I am 98% recovered from a nasty case of shingles. I should have been smarter when dealing with unexplained pain. At first I thought it was my stomach and applied a treatment of my own, warm milk and cinnamon graham crackers, before going to bed. The next day it was in my back, so I decided it wasn’t my original diagnosis, but I can handle this. After several days of persistent pain and my high pain tolerance, I broke out in a nasty rash across my back and around in front on my right side. Wouldn’t you know, a poor old lady living alone and it was Sunday evening. And where was that nosey old lady who is always messing up my household , hiding things that I have just had when I needed her? Why couldn’t she have told me there was trouble on my back? I went across the street to my daughter’s home where I saw her working on her fall outside decorations. Her husband came home and we had a three way discussion and decided that a trip to the emergency room was needed because of the need for sooner rather than later medication that is needed for this nasty dilemma. The emergency room doctor agreed with our diagnosis gave me medicine on the spot and sent me home with prescriptions enough to kill a horse. One medicine I had to take 5 times a day, another three times a day and pain medication. All of this in addition to the regular ones that I was already taking for blood pressure, sugar, etc. All I got done was wonder if it were time to take a pill or if I had already taken it. My rash is nearly gone, but I still have pain. One article that I read states that pain can linger for possibly months. Hope I am not that unlucky.
Another area where I showed very poor judgment is that you should never have a birthday on a Monday when 99% of your family is either working or in school. Sunday was a good substitute when my kids that live the farthest away from me (Decatur, Fayette, Wauseon, Kendallville, one from Edgerton, who is very occupied on Monday) stopped by with good wishes and most stayed for an “order in” supper of Subway sandwiches.(I do not cook on my birthday and Mother’s Day.) This morning there were 15 greetings on Facebook so I think I will survive the poor choosing of a day to have my birthday.
I picked out a few recipes last night. Should have stayed up and typed this then because lingering persistent pain which I thought I could handle without medication kept me awake until the wee hours of the morning. Now hope I can find the book from which I chose them. It was suggested that all three could make a meal which could be serve in 30 minutes. I don’t do anything that swiftly, but hope you can.
MAPLE-PECAN PORK CHOPS
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
½ teaspoon pepper
½ cup maple syrup, divided
4 bone-in pork chops (3/4 inch thick)
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup unsweetened apple juice
1 cup pecan halves
Combine mustard, pepper and 2 teaspoons syrup. Brush
over both sides of the pork chops. In a non-stick skillet,
brown pork in butter over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes
on each side. Add apple juice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer
15 to 20 minutes. Remove chops and keep warm. Add pecans
and remaining syrup to the skillet. Cook and stir for one or two
minutes. Serve over the pork chops.
HASHBROWN APPLE PANCAKE
1 ¼ cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
½ cup finely chopped apple
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon snipped chives
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese
Combine hash browns, apple, onion, chives, salt and pepper.
In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon
oil over medium high heat. Spread one half of the potato mixture
in an even layer in the skillet. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with the
remaining hash browns. Press mixture gently into skillet. Cook for
five minutes or until bottom is browned. Invert pancake onto a plate.
Heat remaining butter and oil. Slide the pancake browned side up, into
the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes until bottom is browned. Slide onto a
plate and cut into wedges.
Complete your meal with a frozen vegetable medley, cooked according
to package directions.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
10/20/11
Do you hate garage sales? Well, I am here to champion their cause. I have to admit that my age has diminished my need for “things”. Also, I had my garage laden with things that I knew others would be interested in for two years. It really is a lot of work to get ready for a sale. I eventually told my family to take anything they wanted and I toted the rest to give away stations. I also had the help of a son who was quick to react when I asked him if I should keep a certain item. It immediately went into his trailer in two piles. One labeled “dump”, the other for a charity of his choosing in his home town. Know what, I haven’t even missed any of my treasures nor do I remember what we sent on to posterity.
To tout my pleasure of garage sales, I have more respectable clothes that were purchased at one than I can find in the stores when I go shopping. Recently I was in a popular department store shopping for a house ware item and walked through the clothing department. There were items priced up to $100 which I would not have carried home nor worn if they were free. So I will continue to shop at garage sales and in my closet where there are some items that I have had for years and years. Guess I will recycle them.
