Thanks everyone! I'm just getting in... We didn't do the massage thing or end up at a club.... we met friends at Chili's (because they have happy hour all day every day) and after 6 long island iced teas, I didn't feel like doing a whole lot except giggling and being silly! Our server looked just like Jessica from True Blood.... I mentioned this to her after about the 4th Long Island and she said she was told that all the time and that she loves the show and that she now recognizes that she does look like that character/actress after her customers pointed it out to her. When she found out it was my birthday, she told me that just had a birthday 2 days ago and she was even born the same year I was.... that was funny! As is common with many of the restaurants in Orlando, there was a "balloon lady", and while I wasn't looking, Larry asked her if she could make a vacuum cleaner out of a balloon. She said she'd never done it before, but she really did a good job.... Here's a picture of me with my "new vacuum".... excuse the goofy grin.... I was "very happy" there after all those drinks.... After we had drinks at Chili's, Larry was hungry so we went to a vegetarian restaurant and I got some fake beef and some fake shrimp wraps with peanut sauce.... very good! Larry got sushi and fake steak. Yes, Jasper knows that he is loved and in complete control... the arrogant little thing is demanding my attention right now. Pat, that would be great. I've met a few CF members before (Cathy, Shaun, a few others) and it was a total blast. Just let me know... if I don't see it on the forum, e-mail me privately when you think you might be coming up! Annie, a camouflage cake does sound pretty redneck.... but I don't know if either of us can truly claim the title until we've been commissioned to make a cake like this :o) I didn't make this, just found it online, but I have some family members that would love it! I guess I should try to chime in more often :o) Thanks again guys

Here are some more vegetarian recipes that I compiled some years ago. I didn't compare the ingredients with your dislikes Bobby but you may want to have a look at these: RECIPE: Vegetarian Recipes from Spain Posted by Canarybird (My Page) on Mon, Oct 4, 04 at 8:01 Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo) ------------------------------- A garlic soup recipe from the Island of Mallorca. Ingredients: 9 oz (250 grams approx) *shaved dry brown bread 6 garlic cloves 6 fine stalks spring onions 1 small cabbage 2 medium size ripe tomatoes fresh Italian parsley 1/2 cup good quality olive oil 1 teaspoon red sweet pimento powder (paprika) salt water * Note: this refers to a type of local bread often used in soups (sopas) as a way of using up stale bread. It's a round, flat and heavy tan-coloured dense country bread loaf which is sliced crosswise paper thin, the cut pieces having a half-moon shape and being as thin as a slice of salami. (An electric meat slicer does the job well if you can find a heavy loaf of brown country bread.) Method: Heat the oil in an open, shallow casserole dish and add the peeled garlic cloves; remove them when browned and set aside. Add the finely chopped spring onions to the oil and when lightly golden add the finely chopped cabbage. Stir fry together then add the pimiento powder and enough water to cover all. Mash the browned garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle, add a little water to dilute the paste then add to the casserole. Season with salt and cook until tender at a low heat on the stove top. Then add the bread slices, scooping up the cabbage mixture and piling it on top of the bread to sink it down. Let return to a boil and remove from the stove. This soup is usually brought to the table and served out of the same casserole. I don't have a photo of the finished product but I do have my Mallorquin clay casserole which is what is normally used. (photo of dish with another recipe in it) I brought mine from Mallorca 20 years ago and whatever comes out of it tastes wonderful. It works equally well in the oven or on an open gas flame. Baked Lettuce & Cheese (Lechuga al Queso) ----------------------------------------------------- For 2 persons: 2 heads of lettuce 4 TBS butter 4 TBSP grated cheese salt, white pepper and water 1) Remove damaged outer leaves from lettuce, wash and put in saucepan in boiling salted water. Cook 10 minutes. 2) Remove from pan and rinse under cold water. Drain. 3) Cut each lettuce in two lengthwise, fold the pieces in half and place them in a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with pepper and cheese and dot with the rest of the butter. 4) Put the dish in the oven for about 5 minutes and serve the dish at the table. Source: 'Cocina Balear' - Ana Maria Calera Spanish Poor Man's Style Potato Casserole -( Patatas a Lo Pobre) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Serves 5 as a side dish: 2 lbs potatoes 1 onion 1 small green pepper 1 small tomato, sliced 1/3 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 TBSP chopped parsley 1 bay leaf 1/4 teasp thyme 1/4 teasp sweet paprika (or saffron) 1/4 cup white wine 1/4 cup water salt & pepper 1) Peel potatoes and slice fairly thinly. Peel and slice onions. Cut peppers in strips. 