HAVE you ever felt humbled by how Blessed you are and have been? Today really made me sit up and Thank the Good Lord for the life I have had - from birth - with parents that loved one another and loved and protected me all of my life - from birth - to teenager - where they were very cautious (to the point of making me make some promises about my own kids- should I have been so blessed to have children that played sports, etc. )about my welfare - to almost adult - when they admitted they had been wrong about the boy I loved and said they would be honored to have him as a son-in-law - and they were right - 49 years proves it -- and an old, old lady that still feels the need to often correct me! I've been blessed by a family - a sister that is the absolute best in the world and is my very best friend - one I love so much!! So blessed by a Christian husband whom I can walk side by side with and share a blessed life with; and with a daughter that anyone would be proud of - one I am thankful to be able to help her be the perfection she is!Then there are the friends at work and my special friends at church that are always there to help and appreciate the things I do - never sitting back ready to criticise - they live their Christianity by the kindness and love they show. The speaker at the "Call Her Blessed" luncheon, Lysa Ter Keurst did not have that kind of family and care. She was an unloved child, abused and had a broken heart. She finally hit bottom and a "Bible verse Friend" sent her a scripture - Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future." She latched onto that verse and God has made her a caring, witnessing, successful woman.
Tonight we only fed about 80 people but for the most part they were very sweet and complimentary! I prepared the "Granny's Peach Cobbler" that I posted on Sunday night and it was well received - well - I think when 8 recipes are all eaten - it was well received. Travis got a helping and came looking for more. I know that will be a request soon! I did talk to the sweet friend that gave me the recipe this morning and she said that for a pan the size I used - I should make at least 3 times the recipe. I knew hers were "thicker" than mine. She said in a 9 X 13 dish, we should double the recipe! GOOD TO KNOW!!! I know somewhere over the past 2-1/2 years I posted the Hash Brown Potato Recipe - but I am just as sure that I have changed and improved it by this time -- so here is my present recipe of the Hash Brown Potato Recipe.
HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE
1 (32 oz.) pkg. frozen cubed potatoes with peppers and onions
1 Can Cream of mushroom soup
12 oz. grated Mexican mixture cheese
1 (8 oz.) ctn. sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced*
1/2 tsp. black pepper*
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper*
2 Cups crushed corn flakes
1/2 cup melted butter
(Seasoning - garlic salt, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper) or use half plain crushed corn flakes and a bag of Potato Toppers!)
Spray 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray and pour frozen potatoes into pan. Combine all the remaining ingredients except corn flakes, butter and seaonings and pour over potatoes. Top with either 2 cups seasoned corn flakes or 1 cup corn flakes and the bought "Potato Toppers." Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes -- unless you prepared the "night before" - which is certainly ok -- and then it will only take about 35 minutes.
*These are the things that I added to the original recipe I received in 1991 (in Southside Bank's 1st ever cookbook - recipe by Lynn Heines)!
As far as the seasonings to the corn flakes, I didn't measure - but probably one tablespoon of garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper) Just learn to shake and taste!!!
I have two cousins that I stay in contact with (via email) almost daily and it is such a blessing. One is from my Dad's side of the family - and for some reason or the other - maybe logistics - I was closer to Him - and loved his Mom so much - spent a couple of weeks visiting them - and the other was from my Mom's side of the family - and we never had the opportunity to be really close because - again - logistics - but it has been a real joy getting to know him - through internet and an occasional phone call! Both of these guys are very different and both are very special - and it is such a blessing to be in touch with both! Thanks guys for being in my life!
IT has been a long day and I am going to sign off - with this --- "Do what is right and God will take care of you!"
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
MONDAY NIGHT - AFTER A GREAT WEEKEND
I am sure you have noticed - this seems to have become a weekly blog instead of the faithfully daily a year ago -- but too many things have seemed to take my time! The shot worked and my back is holding out amazingly -- so hopefully the one next year will help even more!! Thank the dear Lord and for all the prayers that went up on my behalf!! If it had not helped -- how would I have gone up and down stairs this weekend at LTC. - AN AWESOME EVENT - SUCH TALENTED CHILDREN -- AND ALTHOUGH I STILL DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM - I KNOW SOME OF THE PARENTS AND I LOVE THEM ALL! Now I just have to get on my soap box a little! How on earth could anyone condemn what is done at LTC/?? There is one church I know of that decided this year they were not going to LTC - they didn't like the direction it was going! Is the devil leading them or what?? The entire event is based on the Bible - Revelations 22:7 - where Jesus says "I am coming soon!" And it was so evident in every event, in every song and every time I saw the kids - they behaved perfectly! Our kids that is!!! It is so sad that people get so narrow minded that they limit the children and their opportunity to praise God and learn to live like Him. Sad!!
Cooking - yes cooking. I will be cooking - God's Will - on Wednesday for our Church. Bought most of the groceries this afternoon at Sams! But I have a couple of great recipes for you tonight. The first is a wonderful peach cobbler I had the other day at a customer's birthday celebration.
GRANNY’S PEACH COBBLER My Mother’s Basic Recipe-
Use a 9 X 12 pan, chunky cut up a stick of butter into pan.
Set pan in oven. Turn on to 425 degrees.
While melting butter, mix together:
1 cup Pioneer Original Baking Mix
1 cup Sugar
¾ cup Milk- whole is better, 2% is good, Half & Half is best
Peaches, the bigger size can
¼ cup of juice from canned peaches
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
When butter is melted:
Pour batter into hot pan, spoon peaches (use some of the juice, but not all) over batter, Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture to taste.
Return to 425 oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to 340 degrees and bake for about 30 minutes. Watch the last few minutes/ More or less time may be needed.
The recipe is wonderful, the more you bake it- you will become comfortable with your preferences.
The recipe can be made smaller/ or larger. The proportions for the batter are always one cup baking mix- to one cup sugar- to one cup liquid
Enjoy!!
The original basic recipe is used at The Olde Store in Gallatin. This was given to me by good friend "Marilena Morgan!!"
I was at Sams last Sunday afternoon after church and eating and this lady was giving away cookbooks! Really free - and not sleezy - really nice. One of the recipes is one I am looking forward to making this summer! Flag this and try it too!
GRILLED PEACH SALSA
3 large, ripe peaches
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup minced red onion
3 Tbsp. minced jalapeno pepper
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Fresh ginger
Salt and pepper to taste
Slice peaches in half and remove pit. Brush generously with vegetable oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Grill on medium-high until soft and somewhat colored, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Chop into small chunks. Combine ingredients in a bowl and toss to mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper (and more jalapeno, if you like it spicy!) Serve immediately as a garnish to a favorite dish or as a topper with toasted baguette and cream cheese.
JON CAROLE'S VERSION:
Add at least 2 cloves of garlic and 1 tablespoon cumin! I promise it will be better!!!
I really hope I am not just wasting time and no one tries these because they are really good! I made the hot rolls - according to corrected recipe and they turned out perfect!!! Even my 93 year old Mom asked for the recipe!!! What a compliment - especially when she used to make the most awesome bread, rolls, and best of all - cinnamon rolls! It made it hard to stay skinny with those wonderful rolls!
I hope all of you have a great week -- I am cooking at Shiloh Wednesday night and making the old standby - Hash Brown potato casserole - and the peach cobbler I just gave you times eight!!! Pray for me!!
Have a blessed evening -- remember - as Dave Sanderson's Mom once told him: "Always do the right thing and God will take care of you!"
Cooking - yes cooking. I will be cooking - God's Will - on Wednesday for our Church. Bought most of the groceries this afternoon at Sams! But I have a couple of great recipes for you tonight. The first is a wonderful peach cobbler I had the other day at a customer's birthday celebration.
GRANNY’S PEACH COBBLER My Mother’s Basic Recipe-
Use a 9 X 12 pan, chunky cut up a stick of butter into pan.
Set pan in oven. Turn on to 425 degrees.
While melting butter, mix together:
1 cup Pioneer Original Baking Mix
1 cup Sugar
¾ cup Milk- whole is better, 2% is good, Half & Half is best
Peaches, the bigger size can
¼ cup of juice from canned peaches
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
When butter is melted:
Pour batter into hot pan, spoon peaches (use some of the juice, but not all) over batter, Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture to taste.
Return to 425 oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to 340 degrees and bake for about 30 minutes. Watch the last few minutes/ More or less time may be needed.
The recipe is wonderful, the more you bake it- you will become comfortable with your preferences.
The recipe can be made smaller/ or larger. The proportions for the batter are always one cup baking mix- to one cup sugar- to one cup liquid
Enjoy!!
The original basic recipe is used at The Olde Store in Gallatin. This was given to me by good friend "Marilena Morgan!!"
I was at Sams last Sunday afternoon after church and eating and this lady was giving away cookbooks! Really free - and not sleezy - really nice. One of the recipes is one I am looking forward to making this summer! Flag this and try it too!
GRILLED PEACH SALSA
3 large, ripe peaches
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup minced red onion
3 Tbsp. minced jalapeno pepper
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Fresh ginger
Salt and pepper to taste
Slice peaches in half and remove pit. Brush generously with vegetable oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Grill on medium-high until soft and somewhat colored, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Chop into small chunks. Combine ingredients in a bowl and toss to mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper (and more jalapeno, if you like it spicy!) Serve immediately as a garnish to a favorite dish or as a topper with toasted baguette and cream cheese.
