08/04/2012 Cookin' Seniors Chat

Good Morning:

Bob and the New Orleans guy went fishing but only caught one each and Bob's was undersize so he had to throw it back.  It will die anyway as the fish swallowed the hook too deeply.  But if he had been stopped with that fish he would have had a big fine.  So what do you do?

He brought home supper tonight anyway.  One of the little convenience stores near the boat launch has really good almost home cooked meals so he got some chicken strips and baked beans.  Better than fish cause I didn't have to cook it.

Thought of the Day-A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.~ from the chapter "The Ponds" in Walden

Today is National Mustard Day celebrating  the "King of the Condiments".

Mustard is a must have for hot dogs, sausages, and a wide range of sandwiches. Its an important ingredient in many recipes, too.

When it comes to condiments, Mustard is among the most popular. When it comes to longevity, mustard is unrivaled. It has literally been in use to spice up meals for thousands of years. To retain it's status, mustard has not stood still. Rather, it has diversified. It's not just yellow anymore. There's a growing selection, including Honey Mustard, Bold and Spicy, Sharp and Creamy, and of course Dijon Mustard. Take a trip to your refrigerator, and you will probably find two or three different types of mustard. A trip to the grocery store, will reveal even more selections.

Have a happy National Mustard Day.

 Waving to Lesia!!

Special hugs and prayers for Anne, Betty, Merle, Sherry and Odell, Cilla, Cats, and Sally and Colleen.

And Don’t Forget the basket!! Keep it full of extra hugs and prayers for all that need them!!

Remember the group prayer! “Heavenly Father, we ask that you watch over and care for all Cookin’ Seniors and those they love as they go about their day!!

Hugs

Zora

Brenda and Cilla-Salt on a watermelon must be another of those Southern things.  I agree Salt does belong on a watermelon and a cantaloupe!

Tippy-You are outvoted on the salt on the watermelon.

Brenda-Thanks for posting the chart for AnnB.  Teddy Bear, our Chow that got car sick, was full grown so I think we gave him a half tablet, but it was 25 years ago and I had forgotten the amount the vet told us. 

Sandy-Yep you did read the right price.  I get Sarah Lee or Nature Made Honey Wheat.  I can get it at Sam's cheaper but I hate to go to Sam since I always spend way to much when I go.  I may have to check out the store brand if it keeps going up.

Rosie-With food prices the way they are under the bridge is starting to look more and more like home.

AnnB-I hope the chart Brenda posted helps. The midnight rainbow sounds beautiful.

Beverly-*Grin*

Egee-Bob heard you mention Sausage Gravy and I think he is on his way to see you.

NanB-Sorry I lose days all the time too! LOL

Tippy-Bob doesn't think a tomato sandwich is a real sandwich either.

Cilla-Hope Sis makes it down!!

Night all and Hugs

Zora

This siggy is for you Nancy B to help you get the day right LOL

I think we all get the day wrong now and again.

Good morning all not sure whats going on on this site the post above I did hit the post button went to the bathroom, came back and was on another site and no post.

Zora I am not a mustard lover but ours is different to yours, have tried a few others.

I had a busy day yesterday but got it done and found time for a nap.This afternoon we hope to go to a summer fayre at the local hospic butits raining at the moment so will wait and see.

Annb how lovely to see that rainbow.

Ann your db is lucky to have you to help him, a hug for you.

Tippy the youngs ones cant keep up with us that are a little older.LOL

Good Morning Everyone,

My DD and SIL are visiting me for a few days.   We went out to eat last night, had broiled scallops, which were overcooked and tough!   Then, my SIL finished his dinner, my daughter finished hers, but I was still eating, and the waitress came over and said "Would you like to order your dessert now?"   I asked her if I looked like I was ready to order dessert.    The restaurant wasn't full, no one was waiting for our table.   When I finally finished, she took her sweet time in coming back...but I had the last laugh, I undertipped her...motto of the story....never get the tipper mad at you!    It must be the heat, I find my fuse is getting shorter with every 90 degree day!

Today I'm going to a 50th Wedding Anniversary party,  leaving my DD who has invited a friend over for the day, with  home made spaghetti sauce, salad ingredients, and Italian bread...they are on their own.

Margaret, hope the rain doesn't spoil your day.    How the farmers over here would love some of that rain!

I hear them stirring, so I better get off and start breakfast....Have a great day everyone,

Mabel

Good morning! 

