[No Title]

I have absolutely nothing to say that anyone really wants to hear.  I really can not hear what anyone else has to say.

The Recipe Exchange Revisted...

 I am WAY late (the story of my life) and missed the opportunity to participate in another recipe exchange.  Calista over at Each Day Is A Gift, invited me... and I missed the email until I was 'cleaning house' so to speak.  I've been searching on CDs and old removable hard drives for the following.  Success has finally been achieved!  I loved Army Wife's post!  It's made me want to just bake until the smell fills up the house and the mouth starts watering!


Back in December of 2006, Army Wife Toddler Mom had a special recipe exchange which I participated in. The Lemon Stand blog link will not work because in 2008 I had a series of surgeries and deleted my blog. I could not function much less write.  There have also been some folks looking for it and I hope it will make up a little for my tardiness.  NOTE: My husband is NOT deployed at the moment... this post was made back in 2006 without any changes.  Enjoy...

Sunday, December 03, 2006

The Recipe Exchange....

Army Wife Toddler Mom, is having a recipe swap. I Thought I would give you the recipes that we recently used to send care packages to my husband and co-workers. (Plus a couple that are my absolute favorites!)

I Hope your house smells just as good as ours did once we were done..... 


Banana Bread (We used this batter to also make miniature cupcakes that were a big hit with the kids...but alas, they could not be shipped to DH because they do not keep for long!)

1 3/4 cups Flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tbs milk
1 cup mashed banana
(Secret....Add an extra banana in addition to the 1 cup of mashed banana...it makes the bread come out extra moist!)

Bake 350 degrees

Mix all wet ingredients till smooth, add dry ingredients and mix till no lumps.

Lightly grease loaf pan and bake about 60 minutes. Makes one loaf.

If using miniature cupcake pan, bake til lightly brown on top.

(Eat within a few days or freeze)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/3 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbs milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup quick rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins

Bake 375 degrees

Mix all sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and butter till smooth. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix till no lumps. Fold in oats and raisins. Mix well.

Chill Dough 2 hours.

Form 1" balls

Bake abt 10 minutes. Until center doesn't stay depressed when lightly pressed. Lightly brown around the edges if you like a drier cookie.

Makes 36.

If shipping these cookies to deployed troops, reduce cook time by 1 minute and they will stay moist during shipment. Wrap well.


Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups (12-ounce package) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Bake 375 degree

Beat all sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs till smooth. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl (except Chips and nuts). Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients till smooth. Fold in chips and nuts.

Drop rounded tbs onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake about 9 to 11 minutes until lightly golden brown. Decrease cooking time by 1 minute if shipping these cookies to deployed troops and they will stay moist during shipment. Wrap well.


Molasses Drop Cookies

2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp HOT water
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
1/2 cup dark molasses
1 egg
6 tbs COLD water
Optional 1/2 cup raisins, almonds or walnuts

Bake 400 degrees

My grandmother swore that the secret to getting these cookies cake moist was to SLOWLY heat the molasses in a double boiler. She would then use the pan as mixing bowl.

In a cup mix soda and HOT water. Set aside.

Blend butter, sugar and egg together until smooth. Add to molasses and mix until VERY light.

Add baking soda mixture and remaining dry ingredients. (except for raisins, almonds or walnuts) Mix until smooth.

Fold in raisins, almonds or walnuts, if desired.

Chill for 2 hours.

Spoon drop 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake about 10 minutes or until center lightly springs back if pressed.

Makes 24

Wrap well.


Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg

Bake 350 degrees

Beat all sugars, butter and peanut butter.

Add egg

Add remaining ingredients.

Mix until smooth.

Make 1" balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Press fork onto top to make lines. (Secret: Dip fork in sugar before pressing onto the cookie EACH TIME)

Bake about 10-12 minutes. (A minute or two less for moister cookies...especially if sending to troops)

Wrap well.

Make 2 dozen


Ginger Bread People Cookies

3 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup packed DARK BROWN SUGAR
2/3 cup dark molasses
1 egg

Bake 350 degrees

Mix flour baking soda, clove, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt, set aside.

Mix sugar, butter and cream of tarter til fluffy. Add eggs and molasses.

Slowly add the flour mixture. Mix well

Divide in half and wrap in plastic.

Chill 2 hours.

On lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin lightly dusted with flour to roll dough 1/8 inch thick.

