Ragg Baggs

Making Plans

2012-01-24T15:29:00.002-05:00

Making Plans
‘Make plans even if they might be a touch unrealistic. One of the keys to being happy is to believe in a beautiful future. Hope springs eternal.’

From ‘Joan’s Way - Looking Good, Feeling Great’, by Joan Collins

Chicken Kiev

2012-01-19T17:47:00.003-05:00

"These chicken breasts are so juicy thanks to the hidden treasure of seasoned butter tucked inside. They are treated to a dilly coating and quickly fried to seal in all that goodness. You get a lot for just a little extra fuss."

8 4 ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

teaspoon garlic power

2 eggs

3 tablespoons water

SEASONED BUTTER

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried dill

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs

2 cups vegetable oil

GARNISH

1/2 lemon, sliced

1/4 chopped fresh parsley

To make the Seasoned Butter:

Combine the butter, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder in a small bowl, mixing well. Spread the mixture into a 2x4 inch rectangle on a piece or aluminum foil; freeze until firm.

Meanwhile, place each chicken breast between a sheet or waxed paper and pound to about 1/8 inch thick, being careful not to tear the chicken. Wrap and refrigerate until the seasoned butter is frozen.

When the butter is firm, cut it into 8 equal size pieces and place one piece on each chicken breast. Fold in the edges of the chich the roll the breast to encase the butter completely. Secure the chicken with toothpicks.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the water. In a shallow bowl, mix the 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1p4 teaspoon garlic powder, dill, and flour. Place the bread crumbs in a separate shall bowl. Dip the chicken rolls in the seasoned flower, the the egg mixture, then the bread crumbs. Lay the chicken breasts on a plate and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, deep fry the chicken rolls for about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken over and fry another 5 minutes until chicken is golden and cooked through with no pink showing inside.

Drain chicken on paper towels and place on a serving platter/ Garnish with lemon slices and parsley.

2012-01-15T14:42:00.000-05:00

These cookies are beyond addicting. I made them at Christmas and they were the first cookies to go.

With a Cherry on Top Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 1 3 oz. cream cheese; softened
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 ¾ cups flour

• Maraschino cherries

Directions
• Preheat oven to 325.

• Cream butter and cream cheese together by hand. Add sugar and egg yolk and combine together. Add flour and vanilla.

• Drain maraschino cherries; dry them on a paper towel and cut them in half.

• Roll dough into small balls and place on a nonstick cookie sheet.

• Press cherry into the center of the cookie.

• Bake for 15 minutes.

note: these do not brown. They are done after 15 minutes or sooner. Allow them to stay on the cookie sheet until they are completely cooled.

Cake Stencils

2012-01-14T17:13:00.004-05:00

Available at

Scrapbook.com

http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewart-Holiday-Cake-Stencils/dp/B003YUBJH6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1324522367&sr=8-6

I used a yellow box cake mix and made homemade chocolate butter cream icing.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup whole or 2% milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add additional milk, if needed to be spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla. Spread on cake smoothly. Put in refrigerator for a while to let the icing set, this allows the stencil to be placed on the icing, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and then lifted gently away, leaving a gorgeous image. Voila!

This recipe came from Moments of Delight.

Happiness

2012-01-13T17:02:00.002-05:00

Happiness by Thoreau

Happiness to you always!
Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.com

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe

2012-01-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe: Le Chocolat Chaud

When the winter chill comes to Paris, one of the great pleasures is sipping a cup of rich hot chocolate, le chocolat chaud, in a cozy café. Contrary to popular belief, most versions of Parisian hot chocolate are made with milk rather than cream, and get their luxurious richness from lots of top-quality chocolate. This cup of chocolat chaud is deeply-flavorful, but not over-the-top rich…so there’s no need to feel guilty indulging in a nice, warm cup whenever you feel the need.

Parisian Hot Chocolate
Four ‘Parisian-sized’ Servings

2 cups (.5l) whole milk
5 ounces (130 g) bittersweet chocolate, (with at least 70% cacao solids), finely chopped
optional: 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1. Heat the milk in a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Once the milk is warm, whisk in the chocolate, stirring until melted and steaming hot. For a thick hot chocolate, cook at a very low boil for about 3 minutes, whisking frequently. (Be careful and keep an eye on the mixture, as it may boil up a bit during the first moments.)
3. Taste, and add brown sugar if desired.
Serve warm in small demitasse or coffee cups.
Note: This hot chocolate improves if made ahead and allowed to sit for a few hours. Rewarm before serving. I also like to add a few flecks of fleur de sel, the very good sea salt from Brittany.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.com

2012-01-13T16:56:00.001-05:00

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Cranberry Hooty Creeks Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:	1 1/4 c flour 1 c oatmeal 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2/3 c brown sugar 2/3 c white sugar 1 c dired cran raisins 1 c white chocolate chips 1 c chopped pecans 1 c softened butter 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:	Beat together butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Add dry ingredients, blen well. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheet, remove to wire rack.

Christmas 2011

2012-01-11T10:35:00.001-05:00

Christmas was lazy for us this year.

We didn't go to any parties or have any - not even our annual

Christmas breakfast.

After having severe chest pains in a store one evening,

I sent Ray to shop for himself.

And I must say that Santa was very good to him!

His favorite gifts were things to work with on his

Amazon book business.

Among many other things he got a

Kindle.

I have fallen in love with it and only let him use it once in a while. o:)

It's so nice to have type that I can read without 2 pairs of glasses!

I'm reading

'A Study in Scarlet'

ritght now.

I can't wait for Laura Childs books to become available!

Ray put up a very small Christmas tree.

I decorated the coffee table with

'Grinchy Trees'

the bright aluminum trees that Target carried this year.

I bought the 'large' one - about 2 feet tall and

went back for the small ones - about 1 foot tall.

The brilliant colors remind me of the

Whos Down in Whoville!

The battery died in the camera on Christmas morning,

so I will have to send more pictures after we go to town.

With gas prices being what they are,

we travel as rarely as possible.

I wish you all a happy. healthy, and prosperous

New Year!

Ruth Ann

Coming soon!

An all new RaggBaggs!

http://www.raggbaggs.com/

Personalized Santa Hat Chair Back Covers

2011-10-26T17:58:00.002-04:00

Add a touch of Christmas with these Santa Hat chair back covers in your
kitchen or dining room! The covers measure 20x27, so they will fit a
wide range of chairs.
The covers can be embroidered with your family name or the name of the
person that usually sits in a particular chair. Make every person feel
special!
Available from
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Cheddar Cheese Wafers Recipe

2011-10-25T12:23:00.002-04:00

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/4 teaspoon celery seeds

1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

In a standing mixer or food
processor, beat the cheese, butter, celery seeds, Worcestershire, dry
mustard, Tabasco and cayenne on medium speed or process until smooth.
Add the flour and beat on low speed or process until combined. Gather
the dough into a ball and knead a few times on a lightly floured
surface. Shape the dough into a 12-inch log, wrap in plastic and
refrigerate until firm.

Preheat the oven to
350 degrees F. Sprinkle 2 baking sheets with the salt. Slice the log
1/4 inch thick and arrange the slices 1 inch apart on the baking
sheets. Bake the wafers for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned
on the bottom and around the edges. Transfer them to a wire rack to
cool before serving.

Northern Lights Seen in the South

2011-10-25T09:49:00.002-04:00

A solar outburst sparked surprising displays of the northern lights as far south as Arkansas, Mississippi and North Carolina tonight, marking one of the farthest-reaching auroral shows in years.

As
word spread about the geomagnetic storm, photos streamed onto the Web
from the usual places, such as Norway, Sweden and Iceland, but also
from locales that are typically too far south to see the northern
lights: Oklahoma ... Kansas ... Kentucky ... Tennessee ... Virginia.

Arkansas photographer Brian Emfinger was alerted to the
northern lights by SpaceWeather.com's aurora alert. "I ran out and put
my camera out and immediately saw reddish aurora," he wrote. "I ran out
into the field, and within a few minutes the aurora went crazy!"

The cause of the show was a coronal mass ejection from the sun
that hit Earth's magnetosphere at about 2 p.m. ET, SpaceWeather.com
reported.

The impact caused a strong compression in the magnetic
field, allowing electrically charged particles from the solar wind to
penetrate down to geosynchronous orbit (22,000 miles or 35,000
kilometers in altitude). That means Earth-orbiting satellites could
have been exposed to the solar storm, analysts said.

Solar
activity is on the upswing toward an expected peak of the sun's 11-year
cycle in 2013, and the past few months have been marked by strong
auroral activity. Here's a picture of an aurora as seen from the
International Space Station on Sept. 29 as it flew over the midwestern
United States.

A Very Cool Good Morning

2011-10-20T15:33:00.003-04:00

Despite our morning low of 35 degrees, my roses are still blooming. It's supposed to be in the 30s again tonight, so I don't imagine my beauties will last much longer.

It is currently a wonderful 53 degrees. I have always loved cool weather, but it is more appreciated this year. We have some more warm days ahead, but hopefully we won't have to wear shorts for Halloween this year!

Wishing the best to you all!
Ruth Ann
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Shar Pei Tote Bags

2011-10-18T18:06:00.004-04:00

Shar Pei Tote Bag

This canvas tote bag is perfect for taking your grooming supplies to dog shows or just for showing your love of your precious pooch.

