Recipes Clippings........Are they overflowing a drawer????

I love to cook!!! I am forever saving recipes...and when I say 'forever', I mean that I had recipes going back to the 80's.  I decided I had to get them under control... so, after a lot of thought, I decided to find them online and make a cookbook where it would be easy to add to,as well as a recipe easy to find.

As I began to see if they were online after that length of time, I was very surprised that 98% of them were.  SHOCK!  Over the first hurdle!  After doing hundreds of spreadsheets in 30 years of purchasing, MS Excel seemed a logical place to start.  The 'sheets' at the bottom became category tabs; each 'sheet' was given the same format of 3 column....(1)main ingredient (2) actual name of recipe (3) link to website.  I originally sorted alphabetically by column 1, but now I just insert a new recipe where it should be.  If I changed the recipe, I try to make notes but I can't highlight the 'note' portion of the cell in Google Sheets in order for it to standout...still thinking about how I'll do the 'notes'.

In the last few months, I have moved the 'cookbook' into Google Drive and it's much easier to work....'cause one tab is the cookbook and the next tab is my Google/Chrome search. Much better than working between Excel and Chrome.  Besides, I can pull it up on my phone wherever I am AND now, instead of printing it off, I simply follow the recipe from the phone.  EasyPeasy!!!!!!  Oh, I know....I can do the latter just by using MS One Drive....but I'm a Google person. :)

Salmon	Pan Roasted Salmon on Horseradish Potatoes	http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/pan-roasted-salmon-on-horseradish-potatoes-recipe-813.aspx#axzz2dIyGqaGF
Salmon	Pan Roasted Salmon w/Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette	http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/pan-roasted-salmon-with-citrus-balsamic-vinaigrette-recipe-2965.aspx#axzz2dIyGqaGF
Salmon	Plank Roasted Salmon w/Shallot Red Pepper Marmalade & Vidalia onions	http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/plank-roasted-salmon-with-shallot-red-pepper-marmalade-and-vidalia-onions-recipe-5049.aspx#axzz2dIyGqaGF
Salmon - canned	Salmon Dill Cakes	http://www.dizzybusyandhungry.com/salmon-dill-cakes/
Scallops	Seared Sea Scallops with Orange-Basil Sauce (Note: Orig. printed in Traditional Home Nov. 2007)	http://www.familycookbookproject.com/view_recipesite.asp?rid=2767267&uid=99754&sid=256393
Shrimp	Fleur-De-Lis Salad	http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/fleur-de-lis-salad-10000000604692/
Shrimp	Grilled Shrimp & Zucchini Couscous with Feta & Mint	http://www.recipe.com/grilled-shrimp-and-zucchini-couscous-with-feta-and-mint/
Snapper, Bluefish or Cod	Grilled Fish with Caper-Herb Salsa and Corn	http://www.recipe.com/grilled-fish-with-caper-herb-salsa-and-corn/
Tuna	Pan Fried Tuna Steaks With Pico De Gallo Recipe	http://cookeatshare.com/recipes/pan-fried-tuna-steaks-with-pico-de-gallo-373675
Tuna	Tuscan Tuna-and-Bean Sandwiches	http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Tuscan-Tuna-and-Bean-Sandwiches-234263

Of course, my actual columns aren't this narrow on the 'Sheet'  shown above.   LOL

Here's hoping that you, too, can clean out those clippings into something usable.  Please make comments and give me your thoughts or tell me if you try my method....or...(dreaded thought) say if you Hate It.  :)

Joplin, Missouri Fun Day

It's great to have girlfriends to pal around with....and today was one of those days.  Judy said last week that she HAD to get her hair cut and didn't want to wait 2 weeks.  I asked if she'd like to go to Joplin to the hairdresser I use.  "SURE!!!"   Made the appointments and away we went this morning....takes about 1 1/2 hours.  Afterward we shopped Joplin and mid-afternoon we went to Red Hot & Blue for lunch.  As we were leaving we couldn't resist........

Hope you're lucky enough to have one of these where you live.  Tulsa doesn't....thank goodness I'm almost as close to Joplin as Tulsa :) :)

......A Cold Winter's Day.....

Today I'm acting on the words of Bruno Mars'   Lazy Song.......

......"Today I don't feel like doin' anything

I just want to lay in my bed

Don't feel like pickin' up the phone

So leave a message at the tone

'cause today I swear I'm not doin' anything"......

