Going BANANAS!!!!

Omgosh! The heat, the heat... is making me bananas! At least MY bananas are ripening so fast... well... that was before I found that handy little tip on Pinterest to separate them from the bunch to slow ripening...

Anyways, that's a whole 'nother story.

I hate to waste food. Yes, hate is a strong word, and I mean it here. I believe we should all use our resources wisely. But whey you have, literally, a bunch of bananas going soft fast, what's a person to do? Um... stop... think... FREEZE! No, I don't mean in position! I mean PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER!!!!

And since it's summertime, or anytime around here, it's the best way to have things pre-prepped for smoothies, cakes, muffins, breads, ice cream, etc.  Sometimes you may have to thaw them, but this way... they're a quickie thaw. Let's go!

First, you're going to have to shed the skin PEEL the bananas. Just peel off that skin (and throw it in your compost pile...), and put all the bananas into a nice big, flat-bottomed bowl. Trust me... It's the best way.  Now, take a POTATO MASHER, not a blender, a mixer, or a food processor, but an old-fashioned yes, mine's plastic POTATO MASHER. (If you don't have one... a fork will suffice, but it will take longer, and depending on the amount of bananas you have, make your arm more sore. Need a workout? Then by all means... USE A FORK!) And mash the bananas. See? I told you flat-bottomed would be best. We're not using the machines and stuff, because we still want them semi-chunky and not pulverized into it's liquid form which happens when we process it and process it and process it.

 Next, spoon the mashed bananas into an... ICE CUBE TRAY! (Don't have any? They're at your local Dollar-Type Store! and come in very handy for other things, too!)

Just so you know... in an average-size tray, 8 (eight) cubes equals one cup (8 cubes = 1c).

Cover the trays with plastic wrap, so the bottoms don't get all ooey-gooey, stack them up, and... FREEZE! (No... we're not done yet!)

When they're frozen, they should pretty much look like this, and be hard to the touch. They won't firm up as much as water (like you're used to) but will retain a slightly softer, spongier, feel.

 At this point, go ahead and pop them into your morning smoothie... no need to add ICE CUBES which add WATER to your drink and make it taste less than it should be. Simply put these in, blend it up (with whatever fruit and other things you're planning) and drink up!

But... if you're NOT going to use them right away... Run the UNDERSIDE of each tray under hot water (one tray at a time...), and twist them out into a bowl.

Label a bag for freezer use... (I generally put directions on the bags, to prevent my family from asking me questions, when I'm not there...)

And empty the bowl into the bag! Squeeze out the air, seal the bag, and slide back into your freezer for your convenience!

And that's a wrap unwrap, folks. Have a super happy SATURDAY!!!!

Finalement Friday! Birthdays Galore... and MORE!!

And yes! It's Finally Friday!!! Not that it means much, as summer has started here... but... here goes!

 

I've decided to catch ya'll up on our goings-on... since it has been 6 months... It's a bit of jumping around, as it's hard to move things (I'm not familiar with a finger-type mouse) and I've just spent tons of time making these "simple" collages... lol! Supposed to be easy, right? Not...

 

Here... you'll see some of the cards I've created for various birthday parties.  Each of these were for kiddos, so... I have Marissa (she's now 8) color 2 "coloring pages" that I've whittled down, then cut them and mount with my fave... Silicon molding gel. I still believe this stuff is great. It's so much cheaper and easier to manage than pop-dots.

 

Some, I distress... others I simply embellish. All have a personalized message on the inside, whether it be poetry or just a cool comical sentiment. Each and every one of them has inked edges or features.

I had some issues recently... the hubs decided to tell me (after all these years...) that "nobody cares and it doesn't matter that I make or wrap things... homemade cards are just going to get thrown away... and nobody reads them anyway... it's time wasted..." Well, hmmmph!

 

These two beautiful productions were asked about right in front of him! The asking party did not know about the "issue".  My daughter came to me, asking for a custom card, which is here (on the right), and asked if I'd do one of my fancy wraps for the gift for a baby shower. Of course I would! I even wrote a custom insert in the card, specifically from my daughter to the new baby.

One MAJOR thing that has happened... my picky, picky daughter (yes... the 8-year-old) finally, FINALLY decided to start wearing denim. You have no clue how excited we all were. She previously would only wear t-shirt type knits (leggings, skorts, etc.), as she found "everything" else to be itchy and irritating.  Ugh... We all think she looks cuter than a button.

