Magic Max's Last Column

This is the last Magic Moments column written by Maxine Sanders. Even though her column is done, her magic moments continue on. 

I hope you all noticed a big hole in the paper last week.  If you didn’t notice, please don’t tell me as it would be a crushing blow to my ego.  Last week was the first time to my knowledge that there was not a Magic Moments column since I began writing over 24 years ago.  This is just one of many changes that my life has seen in the past few weeks.

Another change in my life that I didn’t see coming was having to deal with some health issues. Due to these health issues, I have made the decision that it is time to lay down my pen and stop writing Magic Moments. It has been a wonderful and magical time for me. The magic that I received from each of my loyal fans fills my heart to overflowing.  I want to express my warmest gratitude and deepest appreciation for all you have given to me. If it were not for your encouraging words, notes of appreciation, gifts of recipes and cookbooks and the magic you brought to my life I may have laid down my pen much sooner. 

When I began writing about the magic moments in my life five of my six siblings were still with me. Each of them brought many cherished moments to my life.  As the years have gone by I have had to say goodbye to each one of them.  The most recent goodbye was on March 25 when my sister and best friend, whom we all affectionately referred to as Kork, passed away.  Kork was a special sister and an even better friend.  It is my hope that as my health improves I will have the opportunity to once again pick up my pen to honor her in the manner in which she rightly deserves.

I want to leave you with a recipe that I hope each of you will be sure to make.  It can be made as large as needed, but I do not recommend cutting it in half or leaving out any ingredients.  It is my desire that you share this recipe. It has proven to be one of the best ones I have ever made.

A Perfect Family
1 large house

2-11 people (or more. Eleven worked perfectly for me. These people will be instrumental in seeing that the recipe continues to grow.)

2 cups of animals (We had cats, dogs, geese, goats, chicken, ponies, pigs and cows, but any combination will do. All of our animals were outdoors.  There is no house big enough for me and an indoor pet!)

Oodles and boodles of love

3 quarts of laughter (This tends to multiply and seems like it is too much.  There is NEVER too much laughter. Well, maybe at inappropriate times, such as during weddings and funerals. This can be brought back down to size with the appropriate LOOK.)

1 ½ cups of patience (There will be times you will think you need more.  It is best to rely on the amount the good Lord already gave you!)

4 tablespoons of trust

3 teaspoons of anger/frustration

First, open the house. If it seems too small that is okay; five people are not too many to place in one bedroom. Mix the desired amount of people with the animals carefully watching for allergic reactions. In a separate bowl, stir the love and laughter together. Set aside. Taking each person separately, evenly distribute the patience and trust, making sure that each one gets an equal amount. (Failure to distribute evenly may lead to a different recipe that I do not want to have to share!) Carefully open the bottle of anger/frustration. Using a Q-tip (this may be the best part of the recipe for some), dab small portions of the anger/frustration onto each person. Lastly, take the love and laughter mixture and sprinkle it all over the house, animals and people. Let set until all parts of the recipe are thoroughly combined. 

If this recipe works as well for you as it has for me you will have many more years of magic moments in your life.

Magic Max-isms 3/25/15

In my column last week, I reported that I was a little under the weather.  Unfortunately, the storm cloud is still overhead so I am currently unable to write in my normal prolific style.

Last Sunday, my plans to spend a leisurely day at home ended with an EMS ride and a weeklong stay in the hospital, where I remain as this is being written.  At one point during the week, someone asked who was writing next week's column.  My kids put their heads together and decided that the rest of the world should get to share in the exchange of "Maxine-isms" that they have witnessed all week.  Any one was free to add their own words to the column.

And this is where the kids are taking over the writing so that their mother can continue to rest and recover.  One brother had his own words to share---he would like to use the words "the," "of," "and" and maybe "but" and "from."  They can be used in any order necessary to add to the story. 

The situation was serious as the evening began in the emergency room but sometimes laughter can be the best medicine and there has been no lack of it over the last week in spite of the ups and downs and new health issues that have presented themselves.  Following are bits and pieces of conversations that have played out over the week. 

Nurse:  "Maxine, it looks like you are going to spend the night."

Maxine:  "No, my kids just brought me in here to get checked out."

Nurse:  "We're going to put some patches on you."  (following two EKGs and being hooked up to monitors)

Maxine:  "I have had so many patches, I am going to look like a quilt."

Nurse:  "Do you need any financial counseling?"

Maxine:  "Other than the fact that I do not intend to pay this bill, I am fine."

Nurse:  "Who do you go to for emotional support?"

Maxine:  "I ain't got nobody."

Nurse:  "What about your personal relationships?"

Maxine:  "I've been a widow for 33 years.  I ain't got no relationships."

Nurse:  "If your heart stops, do you want us to do anything to get it started again."

Maxine:  "Not if you're sure I am already dead."

Nurse:  "Can you tell me your name and birth date?"

Maxine:  "I told you that yesterday; you really should remember it by now."

Nurse:  "Can you tell me your name and birth date?"

Maxine:  "I am going to report you for not being able to remember that."

Nurse (on Thursday afternoon):  "Will you still be here tomorrow?"

Maxine:  "I don't know. I was planning to go home last Sunday."

Visitor:  "Try to behave yourself."

Maxine:  "You won't recognize me if I do."

Nurse:  "How's your food look?"

Maxine:  "Not as good as I can do."

Son:  "How are things going?"

Maxine:  "Once I get the cooks trained, it will be better."

Nurse:  "Do you want the light on to eat?"

Maxine:  "Oh, I don't care.  It won't taste any better with the light on."

Maxine:  "It's cold at the west end of town."  

Translation:  "Please close up the gap in the back of my gown."

Daughter:  "The doctor was only in here 45 seconds this morning."

Maxine:  "Yeah, he saw I was alive and he left."

Nurse:  "I am going to take your vitals."

Maxine:  "That's okay as long as you bring them back."

Nurse, wanting to take a pulse:  "May I borrow your finger?"

Maxine:  "No, I'm using it."

We think you get the gist.  Mom has really been a great patient.  She has not complained and has been very appreciative of the care the nurses have given her and doesn't want to be a bother.  In all the years she has written Magic Moments, she has let her humor shine through and has not been too proud to share the silly, embarrassing and absent-minded things that she has done. Humor has been an important tool in celebrating the magic moments in her life as well as in coping with the tragedies and disappointments that life has sent her way.  Her humor has helped to lighten the work of her nurses, helped her children deal with seeing their mother ill, and helped herself to face the fears of dealing with changes in her health and the uncertainties of what is ahead.  It is her hope that through it all, she has also been able to bring a smile and a laugh to someone else.

(Max suffered a mild heart attack and will hopefully be well soon. Unfortunately during her recovery, she lost her sister and friend, Kork. Max and family would appreciate your prayers during this time.)

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies 3/18/2015

I am a little under the weather.  This long, cold, snowy winter has not done me any justice. I am going to include a very simple recipe this week.  It matches how I am feeling and what my capabilities are at this time.  I will never lose my taste for dessert so that is the category that has been selected.

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 Cup of peanut butter

3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding

1 egg

Mix ingredients together to form a soft dough.

Use a medium size cookie scoop to form into balls. Rolling them in sugar, makes them a little more special. Use a fork to crisscross them and smash them down a little. Place an a parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Serves 9.

This recipe is so simple your children can handle it.  I think by spring, I will be able to do the same.  Oh, wait, spring officially arrives this week. I might have to wait until next week to tackle it.

Lenten Kindness 2/25/15

My heart usually sings a merry tune when February is over. To me that means that winter is on its way out!  I certainly hope that the weather man cooperates with my thinking. We have had enough snow for one winter, but can count our blessings that we are not in Boston. I have been house bound so much this winter I feel that I should wear a name tag whenever I go to the grocery store. I have been attending church on Saturday night so many times I am afraid they have assigned my usual seat on Sunday morning to someone else.

Magic was pretty scarce at my house this week except for a surprise visit from my farmer and his wife and the kindness of neighbors who kept my sidewalk and driveway cleared.  I used to enjoy doing it myself but those days are behind me. Also, this year the drifts were too deep for my little snow “pusher” to make any impression.

This is the season of Lent.  Remember that it is more important than what you give up and do not do. We will be judged also on what we do for others in need and if we treat those with whom we come in contact and family members with honesty and kindness.

Since I am out of magical happenings and still have to do several things yet this evening, (I got my nose in a book and couldn’t get it out so a few necessities just stayed undone) guess we well turn to recipes.  How about a couple of casseroles that will carry us through the remaining cold days?

            

HAMBURGER SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

1 pound hamburger

1 ½ cup cooked spaghetti

1 can tomato soup

1 small onion chopped

12 slices Velveeta cheese

2 teaspoons butter

1 teaspoon chili powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown onion and hamburger. Cook spaghetti and drain. Add spaghetti, soup, 6 slices of cheese and seasonings to hamburger. Stir until cheese melts. Put in casserole dish with 6 slices of cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

            

BAKED CHICKEN CASSEROLE

2 cups diced cooked chicken

2 cups diced celery

2 tablespoons chopped onion

½ cup chopped toasted almonds

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ cup water chestnuts, sliced

½ cup grated cheddar cheese

potato chips, crushed

Combine all ingredients except cheese and chips. Place in small buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese and crushed chips. Bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly.

Keep smiling, spring is on its way.

Snow and Roses 2/19/15

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies by Taste of Home

After this brutal weekend I hope we can safely say that there will be only 6 more weeks of winter!  It was suggested that I not venture out for church, so I had my own private devotions with the aid of my television.  It is not the same but it fills the void created by staying home. I will do so for several more days according to the weather forecast.

I hope your Valentine’s Day was an uplifting day when you received and passed on the opportunity of letting people you love know they are important to you. Saturday was a real bummer weather-wise with a level 3 emergency declared, so that meant staying put was the order of the day.  I was sitting quietly in my lounge chair mentally assessing the probability of no company at all.  Imagine my surprise when the front door bell rang.  Standing there was a delivery man from a local nursery with a big smile on his face and a bouquet in his hand. Before snatching it quickly I ask him if he were not aware of a “level 3”.  His reply was, “Tell my boss that”.  

I was so curious to find out who sent me flowers, and I ripped off the tissue paper only to find a folded pink paper with my name and address on it. There was no card, so I unfolded, not too gently, the paper that was included.  There in big letters was the name of a Vietnam veteran who spent several months in action with my oldest son, Jim.  They formed an unusual friendship which has lasted all of these years. He lives in Los Angeles but comes to family weddings, etc., so we consider him family, too.  The flowers consisted of red roses, red buds, red carnations and greenery in a beautiful Valentine’s vase. It was a fantastic gesture which brought a few tears to my eyes.  A magic moment, indeed. It is still bringing pleasant thoughts as I see it daily. I will probably keep it on my dining room table until the red roses are dried and brown!  Thank you again, Carlos.

Since I have been housebound with just me, there is nothing else exciting to write about so l will just go to recipes. I have a new, to me, cookie recipe ready to bake for myself.  It is different than my favorite oatmeal, chocolate chip recipe, but it sounds as if it will be special.  I clipped it from a magazine a long time ago and do not remember which one, but the recipe has miraculously survived in my pile, I mean file of recipes to try.

            

PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL COOKIES

1 ½ cups shortening

1 ½ cups peanut butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons soda

1 teaspoon salt

Cram shortening and peanut butter. Add brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Combine oats, flour, soda and salt. Mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. (I could be tempted to add some chopped pecans!)

I have a cook book similar to the one I wrote about a couple of weeks ago. It has no date and has a small number of recipes but some of them intrigued me. Also some amounts suggest that they are from a number of years ago. Also directions are minimal. This one has possibilities if you are looking for ideas for meatless meals for Lent.

            

TUNA FISH POTATO CHIP CASSEROLE

1 ½ cups crushed potato chips

1 can tuna fish (I prefer Albacore)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup milk

Pour all ingredients into a buttered casserole dish. Mix together and top with more crushed potato chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Here is a very simple combination that you could whip up while preparing the rest of your meal. I have a hard time stretching my imagination around the combination of cherry pie filling and mandarin oranges. Make your own decision.

            

PINK SALAD

½ cup coconut

1 can cherry pie filling

1 ½ cups miniature marshmallows

1 can Mandarin oranges

1 ½ cup whipped topping

Mix and refrigerate.

Keep remembering that Spring is just around the corner.

Retreat Magic 2/12/15

Last week we had a magic Day!  My "little" sister was celebrating her 87^th birthday.  As my son-in-law says to me in our many talks, "This is for your ears only". She would probably prefer that you think she was much younger.  Her sons from Hebron, Kentucky and Ft. Wayne and her local daughter were gathering at her home to help her have a great day. They were furnishing the meal and invited and picked their Aunt Mary and me up at our homes, a courtesy offered because of our age and the abundance of snow. Following a tasty lunch of lasagna, salad, mixed fruit, garlic toast and Angel Food cake smothered in fruit pie filling and laden down with whipped topping, we couldn’t move so we just sat at the table and enjoyed each other.  It was a magic time just enjoying family and ended too soon. Margaret, may you continue to manage in  your own home and many thanks to Rita, Mike and Doug, for including two other little old ladies in your celebration.  It is fantastic to be included.

Saturday was a great spiritual day. My daughter was on a retreat team for the church at Assumption on route 20. She invited any of us who cared to attend. Only one daughter was free to go so she supplied my transportation. The theme of the retreat was “The Heart of a Woman”, with many scripture verses pointing out the place of women in God’s master plan of creation. It was so uplifting to share our faith and “God moments” with 40 other women.  Anita had asked me to share my “ Faith Story” but she had me at the end of the day.  After several other talks, I wondered “How can I follow those?”  But the Holy Spirit was with me and I held their attention which made me comfortable, making it a magic experience.

When I arrived home I had a message from my son who lives in Decatur. He and his wife and daughter who live in Indianapolis wanted to come visit me on Sunday morning and attend church with me. We had stopped for 5:00 o’clock Mass in Bryan on our way home to accommodate my daughter’s schedule. So they changed their plans and attended church on their way at a later hour and arrived at my house a little before eleven. I knew they had planned to take me to Rita’s for lunch, but Keith’s birthday was the “day after Kork’s” (a family joke we do not let  him forget from his childhood). When he was still at home before enlisting in the army, he loved potato soup with rivels and cheese. None of his family will eat it, so I made a recipe of it and was just finishing it when they arrived. He was happy for the special attention and took an ample supply home with him. Much joy can be found in the little unexpected, inexpensive incidents of special thoughts of caring.

I was so excited when I found a recipe for “vegetable meatloaf” for those of you who prefer to abstain from meat. Imagine my disappointment when the last item was one-half pound of ground beef!  Guess you need that for it to be MEAT loaf! It sounds good and a bit different so I decided to use it anyway. Also, it is a recipe for two people.

          

VEGETABLE MEATLOAF

1 slice bread, torn into small pieces

1 egg, beaten

¼ cup shredded carrot

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper

2 tablespoons finely chopped celery

Salt, pepper, garlic powder

5 tablespoons ketchup

½ pound ground beef

Combine bread, egg, carrot, celery, onion, green pepper, ketchup and seasonings. Add beef and mix well. Form into a loaf and place in a 6 inch by 3 inch pan. Reserve some of the ketchup for on top if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Serve with baked potatoes topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

This is one I have never heard of but it is in a 1990 cookbook, so maybe I lead a sheltered life!

          

CONFETTTE CHICKEN

1 ½ cups chicken, cooked and cubed

2 cans (14 ½  oz. each) seasoned tomatoes/onions

1 green pepper, chopped

Combine ingredients and season to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.

Keep looking for magic. It will appear in unexpected places.

Almond Bark No Bake Cookies 2/5/15

Why does the weather man have to be so accurate when he predicts something so drastic?  I was certain that the worst of this would go north or south of us!  There must have been a bit of doubt because while I was out for a meal at the down town restaurant, I took advantage of the offer of going to church at 6:00 Saturday evening.  When I opened one eye this morning at the time I would have been leaving home I glanced out the window and ascertained that by golly this time it happened just like was predicted. So far today has been quite monotonous.  I made one phone call and had a return call from the same person. That is the total of my social activity.  To liven up my day, I cooked some beef and noodles and made some instant potatoes for my lunch. I fortified the potatoes with a large chunk of butter and used hot milk instead of water.  Not too bad!! I even watched a college basketball game.  The one I picked “just because” ended up winning so maybe that was my magic for the day.

With my isolated activities I have had a hard time running into much magic so think I will go back to one of my Christmas parties, really to a month or so before that.  At our regular monthly Homemakers Club meeting we had a guest speaker who was explaining their new program for pre-preschool kids-3 year olds!!  After her presentation she asked if there were any questions about the program.  I hate to let an opportunity go by without talking, so when no one else said anything I said I just wanted to make a statement.  I grew up in a home where we had only necessities, good parents but almost no toys, played jacks on the dining room table with hickory nuts and no ball! We had to use our imagination to fill our play hours and free time from daily chores. We didn’t even have kindergarten and all of my brothers and sisters turned out quite well.  She responded with the statement that I had my own answer—“good parents” who handled our situation well.  All kids aren’t so lucky. I have a secret pal who was tremendous with her gifts to me during the year. When I received my Christmas gift there was a bag with 6 or so small bags inside. In one was a Slinky, in another a bag of marbles, and a game of “jacks” with Two balls!  That is all that I recall that was in the bags.  I thought it was a very magical moment and thought she was trying to even the score years ago when I had her name.  I had purchased a flat wooden angel with golden wires for wings and halo, about 10 to 12 inches tall.  Inscribed on the angel were the words “God loves you and I am trying!!” She recently built a new home and we were guests there.  She pointed it out and said, “Yes, Max, there is my angel.”  My daughter asked for the marbles and I intend to someday see if I can mentally resurrect at least part of the game of jacks, now that I have two balls to bounce. I hope she didn’t get the marbles because she thought I had “lost mine”!!

I think that is a good place to return to food.  I had two soups picked out because of the weather, but by the time the paper comes out, I hope at least part of this snow has left us, at least most of the coldest weather is just a memory. If not I will look up those recipes again.  I am saving one for me to make anyway. One I am using today was supposed to be a meal for a bit over a dollar. You can tell it is an old cookbook because the seasonings would cost you more than that today.

            

UPSIDE DOWN MEAT PIE

1 pound ground beef

½ cup chopped celery

½ cup chopped onion

¼ cup chopped green pepper

1 can (10 ¾ oz.)condensed tomato soup

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

1 ½ cups biscuit baking mix

1/3 cup water

3slices Velveeta Cheese, halved diagonally

Over medium heat, cook beef, celery, onion and green pepper until meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.  Drain fat. Stir in soup and mustard. Transfer to a greased 9 inch pie plate. Combine biscuit mix and water until soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 9 inch circle. Place over the meat mixture and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for five minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen biscuit dough. Invert onto a serving platter. Arrange cheese slices in a pinwheel pattern. Garnish with green pepper rings if desired.

            

ALMOND BARK NO BAKE COOKIES

1 package (24 oz.) almond bark

1 cup peanut butter

8 cups Captain Krunch cereal

1 cup salted peanuts

Melt almond bark according to package directions. (I like to melt it in oven at 200 degrees.) Add peanut butter and mix. Remove from heat and stir in cereal and peanuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper.

Our county is only at level 2 emergency now. Guess they didn’t need my opinion.  See you next spring.

Miracle Soup 1/29/15

I was thinking how fast the month of January was whizzing by until the snow started piling up this afternoon.  When I typed in the date, I felt a ripple of joy at the number of winter days we have behind us. A bigger dilemma is what in the world will I write about this week.  After the favorable response I received for last week’s (which I enjoyed doing immensely) I am way out in left field for a follow up. Guess you will have to understand that an occasional upbeat one is an exception and you can’t expect to get one every week.

The closest I can come to any magic in the ordinary things of an ordinary day was this morning as we were walking from the church to the open house at St. Mary’s school, one of my farmer friends from my years of employment at the elevator asked ME to help HIM across the patchy snow and ice covered street! I knew he was making friendly conversation but it made my day.  

When your mind is as blank as mine seems to be, the best thing to do is go to food. So I have resorted to one of my old cookbooks to find something that will brighten up these cold blustery days that are forecast for the coming week. Let’s start with a soup recipe. It is a favorite of those who are trying to lose weight, but any kind of soup is good on a cold day.

                    

MIRACLE SOUP

1 package of onion soup mix           

4 cups water                                          

2 carrots, finely chopped                  

1 cup chopped mushrooms

1 cup chopped broccoli

1 cup chopped spinach

2 celery stalks, chopped                   

½ green pepper, chopped                

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

garlic powder, salt, pepper, etc.

Combine the onion soup mix and water. Bring to a boil and add all other ingredients.

Season with your favorite seasonings. Simmer for at least one hour.

For those of you who want something more substantial on a cold winter day, try

this bean casserole.

THREE BEAN CASSEROLE

1 can (14 oz.) pork and beans

1 can (14 0z.) lima beans

1 can (14 oz.) kidney beans

1 can (10 oz.) mushroom pieces, drained

8 bacon slices

2 medium onions chopped

¼ cup vinegar

1 cup brown sugar

Combine beans and mushrooms. Place in 2 ½ quart casserole. In a skillet, fry bacon until crisp. Remove slices and crumble. Reserve 2 tablespoons of drippings and saute onions. Return crumbled bacon to skillet and add vinegar and brown sugar. Cook slowly until thickened. Pour over bean mixture and combine well. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

In case anyone is looking for me the next week, I will be out looking for some magic. Also I should write it down!

Magical Edgerton Memories 1/22/15

Magic moments or a trip down memory lane??  It all started with an ordinary stop at the customer counter at the local Post Office. As I asked for a weight on a heavier than usual envelope to see if I needed extra postage, our new post master mentioned that he had something he thought I would be interested in!  I am not certain if it were my white hair hinting at my advanced age or if he might know about my interest in cooking and new recipes.  It seems that he had inadvertently become the owner of an old, old recipe book originating in Edgerton. It is unusual but he could not find a date in the whole publication.  He promised to bring it in to show me some day. One day he proudly had it in his possession, having rescued it from a box of things his wife had ready to go to the recycling bin, remonstrating her with the comment ” You can’t throw THAT away.”

I still can’t comprehend why he would give it to ME.  There were conditions attached that he did not want it back but he wanted to see what I wrote about it. I have been procrastinating about it not knowing just how to compile my thoughts and feelings. The time has arrived and after much thought and  mind changing here is what I have to offer.

The title of the book is “THE BEST IN COOKING”  in  Edgerton. It was promoted by the Edgerton Business and Professional Women’s Club. I knew personally or knew the names of most of the ladies who had contributed recipes. A big share of them have gone on to their eternal reward.  The list of advertisers brought back so many memories as I can remember when they were active businesses in our home town.  The only advertiser that I could think of to ask about when he thought it might have been printed was Karl’s Sinclair Service where the Huntington Bank Branch is now located. So I casually entered the antique shop where you can usually find Karl behind the counter and asked him if I could “pick his brain”.  He was very co-operative and said if he had advertised his station in this book it would have had to be in the  very early 1960’s as that is when he sold the business.  That is as close as I could come to a date. 

The list of most of the businesses with ads in the book really took me down Memory Lane because I can remember all of them as active Edgerton businesses.  How many can you remember?  The Edgerton State Bank (now Huntington), Bob’s Dairy Bar, Moffett’s Rexall Store, Gruver’s Market, (We had three grocery stores then.), Vic Miller’s Ford Sales, Day’s Furniture, Bible’s Sohio, Dolly’s Restaurant,  Edgerton Coin Laundry, Smart Shop (women’s apparel) Edgerton Lumber (on Depot Street), Day and Day (marketers of Sinclair products), Krill Funeral Home (been here ever since  1875!) and Fisher’s Implement Co. (Where the American Legion is now located and where I had my first job out of high school as bookkeeper for 25 cents an hour! That was more money than I ever had!)

Some of the ladies submitting recipes were important people in my life. Frances Sanders, my mother-in-law, who taught me many cooking tricks, Ethel Mowry, Uchrista Maxwell, Lucile Palmer, Home Economics teacher at Edgerton High School for many years,  Kate Lees, Hazel Brown, Post Mistress for many years, Harriet Fritch, Kathryn Flegal, Doris Flowers, Audrey Stark, Rose Walley, Mrs. Paul D. Krill, Bernice Schooley, my little brother’s school teacher, Sue Dietsch, better known now as Mrs. John Close,  Frances Dietsch, Mrs. Earl Landel, and Margaret Sanders, my little sister.

To honor a couple of others, I am using their recipe because I am tempted to try both of them.  One I will not include was from Odelia Wickerham which started out with 12 pounds of liver!!!

Now on to the other ideas. The first one is from Ruby Gruver whom I knew most of my life. When we both lived around Butler she was one of the big girls in my life. When we both ended up in Edgerton I admired her so much because she always looked as if she were immaculately groomed for a special occasion. I sneak down the alley to the grocery store, hoping no one will see me because I didn’t prepare for being out of the house!

            

CHINESE HAMBURGER HASH

Submitted by Ruby Gruver

1 pound ground beef

2 onions, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

1 can mushroom soup

1 can chicken soup

1 ½ cups water

½ cup uncooked rice

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ teaspoon pepper

Brown ground beef and onion in a small amount of shortening. Add other ingredients. Put in a casserole dish. Cover and bake at 35 degrees for 30 minutes. Cover with crisp Chinese noodles and bake for 15 minutes more.

The next recipe is similar to the one I had to bake when I was in 4-H in the mid 1930’s.

            

GINGERBREAD

Submitted by Nora Hopkins

2 eggs

¾ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup pure New Orleans molasses

¾ cup melted shortening

2 ½ cups flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons ginger

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cloves

1 cup boiling water

Beat eggs, add the sugar, molasses and melted shortening. Add dry ingredients which have been mixed. Add the boiling water last. Put in greased baking pan or muffin cups.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

This brought to mind many people whom I do not ordinarily think about and was a very pleasant walk down memory lane.  Thank you for thinking of me, Chris.

Creamy Strawberry Pie 1/15/15

Gee whiz! Looks as if we have used up half of January! Don’t know where it went so quickly, but that means we are that much closer to spring. After being house bound for a week except a short trip to keep a doctor’s appointment, my mind has little resource to dwell upon for a column this week. So I will have to resort to a left over magic moments from last week. 

One of my grandsons has finished his studies for a doctorate degree in theology from Notre Dame, but has not finished his thesis, (still has 18 months to do that). The only job he could find that would support his family is in North Carolina where he is working in his field in a very large parish. He and his wife are both from Kendallville and were on a week’s vacation.  I knew they had come home for their family Christmas celebrations on the 26^th. They have five children, whom I get to see seldom and the newest one, Toby who is four months old, I had never met.  I was thrilled to get a phone call last Friday asking if I were going to be home on Saturday. They were coming through Edgerton to visit an uncle. Praise the Lord, that put me on their list of important people and created a very magic hour for me. I was prepared for a short, but precious visit and was pleasantly surprised when he asked me if they could use my oven.  I quickly responded “Certainly, but there will be a small fee!”  Their family is on a very strict diet and they had prepared a large casserole that was on their acceptable menu. They all took off their coats, the kids found my toy box and we settled in the living room.  I got to hold Toby, who quickly gave me a wide smile, then slowly just accepted being on my lap.  Evie, who is four drew me a picture with a red colored pencil of a girl with a triangle dress and stick arms and legs with her  name printed across the top of the small heart shaped note paper. I still have it on my entertainment center with some family pictures. What a great day for a great grandmother to be important enough for a family to include me in their busy schedule. Thanks, Aaron and Lindsey.

After a wicked week of weather, and being out for a couple of hours on Saturday with the wind chill an unbelievable below zero reading, I decided I would just stay home from church on Sunday. I haven’t had my car out for a couple of weeks. When I got up this morning too late to get to church, I notice a very agreeable temperature and decided I should have made different plans. I don’t remember missing Sunday Liturgy since I have lived in Edgerton (32 years). After I ate my oatmeal and cinnamon, I turned to EWTN and noticed a priest talking.  I later realized it was a homily at a Mass. So I sat in my chair and reverently followed the rest of the liturgy.

I was so comfortable in my lounge chair cuddled up in my favorite throw that I received for Christmas from my son and bonus daughter. The next thing I knew I had had quite a lengthy nap. By the time I decided I would get around and put away my Christmas decorations I realized that Pope Frances was celebrating the Mass at the Sistine Chapel in Rome and was baptizing 33 babies! Sunday was the Feast of the Baptism of Christ and was a significant day for the baptisms. Until he had included all of the individual attention due each child it was a 2 ½ hour celebration. The time passed quickly like the first half of January. That made over three hours of very special liturgy that I would have missed if I had gone to church at 8:30 because I would not have turned my TV on. Hopefully I will be forgiven, but I possibly used up some of my penance that I thought I had over stocked!!

Are you still interested in food after so much good stuff during the holidays? I found that I still need my three meals a day. I am trying to cut down on calories, even if my stomach says it is time for some food. I found a soup recipe that will fill that requirement and it says it is very easy and quick to make. Also, soup is a very nice comfort food when the weather is nasty as it is supposed to be later in the week.

              

HAM AND BEAN SOUP

2 medium carrots, sliced

2 celery ribs, chopped

½ cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons butter

4 cans (15 ½ oz. each) great northern beans

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups cubed, fully cooked  ham

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon minced garlic

1 bay leaf

In a large pan, sauté the carrots, celery and onion in butter. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook for 15 minutes or until well heated.  Discard bay leaf before serving.

There is never a time that desserts are not needed, or at least, not appreciated.

