Thursday Happenings--not much

 I have felt a bit better tonight. I only had about 3 hours sleep last night and then 2 this afternoon. 

The Conchita pimientos will not get my seal of approval. It is bitter and nasty. I think being in a can is why it is bitter. However, once in pimiento and cheese, it was better, tolerable. Miracle Whip saved the taste. 

Today, I had a can of Diet Free Decaffeinated Coke that had been the house two days and in the refrierator for two days. It was flat. I had Tommy taste it and he declared it flat, too. This happens once in a while, not sure how a sealed can of Coke can be flat after being open for thirty seconds. 

Tommy improved the kitchen. The drawer for utensils has an holder that slides back into the drawer continually. I am not going to buy the liner to keep it where it belongs. So, I asked him to take on of the Planter's Peanut jars, tall and skinny, and place it at the back of the drawer. It works really well. So, I no longer have to keep pulling the drawer further out to get the utensil I want. I am so happy. 

Since I have been decluttering the counter between the sink and microwave. I took out two cups from the back near the microwave. My favorite hot chocolate cup had the handle broken in two pieces and in the cup. Did I forget about this? How did it get broken? Did Tommy do it? Who knows? But, it went straight into the trash. The other cup was a dish to eat soup, wide and with a handle. It is in the dishwasher. I have no idea why these were on the counter. But, they are not now. How is that for decluttering?!

Kraft Medium Cheddar Cheese Chunks were $1.80 + 10% at the Pig. So, I had Tommy go in and get two, making it $1.98 each. He came back and said that there were only 6 on the shelf, so he got all six. Why? He was already complaining that we have too much cheese. Well, we have plenty now. 

We went to Publix for his milk, my milk, bananas, and bread. 

In a few minutes, I will start freezing two slices of bread at a time, placing them in a freezer bag for the freezer. I did this years ago. Someone reminded me of this, so I will do this so as not to have bread get moldy. 

Dinner: Tommy had chicken thigh, salad, corn. I had last two hotdogs, salad, green beans. 

Did you ever keep something broken for no reason and discover it later? 

Does your utensil tray slide around in the drawer, making it difficult to reach a spoon?

Wednesday Ads

 Today, we went for Tommy's milk and Romaine for me, well, for both of us. But, I am the one who misses it. Of course, today is the day to get the ads. I only found one thing--Kraft Medium Cheddar Cheese, four chunks of 8 oz each, for for $10. At $2.50 each, that is the best price in a long time. So, we got four chunks. 

The farmer's market was within 30 minutes of closing, so we bought yellow squash for $5. I purchased a lemonade strawberry drink. It was delicious. Tommy hates lemonade, so I cannot induce him to try it, but that is just more for me. 

I am searching for someone to empty the freezer with Tommy and I helping to get it sorted. There are somethings that need to be tossed, bananas, for one. And, there are things we do not want. The turkey is too much for us to handle! There may be two. Even though they were dirt cheap, we will never buy another turkey. We cannot bend to get this all picked up. We have to get it done quickly and not rest or stop. 

There is one person who might help, but he is interested in me, and not in a nice way. I am not in for having "fun." I am not a carnival ride. So, Tommy does not want him around. He is not jealous, just does not like his attitude. 

Today, I received 10 of my 12 sets of wings but they are half finished. That is another thing I need--a carpenter with right saw. That is a good news/bad news situation. 

The Double Q Salmon is still not in. The raincheck is only good for 10 more days. 

The temperature will be 97 all week, so this is a normal summer for us! Of course, we take precautions so as not to become overheated and overexposed to the heat. The thoughts of going to Death Valley were completely forgotten after my heart complications. I need to cruise to a hospital not to Death Valley. It would probably just cool off before I arrived. 

I am trying strategies to get myself asleep earlier. Last night, I managed to sleep before 8 am. I will keep working on this.

It appears that upon further examination, that the Kraft Cheese deal is the only thing that interests us in the three store ads. Too bad. I need another bscb sale. 