Of Course, I DID get out of bed...but that's about it.  Sat in my comfortable chair, propped my feet up on the ottoman, covered up with my favorite throw, opened my Kindle Fire to the page I was on in Water For Elephants and put a huge cup of coffee in my hand.....Ahhhhh.......

Two days ago it was 70 degrees.....today it's a high of 47.....but we do have fantastic sunsets in Oklahoma and on that 70 degree day, I snapped this from my back yard.....the sun was so bright it was extending far toward the East.....blue sky, with darker clouds layered below and the sun giving all it had......:)

Agnes Pages and Blogging....

Lots of things about this "blogging" has been interesting and fun...though I do need to be more faithful about writing.  I have favorite blogs that I follow and I've been amazed about how one becomes accustom to following the lives of those bloggers....when one stopped blogging I found myself hoping that they were still well and that nothing was wrong in their life......and then there is 'Agnes'! She seems to be a highly spirited young woman with a special zest for life, who posted almost daily, and, in the Fall, shared that her husband, Geoff, had cancer....she still posted about her daily life and not always mentioning his illness;That was in August    http://www.AgnesPages.typepad.com

While I didn't read it every day, one day the post was only entitled 'Crash' and all her readers knew it was very serious.  ....and now her postings were further apart....once in a while, Geoff would even post a comment on her blog, which I found very interesting.  All her blog readers were posting their hopes and wishes for them both in the comments of that, her last, blog...and sometimes she would respond...but December 22nd was her last response.  Everyone felt that was a very bad indication.  Finally, there was a posting yesterday (perhaps written by a close friend) that said "Write something to Agnes any words will do"  and a short line that said 'he died in my arms'.  The condolences written are incredible.....to someone who few knew personally, but wrote about shedding tears, praying for her, wishes for her, sorrow for her loss and one quoting something Geoff had written.  

It's a mighty tribute to the human spirit and human concern of the various 'communities' to which we all belong.....it's more than the community where we live....it's our community of the workplace, our church, our extended family(s), our friends (where we have several communities), etc. 

Those that are a part of each 'community' think differently, act differently, express ourselves differently and yet there is an underlying care and concern for each person in that community.  Somehow.....that's comforting to this writer!

Musings on a hot summer day........

We just returned from a trip to the West Coast, which was a mixture of sadness and happiness... Sadness because en route we got a call that Roger's sister had been transferred from a hospital on the Central Coast to UCLA Medical Center and a family member would have to stay in the room at all times because she was continually trying to pull out all the tubes, etc.  When we arrived it would be his turn to relieve his sister "on duty".  After 2 days, that sister and I went North to attend the family reunion.....the original reason for the trip.  It did seem strange that I (the 'girlfriend') was going but the family member was not....however, I've always been somewhat of a free-spirit and had met several of them 2 years prior when they came to Oklahoma. Two days later I went home with another sister to await Roger and return home.

However, while at the reunion, I had my own tiny family reunion.  A cousin that I hadn't seen in 23 years lived in the town where Roger's family reunion was held and he came over for a couple of hours, then we had breakfast the next morning.  It was a wonderful reunion!  We're only 10 days apart in age and at our current tender age,  found we really enjoyed each others company..... ...albeit brief.  We vowed not to lose touch again and get together in the not too distant future.

When I returned home, I had an email from a high school classmate I thought I'd share with my readers.....if, indeed, there are any out there.....:)   She was a tall, pretty blond and my last name followed hers alphabetically in our class of 450 or so....effectuating our sitting together at every assembly for 4 years.  I don't hear from her often, but had an e-mail with a sentiment that fit my experiences of the last 10 days......it follows.....

Keeper

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused.. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress; lawn mower in his hand, and dish-towel in hers. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.
 
It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.
 
But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away ...never to return. So...While we have it ....its best we love it ... And care for it .... And fix it when it's broken .... And heal it when it's sick. 

This is true ...For marriage ... And old cars ... And children with bad report cards ... Dogs and cats with bad hips ... And aging parents .... And grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
 
Some things we keep. Like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special ... And so, we keep them close in heart and mind and spirit.  They are like stars....you don't always see them...but you know they are always there!

Thursday Night Musings......and "Sampling Food 101"

Got the income tax done today.....used TurboTax and it took me allllll day!  The software asked way too many questions and, of course, by nature I have to read each question carefully.  Just glad to have that done!

