Frogive Me!

Things have been hoppin' today! Please join me tomorrow for my Old Cookbook Review!

Out of an Ingredient? Check This List

I would like to start out today's post by thanking all of you who have mentioned that you enjoy reading my blog. This happens before and after church services, sometimes, and occasionally on my Facebook page, or in my blog comments. My mom and dad, of course, were complimentary from the very beginning; parents are like that. "Oh, look! 'Marcy' put her shoes on the right feet!...and just in time to start 1st grade!...what a smart girl!" Yes, our parents and family are always there cheering us on because they love us, no matter what. That's a good feeling!

With regards to my blog, my friend Pat at Church asked, "How do you do that?!" I replied, "well, I've made a "phone-booth office" out of a storage closet in my laundry room. Every morning, I sit there with the dog on my feet, or behind my chair and pretend that I'm talking to my sister (while tapping on the oldest computer in the house; I think the "computer elite" are afraid I'll break the newer ones, and I fear that, myself!). If I have any computer crisis I yell, "Ben..... can you help me?" My teenage son (if he can't find a hiding place) graciously volunteers as my IT support (it's a demanding job that requires the patience of Job). I'm usually sipping my morning dose of Cranergy and trying not to accidentally roll backwards and hit the dog's tail; Stormy, my "editorial assistant" has been slightly injured a couple of times! Yes, now you know, it's a very low-tech, laid-back operation with a small "staff".

Although I joke, I'm really enjoying this new hobby; it's kind of like journaling for me. The bonus is hearing from people that I didn't know before, who are also interested in cooking and other aspects of family and home life. What a great bunch of folks to know; your comments and encouragement keep me excited about blogging!



A few weeks ago, I posted an old clipping from Family Circle Magazine. I keep it on the inside of my pantry door. On one side it has what to stock in your cupboard to avoid last- minute shopping trips. The other side has a list of substitutions if you run out of an ingredient. I've already shared the stock-up list, today will be the substitution list. Here it is:




























"Happy Windssssday..." as Piglet said to Pooh!

I'm Participating in WFMW@WeareThatfamily today.

2 TBSP flour (for thickening)	1 TBSP Cornstarch
1 cup honey	1 1/4 C sugar and 1/4 C whatever liquid is used in the recipe
1 C brown sugar(packed)	1 C granulated sugar
1 clove garlic	1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 C tomato juice	1/2 C tomato sauce plus 1 C water
2 C tomato sauce	3/4 C tomato paste plus 1 C water
1 TBSP prepared mustard	1 tsp dry mustard
Olive oil	vegetable or canola oil
1 C beef or chicken broth	1 C boiling water plus 1 bouillon cube
1 C fine, dry bread crumbs	3/4 C fine cracker crumbs
Raisins	An equal amount of currants, chopped prunes or dates

Flash From the Past and Some Family Recipes

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with two of our three sons...and the dog. About the dog... something happened on Memorial Day that made me smile. As Hubby and I were trying to get the meal together, grilling and inside kitchen tasks, the dog was just underfoot, as usual. In her defense, there were the scents of grilled hotdogs and chili wafting through the air. But, as we kept giving her orders, to no avail, I was reminded of an experience from my past, and it made me smile.

I'm sure that anyone who's had to have a new tire put on, or their oil changed has had this same experience. You are confined in a small, possibly glassed-in room with a soda machine, coffee service, and possibly a couple of magazines, to wait out the procedure to your car. A person comes in with a small child, let's say his name is Bradley. The child starts asking his parent for things...gum, soda, the cupful of coffee stirrers! He then, starts touching items that may be germ-coated. He might start trying to hang off of things like display tires, or promo stand ups. The parent, every two minutes, is yelling things like, "don't Bradley";"stop that, Bradley";"Put that down, Bradley"; "get off there, Bradley!" By the time you are released and can pay your bill, and you would pay almost any amount by this point...just to be allowed to leave, you are sure that you will never forget Bradley's name!

Well, back to our Memorial Day kitchen scene: as we both are saying things like, "Stormy, move!"; "lay down, Stormy"; "Stormy, get out of the way"! as she continues to weave back and forth between us as if she doesn't hear a word, I'm having a flash back... and smiling. We did pretty well with the first three children, but that last one is always a challenge!


Here are a few family recipes for today. The first two are from my Aunt Georgia Milburn who was quite a conversationalist, and an avid dog lover!


