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I think it was the celery that was in it. I didn't care for cooked celery. It needs to be chopped up finer for me than what my mom did. It was in big chunks. In defense of our moms, canned was probably the only option at the time. We didn't have the variety of produce back then. Living in a smaller town, we didn't have an Asian grocery. So, they did the best they could. I probably wouldn't like the weather full time. Winter might not be so bad. Sue and I were talking about winter get aways and we considered spending a January or February in Arizona. No decisions made. This coming January we will be in South America, so it would have to be 2026. Farkle was fun tonight and I even won a game!

We're on the same page, Terry! When we were kids we knew not to say we didn't like something. It was eat it or go hungry. Mom was not afraid to remind us that she was not a short order cook. I have been to the town in Ireland where my mom's grandparents came from several times. I also took my mom to the town where her father was born. When he was born it was Austria, but it is now the Czech Republic. Teenagers are here to make sure we are worthy of leadership. Constant testing. It is good that you and Craig are there for her. You wouldn't have to coax me to get in the pool.

I think we grew up in the same house. And I agree Chop Suey was a 50s thing. You rarely hear of it now and I haven't been forced to eat it since I was in my teens.

Good morning, everyone! It cooled down nicely last night and we are getting a short respite from the heat today and tomorrow. It returns on Sunday and sticks around for a week. We're expecting temps in the mid 90's next week. Until then we'll enjoy the 77 forecast for today. We're going back to the gardens today for story hour at 10. Our DN may join us with her two little ones. After story hour the kids will likely play in the children's garden for a bit. No plans for the afternoon. @Cruzin Terri I'm glad you made it to Jacksonville last night. Take your time getting home today and let there be no further mishaps. @Quartzsite Cruiser safe travels to you and Steve and I hope all goes well during his shunt adjustment. @rafinmd Thinking of you and your ordeal today. I hope it all goes smoothly. @Denise T Welcome home! I like tuna salad and @0106 Tina's suggestion of making it with avocado in place of mayo sounds like a good one. I'm going to have to try that. My open face is using a lettuce leaf in place of the bread. There are a lot of good suggestions for substitutions and things you can do in this recipe. Open Face Tuna Sandwich This recipe uses spiced oranges for a garnish and they sound really good. Tuna Salad with Spiced Oranges This one has a little heat to it with the jalapeños and red pepper flakes. It is interesting how they put mayo on the bread and then toast it in a frypan. Tunacado Sandwich Wishing you all a wonderful day!

We love Acadia and usually always go out to hike. Last summer was different. It was so crowded that it was not at all enjoyable. We kept having to move off the trail to let families carrying coolers to the beach pass by us. From now on, we only go after school starts or before it gets out. That may be a road trip.

Fingers crossed for @Cruzin Terri! I knew I forgot to mention something and it was about the Kitchen Klutzes. Yes, I am in that group. It is a subset of the Messy Painters Guild and the Messy Bakers Club. I also agree that being a klutz is not limited to the kitchen. I can be a klutz just about anywhere. @smitty34877 Terry, I believe you are the one who responded to my desire to hike Jordan Pond. I've wanted to do that for a long time. We set out to do it a few years back and missed the bus by a couple of minutes and had to wait an hour for the next one. Then, the bus we were on broke down and we had to wait for a replacement bus. By the time we got there, we had time to look at the lake and go back to town to catch our tender. I'm hoping we have better luck this time!

Good afternoon, everyone! I am beat. Between the heat and walking, I am ready to veg out on the couch and call it a day. River had a blast with her cousin Aspen. They especially liked the play area with the river in it. Both girls were soaked and River's shorts that were once pink were a nice shade of black and had a hole in them. They went in the trash. I told Sue I wasn't cooking tonight. I think we're ordering in salads. Or scrounging. Thanks for letting us know! I did make it yesterday and even River ate it with no argument. It was decided that it should go in the rotation. I did add in the bell peppers and some mushrooms. We had it over riced cauliflower.

