PTR-Cheating on Mickey w/Harry!...OMG! Only a month to go!

[bangzoom6877]

So I wimped out on dinner tonight and ended up just getting some take and bake Chicken Cordon Bleu, packaged noodles and green beans. I was just too tired to deal with anything more than cutting green beans. But while at the store I thought of a GREAT idea for Sunday. I make this Barbeque Pot Roast (thanks Bonnie since you were talking BBQ ribs) and I was planning to make that for Fran and I Friday night. I was buying the ingredients to restock my cupboard since I had it on the plan and was thinking, "What if I could make that without beef?"

I realized I could probably use a pork roast, so I went over to the meat counter and Pork shoulder/butt is on sale for $1.99/lb. There was a roast 5 lbs for $10, I'm sure that would feed 12 people! I bet I could use the same sauce for a pork butt and it would come out just as good! And the people who don't eat red meat...well pork is the other white meat!

What do you think?

Barbeque Pot Roast

Ingredients

2 tbl Salad Oil
1 3-5 pound bone in roast (beef or pork)
2 medium onions
3 cloves garlic minced
16-oz canned tomato sauce
12-oz canned tomato paste
2/3 cup packed light brown splenda
3/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tsp salt
2 tbl Worchestershire
2 tsp dry mustard
½ tsp pepper
3 bay leaves

Directions

In an 8-quart Dutch oven over medium high heat, in hot salad oil, cook meat until well browned on all sides. Remove to meat platter.

In same Dutch oven over medium heat, in drippings, cook onions and garlic until lightly browned, about minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon off excess drippings from Dutch oven, leaving about 3 tbl of oil. Stir in tomato sauce and remaining ingredients. Return meat to Dutch oven. Over high heat, bring to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 2-3 hours or until meat is fork tender, turning meat once.

Remove bones (from which the meat should be falling off) and place meat on platter. Discard bay leaves, skim fat from liquid and spoon into gravy boat.

This recipe sounds delicious! Apple cider vinegar gives a nice flavor to BBQ items. I use it in the BBQ sauce for the ribs. This roast sounds like something I would make, perhaps even in the slow cooker.

 

[franandaj]

This recipe sounds delicious! Apple cider vinegar gives a nice flavor to BBQ items. I use it in the BBQ sauce for the ribs. This roast sounds like something I would make, perhaps even in the slow cooker.

That's a good idea! We have rehearsals over at Fran's parents old house. A couple months after her father died we started to use it because it has a large living room (hardly any furniture) and I can have something cooking while we rehearse and then use the dining room table for the buffet service. We set up card tables in the living room and everyone uses their folding chair from the rehearsal They would be turning in their graves if they knew what we were doing with their house, entertaining PEOPLE! ***Gasp**** Eventually we'll have to get an estate company in there, sell off the stuff and then fix it up and rent it. That place will give a nice boost to our income because that house is 1 block from the ocean in the ritzy part of Long Beach. Until then we have a place to rehearse!

I have one of my crock pots over there, and the piece of meat I bought would fit in there. Her mother didn't have any pots big enough for my style of entertaining. Every time we've made something like pasta or anything else large, I've had to bring my own pans over there. This way I wouldn't have to bring anything but the food. All I would need is to find a large enough pan to sear the meat in. I think we'll have mashed potatoes, green beans and corn along with it, maybe a salad. Now what for dessert? I usually buy one since it takes all of me to cook the meal!

 

[franandaj]

OK so I have a couple cool updates for today First, we closed on our WVL Contract! The points should be in my account within 7-10 days upon which I can transfer over my reservation from SSR to VWL! Not that SSR is a bad place to stay, I actually like it, but I want to stay at somewhere else this time, we want to stay at SSR in Dec of 2012. I’ll do the spa and we’ll be real casual, but on this next trip we want to do lots around the MK area so VWL works perfect for us. I hope when the points show up in my account I can get the room that I want!

