Hodge Podge Volume 90

Welcome to this week's edition of Joyce's Wednesday Hodgepodge, aka HP90. It's a lot like PX90 except this is a workout for your brain.  Sometimes. Sometimes it's just fluff, but in mid August as summer winds down and the school year gears up fluff may be just what your brain needs. Add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then you run off and see the neighbors. It is a lot of fun and you can join in anytime....or just once.  It does not matter. 

 

Here are my answers to Joyce's questions:

 

1. Aloha! On August 21, 1959 Hawaii officially became a US State...have you ever been? Upon arrival would you prefer an orchid or a hibiscus to tuck behind your ear?

I've been. I won a trip in 2005 and tok my best friend Mary for her 50th birthday.  We had a blast and upon arrival I got an orchid and loved it.  Orchids are my favorite flowers.  My mom used to raise them and so did my best friend, Susan's, mom.  I have grown up around orchids forever.  I also got a lei of orchids.  I felt special.  If you have never been to Hawaii....you need to go....and be sure to see the whole thing....and do a luau.....see the Arizon Memorial.  You will be touched.  I promise you.

2. Since we're talking tropical...what's your favorite food or beverage made with pineapple?

My dad's pineapple and cheese casserole and curried pineapple.  I love pineapple...so I had a blast at the Dole Plantation in Hawaii.  I ate so much pineapple I had a rash all over my mouth area.  I looked so funny.

 

Pineapple Cheese Casserole - super easy

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups grated sharp cheddar

2 (20-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained, and 6 tablespoons pineapple juice reserved

 1 cup cracker crumbs (recommended: Ritz)

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a medium-size casserole dish with butter. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and flour. Gradually stir in the cheese. Add the drained pineapple chunks, and stir until ingredients are well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.  In another medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, melted butter, and reserved pineapple juice, stirring with a rubber spatula until evenly blended. Spread crumb mixture on top of pineapple mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

3. Do you believe in soul mates? Explain.

Yes....but not necessarily spouses.  I have two friends that are my soul mates.  We can be apart and then get together and it is like we have never been apart.  We can finish each others sentences.  We know when the other is in trouble or needs something....even when we have not been physically told.  I know both of them as if they were me.  It is amazing and scary sometime.  As far as spousewise....Frank and I have been married for almost ten years and he has become my soulmate too. 

 

4. Share a memory about the house you grew up in.  My house was coral colored and had flowering bushes everywhere.  In the back yard there were fruit trees and I kept a knife and salt shaker outside and would go out back and eat oranges, grapefruits, Japanese plums, tomatoes, mangos, Myeres and Ponderosa lemons....in my own little world under the shade of these trees.  We had two huge ficus trees that were so fun to climb on, swing from, and hide in.  We also had a banyon tree that was an amazing place for a child with an imagination.  I loved my house in Florida and I love my life in that backyard.  Sad thing....the house and neigborhood is gone.  There is no reminder that I existed.  It is now a sports practice field for FAU.  Sigh!

5. Are you comfortable with silence?  I love silence when I want to read or crafting in the shop.  I do not care for silence when it is angry.  When I afraid and alone I prefer white noise.

6. You spot a giant spider on your bedroom wall...what's your next move? Find Frank and get him to take care of the intruder.  If I am alone...get the broom and smash him.  I hate spiders, snakes, roaches, and rats.

 

7. My idea of fun does NOT include_____________.  Hummmm...let me see.  Anything painful, loud mouth people, people fighting, bigots, people who have to always be right....even when they are not.

 

8. Insert your own random thought here. Saturday night I went to a 1962 class reunion....to photograph it for a friend.  They had a classic car exhibit out front and it was a riot to see cars from my past.  So, with that in mind...what was your first car?  Mine was a 1969 Plymouth Satellite.  It was red with a white top, 383 engine, crager mags with knock off spinners.  I loved it!  Tell me about yours.

 

Have a wonderful rest of the week.  I am back in school and really enjoying my year so far.  Ask me again about January.  LOL!