Thoughts and Quotes: I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm and spring forth with a mighty faith to the things that ought to be done by me. Charles Fillmore, Co-founder of Unity
A perfect description of the way I'm feeling right now. I love the new year with a chance to really accomplish something worth blogging about.
Tablescapes: Not book material, but I did use some dishes you haven't seen (except Katie Sue) for our New Year's lunch. We wanted to go to Paris but could only pretend.
Of course, the menu was the same old rice for health, black-eyed peas for luck, collard greens for money, ham and cornbread because they go well with everything else.
Trips: Remember, trips are just for the day - travel is when you stay overnight or longer.
Bill and I went to Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas to see the Crystals in Art exhibit. Bill hadn't been there before, so we toured the permanent collection as well. There's always something new, as they rotate all the items.
There is one remaining Chihuly piece inside and two outside from the exhibit in 2017. We didn't go outside (cold), but we saw this one inside.
This was new to me. Completely made of dog tags.
And this guy.
I don't know how the artist does this; I'm amazed. Saw this last time, but not on display right now. Same artist.
You can see photos of the entire Dale Chihuly exhibit by going to the archives on the right above, click on 2017, then July, then week 83 and scroll down.
Also new to me, because I'd never gone to this area, a great way to see the entire layout of the building in miniature.
In photos, you can only see the parts.
I didn't remember ever seeing these.
I had to visit my favorite painting, of course.
Brother Bill taking a selfie with Pinocchio.
And does this look familiar?
It's similar to another of Gilbert Stuart's portraits which was used for the picture on the one-dollar bill.
Also new to me - I loved the colors.
But we came for the crystal exhibit.
I didn't get this one at all.
This is made up of glass balls on a wall; my photo doesn't do it justice, and I should have moved back to show the size. It's really big.
If you looked into these -
it was like looking into infinity.
The grand finale.
Another photo worth mentioning - look at the man at the very bottom. I don't mean the guy looking at the photo, but the guy in the photo - only a silhouette.
This cave is huge and so are the crystals.
Here's a link to see more. Click HERE. It's like another world. There was lots more to the exhibit, but this will give you an idea. And if you'd like to know more about Crystal Bridges Museum, click HERE.
Tasting: This is a salad from long, long ago - 1950's or 60's I believe. I hadn't made it in years, but wanted an overnight salad and found it in my salad notebook.
12-HOUR
SALAD
8 cups torn salad
greens
1-1/2 cups chopped
celery
1 medium green
pepper, chopped
1 medium red
onion, chopped
1 10-oz. pkg
frozen peas, thawed
1 cup mayonnaise
1 8-oz carton sour
cream
3 Tbs. sugar
1 cup shredded
Cheddar cheese
1/2 lb. bacon,
cooked and crumbled
Put the salad
greens in the bottom of a 3-qt. bowl.
Add layers in the
order – celery, green pepper, onion, peas. Do not toss.
Combine the
mayonnaise, sour cream, and sugar and “frost” the top of the salad.
Sprinkle with
cheese and bacon.
Cover and
refrigerate overnight. Toss to serve.
Note: I like to make the salad in a see-through
bowl and toss it at the table.
Tasting again: Nephew Ron and I were emailing about macaroni and cheese, so when I had leftover ham from New Year's Day, I decided that's how I'd use it. This is not the same Macaroni and Cheese already on the drop downs. A different approach.
MACARONI
AND CHEESE WITH HAM
2 cups elbow
macaroni
4 Tbs butter
4 Tbs flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
2 cups diced
cooked ham
1-3/4 cups grated
Cheddar cheese, sharp or mild
1 Tbs grated onion
1/4 cup dry bread
crumbs (Panko is best)
1/4 cup butter,
melted
Fill a large pot
with water and a tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil and slowly add the
macaroni. Cook for about 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Heat the oven to
375°.
Melt the 4 Tbs
butter in a small saucepan; then add the flour. Cook, stirring constantly,
until the flour is fully incorporated.
Add the milk all
at once and whisk until the sauce thickens. Add the salt and simmer over very
low heat for two minutes.
Pour the sauce
into a large mixing bowl and add the macaroni, ham, onion, and 1-1/2 cups of
the cheese.
Pour into a
buttered 13 X 9 baking dish. Mix the butter, bread crumbs and other 1/4 cup
cheese and sprinkle over the top.
Bake 30-40 minutes
or until top is light brown.
Or if you like a quick version, try this recipe.
HAM MACARONI BAKE
8 oz. elbow macaroni
1/4 lb cheddar cheese,
cubed
1 can cream of celery
soup
1 small onion,
quartered
1/4 cup milk
2 cups cooked ham,
diced
Heat oven to 350°.
Grease a 2 qt casserole
dish.
Cook and drain
macaroni.
Chop half of the cheese
in the blender and set aside.
Put soup, milk, onion,
balance of cheese in blender; cover and “blend” until smooth.
Mix with ham and
macaroni and put in casserole dish.
Top with saved cheese.
Cover and bake 30
minutes.
Time for Others: I found time to make three more cards for Katie Sue's shut-ins, and five cards for my soldier boxes (the one I showed you last week).
The National Days for this Week:
MONDAY
Eat some beans or cuddle up.
TUESDAY
Bobblehead Day - what are we supposed to do?
WEDNESDAY
Take a bubble bath or celebrate Elvis Presley's birthday (maybe eat a peanut butter and jelly and banana sandwich).
THURSDAY
Law enforcement appreciation day. Drop some donuts off at the police station?
FRIDAY
Cut your energy costs day (put on a sweater and turn down the heat) or talk to your plants because it's also National Houseplant Appreciation Day.
SATURDAY
Choices - Girl Hug Boy Day, drink some milk or a hot toddy.
SUNDAY
Pharmacist or Youth Day. No offense, but I prefer to stay away from pharmacists, so guess I'll look around for some kids.
AND it's National Hot Tea Month and Soup Month - works for me; it's getting cold.
Don't forget to make a wish on the Full Wolf Moon on Friday, the 10th - named the Wolf Moon because in the old days, the hungry wolves were howling outside the villages.
STICK TO THOSE RESOLUTIONS
MAKE SOME SOUP - IF IT'S GOOD, SEND ME THE RECIPE
AN APPLE A DAY
AND SOME GREENS
STAY HYDRATED
THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE
Always enjoy reading your posts! Have always wanted to go to that museum. Maybe one day. Here in KC, they're celebrating Bobblehead day all week...giant Bobblehead of Patrick Mahomes (KC Chiefs Quarterback) is supposed to be on display at various grocery stores. Hoping to get into the one close to me just to see. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteHi Jean,
DeleteFor some reason, my blog isn't notifying me of comments.
By all means make an effort to go see Crystal Bridges. It's a straight shot down Highway 71(49) and the permanent collection is free. I'd suggest a spring visit, so you can enjoy the outdoors as well. Lots of walking trails, and a couple of leftover Chihulys as well.
I saw that it was Bobblehead Day, but didn't know anyone would actually have one around. Hope you got a photo.