More Plimoth Plantation

www.plimoth.org

Wordless Wednesday - Plimoth Plantation

Wordless Wednesday

Bad Dogs, Good Hats

According to the late Barbara Woodhouse, there are no difficult dogs, only inexperienced owners. Well, Louie is my fifth Yorkie in 32 years and, experience aside, I'm still being surprised by my dogs.

Point in fact: Louie, who is nearly 4 years old, is a digger and a chewer, which has me completely baffled. I don't think of these as Yorkie traits. He began life as Louie Louie Poo Pooie, then became Louie Louie Chew Chewie. I ask you ... is this the face of evil?

Well, let's take a closer look ... anybody else see HORNS?

One fine Sunday morning when Louie was a little puppy, so cute and innocent, Hubby and I were sitting in the family room sucking down our caffeine and reading the paper. We heard a noise like a gunshot in the kitchen just a few feet away. We jumped up and found Louie with a piece of molding from the kitchen island in his mouth. He had actually chewed on it and snapped it off. I did the bad Mom thing, took it and swatted him with it, then shoved him out the doggie door until I could calm down.

Also, during these puppy chewing days, he ate the entire edge off the family room carpet while we were at work -- another good reason why we now have only ceramic tile throughout the house. Chew that, you little sh*t!

But he will be 4 years old on January 19th. Is that still considered puppy brain age? I buy him the best chews ever -- Mini Dingos with meat in the middle. I know he loves them because he goes into conniptions every time I give him one. Happy, happy! He has toys and rawhide bones all over the place. So why, oh why, did this happen?

Closer ...

I left a package of bamboo double pointed knitting needles on the end table and when I returned, the package was on the floor with needles scattered around. The points are all chewed and one of them has even split. Fortunately, there was no actual knitting on the needles at the time or we'd be planning a doggie funeral. As it is, he was cussed up one side and down the other. I probably should have closed the windows first because we live near a school and I suppose those kids got an earful that day!

Bad dog, bad dog, bad dog!

Skyler

When we had our second Yorkie, Skyler, he puppy brain chewed a leather belt that Hubby left laying on the bedroom floor. I reminded him that anything on the floor is fair game and he should have picked it up. Now he's trying to throw this back at me but, people, I left this package of knitting needles on the table, not the floor. Hello! Not the same at all!!!

I am on a hat knitting kick. I found the cutest pattern in "Yarnplay" by Lisa Shobhana Mason. It's called the "Tami" and also has a matching scarf. I made a few of these hats with minor changes like adding an extended, overlapping button band ...

Here's one for a girlfriend in Denver. I made a knitted flower (pattern from "Interweave Knits 2010 Holiday Gifts" magazine) and put it on a pin backer so she can remove it for washing or even pin the flower to something else ...

And then I had an idea for a new pattern and designed a blue hat for myself with a band of fun fur just above the doubled brim ...

The double thickness of the brim is much warmer around the ears and YD thought this was so cute, she ordered one in a gray alpaca blend. Here is the Granddaughter modeling it ...

I've sanded down the chew marks on my needles, but it's not working so well as there are rough spots that catch the yarn. Thanks to Louie Louie Screw Screwy, looks like I'll be heading to the store for some new size 8s.

What's Cookin' - Cranberry-Sour Cherry Chutney

The Thanksgiving countdown ...

Only 12 days 'til Thanksgiving and my true love gave to me

Some Cranberry-Sour Cherry Chutney

I mentioned my favorite Thanksgiving side dish in yesterday's post on Thanksgiving Favorites: Cranberry-Sour Cherry Chutney. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo for you, but I can guarantee that the bright, tangy flavors in this dish will please nearly everyone at your table. It's fast and easy to make and it's good left over, if there are any leftovers. Try spreading some on a dinner roll. I'm drooling on my laptop just thinking about it.

Cranberry - Sour Cherry Chutney

1 - 12 oz. pkg. fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries
3/4 cup sugar
1 T. apple-cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
pinch of ground cloves
pinch of salt
1/2 cup dried sour cherries

In a medium saucepan combine cranberries, sugar, vinegar, cardamom, cloves and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until cranberries just begin to burst and soften. Turn off heat, stir in cherries and transfer mixture to a bowl. Refrigerate in an air tight container.

And Yum!

Thanksgiving Favorites

Elizabeth over at Southern Comfort has invited us all to share our Thanksgiving memories in her Thanksgiving Favorites post. Wait until you read hers ... I've been laughing for days!!!

I've been a big fan of Southern Comfort (the blog, not the whiskey) for a long time now. Elizabeth is fun to read, gives details on wonderful DIY home projects (the monogram in the picture frame is one I especially love), great recipes and stories about her sweetie pie Hubby and their adorable 4-legged children. As she says, "Pull up a chair and have a glass of sweet tea."

