Julie's Jabberwock

More Autumn Pasta To Enjoy

More Autumn Pasta To Enjoy

        Autumn Has Arrived I would say that ‘Sweater Weather’ is here but we live in Florida so that doesn’t happen until around January, if at all.  But what we do experience in Florida is a cooling off.  Temps in the high …

Dirty DAWGS

Dirty DAWGS

        Bowl a Comfort Dirty Rice/Spanish Rice With Fried Kielbasa Sausage A Meal In Itself —————————————————————————- Dirty Dawgs I keep my Granddaughter anywhere between 2 and 5 days a week.  We tend to do a lot of coloring and drawing, and plenty …

All My Delicious Jezebels To Tempt You

All My Delicious Jezebels To Tempt You

 

 

 

Peacock Feathers For Luck

I was born in Georgia and lived throughout the south during my upbringing.  The South is also known as The Bible Belt.  The South has a very large religious community that comprises of many different Churches.  Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Church of God, Church of Christ, Pentecostal Holiness, and a few others….  We were Disciples of Christ, which is what Ronald Reagan was, btw.

Although my family and the people we knew were more liberal than the average Southerner.  We learned about other religions at church but in an educational way, and not in a ‘they will all burn in hell because they aren’t like us’ way.  I was certainly exposed to the Evangelical’s and their beliefs.  One thing that they would warn you about were the “Jezebels” of the world.  It was just in the culture. 

When I went off to college I was warned to ‘Stay away from the bitches and the whores.’  Although no one in my family ever said that to me… well, my Grandmother would always tell me to stay away from the Floozies and the Flossie Mae’s, it was just the culture of the South.  (I’m not excusing it, just explaining it.)  Although if anyone I knew was a Flossie Mae it was my Grandmother.  That woman could sashay!

But, when I did go off to college and I did interact with the other girls there, I found that the people that I liked the most were the bitches and the whore’s.  The bitches weren’t bitchy, they just stood up for themselves.  They were intelligent and spoke out when it was important to do so.  And the whores, well, they never judged you.  They would even look out for you when you would go out with them while the Evangelical girls would just as soon dump you on the side of the road than deal with you.  Also, the gay guys that I went to college with, it was a private fashion college in Charlotte, North Carolina, they were the best friends you could ever have.  You could go out with them at night and they would look out for you.  And the best giggles you will ever have in your life were with the gay guys!

The hypocrisy of the South is that they created a “Jezebel Sauce” that they serve at various religious functions.  Whether it is a Church Suppah, a Church Picnic, a Church Wedding….. Oh, and it is the number #1 condiment in the state of conservative Mississippi.

Which brings me to all of my Jezebel’s…..

I adore each and every one of you!

Which Is Why I Created You!

The Jezebel’s Of This World Have The Biggest Hearts…

Which Is Why I Love You All!

Julie

p.s.  Coming Christmas 2026,

A Naughty Christmas Jezebel For Underneath The Tree  🙂

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Click Here For:  Julie’s Jezebel Sauce

Our Jezebels On This Page:

The Forbidden Jezebel

With Apples

The Classic Jezebel (My Twist)

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The Latin Jezebel

(With Guava Shells and Jalapeno Peppers)

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And My:

Georgia Peach Jeze-Bells

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I Also Created An:

Aloha Wahine Jezebel Sauce

Based On Our Love Of Hawaii

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AND,

An Oriental Jezebel

Again, Based On Our Love Of Hawaii And The Asian Cultures

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AND,

An Old Florida Jezebel (Sauce)

Based On My Love Of Old Florida

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I ALSO CREATED,

One HOT Jezebel for Breakfast (Sauce, That is.)

AND,

Click Here For:  More of Julie’s Jezebel Recipes to Enjoy

I Needed An Additional Page To Place Some Extra Jezebel Recipes

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I Even Created A Halloween Jezebel:

A Haunted Jezebel, Together With A Haunted Mansion Halloween Repast

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AND,

A Valentine Jezebel Sauce

I LOVE Valentine’s Day!

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ALSO,

This Jezebel Is NUTS!

Based On My Home State Of Georgia

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AND,

A Nancy Drew Mystery ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _.. Sauce

(Because I love Nancy Drew and Morse Code)

Click Here For:  A Nancy Drew Mystery ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _..Sauce

I would like to add that Nancy Drew was no ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _..  .

I cannot even bring myself to say the word ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _.. beside her name, which is why I got the idea to put the name in Morse Code.

The reason I created a ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _.. sauce for Nancy Drew is because I wanted to create some sort of sauce in her honor.  She was very worldly.  She traveled the world with her father Caron Drew, and her friends Bess and George.  Nancy knew people from all over the world and also knew and respected their cultures.  She was mature beyond her young years.  She had encountered many a villain, been knocked unconscious, and had to use her wits about her to escape.

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I Love Every Single One Of You!

Julie Jezebel

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More Great Sandwiches To Enjoy

More Great Sandwiches To Enjoy

      Yet Another Sandwich Page! WELCOME We eat a lot of sandwiches.   Although we have sandwiches all over our website, whether they be interspersed with other recipe pages, or having their own website pages, here is yet another one I created. WE LOVE …

A Nancy Drew Mystery ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _.. Sauce

A Nancy Drew Mystery ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _.. Sauce

    A Nancy Drew Mystery ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _.. Sauce (Because I love Nancy Drew and Morse Code) I would like to say that Nancy Drew was no ._ _ _ /./_ _.././_… ././. _..  . I cannot even bring myself …

65 and Beyond, (Finger’s Crossed)

65 and Beyond, (Finger’s Crossed)

 

 

 

 

On February 13th., 2026 I Turned 65

Gordon and I ‘Out and About’ on My Birthday

65 Feels Pretty Good

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When I Turned 60 I Started this Website Page:

Sixty’s, (Sensational or Surviving?), We’ll See, Right?

(If you would like to read, just click on the link above.)

I didn’t know what 60 would be like?  Which is why I started the above website page.  

I assumed that I would be blogging about any changes in my body or lifestyle.  Perhaps the ‘ups and downs’ of ageing?  My intention was that we would explore it together.

I am a very open person.  Sometimes to my detriment.  But, that is who I am, and I am not going to fight against that.

Now that I am 65, I have been in my 60’s for 5 years now.  I have been getting to know the ageing me and I am fine with it.

Yes, I have put on some weight in the middle.  That is where my pounds accumulate anyway.  They always have.

However, there is just something empowering that comes with ageing that I didn’t know in my 50’s, or 40’s, or 30’s, etc.

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Turning 65

As I like to say, Uglier on the outside, Happier on the inside.

I would not go back if I were given the chance.  I feel as if I have reached milestones that are important.  As in evolving into the person I am destined to be.  I have earned the right to be 65!  Ageing is a privilege.

If I could give my younger self a heads up, I would not!

I needed to go through all that I did to get to here.  I would not have made it if I did warn my younger self.  I have learned that the damage that was done to me by certain people in my life never had anything to do with me.  It was their damage they were inflicting on me.  I used to regret being nice or kind to certain people.  I have however learned that I should never be upset about doing the right thing.  They are the ones that should be upset that they took advantage of my kindness, and loyalty.

I don’t know how much time I have left?  Oh, as far as I know I am fine where my health is concerned.  I am just referring to life in general.

None of us really know the answers to that?  I always figured that I would die young.  No idea why?  I just always thought so.  But, before I am gone, I still have many things left that I want to do.  I’ll go when I’m ready.  I’m stubborn that way.  🙂  But for now, my granddaughter needs me.  My daughter and son-in-law need me, my husband needs me, and I need me too!  🙂

So, Here Is 65 and Beyond, Finger’s Crossed!

Julie

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BLOG ENTRIES START HERE

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Shopping At The Asian Supermarket

Shopping And Creating Recipes Does Make Me Happy

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September 7, 2026

How Much Is Too Much?
And, The Death Of A Legend
Dolly Parton in Hawai’i
(I can remember that she had a home there when we lived there in the mid 80’s to late 90’s.  When we would drive around the island we would pass by her house.  Actually, the gate to her house.  Everyone knew it was hers.)
When I write, ‘How Much Is Too Much’ I am referring to plastic surgery.  I’ve been wanting to write about this for months now.  I’m finally getting around to it.
With Dolly’s death it does kind of muddle the waters now with what all I wanted to say.  She embodied everything fake on the outside, yet possessed the most genuine of souls on the inside.  I read where someone even described her as Jesus and as strange as that may sound, I can see it.  She didn’t just become a good person as she aged, she always was a good person.
I adored her!  So did most everyone.
I read somewhere online where someone said that ‘Dolly was the string that held us all together.’  I believe that.  That is how I saw her.  Her loss is all of ours, not just her family and friends.  We lost the nicest and kindest and most generous person in the world.  I’m grieving that.  
After Dolly passed I was reading so many ‘Dolly Stories’ online.  Everyone seemed to have one.  Including me!  I went to Dolly’s high school in Sevierville, TN. in the mid to late 70’s for 9th., 10th. and 11th. grade.  My step-father was one of the only surgeon’s there at the time.  Which is why we moved to Sevierville.  I was in the marching band.  One year Dolly came to our high school, her Alma Mater, and gave a concert donating the proceeds.  Our band had just made an album that year and presented it to her as a gift.  She wouldn’t accept it until everyone had signed it.  I can remember how star struck the audience was seeing her on stage.  I don’t think I’d ever seen my friend Judy so enamored by anyone before.  Dolly was funny, charming, and she would sometimes forget the words to some of her songs and would substitute them with other words like, la dee dah, la la dee dah.  It was charming.  She made fun of something large on her body that she said people wondered was fake, and of course we’re all thinking about her boobs, but she then said, I’m talking about my nails, what are you talking about?  Our band played Hello Dolly to introduce her at the concert.  I can rememer seeing her big tour bus parked in our school’s parking lot.  
Dolly In Front Of Her Tour Bus
I enjoyed reading all the Dolly Stories pouring in online.  Of course they have since died down, but I think we are all still sad by her death.  As I said, she wasn’t just a country music legend, she was the kindest and most generous person in the world.  Now who do we have?
I originally wanted to explore how our society as a whole is embracing so much of this, I don’t even really know what to call it?  Plastic surgery?  Enhancements?  Implants?  Injections?
I would like to say that I believe that people should do what they want to do.  It is your body after all.  But coming from a medical background, not mine, my step-father’s and my mother’s, you never go under the knife unless it is absolutely necessary.  Once they put you to sleep you do run the risk that you may never wake up?  Although perhaps technology has caught up that they don’t even need to put you to sleep anymore?  I don’t know enough about it.
I also can’t tell you how many times I have read where a mother of 3 died while on a trip to Mexico for some sort of liposuction.  Why?  Was that worth it?  The children now don’t have a mother?
Kanye West’s mother died while getting liposuction.  Again, is that so important?  Joan Rivers also died while undergoing plastic surgery.  And then there is Michael Jackson and all the work he had done.  He didn’t even have a nose left.
I don’t want to shame anyone.  I think that sometimes we do things because of past trauma’s.
Sometimes when I watch T.V. I will see a very attractive woman and you can tell that her hair is fake, and she has fake boobs, injections in her lips, fake nails, and all I see is a fake person.  Some people take it even further with their fake butts.  I just think that someday aliens will come to our planet, (although I think they are already here) and dig us up and ask, ‘what was wrong with these people?’
I have a confession to make about my daughter Veronica.  When she was 5 she did have plastic surgery on her ears.  They were deformed when she was born.  She was a breach baby and I had a C-Section at her delivery.  To me she was the most beautiful baby in the world, but when I presented my perfect child to my grandmother I will never forget what she said when she saw her.  “Let’s tape those ears down.”  And it was at that point that I finally saw them.  The debate to have Veronica at age 5 get plastic surgery on her ears was important for us.  I didn’t want her to start school being called Dumbo, I myself had had a hard time growing up in so many different school’s with so many cruel children that I didn’t want her to go through what I had gone through, so my grandmother paid for the surgery.  By age 5 your ears are at about 90% growth.  They mature before your head does.  So, having confessed that do I have any right to criticize someone else for having elective plastic surgery?  I think not!
I will say this though, I do believe that there is a point where someone will take it too far.  It is at that point where I believe money should be spent to fix what’s wrong inside, and not keep spending money on the outsides.  It may make them happy for a short while, but the insecurities come back and then here comes more plastic surgery, believing that will make them happy but it never ultimately does.
One day, a few year’s back, I was watching T.V. when a commercial came on advertising The Real Housewives of somewhere in California?  The commercial had about 4 blonde women and one brunette.  All 4 blondes had the exact same long hair extensions, the exact same mini-dress (in different colors) and the exact same high heeled shoes (in different colors).  The brunette was the only one that didn’t seem to have all the fake attachments to herself.  But then again, I have no clue what work may have been done underneath her clothing.  I looked at all of them and they just looked like clones of each other.  When did that happen?  That same look is still out there and popular.  I’m not criticizing the look, I’m criticizing the fact that all these women feel that they have to look like that in order to be happy or excepted.  When did our society become so shallow?  I do blame reality T.V.  But that is a conversation for another day.
I look at my granddaughter Isabelle and she has the prettiest face.  I hope that she will always know how pretty she is and not feel pressure to change her nose, or get lip injections, or some boob job, or butt implants just to please a shallow society with the shortest attention span in our history.  When Sarah Jessica Parker was in her early years of acting the ‘establishment’ wanted her to get a nose job.  She said no, because she liked that she looked like her family, and didn’t want to change it.  That confidence comes from being born into a supportive and loving family.  I also love how she is accepting ageing, and ageing very well.  But then again, she is in a strong and healthy long marriage with children.
There is a famous family out there that you all know of with lots of girls in it, that are big influencers that change their faces quite often.  Their mother is especially pro-plastic surgery.  The thing is, they have lots of children between them and I can only imagine the lessons being taught to these children?  ‘Our faces aren’t good enough so we constantly get work done.  Therefore your faces aren’t good enough either so you will be needing to fix those as well in the future, or until your 10.’
I do believe there is this self-anointed group of people out there that make up things that they believe we all need to do, and then it filters down into our society through magazines, books, hair stylists, make-up artists, and influencers.  Once they get the celebrities to go along with them and their ideas, they know the public is not far behind.  A huge money making industry that people will throw their money at just to look like the latest big celebrity that they love and admire.  It’s quite sad actually.  So many original people wiping their identities in order to look like the latest clones out there.  Did Dolly do that?  No!  She was herself from day 1!
Dolly Parton grew up poor in the mountains of Tennessee.  I know those mountains in Tennessee very well because we did live there, but we also spent a lot of time in those mountains.  Mountain cabins, fire places, hiking, picnics, creeks, streams, waterfalls, throwing rocks, camping, etc.
When I look at Dolly, I see her poor childhood.  I see the ‘over the top’ clothing, hair, and make-up.  I see her making up for the fact that she was poor.  I see her presenting this larger than life Dolly to the world to make up for the fact that she wasn’t born ‘over the top.’
There is a relative that I have on my biological father’s side that also grew up poor.  She studied hard and graduated from high school as Salutatorian.  She went onto college and furthered her education, earinng her degrees and accumulating a lot of college debt in the process.  She is a teacher.  The thing she should be the proudest of is that she is self-made.  But I believe that her poor childhood haunts her which is why she will drive an expensive car, wear expensive clothing and shoes, and carry an expensive handbag, wanting only the finer things in life.  Not that there is really anything wrong with that.
Well, I too wear my Lilly Pulitzer designer clothing, and carry designer handbags, but I’m also known to shop at Goodwill and the Dollar Tree.  Stores I don’t believe my relative would ever do.
Whether it be good or bad, our childhood’s shape us into the adults that we become.  There is nothing wrong with that.  I just hate that with a lot of us, we are held back from becoming the people we should be because of those past trauma’s.  I know that for me I walk hand in hand with my trauatized childhood version of myself everyday.  But, I like to think that I am rewriting HER trauma and turning that into a happier functioning adult, ME.  🙂
Dolly Parton turned the hardships of her upbringing into becoming the larger than life person she became.  Not to mention the most generous.  I know that I will miss her for the rest of my life.
Julie

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July 12, 2026

Constantly Chasing Sleep

Favorite Pajamas

I can remember reading decades ago how Betty White only got about 3 hours of sleep a night.  I couldn’t believe that she could function on that minimal amount of sleep.  Then I read around the same time frame that Martha Stewart would be up at 3:00 a.m. with a flashlight out in her garden pulling up weeds.  I was so shocked that these two successful women could even function on such a minimal amount of sleep?  Well, now that I am 65, I am getting not as much sleep as I need, and not being able to function without a good night’s sleep.  I cannot relate.  I need my sleep!

