annie blog

I’m thinking
….that leaving chocolate out on the kitchen counter because it is convenient just doesn’t say “Handling stress well” to me.
….that I would like to post a great entry about my grandmother who never raised her voice. That sort of thing isn’t passed on genetically as far as I can determine.
….that Annie is a grownup. At least her life and responsibilities would indicate this. This is a constant surprise to Annie.
….that dear old Spurge might need a home other than with us. Sniff.
….would anyone like to have a 11 year old boxer/lab mix?
….it is a good thing that the baby didn’t choke today on that tab top from the root beer can.
….it would have been embarassing to explain that one to the pediatrician since he has pulled this trick before.
….a lovely few minutes was had today courtesy of the little forgetful boy who left the root beer unattended. Thanks, son.
….miracles do happen.
….I love my little family.
….things will work out.
….beer is wonderful.
….my husband is a dear man to put up with me and get me lilies and watermelon at the grocery store.
….I need to get to bed.
….tomorrow is another day.

What are you thinking today? 🙂

Happy Fouth of July
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Full transcript here.

Happy Fouth of July
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Full transcript here.

Happy Fouth of July
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Full transcript here.

Just in Time for the Fourth
Lots of people eat grilled meat on the Fourth of July. It is a great time for all things grilled — that is for sure. But, if you are feeling like you want something different, and if, unlike me, you have not just returned from a trip to the South where you consumed way too much yummy fried stuff, then this might be a recipe that you would enjoy for your Independence Day celebration. And, of course, fried chicken is good 364 other days of the year, too.

1. 3 pound bag of (frozen) chicken tenderloins, defrosted and then patted dry
2. 2-3 inches corn oil in your biggest Dutch oven
3. 1 cup of flour in a clean paper bag (make sure it doesn’t have a hole in it)
4. 2 beaten eggs combined with 1/4 t pepper and 3/4 t salt and 1 T corn oil in a pie plate
5. Panko or Japanese breadcrumbs in a deep bowl. Start with 1 1/2 cup and add more as needed.

Defrost chicken and dry it off with paper towels. Meanwhile, heat oil to frying temperature in Dutch oven. Use a cast iron Dutch oven, if you have it. Oil should be approx. 2 inches deep. When the oil is ready to go, shake 4-5 or however many tenders you think will fit in the Dutch oven at one time (they should fit in one layer, with space between) in the paper bag. Shake excess flour off and then roll the tenders in the egg wash mixture. Next, one by one, dip the tenders in the panko and knock off the excess on the sides of the deep bowl. ( I use a big mixing bowl.) Fry, turning as needed, until done. Remove to a paper towel lined platter and repeat with remaining tenders until all are done. Make sure to keep watch on the temperature of the oil and adjust it so the tenders are frying and not cooking on a lower temperature — because cooking on a lower temperature means that they saute rather than fry and soak up too much oil. Also, make sure that the oil doesn’t get too hot, either. Burnt chicken ain’t no good, y’all. :))

Note: A good honey mustard dipping sauce can be made by combining 3T of Dijon with 5-6T honey. Also, you can make an emulsion by combining the mustard/honey mixture with about 1/3 cup canola/olive oil and have a good honey mustard salad dressing. As a salad, this fried chicken is good served with the honey mustard salad dressing, red onion, toasted pecans, cheddar cheese and lettuce mix of your choice.

Enjoy.

Just in Time for the Fourth
Lots of people eat grilled meat on the Fourth of July. It is a great time for all things grilled — that is for sure. But, if you are feeling like you want something different, and if, unlike me, you have not just returned from a trip to the South where you consumed way too much yummy fried stuff, then this might be a recipe that you would enjoy for your Independence Day celebration. And, of course, fried chicken is good 364 other days of the year, too.

1. 3 pound bag of (frozen) chicken tenderloins, defrosted and then patted dry
2. 2-3 inches corn oil in your biggest Dutch oven
3. 1 cup of flour in a clean paper bag (make sure it doesn’t have a hole in it)
4. 2 beaten eggs combined with 1/4 t pepper and 3/4 t salt and 1 T corn oil in a pie plate
5. Panko or Japanese breadcrumbs in a deep bowl. Start with 1 1/2 cup and add more as needed.

