Food pile up

Got a little behind because of ...can you believe it...work. Had a little snafu when the counter tops for the kitchen renovation I'm working on were delivered to be installed and the cabinets were not level. Installers were just standing around helpless. It all got worked out and by the end of the day the kitchen had gorgeous white quartz counters. Now on to paint, backsplash, floors, faucet and lighting.

 

On to the food. I've been trying hard to get back to healthy eating. Thought I had found a good deal when I found this big bag of rice mix at Fresh Market.

 

It was on sale for $3 and I thought it was a heavy bag with a nice supply. Oops , it was ready to serve and only 2-3 servings. Oh well it was not a bargain but was pretty tasty.

 

 

Did add a little V8 when heating. Meatloaf , containing oatmeal and whole-wheat bread crumbs.

 

 

Broccoli

 

Decided to try and get rid of some cabbage. I'm about the only one here who will eat it. A head goes a long way for one person.

 

Sautéed it with some mushrooms. Nest day the cabbage went down as Chicken Minestrone soup.

 

Remember the roasted chicken. Added white beans, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes, the cabbage and a handful of whole wheat orzo at the end. Jan and I took an evening stroll now that it is light forever.

 

I remember how Cary used to make such fun of Jan and I pointing out pretty flowers on our walks. I wonder if she notices them now when she is strolling Brody.











Roasted chicken

...one of my favorite dinners to make. As it appears my "pirogue" has sailed and I have to get back to smart eating again. Check out the healthy spin I put on it. Ed asked why I didn't buy a rotisserie one at Kroger...silly man. I always tease my good friend Bev about this recipe because she tried more than once to make it and it never got done in the center. She even brought it out of the fridge a second time and tried to cook it more and it still failed. First trim all the fat you paid for, off of it.

 

Second, dispatch your cat helper if possible

 

 

I even cut off the tail, it has lots of fat. Cut slits in the skin to hold legs.

Fold wings underneath. I like to cook the liver too.

 

Dry it off. If you leave it wet, it sort of steams it. It makes me mad that they inject the chick with water. You have to pour it off halfway through cooking.

 

 

Rub with a little butter, lemon zest and rosemary. It is the only herb that survived the winter

 

 

Put celery and lemon into cavity

 

 

I found these tiny potatoes and Brussels's sprouts. Mushrooms and carrots round it out.

 

Garlic salt on veggies.

 

Roast for 15 mins at 425 degrees, turn down to 350 for another hour or more

 

Didn't get a pic before Ivy attacked it.

 

Walked with Candy this morning and found what I used to call a Barbie wedding bouquet bush.

 

Bridal wreath spirea

 

Ok now this is getting scary. The gloves are meeting up.

 

More spring flowers.

 

 

And finally , tell me, would you hire this handy person?

 

 





 

 

girl trip 2014

Annual girl trip had a new addition...baby Brody. He was great! We just worked our schedule around his naps and feedings. This time we went to Bay St. Louis on the Mississippi Gulf coast. It is a great little town that has made a great comeback since Katrina. The weather was not fabulous, but we didn't mind.

 

Our first stop was at Shaggy's on the beach

 

Warm and humid

 

Sophie found the solution to that problem.

 

Mary Grace and I solved our oyster craving problem

 

 

Rockefeller

 

Ponchartrain (parmesan, bread crumbs)

 

Barbeque

 

Next on the the rental

  

 

How many women does it take to assemble a pack and play?

 

Great bayou view. MG fishing

 

 

Great deck. Didn't get to use much

 

 

Screen porch. Did get to use much

 

Nest day...tourists in town...I'm guiding the way.

 

 

Cold and damp

 

Found a cool old cemetery . Jan photo'd Brody's first graveyard shift with Aunt Amy.

 

Then on to lunch. The special was a "pirogue" (Louisiana boat) made of a deep fried hollow eggplant filled with Newburg sauce and shrimp, oysters and crab. Kill me now.

 

 

You know a Bloody Mary is good when it is so hot that you have to put on chap stick to save your lips.

 

 

Next on to the beach

 

 

It was pretty cold by then so we didn't stay too long

 

Brody had to try the sand

 

 

Doesn't he look like he loved it?

 

Back home to puzzle and shrimp. Cooked our own dinner.

 





 

 

Ate on top of the puzzle. Getting in top shape for Beach Week puzzling. (being the master puzzler and all)

 

 

Took a tour of Lazy Magnolia brewery

 

 

Had yummy samples

 

Don't worry , Brody didn't have any.

 

Heading home we saw the most amazing azaleas.

 

 

They were huge. Since we always squeeze all the fun we can out of a trip...we stopped in Hattiesburg at one of Sophie's favorites. Glory Bound Greek restaurant.

 

Very nice ending. Get ready to read about healthy food now. 







 

 



 

The Col-pear Report

That post title was really bad. Sorry all. But the pear's time had come.

 

So far so good.

 

 

It was good...not great or perfect. Good texture, no graininess. Juicy, but lacked some sweetness. I guess I would call that success.

 

Making some of Sophie's Chicken Quinoa Chili. It really is more like taco soup and is made in the crockpot. All you do is dump ingredients in and turn on low for the day. It even has raw chicken and quinoa in it.

 

 

I'll send a pic when it is done. I'll take this on our annual Ellis girl trip tomorrow. We are staying in a house on a bayou near Bay Saint Louis on the Mississippi coast. 5 girls and Brody! Should be some good posts coming up!

 

Also made these carrot muffins to take. The recipe called them cupcakes and piled them high with cream cheese frosting, but I think they taste good on their own.

 

 

And a little Sponge Bob couldn't hurt.

 

They have pineapple, 4 cups of carrot, raisins and pecans. Only a 1/3 oil and I used a little sugar substitute made for baking. They taste really good.