bee with pollen

Another interesting macro photo. In the summer my yard has infinite possibilities for interesting photos; in the winter--lots of snow!

Happy Thanksgiving !

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Year of Crockpotting blog

I don't know how many of you use a crockpot, but I use mine alot, especially during the winter. It's wonderful to put ingredients in it in the morning and not worry about it all day. On the days I work I usually don't get home til at least 6:30pm, so it's great to come home & have it all done!
On one of the days I clicked that next blog button at the top of the blogs I found this great site--A year of crockpotting. Stepahanie had challenged herself to use her crockpot everyday in 2008. I'm just sorry I didn't find it until October! She does have photos with all the recipes but I didn't copy them.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Today's recipe is for Chicken Adobo

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

CrockPot Chicken Adobo Recipe
Day 330.I actually just got a pang of something weird when I typed that number in. 35 (36) days left in the year? Really? That's it? I actually feel really sad about that (today. tomorrow, I might decide to spend the afternoon jumping on the bed.)Thank you so much for the wonderful birthday wishes, and for the great comments directed towards Adam. He read every one of them. Probably thrice. I've got a lot of scheming to do before his birthday, but it looks like he's going to be spending it with a thousand women for BlogHer.... that's a good gift, right?I've never made Chicken Adobo before. My grandma read me this recipe over the phone out of a xeroxed booklet of International Food put out by my first grade class. We all really liked the chicken a lot, and have a bunch saved in the freezer for future soups. Thank you, grandma, for keeping the booklet!
The Ingredients.--
3 to 5 pounds of chicken meat (I used a whole chicken. Next time I will use boneless pieces.)--1/4 cup soy sauce (La Choy and Tamari wheat free are gluten free)--
4 cloves garlic, chopped--
1 tsp black pepper--
1/2 tsp salt--
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (can use regular white)--
4 bay leaves--
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots--
1 yellow onion, sliced in rings
The Directions.
If you have the time to assemble the chicken in a plastic zipper bag with the salt, pepper, soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar the night before, do so. The chicken will be much more flavorful if left to marinate overnight.
I used a 6.5 quart crockpot. If you use 3 pounds of chicken, everything will fit in a 4 quart or larger.
I had a whole chicken, so I used it---it was 5 pounds. I did skin it, and I am certainly getting better at skinning chickens.
Rub the chicken with salt, pepper, and crushed garlic. If using a whole chicken, shove 2 bay leaves inside. Set aside.
Slice the onion in rings and place the rings at the bottom of the crockpot.
Add in the shredded carrot---I used the bagged shredded carrot to save time.
Put the chicken on top. Pour in the soy sauce and vinegar.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 4-5.
This is done when the chicken is cooked through and has reached desired tenderness.
I cooked our whole chicken on high for exactly 4 hours.
It was fully cooked, but completely fell apart. The vinegar is such a tenderizer that I wouldn't attempt this again with bone-in chicken.
The Verdict.
Delicious. This results in very flavorful and moist chicken. There is a lot of juice, and we served it over basmati rice. The kids each ate a plateful. When I make it again, I might put in some shredded cabbage---Adam and I both really liked the pickled vegetables an awful lot.

Thanks for my new bed, Mom!

Over the weekend I started feeling a little better and decided I could start rearranging stuff so I could put out Christmas stuff soon. I cleaned off the dining room table and them went upstairs for a few minutes. When I came back down this is what I found..... Bubble had made himself at home in this basket--- Iwas going to fill it with ornaments ( will still do that at a later date!). He was told in no uncertain terms that the cat doesn't belong on the table!

butterflies are free....more fun photos

A set of photos--the original and then the enhanced. I enjoy doing this to change a photo and accent a particular part of it. Changing the background of this really makes the butterfly stand out.

It's a bug's life

In the summer I like to wander in my yard looking for bugs to photograph ( ok, I know that's weird!) I usually can find some interesting ones.

This is the original of the 1st one. That one was enhanced using the watercolor effect in Photoshop elements

And a few more --all taken with a macro lens.

dandelion--enhanced

I'm stuck in the house for another day( my throat is improving--getting my voice back, but still pretty sore) it's very cold out so I thought it best to stay in. So I thought while I have a little energy I would try & do a few blog postings
This dandelion photo was one I blew up & entered in the fair a few years ago in computer enhanced. the above picture is the nehanced --done as a watercolor in Photoshop elements--enlarge it for the full effect.

This is the original

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

At least at the store where I work. usually we have the place all decorated in Oct., but just like everywhere else , the econmy has hurt us. The owners are spacing out the deliveries a little longer and have ordered less.

People like to shop here because we do free gift boxing and wrapping. You don't find that many places any more!

We have quite a few different themed trees this year--Barnyard animals, coffee, beach, musical instuments, to name a few.

It's starting to look really nice. I won't be working til next week-- I've been under the weather for a few days--had a freak accident on Monday & burned my throat--I ate something that was to hot --didn't seem that way when I put it in my mouth but it did a job on my throat & uvula --spent a few hours at the emergency room mon. night--got a powerful liquid pain reliever & have to eat soft food for a few days.

