Granny Mountain

2012-01-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

I spent the day yesterday with my Mother in law, we had a care meeting at the nursing home first for my Father in law and then onto another appointment and then a bite of lunch. We finished up the day at Wal-mart, we're shopping and I look down at her shoes. She has on some of those Nike wild color ones with the weird soles, the ones that I always wonder..."Who buys these?" Well, people like her who are comfortable in their own skin and like purple and green together! She doesn't have a clue she's 2 years away from the BIG 9.0. You're never going to see her in her pj's at Wal-mart but you just might in a pair of hip hugger jeans she got on sale at Kohl's! She told me at lunch she can't manage putting on her little stud earrings anymore. I told her they were out of fashion anyway and to wear the french hook ones that dangle. Two old ladies exchanging fashion tips over lunch! I'm headed her direction and she's on the other side going backwards. No one ever asks her age because it doesn't matter. She 10, going on 11!

Pinterest Post Friday

2012-01-26T06:50:00.070-06:00

Do you Pin? Go for a visit but beware, it's addicting!

Source: ideascomefrombrownies.blogspot.com via Joy on Pinterest

Earthquake Cake from Cheryl's Recipe Archives

Source: thegirlwhoateeverything.blogspot.com via Joy on Pinterest

Hot Party Ham Sliders with Poppyseed Butter from Plain Chicken

Source: brooklynlimestone.com via Joy on Pinterest

Banana Toffee Danger Pie from Brooklyn Limestone

Source: lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com via Joy on Pinterest

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs from Lick the Bowl Good

Source: Uploaded by user via Joy on Pinterest

Clementine Candle from Apartment Therapy

Source: lemonadeandivy.tumblr.com via Kristy on Pinterest

Birthday party ideas...

Source: chocofountain.com via Joy on Pinterest

Nacho Cheese Fountain~ now we know what to do with those mini fountains we got for Christmas!

Source: i.imgur.com via Joy on Pinterest

Margarita cupcakes!

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Stuff to Make you Smile...

Source: carolsheirloomcollection.blogspot.com via Joy on Pinterest

Words to Inspire...

Source: 7thhouseontheleft.com via Joy on Pinterest

Cleaning Tips...

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Must haves...

And my favorites... places to visit someday!

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The Round Road in Ireland

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Dublin, Ireland

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Gaiola Bridge Naples, Italy

Happy Pinning everyone!

True Love

2012-01-26T06:00:00.013-06:00

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?” He smiled as he patted my hand and said, “She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

*Thanks Aunt B. for sharing this great email!

Leftover Love...

2012-01-25T06:30:00.000-06:00

Arkansas' mild winter has put a kink in my repertoire of cold weather meals. This time of year we are usually in the mood for a pot of stew, ham and beans or a hearty casserole. I'm a little mixed up whether I should make potato salad or potato soup. I hope I haven't JINXED this mild weather by talking about it! No matter what's for dinner, leftovers are a fact of life. If they're good leftovers, no one complains!

Leftover French Bread? Something special to go with tonight's spaghetti~

Farmhouse Cheddar Bread

Topping:

4 tablespoons butter

1 cup onions, chopped fine
1 cup ham or bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped fine
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons hot sauce, optional
½ pound (8 ounces) cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup green onions, sliced
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, ham or bacon and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and sauté until the onions are soft. Remove from heat. Combine the mayonnaise, dry mustard and hot sauce with the slightly cooled skillet mixture. Fold in the cheese and green onions.
Bread:
Leftover French or Italian Bread – sliced in half lengthwise.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray the pan lightly with Pam. Place the bread, cut side up onto the baking sheet. Spread a thick layer of the topping mixture over the bread. Bake until the bread has toasted and the topping has melted, about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Cut into slices and serve warm or room temperature.
PRINT RECIPE

Irish Comfort Food at it's finest!

Shepherd's Pie
leftover mashed potatoes
ground beef, browned and drained (or leftover beef or pork roast, cut in bite size pieces)
half an onion, chopped
celery, corn, even leftover green beans, or just a handful of frozen peas and carrots
salt and pepper
paprika
beef broth
Cheddar, Pepper Jack or even a mixture of cheeses that are leftover
In a medium skillet, cook the onion and other uncooked veggies until they get soft. Add the beef, cooked veggies, and enough to broth to moisten everything and cook until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a casserole dish and cover with leftover mashed potatoes. Put a good amount of cheese and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes, until the potatoes are golden brown.
PRINT RECIPE

OK, you need a snowy day for this one!

Hashbrown Soup
2 pounds frozen hash brown potatoes
4 cups water
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup sliced celery
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
4 cups milk
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
In a large saucepan combine the first seven ingredients, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Mash vegetables with cooking liquid. Add soup, cheese, and milk, stir until smooth. Add ham, parsley, salt, and garlic salt then simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with bacon. Makes a lot 12-16 servings (4 quarts).
PRINT RECIPE

A hearty dish that pleases everyone, kids to adults!

Amish Church Noodles
12 oz homestyle noodles
10 oz cream of chicken soup
5 tbsp butter
3 tsp chicken base
2 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
In medium saucepan, combine 2 cups chicken broth and 4 cups water, bring to a boil. In a separate pan, over medium heat, melt butter and cook until brown in color. Add 10 oz cream of chicken soup and stir well. Add chicken base, stir until dissolved. Add mixture to broth and water. Stir until combined. Add 12 oz noodles, gently stir and bring to a boil again. Cover saucepan with lid and turn heat off. Let noodles set. Do not remove lid for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Serves: 8 to 10
PRINT RECIPE

One of my favorites~ easy, quick and GOOD!

P.F. Chang's Dan-Dan Noodles
Adapted from Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes
2 chicken breast fillets, cooked and minced, about 2 cups (I use leftover rotisserie chicken)
1 6-oz. package thin linguine, cooked
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped green onions
6 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (I like Delallo brand, near the Italian foods or condiments)
4 teaspoons cornstarch 1/2 cup waterPrepare the chicken fillets first by sauteing them in a skillet with a little oil for 10-12 minutes. Remove from skillet and cool, then mince into little bits. I take a shortcut and use leftover rotisserie chicken, cut up fine. Prepare noodles following the directions on the package. Make sauce by heating oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add garlic, green onion and saute for just a few seconds, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar and chili garlic sauce. Combine the cornstarch with 1/2 cup water and stir into the sauce. Simmer sauce until it thickens. When the sauce is thick, add the chicken and simmer until heated through.
Place drained, cooked noodles onto a serving plate. Spoon chicken and sauce over the top of the noodles, garnish with julienned cucumber on one side and bean sprouts on the other. Serves 4

PRINT RECIPE

If you happen to have some leftover Oreos and some leftover peanut butter, this would be a very good way to use them up... just sayin'

Peanut Butter Pie for a Crowd
20 Oreo Cookies
1 8- ounce package of Cream Cheese, Softened
2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 12- ounce tub of Cool Whip
Press crushed cookies into the bottom of a 9 x13 inch pan. Reserve a few crumbs for topping. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Stir in peanut butter until well blended. Then, fold in whipped topping. Spread over the Oreo cookie base and sprinkle reserved crumbs on top. Freeze 1-2 hours. Thaw 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.

PRINT RECIPE

Pioneer Woman Speaks

2012-01-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

When Pioneer Woman speaks, we listen. She holds clout on many subjects now in my book so when she recommended a trip to the local Wal Marts to buy a certain kind of dish rag, I was all ears. I don't know why, but my microfiber dishcloths all leave a film on the countertops and the glass top range. Greasy... it smears instead of cleaning. I do make a mess cooking, there's almost always something that's sauteed or FRIED as Mama would call it! Bacon grease is saved and used in my household so there's a good reason for the dishwater to get a little greasy. I pull out the big guns and use Dawn's Power Scrubber Liquid so there's NO reason for the schmeary mess, I won't stand for it!

Ree had said the Basic ones, no frills at $4.99 a package worked great cleaning up all kinds of messes so I grabbed a package but as so often happens at Wal-mart, my eye was drawn to attractive packaging just next to the bargain ones. It was Clorox's new antibacterial dishcloths. They are activated once you give them a swim in Clorox water and then the antimicrobial magic continues wash to wash. Not sure how they do that trick, but I could barely contain my enthusiasm as I tore into the package as soon as I got home! A few clips and I had one of them free, dipped it in bleach water and then into a sudsy sink and went to cleaning.

Sparkly, squeaky clean countertops.

Then I went over the stovetop and the range hood and the tile backsplash and the cabinet fronts and the refrigerator shelves and the top of the mixer and the coffeepot and the toaster and you know what? It worked, there's not a smeary mark anywhere.

That Ree Drummond is one smart cookie, and she can make them too! What's Ree taught you how to do?

Snow Insurance

2012-01-23T06:56:00.000-06:00

This winter has been a lot different than last year when we had snow after snow and temperatures in the deep freeze. Grandson Gavin was feeling a little blue last weekend saying he didn't think he was going to have any snow days off this winter. We still have February and March to get through so I'm not getting too confident that we'll escape bad weather. Last night's tornadoes that spread across Tennessee and Arkansas were very unusual for this time of year.

I have the pantry stocked for whatever Mother Nature throws at us. I keep extra everything and rarely run out of food. It's an unfounded fear of going hungry,I've never done that a day in my life! I do the buy one, get one method for winter keeping two ahead on staples like flour, sugar and coffee. Coffee would be the most important if we get snowed in. I can do without a biscuit but not coffee!

Friday night we went to Lucy's Diner. We both ordered the scattered smothered hash browns, embarrassingly big even though it's the small order. Now we're on a scattered hash brown kick, thanks a lot Lucy's! This picture was taken last winter after NWA had the worst blizzard in 100 years. The only place open in town was Lucy's Diner and every table was taken!

My husband has a new snowblower in the garage just waiting. He shoveled enough snow last winter to convince him we don't live far enough South that it's" silly to have a snowblower."He likens it to insurance, you buy it hoping you'll never have to use it! So far so good...

Internet Roulette

2012-01-20T06:00:00.045-06:00

I'm a little Irish and a little English and a little Cherokee, but I don't have an ounce of Italian in me. Yesterday I was feeling in an Italian mood, so I looked thorough several cookbooks for a recipe for Chicken Cacciatore. Years ago, I had clipped one from a magazine but it's long gone, disintegrated with time! I can remember using stewed tomatoes and boneless skinless chicken breasts- evidently that's breaking Rule #3 in the Italian Cooking Book. I didn't know!

I looked awhile and then I thought, GOOGLE for a good recipe! By the spin of the Internet Roulette Wheel, this one came up. Not only was it delicious, the directions for the pasta are KEY. Secret directions that are passed down, Mother to daughter and I was just lucky enough to be in the right place- at the right time! Sharing...

Chicken Cacciatore~serves 4-6 PRINT

Dana Bunjon-Dining Dish

3 tablespoons pure olive oil or canola oil

1 large onion diced

½ cup diced celery

1 medium green pepper diced

1 tsp salt

3 cloves garlic crushed

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 tablespoon dried basil

1 tablespoon dried oregano

¼ teaspoon crushed dried chili flakes

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup white wine

1 28 oz can whole tomatoes, crushed with liquid

1 12 oz can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

Chicken:

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons pure olive oil or canola oil

4 to 6 pounds chicken thighs, skin and bone in (no boneless, skinless chicken breast permitted)

¼ to ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

*Heat 3 tablespoon of pure olive oil in 6 quart saucepan/dutch oven over a medium high heat.

*Add onions, celery, green peppers and salt and stir. After about 3 minutes add the crushed garlic, stir and let it cook until onions are translucent and green peppers have become soft.

*Add the sliced mushrooms, stir and let them get soft and give off their liquid. Add the dried basil, oregano and crushed chili flakes. Stir and cook about 2 minutes.

*Add the chicken stock, white wine, whole tomatoes, tomato sauce and sugar. Stir and turn the heat to low or medium low. You want the sauce to be simmering not rapidly boiling. Cover and let simmer. Stir from time to time. Let cook for approximately 1 hour. After the hour, start to prep your chicken.

*In a large bowl stir the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, black pepper and mix well. Coat enough pieces of chicken in the flour mixture that will comfortably fit in your sauté pan. Be sure to shake off excess flour.

*Heat sauté pan on medium high heat and add oil. As soon as the oil is hot add the chicken pieces skin side down and let them sear. You want them to get a nice golden color and then turn the piece over to sear a couple of minutes. Put the chicken on a plate and repeat the process until all the chicken has been seared.

*Place the seared chicken in the saucepan with the sauce, making sure the chicken pieces are submerged in the sauce. Add any juices to the sauce that have accumulated on the plate from the chicken. Let it all simmer for about 1 ½ hours. Do not put the lid on the pot. Stir from time-to-time and add additional liquid if it seems to be getting too thick (i.e. chicken stock, wine or water).

