CARROT TIP

This tip came from my trusty diabetic cookbook. Many people think carrots are in the starch exchange group and they are not. They are in the vegetable group, which means you can eat more of them without your blood sugar going up!

I need all the help I can get on finding things that Bill can eat. I thought that eating chicken was okay for his gout diet. However, yesterday the doctor said that he can only eat the white meat. Now that narrows our list down even further. He's taking the news pretty good although he is getting tired of chicken. I do throw a little fish in now and then. The diet doesn't allow certain kinds and he really doesn't care for any unless it's fried. And frying is definitely out!!

We have been playing his Wii wrestling game and it's fun. It's really fun making your alter-ego wrestler. Bill is practicing up so that he can be better when him and Ricky wrestle again.

Chris left today for Milwaukee for her grandson's birthday. We'll still talk as usual. I know how she hates cold as much as I do and it is cold there. I don't go anywhere up North unless it is an emergency in the cold weather. Luckily, there hasn't been any for me in a few years. Now I am going to get back to doing my chores. I am going to try to get them done early today so I will not be on the computer for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I am taking my nephew and his two kids to the Science Center. This is their first time going and I love it there. I have a membership that I use for us and our grandchildren. Anyhow, have a great day and stay safe.

Tips on Garlic--Grill Racks

#1. For easier peeling, microwave unpeeled garlic cloves on high for 10-15 seconds. Cool and store unpeeled cloves in a plastic bag in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
#2. A clean grill rack will help prevent meat from sticking during cooking. Just firmly rub a wire brush over the rack after the grill has been sufficiently heated.
BE CAREFUL!
I am going to celebrate my grandson's 5Th birthday up North. They closed the schools in Wisconsin today, due to very cold weather. I have a hard time with the cold weather, I hope the wind is calm and the sun is bright. I will be on that slow computer of my daughter's, so bare with me over the next 10 days. I hate to fly but driving 15 hours at this time of year alone is out. Remember to be safe and very conscious about your surroundings. Like my 92 year Mother says " EVIL NEVER SLEEPS ".

EVER WONDER THE CAUSE OF STOMACH GURGLING?

I came across this little tidbit when I was skimming through one of my "Doctor's Book of Home Remedies" books. The condition is called borborygmus. Your stomach is like a big mixmaster. When you eat, your stomach grinds up and mixes your food you've eaten to help digestion. The gurgling you hear is the noise created as the intestines squeeze this solution through. That was kind of interesting to me. I just wish it didn't do it and make so much noise when I am in a room around other people. That can sometimes be embarrassing.

Today was just a regular day for me.Nothing much, just did a little grocery shopping and doing laundry. I have to go with Bill in the morning to a new doctor that is being added to his long list of doctors. This time it is a rheumatologist because of his gout's tendency to keep recurring. So now I am going to take a load out of the washer and into the drier, put another load in the washer and go to bed. Have sweet dreams!!

FOLK REMEDY FOR STRESS

I got this tip from a folk remedy book that I have and it has worked for me. When you are feeling stressed out try a quick breathing exercise. Place one hand on your stomach then inhale slowly and deeply while counting from one to four. Then exhale as you count backward from four to one. This is a little mini meditation technique that reduces stress, blood pressure and heart rate. It seems to clear my head a little, too.

Today my sister, Marcy, and I went out to take care of some errands. While we were out we saw Chris' friend, Marcy, who told me about a delicious angel food cake recipe which would be great for Bill's diet. She is going to give it to Chris to put in the blog. Bill is going to love it!

Now I am going to go enter and play a few online games and contests to see if I can win something. Wish me luck!! Have a restful night.

Honey Mustard Sauce

Simple
1/3 Cup Dijon Mustard
1/3 Cup of honey
2 T chopped fresh dill or 1 T dried dill
1 t freshly grated orange peel
Just mix all ingredients together
Very good with chicken. Either dipping or brushing on during cooking. ( TIP )Make measuring honey easier by spraying the measuring cup with vegetable cooking spray. The honey will not stick to the cup.

GRAVY FOR ROASTS, SAUTEED MEATS, OR POULTRY

Jackie's new dish was a big hit. We had a great time laughing and picking on the guys.
This recipe is from 1963 and still holds up for a simple and easy gravy.
Remove cooked meat from the pan. Pour off most of the fat, keeping about a tablespoon per cup for flavor. Add 1 cup of stock, either chicken or beef depending on the meat you set aside. Cook over medium heat and scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the meat juices. Remove from heat. In a measuring cup, mix 1 cup of stock with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Whisk this mixture well and you will have a smooth gravy. Whisk this mixture into your pan and cook and stir until thickened. Season to taste. For browner gravy, add gravy color. Simmer for 5 minutes and serve hot.
I know this is an old way and we have all those package gravy's. I just thought you might want to see what we can do with natural meat juices.
Take time for yourself today and have a good laugh with someone. I know I felt better yesterday laughing with friends or even at myself.

VERY FULL AND FUN DAY!!

Bill and I got to church this morning early enough that Chris didn't have to get fussed at for saving us seats. Afterwards Bill and I went home so I could start preparing a new dish that I wanted Chris and Dennis to come over and share with us. We always have so much fun together no matter what we are doing. We are so blessed to have them as a part of our lives. Marcy, daughter, Tamika, and her 2 kids brought her home today so she was able to join us. As usual, we had a good time. I made turkey avocado wraps and a salad which turned out very tasty. I, also, made the chocolate mousse pie. And, yes, the wraps and the pie were from a diabetic cookbook. After Dennis and Chris left, Marcy and I went to WalMart for prescriptions. We ended up buying birthday presents for our nephew, Davon, and went over to see him and his father, Sean, and his sister, Taliyah. We stayed there for awhile and then came home. Now we are getting ourselves ready to chill out. I'm enjoying having Marcy back home.

My tip for today is to check out http:/rulesofthumb.org. There is some really interesting info there. My other tip is to enjoy each day to the fullest because as has been shown on the news lately we never ever know what tomorrow brings - no mater who you are or how much money you have. Make sure you tell the ones you love or care about how you feel. It is too late after they are gone. Remember, COMMUNICATE, VALIDATE, APPRECIATE now while they are here. Have a great night.