We are well before the 3/21/11 deadline when resale points become 2nd class points! We can use then them to trade out for cruises or Disney Collection because we are planning to go to Tokyo in 2013 so trading out is important. While it isn’t the best use of points, if I don’t have credible renters lined up, I would rather trade my points than rent them. Any of you wanting to rent points PM me because I have my plans through about 2014 and there are probably some extra points, but even more if you might want to rent the points I’m willing to trade out for Tokyo or Paris (2014)!

We also registered for the Destination-D D40 at WDW today so now we know we're going to the event!

 

[bangzoom6877]

That's a good idea! We have rehearsals over at Fran's parents old house. A couple months after her father died we started to use it because it has a large living room (hardly any furniture) and I can have something cooking while we rehearse and then use the dining room table for the buffet service. We set up card tables in the living room and everyone uses their folding chair from the rehearsal They would be turning in their graves if they knew what we were doing with their house, entertaining PEOPLE! ***Gasp**** Eventually we'll have to get an estate company in there, sell off the stuff and then fix it up and rent it. That place will give a nice boost to our income because that house is 1 block from the ocean in the ritzy part of Long Beach. Until then we have a place to rehearse!

I have one of my crock pots over there, and the piece of meat I bought would fit in there. Her mother didn't have any pots big enough for my style of entertaining. Every time we've made something like pasta or anything else large, I've had to bring my own pans over there. This way I wouldn't have to bring anything but the food. All I would need is to find a large enough pan to sear the meat in. I think we'll have mashed potatoes, green beans and corn along with it, maybe a salad. Now what for dessert? I usually buy one since it takes all of me to cook the meal!

Here is a very simple and easy dessert, which takes hardly any time, and people are usually very impressed by it and love it. It has Nutella in it (chocolate-hazelnut spread), which I am addicted to!!! You buy a box of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry (frozen), and thaw it according to package directions (40 minutes at room temperature). Then, you roll it out to double the length and width. Spread the pastry sheet with Nutella spread (I never measure, just put a thin layer), spreading it out until it is 1/4 of an inch away from each edge of the pastry. Roll up the pastry as you would a jelly roll or cinnamon roll, nice and tight, and evenly. Slice into 1/2 inch slices, which should look like mini-cinnamon rolls, except filled with Nutella. Place flat on cookie sheet lined with foil, and sprayed lightly with cooking spray (place about 1 inch apart). Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then check them. They should be golden (sometimes they need another 5 minutes, depending on your oven).

The box of puff pastry comes with 2 sheets, so you should have a good amount of mini-pastries out of that. These really are delicious, so easy and quick to make, and you can even prepare them the day before, store them in a big ziplock bag and serve them the following day. They taste great at room temperature, or warm from the oven!

If anyone is allergic to nuts, you can also make these with a mixture of white and brown sugar, cinnamon, and sprinkle that over a buttered puff pastry sheet, and make mini cinnamon rolls out of them.

 

[franandaj]

Here is a very simple and easy dessert, which takes hardly any time, and people are usually very impressed by it and love it. It has Nutella in it (chocolate-hazelnut spread), which I am addicted to!!! You buy a box of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry (frozen), and thaw it according to package directions (40 minutes at room temperature). Then, you roll it out to double the length and width. Spread the pastry sheet with Nutella spread (I never measure, just put a thin layer), spreading it out until it is 1/4 of an inch away from each edge of the pastry. Roll up the pastry as you would a jelly roll or cinnamon roll, nice and tight, and evenly. Slice into 1/2 inch slices, which should look like mini-cinnamon rolls, except filled with Nutella. Place flat on cookie sheet lined with foil, and sprayed lightly with cooking spray (place about 1 inch apart). Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then check them. They should be golden (sometimes they need another 5 minutes, depending on your oven).

The box of puff pastry comes with 2 sheets, so you should have a good amount of mini-pastries out of that. These really are delicious, so easy and quick to make, and you can even prepare them the day before, store them in a big ziplock bag and serve them the following day. They taste great at room temperature, or warm from the oven!

