If you have anything chocolaty to share, post and link to Would You Like Chocolate With That? hosted by Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolate!
It’s a Cook-Off!
We’ve spent days trying to identify the missing ingredient from FirstHusband’s hit one pot meal invention. Almost every time I sit down to a computer after FavoriteSon, the zoomed in photo of his dad’s handwritten recipe has been on screen. (In case you’re catching up, the unknown ingredient(s) would be the word(s) following “3 cups” in the photo below. – click to see a larger image.)
FavoriteSon seems to have more than a passing interest in solving this problem. He’s a little obsessed. I brought him some stuffed shell leftovers from my women’s circle meeting today and as he was devouring them, I said, “You know FavoriteSon, stuffed shells are one of your dad’s signature meals.” His deadpan reply? “Yeh, well so is “b r y something,” but he’ll never be able to make that again.”
FirstHusband is a little obsessed himself. I caught him standing in front of the pantry with a “thinking” face, and we spent about a half an hour talking about the possibilities. Here are his assumptions about (missing) ingredient #6:
1. It wouldn’t have been anything in a can or he would have written “can(s) of” instead of “3 cups” of something.
2. Given the other ingredients, it was probably a starch to thicken it up.
3. It’s quite possible it was three HANDFULS of something and he guessed each to be about a cup.
4. It probably wasn’t something frozen, because the freezer is in the laundry room and he would have “been too lazy to go that far,” as he puts it.
5. He really thinks the second and third letters are “r” and “y” because of the way he writes.
6. Some “thickeners” he’s used in the past include oat bran, oatmeal, ground flaxseed, and wheat germ. He doesn’t think he’s ever used stuffing to thicken before, but after we found some in the pantry, he’s wondering if it might be good.
7. ADDED LATER: Is it possible that we are reading this line incorrectly? Notice that he didn’t write “cans” with an “S” on the end. Could it be that he didn’t write “cups” but rather “cup” with no “S” on the end? If so, it could be that this mystery ingredient begins with “SH” and we’ve been focused on the wrong thing the whole time. hmmm.
Something else to consider? He’s a lefty, so he writes with his left hand, which makes the letters come out a little “different” sometimes. I’m also considering the last letter may be an “s” because of the similarity to the “s” at the end of “chick peas,” right above it.
So, even after all the GREAT comments, guesses and suggestions, we are still stumped. FirstHusband’s idea?
A second plea for suggestions and a COOK-OFF! He will take the top three suggestions/guesses from the original post and now THIS post as well, and cook three different versions of the recipe.
We wish we could have some guest judges, but given the geography, we’ll just have to do it ourselves. The kids will be the real judges. So, be kind because I have to eat these meals.
a fool and his books are soon parted.
I read, therefore I quote. I can’t help it. It’s what I do.
I checked out “Speaking of Books: The Best Things Ever Said About Books and Book Collecting
The owner of a country house was showing some visitors over a superb library. “Do you ever lend books?” he was asked. “No,” he replied promptly, “only fools lend books.” Then, waving his hand to a many-shelved section filled with handsomely bound volumes, he added, “All those books once belonged to fools.”
Frank Hird, in the Times, March 7, 1928
If you have a quote to share from something you’ve read recently, feel free to comment and/or include a link to your own “. . . therefore I quote” post. I’ll try to make this a regular Thursday theme. If you do join in and write your own “therefore I quote” post, please include a link back here? Thanks! (So my quotes are posted on Thursdays. Post your quote whenever you want and link to it on the most recent “therefore I quote” post.)
Need help making your link look pretty in the comment? Check out these simple instructions.
i’ll get right on that, Mr. Sunday.
It’s confirmed. I got an email notice today. I’m RICH! I’m RICH, I’m RICH, I’m RICH!!!!! Woo Hoo! And I’m willing to share in the wealth! Who wants some money? It looks as though I will have PLENTY. I can’t wait to tell FirstHusband. Check it out!
“Mr. Sunday OFILI
Remittance Department
Intercontinental Bank Plc.Attention: Beneficiary (That’s ME!)
This is to officially (see? “officially” this must really be legit!) inform you that we have verified your inheritance file presently on my desk, and I found out that you have not received your payment due to your lack of co-operation (but, I didn’t mean to not cooperate!) and not fulfilling the obligations giving (psst. that would be “given” little typo. sorry. continue.) to you in respect to your inheritance payment. Secondly, you are hereby adviced (probably just another typo) to stop dealing with some non-officials in the bank (I knew I shouldn’t have talked to that teller. she did look non-official. AND she mentioned NOTHING about this to me.) as this is an illegal act (illegal act? I’m rich now, can’t I just pay a fine or something?) and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your payment immediately. (okay, so I should deal directly with you. because you’re official. got it.)
After the board meeting held at our headquarters (wow. a board and everything.), we have resolved in finding a solution to your problem (oh thanks so much! where do I send a fruit basket? that board seriously deserves a fruit basket. tomatoes are a fruit, you know.), and as you may know (well, NO. remember, that teller didn’t say a word!), we have arranged your payment through our SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTRE in Europe, America and Asia Pacific, which is the instruction given by our president,Yar’Adua (GCFR) Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Nigeria? Hey, I’ve gotten an email from Nigeria before! but that email wasn’t official. like this one is.)
This card centre will send you an ATM CARD which you will use to withdraw your money in an ATM MACHINE in any part of the world (cool. I choose . . . Italy.), but the maximum is ($5,000) Fifteen Thousand Us Dollars (um. I’m confused. I’m sure you meant ($515,000) Five Hundred Fifteen Thousand US Dollars) in three transactions per day (it’s good that the ATM software limits withdrawals like that. I can spread my spending throughout the day). So, if you like to receive your fund this way (sure! that works for me!),you are advice (I don’t mean to embarrass you, but it’s spelled “advise” and in this case, you should add a “d” to the end. sorry. continue.) to get back to me with the following information below to enable me get back to you quickly with full details on how to receive your card.you are hereby advice to get back to me with the following through this mail box: sunday.ofili@live.com (you should fire your secretary, he/she can’t type.)
Your Card and pin number will be mail to address on file; re-confrimd address below (see what I mean? it’s like the typist can’t even speak/write English. and working for an INTERCONTINENTAL bank? seriously. take a class or something. I hear language immersion training is very effective. Some people try to get by with using translation software, but it doesn’t always get the subtleties of a language, you know?)
(1) Your Full Name (um. you don’t know who I am? how did you verify my inheritance? do you know how many Julie Mills there ARE out there? This inheritance is MINE, isn’t it?)
(2) Address where you want the payment centre to send your ATM CARD. (well, to my home, of course. the address should be right under my name on that verification thingy you mentioned.)
(3) Phone And Fax Number (fax? what you can’t PDF? I thought you had a board. “Intercontinental” and you don’t PDF? pshh.)
It is my pleasure to inform you that you are not the only beneficiary that we paid through this method (oh good! so this should go very smoothly.) we previously paid our American and Canadian beneficiary which I am forwarding their tracking numbers for verifications. (references are important. good thinking.)
Kindly, track it online on http://www.FedEx.com for more clarification and verification.856467606835 (http://www.fedex.com, tracking, 856 . . . oh forget it. this sounds good. I don’t need to check these numbers. the fact that you provided them is proof of your honesty.)
856467606570
858407652831
856475238735
856475238768
856475238757
858407652783
856475238963
856467606673
We shall be expecting to receive your information you have stop any further communication with anybody or office. (despite your secretary’s incompetence, I get it. send you info. don’t talk to anyone else but you about this. will do.) On this regards, do not hesitate to contact me with the above mentioned information. (thank you for all your help. you are so kind. what’s your home number?)
Thanks for your co-operation. (you’re welcome!)
Best Regards,
Mr. Sunday OFILI
Remittance Department
Intercontinental Bank Plc.Note: Because of impostors (they mess things up for everyone, don’t you think?), we hereby issue you with our code of conduct, which is (ora709) so you have to indicate this code when contacting this CARD CENTRE” (no problem. get right on it.)
