You think the mail is slow this year?

Today, Dec 29th, in my informed delivery email from the USPS I see that we are finally getting my sister's Christmas card that she mailed on Dec 16th.

Pretzel Salad

I must not have made this recipe since I started my blog because it wasn't on here.  Laura is making her first Thanksgiving dinner this year - it's called "Thanksgiving in the Times of Covid" and wanted to check some things about the recipe which was in Greta's bridal shower cookbook.  So now I'm adding it and maybe I'll make it again because it is SO delicious but it will have to be when there's more than just Larry and I to eat it.  Laura is going to send her picture to add to this after Thanksgiving.

PRETZEL SALAD 

FIRST LAYER: 

2 cups pretzels, broken 

3/4 cup butter, melted 

3 tablespoons sugar 

Combine pretzels, butter and sugar.  Place in.9 x 13" pan. 

Bake for 10 minutes at 400-degrees. Let cool. 

SECOND LAYER: 

8 ounces cream cheese 

3/4 cup sugar 

2 cups non-dairy topping 

Beat together sugar and cream cheese.  Fold in non-dairy topping. Layer over pretzel crust. 

THIRD LAYER: 

6 ounce package strawberry jello  (or .6 oz sugar free)

2 cups boiling water 

10 ounce package frozen strawberries 

Stir water with jello to eliminate jello crystals. Add strawberries. Pour over second layer when slightly cool. 

Let cool until jello is firm. 

Note:  Let jello cool enough so it won't upset the cream cheese layer.

My cousin Risa

I was supposed to visit Risa when we were in Port St Lucie in March.  It would have been the first time I would have seen her in almost 20 years but because of Covid it never happened.  Now it never will.

This was posted on Facebook by her daughter Abbe.  

Flu shot reminder

If you want to do anything that involves the arm you get you flu shot in, make sure to schedule your shot for when you have nothing going on for a few days.

Yesterday, Larry and I went over to Walgreens to get our flu shots.  The shot felt more weird than I remember going into my muwcle but the bad part was that 3 hours later I felt like I had damaged my shoulder in some way.  I couldn't figure out why it was hurting so much or why it was so hard to move my arm.  About a half hour later I remembered I had gotten that flu shot.

When I came  home I asked Larry if his arm hurt and it did in the same way.  I usually feel a little sore after but he doesn't.  Now we both did.  Hoping it will go away in a few days and not turn into a case of SIRVA which I never heard of until I looked up shoulder pain after flu shot.

Broccoli Soup

I got this recipe from Once Upon a Chef, click here to see the recipe.

However, this is how I made it so that it was very non fattening and still delicious.

Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Soup

from here

This asparagus soup tastes rich, yet it’s made without heavy cream — just veggies, broth, and a hint of Parmesan puréed to silky perfection.

Masks

I got the fabric I designed from Spoonflower on Monday and made all these masks by Friday.

Sheet Pan Chicken and Cauliflower Bake

from Food52

Ingredients:

• Neutral oil, for greasing
• 1 large head cauliflower (about 2.5 lbs pre trimming), cut into florets, large florets halved or quartered if necessary (see photo above as a reference)
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and fresh pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds or ground cumin, see notes above
• 1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds or ground coriander, see notes
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 1.5 lbs.
• Lemon wedges, flatbread, and yogurt sauce (see notes) for serving

Rotisserie Chicken Skillet

We're home for only a few more days before going to Florida so I want to use up what's in the refrigerator and not do anything too fancy (not that I ever do) for dinners before we leave.  We were going to have salad and I thought some rotisserie chicken would be good to put on it.  I was looking up something about rotisserie chicken when we were driving in the car yesterday and came upon this recipe so instead of just serving chicken on a salad I made this and we really liked it with a side salad.  And the best thing was other than the chicken I had all the other ingredients at home (or I left them out - see NOTE).  I saved it in pinterest but I'm also putting it here to remind me to make it again.

The next time I make it I'll take a picture or maybe when we have the leftovers tomorrow, if I remember.

This is where I found it.
https://www.afamilyfeast.com/rotisserie-chicken-skillet/#tasty-recipes-23479

INGREDIENTS

Curried Chicken Salad

This is my favorite chicken salad recipe.  I have it in Pinterest but I put the ingredients here for easy access.