Here are my Thanksgiving Favorites ...

1. What does Thanksgiving mean to YOU this year?

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays -- everyone gathers together to share the best meal of the year, it's the prelude to Christmas but there are no gifts involved =D and it's Fall so the temperatures have cooled off here in Phoenix. I think that moment when we all sit down at the table together and I realize we've made it another year is just so sweet for me ... pure happiness!

2. What are you THANKFUL for?

When I hear about people losing their jobs and their homes and dealing with illnesses, I am just so grateful that we have gone through the last year without these personal trials.

3. Do you have a favorite dish that you MUST have for the big Turkey dinner?

The turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy are a given. A few years ago, I found a recipe for Cranberry-Sour Cherry Chutney that has become one of the favorites at our table. Everyone seriously raves about this dish and I plan to make it every year forever.

4. Do you have a favorite family TRADITION you do each year for Thanksgiving (big or small)?

We like to go around the table and say what we're especially grateful for. It's always nice to hear the special good things everyone has to say.

5. What do you love most about NOVEMBER?

Living in Phoenix with our yard full of palm trees, we don't get the dramatic color changes that cooler parts of the country do, but it is still one of my favorite things when I see a tree with gold and orange leaves on it. I also look forward to the craft fairs that start popping up all over and the fragrance of cinnamon when you walk into the craft stores.

6. What is your FAVORITE family/silly/fun memory from Thanksgiving in years' past?

I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Give me a 25-pound turkey to stuff and I'm happy. But as much as I love to cook, several years ago, when we were still running our stationery store, I hadn't been cooking much at all and especially not during the craziness of our retail holiday season. On Thanksgiving morning, I started pulling pots and pans out of the cupboard to assemble my cooking tools on the kitchen island. Our Youngest Daughter was living at home and one of her cats jumped up on a barstool and peeked strangely over the edge of the counter at me. I said to Hubby, "Why do you suppose this cat is looking at me like this?" He replied, "Because she's never seen you in the kitchen before." Ha ha! Actually, it makes me laugh every time I think of it!

Thanks, Elizabeth, and happy early Thanksgiving to you and yours!

What's Cookin' - Cheater (I Mean Chicken) Soup

Who doesn't love chicken soup? Okay, if you don't, you'll probably want to move on now. Because this post is all about chicken soup, cheater chicken soup to be precise. Whenever anyone in our family starts feelin' poorly with ailments like black plague, carbuncles or the vapors, I go to the pantry and whip out my cheater chicken soup mix ...

Bear Creek Country Kitchens Soup Mix. Now I know it says just add water, but I like to doctor it up with other ingredients. This is a great way to use up stuff in the freezer and pantry and jazz up your soup. I really like Rachael Ray's word "Stoup" which is a combination of soup and stew because once I start adding meat and noodles and veggies, it becomes more than just soup.

When I'm really feeling all powerful and witch doctory in the kitchen is when I'm wearing my Nana bracelet, which is what the Granddaughter calls me. She made me this rockin' bracelet with glow in the dark beads. A girl can never have enough jewelry, especially the kind made with love.

But back to the soup. The package directions say to bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil, then whisk in the soup mix, reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can do this and it's pretty darn good. However, with lots of experimentation, I've found this Cheater Chicken Soup to be just a little bit better.

First, put 8 cups of water in a large measuring cup in the microwave to heat -- I usually set it for 10 minutes. Chop a couple of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into small pieces. Heat a tablespoon of cooking oil in the bottom of a dutch kettle. Saute the chopped chicken breasts, stirring to brown all sides.

When the chicken pieces are beginning to brown, sprinkle the dry soup mix over the chicken, stir and let it toast for a minute or two. It will absorb the oil and chicken juice.

Then pour the 8 cups of heated water in and stir. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer and put the lid on.

Now the fun begins. This time I added what I had left of a package of frozen mixed vegetables. Frozen corn is always good. So are frozen peas although I've been accused of trying to kill everyone with too much green added. I'll let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Then add additional noodles if you'd like and let simmer for another 10 minutes. Don't leave it much longer than this once the noodles are added because they will get mushy which just doesn't taste as good.

Dish it up and wait for the mmmmmms and ahhhhhhhs and compliments. We always serve crackers and buttered rolls with soup.

Bear Creek also has other wonderful soup mixes. I keep them on the shelf all year 'round. Their Darn Good Chili and Vegetable Beef are personal favorites. I load them up with ground beef or beef stew meat and always add extra veggies and noodles, prepared in the same way as the chicken soup. Yum!

I am not being compensated in any way for this product review. I just happen to love the Bear Creek Soup Mixes and think you will too. Cheater soup is great soup!