a strange sighting, a spelling game, lost?, and some recipes

Piqued your interest with the title? Just what I hoped to do. So with no further adieu (just realized that I'm pretty sure this is a french word that we use all the time...it's always interesting when you write something that we say so often and it looks strange, or you realize it's not even a word: for instance-- gonna.)

A strange sighting:

I'm hoping that you all are familiar with the cartoon character Maxine. If not, here is a picture to remind you: Okay, got her in mind now? Well, I was driving home today and when I got to our apartment complex I saw an old woman walking her dog who looked just like Maxine! And as I drove past she slowly turned and scowled...so I'm thinking it probably really was her!


A spelling game:

One of my students turned in an assignment today with this word in it:


RASESIZIEM

Now, the game is that you have to figure out what that word is. Welcome to my world! And one more just for kicks and grins:

OMVELOT

Granted, I had context clues to help me out, but please try...it will be fun (and make you appreciate what I do :)


LOST

Does anyone watch the show Lost? Unfortunately I got SUCKED IN at college (and watched 3 seasons in about 3 weeks). The premier is on tonight and Brent doesn't follow the show, so I'm just wondering who I can talk to about this!?

And finally...the long awaited....or not...I don't know....RECIPES

For a wedding shower I received a Taste of Homes Five Ingredient Cookbook (from the Blythes). I have made a ton of recipes from it and most of them are SO easy and very yummy. Here are a few:

Bacon Wrapped Chicken
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 carton (8 oz) whipped cream cheese with onion and chives
1 tbs butter
6 bacon strips

Flatten chicken to 1/2 in. thickness. Spread 3 TBS cream cheese over each. Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt; roll up. Wrap each with a bacon strip. Place, seam side down, in a greased 9X13 baking pan.

Bake, uncovered, at 400 for 35-40 minutes or until juices run clear. Broil 6 in. from heat for 5 min. or until bacon is crisp.

Noodle Pepperoni Pizza
(This one sounds strange but is really good...and SUPER easy)
4 packages ramen noodles (Cheap!)
1 tbs olive oil
1 cup spaghetti or pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package sliced pepperoni (I use ham)

Discard seasoning packets from noodles. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Heat oil in 10 in. oven-proof skillet. Press noodles into skillet, evenly covering the bottom of pan. Cook until bottom of crust is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Pour spaghetti/pizza sauce over crust. Sprinkle with cheese and pepperoni. Broil 4 to 6 in. from heat for 3-4 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. (You could top this any way you wanted.)

Taco Puffs
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 envelope taco seasoning
2 tubes large refrigerated biscuits
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink and onion is tender; drain. Add the taco seasoning. Cool slightly.

Flatten half of the biscuits into 4 in circles; place in greased 15 X 10 X1 in. baking pans. Spoon 1/4 cup meat mixture onto each; top with 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Flatten the remaining biscuits; place on top and pinch edges to seal slightly. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

One "puff" easily filled me up (and Brent too!). You could even make your own dough for this recipe, or use smaller biscuits. I used smaller biscuits and made about 7 puffs, and saved the left over seasoned beef for fajitas the next day! (These are also good with a little sour cream...for you healthy eaters out there ;)

Well, that about covers everything I needed to talk about...and now I'm hungry and am going to start supper! Don't forget to give me your guesses for the words!