My Beautiful Sister....she lets me play on this some times.  

THIS YEAR

MEND A QUARREL. 

 SEEK OUT A FORGOTTEN FRIEND.  DISMISS SUSPICION, AND REPLACE IT WITH TRUST. 

 WRITE A LOVE LETTER.

  SHARE SOME TREASURE.

GIVE A SOFT ANSWER.

ENCOURAGE YOUTH.

Ashlynn....

MANIFEST YOUR LOYALTY IN WORD AND DEED.

KEEP A PROMISE.

FIND THE TIME.

God's handiwork.

FORGO A GRUDGE.

FORGIVE AN ENEMY.

LISTEN.

APOLOGIZE IF YOU WERE WRONG.

TRY TO UNDERSTAND.

FLOUT ENVY.

EXAMINE YOUR DEMANDS ON OTHERS.

THINK FIRST OF SOMEONE ELSE.

APPRECIATE.

My Brother Perry.  Sharing his beautiful music.

BE KIND; BE GENTLE.

LAUGH A LITTLE.

LAUGH A LITTLE MORE.

I say take a minute, maybe lot's of minutes and relax.

DESERVE CONFIDENCE.

TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST MALICE.

DECRY COMPLACENCY.

EXPRESS  YOUR GRATITUDE.

HAVE FAITH.

WELCOME A STRANGER.

GLADDEN THE HEART OF A CHILD.

Dad Mason and his sweet girl,(grandma it peeking in).

TAKE PLEASURE IN THE BEAUTY AND WONDER OF EARTH.

SPEAK YOUR LOVE.

SPEAK IT AGAIN.

SPEAK IT STILL ONCE AGAIN.

One of the so many reasons to live in Washington. Mount Rainier.

 

AUTHOR UNKNOWN     

        MY WISH FOR YOU IS A VERY

JOYOUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A YEAR TO CHERISH ONE ANOTHER AND BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS.

FROM ONE OF THE THE DAME'S ON THE HILL.      

CHEERS TO HAPPY!!!     

Stacked Crab Salad...

Stacked crab salad

Did everyone have a great Christmas? I hope so! Tomorrow is New Years Eve...This great Salad is worth repeating. It is so special and flavorful. Perfect for your dinner party!  Just follow this link  It will take you to the your new favorite!!!!!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Secret to Contentment and Happiness...

This Christmas I give you.....The great lesson from my Mother....

Judge less and observe more...That is it! Only 4 words. The secret to contentment and happiness....

My mother has taught me, I don't have to have an opinion. Just watch and wait and observe. You  might not see the opportunities you would have had to help, if you are blinded by your old judgments... help where you can, even if all you have to give is your time, a smile, a kind word or a soft shoulder to lean on. It is the one sure way to happiness....

She is so very smart, and kind and much more than an ornament on our tree.She is the Angel on top! We are so fortunate to have her example of unconditional love and good will for all mankind to share.

Merry Christmas to All of You!!!! 

Deep Fried Capers...

deep fried capers

I had these recently in a restaurant in Lake Chelan...They are so good! They add little flavor bursts to your salad....it took me a couple of minutes to figure out what the heck they were. I had never heard of doing this.
What a surprise topping. The holidays here and it is time for holiday party's. This can be made ahead of time.

heat 1 cup of vegetable oil in a fry pan , heat to 375...or better yet use your deep fryer...These just take about 1 minute to deep fry...Take about a cup of capers and pat them dry....add about 1/2 cup to the oil at a time...

this screen is very helpful to avoid splattering....drain on paper towels...They puff up like popcorn or little flowers....very cute!

assemble the salad....oh yeah the Parmesan crisps....

shred  Parmesan Reggiano and place baseball size of them on a silpat or parchment paper on a baking sheet...bake for 8 minutes in 400 degree oven until nicely brown...They really spread out.

and there you have it! Surprise your guests with a great Caesar salad full of unexpected pickily flavor and fun!

Cheers to Happy !!

Swedish Cream Sauce...or Romsås...

The Americans have tartar sauce, the French have remulade and Swede's have Swedish Cream Sauce. The Swedish name is Romsås! I believe rom is roe in English. My grandfather was Swedish. His parents immigrated to America when they were young adults. Both never again went home to their country. 

                                                                Lilla Asbotorp

My cousin recently traveled to the little town and house my great grandfather grew up in. She met many of our relatives and long lost cousins. It was a wonderful trip and experience. One of the things she brought back with her is this recipe. You will love every single bite. Promise! 

this is a small caviar that you can find at Ikea. It is herring roe, it is not expensive and will keep in the refrigerator...you can also use other caviar, like salmon caviar...

(if like me you can't find creme fraiche at your grocery store you can use Mexicana Crema...it is the same thing and is cheaper) and I doubled this recipe...

1 cup of sour cream

1 cup of creme fraiche

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

3 tablespoon of fresh or dried dill

 2 ounce container of caviar

white pepper to taste....1/2 teaspoon...

put all the ingredients in a bowl and stir together and then gently fold in the caviar or roe...This is best if made at least 1 hour before serving...Can be made the day before...

This sauce is so good on everything...just makes everything better... the next morning we had brie and salmon omelets with the sauce over the top...oh my goodness! The best! 

