Frugal Foodie

Last night I was looking at my grandmother's recipe box. It's an old wooden box and most of the recipes are typewritten on cards or papers that have yellowed with time.

I found 4 wine recipes. I've concluded that wine making must be an art because of the time it takes. I had heard my grandfather made his own wine and I assume these were some of the recipes. However, other than the basic ingredients, there were few instructions. Maybe they knew what to do and just needed a reminder of the measurements.

One recipe for a fruit salad said buy a 10 cent box of crackers...think that might be a hard one to follow!

There's my grandmother's peanut brittle recipe in there. I've made it a few times and I have great respect for my grandmother and her hands of asbestoes...she would stretch the hot peanut brittle after taking it out of the cooking pot because the thinner the better. For years my mom wouldn't give me the recipe. I found that odd because the one time my mom tried to make it, she burnt it. It isn't any great secret, that's for sure. Yet she didn't want to give it up.

I found 6 recipes for fruit cake. Yep, 6 different recipes for fruit cake. I guess I find that amusing because nowdays people have jokes about fruit cake.

But the funniest recipe of all has to be how to get rid of a tapeworm!

It was quite a suprise to learn we would have yet another snow day today. The temps are pretty cold, but we've had school with the temps this frigid before. I don't know the real reason, but I am surmising it was probably a problem with getting lots of parking lots plowed and busses ready to go.

We did get out and about some today. DH had cabin fever and wanted to go out. We went to a local market and bought some meat to put in our freezer. I like their beef and pork and they wrap it in sizes that are managable to use. Today was also senior day so we got 10% off since DH is past 62.

We often eat the same types of meat over and over. I guess I don't get too wild when it comes to different things. I don't know if it is because I don't want to fail or if it is I don't want to waste money.

Every so often I get brave and try something new, but it usually is the same type of meat I've tried before. I think I need to venture out and see if magic can be made with different cuts of meat. Would this make me brave or just plain silly?

Today is our second snow day for our school district. We don't get them often, so having two in a row is an indication of how grim the weather has been.

We received a layer of ice, then some snow, them some frozen something or other on top of that, to be complimented with yet another coating of snow. With cold temps and some high wind gusts, there is no doubt we are in winter. The most frightening part was the lights flickering on and off. Some parts of our city did lose power. We had an ice storm in 2006 and being without power even just two days made it tough. With the frigid temperatures predicted, it could be life threatening if we were to lose power.

The good thing about being home is we ate well. I fixed a big breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast and that make my hubby very happy. Lunch was a cheese spread on homemade bread. Supper was a pork loin roast, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and a fruit salad.

Today I used the leftover pork roast and made pulled pork sandwiches. Hubby was pleased about that. Tonight it is beef stew as long as we have power.

Our cul-d-sac is pretty deep. The city plows usually don't get to our subdivision until days after a major storm, so I'm not looking for them anytime soon as they struggle to dig out the city. I called a guy to plow our driveway and so far he hasn't shown which is frustrating because two of our neighbors had their driveways plowed and we could have asked their people to do it while they were here, but we hope our guy shows.

I hope all of you who are suffering from this storm are safe and warm!

The little ice crystals are bouncing off our windows and the driveway looks like a skating rink...I think the winter storm has come!

I live in Central Illinois and we are supposed to have freezing rain and then a bunch of snow...possibly close to a foot by Wednesday morning. None of it sounds wonderful, but I'm just hoping the ice doesn't result in power outage. We had an ice storm a little over 4 years ago and it didn't take long for the house to get cold with no electricity. We had a fireplace, but it didn't put off a lot of heat. I know that little storm cost us extra money because we bought firewood and ate out as much as we could not because we couldn't eat what we had, but in an effort and excuse to sit someplace warm and thaw out.

Do you hear it, the ping, ping, ping of ice hitting my window?

We've been warned...Central Illinois is supposed to get freezing rain and snow in the next few days. The freezing rain scares me the most...we had the freezing rain/ice storm over 4 years ago and were without power over two days. Two cold, miserable days. I have new respect for those folks who heated with a fireplace -- I don't know how they did it.

The forecast is calling from anywhere between 10-20 inches from Monday evening to Wednesday. Then on Wednesday it is predicted we will have high wind gusts.

