NIGHT OF REFLECTION

Good evening! IF this has a lot of spaces and zzzzzzzzzzz's across it - the reason will be because I dropped off to sleep. I am having to take medicine for Shingles - ugly word for an even uglier problem -- thankfully mine is on my hip -- but it is the most painful thing I've ever had -- like a deep burning forest fire deep in my hip. The whole back hurts!! Driving home this afternoon and when I stopped at red lights I had to fight sleep and again - even though Dianne's lecture was wonderful - my head kept nodding forward!

I was thinking about all of the things that I always did - just like Mother - and sometimes it took sooooo long! Like when she taught me to peel an apple -- you had to go round and round and round and round the apple - not only trying to not break the peel but also not get much of the appple. Then there was the story about the woman that had seen her grandmother and mother cut off the end off the roast before putting it in the pot. She thought it was soome kind of magic recipe - but finally she asked the question that no one had ever asked: "Grandma - why do you cut the end of the roast off?" Grandma replied: "Well Honey - it didn't fit my pot!" Oh yes - growing up - we starched and ironed the pillow cases, ironed dad's underwear and other things that have never seen my iron!! About the apples - I cut them in half and sometimes in quarters. Easy to core and much easier and faster to peel. You know if you are peeling an apple - you are either going to slice it or chop it. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS PEELING APPLES FOR APPLE DUMPLINGS! There are lots more - and I will tell you more -- but right now - it is time to cook! Mentioning Apple Dumplings -- my Mom made the best and here is how she did it:

APPLE DUMPINGS

4 large Red Apples 1 Recipe of Pastry OR 1 box of already rolled crust - cut in 4 squares 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 2 or 3 drops red cake coloring - carefully or it will be all over you!!\ FILLING: 1/4 cup sugar 1/4th tsp. vanilla Extra: 1/4 cup butter, softened Directions: Either make your favorite rolled out pie crust - cut into four large squares Peel and core apples (leaving whole) Mix filling together. Take the squares of crust - carefully sit one apple on each square. Fill the core of each apple with filling. . Add a bit of softened butter to the top of each filling and then bring the crust up around the apple - carefully covering all of the apple and sealing at the top. HEAT the sugar, water, cinnamon and red coloring until sugar is melted. Then pour melted sugar, water mixture over the apples. Bake in the 350 degree oven for 30 to 50 minutes -- until browned, and when fork is inserted - apple is tender. Serve hot with ice cream! You can make smaller ones by cutting apples in half -- but you only get half the delicious dessert!!! Maybe it is not the healty recipe -- but remember "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" Know what - I am quickly fading - so have a blessed night. I would love feedback!! Please let me know what you want!!

Have a blessed evening so your day will be insured a blessing!!