Is There Anything Besides FOOD On My Mind?!

 (8.5 X 11 Fresh Eggs Print of an Original Watercolor Painting by workingwoman)

      The answer to the question that titled my blog today is....NO! :-)) The ONLY thing that's been on my mind since my eyes opened this morning is FOOD!!...Yes! It's one of 'THOSE' kind of days! ^_^

      It may have been because of the dozen and a half, or so, eggs hubby brought home from his 'chicken-sitting' over the weekend. LOL I had a dream about an omelet last night!...ham and cheese, with broccoli and tomatoes in it! YUM! :-)

      And thus starting my taste buds on an all day tear! :-)) Before I go any further though, let me give big thanks to all of the wonderful Etsy shops with all of the wonderful food items that I'll be sharing today! ♥ If I had the money I would've bought one or two of everything I'm sharing!! :-) Since I don't have the money, I'll show them so that someone who 'does' have the money can come and swoop them up! :-)

      It's amazing how hormonal cravings can take over your brain! O_O The only good thing for me is that I don't have a lot of money, and I don't already have a lot of crave-type food in the house! ^_^ So, craving them is better than eating them, right?!...But here comes the 'wordy-snap-shot' into my mind! LOL ...

      I LOVE sausage!!! I'm talking 'can-eat-it-every-day-for-every-single-meal' type of love!! :-) ...

 (20 lbs. of BJ's Sausage Sampler by WertsGW)

      My very, very favorite sausage used to be 'Parks' rope sausage! YUM!...I almost cried the day we found out that 'Parks' was no longer in business! ;'_'; The only sausage that has even come close since then is Hillshire Farms breakfast links....I sure wish I could afford to get some of those delicious looking sausages from the above shop!!...purely for experimental purposes, of course!...Wink! Wink! ^_^

       When it comes to donuts, I'm very particular about which ones I like...and where I like to get them from! I LOVE 'Dunkin Donuts' donuts...and coffee...but we're talking donuts here! ^_^ I love the glazed, the Boston Cream, and the apple-filled. YUM!

 (Donut Soaps by AubreyEApothecary)

       I'll eat almost ANY donut! LOL But if I have a choice....! :-)) I'm not a fan of really thick donuts... fully chocolate, jelly-filled, or old-fashioned. O_O I like for the donut to melt away in my mouth, rather than having to drink something quick, and gulp when I swallow it!! LOL

       My food choices aren't always bad for me though! No! I also love 'certain' vegetables!...

 (Crochet Fruit & Vegetables - Set of 20 pieces by TsvitanaLove)

      I have to admit though that I'm not the biggest fan of raw vegetables, except when they're in a delicious salad...in bite-size small pieces! I hate getting salad dressing all over my face just trying to fold some big piece of lettuce or broccoli in half in order to be able to eat it!!...And just to add...I usually prefer only bleu cheese dressing too...on the side, so I can dip my vegetables slightly in it, or pour just a little over it and mix. I do not like DROWNED salad!! LOL

       Now, let's talk popcorn! :-) I have eaten a LOT of popcorn in my life, only to get in my fifties and prefer to eat only one brand...'Act II', the natural, microwaveable, one! :-)) ... That's the one I like when I'm not pulling out the pot and cover and making my own from 'Reddenbacher' kernels I mean! :-) ... And I like it in a cute box too!...

 (40 Retro Open Top Popcorn Boxes by FancyThatLoved)

      But...fresh and newly-popped trumps micro-wave every time!! ^_^ If I bite into it and it crunches....GREAT! :-) If I bite into it and it springs back as if it's packing peanuts....NOT GREAT!! LOL

       Then there's cake! :-) Can anyone be finicky about cake?!....Answer? YES! :-)) I don't eat it often, but when I do I like chocolate...and chocolate with chocolate glaze! :-) ...

