Author: Diana

Day 245 – The Day I Lost My Mom

By Diana

Wednesday morning when dad went to wake my mom up he couldn’t get her so I went in there and she was unresponsive.  She had been sick in the bed and other stuff.  I got her to open her eyes for a split second, but nothing else.  She was holding my hand though.  Called for an ambulance and she went to the hospital.  Turns out she had an aneurism in her brain, that was massive, and a stroke.

She is not expected to wake up from this.  She is gone.

Thursday at 17:15 the disconnected her life support.  She is very calm my brothers and sister are with her.  I could not bring myself to go, I said goodby to her before she left the house.  I just knew that she wouldn’t be coming back.

I am so happy that the last thing I said to my mom and the last thing she said to me was I love you.  Like I said before, she was out of it really for the last several days, but she knew.

I am having a little bit of an issue with how I am feeling.  I get emotional when I think about things, but maybe I think I should be sad all the time.  She wouldn’t have wanted that.  She hated seeing me being sad.  Especially recently with the breakup I went through, she was very concerned.

Right now I am sitting here at the desk, it’s raining outside and all the puppies are sleeping in the room with me.   I feel fine right now.  I took the jewelry that mom was wearing and cleaned it all in case there was stuff on it and noticed that one of her necklaces were broken.  I am wearing the ring that she had gotten to celebrate her and my dad’s 40th Anniversary.  It isn’t until next September but she saw it and got it.  While she has not had it long, it feels like her and I know how much she liked it.  I can see it on her hand.  It was on the hand I was holding.

I was going to post something yesterday, but I was feeling like it wasn’t appropriate.  The thing is that I started this blog to express my feelings, to heal.  So I am posting this.  I don’t really know.

I can’t believe that it is happening I guess.  It just doesn’t seem right.

Day 249 – The Day After

By Diana

Last night was horrible.  Mom passed last night at 22:45.  Paul was there and he was holding her hand.

 

The First Day of 2019

By Diana

It is currently 10:59 on this first day of January 2019 and I am sitting in my living room in New York City looking out at the crazy mix of architectural styles that make up the Financial District, well at least what I can see from my 16th floor apartment.  It is only a handful of buildings to be sure.  I am sitting here wondering what is going to happen this year.  I am in the apartment I have been in, almost exclusively, for 12 days now thinking about what I can do to be more – something.  I should have spent these days of working at home and being off to explore this city or be more proactive with my apartment organization, but I am sorry to say that I spent most of it in bed.  

thetastefulblonde’s Grandma’s Creamy Chicken Orzo

thetastefulblonde's Grandma's Creamy Chicken Orzo
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thetastefulblonde's Grandma's Creamy Chicken Orzo
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
Sauce
  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add in the butter and your chopped onion. Cook until slightly browned.
  2. Add your mushrooms and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and continue cooking for 3 minutes or until the mushrooms and garlic are cooked.
  4. Add the heavy cream. Stir together and cover your pot. Let simmer for about 2 minutes.
  5. Add in parmesan cheese.
Orzo
  1. In a large pot add the broth and bring to a rolling boil. Add in orzo and cook according to box. The liquid should be mostly absorbed.
  2. Add your cooked orzo to the sauce and let simmer for about a minute.

Tini’s Mac N Cheese

Tini's Mac N Cheese
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Tini's Mac N Cheese
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
Preperation
  1. Cook pasta for about 8 minutes.
  2. Shred cheese, divide it in half.
  3. Combine seasonings listed above.
Stovetop
  1. In a large pan melt the butter over medium heat and add half the seasonings. Let this cook for about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the flour, cook for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add about a quarter of the can of evaporated milk, whisking to remove any flour clumps. Add the remainder of the milk a little at a time. Cook for about 2 minutes.
  4. Slowly add the cream and cooking for about 2 minutes.
  5. Lower the temperature to low before mixing in half of the cheese. Add a little at a time making sure it is completely melted before adding more. Also add the rest of the seasonings.
  6. Add cooked pasta once cheese is completely combined.
Baking
  1. In a casserole dish add half the pasta topped with a layer of cheese and repeat.
  2. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted.

