Category: Uncategorized

From the Doughboy

   Some of you serious bakers might consider the pillsbury dough in a can to be a cheat method… but I have to say, I’ve got more than a few recipes where their stuff is awesome for quick use.

Easy Pesto chicken roma tomato mozzerella pizza
Take one Pillsbury can of dough (they have seamless now)
Grease bottom of glass rectangle pan and roll out dough square to cover bottom.
Spread Pesto sauce over dough.  Then use cut up cooked chicken
 or turkey and spread over pesto.
Sprinkle with shredded Mozzerella
Slice six roma tomatoes thin, spread over Mozzerrella
Salt & Pepper, alittle more shredded Mozz. over top.
Bake  at 350 until beginning to brown and  dough is cooked through.
YUM!

The Antler Hunter

   I’m proud to say we are not deer hunters
here at This Old House.
I don’t think I could have ever married a man who
liked killing something just for the sport of it.
 I’m sure that will raise some hairs on the back of a few of your necks…
because there are many who do it, and feel justified
because of the overwhelming population of deer in some areas.
I’m not saying that isn’t a problem.
But I’ll add that  we have taken over habitats…
and we’re part of the problem.
I don’t want you to justify yourself here –
and my intention is not to crucify or judge anyone.
I’m just sayin – I can’t get past the killing, personally.
The man child has always wished to find antlers in the woods. 
Just an antler or two – how cool would that be!?
And so when he came running down the hill with a big grin and said
“MA!.. bring your camera.. come with me!”….
I did.
I didn’t expect to find the whole deer, although mostly decomposed.
But we did.
YUCK.
I think he was struck by a car and then wandered up into the woods to die.
The coyotes took care of the rest,
and probably in pretty short order, recently.  That’s why the antlers are still around.

Pine, Poinsettias & Pizza

   Acer Gardens in Deep River, CT has a wonderful selection of poinsettias and wreaths and holiday greenery. Their prices are decent too and the staff are always helpful, knowledgeable and happy in their work – doesn’t that always make you want to bring your business to them again?    I have never understood the mentality of a business or shop owner with an attitude.  

 Yesterday we didn’t attempt to swim the strong currants of the Outlets downtown.  Instead  we picked out wreaths for the doors of this Old House at our favorite greenhouse location ~

 They switched bows around for me 🙂
Last summer when I was trying to put arrangements together for big pots,
she gently told me what I was putting together was not going to be happy where I was putting it..
and helped me get it right.   She didn’t have to do that.
What I was going to buy was more expensive.  She picked out an assortment
that was much less expensive and thrived.

 One of their resident cats – I believe her name is Bernadette.
The men of the house had a pizza making contest last night…
Mike’s was pepperoni and oregano infused ..
The son produced a stuffed crust version –
both were delicious.
And now that I know they are capable…
I think this should happen more often, don’t you?

I might just go see Breaking Dawn – Part 1 today.
Yes, I just admitted it here. I read all the books, and have seen all the movies.
Hello, my name is Karen..and am a 46 year old Twilight Fan.
Nancy of a Rural Journal made this signature for me…
very cool … Thank you, Nancy

Have a wonderful weekend, All ~

A cheesecake retraction

 When I post a recipe, it’s usually one I’ve been making for a while and I know it’s good.  The pumpkin chocolate cheesecake recipe I posted about this past week?  Not so.  It looks beautiful, the ingredients suggest it’s probably a good one, and in all honesty it wasn’t horrible.  BUT.. I like my cheesecakes to be OMG mouthwatering rich and creamy and deliciously rich and creamy.  And rich and creamy.  And rich.

This.. was not. It was OK. Just that.  Beautiful in it’s presentation, but in my opinion the beauty truly only went skin deep.  Just thought I’d let you know, so I don’t let you down if you try it and feel the same way. No offense intended to the creator of the recipe.

The Death by Chocolate trifle?  It was like crack, people… It’s an awesome, easy to make, deliciously chocolate whipped creamy YUM that I recommend highly for the holiday season.  It’s in the recipe tab above if you missed the recipe.

We had a nice day with family yesterday, good food, relaxation and football by the fire.  I hope you had a good day too 🙂 

 cousins
How fast they grow up.  *sigh*

It’s beginning to look…..

..just a little like Christmas.  Because… Thanksgiving Dinner is at another family members house this year. And.. I do a lot of decorating for the holidays.  So… why not get a head start?  Although.. I feel like I’ve betrayed Thanksgiving just a little.

 I did make that chocolate pumpkin cheesecake for tomorrow’s dessert and it looks wonderful. Not hard to make either..  recipe HERE.

  I love old fashioned decorations… especially snowmen and little cottages.
I’ve got them sprinkled throughout the house.

 I’m usually one of those who complain when stores rush the season.
What a hypocrite  🙂  

Stepping out of The Box

 Do you prepare or appreciate a traditional Thanksgiving Feast?  or do you sometimes Step Out Of The Box?  My menu doesn’t usually stray too far from the traditional… Turkey and sometimes a spiral ham if we’re having a large crowd  – mashed sweet potatoes and mashed white potatoes, corn spoon bread, green been casserole, stuffing – I’ve varied the recipe from year to year – Cranberry relish from Harry & David  (OMG- awesomeness.  I eat it with a spoon right out of the jar, yes I do).  Pumpkin pie and apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

 This year, dinner will be served at my SIL’s house.  I am in charge of desserts and I’m stepping out of the box. Since this family  is a chocolate loving crowd, I am making the chocolate pumpkin cheesecake I posted a few days ago… and a big bowl of  Death By Chocolate.   YUM.  (photo courtesy google)

Ingredients:
1 Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Cup Kahlua Liquor
4 Boxes Chocolate Mousee (or Instant Chocolate Pudding)
4 Bars of Heath Bar Candy, chopped
2 Large tubs of Cool Whip
Bake chocolate cake as directed. When cooled lightly pierce the top with a fork
and drizzle with Kahlua.
 Cover cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, break up cake into small pieces and layer, cake, mousse,
 Heath Bar, and Cool Whip. Repeat layers until the Trifle bow is full.
It’s a BIG crowd pleaser and very easy to make.
So.. how about you? Are you a traditionalist?

 

Do you prefer something different?

Domino’s Turkey Dinner pizza??… Say it ain’t so.

Do you celebrate at a restaurant or at a community center or church?

  Are you a jello mold lover? 
It’s OK.. fess up here…
(gag)

Besides my Harry & Davids relish.. I also serve up Ocean spray canned – with RINGS!

So how do you fill yourself up on this, the most Thankful of Holidays?

Empty Condo

 In just one day, two work crews (due to rain) came and gutted the condo.  It now looks like this…

living room

 kitchen

 Recessed lighting in kitchen – it was too dark with just one overhead light before…

 downstairs bath…

Upstairs hallway…
view from back bedroom over marsh….

upstairs bath

the beginnings of a laundry and boiler room in basement.
Shelving built, divider between the two…

A really cool Chick Chair

  One of the features today on Kim’s blog (Savvy Southern Style) is a Chick Chair I adore!…and the discovery of yet another talented  and courageous lady, Daena,  and her awesome blog – Bad Rabbit Vintage.

Chalk paint, feed sack, handpainted chicks!


Here’s the link to her post about this chair…
 http://badrabbitvintage.blogspot.com/2011/11/illustrating-with-chalk-paint.html