We still go to Sea World San Diego at least once or twice a month (gotta get the best use out of those passes, ya know?). And below... you'll see a bit of what we've been up to. Once of her favorite rides is Manta... Usually, it's so quick to finish and disembark, I can't whip out my camera phone.  But... on Easter weekend, it was a little behind, and so I did just that. And snap, snap... fun photos to share.

Baby Shamu (who still has yet to be named... btw... if you'd like to help name the latest edition to the Shamu family, there's a contest going on at: https://www.facebook.com/seaworldsandiego?v=app_317836181596979) is a HUGE attraction since he was born on Valentine's Day. Hurry! It closes today!

She also has gotten to pet the tail of a beaver (see photo), follow around a porcupine (not pictured... as it preferred to hide in the shrubbery), and visit with many other animals.

And of course... what theme-park visit wouldn't be complete without photo opps with "characters"? And so... Walking, talking Shamu... Where are YOU?

This weekend, we'll have some AWESOME pics and maybe even some video, as Miss Mo got straight A's, Perfect Attendance, and the Principal's Award so... she earned the reward of swimming with the dolphins at her favorite place. So back to Sea World we go... 10:45 am Saturday morning, with a high expected of 68 degrees F, there... Brrr... (and it's SUMMER-TIME!!!!).

Way back in January (yes... it's been that long ago...), our little 7-year-old and my last child turned 8.  I had stuff to do at my mom's and had her with me.  When we arrived back home, my oldest daughter (and her accomplices) had filled up Marissa's netted bedroom tent with 250 balloons. Some had confetti... some had glow sticks and looked AWESOME in the dark... some were clear... and there was LOTS of color.  She claimed it was, "the best birthday EVER!" and so...

almost 6 months later... some of those balloons are still in there... still blown up (although I have to admit the Leprechaun popped quite a bit of them when he made his appearance, but more on that later...). She's taken to popping a couple here and there, because... well... Mom's just sick of the mess.

 

There's so much more, but... I can't figure out how to access my dang external hard drive on the network where all the rest of the pics are. Oh well... another day.

 

So for now... enjoy your Friday. I'll enjoy mine!

Mama Kat's Losin' It Writer's Workshop 1.) List 6 random facts about you and your husband.

Um yeah... Juan. and Me. We're a crazy mis-matched pair of complete opposites... Go figure...

Random Fact Numero Uno.) I tan. He burns... and he's the Mexican side of our twosome. Weird, huh?

Random Facto Number Two.) I'm extremely opinionated and research... like EVERYTHING! He wonders who talked me into the ideas or mindsets (has he even met me?), yet he's the one who was CONVINCED that Michael Moore was completely right and not at all one-sided or biased in Fahrenheit 911. I'm going to go with... he's the one who believes nearly everything he hears. (and if it's on You-Tube... it must be true... lol!)

Random Fact Tres.) I taught him the rules of various sports... apparently, it's NOT a guy thing. I thought he was joking at first, when he asked me why a person was called out or a penalty made. Yes, seriously.

Random de-Facto Four.) Juan knows crafting, cooking and writing are important to me. I'm glad he does. He even built me the craftroom I designed because he wanted ALL of it out off the dining room table and other stashable places because he cares about my passion. By the way... only recently, he has let me know that, "Nobody cares," and "It doesn't matter to anyone; they're only going to throw it away," in regards to my card-making, gift-making, and gift-wrapping. Ugh! But I've been assured by others this isn't true... people PAY me to do it. Hahaha! Joke's on him, right?

Random Fact 5.) We really do love each other. I know it sounds crazy funny, but we do. I'm constantly asking him if he's happy, and if he's sure. And he always provides the correct right answer. He is! He's perfect in every other way that he isn't. And I've always been perfect. There are no questions about that!

And the finale Fact SIX!) I'm always right. He's always wrong. Simply put. It's just the way it is. He knows it. I know it. And who in their right mind is going to argue with that?



With this week back on the writing wagon down... I'm hoping to continue on during the summer. Hoping I got my mojo back.... Please go visit all the other WONDERFUL writers at Mama Kat's Writers' Workshop. It funny. It's awesome. It's a great place to be.  Thanks for visiting me!

