I have had multiple requests for my Perfected Pimento Cheese. I must have made it a dozen times with variations on ingredients, only to find fault with all of them. The flavor was sometimes good, but the texture all wrong. I grated the cheese by hand (good, but annoying) I tried putting in cream cheese (not helpful to flavor) I tried adding cottage cheese (had potential). Finally I realized it wasn't ingredients as much as technique. So experiment with flavors you like, but treat the stuff gently.
Grate 1 lb. sharp cheddar with fine blade of food processor and remove it to a large bowl.
Blend with food processor:
1 c. cottage cheese
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
3-5 T. mayonnaise
1 tsp+ Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
Mix 4 oz. pimentos into mayo blend
Pour over grated cheese and gently fold it in.
Some people like grated onion, garlic or jalepeno in their cheese. These are fine, but not what I was looking for. But, I think the ingredients are personal and the gentle mixing is what finally gave it the fluffy texture I wanted.
Maybe I'll make granola bars this week too. I've finally perfected that one to my tastes too!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
what's cookin'?
We've been cooking up a storm here at the House of Pook and Bug. I think I'm restless without my babes here all day.
I've made a fresh salsa, perfect pimento cheese spread, and some hot pepper jelly. If someone gives you a large bag of mixed peppers, remember that hot pepper jelly doesn't call for many. I used the jalapeno ones, decided to dry the chilies, put the banana peppers on salads, and I think I'll pass the habanero peppers forward. If you or someone you know would like about 30 (probably) habanero peppers, please give me a call.
Here are some lovely photos taken by Bug of the gazpacho he helped me make. It is a perfect recipe for a kid to prepare.
I've made a fresh salsa, perfect pimento cheese spread, and some hot pepper jelly. If someone gives you a large bag of mixed peppers, remember that hot pepper jelly doesn't call for many. I used the jalapeno ones, decided to dry the chilies, put the banana peppers on salads, and I think I'll pass the habanero peppers forward. If you or someone you know would like about 30 (probably) habanero peppers, please give me a call.
Here are some lovely photos taken by Bug of the gazpacho he helped me make. It is a perfect recipe for a kid to prepare.
Here is the snack Bug and I made with our new pepper jelly, cream cheese and crackers. Yum!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
triathlon training and tears
Triathlon training: Transition swim-bike
1. put on swimsuit
2. get in shower
3. get out of shower (timer starts)
4. put on socks (all rolled down and ready to go)
5. put on shoes (trouble came here)
6. put on t-shirt (time 0:59)
7. run downstairs and out the door
8. put on bike helmet
9. leap onto bike
10. crash bike while still in driveway
11. extricate self from bike
12. cry and limp into the house
13. get Mama to wash the knee
14. refuse a bandage because it might hinder your biking performance
15. get back outside
16. go biking with Daddy
1. put on swimsuit
2. get in shower
3. get out of shower (timer starts)
4. put on socks (all rolled down and ready to go)
5. put on shoes (trouble came here)
6. put on t-shirt (time 0:59)
7. run downstairs and out the door
8. put on bike helmet
9. leap onto bike
10. crash bike while still in driveway
11. extricate self from bike
12. cry and limp into the house
13. get Mama to wash the knee
14. refuse a bandage because it might hinder your biking performance
15. get back outside
16. go biking with Daddy
Thursday, August 2, 2012
R&R but no painting
No, Pook's room isn't finished yet. Almost. Poor kid-- his books and toys are piled into boxes still. But the baseboards needed to be painted and we had a week at the beach scheduled, and, well, life got in the way. Soon. In fact the painting of the trim will happen tomorrow, and maybe we'll get his art on the wall over the weekend.
We went to St. Simons Island last week for a bit of R&R. This spring when summer camps first came into conversation (everyone seems to register in February for these) the boys expressed interest in Circus Camp. I pulled the laptop out one evening and investigated it. Over $300 each and it didn't even last all day. I turned to CD and moaned that we could rent a beach condo for that price. He very logically suggested then that we do. The next morning I put it to the kids: do you want a week of Circus Day Camp or a week with Daddy at the beach? And the beach won. We've raised those boys right.
Of course we didn't manage a week at the beach for $600, but it wasn't too bad and it was well worth it. We were in biking distance of the beaches and walking distance to the many restaurants in the pier area. We had some good food-- my favorite was at a place called Bubba Garcia's where I had a calamari and pineapple taco and some of the best guacamole I'd ever tasted. Another night we ate award winning BBQ and, being right by Brunswick GA, some Brunswick stew. All good.