Finally woke up at my normal time; finally Sammie is over the antibiotic capsules that Marti and I had to go give her at 7 every morning; finally I can bring Sammie up here when I want….it is a good day!  If nobody will be using the cave before the cleaning crew gets there let me know – I left some fresh fruit on the counter.

Zora, add me to the salt on the melon category.  Brings out the sweetness of the melon.  Got a big ole half in the fridge to cut up…having fruit cups tonight with our shrimp rolls, so will probably do it then.  I buy the halves because of size, and because I can see inside that way. 

Margaret, LOL, you are so funny.  I’m sure NanB will appreciate your help.  If it wasn’t for my pill box I would need you too.  So did you get your bread made yesterday?  Just made me drool thinking of it.  Hope the rain went away so you could go to the fair.

Cilla, sorry your sister is sick but boy will I be the first in line for her portion of the watermelon! 

Tippy, laughing at the young couple.   Still laughing picturing Rich driving home with that load of watermelon.  Too funny.  Well if I haven’t seen the effects of the groceries yet, we are in big trouble.  I will have to pretend we are just married and go back to using scraps.  Unfortunately, what is getting the farmers is also getting the home growers, as you well know.  I got maybe 5 puny tomatoes this year, no peppers, the herbs melted.  Worry about the animals too, the wild ones and the domesticates that depend on grain and hay (read our donkeys).  Don’t you be touchin’ my peaches…those will be cobblers before today ends and cooling in the freezer.  I am aghast that the police chief said that…I feel for you losing your beautiful and peaceful spot.  I keep hoping we are ok at least for awhile before the urban sprawl gets to us…

Penny, don’t walk across my street for watermelon if you decide to try it…mine all mine!!  Poor DH, he must hate those blasted pills.  Come for supper tonight, fresh Gulf shrimp, caught wild.  Just taste so much better than the farm raised.  I won’t buy farm raised for anything even if the spices are heavy.  I am going to make them into shrimp rolls – like lobster rolls but with shrimp.  Fruit and chips and we are done!

NanB, I think you should expect your son today according to Margaret and my pillbox – grin. 

Ann, I don’t think it has anything to do with citizenship (ok I do but I’m trying to be tolerant) we have plenty of those, along with the Q-tips, the teenagers, and the “been on the river drinking beer all day” tourists.  If they haven’t been drinking they are trying to navigate in a strange city (simple – go straight and when you hit the interstate turn left or right).  Glad you got through unscathed.  You are a good sister.

AnnB, closed my eyes after reading your description and could just see it, how absolutely marvelous and what a special gift God gave you…between you and Trish I am about to pack up and head back to NM.  She is at the cabin and sending me pictures, talking about the cool temps, the thunder in the distance, the hummers and woodpeckers.  We had chicken fried steak dinner on Wednesday.  We call it Hallelujah Steak because when Scott asked what’s for dinner and I say CFS, he hollers Hallelujah!!  Can you tell it is his favorite ?  Whooohoooo on the rain you have gotten!  Poor Ranger, I think about your theory on his early life with a trucker.  How miserable he must have been.  Sweet thing.  Here the lots of 5-20 acres are called “acreage”.  More than a city lot, less than ranchland – probably ranchland divided in most cases.  We are in a subdivision and have 10 acres.  Plenty for what we wanted – privacy without being remote.

Brenda, thanks for the list, someone went to a lot of trouble to compile it.  I agree about the seeds – just wiping my chin is enough fun.  Walt has done the repair, but this time something broke and he couldn’t get to it.  This is the teeny little full bath on the main level, you can take care of everything at once it is so small.  So many times the restaurants give you so much that you have enough for a couple of meals if not more from one meal.  The place that serves my beloved chicken livers make me three meals plus Marti a couple of “kibble enhancers” from one of their meals. 

Egee, no reason for you to clean the bathroom every week, we can take turns.  I left it sparkling for the next person…if it stays vacant you might spiff it up next week.  I used to buy fresh flowers at the grocery store – I need to do that again.  Always split them between the bathrooms.  The florist at our new store is out of the way, the old store I had to walk through it.  Oh yum nothing like it, with a batch of biscuits.  So what won for activities today?

Sandy, you can be whichever you want…you is a tweener.   Play the role that is most advantageous at any given moment. 

Beverly, I have been unable to abide noise for a long time…not fun when you live with two deaf men… especially when one loves the idiots on Fox News yelling at each other.  Loved the joke.  Saw the little puppy cup on Pinterest, and loved it.  Puppy would be cat food however.

