PENSIEVE

At a snail's pace...:/

Patience is a virtue?

Good things come to those who wait?

[Insert your own cliche here.]

If you've won something from "Robin @ PENSIEVE" in the past month (Pensieve's Picture Puzzler, Snackalicious Super Dishes Cookbooks, SSD Buttermints, or a Bloggy Giveaway), it should be in the mail by the end of business today.

Except the Stampin' Up notecards--those I've actually got to make (but they'll be so stinkin' adorable, it will be worth it!).

I might be slow "administratively speaking", but, oh, my word, I've got some ummm-boy mad typing skills!  Check it out--

79 words

Free Touch Typing

You type 398 characters per minute
You have 79 correct words and you have 0 wrong words

 

What say you?

(Oh, no!  I need to hat-tip someone for the above, but I forgot where I saw it.  PLEASE let me know if it was from you so I can share a little linky-lovin'--sowry!:) )

(Off to look for more packing supplies :/.)

Photocredit:  Fairfax County Public Schools

Winners out the ying-yang

No embellishment, no flowery words.  Not what you expect from the ol' Pensieve Blog, eh?

Snackalicious Cookbook Recipients

Jana, Sandy, Kaytabug, Emily, Michelle, Average Jane, Christine, Alix, Joy T., Beccy, Junebug, CPA Mom, Rebecca & Jeannie

Bloggy Giveaways, chosen by my Personal Random Integer Generators (a.k.a. my kids and husband).  Note to self:  since I have to manually count through the comments, next time coach them on choosing single-or LOW double-digit numbers, for goodness sakes!).

Stinkin' Adorable Stampin' Up Notecards
Tiff @ Three Peas in a Pod, #243

Silver purse & shoe charm bracelet
Michelle B. @ Our Full House , #139

Pink, Heart-shaped Valentine Soaps

Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings, #1 (thank you, Thomas) and
Infinity Goods, (#44)

Books

Kim (#60), Mom Unscripted, What Jesus Demands of the World, John Piper

Angela (#130), The Rock Pile, The Innocent Man, John Grisham

Alison (#173), RDH Mom, Because of Winn Dixie, Kate DiCamillo

CONGRATULATIONS and warmest thanks to all of you who joined in!

Paula Deen reads my blog...?!

Somehow, Paula Deen found out about Snackalicous and Recipe Round Up!  Yesterday I received a not-so personal email from her with this DELICIOUS Super Bowlish recipe for "Hot & Spicy Refried Bean Dip".  Since she doesn't have hew own blog, I suppose that's why she didn't link it.  Or maybe it was purely coincidental.

 

It may be little more than a ploy to sell her "Southern Spice Rub" and "Hot Sauce", but this recipe definitely looks like something I need to try. 

Oooo, and if YOU want to try it, I'll give you the email promo code that was attached for 20% off anything in her store--PDEB125.

For the record, j'adore Paula Deen!  She's sassy and sexy and FULL of life, and hers is a rags to riches tale that rivals Cinderella.  But in the kitchen.

Enjoy this little clip of vintage Paula...if you aren't already familiar with her, you'll get a kick out of it...if you ARE already familiar with her, you will, too ;).

Bacon Tomato Cups

Bacony, biscuity, oniony, Swiss cheesery, and (gulp) tomatoey snack GLORIOSITY--

The means to the end:

1 10-count can biscuits
1 pound bacon, crisp-fried, crumbled
2 small or 1 large tomato, seeded, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2-1 cup mayonnaise, enough to bind the ingredients
2 teaspoons basil

Preheat oven to 375ºF.    Spray mini-muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.

Separate biscuits; cut into quarters.

Note:  I've always wondered if there was a difference in taste/texture between plain buttermilk biscuits and the flaky layer version; I bought two small cans and tried 'em both for today.

Take biscuit quarters and press into prepared mini-muffin pans.  Using my almost-as-much-fun-as-my-kitchen-blow-torch Pampered Chef Mini-Tart Shaper makes it easy.

Thumbs are the best tool around for seeding tomatoes.  Slime-a-ly disgusting, yes, but highly effective.

 

If you take your time when you're chopping everything up, it might just end up in perfect piles like this:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. 

The ingredients looks so colorfully appetizing, don't you think?

NOT so appetizing once they're all mixed together--

Scoop out the mixture and fill the biscuit-lined muffin cups; the mixture WILL be taller than the biscuits themselves, which is just fine.

Bake for 20 minutes; remove from oven.  Spoon mixture which has overflowed back into muffin cups; bake for 5 minutes longer.  Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes before removing.

Enjoy!

