What a Difference a Clay Makes!

Graphic by ABeautifulMind

Aiken Fans Counting Down

'Spamalot' Curtain Rises Jan. 18

With digital precision, message board countdowns are steadily ticking off the seconds until Clay Aiken's opening performance in the Broadway show "Spamalot" Friday, Jan. 18, at the Shubert Theatre.

Fans -- especially the "southern magnolia" variety -- are cautiously packing layers of long underwear for the initial weekend's predicted temperature span of 21-degree lows to a three-day average high of 33. If I were heading to New York City for the big opening, I would probably follow suit.

Publicity for the new Sir Robin this weekend has rivaled that of state presidential primaries, claiming at various times a spot among Top Picks on MSN and other media sites.

Show Anticipates Feat of Clay

'Spamalot' Has Feat of Clay wrote Liz Smith in Sunday's New York Post:

GET READY! "American Idol" superstar Clay Aiken joins the Tony Award-winning musical "Monty Python's Spamalot," making a line at the stage door of the Shubert Theatre on West 44th Street beginning Friday. And he'll stick with this hilarious show through May 4.

Director Mike Nichols: "Clay is amazing, beyond that glorious voice. Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character. People are going to be surprised by his wide-ranging talent, since the first impression is of great country charm and a singer to remember.

"This guy is not only a star; he is a lot more. We're lucky to get him for 'Spamalot'!"

Singer Discovers Unused Muscles

Appearing on many news sites throughout North America is the Associated Press story Clay Aiken Didn't Get 'Python' at First, an example being reports at Mercury News and CNN:

NEW YORK -- Clay Aiken, who joins the cast of "Monty Python's Spamalot" this week, says its humor was initially lost on him.

"The first time I saw it I thought it was the stupidest thing I'd ever seen in my entire life," the "American Idol" runner-up told Newsweek. "My tour drummer is the 'Spamalot' drummer, and (he) said you've got to see it again."

Describing how sore he is from January rehearsals, Clay added, "It hurts so bad. I don't know if it's I'm not coordinated or using muscles I never had to use before."

Aiken Fans Applaud Quiana's Debut

Accompanied by his touring family and many area fans, Clay accorded Quiana Parler well-deserved kudos at her debut performance in the starring role of Effie White in the NC Theatre's production of "Dreamgirls" Saturday night.

With Clay at the opening of the show's two-week run in Raleigh were Sean McDaniel, Mary Brennan, Jamie Braswell, Angela Fisher, and her son Ivory.

Bravos, recaps, and photo-audio-video "quack" of Quiana's performance have been shared throughout Clay Cyberspace since Friday's dress rehearsal-preview show for students and educators.

Photo links to Quiana Parler's performance.

The above photo by Joyfulclaymate links to a YouTube video of Quiana singing "I'm Telling You" from "Dreamgirls."

Unfortunately, the video has since been removed; but here are Sendspace downloads for the song in small wmv video and mp3 audio files.

'Quiana Is Effie!'

In his OFC blog, Clay praised his singing partner's opening night performance and declared "Quiana IS Effie!" Urging his fans to procure tickets to one of the remaining shows, he also related his epiphany regarding rehearsal routines for musicals.

"When I was spending my last week in Raleigh before moving to NYC, Quiana was in rehearsals, coming home at night so tired and going straight to bed. I complained at the time that she was exaggerating. She COULDN'T be THAT tired.

"But when I got to NYC and started my rehearsals, I had to call her back and apologize because I completely understood what she was going through."

Remaining performances of "Dreamgirls" include Jan. 15-18, 8 p.m.; Jan. 19, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Jan. 20, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For ticket information, contact Ticketmaster. For production information, visit NC Theatre.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Represented in this clickable interlude are nine talented visual artists, including MNmeesh, photos by Tangerinee and dc4clay, 1; Invisible926, photos by Toni7babe, 2; ABeautifulMind, photo by KarenEh, 3; Ambassador of Love, photo by KarenEh, 4; and Amazing_CA, photo by KarenEh, 5.

Football Plays Havoc with 'AI2 Rewind'

Due to professional football playoffs, it took me all weekend to stumble onto AI2 Rewind, Group 2. A little after 2 p.m. Sunday I turned on my TV thinking there would be a football game and found myself in the midst of Rewind at a most unusual time.

Ruben Studdard sang "Superstar"; Kim Locke, "Over the Rainbow"; and Clay, "Open Arms." As CA fans know, America voted Ruben and Kim through to the next round. Clay went home to Raleigh but, thankfully, was called back a few weeks later for the Wildcard competition.

If you missed the show, you can download Clay's portions in AI2 Rewind with this Sendspace link: Group 2.

FIVE YEARS -- The screen cap at left is Clay singing "Open Arms" in
AI2's Group 2 Round. At right, he is pictured during last weekend's
Golfing for Inclusion fundraiser in Palm Beach, FL.

Season 2: Then and Now

In Clayversity's main thread, "Clay Matters," Foothillgirl composed an excellent summary of this week's Rewind segment. With her permission, here is a portion of her post:

Even after Simon gave Kim a hard time, he managed to pimp her and Ruben for the rest of the episode, repeating those two names over and over.

Then Rube admitted that he and Michael Orland couldn't get their timing in synch with his original song, so he reverted to one he had already sung. Kim did the same song she sang in Hollywood, too.

It must have been so difficult for Clay to get his hopes up to be in the Top 3 of his group only to be denied the chance to go on. He was very brave and a good sport, grabbing Rube's hand when he was announced, holding it high like a boxer who had just won his fight.

And then in the current day interview, Ruben says he thought Clay was heavy competition and he thought to himself: "All right; he's goin' home!"

But look where they all are now.

'Open Arms' Wallpaper
Compiled by Fountaindawg

In preparation for Tuesday's start of the seventh season of American Idol on FOX, Erika Ray of the Toledo Blade reviewed past AI stars in her column Sunday. This is Clay's paragraph, and you can read about others at the link provided:

The wildly successful Clay Aiken, who ultimately finished in second place behind Ruben Studdard in Season 2, was cut early, and then brought back for the wild card round. Since his time on Idol, he has released four albums, has gone on twice as many tours, and has seen remarkable commercial success.

And look where they all are now ...

Totally unrelated, here is a clickable of grandson Kai and Gabby, photo edited by Sally. *

* A "before" picture and step-by-step editing techniques she applied are outlined in Clayversity's Photo Editing Thread. You can read more about CV's Paint Shop Pro Forum in the 1/6/08 blog below.

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, Sir Robin, Mike Nichols, Quiana Parler, Dreamgirls, NC Theatre, AI2 Rewind, American Idol, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Golfing for Inclusion, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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Aiken Raises Funds for Inclusion

GOLFING FOR INCLUSION -- Clay Aiken participated in The Bubel/Aiken Foundation's fundraiser, Golfing for Inclusion, last weekend. Photo by by Katy4Clay, edited by Sally.

LAP & LACIE to the Rescue

'Spamalot' Rehearsals Resume

After last weekend's Golfing for Inclusion fundraiser in Palm Beach, FL, Clay Aiken headed back to New York City to rehearse for his Jan. 18 debut as Sir Robin in the Broadway show "Spamalot."

While Singer Man is getting his flap ball change under control, opening night preparations are in high gear on the fandom's message boards.

Since their November venture with blogging, LAP (laptop) and LACIE (external hard drive) have been petitioning to pen another entry. They jumped when the opportunity presented itself today ...

LAP: We can't say for sure, but we think there's a new malady around here that's giving The Aiken Fog (TAF) a run for it's money.

LACIE: The symptoms are all there -- tracking in route packages for Kai at least once every hour, jumping feet first into photo editing, inserting Kai's Photobucket link with payments for the dentist and optometrist. Yep, Caro is walking around in a perpetual Grandma Fog.

Heels, Kai Blow Blog Routine'

LAP: Basketball season for the Carolina Tar Heels is in full swing, and it's no wonder she blew her three-day blogging routine. This week she even "watched" a non-televised game by refreshing the ESPN website every 30 seconds.

LACIE: We seem to have a few fans among her readers, so we thought we'd give this blogging thing another whirl -- even the codes if the ole girl doesn't come out of the fog in time.

LAP: Sounds as if Clay and all who attended last weekend's Golfing for Inclusion had a grand ole time at the Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach, FL. They also raised a lot of money for The Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

LACIE: You can read recaps by several fans at Clay's Daily Double. We are including some blends of GFI photos in the interlude. This clickable video screen cap was edited by Sally. Oh, my, where's my "Lawd Jesus" fan?