Aunt Georgia Milburn's Chicken Casserole

5 C chopped, cooked chicken
1/2 C chopped onion
1 C chopped celery
1 C evaporated milk
2/3 C melted butter
1 can each: cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, and chicken w/rice soups
1 small can chow mein noodles
1 C stuffing mix

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a greased baking dish and top w/ grated cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr. (I don't measure my chicken; I buy a big chicken and use all the meat). This casserole freezes well!

As given to Mammam (Lina Michael) on 12/11/'76



Aunt Georgia's Waffle Recipe

1 1/2 C milk
2 C flour
2 eggs
6 TBSP melted butter
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Add beaten egg whites last!


Here's a nice cold dessert for summer from Aunt Hazel Bell:


Yummy Cake

In 9"x13" cake pan, bake a boxed yellow cake mix according to directions. Let cool; spread with prepared banana pudding (large box). Top with a layer of Cool Whip. Finally, spread a layer of cherry pie filling over all. Refrigerate leftovers.


Homemade Whipped Topping (I think this one's from Aunt Sis-looks like her writing)

1. Put into 1 qt. bowl, 1/2 C instant non-fat dry milk
2. Add 1/2 C ice cold water
3. Beat w/ mixer at high speed until mixture stands in soft peaks, about 2 min.
4. Add 3 TBSP lemon juice
5. Gradually beat in 3 TBSP sugar
6. Chill about 30 min.

Makes about 2 1/2 C (Note: I believe you could substitute a little vanilla extract in place of the lemon juice.)

Linking to: BlessedwithGrace, Raising4GodlyMen, and BalancingBeautyandBedlam

Salsa Contest in Spanish Class

I've mentioned on here before that my life sometimes takes unexpected turns, and the pace sometimes feels like someone hit fast forward on the remote. I realize that this comes with owning a dog and having a teenager in the house! It makes life interesting. Yesterday was just another one of those "fast forward" moments.

It was early morning, and I was snuggled up against Hubby in a warm cocoon of blankets when I felt a shadowy figure looming over our bed. In a low whisper, someone said,"Mom, where are the tomatoes? Do we have any tomatoes?!" I looked up through half-opened lids to see our lanky 15-year-old with a harried look on his face. I was only in a half-awake state, but still aware that he doesn't eat tomatoes for breakfast. "There may be one in the crisper", I mumbled. I could tell that I was not being helpful enough, "I need a bunch to make salsa...today's the salsa tasting contest in my Spanish class!" he says. And, I'm still curled up contemplating just how important this is at 6:45 in the morning when he says the phrase that makes moms spring into action... "It's for a grade!"

(Now here's the "Fast Forward" part...)

I'm up, I'm up! and clothes thrown on in seconds. A comb goes through the hair, dab face with cold water, quick once-through with toothbrush and we have "lift-off"! As I yell, "You start chopping onions and get everything else ready...go clip some cilantro out back...and don't forget to wash it well... " I head out the door. I'm sure that's how all troop commanders do it; yell orders as they grab for their purse and car keys. I rev up the mini van and off I go.

At Country Mart, I cross the parking lot like a guided missile-I'm a mom on a mission! As I make it through the front door, fate smiles in my direction; tomatoes on-the-vine are one of the specials this week and so are bell peppers. I grab what I need and head for the register. The woman working is my favorite check-out person and she's used to me shopping there. This is good... and Bad! She looks at me (who is without make-up), raises an eyebrow, looks at the bag of tomatoes and one bell pepper, raises her wrist to look at her watch, and says, "What are you doing?!"
"My 15-year-old son has to make salsa for Spanish class...for a grade!" came spilling out like a confession. She just smiles and says, "Gotcha!" She's in my age bracket, has raised teenagers, and needs no further explanation; I love talking with women. They always "get it"!

I got home to find a bowl of chopped ingredients and the hulls of an already-squeezed lime. Ben is on top of things! I hand him the tomatoes so he can finish practicing his knife skills. Whew! I need my glass of Cranergy and a bagel before we start the school drop-off trip!
It was his final day before summer vacation. Fantastico!



I thought you might want the recipe for the salsa:


Ben's Salsa

4 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 of a large onion (we used a red onion),chopped
1/2 of a large bell pepper, chopped fine
1/3 C pickled jalapenos, chopped fine
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
Mix all together. Squeeze juice of 1 fresh lime over all and mix. Then add to taste: salt, jalapeno juice, about a TBSP of cider vinegar, more lime juice. Chill. Serve w/ Toastito Scoops.