 (Organic Chocolate Cake Lip Balm by NakedSugarOrganics)

      Having chocolate flavored lip balm (above) would certainly be a less caloric option for me! ^_^ ... Just some particulars about cake: I don't like foamy-type frosting, or cake that looks great, but doesn't taste good! Grrrr! Give me an ugly cake that knocks your taste-socks off any time!! LOL..And uhhhh...that would not include fruit cake or pecan cake! O_O I'm not a fan!

      And while I'm talking about chocolate...which I've done on this blog many, MANY times!...I also love chocolate candy. :-) And if you can buy a chocolate candy that has chocolate brownie, or chocolate cake, in the middle.....YUM! :-) ...

(Super Dark Chocolate Cake Truffles by HappyBakery)

      To date, no candy has replaced 'Russell Stover' chewy, nutty, crunchy!...*drooling*...Although I do love M&M's with almonds, Mounds, and Snickers too. ^_^ 

      MOVING ON!! :-) ... I'm not a fan of all foods...even though I'll eat almost anything in a pinch!...except for things I'm allergic too...like peach fuzz, and anything with Monosodium glutamate (MSG)...Given the choice I will usually pass on sushi and bread. They don't agree with me all the time. In fact, so much so that I even do peanut butter and jelly on a spoon, with no bread! YAY for 'Smucker's Goober' (the peanut butter and jelly swirl in a jar! ^_^

     Here's a good thing about my food choices. Or rather my drink choices. :-] I prefer water to almost anything!...

 (Tranquil Stream Photograph by JosephTownsendPhoto)

      In fact, I seldom, if ever, drink soda or anything else. Lately however, I have been drinking about a half a glass of orange juice every day...for potassium...per my doctor's orders! :-] I'm having a little problem with low potassium, so I'm eating either a banana or having orange juice every day as a supplement.

       Speaking of bananas, and fruit. I love fruit (especially nectarines, plums, and Granny Smith apples)!...

 (Bright Green Granny Smith Ceramic Apple by willandbequeath)

      Truth be told, I'd be happier eating just about any OTHER fruit every day besides bananas! I'm not a fan of the texture of them...except when they're in banana bread!...Yes! That's a bread I'll eat without a problem! LOL

      Pies?...Bring 'em on!!...ANY KIND...especially sweet potato pie, and with exception to  pecan pie! Pecan pie is too sweet, and too dense for me. ^_^ Why do I love them so much?!...I think it's a childhood thing. I grew up surrounded by fruit! (blackberries, plums, apples, figs, watermelon, etc...) Such is the life of a southern girl! :-) ...

 (Sweet Potato Pie Family Recipe by SheilasBlessings)

       My mother used to make the best peach cobbler's ever!! YUM! I STILL...after all these years...cannot duplicate her peach cobbler! Nor have I ever seen anyone else do it!...It's okay though. There's LOTS of other pies out there to buy or make myself! ^_^

      Now we're getting to the good stuff! My true craving today...chocolate chip cookies!...My cookie of choice so far...'Chip Ahoy'...and my own homemade peanut butter, coconut, chocolate chip cookies of course! ^_^ I sure would like to try these though!!!...

(Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies by CookieTrayCookies)

      A few hot and gooey chocolate chip cookies, and a couple of scoops of ice cream...'Ben & Jerry's' or 'Friendly's'...and I would be ALL SET!! ^_^ ...

 (Pair of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Cone Pinback Buttons by twothriftygirls)

      I would also be taking a nap somewhere with my tongue hanging out of my mouth probably! LOL Soooooo...maybe it's just as well I don't have any! ^_^

      Rounding out this post, you'll notice that I didn't mention Potatoes...YUM!...or fried chicken, white meat only...YUM!...I didn't mention them because I didn't think it was necessary. :-)) What enjoyment...food-wise...would life hold without some kind of potato and some kind of chicken?! ^_^

      Speaking of chicken brings me right back to eggs! ^_^ ...

(Eggs Food Photography Print by Macrografiks)

      Thanks to my hubby's 'chicken-sitting', I 'do' have eggs in the house! :-)) I guess I'll really have what I was dreaming of....an omelet! LOL I'm too full for anything else right now anyway!! LOL...By the way, tomorrow I have to tell you my hubby's dog story...*shaking my head*...See you then! ^_^

Fast Food!

