Onion Rolls and Hamburger Casserole 9/26/13

Solomon Farm

My how fast the weeks seem to go by. Here we are with another month nearly gone into the past. Looks as if I forgot to start a number of projects that I  had saved for summer. Oh, well maybe no one will notice, hopefully.  I did have a serious talk with my friend who is constantly trying to run my life. I do not see how she can be so busy with me when I get so many complaints from friends who ask me to please keep her here because she has been at their house too many times. Back to my own problems.  I just told her to keep still about me and my inclination to turn on my furnace.

My oldest brother and I were often on the same page. He always said that everything that he ate no one was going to take away from him, so it was money well spent. We also agreed that as long as we had a nickel we were going to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I looked in my purse and saw a dime shining brightly. As I examined the week’s morning temperatures for the coming week, by the time you read this my furnace will be humming quietly.

I had two magic days last week.  How blessed can one little old lady be?  On Tuesday my daughter who visits me weekly on her lunch hour told me she wanted to take a half day vacation and spend it with me and her Aunt Mary. She wanted to include my sister, but we decided none of us were capable of handling her and her wheel chair, so we just honked when we went by her place. After much deliberation and mind changing we decided to go to Auburn to Cracker Barrel for lunch, then attend a movie at the theater nearby that has 8 movie screens.  Now wouldn’t you think there would be a decent movie with that many choices?  There was only one we would consider and two of us had already seen that one. So we questioned a man just leaving the theater about what he had seen. His answer as he glanced at our white hair was, “The language was pretty bad.”  He would not recommend any of them. Nete went into the theater and came out with tickets she had bought on the recommendation of a young girl who was at the ticket counter. The movie was unbelievably clean in language, no violence, nor immorality.  What did we want?  Not one based on Greek mythology, about which we were all poorly informed, with its otherworldly sea creatures and unimaginable scenes. I could have happily left after 15 minutes hoping it would get better. All I could think as I watched it was, “I am sure glad she is treating us to the movie and it didn’t cost me anything.”  We had a great meal and laughed all the way home about the movie and why we ever stayed to watch it all. Maybe the next time they will have a Disney cartoon that we can enjoy. Other than the choice of movies it was a great afternoon spent with family.

Sunday was my sister-in-law’s birthday and since it was our church festival and we were all busy there we celebrated on Saturday and took her to the Red Lobster Restaurant in Ft. Wayne. That is her favorite place to eat and ten of us, including her brother Tony who came from Toledo had a very pleasant outing. Then we stopped at The Solomon Farm, where my daughter and her husband were cooking food at their Chuck Wagon and innocently suggested that we stop by, since they could not be at our party but not really expecting us to. There are 97 acres donated to the park system by a family and it has to stay in the farm atmosphere.  There were a lot of things going on and we took a ride in a wagon with two beautiful gray horses (if I mentioned their breed, I wouldn’t spell it right, so we will leave it there). They told us each horse weighed 2200 pounds. Maybe your mind can produce your own image. Two little old ladies needed considerable help in getting into the wagon but everyone was very gracious and helpful. it was a great experience.  We can put the day in my Magic category.

My first recipe this week is one that I probably will never make, but if you make it, I am sure I would like to eat some! It is from an old magazine, and maybe it is one you  have already tried. The other one will make a nice entrée for a chilly day’s lunch.

           

ONION CRESCENT ROLLS

1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls

1 ½  cups French fried onions

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

Unroll crescent dough and separate triangles.

Sprinkle each with about 2 tablespoons of onions. Roll up each from the wide end; place on an ungreased foil lined baking sheet. Curve ends down to form crescents. Beat the egg and water. Brush over the dough. Sprinkle with remaining onions. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

          

HAMBURGER CASSEROLE

1 ½ pounds of lean ground beef

1 pkg. (12 oz.) noodles

1 medium onion

1 medium pepper

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can tomato soup

Velveeta cheese to taste

Brown meat, onions, and pepper. Drain off fat. Cook noodles and drain. Mix noodles, meat and soups. Place half of mixture n greased 2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with grated cheese, then the rest of the meat. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I have received raving remarks about the Toffee Bars recipe. On the same page was a reminder that I had left out the amount of milk in my bread pudding recipe. For any of you who are still wondering, the amount is 2 cups. Maybe someday I will improve, but do not hold your breath.

Sister Magic 9/19/13

Why are old habits and funny ideas that we learn from our childhood and patterns of life and personalities so hard to change?  Here it is, nearly the first of October, it is  a rainy chilly evening and I am fighting the urge to turn on the furnace!  I rationalize the decision with the memories that if I still had to find some corncobs and kindling, go to the basement and start a fire in the wood and coal furnace, I would think I was quite comfortable with no heat. I have used the bathroom heater and indulged in a small space heater sitting beside my lounge chair, but have slapped my fingers twice when I thought I was going to turn on the furnace. We are really spoiled with the modern conveniences at our disposal.  Want to place a bet on how many more days I can resist? The one result of my reticence is that I spend more cozy hours wrapped in my thermal blanket, and my space heater humming merrily near my feet than the schedule of a good housekeeper can honestly approve.  But it is my home and my heat bill, so I can do as I please!  Probably tomorrow I will weaken, when I rationalize that it is just money and God does not supply a money bag when he calls our number.