Why God Gave Labrador Retrievers Such Great Personalities and Looks

As I was Swiffering the black dog hair off my floors this morning, I pondered the plight of all indoor- Lab owners. We want them inside because they are adorable creatures. They have to be one of the most people-friendly breeds ever created. But do you know WHY? I have a theory on this subject: God gave the Labrador Retriever a great personality and looks because he knew that with some of their other (unintentionally-annoying) traits, they were going to need looks and charm to survive!
What follows may sound like complaining; it is not! It's just observations that I've made over time:
A Lab can clear a coffee table with one swipe of her tail...which is wagging feverishly because she is excited to see you (or the prospect that you might take her O-U-T-S-I-D-E). After" said run", the Lab comes in the house to slurp water at the same fevered pitch! Water around the bowl and up the wall...making me thankful for tile floors. I think the reason the drinking is messy when she is really thirsty is because of the soft palates that Labs have...so as to not bruise the game birds that they might retrieve. Again, not her fault.

The fact that Labs shed their coats like an old Christmas tree sheds pine needles is well-known. Indoor Lab owners would put the Swiffer static mop on their list of this century's greatest inventions. They have an under coat, so they need regular brushing; luckily Stormy considers this "pampering" instead of "torture"! I, on the other hand, love the way her coat looks when I'm done, but having dog hair stick to my sweaty hands and arms as I brush her outside in the summer is not a treat. Again, this falls in line with my theory; that beautiful sleek black coat makes these dogs look absolutely regal, but we owners pay the price by mopping up hair every other day.

I guess for everything that's really worthwhile in life there is a price to be paid and a little sweat involved. As in everything else that he created on this earth, God knew what he was doing. Once you own one of these sweet tempered, lovable dogs...well, what's a little mess?!



-Enjoy WorksformeWednesday hosted by WeAreThatFamily

Spring Break is Here

My spring cleaning started out with a roar, but has settled down to a whimper this week. It is Spring Break for area schools and colleges, so not only is my youngest son off, so is the oldest son who works for the University and has a post graduate class. So, you see, it's an unusual week around here; the week after Spring Break would be a much better time to start the cleaning project, so I don't break my stride.
What I have had the chance to do, is spend some time with Justin, my oldest. We are kindred souls when it comes to the love of reading, and we've been on a media shopping blitz! We've been to libraries and bookstores. One of our favorites is a place called Hastings. You can sit in comfy chairs while you look over books that you're interested in. You can enjoy flavored coffees. It's a little "oasis of wonderful" for book lovers. I find that my boys usually gravitate to the music CDs and movie sections when I'm there with them; haven't figured out why they don't want to stay and look at books?! Maybe they're trying to put some distance between themselves and the Over-40 chick in the Crock shoes who is camped out in a cushy chair with a stack of cookbooks and a mocha coffee....Nah, that can't be it!
Anyway, I'm so happy to have this time to run around and hit the town's literary "hot spots" with Justin. Speaking of "hot spots",tomorrow morning is the start of the public library's Annual Book Sale. Woohoo! we are sooo there!

Book For the Gardening-Challenged

I have never met an outdoor plant (tree, shrub) that I couldn't kill. It's true...I'm among the gardening-challenged. For my money, the tag on the plant must say "hardy" or "heat resistant" (although, these are the ones that I kill with water torture). I know gardening involves some trial and error, but how many years and plants must it take?! I'd love to have the money I've spent in all those optimistic Spring plantings that withered and slumped over by June.

At least, I have a little good news. I have found a couple of weapons in my "Battle of Defensive Landscaping" and I'm willing to share them. First, if you are guilty of over watering or under watering, especially the potted victims eh...plants on your porch get some Scotts Moisture Control Potting Soil.

Next, if you plant tomato plants, drop a whole egg into the planting hole before you insert the plant. This provides extra calcium and other nutrients (and gives the plant a fighting chance, in my case). This tip came from an expert tomato grower that was featured in our newspaper a while back. Surely, you didn't think that I came up with that!

Finally, I'm sharing the best gardening book that I've ever read for bone-head gardeners. I have searched several plant and gardening books over the years, and own many of them. My problem is that they are talking over my head. I needed a book that was so basic that it explained which side of the house to plant on for different types of plants.