JON CAROLE'S VERSION:
Add at least 2 cloves of garlic and 1 tablespoon cumin! I promise it will be better!!!
I really hope I am not just wasting time and no one tries these because they are really good! I made the hot rolls - according to corrected recipe and they turned out perfect!!! Even my 93 year old Mom asked for the recipe!!! What a compliment - especially when she used to make the most awesome bread, rolls, and best of all - cinnamon rolls! It made it hard to stay skinny with those wonderful rolls!
I hope all of you have a great week -- I am cooking at Shiloh Wednesday night and making the old standby - Hash Brown potato casserole - and the peach cobbler I just gave you times eight!!! Pray for me!!
Have a blessed evening -- remember - as Dave Sanderson's Mom once told him: "Always do the right thing and God will take care of you!"
Sunday, April 17, 2011
SUNDAY NIGHT - THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING GOOD
Good evening! My what a week - and what a week beginning today! I am ready for a vacation or just a few relaxing days! There seems to be something pop up regularly. LTC is this weekend and tonight we heard West Erwin and Shiloh chorus' sing and they were all very, very good. Of course I was prejudice as I listened my my sweet Maura's beautiful voice as she sang with Shiloh's 3rd and 4th grade chorus. Then Shiloh's high school chorus was so totally awesome -- they should receive something better than just gold. I can imagine God had cold chills to as I did while I listened to them. It was good seeing so many good friends from the past too - especially Ron and Pam Lott.
On Tuesday the doctor is going to inject my back - hoping to relieve the pain from the bulging disk that almost cuts off the spinal fluid in my lower back - hoping that it will shrink itself. Everyone has been so nice - Billie Usrey is cooking hamburgers on Wednesday night in my place, Trish was so nice about me not going to be able to help on Tuesday night at the EEM dinner.
I have been wanting to make bread again ever since I made it for the ETCA auction, but it always seems I don't have 2 or 3 hours to wait on it! I talked to my sister-in-law and she said it is really easier than I made it. So if nothing happens - tomorrow evening - I am trying again! Here is the recipe that I am going to try again!
MARILYN’S HOT ROLL RECIPE
2 Packages Active Dry Yeast
2 Cups Warm Water (120 to 130 degrees F)
½ Cup Cooking Oil
½ Cup Sugar
1 Beaten Egg
1 Tsp. Salt
5 Cups Flour
DIRECTIONS
Combine Yeast, water, sugar, and salt. Allow to sit a couple of minutes. Add beaten egg and combine well. Mix in 5 cups flour. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in warm place and allow to rise until double in size. Punch down and make two loaves of bread or rolls. Put on board with a little flour and knead slightly just to be able to make two loaves and get into greased pan. Allow to rise until it starts to rise. (Don’t let it rise too much or it will rise too much in oven and then fall. Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until when you thump it, it sounds hollow. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes and then remove from pans. Enjoy!!!
Have a great Monday - get up and make the choice it will be good! I promise you will feel better if you do something nice for someone else. I am even going to choose to not get upset at our Monday meeting that usually is very trying!!!
May God bless all of you!!!
On Tuesday the doctor is going to inject my back - hoping to relieve the pain from the bulging disk that almost cuts off the spinal fluid in my lower back - hoping that it will shrink itself. Everyone has been so nice - Billie Usrey is cooking hamburgers on Wednesday night in my place, Trish was so nice about me not going to be able to help on Tuesday night at the EEM dinner.
I have been wanting to make bread again ever since I made it for the ETCA auction, but it always seems I don't have 2 or 3 hours to wait on it! I talked to my sister-in-law and she said it is really easier than I made it. So if nothing happens - tomorrow evening - I am trying again! Here is the recipe that I am going to try again!
MARILYN’S HOT ROLL RECIPE
2 Packages Active Dry Yeast
2 Cups Warm Water (120 to 130 degrees F)
½ Cup Cooking Oil
½ Cup Sugar
1 Beaten Egg
1 Tsp. Salt
5 Cups Flour
DIRECTIONS
Combine Yeast, water, sugar, and salt. Allow to sit a couple of minutes. Add beaten egg and combine well. Mix in 5 cups flour. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in warm place and allow to rise until double in size. Punch down and make two loaves of bread or rolls. Put on board with a little flour and knead slightly just to be able to make two loaves and get into greased pan. Allow to rise until it starts to rise. (Don’t let it rise too much or it will rise too much in oven and then fall. Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until when you thump it, it sounds hollow. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes and then remove from pans. Enjoy!!!
Have a great Monday - get up and make the choice it will be good! I promise you will feel better if you do something nice for someone else. I am even going to choose to not get upset at our Monday meeting that usually is very trying!!!