The actual recipe can be accessed by clicking here

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed or shredded 

• 1 cup celery chopped 

• 3 green onions 

• 1 golden delicious apple diced 

• 1/3 cup golden raisins 

• 1/2 cup almond slivers
• 
3/4 cup mayonnaise 

• 1 tsp curry powder
• 
1/4 tsp salt 

• 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Combine the mayonnaise with the curry powder, salt and pepper and mix well.
2. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, celery, green onions, apple, raisins, and almonds.  Pour the dressing over top and stir until evenly coated.
3. Serve chilled with crackers, on greens, or your favorite way. Enjoy!


Notes: 

1. I use Greek yogurt in place of mayo and less chicken but pretty much all the other ingredients amounts I leave as is except maybe the almonds. 
2. I use whatever kind of apple I have on hand, same with raisins and I usually just make pieces out of whole almonds because that's also what I have.
3. 3 green onions = 1/3 cup

The Mystery of the Ring

On Tuesday, Dec 17th, the day Larry was going to go home from the hospital after his Emergency visit on Sunday that turned out to be blood clots in his lungs, he looked at his left hand and said "What happened to my ring?"

He was lying in bed and I was sitting in a chair opposite him and we started mulling over all the places it could have gone.  Neither of us remembered him taking it off and I was with him most of the time.  The only times I left was when I went home to get his phone and that first night but Kim and Karen stayed overnight with him.  Did he have to take it off when he went for his CT scan?  He didn't remember taking it off.  We asked the nurses if he would have had to take it off and they said no.  Even though it slid easily around on his finger it wasn't so loose that it could just slip off.  What a mystery.  The nurse sent someone up from security so that we could report it missing and to see if it wound up in lost and found or at least make them aware that if it did they should notify us.

Week 3 of Winter Art

Here are Week 3 pics

Week 2 of Art Class

Here are my pictures from Week 2 of my coursse

Winter art

I haven't posted anything anywhere forever, but today I posted my first picture to a FB group I belong to for using the Procreate app so I thought I would add it here too.

Remembering Scoop

It was another sad day.  We lost too many friends this year.  Scoop passed in April just a few days after Steve and Marcia had a memorial service for him here in August.

Bernard George "Scoop" Hyde

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Bernard George "Scoop" Hyde

Rochester - On April 27, Scoop passed away in Naples, FL at the age of 81. He was born on 4/24/38 to Mary and Maurice Hyde of Rochester. He attended Aquinas and The Allendale School graduating in 1956 and LeMoyne College in 1960. He owned and operated Foreign Auto Parts Ltd. for 25+ years and retired from RCR Yachts as a yacht broker. It was his favorite job, as his passion went from cars to boats. He sailed and raced his boat, Dr. Jekyll out of RYC where he was a member for 30 years.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years, Marcia (Kubarek) Hyde, his son Timothy Hyde of NC, sisters Nancy Ringelstein of CA and Carol Bonczyk of Rochester, grandchildren Ashley and Morgan Hyde of NC and Nathan and Lindsay Bevilacqua of CO, brothers-in-law Alan and Ronald (Hedy) Kubarek, son-in-law Chet Bevilacqua of CO, and many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.He was pre-deceased by his brother Maurice "Skip" Hyde, brothers-in-law Paul Ringelstein, John Bonczyk and adored daughter Jennifer Bevilacqua .

A Memorial Mass to celebrate Scoop's life will be held at Spiritus Christi Church, 121 Fitzhugh St, 14614 at 10 AM Saturday, September 14. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/, The Michael J. Fox Foundation https://www.michaeljfox.org/ or a charity of your choice.

Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on Aug. 18, 2019

Muesli

Larry found this recipe and it is the best recipe I've made to mimic the muesli that is on cruise ships.  Thank you Viking.
For original recipe click here.


Viking Organic Muesli

Ingredients
2 C (160 g) organic rolled oats
1 C (237 ml) organic low fat milk
1 T (21 g) organic honey
1 lg organic apple
¼ cup (29 g) organic walnuts, chopped
¼ cup (38 g) organic raisins
1 C (28 ml) organic low fat yogurt, any flavor

Directions
Combine oats, milk and honey in a large bowl, stirring until mixed well. Cover; refrigerate overnight. Before serving, peel, core and grate apple and stir into oat mixture along with walnuts, raisins and yogurt.

Prep time: 6 minutes. Chill time: overnight. Makes 4 servings.


NOTE: 
I initially make it with all the ingredients except the walnuts.
It tastes better the longer it sits.
When you want to eat it, add the nuts and more milk to the desired consistency.
Fresh fruit such as blueberries and strawberries are good to add too.

