Not My Signature Color Hodgepodge

Head over to Joyce's to add your post and see how everyone else answered this week's questions.

1. What's something that reminds you of your grandmother? Tell us why. 

Sadly, I didn't really know either of my grandmothers. I have something very special of my maternal grandma's. Every time I take it out I can feel her fingers on the beads and (even though I don't remember what she sounded like) I can imagine her praying along with me. I touch the worn beads and wonder just how many Rosaries she said using this one:

2. Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has it's thorn'? Elaborate. 

Well, it's summer so right now it's more moonlight and roses.

3. June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink? Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink? Your favorite pink food or beverage? Your favorite shade of pink? 

I have a couple of v-neck Lands End t-shirts that are pink. So soft & nice to wear.

Pink in nature: Azaleas. It's just too bad they don't bloom longer.

Pink food or beverage: Shrimp

Favorite shade of pink: I have no idea. Blush or bashful??? Pink is definitely not my signature color!

4. Last thing that had you 'tickled pink'? 

The view from one of our campsites last week:

5. What are two or three words that describe your style. 

I have no style. (oops...that was 4!)

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

CH & I had a wonderful, relaxing camping vacation last week...except for 1 night. We both slept better on our cots in the mountain air than we had in a long time. Look for a post very soon!

Campsite #1

Buggy Hodgepodge

Head over to Joyce's to add your post and see how everyone else answered this week's questions.

1. Something you've seen recently that's 'cuter than a June bug'?

I'm not a cat person, but MS' 2 kittens are cuter than a June bug:

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

CH & I were living in Dalton, GA. I was in grad school and VERY pregnant. OS was born in October of that year.

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

I never can seem to keep this straightened up, but this is "my corner". It's my prayer corner, my reading corner, my practicing corner, my corner.

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I don't usually use recipes with fruit...I usually just eat the fruit as is. In the summer, we like to eat Layered Summer Pasta Salad from Betty Crocker. I add Perdue Short Cut Chicken to the pasta salad and don't put the pasta in with the veggies. That way everyone gets as much pasta as they want and it comes out fairly even.

Cooking in the summer? HA! My slow cooker, electric griddle, and now my air fryer are my best friends since they keep me from turning on the oven.

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

 I don't have a reading list, but I have a boatload (or at least a cubby load) of books I need to read. A summer book club is reading "All the Light We Cannot See" (Anthony Doerr) and I'm trying to finish up "Paul: A Novel" (Walter Wangerin, Jr.). The Paul book is actually quite good. Of course, it's historical fiction because we don't know exactly how St. Paul interacted with some of the apostles and disciples, but it is good.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 1. CH & I rode over to a mountain bike race last Sunday to cheer on OS' girlfriend. This is her first year racing and she's at the top of the standings for her group. The cicadas are supposed to be crazy this year, but at our house there are virtually none. This is what we heard as we walked along the path:

The cicadas were flying around and one landed on a plant next to where we were walking. 

2. Every year, I look forward to my new planner. I was super excited about this year's because of the added features, namely the hard cover. I'm kind of hard on planners; I tend to just throw it in my bookbag as I'm heading out the door at the end of the day. The new one came on Monday, and it's perfect  for me!

3. YS' girlfriend planted some sunflowers in our backyard. It's been cool to watch them grown, and now they're starting to bloom.

From My Kitchen: April & May 2021

The title of this post says April & May (because I didn't get April's post out), but I actually made this dish at the end of March. I've never made a lot of fish; hardly any except for the frozen kind! This recipe was given to me by a kind seafood employee at my local Publix. I had it on my phone for a couple of years but didn't try it. Hoisin Sauce? What in the world? I decided to pull it out and try it after YS introduced CH to hoisin and he really liked it. 

This recipe was so easy to make. Not only that, but I had dinner on the table in no time. (Click on the recipe to print.)

The man said it goes great over a chef salad and suggested sprinkling some charcoal volcano salt over it. I didn't have time to search for the salt so I didn't use it. I wouldn't change a thing about this recipe! It was absolutely delicious!

I did make this in May: Shrimp Tacos with Mango Slaw from Feasting at Home. These tacos had a Caribbean flair. 

I stuck to the shrimp recipe, and it turned out great; there isn't anything I would change. I'm not a spicy-lover and these were borderline too spicy for me, but YS & CH really enjoyed it.

In the recipe, Sylvia (from Feasting at Home) added Cuban Black Beans, but keeping with my diet of watching carbs, I opted not to make them. We have a Cuban restaurant in town that has amazing Cuban sandwiches and their black beans & rice are to die for. Needless to say, I haven't had them in about a year (when I started seriously watching my carbs). 

I used the corn/flour tortillas she suggested; I had no idea there was such a thing, but they did hold up much better than regular corn or flour ones. 

The Cabbage Mango Slaw was just amazing. I bought a package of shredded cabbage and a can of mangos ('cause it's so much easier than trying to cut up a mango!). I forgot to add the jalapeno (oops!), so I'm not sure if that would have added anything more to it or not. It definitely didn't need it.

This recipe is definitely a keeper. I used 1 pound of shrimp and was able to feed 4 people without anyone going away hungry.

Do you cook fish? If so, please share your favorite recipes!

 

Stuck on the Hodgepodge

 Head over to Joyce's to add your post and see how everyone else answered this week's questions.

 1. Besides the flag, tell us about something red, something white and something blue from your weekend. 

My amaryllis is blooming. My Daddy gave me some bulbs & I thought I killed them!

Don't mind the weeds.

White: I'm completely stuck on this one. I wore white pants to Mass on Sunday, but that's the only thing I can think of!

Blue: CH & I took a trip to Lowe's. This picture was from last year, but again this year they had a parking spot with a Memorial Day Observance. I just didn't take a picture of it. 

2. June is here and it's National Give A Bunch of Balloons Month. Who would you give a bunch to if you could? Tell us why. 

My friend Michelle, who is the convention chairperson for our Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (CCW) Convention coming up next week. She envisioned balloons at the hotel & on-site. I think she's able to get some but not as many as she wanted due to the budget.

3. What are three adjectives you associate with the month of June? Something you're looking forward to this month?

Hot, reading, lazy. While CH & I aren't going on the vacation we thought we would, we are going to spend a week camping. We're going to 1 place we've never been, 1 place we've been to (with amazing views!), and we're ending the week at some friends' house.

4. Tell us about a time (besides the obvious Corona answer) when you felt stuck in second gear.

Every Fall with work. I always feel like I'm in second gear that time of year. Somehow, though, things always seem to get done.

5. Sum up your May in fifteen words or less.

Unbelievably anxiety-ridden, but it's over now and I can enjoy the summer.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

For the first time ever, we're having trouble with a pest in our grill. YUCK. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm pretty convinced it's of the mouse persuasion. I cleaned it really well over the weekend and it appeared to be all good until Tuesday. I have a bird feeder next to the porch, so maybe if I move that it will help. Does anyone have any suggestions?