Perhaps you'll remember that I discussed my new found job, saying that I'd gone from negotiating, contracting and managing 40 million dollars in food and beverage contracts a year (prior to retiring) to managing a $9.88 frozen entree at one of the two prominent "Club" stores.....demo'ing food.  The people- interaction is just what I needed and I like it very much....usually 3 days a week...sometimes 4.  HOWEVER, after six weeks, I feel compelled to share a "Sampling Food 101".

Class is in Session!!!!!!  The Top 10 Things to Know!!!!!

1. - You should realize that it's there with the intention of your sampling
2. - Don't look the other way.....hoping the demo person will trip you
3. - Go right up to them and say "Whatcha got?" or "I'd like to try it"
4. - Don't stand a foot away and just stare.....they aren't mind readers     
5. - If it really matters what it is...there are signs on the cart, an empty box behind the sneeze guard and often product sitting on the cart.  Don't stick you face against the sneeze guard, screw up your face and say "what is it"..See #3
6. - When you take the kids in after school so they can have their 'after-school-snacks'...just say how many samples you'd like.....oh...and since you are the buying person it is appropriate for YOU to take one as well...even if you throw it out....not just hand them to the kids and walk off.  We like to feel like we sell!
7.  If your child sitting in the cart drops...say...berries all over the floor and the demo person is nice enough to tell you you're losing berries.....don't jerk the container out of the child's hand, look at the all the berries on the floor and walk off.  Please pick up the berries!  It's the decent thing to do!
8. - If you're with another adult and you request a sample, don't expect the demo person to automatically know that your friend...standing 3' behind you...wants one as well.  They need to speak up!
9. - If you can't find something in the store, please take into consideration that it's VERY possible the demo person isn't employed by the store...so when they don't know where something is don't be ugly to them.
10. and FINALLY....#10   Just be sociable and nice to the demo person and always remember #3 above........."Whatcha got there?"   OR  "I'd like to try that!"

Going to the Lake after work tomorrow because Roger had friends from CA come tonight and he wants me to meet them.  Then I'm off to Branson for a couple of days with my cousins who are there for several days.  

Happy Friday!


Tillie

Warmth, Sunshine, Rain and Sunshine again.......

What a lovely day in NE Oklahoma today! Got out early this morning and put Weed & Feed on my lawn, trying to get it on prior to the rain.....which I did! yea!

My second project was to defrost my freezer and inventory the contents. All I can say is....I shouldn't have to buy anything except fresh veggies for 6 months! lol My next post will discuss my approach to 'cooking for one' from someone that really likes to cook.

Tonight the guys sing for the top 12 on American Idol. Roger and I call each other after each performance and give our personal critiques. Last night, we both liked Siobhan, Lacey, Didi and Crystal. Actually, Crystal may be my pick to win it all! We both shuddered all during the selection sung by Lilly. She absolutely MURDERED Patsy Cline's 'I Fall To Pieces"...yet the judges seemed to like it...I think they like her quirkiness.

Tomorrow I begin 7 straight days of work at my new job. I asked for the schedule because I can't work the following weekend......we're going to Dallas to watch my Daughter celebrate her 40th birthday by jumping out of a plane.

That's it from here tonight.....have a lovely evening
Tillie

Getting back in a routine...........

Thought I should post a note of explanation as to why I've been so neglectful of my Blog. You see, after not working for 4 years, I just really need that people-to-people contact. I actually think it's good that I realize that. :) Soooo, when I was in Sam's Club one day, I said to the woman demo-ing the food that I believed I wanted her job...or one like it! As it happened, Sam's had just outsourced those jobs to a 3rd party and she said I should go online and fill out an application. 4 weeks later....after mounds of forms, a drug test, training and a Food Handler card....I had my first day TODAY! It was fun!!!! I demo'd Shrimp Scampi. Yum!!!! Of course, I can talk to a wall so my only problem was that my throat was very dry and I was at my station where having something to drink is frowned upon. Nonetheless sales were brisk....one women bought 4 boxes! After spending 25+ years purchasing huge quantities of food, there's very little product I haven't seen and tasted and know folks in all the manufacturing companies. Even tho' Foodservice is much different than Retail, it's the same stuff so it felt good to dabble in it once again.

My goal was to work 3-4 days per week, but my poor Supervisor is new to her position and 8 people short of a full staff for my store...so....I'm gonna work as much as she needs me to right now....this week I'll work every day and next week I agreed to work 5 days. What I've found out is that a routine is TIRING!!! I'm BEAT and when I finish this am going to bed EARLY! Tuesday night is usually a busy TV night with both my DVRs going....Idol, Biggest Loser, NCIS, and Good Wife....however will I stay awake to watch even one.

