Friday, August 21, 2009

ROY G BIV

A college friend of Heather's made this jello mold. She (Heather) refer's to it as the ROY G. BIV mold, since it’s got all of the colors of the rainbow! Hence the ROY G. BIV..(for those of you not familiar with this = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet)... Apparently a lot of people have been asking for this recipe. One look at the cool photo and you can see why. Her friend, Janet, has graciously shared & made a few suggestions as well. Thank you Janet!!





Rainbow Ribbon Mold

6 1/4 cups boiling water (or more) 5 (or more) pckgs (4-serving size) Jell-O, different flavors

1 cup (or more) vanilla lowfat yogurt or sour cream

Notes: I first sprayed my mold with no-stick cooking spray and then wiped off excess. Also, the book (Joy of Jell-o Molds) suggests completely filling your mold to make the unmolding process easier. My mold was about 7 cups, so I added an extra flavor.

1. Stir 1 1/4 cups boiling water into 1 flavor gelatin in small bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Pour 3/4 cup dissolved gelatin into 6-cup mold. Refrigerate about 15 min. or until set but not firm (should stick to finger when touched.) [I found that this first layer of Jello also needs to come to room temp before you refrigerate it for the 15 min., or it needs to refrigerate a little longer than 15 min. - the second layer is where I had problems with the leakage into the first layer]. Do not refrigerate too long though, or the layers will not adhere to each other.

2. Refrigerate remaining gelatin in bowl about 5 min. or until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites). Gradually stir in 3 tbsp. of yogurt or sour cream. Spoon (very gently - do not pour!) over gelatin layer in mold. Refrigerate about 15 min. or until set but not firm. (should stick to finger when touched).

3. Repeat process with each remaining gelatin flavor. Be sure to cool dissolved gelatin to room temp before pouring into mold. Refrigerate gelatin as directed to create a total of 10 or more alternating clear and creamy layers.

4. Refrigerate AT LEAST 2 hours or until firm. Unmold.

To unmold: wet your fingertip and run it around the outside edge to loosen Jello from pan. Dip mold into warm, not hot water, for a few seconds. Remove from water. Place moistened serving plate upside down on top of mold. Invert and give it a shake. If it doesn't come loose easily, dip in warm water again. (It does make a really satisfying schluuup sound as it releases! )

Have fun!


TTFN

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Stuffed Peppers!



Yay! Heather has shared another recipe. The original recipe was a Paula Deen one and was modified to her tastes and her pantry.

4 large bell peppers – Heather used red and green ones
20 oz ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon (Heather used Maggi brand), divided
Pinch kosher salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup jarred cheese & salsa
1 cup diced tomatoes (She told me she used ½ can Del Monte tomatoes)
½ cup green onion, chopped
1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350.

Cut the tops of the peppers off. Remove stem, ribs and seeds from inside of pepper. Then slice in half lengthwise.

Brown turkey, onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon bouillon. Season with salt, pepper & garlic to taste while sautéing in skillet, about 10 minutes on medium/medium high heat.

In a bowl, combine rice, cheese & salsa, tomatoes and green onion. Add turkey mixture from above once done. Stir & mix well.

Mix 1 cup water & last teaspoon bouillon in measuring cup/microwaveable bowl. Heat in microwave for 3 minutes until bouillon is fully dissolved.

Place the pepper halves in a casserole (or divide over two). Add meat mixture evenly to each half (8 in all). Pour bouillon mixture into bottom of casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake 25-35 minutes. Remove foil. Spoon juice from bottom of dish over peppers.

Bake 10 minutes more.

Enjoy!


Heather was looking for corn nuggets to serve with the peppers but they were no where to be found, (at least not without running all over town) so she grabbed a package of frozen Arepa's instead, heated them in a non-stick skillet and they worked with the peppers wonderfully! Sounds yummy....

Thanks, Heather...can't wait for the next recipe!

TTFN

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

"Good Deeds Day"

Not too long ago Heather sent a message saying ... " saved someone's life today... literally...". She had been on a her way to grab some pictures of a house for a perspective buyer. On her way to the other end of the county, she felt the need to stop and "powder her nose" and that's when the story began. Here, in her own words, ... Heather's "Good Deed for the Day"



"I am working with a customer who resides out of state. When properties come on the market that fit their criteria I preview them, take photos & tell the customer whether or not I think they should proceed forward with it. That is the wonderful thing about my business is the level of trust that my customers place in me. I love how they feel comfortable enough with me to establish that relationship. I hear horror stories of people who hate their agent and don’t have a good “bond” and it just is unfortunate they hadn't found me in time to have a different experience. Anyway, I digress.. back to the story…


On one such Monday I ran over to Coconut Creek and on the way there I needed to powder my nose. Not knowing what kind of condition I was going to find this foreclosure listing in, I decided to stop at a local grocery store. As I park and walk to the store, I notice the car next to me is running with a woman inside looking like she was bending over to grab something. After another second or two I realize this woman isn’t moving. Something doesn’t sit right with me and I decide that if the woman is in the exact same position upon me exiting the store I would do something (what I do not know), but something… Needless to say, a few minutes later I walk back to my car and notice the woman is in the exact same position. NOTHING had changed. I take my car keys and gently tap the passenger window a couple of times. Nothing. I do it again. Nothing. I then decided to go back into the store and ask for a manager.


I get a manager and preface my conversation with him about how this is going to sound crazy, etc, etc,. He proceeds to walk out with me, cell phone in hand to dial 911. We get to the car & he knocks heavily on the window with his fist. After the third attempt the woman arouses from her state and takes her about another full minute to open the door – she couldn’t roll down the window because it was taped in place. She is barely cogniscent (spelling?) and her eyes are all unfocused. She says she is OK and explains she worked late the previous night and was sleeping it off. (What it was you’ll soon find out…) As she is talking, or slurring I should say, I notice the back of her SUV is full of suitcases & boxes, like all of her belongings. She woman continues to say she is alright and after the third time of assuring us, the manager and I walk away. The manager picked up on the same vibes as I did and asked what do I think he should do. I said, come back and check on her in another 10 minutes (at that point it may be considered loitering, no?). I also gave him my card and said if he needs anything to call me.


About an hour later I get a call from the manager who said he came back about 15 minutes later, he could not rouse her this time & called 911. The paramedics were just leaving with her and they thought it was a potential drug overdose. The manager thanked me for being a good Samaritan. Too bad the homes I looked at that day did not work for my customer! That means I am meant to be out in the field again, listing property & saving lives!"


So, there you have it, our Heather, the realtor extrodinair, wonderful wife to D., awesome cook, fantastic mom to her kitties...and Good Samaritan, willing to step in and save lives. Even throughout her hectic day, she takes the time to care and step in...and saved a life because of it! You go, girl!


Meanwhile, back in the office, Heathrow was holding down the fort...after all, someone has to do all that paperwork!







TTFN