HONESTLY!!!!

Honestly, I am not ignoring everyone and no, I did not fall off the face of the earth. I'm in the middle of cleaning out my mother-in-law's house. She passed away the end of June and we are just getting started on cleaning out the house. This is a beautiful home. My husband's father was born IN this home in 1918.
1918, can you believe it????
It was only a few years old at that time!
It has gone through many changes and now, it is about to go through another one.

from the gravel road in front of the house

front

back

side facing west

These two happy campers have put their house on the market and are moving back to the farm. Their beautiful home is close to my son's work and close to college for my d-i-l, but it isn't like being on the farm. They are so excited to be getting out of the city, even if it means a 40 minute commute to work and classes.

This is wonderful for us... who wouldn't want their kids to move back home, not home, but in the neighborhood. The house is only a mile away on our property.

So after 65 years of accumulation, we are doing the daunting task of cleaning it out so the kids can move in when they sell their house.

We took all the dishes out of the cupboards and started packing them.

They ripped out the 60+ year old carpet....

They have big dreams for it's future and I know grandma and grandpa are smiling down, knowing that the blood line continues and they will be breathing new life into this home.

I couldn't be happier ♥

PSST.......... I will be taking pictures of the renovations. They are gutting the kitchen and redoing 2 bathrooms at this time. They are getting bids and want to start soon...

M&M's.... OF THE PEANUT KIND...

A few of you know that I decided to bite off a new project. This is the year that I am going to get healthy. My doctor told me to say this as opposed to I am going to lose weight. I have been wanting to start something like this for a while and just impulsively one day went and joined a gym and signed up with a personal trainer. I started last Monday. She is wonderful and I think that we have a great start together. She explained to me that if I watch "The Biggest Loser" (and I do), she is a Bob, not a Jillian.....

Whew.... that made me feel tons better, before I even began.

So this week, I went "cold turkey" on caffeine, cut out salt and sugar, started counting calories, started circuit training (resistance machines) along with riding a bike, using a treadmill, and an elliptical machine.

I am also keeping a food journal... That's where the problem comes in!

For 25 years, I have been blind to things that just happen to find their way to my mouth.

It is a disease, I just know it...

M&Ms is one of the foods (it is a food isn't it) that I must go into a trance when I buy them, eat them, hide them or whatever I do with them!

They are the one thing that I haven't been able to ignore....

They haunt me...

I start making excuses for them.... Ohhhhh, just a few.... surely the yellow ones have less calories than the green ones.

Then I blame my mom.... she has this disease too!!! It is hereditary, don't ya know!

So this is my new challenge... getting off the Peanut M&Ms.

It is an addiction, worse than the 2 cups of coffee a day, worse than the potato chips...

I am telling myself..... I am strong, I can do this!!!!!!

WISH ME LUCK...... I'M NOT BUYING ANYMORE...... HONEST........

KIDS ARE COMING and COOKING....

Today is a wonderful day because the kids are coming out to the farm. This is the oldest of our two. He and his wife have been married for 2 years, but have been together for 7. They live about 45 minutes from us in the Quad Cities. They are both very career minded right now. She is finishing up her degree and he is an engineer.



We usually see them a couple of times a month. If we haven't seen them for awhile, I try to lure them out here. I love to cook so, I will usually fix lunch.

Today on the menu is marinated mesquite chicken, new red potatos and garden green beans. Deviled eggs and mandarin orange jello and for dessert, Mamma Mud Slide (a name my daughter gave this concoction I dreamed up one day).

I may have been raised in the city, but I have been a country girl for 32 years.
My mother-in-law taught me some old family recipes early in our marriage.

I honestly think she wanted to hone my skills with her son in mind.

One of the family staples in the summer, was green beans out of the garden.

This is how I was taught.

First you needed to pick them

then snap them

then cook or can them.