How to cook Pasta the RIGHT Way
Dana's instructions here are important, Italian secrets!

Always cook your pasta in plenty of well salted boiling water.

Cook your pasta for ½ the time written on the box directions.

Reserve one cup of the of the pasta boiling water for each pound you make.

Use heated plates. If you put hot pasta and sauce on a cold plate the sauce will break, become watery. TIP: Put the colander on top of your dinner plates, and strain the pasta over them.

Put the pasta back in the pot with the reserved pasta boiling water and equal amount of pasta sauce.

Stir the pasta and reserved water over the heat. Cook for approximately 2-3 minutes so the pasta is al dente (to tooth) and the liquid has been absorbed and coating the pasta..you want it to be chewy not soft or mushy.

Take it off the heat and drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Plate the pasta and top each portion with about ¼ cup of sauce.

Shopping Cart Rules

2012-01-19T06:00:00.004-06:00

Last week was my 6 month dental appointment. The hygienist that does my cleaning is a talker so the time always goes pretty fast. When Dr. Weir came in to do the final check he always makes chit-chat, he said he and his wife were coming back from Tulsa last Saturday when they decided to stop at the Wal-mart SuperCenter at Siloam Springs, a small town just a few miles out. Less people = quick grocery store trip…in and out and home. Wrong! For one thing, in a small town Wal-mart is the main attraction. Even if you don’t need anything, you go to Wal-mart and walk around to see if you do need something. I always tell Hubby that the big wigs at Wal-mart set around tables deciding what we can’t live without. You may have noticed that there are many different kinds of shoppers and each one presents a different mode of shopping.

There are the Working Moms With Kids: They pretty much go down the aisles fast because their main goal is to get OUT of the store as quickly as possible before the kids need a nap and have a meltdown.
Then there’s Moms Without Kids: They have the option to stop, look and read the labels. This person can really put a kink in things on a busy Saturday at Wal-mart.
Senior Couples, "Men Pushing The Cart" Category: They lean on the cart waiting patiently for the wife to look and load. Some of these women let their husbands roam a distance from the cart, but that can lead to trouble. They need watching for needless purchases, i.e. meat sticks, cookies loaded with calories and the full fat potato chips. They slip stuff in the cart when you are not looking. Check your cart frequently if you shop with one of these men!
Then you have the Male Shoppers Sent By Wives: They are clutching the list. These men have a "deer in the headlights" look on their face! They are more often than not, on the telephone asking directions with each cart addition. Stay a wide distance from these men, they are huge violators of cart etiquette and will criss-cross and change directions with no warning. These are some of the biggest problem shoppers.
Finally, there are Single Men who are there to get what they want and will run you over to pass by you in a crowded aisle. They zigzag and stop their cart sideways in the middle while they go from side to side grabbing items randomly. These men never have a list. They buy what sounds good at that moment. YOU know the kind!

So here's the rules:
1. Stay to the right.

2. When you park your cart, shop to the right first and to the left second. Only one left side purchase is allowed while parked to the right, this is called "darting." You may dart across for one item only, then you must immediately return to your cart.

3. If you need more than one item on the left, park to the left side as far as possible. Select all needed items from the left and then merge back to the right side when traffic is clear.

4. When turning corners, ongoing passing traffic has the right of way. Wait your turn.

5. At no time is it acceptable to park your cart in the middle of the aisle, nor may you park sideways with the nose of the cart pointing at the shelves. This is "taking your half out of the middle" and is not allowed.
6. You may pass other shoppers, but oncoming traffic goes first. After completing your pass, merge back to the right. Pulling close in front of another shopper after passing and then stopping is bad manners.
7. It is highly recommended that you avoid any shopper who is talking on their cell phone while they shop, as these people have no idea what they are doing or where they are at the moment.

Good luck with the grocery shopping this week...

Please, Observe All Rules!

Dinner's ready... Avo's Meatloaf

2012-01-18T06:00:00.207-06:00

That's right, I'm talking about mac and cheese, meatloaf, scalloped potatoes... they transport you back to that kitchen table where you set with your feet dangling and your napkin tucked in! I can remember the chrome table and vinyl chairs on Summit Street so well that I can even picture the window all steamed up from winter's cold breath. It was 1959 and dinner was on the table when Daddy walked in...

Avo's Meatloaf PRINT
Avo was Daddy's cousin, possibly the best cook in the family. I may be drummed out of the family after saying this...

3/4 cup applesauce

2 teaspoons salt

2 pounds ground chuck

1 cup bread crumbs

2 tablespoons minced onion

1 cup milk

Combine ingredients together. Form into a loaf and place in a baking dish. Place in a larger casserole and pour water into the bottom (this keeps the meatloaf moist). Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

* If desired you can top with 1 tsp. mustard, 2 T. brown sugar and 1/4 cup ketchup. Combine and pour on top of meat before baking.

Marcie's Mom's Macaroni and Cheese PRINT
Too simple to be considered special? Just make it and you will have a following!

10 ounces elbow macaroni

2 eggs
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups half and half
1 lb. grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Cook and drain the macaroni. In a large bowl lightly beat the eggs with dry mustard, salt and pepper and stir in the half and half. Add the cheese and the cooked drained macaroni. Pour into buttered 2 qt. casserole and bake 25 minutes. Put under the broiler 1 minute to brown and make a little crust on top. Another way to top is by dotting with butter and crumbled Ritz crackers at the end, watch carefully when you put it under the broiler or they will burn!

Scalloped Potatoes with Sausages PRINT
1/2 lb. breakfast link sausages
4 cups peeled baking potatoes, sliced
salt and pepper
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 cups hot milk

Brown sausages well, drain on paper towels. Preheat oven to 350. Slice the potatoes very thin and separate the onion slices into rings. Sprinkle each layer with slath and pepper. In a large saucepan melt butter and whisk in flour, cook briefly. Slowly whisk in hot milk, then pour over potatoes. Cover tightly with foil and bake one hour. Remove foil and place breakfast links on top. Bake uncovered 15 minutes or more until potatoes are tender.

Mom's Beef Stew PRINT
2 lb. stew meat, in 1" chunks
flour for dredging
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
4 cups beef broth
8 red potatoes, unpeeled and quartered
8 carrots, sliced
4 stalks celery, sliced
1 whole onion, large dice
tomato juice
parsley, chopped

Dredge meat in flour, Melt butter and oil in large pot, cook beef just to lightly brown then add the garlic and cook one minute. Add the broth and simmer covered for one hour on low heat. Add potato, onion, carrots and celery, simmer for another 30 minutes. Add tomato juice, just enough to make a nice gravy consistency. Salt and pepper to taste.

Potato Heaven PRINT
Feeling blue, do you need a hug? This will cure what ails you, from a cold to a heartache.
Take about 1 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes and form them into firm little pancakes. Dip in flour, melt butter in a small skillet and put the potato pancakes in. Cover and cook slowly until browned on both sides, adding more butter if needed. Salt and pepper and enjoy!

Betty's Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies PRINT
Pretty enough for company!

1 box of brownie mix for a 13×9 inch pan
(Make brownies according to the directions on the box)
Cheesecake batter
8 ounces package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
Topping
1/3 cup Raspberry Jam, warm slightly in the microwave to soften
1/2 Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Pour brownie batter into a greased 13×9 inch pan. Pour cheesecake batter on the top of the batter. Melt jam a little in the microwave and pour on top of that. Swirl jam and cheesecake batter through the brownie batter with a butter knife. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips. Bake for around 25-30 minutes at 350. Be careful not to over bake. Cool to room temperature, cut into 15 brownies.

Spic and Span

2012-01-17T06:00:00.020-06:00

Reader's Digest, when was the last time you picked one up? Honestly, it's been years for me but there was a time when I was growing up that it came into our house monthly and was read cover to cover. Lots of information in there- health articles, in depth interviews on current events, funny jokes and even a few recipes. Mom took Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies Home Journal, I can remember her sitting reading a magazine in the afternoon... her version of a coffee break. She was a typical 50's housewife who got up before everyone else, made breakfast and then woke us up, fed us and got us off to school. The rest of the day revolved around household chores, cleaning, laundry and cooking. Her chosen career was family, she never worked outside the home. That's not to say she didn't work hard, her days were long and unglamorous, but she took great pride in her home and making our lives content. I can never remember a time when the bathroom didn't sparkle or the kitchen sink was full.

When I got married she gave me some very good advice... she said you only need a few products to clean your house. Her favorites were ammonia, bleach and Ajax. With those in her cupboard and rags to clean with, she could tackle anything! She wasn't one to use paper towels, the very idea of throwing something away was against her religion!

I asked a Facebook friend the other day for some advice on cleaning our wood floors. She owns a cleaning company and I couldn't resist picking her brain for the best products. She highly recommended Glitsa floor cleaner over the Murphy's Oil Soap that I've been using. Also she said a steam mop will make quick work of hardwood floors, but spring for the professional quality one instead of the cheaper model. She knows her stuff, I had bought the low end Shark and didn't like it. I love my Don Aslett microfiber mop that I ordered from QVC. It takes all of 10 minutes start to finish to mop my wood floors. When I'm done they shine like glass until Ben drools or we track in something on our shoes! I like it clean though, so I mop often.

Twitter feed had these 'Housekeepeeper's Little Known Cleaning Tips" from the current issue of Reader's Digest. It's still pumping out the articles we love to read!

"The best way to dust blinds: Close them, then wipe up and down with an old dryer sheet. It'll create an antistatic barrier that helps prevent dust from building up again.
The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is your friend. It will cut your cleaning time in half for bathtubs, sinks, countertops, and dirty walls.

To clean glass and mirrors, use coffee filters, not paper towels. They leave no streaks or lint — and they're cheap.

Vinegar and water is a great deodorizer for a musty bathroom. Spray your shower down as you're getting out. It really absorbs the odors, and the smell of vinegar goes away in an hour.

A wet pumice stone will clean a dirty oven faster than any spray-on product.
Vacuuming bathroom mats is a nightmare. Toss them in the wash every week or two instead.
To damp-mop wood floors, use plain water or a water-based floor cleaner like Bona. Don't use vinegar. The acid in it will pit your polyurethane finish, can void your warranty, and may reduce shine over time.
Seventh Generation dish liquid diluted with water is a great nontoxic all-purpose cleanser. Just put two squirts in a spray bottle and fill it with water.

Our biggest secret weapon? A powdered product called Bar Keepers Friend (amazon.com). We use it on everything. Its active ingredient is rhubarb powder, which really cuts through grit and grime. It cleans glass-top stoves, counters, toilets, porcelain and more. Your sink will never be shinier.

To clean your microwave oven, microwave a cup of water with some baking soda in it until it's boiling. That eliminates odors and makes it super easy to wipe away all that stuck-on stuff.

Clean cobwebs with a yardstick covered by a tube sock. That also works for cleaning under stoves and refrigerators.

Shine your bathroom tiles with lemon oil. It also helps prevent mold and mildew.

To eliminate that ring in your toilet, drop in a bubbling denture tablet, and leave it for at least 30 minutes or overnight. The stain will come off with just a few swishes of the brush."

Happy Homemaker Betty White turns 90!

2012-01-16T06:00:00.002-06:00

More good tv tonight... how can that be? Usually it's the sameoldstuff, not worth even turning on to scroll through the guide. Tonight at 8pm EST on NBC we're invited to celebrate Betty White's 90th birthday with some of Hollywood's biggest stars. It should really be funny with the "greats," Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Tina Fey and Ellen DeGeneres.

Betty celebrates with a cake flown by private plane from Minneapolis to Los Angeles by baking giant Betty Crocker, which is also celebrating it's 90th birthday! The three-tiered triple chocolate cake was layered with chocolate mousse and a chocolate ganache, decorated with red, orange and magenta roses, edible pearls and Golden Girl candles!

I loved her as Sue Ann Nivens, "The Happy Homemaker" on the old Mary Tyler Moore show back in the 70's. "Dear, sweet, naive Mary,"she'd say to put Mary in her place! She was more than a tad bit jealous of Mary, who was younger, more attractive and easily drew the attention of men. She could be sweet as sugar on air, but the real Sue Ann was sarcastic, man crazy and lived to zing Mary and Murray!

Later on in the mid 80's she played the snobbish Ellen Mae Harper on the Carol Burnett Show. Ellen was Eunice's well-to-do sister, clearly Mama's favorite. The rivalry between the two of them was hilarious!

If you have to pick a favorite character that Betty White has played, it probably would be Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. Kind hearted Rose was naïve and simple, best known for her rambling stories about her hometown St. Olaf, Minneota. The girls would endure her lengthy stories with exasperated silence!

