A GREAT HOLIDAY

Another Memorial Day is about over - also a holiday and we all have to go back to work!  One of the highlights of my day was going out to Pine Cove and seeing the awesome buildings Travis has been working on for the past eight months -- one is completely furnished and ready to move 4 families into.  Everyone was invited to tour it.  Travis was expecially pleased his sister and brother-in-law came out - as well as my sister and niece.  He was also very surprised and happy that  one of our church Elders came out and our preacher and his children came out a little later.  It was a very nice event.

There I also met a lady that Travis had made friends with - she is 84 years old and she rode to her house with us as we left (we meaning my sister, Maura, Michelle and myself) and we went less than a half mile to arrive at her house.  She gave me a huge sack of sqush - that she had picked this morning.  She also gave me a package of cream corn that she had done on Saturday and frozen.  It was so delicious - I finished cooking and seasoning it this afternoon. 

I decided I would have a Salsa Marathon - so after I returned home, I made a tomato salsa - then one with some Hatch Chiles that I had charred last fall and put in the freezer.  Then later I made a fruit salsa.  It was beautiful, hot, and I thought very good.  Here is what I put in the salsa.

FRESH FRUIT SALSA

1 Large Mango, vuy in large pieces off seed
2 Cups Fresh Strawberries, halved
1 Cup Fresh Blueberries
2 Cups Diced Watermelon
1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries
1 Small onion, cut in fquarters
1 Small Green Bell Pepper. quartered
1 Hot Jalapeno
1/2 Cup Chopped Cilantro
2 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Black pepper
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 Tablespoons Candied Ginger
2 Teaspoons Orange zest
1 Tablespoon Fresh lime juice
2 Teaspoons Sugar

Place the Onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, ginger and garlic in food processor and process for a few seconds until broken up.\.  Add the mango, strawberries, half the cilantro, orange zest, lime juice, sugar, salt and pepper.  Process a few seconds -- like 3 or 4 pulses - just to dice - then pour into a large bowl and add the blueberries and diced watermelon.  Stir gently to combine.  Taste to check salt, sugar, etc.  Chill and enjoy!!   This is a beautiful salsa and was really delicious!!!  Yes - I just made it up!!!

Tomorrow evening I am suppose to  to go to a planning meeting for Pilot Club.  I am at the point in my life that I really wish I could just come home, cook for my family - or go get something to eat with them and chill out  -- but I will do this because I am suppose to! 

Do you know what Turbinado Sugar is?  Honestly I didn't until about a week ago -  then I saw a recipe I really wanted to make and it said the put Turbinado sugar on top of each -- so I went looking.  Have you seen in Brookshires and other stores the "Raw Sugar?"  If you read further - you will see it is Turbinado sugar!  You are never too old to learn!!!!  That is like the lady that gave me the squash today.  Like I said - she is 84 - but she has three large gardens, that she not only works, and puts the food up - she plows it herself.  Then she does her own yard - which was very large - and finds time to take daily walks.  Totally amazing -- and how I want to be!!!

Well - it is getting late - I know this is short - but just had to share my day with you -- and give you the Fresh Fruit Salsa recipe. 

May God Bless and Keep each of you until we meet again!

SUNDAY IS OVER AGAIN - AND HERE I AM!

Good Sunday evening!  I hope you are looking forward to a wonderful Memorial Day - but during your celebration - I pray you stop long enough to remember those that served and those that served and died.  They died so that we all have freedom -- most of us  have the freedom to be good citizens, Christians, and live a good decent life.  Those that choose to be thieves, drug addicts, flag burners, over all creeps - they have that same freedom we do!  How they dishonor that sacrifice that our soldiers made.  I am watching an awesome concert honoring veterans on channel 65 of Direct TV. 

Attending funerals is getting to be a weekly event - one I am ready for it to end!  This past week I attended a funeral of one of our Pilot ladies.  She was the most giving, most caring, and one of our hardest workers.  She was also outspoken --you knew where you stood with her every moment!  She was so giving that when we would play Piloto (an invented name for a habit we had of having a door prize and each paying a $1.00 and then a number would be drawn to choose a winner) she  won often -- but never took one gift home -- she always handed it off to someone else! SAnytime we had an event - she was there working.  She was known as the Pound Cake Lady -- she kept fresh pound cakes in her freezer and for every meal we had - she offered her pound cakes - and they were delicious.  She actually died at her cabinet with her recipe nearby and the ingredients setting out.  She never wanted any attention - and she died that way -- the way she would have chosen!   I told her son-in-law it was a beautiful service - and he first said the preacher did a great job - then he said "Well, she actually wrote her own service."  He meant that her life was a testament to her faith and with that combined with her Bible and her devotional books - it was written.  What a great thing to have said about you!  I just hope that in some way I could influnce others, show kindnesses, and love others so that could be said about me when my life is over.

Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., Pine Cove is dedicating the buildings that Travis has been building on for 8 months.  The first one is finished and will be open for touring.  The other two are nearing completion!  Thank the Good Lord!!!

I wish you could see my cabinet -- it is covered with produce from our little garden and I mean little - only about a 6 x 12 space -and  a wildly producing bell pepper plant and a jalapeno plant in pots.  I counted 30 jalapenos and I picked 17 last night.  The bell pepper had twenty on it!!  Wild is putting it mildly!

I was at Farmer's market yesterday to buy onions, tomatoes, and peaches.  When I was looking at the peaches, I noticed a recipe laying there.  It said "Jake's Grandmother'sYum Yum Peach Cobbler."  I asked him if that was his grandmother and he said "Yes Mam, would you like a copy?"  Of course, I agreed - so here is Jake's Grandmother's Yum Yum Peace Cobbler!

NO STIR FRUIT COBBLER

2 Cups fresh peaches, sliced (you can substitute blackberries)
2 Cups sugar
1 Stick butter
1/4th tsp. salt
1 tsp. backing powder
3/4 Cup plain flour
3/4 Cup milk
Mix peaches with 1 cup sugar and set aside.  Melt butter in 2 quart casserole dish.  Mix dry ingredients.  Beat in milk until lumps are gone.  Pour batter into melted butter.  Do not stir.  Spoon peaches over batter.  Do not stir.  Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees! 

I haven't tried it -- but certainly intend to!

Before I went to the Farmer's Market  we (Michelle, my sister and Maura) drove over to Brownsboro to Echo Springs Blueberry Farm and bought blueberries and blackberries.  They are really good - even though the blueberries needed another week to grow!  I am looking forward to making several things with the blueberries.  I love them with peaches.  Take a bite of peach and pop a few blueberries in your mouth and the taste is so fantastic!  Travis makes he and Michelle a protein drink every morning and he uses fruit -- so I know they will go fast -- and Michelle keeps telling me that I can make blueberry pancakes.  It is sometimes hard to cook some of this stuff and then not eat it -- but I feel like when I just look at food - I gain weight!  So - I go without a lot of the good stuff!

I bought some ribs today to cook tomorrow - but I just read a recipe in last Wednesday's paper and it said a serving (now I don't know how many ribs is a serving) is 1291 calories!  Oh my gosh -- I don't even want to cook them now!  I've got to figure out how to skinny them down. 

I got our flag out to hang yesterday and it had a big rip in it.  Travis said there is a woman in Palestine that takes them, cuts the stars out and gives to veterans and then properly disposes of the rest of it.  I bought a new one today and Michelle and I hung it this afternoon!  I hope you are flying your too!

Here is a recipe I certainly intended to cook tomorrow -- but could not find any fresh corn!  What is the deal?  I didn't see one ear in Brookshires!

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND HERBS

2 Heads garlic
4 Teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped tarragon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (Penzey's for sure)
6 large ears of corn in the husks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut off the top third of the garlic heads.  Stand them cut side up on foil and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of oil.  Wrap the garlic in the foil and bake for about 1 hour, until very soft.  Squeeze the garlic in a bowl.  Stir in lemon zest, butter, cilantro, tarragon and the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil.  Season with salt and pepper.

Light a grill.  Peel back the corn husks, keeping them attached.  Discard the silks.  Spread the herbed garlic all over the corn.  Fold the husks back over the corn and tie the tops with string.  Wrap the corn in foil.

Grill the corn over moderate heat, turning, until the kernals feel tender, 15 minutes.  Remove the foil.  Grill the ears over moderately high heat, turning until the husks are nicely charred, 5 minutes.  Then Serve!!

Please go get your Bible and read Philippians 2:3,4 -- and then go out and obey!  You will be the recipient -- God will bless you!!

Good night!!!

I AM BACK - BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Hello - I hope someone  is reading this!  I've been off so long I am not sure if anyone is still checking me out or not.  Why have I been gone so long???  Well - my dear husband says I have been just playing "those games" and forgotten my mission!   I have played games - but it is usually early in the morning, Sunday after church, after I am ready for bed and at lunch. Whatever -- I guess the real reason is I didn't know what to say - I want this blog to be awesome and I think right now this blog is ordinary.  How do I make it awesome?  I've seen some that are!!!  Any ideas?  I've really been thinking about it.  What can I do?  How can it make it a popular site - one that entertains, one that informs, one that draws comments!  So - here I am -- what do I say.  I can vent - I can give you some awesome recipes - guaranteed to be delicious -- but entertain- I doubt it. 