Maybe I’ll pick up a quick pick lotto ticket today. Just in case this doesn’t work out, I’ll have a backup plan.
pretty links
I’m fine with readers leaving links in their comments on any of my blogs. WordPress catches most spam and I delete the spam that sneaks through. However, some links are prettier than others.
Some links look like code threw up on the screen and don’t even work, like this:
<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLs9RI8mSA”>Small is Tall</a>
and some links are, like I said, prettier, like this:
Ugly links are always welcome, but if you want to know how to enter pretty links, click on over to Pragmatic Computing and check it out. It’s easy!
Find more tips and ideas at Works for Me Wednesday hosted by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.
guess (or suggest) the missing ingredients, win a cookbook.
I noted in number 5 of my “21 things about me” that I can only cook with a recipe. In contrast, FirstHusband cooks like a mad scientist – he invents. Sometimes the results are . . . disappointing. Like Fish Grits. (He wouldn’t even eat them.)
Many times, the invention turns out to be very, very good. Sometimes it’s “You should become a chef after your mid-life crisis” good. When that happens, there’s always a plea for him to write down what he did so he might possibly be able to repeat it. A while ago, he created a one pot meal that we all loved and he did write down the ingredients. Unfortunately, is seems an engineer’s handwriting is worse than a doctor’s. Check it out. (Click on the photo to see a larger image.)
Can you guess the ingredients? There are twelve lines here. I’ve figured out all but one, but I don’t want to spoil the game, so I’ll only reveal a couple of the easy ones.
1. white wine/sherry
2. (UPDATE – Correct! 3 chicken breasts, cut up)
3. one box spinach
4. (UPDATE – Correct! 1 can of tomatoes)
5. (UPDATE – Correct! 1 can of chickpeas)
6. THIS IS THE ONE THAT I STILL CAN’T FIGURE OUT! Make a guess or a suggestion!
7. (UPDATE – Correct! 1 can of cream of mushroom soup)
8. (UPDATE – Correct! 1 can of cream of celery soup)
9. boil (UPDATE – I’ve been corrected! It is BASIL.)
10. rosemary garlic (seasoning – we have a big Sam’s Club jar of it.)
11.
12. garlic (we keep a jar of minced garlic in the fridge.)
And this is a game after all, so there needs to be a prize. How about a cookbook? It was Whale of a Sale this past weekend, so I picked up a few gently used cookbooks to choose from. Click on the links to read the Amazon descriptions.
If you play the “missing ingredient” game, specify your book choice in your comment.
The California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook
Soups, Salads & Starters: the Best of Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library
OR
Instead of a cookbook, a shrink wrapped hardback copy of the Southern Living Wine Guide and Journal
Enter to win by commenting and guessing a missing ingredient. OR SUGGEST a possible ingredient for #6! Depending on the response, I might fill some in as they are correctly guessed or I might wait a week. Either way, I’ll randomly pick a winner on Tuesday, October 14th, so check back!
Check out some completed recipes at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday hosted by Lisa at Blessed With Grace
Tammy is back today after taking the day off last week, so head on over to Kitchen Tip Tuesdaysfor great ideas and recipes.
Would You Like Chocolate With That? Lucy, the Big Dip(per).
I stumbled upon this a few weeks ago when I posted Lucy and Ethel trying to keep up with the conveyor belt of chocolate.
If you have anything chocolaty to share, post and link to Would You Like Chocolate With That? hosted by Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolate!
Need a few more chuckles today? Check out Friday Funnies hosted by Homesteaders Heart!
“. . . therefore I quote” Po Bronson
I read, therefore I quote. I can’t help it. It’s what I do.
“What do people in your life need to do to be forgiven by you? what must happen, if anything, before you are willing to see them for who they are today, rather than for what they did to you long ago? How do people redeem themselves, in your eyes? Do they need to admit what they did? Do they need to repent? Do they need to have changed their ways, and if so, for how many years before they have proven to you they are truly deserving? . . .