We can't even begin to count the number of smiles that Betty White has brought to our faces. She portrayed the best and the worst of human traits so realistically that we couldn't help but laugh out loud. Don't forget... 8pm EST (7pm Central) on NBC!

Turtleman

2012-01-13T06:00:00.007-06:00

Night after night we search, hoping to find something worth watching on tv. Yesterday as my husband was reading the morning paper his eyes lit up, he got a silly look on his face and he said, "There's a good show on tv tonight!" I said, "Really?" I didn't think he was serious, but he was. Last night at 7:30 we were glued to the tv as Turtleman, Ernie Brown dived in Kentucky ponds in search of snapping turtles. We have snapping turtles in our lake, I took this picture last May less than a mile from our house. I just happened to have my camera with me and I hopped out quickly to get a picture. It gave me the heebie jeebies to be that close to the prehistoric looking snapper that was high tailing it across Old Prairie Creek Road!

Turtleman would dive down in these murky ponds and "feel" for these giant turtles. They have a HUGE head with giant jaws and I can't imagine anyone doing this for a living but he's a legend in Kentucky. Ernie's father and uncle taught him the risky technique. He has the honor of catching the biggest turtle to date, aptly named the "Loch Ness Turtle," a monster snapper weighing close to 55 pounds. You have to watch it to believe it... oh yes, they have subtitles to help us understand the dialect. I'm not kidding! Now I'm not poking fun, if they ever do a show about us we will need subtitles too... I hope this doesn't give you nightmares!

Call of the Wildman comes on Animal Planet on Thursdays. Check your local listing for times, this is almost as good as Candid Camera!

iPad Instructions

2012-01-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

I want to apologize to any of you out there that has tried to print some of the many recipes I've posted over the last month. It seems I had left them all set as PRIVATE at Google Docs, that wasn't such a good idea was it? I went back and changed the links to all the recipes that I've posted so hopefully, I won't do that again. I changed to Google Docs since their posting is a piece of cake compared to Scribd's "do this-then do this-go back and do this!" It's challenging these days for me to remember what I've done yesterday. so learning a new trick takes some effort on my part!

I don't ever want to repeat the Cyberspace Train Wreck, it was painful. I was a new blogger and just feeling like I knew what I was doing when I erased all my pictures on posts with one click of a mouse. Poof... gone into that vast wasteland they call the Internet!

We bought an iPad last weekend and I'm pushing my luck changing from desktop to laptop and now tackling a tablet! To make matters worse it didn't come with an instruction book, you have to log onto Apple.com and navigate their site for answers to "How do I erase bookmarks?" ... "What do you mean there's no way to load Norton Anti Virus?" ... " Why doesn't autofill work?" ... "How do I log out of Twitter?"

Why is it that things that are supposed to make our lives more enjoyable add stress? I am enjoying the camera though, but I can't figure out how to load the film...

Grandma Food

2012-01-11T06:00:00.327-06:00

Somewhere along the way I've lost a recipe. It was one I clipped from the pages of Woman's Day that first year of marriage, 1970. Every week when I'd check out at Safeway, I'd reach for a Woman's Day or a Family Circle. They were our saving grace from a steady diet of spaghetti or tuna casserole! I picked up a Family Circle the other day and was surprised how thin it's got... and it costs $1.99 now. They were 20 cents when I was a newlywed... good thing too, because our budget for the week was $10.

In my neck of the woods, Chicken and Dumplings are one of those old-fashioned favorites that stirs up a lot of controversy-- the fluffy "dropped" versus the flat "rolled" variety. I grew up with the flat kind and never had a love affair with them until I found the recipe for the FLUFFY ones in Woman's Day. I was so enamored that I couldn't wait for my husband to taste them. He was a wise man even when he was young. He bragged about them, ate two bowlfuls and for the next two years I made them often. Then one day as we were finishing dinner, he said he loved his Grandmothers FLAT dumplings. My hackles went up, just for a second, but I definitely took umbrage to the fact that he loved her dumplings. After I got over that bump, I immediately started searching for a good recipe for the flat ones! Count yourself lucky if you've had a recipe passed down to you. Grandmas make the best ones so I went to a pro... my Sister-in-law's Mom!

Southern Chicken Dumplings~PRINT
Pauline Wallace~ she knows a thing or two about dumplings!
Chicken Broth:
1 whole chicken, pick one that's on the smaller side and it will be more tender

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 chopped onion
2 stalks celery, sliced
water
In a large soup pot cover the hen in water seasoned with salt and pepper.Add the celery and onion and stew the chicken covered until the meat is tender, about an hour. Remove chicken and set aside to cool. Strain broth through a colander to remove vegetables, discard veges. Pour broth back into pot and reheat to boiling while you make the dumplings.

Dumplings:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons Crisco
1/2 cup milk
Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening, then add milk and mix. Allow dough to set about 15 minutes to let the baking powder do it's thing, namely a rise that will make the dumplings tender as a Mother's/Grandmother's Love! Roll dough onto heavily floured surface to 1/8" thick. Cut into inch wide strips and cut into 2" lengths. Drop [floured] strips into boiling chicken broth and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
*Two secrets here, make sure you roll them thin, they will cook faster and you have less chance of them being "doughy." The second one is to dredge the strips again as you place them in the broth, the flour helps to thicken the broth. See why Grandma had the best dumplings???

There are cookbooks out there that are full of "Grandma Food."

One that I love, Being Dead is No Excuse by Gayden Metcalf and Charlotte Hays has been called the official Southern Ladies guide to hosting the perfect funeral! Inside the covers are the tried and the trues, the dishes that comfort and heal.

Methodist Party Dish~Print

If you refuse to cook with corn flakes, skip this recipe.
1 2-pound package hash browns
10 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 pint sour cream
1 can (10 3/4-ounces) cheddar cheese soup, not diluted
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
Topping:
2 cups corn flakes
1 stick butter
Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare the hash browns according to the package directions. Combine the cooked hash browns with the other ingredients and place in a buttered 13 x 9-inch casserole dish. Top the casserole with corn flakes and dot with butter. Bake 40 minutes, or until golden, crisp, and bubbly. After you've eaten your fill, ask your doctor to write a prescrition for Lipitor!

Virginia's Butter Beans~PRINT

This recipe comes from the late Virginia Owens, a St. James' parishioner - and the recipe is a Mississippi Delta funeral favorite.
2 (10 oz) boxes frozen butter beans, cooked and drained
6 slices bacon, crumbled
1/4 to 3/4 cup minced green onions
1/3 cup minced celery
1/3 cup bell pepper, minced
2 tbsp flour
2 cups drained canned tomatoes
2 tbsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Fry the bacon and then saute the minced vegetables in the bacon grease. Add the flour, tomatoes, salt, pepper and brown sugar. Add the cooked and drained butter beans. Adjust the seasonings, pour into casserole and top with crumbled bacon. Bake until bubbly. Serves eight to ten and freezes well.

Methodist Fried Chicken~PRINT

1 chicken, cut up.a nice, medium-size yard bird
2 eggs
2 cups whole milk
2 cups flour salt black pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
fat for frying (Crisco, vegetable oil, or a combination. Crisco is a nice way of saying "lard.")
Lightly beat the eggs and blend with the milk. Combine the flour, salt, pepper (a generous amount), and baking powder in a doubled brown grocery bag.shake to mix. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg/milk mixture. Shake chicken, one piece at a time, in the bag of flour until well coated (at this point, some cooks prefer the double-dip method where they repeat the egg-wash-and-flour procedure).
Using a preseasoned black-iron skillet, heat enough oil to almost cover the chicken. When you drop the chicken in, the fat sizzles! Frying is an art. The real art involves the grease, which must not burn but cook at an even, medium-hot level. Cooking time will vary according to the size of the piece of chicken. Approximately 20 minutes. Serves three to four.
GRANDMA SECRETS: Do not crowd the chicken when frying. Turn only once, when golden brown on one side. Remove pieces from the skillet and drain them on a brown grocery bag that has been covered with a layer of paper towels.soaks up extra grease better than anything!

The Methodist Ladies' Chicken Lasagna Florentine~PRINT

6 lasagna noodles, uncooked

1 (10-ounce) package chopped frozen spinach, thawed

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken, about 3 medium breasts

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons white pepper

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream

1/3 cup homemade mayonnaise

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Butter pecan topping (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside. Drain the spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels. Combine the spinach, chicken, cheddar cheese, onion, nutmeg, salt, pepper, soy sauce, soup, sour cream and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Stir well to blend. Arrange half the noodles in a lightly greased 11-by-7-by-1 1/2-inch baking dish. Spread half the chicken mixture over the noodles. Repeat this procedure with the remaining chicken mixture and noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and Butter Pecan Topping. Bake, covered, for 55 to 60 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Serves eight.

Butter Pecan Topping:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 cup chopped pecans

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat; add the pecans and cook for 3 minutes. Cool completely.

Martha Jane Howell's Pineapple Casserole~PRINT

2 cans (20 ounces) crushed pineapple

5 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup grated sharp cheese

Ritz crackers

1 stick real butter

Drain the pineapple. Grease a 2-quart oblong casserole dish and put the pineapple in the bottom. Sift the flour and sugar together, blend it with the cheese and then sprinkle on top of the pineapple. Cover with crushed Ritz crackers, a tube or a tube and a half will do nicely. Melt the butter and pour over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serves eight.

"Think of these teas as Methodist chardonnay. Methodists rarely drown their grief in anything stronger than flavored tea. Mint tea and almond tea are refreshing in the Delta summer and won't cause you to say things you regret later. The mint tea is a legacy of a long-gone minister."

Almond Tea~PRINT

4 cups strongly brewed tea

3/4 cup water

1 can (60 ounces) frozen lemonade, thawed

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons almond extract, a little goes a long way

Combine all ingredients. Stir it until the sugar is dissolved, and serve over ice. Makes about twelve cups.

Mint Tea~PRINT

16 cups water (1 gallon)

7 tea bags

7 sprigs fresh mint

Rind of 3 lemons

Juice of 7 lemons

2 cups sugar

Bring half the water to a boil. Add the tea bags, mint and lemon rinds. Steep for 12 minutes. Add the lemon juice and sugar to the remaining 8 cups of water. Mix with the tea and serve over ice. For funeral purposes, I wouldn't garnish each glass with mint, though that's a nice touch for less-somber occasions. Serve it from a glass pitcher.

Bing Cherry Salad with Coca-Cola~PRINT

You knew there was going to be a Jello salad in here, didn't you?

2 (3-ounce) boxes cherry gelatin

1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 (15-ounce) can black cherries, drained

2 cups juice, reserved from pineapple and cherries, heated

2 (8-ounce) bottles Coca-Cola

1 cup pecans

Dissolve the gelatin in the hot juice, then add the Coca-Cola and pour into a dish. When gelatin starts to congeal, stir in the pineapple, quartered cherries, and pecans. Chill until firm. Serves sixteen.

Pizza Delivery

2012-01-10T09:19:00.000-06:00

How do you get pizza if you don't have pizza delivery? Digorno? No silly, you make one! Busy day yesterday and when it occurred to me it was nearly 4pm and there was nothing planned for dinner, I looked for a pizza crust recipe on AllRecipes.com. There are lots of choices, I'm glad I chose this one... it's a keeper. Crispy thin crust, the recipe takes only an hour rise time and 20 minutes to bake. The other two balls of dough went in the freezer for another busy day!

Pizza Dough II

Rated:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Ready In: 2 Hours

Submitted By: Stephen Carroll

Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Servings: 16

"A little whole-wheat flour makes this pizza crust chewy and flavorful. The three-crust yield means you can freeze some for later use."

Ingredients:

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry

yeast

1 tablespoon white sugar

2 1/2 cups warm water (110

degrees F)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

5 1/2 cups bread flour

Directions:

1.	In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let sit until creamy; about 10 minutes.
2.	Stir the olive oil, whole wheat flour, salt and 4 cups of the bread flour into the yeast mixture. Mix in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume; about 1 hour.
3.	Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds and let them rest for about 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
4.	Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into the desired shape, cover it with your favorite toppings and bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for about 20 minutes or until the crust and cheese are golden brown.

*I used leftover spaghetti sauce, a half pound of Italian sausage sauteed with a half onion chopped and a minced clove of garlic, black olives, mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan for toppings. I used all bread flour since I didn't have any whole wheat flour in the pantry. Putting that on my list right now!

Marlboro Man

2012-01-09T06:00:00.038-06:00

Our neighbors have a new puppy and as cute as he is, I am not tempted to rush out and get one for us. For one reason, our senior citizen Cocker Spaniel is a full time job. He has some health issues with skin and eyes and ears that we treat on a daily basis. Cockers are prone to these, especially as they age. He also takes thyroid medicine twice daily, we have to do the hot dog trick to get him to take it. We love him though and no matter how much work we would never think of giving him away. But we have had to do that with one dog we took in as a stray.

