by jphilo | Nov 19, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
The weekend included ten hours road trippin’ with the rellies to a family funeral. Plenty of time for conversation among people who are never at a loss for words. Here are the top ten comments made by or in response to one member of our contingent as the miles rolled by.
During daylight hours:
10. Look at all the windmills.
9. Look at all the barn quilts.
8. Whewee! Somebody’s been spreading pig manure.
7. Look at all the windmills.
6. One more stiff wind, and that barn’ll be on the ground.
After sunset:
5. Look at all the lights on the windmills.
4. Jo, are you sleeping in the back seat while your brother drives?
3. Not anymore, Mom.
2. The lights on the windmills almost look like a city.
1. Did you know Lois didn’t like to sleep with me when we were girls because I sucked on her earlobe?
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by jphilo | Nov 12, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
The past week and a half have been chock full of grandma duty and other family fun. So much fun, blogging is on the back burner. Therefore, for the next few days Gravel Road will reprise popular posts from the past. Today’s post first appeared on March 23, 2012. Enjoy!
This March we’ve had lots of good news. A grandchild on the way. Our Ohio kids moving closer to home in August. A sizable tax refund. Even so, I feel like Debbie Downer’s double today. Since I can’t stop the feeling, here are my top ten reasons for being a Debbie Downer when I should be Perky Polly:
10. Spring is way too early this year. See this post for further explanation.
Wah. Wah.
9. It’s been cloudy and rainy. Which is poking holes in my summer drought theory.
Wah. Wah.
8. I caught a cold on the Ides of March. Etu, immune system?
Wah. Wah.
7. I didn’t take out stock in a tissue company before this cold started.
Wah. Wah.
6. My recent upgrade to OS X Lion has not gone as smoothly as Apple promised.
Wah. Wah.
5. iCloud is looming on the horizon.
Wah. Wah.
4. The agent who promised she’d be in touch soon about my proposal still hasn’t.
Wah. Wah.
3. I can now order from the Senior Citizen menu at I Hop.
Wah. Wah.
2. No chocolate since Ash Wednesday.
Wah. Wah.
1. Debbie Downer would be ashamed to post this list, but I’m not.
Wah. Wah.
by jphilo | Nov 5, 2013 | Recipes, Top Ten Tuesday
The weather’s turning colder by the day, which means it’s hot meal season. A favorite strategy of wise cooks who don’t have time to cook every night is to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe being used. One can be served for that day, and the others can be labeled and put in the freezer for later. Here are ten favorite Gravel Road recipes that freeze well.
10. Green Chili Egg Bake
This egg bake offers a nice change from traditional egg bakes. Alas, it’s not friendly for people with dairy allergies. But it freezes so well and serves up so prettily, it makes the list.
9. Best Non-Dairy Egg Bake Ever
Yes indeedy, good things do come to those who wait. For those who can’t indulge in the Green Chili recipe, this non-dairy egg bake will make you happy, happy, happy!
8. Mom’s Chili Soup
Mom’s easy chili recipe is still my taste favorite. Once the soup cools, it can be stored in gallon freezer bags. Lay the bags flat to freeze, and they take up very little space.
7. Healthy Vegetarian Chili
If you prefer a vegetarian chili option, this one is absolutely delicious. Even the Man of Steel, who’s not a big chili eater likes this version now and then.
6. Jazzed Up Mac and Cheese
I know, I know. Another recipe that’s out of reach for people with dairy allergies. But this recipe is so simple to make, freezes and thaws so easily, our dairyophile friends will appreciate it.
5. Barbarcued Meatballs
These are as easy to make, freeze, and thaw as they are delicious. Make them once, and you’ll be hooked. Just replace the evaporated milk with almond or rice milk, and it’s dairy-free!
4. Mom’s Lasagna
I promise. This is the last recipe for dairy eaters only. But how can a list of freezer meals not include lasagna? BTW, I’ve tried to make it with dairy substitutes, but they just don’t taste the same.
3. Balkan Meatballs
These are my ultimate winter comfort food. To make them dairy-free, use Earth Balance buttery sticks instead of butter and almond milk instead of milk. So good. So, so good.
