Thanksgiving 2012

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Val & Helmar, Irene, Dale & Kyle, Linda & Bob. Sitting outside, eating deep-fried turkey and enjoying all the side-dishes Val, Linda and Irene brought to the feast.

Life is good!

Hats for Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego

I knitted more hats for RCH in larger sizes for the kids that go through Chemo therapy. The San Diego Charger colors probably won't be very popular.....

The Wedge - Cheese & Beer & Wine

We managed to stop by all 32 participants and had a great time. $35 seems expensive but all the food and drinks where well worth it.

Hope it will continue in 2013.

Baked a Tequila Orange Sunrise cake to take to the card game at the Stutes.

The recipe is from the Duncan Hines Cake Mix Magic

Oven 350º - 10" bundt pan or tube pan, greased and floured
1 pkg white cake mix
1 pkg (4serving size) vanilla instant pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup tequila
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

In large mixer bowl combine all cake ingredients, beat 2 minutes or until mixed well. Pour batter into prepared pan, bake 45 - 50 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool 25 minutes in pan on wire rack, then remove and cool completely.

Combine powdered sugar and orange juice concentrate, mix until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Driving along the Oregon Coast

The Oregon coast is so beautiful and weather was perfect.

 Bandon Oregon is a nice town with lots of drift wood on the beaches.

 Yellow flowers and a yellow condom.....

Our stay in Florence Oregon

Tammy and Andreas gave us another present: a room at the Edwin K Bed & Breakfast in Florence.

The front yard had the most beautiful flowers.

The family-style five course breakfast (promptly served at 9am) included the Edwin K and Kyle history told by Marv.

Orange juice with a touch of cran-raspberry, and coffee, tea, or milk

Compote of warm poached pears with cream

Mexican Souffle served with Southwest Sausage

Edwin K Red Potatoes with savory seasonings

Fresh baked buttermilk biscuits

Fruit plate of fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries,
pineapple, and kiwi

Specialty desert breads -- Lemon, Orange Poppyseed with Cream Cheese Filling,
Cinnamon Streusel, and Chocolate Swirl

Plus "The House Specialty"
Fresh baked White Chocolate Mango Pineapple Scones

That was a lot of delicious food!

Kris Kristofferson in Jacksonville OR at Britt

Andreas and Tammy bought us tickets to spend an evening with them and Kris in a beautiful setting in Jacksonville, Oregon at the Britt.
We know the words to most of his songs and so did the rest of the audience. He is 76 years old and his voice sounded accordingly but he is still the same great performer. Made fun of himself when we missed a word or started in the wrong key. The songs he wrote and performed are classics and we enjoyed the evening very much.

The Rady Potties

What a great bunch of gals ( Penny where are you?).

The Pots!

Ready to get the drain holes drilled and then ready to be picked up and planted. 

 

Recipes for the "pot" party lunches

Friday's menu: Mini Muffulettas, Ryan's Cole Slaw, Mexican Parfaits, Mini Cheesecakes with blueberry topping, Cajun Lemonade.
The same on Saturday with the addition of Cucumber Provencale, Frozen White Sangria and Chicken Nuggets (Thanks Dale and Irene!).

 Mini Muffulettas from Southern Living Magazine September 2011
I drained the vegetables before putting them in the food processor.

 Mexican Parfaits from Cuisine at home
Use any small glass you have around the house: votive candle holders, cordial glasses etc. I didn't use the plastic bag, just filled the glasses with the mixtures and that worked just fine.

Ryan's Ramen Cabbage Salad Recipe (Irene & Dale's son)
2 packages shredded cabbage or shred a head of cabbage
2 packages Ramen noodles (discard the flavor packages) break the noodles up into small pieces
4 oz slivered almonds (I had sliced almonds and used them)
4-6 green onions, sliced thin
1/8 cup sesame seeds
6 tablespoons butter
In large skillet melt the butter, add noodles, almonds and sesame seeds stir until golden brown, cool.
In jar combine
3/4 cup oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2/3 cup sugar
Shake until sugar is melted.
Just before serving mix all ingredients.

Alice had a great idea for single people: keep all ingredients separate and mix enough for one or two servings so the noodles stay crunchy. Thanks Alice!

 Cajun Lemonade (easy) from Southern Living Magazine September 2011

 Frozen White Sangria (don't remember where I got the recipe)

2 cups fresh pineapple pieces, frozen
2 oranges, sectioned, frozen
2 cups white wine, chilled
1/2 cup brandy
1/2 cup orange flavored liquor (triple sec)
1 cup crushed ice

Put everything into a blender and blend until smooth. I doubled the recipe and had to make several small batches because not everything fit into blender at once.

The recipe is very flexible, you could use any fruit you like (peaches, nectarines, etc. and liquor you like, flavored vodkas, Chambord, Gran Marnier, Midori etc.

Cucumber Slices Provencal (fancy name, easy to make) 

Mini Cheesecakes made in muffin pans, any fruit topping, pie filling

12 vanilla wafers

2- 8 oz packages cream cheese

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix until smooth and fluffy

Line muffin tin with paper or foil liners, drop wafer in bottom. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full, bake @ 350 15 - 18 minutes, cool, put in refrigerator overnight.
Top with fresh fruit or pie filling of your choice.