Monday Menu

The weather has certainly cooled the past two days so looking forward to turning on the oven and trying a new recipe. Tonight's meal:

Oven Fried Chicken III (recipe from All Recipes)
Corn on the Cobb
Green salad of endive, green leaf and romaine,
cucumbers, tomatoes and mushrooms, with
sliced red onion
Sliced Fresh Peaches with Strawberries

Oven Fried Chicken III

1 (2-3 lb) whole chicken cut into pieces
(I'm using two chicken leg quarters as we're cutting down!
I also removed the skin.)
1 cup dried bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt (I will leave out)
1 tsp ground black peppers
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp paprika
1 cup mayonnaise

... Mayo, I'm not a big fan of mayo but the reviews
were great and I just have to try this.

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl or gallon size reseable bag.

3. Coat the chicken with mayonnaise. Put in bag with the dry ingredients and coat/shake until well coated. Place chicken in a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish.

4. Bake for 45 minutes or until juices run clear.

The recipe can also be found here at All Recipes http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oven-Fried-Chicken-III/Detail.aspx

Crocheted Neck Cozy

This is my first attempt at creating my own pattern and although its quite simple, I am pleased with the results.

I wanted a neck cozy that would stay in place but didn't want to have to deal with buttons or to have to pull over the head, warm but not bulky.

Its wide enough to turn the collared part up for additional warmth and protection.



I hope the instructions are clear as this hasn't been tested. Please let me know if you find a problem with this pattern.













Pattern :

• Hook sizes = J and G

• 3.5 oz worsted weight yarn,a main color and a small amount of contrasting color (if not using a contrasting yarn then 4 oz of the main color).
  
• 1. With J hook chain 25, sc in first chain from hook and across, 24 sc, ch1, turn
• 2. sc in same stitch as ch1, *dc in next stitch, sc in next stitch,* repeat across ending with a dc, ch1, turn.
  
  Repeat row 2 till you have reached 27 inches,
  
• then sc in same stitch as ch1, continue with the dc, sc, repeat for 8 stitches,chain 8, skip 8 stitches, continue dc, sc repeat to end of row (last 8 stitches)ending with dc, ch1, turn
• Repeat row 2 until you have total length of 32 inches.
  
• Finish off main color, attach constrasting yarn, ch1, sc, ch3, skip one stitch and sc in next,*ch3, skip one stitch, sc in next st*, repeat around, slip stitch to beginning sc and fasten off.
  
• Using G Hook, fasten main color to side stitch on opening pass through, ch1, sc, sc around for 26 singles crochets, join with slip stitch and fasten off.

Putting this row of single crochets will keep the opening from strectching out.

This can be made in an evening and is a great stash buster item.

Recipe

I don't remember where I found this, but don't these sound good? I haven't made these yet but I have them in my to try folder (although for me there will be no anchovies in this.)

TAPENADE TOMATOES

22 to 25 cherry tomatoes (about 1 pint)
3/4 cup pitted, imported oil-cured black olives
4 anchovy fillets
1 clove garlic, peeled, minced
1 tablespoon well-drained capers
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
Parsley or lettuce

Cut tops off cherry tomatoes.
Seed and turn tomatoes upside down on a plateto drain.
Coarsely chop olives and set aside.
Rinse anchovies in cold waterand pat dry.
In a blender or food processor fitted with steel blade,
combine olives,anchovies, garlic, capers, basil, parsley, and lemon juice.
Process until finely minced.
Turn food processor or blender on and drizzle in olive oil.
Remove mixture to a bowl and stir well.
Pack each cherry tomato with about 1 1/2 teaspoons olive mixture.
Set on parsley or lettuce-lined plate.
Serve tepid.

Note: This can be made several days in advance and refrigerated,
but bring toroom temperature before serving.
Don't freeze and don't fill tomatoes until 1hour before serving.

Tuesday Treasure

Just finished this doily which may be used as a dish cover. Have to see if the dimensions are correct. This is such a pretty doily and quite easy to make. I have made several in the past (the purple one below is one) and sure that more will be made in the future. It was a crochet-a-long by Cylinda Matthews and the pattern can be found here Crochet Memories Free Crochet-a-Long Pattern

Monday Menu

Had picked up a few packages of Chicken Tenderloins when they were on sale and searched for some recipes. Found this one which sounds so very good and certainly keeps with the
s u p e r e a s y style.

