Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Comfy"

What is more comfy than a kitty in a basket?

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Eyes"

The eyes are the windows of the soul.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Looking Up"

My little kitty guy loves to admire himself in the mirror.
It looks as though he's looking up more in the mirror than
at the camera. Happy Saturday!

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Food"

This week's theme is perfect for sharing recipes! This is a photo of Ris a la mande,which is a traditional Christmas desert in Scandinavia. It's a creamy rice pudding with chopped almonds and a delicious cherry sauce on top.
One whole almond is usually hidden in the pudding and the finder gets a little present.
Here is what you'll need:
A bit of gelatin. (optional)
3 tablespoons cold water
4 cups milk
1 cup short-grain white rice, or arborio rice, uncooked
7 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream, for whipping
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup blanched almonds, chopped
1 whole almond
**********
Meanwhile, place 2 cups of the milk and the rice in a medium saucepan. Stir over moderate heat until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the dissolved gelatin, then the remaining 2 cups of milk, the dash of salt and the sugar.

Transfer the rice mixture to a large bowl. Freeze until mixture is cold and thickens but does is not set, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.

Whip the cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the rice mixture. Fold in the 1/2 cup chopped almonds, and the one (1) whole almond. Place in a serving bowl and chill in rerigerator.

When ready to serve, spoon Ris ala mande into individual dessert bowls, and if desired, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon or nutmeg and sliced or slivered almonds over the top of each individual bowl and serve with Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce or a spoonful of canned cherry pie filling. Refrigerate any left-over pudding.

Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce

Ingredients:
1 can (17 oz.) Pitted Bing Cherries
3-4 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
Dash of salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 tsp. almond extract or almond flavoring, optional
Water, to add to Bing Cherry liquid from can

Instructions:
Drain can of pitted bing cherries. Reserve liquid. Pour liquid (that you drained and reserved from can) into a medium saucepan, and add enough water to liquid to make 1 1/2 cups. Cook on medium heat, adding sugar, cornstarch, and a dash of salt. Cook and stir mixture until thickened and clear. Add the cherries, the lemon juice, and if desired, 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Pour sauce over individual servings of the Ris ala mande.

Note: Very Important!
Don't forget to put the 1 whole almond in the pudding.

Thanks to Diana Baker Woodall.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "On The Road"

I often go for walks down little country roads, such as this one.
Kinda makes me want to sing "Take me home, country road". *S*

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Blue"

I was walking in a little village and saw this garden table and chairs just "there" in the middle of no where! They sure are blue!

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What kind of cook am I?

I found this little quiz on my friend, Wystful's Blog
and thought I'd take it!
I'd say it was pretty accurate! (brag, brag!*S*)
I have learned to be a good cook, but only because "fast food" hadn't invaded Europe when I moved over here! I learned to clean a chicken, bake bread, make my own salad dressings, marinate meat, make jam and fruit juices and lots of other things. You don't really need to use a lot of time to make good food, you just have to have the need to EAT good
food, in my humble opinion. Nothing has to be perfect, you can often play it by ear; taste your way to great recipes or go online and see what others have written.
I don't waste time on souffles and food that keeps me on
pins and needles - I make everyday food, but it's fantastic what a little spice
like thyme, rosemary or oregano or paprika can do to a dish.
Fresh food will always taste better than frozen, pre-made or processed food.
(and it really doesn't take much longer!)
I'll be writing some easy recipes here, so come back soon!

You Are an Excellent Cook

You're a top cook, but you weren't born that way. It's taken a lot of practice, a lot of experimenting, and a lot of learning. It's likely that you have what it takes to be a top chef, should you have the desire...

Are You A Good Cook?

Scavenger Hunt - The theme is "Youth"

I love this picture of my 9th graders on a field trip in london!
They had a blast.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Funny"

I won't be here tomorrow, so I have to post this today.
This is an old picture of my son. He was missing his two front teeth,
so he put 2 plums in his mouth instead ! pretty funny huh?

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Blowin' in the Wind is on Vacation! Yeah!

Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Love"

My hubby and I the day after our wedding.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Father's Day"

My hubby isn't the big sports fan, but he does love to
bike - so here he is, biking in the countryside.

Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Community"

My picture is a group of girls doing what young girls
love to do - brush and braid each others hair.
That, to me, is a beautiful portrait of community among girls.

Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Mirror"

I couldn't find a picture that was better than one of my favorites by
Norman Rockwell.

Thirteen Musicals I love (out of about 1000)

Thirteen Musicals LibertyBelleLoves West Side Story has the greatest music, and a plot that is just as important today as it was when written. The great Stephen Sondheim wrote the fabulous lyrics. It is my all time favorite. She Loves Me has wonderful music and fantastic lyrics. Many plays and films are based on this little story of two people who work together and can't stand each other, but who are secretly pen pals without knowing it. Sound familiar? Phantom of the Opera: The stage version is much more dramatic and beautiful than the film. Annie is a heart-warming and enchanting musical with great tunes. Kids love Annie because of the cast of children. I've got to say that no one beats the incredible talent of Carol Burnett. The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a not-well known musical, but one of my favorites. It is a play within a play, based on Charles Dicken's very last book. It is a "who-done-it" but unfortunately, Mr. Dickens died before revealing "who done it"!! The composer,Rupert Holmes made 7 endings and lets the audience vote on who the murderer is. No two performances are the same. Great music, good plot! Little Shop of Horrors. A nerd, a babe, a masochist, a greedy shop owner, 3 soul sisters and a flesh eating plant all set in the slums of some big city. Music by the fabulous Alan Menken. A fun musical with a great score. Singing in the Rain. Not sure if this one was on Broadway, but with a song like Make 'em Laugh, and Singing in the Rain, it has to be a favorite! Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The dancing in this one is fantastic. The wonderful Russ Tamblyn dancing in the barn-raising scene is fantasic! A bit dated, but fun. The Music Man.What can I say? "We got trouble, right here in River City"! Even the Beatles liked the songs from this musical.(Bells on the Hill). It's a turn of the century time piece and I love it. Joseph is a mish-mash of every genre of music from Calypso to rock 'n roll, pop to country. I had the privilege of conducting this one and enjoyed every performance. The Old Testament has never been more entertaining!! Grease! Who doesn't love the Danny, Sandy, Grease Lightning and rock 'n roll - the Pink Ladies, Greaser guys and old cars?? I grew up loving the musical,Gigi. Paris, the streets, the costumes, Maurice Chevalier and the adorable Leslie Caron. Another turn of the century musical with the sweetest songs. Fiddler on the Roof. I also conducted Fiddler and had a lump in my throat at the end of every performance. It is a sad, tragic but heart warming musical about people, love, hate, racism and hope.

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Wordless Wednesday

Musical Intelligence

Your Dominant Intelligence is Musical Intelligence

Every part of your life has a beat, and you're often tapping your fingers or toes. You enjoy sounds of all types, but you also find sound can distract you at the wrong time. You are probably a gifted musician of some sort - even if you haven't realized it. Also a music lover, you tend to appreciate artists of all kinds. You would make a great musician, disc jockey, singer, or composer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Red White and Blue"

I thought I'd celebrate my birthday today!

Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Flowers"

These are not really flowers but a plant called Hens and Chicks.
(I think...)
They look so much like flowers, that I decided
to use them in the flower theme.
I think they are beautiful, almost like a lotus.

Wordless Wednesday