May God bless all of you!!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A BUSY FEW WEEKS WITH LOTS OF EMOTION
If you are still checking in on me - don't faint! I've thought of so much I've wanted to say - but I don't seem as determined as I was in the beginning - I get sidetracked or after cleaning the kitchen until 9 pm -- I am just too tired and my back hurts continuously! I am finally going for an MRI after a eight days waiting on hospital to schedule! Then I meet with the doctor on Friday morning. Maybe then he will know how to procede. The Celebrax has helped but I don't want to be on it long term!! Oh well- lots more exciting things to tell!!
Tonight I just returned from Hollytree where the Red Cross with the generous help of Woodman of the World hosted a dinner and had Dave Sanderson speak! Who is Dave Sanderson? He was the last person to US Airways Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009 with 155 passengers - after staying on the plane to help others off. He wound up in the Hudson River with weather 11 degrees and the water even colder. He was so frozen when he was hauled out - after swimming to the ferry that it took eleven hours to thaw him out! It is an amazing story of God's grace, the New York Waterways, and the American Red Cross. The Red Cross handed him a blanket he credits with saving his life, and gave him sweats to wear when all of his clothes had been cut off - his underwear literally frozen to his body. When he arrived home, he found the CEO of the entire American Red Cross there caring for his family. He told things that I never heard on the news - like the plane was headed straight for the bridge and somehow Captain Sully glided the plane over the bridge - saving 155 lives plus the unknown number of others that would have been on the bridge or nearby. It is an amazing story and Mr. Sanderson is so humble and nice - giving God all of the credit for "The Miracle on the Hudson."
I've had many teary experiences the last couple of weeks! A friend that I haven't known but for a couple of years lost her husband. He died of a very unexpected heart attack and now she is trying to pick up and lead a life without him. That made me think of how close Travis came some years ago when he was waiting on his heart procedure (which showed the artery leading straight to his heart was 99% blocked) and he was working so hard digging a ditch to try and finish a job. The Doctor said he had no idea how why he didn't die out there. Well I can tell him - God had other plans for him - he was not through with him and had work for him to do here on this earth. Then a friend of my mother's passed away. They had a friendship that spanned 65 years and was a beautiful friendship - one only a few people find. It was a sweet, sweet service and we got to briefly visit with her children - some I had not seen for probably 35 years. She was the sister of one of my best friend's husband. After the funeral, they flew off to France for three weeks!
Happy times occured too! We attended ETCA auction and got to visit with lots of people, including good friends, Leeland and Pat Scogins. One of my bank customers was there and he bought several items I had donated, including the loaf of bread and jelly. Only he told me he would buy it if I would trade the jelly for a jar of Mango Salsa. I told him "sure" - anything for ETCA!! So I delivered the salsa yesterday!!
One of the things I donated was the Red Velvet Cake that I mentioned in my last blog. Here is the recipe:
ORIGINAL RED VELVET CAKE
½ Cup Shortening
1-1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. butter flavoring
1 Bottle (1-1/2 oz.) Red Cake Coloring
3 Tablespoons Cocoa
2-1/2 Cups Sifted Cake Flour or All Purpose
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Soda
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 –9 inch round pans
Combine shortening and sugar and cream well. Add eggs, flavorings and red coloring. Combine with shortening/sugar mixture.
In separate bowl, combine cocoa, salt and flour. Add soda and vinegar to buttermilk and stir. Add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately to mixing bowl with sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
Pour into pans (it will look like there is not enough batter, but just divide evenly – it will rise as it cooks!) Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool about 5 minutes and remove from pans. Allow to completely cool before icing.
ICING
1 Tablespoon flour
½ Teaspoon salt
1 Cup regular milk
1 Cup shortening
1 Cup sugar
2 Teaspoons vanilla flavoring
¼ Teaspoon butter flavoring
Combine flour, salt and milk in small saucepan and cook, stirring constantly until thick. Remove from stove and allow to completely cool. (Very important)
After this is completely cool, add shortening and sugar to mixing bowl and cream until no grains of sugar can be felt. Add the cooled milk mixture and flavorings. Mix well. Frost cooled cake!
NOTE: My cake did not have enough icing to look great - so I made another batch of icing and it turned out beautiful!!!
I made some very good potatoes the other night -- an original!
