Progress Report

Thoughts and Quotes: About vision boards. . .I've always been told that writing down your goals is a great tool for reaching them. I believe this. So if a picture is worth a thousand words, it follows that a vision board would help even more.

The Vision Board: I think it's helping. I finished a salad because I had purchased the ingredients already. Don't turn up your nose. It's good. It's just the name turns people off.

DILL PICKLE SALAD

1 small package lemon gelatin

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 8-oz can crushed pineapple (3/4 cup)

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 envelope plain gelatin

4 dill pickles, finely chopped

1 cup chopped pecans

 

Mix lemon gelatin, sugar, and salt in a refrigerator dish.

 

Drain pineapple juice from crushed pineapple into a measuring cup.

 

Add vinegar and enough water to make two cups.

 

Bring liquids to boiling and pour it over the gelatin mixture.

 

Soften the plain gelatin with a little cold water, and add it to the dish.

 

When starting to set, add pickles, pineapple, and pecans.

And I made the invitation for the Aloha Luau in the Theme Dining 2 book, as I had already dragged the box of tropical crafting items into the house.

Now to concentrate on Celebrations. I made the invitation and menu for Cinco de Mayo.

I made the Grasshopper Pie for St. Patrick's Day. Here's the original recipe I got from my mother-in-law.

GRASSHOPPER PIE

1-1/3 cups chocolate wafer crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

20 large marshmallows

1/2 cup milk

1 cup whipping cream

1-1/2 oz green crème de menthe

1-1/2 oz crème de cocoa

Topping:

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

2 Tbs green crème de menthe

Mix crumbs with melted butter and pat onto sides and bottom of a 9” pie pan. Chill.

Combine large marshmallows and milk in saucepan.

Heat slowly, folding mixture over and over until marshmallows are melted. Cool.

Whip cream and fold in crème de menthe and crème de cocoa.

Fold marshmallow mixture into whipped cream.

Pour into chilled crust and chill until firm.

Make topping: Beat whipping cream until it just mounds.

Fold in miniature marshmallows and crème de menthe.

Mound whipped cream mixture on pie.

Chill overnight.

I made up a replacement, since I promised to only use recipes in my books with no exotic ingredients; only common supermarket items.

GRASSHOPPER PIE

(This recipe is for a non-alcoholic, frozen version) 

1 chocolate crumb pie crust (purchased or homemade)

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk (divided 1/4 and 1/4)

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1-1/4 tsp mint extract

5 drops green food color

1 8-oz container frozen, non-dairy whipped topping, thawed

Optional garnishes: Whipped cream, mint leaves, shaved chocolate, or chocolate sprinkles

Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 cup milk. Start with 30 seconds. Can also use a double boiler. 

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese for a minute or two. 

Warm the other 1/4 cup milk slightly, and gradually add it to the cream cheese. 

Now add the cream cheese mixture to the chocolate chip mixture, along with the mint extract and food color. 

Fold in the whipped topping. Add more mint extract or food color if needed. 

Pour into the crust and freeze 4-6 hours minimum. 

Remove from the freezer. Quickly garnish as desired. Serve immediately. 

Note: To make your own crust, mix 1-1/3 cups chocolate cookie crumbs with 1/4 cup melted butter. Pat into pie pan and chill.

I have not found a way to avoid the clashing colors of Grasshopper Pie and the kelly green for St. Patrick's Day. If I changed the color of the pie, it would look unappetizing, and if I changed the color of the tablescape, it wouldn't look like St. Patrick's Day. So it is what it is.

It's the perfect refreshing dessert to follow the heavy corned beef dinner.

The invitation for 4th of July

And the menu.

Thanksgiving invitation.

Thanksgiving menu.

That's all I have for now. I still have to make the invitations and menus for Easter and Halloween. Then I have four more to create from start to finish - Mardi Gras, Mother's Day, Christmas, and Birthday. That will complete the twelve and I can make the Everyday Celebrations book.

PRAY FOR WORLD PEACE

START PLANNING YOUR GARDEN

AND FLOWER BEDS

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

TAKE TIME FOR TEA

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE