Baby, It's Cold Outside

My week has been a sweet adventure.  Sunday and Monday I got to visit my daughter and help put a few finishing touches on my grand baby's room.  We even packed bags for the hospital, and now we wait.

Back home Tuesday, Mr. J&C and I put up Christmas lights on the outside of the house and visited with our neighbors.  We caught the folks next door out decorating on Tuesday evening and took our bottle of wine over to visit - with glasses for them!  Sharing is one of the perks of friendship.  I highly recommend it.  Standing out in the lovely evening air (the high temperature that day was in the 70's, it was 60 or so just after sunset), lights sparkling, visiting with neighbors who have become friends - life can be perfect. 

A "JOY" sign for sale at Montgomery Street Antique Mall.

Wednesday I got to meet and have lunch with fellow blogger, Jenny Schouten Short.  Her beautiful blog, Two Tumbleweeds, is one of my favorites.  Jenny is a native Texan, who spends half of her year in the Netherlands (the hot half!) and half the year in Fort Worth.  We enjoyed lunch at a local antique mall and got a chance to get to visit with each other.  Looking back on the day, I am reminded of the expression "A friend is a present you give yourself."

On Thursday, Mr. J&C and I shopped and prepared for the coming ice storm, which arrived as predicted late Thursday night.  And we've been here in the house ever since, because, trust me, it's cold outside.

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It Followed Me Home

I put him in the dining room, it looks like
 he's pointing at me in the kitchen. 

Two weeks ago I had lunch with my friend, Paula.  In order to work up an appetite we shopped before lunch.  I have a collection of "JOY" things and when we came across this little guy I decided I would add one more. 

When I go out for lunch I usually order the chicken salad - I figure if a restaurant, especially one calling itself a 'tea room,' can make a decent chicken salad, I'll come back and try other items on the menu.

I made this recipe up as I went, once again playing with my food.

Grilled Chicken Salad

1 grilled chicken breast (charcoal or wood will have a better taste than gas grilled)  I chopped the meat up into tiny little squares trying to make all the ingredients look about the same size.
1 handful of chopped dried cranberries
1 handful chopped pecans
1 handful of chopped celery
1/2 handful chopped spring onion (I only used the green part)
1/2 handful of fresh parsley

Toss these ingredients together then add 2 or 3 tablespoons of your favorite mayonnaise.

Cover and chill for a couple of hours (it will taste even better chilled overnight).

This recipe made 4 generous servings.  I was experimenting (yes, my husband is o.k. with being my guinea pig).  In a week or so, Paula and few other friends are coming by - guess what we're having to eat?

What's new in your kitchen?

I'm taking my gnome and my recipe over to Uncommonly Yours' Link Party - join me.


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