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11/6/11

Food & Wine

It's been about 3 weeks since the last update. Life has just been guard, work, school - repeat... :) But Tiffani did have a free weekend in October and she spent it with Grandma J & Grandpa Ron & the added bonus of Joy being there also.  Last year she had so much fun stomping grapes that they "made a date" with the grapes that they couldn't be ready until Tiffani's free weekend. Fortunately that happened!
 {PS from Tiff: It is true. I love to stomp grapes. So. Stinkin. Much. Here's the process: First stand in a bucket of sanitizing water. Cold sanitizing water. Brrr.... Then stomp grapes in bucket numero dos to music. Or just talking. But music is so much better. I quite like it, and will make it a point to do this as many years as it is physically possible. Nice leg work out too.}

Washing the feet first and then stomping the grapes.
{PS from Tiff: So, I am not sure, but I think at this point we were listening to Michael Buble. Maybe it was Queen. Not sure. Either way... Or wait... did we listen to Elton John too? I don't remember. Oh well, it is still good music.}

Tiffani spent alot of her time doing choreographing to get it ready for the show.
(Photos from Joy's iPad) {PS from Tiff: Oooh! Aren't those shoes just the most darling things!?!? (wink wink... sarcasm alert!) I did spend much time choreographing. I think that I either did or helped with most of all of the show. Just sayin. I was a little stressed. But hey! It paid off! Wait... Do you guys know that part of the story yet? I don't think so... I'll just stop there then. :) }

Speaking of making things... it's been awhile since I've posted any food pictures. This first one I made awhile ago. I found a list of things to make with Ramen noodles, that were easy to make and inexpensive, too. Brianna used to eat Ramen noodles often so I thought she might like to change 'em up a bit. I don't know if she's tried any of the recipes yet, but this Raman Noodle Lasagna was pretty good. Not much of a cooked spinach person - but this was good. {PS from Tiff: I don't know if I remember correctly, but I think I liked it. Hmm.... Guess you will have to make it again mom.}
Layer 4 noodle squares in a 11x7. Layer with cooked sausage or ground beef, a can of your favorite spaghetti sauce, a layer of cottage cheese and a layer of spinach. Top with more spaghetti sauce & cover with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 min. Remove foil & bake 10 more min. Enjoy. {PS from Tiff: HEYYY!!! That's my catchphrase! Enjoy. There. I said it. Ha. :) }

I saw a picture of this, I believe in an email from Taste of Home. And the title "Potato Kielbasa Skillet" made it a winner right away. The picture didn't show as much GREEN as mine does & I didn't think much of it until I was making sure I had everything for it. 4 cups of spinach!! Oh boy! Well, the red potatoes and Kielbasa sausage will win every time, so I made it anyway. I loved the flavors and small amounts of spinach were ok, but there's a LOT in there!!! It smelled wonderful, too! Tiffani walked in from practice and thought we were having Ham Balls for dinner (slight disappointment there) probably because of the sauce for this and for Ham Balls is similar. I will make it again - with less Spinach... {PS from Tiff: Oh pooh on you. I like it!!! Spinach and all! You should try some. Mmmmmm.... Hey now though, we get ham balls tonight! Hoorah!}

Tiffani & I were watching an episode of Giada at Home and she was making vegetarian meals. One of the things she made was Whole Grain Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts and Mushrooms. You will notice that I don't have a picture of the completed....mess. We didn't make it until several weeks later from watching it, and in reading the recipe we printed, found that it was made different on the show than how the recipe was printed. The recipe says to cook the sprouts, onions, mushrooms & garlic until tender. On the show Giada blended all those things to make a sauce. {PS form Tiff: I don't know what went wrong. Hers looked to good!! I want to go to Food Network Kitchens and watch them make it and see what we gots ta do.}
I attempted to remember how it was made and what turned out was a brown spaghetti with a paste-y green sauce. I really should have taken a picture I guess, because it's hard to describe. Grandpa Ron was a brave soul and ate it, as did I (a small serving) and Tiffani. Everyone else tried it... Leftovers were "round filed". We MAY try it again after we watch the show with it and take notes on the printed recipe of how it was really done!! Tiffani still really liked it and would rather have it then my macaroni salad... Brianna's favorite. Remember the macaroni salad... I'd much rather have this plate then the spaghetti!!! {PS from Tiff: Second chances are always nice. I have given macaroni salad a second chance. And a third. I still don't like it. I think we need to go to Food Network Kitchens. Just sayin. }

And Brooke, this one is for you.... I trusted you... and made my own Dulce de Leche. Oh, boy, is it ever good. My favorite choc./caramel mix is Hershey's kisses with caramel. I didn't have (haven't had for a long time) any, but had some plain Hershey's kisses that I dipped in the caramel to try. YUM!!   {PS from Tiff: Sorry, not a caramel fan.}
Then I had to tuck a little container of it in my lunch box for work, along with an apple. And the next day (as strange as it may sound) along with some pretzels - great for satisfying that sweet/salty craving. Thanks a lot!!! (Really) :) {PS from Tiff: Still not a caramel fan. I like it in some select few candy bars. (snickers and twix) but that is the extent of my caramel likes. }

Hopefully our next step out of the box food wise will not include spinach.... stay tuned. ;) {PS from Tiff: Hopefully it will. Promise that Popeye the Sailorman is not writing the PS from Tiffs. I really am liking spinach. A lot. :) }

Video of the grape stomping and flag work.
{PS from Tiff:: Oh flag work, how I adore thee. When you are completed. Wait. You are!!!! Ahahahaha... Yay.}
I love the sound of the flag whipping around. So Cool!
Thanks for the video Joy.
{PS from Tiff: Yes Joy. Thank you. Thank you for your funny comments and the use of your iPad and for just plain bein there. Thank you. BTW: in my top favorite sounds: Flags whipping around, drumlines, and rain. Numero uno favorite creepy sound: Freddie Crougar Walking Through Crisp, Dead Leaves Eating Potato Chips Merlot... With a suprise at the end. Haha... Good times. :) }

Wahoo! I got one video to load directly to the blog... But the grape stomping one wouldn't load - kept giving me a server error. So Les put it on youtube - here's the link. {PS from Tiff: We will, we will, squish you. Thanks Grandpa Ron, Grandma J, and Joy! This year was unforgetable, and I can't wait till next year!}

{PS from Tiff: Did you laugh??? I hope so. I was. So hard. I forgot!!! We also did the Cupid Shuffle while stomping grapes!!! To the left to the left to the left. To the right to the right to the right. Now kick now kick now kick. Now walk it  by yourself now walk it by yourself. :) Good times.}






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