Jenny's 30th Birthday Party

Jenny's 30th Birthday!!!

The Theme for her birthday party was a circus theme. There was circus food, circus "performers", and circus "animals".

Jenny with Bev Ozanne.
Birthday CAKE!
CANDY!
More pictures of the cakes...
Still more pictures of the cakes...

Rosemary is an assistant in Rick's magic show.

Show the paper...

Rip the paper...

More ripping of the paper...
Yep. It's ripped up...

The got that paper ripped. What happened next is the paper was wadded up and then a long ribbon was pulled out of it... cool!

Jenny with the STRONGMAN (our friend Martin).
Jenny went slugging away at a horse pinata!

Our son, Mackenzie, watches his mom beat the tar out of the horse...

Jenny rips the horse apart... WITH HER BARE HANDS!!! WOW!

She pulls the guts right out of the horse! OH, the humanity!!!

The horse guts go all over the floor and the children pick it up...

More candy collecting...

It's like the GODFATHER... a horses head just hanging there...

My dad with Wee-Zee the Clown.

Here is Wee-Zee at the beginning of her performance. This is the last picture. I wish I had a picture of the grilled food, the cotton candy, popcorn, chips and queso, and other goodies.

Gary Jr. and Marijo

I do have some good news - the Ray's (Gary and Marijo) are expecting a little bundle of joy. I do not know anything more than that... I have not heard of when the expecting due date and obviously it is a little early to know if it is a boy/girl. When I do have that information, I will pass it along. I also hope to have Jenny's birthday pictures up soon.

Reunion Update

I was hoping to have some information by now on the Reunion. I don't.

Get Well Cards

This is a get well card from Michelle and Brad.
The inside...
This is a card from the Baars' family.
This is a get well card from my parents (Gary and Kathy Ray).
This is the inside...
This is a get-well card from my father-in-law (Rick Schulz) and his girlfriend, Leslie.
And this is the inside of the card...

My recovery is going faster than scheduled. I went from crutches to a cane in less than two weeks time (I didn't start the crutches until the fourth day after surgery and I started the cane use two weeks after the surgery.). If anyone is holding out on hip replacement, don't. It's a wonderful thing. Johnny Out.

Recipes: Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Yield: 30 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4-1/2 ounces)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2/3 cup dried tart cherries
• 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
• Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife.
3. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
4. Place the sugar and the butter in a large bowl and beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended.
5. Add the vanilla and the egg and beat well.
6. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined.
7. Fold in the cherries and chocolate chips.
8. Drop the dough by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto a large baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
9. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes or just until set.
10. Remove the cookies from the oven. After they cool on the pan for five minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely before serving.

Recipes: Hollandaise Sauce

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Ingredients:

1. 1/4 cup butter
2. 1/4 cup cream
3. 2 egg yolks, beaten
4. 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
5. salt to taste
6. pinch of cayenne pepper
7. pinch of paprika
8. 1 teaspoon freshly minced parsley

Directions:

1. Melt butter in the top of a double boiler. Stir in cream and beaten egg yolks. Whisk together. Add salt and lemon juice. Cook over boiling water in a double boiler until mixture thickens, stirring constantly.
2. Remove from heat and beat with a whisk until light. Stir in cayenne pepper, paprika and freshly chopped parsley, if desired

Recipes: Forty-Niner Flapjacks

Forty-Niner Flapjacks

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sour milk (regular milk can be used)
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Water as needed

Directions:

This is a very old recipe from the California Gold Rush days. These flapjacks were very popular in the gold camps.

1. Mix the milk, cornmeal, flour and egg together.
2. Add the baking soda and salt, then mix. Add a little water if needed (if it looks too dry).
3. Drop dough (like pancakes) onto a greased skillet (medium heat).
4. When bubbles appear and the bottom of the flapjacks are browned, turn and cook until the other side is brown. Turn only once!

Surgery 6/22/07

Jonathon Ray had hip replacement surgery on 6/22/07. Here's a picture of the bone!!! You can see the cracks in the bone and that it is not shaped right. This is what was causing the pain and discomfort, actually all over his body.

Recipes: Fluffy German Apple Pancake

Puffy Apple Pancake

Skillet-browned apples topped with a light batter and baked--great for brunch or a late supper.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons margarine or butter (1/4 stick)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 6 medium-size Granny Smith or Newtown Pippin apples (about 2 pounds), peeled, cored, and each cut into 8 wedges
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In 12-inch skillet with oven-safe handle over medium-high heat, heat margarine or butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup water to boiling. Add apple wedges; cook about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are golden and sugar mixture begins to caramelize.
• Meanwhile, in blender at medium speed or in food processor with knife blade attached, blend eggs, milk, flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar until batter is smooth.
• When apple mixture in skillet is golden and lightly caramelized, pour batter over apples. Place skillet in oven; bake pancake 15 minutes or until puffed and golden. Serve immediately.

