Winter in St. Petersburg, Florida

We had a near Tornado type rain/wind storm on Saturday, windy yesterday, cold today and tomorrow I will go to the beach. High of 75 F and sunshine all day. That is winter in Florida it changes day to day. So far our winter has been absolutly great. The rain on Sar. was the first of 2008, and not much expected over the next week or so.

I have been busy in the park, also joined Shpaes so go their for water exercise classes 5-6 times per week. Hopefully it will firm me up a bit. Eating out does not help the waistline but I have had lunch out last week at Leverocks in South Pasadena with the Shapes group. Dinner Saturday with the Scarlett Hustlers of Penellas (Red Hat Society) at Sam Seltzer's (See picture, I am on the right). and tomorrow the Crafter's group from our Park are going the the 4th Street Shrimp House for lunch. Oh well, it is a tough life......

Comfort Food

We had 2 days of cooler weather down in St. Peterburg, Florida so it was benificial to use the oven. This is a Cauliflower and ham Impossible Pie. I used the recipe on www.aliciasrecipes.com and just added some ham, sauted red pepper and left-over green beans to the Cauliflower Impossible Pie recipe. It had more volume so it took about 15 minutes longer to bake. Severed with some zesty chili sauce and a salad and we had a nice supper in a warm kitchen. Happy to report that the high today is back up to 22 and by early next week we could hit 30 again.

Merry Christmas

Not sure if I will have another chance for blogging before Christmas Day so I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Don and I are spending Christmas Day with his cousin from New Brunswick that is here in the park, Gerry and his wife Stella. We will be having a traditional turkey dinner. Christmas Eve we are having a couple over for hor'dourves and eggnog and/or tea after early church service. We are going to another cousin from New Brunswick (niece of Gerry McGraw) Marie and her husband Lou for New Year's Eve. I am going to have to have the whole bunch over here for a meal, maybe Ukrainian Christmas Eve. I think that is the 6th of January.

Dinner on Dec 9, 2007

Chicken Cordon Bleu

4 boneless skinless chicken Breasts

4 thin slices deli ham (I used black forest)

4 slices Swiss cheese

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

1 cup crused corn flakes

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. parsley flakes

1-2 tsp. Essence (recipe below)

Flatten chicken to 1/4" thickness. Season one side with garlic powder, pepper, and parsley. The other side with Pepper and Essence. On the Essence side place a slice of the ham and the slice of cheese. Roll up, tuck in the ends and secure with toothpicks.

In a small bowl , wish egg and milk. In another bowl put your crumb. Dip chicken in egg mixture then roll in crumbs.

Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 40-45 min or until chicken juices run clear.

Discard toothpicks beofre serving

ESSENCE

5 TABLESPOONS SWEET PAPRIKA
¼ CUP SALT
¼ CUP GARLIC POWDER
2 TABLESPOONS FRESH GROUND BLACK PEPPER
2 TABLESPOONS ONION POWDER
2 TABLESPOONS CAYENNE
2 TABLESPOONS DRIED OREGANO
2 TABLESPOONS DRIED THYME

COMBINE WELL AND STORE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER IN YOUR SPICE CABINET FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS

It is Autumn for sure in South Western Ontario. We have had our first frost, the leaves are falling fast and it is getting cold. That all means the I am starting to think "Florida" You bet I am wanting to leave here before that white stuff that starts with an "s" begins to fall.

With the cooler weather comes the urge for comfort food and a nice pot of homemade stew just seems to warm up the whole house. Top it off with some biscuits and it's enough to start a person purrrring. My husband just loves it. Nothing fancy but boy was it good.

Happy Birthday to Me

It isn't for another 10 days but my husband has made me a beautiful oak desk for my computer. What a man!

No Rest for the Wicked

New Door, New Floor, Who could ask for More!

Wow, I'm a poet.

Don is hard at work with hardwood.
He is so pleased with it so far.

The door was put in about a
week ago and looks really nice