Recipe: Garlic Herb Butter

 Tommy has always loved the garlic herb butter pat that comes with some vegetables. So, I decided to make some for him. I read the label to see what was in the butter concoction. I had no idea the measures or proportions, so I guessed. 

I was in no mood to dice garlic, so I used garlic powder. Next time, I will use both. Of course, you may put in herbs you prefer. 

Garlic Herb Butter

1/2 cup salted butter

 1/2 tsp Garlic

1/2 tsp parsley

1/2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp chive

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

3 shakes black pepper

I placed all this in a bowl and mixed with a spoon, using the back of the spoon. I kept the concoction on the counter in a covered bowl. He eats it on cold bread. I would toast a roll or bread spread with the butter mix. Of course, any herb or spice can be added or eliminated.

Saturday was hard. First, I had not had enough sleep. So, what else is new. Second, it was so hot. We went to Publix for cereal bogo, a2milk, and the participate in their tasting event. Tommy kept turning down different items. I had to remind him to take it and give it to me...lol. We had a taste of ice cream I certainly loved. It was Publix ice cream, lemon and blueberry. 

We brought the milk and something else back to the house. He brought us a sandwich back to the car. I devoured my half immediately. I have no idea why I left home without eating anything! 

Then, at Lowe's no one knew anything. All I wanted was the right fertilizer for blueberries. A customer told me loudly that I needed to google that, and she started to do it. I told here the guys were my google. Eventually, I had to leave the greenhouse because it was too hot for me. I was feeling sick from the heat. A manager never came for something else I needed. I had Tommy drive close so I could get right into the car, not drive across the parking lot to him. 

Then, we changed phones to another service. The guy got my photos from this present phone. That has been holding up this change of phone service. In all this, I searched for a bicycle cable lock for the grill, tank to attached it to the house. No luck. 

We went to the house in Bessemer that has the wonderful tomatoes--$4 for two tomatoes. Great price. 

Finally, we came home and I managed to cool off. The heat was brutal. I took a nap from 6-8 pm. Of course, this is just a Southern summer, nothing more than usual. It is just my age and health, I know. I reveled in the extreme heat all my life, and now??? 

THE END

How is the heat affecting you? 

Were you out in the heat today? Even in and out of ac?

Thoughts? Do you make a similar spread? 

The Coronation Watch & Cucumber Sandwich Recipe

 Tommy woke me at 3:30...ugh. I made the cucumber sandwiches before and during the coronation. It was wonderful. George seemed to do a superb job as holder of the train. Charlotte was so pretty in her special dress, her hair up and a floral crown just like Kate's. I am surprised that Kate never gives Louis "the eye" to stop him. Yes, he is young but too old for his shenanigans. 

I was surprised Kate and some other royals had coronation robes on at the coronation. Harry seemed genuinely happy to be there, back in his element, I suppose. Finally, I found out who the woman in blue was, the one who carried around the sword, it seemed, during the whole coronation--a politician. And, I was mystified as to the identities of the two women in white who followed Camilla--her sister and another attendant. 

The tears in Charles's eyes during the ceremony were touching, almost making me cry. I was totally shocked at his disrobing partially and the screens put in front of him. The architecture in Westminster Abbey certainly added to the pageantry below. 

So, these are just a few of my thoughts as I watched. Finally, I had to go to bed, just before the crowd reached the balcony. Did you see the horse that was spooked and could not be brought under control, smashing through the barricade and into the crowd? 

I slept for about four hours, got up, then took a 3-hour nap in the afternoon. It was a good coronation watch. I caught up on the rest of the coronation celebration as best I could. After the nap, I made meatloaf and put Tommy's into two halves of a bell pepper.  We had leftovers with it--a bit of Suddenly Salad, and a huge tossed salad. 

I made the cucumber salad filling just before the coronation coverage started. Usually, I serve these on little cut rounds of bread made into sandwiches. Not this time as I just made a sandwich with two slices of bread and cut into rough fourths. I ate nothing else during the night, no matter what I had prepared for the munchies. 

