tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28340419888220563462024-03-12T23:58:30.391-04:00MundanacityCannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-46509170158992831062015-12-06T21:15:00.000-05:002015-12-06T21:15:50.168-05:00O Not a Tree, O Not a Tree, We're saving Forests Aren't We<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey, have you seen the coat rack? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone got board.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-rsdNnnh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-rsdNnnh1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a lot going on here. A village down below and*everything* raining down on it. Wait. What is that? Is there a tree in there? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-D9qGcQ6t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-D9qGcQ6t.jpg" height="320" width="179" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not a pine tree, anyway. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-78xBPfc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-78xBPfc4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festive stolen street sign you've got there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-80QCFugy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-80QCFugy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who put all the deco's on the Festivus Pole? This is going on my List of Grievances! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-0bheB99Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://treecdn.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2015/tree-0bheB99Z.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well isn't that special? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-56142964998056068522013-02-20T13:55:00.001-05:002013-02-20T13:55:28.602-05:00test<span style="background-color: white; color: #84b320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">Sharp wire brushes leave your caviar looking clean</span>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-73374570135521537622012-01-20T17:27:00.001-05:002012-01-20T17:28:50.081-05:00When Social Networking is Your CookbookI <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/home">stumbled</a> upon <a href="http://spoonforkbacon.com/2012/01/baked-egg-boats/">this</a> recipe for baked egg boats last week. A few days later I went shopping and what's on sale but most of the ingredients: pancetta (already diced, too!), cheese, and baguettes. (You can find me on StumbleUpon as CannedAm.) <br />
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Recipes aren't always perfect upon reading, however. While gruyere would be lovely in this recipe, at several dollars for a few ounces, I'm not buying it. Cheddar is also lovely and did you know that light (lower fat), aged cheddar has more calcium in it than any other food source per serving? Hard aged cheeses also lose most of the lactose. With a lactose-intolerant vegetarian among my brood, aged light cheddar is a staple. I also have no desire to use heavy cream, let alone purchase a container just for a lunchtime recipe, so I used regular 1% milk instead. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e782OcEKhMA/TxnPRZJUZgI/AAAAAAAAA3A/5K6yYJIASRQ/s1600/eggbagueeteswhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e782OcEKhMA/TxnPRZJUZgI/AAAAAAAAA3A/5K6yYJIASRQ/s400/eggbagueeteswhole.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think the Dempster's demi baguettes are longer than the ones Teri at <a href="http://spoonforkbacon.com/">Spoon Fork Bacon</a> used. The plain white variety is less porous than the sourdough she used, and I think both those factors necessitated an increased cook time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11vaOd5DNrY/TxnPMMqcwzI/AAAAAAAAA24/UU4Cjg8WAbk/s1600/eggbaguettescut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11vaOd5DNrY/TxnPMMqcwzI/AAAAAAAAA24/UU4Cjg8WAbk/s400/eggbaguettescut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I made three baguettes using the onions, pancetta, and cheddar with eggs and milk mix and one baguette using spinach instead of pancetta. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYLbSKWdbbs/TxnU_oL6lxI/AAAAAAAAA3I/jW8JAore79Y/s1600/spinachbaguette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYLbSKWdbbs/TxnU_oL6lxI/AAAAAAAAA3I/jW8JAore79Y/s400/spinachbaguette.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I may have been a little heavy-handed with the spinach. I used about 1/2 cup of raw spinach, chopped and should have used less for only one baguette. I would love to show you what it looked like once cut, but she took it and ran away with it right after I snapped this picture! <br />
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I've always hand-written my recipes in a way that is helpful for my ADD brain to follow and not lose track of where I am and what I am doing. The standard recipe format requires one to look back and forth from ingredients to instructions and for an ADHD person, a single distraction in that process can spell recipe disaster. While my hand-written method is rather messy and hard for anyone but me to decipher, one day I <a href="http://stumblupon.com/">stumbled</a> upon <a href="http://cooking%20for%20engineers/">Cooking for Engineers</a> and there I saw tables that were just like my own scribbles, but so much neater! It hadn't occurred to me to use tables, so I had never digitized my hand-written recipes. I am doing so now! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OrIFF8LAlao/TxnnmFGaoCI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/QBLJMURjlz0/s1600/baguetterecipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OrIFF8LAlao/TxnnmFGaoCI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/QBLJMURjlz0/s400/baguetterecipe.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br />
A more visual person than I would probably want to colour code a table like this. <br />
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If that's too hard to understand, here it is the old-fashioned way: <br />
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
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<ul><li>4 demi baguettes</li>
<li>5 eggs</li>
<li>1/3 cup milk</li>
<li>4 ounces/115 grams pancetta, finely chopped and fried until crisp*</li>
<li>3 ounces shredded cheddar cheese</li>
<li>2 green onions, thinly sliced</li>
</ul><br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
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<ol><li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.</li>
<li>Cut a deep āVā through the tops of each baguette until about a 1/2 inch to the bottom. Partially unstuff the baguettes. Set aside.</li>
<li>Place the eggs and milk into a mixing bowl and lightly beat together. Whisk in the remaining ingredients 4. Divide and pour the mixture into each baguette boat and place onto a baking sheet.</li>
<li>Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown, puffed and set in the center. Season with salt and pepper.</li>
<li>Allow to cool for about 5 minutes, cut and serve.</li>
</ol><div>*Substitute an 1/4 cup of fresh chopped spinach for pancetta for <b>each </b>baguette.<br />
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And yes, they were very well-received. Delicious! </div>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-80156252711252675992011-01-06T15:05:00.000-05:002011-01-06T15:05:10.893-05:00Tips for Coping with the New Garbage Limits in the Niagara RegionThose of us in the Niagara region will soon experience changes in our waste management. Specifically our previous 2-bag/container trash limit will be reduced to one. However, blue and grey bins will be collected weekly instead of rotating biweekly collections of one bin. This is good news in my opinion! However <a href="http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2894572&">some are complaining</a> about the changes. <br />
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When we moved to the region six years ago, full-on recycling was a huge adjustment as we'd moved from an area that had no recycling at all. Everything went in the trash. It took a few months for everyone to get accustomed to the change. But we did. As everyone else will with these changes. <br />
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<u><b>Green Bin Usage is the Issue</b></u><br />
I heard one radio news report stating that region-wide green bin use was only at 30%. Just by looking down the road on collection day I would say this is accurate. Failing to use the green bin for organics waste dramatically increases a household's weekly trash. According to the US Composting council, 74% of landfill waste is organic. This isn't just a problem with the quantities we're sending to landfills, but the composition of what we send to landfills. Organics in nature will break down releasing carbon dioxide, however that carbon dioxide that results from a natural breakdown (such as backyard composting or forest floor decomposition) is part of nature's short-term carbon cycle. Plant photosynthesis will clear out this carbon dioxide. However, in a landfill, decomposing organics release carbon as methane, which has a far greater impact on global warming than carbon dioxide. One of the BEST things we can do personally to reduce our impact on the earth that sustains us is to compost our organics waste. We can't compost meat-based waste in our backyards, but if our municipalities will do so, by all means we should send them all we can and eliminate all the organics we possibly can from our landfills. <br />
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<u><b>But the Green Bin Stinks!</b></u><br />
<u><b><br />
</b></u>Yes, it does. Just as much as a garbage bag/can that contains animal fats like chicken skin, etc. There are lots of ways to reduce this stink, and to reduce all the other unpalatable aspects of organics recycling. Here's what we do:<br />
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<ol><li>Backyard composting. If you garden, start backyard composting. Only place vegetable and fruit scraps (never any meat scraps or eggs or fats) in your backyard compost bin. Add a great deal of brown matter -- newspaper, leaves, straw, etc., to create a healthy mix and stir it up. Removing fruit and vegetable scraps from your home daily will prevent fruit flies from flocking to your kitchen for those scraps. In the Niagara Region you can<a href="http://www.niagararegion.ca/living/waste/Container-Distribution-Centres.aspx"> purchase a backyard composter</a> from the region for up to 80% LESS than you can buy one in a store. </li>
<li> Freeze your organics. Keep a small, kitchen-sized compostable liner or a brown paper lunch sack in your refrigerator freezer for all the animal wastes. Grease from cooking, bones, skin, leftover meat -- all of those things that stink to no end when rotting in a garbage can or the green bin can go into the freezer where they are not going to stink. On trash day, toss the bags in the green bin and take it to the curb. This eliminates maggots in the warmer months, along with the stench of rot - eliminating varmint attraction as well. Add newspaper to the bottom of your green bin to absorb the moisture that results from the frozen waste thawing. Our household of five rarely has more than one bag of this waste each week. Often we need two weeks to fill it, but we do compost our own vegetable and fruit scraps. </li>
<li>Rinse your green bin out every week during the non-frozen months. </li>
</ol><u><b>What goes in the organics bin?</b></u> <br />
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It's not just for food waste! Cat litter can be composted in the Niagara Region. Since I foster cats and kittens, this is a boon for us! Without composting of cat litter, we often exceeded our trash limits. Ever since the region started composting cat litter I've never exceeded our limits. <br />
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Napkins, paper towels, tissues (that haven't been used to blow one's nose or the like) can all go into the compost bin. My in-laws reduce kitchen bin odors and leakage mess by keeping a countertop bin in which they place ONLY paper towels and paper napkins. When that bin is full, they fill their under-counter bin with the paper wastes before adding food scraps. Those papers absorb the moisture from their kitchen waste. They don't backyard compost and I've noticed they never have a problem with fruit flies from their under-counter organics bin. <br />
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Cooking grease -- fats skimmed off broths and the like can be let to congeal in a container (like an empty tin can, then scraped into the compost bag. <br />
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<u><b>Recycling is so messy. I'd rather just pay the fee</b></u><br />
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You'd rather throw your money away, eh? If that's truly your position, there's no reasoning with you. On the other hand, if you are simply adjusting to multiple bins, there are ways to deal with the mess of multiple recycling bins, waste cans, and organics bins. <br />
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Weekly pickup of both gray and blue bins is going to make a big difference in the messy factor. What we've done in our home to manage this mess is still applicable. <br />
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Have a central recycling location. If keeping all the recycling in a garage or outdoors is not an option for you, keep your large recycling bins at a central location indoors. Our basement works for this. In the bathrooms and kitchen we have small rubbermaid bins for recycling under our sinks. In our powder room, a small plastic sorting bin works to contain the small amount of recycling for that room (soap boxes, TP rolls, plastic wrappers). These small bins are taken to the large bins in the basement when full and sorted there. This is our youngest children's task. We use a single plastic shopping bag hung on a hook to place all the plastic bread and milk bags that accumulate. When it's full, it's tied and placed in the gray bin. <br />
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Remember to rinse all your recyclable containers. Empty cans, jars, and milk bags will create a stink and attract bugs or other pests. Keeping a small sorting bin under the kitchen sink makes this easy. <br />
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On another hook, we keep a narrow newspaper bag sleeve to collect batteries. When full enough, I drop it at any of the orange bins local to me (for me that's in a local pharmacy. For others this may be a roadside orange bin or Staples store location, among other places.) I used to hold onto these for up to a year waiting for the annual household hazardous waste recycling days, but orange bin distribution has eliminated the need for that wait. Using rechargeable batteries has also dramatically reduced our battery consumption as well. <br />
