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.