Sunday, May 16, 2010
It's Pretty Ugly Over Here
We have colds. Hubby, Max and myself were all in bed by nine last night. It's ugly. I really hate a cold when the sunshine is out. ICK!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Functionality AND Charm
Remember when I asked the window question? We received one bid. It was about what we expected. The second bid was a flat out refusal. Refusal to bid or to replace our windows. Kevin felt the look of our house would be ruined, the inside trim would be damaged, we would lose light, it would be expensive and disappointing. Oh my! Our house reminded him of story time with his mama and there was NO way he was going to ruin that. He has been selling windows for 22 years but apparently not to us!
So, now what? Well, he recommended a Fein Master tool and hard labor. Mine. Hubby came home and I told him no new windows, I am going to restore and repair.
Then I go to work and Washington State Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation has sent the museum information on Historic Preservation Month 2010, Unlocking the Benefits of Historic Windows. Old is the new green. They have tips in the form of a Preservation Guide.
New windows would be easier but overall this will be a better choice. Remind me when I get whiney about the work involved...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Pinnacle Grill
While cruising on the ms Ryndam we enjoyed the their five star restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill. The main dining room was great too but for a treat on our last evening we had dinner at the Pinnacle. Best meal of my life. Everything was so delicious and the presentation was beautiful. My crab cake brought a tear to my eye.
We made many good memories on our trip. Now it is back to work, my cooking and parenting Max. It's all good.
We made many good memories on our trip. Now it is back to work, my cooking and parenting Max. It's all good.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Cooking on the Cruise
Holland America's ms Ryndam has a Culinary Arts Center sponsored by Food and Wine Magazine. It's a state of the art kitchen set up for cooking demonstrations. Hubby and I were all over that. We learned some new recipes, tricks and techniques.
The ship's executive chef, Karl whipped up Prawn appetizers and also prepared a rock fish dish in one seminar. Delicious samples were enjoyed and we were given copies of all of the recipes.
Our ship's captain, Capt. Vincent Smit and our cruise director, Micheal had a Black Forest Cake Bake Off one afternoon.
By the end of the cruise we were pretty much running the kitchen. The Culinary Center was a fun part of our cruise. Our Garden Party group is in for a treat this year, as we learned some new tricks!
Holland America's bread pudding is very good. My Dad told me about it before we left. I learned how to make the bread pudding however; not for awhile. Must return to the Eat Less, Move More...
The ship's executive chef, Karl whipped up Prawn appetizers and also prepared a rock fish dish in one seminar. Delicious samples were enjoyed and we were given copies of all of the recipes.
Our ship's captain, Capt. Vincent Smit and our cruise director, Micheal had a Black Forest Cake Bake Off one afternoon.
By the end of the cruise we were pretty much running the kitchen. The Culinary Center was a fun part of our cruise. Our Garden Party group is in for a treat this year, as we learned some new tricks!
Holland America's bread pudding is very good. My Dad told me about it before we left. I learned how to make the bread pudding however; not for awhile. Must return to the Eat Less, Move More...
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Random Cruise Post
Hubby and I had a great cruise. We started in San Diego and ended in Vancouver B.C. this morning. While we spent a little time in San Diego the sun felt so good. It's been a cold spring so any sun is great. We met friends, Dan and Barb for dinner and had a good time catching up. It was so good to see them.
We boarded the Ryndam and were so impressed. It had just come out of dry dock where it was refurbished. Everything was freshly painted, the staterooms were redone and several areas had been given an overhaul.
I'm just going to share a few random ship shots tonight. The first full day out, the sea was angry, my friend. I wore the patch. For some reason if people were going to get sick it was right outside the elevators. Holland America provides these handy motion sickness bags. We stuck with the stairs to just avoid the whole ugliness of the seasickies.
Days run into each other when you are on a cruise. Holland American changes the elevator carpets everyday to help with that "what day is it?" problem. Nice.
Jogging is prohibited on the ship. I was so thankful for rule.
One of my favorite times on a cruise is after a late dinner and a show when we would get back to our stateroom. Our room steward would have left us a turned down bed, a breakfast room service menu, chocolates, a towel animal and the schedule for the next day.
There is something really fun about getting ready for bed and then planning the next day. I had forgotten about that part of a cruise.
