SATURDAY: What's Cookin'?, 6/30/18

[cooktocook]

Hello and Happy Saturday to all!  The weekend is finally upon us and it's time to get things started here today.

On this last day of June we celebrate National Ice Cream Soda Day and National Mai Tai Day.

Not sure at this early hour exactly what dinner will be this evening, but right now I have a pot of tomatoes cooking on the stove top to make a batch of Chilled Tomato-Dill Soup.

DH has gone into work a half day.  Soon I plan to run over to Lucky's this morning for when they open to hopefully buy a watermelon (none of the stores I was at yesterday had any left).  Thinking today will be a busy day between cooking/baking and the usual house chores that need to be done.

Currently 80*, we'll be dodging showers and thunderstorms once again today so our high is forecast to only be in the mid-80's.  I got an e-mail from my brother back in Michigan this morning and he was saying they are in the "Ring of Fire" with an excessive heat warning as they climb to 98* today.  To any of you also having to deal with the high temperatures, stay safe.

Lori 

[nancycooksnj]

Good morning friends.

Thanks for starting us off Lori.

Another day of heat and humidity.

I have to take DD to the store to get a gift for her friend. We went yesterday but when we went to pay their registers were down. I said to DD how about we just give her cash but DD said she already told her friend that she was getting her something from Urban Outfitters. I find the store to be expensive but the teenagers like it. I found some of the merchandise other than the clothes to be weird.

Not sure what I'm cooking tonight as oldest DD will eat at the party.

Enjoy your day.

Nancy

[nybirder]

Ah, yes. Impossible to do business these days when the registers are down. Remember when it was possible to pay for something without the need for electricity? Or am I dating myself? LOL!

Lori--I was watching the weather channel this morning and they explained why you folks are cooler than those of us up north. There's a rotating front over the ocean that's pulling in cooler air for you which is also blocking the heat from leaving our neck of the woods. For us, it looks like next weekend before the heat really breaks. We have a heat index of 110° predicted for Sunday and Monday--very high humidity. Ick!

I am thinking of using my leftover pot roast for a cold supper tonight. It'll either be in a salad or ground up for sandwich filling. Do any of you make sandwich filling that way? It was something we had often in my house when I was growing up. Mom also used baloney for something like a ham salad. I haven't had that in years. Her food processor was an old cast-iron, hand-cranked grinder attached to the kitchen table. I haven't thought of that in a long time!

Hope you find some cool today, everyone. Have a good one.

Birdy

[marjo]

Nancy I sympathize with you. Having teens now would be so hard for me. I would not be agreeing with them I am sure.

Thanks for starting us Lori. We are not liking your hot temps for weather so you can have them back. We are to get storms again tonight. I don't like them at night. I went out and sprayed some weeds around my rock beds so they will be gone when it rains later. Red wants to be out in the heat so let him out. He will come in later. He is scuffing at me as I let him out at 4 and until 8:30 then let him in so he needs to get over it. Just a spoiled little guy.

I stuffed some chicken breasts with mozzarella cheese rolled in flour then eggs and then panko. Has parmesan cheese and other seasonings and fried 4 minutes each side and put in casserole with 2 c marinara sauce over top and bake 20 minutes until its done. Looks tasty. I called Linda and she will be over after 4 different dishes. I made a chicken, broccoli and Mushroom stir fry yesterday for them. So they will be set for awhile.

Have a wild turkey coming across my lawn have not seen them for awhile. They are probably busy with the young ones now.

Will see what other trouble I can get into today.

Marlene

[emr]

Good morning, and it's nice to be back with you. I've just been catching up on the past week.
Chris, hope your hives are better. Happy Anniversary to Lori & DH, and Happy Birthday to Nancy! Bet, sounds like you've had some frustrating days -- hope the weekend is better for you. Birdy, I didn't know you were an artist. Oh, and thanks for letting me know about the spiedies -- more on that later. Marlene, hope you can stay dry today! Tammy, I love reading about what you're baking because it always sounds so good. Ann, we had a lot of fun this week but I'm glad to be home. Tasty, I hope you have a great Canada Day weekend. A big wave to anyone I missed ~ 

The wedding was beautiful -- it was a small ceremony in a small courtyard garden. Very glad we could be there. I wasn't expecting a big meal but they had a lovely buffet dinner of steak or chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, mixed vegetables, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and rolls. It was delicious. 