Defrost chicken and dry it off with paper towels. Meanwhile, heat oil to frying temperature in Dutch oven. Use a cast iron Dutch oven, if you have it. Oil should be approx. 2 inches deep. When the oil is ready to go, shake 4-5 or however many tenders you think will fit in the Dutch oven at one time (they should fit in one layer, with space between) in the paper bag. Shake excess flour off and then roll the tenders in the egg wash mixture. Next, one by one, dip the tenders in the panko and knock off the excess on the sides of the deep bowl. ( I use a big mixing bowl.) Fry, turning as needed, until done. Remove to a paper towel lined platter and repeat with remaining tenders until all are done. Make sure to keep watch on the temperature of the oil and adjust it so the tenders are frying and not cooking on a lower temperature — because cooking on a lower temperature means that they saute rather than fry and soak up too much oil. Also, make sure that the oil doesn’t get too hot, either. Burnt chicken ain’t no good, y’all. :))

Note: A good honey mustard dipping sauce can be made by combining 3T of Dijon with 5-6T honey. Also, you can make an emulsion by combining the mustard/honey mixture with about 1/3 cup canola/olive oil and have a good honey mustard salad dressing. As a salad, this fried chicken is good served with the honey mustard salad dressing, red onion, toasted pecans, cheddar cheese and lettuce mix of your choice.

Enjoy.

Just in Time for the Fourth
Lots of people eat grilled meat on the Fourth of July. It is a great time for all things grilled — that is for sure. But, if you are feeling like you want something different, and if, unlike me, you have not just returned from a trip to the South where you consumed way too much yummy fried stuff, then this might be a recipe that you would enjoy for your Independence Day celebration. And, of course, fried chicken is good 364 other days of the year, too.

1. 3 pound bag of (frozen) chicken tenderloins, defrosted and then patted dry
2. 2-3 inches corn oil in your biggest Dutch oven
3. 1 cup of flour in a clean paper bag (make sure it doesn’t have a hole in it)
4. 2 beaten eggs combined with 1/4 t pepper and 3/4 t salt and 1 T corn oil in a pie plate
5. Panko or Japanese breadcrumbs in a deep bowl. Start with 1 1/2 cup and add more as needed.

Defrost chicken and dry it off with paper towels. Meanwhile, heat oil to frying temperature in Dutch oven. Use a cast iron Dutch oven, if you have it. Oil should be approx. 2 inches deep. When the oil is ready to go, shake 4-5 or however many tenders you think will fit in the Dutch oven at one time (they should fit in one layer, with space between) in the paper bag. Shake excess flour off and then roll the tenders in the egg wash mixture. Next, one by one, dip the tenders in the panko and knock off the excess on the sides of the deep bowl. ( I use a big mixing bowl.) Fry, turning as needed, until done. Remove to a paper towel lined platter and repeat with remaining tenders until all are done. Make sure to keep watch on the temperature of the oil and adjust it so the tenders are frying and not cooking on a lower temperature — because cooking on a lower temperature means that they saute rather than fry and soak up too much oil. Also, make sure that the oil doesn’t get too hot, either. Burnt chicken ain’t no good, y’all. :))

Note: A good honey mustard dipping sauce can be made by combining 3T of Dijon with 5-6T honey. Also, you can make an emulsion by combining the mustard/honey mixture with about 1/3 cup canola/olive oil and have a good honey mustard salad dressing. As a salad, this fried chicken is good served with the honey mustard salad dressing, red onion, toasted pecans, cheddar cheese and lettuce mix of your choice.

Enjoy.

I’m Back
I’m back from an 11 day trip to Alabama and Mississippi. I’ve got lots to tell but for now I must concentrate on painfully…..adjusting….to….real….life…..Help. Sanity, don’t forsake me now.
Everybody have a good weekend. 🙂

I’m Back
I’m back from an 11 day trip to Alabama and Mississippi. I’ve got lots to tell but for now I must concentrate on painfully…..adjusting….to….real….life…..Help. Sanity, don’t forsake me now.
Everybody have a good weekend. 🙂

I’m Back
I’m back from an 11 day trip to Alabama and Mississippi. I’ve got lots to tell but for now I must concentrate on painfully…..adjusting….to….real….life…..Help. Sanity, don’t forsake me now.
Everybody have a good weekend. 🙂