Meatless Friday in Lent - Basil Garlic Pasta Meal

 Lent crept up on me this year and for the first meatless Friday I was kinda stuck without much in the house.  I remembered we had bought a bag of Basil Garlic Shell Pasta at the last Home Show we attended.

Our dinner plate - Shells w/ Alfredo Sauce, Garlic Herb Monkey Bread & Salad w/ Creamy Italian dressing

Fantastic pastas - all shapes and flavors. 

I wanted to fancy it up some so I baked it with Parmesan cheese on top.

Love Trader Joes!  Got this the last time we were in Albuquerque and added it to the Alfredo Sauce.  Add a subtle flavor.

Interesting combination of flower petals. 

After it came out of the oven all hot, bubbly and crispy!!

Beginning stage of Garlic Herb Monkey Bread with canned biscuits.  I used garlic granules, dried green onions and dried parsley. Roll each biscuit in the melted butter and herbs.

Just a single layer in a Pyrex loaf pan.

Bake 350 degrees for 20 -30 minutes. Enough for the 2 of us with more than half left for tomorrow!!!

High carb dinner but it sure was good.  The salad with the tomatoes and tart dressing rounded it all out. 

Assorted Bottles for Flower Arranging and Craft Projects

When my daughter got married last July she used bottles like these for place cards and table decorations.  All are vintage and some have that old rainbow coating on them. They have been washed with some retaining the original patina.  

These bottles and lots lots more are available in my eBay store.

Crescent Moon shaped

Large bottle embossed Warranted Flask

Soda Bottle -

Listerine

Thomas G Carroll & Sons, Baltimore MD

 Please visit my eBay store to see these bottle plus many more and lots of other vintage items. - most with the make an offer option. 

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Vietnam Memory Wall Ice Carving, Cripple Ceek, CO Feb. 2012

This is the 5th year Cripple Creek, Colorado  has held an Ice Carving Competition.  The theme this year was to honor our Military.  Cripple Creek is an old mining town in the mountains west of Colorado Springs on the west side of Pike's Peak.  These days it is one of 3 towns where full blown gambling is allowed. 

One of the sculptures that we really liked and voted for was "The Wall".

We were there the 1st weekend and all the sculptures were not all done yet.The artists here told us that the names on this wall were from Colorado but if we knew of someone they would add that name too. 

They print the names out on the computer then iron the paper to the ice.

Now they can use a drill and follow the lettering on the paper.  I think the trick to this is getting the carving to just the right depth. 

We went back the following weekend and they were further along. 

Gene had a cousin killed in the war so his name is added to this wall too - Michael Lovato (they spelled it wrong) - but the thought is there. 

An  Eagle under construction.

Marine memorial.

Soldier's Memorial with Eternal Flame in front.

I Rescued a Hummel - TO MARKET

Yes I saved this cute little Hummel from eminent death.  

Here's what happened.  We were at a meeting and the hostess gave the guest speaker a gift for speaking to the group.  In the bag were 2 Hummels.  She then gave him a large mallet and towel.  The guest was told to go ahead and break them.


HUH?  I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open,  I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My father was born in Germany so our home, relatives and other German friends always had Hummels about.  Even my own home now has several of the precious little statuettes. So watching one being intentionally broken was more than I could understand. 


The guest refused to break the 2nd one and said whoever raises their hand first gets it.  Man, my arm shot up very fast, so I was given this Hummel named TO MARKET.  

There was a tiny little chip on the bottom but otherwise in fantastic condition.  I researched it and decided to start an auction on eBay at $19.86.  It sold for $20.36 with 25% going to American Heart Association.  I figured I nearly had a heart attack when the 1st one was broken so is it was only appropriate.  

An explanation was given why this person destroyed these very collectible children. I am thrilled to not only have saved it from it's demise but made a few bucks, donated some cash to a charity and passed it on to someone who will enjoy it. 

The seller got it and has left glowing feedback. So for this one little Hummel it gets to live another day!!  I hope in the future no more of these li

Nambe Ware - Serving Pieces

First time I ever heard of Nambe Ware was when we moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico in the early 1970's.  All along the Rio Grande (river) there are many small Indian (Native American) pueblos - Nambe being one of them.  Their reservation is in Pojaque just north of Santa Fe. 