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<u><b>Grass Clippings</b></u><br />
Another change to note is that grass will no longer be collected with the green bin. <br />
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Grass is easily composted in your yard. If you don't have a mulching mower, reducing the days between mowings and raking out any accumulation will facilitate breakdown right on your lawn. <br />
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You can use grass clippings as mulch, too. Yes, you'll get some weed seeds in there but weeds can easily be pulled when they're young. <br />
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You can also put your grass clippings in your backyard composter. CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-18439094536596681692010-08-03T13:23:00.000-04:002010-08-03T13:23:02.061-04:00Watching You Watch the RainWatching you watch the rain:<br />
Your lined and sagging home<br />
of eyes that take in all<br />
Tranquil before the gentle<br />
Sometimes angry pattering.<br />
I hid so you could not see<br />
me watching you watch the rain.<br />
The scene always held one holiness:<br />
Your solitude among the million chattering drops.<br />
I wanted to think what you thought,<br />
Feel the peace I saw in you --<br />
Watching you watch the rain<br />
Is a thousand images<br />
of one picture in my head<br />
As I sit, elbows on knees,<br />
My child nearby watching me<br />
Recalling<br />
Watching you watch the rain. <br />
<br />
-RMH <br />
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I have often wished I had the artistic ability to paint as this image is so clear in my mind. It's been nearly six years and I still miss him. I am grateful I had his love and guidance for 35 years of my life. <br />
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Jack E. Loar August 3, 1929 - October 2, 2004CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-38302034967191740552010-07-31T23:07:00.001-04:002010-08-01T09:45:09.495-04:00Camp foods need not be crap foodsWe've recently returned from a camping trip and for once I don't need to detox from all the high-preservative foods we normally eat on a camping trip. Spoilage was always a concern in the past, so we'd pack hotdogs and heavily preserved sausages of various sorts along with peanut butter and eggs. We would come home and live on fresh salads for a week to clear all the heavy preservative-laden foods from our systems.<br />
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This time, we did things differently and now I can't imagine why we had never planned things out this way in the past. I suppose we simply did what we'd always done and what our parents had always done. Here are some delicious camp-friendly recipes that will be staples of our summer camping trips from now on:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.veganfamilyfavorites.com/images/sandwiches/bean-burger-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.veganfamilyfavorites.com/images/sandwiches/bean-burger-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><b>Bean Burgers</b></i><br />
1 can beans, any type (we used pintos) drained and rinsed<br />
1 cup bread crumbs (seasoned simplifies things and adds flavour)<br />
1 egg<br />
1 small onion diced fine<br />
1 carrot peeled and shredded<br />
2 Tbsp olive oil<br />
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Mash the beans in a bowl and mix with all other ingredients. Refrigerate for one hour before forming patties. I formed 4 nice-sized patties from this mix. For camping, I sprayed foil and wrapped each burger in the foil. We cooked the bean burgers in the foil over the fire. When well-frozen, it took about 30 minutes over medium heat to cook to the desired outer crispiness. When thawed, about 15 minutes.<br />
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<i><b>Fire Roasted Corn on the Cob</b></i><br />
Having farm stands nearby our campground, we were able to pick up fresh corn on the cob to serve that night. The kids absolutely loved the fire-roasted corn and did not add butter or salt! Fire roasting doesn't boil out the flavour of the corn, it enhances it and you get that delicious smokey flavour from the fire!<br />
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Do not shuck the corn, but do remove the cornsilks, leaving the husks intact. Soak each cob in water for about 10 minutes. Thoroughly waterlog it. If some of the husk is missing or torn or doesn't cover the cob completely, use a bit of foil to wrap around the circumference of the cob. Roast over medium heat for about 20-30 minutes. The husks will be blackened on the outside, but the corn will be juicy and perfect inside. Some of the corn may darken, but it won't be much and it still tastes so good! <br />
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<i><b>Campfire Banana Splits</b></i><br />
This was a hit for everyone but one of my children. He did not like his bananas cooked.<br />
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Bananas<br />
Chocolate chips (or a chocolate bar)<br />
mini marshmallows<br />
(Optional: shredded coconut, nuts)<br />
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Peel a single strip down the center of the banana. Make a slice down the center of the banana. We found it easiest to scoop a bit of banana out of the center, instead of trying to shove all the filling into a narrow knife-slit. Fill the hollow with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Pull the peel back up and wrap the entire banana in foil. Place over fire for about 10 minutes. Open the foil and the banana and eat with a spoon. This was a lovely treat! <br />
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<i><b>Foil-pack vegetables</b></i><br />
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You can do these so many different ways. In one pack we did:<br />
quartered new potatoes<br />
diced onions<br />
diced peppers<br />
Seasoned with butter (buttered the foil) salt, pepper, and diced garlic cloves<br />
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Cooked over medium heat about 30 minutes.<br />
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sliced summer squash and zucchini<br />
Diced peppers<br />
Diced onions<br />
thinly sliced new potatoes<br />
buttered the foil, seasoned with salt, pepper, and diced garlic cloves<br />
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We deep-froze chicken breasts to take with us. Once they thaw: cook them!<br />
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<i><b>Hobo Pizzas</b></i><br />
You need pie irons for these, along with:<br />
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Bread<br />
canned pizza sauce<br />
shredded cheese<br />
pizza toppings (pepperoni, diced vegetables)<br />
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Butter the bread and place the buttered side against the pie iron. Spread the bread with pizza sauce and add toppings. Top with another buttered bread (butter side against the pie iron). Lock the pie iron and cook it right in the coals of the fire. Takes about 10 minutes.<br />
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You could make a <i><b>ranch-chicken pizza:</b></i><br />
Bread<br />
Ranch dressing<br />
canned chicken <br />
shredded cheddar<br />
onion diced<br />
tomato diced <br />
Optional: cooked bacon or ham<br />
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Compile as you would the other pizza & cook the same.CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-65405450286614771222010-05-05T11:32:00.005-04:002010-05-05T11:45:55.803-04:00Heartland Forest, Niagara Falls, OntarioLess than two years ago we visited the fairly new Heartland Forest in Niagara Falls. Compare the pictures from <a href="http://cannedamathome.blogspot.com/2008/08/heartland-forest-niagara-falls-ontario.html">that blog posting</a> to this one as the changes are incredible!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: blue;">*For a larger, more detailed view of any of the pictures, simply double click on the picture. </i> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">When we first visited, we were greeted at the forest entry by this partial carving: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SLIEqZ0niGI/AAAAAAAAAao/tl1-sEmb8w0/s1600/tryingtoseethebearinthere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SLIEqZ0niGI/AAAAAAAAAao/tl1-sEmb8w0/s640/tryingtoseethebearinthere.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Big Ted is now complete, with a cute message next to him: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F1DAfXe0I/AAAAAAAAAzc/_y_cSWoz5hA/s1600/bigted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F1DAfXe0I/AAAAAAAAAzc/_y_cSWoz5hA/s320/bigted.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">More carvings can be found throughout the more than two miles of <a href="http://www.carolinian.org/FactSheets_CCUniqueness.htm">Carolinian Forest</a> trails:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-Fzzng20vI/AAAAAAAAAy0/FmRMGICkV34/s1600/SunnyFish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-Fzzng20vI/AAAAAAAAAy0/FmRMGICkV34/s320/SunnyFish.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0eQfAfLI/AAAAAAAAAy8/UwwEUaD5lh8/s1600/3critters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0eQfAfLI/AAAAAAAAAy8/UwwEUaD5lh8/s320/3critters.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F4Y0TM7KI/AAAAAAAAAzk/PIu1DNS3L28/s1600/tedJrpond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F4Y0TM7KI/AAAAAAAAAzk/PIu1DNS3L28/s400/tedJrpond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F4jYDYwoI/AAAAAAAAAzs/c7Iy3bxGHc4/s1600/owlcarving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F4jYDYwoI/AAAAAAAAAzs/c7Iy3bxGHc4/s400/owlcarving.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A pond just inside the forest entry has an accessible lookout from which one can observe pond life:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-FzrJYvyyI/AAAAAAAAAyk/bBsIPORQUKI/s1600/turtlepondlookout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-FzrJYvyyI/AAAAAAAAAyk/bBsIPORQUKI/s320/turtlepondlookout.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So many photo ops, too: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F5Yu1lgVI/AAAAAAAAAz0/_w1AgybpVh0/s1600/RJ_KyTurtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F5Yu1lgVI/AAAAAAAAAz0/_w1AgybpVh0/s320/RJ_KyTurtle.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and opportunities for a peaceful rest surrounded by beauty:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F9x6yJk_I/AAAAAAAAA0c/gVp-iCZjCis/s1600/RJ_log_pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F9x6yJk_I/AAAAAAAAA0c/gVp-iCZjCis/s400/RJ_log_pond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">During this visit, the accessible cabin was open for learning opportunities and activities for <a href="http://www.heartlandforest.org/frogfest.html">FrogFest Niagara</a>. The boys made FrogFest badges while I took pictures outside the cabin:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F6ybAdFQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Cvifpr3WqDc/s1600/cabindeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F6ybAdFQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Cvifpr3WqDc/s400/cabindeck.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were thrilled by the fauna throughout the forest. Obviously many people have been very busy naturalizing some native species, such as Ontario's flower, the white Trillium:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">We also saw a magnificent magenta trillium (it's actually red trillium, <i>trillium erectum</i>, the only red-petaled trillium native to Ontario):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F7yU8puEI/AAAAAAAAA0E/0NxmTYoO56w/s1600/magTrillium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F7yU8puEI/AAAAAAAAA0E/0NxmTYoO56w/s320/magTrillium.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And an excellent example of poison ivy vine:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F8I0ySC7I/AAAAAAAAA0M/YmI51XKKSEY/s1600/poisonivy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F8I0ySC7I/AAAAAAAAA0M/YmI51XKKSEY/s640/poisonivy.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">(don't worry, it is labeled and slightly off the trail so you won't be stumbling into it)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">wild geranium was in bloom and quite abundant:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F9KxjEM-I/AAAAAAAAA0U/gWJfBqCqJ8c/s1600/wildgeranium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F9KxjEM-I/AAAAAAAAA0U/gWJfBqCqJ8c/s320/wildgeranium.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At this time of year, the numerous <a href="http://www.vernalpool.org/vpinfo_1.htm">vernal pools</a> throughout this forest are still full and quite active:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0k29N4MI/AAAAAAAAAzE/KEb24AKUA0U/s1600/vernalpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0k29N4MI/AAAAAAAAAzE/KEb24AKUA0U/s400/vernalpool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are just so many treasures along the trails. The kids enjoyed sitting inside this teepee:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-Fzv9J5OhI/AAAAAAAAAys/QkaaG1W4NqY/s1600/teepee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-Fzv9J5OhI/AAAAAAAAAys/QkaaG1W4NqY/s400/teepee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">There were also many new-to-us additions before the trail begins. Much to the boys' delight, an incredible playground contains structures to delight the very small as well as the much larger child. Like this enormous merry-go-round:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GKseWU3BI/AAAAAAAAA0k/Q_OvyFm1uUg/s1600/RJKY-merrygoround.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GKseWU3BI/AAAAAAAAA0k/Q_OvyFm1uUg/s320/RJKY-merrygoround.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and this incredible swing:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GKx7WCoyI/AAAAAAAAA0s/SiLQct56IUI/s1600/giantswing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GKx7WCoyI/AAAAAAAAA0s/SiLQct56IUI/s640/giantswing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> and of course a huge frog swing to share:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GLLoB-jII/AAAAAAAAA00/OAZHy3Wsjjs/s1600/Ky_RJ-crocswing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GLLoB-jII/AAAAAAAAA00/OAZHy3Wsjjs/s400/Ky_RJ-crocswing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Near the forest entrance is a pond surrounded by a boardwalk. Bird feeders are found in many places. Perhaps it's just my imagination, but I think the red-winged black birds' colour is particularly vibrant this year:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0lXFL_6I/AAAAAAAAAzM/nB9Xu4UCVdo/s1600/redwingblackbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0lXFL_6I/AAAAAAAAAzM/nB9Xu4UCVdo/s320/redwingblackbird.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0l2P_lbI/AAAAAAAAAzU/ofUefngyYuw/s1600/redwingblackbirdflying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-F0l2P_lbI/AAAAAAAAAzU/ofUefngyYuw/s320/redwingblackbirdflying.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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What a wonderful, amazing place! If you're local to the area, or just visiting, check it out. There are <a href="http://www.heartlandforest.org/events.html">many activities planned</a> throughout the year, but they aren't needed to enjoy this natural treasure. This is a great place to go with your family. Go, enjoy, be awed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GN9Wiw25I/AAAAAAAAA08/5-d13Fn7MAo/s1600/rachelBoysbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S-GN9Wiw25I/AAAAAAAAA08/5-d13Fn7MAo/s400/rachelBoysbridge.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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*The photograph in the blog header was taken within the Heartland Forest.CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-84791991320905070572010-04-07T10:51:00.000-04:002010-04-07T10:51:32.519-04:00When You Have Eleventy-seven Hardboiled Eggs and Don't Know What To Do With Them<b>Deviled Eggs</b><br />