So much has happened since I last posted on like April 24 - almost a month ago.  One thing that remains in my mind is the funeral of a little angel - 15 days old.  I was so sick with bronchitis - but I had to get there and be there. God gave me the strength and determination to do it.  Lots happened - our preacher, Mark - said just the right things - but what got me was watching the mother as balloons were released by chosen family members. SHe focused on one balloon and watched it until it was completely out of site.  I personally think  that in her mind she was watching her precioous little daughter go straight to Heaven -- which we know she did. 
Then last week I attended the funeral of a dear husband  that went to Heaven way before his time. Only 42 - leaving 5 children - and a wife that loved him very much.  So, so sad.  The wife and small children have been in our prayers and will continue to be.

My husband is working way too hard - especially for his age -- trying to meet a deadline to have three awesome buildings dubbed "cabins" - but the outside looks like beautiful lodges with huge cedar posts and awesome cedar doors and huge deck - all in cedar.  He had nothing to do with the inside - which really disappointed me.  Reminds me of the only Motel 6 I stayed in years ago. He works most every Saturday - late every day trying to meet the time frame he has.  IT is definitely not his fault that he is not already finished - other people keep changing their mind and he has to stop progress and make changes.  Of course - I am disburbed about all of this -- one of our rooms leaks tons of water when it rains due to our starting a new outdoor kitchen that sits for almost a year unfinished - but that is how loyal he is to his job.

I am really very proud of him and the work he has done - but even more proud that he was introduced as a new Deacon at our church..  I am so thankful they recognize his dedication, his love of Christ, and his abilities.  He can build anything and has such an insight! 

Oh - yes - this blog is suppose to be about recipes and cooking.  Just one more rant and then I have a couple of great recipes for you.  Have you ever attended a Dance Recital?  Well - I think I just attended my last one last Saturday evening.  I took my sister and niece to Caldwell and we arrived a little before 5:30.  My job was to go in and find us a place to sit.  To my surprise and aggrevation, rows and rows of seats were taped off.   My sister said the instructor had announced at rehersal to not tape off seats - that to get a good seat - people should arrive early.  Not the case - it was cut- thoat and rude.  I finally found us a seat - not good and I was there an hour before show started.  I saw people came in and had a perfect seat!! Besides that -- I could not believe the parents (Mom's) that were painting their little girls with more make up than call girls probably wear.  Like I said - I won't go back!!!
Okay - if you are still with me -- let's cook.  Today I watched a tad of Rachel Ray - yes I was eating that late -- and she gave a couple of great hints - some I've never known.  One was if you want little dainty ribbons of basil to sprinkle on a soup or salad or whatever -- take a small bunch ( probably 10 stalks), roll them up in tight little roll, then with sharp knife - tucking fingers under, start at one end and slice to the other end -- keeping point of knife on cutting board.  Really awesome!!!  You could do anything like cilantro or basil for soups, salsa, etc.  The other tip was how to chop an onion.  In school we probably learned to cut slices and then cut and then the other way and chop.  She said the onion is already in layers and she said just cut the onion in half  - top and bottom - turn one half over and sit down on cutting board so it will lay flat.  Then slice through and then cut again and you have chopped onion.  Cuts out a step.  Wish I had a picture to show you!  Maybe I can get someone to film me doing it!!!  

Here is a neat dessert!  It was one of my Mom's friend's favorite recipe to take to functions or when she had ladies over for a work day.

MAMIE'S PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE\

1 Angel Food Cake Mix
1 Can Crushed Pineapple

Mix cake mix with pineapple per boxed instuctions - ommitting water- as instructed on box.  Bake as directed.  DELICIOUS!!!

Here is one of my Mom's recipes that I didn't even know she had.  SHe started talking about it and it sounds great.

LAYERED HOMINY CASSEROLE

1 large onion, chopped (remember how I told you to chop!)
1 stick -- her recipe said Margarine - I don't use that - so use butter (healthier!)
3  (16 oz.) cans Hominy
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
1 -12 oz. can Cheese Whiz with jalapenos - don't think you can find this - I suggest Tostato's Cheese Queso (by the Fritos)
5 Cups Fritos, chopped
Dash of Garlic - can't believe my Mom used Garlic - she says she hates it
Dash of pepper - probably about 1/2 tsp.
Dash of cayenne pepper (probably about 1/8th tsp.)

Saute onion in butter.  Chadd Cheese Whiz, set aside.  Mix soup, garlic, pepper, and cayenne pepper.  Layer hominy, soup, cheese Whiz mixture, Fritos. Make two layers. Top with Fritos.  Heat 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Enjoy!

Have a blessed evening. Philipians 2:3 and 4 - says:  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  (4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others."

Ok - we have our marching instructions - go help some someone - go find someone that needs encouragement - find someone who is hurting -- with our help - no telling what we might accomplish, how we might encourage them.  We don't really know how just encouraging words might lift them up.  So - please find someone that you know your heart aches for - AND LET THEM KNOW.  
Thank you so much for not forgetting me and checking in!!