Friday, October 2, 2009

Feeling Under the Weather and Back-to-School Recipes

Sorry I missed posting recipes last Friday, but, unfortunately, I was in the hospital all day.  I’ve been experiencing shortness of breath and tightness in my chest and neck for the past couple of weeks.  On Friday morning. I wasn’t sure if I was having a heart attack or what, so my hubby took me to the emergency room.  After a couple of normal EKG’s and a couple rounds of blood work that determined my cardiac enzymes were normal, they sent me home.  On Wednesday, I went for a stress test and the cardiologist said everything looked fine other than my blood pressure was a little high.  One of my sisters (who is a nurse) has asthma and said my symptoms sounded like that’s what it could be.  I went to my family doctor yesterday (actually, the nurse practitioner) and she said that it could be different reasons and that we’d have to weed out the possibilities.   If I had asthma or panic attacks, that could cause the shortness of breath and raise my blood pressure.  Since the medication for panic attacks would take a couple of weeks to work and my blood pressure was borderline, she gave me a prescription for an inhaler to start off with and see if that helps.  So far it has!  Thank goodness!!  It is so scary not being able to breath, especially when you’re at home by yourself!!  I have to go back in a week to have blood work done to check my thyroid  and to have my blood pressure checked again.  Hopefully, we’ll get this figured out!!  Boy, it’s tough getting old!!!   LOL

I’ll hopefully be back to posting on a more regular basis soon!  I hadn’t been feeling too well to feel like making any projects, let alone having the desire to do any tweaking or even finish my fall decorating.  And that’s not good!!   LOL

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Here’s a couple more family favorites!!  The soup recipe comes from Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa and the bread recipe is an old Pampered Chef recipe. 

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Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

3 lbs. plum tomatoes, cut in half

1/4 c. plus 2 T. olive oil

1 T. kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 c. yellow onions, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

2 T. butter

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 (28 oz.) can plum tomatoes, with their juice

4 c. fresh basil leaves

1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

1 qt. chicken stock or water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4 c. olive oil, salt and pepper.  Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, sauté onions and garlic with 2 T. of olive oil, the butter and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown.  Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme and chicken stock.  Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet.  Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.  Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade.  Taste for seasonings.  Serve hot or cold.

** I used a hand-held blender. 

IMG_1690My hubby took the bread out of the pan right after it came out of the oven instead of letting it cool for a bit, so it fell apart a little and I couldn’t get a very good picture.  But, it’s really good – even cold!!

Antipasto Bread

1 (16 1/2 oz.) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained

1/3 c. hard salami, chopped

1/3 c. red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 c. pitted ripe olives, sliced

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1/4 c. butter or margarine, melted

1 c. parmesan cheese

2 pkgs. refrigerated dinner rolls

Preheat oven 375 degrees.

Spray Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Chop artichokes, salami and red pepper.   Mix altogether with olives and garlic.  Set aside.

Cut each dinner roll into 4 pieces. (64 pieces total).

Dip 16 pieces in melted butter then in parmesan cheese.  Arrange evenly in pan.  Sprinkle with 1/3 artichoke mixture.  Repeat twice.  Top layer ending with dough/parmesan cheese.  Sprinkle with any remaining cheese.

Bake 27-30 minutes.

Pillsbury Dinner Rolls have changed since this recipe came out.  They are difficult to pull apart to get even pieces, so I use my kitchen shears and cut them into 8 rolls, using the seam marks as a guide. Then cut each roll into 4 pieces.

Also, instead of rolling each dough piece in butter then in parmesan cheese, I sprinkle the cheese first, then add buttered dough pieces, then sprinkle more cheese on top.  Easier and less messy!

 

As always, if you’d like to participate or see who else has recipes to share, click on the picture below to go to Colleen’s (andbabymakes5) blog.

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I wanted to share a couple of pics of my scarecrows that I made a couple of years ago using clothes I bought at Goodwill and light-up pumpkins.

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Until Next Time . . . .Kris

31 comments:

  1. Well, glad that you are feeling somewhat better...and I LOVE your scarecrows!...nice job on the outdoor decor!

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  2. Hope they find our what's wrong soon......knowing is half the battle.

