The dinner menu tonite is Coq Au Van. Yes, that very french, very tasty recipe with lots of wine. The inspiration came from the fun cooking show, Two Fat Ladies. I looked up the recipe, and in the process found one from none other than Julia Child "Bon Au Petite!" . So I combined a bit of the two to make my own version.
I brought 3c of wine just to a boil. Added bay leaves, parsley and thyme. Removed from heat and cool. Added chicken, marinate 4 hours. Pat dry. Dredge in a small amount of flour with salt & pepper in it. Brown the chicken. Place in a stockpot with 2c of the wine marinade, and 2c chicken stock. Cook 1 hour.
Meanwhile, brown diced or pearl onions in 1tbs cooking oil from the chicken.Flambe 1/4 c cognac. Rough chop carrots, celery and potatoes. After the 1st hour of cooking add the vegetables, cook 30 minutes more.
Remove from oven, if the sauce is to thin add 1-2 teaspoons buirre maire( 2tsp butter creamed with 2 tsp flour) stir until smooth.
So good! Nice variation between 3 great chefs, and myself, the newbie! :)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
July 2011
Aaaahhhh, caught up, so to speak...
In June we also started a family scavenger hunt. This has been the most fun for us. What a great idea, and a way to reconnect with family members and see they funny things they are up to. I happen to particularly like the photos that can combine families/teams together. Now silly as it is to say, we are a competitive bunch. We love to snap the pics and we love to play and we love to get a little something at the end, even if it's just the ahha! I did it!
Also in June we, several family members began to be harassed by the media. Now this is so hurtful and upsetting and downright ugly that I almost don't want to express anything on here that might in some terrible way be copied, hacked, cut up and transformed into something else and then broadcast back to the general public. So I will state that I in no way want that and if you are a media representative in anyway leave us alone.
I will try to be as calm as possible when I say that almost none of what is being talked about in the media is true. Since the inception the information has been false or a half truth, and all parties speaking out in the media are incorrect. But I now know how interviews are cut and blocked and edited to you saying just what they want you to say. Now we live in an average town, not a big metropolis, so it seriously cannot be coming to this. What happens over and over in any town is someone wants to make a name for themselves. This particular reporter, at one time built quite a nice reputation ruining other peoples lives. In 2000 he did this same kind of thing and ran several people within the school board out of town. I now question the real information behind that. In the end it cost the taxpayers $35million to clean up the drama he created. He then left our pretty little town for bigger parts unknown, and has been all over including New York, where he broadcast the same type of bulling and fear tactics.He has won awards for such tactics, but has never stayed in any one location. He even covered a Son of Sam story where he yet again instilled fear or tried to into the citizens of that town. Well it might have gone badly for him because no-one comes back to our much smaller town from larger areas to work yet once again unless they need 1 of three things. They have made it big and want to come home and settle down with family, they need a revivement of their career and are coming back to the touchstone to re-create it, they have no-where else to go and are grabbing for any straw or handout they can get. The media he worked for before did not hire him back, questions there?
Digging around, tresspassing, stirring up employees, being a nusiance and telling out and out lies, telling state officials things in which you have not knowledge of, but simply guess at.
What happened to being a hard working positive team player? Since when is it ok to to bully people? Since when are you commended for being a whiner? In our area there might be 3 honest, hardworking, positive, take action team players who would get the job done who are unemployed for every do nothing, laze about, bare minium,negative person who is employed in these areas. Why oh why are we not changing things. If fortune 500 companies take great care in who they employ, why aren't we taking action?
It is all in the perspective. If someone attacks you , your initially shocked and good manners tells you to back off and smooth things over and not dwell over it, to take each day in stride. But then the attacker never stops, and the manipulation game is always to keep you off center, to always upset you so you can make a mistake and then broadcast it to the world. It is time to take a defensive stance and shout out "NO! FIRE! NO! NO MORE! GET BACK!" just like in defensive class. If we teach our children and women how to protect ourselves from the physical attacker, do the same for the mental one. Do the same for the harrasser, the defamation of character.
Also in June we, several family members began to be harassed by the media. Now this is so hurtful and upsetting and downright ugly that I almost don't want to express anything on here that might in some terrible way be copied, hacked, cut up and transformed into something else and then broadcast back to the general public. So I will state that I in no way want that and if you are a media representative in anyway leave us alone.