The original studio was a small wooden building with the area to cast their pieces behind the building. The studio and showroom have moved to a more modern facility with additional showrooms in and around northern New Mexico including Albuquerque. 

Each piece is made of an alloy of over 35 metals,  sand cast and polished. They never tarnish like silver but are susceptible to acid. One advantage of these 'dishes' is that they can serve hot or cold foods. 

I was so happy to find some pieces to list on eBay

Called a butterfly dish for gravy, sauce, candy or nuts. #568

Long oblong tray / platter #511

Round candy or tidbit dish #556

Square plate for cake, cookies, sandwiches #555

They call it ovoid and it is a cute little dish perfect for nuts, candy or condiments.  #579

Smaller oblong tray / platter #510  

On our last trip to Albuquerque we visited their newest shop and I was amazed at all the new versions and pieces they have now.  Here is their website

I hope you enjoy browsing their site because all their items are so modern, elegant and sleek.  Then please visit my listings.

Tome, New Mexico

Tome (pronounced toe-mayyyyyy) is alittle community in Valencia County, New Mexico.  It is south of Albuquerque along NM47 between Los Lunas and Belen.  

When the conquistadors came north from Mexico they stopped along the Rio Grande and set up residence.   The Catholic Church - Immaculate Conception - is the center point of the plaza.  When we were there a few weeks ago, it appeared they were restoring the church.  

This sign erected for the US Bicentennial says Tome was first settled in 1600's.

Off to one side of the church building is a glassed in museum of sorts.  There are many relics and photos of years past.

Handmade tools

Santo Nino - Check out the shoes.  They have to be replaced periodically because the baby wanders around helping those in need and wears them out. 

Calendar from 1901

Front corner of the church with the plaster off.

The adobe melts.  There is a pile of the dirt on the ground. Very sad to see.

Tome Hill  - A local man erected these 3 crosses on the very top for safe return of his 3 sons. He also promised God that he would pray in front of each cross.  

To this day pilgrims flock to the top of Tome Hill on Good Friday and many other times during the year.  No vehicles are allowed so those are all foot paths.  Some faithful will walk from Albuquerque (30 miles away), some carry crosses and some go on their knees.

 

 

Chicken Fajitas

After I had fajitas for the first time I wanted to make them at home.  At that time they weren't that popular and neither was the internet, so I had to figure out a recipe.  My ingredients are alittle unconventional but sure makes the meat & veggies taste yummy.

Chicken breast or beef (flank steak) sauteing with red and green bell peppers and onions.  The meat is cut in thin slices. (not tiny). Want it spicy?  Add some fresh sliced jalapenos.

The marinade - equal parts orange juice, tequila and Pepsi with a good splash or 2 of olive oil. 

I brown the meat first to get it cooking and to give it some caramelization.  Then I add the peppers and onions with some of the marinate so they cook in the liquid and not fry that long.  Once the liquid is evaporated the veggies will start browning too.

Heating a tortilla on the comal (flat cast iron insert from an old wood stove)

Guacamole is traditionally served with the fajitas along with sour cream and pico de gallo or salsa.

 I have what I call an Anglo mouth - meaning I can't eat hot, spicy food.  So I cook mild - no spice but then add the heat in for Gene in the salsa or by adding chile  / cayenne to the meat veggie mixture.

1950s Comic Books / Part One

After we inherited my parents house one of the things we found was a stack of old comic books that must have been mine back in the 1950's.

Most are yellowed and I do not think there are any that are collectible ones.  They would be fantastic for scrapbooking or crafts like decoupage. 

These comic books will all be listed on eBay over the next few weeks. 

Beetle Bailey

Archie's Joke Book - Also has Betty & Veronica and Leroy

Blondie - Plus the Flop Family

Dagwood

Elmer Fudd

Aunt Fritzi Ritz, Nancy & Sluggo

Zane Gray's King of the Royal Mounties. - Ha - my Dad must have stuck this one in!!

Little Audrey - With Tiny

Little Lotta - Includes Richie Richie and Jerry the Jinx

Tom and Jerry - Also has Droopy, Mouse Musketeers, Wuff Prairie Dog, Fuzzy Wuzzy, and Spike & Tyke. 

I hope seeing these titles brings back memories like it did for me.  If they do, please like.  Thank you.