2) Pour a little of the oil into the bottom of a flame-proof earthenware casserole or oven-safe pan. Arrange alternating layers of potatoes, onions, green peppers and tomato slices, sprinkling each layer with some of the chopped garlic and parsley. 3) Break the bay leaf into pieces and tuck them among the potatoes with the thyme. Sprinkle with the paprika and pour over the remaining oil. 4) Place the casserole on a medium heat just until potatoes start to sizzle. Add the wine and water. Season with salt & pepper. 5) When the liquid comes to a boil, cover the casserole and put in a medium oven (350F/180C) until potatoes are tender, about 45 minutes. Let the casserole rest 10 minutes before serving. Adapted from: 'Tapas and More Great Dishes from Spain' - Janet Mendel Fresh Garden Peas with Lettuce -------------------------------------- 1 large onion, sliced 1 young lettuce, broken into largish pieces 1/2 lb fresh peas butter sugar - about 1 TBSP salt & pepper 1) Sauté a large sliced onion in a little butter, then transfer to a large saucepan, add lettuce and shelled peas. 2) Add a little more butter, salt & pepper to taste and the sugar. Mix well and add a little water. Bring to the boil and then simmer very slowly with lid on, until peas are tender, about seven minutes. Source: 'The Bar we Found' - Anne Oates - Palma de Mallorca 1972 Danish Style Cauliflower and Cheese Sauce ---------------------------------------------------- 1 large white cauliflower 1 TBSP butter 1 TBSP flour 2 cups milk 2 egg yolks 1 cup grated cheese sugar, salt breadcrumbs 1) Boil the cauliflower until nearly tender. Drain and place in a baking dish. 2) Make a white sauce with the butter, flour and milk. Stir in the egg yolks and then the grated cheese. Season with sugar and salt. 3) Separate the cauliflower into pieces and pour over the sauce. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, dabs of butter and place in hot oven. Bake until golden brown and serve. Source: 'The Bar we Found' - Anne Oates - Palma de Mallorca 1972 Curried Potato Salad ------------------------- 6 large potatoes 1 cup tart French dressing 4 hard boiled eggs chopped onion chopped celery chopped green pepper salt heaping TBSP curry powder 1) Boil potatoes in their jackets. When cool enough to handle, remove skins and slice potatoes into large bowl. 2) While still warm, coat slices with French dressing which has been mixed with the curry powder, and leave to penetrate while the potatoes are cooling down. Then add other ingredients and mix them in lightly taking care not to disturb the shape of the potatoes. 4) Crisp in the refrigerator before serving. Source: 'The Bar we Found' - Anne Oates - Palma de Mallorca 1972 ********************** I was never sure if this really originated in Cuba. But it's a very simple dish which I used to see in Mallorca in small family restaurants and still see today on restaurant menus. I also made it when my girls were small. For three people: 3 ripe bananas 3 eggs rice - three servings tomato sauce or puré - about 1 cup S & P oil or butter 1) Boil the rice until tender in salted water. Drain. 2) Split the bananas lengthwise and sauté gently in butter or oil. 3) Heat the tomato sauce. 4) Fry the eggs in butter or oil keeping yolks runny. 5) Arrange the rice in the centre of each plate, with a banana half on each side, cover the rice with an egg and pour sauce over top. Add salt & pepper. Poached eggs instead of fried are also good. ************************ This is one of those 'survival'-type dishes - it is now served in some of the top restaurants of the Balearic Islands. It's so easy to make as well. Vegetable & Bread Stew from Mallorca - This is a much loved hearty meatless peasant dish from the Balearic island of Mallorca. Although called 'sopas' or soup, it is actually a stew-like combination of available winter vegetables such as chard, cabbage and cauliflower cooked in water, oil, garlic, paprika and salt, which is then poured over thinly-shaven slices of dry salt-free country bread - called sopas - which are a day or two old. These thin bread slices are available in nearly every corner 'colmado' - as the small neighbourhood grocery stores are called. Those who have grown up with sopas Mallorquinas on the table will probably always look forward to having it again, and again. You can prepare this dish and have it ready in less than an hour. Ingredients for 4 persons: 1/2 lb (200 grams) of thinly shaven slices of country bread (Website showing photos of loaf). A dense country-style bread is needed for this and it should be stale, dry and sliced paper thin. - about 8 young leaves & stems - roughly chopped small cabbage - Chinese cabbage if possible - roughly chopped 1 onion cut in julienne handful of - roughly chopped - (quantity as in foto) cauliflower - a few florets broken in pieces 1 ripe tomato, peeled and diced 2 teasp sweet paprika powder 4 TBS olive oil 2 green peppers - cut in large dice 2 - 2 1/2 cups water optional: chicken stock cube salt fresh ground black pepper 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed 1) Put the oil in a shallow flame-proof earthenware or ceramic casserole (eg Corning Ware or similar). When oil is hot, add the onion, green pepper and garlic. Saute without browning. 