I ate strawberries for breakfast and blueberries after dinner tonight. I was going to make deviled eggs with avocado (green eggs) but did not. The eggs are boiled, so I can do it as I wish later. 

The cucumber sandwiches are delicious, but presentation is everything. I got this from a friend who was a cater who made me promise not to tell anyone, that was 40 years ago, she no longer caters, and sort of quit talking to me , and I don't know why. But, she had a strange life filled with violence and sexual abuse since she was a young child. We were thick as thieves until I went back to school. So, now I will reveal this simple recipe she might have gotten elsewhere. 

I use a cookie/biscuit cutter/jar/tin can. Size is the important thing to me. I make sure it is the diameter of the European cucumber I buy. You will know when it is correct. I don't want the cucumber hidden or hanging out, just a bit smaller than the bread so it shows.

Use room temperature or softer butter to spread on the rounds of bread. You want it to be the thinnest smear, not much at all. The idea is to keep the mix and the wet cucumber from making the sandwich soggy. I usually am transporting these for an hour to my destination. 

Slice the cucumber as thin or thick as you wish.  I try for around a eighth of an inch. 

Try to put the filling on the other buttered bread without crushing the bread. putting on just a little bit, sort in little smears or dots and then spreading keeps the bread intact. 

So, you have bread, butter, cucumber, and cream cheese filling, Good Seasons Zesty Italian dry mix. Do NOT use the whole dressing package with one 8 oz package of cream cheese. Use it to your taste. 

I use cream cheese and half a little packet of Good Seasons zesty Italian dry salad dressing mix. Let the cream cheese reach room temperature, put the dressing on top and mash with a fork until mixed. I did not use the whole package. Try it and see what you prefer. This "recipe" can be made using your own dressing mix, any herbs you please in any combination. There is too much sodium and soy in the mix, so next time I will make my own dry mix. 

The last two times I made this for others to consume, I had Tommy help me with the bread rounds and cucumber slicing. In the past, I have used two different breads that were different bread hues. This added interest to the sandwich tray, I think.

This was my first coronation and my last, I am sure. So, staying up for it, even with little sleep was fun. 

Did you stay up or get up for the whole coronation? 

Did you watch the balcony part? 

Did anyone see the musical part, the entertainment part? I did not but will find it on laptop later. 

What impressed you the most? Or, surprised you?

Zucchini and Potato Casserole Recipe

 Casserole Recipe Here

While I have not tried this recipe, I put it here to save it. When I can get more zucchini, I will make this casserole. I think I would slice the zucchini a bit thicker and the potato thinner. I might alter the sauce. It is a video and has sound, so beware when you open it. 

The recipe certainly calls for a mandoline, but I am so terrified I will not use the one I bought years ago. Do you use a mandoline? Are you afraid of it? I have gloves that help prevent cuts, but I am still afraid.

Wednesday, the other pork butt came out of the crockpot and straight into the freezer--eight servings. Tommy picked the meat from fat. There was not much fat, so the rest is liquid turning solid in the crockpot. My friend picked up both bones and the fat for her dog. So, nothing went in trash. The liquid/fat in crockpot still sits. No, he said he removed the liquid.

The first pork butt was either eaten on Monday and Tuesday or frozen. I forgot what, but two packages of meat are thawing in the refrigerator. Tommy is afraid we will get too much meat in the freezer. He wants me to quit buying it...lol.  

Thursday, I will share my newly acquired seed packets with Lynda. Unfortunately, I only have two duplicates. I might even open the packets that I only have one in order to share those with her. Can I grow a pumpkin in a flower pot? 

We had ground beef for dinner. Tommy had sweet potato, and corn. I had slaw and corn. Since I bought two bags of cole slaw mix, the second bag will be made for Thursday or Friday night. We may want to finish the lettuce/salad mix first. 

Are you a fearless mandoline user?

Memorial Day 2022

 This is going to be a good day, a beautiful Memorial Day. The sun is shining and it will be be 90F, maybe warmer. Although I only slept 3.5 hours, I still feel great. I know that will pass and have penciled in a nap...lol. 

