How I spent my weekend

It was a busy one but quite fun. Attended a graduation party Friday night and played Euchre with our bi-monthly group last night. The food was awesome! Everyone brings heavy appetizers and last night there was quite a spread. The hosts grilled tenderloin, flank steak and chicken for mini sandwiches. Other people brought bacon wrapped mushrooms, artichoke-sun dried tomato feta pizza, beautiful arrangement (yes arrangement!) of vegetables, mini reubens (great idea to make them on party rye bread for apps) and I can't remember what else. I made a smoked turkey cheese spread on baguettes based on a recipe I found at epicurious.com.

SMOKED TURKEY AND CHEESE SPREAD
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 cup coarsely chopped fully cooked smoked turkey (about 6 ounces)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
6 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Combine cream cheese and mayonnaise in processor; blend until smooth. Add turkey and process, using on/off turns, until coarse paste forms. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Mix in 1/2 cup pecans and 4 tablespoons parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon into small serving bowl. Sprinkle top with remaining 2 tablespoons pecans and 2 tablespoons parsley. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.)

[My changes: I didn't turn the mixture into a paste. I chopped the turkey fairly finely and then folded in the cream cheese mixture, pecans and parsley. After I spread it on the baguette slice, I topped it with a tablespoon of jalapeño pepper jelly and sprinkled with pecans. ]

Bon Appétit

September 1997

I finished up the washcloth. I know Beth pointed me to the pattern but I can't remember where it was. I used Bernat's Cotton Tots intending for this to be a washcloth, rather than a dishcloth. The pattern is very clever but I definitely needed to pay better attention to the pattern. I screwed up in a couple places because I lost track. If I make this as a dishcloth, I will cast on less stitches. This cloth is approximately 12" in diameter - too big for a dishcloth in my opinion.

I have been thinking all week about homemade ice cream and purchased the ingredients to make some yesterday. Other people have been having the same idea - check out this recipe and picture for Rocky Road Ice Cream. This is the recipe I received from a friend years ago and let me tell ya, it is DELISH!! It looks a little melty but I couldn't find my camera!

Cheesecake Ice Cream

1 pint half and half
1 pint heavy cream
1 cup sugar
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 T vanilla
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 t grated lemon rind
1/2 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs.

In a blender, mix half and half, cream and sugar. Blend in cream cheese and vanilla. Refrigerate for a few hours. Then stir in lemon juice and rind and process in your ice cream freezer. Add the graham cracker crumbs during the last five minutes. Serve with fresh fruit or other toppings.

And finally.... a conversation with my good friend Saturday morning as I was headed out to run errands.

Friend: "Bon, did you hear about the great shoe bargain I got yesterday at DSW?"
Me: "Shoe.... bargain.... You've got my attention."
Friend: "DSW is having a summer clearance shoes and I got a pair of shoes that had been marked down to $80 for only $16."
Me: "I'm stopping there on the way to Costco."

Phone call on the way home to my now BAD friend.
Me: "I hate you."
Here is why:

BUT!!! I purchased all those shoes and the little purse for $125!!! Most of them were 80% off their original prices. They don't look nearly as cute in this picture as they do in person. The ones on the bottom row, far right are ADORABLE!!! And the little strappy sandals next to them in front of the purse are very hot on. The purse goes so well with them and I intend to wear them with the dress that I am just about finished making. I wish I was a better photographer 'cuz these shoes are CUUUUTTTE!!