2) Add the tomato and the large diced vegetables. Sweat the vegetables and blend in the paprika powder. Season with salt & fresh ground pepper. 3) Add the water and let simmer gently for about 15 - 20 minutes, then taste to check seasoning. (Note: After pouring in the water I added a Knorr chicken stock cube, broken up and scattered over top.) 4) Once vegetables are tender, turn off stove, remove them from the pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a warm bowl, leaving the broth in the casserole dish. There should be about an inch of broth. 5) Arrange the thin shaven slices of dry bread over the bottom of the casserole dish so the broth is totally absorbed, and put the vegetables back in the casserole on top of the bread. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving at the table. 6) Serve at the table in the same earthenware casserole dish. NOTES: The bread used in this recipe is typical to Mallorca and is a simple bread made of unbleached partially whole wheat flour, water and yeast. It is therefore dense and able to absorb the broth without becoming mushy. There are many variations of 'sopas mallorquinas' as the ingredients depend on what is available in the garden at the time. However those listed above are the main ones used and will give the true flavour of this dish. SharonCb

I certainly don't think I've stolen the cat. There are always posters of lost/found pets at the mailboxes, so I posted them on all the mail centers and in the stairwells of the apartments with e-mail address and phone number. If the people cared about the cat they could have put a collar with a tag on him instead of the crusty flea collar that I found him in. Jasper's vet is just down the street from the complex, so I will go there to see if anyone reported a lost cat. I've been waiting to have him vaccinated and neutered to see if anyone claims him yet, but I have an appointment for Monday at the low cost animal care shelter to get that taken care of. If I spend money on that and then someone claims him, they will have to reimburse me for the expense. They should have done it in the first place. I don't feel like a hero or a theif. If someone calls with an accurate description of the cat and pays me for the medical expense they can have it back. Until or unless that happens, I am going to be a good steward with the life that has been (even if temmporarily) entrusted to me by happenstance or the great Universe or whatever you believe in and enjoy every second of it. Maybe there are people on this forum who would rather me turn the cat back onto the streets so he can get run over by cars or eaten by predators in hopes that he will wander back to his original "owners". I placed an add on Craigs List. I've gotten 3 offers for Viagra and one offer to make a million dollars a month to work at home from a textile shop based in the UK. Then the add was flagged. There is a point at which you have to draw the line. Maybe I should quit my job and just knock on every door in the state until someone says the lost the cat I have found. Then I will be able to sleep at night since I'm such a horrible person! Some people!

Thanks Cathy, but I'd rather you think of me when you are vacuuming with your Dyson or dropping food all over the floor or burning yourself with the oven! I've stopped shopping at Big Lots as everything I've ever gotten there has been junk (microwave, trash can, floor shampooer, electric scrubber, knives, stock pots, and too many other things to mention). The only purchase I have been happy with from Big Lots was the chocolate candy bar, which worked just fine. I have the waist line to prove it! :o) I just got a set of Farbarware knifes... I figured a 50 dollar set is better than a 10 dollar set. I know I should have gotten really expensive individual knives from Henckles or Whustof or some other such brand, but I don't want to spend crazy money during this economy. At least they are red and match the other things in the kitchen. So far, I'm in love with the mini santoku knife... it's sooo handy! From what I came from, I really feel like these knives are "good". It's all relative! I wanted to post the brine and bread recipes in case anyone was curious. The Brine http://southernfood.about.com/od/wholeturkeyrecipes/r/bl61130c.htm The Bread http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rich-White-Bread/Detail.aspx The bread had a soft crust which I personally love. Though I have vintage, powerful, quality food processor, it was overwhelmed by the amount of flour in this recipe... the motor slowed and whined and the dough threw the blade off the shaft. So, be careful.. maybe do half of the recipe at a time or something.