Use a cookie cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. (dip cutter into flour between each cutting)

If desired, press chocolate chips, candy or raisins into cookies for the 'buttons'

Bake 8-10 minutes.

Cool and decorate. Wrap well.



Rice Krispies Treats (This one is right off the box)

1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal

In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat.

Stir in the Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture.

Using a buttered or silicone spatula, press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper.

Cut into squares when the mixture cools.

Makes 24 squares.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

Microwave butter with marshmallows on high setting for 2 minutes in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir together when melted. Microwave again on high for 1 additional minute. Stir in cereal, mixing until well coated. Press into pan as above.

When You're Desperate... Desperate Measures Are Called For...

I want to know why there are times, like now, when it takes me an hour to type an average email to a friend and days to think up things with which to decorate my blog's white post screen of death?  There are times, like now, when it seems I've emptied my brain and all that remains is a vacuum.  A black hole within the midst of the universe of my mind. (Don't bother trying to figure out the meaning of that... it's futile, since I write these posts to myself for therapy and even I'm inching toward the nearest emergency exit door, just click on the closest box with an [X] and save yourself now...)  Now granted, there are times my mind produces thoughts that are so far out there, they're coming back, but at least then I can be assured that there is still life in my grey matter.  Neurons are still firing and I'm not dead, but just not aware of it.  Sitting in front of a blank, white screen for a really long time, and not being able to type a single letter, much less a word, feels like lemon juice being poured over a paper-cut.

So since I am in such desperate straits, I'm going to decorate my white post screen of death with the only email I wrote today... Actually, it's the only email I've written since last Thursday.  (My send folder is perpetually lonely...)  I haven't had time to have a consistent and reliable relationship with my computer. I've been very busy lately dismantling my upstairs bathroom sink, faucet, plumbing and seriously eyeing the shower stall and bathroom floor.  Today I dismantled my dryer door and tried for almost three hours, on the floor, in front of the dryer, trying to reassemble it again.  My husband came home and put it back together in ten minutes.  I think I rather dislike him at the moment. I think I may even have to take him up on his lovely offer to test the capacity of my car trunk space... Although, come to think of it, he's right about the truck being easier to slide the dead body out of.  I hate it when he's right.  I hate it when he comes home and does in TEN minutes what I tried to do for THREE HOURS!  I should have known how the day was going to go when I asked myself this morning, 'Why IS IT when I look for a phillips head screwdriver, the only tool I can find... is a hammer?' Desperation for blog fodder has left me willing to show how bad a friend I really am so I'm just going to post this proof of dweebness quickly, then exit... stage left.  Today has sucked.  Just so you know?  If I were to have a choice right now, between a slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake and keeping my promise to myself about a post a day... Well?  The only place I'd be decorating would be my very happy tummy.  Since you see before you a lovely, decorative blog post, my day has at least been consistent.  You can be assured that there is absolutely no slice of Pumpkin Cheesecake within my dominion... hence the hasty post so I can go commune with my pillow and dream of being plump and happy with an unlimited supply of Pumpkin Cheesecake...  Believe me.  It's been one of those days...

Important Communiqué From Moi...

Kelly and Elizabeth,
    As you can see, I am not very prompt about answering email (or anything else for that matter) Seriously, it's my greatest failure in life so I sincerely apologize.  As to WHY the two of you are receiving the same email?  Umm... I'm developing my multitasking skills.  Impressive, huh? I'm lazy and tired [ok, both of you please forgive me for rushing around trying to do about six things at once.  It's keeping my mind occupied and looking for that silver lining when I really want to wallow in self-pity.  So work with me here, ok? Please?] I probably should go get my Thesaurus and look up the word whiner just to make sure my picture is still there...