We will cut the tiny watermelon tonight! Or else!

Dinner: We each had 1/4th of the ham slice. It was over 1/2 inch thick. Tomorrow night, we can eat the other for dinner. Tommy had two small pieces of potato. We both had a salad with the Romaine and the tomato from the guy sitting at his curb selling tomatoes I figured came from Finley's market. No matter, the tomato was summery delicious. We kept forgetting to buy salad, so I was desperate for salad greens. 

Any sales at stores in your area this week?

Cole Slaw Recipe and Two Other Hot Weather Recipes

 This is how I make it. I can barely type because this has been such a horrible day. Here goes. Do not expect measurements. Kim, I did this today for you.

shredded cabbage and carrots

big glop of Miracle Whip, about the size of two extra-large eggs

some yellow mustard about two tsps or what pleases you, more or less

sugar, maybe two tsps? more or less, Tommy likes this amount and I like less

1/4 or less of salt

two dashes of pepper from McCormick can

vinegar, 1 tsp of whatever type you like

I never make a dressing, just drop it all on top of cabbage/carrots, starting with mayo and ending with vinegar.

This is delicious when it is just made, so it does not have to sit to blend flavors like I see in some recipes.

I love red cabbage, but the slaw turns pink after it sits overnight. It appears to be spoiled to me. So, I try to buy the mix without red cabbage. Dole has lots of carrots, so I prefer that. 

The only reason I quit grating cabbage was because I injured my hand in my 40s and bought the mix after that. 

Another thing I do that does not affect taste. I put salt in first and then pepper so I know that if I see pepper, I have also salted. And, the vinegar is the last thing I put in so it is poured over the salt, pepper, and sugar. I think it blends better or maybe I am deluded. 

One more thing--dice a nice juicy tomato or more and put tomato and juice into the slaw and stir. I was grossed out when I saw slaw I had to eat with tomato in it, but it was delicious. I rarely do this, but it is good. I love to entertain and cook. However, it is hard on anyone. I really enjoy having prepared dishes. 

Two other things I serve. I hate both--sliced cantaloupe, not chunked, and just cantaloupe and a drained can of peas, cubes of cheese, grape tomatoes or diced, and MW or mayo. I don't/won't eat either cantaloupe or peas, but these are easy and colorful dishes for a table of things that call for a hot stove. I can make slaw, peas/cheese, and slice a cantaloupe in an hour. Or, I can make all three over the course of the day. The cheese might look unappetizing once it sits in mayo. But, oh well! Eat it! It's good for you!

If you use my recipe, let me know if you like it.

Tommy just arrived in a Lyft. I will explain tomorrow.

So sad that the submersible is lost along with five lives. 

When Was He Going To Tell Me?

Today, we had to get a prescription I must take. That is the only reason we left the house. I had plenty left but wanted to pick it up promptly. Tomorrow will be stormy, so I was afraid the pharmacy would blow away with my meds.

I had taken this nasty prescription beforehand, and every movement of the car sent my stomach into flip flops. I did survive but had to rush into the house. 

Today, I decided I would make something new with potatoes, ham, onions, cheese, and zucchini. It was in casserole form, sort off like potatoes au gratin. Tommy seemed to think we needed to start at 4 pm. At 6 pm, I said I was going to bed for an hour, to wake me. Well, he went to sleep in his chair. 

He had already peeled the potatoes but needed to wash zucchini and bring them to my chair. Sooo, I had to wait on that. I chopped the potatoes in dices and the ham similarly. He made the white sauce. I am a very good teacher. I forgot the cheese and onions for the casserole! 

This casserole evolved when I decided instead of cooking zucchini separately, I would just put the zucchini, so I would just have one dish.

It was still delicious. Tomorrow, I will sauté onions and put it in the last portion for Tommy along with cheese. I will eat some of the chicken/rice/cheese casserole.

Tommy did not like cheese in the chicken casserole. He said he does not like cheese with chicken. I never knew that. He does like it with ham. It is about time he told me. I am not that into casseroles, and we have had them two nights in a row. What gives? I love cheese on my chicken sandwiches. 