Tasty, salty, satisfying.
Bloating, coating stomach lining.

Greasy, cheesy, burger grinder.
Gassy, thick, intestine finder.

Crispy, long, french fries a-plenty.
Chocolate, peppermint, green and minty.

Salads; veggie, seafood, chicken.
Fried and floured, finger lickin'.

Hoagies, subs, and roast beef stew.
Catfish, dash of hot sauce too.

Pizza, mushroom, peppers, tomatoe.
Apple fries instead of potato.

Catch-up, mustard, condiments.
Onion rings? I'm on the fence.

Frosty, frothy, milk shake sip.
Coffee Coolata, donut, dipped.

No matter if it's hot or chilled.
Definitely a happy meal.

Is That Real?!...And Can I Eat It?!!

       In case you haven't figured it out already, I'm having a slow period in my Wuglyees crochet shop right now. Because of that I'm not doing my 'crazy girl' amount of crocheting right! And that's why you haven't been seeing me showing my colorful boutonnieres all over the place! ^_^

      So, since I'm not showing off crochet boutonnieres, I have to come up with something else to talk about and show off around here! ^_^ And Etsy is a great place for that!...Case in point, did you see the header photo?....What do you think, eatable or not eatable?! 
      The answer is 'NOT' eatable! ^_^ But do you know what they are?!...No?!....They're cabinet knobs!! :-) ...

 (Set of Four Realistic Miniature Japanese Bento Box Resin Cabinet Knobs by popplyanddragonfly)

      I saw them this morning when I was searching for something else on Etsy! :-) I think they would look so cool as the kitchen cabinet knobs in a chef's kitchen!...or anyone's kitchen for that matter! ^_^ When I saw them I really didn't think they were cabinet knobs though. I thought that they were maybe soap...or jewelry...but not cabinet knobs!

      Since they were knobs, but I had thought they were food, that led to the next step of this post...Is this real? And can you eat it?!! LOL...Now play along, Y'all! ^_^ 

       Is this chocolate dipped bacon (below) real?...And can you eat it? ^_^ ...

    

 (Dark Chocolate Dipped Bacon by BeastlyBeefJerky)

      Uhhhh...it's bacon....bacon dipped in chocolate! Of course it's real!! LOL And I wish I had some here so that I 'could' eat it!!! ^_^

      Is this chocolate cord real?!...And can you eat it?!...

(15 Feet of Round Chocolate Leather Cord by BobbiThisnThat)

    Guess what?...It is real cord. Chocolate colored cord! :-) But not eatable. I'd use this for some pretty necklace cord for some of my crochet flowers...if I was making them anymore. Which, right now, I'm not! :-)

       What about these (below)?...Eatable candy...or not?!...

(Hawai Plastic Fake Food Sweet M&M's Chocolate Candy Button Earrings by lasanyadeverdura)

      NOT! ^_^ They're earrings!...Cute and colorful earrings! :-)

      How are you doing so far?! :-) ... Let's try some more sushi...or not! ^_^ Are these plates eatable, you think?!...

(Set of Four Realistic Miniature Japanese Sushi Platter Resin Cabinet Knobs by popplyanddragonfly)

       No they're not! They also are cabinet knobs!! :-) Did I catch you with that one?! LOL...Okay, let's try some more bacon covered with chocolate. Is this one real? And can you eat it?!...

(Chocolate-Covered Maple Peppered BACON by ZivaChocolates)

       If you thought to yourself: "Okay, the other bacon was real, so this one must not be real!"...you should probably not play this game anymore! ^_^ Chocolate covered bacon is nothing to play around with!! LOL It's as real as real can get!! :-) And this one, with maple peppering....YUM!!! *drooling a little*

      Is this real?!...and can you eat it?!...

