NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH - A Disneyland Recipe

I wish I had used this whole month for ice cream. 
We bought a litre in Australia.  It cost about $8.oo. 
One of our Disneyland traditions (me and Doug) is to visit the Dole pineapple wagon right in front of the Tiki Room (The Tiki Room is the perfect place for a short nap on a hot day;).  We get a Pineapple Whip and sit on a bench and people watch for a few minutes.  (Doug and Logan are not grumpy.  It was hot.  Logan was tired.  And it was hot.)

Here is a Copycat recipe that Hilary found for us in 2007.

DOLE PINEAPPLE WHIP

1 48 oz. can Dole pineapple juice

3 cups whipping cream

3 cups sugar

1tea. vanilla

Mix all the above-well.  Pour into ice cream freezer.   If mix does not reach fill line, add milk to fill line.  (I did not need milk.)

Make your whip as directed on ice cream maker instructions.  (We get 2-3 batches  in our small hand or/and electric freezers.  The kind where you freeze the bowl.)  After freezing it can be stuck in the freezer until readt to use.  This will set it up more solid. 

(I know.  Crummy picture.)  We like this.  It is not as smooth (or as low-fat) as the tasty treat by the Tiki Room, but it works.  (Doug likes this better ;-) 

More Disney treats next week.  And a craft. 

This is a YouTube clip I found with an alternative way.  At least you can listen to the music.  (Nope.  I have no clue how to do this.  Doug put it on my blog for me :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1fnJHTrI_o&feature=player_embedded

Visiting a Blog with my Project

"Goals are dreams with deadlines."  Diana Scharf Hunt

O.K.  This is my "Before" picture.  (I was not going to show it until I had the "After".  I got this sad dresser at the end of May.  I (honestly) have been trying to get it done since then.  (I was doing a morning carpool for a friend and "found" it at the side of the road for garbage pick-up.  After dropping off the kids, I went back and put it in my van (while wearing (modest) jammies.))  I HAD to.  I had a plan.
Here it is the very end of July and so far I have cleaned it.  Sanded it.  And filled the damaged spots.

After being invited to a"Show Me The Progress" party at http://serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ ,  I decided my new goal is to have it finished by the time school starts.
Here is the plan.  Sand where I have filled with wood filler and prime.  Paint (including inside  where the top 2 drawers are missing).  Decide on drawer pulls.  And (the part I am excited to try) paint the top to look like granite.  (I have found 2 blogs that did this, and included a tutorial.  If you can find more, PLEASE send me the link.)  (I have bought baskets to put in the top drawer spaces.)
I hope there is another "Show Me The Progress" party so I can show the finished project.  You are welcome to ask about how it is going ;)

Obviously this post is linked to the party at http://serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/ :D  Thank-you for the invitation (and motivation).

"BEFORE"

10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY! California Edition

18 July - 25 July, 2010

"Everybody's got a laughin' place - trouble is most folks won't take the time to go look for it.  And where it is for one, mightn't be for another."  Song of the South (repeat quote :)

My happy place is with my happy family.

Dear Mom and Dad.  Thank-you for an amazing trip to Newport Beach/California.  It was wonderful.  You were generous with your time.  And the food, hotel rooms...  We all had a great time.  Thank-you so much. 

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week in chronological order.  Not in order of importance.

#1  Two hotel rooms right across the street from Disneyland.  Thank-you, Grandma and Grandpa.  (Thank-you also for hotel rooms and dinner in Vegas on the way home for Lindsay, David and Logan, And Leslie.)

#2  Disneyland food makes me happy.  Club 33 (Thank-you, David.).  Monte Cristo sandwich.  Corn dogs-ONLY from The Red Wagon. Pommes Frites.  Dole* Pineapple Whip.  Frozen Lemon-aid.  Frozen Bananas   mmmmm.   Next week I will posting recipes for some of our Disney favourites.

#3  The *NEW* "WORLD of COLOR".  Michael and Kate bought the boxed lunches for all 43 of us so we could have priority seating for "WofC".  Thank-you so much.  Our standing area was right on the dock.  The show is quite impressive.  It came with a free shower.  Emily brought glow sticks for everyone.

