Week of Sunday July 28th through Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 FRENCH ONION SMOTHERED PORKCHOPS recipe and SOUPY RICE recipe

 SUNDAY:  It was kind of a busy day.  It was the last Sunday of "LETS GO TO THE MOVIES" at Freedom Church.  The movie was YOUNG GIRL AND THE SEA, a true story about a swimmer who overcame hardship and was successful in swimming the English Channel and even went to the Olympics and won.  After church, Glenda, Lori, Marlene and I went to DENNY'S for lunch. During lunch, Marlene brought up a miniature golf event that she was planning.  She had not told me about it because I must have said I do not like miniature golf.  Also, she said, the only person who likes to hang out with me is Carolyn!!!!  Lori had to go to work but Glenda, Marlene and I went to THE COLONEL BOND HOUSE for this event. 

Betty told me about it the other day when I called to tell her about another event.  Unfortunately, it was terribly hot in the Bond House, since it is not air conditioned.  It really is a good exhibit though; each room highlights different decades and all three floors have been used for this exhibit.  The exhibit will be available until sometime in October.  After leaving the Bond House, Betty and Elaine went to a musical event in Johnson Creek.  Marlene, Glenda and I had agreed to go to the First Presbyterian Church for their free concert.  I left before Marlene and Glenda since I was so uncomfortable from the heat in the Bond House.  When I got to the church, I met up with Elaine, and then Ann Stimson.  I had invited her to the concert but was not sure if she was coming.  The concert was great.  We all enjoyed it.  And the air conditioning was working well!!  There were quite a lot of people there.

Chiaroscuro “Light & Dark”

Karen D’Angelo, Lyric Coloratura Soprano

After it was over, they had a reception including punch and cookies.

  Elaine was busy serving punch, but Ann, Marlene, Glenda and I stayed and visited and had refreshments.  I was really tired when I got home, mostly from the heat.  I crashed in my recliner in front of Xumo.  

MONDAY:  I puttered around the house in the morning, bagging up clothing to donate and choosing some of Carrie's clothing to take to Hoover Road, and then met up with Jan at the Y.  We walked about 35 minutes.  After leaving there, I went to Walmart to get a few items, and of course, purchased several items I had not planned on purchasing.  I had a meatloaf sandwich and canned beets for lunch, and I boiled some water in order to "steep" a few teabags for iced tea.  I took a short nap.  When I got up, I started to feel bored and was thinking of inviting someone over to play a game or two but then I walked out into the kitchen and remembered I still had clean dishes in the dishwasher and wanted to make a four-bean salad so I got busy.  I went out and straightened the inside of my car and I swept the front porch. I tried to reach Leslie and Becky by phone, without any success.  I did my homework for tomorrows Life Group.  

TUESDAY the 30th:  Becky called me at seven thirty this morning, waking me up.  I dropped my car off and picked up my rental car.  Ladies Life Group was very good and when it was over, Cindi, Glenda and I went to the Fieldstone for lunch.  I had the fish fry.  I had planned to go to RECOVERY CHURCH with Jan and her son, but I developed diarrhea shortly before it was time to leave.  I was able to reach Jan by phone before she left her apartment to tell her.  

WEDNESDAY:  Marlene and I talked on the phone this morning about our upcoming trip to Michigan.  We are going to head back to Lockport the morning after seeing the play RUTH in Sugarcreek.  We had tossed around the idea of taking an extra night and going to the Trolley Museum in Pennsylvania OR just stopping there before heading back to Lockport but neither one of us very comfortable with a long driving day which would include going to the TROLLEY MUSEUM in Pennsylvania.  I met up with Jan at the Y and we walked over 35 minutes.  I spent the rest of the day at home.  I scanned some of Peggy's pictures to her flickr account.  Becky called and we talked for a bit.  She has been busy getting ready for this weekend's BARKER YARD SALES.  She went to Recovery Church last night but got sick when she got home.  Peggy called and we discussed the idea of taking a walking tour in Buffalo next month.

THURSDAY:  I called Betty in the morning to ask if she knows of anything I can do to help Elaine Edmister-Vincent.  Al Edmister passed away yesterday.   Betty said Elaine is all set and will go with her stepchildren to Prudden and Kandt today to make arrangements.  Betty will let me know when a day and time are set for the funeral..  I went to the library to pick up a couple of books and to Niagara Produce for some pork chops.  I used this new recipe that I found. 

