Week Two

Although 17th in this series, "Desolation Mountain" is an enjoyable read. Every Krueger novel has a way of keeping the reader spellbound with his inclusion of the Indian folk lore. Makes one wonder if U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone plane crash played on Krueger’s mind.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2020

Week One

Joy Harjo, the first Native American to hold the laureateship, asserts what we speak always returns.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2020

Week 52

If the reader is looking for the history of Motown, this (five pound) coffee table book is for you. All the artists (1000+ illustrations) of Motown are featured here.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Donofrio Mechanicals

Digs Sewer

Paves Street

Finishes Sidewalk

Seeds Yard

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

3 tablespoon olive oil
 
1 medium onion, finely chopped
 
1 can (4 0z.) chopped green chilies, drained

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cumin
 
2 cans (16 oz.) Bush's Greaat Norhtern Beans

1 can (14.5 oz.) chicken broth

1 1/2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken breast

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese (optional)

Sour cream (optional)

Salsa  (optional)

Directions:

• In a large skillet, cook onion in oil for 4 minutes or until transparent.
• Add chilies, flour, and cumin; and stir for 2 minutes.
• Add beans and chicken broth; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened.
• Add chicken; cook until hot.
• Garnish with cheese, sour cream, and salsa, if desired.
• Serve with cornbread.

Serves 6-7 servings

Recipe by www.bushbeans.com

Week 50

Angela Stent provides an excellent look at today's Russia. Putin is definitely a major player on the world stage.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Week 51

In this dark, gritty Irish noir, Ken Bruen  proves that he is a master of coarse language.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Week 49

Red herrings abound. Characterizations fall flat. Intrigue missing. After beginning with a bang, this edition of the series flames out. Readers of the Women's Murder Club books may be disappointed with this book.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Annual Osage-Orange Road Trip

After the breakfast, Joan brought up our annual trek for osage-oranges. Since the weather report was favorable we decided to go for it.

We drove to Aurora and our favorite osage orange tree on the front lawn of Mrs. Morehouse.

Since there are plenty of osage-oranges left on both trees foragers should have success for the next several days.

To reward ourselves for our hard work we went to The Sunset for dinner. The food is always excellent here - I had eggplant lasanga and Joan had a Julienne Salad.


OTHER TREKS:
November 13, 2011
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, November 13, 2009

Oven Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper

6 slices of deli ham

3 slices aged Swiss cheese, halved

1 cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs

cooking spray

Sauce: 

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup 2% milk

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup finely shredded Swiss cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees; arrange chicken in a greased 13x9 in. baking dish.
• Top each with 1 slice deli ham and 1/2 slice cheese, folding ham in half and covering chicken as much as possible.
• Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Carefully spritz the bread crumbs with cooking spray, keeping the crumbs in place. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and a thermometer insert in chicken reads 165 degrees.
• For the sauce in a small saucepan, whisk flour and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook or stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
• Reduce to medium heat. Stir in the wine and Swiss cheese and stir 2-3 minutes or until cheese is thickened and bubbly. Stir in salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat untill ready to serve.
• Serve with chicken.

Serves 6

Recipe by Ronda Eagle, Goose Creek, SC

Bay Scallop Chowder

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped unpeeled red potatoes

1 small red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1 pound bay scallops

2 cups half-and-half

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup fresh parsley

Directions:

• Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan. 
• Add onion and next 5 ingredients (onion through oregano). 
• Sauté 10 minutes. 
• Add clam juice and scallops. 
• Cook 5 minutes (cover longer until vegetables cook).
• Add half-and-half, salt and pepper. 
• Cook until throughly heated. Stir in parsley.

Serves 4 

Recipe by Larry Olmsted

Week 48

Graff provides a vivid perspective of 9/11 without becoming too emotional.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Week 47

Recalling George Santayana's famous quote, I engaged in my second graphic novel with a need to remember.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Week 46

Lacking Virgil’s sense of humor and missing Virgil’s snappy dialogue plus not being a page tuner might disappoint true Sanford fans. But Virgil’s old friends appear along the way.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Week 45

Where’s the mystery? If it was hidden among the explicit sexual passages, or the music/choir lingo, or the multitude of characters, then it eluded this reader.

Read 52 in 52 Weeks 2019

Urban Agriculture

State Street

Shadows

Sun was over Cobble Hill.

More interpretations at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Lillian’s Slow-Cooker Beef Stew

Submitted by Nancy Dynes, Goose Neck, SC

Tapioca is used to thicken this comfort food dish. If you don’t have any on hand, substitute an equal amount of flour.

Ingredients

2 lbs. stew beef cubes

2 potatoes, peeled and quartered

3 stalks of celery, diced

4 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced

2 onions, quartered

2 c. cocktail vegetable juice

1/3 c. quick-cooking tapioca, uncooked

1 T. sugar

1 T. salt

1/2 t. dried basil

1/4 t. pepper

Directions

1. Arrange beef and vegetables in a 5-quart slow cooker.
2. Combine remaining ingredients; pour into slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on high setting one hour; reduce heat to low setting and cook 7 hours.

Serves 8

American Lady

Saturday Adventure Part 2

Sandy Creek
 
 Birch with Moss

Moshier Dam

Bridge Over Sunday Creek

You've Got Mail - Stillwater

Beaver River

Stillwater Reservoir

Saturday Adventure

Francis Lake Outlet

Francis Lake

Francis lake

Pine Cone

Reflection

Francis Lake from boat launch