My Life – Page 112 – The Dackel Princess

What I Did This Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

This was the weekend of cooking! I seem to have spent more time in the kitchen than I usually do. Why is that, you might ask? Well, when I am nervous I cook and my cousin Janet was operated so I was a wreck. Happily, Janet is doing well, and later this week she should be well enough to go home, and then I will go down and help her out.n in an emergency on Saturday morning.

Okay, so here I go with what I did.

Friday I cooked, literally all day long. As you can tell from the previous post, it was literally mnon-stop from morning until the night!

Saturday was a nice day. I didn’t cook too much but I was preparing for our guests and the barbecue we had with our friends. That was so nice and relaxing, that even the dogs had a great time.

On Sunday, Hubby came in with another half a bushel of Macintosh apples and we cored them and cooked them up and made apple sauce.

I also discovered that I can download Kindle books to my computer! This is fabulous because it will mean that I can download books and enlarge the font! Yay!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Short Order Cook

It started with me cooking Hubby breakfast on Friday morning. I asked what he wanted and quickly whipped it up for him. I tidied the kitchen and then began the process of getting some cooking done.

Serious cooking.

Saturday we had friends over for a barbecue, and I needed to get the ribs set so that they could marinate. I was able to get that done pretty quickly, before I tackled the potato salad.

I tossed 5 pounds of potatoes in to boil with a half dozen eggs, and while that all cooked, I chopped the onion, celery for the potato salad as well as peppers and garlic that I needed for the Chili that I was also making.

Chili, you ask? Yes, Since I had all the juice from the tomatoes and I am literally inundated with Spaghetti Sauce, I decided to make a double batch of chili.

Once the vegetables were chopped and the potatoes were cooked, I set them aside to cool. Meanwhile, I started the Chili by sauteing all the vegetables and adding the ground meat. I browned that, added the tomato sauce and spices and set it on a low heat to cook.

I then made the potato salad and no sooner had I gotten all that put together, than it was lunch! I made Hubby a couple of hot-dogs with relish, onions and mustard and chips. Ate a quick lunch myself before working to clean up everything.

I was just finishing up the Chili in the mid afternoon when Hubby suggested that we make apple sauce! So we sliced and cored half a bushel of apples and cooked them down. We put them through the Foley Mill to remove any seeds and skin, and then added a tad of sugar and cinnamon. Yum! I froze eight quarts of sauce and put one container in the fridge.

Then Hubby wanted dinner. That was easy, he got Chili! I literally cooked the entire day on Friday, and I do not plan to cook much at all now over the weekend! Just a few little things. Like grill the ribs, and boil water for the corn on the cob.

I must share with you though, that my freezers are nearly full with all sorts of fruits and vegetables from the garden. Makes me feel kind of proud.

Saturday’s dinner went off without a hitch and we are all happily full tonight. Thanks to my pre-cooking, I was able to enjoy my guests and the food as well!

Random Dozen

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.

A Classic New York Reuben!

Rye bread lightly toasted, thousand Island dressing, corned beef, sauer kraut, and swiss cheese. And it’s a mile high! OMG! The best!

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?

All of the above, depending on the message.

3. What is your favorite board game?

Scrabble.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?

More patient. Especially because I realize how fleeting time is.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.

Oh dear, Just one? Well it would have to be eggs.

6. Do you agree with Tennyson’s assertion, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?”

Are you kidding? Me? The ultimate in romanticists? I absolutely believe this. What is life for if not to have loved?

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.

I have visited so many, thanks to my curious Hubby. My favorite? Probably Mount Rushmore.

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?

Myself, because ultimately it will mean I let someone else down.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?

We built our house and I designed it. So I would have to say, the layout of the kitchen, and the fact that it is all mine. Are there flaws? Yep! Never again would I deign a corner sink!

10. Are you a crafty person?

I used to be, but I do not think I am now.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?

Ribs, Ribs, Ribs!!!

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.

Cooking with Emily. To me, spending time like that with her, is the best!

New/Old Hair

I’ve been growing out my hair for a while now. It’s gotten so much longer and I thought I would like that, but…after a few months of not being able to just scrunch it into place I was going nuts.

So I called Margarita, and went in to get my hair cut! I wanted it all layered up so I can scrunch and go.

Margarita is an amazing stylist. She knew just what I needed and worked quickly and efficiently and I am back to being able to scrunch and go!

Isn’t it amazing how the little things in life can make all the difference?