I will try to be as calm as possible when I say that almost none of what is being talked about in the media is true. Since the inception the information has been false or a half truth, and all parties speaking out in the media are incorrect. But I now know how interviews are cut and blocked and edited to you saying just what they want you to say. Now we live in an average town, not a big metropolis, so it seriously cannot be coming to this. What happens over and over in any town is someone wants to make a name for themselves. This particular reporter, at one time built quite a nice reputation ruining other peoples lives. In 2000 he did this same kind of thing and ran several people within the school board out of town. I now question the real information behind that. In the end it cost the taxpayers $35million to clean up the drama he created. He then left our pretty little town for bigger parts unknown, and has been all over including New York, where he broadcast the same type of bulling and fear tactics.He has won awards for such tactics, but has never stayed in any one location. He even covered a Son of Sam story where he yet again instilled fear or tried to into the citizens of that town. Well it might have gone badly for him because no-one comes back to our much smaller town from larger areas to work yet once again unless they need 1 of three things. They have made it big and want to come home and settle down with family, they need a revivement of their career and are coming back to the touchstone to re-create it, they have no-where else to go and are grabbing for any straw or handout they can get. The media he worked for before did not hire him back, questions there?
Digging around, tresspassing, stirring up employees, being a nusiance and telling out and out lies, telling state officials things in which you have not knowledge of, but simply guess at.
What happened to being a hard working positive team player? Since when is it ok to to bully people? Since when are you commended for being a whiner? In our area there might be 3 honest, hardworking, positive, take action team players who would get the job done who are unemployed for every do nothing, laze about, bare minium,negative person who is employed in these areas. Why oh why are we not changing things. If fortune 500 companies take great care in who they employ, why aren't we taking action?
It is all in the perspective. If someone attacks you , your initially shocked and good manners tells you to back off and smooth things over and not dwell over it, to take each day in stride. But then the attacker never stops, and the manipulation game is always to keep you off center, to always upset you so you can make a mistake and then broadcast it to the world. It is time to take a defensive stance and shout out "NO! FIRE! NO! NO MORE! GET BACK!" just like in defensive class. If we teach our children and women how to protect ourselves from the physical attacker, do the same for the mental one. Do the same for the harrasser, the defamation of character.
Catch up, again
In June I recieved another thank you note which also caught me by surprise. I actually started writing to help myself. I wanted to express to people and companies, to give back in a small sort of way, how much it/they have been positive in my life.
This one came from OPI, a nail lacquer company(their fancy word).
Dear Cameo,
Thank you for the compliments in your letter. Here is a little something for you.
Suzi
I supposed it was during a pedicure that I looked at the same hot pink color I have liked for years and years and they never stopped making it that I wanted to thank them. Say what you want, the cheaper colors are just not the same. I really liked that it was hand written.
This one came from OPI, a nail lacquer company(their fancy word).
Dear Cameo,
Thank you for the compliments in your letter. Here is a little something for you.
Suzi
July!
Where of where did the time go! A small catch up seems to be in order.
A foot injury happened in February and was out of commission for several months. Had what is possibly now being called homeschool burnout. Took some time off and am back now feeling alive and refreshed.
I have walked at several parks sine the initial post. I have been to several parks, but they are really soccer or baseball areas, but I was there in 2011 so they count!
The thank you letters was very beneficial for and I continued for over the 1 month time period. I recieved a letter back from Publix:
Dear Ms. Hinman,
Thank you for taking the time to write us such a kind letter. When our founder began Publix, he wanted our customer to feel like they were home when shopping with us. For the past 80 years we have listened to our customers and have strived to provide premier customer service and quality products. We hope your family will have the same positive memories as you have had.
Ms Hinman, thank you again for contacting us. We will be sure to share your letter with our executive offices. They will be pleased to know how much Publix has meant to you all these years.
Sincerely,
CONSUMER RELATIONS
It was nice to recieve a letter in return, even if it wasn't signed by anyone, mostly because I wasn't expecting one. I recieved this in the beginning of June.
A foot injury happened in February and was out of commission for several months. Had what is possibly now being called homeschool burnout. Took some time off and am back now feeling alive and refreshed.
I have walked at several parks sine the initial post. I have been to several parks, but they are really soccer or baseball areas, but I was there in 2011 so they count!
The thank you letters was very beneficial for and I continued for over the 1 month time period. I recieved a letter back from Publix:
Dear Ms. Hinman,
Thank you for taking the time to write us such a kind letter. When our founder began Publix, he wanted our customer to feel like they were home when shopping with us. For the past 80 years we have listened to our customers and have strived to provide premier customer service and quality products. We hope your family will have the same positive memories as you have had.
Ms Hinman, thank you again for contacting us. We will be sure to share your letter with our executive offices. They will be pleased to know how much Publix has meant to you all these years.
Sincerely,
CONSUMER RELATIONS
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Mid-April
It has been awhile since my last post, so let's catch up to date. I have sent letters to the following companies to let them know I have been happy with their products.
Publix, Tervis Tumblers, my local library system, Yankee Candle Co, Opi polish, Mr. Mee's(a great local resturant), First Colony Coffee Co., 2 authors, 3 families, and 2 friends. This week I wrote to a company in the UK, so I will be sending out my 1st international letter! They made a salad cookbook with wonderful photos and flavor combinations I wouldn't have tried on my own.Thank you!
