Whoda Thunk It?

My car was stolen from my home last week.  It's 12 years old, but a good car for me.  I know all of its little quirks, but even those are few.  Convinced it was stolen for parts and gone forever, I was getting in the mindset for the purchase of a new vehicle.

The sheriff's office called last night to let me know my car was picked up on the other side of the Big City.  "Is it drive-able?"  "I don't know," said the voice on the other end of my phone.  "Do I need a tow truck?" - again, "I don't know."  Outside of the conversation with the sheriff's department, I'm glad the Big City PD's access to the state's database worked and had recovered it within a week.

How the thugs started my car

How the losers got into my car.

It looks like little hoodlums took my blueberry out for a joy ride.  They trashed the contents, and didn't take anything but a down vest my in-laws gave me for Christmas last year.

I am blessed.  I despise thieves and liars, but I am blessed.

Winter Fleece

There should be an Add-'vent calendar to countdown to exciting events.  The event is adding a new member to the family, but who knows when she'll arrive.  I'll keep making a daily gift until our little bundle of joys makes her appearance.

Last night I finished this blanket.  She and I can curl up and keep nice and warm... grandma and Zoe, no mommies allowed.  I fear I will have to share Zoe with her great-grandma.  She outranks me.

I loved this fabric.  It's rescue fabric from the remnant bin at Jo-Ann's, cut the perfect size for a cuddle blanket.   Grandma got lucky.

Birthday Wednesday

Today is Birthday Wednesday.  That means the Safety Meeting will be a little more fun today.

At my facility, we are a warehouse of mechanics, cablers, machinists, and welders with a sprinkling of R&D engineers.  We engineers spend a lot of time utilizing these talented people and visiting their shops.  It can be a dangerous place, especially when I get to operate the forklift (just kidding - I am certified to do so).

Each Wednesday, HSE hosts our weekly safety meeting.  No earth shattering news, just reminders about daily safe operations and housekeeping.  Occasionally, we attend a first aid training class.

Once a month, the first Wednesday, I bring desserts to the break room to honor coworkers celebrating a birthday.  Brownies, by far, are the most popular and requested treat. This month, the added treats are Sopapilla Cheesecake Squares. 

Sopapilla Cheesecake

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 tubes of 8 refrigerated crescent rolls
2 8 oz blocks of cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 stick butter, melted

Butter a 7" X 11" baking dish.  Open and layer one tube of the crescent rolls on the bottom of the pan.  Press the seams together, curl the edges up the sides of the pan a bit.

Combine 1 cup of sugar, the cream cheeses and vanilla until blended.  Spread the mixture over the crescent roll crust.

Top with the second tube of crescent rolls, this time tucking in the edges.  An icing spatula works well.  Seal the edges, again the spatula comes in handy.

Pour the butter over the top (yes, I know the original recipe calls for an entire stick, but we like the lightened version).  Help the butter, if needed, to cover all of the dough.

Combine the remaining sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle generously over the butter.  Bake 350F for 35-45 minutes.  The butter should be absorbed.

Cool and serve.

I enjoy this at home with a bowl of fresh berries.

Mmmmmm... Brownies!

Magic Egg Bags

Man discovered I sew.  I guess that's my fault for keeping the sewing machine in the closet for so many years.  

 

I love this fabric

Magic Man demonstrated his Magic Egg Bag.  Then showed me improvements he'd like to see in "future models."







We experimented with different fabrics, techniques, bag sizes, and grippers.  He now has a favorite.  The others will be stocked for sale.  Feel free to visit the Illusion Warehouse, Magic Man's online magic shop for these and other magical items.



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Looks like the Chicken Snake met his Fate.



New Year's Day is Magical

Today is New Year's Day.  Magic Man and I are headed into the Big City, joining his magical colleagues for a traditional celebration: food, friends, and fun.  Mrs. K is making ham, cole slaw, and black-eyed peas.  Yummy!