I also made three quarts of spaghetti sauce! My freezer is getting so full.

Soon I will be making green Tomato Relish also known as “Chow Chow”. Now that will be interesting as I have never made that before!

Oh yes. And best of all, Emily arrives tonight for two days with us and the pups! We’re really looking forward to that!

Gotta Get Up!

Wednesday found me pulling the covers over my head, not wanting to get up and face the day. I hadn’t slept well, and somehow thought if I just stayed in bed, I could avoid any further catastrophes! Lucky for me, Hubby didn’t give up and he smiled and the dackels kissed me and even though I admit to being a little grumpy, I got up.

It was my day to go to Weight Watchers class and weigh in.

**groan**

I made myself a low fat peanut butter and jelly sandwich on diet raisin bread, got my coffee in a thermos and kissed Hubby goodbye. I got in the car, and in no time arrived at the meeting hall.

I really expected nothing. As you know, I’ve done a lot of cooking lately, but I have also been watching my portion sizes. I weigh everything, and I even decided that if I really wanted to eat some potato chips I would get the low fat baked chips. One ounce, which is just the right size, is only one point!

Anyway, I got up on the scale and was talking and not paying attention and Tami announced, “Wow! you did really great this week!”

That got my attention! “I did?” I asked in shocked disbelief. She nodded and replied, “Two pounds!”

I was so excited and happy and wanted to jump up and down with joy!

After that, the minor annoyances of the day seemed slide away and I concentrated only on the positive feeling I had from accomplishing something this important. (Even if I didn’t realize it!) Perhaps sometimes it’s better not to dwell on the change in ones eating and just concentrate on living it!

So now I need to go out and grocery shop for cans of tuna, some eggs and a few other things. I’m incredibly lucky that our fruit has been coming in, and the vegetables too.

It all helps and it is all good.

Random Dozen

1. What insect are you most afraid of?

Snakes and rodents.

2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do?

My garden and orchard.

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you.

Being trapped in a car.

4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances?

Since I pass ride, I can safely answer this question with a yes. Pass riders only fly if there is an open seat. Trust me, I have watched many planes take off and fly away with me still in the terminal!

5. What do you consider your best feature?

It used to be my eyes. But not any more. Now I would say it’s my ability to be a good friend. With age comes wisdom.

6. What was the last concert you went to?

I have a real fear of crowds. So I don’t go very often. I think the last concert I went to was at a church in Germany, Kloster Chorin. Volker and Uschi took me.

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced.

My brother fell asleep during midnight mass and slipped down and under the pew in front of us!

8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer?

Singer.

9. George Washington Carver said, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute?

Make sure you have good air conditioning. It is pretty darn hot here already today!

10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010?

Goodness, I go to Weight Watchers!

11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.)

The Liberty Bell.

12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships?

Absolutely. You know, a man with honor will treat a woman with true respect. I have many male friends and they are real gentlemen. I am treated like a sister and they do not hit on me for a date or more. If a man comes on to a married woman, then he is no gentleman at all.

Cooking!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

Today was a big cooking day here at The Dackel Princess House. Actually Hubby departed early on to go work in the forest again, and that left me with the Dackels, zucchini and more tomatoes than I knew what to do with!

So when all else fails, one must cook, yes?

I started by clearing the shelves and making sure everything was nice and clean. I’m quite lucky to have a big island counter top in my kitchen where I can spread out and work.

You can just see Greta enjoying the sunshine on the left side of the picture.

Then I got out all the equipment and ingredients to make the zucchini bread.

See my beautiful zucchini?

After this I used the food processor to shred it.

Then I mixed it all together and put it in pans.

And when I was done I had eight loaves of zucchini bread.

Seven of them went into the freezer, and one stayed out.

Meanwhile, during the time I was working on the zucchini bread, I had the tomatoes cooking so I could make spaghetti sauce. After a couple of hours cooking down the tomatoes, I put them through a food mill to separate the seeds and skins from the pulp.

I sauteed up some onions, peppers, celery, garlic and Italian Sausage and ground beef to make a nice thick meat sauce. After a few hours of simmering it slowly, it was done. I divided it up and froze half and kept half out. I’m thinking of making a zucchini lasagna with the sauce.

Later in the day, because I hadn’t cooked enough, I got to work on a beautiful Rainbow Trout that was given to me by my friend, Dave. This was an enormous fish and fed both Hubby and I completely!

