Hello! As we end the merry month of April and begin May tomorrow, I have a very simple recipe for you. Our librarian at school has been making this for our treat days recently and it get's rave reviews. She gave me the recipe and I made it for Mr. Ken to take to the office. This would be great for any upcoming parties or gatherings that you may have over the next month. Ann's Cowboy Caviar 2 cans of black beans rinsed and drained 2 cans of corn drained 1 bottle of Medium Pace Picante Sauce Throw it all in a bowl, mix well then chill. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. If need be add more beans and corn plus Picante Sauce for a large crowd. So easy and so fast! Enjoy If you Google "Cowboy Caviar" you will find a variety of versions of this recipe. Most have more veggies in them. Checked with Mr. Ken and he said it was a "Big Hit!" ~Keep on Dreaming~
Hello! Has Spring arrived where you are? It has here in the Midwest, trees are blooming, the grass is turning green, flowers are popping out and as are the allergies! So, since all of this is going on hope- fully where you are, I thought we would talk flowers today. *All of the pics in this post were taken by me on a Garden Tour several years ago.
Do you like flowers, which one is your favorite, do you grow them in the ground or in pots?
Do you know what your favorite flower says about you? Well, let's see.
*I chose random pics from my file they probably will not match the text.
Roses They can have several meanings depending on their color. Red symbolizes LOVE. Pink symbolizes GRACE, White symbolizes PURITY, Yellow symbolizes NEW BEGINNINGS and a Lavender rose symbolizes LOVE at FIRST SIGHT. Of course we could go on and on. The Rose is the state flower of New York and a darker red one is the state flower of Oklahoma. What does a Rose say about you? You almost always think with your heart. You are classic, timeless and never going out of style.
Daisies The origin of the word Daisy come from an Old English word that means "day's eye." They represent innocence, purity and hope. Gerbera Daisies which come in bright colors signify "cheerfulness." What does a Daisy say about you? You can find the good in any bad situation and you are probably a morning person too.
Daffodil It is one of the most popular flowers and represents friendship or regard for some- one. They are the national flower of Wales. What does a Daffodil say about you? You put your family and friends first. You enjoy a good party, you like to have parties for others. Your style shows your fun laid back personality.
Sunflowers They signify adoration (because they turn to face the sun), as well as dedicated love and pure thoughts. The Sunflower is the state flower of my state, Kansas. It is also the national flower of Ukraine. They are the world's largest exporter of Sunflower Oil. What does a Sunflower say about you? Making friends is your favorite activity, you thrive around people and you love to be the center of attention. Your style is bright and warm and you are never without a statement piece. I think we will end this post now cause I could write on this topic forever, such interesting facts. ~Keep on Dreaming~
Regular programming commences today. Decks of cards, we all have them but have you used them this way? 1. Make coasters? Glue card faces inside the lid of a mason jar and cover with Mod Podge, making them waterproof. 2. Burn calories? Yes, really :) Use a deck of cards to mix up your exercise routine. Designate a workout to each suit and determine the number of reps based on whatever card you draw. 3. A shoe horn? Having difficulty getting a shoe on? Use a playing card as a shoe horn to slip the shoe on your foot. 4. A screwdriver? Is the screw loose on your glasses? Use the edge of a playing card to tighten the screw. *My question on this--is the card heavy enough to do this? 5. And last but not least-- We all have done this one before. Got a wobbly table, well fold a playing card in half and slip it under the leg. There you have it. Save your old worn out cards for some of these and use decks with missing cards for other ideas. One more thing--did you know? A deck of cards resembles the calendar? There are 52 cards in a deck and weeks in a year. There are four suits for the seasons. Twelve court cards for the months. *This is pretty cool! ~Keep on Dreaming~
A little break in the challenge action. I must admit that this challenge is becoming a challenge. We had a beautiful sunset occurred this evening between storms. ~Keep on Dreaming~
Today we are going in a different direction than we have been. We have explored main dishes, side dishes desserts and maybe a breakfast or to here and there. Our tour today will give us a look at spices used here. Some of the spices will be familiar and some not so. Here we go. Belacan--a shrimp paste that MUST be cooked not eaten raw. It is strong in taste and a little goes a long way. Curry powder--is a mix of spices which may include fennel, coriander, cumin, chili pepper, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and depending on the variety much more. Commercial curry powder differs brand to brand. Daun Kesum--also known as daun laska. It is an herb with fragrant leaves similar to mint. Pandan--is another fragrant leafy herb, it's leaves are long and narrow. It's fragrance is a mix of vanilla and tea rose. As you can imagine this one is used in desserts. But also in some savory dishes. In Malaysia it is grown in backyards, here in the states it can be found in the frozen section of Asian grocery stores. Serai or lemongrass makes a recipe smell fresh. That is the short version on spices here. If you need more info, Google--spices in Malaysia. Getting caught up, see you tomorrow. ~Keep on Dreaming~
Today we are going to indulge our sweet tooth. We are talking desserts on trip around the world. Some fabulous dessert found are: Crème Brulee a traditional vanilla bean custard Profiteroles are cream puff pastries served with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Caramelized Lemon Tart with Whipped Cream Biscotti ************** Elsewhere in the southern part Luxembourg is an area called Gutland that has a variety of orchards with apples, plums, cherries and berries.