Ghirardelli Ganache

Ghirardelli Ganache
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Amazing ganache from the Ghirardelli cake mix box!! The recipe is on the single 8 inch / 9inch / 8x8 inch Ghirardelli cake mix, but I think it's enough for 2 boxes.
Servings
1 cake
Cook Time
8 minutes
Servings
1 cake
Cook Time
8 minutes
Ghirardelli Ganache
Print Recipe
Amazing ganache from the Ghirardelli cake mix box!! The recipe is on the single 8 inch / 9inch / 8x8 inch Ghirardelli cake mix, but I think it's enough for 2 boxes.
Servings
1 cake
Cook Time
8 minutes
Servings
1 cake
Cook Time
8 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: cake
Instructions
  1. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or melter until smooth.
  2. Add cream and salt.
  3. Pout over warm cake.
Yummy Biscuits

Yummy Biscuits

Yummy Biscuits
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Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Yummy Biscuits
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Add the bacon grease to a cast iron skillet and place into an over preheating to 425° F.
  2. Mix the flour and milk together well.
  3. When the bacon grease is melted in the skillet, remove from oven, make sure the bottom and sides are well coated and pour the excess into the flour and milk mixture.
  4. Using a large serving spoon, scoop the mixture into the hot skillet making approximately 7 drop biscuits.
  5. Bake for 12 minutes.

Yummy Dauphinoise Potatoes

Yummy Dauphinoise Potatoes
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Servings Prep Time
8 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Yummy Dauphinoise Potatoes
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
  2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in flour; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in heavy cream, milk, and salt until smooth.
  3. Add sliced potatoes and bring to a simmer; cook, gently stirring occasionally, until potatoes begin to soften, 12 to 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat; stir in pepper.
  5. Layer 1/2 of the potatoes in the prepared baking dish; sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese evenly over potatoes. Top with remaining potatoes and spoon remaining liquid left in the pot over the potatoes. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
  6. Bake in preheated oven until sauce is thickened, top is browned in spots, and potatoes are tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Yummy Sweet Potato Cheesecake

Yummy Sweet Potato Cheesecake
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Servings Prep Time
8 people 40 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 people 40 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Yummy Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 people 40 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 people 40 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Ingredients
Crust
Filling
Topping
Servings: people
Instructions
Crust
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Mix together graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 1/2-inch springform pan.
  3. Bake 10 minutes; remove from oven and set aside. Keep the oven on.
Filling
  1. Place potatoes in a baking dish. Bake until a knife inserted in center goes through easily, about 1 hour. Cool sweet potatoes enough to handle, peel, and puree.
  2. Beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar until smooth. Mix in sour cream, 1/4 cup cream, and 1 1/2 cups sweet potato puree. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Pour filling into crust.
  3. Bake in 350 degrees F oven until a tester inserted near the center comes out clean, about 1 hour (center may still be slightly jiggly).
  4. Turn off the oven. Let cake stand 1 hour in oven with door ajar.
Topping
  1. Combine brown sugar and 1/4 cup butter or margarine in a heavy small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Mix in 1/4 cup cream, then nuts.
  2. Pour hot topping over cheesecake. Store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.
Yummy Chicken and Dumplings

Yummy Chicken and Dumplings

Yummy Chicken and Dumplings
Print Recipe
This is such a yummy and easy chicken and dumpling recipe :)
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
32 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
32 minutes
Yummy Chicken and Dumplings
Print Recipe
This is such a yummy and easy chicken and dumpling recipe :)
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
32 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
32 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Cook chicken in pan, seasoning with salt, pepper, and adobo.
  2. In large put combine cooked chicken, onion, soup, and water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Add biscuits to pot by tearing into pieces. Cook for an additional 12 minutes or until biscuits are done.