I have purchased some very nice items at garage sales. A few years ago, maybe more than it seems to me, I saw a set of china dishes and decided that I did not need them. On Saturday, I told my aunt whom I had taken to the hair dresser that I was going back to a garage sale. If the dishes were still there, I would know that God wanted me to have them. If they were $20.00 for a set of 8, I was going to buy them, but if it were twenty dollars for each set of four, I would leave them. They were still setting in their original place and at my price. I felt that it was destiny yelling at me, and I took them home with me. I asked a local collector who told me each plate was worth $6.00 and each cup and saucer set worth 7 to 8 dollars. I had no interest in selling them and used them often with a powder blue table cloth and milk glass condiment dishes and candle holders. Since I am at the age I entertain very seldom, I am giving my things to my kids and grandkids. A granddaughter is now the proud owner of my great garage sale deal. Try it and discover the magic created in the pleasure of giving things away and seeing their enjoyment in ownership of something that was mine. The pleasure of the fact that I gave it to them is greater than if they had just grabbed it from my estate. Still have a few that have not taken anything but maybe it is not important to them.
Food is always important all of us. I recently went with a friend to an all day Homemaker’s Day at the Fair where several interesting programs were presented. On the way home we stopped at a Kroger Store. I told my friend I was willing to stop, but I didn’t need anything. But you know how it is with a kid in a candy store, several items ended up in my cart. As we were shopping we passed a lady who was passing out samples of food. I wasn’t interested as it looked like a cold salad of perhaps pasta base. When she interrupted my uninterested demeanor, I had to be polite and took a sample. I was pleasantly surprised because it was a hot main dish. I ashamedly asked if I could use it in a column I write for our local weekly newspaper. She gave me her permission, saying that it was a recipe that she experimented with herself and that it was sponsored by Kroger. Every item is suggested that you use the Kroger brand. Remember that when you shop for groceries.
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU CASSEROLE
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 ½ cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 ½ cups instant rice, uncooked
20 oz. package fully cooked, diced, grilled chicken breast, thawed
4 ½ oz. package Deli thin sliced smoked ham, cubed
6 oz. package sliced, aged Swiss Cheese, cubed
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup Corn Flakes
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted
In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, broth, mustard and pepper until smooth. Add rice, chicken, ham, cheese, and peas. Pour mixture into 9 x 13 baking dish and spread evenly. Mix together crushed corn flakes, Parmesan cheese and butter. Spread evenly over top of the casserole. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.
Another magic moment that should be mentioned is the arrival of my 23rd great grandchild. Everleigh Rae Miller made a traumatic entrance into our family, weighing 8 pounds 12 ounces. After some scary moments, she and her mother are doing fine. Welcome, Everleigh. There is always room for one more.
To tout my pleasure of garage sales, I have more respectable clothes that were purchased at one than I can find in the stores when I go shopping. Recently I was in a popular department store shopping for a house ware item and walked through the clothing department. There were items priced up to $100 which I would not have carried home nor worn if they were free. So I will continue to shop at garage sales and in my closet where there are some items that I have had for years and years. Guess I will recycle them.
I have purchased some very nice items at garage sales. A few years ago, maybe more than it seems to me, I saw a set of china dishes and decided that I did not need them. On Saturday, I told my aunt whom I had taken to the hair dresser that I was going back to a garage sale. If the dishes were still there, I would know that God wanted me to have them. If they were $20.00 for a set of 8, I was going to buy them, but if it were twenty dollars for each set of four, I would leave them. They were still setting in their original place and at my price. I felt that it was destiny yelling at me, and I took them home with me. I asked a local collector who told me each plate was worth $6.00 and each cup and saucer set worth 7 to 8 dollars. I had no interest in selling them and used them often with a powder blue table cloth and milk glass condiment dishes and candle holders. Since I am at the age I entertain very seldom, I am giving my things to my kids and grandkids. A granddaughter is now the proud owner of my great garage sale deal. Try it and discover the magic created in the pleasure of giving things away and seeing their enjoyment in ownership of something that was mine. The pleasure of the fact that I gave it to them is greater than if they had just grabbed it from my estate. Still have a few that have not taken anything but maybe it is not important to them.
Food is always important all of us. I recently went with a friend to an all day Homemaker’s Day at the Fair where several interesting programs were presented. On the way home we stopped at a Kroger Store. I told my friend I was willing to stop, but I didn’t need anything. But you know how it is with a kid in a candy store, several items ended up in my cart. As we were shopping we passed a lady who was passing out samples of food. I wasn’t interested as it looked like a cold salad of perhaps pasta base. When she interrupted my uninterested demeanor, I had to be polite and took a sample. I was pleasantly surprised because it was a hot main dish. I ashamedly asked if I could use it in a column I write for our local weekly newspaper. She gave me her permission, saying that it was a recipe that she experimented with herself and that it was sponsored by Kroger. Every item is suggested that you use the Kroger brand. Remember that when you shop for groceries.
