Category: Family

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Aunt Evelyn’s Corn Fritters

My Aunt Evelyn is a wonderful cook. She is very “old school” about cooking. She does everything from scratch, almost never uses a microwave oven, and has most of her recipes stored in her head.

The last time we ate dinner at her house, she served the most delicious corn fritters. I asked her for the recipe and she said that she doesn’t have one. She just mixes stuff up in the bowl “until it looks right” and then drops big spoonfuls into her cast iron frying pan with hot bacon grease. Now, that’s good country cooking! But I sure do wish she had a recipe for the corn fritters – they are delish!

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Mac and Cheese

Do you have a favorite mac and cheese? My mom makes the best, and I’ve never tasted any as good as her, (Love you, MOM!)

But if I had to buy mac and cheese at the store, I would get the Stouffers brand frozen mac and cheese. It is delicious and it cooks up quickly. Very affordable and always ready in just a few minutes if you keep some in your freezer.

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Give me S’more!

When summer rolls around it is time for the best dessert ever!  This dessert though simple and kind of primitive because usually one cooks it outside, is delicious.  S’mores of course, is what I am talking about. S’mores is the perfect treat after a grilled dinner on charcoal.  If anyone is like me and my family, the grilling season is our favorite and we always use charcoal.  Charcoal provides a nice smoky flavor to the food.  I prefer it on meat rather than vegetables but it all tastes good either way.

Another way that s’mores make the perfect dessert is when I am camping with friends.  There is nothing like sitting around a roaring campfire holding marshmallow sticks in one hand and a cold drink in the other while stargazing.  I am pretty sure this is my favorite atmosphere for enjoying a nice gooey s’more!  For anyone feeling adventurous I highly recommend using chocolate grahams and peanut butter cups in place of the honey grahams and milk chocolate!

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Sparkle, shine and BANG!

Independence Day is my favorite summer holiday.  I generally am not a great fan of the summer because it has a tendency to be too hot.  Funny part is I do not like the winter either because of the snow.  I guess there is no making me happy with the weather.  However, the Fourth of July no matter the weather would still be my favorite day of the month!

People enjoy barbeques, festive desserts, outdoor activities, swimming, parades and fireworks.  Fireworks are the highlight in my book.  I love the multiple colors, whistles and final bang from the fireworks.  There are certain areas that present the best fireworks.  Usually in my state many of the fireworks are shot- off from riverbanks or old mill lots.  Therefore many people tend to gather near there.

Tonight was no exception.  The parking was atrocious.  I have never seen so many people flock to the riverside.  People parked their cars even in the streets, blocking traffic.  I had to drive around for half of the show before finding parking.  Despite all of this I did find a really sweet spot half- way through the show and parked.  The presentation was worth the driving.

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One invite too many

About a month ago I received a bridal shower invitation to a bridal shower I was hoping I would not have to attend.  The reason for this is because my connection is to the groom not the bride. Therefore, my level of excitement is non- existent.

I contemplated just not attending and sending a gift card instead however; I would feel   really guilty if I did this course of action.  The second biggest
problem I have with attending this shower is that I am going to be surrounded by strangers and only a few people I am familiar with.  I do not enjoy being placed in an environment that makes me uncomfortable unless it is necessary.  This situation is unnecessary.   For this one time I am going to just “buck
it up” and make the best of the party.  I know it will make the bride happy and I would want some “stranger” to do this for me.

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Mother’s Day Recap

Mother’s Day this year was so special.  For once in a number of years I had a ton of plans.  I love having plans on the holidays even if they are not major ones.

This year I will be attending to family BBQs.  I really enjoy BBQs as well, especially with the family.  For both events I have volunteered to bring a dish.  When it comes to cooking for a BBQ, my talents really emerge. One of them will have a potato salad while the other will have a fruit torte.  The fruit torte is truly going to be a masterpiece.  This is an expensive treat to make but it is worth it when all is said and done.

Before I leave for these gatherings I also have to be sure that my gifts to the mother’s are wrapped and ready.  This year’s shopping was easy because I spotted the perfect gift for both of them a month in advance.  In one of my many gift catalogs I discovered a fairy toad house that I absolutely fell in love with.  I almost bought one for myself but decided that the expense of the two I was buying was expensive enough.  These Moms are going to fall in love with them too.  I can’t wait to see their faces when they open them.  The look
should match the look when they taste my dishes as well!

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Pool Time

Summertime is quickly approaching and I have been dreaming about investing in a pool.  Water is very therapeutic and the thought of owning my own is becoming increasingly more difficult from year to year.  All of the catalogs advertise pools and pool supplies.  They make the pools look very appetizing.  The price on pools over the last few years has come down quite a bit.  I particularly have noticed the price on above ground pools has been reduced.

If I have to invest in a pool this year I do believe I will invest in an above ground pool.  They can be just as relaxing and enjoyable for all who come over to my place to BBQ. Many of my friends have above ground pools.  I can especially make the pool more appealing by landscaping the surrounding pool with flowers and a patio set.  I am very excited over the possibility that I might be floating in a nice turquoise blue pool with a cool drink in my hand and the sun providing me with an excellent tan.

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Ice Sculptors

Recently, while flipping through the TV channels I found this really cool new show.  It is called Chainsaw Ice Sculptors.  They are some really talented people.  This has to be one of the more dangerous hobbies to have.

The artists on this show are very detailed oriented and create some really elaborate sculptures.  The sculpture they were
creating on this episode involved creating a horse and carriage with flowers frozen inside it.  These artists do multiple weddings and functions.  I imagine the price for these creations is scaled fairly high.  The labor and skill involved is quite great and they earn every penny! I think it would be pretty neat to have one of these sculptures at one of my BBQs.  I will have to see if there is a local artist who does this kind of work.  The biggest worry will be the warm weather and the risk of having it melt too soon.  Either way it would be the hit of the party for a while.

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Easter Presents

I received the cutest set of lamps and picture for Easter.  As I have mentioned before, my kitchen and living room motif has a woodland theme going on.  These lamps are the perfect for the living room because right now I have mismatching living room lamps.These lamps are in the shade of trees and each has three bears trying to climb up the tree in search of honey from a beehive.  There is a pot of honey at the bottom waiting for any collection.  The shade of the lamp is cool too.  It is textured like tree bark and has a leather lacing across the top and bottom, very rustic looking.  The picture looks like a painting.  There are four bears looking across a body of water at a camp site that has a tent pitched with a campfire.  It is nighttime so the moon is shining and the water just glows.

I hung the picture up and plugged the lamps in immediately.  Now, at night when I watch my television I can enjoy all three of them.  Those three little things set off a mood of relaxation and a true down- home feeling.

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Nostalgic Favorite

The Kodak Company has been around for many many years.  Their products have proven to be very good quality and reliable.  I have purchased a few Kodak products in my day.  They have never steered me wrong.

This is one reason when I was in the market to purchase my Mother a new printer I decided I was going to purchase a Kodak printer.  I went onto the Internet and searched for Kodak printers.  Naturally I found the Kodak website.  I was very impressed and saw the large variety of  Kodak ink.  The prices were also quite reasonable for the Kodak printer ink.  Surprisingly, their prices were less then what I have seen in the department stores.

Usually I have a difficult time with picking out ink cartridges but not this time.  The Kodak website proved to have just what I needed for Kodak ink cartridges.  I was relieved since I would hate to give someone, especially my mother a new printer without any ink!  She is just going to love this printer!