Grilled Chicken Tenderloins (without the grill!)
Rice
Green beans with garlic, oil and chick peas
Salad with garden tomatoes

I've included the recipe here but the link is below. I'm sure you would enjoy a lot of the other recipes as well. They are well written and illustrated. Take a look.


Grilled Chicken Tenderloins
(Like Cracker Barrel's)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips.
1 cup zesty Italian dressing
2 tsp lime juice
3 tsp honey

Place chicken in gallon ziplock bag.
Combine all other ingredients and pour over.
Seal and marinate for at least an hour.

Pour all ingredients into a large skillet and cook over medium heat until liquid evaporates and remaining marinade becomes thick and caramelized. Coat each piece of chicken in marinade by rubbing it around on the bottom of the pan before removing it.

Grilled Chicken Tenderloins (Without The Grill!) - Southern Plate - al.com

Tuesday Treasures

So what do you think? I'm addicted to thread crochet? Continuing with all of my tiny treasures that I have scattered about these are ones that I hang in the window panes on the sides of the front door. The larger ones are actually just the first few rows of a larger doily. Thought they made very pretty motifs. They also make very pretty adornments for packages.

These are the ones that I have in my dining room windows. I think they compliment the lace curtains quite nicely. I had initially put them up for Christmas for a snowflake effect and like them enough that I have left them up.

b e f o r e ...

Before you Speak... Listen
Before you Write... Think
Before you Spend... Earn
Before you Criticise... Wait
Before you Pray... Forgive
Before you Quit... Try.

Monday Menu for hot weather

Summer has finally made its appearance in all its splendor. Over the weekend to today the temps has been inching up little by little. We're at 98 today. There's still a breeze moving, its so bright, sunny and cheerful ... and as long as I'm not moving too quickly, tolerable!

The monday menu is again a simple s u p e r e a s y dinner... actually love these no matter the weather and temperatures!

Chicken Salad over a bed of lettuce
Club Crackers
Tomatoes, Cukes and Onions, basil, oil and vinegar
Watermelon and Honeydew Cubes

The Chicken Salad is from the Atkins Diet which I had tried several years ago. This is the best tasting chicken salad I have ever had, everyone loves it ...

2 cups of cooked chicken, chopped
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
6-10 green olives, minced (if I don't have olives, I used dill pickle relish)
1/4 tsp. Lawry's seasoned salt (or to taste)
pepper to taste
2-3 tbl. light mayonnaise

I think the "magic" to this is the Lawry's. I normally do not cook or prepare foods with salt of any kind but for this salad I do make the exception to use Lawry's.

A Family Heirloom

This is a first for me. A woman from our parish, knowing that I crochet, asked could I maybe help in repairing a cloth that her grandmother had made. There were many tears and breaks in the cloth.

I have never done such a thing before but agreed to take it home and look at it. The thread is very fine, I'm thinking maybe a tatting thread and a most tiny steel hook was used.

Well, I'm ashamed to say that I have had the cloth for probably 4 plus months now and after initially trying to find a similar pattern or figure out what to do it has sat on the shelf in my crochet cabinet until last night. Up till this point I had been focused on the fact that this is crochet and that the repair would be in crochet.

Last week I had picked up some very fine needles to do some quilting with and all of sudden decided to try sewing the cloth back together. Well, much to my amazement this seems to be working very well, with a single strand thread and these fine needles I am able to move the thread between the stitches and sew and repair the breaks and tears. So far I have reattached about 15 sections with many more to go. You can see the areas of repair still needed.

This cloth is an incredible piece of work, probably close to 100 years old. As I work on this I think of the skilled hands that made these many motifs. I think of the love that created this and the love that has been passed from one generation to another. This truly is a treasure, I am most honored to have a part in this.

The Assumption

'See the beauty of the daughter of Jerusalem, who ascended to heaven like the rising sun at dawn.'
-- Benedictus antiphon from Daily Office

Crochet Find

A picture was posted in one of my crochet groups of the most beautiful little girl's dress ... done in pineapples. I wish I could post a picture here but not able to get a copy. However, the great news is the woman who made this told me the name of the book the pattern came in ... Pineapple Crochet Designs, edited by Rita Weiss and I found it on ebaby. Maybe I can take a picture from the book when it arrives.

