Happy Valentine's Day

I had the most perfect 10 hr date with Kirk, a photographer, my age who cooked for me to perfection had bread baking as I walked in and waited on me hand and foot. Good conversation, pleasant company on a cold rainy day The fire was roaring and the hot tub was steaming for an after dinner soak.. He is also a massage therapist and as I took a 5mg hydrocodone cap, he worked out the muscles until I was rubber so relaxed, I just melted into the table. Then got covered with sheet and blanket to keep me warm while he put on the music I picked out. It's been a very, very long time since I was treated so well and waited on hand and foot. If I wanted more water, he got it, if I wanted my hair clip, he got up to get it, a straw it was there. I was stunned. It was an awesome date and I enjoyed every minute. That was my belated ideal Valentine's day date.

He is coming over for dinner at my house on Fri. I doubt my house will be as clean as his. He was scrubbing all week. All I am going to do is clean the kitchen marinate jerk chicken and veggies to grill and cook some brown rice. We both prefer that.
It was too cold to frill so I used the oven and made a salad too.

He is also a backpacker. HIS DOG,Sonia, A RESCUED GOLDEN LAB, goes too. It's been a long time since I've been around a dog, especially a golden like my prinny. If my back allows me to ever go again that would be fun.

On the other hand, I meet with the QME, qualified medical examiner on Wed. He's a board thoracic spine surgeon coming over here from Newport Beach near LA. I need him to concede that my temporary disability is permanent. They were covering all meds and PT and 80 percent of my salary. Since unemployment ran out the timing is good after 8/09. That's a long time ago from the 12/07 injury.

I actually went shopping and met Kim for brunch on Sunday and had another absolutely wonderful day and went shopping where she introduce me to not your daughters jeans which have some stretch to them and I just hemmed them 3 inches. I also got a T shirt. We found a purple shirt too but I have to go to the other Macy's to pick it up. I never go shopping. I've only gotten things from Coldwater Creek or Soft Surroundings.

Kim took me to brunch at Opa's a Greek restaurant, I love their fries w feta. Then we went on this shopping spree to Macy's. She talked me into 2 tops and 3 pants, one jeans, not your daughters jeans, I really like them, must I need a size smaller, they stretch.

Today, I met 3 other librarians from San Jose Public for our 4x a yr. b.d. breakfast.
It was so nice. By then I went to the grocery story and returned Gran Torino which I watched this morning. It was really good. Clint Eastwood makes a very credible ex Ford worker and Korean war vet who befriends his Mung neighbors and calls them gooks, but did save the boy from a gang life. I want to see social network too and the King's Speech.

I may finally get a perm. My thin, fine hair is long now to my shoulders but it won't hold a curl one bit. All because one told me men like long hair. I even noticed some one do a second take to check me out. I've been pleasantly surprised at the number of men that like curvy full women not skinny ones. HA

Chinese New year

Michael found my other blog! http://www.janesnewsnotes.blogspot.com/
How is that any different?

Why are there a few here and years on the other?

Breakfast casserole

Ingredients:

* 1 package (12 oz.) Johnsonville® breakfast sausage links
* 6 English muffins, cut into 1-in. cubes
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
* 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
* 1/2 cup chopped onion (omitted)
* 1/2 cup chopped red pepper (omitted)
* 12 eggs
* 2 cups milk
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1/2 tsp. pepper
* 1/4 cup bacon bits (omitted)


Instructions:

1.
Cook sausage according to package directions. Cool slightly; cut into ¼-in. slices.
2.
In a greased 13in. x 9 in. baking dish, layer half the English muffin cubes and half the cooked sausage. Repeat layers.
3.
Drizzle with butter and top with the cheese, onion and red pepper.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over casserole. Sprinkle with bacon. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4.
Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
5.
Uncover and bake at 350˚F for 45-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
6.
Let stand 5 minutes.


winter soup

Ingredients:

* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
* 2 cloves garlic, sliced
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
* 1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, rinsed
* 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into large pieces
* 1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves and stems separated and roughly chopped
* 1 piece Parmesan cheese rind, plus grated Parmesan for topping (optional)
* Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
* Crusty bread and/or lemon wedges, for serving


Instructions:

1.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and cook 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup water, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer the contents of the skillet to a 6-quart slow cooker.
2.