The pork butt is roasted and I will add bbq sauce to it and call it delicious. In a few moments, I will make slaw. Tommy can take the silk off the corn. You can see the day will be easy for us. I forgot, one egg made into two deviled eggs for me. 

Seriously, if the food is ready, isn't it a good day already?

Sunday, I made Cherry Crush. a delicious recipe from Cheryl's Frugal Corner. It is a Jello and fruit concoction. After making it and eating some, I realize that cottage cheese might work rather than the cream cheese. I used pineapple tidbits because I did not have crushed pineapple like I thought I did. I think the difference made it softer than I thought the Cherry Crush would be. But, it was definitely worth making. 

Cherry Crush ingredients:

6 oz package of cherry jello

3/4 cup boiling water

8 oz. cream cheese

can of cherry pie filling

can of crushed pineapple

Check her blog for directions. But, you can probably guess those. 

Since Tommy did not water yesterday, he watered at 7:30 this morning. The little bird nest was on the porch, so the two dead baby birds were the only two. That's sad since I enjoyed the birds. Very slowly we are moving all the plants to the corner of the ramp where the ramp turns. Nothing is on the ground but on the ramp so the mowing can be easier. This is the same place where three shepherd's hooks are located with the bird feeders. 

This is quite pretty, but the petunias are hanging where I can see them from my chair and so are three of the four hummingbird feeders. I had some flowers on the porch, but now I put them all together so Tommy won't have to drag the hose so far. He appreciates it. Imagine pulling a heavy hose and using a walker in grass! 

Friday night, as I said before, I sort of twisted my knee in the kitchen trying not to fall. Well, I could barely put weight on my knee all day Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning I woke and could bend my knee for the first time since Friday. I stood at the sink and he handed me everything I needed to stir or whatever. 

Memorial Day travel is not in our plans, not even out of the driveway. People were driving crazy on Saturday and Sunday, on the interstate and in town. We took a drive on Sunday, so that will do for us. People are very impatient! 

We do remember all who died so we can sit here and feel free from fear. We have been talking about relatives who fought in wars and came back home and some who did not. 

A nap is dragging me to bed. When I get up, I will cut Tommy's hair and we will eat. 

How is your Memorial Day? 

Saturday Recipe and Dreams

 Around 3 pm on Saturday, we left for a drive, a ramble about through Hueytown and Bessemer. About ten miles from the house, I remembered I had not taken a med, so we went home while I did so. 

We gawked once again at the shotgun houses, marveled at the old two- and three-story homes, some perfectly preserved and others in various states of decay and disrepair. Tommy knows the history of the municipal buildings. 

About 4 pm, I saw tables on the sidewalk with colorful tablecloths, obviously some sort of sale rounding up for the day. I had Tommy got around the block. After the first corner we stopped and talked to a young girl and two children who were dancing as girls this age do. We asked if there was food and they ran to get someone as we drove on around to go back to what we saw. 

A very nice young woman had a booth with food--cobblers, and cookies left. We talked with her and she brought us two apple cobblers and a pack of cookies, $9 worth and Tommy gave her $10 to keep. We left, drove to the train depot, the ancient one, parked in the shade of a tiny tree and ate the cobblers. They were so delicious. I wanted to go back and talk with her. Stella

Stella did the imitation of Brando. We both laughed. I told we came back to tell her how delicious the cobbler was, the best I ever had, very different. She said she had some left and wanted us to have it. Since she had packed her vehicle, she went to get it somewhere. She brought two! She also handed me a small container wrapped in clear, red cellophane and tied with a yellow curling ribbon. It was honey butter she had made. SHE MADE THE BUTTER! I was impressed. Of course, we have no bread to toast. And, I am not making biscuits. 

She said she would give me the recipe:

Take a Betty Crocker pouch of Snickerdoodle cookie mix, make it according to the recipe, press the whole recipe into a casserole or whatever pan you will use. Pour in a can of apple pie filling. Make another recipe but don't use the sugar packets in the recipe. Drop the cookie mixture in lumps onto the pie filling and put the sugar in lumps around the topping. Bake. 

