A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffeehouse 2187 The Coffee Awaits!!!

Everyone

i knew you were coming. i was watching for you!

I love sneak attacking a overfull coffeehouse

Good morning.

Morning ,
I woke up tired today too... just not sleeping well enough again I guess...haven't gotten around to getting anything done yet... really should though- ........
It's warming up here this week- in the 50 and 60's they say... spring is here... my tulips and crocuses are coming up too... really need to get busy cleaning up the yard... maybe next weekend- Joe is actually off - he rarely takes a weekend off..
Well off to get myself moving a little- only have about 20 things I really need to do.. so better get busy...seen if I can actually accomplish one or two of them...
Nana

what is stone Soup?????


Merme I see you,,, How's the party ????

Hi !

The party was nice & the food was GREAT! I liked the Shrimp Etouffe best of all. The Gumbo was a little too heavy for my taste.


Merme

afternoon, all!
just came in to take a little break. hubby started shoveling the rows in the garden this afternoon, then started feeling bad. So, I kinda took over and am doing my best to shovel in a straight line!
glad to hear the party went well, merme.
hows that snow? goodness, I watched some news this morning and saw where there had been 10 inches of snow around the north east part of the U.S. and into the lower part of canada. not sure where you are, but I sure thought about you.
It's beautiful here again today. upper 60's I would imagine, and not a cloud in the sky. I'm loven' it.

Ohhhhhhhh Good Merme,,,,, I like gumbo myself as long as there isn't any okra in it, and put over rice!
I'm glad everything went well!

do you not like okra at all, or just not boiled? I love it any way it is prepared. I'm doing fewer tomatoes this year, since I'm about the only one who eats them unless I use them for salsa. And, because they are such heavy feeders. anyway, I plan on planting some okra this year. I did them a few years back, but they didn't do so well.

boy, if this wasn't a garden website you people would probably tell me to shut up already about my garden! I guess I have spring fever.

Because one of my guests is highly allergic to shellfish, I made Chicken & Andoulie Sausage Gumbo, without okra, and served it over rice alone with home made Hush Puppies. I make savory hush puppies w/ finely minced onion in them. For those of us who can eat shrimp, I did the Etoufee w/ fish stock I made from Haddock. So it had shrimp & haddock. I served that over rice as well. They were licking the bottom of the pot.

Maxi made the Pillsbury appetizers and they were SUCH a mess! I had to give him a hand. Even so, they didn't hold their shape none too well during the cutting process. They were quite delicious but not perfect pinwheels. I think the Ranch dressing made them far too slippery. So I think next time I will just serve the Ranch dressing in dipping bowls.


Merme

you are making me hungry!

it is so quiet. i guess everyone is watching the oscars

Oops! I forgot the Oscars were on tonight! I've been sidetracked with out of state phone calls tonight.

This house is far too quiet with Maxi away....



Merme

No Oscars here. I have been working on getting ready for a school-week ahead. Pre-making lunch stuff where I can to ease the morning rush. Got a backpack full of snacks together to donate to Ted's class. Cooked ahead to cover a couple of meals this week. And all of our laundry is done. Got our tax papers together to take to our preparer. It is a different year for us so we need some help. Just busy stuff.

I watched the beginning. You know how I feel about Hugh Jackman. Cute.

I don't know of Hugh, Sheri.


Sounds like you had a productive day today, Tina.


I dislike Sunday's which are overly busy around here, though. I like to keep my Sunday's a bit set apart if I can, when I can. But cooking can be a lovely activity for a Sunday, I always think.

I'm still nibbling on party leftovers. I think the Gumbo was much better reheated. Funny, that.



Merme

I think gumbo and most soups are better the next day. More time for flavors to blend. Also stews and such.
Sundays can get busy. I'm glad I got my laundry done yesterday. I set today aside for mostly cooking and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself, Tina. That is important!


Ay-yi-yi I surely do have a very messy kitchen for my girl to help me tackle tomorrow! It was worth it, though. I will be relieved when the landlord fixes the situation with the dishwasher!

We are getting quite a storm although it started at least 6 hours later than forecast....

Yea I want to know what stone soup is as well.

and I am a soup lover, so give up the recipe already.