#4  On Tuesday Doug and I, Mark and Ashley, Lindsay and David and Leslie went to the Newport Temple.  We had a nice morning.  When I told Logan we were going to the temple he said, "I am going there someday.".  (There was a lilt to his voice :)
On Sunday Doug and I, and Leslie went to 8:oo church at my Aunt Carol and Uncle Rob's ward.  Turns out they were out of town :-( 

#5  It makes me happy that Christy stayed at our house to take care of Lightning and Annie and the house and...  Thank-you, Christy.

#6  BEACH WEATHER.  OCEAN.  BEACHES.   KITE FLYING.  I was surprised how much I loved flying kites.  (Of course, at the beach there is no work and no failure.  Only high flying kites that almost jump to get up there.)  And, oddly enough I enjoyed working on the parking situation.  We had 4 confirmed parking spots and 9 cars.  I had fun watching for spots in front of the beach house and holding them while someone got a car from our confirmed spaces.  (You know those games with numbers that you slide around to get them in the correct space?  I like those too.)

#7  Disneyland Rides.  Pirates.  Small World.  Jungle Cruise.  Star Tours (This was my last ride on it.  It closes at the end of this week for 2 years while they re-do it. :(.  Moments With Mr. Lincoln (I am glad this is back.)

California Adventure Rides.  Tower of Terror.  Soarin Over California.  "It's Tough To Be A Bug" theatre.  Toy Story Arcade.

Most of us got 1 free day at Disneyland thru Disney's "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" special promotion.  (Our immediate family spent the day making tutus and file folders for state wide Head Start programs at a Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day at Brigham Young University.  We had lots of fun) 

#8  Happy that we (Me and Doug) only had to drive 1 way to/from California.  We had a nice drive home together.  And everyone made it home.  Safe.

#9  (This quote was given to me by a fellow antique book collector.  I have adapted it.)  "For a fine "para-sailing ride", the price is never too high, if you have the money.  Once spent, the pain and money are gone and you have the "flying memory and experience"."  Oh was it worth it.  I am totally and absolutely terrified of heights.  This never felt high, and I was not frightened.  Amazing!!!

#10  Doug and I went to Trader Joe's.  We had never been there before.  I have heard many good/great things about the store.  It was different than I thought it was, but i really enjoyed it.  We ended up spending about $60.oo, and brought some fun things home.  I am trying one of their recipes and will post it this week.  If you shop at Trader Joe's, what is your favourite thing to buy there?

"100th POST" 10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY IN AUSTRALIA

11 July - 18 July, 2010
THIS IS MY 100th POST :D !

"Real rewards await those who choose wisely."  from "Indiana Jones" movie/ride

#1  I could use my computer in our apartment.

#2  Our apartment has a full kitchen.  This made me happy because food is quite expensive here and...

#3  ...I absolutely loved going to the Queen Victoria Market.  There were hundreds of vendors.  Meats and eggs from all kinds of critters, pastries, fruits, vegetables, shirts, shoes, jewelry.........  It takes about 45 mins. to get there, using the free Circle Tram.  I bought what I wanted to cook and carried it back.  (It took 2 hours to get back one day.)  It was so fun to hear the many many languages.  Most of the shoppers in the food areas were locals.  I broght back fresh pastas and sauces and bread.  And vegetables and eggs.  I also bought scones.  mmm.

#4  I enjoyed the Immigration Museum.  Like the
United States, Australia is a country of immigrants.  Like us, they were not welcomed with open arms.  We (America) are such a young country compared to Europe and Asia.  But Australia is about 100 years younger than us. 

I went to the library in the museum to see the records for my Grandpa Savage.  They said they had no records there.  Very sad to have the museum, the library, the computers, the information and the visitors - but no way or interest in personalizing it.

#5  Oh how I love the old architecture.  Much of it has been torn down.  The  city (in the past) has worked to be modern.  It is a modern and changing city, but there are still buildings that were built when the country was new.

#6  It is an international city.  So many languages.  I was on the tram one day talking to a young man from Thailand.  He was looking for the Commonwealth bank so he could open an account.  I told him which stop to get off and where to go.  He had been here 2 days.  (I had been here 3 ;)

#7  Because  of the many people here from other countries, there are many different restaurants. I had an Australian burger that included "tasty cheese", fried egg and beet root (beet) slices.

We went to an very expensive resturant with some of Doug's bosses.  The menu was Australian - and weird!  Black pudding?  Animal blood.  (There were lots more odd (to me) things.)  I ended up getting a salad and chili crusted fried chat potatoes.  They were good.
A panini in Australia is just a bread type.  It is not a grilled/pressed sandwich.

Fruit and herb mayonnaise are used alot.  And  I have tried several new pastas/sauces.  I will try some new things back home.

I went to "Teatoun" opened in the 1800s.  Did not get tea, but my sandwich was very good.  (Chicken, bacon, avacado and mango mayo.)

#8  At the market one day we met a man that carves bones into things that mean things.  (Can not figure out how to better explain.)  Much like the Welsh carved spoons have certain designs that mean certain things.  I bought a necklace with the meaning of "Family United".  He was a born Australian/Tongan.  He told me he liked U.S., but loved Australia.  (He has been to America for family reunions.)  When he he found out I was from Utah he told me 1/2 of Utah was Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), ans was I one?  I said yes.  He grinned and said he had been back 12 years from his 2 year mission to Tonga.  It was nice.

I also bought a pair of real rugby shorts for Mark.  Sorry Ashley:)

#9  We are here in winter.  Winter in Melbourne is wonderful.  (Many are cold and wear coats, scarfs, hats and gloves?  They look at me with no sweater.)  Great walking weather.  Oddly enough they keep telling us it is an unseasonably cold???

#10  Christine, the wife of a boss, took us out for the day.,  The other person wanted the back seat, so I got in the front while talking to Christine.  She commented on how American I was.  I agreed.  (I guess, I am?)  Then I realized I was sitting in the driver's seat.  Gotta say, this driving on the other side of the car and road from us is a bit disconcerting as a pedestrian/passenger.

We went to Queen Victoria Market, Brighton Beach (I got some sand) and to lunch at a fish place. It was a fun day.

#11  As we were in the Block Arcade (expensive mall in a very old building) a woman came up to us to ask if she could practice a blow away on us.  She was a very new comotology student.  I said yes.  She gave me a wonderful head massage as she washed my hair.  Then her teacher tuaght and helped her do the blow away and curl.  It took about an hour and felt and looked great.  I left the arcade to rain, and came home with it ruined :)  Still fun.

#12  I took my first taxi ride. 

#13  I am happy to have been alone with Doug for a week.  

  

THINGS I DID NOT LIKE IN AUSTRALIA

Doug was gone to the office everyday.

I absolutely hated the "Old Melbourne Gaol" old jail crime and justice experience.  In each horrid 1800s cell there was the story of a person hanged and their death mask.  I did not even go to all the ones on the 1st floor.  And did not go up to the 2nd or 3rd or the Hanging galley.  There was a big display about Ned Kelly with replicasof his armour to try on for pictures or fun.  The whole thing felt evil, morbid and very sad.  (It was not my idea to go.  I tried to get out of it.)

Of course there are no koalas up in the trees in the city.  And I was not (at all) expecting to see kangaroos.  But still.  There are many tours available.  I did not take any.  I did buy a koala charm for my travel charm bracelet.

I bought an Australian bird book here.  (I love bird watching.)  The #1 bird I have seen?  SEAGULLS.  I can see seagull fights at home.  I saw 2 ravens and a pet cockatoo.  I did not need a book for that.

There is pretty much only sports on tv.  Boring to watch while I am curling my hair.

JUNE ODDS and ENDS and MY 100th POST CONTEST

I don't care for the bulk brown sugar at Winco.  (I recently heard that brown sugar stays soft if you keep a few marshmellows in it.  I don't have that problem, but may try it anyway.)

After years of faithfully saving dead batteries and taking them to the recycling centre in Murray, I get a flyer that says recycle rechargables.  I KNEW that, so I called about the others.  They just get thrown away.  3 hours saved every year not going to the recycling centre  :)

On Monday nights you can buy 4 16oz. smoothies for $10.oo, at Jamba Juice.  Summer special from 4-8 p.m.

I was doing a salad bar one day and was out of crutons, so I used Logan's little cheese fish crackers.  They were great.  Low fat/low calorie, too

I have year round recipes that use sweetened condensed milk. (I love the Key Lime Margarita Pie that I posted.)  I buy what I need for the year when they go on salein November for holiday baking.  (I paid $.78 a can.)  BE SURE TO CHECK THE USE BY DATE.  I plan extra money for picking up baking items for the year during holiday time.

LEMI SHINE -  A hard water remover sold at Walmart for under $4.oo.  It really works great.  It is made for dishwashers, and made mine look new. 
I also tried the recipe for cleaning drains.  Into my kitchen sink I poured (in order) 1/3 cup LEMI SHINE, 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 cups water.  I don't know if it cleaned the drain, but the explosion was cool.  After the foam goes away, rinse drain well.
I also tried the spray, which worked great!  In a squirt bottle mix 1/8 cup LEMI SHINE and 8 oz. of water.  Spray on surface.  Let set if desired and rinse well.  CAUTION - Test to see if spray will cause damage in a smaal area.  Although this worked amazingly well on my bathroom granite, it seems to have left a whitiesh look.  (I will play with it when I get home.)  It worked super on shower doors.

My next post will be my "100th POST".  To commemorate (celebrate) I am having a contest.  The first week in August I will pick my "TOP 10" posts.  Guess what my favourite post is.  Comment on the most recent post with your guess.  The winner will get a set of 1/4" steel alphbet stamps and a package of washers (used for the washer necklaces and other craft stamping). 
I am also putting a set of the steel stamps and washers in "My Favourites" basket.  When my blog says that I have 60 followers, I will do a follower drawing of the contents of the basket of some of my favourite things.  If you post a vote for my favourite post and sign up to be a follower , you have 2 chances to win.

Parmesan Baked Potatoes and Garlic Bread Seasoning

I have been making this recipe for a few months, and tried variations.  It is always popular as a side dish.  I have slightly adapted it, but you can find the original @ the address below.

Parmesan Baked Potatoes
recipe slightly adapted from  http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/

6-8 small potatoes - cleaned and cut length wise into quarters
grated Parmesan cheese- I grate about 2/3 of the triangle block from any grocery store
1/4 cup butter + about 1 table.
Garlic Bread Seasoning (see recipe below)

After you have your potatoes clean, cut and fairly dry, heat oven to 400*.  As oven is heating, let 1/4 cup butter melt in 9x13 pan.  (Don't let it burn.)  When melted, grate Parmesan cheese over the bottom of the pan, covering the melted butter.  Sprinkle generously with Garlic Bread Seasoning.  Fill the pan with potatoes (skin side up.)  Use a basting brush to brush the potatoes with additional melted butter.  Sprinkle the tops with more Garlic Bread Seasoning.
Bake at 400* for 40 - 45 mins.   Let cool about 5 mins.  You can serve sour cream for dipping.  Or do 1/2 BBQ sauce/1/2 sour cream.  I like serving an herbed sour cream with it.  (I have pictures, but can not get them on the blog.  You can see them with the baby back rib sloopy sandwiches picture.)
 
This next recipe is one that I use often.  The only change that I have made to this is that I double it when I make it now :)

Garlic Bread Seasoning
recipe from OurBestBites (click on their box on the right side of my blog)

1/2 cup "powdered"  Parmesan cheese - the kind in a green shaker container
2 table. garlic powder
2 tea. kosher salt
2 tea. oregano
2 tea. dried basil
2 tea. parsley
2 tea. marjoram  (This is, I think, the "secret" ingredient.)

Just mix everything together and store in a shaker jar in the fridge.  I love the way this smells.  I use this on the potatoes and on pizza.  For garlic butter, mix about 1 1/2 table. with 1/2 cup softened butter.