I also realized that kids are magnets. All it took was two boys with two boogie boards and two shovels and suddenly there were boys ages 8-12 all over the place. Everywhere I looked. They all had boogie boards and they all had pails and/or shovels. I couldn't find a toddler anywhere, and yet when I had tots, I swore they were everywhere I looked.
Today was "Bridging Day" at the middle school. Pook and I were given (different) mock schedules of classes and spent 25 minutes in each. We met the core teachers, counselors and other administrators. I believe the kids learned how to open a locker. I liked all the teachers I met. They divide the 6th graders into two "teams" and then four teachers share those kids, plus "specials" for PE, art, band, etc. There are lots of clubs and activities and since Pook's good friend K attended one of the other feeder schools, he'll have an easy time meeting all the good geeks. I'm optimistic for him.
No pictures of the finished bedroom and none of the middle school (I'm sure everyone is so sorry about that) but here are some pictures from St. Simon's Island:
We went to St. Simons Island last week for a bit of R&R. This spring when summer camps first came into conversation (everyone seems to register in February for these) the boys expressed interest in Circus Camp. I pulled the laptop out one evening and investigated it. Over $300 each and it didn't even last all day. I turned to CD and moaned that we could rent a beach condo for that price. He very logically suggested then that we do. The next morning I put it to the kids: do you want a week of Circus Day Camp or a week with Daddy at the beach? And the beach won. We've raised those boys right.
Of course we didn't manage a week at the beach for $600, but it wasn't too bad and it was well worth it. We were in biking distance of the beaches and walking distance to the many restaurants in the pier area. We had some good food-- my favorite was at a place called Bubba Garcia's where I had a calamari and pineapple taco and some of the best guacamole I'd ever tasted. Another night we ate award winning BBQ and, being right by Brunswick GA, some Brunswick stew. All good.
I also realized that kids are magnets. All it took was two boys with two boogie boards and two shovels and suddenly there were boys ages 8-12 all over the place. Everywhere I looked. They all had boogie boards and they all had pails and/or shovels. I couldn't find a toddler anywhere, and yet when I had tots, I swore they were everywhere I looked.
Today was "Bridging Day" at the middle school. Pook and I were given (different) mock schedules of classes and spent 25 minutes in each. We met the core teachers, counselors and other administrators. I believe the kids learned how to open a locker. I liked all the teachers I met. They divide the 6th graders into two "teams" and then four teachers share those kids, plus "specials" for PE, art, band, etc. There are lots of clubs and activities and since Pook's good friend K attended one of the other feeder schools, he'll have an easy time meeting all the good geeks. I'm optimistic for him.
No pictures of the finished bedroom and none of the middle school (I'm sure everyone is so sorry about that) but here are some pictures from St. Simon's Island:
 | ||
| Two holes connected with sand "snowmen" keeping guard |
 |
| Pook rides a wave all the way in |
 |
| Fort Fredericka |
 |
| Live oaks and Spanish moss |
 |
| A Logerhead turtle at the Turtle Hospital on Jekyll Island |
 |
| Clearly we needed one more day of vacation so we could finish this |
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
bedrooms part ending: pictures!
I have some before and after pics! I love before and after pics! The room as a two-kid-bedroom had little space for more than the beds. Bug kept his dresser in it, and all his stuffed animals and books. All other toys were in the playroom.
The room as seen one night last year when I found Bug sleeping upside down in his bed Pippy Longstockings style. I see that Teddy was kicked off the bed. Pook is sound asleep like a straight little log in his neighboring bed.
The paint stamped jungle animals which were put along the chair rail by my MIL and pregnant-with-Bug me.
Mid paint job.
The new room, with the new home for stuffed animals on the trundle.
The walls are covered with tons of posters and art. Bug wanted all the old returned up and the new added and we didn't argue.
It didn't take long for Lego to spill out everywhere, making this a pretty honest look at his room.
Pook's room is almost finished and will be shown next week.
The room as seen one night last year when I found Bug sleeping upside down in his bed Pippy Longstockings style. I see that Teddy was kicked off the bed. Pook is sound asleep like a straight little log in his neighboring bed.
The paint stamped jungle animals which were put along the chair rail by my MIL and pregnant-with-Bug me.
The new room, with the new home for stuffed animals on the trundle.
It didn't take long for Lego to spill out everywhere, making this a pretty honest look at his room.
Pook's room is almost finished and will be shown next week.
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