Sceen cap edited by Sally

Festivities Replayed Via Clack

LAP: There's clack of Clay assisting with the auction and singing "Unchained Melody," "At This Moment," "I Can't Make You Love Me," and "When a Man Loves a Woman," to name a few.

LACIE: (fans self) OMG, I think I'm still much too close to that picture! I would love to have won the dinner for two with Clay in New York City. Besides two tickets to "Spamalot" and a backstage pass, the bundle also includes a horse and carriage ride. (swoons, causing video to flicker)

LAP: TBAF plans for Golfing for Inclusion to be an annual event. I bet lots of CA fans are out signing up for golf lessons to practice their swing for next year!

LACIE: Wonder if I can swing with Clay by taking a few lessons? Is it getting hotter in here to you, Lap?

LAP: Good grief, Lacie, you're as bad as the rest of them! Just be glad you can see Clay on "The View" on Jan. 22. Now go mark your calendar and cool off!

2008 Calendar Cover Page

New 2008 Calendar: 'A Year of Clay'

LACIE: Photographer PermaSwooned has prepared a 2008 calendar entitled "A Year of Clay," the cover for which is pictured above in clickable form. Anyone interested can link to the monthly files in Perma's Smugmug gallery: 2008 Clay Calendar.

LAP: Fans can print the 8.5 x 11" files on photo paper, upload to Snapfish, or download them to disk and have the calendar printed at Staples. Use glossy paper for best results.

LACIE: Perma suggests that you save each calendar page in the original size so you will have maximum pixels. I am somewhat of an authority because I store Kai's photos, which contain mega pixels.

LAP: One more thing. These are jpeg files. If you would like the pdf files, which are clearer, you will need to contact PermaSwooned. She will need your email address, and you can send her a PM at Finding Clay Aiken.

LACIE: Or you can write to us, and we will pass along your request. I'm at least saving the photos to my drive.

LAP: Don't look now, Lace, but they are already there, LOL!

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Seven visual artists are represented in this clickable interlude featuring Clay in concert and various Golfing for Inclusion activities. They include Cindilu2, photos by KarenEh, 1; Clayquebec1, 2; ABeautifulMind, photo by Invisible926, 3; Amazing_CA, 4; and Amazing_CA, photo by Pink Cocoa, 5.

Carolina Blog Goes Global

LAP: Just for grins, during the first week of December, Caro added a ClustrMap that registers the location of visitors to the Carolina On My Mind journal on Blogspot.

LACIE: Now we know a friend in Nashville reads the Carolina journal; so you can imagine how shocked we were when the initial reports showed that people from many parts of the world are dropping by.

LAP: A few days ago, Caro asked Barb55's husband Ron, a geography professor, to make sure she had correctly analyzed the countries represented.

Map of Carolina Visitors

LACIE: The red dots on the current ClustrMap represent blog hits/readers to date. By continent, the 38 countries include the following:

ASIA: Saudi Arabia, India, Oman, Micronesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong-China, Korea, Japan, the Philippines

AUSTRALIA: Australia, New Zealand

EUROPE: Iceland, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania

NORTH AMERICA: Canada, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador

SOUTH AMERICA: Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela.

'Spamalot' Pins Go International

LAP: Orders for the "Spamalot" pins featured in the previous entry reportedly doubled after the blog went up and include international queries as well. You can view proofs and place an order at this link. Supplies, however, are limited.

LACIE: To our Carolina site visitors, we appreciate your stopping by and hope to hear from you sometime. Remember, you don't have to be a Blogspot member to say "hello."

LAP: Thnx again for your visits, which continue to provide an amazing world geography lesson!

LACIE: OFC readers, we appreciate all your visits and comments, too!

Kai in Carolina Blue
Graphic by Cindilu2

Grandson Swinging, Too

LACIE: Since this little "automatic sprinkler" -- will he ever be embarrassed when he reads this blog of these days! -- is causing Caro's current foggy condition, we are including one new picture.

LAP: Kai's mother took the photo, and Cindilu2 created the graphic.

LACIE: We understand that Kai is practicing his "swing," too, with the brand new rocking Rainforest.

LAP: Lacie and I helped track the Amazon purchase all the way from California to the delivery truck, which arrived early Wednesday.

LACIE: Unlike Caro, Kai's mother is a whiz at putting equipment like this together. We hear our favorite little guy has been swinging to musical tunes and sounds of the jungle ever since.