My lifestyle is that I keep my Granddaughter  anywhere from 2 to 4 days a week.  Either Veronica or Brian will bring her over in the early morning hours at either 5:30 a.m. or 5:45 – 6:00 a.m.  I am always up by the time they bring her over.  I set my alarm clock for 4:00 a.m. in the morning.  I shower and I’m dressed and ready by the time Isabelle arrives.

Even though she just turned 3, we still give her a bottle in the mornings.  Even though that is a bit young for her, you have to understand that her sleep has been interrupted.  She needs to get back to sleep.  That warm milk helps her.  Whether we deliver it in a baby bottle, or a water bottle.
That also benefits me!  I need to get back to sleep in the mornings myself.  It is difficult for me to function without a good night’s sleep.  I love a good extra hour or two in those early morning hours.  That way I get to sleep in to around 8:00 or 8:30, or 9:00 a.m. in the mornings.  Being her care giver, I need the extra hours of sleep in order to function for the day.  After all, her parents don’t pick her up until around 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. on some days, and as early as 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., on other days.  Some of those days are long!

I wanted to say that I think that we justify the early morning bottle with the understanding that there are women out there that continue to breast feed into the child’s 5th. birthday.

That is not our intention.  We are just delivering the warm milk to Isabelle in a vessel that will not leak into the crib/bed, and will help her to go back to sleep, so that I can also get some more much needed sleep myself.  That’s where my heating pad comes in.  I do so love that warmth and it makes me drowsy, helping me to go back to sleep.

NOTE!  It is easier to go to sleep once you have taken a nice warm shower, day or night.  Which is usually why I tend to go back to sleep more easily after I have had my 4:00 a.m. shower on those mornings I have Isabelle.  Nice shower, and a heating pad work for me!

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I Also Think That I Suffer From  Anxiety 

On those days that I have to leave the house, I tend to have a hard time sleeping the night before.  That is something new to me.  It’s really just been since I’ve been in my 60’s that I’ve had that problem.  There is just this anxiousness and dread that I have where I am up in the middle of the night and I can’t shut my brain off in order to relax and go to sleep.  

I think some of the problem it is that America is a dangerous country to live in.   I don’t feel safe when I leave the house.  Too many guns, and too many hot-heads that own the guns.  Also, just not enough respect towards our fellow human beings.  I think a lot of people would just rather shoot you than deal with you.  Same with driving.  Even though I do the speed limit, I am never going fast enough for some people.  I think they would rather run me off the road than have to drive behind me.  Which is why I tend to make appointments or run errands on those hours where there isn’t a lot of traffic.  I also only shop in business’s where I feel safe in their parking lots.   Now that I am 65 and ageing, I am becoming more of a target to those that take advantage of that.  Always be aware of your surroundings.  Quit looking at your phones and pay attention.  It just might save your life.

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Afternoon Naps And Back Pain

Sometimes I do take an afternoon nap.  Or, I might just lay down on the couch among my comfy blankety covers and pillows, turn the T.V. volume down low, close my eyes, and just rest and relax.  If sleep follows, wonderful!  If not, then that’s o.k. too because I am resting my body and getting off my back.  Walking on these cement floors here in Florida can ruin your lower back.  When we were living in Hawaii I developed back pains from every surface in Hawaii being cement.  The reasoning behind all the cement is hurricane’s.  Then when we moved to Maryland, where everything was this nice wooden surface, my back pain went away.  Then we move back to Florida where everything has a cement flooring, and here come the back pains again.

I do wear indoor shoes, mainly smooshy, mooshy  Flip Flops.  (Or Slippers as they say in Hawaii.)  The mooshy kind have a nice comfy give that allows your foot to be more comfortable.  The downside is that sometimes they are easy to trip in while wearing.  Something I will need to be aware of as I age.

The point I was trying to make here is that by just resting and getting off my back I feel this rejuvenation that allows me to get through the rest of the day on those sleepy tired days I sometimes have.  By laying down, place a pillow underneath your pelvis just to elevate it up a bit.  For me the pain goes away immediately just by doing that.  Try it!  See for yourself.

Also, take an Advil if your back starts to hurt, OR even before it starts to hurt!  When I am about to take on a big job I just go ahead and take one.  It will prevent the swelling in my lower back which brings on pain.  It’s that inflammation you have to worry about.

I also don’t take any of those energy drinks.  Coffee is the strongest thing that I use to pep up.

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About 2 Years Ago I Moved Into The Gust Bathroom

(For Bathing And Skincare)

It’s been a few years but there was a time, a very long time, when my next door neighbor started stalking and harassing me. 

I do document it here:

Click Here For:  My Log Blog Documenting Stalking And Harassment From My Neighbor

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Gordon was working overseas and for some reason my hot-headed neighbor next door to us starting throwing things at our house at 4:00 a.m. to upset me.  It was always when I was in the bathroom or in our bedroom.  Regardless, I no longer felt safe on that side of our house, so I started bathing in the guest bathroom.  At first I just dragged a few things into the guest bathroom, not bothering to really fix it up and make it nice.  But, I have since made it nice and I’m glad that I made that switch.  I feel a lot safer.  I also feel like I have my very own bathroom just for me to enjoy.  Yes, it’s smaller.  Yes, it’s not as nice.  But, I like it! 

I still do my hair and make-up in our master bathroom, but I am never naked in there.  I haven’t felt comfortable changing clothes or using that bathroom any more.  That’s what abuse does to you.

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Just Some Skincare

I Did Not Buy Anything New Here

(I organized with things that I already had.  Seeing as how my Cindy Crawford Skincare is all purple, I found an old ‘free with purchase’ purple cosmetic bag to house some things in.)

 

I Bought Nothing New Here, This Is Plenty Of Room For Me

Sometimes I think it’s important for us to just carve out our own little niche somewhere.  A place that is just ours.  With me being the only one who uses this bathroom, I keep it quite nice and clean because I don’t share it with anyone.  Well, except Isabelle.  🙂

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Somethings that I may write about, I have also written about on other website pages.  Not everyone reads every page that I have on this website so sometimes I do repeat myself.  This is one of those times.  I am writing here similar things that I wrote on my Skincare Website Page.

Click Here For:  My Nifty 50’s and 60’s Skincare

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I Did Add Some Hawaiian Things That Were New

The Rattan Shelf Was My Grandmother’s

The Birdhouse/Beach House, Veronica painted years ago and gifted to me.

Diamond Head and the Surfboards spelling out Aloha, I purchased at a favorite Hawaii store, CocoNene.

The Blue Star Fish Veronica also gifted to me one Christmas.

And the Palm Leaf painting I also purchased from Coconene.

The Fish Photo Frame was a gift to Veronica from her friend Kara when they were 3 years old and we knew them in Hawaii.

  Looks great there.

Now You Know What My Bathroom/Guest Bathroom Toilet Looks Like  🙂

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One More Thing ….

The Little Window In The Shower

(I papered it over with Rice Paper when we first moved in.)

All My Shampoo’s and Conditioner’s

Our Diana Hanson-Young Posters From The 80’s

Autographed By Her

We Were Too Poor To Buy Prints Or Paintings Then

I Framed Them And Still Treasure Them

Dry Your Hands!

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65 And Beyond

Finger’s Crossed!

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julie Barefoot 2026, (‘Puke Punaewele, (Blog)

Julie Barefoot 2026, (‘Puke Punaewele, (Blog)

          2026 A Morning Aloha (Hawaiian Kona Coffee) —————————————————————————————— Brodie In Our Backyard Plumeria Tree in Ewa Beach, 1996 ————————————————————————————- E Komo Mai Welcome to My Aloha Julie Barefoot 2026 ‘Puke Punaewele (Blog) Ready for 2026 This year will be a …

Autumn

Autumn

          UNDER CONSTRUCTION   Okra Wind Free  🙂     UNDER CONSTRUCTION Autumn Harvest Medley                     ————————————————————————————————                               …

www.VintageJulieBarefootArchives.com

www.VintageJulieBarefootArchives.com

 

 

 

I Created A New Website:

Click Here For:  VintageJulieBarefootArchives

I gave my Web Designers in India instructions on what I wanted, and they did the most remarkable job of bringing my vision to life.

I could not be happier with it!

My current website:  (This one.)

BarefootInFloridaWithJulie

..Was no longer working accurately. 

Therefore, I decided to instruct my Web Designers in India, to create a “New” Website in order for me to house some of my “Old” content.

Initially, I didn’t figure in that it would be my Florida Website Pages, but it did evolve into just that.

My First Blog Posting On The New/Old Website

I Debuted This New Site On Brodie’s Birthday, November 29, 2025

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Welcome To VintageJulieBarefootArchives.com

(As Taken From Blog Posting from the new site.)

Brodie Keith Kanakaleo Whann

I decided to create this new website because our live site, www.BarefootInFloridaWithJulie.com, was getting a bit too big.

(Admittedly, I was hoping to get a place in The Guinness Book of World Records as the largest amateur website on the internet known to man. But alas, another dream squashed by reality, or human intervention.)

I thought that if I were to create a new website and move a lot of our old content over, that it would lighten the load to our current live site, and I could make this new website about our Florida Life. So, I specifically chose website pages that were of a Florida nature. We love Florida! My ties to Florida go back to when I was a baby in the 60’s, living in Rome, Georgia with my mother, grand-parents, and great-grandparents. Every summer was spent vacationing in Florida. Also, prior to me being born, it was where my mother and her friends, and their families vacationed as well. I have some really great old photos of my grand-parents, great-grandparents, and great-aunts and uncles wearing their old fashioned swimsuits with their old timey cars parked on the beach. Once upon a time you could do that. Drive onto the beach and park your car.  Mostly on the East Coast of Florida, they had the longest stretches of beaches.

I’m the tall one with my cute petite friends.  St. Pete left, Daytona right.

I can remember the Florida vacations very well. We would leave Rome in the evening, and drive all night down to Florida. I would be asleep in the backseat, wearing pajamas.. My grand-father would do the driving. If I had to use the bathroom on the way down my grandfather would pull over to the side of the highway, they would open both doors, the front door and the backdoor, and I would take my winky-tink between the two doors. Sometimes, cars would honk as they would drive by. I was always in a panic that someone could see me. My grandmother always assured me that no one can.  (She was probably lying.)

St. Petersburg was usually our destination. My grand-father would look for Motels with a VACANCY sign flashing towards the street. He would just drive down what is now Gulf Blvd. looking for a Motel that he thought looked nice. He would then pull into those Motels and inquire within for something suitable for all of us. I can remember that we were always on the ocean side, most of the time there was a pool. I can even remember one place we stayed at where we walked out of our motel room door directly onto the beach. There was so much beach sand outside our door.

I have beautiful memories of many Florida vacations with my grand-parents. My grand-father was one to lay on his back in the ocean, floating, and falling asleep. He was a big man, very tall, with lots of cushion. He floated very easily. I can remember one time he fell asleep and was drifting out to sea, a lifeguard was blowing his whistle trying to wake him up to get him to swim back towards shore.

Most every night we would eat at a seafood restaurant. The restaurant was always located on an ocean front, or a canal front. I have so many great memories of finding little fishies trapped between the rocks by the ocean or canals. I would use a paper cup to capture them and take them back to the motel room with me. I loved having them with me in the motel room. I loved watching them. Sometimes I would set them loose the next day, if they even made it through the night. Upon reflection I wish I had known more about helping them. But I didn’t. I was just a child.

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Hello Rosy Cheeks

I remember this very well. It was at one restaurant that was busy that evening for dinner. There were many people waiting to get seated. My grand-parents and I were sitting at a table in the entryway when suddenly this cute boy sat down right beside my grandmother, he sat across from me, he then looked at me and said with all the confidence in the world, “Hello rosy cheeks.” I was in my early teens. My grandmother instantly adored him! I guess charmers must recognize each other because my grand-mother was a charmer. She then burst out laughing.

This cute, charming boy sat there flirting with me. I knew I could fall for him in a minute! But, I was just too shy to do anything about it. But, I have always remembered that cute boy that made this awkward girl feel special.

Oh, and the rosy cheeks were from my being sunburned that day from staying out too long in the sun, on the beach.

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Florida is not just a great state to vacation in, it holds so many happy memories for me and my family growing up. It makes sense that Gordon and I would settle here and live out our days until we are gone. Hopefully that won’t be for a very long time. But, until then we have a grand-daughter to help raise and make many happy Florida memories for her to take with her in life.

An old timey Motel, a Shuffleboard Court, Sun, Sand, Shells, Beach, Oranges, Orange Juice, Drawbridges, Souvenir Shops, Boat Rides, Seafood Restaurants, Summer Friendships with other Tourists, Salt Water Taffy, Vintage Beach Buckets, Sand Shovels, Flamingoes… and being Barefoot!

This is what I carry with me every day.

Happy Vintage Julie Barefoot Memories,

Julie Barefoot

(Julie Lancaster-Whann)

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Florida is Beautiful and Unique,

Located in the South, yet not Really Southern.

Although Florida is the East Coast, and Canada’s Destination

My Florida Favorites

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Some of Veronica’s Artwork 

I asked her if she had some of her art that I could display on the new website.  She sent over these.  This was all she had in her possession.  People do hire her to draw and paint for them.  I would love to had seen those paintings, but she did contribute some nice things.

Busch Gardens 

I told my guys in India that I wanted an Alligator on the bottom left, and Flamingoes on the bottom right.

I do think the landscaping you see in the graphic above looks like Africa, but then again we do have Busch Gardens here in Florida that is theme based on Africa.

  So, I guess it all goes together nicely.

Web Design is a lot of fun but it isn’t really something tangible.  I mean, the moment I quit paying the monthly fees, it can all just disappear.  Or an experienced hacker can just come along and delete the whole thing forever.  As much as I love my website’s they aren’t anything that I can hold in my hand, or place onto a shelf for display, or even own forever.  My experience with having websites is that they are very vulnerable to those that know how to penetrate them, and abuse them without any conscious or authority whatsoever.

I guess what I am trying to say is that they are very temporary, so enjoy them while you can.

 

See You At The Beach!

Julie Barefoot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Jezebel is NUTS!

This Jezebel is NUTS!

            Mr. Peanut In 1906 Omedeo Obici, originally from Italy, founded the Planters Peanut Company in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 1916 Mr. Obici held a contest asking the public to draw a logo that he thought would best suit the company.  …

My Brunswick Stew Chicken Skillet

My Brunswick Stew Chicken Skillet

        My Brunswick Stew Chicken Skillet Dinner I love Brunswick Stew!  I grew up eating it in the South, in the Summer months, throughout the year, but especially for the 4th. of July. There is a history of the stew which I …

Italian Colazione (Breakfasts)

Italian Colazione (Breakfasts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buongiorno a Tutti

(Good Morning Everyone)

My Italiana Breakfast Skillet

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You Don’t Have To Be Italian To Enjoy This Delicious Breakfast Skillet

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A One Skillet Breakfast With Baguette and Caffe

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This Also Makes An Excellent Dinner, Or Even Luncheon

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Excellent Eaten In Bed…

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The Boot

Italy is Shaped Like a Boot

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I Hope To Add More Breakfasts As Time Goes By

Godere,

Julie and Gordon

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Recipes Start Here

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First Up:

My Italiana Breakfast Skillet

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Ingredients:

Orange, Yellow, and Red Bell Peppers, Washed

Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, or any you Desire, Washed

(I Give The Rest Of The Ingredients As I Write The Recipe)

You will need a Cutting Board, and a Sautee Pan or Two…

Time To Chop My Bell Peppers

Also, White Onion, Chopped

(This was a large White Onion, I used about 3/4 of it.)

Chopping My Bell Peppers

6 Garlic Cloves, Minced

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In a Large Sautee Pan Drizzle Some Olive Oil..

Place the Onions into the Pan to Soften on a Medium-High Heat

This should take about 5 Minutes.

Next, add the Bell Peppers to Soften, about another 5 Minutes..

Mincing the Garlic Cloves into the Pan with the Onions and Bell Peppers

(Just Sautee a few minutes more, stirring often, until all of the ingredients are softened. 

Then remove from the heat and set aside.)

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In my Cast Iron Skillet I am adding some Olive Oil, along with a bag of Hash Brown Potatoes from the freezer.

My Spices:  (To Add Soon)

Italian Herb Seasoning

Ground Oregano

Ground Basil Leaves

Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste

Hawaiian Sea Salt, To Taste

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I’m Browning my Thawed Hash Browns in my Cast Iron Skillet, on a Medium Heat – Medium-High Heat.

My Onions and Peppers and Garlic are Waiting..

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I had some Italian Sausage frozen in the freezer.  I thawed it out placed it into a small Skillet on the back burner to just warm through.

Sometimes I will cook sausage to keep frozen in the freezer to place on Pizza’s or dishes like this.

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Time To Add The Spices To My Hash Brown Potatoes I’ve Been Sauteing

I probably added a 1/4 t. of each, maybe a little bit more.

Blending The Spices Into The Hash Browns

Now It’s Time to Add My Onion, Bell Peppers, and Garlic to My Hash Browns…

..And Placing Them Into A 350F Oven For About 10-15  Minutes.

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My Sausage Is Ready, And Set Aside

Time To Remove The Cast Iron Skillet From The Oven…

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Time To Add The Cheese

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

(I just added as much as I wanted to over top my Hash Brown Medley.)

Now Place Back Into The 350F Oven For About 5 Minutes To Melt The Cheese

(When done, remove and set aside.)

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Ready To Scramble Some Eggs

In A New Sautee Pan Add,

About 7 Eggs

Butter

Milk

Melt Some Pats Of Butter Into A Sautee Pan,

Crack Some Eggs Into The Pan On A Medium-High Heat

Scramble With A Wooden Spoon….

Add A Few Tablespoons Of Milk To The Eggs To Fluff

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Eggs Are Ready, Time To Add Them To The Cast Iron Skillet

Italian Sausage Is Ready, Time To Add It To Top The Eggs

Now It’s Time To Place Some Julienne Cut SunDried Tomatoes On Top As Well

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The Herbs

Ready To Add To The Top Of The Skillet Breakfast

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Preparing The Bread

(I love bread!  I especially love it here with this Skillet Breakfast.)

I just sliced a Baguette into rounds, drizzled with some Olive Oil, placed onto a foil lined baking sheet, and placed into a 350F Oven for about 8 minutes.

  After 8 minutes I turned it on Broil to brown the bread.  It was perfect!

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With My Skillet Breakfast Ready It Is Time To EAT!

Don’t Forget The Caffe!

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Buona Giornata,

Julie

 

 

 

 

Eat Your Vegetables More

Eat Your Vegetables More

    CURRENTLY ROASTING VEGETABLES, CHECK BACK SOON!                                                              

Here’s a CLUE for Nancy Drew

Here’s a CLUE for Nancy Drew

        “I don’t promise to forget the mystery, but I know I’ll have a marvelous time“ Nancy Drew —————————————————————————— #45 The Spider Sapphire Mystery Thrilling, dangerous adventure confront Nancy Drew while on a safari in East Africa with a group of American …

My Log/Blog Documenting Stalking and Harassment From My Neighbor

My Log/Blog Documenting Stalking and Harassment From My Neighbor

 

 

(Note Update April 10, 2025:  If this harassment continues, or more damage is done to our property, then I will reveal their names here, and getting the police involved.)

 

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Edward Bulwer-Lytton

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Write it all down, it’s what they fear the most.

Julie Lancaster-Whann

 

Where Do I Even Begin?

2025

For those of you that know me and have read me, then you know of my account of my Cyber-Stalker of 30 years, P.  I did start a webpage of his stalking back in 2015 on this website.  Wow, 10 years ago I started writing about him.  I’ve also mentioned throughout my personal blogs the stalking that I have had to put up with and endure.  Well, he’s still in the picture.  Gordon and I were able to bring in (a 3-letter agency) to look into him.  I hadn’t really admitted much to any of that until now.  This has been about a year and a half ago that we did that.  I know these things take time, but with all that’s going on right now with that ( 3-letter agency), I’m not so sure if we are a priority anymore.

I also started a website about him that I have not worked on yet at all.  I simply sent a few photos to my guys in India and had them to create something for me.  They did, and I paid quite a bit of money for it.  I hadn’t started working on it yet for a few reasons.  First of all, I would much rather be doing other things than talking about P.  And number two, I didn’t want to hinder any investigation into him.

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This is the Original Webpage Where I Introduce you to P.:

What It’s Like To Be Cyber-Stalked

Julie Lancaster-Whann

If you do check out this webpage I started on him, you will most likely see some sabotage.  That is from P.  When I had web hosting companies in America to host and look after my site, P. had the run of it.  It wasn’t until I contacted a company in the U.K., and they recommended theses guys in India, did I finally have a more secure website.

Sad isn’t it?  I had to go outside my own country for help from my American Cyber-Stalker.

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One thing that I have learned throughout my life when I was being abused by anyone is to start a log.  Write down everything that that person does to you.  Keep a diary of it.  That’s why I started the Cyber-Stalker blog page that I write about above.  It is also why I am starting this webpage about the abuse that I am having to endure from my neighbors next door to me.

I will work on this as I feel like it.  Oh trust me, they aren’t going anywhere.  Their kind never does.

I know their type very well.   Arrogant, self-righteous, white, no respect for people or their property, or opinions that differ from their own.  They only value ‘Freedom of Speech’ when it is their own.  They easily fall in line with the herd.  A Shepherd  to herd them this way, and then herd then that way.  I’ll get into more of that later on.

You know, no where in the world do they have people like a certain segment of our population.  Nowhere!

The world does have it’s poor and ignorant.  But nowhere does any country have these kinds of people that think the way they do. They are definitely home grown.

There is something very toxic in our country’s environment that creates these people.  I know what it is, but I don’t dare say it.  I’ve touched on it though.  I even tried warning our former Canadian friends about it, who seemed to adore the republican friends they knew in Kentucky.  And I will speak of it in the future.  But talking about it now is only going to get me clubbed over the head by a caveman.  I also warned our Canadian friends that don’t be surprised if America comes after Canada someday.  If you have something they want, they will come and get it.  Funny, but she thought I was being ridiculous.  Wonder how she feels now?  I told her these things over a decade ago.

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My Camera on My Tripod Took These Photos

(The Thing Is, My Neighbors Are Probably Watching Me Right Now)

I wanted to take some photos for this blog, and seeing as how I am the only one here, I had my camera on my tripod to do it.  My husband Gordon is working overseas.  Oh, we talk most everyday.  He is in a hazard zone overseas.  He is quite valuable in his job, and we are benefiting from that.  We were thinking about him coming home permanently at the end of this year, but what with all that is going on in our country, it might be wise for him to stay over there for the next few years.  He does come home twice a year to see us all though.  He has even suggested that I come over there to live out in town near where he is stationed.  If I were to do that, I would only see him on the weekends from my very exotic location.  My answer:  I’m not leaving Isabelle.  Done!

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What has kept me going all these years is that I want to outlive P.  I want to know what life is like without him in it.  That is what has kept me going.  Will I ever know that?  I don’t know?  But now, I have a new stalker.  I never saw this coming at all.  I am an Empath, yet I never once sensed this neighbor’s hatred of me at all.  Which means that he is either a Psychopath or a Sociopath, or a Narcissist.

 I have probably only spoken 20 words to him from the time they moved in years ago.  He is probably in his early 40’s.  He is married and they have 2 children.  They have a very nice home.  Nice automobiles.  Basketball goal in their driveway, pool in their backyard.  On the surface all looks great.  I have noticed that all their cars are there all the time.  I’m wondering if he is still employed or if he is working from home, or he’s been fired?  Don’t know?

I knew they were Republican’s, but I didn’t have any ill will towards them, until now.

  I’ll get to that.

Where do I begin to document the Harassment and Abuse?

Once again, I’ll get to that in a little bit.

I want you to understand something.  Just to give you an example, why have I had a Cyber-Stalker for 30 years now?  Why?

P. was Gordon’s Best Friend From Childhood

P. started out in life with parents that had money and means.  They put him in Private School growing up.  Once he graduated, he was able to go on to college, and graduate.  I’m pretty sure his parents paid for that as well. 

I can even remember something about P. working as some DJ for a radio station while he was in college, or afterwards.  I mean, how cool is that?  He would send us these tapes of Chicago singing love songs.  I loved it!  I would play them and listen to them in my headphones when I would go for my walks when we lived in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.  It was the best of both worlds.  Great music while I would go on my walks, with views of Diamond Head in the background while I walked down the beach. 

It wasn’t until the early 90’s that P. started stalking me.  I really don’t want to go into that now.  I do have it documented in other areas.  But what I wanted you to understand is the amount of time and energy that goes into stalking anyone.

P. has stalked me for 30 years and counting.  30 years!

P. gave up having a life to stalk me.  He gave up dating, falling in love, getting married, having children….

To him I was more important than all of that.  He has spent his life glued to a computer screen stalking me.

P. started out with Microsoft.  He was on the cutting edge of technology.  In the midst of history being made.  He could have snagged a lovely intelligent woman to love and have children with.  He could have had a lovely home and even a vacation home, or two.  He could have had children and perhaps by now, grand-children.  But NO!  He gave up all of that, he sacrificed his youth to stalk ME!

Believe me when I tell you, I AM NOT WORTH THAT!

He gave up his youth to stare at a computer screen stalking me!

That is the mind of an obsessed person. 

Obsession is not love, it is obsession.  Love is healthy, love is beautiful.

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All My Flowers

Looks Like I’m In Mourning

Although I am not in mourning, I am angry.  Angry because I live in a neighborhood where there are pathetic people that feel the need to do harm to me.  Harm to someone that does nothing to them.  I don’t bother them.  I never see them.  Why is my neighbor so obsessed with me?  Well, I do have my theories.  But first you need to understand Obsession.

Obsession isn’t love.  But I dominate his thoughts each and every day.  Why would any woman want her husband or boyfriend to be obsessed with anyone?  Yet alone, another woman?

Does he love me?  Hate me?  The emotions are really the same.  Love and Hate are very strong emotions to have towards anyone.  but whether they be love or hate, he is still obsessed with me.  He gets up every morning at 4:00 a.m. and looks to see if my bathroom light is on.  If it is, he throws a ball at my house, around the bathroom windows where I am.  He does this to alarm me.  To scare me.  To upset me.

If I get up at 4:30 a.m., he’s still there.  Here comes the ball being hurled at my bathroom window to alarm me, scare me, etc. 

I want you to understand what this means:

He is going to the trouble of setting his alarm clock for 4:00 a.m., probably waking up his wife in the process, while he leaves his bed, to go outside and throw a ball against the side of my house, around my bathroom, where I am.  And, perhaps even peeking in.

Sometimes I get up at 4:30 a.m., which means that he is laying in wait for me at that time.  Which I will hear the loud thump against the wall of our house while I am in the toilet room. 

This is STALKING!

The fact that he does this to me means that his wife is o.k. with it. 

Otherwise, I would think she would intervene and try and stop him from harassing me.

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This is Vandalism, This is Property Damage

I Noticed This September 6, 2024:

The Damage Our Neighbor Has Done to Our Meters

I don’t come over to this side of our house that often.  But one day I did and I was really alarmed to see this.  This is obviously damage done through someone tampering with it.  So, prior to September 6, when I discovered it, how long has it been this way?

Can a Ball Do This Damage?  Or Did he use Something Else to do This?

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I Used Some String To Tie Them Back Together

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The Bathroom Window Facing Our Street

This is not the bathroom window he throws the ball at, but this window faces the street from our bathroom.  You can see the Plantation Shutters…

I placed a tablecloth over it because I always felt like there was someone peeking in at me early in the mornings through those slats.  Throughout the night and morning hours I have them closed but if you were to stand right outside you could probably see through the slats into the bathroom. 

Well, it turns out I was right, there WAS someone out there!

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Saturday Afternoon, Early February

I had gone shopping on this day.  I did hear the THUMP of the ball against the house early that morning.  I then climbed up on our bed and looked out the window between our houses and saw that orange and blue ball.

I’m taking the photo from our bedroom window of the space between our houses. 

That is where he lies in wait for me in the mornings.

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I wish that I had taken a photo of the ball when it was between our two houses.

When I got back from shopping I was telling Gordon about it while I was talking to him on the phone and I went over to that side of the house, picked up the ball, and threw it toward their front yard.  I’m not a great thrower, but here is where I threw it:

If you look closely you can see the orange and blue ball.

See the Ball Now?

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So, Why Does My Neighbor Hate Me So Much?

Well, I can only guess?

When I first realized what he was doing to me, I wondered if it was because I got up so early and perhaps my lights were shining into their bedroom disturbing them?  Or perhaps it was the fact that when Veronica or Brian would drop off Isabelle early in the morning that my dogs would bark, perhaps waking them up?  But then I quickly erased that because he is setting his alarm clock to get up early to harass me.  He isn’t harassing me in response to anything I am doing to him, he is harassing me for the sheer sake of it.  Not in response to anything.

So, If It’s Not My Lights, And it’s Not My Dogs, Then It Must Be…

MY POLITICS!

Although I have never talked politics with anyone in my neighborhood, I do wonder if perhaps my politics has been passed around the neighborhood as news?  It was back in 2008 when I placed my Obama yard sign on our lawn that the sabotage from my neighborhood began!  The day after I placed that sign in our yard, every neighbor around us suddenly set out their McCain/Palin signs.  Interesting.  The day I placed our sign in our front yard I was driving out of the neighborhood to do some shopping when I noticed Judy, who used to live across the street, walking on the sidewalk with her dog.  Instead of the nice happy smile and wave that I usually got, I just got this LOOK.  OH, I know that look very well!  It’s one that a hater gives you for not being like them.  I’m pretty sure Judy is the one that organized everyone placing McCain/Palin signs in their yards in their attempt to drown us out.

So Where Am I Going With This?

Judy and Michael sold their house, I believe in 2011 to a family that went to their church, our current neighbors across the street from us.  I like them.  I think they are nice neighborhood family.  But, I’m pretty sure the gossip got around that we were the “Evil Libruls” of the neighborhood.  Which the neighbors across the street might have mentioned to their fellow republican’s that live next door to us in the neighborhood.  Thus, making me a big target for the neighbor’s hate.  I’m not seen as a 64 year old woman that minds her own business, that keeps her granddaughter a few days a week, respects the neighbors privacy in the neighborhood, who doesn’t play loud music, who doesn’t have tons of people over thus blocking the street causing headaches, Oh NO!  I’m only seen as the “Evil Librul.”  (Even though they are the ones that wear the SIGN on their foreheads, if you know what I mean?)  Just sayin.’

The thing is that republican’s are very organized.  Oh, believe me when I say that my next door  neighbors truly lack the intellectual curiosity to look me up and read my website or my social media accounts on their own.  Oh no, they are on some list that is distributed by their leaders telling them who in their neighborhood is an “Evil Librul,” and who to hate and harass .  That makes more sense to me.

We do still have the Rule of Law in our country.  That hasn’t yet been eliminated.  And, I am a Paralegal by profession.  We’ll leave it there for now.  I’ll update as things happen.  It’s important to always document abuse.  You know, future lawsuits….  🙂

Julie

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New Entries Will Be Listed Here

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February, 2025

I would just like to add here that I am hearing the thump of the ball against the side of our house early in the morning many times this February 2025 month.

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March 11, 2025

I had a big day today.  Just lots of shopping in Tampa at the Air Force Base.  I had left the house around 11:00 a.m. this morning, exiting my street through the back way so that I didn’t have to drive in front of my neighbor’s house.  I am trying to do my best to not let him know when I come and go.  Anyway, at the end of the day when I was returning home at around 5:30 p.m., I debated driving in the back way where I wouldn’t have to drive in front of his house, but I then decided not to do that.  I had lots of food in the car and I needed to get home as quickly as possible, and not go out of my way to come in the back way just to try and avoid him.  As it was, it took me an hour and a half to get home due to all the traffic.

Well, he and his wife were outside in their front yard.  He was blowing leaves from the street with his blower.  She was sitting in a chair out front.  She did turn her head to look at me as I drove by.  She had no reaction.  He did use his left arm that was laying by his side to use his hand to ‘wave at me.’  It was a very sheepish wave.  He had his head down and was reluctantly acknowledging me.  I could see his embarrassment.  I had no reaction.  I just looked at them, and then pulled into my driveway and started to unload my car that was full of shopping.

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Bully’s

Joe Kee… from Sevierville, Tennessee taught me the psychology of Bully’s many years ago when I moved from Roanoke, Virginia to Sevierville, Tennessee in the 70’s.  I have even written about him in my past blog posts.  Joe Kee… sat next to me in homeroom for 3 years from 9th. – 11th. grade at Sevier County High School.  Joe was a bully.  But interestingly enough, whenever his entourage wasn’t around, he was quite nice to me.  I know that I would brace myself for the usual insults that I would receive most every morning from him.  But on those days where his friends weren’t around, nothing.  He taught me that bully’s are truly cowards.  Joe was nothing without his backup.  Just like my neighbor next door.  He is nothing without the cover of darkness.  I stared him down.  I’m not afraid of a chickenshit.  And that chickenshit, waved at me when I drove by.  Why?  Because he was exposed out in the sunlight where he couldn’t hide.  I’ve never seen such a sheepish wave in my life.  He’s scared of me.  Good!  🙂

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March 22, 2025

Buying Fence Material to Extend our Fence

Gordon came home from abroad and was here for a few weeks.  But months prior, we had decided that we wanted to extend our fence to the end of our house so as to protect me from our hot heated neighbor.  We were coming up with ways to protect me and our property from him.  By extending our fence, that would prevent him from throwing things against our house.  It would also prevent him from tampering with our property.