    Just love the pumpkin dudes. I have one that is kind of sort of the same but his head doesn't light up. He is too far from the house to plug him in but maybe I can find some kind of solar source! Or talk Dear Hubby to running a permanent line out to that flower bed at the end of the driveway!

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  3. Hi Kris, I knew that was a long time for you not to be posting. I hope you continue to feel better.
    Two great recipes again. I have seen the soup on her show and have wanted to try it. The bread sounds good too.
    And, I bought some bib overalls this summer at a yard sale and you just reminded me that I have to get busy on my scarescrow!
    Linda

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  4. What wonderful prim pictures! Love them. Your scarecrows are the best! Hope you get to feeling better.

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  5. OH Kris - I am so glad they ruled out heart problems. Your symptoms sound like mine when I was diagnosed with asthma in my 40's. While asthma is not the best, it is miles better than heart problems! I hope they find out soon and you are feeling so much btter.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the scarecrows!!

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  6. I'll be praying for you Kris. I'm so glad your condition isn't more serioius than it is. I have bronchial asthma so I know what you are dealing with here. Take care of youself girl.
    I difinitely want to try your bread recipe. I bet I could eat the whole thing myself. Yummy!!
    Your scarecrows turned out really nice. Hope to see more fall decorating from you when you are feeling better.
    Hugs,
    AMY

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  7. Hi Kris, You are completely sure, we missed your posts. I hope you are feeling better very soon. As always, your decor is amazing. Love your scarecrows! They turned out really nice. Can't wait to see more fall decor as you are feeling better.

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  8. Hi Kris, really sorry to hear of your health problems and hope they'll be able to sort out everything real soon. You are so creative - Love the scarecrow and pumpkin decorations.
    Best wishes
    Christine
    PS Thanks so much for the kind birthday wishes!

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  9. Kris,
    I sure hope the doctors figure out what's wrong & I'm so glad it's not your heart. You look way too young for heart problems, though I do know we are never too young for that.
    I love your fall decor ~ awesome job.
    Great recipes again ~ that bread sounds divine.
    Thanks for sharing & feel better.
    hugs,
    Pam

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  10. Kris, Hope you feel 100% soon. Take it easy and rest. Scarecrows are awesome!!!
    Hugs,
    Anne

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  11. Hi Kris,
    I'm glad to hear that you are having some relief from your breathing problems. I have asthma and I know what an uncomfortable and sometimes scary feeing it is. My asthma is almost always triggered by allergies and colds, however there is one other thing that will trigger it, acid reflux! When the acids come up into the esophagus they can be inhaled and cause major irritation and trigger an attack. Normally a few antacids will work to ease the symptoms of the reflux and then slowly my breathing will get better. Crazy! My sweetie gets it too.
    Your fall decorations are fantastic! What a wonderful scarecrow you made. Everything looks great! Hugs, Loretta

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  12. Kris...I will be thinking of you. Glad to hear you are feeling a little better. When we are not feeling 100% it is hard to do our normal everyday activities isn't it? Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing. Your decorating is beautiful as always! Love it! ~Sarah~

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  13. Kris, i am so sorry you have not been feeling good! I hope the can figure all of this out, in the mean time it is good that you r doing alittle better! I will keep you in my prayers.
    Love the scarecrow displays!!

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  14. Hi Kris!....I'm so sorry to hear that you're not feeling your best, it's good to get a diagnosis to put your mind at ease.

    Your outdoor decor is so cute!

    Janet

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  15. My prayers are with you that you will feel back to your normal self soon and the drs. will know what the problem is!!...How scary for you!!...Just take it easy!...I love visiting your blog as usual...Be sure to keep us informed!!~~hugs,Jen

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  16. Being sick sucks...this weather that we are experiencing doesn't help matters any!
    I'm glad that you are feeling somewhat better!
    That soup would be perfect for a day like today...MMMMMMMmmmmm!
    Those scarecrows are perfection! I think that I may just steal this idea from you...but I need to know what you used for the body!
    Have a great weekend!