Against better judgment, I'm bringing deviled eggs.  I can't visit without taking a dish with me.  I wasn't raised to do otherwise.

Magic Man likes his eggs very dilly and mustardy.  I doubt those two adjectives are real words, but you get the idea.  I like my HOT!  Others don't like them so hot.  I made three recipes.

Mustardy-Dilly Ingredients

Dilly Devils

Original DE Ingredients

And the Deviled Egg

With the Addition of Sliced and Diced Jalapenos

The Hot Devils

All of the Above - Now I'm hungry

We arrived at the K's home, just in time.  The Deviled Eggs served before our late arrival had just disappeared.  Typical for a group of magicians.
Sorry this and the other postings are late and clumped together.  While dining with our friends on New Years, I received a call that a childhood friend of mine died in an auto crash.  HS was my mom's next door neighbor in the Barren Thicket; I knew him 45 years.

Trying to come to grips with the news, I took a few days away from posting stories.  Sadly, I'm still reeling from the news of another friend, who six weeks earlier, died in a similar way and my stolen car over NY's weekend. 

High Hopes Washed Away

Hello,

I had hopes for a great start to 2012.  I'm still trying to come to grips with the loss of several friends in 2011, and the first phone call for 2012 informed me of the loss of another.  Please pray for the families and loved ones.

Opal
Leroy
Dottie
Edie
Rich
John
Jim
and Harlan

May they all rest in peace.

Nummie!! Chocolate Covered Cherries

Magic Man loves chocolate covered cherries.  The last couple of boxes we bought were disappointing... fewer candies and chunks of - not whole cherries, all that for mooooore money.  What?

It was time to surf for an alternative.

I can't remember where we found this recipe, but it's used as a guide line.  This recipe makes tasty cherry confections with the runny, red tinted, cherry-flavored filling.  We can give four gift boxes for the cost of one box of today's chocolate covered cherries.

Drain the maraschino cherries on paper toweling.   They look festive already, don't they?

Wrap the filling around each cherry.  Cut the filling and flatten between two pieces of plastic wrap.  This makes the wrapping around the cherry task so much easier.  Also, keep the filling in the freezer, using 5-6 at a time.  Once the filling gets warm, it's not so easy to shape.

Dip and leave alone!!  One week, no cheating.
(Make extras to sample before anyone notices missing product.  Who wants to serve "raw" chocolate covered cherries?)

Here are a few tips:

• Chill the filling overnight.
• Cut the filling into 54 pieces, freeze immediately.  Start wrapping in about 15 minutes.
• 54?  This this makes 48.  The chef needs to random sample the product to ensure it is ready.  Making 54 gives you a cushion to serve 48.  The worst possible case is you will be burnt out on chocolate covered cherries and won't eat any at your party.  The guests will be envious of your holiday will-power.
• Press the filling between two pieces of plastic wrap.  Using the bottom of a juice glass keeps warm fingers off and the filling cold, making wrapping an easier task.
• Remember to chill the cherries again at least one hour.  The chocolate sticks better.
• Make 48 (54) 1/2" dots of chocolate on waxed paper.  Place each dipped cherry on a dot.  This ensures the bottom of the candy will be sealed, eliminating messy leaks.
• Survey the dipped cherries for holes.  Patch with a spot of melted chocolate.
• Visit The Chocolate Addict for valuable chocolate advise:  http://chocolatedecorating.com/.  She has great instructional videos on YouTube.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

48 (54) maraschino cherries, you can use the cherries with stems

3 T butter, softened - gotta be butter!

3 T corn syrup

2 c sifted confectioners' sugar

1 lb chocolate confectioners' coating (we prefer real chocolate)

Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.

In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Wrap in plastic.  Chill to stiffen.  (This is when I cut the filling into 48 (54) pieces and freeze.  Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough.  Chill cherries until firm.

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.  Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat.  Dip each cherry in chocolate coating and place on waxed paper.  Chill until completely set, about 10 minutes.  Store in an airtight container in a cool place for the filling to melt.  Best after 1 week.