Party Menu + meatloaf slider recipe

I like football, don’t get me wrong, but I prefer watching the commercials and snacking during the game.  Hubs is the same way, we do turn on the big games because, after all, the whole country is talking football and we need to be able to participate.  Hubs and I chatted about this and decided we could come up with some acceptable party food for 2.  Sounds funny doesn’t it? 
Football Party Menu for Two :

• 2 Meatloaf sliders
• 2 twice baked potatoes
• 2 stuffed jalapeños
• 2 nine layer dips in a jar
• 2 individual packs of chips
• 2 chocolate dipped football strawberries
• 2 apple biscuit pies
• 2 root beer floats
  

Life secrets

1. I use my “green thumb” to... garden in my suburban back yard.  I'm not an indoor gardener at all, but give me space, sunshine and rain and see what I can do!

2. The secret to life is... not worrying about what others think your life should be, just live it and live it well.  

3. I get my money’s worth by... buying what I need.  As I grow older I find buying things just because it's a good deal, doesn't make it a good deal.  If I don't need it or plan to use it soon, I don't buy it.

4. On a scale of 1 to 10, my level of organization is.. 8 because I am an organizing re-organizer.  The other two points in the scale I saved for more organizing.  P.S. organizing isn't the same as super neat.  It just means you know where "it" is and others will be able to figure out your logic and find "it". 

5. A gentleman always... respects others even if he doesn't agree.  He allows others to have their own views but retains his gracefully. And never forgets your birthday or anniversary. :)

6. Handwritten notes are... a wonderful surprise.  E-notes are nice too, but getting a hand written note is the nicest of all.  That reminds me, I think I will surprise someone today.

Linking up with (Nicole {Three 31} Lisa {The Coastal Chicster}, and Becky {The Java Mama} Jen {The Arizona Russums}) for a weekly series called Finish This.

Chocolate Hazelnut Skillet Cake

Oh joy! It’s National Chocolate Cake day!  Not that I need an excuse to eat chocolate cake, but I’ll take it anyway. [giggling happily]  I chose an easy and quick recipe that is baked  in a cast iron skillet.  Big girl grand dropped by for a visit between classes right in time to test it out.  She and her granddad at two pieces.  I’m taking that to mean it is a winner. 

Small bathroom make over

I have a tiny master bathroom that was gloomy until I painted over the ochre color and changed the brown cabinetry to white.  The whole change was completed in a couple of days, and that was only because I needed dry time between coats of paint on the cabinets.  

I'd rather be mountain climbing

1. A typical day in my life … involves a lot of daydreaming, planning and a little doing.  Walter Mitty is my role model, wish I was still young enough to climb mountains.

2. You’ll never see me … on reality TV.  It's beyond me why people air bad behavior, stupidity and dirty laundry to the whole world.  

3. It’s really unattractive when a guy … smokes, chews tobacco or spits right in front of me. It’s really unattractive when a girl … shows her under garments.  I don't get the fashion of wearing and showing a black bra under a white spaghetti strap top.

4. If I could buy one thing right now, it would be … long rang camera lense... [daydreaming again - about wildlife phototgraphy and mountain tops].

5. I have high expectations for … people.  I expect people to be the best they can be.  Sometimes I'm dissapointed, but remember we learn from our own errors and hope for a higher bar next time.

Linking up with (Nicole {Three 31} Lisa {The Coastal Chicster}, and Becky {The Java Mama} Jen {The Arizona Russums}) for a weekly series called Finish This.

The family farm

This gate is to a house that stands on a farm that has seen 6 generations

The original homesteaders and many of their 11 children lie beneath the sod on a hill not far away

Those that wait for a chance to reunite with them still gather together here

The congestion of vehicles parked in back is a sign they were anxious to get inside to see familiar faces.

They share meals, stories, good times and bad while sitting on the porch or around a table inside

Sometimes they meet in the wooded areas for holidays and picnics

Then they drive back to their own homes and while remembering the families that began there

They look forward to the next event that binds them together.