Our youngest daughter Amy brought home the cutest little pup one day from work. It had obviously been dumped and wouldn't have lasted long on a busy parking lot. Our intentions were to find a home for her, but in no time she had worked her way into our hearts! The vet guessed she was part Great Dane and part Catahoula, a breed known for their herding abilities. She got big quickly, you could almost "hear" her growing from day to day. She wasn't an easy puppy to love though, she would bite our ankles, eat the lawn furniture and eventually started attacking our pool cleaner, the machine...not the man! We tried Lord knows, but after nearly a year I put my foot down (she promptly bit it) and said we were going to find her a good home. I advertised her as a healthy, spayed dog who needed a new home on a ranch with room to run.

The very first day a man called with a thick Texas accent.

"Ma'am, I saw your ad and I wanted to know what kind of dog she is?" I told him the vets' best guess was Catahoula and Great Dane. He wanted a good cattle dog he told me and made plans to come by later in the day. My heart fluttered a little as I hung up. I was at my wits end with this dog who just wasn't cut out for city life, but I wanted to find her a good home that would work.

When you live in Texas, it's not uncommon to see the big "Dually trucks," loaded down with bales of hay on flatbed trailers. I could hear his diesel engine when he pulled into the driveway. He left it running and when I opened the door, there he stood... Marlboro Man! He had on jeans and western shirt, leather chaps, gloves and a cowboy hat that was bent and dirty from hands that had done ranch work.

"I've come to look at the dog," he said. I told him she was in the backyard and to just come on through the house. As he stepped into the foyer, I glanced at his boots. They had layers of dried mud caked around the sole. He had a strong quietness about him that made me think Julie had found the right master!

She was chasing the pool cleaner around when we went outside. The hose-like contraption would circle over and over under the water, it had become an obsession with her. She would jump wildly into the pool diving and biting at the "Undersea Monster!" I called to her and she nearly knocked me over coming to a stop a few steps from him. He raised his gloved hand and simply said "Sit." Julie immediately sit, and stayed. It was a miracle, I had never seen her do anything like this. No matter how hard we had tried, we could not tame her wild ways. In one second he had accomplished what we had been unable to do in a whole year.

He explained to me he wanted a good cattle dog that had the stamina to live outside, watch over his property and work the cows. He said, "She'll do good." I tried to give him her outside toys but he declined, telling me they would just be a nuisance for his wife to have to pick up every time SHE mowed....I couldn't help but smile at that!!

"Well then, you'll need her leash," I said as we walked around to the gate. Julie had always been walked on a leash, we'd never let her run loose.

"Nope, she'll have to mind me or this won't work." My heart sank. I just knew she'd take off, never to be seen again. He flung open the gate and she took off like a bullet, all 100 pounds of her. He whistled sharply and motioned for her to get up on the flatbed loaded with hay. She obeyed him like she had been doing it all her life. She easily jumped to the top of the bales and then into the back of his Ford F350, wagging her tail wildly!

As he pulled out of the driveway, the sun was just going down in the West and the hot Texas day was giving way to the cool evening breezes. I stood there and watched as they drove away. Julie never looked back. She was looking forward to new frontiers and her life with Marlboro Man!

2012-01-08T09:13:00.000-06:00

This was making the rounds on Facebook the other day and truer words have never been spoken...

Checking out at the grocery store recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then?

After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered that we did have back then... we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

The One Percenters

2012-01-06T06:00:00.025-06:00

The Virtual Butler is an amazing upscale computer that connects to most of your home's electronics--he appears through a specially designed mirror and speaks through your home speakers. He will show the arrival of guests through a live video feed, provides personal reminders such as appointments and convenience alerts such as fully heated jacuzzi. The butler speaks in an English accent, but a customized character can be created that looks and sounds like anything you wish. Ideal if seeking a highly unique and upscale gift.

$20,000

Air Suits are custom fitted and are only sold to seasoned sky divers. The suit's surprising design allows you to fly through the sky versus simply falling.

Please note that this item cannot be purchased as a gift.

$1,250

This very unique luxury radiator is water based and is composed of 120 stainless steel blades. Each blade curves 180 degrees towards the bottom in order to form the DNA-like structure that makes these products so unique.

$23,500

Enter your home or office by simply placing your fingerprint on the biometric door lock. It includes a deadbolt and can be set to memorize up to fifty fingerprints.

$400

Every Sunbrite TV is high definition, waterproof and fully enclosed to prevent rain, dust and dirt from entering the system. A dual fan airflow keeps the unit cool in heat of up to 122 Fahrenheit while an internal heater maintains the system in temperatures as low as -24 Fahrenheit.

$1,900

This highly entertaining accessory allows you to enjoy an aquarium or zen garden within your restroom. A large sink light is included and a powerhead is also provided for filtration, oxygenation and water circulation.

$4,500

Giant Wine Container allows you to cool your wine bottles in a humorously decorative manner. Ideal gift for the wine connoisseur.

$300

Combine the pleasure of relaxation with a fur coat and a hammock. These hammocks are produced with naturally deceased coyote fur.

$7,500

The Molokini clear canoe is the very best way to appreciate marine life. Simply look through the extra large clear base and you instantly receive an unobstructed view of the ocean's floor and all its surroundings.

$1,350

Who buys this stuff???

oh~

Wait a second, here's something that I can afford...

These innovative LED slippers allow you to easily move around dark areas without turning on any lights.

$40

http://www.opulentitems.com/

Making a Plan

2012-01-05T06:00:00.010-06:00

Woody Guthrie's Resolutions 1942

Are you a list maker too? I just bought my planner for the New Year. Twelve whole months, 365 little squares to fill up with birthdays and anniversaries, bills to be paid, appointments to be met and projects to be done. I do love the filling in... OCD rears it's ugly, but organized head! I have replenished my stack of yellow steno pads and Target had some neon-licious mini sticky notes that jumped into my cart the last time I was there. I'm ready, ready for that bright idea to pop in my head, I can quickly write it down before it evaporates out the other side!

Woody Guthrie's list of resolutions looks like everyone else's. He planned on watching his diet (#6), quiting or at least cutting back on drinking (#7), improving his mind by reading more and listening to good music (#13&14) and most importantly #31♥♥♥. We all need a good plan(ner)!

Cotton Bowl Classic Feast

2012-01-04T06:00:00.047-06:00

If you're an Arkansas Razorback fan or a Kansas State Wildcat, you know where you're going to be Friday night at 7PM. If you're lucky and have a ticket for the Cotton Bowl Classic, you and 85,000 screaming fans are going to be in the stands at Dallas' Cowboy Stadium! Even if you can't be there, you're going to be in your seat, ready for a great game with some of your favorite foods. I found some recipes from The NFL Gameday Cookbook that will be perfect for a victory party... I hope!

Buffalo Chicken Breast Sandwiches PRINT
from the NFL Gameday Cookbook by Ray Lampe a.k.a. Dr. BBQ

6 boneless chicken breast halves
Your favorite barbecue rub
1 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1/4 cup (2 ounces) butter, melted
6 sandwich rolls
1 1/2 cups crumbled blue cheese
1 cup finely chopped celery

Prepare the grill for cooking over direct medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts lightly with the rub. Grill for about 5 minutes per side, or to an internal temperature of 160°F. Remove the chicken to a plate.
In a medium bowl, mix together the hot sauce and melted butter. Dip each chicken breast in the hot sauce mixture and transfer it to a rack to drain for just a minute. Transfer the chicken to the rolls and top each with an equal portion of the cheese and celery. Makes 6 sandwiches.

Catfish Tacos with Citrus Salsa PRINT

from the NFL Gameday Cookbook by Ray Lampe a.k.a. Dr. BBQ
¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon good-quality chili powder

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 pound catfish fillets, patted dry with a paper towel

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons butter

8 six-inch flour or corn tortillas

Citrus Salsa (recipe below)

In a small bowl, combine the flour, chili powder, salt and pepper. Dust the fillets on both sides with the flour mixture.

Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Put the fillets in the pan and cook for four to five minutes, then flip and cook another four to five minutes, or until the fish flakes when you poke it with a fork. Remove to drain on a paper towel. Transfer the fillets to a serving plate and break each into a few big pieces. Divide the fish evenly among the tortillas and top with the Citrus Salsa.

Makes eight tacos

Citrus Salsa

Using the supremes in this salsa leaves a little texture to the fruit while getting rid of the pith and skin. To make the supremes, cut the top and bottom off of fruit. Stand on one end and cut down the sides, removing the skin to reveal the fruit. All the skin and pith should be removed. Cut the segments out in between the membrane and pull out the tender wedge of flesh now known as the supreme.

3 large Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

½ cup finely chopped red onion

Supremes of 1 orange, chopped

Supremes of 1 large lime, chopped

3 green onions, white and green parts sliced

1 jalapeño, finely chopped (remove the seeds if you don't want it spicy)

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

In a glass bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate for an hour. Mix again before serving. Makes about two cups.

Bloody Mary Chicken Wings PRINT
from The NFL Gameday Cookbook by Ray Lampe a.k.a. Dr. BBQ

12-15 chicken wings

BLOODY MARY RUB:
2 tablespoons celery salt
1 tablespoon good-quality chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
BLOODY MARY SAUCE:
1 1/2 cups V-8 juice
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons Tabasco Garlic Sauce
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
Prepared horseradish (optional)
Russian vodka
Celery sticks

With a sharp knife, cut the tips off the chicken wings and save the tips for stock. Slash the inside of the wing joint to help them cook more evenly, but don’t cut them all the way through.
In a small bowl, mix together the rub ingredients. Sprinkle over the chicken wings, coating them evenly.
Prepare the grill for cooking over direct medium heat. Grill the wings, turning often, for 30 minutes, or until the wings are crispy and golden.
Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together and set aside. Put the vodka in the freezer. Transfer the wings to an aluminum-foil pan. Pour the sauce over the wings, tossing to coat. Put the pan on the grill. Cover the grill and cook for another 30 minutes, tossing the wings after 15 minutes to coat. If the pan goes dry, add a small amount of beer to keep it from burning. Remove the wings to a plate, and drizzle with the sauce if there is any left. Serve with celery sticks and shots of ice-cold vodka. Makes 15 servings.

The Pencil Parable

2012-01-03T06:00:00.022-06:00

It's the time of year we make resolutions to lose weight, stop smoking, eat healthy and improve our minds. I love the thought that each New Year is a time to wipe the slate clean and start afresh. Throw out the old, the stuff that doesn't work and replace it with new ideas to enrich our lives. I had never heard this story before, but I think it's a good start to a new year...

The Parable of the Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in it’s heart.

Scanning Memories

2012-01-02T06:00:00.004-06:00

I've been in the picture box again, remembering an old photo of a Christmas at my Uncle Tracey's house. All of my cousins are in this picture, surrounding Grandma Risley. That's me in the front on the right! I have a bank of holiday memories that sustain me, things that pop into my brain each year as I prepare food or wrap gifts. We were a larger family then, Daddy had 2 brothers and a sister. When we'd gather there would be 20-30 of us. Cousins to play with, lots of presents and a visit from Santa. We'd take turns going to Aunts and Uncles houses but the scene was always the same. The kitchen counters and tables would be laden with holiday food... hams, turkeys, jello salads, chips and dip. It was the 50's and our Mother's had on their finest, red lipstick and heels---just to go to a family party! When I look back at pictures, even my Dad had on a suit! If you ever watch Mad Men, or go even farther back and see an old Leave it to Beaver, you can't help but wonder if people really dressed like that. Well, we did!

Once I started looking, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to scan some of the really old pictures from the Risley side to post online and share with other relatives to copy. This picture was taken at the annual 4th of July picnic probably 1905-1910. Grandma is in the front row, first one on the left. It's rural Arkansas folks, most likely with temps in the 90's, but these ladies are dressed like they are going to Cotillion in Atlanta!

This one's dated 1928, my Dad would have been 7. He's in front on the right. Grandma and Grandpa were teachers in the small community of Peel, Arkansas. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the years that followed. The Great Depression took its toll on many families, even to the point of families breaking up. My Grandparents took in relatives kids, that's just what you did. No one had to think twice.

Daddy used to say they never went hungry. They grew their own food and hunted to put meat on the table. It was more than sport, it was survival. That's not to say he and his brother's didn't enjoy hunting. In later years, the brothers and all the male cousins made a yearly trek to Colorado where they camped and hunted big game. It was a time they cooked out over open fires, hiked the mountains and re-lived the times of their youth.

Last week our Grandson joined his Dad for target practice at the farm. If Daddy was watching, I bet he was smiling...

