Larry,  Thanks for posting the recipe for the sausage muffins again.  I had neglected to save it before.

Question??  What is protein powder and do you have to use that???   Do you think it would make a difference if you didn't use it?  I have heard of it, but really don't know anything about it.  What other things would you use if in? 

Thanks !

Joy

Thanks Larry. I couldn't find it either. funny how things get buried so fast in these postings. That is why I would like just one Forum called Recipes to post them into. Worked good in Senior net.  I someone would open a Forum I would just copy from any ones posting and put them into it.. Could put other things that wanted to remember also.  Will Ask JeanneLee.

Sue. Yes . I don't want to use the Protein powder either. (Puts weight on). Cant remember what I found to use in its place.
I think I may try using the Flax powder I always have on hand. That good for you. I put in in my Oatmeal. Also could use a little 1/2 cup of Stuffing mix crushed into powder form in replace of the protein powder. It has a few herbs in it.. Should taste good. Make sure not in the sausage though. I always buy just the Regular sausage.

Jeanne, it was me that mentioned the Protein Powder.  The crushed stuffing mix sounds like a good replacement.  I have the recipe saved and will look for the other ingredients sometime.

Joy

I'm home from our retiree Christmas party.  The man from GO talked for nearly an hour and hardly came up for air.  Most of his remarks were for the younger/newer retirees because some of their benefits can change, whereas for those of us gone many years will see no change.  It was good to see so many former coworkers because I've been retired for 30 years.  And a couple recognized me after all those years.

Tonight I want to work on Christmas cards.  Gifts to the family are generally money and I want to get those in the mail by the end of the week.  My printer is not compatible with my new laptop so I send my printing to Tom's printer and he runs it off for me.

Grand Haven is still showing lots of whitecaps all the way to the outer lighthouse (red house).

Mary Ann

Mailed my Christmas cards today.  Still have two I need Dan to address for me and then they will get mailed so that chore is done.

A lot of folks use canned chicken or purchase  chicken parts such as only thighs or breasts or even purchase a meal with chicken parts or a TV dinner. It is something to think about when we just grab and go at times.

You might want to check your food labels before relying on one of your tried-and-true chicken recipes for dinner tonight. National Steak and Poultry just issued a recall on nearly 2 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken that have the potential to be undercooked. The recall originally included 17,439 pounds of chicken per its initial release on Nov. 23, 2016, but the most recent update expanded that total to include an additional 1.9 million pounds of product.

This recall includes a variety of ready-made meat products, from boneless, skinless chicken strips and breasts to diced and cubed chicken goods from popular brands like Hormel. Any of these items that were produced between Aug. 20 and Nov. 30, 2016, should be immediately thrown away. It has officially been labeled as a Class-1 recall, meaning that it is "a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

Check out the full list of affected products on the USDA website, and be sure to chuck your ready-made chicken in the garbage if there's a chance it is part of the recall.

http://www.popsugar.com/food/Ready--Eat-Chicken-Recall-December-2016-42811236

Hi everyone.  We have the promise of some sunshine today, which will be very much  welcomed.  Our predicted high is 57 for this afternoon.  Today will be my normal pretty busy Thursday with coffee and the Wisdom group and then a quick trip to Aldi's on my way home as need some fresh vegetables and a few other items.  I hope that will be it for the day.  We plan on a nice salad with some of the rotisserie chicken on it for our evening meal. 

Yesterday I finished up the cookbook project for Pat preparing an index by recipe of the special 174 page cookbook we printed and then adding another 70+ pages of additional recipes she had found over a several year period and making a separate index of these by page number and then alphabetical by recipe name.  Yesterday afternoon I did get her kitchen chair assembled and I think it will serve the purpose well.  The island we have in the kitchen has the top extending out from the base on one side where she can pull the chair under and get close to the working surface.  We will just have to see how it works out.  Scott came over for dinner last evening and then set up Pat's Christmas village and a few other decorations.  We plan on leaving the village up year round as we had done in our other house so we can enjoy it all year long.  It is atop the entertainment center so is not in the way at all. 

Patricia, has the man come to clean your apartment so you can start moving things back inside?  Thanks for the heads up on the recalled chicken.  I will research to be sure the canned chicken we buy at COSTCO isn't on the list.

MarsGal, one of the benefits of our move to South Carolina is that the annual car inspection is not required as we don't have a smog problem in this area. 