Gordon created a nice power point of how we wanted to extend our fence, and sent it along with the photographic evidence of the damage of our outside boxes, and a document of the abuse I was having to endure from our neighbors, to our HOA, (Home Owner’s Association.)  They then granted us the permission we needed to extend our fence.

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This is one of the presentations Gordon created for our HOA.

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Gordon Buying The Materials For Our Fence

Gordon had put up our existing fence on our property so this was no big deal for him to do the extension.

Gordon purchased our fence material from Home Depot and rented a truck from them as well in order to get the materials here to our home.

The Truck, and our Fence Material

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Bringing Everything Around To Our Backyard

(I wanted to add that Gordon can only come home for a certain amount of time each year from his working overseas.  It was quite sad that he had to spend a part of our time together extending our fence, because of our hot-headed neighbor’s abuse towards me.)

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Erecting Our Fence Extension

Gordon, along with our son-in-law Brian put up the fence extension.  We waited until Brian had a day off.  I kept Isabelle inside, while the guys erected the fence outside.  They did it all in one day!  And it is professional as hell!  As always!

This is the Space Between our House and our Neighbor’s

Most of the Property is Ours

Gordon and Brian Erecting the Fence

(With Isabelle visiting her Daddy.)  🙂

Above left, you can see that large bush that is our neighbor’s.  With our fence up, they only have about 1 foot of space between that bush and our fence.  🙂

Coming Together Nicely!

Me, Entering This Extra Privacy Space We Never Had Before

(I could sunbathe out here!)  🙂

The fence extension is up.  Gates locked.  Area contained.

I will be posting a photo of the finished results soon.

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April 3, 2025

What This Abuse From Our Neighbor Has Done To Me

Abuse always has a way of affecting us negatively.  There are many kinds of abuse.  I am only here to dictate what this abuse has done to me, and how it has affected me. 

I get up very early in the morning on those days that I keep my Granddaughter Isabelle.  On the days my daughter drops her off, I get up at 4:00 a.m..  On the days my son-in-law drops her off, I get up at 4:30 a.m.. 

Because of the abuse that I was having to endure from my neighbor I had moved most of my toiletries into our guest bathroom in the middle of the house so that I didn’t have to have that ball thrown at me when I was in mine and Gordon’s bathroom.  Also, I just didn’t feel safe and secure using our bathroom.  I didn’t feel safe in my own home.  The guest bathroom offered me more of a private sanctuary than I had using our own bathroom.  But, the thing is, I would shower at 4:00 or 4:30 a.m., with the lights off in the bathroom.  I didn’t feel comfortable turning the lights on and letting him know that I was in there.  So, I would get up, turn on the bathroom lights in our bathroom, and then shower in the guest bathroom with the lights off, hoping that he would then turn his attention towards the main bathroom, so that I could shower in peace in the guest bathroom.

Seems like a lot of trouble to go through in your own home just to have some peace.  Yet, that is my story.

Showering in another bathroom, in the dark…  Wow.  You would think you should be safe from abuse in your own home, wouldn’t you?

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I have more to tell you but it will have to wait.

Julie

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April 4, 2025

Our New Fence

For Every Action, There Is A Reaction

Here is a photo of our extended fence.  I took the photo today.  The fence is there to protect me and our house from anything our neighbor may decide to do.  The gates are locked.  If he does decide to throw something at the house, it just might get trapped inside the fence.  He would then have to hop over it to retrieve the item. 

That is when……

he Would Be Recorded on Camera… and the police would be called in.   🙂

That’s Right!  We have updated our security on our property.

(I should do something with that area.  Perhaps turn it into some sort of private garden, or a Julie Sanctuary.)

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His Action, Our Reaction

It was a few years ago when I was outside in our backyard, and our neighbors were outside in theirs, when I heard her say to her husband, ‘You know what C_____, sometimes you can be a real bastard.’

See, she knows who she is married to.

You know, we never would have even thought to extend our fence, or even go to the trouble of installing some high tech security system.  This is our Reaction, to his Actions. 

When you look at the space between our homes most of it is ours.  Our property.  Now all they have to look at is our fence on that side of their house.  It’s not our fault.  It’s his.  He is actually his own worst enemy.  Do they know that we extended our fence because of what he was doing to me?  I don’t know if they are capable of realizing that?  And if they are, does he regret what all he did to me?  Probably not.  His kind only regrets getting caught.  They never regret what they do.

Feeling Better,

Julie

p.s.  Is this now over?  That depends on our neighbors.  But, things are more secure here than they were.  🙂

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(Update:  October, 2025)

The Money We Have Spent To Protect Us and Our Property

(Always save your receipts.  You not only document the abuse, but you also document the cost you are spending to protect yourself from the abuser/s.)

I decided not to publicly post all of the costs we have spent so far.  You have to have some surprises in store.  🙂

I will say that you not only document the costs of things spent, you also document the milage on your car used in buying the materials you need.  Also include ‘Wear and Tear’ of the vehicle.  And don’t forget to include gas money.  Also, your time is worth something.  An example, back in March, 2025 Gordon had to take time out from his vacation here to erect that fence, etc.  

And lastly, always include your ‘Pain and Suffering.’

(I’ve recently come to find out that there were other neighbors that knew what was happening to me.  They even supported it.  I’ll write more about them below.)

KEEP THIS INFORMATION FOR YEARS TO COME!

Keep it in a very safe place.

The abuse may end for awhile, but when you are dealing with a Hot-Headed Narcissist, they don’t change.  They always come back at some point.  Remember that.

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April 5, 2025

Update on P. G. My Cyber-Stalker

Recently, Gordon and I came across a person who used to work for Microsoft.  We then mentioned our cyber-stalker who started out with Microsoft and all that he has done to us since.  This person then asked us what his name was?  We then told this person.  This person then looked downward in surprise, but then looked up at us and said, ‘I know him.’ 

This person left Microsoft in 2015, but said P. still worked there.  We figured as much.  When we would try and look P. up online we were always given bogus info on him.  Places of employment that he never worked at.  P. has been erasing himself from the web for years now.  But, he can’t erase former co-workers.  This former co-worker now knows all that P. has done to us.  This person also added that if P. is doing all that to us, he is most likely doing it to other people as well, and even stealing money.

I’ll leave it all right there.

Julie

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April 6, 2025

Adding A Little More Privacy

Gordon Putting Up More Bamboo Blinds on our Lanai

This side of our lanai is next to our neighbors and I wanted just a bit more security and privacy so Gordon hung these up along with one section.  I had him do both sides of this section to make it a bit more private.  We already had the blinds in our garage so the only cost here were on the hardware and some line to secure them in place.

In these photos everything is still covered up from winter.  Now it’s all been cleaned and spruced up for Spring.  I also like that I have a bit more privacy.

One More Privacy Project Coming….

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April 11, 2025

Still Not Comfortable Using My Own Bathroom

Even though we have done things to try and protect me from my neighbors I still don’t feel comfortable using my own master bathroom.  This is what abuse does to you.  It changes you.  It limits you.  It prohibits you from being the person you should be.  And sometimes it is very hard to overcome. I’m sure that I will eventually get back into my own master bathroom.  But, until then, I am using the guest bathroom because it offers me more safety and security and peace of mind.

Julie

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May 29, 2025

An Update Of My Nasty Neighbors

Through my cameras I can see my neighborhood, and my neighbors.  I’m really not one to spy.  Honestly!  I never really cared about those kinds of  things.  Those were the kinds of things my friends cared about.  ‘Hey Julie, come look at this!’  My friends always thought I was weird because I wasn’t as nosy as they were.

At first it was kind of fun and interesting to see my neighbors on the camera to come and go, walking their dogs in front of our house, etc.  I love seeing when a package arrives!  I have this big T.V. monitor that Gordon bought me so that I could keep track of everything.  It is to the left of me.  He is worried about me and wanted me to have some protection while he is away.  Our own home security system.  Sometimes it can be distracting with lots of activity that will catch my attention while I am online and cause me to look at the monitor.  Most of the time it’s pretty boring.  People setting out their trash cans, driving in and out of their driveways, etc.  .  I’ve even caught my neighbors across the street from me placing their trash bags into my can most every week under the cover of darkness because their can is full.  I find that funny.  If I were a man I doubt they would.  But, seeing as how I am a woman living alone they take advantage of that.  

However, it’s whenever I see my next door neighbors on the monitor, you know, the ones that have harassed me for so long, to have the audacity to walk by my house with their Labrador, that it just makes me sick to my stomach.  How dare they walk by my house as if they haven’t a care in the world after all that they have done to me?  That is the kind of people that they are.   The self-righteousness, the white privilege, the republicanism.  (It’s quite glaring actually.)

I still don’t use my bedroom and bathroom because of their harassment.  While Gordon is gone I sleep on the couch and use the guest bathroom.  They have literally chased me from an entire wing of our house.  I need my sleep.  I need my peace.  I am my Grand-Daughter’s main caregiver.  She needs a rested Tutu.  She needs a Tutu that is at peace in order to care for her.  I do my best.  But, I do long for the day my next door neighbors move away.

Julie

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October, 2025

Gordon Home For A Few Weeks

Installing More Blinds

We ordered these custom blinds earlier in the year when Gordon was here, but they didn’t arrive in time before he left to go back overseas. 

So he is just now able to install them.  

I wanted more privacy and security here because I do want to spend more time outside, especially now that our granddaughter is getting older, and the weather is becoming more cool, but I really don’t want to see their house, they make me very uncomfortable.  But now, I feel better.

I’d Like To Fix This Area Up Nicely, Make It A Bit Cozy

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Installing More Outside Cameras

Gordon, Ready to Crawl Through The Attic To Install The Cameras

We thought it would be a good idea to install more cameras.  Gordon and our son-in-law Brian recently installed them.  Our system has the capacity to house even more than we have so far.  Not just because of our neighbors, but because of what is to come in our country.  With our current political climate more people are loosing their jobs and being made to be poor.  Programs that used to assist them are being terminated.  They will be hungry.  Their children will be hungry.  No parent wants to see their children starve.  Crime will go up.  Why do you think so many of our current administrations cabinet have all moved onto military bases?  They know what’s coming.  And, they will be protected, but it will be up to us to protect ourselves.  I’ll leave it there for now.

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As For Our Hot-Headed Narcissist Neighbor, and His Codependent Supply Spouse….

..at Casa Del Labrador

There is no cure for a hot-headed narcissist, so therefore he will always be a hot-headed narcissist.  Men like him tend to go through life with run-in’s with the law.  And, it is usually ‘Life or the Law’ that brings them down in the end.  He will always need his ‘supply’ to support him and enable him.  Yet, Narcissists don’t seek validation from them.  (He sought it from other neighbors, I’ll get to them soon.)

Let Me Tell You What We Could Have Done, And Still Can, If Necessary

We could have called in the Police, Pressed Charges, taken out a Restraining Order against him, and he would have had to move out of his own house while we fight this out in court.

It is still an option.  We have what we need to do so.  However, I don’t believe in separating families.  Although if this continues I think I can get used to the idea pretty quickly.

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As for the Other Neighbors in our Hood that knew what the Narcissist was doing… 

(Be Our Guest)

Supporting him, enabling him, encouraging him, and even having a good laugh at my expense, well,

I’m really not surprised that this particular family was involved, both families are from the same kind of ilk, but it is disappointing.  I mean, at some point you either grow up, or you don’t.

Who thinks it’s funny to harass and abuse an old woman who most of the time throughout the year is alone, and who has never done anything to either family?  Only warped minds do.

No one I would ever want to know.

The narcissist next door has showed me exactly what kind of person he is.  But, he didn’t just show me, he showed the other neighbors that knew what he was doing, and they are o.k. with it.  One particular trait they both have in common is that they are sneaky people.  You can’t trust sneaky people.  They are sneaky for a reason.  

When you align yourself with someone that can do terrible things to people you don’t like, they can also do terrible things to you.  And that is exactly where we are right now in our own country.  Again, I’ll just leave it there.

I guess the BALL is in the Narcissist’s Court right now.  We’ll see what he does with it?

Julie

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January 30, 2026

Intimidation Tactics

You know, I wasn’t going to write anymore on any of this, unless it turned out to be really relevant, (I do have things documented elsewhere in more detail just in case), but I do believe that I should be writing about this and getting this all down on “paper,” so to speak for my readers.

Intimidation Tactics are a Form of Abuse

I not only do this for me and my records, I also do this for you so that you will understand and I hope that this will help my reader’s that are having to undergo forms of abuse from their neighbors on exactly why they do the things they do?  And know this, it is never about you.  It is always about them.  After all, we do what we do because it is in us to do it.  Period!

Even When You Don’t Bother People, It Bothers People

I do write about neighbors above that knew of the abuse from my nasty next door neighbors.  They were in on it actually.  I really hadn’t planned on talking about them anymore, but I believe that I should, you see he is a psychologist.  Funny, huh?  A “professional” who should know better.  I do wonder what kind of advice he must give his patients?  (If he even has any.) 

I can only imagine….  ‘Oh, if that person annoys you, then you should use your automobile to shine your bright lights into their house to annoy them.  Or better yet, throw things against their house at 4:00 in the morning just to scare the old woman, maybe you’ll get lucky and she’ll have a heart attack.  Yes!  Intimidation tactics work well on women who live alone.  Or better yet, park your vehicles so that they face her house, using a ‘show of force’ to let that bitch know who’s boss!’  Yeah.

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It was Tuesday morning when I was placing my mail into my mailbox that the neighbor I write about above, was taking his children to school.  I avoided looking at him.  I have nothing to say, or any reason to acknowledge that family.  When he returned home he backed his big red truck into his driveway, literally taking up the entire space.  No other car could have parked on either side of him.  I thought that was funny seeing as how he had nothing to unload in the back.  Instead of seeing a big bad red truck with a big man driving it, I saw a Puffer Fish.

(Oh, and know this, people that drive red vehicles are more likely to get traffic tickets.  He should know.  I looked him up, and he had to pay big traffic court costs in his past.  Yeah.  Actually, I discovered in my research that white men in his income bracket and political affiliation tend to rack up big court costs from traffic violations.  It makes sense really, they don’t like to follow rules and laws, but they expect everyone else to.  In other words Freud was right, it really does all boil down to THAT.)

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Inflating One’s Self

The Puffer Fish are small, and they puff themselves up to appear larger than they really are in order to scare others.  This is generally something that men tend to do more so than women.

My response:  ‘Look at the cute little puffer fish!  Aren’t you so cute!  Yes, you are a big, bad, boy!  Oh, I’m so scared!’  🙂

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Yeah…

He may be a psychologist, but I know psychology.

I’m sure there had to be a class on ‘The Smartest Person In The Room?’  The Axel Foley Affect?  No?

Well… that explains a lot.

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To Continue…

On Thursday I drove into the Air Force Base to do some much needed shopping.  I hadn’t been there in awhile.  I was getting low on all my supplies.  When I do go into Tampa I tend to stock up on everything.  Especially bulky items.  Shopping on the base is much cheaper than the local grocery stores.  

Thursday’s Shopping

I left the house around 10:00 a.m. and I got home around 3:30 p.m.  As I was unloading my full car, (as you can see), my neighbor was leaving to go and pick up his children from school.  When he got back, I was still unloading my full car.  As he was pulling into his driveway I was placing a few bags inside my garage.  When I walked out of the garage to unload some more, all I saw was a FLASH!  A blur!!  I saw what looked like a flowered blouse dash into his garage.  It wasn’t a cool Aloha Hawaiian Shirt, it looked more like he had raided his mother’s closet and chose an old Laura Ashely blouse to go with his baggy shorts and flip flops.  He was in his garage before his children even exited the truck.  What I saw was a chickenshit running inside his house to get away, to hide.  I did learn something that day.  They haven’t told their children about any of this because otherwise his children would have been a bit awkward.  They weren’t.  They were just being normal teens.  

I do know that when we were being harassed by Leisa, John and Ed, the Gray Haired Bullies in our neighborhood, because we were Obama supporters, that I did tell our children about it so that they would be aware and alert, as in looking out for nails in the driveway, etc.  (I wrote about The Gray Haired Bullies years ago.  They are all dead now.  But my blog exposed their harassment of us, just like this blog is exposing this harassment from these people.)  

The more they give me something to write about, the more I will!