Thursday has equally good news...temperatures below zero and wind chills even lower.

A friend wrote as she talked about the weather..."if you were planning on doing your grocery shopping tomorrow night, you might want to do it today." Amen, sister!

I know a gal who rarely has anything in the house. She often says she has to go out to eat because she didn't have anything to bring for lunch. If she thinks of it, she'll stop at a convenience store to pick up a frozen dinner for lunch. (Can we say expensive?) Before Christmas we were supposed to have a bad storm and I suggested she hit the store before she went home and she said she didn't have time because some friends might stop by. I always wonder what she'll do if her car won't start. Snack on some tree bark? Eat a few weeds? OK, I digress....

We hit the store this weekend to pick up a few fresh things like milk and bread and a few items to replenish items I've used throughout the week. Granted, most of the stuff in my pantry would require some heating to make it taste the best, but as long as we have power, we could go quite a few days if need be.

I certainly hope the forecasters are wrong and we don't get that much snow. I am glad we have the convenience of modern heat and cooking. Those folks in log cabins and mud houses were made of stern stuff!

The state of Illinois in a lame duck session, voted a new income tax in and yesterday's paycheck was the first time they took the additional tax.

It was sizeable. Like over $50. My last paycheck had me paying $12 more in federal tax. No, I didn't get a raise. I'm not really sure why I am paying more in federal tax and everyone I talked to said their pay was different too.

I get the purpose of taxes and normally I don't complain. But, what worries me is if the state doesn't handle the new tax any better than they handled what they previously had, will I be forking over even more in a few years?

Come on government officials...you have to do better! Fortunately I can handle less pay even if I don't like it, but I know there are people out there who can't. For some, that might be the money they are putting back to save and now it's gone. I'm beginning to think the government isn't helping people save money for themselves. What do you think?

Ah...satisfaction! I told my husband that it was nice to open the fridge and it is full. There's something gratifying about knowing I'm ready for this week with some meals ready to heat and eat.

I did my usual put the chicken in the Crockpot thingy Friday night. Saturday morning I had a cooked chicken with rich broth. It's cold here and cold air bothers my asthma so other than a quick run to the grocery store for a few items, we were home and I spent most of the afternoon fixing things.

I baked bread with rice flour. I like having different breads when we have supper and I hate to spend gourmet prices for stuff you can make for a lot less. I heat it a few slices when we are ready to eat and it usually tastes pretty good.

I am trying a new recipe. I was looking through a Paula Deen cookbook and saw this recipe with rice.


Chicken and Rice Casserole


2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
3 cups diced, cooked chicken
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans green beans, drained and rinsed
1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1 (4-ounce) jar pimentos
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (6-ounce) box long-grain wild rice, cooked according to package directions
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
Pinch salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat butter or oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.

Add all remaining ingredients to bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined.

Pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before serving

I'm going to admit that I didn't fix it exactly. The cookbook said to use a whole box of Uncle Ben's rice. I used the rice I had on hand.

I also used different vegetables. I roasted a big pan of celery, carrots, onions, zucchini and potatoes to put in a chicken pot pie so I used part of that. I like green beans, but I thought I'd use what I had. Why spend more than I need to? Hope Paula won't mind.

I also substituted the whole can of cream of celery soup with a half a can of cream of chicken (again, I used half of it for the chicken pot pie) and made up with it with plain yogurt. Sorry, Paula. I not only want to save some money, but cut out some of the fat.

I also shredded bits and pieces of a couple of cheeses that I had in the fridge. So, this is no longer a purebred recipe. Hope Paula understands!

I look forward to trying this recipe. As cold as it is, a nice hot casserole for supper will be yummy, and far more reasonable than going out! I just hope Paula Deen won't hate me forever!

I tried a new recipe the other day.

I got it from the cookbook, "What Would Jesus Eat" by Don Colbert and the cookbook said it was adapted from CookbooksOnline.com. The cookbook said it was an appetizer, but we don't eat courses, so I used it as a casserole.

Overall, it wasn't bad, but perhaps a bit bland. If I make it again, I think I might add some other herbs.