I still want Dave to teach me how to cook this fish the way he described. Somehow I don’t think I got it right. Still we both enjoyed it, and so did Greta, Fritz, and Anneliese. They got the scraps. Arnie, funny little guy that he is, didn’t like it! I was shocked. I tried giving him the skin, but no. He didn’t like it!

So my day is ending, all the cooking is done and I am finally able to put up my feet and relax.

Tomorrow it’s zucchini lasagna!

Frisday Fil-Ins

And…here we go!

1. You do your thing; I do mine and sometimes _we get lucky and can do it together_.

2. _Anneliese_ is what’s been on my mind on and off all day.

3. Remember when _we were young and rode our bikes all day in the summer, ate frozen milky ways, swam out to the raft, felt the sun on our faces and spun around and around until we fell over in the front yard and no one thought we were crazy?_.

4. _Dachshunds, Dark Chocolate and Cooking_ are three of my favorite obsessions 🙂

5. During the last year _I have learned a lot about what is truly important.

6. _Seeing all the beauty around me_ puts a smile on my face.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _seeing my cousin_, tomorrow my plans include _taking Anneliese on a nice walk around the neighborhood_ and Sunday, I want to _enjoy my coffee, read the newspaper and watch a movie or two. I love lazy Sundays._!

Friday Fil-Ins are sponsored by my cousin Janet. Come on and join the fun!

Random Dozen

1. What is your favorite Mexican dish?

I’m your typical Tacos girl.

2. When you were a kid, did you get started on your homework right away after school, or did you procrastinate?

Oh I am a life long procrastinator!

3. What is your favorite store for home furnishings?

I don’t think I have one. I have just purchased what I liked, wherever that may be.

4. When you were young, did you like school lunches?

Oh yeah, for sure. Many people cringed at American Chop Suey, or Friday Fish Sticks, but I loved them.

5. Is religion a crutch?

I wouldn’t say it was a crutch. However, my faith gives me strength and courage.

6. In your region, what is the “big” (most popular in the community or state) high school sport?

Football. Sadly we don’t have enough kids in our local High School to have a team.

7. Do you consider yourself rich?

Monetarily no. But I am rich in all the ways it counts. I am loved by my hubby, family and friends, I have food to eat, a warm place to sleep, and four dogs to snuggle with!

8. Which of these would you have the best chance for success in administering:
A) CPR. I do know CPR
B) Heimlich Maneuver. I also know the Heimlich Maneuver.
C) Changing a flat tire. Forget about that. I would call AAA!

9. Which dance would you prefer to learn & why:
A) Salsa. For fun and exercise!
B) Hip Hop
C) Waltz. Because it is beautiful!
D) Swing

10. What’s the worst news you’ve ever delivered to someone?

That my daughter had passed away.

11. Name something you learned in college that had nothing to do with classes or academics.

I never attended college. But in life in general, it has been the ability to get along with other people.

12. New variation on an old question: If there’s a song in your head that just won’t get out, what is your favorite (or most repeated) line in that song?

Usually it’s the refrain. The paragraph that is repeated over and over again.

Just This Side Of Disaster!

On Saturday, while trying to find owners of lost dogs, bake endless batches of zucchini bread and put together a homemade spaghetti sauce, I was confronted with an urgent problem.

Hubby was on the phone calling the Police about the lost dog, when he bumped his wine glass. As if in slow motion, I watched it fall, spilling the contents of his glass right onto the top of his laptop computer!

I ran around the breakfast bar and grabbed the laptop turning it immediately upside down, pulling out the cord, and pressing the power button, in what seemed like one motion! I stood there holding the laptop in this odd manner until I could decide what to do with it.

I propped the machine upside down and used a pot to balance it on so the keyboard stayed parallel to the counter top while it either dried or died.

It was dry in the house, and cool as well. We left the laptop like that for several hours before Hubby turned it on. Presto! It worked just fine. Apparently Dell computers like a little red wine now and then. Who knew?

The only long term casualty was Hubby’s cordless mouse. When I grabbed the machine to save it from being soaked by the wine, I damaged the receiver. More like ripped that little sucker out of the machine and tore it almost in half!

So today Hubby and I drove down to Wal-Mart to pick up a new mouse for him. He got exactly the same mouse that he had before as he really liked it.

We also bought 2 lobsters for dinner as the local Market is having a big sale this week.

So one big disaster was averted, even though another smaller one happened. I look at it this way, I would rather spend twenty dollars on a new mouse, than a thousand on a new computer!