FRENCH ONION SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS

1. 350 degrees. Put your thin boneless pork chops in a 9×13 pan. 
2. Spread a container of your favorite flavor sour cream based dip over the pork chops. I used Party dip, but French Onion, Toasted Onion, Ranch and Dill, Bacon and Cheddar all work well. Feel free to change it up and use what’s available.  I USED use plain sour cream, just season your pork chops well with salt and pepper before spreading the sour cream over the pork chops.
3. Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheddar over the dip and then finish them off with a small can of crushed French fried onions. (I  the shreddFRENCH ONION SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS
   1. 350 degrees. Put your thin boneless pork chops in a 9×13 pan. 
   2. Spread a container of your favorite flavor sour cream based dip over the pork chops. I used Party dip, but French Onion, Toasted Onion, Ranch and Dill, Bacon and Cheddar all work well. Feel free to change it up and use what’s available.  I USED use plain sour cream, just season your pork chops well with salt and pepper before spreading the sour cream over the pork chops.
   3. Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheddar over the dip and then finish them off with a small can of French fried onions. (I skipped the shredded cheddar cheese.
   4. Put it in the oven and let it bake for about 35-45 minutes.    I liked them and will probably
   5.  make this again, but I will add more seasoning.  I thought I was pretty generous, but I really should have doubled up.  

   SOUPY RICE  I wanted to make this with Cream of Mushroom soup, but I didn't have any so I used a can of Tomato  Soup.  I mixed the soup with 1 and 1/3 cups of water in a pan and brought to a boil and then added two cups of Minute Rice and a few peas and turned the heat off, covered the pan for five minutes (actually more) When I saw that there was still some liquid left, I added some shredded cheese and let it sit a bit more.   I REALLY like this way of preparing rice.  
     Elaine had dropped off some fresh green beans and yellow beans and I steamed them in the microwave.  That was my supper.    Cindy and Jen agreed to come to ASP for the last four nights of my week!!!  I am so happy.  The three of us had such a good time when we were together for four nights two years ago.  I hope to find someone (or two people) to come for the first three nights.  If I can't, I might go by myself.  

FRIDAY August 2, 2024:  In the morning, I called Marlene and invited her to supper, and to spend some time going our trip plans.  We will leave on the 14th to go to Michigan.  I will visit Megan and Chris and Marlene will visit a friend who has a cottage.  She agreed.  I met up with Jan at the Y and we walked and talked.  I went home and made a coconut pie and then took a nap.   Marlene was close to a half hour late.  We had the pork chops and rice from last night, four bean salad, grilled zucchini and the pie for dessert.  Then we looked at maps and discussed our plans.  After Marlene left and I completed cleaning the kitchen, I found the series SIX SCHIZOPHRENIC MEN and started watching it.  It is a miniseries that Cassandra recommended.  Unfortunately, I could only watch the first episode on SPECTRUM, that is the only episode offered.  I don't know if they will offer the others.

SATURDAY:  Marlene called to tell me that she finalized plans for the MINIATURE GOLF GET TOGETHER: one p.m. at Rainbow Golf on Lincoln Avenue. I called several people to as if they wanted to participate, without any success.  Before going there, I went to the basket raffle at the UAW.  I didn't participate since I did not see any baskets that I liked.  When I got to the miniature golf place (associated with the bowling alley next door), Marlene was there with Russell and Chris, a couple I have met but did not really know.  Vicky and Ron arrived a little bit later.  We all paid for and played 18 holes of miniature golf.  We had a lot of fun.  Vicky got TWO holes in one!!  Unfortunately, this miniature golf course has not been taken care of for a while, and it needs to be cleaned up and some repairs done.  We don't know who in our group won since we did not add up the scores.  When we were done, we went to RJ's for ice cream.  I had a hot fudge sundae with dairy free ice cream.  it was pretty good. We stayed and talked for a while. Both Ron and Russell are going through chemotherapy.  Russell for fourth stage lung cancer (you wouldn't know it from watching him) and Ron will start very soon for mesothelioma.  The others were still comparing notes when Marlene and I left.  

Becky called to tell me that Linn Beachy passed away.  He was an Amish man who lived across the road from Peggy and David before they moved to Lockport.  He and his wife (Marilyn, who I met a couple of times) had moved from Middleport to North Carolina, taking some of their older children with them.  A couple of the older boys stayed behind to run the lumber business.  Becky is pretty shook up since she knew the family well, from the MANY times she transported them to and from medical appointments, etc.  I called Peggy to make sure she and David know since they had gotten to know the Beachy's pretty well, too.  David transported various members of their family to various places.