The Cure for Boredom is Curiosity.

When Betty was born we went through many songs to find the perfect one that would induce sleep. The one that stuck and the one that we had to learn all the lyrics was I love you a bushel and a peck. That song has been sung at least a million times in the past 3.5 years.

For a while, it fell slightly out of favor as it was the magic song. The magic song that would induce sleep even when Betty didn't want to sleep. Lately, it has been requested again at bedtime. Which means a lovely snuggle and Betty singing with me now.

And that is lovely and magic making itself. Especially when we hit the third verse and Betty corrects me when I sing "it makes my life a mess, a mess of happiness". No, Mommy. It's a mess of dirtiness.

OK, super yummy collard green recipe. It was quick and tasty.

Shredded Collard Greens with Walnuts and Pickled Apples from Gourmet September 2000
yield: Makes 6 servings
Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 1 1/2 hr
Ingredients
For pickled apples

* 2 red apples such as Gala or Idared
* 1/2 cup cider vinegar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon pickling spice


* 1/2 cup walnut halves (3 ounces)
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1 bunch collard greens (1 pound)
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

Make pickled apples:
Quarter and core apples, then cut each quarter lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Boil vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and pickling spice in a saucepan, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Add apples and return to a boil. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cool. Chill, uncovered, until cold, about 1 hour.

Prepare nuts while apples chill:
Toast walnuts in oil in a small skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until a shade darker. Cool nuts in oil. Transfer nuts to a cutting board with a slotted spoon, reserving oil. Coarsely chop 1 tablespoon nuts and finely chop remaining nuts.

Prepare collard greens:
Halve each collard leaf lengthwise with kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cutting out and discarding center ribs. Stack leaves and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Transfer to a large bowl.

Just before serving:
Transfer all nuts and oil from skillet to collards and toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Add apple slices, discarding pickling liquid and spices, and toss again.

Cooks' notes: ·Apples may be pickled 3 days ahead and kept chilled, covered.

·Nuts may be toasted and chopped 1 day ahead and kept in the oil in an airtight container at room temperature.

I was in the mood for German potato salad tonight. In trying to figure out a recipe for the pork chops that were planned I found this recipe. They were goooooooooood! So I'm sharing


Mustard Pork Chops
Makes 2 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

* 1 - 2 T. flour (or rice flour)
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* Dash freshly ground pepper
* 1 oz. bacon, minced
* 1/4 onion, chopped
* 2 large, boneless pork chops
* 1/4 c. sherry
* 1 c. cream
* 1 T. mustard, spicy or sweet German
* 1/2 - 1 tsp. Hungarian paprika

Preparation:

Mix flour with salt and pepper. Dredge pork chops in mixture. Shake off excess flour.

Fry bacon until crisp and drain. Fry chopped onion in bacon fat until glassy. Push onion to side and add pork chops to pan and fry 3-5 minutes on each side (depending on thickness). Remove pork chops from pan.

Add sherry to pan and scrape to remove the browned bits. Add cream, mustard, paprika, bacon and pork chops and cook for several minutes to reduce cream. Season to taste and serve.

Serve with potatoes or rice and a plain vegetable.

<lj-template name="qotd" id="1401" lang="en_L I remember way back when, far enough back that my other half jokes that I remember moments from the womb. What I think is my earliest memory is my dad sucking the goldfish out of the tank. The interesting part is that I remember many details to the story that my parents don't remember. As the story goes, my dad decided to clean out the fishtank which held one lonely goldfish. I remember my mother telling him not to suck the fish out of the tank as he was siphoning the tank with a water hose. I walked back into the living room when my dad was about halfway done and asked "what happened to the fish?" Now I know that the look on my dad's face was "oh shit!", but what he said to me was "he went under the house to visit his friends". I give my dad credit though because when I asked when he (the fish) was coming back, my dad said that he would come back when he was ready - meaning "when I find one to replace him". Lots of other details that go along with it like the fact that the fishtank was sitting on top of the white bookshelf behind the green chair in the corner with the green bathmat underneath the tank. Now why do I remember all this? Not sure why it stuck initially, but I do know that is the only time my father has ever lied to me.

I am just freaking tired but energized at the same time. And too much to study, so I'm off to remember the difference between my glenohumeral and my radialulnar