CORN FRITTERS

I have a habit of tearing out pages of magazines over the years. I found this recipe on a torn page and was looking for the year, unfortunatly that information is missing. I do know this is a long time ago because the opposite side of the page is an ad for a Norge frost free refrigerator. It deforst every 24 hours and uses the Self D Froster System. WOW--how long ago was that?
Friiters
3 eggs separated
1 1/2 cups of creamed corn
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup sifted all purpose flour
1/3 cup fat or oil ( no fat please ) this is an old recipe
Beat egg yolks until light; add corn, seasonings, and flour. Stir to blend. Beat whites until stiff and fold into mixture. Drop by spoonfuls into skillet of hot oil. Cook until brown, turning once. Drain on brown paper bag (or paper towel ).
Serving suggestions are with butter, syrup, or jam. Sides can be sausage or bacon, or they say chicken.
Today is very sunny and nice, about 55. Church was very full, with seating in the aisles. Was good to see all those friendly faces. We are going to Jackie's home this afternoon. She is making a new dish she wants us all to test. LUCKY US! I know it will be good, it always is. Have a Good Sunday!

RIB-TICKLIN BARBECUE SAUCE--SPICY--ORIENTAL

I am glad to hear that Jackie gives the thumbs up on the clear nail polish on costume jewelry. Now we all know, it is a proven good tip. I love barbecue sauce on most anything.
#1. Barbecue Ticklin
1/2 C Karo light or dark syrup
1/2 C ketchup
1/2 C finely chopped onion
1/4 C cider vinegar
1/4 C prepared mustard
1/4 C Worchestershire sauce
In a sauce pan stir together all ingredients. Stirring frequently, bring to a boil; reduce heat and boil gently for 15 minutes to thicken. ( makes 2 cups )
#2. Spicy sauce, just add 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1 clove garlic, minced.
#3. Oriental sauce, omit Worchestershire sauce. Add 1/4 C soy sauce and 1 t ground ginger.
We went to vote this morning. Weather is cold and rainy. I hope everyone goes to vote when it is your turn. Only the people can make a difference, if we all stand together. ONE NATION UNDER GOD! Doesn't get better than that. Have a great day.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

Yep, it's from a diabetic cookbook. And it is delicious. Plus it is so easy and quick to make. Yummy!!!

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

1 9-inch prepackaged pie crust

2 1.4 oz pkgs sugar-free fat-free chocolate pudding mix

1 2/3 cups fat-free milk

1 8-oz. container fat-free whipped topping, divided

2 tbsp mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake pie crust according to package directions. Remove from oven and cool thoroughly.
2. In a medium bow, whisk pudding mix and milk. Fold half of whipped topping into pudding mixture and fold until fully blended.
3. Spread pudding mixture into pie crust and top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips.

Today we went to one of Bill's doctor's appointments. My brother, Ricky, had suggested that Bill go to a day spa for a pedicure since he has such a lot of trouble with his legs and feet. He takes our mother there and she loves it. Bill was really unsure of going, but, decided to try it. The lady that did it was so good that he really loved it. Chris and I have decided that we are going to go and have some services done there ourselves. Bill is going to go next month and get a reflexology treatment done for his legs and feet. After his appointment we came home and ate dinner. Then we went to visit my mother. She is always glad to see us kids, but, especially lights up when Bill walks in the room. She calls him her favorite son-in-law and never allows anyone to say or do anything that she thinks is against him. Bill eats that up, as you can imagine. After Ricky and Annie put her to bed Ricky and Bill played several Wii games. They love it. Annie and I sat there and laughed. After Bill and I came home we set up the internet on our Wii. However, when I went to register on nintendo.com I put in the wrong date for my birth date. I wasn't paying attention and I put in today's date. Now the site won't let me register and says that I have to get my parent's permission. I'll just have to go to another computer to register, I guess. After I do this I am going to bed since it is already 12:30a.m.

Have a great night's sleep. Oh, Chris's tip about putting clear polish on costume jewelry is a really good one. I have been doing this for years and it works great.

Tips---Nail Polish

Hello, I was having my yearly mammogram this morning and found these tips in one of their office magazines.
#1. Secure a screw by brushing some clear nail polish on the screw threads. In sert the screw and let dry before using it again. They say it also helps to keep the screw from rusting.
#2. Stop tarnish of costume jewelry from turning black with a coat of clear polish.
#3. Seal an envelope by brushing the underside of the flap.
#4. Mend a screen hole no bigger than 1/3 inch by brushing a little clear nail polish over the spot.
I need to try the jewelry and the envelope tip. I always have a problem with the envelopes sealing. I think they use less glue or I must buy cheap envelopes.
Please have a mammogram every year. Both of my sister's had breast cancer and survived. My aunt and her daughter did not. Take care of yourself!

UPDATE ON CHIPS

When I put the remaining kale chips up I put them in a covered plastic container. They were crisp when I put them in there. However, I just went to eat some before I go up upstairs and the ends were crisp, but, the rest of the chip was a little tough. They still taste good, but, a little chewy. I like them, but, just wanted you to know all. Maybe they are all to be eaten as they are made. Just a little update. Nighty, night now.

SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT---------

First of all, I looooooooooooove potato chips. Just plain. I could eat a whole bag in one sitting, especially Cape Cod. However, because of the problem that chips have a tendency to put unwanted pounds on our bodies, I can't indulge like I would love to. Today a I was sitting in my doctor's waiting room I skimmed through the February Good Housekeeping. Now here's the "sounds weird" part - there is a recipe for kale chips!?! They say that an ounce of potato chips are 150 calories and the same amount of kale chips are 15 calories. Well, I thought I would give it a try. I did and they taste really good. Bill said "Well, that's sure a new way to eat greens." They are crispy and tasty. In case you don't get a chance to see the GH February edition I'll put the recipe here. This is too good not to share. There are some other good recipes in there, too.

KALE CHIPS

1 bunch kale (10 oz), rinsed and dried well

Nonstick cooking spray

Kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. From kale, remove and discard thick stems, and tear leaves into large pieces. Spread leaves in single layer on 2 large cookie sheets. Spray leaves with nonstick cooking spray to coat lightly, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or just until kale chips are crisp but not browned. Cool on cookie sheets on wire racks.

This would be an unusual and tasty dish for a Super Bowl spread. Healthy and tasty. Since I am, in essence, Bill's caregiver I am the one responsible for seeing that he eats as healthy as possible. Since his last trip to the hospital I no longer bring anything into the house that he can't or shouldn't eat or that might tempt him. This is good for me, too, because God knows I need to lose weight. Not saying that I won't sneak a few no-no's past him. I haven't so far, but, I know the time will come. Anyhow, for right now a few pounds have been shed and hopefully more are to come. Now I am getting ready to watch Celebrity Apprentice and Tivo Monk and Psych. Have a good night's rest!