Below is a clickable of the opening photo by Katy4Clay as edited by Sally.

LAP: Have a great weekend, Clay Nation!

LACIE: Now that I'm a Claymate, that includes me. HEEEE!!!!!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Golfing for Inclusion, Clay's Daily Double, Carolina On My Mind, Blogspot, ClustrMap, geography, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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Clay Nation Celebrates Debut

OPENING NIGHT -- Cindilu2's animated design with photos by KarenEh commemorates Clay Aiken's Jan. 18 debut in the Broadway show "Spamalot."

Countdown to Broadway Debut

Aiken Fans Set for 'Spamalot'

Clay Aiken is heading to the Great White Way ... From "American Idol" to Eric Idle's "Spamalot" ... Clay Aiken has found his Holy Grail: musical theater ... Clay Aiken Gets Medieval ... From tour-a-lot to "Spamalot" ... American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is tackling the boards on Broadway ... "Spamalot" Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Claymates ...

Remember these clever leads from the October press releases announcing that Clay Aiken will join the hit Broadway show "Spamalot"? In rehearsals now, Clay will play Sir Robin Jan. 18 - May 4.

With a book by Eric Idle, "Spamalot" is based on the screenplay from the wisecracking film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and won the 2005 Tony Award for best musical. Although Sir Robin was played by Idle in the original film, the Broadway role was originated by David Hyde Pierce.

For CA fans, a memorable paragraph from most releases was this quote by director Mike Nichols:

"Clay Aiken is amazing beyond that glorious voice. Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character," original "Spamalot" director Mike Nichols said in a release.

"People will be surprised by his wide ranging talent, since the first impression is of great country charm and a singer to remember. This guy is not only a star, he is a lot more. We are lucky to get him for Spamalot."

Internet Boards Bouncing

With less than two weeks before opening night, "Spamalot" threads on CA message boards are beehives of activity as fans finalize show tickets, accommodations, and gatherings for their time in the Big Apple.

Scroll through Clay Cyberspace, and you will be met by "Spamalot" emoticons and avatars bouncing throughout posts and threads, leaving no doubt about this month's headline topic.

Clickable proofs of FCA's 'Spamalot' pins

FCA Celebrates with Special Pins

Clay's four-month run on Broadway is longer than most tours, which are usually commemorated by special pins. Finding Clay Aiken is doing just that with a selection of two "Spamalot" pins designed by Cindilu2.

According to Couch Tomato, all fans are invited to participate. You can place an order for the "Finding Sir Robin" and/or "Doing Clay on Broadway" pins at the linked site.

FCA ships to all countries. A donation from the proceeds will be made to The Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

Guests are welcome at FCA. For a tour of the site, use these links: FCA Forum (main thread: "Let's Talk About Clay"); FCA Website; and FCA Media.

Adding to the excitement in Clay Cyberspace are increasingly more frequent print, mass media, and Internet advertisements. The clickables below are a New York Times flyer and an ad on the Yahoo site:

Media promos of Sir Robin

'Spamalot' Playbill for Opening Night

A Spamalot playbill designed to coincide with Clay's opening night is available for pre-orders of $10, regular, and $17.95, collector's display. The Playbill Store is taking orders as described below:

By popular demand, PlaybillStore.com is pleased to make the Spamalot Playbill featuring Clay Aiken in the production credits available to his fans who will not be able to attend the Broadway show at the Shubert Theatre in New York City; or who wish to have more than the one copy audience members receive at each performance.

Clickable Playbill

Inside the Playbill you'll find Clay Aiken billed on the title page of the production credits section. In the production credits section you'll find Clay's headshot, along with the headshots of the other cast members, as well as his bio and the bios of the rest of the cast and the production team.

The Spamalot Playbill featuring Clay Aiken in the credits is guaranteed authentic, sealed in a custom fitted vinyl bag, and mailed in protective packaging. Shipping and handling are included in the purchase price. PlaybillStore.com does not ship outside the USA.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: These clickable graphics feature graphics by nine visual artists, including Amazing_CA, photos by KarenEh, 1; Ashes2, photo by PinkCocoa, 2; Artz11, photos by Toni7babe and dc4clay, 3; Amazing_CA, photos by Invisible926, 4; and Ambassador of Love, photos by KarenEh, 5.

