Week 3

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Getting ready for lunch tomorrow to celebrate Auntie Kack's birthday. I made the salad (a new recipe), the muffins, and the cake, and peeled and sliced the carrots. I planned the table and brought in (and washed) the dishes from the garage. Touched up the house. 

Monday, January 16, 2023 

Lunch today. Here's the table.

The Menu

Bacon Quiche

Ham Crustless Quiche

Chopped Crunchy Salad

Buttered Carrots

Blueberry Muffins

Iced Green Tea

Chocolate Cake

Vanilla Ice Cream

The Food

CRUSTLESS QUICHE

1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheese of your choice

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

4 eggs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup flour

1 Tbs butter, cut in pieces if cold

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1-1/2 cups milk 

Heat oven to 350°. 

Butter a 10” pie pan or quiche pan. 

Sprinkle cheese and bacon over bottom of pan. 

Put remaining ingredients in a blender; mix and pour over. 

Bake 35 minutes. 

Let stand 3-4 minutes before serving.

This time I used Swiss and added mushrooms.

WHATEVER QUICHE 

Basic Recipe:

1 unbaked 9” pie shell

1 cup cream (or half-and-half)

1 cup grated or shredded cheese (your choice)

3 eggs 

Add whatever you like:

Cooked and crumbled bacon, sausage, ham, salmon

1/2 cup chopped onion sautéed in butter, cooked mushrooms, minced bell pepper, sliced olives (ripe or stuffed green), cooked broccoli or asparagus, use your imagination. If you use spinach, squeeze it very dry after cooking. 

Heat oven to 350°. 

Weight and bake pie shell for 10 minutes. 

Whisk together eggs and cream; add balance of add-ins. Pour into shell. 

Bake an additional 20-25 minutes, until set. 

Note: To make ahead, put filling in pie shell and bake 15 minutes at 375°. Cool, wrap, and freeze.  Bake frozen quiche at 325° for 25 minutes.

This time I used ham, Cheddar, onion, and stuffed olives.

CRUNCHY CHOPPED SALAD

4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 cup radishes, diced

1 cup celery, diced

2 cups broccoli, diced

2 cups cauliflower, diced

2 cups shredded Cheddar

Roasted peanuts (optional)

Dressing

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup creamy Italian dressing (I used Aldi brand)

1 Tbs lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt 

Chop and chill all veggies.

Mix and chill dressing. 

Just before serving, mix veggies and dressing; stir in cheese, and top with peanuts (if desired). 

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS 

3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

4 tsps (1Tbs +1 tsp) baking powder

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup milk

1/2 cup cooking oil

2 eggs

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

4-5 Tbs sugar for topping

Heat oven to 400°. 

Combine the first four ingredients in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. 

Mix the milk, oil, and eggs and pour it into the well. 

Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. 

Fold in blueberries. 

Fill greased muffin tins (or paper baking cups) 2/3 full. Sprinkle sugar over the tops.

 Bake 20-25 minutes. 

Note: Recipe makes 24 muffins – easily halved to make only 12 if you wish.

DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE

From Hershey’s Cocoa

1-3/4 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

1-1/2 tsps baking soda

1-1/2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup oil

2 tsps vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350°F.

Grease and flour baking pan(s) or put paper liners in two 12-cup muffin tins.

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixer bowl.

Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.

Beat 2 minutes on medium.

Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).

Pour into baking pan(s).

Bake suggested times below, until done when tested with a toothpick.

Note: Can be made in a Bundt or tube pan (33-36), 8” layers (26-31), 9” layers (23-28), 13 x 9 (33-36) or cupcakes (24 regular)(18-21).

Nice to entertain again. I must do more of it this year.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Today I bonded with my new washer and dryer. I changed the sheets and did all the laundry. I expected the new appliances to be quieter than the old ones, but no. The washer sounds a little like a cow in labor and the dryer sounds as if I live next to a highway with motor noise. Oh, well. I only hear it if I'm working in the kitchen. Besides, it's nice to know they're in there doing their work. I had to read the directions to understand locking lids. Why? Did some stupid person try to take clothes out while the washer was working and got hurt? What happened to bring about such a goofy idea? 

I spent the rest of the day putting away the lunch things. So much stuff. The tablecloth goes in the office closet. The placemats, chargers, and silverware in the guest room closet. Napkin rings in the guest room chest of drawers. The candle holders in the guest bath linen closet. Napkins in the chest in the breakfast area. The yellow dishes, flower pot, and serving pieces in the garage. Takes a while. 

I made meat loaf and baked potatoes for my first This Week's Dinner so I could share with Terri. 

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Terri came over and we went to Applebee's to eat fish and chips, our favorite. We stopped by Walmart so I can stay home and not drive until I get my eyes fixed. 

She brought me a really fun New Year's bag with English toffee she made, peppermint bark, hot chocolate mix, and an exciting box of eleven little jars of jellies and jams, and one jar of honey. What fun! I've already eaten more than half the toffee.

And my ballpoints which are usually out of stock at Walmart.

What a great niece!

Thursday, January 19, 2023

I was reading about Albert Einstein this morning, and this is what he said, "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots."

I fear his prediction has come to pass.

Today I received a really fun package from Candy and Jim. They know I love Paris, so I got a holder for my family room coffee table to contain my runaway pens, glasses, kitty brush, and nail file.

Also in the package, a group of Paris shops wall decor. They belong in my office, but I need to get rid of something to make room.

The Couture cards are taking too much time, so I'm switching to butterflfies, as I already have most of them ready to go. That will give me time to work on Couture. I hope to get the butterflies in the mail tomorrow.

I've had a recipe for Apple Crisp for years, but never tried it. Not a keeper. 

Friday, January 20, 2023

Finally, the second January card is finished. I had to make four more, because my list has grown since I made them originally. The butterfly cards were meant for June, so now I have until June to finish the Couture cards.

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Why do I always make too much potato salad? And why do I always eat too much potato salad? I made sandwich-less ham to go with it - no bread if I'm going to eat all these potatoes.

A dreary day; perfect for reading, so I finished my book and did nothing else. I'm loving this author. This book is about an African-American girl who could pass for white, so she did, and became the personal librarian of J. Pierpont Morgan. I love the way she writes, but didn't entirely appreciate the author notes at the end. I don't understand why people keep preaching white supremacy with nothing to back up the claim. Civil rights laws were passed. Get over it. I'm not racist, but if I keep getting scolded, I might change my mind.

I've placed a hold on Marie's book about the disappearance of Agatha Christie, so looking forward to reading her views. 

Two more days before I get my eyes fixed. I'll be so happy. Not being able to drive is a bummer, and everything takes so long. Where are my glasses, move to better light, need the magnifying glass, etc. 

Time to stop complaining and get back on program. Work on those goals!