CRAB CAKES

Good Morning to all! Thank you to everyone around the world for checking out our blog. Jackie is giving great recipes to help her family and others who deal with diabetes. Thanks Jackie!
1 Pound of fresh lump crab meat, well drained and broken into small pieces
1 Red bell pepper, seeded and ribs removed, finely chopped
2 Cloves of garlic, minced
1 Cup canned or frozen kernel corn, drained well
2 Egg whites
1 1/2 Cups dry bread crumbs ( use Italian for more favor )
6 T vegetable oil
A. In a mixing bowl, combine the crab meat, pepper, garlic, corn, and egg whites. Sprinkle a cutting board with half the bread crumbs. Divide the crab mixture into 12 portions and work on the crumbed surface and press into patties, about 1 inch in diameter. Sprinkle with remaining bread crumbs and press until they hold their shape. I find that if you refrigerate them for an hour or so they hold better. Put together and refrigerate the formed patties in the morning. They will be ready for frying for dinner or lunch.
B. In a large saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium to high heat. Saute 4 of the cakes until golden and crispy, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towel. Add and heat 2 more tablespoons of the oil in pan and repeat process. Repeat until all crab cakes are cooked.
The Creole sauce is great with these crab cakes. Jackie was right about the Creole sauce for her spaghetti squash. This would be a tasty dish That tasty dish phase is my 92 year old mother's description for a meal she likes. Another one from her is--- this is a good combination ( of food ). She will turn 93 in March.
Stay Safe out there!

STAY TUNED

Chris said that she is going to give gardening tips and she definitely knows all about it. Her place is gorgeous with plants and flowers. Her husband, Dennis, is, also, very good at this. Before he went to work in Sweden for a few years he had a huge vegetable garden. He's back home now and last year he had not so big a garden, but, it was still great. He is so good at it. Chris has such beautiful flowers and flowering bushes growing all over in the spring and summer. You definitely want to stay tuned for any tips that she might give. I am sure that she will welcome any questions you might have.

Bill is at his meeting and I am watching "Deal Or No Deal" and getting ready for bed. I have a doctor's appointment in the morning so I want to get some rest. Goodnight and sleep tight (whatever that means).

CHRIS'S CREOLE SAUCE ON SPAGHETTI SQUASH

I am fixing dinner right now and one of the things I am making is spaghetti squash. That sauce would be great over it. I don't have all of the ingredients to make the sauce, but, I will the next I make this squash. If you have never tried spaghetti squash before you are missing a treat. It is a mild-flavored squash and delicious. And it looks like spaghetti when you take it out of the shell. These are the directions for cooking it.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut ends off squash and then cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and wash and dry both sides.
2. Coat a large metal or glass baking dish with cooking spray. Place squash halves face down on baking dish and spray the skins lightly with cooking spray.
3. Bake for 40 minutes.
4. Remove squash meat from rind with fork and place in a medium bowl. Discard rind. Drizzle 1 tsp. olive oil over squash, sprinkle with 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and stir.

I went through one of my diabetic cookbooks and picked out some recipes that did not include ingredients that Bill can't eat on his gout diet. I wanted to get ideas for cooking different things to make his being on these diets not as bad as it seems. From the ones I looked at I got some ideas and made a shopping list, got up early this morning and came home with my trunk full of groceries. Now I am going to get back to cooking so Bill can eat before he goes to a meeting tonight. Have a great evening.

CREOLE SAUCE

1 Small onion, roughly chopped
1/2 Jalapeno pepper, remove ribs and seeds and roughly chopped
1 14 1/2 ounce can tomatoes and their juices
2 T tomato paste
1/4 t cayenne pepper
Make the creole sauce in a food processor or blender. Puree all the ingredients. This sauce is served with crab cakes. I will have that recipe for you tomorrow. Have a good night..........

CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Here's another tasty dish for that Super Bowl party that you are having or going to. I take a package of drumsticks, take the skins off, rinse, put them in a plastic bag and pour in a bottle of low-fat Italian dressing. They can marinate for as little as 15 minutes. Put 2 cups of bread crumbs in another plastic bag. Take the drumsticks from the marinade and shake a little at a time in the bread crumbs, coating well. Put the drumsticks in the bottom of a shallow baking dish. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. (The dark meat in drumsticks has more fat than breast meat, but, removing the skin helps. Marinating gives a great taste.) This is a good dish to bring if you are on a diabetic diet because it is something that you know you will be able to eat.

I didn't do too much today because I spent most of the day waiting for one of my doctors to call me back. One thing I did this evening that was fun was calling an old friend that I used to work with at USAIRWAYS reservation years ago. She now lives in Florida. We talked for about half an hour and I really enjoyed it. It seems that when I get ready to call someone it is late and I feel it is too late to call. This evening I made a point to call her because she had called me the other day and left a voicemail for me. She is such a sweet person.

Now I am going to bed and hope to have a more productive day tomorrow. I do have to go grocery shopping so I know that will take a bit of time. Following Bill's 2 diet restrictions makes my shopping trips even longer than they used to be. Plus I have started shopping with coupons again and loving it. Now that I think of it, I have to write out my shopping list before I go to bed.
Later and sweet dreams!!

FRENCH HERB ROASTED CHICKEN

Simple and easy, takes 10 minutes to get it ready for the oven and 1 1/2 hours to cook. Doesn't get better than that and taste very good.
1 Whole Chicken ( about 4 pounds )
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/4 Cup McCormick french herb roasting rub
Preheat oven to 375. Place chicken on rack in foil-lined roasting pan. Brush with oil. Rub seasoning evenly over entire chicken.
Roast 1 1/2hours or until chicken is cooked through.

Not much going on today. I don't have much energy, I did do a lot yesterday. I really have the urge to start spring planting but it is to early even for the south. We will have planting and gardening starting in March and I look forward to that. Organization and spring cleaning too. It always helps to de-clutter your living space. You can make money with a yard sale, donate to an organization, or just pass it along. I promise to unload those clothes I will never wear or get into this spring. Later!

TIP TO CLEAN REALLY DIRTY WINDOWS

This is a good one to use after you've taken a road trip and your car windows are real grimy. Mix a couple of pinches of cornstarch with ammonia and water in a spray bottle. The cornstarch acts as a mild abrasive. You can use old newspaper balled up to clean the window streak-free. Rinse with cold water.

Well, I worked outside since it was so cold and had no snakey encounters. Thank you, God!! The area that I was working in I know would have a snake or two in if it was warmer. I cleaned out quite a bit of pine straw and could have taken more out. As it was, I removed 7 wheelbarrows of the stuff. I hate pine straw!! If we could afford it, I would have all 6 of our pine trees on our front lawn cut down. We had 2 cut down a few months ago. I am going to bed now and hope my aching arms and back feel better in the morning.