Paint Shop Pro Forum Remodels

This weekend Clayversity's Paint Shop Pro Forum unveiled the first of several remodeling phases, and we invite all who use or want to learn more about photo editing and graphics creation to join us there.

Moderators of the forum include Sally, Cindilu2, and yours truly. Very much a novice, I am pretty sure I am there to edit any misuse of commas and semi-colons, LOL!

Membership at Clayversity is required. Located in CV's Department of Fine Arts, the PSP Forum was created in 2005 by Sally to share techniques, tutorials, and resources.

Many graphic artists who began as students have become teachers, and the forum is designed for sharing and problem-solving at many levels. Questions are encouraged and usually answered promptly.

Gallery, 3-T, Photo Editing Underway

Among the new threads is the GALLERY, a virtual display theater where graphic artists can post their work. A "view only" thread, no comments appear here. Typical of the creations on display are selections in this blog's regularly featured Photo Interlude.

A second new thread -- TIPS, TREASURES, and TRIBUTES -- is a place where artists/students (and we are all learning!) post thumbnails of their latest design with a brief description of techniques used. The main purpose of this section is to share knowledge; thus the subtitle reads "Learning and Sharing Together."

PHOTO EDITING focuses on the sharing of techniques for this aspect of photography. Its subtitle is a promise: "Turning Good Photos Into Great Ones!"

Below is a clickable of the Golfing for Inclusion photo taken by Katy4Clay that Sally edited. You can see the BEFORE and AFTER plus read what she did in the Photo Editing thread of the PSP Forum. I liked it so much that I made it my new avatar.

Clay at Golfing for Inclusion
Photo by Katy4Clay
Edited by Sally

Feedback and comments are welcome in both the 3-T and Photo Editing threads.

New Aspects Outlined in Overview

The places to start, however, are the pinned Introduction and Sally's Jan. 4 overview in the Announcements thread.

As a new grandmother regularly receiving digital photos from a distance, I am very interested in photo-editing. Besides the new thread, there are plenty of tutorials and lessons to keep everyone busy.

I have not tried creating blends or graphics. While my daughter has picked up several photo tips from Sally, I have learned a little about photo-editing/enhancement. This is from my recent PSP post on the subject:

Original and edited clickable photos of Kai

These are BEFORE and AFTER versions of a new photo of grandson Kai. We have his mother shooting with her camera set at a very high resolution, so the photos are gigantic.

The first thing I had to do was crop and resize the picture. Among the editing tools I used under ADJUST were Smart Photo Fix and Skin Smoothing.

Left Click To Soften

I had sharpened too much, so Sunday I received a lesson from Sally using the Soften Brush. The first time I took the brush all the way around Kai without holding down the left-mouse button, so you pros can imagine my wondering why nothing seemed to be happening.

When I discovered my error, I repeated the step, holding down the left-mouse button, also softening the bear on Kai's outfit and the remote control. I understand my grandson is quite adept at punching those buttons.

Since Kai's head was so close to the top of the picture, I added a very small bevel frame from my plug-ins, using a small "6" pixel setting under EFFECTS.

Come join us in Clayversity's PSP Forum. Plan to share what you know and learn something new!

Music lessons resume Monday. Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, Sir Robin, Mike Nichols, Eric Idle, pins, Spamalot Playbill, Paint Shop Pro, photo editing, graphics, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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2007 Soup Recipes in Review

MAKING A DIFFERENCE -- This beautiful graphic by Amazing_CA portrays scenes from Clay Aiken's holiday trip through the devastating flood areas of Mexico. His challenge for assistance with UNICEF projects there currently stands at $109,850 -- 110% of the original goal.

Aiken Fans Replay 2007

Soup Recipes Ease Winter Chill

Only a few hours old, 2008 blew into Carolina with blustery winter conditions for the mountains and bone-chilling, gusty winds for the middle of the state.

As I watched reports of the atypical southern weather, my thoughts naturally transitioned from the continuous parade of wind chill factors to favorite soup recipes. In a previous blog, I shared some of these cold weather dishes; but, typically, the versions printed below have endured many alterations.

While excitedly anticipating Clay's Jan. 18 Broadway opening as Sir Robin in "Spamalot," I, like most CA fans, have enjoyed this week's steady stream of 2007 replays by montage creators and graphic artists. The photo interlude below also reflects attention to the annual rewind.

