Homemade Chili in July

Roger discovered how to use the pressure cooker! The result was this wonderful homemade chili! This again, was a Chef Jaque Pepin recipe.

Food Processing in July

Roger and Danny decided they were going to try their hand at cooking dinner. They watched several episodes of Chef Jaque Pepin and decided on a menu. They started with potato pancakes, made homemade chili, and finished with a lovely pear dessert. To make the potato pancakes, Danny had to use a food processor. I didn't have one, so Roger bought one at Costco! Dinner was fantastic!!!!

Meatballs in July

I was watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay this summer. He challanged a chef in New York to see who could make the better meatball. Great episode! The chef, Mike Maroni, won the throwdown. I had to try it! His meat balls are the best I have ever tried! Click here for the recipe. Enjoy!!!

Dinner Anyone??

CAUGHT by Danny

CLEANED by Roger


(INSPECTED by Clifford)

COOKED by Judi

Summer Meals - a Family Affair

Kentucky Lake 191.365

After spending a few days in Gatlinburg, TN, we drove about six hours west to Paris Landing, on Kentucky Lake. We visited my Tita Pat and Uncle Larry. These were the best two days of our trip. Uncle Larry fried up lots of catfish that he caught - yummy!! Then he cooked up some BBQ ribs - best ribs anywhere!!! Mom and Tita Pat spent every moment catching up with each other. We also lit lot of firecrackers. The kids enjoyed doing this - but not as much as the adults did!!

Days 183 - 186

Day 183.365

Another Bunco night! I love spending time with these ladies!!

Day 184.365

Do you remember eating creamcicles (50-50 bars to some people)? These are the orange popcicles with the creamy center. My favorite!!! I found an outstanding recipe to make the creamcicles, but in a loaf that is easy to share for dessert!! YUMMY!!!

Day 185.365

Poor Clifford is hot! (and so am I!!) He goes from room to room to find the coolest spot to rest. I caught him on the fireplace hearth. Poor guy can't even fit on the thing!

Day 186.365

Pretty Pink Flower in a hanging basket. Makes me smile.

My First Tomato!! 181.365

Anyone who know me, knows that I have a black thumb! When students give me flowers or plants as gifts, I rush them home to give to Roger. They have a better chance with him caring for them!! Anyway, my aide, Anne gave me a Purple Cherokee Tomato plant for my birthday way back in April. I eventually planted it in one of those Topsy Turvey things. I have been diligent about watering this plant. Today I spied my first tomato!!

Dinner 172.365

Danny likes simple dinners. So tonight we are having beans and ground turkey, seasoned with lots of garlic, oregano, salt and pepper served over rice. Very simple and scrumptious.

Wedding 169.365

This past Saturday I attended the wedding of the daughter of a friend of mine. It was an elegant affair. The bride was stunning and the groom quite handsome. This is the wedding cake. I thought it was so cute that they had all the mini cakes for the guests to eat. The colors of the wedding were sage green, white and black.

Congratulations to Adam and Kelly!!

Spaghetti!! 160.365

Spaghetti night!!! yummy!!!

Guest Blogger: Clifford - Part 2 149.365

Woof! Hi everyone! My name is Clifford. One of my people, the pretty lady, usually writes on the computer. She said, this week I could write. This week, you are going to see things from my point of view. I hope you enjoy!

Here is a regular meal. A bowl of crunchy things. Tastes okay. I eat it. What I look forward to is when the tall guy comes home after a long time away. We hang out in a room where there is lots of food and snack it up! Yummy!

More Strawberries 144.365

More glorious Buoye Strawberries!! At the Spring Festival, the 7th grade class sold Strawberry Shortcakes (yummy!!). They are raising money for their science camp to Catalina Island in September.

Buoye Farms 129.365

Danny's class spent the morning at Buoye Farms. They grow Christmas trees, squash, tomatos, Maui onions, other veggies, and the VERY BEST BERRIES in the world. These strawberries are huge and so sweet. They are picked daily when truly vine ripened. It would be sacraligious to put sugar on these berries!

The little mouse and the big hungry bear would love to share one of these!!

Ole!! 128.365

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!! Here is my dinner from one of our favorite places, Rosa Maria!!!

Bridal Shower 118.365

Last year I turned 40 - when did I become my mother's age??? Then, on my way to Kelly's bridal shower, I realized something. I am now really my mom's age. I am attending a bridal shower of a daughter of a friend of mine!!! I haven't been to a bridal or baby shower of any of my friends in, well, forever!!!

Here is Kelly admiring the scrapbook her sister, Kasey, made for her.

Me, Maria, Helen, Tammy, and Hailey enjoying the nice weather, fun decor, and each other's company.

Instead of cake, we had cupcakes. Aren't these just soooo fun????!!!!

Clifford & Me 111.365

Tonight Danny and I were watching Marley & Me, about the world's worst dog. If you are a dog lover and have not yet seen it, you should. It is a funny movie!! While we were watching the movie, Clifford was outside, until the ending scenes. We started smelling an awful, acrid smell! We tried to call him in, but he was no where to be seen or heard, at least for a few minutes. Needless to say, he met up with a skunk. Dan and I think that the skunk was on the other side of the fence, though, because Clifford was not "too" smelly and wet.
So off to the bath we went. I did not have any tomato juice in the house and because it was late, the stores were closed. So, I had to improvise. Spaghetti sauce it is!! Clifford licked his chops as I spread the sauce on his face and also on his legs. It seemed to help, but there is still the smell in the house. Ewww!

Easter Berries 104.365

I had a plan. A great plan. A plan that Roger would LOVE. My plan was to have strawberries on angel food cake for dessert on Easter (tomorrow!!). My plan involved going to Buoye Farms to get strawberries. They have the BEST strawberries in the universe! They are as big as the palm of my hand and as sweet as heaven! You wouldn't dare put sugar on a Buoye berry! Well, I arrived at the farm at 12:30 and they were sold out!!!! I couldn't believe it!! I would not have a single Buoye berry in Easter! Alas, we had to settle for the inky dinky berries from the grocery store...