I love gadgets

This is the handy-dandy Apple-Peeler-Corer-Slicer, a contraption concocted who knows when, could have been invented a hundred years ago. Technology in the kitchen, even then.

It is hand operated, peels and cores fruits, such as apples or pears, as well as slicing them, all at once.

It can also peel potatoes, by just moving the coring part of the machine aside.

Mae has an apple tree, golden delicious, so I brought some home. Her apples always taste so good with dinner, I had to make some myself.

I don't really like apple pie, but I love Apple Butter, and cooked apples with dinner. And the smell is intoxicating.


Gadgets make everything taste better.

Deceased and Replaced

Since Michelle's beloved car is no more, a few of us had to make some adjustments. Stevie bought the Mitsubishi, and with the insurance monies from Michelle's car (which was also mine) I bought a new/used car.

It's very nice. It has all the luxury items on it that I wanted, including heated seats and a remote starter. I thought you all might like to see a picture of it. A Chevy Malibu LX. It is grey, but it has a very slight greenish tint to it, which I love. Inside is light grey cloth. It has a 5 CD changer and satellite radio (which I will never use). Everything is adjustable.

We aren't sure what Michelle and William will do when they get home, but at least they still have their truck. It isn't as nice as their Toyota was, but it runs. Sorry (but thanks) Michelle. :)

Ode to Creme Brule

Oh how I love thee, Creme Brule
You stole my affections this very day
Your soft, warm center, your toasted top
Your buttery sweetness, I just can't stop!
Of all confections, for this I prey
I love thee, O glorious Creme Brule!

- - - - - - - - - - - -
Dessert Courtesy of Jason's Restaurant & Bar, Dublin, Ohio - Stevie as waiter

Two guesses

It has been brought to my attention that I didn't specify my current location. Let me explain -

If I tell you then I may have to kill you.
Take your best guess.

The park is closed

And we are inside. It's nice to have priority status even if you had
to pay for it.

Do not disturb

Andy got a new bed. He has slept under the bed all summer so now is used to NOT sleeping in bed with me.

Dad says he sleeps under the bed when I'm gone, or in the living room in his doggie bed. We decided that, in order to keep him on the floor we would get another bed to go in our room.

As you can see he is very proud and has no time for disturbances.

Small stuff

Have you ever had guava?

Neither had I, until this year, when our guava tree decided to bear fruit.

The poor little tree isn't more than 4 feet tall (if that) and nearly died during last year's 20 degree CA weather. But thanks to the heat of this year, it is now bearing fruit; about 4 to 5 ripe guavas a day. We now have about 10 in the fruit bowl, even though I serve one a day and cut one up in Dad's lunch salad.

Guava aren't the most attractive fruit. It is difficult to tell when they are ripe, they turn slightly yellow just before they fall off the tree, and are slightly squishy to touch (like a ripe peach). But they smell good, much better than their pukey smelling cousin, the papaya. I have been serving them sliced, next to our meat and vegetables and that seems to be a nice balanced meal addition. I am really not sure what else to do with them. They do have tiny seeds, and you can't really see them but they are hard and if you bite a seed without expecting it, you could break a tooth or a filling.

Maggie has just discovered that I am picking them, which now makes them desirable. There might not be as many on the tree, now that she noticed I want them. She does tend to eat the avocados because of that. Or, maybe they just taste good.

Save money; cure a cold...

I hate having a summer cold. Sore throat, drippy nose, stuffy head. UGH!

I also hate to be sick when it is 100 degrees outside. Who can drink hot tea with temperatures like that?

So, I concocted a coffee drink (to replace my famous cold remedy) which tastes a lot like drinks from various coffee shops. Plus, it saves about $4 a glass.

The key to this drink? Sweetened condensed milk and, of course, brandy.

1. Get a large glass. Put in about 1/2 cup of this morning's coffee.
2. Stir in about a tablespoon of Sweetened Condensed Milk (I use the low-fat). Stir briskly until blended.
3. Fill with yesterday's coffee (I chill mine in a jar for this drink) or use the rest of the coffee from this morning.
4. Put in a generous shot of brandy (I use EJ's E.S.O.P. Superior). If you like the flavor of Hazelnut in your coffee, add a half shot of Frangelica. It is also very tasty with some Buttershots, but I didn't have any today.
   
5. Add ice. Drink with a straw. It might not cure the sore throat but it helps not to feel it so much. :-D

YUM! I feel better already.

Dueling Snaps

Andy's really glad I am home. He loves salmon with Parmesan topping. He hasn't had leftovers in months.

Of course, he doesn't (so much) like to have me touch the pan while he is eating. Notice as he snaps at me, while I snap a shot of him. Believe me, he wasn't amused.