The bag is cotton canvas embroidered in your choice of breeds from the list of 44 below. Your dog's name is added above the embroidered picture and a ribbon of doggie footprints adorns the top of the bag.

There will be at least two pictures shown of each breed. Please choose your favorite.

More breeds are being added. Currently available are:

Airdale
Australian Shepherd
Azawakh Hound
Basset Hound
Beagle
Belgian Sheepdog
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Frise
Bloodhound
Border Collie
Borzoi
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brittany Spaniel
Brussels Griffon
Chihuahua
Chinese Crested Dogs
Cocker Spaniel
Corgi - both Cardigan and Pembroke
Dachshund
Dandi Dinmont
Doberman
English Bulldog
English Cocker Spaniels
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
Field Spaniel
German Shepherd
German Shorthaired Pointer
Greyhound
Golden Retriever
Husky
Irish Setter
Jack Russel Terrier
Japanese Chin
Keeshond
Labrador Retriever
Lancashier Heeler
Miniature Pinscher
Newfoundland
Norwegian Elkhound
Papillon
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Poodle - 2 clips
Pug
Rat Terrier
Rottweilers
Schnauzer - 4 types
Sharpei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shih Tzu - Puppy and Adult
Siberian Huskey
Silky Terrier
South Russian Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Vizsla
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Yorkshire Terrier

These bags, as well as many others, are available by special order through our Etsy site. Please allow 2 weeks for special orders.

The Best Cornbread Ever

2011-10-14T16:16:00.002-04:00

The Best Cornbread Ever
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 cup Bisquick or any similar baking mix
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup cornmeal

Mix together and bake in in 9x9 greased pan
350 degrees F
35 minutes

This recipe is courtesy of Morning Ramble. It's similar to the one I use, except for the Bisquick. Can't wait to try this one!

Time to relax

2011-10-14T15:41:00.003-04:00

The time to relax is when you don't have the time for it.

My dear friend LaDonna posted this on her blog "Gracious Hospitality" and I have never heard a truer statement. It seems that I have rushed through my life with no time to relax until my car accident 5 years ago forced me to do so. It's hard to get used to 'enforced relaxation', but as I begin to feel better, I'm taking more time for my machine embroidery and jewelry making. I look forward to being able to stand up long enough to cook some of the great recipes I've been collecting!

All of my former friends are now raising their grandchildren - their kids didn't bother with marriage, but they managed to have many 'moments of passion'.

We are so lucky to have made many friends at church. We had lunch this week with the 'over 70' crowd. We are 15 years too young, but what a wonderful time we had!

Ah, life passes us by too fast. Sometimes God takes a big chunk out of those lives with injuries and unemployment. Maybe this is good because we realize how precious life is. God always knows best.

With love to my blogging friends,
Ruth Ann

Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

2011-10-14T14:16:00.004-04:00

Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis tradition, often served at breakfast. Cake for breakfast? This just keeps getting better. The method of the cake is quite different from any other cake I’ve made. The actual “cake” becomes a crust, which is topped with a creamy filling made of cream cheese, butter and sugar. Rumor has it that this cake originally came about as a mistake—a bakery employee in St. Louis accidentally mixed up a recipe—but they went ahead and baked the cake anyway. It sold so well that they continued to bake the cake that way, which eventually turned into this delicious tradition.

FOR THE CRUST:
1 package (18.25 Oz. Box) Plain Yellow Cake Mix
1 stick Unsalted Butter, melted
1 whole Egg
_____
FOR THE FILLING:
8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese, At Room Temperature
2 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 stick Unsalted Butter, melted
3-¾ cups Confectioner's Sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare crust first. In a large mixing bowl, combine the crust ingredients with a wooden spoon until moist. Transfer to a 13″x9″ ungreased baking pan and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan. Set aside.

Next, prepare the filling. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and melted butter, and continue to mix. Next, add the confectioner’s sugar one cup at a time until all sugar is mixed in. Pour filling over the crust, and spread evenly with a spatula.

Bake gooey butter cake for 40-45 minutes until it is browned, but the center is still jiggles when the pan is shaken. Cool for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with additional confectioner’s sugar and serve.

This recipe comes from Tasty Kitchen.

Kitty Kat for New Tote

2011-10-10T13:46:00.003-04:00

This marvelous kitty kat will adorn our canvas tote bags for Mardi Gras 2012. Isn't he just the cutest little guy you've ever seen! He's all dressed - complete with mask - and ready to party!

The design is done by me on my embroidery machine.

Your monogram will be added to the back of the bag, if you so desire.

Mr. Kat is available at
http://glamorous chic.etsy.com

He is custom made, so please allow 2 extra weeks for delivery.

Chicken Casserole

2011-10-10T13:28:00.004-04:00

Recipe from Ina Garten

3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
3 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
2 chicken bullion cubes
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 cups medium-diced carrots (4 carrots), blanched for 2 minutes
1 10-ounce package frozen peas (2 cups)
1 1/2 cups frozen small whole onions
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken.

In a small sauce pan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot or dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and the heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions, and parsley. Mix well. Place the stew in a 10 x 13 x 2-inch oval or rectangular baking dish. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the stew from the oven and arrange the biscuits on top of the filling. Brush them with egg wash, and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until the biscuits are brown and the stew is bubbly.

Note: To make in advance, refrigerate the chicken stew and biscuits separately. Bake the stew for 25 minutes, then place the biscuits on top, and bake for another 30 minutes, until done.

Sweet Potato Biscuits
adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine
yield: about 20 small-size biscuits

1 pound sweet potatoes or yam (one large one is usually sufficient)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (chilled), cut into small pieces
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Prick the sweet potato and bake until soft (about one hour…you can also do this more quickly in a microwave). Once the sweet potato has cooled, scoop the flesh from the skin and pass through a food mill, ricer or sieve. You should have about 1 3/4 cups puree.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cayenne. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter (or use your fingers) until it resembles a course meal. Mix milk with sweet potato puree and add it to the other ingredients. Mix dough, just to incorporate (I use my hands). If the dough is really sticky, add a touch more flour. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead a few times. Pat out to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut biscuits with a biscuit-cutter or glass. We make ours small, about 2 inches in diameter. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Place in preheated oven and cook until risen and slightly brown, about 12 minutes (longer for larger biscuits). Serve warm.

Do not bake the biscuits is using on Chicken Casserole.

2011-10-10T12:03:00.000-04:00

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe

2011-10-06T17:39:00.000-04:00

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped pecans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour 18 muffin cups, or use paper liners.
To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, then set aside.
For the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.
For the muffin batter: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil and vanilla. Beat together until smooth.
Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter. Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping.
Bake at 375 degrees F (195 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

Spelling Chili

2011-08-05T11:15:00.002-04:00

Question: I've seen "chile," "chili" and "chilli." Do they all mean something different?

Answer: This is a common question and has fueled many arguments over the subject. There are many accepted versions. Chile with an "e" at the end is the correct spelling in Spanish. Chili with an "i" at the end is the Americanized version. The "i" version began with the name of the dish "Carne con Chili," meaning "Meat with Chile." It evolved into "Chili con Carne" and then shortened to just "Chili." The term ending with an "i" is widely accepted and is often used as the name for "Chili Powder." The term "Chile" with an "e" is the more correct way to spell it, although many forms are accepted.

Lace Monogram Letters

2011-08-03T18:22:00.004-04:00

This beautiful alphabet is made by me to your specifications. The letters are sturdy so you can use them as ornaments, fasten them to a garment, purse, a piece of luggage, or anything you choose. The letters can also be glued to your favorite cup or serving vessel.

Each letter is made in the color of your choice. I will even match colors for you if you send me a sample. Each letter is a bit less than 3 inches high.

The price is $10 for 3 letters. Please specify the letters and color in the notes section of your order.

The monogram can be ordered from
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Corn and Crab Cakes

2011-08-02T15:42:00.003-04:00

Corn and Crab Cakes

1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
1/4 c. sliced scallion
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 1/2 c. corn bread stuffing mix (divided)
2 (6 oz.) pkg. frozen crab meat (thawed and drained) or 2 (6 1/2 oz.) cans crab meat (drained)
1 (7 oz.) can corn (drained)
1/4 c. vegetable oil (divided)

In medium bowl, mix mayonnaise and next 5 ingredients until well blended. Stir in 1 1/4 cup of the stuffing crumbs. Let stand 20 minutes or until softened. Place crab in small bowl. Pick over crab, removing any shell or cartilage. Flake with fork into small shreds. Stir corn and crab meat into mayonnaise mixture, mixing well. Shape mixture into 8 patties. Place the remaining crumbs in a shallow dish. Press both sides of the patties into the crumbs until evenly coated. In large skillet, heat 2 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat. Saute 2 or 3 patties, turning once, until browned on each side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining oil and patties.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Christmas Tree Earrings

2011-08-02T03:05:00.004-04:00

We're getting in the mood for Christmas early this year. I guess I'm always in the mood! So, I couldn't resist making this pair of Christmas Tree Earrings.

These earrings are made from tiny beads from The Czech Republic. They are quite slow to make, but the end result is great fun. I just love putting the tiny ornaments of the tree. So cute!

If you'd like to order your own pair of sparkly earrings go to
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

We'd love to have you stop in for a visit!