My kids love these for an afterschool snack. They like to take them to school, too, but I haven't found a way to do this without mess. Quick, easy, and yummy. Here's how I do it:<br />
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<ol><li> Carefully slice the eggs in half lenthwise.</li>
<li>Put the yolk into a small mixing bowl or food processor.</li>
<li>Add 1 T Miracle Whip and 2 tsps mustard for 6 egg yolks. </li>
<li>Add 1 tsp pickle relish.</li>
<li>If doing this by hand, mash well with a fork. If using a food processor, pulse until blended and creamy.</li>
<li>Fill each egg half's hollow with the mixture. </li>
<li>Sprinkle with paprika. (The more adventurous might like cayenne. Young kids who didn't get weaned on Tabasco sauce will not.)</li>
</ol><br />
<b> Egg Salad</b><br />
Use for sandwiches within three days.<br />
<ol><li>Dice your eggs, yolk and all.</li>
<li>Add diced celery (I use one rib for 5-6 eggs)</li>
<li>Add diced onion (I don't like onion much, so I add about 1/8 cup)</li>
<li>Add pickle relish (a tablespoon)</li>
<li>Add mustard (2 teaspoons)</li>
<li>Add Miracle Whip (1 Tablespoon to start, may need 2)</li>
<li>Mix. Voila. Egg salad.</li>
</ol><br />
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<b>Quick Pickled Eggs</b><br />
You can quickly pickle eggs by using the liquid from canned/jarred beets. Just cover the eggs with the beet juice from canned beets, then let them sit in the fridge overnight or several hours. There you go, quickly pickled eggs.<br />
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A couple other options: <br />
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<ul><li>Dice the white and use as a salad topping.</li>
<li> My daughter, who is vegetarian, adds hard boiled eggs to vegetable soups. </li>
<li> <i style="color: #20124d;"><b>You can freeze hard boiled eggs to use another day. Simply thaw them in the refrigerator and then use them.</b></i></li>
</ul>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-89518214146666299172010-03-26T21:20:00.001-04:002010-03-26T21:26:18.629-04:00Can we talk about food for a minute?<a href="http://thatbritishwoman.blogspot.com/2010/03/bits-and-bobs-for-sunday.html">That British Woman</a> strikes again! She posted this video on her blog and got me going. <br />
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Notice the table of food in the segment on the Edwards' family's eating habits at 7:50. Jaime says this is "normal" eating for many a family. I have never in my life known any family that ate that way. The Edwards don't cook anything, they deep fry everything and nothing they have is edible straight out of the fridge besides milk. That's not normal. That's extreme. I have never deep fried anything. My ex husband used to deep-fry french fries regularly. He cut them from potatoes, though, not by opening a freezer bag. The deep fryer went with him when he moved out, by the way. <br />
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Again, look at the food on Edwards' table. Pizza, fries, sausages, corn dogs (deep fried), pancakes, hotdogs, Little Debbie treats. Calorie-dense, fat-dense, and nutrition-poor is <i>every single food</i> on that table. Every food is highly processed. Anything that has been processed is easy to digest meaning it is easily turned directly into fat. <br />
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Stop for a second and think about the greatest source of processed food North Americans eat. Wheat. <br />
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This is what wheat berries look like: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S6t9K4ph_OI/AAAAAAAAAvE/DG0j8iiAK5w/s1600/Wheat-Berries-x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S6t9K4ph_OI/AAAAAAAAAvE/DG0j8iiAK5w/s320/Wheat-Berries-x200.jpg" /></a></div>I remember when I was in Junior High School and the teacher was talking about nutrition in the 1800's and how people would eat boiled wheat berries. I said, "we do that." He told me we did not. "No one eats wheat berries," he said. I said, "we do." He insisted I was telling stories. My mother regularly served us wheat berries for hot cereal in the morning and even for an after-school snack. They're quite good, actually. Rather nutty in flavour, somewhat crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I like them plain now, but I usually had them with some milk when I was a child.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is a diagram of a whole kernel of wheat: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S6t93TKr36I/AAAAAAAAAvM/gE_OWDeTO9o/s1600/Kernel_of_Wheat_350_DPI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S6t93TKr36I/AAAAAAAAAvM/gE_OWDeTO9o/s320/Kernel_of_Wheat_350_DPI.jpg" /></a></div>The white endosperm on the inside is what is left after processing for the commercial food and flour market. The outer bran and nutrient-rich germ have been removed. Even after the endosperm is all that remains, it is processed some more by bleaching and grinding to a fine powder. They use chlorine and peroxide to bleach the endosperm. Would you pour bleach over your food before eating it?<br />
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What is removed from the wheat berry to make processed white flour is 40% of the kernel. The most nutrient-dense parts of the wheat kernel are removed: the b-vitamins, most of the fibre -- in all <i>more than half</i> the original nutrients are removed. Which is why white flour has to be enriched. But they don't put back what was taken out. There is no replacement fibre and the vitamins added are pale in comparison to what was removed! To learn more about the health benefits and nutrients in whole wheat, check out <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=66">this article</a> at WHFoods. <br />
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This one simple food is indicative of why processed foods are bad for us. The foods are stripped of their inherent nutrients and often have other things like sugar, fat, sodium and lesser vitamins added.<br />
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I caught a little bit of Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution show on tv last week. Jaime's emotional histrionics in response to an article that had him calling the West Virginians he was to be helping "stupid" and "lost causes" was too much for me. His bout of crying was contrived and quite pathetic. Grow a set, man! <br />
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While I agree with what he's doing and the fact that the American schools' nutritional programs are idiotic at best (ketchup is a vegetable, dontcha know) I think he's missing a huge point. I think everyone is missing a huge point.<br />
<br />
It's not just the food that's killing us. It's the lack of movement. Kids sit in a classroom six hours a day and are lucky to get 30 minutes of physical activity on some days. They go home to play video games and watch tv. And what are they doing while playing video games and watching tv? Snacking. Sedentary lifestyles are as much to blame as poor eating habits for the current obesity epidemic. If activity levels are not addressed, no progress will be made against obesity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/">The New York Times</a> recently published <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/stand-up-while-you-read-this/">an article</a> highlighting the dangers of too much sitting: <br />
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<blockquote>"when you spend long periods sitting, your body actually does things that are bad for you. <br />
As an example, consider lipoprotein lipase. This is a molecule that plays a central role in how the body processes fats; itās produced by many tissues, including muscles. Low levels of lipoprotein lipase are associated with a variety of health problems, including heart disease. Studies in rats show that leg muscles only produce this molecule when they are actively being flexed (for example, when the animal is standing up and ambling about). The implication is that when you sit, a crucial part of your metabolism slows down.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote>"Nor is lipoprotein lipase the only molecule affected by muscular inactivity. Actively contracting muscles produce a whole suite of substances that have a beneficial effect on how the body uses and stores sugars and fats."</blockquote><br />
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What are kids being taught in American schools about nutrition? I remember being taught the four basic food groups of dairy, meat, vegetables and fruit when I was in school. Now there are pyramids which, frankly, written by the government are not to be trusted. I think most people would gain weight following the food guide's recommendations. I believe an independent guide is more reliable. Harvard came up with one based on up-to-date reliable scientific information and without major business' interests in mind. <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/pyramid/">Check it out. </a><br />
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I know American schools are idiotic when it comes to nutrition. My daughter is lactose intolerant and was identified as such in early childhood. She had to show a doctor's note every single day in order to forgo the milk at school. <br />
<br />
In our Ontario school system kids are being taught at an early age to discern between "healthy" foods and "not healthy" foods. Schools encourage parents to send nutritious lunches and snacks and limit or eliminate high sugar, high fat snacks from their children's lunchboxes. My five year old will point out healthy foods and "not healthy" or "sometimes" foods -- sometimes foods are foods that should only be eaten occasionally, not frequently. That's pretty much how we do it here. 90% of what my kids eat is prepared by me, full of nutrition and goodness. Quite a lot of what they eat is raw -- fresh fruits and vegetables. While the US aims for 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, the Canadian government encourages up to 10. I think Canada's on to something. <br />
<br />
Do you serve your kids fresh fruits and vegetables at meals? Try it if you haven't done it. It doesn't need to be a fancy tray of unusual fruits and vegetables. I put out a platter of apple and orange slices with dinner the other night and guess what? They all disappeared! It's not much work at all.<br />
<br />
Oh, and this malarkey that unhealthy food, fast food, highly processed foods are cheaper than healthful foods is NONSENSE! Absolute and utter nonsense. Take that burger meal from McDonald's or Burger King. For a buck or two you can get a 2 oz burger on a bun with a bit of ketchup and mustard and pickle slices. Well for 2 bucks in the states and 3 bucks in Canada, you can buy a pound of extra lean fresh ground beef and for another 2 bucks 8 whole wheat buns. You can make five 3-ounce burgers and serve 5 people for less than four or five dollars. You can add fresh onion, tomato and lettuce for another buck. Come on people, it's not rocket science and it's not going to put you in the poor house! And by the way, when you make your own burgers, you don't have added transfats (<a href="http://www.drdoreo.com/index.php/health-alerts/188-bad-fats-trans-fats-will-kill-you">which will kill you</a> and should be eliminated from the food supply entirely) or any of the chemical preservatives that will keep a <a href="http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-happy-meal-shows-no-decay-after-one-year-on-a-shelf/">Happy Meal from decomposing for years</a>.CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-25839917932975153842010-02-22T10:14:00.000-05:002010-02-22T10:14:48.354-05:00Culture Shocks for an American in CanadaI suppose it was foolish of me to think I would not experience culture shock when I moved four hours away from Ohio to Ontario, Canada. Foolish or not, I was wrong.<br />
<br />
<b>Language Differences</b><br />
My husband, who is Canadian by birth and lived most of his life in Canada, has no accent or strange speech habits. I've heard the "eh" jokes in reference to Canadian lingo most of my life and didn't get it when I became a resident. I've almost never heard "eh" in conversation. I have heard it, but not much. There are other things though.<br />
<br />
Some pronunciations are different. For instance when I pronounce "been" it sounds like bin. But Canadian newscasters and educators say it like I say "bean." It makes my ears tickle.<br />
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Like Bostonians, the accepted proper Canadian pronunciation of pasta is "pass-tah". With an emphasis on the the first syllable. Again: ear tickles.<br />
<br />
The article "a", as in I ate a single grape is pronounced the same as the a in apple. My youngest children learned to read in Canada and each would correct me when I'd correct them over their pronunciation of the article "a". It seems odd to me to say "a" like apple and not like ape. I don't hear this in everyday conversation, though.<br />
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The letter z has a name and it is not Zee. It is Zed. If you say Zee you are outing yourself as an American. (Though I cannot help but see an elderly, white-haired wizard anytime "Zed" is mentioned. "Bags!" Now if you get that reference, you're a nerd like me ;) ) <br />
<br />
