Fall Swap Food Thread

Knowledge is a good thing. You can amaze and impress your friends.

Doing crossword puzzles is a good way to expand one's vocabulary.

The next best way is to learn a language from scratch.
If you ever had to do that--you would realize how "simple--yet complicated"
the American English is.

Here's just a few reasons:

--There is basically NO grammar
--The same letters are pronounced differently depending on the word used.
--There are NO formal and informal "You"--which changes all endings
--Nouns have NO masculine and feminine connotations. You would have to
know which noun is M--and which is F...
--The slang and Idioms we use here mean nothing to most other English
speaking People.

(this is a test, Jeff---what does "connotation" mean--and what is an "Idiom"..?

Enough! just wanted ti share some of this...Been there--done that...

G.

Oh geez...I've had enough tests and learning...I don't need to use big words and I'm quite happy with the way I talk. If I talk like an idiot, it's because I don't care...LOL I'm happy with my 50 word vocabulary. Anyway, I'm more of a numbers person.

Jeff--

I totally agree with you! I don't care either---it is just b/c all this fancy word
thing was being tossed around--I thought i would add my 2 cents. Sorry!!!

You ARE fine--just the way you are! And--you are NOT an idiot!

Numbers? Now--that is where i AM an idiot--even though I am very good at
the concept of mathematics--I am not good at math--especially algebra.

I once scored so high in a pre-college math test that the teacher had to
score it a second time. She didn't believe it.
I got like 85% correct--where the average was 50%. Growing up with the metric
system in the dungeons of my brain helps. Think of everything in units of ten!
Easy--peazy! Move the decimal point to find out how much 10% would be...
the rest is cake!

There is a belief that artistic people (which i am) also score well in mathematics.
I am awesome in spacial perception. Art has a lot of 'spacial" stuff going on...:o)

Gita



This message was edited Aug 24, 2014 9:02 PM

hi, Seq. 'imbibe' is a word that is typically used to describe drinking alcohol (not that its meaning is limited to that, it's just how it's typically used), so I was being tongue in cheek to describe my daughter as 'imbibing' root beer. ;-) To me, it was not a 'big' word but just another word. The only 'big' word I know is antidisestablishmentarianism. Now, doesn't that take up a lot of space on the line?? :-D FWIW, I *hate* numbers and admire those who are quick with them.

Lol...Cat. That is a long word for sure. I'm not sure I can do much algebra anymore; it's amazing what you lose when you don't use it. I'm decent at mental math and can remember numbers very easily.

I sent out a Group Blast D-mail for our Addy, a few directions for when you get close and phone #'s if you need to call. If you didn't get a D-mail from me please let me know. Thanks.

I will bring a fruit salad but if you think of something you need just let me know and I would be glad to get.

unomeemaw, just got a note from Terri so now I know who you are. LOL Fruit Salad sounds great. In fact all the food sounds great maybe I will spend the whole day eating.

I'll bring a mixed salad instead of a fruit salad - and I'll bring the Sangria as well, of course!

David's sister Julie is bringing her guacamole.

YUM

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!!!!! One thing I've noticed here is that no one's mentioned plates/napkins/cups... can I bring those please?

Oh yes Speedie, Just make sure you will be here before we eat. LOL

LOL, a very good point! Gita will be doing the driving, but I'll make sure to be at her house in PLENTY of time!! < =D

Ric--since you are the Chef Extraordinaire--I will ask you.

The Crab Meltaways I am bringing need to be browned. It says "to broil"
but a few minutes in a 400* oven will do the same. For small batches--
a toaster oven works great--just one cycle on "toast".

I have them on 2 cookie sheets. A total of about 55 . They will fly--I know that!

Could I use your oven to do this? Would it be a big bother?
Then i will take them off the cookie sheets (as they may be stuck--melted cheese)
and put them on a nice big plate (I will bring--disposable)...

If this would inconvenience you too much--I can brown them here--and then
we can eat them at room temperature there.

Your call! Thanks--Gita

Looks like we can still use a pasta thingie. I'll rummage through the pantry and put one together. Happy & I can stop for bread on our way out.. I'm pretty sure I still have plenty of pesto for pesto butter. So that's what we'll bring -- more carbs! LOL

Bags of plates, napkins, bowls, plastic-ware, and cups are in the truck and ready to rumble. :)

Bringing a quinoa, rice, and grain cold salad with almonds and cranberries.

Sorry I asked--I know how busy your kitchen will be.
All kinds of last minute things going on.

I will get up a bit earlier and brown hem here.
At least they will not need to be refrigerated any more.
They are good even at room temperature.

Gita

OK you guys stop, I'm starrrrrrving!!!!! < =D

Oh, did I mention: I'VE GOT CAKE!!!!!!! =)

Happy said she's bringing chips & cheese also, so I'm skipping the pasta salad (left too much for last minute!). I've made 2 kinds of butter spreads for the bread.