POTATO MEDLEY
2 OR 3 New red potatoes
2 Purple potatoes
1 Medium Sweet Potato
1 White Russett Potato
1 Purple onion
2 Cloves garlic, minced or pressed (what I do!)
Salt
Pepper
Fox Point Seasoning
1/4 cup white wine
2 - 4 Tablespoons Olive oil
Peel potatoes and cut in bite size cubes. Combine potatoes and season with garlic, Penzey's Fox Point seasoning, salt, pepper, and chopped onion. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large non-stick skillet and pour in potato mixture. Cook and turn potatoes, slightly browning (adding olive oil as needed to keep from sticking. After slightly browned, add white wine and cover. Cook until potatoes are tender. If potatoes start to get dry before getting tender, add a little more wine. No you won't get tippsy eating this - and if you object to using wine - use chicken broth!!
(I served this with creamed fresh spinach and beef cutlets, seasoned and baked and topped with swiss cheese slices.)
Have a wonderful evening and thanks for checking in on me! As Dave Sanderson said his Mom always told him and his sisters: "Do the right thing and God will take care of you!" So - find someone and do the right thing and HELP!!!! If no one comes along in your path, pray and God will send someone or help the Red Cross - every 61 minutes, our local Red Cross helps someone!!
Tonight I just returned from Hollytree where the Red Cross with the generous help of Woodman of the World hosted a dinner and had Dave Sanderson speak! Who is Dave Sanderson? He was the last person to US Airways Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009 with 155 passengers - after staying on the plane to help others off. He wound up in the Hudson River with weather 11 degrees and the water even colder. He was so frozen when he was hauled out - after swimming to the ferry that it took eleven hours to thaw him out! It is an amazing story of God's grace, the New York Waterways, and the American Red Cross. The Red Cross handed him a blanket he credits with saving his life, and gave him sweats to wear when all of his clothes had been cut off - his underwear literally frozen to his body. When he arrived home, he found the CEO of the entire American Red Cross there caring for his family. He told things that I never heard on the news - like the plane was headed straight for the bridge and somehow Captain Sully glided the plane over the bridge - saving 155 lives plus the unknown number of others that would have been on the bridge or nearby. It is an amazing story and Mr. Sanderson is so humble and nice - giving God all of the credit for "The Miracle on the Hudson."
I've had many teary experiences the last couple of weeks! A friend that I haven't known but for a couple of years lost her husband. He died of a very unexpected heart attack and now she is trying to pick up and lead a life without him. That made me think of how close Travis came some years ago when he was waiting on his heart procedure (which showed the artery leading straight to his heart was 99% blocked) and he was working so hard digging a ditch to try and finish a job. The Doctor said he had no idea how why he didn't die out there. Well I can tell him - God had other plans for him - he was not through with him and had work for him to do here on this earth. Then a friend of my mother's passed away. They had a friendship that spanned 65 years and was a beautiful friendship - one only a few people find. It was a sweet, sweet service and we got to briefly visit with her children - some I had not seen for probably 35 years. She was the sister of one of my best friend's husband. After the funeral, they flew off to France for three weeks!
Happy times occured too! We attended ETCA auction and got to visit with lots of people, including good friends, Leeland and Pat Scogins. One of my bank customers was there and he bought several items I had donated, including the loaf of bread and jelly. Only he told me he would buy it if I would trade the jelly for a jar of Mango Salsa. I told him "sure" - anything for ETCA!! So I delivered the salsa yesterday!!
One of the things I donated was the Red Velvet Cake that I mentioned in my last blog. Here is the recipe:
ORIGINAL RED VELVET CAKE
½ Cup Shortening
1-1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. butter flavoring
1 Bottle (1-1/2 oz.) Red Cake Coloring
3 Tablespoons Cocoa
2-1/2 Cups Sifted Cake Flour or All Purpose
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Soda
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 3 –9 inch round pans
Combine shortening and sugar and cream well. Add eggs, flavorings and red coloring. Combine with shortening/sugar mixture.
In separate bowl, combine cocoa, salt and flour. Add soda and vinegar to buttermilk and stir. Add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately to mixing bowl with sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
Pour into pans (it will look like there is not enough batter, but just divide evenly – it will rise as it cooks!) Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool about 5 minutes and remove from pans. Allow to completely cool before icing.
ICING
1 Tablespoon flour
½ Teaspoon salt
1 Cup regular milk
1 Cup shortening
1 Cup sugar
2 Teaspoons vanilla flavoring
¼ Teaspoon butter flavoring
Combine flour, salt and milk in small saucepan and cook, stirring constantly until thick. Remove from stove and allow to completely cool. (Very important)
After this is completely cool, add shortening and sugar to mixing bowl and cream until no grains of sugar can be felt. Add the cooled milk mixture and flavorings. Mix well. Frost cooled cake!
NOTE: My cake did not have enough icing to look great - so I made another batch of icing and it turned out beautiful!!!
I made some very good potatoes the other night -- an original!