Kolaches (Czech Sweet Rolls)

2012-01-01T14:45:00.003-06:00

Kolaches (Czech Sweet Rolls)

This recipe is from the Texas Holiday Cookbook by Dottie Griffith

~PRINT~

2 packages dry yeast

1/2 cup lukewarm (105~115 degree) water

Sprinkle yeast over warm water, stirring to activate. Set aside.

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

Heat milk to almost boiling. Remove from heat. Add butter and stir to melt. Add sugar and salt. Pour into large mixing bowl and allow to cool to lukewarm. Stir in egg and add yeast mixture.

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

5~6 cups flour

Add flour gradually, about 2 cups at a time, stirring after each addition to make a soft, sticky dough. Do not add too much flour or kolaches will be dense and dry. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Begin preparing fillings while dough rises.

Grease a baking sheet well. Rub hands with grease too. Using well greased hands, shape dough into 2- inch balls. Place on prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise again until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using your thumb, make and indention in the center of each roll, leaving a 1-inch rim. Allow to rest 10 minutes. Fill with about 1 tablespoon fruit or cheese filling and bake 20-25 minutes or until golden. Makes about 3 dozen

Fillings

*You can use good quality preserves or make your own filling by combining 1 cup dried fruit (6-ounce package of apricots, prunes or apples) in just enough water to cover in a small saucepan. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until fruit is soft, about 10-12 minutes. Drain fruit and chop fine. Return to saucepan along with 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, and 4 tablespoons butter. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture thickens like jam, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.

*Combine 1 cup cream cheese or dry curd cottage cheese with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Mix until smooth.

P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps

2012-01-01T13:25:00.002-06:00

P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

from Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes

~PRINT RECIPE~

3 tablespoons oil

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup water chestnut

2/3 cup mushroom

3 tablespoons chopped onions

1 teaspoon minced garlic

4 -5 leaves iceberg lettuce

Special Sauce:

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon hot mustard

2 teaspoons water

1 -2 teaspoon garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce:

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.

Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil. Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve. Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and set this aside as well. Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.

Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan. Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or done. Remove chicken from the pan and cool. Keep oil in the pan, keep hot. As chicken cools mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas. Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl. When chicken is cool, mince it to the same size as mushrooms and water chestnuts.

With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan. Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"cups". Top with Special Sauce.

Margarita Cupcakes

2012-01-01T12:23:00.001-06:00

Print Recipe

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

2012-01-01T12:14:00.001-06:00

Print Recipe

Banana Toffee Danger Pie

2012-01-01T11:59:00.003-06:00

Print Recipe

Hot Party Ham Sandwiches

2012-01-01T11:43:00.002-06:00

Print Recipe

Earthquake Cake

2012-01-01T11:31:00.003-06:00

Print Recipe

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

2012-01-01T10:07:00.003-06:00

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

from Taste of Home and Reminisce Magazine

~PRINT~

2 medium potatoes, baked and cooled enough to handle

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth, heated

2 tablespoons sour cream

salt and pepper, to taste

Cheddar cheese

crumbled cooked bacon or bacon bits

green onion, sliced

Peel potatoes and mash up coarsely with a fork, leave chunky or make smooth, just how you like it. Place in saucepan and add broth. Stir in sour cream, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until heated through (do not boil). Garnish with cheese, bacon and onion. Makes 2 servings.

A Child Again

2012-01-01T09:07:00.001-06:00

Susan Branch is one of my favorite artists. She is a talented writer, illustrator, author and her cookbooks transport me back to wonderful childhood memories. Her Christmas post was about a dinner party that she held recently. As eight dinner guests sat around a beautiful holiday meal, candles glowing, wine glasses sparkling...someone said, "You can always see the kid in a person if you look closely." There was a hush over the chatty table, guests leaned forward looking into the faces of each other. Suddenly they were transported back in time, little girls in party dresses and black patent shoes swinging back and forth under the table...little boys squirming and fidgeting in their seats trying to be good!

What an insightful notion, that inside each of us....especially at Christmas, is that wide-eyed child of long ago. Waiting and hoping for snow on Christmas or that one special present under the tree. Thrilled with the simple pleasures of the lights on the Christmas tree or that delicious coziness of flannel pajamas and a hot cup of cocoa topped with marshmallows.

Let this be our resolution for the New Year, to allow ourselves to recapture that sweet magic of childhood. To keep kindness and good in our hearts and expect good things to happen. We all need that special quality of youth to give us hope and encouragement for the hard days ahead.

Happy 2012!

Grasshopper Fudge Cake

2012-01-01T08:45:00.002-06:00

Grasshopper Fudge Cake

from BettyCrocker.com

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box

2 teaspoons mint extract

12 drops green food color

2 jars (16 oz each) hot fudge topping

1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping,thawed

5 drops yellow food color

Thin rectangular crème de menthe chocolate candies, unwrapped and cut into pieces, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Make cake batter as directed on box, adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mint extract with the water. Reserve 1 cup batter. Stir 3 drops of the green food color into reserved batter; set aside. Pour remaining batter into pan.

3 Drop green batter by generous tablespoonfuls randomly in 12 to 14 mounds onto batter in pan. Cut through batters with metal spatula or knife in S-shaped curves in one continuous motion. Turn pan one-fourth turn; repeat cutting for swirled design.

Bake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Carefully spread fudge topping evenly over cake. In medium bowl, stir whipped topping, remaining 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, remaining 9 drops green food color and the yellow food color until blended. Spread whipped topping mixture evenly over fudge. Garnish with candy pieces. Store covered in refrigerator.

PRINT RECIPE

I'm Sorry

2011-12-31T06:00:00.004-06:00

I have an amazing husband who helps me put up 3 Christmas trees, hang garlands and lights inside and out and never complains. I know I'm lucky because I hear from friends how their husbands grouse or put off the chores related to decorating. Sometimes around the holidays, tempers flare and harsh words are spoken. It's inevitable since we are stressed and pulled in a million directions with no time for ourselves. Before the holidays are gone for another year, I want to share the following email... a genuine attempt to make amends for cross words between husband and wife!

Subject: Christmas Lights...!!! -- an apology from husband

Hi Sweetheart, I am sorry about getting into an argument about putting up the Christmas lights. I guess that sometimes I feel like you are pushing me too hard when you want something. I realize that I was wrong and I am apologizing for being such a hard-headed guy. All I want is for you to be happy and be able to enjoy the holiday season. Nothing brightens the Christmas spirit like Christmas lights! I took the time to hang the lights for you today and now I will be off to the golf course. Again, I am very sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I'll be home later. Love you!

Hope the New Year holds much health and happiness for everyone, and a lot of smiles thrown in too!

Black-eyed Luck

2011-12-30T06:00:00.013-06:00

Have you ever wondered how black-eyed peas got tagged "good luck?" It all goes back to the Southern saying, “Eat poor on New Year’s and eat fat the rest of the year.” It could have just as easily been pinto beans or a bowl of grits, but somehow black-eyed peas got the spotlight and forced us pea hating Americans to force feed ourselves on New Year's Day! We don't want to take a chance on a year of bad luck so we eat them cooked with ham, a pot of greens (they represent the green of money), a pan of cornbread and hopefully it will bring good luck and prosperity for the year! I grew up eating this meal, but after I married the tradition faded and we usually had gumbo or a pot of chili to go along with the games on TV.

There's actually several ways to "eat lucky." In Asian countries, the long noodle promises a long life. The trick is not breaking the noodle before it's all in your mouth! In Germany, cabbage is associated with luck and fortune because it's green and resembles money.The lowly lentil looks like little coins and are eaten throughout Italy for good fortune in the New Year. People in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries eat pomegranates, which have long been associated with abundance and fertility. Think I'll stay away from that one!

In our family we have pork and chicken is off the menu that one day. The reason is that a pig "roots forward" and a chicken "scratches backwards." All scientific, you understand. I am a bit superstitious, probably inherited from my Mom. The ones that stand out in my mind are not opening an umbrella in the house, not stepping on a crack and definitely not walking under a ladder. She warned on such occasions that it was "bad luck" and I took her at her word! She also believed it was a bad idea to go back to the house for something after we'd left. Not sure about that one, but it would happen like this... on weekends we went to the grandparents, she would have the bags packed and as soon as Daddy got off work we'd head to Arkansas. A few miles down the road someone invariably would say...

"Did you get the _______?"

That set off a discussion of why we shouldn't go back, did we really need the ________?

If it was deemed necessary, Mom would count backwards from 10 to erase the "bad luck." Really!

Someday soon, when I'm snowbound, I'll GOOGLE all these old superstitions and see just where they came from! Just in case you want to have that little insurance policy in the form of a pot of black-eyed peas, here's an easy recipe:

Black-eyed Peas with Salt Pork PRINT RECIPE
1 lb frozen black-eyed peas
4 oz (1/4 lb) salt pork or bacon, diced why salt pork?cause it's Southern-licious!
1-2 jalapenos, sliced or minced
1 small tomato, diced

Fry the salt pork or bacon in a pot until some of the fat is rendered and it’s starting to crisp up. Then add the peas and stir them around to coat in grease. Don't be afraid, the good luck cancels out the calories! Add the jalapeno and tomato and enough water to just cover the peas. Put a lid on the pot, bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer for about 30-45 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper and a little more hot sauce if you like it spicy. Don't forget a good chunk of buttered cornbread! Makes 6 servings.

One more recipe, this one's a keeper!

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, prayer, meditation, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing—don't do it), and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Jokin' Around!

2011-12-29T06:00:00.002-06:00

I have a refrigerator full of delicious food that we had over the holidays, good news for me cause I'm about "cooked out!" We started celebrating last Friday at our daughter's house. She had every table loaded with goodies... a meat tray of ham, turkey and brisket that our SON in law Ken had smoked, appetizers galore and delicious desserts for every sweet tooth!

The punch was a Cranberry Lime and was soooo good!

Sam's Club was nice enough to bake us a 4 layer Coconut Cake that was to die for! It's one of the leftovers that I'm glad I have in the house...maybe not after I get on the scale!

Pioneer Woman's Beef Tenderloin

Christmas Eve the kids came to open presents and have a late dinner. It takes us nearly 3 hours to ooh and aah over every present, including the "Joke one's" that have almost become more fun than the real ones!

We now have an award, a statue that lives with the "Winner" of the Joke Gift Contest.... we're an odd bunch who like to compete in everything! The rules of the Joke gift are as follows: used, re-gifted or dumpster dived. I really thought I'd win this year with this priceless piece of plastic cheer, after all it was electric and it worked...

But wasn't meant to be. I was outdone by my daughter who had found two hard to find gifts at the local Salvation Army. I can't bring myself to post the picture of our "joint gift," it's x rated! In new condition, the recipients of these skimpy articles of clothing were just too embarrassed to ever open the package and wear them. Both have very witty sayings printed on the bra and underpants! To seal the deal, she gave her Dad James Earl Jones' Bible on tape! Good thing we saved our old tape player!

It's really kind of fun to do joke gifts. I like to dumpster dive for that special gift, but was able to find other perfect ones at the Benton County Thrift Store. The money goes to help the battered and homeless women of Benton County, that's a very good thing.

This year I bought Hubby a perfectly good Baby Boomer Edition of Trivial Pursuit, he'd always wanted it and it was too expensive to buy when it was new in the 1980's! Not at the thrift store, it was a mere $3.00! I got lucky and found another hard to find game, the collector's boxed edition of one of our daughter's favorite TV shows, FRIENDS!

A little scary, our SON is law is a really good sport and modeled his camo hat and poncho! It was just an itty bit too small!

Christmas Day we got together one more time and had Estelle's Lasagna from the Maine House.

Oh.my.goodness.

This is the best lasagna I've ever made!

So, like I said... there's a lot of leftovers in the fridge right now. I don't think I'll have to cook the whole week and by then it'll be time to go out for New Years!

Celebrate!

2011-12-28T06:00:00.044-06:00

New Year's Eve is just around the corner and even if the refrigerator is bulging at the seams, you're probably thinking about snacks for New Year's Day. With all the games, it's an excuse for one more big party before the diets begin!

Taste of Home's Best Holiday Recipes 2011 has so many yummy recipes, I've used it over and over the last few weeks. So kids, before the ball drops... before the New Year's Resolutions begin... let's be bad one.more.time!

French Quarter Cheese Spread PRINT RECIPE
Heide Blaine Hadburg Safety Harbor, Florida
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, onion and garlic. Transfer to a serving plate; shape into a 6-in. disk. Set aside. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Cook and stir over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in pecans. Cool slightly. Spoon over cheese mixture. Serve with crackers. Yield: 8 servings.