Each serving: About 180 calories, 4 g protein, 32 g carbohydrate, 5 g total fat (1 g saturated), 66 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium.

Recipes: '49er Flapjacks

'49er Pancakes

Ingredients:

·        1/2 Cup sourdough culture

·        1 Teaspoon sugar

·        2 Cup flour

·        1 Teaspoon Peanut Oil

·        1 Cup milk

·        1 Teaspoon baking powder

·        2 eggs

·        Butter

·        1/2 t salt

·        Maple Syrup

 Directions:

·        Stir up everything but the syrup & butter.

·        Can cook on greased inverted lid of the oven.

Sourdough starter: (Sourdough Culture)

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup cooled potato water (this really gets things going)
• 1 package bread yeast

Mix well and let stand in a warm area until there are no more signs of fermentation. (The solution will separate and no more bubbles are present.) Stir well, remove 1 cup of the contents and stir in another cup of flour or flour mix and a cup of water. Do not use "self-rising" flour!

Initially, the new starter is ready to use after 2-3 days, but it will not have that typical sourdough flavor until it has acquired some weeks or months of age.

Recipes: Lemon Delight Cheesecake

Lemon Delight Cheesecake

Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
• ¼ Cup Sugar
• ½ Cup Margarine, Melted
• 1 Env. Unflavored Gelatin
• 1/3 Cup Cold Water
• 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
• 3 Large Eggs, Separated
• ½ Cup Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Grated Lemon Peel
• 16 oz Cream Cheese, Softened (Or use 2 8-oz containers of Philly soft cream cheese.)
  

Directions:

• Combine crumbs, sugar and margarine; reserve 1/2 cup. Press remaining onto bottom of 9-inch spring-form pan.
• Soften gelatin in water, stir over low heat until dissolved. Add juice, egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, and peel; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat, 5 minutes.
• Gradually add to cream cheese, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended.
• Beat egg whites, until foamy; gradually add remaining sugar beating until stiff peaks form.
• Fold into cream cheese mixture; pour over crust.
• Top with reserved crumbs; chill until firm.

Mackenzie's 2nd Birthday

Health Update

Blogger isn't letting me publish pictures on here... when they fix the problem, I'll start publishing on here more. Sorry for not putting anything on here in a while.

As far as my health, I'm not really sure what to say. I'm in a lot of pain, since March 1st, 2007, I've been in the Emergency Room 5 times, accounting for 11 days in the hospital. That seems like a lot (probably because it is). I've told my friends I need to cut down a little. This is the latest news I have about my leg:

AP view of the pelvis and frogleg lateral view of the right hip.

FINDINGS: Views of the pelvis and right hip are remarkable for subchondral sclerosis an subchondral cystic change of the right femoral head. The joint spaces appear symmetric. . There is a round sclerotic density overlying the inferior medial right iliac wing adjacent to the SI joint.

IMPRESSION: Subchondral sclerosis and subchondral cystic change of the right femoral head the differential includes avascular necrosis and MRI may be of value. 2. Round sclerotic density in the right iliac wing adjacent to the inferior right SI joint. The differential includes a bone island and clinical correlation is recommended.

Now this sounds like a lot of doctor talk... and that's because it is. What it means, I have absolutely no idea. I haven't talked to the doctor about it. It could mean a many good deal of things, mostly of what I wouldn't like. The MRI is scheduled for Monday morning, following an appointment with the Pain Clinic, whom I may relieve them of their services. I didn't know pain clinics were supposed to cause you pain. I'm not into that.

Mackenzie is growing and beginning to talk quite well. His second birthday is already coming up. He spends a good deal of the day with his Grandma and Grandpa (Kathy and Gary) and his other Grandma, since I am on some strong pain-killers and walk slower than a one-legged turtle. Mackenzie, by-the-way, doesn't walk. He sits, stands, and runs. It's zero to sixty and nothing in between for the little guy. With as much energy as he has, he could power several major major cities and still have some left over.

Jenny is standing strong right now. It is tough for her, because it is tough for me. I really appreciate her strength right now. I don't know where I would be without it.

Recipes: Herb-Coated Halibut

Herb-Coated Halibut

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 thick halibut filets, 7 ounces each
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 4 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
• 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 tablespoons chopped mint
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

1. Drizzle olive oil into small sauté pan.
2. Combine the lemon zest, parsley, cilantro, mint, and pepper.
3. Coat the halibut in herb mixture. Allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
4. Season with salt. Drizzle with oil.
5. Sear halibut.
6. Place halibut in oven at 350°F for 5 to 7 minutes.
7. Set aside and cover with foil until serving.

