Week in Review: We had a great holiday week of church, family, friends, presents, and food, of course - lots of food. Here we are getting ready to leave for Drew's wedding on Friday night. It was an elegant wedding and we had a very nice evening.

Lindsey and Brent came for the wedding and we celebrated our Christmas together with them on Saturday.

They had spent Christmas Eve and Day in Knoxville with Brent's family, so we had not exchanged gifts with them. I made a snowman with a spinach dip-filled tummy, as pictured here. We about made ourselves sick on that.

For dinner we had a beef tenderloin roast with bearnaise sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, dried cherry/apple/walnut salad with maple dressing and for dessert, creme brulee. Here's a picture
of Lindsey caramelizing the top.

New Year's Eve Plans: Well, they've been cancelled. We had dinner reservations at Opus 24, but Stormy flew out to Philadelphia to be with Nick because he needed to stay out there and work. So, I think we'll make beef stroganoff with the leftover tenderloin and then we'll watch two of our favorite movies that we didn't get a chance to watch on Christmas Eve.

Th 1951 version of A Christmas Carol starring Alistair Sim. You know, it's the one with the huge Tiny Tim. When the ghost of Christmas future is showing Ebeneezer Scrooge the Cratchet house after Tiny Tim has died, a despondent Bob Cratchet is remembering how he used to carry Tim on his shoulders and he was as light as a feather. And I always think "right. He was as big as Mrs. Cratchet, for Pete's sake." It's a great movie and Alistair Sim is the definitive Scrooge. (It also bothers me that Bob Cratchet doesn't have a coat....just a scarf)

The other movie is Holiday Inn. Bing Crosby sang White Christmas for the first time here, and Fred Astaire does his famous firecracker dance.

We haven't stayed home on New Year's Eve since 2000, so it'll be kinda weird. Maybe we'll discuss some serious issues like: Who are we going to vote for in 2008? or What can we do to improve ourselves, or (most importantly) How do we get the Doobie Brothers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Seriously. What does it take? One 2008 inductee is The Dave Clark Five! Are you kidding me right now, The Dave Clark Five??? Who is voting on this, anyway?

Recipe of the Week:

There are so many choices here. I think I'll share the recipe for Bearnaise Sauce. This sauce is worth the effort. Enjoy.

Bernaise Sauce

3/4 cup butter

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 tablespoons chopped green onion

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves

3 egg yolks

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

To clarify the butter, in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, melt 3/4 cup butter until white solids separate from fat (10 -13 minutes) Remove from heat; skim off foam. Cool to lukewarm; set aside. In heavy 1 quart saucepan combine vinegar, wine, green onions and tarragon. Cook over medium heat until reduced to 3 tablespoons liquid and solids. ( 15 to 20 minutes) cool. Whisk eggs, salt, and pepper into vinegar/onion mixture until frothy. Place pan over low heat, whisking constantly until mixture thickens slightly. The pan should not be hot to the touch. Remove from heat; very slowly, whisk in the clarified butter leaving behind the milk solids residue in the bottom of the pan. Stir in parsley. Serve with tenderloin.

Really, the Dave Clark Five?

Week in Review:

I did some Salvation Army bell ringing, got my teeth cleaned and went with Stormy to Indy. We shopped and then picked Adam up at the airport. Bob was on vacation again this week. On Thursday he was Santa for South Side Elementary School.

I always remind him when he plays Santa to 1. Not go in the bank (as mentioned in an earlier post) 2. Not make any promises about delivering the goods and 3. Never tell the kids that he came without reindeer because Rudolph is sick. (that news can get some children really worked up, believe me)

Our UPS man on their busiest day of the year. A problem we never thought about: He intercepted some of his own Christmas presents at the terminal. Kind of hard to surprise him.

Friday night we went to see the Gin Blossoms at the new Rosebud Theatre in Effingham. They were great, but because it was so close to Christmas attendance was low - around 400 people. Like Lori said, it was weird to be at a concert where you knew about half of the people in the audience. We had a good time.

We also had a good time on Saturday celebrating Christmas at Maw-Maw's. We did not go caroling. My brother, John, is a mailman and he had to work so his family couldn't get there until later, and it started raining hard and singing in the rain is okay for Gene Kelly, but it's not for everybody. I refuse to carol with an umbrella! We did do some singing in the living room - The Twelve Days of Christmas and each took a part. Bob was "nine ladies dancing" and I was "three French hens."

We also celebrated Landon's first and Uncle Michael's 27th birthdays. Here they are tasting the cake.

Last week Baleigh sledded head-first into a tree. Thankfully, her head is okay, just a bump, but she managed to break a finger. We signed her cast. I told her we would have to write a new song, something similar to our "Would You Care to See My Mutilated Toe" number of last summer. We never came up with anything.

Sunday we spent the afternoon with Bob and Darlene - watching the Packers get thumped on by the Bears. Bob (my Bob) helped them hook up a new computer monitor. We made it home late Sunday night.