Cut up 4-5 slices of bacon and brown it right in your pressure cooker (mine is one that goes right on the stove, not electric)

throw in 1/2 onion cut up; cleaned snapped beans; a pinch of salt and 1 cup of water.

put your lid on, lock it down and regulator on top.

When your regulator starts bobbing and your pressure button is sealed, set a timer for 5-6 min. (I do 5 minutes).

When your timer goes off, run cold water over the lidded pan and cool until the pressure is released, open and serve.

Mandarin Orange Jello

2 small boxes of Orange Jello

1 small box of Instant Vanilla Pudding

mix together in big bowl

2 cups of boiling water, whisk until all dissolved

1 large can of mandarin oranges, juice and all.

Stir into jello mix, chill.... mmmmm.....

Mamma Mud Slide

2 small boxes of Instant Chocolate Pudding

2 1/2 cups of milk

1 container of Cool Whip

1 Angel Food Cake

chocolate syrup

butterscotch syrup

1 Hershey's candy bar, cut up into small pieces

Mix the Jello with 2 1/2 cups milk. While the jello is not set up, break Angel Food Cake up into "bigger than bite size" pieces. Put in with Jello and by folding with a spatula, coat all the pieces.

Next, get a container that you can layer this dessert in.

1st layer, 1/2 the jello and cake mixture.

2nd layer, some Cool Whip

3rd layer, some chocolate syrup, butterscotch syrup and 1/2 the Hershey bar sprinkled over top.

Start over with 1st layer.

I usually just make 2 layers of each.

I smush down the top so they are packed tight by tapping on the bottom of the container with my fist.

Cover with lid and keep refrigerated.

I find that this is better if made the night before.

I do this in a lock n' lock and it keeps for a few days....

What is a family staple you learned at a young age and still fix today? or what kind of meal says SummerTime to you? SHARE WITH US!!!

NAME DROPPING, RECIPE, AND A FEW FAVS...

I have started making my version of a granola bar. My family loves granola bars and eats them on a daily basis. But for all the calories and processing, I just knew there was something healthier out there in Recipe-world...

I have tried many different recipes, and this one is a big hit!

Paula Deen's Monster Cookies
Recipe courtesy Donna Haney as adapted by Paula Deen
Show: Paula's Home CookingEpisode: Southern Holiday
Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (341)

RECIPE
Cook Time: 10 min Level: Easy Yield:3 dozen
Times: Prep 10 min Inactive Prep 3 min Cook 10 min Total:23 min

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar (I use evaporated cane juice)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter (Jif is the best flavor)
1 stick butter, softened (I use real butter, marjarine makes them spread too much and mushy)
1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins, optional (I use chopped dates)
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

(I usually mix this all up with just dates(instead of raisins), scoop out 1/2 the batter in a bowl and then add the chocolate pieces so I have two different kinds of cookies).

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. (I use an ice cream scoop, only 6 on a sheet, these get huge)
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.

I use sandwich bags and pack them individually. This makes it easy to grab in the morning.

SO THERE IS THE RECIPE, NOW FOR THE FUN KITCHEN GADGETS.. A FEW OF MY FAVS

My sister gave me this measuring cylinder,,, love it!!!! I measure out dry ingredients first, then wet. It holds both with no leaking... The company that made it made a big mistake, no name on this gadget at all and I of course, threw away the packaging.

Hot pads from Sur La Table. I discovered this place in San Diego last year and have been online ordering from them every since.

Silicone pads for everything....LOVE THEM!!!! I use these all the time. Then stick them in the dishwasher (top shelf). They are great for a 9x13 pan too... I got these from QVC.COM

I just ordered these oven liners for the ovens in our church basement. These slip right under the heating element and work wonderful. I got mine a year ago and LOVE IT!!!! Clean up is a breeze.

HAPPY BAKING ♥

THE BIRTHDAY BOX....

On August 11, 2010, my dearest best friend will be celebrating a milestone birthday, 80!!!

