A Few of FR's Finest..Every Day..10-31-06..PUMPKIN PARADE: Halloween 2006

DollyCali and all of the Finest AT the Finest | October 31, 2006 | DollyCali

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

>

10-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #17

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-30-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[DollyCali]

You know you are too old to Trick or Treat when:

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

8. You ask for high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say: "Great Boris Karloff Mask," and you're not wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or ." and can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.


2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

And the number one reason Seniors

should not go Trick Or Treating...

*

*

*

1. You keep having to go home to pee.

[MEG33]

;) Glad you liked it! I love kitties..

[MEG33]

LOL..I have to get something to eat..but I'll be back..

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Dolly Wonderful Thread :)

[raybbr]

[snugs]

How about a homemade Pumpkin Pie(s)

Here is the Recipe

1 round unbaked 9-inch deep dish pie pastry (9-10-inch)
2 cups freshly cooked pumpkin, seeded, peeled, mashed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 large eggs, beaten lightly
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated skim milk
1/2 cup skim milk

(To make your own freshly cooked pumpkin, quarter 1-2 small pie pumpkins, de-stem, seed and de-string them. Then steam them in a steamer over boiling water until very tender--the skin will peel right off. Then mash them using a stick blender or a food processor).

Preheat oven to 400°F and have ready a pie shield and a large rimmed cookie sheet.

Line a deep dish pie glass pie plate with the pie pastry rounds, fluting the edges decoratively as desired. Combine in order the pumpkin, sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

Lightly beat eggs together with both milks, then add to the pumpkin mixture, stirring well to combine--it will be rather thin.

Pour as much filling as you can into unbaked pie pastry and bake at 400°F for 50 minutes (or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out without any goo on it). If there is any extra filling use to fill a smaller mini pie plate or discard.

NOTE: Set cookie sheet on the rack below the rack you are setting your pie plate on in order to catch any drips. I did not need to do this as I did not overfill the pastry cases and in fact got one large and one small pie out of the recipe.

If the pie edges start overbrowning, place a pie shield or a ring of foil over the edges--this will be needed or not depending on the type of pastry you use.

[MEG33]

Awww..Cute!

[DollyCali]

Thanks to all for all the great graphics...I think I need to try to sleep some more. I was up about 3 ish... had a "disturbing" dream & decided to post thread early.

Dreamed I was in a prison camp of sorts for about 5 or 6 years.. Many of the people I knew were very gaunt & sad. when I came back to the family/friends I could find, they told me my mom had died one week prior. I remember crying in the dream. I don't ever recall a dream where I experienced emotion. Ever.

I have a ton of stuff to post yet. The thread was a monster size wise. You know me.. Pack Rat carried over onto thread..but I eliminated all except pumpkins.. and then eliminated a lot of "pumpkin stuff"...recipes, poetry, humor...

will post some of it as I go

[DollyCali]

Thank you Eleanor for that recipe. I can tell you I am so very impressed that you do so much scratch cooking/baking. I know I can only speak for myself here, but BELIEVE can speak for many.... We don't do much scratch cooking ... packaged, mixes, pre made pie shells, cake mixes & of course the easiest ... buying the stuff already prepared.

Are most English women avid cooks/bakers? or are you an exception?

[jaycee]

I started here today and all I can say is a great big fat WOW!

[DollyCali]

Pinging specifically the NE Ohio folks who might know of this restaurant & thus specifically know Pam

In Brecksville Ohio is a famous & long standing restaurant named Simons. It is a New York type deli/restaruant with very good food & a nice clientele

My friend Pat & I do a doggie walk each monday & then eat somewhere. The past two weeks we ate at Simons, as it is midway between our homes & very close to the Metro park where we walked.

As I was going to the bathroom I noticed on the tables, various carved pumpkins. I took some pix (they are the two in the body of the thread that I have added my sig on). In asking around found out that they were done by the chef/husband of one of the server's /bartender.

She and her hubby at one time owned a deli in nearby Richfield

Here is a pix of Pam with the one pumpkin that was very clever. Martini glass, bear mug .. all folded out with the carving.

This pix does not show it well, but my friend & I think Pam is a YOUNG Jamie Curtis Look alike

[snugs]

I am exception most people tend to buy pre made not even mixes are that popular in Britain though if you have ever tasted a British mix you would understand why. They are not up to a Betty Crocker one though there are a few are now available in the UK.

Our supermarkets are full of cakes, biscuits, desserts etc even several different types of sconces.

We also have a great local bakers shop that sells both sweet and savoury pies, cakes, sandwiches, bread rolls with various fillings and of course bread.

Our cleaner at work is a from scratch baker and she makes bead pudding (recipe I posted last week on the Dose and singles thread) and a wonderful Victoria sponge cake.