Recipe of the Week: I baked two raspberry white chocolate cheesecakes

to take to Effingham. I can't remember where I got this recipe. I've lost it, and along the way, I've altered it some.

Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese

1/2 pound white chocolate, melted

2 eggs

3 tablespoons Chambord liqueur

1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

Crust

Mix together graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into a 9 inch springform pan. Set aside.

Filling

Mix together cream cheese and sugar. Slowly add melted white chocolate and mix. Add eggs, one at a time and mix well. Put the raspberry jam into a small bowl and microwave briefly, just until it thins somewhat. Add the liqueur to the jam and mix. Remove 1/3 cup of cheesecake batter from the mixing bowl and add to the jam. Mix well. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the crust, then spoon the jam mixture on top. Take a knife and swirl throughout. Bake the cheese cake at 325 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, then cover and refrigerate the cheesecake overnight. The next day, place the cheesecake on a serving plate and frost.

Cheesecake frosting:

1 & 1/2 cups butter

2-8 oz pkgs cream cheese

1 pound melted white chocolate

3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Mix together the butter and cream cheese. Melt the white chocolate and let it cool to room temperature. Gradually add it to the cream cheese and butter, mixing well. Add the lemon juice and mix. Frost the cheesecake and return to the refrigerator just until it sets up. Microwave the raspberry jam, again, just enough to warm and thin. Pour over the top of the cake and spread almost to the edge. Pipe around the cheesecake with extra frosting.

After writing this all down, it occurs to me that making this cheesecake is a heck of a lot of work. Good luck, and Merry Christmas. Remember: He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

Last Two Weeks in Review: Well, subbing, of course - 7th grade one week and sixth grade for a couple of days last week. There is no school today because of the ten inches of snow we received Saturday night, so there were no phone calls at 5:00 AM. I had a few Christmas parties/meetings - Common Grace, Tri Kappa, and Tuesday Club. Bob was on vacation last week. I made him watch the movie, Waitress, with me. He said he liked it, but I doubt that he liked it as much as I did. We got a new Jeep on Thursday. It has a rear backup camera, which is very distracting and I'm pretty sure I'm going to sideswipe something because I'm looking at my camera.

Maddie, the Amazing Barking Dog's Christmas Do

Maddie, the Amazing Barking Dog is as quiet as a church mouse on the car ride to the groomer's, but she barks her fool head off on the way home and bites at passing cars and trucks. There was a big puddle in the driveway at Champs and Tramps, so when I picked her up, I thought I'd better carry her to the Jeep to keep her from getting muddy, because, after all, I just paid fifty dollars to have her looking so spiffy. I took my dark coat off and put it in the back seat, so I wouldn't get dog hair all over me. I deposited her into the passenger side and started down the road, and what did she do? That's right. She jumped into the backseat on top of my coat and wallered it around. I was driving with one hand and flailing around trying to get my coat out from under her. Well, here she is, and doesn't she look nice? It took about twenty sheets off the lint-roller to get the hair off my coat.

Nothing spices up the holiday season like a colonoscopy. So, I had one. Bob went with me and was very helpful. He had his eye on the safety-step socks they give to patients - you know, the ones with the no-skid paw prints on the bottom. I told him he could have them. They will not let you leave the Heart Center until you pass some gas. Bob was a real cheerleader in that area. Actually, I didn't want to leave at all, but I didn't know how long you were allowed to just lay there and I didn't want to look like a weenie, so I let them wheel me out to the parking lot. (Sorry, no photos)

Landon and his dad. Don't cry. The team won!

(actually, he's probably distressed just thinking about poor Aunt Lou's colonoscopy)

On Tuesday, Stormy and I are going to Indianapolis to pick up Adam at the airport. On Friday night, the Gin Blossoms will be playing at the Rose Bud Theatre in Effingham. Several of us have tickets for that performance. We'll have Christmas at Maw-Maw's on Saturday with my family. We're planning to go caroling and I'm taking my Christmas kazoo along. We'll spend Sunday with Bob and Darlene and then plan to be back home for Chistmas Eve.

This past weekend, I made gingerbread men to give to the ladies (and gentleman) in my YMCA step-aerobic's class. I put a hole through the head and attached a gold cord so it can be used as an ornament. I usually just make my gingies straddle the banister garland, as pictured here.

Gingerbread Men

1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup molasses
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 large eggs
8 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the gingerbread men, I make a paper pattern and then just cut around it with a knife. Use a straw for the eyes and buttons. After you bake them you paint the eyes and heart and then cover with Modge Podge to seal.

Bob, Rob, Maddie, and me as internet elves. Rob is a little blurry here, but I'm sure he won't mind at all.

Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year? That's right,

Brett Favre!