Joy, the protein powder is whey and apparently is very popular with people who are into body building.  It is quite expensive as the first small sack of it Pat bought at GNC and cost somewhere in the range of $25.  However, it made many muffins.  Yesterday she ordered some more from a different source and it was a bit less expensive.  I have no idea whether flour or other items such as JeanneP suggested would work but I don't know why.  Pat is staying away from things with flour in them or we would be making some sausage muffins with different ingredients.  She gets 6 breakfast serving out of each batch. 

JeanneP, Pat has used ground flax seeds pm certain things in the past but it has been awhile and we currently have none in the house.  If you make them with the stuffing mix please let us know.  We also just use the regular sausage.

Mary Ann, it sounds like you probably had tired ears by the time the man stopped talking at your retirement luncheon. 

Joan, you are getting your Christmas cards done early.  I no longer do mailed Christmas cards but rather write a very short Christmas greeting via email. 

I woke up to a white world again and I think we may be on our way to a white winter.  I did read where our winter should be more mild, but that does not mean no snow.  As I don't drive, I don't care but if there is too much snow I have to wait for Tom to get the mail.  I have walked to the mailbox on ice and/or snow for many years but I know enough to not do that any more.

I'm trying to work on my Christmas card list to have Tom print labels but I had to delete a couple of names and that messed up my list.  Page one is OK but page two is out of kilter.  I found cards that I had received from the American Lung Association and since I contribute to them, I will use them.  The cards are very nice with no name on the backs.

I discovered I have three red blouses and two red sweaters and none of them coordinate with another.  I am sorry I don't have a green sweater and I'm not going to buy one to go with them!

Larry, my ears weren't the only things tired after our long-winded speaker at the retirement party!  Seeing your heavy black print, I want to thank you and others who make their posts bold because it is so much easier for me, and I know others, to read.

Mary Ann

Tis 20 degrees out there this morning and expected high is 28 with snow.  Some snow left from yesterday but only in spots..  Glad I am not going out in this mess.  HUGS all around

Joan, it is 25 degrees here and snowing, so we are not much warmer than you are - if you can call 25 warm!  I'm going to stay inside too.

Mary Ann

Best place to be today

We are having snow today.  We may have about three inches before the day is over, maybe more.

I am the "go to" person in the family.  James, Tom's son, called and was headed for a meeting in Grand Rapids.  He wanted to stop here and shower.  Of course, he could.  I was able to give him their Christmas present too (money) and I showed him a Christmas card I received.  The father of the family is my cousin's son and the card was a picture of him and his family.  The oldest son in the family has a great resemblance to James; they're third cousins.  I seem to know the generations but they don't know each other.  My cousin is deceased and her son and family have just moved to Durango CO.

There was a mullti-car accident near Fowlerville MI that made the Weather Channel news.  Three people are dead.  When Terry and his family lived near Detroit, I used to travel that section of I-96. 

Mary Ann

Larry.  O.K I made those muffins today. Changed a little from yours.  I didn't want to buy the Powder you use. (Why do you have to use it?)  So what I did in replace was grind the Stuffing mix fine as flour. Added just a little self raising flour so would raise up a little. Only had some shredded Mex. Taco Five cheese mix. so used it. Turned out really good. I ate one a lunch. Would be good to make to serve at TG. or Christmas dinner if I was making it because only myself and Grandson eat Dressing. I use it on other days also.  Also used the stuffing mix I ground up  and covered some Chicken breast strips to bake while I had the oven on.  All now in the freezer. Along with 6 Sausage biscuits I made also.  Got to make sure I don't eat all the time while stuck in the house from snow days. So no cookies or candy bought. Veg. drawer filled up also.

So cold here today. I wanted to just stay in my PJs again. But as usual. Out of Milk. Going to stock up on canned milk again as I can get bye with it for a day. So got all dressed. Decided to just go to Aldi. Across the Highway. As usual got a lot more than just milk. Saw snow flurries coming down. Good time to prepare to stay indoors for days.
Have lots of letters to write and put into the few cards I send out. Mostly New Year Cards.
Got lots of movies and books from the library. Started on one with 5 discs covering the whole Series. So good. I had never heard of it. Its Australian. (A place to call Home). the name of it. One disc last for 4 hour

It has snowed much of the day but the roads were quite clear.  I was able to go for the mail with no trouble.

Tom has been doing some Uber driving and he decided today would be a good day to go out.  He left in the middle of the afternoon and usually comes home about 3 am.  I am hoping he will come home sooner that that.  He likes to drive in bad weather, not necessarily snow but rain and storms.  I like storms but only if I'm sitting inside.

I have my list typed for Christmas cards and I'll let Tom print the labels.  My printer and new computer are not compatible and the next printer won't print my address labels separately - only a full sheet and I don't want to send all of my cards to only one person!