Merme, glad to hear the party went so well...even if you had a bit of a disagreement with the appetizers.....the next time will be better for the I am sure....

Stone soup...I bet you could find recipes online but we made it in school when I was in 2nd grade. We all donated to the pot. We put a stone in the pot with all the veggies and such. I have not made it as an adult so I can't give you the details but that is what I remember about it.

Here is a recipe for stone soup.

There is a legend that goes with Stone Soup.

The legend states that a village was starving & no one had enough to make a meal. One woman got a very large pot, filled it with water & added a stone plus her carrots.

People walking by asked her what she was doing & she said she was making stone soup & all she needed was one more thing. So a passerby said he had a potatoe & would gladly put it in the pot for a share of the soup.

As he was on his way to get his potato, he met someone who asked what he was doing & he said he was going to get a potato to put in the stone soup which needed one more thing. The third person said he had some beans and would put them in the soup if he could also have a share...

And so on, until the pot was filled with very yummy things and the whole village was fed.


Merme

very good story Merme--thanks for telling it to us.

We have had hobo dinners made similarly. Someone starts a big pot with venison or beef or whatever. Everyone contributes (usually the day before) something for the pot from fresh veggies, onions, potatoes to canned goods. And crackers, biscuits or some bread to go with. For serving everyone brings their own can (to eat out of) and spoon and dresses appropriately 'down'. We always had them in mid January and ate out around a firepit. That is OK in Cal but may not be as much fun in colder climates in January. It was a great theme for a party when everyone is kind of broke from the holidays just passed. Follow with s'mores or some equally cheap dessert. (BYOB)

now that sounds like fun!!!! I am going to have to tell my SIL about that--I bet he would enjoy using that as a party theme.

I am heading to bed as I'm very very tired.

Safe away home O my palies and sweet dreams to you all.....




Merme

It was fun. We had best (worst) dressed contests as well. We all wore our rattiest clothing. It was a blast and I truly plan on re-instituting the tradition. It seems to go well with the current economy too.
Good night, Merme. Sleep well.

Oh I forgot to tell y'all I think my microwave is POSSESSED!

It keeps turning itself on whether or not I have instructed it to. The only way it stays off is if I leave the door slightly open. Even after I tell it to cook for a specified time, when it is finished, it will start again.

I'm telling ya, if it starts spinning its head, I'm calling my priest!





Merme

Good luck with that, Merme. Electronics that don't work right scare me. Stay safe.

good night, merme--and I second Tina's thought.

Going to bed--nighty night all

That's scarey!!! I think I would unplug it when I wasn't using it,

BTW............ Good Morning everyone,,,,, I hope you all wake to Sunny Skies today

Good morning, everybody.

I'm having a tough start to my day because my girl cancelled & so I'm left here without help to get ready to leave....


Merme

That is hard, Merme. I am sorry. I hope you can gather the fragments and get your day done. And come home peaceful tonight.

Good Morning Cindy-----

Morning, all!

Ugh! Yesterday was busy! I didn't think it was ever going to end.

Merme, glad your party was such a sucess! Sounds like everyone had fun. Oh, and the microwave thing...check online to make sure there isn't some kind of recall. If you don't find anything, contact the manufacturer through their website. That sounds like a short in the unit somewhere, and it could burn your house down. Not trying to scare you here, but plaese contact them ASAP. They need to either replace or repair it!

I really need to get my kitchen back in order today. It's a mess from cleaning out the fridge Saturday.

Annette

omg Afgreyparrot! How you make me laugh!!

Thanks for the information, Annette!

My kitchen is pretty messed up also, even without a microwave I am eyeing suspiciously because of its head... I hope you get yours put back together easily enough. Mine will wait til my girl arrives tomorrow.


Merme

I'm STARVING. Make me one of them Cindy, please.

I'll take you to the hostess lounge and give you a big kiss!

Morning all, it's windy, flurrying, and freezing here today. I have a dog literally on my feet keeping them warm at least.

Might call mom and see what she's having for lunch. Don't all moms like to feed a starving child?

Not all of us! LOL If I start feeding one, the others want fed! ;)

Annette