Ummm-hmmm

Week in Review:

We stapled the sock to the squirrel's head this week (telling ourselves it looks very much like a Santa hat) so Christmas must be just around the corner. Ahh - the magic of Christmas. When I was a kid, I thought Toyland was on the second floor of Steven's Hardware Store in Effingham, Illinois. That's mainly because there was a sign in the store with an arrow that said "Toyland Upstairs." Plus, once our mom made us wait in the car while she ran up there, so I just assumed that we were not allowed to go there because we'd see the elves working on stuff.

My all-time favorite Christmas gift was something called Tiger Town. It had plastic (stone-like) houses (a-la Fred Flintstone) and plastic palm trees and little plastic tigers with a picnic table and a wheelbarrow. Very cool. ( I wonder if it was made at the hardware store) I also remember being really fond of my potholder loom.

BOOK BABES

We had a double-dose of Book Babes this week. We met on Wednesday to discuss the book, All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. This book has definitely been made into a movie, twice. The 1949 version, starring Broderick Crawford as Willie Stark was best picture of the year. The movie was re-made in 2006 and Sean Penn played the lead role.

During the evening, we also discussed the tummy-tuck power and dollar value of NYDJ jeans (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) Some jeans were modeled and behinds were scrutinized. Julia stayed home with a bad cold.

On Saturday we were all together for our annual Christmas outing. This year - lunch at Joseph Decuis in Roanoke. Here we are at the restaurant after our delicious meal.

Recipe of the Week:

Wouldn't you know that Bob took off again on Sunday morning for the west coast. He was kind of complaining before he left, then he reminded himself that it wasn't Iraq, it was California. I think he's just tired of flying out there. I suggested that he could have a nice lunch at the Branding Iron in Merced. Anyway, there was no Sunday Night Supper for Rob and me. This coming Wednesday morning, I'm catering a breakfast for twenty people. They've ordered a wake-up breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls. I got the recipe for these cake mix rolls from my mother-in-law, Darlene, and I think she cut it out of the newspaper. They're really good, and pretty easy to make, but expect a big mess in the kitchen when you make these. (or maybe it's just me)

Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

1 yellow or white cake mix

4 packages yeast

4 cups warm water

2 teaspoons salt

7 1/2 to 8 cups flour

1/4 cup vegetable oil (in bottom of each pan)

Filling

Melted butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients (except flour) Add water and mix. Gradually add flour mixing well. Let dough sit in the mixing bowl for 30 minutes. Divide the dough into two or three parts (I use 2) Roll it out and drizzle with butter and add cinnamon and sugar. Roll up the dough and slice into cinnamon rolls. (about 1 inch thick) Put 1/4 cup oil in the bottom of a jelly roll pan. This adds moisture and prevents sticking. Position the rolls in the pan and let them raise for 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until done. Drizzle with powdered sugar frosting.

Week in Review:

Big holiday week full of cooking and eating and shopping! The hunters returned. Brent and Lindsey came up on Wednesday night. We had Thanksgiving dinner here on Thursday, then, of course, the Black Friday shopping trip. On Saturday we went to Drew's shower at Gene Stratton Porter, (see pics from the shower on Lindsey's blog) and celebrated Brent's 26th birthday. Oh, and my friend, Cheryl, who also rode Joe's bus home from Funkhouser School, e-mailed me that I forgot to mention the great bus debates of Ford vs Chevy. How could I forget!!!!

Corey and Rob and what they killed

For Thanksgiving dinner, I decided to try dry-brining a fresh turkey. This worked okay and was fine and everything, but I don't think it was really worth the extra effort and in the future, I'll be sticking with the Butterball. I've also never been satisfied with my dressing. After some phone consultation with Maw-Maw, (who makes wonderful dressing) I decided to cook the turkey neck and wings (I made Bob cut them off) in the pressure cooker and use that meat and stock as the base. I've always been a little afraid of my pressure cooker. I guess I think the lid will blow off and hit me in the head. But, I got it out anyway, and proceeded. Later, I added chicken broth and then the celery and onion and, on Maw-Maw's advice, rubbed sage, instead of the powdered. Well, the dressing turned out great and I feel like a real victory was won on this great holiday. We also served sweet potatoes that knock your socks off, mashed potatoes and gravy, scalloped corn, apple & walnut spinach salad with honey mustard dressing, pecan and pumpkin pie and turkey cookies, as shown above. Nick and Stormy were also guests at our Thanksgiving Dinner, as their children were not coming until the weekend.

Black Friday!!!!!

It was great. Our first stop, after Starbucks, was Best Buy. I ran in and grabbed my purchase and got in line, and waited in that line that zig-zagged down many aisles for about 45 minutes. Stormy and Lindsey positioned themselves so that they could wave and cheer at me and take my picture as I came around each corner. Then it was on to Target where we scored one sweet parking place and were in and out in no time. We used a little strategy there. One person immediately got in line and the other two ran to get the stuff and bring it back to the line. At one store, Lindsey demonstrated her assertiveness skills by telling the clerk how to ring up our sale so that the discount coupons could be used to our best advantage.

