Just Fun

April Is Grilled Cheese Month!

/ still a dreamer / 3 Comments

Even grilled cheese can be healthy.
Take a look at this beauty I made for lunch today.

On The Baker 7-Grain bread, I layered Organic Valley white cheddar, roasted sweet pepper and avocado. Couldn’t be simpler and soooooooo delish!

In need of a little celebrating this month? Have a grilled cheese!

p.s. Why organic? Read all about it!

It’s National Potato Chip Day!

/ still a dreamer / 6 Comments

Today, March 14, is National Potato Chip Day. How could I not celebrate? The thought that there might be thousands – no, millions – of chips out there, waiting hopefully for someone to take them home and celebrate … well, to not do so seemed downright rude. It would be like living around the corner from a good friend and not taking them out for their birthday. Did you know that Americans consume 1.85 billion pounds of potato chips each year? It’s the nation’s favorite snack food.

I took a stroll at lunchtime to purchase a bag of eager celebrants, and off we went. Knowing it’s their special day just seemed to make them that much more delicious, but piling a big handful on a plate with a yummy veggie cheeseburger really made their day. Think about it — literally millions of eager chips of every flavor are waiting for a chance to party with you. Don’t let them down!

As for the history of the potato chip? According to Wise Snacks, a chef named George Crum invented potato chips in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1853. One day, a picky diner kept sending his fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining that they were too thick and soggy. Crum responded by finally slicing the potatoes so thin that they couldn’t be eaten with a fork. The customer was so pleased with Crum’s crispy creation that they became a regular item on the restaurant’s menu! Crum went on to establish his own restaurant in 1860, and served a basket of his now-named Saratoga Chips on every table.

Should you be disappointed because you’ve read this post after National Potato Chip Day, take heart; you can still celebrate. It’s America and you can celebrate March 14 any day you please. No chip left behind!

* Post updated 8/7/2026

Photo courtesy: pexels/Srattha Nualsate

Baking Muffins in Broad Daylight

/ still a dreamer / 1 Comment

What a shocking idea. Now this may not be so for some of you reading this, but baking for myself has been a rarely-indulged-in luxury for quite some time. And on the occasions when I do bake, it’s usually to bring to someone else’s house for a gathering. Well, not today. I felt like baking muffins, and bake I did. I went through my recipe stash with something apple in mind, and found it … Apple Buttermilk Muffins.

In broad daylight … the audacity. An accusing voice from somewhere within nagged me to get going on my taxes, complete another drawing, go food shopping, and please! Clean!

I’ve really got to get a better grip on that no-fun, party-pooper. And baking just for me was a step in the right direction. Perhaps I gave in a wee bit when I cleaned the whole top and hood of the stove, but really, we have to start out in a clean spot, right?

I popped in the Breaking Dawn CD – such a great album – gathered ingredients, and happily chopped, measured and whisked. Although many muffin recipes have you making 12 muffins, I always make 6 bigger ones. They came out gorgeous, and then I had the audacity to have more fun – yup, in broad daylight – photographing them. And then eating one. (OK, actually not in that order.) Mmmmm, mmmm, mmmm.

You can make these truly chock-full-of-apple Apple Buttermilk Muffins, too. They’re from the Mr. Breakfast web site which has way more than muffins; it’s got everything you could ever think of in the way of breakfast, which is my favorite meal of the day. Enjoy!

Leftover Tombstones

/ still a dreamer

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, so I have one more chance to post a photo of something that caught my eye when I was out walking. Much like political signs left way too long and all over the place like so much litter after an election, there are always some people that have their holiday decorations out far beyond the holiday. In this case, I’m glad they were still there, because driving by didn’t give me the opportunity to read them. So this is the last I’ll have to say about Halloween!

Although Party City and other stores have a pretty big selection of tombstones at Halloween, I find that people who make them themselves are far more clever. These were all pretty funny, but the one that made me stop and laugh was the one in the center. Nice and simple – Trespasser.

In case you can’t read the others – Noah Moore – I told you I was sick; Here lies an atheist – all dressed up with nowhere to go; and Dr. Gonzo – too weird to live, too rare to die.

Note the broken pumpkin .. which brings us to our next seasonal item … pie. Hello, Thanksgiving!