Stuffin’ Muffins November 27, 2009
Posted by Sandra in Back of the Fridge Recipes.Tags: muffins, stuffing
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These are fun and easy to make and don’t take a lot of time~get the kids involved!
STUFFIN’ MUFFINS
1 bag Brownberry sage and onion stuffing mix.
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 stalks celery
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup Craisins (dried cranberries)
1 cup chicken stock
1 egg
*optional ingredients: finely chopped mushrooms, apples, anything you would normally add to your favorite stuffing recipe.
Place all ingredients together in a large bowl. Beat egg and chicken stock together, and pour into bowl. Mix all together thoroughly until evenly moist; add water as needed.
Spray muffin pan with cooking spray. Using a large ice cream scoop, fill muffin cups to top, pressing down to form dense “muffin”. Add one pat of butter to top of each “muffin” and bake in a pre-heated 350° oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.
Lavender Memories of Mom November 23, 2009
Posted by Sandra in A Stitch in Time | Projects, California Dreamin'.Tags: American Thread Company, doily, Mom, Star Doily Book
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And on Sunday, She rested.
I was beat! The events of the past days and weeks finally caught up with me.
Saturday promised to be probably the last good day for cleaning up the remains of the summer, so DH and I got up early and started out fresh.
I pruned back the Ornamental Crab tree while DH cleaned out the gutters with his new Echo Leaf blower. He was just about done when the extension arm literally BLEW off the end of the machine and flew through the air with the greatest of ease, down 16 feet to the grass below. I was there to watch it fall, but not able to catch it. It fell undamaged, my Orna-crab broke its fall.
I tried my hand at the Wondrous Leaf Blower, it was a very powerful and handy tool. I’m glad DH finally broke down and got it-he had no say, I kept nagging, saying “Just DO IT!”
Sunday, I had biscotti to bake, and a doily to finish for a Christmas gift. I set to work on the last two rows, and worked between timer beeps, and whipped out both a completed doily and not one but TWO batches of biscotti. I am Power Baker, hear me roar!
Seashell Ruffle Doily by American Thread Company Star Book No. 143
I hope its namesake likes it ![]()
I ran across this doily while cleaning out the Guest bedroom before DD’s arrival. I had totally forgotten this was in the room, buried beneath some mementos of Mom.
I made this doily the year Mom redid her bathroom, all in lavenders and lilacs. It sat on her bathroom windowsill until the day I packed everything up before selling the old Home. I can still hear the joy in her voice the day she called to tell me it arrived and how she loved it~
Oxy-clean brought out the faced yellows, and made it brand new again-the pictures do it no justice.
I love the old patterns, can’t get enough of them~ Thank you Mom, for giving me these to share with my friends.
If you’re listening, if you’re still there- I love and miss you, Mom.
Sandra
Visit with Teh Babeh and Wrist-ies©, Part 1 November 21, 2009
Posted by Sandra in A Stitch in Time | Projects, Baby Talk, CJ and Family.Tags: Door County Breakfast Casserole, Melody fingerless gloves, wristies
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I fixed a freezer-full of French Bread Pizzas, we had way more than enough.
Rhonda sure has gotten big, what a cutie!
We went for a ride to Sorg’s for a little taste of Wisconsin cheeses, meats, sausage sticks, beef jerky, brats, pies, frozen vegetables, and award-winning sausages, and of course, a little scenery for the Out-of-Towners. Rhonda was a hit at the Deli counter, got all kinds of looks from the ladies behind the counter!
Sorg’s is located in Darien, WI. Family-owned since 1943 and everything is done on-site. Located on US-14 1/8 mile south of the intersection of 14, WI-11, and WI-89. Mon-Friday 8 am -5 pm, Sat. 8 am-4 pm. phone: 262-742-5554
Friday night, CJ started to put together the Door County Breakfast Casserole, but discovered after the sausage was fried and all the Cheddar cheese was grated, we didn’t have enough milk. So, we put that off for the next day.
Saturday, CJ and her GF went out for a bit to go grab some essentials at Walgreens, and picked up more milk for the Breakfast Casserole. Later that night, I finished putting the casserole together and baked it up for Sunday morning. I fixed Chicken and Rice for dinner, so with the oven already heated up, the casserole was done in an hour.