Us, at Starbuck's at 5:00 AM

Brent's birthday carrot cake

We had ribs and Stormy sent over extra jalapeno crab cakes that they were serving at their house.

Sunday - There was no supper. I was all cooked out, s0 we had leftovers. Bob spent the afternoon cutting down the neighbor's walnut tree, so he can put up a dish and watch I.U. basketball games on the Big Ten Network. Here's Bob carrying his Little Giant back to the garage. At this point, the deed is done and the tree is finally down. I just ran out to check. I had been inside the house, praying, and frantically searching online to see if there was maybe some Patron Saint of Woodcutters on whom to call. (like St. Paul of Bunyan maybe) Anyway, the neighbor is safe and so is his property and the lights and cable are still on, so whew!

The recipe of the week is for the turkey cookies featured above. I got this recipe for cream cheese sugar cookies from another kindergarten room mother at J.L. Buford School in Mt. Vernon, Illinois in 1988. You have to keep an eye on these cookies when they're in the oven, as they brown quickly because there's so much butter in them.

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup softened butter

3 ounces softened cream cheese

1 egg yolk

2 3/4 cups flour

Combine all ingredients except flour. Stir well. Add flour slowly until well-mixed. Chill a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Bake approximately 7-10 minutes. Watch closely. Frost or sugar them when cool.

Week in Review



Absolutely no subbing at all this week. I filled in for Sally at the park department while she was on vacation. Bob was on the west coast again until Thursday and then he and Rob and a friend of Rob's left for a weekend duck hunting trip in Stuttgart, Arkansas, the MECCA of duck hunting.


The weekend was again, kind of clunky. I was trying to load groceries in a rainy/snowy Wal-mart parking lot and my hood was pulled over my head and I couldn't see that the liftgate on the Jeep was not raising up as I thought it was and, anyway, I almost knocked myself out on the liftgate and I have a small lump above my left eye. And, when Bob applied online for Arkansas hunting licenses, he typed in Rob's birth date as 1889, making him 118 years old. They were 2 hours in some Arkansas Wal-Mart trying to get that straightened out, and Saturday morning they didn't even get a chance to fire their guns. Maybe some planet is in retrograde motion, wreaking havoc on our weekend.........or, maybe we just need to pay closer attention to what we're doing...and stay out of Wal-mart's.



There are no new pictures because thoughtless hunters took both cameras to the MECCA of duck hunting, so, for you Landon watchers, here he is in his formal nine month photograph with Stella. It could only be better if the dog was wearing a sweater with a boy on it.









It's Thanksgiving week and I've spent some time this afternoon making a shopping list. Brent and Lindsey will come and Nick and Stormy, and maybe, Lori and family. We'll have all the fixins and some Packer football and then we'll ready ourselves for BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!


Here's how it will go. We'll get up at 3:00 am and we'll load all the store fliers in the back seat and drive to Fort Wayne. Initially there will be some mumbling about how stupid this is, but it will subside as the shoppers start to get into the spirit of the morning. At Starbuck's we'll get peppermint mocha's and then we'll plan our attack.

I think it's important to have a code of conduct or a set of rules to adhere to on this very special shopping day. So here's what I will and will not do:

On Black Friday I WILL NOT:

1. Push or shove

2. Scratch

3. Use profanity

4. Issue threats

However, I WILL:

1. Run

2. Bob and weave (if necessary)


3. Use shopping companions to create a diversion away from doorbuster items.

4. Act stupid and helpless to get what I want. (sometimes this is not acting) This works well with men at H.H. Gregg and Best Buy - you might even get them to lug some heavy stuff to your place in line, but don't even bother trying it at JC Penney, Macy's or Target because you'd be wasting your time. In fact, it's best not to show weakness at these locations, as any sign of vulnerability is like a drop of blood in shark-infested waters.




No Sunday night candlelight supper this week. I did have dinner at Nick and Stormy's on Saturday night. Shane and Krissy were also guests. We were served a delcious chicken Marsala, and we had a great time.

Illinois Corn Sausage Chowder is a family favorite. I still have the original recipe on a limp, grease-soaked, folded-up magazine page torn out of a 1988 issue of Midwest Living. I entered this chowder in a cooking contest that the Effingham Daily News sponsored many years ago and won second place in the soups and salads category. I think I got twenty-five bucks. Here it is. Enjoy


Prize-Winning Illinois Corn-Sausage Chowder
1 pound bulk pork sausage
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
4 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled potato
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 cups water
1 17-ounce can cream-style corn
1 17-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk

In a Dutch oven or kettle, cook the sausage and onion until sausage is brown and onion is tender; drain on paper towels. Return sausage and onion to the kettle with potato, salt, marjoram, pepper, and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer just till potato is tender, about 15 minutes. Add cream-corn and whole kernel-corn and milk. Heat through

Week in Review

I subbed all week - mornings in kindergarten and afternoons at the middle school with fifteen minutes to get from one school to the other. The kindergarten crowd was the same one mentioned in an earlier post - the one that doubts my competency. Those kids even questioned the way I put stickers up on a chart. Hmmmm - It just didn't look quite right to them.



