Friday Funny

Sadly, I won't be able to do any of the things on that list, because Friday is usually the busiest day of the week for me.

But you can bet I'm gonna work on that same list over the weekend!

Have a good one, everybody.  :-)

NaBloPoMo Day #6

Throwback Thursday

My sisters and me, August 21, 2008

Left to right:  Mary Ellen, Nancy, me

We were at the rehearsal dinner the night before my niece Julie's wedding at Rio Mar Resort, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

*That* was a good time!

NaBloPoMo Day #5

How About a Recipe?

Here we are at NaBloPoMo Day #4, and so far I have to say I am enjoying both writing things and seeing what everyone else is writing.

However, today I am a little bit cramped for time, so I've decided to share a recipe with you, since for the most part I can just do a cut-and-paste to add it to this post.  :-)

In another lifetime and several jobs ago, I belonged to a book group at work.  We met once a month at lunchtime, and at the holidays we had a pot lunch.  One of the other people in the group brought this casserole, and I liked it so much I asked her for the recipe.  Since then I have made it pretty regularly, since it is both yummy and quite filling.

Recently I even made it successfully using the crock pot, and have added those notes at the end.

We have it as a main course, but I'm sure it would be a good side dish as well.  Let me know if you try it, and what you think.

Barley Feta Casserole

This is an excellent dish for a day when you would like a hearty meal, but also want to get the preparation out of the way so you can do other things.  It also has the advantage of being low-fat, if you are watching your fat intake and/or cholesterol.

Ingredients:

1 cup barley, rinsed in cold water

3 cups vegetable broth or water, heated (I usually use half broth/half water)

2 medium onions, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

2 large tomatoes, cut into chunks

2-3 teaspoons of dried oregano (or even better, the equivalent in fresh if you have it)

1 clove garlic, minced

Freshly ground black pepper

2 cups feta cheese (or your cheese of choice, we like feta so we always use that)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a baking dish, combine everything EXCEPT the feta cheese. 

Cover the baking dish, and bake for 45 minutes.

Stir in the feta cheese, and bake uncovered for another 25 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the barley is tender.

Remove from the oven, and let it sit and “rest” for 5 minutes before serving.

  

Two additional things:

1.  This recipe makes quite a bit, and is good reheated.  I’ve never tried freezing the leftovers, so I can’t tell you how well that does or does not work.

2.  Another tomato sliced thinly on top looks nice, if you want to make it look prettier.

  

**This recipe is based on one from Low Cholesterol Cuisine, by Anne Lindsay.  (New York : Hearst Books, 1989)

NOTES FOR THE CROCKPOT:

When I made this in the crockpot, I added another cup of water/broth, and cooked it on High for 5-6 hours.  It worked just fine, so I hope if you try it you have good results.

The Great American Novel

For Ten on Tuesday this week, Carole wants us to do the following:  

10 Sentences That You Think Would Make Great Opening Lines for a Novel

In my head over the years, I have written several novels - all award-winning, and all making me the toast of the literary world.  In reality, I have never even tried writing a book, though it is still a fantasy.  

Here is my chance to throw out some ideas ("throw out" being the operative term ...)

1.  People found it amusing when they found out we had three accordions.

2.  I hate people, but at differing levels, which is why some of them are still alive.

3.  It was hard to believe that she had a year's worth of stories from prison.

4.  Maria found nothing more addicting or as enjoyable as jewelry theft.

5.   Snow.

6.  On my fourth birthday, I became the only survivor of a plane crash.

7.  Oh God - it really was "hotter than Billy-be-damned." 

8.  Sam thought his date was fun, until she started waxing poetic about proctology.

9.  She realized with dismay that if she hadn't gotten there by now, it was unlikely she would ever get to visit Saskatchewan.

10.  When you wake up in the middle of the street, in the dark, covered in blood and with your glasses broken, you have to wonder how you got there.

Well, that was fun!

Have you written any books with killer opening lines recently?  ;-)

Happy NaBloPoMo Day 3!

Bad Surprise, Good Surprise

As I was walking to work today, all of a sudden I started crying.  I could not for the life of me figure out why.  I am a person who lives with a low level of depression on my best days, and I am an easy crier, but I always know *what* is causing the tears, good or bad.  It really surprised me, and I told myself to pull it together and gave myself a little pep talk, and I was fine again.

I don't remember ever crying without being conscious of why I was crying.  For a couple of minutes, I wondered if something had happened which I'd blocked and was suddenly reminded of it, but if so, it remained blocked even then.

Then I told myself that it was probably Obama's fault.  I realized I have only a year left to blame him for things, so I've gotta really pick up the pace.

Thanks, Obama.

;-)

Continuing on my walk, I cut through Rittenhouse Square, because a) it's on the way, b) it's lovely, and c) there are usually lots of people walking their dogs.  I noticed a stroller parked on the grass, and a young woman playing with a Bernese Mountain Dog, and running back and forth to the stroller.  The dog was loving it, the woman looked happy, and you could hear a baby laughing, in that way babies have that make them sound kinda like dirty old men.

When I got to where they were, I told the woman that I was happy to see someone with a baby still enjoying and interacting with their dog.  So many people walk their dogs while walking with a stroller, and seem completely annoyed by the dog's existence, or desire to sniff things.  She said that when she was pregnant, everyone told her that she should get rid of the dog, and/or that she would ignore the dog because the baby would be more important.  She said that really upset her, and that it's never once occurred to her to do anything differently, because her husband and she decided to "fit the baby into their life," not have the world stop because of the baby.  (I immediately wanted to nominate this woman for a Nobel Prize or the Medal of Freedom or something like that.)

I think she said the baby was 8 months old, and boy was she a cutie - red hair, and a big smile.  Whenever the dog would come near here, she would squeal with joy, which also clearly pleased the dog.  The little girl's name was Jane, which I like.  It's an old-fashioned, but nice name, not like Hildegard or something.  (Apologies if your name is Hildegard, I'm sure you are a lovely person.)  The dog's name was Colonel.  They were adorable together.  The woman said that there were days when she gets nothing accomplished because they are both so great, she just enjoys being with them.

I'm glad the good surprise came after the bad one.  And I'm glad there are people like this woman and her husband.  I hope the woman's sister is really annoyed that her prediction proved wrong ...

Happy NaBloPoMo Day 2!  Here is a picture of my great-niece Penn dressed as a mummy for Halloween.