Elizabeth, you've been reading my blog? First, thank you for your kind words. (I have to drag my manners out and dust them off every once in a while just so I know my Mother would be proud of me.  She DID teach me manners, I just wasn't a very apt pupil) Anyway.  My honest reaction when anyone tells me they've read my blog (other than Kelly because, let's face it… she's put up with me for this long...) is: Ack! It actually sounds quite disgusting when I say this, but it's true, 'my blog is where my mind vomits'. I never realized until I started blogging, just how much I enjoy writing.  I didn't think it would work very well as therapy, but I was wrong.  At least for me, it has helped.  Oh, and I am SOOOOOOOO not going to write a book! Ack, again! That would feel something like having a really nasty virus with me excreting vast amounts of bodily fluids for days on end! So let's just not go there, ok? Besides, I can't imagine what subject any book I wrote could be… except, maybe... "How To Throw Your Own Fabulous Pity Party Complete With Party Hats, Balloons, Noise Makers And A Visit From The Police… Or Possibly The Men With Those Cute White Coats Who Are So Gentlemanly, They Actually Hold Your Coat To Help You To Put It On?"  Just the title length would put you to sleep.  Can't imagine a story plot either, although I have always loved the line, "Ahhhhh, the plot thickens..." .  Not sure exactly what that means but it just SOUNDS dramatic… So Sherlockesque… (Not to be confused with Burlesque.  That's Not dramatic… that's just sex and although I know that sex sells… I can't see myself writing dramatic, steamy, sex scenes without laughing my butt off, because I can see myself picturing them posing as Gumby and Pokey… and I know that's just wrong...)

It's been insane around here this past week, but it matches my need to do anything but think about my doctor's visit.  I think ripping out the upstairs bathroom this week will be a major stress reliever.  Hammer+crowbar+me=a beautiful new bathroom (Kelly, you can stop laughing now… it CAN happen.  It may not look like something Martha Stewart (or Norm Abrahms, for that matter) would appreciate or be proud of… but when you come to visit… you can just leave the lights off when you use it... oh wait... it has no window.  Not to worry, I can provide you with a glow stick...) Besides, I've already learned about disassembling sinks.  Now, I know how to take apart my Dryer door using ONLY a Phillips head screwdriver! (The hammer was darn tempting tho'… I have to admit it took a lot for me to hold myself back on that one… Actually, I'm quite proud of my restraint…)  My projects are just growing in scope and size… At this rate, I'll be building a new house by next month…

Well, I think that's about as much torture communication as either of you can handle from me in one day.  So I will take pity on you and close before you are required to start immediate intense therapy to recover from it.

Hope you guys have a GREAT week!

IMPORTANT: This email is intended for the use of the individual addressee(s) named above and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or unsuitable for overly sensitive persons with low self-esteem or no sense of humor. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is not authorized (either explicitly or implicitly) and constitutes an irritating social faux pas. Unless the word absquatulation has been used in its correct context somewhere other than in this warning, it does not have any legal or grammatical use and may be ignored. No animals were harmed in the transmission of this email, although the Chihuahua next door is living on borrowed time, let me tell you! Those of you with an overwhelming fear of the unknown will be gratified to learn that there is no hidden message revealed by reading this warning backwards. However, by pouring a complete circle of salt around yourself and your computer you can ensure that no harm befalls you and your pets. If you have received this email in error, please add some nutmeg and egg whites, whisk and place in a warm oven for 40 minutes.

How To Teach Your Kids That You Will Have The Last Word... And Assure Them They Will Love You For It...

I have discovered that my OUTLOOK program archived some of the posts and comments from my old blog.  As I recently said to someone, who knew it could do that?  My brain then immediately spit out (it tends to do that on occasion), "Probably every one else on the planet..."  Anyway, rereading them made me realize that I had not kept up with so many family and friends.  So since I have just oodles and oddles of free time in my life, I get to sit on a satin cushion every day and eat Bon Bons I sent off a few emails while I sat waiting for the kids to get out of school.

Letting my thoughts wander...

Relationships, I have pondered recently, are like wine are like flower gardens.  Over tend them and you'll be needing a ten step program, like too much rain, the flowers will rot and die.  Under tend them and your friends will drop you like Chuck Norris until the bar is restocked, and life slowly withers away from an abundance of weeds and a lack of water, nutrients and oxygen.   My every day worries (one word: teenagers), to-do lists (that are currently so long that the Guinness Book of World Records has confirmed it as a record), responsibilities and even laziness (*hand raised*) have created my particular crowd of weeds.  I have let these things wrap around me, making it almost impossible for me to see the rest of the flower garden that is my life.  So I now have a mental list of things I'm trying to remember every morning (see above for laziness because I'm sure you want to ask why I don't just write it down on paper like normal folk... or maybe have it tattooed on my forehead...) before I stumble or get dragged get out of bed in the morning, just so...  maybe subconsciously (I believe in miracles), I can attempt the unattainable work on what is truly important to me in my life (a very serious, AMEN)  and letting the less important things slide for a bit.  My family and friends are important to me.  Figuring out how to balance that which is most important with everyday responsibilities is incredibly hard.  I suspect it will be a balancing act that never truly stays balanced.  I am aware that it will never be perfect because, I am not perfect.  And that's ok as long as I do my best and don't give up.  