More cruise coming...
We boarded the Ryndam and were so impressed. It had just come out of dry dock where it was refurbished. Everything was freshly painted, the staterooms were redone and several areas had been given an overhaul.
I'm just going to share a few random ship shots tonight. The first full day out, the sea was angry, my friend. I wore the patch. For some reason if people were going to get sick it was right outside the elevators. Holland America provides these handy motion sickness bags. We stuck with the stairs to just avoid the whole ugliness of the seasickies.
Days run into each other when you are on a cruise. Holland American changes the elevator carpets everyday to help with that "what day is it?" problem. Nice.
Jogging is prohibited on the ship. I was so thankful for rule.
One of my favorite times on a cruise is after a late dinner and a show when we would get back to our stateroom. Our room steward would have left us a turned down bed, a breakfast room service menu, chocolates, a towel animal and the schedule for the next day.
There is something really fun about getting ready for bed and then planning the next day. I had forgotten about that part of a cruise.
More cruise coming...
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Southern Chicken Salad
After I finished reading Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman I became a tad obsessed with the South. I do that after I read a book by May Kay Andrews too. These books just make me want to drink icy cold coca cola and eat chicken salad. So, the next time I went to the library and saw Southern Living Comfort Food cookbook I snatched it up.
Southern women make and serve a lot of chicken salad. Who better to get a recipe for chicken salad than from a Southern Living cookbook.
Of course, being the know it all that I am, I changed a few things. For one the curry, I'm not a fan and Hubby isn't a fan either. All the other ingredients were in the house except the fresh ginger. I used dried ginger and I always use low fat cream cheese. If you like mayo you could add a bit. Hubby did.
I didn't totally eliminate the curry. I just used several sprinkles and called it good. And was it ever!
Sheryl came Friday afternoon for a happy hour and we enjoyed it on crackers. We decided it would be good on butter leaf lettuce too. Since then Hubby and I have enjoyed it on sandwiches.
Southern Living Curried(Curry is optional) Chicken Salad
Ingredients
4 cups finely chopped cooked chicken (Good Southern women only use white meat.)
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
6 green onions, minced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 (2 1/4-ounce) package slivered almonds, toasted
1 tablespoon curry powder*only if you like curry
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
48 whole-grain bread slices for the tea sammies or serve on crackers, breads or lettuce.
Stir together first 11 ingredients. Spread mixture evenly on 1 side each of 24 bread slices; top with remaining 24 bread slices. Trim crusts from sandwiches; cut each sandwich into 4 rectangles with a serrated knife.
And yes, Little House on the Prairie books make me want to preserve food, Rosamund Pilcher books make me want to drink tea and a book by Mauve Binchey sends me straight to the pub for bangers and mash. True story.
Southern women make and serve a lot of chicken salad. Who better to get a recipe for chicken salad than from a Southern Living cookbook.
Of course, being the know it all that I am, I changed a few things. For one the curry, I'm not a fan and Hubby isn't a fan either. All the other ingredients were in the house except the fresh ginger. I used dried ginger and I always use low fat cream cheese. If you like mayo you could add a bit. Hubby did.
I didn't totally eliminate the curry. I just used several sprinkles and called it good. And was it ever!
Sheryl came Friday afternoon for a happy hour and we enjoyed it on crackers. We decided it would be good on butter leaf lettuce too. Since then Hubby and I have enjoyed it on sandwiches.
Southern Living Curried(Curry is optional) Chicken Salad
Ingredients
4 cups finely chopped cooked chicken (Good Southern women only use white meat.)
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
6 green onions, minced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 (2 1/4-ounce) package slivered almonds, toasted
1 tablespoon curry powder*only if you like curry
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
48 whole-grain bread slices for the tea sammies or serve on crackers, breads or lettuce.
Stir together first 11 ingredients. Spread mixture evenly on 1 side each of 24 bread slices; top with remaining 24 bread slices. Trim crusts from sandwiches; cut each sandwich into 4 rectangles with a serrated knife.
And yes, Little House on the Prairie books make me want to preserve food, Rosamund Pilcher books make me want to drink tea and a book by Mauve Binchey sends me straight to the pub for bangers and mash. True story.
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