Really!

I didn't find these tidbits in time for Halloween, but you can tell your kids these things now and they will think you are cool.

When threatened, the hairy frog, or 'horror frog,' intention-
ally breaks its own bones to produce claws that protrude from
its toe pads.

                                         AND

If cornered, some horned lizards species can shoot their
potently foul blood from their eye sockets up to six feet.

Popcorn

Who doesn't love popcorn?  OK, there is nothing that smells better in the kitchen than bread baking, but popcorn is a close second.  We used to always make popcorn in our air or handle turning poppers.  It was really good and was fun to watch as it popped. At other times I would just use a heavy pan with oil in the bottom and it turned out even better.  Along came the microwave and the poppers were relegated to the basement and the pan is now used for just veggies.   Microwave popcorn is also good but really not as good as the poppers or pan method because sometimes there is a residual chemical taste.  I was reading my Food Channel magazine this week and found a recipe for making my own microwave popcorn.  It is Ellie Kreiger's recipe and I am going to try it.  You don't always know what ingredients you are getting in microwave corn and she says this is her favorite. This way you can monitor the oil and chemical content.

Toss 1/4 cup popcorn kernels in a small bowl with 1/2 teaspoon peanut oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Pout it all in a paper lunch bag with the top folded over a few times.  Microwave about 2 minutes or until the popping almost stops.  She says it comes out perfectly and with 1/3 less calories than regular microwave popcorn and no additives.  Try it and let me know what you think.

If the truth be known, I love theatre popcorn with all the artificial stuff and real butter at home.  Good thing I don't have it very often.

Really?

I love Christmas and have about every decoration a person can get.  I have lots of Santa figurines, nativities, bells, ornaments, reindeer, etc. but as I was thumbing through the   paper this weekend, I found this ad from K-Mart.  What???  Really???

I can't in any way associate a pig in a Santa suit or a lighted hippo to Christmas. I have heard of Christmas geese.  I was in the play the "Christmas Goose" when I was little, and I have heard of Christmas mice and spiders coming out at night to see the Christ Child but please tell me what a pig and hippo have to do with Christmas ???  I won't be adding these to my decorations any time soon.

Maybe I am not enough of a redneck. I think I can see these sitting beside a Jeff Foxworthy mobile home.

Barnes & Noble.com - Image Viewer: There's No Place like -a Mobile- Home for t

Mmm Mmm Good

For some reason, the pictures of the food this month are turned sideways.  They are correct in my picture file, and when I upload them to the blog they are correct at first and then turn sideways.  I can't figure this out so they are going on as is.

Our dinner group in October was hosted by Jim and Jaymie Utley.  The theme was Mexican food, and who doesn't like Mexican food?  Jaymie outdid herself with the table decorations and food.  I would say Jim helped, but I am not sure of that.  I think he was just the host with the most.

Jim and Jaymie

The Children's  Smaller Table

  The flowers and runner were just the thing to introduce Autumn.

The colors, candles, beautiful glassware and place matts really dressed up the table.

The theme was carried through with leaf shaped dishes

                         

The best flan you have ever tasted made by Scott and Lori.  I forgot to take a picture of the caramel sauce that went over the top, but trust me, we all wanted to lick the bowl when it was empty.

Cream cheese 3 berry ( strawberry, raspberry and blackbeery) chipoltle dip with blue corn chips made by Wayne

Melt in your mouth Chili rellenos made by the Turner's

Mmmm tender, stuffed pork with mole sauce made by the Welton's

Fresh salsa made with corn, beans, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro etc.

Can't get enough of the good things right Doug and Julie?

Ostler duo - Joan and Wayne

Scott, the official flan tester and sous chef

Laura, Lori (the flan chef) and Rick

The Welton Pair - Susan and Paul

The Ahlstrom couple - Doug and Julie