 

Want the recipe without my running commentary?  As you wish:

Ingredients:

• 1 10-count can biscuits
• 1 pound bacon, crisp-fried, crumbled
• 2 small or 1 large tomato, seeded, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1/2-1 cup mayonnaise, enough to bind the ingredients
• 2 teaspoons basil

Preheat oven to 375ºF.    Spray mini-muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray. Separate biscuits; cut into quarters.  Spread out in prepared muffin cups.  Combine remaining ingredients in bowl, add enough mayonnaise to bind them together, and fill muffin cups.  Bake for 20 minutes, remove from oven, spoon mixture which has overflowed back into the cups.  Return to oven and bake about 5 more minutes.  Cool in pan 5-10 minutes before removing.

Additional Cook's Notes:

• I've experimented with other cheeses and varied the ingredients, and this recipe seems to incorporate well just about anything you'd like to try.
• Before filling the muffin cups, be sure to wipe away any excess cooking spray; otherwise it bakes onto your pan and discolors it.
• The aroma from these alone makes this recipe worth trying--even my kids who typically turn their noses up at anything out of the ordinary wandered into the kitchen, curious about what smelled so good :).

Mmmmm, Mmmmm GREAT ~ Bon Appetit!

Are you looking for some delicious Super Bowl recipes?   Some memorable dishes that will make your party, large or small?  Snacks, finger foods or entire spreads that satisfy your ravenous, Super Bowl appetite?  Well, then...just scroll down to the links below and I think you'll find plenty of what you're looking for. 

Feel free to add links to your own recipes or to others you've found on-line...then, whenever you're looking for the recipes, you'll know where to find them the next time!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Thank you for joining this month's Recipe Round Up as it joins Snackalicious Super Dishes!  In honor of the Super Bowl, the theme is crowd-pleasing snacks (savory or sweet).

Full details for each carnival can be reached by clicking the links attached to their names, and in summary, please note:

1)  Recipes can be newly posted, archived posts, or even recipes you've read on other blogs and/or food sites (just be sure to give credit where credit is due).
2)  Please link the permalink, not your main blog page.  Include your name or blog name AND a brief title for your recipe.
3)  A drawing for one of 13 cookbooks will take place from all entries received on Monday, January 28th; additional entries can be earned if you also include a Snackalicous button in your sidebar and/or write a brief post for the joint carnival.
4)  Today and over the weekend visit as many participants as you can...let 'em know you checked in, and take notes for your own Super Bowl Commercial Viewing Party.

If you still have questions, please drop me a line.  In the meantime, it's not too late for you to thumb through your favorite recipes, write a post and then share them with a few of your friends. 

My stomach is grrrrrowling already :).

Gettin' jiggy with a tomato

MMmmmm...even as my fingers click keyboard, I'm smellin' some might fine Bacon-Tomato cups, recipe to be posted tomorrow.

Hope you're planning to share some of your favorite crowd-pleasing snack recipes for "Recipe Round Up" and "Snackalicous...", you might just win a surcie :). 

And for the record, I never knew what "getting jiggy with it" meant until I was seeding this tomato...and that phrase just kept runnin' through my mind.  I can't stand tomatoes, either, but when you taste this recipe?

It just don't matter a bit...!

Underdogs and Overachievers So what if I like to eat?

Are you the type who enjoys a good come-from-behind victory?  If so, click this and remember my name is "R-o-b-i-n".

(If not, applaud the fact I'm getting a nice slice of humble pie and a butt-kickin' in the process.)  (Is "butt-kickin'" a bad word?)  (What else could I have said?)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I've been blog-busy lately-- Pensieve's Poetic License, Picture Puzzler, and now, this week........SNACKALICIOUS SUPER DISHES-meets-RECIPE ROUND UP!  WAHOOO!  I can't wait to see your favorite crowd-pleasing, appetizing Super Bowl snack recipes!  Please make plans to link a recipe on this Friday (the 25th) and you'll be eligible to win one of 13 cookbooks; it doesn't have to be an original recipe, it can even be one you've seen on another food blog or recipe web site.   Earn additional chances for winning a cookbook by writing a brief post about SSD and including the button in your sidebar (linked back to the FAQs page).

Need an email reminder?  Email me or leave a comment here. Want the rest of the details?  Visit the Snackalicious FAQs page.

Thank y'all for your enthusiasm and encouragement so far...I'm gettin' excited folks (and I'm not eating a bite til Friday so I'll be good and hungry when I read your recipes) (I can't tell a lie...that was a lie...I'm off to eat some of the Cowboy Cookies I made yesterday...:) )

January's PPL - Time to Link YOUR Terza Rima!

Well, this month's form for Pensieve's Poetic License DID prove to be a bit of a challenge, but I tell ya, rhymezone.com was a BIG help...sometimes just seeing a list of words inspires me.

Terza Rima isn't really that difficult, but it doesn't flow as seamlessly as other poetic forms.  With its rhyming pattern, you could go on forever if you aren't careful!  Plus, the themes--favorite snack foods and beginnings?  You could go a thousand directions with them.

