It's Saturday, and I'm here to klatch!

[Chefzhat]

:) So get gabbing! Or I'll gab with myself.

I'll be around most of the day, I've got some lessons to plan, research to do, and kids to run to their various activities. DH is heading up north to pull the water toys in and drop them at the boat shop for conditioning and to mow the grass. It is raining here and everything is soaking wet, so not much to do outdoors.

I might head to the farmers market in a couple of hours, and then I need to be back at the computer by 10 to try to get WHO tickets - a tired band if there ever was one, but all the boys in my house want to go. Hopefully we can get good seats.

Teaching is tiring, fun, exciting, and frustrating. I can't get used to having one excellent day, then the next being the day from youknowwhere. Thursday I was flying high, Friday I struggled all day.

So, what's up with everyone else?

Debie

[breadmama]

Hi, Debie,
Well, you're up early! :D I can't seem to sleep in on Saturdays - it's just not right to wake up at 6 when I could be sleeping in! When I found myself thinking of teaching tasks ahead - at 6:15 - I knew it was time to get up and do something else weekend related, not work related! :)

This is a blissfully unscheduled weekend, so we are looking forward to having time to relax, and time to work on the neverending list of home projects. I'm going out on my own for some shopping today - a rare treat.

About the teaching - are you keeping a journal? I found that really helpful for keeping track of the great times and the not so great ones. It was therapeutic to unload the day's events there for me. Some days are like that - I think the roller coaster feeling is part of student teaching, and for me, of my first year in my own room. You're always learning! :) I'm glad you're having fun and exciting parts amidst all the hard work. :)

Have a great weekend!

[KimK]

Morning Debie!

Long time no talk! Sounds like you have a busy weekend planned. I have chore and football today - nice combo, huh? I'm also going to hit the GR farmer's market and do a little clothes shopping. Just got a nice bonus at work yesterday so I'm going to splurge a little and try to shop in this non-shopping town.

R. got a new job, which he starts Monday, so we're also gearing up for that!

Have a good weekend!

Kim

[Chefzhat]

Laurie - I get up so early all week that I just can't seem to sleep in! My head is too busy, I guess!

Kim!!!!!! Where is he working????

I'm going to the Rockford Market, I'll buy you coffee if that's where you are going.

der - I just read that you're going to Fulton.

Debie

[Home Chef]

Hi. I've never klatched before but I'm up and online, so I thought why not.
I am teaching a kid's cooking class this morning called It's Greek to Me. It's for ages 10 to 17 and is from 10:30 until 1:30.
After that I will come home and relax. I have a book - The Tenth Circle or I have knitting. My DH is at a retreat until Sunday, so I can relax with the dog.
I do have to plan my menu for next week, but I can fit that in sometime. Pretty unstructured and wonderful.

We are having beautiful weather here - sunny and 70s.

[KimK]

Debie - I could go to Rockford if you want to meet for coffee. :)

R is going to Lowell. I can tell you all about it. Sounds like your student teaching has been exciting - I look forward to hearing about THAT!

[Chefzhat]

Debie - I could go to Rockford if you want to meet for coffee. :)
!

What time? I have to be online at 10:00, then at the portrait studio at 11:00

[Chefzhat]

We are having beautiful weather here - sunny and 70s.

Green with envy here. :D

Your Greek cooking class sounds so cool! If I say pretty please will you post a few recipes for me? :)

Welcome!

Debie

[KimK]

8:30? Would that give you enough time to shop, chat and get home before you need to be back at 10?

[Chefzhat]

Oh, yeah. Meet you at the main entrance!

[Chefzhat]

8:15! See you!

[Laura]

Well, I am here now. DS had swim practice at 6:00 so I was up at 5:15 ugh. The kona coffee is currently brewing so I should be much happier soon. Sorry for the yucky weather Debie, we are having an indian summer here with temps close to 80 degrees. Have fun meeting Kim for coffee.

Home chef, that class sounds great. I keep meaning to sign up for some local cooking classes, but I rarely do.

Breadmama, enjoy your weekend and weather.

[Chefzhat]

I'm back - just met Kim for coffee and the farmers market. There wasn't much available, and it was raining. But we got cider, root veggies, beets, sugar peas, and parsnips. Then off for coffee and toast. Thanks for meeting me, Kim!

Now I'm getting ready to turn around and head out the door again to order our family portrait. Then home for another couple of hours.

And it's STILL raining!

debie

[Robyn1007]

Ah, I wish I was near your farmer's market, coffee with friends sounds lovely! I'm heading to Target and then the farmer's market here in awhile and then am meeting a girlfriend for lunch and then we're gonna head into the high country to see the aspens. :D

Debie, are you familiar with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital?

I was also up early but not for a good reason this morning. I had a nasty bad dream and woke up with my heart pounding at 1:30 and couldn't sleep until about 3:30. Then, my cat smothered me awake again at 7. :rolleyes: I see a nap in my future....

[Chefzhat]

Debie, are you familiar with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital? ...