Asiago Chicken Spread PRINT RECIPE
James Korezenowski Fennville, Michigan
3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup salted cashew halves
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Assorted crackers or toasted baguette slices

Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute chicken in butter for 5-6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in cashews. Remove from the heat; cool. In a food processor, combine the mayonnaise, onion, cheese, basil, pepper sauce and chicken mixture; cover and process until blended. Press into a 2-cup bowl; cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If desired, unmold onto a serving platter; serve with crackers or baguette slices. Yield: 2 cups.

Pepperoni Pinwheels PRINT RECIPE
Cynthia Bent Newark, Delaware
1/2 cup diced pepperoni
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 egg, separated
1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls

In a small bowl, combine the pepperoni, cheese, oregano and egg yolk. In another small bowl, whisk egg white until foamy; set aside. Separate crescent dough into four rectangles; seal perforations. Spread pepperoni mixture over each rectangle to within 1/4 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seams to seal. Cut each into six slices. Place cut side down on greased baking sheets; brush tops with egg white. Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 2 dozen.

Pear Mushroom Strudels PRINT RECIPE
Carole Resnick Cleveland, Ohio
1 cup finely chopped mushrooms
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup butter, divided
2 small pears, peeled and thinly sliced
3/4 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
10 sheets phyllo dough (14 inches x 9 inches)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, cook mushrooms and onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Stir in pears; cook 3 minutes longer. Remove from the heat; stir in the Gruyere, almonds, mustard, salt and pepper. Cool to room temperature. Melt remaining butter. Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush evenly with butter. Sprinkle with 1-1/2 teaspoons Parmesan cheese. Layer with four more sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter and sprinkling with cheese. (Keep remaining phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out. Spread half of the pear mixture in a 2-in.-wide strip along a short side of dough. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with the pear side; pinch seams to seal. Brush with butter. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Repeat with remaining phyllo, butter, Parmesan cheese and pear mixture. Bake at 375° for 16-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes. Cut each strudel into 12 slices. Yield: 2 strudels (12 slices each).

Just in case you want to make some drinks to go with all these great appetizers... here's a few links to some yummy ones from Taste of Home:

Caramel Vanilla Martinis

Cranberry Glogg

Sangria Wine

Facebook Timeline

2011-12-27T06:00:00.094-06:00

~OLD WIRE ROAD TRAIN TRESTLE DATED 1928~

What do you think of the new Facebook Timeline? They rolled it out the week before Christmas and I jumped on board as soon as I looked at the promo. I'm like that... hip, technologically gifted, not afraid of new things. OK, that's not really me! If I'm honest, I'd say I'm the last in line for anything that requires changing. I'm afraid of clicking on the wrong thing and poof! it all disappears into that box they call the Internet. But it seemed pretty simple so I thought, what the heck!

First you get to pick a "Cover Picture," something that best describes you, your hobbies or your loves. I chose one that I took this summer on a little excursion with my GRANDson Gavin. We found this old train trestle using the Internet and a good GPS. It was in the middle of nowhere, about 10 miles down a dirt road!

Next you get to tell your story. Facebook makes that easy, you were born then everything else starts falling in line year by year.

Next you get to tell your story. Depending how long you've been on Facebook and also how MUCH you want to share, you can place people and milestones and everything that's meaningful to those you share your Facebook with. For me, that's mostly friends and family and blogging buddies! It automatically added my birth since I have that on my profile, then I plugged in the places we'd lived.

Then I added trips we'd taken and fun things we did along the way. Hey, I'd almost forgotten about going to Marine World in California (1975), that was FUN!

Disney World 1987

Lancaster County, PA.

Cancun, Mexico

Before I knew it I had pins all over the map, I'd been having fun for nearly 60 years and there it was in black and white! There's plenty of apps to add too. Favorite movies, the books you read and want to tell others about, music you love, restaurants, even sharing your personal bests on your workouts or runs. It's all here. For those who network....see me using big tech words like network...it's a way to connect and share the good stuff! I like it! Isn't that what we love about blogging?

Worth waiting for!

2011-12-26T06:00:00.001-06:00

I'm a little giddy over my present from Santa, it's more than I asked for... much more. I never dreamed that anything Earthly could make me so insanely happy. On his sleigh, in a box weighing only 17 pounds he brought me the gift of my dreams... a Dyson vacuum! I know, you were wanting one too! Only good little children get presents that they don't even ask for, just sayin'!

Actually, it happened like this. We got up the Saturday before Christmas and as I'm going through the ads hubby says there was dog hair on the front of the refrigerator. Please don't think we live in filth, it's winter here and static electricity is stronger than I am. It wasn't like it was one solid sheet of fur, but he had noticed and let me tell you it felt like a knife in my heart. Ms. Clean does not like hair in the kitchen, neither does Mr. Clean. So we packed up and went straight to Sam's Club for the gift we share each year. Sometime during the holiday season we agree that we "need" something, and reward ourselves! It's an old person thing.

I didn't wait until Christmas, I opened it the minute we got home and proceeded to vacuum the house from top to bottom. All three floors are now clean as a whistle! There's not a speck of dust, or a crumb of cookie hiding in any nook or cranny. And dog hair, do we have a dog???

Waiting...

2011-12-24T06:00:00.035-06:00

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all,

and to all a good-night!"

Meemaw's Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies

2011-12-23T06:00:00.028-06:00

photo courtesy of The Food Network

What do you do with all those little peppermint candies that Sonic so kindly puts in our bag of burgers? Well, if you're like me and have been saving them all year long, have I got a great recipe for you! From the Queen of Sweetness herself, Ms. Paula Deen... I trust her cause she's not skinny and she's a Meemaw, just like me!

Meemaw's Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies

from Paula Deen PRINT RECIPE

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup lightly packed light brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup puffed rice cereal

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1 cup rolled old-fashioned oats

1 (8-ounce) package toffee bits

White chocolate, for dipping

15 peppermint hard candies, crushed, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Scrape the sides of the mixer bowl and beat in the oil, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the flour mixture in 3 small additions, scraping the sides of the bowl after each one. Slowly beat in the rice cereal, coconut, and oats. Fold in the toffee bits and refrigerate the dough, covered, for 1 hour. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough on 2 cookie sheets, leaving at least 1-inch of space around each drop. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool. Using a double boiler, melt the white chocolate. Dip the cookies into the white chocolate and sprinkle crushed peppermint to decorate. Allow to cool or serve warm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

photo courtesy of The Food Network

APPLE PEAR CIDER PRINT RECIPE

from Paula Deen

4 cups apple cider

4 cups pear juice or nectar

4 teaspoons dark brown sugar

2 (2 1/2-inch) cinnamon sticks

4 whole cloves

4 black peppercorns

4 allspice berries

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Let steep, off the heat, for at least 20 minutes. Reheat, and then strain and serve.

1 Corinthians 13: The Christmas Version

2011-12-22T05:59:00.002-06:00

"If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child; Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse; Love is kind, even when harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of LOVE will endure."

May the joy of Advent bring God’s love into your life in a special way this Christmas!

*Graciously shared by A Mom of Three Girls at Land of Fluff.blogspot.com

Christmas Comfort Food

2011-12-21T06:00:00.091-06:00

There's a lot of serious meal planning going on in homes across America right now. Planning a holiday meal requires searching for favorite recipes and trying out some new ones. There's lots of choices from ethnic to regional to traditional and then there's always family favorites. I have to say I love the planning and cooking of the meal!

Every year I get my cookbooks down, look through all the latest magazines for new recipes hoping to plan the perfect meal. We are a family of traditionalists so we don't stray too far from our Southern roots. One year though, we had an Olde English Style Christmas with Chestnut stuffing, Figgy pudding and a trifle. You can't imagine how hard it was to find chestnuts in Arkansas grocery stores!

Another year I tried my hand at making a tree shaped Croquenbuche. Martha Stewart encouraged me to do this and I foolishly thought I had the cooking skills to make spun sugar. It looked beautiful and I couldn't wait to try it out. I should have...because when I did, it was after all of our company had arrived and the sugar had a faint burnt taste, I'd cooked it too long. Oh well, it was family and they forgave me!

Until the holidays are over, I have a stack of my favorite Christmas cookbooks that I peruse when I am watching TV at night. I make notes, use sticky tabs and plan. After Christmas is over the cookbooks all go back to the bookshelf waiting for another Christmas to come.

This year I'm pulling the majority of my recipes from two cookbooks that I bought at Sam's Club. "Bless Your Heart" by Patsy Caldwell says it's Saving the World One Covered Dish at a Time, don't you love that? The other, a down-home cookbook by Devon O'Day is called "My Southern Food." Both are comfort food at it's best, I need that a lot these days! Here's how our Christmas menu looks so far...

Cider House Ham PRINT RECIPE
from My Southern Food
1 (5-6 lb.) bone in ham
2 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar, divided
1 gallon apple cider
1 1/2 cups honey or maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Rub the outside of the ham with 3/4 cup of the brown sugar and place in a large oven roaster pan with a lid. Pour enough of the apple cider to cover 2/3 of the ham. Sprinkle the exposed part of the ham with the remaining 3/4 cup of the brown sugar, cover and bake for 1 hour. At the end of 1 hour, pour off the cider. Add the remaining cider, cover with the remaining 1 cup of brown sugar and drizzle with the honey or maple syrup. Bake 1 more hour (the cooking time is based on a 6 lb. ham).
Makes 10-12 servings
*Directions for a dry cured country ham were given as well in the cookbook.

Swiss Potato Bake PRINT RECIPE
-from Bless Your Heart
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 pounds red potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, divided
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese, divided
4 tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups canned chicken broth

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Butter a 13x 9-inch baking dish and set aside. In a small bowl mix the salt, garlic powder, lemon pepper seasoning and cayenne pepper. Place 1/2 the potato slices in the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with half of the mixed dry seasonings. Place 1 cup of the Swiss cheese on top and dot with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Repeat withe the remaining potato slices and the rest of the dry seasoning. Top with the remaining 1 cup of Swiss cheese. Pour the chicken broth over the top and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Bake for approximately 1 hour or until golden brown.
Makes 6-8 servings

Mary Beth's Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle PRINT RECIPE
-from Bless Your Heart
1 quart fresh strawberries
1 cup sugar, divided
1 pound cream cheese, softened
1 (12-ounce) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (10-ounce) pound cake loaf, cut in 1-inch cubes
1 (4.25-ounce) Hershey's bar, grated

Wash the strawberries, remove the caps and slice. In a large bowl add the strawberries and 1/2 cup of the sugar, stir well and set aside. In a large bowl beat the cream cheese and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until blended. Fold in the whipped topping. Place 1/2 of the pound cake in a trifle or serving bowl. Top with half of the strawberries, 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture and 1/3 of the grated chocolate. Repeat the layers. Top with the remaining cream cheese and garnish with the remaining grated chocolate. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
Makes 16 servings

Christmas Simmering Potpourri

2011-12-20T06:00:00.005-06:00

I'm a sucker for anything that smells good. If I had invested in Glade sprays or Yankee Candles, maybe we could have retired early on profits! Fragrance is one of those things that's very personal though. This time of year when all the perfume inserts come in the ads, I have to open them and take a whiff. Jessica McClintock is my favorite, it's description are "top notes of cassia, basil, ylang-ylang, bergamot, black currant and lemon; middle notes are jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and rose; base notes are musk and woody notes"... hmm, that pretty well covers all smells known to mankind! But we know what we like and this time of year we all love for our homes to be welcoming and smell like Grandma's house! Even if you haven't had the time to put one single cookie in the oven, you can have that delicious aroma swirling around if you make either one of these potpourri's.

Simmering Christmas Potpourri #1

Shared from Estelle's Kitchen at The Maine House

Sliced apples

Sliced lemons

Sliced oranges

Water

Bay leaves

Whole cloves

Cinnamon sticks
In a slow-cooker, combine fruit the way you like. Cover in water. Top with bay leaves, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Leave slow-cooker on. Makes your house smell like Christmas Memories!

Simmering Christmas Potpourri #2
1 Quart Pineapple Juice
1 Quart Water
1 Quart Apple Cider
3 Sticks of Cinnamon
16 Cloves
1 Teaspoon Allspice
2 Teaspoons Pickling Spice
Simmer over low heat, until the house smells delicious. Add more water as needed and you can reheat this mixture for days. If you have an electric potpourri pot, all the better! This is just wonderful!

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Not Stollen, Shared!

2011-12-19T06:00:00.047-06:00

Photo and recipe courtesy of Crescent Dragonwagon

We learn sharing as children, but as we get older sometimes we forget that it's the nice thing to do! Author Crescent Dragonwagon shares this delicious stollen recipe, braided and folded-- sugared and spiced, it's a holiday bread that inspires memories. Many of you remember her from The Dairy Hollow House in Eureka Springs, a favorite restaurant for many and a memorable stay for those who had the pleasure of visiting the Arkansas Inn. Nowadays, Crescent resides in Vermont and stays busy with gardening, cooking and writing new cookbooks. Her latest, Bean by Bean, has more than 200 Recipes for fresh beans, dried beans, cool Beans, hot Beans, savory Beans...and even sweet beans! Thanks so much Crescent for sharing this great recipe for the holidays!