Mary Ann

I just lost my post, so will start again

MaryAnn, We do not have snow yet, but very cold and windy. Tomorrow I have the last of my PT I hope. also have Homemakers, I have signed up for a class in makeing potatoes pancakes.  should be fun. I like them with fish
JeanneP, I keep the three packages of milk, you can find it with baking department, we used in when I worked for the blood bank, and thats what we got when I was in Turkey.

Hi everyone.  We had a sunny and cold 30 degree morning here but now up in the mid-40's and will stay there today.  I just got back from getting a haircut this morning as was beginning to look like the shaggy dog.  Other than that I expect to stay home today and have no big projects to work on but several small things.  Yesterday was a pretty busy day as usual with Pat's monthly chiropractic appointment at 4 pm, which I had forgotten about but fortunately she hadn't.  I did watch the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders last evening and then had a good 8 hours of sleep. 

Mary Ann, glad to read you are not venturing out on the ice and snow to get the mail.  I heard on the news about that 40 car/truck pileup due to the snowy conditions. 

Joan, there are days we are happy to stay inside like when it is snowing. 

JeanneP, glad the muffins turned out well for you using the stuffing mix.  I think any cheese would work.  I thought it was a requirement to have some special candy and cookies at Christmas time.    We don't use much milk so keep a box of powdered Carnation milk in the pantry and mix it up as needed. 

deAngel, I know you will be glad to be finished with the PT.  Hope you have an enjoyable Homemakers meeting.  It sounds like you also use powdered milk when milk is needed. 

Woke up to a WHITE world this morning.  Not sure how much is out there but a few inches I guess.  We don't usually get much snow here.

It was 24 degrees when I got out of bed at 7:45 am and now at 12:20 we are at 28 degrees.  Even with the sun shining, I don't see that we'll get much over 30 degrees, if that.

I had an echocardiovision this morning in connection with my Afib.  I won't get the results for another week.  I offered to buy lunch for Tom, but he has other things to do at noon, so I had him get me a cheeseburger and Sprite and that will be my lunch.  I don't have the makings for lunch here so Mc D's was a good choice.  I may take a nap because I got up a bit earlier than usual because of my medical appointment.

Mary Ann

Anybody home?  I posted last at 12:25 pm and no one since.  I'm about ready to go to bed.  The cat has had his treats and I changed his food and water. 

Tom is driving for Uber tonight.  The weather is not too bad, nor is it good and he thinks there will be a lot of requests for drivers in such weather.  Last night was fairly good and he had no drunks!  Tom is shocked by some of the drunks who ride as many are young girls.  Regardless, it puts money in his bank account.

If Tom can get my labels printed tomorrow, I can get my Christmas cards on their ways; one more job done.  Then there will be plenty to do, I just have to decide on #1, #2 etc.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone on another bright, sunny and cold Saturday morning.  When I got up this morning it was down to 28 degrees and we will see only the mid-40's today but we have no wind so that shouldn't be uncomfortable.  Yesterday I wore my leather coat for the first time since last winter and it felt great.  The calendar is clear today.  I do think Pat and I will go out to eat later today so she can get out of the house for a little bit. 

Joan, maybe you are going to have a pretty snowy winter this year.  Glad you don't have to get out in it. 

Mary Ann, I have never heard of an echocardiovision.  Is this a new type of test and something like an echocardiogram?  It is rather quiet here in the old Bait and Tackle shop.  Glad Tom is enjoying his Uber driving.  Better he drive the drunks than having them behind the wheel of a car. 

Larry, it could be an echocardioversion, but I'm not sure about that either.  I'll find the letter from the hospital to see what it really is.  It is a form of ultrasound.  Tom said he had a good drive last night and Uber was busy this morning so he went out again.  The drives put money in his bank account (they don't get paid directly).

I goofed up the TV last night and Tom has that going again.  I am waiting for Tom to get back so we can work on my Christmas list labels.  It is so much easier for me to use labels than have to hand write individual envelopes.  I don't have many cards to send and the list dwindles each year.  I send Jacquie Lawson cards to some people.

I think the white stuff on the lawns will last and be added to the rest of the season.  I just hope roads are clear for people to travel safely to their celebrations.

Mary Ann

More snow over night so we are white, white and white.   Not something we are used to here.  Since cool temps will continue I do not see it melting  anytime soon.

I got organized early this morning, because I wanted to go to Sprouts Market, and get some items that I can only find there.  I don't know if you all have Sprouts, in your part of the country?  If not, it's kind of a cheaper version of Whole Foods, with a different selection of items. I still prefer WF, for a number of reasons, one of them being that it is much closer to my house!. 