Oh yeah, VERY familiar. :) Rob gets all his therapy and neurological stuff done there. They also make his leg brace. It is also where his gait study was done. Wonderful, wonderful facility.

Debie

[Robyn1007]

I just renewed their support plan! Yeah, you're using my company's equipment. I thought about you when I was sending their quote and wondered.

Did you get the tickets?

[LakeMartinGal]

Hi, all --

Well, it sounds like everyone's having a busy and productive weekend -- good weather or bad! We had a ~dinner last night, at a 'country style' restaurant... everything fried! (yuck!) I had made some wonderful bars for dessert (Chocolate and Caramel Oatmeal Bars) and they were a big hit!

Today is project day, if I can get off the computer :rolleyes: . Hopefully, cross-stitch, and maybe let the dogs swim, then out to lunch and maybe dinner!

Robyn, if you take pictures of the aspen, could you post some? I just love fall colors!!!

Happy day, everyone!

[Robyn1007]

Robyn, if you take pictures of the aspen, could you post some? I just love fall colors!!!

Happy day, everyone!

I don't have a digital camera unfortunately but if my girlfriend brings her camera I'll have her send me some.

[jjsooner73]

Robyn, I'm jealous! I love Colorado at this time of the year. If I were at my old school, I'd be off for Fall Break next week and would likely be heading to CO now!

Seeing the talk about the farmer's markets makes me want to go hunt and find the local one, but I have some other stuff I need to do this morning so may miss it.

I'm about to go get my Oklahoma DL and auto registration. My Texas DL expires next month, and I'm all too happy to surrender it!

My mom and nephew are coming over later so my nephew can download some music. Maybe mom will help me do some house stuff while they are here.

Debie, I hear ya on the school days. Yesterday was our jog-a-thon, and I think I was as thrown off by the differeing routine as my kids were!

Enjoy your Saturdays everyone!

[Home Chef]

I'm home. Here are the recipes we made in class. There were supposed to be 8 kids and only 5 showed up so we had one group with 3 and one group with 2. They worked today! They did a great job though and the food was delicious. The couscous especially and if you added some cooked chicken or shrimp to it, you have a main dish salad meal.

Now off to read, perhaps to nap.


Greek Spinach and Feta Pie
serves 6
One Dish Collection Cookbook

1/3 cup butter, melted
2 large egg
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
15 ounces ricotta cheese
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
3/4 teaspoon lemon peel, finely grated
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
16 ounces phyllo dough, thawed

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 13x9 baking dish with butter.
2.Beat eggs in medium bowl. Stir in spinach, ricotta, feta , lemon, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.
3.Cut 8 sheets of dough in half crosswise, forming 16 rectangles about 13x9 each. Cover dough with damp cloth or plastic. Reserve remaining dough for another use.
4.Place 1 piece of dough in prepared dish, brush top lightly with butter. Top with another piece of dough and brush lightly with butter. Continue layering with 6 pieces of dough, brushing each piece lightly with butter. Spoon spinach mixture evenly over dough. Top spinach mixture with piece of dough, brush lightly with butter. Repeat layering with remaining 7 pieces of dough, brushing each with butter.
5.Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown.

Greek Style Scampi
serves 6
Cooking Light April 1997

1 teaspoon olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup crumbled Feta cheese (4 ounces)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1.Preheat oven to 400º.
2.Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and 1/4 cup parsley. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Add shrimp; cook 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a 13 × 9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400º for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup parsley, lemon juice, and pepper.
(We used Le Creuset pots and just left the tomatoes in the pot and added to it. Only 1 dish to wash.)

Greek Couscous
serves 4
Cooking Light July 1997

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked couscous
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 cups diced plum tomatoes
1/3 cup crumbled Feta cheese
1/4 cup small ripe olives, halved
3 tablespoons diced red onion
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1.Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; stir in couscous and oregano. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Combine couscous, tomatoes, and next 5 ingredients (tomatoes through chickpeas) in a bowl; set aside.
2.Combine 1/4 cup water and remaining ingredients; stir well with a whisk. Pour dressing over couscous mixture, tossing gently to coat.
Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups


Lemon Pudding Cake
serves 6
Pillsbury Best Desserts

3 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon salt

1.Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 1 quart casserole.
2.IN small bowl beat egg yolks. Stir in milk, lemon juice and zest.
3.Add sugar, flour and salt. Beat until smooth.
4.In another small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
5.Gently fold yolk mixture into egg whites. DO NOT OVERMIX>
6.Pour into casserole.
7.Place in 13x9 pan, place in oven. Pour hot water into pan around casserole to a depth of 1 inch.
8.Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes until light golden brown. Serve warm or cool.

[estralita]

:D :p
TO HOME CHEF,
THANKS FOR THE RECIPES.
I WILL BE TEACHING AN AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY COOKING CLASS:
IT WILL BE ONLY 1 HOUR OR SO LONG.
UNLIKE YOUR LONG CLASSES.
WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURE TO YOUR CLASSES?
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR INFO?
ESTRALITA