Julie

P.S.  I would wait for them to grow up but I don’t have that kind of time!

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One thing I have learned from all of this is that I need to be more aware of what goes on in my neighborhood.  Prior to this abuse and harassment, and before we put up cameras, I never really cared about what went on outside my front door.  Oh, there were times when I saw a car parked out front that I would look out the window to see who it was?  Especially if it was at night.  After all, I have had a cyber-stalker for over 30 years.  He has hired people in the past to photograph me, our cars, and our house.   Also, seeing as how I do live alone I feel more of a need to be aware of my surroundings.  Gordon is still working overseas, he will be home soon and we have a lot planned while he will be here.  He is looking into coming back permanently.  He is living and working in a danger zone after all.  And I do fill him in on the neighbors, and the neighborhood so that he is aware of it all.

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Just Some More Observations….

I have noticed throughout my community that I live in that there are ‘For Sale’ signs that have been up for quite a while.  I can remember when houses like that were snatched up quickly.

My nasty neighbors next door to me have had what looks like a giant panty shield wrapped around their chimney for about 5-6 months now.  I got a letter in the mail from their “roofers” dated October 24, 2025, informing me that their roof would be going up in a few weeks.  That was months ago.  Looks to me like they don’t have the money to get it fixed.  You know, I could complain to the HOA who could then force them into getting it fixed, or fine them until they do?  After all, I asked for a backyard studio and they nixed that because they said the neighbors may not like looking at it from their homes.  Well, do you think I enjoy looking at a giant panty shield wrapped around their chimney?  See, I can actually do more to these people then just write about them…  🙂

I have also noticed that a particular woman in the neighborhood has gone back to work full time.  Guess they must need the money?  That is why you go back to work, isn’t it?  What?  Is the current Administration’s economy not working for them anymore?  Well, you deserve and get what you vote for.  But sadly, so do the rest of us that knew better, voted better, etc.  we also will be getting exactly what they deserve.

When you vote for the political party that does for the lowest in our society, then everyone above that line will be o.k.  However, when you vote for the party that does only for the wealthy?  Then no one below that line will be o.k.   Hence, where we are today.

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You know, I really do hope that this will be my last blog entry on this page. 

But it really isn’t up to me, now is it?

Julie

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February 10, 2026

Just An Update:

Looks like the nasty neighbors next door are finally getting a new roof.

Good, because I’m tired of staring at that Panty Shield from our bedroom window.

 

Guess they finally came up with the money.

Julie

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February 14, 2026

P.S.  It’s a Cheap Roof

The nasty neighbors new roof is up.  Cheap materials were used, (paper, not laminate.)  Which is originally why they have had a bad roof all along.

It was back in 2011 when this couple who used to live across the street from us, but now reside in Texas, got several neighbors in our neighborhood to all go into getting new roofs together.  It was going to make it much cheaper for all, with Michael and Judy’s roof being either free or at a huge discount.  (Right wingers are very good at networking.  This is yet another example of that.)

We were asked if we wanted to go into it, but we said no.  It just didn’t feel right.  Good thing that we didn’t because every single family in our neighborhood that did that, got really shoddy, cheap roofs.  Of course Judy and Michael quickly sold their house and moved away before the true damage was revealed.   Every single neighbor that went in on that con have always had problems with their roofs, even shortly after they were installed, either to have them redone, or patched here and there.

The nasty neighbors new, ugly roof will probably last a good 7 years if they are lucky?  Perhaps they went the cheap root because they will be selling their house and moving soon?  🙂

One can hope!

However, realistically, worse can always move in.  But there is just something about that house that attracts the worst kind of human beings.  We have been here for 3 families that have lived in it.  None of them were ever worth knowing.

Julie

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May 14, 2026

Hoping This Will Be My Last Post Here

I think I will be taking down this website page from the Homepage.

Oh, it will still be on my website, just perhaps not on the front page.  You can still access it by saving the link into your Favorites, or using the Search button on my website.  I would much rather be blogging about recipes and gardening than a neighborhood asshole.

Some Advice As I Move On

First of all, moving on isn’t as easy as it seems like it would be.  I do sleep in the master bedroom now, only because my husband is back home from working overseas and I feel a little bit safer.  But, I still will not use our master bathroom.  I shower and do my skincare in the guest bathroom where I feel more comfortable.  I do blow dry my hair in the mornings in our main bathroom, but I am dressed and I don’t feel as vulnerable.  And I do my hair and make up in our master bathroom, but only when it is light outside.  I will not use the toilet in the master bathroom because I just don’t feel safe and comfortable whether it be day or night.  If I have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, I walk all the way to the guest bathroom.  A long way to walk, but that is what abuse does to you.  It changes you.  This is why people are awarded money for pain and suffering.

Turn Your Log Over To The Police

Everything that you have been recording whether it be your typed or written log documenting the harassment and abuse, or the video/audio evidence that you have collected, or the photographic evidence you have collected, can be turned over to the police.  Make 3 copies of everything!  Keep one for yourself in a very safe place, give one to someone you trust for them to keep in a very safe place for you, and give the police the 3rd. copy of everything. 

You don’t have to file charges against the person that is harassing you, you are turning over your documentation that will be kept in your record for any future problems that may emerge with that person.  In which case, all you have to do is alert the police that you are filing charges, and then you go from there.  They already have your documentation on file.

If you are someone who retains an attorney on a regular basis, then make sure the attorney has everything, along with all of your receipts.  Also, document how this abuse has affected your life and relationships.  Have family members to add to the documentation as well.  Everything you can contribute will help your case.

Most likely my hot-headed neighbor will be getting into more trouble in the future.  Perhaps not with us, but with other people.  That is who he is.  If he can do this to me, a woman in her 60’s that he thought was all alone, then imagine what else he can do to other people or animals? 

Cowards prey on the most vulnerable.  Which reminds me of that hot-head from Washington State that threw that big rock at Lani, the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal in Maui.  There are only about 1600 of them left.  The Hawaiian people were rightly upset about it.  As we would be here in Florida if that hot-head had thrown some big rock at one of our Manatees.  It’s white privilege that motivates these kinds of people into doing such terrible things to other human beings and/or animals.

Karma Catches Up To Us ALL!

If you are in a situation where it looks like your abuser is getting away with it, I assure that you he isn’t.

My definition of Karma is something we do to ourselves.  I don’t believe it is some punishment from above, I believe it is life catching up to us.  If we keep doing ‘that thing’ that we are not supposed to do eventually ‘that thing’ will be our undoing.  The thing is that most people don’t stop doing ‘that thing’ unless they are made to.  And, they eventually get caught in ‘that thing’ because they never stop doing ‘that thing.’  Why don’t they stop?  Because they keep getting away with it so they figure they always will get away with it.  Let’s ask Bill Cosby about Karma.  Or O.J. Simpson, just to name a few.

I’ll give you an example. 

If someone shoplifts every day for 5 years and gets away with it, if they don’t stop then eventually they will get caught.  Either technology will catch up to them, security cameras will see them, or they will be witnessed by someone, or someone taking selfie’s might capture their stealing in the photograph on their phones.

But, if that person stops right now, they will most likely get away with everything they have stolen thus far.  However, that’s not how most humans react.  That’s not how most humans think.  They keep stealing because they’ve gotten away with it so far.  They also get sloppy.  Their arrogance gives them this sense of superiority, that is when they get caught.

You don’t have to take any revenge, they end up destroying themselves in the end.  Just let them do their thing and collect the evidence while they do it.  🙂

 

The End,

Julie

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One More Thing:

It has been updated that the Hawaiian Monk Seal that was hit by that horrible Washington State man when he threw that huge rock, was not Lani.  NOAA has determined that it was a male Monk Seal that he hit.  I just wanted to clarify that.  I also wanted to state that the man is being charged with Harassment.  That is one of the charges.

I don’t think that most men understand what harassment is?  How is my nasty neighbor throwing things at my house doesn’t understand that is harassment?  Just like the man from Washington State.  Perhaps men should attend classes on being respectful?  It would also benefit them.  Otherwise they will just end up in prison eventually for their actions and behaviors.

 

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July 27, 2026

I Brought Back My:

What It’s Like To Be Cyber-Stalked

I also did an update on the website page.  I took it down for personal reasons but I decided to bring it back.  I will also be slowly bringing back my many other personal blog pages.  I took them down because of the climate in our country that we are living through right now.   Intelligence is the enemy in our country right now, where ignorance is thriving.

Julie

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September 23, 2026

I did another update to my:

What It’s Like To Be Cyber-Stalked

If you care to read it click on the link above.

Julie

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September 23, 2026

My Neighborhood STING Operation

(They will never know how close they came.)  🙂

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Under the Florida Litter Law Statute 403.413:

It is illegal to Throw, Place, or Deposit Trash into Someone Else’s Dumpster or Garbage Can Without Their Permission.

That action is Prosecuted as Littering and Trespassing.

Any violator can be sentenced to 1 Year In Prison, and a $1,000.00 fine.  That is Per Violation!

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Our neighbors across the street have been using our trash can, and recycling can as his personal property for years now.  I have 6 months of video saved up on our cameras of him sneaking over to our property very early in the morning while it’s dark, and placing 1 or 2 bags at a time in our containers.  He has NEVER asked for my/our permission.

He has always been a very sneaky man as it is.  I finally started saving the videos of him.  What really gets me is that he believes that our property is his to do with as he pleases.  I don’t view my neighbors in that way, nor have I ever!  Once again, white privilege at it’s best!  Oh, and for the record, we too are white.  People think our last name is either Asian or Mexican, it’s actually Welsh.  Yes, European, as in Prince of Wales, ya know?

We may be white but we do not carry the arrogance that so many other white people have here in our country, especially towards minorities, or people they don’t like.

Our cameras do have the goods on the man across the street, but I also started photographing their trash can when when they set it out with my camera.  (Once a photographer, always a photographer.)  It is usually overflowing, which is why he would bring their overage to our cans, but that is not our problem.  They are a very large family and generate a lot of waste.  Again, that is not our problem!

When Gordon was working overseas the man across the street would literally view our trash and recycling containers as HIS!  In some cases my trash wasn’t picked up because of some utility vehicle blocking it so the garbage collectors couldn’t get to it.  That is when I would have to drag my trash back to the backyard as it is heavy as hell because of the extra bags put in it by my neighbors.  I then didn’t have room to place new bags of my own trash in my container for the next pick up, because it was so full from those extra bags from them.  One time earlier this year I placed some trash into it after they had dumped their rubbish into my can and there was this taffy candy all in it.  You know, those Starburst taffy’s?  I figured it must be their old Halloween candy that they threw in there last minute.  That would be when my trash wasn’t picked up for some reason that day, and I had that stuff melting in my container for the next few days that I had to then clean out.  

When we had Safelight to replace my car windshield a few months ago because of a large crack in it, the repairman was here and had placed his equipment draped over the top of our trashcan while he attempted to align the new window and to calibrate it.  He happened to come to fix my windshield on “Garbage Day.”  That is when the neighbor across the street had the audacity to walk over to our property and lift up the lid to look into our trash can while that expensive equipment was draped over top.  Who Does That!!!!???

I asked my husband why he didn’t say anything to him, and he said that it was because he was so surprised by that behavior that he didn’t know what to do?  You know, we should be used to this kind of behavior from our neighbors by now, but yet they still manage to surprise us.  We have just never known such selfish people before.

If we do find any of their trash in our containers from now on the first thing we will do is to weigh it.  The heavier, the more prison time, and then document and photograph it.  We may even open it up and look in it.  Anything personal I will photograph and put online.  Most likely in my Instagram account as well as my website.  After all, if they are dumping it on our property we will then have a right to it.  Another reason I don’t want anyone placing their trash or recycling in our cans is because for all we know it could be a dead animal or something illegal.  Luckily we do have our cameras to record the incidents to help protect us.

I do have to admit that I have been hesitant to call the police and file charges, but sometimes that is what you have to do.  I haven’t noticed him dumping his crap into our cans in a while now, but who is to say he won’t start that back up?  Which is why gathering evidence is so crucial.  All I have to do is to hand over a thumb drive of him to the police and let the law take it from there.

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Typing with Julie in 1965, (I mean Blogging with Julie in 2025)  Dear Diary…

Typing with Julie in 1965, (I mean Blogging with Julie in 2025) Dear Diary…

        Dear Dairy… Olive Films (I just liked the logo.) Today I rearranged the cans in the pantry and dusted them off while wearing my new full skirt I sewed last week for the church picnic, and the pearls that my husband …

Southern Fried Shortcut

Southern Fried Shortcut

 

 

 

 

Hey Y’all!

Every now and then I need to go back home.  Oh, not literally. 

But with my Tongue Feelers.  You know, Taste Buds?

Growing up throughout the south you get a hankering for something Deep Fried, Black-eyed, Field Picked, and Green.

And all the other fun stuff in between.

That is what I want to put here.  I do hope to fill this page with some of my Old Southern Favorites that I miss so much.  So, come on in and sit a spell while I whip us up some good ol’ home cooking.

Holler if ya need me!

Julie

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Southern Wild Rice with Pecans and Dried Cherries

Don’t Forget The Hot Sauce

Chicken Gizzard Po’ Girls, Corn on the Cob, Catfish, and a Leftover Bowl of Brunswick Stew

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The Star Food on this Table is the Southern Wild Rice

Sometimes It’s The Sides That Shine

(Recipe Down Below)

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Julie’s Corn Pepper Muffins

With a Side of Lightening Bugs  🙂

(My recreation anyway.)

(Recipe Down Below)

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My Pepper Butter

Before Left, and Buttered, Right!

With Tabasco

(Recipe Down Below)

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If You Would Like To Check Out My Brunswick Stew:

Click Here For:  Brunswick Stew and Barbeque

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Southern Fried Recipes Start Right Here

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Southern Wild Rice with Pecans and Dried Cherries

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Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Wild Rice

2 Cups Water

2 1/4 Cups Vegetable Broth

1 T. Margarine or Butter

3/4 – 1 Cup Toasted Pecans

4 Garlic Cloves, Crushed

1 1/4 Cup Dried Cherries

3 T. Spicy Chili Onion Crisp

Table Salt and Pepper to Taste (This is the South after all, nothing fancy here.)

And, as much Fresh Parsley as you want.

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Gathering All My Utensils and Ingredients

You First Want To Rinse The Wild Rice Thoroughly, Then Allow To Drain

Place The Rice Into A Wok, or Large Sauce Pan, Add the Water, Vegetable Broth, and Butter.

Bring to a Boil over a Medium-High Heat.

When It Comes To A Boil, Turn Heat Down To Simmer

Cover, and Allow To Simmer for about 20-25 Minutes.

When the rice has absorbed all the water, keep it on a very low heat.

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Time To Crush The Garlic Cloves

Now, Add Them To The Rice

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The Pecans

Place the Pecans into a Skillet, and Toast them on a Medium Heat until a bit Browned, but not Burned.

The Pecans and the Rice

Time To Add Some Table Salt and Pepper to the Rice

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I Toasted The Pecans in my Cast Iron Skillet, Now I am Adding the Rice Overtop

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Time To Add The Dried Cherries, As Many As You Like

Now For The Spicy Chili Onion Crisp

Add As Much As You Like Per Your Personal Tastes

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Now It’s Time To Add The Fresh Parsley

And the Pepper Sauce (Hot Sauce)

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Beautiful Corn

I didn’t want anything fancy here.  Just some delicious Corn on the Cob as a nice addition to this meal.

Just boil some water and add the corn.  Cook on a medium-high heat until the cob is a bit tender.  You can follow package instructions.

When Done, Remove From the Water, Pat Dry, Add Corn Holders and some Butter!

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Chicken Gizzard Po’Girls

In the south we do so love the Chicken Gizzards.  You will even find them around the Salad Bars at some local restaurants.  I had been craving my old Chicken Gizzards, that’s when I decided to make this sandwich.  I really didn’t want to do any pickin’ or fryin’, so I visited a local restaurant that did all of that for me.  I knew it was a good place to eat given the amount of African-Americans in the restaurant.  They know Southern food!

My additions, are what goes into the Po’Girls.

Here We Go!

Ingredients:

You Will Need Some Sort of Hoagie Buns

Slaw, Raw or with the Fixin’s (Meaning, you can add Coleslaw plain, or with the dressing.)

Honey Dijon Dressing (Or any that you like to add over the top of the Po’Girl.)

Sliced Jalapeno Peppers

Chopped Pepper Salad

Fresh Chives, Snipped

Fresh Parsley, Over top

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Creating The Po’Girls With the Catfish on the Side

(The Catfish I also purchased at a local Southern restaurant here.)