Have a good night!!

BUG KILLER--SPLINTER REMOVER--ANTISEPTIC

A. Bug killer--If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try to spray Formula 409. I never did this but they claim, bugs drop to the ground instantly.
B. Splinter remover--Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
C. Antiseptic--Balm for broken blisters-- dab on a few drops of Listerine on the blister, a powerful antiseptic.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. My team tanked the big game. Over the years winning has gotten less important, which makes it, much less stressful.
As for my dear friends, they can count on me to save a seat for them in church. Where is the compassion for others? I will always go out there for others and no one will hear me say " I don't want to get involved in something that you know is RIGHT". You can't stick your head in the sand. I know that church always doesn't bring out the good in people and I do know there is a lot of behind the door gossip. I can live with all of that because of good friends and family. Have a blessed day!

DIABETES/GOUT DIET FOR BILL

I have been going crazy trying to figure out what to feed him. I have decided that I am going to go through the diabetes cookbooks and pick out recipes that do not contain ingredients that he can't eat because of his gout. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. So that is my tip for today for anyone that has to work with a diabetic and a gout diet for themselves or a loved one.

Our little church's membership has grown and if you don't get there early enough you might have to sit on a chair in the aisle. These old bones won't do well sitting on a metal chair for about an hour. It surely wouldn't be good for Bill. I always try to get there early to avoid that. However, Bill never sees a need for urgency in leaving the house. Chris always gets there early and if we are not there she saves seats for us. Well, today, Bill was his usual slow self and I was fuming. I dropped Bill off and went to park the car. As usual, Chris tried to save us seats and she got a little speech about saving seats from a couple of the church members. She let a couple of ladies in the pew and Bill and then she sat in a chair in the aisle. When I went in, I was going to sit in a chair across the aisle, but, one of the choir members said I could sit in the empty seat next to her. I apologize to Chris for what happened because of us today. But we know that some people just like to have something to complain or fuss about.

It is sooooooo cold here that there could not possibly be any snakes anywhere close to coming out. In fact, it is so cold that I don't even want to go out. But, I have to so I can get that work done. So I guess I better get to bed and get some rest. Tomorrow I will work on setting up my weekly menu and shopping list for Bill's diet restrictions. Goodnight and stay warm!!

NFC PLAY OFF SALSA VERDE

This is GREAT on toasted rounds or french bread. Take a tablespoon of this sauce and place it on a piece bread. Delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 Large tomato, diced
4 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 bunches of parsley, stems removed and finely chopped
1 2oz jar of sliced pimientos, drained and finely chopped
1 T capers
1/4 C red wine vinegar
1/2 C olive oil
1/4 C vegetable oil
1/4 t freshly ground pepper
In a large bowl mix all chopped ingredients and capers together. Add vinegar and mix well. Slowly add both oils to all ingredients. The oil will absorb all the flavors. Enjoy this salsa and the NFC championship game. GO PACK!

ANCHO DIP

Here's another recipe for those Super Bowl parties. I got it from my brother, Ricky, several years ago and it is delicious. This is good with vegetables or crackers.

ANCHO DIP

3 cups fresh basil

1/2 cup fresh parsley

4 cloves garlic

1/2 cup roasted pine nuts

2 cans anchovies (drained)

2/3 cup olive oil

Add all but olive oil to food processor and puree. Slowly add olive oil with food processor motor running until able to pour but not runny.

I didn't get to put my plan in action because it rained so much today. Tomorrow we will be going to 10:30 Mass and when I get home I am not going to feel like going outside to work. There is so much to do that I have to start early in the day. I am going to have Bill come out and watch just in case I come across hibernating snakes. We have so many pine trees on our property that we have lots and lots of pine straw. When it gets raked up, it is put in the little "islands" in our yard. Now I have to clear some of it out and I may be upsetting some snake dwellings. Yuck!!!!!

I just finished making a casserole for after church tomorrow called "Layered Spaghetti Bake". After Mass we have a social gathering in the Social Hall and some of us sign up to bring a dish. A schedule is made up of the volunteers and my day is tomorrow. I will put it in the oven to bake while I am getting dressed in the morning. Now I am going to get ready for bed. Goodnight and sweet dreams to all.

I HAVE A PLAN

Since it is so cold out there are no snakes out. Unless there is a crazy one out there like I mentioned before. Chris is right that I do have snakes on my mind, but, there will be no battle. To have a battle I have to be in their territory when they are out and about. I will be nowhere around. So I have to do what I need to do outside now in the cold. Since there is only me to do the yard work nothing gets done in warm months unless someone comes and does it for me. We have a large area in our front yard that has an "island" with azalea bushes with pine straw as a ground cover around them. I have to go out and thin out some of the pine straw from under the bushes and the straw that has accumulated in the branches of the bushes. It looks a mess so I better get out there while the snakes are not out. That place could be a sanctuary for snakes when they come out. I plan on clearing it out and then throwing in a bunch of moth balls to deter them when they do come out.

I will be back on later with either a recipe or a tip. Maybe both. Have a great day!

TIPS TO TRY

I see that my dear friend has snakes on her mind. She is right, cold weather keeps them away. I am a firm believer that a cat keeps them at bay. Also they (snakes) don't like to be in the open. So when planting your landscaping plants and garden, keep this in mind. I plan on taking all the pine straw away from the trees in the back because I think they use it as cover. I am laughing to myself now, because it sounds like the war against the snakes is on, Jackie and I against the snakes. Stay tune!

Now for some tips I have, to pass along to you...
#1. Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
#2. Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria. I do know that gargling with warm salt water aways helps me.
#3. Honey remedy for skin blemishes...Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keep the skin sterile and speeds healing. As a teen I would use toothpaste. Just a dab and let it dry overnight. Who had money to buy expensive products. It would work.
Hope one of these tips works for you. The only two I have used, is the warm water and salt. This takes my sore throat pain away quick. The toothpaste for blemishes worked when I was young. I don't know if the tooth paste now, have the same ingredients as it did back than.
Stay safe!

ONLY GOOD THINGS ABOUT COLD WEATHER

I've stated before that I do not like cold weather. But, I do love it for the fact that it keeps those dreaded snakes where they belong. If one is seen in these weather we definitely know that it is one to be avoided because it is insane and does not know where it is supposed to be - out of sight and underground or wherever they go to hibernate. Anyhow, I am loving the cold weather for that fact. Stay warm!!