Photo links to '2007 Year in Review'

An outstanding example of the many memorable montages is Dreamlarge's "2007 Year in Review." Clicking on the above photo by PermaSwooned will link to the video at YouTube.

To download of the montage, visit Clack Unlimited. Also, here is a Sendspace wmv file: 2007 Year in Review.

Crock Pot Knocks Correct Notes

Several years ago when my week included 55 private students and a growing family, my slow cooker was probably the most used appliance in the kitchen, making it possible for me to fulfill dinner preparation and an afternoon of music lessons at the same time.

Enticing aromas from the trusty crock pot wended their way into the studio and almost always had the latest students thinking more about supper than key signatures, much less correct notes.

Kicking off this winter sampling is Cabbage Bean Soup, a family favorite from the beginning. The "framework" for this recipe can be located in the Harpeth Valley Elementary School Cookbook, purchased during a PTA fund-raiser in Nashville, TN.

Typically, I experimented with the original from the get-go. Since our family enjoyed hot, spicy flavors, I don't think I ever prepared this soup the same way twice.

There are several variations available for Cabbage Bean Soup on the Internet. For example, the recipe can be prepared in a slow cooker (4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low) or in a Dutch oven on top the stove. An array of substitutions can be applied, and some of my alterations are provided within the ingredient list.

CABBAGE BEAN SOUP

1 T. vegetable oil
1/2 to 1 pound low-fat ground turkey, beef, or meatless ground burger [Best combination is part ground turkey and part turkey sausage, chopped. The sausage adds lots of flavor.]
1 large onion, chopped
1 small head cabbage, chopped
1 can (16 oz) can stewed tomatoes (Mexican, Italian, Cajun)
[Optional addition: 1 can tomatoes with green chiles]
2 (16 oz) cans red kidney beans [mix or substitute pinto, navy, black beans]
2 cups (or cans) water
1 can (16 oz) can tomato sauce (chunky, garlic, plain)
1-2 beef/chicken-flavored bouillon cubes or Better Than Bouillon equivalent [Option: the original recipe called for 2 cans beef or chicken broth; if I use bouillon, I make up for the liquid with water.]
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
Spices to taste: garlic, Italian seasonings, red pepper flakes, cilantro, etc.

Brown ground turkey or beef with onion in a skillet, using 1 T. vegetable oil. Cook until meat is well browned and crumbled. Drain fat; transfer meat and onion to a large pot along with all other ingredients except the cabbage. Cook for an hour and a half. Add the cabbage at the halfway point. Serve with cornbread or crackers.

Makes 10 servings, which -- for me -- means lots of leftovers that can be frozen and reheated in the microwave for lunches and/or dinners.

MEXICAN CORNBREAD WITH GROUND MEAT

I was given this recipe by a dear friend in Odessa, TX, years ago. The 3x5 recipe card is now splotched from time and spilled ingredients, as I prepared this dinner often after being transplanted to Texas.

The main dish consists of cornbread with a center of ground meat, onions, green chiles, and shredded cheese. A side salad with the cornbread dish has been a popular combo in our home.

At first, I prepared Mexican Cornbread as printed below. However, with time constraints as a teacher and mother, in later years I substituted instant cornbread mixes. Prepare according to the mix recipe, adding the cream corn of the scratch version.

CORNBREAD

1 C. yellow corn meal
2 eggs, beaten
1 C. milk (any per cent)
1/4 C. yellow cream corn
1/2 tsp. soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/3 C. vegetable oil

Mix all of the above well, and set aside; or do the same with the cornbread mix and cream corn.

FILLING

2 T. vegetable oil
1/2 to 1 lb. ground meat (turkey, beef, meatless burger)
1 large onion, chopped
1 small can chopped green chile peppers
Grated 2% cheese

Saute 1/2 to 1 lb. ground meat and one large chopped onion with one T. vegetable oil. Drain on paper towel. Mix with one small can copped green chile peppers (mild or hot). I have even prepared this dish one half hot peppers and the other half mild (even bell peppers).

Grease the bottom and sides of a large iron skillet with remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil. Sprinkle with corn meal, and brown briefly to help form a crust. Pour half the batter into the pan.

Sprinkle grated cheese evenly over the batter. Add a layer of the meat, onion, and peppers. Pour remaining batter on top. Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.

What does all this have to do with Clay Aiken? Nothing -- unless he wants to try an alternative to his favored tacos!