If anyone is allergic to nuts, you can also make these with a mixture of white and brown sugar, cinnamon, and sprinkle that over a buttered puff pastry sheet, and make mini cinnamon rolls out of them.

Hmmm, I do have a sheet of puff pastry in my freezer, but I don't like hazelnuts, and there is a guy who is allergic to nuts, so I would be more likely do the mini cinamon rolls. However, I still might just buy something. We have a lot of work to do to get ready for the rehearsal! But thanks for the idea!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Here is a very simple and easy dessert, which takes hardly any time, and people are usually very impressed by it and love it. It has Nutella in it (chocolate-hazelnut spread), which I am addicted to!!! You buy a box of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry (frozen), and thaw it according to package directions (40 minutes at room temperature). Then, you roll it out to double the length and width. Spread the pastry sheet with Nutella spread (I never measure, just put a thin layer), spreading it out until it is 1/4 of an inch away from each edge of the pastry. Roll up the pastry as you would a jelly roll or cinnamon roll, nice and tight, and evenly. Slice into 1/2 inch slices, which should look like mini-cinnamon rolls, except filled with Nutella. Place flat on cookie sheet lined with foil, and sprayed lightly with cooking spray (place about 1 inch apart). Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then check them. They should be golden (sometimes they need another 5 minutes, depending on your oven).

The box of puff pastry comes with 2 sheets, so you should have a good amount of mini-pastries out of that. These really are delicious, so easy and quick to make, and you can even prepare them the day before, store them in a big ziplock bag and serve them the following day. They taste great at room temperature, or warm from the oven!

If anyone is allergic to nuts, you can also make these with a mixture of white and brown sugar, cinnamon, and sprinkle that over a buttered puff pastry sheet, and make mini cinnamon rolls out of them.

I love nutella!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

OK so I have a couple cool updates for today First, we closed on our WVL Contract! The points should be in my account within 7-10 days upon which I can transfer over my reservation from SSR to VWL! Not that SSR is a bad place to stay, I actually like it, but I want to stay at somewhere else this time, we want to stay at SSR in Dec of 2012. I’ll do the spa and we’ll be real casual, but on this next trip we want to do lots around the MK area so VWL works perfect for us. I hope when the points show up in my account I can get the room that I want!

We are well before the 3/21/11 deadline when resale points become 2nd class points! We can use then them to trade out for cruises or Disney Collection because we are planning to go to Tokyo in 2013 so trading out is important. While it isn’t the best use of points, if I don’t have credible renters lined up, I would rather trade my points than rent them. Any of you wanting to rent points PM me because I have my plans through about 2014 and there are probably some extra points, but even more if you might want to rent the points I’m willing to trade out for Tokyo or Paris (2014)!

We also registered for the Destination-D D40 at WDW today so now we know we're going to the event!

I am so glad that everything is working out for you! I had heard about that 3/21/11 deadline on one of the podcasts that I listen to, while I didn't understand the whole discussion (I can't wrap my head around DVC ) I did think of you and got a little worried that the 2nd class points thing would affect to you. I am glad that it will not ,but does this mean that if you ever sell them off in the future your resale won't be as good?

Yay on registering for Destination-D it looks like you are going to have a great time.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OK so I have a couple cool updates for today First, we closed on our WVL Contract! The points should be in my account within 7-10 days upon which I can transfer over my reservation from SSR to VWL! Not that SSR is a bad place to stay, I actually like it, but I want to stay at somewhere else this time, we want to stay at SSR in Dec of 2012. I’ll do the spa and we’ll be real casual, but on this next trip we want to do lots around the MK area so VWL works perfect for us. I hope when the points show up in my account I can get the room that I want!

We are well before the 3/21/11 deadline when resale points become 2nd class points! We can use then them to trade out for cruises or Disney Collection because we are planning to go to Tokyo in 2013 so trading out is important. While it isn’t the best use of points, if I don’t have credible renters lined up, I would rather trade my points than rent them. Any of you wanting to rent points PM me because I have my plans through about 2014 and there are probably some extra points, but even more if you might want to rent the points I’m willing to trade out for Tokyo or Paris (2014)!