The other ear tickler is the word drama. It's pronounced DRAM - uh here with emphasis on the first syllable and the first "a" is clearly an apple "a", unlike what I'm used to hearing which is more of a soft "o" sound or shortened "aw" sound.<br />
<br />
Again! Oh man, this is like a gain. I'm used to uhgen with a hard g. Nope. They really emphasize that long hard A sound in the second syllable. <br />
<br />
Sorry...actually I think Canadians probably pronounce things more like they should be pronounced based on the sounds of English letters, but still, I'm accustomed to different pronunciations so "sorry" to me sounds very much like sari but in Canada it's like sore- ee.<br />
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I'm sure there is more but I'll stop there and move on to something else.<br />
<br />
<b>Canadian Cigarettes</b> <br />
To an American these are weird. The Canadian government has gone to great lengths to curb smoking and prevent prospective new smokers from ever wanting to pick up the habit. In Canada the standard pack size contains 30 cigarettes (they do sell 20 packs, but people only buy those when they're short on cash.) Canadian cigarettes are very expensive. $10 a pack for decent ones. $7 a pack for economy ones. If you're adventurous you'll buy what's called "reserves" but I'll discuss that later.<br />
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Many years ago the Canadian government required cigarette manufacturers to cover HALF the cigarette package with graphic health warnings. Those warnings are:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/PCD/issues/2007/apr/images/06_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.cdc.gov/PCD/issues/2007/apr/images/06_0024.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>These are on every pack of Canadian cigarettes. On one side they're in English, on the other side they're in French. Same pictures. My favourite is the impotency one. I'm a girl and impotency doesn't scare me so much. I hate the bloody brain, rotting teeth, and diseased lungs ones though.<br />
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Canadian cigarette packs also list all their toxic emissions and the percentage of each chemical: Tar, Nicotine, Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, Hydrogen Cyanide and Benzene. <br />
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Those who wish to avoid the $10/pack fee for cigarettes, and those with Native status, will buy their cigarettes on a Native Reserve for about $15/carton. They come in giant ziploc bags which contain 200 cigarettes (pictured on the bottom two shelves):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/2151455.bin?size=404x272" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/2151455.bin?size=404x272" width="400" /></a></div>There has been a large anti-reserve cigarettes campaign, however, with warnings about the dangers of these "unregulated" cigarettes. (They are unregulated because they're made in factories on Native Reservations, which are sovereign from the Canadian Government so unregulated by the Canadian Government.) According to billboards and print ads that have been appearing all over Canada these "Cheap Smokes" "contain insect eggs, mold and human feces." I suspect the Canadian Government is somewhat annoyed that it's not collecting its $7 taxes per pack that it does on other cigarettes sold here. (I have to admit I do wonder how exactly human feces can be in cigarettes....? Then I try not to think about it any more!) <br />
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And by the way, nobody smokes "cigarettes" in Canada -- they're called "smokes" here.<br />
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<b>Highways and Byways</b><br />
In the states I was accustomed to routing many drives many different ways. Going between two main cities, I could choose a few different routes based on traffic or construction or scenery if I wanted. That's not very likely here.<br />
<br />
Canada's got a couple highways. I do mean a couple. There seems to be one going north to south in Ontario and another going east to west across the entire country. There are no more. That's it. Want to find a quicker route from Niagara to Toronto? Want to avoid the holiday weekend traffic? Want to avoid the construction? HA! Unless you're swimming or flying, there is ONE WAY to drive it and one way only.<br />
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And for those who weren't aware, Ontario is the center of the universe. Just so ya know. Other Canadians are a bit miffed that darned near everything in Canada is in Ontario, but it seems to have worked out that way. Sorry. I didn't do it. I just enjoy the benefits of it. (40% of Canada's population resides in Ontario. In a way this center-of-the-universe thing makes sense once you know that.) <br />
<br />
Hopefully no one thinks I am poking fun at Canada. I love it here. I love the land, the scenery, the people, the sense of community in every community I've lived. There's more, but I'll save it for another day.CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-55094607152366985142010-02-18T12:14:00.001-05:002010-02-18T12:17:46.821-05:00Bzzing about DanactiveNo, that's not a typo. Bzzing is what a Bzzagent does. <a href="http://www.bzzagent.com/">BzzAgent</a> is a word-of-mouth marketing company. Bzzagents are people who receive products or offers to try products and then review and bzz about those products. Bzzagents can earn rewards for their bzzing, but we are not paid to say nice things about products. In fact, we're expected to be honest.<br />
<br />
If there is a fault I have (okay, one among many) it is brutal honesty. When I bzz about anything, whether I was introduced to it by BzzAgent or stumbled across it all on my lonesome, that bzz is my honest experience.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/matter/images/danactive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/matter/images/danactive.jpg" /></a>About a month ago I received the DanActive bzz kit which included several DanActive coupons, one for a free 4-pack, and a stack of cards containing contest pins for a current DanActive contest.<br />
<br />
Danone (Dannon in the states) tells us that DanActive promotes a healthy immune system with its proprietary probiotic culture L. Casei Defensis(TM). Actually, I phrased that rather mildly. Danone tells us that DanActive "strengthens our bodies' natural defenses to harmful bacteria from our environment."<br />
<br />
I've seen the commercials for ages. What did they make me think? Snake oil! They're selling some snake oil on the heels of a snake infestation!<br />
<br />
Danone assumes that people don't know about healthy gut bacteria. Yes, our guts -- meaning our entire digestive tracts from top (mouth) to bottom (bottom ha!) -- contain a wealth of bacteria. Good bacteria and bad bacteria. It's best to have more good than bad. That's just common sense. Things can throw this balance off -- long term, high-dosage antibiotics for instance will often result in a yeast infection. Yeast is a bad bacteria that lives in our guts. Another good bacteria (L. acidophilus) fights yeast bacteria overgrowth. Antibiotics kill good bacteria so yeast gets to grow uninhibited and you end up with a yeast infection. (It's not the only way to get a yeast infection. I'm trying to be brief here.) <br />
<br />
Danone didn't go out and create a brand new bacteria. L. casei has been around a long time. L. casei Defensis is simply Danone's special blend. I really don't understand how Danone's L. casei can be any more special than the L. casei I could easily replicate in my kitchen, but I'm not a biologist or chemist or whatever kind of scientist it takes to create "special" bacteria.<br />
<br />
L. casei is a good bacteria. It does support healthy immune functioning and healthy digestive tract flora.It lives in our mouths, stomachs, intestines. A baby's saliva will contain L. Casei. <br />
<br />
<i><b>My verdict:</b></i> This was incredibly sweet. It was palatable, but ridiculously sweet. My mouth is not accustomed to this kind of sweetness. I avoid products containing added sugar like the plague that sugar has become to Western society. Find your live, active bacterial cultures in natural yogurt that contains no added sugars.<br />
<br />
Because of the extremely high sugar content of Danactive, it will never be a feature in my diet. 69% of the calories in Danactive are from sugar. (There are 14 grams sugar in a bottle of vanilla Danactive. There are 63 calories in 14 grams sugar. Danactive Vanilla contains 80 calories total. 13.5 of those calories are from fat. This is all packed into 3.3 OUNCES (93 grams) of yogurt beverage.) That's ridiculous. Would you pour 4 teaspoons sugar into 3 ounces of any beverage? I wouldn't.<br />
<br />
<br />
And while Danone's "immunity" hype is actually true, you can get L. Casei from many other sources including cheddar cheese!CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-85161592038688309672010-02-11T11:04:00.000-05:002010-02-11T11:04:33.366-05:00Conversations with a Five Year OldMy five-year-old son is still learning the rhythm of conversation. Each night during dinner our family discusses our day, events, news, and all sorts of things. Often my five-year-old, Ky, will interrupt another person's speaking, but most often he simply bursts out with something seemingly from nowhere. These moments leave me wondering about the mechanics of his thought process and chuckling at some of the results. <br />
<br />
The other night, during a conversational lull, Ky burst out with "Kung Hay Fat Choy!" I knew what it meant, but I like to know what my children's grasp is of their lessons so I asked, "What's that?"<br />
<br />
Ky tells me "It's 'Happy New Year' in Chinese!" He goes on to tell me that it's still 2009 in China and the Chinese haven't yet had 2010. Red is a lucky colour in China and did you know that Canadian dragons are mean, fire breathing, destructive dragons but Chinese dragons are good dragons who bring good luck and help it to rain. <br />
<br />
I am always amazed at the wealth of information he is able to absorb in a day. Later that evening, he read his daily message to me. (Each day the teacher sends home a one-page message in the form of a letter. This is the kindergartners' daily reading assignment. I think it's one of the most brilliant ideas a teacher could have for learning readers.) After the date information, the letter begins "Dear Monkeys and Ram". I stopped my son at this point as usually the letter begins with "Dear Boys and Girls" or "Dear Good Friends" or some variation of those two. I asked Ky, "What is up with your teacher calling you monkeys and ram instead of boys and girls?" <br />
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He matter-of-factly explains "We <i>are</i> Monkeys and a Ram!"<br />
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"What is a monkey?" I ask. <br />
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"A monkey is an animal with a tail who likes to eat bananas." He replies adding an eye roll for emphasis. <br />
<br />
"Oh. So you are an animal with a tail who likes to eat bananas." <br />
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"NO moooooooooom. I'm not a mon-KEY, I am a HUMAN. A monkey is an ANIMAL. I am a HUMAN." <br />
<br />
"A human is an animal, too, honey. You just told me you were a monkey and now you're telling me you're not a monkey. I'm confused." <br />
<br />
He sighs a long, exaggerated sigh and explains, "Boys and girls born IN THE YEAR OF THE MONKEY are called monkeys, but they are not animal monkeys, they are just CALLED monkeys."<br />
<br />
"OHHHHHH. I get it now. So you are a boy who was born in the year of the monkey and that is why your teacher called you a Monkey."<br />
<br />
He smiled as wide as the monkey's banana and confirmed, "YES!" <br />
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After he finished reading his daily message, I informed him that I was a Rooster. He giggled and told me, "No you're not. You're mom" in that don't-be-silly tone of voice that children do so well.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, my husband was across the room pulling faces. Ky laughs at him and his daddy tells him to guess what he is. Ky first guesses Rabbit but is wrong and immediately figures out that daddy is mimicking a rat. Yet another thing to make me wonder how on earth his mind works as I don't think I would have guessed it correctly if I hadn't already known my husband's Chinese zodiac. <br />
<br />
At bedtime Ky tells me that Monkeys are smart. Of course they are. Mine sure is. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3QoTreGFGI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Aj6kn7FaiRY/s1600-h/wackyHatDaybest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3QoTreGFGI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Aj6kn7FaiRY/s320/wackyHatDaybest.jpg" /></a></div>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-63927495767721425132010-02-08T12:29:00.002-05:002010-02-08T12:54:58.507-05:00Update on the baby kits and our other foster cats<div style="text-align: center;">Simon and Stephen graduated from bottles to soft food several weeks ago and from soft food to hard within a few days of that. Small kittens cannot chew standard kitten kibbles so they started out on this stuff:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A78unW5tI/AAAAAAAAAto/w4j-UcEpKJ0/s1600-h/201_3908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A78unW5tI/AAAAAAAAAto/w4j-UcEpKJ0/s320/201_3908.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Which is the cutest, tiniest kibble I've ever seen:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A8wXWPnmI/AAAAAAAAAtw/c-NTZufL_5Q/s1600-h/201_3909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A8wXWPnmI/AAAAAAAAAtw/c-NTZufL_5Q/s400/201_3909.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Normal cat food is on the right, and the babycat(TM) kibble is on the left. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that you think I'm completely daft for getting all silly over kitten kibble, I'll show you adorable pictures to make you forget how daft I may or may not be. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A9h-U8vHI/AAAAAAAAAt4/gfnLCuLBZwI/s1600-h/Simon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A9h-U8vHI/AAAAAAAAAt4/gfnLCuLBZwI/s320/Simon2.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Simon at about 7 weeks. Simon is a little love. He likes to climb up on me, nuzzle my chin, sleep under my chin or just nuzzle on me while getting his noggin scratched. I have never come across so affectionate a kitten as Simon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simon likes to hug, too:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A-DWnZ-UI/AAAAAAAAAuA/dUpcPpCuf6U/s1600-h/SimonHug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A-DWnZ-UI/AAAAAAAAAuA/dUpcPpCuf6U/s320/SimonHug.