Recipe for Hot Tomato Jack and Crab Dip

2011-07-28T16:35:00.005-04:00

Recipe for Hot Tomato Jack and Crab Dip:

1 8 oz. package softened cream cheese
1 cup (4 oz.) grated pepper Jack cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 limes, juiced
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 lb. lump crab meat, drained and picked clean of shells
1 cup seeded & diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp. crushed black peppercorn
2 avocados
Crackers, crusty bread, or chips for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 1 quart baking dish with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, pepper Jack, mayo, lime juice and hot sauce until smooth. Fold in the crab meat, tomatoes, green onions, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Smooth the texture into baking dish. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Dice avocados and sprinkle them over the crab dip after it has cooled slightly.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann
http://glamorouschic.etsy.com

White Wine and Strawberries

2011-07-27T17:31:00.006-04:00

I found this recipe on The Pioneer Woman's cooking site. The weather has been so hot, I thought this would be the perfect light dessert to have with luncheon tomorrow. It might have been, but we will never know, since we ate it all today. Scrumptious!

I can't say enough good things about the Pioneer Woman's recipes. It doesn't matter which recipe you choose, you know it will be delicious!!!!!

Ingredients

2 pounds Fresh Strawberries, Stemmed And Sliced Thick
3/4 cups Granulated Sugar
1-1/2 cup Fruity White Wine, Such As Riesling

Preparation Instructions

Mix strawberries, sugar, and wine in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Let stand 30 minutes up to 3 hours. Serve.

Enjoy!

Ruth Ann

Glamorous Chic

http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

2011-07-04T12:11:00.003-04:00

Chipotle Grilled Shrimp

2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Marinade
1 can (7 oz) chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (about 3 peppers)
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 5-6 limes)
3 cloves garlic
½ tsp salt
1 large handful cilantro

1 can (21 oz) Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans

Rinse shrimp thoroughly. Place in a large plastic storage bag.

Combine
all marinade ingredients except cilantro in a blender. Blend until
smooth. Add cilantro and blend until just combined. Pour into bag with
shrimp. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours to
overnight.

Soak wooden skewers in water for at least an hour.
Thread shrimp onto skewers. Set grill to low heat and cook skewers of
shrimp for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until opaque.

Serve alongside Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans.

Number of servings: 4 to 6
Preparation time: 15 mins
Cook time: 6 to 8 mins

This recipe is from the Pioneer Woman and will definately be on my menu today!

http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

2011-07-04T11:05:00.004-04:00

Buck's Fizz

From Mar-A-Lago - Donald Trump's Club

1 teaspoon Grenadine
3 ounces orange juice
3 ounces sparkling water

Spoon Grenadine into a chilled champagne glass
Add orange juice
Fill with sparkling water

http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Zesty Crab Tea Sandwiches

2011-07-03T19:58:00.003-04:00

I found this recipe on Tea with Friends and couldn't resost sharing it with you!

Zesty Crab Salad

1 cup cooked crab meat
1 celery rib
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place chunks of celery in food processor and pulse finely. Add crab meat and pulse a few times more, just until blended since the crabmeat is already very tender. Pour into a small bowl, add remaining ingredients and combine well. Yields 1 cup of sandwich spread. Also good as a dip!

Other sandwiches have mayonnaise and tomato. Crushed boiled eggs and caviar would be great! Capers on anything.

Our Favorite Pimento Cheese Recipe

2011-06-25T16:45:00.003-04:00

8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 cups Helman's mayonnaise
2½ cups white cheddar cheese, shredded
2½ cups yellow cheddar cheese, shredded
7 oz. diced pimentos (liquid drained)
1½ tsp. granulated garlic
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. tabasco sauce
1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup dill pickle juice

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate and let set over night. Spread on bread pr stuff into celery.

No matter where we go, this is our most requested dish.

http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Milky Way Cake

2011-06-13T13:22:00.003-04:00

This recipe is from the aunt of the Pioneer Woman. There are lots of
recipes on the web, but you can always count on one from Ree being the
best!

11 whole Milky Way bars, divided

3 sticks margarine
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract, divided
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 cups confectioners' sugar
Dash of salt
1/2 cup milk (more if needed)
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a double boiler, milk 8 Milky Way bars together with 1 stick of margarine, stirring to combine. Once melted, remove the pan from the heat.

Sift flour and salt together and set aside.

Mix baking soda with buttermilk. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; set aside.

Cream 1 stick
of margarine with the 2 cups of sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add
flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to the creamed mixture, mixing
well after each addition.
Add melted candy mixture and mix well.
To make the icing, melt the 3 remaining Milky Way bars with remaining stick of margarine
in a double boiler over low heat. Add Confectioners' sugar, salt, milk,
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and chopped pecans; stir over low heat. Add
more milk if needed. Pour over the cooled cake and allow to set.
Cake will be very sticky!
Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Steaknouse Mushroom Burgers

2011-06-13T12:40:00.004-04:00

Steakhouse Mushroom Burgers
adapted from Cuisine Tonight: Grilling
makes 4 burgers

8 oz mushrooms, sliced
3 Tbs olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground sirloin
1 Tbs low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
2 tsp minced fresh parsley
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 slices buttered Texas Toast
shredded Parmesan

Creamed Spinach Sauce
makes 2 cups

2 Tbs unsalted butter
1/4 cup minced onion
2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1/2 cup half-and-half, plus more as needed
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
kosher salt and black pepper
pinch cayenne
pinch nutmeg
4 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 Tbs grated Parmesan
squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Preheat the grill to medium-high. In a medium saute pan, saute the
mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook
until the mushrooms begin to brown, 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and
cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and
remove from heat. In a large bowl, combine the sirloin with 1
tablespoon oil, soy sauce, salt, pepper, mustard, herbs, and mushroom
mixture. Gently mix to combine using a fork or your hands. Divide the
mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each portion into a patty.
Scrape the grate clean and brush with the remaining tablespoon of oil.
Grill the burgers until cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove
the burgers from the grill and cover to keep warm. Grill the bread 1-2
minutes per side, until lightly browned. To make the spinach sauce,
melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the
onion and cook until translucent, 3-4 minutes. Stir the flour into the
onions and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the half-and-half, broth, salt,
cayenne, and nutmeg. Bring sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat and
simmer for 2 minutes, until it begins to thicken. Add the spinach,
stirring until wilted. Mix in the Parmesan and lemon juice, and add
more half-and-half if the sauce has thickened too much. Season to taste
with salt and pepper. Top each slice of bread with a burger, spinach
sauce, and garnish with Parmesan. Serve immediately.

West Highland White Terrier

2011-05-05T15:49:00.005-04:00

West Highland White Terriers
have been added to our line of tote bags in our
Glamorous Chic Etsy shop!

http://www.glamorourchic.etsy.com

This brings our list of available dog breeds to 37 with at least 2 views of each.

Caviar Dip from Ina Garten

2011-05-05T15:24:00.003-04:00

I
thought I'd take this beautiful dip to a small Cinco de Mayo party a
friend is having tonight. Light, luscious and sooooo easy to make!

8 ounces cream cheese
at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced dill, plus sprigs for garnish
1 scallion, white and green parts
1 tablespoon milk, half-and-half, or cream
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
100 grams good salmon roe
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment,
cream the cream cheese until smooth. With the mixer on medium speed,
add the sour cream, lemon juice,
dill scallion, milk, salt, and pepper. With a rubber spatula,fold in
3/4 of the salmon roe. Spoon the dip into a bowl and garnish with the
remaining salmon roe and sprigs of fresh dill.
Serve with chips, toast points, or crackers.

Wildlife After the Tornado

2011-05-05T12:57:00.004-04:00

Tornado Hits Sequatchie Valley April 27

2011-04-30T11:47:00.004-04:00

...EF2 TORNADO DAMAGE CONFIRMED IN SEQUATCHIE COUNTY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN HAS COMPLETED AN ASSESSMENT
OF THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED IN SEQUATCHIE COUNTY TENNESSEE THIS
AFTERNOON. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT AN EF2 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM
WIND SPEEDS OF 120 MILES AN HOUR...OCCURRED AROUND TWO MILES
SOUTH OF DUNLAP TENNESSEE.

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ALONG FRANK TATE ROAD WITH A
MAXIMUM WIND SPEED OF 90 MPH (EF-1) AND A WIDTH OF 100 YARDS. THE
TORNADO CONTINUED IN A NORTHEAST PATH AND INCREASED IN SIZE AND
INTENSITY TO AN EF-2 WITH A MAXIMUM WIND SPEED AT 120 MPH AND A
WIDTH OF 175 YARDS. SEVERAL LARGE HARDWOOD TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF
NEAR THE TRUNK BASE...WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRING IN A
CONCENTRATED PATH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED ITS NORTHEAST MOVEMENT AND FINALLY WEAKENED
TO AN EF-1 WITH A MAXIMUM WIND SPEED OF 100 MPH...AS IT DISSIPATED
AT THE FOOTHILL OF SIGNAL MOUNTAIN. SEVERAL HOMES SUFFERED MINOR TO
MODERATE WIND DAMAGE ALONG THE NEARLY FIVE MILE PATH OF THE TORNADO.


STORM SURVEY COMPLETED BY: TIM TROUTMAN...WARNING
COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST

New Basset Hound at GLamorous Chic

2011-04-30T10:55:00.006-04:00

We are pleased to offer two new Basset Hound embroideries at Glamorous Chic.
These will be available on tote bags in the near fututre.