I and my sister, since I have only one still here on earth you can figure that one out, experienced a really magic and very special afternoon last week.  On Wednesday, I received a rare phone call from our nephew who lives in Warsaw. He is one of three children and the only son of my oldest sister, who passed away in 2001. She had a difficult life and was a single mother who raised her kids many years by herself.  When the kids were quite small she worked at the Higley Printing Company in Butler and her job moved to Florida.  After a few years they moved the company to Warsaw.  We were quite close with her and her children, helping her with all of the things that we could manage. She came back to Edgerton often and stayed at our home. My kids were small and all liked to sleep with Aunt Effie when she visited especially the youngest ones.  She eventually worked at United Telephone Co. in Warsaw and retired from there.  For several years she lived here in Edgerton at The Miller Apartments and then rented an apartment from Angela Kennerk. I do not know just when but she had married kids and grandkids in Warsaw and decided she should move back there and purchased a home. During those years we kept close contact with her but since her death we have grown apart from her extended family.  No bad feelings, we just let distance form a barrier, seeing them only occasionally.  So imagine my excitement when Steve said he had been thinking a lot about us and he wanted to come down and spend an afternoon with us!  Plans did not work out quite as planned and he was two hours late getting started but that did not take any gloss from our day. He wanted to know about taking my sister with us and I said she was confined to her wheel chair and I would not trust myself to take her down the ramp at her home. He reminded me that he has a son at least thirty who has never walked and handling her in her wheel chair would be old stuff to him. We started our excursion at our local restaurant, usually the first thing we think of is food and because he really wanted to treat us to lunch, we agreed because it is a form of charity to allow someone the pleasure of doing something for you.

Margaret "Kork" Sanders

After a long lunch we went to the Farnham Cemetery where his Mother is buried, along with six generations of Jennings relatives. Then we went to Eddy’s cemetery near Hamilton where his father is buried, and a number of my mother’s family.  The whole visit did not hinge on the cemeteries. On a brighter note I made him three dozen cookies of his mother’s favorite oatmeal chocolate chip recipe.  I learned later that he has a problem with sugar but promised to not cheat too much and his son and grandkids would appreciate them. In case  you have one of my cook books the recipe is in it along with a fabulous recipe for peach cobbler that my family loves to make.

The afternoon ended with him taking a picture of each of us in our home and  very warm and special hugs as he departed for Warsaw.  Before I went to bed I was amazed when I checked out my face book account. He had already posted our pictures and expressed the pleasure he experienced with his visit. We need a return engagement any time you can manage a visit to Edgerton.

            

CREAMY BEEF NOODLE COMBO

1 pound ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

1 can (4 oz.) chopped mushrooms

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup celery, sliced

½ cup bell pepper chopped

¼ cup pimiento, chopped

1 cup milk

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups noodles

Cook and stir meat and onion. Drain fat.  Add mushrooms with liquid and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer stirring occasionally until noodles are tender.

               

TOFFEE BARS

1 ½  butter

1 ½ cup brown sugar

2 egg yolks

3 cups flour

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

6 Hershey bars

Mix all ingredients together. Spread in small cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. (About 25 minutes.) Place Hershey bars on top of warm bars and spread. Let cool and slice.

Twenty-three Years of Magic! 9/12/13

Magic Maxine

This week we reach another milestone. Thursday is the 23^rd birthday of Magic Moments!!   That makes 1150 columns.  I do not remember missing a single week.  I have enjoyed all of those years and your positive comments are what kept me trying each week to produce at least one more.  I have told you that when I started, I thought that if I did it for a whole year, I could count it as a successful venture!  Thanks again to all of you.

Last week I participated in a family excursion that turned out to be a great adventure.  Two of my kids called and asked me if I were interested in attending the rodeo at the Fulton County Fair in Wauseon!  My first response was that at my age, I could not navigate the seats in the grandstand without help.  The main factor in wanting my presence was the fact that one of my grandsons was to be one of the bull riders. There were about ten relatives who gathered late afternoon, participated in Fair food, and found our reserved seats in the grandstand.  I was hesitant about going because I need a railing for support to ascend steps and I did not want to hamper anyone else’s enjoyment of the festivities.  I finally gave in to their encouragement and found myself in the midst of people who needed help. My daughter’s father-in-law needs assistance. My daughter-in-law is recovering from a recent knee replacement, a son-in-law is on the edge of leg problems, so I fit in quite well with the group. To qualify for a second ride you have to stay on the bull for a full 8 seconds. When you are watching someone who is important in your life, 8 seconds is an eternity. Ryan’s bull was a nasty one and he was dismounted in 6 seconds  It was a disappointment to him, but to his grandmother it was great when he walked away uninjured. I was glad that I gave in to my family’s urging that I could do it.  The interaction among family for an evening is worth a whole bottle of medicine.