Chicken Enchilada recipe

Easy Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas

Prep-10 mins. Bake- 40 mins. at 350 degrees

Makes 6 servings ( not at my house!)

1 can ( 10 3/4 oz) Condensed cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup picante sauce

2 tsp. chili powder

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

6 flour tortillas (6") warmed

1 small tomato, chopped

1 green onion , sliced

1. Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl.

2. Stir 1 cup of picante sauce mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl.

3. Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place them seam side up in an 11 x 8 shallow baking dish. Pour the remaining picante sauce mixture over the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish.

4. Bake at 350 degrees ( F) for 40 minutes or until enchiladas are hot and bubbling.

Top with tomato & onion

Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas

the weather here has been rainy for a week now. I kind of have blog block--I have a few good ideas, but having trouble finding the photos. A few days ago I made these easy & delicious enchiladas--they have become a weekly dinner since I found the recipe.

Don't they look yummy?

Water drops

I have seen some photos taken of water drops that fascinate me. I think it is something I would like to experiment with. This was taken in my yard--it's a branch of an evergreen taken 1st thing in the morning with a macro lens. Click on it to enlarge & get the full effect.

Veteran's Day

Taken in Washington DC 1943 I just wanted to share a few photos of my parents & honor them for Veteran' s Day. My Dad was in the Army during WWII and my Mom was in the Navy--the WAVES. Neither really talked about their years of service (My Dad died in 1991). But Mom recently had someone approach her about telling about her experiences, so we now have a DVD that was made. I learned somethings I had never heard before. She had wanted to join up, but her Mom was dead set against it so she had to wait until she was 21 & didn't need permission.

Candid Camera photo Washington DC

Mom in her Dress uniform. She was active in the Waves international organization until recently. My parents were married in Dec. 1944--Mom was stationed in Washington DC & at that time my Dad was in NC. He had served in Europe earlier. In case you were wondering--they were from the same town in MA, met there & had a long distance relationship like many others.

My Dad. He passed away unexpectedly in 1991 --6 weeks after my brother's wedding. It was great that we had a joyous occasion when we were all together so close to his passing.

sunrise on the malecon

I have so many photos I have taken at this time of the morning. I love to get up & walk along the beach & the malecon & sit & watch the sun come up. The next photo was taken with the Canon A640 with the telephoto lens attached but not extended so you see it with part of the lens.
Strange, but I like it.

A few random shots

I enjoy playing around with some of my photos--learning new ways to enhance or change. I like highlighting one item in a photo, making it stand out.

This is Alan after the 1st day of fishing in his 1st Barracuda Bash. He really enjoyed going out with Xool ( in the background of the shot)

From the fair--I entered this photo a few years ago--the child's mom was so excited when she saw this picture--I gave it to her after the fair was over.

My sister, Judie--in memoriam

November 7 is the anniversary of my older sister's passing. She passed away 12 years ago at the age of 49 from complications of scleroderma. We were close in age (19 months apart) and were only sibs until 8 yrs. after me, my brother, Tom was born. Being so close in age we did alot together growing up. ( Me in the pink dress)

This is one of my favorite photos of the 2 of us--at Lynn (Ma.) Beach in 1953. She's the taller of the 2.

From my wedding ( mid 80's). Left to right, Judie , Tom & me. She lived with Alan & I the last few years of her life --it wasn't the easiest of times, but we survived & I'm glad she was with us at the end. I guess I'm thinking about her more than usual right now.

A few favorite meals on Isla

Azteca soup at SesoLoco's --a great lunch or light supper . I have tried to duplicate here at home, but never tastes quite the same. I will have to analyze a little closer when we are there in Jan.

Alan's favorite---for breakfast , lunch or dinner--enchiladas suiza. These were at A & G's for breakfast.

Early photos of Rafe

While lookng for some other photos I came across a floppy disk with photos taken of Rafe on the day we got him. His registered name is M &M's (the breeder) West Goshen Rafferty. He was 7 weeks old and weighed 7 lbs. --he was the runt of a litter of 11! He now weighs 106 at 6 1/2 yrs. old

Alan holding him--just like a new baby

Exploring the yard--had to try everything!

love this photo showing his beautiful blue eyes...wish they could have stayed like that!

All tuckered out!

Invasion of the wild turkeys!

Yesterday morning I went to the back door to let the dog out & there were lots of turkeys around. We have alot that live on our property, but usually don't see them so close to the house. there probably were 2 dozen in all & they were on all sides of the hose.

I grabbed my camera & put telephoto lens on ( this was taken from inside the house) They were on the hill right above our patio.

Of course, the dog was choping at the bit to go out & chase them away, but I made him stay in so I could take pictures! He's ok with them on the property, but doesn't like them in his area!

Everyday late in the afternoon I usually see the turkeys--they roost in our trees & then come down & walk around, but this was the most I'd seen at one time!

This guy is on our patio, maybe 6 ft. from the back door!