The book contains 45 patterns. Tablecloths, doilies, mats, etc., I'm so happy to have found this.

There is another book we are searching for ... Crochet For Small Fry Dresses, sizes 2,3,4, Book #211, 1944, The Spool Cotton Company. If anyone should spot this I would appreciate it if they would let me know. Thanks!

Tuesday Treasures

These are a few more of my tiny treasures. I love making motifs, coasters, smaller pieces as well as the bigger doilies and larger projects. Someone asked me what do I do with these ... I enjoy them! They are also great to use as embellishments on larger pieces of work or clothing, purses, etc.

I'm an avid reader and some books I read more then once. I picked up a book to re-read the other day and the round red treasure you see here was in the book being used as a book mark. Its delicate, its fun to find. I like to think that someday someone else will find these and consider them treasures as well.

Monday Menu .... not really

Normally would be working today, but schedule was changed ... so what we have is a super lazy day, following some restful time away ... and (finally) a typical summer day, warm, sunny and a breeze rustling the leaves.

Simple, very simple is the thought for dinner and must be

oh so s u p e r e a s y. No planning, no fuss, no muss,

just plain good old summer fare, garden fresh!

Chicken on the grill, tomatoes, cukes, onion, basil with oil and vinegar, broccoli and whole wheat baguette

Actually the tomato salad and bread for dipping could be a meal in itself.

The Travel Bag

And just because I was in Gettysburg, you didn't think I wouldn't have a crochet hook with me did ya????? ... a crochet hook ... this implies singular, however, I have almost every size that I bring along in my travel bag ... the first bag I pack is my hooks, yarn and thread! I don't leave home without them!

The pink and yellow doily is called Cutie Pie ...one of my favorites and will probably be shipped out shortly to a group endeavor, the yellow one is called Web of Life doily. I also started another prayer shawl, about half way finished.

The patterns can be found at http://pandacrochet.8m.com/cutiepie.html and

http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/paid/doilies/p111018weboflife.shtml

Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania

Spent four days in Gettysburg, PA. My husband is a Civil War re-enactor and participated in a living history which took place at the Pennsylvania Monument. The first two days we were there we spent time just walking the battle fields, as we have done before, and most definitely will do again. It is difficult to put into words what one feels on this soil, this hallowed ground.






























This picture is taken from inside the Covered Bridge. Known for "sightings" it is a heavily visited site.

Sweetest Little Doily

Just had to show what I received in the mail today from someone in one of the crochet groups I belong to. Several of us signed up to receive a doily and a crochet hook. The doily is kept and then you make a small doily, bookmark, etc., whatever you decide as a small project, and send it and the crochet hook to a person on the list. I have to say it was very exciting to get this in the mail. Very simple, but so much fun!

Isn't this so pretty!! I just love it. And it came all the way from Canada!

The hook is flying again ...

Prayer Shawl #2. I wasn't sure of the colors, but told Father that I was using up yarns and that they were bright ... said fine, all colors! This one is just the same stitch ... half double crochet in Caron Simply Soft yarn. I'm thinking I will edge it in a reverse single crochet in the blue ... maybe. Almost half way through.

Monday Menu Planning ... or

rummaging through the fridge and freezer ...
looking for what to put on the table tomorrow night for dinner.

I think we'll do another s u p e r e a s y to gently coast into the week with the following:

Basil Pork Chops
Chick Pea, Cucumber, Yellow Pepper, Tomato and Onion Salad
Green Beans
Rice
Sliced Fresh Peaches with Strawberries


Basil Pork Chops

4 lean center cut pork chops
1 cup V8 juice (I'm using vegetable bouillon)
1 tsp dried basil (I have fresh so using 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil)
1 onion diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and ground pepper

brown pork chops in skillet, add remaining ingredients,
cover and simmer 40 minutes!

Think I will do these now, when I get home tomorrow, just pop in the microwave. Can you remember when there weren't microwaves???? We really are quite fortunate with all that we have now ... does help to simplify life...(sometimes!).