Bob's dad is in the hospital in St. Louis, and he spent most of the week there. Stormy and Nick put their house on the market because they are moving to Philadelphia.

Elections

This past week local elections were held. This got me to thinking back, again, to my childhood and my days as a student at Funkhouser Grade School. If you went to Funkhouser, you either rode Nobe's bus or Joe's bus. I don't know what they did on Nobe's bus, but on Joe's bus we would engage in sparkling political debate - maybe not sparkling, exactly, more like republicans would sit on one side of the bus and democrats, the other. We didn't really debate issues, we mostly just shouted back and forth across the aisle that we were best, and our side was right. (kinda like real politics in Washington).


Our debates weren't always about politics. Sometimes they would be about which kind of tractor was superior. John Deere people were on one side, Farmall, International, and everybody else on the other - again, shouting about which tractor was best. I can still hear this one kid enthusiastically chiming in "Allis Chalmers" at periodic intervals. ( You know, when I think about it, I believe the republicans owned all the John Deere's).


Our bus route wound around in the country and went past a gravel road that led back into the woods to the Jackson Township Hall. I voted there for the first time in 1976. It was also a popular place to park.


One night, I was in bed and looking out my window, doing my nightly UFO check, and I saw a man walking up our driveway. I alerted the authorities who checked it out. It was my cousin. He had been parking at the town hall with his girlfriend and was out of gas. He had walked the three or four miles to our house and had been chased by somebody's dog and everything.


All I could think about was his poor girlfriend and how I wouldn't want some guy to go off and leave me alone in the car in those woods at night. I would rather be chased by the dog.

No Sunday Supper this Week

With Bob away again, there was no candlelight supper tonight. For those of you who knew that I was trying out the recipe for the 7 cheese macaroni and cheese, I have to report that it was a bit disappointing. The recipe called for about 12 cups of 7 different cheeses, a dozen eggs, and six cups of half and half. I made it, but I was not impressed.


I will share with you my recipe for meatballs. Like the carrot cake, this recipe came from my friend, Jana. I have shared it with many Hoosiers over the years, and I have to say that I think because of this meatball recipe, Indiana is a better place to live, (seriously) so here it is, along with some pics from Lindsey and Brent's wedding this summer.









The families

Rob and Candace before the wedding and the beautiful bride
















The Best Meatballs on the Face of the EARTH..earth...earth

3 lbs ground beef
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon pepper
2 cups oats
2 eggs
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Sauce:
3 cups brown sugar
2 cups ketchup
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder

Mix ingredients for meatballs. Roll into balls and place in a baking dish. Prepare sauce and pour over the meatballs. Bake for about 1 hour at 350 degrees. Yummy!

If it weren't for Brett Favre, this would have been one clunky weekend.
Thanks Brett!

Week in Review

Fall Break and Halloween this week. Pictured here is the adorable Landon and his dog, Stella, as dinosaurs.






Boo at the School

On Tuesday night we hosted a 19th century Halloween party at the one room schoolhouse. Because of a public relations error, we ended up having more than the 25 kids we were planning for. It turned out okay, I think. This picture might make one think otherwise. Well, mostly because it looks like this ghost has something tied around its neck and, of course, the Danger Electric Fence sign. (I'm told that it's just a little buzz, truly, but I've never actually tried it out) And then there is that open bucket of lard on the ground beside the ghost. And there were many lighted candles and jack o' lanterns and lots of cars driving by at high rates of speed. Oh, and about thirty minutes after this picture was taken a Pit Bull and a Rottweiler from the next farm came over and stuck their heads through the fence and barked at us. But other than that it was perfectly fine, and safe. (nervous laughter)





Sunday Candlelight Supper

Finally, we got our neighbors, Rick and Cathy, here for dinner. We served them the chick buns, carrot souffle, asparagus, and rosemary garlic potatoes. (I know - enough with the chick buns already. Next week - something different) I baked two pies, a pumpkin and a pecan. We ate our pie during half-time of the Patriots/Colts game. Sheesh. Now we're going to have to keep hearing about how woooonnderfuuul those Patriots are. Cathy also brought over a cheesy salsa dip to enjoy during the game. We were stuffed.



Cathy is an accountant, but she's a fun accountant. Once, she and I and our children toilet papered her sister's family who used to live across the road. They never suspected us. Rick and Cathy have been to the David Letterman show three times and Rick always manages to get them on camera. The last time they were there, Rick stumped the band with a song called "Hoosier Boy's State." And because he used to be a state policeman, Dave asked him to pat him down. And he did. Rick was also a contestant on The Weakest Link. He got all his questions right, so when they got down toward the end, the other contestants gave him the boot so they wouldn't have to compete against him in the final round. He's also trying to get on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. I'm hoping he'll ask me to be a phone friend.