Good morning, everyone. It is going to be a scorcher today. The windows are still open as it is cooler outside than in, but I'll close them before I leave for yoga. Expected high of 87F. We are supposed to meet Sue's former SILs and their families at Dow Gardens today. They sure picked a hot one! I think the spray park might have been better. Today's meal is one I tried and didn't care for, but perhaps I should try it again. I love raw radishes, so I should like the cooked ones. At any rate, radishes are a super healthy food. Radishes are root vegetables that come in several different colors and are a cousin to cabbage. This bright spring veg is a very good source of disease-fighting and immunity-boosting vitamin C Radishes contain natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. They contain a unique phytochemical called indoles, which promotes detoxification, helping your body rid itself of harmful substances. Radishes are full of powerful antioxidant flavonoids that fight havoc-causing free radicals and aid in healthy liver and kidney function. Garlic Roasted Radishes This next dish is very simple as it is just olive oil, salt, and pepper. There are some suggestions on how to use the cooked radishes in other dishes. Roasted Radishes This next recipe is more involved and I bet the flavors are amazing. It might be worth giving it a try! Egyptian Roasted Radishes That gives us something to think about! @Cruzin Terri safe travels home. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Good evening, everyone! We just got back from a concert by the Chemical City Band at the Central Park Bandshell. The band is an all city band with members that range in age from 16 to 90. They do a concert every Wednesday night. On Thursdays during the summer we have Tunes by the Tridge and then we have live music downtown every weekend. It is always something! I thought I would mention the great service I am getting from HAL. My PCC called me this afternoon and said she thought I had emailed her and she couldn't find the email to respond. I told her that I was thinking about emailing her, but hadn't gotten to it yet. Apparently she is clairvoyant and able to anticipate my desires and act on them without me contacting her! Talk about service!

Good afternoon! I am scheduled for nerve ablation on July 23rd at 7:30 am. I took the early appointment because I can't eat or drink before the procedure. Then Sue and I will go out to breakfast. I'm glad it will get done before our Zuiderdam cruise at the end of August. I have been wanting to hike the Jordan Pond Trail forever and I figure at my age, this is my last good chance. With the nerve ablation done a month ahead of time, I should be in good shape. I'll get two shots at it as the itinerary for the second week has changed and Bar Harbor is in and Portland is out. I'm kind of sorry to see Portland go as I like that city. It is getting toasty outside, but it is very comfortable here in the house. We've been practicing pre-cooling of the house. We open all the windows at night and let the cool air in. Then we close them in the morning. We also close and open shades and curtains strategically. We can get a lot of solar heating in the house and we want to avoid that. So far it is working. @1ANGELCAT Poor Shirl. She isn't going to understand no matter what you do. She is reminding me of a friend who was suffering from dementia. Her husband decided to move them from Ohio to St. Louis to be closer to their daughter. He recognized that he was not going to be able to care for Eileen on his own. She kept calling people in Ohio claiming she was coming back and asking them to check on her house and water and cut the lawn. Poor thing.

Good morning, everyone! It is another glorious start to the day here in mid-Michigan. The sun is shining and temps are supposed to hit the mid 80s. Originally they had forecast high 80s and low 90s, but that got revised. I'll take it! Sue is going to pick up River for a few days. Some of her cousins on her dad's side are coming into town tomorrow and this will be a chance for River to meet them. I have an appointment as follow up to my test injection last week. Hopefully we can schedule the nerve ablation now. Fingers crossed. @catmando Today's meal is a version of Beef and Broccoli, using ground beef instead of the regular chunks of beef. We have the makings for this and I think this is dinner tonight. https://www.skinnytaste.com/ground-beef-and-broccoli-stir-fry/ I will pick up some riced cauliflower to substitute for the rice. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/ground-beef-and-broccoli-stir-fry-recipe-8601830 I'd like the bell peppers in this recipe, but will probably use the first recipe for the sauce to keep sugars down. https://thecozycook.com/ground-beef-and-broccoli/ Wishing you all a wonderful day!

That is speedy! Glad to hear it and I'll be holding you close in my thoughts. Wow! Congratulations! Happy to hear you celebrated.

Good morning, everyone! It is supposed to be a nice, sunny day here in mid-Michigan. It is a chilly start to the day at 48F, but temps are supposed to reach the mid 70s. Perfect in my estimation. I have yoga this morning and then the rest of the day is free. Yesterday was spent running errands. Sue got some art supplies as she was inspired by the Art Fair downtown on the first of the month. I'm hoping she'll come to the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July and get further inspiration. @Vict0riann I'll be thinking of you today and hope that the surgeon has a plan mapped out and ready to go. Today's meal would be a treat. I generally wouldn't eat a muffin due to the carbs and high sugars, but once in a while for a special occasion might be ok. The calorie count on this one isn't too bad, but the carbs reach my limit for a meal. I guess if I filled up on bacon it would be ok. Insanely Good Blueberry Muffins Here is a recipe with more usual on hand ingredients. Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins One last recipe with some good tips on muffin making. Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins Take Three Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Good grief, Sharon! What did you have to eat or drink last night before you went to bed? Sue says to bring some along because it is obviously more fun than anything we take. Joy, I am so glad you were able to break the barrier of estrangement. Life is too short for that, especially with a sibling.

