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Kelley

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Catwalker's World Blog

It's my world and I'll decorate it however I want!
March 20

Great potluck salad

QUICK CURRIED TURKEY AND PEAR SALAD
Copyright, 2000, Ming Tsai
 
1 TBS Madras Curry Powder
1 Lemon, juiced
½ C Mayonaise
2 Cups, ½ Inch Diced Turkey Breast Meat (You can also use chicken. I like to used the precooked grilled chicken from Tyson or Foster Farms to save time))
2 Pears, peeled and cut 1/2/ inch dice (I don’t peel them and I like to use the Asian Pears)
3 scalions, sliced
Salt and black pepper
2 Romaine lettuce hearts, washed, dried, and cut into large chiffonade (I just get a bag of Romaine lettuce heart pieces)

Mix the curry with the lemon juice to dissolve. Mix in the mayonnaise. Fold in with the turkey, pears, and scallions. Season. Serve on bed of romaine leaves

Serves 2-4
Prep time: 25 minutes
January 21

Acres of Clams

Clam Dip
 
2    8 oz bricks cream cheese (leave out of fridge for an hour to soften)
3    cans chopped clams, drain and reserve clam juice
1-2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
 
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, Worcestershire, and 1/3 of the clam juice.  Use a hand mixer to mix until smooth.  (Start at a low speed and work your way up or you'll have spots on the ceiling!)  Add additional juice as needed to get desired consistancy.  Fold in clams.  Chill one hour before serving.  Fabulous with Tim's Cascade potato chips or Wavy Lays.  This is a thick dips so you'll need a strong chip.
August 25

More 'shrooms!

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

1 lb medium mushrooms
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
½ small green pepper, chopped (1/4 cup)
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 ½ cups soft bread crumbs
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon butter or margarine

Cut stems from mushrooms; finely chop enough stems to measure 1/3 cup.  Cook and stir chopped mushrooms stems, onion, and green pepper in 3 tablespoons butter until tender, about 5 minutes; remove from heat.  Stir in bread crumbs, salt thyme, turmeric and pepper.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in shallow baking dish until melted (or spray with Pam).  Fill mushroom caps with stuffing mixture; place mushrooms, filled sides up in baking dish.  Bake uncovered in 350° oven 15 minutes.

Set oven control to broil and or 550°. Broil mushrooms with tops 3 to 4 inches from heat 2 minutes.  Serve hot. 

About 3 dozen appetizers

This is the basic recipe from Betty Crocker.  I use really good bread and add things to make them different every time.  Last time I served these, I added Parmeson cheese and chopped, blanched asparagus.  I've also made them with garlic Cheddar.  They always disappear -- I've yet to have any left after a party, even those with only a few people.

Also, don't wash your mushrooms in water.  They get waterlogged and the end result is icky.  Wipe them off with a kitchen towel or paper towel.  Choose largish, very fresh ones -- buy them on the day you're going to make them.

Surefire Appetizer!

BABY TWICE BAKED POTATOES

2 lbs baby red or white new potatoes
½ cup + sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese (jack, cheddar, both, or whatever)
½ cup chopped onion or ¼ cup chopped fresh chives (or some of both if you like)
2 tablespoons butter, softened
6 slices bacon, chopped, crisped, and drained
1 cup cooked, chopped broccoli (optional)
salt and pepper

Par-boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes (depending on size).  Drain and store in fridge until cold. 

Slice potatoes in half and scoop out the insides with a melon baller, leaving about ¼ inch of flesh next to skin.   (Be careful because the new potato skin is pretty tender and tears.) 

Put the scooped out potato in a food processor with the sour cream and process until smooth (potato will be too hard to mash with a fork).  Mix in the remaining ingredients. 

Spoon mixture back into the skins and arrange in a shallow casserole, baking pan, or roaster.  Sprinkle with more cheese.  Bake 375° until hot and slightly browned on top.

I never have any of these leftover unless I hide them!  Super yummy!

July 12

I'm and MCSE!!!

 I passed Exam 70-220, Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network!  Passing score 700, my score 801.  That makes 7 exams and completes my requirements for the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certification.

Exam History:

  • Exam 70-215, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Score 880
  • Exam 70-216, Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure, Score 909
  • Exam 70-217, Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure, Score 920
  • Exam 70-218, Managing a Windows 2000 Network Environment, Score 930
  • Exam 70-270, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Score 984
  • Exam 70-214, Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network, Score 895
  • Exam 70-220, Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network, Score 801
June 18

Passed 70-214

I passed exam 70-214, Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network.  Passing score is 700, my score 895.  That makes 6 exams out of 7 for the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer).

Next up is Exam 70-220, Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network!  I'm not going to make my original goal of end of June but I'm hoping for mid-july.

Exam History:

  • Exam 70-215, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Score 880
  • Exam 70-216, Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure, Score 909
  • Exam 70-217, Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure, Score 920
  • Exam 70-218, Managing a Windows 2000 Network Environment, Score 930
  • Exam 70-270, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Score 984
  • Exam 70-214, Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network, Score 895

 

April 22

Talking about: One of those questions

Hmmm . . . That's a tough one.  How about Stone Temple Pilots, "Purple" or "No4"?  AC/DC, "Highway to Hell" is also good.  I have a number of soundtrack favorites like "Mona Lisa's Smile", "What Women Want", "Hi Fidelity", "Grosse Point Blank", "Dazed and Confused", and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Radio Sunnydale".  Have to agree with Neil about Peter Gabriel, "So" as well.  And Fleetwood Mac, "Rumours" (and if you don't know all the words, shame on you!).  Steve Miller Band, "Greatest Hits 1974-78" (and don't tell me there's rules against Greatest Hits albums, 'cause some are just classic).

Of course, the best ones are the ones I've created myself. 

Quote

One of those questions

Ok, Harry a guy from work asked me recently "what's the perfect album? You know the one that you love every song one it." None of the songs suck and you wouldn't be able to tell the B side without a label. He was quick to point out that, for him anyway, it's "Who's next?" by the Who. I must admit that it's a pretty good choice and it got me to thinking about it. I came up with a few that really show my age though. "Abbey Road" by the Beatles, "the Stranger" by Billy Joel, Supertramps "Crime of the Century" (Though Jon chose "Breakfast in America"), Peter Gabriel's "So"...on and on I could go. Ellen took Queen's "Night at the opera", and I'm sure Ashley would be taking Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory". I also have liked the new Black Eyed Peas CD and the new Outkast CD.

So what about you? What's your perfect album?

 
Birds  
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