wordless wednesday

haystack rock

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savory sundays

Mama and I love our sweets! We also share the opinion that those little Andes Mints that restaurants used to give at the end of the meal were awfully yummy. One day, Mama decided that those little mints were too costly to buy and modified a fudge recipe to make her own. Everyone we know loves this Layered Mint Fudge, including the Man who laughingly will ask me to make him "Green Stuff". Because of the simplicity of the recipe and the enjoyment of the recipients, we give batches of this as gifts at Christmastime. Enjoy!

Layered Mint Fudge (aka Green Stuff)
12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
2 Tblsp vanilla
6 oz white chocolate chips
1 Tblsp peppermint extract
few drops green food coloring

Line an 8-9 inch square pan with wax paper. Then, in a double boiler, melt chocolate chips with 1 cup of the sweetened condensed milk, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Spread 1/2 of the mixture into the square pan and chill 10 minutes in the refrigerator. **Keep remaining mix at room temperature! In a double boiler, melt white chocolate chips with the remaining sweetened condensed milk, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract, then the green food color until it is the color you like. Spread onto the chilled chocolate layer and chill 10 minutes. Spread the remaining chocolate mixture onto the mint layer and chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn onto a cutting board and peel off wax paper. Cut into small squares. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Notes:  Make sure to use wax paper in your pan. The cleanup is a nightmare if you don't! Also, cut the fudge into small squares - it's really rich!

For more recipes and great cooking stuff, check out the Weekend Cooking posts at Beth Fish Reads

...may there be mercy in the breaking of bread at your table...

wordless wednesday

gray beach day

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wordless wednesday

call of the sea

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savory sundays

I don't know about you, but I love a great appetizer. Sometimes I prefer to make my dinner out of a couple that really spark my tastebuds, which makes the Man a little crazy. He doesn't feel like that's a "real" meal. Like Clara in the old commercials, he wants to say, "where's the beef?" I usually tell him that it's in the leftovers in the fridge - and we both get fed.


This recipe is one that was introduced into my life about 30 years ago. It's very simple, which I love. It's also kinda ugly looking, but tastes fantastic. Enjoy!


Brocolli Dip
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup minced onion
butter for sauteing
2 cans Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (don't substitute another brand!)
2 packages frozen, chopped brocolli - do not thaw
1 8 oz cup Kaukauna brand spreadable sharp cheese
1 8 oz cup Kaukauna brand spreadable garlic cheese
dash or two of tobasco sauce
dash or two of worchestershire
salt & pepper to taste


Saute mushrooms in butter, set aside. Saute onions in butter. Add soup, still frozen brocolli and cheese foods. Season with tobasco and worchestershire to taste. Cook 20 minutes - stirring occasionally. Add saute'd mushrooms. Serve warm with chips, bread chunks or crackers.


Notes:
1.  If you can't find the garlic cheese, substitute a 2nd sharp cheese and add a little garlic salt in place of the regular salt.
2.  This is really lovely in a bread bowl.


For more recipes and great cooking stuff, check out the Weekend Cooking posts at Beth Fish Reads


...may there be mercy in the breaking of bread at your table...

wordless wednesday

birch trees

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savory sundays

Mama makes all her own salad dressings. She hates to spend extra money on something so simple. She doesn't like all the foo-foo dressings, just give her the old standbys. Since it's summer and salads are on most folks menus, here are a couple of her favorites. Just mix everything in a bowl for either recipe and refrigerate for about 2 hours prior to eating. Enjoy!


Catalina Dressing:
2/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup sugar, or more (to your taste)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
sprinkle of salt
1-2 cloves garlic - crushed


Ranch Dressing:
1 cup Best Foods mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp green onion
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 tsp minced parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp salt
black pepper


...may there be mercy in the breaking of bread at your table.

wordless wednesday

reflections

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savory sundays

We are away at a photography class this weekend, so this edition of savory sundays is going to be delayed - probably for a week. If we get home and unpacked early enough, I might get back here with something yummy to share.

...may there be mercy in our travels and in the breaking of bread at your table.

wordless wednesday

broken shell

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savory sundays

One of the things I loved best growing up - Mama's Lemon Cream Pie. It's got just the right sweet/slightly tart flavor mix going on. 


Most folks would call this one a Lemon Meringue, but Mama never has. A couple months ago, I finally asked her why. Apparently she's talking about the filling, not the topping. Yep, she's right, this is definitely a Lemon Cream Pie. Enjoy!

Mama’s Lemon Cream Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1.5 cups milk

2 eggs separated (yolks will be used first, whites later)

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon rind

1 tblsp butter

baked 8 inch pie shell

1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

Mix 1 cup sugar with flour and salt in saucepan.

