1. I usually put fat free half & half or skim milk in my coffee. But once in awhile, I put chocolate milk in it. It gives it a mocha flavor. Try it sometime!
2. I made finger jello for the school picnic this past weekend. To make the plate more colorful, I made 2 pans of jello and made sure that the colors on the bottom and top of the pans were all different. Then, when I went to put them on a plate, I flipped some one way and some the other way and it looked more colorful with red, yellow, purple, and green on top. Do you have no clue what I mean? Here’s a picture:
As opposed to less colorful, like this:
3. I just found out that if you want an egg at room temperature because it beats nicer and fluffier, you can put it in the microwave for 10 seconds, shell and all, instead of letting it sit out till it’s room temp. I tried it and it does feel room temp when I comes out. I didn’t check if it’s that temp the whole way thro’ though.
4. And because this is a cooking site, I’ll post a couple pictures of the tables laden with food at the school picnic. The food was inside, but we ate outside. At the other end of the table in this first picture is the hot stuff… chicken breasts and shish-ka-bobs both off the grill, baked beans, hot dogs, and macaroni and cheese.
Then the salads.
Then the desserts.
What would you fill your plate with?
5. And even though this has NOTHING to do with cooking, I’m putting it on anyway. We church ladies made and quilted this friendship quilt for our school teacher this year. The school teacher is on the right. Her talented mom, who is on the left, handpainted those beautiful roses around the edge and the ones at the top. She used fabric paints and it is just so beautiful! 
Ok, we’ll stick to cooking now, just couldn’t resist that one. I do see an apple on that one quilt block, though…
Comments
19 Responses to “Miscellaneous thoughts and pictures…”
Looking at that made me so hungry!
Wow, that quilt is beautiful—and I see more than one apple, so it’s OK to have on a cooking site.
I’ll bet that you took an empty plate home, didn’t you? That finger jello looks like a real kid-pleaser. (It even appeals to me!) I’ll have to remember your tip; it would make a great b-day party treat, too.
What delicious-looking food! That beautiful quilt is a lovely gift!
How do you make the finger jello? It is so colorful!
Great idea for the finger jello. I’ll bet it took about a day to make it though, till you chilled each layer and added a new layer at a time. That quilt is positively lovely.
Your Jell-O fingers looked FABULOUS! BIG difference doing it the way you did.
Why, you start at the dessert table while everyone is wasting calories on the regular food table…no line either
The quilt is gorgeous! I always wanted a quilting bee before I got married, but my aunt that was going to throw one for me is now sick and bedridden
No one made me a wedding quilt *sobs* I LOVE quilts…they are such a comfort as you look at each loving stitch.
wow, mouth watering deserts!!! HA! I think i would start there. Just dont let my children see, right! IT all looks so yummy.
The quilt is gorgeous, it would look nice on my bed. lol. the roses on there are beautiful.
We’ve tried your finger jello many times…..adults love it as much as the kiddos!
Replying to the finger jello comments and questions…
For how to do it, the ‘finger jello’ in red letters at the beginning of the second paragraph is a link to the recipe with step by step pictures. And, good news, it actually doesn’t take all day. Once everything is room temp, it takes my fridge 7 minutes to gel a layer. And it doesn’t take twice as long to make 2 pans of jello because you can do them at the same time, if you have room in the fridge for 2 9×13 pans. My friend said hers took a half hour between layers, though, when she tried it. We keep our fridge set very cold though, so maybe that’s the diff. Oh, and yeah, the plate had only a few pieces left on it when I brought it home.
That food looks brilliant. I love the colourful jelly you made too. I have never seen it like that before.
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I love foodie blogs.
Kate
The Jello is amazing! I must try it.
Okay, I’ve been lurking here for quite some time loving your posts, but I had to comment for two reasons:
First, what a great idea to switch the colors up on the jello like that & then flip some. Duh, I never would have thought of that, yet I love how it looks!
Second, the quilt is beautiful. What a lovely gift for the teacher. I can’t imagine receiving such a wonderful gift!!
Loving your blog. You cook like I do: mostly simple, home cooked meals & yummy desserts!! Thanks so much for sharing so many wonderful recipes!
Ummm, I love carry in’s with food like that.
I also love jello as much as a kid does so I bet I could eat that whole plate. 
Another way to quickly bring an egg to room temperature is to put it in hot water for a few minutes…and all that food looks delicious, although I’m not very hungry right now, after my morning coffee and bowl of cheerios!
Yummm! I’m just finishing up my tea and a piece of cranberry walnut bread but I could definitely make a dent in the dessert table! I love potlucks – especially at my church, those women really know how to cook! The 2nd Thursday of each month we have a sewing group that gets together to make clothes and blankets for various orphanages around the world and we always have a potluck lunch. I think I’ll make your jello recipe for the next one. I think the ladies would get a kick out of the design – might even inspire a special blanket for some child!
Thanks again for your wonderful blog and God bless you!
Gorgeous quilt! I’m also wondering how i could get the dress the teacher is wearing…
You are right. Those are beautiful roses on a beautiful quilt. And the plate of finger jello was very beautiful too. Maybe I could make a quilt using those colors and designs. What do you think?
I meant… Make a quilt using the colors and designs of the plate of finger jello.
Loved seeing all the pictures of the school picnic, etc… especially seeing how the quilt turned out, it’s beautiful!! Sure thought about everyone on Saturday…always loved those days, sort of a kick-off to the summer festivities