Use a Bread Knife to Cut Out the Top of the Hoagie Buns

Now, Fill the Hoagie Buns with the Pepper Salad, and Raw Coleslaw

Then Add Your Chicken Gizzards, Chives, Jalapeno’s, and Dressing.

Top With Fresh Parsley

Look How Beautiful!  And Delicious!

Git Ta Eatin!

DIG IN!

Julie Barefoot

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My Corn Pepper Muffins

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Ingredients:

Peppers!

I Used Jalapeno, Poblano, and Chilaca, use as Many as you Like

Making Corn Bread

Half of the ingredients that you see above are listed on the container of Corn Meal. 

I am using that recipe to make my Cornbread, I’m just adding the additions that will make it my Corn Pepper Muffins.

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My Additions:

(The Peppers, Cleaned, Seeds Removed, and Cut into Short Strips)

Shallots, Chopped

1 Can of Mexicorn, Drained

Spices:

Tabasco Spicy Salt Blend

Onion Powder

Cajun’s Choice Blackened Seasoning

Cayenne Pepper

Chili Powder

Jalapeno Sea Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

(The amounts really are up to you.  I used about a 1/2 t. of each.)

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I Used Crisco To Grease My Large Muffin Tins

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Chopped All My Shallots Whether I Used All of Them or Not

(I will need them in the next recipe.)

———————————————————————————-

The Peppers

Slice each pepper, remove the seeds, rinse them out…

Like so…

Then you want to slice them into short strips.

———————————————————————————

Making My Cornbread According to Package Directions.

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My Secret Ingredients:

Tabasco Spicy Salt, and Jalapeno Sea Salt

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Combining My Cornbread Ingredients:

The Dry Ingredients

The Wet Ingredients

Beating My Eggs

Adding Vegetable Oil…

Adding My Spices to the Cornbread Batter

Adding a Handful of my Shallots

Mix Together

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All My Beautiful Peppers

—————————————————————————————-

Time For The Assembly

Turn Your Oven on 400F

I placed a few of my Peppers into the bottom of the large muffin tin.

  I then added some of the Cornbread batter over them.

I then added more peppers over the top and pushed them down with my fingers to make sure they were covered with the batter.  Although I wanted many of the peppers to be on the top.

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Into The Oven They Go!

These Actually Took Around 20 Minutes To Bake

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Fresh Out of the Oven and Cooling on the Racks

(You can insert a toothpick to make sure they are done.  If the toothpick comes out clean, they are ready.)

I Love How They Look!  It Is Exactly How I Envisioned!

————————————————————————-

Out of the Tins and Cooling Further

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Add a Few Squirts of Tabasco  🙂

————————————————————————————————–

Leftover Peppers for my Pepper Butter

———————————————————————————-

The Potatoes Here Are Some of What My Butter Will Go On

(I just need to bake them.)

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My Pepper Butter

Ingredients:

3, 8 oz. Unsalted Butter

My Leftover Peppers From the Recipe Above:

Jalapeno, Poblano, and Chilaca

5-6 Fresh Garlic Cloves

Chopped Shallots, About a Handful

Spices:

Tabasco Spicy Salt Blend, (About 30 Shakes)

Onion Powder

Cajun’s Choice Blackened Seasoning

Cayenne Pepper

Chili Powder

Jalapeno Sea Salt

(I used a teaspoon of all of the above spices.)

Fresh Cilantro, a Bunch

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My Unsalted Butter Had Been Softening For About 2 Hours

I Then Cut It Into Cubes and Placed It Into My Blender Here

I Used a Medium Setting on the Blender To Mix The Butter

I Then Added All of My Spices, And Blended More

My Peppers, Shallots, Garlic Cloves, and Cilantro

I Used Most of the Peppers you see Above, but not All.  I did use all of the above Shallots.

———————————————————————————–

Adding My Garlic Cloves and Shallots

Blending Away, While Wiping Down the Sides with a Spatula

Time To Add The Green Stuff

(My Peppers and Cilantro)

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Looking so Good!

Decant Into A Bowl

——————————————————————————————

I Even Added Some Butter Into Jars To Freeze For Another Time

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I have to say that this is some of the best butter I have ever eaten!  I kept spreading it onto mini toasts and I had to stop myself from eating it because after all, it is butter!  I didn’t want a heart attack.  🙂  However, eaten in nice portions it is safe.

Baked Sweet Potato, Baked Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and my Pepper Muffins, Before the Butter

(With a small side of Green Beans)

The Pepper Butter

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With The Butter

The Butter is very Spicy and Addictive, Along with the Tabasco

See Y’all Later!

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Breakfasts

Autumn Breakfasts

    Autumn: The third season of the year, when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall in the northern hemisphere from September to November and in the southern hemisphere from March to May. The Countryside is Ablaze in Autumn —————————————————————— In Florida, the …

Our Mexicana Thanksgiving Dishes

Our Mexicana Thanksgiving Dishes

        Feliz Accion De Gracias (Happy Thanksgiving) 2023 Thanksgiving Day, After the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I have Miracle on 34th. Street on a Loop All Day Long This movie is the sounds of the day, blending with the smells of the …

Cornbread, Nuff Said

Cornbread, Nuff Said

 

 

 

 

 

Currently Baking in Grandmother Keith’s Oven

Deliciously Cooling…

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I LOVE Cornbread!

If you were raised in the south, before the internet brought us all together culturally, then you grew up eating Cornbread religiously.  We loved it whether it was right out of the oven, or stale and hard as a rock, and placed into a bowl with some milk to soften it to eat with a spoon.  Either way, it was perfect!

Most of the time we ate it plain, but perfect!

Some southern cooks ended up expanding on the original recipe. 

Here is one of such recipes:

Cornbread with Cottage Cheese and Broccoli and Onions

This recipe is simple.  Just make your cornbread as you always do, or buy a box or bag of Cornbread Mix.  Make according to package directions, except you will be adding about a cup of Cottage Cheese, and as many Broccoli Florets and chopped Onions as you like.  Mix together and add to a Cast Iron Skillet with a “blob” of Crisco in it.  Place into the oven to melt the Crisco.  Then remove and pour your Cornbread mixture into the hot skillet.  Place into a 350F Oven for about 25 minutes.  Follow your own package directions if you aren’t a southern pro with Cornbread.  (You are forgiven.)

Oh, and you might want to place it under the Broil to brown the top if it isn’t already.  🙂

You don’t have to be from the south to make the best Cornbread imaginable.

  Just bake some Cornbread!

Julie

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The Cornbread with our Stewed Tomatoes

This is another great way to eat Cornbread.  Especially when stale. 

Those Tomato Juices will absorb into that Cornbread and flavor it wonderfully!

Fried Ham is Always a Treat with Cornbread

Doesn’t Get Any Better Than THIS!

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Stewed Tomatoes, A Whann Family Tradition

Click on the Link for our Stewed Tomato Recipes

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Featured Are:

Julie’s Mex-Itali Cornbread

For some reason Mexican and Italian tend to go very well with me.  I have created a few recipes starring both country’s foods.  Here is yet another example.

Right Out of The Oven and Cooling with Some Queso Fresco

(Recipe Down Below)

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All In One New Year’s Day Cornbread

It is traditional in the south to eat Cornbread, Black Eyed Peas, and Collard Greens.

I decided to throw it all together and have it be One and Done!

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I used a cookie cutter to cut out these great hand held bites.

The Inbetween’s are Delicious as Well

(Recipe Down Below)

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Julie’s Mex-Itali Cornbread

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Some of My Ingredients:

I’m following the Cornbread recipe on my box of Corn Meal, except that I am adding my own garden Peppers, and a can of Shoe Peg Corn, also, some Spicy Italian Sausage and Queso Fresco Cheese.

Spicy Italian Sausage, Sizzling Away

Ready To Make The Cornbread

Peppers From Our Garden

The first thing that I did was to cook the Spicy Italian Sausage, removing most of the fat as it cooked. 

I did reserve some to grease the Cast Iron Skillet for the Cornbread.

You can see some of the Italian Sausage that fell into the skillet.

Chopping Our Backyard Garden Peppers

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Making The Cornbread…

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The Layering Begins

This is the grease from the Italian Sausage,

then place a shallow layer of the Cornbread mixture,

Then add the Italian Sausage,

a layer of the Shoe Peg Corn, then more of the Cornbread mixture.

I sauteed my Garden Peppers in some Olive Oil,

then placed them on top of the Cornbread mixture, and then tried to cover them with more Cornbread mixture.

I Did Sprinkle Some Chili Powder Over Top

Now, place into the oven according to package directions.

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Cornbread Done, But Needs Browning

When Cornbread is Cooling, add Queso Fresco

Here we are eating it with some Queso stuffed Jalapeno Peppers

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All In One New Year’s Day Cornbread

It is traditional in the south to eat Cornbread, Black Eyed Peas, and Collard Greens on New Year’s Day.

  Black Eyed Peas to bring you LUCK!  Collard Greens to bring you MONEY!  🙂

I decided to throw it all together and have it be One and Done!

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The Ingredients:

(What you see above are the ingredients that I used to not only make the Cornbread, but to add to the Cornbread.)

You can see the Quaker Yellow Corn Meal Mix in the photo above?  All of those ingredients, minus the cans of peas and greens, are listed on the Corn Meal container.  In other words, all you have to do is to buy the Corn Meal mix and use that as your guide for making your Cornbread.

Or, you can use any Cornbread recipe that you like.  What is going to be unique here are the ingredients I’m adding to the Cornbread.

I’m adding some Black Eyed Peas, Tiny Field Peas w/ Snaps, and a can of Collard Greens.

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Turn your Oven onto the proper setting.  According to the package directions.

Here I am using my Great-Grandmother’s Cast Iron Skillet and some Crisco.  I simply place a blob of Crisco Shortening in it, and I place it in the oven to get hot and melt.

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Drain and Rinse your Black Eyed Peas and Tiny Field Peas in a Colander in the sink, then add them to your Cornbread Batter.

Here I am draining the can of Collard Greens and squeezing them out, then adding them to the Cornbread Batter.

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Stir Together

(Once your Skillet is hot and the Crisco has melted, pour in your Cornbread Batter and place into the Oven for the desired time according to the Corn Meal Mix instructions.)

You can see the “done” results left, I did broil the Cornbread a little in order for it to brown on top, right.

I Then Added Some White Cheddar Cheese to melt,

and, a sprinkling of Paprika.

Completed!

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I used a Biscuit Cookie Cutter to give the Cornbread a different look. 

Also, fits nicely on a dinner plate.

Happy New Year!

Julie

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To View Our Other Cornbread Website Pages:

Click Here For:  Corn Bread, Cast Iron Skillet, Dressing, and Tradition

AND,

Click Here For:  Cast Iron, Corn Bread, Corn Sticks, Southern Cooking and Frying

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Middle Eastern Our Way

Middle Eastern Our Way

        Welcome to Middle Eastern Our Way (A.K.A. MEOW)  It’ll Catch On.  🙂 We are Gordon and Julie, and we love food of all kinds from all nations.  Arabic Coffee Beans Gordon has traveled to many Middle Eastern countries during his time …

Thanksgiving Lite, and Leftovers

Thanksgiving Lite, and Leftovers

              Good Morning and Happy Thanksgiving!  (2022) Just in Time to Watch The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Oh Look!  It’s The Tarpon Springs High School Marching Band From Tarpon Springs, Florida They closed the parade!  Actually, they performed right …

Autumn Lunches

Autumn Lunches

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn

Me, Rome, Georgia, mid 1960’s playing in the leaves. 

(Love the cars.)  🙂

When I think of Autumn I always first think of leaves. 

The Fall colors of the trees as the leaves fall off of them, and crunch underneath my footsteps as I walk or run through the yard stepping on them.  The photos above of me at my Grandparents house, rolling around in the leaves and sitting in a pile of them, is vintage Julie.  A pile of leaves to me was a playground.

Autumn also represents to me the colors of Burgundy, Golds, Greens…

Cooler Weather, Sweaters, and my favorite holiday, Halloween!

Autumn also is to me eating foods that make my tummy warm and cozy. 

Taking a bite out of something warm and the feeling of it as it goes down my throat.

Autumn to me is also heavy foods, such as Thanksgiving, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  Autumn foods can be nice and light, as in something you can easily eat for lunch and enjoy but not be so weighted down.  That is what I want this page to be about.  Something nice and light, yet distinctly Autumn.

So, we created this page with that in mind.  Even though we live in Florida and our seasons really don’t change that much from each other, we still enjoy the foods of Autumn no matter how hot it is outside.

Happy Fall Y’all!

Julie and Gordon

Autumn Shopping

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Susy’s Cards

On September 13, 2022, Gordon’s aunt died.  Her name was Susanne Elsroad Whann, otherwise known as Aunt Susy.  She was born on July 17, 1944, she was 78 when she died.  As I was doing this write up for this page, Autumn Lunches, and I was even talking about Autumn Leaves above, I suddenly remembered these cards that Susy had made for us decades ago.  I save everything!  Never diss the hoarder’s, we treasure history.  Regardless, I immediately located these cards and took a photo of them.  Susy was a very thrifty person.  She valued nature.  She wasn’t a fancy person.  She valued the outdoors.  Hiking, Biking, Walking, Swimming, she was athletic.  She was her happiest outdoors.  She valued the environment.  She wanted to leave behind a better place than she found it.  I even believe that she donated her body to science when she died.  I don’t think it becomes any more noble than that.

I thought this was the nicest place to pay our homage to her.  She was my favorite Whann.  🙂

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Autumn Lunches Recipes Start Here

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Isabelle and the Giant Pretzel

(Just a Snack)

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Autumnal Stuffed Bread,

and Tomato Soup With Autumn Pastas

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The Cheese Wedge in photo Right, is Not a Pepperoni Pizza Slice, it is Cheese

Stuffed With Fresh Herbs As Well

Tomato Soup With Autumn Pastas And Herbs

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Leftover Autumnal Lunch, The Following Day

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Autumn Sliders

Sometimes I get mad at myself for using the same terminology as others out there.  Mini sandwiches are suddenly “sliders.”  What is a “slider” anyway?  Something that slides down your throat?  I guess so.  Hence, the term?  Well, I will go along here and declare these as “Sliders.”

Easy, Light, and Delicious

The Perfect Little Lunch..

..Especially for a Family

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Cheesy Broccoli Soup w/ Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread, and Ghosts

Perfect for a Cool Autumn Day!

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Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread’s

(I have made this favorite recipe many times.  I even had it featured in a few places on the website.  But, I also really needed to add it here, as it goes perfect with this fast and easy soup.)

If you have a Ghost Mold Baking Sheet, then all the Better!

(Recipes Down Below)

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First Up: 

Autumnal Stuffed Bread

and Tomato Soup With Autumn Pastas

All These Colors Taste Great!

 

My Stuffed Bread

I had seen all these cooks on social media make their Cheesy Pull Apart Breads that looked amazing.  I wanted to make one to, I just wanted to take mine a few steps further, making it more Autumnal, and even stuffing it with some colorful Autumn Colored Pastas  I was really pleased with how it turned out.

Ingredients:

Autumn Shaped Pastas, As Many As you Like, Cooked To Al Dente

Basil Pesto, Any Brand You Desire, As Much As You Desire

Sun Dried Tomatoes Packed In Olive Oil, Any Brand That You Like, As Much As You Like

Spicy Chili Onion Crisp, As Much As You Like

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, As Much As You Like

A Nice Tasty Olive Oil, For Drizzling Over Top

Fresh Herbs For Garnishing

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AND, A Nice Big Fat Bread

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Place the Bread onto a Foil Lined Baking Sheet

With a Bread Knife, I made long cuts Horizontally, and Vertically, without cutting through the Bread

With My Ingredients Ready It’s Time To STUFF!

I first dolloped some of the Basil Pesto into some of the bread slits.

I then placed some of the Sun Dried Tomatoes packed in Olive Oil into some more of the slits.

I had already cooked some of the Autumn Pasta until Al Dente, and proceeded to place some of the Pasta into the bread slits as well.

Time to scatter some of the Mozzarella all over the Bread.

Drizzle With Some Nice Olive Oil

Time To Place The Bread Into A 350F Oven For About 10-15 Minutes

(I just want to melt the cheese and for the bread to get a little bit crispy.)

When Ready, Remove From The Oven And Allow To Cool A Bit

It’s at this point that I was kind of smooshing it back together as it had spread out a bit.

I Love All The Delicious Colors

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The Pumpkins and Gourds just look festive.

I have a Halloween wine glass filled with some Italian Fennel Crackers, and I have a cheese wedge that looks like a slice of Pepperoni Pizza, and some nice green Herbs too.

  And not to mention my Tomato Soup bowls.

I just opened a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup,

the rest is just tasty embellishment.

