Labor Day Daybook

FOR TODAY (September 07, 2009)...

Outside my window... Heavy fog, hazing everything with droplets of water, giving the world a sort of fantasy-like feeling - beautiful

I am thinking... of how thankful I am to have the day off today

I am thankful for... good friends, good fellowship at church yesterday

From the learning rooms... working on an Autumn Leaves devotional

From the kitchen... mostly leftovers from yesterday - BBQ, 10-layer salad, etc.

I am wearing... khaki skirt, gray tee, purple slippers, white sweater

I am creating... an Autumn Leaves tea party for next month

I am going... to spend most of my day with my parents - Honey is installing a new microwave for them

I am reading... Breach of promise by Anne Perry; Psalms in the Bible

I am hoping...that the fall weather we have been having will last for a good long while yet

I am hearing... Honey making the bed

Around the house... sweep and mop in the kitchen, quickie clean the tub and I am good to go!!

One of my favorite things... is hot chocolate - in the morning, at night, in the afternoon . . .

A few plans for the rest of the week: work, of course; hoping my roses will bloom so I can make some more candied rose petals; work on menu for tea party

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Idn't he cute? And look how fat he is! He comes up on our front porch railing and eats - the kitty can watch him out the window. We have a feeder set up on the back porch rail also.

Now for a goooooood recipe!

10-layer salad

Yes, this is just an embellishment on 7-layer salad, but I can't count very well!

Romaine lettuce or a nice mix
Chopped, seeded cucumber
Chopped onion
Chopped red pepper
Frozen peas, thawed
Hard boiled eggs, chopped
Shredded Swiss Cheese
Crispy bacon crumbles
Chopped, seeded tomato
Dressing

This is especially pretty in a clear glass bowl, so you can see the layers, but it works equally well in a 9 x 13 cake pan.

1. Chop your lettuce - not too fine. I used all romaine because that is what they had on sale, but you can use a nice mix. I don't use iceberg very much - it is low in nutrition. Put lettuce in bowl.
2. Then chopped cucumber. If you are not using seedless, then peel them and seed them. otherwise, just chop.
3. Then onion - this can be sweet, white, green, red, whatever you like.
4. Chopped red pepper - full of vitamin C and oh, so pretty! You can use yellow or orange for color if you like.
5. Hard boiled eggs next - for these put the eggs in cold water and bring to a boil over medium heat - boil for 5 minutes, turn the burner off and leave the pan on it for another 5 minutes. Then pour the water off and shake the pan to break the shells. Cover with cold water and let sit a bit, pour that off and cover with cold water again and let it sit. Then peel - oh, so easy and chop. Use older eggs, they peel better.
6. Frozen peas - just pop these in a colander and run some water over them and swish them around with your hands.
7. Dressing - I used about 3/4 to 1 cup of mayo, about 1 tablespoon brown sugar stirred in good and probably 1/3 to 1/2 cup ranch dressing. Stir it all up good and then refrigerate for an hour or so before putting on the salad.
8. Shredded Swiss cheese.
9. Chopped, seeded tomato. Just take out all the seeds and gunk that comes with it. this prevents the salad from getting soggy.
10. Crispy bacon crumbles.

I have left most amounts off, use more or less of each to your liking. I made a pretty big bowl, hence the dressing amounts. Just before serving, toss well. As I was making it for our church dinner, I assembled layers 1-6 the night before. Then, in the morning, I added the dressing and cheese. Just before serving, I added the tomato and bacon. This makes a really easy dish, and most everyone loves it.

Hope everyone has a good day off today.