Week 55,1-8-2017

Thoughts and Quotes: When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.
                                                                                  Napoleon Hill

Well, Mr. Hill, my plans were sound, but the weather refused to cooperate. I shall hoist the mainsail (or whatever you need to get underway) and sail once more toward my coveted goals.

My plan: Monday - take down all the Christmas lights in the front yard.

Not my plan: Rain

I did, however, honor Muffin Tin Monday by making Corn and Corn Muffins:

CORN AND CORN MUFFINS

BHG Jiffy Cooking

1 8.5 oz pkg corn muffin mix (I use Jiffy)

1 scant cup cream-style corn

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup shredded cheese (your choice)

Heat oven to 425°.

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and stir to blend.

Pour into a greased 12-muffin cup tin.  They’ll be about 2/3 full.

Bake 12-15 minutes.

This makes a really dense, small muffin.

My plan: Tuesday - Tidy Up Tuesday; Go to lunch at Cafe 21 with my Cooking Club friends and then work on organizing the garage.

Not my plan: The restaurant was closed for an extended holiday weekend. We went to China King instead. My brother Bill and I have appointed ourselves the unofficial food critics of Springfield, MO area restaurants, so here goes.

A nice little Chinese restraurant in the little strip mall behind Hinode on South National. Nice photos of the food. Clean. Friendly. Extensive menu. You order at the counter and they serve you at your table. Real dishes and flatware, not plastic. Paper napkins. Plastic cups.

I ordered Almond Chicken, Mim ordered Bourbon Chicken, and Bev order Sweet and Sour Chicken.  All used breaded chicken chunks. Mim and I were both surprised and disappointed. 

Free fortune cookies. Mine is in the middle.

I was pretty excited until I realized that the fortune was in my hand and came from a cookie. The next full moon is on Thursday, the 12th and it's my day to do the Cooking Club lunch. Mim might be expecting an enchanting meal. Sorry, lunch is not in the evening, and you already told me that you want stew.

Not my plan: Foggy all day, so everything became wet. I brought in all the dripping outside lights, and spread them in the garage to dry. My Tidying became ironing all the accummulated placemats and napkins which were stacking up in the laundry.

My plan: Wednesday - Where Shall We Go Wednesdy. Lunch at The Grotto.

Finally, something worked. It's a great place for food which is just a little different and made from fresh ingredients. Bill and I both gave it high marks.

Again, you order at the counter and your food is served at your table. Real dishes and flatware, plastic cups, paper napkins.

The restaurant is a lot bigger than it looks from the parking lot.

I had a Chicken-Caesar Salad and a Barbecued Chicken Pizza Combo. The barbecue sauce was a little sweet for my taste, but otherwise, great selection.

Bill had a Cantina Salad with Anaheim Pizza Combo.  I would have liked his salad (that's chicken you see), but it comes with a spicy jalapeno dressing, and I'm wimpy about spicy. We traded pieces of pizza, and I loved his. Tomato slices and artichoke hearts on top.

My plan: Thursday - Try Something Thursday. I made French fries in my new air fryer. I watched a video on Pinterest and expected golden-brown cripsy fries.

Not my plan: I got this:

I believe I made several errors - Too many fries, blanched too long, didn't shake the basket enough times, used cooking spray instead of a bit of oil. I haven't given up. Will try these again.

My plan: Friday - Friends Over Friday. The Blue Belles for Reuben Sandwiches

Not my plan: We had our second snowfall Wednesday night, it started melting on the warm streets Thursday, the temperatures dropped dramatically during the night, and the ice formed on the streets by Friday. Lunch cancelled.

My plan: Saturday - Sayonara Saturday. Organize my files. 

Not my plan: Started recapping last year's expenses and making up my budget for 2017. Ran out of time.

For some reason, I can never get off the ground the first week of the new year. Maybe because I'm still clearing up from the holidays.

The Pepper Report: His new favorite place. The bed in the guestroom is taller than mine, so I expect to feel a bounce on my bed some night soon.

He continues to supervise my activites. Don't know how I could have done all the ironing without his help, and I also don't know how I avoided stepping on him.

The Feral Kitty Report: Mysty with babies Stormy and Sunny. Pepper's sister, Midnight, and her baby, BJ, continue to visit daily, and Bomber comes occasionally. They come - they eat - they go.

Nothing else to report his week. And I still haven't finished watching The Rose Parade. I'll try to make this week a little more exciting.

Muffin Tin Monday: Take along breakfast.

Tidy Up Tuesday: Should be warm enough to work in the garage.

Where To Wednesday: The Chicago Cheesesteak Company (almost next door to The Grotto).

Try It Thursday: A new tablescape for the VECC lunch. 

Friends Over Friday: Haven't decided yet.

Sayonara Saturday: Those same files are waiting. They're so ugly. I can find things, but could my kids?

Tip: Make a copy of all your credit cards (front and back) and keep it in a safe place. If you lose your wallet/purse, you'll be able to call and cancel your cards without searching through your bills for account numbers, etc.   If you can't read the backsides from the copy, jot down the phone numbers beside the front of the card. The phone numbers are really small and might not be legible on the copy.

If you don't have a printer which will accomodate credit cards, your library probably does.

REVIEW YOUR GOALS OFTEN

SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS WHO MAKE YOU LAUGH

STICK TO YOUR BUDGET

I KNOW IT'S COLD, BUT GET SOME SUN

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE