I'm Famous

Today the Dispatch published a special Christmas Cookie recipe section......and I made it onto page 4.

Here's my "winning" recipe:

CHERRY BALLS - Makes about 2 dozen.

1/2 cup butter, softened                                                             
dash of vanilla
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 small jar maraschini cherries, drained
1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
graham cracker crumbs

Mix butter, sugar, coconut and vanilla together.

Place a small amount in your hand, pressing it flat.  Put a cherry in the center.  Roll the coconut mixture around the cherry to form a ball.  Roll in graham cracker crumbs.

Store in the refrigerator.
                                  

Thanksgiving Dinner

Dave, his mom, Maylene and I went to The Worthington Inn for Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday and we had a great time.  The food was very good, the service very efficient and of course, the desserts were varied and plentiful......ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

But if you go, bring lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Vegetable Recipes

DILLED PEAS AND ALMONDS

start to finish - 35 minutes

2 cups shelled peas

1/4 c sliced onion

1 T butter

1 1/2 tsp snipped fresh dill

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Cook peas and onion, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp-tender.  Drain; return to saucepan.  Stir in butter, dill, salt and pepper; heat through.  Sprinkle with almonds. 

Makes 4 servings.

LEMON-TARRAGON PEAS

3 1/2 c shelled sweet peas

1 1/2 c whole sugar snap and/or snow pea pods

1 T butter, softened

4 tsp snipped fresh tarragon

2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel

1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

lemon wedges (optional)

tarragon sprigs (optional)

In a medium saucepan, cook shelled sweet peas, covered, in 1/4 c boiling, lightly salted water for 8 minutes.  Add the whole suar snap peas and cook 3 to 4 minutes more or until just crisp-tender, drain well.

Add butter, snipped tarragon, lemon peel and pepper to peas.  Toss gently unitl butter melts.  If desired, garnish with lemon wedges and tarragon sprigs.  Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings.

PEA POD SALAD

1/2 c bottled Italian salad dressing

1 T bottled chili sauce

2 c fresh sugar snap pea pods, trimmed and halved lengthwise

6 c baby romaine hearts or torn romaine lettuce

4 radishes, sliced

In a small bowl,whisk together the dressing and chili sauce.  Add pea pods and toss to coat.  Divide lettuce among 6 salad bowls or plates.  Top with pea pods and radishes. 

Makes 6 side-dish servings.

LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Prep:  10 minutes

2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel

2 T lemon juice

1 shallot, finely chopped (1 tablespoon)

1 tsp Dijon-styhle mustard

1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

snipped chives

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon peel, lemon juice, shallot, and mustard.  Whisk in the oil, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dressing emulsifies.  If desired, add sugar.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Garnish vinaigrette with chives.

Makes 1/2 cup dressing.

HOT BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

1/4 c olive oil

2 T balsamic vinegar

2 T finely chopped shallot

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

In a small saucepan, combine the oil, vinegar, shallot, salt and pepper.  Place over medium-low heat.  Cook until mixture just begins to bubble. Remove from heat. With a whisk, stir throoughly to emulsify.  Serve warm.

Makes 1/2 cup.

Gardening Helpful Hint

Here's a helpful hint for planting seeds - if you are planting rows of seeds, rather than pinching little bunches place a supply in a paper cupcake liner, squish the sides together and sprinkle the seeds right into the trench that you've made using the liner as a mini pouring spout.

Hair Naturally

SIMPLE HAIR RINSE RECIPES FOR HEALTHY LOCKS

BRUNETTES

Sage Rinse - Makes 12 ounces (sage leaves can darken hair and cover gray)

2 cups water

1/4 cup fresh or dried sage leaves

1. Boil water and pour over sage leaves.  Let mixture cool and then strain out all solids before using.
2. To use:  Pour over clean hair as a final rinse.  Do not rinse off.

REDHEADS

Hibiscus Rinse - Makes 12 ounces (this rinse will give red highlights to light or dark hair)

2 cups water

1/4 cup fresh or dried hibiscus flowers

1. Boil water and pour over hibiscus.  Let mixture cool and then strain out all solids before using.
2. To use:  Pour over clean hair as a final rinse and do not rinse out.

BLONDES

Chamomile Rinse - Makes 12 ounces (this rinse is good for lightening fair hair)

2 cups water

1/4 cup fresh or dried chamomile flowers

1. Boil water and pour over chamomile flowers.  Let mixture cool and then strain out all solids before using.
2. To use:  Pour over clean hair as a final rinse.  Do not rinse off.

Rhubarb-Chamomile Rinse - Makes 12 ounces (this rinse works best on blonde or light brown hair)

2 cups water

1/4 cup chopped rhubarb stalks

2 T dried chamomile flowers

1. Place all ingredients in small saucepan and gently heat until boiling
2. Remove from heat and allow to steep until cool.  Strain off all solids and pour into a clean container.
3. To use:  Massage into clean, damp hair as a final rinse.  Do not rinse off.

* * * * *

Rosemary-Thyme Rinse - Makes 12 ounces

Rosemary and thyme have been used for centuries to darken hair and keep it soft and silky.  They also have natural antiseptic properties, which give this rinse the added bonus of keeping your scalp healthy and clean.  After several uses, you will notice the results.  Herbal rinses need to build up over time, but the advantage is that your hair will darken quite subtly and naturally.

1 T fresh rosemary leaves or 1/2 T dried

1 T fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 T dried

2 cups boiling water

1. Place herbs in a glass bowl and pour boiling water over them.  Allow leaves to steep until cool.  Strain liquid and pour into a clean container.
2. To use:  After shampooing, pour the rinse over your hair. Do not rinse off.

Blackberry Leaf Rinse - Makes 12 ounces

This rinse can gently enhance your hair color, deepening the color of dark hair and highlighting lighter shades.  The green prickly leaves make a cleansing rinse that treats dandruff and will leave your hair clean and shiny, and works on all hair types and colors.  If you cannot find fresh blackberry leaves, look for dried leaves in the bulk bin of a natural food store or for herbal tea made from 100% blackberry leaves.

1/2 cup clean fresh blackberry leaves
2 cups water
2 to 3 fresh blackberries (optional)

1. Place leaves in a small saucepan and cover with water.  For a hint of natural color, add a few fresh berries to water, if desired.  Bring water to a boil over medium heat.  Lower heat and simmer 15 minutes.
2. Remove the pan from stove and allow to sit 20 minutes.  Strain the liquid and pour into a clean bottle with a tight-fitting lid.  You will have a yellow-green liquid with a mild berry scent.
3. To use:  Use as a final rinse afer shampooing.

Refreshing Lavender-Mint Rinse - Makes 8 ounces

This rinse will add shine to dull, limp locks.  Mint and vinegar clean your scalp and leave your hair smelling fresh.  Mint is energizing and will give your scalp a tingly feeling.  Lavender is cleansing and mild, so all skin and hair types can use this rinse.  The vinegar also rids your hair and scalp of any leftover residue from styling gels or soap-based shampoos.  Use this rinse monthly.

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves or 1 T dried
1 T fresh lavender leaves or 1/2 T dried
1 cup boiling water

1. Place vinegar and herbs in a bowl and pour boiling water over them.  Let mixture cool completely and then strain.
2. To use:  Apply the solution to the scalp as a final rinse after shampooing.  Rinse well with cool water.

New Uses for Old Things

These reuse ideas are in the Fall 2009 edition of Real Simply Family magazine.

SLINKY -
Original Purpose - providing hours of entertainment when combined with a stairwell.

Aha! Use - Holding pens, pencils, invitations, and business cards on a desk. Simply link the ends making a circle.


ANKLE WEIGHT -
Original Purpose - adding resistance to a cardio routine.

Aha! Use - grounding the wheels of a stroller that has a jam-packed diaper bag hanging on the handles. Attach the weights just above the front wheels. No more "whoopsie daisy" when you lift your child out of the seat.



CHIP CLIPS -
Original Purpose - keeping a half-eaten bag of snacks fresh

Aha! Use - Holding small coats in place on adult-sized hangers. Use clips with rubberized grips to help items stay put. Besides an organized coat closet.....the money you'll save from not buying special kids' hangers.


DICE -
Original Purpose - determining your game board moves.

Aha! Use - deciding how many more bites of dinner your child has to eat before being excused. Let your child roll so he's the one controlling his fate.


GLOW IN THE DARK STARS -
Original Purpose - decorating the ceiling of an astronomy-obsessed kid.

Aha! Use - creating a well-lit path he can follow from his room to the bathroom. Line up stars near the baseboard and make sure they get plenty of light during the day.


PAPER TUBES -
Original Purpose - holding toilet paper or paper towels

Aha! Use - playing a DIY version of Lincoln Logs. Cut squares out of the sides that are roughly the same diameter as the tube. Stack the "logs" perpendicularly to one another.


ALTOIDS TIN -
Original Purpose - freshening breath

Aha! Use - corralling crayons for an instant kids' distraction kit. Keep the tin in your purse for the next waiting room.

Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice

Slice of Heaven

Fragrant slices of dehydrated fresh citrus resemble little stained glass windows. You will need:

1 lemon
1 orange
1 lime
clean kitchen towel
parchment paper or silicone mat
cookie sheet

Using a sharp knife, make very thin slices of the citrus fruits. Cut crosswise across citrus to expose the triangular sections. Fold slices within clean kitchen towel and press gently, but firmly, to soak up as much excess liquid as possible.

Arrange fruit slices on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Place in a 170 degree oven for 1 to 2 hours (it may take longer if high levels of liquid remain in the fruit).

TIPS: speed the process by turning the slices after the first hour; occasionally open the oven door to allow steam to escape


Cookie Master

Fill your holiday tree with these simple-to-make cinnamon-scented ornaments, which will last for many seasons.

You will need:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup salt
1/2 cup ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cinnamon oil (increase amount for more fragrant cookies )
1 cup water
parchment paper or silicone mat

Mix dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add water gradually and stir continuously until completely absorbed. Knead for a few minutes. Chill, covered, for 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator before proceeding.

