Saturday, November 20, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

We are headed to Sunny California for Thanksgiving Week. As much as I dislike 80 degrees on Thanksgiving day ....that is where the family lives. My family tradition is watching Elf while the dishes are finished and then Planes, Trains and Automobiles at night. I'm not sure my parents are ready to share the same traditions but I'm going to try to sell them on it!
Have a great week! Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!
PS Thanks for the well wishes for my son... he is doing much better. Don't even ask about how many times he has tried to convince me to let him try to eat Tri Tip, my dad's specialty! (not going to happen this time)

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Friday, November 19, 2010

No time to post...


Lots of this.....

this...


and this...
Thank you for all of your well wishes! He is getting better every day.

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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

WIWW-The hospital edition

Well the week started out good...

This is my "Goodwill Outfit". I blog for Thrifting Denver which is the local Goodwill blog. I like to dress in my best Goodwill finds to show that I mean business!


Jacket Nanette Lepore (you read that right) Goodwill $4.99
White Shirt -GDub

Tweed Cropped Pants Jason brand? Goodwill

Boots-Steve Madden (mine)


NY&Co Shirt and Sweater

Target jeans and boots



Sweater (no tags) Goodwill
Black riding pants Ann Taylor

Plaid Lined Boots Target

*This is when we thought it was strep....before all hell broke lose.



Ok so this is the outfit that I wore for the rest of the week in the hospital with my older son. He was mis-diagnosed with strep, had an allergic reaction to the medication that made his throat swell closed. He was on IV fluids, for two days and now he can't eat solid foods for 2 weeks. (yes that includes Thanksgiving!) Seeing the pictures of the inside of his esophagus made me cry in the hospital, I feel so sorry for him! Yikes it has ben a loooooongggg week.

He is home now and slowly eating clear broth and melted ice cream.... the boy lives for food.... not good.

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Nurse Ratched


I would like to tell you that my housekeeper didn't come one day with a similar piece of fabric tied around his head in the above fashion, but I would be lying. True story....


My older son has a naaaasty case of strep. And since he is 16 this is how the process went.
Day One
Son: My Adam's Apple hurts.
Me: Your Adam's Apple?
S: Yeah
M: Should we go to the doctor?
S: No!
M: Okaaay.


Day Two (Saturday)
S: There is a rock in my throat.
M: A rock? What does it feel like?
S: You know like when I swallow it has to go around a rock.
M: We can go to the doctor, but we have to leave right now!! (Thank goodness for Saturday hours!!)

MAJOR INFECTION! Tonsils...some mention of lancing.....iccccccckkkkk.......horse pills.......can't keep anything down........
ER visit.......many trips to the pharmacy for liquid meds.........

Did I mention that he thinks he's well enough to pick up his girlfriend for school? I may have mentioned that said girlfriend can catch the bus. That is why I'm Nurse Ratched.
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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thank you to our Military Men

Army
My cousin Randy Active Duty
(he brought my infant son for show and tell when he was in first grade)

Navy

His brother Adam (Active Duty)

Navy

My Grandpa "Dee" (I was named after him)

WWII Veteran

Air Force

My dad Edd served prior to Viet Nam

Marines

My Uncle Jimmy

Viet Nam Veteran

Thank you to those who are serving today, and to those who served in the past.
Please keep our boys in your prayers to return safely home to their families.

Veteran’s Day Prayer


Dear Lord,

Today we honor our veterans,worthy men and womenwho gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country.We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us. Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression. We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them, and we pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness.

By Joanna Fuchs


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Friday, November 12, 2010

The Recipes

The Giving Gals Lunch was great yesterday, so I thought I would post the recipes. Just so you know when you get a new camera and you switch the memory card sometimes the pictures disappear. That is why there aren't any photos of it. Sorry ladies you might have to come back and re-create it!
Dang It!!

Here are the pics that survived:

Pumpkin Ravioli



Saute onion in butter and a little olive oil...


Add in pureed pumpkin along with the thyme and sage.


Drizzle in the cream last, and stir in...



FILLING:
1 8 oz. can pureed pumpkin or one Small pie pumpkin (about 2-1/4 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 small yellow onion chopped
1/3 cup butter, cubed
2 teaspoons minced fresh sage
3/4 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 small bay leaf
1 egg, lightly beaten

SAUCE:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons minced fresh sage


Directions
In a large skillet, saute pumpkin and shallot in butter until tender. Add the sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Transfer to a food processor; cover and process until blended. Return to the pan; stir in cream and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Discard bay leaf.

I used wonton wrappers for the ravioli. Spoon 1 or 2 tsps. of the pumpkin mixture into the center, fold the wrapper over, use water to seal and then crimp with a fork.





Bring a soup kettle of salted water to a boil. Add ravioli. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer; cook for 1-2 minutes or until ravioli float to the top and are tender. Drain and keep warm.

**I used a large shallow pan of boiling water to cook the raviolis a few at a time. I think if you put them in all together they would stick...(just my opinion)

In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil; cook, uncovered, until reduced by half. Stir in butter and sage. Spoon over ravioli. Yield: 6 servings.

You can find the recipe here:http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Savory-Pumpkin-Ravioli


Roasted Butternut Squash

I just cut a butternut squash into 1 inch cubes with the skin ON. (Because Nigella told me to.) Toss with some olive oil, salt, pepper and some thyme sprigs. Roast at 425 for about 30 minutes or until cooked through.

Mixed Greens Salad with blue cheese, cranberries and candied walnuts.
Cranberry Vinagrette
NO PHOTO DANG IT!!
ingredients:
½ cup frozen cranberries
¼ cup honey
2 Tbsp white-wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ cup vegetable oil (I used Olive Oil)
Salt & pepper


Directions:
1. In a small saucepan over low heat, bring cranberries, honey, and vinegar to simmer; cook until cranberry skins break, 2–3 minutes; remove from heat and set aside to cool. Combine the cranberry mixture and Dijon mustard in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. With the blender motor running, drizzle in oil, then ½ cup water. (Once incorporated, the mixture should look thick and glossy.) Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate vinaigrette until ready to serve


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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sneaky Peaky

I'm hosting a luncheon at my house today for the "Giving Gals". We are a group of neighborhood women that get together once a month, have lunch, and donate to a charity of a member's choice. It rotates homes every month.

I'm doing the lunch and another member is choosing the charity.

So I decided to do the pumpkin ravioli ahead last night and since I couldn't sleep I made mini apple pies at 4:30 this morning. I'm so jacked up on coffee right now I could a run a marathon!!

Oh and I have an adorable G-Dub outfit all picked out for my meeting with my "boss" at the G-Dub this morning, hey maybe I'll just jog there!! Did you know I blog for Goodwill? Well I do! Come over and take a peak: www.ThriftingDenver.org

I'll post the recipes and photos tomorrow!
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