The recipe for the week is for the Rosemary Garlic Potatoes. They're great because, well they're tasty, and you can prepare them on top of the stove, so...more oven space.

Rosemary Garlic Potatoes
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
10 small red potatoes, quartered
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
(or substitute 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic

In a ten inch skillet, heat oil; stir in remaining ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisply-tender (30-35 minutes)

How about that Brett Favre?
I don't want to hear about those Patriots!

Week in Review

I did more subbing this week at an elementary school. It was a sweet gig!. The Book Babes met on Wednesday night to talk about the book Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Sandy was the hostess, and all I'm saying is she really got into the circus theme. (I have pictures this time, but not permission to post them) I had arrived late because of another meeting, so the other Babes informed me that this book is currently being made into a movie. I asked if George Clooney might be playing the part of Jacob Jankowski, the almost-veterinarian/circus animal caretaker. Stormy thought that role should go to Toby McGuire because she was sure there was some famous circus performer named Toby. I told her she was probably thinking of Topo Gigo, the Italian mouse who used to ask Ed Sullivan to kiss him goodnight.

Lindsey and Brent went to a Halloween party on Friday night as Dwight and Angela from The Office. Brent gave out Schrute Bucks.

On Friday Bob and I went to Effingham to watch the undefeated Flaming Hearts take on Charleston in their first playoff game. Here's a picture of my 8-year old niece, Baleigh, and me in our Heart-wear before the big game. We took my mom (hereafter referred to in this blog as Maw-Maw) It was a real family affair because my sister Lori (mentioned in the first posting) is a high school counselor and videotapes the games. Her husband, Dan, coaches the offense, and my cousin has a son who plays on the team.

At the game, Baleigh bought a cup of hot cocoa that looked like motor oil. She took the to-go lid off to blow on it. Sitting right in front of her was a player's mom who was wearing her son's letterman's jacket. (At one point in the game, someone sitting behind me, who shall go un-named referred to that boy as a "little twerp" who could not possibly score a touchdown without the help of the offensive line) Baleigh was balancing the cup of cocoa precariously on her knee. I was worried because I knew that one great pass or critical tackle and we might end up dumping motor oil all over that little twerp's jacket.

During the second half of the game Baleigh got really tired and started leaning on our shoulders. The field was muddy and the game was exciting, but Effingham had already beaten Charleston once this season and the moon was full, and the game did not end up the way we would have liked. In the parking lot, Baleigh consoled herself by announcing that now her Friday nights are free.

For the last three summers, Baleigh has spent a week with us so she can participate in our One Room Schoolhouse Summer Camp. This past summer, we co-wrote a song called "Would you Care to see my Mutilated Toe?" (sung to the tune of "She'll be Comin' Around the Mountain when She Comes) This song came about after a toe that was damaged in a last-day-of-school flip-flop incident was re-injured in Target. There's another verse - something about having bloody tissues in my purse. To help her get to sleep at night, I would sing her a lullaby. She just loved it when I sang "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." She's going to be Hannah Montana for Halloween.

Sunday Night Candlelight Supper

We did not host the Sunday Night Supper this week. Instead, we were guests of Nick and Stormy. They served a delicious supper of spinach-stuffed beef tenderloin, horseradish mashed potatoes, carrot souffle, bread sticks, and for dessert, lovely apple tarts and chocolates.

We had a great time. We listened to some old Randy Newman music and some really old Simon and Garfunkel. Stormy broke a wine glass. I'm going to have to replace it because it was my funny joke that made her break the stem right off.

I don't have the recipe for the spinach stuffed beef tenderloin, but I will share a great recipe that I got from my friend, Julia. These green bean bundles first appeared at a church dinner. Julia got the recipe and served them to us a couple of years ago. I took them to a Common Grace potluck dinner where they somehow turned into Presbyterian Green Bean Bundles. So, here's the recipe:

Julia's Presbyterian Green Bean Bundles

3 -14.5 ounce cans whole green beans

1 pound bacon - cut in half

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp garlic powder

2 dashes soy sauce

salt and pepper

Wrap a half-slice of bacon around 7 green beans. Place in glass baking dish. You can crowd them close together, but do not layer. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over green bean bundles. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Yummy.

Week in Review:

I put the witch's hat on our squirrel this week - a sure sign that Halloween is just around the corner. I did some more subbing at the middle school and went to the dentist. At one point during the visit, my dentist said to his assistant, "Hand me the Explorer." When I got the opportunity to speak, I told them both that they needn't try to protect me by calling it "The Explorer." I saw it, after all, and it was clearly an ice pick.

They then proceeded to to tell me other benign terms they used in an effort to keep the patient relaxed (and off-guard). A tooth is "wiggled" out - never pulled or yanked, and instead of being numbed, the tooth is now "soaked." It's very thoughtful of them to use these more palatable words that keep us calm in the chair. However, FYI, dear readers, any time your dentist starts asking for instruments that sound like they're used to hunt for stuff, like "The Seeker," or "The Voyager," or "The Big Stainless Steel Inspector," - trust me, you're going to be on the receiving end of something pointy.