Recipes: German Pancakes

German Pancakes - Dutch Babies

Makes 4 to 6 servings:

• 6 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup milk, room temperature
• 1 cup sifted bread flour or all-purpose flour*
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 tablespoons butter
• Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
• Powdered or confectioners sugar

Makes 2 to 4 servings:

• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup milk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sifted bread flour or all-purpose flour*
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 7 teaspoons butter
• Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
• Powdered or confectioners sugar

*Bread flour is a high-protein flour. The high protein help the pancakes raise. All-purpose flour may be substituted but the results won't be as spectacular.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. NOTE: It is very important that you preheat your oven. Place oven rack on the middle rack of your oven. Place a large, heavy ovenproof frying pan or a cat-iron-skillet (I like to use my 10-inch cast-iron skillet), in the oven until hot and sizzling. While pan is heating, prepare your batter.

NOTE: Use a shallow pan, not more than 3 inches deep (pie pans, cast-iron skillets, oven-proof fry pans, baking dishes, paella pans). Like I said before, I prefer using a cast-iron skillet or pan because it acts as a heat reservoir, retaining the heat and distributing it evenly.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light and frothy; add milk, flour, vanilla extract, and cinnamon; beat for 5 minutes more. The batter will be thin, but very smooth and creamy.

Using a pot holder, remove the hot skillet from the oven; add the butter; tilting the pan to melt the butter and coat the skillet. Pour the prepared batter into the hot skillet, all at once, and immediately return the skillet to the oven.

Bake approximately 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown (bake until the pancake puffs up around the edges - it may puff irregularly in the center).

Remove from oven and serve immediately. Either bring the pancake to the table in its pan or slide it onto a serving plate. Once out of the oven, the pancake will begin to deflate.

To serve, cut into serving-size wedges and transfer to individual serving plates. Top with your favorite topping and serve immediately. For a classic German Pancake/Dutch Baby, sprinkle with freshly squeezed lemon juice, and dust the top with powdered sugar.

Topping Ideas:

• Sifted powdered sugar
• Fresh applesauce with a dash of cinnamon
• Crushed pineapple, drained
• Whipped cream and sliced fresh strawberries
• Syrups (maple, your favorite fruit syrup, or honey)
• Canned pie filling, cold or warm

Recipes: Blueberry Crumble

Blueberry Crumble

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients for Filling

• 6 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Ingredients for Topping

• 3/4 cup rolled oats (not instant or quick cooking)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose white flour
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Preparation of Filling

1. Place the blueberries in a large bowl.
2. Add sugar and flour.
3. Place the mixture in an 8-inch square baking dish and sprinkle with lemon juice.

Preparation of Topping

1. In a large bowl, combine oats, white and whole wheat flours, sugar, and cinnamon. Blend together using your hands or a fork.
2. Work in the butter using a fork or the tips of your fingers until it is evenly distributed.
3. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the filling.

Bake the crumble at 375° for 30 minutes until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is lightly browned. Let it sit 20 minutes and serve warm.

Recipes: Atlantic King Salmon in Parchment

Atlantic King Salmon in Parchment

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 each 6 oz. portions of salmon
• 1 head fennel
• 2 leeks (white only)
• 1 red pepper
• 2 carrots
• 1 green pepper
• 24 pearl onions
• 12 fingerling potatoes or small yellow potatoes
• 1 artichoke
• 18 Shitake mushrooms
• 1 quart mussel or clam juice (canned juice is okay)
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 10 strands saffron

1. Vegetables: Cut into three long pieces the carrots, fennel, leeks, and red and green peppers. Sauté each vegetable separately in olive oil or butter until tender. Add chopped garlic. Salt and pepper to taste. Sauté pearl onions and potatoes in small amount of butter until golden and tender. Sauté the artichokes and Shitake mushrooms in garlic, butter, splash of white wine, and parsley.
2. Sauce: Bring to boil the mussel or clam broth and 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic. Reduce heat for 10 minutes. Add the tomato juice, saffron, chopped parsley, and lemon juice. Note: broth should have a nice tomato, garlic, and seafood taste. Adjust with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
3. Method: Take two 18 by 12-inch pieces of parchment paper and together fold them in half. Arrange the vegetables in the center of one-half of the open parchment. Season fish with salt and pepper and place it on the vegetables. Close the parchment paper like you're closing a book. Start at one corner and fold to form a bag. Before closing the bag, fill with broth. Seal the bag tight and bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 500 degrees. Peel open the top and serve.

Purina Dog-Food

This joke was an actual event of a friend of mine's father. He told her the story, sent it to my wife and then I altered it to this actual joke. The joke is his, the alterations are mine (which are many). All the same, enjoy!

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for my Labrador and waiting to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog... Duh! I was feeling a bit crabby. So on impulse, I told her “No, I was starting the Purina Diet again, although, I probably shouldn't, because I'd ended up in the hospital last time. I did however lose 50 pounds before awakening in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orificesand IV's in both arms.”

Her eyes about bugged out of her head.

I continued: “It is an easy, inexpensive diet and the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package says the food is nutritionally complete so I am going to try it again.”

Horrified, she asked, “Did something in the dog food poison you and that was why you ended up in the hospital?”

I said, “No… I'd been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me.”