Monday's Menu

I remember when I was young, i would love to visit my grandmother who lived in Ft. Worth, TX. She would make the best shortbread cookies. A bazillion years later, I can still smell and taste those cookies in my memories. In honor of Wednesday's National Beheading Day, I thought I would make shortbread cookies in animal and people shapes. Munching on their tasty heads will be my version of celebrating the day. I will give this recipe a try, Shortbread cookies. They sound good just reading about them.

Last week's recipe- I didn't get a chance to try out the PA Dutch Chicken and Waffles. Robyn came down with the flu and the week got away from me. I will make it this week and give you my thoughts on it.

Things to Celebrate

Since this weeks flows into September, I thought I would let you know that September is Classical Music Month. Sometime this month, break out your favorite Beethoven, Bach or Brahms and enjoy the music.

August 30 - September 5

This week is Biscuits and Gravy Week (I never got the appeal of this meal, but those who love it, LOVE it.)

August 30- Frankenstein Day (Read a little of Mary Shelly's classic, watch "Young Frankenstein" or break out "Rocky Horror Picture Show...It's all good.)
August 31- Love Litigating Lawyers Day
September 1- Draft Horse Day
September 2- National Beheading Day (I am not quite sure where this is celebrated. Maybe go out and get a box of animal crackers and go crazy)
September 3- Skyscraper Day
September 4- Newspaper Carriers Day
September 5- National Cheese Pizza Day

Amazing Artisan- Rob Surette

This week's Amazing Artisan is Rob Surette. I enjoy watching Mr. Surette work. As he works, I try to figure out who the subject of his paining will be. It is almost always finished before I figure it out. I find it so interesting how he fits his brush strokes together to create the final portrait. My mind definitely works differently. I would start with drawing the head... He goes his own way and the result is wonderful. Mr. Surette's web site is Amazing Hero Art. There you can find videos of his work. YouTube has several as well.

Enjoy!

Thoughtful Thursday- Unknown

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after a success.

- Unknown

Wordless Wednesday- Visiting the Phantom

Monday's Menu

Since today is National Waffle Day, I thought this week I would give a recipe using waffles a go. This one looks interesting. Phillip will think I am nuts!

Pa Dutch Chicken and Waffles

Last week's recipe: Snow Dog's Hippie Trippin' Granola

I made this recipe with a couple of modifications. I didn't have any Jefferson Airplane to play while I put it together, so I sang Beatles songs. I can't remember the words to a whole song. It was more of a compilation of several. Also I don't have any incense on hand, so I lit a candle. Hopefully those were close enough to the spirit of the recipe. The recipe calls to be divided in half and put onto 2 pans for baking. Since I needed to do that I made half with the dried fruit and half without. I found out that I poorly divided the mixture in half after spreading them on the pans. The recipe calls for baking for 20-30 minutes. I did the 30 minutes. The larger amount turned out great. It was perfectly crunchy and tasted great. The other (without the dried fruit) was a little over done. Since it was a smaller amount, it should have taken less time and I didn't account for that. I think it is a great recipe for when you are looking for a different type of munchie and I will give another try in the future.

Things to Celebrate

August 23 - 29

This week is Be Kind to Humankind Week. Do something nice for another person this week. It can be someone you know or a complete stranger. Bill and Ted were right when they gave us the immortal words, "Be excellent to each other."


August 23- Permanent Press Day
August 24- National Waffle Day (Do you like waffles? Yes, I like waffles...)
August 25- National Don't Utter a Word Day (I could never do this, but I will try to use as few words as possible)
August 26- National Dog Day (http://www.nationaldogday.com/)
August 27- Just Because Day
August 28- National Cherry Turnover Day
August 29- More Herbs, Less Salt Day

Thoughtful Thursday- Tim Gunn

In honor of tonight's Project Runway premiere..

Make it work. and I can't want you to succeed more than you do.

-Tim Gunn

Note: I will not be answering the phone between 9-10 pm. My show begins again!

Wordless Wednesday- Babbling Brooks and Children

Monday's Menu

In honor of some of this week's upcoming "holidays", I wanted to do something with either poetry or aviation. No luck on finding a recipe poem I liked, but I did find an "airplane" recipe. It is not the typical type of airplane you are thinking of, but it will work. The recipe looks good and the author is probably a hoot. Anyway...without further ado...

Snow Dog's Hippie Trippin' Granola

Last week's recipe: Cheesy Volcano Meatballs. These meatballs were good. Phillip loved them and kept going back for more. I liked them too. I might try a little more seasoning next time. I did substitute mozzarella for the cheddar since we ate them with spaghetti. This recipe will be another one to add into the rotation.