Stollen PRINT RECIPE
Shared in Relish magazine, this stollen says Christmas!
8 cardamom pods
1 cup 2% reduced-fat milk, scalded
1/2 cup yellow raisins
1 cup dried cherries
3 tablespoons dark rum or orange juice
2 (.25-ounce) packages active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
1/3 cup sugar, divided
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
½ cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into 8 pieces
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind
1 egg
2 egg yolks
½ cup slivered almonds, toasted
10 ounces almond paste
Topping:
½ cup salted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1. Place cardamom pods in a small bowl. Add hot milk. Let stand 10 minutes.
2. Combine raisins and cherries with rum. Let stand.
3. Combine yeast, warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar. Set aside until mixture foams, about 10 minutes.
4. Remove cardamom pods from milk. Squeeze pods open. Scrape small black seeds into milk. Discard pods. Stir milk into yeast mixture. Add 1 cup flour; beat well. Cover this mixture (called the “sponge”) with plastic wrap; let rise 30 minutes.
5. As the sponge rises, place 2 cups flour and butter in the bowl of a food processor. Add salt and remaining sugar. Pulse 6 or 8 times.
6. Drain fruits, reserving soaking liquid. When the sponge is ready, add it to the processor; add lemon rind, egg and egg yolks, and soaking liquid from dried fruits. Process 20 or 30 seconds, until dough is thoroughly mixed. Then, with a few quick pulses, mix in fruits, almonds, and remaining ½ cup flour. Scrape dough, which will be quite tender, into a large oiled bowl, and refrigerate overnight.
7. In the morning, punch dough down, and divide into thirds. On a heavily floured board, gently pull and pat each portion of dough into a 10 x 14-inch oval. Divide almond paste into thirds. Cover half of each oval, the long way, with bits of almond paste, patting with your hands (don’t worry about getting it neat). Fold the other half of the dough over it, enclosing almond paste and making a pastry that is a plump half oval.
8. Gently transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, shaping if necessary. Let rise until dough is puffy, though not quite doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
9. Preheat oven to 350F.
10. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Using 2 spatulas, transfer to a wire rack; cool about 10 minutes.
11. Towards then end of baking time, place ½ cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When butter melts, lower heat and let butter cook until browned and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Don’t stir the butter as it browns, but you can shake the pan a little.
12. Spoon browned butter over the tops. Sift powdered sugar generously over tops. Let cool at least 20 minutes, until sugar sets slightly. Serve, in thin slices, slightly warm or at room temperature. Makes 3 stollens (10 servings each).
Note: Make stollens ahead, wrap well and freeze up to one month.

You might not know this, but Dragonwagon has the distinction of having prepared beans and cornbread for a President (Bill Clinton), titled royalty (Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia), a world-renowned feminist (Betty Friedan) and Marilyn Monroe's first biographer (Maurice Zolotow)! She teaches two writing workshops from various locations, Deep Feast: Writing the World through Food and Fearless Writing. This coming year Deep Feast Writing Workshops are planned in Seattle on Saturday, March 10, 2012, 11-5:00pm and in Boston Saturday, February 18, 2012, 11-5:00pm.

Coconut Cake...Sweet as the Memories!

2011-12-16T06:00:00.124-06:00

My Mother's favorite memory of Christmas is the coconut cake that set on the sideboard in their dining room at the farm. She never failed to recall how beautiful it was on the crystal cake stand that had been her Grandmothers. Isn't that why we feel so comforted this time of year when we taste a sweet bite of sugar cookie or fudge, just like we remember Mom used to make? I wish I had a handwritten recipe for the cake, I imagine Grandma used one out of the old cookbooks that she kept in the cabinet above the sink. I inherited those cookbooks, yellowed from age and the pages stained and nicked. I inherited the cake stand as well and every Christmas it holds a coconut cake that's as sweet as the memories!

Paula Deen's Coconut Cake Print Recipe

from her newest cookbook Southern Cooking Bible

For the cake:
1 box (18 1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
Whole milk, as called for by cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
12 ounces canned or frozen shredded coconut

For the Frosting:
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons light corn syrup or 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
About 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease three 9-inch round cake pans with butter, oil or cooking spray. To make the cake: Follow the directions on the cake mix box, substituting milk for water. Divide the batter among cake pans. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 5 minutes on a wire rack, then remove the cakes from the pans to cool completely.

In a medium bowl, stir together sour cream, sugar and coconut. Spread between the slightly warm cake layers, piercing each layer with a toothpick as you stack them, but don’t pierce the top of the top layer. Store the cake in a container in the refrigerator 2-3 days to allow the flavors to soak through.

On the day you are ready to serve the cake, make the frosting: In the top of a double boiler, combine the egg whites, sugar, corn syrup or cream of tartar, and salt. Do not place over the heat; instead beat for 1 minute using a handheld mixer. Then place over simmering water and cook, beating constantly, until the frosting forms stiff peaks. This should take about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add vanilla and beat until it reaches spreading consistency, about 2 minutes. Frost the top and sides of the cake and sprinkle all over with shredded coconut. Besides tasting great, y’all, this cake is just so pretty.

Another great recipe, this one has been made by my mother in law at Easter so many times that it's now in the heirloom category!

MARY'S RESURRECTION CAKE

1 white cake mix
1 lg. carton sour cream
1 lg. container Cool Whip
1 pkg. frozen coconut

Prepare cake according to package directions. Pour into 3 prepared cake pans. Do not let cake brown. Cool. Combine sour cream and coconut to spread between layers. Save 1 cup mixture for icing.

ICING: Combine mixture with Cool Whip and ice cake. Cover and let set in refrigerator for 3 days.

From the 1980's, Resurrection Cake was made popular by Cool Whip. You couldn't pick up a magazine without seeing the fluffy white concoction on one of the pages. A busy Mom's best invention, it got better with each day it stayed in the fridge!

Extreme Couponing

2011-12-15T06:00:00.072-06:00

How do they do it? I'm talking about those savvy shoppers who waltz into their local grocery stores, load up multiple shopping carts and walk away with it for a song... or 6 dollars and 23 cents! Extreme Couponing, that's the buzz word these days, there's even a show on TLC. I used to coupon when our daughters were still at home. I'd carry my stash of clipped coupons around in a little checkbook file that I could slip in my purse. Nowadays, avid couponers carry file boxes of coupons to maximize their savings. There are lots of sites out there that will "teach" you how to get the inside information on saving big bucks. Here for your viewing pleasure is the condensed "How to Coupon for Dummies," not that you are dummies, I'm just going by the book!

First, you need to know the code, the secret handshake. This code can be found at SouthernShopper.com and will tell you how you use your coupons to get products for FREE. Now that I have your attention, let's go shopping! I've made out my list from my local CV's/Marvin's IGA. They have lots of good specials running this week...

Tide 2x (50 fl oz), $6.99 with Proctor and Gamble coupon from the Sunday paper it makes it $5.99 after coupon and doubles!

Diamond Walnuts, $6.99 with a Red Plum coupon you pay only $5.99 after coupon and doubles!

Folgers Coffee, $8.99 with a Red Plum coupon it's now $7.99!

Swanson Broth, 5/$3 with SmartSource coupon from the Sunday paper it makes them 5/$2

Carnation Evaporated Milk, $0.99 with a 50 cents off 2 Red Plum coupon from the Sunday paper that makes them 49 cents each!

C&H Granulated Sugar (4 lbs), $2.49 with a 50 cents off Red Plum coupon $1.49

Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste, 2/$5- $1 off SmartSource coupon $1.49 each.

Country Crock, $2.99 with a $1 off coupon from ALL YOU magazine $1.99

French's French Fried Onions, $3.29 with 50 cents off from a SmartSource coupon $2.29

I just saved $9.00 and I haven't even left the house yet!

"Learn from the cookie..."

2011-12-14T06:00:00.256-06:00

"Oh look Elaine, the black and white cookie. I love the black and white. Two races of flavor living side by side. It's a wonderful thing isn't it?" Words of wisdom from an old Seinfeld...

I should never go down the candy aisle, I have no willpower! The bags practically jump in the cart especially when they are HERSHEY'S new Holiday Kisses. Flavors like Mint Truffle Kisses or Cherry Cordial Crème Kisses. Who could say no to Candy Cane Kisses? Not me, I came home with all three then started seaching for cookie recipes to give away ASAP to neighbors before I ate them all!

Let's start with the Chocolate Crinkles with Mint Truffle Kisses!

Gather up the ingredients and make them look presentable for a photo op...

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt then set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, and eggs until well mixed. Whisk in extracts.

Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.Whisk together the confectioners sugar and the green colored sugar.

Sample a mint truffle Kiss, just to make sure it's a good batch. It was!

By now the dough is nice and chilled and you can preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or Silpats, then roll dough into 1/2 Tablespoon balls. Roll balls in the powdered sugar/green sugar. Place on cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until cookies crackle and dough doesn't look raw. While cookies are baking, unwrap the kisses and make some room in your refrigerator or freezer for the cookie sheets.

When the cookies come out of the oven, immediately place a kiss in the center of each cookie and press lightly.

The kisses will start to get melty, so it's best if you are able to place the cookie sheet (with the kiss) directly into the freezer or refrigerator until the kisses can set up. I put mine in the fridge for just a little while, otherwise I'd have to eat all the "mistakes."

Chocolate Crinkles with Mint Truffle Kisses- makes about 60 cookies
From RecipeGirl.com
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoon green colored sugar (optional)
bag of mint truffle flavored Hershey's Kisses

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, and eggs until well mixed. Whisk in extracts.
3. Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1/2 Tablespoon balls. Roll balls into mixture of powdered sugar/green sugar. Place on cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until cookies crackle and dough doesn't look raw. While cookies are baking, unwrap the kisses and make some room in your refrigerator or freezer for the cookie sheets. When the cookies come out of the oven, immediately place a kiss in the center of each cookie and press lightly. The kisses will start to get melty, so it's best if you are able to place the cookie sheet (with the kiss) directly into the freezer or refrigerator until the kisses can cool off and set up.

Cherry Cordial Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies-Makes about 2 dozen cookies
From Hershey's.com
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, separated
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped nuts (I used hazelnuts)
Vanilla Filling (recipe follows)
26 Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates filled with Cherry Cordial Crème
DIRECTIONS:
Beat butter, sugar, egg yolk, milk and vanilla in medium bowl until fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Refrigerate dough at least 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.
Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. With fork, beat egg white slightly. Drip each ball into egg white; roll in nuts. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Press thumb gently in center of each cookie.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Meanwhile prepare Vanilla Filling. Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces.
Remove cookies from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool 5 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon filling into each thumbprint. Gently press chocolate piece in center of each cookie. Cool completely.
Vanilla Filling: Combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon softened butter or margarine, 2 teaspoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl; beat until smooth.

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
From RecipeGirl.com
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/4 cups butter, at room temperature
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup finely chopped Candy Cane flavored Hershey’s Kisses
granulated sugar
additional, unwrapped Candy Cane Kisses- about 30
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In large mixer bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, extracts and egg. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until creamy (2-3 minutes). In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to wet mixture and beat, scraping bowl often until well blended (1-2 minutes). The mixture will be a bit crumbly. Stir in chopped Kisses.
3. Shape dough into ¾-inch to 1-inch balls; roll in granulated sugar. Place 1-inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. As soon as they come out of the oven, press a Candy Cane Kiss in the center of each cookie. They’ll crack a little around the edges, so just use your fingers to kind of hold the cookie together while you set the kiss inside.
*It's a good idea to set these in the fridge too, just for a little while to set the kisses.
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"It just doesn't feel like Christmas"

2011-12-13T07:13:00.001-06:00

Have you heard someone say, "It just doesn't 'feel' like Christmas?" As we go about our shopping, attend parties or family gatherings, or struggle with the long list of holiday chores it's easy to lose the Christmas Spirit. From Thanksgiving on it's a flurry of activities that require making lists, staying up late and "burning the candle at both ends." Only when we slow down the season and open our hearts can we truly enjoy this silent gift of Christmas.

I am the Christmas Spirit

by Irving Caesar

I enter the home of poverty, causing pale-faced children to open their eyes wide in pleased wonder.
I cause the miser's clutched hand to relax and thus paint a bright spot on his soul.
I cause the aged to renew their youth and to laugh in the glad old way.
I keep romance alive in the heart of childhood and brighten sleep with dreams woven of magic.
I cause eager feet to climb dark stairways with filled baskets, leaving behind them hearts amazed at the goodness of the world.
I cause the prodigal to pause a moment on his wild, wasteful way and send to anxious love some little token that releases glad tears-tears which wash away the hard lines of sorrow.
I enter dark prison cells, reminding scarred manhood of what might have been, and pointing forward to good days yet to come.
I come softly into the still, white home of pain; and lips that are too weak to speak just tremble in silent, eloquent gratitude.
In a thousand ways I cause the weary world to look up into the face of God, and for a little moment forget the things that are small and wretched.
I am the Christmas Spirit!

