I have been promising some of my home cooking recipes (and short-cuts) for quite some time. Here are a few of the recent things I have been stirring up!
Fruit Dip
1 block of cream cheese (room temp)
1 jar of marshmallow cream
1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring
3/4 cup powdered sugar
Add ingredients into bowl and beat at med-high speed until all items have become incorporated into a smooth mixture. All lumps of sugar and cream cheese should be gone...if not, continue beating. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to help smooth them out. Refrigerate before serving. Great with strawberries and any other fruit!
Cream Cheese Pie (NOT CAKE!)
1 cream cheese block (room temparture)
1/3 cup lemon juice
Eagle brand milk can
1 tsp vanilla
Store bought Graham cracker pie crust (regular or chocolate), in a pinch, crush up package or two or graham crackers, mix with 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp of melted butter and put in bottom of pie pan or casserole
Beat cream cheese until fluffy
Add milk slowly on lower speed until mixed in well, add vanilla, then add lemon juice
Pour into pie pan
Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrig. for min. 1 hour.
Serve with topping of your choice (cherry pie filling, apple, chocolate, fresh fruit, plain and garnish with fruit wedges....be creative!)
Peanut Butter Stuff (or No-Bake Cookies)
2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick Butter
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
3 cups Quick Oats (fast cooking oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla
Bring 1st 4 ingredients to BOIL. BOIL exactly ONE minute, keep stirring the entire time. Take off heat, add vanilla, then peanut butter (keep stirring), and oatmeal. Stur very well, make sure it is incorporated through the entire batch. Pour out on wax paper thinly...let set and then break up and serve (app. 15-30 mins. before it cools and sets) great to break and put in tins.
**I prefer to do it this way, rather than drop the cookies one by one! Is a time saver
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Golden Rule lessons from a glowing, growing girl...
Well, it is a Saturday morning, my time to be a little lazy, catch up on some of the shows I have recorded this week. Maybe finish a book leftover from the night before, or the weekend USA Today. Often, my little Poodle/Scottish Terrier Shaggy and I take long walks, then veg out on the couch together.
This particular Saturday, I had the house to myself with my boy's off at the beach with their cousin's youth group (along with my Aunt). Long, lazy hot summer days, perfect for reading and relaxing. Shortly after making a huge blender of my famous breakfast power smoothie, back on the couch...book in hand, I am interrupted by the doorbell!
It was a mother and daughter I have come to recognize and know over the past eight months to a year or more. I only know the daughter's name. I'll call her Liz to protect the innocent. When we first had baby kittens, I showed Liz and let her pet them. She is an adorable 3rd grader, with an amazing poise. They are Jehovah's Witness (or is it Seventh Day Adventist?). They visit me about once every six weeks. They're as sweet and polite as can be. It doesn't matter to them that I attend church with my family and have different beliefs from them.
My husband has repeatedly asked me why I don't tell them not to come back. My Mom has said just ignore them and they will go away. As always, I let Liz read a verse or two to me. In the beginning, her Mom said she was practicing her reading. I can tell she has gotten so much better. We always exchange pleasant comments asking about each others families. I asked her a few questions about school and her summer.
I believe the reason I can't be rude to them, is because I know that my boys do things like this with their youth group. I wouldn't want anyone to be nasty and rude to them. I have to admit, when i was growing up I did my share of selling/knocking on doors (Church as a kid, Krispy Kreme doughnuts for cheerleading, World's Finest Chocolate for school fundraisers, even in 2008 the election, knocking on doors - and so many more things). The long and short of it is I remember the time's when people were rude to me, or just impatient.
Basically, I am polite to Liz and her mother because I would want the same for my boys, when they knock on someone's door. I do subscribe to the belief that treat others as you would like to be treated. ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" - Golden Rule - Matthew 7:12)
I may not have the same beliefs as the young Liz and her mother, but I do need to treat them with kindness. They have the right to believe whatever they so choose. I do, as well as do you. Does it make me a better person if I slam the door in their face and scream at them to get off my property? Or what if I argue over and over with them, to a little girl who is only seven or eight years old? And instead of treating them with just dignity, I am rude? What exactly does that prove?