See what happens when I wake up around 5:00 like I should do….I have time to chat before the day crashes into my life.  Wish I could do it every morning!  Today holds nothing at all either, so it is a double bonus.  Might get into the kitchen for a bit…try a couple of more recipes…might just go back to bed for a while.  

Whatever your day holds I hope it is great – hugs and prayers to each of you, because YOU are loved!

Will leave you with this gem I have passed many times on the way to Fredericksburg.  The road I travel makes a single car driveway look like an interstate (just my kind of place).  I have passed this “backroad whisper” many times and wished I had stopped for a picture.  Yesterday I thought about it BEFORE I got there and stopped in the middle of the road and snapped the picture.  There is another building close to it I wanted too, but would you believe a pickup truck was coming up from behind me.  I thought I was the only one that every traveled this road….probably the only two vehicles down the road that day.  So the other building will wait for the next time.  Yes, I said dirty words.

Thanks, Margaret, for the siggie.  I need all the help I can get.

Hey, Zora, I grew up in Illinois, and have always put salt on watermelon, cantelope, and even on bananas at one time.

New people moved into the house next door - it is now a rental, so I put some peaches on their steps yesterday.  The car in the driveway has an Okla license so they have come a long way.  Perhaps he or they are joining the Bradley Univ. faculty.  My house sits on a corner lot and the lot next to it is my yard so there is no feeling of being crowded.

It will be over 90 again today  with MAYBE a shower.  NanB

Mabel, enjoy the party - we want a full report on what was served, what everyone was wearing,  what gifts were there, etc.    I'm with you on the heat making the temper short....I snarl more than smile these days. 

I still consider a tip as my appreciation or lack thereof of customer service.  I always tip, but I don't always tip the same percentage.  I tip heavier at frequently visited restaurants where they get to know you; ask for a waiter by name if he/she has given good service; always tip the person at the "free breakast" buffet and maids daily at hotels; but have no qualms about holding back if I feel the need.   Marti's groomer gets a 25% tip mainly because she is good, but also because it ensures Marti is taken good care of when I am not there.    Well I didn't mean to make that a dissertation on my tipping habits, but there you have it.  It was supposed to come out as support of undertipping the rude waitress.

Good Morning all.

Afraid it’s going to be a scorcher again.

Nan I think I lost a day too this week. Could it have been Tuesday?  Yep that was it I think.

Thanks Zora for starting our day and Margaret to have her smiling face here too.  I am barely awake and your already halfway though your day.  Wow.

Zora I love mustard but as I am older (who me?)

 I now go to the milder one. I found the honey mustard French’s and it is delish.

 I can go the extra dab and no tummy pain.

A little salt for me too on watermelon. Don’t eat them much anymore but when I do it has to have salt.

A tomato can definitely make a sandwich. All on its own. No meat needed

On white bread, wheat bread, rye bread, pumpernickel, well bread.....

This how I remember the day most of the time unless something gets me off my starting pin.

Tippy I will have you know I have not been to a Wal Mart for almost a year. 

Last time there I only bought one piddly item and it broke the next week.  Grrr.

Got to go check my notes if I can find them

Oh yes Rosie.  I hear the talking (ha) I should say yelling over one another on Fox too.  In fact here DH yells right along with them    

Here is how I know what day it is.

My favorite coffee cup got broke last week so back to an old standby.

SANDY~~That cup made me miss my grandpa. He always drank out of one like that and one other cup that I now have in my collection.

Ummmm, I don't see anything on that Day Planner....Don't you have any plans for today?  Come see me and we can get into trouble.....I mean find something to do. 'grin' One thing we can do is zoom past walmart. LOL  I'm proud of you SANDY. ha.  I know my own personal little boycot isn't making a dent but it at least makes me feel like I stand for what I believe in. That I do well.

ZORA~~I do love mustard but it's on my 'Allergin List'. It gives me a migraine but I'm telling you that sometimes I get so hungry for it that I eat it and then take my migraine medication. I still get a headache but not a doozey like I used to since I can catch it right away.

Ummmm, I'm starting to feel as though I were salt deprived growing up. ha. All of you eating salt on things that I leave 'naked'. Even bananas? Now I'm really intrigued.  I know my grandpa used to put pepper on cheese and I thought that was unusual.

Just as a side note: I realized that you really have to read back what you type here. I almost wrote that I eat my bananas 'naked' and that my grandpa cut the cheese.  I went back and retyped because I just know how some of your brains work (BEVERLY and ROSIE)

Okay, back to chatting.