She did not say temp or how long. She said she was going to use peach pie filling but the store had none. She also said it was delicious warm and with ice cream on top.

Then, I checked on the internet and found this RECIPE. I will try the way to make the cobbler like she told me first.

So, for $10 we had four (2 each) helpings of apple cobbler, three of the largest oatmeal-raisin cookies I have ever seen, about 1/3 cup homemade honey butter. That will leave us with four plastic containers with lids for leftover food, a little pot from the butter, and a huge sheet of red cellophane I am saving. 

Saturday night, I went to bed at 2 am and went to sleep immediately. I awoke at 4 am to go to the bathroom. I slept and dreamed on and off until 5 am. Then, until 8 am I was half in and half out of a dreamy sleep. It was the same dream continuing each time. And, I forgot the dream. 

Around 8 am, I came into the living room, sat in my recliner, read a bit, and leaned way back to relax. Then, I dreamed about Tommy. He was sitting on some porch outside our house. He was fully dressed in puffy clothes for the Arctic. It was a big Michelin Man type snowsuit, that large but without the ridges. He had on a diving helmet with a front like a WWII gas mask. He was quite a sight, so surprising that he awoke me. He laughed when I told him. 

Sunday has mostly been me trying to recuperate. I am not getting worse, but not better. The day is dry, cloudless from where I sit, and 66F. We are going for a ride now. 

Do you enjoy a ramble around and stopping to get unexpected treats?

Copycat Recipe

Back when I was a new wife and a new mother, a temptation came my way in the form of a Jewel Food truck, a grocery store on wheels. He came in with a catalog and brought your food to you when you chose from a catalog. I only bought two or three things in the whole year it came by our house. However, one item I bought multiples times. But, once we moved in 1970, I never bought anything from Jewel again. I don't think a truck was in that area. The thing I loved the most was a boxed item, one I had to add a can of tuna and mayonnaise. 

However, a few years ago, I decided to make it without the box of ingredients.  I remember there were pasta shells, a packet of relish, and a pouch of seasoning. Even though I decided to make this several years ago, I just got around to making it. As I said before, I had to add mayo and tuna So, here is the recipe I figured out.

pasta shells

1/3 cup mayo (NOT Miracle Whip)

2 Tbsp sweet relish (maybe a bit more)

1 packet Lipton Recipe Secrets Vegetable Recipe Soup and Dip Mix

1 small can tuna, drained

I ate it warm, but tomorrow will eat it cold. I like it both ways. How much pasta? I used the pasta package from the Suddenly Salad. ???  Shells is what it was made with originally. So, I stuck with shells, but I am sure any pasta would be good. 

Use Mayo, not MW. I like sweet relish, but I am sure it would be good if you substituted or added dill relish. The soup mix was not softened when I started eating it but was better about ten minutes into eating. So, stir soup mix and relish into mayo as pasta is cooking to reconstitute the soup mix.

As I figured out this recipe, I measured nothing. So, maybe you will want to change the amounts. Plus, add-ins would be good. 

Tommy said it was "edible" with a face that said he did not enjoy it. He dislikes tuna. He would like it better with a can of chicken instead of tuna. I would make it with the larger can of chicken breast which I have. 

It has been 52 years since I bought this boxed meal from the truck. In my opinion, this tasted the same.

Just now, I realized the sodium content was very high! Maybe there is a different brand of vegetable soup mix with a lower sodium content. 

Dinner on Thursday night was the baked chicken, Tommy a thigh and a breast for me. He ate 1/2 of his thigh. I ate half a breast. Part of the baking needs to be frozen. It was good to have chicken because the beef hurt my gastrointestinal system. So, since I felt better today, I was able to make lunch for two more days, and dinner protein for ten or more days. YAY! I froze three breasts and three thighs. 

Update: I found another vegetable soup mix--Knorr. I will try this one Saturday or Sunday and tell you how this cmpares. But, the Knorr has a bit less sodium.

Have you ever heard of Jewel Tea? Did you ever buy a product from their truck? 

