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Monday, June 26, 2017

Again! PB Cookies...

WE LIKE CHEWY Peanut Butter Cookies!
Here is a REALLY GOOD CHEWY Recipe.
"Tried and true" best peanut butter cookies - EVER!

Peanut Butter Cookies from My Grandma's Recipe Collection
Sift together - 
2 C flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt

Blend well before adding flour mixture -
1 C peanut butter
2 C brown sugar
1/2 C butter (1 stick) or... 1/4 C butter and 1/4 C Crisco
2 eggs

Add -
1 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 C whole milk 

Cool dough in refrigerator for a bit, then teaspoon 12 scoops to an ungreased cookie sheet. * Parchment paper makes them too soft.  Sometimes I don't roll them into a ball and flatten with a sugared fork, because I don't feel it is necessary, but you can if you wish!

Bake - 350° oven 9-12 minutes depending on how crunchy you like them. The less time in the oven the chewier they are!

After baking, let them rest a bit before removing from sheet to racks to cool; then later put into containers.

Makes about 4 dozen, depending on size.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Salmon

WHAT??? Another recipe?????  Yes, easy and a good one too! There are tons of recipes for canned salmon on the internet but I've continued to use this one since long before there were many of those recipes available! Yes!


Salmon Casserole
Ingredients
        1 can (7-1/2 ounces) salmon, drained, bones and skin removed.
  • 4 cups soft bread crumbs
    • (or one stack crushed saltine crackers)
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
    • (not necessary)
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
    • (dried ok)
  • 3/4 cup fat-free milk
    • (regular milk ok) (One cup milk ok)
  • 1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise
    • (regular mayonnaise ok)
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
    • (wet mustard ok)
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
    • (or more ok)
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Directions
  • In a large bowl, combine the salmon, bread crumbs, celery, green pepper, onion and parsley. In a small bowl, combine the milk, mayonnaise, mustard and pepper. Pour over salmon mixture; toss to coat evenly.
  • Transfer to a 1-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. (or lined with non-stick foil) Sprinkle with cheese and paprika. Dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and top is golden brown. Yield: 4 servings.
  • Original recipe source unknown. Salmon color text by GMR
  • ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • We tried to eat only half, but just couldn't resist to have a bit more!
    click on image to view larger
My nephew caught these in Alaska around 11 years ago. I much prefer the canned variety!

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Thirsty Hummingbird



Each picture is an individual shot. None were used more than once in this slide show. It drank, came up for air, drank some more - over and over and over again! The last picture is one I took yesterday. Today it stayed long!

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Good Morning!

I'm an early riser and only have high energy in the mornings, so that is when I bake. Today it is banana bread. 

Half here, half in freezer! Large loaf...
This recipe is from the internet. (forgot where)
~I added oven roasted sliced almonds~ 
  
I am proud to say that my flowers are all doing great and the hummingbirds fly from them to the hanging feeder on regular trips here. They come one at a time and we only see two once in a while when one comes in to bomb the other. Sometimes the first one holds its own ground and the attacker flies away.
My garden grows well!
Please click on image to enjoy the view better!

Monday, June 19, 2017

Playing with the Buzzards

I was experimenting with combining a couple of my photos that I used in my blog on June 17 of the buzzards and am pleased with the results. It was an exercise in photomanipulation and took two hours! The panorama is done completely by hand. (copy-paste, copy-paste, blur, cut) The others were enhanced by using a free application I found on the internet.

please click on image to view larger

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Father's Day

Here it is a very relaxing day with a lot of picnic vittles awaiting suppertime. That is because it is a day of races on TV and very warm with the lake beckoning swimmers. Our family that lives nearby visited. Daughter swam, Son-in-law watched races and their son and his girlfriend went fishing in the boat. There are other folks fishing. I stay indoors with the AC as I can't tolerate much humidity.

There are no rules on Father's Day. All of the other kids have called and are having their own type of day.  

My father would be very happy to know that his Cabin Tranquillity at the lake is serving a lot of enjoyment today and I am thinking of and thanking him for providing such a place to gather any time of the year.
1963
Dad's Great Grandson, Alex

Saturday, June 17, 2017

And In They Came....

We call them Turkey Buzzards, a/k/a/ Turkey Vultures. They eat carrion, which they find largely by their excellent sense of smell. Mostly they eat mammals but are not above snacking on reptiles, other birds, amphibians, fish, and even invertebrates. They prefer freshly dead animals, but often have to wait for their meal to soften in order to pierce the skin. They have an extraordinary sense of smell. They don't have a voice box and they can't sing or call; they hiss and grunt. They are graceful and elegant in the air and make a beautiful picture when they soar and dip before landing.

This morning, while sitting on the porch in the light breeze, I saw the first one soar and circle above and land. I went indoors and got the camera. My pictures aren't the best but I had a grand time snapping away as more and more of them arrived. I think there was a dead fish on the road that might have been dropped by another predatory bird. In one picture there seems to be a fish-shape under the buzzard's foot. Well here is the story as I saw it.
First there was one
Then there were two
I soon saw three
I counted five - see one in the air
The seventh is in the upper left corner flying in
Adding up to a grand total of eight
They all sat on the grassy bank for about half an hour just looking around!
please click on image to view larger

Friday, June 16, 2017

Strawberry Recipes

These are from a beach friend and I remember how really good they were. She made and shared all three with us. I haven't made them myself for about 10 years but soon will.

Since it is strawberry season I'd like to share with you.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Shoney’s Strawberry Pie                  from Jean Cox

1 3/4 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup water
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 oz. strawberry Jell-O
Strawberries (frozen ones not recommended)

Cook first three ingredients until thick.
Add 1 package (3 oz.) Jell-O and stir.
Place uncooked strawberries in a baked pie shell
    (or graham cracker crust).
Pour cooked mixture over berries.
Chill in refrigerator. Top with whipped cream. 
Makes one 9 inch pie or two small ones.

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Strawberry Dessert “Pizza”                       Jean Cox

1 pkg. (20 oz. or 18 1/2 oz.) sugar cookie dough
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Topping, thawed
1 Pt. (2 cups) fresh strawberries
1/3 C Sugar

Let dough set out until soft, then press it into a greased 12 inch pizza pan. 
Bake at 350º for 20 minutes or until golden brown, 
Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on high speed until well blended.

Gently stir in the whipped topping.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust.

Top with strawberries.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until
ready to serve.

Will keep 2—3 days in the refrigerator.
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Strawberry Delight — Low Fat          From Jean Cox

1 Angel food cake
1 Low fat or fat free condensed milk
1 8 oz. lite or fat free sour cream
1 12 oz. lite or fat free Cool Whip
2 Pts. (4 cups) fresh strawberries, sliced
1 Medium and 1 Large bowl

SAUCE: (medium bowl)
Mix together condensed milk, Cool Whip and sour cream.
Set aside.

LAYER: (large bowl)
1/2 angel food cake torn into bite size pieces.
1/2 fresh strawberries
1/2 sauce mixture.
Repeat with remaining cake, strawberries and sauce mixture.

Top with whole fresh strawberries

Refrigerate overnight.
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And, knowing me, I would try it without ANY of the fat-free stuff!


Thursday, June 15, 2017

A Small Marvel


Never before in all the past years have I ever seen this little flower pop up in the front of the cabin porch. There are many and I didn't plant them! Neither did anyone else that I've asked. It MUST mean something!

First I had to find out what they were and after diligent research I am sure they are Forget-Me-Nots. They are spreading among the dying daffodil leaves.

The Forget Me Not Flower’s Message Is…

"Take the time to remember those you love, even if they’re still with you right now. Make memories that last and extend your caring to those that need it the most. Respect the dead and make sure their stories are still being told to future generations."

Link:  Meaning of Forget-Me-Nots

I shall do just that!

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Strawberry Progress Report

Today we took a ride out to our favorite produce stand to see if strawberries were ready. When we arrived there were 5 flats on the table, each one containing 8 quarts.  After a little debating, I decided that I could handle taking one of them, even though there were many berries to process. They were beautiful, large, and the green tops weren’t at all wilted. When I mentioned to the owner that we thought it might be time because after looking at my pictures from last year, the 20th of June was when we purchased some. She said that they were late and slow to ripen due to weather this year. Pollination of the plants wasn’t up-to-par either and we’ve had way too much rain, but they are coming on now. She also told me that these were just picked from the field LAST NIGHT by her and other family helpers. I neglected to ask just which variety the extra large ones were. They are whoppers! - and sweet. Now I will have to go through my recipes to use them. Of course, after freezing, they will be readily available any time for me now. I have some excellent and tasty recipes and will share a few later.
                  8 Quarts             
 Hulled
Sliced
Bagged

No matter how you look at them they are beautiful!
click on image to view larger

Currently they have a good life, waiting in the freezer for love. Field to freezer in less than 24 hours. You can't beat that!

Monday, June 12, 2017

Anniversary

Back when..., 56 years ago to be exact, they said, "It will never work." The divorce from my first husband had been finalized six days before this day of my new life with my final choice of husband. We were both 25. When he married me he took into his life four children under the age of 5. He had never been a father before and was warned by many that it would never work. The year was 1961.

A local judge married us in his office. He first took our picture with my camera and then led us all inside to complete the official marriage process and ceremony. After that we went to my new husband's mother's home to celebrate with his family and her neighbors. It wasn't a large group, but one neighbor had made a beautiful cake and joy and excitement prevailed. Soon after, we left to retrieve the children from a friend who was caring for them and picked up their things which were then moved into their new home. For them it was an adventure. The day was HOT and I'll never forget trying to adapt to do without a shower. There was only a bathtub in the new home. 

Bless his kind and sweet mother! Again! Again! and AGAIN! She opened her home to us, moving things around to accommodate her new family including children's noise and activity, furniture, toys, and even a pet cat with a new batch of kittens. Bit by bit we learned communal things from each other as far as shopping, cooking, housekeeping and sharing. In six months we were able to buy our own home with her help and the VA loan program.  I think she must have breathed a sigh of relief but also had the satisfaction of being a wonderful grandmother and mother to us. We were all very compatible, respectful and had very happy times when there. That is how I remember those days.
His Niece, Maid of Honor - ME, HE - His brother, Best Man - His Mother, Best Mother-in-Law
please click on image to view larger

It worked.