We had a very nice Thanksgiving. The four of us-hubby, Meghan, MIL and myself went to my Dad and Granny's for a combined family celebration. I made a baked acorn squash and cranberry oatmeal bars (Finally found use for those cranberries I'd had in the freezer). I'll post recipes in another entry.

( Pics )

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/11/lego-ct-scan.html

I think this is neat.

We-my husband, my daughter, my MIL and myself-are going to my grandmother and dad's place. It's a traditional menu and this year is the first that I'm making something. I'm making an acorn squash dish and cranberry cookie bars.

http://www.peopleofpublictransit.com/801

Who cares if it's not St. Patrick's Day? My husband has worn a kilt on more than one occasion-he wore one to the Blackmore's Night concert, as a matter of fact. And of course, to our wedding.

And it is NOT a fucking skirt.

John "Jordan" Lewis was sentenced to death today for the Oct. 31, 2007, fatal shooting of Police Officer Chuck Cassidy during a doughnut shop robbery in North Philadelphia.-more here

see more Epic Fails

01. FIRST NAME
Anne

02. AGE
34

03. LOCATION
Aldan, Pa

04. OCCUPATION
Mother

05. PARTNER?
Married to fyrfitrmedic since 2006, together since 2003

06. KIDS?
Meghan, 2

07. BROTHERS/SISTERS
Jessica-33, Jonathan, 15, Emily 13 (youngest two are half-sibs through my Mom and Step-Dad)

08. PETS
Someday

09. LIST THE 3/5 BIGGEST THINGS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE
-Meghan's sleeping issues
-Prepping for Thanksgiving
-Looking for some sort of one day daycare or preschool program for Meghan


10. PARENTS
Mom has been deceased since May '07. Dad lives near my sister, and I still see my step-Dad from time to time

11. WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS?
I'm closer to my family. I've always been a bit of a loner. I tend not to get too close to people for a very long time.

ORANGE-PINEAPPLE PORK CHOPS
4 (6 oz.) center cut loin pork chops, 1/2 inch thick
Vegetable cooking spray
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. unsweetened pineapple juice, divided
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1 med. orange, peeled and sectioned
Trim all fat from pork chops. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Place over medium-high heat until hot. Add chops and brown on each side. Season with salt and pepper. Add 3/4 cup pineapple juice and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes or until pork is tender.
Combine cornstarch, remaining 1/4 cup pineapple juice, and allspice in a bowl. Stir into skillet and cook until thickened and bubbly, stirring constantly. Add oranges and cook until heated through. Makes 4 servings

I used crushed pineapple and it made a nice variation. Keep an eye on the pork as it simmers-if you use thin sliced chops it will not take nearly as long.

I served this dish with baked potatoes and brown sugar glazed carrots. For the carrots, cook in a small amount of boiling water in a covered pan until tender, and melt 2 tablespoons of butter, margarine, or veggie oil and 6 tablespoons of brown sugar in a skillet-I used margarine. Add carrots and turn until well-glazed.

Vegetarian Feijoada

5 1/2 C. dried black beans, soaked and drained

1 T. canola oil

1 large yellow onion, diced

2 medium red or green bell peppers, diced

1 large tomato, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (6 oz.) chipotle peppers, chopped

2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes, butternut squash or white potatoes

2 t. dried thyme leaves

2 T. dried parsley

1 t. salt

4 C. cooked white or brown rice

In a medium saucepan, place the beans in plenty of water and cook for about 1 hour, over medium heat, until tender. Drain, reserving 2 C. cooking liquid.

In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion, bell peppers, tomato, garlic and chipotle peppers and saute for 8-10 minutes. Add the beans, reserved cooking liquid, sweet potatoes and thyme and cook for 25-30 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Stir in the parsley and salt and cook for 5-10 minutes more. Spoon the rice into bowls and ladle the feijoada over the top.

Makes 8-10 servings.

I omitted the tomato, chipolte peppers, thyme and parsley, used regular black beans undrained and just simmered until hot, added black pepper and used sea salt. I also used sweet potatoes. My version came out very well and I think I'll stick to that way. I didn't think it needed the other stuff but you all might like to follow the recipe as is. I often don't. Meghan only ate rice though and licked a piece of onion. Tony liked it a lot.

We ran around a lot today. First we went to the Farmers Market for their bonus Pre-Thanksgiving market to pick up a few things and grab lunch which we brought home-chicken burrito for myself and Meghan and tamalas for Tony from the Mission Burrito cart and chili for all three of us from another vendor. The chili has red wine in it. God, it was good. There's some left. Will make a good lunch for someone.

After lunch, we headed back out because Meghan's dress for Yule Revel(SCA holiday event) next month needs to be altered and Tony wanted to do our regular food shopping today. I took Meghan to the playground while he was doing the shopping-one of the playgrounds I took her to all the time when we were living in Lansdowne. I thought it would be a nice change of pace and after awhile, he came back to pick us up. On the way home, we had to stop at Giant so I could pick up Meghan's Zantac and a few things that Tony was unable to get at the Mar-Win. Then he dropped us off and went in search of a haircut. He never found it, though. I took her back out for awhile to the playground by the elementary school. Then back home for dinner and all the usual stuff.

Went to Lansdowne's tree lighting ceremony this evening

( Pics, mostly of Meghan wandering around )

John "Jordan" Lewis, the 23-year-old North Philadelphia man facing a possible death penalty in the 2007 shooting of police Officer Chuck Cassidy, is guilty of first-degree murder, a Common Pleas Court jury ruled this afternoon.-more here

http://www.peopleofpublictransit.com/650

You know, I've been using mass transit off and on since I was a teenager and nothing surprises me anymore.

None. And no.

I am awaiting a return call from St. Stephen's in regards to their one day pre-school program. It would probably be just a couple hours if Meghan qualifies. I think that it would be good for both of us.

http://www.peopleofpublictransit.com/609
Yes, she is using a straw to drink syrup.

This is nothing unusual for Philly Septa. In fact, it's not unusual for Suburban Septa either. I've seen all sorts of shit-people eating cereal (not dry cereal, with milk), sushi, drinking things that caused bizarre laughter, clipping their nails. You name it it's happened on mass transit.