Monday, 01/24/22 - Sunday the 30th

Monday: Ford had dermatologist appointment, a few more treatments and one biopsy. AA got her COVID booster shot. 

Ford baked his tailgate sandwich. He used to make back when we were Jaguar season ticket holders. The day began cold (31 degrees) and warmed up to about 52 degrees and sunny. Chloe wearing Mom's hand knit headband by E-E; Chloe said she wants to keep it.

Copy cat Moon River salad:

Tuesday: AA woke up with a headache and went to school. By first period, she called to come home. 

After a Motrin and a long nap, a sandwich, she was ready to go back to school! She scored a 96 on her biology test, so glad she made it back to school! I made two brownie recipes (separate post).

For dinner, I made a simple chuck roast in the slow cooker, with potatoes, onions and fresh RAM carrots. 

Wednesday: Ran some errands, warmest day this week in the 50's. Took recyclables to library, our bins were full. Saw the food truck and bought lunch - it was very good! Sajima Street Fare (Japan): I had chicken teriyaki and Ford had a curry chicken with extra KaraAge chicken:

AA did some homework and played golf until the rain/sprinkles came back.

Meatless dinner of bruschetta with homemade brownies for dessert. We played a game of SORRY, and Ford won! We also watched Amy lose at Jeopardy tonight, her 40 games won streak is over!

Thursday: First, I made waffles to have for future breakfasts (copy cat Eggos). I worked (as usual), then went to post office, grabbed Mojo lunch and picked up AA from school plus walking the dog. Boy is it cold with the wind! AA played golf for two hours (Kalia, Emmet was there too), not sure how she stands it! I replicated Moon River salads, plus leftover chuck roast for dinner. A glass of wine to relax at dinnertime.

Friday: Usual day, same stuff. AA had her golf lesson (make-up from Monday as Coach Bryan isolated for five days). 

TPC advertisement to buy tickets to benefit NFJG, with AA's photo:

We ordered Mellow Mushroom pizza, just couldn't decide what to cook for dinner!

Saturday: Another COLD day! Made a "pizza casserole" for Donna and Catherine Musselwhite (her son passed last week) and added garlic bread, a Caesar salad kit and home made mini-cheesecake with cherry preserve and a raspberry on top. 

We had our usual RH Happy Hour at Kathy's. We enjoyed many appetizers (so no dinner for us!) and was a nice visit ( We took Katie's corn dip and Fritos). We did seem a bit dull, not sure why we couldn't really get a stimulating conversation going! AA had pizza and did homework most of the day, plus reading her school book and working on the Acadia National Park puzzle.

Chris Emmons posted this photo of my Mom, from 1998 - She's the same age in this photo as my age is now, definitely young!

Sunday: Hard freeze! Cold!! NFJG at Bent Creek. Separate post.

I made mashed potatoes, cooked Ford's brined chicken along with peas for dinner. I walked Ginger, did laundry, cleaned out a cupboard, and many more miscellaneous tasks (including writing on this blog). We enjoyed corn dip and Fritos while watching the two NFL games, then dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes and pear salad (a throwback to when my Mom made it). AA had her Algebra tutor lesson, while we all faded, ready for bed!

Sunday NFJG Bent Creek Tournament - Freezing! 5th Place

Bent Creek Golf Club” for the “SHOWDOWN AT BENT CREEK”.

AA and Ford drove off to play in the one day tournament, 27 degrees outside. 

Jack sent this message: Good Morning, As you can imagine, the club is under a frost delay until 9:00 am.  The good news is our tee times don't start until 9:18 am.  There are four tee times ahead of the tournament, which means about a 30 minute setback. I would ask for you to be here prior to your original tee times, in case we get out on time. It is possible the early tee times will not have much time to warm up, but we will do our best to allow you time.

Getting ready at the car:

Scores: Unfortunately, she hit the water once, and lost a drive on the next hole. Gets discouraging! She was +3 on the front nine, then ugly two - triple bogeys and a double bogey on the back (3 bad holes). Makes a huge difference - they were each a bogey only, would have been 1st place.

Jack's Recap:  It was a frosty start to the “Showdown at Bent Creek” as temps dipped into the 20’s causing a two hour frost delay. Luckily for the TOUR our tee times didn’t start until 9:18 am so the delay was just over 30 minutes. 

Elite Tour Girls had a great showing as Anaiya Nahar, playing in her third event in a row she would capture the Gold Medal by posting a very chilling round of 78. She would tie with Connecticut’s Violet Robbins who also came in at 78.  Robbins would birdie the par-3 16th and par-4 17th holes, but would make bogey at the last to force a sudden death playoff. Nahar would become the victor and for the third straight event Robbins destined for gold would take the Silver Medal. Bronze would go to St. Augustine’s Helena Rios (81).

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	OUT
Par	5	3	4	4	4	5	3	4	4	36
Score	5	3	4	5	4	5	4	5	4	39

Hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN
Par	4	4	4	4	3	5	3	4	4	35
Score	5	5	7	7	3	5	2	6	4	44

Tuesday Brownie Testing - YUM

Most brownie recipes are basically the same. I saw very little difference when searching for a basic recipe. I took a plate to the River house for Michelle (bartender), wearing masks. Hugh and Maureen were tired from doctor's appointments so did not come. We did enjoy Kathy's company inside on porch, only as no one else was there (otherwise we would not have stayed).
First recipe had no baking powder and a little more butter. The photo shows the first brownie recipe has nuts/chocolate chips baked on top, very FUDGY! The 2nd recipe is the regular one (I did mix in chocolate chips into the batter) - very nice flavor, not cakey but has some rise to it.