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Simon will make someone a very good companion. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A-jg3-0vI/AAAAAAAAAuI/VyCUOyb7F5U/s1600-h/RJSimon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A-jg3-0vI/AAAAAAAAAuI/VyCUOyb7F5U/s320/RJSimon.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Steven is also an affectionate one, as evidenced by his nap with my son. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Both Simon and Steven are happy, playful kittens full of love and exuberance. They have no health concerns or negative behaviours and will be wonderful additions to any home. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am so going to miss them! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A_aqz_rqI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/8eJY5dsXywU/s1600-h/simonstevenblanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3A_aqz_rqI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/8eJY5dsXywU/s320/simonstevenblanket.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They burrowed into this blanket themselves and had a nap! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for my other foster cats....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BAwiiQjWI/AAAAAAAAAuY/bYjLqXEvyh0/s1600-h/Targetbetter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BAwiiQjWI/AAAAAAAAAuY/bYjLqXEvyh0/s320/Targetbetter.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Allow me to introduce 11-07 ("eleven-oh-seven"). </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Odd name, you think? Can you see why? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BBAE1q6rI/AAAAAAAAAug/OnfstpGJxXQ/s1600-h/1107better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BBAE1q6rI/AAAAAAAAAug/OnfstpGJxXQ/s320/1107better.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, she has very clear 1107 markings on both her sides! 11-07 is a bit skittish, but I think she will relax in a quiet home. She is used to children as she's been with us since infancy. While she does spend time with my 10 year old, she could not be bothered with my five year old. Younger kids tend to be unpredictably loud at times and she does not enjoy loud noises. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BCJG8CARI/AAAAAAAAAuo/ley4pveaHqM/s1600-h/blondie-shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BCJG8CARI/AAAAAAAAAuo/ley4pveaHqM/s640/blondie-shoes.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is Blondie. We named her Blondie for her blonde-coloured eyes, pale colouring and the fact that she seems a bit dense at times. (In this photo she is stalking and swatting the black shoes. You can make of that what you will.) I think she's actually just very skittish and her nervousness pre-empts her intelligence. She's a funny one, that's for sure. Blondie is still not fully socialized, despite the fact that I've been working with her for a very long time and she came to me as a kitten. Blondie will be staying with me a bit longer as I give socializing her one more go before she goes to another home for more intensive socializing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BC31QkniI/AAAAAAAAAuw/RzFTd0UQ6B0/s1600-h/princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S3BC31QkniI/AAAAAAAAAuw/RzFTd0UQ6B0/s320/princess.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Princess. She is completely black -- not a spot of white on her anywhere! Princess came to me as a one year old extremely skittish cat. She hid for the first week in the rafters of our basement. I decided to cage her when I realized that she would live in those rafters until eternity if I didn't force her hand. While caged I would daily remove her, hold her, stroke her, scratch her head and talk to her. At night she would cry and cry to be let out of the cage. Finally I gave in and let her out of the cage, but barred her access to the basement. It took seven long months of coaxing before Princess ever let me touch her after uncaging her. She simply came to me one day, lay down at me feet and meowed at me. She wanted scratched! Now she comes to us all the time for back scratching. She does not like to be held, but will sit next to you (never on! she's not that kind of cat!) on a sofa and allow you to pet and scratch her. She's a very well behaved, but quite skittish cat. She needs a quiet home and will most likely have a period of adjustment when she gets to that home. She will hide and come out only when she is comfortable. Coaxing will <i>not</i> work with this girl. If you are a local reader, I would like you to consider whether you or someone you may know would be interested in adopting Princess. She will make a wonderful pet. After all the work we've done with her to socialize her to humans, children, and other cats, I would hate to see her sit in an adoption center's cages before being adopted. I think that would cause her to regress. I know she will have an adjustment period regardless, but I think it would be FAR FAR less traumatic for her to transition directly into her forever home. If you or someone you know is interested and serious about adopting Princess, please contact me via the comments section. I would be happy to facilitate her transition to a forever home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simon, Steven, and 11-07 will be available for adoption this weekend, February 13th at the <a href="http://stores.petsmart.com/result-details.php?store=2022">PetSmart on Vansickle Ave. in St. Catharines. </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-57697378143388255932010-01-27T11:42:00.000-05:002010-01-27T11:42:43.012-05:00Screen-Free Tuesdays Spawns My First Small GiveawayIt's a new tradition in our house. (Can you call it a tradition after one time?)<br />
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It's so easy to get into an electronic rut in the wintertime. The kids fell into habit with the Wii, PCs, PS2 and TV. Tired of the daily battle over who's watching/playing what, I exercised my dictatorial powers and decreed Tuesdays to be Screen Free. Nothing with a screen is to be used on Tuesday. This covers gameboys, PCs, tvs and all game systems.<br />
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Now, what to do?<br />
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Ah, there's the rub.<br />
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Well, I happened to be recovering from a virus so I spent the day dabbling at my housework and resting (right after I remembered it was screen-free and pulled myself away from the PC.) I think I might have gotten more done than on days when I'm perfectly fine but "taking breaks" on the internet! When the kids got home, my youngest and I tried our hands at the new <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FVSZAK?ie=UTF8&tag=mundanacitybl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FVSZAK%22%3EBattleship%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mundanacitybl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001FVSZAK%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Battleship</a> game.<br />
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It's really a little advanced for him, but he wanted to try. After an hour he decided it just wasn't for him. While I made dinner the boys played with action figures and cars. After dinner everyone played a few rounds of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006667N?ie=UTF8&tag=mundanacitybl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00006667N">Triominoes </a>before doing homework, having baths and heading to bed.<br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SR2ZBJAQL._SL160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SR2ZBJAQL._SL160_.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618DGCV54YL._SL160_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618DGCV54YL._SL160_.jpg" /></a>You should know I've been on a kids' games losing streak for ages now. I have never once won a round of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IWD2?ie=UTF8&tag=mundanacitybl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000IWD2%22%3EMonopoly%20Junior%20Edition%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mundanacitybl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00000IWD2%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Monopoly Junior</a> against my five year old. No, I do not stack the odds in his favour.<br />
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</div> I have lost every game of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000DMFD?ie=UTF8&tag=mundanacitybl-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000DMFD%22%3EMousetrap%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mundanacitybl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00000DMFD%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Mousetrap</a> against these guys (you really cannot cheat to lose in that, either!)<br />
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And in recent months, I haven't been able to beat my husband at a game of cards either! (Though I did break that streak in December.) Wouldn't you know that the first round of Triominoes was won by my five year old? Of course it was! He had no idea what he was doing, but he sure won! I did, however, win the second round. Luckily we weren't keeping score because the numbers might not have been in my favour.<br />
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The final verdict on screen-free Tuesday: it was enjoyed by all. The kids were already making plans for next Tuesday.<br />
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Now for that giveaway. Up for grabs to those who follow and comment on this post is one coupon good for $10 off a Hasbro, Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley and/or Cranium board game. The coupon is only good in Canada so this is a giveaway just for Canadians!<br />
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Winner will be selected and coupon mailed on Monday, February 1st, 2010. That will give the winner two months to use the coupon! CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-82910900980866881752010-01-12T19:51:00.003-05:002010-01-13T12:20:16.335-05:00Use for stale (rancid) brown rice found!Any whole grain will go rancid, meaning the oils in the grain get strong and off-smelling. It will give the grain itself a nasty flavour. I don't think it's bad for you and won't make you sick, but it does not taste good. It tastes awful actually.<br />
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In the interests of frugality, I knew there had to be a use for rancid rice whether it was an art project or small animal food. <br />
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You can make a heating pad using rice grains. Take an old, but not holey (unless you sew the holes shut), clean sock and fill it with rice grains. Either sew or tie the open end shut. Heat the rice filled sock in the microwave for 90 seconds. There, you have a heating pad to apply to muscle aches or to use as a kitten warmer as I currently am.<br />
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You can freeze the same rice sock to use for first aid applications. Reuse it indefinitely.<br />
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Here is an article on how to make a rice sock: <a href="http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/article/make-a-rice-sock-086423/%20"> http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/article/make-a-rice-sock-086423/ </a><br />
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Here is a very comprehensive article on the benefits of brown rice: <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=128">http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=128</a>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-25754365336198400532010-01-07T13:41:00.002-05:002010-01-07T13:42:47.738-05:00I thought my days of mixing formula were over...but here I am taking care of two babies. And it's hard to bottle feed two at once. It's hard to clean two bums simultaneously. It's hard to keep one from scratching the other's eyes out when they sleep next to each other. <br />
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My husband brought home two babies on New Year's Eve. Two baby kittens, that is!<br />
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They are roughly four weeks old, going on five. My husband works for a company that manufactures wind towers. These kittens were in an area where large steel plates (think tonnes) are stored. Just as he was about to move some of this plate, a coworker heard a sound. It was the sound of two tiny kittens mewling. Since it was a holiday weekend, everything was going to be closed up tight and the mother, if she hadn't intentionally abandoned them, would have no way to get back to them. The temperature was well below 0C and nights substantially below. My husband couldn't leave them to freeze.<br />
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They were hungry and cold after a day in a box of rags in subzero temperatures. We syringe fed them watered down wet cat food as they likely never had solid food before and they are quite wobbly still. As soon as I could get to a pet supply store we purchased a nurser and formula. Isn't this bottle just the cutest thing?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0YlBDlx3nI/AAAAAAAAAtI/9DX_znXnoSI/s1600-h/kittenbottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0YlBDlx3nI/AAAAAAAAAtI/9DX_znXnoSI/s400/kittenbottle.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cute, yes, but not quite so cute as Steven and Simon: <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0Ylj-t8oiI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/S1811wAwE04/s1600-h/simon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0Ylj-t8oiI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/S1811wAwE04/s400/simon.jpg" /></a><br />
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They're standing on top of the barrier I made to turn my living room into a kitten playpen. It's not safe for them to wander around the house. I do cage the kittens during naps and at night, they are out of the cage during feedings and after for play time. Obviously, the barricade isn't working so well. It only took two days for them to overcome it! As long as I'm in the living room, they will stay there. I have become mom so far as these two guys are concerned. They'll follow along as I walk, climb my pants' legs when I sit, and crawl up on my shoulder to sleep after they've finished their bottle:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0YmiyBOucI/AAAAAAAAAtY/cALqEFuoSw4/s1600-h/shouldersleeping-BEST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0YmiyBOucI/AAAAAAAAAtY/cALqEFuoSw4/s400/shouldersleeping-BEST.jpg" /></a><br />