The traffic was unbelievably bad already this morning, at 9:00 AM.  I couldn't find a parking spot in the huge lot surrounding Sprouts, and had to park and walk quite a long distance.  The roads and freeways are packed and often gridlocked, seven days a week.  People are still moving here from around the world, and they all have cars! I can't imagine what it will be like in the near future.

Marilyne, we don't have a Sprouts here and I think we don't have Whole Foods either; we have Trader Joes.  TJ is way at the other part of town and we don't go there.  We have to rely on our two hometown Supermarkets, both of which carry good produce.  Maybe gourmet cooks don't care for what I do, but we do well with what we get.  Both stores are within two miles of here.

Tom finished driving for Uber after noon today so picked me up and we went to Cheers for lunch.  He is now mapping and plans to go out again when the wakes up.  He enjoys the driving but has limited himself to long weekends - Friday through Sunday nights.  Other evenings there is less demand. 

For those of you on Facebook, Annie posted a picture of Kendrick.  I think she is listed as Cate Tock.  Kendrick is in the bed we bought for him.  It is on the floor in the picture but I moved it off the floor to a chair where he has sat on a pillow.  He moved with the bed.  I wonder if he likes it better there because the floor might be cold and I had the bed in front of the slider which is on the north side of the room.  He's an orange cat.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I looked on Annie's Facebook, and saw the picture of Kendrick.  He is beautiful, and looks a lot like my Winnie.  Winnie is orange and white stripes, but is all white on his chest and stomach.  I'll try to put a link here to a photo of him.

Lovely pictures of Annie/Cate.  I see she is going on a vacation to Florida, in just a few days.  One certainly learns a lot by looking at a persons Facebook profile! LOL

Sounds like Tom likes driving for Uber.  My younger daughter wanted to get a job with them, but found out that her car is too old.  You have to have a car that's not more than ten years old.  Her car is a 2004, I think, which is considered to be old.  I can understand why Uber has certain standards when it comes to the age of your vehicle.  I was glad she didn't get the job, as I would have worried about her, driving around at night and picking up strangers.  It just doesn't sound like a good job for a woman. 

Marilyne, I am not on Facebook so I don't see all of the pictures my families post.  Tom had shown that one to me which is why I could tell you about it.  I do know Annie is heading for Florida next week.

Uber is different than taxis and I won't say it's safe but it is safer in the respect that the drivers do not handle money unless they're given a tip, which Tom says is not often.  The person makes the call to Uber and pays by credit card and the money is then put into the driver's bank account.  The driver doesn't know until the passenger gets in the car where he is going, then Uber tells the driver the destination.  Tom's car is 10 years old so he doesn't know how long he can drive for them.  His big bad thing is the number of drunks, especially young women, but it is better that he takes them to their destination than them trying to drive.

I'm glad you were able to see the pictures of Kendrick and Annie.

Mary Ann

Kendrick is a very handsome cat !   

I use to have one that same color,  and I named him "Sandy"... cus we live in a apartment where cats were not allowed.     

Ah, for the "Good Ole Days" !

I probably would not have named a cat Kendrick but a singer named Kendrick was/is a favorite of Annie's so she named him after the singer.  I don't know what I would have named him.  I have always been more of a dog person but I like Kendrick.  Kendrick is not a cuddly cat but he likes to be in the same room with me.  If I am in the computer room where there isn't a second chair, he comes in often to check on me. 

We can't have dogs here because they have to go outside but inside cats are allowed and I am not the only one with a cat. 

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  It is chilly here this morning as it was yesterday.  It is predicted we will hit 50 degrees about 3 pm today.  I will attend Sunday School and then come back home and pick up Pat so we can go to church together.  I will call before coming home to be sure she feels up to going to church.  Yesterday was a very laid back and restful day for both of us.  We did go out to Wifesavers for a good chicken dinner.  They have very good meals for a very reasonable price.  I will rest and watch football this afternoon.

Mary Ann, I used printed labels to send our Christmas cards when I was mailing them.  I have bad handwriting so at least the postman could read the labels. 

Marilyne, they put in a Sprouts market near to where we did live and we shopped there a few times.  They usually had some good prices on produce and it was top quality. We don't have a Sprouts in the Augusta area.  However, we do have a Whole Foods Market near by.   Reading of your traffic problems once again reminds me of how thankful I am to live in a small town where we don't have traffic problems.  Like you I would not have wanted my daughter to drive for Uber.  I was nervous enough years ago when she worked for awhile at a convenience store.