Welcome to the Gingerbread Kitchen

 Last night after my family had left and Mom was sitting in her favorite chair, I decided to take the newest gingerbread goodies, a gift from my friend Karla, and fix up a magical gingerbread kitchen.

 Karla gave us these pretty, tall gingerbread people, the pretty glass cannisters and the placemats that match..  Along with her ornamental cupcakes and candy, this corner of the kitchen reminds me of the window displays in St. Louis Stix, Baer and Fuller...  We used to go once a season to see the Ice Capades and visit the shops with Santa and his elves...

 The yellow tin is a perfectly awesome tin of Harney's tea blended for the Royal Wedding....  In the silk sachets are rose petals, blue cornflowers, and marigold...  along with tea, or course...  and vanilla pieces.  It is one yummy cuppa tea!

 Don't you love their happy faces?

 On the north wall, we have a gingerbread village mixed in with Mom's flow blue dishware collection.  I just bought the tall gingerbread girl and the lifelike popcorn tree and popcorn balls from my favorite Randolph Mercantile...

 If I could imagine myself tiny and festive, I would walk along those streets and visit every shop to try to finish up my holiday gift buying...  No black Friday for me!!!!

 She looks real, but she isn't...  Do you love gingerbread?  I confess I haven't had much real gingerbread.  I like gingersnaps from the store, and when I was young, my grandmother made Laura Ingalls Wilder's gingerbread cake... It was dark and tangy, kind of mysterious.  We always mixed up a form of cool whip called Dream Whip from a box, and it often had a little runnier texture than Cool Whip...  Gramma was a bit heavy on the vanilla, and that dream whip was food of the gods!!!!  She poured it over this cake when Christmas time came, and I thought I was ON Little House on the Prairie!!!

 One time Gramma offered to give me 100 dollars if I lost 50 pounds...  I thought that was a bunch of money back then, so I accepted the challenge..  the very next night when I got home from school, she had made this gingerbread...  (I think it was sabotage)---

 Those pounds have long been lost.....  and found again!!!!  And I would love to taste this lovely concoction again this season...  I found her recipe, so I may try it soon...  Bake it as you risk because gingerbread isn't for everyone...  I know my daddy didn't love it, and actually I'm not sure if I did or not...  Tastes change, but memories stay beautiful...

Have a fun weekend...  My vacation days have been fun, and the weekend isn't quite over yet...  Hallelujah!

 LAURA'S GINGERBREAD

1 cup brown sugar blended with 1/2 cup shortening. 1 cup molasses mixed well with this. 2 teaspoons baking soda in 1 cup boiling water (Be sure cup is full of water after foam is run off into cake mixture). Mix all well. To 3 cups of flour add one teaspoon each of the following spices: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Sift all into cake mixture and mix well. Add lastly 2 well-beaten eggs. The mixture should be quite thin. Bake in a moderate oven for thirty minutes. Raisins and, or, candied fruit may be added and a vanilla frosting adds to the goodness.

"Our Little Pookalini" Sasha (1994-2008) One of my very best friends just lost her "best friend." Sasha, a beloved, fourteen year old Shi'tzu, recently passed to her eternal Valhalla for pets. Sasha was indeed a hero in our lives. She encouraged and cheered our friend as nobody else on this earth could do. My friend is a dear, sweet, big-hearted, retired school teacher. She has never married, never had children, and never completely abandoned the beauty and innocence of childhood. With that same passion, she embraced this little dog with all her heart. It was absolutely nothing for her to swoop Sasha up in a big bear hug and chant, "I wuv ooooooooo." much to the astonishment of any and all who were sitting right there. I sometimes got a phone call that said, "Sasha would like to come out. She's been missing you!" And indeed Sasha pranced in the house and took over. She was such a good little dog... Early on, she loved to play with gloves, growling and snarling with one in her mouth like a marvelous wild animal. Once she jumped like a war dog from the top of my couch because she felt she was being left behind. But we never left her behind. Wrapped up in a Mickey Mouse sleeping bag, Sasha accompanied us on all our impromptu picnics to the lake, to the mall, on midnight moon chasing nights. She was a compadre in the finest style. We bought her fancy collars, clothes, treats, and Christmas gifts. My friend treated her like gold. I made her gourmet dog bone cookies one Christmas that looked better than the ones I made my family (which, I admit, isn't saying all that much.) Every time she and my friend left my home, her good little mistress would have Sasha come over and, "Say goodbye to Aunt Gayla." and Sasha learned to do it naturally... rushing in for an extra special pet. I called her Sasha Rasha... My friend called her Sasha Jean (my middle name), and we all called her our "little pookalini." (which means what?) The wonderful grocer in this town always cut Sasha little scraps of the finest meat. I once told him I was getting dinner for my friend and Sasha, and this kind hearted man started to laugh. "Ah... Sasha," and he smiled such a loving tribute. "May she live forever." We wished for her to do just that. We took her to the fancy vet in Columbia who charged hundreds of dollars to do a full body scan...... and ultra sounds... Of course it was her heart that gave out.... Of course... For nothing about Sasha was as extraordinary as her special, loving little heart. Devoted and sweet spirited, she often waited in front of my kitchen door for an entire day when my friend left her for me to "doggy sit." She knew the sound of my friend's voice, and it heralded something magical between them. My heart aches for my friend because nothing seems any lonelier to a pet lover than that glance around to locate a pet that won't be coming back. Nothing. So, even though this is sad, it had to be written. Sasha will be more than missed. She will be mourned as the little niece who never will leave our hearts.. (disclaimer: I know... pet lovers will understand. The rest of you think this is dumb. I just don't care.)

Sasha (1994-2008)

One of my very best friends just lost her "best friend." Sasha, a beloved, fourteen year old Shi'tzu, recently passed to her eternal Valhalla for pets. Sasha was indeed a hero in our lives. She encouraged and cheered our friend as nobody else on this earth could do. My friend is a dear, sweet, big-hearted, retired school teacher. She has never married, never had children, and never completely abandoned the beauty and innocence of childhood. With that same passion, she embraced this little dog with all her heart. It was absolutely nothing for her to swoop Sasha up in a big bear hug and chant, "I wuv ooooooooo." much to the astonishment of any and all who were sitting right there.

I sometimes got a phone call that said, "Sasha would like to come out. She's been missing you!" And indeed Sasha pranced in the house and took over. She was such a good little dog... Early on, she loved to play with gloves, growling and snarling with one in her mouth like a marvelous wild animal. Once she jumped like a war dog from the top of my couch because she felt she was being left behind. But we never left her behind. Wrapped up in a Mickey Mouse sleeping bag, Sasha accompanied us on all our impromptu picnics to the lake, to the mall, on midnight moon chasing nights. She was a compadre in the finest style. We bought her fancy collars, clothes, treats, and Christmas gifts. My friend treated her like gold. I made her gourmet dog bone cookies one Christmas that looked better than the ones I made my family (which, I admit, isn't saying all that much.) Every time she and my friend left my home, her good little mistress would have Sasha come over and, "Say goodbye to Aunt Gayla." and Sasha learned to do it naturally... rushing in for an extra special pet. I called her Sasha Rasha... My friend called her Sasha Jean (my middle name), and we all called her our "little pookalini." (which means what?)

The wonderful grocer in this town always cut Sasha little scraps of the finest meat. I once told him I was getting dinner for my friend and Sasha, and this kind hearted man started to laugh. "Ah... Sasha," and he smiled such a loving tribute. "May she live forever." We wished for her to do just that. We took her to the fancy vet in Columbia who charged hundreds of dollars to do a full body scan...... and ultra sounds... Of course it was her heart that gave out.... Of course... For nothing about Sasha was as extraordinary as her special, loving little heart. Devoted and sweet spirited, she often waited in front of my kitchen door for an entire day when my friend left her for me to "doggy sit." She knew the sound of my friend's voice, and it heralded something magical between them. My heart aches for my friend because nothing seems any lonelier to a pet lover than that glance around to locate a pet that won't be coming back. Nothing. So, even though this is sad, it had to be written. Sasha will be more than missed. She will be mourned as the little niece who never will leave our hearts.. (disclaimer: I know... pet lovers will understand. The rest of you think this is dumb. I just don't care.)

--  Although no recipes are in this post...  I wanted to include it for a dear friend.  Once I made Sasha some wonderful little doggie cookies.  Here is that recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup rolled oats 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 cube beef bouillon, crumbled 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning 1 tablespoon mild paprika

3/4 cup cornmeal 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup boiling water 1/3 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup milk 1 egg

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2.	In a large bowl, stir together the oats, white sugar, brown sugar, beef bouillon, poultry seasoning, paprika, cornmeal and flour. In a separate bowl, stir together the butter and hot water until butter melts, then stir in the milk and egg. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix until well blended. The dough will be stiff. If it is too stiff, add a bit more water. If it is too sticky, add more flour.
3.	On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for a few turns. Roll out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness, and cut into squares or into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place treats about 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
4.	Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned and firm. Let cool for 10 or 15 minutes. When completely cool, store in an airtight container at room temperature.