We also registered for the Destination-D D40 at WDW today so now we know we're going to the event!

 

[franandaj]

I am so glad that everything is working out for you! I had heard about that 3/21/11 deadline on one of the podcasts that I listen to, while I didn't understand the whole discussion (I can't wrap my head around DVC ) I did think of you and got a little worried that the 2nd class points thing would affect to you. I am glad that it will not ,but does this mean that if you ever sell them off in the future your resale won't be as good?

Sell DVC?

DVC is actually a pretty simple concept, your points are like "Disney money" that replenishes itself every year and expires if you don't use it. The amount you get each year is based on the number of points you purchase when you buy in. You use your points to purchase various room types, the more bedrooms the more points, the higher the season, the more points. There are a number of other variables of when you can reserve, but overall it's very simple. The 2nd class points will mean that you can only stay at DVC resorts and trade your points into a sister Timeshare called RCI. 1st class points can trade out to stay at any Disney Hotel Worldwide, book a cruise, or do an Adventures by Disney trip. Not that I would necessarily want to use my points for that, but I don't want anyone to tell me I can't do it!

I don't think I will want to sell my DVC contracts. I can see us wanting to vacation to WDW at least once or twice a year for the rest of our lives. OK, I modify that, I will probably have to sell or will my VGC contract, since I just looked up the expiration dates. My contracts will begin expiring in 31 years. The two I just bought will be first. I will be 76 and probably pretty much done or slowed down visiting WDW. My SSR expires in 43 years, so I might need to do something about that. My VGC expires in 2060 and I'm pretty sure I've abused my body bad enough that I will not make it to the ripe old age of 95! Let's hope that my grandnieces and nephews turn out to be responsible young adults that will enjoy accompanying their Grand Aunt to WDW and DLR! Lord knows their parents won't want to go. Well my sister, yes, her husband, no way

Thanks for thinking of me.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Well, I will not be on the DIS for a few days. It's for something good...

Every year at my school, the faculty and students put on a Benefit Concert, and all proceeds go to a selected charity. Last year, I was asked to co-host the show with a colleague of mine (proceeds went to Haiti last year)! I also sang in the show. It was a lot of fun! They asked me back this year (proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research)! The show is this coming Thursday evening, and we have tech rehearsals beginning tomorrow, after school until 5pm. Then I come home, have dinner and spend some time with the kids before they go to bed and I collapse! So, I won't be on the DIS until at least Friday! I will come right back here though to catch up! Have a great week everyone!

 

[franandaj]

I also sang in the show. It was a lot of fun! They asked me back this year (proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research)! The show is this coming Thursday evening, and we have tech rehearsals beginning tomorrow, after school until 5pm.

I didn't know that you sang! That's really cool, want to sing with our big band? Good luck and we'll catch up when you get back!

 

[ACDSNY]

franandaj - Were you thinking of going to Discovery Cove in Orlando? Have you gone there before? I may take our nieces in Nov as it sounds like a better day than doing the Blue Lagoon excursion on the cruise.

 

[franandaj]

franandaj - Where you thinking of going to Discovery Cove in Orlando? Have you gone there before? I may take our nieces in Nov as it sounds like a better day than doing the Blue Lagoon excursion on the cruise.

Actually I was going to wait and post that we decided to postpone the Discovery Cove visit to the May 2012 trip when I close on the BCV contract and can hopefully move my SSR portion to a split between VWL and BCV, and have a new final itinerary. I'm sure that it will still be plenty warm in October, but Fran isn't sure it will be warm enough. We know it will be warm in May.

It sounds really cool. I like that they limit the number of guests so that it isn't overcrowded, and with the part that is opening in June, it should be even more exciting! I don't know about the Blue Lagoon excursion, but I imagine it's either in Nassau or Castaway Cay?

 

[ACDSNY]

Actually I was going to wait and post that we decided to postpone the Discovery Cove visit to the May 2012 trip when I close on the BCV contract and can hopefully move my SSR portion to a split between VWL and BCV, and have a new final itinerary. I'm sure that it will still be plenty warm in October, but Fran isn't sure it will be warm enough. We know it will be warm in May.