Our entire list of doggies for tote bags now includes:

Airdale
Australian Shepherd
Azawakh Hound
Basset Hound
Beagle
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Frise
Border Collie
Borzoi
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brittany Spaniel
Brussels Griffon
Chihuahua
Cocker Spaniel
Corgi - both Cardigan and Pembroke
Dachshund
Doberman
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
German Shepherd
German Shorthaired Ponter
Greyhound
Huskey
Jack Russel Terrier
Japanese Chin
Keeshond
Labrador Retriever
Lancashier Heeler
Miniature Pinscher
Norwegian Elkhound
Poodle - 2 clips
Pug
Rottweilers
Schnauzer - 4 types
Sharpei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shih Tzu - Puppy and Adult
Silky Terrier
South Russian Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Vizsla
Yorkshire Terrier

Visit us at
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Fire Roasted Jalapenos Recipe

2011-04-27T14:20:00.005-04:00

Jalapeño Roaster:

Feeling roasty? Don't hesitate to add this roaster to your grillware
collection. Its nonstick coating is PTFE- and PFOA-free for safe
grilling and easy clean up. The jalapeño roaster holds up to 16
medium-sized peppers and can be used in the grill or oven so you can
enjoy this spicy accessory year-round.

Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers Recipe

16 medium-sized jalapeño peppers*

3-4 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 clove garlic, diced

2-3 green onions, sliced

2-3 sun dried tomatoes (oil-packed), chopped

8 slices bacon, halved (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Water-soaked toothpicks (5 minutes of soaking)
Preheat grill to medium. Cut off top of each pepper and carefully core
the pepper, removing all seeds. If you do not have a jalapeño corer, a
vegetable peeler is a good kitchen tool for hollowing out peppers.
Remember the oils in jalapeño peppers are very hot, so take care not to
touch your face or eyes. Place the peppers upright in roasting holes.
In bowl, mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic, onion, tomatoes,
salt and pepper. Put mixture in pastry bag and pipe cheese evenly into
peppers. A knife or spoon may also be used to stuff the peppers. If
desired, wrap upper half of each piece with a 1/2 slice of bacon and
skewer with water-soaked toothpicks. The water helps keep the
toothpicks from catching fire.

Grill peppers until bacon is done, about 20-30 minutes. Serve hot.

*The size of jalapeño peppers may vary by grocer, region and season. If
peppers are too small, skewer them with water-soaked toothpicks to keep
peppers from falling through roasting holes.

Doggie Tote Bags Added to Etsy Site

2011-04-21T19:30:00.012-04:00

Bernese Mountain Dog

Beagle

Azawakh Hound

Australian Shepherd

Airdale

In all 44 new dog breeds are available
embroidered on our tote bags. I will picture them as requested. The
bags are embroidered with the dog's image and his name is added. Ribbon
trim
with doggie paw prints are added to the tops of the bags.

Right now, only the Shih Tzu
is pictured. My web site is http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com . All
breeds are available in 2 styles. Our current collection includes:
Airdale
Australian Shepherd
Azawakh Hound
Beagle
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Frise
Border Collie
Borzoi
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Brittany Spaniel
Brussels Griffon
Chihuahua
Cocker Spaniel
Corgi - both Cardigan and Pembroke
Dachshund
Doberman
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
German Shepherd
German Shorthaired Ponter
Greyhound
Huskey
Jack Russel Terrier
Japanese Chin
Keeshond
Labrador Retriever
Lancashier Heeler
Miniature Pinscher
Norwegian Elkhound
Poodle - 2 clips
Pug
Rottweilers
Schnauzer - 4 types
Sharpei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shih Tzu - Puppy and Adult
Silky Terrier
South Russian Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Vizsla
Yorkshire Terrier

These bags, as well as many others, are available by special order through our Etsy site.
http://www.glamorouschic.etsy.com

Happy Spring!!!

2011-04-08T10:23:00.005-04:00

Happy Spring to All of You!

This is just a sample of some of the new items I'm working on right now.
I work slow and the totes sell fast.
I "guess" that's good,
but Heaven forbid that I make a mistake!
None have hung around long enough to make it to my website -
GlamorousChic.etsy.com

Our Bradford pears didn't make much of a showing this year.
We had a freeze just as they were about to reach full bloom.

The wild cherries and the redbuds have made up for it.
The dogwoods are late this year.
I guess they're just biding their time until they're sure of the weather.

A Lazy Day

2011-03-31T15:27:00.002-04:00

Yes, the Christmas tree is still up.
Ray hasn't had time to take it down.
I still spend a lot of time laying on the couch
so we're enjoying it very much.

Poppett is enjoying it, too.

Ray is just enjoying the damp cold weather -
the perfect time to cozy down in front of an oak fire.

Two of my best embroidery machines have been
in the shop being service.
They're home now, so I cant wait to get back to work.
Orders have been piling up.

Him who strentheneth me

2011-03-22T19:49:00.003-04:00

I can do all things through Christ who stregthenth me.

2011-03-22T10:20:00.003-04:00

Song of Solomon 2:11-12:

"For the winter is passed.
The rain is over and gone.The flowers are springing up.
And the time of the singing of the birds has come."

More Honkers

2011-03-20T17:52:00.004-04:00

Sunday Visitors

2011-03-20T17:40:00.003-04:00

While there are plenty of roosters around our house,
there is no need for them.
Our four geese honk by every morning about 7:00.
Darling husband has been up long before then,
but this is just right for me!

Our Morning Visitor

2011-03-14T14:22:00.003-04:00

John Wesley - "The Rules"

2011-03-12T10:13:00.002-05:00

"Do all the Good you Can,
By all the Means you Can,
In all the Ways you Can,
In all the Places you Can,
At all the Times you Can,
To all the People you Can,
As long as Ever ......
...You Can!"

Winter is Still Here

2011-03-11T15:09:00.003-05:00

The Bradford Pears are in heavy bud - a few are in full bloom. The wild cherries are in bloom, too. This didn't stop the temperatures from dropping to the freezing level several nights. We even rosted hot dogs and marshmalls over the fire in the drawing room today. What fun!

Have you seen the huge marshmallows that are in the store now? They're almost two inches across! You roast and eat the outside, then roast them again. Sort of inconvenient, but just think of the gooey yumminess on a sweet potato casserole!

God is Just - Thomas Jefferson

2011-03-05T14:18:00.003-05:00

“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice
cannot sleep forever.”

Thomas Jefferson

Molten Chocolate Cakes

2011-03-05T09:32:00.005-05:00

This is the signature dessert of Carnival Cruise Lines.

MINI MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES - Makes 8 individual cakes

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
Cocoa powder, sifted
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
4 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange or hazelnut liqueur
(such as Grand Marnier or Frangelico)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Powdered sugar for decoration
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Using cooled melted butter and a pastry brush, grease the miniature Bundt pans and coat with sifted cocoa powder, knocking them out lightly over the sink to remove any powder that has not adhered to the molds. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and place one Bundt pan on each.
2. Melt the remaining butter and chocolate together in a medium-sized heatproof bowl set over a pan of water that has not yet come to a simmer. Make sure the bottom of the bowl is at least several inches above the surface of the water. Stir the mixture gently until smooth and remove bowl from heat. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Beat eggs, yolk, vanilla, liqueur, salt, and sugar on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or with handheld electric beaters, until the volume of the eggs has almost tripled and the mixture is pale yellow and drops from the lifted beaters in thick ribbons. Pour melted chocolate over the egg mixture and using a large rubber spatula, fold in chocolate with as few strokes as possible to avoid deflating the eggs. Sprinkle flour over chocolate mixture and rapidly fold in with a light hand.
4. Using a small ladle or an ice-cream scoop, fill the 8 prepared molds. (At this stage they can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for several hours. Let sit out on the counter for a half hour or so before baking.)
5. Bake cakes, one sheet at a time, in the center of the oven until they have risen about a half-inch above the tops of the molds; they will have a top crust, though their centers will still appear a bit glossy and will jiggle slightly when the pan is slid back and forth, about 12-14 minutes. (Baking times will vary depending on the molds and oven used. Underbaking is preferable to overbaking.)
6. Run a paring knife around the inside edges of the molds and invert them onto a large piece of parchment paper sitting on the counter. Allow to cool for a minute, then lift off Bundt pan. Transfer the cakes to individual serving plates and dust with powered sugar. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Living with Style - Southern Style

2011-03-04T14:08:00.001-05:00

"Style cannot be bought. It is not what your wear, but who you are. Style is the way you decorate your house. It is your taste in books, music, poetry, and art. It is the way you arrange your flowers. Style is the personal touch you give to everything and everyone in your life. Style has nothing to do with money, but it is the way you live your life."

~Alda Ellis

Twice Baked Potatoes

2011-03-03T18:06:00.000-05:00

Recipe for Twiced-Baked Potatoes:

4 large baking potatoes
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 bunch green onions
Garlic Salt

You may bake the potatoes in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour. (I microwave them for ten minutes) When the potatoes are done, allow to cool for ten minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. Add all the ingredients except the green onions and 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese to the potato mixture. Mix until creamy. Top with more cheddar cheese and chopped green onions. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe

2011-03-03T16:32:00.000-05:00

Pimento Cheese - A Southen Staple

2011-03-03T16:24:00.001-05:00

Recipe for Four-Cheese Pimiento Sandwiches
Source: Tea Time at the Masters, Par Three

3 cups (12 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded yellow sharp cheddar cheese
4 ounces crumbled bleu cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 (4-ounce) jar sliced pimientos, drained
1 cup light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
White sandwich bread

Combine the white cheddar cheese, yellow cheddar cheese, bleu cheese, parmesan cheese, pimientos, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard in a food processor and process until smooth. Remove to a bowl. Cover and chill. Spread on white bread to make sandwiches.

