Southeastern Greyhound Club 5K race fundraiser.

Last Saturday we spent a few hours in Kennesaw, GA to support the runners in the third annual SEGC 5K fundraiser. The race brings in much needed dollars to fund the effort to rescue retired racing greyhounds. This time of year is particularly important, since the tracks close for the winter and retire more dogs than usual. We want to be able to help as many as possible find their forever homes.

We registered our Donna as a "Running Mate" - runners were assigned to a hound so that those unfamiliar with greyhounds could learn more about the breed as pets. Donna was lucky enough to have two of her human runners win their category, so got to have her picture taken with them.

Our daughter participated as a runner and earned a second place medal in her age category. We are so proud of her for being willing to help the cause and for doing so well.

Here is the overall winner with Donna, and our daughter posing with Donna too. Two pretty girls together!

The quilt top is D O N E !

I set a new record for myself by completing the top in one month. I love how it turned out, especially since I wasn't sure I wanted to do this design at all. When I showed MDH, he said "I'll have that one." That's a first too.  Here it is: 

 

I have to find a better place to take a pic, but you get the idea.                                                      

New quilting tools :)

Bulloch Hall Quilt Guild recently hosted Bonnie Hunter as speaker and teacher. We learned how to use a couple of nifty rulers - the Tri  & Recs rulers. They make the "Peaky and Spike" blocks  popularized by the late Doreen Speckman a cinch. Here is one block from the quilt I started in her class:

I've completed the 9 alternate blocks and am working on the 16 of this layout. Look for the completed top soon.

Great quote from Mark Twain

"The man who doesn't read books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."

New quilt blocks

My friend is involved in a project to make quilt blocks for each of the countries participating in the London Olympics in 2010. She invited members of our guild to participate and I signed up for Egypt and Seychelles.

The Egypt block is based on a quilt block called "Moon over the mountains" which just happens to translate really well as a pyramid.

The Seychelles one is a stylized sailfish in the colors of their flag. The sailfish is on their coat of arms. The red triangle design is called "flying geese" so it is a kind of joke about the flying fish. I don't now if anyone will get it, but it amuses me :)

Banoffee Pie

Delicious, easy pie from South Africa (probably from the U.K. originally). We used to have to cook condensed milk to the caramel stage, but now you can buy the canned Dulce de Leche.


















1 graham cracker crust
3 to 4 ready to eat bananas
1 can Dulce de Leche
1 container Cool Whip or some fresh cream


Slice the bananas into 3/4 inch thick chunks. Place close together flat side down in crust. Scoop caramel into a microwave safe bowl and warm slightly to facilitate spreading. Cover bananas with caramel, filling all the spaces between. Spread Cool Whip or whipped cream over the top and chill.

Why mia

Our family has experienced the untimely loss of son, brother, and father with the death of my brother Anton. He was 57 years old. He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma several years ago and managed quite well until the middle of June, when his body just couldn't fight any longer. Things deteriorated rapidly until he lost the battle on July 17.

Anton was a good son to our mom, a good friend to his friends, a good father to his three beautiful daughters and a good brother to me. He will be sorely missed.

One thing my brother loved to do, and is much praised for, was cooking meat on the barbecue - what we in South Africa call a braaivleis. On Father's day, June 20, 2010, Anton cooked Alton Brown's ribs for his family. By all accounts they were delicious. So in his honor, here is the recipe from the foodtv website, and a picture taken of him and his girls that day. (Edit: We made this recipe for a family gathering to honor my brother,  and it is excellent. Highly recommend.)

If you would be interested in supporting research for this (currently incurable) disease, the family requests that donations be made to The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at http://www.themmrf.org

Who Love Ya Baby-Back?
Alton Brown
(Recipe website)

Ingredients:
2 whole slabs pork baby back ribs

*Dry Rub:
8 tablespoons light brown sugar, tightly packed
3 tablespoons kosher salt (or 2 teaspoons table salt)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon jalapeno seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 teaspoon rubbed thyme
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Braising Liquid:
1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 cloves garlic, chopped

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix well. Place each slag of baby back ribs on a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side down. Sprinkle each side generously with the dry rub. pat the dry rub into the meat. Refrigerate the rigs for a minimum of 1 hour. In a microwavable container, combine all ingredients for the braising liquid. microwave on high for 1 minute.

Place the rib on a baking sheet. Open one end of the foil on each slab and pour half the braising liquid into each foil packet. Tilt the baking sheet in order to equally distribute the braising liquid. Braise the ribs in the oven for 2 1/2 hours.

Transfer the braising liquid into a medium saucepot. Bring to a simmer and reduce by half or until of a thick syrup consistency. Brush the glaze onto the rib. Place under the broiler just until the glaze caramelizes lightly. (Obviously, this is where Anton would use the barbecue). Slice each slab into 2 rib portions. Place remaining hot glaze into a bowl and toss the rib portions in the glaze.

*The recipe makes several batches of dry rub.