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(Try to ignore the folded clothes behind me on the couch. It's amazing how much time these guys actually require in caring for them. I truly feel like I have a baby or two in the house. Though I don't mean to diminish the work of human childcare at all. I'm only comparing the two. )<br />
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I (we) have fostered cats and kittens for the past five years for the <a href="http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s13144">Animal Assistance Society of Niagara</a>. We socialize them and get them ready for adoption into forever homes. There are three fosters with us now in addition to Simon and Steven. The baby brothers will also be available for adoption once they've been neutered. <br />
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I'll tell you more about the other fosters in another post.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0YohkOAiVI/AAAAAAAAAtg/SD6hGj5nW7M/s1600-h/steven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/S0YohkOAiVI/AAAAAAAAAtg/SD6hGj5nW7M/s400/steven.jpg" /></a><br />
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I suppose you might be wondering about their names. My husband works in Stevensville. The kittens were found next to steel plate from Seimon's Steel. I couldn't call a kitty "Seimon" (which sounds just like "semen") so Simon it is! How do I tell them apart? Well, Simon has a redder face than Steven. It just so happens that my husband has an Uncle Simon, who when he grows one, sports a red mustache! I need all the help I can get when it comes to memory assists.CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-56377638448777043952009-12-29T07:00:00.003-05:002009-12-29T07:00:02.149-05:00Turkey Leftovers?Turkey leftovers are good for about 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, they need to go. Anytime I have more than I think can be used in that time-frame, I dice it and freeze in 2 cup portions for using in recipes like the ones in this blog post. <br />
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There are so many things you can do with turkey leftovers. Aside from the standard cold turkey sandwiches, which I love, you might like to try a casserole. <br />
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Take a look at my <a href="http://cannedamathome.blogspot.com/2007/03/chicken-vegetable-cobbler.html">Chicken Vegetable Cobbler</a>. Use leftover turkey instead. There are a few variations on this, and they're all quite easy. You need meat, thickened sauce, frozen mixed vegetables, and a topper. Cook 30 or so minutes at 350F. (Some might take longer than 30 minutes. Choose from any of the following:<br />
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I use a 2 quart casserole and the quantities listed:<br />
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<b>Meat:</b><br />
<b><i>1 cup to 2 cups cut up, just depends on what I have</i></b><b> <br />
</b><br />
chicken<br />
turkey<br />
beef<br />
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<b>Thickened sauce:</b><br />
<b><i>1 1/2 cups to 2 cups</i></b><b> <br />
</b><br />
leftover gravy<br />
canned soup (cream of mushroom, cream of celery, cream of chicken)<br />
canned gravy (turns out to be lighter and lower in sodium than canned cream soups!)<br />
thickened broth (broth + cornstarch mixed thoroughly.)<br />
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<b>Topper:</b><br />
<b><i>1 recipe/1 can/1 mix or about 1 1/2 cups</i> <br />
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refrigerated canned biscuit dough or croissant dough (these are the highest-in-fat choices)<br />
Boxed mix of stuffing (here's a <strike>lazy</strike> resourceful tip: mix the stuffing + water (omit margarine) in the package that the stuffing comes in. Fork it on top of the casserole right out of the bag, toss the bag. No washing up.)<br />
Leftover or instant mashed potatoes<br />
Leftover mashed sweet potatoes <br />
Homemade drop or rolled biscuits (recipe for this is in my <a href="http://cannedamathome.blogspot.com/2007/03/chicken-vegetable-cobbler.html">Chicken Vegetable Cobbler</a> post)<br />
boxed corn muffin mix (follow instructions on mix and drop by spoonful on top of casserole)<br />
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<b>Frozen mixed vegetables:</b><br />
<b><i>1 1/2 cups</i> <br />
</b><br />
Standard or,<br />
peas and carrots<br />
broccoli blends are too strong for this casserole<br />
You can use canned, but I find them too soft, salty, and sweet. <br />
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This casserole comes together in just a few minutes, bakes in 30-45 and really hits the spot on a cold day. Leftovers are great for lunch! CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-80212128811622429342009-12-28T12:26:00.000-05:002009-12-28T12:26:01.263-05:00Ch-ch-changesI've finally gotten around to rearranging this blog. It's something I've wanted to do for over a year and well, there, I've done it. I can cross it off my list. <br />
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The photo in the header is from Dufferin Islands in Niagara Falls, Ontario. We spent a few afternoons hiking and picnicking there with the kids this summer. <a href="http://www.niagaraparks.com/nature-trails/dufferin-islands.html">Dufferin Islands</a> are just down the road from the Falls. It's a nice escape from the busyness of the tourists in Niagara Falls. Also, it's free to park there, so if you don't mind the mile walk to the falls from there, you can save your $20-some and park at the islands. <br />
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I have a few more changes to make, but in the meantime, please let me know if anything's not working. CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-14484929347301697262009-12-23T21:00:00.000-05:002009-12-23T22:59:22.721-05:00Good, Bad, and Wickedly Ugly Christmas Trees 2009<div style="text-align: center;">More samplings from the <a href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/">Worldwide Christmas Tree Contest 2009</a>.<br /><br />If you're naughty en espana, glow-eyed cat will leave lumps of something-that-looks-like-coal-but-isn't under your tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-bBdQPqwV.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-bBdQPqwV.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The tree is not bad. All of the rest of it adds up to years and years of therapy<br />for some unfortunate child/children...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-W4uNdEXt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 355px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-W4uNdEXt.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Is this even done yet? Nonetheless, a little too artsy-fartsy for me. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-l3c2cX6H.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-l3c2cX6H.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This tree is pretty unremarkable, but the picture kind of freaks me out. You're busted, Santa!<br />I knew you existed!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-ZnnCwqHa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 352px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-ZnnCwqHa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />"Mommy, why is Santa's head coming out of the tree?"<br />Kind of looks like the tree shat a village, too...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-tG0Kfo15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-tG0Kfo15.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've got Eric Clapton in my head. It's all white, it's all white, it's all white. . .<br />Damn! That's bright! Sun hats and pom poms? Only yellow lights? Like piddle on snow...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-PXytKdEi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-PXytKdEi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Random feathers and a teeny sunflower on top. What the hell?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sure someone likes this.<br />I don't. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-UvhHqQi6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-UvhHqQi6.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Frig! More feathers. Again: what the hell??? Oh and look, it's a half-and-half tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-g5y5Z2Kd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-g5y5Z2Kd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not sure what you had to go through to create this, but yep, I like it. PS: nice pile of rocks, there. I see you're also raising boy children. One day I'll share all the rock piles I find in my house, too. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-FC5SJvbi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-FC5SJvbi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">O. My. Gawd. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Lxgcf6Wh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 442px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Lxgcf6Wh.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Imagine how pretty this would be with multi-coloured blinking lights at night: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-imaVhHBy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 479px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-imaVhHBy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Let's stop for a minute and think about the implications of placing baby Jesus, the three wise men, Mary, and Joseph in the middle of Santa Land. And do you really need to hang Santa all over the place? I'm not sure if you're trying to say "Die Santa, Die!" or "Jesus Clause is the reason for the season." I'm so confused! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-WK0HM11E.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 371px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-WK0HM11E.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />oooooooooh, aaaaaaaaaaah: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-UCC7C6wQ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-UCC7C6wQ.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">How obsessive-compulsive do you have to be to have a giant spill-mat under<br />a pristine non-shedding tree like this one: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-XTpvpGa7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 322px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-XTpvpGa7.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I could like this one. I really could. If only those two green balloons at the bottom didn't look like terribly asymmetrical boobies: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-9zx7XkwS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-9zx7XkwS.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Where to start with this one? We've got the frou-frou explosive topping, the <a href="http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orglawn/msg052318413702.html">fungus-coloured</a> decorations and is that skinny little tree in the background actually <span style="font-style: italic;">bowing</span> to this eyesore? And that too-small tree skirt makes your tree's ass look fat:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-y33jMbBU.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-y33jMbBU.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">How can you not like this? Though, this might be cheating...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Kcnpyepu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 360px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Kcnpyepu.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yellow tree. Pez dispensers. Metalic green bows. I think I'm gonna hurl...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-DF8vQZF4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-DF8vQZF4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I like recycling. I particularly like that this family took all those useless AOL discs and made lovely family photo ornaments out of them:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-mL2na75w.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-mL2na75w.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I suspect this is a festivus pole disguised as a Christmas tree:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-qE5a1LgC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-qE5a1LgC.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The most frilly, frou-frou, overdecorated, glitzy trees are from central American entrants. This Argentinian walks to the beat of his own drummer:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-a7CHFGnZ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-a7CHFGnZ.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />awwwww:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-8AN41S0Y.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-8AN41S0Y.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Just when we were firm in our belief that only American rednecks crafted beer can/bottle Christmas trees, this Brit comes along to prove us wrong.<br />It seems to be suspended mid air. How'd he do that?<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-AdEZx2ps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 407px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-AdEZx2ps.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />Leave it to a German to design a thoroughly unique, completely practical not-a-tree. After Christmas, burn the tree! I bet it smells fabulous! Love it!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-alWPylPR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-alWPylPR.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />Hannakuh not-a-tree in the Christmas Tree contest. You rebel, you:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-BT1JqZDT.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 408px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-BT1JqZDT.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Someone got a pom-pom maker for Christmas last year. And, is the valance tied to the top of the tree? Hey, nice plastic on the couch! I have kids. I understand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-TngSFrfa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-TngSFrfa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I would not have thought this was a Christmas tree, but it's entrant #445 in the World Wide Christmas tree contest. What <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> these?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-RZPRDXXE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-RZPRDXXE.jpg" alt="" border="0" />\</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Same comment as above, but entrant #427:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-kcMU0GpS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-kcMU0GpS.