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Monday, February 2, 2015

Around Here Lately

The end of the week had me baking 8 dozen cookies!
I have to say this new kitchen made it an easy task.
96 cookies, rolled, cut out, baked, cooled and frosted in 4 hours!




Then the kitchen got put back together, the cookies got boxed up
and they waited to be picked up.  I hadn't had a cookie order in
a while, so that was very fun!






The rest of the weekend was lazy!
We ate buttermilk blueberry pancakes with
homemade syrup, thick sliced bacon and fried eggs.






We flopped on the couch.






We did a little bird watching outside.






Some of us did bird watching inside!





It's more up close and personal that way.
And the birds tease and sing like they know they
are safe in their cage. ha.
They don't even flinch when a paw tries to get through
or big yellow eyes peer at them upside down from the top.





We tried a new recipe, too.
Chicken breasts stuffed with sun dried tomatoes, pesto and feta.
omg...SO delicious!



The recipe was a keeper (I'll share soon)
and so were the weekend memories.
Now we're going to make a pizza and watch
the Super Bowl.  Well, I'm more interested in 
the commercials! ha.



66 comments:

  1. Hi Betsy!
    No snow there???
    We have been snowing here all day...
    Looks like a nice relaxing day for all...even the birds!!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've had rain...so only patches of snow left. But new snow is coming tonight and tomorrow! Very dark and grey out there! brr!

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  2. I'm making pizza too... in my mixer.
    Hey! We could have a Kitchen Aid club!
    :0)

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  3. Some weekends are just better than others . . .

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    Replies
    1. that is very true! Happy for a relaxing, happy one here!

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  4. It's snowing like crazy here - 12 inches predicted in all, we've got about 5 so far. Everything is closed, even some superbowl parties.
    I love your bird cage and the map behind it. Very classy!
    The recipe sounds awesome!

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    Replies
    1. Wow! I don't know how much we're supposed to get but I don't think it's very much.

      Did you notice the map is Michigan and Lake Michigan? Got it at an auction. $5. Had to replace the glass, but the color and theme was perfect for my family room. :)

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    2. I did notice that. It really is perfect for your room and what a deal!

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    3. Too bad it wasn't Ohio, but close enough..and we've vacationed on Lake Michigan before. :)

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  5. oh, my word! i guess the heart attack stage is well over with for those parakeets. :)

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    Replies
    1. They are used to the cats....now they know how to push their buttons. ha.

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  6. First things first. Picture No 1; what a shocker. Even I has a mere man, but a super cook, don't ever make such a mess as that! There's more flour on the worktop than went into the cookies.

    I had chicken breast cooked in a sun-dried tomato and basil sauce, with sautéed potato chunks cooked in goose fat and 'herbes de Provence' on the side. More or less similar to what you cooked. Great cooks think alike, eh, what?

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    Replies
    1. haha....yep...now you know the truth...my kitchen gets messy!

      Can't believe we ate the same thing...great minds for sure! Although, your kitchen probably stayed clean while you made yours. ha. I've never made anything with duck fat! I suppose I could find it here if I looked...but I just used olive oil.

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    2. Olive oil? How common! It's a myth that the French always cook with olive oil, they don't in the south, it's usually butter of goose fat.
      I was taught to clean up as I went along, or not to make a mess in the first place. Americans? Huh!
      I must admit the chicken meal looks slightly better than mine. . . . . .just saying.

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    3. Yeah, well, I'm a common girl. ha. I do cook/bake with butter often, though. The jar of sun dried tomatoes had so much olive oil left in it after I took the tomatoes out, that I just poured that in the skillet.

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    4. The recipe I used said to cook it on the stove top in a skillet, but I browned both sides and put it in the oven.

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  7. Snowed all day, so pretty. Sunshine yesterday and a spring ant. I don't get it.

    Great photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The snow sure is beautiful! We're getting more tonight they say!

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    2. Frosty took a good dump on us, but not enough to wake the snow blower.

      Stay warm.

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  8. LOVE your birdcage. My daughter has a parakeet and we have thought of getting it a friend.

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    Replies
    1. We've always had two. I've heard, though, if you have just one, they will be more sociable to the humans, learn to talk, etc. Another and they turn all their attention to each other.

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  9. Sounds like the perfect mix of activity :)

    The chicken recipe sounds great! I think I made something similar a while back and enjoyed it so I'm looking forward to reading about yours.

    I'm making soft pretzels for our Super Bowl munchies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't even remember the last time I had a soft pretzel! Yum!

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  10. Mighty impressive cookie production ~ 96 in 4 hours . . . . . I would have eaten some . . . lol
    Love the bird cage and that budgerigar reminds me of Mickey, the little bird I used to have as a boy. . . . :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did eat two. Had to make sure they were good, right?

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    2. . . . . . and what you said to Michelle is right . . . . they imitate us only when no other bird is there . .
      it took us 6 years to teach our little bird 2 verses of "Georgie, Porgie, pudding and pie" . . . . lol

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    3. Mine just sing and tweet. No English! Sigh!

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    4. I don't blame you trying out the cookies ~ chef's prerogative.
      I think perhaps it is a little unkind to deprive the bird company of another but it is fun to hear them say something like "Auntie Gertie" in our case or "Hello Mickey boy!" . . . . . . lol

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    5. I think it depends on how much attention you're willing to give them. If you can spend a good deal of time with them every day to have them out of the cage and talk to them, I'm sure they are happy and content without another bird. Mickey sure seemed that way!