Saturday evening was another joy filled event as we helped another grandson celebrate with an open house at his (new to him) home in Ft. Wayne where he is an elementary teacher.  Many relatives and  friends were his guests at a Taco Bar.   It is so great when family members care about each other.

I am still a firm believer in the fact that you cannot spoil a potato recipe.  These are called Stottsdale Potatoes.   Perhaps from the area that the recipe came.  It will be just as good no matter what we call it.

                        
SCOTTSDALE POTATOES

1 (2 lb. package frozen hash browns, thawed

2 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cups sour cream

1 (10 3/4 oz.) can chicken soup

½ cup onions, chopped

½ cup butter, melted

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups corn flakes cereal, crushed

½ cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter 10 x 7 inch ovenproof glass baking dish. Combine hash browns, cheese, sour cream, soup, onions and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to baking dish. Mix corn flakes 1/2cup melted butter. Sprinkle over potato mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

            
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

1 pound boneless chicken breasts

¾ cup fat free chicken broth

1 can (15 ¼ oz.) pineapple chunks in juice

1 green pepper, cut in thin strips

1 red pepper, cut in thin strips

1 carrot, sliced diagonally

¼ cup vinegar

2 teaspoons vinegar

2 teaspoons sugar

1 tablespoon corn starch

2 tablespoons soy sauce

3 cups hot cooked rice

Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes. Heat chicken broth to boiling. Add chicken. Simmer 10 minutes. Add undrained pineapple chunks, green and red peppers, carrot, vinegar, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Stir corn starch into soy sauce until smooth. Bring to boiling, stirring constantly. Lower heat, cover, simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.

I like Banquet Sweet and Sour Chicken that is made with chicken tenders.  I am going to substitute them for chicken breasts.

It is difficult to think of anything but pleasant thoughts when eating  a homegrown tomato.

Family Time is Always Magic 9/5/13

As we say goodbye to the summer months, I am wondering what makes the time fly by so quickly.   Each season seems so much shorter than when I was a  kid and we waited forever for Christmas to come by again. Summer vacation seemed to be forever and now here the school bells are ringing clear already.  

Since it is a short week, I think this will be a short visit with you since I am already behind schedule.

A few surprise activities filled my long holiday weekend with many pleasure filled hours.  After church on Sunday, since there was nothing planned on my schedule, I came home from church and was casually reading the Sunday paper (with a short nap between sections) when the phone rang. A son and his wife told me that if I were going to be home they were coming to visit me in about an hour and a half.  This brought me to life and I quickly changed clothes from Church attire to more casual fare. Since I was not expecting anyone, I hurriedly filled a box of extra unnecessary things on my kitchen table and quickly put it out of sight and was casually and patiently awaiting company. To my surprise they presented me with a bouquet of beautiful cut flowers.  It was a very pleasant Sunday afternoon.  At nearly supper time, my son said , ”Are you hungry Mom?”  My answer was “What does that have to do with anything? Let’s go eat.”  So we went to the local restaurant for a quick meal, which was easy for me and no dishes to do.

Monday afternoon 7 family members and a friend went to the movie “The Butler”, which was much different that I imagined it would be but I enjoyed it. The day ended with a birthday party for my son-in-law who was entering the Senior citizen zone. The weekend was very low key family oriented, but the kind of magic that I enjoy most.

Now let’s go quickly to the end of summer recipes for which you will find plenty of fresh garden supplies to try out for your menus. Someone was mentioning scalloped cabbage recently.  Hope this recipe is what they were looking for. I have some left over cabbage in my refrigerator so I will be making some this week.

          

SCALLOPED CABBAGE

5 cups crisp-cooked cabbage, well drained

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

Pepper and salt to taste

1 cup milk

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup buttered crumbs

Put well drained cabbage in a buttered 2 quart casserole. Make a white sauce with the butter, flour seasonings and milk. Add cheese and stir until melted. Pour over cabbage and cover with buttered crumbs. Bake in 325 degree oven for 30 minutes.

    

SOUTHERN YELLOW SQUASH CASSEROLE

4 cups yellow squash , slice into 1/4 inch slices, not peeled.

1 medium onion

1 can creamed chicken soup

1 can creamed celery soup

Cracker crumbs of bread crumbs, buttered

Slice squash into ¼ inch slices. Slice onions into rings and cook gently until onion is transparent and squash is tender. Place in casserole dish and mix with soup.  Sprinkle top with buttered cracker or bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes.

My nosey friend was busy a week or so ago when I gave you the recipe for bread pudding. I received two phone calls (at least that many people read the recipe) and informed me that I mentioned the milk in the directions, but had none in listed in the ingredients. Now I am certain that I did it right, so she must have messed with my computer and deleted it before I sent it to the paper.  We will have to have a serious talk again!