10 THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY!

"...the words that we read on the courthouse walls, and the words that make us free. 
and the more we remember the way we began, the closer we get to the best we can be."
from "America, America, and the dream goes on! by John Williams (one of my favourites)

#1  I have my first stamp on my passport.  AUSTRALIA!   (And I am so glad that I had a passport.  Planned and packed in 2 1/2 days.)  (Michael.  If you were current on my blog, you would know the kidults were telling the truth ;)

#2  The flight (premium economy) was o.k.  Food was very nice.  Seating was better than economy- but not as good as business. 

#3  Thank-you very much, Ashley (and Mark) for getting the ramekins for me at the Crate and Barrel outlet.  I have some ideas :)

#4  While looking for a book for the beach trip (at a thrift store), I found a never used stove top popcorn popper.  It will come in handy.  Soon.

#5  I am happy  that my trip to Australia happened the same time as Debbie had company.

#6  I happy that Doug really wanted me to come.  (It was a choice thing.  And he only wanted to come if I came :D

#7  I am happy I had so many book choices.  (I added another recommendation from Kate, and Leslie picked it up at the library for me.  It is called "A Toast to Murder"  by Michelle Scott.)  I have finished "TARA ROAD" and will write a review later.

#8  I am happy I had time to get a hair cut, and have Lindsay give me a perm.

#9  I am happy Kate had (and loaned me) electrical adapters and an Australia guide book.

#10  I am so happy to be alone with Doug.  Well, actually he is not with me during the day.  And he is not on vacation.  But we are alone.  Together.

I am happy to have internet access (and my computer) in our apt.  I brought a few recipes and pictures with me.

A GREAT SUGAR (PAN) COOKIE, and A CONTEST

In the last two weeks I have tried 8 new recipes.  (I tried 2 twice because I thought there was potential.)  The best of all of them is this pan cookie recipe.  It came from one of the sites I trust - CLAWSONLIVE.  (See her link on the right side of my blog.)

I made this easy pan sugar cookie for our 4th of July Saturday swim party.  I used a glaze frosting that was only o.k.  Next time I will use my buttercream frosting.  (I was going to make another one with my frosting recipe, but was afraid that I would eat it.)

PAN SUGAR COOKIE
from CLAWSONLIVE (see side bar) 29 June, 2010

Cream (I just had Doug stir it well.)

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teas. vanilla

Add and mix just until mixed

3 cups flour

2 teas. baking powder

This is a thick dough, more than a batter.  (Lisa says a bit dry.)  Press into an unsprayed big (the usual silver kind) cookie sheet.

Bake at 440* for (this is important) 6 - 8 min.  Do not let it brown.  I cooked mine for 8 (Iwas watching. It was a tiny bit tan.  It was very good, but next time (and there will be many next times) I will only cook it 7.)  Cool and frost.

This cookie has a nice buttery flavour (1 cup butter:)  and you can see the flakey layers.

Frosting
My recipe from ?. Lisa has a cream cheese frosting with her recipe.

Mix well
1/3 cup softened margarine
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tea. vanilla
2 table. milk

I decorated mine (quickly) with sprinkles as a flag.  I cut it into cookies with a pizza cutter (and just used a knife on the edges).

If you try it, let me know how you liked it.

I am approaching my (trumpet music) 100th POST.  I am going to do a top 10 of my favourite posts.  Post what you think will be my "#1 Favourite Post" and you can win a
36 PIECE 1/8" STEEL ALPHABET STAMPING SET (used for the washer necklaces...)  It is heavy so I hope the winner lives close enough that I can deliver it.  (U.S. winner only.)  You need to be a follower to win.  Just post your guess BEFORE AUGUST 1ST.  (If more than 1 person has the correct "Favourite Post, I will do a drawing.)
AND, I am adding another set of these steel alphabet stamps to my baskets of favourites.  I am starting another basket to be given away in a drawing to a dear follower.  I will draw when I reach 60 followers.  Sign up and follow along and see what I am putting in the basket this time around :)

Kayleen (and Robert).  Did you ever see (or hear) "Ladies In Lavender"?  I found a copy of the dvd for you.  Just email your address to me and I will mail it to you.  (johnson797@att.net)  ("Ladies in Lavender" soundtrack is my go-to music.  It has some beautiful violin music that moves (and relaxes) me.

