Duct Tape Purse - back view
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Duct Tape Purse (front), made by Abram for Ms. Erika. Erika had some nifty ideas about size and design...and Abram did a great custom job!
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Dutch Apple Pancake - This recipe is a keeper and I can't wait to make this for Jeff when he gets home! The recipe has gone through a couple of refinements and I've got it just where I want it!
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Coconut Biscotti, sliced after the first baking and before putting back in the oven for final toasting.
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Beware Biscotti!

Okay...so I still love to bake. I started making biscotti a couple of years ago and have been trying different recipes every since. This month's issue of COOKING LIGHT had a coconut biscotti and sounded and looked easy to make...and I loved that it didn't have any butter or margarine or oil in the list of ingredients. That's always attractive since I always substitute the fat with all natural applesauce (the babyfood variety). Coconut is not low in fat...but I reduced the one cup called for with 4 Tbsp. and I toasted it first...to bring out the yummy flavor. I loved the way this dough went together...and will make this again...next time substituting my favorite dried cranberries and pecans and just a smidge of chopped dates...in place of the coconut.

The only drawback to making biscotti is that it is so good, that portion control is a bit of a challenge. I mean, the stuff becomes stale after a few days...so what's a woman to do?

Coconut Biscotti
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Prep work for the Baked Apples and raisins. Easy Schmeezy to make!
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Baked Apples with raisins nestled in a whole wheat tortilla
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Ricotta Stuffed shells - Bon Appetit!
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Ricotta stuffed shells before baking in the oven
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Pasta Shells Stuffed with home made ricotta cheese

Little did I know when I began the process of making ricotta cheese, that I would end up with these delicious stuffed shells. It helped that I'd made spaghetti sauce with ground venison, onions and green peppers the day before. Amazingly easy to make, I was thrilled with the results of my home made ricotta...thanks to a terrific and easy to follow recipe in this month's issue of COOKING LIGHT magazine (thank you, Laurie Jo!) The following pictures show the step by step process. I still have quite a bit of the ricotta leftover and am thinking I might try some lightly sweetened ricotta filled crepes with strawberries for breakfast.

Photo 1 - Making low fat ricotta cheese
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Photo 2 - Using a slotted spoon and gently removing ricotta from main pot to the colander
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Photo 3 - Ricotta in colander to drain off whey
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Photo 4 - Draining whey from the ricotta in cheesecloth bag
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Photo 5 - Fresh Ricotta Cheese, low fat
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Jeff's NEW mailing address

CW4 Jeffrey C. Ylitalo
HHC, 2-101 AVN REGT
FOB Endurance
APO AE 09334

jeffrey.ylitalo@us.army.mil

An apple a day? Yeah, I can do that! This is a recipe I improved upon while Tarajean was visiting. It's going in the "books" just as you see it! De-licious Dish!
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Jeff just sent me this photo! Taken while they were still in tents and before the move to his "container" living space. Love the mustache!
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Tarajean and Abram in Abe's bedroom watching a video
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Tarajean and Kimberly, St. Patrick's Day 2005
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You can find Kimberly at the bowling alley on most Thursday a.m.'s with her team buddies, The Pink Ladies...We're number one! (After losing the last four games, our standing may not be at the top for long.)
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It was fun having Tarajean with me at the bowling alley. I've never had anyone sitting up above with a camera. Our Pink Ladies Team was missing one member...but Jackie is up throwing the ball and Jodi is at the table with me. We lost all four games that day! HA Not a good way to hold onto the number one spot!
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Abram and Tarajean at the kitchen table (Wow! You can even SEE part of the table!) shortly after Tarajean arrived at Ft. Campbell. They had a lot of catching up to do!
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Dinner out with the kids..."down under"
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Erika, Nathaniel and Abram after returning from their walk down to the river.
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Gotta love that sun shining through the doorway. This shot reminds me of one taken years ago...with Tarajean standing in the door of our motel room in Panama City Beach with the ocean for a backdrop. Okay, so no ocean in this photo...and definitely not Panama City Beach...but Tarajean is cuter than ever!
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Abram performing "Angel of Music" from "Phantom of the Opera" for Tarajean. I wish I could upload a sound file to go with this photo!
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Abram and Tarajean March 20, 2005
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Abram and Tarajean March 20, 2005
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Gym Queens

Tarajean and I took full advantage of being off work! Not only did we maximize our visiting time with a ton of chat and hanging out but we also managed to sneak in three sessions at the neighborhood gym; two kickboxing classes (different instructors) and one kick-butt step aerobics class. Tarajean and I were both feeling our calves after the step class. It was such a treat for me to have the lovely Tarajean sweating by my side.

Gorgeous Spring floral arrangement! Thanks, Mom...I love you!
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Problems with Blog Photo uploading

Wouldn't you know it? Tried uploading great photos of Tarajean and Abram to this page and couldn't do it. Abram, the smart one in our family, went to the FORUM page and found a ton of other unhappy Blog folks who were also experiencing the same difficulties. So now I know it's not ME and the program...but a program glitch. I will check back in a couple of days and try to get these photos uploaded. Evidently the folks from Blog are working on this new little problem. Ta ta for now and we'll chat again soon.

Tarajean's visit March 14 - March 20, 2005

Greetings from Kimberly and Abram!
We just had the best visit with Tarajean and wanted to share these photos with all of you. Jeffrey, we missed having you here with us to join in the fun...but you were with us, in heart, every moment of every day.
Oh Happy Day!

Fort Campbell, KY
Sunday, March 20, 2005