ALMOND LIQUER

Here's another thing that would be good for Super Bowl Sunday or anytime. It can be sipped straight, on the rocks, in coffer or over ice cream.

ALMOND LIQUER

1 cup unsalted almonds, chopped

4 cups vodka

2 in. piece of cinnamon stick

1/3 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients in a large bottle or jar and shake thoroughly. Let steep for 3 to 4 weeks. Strain through a coffee filter or cheesecloth and add more sugar if necessary. Makes about 1 qt.

(I drink Absolut vodka which I wouldn't use in this recipe. A nice cheap bottle of vodka will do just fine.)

Since this has to sit for 3 to 4 weeks I guess I am a little late for you to make it for a Super Bowl party. Sorry. My niece, Tamika, came to get her mom, Marcy, to come spend some time with her in Summerville. I am going to miss having her here to talk to. Bill still is limping around from his gout attack, but, getting along okay. I am still working on getting his 2 diets worked out together. I have decided that I will go through my diabetic cookbooks and pick out some meals to make. Then I will dissect the recipes to ascertain which ones have ingredients that he can't eat because of the gout. Then I am going to write a day to day menu up so I am not floundering around the kitchen trying to figure out what to cook. This might take awhile, but, it will make things a bit easier.

TIPS FOR YOUR PETS

First I want to thank the person who gave me the web site for the fire ant problem.
#1. Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cats ear. Message it in, than clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. This soothes the cats skin, smothers the mites and accelerates healing.
#2. Kill fleas instantly... Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dogs bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritation. I shampooed my dog George the other day and there is a lot less itching. The rinsing well with clean water helps.
#3. Rainy day cure for dog odor...Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with a dryer sheet. It helps your dog smell better. George is a 95% outside dog, he needs more than a dryer sheet. Hope it works for you.
So these are my tips for today. I hope you try them. I feel being honest with these tips is going to help all of you. I try to pick out the ones, I have used. Again thanks for all your comments and helping me out with the tip I needed.

MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA

Here's another recipe that I got from a diabetes book. With the Super Bowl parties coming up this would be a good, healthy addition to your menu. There is only 43 g. carb per serving, 8 g.fat, 3 g. sat fat per serving. Trying to get my shopping list together to co-ordinate Bill's 2 diet restrictions is driving me nuts. There isn't really too much that he can eat, poor thing. I guess I should say poor me and Marcy, too, because I don't cook anything that he can't eat. That would be too tempting for him and mean of me. My cooking now has to get very creative.

I haven't been outside since Tuesday because I hate the cold. Thank goodness the little bit of snow that we got yesterday was gone almost as soon as it fell. I will have to go out tomorrow to get some groceries and pick up some medicine refills. I think it will be just as cold, but, I have to do it. Marcy made more sushi today and it was just as good as yesterday's. Well, stay warm and have a wonderful night.

MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA

5 oz low-fat soft goat cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 tsp dried

1 12" (10 oz) prebaked pizza crust

6 oz jar roasted sweet red peppers, drained and cut into strips

6 oz jar or canned artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

1. Preheat oven to 450F. In small bowl, stir cheese, garlic, and oregano and add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
2. Dapple crust with crumbled cheese mixture, leaving 1" rim around edge. Scatter pepper strips and artichoke hearts on top of cheese.
3. Slide pizza directly onto oven rack and bake 12 minutes or until crust crisps and cheese melts. Remove pizza from oven, cut into eighths, and serve hot.

BLUE DAWN DISH WASHING SOAP REPELS ANTS---MANICURE SECRET

Dawn dish washing soap for your nails and killing ants, who knew.
Manicure secret--Soak fingers in full strength blue dawn. It makes the cuticles soft and easy to work with. It removes natural oil from fingernails. Less oil means polish adheres better.
Repel ants-- Spray counter tops, cupboards and any area where you see ants with a solution of dawn soap and water. Wipe dry. The slight residue of dawn that remains will not be a problem for kids or pets, but ants hate it. Should you see ants, go ahead and hit them with the dawn spray--it will kill them.
I live in the south and fire ants are a big problem. I have purchased many items that say it will kill them for the summer. I have had only temporary luck.
PLEASE -- could anyone tell me their tip for killing fire ants, without killing the grass?
Please also reach out to family and friends. You would be surprise how alone some people are. They need a good word or just a few minutes of your time to talk. Have a good day!

MARCY MADE GREAT SUSHI

Our sister-in-law, Annie, is a gourmet cook. She can make any dish she puts her mind to. One of the many things that we love that she makes is sushi. The other day she told Marcy and I how to make it. Well, I tried it today and my roll up was not so good. Marcy tried her hand and hers was better than mine. The best part was that it was delicious!! We put avocado, shrimp and cucumber in it. We are going to have Annie show us how she rolls her so perfectly, though. Since this is not something that I am comfortable in making I will not be giving a recipe here.

It is snowing here now, but, it won't last long. I peeked out at it and have no desire to go out in it. I had enough of that in Pittsburgh. I won't even go visit Pittsburgh during the "snow" season. I would not feel comfortable driving in the snow, that is for sure. Even if I were to fly there, I would have to rent a car and drive. I certainly would not even consider driving there during this time. Several years ago Chris, Dennis, Bill and I lost some very dear friends, Sue and Bernie Wade. They were killed in an accident driving to Pittsburgh in December in the dreaded snow. They were a beautiful part of our lives that we lost much too early.

Bill's gout flared up today so now I have to combine a diabetes diet with a gout diet. Poor thing can eat just about nothing. But, we will survive. Now I am going to sign off of here to go get some menu ideas together combining both diets. I will have some recipes for you later on that.

KITCHEN SAFETY TIPS

I was going through a cook book for today's sauce recipe and found these general safety kitchen tips that I wanted to pass along...............
#1. Keep poisonous cleaners in a separate cabinet and not under a sink. Even a locked cabinet can be opened by a curious child. You might have to store them above but it is worth the inconvenience.
#2. Don't fight a grease fire with water. Keep an all purpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Keep lid from pan handy when frying in oil. Any flare-ups can be smoother by the lid.
#3. Don't let knives or pots handles stick over the edge of a stove or counter top. They can easily be knocked over or pulled off by a child or adult. ( This one happened to a friend with a hot coffee pot and their child ) I know once our children move away we tend to forget these safety tips.
#4. If you cannot get control of any fire, immediately get out of the house! Your life and the life of others are always more important.
I know we all know these tips but it doesn't hurt to go through them again.
HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE DAY.................

