A neat trick I learned today

You know how tips are - some are worthwhile, others are a waste.  Today I read that placing a cup of water in the microwave on High for several minutes will make cleaning the microwave a breeze.  The steam from the water loosens the stuck on stains.  Yes, it's easy to say, "Wipe the microwave with a damp cloth after every use."  But I'm not that conscientious.  So I put a pyrex cup with water in the microwave and turned it on for 5 minutes.  I then took a wet cloth and the spatters wiped up easily.  It took more time to heat the water and create steam than it did to wipe the microwave clean as new!  Now if I could just get the ink stains off my bedroom carpet from where Morgan chewed up two pens when I wasn't watching.  The Oxyclean method didn't work.

A great day of sporting clays shooting

Today was a beautiful summer day in Rochester. . . a perfect day for shooting sporting clays with Margaret and Tom.  I even had a decent score!

Update on my new vest

Here it is, finished!

In an earlier post this month, I wrote about Lois, (From Lois' Hands) who

was knitting a new vest that I requested.  Isn't it beautiful?

I highly recommend her work.  Check out her etsy site here.  She and Kjell have all kinds of unique gifts on the site, everything from hand crafted wooden pens and seam rippers, to elegantly crafted knitted and crocheted items.  It's a great place to find that one-of-a-kind gift.  I can vouch for her work and her integrity.  You won't be disappointed!

A great homemade V8 Juice

I found this recipe on Farmgirl Fare (the link is in the list of blogs on the right of this blog).  It is wonderful and the smell that fills the house as it is simmering is good too!

6 pounds of tomatoes
2 cups chopped onion
2 1/2 cups chopped celery
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cumin
6 drops of Tabasco sauce
a splash or two of Worcestershire
pepper to taste

You need a large pot to cook this in.  Just dump everything in and let it simmer for 40 minutes.  Use a hand blender or sieve to mix it after cooking.  Chill and serve.  This will last a week in the refrigerator.

I used my hand blender to blend it.

I have a juicer which I use often to mix fruit and vegetable drinks.  This is the first recipe for juice that I've seen that calls for cooking it first.

You gotta see this one!

This is making the rounds on facebook.  This is guaranteed to brighten your day and make you laugh!  Copy and paste the link below.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfxB5ut-KTs

Cosmo Allegretti has died

Now, you are wondering, who is Cosmo Allegretti?  If you are from my generation, you know him, but not by his name!  Cosmo was a set painter on a new children's program when the producer decided he didn't like the puppets for the show.  That's when Cosmo stepped in and became Bunny Rabbit, Mister Moose, and Grandfather Clock on the old Captain Kangaroo show.  I used to watch that program every day!  That was back in the good old days of television!  It didn't matter that there was no color TV. We had three channels and were quite satisfied.  I grew up watching Captain Kangaroo, Sky King, Fury, My Little Margie, The Little Rascals, Amos and Andy, Howdy Doody, and Mr. Wizard.  How many of those do you remember?

Eggplant Heaven

Recently I posted on facebook, "This is eggplant week at my house.  I got two eggplants at the grocery store. . ."

The comments ranged from "better you than me, Cuz" to "post the recipes on your blog.  I have eggplant now too."  A few people either e-mailed me or saw me in the hall at work and said, "Send me your eggplant recipes."

Be careful what you ask for!  Here are my best eggplant recipes and I recommend all of them.

Eggplant Casserole

4 cups water
1 medium eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/2 dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add eggplant.  Boil for 5 to 8 minutes or until tender.  Drain and set aside.  In a skilled, cook beef, onion and green pepper until the meat is done.  Drain.  Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Cook and stir for 5 minutes or so until the tomato is tender.  Remove from the heat.  Stir in milk, egg and eggplant and mix well.  Place in a greased oblong baking dish.  Toss bread crumbs and butter and spinkle over the top.  Bake, uncovered at 375 for 30 minutes or until heated through.


Eggplant Snack Sticks

1 medium eggplant
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
2 beaten eggs
1 cup meatless spaghetti sauce, warmed

Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick slices, then cut each slice lengthwise into 1/2 inch strips.  In a shallow dish, combine the wheat germ, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic salt.  Dip eggplants sticks into the egg, then coat with wheat germ mixture.  Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Spritz eggplant strips with cooking spray.  Broil for 3 minutes 4 inches from heat.  Remove from the oven.  Turn sticks over and spritz with cooking spray.  Broil 2 minutes longer or until golden brown.  Serve immediately with warmed spaghetti sauce.


Eggplant Skillet Dinner

1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon flour
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder
1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar
grated parmesan, optional

In a large skillet, brown beef with onion.  Drain.  Sprinkle flour over beef;  stir to mix well.  Add next five ingredients and mix well.  Season eggplant with salt and pepper.  Arrange slices over meat mixture.  Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until eggplant is tender.  Sprinkle with the cheese.  Cook until cheese melts.

My new vest

My friend, Lois, over at From Lois' Hands (find her blog on the right side of my blog) is into knitting and crocheting big time.  Visit her shop here.  In the past, I have bought two knitted winter hats from her as well as a very unique wooden wine bottle stopper that her husband made.  His hobby is woodworking and he is quite talented at it.  That was a Christmas present for someone one year.  You can find a range of one-of-a-kind items for yourself or for gifts.  You'll be glad you stopped by her online shop.

Anyway, back to my vest!  I asked her to knit or crochet a vest for me.  I wear a lot of vests with turtlenecks and slacks to work.  My requests were simple.  I wanted an open in the front vest.  I told her she could use any design and any color that will go with both navy blue and gray slacks.  I have seen enough of her work to know I could trust her judgment.

The picture above is the start of my vest!  I will get it sometime late September, early October.  I told her as long as I had it by winter, I was happy!

And while you're at it, take a look at her blog.  This woman lives a very exciting life!  Her husband is the Chief Engineer on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  They are at sea ten weeks and at home ten weeks.  You should see some of the fantastic photos she posts on her blog from the ship as well as her travels here and there.  Lois can find a picture perfect moment anywhere!  

Traffic jam

I was on my way to my every six weeks hair appointment.  I've traveled this route many times.  It's a no brainer.

Except, after I turned off I-390 and onto Ridgeway Avenue going west toward Long Pond. . . why are all those cars stopped in both directions just ahead, I wondered.  Come on. . . on a Saturday morning, there is not a lot of traffic along this route.

As I got closer, I saw the problem.  Canadian Geese.  They are a real problem in this town.  There were, perhaps 50 of them, idly crossing Ridgeway Avenue.  They would slowly walk, in single file across the busy road, never mind that they were holding up traffic in both directions.  Then, one or more of them would stop and look at the cars.  Makes you wonder what is going through their minds.

This went on for quite awhile.  Fortunately, I always leave early for appointments so I still had time for this nuisance.  I took a couple of pictures with my iPhone.  But from my vantage point, 5 or 6 cars back, you can barely see the little brats in the pictures.

Morgan is one year old today!

Today is Morgan's birthday!  

Here are pictures of her first year.  The last two were taken yesterday.  What a year it has been!

(Click on each picture for a larger view)