my bed, then kind of pushed me out!!   When I finally started to sleep, DH came home. 

Dawn, hope you bring some warm weather with you, send some my way!!!!

Jolene K

Good Morning!

I have had B'fast and finished my cardio workout! Just checking in before showering and getting some errands run. I need to get the oil changed in my car today and also go to Wmart so DH will go also and we will leave my car while we go shopping- if they can do it today. Hope they aren't backed up. :)

Miss Nancy called and she was so excited by a box of cookies I had bought her that were on her little tray she eats on- I left a note saying "Welcome Home!" under them. :)  They are Cinnamon Almond Thins- thought she may like trying them because she loves the Ginger Thins in the same brand.  You would have thought I had bought her a diamond ring or something by her reaction. Aww. She is so appreciative.  She said it was like the North Pole coming home in the airports and on the planes. :(  Poor thing was thawing out. Her DS and DGD had made her a hot drink and unpacked all her stuff(big job there, believe me, I could NOT lift that suitcase! lol) and they had just left when she called me. :) 

Anyway, she is going to rest up today and wants me to come tomorrow and Friday. 

Jolene, Thanks for the recipe- looks Delicious and bet is taste even better than it looks! :)  I think you should be getting treated for your symtoms at the same time as Tim- without you the entire household would all crumble down. :)   I am somewhat interested in Face Yoga for a topic. I saw something on tv the other day about it- firms up the face and also good for stress and who doesn't need a natural face lift?  :) I have a book on hold from the library on it.

Dawn, I need to plan some menus today before heading out to Wmart. :) It is a never ending story isn't it? :)

Dusta, hope you find the yogurt. What kind of muffins are you making?

Jen, Yeah on getting the invites out! You look marvelous in the dress! Just MARVELOUS! :)

JoleneK, at least you don't have to mow yet...gotta wait on the Spring Thaw now. :)

Off to shower!

Hugs,

~Muril~

Going to pop in quickly and say hi!! We had bare grass, my bulbs were coming up, we had robins in the back yard and then last Friday we had a foot of snow.  May get another dumping at the end of the week. Hope it doesn't interfere with your travel plans Dawn! Where in Wisconsin are you coming?

Jolene, I make that Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch every year, it's fantastic. I have one rhubarb plant in the back and I use it to make that once or twice and unfortunately the rest goes to waste unless I give it away. One year I froze rhubarb and when I used it again, it was completely tasteless, so I'm a bit leary of freezing rhubarb.

 The wedding shower was on the 16th and it went very well, they got a lot of nice things. Tonight Katie and I are going to look for a dress for me.

Somebody here was reading Change of Heart. I am reading it now too, it's pretty good so far, but not absolutely grabbing me like My Sister's Keeper did.

Oh well, I really need to run!

Wendy

Muril I am making the same muffins I make all the time, the Oat Bran ones, just change the spices, brown or white sugar, and either honey or molasses. Gives them a different taste and they are on the healthy side.

Wendy I am reading Change of Heart, the first chapter got me interested and I like it, but I can put it down and come back to it, some I can't. I have read several chapters and it shoul pick up, hope so. I got it to read if we can't do anything because of the weather.