The next day we left early to drive up to Baltimore. While there, we spent time with a couple with ties to our church who are planting a church there. DH is doing a promotional video for them so he got footage of the movie theater where they have church services, the neighborhood around the church, and interviews with both of them and also a few of their church members. When we weren't doing that, we had time to enjoy some tourist things in the area. My favorite was Fort McHenry of "Star Spangled Banner" fame. Beautiful and very moving. We also went to an Orioles game at Camden Yards and toured the ships in the Inner Harbor.

Thursday we drove up to Binghamton, NY, where we had lunch with our nephew and had a good visit with him. We went to a sandwich place there and had chicken spiedies -- spicy and very good. That night we went to the ball game and I had another spiedie -- a steak one this time. Even better! These two teams played the Sandwich Showdown as the Binghamton Spiedies and the Trenton Pork Roll -- special jerseys and everything. Apparently the Trenton team plays as the Pork Roll every Friday home game. Nancy, I think Pork Roll is what you call Taylor Ham? Anyway, it was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the sandwich! 
We also visited Recreation Park and the Bundy Museum in Binghamton -- both have ties to the Twilight Zone -- Binghamton is Rod Serling's hometown. 

Yesterday was a travel day, and what a travel day! We didn't really intend to do the whole trip in one day but just kept going on "a little farther" and ended up driving right on through -- 7 states in 1 day. Those last couple hours were a slog but it sure was good to sleep in our own bed last night. I don't think we'll do that again, though. 

So, I'm still in my PJs and probably will be for most of the day. Laundry is on the agenda and that's pretty much it. I need to get out and do a grocery shop at some point but not yet. Hope it's a good day for everybody ~ 

[nybirder]

Sounds like you had a really good time and found the pleasure of spiedies. I've heard the originals were lamb but that's too expensive for most people these days. I guess you can make them out of any meat that you would marinate, even venison. Love the idea of the Sandwich Showdown. I've seen Taylor Ham for sale in one of our markets but never knew what it was. I may have to try it. The courtyard for the wedding is lovely.

As far as being an artist--I have been working on that for a long time and am still not sure I've reached that level. I've been working in soft pastels for 4 years and before that I diddled in acrylics and watercolor. There may be a day when I switch over to some water soluble oils. Right now, I'm in love with pastels--they are great for outside painting because I don't have to worry about solvents and water. Let's just say that my artistic skills are a work in progress. LOL!

Birdy

[pippin3]

Emr...Think Ft McHenry is the most moving historical site I have ever visited in the US...cannot watch the curtain opening to see our flag and hear “The Star Spangled Banner” with dry eyes. Love it!
Birdy, we used to have ground bologna “ham salad” also. Our grinder clamped on to our kitchen table. Best meal we had from that grinder was my German Grandmother’s liver dumplings. I still make them from time to time but my grinder is an attachment to my mixer...much easier.

[emr]

Jun 30, 2018 11:30:34 GMT -5 pippin3 said:

Emr...Think Ft McHenry is the most moving historical site I have ever visited in the US...cannot watch the curtain opening to see our flag and hear “The Star Spangled Banner” with dry eyes. Love it!

Yes! That made me cry. Just beautiful. 

[thegeema]

Hi Everyone!!
Birdy, Yes, you are dating yourself but I remember Pearl Harbor!! LOL  I was 8 years old. I was 8 in September, my maternal G'father died in October, my youngest brother was born in November and Pearl Harbor happened in December. Yes, I am older than the hills!! Your History Lesson for today!! Geema 
P.S. One of my Grandsons started calling me "the G ma" and is how I got my sign on!! G'ma or the Geema

[tamaralynn]

Just another quick hello. I did not sleep well (maybe too much caffeine?), so slept in a bit then the SIL's came over and we went through photos and more in the hose. We just dropped off the one SIL at home. We have about 2 hors to rest and get cleaned up then attend the final event of the reunion.

We are going to the Poncan theater that has been refurbished, they will serve appetizers, then there will be a concert with some of the former members of chorale.

We leave tomorrow morning. We are going by one SIL's house to pick up some pots and pans. She took MIL's nicer one, then I will take SIL's older ones to use in the rv, and when (and if) we get a house I will take my good pots and pans in the house to use.

I filled three of the four boxes I bought. The last one will be used for the pots.