Add the chickpeas, squash, chard stems (not the leaves), the parmesan rind, if using, 2 teaspoons salt and 7 cups water to the slow cooker. Stir, then cover and cook on low, 8 hours.
3.

Just before serving, lift the lid and stir in the chard leaves; cover and continue cooking 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and stir to slightly break up the squash. Discard the Parmesan rind, if used. Ladle the stew into bowls; top with the grated Parmesan, if desired, and serve with bread and/or lemon wedges.

spring flowers

David is coming over to cut grass, pull weeks, trim bushes, lemons, boy do i have lemons! and whatever else.

so happy to read up on morelimabeans! I missed a lot since my last 3 yr. blog disappeared.

Pancake Recipe (adopted from Nancy Gough etal)
1 C. Flour
1 tbl Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
3 tbl sugar
1/2 tsp salt

1 C. buttermilk
1 egg
1tsp vanilla
2 tbl. butter

Mix all dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl mix all wet ingredients except the butter. Combine both bowls. Stir gently. Do not break all the air bubbles. When everything is almost combined add the melted butter. Drop onto hot skittle in desired shape. Flip! You tend to double the recipe and put leftovers in the freezer.

speed dating at the S F library

I have a QME exam on the 23rd on my disability claim and I have a 7 page questionnaire to fill out.

Everything is going nuts in Africa, Egypt, crazy people creaking into the museums??? Like those nutty, dangerous fundamentalists Taliban. Have they no thought of history as they destroy century centuries of artifacts?

I have a man or two cooking dinner for me. That's a nice change. My back craps out after shopping in one or 2 shops forget bout cooking. I'm going to make mac and cheese.
4 kinds of cheese, brie, fontina, jack, cheddar, milk, croutons smashed bake.

Marilyn is moving down here to help w her grandson. Her son, Jesse is off his meds, for bipolar and had attacked his wife so she moved out. Since she will be near Berkeley and wants a lot of help from me I hope she won't ask a lot of me and I know she will. She can't drive more than 10 miles or so.

It's Chinese New Year's and all the fire works are going off.

snow

It's been in the mid 70's here. I just picked a basket of oranges to squeeze. My bulbs are sproating and all the trees are in bloom white and flowing plum. People w alergies are having a hard time.

I am swimming in a warm pool. It would be fun to be in a hot tub there or a covered pool.
Poor Emily and Bob and Karen and Michael at least is s and just has rain, and Peggy. Stay home! Make soup,stew, pasta or bread....

I am so glad I'm not shlepping through the snow. If I want to go ski its 5 hrs away and then I can come home.
I
I am up again and one or 2 and fall asleep at 7. That used to be fine when it was 3-7.

I tutored then got sone Thai and kfc cole slaw.

My back was dead by then. Just leaning over to read for less than an hr. strains it. I came home a laid down, finally.

I had to get Lacy some food, Having Petsmart mail it is more convenient if it was free shipping.

I had a friend come over to cut some lemon branches and clean out thr frig. on a rainy sun. He is in such bad shape dizzy, heart racing after 5 hrs. He needs to be on disability, He is my age and over 300. Horrible shape. We both need to loose weight as does Efran/Sergio.

When the cyclone is gone I want to go dive in Australia.

The superbowl is comming I hear. So? Not my thing, Philapelphia steelers and Dallas.
how did it get to be called the superbowl? After a stadium? Cowvoys are the most profitable franchise.

retiring abroad

bundled up to sleep. No heat on in my house and it's at 66 then it licks on. Sometimes I put gloves on and a shawl over this..

I'm fine looking at retiring abroad. Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, Spain. I'd like to just share my house and theirs. I am not too fond of humidity. There also seem to be a lot of unregulated financial vehicles. Which makes them more profitable and more risky. A maid for 6 dollars a day. I need one one time a week.Along with a gardener or someone else to deal w that. A condo will be fine as is 2 bedrooms. I don't want or need a 3, 4 or 5 bedroom house. A pool the sea. Someone to cook and do laundry what luxury, shop.
gas for 1.50, dinner for 2 10. movies for 2, 10 dollars. doctor, dentist, fillings 20 dollars, large expat community. Stable economy and countries.