Last Minute GREAT Gifts!

2011-12-12T06:00:00.445-06:00

13 days till Christmas... I know, I'm not finished shopping either! If I'm not careful, panic may set in and then I'm really in trouble. When that happens you drive from store to store, wandering the aisles hoping that something will "come to you." It usually doesn't and you end up buying that person a scarf that they never wear or a coffee mug that they put on the top shelf in the kitchen, back behind the fondue pot. So, let's get smart about this whole gift giving problem and use the old noggin' to think of some really great gifts. The kind that say, "I really wanted to buy you something you'd LOVE!" Not just any old gift, these gifts are Made in Arkansas, how great is that?

A gift from the new Crystal Bridges Art Museum at Bentonville is at the TOP of my list! They have a great collection of one-of-a-kind gifts, in all price ranges. Their online site isn't set up yet to order, but it is in the works! Another great place to find art in all forms is Eureka Springs. If you can't find the time to go, here's some great links to several stores and artists.

Zeek Taylor, watercolorist, Watercolors by Zeek Taylor

Edward C. Robison III, nature photography, Sacred Earth Gallery

Denise Ryan, fine art painter, Denise Ryan Studio

Michael Schwade, jeweler, Michael Schwade Designs

Doug Stowe, wood artist, Doug Stowe Woodworker

Hank Barnes, stained glass items, Heirloom Stained Glass

Mark Hughes, fashion artist, Regalia Handmade Clothing Studio

Blakley Wilson, folk art, Wilson & Wilson Folkart

At Home in Arkansas and Celebrate Arkansas are wonderful publications and a yearly subscription costs about what you'd spend on a burger and fries for two.

This is the gift that keeps on giving, Arkansas based Heifer International. We like their "Chicken Gift," for only $20 it buys a flock of chickens for a family in a poor country. That gift grows and multiplies, feeding their family, providing income and increasing in size year by year. It's a good thing. Where do I start? How about with MY favorites!

A.G. Russell Knives - The knife authority since 1964, Rogers based A.G. Russell has been designing knives since he was nine years old. In the 1960's, he started selling them out of his Springdale home where he managed the company at his kitchen table! The business has outgrown several locations now, in 2002 it moved just off Interstate 540 at Rogers. He and his wife Goldie, along with a staff of 50 turn out some of the finest knives made. They offer distinctive gifts in their various catalogs for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list!

Buffalo River Honey- Eddie and Carla Watkins operate only 100 hives at their Newton County aviary, each season bringing a harvest of honey that varies in taste and fragrance. If you're trying to give gifts made in America this Christmas, this Ozark honey would be perfect!

Cavendar's Greek Seasoning - family owned and located in Harrison, created originally as a meat seasoning, but it's the "secret ingredient" in many other recipes.

The Daisy Airgun Museum - located in downtown Rogers, preserves and promotes vintage products and artifacts of the historic Daisy company. Their online store offers all products, including the famous Red Ryder airgun.
.

Kate Austin Jewelry and Gifts - My favorite jewelry store in NWA! Jewelry by Pandora, Firefly, Baroni Designs and a wonderful selection of faith-based gifts. It's my "go-to" place for gifts that everyone loves!

Martin Greer's Candies -- Since 1925 the Greer's have made homemade candies, hand-dipped chocolates using original recipes from Ribgy's Reliable Teacher of 1897. The fudge recipe dates to the 1820s with others dating to the Civil War. Only the finest ingredients are used. Located in the tiny NWA community of Gateway.

McClard's Bar-B-Q Sauce - Family owned and operated, McClard's Bar-B-Q was established in Hot Springs National Park in 1928. Travelers from across the country visit McClard's for a meal and a bottle of their famous Bar-B-Q Sauce. A personal favorite of former President Bill Clinton.

My Brother's Salsa - I've been on a mission to get this great product at my local Sam's Club since sampling it last year at the Bentonville location. Man oh man, is this good! Helen Lampkin is a genius, she got the recipe from her brother, hence the name, then tweaked the recipe to perfection. Go to the website for great recipes too! You can find My Brother's Salsa in Fort Smith at Jennifer's at Sparks Hospital, Creative Kitchen, Honey Baked Ham and Paul's Meat Market.

No Ordinary Broom - Handpainted and signed by artist Helen Lampkin (yes, she also operates My Brother's Salsa!), No Ordinary Broom™ is available in several original patterns in a variety of color combinations. It makes a unique gift for weddings, housewarmings, holidays or birthdays!

Ozark Mountain Smokehouse - an Ozark Mountain and Arkansas tradition for over 50 years; smoked hams, turkeys, cheeses, mustards, jellies; gift baskets, sampler packs.

Petit Jean Meats - one of the best-known food products in The Natural State, Petit Jean has been in business since the 1920s; hams, sausages and hot dogs.

Post Familie Wines - an Arkansas River Valley tradition since 1880; family owned and operated business produces world-class wines, juices, jams, jellies.

RoZark Hills Roasterie, Inc. - Located at Rosebud, they have coffees from Mexico, Tanzania, Panama, Kenya, Guatemala, Brazil and Columbia. Other gourmet specialties include black, Oolong, green, herbal and real fruit teas, along with chocolate covered coffee beans and chocolate covered fruits.

War Eagle Mill - The very best artisan quality organic flours and cornmeal, shipped direct to you. Stoneground flours, cornmeal, gourmet baking mixes, naturally gluten-free flours ground daily in a 170 year old working mill. Just up the road from my house on Granny Mountain!

House of Webster - Old fashioned jams and jellies. Ozark specialties like Wild Huckleberry Preserves, Gooseberry Jam, Pear Preserves, Blackeyed Pea Salsa, Country Sorghum, Pumpkin Butter, Elderberry Jelly, Hot or Mild Chow Chow, Watermelon Pickles, Pickled Okra, Beet Pickles, Dilly Beans, Bread & Butter Pickles, Green Tomato Sweet Pickles... all just like Grandma used to make.

Wiederkehr Wines - The oldest and largest winery in the Midwest, Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is located in the Ozark Mountains. The Wiederkehr family carries on a tradition begun in 1880.

I almost forgot ArkansasRazorback.com - the mecca for all things Razorback! Everything you've ever seen, ever wanted or didn't know existed lives here on these pages waiting to be under some lucky fan's Christmas tree!

Get those fingers typing right now and wipe out a big part of your Christmas list with gifts everyone will love!

Happy Shopping!

Spirit of Christmas

2011-12-11T14:32:00.003-06:00

What's Red and Green and Delicious?

2011-12-09T06:00:00.105-06:00

Marinated cheese! I first had this at a neighbor's bbq and it was one of those appetizers that you wanted to carry off in a corner and eat all.by.yourself. Know what I'm talking about? I stood for an extended time in front of the tray of cheese goodness... eating a Cheddar one, and a Mozzarella one, and a Colby-Jack one. Marinated in a delicious olive oil, wine vinegar and roasted red pepper mixture, it's one of those appetizers that makes a lot-- that's a good thing because you're going to be asked to bring this to every party after your friends taste it!

Marinated Cheese PRINT RECIPE

2 blocks (8 ounces each) white cheddar cheese

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup chopped roasted sweet red peppers

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons chopped green onions

3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

1 tablespoon sugar

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Toasted sliced French bread or assorted crackers

1. Slice each block of cheddar cheese into twenty 1/4-in. slices. Cut each block of cream cheese into 18 slices; sandwich between cheddar slices, using a knife to spread evenly. Create four 6-in.-long blocks of cheese; place in a 13-in. x 9-in. covered dish. I use a Rubbermaid container for marinating and storing. Trust me, it won't last long!

2. In a small bowl, combine the roasted peppers, oil, vinegars, onions, herbs, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper; pour over cheese.
3. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning once. Drain excess marinade. Serve cheese with bread or crackers. Yield: about 2 pounds.

Have a great weekend!

The Elf Diet

2011-12-08T06:00:00.040-06:00

I'm on my holiday diet right now. From Thanksgiving until New Years' Day I strictly follow

The Elf Diet

Candy

Candy Canes

Candy Corn

Syrup

That allows me to have my favorite foods, yet still be on a "diet!" Some of my favorites include the following...

Godiva Chocolates

Newest Flavors~

Mocha Snowflake

Mandarin Orange Snowflake

Winter Almond

Winter Cocoa

Candy Canes

cherry

blueberry

bubble gum

chocolate mint

orange sherbet

peppermint

pina colada

wild huckleberry

Candy Corn

Syrup

Maple

Butter Pecan

Blueberry

Boysenberry

Cherry

Pineapple

Strawberry

Raspberry

There are ways to combine food groups and I do this when I can. I don't think I've left anything out....oh yes, coffee!

How's your diet going?

Mrs. Freeman's Pumpkin Fruitcake

2011-12-07T06:00:00.042-06:00

Mrs. Freeman was a sweet lady who lived just across the fence from us when I was a child. In her upper 80's, she knew the names of all her neighbors. I loved to visit her and we would have long conversations as she poured jams and jellies into baby food jars. These would be gifts for neighbors along with the most delicious pumpkin fruitcake you ever put in your mouth. Each baked in a tomato soup can and wrapped in foil, then Christmas paper and ribbon- they were special gifts. I wish I had her recipe, but I was only 8 and didn't know the importance of such things! This one's from Taste of Home and I've made it many times. It's moist and delicious, filled with pecans and dates, raisins and cherries and none of that yucky citron that makes people hate fruitcake to begin with.

Pumpkin Fruitcake PRINT RECIPE

From Taste of Home

3/4 cup butter, softened

1-1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup raisins

10 red candied cherries, chopped

Glaze:

1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract

2 to 3 tablespoons milk

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Stir in pumpkin. Combine the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Fold in the pecans, dates, raisins and cherries.

Spoon into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cake. Yield: 12 servings.

If you'd like to try baking in the cans, just like Mrs. Freeman... here's another recipe that would be great for gift giving, complete with directions for baking times in soup cans!

Walnut-Date Bread PRINT RECIPE

3/4 cup walnuts,finely chopped
1 cup sliced dates
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup boiling water
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups sifted flour

Combine nuts, dates,soda and salt in mixing bowl. Add shortening and boiling water. Let stand 15 minutes, stir to blend.

Beat eggs slightly, add vanilla. Sift in sugar and flour and stir until dry ingredients are moistened. (This is a very stiff mixture.) Add to date mixture, mixing until well blended.

Grease 4 soup cans (10 1/2 or 11 oz. size). Pour batter into cans,filling two thirds full. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 350° for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes longer or until center test done. Cool 15 minutes and remove from cans. Cool completely.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold,
everything is softer and more beautiful."

Norman Vincent Peale

Frugal Stocking Stuffers

2011-12-06T06:00:00.092-06:00

Getting a little frazzled as the clock ticks down to Christmas? Even if you have everything else done, you may not have those fun stocking stuffers bought. If your pocketbook is much lighter like mine, then you will appreciate a few ideas from this list...

A favorite photo from the past year

Hat, mittens, or scarves

A fun pen

A new mini address book with your name added

Candy from Cracker Barrel

(they have the fun old fashioned ones that are hard to find like Cherry Mash, Chick-O-Stick and Salt Water Taffy that's a foot long!)

A deck of playing cards

A makeup bag and a cosmetic product or two

Share a favorite recipe on a decorative Recipe Card!

A great shade of nail polish

For pet lovers...a box of pet treats or a pet toy

One of the small Taste of Home paperback cookbooks

A travel guidebook for an upcoming vacation

Nice socks

Colorful Post-It notes

A kitchen tool or two

(everyone can use a new can opener, cheese slicer, potato peeler, etc.)

A decorative bookmark

(handmade from the kiddos would make Nana and Papa very happy!)

Water bottles

Scented candles

A small flashlight

Small gardening tools

Travel size toiletries

Winter skin care kit

(small lip balm, hand lotion, etc.)

Christmas tree ornament

A small die-cast car, adults love them too, they remind us of our 1st Car

(that's mine, a 1963 Corvair!)

Travel alarm clock

Puzzle book

(crosswords, Sodoku)

Bubble bath, bath oils, or a nice soap

Wallet

(with your photo included of course!)

Creative key chain

What if I told you there was a great site where you can print your own money for FREE...with your picture on it?

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/usbillgenerator.htm

You can thank me later when the kids say, "COOL!"