If I'm able to crawl to the 'puter on Friday night, I'll give a report of the first week. Saturday after work I'm headed to the Lake and Roger's....have already forewarned him I'm gonna need lots of TLC....if it's warm, maybe he'll smoked some ribs!

Everyone have a good week....

The Sun's Shining in Oklahoma!

When I worked, today would have been 'hump day'.....and we'd be tickled that the weekend was closer.   In retirement, every day is Saturday!!

Two days ago Roger caught up to MY age.....I hit the mark 2 1/2 months before him so he has that much time to remind me I'm the 'older woman'....and I can look at it as "I'm his elder"...older and wiser.  hahha  Anyway...this is the way we look in our 67th year.

 

He celebrated his birthday by moving allllllll my Christmas stuff up to my newly created attic storage.  Then my folks came to have dinner and spend the night.  Yesterday Mother was attending a birthday luncheon in Tulsa, Roger went back to the lake and my sweet Daddy and I spent the day together.  He would so like to do a blog, but with his Alzheimer's he can't remember what he did on the computer 2 seconds prior so we knew that would be out of the question.  However, he liked the idea of the radio with playlist that is here.  So, we went to www.playlist.com and created one with his music.....that would be 40's Big Band.  We put music of Woody Herman, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown and Lionel Hampton all on the playlist....even put on a radio broadcast by Harry James in 1944, 'cause when he was stationed in San Diego during WWII he listened a lot to those broadcasts.  Of course, neither of us could remember all the words to the songs....so I opened another window, pulled up a good lyric site.  Then we put the words on the screen, clicked the song on and sat and sang every song.   Those are the sort of times that live in one's memory for the rest of your life!   

If Big Band music is what you like, go here for a listen.  :)

http://www.playlist.com/playlist/19250359307

 Happy Day to all!

Love is in the air.....

They say that 'love is in the air' on Valentine's day.  I guess I'm an eternal romantic....I like to think that love is always inside us.

Remember the song of long ago....The Mill Brothers, I believe....

"You always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all"... 

 or

 the popular line from a movie  several years ago....."love is never having to say your sorry' 

Actually, I'll bet Maxine would have some pretty funny lines for both of those, and we'd laugh....'cause I don't think we ever intentionally hurt the one we love and we do say I'm sorry.....but on Valentine's Day we have a specific reason to ensure the one we love knows both of those things....you know....ply 'em with a meal of steak, potatoes, lots of butter on the veggies, rolls and a decadent dessert.....I'm sure as we're rushing them to the hospital with a heart attack, they'll understand.  lol

Roger and I usually stay close to home.....the wait on a table at a restaurant would surely ruin the spirit of the day......and we can drink all the wine we want at home 'cause there's no driving involved.   Yea!!!!

I hope you get answers to all the little questions on the tiny heart candy and lots of {{{hugs}}}.  

Another 'winter warning' has appeared here....

Returned from the lake today prior to the snow beginning to stick on the ground. The Weathermen are predicting up to 6" of snow accumulation by morning and I knew if I didn't come home today, I wouldn't be able to get here until Thursday....so Roger put blankets in the car along with bottles of water and snacks for the 2  hr drive home that I was about to begin.  Since I promised him I wouldn't talk on the phone while I was driving, I pulled over twice to let him know the road conditions....which were just like driving in rain, really.  He said he had gotten a terrific headache from worrying about me....isn't that sweet.   :)  As evidence by this note....I made it just fine!

However, yesterday was a great time watching the Super Bowl, eating tamales and cheering for our team(s)......which this time happened to be different.  The pics below are the ones we posted on our Facebook pages.  The one with looks of promise was posted prior to the game.....and it's evident which one was posted after the game. lol lol lol












 GAME ON!
SUPER BOWL SMACKDOWN 201O!!!!

                                                   THE THRILL OF VICTORY.....
                                                          THE AGONY OF DEFEAT!!!!


You see... I think Peyton Manning is
simply adorable so how could I possibly cheer against him.  Roger wanted Drew Brees to lead the Saints to victory because, after 42 year of 'aints', they deserved it!  Even tho'
I secretly agreed with Roger...it's just more fun with a little rivalry.  :)

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the snow is so delightful...

The snow is falling in big flakes and today is the day that is scheduled for the carpenter to put the new door in between my garage and the house.  Brrrrrrr!