ROSIE~~Gorgeous shot of the old building. Oh, you know how I loved those Painted Churches. We drove past an old church on our week of wandering over our anniversary and Rich pointed out a beautiful old church and mentioned that it would make a beautiful Painted Church.

Good news on Sammie!

Snickering about Scott and his Chicken fried steak. I can hear him say it.

One good thing about being old enough to know what it's like to do without is that if things got tough we would be able to make it. I already know how to do without salt on my fruit. Aren't you proud?

For those of you with DHs who cannot hear, I join that group. TV not only blarring but he is channel hopper and it drives me crazy. I just go off into my craft room and sit and watch my little old tv most times.

NM and Arizona are on my bucket list yet. I want to go soon enough that I'm still able to do something crazy at the Grand Canyon, like ride a donkey.

MARGARET~~Always nice to find time for a nap. Yup, my young friend laid her head on her hubby's shoulder and slept almost all the way home from Milwaukee too.

MABEL~~I waitressed for years and believe (totally) in tipping at your own discrection. Even when I waited on a table and did a good job and they happened to be a family with little children or an elderly couple I never "expected" the average tip. You should treat them JUST as good (if not better) than anyone else you wait on. My service should be consistant and excellent no matter what.  I do know that there are little things that can happen that I just overlook with a waitress but since I WAS one I know how important it is to do your job well.

It's a big soapbox for me having been on both sides. I worked with lazy people who should never have been in the business. A waitress doesn't make much for hourly wages, at least around here, and they need to step it up to make up for the difference. Earn it, is what I'm trying to say.

I do feel sorry for the ones working the buffets and early morning shifts and tend to tip heavy on those since the 15-20% of a breakfast doesn't come close to what they even need to make to reach Hourly Wage Grade.

That being said, I never worried about how much I was tipped. Just did my job the way I would want someone to treat me and it all worked out. It was hard work but actually one of my favorite jobs in my lifetime.

And MABEL~~You have a whole nicer way of leaving someone to be "on their own" than I do. LOL

NANCY B~~Any houses available to rent next to you yet? ROSIE won't share her peaches and I think being your neighbor might just be a good thing. 'grin'

Actually I think you would make a great neighbor even without the peaches.

I have  list of new foods at the State Fair this year and will post some of them later. Can't believe that they keep coming up with new (gross) stuff and people actually eat/try it.

I'll save that for later. I need to find some breakfast and get something done before hubby gets home from work.

TTFN~

Tippy  

Zora, mustard is a must- ard with hot dogs for sure!

Margaret: You put on such cute siggys!

Tippy: I sometimes find it amazing when DD and I do something outside and, when we come in, I have to do some work inside and DD goes to take a nap! Do young people just not have as much endurance as us older ones?........Say, if you are afraid of heights you don't want to ride a mule down into the Grand Canyon! That trail is steep and narrow and, if you go on that trip, take some heart meds!.........Speaking of funny foods, how about the Jalapeno Ice Cream we saw at the Sonic yesterday?..........Our State Fair is coming up and there are vendors pulling out of it because they have been told they HAVE to raise their prices because the city has contracted with a commercial vendor and they don't want them undercut. One vender sells a large burrito for $5 and was told he had to charge $8. It gets bad when you are told you HAVE to charge something for what you sell!......I think you would enjoy living in our area. If anybody moves in 20 acres away, it feels "crowded"!.........Yes, I did ask Ranger's vet about his motion sickness first of all and he told me to pick up some Dramamine at the pharmacy. He said to ask the pharmacist for the dosage and, when I did, she just looked blank. So Brenda's chart is a BIG help.

Mabel: Your DD should help cook anyway!

Rose: Yes, I will always cherish the memory of that 'Midnight Rainbow'!..........I like Scott's name for Chicken Fried Steak! That is a good name for us to use too as I don't fix it often on account of being fried, which is a no-no for diabetics...........I have been wondering if that 'trucker' dumped Ranger out deliberately because of his motion sickness. That would certain account for his aversion to getting in the car to go somewhere, although he is gradually getting better as he sees he always comes home with us. We don't take any chances though and always put a leash on him if we are going anywhere where he will need to take a walk ouside.

NanB: That was so nice of you to put peaches on your new neigbor's doorstep!

Penny: I could use some of those pills of your DH's if they help you sleep! This full moon has had me wakeful.

Sandy: I have a cup just like that! It belonged to my mother. I think she got it out of a box of cereal many years ago.

Oh, oh, it is time for me to leave for my fire meeting.