POTATO MEDLEY
2 OR 3 New red potatoes
2 Purple potatoes
1 Medium Sweet Potato
1 White Russett Potato
1 Purple onion
2 Cloves garlic, minced or pressed (what I do!)
Salt
Pepper
Fox Point Seasoning
1/4 cup white wine
2 - 4 Tablespoons Olive oil
Peel potatoes and cut in bite size cubes. Combine potatoes and season with garlic, Penzey's Fox Point seasoning, salt, pepper, and chopped onion. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large non-stick skillet and pour in potato mixture. Cook and turn potatoes, slightly browning (adding olive oil as needed to keep from sticking. After slightly browned, add white wine and cover. Cook until potatoes are tender. If potatoes start to get dry before getting tender, add a little more wine. No you won't get tippsy eating this - and if you object to using wine - use chicken broth!!
(I served this with creamed fresh spinach and beef cutlets, seasoned and baked and topped with swiss cheese slices.)
Have a wonderful evening and thanks for checking in on me! As Dave Sanderson said his Mom always told him and his sisters: "Do the right thing and God will take care of you!" So - find someone and do the right thing and HELP!!!! If no one comes along in your path, pray and God will send someone or help the Red Cross - every 61 minutes, our local Red Cross helps someone!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
THINK I WAS EVER COMING BACK - YES I AM HERE!!!
My goodness - it has been over a week since I wrote my blog! Why? That is what my beloved husband asked! Well - a few nights we got home to late -- some nights, like last night - I didn't get the kitchen cleaned up until almost 10; and some nights - I just didn't feel like it! I am sorry -- because I has lots to say and some great recipes to share!
My goodness - life passes by so fast. I have attended two funerals since I last posted my cooking blog. One was for a man that went so fast and was younger than Travis -- he and his wife exchanged "I love you!" and the next thing she heard from him was a friend telling her, "You have to go with me, R.... had a heart attack and is dead." Those words impacted me like a large rock placed on my heart. Five or six years ago Travis had been told he needed heart surgery - perhaps a balloon procedure - or maybe bypass surgery - not knowing how many. I prayed! He asked for a few days to wrap up details. On Saturday, he didn't come home and I was so scared. I sent someone to see about him and he was trying to finish up a job that had gone too long - digging a ditch, and only God could have saved him. Even the Doctor told us he didn't know how he had lived. The otherfuneral was for a woman that I grew up knowing as almost a saint - doing all the things Jesus did - serving others. She actually gave me my wedding shower. Such a wonderful friend to my Mom over 65 years. Who else can say they have had a friend that long? She fell and never really gained concienceness. I took my Mom and Sister to the funeral and -- really it was a celebration of her life and service to others, as well it should have been. I just pray that when my days on this earth end, I can be remembered for helping someone!
Actually I have attended some fun things too - the ETCA Auction among the first!! I volunteered to help by supplying some items for the silent auction. I said I would make a Red Velvet Cake -- from the original recipe from 1953 - when there was no such thing as Cream Cheese. I made the cake - three nine inch layers- but very thin- each layer that is! And the icing -- something else to make --but some wonderful and you could move it any place you want. I made the icing - and attempted to ice the cooled cake. I spread it over the layers, making sure all of cake was covered, and then it was time for the top layer. NOT ENOUGH ICING!! I went to WalMart, bought more yeast ( almost $2.00 less than Brookshires) and came back and made another recipe of icing! The cake was beautiful!!!
I am going to give you the easy, easy recipe tomorrow (I promise) for homemade bread -- as soon, that is, as I have conquered the technique!! I will also give you the recipe for the Red Velvet Cake - again something you have to do one step at at a time!!
Did you know that God provided His children - all of us - th guide to health - only we are just not smart enough to comprehind!!! Look at this:
EAT LOTS OF SWEET POTATOES
this is really interesting... old but a good reminder...
It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... All before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...
God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods. Modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them.
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.
Well, when I copied this -- with each food mentioned - there was a pictute for each fruit announced, and if you wanted you to see it (it is awesome) -- just let me know!!! I can forward to you (just need your email) and I just pray you have a great evening and lots to opportunities to do something of -- don't you agree?? Have a great evening - and be thinking what you can do to honor someone you love - dead or just old and need your attention!!!
May God please bless each of you!!!
