Karen’s Opinion

My daughter, Stacy, wound up with an extra digital camera. It is a long story that involves dropping a camera and needing it repaired. It ended up with Canon sending her a replacement camera after she had given up on them fixing her damaged one. She had already replaced the damaged camera.

So…I listed the Canon camera on Ebay this morning. I am still in shock at how quickly it sold. Poof! A buyer used the Buy It Now feature and the camera will be mailed in the morning! Wowzers!

Each time I sell on Ebay, I learn more about what I should have done. I think I should have asked more for this camera! LOL

Today’s Four Foods on Friday talks about Memorial Day and how we might celebrate the holiday.

#1. Do you celebrate Memorial Day with a picnic, cookout, road trip or some other way?
We don’t have any set in stone plans as each year’s activities depend on whether we are attending the Indy 500 race or not. This year, my daughter and my husband are going to the race. I hope to get a bunch of sewing done that day.

#2. What are staples at your summer time cookouts? I love a juicy hamburger. We have a local butcher who cuts meat in his little grocery store, “Bill’s”. I like the flavor of the meat from his shop so much better than a chain grocery. Besides hamburgers and hot dogs, I think chips and watermelon are on the table too.

#3. What drink do you find most refreshing on a hot summer day? lemonade or water

#4. Share a recipe for a picnic side dish.

LETTUCE & CAULIFLOWER SALAD

1 head lettuce (I prefer heart of romaine)
1 head cauliflower
1 package frozen peas
Miracle Whip salad dressing approx 5 tablespoons
1 pkg dry ranch dressing
1 red onion chopped

pull lettuce into small pieces to make 2 cups
chop cauliflower into bite size pieces use approx 1/2 head
add all ingredients and toss
refrigerate

I found this recipe for Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad at Eating Well and I am anxious to try it.

Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad

Makes 6 servings, about 1 cup each
Ingredients

5 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 small shallot, finely chopped
½ teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 cups chopped cauliflower florets (about ½ large head)
2 cups chopped heart of romaine
1 tart-sweet red apple, chopped
eating well Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad Ingredients Cont.

eating well Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad Instructions

Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, shallot, caraway seeds (if using) and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Add cauliflower, romaine and apple; toss to coat.
eating well Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad Instructions Cont.

eating well Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad Nutrition Information

Per serving: 54 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber; 128 mg sodium; 257 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (53% daily value), Vitamin A (22% dv), Folate (15% dv).
1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat

When my son was in college, I enjoyed going to the Spring Fling that was held each year. The talent of the kids was amazing. Here is one such talent, although not from my son’s school. Enjoy!

Imagine yourself wearing shorts, drinking pina coladas, reading your favorite book and soaking up some sun. Does that sound like something you wish you could do? Well, you can stop wishing and make a visit to Kissimmee, Florida a reality when you sign up to win during the Kissimmee Freedom to Enjoy sweepstakes.

Any day of the year is a good day when you are in Kissimmee! Located just south of Orlando, you can be as busy as you want to be. You can spend your days at various theme parks or relax and enjoy the tranquility of a beautiful beach. Your choice of places to stay is as varied as the things to do once you get to Kissimmee. You may choose a rented vacation home where you can enjoy all the comforts of home or choose my favorite travel destination, a hotel with rooms set up as suites. I like having my bed made for me but the option to cook if I feel like doing so. The choices for vacation destinations in Kissimmee are so many, you might have trouble deciding which one is best for you!

Check out the Freedom to Enjoy sweepstakes to sign up for your chance to win. Drawings will be held on or around 6/1/09.

Our daughter is here from Florida and when she visits, we watch movies! Yay! We are settling in to watch The Day the Earth Stood Still. Oh Keanu Reeves! Based on the book, the original movie was made in 1951. Our son said this version is a winner.

Photo by Jim Haines
We just finished watching the pole fill for the Indy 500. Yes, it is that time again. Next Sunday I will be rooting for Danica again. She got jilted last year but those things happen. It is part of racing. I think it is fun to hear all the hype about Alex Lloyd and his fun with the color pink this year. “I’ll wear pink for the rest of my career if it means I can get in a race car,” he said. “We’re working hard to make this more than a one-race deal as well. Hopefully, this can just be the start of Pink Lloyd.” He will start in the the middle of Row 4 in his second Indianapolis 500.

I hear there was quite a ruckus north of us at Notre Dame University. President Barack Obama gave the commencement speech at the university. Anti-abortion activists protested because they think that the university was wrong to invite him to speak. Notre Dame is a Catholic Institution. President Barack Obama received a lengthy ovation from students and spectators. I think is okay to protest in a peaceful manner and that not all Catholics agree with the demonstrators.