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Kitty: "Go ahead. Get a picture of it now before I sink my claws into it. Mwhaahahahaha"<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Tw2hF61J.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 514px; height: 385px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Tw2hF61J.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />hmmmmmm...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-xpklSTTS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 560px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-xpklSTTS.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mixing up your bible stories, folks:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Ly0wrMcL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Ly0wrMcL.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I could be fair and show you a picture of our Christmas tree. But I won't. You see, I foster cats and kittens. We currently have 5 in residence. A week ago, it was six. The bottom 2 feet of my tree no longer have ornaments. The lights are restrung daily. We did not hang garland this year. Some day, I'll have a Christmas tree without kittens, and then I'll share the tree with you. The first night the tree was up, the next morning we woke to find the youngest kitten in the upper most branches sound asleep. She still thinks it's her tree.<br /><br />Want to have a laugh about cats and trees? Go read this: <a href="http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp">A Cat's Christmas</a><br /><br />Merry Christmas, everyone!CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-7788176756444383992009-12-22T23:05:00.005-05:002009-12-22T23:55:59.286-05:00Now that you've finished your Christmas bakingI'm going to show you something that will send you out to the store for the supplies to make just one more batch of cookies.<br /><br />These are fun, lovely and, most importantly, yummerrific!<br /><br />I'm talking about stained glass window cookies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQKHkfOI/AAAAAAAAAsg/F5RXIsCHAV0/s1600-h/stainedglasscookies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQKHkfOI/AAAAAAAAAsg/F5RXIsCHAV0/s400/stainedglasscookies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418280329576479970" border="0" /></a>(The "windows" are less opaque than they appear in my pictures. Holding them up to light is cool, too!) <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQ-W3wTI/AAAAAAAAAsw/cR1hIFCpVnQ/s1600-h/window-mooncookie.jpg"><br /></a>I've read the instructions in my cookbook year after year, but have never taken that extra step to make them because I always forget to purchase the hard candies that make the stained glass centers in these cookies. <br /><br />I love the flavour of these. The dough is just your basic sugar cookie cut-out dough, which I've always thought was bland. The candies give the flavour a nice little kick. <br /><br />I used Lifesavers and I crushed them and mixed the colours in each "window." Next year, I'll do solid colours and skip crushing them. I hear Jolly Rancher candies work just as well as Lifesavers.<br /><br />I purchased a mini star cutter and used my son's duckie playdough cutter or cut out shapes from each cookie with a knife. A small cutter is the easiest method. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic Sugar Cookie Cutouts </span>recipe<br /><br />1/2 c butter, softened<br />3/4 c granulated sugar<br />1 tsp baking powder<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1 egg<br />1 T milk<br />1 tsp vanilla<br />2 c all-purpose flour<br /><br />Preheat oven to 375F.<br /><br />First beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer (I use my dough hooks and my cheap little hand mixer on medium, using turbo when the mixer starts to struggle and I can do the whole batch with it.) Stir in any remaining flour. (Use your hands. Seriously. Just make sure they and your nails are clean.) Divide the dough in half, cover and chill it for 30 minutes or until it's easy to handle. <br /><br />Next, on a lightly floured surface, roll half the dough at a time until 1/8" thick. Cut out dough into desired shapes. Then cut smaller shapes out of the cookie centers. Finely crush 3 ounces hard candy if mixing colours. If you're not going to mix colours, don't bother crushing them. Fill each center with some of the candy right to the top edges of the cookies. You can top cookies with coloured sugars if you would like. Bake on a foil lined cookie sheet 7-8 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned.* Allow to cool on the foil completely before removing with a spatula. You don't need to spray the foil, but you may. Store tightly covered. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQvT6hXI/AAAAAAAAAso/79Upa56jXvU/s1600-h/stainedglasscookies1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQvT6hXI/AAAAAAAAAso/79Upa56jXvU/s400/stainedglasscookies1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418280339560367474" border="0" /></a><br />*For non stained glass sugar cookies, place cutouts on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for the same time/temp. Remove from oven and move cookies to a wire rack to cool. <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQ-W3wTI/AAAAAAAAAsw/cR1hIFCpVnQ/s1600-h/window-mooncookie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZQ-W3wTI/AAAAAAAAAsw/cR1hIFCpVnQ/s400/window-mooncookie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418280343599300914" border="0" /></a>Decorate as you like. <br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZRGyscnI/AAAAAAAAAs4/enUy7GCP6_Q/s1600-h/wreathcookie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 395px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SzGZRGyscnI/AAAAAAAAAs4/enUy7GCP6_Q/s400/wreathcookie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418280345863484018" border="0" /></a>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-62537226289836687612009-12-16T13:10:00.005-05:002009-12-16T13:47:39.436-05:00Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cranberry cookies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SyknkNiAR0I/AAAAAAAAAsY/yJ3PC00Kzh0/s1600-h/cookie3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SyknkNiAR0I/AAAAAAAAAsY/yJ3PC00Kzh0/s400/cookie3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415903529950791490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I suppose I could call them PORC cookies. Would you like a porc cookie? I didn't think so.<br /><br />I've been on a quest for the perfect pumpkin cookie for years. My mother made a spiced pumpkin cookie that I just loved. She'd slather penuche frosting on top and my mouth would be transported to pumpkin heaven. Oh my. Mom lost her recipe ages ago, thus my search.<br /><br />This recipe is the closest thing to my idea of the perfect pumpkin cookie I've found so far. And it's full of nutritious goodness, too! They're also low in fat and this recipe is vegan! I originally found this recipe <a href="http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=187">here</a>. I've modified it some.<br /><br />The kids love these cookies. They'll do extra chores to get some more!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cranberry Cookies</span><br /><br />In a medium sized bowl, mix together:<br /><br />2 c flour<br />1 1/3 c rolled oats<br />1 tsp baking soda<br />3/4 tsp salt<br />1/2 tsp nutmeg<br /><br />In a large bowl, mix together:<br /><br />1 2/3 c sugar (I use a blend of splenda and sugar)<br />2/3 c canola oil<br />2 T molasses<br />1 c canned pumpkin<br />1 tsp vanilla<br /><br />Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl in 3 batches, folding to combine. (I use the dough hooks on a mixer. Works a treat!) <br /><br />Add 1 1/2 cups raisins and dried cranberries. Mix. <br /><br />Drop by tablespoon onto cookie sheet. <br /><br />Bake 10 minutes at 350. Cool on wire rack. <br /><br /><br />The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Since my kids attend nut-free schools (luckily the restriction doesn't apply to the kids) I do not use any nuts. Next time I make them, I'm going to add ground flaxseed in place of the nuts. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/Syknjad4PgI/AAAAAAAAAsI/jHkJO9mB_AM/s1600-h/pumpkincookies1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/Syknjad4PgI/AAAAAAAAAsI/jHkJO9mB_AM/s400/pumpkincookies1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415903516243279362" border="0" /></a>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-63987125640692670092009-12-07T12:51:00.009-05:002009-12-09T11:19:54.564-05:00Not-a-Christmas-Tree TreesI've come across so many of these I had to create a post just for them. Some are good, some are ugly, some are fabulous.<br /><br />I think when my fake tree eventually dies and goes to a donation center in the sky I'll go the not-a-tree route. Lots of ideas out there:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />recycling: good. This not-a-tree: not so much<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.designboom.com/tools/WPro/images/blog14/xt2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 552px;" src="http://www.designboom.com/tools/WPro/images/blog14/xt2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>p.s. You'd be a lot fatter than that chick if you ate all that cereal.<br /><br />The folks at <a href="http://blog.freepeople.com/2007/12/crochet-trees/">BLDG 15</a> made this crochet Christmas tree a couple years ago:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.freepeople.com/tree5.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 480px;" src="http://blog.freepeople.com/tree5.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lego: I heart you<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/324443079_a6e1e7c710.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 453px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/324443079_a6e1e7c710.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Not enough kitchen storage? Here ya go:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.funpub.net/poze/mare/ornamente-de-pom_1162286199.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 530px;" src="http://www.funpub.net/poze/mare/ornamente-de-pom_1162286199.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> So<br />long as you don't mind the fruit flies once these bananas ripen and rot...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.joytotheplanet.com/images/ripebanana1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 264px;" src="http://www.joytotheplanet.com/images/ripebanana1.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I kind of like it, but it doesn't feel Christmassy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ma-decoration.net/blims/christmas-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 457px;" src="http://www.ma-decoration.net/blims/christmas-tree.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>What would be ultra cool is if this were a photo-tree and you could insert photos from your own Christmases over time. That would be awesome!<br /><br /><br />The ladder (I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> this!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/atimg/933500/12-03-2008ladder_rect540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 455px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/atimg/933500/12-03-2008ladder_rect540.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This won an award. Apparently there were no other entrants:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sussexareanafas.org.uk/images/358_AnAlternativeChristmasTreeBIG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 571px; height: 800px;" src="http://www.sussexareanafas.org.uk/images/358_AnAlternativeChristmasTreeBIG.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />minimalist:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tele-smart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/xmass-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.tele-smart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/xmass-tree.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />meh:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2105865977_c580c8ea60.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2105865977_c580c8ea60.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />If you have about 300 old SCSI drives laying around, you can make this one:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shinyshiny.tv/scsi-tree-20081218-359-thumb-240x333.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 333px;" src="http://www.shinyshiny.tv/scsi-tree-20081218-359-thumb-240x333.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>though it does look kind of scuzzy to me.<br /><br /><br />I don't know...if you were going to buy a tree, anyway, you don't get green points for this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2239/2133568400_8170afa79c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2239/2133568400_8170afa79c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This I don't mind so much, except that there is clearly a decorating skills deficiency at play here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/334085339_2b53c47b69_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 800px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/334085339_2b53c47b69_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love this and I think I'll make one! Baby food jar tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kaboose.com/imageLibrary/tree1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.kaboose.com/imageLibrary/tree1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>(Clicking on the picture will take you to the source where there are instructions to make your own.)<br /><br /><br />Another one to make:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/2106342762_9e1371476f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/2106342762_9e1371476f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I like this cardboard tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/127229130_51a868c67a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/127229130_51a868c67a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />by far, my favourite:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://style-files.com/images/kerstboom718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 718px;" src="http://style-files.com/images/kerstboom718.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">pssst: I can see your pencil outline.</div>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-16741866825950481692009-12-07T09:48:00.006-05:002009-12-07T13:22:13.128-05:00Weird and Wacky Christmas TreesHey, if you put it out there, I will point and laugh at it.