My mom LOVES celebrations.... but when it has come to her own birthday, she would rather skip the day. Maybe I should say, skip the association of an age with the celebration. I keep telling her 80 is the new 70, and she can party with the best of them. Recently, at my daughter's wedding in June, Betty (my mom) was out on the dance floor all night, keeping up with all those young ones! It was good to see her just having fun.

Well, since she lives in Florida and I live in Illinois (and I wasn't able to fly down this year) I had to come up with something special for Birthday Betty, but nothing in the stores was doing it for me. This is a woman who has been very blessed and doesn't really want for anything.

Soooo, I came up with "THE BIRTHDAY BOX"

My mom is an excellent card maker and loves crafty little ideas

(that's where I get it from, I am positive!)

So I knew anything would be better than a store bought card

AND I HAD TO BE CLEVER!!!!!

So I picked up a bunch of stickers with the intentions of using them on pages.....

BUT I THOUGHT ONE BETTER....

INCORPORATE THE STICKERS IN THE PAGE WITHOUT STICKING THEM...

that way she can use them on her cards.... kind of a gift within a card......errr... box...

So here are a few of the 12 pages that I came up with,,,,, cheesy,,, yes!!!

She will find some time to pass out the extra horns and poppers!!!

So I found a shoe box and wrapped the top and bottom separate (that was a challenge!)

Stuffed everything inside....

and made a pretty bow

In all my years, I have never been one to get cards or gifts in the mail on time, let alone early.

I mailed this priority and she got it in 2 1/2 days, that is amazing!

She called me and said she loved it.... Happy Birthday mom on Wednesday!

SOMETHING TO READ THAT WAS SENT TO ME..

(THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY A FRIEND,,, IT MAY HAVE CIRCULATED BEFORE, BUT GOOD INFO TO KNOW)

This is something for all, not just the women. That is, if you don't have an AK-47 or something like it when you stop. On the way to Canton , driving on Michigan Avenue , on Thursday morning, I saw an infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it. I did not stop, even though I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head. But when I got to my destination, I called the Canton PD and they were going to check it out. This is what I was told... "Several things to be aware of .. gangs and thieves, are now plotting different ways to get a person to "stop" their vehicle. "There is a gang initiation reported by the local police department that gangs are placing a car seat by the road...with a fake baby in it...waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the baby. Note that the location of this car seat will usually be beside a wooded or grassy (field) area ...and the person - woman - will be dragged into the woods- beaten and raped- usually left for dead.

DO NOT STOP!!! DIAL 9-1-1 AND REPORT WHAT YOU SAW.

"IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EGGS ARE THROWN AT YOUR WINDSHIELD. DO NOT OPERATE THE WIPER AND DO NOT SPRAY ANY WATER BECAUSE EGGS MIXED WITH WATER BECOME MILKY AND BLOCK YOUR VISION UP TO 92.5% YOU ARE THEN FORCED TO STOP BESIDE THE ROAD AND BECOME A VICTIM OF THIEVES. THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE USED BY GANGS.
PLEASE INFORM YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. THESE ARE DESPERATE TIMES AND THESE UNSAVORY INDIVIDUALS WILL TAKE DESPERATE MEASURES TO GET WHAT THEY WANT."
Please talk to your loved ones about this. This is a new tactic used and I would hate for anyone to fall victim to this kind of crime.

BEAUTIFUL SILVER....

We are getting all prettied up here with SILVER colored paint, outdoor bin paint.

You didn't think I meant anything feminine like jewelry or maybe shoes or a purse perhaps....

Nooooo.... SILVER OUTDOOR PAINT!!!!

I am so glad people like these guys come around because you wouldn't catch me on top of one of those bins painting. I am t-e-r-r-i-f-i-e-d of heights and no, I don't want to climb a bin to even try to face my fears!!!

THANKS to these young whipper-snappers, we now have 3 beautiful, rust covered, silver bins...