Zucchini Casserole

3 cups thinly sliced unpeeled zucchini
1 cup biscuit baking mix
1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
4 slightly beaten eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons snipped parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoran or oregano leaves
dash of pepper
1 finely chopped garlic clove
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the zucchini, baking mix, Parmesan cheese, onion, eggs, salt, parsley, marjoram, pepper, garlic, and olive oil in a large bowl; mix well. Spread the zucchini mixture in a greased 9x13x2 inch baking dish. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven; cool slightly. For appetizers cut into 1x2 inch rectangles and serve. For a casserole, cut into squares.

On the bright side, it was filling and hot on a very cold day.

I enjoy trying new ways of doing things. I've seen and read recipes for making stew in the oven and I thought, I ought to try that. I've made it on top of the stove and I've also put it in one of my Crockpots. Although the Crockpot is adequate, I really like it on top of the stove...but, I have another way I like it.

My basic recipe for beef stew really doesn't have any measurements. I used a cast iron Dutch oven. I started with a pound of stew meat and if you can get it tenderized, so much the better. I did try something a little different and that is I dried the stew meat off before sauteing it in olive oil in the Dutch oven. It did brown better (thank you, Julia Child). I then chopped an onion and browned it with the meat. I chopped a long stalk of celery and put that in. While that was cooking, I added a little Worcestershire sauce. When everything was really going, I added 1/4 cup of grape juice. I know some folks use wine. I know very little about wine, but we drink grape juice with our dinner so I thought, why not add it? After that I added two or three chopped carrots and 4-5 peeled and cubed potatoes. I know most folks prefer less potatoes, but hubby hasn't met a potato he doesn't like.

Before taking it off the top of the stove, I put in a large can of tomato sauce. I mixed everything together, added some tumeric and pepper, and then put the lid on and put in a 325 oven for 3 1/2 hours.

Wow. It was yummy. The juices blended and everything was cooked and delicious. I took a tentative bite, declared it was good, and then let it cool a bit and put it in the fridge.

Tonight I heated it up on a low simmer and it was delicious. I certainly would do it again.

Since it was pretty cold today, it made for a hearty meal with some fruit and whole wheat bread.

A few years ago we were browsing at one of these antique malls and I saw it. No, there wasn't a beam of light directing my view...it was actually sitting admist a bunch of other stuff. It was a covered enamel ware pot. It was light blue and that is really what caught my eye -- I like blue. It was a size I didn't have in a pot or pan -- not huge and not tiny. I was thinking, hey, wonder what this costs.

As you may have already gathered, it was $3. No chips, it was clean, nothing burned on it. Looked like it hadn't been used, in fact.

Well, it became mine. And I've decided I got a bargain. I have cooked green beans in it. I have made soups in it. And I use it to bake no knead bread.

It's not fancy and I'm sure most chefs would turn their nose up at it.

But, for $3, it has been a workhorse for me and I'm glad I found it. I truly feel I got a bargain.

If you've never read any of the Amelia Bedelia books, the next time you are at the library or in a book store, be sure and find a couple of these books and read them. They are basically kids books about a gal who is so literal. I remember she was working as a maid at a house and the lady of the house left her a list and it said to "dust" rooms. Amelia didn't know where to find dust, but in the bathroom she did find some "dusting powder" and she went around and "dusted" the room. It's a great story to talk about what we are trying to communication and what it says and what it really says.

Well, I dusted my kitchen today. I didn't plan on it and certainly wasn't thrilled with the cleanup, but it happened. I was talking to my brother and he was talking about how he often stops and gets some fresh bread at a small town near here because he loves the flavor and the freshness. My brother and I did not grow up together so in the past couple of years, we are working on building a relationship. I thought I'd be a good sister and bake him a loaf of bread. I don't believe he reads my blog so I think the surprise is safe!

Anyway, the recipes calls for 6-7 cups of flour, but you don't put them in all at once. (I shared this recipe previously.) You put in some and then keep adding until the dough isn't super sticky. I had about 6 cups in and went to add about another half of cup. I turned off the mixer so I wouldn't have it all over. However, I guess the dough was up far enough that when I turned the mixer back on, the flour was thrown out and as you know, flour travels.

Well, my kitchen has been dusted and Amelia Bedilia is no where to be found!