Stir in milk gradulally until smooth.

Cook slowly over direct heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils and thickens.

Slowly stir a little of the hot mixture into beaten egg yolks and return yolks to pan.

Cook 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and stir inlemon juice and ring, gradually, in small portions, mixing well after each addition.

Stir in butter.

Pour into cooled pie shell, then cool.

After cooled:

Beat egg whites until stiff and then gradually beat in the 1/4 cup sugar. 

Beat until thick and smooth.

Pile lightly and quickly over pie, being sure to touch the edge of the crust all around.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes - until golden brown

Cool on a cake rack before serving

Notes:

Mama makes 4 of these at a time so she doesn't have to do it 2 days in a row because we always want another piece of this pie for breakfast the next day. Also, Mama never keeps this one in the fridge. She doesn’t like the little drops of condensation that form on the top of the meringue. Neither do I. Use your own judgment... I take no responsibility for your food handling skills!

For more recipes and great cooking stuff, check out the Weekend Cooking posts at Beth Fish Reads.

wordless wednesday

learning from elders

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savory sundays

During the summertime, I still love a good chocolate dessert, but don't want to heat up my house by baking... and I really don't like cake. Mama's recipe for these cookies is the best solution. Fast, easy, inexpensive, comfort food and yummy - not to mention no baking!


When I was a little girl, Mama used to make these cookies while I was getting ready for school. They are so fast and easy that she could put them in our lunches for that same day. She always says that these cookies are much more like a candy.  The recipe is written out exactly as she said it... and when I read it, I can hear her voice describing the process. It makes me smile.  Enjoy!


Top of the Stove Cookies

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 cube butter

half cup milk

salt

• mix in a big heavy sauce pan or stock pot, making sure your pot is big enough to add lots of oatmeal later
• bring to rolling boil - must be rolling boil
• boil for 1 minute - do not stir at this time!

take off stove and add:

• 1/2 cup pbutter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups quick cooking oatmeal

plop onto foil quickly using double spoons

Notes:

if still little shiny, it's just right.

if you double the recipe, cook about 15 - 30 seconds extra

For more recipes and great cooking stuff, check out the Weekend Cooking posts at Beth Fish Reads. Pretty cool stuff there!

...may there be mercy at the breaking of bread at your table...

late wordless wednesday

native and city

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quilt therapy

Some days I just need to quilt. Really. Need. To. Quilt.


It's great therapy for me. Time spent thinking about the person - known or unknown - who will be the recipient of the quilt I'm making. Prayer time. Time to sing to whatever music is playing. Time to listen to an audio book.


Sometimes it's just time for me, doing something I totally enjoy, not taking care of anyone else.


I got a little of this time today. Not as much as I wanted, but it was really good for me. In the process, I realized that it's been almost 3 months since I've had time to quilt. Far too long! That will change.


...may there be mercy in creative therapy.

savory sundays

This is a quick and easy recipe that goes well with many main courses. A really nice change from rice or potato dishes. Not to mention it doesn't heat up the kitchen too much in summer. Enjoy!


Basil Parmesan Orzo


Ingredients:
2 T butter
1 cup uncooked orzo
1 can chicken broth/stock
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (don't use Kraft in the green can!! Get some from the deli section of your grocery or grate it fresh)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
2 T chopped fresh basil, plus 2-3 sprigs - for garnish,


Directions:
1.  Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and saute until lightly browned.
2.  Stir in chicken stock and bring to boil.
3.  Cover and reduce heat. Simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes.
4.  Mix in parmesan cheese and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
5.  Transfer to shallow bowl and garnish with remaining chopped basil and sprigs.


...may there be mercy in the breaking of bread at your table...

wordless wednesday

st louis arch

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savory sundays

This is a recipe I found and doctored a bit until it was what we wanted. Whatever you do, do NOT drench the meat in bbq sauce! Just drizzle it to enhance the flavor... this meat turns out too yummy!

Barbecued Shredded Beef

Ingredients:
3 pounds beef roast
2 onions, chopped
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans or bottles beer - (we used killian's red)
6 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
salt to taste
1 (18 ounce) bottle barbecue sauce
Good onion buns

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees (135 degrees C).
2. Place roast in a large roasting pan and scatter chopped onions over.
3. In a large bowl, combine Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour in beer, stir and add to roasting pan.
4. Cover and cook in oven at 275 degrees F (135 degrees C) for 4 to 5 hours.
5. When meat is cooked, shred meat with 2 forks.
6. toast the onion buns and put a generous helping of meat on 'em.
7. drizzle with bbq sauce

(note: I have done this one in the crock pot and it comes out well)

...may there be mercy in the breaking of bread at your table...

wordless wednesday

fireworks

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in the mirror

It's been a week of looking into the mirror that reflects my heart and seeing just how much I am not the person I want to be - or thought I was.


