My wonderful surprise!

16 years ago

Neener, neener, neener.... Jessy likes me best.... LOL

Take a look at all the wonderful things that sweet, considerate, intuitive, thoughtful and caring Angel sent me...

First off I have to tell you this much welcomed package couldn't have come at a better time... I truly needed to know that someone cared... It took me completely by surprise...

Thursday morning I open the door to get the paper and spotted a wet package... ( the postman was too lazy to ring the door bell and it was sitting out in the rain for quite a while )... My first thought was that they delivered it to the wrong address, that happens quite a bit... Then I noticed my name!!!!... ( BTW, the label was in the same size and type font I use... lol )... Then I saw Jessie's name under the Happy Birthday on the return address label... I tell you, I had such a big smile, I swear the corners of my mouth hit my ears... You won't believe this but it's the honest to Gods truth... I'm standing, in the rain, in my house coat and I held the package up in the air and yelled, " I got a package from Jessy! "... lol

Anyway I took the package into my inter sanctum ( computer room ). opened the box, cleared off the little table, grabbed the camera and here's what I saw....

Doesn't that pic of AnnT's Praline Cheesecake just make you drool...

The next thing I unwrapped was the Honey Roasted Coconut Glazed Macadamia Nuts...

They are sooo good... And, no, you can't have any... I only have 1/2 a package left.

My next present was a set of enameled stoneware by Le Creuset...

Aren't they just the cutest little pans... Just the right size, dishwasher, oven, microwave and freezer safe and it's the color I would have choose if I were to splurge on something so nice.

The next thing that caught my eye was a tube of Ahava Mineral Hand Cream...

Oh my, you can't believe just how good this stuff is... I'm not crazy about the scent ( most good smelling stuff turns bad the second it touches my skin )... But this cream really works so well that I can ignore the scent... I swear, for the last couple of weeks, my hands were rougher than these old calloused feet of mine... After using the Ahava just once, well the words smooth as a babies bottom come to mind...

All my Fantastic Bounty...

Oops, the three jars are Blackberry Bay Leaf, Jessie's famous Fig Preserves ( sorry I couldn't wait, had to have some... lol ) and Chipotle Salsa for hubby with no salt...

Thank you so very much Jessy!!!!

And here's the first thing I made in my great little pans!

Candied sweet potatoes... All for ME!!!!

Rita

P. S. Jessy is now my new best friend and anyone who calls her Evil is going to get a bop in the nose... LOL

Comments (22)

caliloo
16 years ago
Have a fantastic birthday!

What a wonderful surprise from Jessy - and you are right - "EJ" really does stand for "Excellent Jessy" LOL! Enjoy all the goodies!

Alexa
booberry85
16 years ago
What a great surprise present! Glad to see you're enjoying them. Happy be-lated birthday! (As for Jessy, I thought Evil was Jessy's first name! LOL!)
;-)
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Alexa - no secrets here with my recipe. I posted it here last year and it is very similar to Doucanoe's recipe and hundreds of other recipes from the Lutheran church ladies of Minnesota. Of course this is just a guideline and often times larger amounts of my favorite things like carrots and almonds make their way into the pot. This recipe is for hand harvested marsh/river rice. Commercially cultivated wild rice takes longer to cook. The commercial drying/toasting process of cultivated rice causes it to be a much harder grain. LPink had a thread on the topic of cultivated wild rice last year. One cup raw marsh/river rice will make 4 to 4.5 cups of cooked rice. My favorite way to cook the wild rice: Heat oven to 350 degrees. You will need a covered casserole or pot (a 2 quart size is good). I use a glass casserole. Place in casserole: 1 cup raw rice 2.5 cups of boiling water or stock Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Test rice for doneness. Cook another 15 minutes if you want it more tender. Use excess water in wild rice soup. Wild Rice Soup 6 tablespoons margarine or butter 2-3 tablespoons minced onion 1/2 cup flour 3 cups chicken broth 2 cups cooked wild rice 1/2 cup finely grated carrots (I use more) 1 cup minced ham or leftover rotissiere chicken 3 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds (you can put them in the soup OR toast and top as a garnish) Salt to taste if you want 1 cup half and half 2 tablespoons dry sherry Directions In large saucepan, melt margarine; saute onion until tender. Blend in flour; gradually add broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in rice, carrots, ham, almonds and salt; simmer about 5 minutes. Blend in half and half and sherry; heat to serving temperature. Garnish with snipped parsley or chives. Sauteed sliced portabella mushrooms are a nice addition to this recipe. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Teresa in Minnetonka, Minnesota
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wizardnm
16 years ago
Rita, I would have loved to have been there to see the corners of your mouth hit your ears. I know it's been a tough year for you. Where Jessy is concerned, the word Evil, means the opposite of the true meaning. There's probably a word for that but I can't think of it this morning....maybe after another cup of coffee it will come to me.

