One down and one to go, we soon will have made it through another Holiday season. I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and friends. We enjoyed a couple of great steaks, not exactly turkey fans in this house. I love all the lights and decorations in the neighborhood and in the hallways of our building. It looks very festive.
Another very successful RMC Christmas party. A great turnout and everyone enjoyed lots of holiday treats. It is such a hard time of year to plan events, everyone is so busy, and our schedules are on over load. We missed everyone who couldn’t make the event because of schedule conflicts.
Book Club
Book Club met at Linda W’s home. We discussed America’s First Daughter by Laura Kamoie, a great book which gave us some incite to President Jefferson’s family and personal life. Having had the opportunity to have visited Monticello, reading about the Jefferson family made the book come alive. We had a good turnout and enjoyed Linda’s treats. We aren’t having a book club meeting in December due to all the holiday activities in which everyone is involved. We meet at Edy’s home, #311 in January. We will be discussing The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah.
Traveling neighbors
Linda and John are off to NY to visit family for Christmas and NY’s. I hope they get to enjoy a white Christmas.
We on the other hand will be off to Hawaii via a cruise. Lots of sea days which gives Jerry and I a chance to get away from all telephones and the hustle and bustle of the season. My niece and her husband will be joining us, so we will be getting in a bit of family time. Jerry has never been to Hawaii so I’m anxious for him to have the chance to see the Arizona and other sites that Hawaii has to offer.
Jeanne was fortunate to get to spend some time in Israel, she said it was very exciting and interesting.
Edy spent a week in NYC for work, would someone tell her she is supposed to be retired.
December Birthdays
- Judy, Bev, and Shirleen shared their birthdays on the 3rd of Dec.
Recipes Du Jour- It is time for soups and braises
Chicken, Wild Rice & Mushroom soup
Ingredients
1 tbsp Olive oil
3 medium sized mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp butter
1 onion finely chopped
1 stick of celery, sliced
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/3 c milk
1 C basmati and wild rice blend (or long grain and wild rice blend)
½ C white wine
4 C hot chicken or vegetable stock (water plus a couple of stock cubes is fine)
1 tsp dried thyme
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Juice of half a lemon
1/3 c heavy cream
½ C packed shredded gruyere cheese
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven, sauté the mushrooms on medium heat until browned. Remove to a bowl.
- Melt the butter in the same pan, sauté onions and celery for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the flour to the pan and stir together using a whisk, until the flour is incorporated with the vegetables and butter. Turn the heat up to high, pour the milk in slowly while stirring with a whisk until milk is completely mixed in.
- Add rice and white wine, stir. Add the stock and dried thyme and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 20 minutes-stirring 2-3 times. Test the rice to see if it is done.
- Add in the salt, pepper, lemon juice, cream, cheese, chicken and mushrooms. Stir together and test for seasonings.
- Heat until all is hot, top with fresh parsley and serve
Tips Du Jour
The many uses of Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Clean the dishwasher
Once a month sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short, hot cycle. - Refresh water bottles and thermoses
Fill the container with hot water and ½ cup baking soda, let sit overnight. In the morning rinse well.
Wash plastic storage containers with hot water plus 2 tablespoons baking soda. Let them sit for 20 minutes or so and rinse. - Clean Greens.
To wash leafy vegetables, fill a large bowl with cold water and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Move the vegetables around in the water, soaking them for about 3 minutes. All the dirt will fall to the bottom of the bowl. - Clean Your Microwave
In a microwavable bowl, combine ½ cup vinegar and 1 cup water. Microwave for 3-4 minutes, then let sit for a few minutes while the steam goes to work. You should be able to easily wipe away any formerly caked-on mess. - Freshen garbage disposal
Once a month, fill an ice-cube tray with white vinegar and freeze. Put frozen vinegar cubes into the disposal and grind. The ice sharpens the blades while the vinegar deodorizes the drain. - Unstick Pasta
Instead of oil, add a tablespoon of white vinegar to boiling pasta to make it less sticky. It lowers the PH level of the pasta, which results in less stickiness. - Freshen flowers
Add a dash of distilled white vinegar to a vase filled with fresh flowers and water to keep the blooms fresh longer.
Neighbors under the Weather
- Joel has been having some difficult health issues and is a re-hab facility.
- Don Olsen is in memory care.
- We wish them well and will keep them in our thoughts and prayers through this difficult time.
Jerry and I wish you all a Merry Christmas filled with joy, family and friends. Happy New Year and a healthy and happy 2019.