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU CASSEROLE
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 ½ cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 ½ cups instant rice, uncooked
20 oz. package fully cooked, diced, grilled chicken breast, thawed
4 ½ oz. package Deli thin sliced smoked ham, cubed
6 oz. package sliced, aged Swiss Cheese, cubed
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup Corn Flakes
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted
In a large bowl, whisk together sour cream, broth, mustard and pepper until smooth. Add rice, chicken, ham, cheese, and peas. Pour mixture into 9 x 13 baking dish and spread evenly. Mix together crushed corn flakes, Parmesan cheese and butter. Spread evenly over top of the casserole. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.
Another magic moment that should be mentioned is the arrival of my 23rd great grandchild. Everleigh Rae Miller made a traumatic entrance into our family, weighing 8 pounds 12 ounces. After some scary moments, she and her mother are doing fine. Welcome, Everleigh. There is always room for one more.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
10/13/11
I am certain that you have heard the adage “Too many cooks spoil the broth”. Last week’s Magic Moments had a similar catastrophe. A friend’s son left a copy of one of his Mother’s recipes on my back door. There was one ingredient that was unfamiliar to me. I had two ideas as to what it might be, but at the same time I decided it was probably an herb that I have never heard of, since I use herbs very sparingly. Consequently I carefully typed it as it was written. After the paper was printed I got a phone call from the original cook stating that one ingredient was wrong. So here I am trying to make amends. If you have or are planning to make the Sweet and Sour Meat Balls, change the margarine to “marjoram”. I am certain that the margarine won’t hurt them, but the herb will improve them. So apologies are from three too many cooks, her son, myself and my faithful proof readers.
I was pleasantly included in a surprise birthday party at her son’s home on Saturday evening. She was so completely overwhelmed and pleased. I gave her one of my antique cup and saucer sets which was graciously received so I think I am still on her list of friends. Actually she is a friend of my daughter but she is very gracious to me. I met two of her “older” friends whom I thoroughly enjoyed and have made some tentative plans to have some future contacts. There are really a lot of very nice, charismatic, intelligent people that we come in contact with but don’t make the effort to really interact with them.
Now I am back to two of my favorite foods – potatoes and apples. Since am on a short schedule this morning, I am going to use two recipes that I saved that came from weekend ads in the daily paper. Two things captivated my attention. They were apples and potatoes and the pictures were so fascinating they will have to taste fantastic. Hope you like them.
GARLIC AND HERB POTATOES
1 ½ pounds of small red potatoes, scrubbed
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon paprika
Cut each potato into quarters. Place in an
ungreased 8 inch square baking dish. Combine
the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour over
the potatoes and stir. Bake at 400 degrees for
20 to 25 minutes. A suggestion was made to
substitute herbs, like chives and oregano.
APPLE CRUMBLE
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup rolled oats
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 stick butter
Filling: 4 large apples
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Peel, core and slice apples. Layer the apples
In a two quart baking dish. Sprinkle the brown
sugar and cinnamon over the apple slices. Combine
the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of
the apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes
until the apples have softened and the topping is
slightly browned. Serve warm.
I was pleasantly included in a surprise birthday party at her son’s home on Saturday evening. She was so completely overwhelmed and pleased. I gave her one of my antique cup and saucer sets which was graciously received so I think I am still on her list of friends. Actually she is a friend of my daughter but she is very gracious to me. I met two of her “older” friends whom I thoroughly enjoyed and have made some tentative plans to have some future contacts. There are really a lot of very nice, charismatic, intelligent people that we come in contact with but don’t make the effort to really interact with them.
Now I am back to two of my favorite foods – potatoes and apples. Since am on a short schedule this morning, I am going to use two recipes that I saved that came from weekend ads in the daily paper. Two things captivated my attention. They were apples and potatoes and the pictures were so fascinating they will have to taste fantastic. Hope you like them.
GARLIC AND HERB POTATOES
1 ½ pounds of small red potatoes, scrubbed
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon paprika
Cut each potato into quarters. Place in an
ungreased 8 inch square baking dish. Combine
the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour over
the potatoes and stir. Bake at 400 degrees for
20 to 25 minutes. A suggestion was made to
substitute herbs, like chives and oregano.
APPLE CRUMBLE
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup rolled oats
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 stick butter
Filling: 4 large apples
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Peel, core and slice apples. Layer the apples
In a two quart baking dish. Sprinkle the brown
sugar and cinnamon over the apple slices. Combine
the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of
the apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes
until the apples have softened and the topping is
slightly browned. Serve warm.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
10/6/11
OOPS! After having a several hour break in my sleep time in the wee hours of this morning, I fear I will have to combine breakfast and lunch. Also, I will have to type fast or miss my deadline. All of this happened after I had plans to tell you how good I felt about myself, after losing for two weeks a special copy of a “reader donated” recipe. Just goes to confirm my mother’s favorite phrase, “Pride goeth before a fall!”
