Early Valentine's Day & ALL weekend!!

My sweetie is so thoughtful. He had one dozen chocolate covered strawberries and a balloon bouquet delivered to work on Friday. 2 days before Valentine's Day so I was not expecting anything! Then on Saturday, we headed downtown to watch the movie Valentine's Day. John thought it would be a chick-flick, so again, very thoughtful in letting Audrey & I choose the movie. By the way, it was hilarious!! Then I woke up on Valentine's morning to a box of dark chocolates. What a great weekend and what a great husband - thanks honey! Love you!!

Candy Cane Hearts

I saw this idea on a number of craft blogs and decided to attempt. I found some Lifesaver flavored candy canes and Spree candy canes 70% off. So this is a great treat to make after the Christmas candy goes on clearance : )

CANDY CANE HEARTS
Up wrap candy canes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 300 degrees for about 5 minutes. Watch closely. Bake until you just see the candy cane melt. Place a lollipop stick in the candy cane and pinch candy canes around the stick. Very hot so be careful! Cool and then wrap with plastic and add ribbon.

Chicken Divan

I think there are as many chicken divan recipes as there are chocolate chip cookie recipes. Well, maybe not that many! Some recipes have you put the chicken and broccoli in the pan separately and cover with the sauce. Some make sure their chicken is a whole chicken breast. I personally like my chicken and broccoli in small pieces all mixed together with the sauce. Then serve over steamed rice - yum!

CHICKEN DIVAN
6 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces
16oz bag frozen broccoli pieces, defrosted
1 large can Cream of Chicken
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. curry powder
3 TB lemon juice
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine soup, mayo, curry powder and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add baked chicken pieces and broccoli. Stir to combine. Add 1/2 the cheddar cheese. Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 in ch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Baked for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling. Serve over steamed rice.

Cream Cheese Waffles

We tried a new recipe today - it's a keeper! Enjoy having breakfast for dinner - don't you? And the left overs reheated nicely the next morning.

CREAM CHEESE WAFFLES
1 & 3/4 cups flour
2 TB brown sugar
1 TB baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
3 oz cream cheese (room temp)
2 eggs (separated)
1 & 1/2 c. milk
2 TB vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix the cream cheese and 2 egg yolks together until smooth; stir in milk, vanilla and oil. Add dry ingredients and stir just until combined. It will be a little lumpy. Beat 2 egg whites until stiff peaks form and then fold them gently into the batter, leaving lots of fluffs of egg white (don't over mix). Cook in waffle iron.

Smucker's Skating Spectacular

Went to the final 2010 US Figure skating event today with Keelyn - the Smucker's Skating Spectacular. First up were all the US 2010 Champions doing one of the individual numbers from the competition (Jeremy Abbott, Caydee Denny & Jeremy Barrett, Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Rachael Flatt). Then they had the Novice champions perform and the Junior Champions perform. Next was a touching performance - Shelly Wagner, Special Olympics. And then they had a synchronized skating performance. After that they recognized all the US Figure Skating Olympic Gold medalists - Dick Button (1948, 52), Tenley Albright (1956), Hayes Jenkins (1956), Carol Heiss Jenkins (1960), David Jenkins (1960), Peggy Fleming (1968), Dorothy Hamill (1976), Scott Hamilton (1984), Brian Boitano (1988), Kristi Yamaguchi (1992), Tara Lipinski (1998) and Sarah Hughes (2002). Wow! After a brief intermission we got to see the entire Olympic team perform individual numbers. These were more show pieces (each based on a particular dance/music style) and a fun way to end the event. (Ashley Wagner, Johnny Weir, Emily Samuelson & Evan Bates, Mirai Nagasu, Evan Lysacek, Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig, Tanith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto, Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett, Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Jeremy Abbott, Rachael Flatt). GO TEAM USA - onto the Olympics!!

In Memory

Dad - 6/25/1936 to 1/24/2008
My Aunt Carole shared this picture with me recently. It is my dad and his family (and cousins) on a trip to Yellowstone about 1948 for a Powell Family Reunion.

Love you dad!

Championship Skating: Dance Final

My sister and I went to the Championship Dance Final today. Again the performances were wonderful and Kathy and I had a great time. The winners were Meryl Davis & Charlie White who finished with a US record 222.29 points, skating to Phantom of the Opera. The 2nd place finishers were previous Olympic Silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. Wonderful Day!!

Note: The Ladies Final was this evening and the 1st place finalist ended up being Rachael Flatt who skating a wonderful, pretty flawless program, giving her enough points to come back from 3rd place at the end of the Short Program to 1st place overall.