I could have sworn I’d had at least a post or two since Memorial Day. Weird, huh? Crazy busy week, but what is new. It’s beastly hot (90’s w/ tons of humidity) here so we’re not doing too much this weekend. Might get to the pool here in a bit for some sun, but it’s almost 4pm, so it shouldn’t be too bad. Did the grocery shopping this morning - more fresh fruit, vegetables and meat for the grill. Looking forward to cooking out later - have an idea for some new potatoes that I want to try on the grill. Plans later to go see the new Indiana Jones movie, if Adam ever gets out of bed. Yeah, yeah I know! Teenagers. Working on a digital thing for my girlie Jenny, so I’m going to go try and finish it up so it’s ready by the time she gets home. She’s out running around with her “guys” today. Where it’s cool (60’s!) but a bit rainy. Nice. Later! Sh@ron
Happy Memorial Day and Thank You to our Veteran’s that have served and sacrificed for our country and to protect the freedom we hold so dear. Some facts:
History of Memorial Day: On May 5, 1868, an order issued by General John Logan established a day of remembrance for those soldiers who died during the Civil War. May 30, 1868, was the day designated for this observance and flowers were placed on the graves of the fallen soldiers of both the Union and Confederate Armies. New York was the first state to officially recognize this observance in 1873 and in 1971 with the passage of the National Holiday Act; Memorial Day was designated as the last Monday of May.
And this is the oath that solider’s take upon enlistment into military service in the United States:
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE. SO HELP ME GOD.
So, whether or not you agree/disagree with the war…support the soldiers, they are doing their job. A job that may mean putting themselves in harm’s way. And sometimes dying in the course of doing their “job”.
On a lighter note…here’s what was on today’s menu:
Apple Salad - an Old Family Recipe
3 apples - 1 of each color. Core, chop (do not peel!) and toss with a bit of lemon juice to keep the pieces from turning brown.
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup nuts - I prefer pecans, my Mom always used walnuts. Chop coarsely. Unless someone you’re serving is allergic to nuts, then just omit them from the recipe. Not a big deal.
5 cups marshmallows (leaving you plenty to snack on while cutting up the apples!). We’ve used the colored ones in the past, but I prefer the white ones - to let the color of the apples take center stage. Little kids love the colored marshmallows though!
Mix together is small, separate bowl:
3/4 c miracle whip (or generic salad dressing…and light versions are fine if you want to watch the fat or you could even experiment with yogurt, etc.)
a little less than 1/4 cup milk (I use 1% - whatever you have on hand is fine)
1-1/2 tbls sugar (an artificial sweetener is probably fine. I don’t use them, so you’re on your own as to how much.)
Pour over apple mixture and blend well. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. Can be made the day before - this gives it lots of time for the flavors to mix and blend.
This is a great summertime dish to serve with anything. No heating up the kitchen and kids love it!
In a previous post, I mentioned how much I love & prefer cooking on the grill. And in Florida, you can pretty much grill year round. When we get bored with the plain meat over the fire, I like to mix it up with these - kabobs. Choose a meat and marinade, select complimentary veggies…or in the case of the shrimp - fruit, skewer them and pop them on the grill.
Grilled Shrimp Teriyaki Kabobs
Marinade: teriyaki sauce, pineapple juice, green onions, garlic, bit of sugar, lemon juice, splash of lime juice, touch of ginger, dash of salt. Add jumbo, peeled and de-veined shrimp and marinate for several hours. Skewer with pineapple bits, and grill. (I boil down the marinade and then use it to baste the shrimp while grilling)
Steak & Veggie Kabobs
I use a packaged meat marinade that uses oil (I use extra virgin olive oil), vinegar (organic apple cider - though I could have and sometimes use red cooking wine) and water. Cut up steak (I think I used Sirloin but any decent cut is good - this marinade tenderizes as well.) Marinate overnight. Cut veggies in large chunks - I have corn on the cob (partially cooked), red pepper, green pepper, Vidalia onion, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes. I also have used small, red new potatoes, but I will half cook them in the microwave before skewering them and putting them on the grill. I hate hard, half cooked potatoes! Tip: soak wooden skewers in cold water for 30 minutes before using them - keeps them from burning up on the grill!
What a feast! A group of us from the neighborhood all got together to cook, eat, hang out, etc. Everyone brought something different…London broil, chicken, fish (trout), ribs, hot dogs, crab legs, potatoes, corn on the cob. Whew! No one left hungry and everyone took plates home with them. Good times. I think we’ll be doing it again for the 4th of July holiday - especially since the fireworks are launched from the baseball stadium across the street - we have the best view!
