Blueberries and Leaving the Freezer door open

Someone left the freezer door ajar, I'm not naming names (because it was probably me, but I'm trying to put the blame on my husband)  but it was open all night.

We have this turkey we are saving for the hippy boys birthday dinner. He has gotten into the habit of asking for Thanksgiving dinner for his birthday dinner so we get an extra Turkey in November and save it for his day. Then we have turkey and all the fixins' for his birthday because he says he is thankful for gravy (I also have 8 cups of turkey stock frozen so I can make turkey gravy).

Well, the turkey moved just enough to keep the door ajar (I think it was when Dave was returning my water bottles to the freezer from changing them from my ice pump for my foot). Everything in the freezer stayed frozen, albeit frosty now, but the items in the door did thaw. The door holds the last bit of last year's berries. The cranberries were fine, cold and they will refreeze, but the blueberries were a ziplock of liquid. There was nothing to do but make blueberry sauce and use it in something.

I make a basic sauce - 1/2 cup sugar (or non sugar sweetener of your choice) to every two cups of blueberries and a bit of fresh lemon juice - then I use it for many different things...pancakes, ice cream, cake topping, tarts...the list goes on. Today I was craving a cheesecake, so I made a creamy cheesecake and topped slices with it. The cheesecake was creamy and sweet and the blueberries were a tangy addition.

It is too bad that Dave can't eat dairy...I guess I'll just have to eat this whole cheesecake myself, well I guess I'll share with my mom and dad! 

Basic Blueberry Sauce
(Alaskan blueberries are more tart than commercial berries, so adjust the sugar to your liking)

4 cups blueberries
1 cup confectioners Swerve, or sweetener of choice
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients, stirring to melt the sugar, and bring to a boil.  Boil 10-12 minutes or until reduced by about half.  Mixture will thicken as it cools.

1 year ago:    Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut with Roasted Tomato Cream
3 years ago:   Grapenut Bread for my Dad
5 years ago:   The Curly Haired Boy's Wedding

July 15, 2019  Sunrise 3:52 am  Sunset 11:58 pm  Temp. H 78/ L 56°F

Grandma's Naughty Dinosaurs

I have some naughty dinosaurs.  Every time Gman visits, those dinos get into so much trouble!  They get into things, they make messes, they wreak havoc all over the house.  This summer was no different.
Gman is potty training so the dinos were very interested in that process, as shown with the first two mornings Gman woke up.

Grandma thought it would be funny to eat one of the dino droppings, they were chocolate covered raisins, but Gman was totally disgusted and upset.  Grandma couldn't get him to try one.

The next morning the dinos were doing a little better with the big boy potty...

It wasn't all about the bathroom though.  One morning they were playing with Gman's trucks.

And one morning they helped themselves to hot chocolate.

                                                

They even had a slumber party in Gman's bed while we were out camping.  We came home from our camping trip to this!

Those naughty dinosaurs are busy little guys.

July 12, 2019   Sunrise 3:42 am  Sunset 12:11 am  Temp. H71/ L 58

1 year ago:    Chicken Salad, Gman's visit and other Summer Fun

3 years ago:   Zip Line in Talkeetna

5 years ago:   Good Blood Work and Chicken with Tomato & Onion chutney

Keto Pina Colada

During my recovery, for yet another body part that doesn't work right, I had some antibiotics and some pain medication.  So no adult beverages for me.

I was looking for something that could be my non-adult drink of the week that the DIL would like too when they came to visit (because she is having a baby!).  I thought about a pina colada and how sweet and refreshing they are.  I had pineapple extract in the cupboard and there are several keto options on Pinterest, so I started to taste test some of the recipes.

Then one the of blog I read had a drink called a Lava Flow where she added strawberries to half of the mixture and combined them, so I had to try it.  You can add rum if you want, but it is delicious just the way it is, and it is delicious without the strawberries too.

With Fairbanks getting into the mid 80's these last couple of weeks, these go down pretty easy.  Keep in mind they have about 110 calories each, and while I don't usually count calories I can't do anything but sit for the next couple of weeks, I am trying to be more careful.

Keto Layered Pina Colada

1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
juice of 1 lime
coconut stevia or stevia glycerite, or sweetener of choice
1 tsp. pineapple extract
1 cup ice
1/2 cup frozen strawberries

In a blender, combine coconut milk, lime juice, sweetener, pineapple extract and ice.  Blend until smooth.  Pour half into two glasses.  Add strawberries to remaining drink, blend until smooth, pour over top of drink.  Garnish with a fresh strawberry half, if desired.
serves two

*you can add white rum if you want or try rum extract

July 10, 2019  Sunrise 3:35 am  sunset 12:16 am  Temp. H 85/ L 60°F

The Passing of June

My dad, my son and my grandson.

I don't know where June went, it was May a couple of days ago and now it is July.  I hate it when time passes so quickly, you almost feel like you missed it.

I will say, I was pretty busy in June. 

My mom and dad arrived to spend the summer with us.

I went to California to visit the Baby Boy and his Chick. We went to a baseball game and on a whale watching tour.

I worked in Texas and got to have dinner with my niece, Kaitlin. (We were so busy talking I forgot to take a picture!)

I had a long weekend with Gman and his people in Seattle on my way home from work.

We went on a bubble "run"

Gman just needed a quick rinse and his bath was done!

My sister in law and two of her daughters, with their children, came to Fairbanks to go camping.

The Blond Boy and The Cali DIL came up for a wedding and we got to visit.

I had surgery on my foot.

Then it was July and Gman and his people came for a week...

Riding 4-wheelers with Grandpa...Gman is waiting for his helmet.

Great Grandpa, Gman, Great Grandma

Fruit bar on a hot Fairbanks Day

Airplane rides are so much fun!

...and now I am back to work.

Whew, and I've only been camping 2 1/2 times (the 1/2 because I had to leave early on the camping trip with my sister in law).

So I was very busy, gone part of the time and off my foot for a while so I haven't spent much time in the kitchen. 

I get the stitches out of my foot tomorrow so I hope I will be able to walk on it and then I'll get back to the stove!  I have several recipes I want to try.

I hope your June was fun, busy and full of family too.  I hope July doesn't pass quite so fast.


July 8, 2019  Sunrise  3:29 am  Sunset 12:22 am  Temp. H 80/ L 61°F

1 year ago:   Meet Mooree
3 years ago: Lemon Bar Mug Cake and the Weak Stomach
5 years ago: Patriotic Pie