So, I let little Liz read her verse, after she excitedly tells me about going into the third grade. How she was looking forward to school this year. She told me she couldn't wait to see her friends. She gave me a huge smile, as she asked me how I was doing. I told her and her mother I was a bit under the weather. She smiled at me with a great glowing smile and said she would pray tonight and all week that I would get better soon. Considering she called me by my name (well, "Ms. Alana"), and has remembered it every single time she's been here since the first visit...I have no doubt she will indeed pray for me.
I wished them a fond farewell, as I thanked little Liz for her verse (in Psalms) and her prayers. Told them both thank you and to travel safely today, and that I hoped it wouldn't rain on them, and that I was sure I'd see them soon...
Perhaps, my Saturday wasn't starting off too bad after all.
Smoothie Recipe:
1 cup fresh fruit, cut up (today was fresh peaches
3/4 cup plain organic yogurt (or vanilla) - add more or less, if desired
1/2 cup - 1 cup frozen fruit or fruit mix (pineapple, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, etc - your choice!)
2 tsp Polaner All fruit jam - strawberry (or your choice)
2 Tbsp local honey
3/4 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup 1% milk (or fresh fruit juice)
splash of vanilla flavoring
***optional
2 droppers of GNC brand Echnichea (liquid)
1 1/2 droppers of GNC ginkgo biloba (liquid)
Blend together until smooth, add more ice and/or milk/juice as necessary to reach desired consistency - should have almost entire blender full. I freeze remainder in individual serving sizes for daily portions.
This particular Saturday, I had the house to myself with my boy's off at the beach with their cousin's youth group (along with my Aunt). Long, lazy hot summer days, perfect for reading and relaxing. Shortly after making a huge blender of my famous breakfast power smoothie, back on the couch...book in hand, I am interrupted by the doorbell!
It was a mother and daughter I have come to recognize and know over the past eight months to a year or more. I only know the daughter's name. I'll call her Liz to protect the innocent. When we first had baby kittens, I showed Liz and let her pet them. She is an adorable 3rd grader, with an amazing poise. They are Jehovah's Witness (or is it Seventh Day Adventist?). They visit me about once every six weeks. They're as sweet and polite as can be. It doesn't matter to them that I attend church with my family and have different beliefs from them.
My husband has repeatedly asked me why I don't tell them not to come back. My Mom has said just ignore them and they will go away. As always, I let Liz read a verse or two to me. In the beginning, her Mom said she was practicing her reading. I can tell she has gotten so much better. We always exchange pleasant comments asking about each others families. I asked her a few questions about school and her summer.
I believe the reason I can't be rude to them, is because I know that my boys do things like this with their youth group. I wouldn't want anyone to be nasty and rude to them. I have to admit, when i was growing up I did my share of selling/knocking on doors (Church as a kid, Krispy Kreme doughnuts for cheerleading, World's Finest Chocolate for school fundraisers, even in 2008 the election, knocking on doors - and so many more things). The long and short of it is I remember the time's when people were rude to me, or just impatient.
Basically, I am polite to Liz and her mother because I would want the same for my boys, when they knock on someone's door. I do subscribe to the belief that treat others as you would like to be treated. ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" - Golden Rule - Matthew 7:12)
I may not have the same beliefs as the young Liz and her mother, but I do need to treat them with kindness. They have the right to believe whatever they so choose. I do, as well as do you. Does it make me a better person if I slam the door in their face and scream at them to get off my property? Or what if I argue over and over with them, to a little girl who is only seven or eight years old? And instead of treating them with just dignity, I am rude? What exactly does that prove?
So, I let little Liz read her verse, after she excitedly tells me about going into the third grade. How she was looking forward to school this year. She told me she couldn't wait to see her friends. She gave me a huge smile, as she asked me how I was doing. I told her and her mother I was a bit under the weather. She smiled at me with a great glowing smile and said she would pray tonight and all week that I would get better soon. Considering she called me by my name (well, "Ms. Alana"), and has remembered it every single time she's been here since the first visit...I have no doubt she will indeed pray for me.