What Kid Wouldn’t Want This On A Nice Autumn Day?  🙂

Leftovers The Following Day For Lunch

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The Autumn Slider

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The Cheese:

Jack O’ Pumpkin Cheese

Ingredients:

Brioche Mini-Buns

Autumn Cheese

Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash

Grey Poupon Mustard

Microgreens

Fried Onions

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(Little Halloween Prank)  🙂

Gordon Slicing the Squash

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Removing The Seeds

All Clear

Washing The Microgreens

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Cut the squash in half, remove the seeds with a scraping tool, and add a Tbsp. of butter to each cavity.  Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and place in a preheated 400’F oven for about 25 min.

To check if the squash are tender, you can insert the tip of your knife into it and if you feel little to no resistance, the squash is done.  Set them aside to cool.

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Brioche Mini-Buns

Slice the buns in half using a sharp knife as shown.

Place the buns onto a sheet pan cut side up.

Spread a thin layer of your spicy mustard over one side of the mini-buns.

Remove the wax, then slice your Pumpkin cheese into wedges as shown.

Place two wedges of cheese over each mini-bun as shown.

Peel the squash then slice it into 1/4 inch sections.

Add the squash onto each mini-bun.

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Place the topped mini-bun under your broiler until the cheese melts and slightly browns.

After about 3 min. remove the browned mini-buns.

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Our Leftover Fried Onions

These were from another recipe that we had leftover in the refrigerator. 

We thought they would go nicely with our Sliders.

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Shallots

Add your sliced Shallots to the flour and any spices you want. 

For example, Salt, Freshly Ground Black Pepper, etc….

mix them into the flour mixture until well coated as shown.

Place your peanut oil into a large pan and heat to medium.  When heated to temperature, add a handful of sliced shallots to the oil.

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Fry the Shallots until golden brown as shown. 

Place on a paper towel to drain.

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Top the squash with the fried onions and micro-greens.

Now, lift the cheese topped bun on top of the squash side being careful as the cheese is hot.

Plate and Enjoy!

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This Autumn Sandwich Hits THE Spot Every Time!

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Cheesy Broccoli Soup w/ Cheesy Broccoli Cornbread and Ghosts

Perfect for a Cool Autumn Day!

———————————————————————————-

Recipe Starts Here

(This is a great way to jazz up an already nice soup.  Consider the ready made Bear Creek Cheddar and Broccoli mixes as a nice base to build upon.)

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Ingredients:

2- Bear Creek Cheddar Broccoli Soup Mixes

Roasted Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Turmeric Powder (Known to kill cancer cells, and gives the soup a richer golden color.)

(These are to add according to your tastes but, if you want a guide, then I suggest about 1/2 teaspoon or more for each spice above.)

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4- Blocks of various Irish Cheddar’s (Some more aged than others.)

You will want to grate all of those to enhance the soup’s flavor.

Salt, and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

(To Taste)

————————————————————————————–

Thawing Lots of Frozen Broccoli

————————————————————————–

Making The Soup According To The Package Instructions

I’ve Got Two Pots Going.  I Will Keep One, And Give The Other Away As A Gift

It’s a Full Moon

I’ve added my extra spices, along with the salt and freshly ground black pepper.

  The soup is now simmering away.

——————————————————————————-

Once Thawed, Time to Cook

Place the Thawed Broccoli into a Microwave safe dish…

..and cook according to your Microwave Instructions.

——————————————————————–

Time to Grate All Our Cheeses

———————————————————————-

Start Adding The Cheeses To Each Soup Pot

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Broccoli Done!

(Be sure to drain the water into the sink before added the broccoli to the soup.)

Cheese Melting and Broccoli Added

Allow to Simmer Away Until Ready

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Broccoli and Cottage Cheese Cornbread w/ Onions

(This is an old Southern favorite!  Perfect just as it is!)

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Whenever I make this cornbread, I always double the recipe because I use my Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients:

Most of the ingredients that you see above are for making the cornbread.

I made the cornbread by simply following the package directions on the Quaker Yellow Corn Meal box.

So, my advice to you is to just make your favorite cornbread, and then you can add all these extras to it, according to your tastes.

—————————————————————————-

Measuring Cups, Spatulas, and Measuring Spoons

The “Extras” I Mentioned Above that I will add are:

Chopped Onions….

I probably use about 3/4 Cup of Chopped Onions

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I also add:

Broccoli Florets…

(I cooked these the same way I did for the broccoli in the soup above.  Let the microwave do the cooking, just be sure to drain the water out into the sink and not add it to the cornbread mix.)

My Chopped Onions left, My Cornbread mix right.

The other “Extra” ingredient I will be adding is Cottage Cheese

(I probably added a few heaping spoonful’s of Cottage Cheese.)

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Making My Cornbread

Adding The Broccoli, Onions, and Cottage Cheese

I have this great ghost mold that I love to use around Halloween.  I simply sprayed it with a cooking oil spray before adding the cornbread mixture, I then baked according to the Quaker Corn Meal box instructions.  But, I did monitor it as every oven is different, and I wasn’t using a traditional baking mold.

Into the Oven They Go!

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A Nice Quick Look at my Soup

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The rest of my cornbread mixture is going into my Cast Iron Skillet that I greased with Crisco.

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Delicious Ghosts Right Out Of The Oven

My Cast Iron Cornbread Right Out Of The Oven As Well

Cooling Nicely!

Check That Out!

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SOUP’S ON!

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Thanks for Coming to Lunch!  🙂

Julie

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Autumn Treats

Autumn Treats

          Autumn Once Labor Day is over with….. There is just something special about the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn. To most of us it’s having the kids go back to school.  Always a special time for me …

Julie’s Jezebel Sauce

Julie’s Jezebel Sauce

        Premiering at a Theater Near You! Starring Julie’s Jezebel Sauce, and a Cast of Supporting Foods For those of you outside The Bible Belt of America, you probably have never heard of Jezebel Sauce.  It’s exact Southern origins are a bit …

Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries

Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries

Regalos Comestibles

(Edible Gifts)

We made a similar Cranberry Sauce last year for our Feliz Navidad.

Click Here For:  Feliz Navidad a Casa Whann

 You can find the recipe for our 2019 Cranberries on that post.

Our Spicy Hot Mexican Navidad Cranberries From 2019

You can also find many other Navidad recipes there as well.

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Deliciosa!

Tamale With our Spicy Hot Cranberries

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Our Spicy Hot Cranberries with our Grilled Turkey Legs

Feliz Navidad,

Julie and Gordon Whann

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Our Kitchen Is:

EN CONSTRUCCION

But that did not stop us from creating this excellent addition to any fiesta table.

We doubled the recipe as some pictures may show a larger quantity of ingredients.

The recipe below will make ~9 pints of Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberry Sauce.

Ingredients:

7 Bags of fresh cranberries – rinsed well

3 Poblano Peppers – diced

4 Cups water

Zest and Juice of 3 Limes

1/2 Cone of Piloncillo Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp. Sea Salt

1/2 cube of Guava Paste

3/4 Cup Turbinado Sugar

2 1/2 Cups White Sugar

1 Habanero Pepper

1/2 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon

2 Whole Medium Sized Cinnamon Sticks

3 Tbsp. Hot Sauce (We used Iguana Habanero Pepper Sauce)

We also placed a whole Habanero in each pint jar of our Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries.

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Pictured are the ingredients we used… just not the quantity seen.

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Wash your jars well!

Because we are going through home renovations at this writing, we are no dishwasher and we are having to use the laundry room sink as a kitchen sink.  So, in order to sterilize the jars I, Julie am washing them in warm soapy water and then Gordon is placing them into hot water to boil so that we can sterilize them that way.

Using boiling hot water, sterilize the jars.  I let the jars sit in the boiling water for a good 5 min.

(Otherwise you can just put them through a sterilize cycle in your dishwasher.)

Rinse Your Cranberries

I also looked them over and discarded any that were soft.

The things we do during a pandemic combined with home renovations!

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Here you can see we doubled the recipe using two large pots.  As the cranberries cook, they will pop and reduce in size by around half.  Do not turn on the heat just yet!

Slice your Poblano Peppers in half, then in dice sized pieces and remove the seeds if you want, but we used them in the recipe to obtain/extract their heat.  It also makes the cranberry sauce look authentic.

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Add the diced Poblano Peppers and some seeds to the pot of cranberries.

Red and Green

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Add 4 cups of water to the pot and turn your pot onto medium heat.

Here is the Guava Paste we used.

Place half of the Guava Paste into the pot.

Pictured is the Brown Sugar we used.  As you can see we used half in each pot.

Add 2 medium sized cinnamon sticks.

Sea Salt

Now, add your Sea Salt to the pot.

Then zest your limes…

Look How Beautiful!

now slice the limes in half,

and squeeze the juice into the pot.

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Mix the cranberries and other ingredients well.  You will see them start to bubble away.

Then add your Turbinado Sugar to the pot.

Now, add your white sugar to the pot. 

As you can see, we like using different sweeteners as they provide a more complex flavor.

Now, add your hot sauce to the mix. 

Be sure to taste it so you can adjust the heat of the cranberry sauce.  We liked this particular sauce as it gave a nice flavor in addition to the heat that we wanted.  Some sauces that we tested were just heat not no flavor.

Be careful with the Habanero’s as they are very hot and their oils will stay on your fingers for ~24 hours, so DO NOT Touch your face or eyes. Just use gloves and you won’t have to worry about them.

Here we diced the Habanero and placed it into a garlic press to quickly mince the Habanero.

Add the Habanero in stages, tasting as you go, mixing the cranberries well before each taste.  We also let some time pass as the Habanero’s hot oil will spread throughout the sauce.  Once the cranberry sauce is at this stage where most all the cranberries have popped, turn down the heat to a simmer, so as not to burn your ingredients.

We ended up using 1 whole Habanero in this pot of cranberry sauce.

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We used our grill’s side burner to heat up the water to use to process the jars, since our oven’s burners were being used to make the cranberry sauce.

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Here you can see that we doubled the recipe.  Once the cranberries were cooked down, we combined the pots ingredients in order to make room on our stove top.

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Here, I am set up to can the jars of cranberry sauce.

We place a whole Habanero in each pint jar to add to the sauce’s heat.  We did remove the stem first by cutting it off with scissors.  We did not want to pierce the pepper.

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Use a large funnel and ladle your sauce up to the fill level marked on the jar.

You can’t fill the jar all the way up as it needs air space to create the vacuum which seals the jar.  The space in canning terms is called Head Space.

Now that your jars are filled to the proper height…

using a dampened clean paper towel wipe down the top of the jar until clean.  This is easily done as the excess sauce will turn the towel red.  The jars need to be clean so the lid will seal properly.

I have my lids soaking in just under boiling water to loosen up the rubber seal.  If the water is too hot, you could ruin the seal under the lid.

Using a special magnetized tool, remove a lid and carefully place it on top of the clean jar.  Screw a ring on top of the jar to just barely tight.  Too tight will not allow the air to escape during the canning process creating a vacuum.

Place your sealed jars into the water and bring to a boil, being sure the jars are submerged.  You should see air leaking out of the jars creating a vacuum seal.  If not, you may want to carefully loosen the ring and place the jar back into the boiling water.

Boil/Process the jars for 15 minutes.

Remove the jars when done and place on a towel to absorb the excess water.  Be careful as any cold water left on a surface will shatter these super heated jars.  I once placed the jars on a cutting board after processing them and the water from a jar cooled slightly and ran over the board.  I placed a jar on the wet surface and it immediately shattered on me.

As you remove the jars from the boiling water, you should begin to hear the jars lids pop and move down.  This is the vacuum being created using the Head Space you made, sealing the jars.  This may take some time with the jars as they are not the same.  Give it at least 20 minutes.  If after 20 minutes the jar hasn’t sealed, remove the ring and discard the lid.  Check the Head Space of the jar to ensure you are right on the line and add or remove and sauce if needed.  Next, wipe down the jars top surface to ensure there is no debris in the way of the jar’s lid which would prevent a seal.  Now, place and new lid on the jar, add the ring to just snug and place the jar back into the pot of boiling water, being sure it is submerged.  Process/Boil the jar for another 15 minutes.  Hopefully this time the jar will seal.  I usually count the pops as I make each batch. 

We both hope you and yours will enjoy our Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberry Sauce!

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Pulled Pork Nachos for Dinner

(Nachos Con Puerco Desilachado)

We never miss an opportunity to eat Mexican foods as it is one of our favorites.  Gordon purchased a lot of pulled pork from the Latin Supermarket and we used it on our nachos many nights before it was gone.  🙂

Tortilla Chips, Refried Beans, Pulled Pork, Queso Cheese, Tomatoes, Black Beans, Chili Powder, Taco Seasoning….

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We can’t seem to stop eating our Pulled Pork Nachos.  🙂

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If you would like to view our other Mexican blog posts:

Click Here For:  Julie Whann Way Mexicana Si!

AND,

Click Here For:  Julie Whann Way Mexicana Dos

And,

Click Here For:  Julie Whann Way Mexicana Tres

And,

Julie and Gordon Whann Way Mexicana Cuatro

AND,

Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Mexicana Cinco!

AND,

Feliz Dia del Padre

AND,

Click Here for our:  Dia De Los Muertos

And,

Our Mexican Inspired Thanksgiving Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

AND,

Our Mexicana Thanksgiving Dishes

AND,

Spicy Hot Mexican Cranberries

AND,

Feliz Navidad a Casa Whann

Adios Amigo!

 

Gracias,

Julie and Gordon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ThanksGrillin’

ThanksGrillin’

            THANKSGRILLIN’ 2020 Welcome to our Home Renovations Thanksgiving A.K.A. Our Thanksgiving During our Home Renovations With our kitchen under construction, it fell to the outside grill to deliver us our turkey from evil.  (Or something to that affect.) Check …

Our Home Renovations

Our Home Renovations

        No Longer UNDER CONSTRUCTION!  🙂   The Money Pit New Entries are Down Below I Do Have A Very LOOOOOOOONG Introduction Until You Get There. ———————————————————— Welcome to Our Home Renovations   Ahh, Home Crap Home! Said by Tom Hanks character, …

Julie’s Chicken Knot Pies

Julie’s Chicken Knot Pies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Recipe for Julie’s Chicken Knot Pies

Ready to go into the Oven

I have always loved Turkey Pot pies and actually grew up eating quite a few of them.  My mother wasn’t much of a cook, and she would say that with pride.  Oh, she had a few dishes that were favorites of ours that she could cook quite well.  But, overall cooking really wasn’t her thing.  Cutting corners, saving time, saving money, were more her thing.  As she would say to me, “My time is worth something.”

So, when you grow up not really being exposed to a lot of home cooking then frozen T.V. dinner’s were delicious.  One of my favorite dinner’s was this Banquet Turkey Pie.  I think they cost around .99 cents each back in the day and there were always a few in our freezer for me to heat up in the oven to have for dinner.

Retro Memory

Turkey Pot Pie

It really wasn’t until my late 20’s when we were living in Hawaii  that some friend of mine gave me her recipe for a Chicken Pot Pie.  I then made it, and it was nothing grand at all, but I realized how much better it tasted than my retro frozen Turkey Pot Pies that I used to love so much.  Just because it had fresher ingredients.

Through the years I would come across a few Chicken Pot Pie recipes here and there, and I would make them every now and then.  A lot of them were always similar in ingredients.  Which was fine as they always tasted nice.  However, when it came to creating my own Chicken Pot Pies I wanted to do some things differently.

For example, I came across these Garlic Knots online while we were doing our Covid 19 shopping and delivery and I wanted to try them.  They are so good that I then wondered what we could do with them in our own cooking?  And that is when the Chicken Knot Pie recipe was born inside my head.

I am always looking for short cuts where baking is concerned because I’m not very good at it.  Also, it just seems to be so much trouble making dough from scratch and all the effort that goes into it.  For me, doing that kind of baking is something that I have to really be in the mood to do.  Usually around the holidays, or something like that.

But, I promise you that nothing is long and elaborate here.  Nothing complicated.  No taste was sacrificed in order to make it more convenient.  I promise you!  You’ll see.

Julie

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If I was going to recreate a Pot Pie Memory then I was going to get out the Vintage Pot Holders.

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Julie’s Chicken Knot Pies

Get out your Pie Plates and let’s start with the Top and the Bottom of these Pies.

The Top being my Hot Mama Bread Knots, and the Bottom being the frozen Pie Crusts. 

Thawed!

First, let’s spray the Pie Plates with a Butter or Vegetable Cooking Spray

For this project I bought a few frozen pie crusts that came together.

I thawed them out from the freezer and when they were pliable, I placed them into my pie plates, like so.  This way, I don’t have to make some pie crust from scratch.  I just spread out the pie crust along the pie plates.