<br /><br />Again from the <a href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/">Worldwide Christmas Tree Contest</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here we have the I'm-not-even-trying not-a-tree:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-sYA9tTbE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-sYA9tTbE.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">RUN! It's taking over the house!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-3WtZLu3H.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-3WtZLu3H.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Augh! My eyes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-XG3i6u40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-XG3i6u40.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>What.....the.....he......<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-6X6Ci5tN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-6X6Ci5tN.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Maybe she didn't see us and we can just sneak away...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-DCGJnoAa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-DCGJnoAa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I don't think there's a tree under there. It's just a conical pile of gay:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-TlLwtpUa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 449px; height: 602px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-TlLwtpUa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Kind of undecided on this one. You've got your reduced environmental impact on the one hand, and then you've got crap for decorating skills in the other...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Dm0DUixN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-Dm0DUixN.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>No. Seriously?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-ZjdXnTra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-ZjdXnTra.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Santa was hanged by the tree with a ... hey! wait a minute, that's not the way the story goes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-2RoKwQRQ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 480px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-2RoKwQRQ.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Nothing says Christmas like silver butterflies and purple trilobites.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-20QsWtF5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-20QsWtF5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>hmmmmmm...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-iHaAqEyb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 404px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-iHaAqEyb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>AUGHHHHHHHH!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-8rAn8mA2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 438px; height: 584px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-8rAn8mA2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />points for recycling ... but they lady elf is freaking me out<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-apaLBiqo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-apaLBiqo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's an elfen peacock tree!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-GV10XTgz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 640px;" src="http://treecontest.worldwidechristmas.com/pics/2009/tree-GV10XTgz.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>And from other places on the web...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Way to make your mothers proud, boys...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://funnyhub.com/content_images/4009_2005_frat-christmas-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 394px;" src="http://funnyhub.com/content_images/4009_2005_frat-christmas-tree.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The guys who emptied those kegs probably had something to do with this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/2096566092_3f9a89ccb1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/2096566092_3f9a89ccb1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Someone's blond dreadlocks recycled:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://maxcdn.sparklette.net/archives/514/tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 650px;" src="http://maxcdn.sparklette.net/archives/514/tree.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />For all the winos out there:<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/jsjapan/xmaswinebottles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 465px;" src="http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/jsjapan/xmaswinebottles.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />More to come, soon...<br /></div></div></div></div>CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-74840197303143570012009-11-17T21:25:00.005-05:002009-11-17T23:07:18.240-05:00Deli-Apple-iciousToo much?<br /><br />Ah well. You might change your mind if you try this recipe.<br /><br />Can you guess what this is? Note that colour. Oh, it's so pink and pretty, isn't it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbuN3qCtI/AAAAAAAAAq8/G2GpfsWYk_8/s1600/JustPinksauce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbuN3qCtI/AAAAAAAAAq8/G2GpfsWYk_8/s400/JustPinksauce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264827329940178" border="0" /></a>You scrolled down to see what it is, didn't you?<br /><br />That's okay. I would have, too.<br /><br />I'm telling you about beautiful, delicious Ida Red Apple Sauce. Yes, it needs to be Ida Red. Sure, you can use other apples. It just won't be deli-apple-icious. Ida Reds have a semi-firm flesh, gorgeous red skin, high juice content, and a sweet-tartness that is perfect to create a blushing sauce for your dinner table.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbt8Vn-JI/AAAAAAAAAq0/VZ2tYdBKsB8/s1600/IdaRedApple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbt8Vn-JI/AAAAAAAAAq0/VZ2tYdBKsB8/s400/IdaRedApple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264822623795346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's what you need:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ida Red Applesauce</span><br />Ripe Ida Red apples, washed, as many as you want (I used 9 large to medium-large apples to serve 5)<br />1/4 cup of water<br />1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon<br />2 tablespoons of sugar (optional)<br />Pot to cook them in<br />a food mill<br /><br />Oh, and by the way -- this is <span style="font-style: italic;">so easy!</span> Very little work involved.<br /><br /><ol><li>Using a handy-dandy apple slicer-corer, slice your apples directly into the cooking pot. Do NOT skin the apples. (If you don't have an apple slicer-corer, use a knife, slice apples and discard seeds and core.) </li><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbuiP_xyI/AAAAAAAAArE/h-vG97WeicQ/s1600/pot+of+apples.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbuiP_xyI/AAAAAAAAArE/h-vG97WeicQ/s400/pot+of+apples.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264832800737058" border="0" /></a><br /><li>Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. (You don't need much as these apples are full of juice and the pot will fill with it while they cook.)<br /></li><li>Sprinkle apples with about 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (reserve the rest to add if needed after the sauce is done.)<br /></li><li>Set heat to medium high, put lid on pan and bring to a boil.<br /></li><li>Turn down heat to medium low and let cook about 30 minutes.<br /></li><li>Stir, moving topmost apples to bottom of pan. If some apples are still firm, replace lid and allow to cook another 15 minutes.<br /></li><li>Once all apples are cooked, place them into a foodmill and grind directly into serving bowl. Be careful, with this step as they're hot.</li><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbu7fCNFI/AAAAAAAAArM/oV0JEpIncG4/s1600/foodmill1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbu7fCNFI/AAAAAAAAArM/oV0JEpIncG4/s400/foodmill1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264839574697042" border="0" /></a><li>Grind the sauce in the mill. See my mill? It's about 50 years old. It is a beautiful mill, but it has worked pretty hard over the years for my mother and now for us. I needed to use a wooden spoon to occasionally push the apples through the sieved bottom of the mill. In the end we had all the peels and a small amount of pulp remaining in the mill. It will compost nicely.</li></ol><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbvCFIoTI/AAAAAAAAArU/sIIPRUennWY/s1600/foodmill2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNbvCFIoTI/AAAAAAAAArU/sIIPRUennWY/s400/foodmill2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405264841345114418" border="0" /></a><br />Now is the time to taste your sauce. If it's a little too tart, stir in a bit of sugar to taste. Brown, white, or Splenda -- whatever suits your fancy. Add a bit more cinnamon if you need it. Stir and serve!<br /><br />Take a look at the finished product:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNgvAbgazI/AAAAAAAAArc/EG7fJnI_xtI/s1600/pinksauce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ikC5yr4Y-aA/SwNgvAbgazI/AAAAAAAAArc/EG7fJnI_xtI/s400/pinksauce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405270338460216114" border="0" /></a><br />When the kids sat down to dinner tonight they exclaimed "It's PINK! COOL!" And they all wanted seconds. They got them, and there's enough leftover for tomorrow.<br /><br />And by the way, if you don't have a food mill, you can peel your apples and make the sauce. It just won't be pink and you'll be lacking the added nutrients from the peels. You'll need to mash your apples in the pan (simply stirring with a wooden spoon will work for a slightly chunky sauce.) None of the other steps will change.<br /><br />This makes a lovely side-dish for Thanksgiving dinner. You can reheat in the microwave before serving. <br /><br />If you try it, let me know.CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2834041988822056346.post-6139267924732915832009-11-12T12:41:00.004-05:002009-11-12T13:42:52.126-05:00The Insanity Has to Stop<a href="http://www.npr.org/">NPR</a> has reported that Major Nidal Hasan's mental health was questioned by his nearly <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">two years ago</span> by his supervising Psychiatrists. <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4173096"><span>Daniel Zwerdling reports</span></a> that Hasan's supervisors referred to him as "schizoid" and questioned whether Hasan was mentally fit for service.<br /><br /><blockquote>"One official involved in the conversations had reportedly told colleagues that he worried that if Hasan deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, he might leak secret military information to Islamic extremists. Another official reportedly wondered aloud to colleagues whether Hasan might be capable of committing fratricide, like the Muslim U.S. Army sergeant who, in 2003, killed two fellow soldiers and injured 14 others by setting off grenades at a base in Kuwait."</blockquote><br /><br />You might not be familiar with the term "schizoid" but I am. It's not a word that mental health professionals toss around lightly. Schizoid is considered milder than schizophrenia, but harder to treat. It is a personality disorder in which the afflicted person is completely disconnected from his emotions and unable to develop meaningful interpersonal relationships. According to <a href="http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Schizoid-personality-disorder.html">this article </a> "the person with schizoid personality disorder may be able to hold a job and meet the expectations of an employer if the responsibilities do not require more than minimal interpersonal involvement." I think the job description for military psychiatrist in wartime might involve more than <span style="font-style: italic;">minimal</span> interpersonal involvement.<br /><br />However, Zwerdling reports, circumstances were such that the officials who raised the concerns (and continued monthly discussions about those concerns) did not find it feasible to issue any giant red flags about Hasan. They did not because:<br /><br /><ol><li>there would be too much paperwork and bureaucracy</li><li>they would appear politically incorrect and unsympathetic to Hasan's extremist Islamic views</li><li>they didn't know that Homeland Security was tracking his emails with other extremists, and the icing on the cake:<br /></li><li>Hasan was leaving for Fort Hood, anyway, and could be <span style="font-style: italic;">their</span> problem.<br /></li></ol>Which begs the question: did officials at Walter Reed who were concerned about Hasan's fitness to serve alert officials at Fort Hood to his apparent mental instability? Did they? I want to know.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but the four reasons above are NOT GOOD ENOUGH for failing to flag a person who would be in a position of power, authority, and care taking with our soldiers at home and abroad.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Why would it be okay for a person with extremist views, views that specifically condemn American ideals and the war on terror, to serve in any capacity with our armed forces? </span><br /><br />I'm certainly not saying that Muslims cannot serve in the military. To the contrary. I think Muslims can absolutely serve in the American military. I think Muslims can be a great asset to the American military. This man espoused radical Islamic views which are actually contradictory to the Muslim faith.<br /><br />This is not okay, people. This man was unstable enough to become the focus of monthly conversations between the officials, including the Psychiatrists who supervised him, at one of the hospitals where he trained.<br /><br />But. They. Did.<br /><br />NOTHING.<br /><br />They did not insist he have a full psychiatric evaluation.<br /><br />They did not place him on probation.<br /><br />They did not require he have any intervention whatsoever.<br /><br />They did, however, pass the buck:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Hasan was about to leave Walter Reed and USUHS for good and transfer to Fort Hood, in Texas. Fort Hood has more psychiatrists and other mental specialists than some other Army bases, so officials figured there would be plenty of co-workers who would support Hasan ā and monitor him." (Zwerdling)<br /></blockquote><br />I am outraged that the Psychiatrists who supervised Hasan didn't have the balls necessary to red flag his nutty ass.<br /><br />What's it take?<br /><br />Seriously, what does it take?CannedAmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312333323225187964noreply@blogger.com2