It sounds really cool. I like that they limit the number of guests so that it isn't overcrowded, and with the part that is opening in June, it should be even more exciting! I don't know about the Blue Lagoon excursion, but I imagine it's either in Nassau or Castaway Cay?

I couldn't remember if you already tried it or were thinking about it for an upcoming trip. I agree it looks really cool so we might try it. The Blue Lagoon excursion is in Nassau and is about the same price as DC, but you don't get breakfast and lunch and there isn't anything else to the excursion except the dolphin swim.

 

[franandaj]

I couldn't remember if you already tried it or were thinking about it for an upcoming trip. I agree it looks really cool so we might try it. The Blue Lagoon excursion is in Nassau and is about the same price as DC, but you don't get breakfast and lunch and there isn't anything else to the excursion except the dolphin swim.

Well in that case I would definitely do Discovery Cove instead. It's pretty pricey, but the fact that you get a couple nice meals and that they limit the number of tickets sold makes it sound like a much better experience.

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Sell DVC?

DVC is actually a pretty simple concept, your points are like "Disney money" that replenishes itself every year and expires if you don't use it. The amount you get each year is based on the number of points you purchase when you buy in. You use your points to purchase various room types, the more bedrooms the more points, the higher the season, the more points. There are a number of other variables of when you can reserve, but overall it's very simple. The 2nd class points will mean that you can only stay at DVC resorts and trade your points into a sister Timeshare called RCI. 1st class points can trade out to stay at any Disney Hotel Worldwide, book a cruise, or do an Adventures by Disney trip. Not that I would necessarily want to use my points for that, but I don't want anyone to tell me I can't do it!

I don't think I will want to sell my DVC contracts. I can see us wanting to vacation to WDW at least once or twice a year for the rest of our lives. OK, I modify that, I will probably have to sell or will my VGC contract, since I just looked up the expiration dates. My contracts will begin expiring in 31 years. The two I just bought will be first. I will be 76 and probably pretty much done or slowed down visiting WDW. My SSR expires in 43 years, so I might need to do something about that. My VGC expires in 2060 and I'm pretty sure I've abused my body bad enough that I will not make it to the ripe old age of 95! Let's hope that my grandnieces and nephews turn out to be responsible young adults that will enjoy accompanying their Grand Aunt to WDW and DLR! Lord knows their parents won't want to go. Well my sister, yes, her husband, no way

Thanks for thinking of me.

You're right how could I ever think about you selling off DVC

Don't give up on being a 95 year old riding around the MK on hovering ECV's (its the future right , all things hover in the future)

I can't wait to go to Discovery cove, its a shame you are not going sooner but at least with so many trips to Disney you know you can always go later.

 

[Leshaface]

ALISON!

Where'd ya go?!? Did I miss an update that you were going to be off the dis for a few days?? Hope everythings okay!

 

[franandaj]

I'm still here, just nothing to update. There is one frustrating thing going on. My VWL contract has closed, every day I check the DVC member site. Today I saw a fourth contract listed, but the points themselves are not there. : So I can't transfer my SSR stay to VWL.

 

[Leshaface]

I'm still here, just nothing to update. There is one frustrating thing going on. My VWL contract has closed, every day I check the DVC member site. Today I saw a fourth contract listed, but the points themselves are not there. : So I can't transfer my SSR stay to VWL.

Oh poo...I hope it gets fixed!

 

[franandaj]

So everything is starting to fall into place. After much frustration yesterday, my points for the VWL finally made their way into my account. So I called MS today and changed my last four days to the Wilderness Lodge. The only piece left in my puzzle is the closing of my BCV points. It appears that the sellers are dragging their feet on returning the paperwork, as the contract has not yet closed. Once it closes and the points are in my account I can make the reservation. If it comes down to it, I might pool all my points to make a reservation a week in advance of my trip and cancel the days in advance of when I really want to check in!