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.