No Cooking for Two Days and Eating Well, Gunshot, Pansies

 Friday, about 2:30, we went to the Greek Festival and ordered food. It was $46 well spent. Silly us went to the park to eat. We ate so late that we needed no dinner, just fruit and cereal. Then, on Saturday, Tommy had part of my meat, rice, and grape leaves for lunch. Saturday night, he had the rest of his meat and rice. Later, when I had cooked something, we both had chicken and Brussel's sprouts, he had his meat; I had chicken breast, Brussel's sprouts, and grape leaves. We ate well. The chicken and Brussel's sprouts were from a one meal dish. It would have been $7 if we had bought it. 

Tomorrow, I will write about the Greek Festival. 

The spaghetti recipe may be coming back as I sat with a pen and paper and tried to recall it. I think I almost have it complete. When I get it right, I will freeze it in pint jars. It will be a memory. It will be cheaper. It won't be in a metal jar! Okay, I think I have remembered it. I had a pen and notebook in my lap or lying beside me. I looked at what I had written and things came to me one item at a time. Can you believe garlic was the last thing I remembered?

When I got out of the car at the bread store, my eyes were drawn to a cut in Tommy's right front tire. It was a cut in a circle about the size of a nickel. And, I could get my thumbnail down into the cut for quite a way. Tommy took it to a tire place. The guy did not want to see the cut because he said the tires were too bald to repair. Their shop would not work on it. 

Tommy thinks I worry too much and pay attention to things not worth worrying about. And, he always lets his tires become bald before he replaces them! But, Monday, he is buying new tires. 

We were sitting waiting at a drive-up pharmacy window when I heard a noise and Tommy asked me if I heart the gunshot. Well, no, it did not sound like a gunshot. It sounded like maybe a pebble had been dropped. That was spooky.  

The pansies and mums were not doing well until the weather cooled off on Saturday. I was worried since neither plant has a problem, usually. They are not finicky as far as I know. The poor pansies were drooping and not blooming well. Now, there is a profusion of pansy blooms. I saw a variety called "Old Fashioned" that were light and medium pink, maybe a darker pink, too. I think that is the name. I want more of that variety. Have you seen or heard of the pink ones?

Tommy stalled all week and we waited a week between emptying the dishwasher and reloading it. Friday, late, I told him to come help. He did. Today, we emptied the dishwasher and put things away. I immediately loaded the only two dirty items into the dishwasher! YAY! 

Do you know someone who lets their tires get bald before getting new ones? 

Recovery of a Recipe

Since I lost most everything, recipes are a problem for me. I rarely use a recipe for everyday food. But, for holiday food, I did use recipes. I tried to remember what they were, but have little idea. However, I looked at a lot of recipes and discovered some recipes from her were off cans. I am quite sure I knew this, just forgot. 

I still have not recovered/remembered all my recipes. I do have the pumpkin pie recipe. I never made it exactly like my mother did. I just subbed dark brown sugar for the light brown sugar she used. So, that was an easy. 

The recipe for pound cake is the hard one. I am looking for a recipe that calls for cooking an hour and twenty minutes. That is my only clue...lol. I do know the first time I made it, I had no chocolate squares to melt. I used cocoa when I subbed for the baking chocolate and never bothered to get the chocolate called for. So, that is a mission. I don't want to have to bake chocolate pound cakes until I find the right recipe! 

Right now, my goal is to make my mother's spaghetti recipe. A week is how long I plan to sit with a notebook and try to remember all she put in spaghetti. It has about 20 ingredients. 

My advice is to never have the only copy of a recipe you need to keep. I would not put these on the computer, a thumb drive, and in another location just like you would keep an extra copy of papers you need otherwise! I never shared it with anyone except for one person who is now dead. 

I once developed a recipe for biscotti that could be adapted for add-ins, different flavors and spices. It did not have lots of sugar or fat. Well, I left that on the counter on a scrap of paper. Someone "helping" me threw it out along with many receipts. They were all in a neat stack, not just in disarray. I may try to recreate that recipe, too. 

Unfortunately, I am missing about a half dozen recipes, not just one.