It's darn cold here. I mean, bone chilling, wind whipping frigid. I'm sure it is worse some places, but I hate going out when it hurts to breath and getting up in the morning seems to be an challenge in either endurance or ignorance...those wood floors are frosty and we keep our house pretty cool.

As I get ready to go to work, cold cereal isn't making my day. I was looking at some recipes for using the Crockpot to fix oatmeal so it's hot and ready when I get up. One recipe said to add all the ingredients and put it on low...the thing that worried me was it said add the half and half. I thought that might curdle it or something. I looked at two other recipes and it mentioned just adding the oatmeal and water and then adding the half and half right before you eat it. I don't have half and half so it would be good ole' milk, but I think I might try that.

I'm thinking this might be a good, warm, cheap breakfast. One one of the sites, the person wrote that they make extra and put the leftovers in the fridge in a loaf pan. When it sets up they slice it and put it in the microwave for another hot breakfast.

Just wondering if anyone else has tried this.

Here is it Sunday afternoon in January. It's been a busy weekend getting errands run and things done, including laundry. I put a whole chicken in the Crockpot Friday night and yesterday used it to make chicken and dressing casserole, chicken and rice casserole, and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest. I can take the easy way out and have chicken and noodles with the chicken and broth, or make chicken stew with vegetables, or another chicken casserole. My hubby picked up the chicken at Aldi and I notice it was $4.71. Getting three meals for a chicken under $5 isn't bad! Plus it means the bulk of three suppers is basically taken care of -- I just need to either put the casseroles in the oven to bake or heat up the chicken and broth with noodles. I roasted a large pan of vegetables to add to the chicken and rice casserole so I can either heat them up as a side dish, or instead of the chicken and noodles, use the chicken, broth and vegetables and make chicken stew.

I made a loaf of Artisan bread this afternoon. My pastor has been experimenting with making Artisan bread so it reminded me of my No Knead Bread recipe so I pulled it out. I did put a little olive oil with some dried herbs on top of it while it baked. I'm pretty pleased with how nice it looks sitting on the cooling rack.

Other than a couple of things like writing a thank you note and filling out a deposit slip, the bulk of my work here is done...now I can relax and enjoy the comfort of my home on a cold winter day.

This has been a week to remember! My earlier blog mentioned my 50th birthday and many of you were sweet and wished me a happy birthday and some of you will be achieving the 50 spot as well! Thank you for your nice wishes.

Wednesday night was interesting...we had planned on eating at our favorite restaurant, but I was surprised because my sweet hubby had planned a surprise party. Our server had started to seat us at a table we often frequent and she said no, we don't have room, you have to come here, and there was family and friends waiting. It was a lovely party and my husband outdid himself. He tells me he can't plan things, but I think he did a fabulous job!

The only sad note to the day was a food pantry we support had a fire and had to close for this week. Fortunately some churches are holding a drive to replenish the food and clothing that was lost.

To say this has been a whirlwind week would be an understatement!

Today is my 50th birthday. Although not ancient, it is still half a decade. I certainly hope I've learned something in these 50 years.

We recently viewed a DVD of Julie/Julia and I didn't think my hubby was paying that close attention. Apparently he was, because on my birthday card he wrote, "Paul Child said it best...you are the butter to my bread and the breath to my life." Paul apparently said that as a toast to Julia. Wasn't that sweet -- for both Paul and for my husband to write on my card?

Here's an article right up my alley -- ten money saving kitchen gadgets. I'm proud to say I own 9 of them and use them.

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/10-kitchen-tools-that-will-save-you-money

I make use of my Crockpots -- yes, I know it is a brand name and mine are Rival Crockpots. I can't imagine trying to fix many of my meals without them. I make coffee in my coffee maker and brew my own tea as well because I am, well, cheap.

I grate my own cheese and I actually own two small cheese graters. One is better than the other, but I I've had one over 20 years so I think I've gotten my money out of it.

As much as I liked this url, I would say, unless folks actually use these kitchen gadgets or tools, they won't be saving anything. I made quiche again with some different ingredients this time and I grated my own cheese. I fixed coffee to go with it.

I know some folks just like to have the things, but not using them isn't saving money.

