Eating My Words...Part 2...Cheese & Crack

Once again, I opened my mouth one too many times...

You know the whole click list shopping and they bring it directly to your car.  Well, I was never on board nor understood it.  I am so old school to a fault.  Saturday mornings I figure out meals for the week, make my shopping list and off I go.  Who would actually shop for groceries on your computer and then drive to the store, which you have do to anyway just to have some person deliver to your car.

Recently one weekend, we were snowed in.  More snow than I wanted to deal with.  I was much more interested in having a movie marathon in my pajamas than go out in the blizzard for groceries.  Well, Monday came around and I realized that we were not in good shape for dinner.  I had a Bunco game scheduled for that night and I wouldn't arrive back home on my bus until 15 minutes before game time.  That in addition, I still needed to wrap my Bunco gift and get dinner started.

So, there I found myself on my lunch break at work...thinking.  I needed to get groceries fast and before I got home.  I caved.  I ate my words once again and caved!  I got online and ordered my groceries.  Husband picked me up at my bus stop, we drove to the store, groceries were in our vehicle within 10 minutes. 

I recently saw a story about a place in Portland, OR called "Cheese & Crack Snack Shop".  They are taking the food world by storm in Portland and known for their small plates...and they do a Brie Brulee!!!  I decided to recreate their "Our Favorites Sampler Plate".

Our little platter included olives, pepperoni, salame, fig jam, dijon mustard, Cambozola cheese,  green olive tapenade, Porter cheese, honey, Feta cheese, fresh baked baguette, and yes, I even bruleed my brie!!

One Year Ago: 20-Minute Skillet Tuscan Tortellini
Two Years Ago:  Baked Shrimp Scampi
Three Years Ago: Blarney Bark
Four Years Ago: Green Eggs and Ham

Eating My Words...Part 1 and Cheesy Country Ham Dip

There are many things that I love to eat...my words, however, are not one of them.

As you recall, I was recently not very sympathetic to my husband's aches, pains and ailments.  I may have even been a little mean.  Okay, let's be honest, I sent my compassion out on vacation for a few weeks.

Well, there's one thing that I always tell my daughters, be careful what you do and say because karma will come back and get you.

For a few months my shoulder and upper chest area was hurting.  I thought I just slept on it wrong or one of the dogs gave it too hard of a tug during one of our walks.  It was sore for a few days, then for a few weeks.  It got to the point if I sneezed, I had to grab my upper shoulder because it hurt so bad...bad to the point I had to break down and go see my doctor.

The first thing they did was hook me up to an EKG to check my heart (didn't see that coming)...breast exam was fine.  She finally said to lift my arm and I thought I was going to pass out.  She said, "I think you may have a torn rotator cuff."  A what??...definitely did not see that one coming.  "You need to see an orthopedic specialist".

Well, to make a long story short, after x-rays, MRI, yes...I do have a torn rotator cuff, with a side order of tendinitis and some degeneration.  After all that, we are starting with cortisone shots and physical therapy.  Stay tuned...I guess I should be a little nicer to my family from now on.

When I'm not eating my words, I did really enjoy eating this dip.  We had a lot of leftover Easter ham, some pecans in the freezer and plenty of the other ingredients on hand.  Warning though, once you start eating this, you can't stop!

Cheesy Country Ham Dip
Courtesy of Trisha Yearwood

One 10-ounce package sliced country ham
two 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp garlic powder
1 large shallot, grated (about 1/3 cup)
freshly ground black pepper
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 Tbl unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
butter crackers, corn tortilla chips or sliced celery, for serving

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the ham slices on a microwave safe dish lined with paper towels.  Cover the ham with a damp paper towel and microwave on low heat until the ham is slightly crisp on the edges, 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the ham from the microwave and discard the paper towels.  Using two forks, shred the ham into small bite size pieces.  Place the ham in a large mixing bowl.

Add the cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, garlic powder, shallot and t teaspoon black pepper to the mixing bowl and stir to combine.  Spread the ham and cheese mixture in a 9-inch pie plate.  Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the pecans, butter and Worcestershire sauce.  Sprinkle the seasoned pecans over the ham and cheese dip.

Bake the dip until hot and bubbly around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes.  Serve warm with butter crackers, corn tortilla chips and celery.

One Year Ago: Nicoise Salad
Two Years Ago: Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken
Three Years Ago: Spicy Asian Beef
Four Years Ago: Priceless