My letter to Publix ended up being more like a description of my life. Not word for word but something like this: As a child I turned in glass bottles to buy donuts. As a teen it was a popular hangout, getting sodas and chips and chatting in the parking lot. I bought my wedding cake from Publix. We buy all birthday cakes from Publix. It is a tradition I hope to pass down.
What I have found is that it starts my day off well. I try to write each day, and it is getting easier. At first I teared myself up just thinking what to write. What I found is that the act of thanking others is coming so naturally now. Stoping and doing a joyful action each morning puts me in a thoughtful frame of mind all day.
I did not write for almost 2 weeks, and it was a little like being in a fog. Starting the letters was a good process for me.
Yesterday I unexpectedly recieved a package in the mail, from a favorite place, Barnes& Noble. Now let me back up a bit and explain that I recieved a nook for Christmas, and I am not a tech person. I downloaded a book a few days before, and thought I had also purchased it in hardback which freaked me out, thinking I had purchased it twice. I was anxious and kept telling my husband this has got to be some kind of a mistake, no way had I ordered a hardback. It was a lovely book called 365 ThankYous, The year a simple act of daily gratitude changed my life. On the invoice was a note " Hello Cameo! A friend recommended this book to me when I started my Feb. challenge and I finally got it from the library. I really enjoyed it and I thought you would too! Hope your thank you project is going well! Love, Annie
I actually squeaked with delight when I saw her name "IT"S FROM ANNIE!"
Thank you so much for my book!
I have to say when I started this I was doing it to remind people and companies how great they are, how much they make a difference and to extend a smile when it seems like so many are unhappy. I am so hhappy it is helping others and letting people know in tought times others care.
I have several thorn moments which hurt and stopped me for awhile, but in the end not worth mentioning.:)
Publix, Tervis Tumblers, my local library system, Yankee Candle Co, Opi polish, Mr. Mee's(a great local resturant), First Colony Coffee Co., 2 authors, 3 families, and 2 friends. This week I wrote to a company in the UK, so I will be sending out my 1st international letter! They made a salad cookbook with wonderful photos and flavor combinations I wouldn't have tried on my own.Thank you!
My letter to Publix ended up being more like a description of my life. Not word for word but something like this: As a child I turned in glass bottles to buy donuts. As a teen it was a popular hangout, getting sodas and chips and chatting in the parking lot. I bought my wedding cake from Publix. We buy all birthday cakes from Publix. It is a tradition I hope to pass down.
What I have found is that it starts my day off well. I try to write each day, and it is getting easier. At first I teared myself up just thinking what to write. What I found is that the act of thanking others is coming so naturally now. Stoping and doing a joyful action each morning puts me in a thoughtful frame of mind all day.
I did not write for almost 2 weeks, and it was a little like being in a fog. Starting the letters was a good process for me.
Yesterday I unexpectedly recieved a package in the mail, from a favorite place, Barnes& Noble. Now let me back up a bit and explain that I recieved a nook for Christmas, and I am not a tech person. I downloaded a book a few days before, and thought I had also purchased it in hardback which freaked me out, thinking I had purchased it twice. I was anxious and kept telling my husband this has got to be some kind of a mistake, no way had I ordered a hardback. It was a lovely book called 365 ThankYous, The year a simple act of daily gratitude changed my life. On the invoice was a note " Hello Cameo! A friend recommended this book to me when I started my Feb. challenge and I finally got it from the library. I really enjoyed it and I thought you would too! Hope your thank you project is going well! Love, Annie
I actually squeaked with delight when I saw her name "IT"S FROM ANNIE!"
Thank you so much for my book!
I have to say when I started this I was doing it to remind people and companies how great they are, how much they make a difference and to extend a smile when it seems like so many are unhappy. I am so hhappy it is helping others and letting people know in tought times others care.
I have several thorn moments which hurt and stopped me for awhile, but in the end not worth mentioning.:)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Taking the time
I felt very inspired by a friend of mine to adopt a challenge she had recently done. Among other things she challenged herself to write to 1 company/business/person/place everyday thru the month of February. I thought it was wonderful to let people know how much you appreciate their products. I thought I would write to places that made me happy. Well, I thought I would start in April but before I even stopped to think my list was at 40! So I began asap, and if I remember another product that makes me happy it will be added to the list.
My 1st letter was to my inspirational person, Annie!
We met through my sister, and yet she is such a part of our family now, how could I not recognize someone who is so willing to try new things and challenge herself every month of the year.
My second letter was to a family whom we have made many memories with. Well, it turns out the card came just at the right time for them as well. Basically he was having a very bad week. When he came home his wife just handed him the card, before she even said hello. She said if he had to choose between a million dollars and my letter, he would choose my letter. When their son came home, the father said " did you give him the letter, did you give him the letter?" When the son's girlfriend walked in they gave the letter to her. They called me the next day.