Can you think of any other kitchen tools that save you money? I would have to say my stand mixer saves us money. I've worn out three bread machines and finally gave up on buying another one, but I use it to mix my dough. I use it for other items as well so it's a multi-purpose tool.

We can certainly add to this list, can't we?

Happy first day of 2011!

I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve and that 2011 is a blessed year for all.

We had a delightful time with friends last night. Our pastor and his wife had an open house and we enjoyed good company and yummy snacks.

My pastor enjoys cooking and baking besides wine making. We were talking about bread. He is currently baking artisan bread. We discussed some ways to add herbs. I told him I had a fabulous recipe for white bread I had just tried last week and my husband loved it.

Last week I had time to look through cook books and I was looking at Ina Garten's cookbook, "Barefoot Contessa at Home." The recipe is simple, but delicious.

Honey White Bread
Makes 2 loaves
½ c warm water (110 degrees)
2 packages of dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1 ½ cups warm milk (110 degrees)
6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled (3/4 stick)
1 ½ tablespoons honey
2 extra large egg yolks
5 to 6 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 egg white, lightly beaten

Place water in bowl and add the yeast and sugar – allow to dissolve for 5 minutes. Add the milk, butter, and honey. Mix until blended. Add the egg yolks and 3 cups of flour and salt. Gradually add 2 more cups of flour. Add more flour if necessary. Dump the dough onto a floured surface and knead by hand for a minute until the dough is smooth and elastic. Grease a bowl with butter or oil and the put the dough in the bowl, then turn over so the top is lightly buttered or oiled. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let it rise for 1 hour – it should double in volume.
Grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans with butter. Divide the dough in half, roll each half into a loaf shape and place in a prepared pan. Cover again with a damp towel and allow to rise again for an hour until doubled in volume.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush the tops with the egg white and bake the breads for 40-45 minutes, until they sound hollow when tapped. Turn them out of the pans and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

I could see adding some different things to zip it up like rosemary or oregano or even garlic. I checked on-line with some sites and discovered I can probably freeze the dough after the first rise and have loaves ready to be baked. Now, wouldn't that be cool?

I, unfortunately, am a collector. I think I've written that I like Blue Willow dishes. I better like them, because we have a whole lot of it.

We went to an "antique mall" near us today and DH found a Blue Willow teapot that he felt I should own. It wasn't a whole lot and it was in nice shape so I succumbed to temptation and purchased it.

I really enjoy cooking and one of the things I enjoy looking at in stores would be kitchen things. I am incredibly dismayed that just about everything nowdays is made in China. With the paint scare on toys earlier this year, how do I know the stuff is safe?

So, last summer I went on a kick of replacing my plastic containers that we used to heat stuff in the microwave with Pyrex dishes -- older ones -- ones that were not made in China. I have also purchased those old glass lidded refrigerator dishes to store leftovers in. For awhile, it was a struggle to find them, but now lots of places have them out to sell.

I have a friend who turns her nose up at my purchases because I'm buying used stuff. When I grew up, we didn't buy a lot of new things because we simply didn't have the money. As long as it is clean and in good shape, I don't have a problem buying something that has been previously used. Many times I can find something much more reasonable that has been "loved before."

Although I spent money instead of saving it today, I enjoyed looking at all the other things. And maybe having bought things more cheaply, I can rationalize my purchase. Or not.

Anyway, it was a nice way to spend today. My husband found a train that he swears he had one when he was a kid. It was a heavy Lionel engine -- big wheels and very heavy. I can see him and his brother clunking each other in the head with it on occasion too.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and that 2011 brings you much happiness.

I remember in the 70s when quiche was all the rage. There was that saying that "real men don't eat quiche." I found it humorous then and even funnier now considering most men's love affair with breakfast, especially eggs. Brinner anyone?

I'm not for sure, but I think American's love affair with quiche was squelched when it was thought that eating eggs was bad for you. Now eating eggs is OK.

So, I'm hoping to bring back quiche. We visited my husband's aunt and uncle yesterday and we normally go out for a big lunch. We usually have dessert and sit and visit and then make the over two hour drive home, the last thing I want to do is fix a big meal for two reasons: I'm tired and we aren't very hungry.