PHOTO INTERLUDE: These clickables include fall/winter events, a full-year recap, and a look toward Clay Aiken's upcoming starring role on Broadway. Featured are graphics by Artz11, photos by SmartyPantsSuz, PinkCocoa, and FiveGoldens, 1; Cindilu2, photos by BigAppleForClay, 2; Fountaindawg, 3; Katt45, photos by FiveGoldens and KarenEh, 4; and Artz11, photos by Toni7babe, Snix, and Tangerinee.

Cooking for Just One

Though less time-consuming, preparing meals for just one can sometimes be a challenge. Always seeking ways to simplify, I created a winter soup recipe with that in mind.

My bywords in cooking are "simple" and "substitution," so feel free to create your own variations. Just be sure to share your findings, LOL!

These ingredients can be multiplied to yield servings for any number of people. Preparation time for just me is around 10 minutes.

SIMPLE SOUP for ONE

Cook the following -- approximately 1/4 cup for the vegetables -- in a microwave-proof bowl for 2-3 minutes:

Onion
Frozen bell pepper strips (red, yellow, green)
Frozen corn
Frozen lima beans
Three-inch link of turkey sausage, chopped

Variation 1: Use one inch of the turkey sausage and a portion of shredded chicken, meatless burger meat, ground turkey, shredded chicken alone, etc.

Variation 2: Add of a little bit of wine -- or a few drops of vinegar -- when the vegetables are cooking. Both yield a distinctive flavor difference.

Add these ingredients, and microwave all for another two minutes:

3 T. canned black beans (or another variety)
Half a can of Mexican-flavored stewed tomatoes (alternates include stewed tomatoes, Italian-flavored stewed tomatoes, etc.)
Water or small amount of tomato juice
Spices to taste -- I use cumin, red pepper flakes, and Mrs. Dash Italian seasonings
2-3 T. shredded 2% cheese on top

Result: A warm, tasty one-dish meal in record time!

BAKED POTATO PLATE

One large baking potato
Onion
Frozen bell pepper strips (yellow, red, green)
Frozen (or fresh) broccoli
One serving of turkey sausage, crabmeat substitute, or meatless burger crumbles Canned black beans
Heart-healthy margarine
Seasonings to taste: Mrs. Dash (Italian Medley, Southwest, Lemon Pepper), cayenne, etc.
Shredded 2% cheese

Wash, punch holes in the skin, and microwave the potato on a plate until done, about 6-7 minutes. Cut in half, and refrigerate one portion for another meal. In a bowl, microwave onion, bell pepper, frozen broccoli, and meat.

Drizzle 2 T. black beans (with juice) over the potato half. Dot with margarine. Spread the vegetables and meat over this, and top with shredded cheese.

Run the "loaded" potato back through the microwave for 1-2 minutes. If desired, add a dollop of fat-free sour cream.

Result: A simple, healthy, delicious meal-in-a-dish for one!

Variation: Cube or slice the potato, and it will cook faster. Instead of broccoli, use frozen peas with onion and bell pepper strips.

Instead of the heart-healthy margarine, mix together (1-2 tsp.) mustard and low-fat mayonnaise. Toss with the cubed/sliced potato, sausage, peas, and the spicy seasonings. I sprinkle 2% cheese on top and nuke until melted.

Grandma's Swinging Morning

Reviewing cold weather recipes only took up part of my morning. Despite the expected holiday depletion of funds, my credit card and I marched into Amazon and with a couple of clicks sent a much-needed swing westward to grandson Kai.

His mother happily grew up swaying in the old wind-up variety that apparently has departed the planet in the manner of a dinosaur. I notice that many young parents writing reviews about the new-fangled replacements are also questioning the reasoning for the demise of the good ole wind-up version.

No matter, Kai will soon be swinging side to side and front to back to gentle sounds of nature and 12 different songs that range from soothing nap accompaniments to upbeat playtime tracts.

A swinging plan, Grandma!

Meanwhile, Grandma Caro enrolled two new students and is steering the budget back into a safe stratosphere. Still, a Publisher's Clearing House win would be most welcome!

Below is a clickable of AmazingCA's lead graphic:

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation -- and tell us what's simmering on your back burner!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, UNICEF, Mexico, floods, montage, 2007 Year in Review, Spamalot, Broadway, Sir Robin, crock pot, Cabbage Bean Soup, cooking for one, swing, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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