Hospitality

2011-02-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

"Hospitality is a gift of your time. The most treasured gift you can make for your family and friends is a memory."
~Alda Ellis

Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

2011-02-26T13:51:00.005-05:00

Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

This recipe is from Mani Niall’s book Sweet!, which features various sweeteners in all their guises. From sprinkles of dark brown sugar, to swirls of agave nectar and viscous golden syrup, this book celebrates all things sweet.

One of things people often complain about “natural” foods is that they’re too expensive. Yes, this bag of unrefined cane sugar, called açúcar mascavo organico that I used to make this dessert, cost me around €3 at the Salon del Gusto I went to a few months back. It’s about twice what a similar-sized bag of refined white sugar would have set me back. But it has so much flavor, that even at three or four times the price, it’s still a great value. So don’t feel so guilty about occasionally going au naturel if you want.

Sticky Toffee Pudding demands to be served warm. I mean, think about it: soft dates, gobs of toffee, and buttery cake. If you’re going to eat a cake smothered in creamy, sugary toffee sauce, if you don’t eat it warm, you’re missing out on of one life’s great pleasures. Thankfully, Mani offers two ways to make this. The instructions below are for those seeking immediate gratification, and the notes after the recipe offer a do-ahead alternative, for those seeking delayed gratification.

I’ve been meaning to make Sticky Toffee Pudding for years now, almost since my high school days, which are, unfortunately, a little too far behind me. So although I’m fully-clothed, and not fraternizing with strapping young high school jocks anymore, I’m jumping around my kitchen, yelling “Sweet!” anyways.

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Dates and Candied Ginger
Eight servings

Adapted from Sweet! (Da Capo) by Mani Niall

Because I like the play of sweet and spicy, I added a handful of chopped candied ginger to the recipe. You can use Golden Syrup, which is one of the best sweeteners ever. I also made a batch with treacle from England, which is similar to molasses, and it was excellent, too.

Things got a little out of hand here, and I ended up making Sticky Toffee Pudding twice this week, the second time in my Baker’s Edge pan. If using one, bake the pudding for 35 to 40 minutes.

For the toffee sauce

2 cups (500ml) heavy cream
1/2 cup (90g) demerara or muscovado sugar (or another dark brown sugar)
2 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup or molasses
pinch of salt

For the pudding

6 ounces (180g) pitted dates, snipped or chopped
1 cup (250ml) water
1 teaspoon baking soda
optional: 1/3 cup (40g) candied ginger, chopped
1 1/4 cups (175g) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
4 tablespoons (55g) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (190C) and butter an 8 1/2-inch (24cm) porcelain soufflé dish (or similar-sized baking dish.)

2. Make the toffee sauce by bringing the cream, demerara or turbinado sugar, golden syrup (or molasses) and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring often to melt the sugar.

3. Lower heat and simmer, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is thick and coats the spoon. Pour half the sauce into the prepared soufflé dish and place the dish in the freezer, and reserve the other half for serving.

4. To make the pudding, in a medium saucepan, heat the dates and water. Once the water begins to boil, remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. Add the ginger, if using, then set aside, but keep it slightly warm.

5. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

6. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, or by hand, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then the vanilla. (Don’t be alarmed if the mixture looks a bit curdled.)

7. Stir in half of the flour mixture, then the date mixture, then add the remaining flour mixture until just mixed. Don’t overbeat the batter.

8. Remove the soufflé dish from the freezer and scrape the batter into the soufflé dish and bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached.

9. Remove the pudding from the oven, and let cool slightly before serving.

Serving: Spoon portions of the cake into serving bowls and douse with additional warm toffee sauce. Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream are good accompaniments, although I enjoy it just as it is.

Note: To make the pudding in advance, bake the cake without the toffee in the bottom. Let cool, then cover until close to serving time. Poke the cake about fifteen times with a chopstick. Distribute half of the sauce over the top, as shown in the photo, cover with foil, then re-warm in a 300F (150C) oven, for 30 minutes.

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe

2011-02-26T13:45:00.001-05:00

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe: Le Chocolat Chaud

When the winter chill comes to Paris, one of the great pleasures is sipping a cup of rich hot chocolate, le chocolat chaud, in a cozy café.

Contrary to popular belief, most versions of Parisian hot chocolate are made with milk rather than cream, and get their luxurious richness from lots of top-quality chocolate. This cup of chocolat chaud is deeply-flavorful, but not over-the-top rich…so there’s no need to feel guilty indulging in a nice, warm cup whenever you feel the need.

Parisian Hot Chocolate

Four ‘Parisian-sized’ Servings

2 cups (.5l) whole milk
5 ounces (130 g) bittersweet chocolate, (with at least 70% cacao solids), finely chopped
optional: 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1. Heat the milk in a medium-sized saucepan.

2. Once the milk is warm, whisk in the chocolate, stirring until melted and steaming hot. For a thick hot chocolate, cook at a very low boil for about 3 minutes, whisking frequently. (Be careful and keep an eye on the mixture, as it may boil up a bit during the first moments.)

3. Taste, and add brown sugar if desired.

Serve warm in small demitasse or coffee cups.

Note: This hot chocolate improves if made ahead and allowed to sit for a few hours. Rewarm before serving. I also like to add a few flecks of fleur de sel, the very good sea salt from Brittany.

Happiness and Thoreau

2011-02-21T09:29:00.002-05:00

Hershey 'Perfect Chocolate Cake'

2011-02-19T13:04:00.005-05:00

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa baking power, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs. milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan, turning onto a wire rack. Frost as desire

'PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE' FROSTING

1/2 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
3 cups confectioners sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Alternately add confectioners sugar and milk. Beat to spreading consistency.
Add a small amount of milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T17:07:00.005-05:00

Happy 2011! I really meant to post on 11/1/11, but still had (have) the flu. I came down with it just before Thanksgiving and still have it. Blah!

When I was awake, we spent the time making plans for the new year - details to come.

At this point, my Etsy account is inactive. It's just too demanding on my time with the holidays and my poor health. I hope to have it active again soon.

I did all of my holiday shopping on the Internet. What a treat not to have to fight the crowds when I'm feeling poorly. Darling hubby wouldn't tell me what he wanted, so he got lots of gourmet cookware - including a gelato machine that makes ice cream in 30 minutes. Wow! Trouble is, I think we can eat it faster than that!

We are learning the newest game of Trivial Pursuit. Such questions! It has also added the element of gambling. I'm not totally against gambling, but I'd rather answer questions.

Ray bought me a fabulous bracelet from Morning Glory Designs - to be found on Etsy. It is shown in the picture above. Willie does the most fabulous work!

Must rest for a while, so I can beat Ray playing Trivial Persuit. (He beat me 2 out of 2 last night. Hum Bug!

Ruth Ann

Recipe for Bell's Seasoning

2010-11-29T10:28:00.003-05:00

If you have been unable to locate
Bell's Seasoning,

here is the recipe for making it yourself:

· 1/4 TEASPOON THYME

· 3/4 TEASPOON SAGE

· 1/4 TEASPOON MARJORAM

· 1/4 TEASPOON ROSEMARY

· 1/4 TEASPOON BLACK PEPPER

· 1/4 TEASPOON NUTMEG

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-26T09:30:00.005-05:00

I hope that you all had a fun and blessed Thanksgiving!

We survived the usual boring dinner at the funeral home.
We had a few extra people this year which made life more interesting.

The Lord has truly blessed us this year.

I am still alive and able to walk some
even though my doctor says that I should be dead.

Ray has been laid off almost two years now.
We had health insurance through last month -
though at a very high rate.

We have had the time to plan for a new business
where we will be totally self employed.

I have had the opportunity to plan some new beadwork.

May the Good Lord bless you and your family!

Ruth Ann

JackieEvancho

2010-08-14T18:19:00.001-04:00

Bananas Foster Crepe Filling

2010-07-10T11:35:00.001-04:00

1 fresh banana, sliced

2 Tablespoons of salted butter
3 Tablespoons of dark brown sugar
A a splash of white or dark rum
Sweetened whipped Creme

Saute the first 3 ingredients until hot and bubbly. Add rum, spoon into a crepe and top with a banana slice and whipped cream.

Raspberry Dessert Recipe

2010-06-27T13:45:00.002-04:00

1 stick margarine, softened

1 cup all purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans

Mix well. Press into a 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened

2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

8 ounces Cool Whip

Mix together and spread over cooled crust.

Dissolve

2 3-ounce packages raspberry jello

½ cup sugar

2 cups hot water.

When dissolved add

2 10-ounce packages frozen red raspberries

Stir until the mixture is somewhat thickened.

Pour over cream chesse mixture.

Cover and refrigerate until set.

Free Beaded American Flag Pattern

2010-06-21T13:54:00.004-04:00

This is a free pattern for an American flag bracelet.
It is worked with 11/o delicas and be finished with a purchased or handmade clasp.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann

Chickens and Roads

2010-06-13T19:23:00.011-04:00

I want to live

in a world

where a chicken can

cross the road

without anybody

questioning its motives.

