#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (8/12)

Someone on one of the LJ communities I follow posted a link to HillbillyHouseWife and I spent some time checking it out. This specific recipe caught my eye:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sausagecheeseballs.htm

When the butcher at Karns has loose sausage on sale, I always hesitate because the only thing I end up doing with it is browning it and throwing it in spaghetti sauce. This recipe seemed like a great way to put some of it to good use. (and they are awesomely yummy)

Sausage Cheese Balls

* 1-1/2 cups Biscuit Mix (Bisquick)
* 1 pound bulk turkey sausage
* 3 or 4 cups of shredded cheese

Get out a big bowl. Measure the Biscuit Mix and cheese into the bowl. Add the raw sausage. Use your hands to mix everything together like meatloaf.

It is sort of gooey, but the finished product is worth a little goo. Shape the mixture into small balls the size of walnuts or egg yolks. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Remove them from the oven and drain them on paper towels. These are best when they are still warm, but are still rather tasty cold. Makes about 75.

#31 - Have my family over for dinner.

For Mothers' Day on the 11th, I invited my family and Aunt Karin over for dinner. Elizabeth and Albert helped prepare things, but the biggest preparatory task was getting the apartment ready! It took me 2 whole days, but it was definitely worth it.

Here's the menu:

Appetizers - Bruchetta, Hummus, Carrots & Dip

Dinner - White Chili and Cheddar Bay Biscuits (a.k.a. Red Lobster Biscuits)

Dessert - Chocolate Fondue and Lemon Pudding Cake (seriously, this needs a better name that does not involve the word "pudding")

Also served was Wine. At dessert, my lack of a coffee maker was sorely obvious, but wasn't the end of the world.

All in all, it went really well - it took a lot of stinkin' work, but was totally worth it.

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (7/12)

I had extra strawberries leftover from our Mothers' Day celebration, so I decided to try my hand at this recipe. I halved it, but did make the recipe. It turned out very well and made about 2 jars of jam.


Strawberry Jam

4 cups mashed strawberries
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
You basically mix all three ingredients together, bring them to a rolling boil for about 10 minutes. Check the temp to make sure it reaches 220 degrees (F). Then place the mixture into sterilized mason jars.

#12 - Get some bubbles and blow them in a public place

I finished this one and not even on purpose. At my cousin Sean's wedding, they had bubbles! And when he and his bride, Stephanie, left the church we blew them and it was pretty. I have since randomly blown my bubbles at people in various locations. But I had to take the bubbles out of my purse because I became paranoid that it was going to leak.

#8 - Tryout for a musical or a play.

Tonight I auditioned for Little Shop of Horrors at Hershey Playhouse. My song was It's a Helluva Way to Run a Love Affair from Plain & Fancy. The singing part when fabulously.

The dancing part went okay. The choreographer when to HACC with me back in the day - almost 8 whole years ago! The dance was really fun, but some of the girls there were definitely more experienced than me with picking up the steps quickly. I was solid though, and I think I had them topped with ATTITUDE!

It was an interesting group of people, too. Girls were all on the young side (I was the 2nd oldest there for women) and the Men were mostly on the older side (although, there were some teens).

Another great thing about the audition was that I got to SEE the Playhouse! The theatre has three sets of riser seating (VERY comfortable) and it is really beautiful, especially the lobby. Not handicap accessible, so I'm not really sure how that works.

Whatever happens, I had a fun time tonight and this will put me up to dancing 3 times this week! Woo!