Delicious Shepherd's Pie

Today I was trying to think of something quick and easy to fix for dinner. What I opted for was Shepherd's Pie and was it good. I don't have a recipe that I use for it, though, so I am just going to write this as I would make it. I've made it so many times that I know what ingredients go in by heart. It might be a little different than the original recipe for this as the English know it.

I sauteed some cut up onions and peppers. Then I browned a lb. of ground beef with the sauteed vegetables. In the same pan I put a can of seasoned diced tomatoes, juice and all. I then put in a little frozen corn and a little green beans. I sprinkled in some garlic powder, onion powder, a little sea salt and some pepper. As this all simmered, I made some instant mashed potatoes. The amount of potatoes I cooked was a serving for 6. I dropped the potatoes by spoonful on top of the meat mixture in the pan. On top of this I sprinkled some grated cheddar cheese. I put a cover on top and let this simmer for about 15 minutes or until the cheese melted. It turned out delicious and I only dirtied one pan. You can use whatever seasonings or cheese that you want.

BUTTON IT UP----THINK TIP

My tip of the day is to myself. Jackie and I were talking and were discussing speaking without thinking. I said something about a dear friend because I thought he couldn't hear me. I guess that was my excuse for not thinking. I am sure I hurt his feelings, what a thoughtful person I am. Tip to myself---THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.................

GREAT LINEN CLOSET TIP FOR LAUNDRY DAY

I saw this tip in a magazine today and felt this is a great tip that needed to be shared on our little blog here. When you are putting away your sheet sets fold each set and put inside one of the set's pillowcases. That way it can be put away as a unit. I love it!!! Short and sweet.

Today I went with Bill to his neurologist's for a checkup. His blood pressure was higher than usual so we have to watch it. Other than that, everything else is the same. Bill is a smoker and definitely needs to quit smoking. However, he has been smoking for years and the addiction is so hard to break. A couple of months ago he went the patch route and tried to quit. To no avail. The doctor said it is because he has not really made up his mind with a commitment to quit. He gave him a prescription for Chantix today and maybe that can help him to quit when he is ready. Which I hope is soon. I don't nag him about it because it won't help any. The three of us in this house definitely need to lose weight and that is one thing that I have started working on. In fact, the doctor said that Bill had lost 3 lbs. since he left the hospital. Hopefully, we will continue losing.

BLUE DAWN--CLEAN TOOLS--CLEAN YOUR DOG

Yes, I clean my dog George with blue dawn. Keep his skin and hair less greasy. He rolls around the yard and his pet door gets gummy. I use it to clean the pet door too.
#1. For your dog, just use as if you were shampooing your hair and raise well. It does not hurt George's skin.
#2. Clean automotive tools by soaking them in a solution of dawn. This removes all oil and grime. They say it will help prevent rust from forming on your tools. Just make sure they are completely dry before putting them away.

The sun is shinning and it is cool. It's Monday and that means wash day and clean bedding. Old habits die hard. It was good enough for my Grandma and my 92 year old Mother. My daughter hangs wash out in the summer to save on her electric bill. Mom would still be hanging bedding on the line to dry but stairs and heavy wash baskets have stopped that Monday ritual.

SUPER BOWL SNACK - POTATO & CAVIAR APPETIZERS

Here's a snack that might seem a little over the top for a Super Bowl party, but, then again it depends on whose party you are going to. I first tasted it at a party at our friends, Natalie and Ray Perks, a little after I arrived in the Philippines. Natalie and Ray are another couple that we have the great fortune of being friends with and who live in our little town with us now, also. I got this recipe from a magazine in the early 90's. I absolutely love caviar and have been blessed to have partaken of some of the best thanks to my brother, Ricky, who spent several years working overseas. Plus when Dennis was working and living in Sweden both he and Chris blessed me with some great caviar and caviar paste.

POTATO & CAVIAR APPETIZERS

6 small new potatoes

Red and black caviar

Minced onion

Shredded boiled egg

Parsley

Green and red bell pepper strips

Cook unpared potatoes in lightly salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool. Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange caviar on potato slices. Garnishing with minced onion, egg, parsley or bell pepper if desired. Chill. Makes 6 servings.

Here's a quick tip for removing powder marks from the neckline of a black wool garment. Rub a cold, damp sponge lightly over the stain. Then brush with a whisk broom.

MANGO SALSA SAUCE

The first time I ate a mango, was in the Philippines. Both Jackie's husband and mine work there. At that time our children were living with us. Two families living in a different country. We were next door neighbors. We loved it. Our daughters became friends and attended school together. This is where I met my dear friend and have been lucky enough to live close to each other. We were at Church this morning and I always wondering why some people think they are better than others. I always thought, we all were created equal. Makes you think....................

Mangoes can be purchased green and allowed to ripen at room temperature.
Makes 2 Cups
2 ripe mangoes, peeled
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2T chopped cilantro or Chinese parsley
1T grated fresh ginger
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 soy sauce
2 drops Tabasco sauce
Very good on grilled fish or chicken
1. Cut the flesh off both sides of each mango, as close to the large flat seed as possible. Trim any extra from around the edge of the seed. Chop finely.
2. In medium bowl, combine the mangoes and remaining ingredients.
3. Refrigerate.
Have a great day!

SAFETY TIPS

Always lock your car, truck, suv, van, etc. doors as soon as you get in even if it is in your driveway. With the goings on in today's world it is always better to be safe than sorry. In fact, I used to insist to my son, Jerry, when he started driving that he always lock the car doors as soon as he got in the car. You don't want someone sneaking up on you and carjacking you or worse. Also, when you pull up to an atm be very aware of your surroundings. Years ago Jackee was making a deposit for the store she worked for and someone snuck up and put a gun in her face and took the money bag. Always be aware of your surroundings when walking in parking garages or parking lots. Walk confidently with your head up. Please always be careful in everything that you do. We don't want you to be a statistic. If you can, take a self-defense course. Chris and I took one given by our police department with two other friends, Debbie and Janellen. It was very informative. Anyhow, stay alert and take care of yourself.

HORSERADISH CREAM SAUCE

This is great for cold meats, poutry, or fish. I also use it as a fresh vegetable dip.
Makes 1 cup---
1C plain yogurt
1t sugar
1t white vinegar
4T fresh grated white horseradish or bottled.
Mix all ingredients together.

Horseradish is native of Southeastern Europe and Western Asia. Horseradish in the United States comes from Illinois farm country or across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. That information was in the cook book I got this recipe from copyright 1992. I think this is pretty interesting.
Took a drive to the rummage sale for the little girl I mentioned in an earlier entry, her family needs help with medical expenses. There were a lot of people and I hope that the sale will be a big success. The sun is out and everyone should take time to look up, you will surprised at what you see and feel.