I really did not lose the recipe, I merely put it in such a safe place that I could not locate it myself! When I went to pay a quite large bill, there nestled comfortably among my “things to pay” papers was this recipe card. Now doesn’t everyone avoid as much as possible this area of their household? I was grateful to see the card, stretching my imagination for a way to admit that I put it there myself, but also grateful that I did not have to admit to my faithful reader that I lost it. I surely hope that you did not tell her! I have it safely in front of me and I do not intend to move until it is time to copy it.
I experienced a very heartwarming evening last week. We had to find a way to get my niece to Toledo early Wednesday morning to catch a Mega Bus back to Harrisburg. My sister said she would not drive to Toledo and I played “change a letter” and stated that I could not make the drive. So we enlisted a nephew to drive the three of us to Wauseon to my son’s home. We went out to eat at a restaurant that is new since the fire in downtown Wauseon, then Marty stayed all night with them and had only a short drive to catch her bus. The time we spent around the table was memorable. Both the renewing of past experiences of the times that the three cousins were growing up as relatives, schoolmates, neighbors and most of all, friends, and the added experiences of these youngsters (in my mind) of their retirement were startling to a little old lady who keeps forgetting what her own age is.
Now before someone moves that recipe card, I better get to the point at hand. First of all I did try the peanut butter coating on popcorn. It was a good idea but the next time, I am going to add more peanut butter. Guess I should not complain about the original idea, because I ate the whole bagful by myself.
SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS
(from the kitchen of Sherrie Allomong)
MEATBALLS:
3 pounds ground beef
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoonsmargerna marjoram
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 large onion, diced
SAUCE:
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
½ cup onion
1 cup relish
1 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt and pepper
½ cup sugar
Combine ingredients for meatballs and shape into balls the size of your preference.
Combine sauce ingredients and cook. Add meatballs to sauce. Place in crock pot
until ready to serve, 2 to 3 hours.
As I turned on my computer this morning, there was an interesting, and perhaps valuable suggestion. It recommended using egg whites for first aid for burns. Use the traditional method of cold water first then applying the egg white. One incident used the egg white in its natural state, the other beat the egg whites and then applied the foam to the burn. Dramatic results were reported giving the credit to the natural collagen in the egg whites. A more serious burn was treated every hour until the pain stopped.
I really did not lose the recipe, I merely put it in such a safe place that I could not locate it myself! When I went to pay a quite large bill, there nestled comfortably among my “things to pay” papers was this recipe card. Now doesn’t everyone avoid as much as possible this area of their household? I was grateful to see the card, stretching my imagination for a way to admit that I put it there myself, but also grateful that I did not have to admit to my faithful reader that I lost it. I surely hope that you did not tell her! I have it safely in front of me and I do not intend to move until it is time to copy it.
I experienced a very heartwarming evening last week. We had to find a way to get my niece to Toledo early Wednesday morning to catch a Mega Bus back to Harrisburg. My sister said she would not drive to Toledo and I played “change a letter” and stated that I could not make the drive. So we enlisted a nephew to drive the three of us to Wauseon to my son’s home. We went out to eat at a restaurant that is new since the fire in downtown Wauseon, then Marty stayed all night with them and had only a short drive to catch her bus. The time we spent around the table was memorable. Both the renewing of past experiences of the times that the three cousins were growing up as relatives, schoolmates, neighbors and most of all, friends, and the added experiences of these youngsters (in my mind) of their retirement were startling to a little old lady who keeps forgetting what her own age is.
Now before someone moves that recipe card, I better get to the point at hand. First of all I did try the peanut butter coating on popcorn. It was a good idea but the next time, I am going to add more peanut butter. Guess I should not complain about the original idea, because I ate the whole bagful by myself.
SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS
(from the kitchen of Sherrie Allomong)
MEATBALLS:
3 pounds ground beef
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup rolled oats
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 large onion, diced
SAUCE:
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
½ cup onion
1 cup relish
1 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt and pepper
½ cup sugar
Combine ingredients for meatballs and shape into balls the size of your preference.
Combine sauce ingredients and cook. Add meatballs to sauce. Place in crock pot
until ready to serve, 2 to 3 hours.
As I turned on my computer this morning, there was an interesting, and perhaps valuable suggestion. It recommended using egg whites for first aid for burns. Use the traditional method of cold water first then applying the egg white. One incident used the egg white in its natural state, the other beat the egg whites and then applied the foam to the burn. Dramatic results were reported giving the credit to the natural collagen in the egg whites. A more serious burn was treated every hour until the pain stopped.
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