Okay, so it's New Years Eve and I'm sitting here thinking where did the year go.  I hope everyone is safe tonight.  If you drink call a cab, call a sober friend or just stay home.  There are too many irresponsible people out there.  That is my public service announcement for the day.

Today was busy.  Went shopping and on the way to the ski resort a car came from the other side of the road and spun out in front of us.  Luckily the lady who was driving reacted quickly and stopped before the spinning car could hit us and it slammed into a snow embankment.  She and my friend got out and checked the driver.  He was shaken but not stirred ( sorry bad pun).  Tried to dig him out but that did not work.  As luck would have it, a truck came by with some straps and pulled him out. Proceeded to the ski resort and picked up the lady's kids, went out to eat and then to the salon to get my friends hair cut.  Never a dull moment here.  It's so great how everyone helps here.  Later we went to karaoke and I tore the bitch up.  Got standing ovations and everything.  It was a very good day.  I have pictures but can't seem to get them to load on the blog.  Will keep trying and send later.

Well I know I have not posted much lately but I have been so busy getting ready for Christmas.  I still have gifts to mail on Monday, cookies to bake, and a tree to decorate.  I will be with all of you in spirit and it would be nice to hear voices on Christmas day instead of text.  Take care and be safe.

Today was a good day. I rode my bike (see pictures), used the grinder on my kitchen aide tomake gyro meat and watched Bryan Boitano skate on a Christmas special.  Got some good news I can't share til after Christmas so over all it was a good day.

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Tomorrow will be our first Thanksgiving in our own place in Alaska.  Eagle with all the trimmings, some blubber bake and seal salad.  NOT!!!  Turkey will all the trimmings except greens cause they don't have anything but Kale.  This summer, I will get a spot at the community garden if someone can send me some seeds.  You know mustard, collard and regular kale.  The stuff they have here looks more like swiss chard.  Anyway, hope everyone has a great holiday and don't drink and drive.  You will spill your drink silly.  Love ya.

Got our first measurable snow of the year and it is so beautiful here.  The sun reflecting off the mountains then the pine trees below all flocked with snow then below that the tree limbs covered in white.  Still riding my bike in the park on the path.  When I get more pictures, I will post them.  Take care.

Sorry I have not posted anything recently but I've been riding my bike every chance I get.  It's nice to be mobile again without stopping every few minutes to sit.  I'm supposed to have my back surgery after the first of the year so I'm training someone to help take care of me during recovery.  Female of course.  But I do have a new recipe for ya.

Stuffed Mushrooms

1 tube Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage
12 large mushrooms (save the stems)
1/2 tsp Goya
12 Ritz crackers
1/4 cup fresh parmesan (shredded)
1/2 onion and one stalk celery finely chopped
1 egg

In a food processer grind crackers till fine.  Take onion, celery and mushroom stems (maybe 4 or 5) and mince.  Put in large mixing bowls and add the rest of the ingredients and mix together thoroughly.  Take the mushrooms and stuff with mixture .  Put in casserole dish and cover.  Cook on 425 degrees for 45 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy.

OMG today for the first time in my life I rode a bike.  It was amazing, I never knew it was that much fun.  It was a beautiful sunny day to boot.  My counselor put in a grant request for the adult tricycle bike, we got it last Tuesday, Walmart put it together on Thursday, we picked it up on Friday and I rode it today.  I am sooooo loving Alaska and now that I'm moble I can lose weight and see more of the city.  Awesome Sauce.   Will add more pictures when I figure out how to do it again.

Happy Halloween!!!

Sorry I have not posted more pictures but Halloween is approaching and so is winter.  Soon there will be snow, Thanksgiving and Christmas so I will be adding more pictures.  For now I want to share a new recipe

SPINACH RAVIOLI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE ALFREDO SAUCE

1 pkg Italian sausage
1 jar roasted garlic alfredo sauce
1 bag spinach/mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 bag of broccoli florets
1 tsp Italian seasons
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Take casing off the Italian sausage and cook as you would ground beef.  Once crumbled  and done add remaining ingredients and simmer on low for 15 minutes.  It's a one skillet meal so not a lot of clean up.

What a week, my grant went thru for my tricycle bike and I got it on Tuesday but it's not put together.  Since it came from Walmart, I'm going to take it there to see if they will assemble it for me.  I hope so, I want to ride it before the weather gets bad.  So wish me luck.  I'm also going to try to make dinner rolls this weekend and if they turn out like mom's I will put the recipe on the blog so everyone can have it

Sorry I have not put anything on for a while, lots of stuff going on in the family.  Promise to add something soon.  If a Dr. Stewart Gallo adds you to his friend list, block him.  He is not who he says he is.

New recipe for Mexican food lovers:  Mexican Lasagna

1 pkg burrito shells
1 can refried beans
1 jar salsa
1 small can sliced black olives
1 large bag of Mexican blend shredded cheese
1 jar guacamole (optional)
1 pound ground beef
3 green onions sliced
1 tub sour cream

In a large round casserole dish or cast iron skillet sprayed with pam, start to layer your burrito shells with meat , beans, salsa, cheese, another shell etc. till dish is full.  Add one more shell on top.  Bake in oven at 400 degrees till bubbly (about 30 minutes).  On the top put cheese, guacamole, green onions, black olives and a dollop of sour cream in the center.  Cover for 5 minutes, then serve.  Quick, easy and pretty.

