Day Trippers

Back in January I posted about a book I was getting ready to pick up at the library - Joanne Fluke's Plum Pudding Murder.

On February 23, her latest book, Apple Turnover Murder, was released. She is currently on a book tour and last Tuesday her stop was in Plano, TX at Legacy Books.


Plano is only about 3 hours or so from Son's house in Oklahoma City. He decided to drive down for the book signing and I invited myself to tag along. After all, I was the one who introduced Joanne's books to him in the first place.


Isn't the cover of the book grand?



It was so nice to meet Joanne after having read so many of her books and have her sign a copy of the latest one.

I'm not sure if I mentioned in my January post that the main character, Hannah Swenson, owns a cookie and coffee shop. Each book contains several recipes - and if you know me, you know I'm all about new recipes!



Hannah has a cat named Moishe. On the drive down to Plano Son mentioned that if Joanne had a question and answer time he was considering asking just how to pronounce the cat's name.

I've always said "Mo - ish" but I was curious too.

While we were waiting for everything to begin Son said that while he really wanted to know how to say the cat's name, he was reluctant to ask the question in front of a lot of people. Joanne arrived a little early and I told him he ought to just go over, introduce himself and ask her.

I could hear them talking and Joanne laughed a little saying that particular question always comes up at every one of her signings. So in case you ever read the murder mysteries - and I highly recommend them for a light, fun read - the correct way to say the cat's name is "Mo ee shuh", kind of running the "Mo" and the "ee" together really fast.

As it turned out there was a question and answer period and guess what? Someone did ask how to say the cat's name so it wasn't a silly question after all.


Normally I would wear something different to a book signing than what I have on in the picture. But in true Hannah form, I chose this particular shirt. Hannah doesn't have much fashion sense - then again, neither do I - but this shirt and the jeans I had on seemed like something that Hannah would wear. Plus, it was a comfortable outfit for a day trip. I could have straightened the collar up a bit though, huh?



There were also door prizes given away. I never win things. Neither does Son. Or AD. Daughter on the other hand - she wins things all the time.

As it turned out, Son won a couple of packages of coffee. Hannah is a big coffee drinker. Son likes coffee too so I'm very glad he won them.

But he wasn't the only winner in the family! I won a prize for having come the longest way. WOO HOO! Guess what the prize was - see, Joanne is signing it.



An apple apron. What an end to a great day.

PS. Son and I didn't drive all the way to Plano and only go to a book signing. We did a couple of other things too. I'll be posting about them soon. Stay tuned.

PSS. I know I need to change my Header photo. I just haven't found the right one yet. I will though.

Wordless Wednesday

There's just nothing like a good chew bone!

Chicken Casserole

I've been making this recipe for at least 25 years. It's one of our favorites.


Start by cooking enough chicken to equal about 2 cups of meat. I usually boil 3 or 4 chicken breasts but I've also used a whole chicken and even leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

Then you'll need a can of mushroom soup (you could sub cream of chicken soup), a can of peas, some minced dried onion, a box of stuffing, milk and margarine.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Dice up the chicken and put it in the bottom of a casserole dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.

Spread the can of mushroom soup (undiluted) over the chicken.

Drain the peas and spread them over the soup layer.


Sprinkle on some dried onion.

Then spread the dried stuffing mix over that. If there is a packet of seasoning mix in the box of stuffing, be sure to mix it in with the stuffing before spreading it over the casserole. I hope that part makes sense.

Then heat the milk and margarine together just until the margarine melts.

Pour the milk/margarine as evenly as possible over the casserole.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.

Add a salad and dinner is served.

Chicken Casserole

2 cups (or so) cooked chicken, diced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 (15 oz) can peas
1/2 tablespoon minced diced onion
1 box stuffing mix (like Stove Top)
1 and 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons margarine

Place diced chicken in the bottom of a casserole dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Spread the soup over the chicken.

Next add the layer of peas.

Sprinkle minced dried onion over all.

Top with dry stuffing mix.

Heat the milk and margarine together just until margarine melts. Pour that mixture over the casserole as evenly as possible.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

For another tasty chicken recipe, stop over to Melinda's place at Mickey and Me, say "hi" and get this one for "Peebly Road Chicken Roll."

Great Customer Service

It was one week ago today that the monitor of my 2-month old computer died.

The tech guy that AD talked to said he would ship us a new monitor and we should have it by March 6.

The monitor was shipped on Tuesday and arrived at our house early Friday afternoon! In my opinion that excellent customer service.

The tech guy told AD there would be instructions inside the box explaining how to ship the old monitor back. Basically it was pack the old monitor up the way the new monitor arrived, slap the label on the box and call FedEx to come pick it up.

BUT - when the monitor arrived AD asked the FedEx driver how to closest office to have the monitor picked up. The driver said she had a few extra minutes so if we could unpack the new monitor and repack the old one, she would wait and the box could be back on it's return route that day.

I just checked the tracking number and the old monitor should be back in HP's hands on - March 6! That's the day the tech guy predicted we would receive the new monitor.

WOO HOO! Another case of excellent customer service.

My hat is off to HP, FedEx and those individuals who represented their companies giving this customer outstanding service.