Temperature today in the mid 80’s. Almost seems like a cold spell !! These past few days makes me appreciate my air conditioned home almost as much as my automatic washer, dryer and automatic furnace. Aren’t we spoiled? Yet there was something special about those days when we were closer to God and nature than we are now. Maybe the storms are trying to tell us something.
Hope you missed us enough to appreciate our home town paper and all of its benefits. During the break in the publishing schedule I had a magic weekend. It was the scheduled weekend family camping that we have been enjoying for 23 years. As time changes all things, this was a much smaller attendance than we usually have as grandkids have married, moved away and have heavy schedules of their own. But we enjoyed all that could make it. The Friday storms had reduced the temperature greatly for good sleeping on Friday night, but the rest of the weekend was warmer than it would have had to be for greater comfort. On Saturday morning, the log cabin was unoccupied, so we hurriedly asked for occupancy for the rest of the weekend, since it was air conditioned.
All but one of my kids and their spouses attended. My youngest son and some of his family were planning to attend and had everything packed to spend the weekend with us when the storm hit their home in Decatur, damaging a pillar on the front of the house, broken windows and roof damage. We were grateful that there were no physical injuries.
We changed our format this year because of the smaller attendance and had three of our meals catered. It was a great suggestion from a daughter-in-law and was favorably received by everyone with all food being well prepared and served. Another successful annual gathering of our family.
Recently an older, not elderly, gentleman called me and wanted to know if I were interested in a book he had that had a lot of unusual recipes. I responded affirmatively and he delivered it to my home with the suggestion that he would like to have it returned. With the combination of a couple of illnesses in the family, the camping weekend and the hot weather, not to mention that my nosy friend was here and put the book out of my sight, it got lost in the shuffle. This morning after some relief from the heat and me spending several days just existing and not doing my daily routine, I decided that I had better put a few things back in order so my kids would not decide that living alone was to much for their aging mother. As I removed a “stack” of papers, etc. from the top of the printer in my bedroom, there was my forgotten book.
I had two magic moments today. One was a call from a daughter-in-law who was spending the day alone and wanted me to go to lunch with her. I accepted before she had uttered the complete invitation. It was a very special occasion for just the two of us to be out on the town. I came home and was scanning my interesting book and another daughter-in-law stopped in for a visit. The book is Farm Show and has some interesting jokes, anecdotes and unusual recipes. I will give you a couple but you can be glad that I skipped over the ones for Deep Fried Rattlesnake, Castor Oil Cookies and Baked Skunk! There are a few I would like to try before sending them on and it has been interesting reading. I am only half through the magazine.
First I will give you the recipe for a cake that is simple to do and I think you will like it. I didn’t count the calories but it sounds super delicious!
HOLY COW CAKE
I chocolate cake mix
1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1 carton caramel apple dip
1 carton (8 oz.) Cool Whip
1 Nestle’s Crunch bar
Bake cake according to box directions. When done poke holes all over the top. Pour milk over the top and allow to soak in while the cake is warm. Spread caramel over the top and let cool. Layer whipped topping on top with shaved candy bar.
POOR MAN’S DESSERT
12 crackers
3 tablespoons thick jam
2 egg whites, beaten stiff
4 tablespoons sugar
Put some jam on each cracker. Add sugar gradually to the beaten egg whites to make meringue. Cover each cracker with meringue. Place on cookie sheet. Bake in slow oven for 4 minutes, or until browned on top.
Instead of using a milk substitute, try using fruit juice such as pear, apple, peach. Consider also the use of cottage cheese, yogurt, or egg white. Fruit juices make an excellent substitute for the celiac who is both gluten and lactose intolerant.
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