I wished them a fond farewell, as I thanked little Liz for her verse (in Psalms) and her prayers. Told them both thank you and to travel safely today, and that I hoped it wouldn't rain on them, and that I was sure I'd see them soon...
Perhaps, my Saturday wasn't starting off too bad after all.
Smoothie Recipe:
1 cup fresh fruit, cut up (today was fresh peaches
3/4 cup plain organic yogurt (or vanilla) - add more or less, if desired
1/2 cup - 1 cup frozen fruit or fruit mix (pineapple, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, etc - your choice!)
2 tsp Polaner All fruit jam - strawberry (or your choice)
2 Tbsp local honey
3/4 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup 1% milk (or fresh fruit juice)
splash of vanilla flavoring
***optional
2 droppers of GNC brand Echnichea (liquid)
1 1/2 droppers of GNC ginkgo biloba (liquid)
Blend together until smooth, add more ice and/or milk/juice as necessary to reach desired consistency - should have almost entire blender full. I freeze remainder in individual serving sizes for daily portions.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Are you Ready for Some Replay???
All the excitement and action over in South Africa with the "kudzu's heard round the world" is the World Cup. Just in case you've been living in a cave for the past month, and don't know of such world-wide festivities. Yes, I know its not a kudzu, however, it's just as annoying. I have watched hours of soccer all with the volume turned down to level 2 so I don't have to listen to the horns buzzing like a bunch of bees!!!
The only thing slightly more annoying than thousands of exuberant fans blowing the horns for hours on end is FIFA (the governing body of International Soccer) turning a blind eye to the increasing problem of a "messy little thing" like infallible referees and botched calls.
The problems that are facing the screw-ups as far as this soccer fan and soccer Mom is concerned, is two-fold: FIFA hopes to ignore it and hope it goes away, and also that by not acknowledging the errors, they can in some way, lend more credibility to the "game". This is simply NOT helping things, and only making matters much worse. What began to get media attention during the USA's match, due to the totally mindless act by the referee. He was standing dead center in front of the goal. Chose to whistle and wave off the goal scored by the US team. The ref in fact, signaled there was an infraction (violation) by the Americans. To date, there has been no explanation of what any such infraction would be. I personally have watched the replay hundreds of times. It was argued that it could possibly be off-sides (when the offense gains advantage by running down-field before the ball has been kicked, or without the presence of a defender in the area). There was no such off-sides flag/violations raised. In fact, there were at a minimum of two possible defenders holding Americans in full-body holds (illegally) within an arms distance of the referee. So, if an infraction should have been called, it should have been made against the defenders. NOT the team that scored.
Which brings me to FIFA's reaction. They have stated publicly, the ref will not give a review of his call nor will the organization. They support their referee's and back them. Well. How lovely. But, people are human, as we all too well, know. FIFA has been under increasing scrutiny as more and more calls have been blown. In the England match, in a huge match for Argentina, in yet another USA match, and so on...and we're not talking just a "foul"-type call. These are goals missed. In matches where the score may likely be 1-0 or 0-0! How can they justify that?
So, what does FIFA do today? Announces they will no longer SHOW the "controversial" calls or plays inside the stadiums while the matches are going on. Say what? Ok. So, if we all stick OUR heads in the sand along side them, then we can pretend that the refs are right, too??? Jeez, no wonder these guys are considered a joke. I complain about the refs at high school soccer games, or local league games. I shouldn't be having to complain about it at the "Olympics-level" of soccer. This is so ridiculous.
Why can't they show instant replay TO THE REFS during the game on scoring points only? Or why can't each coach have 2 or 3 challenges, like in the NFL? Oh, well...maybe that's too high tech. When it comes down to the shear amount of money that's on the line for these fools, they need to get it right. Not have half the free world complaining about them. We should be cheering. I can't stand to even watch now. How sad. They're just worried about the $30 Million in prize money to the winning country, and $24 million to the finalist. That's some serious cha-ching.
The only thing slightly more annoying than thousands of exuberant fans blowing the horns for hours on end is FIFA (the governing body of International Soccer) turning a blind eye to the increasing problem of a "messy little thing" like infallible referees and botched calls.
