Thursday Thoughts ... (tamale recipe included)

1. It feels good to be blogging my thoughts again on a more regular basis. It's not daily ... yet, but this is my 5th such post since 2010 began ... sixth counting my 2009 'reflections' so I feel like I'm 'on a roll' so to speak.

2. I'm heartened by the lovely comments visitors have left ... and want to express my appreciation for all who drop by. I've enjoyed establishing 'virtual' connections with others and extending my circle of friends. Which reminds me ... some time ago Smiling Sally shared this and I meant to pass it along but don't recall whether or not I did. Please feel free to snag, enjoy, and pass it along to others as you choose.

3. I'm delighted to have my Nikon D60 back from the shop and spent a pleasant day with my sister on Tuesday ... starting with breakfast at Mimi's Cafe (of course we share) ...

followed by a caramel machiato from Starbuck's, a pleasant walk through the Shops at Mission Viejo ... (I shared a mosaic of the unusual fountains there at Happily Retired Gal yesterday) ... and winding down with dinner at Z'Tejas. I did purchase (at 50% off) two Christmas mugs and some Christmas coffee beans at Gloria Jean's. The mugs have messages I wanted to remember.

Christmas Mug Messages:
"Imagine the possibilities in the night's bright star ... IMAGINE"

"I believe my best gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes ... BELIEVE!"

I'm using one to hold pencils & pens here at my desk and the other to enjoy my coffee this morning.

4. After 4pm appetizers are half price and drinks are discounted too. We started with cornbread then Tostada Bites ... ordered drinks ... wine for me (it's just 2 points) & a Margarita for her (worth 13+points depending on size) ... then (impulsively) another order of Tostada Bites (intending to share a salad afterward) but ran out of room so we skipped it. LOL ... such is life ;-)

Click images to embiggen for better viewing

5. We ended the day walking around South Coast Plaza to 'work off' dinner before heading home ... counting it an excellent outing. She's headed off somewhere with her husband in their RV for a few days. They'll return on Sunday afternoon.

6. Last night's Photoshop Collage class was very kewl ... I can hardly wait to practice what I learned about 'templates' ... but once I finish writing and publishing this post I need to take Molly for a walk and then deal with researching 'supplement' plans for Medicare to follow up on Monday's first step. Once that's done, I'll deal with Part D ... and choose a prescription drug plan.

7. In addition to Tuesday's drizzily rain, apparently there are a couple of storms headed our way with rain predicted for the weekend through the middle of next week so I'm not sure when I'll get my pansies planted. Seems like this happened to me last year when I purchased a couple of flats ... and if I was the least bit supersitous I'd wonder about causality. I suppose if things go smoothly with the medical coverage research I might get started this afternoon.

8. Ohmygosh ... Mozilla crashed just now (as it does all too frequently because there's something wrong with my Dell wireless card and/or drivers that no one seems to be able to fix as of yet) and when it restarted ... all I had showing in the editor was #1 and 2. I confess I let out a cry of frustration that caused Molly to come over to see what's wrong ... took a breath then brought up the list of posts ... opened the saved file and found it all there (much to my relief). Here's to remembering to SAVE often! I'm not sure I would have had the heart (or the time) to recreate what I'd already written and might have abandoned the post entirely. Methinks I'll add this small blessing to My Daily Gratitude List in the sidebar at Small Reflections.

9. Let's see ... what's next? Hmm ... it's Thursday so I've made a note to myself to log on to my Credit Union to pay bills today. Anything entered Friday or Saturday doesn't get sent out until Sunday and (being carefully taught by my Dutch mom to be prudent with my money) I hate late fees.

10. My heart goes out to those affected by the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake and continuing aftershocks in Haiti. According to the ABC7news website, the American Red Cross pledged an initial $200,000 in assistance ... and those who wish to donate can dial 800-Redcross - (800) 257-7575 ... contact their local Red Cross chapter ... or make a donation at the following address:

American Red Cross
PO Box 37243
Washington DC, 20013

11. Wow ... let's hear it for coincidence. As I was typing #10, ABC7 just interrupted it's broadcast of Good Morning America for President Obama's statement about aid for Haiti ... and I'm reminded of something I once heard ... that 'coincidence' is God's way of remaining anonymous. That's always seemed reassuring.

12. Time to refill my coffee ... and I need to fix something to eat soon before I take Molly for a walk. She's restless and insistent ever since she came to check on me a few minutes ago. I'm grateful to have her in my life. She frequently gets me up and moving when I might otherwise be sedentary for much too long.

13. Tamale follow up: For those who requested it, my brother in law scanned and emailed my sister's recipe ... and for those who might have missed the Big Tamale Cookout, you can click to catch up.

Tamales (approx. 100)

18 lbs. prepared masa
14 lbs. boned pork shoulder or 16 lbs. unboned pork shoulder
6 heaping tablespoons cumin
6 heaping tablespoons California chili powder
6 heaping tablespoons New Mexico chili powder
2 cloves crushed garlic
salt and pepper to taste
4 10 oz. cans Las Palmas red chili sauce 4 6 oz. cans medium pitted black olives
2 lIb. bags com husks

Cook pork shoulder in water (completely covered for 3 hours until it shreds easily. Remove bones. Soak com husks I hour before making tamales (until soft).

After shredding meat cook with 3 cups broth (add water if necessary and remove fat from top of broth), both chili powders, cumin, red chili sauce, garlic, salt and pepper for approx. 1 hour until mixture stops foaming. Spread masa on cornhusk, add meat and olive(s), and roll, folding one end. Freeze until ready to cook. (I do not do this, we cook right after making and freeze later). Tamales reheat in the microwave wonderfully.

To cook tamales, stack open side up in pyramid style. Put a layer of com husks on the bottom of baking pan before putting vegetable steamer on bottom of pan in 1 inch of water. Put com husk layer on then tamales. Put layer of com husks on sides and top. Cook for 1 hour at simmer until com meal is done. When com meal is firm and pulls away easily from the tamales. Enjoy!

To all who pass this way ... I wish you a delightful day. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and to leave your thoughts behind. I'll be visiting later ...

Click for others participating in Thursday Thirteen
and Thankful Thursday too!

If time permits, click to see
my mostly visual T-13 this week at Happily Retired Gal

... my Daily Gratitude List
in the sidebar at Small Reflections and/or
the previous lists I've transferred to Happily Retired Gal

Thought for Today
"No act of kindness is ever wasted." Aesop