Regarding pastry cases yes you can buy them premade I have seen them recently but up until then a lot of people bought frozen pastry instead. I prefer to make my own though. Which is basically half fat to flour and water for mixing, I tend not to do a sweet pastry I find the filling is sweet enough for me.

Our bakers

[MEG33]

I hate disturbing dreams..Thankfully I get few of them..Get some rest!

[DollyCali]

If you like graphics, then you will love the Finest. So many folks are into graphics & table work, that it can be fun to watch. Most of us are just limited with time constraints

(I hope the wow was a good wow & NOT a "oh, all this graphic stuff is taking forever to open" Wow!)

[SheLion]

Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

[DollyCali]

I try to keep the name on for original work.

Watermarks are another things. I spent a LOT of time removing watermarks from 6 of the pumpkins here on the main body of the thread. I am not too skilled in it & for some it will be easy to spot. I also take time to "erase" busy backgrounds, when I can.

These are JUST A FEW of the hundreds of pix I had to chose from...and then there are the pumpkin toons! love em!

[SheLion]

Watermarks are another things. I spent a LOT of time removing watermarks from 6 of the pumpkins here on the main body of the thread. I am not too skilled in it & for some it will be easy to spot. I also take time to "erase" busy backgrounds, when I can.

I don't mess with watermarks.  It takes forever to try to remove those.

[DollyCali]

yes it does take a LONG TIME

[DollyCali]

May God protect your precious ones...

Our Dear Father, creator and Lord of great love - we ask that you keep the men and women of our military in Your protective care. May the families be immersed with peace and comfort as they proudly know their loved ones are serving for the things that are dear to all of us. AMEN



Following are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to

Billie; Dutchess; DollyCali; The Mayor; GodBlessUSA; JustAmy,

txradioguy.............active duty Rivendell.......................daughter W.W.Smith...........................son gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey.........................cousin mystery-ak...........son, husband Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave........niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..........................son weldgophardline.................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.......cousin WaterDragon............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law kimmie7......................brother LadyX (RIP)..............grandson fawn796......................nephew ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady....................nephew Spruce......................daughter Bykrbayb..........................son Leofl.................................son chena...............................son Hope and Glory..................son Philman_36.............2 nephews TheMayor...............friends'son Doug from Upland.......soninlaw homeschoolmama........nephew ariamne...................2 cousins mhking.........................cousin Consort.................2 daughters Consort...................son-in-law gonzo...................friend's son visualops......................cousin auboy..........................cousin painter........................nephew jrushing.............................son LoneRedRanger...brother-in-law Ladysmith.nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop......brother nelibeli........................nephew Misty4jc.....................husband Colorado Slim..............nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews ProudAFDad......................son Alouette.............................son Katydidnt...........................son Zechariah_8_13....brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.............cousin PreviouslyA-Lurker........brother sheeza.......................husband kemathen7..................husband Q6-God..................twin brother Q6-God....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne..........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut...................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish........................active duty ODC-GIRL................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968................active duty NoLongerFreeState...active duty CMS........................active duty AlaskaErik...............active duty JemiansTerror...........active duty tongue-tied ..............active duty

Americaninfidel0 ….. active duty vigilante2.......son, cyber-adopted son OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew ak_daddoo........................nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son Armymarinemom................3 sons american_ranger.....................son cookcounty.............................son Himyar....................................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin boxerblues........................2 sons the piper..............................son Tiffee4Bob......................boyfriend TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law Skimask.....................................son Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy........2 nephews Kramster...............................stepson Socratic.............................nephew freema.......................nephew, son Azbushgal..............................son kimmykay.................................son NavySEAL F-16........................son Ike..........................................son repubmom...............................son wolfcreek..........................daughter JesseJane ...........................cousin Roses0508..............................son pmmd81..................................son GodBlessUSA......................cousin SoldiersPrayingMom.................son WakeUpandVote..................brother Skyraider.................................son CyberAnt...........................nephew mrs tiggywinkle...................cousin Jen's Mom........................daughter Meg33.............................grandson 911angelady........................2 sons Nadine...............................nephew U S Army EOD.................daughter thehumanlynx...........brother-in-law JFC..................................nephew Earthdweller......................nephew Scubachick.......................husband C'manDec19thSociety ..brotherinlaw Anthem............................2 cousins meanie monster .........family friend PragmaticWarrior..........2 nephews Sageb1...........................3 cousins JulieRNR21.........friend's grandson SuzyQue...mom,2 sons,3 brothers weeder1...........................nephew IndyPendance..daughter,soninlaw fatima.....................granddaughter Lori from Long Island....soninlaw monkeyface...................grandson redhead...................grandnephew gonzo............................soninlaw

[jaycee]

BIG, FAT, GOOD WOW~~~~~~~~~~