My goodness - life passes by so fast. I have attended two funerals since I last posted my cooking blog. One was for a man that went so fast and was younger than Travis -- he and his wife exchanged "I love you!" and the next thing she heard from him was a friend telling her, "You have to go with me, R.... had a heart attack and is dead." Those words impacted me like a large rock placed on my heart. Five or six years ago Travis had been told he needed heart surgery - perhaps a balloon procedure - or maybe bypass surgery - not knowing how many. I prayed! He asked for a few days to wrap up details. On Saturday, he didn't come home and I was so scared. I sent someone to see about him and he was trying to finish up a job that had gone too long - digging a ditch, and only God could have saved him. Even the Doctor told us he didn't know how he had lived. The otherfuneral was for a woman that I grew up knowing as almost a saint - doing all the things Jesus did - serving others. She actually gave me my wedding shower. Such a wonderful friend to my Mom over 65 years. Who else can say they have had a friend that long? She fell and never really gained concienceness. I took my Mom and Sister to the funeral and -- really it was a celebration of her life and service to others, as well it should have been. I just pray that when my days on this earth end, I can be remembered for helping someone!
Actually I have attended some fun things too - the ETCA Auction among the first!! I volunteered to help by supplying some items for the silent auction. I said I would make a Red Velvet Cake -- from the original recipe from 1953 - when there was no such thing as Cream Cheese. I made the cake - three nine inch layers- but very thin- each layer that is! And the icing -- something else to make --but some wonderful and you could move it any place you want. I made the icing - and attempted to ice the cooled cake. I spread it over the layers, making sure all of cake was covered, and then it was time for the top layer. NOT ENOUGH ICING!! I went to WalMart, bought more yeast ( almost $2.00 less than Brookshires) and came back and made another recipe of icing! The cake was beautiful!!!
I am going to give you the easy, easy recipe tomorrow (I promise) for homemade bread -- as soon, that is, as I have conquered the technique!! I will also give you the recipe for the Red Velvet Cake - again something you have to do one step at at a time!!
Did you know that God provided His children - all of us - th guide to health - only we are just not smart enough to comprehind!!! Look at this:
EAT LOTS OF SWEET POTATOES
this is really interesting... old but a good reminder...
It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... All before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...
God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods. Modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them.
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.
Well, when I copied this -- with each food mentioned - there was a pictute for each fruit announced, and if you wanted you to see it (it is awesome) -- just let me know!!! I can forward to you (just need your email) and I just pray you have a great evening and lots to opportunities to do something of -- don't you agree?? Have a great evening - and be thinking what you can do to honor someone you love - dead or just old and need your attention!!!
May God please bless each of you!!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
MONDAY AGAIN - TIME TO COOK
Good evening -- my goodness - it is already Monday again -- thankfully Monday night!!
Although I have to say - it has been a good day with sad intervention! I attended the funeral of a friend's husband who was fine when she left home - thankfully they told one another they loved each other - a thing they always did - and a friend called found him in the yard dead. So sad and she is so hurt and so lost. Thankfully - I can't empathize - but I can certainly imagine how lost and alone and hurt I would be if I was in her place. And I feel so helpless - what can I do to help her??
Tonight I went to the store, my Brookshires on Rice Road, and spent $65.00 and can make two cakes, 2 loaves of bread, cook chicken once and pork chops twice. Oh and Michelle has one of those lunchables for tomorrow. I did pork chops tonight - squeezed fresh orange and lemon juice on it, put pepper, black and red pepper,fresh pressed garlic, crytalized ginger, jerk seasoning and let sit awhile. Then I grilled it and grilled the rest of the orange. It turned out really good. I made a banana nut cake with a recipe I found in a wonderful book that my wonderful friend, Mary gave me from some fabulous cooks in Ruidoso. I didn't change one thing and it was definitely a hit with Travis - 3 large pieces tonight!!
Banana Nut Cake
1-2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 Teaspoon salt
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
1-1/4 tsp. baking soda
2/3 cup buttermilk
2-1/2 cups flour
1-1/4 cup bananas, mashed*
2/3 cups chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring -- I lied - I did add this!!!
Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, salt, and baking powder. Add baking soda to buttermilk and then add flour and buttermilk mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Mix in bananas, pecans and vanilla flavoring. Bake in two 9 inch layers or 1 9 x 12 pan. Grease and flour pans or pan - whichever you make. I used a 9 X 9 and a 9 X 5 -- I wanted to share with my neighbor that just had a baby.
Let cool and then ice with:
ICING
1 STICK BUTTER, SOFTENED
1 BOX POWDERED SUGAR (4 CUPS)
1 MASHED BANANA
1/2 CUP PECANS**
MIX WELL AND SPREAD OVER COOLED CAKE.
*I had frozen about 5 bananas that were getting too ripe to eat - well like we like them. I used these. Don't ever let bananas ruin - take and peel and freeze and use in banana bread or banana cake.
** I also added pecans to icing -- wasn't in recipe.
I tasted and hate to admit I really could have eaten a whole piece but I won't give in. Very seldom want anything sweet - thank goodness!!!