Have you ever lose a recipe through catastrophe or neglect? What recipe did you lose? How did you recover or recreate it? Did you give up or settle for a recipe not the same?

Recipe

 Okay, here is the recipe for Seven Layer Cookie Bar. My recipe for Go Go Bars is similar. 

Go Go bars only had graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, Eagle Brand Sweetened Milk (whole can), and unsweetened coconut. Someone gave me this recipe over the phone in the 70s. Or, maybe I coipied it from a magazine.

It might have had butter, but I don't remember that. I know it did not have nuts or butterscotch chips. That could have been what was preferred by me or mine. 

I cannot find unsweetened coconut anywhere. I might just order it from Amazon. I might have to buy a coconut and grate it myself. Have you ever had freshly grated coconut? My mother grated all the coconut we ever used. We got to nibble chunks of coconut and drink the milk. I read that someone on the internet said to pour the milk out. What? 

Stupid, Stupid Tech

Food bought on Tuesday:

3 24-packs Dasani

bottle Kraft Zesty Italian

raspberry jam

2 8-oz blocks Kraft Medium Cheddar Cheese

1 deli chicken breast

Tommy had a coupon for a free 24-pack of Dasani water. Publix had Dasani bogo, $5.75. I used the free coupon and paid $5.75 for one pack and got another free. So, I walked out with three 24-packs for $6.28. I can live with that price, a bit over $2  for 24 bottles of water.  Then, I went into the other store I like to go to and found Dasani for $3.99.  However, it was not bogo. And, I thought I missed a good deal until just now. 

I am beginning to suspect that $3 is the cheapest I am going to find my favorite cheese, Kraft Medium Cheddar.. So, I got 2, hoping to find more at a better price later. If I find it cheaper, I will buy six. 

The Kraft Zesty Italian has a Dec. 21 date, so it will be here when I need it. I forgot how much I paid for it and I am too tired to find a receipt. 

I bought raspberry jam for a recipe. Unfortunately, I was supposed to buy apricot jam! Urspo had a recipe that called for Onion Soup Mix, 12 oz. Zesty Italian Dressing, and 8 oz. Apricot Jam. Mix together and pour over chicken and bake. Now, I will have to buy Apricot Jam. And, I think the recipe called for heating it first. Maybe I have some Apricot jam. But, I never buy jellies or jams. I don't know where on his blog is the recipe. I was going to try it, but now have to come up with Apricot Jam. 

When I had my eye exam last week, I was told the glasses I have been wearing had the line for the progressive bifocals higher on one lens than the other. I went back to the first optometrist. The person at the desk said that sometimes one pupil was higher than the other. I asked her why it moved.  She said that the pupil can sometimes be higher or lower. I asked her why that it moved. She said it just happens. I asked her why that this office was the only office that deals with eyes that had found this "moving" pupil. Finally, I could not stand at the desk any longer and told her I was leaving and she could figure out how this all happened. She is going to call me and see what they can do for me. ???

Have you ever heard of a randomly moving pupil? This is the same office where the progressive line was put on an angle....because my glasses were on crooked on my face! Stupid tech! I may talk to Medicare about this problem since Medicare paid for this and I thought my vision was really terrible! When I had the eye exam last week, I was told my vision had changed little from three or four years ago. 

Ordinarily, I would have yelled at the people taking the duck from the lake to put it down. But, the way people will shoot at others nowadays, I decided discretion was the better part of valor. A duck in the group of ducks was chasing the people, trying to get them to put their friend or family member down. We gave up the chase of the car and reported the theft. 

The ducks and geese are not "owned" by the city. The ducks just choose to live there. But, removing an animal seems wrong. It makes me think the people are up to no good. The duck had a family group where he lived. 

While I was not able to pick up any scrap wood from my friend, I did deliver what I had to the carpenter. Now, he can finish my project. Thursday will be spent in gluing. It is going to be to windy to spray paint. No, glued nothing on Thursday. 

