Where?

The holidays are over and I wanted (hoped) to be working steadily by now. But I guess this 'Polar Vortex' in the nation is keeping things at a standstill.

Pops and I are in Savannah, GA.

I wonder where we might end up going?

But when I see the long lines of traffic stopped because of accidents and trucks sitting still with fuel that has turned to gel, truckstops and rest areas packed full with no parking (or toilet paper), businesses closed down, foul moods and road rage, I believe I want no part of those adventures.

Steel-cut Oatmeal

Seems like a good morning for some steel-cut oatmeal and a thick slice of toasted homemade bread with butter and apple butter. 

Yum. Is anyone coming by Savannah, GA that can bring some of that to us?

Steel-cut Oatmeal

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup steel cut oats

3 cups boiling water

1 cup evaporated milk

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

In a large saucepot, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes to toast. Add the boiling water and reduce heat to a simmer. Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes, without stirring.

Combine the 1/2 the milk with the oatmeal. Stir gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Spoon into a serving bowl and top with remaining milk, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

I like to add walnuts and raisins to mine also.

Lady and Sons Chicken Pot Pie

Pops and I are in Savannah, GA. This is home to Paula Dean's Restaurant, Lady and Son. One of the all time favorite menu items there is the Chicken Pot Pie. 

Here is the recipe.

Lady and Sons Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

4 sheets frozen puff pastry

1 egg, beaten

4 chicken breast halves, or 2 cups leftover cooked chicken

Seasoned salt and pepper

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1/3 cup butter

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 quart heavy cream

1/4 cup chicken base

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 small yellow onion, minced

1 cup frozen green peas, cooked

1 cup chopped cooked carrots

Pinch fresh grated nutmeg, optional

Special equipment: 4 (2-cup) individual baking dishes

Directions

Crust:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut each sheet of frozen puff pastry into 1-inch strips, 8 inches long. On a large cookie sheet, weave strips into a lattice large enough to cover each pot pie. Brush beaten egg onto each lattice square. Bake for 5 minutes, or until dough has risen and turned light golden brown. Set aside until ready to assemble pies. Leave oven on at 350 degrees F.

Filling:

Season chicken with seasoned salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and saute until cooked through. Remove from heat and cut into chunks. Alternatively, you may use precooked chicken.

In a large saucepan, melt butter and then slowly add flour, stirring until consistency of peanut butter, but not brown like a roux. Slowly add cream and keep stirring. Add chicken base, garlic, and onion and stir until thickened. Add peas, carrots, nutmeg, if using, and cut up chicken. Remove from heat. Fill 4 individual oven-proof bowls with chicken mixture and then top each with a pre-cooked lattice square. Bake for 5 minutes or until bubbly. Any remaining pie filling may be frozen.

Lucy

I just entered Lucy in a contest. It is a contest by Dana Perino of The Five. If we win we will get a calendar of Dana's dog Jasper. 

The contest rules were that we had to post a picture of our pet with a haiku poem.

Nonipops loves Lucy.

She goes everywhere with us.

Truckers with their dog.

Good quote

Our grandson, Derrick is in the military and uses this quote. 

I like it.

Name your enemy. Is it diabetes, cancer, tiredness, depression, military opposition, etc? 

Pudding Dessert

Pudding Dessert

Ingredients

  1 cup all-purpose flour

  1/4 c. chopped pecans

  1/2 c. butter, melted

  8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

  1 tub whipped topping, divided

  1 1/2 cup cold  milk

  2 small boxes instant pudding mix

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the flour, pecans and butter; press into an ungreased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth; fold in 1/2 cup whipped topping. Spread over crust.

In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Spread over cream cheese mixture. Spread with remaining whipped topping. Chill until serving. Top with sprinkled nuts.

New Year

Pops and I are off to a slow start since leaving home late Christmas night. We took a load that picked up in Connecticut and was going to Florida.

I was glad to be leaving the cold weather.

We sure did enjoy our short visit home. Three days is such a short time.

We made good time on our first load and delivered it on Friday. We decided to slowly make our way up and out of Florida so that we would have a better chance of getting a load. We did plan on spending some time at Vero Beach on Saturday.

Late in the evening on Friday, both of us started to get sick. So many of our family and friends were sick so it figured that we would catch it. We were both so sick on Saturday that neither of us even wanted to get out of bed. So....we skipped stopping at the beach. 

Between the two of us we managed to drive to the Florida/Georgia line.

We got up the next morning and got showered and went to church. We attended Golden Isles Christian Church where our friends, Joe and Elenora Guthrie attend. Joe was teaching and preaching this day.

After church we went to eat with them. Then we visited at their home for awhile. It was so nice getting to be with them.

We both took a nap in the afternoon and then went back to church for a singspiration. It was a really nice day.

On Monday we got a load that picked up in Atlanta and was going to Louisiana. So we knew that we would be spending New Year's Eve near New Orleans. What we didn't know was that we would sit there until Friday before we would get another load. Ugh! It was so frustrating, but it was nice to have our tv going again. We haven't used it in over a year!!!

I cooked pork and sauerkraut in the crockpot and made some mashed potatoes. 

On Friday we got a load that delivers in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday. After we delivered that we drove up to the Florida/Georgia line. So here we are. Unless we get a load during the night we are planning to go back to Golden Isles Christian Church again tomorrow.

I wish that we were running more but there is a massive winter storm in the north with very cold temps. so I will be content in the south for now.