My sister in law was involved with an auction for her church last week and she made a Red Velvet Cake that was auctioned and brought over $50.00. I have searched every recipe for Red Velvet and could never find "the original" that I made Travis when we first got married -- almost 49 years ago. Wow - that can't be me!! She has the original recipe -- it was on an Adams vanilla flavoring box. All of the books now just use a cream cheese icing and the original didn't at all -- probably didn't have cream cheese back then!!! She shared with me today and sure enough -- it is the one I cooked for him the first week we were married and he loved it so much that I made him another one -- only I didn't have any more red coloring so I made it and used blue coloring. He was so sweet and said it was good -- but I'll always remember - I threw most of it out!! Lesson learned - man that was yukie looking!!! Well - now you know - yes - I don't always cook "wonderful!"
I read something today that clearly said what I've been trying to say ever since I started this blog. It was in the same book that the Banana Nut Cake was. Jeanie McDonald said her Mother must have used a million pounds of butter, sugar and pecans through time. She said John Wesley said this and her Mother lived it. What a wonderful woman she must have been. Here are John Wesley's words from so long ago:
"Do all the good you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as you ever can."
What a wonderful crede to live to. I think that is what Jesus taught too!
May God bless us all as we try to follow this thought.
Although I have to say - it has been a good day with sad intervention! I attended the funeral of a friend's husband who was fine when she left home - thankfully they told one another they loved each other - a thing they always did - and a friend called found him in the yard dead. So sad and she is so hurt and so lost. Thankfully - I can't empathize - but I can certainly imagine how lost and alone and hurt I would be if I was in her place. And I feel so helpless - what can I do to help her??
Tonight I went to the store, my Brookshires on Rice Road, and spent $65.00 and can make two cakes, 2 loaves of bread, cook chicken once and pork chops twice. Oh and Michelle has one of those lunchables for tomorrow. I did pork chops tonight - squeezed fresh orange and lemon juice on it, put pepper, black and red pepper,fresh pressed garlic, crytalized ginger, jerk seasoning and let sit awhile. Then I grilled it and grilled the rest of the orange. It turned out really good. I made a banana nut cake with a recipe I found in a wonderful book that my wonderful friend, Mary gave me from some fabulous cooks in Ruidoso. I didn't change one thing and it was definitely a hit with Travis - 3 large pieces tonight!!
Banana Nut Cake
1-2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 Teaspoon salt
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
1-1/4 tsp. baking soda
2/3 cup buttermilk
2-1/2 cups flour
1-1/4 cup bananas, mashed*
2/3 cups chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring -- I lied - I did add this!!!
Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, salt, and baking powder. Add baking soda to buttermilk and then add flour and buttermilk mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Mix in bananas, pecans and vanilla flavoring. Bake in two 9 inch layers or 1 9 x 12 pan. Grease and flour pans or pan - whichever you make. I used a 9 X 9 and a 9 X 5 -- I wanted to share with my neighbor that just had a baby.
Let cool and then ice with:
ICING
1 STICK BUTTER, SOFTENED
1 BOX POWDERED SUGAR (4 CUPS)
1 MASHED BANANA
1/2 CUP PECANS**
MIX WELL AND SPREAD OVER COOLED CAKE.
*I had frozen about 5 bananas that were getting too ripe to eat - well like we like them. I used these. Don't ever let bananas ruin - take and peel and freeze and use in banana bread or banana cake.
** I also added pecans to icing -- wasn't in recipe.
I tasted and hate to admit I really could have eaten a whole piece but I won't give in. Very seldom want anything sweet - thank goodness!!!
My sister in law was involved with an auction for her church last week and she made a Red Velvet Cake that was auctioned and brought over $50.00. I have searched every recipe for Red Velvet and could never find "the original" that I made Travis when we first got married -- almost 49 years ago. Wow - that can't be me!! She has the original recipe -- it was on an Adams vanilla flavoring box. All of the books now just use a cream cheese icing and the original didn't at all -- probably didn't have cream cheese back then!!! She shared with me today and sure enough -- it is the one I cooked for him the first week we were married and he loved it so much that I made him another one -- only I didn't have any more red coloring so I made it and used blue coloring. He was so sweet and said it was good -- but I'll always remember - I threw most of it out!! Lesson learned - man that was yukie looking!!! Well - now you know - yes - I don't always cook "wonderful!"
I read something today that clearly said what I've been trying to say ever since I started this blog. It was in the same book that the Banana Nut Cake was. Jeanie McDonald said her Mother must have used a million pounds of butter, sugar and pecans through time. She said John Wesley said this and her Mother lived it. What a wonderful woman she must have been. Here are John Wesley's words from so long ago:
"Do all the good you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as you ever can."
What a wonderful crede to live to. I think that is what Jesus taught too!
May God bless us all as we try to follow this thought.
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