Now I wasn't expecting anything in return, I thought just to recognize people who have made my life happy. It was so nice to hear how I had touched them and to bring someone else happiness just when they needed it.
The next was the lovely Tervis Tumbler company and their wonderful cups.
I will post the next batch next week. I do think this is a wonderful way to challenge yourself; to express in a positive way to people.
My 1st letter was to my inspirational person, Annie!
We met through my sister, and yet she is such a part of our family now, how could I not recognize someone who is so willing to try new things and challenge herself every month of the year.
My second letter was to a family whom we have made many memories with. Well, it turns out the card came just at the right time for them as well. Basically he was having a very bad week. When he came home his wife just handed him the card, before she even said hello. She said if he had to choose between a million dollars and my letter, he would choose my letter. When their son came home, the father said " did you give him the letter, did you give him the letter?" When the son's girlfriend walked in they gave the letter to her. They called me the next day.
Now I wasn't expecting anything in return, I thought just to recognize people who have made my life happy. It was so nice to hear how I had touched them and to bring someone else happiness just when they needed it.
The next was the lovely Tervis Tumbler company and their wonderful cups.
I will post the next batch next week. I do think this is a wonderful way to challenge yourself; to express in a positive way to people.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thorn of the week...
Drumroll everyone... the thorn of the week goes to this conversation.....
Me: I love to cook, but I dont like all the cleanup after
Thorn: Oh, but it is the part you do best, it is a shame your always tired when you do it....
Waaungh Waaungh.....
Me: I love to cook, but I dont like all the cleanup after
Thorn: Oh, but it is the part you do best, it is a shame your always tired when you do it....
Waaungh Waaungh.....
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Update
I set for myself 3 goals to accomplish by years end.
1. To walk at every park, mitigation park, trail in Lee county.
2. To geocache every week.
3. To try to incorporate something creative into each week if not day.
Well, I have fallen short of the goal. Last month I had a fall and twisted my ankle. The brusing went away after the second week, and the majority of the swelling has gone down, but at the ankle site itself, there continues to be swelling and pain. On Tuesday I went to see a specialist, and now I have a MRI scheduled next week.
Basically all of this means I have not been walking in my area, or finding any fun caches, or doing much of anything.
I did start stretching and light excercise this week... so not a total loss there! haha, it is my rose amont the thorns today!
I also borrowed 23 books on crafting ideas, and painting, and paper art from the library! So the creative ideas can start flowing in.
1. To walk at every park, mitigation park, trail in Lee county.
2. To geocache every week.
3. To try to incorporate something creative into each week if not day.
Well, I have fallen short of the goal. Last month I had a fall and twisted my ankle. The brusing went away after the second week, and the majority of the swelling has gone down, but at the ankle site itself, there continues to be swelling and pain. On Tuesday I went to see a specialist, and now I have a MRI scheduled next week.
Basically all of this means I have not been walking in my area, or finding any fun caches, or doing much of anything.
I did start stretching and light excercise this week... so not a total loss there! haha, it is my rose amont the thorns today!
I also borrowed 23 books on crafting ideas, and painting, and paper art from the library! So the creative ideas can start flowing in.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
First Day
As this is my first blog ever created, the reasoning behind it is simple. I wanted to reach out to others experiencing the same thing. We have goals, setbacks, dreams, and artistic abilities. We all have gifts and realizing them and expressing them is important.
I set for myself a few goals for the year- to walk all our area parks this year, and to incorporate something creative into each day.
I have creative and loving friends to help me along the way, and I also have thorns among the roses. This started because a thorn pierced me again today. So along my journey I will have "thorn quotes" sayings that are so bad I couldn't possibly be making it up.
Today's "thorn" is a quote to a grandchild: You can't help who you love the most, or who is your favorite. Reminds me of the grinch, who had a heart 3 sizes to small. Pray that this woman can grow past her shortcomings and love her whole family, children and grandchildren equally.
Now my creative goal has also been accomplished, I created a blog! As art or craft or inspiration comes along I am happy to post my ongoings.
I set for myself a few goals for the year- to walk all our area parks this year, and to incorporate something creative into each day.
I have creative and loving friends to help me along the way, and I also have thorns among the roses. This started because a thorn pierced me again today. So along my journey I will have "thorn quotes" sayings that are so bad I couldn't possibly be making it up.
Today's "thorn" is a quote to a grandchild: You can't help who you love the most, or who is your favorite. Reminds me of the grinch, who had a heart 3 sizes to small. Pray that this woman can grow past her shortcomings and love her whole family, children and grandchildren equally.
Now my creative goal has also been accomplished, I created a blog! As art or craft or inspiration comes along I am happy to post my ongoings.
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