Since I'm on vacation from school, I have had time to peruse some recipes. I was going through and saw a recipe for quiche. That proverbial light bulb went on! Sometime I can fix ahead and put in the fridge and bake when we want it after we arrive home!

The original recipe calls for Cajun stuff. No offense to those of you who like Cajun cooking, but it is too spicy for us. But the basic recipe was simple and I just added what I had. I will admit I did not make my own crust. We had bought some frozen pie crusts made by the Amish and I pulled one of those out and thawed it and blind baked it for a few minutes.

Here's the simple recipe:

1/2 cup of shredded cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup of half and half

Pour into a pie shell.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes and let sit a few minutes out of the oven.

I added leftover ham. I had some Colby cheese that I shredded. I covered it with foil and slipped it in the fridge. When hubby decided he was hungry, I pulled the pie pan out of the fridge, put a little foil around the edges of the pie crust so it didn't burn, put it on a baking sheet, and baked it. I served it with a fruit salad.

It was yummy. I was thinking I could have added vegetables and other types of cheeses to change it out.

So, do you think quiche will become popular again?

For dessert on Christmas, I baked a cake. I'm always trying different cake recipes because I find good and bad things about each. This time I tried a recipe by Ian Garten. One bite and my husband informed me this was the best chocolate cake I've baked so far.

Beatty's Chocolate Cake

Butter, for greasing the pans
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups good cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk, shaken
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.


I'm including her recipe for the frosting, but I'm going to admit I didn't use it exactly. The raw egg yolk kind of worried me. I added a little milk instead.

Chocolate Frosting:
6 ounces good semisweet chocolate (recommended: Callebaut)

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon instant coffee powder

Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.


Other than the buttermilk, I had everything else on hand. Since I was going to make cornbread, the buttermilk came in handy and since I'm baking another cake this week to take to my husband's aunt and uncle's for a belated birthday, I will use the buttermilk.

The cake is moist and yummy -- far better than a storebought cake. And, no preservatives either!

If you try it, let me know what you think.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope you all have a blessed day!

I am just starting to come down from a high.

No, I don't do drugs...yesterday we took some students from one of my schools on a luncheon donated by our favorite restaurant. The owner, Benny, told me last week he wanted me to bring some students over so he could treat them to lunch. It was a last minute planning session for the principal and me. We couldn't get a bus because it was too late. But we worked it out!

Our High Honor Roll students were treated to a free lunch of salad, all the breadsticks they wanted, spaghetti, and dessert. And talk about royal treatment -- cloth tableclothes and napkins, real china and glass glasses. No plastic stuff! That was heady enough, believe me. Many of the students haven't had the opportunity to eat at a nice restaurant like this.

Then, today, the local paper put out a great article about it. The paper interviewed the principal and the owner of the restaurant and had some comments from the children. Apparently the Associated Press liked it because it then was put on the mobile part for AP. A friend emailed me the url for it:

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8545/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=yCS0FUnd


Then, we saw the video the newspaper created. Wow. It showed the kids and the principal and even my husband who volunteered as a chaperone. My husband is showing the fine art of preparing olive oil and Parmesan cheese to dip breadsticks in.


http://herald-review.com/app/multimedia/#vmix_media_id=41218271

What a day! The students were excited about the meal and the aspect of being in the paper and video. The principal is pleased that his school received some positive publicity. Our district is equally pleased that we had some great news coming from one of our schools. The restaurant owner was pleased the he could be generous and be part of our community. It doesn't hurt that he loves children and likes to see them happy.

It's going to be hard going back to "normal" after all this good stuff that happened!

I love Christmas music.

It's simple, I love Christmas music because it makes me happy. It makes me thoughtful. And, because it is often enjoyable and something I know the words to.

I listen to Christmas music year round in fact. Call me weird. There's one CD I like to clean house by. I don't know why. I just do. Well, there's also a Beach Boys CD I clean house by too. I bet those surfing guys never pictured that.

With You Tube, we can get so much music out there and find new artists and this and that. And see some of our old favorites.

I love acapella music. I don't have perfect pitch so I can appreciate those who have it. There's a group out there called Straight No Chaser and although I have purchased two of their CDs, I still like seeing them on You Tube because I can "see" them. Their Twelve Days of Christmas is a classic. Today, on Facebook, a friend shared their Christmas can can and it was a hoot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E-47VmFopE&feature=related

I don't go out caroling because if I breathe too much cold air, I get bronchitis. But, I certainly like listening to Christmas music.