. . . One school of thought . . . People who hurt us in the past are to be regarded with great skepticism, and we must be wary that their cleansing ritual wasn’t just an empty pantomime. Every time people screw up, it’s proof that they have not really changed. This is the guarded voice in our ear, the one that wants to lay out tests before forgiving. At heart, it’s the voice of someone deeply hurt who wants never to be hurt again . . .
. . . The other school of thought . . . those who wronged us are not required to show remorse or beg or admit everything they ever did wrong. Under the other school of thought, the burden of proof is definitely on the atoner. In this school of thought, the burden shifts to the forgiver . . .
. . . But hatred serves no purpose and there is no profit in hanging onto a grudge . . .
. . . Forgiving your enemies is the easy part. The hard work is in forgiving those you trusted to care for you, those precious few you believed would keep your interests in mind, the one person you thought would never do that to you. Forgiving those you love is not something you do once, like a ceremony. It is required of you, in some form, every single day.”
from Why Do I Love These People?: Honest and Amazing Stories of Real Families
by Po Bronson
A few months before I read the above in Po Bronson’s book, I heard something which became a pivot point in my life. It has multiple versions, and is attributed to different people, but the meaning remains constant:
“Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
There is a person in my life (I’ll call them “AnitSpock”) who “deserves” my anger and resentment. For a long time, I held onto that anger and resentment like a well earned trophy. I paid a huge price for it and I was NOT going to just let it go. But, after years of “taking poison,” that big, ugly trophy is just too freakin heavy to keep lugging around. And I’m tired of dusting it.
As a Christian, I admit I struggled with whether to attempt to repair the relationship. As a student and teacher of communication, I logically believed I should and could, but as a subjective participant in the relationship, I had significant doubts about any resolution.
So, I tested the waters. I tried to open a discussion about some things which had hurt me. AntiSpock became viscously angry and attacked. And I knew. There would be no restoration of the relationship. I no longer expect or hope AntiSpock will recognize or regret any past or future actions and choices. There will never be an opportunity to explain how I was hurt. There will never be an apology. AntiSpock has no idea what caused the relationship to deteriorate. Instead, there is a belief that I’m angry about only one recent choice. There is a belief that I don’t understand that one choice and that if I did, everything would be fine.
AntiSpock will never be the person I need(ed) and wish(ed) they would be. And I finally grew tired of hearing myself whine about it. “AntiSpock was mean to me. wah, wah, wah.” NOW what? When I was done whining, the problem was still here. That was another 5 minutes I’ll never get back. Another 5 minutes I took away from my kids. From my friends. Another 5 minutes I wasted instead of focusing on things which edify me. Another 5 minutes given to Antispock and they weren’t even THERE.
I refuse to be a victim any more.
There’s a glimmer of peace now because I realize MY restoration has nothing to do with AntiSpock, so there’s nothing to talk about or resolve between the two of us. One less guilt-laden item on my to-do list.
As a Christian I have to be true to my convictions, so I give AntiSpock the only thing I can. Grace. And every time I give it, I pray for a refill. Like manna.
If you have a quote to share from something you’ve read recently, feel free to comment and/or include a link to your own “. . . therefore I quote” post. I’ll try to make this a regular Thursday theme. If you do join in and write your own “. . . therefore I quote” post, please include a link back here? Thanks!
(Mr. Linky doesn’t work well with wordpress.com, so feel free to paste a link right in your comment!)
freakish kitchen organization
Shannon, over at Rocks in My Dryer is hosting a themed edition of Works for Me Wednesday. Today is all about kitchen organization! Since it’s Whale of a Sale time and I’m sorting hundreds of books and alphabetizing by author until I literally can’t remember how to spell, I’m maximizing my time (cheating) and highlighting previous posts about my kitchen.
My favorites are:
the good, the bad and the ugly (kitchen cabinets)
veggie box (our key to 5 minute meal preps)
five minute sink (two of my biggest strategies for getting things DONE.)
lunchbox flatware (no more missing place settings)
AND, Shannon’s theme has also prompted me to organize my “recipes” page, above. It was missing quite a few posts but now – I think – it is up to date! Just in time for Thanksgiving pumpkin soup!