Things to Celebrate

August 16 - 22

This week is Air Conditioning Appreciation Week. Living in south Louisiana, I can tell you that we really appreciate our air conditioning. I cannot imagine how people survived without it. This week go out side to your AC compressor or window unit and give it a big hug. Let it know just how wonderful you think it is.

August 16- Joe Miller's Joke Day (Joe Miller is an English comic who lived long ago. It is tradition to tell a joke in honor of his birthday)
August 17- Sand Castle day (See this post for ideas of what you can build)
August 18- Bad Poetry Day
August 19- National Aviation Day
August 20- Virtual Worlds Day (Can you say Farm Town addicted?)
August 21- National Men's Grooming Day
August 22- Be an Angel Day and Lin's 29th birthday

Amazing Artisans- Paul Hoggard and Remy Geerts

This week's Amazing Artisans are Paul Hoggard and Remy Geerts. They are sand artists extraordinaire. It is incredible what they are able to create out of sand. They travel around the world creating sand sculptures for competitions and events. I think about the sand castles I have made over the years and I am in awe of what they are able to do with this unstable medium. I am not a beach person, but I would head right over to see one of their pieces. Their website is Sand Artist. You can see of some of their work in the videos below. Aren't they wonderful?

Thoughtful Thursday- James Michener

Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.

- James Michener

Wordless Wednesday- The Cat Who Acts Like A Dog

Monday's Menu

In honor of today being Chemistry Set Volcano Day, I decided to try some type of "volcano" recipe. Phillip has been asking for meatballs and spaghetti, so I am giving these a whirl. I will probably substitute mozzarella for the cheddar cheese cubes in the meatballs. It sounds like it could be a winner. Enjoy!


Cheesy Volcano Meatballs


Last week's recipe- I had intended to make the Giant Peanut Butter Chunk Cookies for the girls to take the first day of school. Due to poor planning on my part and not reading that the dough needed to chill to 2 hours (hey- watching the finale of "So You Think You Can Dance" was more important at the time), I ended up making the cookies last night. They are very good. I did make the substitutions I planned to make and they were yummy. Cara said they are too peanut buttery, but she continually asks if she can have another. They went to school today with both of the girls. They are a hit.

Things to Celebrate

August 9 - 15

This week is National Smile Week. Robyn told me that she and Jonathan used to play the "smile game". They would smile at people they passed and counted those who returned the smiles. Jonathan would always rack up the most points, but Robyn gave him a run for his money. Find a friend and play the "smile game" this week.

August 9- National Rice Pudding Day
August 10- Chemistry Set Volcano Day
August 11- Daughter's Day
August 12- Vinyl Record Day
August 13- Left Hander's Day (Go Lefties!)
August 14- V. J. Day
August 15- National Relaxation Day

Thoughtful Thursday- Unknown

Yesterday is history; Tomorrow is a mystery; Today is a gift. That is why it is called the "Present".

- Unknown

Wordless Wednesday- Mustache Mania

Monday's Menu

To celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day this week, I plan to make a chocolate chip cookie variation. Cookie Madness is of my favorite blogs. I love that she makes cookies almost every day. I plan to make a couple of substitutions to the recipe such as peanut butter M & M's instead of Reese's Pieces and chocolate chips instead of the finely chopped bittersweet or dark chocolate. I will have to make these on Thursday. The girls start back to school on Friday and I would like to have some left so they can take a few to school. Enjoy the recipe.

Giant Peanut Butter Cup Chunk Cookies

My review of last week's recipe: This lasagna is excellent. Phillip must have gone back 3 or 4 times. It made enough to last for 3 meals. I didn't add all of the salt the recipe called for. I will put this one on the dinner recipe rotation. Pioneer Woman, you hit a home run!

Things to Celebrate

August is National Golf Month.
Go out sometime this month and either play a round or hit a bucket of balls. Cindy- can you ask Matt if he will play a round for me so I can stay inside with the AC?

August 2 - 8

This week is National Psychic Week.
Try to see if you can read my mind. If your answer had something to do with chocolate, you are psychic.

August 2- National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (check)
August 3- National Watermelon Day
August 4- National Chocolate Chip Day (double check)
August 5- Damn the Torpedoes and Full Speed Ahead Day (I love this!)
August 6- Wiggle Your Toes Day
August 7- Sea Serpent Day
August 8- International Character Day (I know some of you are characters every day, so today be a little bigger)