Wordless/Word-FULL Wednesday: So Not My Photo, But I Love It!

Juan's on vacation this week... so there isn't much time, but... I'm here. I came. I presented.

 

I'd love to give credit to someone, but I don't know who... I found this on Facebook, and just loved it.  After working on a pool deck for a couple of beautiful weekends (where the weather was perfect... especially for a California pre-summer!) and having multiple people ask me what time it was... while I was supposed to be watching the strokes, turns, take-offs, etc... I just laughed and laughed.

 

I'm sure nobody else will think it is quite as funny as I do... but... I'm still cracking up when I view it.

 

Thank you to whoever did this little diddy. I love you for it! and FYI... If it happens to be YOUR work, please... PLEASE let me know, so I can give you the credit you deserve. It is awesome!

 

I'm sure there are TONS of other awesome aspiring peeps out there, whose pics and words can entertain you for a bit. Please go check them out here: http://www.twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.com/

 

And now I'm off!

6 Months Ago...

... I started writing again. Briefly. Only to stop again.

It's not that "life" got in the way.

It's not that so many things happened.

It's not that I was so overwhelmed.

It's not that I didn't have anything to write about.

It's about...

Me.

I lost it.

I felt lost.

I lost some "friends", not in the passed-away version, but in the they-didn't-want-to-be-my-friends-anymore version.

And so I felt I wasn't worthy. That I was a bad person.

I tried and tried to get away from that.

As it turns out. It was them. They may have been liars, users, and manipulators... all of what I'm not, and they didn't like it when I called them on it. And so... they ended the friendships, without letting me know... without letting me know why... leaving me to wonder and feel bad.

And I may have misinterpreted some or all... But when you don't let someone know, they can only guess. And so I felt bad... In a bad way. 

I'm a good person.

I'm a great friend.

I'm better off now. I'm ready to write.

I'm ready to craft and write about it.

I'm ready to cook and write about it.

I'm ready to go through life and write about it.

With all that said... I'd like to thank the true friends I still have, my family, and everyone else who really stood by me and supported me. You all made me feel worthy and told me about the person I really am.  Thank you.

Now let's get busy!!!!

How 'Bout Them Pies? (Part II)

Remember how yesterday, I showed you my beef and mushroom pot pies and promised you MORE? Whelpers... Here it is.  Beginning with a pie crust tutorial (and ending with the pie crust tutorial... read until the end, please...):

Yes... I used the food processor (the 2nd time around...). Put your ingredients in the food processor, beginning with the dry. Process the dry ingredients and SAVE YOURSELF the sifting time! (Tip of the day... hey!)

 Add COLD butter (everything tastes better with butter, ya know...) and a tiny bit of margarine (TY, Martha Stewart!) and process until it resembles peas. Not MUSHED peas, but firm looking little peas, popped right out of the pods...

See? I can see the peas in there... just pretend peas are white for minute, would you?

You should be able to press it together (between your fingers) and have it stick fairly well together.

Then... drop by drop, put in the water, processing BRIEFLY. It should roughly form a ball. A ball of dough. (Duh...)

 

[Sorry don't know what happened to the rest of the pictures of the dough-making, but I can't find them anywhere anymore.]

 

Now... take it out and wrap it super duper tight in plastic wrap and refrigerate it. For about an hour. If it's longer, that's fine, too.  As long as it's tightly wrapped, it should be fine.

 

Remove from the fridge and let stand for about 10 minutes or so before rolling. Woohoo! You did it! (I did, too!) Roll out just like I did in the first post about all of this... (CLICK HERE TO SEE!)

I'll give you part 3 tomorrow... with the actual pics of the turkey pot pie. Please be patient. I'm barely making it post today as it is. The losing-the-picture-thingy totally set me off and on a frenzied rampage. I finally had to realize you all weren't gonna die without them...

But here's a couple of notes...