Hence the emails...

Thoughts wandering some more...

What does this have to do with teaching your kids that you will have the last word and they will love you for it?  I'm getting there...  I'm merely trying to describe the progression of thoughts that pass through my mind to arrive at said post title.  Come to think of it, my method bares an eerie resemblance to the children's book, "If You Give A Moose A Muffin".  (Which, by the way, was actually my favorite out of this series.  I knew you were dying to ask that question...) 

 [Warning: The following has absolutely nothing to do with the post at hand.  It is merely a stray thought... I repeat, it is merely a stray thought... Please stay awake calm until the certifiable idiot writer has completed this thought process, and should you not be able to remain conscious, you will be awoken when it is finally over you will be returned to the current post at hand... We appreciate your patience while we attempt to dress said 'writer' in an 'I love me jacket' with this technical difficulty... "Why is it, that when your brain thinks/problem solves in this wandering kind of manner when you are a teenager, it's considered 'thinking outside the box', but if you think/problem solve in this wandering kind of way when you are forty-five, you are considered delusional and your doctor is likely to recommend that your family reserve you a bed in a the furthest geographical Psychiatric Ward?"  If this had been a real long thought, you would have been abandoned at the first opportunity, like a rat on a sinking ship, leaving you to the visual torture often accompanied by the stray thoughts of this particular writer instructed to click the box with the little 'x' in it for immediate relief close this web page.  We thank you for your patience.  We now return you to your normal current post.

**Alarm Clock buzzing loudly**]

Thoughts now getting lost...

I tend to pay attention to the wanderings of my mind which, on occasion, tend to drown (figuratively not literally, fear not) my family and friends in  long and descriptive narratives.  Guaranteed to put any of them to sleep. So naturally, they attempt to avoid me like the plague the minute I open my mouth.  Bless their little hearts, because escape from my loquaciousness is futile... most of the time.  One more reason to avoid visiting our house.  Fortunately for them they have learned to tune me out, I actually DO have an intelligent (my own personal descriptive opinion, others may believe otherwise, so be aware, results may vary...) thought.  

My wandering thoughts have arrived.  Thankfully, I'm a woman, so I know how to stop and ask for directions...

My wandering thoughts were of emails. Of family. Of friends we lose contact with... With those we reconnect with and learn all the wonderful things and all the disheartening things of their lives.  (NOW we have finally arrived at the actual post... just thought I'd point that out in case you missed it...) Which led my thoughts to a gift I received from my daughter, Danielle, that has created something that, hopefully, some day I can give back. 
 

This past Mother's Day, my daughter, Danielle gave me a blank, leather journal.  I had no idea what I was going to use it for, because I didn't want to use it for every day notes and then tear the pages out.  So the thought came to me to write notes, thoughts, memories, advice etc FOR Danielle, for her to have  just before I strangle her and hide the body when I am gone.  Once I started writing in it, I knew I had to write journals for all of our daughters, because they are all so very different and amazing and wonderful and, at times, incredibly awe-inspiring.  But let's be honest here, sometimes they are also incredibly awful.  So am I, for that matter.  It's what makes us human.  We are not infallible.

So I promptly went and bought four more journals.  This is actually less daunting than you might think.  I don't write in them every day... or week... or even month. Sometimes I write a book, most times it's just a sentence or paragraph.  Eventually, I'm sure I will have at least one single word entry.  It just depends on what is going on in our lives and the time I have sitting in waiting rooms for appointments, or waiting in the car to pick up one of the kids, etc.  

I now wish I had started these gifts to my children when our eldest was born.  There are so many firsts.  There are more diapers... and less sleep.  There are more opportunities to see life through their eyes... and you learn more about bodily fluids than you ever wanted to know.  Ah, the education that life gives us.  My kids are now aged twelve through nineteen and since I hope to be still irritating them for another forty-five years, I feel like it is not too late to fill as many of those blank pages I can, in the time I'm given.  Special memories, feelings, thoughts and advice.  Memories being created today and all the special memories to come.  I'm not leaving out the hard times or the sad times.  All of our time makes us who we are.  It's up to us how wisely we use this time. 

QOTD: "Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count." ~ unknown

Warning: Driver's License Permits Up Ahead...

I had a dream last night that THIS was the car student driver's use at the Local Driving School who will soon have the nightmare blessing of the attendance of two of our daughters...