RED ONION MARMALADE

Remember I said that a lot of my recipes will be coming from our diabetic cookbooks, so here goes. This is a good recipe to use with pork and makes 4 servings.

RED ONION MARMALADE

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 tbsp honey

1/4 tsp salt

dash of ground black pepper

1. Add oil to a medium saucepan over high heat. Add onion and saute for 7 - 10 minutes or until beginning to caramelize.
2. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 -20 minutes or until thickened. Cook until onions are nice and soft.

Nice and tasty!!

My friend, Alba, was the first to call me to say that she had received my Christmas card and letter. However, she understands my situation. She did ask did I have the cards specially made and I told her that I hadn't. I had them since Christmas 2004, but, have been too overwhelmed every year to take the time to send them out. I had made up my mind that I was sending them out this year even if it had to be around St. Patty's Day. Thankfully, I got them out before.

HERB GARDEN IN POTS

Chris is so right about the potted herb garden. My aversion to snakes I have well documented here so no way I am going to do a regular garden. I have several pots with herbs growing in them. I wasn't here for our last freeze and forgot to ask my sister, Marcy, to cover the plants. They were victims of the frost I am afraid, but, I will soon have pots of them again. I love being able to go to my front porch or my driveway and get my fresh herbs. Like Chris said they can be grown anywhere and are such a blessing to have fresh herbs to use when you need them.

CREAMY HERB SAUCE---SALMON

Makes 2 cups---
1C mayonnaise
1C sour cream
Zest and juice from 1 lemon
2T white wine vinegar
1/2C chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2C chopped fresh chive
4T chopped fresh dill
Basil leaves (20)
Sea salt- taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
My husband grows herbs all year round. It really is cost effective and fresh is always better. I do know that taking care of an herb garden is very easy. You can have one in a very small area, inside or out, depending on where you live. There is little to no weeding. You will enjoy just seeing things grow. We have a front porch and have the herbs in pots. Most of the time we can just water and harvest unless unusual frost is predicted. Just cover with plastic for the night and plants should be safe. Give an herb garden a try and lets us know how you are growing fresh herbs and in what region. We can pass your results on to others. Thanks for your interest in our Blog.

COMMUNICATE, APPRECIATE, VALIDATE

Those 3 words are what we should be doing with our loved ones and friends every day and comprise my tip for today. They are the words of psychic medium, John Edward, and are so true. I haven't had the pleasure of going to one of his appearances, but, I do watch his t.v. program whenever I can. He is phenomenal. I was lying in bed this morning watching the news and the thought came to me that I should put those 3 very important words in our blog. I am definitely guilty of not always practicing this and I try to. We don't ever want to lose someone and feel the guilt of not letting them know we loved them when they were here. Sometimes I get bogged down in my own personal problems and life and forget to keep in touch with those I love and care for. I will work on that and hope everyone else will, too. Life is much too short no matter how long we experience it!

QUICK FIX FOR HICCUPS, HOPEFULLY

This is a little tip that I got from a home remedies book. Drinking requires a lot of swallowing and doing a lot of swallowing is probably the best way to stop hiccups. Luckily, I haven't had the hiccups in years. Oh no, why did I say that. Now I will soon get them. At least now I know what to do to get rid of them.

Bill is in a class-action lawsuit against Vioxx. He had been taking Vioxx for awhile when he had his strokes. When it was determined that he had a stroke his doctor took him immediately off of it. A little while later it was taken off of the market. Not soon enough, though, to stop the life of a good man from being turned upside down. He is alive, though, and functioning, so we feel very blessed. Anyhow, I started this to say that today we went to the lawyer's office to sign papers. It's a slow process to get to the end because there are so many variables to be considered for them to decide what is going to be a fair settlement for each case. Whatever they decide is not enough for the people who have had their lives severely altered or lost by pure negligence on the pharmaceutical company's part. Money can never make up for what has been lost, but, it can help (no matter how little) with the many medical bills. Plus we have our family and Chris and Dennis (who are really a part of our family) for support. Even more, we have God for support. Surely can't get any better than that.

Okay, enough of that. I mailed my CHRISTMAS cards off today. FINALLY! Won't everyone be surprised when they receive them. I just mailed them to ones that had been sending us cards for the last few years and I couldn't get mine out.

I guess this has been a lot of rambling, but, that is how I am feeling right now. Like a rambler. And I haven't had a drink! More enlightenment from me tomorrow. Goodnight.

MORNAY SAUCE--GREAT FOR PASTA

Makes one cup and is easy to double recipe--
1T unsalted butter
1T all purpose flour
1C whole or 2% milk
1/8t salt
pinch of freshly ground pepper
freshly grated nutmeg to taste
1/2 coarsely grated Gruyere or Comte' cheese (about 4oz )
Melt butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook stirring constantly, about 1 minute. (DO NOT LET MIXTURE BROWN)
Add milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a low boil and cook stirring about 2 minutes. Add seasonings. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Serve immediately. This is easy and taste great.

Please go through your old and unused items when you have time. I know that there is someone out there, that can benefit from your time and generosity. The Knights of Columbus are hosting a yard sale for a very sick 10 year old and her Family. Jackie and Bill belong to this great organization. Thanks!

BLUE DAWN BATHROOM CLEANER-----SOAP SCUM

Original BLUE DAWN dish washing soap has some kind of miraculous quality about it that makes it " melt " through stubborn soap scum and hideous buildup on showers and tubs. No matter whether porcelain, acrylic, or fiberglass. Use it straight up, and you will bless the day you read this tip.
Hope your day goes well and be safe!

DIABETIC HEALTHY TOMATO SAUCE

Since Bill has diabetes, I have bought several diabetic cookbooks and some of the recipes that I put here may come from those. This is a recipe that I got from one that can be used for several types of dishes.

TOMATO SAUCE

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped celery

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes

1/4 tsp salt

ground black pepper to taste

dash of Tabasco or hot sauce (optional)

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice and salt and cook for 10 minutes more. Add pepper. Remove from the heat. You can puree the sauce in a blender in batches until smooth, if you want to. We like it slightly chunky. This can keep in an airtight container in a refrigerator for up to 1 week.

I am slowly getting back to my old roll of things. I did get my Christmas cards finished in Hilton Head, however, I just have to put a little letter that I printed out for each card inside of each. I will mail them tomorrow. I have errands to run and will mail them then. Today is Wednesday, Senior Citizen's day at the grocery stores, so I will do a little shopping today. Trying to get Bill back on track with his eating. I have said that now only healthful food will be brought into the house. Marcy and I can definitely use better eating habits, too.