~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

Think Like a Queen

2010-05-24T10:53:00.005-04:00

“Think like a Queen.

A queen is not afraid to fail.

Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”

–Oprah Winfrey

Simplicity - da Vinci

2010-05-13T12:10:00.001-04:00

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

~Leonardo da Vinci

My Mission of Serving

2010-04-28T12:43:00.004-04:00

"God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission -- I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in His -- if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep his commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve him. My sickness, or perplexity, or my sorrow be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about; He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me-still He knows what He is about.”

~Venerable Henry Newman

The Gentle Gardener

2010-04-27T08:08:00.003-04:00

The Gentle Gardener

I'd like to leave but daffodills to mark my little way,

To leave but tulips red and white behind me as I stray;

I'd like to pass away from earth and feel I'd left behind

But roses and forget-me-nots for all who come to find.

I'd like to sow the barren spots with all the flowers of earth,To leave a path where those who come should find but gentle mirth;

And when at last I'm called upon to join the heavenly throng

I'd like to feel along my way I'd left no sign of wrong.

And yet the cares are many and the hours of toil are few;

There is not time enough on earth for all I'd like to do;

But, having lived and having toiled, I'd like the world to find

Some little touch of beauty that my soul had left behind.

Edgar A Guest

Spring

2010-04-24T11:52:00.002-04:00

The Year's At The Spring

The year's at the spring
And the day's at the morn;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn:
God's in His heaven-
All's right with the world!

Robert Browning

Margaret Thatcher Quote

2010-04-21T10:34:00.003-04:00

'Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.

It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing;

it's when you've had everything to do and you've done it.'

~ Margaret Thatcher

Gem Stone

2010-04-14T09:36:00.000-04:00

Your gemstone is Garnet.

Each gemstone has a unique crystalline and chemical composition. For thousands of years, shamans, royalty and healers have used the properties of individual gemstones to bring about desired changes, heal the bodies and minds of people, and ask for blessings or improvements.

You have just completed a test that helped you discover a gemstone that can serve is your crystalline ally. Garnet is inline with who you are as a person and can bring you benefits to different aspects of your life.

Garnet helps bring order and organization to chaotic situations. Being attractive is a characteristic you value. To help you achieve that desired attractivenes, Garnet can be of assitance. Garnet also helps you attract more positive energy into your life. Garnet is a birthstone for the month of January, the month you were born.Garnet is also a stone that corresponds to your astrological sign, Aquarius.

The Fun Ship Cocktail

2010-04-11T15:45:00.002-04:00

For Your Sipping Pleasure:

"FUN SHIP®" COCKTAIL

1/2 oz. Amaretto
3/4 oz. 151 Rum
3/4 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Apricot Brandy
4 oz. Fruit Punch (recipe below)

Garnish with a cherry and orange slice.

FRUIT PUNCH

2 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Sweet & Sour Mix
.25 oz. Grenadine
.125 oz. Angostura Bitters

"FUN SHIP®" COCKTAIL
(non-alcoholic)

4 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Lemon Juice
4 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
dash Grenadine
dash Angostura Bitters

Blend and pour over ice

Spring Has Sprung

2010-04-10T13:50:00.004-04:00

Our geese have returned!
I love to get up early and
hear them talking outside my office window!

Our ginseng has started to come up.
We planted seeds in the pots early in the year.

We planted seeds in the milk jugs and ice cream tubs a couple of weeks later.
We planted the tubers in the woods last fall.
I'm sure that they are coming up,
but we haven't found them yet.

Our plum trees haven't had plums in several years,
but the dwarf tree is lovely this year.
The sticks surrounding the plum tree
are dwarf blueberries.
the messy greenery at the base
is an assortment of mints and herbs that survived the winter.

Have a joyous spring!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

The Legend of the Dogwood

2010-04-04T06:28:00.001-04:00

The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

There is a legend, that at the time of Jesus Christ's Crucifixion the dogwood was the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in his suffering said to it: Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross...two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember.

Ruth Ann

http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com/

Morning Glory Cottage Jewelry Designs

2010-03-26T17:27:00.007-04:00

Willie Zuniga
of
Morning Glory Designs
creates some of the most beautiful jewelry I have ever seen.

While my jewelry boxes overflow with
fine jewelry,
bridge jewelry,
and
pieces collected in foreign lands,
I prefer Willie's jewelry.

Just don't tell my husband!

Willie's jewelry is all handmade
using the best products.
All of her metalwork is specially coated
to give it a sturdier,
smoother feel.
Though I am allergic to most metals,
her ring, which I wear almost constantly
has never bothered my finger.

I own many pieces of Willie's jewelry
and want much more!

There aren't enough good things that I can say
about Willie's jewelry,
except that you must buy some for yourself.
I have purchased pieces to give to my friends,
but they are all still here.
I just can't bear to part with them.

Willi also donates a large portion of her sales
to buy supplies to teach cancer patients to bead.

Go forth and buy!

Irish Music

2010-03-19T10:57:00.001-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T16:32:00.003-04:00

Buy American

2010-03-08T12:26:00.000-05:00

You might want to pass this on. I buy 90% of our gasoline at ARCO..................but take a look at WALMART. WOW they do it right

WHERE TO BUY AMERICAN GASOLINE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON.

Gas rationing in the 70's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even have been good for us!

Are you aware that the Saudis are boycotting American products? In addition, they are gouging us on oil prices.

Shouldn't we return the favor? Can't we take control of our own destiny and let these giant oil importers know who REALLY generates their profits, their livings? How about leaving American Dollars in America and reduce the import/export deficit?

An appealing remedy might be to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up your car you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia . Just purchase gas from companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill up my tank, I'm sending my money to people who I get the impression want me, my family and my friends dead. The following gas companies import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell................................... 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco..................... 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil........................ 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway............. 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco................................. 62,231,000 barrels

And CITGO oil is imported from Venezuela by Dictator Hugo Chavez who hates America and openly avows our economic destruction! (We pay Chavez's regime nearly $10 Billion per year in oil revenues!)

The U.S. currently imports 5,517,000 barrels of crude oil per day from OPEC. If you do the math at $100 per barrel, that's over $550 million PER DAY ($200 BILLION per year!) handed over to OPEC, many of whose members are our confirmed enemies!!!!! It won't stop here - oil prices could go to $200 a barrel or higher if we keep buying their product.

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco.........................0 barrels
Conoco.........................0 barrels
0ASinclair.....................0 barrels
BP / Phillips................. 0 barrels

Hess.............................0 barrels

ARC0............................0 barrels

Maverick.......................0 barrels

Flying J.........................0 barrels

Valero.........................0 barrels
Murphy Oil USA *.........0 barrels

*Sold at Wal-Mart , gas is from South Arkansas and fully USA owned and produced.

*Not only that but they give scholarships to all children in their town who finish high school and are legal US citizens..

All of this information is available from the U.S. Department of Energy and each company is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

Thar Be Dragons!

2010-03-08T09:29:00.006-05:00

While traveling in China Ray bought me a pearl bracelet with little gold beads. The clasp was a gold dragon biting its tail. Mr. Dragon had ruby eyes.

We had a break-in at our old house a couple of years ago, so now someone else owns my lovely bracelet. The clasps above are the closest I've found, but they're only sterling with no rubies.
Anyone know where to find a gold dragon?

Thanks!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Art Beads Muse Contest IV

2010-03-05T15:40:00.006-05:00

The 'Use the Muse' kit 4 beads and treasures were mailed today. I expect to receive mine Thursday or Friday if the Post Office doesn't get it hung up somewhere along the way. I think my mail lady enjoys my beading magazines, because quite a few never arrive.

Except for County and State fairs, this is the first contest I have ever entered. I know there are far better beaders out there, but I'll try not to embarrass anyone. ;o)

If you should see a strange woman hanging onto her mail box, it will probably be me!

Ruth Ann
beads@bledsoe.net
http://r2swanger.etsy.com

A Field Full of Robins

2010-03-04T11:44:00.003-05:00

Our little skiff of snow is gone and the field is full of robins today.
The snow didn't last long, but is was exciting to those of us who rarely see snow.
Our Bradford pears were in full bud, but now are frozen nubbins.
The grass is starting to grow in spots.
Oh, lovely spring!
Work. Work. Work.

Have a great day!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Craft Map

2010-03-03T16:13:00.002-05:00

I'm on the
Craft Map
now.
Look for me in
Dunlap, TN

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

I Love You!