Easy Fudgy Brownies From Scratch (very fudgy, soft, too much for me!). We bake the brownies in an 8-inch square pan. Since posting the recipe, quite a few readers have asked if it would be okay to use a larger pan. You can, but you will need to double the recipe.

10 tablespoons (145 grams) unsalted butter

1 ¼ cups (250 grams) granulated sugar

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 rounded teaspoon table salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large cold eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and heat to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. (This helps when removing the baked brownies from the pan, once cooled).

Add enough water to a medium saucepan so that it is 1 to 2 inches deep. Heat water until barely simmering.

Combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium heat-safe bowl. Rest the bowl over simmering water (if the bottom of the bowl touches the water, remove a little water). Stir the mixture occasionally until the butter has melted and the mixture is quite warm. Don’t worry if it looks gritty; it will become smooth once you add the eggs and flour.

Remove the bowl from heat and set aside for 3 to 5 minutes until it is only warm, not hot. Stir in the vanilla with a spoon. Then add the eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one.

When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until fully incorporated, then beat with the wooden spoon or spatula for 40 to 50 strokes. (The batter will be thick). You want to see the brownie batter pulling away from the sides of the bowl (if you do not have the strength to do this by hand, use a hand mixer). Stir in nuts, if using. Spread evenly in lined pan.

Bake the brownies for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out with a few moist crumbs. As a visual test, brownies are done when the edges will look dry and the middle still looks slightly under baked. Cool completely then remove from pan. For the cleanest lines when cutting, place into the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to firm up. Cut into 16 squares.

Second recipe includes baking powder. "Regular brownie".

Triple Chocolate Brownies by Sabrina Snyder

1/2 cup unsalted butter , melted

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray an 8x8 inch baking pan with baking spray.

Whisk together melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Whisk in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder.

Gently fold in the semi sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips.

Spread batter evenly into greased baking pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean with moist crumbs.

Sunday, 01/23/2022 NFJG and Leaa!

Alyzabeth played in the NFJG Tournament, EAGLE HARBOR CHALLENGE, right on her home course.

She said she didn't play well and her confidence is off due to the changes Coach Bryan has been making on her swing (hips, striking the ball, not flipping her wrist, etc.). I don't know much about it but will take more practice for her to feel comfortable with the change.
Leaa took Dylan to a dance workshop at the Thrasher-Horne Center on College Drive, so had a few hours to visit with us. She saw AA tee off on Hole 1 and play Hole 9.
AA won with a 78. She didn't play well after hole 13 but overall, a good win.

Photos: Before the match began, we were bundled up, very cold! 38 degrees, felt like 31!!

Hole 1:

Back home (while Ford walked all 18 holes), visiting with Leaa, she put her glasses on Ginger!

Hole 9:

Making the turn:

Following in golf cart:

Last Hole 18:

WINNER!

Scores:

Enjoying a relaxing wine on Talon's patio after the round.

AA's backside is on this poster (middle):

Director Jack's Recap:

Guess whose back in the champion’s corner this week for the Elite Tour Girls?  Yup, Ms. Alyzabeth Morgan. Morgan posted a very cool 78 to lead the ladies, but that division is tightening up a little bit with some added talent. With us for a few months from Fairfield, Connecticut is Violet Robbins. Robbins was two strokes back of the leader at 80 to capture her second Silver medal in just two events. Two more back at 82 was none other than Sofia Rivera who is just itching to get back in the winner circle. Morgan would card two birdies during her round.

MLK Day and Betty White's 100th

Monday began very cold, in the high 30's, sunny. Brisk!
I put together the ingredients for chili in the slow-cooker, will be ready for dinner plus made Nana Joy's recipe for corn bread in a cast iron skillet, to be hot and ready when they arrived home.

AA is playing Round 3 and did not place, so they came home early.

Tuesday: Happy Hour was at Hugh's as it was too cold to sit outside at the River House. 33 degrees this morning! I made (for the third time) the fig preserves with blue chees crumbles on crudité and took a bottle of wine. Ford went to his hair cut appointment and we donated to the local animal no-kill shelter in Betty White's name.

Wednesday: Working at home every morning. It was a nice day so had drinks on Talon's patio. Made bruschetta for dinner.

Thursday: I worked (weekly meeting, I got a "kudos" from the team") and got my hair cut and colored. Cooked a pork roast, with scalloped potatoes (gift from Bill/Joan) and fresh green beans (from RAM market) for dinner. It was 77 degrees so went to the RH while AA golfed with Jenna, then played nine holes with Coach Bryan.

Dinner:

Friday: HER (renovation group/"handy-women") came over to take some measurements. We had brunch at Metro Diner. 

Temperatures are dropping during the day with rain tonight and freezing temperatures for the next few days. AA came home and got caught up on her homework. And did I mention that Fall Semester grades (officially posted 01/14/22) were all above 95! Straight A's again! Her weighted GPA is 4.4. We are so happy that she studies, uses her time wisely and is proactive with long term assignments! Pork tacos for dinner tonight - yum!

Saturday: Cold, dreary day. YUK! I made a mixed berry clafoutis (Clafoutis - French pronunciation: ​klafuti), is a baked French dessert of fruit, traditionally black cherries, arranged in a buttered dish and covered with a thick flan-like batter). Always a delicious breakfast.

We attended (Zoom) a presentation (3:00 p.m.) organized by Bryan K. and Stephanie Eiswerth by fitness trainer, RJ Milford (and Holly) from Peak Level Performance. Now to decide about what/where to enroll AA. No River House Happy Hour as it is too cold outside and Hugh and Maureen do not want to sit inside.

Sunday: NFJG Tournament right here at EH (Separate post). Freezing morning!