(The Star Wars Ultimate Chocolate Collection Gift Set by TheBooBoxAlaska)

         Yes, it's real. And yes, you can eat it!! :-) ... And let me be real with you for a minute by saying...I really wouldn't care what they shaped it as. It's CHOCOLATE!!!! ^_^ Eat it!!!!

      Last, but not least...and be careful with this one....Is this real?...and can you eat it?!...

(Soap Cake Bath Dessert Fake Food Gelatin Cake by justbathandbodystuff)

       Yes, it's real desserts. But you can't eat them! They're soap!! :-) And what cool soaps they are too!!!

      So, have you had fun playing my game?! :-) Sorry, but there's no million dollar prize, or trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina! :-) At least not for you!! ^_^ I've got a 'virtual' date coming up on Friday, sooooooo! :-)

     Okay, gotta go get something to eat. Funny....but I'm craving bacon and chocolate! ^_^ I'll leave you with some photos...bad though they may be!...of my hummingbird getting a little meal in the pouring rain yesterday...

      He's in the last photo above too, but you can't see him because he was in flight and his little wings were beating faster than my camera could photograph! ^_^ ... Anyway! Have a good day, Everybody! :-)

Double Take

Yes, I looked at it again,
because I couldn't believe what I saw!
Was it meant to catch attention?
Or to make you drop your jaw?

Was it what I thought it was?
Was it real, or was it fake?
Just like life and all it's wonder,
some things need a double take. 

Food.......Football.......Or A Loooooooooong Nap?!!

(Pastel Macarons with Coffee Watercolor Art Print by jojolarue)

       *Yawn*........*smack, smack, smack*.........I think it's gonna be one of 'those' days! Not for anything bad though. I feel pretty good this morning. I slept really well, and nothing pressing...except crocheting...

         ...which is 'all good!', and not really pressing at all...is on the schedule for the day!

      I 'do' wish I could get a nice hot cup of coffee from the local coffee shop, and maybe a honey-dipped donut! But I won't be able to do that today. People here are celebrating a holiday and a whole lot of places aren't open until later this evening.

    My hubby and I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but we do have food on the brain this morning. How could we not, with food commercials on all day long for the last week or more?! Seriously!! I haven't had a turkey in.......'forever!'...but that's all I'm craving today! ^_^ I know it's because of my childhood memories though. My family celebrated when I was a kid.

      Even back then I didn't know what Thanksgiving was about. I just looked forward to the FOOD!!! :-) Turkey and my mother's homemade cornbread stuffing, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. Not to mention the canned cranberry sauce! LOL I LOVED it!!

       In the years after becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses I never missed celebrating the holiday itself, but thanks to all of the media coverage, I was always aware of it! I always knew that turkey would be on sale around this time, and so would all of the food items to make the 'fixins' out of....So, again, the food was a big focus around this time of year!...A baked turkey leg, with some cornbread stuffing would be good for breakfast right about now...since I can't have my coffee and donut I mean! ^_^ But that's not what I'm having. :-) It's grits and bacon for me....with a green tea chaser!

     Hubby and I are gonna do some studying together, look at some old movies, eat food all day...especially baked ham......something else that was on sale. The BIG baked ham too!...We've had ham two days in a row already.....O_O....And I see ham soup, open-faced ham sandwiches, ham and egg omelets and maybe ham kabobs before we're through with it!! LOL

       Something else that we're definitely gonna do is watch football!! :-) ...

 (Screen Printed T-Shirt by IceCreamTees)

       I haven't watched a full football game all season I don't think! But my 'Dallas Cowboys' are playing today, everything else is closed, and nothing is pressing on my schedule....except my meeting this evening and some crocheting...

         ... :-) neither of which I consider pressing at all. They're both just enjoyable! :-) ...So, 'Dallas Cowboys'...and maybe a bowl of popcorn....HERE I COME!!! ^_^

       So, no! It won't be a big turkey dinner with cornbread stuffing and gravy, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole,  sweet potato pie, and eggnog for me....today. It's gonna be this breakfast that I just got served in bed....

         .....a cup of green tea, a little chocolate...