2010-02-25T11:13:00.000-05:00

How to say I Love You in 100 Languages

English - I love you
Afrikaans - Ek het jou lief
Albanian - Te dua
Arabic - Ana behibak (to male)
Arabic - Ana behibek (to female)
Armenian - Yes kez sirumem
Bambara - M'bi fe
Bengali - Ami tomake bhalobashi (pronounced: Amee toe-ma-kee bhalo-bashee)
Belarusian - Ya tabe kahayu
Bisaya - Nahigugma ako kanimo
Bulgarian - Obicham te
Cambodian - Soro lahn nhee ah
Catalan - T'estimo
Cherokee - Tsi ge yu i
Cheyenne - Ne mohotatse
Chichewa - Ndimakukonda
Chinese
Cantonese - Ngo oiy ney a
Mandarin - Wo ai ni
Comanche - U kamakutu nu
(pronounced oo----ka-ma-koo-too-----nu) -- Thx Tony
Corsican - Ti tengu caru (to male)
Cree - Kisakihitin
Creol - Mi aime jou
Croatian - Volim te
Czech - Miluji te
Danish - Jeg Elsker Dig
Dutch - Ik hou van jou
Elvish - Amin mela lle (from The Lord of The Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien)
Esperanto - Mi amas vin
Estonian - Ma armastan sind
Ethiopian - Afgreki'
Faroese - Eg elski teg
Farsi - Doset daram
Filipino - Mahal kita
Finnish - Mina rakastan sinua
French - Je t'aime, Je t'adore
Frisian - Ik hald fan dy
Gaelic - Ta gra agam ort
Georgian - Mikvarhar
German - Ich liebe dich
Greek - S'agapo
Gujarati - Hoo thunay prem karoo choo
Hiligaynon - Palangga ko ikaw
Hawaiian - Aloha Au Ia`oe
Hebrew
To female - "ani ohev otach" (said by male) "ohevet Otach" (said by female)
To male - "ani ohev otcha" (said by male) "Ohevet ot'cha" (said by female)
Hiligaynon - Guina higugma ko ikaw
Hindi - Hum Tumhe Pyar Karte hae
Hmong - Kuv hlub koj
Hopi - Nu' umi unangwa'ta
Hungarian - Szeretlek
Icelandic - Eg elska tig
Ilonggo - Palangga ko ikaw
Indonesian - Saya cinta padamu
Inuit - Negligevapse
Irish - Taim i' ngra leat
Italian - Ti amo
Japanese - Aishiteru or Anata ga daisuki desu
Kannada - Naanu ninna preetisuttene
Kapampangan - Kaluguran daka
Kiswahili - Nakupenda
Konkani - Tu magel moga cho
Korean - Sarang Heyo or Nanun tangshinul sarang hamnida
Latin - Te amo
Latvian - Es tevi miilu
Lebanese - Bahibak
Lithuanian - Tave myliu
Luxembourgeois - Ech hun dech gaer
Macedonian - Te Sakam
Malay - Saya cintakan mu / Aku cinta padamu
Malayalam - Njan Ninne Premikunnu
Maltese - Inhobbok
Marathi - Me tula prem karto
Mohawk - Kanbhik
Moroccan - Ana moajaba bik
Nahuatl - Ni mits neki
Navaho - Ayor anosh'ni
Ndebele - Niyakutanda
Norwegian
Bokmaal - Jeg elsker deg
Nyonrsk - Eg elskar deg
Pandacan - Syota na kita!!
Pangasinan - Inaru Taka
Papiamento - Mi ta stimabo
Persian - Doo-set daaram
Pig Latin - Iay ovlay ouyay
Polish - Kocham Ciebie
Portuguese - Eu te amo
Romanian - Te iubesc
Russian - Ya tebya liubliu
Scot Gaelic - Tha gra\dh agam ort
Serbian - Volim te
Setswana - Ke a go rata
Sign Language - ,\,,/ (represents position of fingers when signing 'I Love You')
Sindhi - Maa tokhe pyar kendo ahyan
Sioux - Techihhila
Slovak - Lu`bim ta
Slovenian - Ljubim te
Spanish - Te quiero / Te amo
Swahili - Ninapenda wewe
Swedish - Jag alskar dig
Swiss-German - Ich lieb Di
Surinam - Mi lobi joe
Tagalog - Mahal kita
Taiwanese - Wa ga ei li
Tahitian - Ua Here Vau Ia Oe
Tamil - Nan unnai kathalikaraen
Telugu - Nenu ninnu premistunnanu
Thai
To female - Phom rak khun
To male - Chan rak khun
Informal - Rak te
Tunisian - Ha eh bak
Turkish - Seni Seviyorum
Ukrainian - Ya tebe kahayu
Urdu - mai aap say pyaar karta hoo
Vietnamese
To female - Anh ye^u em
To male - Em ye^u anh
Welsh - 'Rwy'n dy garu di
Yiddish - Ikh hob dikh
Yoruba - Mo ni fe
Zazi - Ezhele hezdege
Zuni - Tom ho' ichema

MARDI GRAS!

2010-02-16T07:43:00.003-05:00

In England and other countries around the world the beginning of Mardi Gras is
celebrated with Shrove Tuesday.
It is the day before the beginning of Lent or Ash Wednesday
when all fats and flours are removed from the household.
In many places, particularly in Olney, England,
this is celbrated by a pancake race.
While having been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans a couple of times
and to an Ash Wednesday service once,
I have never been to a pancake race.
We'll have to give to give it a try some day.

Happy Mardi Gras!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Snowy Day

2010-02-15T10:26:00.006-05:00

A Lovely Winter's Day

2010-02-12T13:08:00.005-05:00

It's winter in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. No snow today and the temperature was supposed to be in the mid 40s. It is currently 35 degrees and cloudy. We are enjoying a huge oak log in our wood burning fire place. (The other 6 are gas, but we're considering changing over.)

I don't know how wood will do in the kitchen as I always raise my bread on the hearth. Will the heat be sufficient? We shall see.

We're expecting 7 guests for dinner this evening. We'll be dining in the kitchen because the dining room is slightly narrow and whomever sits in front of the fire gets roasted alive.
Ray is cooking, of course. A ham has been baking for hours, blending it's aroma with the fire. Pure Heaven! We're having our special creamed potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese. Fried corn that was scraped from the cob only a few months ago. And green beans with bacon, mushrooms, pimentos, and almonds. A greater feast, you couldn't ask for!

The guests are bringing dessert and wine. A fine evening!

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

About RaggBaggs

2010-02-07T18:59:00.002-05:00

Name:

Ruth Ann Swanger

Business Name:

RaggBaggs

Website:
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Home:

Southeast Tennessee

What is it that you design and create?

bead weaving, embroidery, designer purses - I have also published 2 cookbooks with afternoon tea recipes

What is your favorite part of the design process?

Taking someone else's pattern and creating my own design from it. We live in an area with no bead stores for about 200 miles, so I buy kits to be sure that the beads co-ordinate.

How did you come up with your business name?

I started out making limited edition embroidered purses. After a serious accident, I was no longer to keep up production, so I switched to beadwork (which I've been doing for more than 40 years) as my main source of income. RaggBaggs was well known, so I just kept the name.

When and how did it all begin?

I've loved craftwork all of my life. Mama taught me to embroider by hand before I started kindergarten. Daddy taught me to knit and crochet. I learned beadwork in 4-H. My mother-in-law taught me to quilt. I learned to do machine embroidery in the 80s. Kumihimo is my latest learning experience.

Who or what inspires you?

I just love to make things. I have never been able to sit down and do nothing. There is always a project close at hand.

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
Find something you truly love to do and do it. Except for very special people on very special occasions, never give your work away. Make pieces that you really love and keep them if you want to or have to. Never undersell your work.

Make your husband feel like he's the most wonderful person on earth (mine actually is!) so that he'll do most of the housework while you play. Uh, I mean work. Yeah that's it. Work!

What music are you listening to?

Live Irish Radio

What TV show are you hooked on?

Anything on the food channel.

What was the last movie you saw?

White Christmas

What is your favorite food?

I love our local southern food, but I'm always game to try something new. We went to Atlanta and had Lebanese food the other night. The prices were outrageous, but I can't wait to go back. We love Chinese food here in the states, but spending a month in China just about starves us to death. We have great passions for Indian, Mexican, Irish, and Portuguese cooking.

What is your favorite candy or treat?

Coconut pie loaded with meringue.

Coffee or Tea?

Cappuccino

What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?

Any bead store. Every jewelry store in St. Thomas!

Any pets?

Our 10 1/2 year old Shih Tzu named Poppett.

Favorite place to visit or would like to visit?

My favorite thus far has been Ireland, but I'm itching to spend a year in Greece!

If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what superpower would you have?

Super Traveler!

Celebrity crush?

Higgins from that show that took place in Hawaii. Can't remember the name of the show, but Higgins was so well mannered and elegant. Not to mention so very British!

Favorite holiday?

Hallowe'en and Christmas.

If you were a shoe what shoe would you be

Woolly Mammoth Crocs.

What do you secretly wish you could do or be?

A world traveler with an unlimited budget.

Favorite piece of clothing?

Any type of formal wear that's both comfortable and elegant. Tea with Her Majesty anyone?

Do you speak any languages or want to learn one?

I speak English fairly well if you overlook my southern accent. Any country we visit, I learn to ask 'where is the bathroom' and 'how much does it cost'. Ray learns to order beer and to say 'that's too much!'

Plans for yourself/business?

I buy lots of unusual jewelry components and focal pieces when we travel. I buys lots of fine fabrics. I eat lots of exotic food. So my plans are to travel a lot!

Have a great evening!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Brazilian Caipirinha Recipe

2010-02-07T09:43:00.005-05:00

My niece recently returned from several months in Brazil.
Last night she taught me to make this marvelous cocktail.
Wow!!!!!