About 8 pm, I felt less icky and quit hurting all over. Of course, it is almost midnight and now I have to take another. At least I won't feel miserable during the night. I planned it that way. 

Down the street there is a beautiful tree thick with small white flowers, about 3" across. It looks like a tulip tree but white. The tree shape is unusual because a bigger tree was being cut and fell on the flowering tree. So, it is hard to tell what it might be, at least for me. I have not gotten out of the car to see the exact flower shape or see if it has a scent. 

Have you ever had someone wait a very long time to tell you that the someone did not like a certain food or combination? I knew he hated eggs or boiled eggs in anything where he could see them. And, he will not touch a banana. But, no cheese near chicken? At least I know.

Scaring Myself

 When we went to a food giveaway, I was helping Tommy bring things in because he had too much to carry. I had an orange plastic bag with 12 tiny cartons of orange juice and two one-pound blocks of cheese. I stood at the freezer door of the refrigerator, stuffing little 4-ounce cartons of frozen juice into crevices of the over-stuffed space. 

I put in all I could was ready to put the cheese and the rest of the cartons of oj into the refrigerator. As I tried to close the freezer door, it was stopped by some barrier. In order to figure it out, I turned and sort of swung the bag to the stove which is right next to the refrigerator. 

Within 5 seconds, I heard popping and sputtering. I immediately turned to see flames and smoke from the bag. Obviously, the eye had been on for several hours. I snatched the bag off, scattering the remaining oj all over the kitchen along with the bag with a burned hole. 

As I snatched the bag off the burner, I could see the two one-pound chunks of cheese were on the burner still! I quickly pushed them off the burner and onto the counter. Some of the plastic cover on the cheese and a layer of cheese continued to sizzle and bubble on the hot stove eye. I turned off the stove at some point, but the electric eye still was too hot to get anything off the eye, so it continued to melt cheese and the heavy package of cheese stuck to it. 

All this took less than ten seconds, much longer than the telling. I watched our house fully engulfed when I was four, and fire scares me. It took an hour for my elevated pulse to calm down to normal.

Tommy wondered what the smell was as he came in the door. He said he could not imagine it was a smell from scrambling three eggs before we left. When Tommy went into the kitchen to see what happened, he said the stove was still on but at an extremely low temp. 

The kitchen has little light and this stove has the knobs on the front of the stove on a little ledge just below the top of the stove in front. The stove has been here since 1980 when he bought the house. 

My solution--I will paint a dab of nail polish on the "off" mark on each knob. I should be able to see that. Usually, I have to bend to see the writing on the knobs. 

We also were given two butternut squash and two acorn squash and two cabbages. So, you know what is on the menu this week. 

There is food we won't eat, so a trip to the parking lot at Piggly Wiggly will get rid of that. 

Monday night, I slept three hours, so I was tired on Tuesday, exhausted, I sat reading on the laptop until 5 pm instead of taking a nap. Finally, at 5 pm, I staggered off to bed. I asked Tommy if there was anything he could eat for dinner. He asked me what was in the refrigerator...lol. I remembered I had put baked tenders in the freezer. I found them and put them on the counter and told him to leave me half. When I came in at 7:30, he was eating a huge salad and tenders. 

Saved by overcooking, intentional leftovers. 

Days of 80F temperatures are over for a bit. It seems it may snow some this weekend. I was enjoying not wearing even a light sweater. 

Have you ever caused a near-catastrophe? Go ahead. Tell me and make me feel better.

I Found Jars! and other stuff

I lost this post. So, here goes again. 

I went to the Pig for something, forgot what. While there, I looked for Ball jars and rings/lids.  My hands were shaking because of all the jars I found. I had to get help to get them into my electric cart. I was just sure someone would buy them from under me. I bought two boxes of a dozen ball jars and a box of Kerr pints. So, three dozen jars. Kerr is fine. 