 (Watercolor Painting Art Print by jojolarue)

         ...and football!...

 (Dallas Cowboy Print Wall Hanging by ZekesAntiqueSigns)

              But all of the leftovers of the food sales are gonna be up after today, so I'm sure I've got a turkey dinner in my future somewhere! ^_^ ....And more than a few naps too, I'm sure!!! :-)

Nostalgic

Why do we get nostalgic
for the places of our past?
For the music and the people
who were in our high school class?

Why do we get nostalgic
for the foods we used to eat?
Like your mom's banana pudding,
boiled pig ears and chicken feet?

Why do we get nostalgic
for old bikes we once rode on?
And for buying penny candy
at a time that's long since gone?

Why do we get nostalgic
for long conversations had
when our cousins used to visit
(That was-til we all got mad)?!

Why do we get nostalgic?
Frankly, I'm  sure I don't  know,
'cause I sat and wrote a poem
like a true nostalgia pro!

If You're Not Into Football...Or Food...LOOK AWAY.....NOW!

 (Super Bowl XLVI Bookmark by Kolormehappy)

       Woohoo! It's Super Bowl time again!! ^_^ ...Let me just say for the record, that I know that if you don't live in the U.S., and if you really don't care about watching American football, the whole 'Super Bowl' fanaticism thing is probably going right over your head right about now! LOL...I get that! And to you I say......WHATEVER....and sorry!!! ^_^

       What can I say...I'm a football fan...Okay, I'm also a tennis fan....and a baseball fan...and a figure-skating......etc. You get the drift. LOL Anyway! :-) The Super Bowl every year isn't just 'a game'. It's an event!...An event of Mega proportions....and with food! ^_^

     For those of you who have been living under a rock the last few weeks (U.S. residents I mean, because other countries haven't been bombarded day in and day out with commercials and conversation about the Super Bowl!), let me just tell you about this year's Super Bowl!....First, the teams that are playing: the New York Giants...

 (Giants Bookmark by kolormehappy)

       ...and the New England Patriots...

(Patriots Bookmark by kolormehappy)

     These two teams have some history...They're both east coast teams. The Patriots (the 'Pats') are based in the greater Boston area. They play their home games in Foxborough Massachusetts...The Giants are based in New Jersey (huh?!...Don't make me try to explain it! LOL) They play their home games in New Jersey at MetLife stadium, which they share with another pro football team, the New York Jets! :-)  

     Truth be told, most New England weekend football fans like me (I'm talking location here, not team) probably would root for either of these teams in a given Super Bowl, if their preferred team wasn't in it!...{Me, I'd root for the Dallas Cowboys! :-) ...Even when they're not in it I'm thinking about them. ^_^ They've won the Super Bowl 5 times over the years!... but they're not in it, so.....! LOL...I digress!} 

      But considering the fact that the New England Patriots consider the New York Giants as the team that stole the 2008 Super Bowl from them...17-14!....Uhhhh....this one is gonna be a doozey of a game!! :-)

(AP Photo/Gene Puskar from 22News WWLP site)

         Football fans up and down the coast are getting all their football paraphernalia set so they can enjoy the football parties, conversation, and razzing of each other! ^_^ Here's a few things I saw on Etsy...

        Here's some cupcake toppers, wrappers, food label tent cards and toothpick flags that you print yourself...

 (SUPERBOWL Printables from partypapercreations)

       ...printable images, tags, mini flags, and centerpieces...

(Printable Super Bowl Package by TweetEvents)

(NFL Football Paracord Bracelets by duckhunter68) 

 (Patriots Super Bowl XLVI Mini Magnets by kolormehappy)

 (Recycled T Shirt Pillow by upcycled2)

           Hubby and I have been known to make our own signs ("Go Team!!"....."S-C-O-R-E!!"), :-) and make up our own foods too! But usually we reserve that kinda effort for friends, when we're going to someone else's house for the Super Bowl, or inviting them to ours...Frankly, I now prefer to invite friends over. I was almost permanently emotionally scarred during a Super Bowl party at one of our friend's homes.