I turned the oven on 350F and then placed both pie plates with the thawed crusts in them, in order for them to cook up a little bit. 

About 8 minutes.  I don’t like a doughy crust so I wanted to bake the crust just a little bit first.

So, while that is baking……

…….time to start the pies!

Ingredients:

(This recipe made 2 1/2 Pies.  2 regular pie plates, and 1 small one.)

Frozen Pie Crusts- I bought a package of them.

3 Boxes Hot Mama Bread Knots

1 Stick of Butter (1/2 Cup)

2 Cups Chopped Onion

3 Cups Chopped Carrots

4 Cups Chopped Red Potatoes

1 Elephant Ear Garlic Clove, Minced (Or 3 Regular Garlic Cloves, Minced)

Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper (About 1 teaspoon each)

2 teaspoons dried Thyme

2 teaspoons dried Rosemary

2 Tablespoons Fresh Sage, Chiffonade, Chopped

(Also, save some fresh Sage to top your pies with.)

3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

Chicken Stock/Broth 1 Container = 1 Quart

1 Cup Heavy Cream

The Meat of a small Rotisserie Chicken

1 1/2 Cups Frozen Peas

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Although I don’t have a photo of all the chopping, I used a crinkle cut tool to make these great cuts of the Potatoes and Carrots.

In the bowl are my chopped Onions, Carrots, and Red Potatoes.

Note the Rotisserie Chicken at photo left. 

I sat that out so that it could come to room temperature before I started removing the meat.

This is the Crinkle Cut Tool that I used.

I talk about above how I placed the pie crusts in the oven for about 8 minutes.  I however failed to tell you that you need to use a fork to poke holes in the crust so that it doesn’t bubble up.  (I forgot to do it myself.) 

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Now It’s Time To Melt My Stick of Butter in a Saucepan on Medium Heat

Then Add My Chopped Onions, Carrots and Red Potatoes

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Now It’s Time to Mince our Elephant Ear Garlic Clove, or 2-3 Regular Garlic Cloves

 

We sauteed these vegetables in this saucepan for a good 30 minutes stirring occasionally on a medium-high heat.  It took a while for the potatoes and carrots to soften.  But, while they were softening we did add the salt and freshly ground black pepper.

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Once the Vegetables Started to Soften I Added the Minced Elephant Ear Garlic

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Dried Rosemary and Dried Thyme

Before I Add The Herbs, I Added the All Purpose Flour to our Already Cooked Vegetables

(This will thicken the mixture.)

Now It’s Time to Add our Dried, and Fresh Herbs

This is our Freshly Chopped Sage

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Now We Have Our Stove Top on Medium Heat

Time To Add Our Chicken Stock

The Frozen Peas Have Been Thawing And The Rotisserie Chicken Has Been Chopped

With the Chicken Stock and Vegetables Coming to a Boil, Add the Heavy Whipping Cream

The Skillet Mixture is Thickening

Look How Beautiful!

Once it Thickens up a bit, Time to Add the Chopped Rotisserie Chicken and the Frozen Peas

Combine and Stir Until Thickened

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Once your beautiful and delicious mixture has thickened, it’s time to ladle it into each pie plate. 

Once you have done that then place in your thawed bread knots on top.

Cram as many on top as you like.

Place each pie plate on a cookie sheet and then place into a 400F oven.

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I covered each pie with aluminum foil.

Here Gordon is placing them into the oven for me.

We Baked These For About 35 Minutes.

(Each oven is different.  Use your own judgement.)

After about 35 minutes I removed the foil and placed them back into the oven for an additional 10 – 15 minutes to brown the tops.

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Fresh Out of the Oven

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Our 1/2 Pie Left

 

There was just enough left to make this final small pie.

Beautiful and Delicious

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Julie’s Chicken Knot Pies  🙂

Dot With Some Fresh Sage Leaves (From our Garden)

 

 

 

4 and 20 Blackbirds (Berries) Baked in a Pie

4 and 20 Blackbirds (Berries) Baked in a Pie

          Julie’s Blackberry Pies ——————————————————————– Served with Kool-Whip mixed with Blackberry Jam and Topped with Blackberries Perhaps Eaten with The Cranky Bastard Blackberry Wine ———————————————————— When I think of a pie, Mother Goose always comes to mind: Sing a Song of …

Our Mexican Inspired Thanksgiving Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Our Mexican Inspired Thanksgiving Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

                Happy Thanksgiving or Feliz dia de Accion de Gracias My Corn Husk Dolls Our Mexican Inspired Roasted Chicken and Vegetables Because it was just going to be the two of us, Gordon and Myself for Thanksgiving this …

Pickled Purple Pearls

Pickled Purple Pearls

 

 

 

 

‘Tis The Season….

…For Making Delicious Edible Gifts

Julie with Red Pearl Onions

How About Pickling Some Purple Pearls?

Actually, they are known as Red Pearl Onions, they just look Purple to me.

I think they are beautiful. 

Who wouldn’t be happy to receive such a nice edible gift?

You eat them however you like. 

We enjoy them with sandwiches or any time you would eat a pickle.

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Also Check Out Our:

In a Christmas Pickle

AND,

Black and White Pearls

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How To Pickle Purple Pearl Onions

Begin this recipe by placing your pearl onions into a large pot of boiling water for about 1 minute.  Doing this will make their dry outer skin, which is basically inedible, soft and easily removed.  You may need to do this in large batches.

Be sure to stir your onions as they boil.

When the minute is done, pour the onions into a large colander.

Rinse the onions with cold water to stop the cooking process.

To remove the outer onion skins, simply pinch the onions at the root end, pulling back the outer skin with your fingers.  Sometimes the onions shoot out of the skins which could be a fun project for the kids!  Except make sure the onions are cool by then.

Here is the end product.  Their deep purple color varies between the onions and will stain most anything they touch.

Once you have peeled back the onion’s skin, place them into a large bowl for later use.

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Ingredients:

10 Cups Red/Purple Pearl Onions – Skinned

~20 Bay Leaves

1 Cup Sugar

5 Cups White Distilled Vinegar

1 Tbsp. Merlot Salt

1 Tbsp. Brown Mustard Seeds – You could also use Split Yellow Mustard Seeds as shown in the picture

1/2 Tbsp. Celery Seeds

1/2 Cup Corriander Seeds

Sterilize your jars in the dishwasher using your heat dry setting and when done keep them clean and covered with a clean dish towel.  Do not touch the insides of your jars.  Pack your pearl onions into the jars adding two Bay Leaves to each jar as shown.  Be sure all the onions are at least 1/4 inch away from the top of the jar.  This area is called the Headspace and is used to create a vacuum inside the jar to preserve the contents.

Now for the pickling liquid!  Here you see our setup.  On the left of the stove is our pot for the pickling liquid and to the right of it is our large pot which will be used to process the jars.  This pot has to be at least two inches taller than your tallest canning jar.  In this canning pot, fill it half way with water and turn your heat on high to begin to heat the water to a boil.

In the large pickling pot add your sugar…

Then add your vinegar and heat the ingredients to medium high heat.  We chose to use White vinegar, but you can use any type of vinegar you like as there are many varieties out there.  I would also suggest using an Apple Cider vinegar for this recipe.

Stir the sugar and vinegar mixture well until the sugar dissolves.  Here you also see the pot filled  half way with water which will be used to process the jars.  Not seen is the smaller pot of just under boiling water which is heating our lids to soften their rubber seals.  Be sure not to boil this water as it could ruin the rubber seals.

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Now, add your Merlot salt to the mixture.  We chose to use this type of salt as it would help to enhance the brilliant purple color and taste of the onions.  A little red wine is always good!

Gordon Adding the Merlot Salt

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Then add your brown mustard seeds, although they look black.

NOTE:  We chose not to use the Split Yellow Mustard Seeds.

——————————————————————-

Now add your Celery Seeds to the pot…

…then your Corriander Seeds.

Mix all the ingredients well bringing the liquid just under a boil.  Doing this will help to soften the various seeds.  Then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Use a large ladle and funnel to pour the pickling liquid into the jars when ready.

Using a funnel makes things a lot easier.

Pour the liquid up to 1/2 inch away from the top of the jar’s Headspace.  This area must be kept clear as it is used to create the vacuum within the jar as previously mentioned.

Here you see all the jars filled with liquid up to the Headspace area.

Using a wet paper towel, wipe the top of all the jars to remove any spilled pickling liquid or seeds which could prevent the jars from sealing properly.  Place a heated lid on top of the cleaned jars then tighten a ring onto the jar until it is barely snug.  This is a critical step due to if you tighten the ring too tight, the air can’t escape from the jar creating the needed vacuum.

Place your jars using your rubberized tongs into the pots heated water.

You should see bubbles escaping from all the jars which tells you the lids aren’t on too tight.  If you don’t see these bubbles, remove the jar and loosen the jar’s ring slightly.  Also be sure water covers the top of all the jars.  Boil the jars, which is also called process, for about 10 minutes.

When done, remove the jars from the boiling liquid using your rubberized tongs and place them on a dishcloth to cool.  At this point you should start to hear the lids pop as this is the vacuum forcing the lid downward creating a pop.  All of your lids should be in the downward position within 15 minutes.  If not, you will have to begin the processing of those jars all over again.  This is likely due to either the jar didn’t have enough headspace or there was something wrong with the lid’s seal.  CAUTION in these next steps the jars will be extremely hot.  Remove some of the pickling liquid, wipe the top of the jar and use a new lid being sure to check the rubber seal for any issues.  Replace the ring and then submerge the jar in boiling water and process the jar for another 10 minutes.  With the jars that have properly sealed, remove the rings and using a paper towel, wipe away the excess water on the ring and seal.  Doing this will prevent the metal from rusting.  Replace the rings to just tight when dry as the rings only prevent the sealed lid from being removed inadvertently.  The rings DO NOT keep the lids sealed.  If you ever find a lid in the up position which can be tested by pushing down on it lightly, the contents have been compromised by bacteria and needs to be thrown away.

These pearl onions are delicious by themselves as a side dish or within a Martini!

Either way, they make a great gift and can be kept in your pantry for years!  Theoretically, if the food was processed safely and stored properly and shows no sign of spoilage, until that vacuum seal is broken, there should be no way that it becomes contaminated or becomes unsafe.  Especially with the vinegar and sugar in this particular pickling, there is no real way for bacteria to exist.

Enjoy, and Season’s Greetings,

Julie and Gordon

 

 

 

The Pot Thickens…  Musings of an Amateur Cook

The Pot Thickens… Musings of an Amateur Cook

          Hi!  Welcome!  So happy to have you here! My name is Julie Lancaster-Whann and welcome to my: The Pot Thickens…  Musings of an Amateur Cook So, what makes me an ‘Amateur?’  Easy!  I don’t get paid! And, because I don’t …

Pork, Sausage and Mustard

Pork, Sausage and Mustard

        Welcome to Pork, Sausage and Mustard From the Kitchen of……. Gordon and Julie Today, we will be making MUSTARD, and lots of it! At this writing we are in the middle of a pandemic, the Coronavirus/Covid 19. Gordon and I decided …

Breakfast With Brodie and Mackenzie

Breakfast With Brodie and Mackenzie

 

 

 

 

 

Good Morning

Welcome to Breakfast with Brodie and Mackenzie

 We have a few menu items you might enjoy.

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Bagel and Lox

Ingredients:

One Bagel (I use the Everything or Egg style bagels.)

Smoked Salmon

(I use Fresh Market’s Nova Bits which are like trimmings that’s half the price as the regular and still delicious)

Red Onion, sliced

Dill Sprigs

The Juice of 1 Lemon

1 Tbsp Capers

Plain Cream Cheese

Salt & Pepper

Tomato optional

First toast your bagel then allow it to cool down. This will help make spreading the cream cheese over the bagel easier. Spread the cream cheese in an even layer. Then take your capers and embed them into the cream cheese layer. (I use a fork to sprinkle the capers and press them into the cream cheese.) Then add a layer of red onion slices or rings. At this point I may add a slice of tomato. Now lay down a generous layer of smoked salmon.  Add as much dill on top as you like (it’s hard to overdo the dill so I add a lot).  Add salt and pepper and lemon juice. Indulge. This dish is one of our all time favorites.

Enjoy!

Brodie and Mackenzie

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Up Next!

Steak and Eggs with Mushroom Gravy and Hash Brown Patties

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Brodie and Mackenzie, Recreating One of Their Favorite Breakfast’s from IHOP

Gordon and I, Julie, are doing the write up for them.  They love cooking, they love the photography, they love the eating, just not the write-up’s.  🙂  So, that is where we come in.

Brodie and Mackenzie, Cooking

Mackenzie Does the Note Taking

While in lockdown due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Brodie and Mackenzie were missing some of their favorite restaurant foods so they decided to create this one.

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Here are the ingredients for the steak marinade. 

Marinade the steaks overnight for best results.

4 Drops Vanilla Extract

2 Tbsp. Heinz 57 Sauce

4 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

4 Tbsp. A1 Sauce

1/2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup

1 Shake of Powdered Cinnamon

1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Tbsp. Molasses

1/4 Cup Sliced Onion

2 Garlic Cloves chopped

For the Gravy:

2 Portobello Mushroom Caps Chopped into chunks

1 Onion Chopped into chunks

3 – 4 Tbsp. Butter

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Pictured are the ingredients they used.

Gordon, Brodie and Mackenzie is Taking Notes

Mix all the ingredients in a large seal-able container large enough to hold your steaks.

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Here I am helping out and Brodie is taste testing the mix. 

Add any of the above marinade ingredients to suit your taste.

Add your chopped onions and garlic cloves to the marinade.

Mix all the ingredients well with a whisk.

Add your steaks to the marinade and coat them well with it. 

Place in the refrigerator overnight.

The next morning, remove your steaks and shake off any excess marinade back to the container as it will be used later.  Blot the steaks dry using a paper towel.

See how the marinade penetrated the steak giving it a beautiful brown color?  Brodie did a great job in making the steak dry.  This is key as a dry steak will cook better than a wet one.  Wet steaks cooked in a pan tend to boil and steam in its own juices where as a dry steak will sear and brown in the pan.

Here they used a strainer to separate the onion and garlic from the other liquid ingredients of the marinade.

Here are the large Portobello mushroom caps they used for the gravy.  Clean the mushroom by either using a paper towel to remove the dirt or quickly run them under running water.

Hash Brown Ingredients:

3 Potatoes shredded

3-4 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Mackenzie Shredding Potatoes

Shred your potatoes into a container.

Here are the eggs, one of the mushroom caps, which when cleaned, took off the outer layer of the mushroom… it happens!

The glorious Onion!

Strain your shredded potatoes using a cheesecloth to get out most of the moisture.  You will be surprised how much moisture is in a potato.

Sparky, Spooky and Barefoot Brodie

Slicing Onions

Add your oil to a large cast iron pan and heat to medium high heat.

When the pan is at temperature, form about 1/3 Cup of your shredded potatoes into patties.  Carefully place the patty into the heated oil.

Here they were able to place four patties into the pan.

Using a spatula, flip the patties over when browned to your liking.

Mackenzie Flipping the Hash Browned Patties

Nice color on those hash browns!  When they have finished cooking, place the hash browns onto a paper towel lined plate to catch the excess oil.  Salt and pepper them to taste.

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Chop your onions and mushroom caps into chunks and saute them in 3 to 4 Tbsp. butter in a large pan.

Saute the onions until they become translucent.

Using a cast iron grill pan turned onto medium high heat, pan sear your steaks.

Cook the steaks to your liking.  Medium cooked steak will take about 7 min. cooking on both sides.  This also depends upon how thick your steaks are.

Cooking Tip:  To test your steaks, using your finger and pushing down on the steak, if it has a little give, it is likely at Medium Well.  The more give the steak has, the less it is cooked.

Using a strainer, strain out the onions and garlic used in the marinade and place the marinade liquid into a small sauce pan.

Heat the sauce to medium heat to slightly reduce the liquid.

Place the onions and garlic used in the marinade into the saute pan of mushrooms and onions and cook them until tender.

When all your onions, mushrooms, and garlic are tender, add your reduced marinade liquid to the pan and cook until all the ingredients are to a gravy consistency.

Sparky and Spooky are Hungry

Here, Brodie is turning the steaks as the gravy is cooking.  See the sear marks the steaks have because they were dry when they went into the pan!

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Add some oil to a small saute pan and heat it to medium heat.  When the pan’s oil has come up to temperature, add your egg to the pan and cook until the egg white is done, leaving the yolk slightly runny.  This will take only a few minutes to cook.

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Serve your hash browns, steak and gravy, and eggs on a plate and enjoy!

Have a Nice Day!

Brodie and Mackenzie

(And Gordon and Julie)  🙂

 

 

 

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