OMG Sam and I went out and did karaoke and had too much fun.  I actually got up and danced with several guys and did not fall.  A group of us did Love Shack and I did a duet with the guy running the show.  It was the most fun we have had since we have been here.  We got home at 2am and obviously I can't sleep cause I am so wound up.  So I thought I blog you and share my evening.  Love ya.

Everyone loves pizza, right?  Everyone loves cheese burgers too, right?

As of 6am tomorrow morning we will have been here one year.  Can you believe it??  We did it and we made it and we couldn't be happier.  To celebrate I'm making triple chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream  and serve the brownies hot so the ice cream can melt all over it.  Yummmm!!!

Hey people, got a new recipe for you to try.  Simple, easy and fast.

I found these olives stuffed with garlic and jalapenos and was wondering what I could do with them besides eat them.  Here's what I came up with.

Jalapeno/Garlic Egg Salad

8 Olives
4 eggs
1 to 2 tbs mayo
Parsley flakes for garnish

Put olives and eggs in food processer on chop.
Pour in mixing bowl and add mayo and parsley.
Mix and serve with crackers or as a sandwich or
with lox on a bagel. Enjoy.

Guess I spouted off too quickly.  I did not know you had to join this blog to make comments.  My bad:(  Anyway if you want to comment you can always email me at lepracoon317@gmail.com.  Or something novel like calling me.  Lol

It's Saturday night and I ain't got no money so new recipe time.  The trick to making any bean soup is the stock.  I use ham stock if I have it but if not a ham shank or hock will work.  If you don't eat ham, a smoked turkey leg or wing will work just as well.  So you start out by soaking the beans over night in a tsp of baking soda.  This cuts down on the gas later.  Lol.  Rinse and drain the beans before putting them in the crock pot. 

So I forgot to take something out of the freezer for dinner and I looked in the fridge to see what I had.  I found half a cabbage, some ham, half a jar of 4 cheese sauce by Ragu, and an onion.  So here is my new recipe.

Okay guys, What gives?  I built a blog and no one has commented on it yet.  See this is why I hate social media.  If I were on facebook total strangers would make comments before you guys would.  I need to know you are reading them or viewing them so I know if I should continue doing this.  There is a comment section at the end of each entry so use it.  Gees!!! 

CurriedOxtail Stew.

Okay, since I've been here in Alaska I find that my cooking skills have gone off the hook.  I have made up some of the most interesting meals just by looking in the fridge and putting stuff together.  It's like I don't want to go to the store to pick up the usual stuff and just make due with what I have.  For my first recipe you need a crockpot so you know it will be easy.

More Alaska Pics

Well the response was overwhelming for my first posting of the trip to Alaska. Here are the pictures we have accumulated since we moved downtown to our apartment across from the channel.  We moved in just in time for the fourth of July fireworks and we did not have to leave the building.  They were right outside the window.  We saw all the fireworks across the channel on Douglas Island as well.  Then when we were doing laundry upstairs we saw the parade.  No crowds, no walking just a incredible view.  We've gone to every beach in Juneau and to the ski lodge this past winter.  There are waterfalls everywhere.  On the mountain pictures, if you see white lines coming down. those are waterfalls.  They are by the side of the  roads too.  If you have any questions about the pictures, send me a comment on the blog I promise I will get back to you.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made this video for my brothers who love to fish.  We went to the hatchery during salmon spawning season and the fish were going nuts trying to get up the ladder.  BTW I got splashed in the face making this one.  Lol

The escape

 

 

So you know how I have always wanted to live in Alaska?  Well guess what, I did it.  On September 30 2014 We finally got the car loaded at 2am in the morning and started driving cross country to our now home.  By we I mean my dog and I kinda kidnapped my neighbor, Samantha, cause I could mot drive that far by myself.  So off we went, taking turns driving and stopping for the occasional dialysis treatments.  First stop for rest was a Super8 Motel and guess what?  They were pet friendly.  So for the rest of the trip that's where we stayed.  We saw so many beautiful sights and animals on our trip out west.  There were prairie dogs at the gas station, wild horses running beside the car, buffalo and antelope on the side of the road and very large deer crossing in front of us. Then came the ferry ride.  Roxy did fine until then.  There was no place for her to go potty on the ferry so for almost 2 days she would not go on the floor of the car deck.  So once we got into the first port of the ferry ride she made a mad dash to shore and relieved herself.  Once we arrived in Juneau I had to go directly to dialysis which just happened to be just around the corner from the ferry dock.  We found another Super8 Motel and stayed there until April 24, 2015 because our housing was about to be ready.  They were so nice and helpful during the wait that we gave them a pizza party as a thank you.  Once we got into our place we had more help from other agencies with furniture and linen that we really didn't have to buy much.  So on July 26, 2015 We moved into our new digs and have been loving every minute.  You wake up to a new scene every day.  Sometimes the clouds are so low you can almost touch them.  They weave themselves around the trees and it looks like the mountain is on fire or they cover the mountains and all you can see is a silhouette .  There are otters frolicking in the water, eagles everywhere, noisy ravens and the most beautiful stellar jays.  And I have discovered I have a creative cooking side.  I have come up with some recipes that I will share So this is my blog.  Hope you like it and the pictures and I will keep you posted on our progress.