Sunday we hung out and lounged in our sweats, watching bad TV. I finished the first of my Mail Lady fingerless gloves (not to be confused with Wristies®) Thank you, Susan Gregory : http://www.wristies.com/ for pointing out this amazing, albeit remote similarity~
Monday, the girls took a road trip to The House on the Rock, in Spring Green, WI. I stayed home and watched baby, she was such a joy to keep, didn’t fuss at all. She took a couple short naps, and slept through the night until they got up to leave on Tuesday morning. By 8:45 am, they were on the road back to IN.
The time went by too fast, as it always seems to do when family comes to stay, never long enough.
Back to me knitting…
Me~
The Falling Leaves, and Remembrances of Home~ October 28, 2009
Posted by Sandra in California Dreamin'.Tags: Emerald Bay, Emmett Kelly, Fanette Islandm Lake Tahoe., Lake Tahoe, Vikingsholm
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WHEW! I just finished the latest batch of incoming orders, it’s been like the rain today-non-stop, a good thing $$$-wise.
Writing a Rav-buddy about Meals on Wheels, reminded me of my folks when they had M & W’s coming to their house in Calif, until the day I arrived. We cleaned up what was in their fridge since they’d already paid for a week’s worth, and then cooked for them after that. It’s a wonderful way to extend community to those who can’t get out or are inhibited in any way from venturing out.
My dad did not drive, so when Mom became too addled to drive him to the store, he signed up for Meals on Wheels, it was his blessing, a helping hand when he couldn’t manage everything dumped upon him.
Dad never even wrote a check or paid a bill until Mom became too infirmed, then he had to take over the entire household, and did a wonderful job! Mom was sooooooooo MILITARY, she refused to even let Dad have his paycheck-he handed it over, she deposited it and gave him his weekly “allowance”. He was a happy camper, especially when she took us to Lake Tahoe to play the slots.
I was too young to go inside the Casinos with them, so until about age 13, I was deposited at the Kiddy Rec. Area for the day, loved it, saw many a Classic Horror show there and even met Emmett Kelly (Sr), the Clown during a performance for us kids!! I recall he drew caricatures on a large sketch pad, and signed them for us. I don’t have my copy, wouldn’t that be wonderful!!!
When I was old enough (back then), mom and dad would let me just stay in the car, and I’d bring my art supplies and reading along-I was in HEAVEN up in the Sierra Nevada Mts for 4-5 hours, it was my Alone Time and being an only child, I was perfectly at peace with my own company. I would go down to the lake and mess around on one of it’s many beaches and pebbled shores, or hike the trails around the casinos, never venturing far.
Nowadays, I’d shoot myself before I would let my child venture out alone like that!
I don’t mean to ramble, but it is that time of year for me, when I get homesick…..so you just got a ration of my melancholy side this time~
Have a lovely evening!
Sentimental Me~
Rick Bayless’ Frontera Recipe : Salsa Mac and Cheese October 24, 2009
Posted by Sandra in Back of the Fridge Recipes.Tags: Frontera, Mac and Cheese, Rick Bayless, Salsa
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I fixed Mexican Mac and Cheese using the basic recipe from Rick Bayless’ Frontera recipe. The only difference was, I didn’t add the salsa to the whole casserole- instead, we served it on the side and everyone added what they wanted. It was FABULOUS!

- Macaroni & Cheese
I obviously bake better than I take (pix)
Here’s my version:
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 can evaporated milk
1 1/2 to 2 cups Fire-Roasted Tomato Salsa or your favorite jarred salsa
1 1/2 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Pepper Jack cheese
Salt to taste
1 pound dried pasta (though elbow macaroni will do, I used Rotini pasta because it was handy)
Get the pasta water boiling, and while that’s happening, we’ll make the cheese sauce.
In a sauce pan, melt the butter and heat until just turning a golden brown-add flour and whisk to mix. Add evaporated milk and continue to cook on medium high for about 4-5 minutes, whisking constantly. When the sauce thickens slightly and turns a pale golden color, take off the heat and add the shredded cheeses, reserving 1/4 cup for top of casserole.
Boil pasta according to directions. My rotini took 12 minutes to just al dente. Drain pasta and pour into casserole. Pour cheese sauce over pasta, and add 1/2 cup of milk , stirring pasta and sauce until just mixed.
