Sunday, December 3, 2017

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Sunday, December 3, 2017

What the Beck???

Overnight Oatmeal


Recipe Review

Today’s Recipe and Location: Overnight Oatmeal
Adapted from June Thomas of Chesterson, Indiana’s recipe found in:



I slightly changed this recipe when creating it from the fabulous Taste of Home magazine. Click on the link above to access the original recipe.




I began with a mason jar. After having made this 
the first time, I will make the future ones in smaller jelly jars, 
instead of this larger jar. I try to limit the amount of 
calories for breakfast, and this is a filling meal, so I 
don't think I will even notice the difference.



I began by scooping the oatmeal into the jar.


I then poured in the milk. The recipe called
for fat-free milk, but I only had whole milk,
so I used what I had in the fridge.


The next ingredient was the yogurt.
I used Light and Fit Greek Yogurt,
which is my absolute favorite.


I added more honey than was called for,
because I like my oatmeal a little sweetener.
I always use clover honey.


The recipe did not tell me to mix the ingredients
together, but I thought it was a good idea,
so I mixed it up.


Now, add in the piece de resistance: the raspberries.
If you can locate the Taste of Home Magazine for September/October 2017, they give you ways to select ingredients to mix and match and personalize your oatmeal. You can make it creamy, sweeten it up, add some color, or load on the crunch. Each of these categories has a list of ingredients to select from. If you are not getting this magazine, I strongly recommend subscribing to it. 


Could I have made a bigger mess on the jar?


The final ingredient to add in are the chopped walnuts. 


The next time I make this, I think I am
going to add in about 1/4 of a teaspoon 
of cinnamon. That will take it over the 
top for this girl.


Done!!
(after I wipe off the top of the jar)



Seal it tightly and put it in the fridge for morning.
You can even make it ahead for the coming week.
I love a no fuss morning where breakfast is already 
made for me. I was surprised that I liked it cold, rather 
than warm. I think I will add in the walnuts on the 
day I eat it, so they don't get soggy, however.

Friday, December 1, 2017

Friday, December 1, 2017

Friday, December 1, 2017

What the Beck???

Bucket List Update
Academy Award Nominated Movies


1944     Wilson
starring:  Alexander Knox, Charles Coburn, Geraldine Fitzgerald,                      Thomas Mitchell, Ruth Nelson, Vincent Price, Sir Cedric                  Hardwicke, William Eythe, Mary Anderson, Eddie Foy Jr.
plot –    The story of Woodrow Wilson, who became the 28th              President of the United States of America. This film                     begins when Woodrow was teaching at Princeton. It                     goes on to show his political rise to Governor of New                   Jersey and then on to the Presidency.
This was a fabulous movie. I didn’t know a lot about Wilson. I learned how he didn’t want us to go to war, and how he used all of his efforts to end World War I. I loved the way the movie showed him at home with his wife and three daughters.



1953      The Robe
starring:   Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Michael                       Rennie, Jay Robinson, Dean Jagger, Torin Thatcher,                     Richard Boone, Betta St. John, Jeff Morrow, Ernest                       Thesiger, Dawn Addams, Leon Askin…
plot –     Richard Burton plays the part of a Roman soldier named                     Marcellus Gallio. He is one of the soldiers playing dice                   as Jesus is dying above them on the cross. He wins                     the Lord’s robe, but loses it to his slave named                           Demetrius, who was played by Victor Mature.                           Marcellus feels guilty and is plagued by bothersome                     visions. He thinks that finding Demetrius and the                       robe will solve his problems. He hunts for him and                     discovers faith along his journey.
This was a wonderful classic movie, He was hard to watch Jesus carrying the cross and then hanging from the cross as the soldiers played dice below him. This movie reaffirmed and reminded me of everything that I had learned at St, Marks Lutheran Church when I was growing up.



1959      Room at the Top
starring:   Simone Signoret, Lawrence Harvey, Heather Sears, Donald                  Wolfits, Donald Houston, Allen Cuthbertson
plot –     According to:                                                 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053226/
              “An ambitious young accountant plots to wed               a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite               falling in love with a married older woman.”
This was an okay movie. It really didn’t keep my attention. The storyline was predictable.



1960     Sons and Lovers
starring:  Trevor Howard, Dean Stockwell, Wendy Hiller, Mary Ure,                      Heather Sears, William Lucas
plot –     According to:                                               http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054326/
             A young man with artistic talent who lives in a              close-knit, English coal-mining town during the              early 20th Century finds himself inhibited by                       his emotionally manipulative, domineering mother.”
I really liked this movie. The family dynamics were interesting, and the desire to discontinue the family history of working in the mines was a battle.




Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

What the Beck???

As of today I have posted 837 times. WOW!
I had no idea that I was even in the 800's.
To all of my followers:  thank you!


Best of 2017


Background:  I was reading The Kentucky Standard, our local newspaper, and they had a section called The Best of Nelson County 2017. This section listed 100 categories for the Readers' Choice Awards. This is the tenth installation of my visits to these winning business locations.



