Turkey prep 101

Thawing Instructions:
Leave turkey in original bag and use one of the following methods:

No Hurry:
Thaw 2 to 4 days in the refrigerator (approx. 4 hours per pound.
Faster:
Cover turkey with cold water. Thaw 4-12 hours changing water frequently (approx. 1/2 hour per pound)

Roasting Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove the neck and giblets from the body and neck cavities. Rinse turkey with cold water then pat dry with paper towels. If desired, loosely fill body and neck cavities with stuffing, then reset legs in oven able clamp. Place turkey in roasting pan with tender timer gauge unobstructed (where applicable).
Cover with lid or aluminum foil. Remove cover during last half hour for final browning and to allow frequent checking on timer. When the turkey is done, the center of the timer pops out. Let stand 15 minutes before carving.
Remove clamp and timer and serve as you wish...enjoy!

Russian Tea Cakes

Yield:
Approx. 2 dozen cookies

1/2 lbs. soft butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 tsp salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined.
Scoop or spoon one tablespoon of dough into a ball. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the cookies until the bottoms are light golden and the cookie is set.
Immediately out of the oven, roll the cookies in powdered sugar and set on a cooling rack. When cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again.

One addiction for another.

I have discovered sadly, that I have traded one addiction, food for a different addiction, overspending.
If I go for more than a few days without spending money I don't have, I feel very strange. When I want WANT not NEED, WANT something I go out and get it no matter how far in debt I am already. I have no credit on any of my cards, I have a house full of stuff that I don't even use on a regular basis, I buy things I ALREADY HAVE!!! It is getting really ridiculous but telling someone I have an overspending or a shopping addiction is to me, like telling someone I have a sex addiction. It seems dumb! Shoppers Anonymous, please!! Give me a break.
So, now that I have come to terms, I need to give myself an intervention. I think I am going to cut up most of my cards so they are more difficult to use. I realize that cutting up the cards does not keep me from charging on them, but maybe the time it takes to work around the missing card, may be just what it takes to assist me in fixing my problem.
On a lighter note, and a better one, I WENT SHOPPING today and found out I now wear a size 9 pants. I have went from being a 'woman' to a 'junior'! I hate the way large women are referred to!!! 'Junior' sounds so cute and attractive, 'woman' or 'women's sizes' sounds like you have been around the block a few times and you need your tires rotated.
There is no reason why the neckline of an obese woman has to be so low and suggestive!! Just because larger women have big titties doesn't mean every one of us wants to show them to everyone!! It's like the fashion designers want you to say "I'm fat, so I am less smart than small women so here, look at my big tits to take your mind off my triple chins!" It infuriates me!!!

Make every moment count!

Da 'Bug

Stranger on a T

Tonight I saw someone on the T whose beauty was so breathtaking I missed my stop! Tall, model thin, buzz haircut close to the scalp (not bald, just very short all around such as the main character in Prison Break) he carried a hiker's backpak. Perfectly manicured fingers that had perhaps turned pages of books, but never a wrench. Clear skin, distinctive eyes...oh the eyes! My memory of him is already fading and I hate it!! He very easily could have been a Ralph Lauren model.

I thought later about how perhaps he was coming home to Boston for a visit, just landing in Boston from New York City.

The moment had to be shared as I have never missed a stop on the subway due to the beauty of another human being, what lives we lead!

Make every moment count!

Sugarbug

Six degrees of Facebook

Since Facebook does have an app named 'Six Degrees' I am not going to try and act as if I am the first person who has thought of this, but....
I thought it was an interesting topic nonetheless. It could be that the theory of "6 degrees of separation" could end up being proven by this networking website group that my son, my mother and I (though we run in completely different circles) are members of.
The theory also known as the "human web" refers to the idea that if a person is 1 step away from each person they know and 2 steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most, 6 steps away from any other person on earth! This is amazing to me.

With Facebook I have found friends from my elementary school and high school days, I have kept relationships going with co-worker/friends who have went on to different jobs in different cities and states.

In a time where there is so much stress it is quite a relief to have what could be considered "Gen X tea time". When I go to Facebook and play the games they offer with my REAL friends as co-gamers and leave short messages checking in with everyone, it keeps me abreast of what is going on in their life. It teaches me to be more caring in some ways, to remember that it isn't all about ME all the time. By making contact with certain friends they have been able to update me and get me in contact with other friends that I had when I was growing up, same with my friends at work. I am very happy to be a member and am truly amazed at the "six degrees of Facebook".

Make every moment count,

Sugarbug

Love....love will keep us together!!

Yesterday I caught my turtles Yoda and Yogurt in a tender moment and HAD to shoot it! They looked so cute.

Make every moment count!

Sugarbug

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!


BERRY PEACH COBBLER

3 (6 ounce) packages fresh blueberries
3 (5 ounce) packages fresh blackberries
3 Med. peaches peeled and sliced
Cooking spray
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 and 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp salt
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Topping:

4.5 ounces all purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
6 tbsp chilled butter cut into small pieces
1/2 cup half and half (cream)
1/3 cup sliced almonds
3 tbsp 'sugar in the raw' also known as turbinado sugar
1 tbsp egg white
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4 cups fat free ice cream

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1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. To prepare filling, combine berries and peaches in a 13X9 baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle 2/3 cup sugar, 2 and 1/2 tbsp cornstarch, lemon juice, and 1/8 tsp salt over fruit, toss gently to combine.

3. To prepare topping, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, level with knife. Combine flour, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp cornstarch, baking powder, and1/8 tsp salt stirring well. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles course meal.
Add half and half, gently knead dough just until moistened. Drop dough by spoonfuls evenly over top of filling.

4.Combine almonds, turbinado sugar, and egg white; sprinkle over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until topping is brown. Let stand 10 minutes or until you just can't wait anymore (haha) and serve with ice cream.


This recipe is a whole lot more drawn out than my mom's cobbler recipe which was fantastic, but maybe it is worth the trouble... give it a try!


Make every moment count!

Sugarbug