           

CREAMY STRAWBERRY PIE

1 package (10 oz.) frozen sliced, strawberries

1 package (3 oz.) strawberry gelatin

2 cups vanilla ice cream

1 ( 9 inch) baked pastry shell

Thaw and drain strawberries into  a I cup measuring cup. Reserve juice. Add enough water to the juice to measure 1 cup. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in gelatin until dissolved. Add ice cream, stir until blended. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or just until thickened. Fold in strawberries. Pour into baked pastry shell. Refrigerate until firm. Garnish with fresh strawberries if desired.

Wishing all of you a great year with only good things and many magic moments where you least expect them.

Making Magical Memories 1/8/15

Great Grandma Max and Everleigh

As the Christmas season draws to a close, may the spirit of Christmas remain in your hearts forever. Hopefully your Christmas was as special as you had hoped. Also, hope you missed us last week as all factions of THE EARTH were on a planned vacation.

As usual, my Christmas was very special, filled with many magic moments!  I received more gifts than I deserved, but do not tell anyone and maybe it will happen again next year! I really do not know which special moment I want to pass on to you today. I have changed my mind several times, but that privilege is now past. Let’s start with the usual gathering of all of my family for their annual gathering at Mike an Becky’s. This year there was a smaller crowd, due to conflicts with schedules, illness and distance. But it was still a very special day for those of us who were there. (Seventy some. I didn’t count, but that is a figure I heard mentioned.) The day after Christmas my nephew and his wife picked up the tradition of a family breakfast started by my sister and her husband.  Since my sister’s failing health she could do it no longer so Mark and Cindy graciously decided to do it at their home which was once my family’s home for 20 years. That makes it more special as it seems like going home to us. Thanks again, Mark and Cindy.

That same day another very special magic experience came to fruition.  Many months ago I asked one of my grandsons if there were anything of mine that he would like to have. His answer was that he was not a keeper of “things” but he liked to create memories. When he was in the fourth grade at school they had a lesson baking bread with the recipe simplified for a child to do it.  He had asked me to bake bread with him. I said “Oh, Dana, let’s wait until I retire.”  So, on the Friday night that I retired I got a call from him asking me if we were going to bake bread on Saturday! Nothing was any further from my plans, but I decided that a child’s wishes were more important. So the next day we made a fabulous loaf of whole wheat bread, but more important we created long lasting memories. That was 24 years ago.  His wishes were that I would let him bring his daughter, who is three, to my home and bake bread with her!  We have been too long in making it happen but it came to fruition the day after Christmas.  If possible it was more magic filled than the first experience. Perhaps because of my age and the interest of perpetuating the experience to another generation. Thanks, Dana and Everleigh for making it such a great day. Maybe we should think more about making memories than buying presents.

Saturday created a dilemma in my day. I was searching in my pantry cupboard for an idea for lunch. I came across an envelope of gravy mix which was a mite past the expiration date.  I quickly prepared it only to wonder what I was going to serve it on.  My mind turned to biscuits, but I had failed to replenish my supply of biscuit mix. I did not want to peel potatoes. If I were going to throw it away, I should have done it before I added the milk and cooked it! So I turned to my favorite cook book and looked for a biscuit recipe from scratch. I found one that is different than most I have seen so the next thing I knew I was mixing the ingredients. I was favorably impressed with the outcome enough to make up for the bother of rolling and cutting, then washing the extra equipment. Hope you are tempted to try it.  It beats prepared mixes! After a meal of two biscuits smothered in gravy, I had a warm biscuit with butter, crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam for dessert! (the jam was sugar free!)

       

CLOUD BISCUITS

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup shortening (I used butter flavored Crisco)

1 beaten egg

2/3 cup milk

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening. Combine beaten egg and milk. Add to flour mixture. Stir with meat fork until dough follows fork around the bowl. Place on floured surface and roll or pat to 3/4 inch thickness. Cut with a biscuit cutter.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake  12 to 14 minutes at 400 degrees.  Makes 9 biscuits.

The next recipe caught my eye because it has no sugar substitute. I did not make it but it has possibilities, even for those of you who are not watching your sugar.

          

DIABETIC BANANA BARS

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup mashed bananas

1 egg

¼ cup peanut butter

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup diced dates or dried apricots

1 cup raisins

Mix flour, soda and baking powder. Mix together bananas, egg, peanut butter, milk and vanilla. Add to flour mixture. Add dates and raisins. Put in a 9 x 12 inch baking pan, bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until desired doneness.

Remember next year to substitute some memories for some presents!