@quilty964 I'm working on binding my latest quilt. I told myself I couldn't start the next one until this one was bound. I do have the fabric for the next one.

Good morning, everyone! True to form, I was awake half the night. I don't know why, but Sunday nights are miserable. I can't get to sleep and end up tossing and turning all night long. I think it is a holdover from when I was working and dreading going back on Monday mornings. It was well after 2 when I finally got to sleep. That is going to make today a long day. I won't nap because that will make it hard to sleep tonight. Nothing is on the agenda other than the gym this morning, so it should be easy in that respect. @Denise T @StLouisCruisers Sandi, that was a good move to meet with the Relatives. It sounds like Mr. Relative wanted to clear the air. Hopefully, this reduces the tension and all four of you can enjoy the cruise. I'd give a pass to today's meal and probably go with Roy's alternative. I don't eat pasta as a rule due to the carbs. Pasta is an easily digested carb that sends my blood glucose into the stratosphere. Best to avoid it. This particular dish is missing the protein I want. But, for those who prefer meatless meals, it just might fit the bill! Feel free to substitute vegetables. https://www.skinnytaste.com/creamy-orzo-with-asparagus-and-peas/ Slightly different preparation in this recipe. There is also a nice list of substitutions and additions that you can make. https://skinnyspatula.com/orzo-asparagus-peas/ Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Good morning, everyone! We're starting out a bit overcast this morning, but we've been promised sunny skies and a high of 67F. A little on the chilly side, so we'll put a jacket or sweater on to go out. Oh, wait. A different forecast for today says cloudy skies and a high of 69F. Also a chance of showers. So, I guess we just pick the forecast we like best. Nothing on the agenda for today, so weather can't put a damper on anything. Safe travels to those on the move today. @Cruzin Terri I hope today brings you the peace and relaxation you were hoping for. @kazu I hope you can find relief for your pain issues. I think it was smart to tour the independent living facility. You may not need to move there right now, but it is nice to know what the options are for when you do. My friend lives in independent living in a senior living community and just loves it. What is nice is that she has the option of moving to assisted living when and if she needs it. We did have salmon and asparagus last night. It was raining too hard to use the grill, so we roasted the asparagus in the oven and did the salmon there, too. Sue made hollandaise for the asparagus and we were very happy. It was so good I could have had seconds if there had been any. Today's meal sounds good without the rice. I may use the recipe for the seasonings and use it make some scallops today. I actually want to try to do the scallops on the grill, so I hope the first forecast is the right one - no rain! But anyways, today's meal calls for shrimp (or scallops or chicken, or fish of some sort). I would substitute riced cauliflower if I wanted it. Otherwise, I'd just do the shrimp part. The garlic is the important part. Garlicky Shrimp Or you can substitute spinach for the rice. Garlicky Shrimp and Spinach Or you can just have Garlic Shrimp. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

We are on the same page with the hollandaise. We will have salmon and asparagus tonight, but with hollandaise. @Vict0riann I am happy to hear that your appointment has been moved up. Hopefully, the surgeon will have a plan that is easily executed. @RMLincoln That price sounds very high to me. Mine was somewhat complicated last year due to having to file in two states, but it cost me half that. Next year I can do it myself. @marshhawk Thank you for checking on @cruzn single. Does anyone know her full name? Also, sorry about DH's credit card fraud. It is always a pain when that happens, but at least we are not held responsible. Our sunshine from this morning has disappeared and we have a cold rain in its place. We'll be wishing for the cool temperatures later this week when we're close to 90. We changed our flights to get into Boston a day earlier so that we have a full day in Boston. We're meeting up with Sharon @Sharon in AZ and will be exploring the city together. As Sharon said, three wild women take on Boston! Now I am super excited!

