Friday, July 31, 2009

Love those blueberries!

blueberriesHealth Benefits of Blueberries: Nutrition and more Nutrition


Blueberries are rich in Vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene as well as rich in the minerals potassium, manganese, magnesium. They are very high in fiber and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. But this is just the tip of the nutritional iceberg, for recent studies tell us that of all fresh fruits and vegetables, blueberries provide the most health-protecting antioxidants, those valuable elements which prevent cancer-causing cell damage and may limit the changes wrought by age related diseases.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Have you ever heard of a Brown Bobby?

I'm doing this post per request...

Gr'ma Mary King I have been blessed to inherit a special kitchen 'appliance' from my mother - who inherited it from my dad's mother.  This is a picture of her holding my firstborn - daughter, Deb ~ a month before grandma went to heaven.

This appliance is called a "Brown Bobby Machine."  It has a cloth-covered cord...that should give you a clue to how old it is.

My grandparents purchased this little machine about 1910.  My grandmother made the 'greaseless donuts' and my dad and his siblings sold them door to door, in little cartons, similar to our egg carton today.

bb machineThis is a picture of the machine ~ it's similar to a waffle iron and makes 6 donuts at a time.

I wasn't able to get a clear picture of the metal plate on the bottom front of the base, but this is what it reads...
BROWN BOBBY

Greaseless Doughnut Machine

Equipped with hold-heet elements

Food Display Machine Corp.

6 Amps  Chicago, USA  105-120 volts


They're really not greaseless ~ they're just not fried in oil like a 'normal' doughnut ~ they’re baked!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Our own Patriotic Tea Party

Oh what fun we had making memories at an "All-American Girls" tea party I recently hosted for 2 of my granddaughters and 4 of their friends.  Just wanted to share a few pictures with you...


Use a pretzel rod for the flagpole - jelly belly's to make a waving flag. 


We enjoyed star shaped sandwiches and bubble gum and raspberry teas..dessert stack tea party 0709
We wore hats - We presented cookies in patriotic cupcake papers using all the patriotic placemats & dishes in the house. 

We said the Pledge of Allegiance and the girls enjoyed this 'teamwork' project by pushing dixie cups through our chain link fence - we're leaving it there for as long as it lasts.fence flag 0709


Linked to Recipe of the Week
                     Mop it up Monday
             Mix it up Monday
            Totally Tasty Tuesday
Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Memorial Day
           WOW Me Wednesday
                  Creative Thursday
             Weekend Potluck

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

First Things First


credit: chaps1

Summer is such a busy time of year. I've always been one who tries ( notice, I said TRIES) to keep a tidy home. But as grandkids, and the computer, have come into my life, I'm leaning more and more on the thought that expresses...

My home is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy.
I believe I've become wiser as I mature, and keeping a clean home all the time, isn't nearly as important to me as it once was. This poem has been on my mind, and I wanted to share with you.

First things First...

[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignleft" width="193" caption="credit: chaps1"]credit: chaps1[/caption]

Summer is such a busy time of year.  I've always been one who tries ( notice, I said TRIES) to keep a tidy home.  But as grandkids, and the computer, have come into my life, I'm leaning more and more on the thought that expresses...

My home is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy.
I believe I've become wiser as I mature, and keeping a clean home all the time, isn't nearly as important to me as it once was.  This poem has been on my mind, and I wanted to share with you.



Dust If You Must



Dust if you must.

But wouldn't it be better,

To paint a picture, or write a letter,

Bake a cake, or plant a seed?


Ponder the difference between want and need.





Dust if you must.

But there is not much time

With rivers to swim and mountains to climb!

Music to hear, and books to read,

Friends to cherish and life to lead.





Dust if you must.

But the world's out there

With the sun in your eyes,

The wind in your hair,

A flutter of snow, a shower of rain.

This day will not come round again.





Dust if you must.

But bear in mind,

Old age will come and it's not kind.

And when you go, and go you must,

You, yourself, will make more dust.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even though my 'baby' is 31, just the mere thought of this short 'ditty' brings me to tears....because it's packed with truth!


Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow,
For babies grow up we learn to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

Take time to enjoy your summer...and the most important things in life -
family & friends!

And remember to keep FIRST THINGS FIRST. =D



LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN, LOVE MUCH

Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Better Baker - Leader Enterprise - July 2009 - Beans

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people stay for a while and leave their footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.

Friends are God’s way of taking care of us.

