CRACKER JACKS HISTORY, CRISPY CHICKEN WITH AVOCADO AND CUCUMBER SALAD, HOMEMADE PALMIERS, CREATIVE GENIUSES

Hello Monday and hello last Monday of August 2024 –

Can ya believe it?
August is about to be in the rear view mirror.  Seems like August just greeted us with a hot summer kiss — like day before yesterday — and, now, soon leaving us until next year.

I know my yard and gardens and, frankly, I am ready to do the bye-bye to August wave.

Had a ton of fun collecting these treasures to share today!

BEGINNING WITH:

14 CLASSIC FACTS ABOUT CRACKER JACKS
Man, oh, man do I ever remember those little boxes (our grandma always had boxes for us when we visited – thanks, Grandma).
Not only were the contents of sweet flavored popcorn and peanuts inside your very own hand held cool box a kid’s dream — the prizes were  So.Much.FUN.  Ah, sweet memories!

SUPER COOL CREATIVE THINGS THAT HAD TO BE CREATED BY GENIUSES
Indeed and agree.  My favorite 2 take aways are:
#7 Universal Cleaning Putty
OMG – Silly putty grown-up style with practical purposes!
#29 Green Gobbler
I already ordered a bottle to place under the sink for when the slow drain wants to do its thing and I’ll pull out my Green Gobbler Secret Weapon!

CINNA-ROLL WAFFLES
Wow!
Talk about another genius idea + the other ideas a waffle iron can do besides just making *yawn* breakfast waffles.
I have no doubt others will come to this mind!  Ha

CHEF’S KNIFE HAS A BFF IN OUR KITCHENS
And its name is Kitchen Shears.  Makes total sense!  Love the idea of just clipping herbs instead of the chop, mince, chop thing on a cutting board – among the other clip -go -keep  on rolling ideas.
I’m totally in.

BEST MICRO-FIBER CLEANING CLOTHS
I ordered mine last night.
I chose the teal color so I know the difference between just regular cleaning rags and the superstar cleaning cloth: windows, stainless steel, counter tops, etc … and the beauty is — toss them in the wash, dry and fold for another trip around the house and save the day sort of thing!

• RECIPES (!)
  Nagi’s Big Easy Pasta Salad
  I love pasta salads — save outta the deli case at local supermarkets.  Go ahead, call me a pasta salad snob.  I am.  Nagi’s clever/delicious Dijon-Cider Vinegar Dressing had my full attention.  So I made it.  POW!  Was this pasta salad hands down best I’ve ever eaten.  Fabulous.
  PICKLED SHRIMP
  I haven’t made it yet – but it reads like a dynamo recipe!
  I’m thinking, in addition to other ideas (bite by bite with a fork), adding it to Nagi’s Pasta Salad.  Hello match made in Pasta Salad Heaven.
  GRILLED SWEET POTATOES
  Hello!  Autumn thru Winter Yumminess.
  And all the Sauces (Condiments) that 2 Peas and Their Pod list.  Trying to figure out which one to try first.  Because I intend to try them all during the fall and winter months.
  BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH CILANTRO LIME SAUCE
  Totally has my number!
  And the 122 – 5 star reviews absolutely seal the I’m gonna make these Black Bean Taco Deal!
  CRISPY CHICKEN WITH AVOCADO CUCUMBER SALAD ON TOP
  Has got to be flat out fabulous!  And the aioli!  BOOM!
  HOMEMADE PRUSSIANS (PALMIERS)
  This one’s for you, Mama.
  Stumbled across this recipe and immediately thought of you and memories of being in San Francisco visiting Aunt Beth, walking down the steep hills that are truly very, very steep and visiting the super cool bakery in the morning and getting a bag of 4-6 Palmiers and then walking UP the hill.  Ha!  Was worth the climb back up the street and getting back to Aunt Beth’s, opening the bag of Palmiers and sitting down with a cup of coffee.  Good memories and delicious pastry.

SMILE VIDEO
Is pure toe-tapping happy smile watch/listen.
I’ve posted it before.  However, it came up in my news feed the other day and I thought, I’m so gonna put this in Monday’s post.
I’ve probably watched it 3 times or more since it popped up in my news feed the other day.

AS ALWAYS
We thank you so much for your support + love + time + engaging.
Ready?
Set.
Click away!
Enjoy.

• 14 Classic Facts About Cracker Jacks
• Super Cool Creative Things That Had to Have Been Created By Genuises
• Smashed Canned Cinnamon Rolls in Waffle Maker + Other Put-It-In-YourWaffle Maker Ideas
• Think the Trusty Big Chef Knife is Your One-All-Go-To-Big-Boy in Your Kitchen?  Not so Fast!
• The Best Micro-fiber Cleaning Cloths 2024
  ((non-affiliated – thought it amazing information to pass along))
• RECIPE (!)  Nagi’s Big Easy Pasta Salad
• RECIPE (!)  Seriously Good Pickled Shrimp
• RECIPE (!)  Grilled Sweet Potatoes
• RECIPE (!)  Black Beam Tacos with Cilantro Lime Dip
• RECIPE (!) Crispy Chicken with Avocado Cucumber Salad
• RECIPE (!)  Homemade Prussians – Palmiers
• SMILE+LISTEN WATCH IS SO FULL OF HAPPINESS! 
  You totally do not wanna miss this super short put-a-spring-in-your-step video.

THE FAMILY DOG

If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,

If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,

If you can overlook when people take things out on you when,
through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can face the world without lies and deceit,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

If you can do all these things,

Then you are probably THE FAMILY DOG.

~ from my wonderful collection of emails
this one from 2007

THE CURE FOR BOREDOM IS CURIOSITY.
THERE IS NO CURE FOR CURIOSITY.
~ DOROTHY PARKER ~

WISHING YOU A WEEK FULL OF CURIOSITY!

CATCH YA WEDNESDAY
SAME TIME
SAME PLACE