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    6. We really loved that little bird . . . . . .
      That little boy on your sidebar has caught my attention . . . . the little guy with the artificial leg and spring foot.
      It just touched me somehow and to see his little smiling face . . . . . he seems so happy in spite of his disability . . . . makes me somehow want to know a little more about him . . . . :)

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    7. Isn't he the sweetest thing? The purpose of the little ad was to say all the excuses why we can't get healthy, work out, loose weight, etc....are silly when taking him into account. If he can run and be active, anyone can. :) I love his little smile. :)

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    8. Yes . . . . well your little ad works well . . . . . even I am exercising now . . . lol
      Yes, love his little smile too . . . :)

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    9. Well, it's not mine...I just found it on the internet. :)

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  11. hahaha won't come out and play
    Bet that is a busy spot throughout the day
    Birdie has friends that will always gather around
    A lazy weekend is always nice to be found
    A ton of cookies too
    Super fast at your zoo

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    Replies
    1. Funny to watch the play by play
      as the birds tease the cats night and day.

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  12. 8 dozen cookies. I would love to taste it. Wonderful images.

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    1. Hi Rajesh! They were yummy! Glad they didn't all stay here though or I'd still be eating them! haha.

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  13. Oh my- that is really up close and personal! I guess the bird knows it is safe and the kitty knows it is not going to have a bird for a snack anytime soon. LOL! I'm listening to game from the computer room. We had pizza last night for grandson's birthday, but it still sounds good. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I keep popping back and forth between the game and some computer work.

      Pizza always sounds good! Yum!

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  14. I love your map behind the cage. We used to have a parakeet that looks just like yours. His name was Petey. Enjoy the super bowl. I'm watching Katy Perry right now. And before I go, love the idea you had of putting rolling pins in a crock.

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    1. Got the map at an auction...never seen anything like it!

      Aw, Petey sounds sweet. I have a mostly white one in that cage, too...kinda hard to see.

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  15. Oh that chicken! Yummmm. Garden Girl sure has her share of bird hats - today of the bright red variety. A cardinal cap! I love how the curve of the cage is perfect to fit Cinder. I would be flippin' out if I were those birds. Yikes! But... as you say... they have become used to it. Don't know if I ever could. A wayward paw or peering eyes would send me into a feathered frenzy!

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    1. The cats' paws really can't fit between the cage bars so they aren't in any danger. And it's funny how the birds know that and really don't care that the cats are around. Many times one will be sleeping on the top...dreaming of birds to catch, I'm sure. haha.

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  16. Just got home from Myk's and the Super Bowl. What a fun afternoon. His Chili was to die for, his cornbread delicious, the muchies plentiful and good and the berry cobbler was a hit with vanilla ice cream.

    Love your family pictures, the bird cage is beautiful, and your cookies...wow, I'm impressed.

    BTW I want to join the KitchenAid club.... I'm breaking mine in tomorrow. Yeah!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. We've had chili quite often on Super Bowl Sunday! So many yummy toppings to serve with it...always a hit. Yum.

      What are you going to make first in that KitchenAid?

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  17. Looks like you've had a busy but fun time. Sweet photo of your husband and son on the couch. Your new kitchen looks lovely. The pancakes and the chicken recipe look great too. Looking forward to the chicken recipe. Have a great week Betsy!

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    1. It was a nice little mix of activities around here...fun and relaxing. Now the house is quiet with just me here on Monday morning...I love that, too! ha.

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  18. OMG good job!!!!
    Lazy weeekend here too, pizza on Saturday eveninig!!!!
    xox

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  19. Sounds like your kitchen was well used and filled with good eats!! Cookie order? I'm impressed!! :)

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    1. I've sold cookies and cakes for years...a fun work from home kind of thing!

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    2. That's awesome!! People always dream of doing those types of things and you are out there doing it. Most people wouldn't even know where to begin or how to get a customer. :)

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  20. I know SOMEBODY was very happy with those cookies! =) Sounds like a wonderful weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing that recipe. The Game was good. I felt bad for the Seahawks in that last play decision. Somebody had to lose though. Ads... some good, some... what were they thinking?! Ha! blessings ~ tanna

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    1. Oh, that last play! I'm not a big football fan and I don't know all the rules or strategies, but even I knew a running play was the only way to go there! Gee Whiz...that was crazy...they threw the win away...all their fault. Amazing.

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  21. What did you think of the Super Bowl commercials? There seemed to be fewer funny and more heartwarming ones. And A LOT of car ads!

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    1. Several heart warming ones! I loved the Pepsi one against bullying...loved the Nissan one with the race car driver dad. Budweiser always has a good one. You're right....the funny ones were actually just dumb and unmemorable! haha.

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    2. I dunno...I thought the Doritos commercial with the guy in the airplane trying not to get someone to sit in the middle seat next to him was pretty good. Maybe because I just flew last week and I could relate.

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  22. I love your kitchen! Look stunning!!

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  23. I love your map. It's beautiful.

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  24. Nice loving and homey photos. :)
    Share that chicken recipe soon!

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