  

Come to Tea... and Sunshine Brownies

 Mom's wedding china...  by Syracuse...  Isn't it sweet?

I have been obsessed with Orange this month!  I have fallen in love with a Diet Orange made by Pepsi...  on ice (it's not too good in the can)...  and Orange Spiced Iced Tea...  and hot if I catch the AC on high..

Then I made the famed Orange Cranberry Coffee Cake, which was delicious.  Today's new treat:  Paula Deen's Orange Brownies, which I am naming Sunshine Brownies....

Oh, my!

Orange "Sunshine" Brownies

Servings: 24 squares
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
4   eggs
2 teaspoon pure orange extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Glaze:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13x9x2-inch pan.  Stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl; add butter, eggs, extract, and zest.  Using a hand-held electric mixer, beat until well blended.  Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set.  Remove from oven and pierce entire cake with a fork.  For glaze, mix all ingredients together and stir until smooth.  Pour glaze over cake.  Cool.

One giant step... with prayer, please!

Tonight two of my friends and I decided to go to a country restaurant in Ethel...  That is a sleepy little town over many a beautiful hill and through rich farmlands...  We took Patty's car, and we duly noted her inside car temperature was 118 degrees when we started...  Throughout the drive there it gradually cooled to 112 degrees in the car...  But for some reason I wasn't really all that hot...  It was such fun to be out and to be having one of the Thelma and Louise and Thelma days like we used to have so many times..  

 I was a bit worried about a step that had posed a problem getting in the restaurant last time...  My knees aren't the best, and I worried about that step.  I actually had prayed about it from my house to Patty's...  and I told them after I went in the restaurant...  that was an easy step..  I was surprised that I had been concerned in the least...

 The restaurant owner is retiring next weekend, so they feasted us with delicious meals so large we all brought home quite a bit..  I had a nice little piece of strawberry pie for my mom, as well...  The evening sun was simply spectacular on the fields...  Car temperature was down to a nippy 101 degrees on the way  home....

 Cattle were busy finding farm ponds... like this one...

 And we stopped just a minute so I could take a picture of the water lilies in this pond..  They reminded me of my grandmother's little fishpond...

 I couldn't get close at all, so imagine huge white water lilies everywhere...

 You'd think three ladies would have had enough of the open road, but we decided it was too good of a time to end...  so we drove up and down the back roads behind Bevier...  Everybody knew where so and so lived, where they used to live....  and where they had gone to buy sweet potatoes when they were kids...  It was fabulous...  We saw open fields of sunflowers planted by the Department of Conservation...  The flowers had millions of little heads facing the dipping western sunset....  I missed that photo shot because I was enthralled by the huge birds that swooped down and flew low to the ground in front of the car, leading us down remote back roads... farther, farther....

 The land was staked out with no trespassing signs everywhere, but we were on the road...  and we knew where we were...  almost...  Suddenly, Patty said the magic words, "Uh, oh...  low coolant...  Check engine."

 So we turned off the air conditioner and opened the windows to the twilight air...  Temperature hovered in the car then about 109....

 We drove on...  My thoughts turned to the strawberry jello pie (later renamed cobbler for obvious reasons)  and my little shrimps in the back seat....

 Then...  "Uh oh ....  there's no more road!"  We had come to the end of the traveled road, and Doralee insisted the rest of the pathway would end us up in the riverbed...  Naturally we decided to U-turn...  And that's when we smelled the motor....

 Not good...  Not good at all for a hot summer's night on the road to nowhere from nowhere...  but we coasted to a stop in the most wonderful of all spaces...  shady and next to a herd of curious cattle....

 Patty gave her husband a call..  He was, as you might imagine, a bit curious as to WHY we were out in the middle of nowhere...  but manly-as-they-all-are, he brought out jumper cables and did the obligatory tinkering under the hood before he called the wrecker!!!  Meanwhile, we had a little picnic with a few more shrimp!!!

 The cows came closer and if we got too loud or shouted at each other to "give it some gas," or "turn the motor over again.."  they got in the fracas with an impatient moo or two....

 Stone cold...  Not even the little clicking sounds....   We sat there until the wrecker came to hoist the car and drive her back to civilization...

 See the white pickup?  Yeah... THAT's the step I think I prayed for earlier...  My gosh!  Trucks are built  for long-legged cowboys, aren't they?

 With the last breath of daylight, we pulled out and headed into town.  Patty and Doralee rode with Rick, the Wrecker Man...  I rode with Patty's husband who promptly laughed and offered me a "chaw" of tobacco...  I told him no thank you, but when I saw the sack, I did a strange and unusual thing...  I asked to smell it...