Do you have a favorite Christmas song?

Yesterday was a horrible day outside. We had blowing snow and frigid temperatures. After church, it was a blessing to get inside and be warm and safe.

It was also a good day to bake. I baked breads and cookies and some brownies. I've already shared my banana bread recipe a few months back, but here's a recipe for peanut butter bread and you are to serve it with jam. I saw Paula Deen make it a few years ago and had to try it. It's easy and fairly tasty.

Peanut Butter Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Combine dry ingredients. Add milk and peanut butter. Pour into a greased 8 by 4 by 3-inch loaf pan. Bake for approximately 50 minutes. Serve with your favorite jam.


I actually had 3 smaller loaves because I wanted to put them with banana bread and cookies and dipped pretzels for some gift trays. Some of us are at a point that we don't need to give gifts of objects -- we appreciate the time and effort of something home made!

It arrived yesterday in our mailbox - the annual Christmas letter from this fellow we know. Each year he puts in detail what he has bought and in great detail. Last year's letter was all the stuff he bought for his house and where he traveled and how much he spent. Forgive me, but who needs tumbled marble tiles in his crawl space?

This year's brag was 3 ties for $625. Apparently they are like the ties Donald Trump wears.

Apparently this person has money to spend like this, but I personally would prefer to be ignorant of it.

His whole letter is about him, what he did, and what he spent. It's sad in a way that he has to brag each year what he did and bought.

I used to feel sorry for him, but I've since decided he likes living the way he does because he can buy whatever he wants. He fills his loneliness with things and then presses us with the details.

I would rather find satisfaction in what I have and the people who love me.

Needless to say, I won't be sending an annual Christmas letter to anyone.

Our local university puts on Vespers which is a beautiful Christmas program each year. We look forward to it each year. They have 4 programs -- 2 matinees and two evening performances on the first weekend in December. With the local symphony and 350 voices, it is truly splendid.

However, we have noticed that some people in the audience seem to have forgotten their manners. The evening show for which we purchased tickets was to start at 7 p.m. Strange people that we are, we got there before 6:30 so we could be seated when the doors were opened and make sure things like using the restroom were taken care of. By 6:50 the auditorium was still almost empty. By 6:55 it was almost half full. We knew it was a sell out crowd, so we wondered where they all were.

I guess I misunderstood the 7 p.m. starting time. Apparently, from the behavior of the audience, the 7 p.m. time is merely a suggestion and that means you are to start thinking about finding your seats, but then you throw down your coats and decide to go and find a bathroom. The program didn't start until after 7:10 because we had so many later comers.

The beauty of this program is not only the music, but the choreography -- different choirs go up and down the end aisles because with so many singers, the stage would be very crowded. Throughout the program there were people leaving and then coming back. We had three people in our aisle alone who left and then returned and they did not wait until between songs to leave or enter. We noticed that there were a minimum of 20 people doing this during the program. I realize that sometimes there is an emergency, but why couldn't they wait until between songs to return to their seats?

I am afraid that common courtesy has taken another hit. We've seen this at other concerts and programs. Even at church we see kids and adults leaving and coming back like they are leaving the comfort of their easy chair during a commercial to use the facilities or get a snack.

I had a friend who once told me that she was too busy to get to a performance 15 minutes early. I guess she isn't alone. However, for those of us who would like to get there and have some time to relax and enjoy thee surroundings, these busy people are becoming a nuisance.

It's December and after above normal temps, we are getting our cold weather. We were supposed to get snow last night and felt fortunate that we didn't any. I guess a town 45 minutes north received 4 inches. Ick.

With winter comes the desire for hot food. We attended our church's bazaar and luncheon and boy, that cheesy vegetable soup hit the spot. Nothing like a good soup to warm someone up, eh?