Cover and bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes or until cheese starts to bubble-take the cover off at the last 5 minutes to allow cheese to slightly brown, if desired. Remove and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Take it Cheezy
Me~
The Sock, Shes’a TOO TIGHT! October 23, 2009
Posted by Sandra in A Stitch in Time | Projects.add a comment
The first LumberJill sock, she’sa too tight.
Yep, I’m pretty sure I made the wrong size… I made a 6 when I shoulda made a size 7, but it felt right at the time. I even tried it on several times.

- Tootsie Toes
Igor thinks they will fit him…
Now that I’m on Sock #2, Sock #1 is definitely smaller when I hold them up together, so I think I’m gonna rippit and redo, after finishing Sock #2…will that make it Sock #3 then? hmmm…..
Back to ma knitt’n, ciao!
Froggy Me~
Enchiladas Con Salsa Verde October 17, 2009
Posted by Sandra in Back of the Fridge Recipes.Tags: Enchiladas
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Ok, I got a little Italian in there~;0) I remembered this recipe from a TV Cooking show, turned out pretty good.
Enchiladas with Salsa Verde
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, skinless
white corn tortillas
1 jar salsa verde (green salsa)
1 small can sliced olives
1 packet/can of enchilada sauce
1 small can tomato paste (for packet sauce)
1 cup shredded colby cheese
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
In an iron skillet, brown chicken breasts, turning once. Add 1/2 cup water, cover and simmer until tender and falls apart. Meanwhile, lay out a dozen small corn tortillas, spray both sides with cooking spray and set on cookie sheet. You will heat these for about 1 and a half minutes to soften, just prior to filling with meat.
When the chicken breasts are done, remove from pan and shred or pull apart with two forks. You can also cut them into smaller strips before shredding. Place shredded chicken in a medium bowl and add 1/2 cup of the salsa verde, mixing to just coat all pieces. Add half of the 2 cheeses to chicken and toss.
Heat tortillas in a 350 oven 2 minutes until soft, turning once. Pour half of the salsa verde into the bottom of a large casserole dish. Place one heaping spoonful of chicken/cheese mixture into tortilla, roll and place in casserole dish. Continue to make enchiladas, until all meat is used up, about 12-14 enchiladas.
Prepare enchilada sauce as per packet instructions, or use canned sauce. Pour enchilada sauce over all, sprinkle with remaining cheeses, and bake in 350 oven for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Remove and let cool 5 minutes. Serve with refried beans and salad.
Bon Apetite!
New Booklet – TREASURES IN CROCHET No. 296 October 17, 2009
Posted by Sandra in A Stitch in Time | Discussions.Tags: crochet, Elizabeth Hiddleson, pineapple lei, Star Wheel Tablecloth, tablecloth, TREASURES IN CROCHET No. 296
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I picked up a copy of a neat little crochet booklet today. The tablecloth on the back cover is beautiful, like nothing I’ve got in my collection, the Pineapple Tablecloth A-1016.
This pattern first appears in the Elizabeth Hiddleson #18 book, the first pattern in the book, and is called ”Pineapple Lei”. It gives a choice of size 20 thread and size 10 hook for a tablecloth of 66”. If a larger cloth is desired, she says to use a size 10 thread and 9 hook. She used 16 skeins of Daisy Merc Thread. Her book contains several pages of written instructions and enlarged pictures for checking against your work.
I looked up her books in eBay, they are going for quite a lot. I’ll have to watch these, the patterns are beautiful!

- Treasures in Crochet No. 296
“Pineapple Lei” seen on the back cover, left.
Nat’s car is back from repairs, runs like a dream. She and I rode over to Walmart in Delavan and we picked out some new rubber floor mats for winter, a new long-handle ice scraper, some windshield washer fluid, and got her all set. What a difference a new transmission makes, Dennis said the car will be good for another 4-5 years if taken good care of.
Back to my LumberJill sock-I’m about 2 inches from binding off the cuff on sock #1. Should be done this weekend.
I made chicken enchiladas for dinner yesterday, they were killer! Recipe to follow~
French bread pizza tonight, comfort food for a cold Friday night.
DH is bonding with the neighbor, showing off N’s car. He’s happy for her too.
G’night, sleep tight~
Me~






