Be creatuve with the ingredients.  Add craisins/any dried fruit with or instead of raisins

Roasting Vegetables Timetable

Got this here:  https://www.cookingclassy.com/roasted-vegetables/

How Long Do I Roast Vegetables?

Approximate cook times you’re looking at for roasted vegetables (cut into 1-inch pieces. I use about 1 – 2 lbs) at 400 – 425 degrees (don’t forget to toss halfway):

• Asparagus – 20 minutes
• Bell Peppers – 20 minutes
• Broccoli – 25 minutes
• Brussels Sprouts (halved) – 25 minutes
• Butternut Squash – 30 minutes
• Cabbage (cut into 1-inch thick slices) – 30 minutes
• Carrots (cut into 1-inch chunks or baby carrots)- 30 minutes
• Cauliflower – 25 minutes
• Corn (cobs left whole with husks) – 40 minutes
• Green Beans – 20 minutes
• Kale – 15 minutes (it doesn’t need to be in a single layer)
• Onions – 35 minutes
• Potatoes (russet, red, yukon) – 45 minutes
• Sweet Potatoes – 30 minutes
• Tomatoes (grape or cherry) – 15 minutes
• Yellow Squash – 20 minutes
• Zucchini – 20 minutes

Try this corn on the cob

I got this from a comment on this web site
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/basic-method-for-cooking-corn-on-the-cob-40047

This is great. Simple is helpful most days! I put the corn in the pan of water pre boil without removing the husks prior. Nor do I add salt or sugar. I leave it in 5 to 10 minutes after it starts boiling. After it's done they come off so much easier and it is cooked perfectly, and I don't need to rush. I then put corn on an oven tray with a little bit of spices and butter for about 5 minutes on 350°. The corn is absolutely perfect. That was an accidental find because I was reheating it. It tasted as awesome as your mother or grandmother or whomever used to make!

VANNAWHEELER731 FROM LAKE CITY, FL / 

FLAG IF INAPPROPRIATE

1-2-3 Margarita

My latest margarita recipe

1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
2 oz triple sec
3 oz tequila

BUENO!!

Saying Goodbye to Kay

Two weeks ago we had bridge at Jackie's new house.  I sent a note to Kay and Beth to tell them that I wouldn't be able to pick them up because golf was starting or me that day.  Kay responded that she didn't know if she was going to go because her meds got changed and she had to see how she was doing.  At bridge Beth said that Kay had contacted her and that she wasn't up to playing and didn't need a ride.  On Thursday, May 20, Jackie sent a note that Kay had texted her and said she was going into RGH.  June 1 she was gone.

Kay was the one who became the self appointed sunshine girl of our bridge group always remembering everyones birthday.  She was always smiling and I never heard her complain about anything.  I always thought she was one of the healthy ones as everyone started having ailments and body replacements but then she had congestive heart failure and had to have 24/7 oxygen.

Mary K. "Kay" Ritter

1941 - 2019 Obituary Condolences Flowers

Mary K. "Kay" Ritter

Webster - Predeceased by her husband, Joachim A. Ritter. She is survived by sons, Benjamin and Michael (Meredith); grandchildren, Allison, Avery and Norah; sisters, Margaret (Robert) Widlund, Ruth (Bruce) Brown; nephew, Ryan Brown, niece, Beth Brown, cousins, friends, and family.

Kay was born in a small town, but had a unique combination of knowledge along with worldly wisdom. She was salutatorian of Watkins Glen High School in 1959, and graduated cum laude with a bachelor degree in mathematics from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Kay began her career breaking the glass ceiling at Kodak as a systems analyst until she embarked on a long journey as a wife and mother. Later, she returned to the workforce as an invaluable office manager at Cuyler Associates in Webster, NY.

Kay treasured her long-standing tradition of playing bridge with two different groups of friends: Nazareth buddies and the Kodak girls. She always had a keen sense of etiquette and was never afraid of standing up for herself or her family when needed. Kay provided unyielding dedication and sacrifice to her husband and children, and she loved her grandchildren dearly.

Friends may call Tuesday, June 4 from 4-7 PM at the funeral chapel (1031 Ridge Rd., Webster). A Funeral Mass will be held 10 AM Wednesday, June 5 at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 783 Hard Rd., Webster. Private interment at St. Mary's Cemetery in Watkins Glen.

In lieu of flowers donations may be directed to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 3803 N Fairfax Dr, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. To share a memory of Kay or send a condolence to the family, visit www.anthonychapels.com

Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on June 3, 2019

This is a collage I made of our group for the wall of


and this is a picture her son Mike posted on his Facebook page.