One tip that this book offered was how to re-mulch landscaping that's been neglected without having to till it or pull up all the weeds and grass. You simply lay several sheets of newspaper down, overlapping it by three inches and put the new mulch on top. The newspaper will block out all sunlight and kill everything under it. The paper will eventually biodegrade, unlike that black landscaping plastic. You are supposed to use three or four layers of newspaper, and eight to ten layers if you have especially tough weeds. When we did this procedure, we also showered it with water at the end to soak the mulch and paper down so it wouldn't blow away in the Oklahoma wind. Once we started this, I did recall an older couple that were good friends of ours who laid newspapers under their drip hoses in between the rows of their garden. Mickey and Lee had a beautiful garden every year; I really admire people who know what they're doing.

The book that made me feel less stressed this year about the whole landscaping battle is written by Cassandra Danz and is called Mrs. Greenthumbs Plows Ahead: Five Steps to the Drop Dead Gorgeous Garden of Your Dreams (so much better than my version which would be called "The Drop Dead Garden: How to kill Your Plants in Two Months or Less"). It is published by Crown Publishers and it's ISBN is 0-517-70554-0. Hope these tips come in handy as we all venture out into the battlefield that I call the lawn. Be careful out there!

For more great tips of every kind go to Rocksinmydryer who hosts Works for Me Wednesday.

Planning Ahead-Grocery Trip To Sam's Club

I had to run to Sam's Club this morning after I dropped my youngest son off at school. It's our turn to host the Teen devo after Sunday evening church service. I always check price per unit there against regular sizes of items at the grocery store, but when I have to buy large quantities of corn chips and cheese it's a better buy. I found out yesterday that I had two funerals to cook for this week, so it altered my plans. I originally was going on Thursday, and I refuse to go to the store on Friday or Saturday if I can avoid it. So, today's the day!
Here's what I've decided to serve the "Ipod Crowd" at devo: chili, chips and cheese; vegetable tray with ranch dip; Texas sheet cake; lemonade and iced tea. I'm glad that this Sunday is the start of Daylight Savings Time. We'll have more day time left after evening church, and my husband can wear them down on the driveway/basketball court while I get the food ready. Teenagers need to run off some of that excess energy after sitting in sermon mode! Here are a couple of recipes in case you're interested.


Ranch Veggie Dip
2 pkgs. 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
With electric mixer, mix first two ingredients until smooth. Add dressing mix (with spoon) and mix until combined. Chill several hours. Serve with assorted vegetables or rippled chips.



Texas Sheet Cake (Johnny Hoosier Cake)

2 C flour
2 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 TBSP cocoa (Hershey's)
On stove, in heavy pan, melt 2 sticks butter or margarine; add cocoa and 1 C water. Bring to a boil. Add above dry ingredients. Then add: 1/2 C buttermilk, 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. Pour into greased and floured sheet cake pan with edges. Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 10 min.

Icing:
On stove in heavy pan, melt 1 stick margarine or butter. Add 4 TBSP cocoa (more or less, depending on how dark you like your chocolate icing. When combined and starting to bubble, add 6 TBSP buttermilk. Cook til it starts to bubble. With electric mixer beat in 1 lb. confectioners sugar until glossy and icing consistency. Add 1 tsp vanilla and chopped nuts (optional) at the end. Pour icing over hot cake.
Personal note: My mother-in-law, Louise, was kind enough to pass this along when I was dating her son. It has been a family favorite, and has been the star of many birthday events. I love this cake with bananas chopped on top of my piece, but my husband says that's just gross! Try it and let me know. I would love to let him know that other folks like it that way, too.