He finally decided to put the garage door down to shut out some of the cold and somehow when he used his saw on the door opening, a wire has come loose, or something, and won't close with the switch.   Yikes!   For now we're closing it with the remote.  As soon as the door is in he's going to  put in an attic staircase.....hopefully this afternoon.....but that part of the job won't require the house to be open and my furnace can go back to cycling off and on again.  Yea!!!!!   If the snow gets as deep as they think it might, more pictures will be posted.    :)

Friday Musings....

 Just posted pictures in my travel widget of the island of Anguilla.  It's such a beautiful place and makes me feel warmer when I look at them.

Seems I've lost a day somewhere this week.  Been gathering up supplies to work on the entrance from the garage to the house and working things out in my head;  Added the pictures to the letter for one of Roger's family reunions; yesterday got my hair cut and went to a delightful movie with a friend......Did You Hear About The Morgans.....Hugh Grant is soooo funny; finally...did several errands in Tulsa while I was there.

Suppose to be near 60 today in NE Oklahoma and I need to work in my yard this afternoon.   The operative word is NEED....not necessarily WILL.  lol  lol

a mid-afternoon thought....

Today on CBS Face the Nation and on Fox News Sunday, the team of Bush/Clinton was interviewed on it's Haiti efforts.  Bush reminded the interviewer on Fox that his Mother referred to Clinton as his 4th Brother (you know...since Bush the Elder and Clinton have done similar projects).

Anyway, I couldn't help recalling one of my favorite comedies.......it's entitled My Fellow Americans....and is simply hilarious!  James Garner, as the Democrat and Jack Lemmon, as the Republican.  If you've never seen it and want a lot of laughs, consider renting it.  It's so, so funny! (no matter your political persuasion)  It has a permanent place among my DVD's and I watch it every once in a while.

My other mid-afternoon thought is that the Cowboys STILL need a kicker!

Been playing with my Blog Post.......

So, today I decided that I would try my Lemon Blueberry Muffins, taking pictures of the process so I could post it and see that it did, indeed, go to my cookbook on the Blog.  It's certainly not an original idea......and I first saw it on a wonderful blog (and my inspiration...which I think I've mentioned before)  www.cherryhillcottage.typepad.com 
If you make a regular size muffin, they are only 187 calories....but today, as you'll see if you click on the cookbook, I was trying out 2 new pans, each shaped differently, but both holding twice the amount of batter as a regular tin.
It was a fun project and I think I'll do more like that in the future.

The cooking took my mind off the fact that the Saints were clobbering my pick....the Cardinals.  I like Kurt Warner....he a good, solid Christian family man...but he wasn't meant for a win today.  Now I'm on to my next match....and I ALWAYS pull for Patton Manning.....unless he's playing against the Cowboys.   My Cowboys are playing the Vikings tomorrow and I'm hoping Farve has ANOTHER indecisive day and doesn't show up at all....maybe stay home and do a long search for the next team with whom he'd like to play.     lol

'til the next time.........

Evening Musings.....

The sun hid it's face today.......very foggy until mid-morning then just grayness the entire day.  By late afternoon, I needed a pick-me-up, so I popped some corn, piled on some freshly grated parmesan cheese laced with cayenne pepper, put in Michael Clayton, received from Netflix and settled in "at the movies".  Well....not really, but you get the point.  Now I ask you, what better way to raise a girl's spirits than watching George Clooney for 2 hours.  lol

A better tomorrow is predicted.

As I was about to go nite-nite, I was thinking about the first song on my Playlist....Oklahoma Rising, sung by Vince Gill.  There are words that say "when the mighty buildings fell" and it dawned on me that some of you may not know what he meant.  He was referring to the Murrah Building that was blown up by a home-grown terrorist.  The site is now a National Memorial and one of the most tasteful that I've seen (and having lived in the DC area, I seen a lot of them).  I thought I'd post a picture taken during the day and two at night of that Memorial.  There is a very large granite wall on each end of a reflection pool....one has the time the bombing began (9:01)...the other when it ended (9:03).  The chairs are arranged by floor...one for each person who died....large ones for adults, small ones for the children. As you can see, at night the bottom of the chairs are illuminated.  Tears come easily as one stands there imaging the horror of that morning.

Finally the temperature was above freezing today in Northeast Oklahoma.  Plenty of snow still on the ground, but can see a bit of lawn in small holes around the yard.  The television is telling me it may be in the 50's in a couple of days.  What can I say except "this IS Oklahoma".