My Hair Isn't Grey Enough Yet

The day before Mother's Day I was told I'm going to be a Grandma and I wanted to share an insight I gained in the past few weeks... I'm sure I'll share others as the months go by; the baby's due in January.

• Be very specific what you ask God for because he'll grant what you are asking on HIS terms & timing NOT yours:
• When Maddie was born I said I wanted a daughter who was strong and spoke her mind. I made the mistake of not clarifying that I wanted a daughter that was strong and spoke her mind to everyone EXCEPT me.... I got exactly what I wished for...
• I've ALWAYS said I wanted to skip right over motherhood straight to being a Grandma so I could spoil the grandkids rotten and send them home. I forgot to clarify that I wanted my children to zoom up in age also so that when they became parents they would be 100% prepared to have their  own child (if that's even possible.)... Anyway, I got exactly what I wished for...
• My hair isn't grey enough yet to be called "Grandma" so I'm announcing to all the other Grandmother's (Great etc) that I am claiming the title of "Nana Jamie" right now. Pick something else for yourself ....sorry!
• For the soon to be Grandfather's... FYI the kids already call their Grandfather's "Papa"... Papa John, Papa Earl & Papa Harry so if you have that in mind for yourself, you'll need to pick something else because that title's already designated for the "Great Grandfather's"...

For Hunter & Skye, although I can't claim I'm overjoyed at the thought of getting a grandchild before my hair is white enough to get the title of "Grandparent" I do know I will be an awesome "Nana" and I'll love your child more than I can express here...

Also, here's some helpful tips I found on the internet last night for you both (Sorry I'm having trouble getting it bigger on here...  To see a bigger image CLICK HERE)

Cooking is always more enjoyable with others...



Pretty table setting

When I was down in California for work JoAnne had a little luncheon with her close friends that took a recent trip with her and Ray. She wanted to cook an assortment of recipes of things they had as a closing to the trip.

It's always more enjoyable cooking with others than by yourself although I do like cooking for parties or holidays for people (other than my kids) because seeing people enjoy my cooking gives me pleaseure. My kids either pass or fail my cooking on if Auntie Kelly or Grandpa John makes it better than me... "It's good but Auntie Kelly's is better."... whatever :-)

We made Sea Bass (totally nummy, sorry no photo was too busy cooking), a potato gratin dish in individual ramekin dishes (again no photo), green beans with toasted pine nuts (no photo.. yeah I suck)... BUT I did get photos of the tomato & watermelon salad & a roasted beet with tzatziki sauce appetizer...

The Summer Salad with Tomato & Watermelon was delicious! It was surprising to find the combination of watermelon and tomato but it was light and refreshing.

Roasted beets, topped with tzatziki sauce, sprinkled with toasted walnuts and drizzled with fine olive oil. Can you say nummy?

Anyway, try the salad... I think you'll like it as much as we did and it's safer than eating mayo based potato or macaroni salad that's sat out on some picnic table in the sun for too long.

Memories of Grandma Lela - Mamoul, Maamoul (Syrian Date Cookies)

Some of the things that remind me of my Grandma Lela are her sewing, crocheted slippers, embroidery and her Syrian Date Cookies (aka Mamoul or Maamoul). She would always make them, put them in a tin and bring with her on the airplane when she came to see us.

Grandma Lela (Wasn't she beautiful?)

Today I decided to make some so I thought I would share "how to" with everyone. They are nummy.

There are many versions of the receipe out there on the web. Some use semonila flour and yeast. I use a simpler version using white flour.

First you will want to gather the ingredients:

1 3/4 Cups of Flour
1 1/2 Sticks Unsalted Butter cut into small pieces
3 tsp Orange Flower Water or Rose Water - (or 1/2 & 1/2 of each.. that's what I did)
2 TBSP Milk
Filling:
1/2 pound pitted dates (or I found baking dates in the Middle Eastern Store. It's already a jam/paste consistency so you can skip the step below to make the filling.)
3 TBSP Water

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

To prepare the filling if you can't find the baking dates:
1. Put pitted dates and water in a saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer, reduce and stir often until the consistency is thick and jam-like. Spread the filling on a plate or shallow bowl to cool.

To make the dough:
1. Put the flour in a mixing bowl

2. Cut up the unsalted butter into small pieces (mine was frozen so it broke up nicely.)

4. Add the butter to the flour and use a pastry cutter to blend w/ flour until a crumbly consistency (or use a food processor.)

5. Sprinkle Orange and/or Rose Water & milk over flour/butter and blend just until the dough forms a ball.

To prepare the cookies:
1. Break off a piece of the dough and make a ball (you will want to make yours smaller than the one pictured below.)

2. Use your thumb or index finger to make an indentation in the ball of dough.

3. Expand the indentation to make the dough a small cup shape.

4. Put a small teaspoon full of filling inside and pinch the dough closed.

5. Now with this step if you do not have a mold you would place the cookie seam side down on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave about 1 inch between each and use a fork to flatten a little & make decorative edges. If you have a mold see the directions continued below.

