10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK

16 May - 23 May, 2010
"The principle thing is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." Steve Young

I accidentally took a week off from blogging. I had a guest post, a "Bits & Pieces" craft, a "Throw Back Thursday" recipe, and a Follow Friday. So, what happened? A BOOK! I have been so busy since we started the addition (now basically done) 2 years ago, that I have not really read. Like stay up most the night to finish a book I love, and have the next 3 in a pile to savour. AHH! It was wonderful. (More on the book next week;)
As always, these are in no particular order.

#1 It made me happy to quickly finish a book I was reading so I could read the borrowed book I wanted to read more. (If you can not wait for details, e-mail me. johnson797@att.net - I LOVED IT, but that is for next week.) I finished an always enjoyable Agatha Christie mystery. This time I read, "Murder of Roger Ackroyd". I had it figured out quite early, but I am sure I read it in my Jr. High Agatha Christy stage. I loved that clue was always spelled, "clew".

Journal entry - When I was in 6 th grade (Fresno, CA) I met a wonderful widow from my church. Mary Anne Hessler was from England and lived there during WWII. I loved her. I would visit her often after school for several years. I loved England, and still love Great Britain. Sister Hessler was housebound and I sat at her feet for hours as she shared England and her life with me. She helped me get an A on my 6th grade country report.  And that is why I ALWAYS use the English spelling of words such as favourite, flavour...  She would tell me the words and spellings that were different, and I drank it all in.  I still love this dear woman.

#2 Doug had Monday off. No cavities, mom. (I love it when Doug takes days off.)

#3 I was watching a tape of things I had taped this week. I watched part 1 of a Masterpiece Theatre movie. I do not think I taped part 2, so I watched it at the PBS web sight. It was called, "Small Island". I loved it. I loved the time period (end of WWII in England and Jamaica). I loved the characters, the accents and the story. I really loved the music. So...

#4 I went on line and found it here  Small Island (Original Television Soundtrack) at Amazon for ONLY $6.99. Leslie bought it for me and put it on her computer. Then she burned it on a CD and will put it on my ZUNE. I so love this music. (Go listen to some of it.) I have listened to the CD AT LEAST 20 times. I love music.

#5 Leslie also ordered the book from the library for me:)

#6 I re-did my spice cupboard. Got rid of some, bought some new. Washed them all and re-organized. So happy.

#7 Journal Entry - When all "this" started, my cholesterol was 797. (Non-diet related) After years of trying different medicines (some that I quit because of side effects, some that did not work...) and feeling like I have a flu, I told my Dr. this week I was going to quit them all if my #'s were the same.
Total Chol. 6 months ago-444 This Week-229!!!!
HDL 6 months ago-47 This week-68
LDL 6 months ago-326 This Week-109
Triglycerides 6 months ago-347 This Week-258
WHOO HOO! (and darn. I can't quit;)

#8 We had Mark's birthday dinner on Sunday. One of the things Doug grilled was pineapple. (One of our favourites.) I have wanted to try the Pampered Chef Pineapple corer (before buying one. Leslie has been going to Pampered Chef parties lately.). So, we borrowed Kate's. My review. I really liked it. (Christy cut it for me.) It cuts faster and neater than my old (Rachel Ray) way. Lots less mess, too. I felt like we got more pineapple and I liked that my slices were uniform. (I know what I will order from Leslie's party.)

#9 Only 1 week until 2 of my sisters come to visit. :O)

#10 I took this week off from cooking. But I did make a good new recipe. I tried "Angel Biscuits" from Heloise (from the Deseret News). We did not think they were really biscuits, but a good, fast and convenient dinner roll.
Ready?

Angel Biscuits - makes about 12
from Heloise via Deseret News

Dissolve together and set aside
1 table. dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water

Mix
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tea. baking soda
1 tea. baking powder
1 tea. salt
1/8 cup sugar

Cut in (as for pie crust)
1/2 cup shortening

Stir in
1 cup buttermilk
yeast mixture

Mix everything together and (this is the good part) put in (sprayed) container in the fridge. For how long? Till you are ready to use it :) (Up to about 1 week.)

To use the dough, put the dough on a lightly floured cutting board (or counter, whatever) and knead lightly. Press to a bit over 1 inch thick and cut into biscuit shape (I used floured glass rim.) I placed them into an 8 x 8 baking dish (with 1/4 cup butter melted in the bottom;)

Her recipe says to let rise slightly before baking @ 400* for 12-15 mins.

I put mine right into a cold oven. Set the temp for 400* and baked 25 mins. They were fast and good dinner rolls. Doug did say they were not too good the next day.
I have pictures. But I was up until 3 a.m. last night. Reading. I will post pictures tomorrow.