HAND DEGREASER TIP

Forget those pricey automotive hand cleaners. Full-strength BLUE DAWN cuts through grease and gets hands and nails clean with no harsh chemicals.
It will be a great day in the South as soon as the fog lifts. This unusual weather really gets you moving. Unfortunately, this weekend will go back to winter temps. Please don't forget the birds outside, this is an enjoyable hobby feeding them. It is a low cost hobby and you get to see all kinds of birds. I have a woodpecker who feeds everyday along with many cardinals. Just a suggestion to help pass through a long winter. Have a great day!

BLUE DAWN----SPOTS

Stain spotter--- Original blue dawn used full- strength, gets just about any spot out of washables. Keep a small squeeze bottle in the laundry room so it is handy. Just apply a small amount to the spot and rub in. Bonus is, the blue dawn is biodegradable, while other chemical solvents may not be.

This tip is one from Marci. Over the next couple of days, there will be more uses for blue dawn dish washing liquid. Jackie and I appreciate all the interest in our blog. Thank you!

HOME FROM HILTON HEAD

We had a great trip even after arriving on a flatbed tow truck. It was really strange to be sitting in a car riding down a highway and the car is on a flatbed! It was even weirder when the tow truck had to stop at a gas station before we could go to where he was towing us. He had been on the road for awhile because there was stormy weather that day. When we pulled into the gas station and people started looking up at me behind the wheel in the car it was really weird. My brother, Ricky, said we probably looked like the Clampletts arriving in Beverly Hills. I am just glad it happened the day before New Year's Eve. We had a great New Year's Eve and New Years's day. Sue and Otis left on Wednesday and we were sorry to see them go. Bill and the kids and I went to the beach on Thursday to try to fly his kite but there wasn't enough wind. It sure was cold, though. Chris and Dennis came Friday morning and we had a nice relaxing day enjoying being together and playing with the WII. We were sorry that they could only stay one night, though, and they left Saturday. That afternoon the kids and I went to the beach. Tyler rode a bike and Dominique and I walked the beach. We saw some dolphins and that was the topper to the trip for the kids.



I am still trying to get things together that I should have had done. When I do I will be more active and have a lot more for input on this blog. Please send comments to let us know what you would like for us to give as tips or recipes or anything else.

CHEESE AND HERB SAUCE OR DRESSING

Hi--we are back from visiting Jackie. She should be home today. We had a very nice time. The two grand kids were there and I want to CONGRATULATE them for doing so well in school, keep up the good work. I have a lot of tips coming from my friend Marci in the next week or so. I also want to put gardening and home freshening up for spring tips, starting in March. I did learn that if you are painting your walls red, first prime with gray primer instead of white for better and easier coverage. Here is the recipe for today----

1 C real mayonnaise
1/2 C chopped parsley
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
2 T lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t dried basil leaves
Mix all ingredients well.

You all have a great day!

*** 3 *** FRESH SAUCES OR DRESSINGS

Here are three sauces or dressings.

#1 TRUE BLUE CHEESE
1C real mayonnaise
4oz blue cheese, crumbled
3T milk
2T lemon juice
1T finely chopped onion
2t sugar
1/4t Worcestershire sauce
1/4t dry mustard
1/4t salt

#2 BLUSHIN' RUSSIAN
1C real mayonnaise
1/3C catsup or chili sauce
1/3C chopped pickles
2t lemon juice
2t sugar

#3 DREAMY ITALIAN
1C real mayonnaise
3T milk
2T cider vinegar
1/2t dried oregano leaves
1/2t sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4t salt
1/8t pepper

Just mix all your ingredients together for the recipe you choose. These were from an 1981 magazine that I cut out the page and put it in a folder. I have a lot of these recipes and hope to share them with all of you.
I just wanted to mention my sister-in-law the GREAT cookie maker. She again went all out for her huge family and gave us each a dish of many different cookies. I know we all ate them and enjoyed every bite and calorie. If you look through our many recipes, you will find some of her great cookies. Thanks Cindy!

EASY EGGS BENEDICT SAUCE

This is an old recipe I just came across.
1 can Campbell's cream on mushroom soup
3 eggs yolks
2 T lemon juice
Generous dash hot pepper sauce
1/2 C melted butter
In a blender combine soup, egg yolks, lemon juice, and hot pepper sauce. Cover and blend on high speed for a few seconds. With blender still on high speed, remove cover and very slowly pour in a steady stream of melted butter into the soup mixture. Blend for 3 minutes or until thick. Pour mixture into a sauce pan and heat stirring occasionally.
This is good when you take an English muffin topped with bacon and a poached egg. Pour warm sauce on top.
Weather here is cold and windy. I talked to Jackie and we are planning on joining Jackie and her family in Hilton Head on Friday. They always extend a generous invitation to both Dennis and I, when they have a place at the beach. It is only a 2 1/2 hour drive, so it is very close for all of us. Stay warm!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I am so sorry that I haven't been writing every day like I would like to. But, my life is still kind of hectic. Right now we are in Hilton Head for the week and will be home on Jan. 6. It didn't start out too good because about 1 hour away from our destination our car broke down on I-95!! To make a long story short we ended up on a flatbed being towed to a repair place that was closed. It was a Sunday evening. I should say that our SUV was placed on the flatbed and carried into Sun City. Luckily, Otis and Sue were on their way to meet up with us and they picked us up at the repair place. The car was repaired yesterday and we picked it up in the afternoon. Now after a couple of days to get myself well rested and de-stressed, I plan to get back to writing in this blog. I, also, have Christmas cards that I am insisting on sending out. I haven't sent any since Bill had his strokes and I had promised myself that I was sending them out this past Christmas. Well, I didn't get a chance to, but, I am still going to get them written out while I am here. It's just something that I have to do. The cards can be my "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" card.

SIMPLE MARINARA SAUCE

Here we go with new sauce recipes. I like simple and my husband is the real cook in this household. I can hold my own, but I prefer the clean up over cooking the meal. I will share with you sauce recipes over the next month. I really feel that most dishes are improved by a great sauce. I love going through magazines and found this Marinara sauce great over pasta.
1/4 C olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 T tomato paste
1 (28 ounce ) can crushed tomatoes, including liquid
3 T minced FRESH basil--fresh makes all the difference
Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook stirring constantly, about 1 minute or until pale golden. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in Basil. Makes 3 cups. Easy to double or even triple this sauce. SIMPLE!