While there the blogger at Global Table Adventure made a Dainty Apple Cake-- Appelkuch. Well, I don't know about you but these all sound delish!! Scroll down for letter K. ~Keep on Dreaming~
The cuisine here is mixture of Arabian, Persian, Indian and Mediterranean. A prominent dish is Machboos--a rice based specialty made with Basmati and seasoned with spices then chicken or mutton are added. No pork is used for religious reasons. Shawarma is served in many places. It is a wrap of thinly sliced meat, turshi which is pickled cucumber, carrot or turnip and salad. The meats are grilled separately on tall spits. Fries, onions and tomatoes are added to this dish. Mayo and ketchup are added as sauces. *Always wanted to know what this was and now I know. Balah El Sham is churro like Middle Eastern fritters. They are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Anyone been to Kuwait? ~Keep on Dreaming~
Kenyan desserts to try: Click on this link: Kenya Maandzi--a sweet donut Coconut and Sweet Potato Pudding Fruit with Chocolate Sauce Some of these sounded yummy, if you try them let me know. ~Keep on Dreaming~
Jamaica is full of a variety of foods and tastes, the cuisine consists of a mixture cooking techniques, flavors, spices and influences of the indigenous people of the island plus the Africans, Spanish, Chinese and Indian who have made the island their home. A wide variety of sea- food, tropical fruits and meats are available. Wikipedia has a great article listing foods and desserts below is a few they have listed. 1. Breadfruit--served roasted, fried or broiled. 2. Coco Bread--a sweet and starchy bread eaten with a Jamaican patty. 3. Curry goat and Chicken 4. Green bananas--eaten boiled and sliced into chips. 5. Jamaican patty--a pastry filled with meats or other ingredients. 6. Peppered Shrimp--spicy seasoned and cooked. 7. Custard Apple 8. Mango 9. Guava 10. Passion Fruit and Pineapple Sounds yummy what do ya think? ~Keep on Dreaming~
Ciao! We have landed in Italy today. If I had to choose my favorite all time food it probably would be Italian, might have something to do with the yummy carbs. :) According to Wikipedia---"Italian cuisine is noted for it's regional diversity, abundance of difference in taste and is known to be one of the most popular in the world, with influences abroad." Some of the different types of Italian cuisine: 1. Zuppe e salse (soups and sauces) 2. Pane (bread) 3. Common pizzas 4. Pasta varieties 5. Pasta dishes 6. Rice dishes 7. Pesce (fish) 8. Carne (meat dishes and cured meats) 9. Verdura (vegetables) 10. Nut dishes 11. Vino (wine) 12. Formaggi (cheese) 13. Desserts and pastry 14. Caffee' (coffee) Plus many more items from various regions. Now for my faves: Pizza, Spaghetti, Lasagna, Baked Ziti, Garlic Bread, Baked Ravioli and Gelato. Italian Restaurants we enjoy are Olive Garden, a Mom and Pop place in our neighborhood, Spin Pizza, Pizza Shoppe plus we enjoy Italian faves from other restaurants don't just serve Italian. Where do you weigh in on this delightful subject? Bon Appetit! ~Keep on Dreaming~
Warm breezes, lots of sun and fruity drinks. Doesn't that sound divine? We are hitting the air and checking out food across the ocean. From the website Migrationology: "Many traditional Hawaiian are dishes originally brought over from the Pacific Polynesian islands." Though now there is a diverse range of ethnicities, all adding their flavors though some still believe in traditional tastes of the state. Foods found around the islands. 1. Poi--a thick paste made from Taro Root. It is either steamed, baked or pounded. Pounding involves adding water to make a very sticky pudding like consistency. 2. Laulau--made from the Taro leaves. Pork is wrapped in layers of the leaves and cooked in an underground hot rock oven for hours until it turns soft and smoky flavor. 3. Kalua Pig--another giant of Hawaiian cuisine. This is cooked in an under- ground oven known as an imu, the pork slow roasts so it becomes very tender and retains a smoky flavor. It is similar to American pulled pork but without the sauce. 4. To top off a Hawaiian meal most enjoy the island fruit like Pineapple and Lilikoi (Passion fruit). Aloha until tomorrow!! ~Keep on Dreaming~