       It was the same year Janet Jackson had her unfortunate clothing mishap...which I didn't see, by the way. I was preoccupied at the time....*gulp*...If you wanna know what happened, email me or contact me through my Wuglyees shop on Etsy or Facebook and I'll tell you about it. It may be too much information for a strictly football post...*gulp* O_O

     *cold shiver*......Let's talk about something else....PLEASE!! How about food for the game?!...I've been seeing good recipes all over the place for great food to eat during the Super Bowl. Some of the 'foodies' weren't intending to be giving recipes for the game. I just thought it was good food...but it just so happened to also be the kind of food that would be good for the game! :-)

(Super Bowl Cake Pops by SweetsFairyBakeshop)

         The Pioneer Woman shared her top ten food picks for Super Bowl Sunday...all on the same blog post HERE!...These are my favorites!...

(The Marlboro Man Sandwich) 

(Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas)

(Perfect French Fries)

(Sloppy Joes)

      I'm drooling right now!...Maybe I should make a homemade sign for the pioneer woman...."Go, Pioneer Woman!....TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!" ^_^

       She's not alone though. As a matter of fact, I thought the recipe for how to make the Chex Mix Super Bowl bowl to put your chips in, that was shared on the Framed Cooks blog, was nothing short of genius!!...

 

      And these next two recipes weren't intended for Super Bowl fare, but I think they could work!....I mean who wouldn't wanna eat Shrimp Balls?!...

       The recipe to make them is on Nicole's Homemade Treats blog HERE.

            And for the football fan whose a vegetarian, or just a healthier eater, how about this recipe that I saw on the blog tidbitsparenting, Otto's Mom Blogs? It's for Lima Beans with Artichoke Hearts and Peas...

      

         As you can see, I'm still circling the artichoke wagon. ^_^ I still have never tried them, but I'm becoming more intrigued about them every time I see how easily people are cooking recipes with them...And this recipe has my beloved lima beans...which I called butter beans during my whole growing up period. {And please don't give me the precise reasons for why these are not ACTUALLY butter beans! I've heard it all before. LOL I like the word BUTTER baby!...even when there's no actual butter in them!! ^_^}
       By the way, if you want some more intrigue, check out the converstion Mr. Wug and I had about a little known food called the "Turducken"!!...Click HERE! ^_^

      And last, but certainly not least, after the game we can all drive to New York...which will be within driving distance of where the winning team will be from, no matter who wins! ^_^ ...and get us some dessert...some Coconut Doughnuts from The Doughnut Plant!...

       You can see Ashley's post about them on the Hither & Thither blog HERE! :-)

         So, there it is, in a nutshell...kinda sorta...I mighta talked a little bit more than a nutshell's worth! ^_^ But anyway!.....Football fans, let's get ready to rumble!!!! ^_^ Enjoy the game tomorrow! It's not gonna be a board game...or a boring game!!! ^_^

 (AP Photo/Dave Martin from 22News WWLP site)

           Hubby and I will definitely enjoy it!.....that is, if hubby ever finishes working on the car! UGH! That's a story for another day...maybe tomorrow. Along with some photos of my new pillow covers! :-)

Do You Play?!

I had some 'Play Time' in my youth,
back when my hips could take the heat.
I couldn't wait to find someone
that I could race, chase down, or beat!

How many times did I 'Hopscotch',
play some marbles, skip a rock?
And a game of 'Tag' could go
until you couldn't see the clock!

All my games were very active.
So much energy, people. WOW?!
But things have changed. It's different,
because I'm so much older now!

I still have Play Time at my age,
but the games are slow and rare.
I like board games, playing cards,
things you do right from your chair.

The games I watch can't be too long.
I'll fall asleep! I'm kind of nod-dy.
And I have to use my mind.
No running round now with this body.

Even so, I have to play!
It's my excuse to have a laugh.
I just have to keep it slow.
Don't want a charlie-horse in my calf!