Jessy, you restore my faith in humans over and over. Good job!

Nancy
mustangs81
16 years ago
Isn't amazing what virtual friends will do for one another. I'm sure that was a feel good experience opening up that surcie from Jessy.

Cathy
Carol Schmertzler Siegel
16 years ago
That is the best! Happy Birthday, Rita! Enjoy your gifts, Jessy is so not evil, she is what really makes this place such a warm one! I also know that firsthand, as so many others! Nice going, EJ!
riverrat1
16 years ago
Yay Rita! I loved reading your story. I think my favorite part was 'seeing' you standing in the rain and yelling Jessica's name. lol!

Happy Birthday Rita! Enjoy all the goodness that came to you from Jessica...that evil surcie giver.
BeverlyAL
16 years ago
Happy Birthday Rita! You deserve what that wonderful Jessy did for you.
jessyf
16 years ago
Happy Birthday again, Rita. You are so helpful on the Computer Help forum, and I know you have been dealing with life stuff, so I figured its time for Karmic payback.

Now don't y'all go ruining my reputation!!!!!
lackboys3
16 years ago
Lovely surprise Rita!! And you deserve all of them - may they brighten your day up, and your whole life too:-) Jessy, you are AWESOME, and I can say that with certainty since I was the recipient of your recent "swap largesse"! Don't worry, no one will assume you are anything less than EJ........
DONNA
lsr2002
16 years ago
That was a terrific birthday gift and I can just guess how happy it made you feel Rita. I'm grinning from ear to ear reading your description.

Jessica, that was truly a lovely gift.

Lee
canarybird01
16 years ago
Rita that's such a lovely gift and you really are a most deserving person! That was so kind of Jessy.

I can imagine how much you must have enjoyed seeing that parcel on your doorstep.....and then opening it.....and baking those candied sweet potatoes in the pretty new dishes.

Here's wishing you many more pleasant surprises, health and happiness in the future.

SharonCb
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
I've been waiting for the photos...

I'm so glad you loved loved loved your birthday Suprise!
ann_t
16 years ago
What a awesome surprise. And it sounds like Jessica's timing couldn't have been more perfect. There isn't an evil bone in her body. I think the "E" stands for "extraordinary", "extra-special" or "exceptional" take your pick.

Enjoy your wonderful surprise Rita.

Ann
annie1992
16 years ago
Oh Rita, that's a wonderful package, and I'm glad you got a little "pick me up" when you were down.

Happy Birthday, enjoy those treats. Aren't those fig preserves yummy? I think they have become Jessica's "signature"!

Annie
arabellamiller
16 years ago
Wow. What a wonderful and beautiful thing.

Enjoy and enjoy!

AM
sheshebop
16 years ago
What a great gift! Congratulations on your birthday. It sounds to me like anything you get is well-deserved. I have heard that you are the go-to person for any computer related question. Sorry if you have had a rough year. I am so glad that our Jessy send you a birthday pick-me-up.
Sherry
msazadi
16 years ago
Our Persimmon Princess sure has a heart of gold, and observant eyes and ears. Maybe that rain just made the package easier to open. Rita, I hope you have a calm and peaceful year ahead; most birthdays above ground are good ones imho. ;-)

btw, I was gifted with that lotion also, and it really is one of the best.
Maureen
msafirstein
16 years ago
WOW...I don't visit this side of the forum often enough and so sorry I missed this earlier.

Wonderful, delicious and thoughtful package Jessy!!

You will love the LC bakingware, I use mine all the time, only I do need some smaller ones like yours!!!

The fruit jams...what could be better!!

Enjoy and I know you did/are!!!

Michelle
ritaotay
Original Author
16 years ago
See what I made with the pretty pans Jessy gave me... LOL

I was inspired by Jessy's bread so I tried it with my Rich Roll Recipe and it worked out perfectly... Besides I wanted to bring the post back up to the top... ( I enjoying reading it so much! )

I brushed the braded loaves with milk, that's why they're darker...

Rita
annie1992
16 years ago
Rita, those look just perfectly yummy, and it's a perfect day for baking here, maybe you should make some more!

Annie
mustangs81
16 years ago
Love the pans. I have one and it is used frequently.

I wouldn't have thought to use it to make bread, your breads are beautiful.
jessyf
16 years ago
grin

My wonderful surprise!

Comments (22)

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