Ball quarts were $12.06/12 and Kerr pints were $11.49/12. I had three $3 coupons. So, I saved $9. I really don't know what they are elsewhere.

The dishcloths that are $0.90 for two are great. So, I got three more packages, 6 more dishcloths. The tag says not to wash in cold water or dry on high. But, I did and these are good and a good deal. 

3 5-oz. Hunt's Tomato Paste $0.91 each

Remember the tomato that was about $2. Well, I found four smaller ones for $1. I hope they are worth a dollar. 

Of course, I had to forget some important--bananas, so we ran out to Publix which is about a mile away. I cannot just go in, can I? 

1 5.oz. can Hunt's Tomato Paste-w/ oregano, garlic, and basil. $0.87.

2 cans Campbell Mushroom Cooking Soup @ $.75 each What is this stuff? Have you used it?

Chopped garlic in a jar. I am sick of buying it and paying too much. This was about $3 and much more thrifty, maybe not as good, as what I buy. I need to grow garlic or find some at a Farmer's Market. 

Saturday, I could find no jar rings at two other stores. I did use a coupon to get four tiny Ball jars. They are about the size of a salt shaker but without holes. I also purchased a 16 ounce jar glass jar of vinegar.  This is what I always used when I only used it for cooking and not for cleaning stuff.  I can put this in the shelf in the kitchen and not have to deal with pouring from a half-gallon or gallon jar that hurts me to pour. 

In the summer just when peaches are abundant, canned peaches are always on sale. ARGO is the best commercially canned peach around! (I know home-canned are better.) This 29 ounce can is $1.89 now and will be at least $1 more this winter. Argo canned peaches are sort of ruffled, not smooth on the cut edges or where the pit touched the peach flesh. It makes me think they are seconds, but they are tops in my book. Have you ever had ARGO peaches?

Have you ever used Campbell's Mushroom Cooking Soup? How is it? Good? 

Have you used Hunt's Tomato Paste with oregano, basil, and garlic? 

Soup Recipe and Thursday

I had planned to make potato, cheese, bacon soup on Wednesday night. When I found the beautiful, cheap broccoli, I decided to add broccoli. I added a lot of broccoli, probably equal volumes to potato! Tonight, I will drop more broccoli into the warm soup.

The potato and broccoli measurements are guesses. The rest of the measurements are correct. I am quite sure you can make this your own. I rarely make white sauce, but I did for this.

2 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced
2 lbs broccoli washed; cut florets smaller than mine were originally
2 cans Campbell's chicken broth
1/4 cup butter, melted
less than 1/4 cup flour mixed with butter
1/2 c milk mixed into the butter and flour when smooth...too much milk
6 oz. Cheddar cheese, diced and dropped on top of hot soup

The potatoes were still  a bit too crunchy when I dropped the broccoli florets into the crock pot. Of course, both softened perfectly.

Originally I had intended to put bacon into this soup. But, tomorrow night I will heat bowlsful and add the bacon to the bowls.

I imagine I will add another three cups of florets to the soup tonight which will be soft by tomorrow night. And, it will have all the flavor even though it sits in the warm soup tonight. The amount of potato and broccoli are estimates since I weighed neither.

Since I dropped the cheese in cut into little pieces, it was tasty to get a bit of cheesey broccoli or cheesey potato. Soon, the cheese melted completely.

I did not add salt! The taste of the vegetables and cheese and chicken broth were tasty enough. No, I am not going to make my own broth. Mine tastes terrible to me!

This was delicious and so warming. It is probably in the 40s, not frigid, but this warmed me to my toes. Still Wednesday night and the debate just ended.

Thursday now--We went to bed at 1 am and I slept to 12:15 pm today. I suppose the drive made me sleep soundly. Maybe it was the comfort food.  I awoke once to go to the bathroom and once was hot. The rest of the time was not disturb by wake and I slept more soundly than usual, maybe awake only 20 minutes between going to bed and getting out of bed.  The vertigo seems to be worse.

As usual, we are staying in due to rain. There are places to go, but it is dreary out.