Today, Thursday, the plumber came to see why the washing machine was not draining. An hour or so and $189 later, I think it is draining. This dishwasher has been out of commission for over a month.  I am quite sure Tommy is relieved not to have to dry dishes anymore. Except, he was not happy about the cost. I am relieved not to have to wash them, hanging onto the sink, leaning hard to stay up and not fall. 

The rest of the day will be gluing, spray painting, napping, loading dishwasher. A nap is a priority.  The plumber said he would be here between 8 am and 8:30 and arrived just before 9 am. So, I missed a good hour of sleep. Thursday--I only took a nap. 

Tommy scraped/peeled two pounds of carrots and four small potatoes, I added meatballs and a spice mix for grilling--Grillmates Smokehouse Applewood seasoning. Dinner was delicious. Two of the small potatoes and the rest of the carrots and baked chicken are for Friday night. 

The weather forecast is no more rain for the rest of May--10 more days. I love that. It was in the mid-80s today. It is supposed to be in the 90s. 

Have you ever heard of moving pupils in the eye? What would you have done about the duck thieves? 

Easy Easter Salad Recipe and Eye Appointment

This salad can be for anything, not just Easter. I often make it for company. But, I will not touch it. 

can green/English peas, well drained

diced cheese, I use cheddar

diced tomatoes or grape tomatoes cut in half

Tablespoon of Miracle Whip or Mayonaisse 

Put all in a serving bowl and stir, chill or not, serve. Use more or less dressing or another kind of dressing if you prefer. This is always eaten. 

I hate peas and have found I am allergic to peas. So, this is just an easy dish for company. I dice the cheese, but you could as easily buy diced cheese. I always make this the day of the meal. It is best that way.  However, it is not so complex that you even have to think. A sous chef who is ten-years-old can probably make this, but maybe not opening a can or dicing. Don't overstir and mush the peas. You can even mix other three ingredients and add peas last.

From my oral surgery, I had hydrocodone pills left, five. So, I took one Wednesday  night and slept from 10:30 pm  until 8 am or so on Wednesday. Don't worry, I only have four more, so there is no danger from opiod addiction. 

Thursday morning, I went for eye exam and a medical eye appointment. My vision has barely changed. But, I am getting new lens since I can tell I do not see as well. And, I am to wear sunglasses outdoors and avoid uv light as in bulbs for the sake of my macula, I think. Now, I have an appointment with a Retina specialist. Oh, there are no changes in my eyes due to diabetes. I am thankful for that.

I could not go and look at frames because of covid. Two other people were ahead of me. Since I did not want to just sit, we came home. I can buy frames anywhere. 

I may not have mentioned it, but I had a little swollen place near the inner corner of my eye on the top lid. It interfered with my vision at its largest. The doctor said a year ago that it was a sty. Nothing seemed to help. Well, as soon as I got the medical eye appointment, it started getting smaller. The doctor said it was hard to diagnose when he could not see it. When he stretched my eyelid, he said he could see something. So, that is that, except for the fact it has receded before and then become larger.  

Even though I had the glasses inserts after having my eyes dilated, the sun was too bright on the ride home. 

Now that the second covid vaccine is in sight I am going to make appointments that I have postponed for a year. I have two lined up already.

While I was in Cullman, I found out that someone I have known for a long time, but not well had a stroke, is blind in one eye, and had to move in with his mother. That is sad as he was about 20 years younger than I. Hopefully, he recovers and can resume life. But, I suppose going bling after a stroke means he will not recover his eyesight. 

Dinner is in the oven--meatloaf in bell pepper and cooked in tomato sauce with diced tomato. Tommy will have peas and tomatoes. I will have a bit of salad greens. 

Does the salad above sound good to you?

Free Medical Supplies, Apple Betty, doctor,

Sunday night, I baked chicken, so we had baked chicken and a huge salad since I used a whole Roma tomato in each salad. I froze four boneless, skinless chicken thighs for him, and six boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the two of us. I put one whole breast and a half breast in the refrigerator for a chicken sandwich for lunch and the other breast for us to half at dinner Monday night.

We have to be away from home at mealtimes on Monday. I will pack a chicken sandwich, water, halo, o j, and pb crackers. That should hold us over.