• If at all possible, do it with a food processor. Not a mixer. Not by hand. It makes something extremely temperamental to create so super duper easy, that anyone can do it!
• Take it from the experts. If Martha wrote a great recipe. She's pretty dang sure it'll work, and that goes for Julia, too! (They're my friends... I know them well, or at least the books they've written.)
• Be sure to use ICE COLD WATER. I cannot tell you how important this is. Unless... you like a chewy glue-type crust. And glue is hard to roll.
• and that goes for the butter and margarine, too. COLD, COLD, COLD.
• When it says BRIEFLY. That's exactly what that means. Be brief. (I pulsed it, just so I wouldn't overdo it.
• If you're using purchased dough... that's fine, too. Ease is bliss. However, I just want to alert you... the purchased doughs are usually not vegetarian friendly (and in my case, intestine-friendly). I did not know until AFTER I'd eaten the beef pot pies that the pre-packaged dough contained lard. Don't get me wrong. LOVE the flavor. My body, however, hates it and tells me. Ick. Enough said.
• Either type of dough you use, flour your board fairly well, and keep flouring it. The books that say "lightly" are NOT very expertly. Martha and Julia tell us to turn the pastry continually to prevent sticking. I'm gonna go with that after scraping and wasting pie dough off my board.
• If you have access to a marble board, by all means... USE IT!!! I would if I could, but I can't, so I won't.
• If the box of a pan says "recipes included", don't waste your time looking for a pamphlet of recipes and then calling the company. If it says it's in there it probably is... Tear apart the box to find the recipes written in light gray on the inside of the box. This way, you don't sound silly to the person on the other line.

Crap-ola! Did I forget to give you the actual ingredients? No way...

Alrighty then. Straight from Martha's The Martha Stewart Cookbook: Collected Recipes for Everyday.

2 cups all-purpose (this is what I used, as Martha told me to...)
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 Tablespoons butter [1 1/2 sticks] (Martha says unsalted, but... uh... I didn't have any and they came out just fine and dandy.)
3 Tablespoons margarine (Martha says "or chilled vegetable shortening". I used Imperial Margarine.)
1/4 cup ice water

Simply follow the directions listed above, including the notes.

And... I'll see you tomorrow! Ready for some turkey...?

How 'Bout Them Pies? (Part I)

A while ago, I wrote about what the past months have been like. I believe I said I was going to attempt some pot pies. Well... I DID!!! The only problem was... it took me a looonnnggg time to download the pics. But I've got it all for you today.  Hooray! So here's the how and why...

Around the holidays, I found a beautiful white Crate & Barrel box on my front porch. It was addressed to me. My reaction? "Um... I didn't order anything, did I?" "Crap! What have I done?!!!" and so... I brought the box in. I did not open it for a couple of days for fear I would find some horrible mistake I'd made. I couldn't afford to purchase anything for myself during this time of year... what the heck was I thinking? and I'd have to scrounge together money to ship it back, and.. and... and the list went on.

And so... one day, I finally OPENED the box. To find a sweet little note atop a cute gift. A fellow official I'd met in December thought of me when she saw THIS:

and thought I might be able to use it. Wow! I was shocked and flattered and... crying! I blubbered like a baby, I was so overcome with emotion. Needless to say, this was completely unexpected. [We'd been catered-to at a swim meet with some of the best food imaginable on a pool deck, including... (you guessed it!) pot pies. They were chicken at the time, but we talked about recipes, fillings, cheater crusts (puff pastry being one...) and the like. It was fun!]

I just needed a little time to do something with them, and a free sane moment or two.

That came at the beginning of this year, and here we are nearly a month later... with the post that should have been.


So... let's begin. The first set (of pot pies)... I cheated. I admit it. My friend was the Pillsbury Doughboy. That ready-made crust that just needs to sit for a bit and then be cut and filled and popped into the office is just the thing when you need it.

 

I cut out 4 bottoms and 4 tops with the cutter that was provided (see how cute it all is?).

 

Placing the pie cavities with the cut pastry, and pressing them in... *IMPORTANT NOTE: IF YOU HAVE LONG FINGERNAILS, CUT THEM. Try to use your fingertip pads as much as possible, so as not to puncture the pastry dough. (Prevents filling leakage and the like.) I had nails puncturing, and I had to do some quick finger-pressing surgery to mend the holes and tears. Enough said...

 

 Then... filled 'em up!

 

 Placed the top crust on... and sealed the deal! (use a little water and rub it [with your fingertip] around the perimeter... helps to seal as you press it down onto the bottom crust.)

 

 And BAKE! (okay, so maybe a little less filling next time, but I really like the rustic look of the pies, and fullness, as well...)

 

 Just a little more up close...

 

 Look at those beautiful bottoms! Perfect!