And...

Glitter on the Highway

Glitter around Bixler Lake

Love Walk, Baby, Love Walk

'Talkin' about the Love Walk

Yes, the week ended with the annual Common Grace Love Walk. Here is a picture of the group before the walk began. Our bagpiper did, indeed, add some zest to the event. The weather was wonderful and we were able to raise some much-needed funds to help the needy.

Sunday Night Candlelight Supper

There wasn't one. I know, big disappointment, but Bob was working in Wisconsin, and I can't do it without him because, after all, he is part of the dream. The recipe of the week is for the carrot cake (pictured here) that I took for our post-Love Walk refreshment table. I got this recipe from my good friend, Jana, in 1986, when we both lived in Mt. Vernon, IL. We sang together in the church choir and in a ladies gospel quartet that was called, um, I think all they ever called us was "Our Little Ladies Gospel Quartet." She has a great big soprano voice, and boy, can she cook. Lindsey stayed with her and her family on the night Rob was born. Lindsey got sick and threw up on her bedspread. She was a good friend. I miss her.

Anyway, I've made hundreds, really, hundreds of these carrot cakes. I don't have to look at the recipe, although it's good to have it written down, because, I know that one of these days, I'm going to be standing over the mixing bowl with a box of baking soda in my hand and I'm not going to remember how many teaspoons go into the mix. Scary.

Jana's Carrot Cake

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda (whew, I still got it)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

3 cups grated carrots

1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray three, nine-inch round baking pans with Baker's Joy. Combine sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla, and mix well. In separate bowl, combine dry ingrediants. Add to the first mixture and blend. Add carrots and pecans. Pour mixture into pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes (I don't really know how long - until it's done)

Remove cakes from pans onto cooling rack. Frost and refrigerate.

Frosting

1 stick butter

1 8-ounce package cream cheese

1 pound powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Brett and the boys had the week off.

What a win for the Bears!

Effingham Flaming Hearts - the perfect season!

Week in Review


I did a lot of subbing this week - 3rd grade and middle school health. I went to my Common Grace meeting on Monday night. We're planning our annual fundraiser, "The Love Walk." I was asked to contact our local bagpiper to see if he would lead the Walk. He's going to. That should add some zest to the event. We constructed our pumpkin topiaries this week. I'm posting a picture of one of them. Bob made two trips to Wisconsin. Duck hunting season opened on Saturday. yippee.








Memories of Trick or Treat






Living on Diamond Street for 8 years almost made me lose my fondness for Trick or Treat. There used to be so many Trick or Treaters at our house, I couldn't even go inside. I just stood out on the porch and handed out candy until I ran out, and I always ran out. Diamond Street is one of those "dump your kids out here" Trick or Treat streets. I'm talking 300 plus kids and assorted other characters every year.

Back when I was tricking and treating in the early to mid 1960's, things were sure different. We didn't go to a house unless we knew the people who lived there, and because we lived in the country, we had to be driven around. Our trick or treat bags were grocery sacks, and the candy wasn't just handed out at the door. Oh, no. We had to go inside and work for it.


First, they would make a big production out of guessing who we were. Then they quizzed us about how we were doing in school - wanted to know recent test scores- wanted to know if we were being nice to each other and not fighting and what-not. My Great Uncle Press and Aunt Blanche liked to hear us sing a church hymn before they handed out the goodies. Our mom's father lived at the end of a road, and the only light in his house at night came from the TV. We would fumble our way up to his door (this was extra tricky the year my brother Jeff and I were a three-legged monster) hoping he might have some caramels or some of those peppermints with the x's on them in his refrigerator. (we also hoped he'd leave the refrigerator door open long enough to help us get back out to the car) Our dad's mother would make us come in and visit. She'd throw loose handfuls of of stuff into our grocery sacks - popcorn, apples, candy corn, fried egg sandwiches. She'd break open a jar of canned strawberries for us to enjoy. Our grandma canned everything. Have you ever eaten canned strawberries? Believe me they're no Treat.



Where we lived, Trick or Treat lasted longer than two hours. You might receive callers for two or three nights. You just left your porch light on if you were open for business. One night, around nine o'clock we opened our door and there were two big people dressed in gorilla suits. They didn't speak. They weren't collecting candy. They were handing it out. Did we eat the candy? OF COURSE WE DID. Maybe our parents knew who they were. I don't know. But I do know that two people could not go door to door distributing candy in 2007. We would never open our doors to gorillas. We'd be terrified. We'd call the police. When Bob dresses up as Santa I always say to him, "Bob, do not go into the bank in that costume - not even the drive up. You'll scare the bank people and they'll call the police."

Nosiree. Trick or Treat isn't what it used to be. The days of canned strawberries and opening your door to gorillas are gone forever.