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  17. Hope you are feeling better, glad it wasn't a heart attack. Take care of yourself. Your scarecrows are adorable. Everything looks great!! Kim

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  18. Oh, Kris -- I'm so glad you're feeling better and starting to get some answers. What a scary week you've had!

    Your recipes look and sound delicious ... and your scarecrows are adorable!

    Take it easy and have a good weekend, my friend. It's nice to have you back...

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  19. Kris so sorry to hear you arent feeling well. I am sure they will figure it out soon and you will be back to 100%. Your recipes look delicious. I luv any kind of soup,it's such a comfort food. Your fall decor looks awesome. I luv your scarecrows. Take care hun, get some rest this weekend.Sherri

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  20. Kris,
    I am sure that was a terribly scary feeling. I am so sorry. I will keep you in my prayers.
    Take some time for yourself we will all be here when you are feeling better.

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  21. Kris,
    Hopefully that inhaler will do the trick! About 10 years ago I thought I was having heart problems...turned out to be acid reflux. I remember how scary it was, and I imagine you had similar fears. So glad you're in the care of medical professionals. I've been missing your posts, but will try the soup and bread in honor of your good health!
    Love,
    Kathy

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  22. I really hope the inhaler does the trick for you. I ended in ER several years ago with chest pain. It kept getting worse. Turns out it was heartburn!! Guess that's why we are not doctors, huh? Your soup recipe sounds yummy - will be trying that one!!

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  23. Kris, glad your feeling better. Hope the inhaler is your cure. I've missed your posts.
    Your recipes sound yummy! Will be giving them a try.
    Love, love, love your scarecrows and fall decorating!

    Take care!
    Wanda

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  24. Hope you feel better soon sweetheart.. I know it must have been a scare for you but hang in there sweetie....

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  25. Oh, Kris, I am sorry to hear about your health issues. It sure can be scary when your home alone and something isn't quite right... and yeah, that whole getting older thing stinks. :)

    I hope you get some solid answers soon from your docs and the test.

    Love the scarecrow dudes. They are just perfect!

    Prim Blessings,
    Kim

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  26. Kris,

    So happy that you are feeling somewhat better. I know exactly what you were dealing with when you couldn't breath. You see I am a diabetic, with asthma and it isn't fun at all. When I get sick, I normally have to go to the doctor right away or it goes into my chest and I can't breath. Coughing spells are the worst!! There have been a few times last year where I had to go to the ER to have breathing treatments to help break things up a bit and allow me to breath a bit easier. Di your doctor put you on Advair by chance? I take Advair and a rescue inhaler as well when needed.

    Take Care of yourself and hope you are feeling better real soon. Good news is that it wasn't a heart attack. Praise God!!

    Hugs,
    Lisa

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  27. Kris...I can totally relate to what you are going through. I had similiar attacks years ago. I dreaded going out anywhere for fear of having one of those scary attacks...I'd start to feel flush, like I was going to faint and I couldn't breathe. It was horrible...Thankfully it passed...and you're right...it does suck to get old! Hope you are feeling better soon.
    P.S. I just love your scarecrows! Those are crazy good!

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  28. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear you're not feeling well! That stinks! I have thyroid issues, so if you need any advice in that area - I've got lots of tips and tricks you can try! I haven't been blogging very long, but your blog is one of my VERY favorites to visit! The tutorials and recipes...and beautiful pictures! I came over this morning to print some recipes for a dessert party we're having this weekend! Thank you! Feel better soon!!!

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  29. Hi Kris,
    That must have been so scary waiting to see what they found. I'm so glad to hear that it's not heart problems. I hope the doctor's figure it out quickly for you so you can get to feeling 100% again.
    The pumpkin scarecrow is super cute!
    Thanks for the yummy sounding recipes too.
    Have a great week.
    Blessings~ Birgit

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  30. Hi Kris, I just found your blog a few days ago. Glad to here you are feeling better. I just adore your fall display and the recipes Yum! Take care and Blessings Leah.

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  31. Hi Kris, Hope all is going better for you. I have you in my prayers, dear.


    Friends,
    Susannah

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