Kids Need Their Own Space

I had the happy experience of a computer video chat with my son on Sunday morning. What made this chat especially important was that he's been working in Japan for two years, so I cherish any chance to see his face. He had been on a trip to Tokyo with friends to see an Eric Clapton concert. It's always nice to hear that he's back safely from one of his adventures. He's really broadened his horizons as a 20-something. I remember him, as a two-year old, sitting in a box; a box that was his "reading box."
When the two oldest boys were little, we, like most young couples were in a starter house with limited space. Justin and Blake were only twenty one months apart in age and shared a bedroom with bunk beds. They spent everyday playing together and have always been very close. But, one day when Justin was about three, I noticed that he was taking his favorite books up to the top bunk and moving the ladder so Blake could not join him. Blake, of coarse was standing at the bottom looking mournful and wailing at the injustice! The point? That's when I realized that even two and three- year-olds need their space sometimes.
My very cheap solution to this problem was to go to a store and get two large box bottoms (like the bottom of a fridge box) and cut them down to a six inch depth. This is enough height to define the space, yet shallow enough for little ones to climb over. Use a permanent marker to put their name on the box, or tape a picture of them on the box. Have the child use crayons to decorate the sides or inside of their "Book Box." It gives them a sense of ownership, and an understanding that each of them must respect the other's space.
My boys still wanted to spend most of their time playing together, but I can't tell you how much they enjoyed their "book boxes." Sometimes I would find Teddy Ruxpin (Justin's favorite bear) sitting in his box. Blake, the youngest, just loved having his own space and the power to tell Justin that he couldn't enter!
Now, Blake has his own space in Japan, and I have to view it over the internet. My, how times have changed for this mom! Enjoy your little ones while you can.

Olive Juice Cleans Grout

There's some commercial on T.V. that says, "Life comes at you fast," but today, after a trip to the grocery store, I found that sometimes in the homemaking game unexpected cleaning tips come at you fast. Who knew you could clean your tile grout with olive juice?!


I had just come from the grocery store this morning, and had set my bags on the kitchen counter in hopes of unloading the goods into the cabinets, when I found a Labrador Retriever sitting on my foot expecting her treat for being good while I was away. Stormy thinks she's been "good" if the house is still standing in the same place when I arrive. Her assessment of the situation, as usual, was that her treat should be addressed as soon as I was in the door. Therefore, she was sitting on my foot and nudging me with her nose as a reminder. I turned to get something out of one of the bags, without moving my one foot, of coarse, when a jar of olives slid out and crashed on the tile floor.


As it turned out, Stormy got her way by default, because she had to be given her treat and put in the laundry room so she wouldn't step in the glass. Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen scooping up olives and juice. What a strong smell! If I were having any sinus congestion this morning, believe me, it has cleared.


Anyway, as I started wiping the juice up with my paper towel, I noticed that it had whitened my grout. I guess if you could stand the smell, it might be worth saving that jar of leftover olive juice. It must be the vinegar in it, but it only took seconds. I was amazed. If I could change the scent we could sell it as Stormy's Awesome Floor Cleaner.

I Wonder if this is how the guy on T.V. with all the infomercials got started? Maybe the reason he is so excitable and loud is because his dog is "helping" him discover new products. I hope that my story made you smile; have a great Thursday, and don't let your dog push you around!

Whew...Is It Wednesday Already?!

Sorry I've not been blogging since Friday. I was actually sick...very sick that day, too, but had my book review already written. I just had to push the button that says publish. That was a good thing because that's about all the energy I had on Friday afternoon. I don't know what this creeping crud is that I caught, but it has flu-like symptoms, so for all intensive purposes I've had the flu. By Monday night/Tuesday morning, sometime around 3:00 a.m., I started wondering, as I sat upright in the recliner, why I was feeling shakey and light headed (no blonde jokes here, please). As I reviewed the weekend, I realized that I had been continually on over-the-counter meds, hadn't been eating, but had been drinking hot tea (a diuretic) and lots of water (which carries away any nutrients you do have in your system). Aha! I must be dehydrated. I can't tell you how good that Gatorade tasted. I don't think it tastes good normally, so my body must have really needed it. I'm slowly on the road to recovery. How do I know this? Because, I went to the store this morning to buy more....Gatorade!

Ready, Set, Clean!

Today is the monthly aerobic workout that I like to call "Stormy's At The Dog Groomer-Can You Disinfect and Clean Her Room and Belongings in 1 1/2 hours?" It's my version of the old game show "Beat the Clock". However, my version includes a Mr. Clean Eraser mop and a bucket with warm water and color safe bleach in citrus scent. For those of you who are clueless, I mean dogless, it's similar to the game "My kid's at summer camp-can I clean and disinfect his closet and room in 1 week?" While the Labrador is out for a bath and some grooming, I'm washing her pillow covers, rugs that she's partial to and anything she may have slobbered on. I then, mop floors with the bleach/warm water mixture. Her food and water bowls get de-germed, as well. The game ends quickly when the phone rings and the groomer says she's ready. There is no prize involved, but I do get to pay the groomer and give a tip if the dog looks and smells good. I'm glad that I only play this game once a month. By the end of the game I'm the one who needs a bath and grooming!