Sunday Supper



Nick and Stormy came to supper on Sunday . We've decided to call them candlelight suppers, like Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced bouquet) always talks about having on the British comedy Keeping Up Appearances. We served Chick Buns (chicken bundles) asparagus, rosemary and garlic potatoes, carrot souffle, and apple pie.


The carrot souffle was served at Lindsey and Brent's wedding reception by Thomas Caterers of Distinction in Indianapolis. They did a wonderful job and the food was delicious. I got this recipe from their own web site.



Carrot Souffle

1 pound carrots
4 ounces butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
salt, to taste



Peel carrots. Cook in salted water until well-done. Drain well.

Melt butter. In a blender put eggs butter, sugar, flour, baking soda and vanilla. Blend well. Add carrots. Blend until mixture resembles a milkshake.

Bake in a greased glass dish at 275 degrees for 45 minutes or until just firm.



Yay! The Pack is back! Hearts keep winning.

Week in Review

Well, I went to Tuesday Club....on Tuesday, of course. The program was about Viet Nam, "And that's all I've got to say about that." (Forrest Gump)

I subbed for kindergarten on Wednesday. Kindergarten is a tough crowd because you have to spend the whole day convincing them that you are not some imbecile they found wandering aimlessly in the parking lot. "Listen you guys, I know what I'm doing. I can read and everything. And, look, I have all the instructions right here. Remain calm and we will survive this trauma together."

Field Trip

On Friday morning I played school marm to a group of second grade students at the Wayne Center One Room Schoolhouse. I had told their teacher if any of them wanted to wear old fashioned clothes it would be great. Lots of families in our area have period costumes because we have an annual pioneer apple festival. When the kids got off the bus, I was surprised and amused because almost half of them were wearing cowboy hats and some, cowboy boots. I guess they thought we were going on a cattle drive. Oh, well, it's second grade. Here is a picture of me with the group. (Many of them have left their hats inside)

By the way, fungus has attacked the schoolhouse door and it is starting to fall apart. The door is 7 feet long and 3 feet wide. If you can help us, let me know by leaving a comment on this here blog. We'd be much obliged, partner- Yee Haw.

Speaking of the annual Apple Festival. This was the weekend! Brent and Lindsey came up so they could attend. They brought back with them Maddie the Amazing Barking Dog. Lindsey was glad to have Maddie's company while Brent was in Texas. She said that she thought Maddie enjoyed her stay because there were many neighbor kitties to bark at. She also said that the visit was a kind of mini fat camp for Maddie because her snacking was restricted to graham crackers and bits of cheese. Poor dog! I went immediately to the pantry and got her a handful of Maple Frosted Mini Wheat Biscuits and a roll of Smarties. I bet she's glad to be home!

Oh, and I almost forgot, Bob came home from the west coast - with minimal dirty laundry. What a guy!!!

It was the hottest Apple Festival in history! Near 90 degrees both days. I worked both afternoons in the information booth. Here I am handing out complimentary shopping bags to the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the festival to eat our great food. Do I look hot? No, the other hot. This picture was taken early. My bloomers were soaked!

Sunday Supper

Of course, some of us were stuffed with Festival food, but since the kids were here, (Brent, Lindsey, and Rob) we thought we'd serve a nice dinner on Sunday evening, just before the Packer/Bear's game. We had spaghetti, salad, french bread, and, for dessert, apple pie. I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but the spaghetti sauce is special because, well, you cook it for nine hours - six on the first day that you make it, then it goes into the refrigerator and comes out and cooks three more hours on the second day. It's delicious. and you have lots to put in the freezer for future enjoyment.

Nick and Stormy got this recipe from their son's in-laws. It was not handed over to them until after the wedding reception, when everything was official so let's call this recipe.......

Second Son in Marriage - Spaghetti Sauce Recipe Exchange

2 lbs ground beef

2 medium onions diced

6 cloves garlic, pressed

1 cup Romano cheese, grated

128 ounces tomato sauce

18 ounces tomato paste

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper

2 tsps. fennel

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. dried tarragon

1/4 tsp heaping, dried oregano

2 large bay leaves

1 tsp., heaping, dried rosemary

2 dashes each; marjoram, mace, and thyme

3 dashes ground oregano

Brown and mash ground beef in large pot (potato masher works well) Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are clear. Add spices, stirring thoroughly. Add tomato sauce and paste mixing thoroughly.

When mixture begins to bubble, add Romano cheese and mix. Cover the pot and turn down the heat and simmer for at least six hours. Cool and refrigerate overnight. Reheat and let simmer for 2 to 4 more hours before serving. Enjoy!

OH NO! Packers lose! Brett, what the heck happened??

Yays for the Colts and the Flaming Hearts keep on burnin'- Only two more games to achieve the perfect season!

Words of wisdom from The Office - Nothing will bring back your clients quicker than a nice gift basket. WE WANT OUR TURTLES!