To shape the cookie in the mold:
1. Dust the mold with flour.

2. Place the dough ball into the mold and press firmly. Try to keep it as flat on the bottom & even with the top of mold (I had too much in the one that was photographed. I got better as I went along guessing how much to use for each cookie.) When done tap firmly on counter to expel the cookie and place on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart.

To Bake & Finish:
1. Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Do NOT let them brown. They should remain very white. Since there is no sugar added to the dough there should be very little carmelization. (The photo below is them heading INTO the oven.)

2. Remove from oven and cool on the pan placed on a wire rack. Once cooled dust with powdered sugar.

Eat & enjoy.... Grandma's comfort food at its finest. 

Two old videos for prosperity...

So I have two videos in an old YouTube account that I want to link here for prosperity sake...

The first one is my Niece, Marlo, doing a cheer that we put up so her mom could show her French family...


And the second video is me and the kids gutting our first and only round of raising chickens for meat... I'm glad we did it so I can say we did, but I don't think there will be a repeat performance... I would raise them for eggs in the future but the whole killing and gutting thing isn't my cup of tea... (warning.. if you have a weak stomach I would NOT watch this one...)

Bizarre Foods.... "If it looks good... eat it"....

You know how you drive by a car accident and can't help but look at it? You are pretty sure you really don't want to see the actual blood and gore but you look anyway?

That's how I am most of the time when I am watching Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel. Some of the stuff is interesting and other times I'm like... ugh... no thanks, I'll pass even though I consider myself a very adventurous eater.

Last night JoAnne, Dr. Rod and myself went to a restaurant in Tijuana called Severios. JoAnne and I have been there many times before and we normally order this wonderful Seared Tuna that is completely delightful.... We ordered that last night and Dr. Rod ordered a few more things for us to try...

This is Octopus... it was really good. I've had Octopus before and normally find it very tough but this was tender and not chewy.

Now, the one dish I've seen Andrew Zimmern have on his Madrid, Spain episode is Baby Squid cooked in their own ink. I've always found it interesting but have never been brave enough to order it myself. Dr. Rod ordered it and I was still hesitant but willing to try...

Let me tell you it was DELICIOUS. Nothing like I imagined it would taste like and definitely something I would order again. Here's a photo... it doesn't look appealing being all black but it is really good... If you have the opportunity to try it I suggest that you do....

Here's a couple more photos of my trip to Tijuana...

Dr. Sanchez & myself...

Dr. Elmo & Myself in lead aprons ready for the patient's leak tests.

All we needed was some pink lemonade...

So some of you may remember the post I did earlier where we all went fishing and I felt that Powerbait was a waste of money.... Here's the link to that post: Powerbait.... I think not...

On Friday night I went fishing with Skye while Hunter was at a out of town football game and I caught a really nice big one (the biggest I've gotten all season) along with two others and Skye got one:  the photo isn't that great because it was dark when we left.

See him there?... He's the 2nd from the right...

Now to address the Powerbait issue. I have changed my mind about Powerbait after this weekend. I caught my limit of trout on Saturday using the stuff. I then called Aunt Nel and Uncle Jerry and told them they needed to come fishing with me on Sunday, where we all proceeded to catch 11 fish combined and then I went out to a different lake last night and caught some more (they were using worms and sometimes the Powerbait and I just used the Powerbait.) I hit the limit yesterday also.

The kind that the fish finally liked is called Pink Lemonade... it's hot pink and really bright yellow... Next week they may like something else but for now that's what I'll keep using until I have to switch.

Yesterday was just a really nice day with Nel and Jerry... we fished... saw an Eagle fly directly over us... just all around fun...

Nel and Jerry

Nel with one of her catch....

On another note... does anyone happen to know what these berry type things are?

You can do it at a trot... you can do it at a gallop...

Me & Hunter

For those of you in Washington remember the Puyallup Fair commercial song? I tried to find it on YouTube but wasn't successful... I did find this audio track though: Do The Puyallup Fair Song Ahhhh, memories of the most annoying commercial song that stuck in your head for months...

Alright, I did it... I went to a fair and I went on ONE ride... Hunter and I went to the Northwest Montana State Fair in Kalispell, Montana and  we met Skye, her Dad (Brian), and her Sister (Sylvia) there.

I had a good time but I just don't think I am a larger crowd type of person. I think I would have rather been fishing but I did enjoy the animals & the exhibits, which would have taken me all of an hour or two to see.

The best part of the day was the 5.00 I spent to watch Hunter get thrown off the mechanical bull, not only once but twice... Here's a video. It's only about a minute long and well worth watching:

Here are some pictures...

Skye's Sister, Sylvia

Skye's Dad, Brian

My one and only ride... Bumper cars, of course!

Brian and I teaming up on getting Hunter from two sides.

Hunter & Skye

Hunter & Skye way up there on the "puke me" ride