Fish (And No Chips)

Breaded Tilapia with Breaded Mushrooms and Broccoli.  So delish.

Happy Birthday Nevada Statehood

We Encountered The 4-Point Buck Today

Romeo Love The Creek

13 Views Of Autumn Along Sligo Creek

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Week ~ November 1st through November 7th

Three Bean Florentine Soup!

Totally made up today by me!

Three Bean Florentine Soup

1) Cook up 8 oz of cubed pancetta

2) Add 3 cups of beef stock & 3 cups of water
3) Add one onion, diced
4) Add three stalks of celery, sliced
5) Add two carrot, peeled and sliced
6) Add spices: Oregano, Thyme, Black Pepper, and a couple of Bay Leaves
8) Add one 15.5 oz can each of Goya® Frijoles Negras, Habichuelas Romanos, and Habichuelas Coloradas along with all juices and reside.
7) Simmer for a while--cause it will smell like love by this point! And it did! I let it simmer for over an hour until it reduced by an inch or so. I also stirred it every 12 to 15 minutes to keep the beans from sticking to the pot.
9) Add one 16 oz can of Zesty diced tomatoes.
11) Add one package of mature fresh Spinach, crudely chopped.
12) lastly, frugally, add some salt to taste, if needed. I skipped it, it wasn't necessary.

I let it simmer for another 30 minutes or so to mingle all the flavors. It is fantastic! So nice I ate it out on my deck. It needed to be celebrated a little.

Overlooking my repast was poor mother wolf and two of her cubs. One had just asked the question, "What is a skunk..." Let's hope the answer didn't involve any demonstration of skunktitude!

Breakfast Sausage & Hash Browns Au Gratin

Standard Au Gratin recipe made with Breakfast Sausage (pre-cooked), Hash Brown Potatoes and Jalapeño Peppers.  The cheeses I used were an equal mix of colby-jack and pepper jack.

The Federal Judiciary Round-Up #1

Why I find it beyond question that I would vote for a Democrat for President.  I want more women in the judiciary.  I want my third branch of government to reflect my nation demographically.

The Federal Judiciary Round-Up #2

The current balance of justices by appointment on top.  The change to that balance if Obama is permitted to appoint judges to the current open seats.

The Federal Judiciary Round-Up #3

Of the 100 Federal District Courts, women hold Chief Justice positions in 31% of them.  In two Appeals Districts: the 5th (Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi) and the 7th (Wisconsin, Illiniois, and Indiana) there are NO women in this position.

Some Wonderful Pics From The Park

Wood Ducks!

I have often encountered Mallards in the creek in the park.  This past spring two females raised a total of 11 ducklings down in the creek just off of the park.  But I have never seen any other sort of duck, until yesterday.  Yesterday, Romeo and I encountered a pair of Wood Ducks!  Such lovely birds.  And very unlike the Mallards which are cautious but not elusive.  The Wood Ducks were downright skiddery.

So today I wasn't certain they'd still be there.  I assume they are stopping over on their migration to climes South American.  And what did we find?  Three pairs!  Just as ready to skidaddle as the first hint of discover, but I also was able to get a few pics of one of the males.

What Was Old Is New Again!

Another house in my neighborhood is getting the "flip or flop" make-over!  After being uninhabited for more than three years, it went to the bank and then was purchased by a speculator.  Certainly, it was a huge mess.

They've really redrawn the floor plan of the second floor.  I'm eager to see it on the inside when it's done and goes on the market.

Random Quote #214

The New Pumpkin Pie!

Some years back I started adding walnuts in syrup to my holiday pumpkin pies.  They made for a nice surprise!  The recently I became the recipient of a many pounds of dried cherries from a childhood friend who still lives in Michigan.  They are delicious, but what to do with so many?  So here's another solution: Pumpkin Pie with Candied Walnuts and Dried Cherries!  Very American.

 Assembled all the standard stuff in advanced of starting.

 Rolled out the pie crust per directions.

 Assembled the brown sugar and spices from the recipe on the pumpkin puree.

 Two eggs....

 plus pumpkin puree...

 Mixed together, then....

 The condensed milk and sugar and spices until it's a cream sort of sunny pudding.

Next, the walnuts.  I used Smuckers which are made for use over ice cream and are usually sold some- where new the ice cream freezer in the store.

 Arrange them evenly on the bottom of the pie crust with the syrup.

 Add the dried cherries to form a nice layer and then pour over the pumpkin 'pudding' mixture.

 Back according to the directions on the can.

And serve it in whatever manner you think best.  I like mine with a little vanilla ice cream--not a fan of whipped cream.