Gita no trouble about using the oven. I don't think we will be using it for anything else. We will be grilling the burgers and hotdogs.
We are going to set the food up inside in case of rain. Drinks will be outside

Aha! Jan was the one who brought that quinoa salad with the cranberries... we were talking about it while forking it in... mmmmm! We really need to know the recipe, please! (yes, I get the quinoa, rice, almonds, cranberries part... but what else was in there?) There was another good quinoa salad, too, with cherry tomatoes.

If anybody was wondering about the recipes behind the compound butters I brought... both were made with 2 "ice cube" size dollops melted into a stick of unsalted butter. I poured the mixture into the dishes and let it harden in the fridge. It softened on the drive up.

The pesto butter was made with "red" pesto, made with dried tomatoes rather than nuts, but with plenty of ground parm. added. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/110/

The red butter was made with "Roasty Sauce," as per http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/984/

Good food as always!!

Wanted to Thank everyone for all the great food. We ate like Kings yesterday. Also Larry & Vickie for making the burgers and grilling them.

The burgers were fantastic, actually was my first grilled burger of the season, the seasoning was perfect. I tried Jan's quinoa salad and really liked it too. That is one of the great things about the swaps, you get to try things you otherwise might say 'I don't like that' to and find out that really you do like them.

All the food was good, the plant drop off area worked perfectly, and of course all the folks were great. Another wonderful swap completed. Thank you Holly and Ric for hosting.

thanks so much for the cake, Speedie! :-)

Agree agree, Catbird, ... with everything you said! :) Jan's Quinoa salad was really scrumptious, would never have thought of trying it otherwise; and the burgers were PERFECT!!! (Thank you Larry and Vickie!!!!) And, as always, Terri's dumplings were incredible!!!
Gita, don't forget to share your recipe for the crab meltaways!! (oh NUTS!!!! I left that baggie of them in your fridge!!!!!!) =(

Catmint, you are soooooooo very welcome!! =) I hope the rest of your birthday celebration was super wonderful!!

Thank you EVERYONE for the delicious offerings!!!

I knew that quinoa and grains salad would be a hit. I just found the box it came in and it is a Betty Crocker Suddenly salad select mix. I got it at BJ's . There were four bags of grains along with the seasoning packet and almonds and cranberries. The grains are in these little meshy bags that you put into boiling water. Rinse with cold water and drain well before mixing with the rest. Served either warm or cool. I prefer it cool or room temp. The box says that there is both red and brown rice, quinoa, and lentils. Don't know the ratio of the seasonings in the packet. List of ingredients includes dried parsley, onion, garlic. Also citric acid, corn starch basil plus some other stuff I don't know .

I will post my Crab Meltaways recipe here--maybe tomorrow?

Have to re-read it, and kind of, make it up to date.

Also--ad some notes from my experience in making these.

Loved all the food!

Sally--your Cole Slaw rocks!
deviled eggs were awesomw...
Muudy--your Sangria is of the gods........drool...
I agree--the hamburgers were thick and moist and very tasty. What's the secret?
Thank you all who brough deserts----they were SOOOOO good!!!
Oh--liked those fresh sliced tomatoes with...???? mixed in. YUMM..
Who made the Potato salad? It was very good...

OK! Not slighting the rest of you all--I just can't remember--I ate something of everything.

Gita ♥ ♥ ♥

OK--as eagerly awaited and requested--here is the edited recipe
for the "Crab Meltaways".
I just made it "mine"--not someone's from ages ago.
May it live forever in your Family's Cook Book.

Gita ♥ ♥ ♥

********************************************


CRAB MELTAWAYS—BROILED
( from Gita)

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (6) “Thomas English Muffins” Original flavor.
8-10oz. Fresh Crab Claw meat. (Most crab meat come in a 16oz tub).
1 stick butter (softened)
6-8oz-Old English fine grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 Tbs BEST Mayonnaise (don't measure-just use a reg, Tbs.)
½ tsp seasoned salt
½ tsp garlic salt
***I also added 1 tsp. “Old Bay”seasoning (or to taste).

Directions and Comments

Split each muffin in half—then cut in 1/4's--and place on a cookie sheet.
***( 1/4's are very small pieces. I sliced mine in 1/3's.)
***(I also sprayed OO on the pieces and toasted them a bit first)

Soften butter and mix well all ingredients in a bowl and spread on muffins.
**** Can FREEZE at this point—put flat on a cookie sheet or Pizza pan.
Then bag up frozen “bites” in a Zip-Loc baggies. Good to have on hand.

Broil for about 5 min on low. OR--
Bake about 10-12 min. in reg, oven at 400* until browned.
****A toaster oven works great for these.….One cycle of toasting-and done!
Besides—you don't have to turn on the big oven...:o)

Serve immediately while hot! YUMMM...If frozen, thaw first-then bake..

****Sliced “Baguette” bread could easily substitute for the muffins.
Slice about1/2” thick –and proceed as directed above.
****Toasting first gives the “bites” body—easier to hold as finger food.

****IF you can afford better Crab Meat than Claw—it would taste awesome.
Pick your own crabs for this-(12 should do) and get a richer mix of meats.


“**** in front means a comment on something, or--I did it differently.

Enjoy! Gita