 Beechnut chewing tobacco...  I took a whiff, and I was gone...  transported through time and lifetime to my grandfather's barn...  He chewed Beechnut, and the aroma is still sweetly cloying...  a pure cord to the little girl who sat with him in the doorway of the barn, learning just how to spit... (before Gramma caught us and brought those lessons to a screeching ---emphasis on the screeching-- halt)....  I finally came to my senses and took my face out of his sack, apologized for sticking my schnoz in there and oohing and aahing like a crazy woman...  He has known me for a long time, so he didn't seem to notice anything at all!!!!

All in all, I can't count the number of blessings, beautiful moments, and simply wonderful gifts present in this evening's jaunt....  And I certainly didn't waste a prayer on steps.... but then is any prayer ever wasted?  I think not...  Stay cool....

Cranberry - Orange Coffeecake Breakfast - Memorial Day 2011

Even though today was the actual holiday, my family just took it easy...  It was a day off for my son, so he and his lady love took that opportunity to go on a date to Columbia...  Earlier, however, we managed to display a little American pride right in our own front yard. My son and his friend worked on our flag pole.  After the windstorms from last summer, we had a problem!  The flag dipped at a peculiar angle, and it looked terrible.  So, a few bags of concrete did the trick...  and we raised a new flag today... in honor of my Dad, a WW2 veteran.

 Any kind of an event seems to call for a celebration, and my family loves to have something baked in case we have unannounced visitors, which I love!...  I have a great little cookbook by Shelley Reeves Smith and Roxie Kelley.  This one had an orange-cranberry coffeecake in it that seemed to call my name today...

Cranberry-Orange Coffeecake

1 Yellow cake mix
1 orange
Enough oil, eggs,water to make mix according to directions
1 12 oz. pkg frozen cranberries/  I used half frozen and half dried.  I think blueberries would work also
1 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 t. ground  cinnamon
1 c. powdered sugar
2 T. water


Preheat oven to 350 degrees/  Spray a 9 x 13 pan with shortening.  zest orange.  Should have 1 T zest
squeeze juice and remove seeds/  Reserve 2 T juice for glaze/  Add remaining juice to water or liquid called for in cake mix.  Add  zest and stir up cake by directions.  Add half sack cranberries  Pour in pan and top with other half sack of cranberries.

Mix brown sugar, nuts, and cinnamon and crumble over top.  Bake 35-45 minutes.  Don't overbake. 

Mix powdered sugar, orange juice, and 2 T water to make glaze.  Drizzle over warm cake.


This is a very moist cake with great textures from the nuts and sugary topping.  It is moist and tart from the cranberries...  and sweet, too...  I think it's a "keeper."

Summer salad

Here is a recipe for a yummy alternative to Three Bean Salad.  I love it!  We made it this morning.

Summer Vegetable  Salad

1 family-size pkg frozen mixed vegetables (microwave 12 minutes)
1 12 oz. pkg cooked bow-tie pasta
1 chopped green pepper
1 c. chopped celery
1 can rinsed, drained red beans

dressing  --cook over low heat until thick

1 1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 c/ vinegar ( I prefer apple cider vinegar)
1 t. salt
3 T. flour
1 T. yellow mustard

whisk while cooking.

Combine and cool!  Enjoy!

Cinco De Mayo... (a bit early!)

Our family gets together on Sundays, so I decided to have enchiladas and Latin-American food in honor of Cinco de Mayo...  These little dolls are very old.  A friend from my mother's elementary school days sent them to her from Albuquerque, New Mexico...

The tablecloth was more green than blue, but the light made it photograph this vivid blue color...

Fiesta salad...  from Gina Neely
--------------------

Ingredients

Buttermilk Lime Dressing:

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/3 cup well shaken buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Salad:

• 2 romaine hearts finely chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, sliced
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in 1/2
• 1 cup corn kernels, defrosted if frozen
• 4 red radishes, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

Directions

Whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, lime juice, buttermilk, cilantro, garlic and salt and pepper, to taste, together in a small bowl.

Add the romaine, green onions, black beans, tomatoes, corn, radishes, and bell peppers to a large salad bowl. Add the dressing, toss and serve immediately.

Confetti cupcakes with a topper of Reese's...  In my dreams it was to have looked like a sombrero...  It did not...  Perhaps a bowler???

Enchiladas in progress....

We had a lot of fun, played Spinner, and then the kids all went to see Fast and Furious Five....  one of my son's favorite series of movies due to the fast cars....  When Fast and Furious Two (whatever the name is)came out, he got enough friends together including me...  and we rented the theater at midnight the day it premiered...

Today is day one of testing at school...  Gotta fly...  Have a great week...