OFF TO AUSTRALIA! Winners of Beach Book Contest

WHOO HOO!  Yep.  I am going.
 
BOOKS I AM TAKING
On the plane: (about 20 hours each way)

"TARA ROAD" LaRue
"THEODORE BOONE Kid Lawyer" (John Grisham) library book.  I will have to pay the late fines :) Emily gets credit for this because she was higher on
the waiting list than me, and it is on her card.
"The Ensign" May 2010

Australia Trip/ Beach Trip

"HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET" Gaylene
"DEATH OF A DENTIST" Leslie (She found it at a thrift store for me:)

If your name is on this list, you won a prize for helping me pick my trip(s) book(s).  Thank-you. 

I had planned to post a craft this week, but now, I'm going to Australia.  (Happy Dance right here).

Tomorrow I will post one of the 4th of July treats I made.

P.S.  Did you notice on my last post (10 Things...)  that the author of "Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" (Jamie Ford) commented on my blog?  So cool.  And I am glad that his book was one of the winners :)  (I did not know he commented when I picked the winners.  Winners were based on experience with the
author's previous  books (M.C. Beaton, John Grisham),  or by reading the first chapter ("Tara Road", "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet").

10 THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK!

27 June - 4 July, 2010

"This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope.  So it was in the beginning.  So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith."  Lyndon B. Johnson

#1  I am so grateful to be an American.  With all our the problems that our country and people face, I would choose no other place to live.  I love the United Stated of America.

#2  As much as I love America, I am very happy that there is a 50% chance that I am going to ...Australia.  THIS WEEK!  (And if I don't, I am just fine.)

#3  I got an extra week of my babysitting job.  (My total "earned" so far - $816.00.  HOWEVER, that includes insurance reimbursement, money kidults paid back and other checks from people for things I've picked up. ;D

#4  Mark has taken almost all of his stuff out of the garage.  THANK-YOU, MARK!

#5  I LOVED that Doug had a 3 day week-end.  We had time to be together (The flight to Australia is 30 hours.  Lots of time together:)  Doug and Mark also tore down the rotten shed at David and Lindsay's new house.

#6  I am having fun picking a book for our beach house/Disneyland trip.  (Did you remember that the person who recommends the book I choose, gets a prize?  These are the books under consideration at this point:

"THE HUNGER GAME" recommended by Emily (I do not think I will like this, so I have not read the first chapter.)
"DEATH OF A DENTIST" Leslie got this for me.  I love this series.  A good back-up.
"TARA ROAD" from LaRue.  648 pages, but I read the first chapter (79 pages) and am involved. 
"HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET" Gaylene brought this over.  The first chapter got my attention, and I enjoyed the word choices.
"LIFE OF PI" referred by David.  I read the first (very short) chapter.  I don't want to read a philosophical book on a beach trip, or a long long flight.
"AUSTENLAND" recommended on Noelle's blog (I have not seen this one, yet.)
"THE ALCHEMIST" recommended by Charles (see "Life OF PI" logic.)

If you have a favourite book or recommendation, hurry and post. 

#7  My in-laws make me happy.  Michael and Kate hosted a SUPER swim party on the 3rd.  The food was excellent and Uncle Michael did a great job with the firework show.  Held in the pool.  With people diving and sliding.  Stunts and stunt people involved, but not injured.

#8  My in-laws make me happy.  Grandma and Grandpa hosted the grandkids sleep-over.  It was fun (for most) and enjoyed by all.  The tents get set up in the back yard.  Grandpa tells his "scary" stories.  Grandma sleeps in their bed in case any  little ones need to come in ;)  The $ pancakes are a huge hit the next morning.  A favourite family tradition.

#9  I FINALLY compiled all of the house receipts/warranties/ worker info. etc. in to a binder and organized them.  Yea for me.

#10  CENTRAL AIR