Cheers to Happy  !!

Chocolate Peppermint Cake...

Christmas is quickly coming upon us...Crazy how quick it comes....It is time to get out the decorations and start caroling and baking. I come from a group of folks who wait for the holiday Dreyers Peppermint ice cream to arrive and then have it almost every night with hot fudge on top...yep it is in my freezer right now...this cake is very reminiscent of the ice cream....You can make all of this home made, making your cake from scratch, of course, using the same procedure....but why? Your family is sure to love this recipe!

you just need 2 cake mixes...one chocolate and one white.......one container of Andes  peppermint crunch candies and food coloring....prepare the cakes as directed on package...take I cup out of the white and put in a small bowl, chop 1 cup of Andes candies, chop them about the size of chocolate chips. 

put the candies in the large bowl of white and stir. Add a couple squirts of the food coloring in the small bowl, and stir...now ready to assemble...

Set out both prepared cake pans. In the first pan scoop 2 cups of chocolate batter into the pan, spread out with spatula. Next scoop 1 ½ cups white batter with peppermint chips into the center of the chocolate batter. Spread out to form a circle. Lastly scoop 1 cup of the remaining pink into the center of the pink batter. repeat with the second pan....

bake according to directions on the back of the box....and then cool....

Place one cake layer on cake plate. Take one cup of frosting and spread it out evenly onto the layer. Place the second layer on top of the frosted layer. Use remainder of frosting to frost top and sides of cake. Decorate top of cake with crushed candy canes. 

This is almost sinful how easy this frosting is to make! Cream 2 cubes of butter together (I cup) with 2, 7 ounce containers of Marshmallow cream with an electric mixer and then add 2 cups of powdered sugar....if the frosting is to stiff add a couple of tablespoons of milk or cream.....It is the best, fluffiest, tastiest frosting!

it is not overly sweet or overly pepper-minty...

This is such a special and easy cake to make! It would be great as cup cakes also...Enjoy!!!

Cheers to Happy !!

Happy Thanksgiving...

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

- Anonymous

Just a cute little poem on this wonderful Thanksgiving Day....I wish you all a 

very Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Pecan Pie Brittle...

Pecan Pie Brittle

The holidays are quickly upon us....we are really ready, right? Well of course not! I have so many plans and really not enough time...This recipe is one that I saw in Saveur Magazine....I thought it was the perfect do-ahead recipe!!! 

INGREDIENTS

2 cups sugar

2½ cups broken pecans

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat sugar in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat; cook, swirling pan often, until golden amber and completely liquefied. Add pecans and butter and cook, stirring, until caramel is liquid again and butter is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Combine vanilla extract and baking soda in a bowl and then add to pan along with salt; stir to combine. Pour onto a baking sheet lined with foil or a silicone baking mat and spread into an even layer with a small rubber spatula. Wait until cool and then break into pieces and store...

following directions. melt the sugar..and then things happens way to fast to take pictures...

then ready to pour!

spread on the prepared pan...and let cool...right now I want you to turn around and fill the empty brittle sauce pan with water and let it soak...trust me, you won't be sorry, and will thank me for it...

I put mine into gift bags....after I had tasted some, of course...

This is the perfect gift and just a perfect ending to a delightful holiday dinner...

Cheers to Happy  !!

Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole...

Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole

This recipe really piqued my interest...It is the most re-pinned recipe on Pinterest. Think about it...out of a million recipes, this one brings back fond memories of childhood...It was a recipe that was passed around in the 70's. I guess I missed making it then. So I had to give it a try...boy am I glad I did!!

the original recipe started with a white sauce and I went one shortcut further and used alfredo sauce...This would be great with an addition of sauteed chopped onion...do not add additional salt...pepper yes.

Cheese Potato & Smoked Sausage Casserole

5 cups idaho potatoes, peeled, boiled and cut into cubes when cool, approx. 21/2 lbs 

 I jar 15 ounce alfredo sauce

1/4 cup half and half or milk

1/2 lb Velveeta cheese, diced 

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 

1 lb skinless smoked sausage  

1/8 teaspoon paprika 

Directions:

 Cut skinless smoked sausage in half, lengthwise, and then chop into 1/2 inch "half moon" cuts. Cook in a frying pan for about 15 minutes, turning frequently to SLIGHTLY brown.

Meanwhile, put cooked  diced potatoes in 2 quart casserole. Add cooked meat and give it a gentle toss.

Mix Alfredo sauce, half and half, diced velveeta and 1/4 cup of the shredded cheddar in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, melted and smooth. (Use a whisk and stir constantly.).

Pour cheese sauce over potatoes and meat. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top, and then sprinkle paprika evenly over the top.

Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 35-45 minutes (watch, until golden brown on top).

melt the sauce and cheese together over low heat and stir frequently...

fry bite size sausage in your favorite yellow pan until browned...I like mine with lots of cooked edges...

add meat to potatoes in a 2 quart casserole and toss...

pour cheese sauce over top and stir....

sprinkle remaining cheese and paprika over top and...

bake at 350 for 35 minutes...I put a piece of foil underneath to catch any runovers,,,

nice and browned and cheesy and bubbly!

This is comfort food at it's finest! Cheesy and meaty and so very good!!!

Cheers To Happy  !!