Life is all about relationships. Spouses, Children, Friends, Family, God.  Each one demands your time,your heart. You may be connected by blood relationships, or you may simply be bosom buddies. You may not communicate regularly, but when you reconnect with a true friend it’s as if you’ve never been apart because your hearts are always linked.

There are gaps in your hearts that only a friend can fill. If we’re fortunate enough, some family members become friends, and oftentimes, some friends become family.

It’s vitally important to spend quality time with friends. There are days when you simply must MAKE the time in your busy lives to connect, because it’s always so worth your time and effort. Even if it’s an email or phone call over many miles that separate you.

The sweet memories you make when you reunite, long distance or face to face, live on forever, even after one of those friends has passed on. Nothing can warm your heart more than to recall the voice of a friend, or to remember their laugh when you last talked.
There are people whom one loves immediately and forever. Even to know they are alive in the world with one is quite enough.  ~ Nancy Spain
Fortify yourself with a flock of friends! You can select them at random, write to one, dine with one, visit one, or take your problems to one. There is always at least one who will understand, inspire, and give you the lift you need at the time. ~ George Matthew Adams

Authentic friendship is not superficial, surface-level chit chat. It’s genuinely sharing the deepest gut-level thoughts of your heart. A friend is someone who knows all about you, and likes you anyway.

How blessed you are if you have a myriad of friends - you can run to one when you’re up or down, knowing they will willingly multiply your joy, or divide your sorrow. Even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

A favorite scripture of mine is Prov. 18:24 -"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly.." If you feel like you don’t have friends, why not make an effort to befriend someone? You may brighten their lonely days in ways you could never have imagined.

Take time to listen or share a meal with someone. Those little things may be a very big thing in someone else’s life.

To have a friend, be a friend.

Maybe you have been hurt in the past,so you withdraw and are afraid of revealing your true self to someone else. Dredge up some courage-open up reach out to another person. You may discover something wonderful that has been missing in your life.

Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.

Hubby and I recently enjoyed a day trip with Evelyn’s Excursions. She has a number of day trips planned for the summer. Think of someone you’ve been wanting to visit, ask them to take a trip with you, and you can enjoy time away and each other. Oh what fun!

I recently gave a tea party for two of our granddaughters, Charlie & Chloe, and 4 of their friends. Since we were having the party in July,we decided on an "All American Girl" theme. We did all the decorations in red, white & blue. We enjoyed bubble gum tea with star shaped sandwiches, recited the pledge of allegiance and enjoyed sharing knock knock jokes..

I would love to know my grandchildren would be blessed, as I am, to stay connected to some school-day chums many years after graduation.

In my circle of friends, I’m known as the party giver. I once invited friends over for a tea party, to celebrate the fact I just got new dishes! We all wore hats and slippers,and shared our favorite book. What a fun memory! We love to share funny stories or embarrassing moments. Laughter is good medicine for the soul!

I’ve planned for us to watch a comedic movie when we’re all together, but somehow we haven’t managed to find the time because we manage to muster enough giggles on our own.

I’ve hosted several "Girlfriend Parties" over the years,and the memories linger on. I usually ask them to bring a dish that begins with the first letter of their first name. It was fun to see what kinds of dishes they could come up with..
Roxanna’s Raspberry Bars..

Sandy’s shrimp..

Mary’s Mexican salad, etc.


It adds a unique touch and is a great conversation piece also.

I have a lovely friend who is always willing to open her beautiful 7,000 - sq. ft. home to us,  so we all enjoy a couple of hours breezing through, gawking at the special family and personal touches she has there. It’s part of our ‘entertainment’.

Some friends make you feel richer than if you’d just had a sweepstakes check delivered to your door. Sometimes the benefits of having friends isn’t just about the relationship, but the life lessons we learn. Some of the best lessons we can learn from each other are simply how to be a friend.

The recipe I’m sharing this month is one that my daughter-in love, Kym, brought to one of my Girlfriend parties, and everyone asked for the recipe. It's also the same one that I will be serving in front of the Leader Enterprise office for Bean Days.  I do hope you’ll stop by and have a taste. I look forward to seeing many of you face to face then.

Appropriately,this is what I fixed for my husband Ron,whose nickname is BEAN, for Father’s Day, and all our adult children enjoyed it too.

Remember..

Friends are one of the most important ingredients in this recipe called life.