Good morning, everyone! It is a bit nippy out this morning, but the sky is blue and the sun is shining. At least for now. Yesterday it couldn't decide what it wanted to do. We are going to the Farmers Market this morning. Last week they only had asparagus, radishes, flowers, and baked goods. We are going for the asparagus and radishes. Tonight a friend from high school is playing with a local band at a coffee shop, so I might go listen for a while. Today's meal sounds good to me. I might make this without the sauce. I can do both the salmon and the asparagus on the grill. So, I guess we have to add on a stop at Jack's for the salmon. Gribiche is a classic French sauce made with pantry items including capers, cornichons and Dijon mustard, plus fresh parsley and hard-boiled eggs. It's often served with cold meats or vegetables, but here we pair it with roasted fish and asparagus for a bright and acidic burst of flavor. Cornichons are little pickles. Roasted Salmon and Asparagus This is a slightly different recipe for the Gribiche Sauce. Roasted Salmon with Gribiche Sauce And one more take on the sauce: Gribiche Sauce and Asparagus Wishing you all a wonderful day!

I was never told to give up ice cream and I can't find anything recommending that. Most kidney stones are calcium oxalate. You might want to limit the oxalates in the diet. The biggest culprits are spinach, rhubarb, almonds, and beets. My urologist told me that a kidney stone diet is very hard to follow and to just concentrate on hydration. Here is information from the National Kidney Foundation: Kidney Stone Diet and Prevention To me it smelled like sugar and I really don't like that smell. The pecan pie filling was a hit and went well with the brown sugar cake. In all, it was a big sugar bomb. Because the cake was dense, it held together and sliced up beautifully. For the first time ever, my filling stayed in the cake and didn't squirt out the sides. Thank you! I had to try it. If I did it again I would use a different recipe for the cake part. The filling and icing were fine.

935 calories Thanks! And thanks to Lenda as well. It is tasty, but I thought the cake was kind of dense and dry. It needs more liquid. It didn't rise very much. I read the reviews and others have the same problem, so it is a dud recipe. Tastes ok, though.

Ok, the pecan pie cake is done. Lots of work to this one. It is a brown sugar cake with a brown butter/brown sugar icing and pecan pie filling on top and between the layers.

@Haljo1935 I had repeated kidney stones and part of the problem was that my parathyroid glands were overactive. They leech calcium from the body and help form those stones. There is also a family history of kidney stones. My grandmother spent her honeymoon in the hospital due to kidney stones and eventually had one kidney removed. 4 out of 6 of us siblings have had kidney stones. The biggest thing you can do is to stay hydrated. Add some lemon or lime to your water as the acid helps prevent the formation of the stones. It won't really eat away at the ones you have, but can help prevent them from growing larger. I do the lemon/lime thing to this day. After my third bout with kidney stones my doctor ordered hydrochlorothiazide for me. It will help prevent kidney stones from forming. So, right now: water, water, water. That will help move the stone along.

Good morning, everyone! It is a nice sunshiny morning here in mid-Michigan. Temps are expected to be in the mid 70s, so a perfect day to me. @marshhawk I don't know what to say. But hugs to you as you wade through all this. @Haljo1935 I assume the pain is from kidney stones? They are horrible and I hope you can pass them quickly. @ottahand7 I am happy to hear that you had a good night and a better morning. I hope the prednisone is doing its job. I'd like to try both the drink and the wine. I like a good Gewertztraminer, so this wine sounds like something I could enjoy. I got the cake part done yesterday. It is a brown sugar cake with pecan pie filling and a brown butter icing. I hope it all works out or I will be on my way to Meijer for a grocery store cake. Spinach veggie wraps with hummus? Hmmmm. Actually, there are a lot of things you can do with this to make it your own and to your liking. Not a fan of hummus? Use an aioli instead or some guacamole. Feel free to add in the vegetables of your choice. Watching carbs? Use a low carb tortilla. They generally have more fiber in them and that is probably a good thing. You can even add in some turkey or ham if you like. Veggie Spinach Wrap This one has some alternative veggies that you can use as well as other ideas for the dressing instead of hummus. Also, if you really want to eliminate the starchy carbs, you can use a large romaine lettuce leaf. Another Veggie Wrap Just a slightly different variation on the wraps. More Veggie Wraps I hope that gives you some ideas on what you can do to make your veggies more exciting! With a low carb tortilla, they look good to me! Wishing you all a wonderful day!