Just for the sheer challenge of it and to show you how easy it is (and because apparently I'm a poet geek), I wrote two poems; one inspired by my recent prison series, the other by Snackalicious Super Dishes.  You can tell which one I had more "fun" with...but truly, both of them were enjoyable to write. 

If you haven't written yours yet, there's still time!  If you complete one, just come back to this post and register your permalink to Mr. Linky...I'll pop over pronto for a look.

New Life Begins

Life is a series of choices to make
Consequences linger no matter what
Poor decisions result in painful wake

Reality strikes as each door slams shut
Rebellion?  Regret?  Defiance?  Remorse?
Hopelessness can become the deepest cut

Decisions continue, alter life's course
Choose wisely because it's never too late
Hope found in God, supernatural source

Dwell on the circumstance, easy to hate
Fierce battle, at stake, soul, mind and heart
Surrender, redemption, eternal fate.

New life begins, a clean slate, a fresh start
Kingdom's grace, taste divine, love's seal impart.

Inspired by Snackalicous Super Dishes

"Hors d'oeuvre" is such a ridiculous word.
Who can spell it without Webster's aid?
The French are so pretentiously absurd!

Frou-frou junk food is all they are, I'm afraid
A thousand calories just for a look!
Especially with sugar and butter they're made.

The upside?  They're fun and easy to cook
Cute bite-sized, finger foods, good for snackin'
(Have you clicked this to win a free cookbook?)

Think your culinary skills are lacking?
All you need are recipes tried and true
Then cook up your own dishes lip-smacking!

The 25th you'll find more than a few
Yummy recipes, can't wait to see YOU!

Good News, continued (especially if you like to eat!)

Hey guys, if you're short on time, check out the "Snackalicious Super Dishes FAQs!!

Continuing what I began earlier today...

This month I have the pleasure of hosting and selecting the theme for Rebecca Writes' "Recipe Round Up". Because RRU usually takes place mid-month, I thought it'd be too late to post New Year's Day recipes, so I opted for a theme centered around a little football game that occurs later in the month; this year, it comes so late, it takes place on January 34th!  I emailed Rebecca and told her I'd like "Crowd-pleasers" to be January's theme and she said that was just fine.

I've really enjoyed this monthly carnival and hoped that the a few of my regular readers would discover it and want to join in, too.

Well, my bunny trail-hoppin' brain jumped from one thing to another and imaginary scents from Boo Mama's Souptacular were still teasing my olfactory senses and I've been wanting an excuse to make holiday bacon appetizers and I thought how fun it'd be to have a big ol' recipe swap and then everything collided and (breathe) SHAZAAM--

I couldn't help it, y'all...once the idea started incubating, it had to be hatched!

Here are the details:

• This month's Rebecca's "Recipe Round Up" and Pensieve's "Snackalicious Super Dishes" are joining forces.

• Any time between now and Friday, January 25, post a recipe for your favorite crowd-pleasin' dish--it can be a main course, appetizer or dessert, but I'm thinking anything that would make for a tailgating good time--Super Bowl Sunday or at your next pot luck.

• On January 25th, link your recipe post to the Mr. Linky that will be displayed here at Pensieve.

• The first ten bloggers who post the Snackalicious Super Dishes Button in their sidebar and link back to this explanation post the FAQs PAGE (in the left sidebar), and at the same time email their snail mail to me (even if they've already emailed it to me in the past), will receive a sampling of Noni's Homemade Buttermints.  Those are good, y'all.

• If you'd like an email reminder, please email me and I'll add you to the group (put "SSD reminder" in the subject line).  If my link isn't working above, you can reach me at pensieve (dot) love (at) gmail (dot) com

• This will give you plenty of time to surf through recipes that sound snackalicous to YOU, and you can add them to your own Super Bowl party fixins (for me, it'll be Super Bowl Commercial party fixins...just sayin'...).

• To make it worth your while, I'll be giving away a baker's dozen of cookbooks from my personal collection.  Some of them have been used a little, others hardly at all, some were gifts, others I bought, but there are DELICIOUS recipes in each of them.

• You can receive up to three entries for a cookbook--one for linking your recipe on the 25th (required to be eligible), one for writing a brief post about "Snackalicious Super Dishes", and one for adding the button to your sidebar.  To help me keep track of it, it'd be REEAL nice if you emailed me with "Snackalicious Super Dishes" (or SSD) in the subject line with links to your blog and post...not required, just helpful.

• Any more questions?  Please email.

I'm getting hungry just thinkin' about it.

But now that I'm nearing the end of my post, I'm getting nervous, too...vewry nervous.

What if I build it and no one comes :/ ?  Y i k e s....

To pique your curiosity, here's a look at the cookbooks you can win.

I KNOW there are some FABULOUS recipes in your stash...I'm hoping you'll wanna share them with a few of your bloggity friends!

p.s.  Oooo!  It's a backwards Wednesday at Rocks In My Dryer...I just realized I have an entry for that, too :).