KRAUT ‘N’ BEANS

1-40-oz. Jar great northern beans
1 qt. (4 cups) sauerkraut, drained
1 pkg. Polish kielbasa sausage, cut up
1 cup packed brown sugar (or less)
3 T. Ketchup
Chopped onions, to taste

Mix all together and bake at 350 for about 3 hrs. stirring occasionally. Mix it up the night before if you want and refrigerate. Can simmer on low in crockpot for 6 - 8 hrs.

Enjoy a wonderful summer.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Delicious Recipes with Ranch Dressing

I was recently thinking about my favorite meal....

Roast beef, cooked with taters, onions, carrots and cabbage - and how I love eating it with ranch dressing poured over everything.  I use ranch dressing in my kitchen often and thought maybe I could inspire you to try it in a new dish or two.

I have purchased a 16-oz. plastic container of dry dressing mix, because I do like using more than the recipes call for....

My friend Sandy has these ready-to-serve in her kitchen all the time.


pretzels
RANCH PRETZELS

2# mini pretzels
1 (12 oz) bottle Orville Redenbacher butter-flavored oil
1 pkt. (1 oz) ranch dressing mix, dry


Place pretzels in large 2 gal. ziploc bag (or I use a 13 gallon garbage bag - unused of course) and pour oil over. Shake bag to cover pretzels evenly with oil - sprinkle dressing mix over and shake again until mixed well. Let set overnight - keep in a sealed container. These are very tasty. Even folks who don't like pretzels have asked for the recipe. I've given these as gifts many times also.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tips to Help Manage Your Household

cottage
I have always enjoyed sharing tips to make life easier in your home.
Hope these help make an improved difference in your life...
My favorite tip has always been.... place a cup of water - along with about 2 T. lemon juice - in a glass cup and microwave for atleast 5 minutes. Keep the door shut - the steam will moisten the splatters, and you should be able to easily wipe it clean. Your microwave will smell lemony fresh.
When using your hand mixer - place your bowl in the sink to mix. The splatters in the sink are much easier to clean than to have them all over
your cupboard and counter.

Tips to Help Manage Your Household




cottage
I have always enjoyed sharing tips to make life easier in your home.

Hope these help make an improved difference in your life...

My favorite tip has always been.... place a cup of water - along with about 2 T. lemon juice - in a glass cup and microwave for atleast 5 minutes.  Keep the door shut - the steam will moisten the splatters, and you should be able to easily wipe  it clean.   Your microwave will smell lemony fresh.


When using your hand mixer - place your bowl in the sink to mix.  The splatters in the sink are much easier to clean than to have them all over
your cupboard and counter.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Ziploc Omelets

We had these omelets for a family brunch not long ago and they were such a hit! They'd be the perfect breakfast for your next camping trip!
Ziploc Omelets
This works great! It's good for when you're alone or all your family is together, and can be enjoyed over an open fire cookout.
Have your guests write their names on a quart size ziploc FREEZER bag with a permanent marker. Crack 2 eggs into the bag (not more than 2). Mash with your hands
.baggie name
Put out a variety of ingredients such as: ham, prepared bacon, onions, cheeses, tomatoes, hash browns, salsa, etc.
ingredients
Each guest adds prepared ingredients of their choice to their bag and mix well with your hand. add ingredients

Make sure you get all the air out of the bag and zip it up.
group shot
Place the bags into rollling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. (Pan needs to be deep enough so bags are floating, and not touching bottom of pan) You can cook 6 - 8 omelets at once in a large pot. If you are fixing more omelets - make another pot of boiling water.
cooking in bag
Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for fun and everyone to be amazed. finished omelet

As a Bonus - Taste of Home offers this great Summer Camping Guide for your next camping trip!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

I'm Just a Flag Waving American

US flag

What a glorious 4th of July! Trust your celebration of our nation's birthday was as filled with patriotism as mine was.

We attended the parade in the little town close to where I grew up. It's just a 'podunk' kind of town, but many years ago, one of my mom's friends began a July 4th celebration by having the town kids decorate their bicycles, and it has grown into the largest parade in our county. It was an hour and 15 minutes long! Every town in our county is represented with fire engines, rescue vehicles, tractors, old vehicles, horses, the local school band, and kids on bikes.

Cars were lined up for over half a mile in several directions outside of town...amazing! Folks from all over the county come to be a part of this special celebration!

My favorite part was when the (first) flag was brought through at the front of the parade, everyone stood, put their hands over their hearts, and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Hundreds and hundreds of us at once!

It sure did make me proud to be an American...one from a hometown where it's a good thing to show our patriotism!!

Just gotta love these Small Towns of the good ole USA!

May God bless you and may God bless America!

photo credit: Dru Brumfield




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