Off to go find the Rice Chex Treats Tanya packed for me to take home. I think there’s an empty corner in my stomach that needs something a little sweet!! Hope your day was filled with good times, great friends and lots of wonderful memories.
Sh@ron
I had plans to upload photos from my camera today. BUT my son, again, borrowed the firewire cable from my card reader and doesn’t remember where it is. It’s probably with him, at his dad’s…so I’m going to scout around here for a substitute. I have to go out to the grocery store here in a bit, so I may drop by work and get my card reader from there. I hate detours!
Later!
Sh@ron
Awhile back, Jenny asked to see our first-ever scrapbook page. Here is mine. Hey, it was 1996…what can I say?! LOL… I had taken a class at Michael’s but when the instructor took the class out shopping, I got bored. That wasn’t what I was there to do! So, I picked up her issue of Memory Maker’s magazine and just started stamping, matting and cutting my photo with deco scissors, adding stickers, etc. When the class came back, the instructor then picked up my layout and began teaching the class using it as the example. Of what TO DO!! Seriously. We’ve come a long way, baby! And that baby in the photos? He’s 18 now. Wow, time sure flies.
Back to uploading my photos to an on-line storage site. Hurricane season is fast approaching!
Peace…
Sh@ron
It’s not that I don’t have “things” to do…I guess I just like having LOTS of things to do, so I can bounce around when I get bored with one thing, I can mosey on over to something else. So… I’m playing around with some ideas for the different “categories” for my site. One will be the blog…so you can keep up with my ramblings. Other ideas (and feel free to voice your opinions…otherwise it will truly be self-serving to have a site with my name attached to it!) - what do you think?
Sewing Room - projects like the apron, with instructions, tips, etc.
Training Corner - fitness, nutrition, etc.
Paper Arts Studio - scrapbooking, stamping…mish mash of things to share, projects in progress, may be some self-promotion as a teacher-for-hire (thinking of getting back in to that).
Blog - life, school, kids, and love. Except maybe that last one…LOL
Photography - any interest here? I’m getting back into it professionally, and I’m not really sure I have anything profound to share. But I could field your questions, post challenges, stuff like that.
Recipes - I know “everyone” is doing that…so maybe it would just be under my blog. I don’t have a lot of recipes, but I do grill a lot and with summertime here… just a half-baked thought (get it? tee hee hee) and because I’m going for my fitness training certification next month, I could share the “tastes good/good for you” recipes that seem to be so elusive?! Maybe these could go under Training Corner?
About Me - in case there’s something you don’t know about me! Actually, just the basics for people new to my blog trying to figure out who the crazy person is. Might put up a photo or two as well.
Okay, I’m running out of thoughts. Feel free to point something out that isn’t here or give me your top 4…or prioritize them if you want them all. Thanks friends (and yes, family can be considered friends)!!
Sh@ron
this weekend. I’m putting together a website this weekend that has to be up/finished by Sunday afternoon. The first design was done Wednesday. The business manager re-did everything and asked for 7 additional pages. On Friday morning!! A general contractor we are hoping to work with is being featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC tomorrow night. I’m playing phone tag with their web person to verify/exchange web URL’s for our respective sites. Their site is: Bella Terra and ours is IPS.
When the dust settles on this…hopefully by tonight, I’m going to spend the rest of my weekend RELAXING. Oh, wait! I have homework due by Sunday night. Dang. Okay, I will fit in some time to play. A had a couple friends spend the night last night, so I’ll definitely need that “ME” time!
Later…page 3 is calling me…
Sh@ron
I need to add a couple of buttons to the left of the heart, but it’s essentially finished! The edges of the applique are frayed and when it’s washed, they will fray and get softer each time. Should go perfectly with the torn edges on the ruffles. Whew! That was fun. Must make some more!! Full directions will be available in the not-to-far-off future.
Hugs,
Sh@ron
And for my friend Joe…
New design for the site, more “stuff”, and less nonsense. Well, maybe not that last part.
Oh, and a special page for that apron thing. Which I finished. Really. And I will show it to you tomorrow. Promise.
Hugs…
Sh@ron
To all the Moms out there…I hope your day is filled with love, laughter and great memories. Hugs!
Sh@ron
LOL…getting there. I’m going to add the applique tonight and see if we can get closer to finishing the instructions. I’m also going to move the instructions off to their own page for easy reference. Maybe pleats would have been more flattering…