I lucked into a chicken stew recipe a couple of years ago and after making it a few times, tweaked it with my own additions. It makes a good meal and with all the vegetables, it's probably very healthy as well:

Chicken Stew

2 tablespoons of olive oil
3 celery stalks, cut into bite-size pieces
3 medium size carrots, peeled, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 14 oz can of chicken broth (or more if you like the sauce thinner)
1 14.5 oz can of tomato sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
2 chicken boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut up
1 can of red beans
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
salt and pepper
pasta rings (optional)

Heat the oil in a heavy 5 ½ quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery, carrot, and onion. Saute the vegetables until the onion is translucent. Add the chicken breast pieces and season with salt and pepper. When chicken is cooked, add chicken broth, tomato paste and tomato sauce. Add the basil and oregano and beans. Cook about 45 minutes or until vegetables are cooked the way you like them. Twenty minutes before you are ready to serve, add the pasta rings (add as few or as many as you want, depending on the amount of broth you added). Serve with bread.


If I don't have the red beans, I'll take some dry lentils, pour boiling water for them for a few minutes, pick out the not so good ones, drain, and cook with the stew. It makes it very hearty and rich and my husband who never would try a lentil, eat them.

I just hate it when I try a new recipe and it's awful. I mean, the ingredients were good, but the taste was...well, it left a lot to be desired.

I had a recipe I had found in a magazine for an onion bread casserole. Easy enough...saute 3 onions, tear up a loaf of French bread, add 2 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese, 2 eggs, teaspoon of nutmeg, and 3 cups of milk. Mix together and put in fridge overnight. Bake for 45 minutes at 350. Sounds decent, right?

Wrong! It was soupy and I had put it in the fridge overnight to "soak" so the bread would have the egg and milk mixture throughout. The bread did rise like it was supposed to in the oven. But, it was soupy and pretty bland. I guess I'm used to more flavorful stuff. I was disappointed. We ate it, because it wasn't dreadful, but I doubt if I try it again as it is written.

Guess it's live and learn. I didn't buy anything I didn't already have. Just wonder what I could add to make it better. Any ideas?

My beautiful new stove arrived this afternoon. The front is stainless and it has a black smooth cook top. It's so clean and sleek that I could hardly wait to fire it up!

Last weekend I saw an ad for THE stove I wanted and it was marked down. They even threw in an above the stove microwave, something I never would have gotten otherwise. We went to the store and looked at the beauty, opened the door, measured, did anything and everything one would do including kick the proverbial tires! After saving for over a year, I wnated to make sure this was the one.

I guess lots of folks buy new appliances and want them delivered before Thanksgiving. I chose today because I am off from school. The sales lady seemed relieved that I didn't need it before Wednesday.

The microwave was delivered, but the installer called and wanted to wait until tomorrow to put it in. I returned his call and thought I was being kind in saying OK, although he was supposed to come today. He then wanted to move it to Monday. I let my husband call him back because I was afraid I would get emotional on the phone. I have been so excited all week anticipating this lovely new stove and microwave. Hopefully he will show tomorrow, but I have my doubts.

I have cookies baking in the convection oven. I've never had a convection oven before so it is pretty cool. The oven window is so clear it's like watching television as I keep an eye on the cookies baking.

So, for those of you who have cheered me on, thank you for your words of encouragement. I'm very happy with my new stove.

My husband says he's happy too. I think he's pretty elated because he got a cookie from the first batch. But I think he's also secretly relieved that I prefer a big shiny stove instead of a big shiny diamond because that boy likes to eat!

Today was the day! A day to reflect and be thankful. A day to eat more than I should. A day to relax.

There are so many things that I have been blessed with and I often take for granted. My friend had a major heart attack Tuesday night. He had bypass surgery this morning and his family spent the holiday loving him yet concerned. How many holidays have I spent at home in the comfort of my own place not being ill?

I had more than enough to eat. I can't remember a holiday that I went hungry.

It's cold out today. We had a wintry mix of precipitation. Fortunately I have power and heat so I didn't get cold.

I have running water and could clean things and drink fresh water and run the dishwasher.

I spent part of the evening changing my summer wardrobe to my winter wardrobe. I have more than enough clothes.

I am married to a remarkable man who loves me.

After seeing the advertisements in the paper and the ongoing commercials, I am thankful that I do not have to get up early and hit the Black Friday sales. There is nothing that I need to get that means I have to face crowds and an early ringing alarm.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!