Ingredients

3 limes
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 quarts ice
1 cup cachaca (Brazilian brandy made from sugar cane)

Instructions

Cut the limes in half, and then cut each half into 8 pieces. Place 12 pieces of lime in each of 4 double old-fashioned glasses (or other 12-ounce glasses.) Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar into each glass. Using a muddler or the butt end of a large wooden spoon, mash the limes into the base of the glass. Try to dissolve the sugar as you do this, and stir occasionally. Fill each glass with 1 1/2 cups of ice and 1/4 cup of cachaca. Pour the contents of the glass into a shaker, and invert the glass into the shaker to act as a lid. Shake the glass and shaker to combine the sugar and cachaca for several seconds. Lift the glass from the shaker, and pour the contents back into the glass. Repeat the process with the remaining 3 glasses.

Yield: 4 caipirinhas

Chicken Salad Recipe

2010-02-05T14:09:00.003-05:00

We're having a singing at church tonight. We're expecting about 500 people from all over the southeast. What fun it will be for our little country church! Here is the recipe for the chicken salad I'll be taking. We sing really well, but we eat better!

Provisions Market Chicken Salad

1 ¾ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled

½ cup slivered almonds, toasted

3 green onions, sliced

3/8 cup green seedless grapes

3/8 cup red seedless grapes

6½ tablespoons mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon honey

Salt

Ground pepper

Cut chicken into ½” cubes. Place in a large bowl. Add almonds, onions, and grapes; toss.

In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over chicken mixture.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Loveland

2010-02-05T10:59:00.005-05:00

The 2010 Loveland Valentine's Card Remailing Program

Each year, thousands of people bundle up all of their Valentine cards and send them to the Loveland post office, where they're stamped with a special poem and cancellation mark (this year's stamp is at left). This is the 64th year of the program!

If you want to get in on this neat event, send your bundle of cards and letters to Postmaster, Attention: Valentine's Postmark, 446 East 29th Street, Loveland, CO 80538-9998.

For cards within U.S. and outside of Colorado, your cards should be in Loveland by Feb. 9; for within the state of Colorado, your cards should be in Loveland by Feb. 12.

Show your Valentine how much you love her with a special piece of jewelry from
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Have a great day!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Groundhog day

2010-02-03T09:04:00.003-05:00

Thank you, Phil!

Yesterday Phil said there would be 6 more weeks of winter and I'm so greatful! Not that I like the cold weather, but I do love snuggling down in front of the fire instead of mowing the lawn!

I love spring and fall, but we only get about a week of each here. Not enough! If it were dry enough, we could mow today, but we keep hoping for another freeze.

Knitting socks and playing with beads in front of the fire really suits my life style.

Enjoy it while it lasts!
Ruth Ann
http://r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

The Weather

2010-01-30T11:09:00.001-05:00

HOW COLD IS IT?
An annotated thermometer (degrees Fahrenheit)

+50
* New York tenants turn on the heat
* Minnesotans plant gardens

+40
* Californians shiver uncontrollably
* Minnesotans sunbathe

+35
* Italian cars don't start

+32
* Distilled water freezes

+30
* You can see your breath
* You plan a vacation in Florida
* Politicians begin to worry about the homeless
* Minnesotans eat ice cream

+25
* Boston water freezes
* Californians weep pitiably
* Cat insists on sleeping on your bed with you

+20
* Cleveland water freezes
* San Franciscans start thinking favorably of LA
* Green Bay Packers fans put on T-shirts----Hell YEAH!!!

+15
* You plan a vacation in CANCUN!!!!!
* Minnesotans go swimming

+10
* Politicians begin to talk about the homeless
* Too cold to snow
* You need jumper cables to get the car going

0
* New York landlords turn on the heat

-5
* You can hear your breath
* You plan a vacation in Hawaii

-10
* American cars don't start
* Too cold to skate

-15
* You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo
* Miamians cease to exist
* Minnesotans lick flagpoles

-20
* Cat insists on sleeping in your pajamas with you
* Politicians actually do something about the homeless
* People in LaCrosse think about taking down screens

-25
* Too cold to kiss
* You need jumper cables to get the driver going
* Japanese cars don't start
* Minnesota Twins head for spring training

-30
* You plan a two-week hot bath
* Bock beer production begins
* Minnesotans shovel snow off roof

-38
* Mercury freezes
* Too cold to think
* Minnesotans button top button

-40
* Californians disappear
* Car insists on sleeping in your bed with you
* Minnesotans put on sweaters

-50
* Congressional hot air freezes
* Alaskans close the bathroom window
* Green Bay Packers practice indoors

-60
* Walruses abandon Aleutians
* Minnesotans put gloves away, take out mittens
* Boy Scouts in Eau Claire start Klondike Derby

-70
* Minneapolis residents replace diving boards with hockey nets
* Ridgeway snowmobilers organize trans-river race to Buffalo, WI

-80
* Polar bears abandon Baffin Island
* Girl Scouts in Eau Claire start Klondike Derby

-90
* Lawyers chase ambulances for no more than 10 miles
* Wisconsinites migrate to Minnesota thinking it MUST be warmer

-100
* Santa Claus abandons North Pole
* Minnesotans pull down earflaps

-173
* Ethyl alcohol freezes
* The University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus) closes

-445
* Superconductivity

-452
* Helium becomes a liquid

-454
* Hell freezes over

-456
* Illinois drivers drop below 85 MPH on I-90

-458
* Incumbent politician renounces a campaign contribution

-460 (Absolute Zero)
* All atomic motion ceases
* Minnesotans allow as to how it's getting a mite nippy
* The University of Minnesota-Duluth is closed

Winter and Deer

2010-01-29T17:07:00.004-05:00

Winter seems to have finally arrived here. We've had colder days, but today is our first snow. There was a beautiful deer just outside my office window early this morning. The crows have gone into hiding.

We have a pot of fiery hot chili simmering away on the stove and logs are ready to be put on the fire. Life is good!

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com

Happy Lazy New Year

2010-01-27T16:56:00.006-05:00

Good afternoon, all!

It's a beautiful, sunny day here! Ray is out chopping wood from our forest to provide for the cold weather to come. It's glorious to snuggle down in front of the fire with a cup of hot cider, a good man, a good dog, and a good book.

I've been diagnosed with severe anemia and I can't take iron in any form. While I was at it, my thyroid decided to die. I have to have help to walk to the bathroom, so I've decided to learn to do something new. I have a new kumihimo disk and an assortment of threads from Primitive Originals and am having a great time playing with them. I wish I could say that I made the cords below, but the photos are from Primitive Originals. I'll get there!
Happy New Year and Happy Beading to one and all!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Merry Christmas from Anarae

2009-12-25T14:49:00.003-05:00

ANARAE

My great niece on
Christmas Day!

At only 18 months of age,
she can read 35 words and is learning more everyday.
I couldn't be more proud!!!!!
And, of course, she's named after me!

Merry Christmas!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Merry Christmas from Poppett!!

2009-12-24T14:35:00.005-05:00

Poppett,
our beloved Shih Tzu,
wishes you a very
Merry Christmas!

She was 10 1/2 years old yesterday.

Christmas Eve Gift!

2009-12-24T13:54:00.008-05:00

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!

Since I was a child, it has been a tradition in our family that the first one to shout 'Christmas Eve Gift'
gets to open one of their presents on Christmas Eve.

I've decided to carry this tradition over to my blog.
Therefore,
the first person to email me with
"Christmas Eve Gift"
in the subject line
will receive a surprise gift from me.

My email address is
beads@bledsoe.net

There is no time limit on this little game.
You will be notified via this blog when the entry has been made.

Merry Christmas to All!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Ragg Baggs

Making Plans

Chicken Kiev

Cake Stencils

Happiness

Happiness by Thoreau

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe: Le Chocolat Chaud

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Cranberry Hooty Creeks Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

Directions:

Christmas 2011

Personalized Santa Hat Chair Back Covers

Cheddar Cheese Wafers Recipe

Northern Lights Seen in the South

A Very Cool Good Morning

Shar Pei Tote Bags

Shar Pei Tote Bag

The Best Cornbread Ever

Time to relax

Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

Kitty Kat for New Tote

Chicken Casserole

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe

Directions

Spelling Chili

Lace Monogram Letters

Corn and Crab Cakes

Christmas Tree Earrings

Recipe for Hot Tomato Jack and Crab Dip

White Wine and Strawberries

Ingredients

Preparation Instructions

Zesty Crab Tea Sandwiches

Our Favorite Pimento Cheese Recipe

Milky Way Cake

Steaknouse Mushroom Burgers

West Highland White Terrier

Caviar Dip from Ina Garten

Wildlife After the Tornado

Tornado Hits Sequatchie Valley April 27

New Basset Hound at GLamorous Chic

Fire Roasted Jalapenos Recipe

Jalapeño Roaster:

Doggie Tote Bags Added to Etsy Site

Happy Spring!!!

A Lazy Day

Him who strentheneth me

More Honkers

Sunday Visitors

Our Morning Visitor

John Wesley - "The Rules"

Winter is Still Here

God is Just - Thomas Jefferson

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Living with Style - Southern Style

Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice-Baked Potatoes Recipe

Pimento Cheese - A Southen Staple

Hospitality

Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe

Parisian Hot Chocolate Recipe: Le Chocolat Chaud

Happiness and Thoreau

Hershey 'Perfect Chocolate Cake'

Happy New Year!

Recipe for Bell's Seasoning

Happy Thanksgiving!

JackieEvancho

Bananas Foster Crepe Filling

Raspberry Dessert Recipe

Free Beaded American Flag Pattern

Chickens and Roads

I want to live

in a world

where a chicken can

cross the road