2. French Stew
This hearty stew is my daughter’s favorite. It has so many vegetables, you can eat guilt-free while enjoying the stew’s amazing flavors.
1. Turkey or Chicken Tetrazinni
This tetrazinni recipe is a favorite with our entire family. Chicken and turkey can be used interchangeably. It’s a bang-up way to use turkey leftovers, which will be the goal of almost every family in America in just a few weeks. To make it dairy-free, use Earth Balance buttery sticks instead of butter and leave out the cheddar cheese.
What’s your favorite freezer meal. Leave a link to the recipe in the comment box!
by jphilo | Oct 29, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
10. Always check pockets for tissues before putting clothes in the washer.
9. Writing a mystery novel is much harder than one might think.
8. Black walnut are a safety hazard this time of year, from both below and above. They are easy to trip over in the dark, and during daylight evil squirrels throw them on the heads of unsuspecting people passing by.
7. The stems of basil plants and other herbs grow so thick and woody, hedge clippers are required to cut through them when putting a kitchen garden to bed for the winter.
6. When one is inspired to use bug spray to annihilate clumps of box elder bugs huddled for warmth on the foundation of a house, the house will smell like insecticide for two days.
5. When one applies stain to a woodworking project being completed in the basement, the house will stink for two days.
4. Staying in a motel room is not a bad idea for those who declare war on box elder bugs while simultaneously recreating a Bob Vila moment in the basement.
3. Cleaning the dining room chandelier after forgetting about it for, oh let’s say 5 years, requires plenty of elbow grease and vinegar.
2. If someone leaves the dome light on in her Toyota Corolla on Sunday night and then tries to start it on Thursday morning, the battery will be dead. Dead, dead.
1. Hot spiced cider from Deal’s Orchard tastes twice as good this year after no cider last year, thanks to a nasty spring frost that decimated the apple crop.
What lessons have you learned this week? Leave a comment.
by jphilo | Oct 15, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
10. My bestie and I went shoe shopping at an outlet store where I scored a new pair of inexpensive winter boots. Now I’m praying they will languish in the closet for years.
9. My bestie and I found butter-flavor infused olive oil at a specialty store. It tastes buttery, but has no dairy. Heaven, I’m in heaven!
8. My baguette at Panera was a heel. And it was still warm.
7. The hotel candy jar was stocked with cherry Lifesavers. How did they know I was coming?
6. The second night in the hotel, I finally found the light blocking window shade and got a good night’s sleep. The shade was cleverly hidden behind the sheer curtain. Whodda’ thunk it?
5. So far, no Michigan U-turns. (See diagram above for details.)
4. Despite rivers running this way and that, the people who laid out streets in Grand Rapids share my learning style. Which makes driving much easier.
3. We drove by the Amway headquarters yesterday. I was expecting pyramid-themed buildings and was pleasantly surprised by lots of pretty flags instead.
2. The fall colors are breath-taking.
1. At a meeting with my publishers, they said one of their employees can handle the technical wizardry necessary for a marketing idea. Thank you, DHP!
by jphilo | Oct 8, 2013 | Top Ten Tuesday
10. Remember when the specter of chilly fall nights was offset by the promise of new episodes of all three major network television shows? I miss that.
9. The beautiful fall colors and pleasant daytime temperatures almost make up for the fact that both are harbingers of winter.
8. What is it with sunny afternoons, box elder bugs, and the south side of our house?
7. In my opinion this is the perfect time of year for country mice to give into the spirit of adventure, and move to the city.
6. Rain-washed, October sky blue is a lovely color.
5. Doppler radar doesn’t pick up precipitation in the form of drizzle and light rain very early on cold, dark Sunday mornings. Don’t ask how I know this.
4. Why does 44° seem cold in October and warm in March?
3. All this fall rain means it’s time to mow the lawn again.
2. Last week’s blizzard out west is proof of a long held belief based on personal experience: Traveling in South Dakota after September 15 = taking your life into your own hands.
1. When will television stations realize that Mother Nature packs plenty of weather hype and doesn’t need assistance from the media?
What weather observations have you made recently? Leave a comment.