The problems that are facing the screw-ups as far as this soccer fan and soccer Mom is concerned, is two-fold: FIFA hopes to ignore it and hope it goes away, and also that by not acknowledging the errors, they can in some way, lend more credibility to the "game". This is simply NOT helping things, and only making matters much worse. What began to get media attention during the USA's match, due to the totally mindless act by the referee. He was standing dead center in front of the goal. Chose to whistle and wave off the goal scored by the US team. The ref in fact, signaled there was an infraction (violation) by the Americans. To date, there has been no explanation of what any such infraction would be. I personally have watched the replay hundreds of times. It was argued that it could possibly be off-sides (when the offense gains advantage by running down-field before the ball has been kicked, or without the presence of a defender in the area). There was no such off-sides flag/violations raised. In fact, there were at a minimum of two possible defenders holding Americans in full-body holds (illegally) within an arms distance of the referee. So, if an infraction should have been called, it should have been made against the defenders. NOT the team that scored.
Which brings me to FIFA's reaction. They have stated publicly, the ref will not give a review of his call nor will the organization. They support their referee's and back them. Well. How lovely. But, people are human, as we all too well, know. FIFA has been under increasing scrutiny as more and more calls have been blown. In the England match, in a huge match for Argentina, in yet another USA match, and so on...and we're not talking just a "foul"-type call. These are goals missed. In matches where the score may likely be 1-0 or 0-0! How can they justify that?
So, what does FIFA do today? Announces they will no longer SHOW the "controversial" calls or plays inside the stadiums while the matches are going on. Say what? Ok. So, if we all stick OUR heads in the sand along side them, then we can pretend that the refs are right, too??? Jeez, no wonder these guys are considered a joke. I complain about the refs at high school soccer games, or local league games. I shouldn't be having to complain about it at the "Olympics-level" of soccer. This is so ridiculous.
Why can't they show instant replay TO THE REFS during the game on scoring points only? Or why can't each coach have 2 or 3 challenges, like in the NFL? Oh, well...maybe that's too high tech. When it comes down to the shear amount of money that's on the line for these fools, they need to get it right. Not have half the free world complaining about them. We should be cheering. I can't stand to even watch now. How sad. They're just worried about the $30 Million in prize money to the winning country, and $24 million to the finalist. That's some serious cha-ching.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What a wonderful world...
You know how it is when you never seem to find that one certain item you are looking for? Maybe its your car keys, your cell phone, your favorite book, whatever it may be. You spend an hour or more looking. Frustrated, you throw your hands up and stomp to the nearest chair and sit down. You think and retrace the steps you've been in your mind, going over and over everywhere you possibly could have placed the one item you've spent your entire morning looking for!
You stare aimlessly at the ceiling, thinking, 'why can't I fly up to the ceiling, then I could look down on the room, and get a different view, and maybe find out where I put my____? I am so stupid. I can't believe I lost it." You have now wasted half of your morning. Precious minutes tick by. Maybe it's your only day off. You are quite upset, and getting more upset by the minute. Growing increasingly more and more disturbed, you stomp into the kitchen for a glass of water, and just as you reach for the glass you spy the lost item there on the kitchen counter top. It had been hiding beside the loaf of bread all the time.
Not in the bedroom, the bathroom, the livingroom, the den, under the sofa, beside the dog, under the quilt, in my purse, in the truck, under the cushions or in the hall, but on the counter in the kitchen beside the bread??? Oh...what a wonderful world...
You stare aimlessly at the ceiling, thinking, 'why can't I fly up to the ceiling, then I could look down on the room, and get a different view, and maybe find out where I put my____? I am so stupid. I can't believe I lost it." You have now wasted half of your morning. Precious minutes tick by. Maybe it's your only day off. You are quite upset, and getting more upset by the minute. Growing increasingly more and more disturbed, you stomp into the kitchen for a glass of water, and just as you reach for the glass you spy the lost item there on the kitchen counter top. It had been hiding beside the loaf of bread all the time.
Not in the bedroom, the bathroom, the livingroom, the den, under the sofa, beside the dog, under the quilt, in my purse, in the truck, under the cushions or in the hall, but on the counter in the kitchen beside the bread??? Oh...what a wonderful world...
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