Monkey Bread for Two

Yesterday was a beautiful 70° day and I took advantage of it getting out and about but another cold front blew in last night so I get to bake today.  I like baking in cold weather for several reasons: warms the kitchen, smells wonderful and the food is comforting.  Right now I am enjoying the cinnamon smell of a small batch of Monkey Bread.  I cook for two most of the time so I adapted the recipe down for us.  Here is my super simple recipe…

True stories and time

I worked 24 years as secretary to a Principal.   The last 8 were at a high school.  Sometimes kids say some pretty funny stuff that I had to hold the laughter and just enjoy moment.  This is a true story of a high school senior trying to make up excessive absences for credit to graduate. It makes me think of Salvidor Dali's clock painting.

Weather prompt

This is what happened when I read a photo prompt for this week.

How to manage Facebook Page Follows

When you're interested in reading a particular Facebook page and want to make it easy to find it again try the Like and Following buttons on Facebook .  When you like a Page (click the button), you'll automatically follow the Page's updates.  The buttons are in the banner area at the top of a Facebook page.  BTW, you can “follow” personal pages that have information that have been made public without being “friends”.

 

Because I am a blogger and love the added ability FB gives me to see my favorite FB blogger status updates I have a lot of “liked” pages.  But sometimes I get a little overloaded with all the information streaming through my FB Newsfeed so I’ve started using some FB features that you may or may not be aware of. 

 

You can hover over the page  “like” button (and even a specific persons name) to choose whether or not to have updates appear in your newsfeed.  I love this ability because I can still see the liked pages posts all together, but when I choose to, by opening the “Liked Pages” under “pages” in the left side bar in my personal FB page. 

 

I like it so much that I created some custom friend lists that I named “family”, “home town friends”, “best friends”. To make this work the same way, I hovered over the name of each friend I wanted in those groups (one at a time); then hovered over the checked friends tab; then checked “add to another group”.  Check the box next to the group I wanted to add them to.  Now I can see these friends updates all together by clicking the group name under “Friends” in the FB left side bar without scrolling through a lot of other feeds.

Did you also know that when you click the “like” under a status, it will appear in the newsfeed of all your friends?  And, when you click the Share button, a dialog will pop up allowing you to add a comment or adjust your audience before posting?  You can edit and control this too.  Good to know, right? 
You can remove a like or share in your private FB activity log and you can also stop liked pages from showing up in your newsfeed by going to the liked page, hover over the liked button and uncheck show in news feed. 
You can select an audience for each section of likes on your About page:

1. Go to your Timeline and click About below your cover photo
2. Scroll down to your Likes section and click
3. Select Edit Privacy, then use the audience selector next to each section to select who can see things you've liked in that section

And the last tidbit I’d like to share is that when you follow someone, you see their posts in your News Feed. You automatically follow people that you're friends with. You can also follow the posts of people who've allowed public access without being friends.
That is a lot of information, but I hope it will ease your mind when it comes to liking FB pages, especially mine…
There’s a link to my page in the right side bar.

Texas Caviar also known as Cowboy Salsa

Cultural food day was a big success at the school where I worked.  I had to laugh when one of the adults said she almost brought a bottle of Heinz 57!  Many Americans are like me, multi-cultural.  My Aunt Doris can tell us much about her and my mom's heritage.  She even traveled to England and Scotland scouting old graveyards and records.  She also states the rumored American Indian is undocumented and can't be claimed.  What a shame, I'd really like to know. For the rest of this story and a wonderful Texas Caviar recipe click here.

Chocolate Hazelnut Espresso Cookies

I got up early this morning to bake delicious coffee flavor cookies for an exchange at a family party today.  I know, I know…I waited a little long to get busy baking but I hosted a party for friends at my house last night and there just hasn’t been enough time. I tell you all that so you will understand how simple and easy this recipe is. 

Chocolate Hazelnut Espresso Cookies Recipe

Beat together till fluffy, about 30 seconds:

• 1 stick of softened butter
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons finely ground espresso beans
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder

Beat in

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 Tablespoon Hazelnut syrup

Add

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup milk

Roll 1/2 of the dough at a time on floured surface about 1/4” thick.  Place cut out cookies on ungreased cookie sheet with a little space between each cookie.
Bake in pre heated oven 350° F for 8 minutes.  Cool cookies then dip the tops in semi-sweet chocolate or use a rubber spatula to smear it on the cookies.  Allow cookies to stand until chocolate is firm.

Chocolate topping for dipping cookies:

• 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate pieces
• 1 Tablespoon shortening

Microwave 1 1/2 minutes and stir vigorously until all melted together.


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