When the chicken came out of the oven, I had an Apple Betty ready to put in the oven.

Apple Betty

4 cups sliced, pared apples (4 large Granny Smith)
1/4 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar (I used 3/4 cup)
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup butter

Butter the 9"x9" dish. Put apples in dish. drizzle with orange juice. Mix dry ingredients and butter. crumble over the apples. Bake at 375F degrees for 45 minutes.

What I did with recipe or used to do: Instead of slicing the apples thinly, I cut them in larger slices and cut the apples into chunks. When I have not had orange juice, I have used lemon juice. I melt the butter for the dry ingredients and mix all with one fork. I dump the topping onto the apples in different places and use my fingers to pinch up pieces to cover the apples. And, as noted, I used less sugar, about 3/4 cup instead of 1 cup. Got it? Clear as mud? I may use some brown sugar next time.

As I was at a medical appointment this last month, I received free medical supplies. I commented that I intended to use gloves in stores to avoid contact with coronavirus. The person asked me if I wanted more. I hesitantly agreed. She turned around and pulled a wad of gloves from a box. I stuffed them into my purse. 17 nitrile gloves!

Later, she pulled out a two pads about 18 x 24. I laughed and said that with incontinence, I might be shopping for those in the future. She pulled out a stack and told me to stuff it into my purse. I had the pink purse that is quite large compared to what I usually carry. I came home with 24 pads. Those are in a gallon storage bag.

If I can, I will see that doctor again this week. I will ask for two of the blue masks, the kind that are a dome. I think they will filter a virus. Will they? That is what they used at the hospital.

Okay, went to doctor today and I have two prescriptions that should help me and my thyroid. Then, Tommy asked me if I wanted a cookie fix, oh my. So, he stopped at cookie fix. These are sooo good.

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.

Out of Control, Death and Carb Effect

In my kitchen there is an embarrassment hiding. When I moved in here in 1977, I initially placed recipe books, torn out recipes, hand written recipe books, and single sheets of paper with recipes in one place. You know that corner part of a cabinet? The part you cannot readily see? Well, there has been "drift" from that perfect spot.

It is a mess since the smaller pieces of paper and full sheets have drifted out from their spot. Occasionally, I have sort of straightened this out and tried to contain the "drift" that seems to inevitably occur when I have the doors to the cabinet shut. It's sneaky!

Although the concern has been decades in the building, I finally decided to do something about it. For months I considered finding the perfect box the size of a sheet of paper to use to pull out all the "drift" so I could sit and sort. Mind you, five minutes of pulling out paper would be the limit. Finally, I spotted a storage box, clear with locking lid. This will work. It may take me months to conquer this hidden problem. But, I am determined it will be done.

Send me some psychic energy. I need it. Maybe a few threats will help. I never seem to get to the bottom of this pile. It is sort of like never finishing the ironing in the basket.

Don't get me wrong, picking through the piles once in a while occurs. . . . seldom, but I do try to pretend I am cleaning out the cabinet. I suspect most of the recipes will no longer interest me.

I decided to call my best friend ever since a call was overdue. When I could not find her number, I googled her name and got an obituary. The room spun. My vision was fuzzy. The room darkened. Her death is the most devastating death outside my immediate family. She died two years ago at age 72, the age I am now. The explanation--a brain bleed from Eliquis and Aleve.  I need to know more.

We both pulled our cars up to the pool to pick up our older children. We both got out of our respective car with an almost-two-year-old in arms. I told her, "Elvis died." She stammered and sort of laughed, suggesting I was kidding. We both cried.

My five hour "nap" on Friday afternoon/evening was the result of shopping stress, heat, and carbs. Certain carbs make me pass out, not literally, but my head on a pillow means four hours gone. At the lunch the other day, my blood sugar rose too much, so we left and I walked round and round the car as I waited for Tommy. The little bit of extra exercise did seem to work to bring my blood sugar down. I think the two portions of cake kicked me over the edge. The portions are so small that I really only had a normal sized slice of cake. Of course, I had been up for 15 hours. Does anyone else have this occur? Do carbs have a knockout effect on you?