... may there be mercy in the growth that's coming...

savory sundays

My friend, Jenna, over at A Light Inside has a cool blog. One of the fun things she does is called Tasty Tuesdays. Her recipes are yummy and simply reading them will always make me hungry. I've decided to take a page from her story, (pun intended since she is an author and I'm eagerly anticipating her publication date!), and begin with my own weekly recipe. 


Of course, add to that the fact that Mama and Daddy had a restaurant all my growing up years. I keep asking Mama how they made something. There are bits of paper with recipes scratched on 'em in so many places in this house! This will help me to transcribe those notes into a more useable format.


I hope you enjoy Savory Sundays. Let me know if you try any recipe - and your honest opinion. I really do want to know if your family liked it or not!

Pork Stroganoff

Ingredients:

4 (1 1/4 inch) thick pork chops (boneless will work nicely if you prefer)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup water

2 teaspoons prepared mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chops until well browned on both sides. Remove chops and set aside.

2. Add onion and mushrooms to the skillet and cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Return chops to skillet. Add water, mustard and salt. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 hour.

3. Remove chops to a warm platter. Into skillet add sour cream and heat through (do not boil). Pour sauce over pork chops. Garnish with parsley and serve.

...may there be mercy in the breaking of bread at your table...

wordless wednesday

our favorite train

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saturday ramblings

Saturday morning, waiting for the Man to finish his shower so we can go do fun stuff together. Thought I'd drop a few words here. Nothing important, just a few rambles to get me back on the blogging mode a little.

on turning 50:  way cool! I've been blessed to have friends and family who all wanted to celebrate this milestone with me. So much that my celebrations began the last weekend in March and ended with a trip to San Diego the first week of June. Yes, the entire point of the trip to San Diego was for me to be spoiled beyond belief by Mama. It works every time. In between were parties, lunches, weekend getaways, photography classes, dinners and more. It's been amazing fun!

on work:  economy still isn't good enough for us to get back to our normal 40-hour work week. Am hoping that this reduced hours thing only lasts this year.

on losses:  a dear friend lost her beloved husband last week. He was only 54 and a wonderful man. I've spent a lot of time talking with her as she deals with her grief and the overwhelming sense of the rest of her life. She told me the best advice given from anyone came from me:  "Don't look at the rest of your life. Don't look at the year, the month or the week. Don't even look at the hour ahead. Right now you only have to deal with the next 5 minutes. You can manage 5 minutes at a time. When that 5 minutes is up, deal with the next 5 minutes." She's dealing with life in this way for now. When she can, she will take on 10 minute increments.

on the Man:  am so thankful he is all healed up from his adventures in the medical world in May. Between a fall down a flight of stairs, hitting his head and a nasty bout with pneumonia, he scared me quite a bit. Thankfully the fall ended up with a minor whiplash that healed quickly. Thankfully the pneumonia cleared. Oh, and then there was the accident last week. Yep, he got rear-ended while driving our truck. Truck is still in the truck hospital, but is being fixed. The young man who hit him has great insurance and they are being extremely reasonable and kind to us. Again, no injury to the Man makes me happy.

on family:  it's hard to see Mama aging, but age she must. Despite that, she's doing very well for a 77year-old woman. My sister is doing spectacularly well, which makes me so very happy. She's finally learning how to be herself and that she's a beautiful person. My brothers... well, yeah, they are my brothers. Big brother is showing the ravages of his major illness that should have killed him. He still works, but his body shows many changes from the strong and healthy big brother in my head. Middle brother is still absolutely crazy, silly, and has learned next to nothing since his heart attack and bypass surgery. Youngest brother breaks my heart. Heroin. Nuff said.

on quilting:  haven't had enough time to do much since the weekend with Kim at the beach. But I've been planning and have some fun projects lined up. Not to mention new gorgeous fabrics!

on knitting:  a dear friend gave me a coupon for knitting lessons with her! I mentioned that I might like to learn to knit one evening while at her home. When my birthday rolled around, there was a gift of a knitting book, some yarn and her time. Can hardly wait to cash in that coupon!

on camera time:  definitely planning some serious camera time this summer. Between Mama and some friends, I was given the gift of a serious one-on-one class with an award winning photographer. Wow!!! Another item on my can hardly wait list!

...may there be mercy on my family, my friends, the Man and in my ramblings...

belated wordless wednesday

balance

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wordless wednesday

under the waterfall

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