Ballet Costumes

The ballet was this weekend and the costumes were fun.

The king is wearing his fuzzy, sparkly vest and is fastening the cape/shower curtain around his neck.

This is the evil sister and her "reflection". I made the skirts. The top layer is a black satin train with narrow red bias tape for edging. I love creating costumes and seeing the results.

 The king is played by an Astoria Coast Guardsman, Mark Newkirk, who also appears in "Coast Guard Alaska" reality show.

www.weather.com/.../coast-guard-alaska/.../rescue-t...

Anticipation

I'm starting a new painting/art project-garden markers.

I ordered paint mixing sticks from Amazon, hoping to make my stakes re-usable.

Make- Ahead Meatballs

3 lbs. ground beef
6 oz. can evaporated milk
1 c. oatmeal
1 c. cracker crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. chili powder (opt.) or 1 tsp. chili pepper flakes (for a spicy meatball)

SAUCE: for one dozen meatballs

1 tsp. liquid smoke (optional)

1 c. catsup
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. chopped onion

Combine meatball ingredients and shape in walnut size balls. Place meatballs in single layer on wax paper lined cookie sheets; freeze solid.( Optionally, pre-bake them at 350 for 30 min.) When ready to use place frozen meatballs in pan and pour the sauce over them. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 72 meatballs

This recipe is easy and makes six dozen meatballs. I use the red pepper flakes and I prebake them before they are frozen. The pan on the left was baked on parchment.

These tools came in handy, a pastry cutter for mixing the meat, meat hammer for pounding soda crackers, and the little gizmo at the bottom is a meatball maker. You don't have to use any of these but I love my kitchen toys.

 This recipe from Norma Bennett

Ocean in View

Our friend Kyle lives at Pillar Rock on the Columbia River. We took a ride out there this morning and I took these pictures. This is where Lewis and Clark first viewed the Pacific Ocean.

Kyle is a hunter. Lewis and Clark would have appreciated some fresh elk roasts. The area is pretty much the same as what L&C saw. The town of Astoria, Oregon was established not long after.