Toronto Thursday

I work not far from the Fashion District in Toronto. I am trying to find out some history on these but am having a hard time using the right words in a Google search to describe them.

Wednesday Weddings - Chicago Illinois

I'm not a big fan of attending weddings, but I do love coming across them when we travel.
These were taken in Chicago at Millenium Park.

Recipes - Chicken Divan

Another recipe that has been around our family for years, this is even in my sister's handwriting.



1 bunch broccoli - I typically use fresh, but you could use frozen.

2 cups cooked, chicken - I have also done this with fresh chicken, whatever I have on land. I use chicken thighs and just cut them up.

2 cans cream of chicken soup - click here if you want to make your own. OR use a cup of sour cream to replace any cream of soup can.

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. lemon juice

about 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese

Dash of Worcestershire sauce


You could brown chicken pieces (boneless or bone-in) but I don't bother.

Put the chicken in the bottom of a crockpot or casserole dish, if you’re baking it in an oven. Layer the broccoli on top of the chicken. Stir together the soup, mayo and lemon juice. Spread this mixture over the broccoli. Top with the cheese. Bake in an oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or so. Or cook in a crockpot on low for 4-5 hours.

I do this in the oven as a quick meal.

https://ameessavorydish.com/chicken-divan/#recipe

Thirsty Tuesday - Kelley's Island, Ohio

Love this label!

And check out the beers made at Kelleys Islands Brewery, below is their description of their home crafted beers.

Summer Haze: "Attention lite beer lovers, the wait is over." Finally, a handcrafted beer is available for the lighter palette...

Anglers Ale: "Tighten your lines, Anglers." This is one brew worth reeling in. A Standard English Bitters, which possesses a medium body, dark copper in color and thick creamy head. Mild and pale ale malts blended with wheat and then dry hopped.



Dawg Bizkit Brown: a classic brown American. Full body taste, thick head and lightly hopped for a smooth semi-dry finish. Unique combination of roasted barley, chocolate, and crystal malts. Our most requested ale. It ain't for poodles!!



Island Devil: Our devilish brew is a Classic Double Belgian Style Ale...A sipping beer with unmistakable aromatic characters of spiced plums, German hops and Trappist yeast. Dark copper color, smooth body and creamy head is achieved with crystal malts and brewers sugar. Alcohol content is twice as much as most, 8.5% - a professionals-only recommendation.



Gale Force Ale: "Batten down the hatches, hops-lovers!" Find a safe harbor to anchor. You're about to enjoy the best "India Pale Ale" on the Great Lakes...





Monday's Motels - Buffalo

I have a fascination with old motels found along back roads in America. These are disappearing quickly as the chains buy up prime property and also as people look for more modern accomodation. I snap pictures of them whenever I can, but it can be hard from a moving car! They sometimes have the cutest names, unlike the generic corpoate names most have nowadays.
These were taken around Buffalo, NY. There's a couple that have two shots as we were lost and turned around so I managed a better shot in some cases.

Recipes - Hummingbird Cake

I was in Atlanta on business a couple of years ago and tried this cake in a restaurant. It was the best. Since then I've made it several times using this recipe.

Hummingbird Cake


Cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 cups chopped bananas
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs, and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened.

(Do not beat) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas.

Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" round cakepans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top.

Store in refrigerator.

365 Decluttering - Week 7

Sunday Feb 13 - Since the power went out I decluttered my bureau drawers and put a pile of stuff into the charity pile and a couple of things in the garbage.

Also threw out 3 cans from kitchen cupboard that had expired.

Monday - went to $ store to get some more small containers to finish off the spices cleanup. Finished product:

Tuesday - A couple of silhouettes done of us in Guilin China showing the Elephant Trunk behind us. These were to go a while ago but they kept sitting on the desk for a while before they made it into the garbage.

Here is a photo of the man creating them.

And a picture of Elephant Trunk Hill

Wednesday - an OLD address book.

Thursday - the hood from my old winter coat which went into the charity bags last month.


Friday -Nothing done at home but have been helping declutter the office for our move!

Saturday - Finally found a frame to replace the frame on a photo of my parents. It was an old cheap frame, it just dawned on me that it really should go!