AnnB

My new neighbors and I are friends now.  They thanked me for the peaches so my son and I traded introductions and info.  She is a 3rd grade teacher and he works for a company that does stuff for Caterpillar - my son immediately recognized that place and sez the guy has a good job and is educated.  They have a boxer named Duke, who is very laid back.   He got 3 biscuits out of me! 

How come weeds grow and grass doesn't?  NanB

I'm back. Breakfast was yummy and I'm good to go.

ANN B~~That's probably the way it goes for a lot of the vendors. Prices were pretty much uniform all over the fairgrounds.  Very expensive. We ate supper on the way home at a family diner. I don't know how those three could eat any more. They ate all day long. Started out as soon as we got there with cream puffs and went on from there.

Because of my food issues it spared me the gut ache of overeating but I did feel a bit cheated to be at State Fair and not be able to enjoy eating my way through the fair.

Okay. Drum roll please. This it only the NEW foods that were introduced at the WI. State Fair for this year.  (Rich got a print-out from an information booth)

1. Deep fried Won Ton filled with chicken, cream cheese, pepper jack cheese and jalapenos

2. Deep friend bacon wrapped tator tots  and at the same place deep fried bacon wrapped sweet potatoes.

3. Deep fried pizza (huh?)

4. Deep fried Stuffing/Dressing

5. Deluxe Deep fried bacon wrapped cheddar stuffed hot dog

6. 'Fat Elvis' A peanut butter cup and bacon dipped in banana batter and deep fried.

This is one step above their 'plain Elvis' which is just the peanut butter cup dipped in banana batter and deep fried.

7. 'Firecracker Chicken' Chicken on a stick dipped in Mesquite Jalapeno cornbread batter and deep fried. Um-um-um

8. Batter fried cheesecake on a stick

9. Rueben Brat which is dipped in Rye batter and deep fried. Served with thousand island. Now I think I would like this one if I were allowed to eat it.

10. Stuffed fish. I don't know with what. I'm just listing the new foods as they are printed out.

11. White chocolate covered cranberry cookies. Now I KNOW that I would like this one. May even try it with gluten free cranberry cookies sometime at home.

12. The corn dog took it up a step and they have listed an 18 inch corn dog under new foods. Next year they will probably top it with a 2 footer. LOL

That is a listing of the NEW foods for this year. Doesn't include the always popular Chocolate covered bacon on a stick which we saw plenty of people walking around eating. 

There was also SCOTCH EGG on a stick which I'm curious about.

Deep fried apple pies, Deep fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, deep fried maccaroni and cheese (gag), and tons of other stuff on a stick.

My diet was pretty boring that day. I had a good ol' WI. baked potato and a little later had a brat without a bun. That was it for me besides a lemonaid mid-day.

That's it for Fair foods for this year. 'grin

Tippy

Good afternoon, hot/humid once again, we did get some rain real early this morning, been cloudy all day.

Zora....nope, salt on melons not just a southern thing, only way to eat melons here is with salt, pepper on the cantaloupe as well.  I remember eating watermelon as a kid, always had the salt shaker on the table.  That's the way DH eats it.

Mabel.....good for you, gotta stand up for yourself!

Rosie....will gladly give you my share of the melons, course you may have to fight DH for it.  Now, that shrimp you're having for dinner tonight sounds out of this world delicious....save some for me!!!

NanB....glad you got the scoop on the new neighbor....LOL!

Sandy....loved the green coffee cup....neighbor lady used to serve me hot chocolate in it when I was a kid....ahhhh....good memories!!

Tippy....LOL....good thing you re-phrased those comments....count me in as having the twisted mind also.....tooooo funny!!  Oh yes, got the same thing here with DH & his hearing, he turns the TV up, I wait till he goes in the kitchen for something, he comes back in the family room & never even notices I have turned it down....hmmmm.....selective hearing!  Oh yes, he makes all the snide comments at the evening news as well...honestly, I just tune it out, just go on reading my paper or messing on the laptop.  He turned a conversation about the weather the other evening into politics & big business....good grief....couldn't believe it.  Just nod my head & say yes dear!!

AnnB....DH isn't happy about having to take those blasted pills, but at least till he gets through this shoulder surgery they do help.

Been in the kitchen today, cut up apples for snacking & made a big ole bowl of chicken salad...sigh....lightened up version....less mayo & more celery....prefer the mayo.  Also been doing laundry & did some checkbook stuff.  Have no idea where we're going for dinner, hardly matters, I don't have to cook.

DD & Miss A coming for dinner tomorrow, got peaches, going to make a cobbler.

Hope everyone is having a good one, see ya later.

Pennybrown