Last night was pretty nice. We drove out to a local vineyard. We signed in and got the nametags. DH sampled some wine and they had a table that you could order some if you wanted to. We went into the event hall, which is like an older barn. Very rustic but at least it was air conditioned! The acoustics were very bad so it was so hard to hear. Later on they started playing music with a dj and that made it even  worse. DH saw several old high school friends and had nice visits with them. Of course, I did not know anybody at all- I did not grow up in this town. Eventually he came back to the table and brought a childhood friend named Judy, and her DH. They were both really nice, so we had a nice time visiting the rest of the evening.

Tonight will take place in an old movie theater, so we will be seated most of the evening I think. Appetizers are being served, in the lobby I think. My cousin will be there tonight. She nor her DH were ever in chorale but the DH works part time at the theater so she is coming with him tonight while he is working. At least there will be one person I know there. I heard that groups are being seated according to the year they graduated, so the friend we met last night will be in another area-she graduated a year later than DH.

I baked some biscuits for breakfast and lunch was some burgers from Burger King. No supper except the appetizers tonight.

I never had sandwich spread made with roast, but I grew up with the "ham Salad" made form bologna. I just showed my DS how to make it on our last trip to Oklahoma in fact! I inherited my aunts table top grinder but gave it to DS when we moved into the rv. He brought it here with him.

Elza, welcome back home. Glad you enjoyed your trip.

Need to run and do a few things then get ready to leave. We will try to get downtown early since parking will be at a premium.

Bye!

[annrms]

Afternoon, folks. We're in the ickies, too. Went out at 8am to get some stuff for mom at Walgreens; came back all melty. Haven't ventured out since. DH actually did yard work today! He forgot to get the inspection sticker on the car so he dropped it off, walked home, and walked back to pick it up...about a mile each way.
While he was out, I made a Sicilian potato salad from TOH. It calls for white potato, but I used sweet diced and steamed al dente because I had to use them up. I followed the rest of the recipe adding fresh blanched green beans, onion, seedless cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and herbs. I also made a TOH rib recipe in my stove top pressure cooker. Started out brushing the racks with a vinegar/water mix. I mixed a rub...good stuff and spread half on. 20 minutes...10 natural release...done and yummy. Supposed to warm up and sprinkle with more rub and use some of the juice as a "gravy.
Elza - Glad you had a good trip and a safe drive home! The wedding venue is lovely. Meal sounded great, too.
Birdy - We didn't have ground roast beef salad...mom made a pot pie. But we had bologna or ham salad frequently...I still make them sometimes.
Have to wake up kitty and get her upstairs for the night. Mom isn't "hot" so her house is like an oven to me!!! Kitty won't be pleased having to stay up there!! Waving!
PS Hi, Geema!

[marjo]

Did get the yard mowed and shower taken and feel so much better. I fixed a pizza for supper and had a beer also. I just got the cat in and he is not happy but we are in severe storm warning and it is thundering out there. I opened the door an heard the buzzer going off on my leech field for the sewer. It did it the first of the month and was working fine. They think it is because we are getting lots of rain. They will check it tomorrow.

Going to shut this computer off as it sounds closer to us.

Marlene

[wilderness]

Good evening. It is almost good morning. Didn't get to post this morning and it is way past my bedtime. It was 88 today with the heat index of 97. Have been rather busy. Yesterday I cleaned next door, worked on the area I am developing at the top of the driveway. Got 2 hangers up on the lamp post that took about 2 hours. Now I know why I hadn't used them sooner. The way they are made it is almost impossible to use a screwdriver to put the screws in. Had gotten 2 large pots for flowers that had no holes in the bottom so got them drilled and moved up there. Had the 3 GGkids from 2 until about 6:30. When they left got the fire pit set up on the back deck and had a nice fire and ate dinner out there. Got up early this morning, painted 2 resin lawn chairs and got the big pots at the top of the driveway filled with soil and ready to plant. Folded laundry that was in the dryer and dried and folded a load that was in the washer, washed 2 loads of bedding from next door. One is now waiting to be folded and the other needs to get in the dryer.

Worked from 12 to 5 today. When I got home I took my 4 wheeler and trail up to the top of the hill so the guests next door could load it with so wood that I wanted to get cleaned up and then took it to their fire pit. Built a nice fire in my fire pit, and cooked dinner on the charcoal smoker on the back deck. Ate out ther and just sat until about 10 then cam in and starting looking for pictures for Charlene's picture thread this weekend.

I need to get to bed as I do need to get up and do a lot of watering in the morning. Work from 2-10 tomorrow.

Birdy, I make ham salad and roast beef salad sandwiches all the time.  Love them.  I don't have my hand grinder anymore but have 2 electric ones.

Good morning.

Bet