Still in the 70's. Oranges and lemons ripening

Marinated flank steak Ree Drummond Ingredients1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sherry
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 heaping tablespoons minced ginger
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 flank steak
PreparationFinished product should not resemble leather.
Combine all the ingredients except the flank steak in a glass or ceramic dish. Place the flank steak in the dish and flip it to coat both sides of the meat with the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 to 6 hours.
Heat a grill or grill pan over high heat. Grill the steak for 2 minutes on each side, rotating the meat 90 degrees once on each side to achieve nice grill marks.
Remove the meat to a cutting board and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. Cut the meat against the grain into strips and serve with potatoes or pasta.
Serving Size4 servings
search for more recipes in TODAY's Cooking SchoolPrint | Share | Log in to save this recipe | Go to my recipe boxAdvertise | AdChoices . Recipe: Tagliarini quattro formaggi (Four cheese pasta) Ree Drummond Ingredients1 cup heavy cream
1 pound tagliarini or angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup grated Fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
4 ounces goat cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 garlic clove, halved (for rubbing bowls)
PreparationSlightly undercook the pasta so the dish won't look like grits.
Warm the cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, but just until al dente; do not overcook!
Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the butter, the warmed cream, and the cheeses. Stir gently, allowing the cheeses to melt and coat the pasta. Season with salt, pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir gently to combine. Rub pasta bowls with the garlic. Serve the pasta in the bowls.
Serving Size6 servings
Marinated flank steak Ree Drummond Ingredients1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sherry
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 heaping tablespoons minced ginger
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 flank steak
PreparationFinished product should not resemble leather.
Combine all the ingredients except the flank steak in a glass or ceramic dish. Place the flank steak in the dish and flip it to coat both sides of the meat with the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 to 6 hours.
Heat a grill or grill pan over high heat. Grill the steak for 2 minutes on each side, rotating the meat 90 degrees once on each side to achieve nice grill marks.
Remove the meat to a cutting board and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. Cut the meat against the grain into strips and serve with potatoes or pasta.
Serving Size4 servings
search for more recipes in TODAY's Cooking SchoolPrint | Share | Log in to save this recipe | Go to my recipe boxAdvertise | AdChoices . Recipe: Tagliarini quattro formaggi (Four cheese pasta) Ree Drummond Ingredients1 cup heavy cream
1 pound tagliarini or angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup grated Fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
4 ounces brie cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 garlic clove, halved (for rubbing bowls)
PreparationSlightly undercook the pasta so the dish won't look like grits.
Warm the cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, but just until al dente; do not overcook!
Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the butter, the warmed cream, and the cheeses. Stir gently, allowing the cheeses to melt and coat the pasta. Season with salt, pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir gently to combine. Rub pasta bowls with the garlic. Serve the pasta in the bowls.
Serving Size6 servings
Marinated flank steak Ree Drummond Ingredients1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sherry
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 heaping tablespoons minced ginger
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 flank steak
PreparationFinished product should not resemble leather.
Combine all the ingredients except the flank steak in a glass or ceramic dish. Place the flank steak in the dish and flip it to coat both sides of the meat with the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 to 6 hours.
Heat a grill or grill pan over high heat. Grill the steak for 2 minutes on each side, rotating the meat 90 degrees once on each side to achieve nice grill marks.
Remove the meat to a cutting board and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. Cut the meat against the grain into strips and serve with potatoes or pasta.
Serving Size4 servings

Tagliarini quattro formaggi (Four cheese pasta)
Ingredients1 cup heavy cream
1 pound tagliarini or angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup grated Fontina cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
4 ounces brie cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 garlic clove, halved (for rubbing bowls)
PreparationS
lightly undercook the pasta so the dish won't look like grits.
Warm the cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, but just until al dente; do not overcook!
Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add the butter, the warmed cream, and the cheeses. Stir gently, allowing the cheeses to melt and coat the pasta. Season with salt, pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir gently to combine. Rub pasta bowls with the garlic. Serve the pasta in the bowls.
Serving Size6 servings
Valentines day