#5    Best Mexican Food:  
The winner was Cinco de Mayo Mexican Bar and Grill

Cinco de Mayo is located at:
225 Parkway Drive, Bardstown, KY
502 – 350 – 1145

      I absolutely loved this restaurant. I have been craving taco salad for weeks. I was thrilled to discover that a Mexican Restaurant was on the Best of 2017 list. The service was excellent, and the food great. I will definitely be visiting this restaurant again in the near future.



 Cinco de Mayo


 While you wait for your meal, 
they serve you chips and salsa.


 The decor is quite average, but
the food is worth the trip.



My taco salad was fantastic. 



#33  Best Pawn Shop
The winner was: Kwik Kash Pawn & Gun 



1426 E. John Rowen Blvd. Bardstown KY
502-348-6718 
Hrs. 8:30 - 6:00


 I have never been to a pawn shop in my life.
My only exposure was in the movies where 
they are found in the inner cities. They were
seedy and had questionable customers selling
stolen goods. I was pleasantly surprised with
Kwik Kash. It was just like a normal resale shop.


In the parking lot they had everything from 
ladders to a western saddle. 


The first glass case I encountered had rings. 
The top two had appraisal declarations on the diamonds. 
I guess you take a chance when you purchase one with no documentation.


 The word gun was in the name, so I wasn't surprised 
to see an amazing amount of different kind of guns.  This 
case had many different types and brands of handguns.


This one was my favorite. Of course, that is because it 
was pink.  It looked like a toy until he handed it to me. 
It was very heavy, and I felt powerful, but knew that I
would probably blow off my own foot if it were loaded. 


 Then, there were the racks of shotguns and rifles of every type. 



I continued to walk around and found speakers and 
large gas heaters. The heaters reminded me of the one we 
had in St. Charles that heated our screened in 
porch in the winter months. 


I really liked this Craftsman tool box. My tools are 
everywhere in the garage. I think I want this.
My van was full of lighting for the remodel, so 
I will have to think about this for a later purchase 
if it is still in there when I return. 


OOPS!  Sideways photo.
It was on sale for $99.00 but he told me he would 
sell it to me for $75.00. It was in great shape.
I will go online and find out how much
it would be to purchase it new first.


There were a lot of musical instruments such as these guitars. 


 Another area had computers.


There were a lot more guitars for sale here. 


 Power tools covered several shelves.


   These sets of tools were in glass cases.

     I was happy that I visited this store. It was clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I am glad that I changed my

generalization of what a pawn shop is like. I think I may actually visit the rest of the ones in town to see if they are all this nice.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Monday, November 27, 2017

Monday, November 27, 2017

What the Beck???

Herb-Roasted Prime Rib


Recipe Review

Today’s Recipe and Location: Herb-Roasted Prime Rib
Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

Calories vary depending on serving size.

   This rub was absolutely fabulous. I bought the boneless rib roast at the local butcher called Boone’s Butcher Shop. I didn’t buy the most expensive cut, but selected the prime cut which was still expensive.  I bought an 8.27 lb. roast and it cost me $79.31. It seems like a lot, but I got 13 dinner servings out of it. That means each serving was about $6.00, and that is pretty good for a filling dinner portion.


 I began by going to the grocery store to buy the rosemary, 
sage, and thyme. I chopped them up to go into the rub.



  In a blender I add the herbs, spices, and some olive oil. 
Then, I added in salt,


 pepper, and


 and garlic.



 This is what the rub looks like after blending.


 I coated both sides of the roast and put it in the oven.
I had to flip the roast over after I took this photo,
because it should be put in the pan with the fat side up.


 I cooked it pretty rare, because I was freezing the 
portions. If I cook it this rare, it turns out medium 
rare after microwaving it.


 I have already eaten some of this roast and it was 
marvelous. I find that eating beef for dinner fills me 
up for the entire evening.



Here are the portions ready to go into
the freezer for another day. I can't wait
to chow down on this wonderful meat.



Saturday, November 25, 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

What the Beck???


Recipe Review

Today’s Recipe and Location: No-Churn Vegan Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog


I figured out that there are 748 calories, if 6 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

   I followed the recipe, but my ice cream turned out more like caramel. I hate it when I follow the recipe and it doesn’t turn out right at all. My brilliant neighbor, Denise, thought it might be good on ice cream as a topping. She had her family try a spoonful of it, and they liked the taste. It did taste good, but I was looking for ice cream. The photo in the recipe looks just like ice cream. Where did I go wrong???
I would definitely try making this again.



In a pot, I mixed the cream, sugar,



peanut butter,


vanilla,


and kosher salt. I cooked it until
the sugar had melted.


I added the jar mixture into the sauce pan,



and stirred until it was totally blended.



I used a mason jar to mix together the
coconut milk and corn starch. I just
shook the jar until it was combined.




I added the cornstarch mixture into the sauce pan.


I transferred the mixture into a bowl to cool.
Once it cooled, I added in the chocolate chips and froze
 the entire thing in an ice cream container.