Roll dough flat on parchment paper to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut designs with cookie cutters or freehand with a small knife. Pierce a hole in the top with the end of a chopstick or a straw. Place cookies on parchment paper. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 to 3 hours (convection ovens speed the process). Remove when very firm and set aside to cool. Thread with string or ribbon and hang.

These two crafts are from the Nov/Dec 2009 edition of Natural Home Magazine

Amelia

We went to see the movie "Amelia" yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It isn't as bad as the critics say......by the way, do the critics ever like a movie?????

Do try and see it!!!!

The Weather

Mother Nature has been very good to us this autumn, unbelievably warm.....but it is slowly getting cooler in the mornings. Not looking forward to bundling up and having to drive feeling like a big lump.

He Spoiled Me

Dave knows how to show a girl a good time on a Friday night.........everything was just perfect......surroundings, service, food and company.

The Girls Who Do Lunch Bunch

The girls who do lunch bunch are: Joanne, Sharon K, Sharon D, Deb, Barb, Diane, Maylene and Julie......we celebrated our chapter's anniversary. Had a great time and then a few went over to Tuttle Mall to start their Christmas shopping. Me, I went Bazaar hopping.

Santa's Coming To Town

The season is here for Christmas Bazaar's...........been to 3......always looking for more!!!!

Books for Girlfriends

10 great books for book-smart girlfriends

1. Bel Encanto by Ann Patchett
2. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
3. Girlfriends Forever by Susan Branch
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
5. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
6. Red Tent by Anita Diamant
7. Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney
8. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
9. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
10. A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey

Quotes about Friends

It's the friends you can call at 4 a.m. that matter - Marlene Dietrich

For what do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other - George Eliot

A friend loves at all times - Proverbs 17: 17

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom - Marcel Proust

For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather; to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands - Christina Rossetti

Where there is great love there are always miracles - Willa Cather

Intimate relationships cannot substitute for a life plan. But to have any meaning or viability at all, a life plan must include intimate relationships - Harriet Lerner

Some people go to priests, others to poetry; I to my friends - Virginia Woolf

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. - Kahlil Gibran

Ah ! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort - Jane Austen

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light - Helen Keller

If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love friends for their sake rather than for our own - Charlotte Bronte

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living! - Amanda Bradley

She gives most who gives with joy - Mother Teresa

Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends - Cindy Lew

Best friend, my well spring in the wilderness - George Eliot

The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you, who think you are interesting, or very important, or wonderfully funny - Brenda Ueland

Forsake not an old friend, for a new one does not compare with him - Ecclesiastics 9:10

We can do no great things - only small things with great love - Mother Teresa

Tea Staining Tips

Natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, hemp or nettle work best for dyeing as they absorb the color or dye more evenly. Be sure to wash the fabric to be dyed first to address any shrinking issues.

To begin, boil 4 quarts of water, and then add 2 - 4 tea bags, depending on how dark you want the fabric. Let the tea bags steep for as long as necessary (up to 5 minutes). Experiment with different types of tea bags to obtain a variety of colors. Try chamomile for a subtle mellow yellow or a cranberry tea for a burnt red color.

Before you add the fabric to your tea mixture, soak it until it is completely wet. Squeeze out excess water, place the fabric in the tea water, and then gently stir. Let the fabric sit until the desired color is achieved. Remember, the dye will appear darker when it is wet. Remove the fabric and rinse well in the sink with a little dishwashing liquid. Line hang to dry.

Ephemera

Collecting interesting ephemera

• Books -- autograph books, cash books, diaries, inventory books, journals, ledgers
• Cards -- business cards, postcards, trade cards
• Catalogues and brochures -- agriculture books, fabric samples, seed books
• Early receipts -- bank deposits, gas bills, grain deliveries, worker's compensation
• Labels -- luggage, perfume, shipping, soap, wine
• Ticket books or stubs -- carnivals, circuses, travelling theater shows, early naturalist supplies including litmus paper and insect tags
• Others -- die cuts, paper dolls, rewards of merit, road maps

Cleaning Your Glassware

Many people like to entertain. Cleaning up typically follows a night of entertaining with a routine of hand washing the old glasses and stemware. Never puts any of the pieces in the dishwasher, as the salts and detergents could harm the surface and cause cloudiness. Wash the glasses carefully in a plastic bowl with a towel or foam mat on the bottom using warm water and a little liquid soap, one piece at a time. If the glass is very dirty or greasy, adds a few drops of household ammonia to the water, unless the piece is gilded.

Each glass is dried carefully and thoroughly while it is still warm by using a lint-free cloth -- old linen tea towels are perfect for this as they don't shed. A warm hair-dryer can also be used, well away from the wink and water, to dry the inside of a decanter. Or, place the glass vessels upside down in an airing cupboard for 24 hours You can also roll up a paper towel, push it into a decanter until it touches the bottom, being careful not to lose the end, and remove it 24 hours later.

If you glasses appear dull, try adding a little salt to the water as dullness is caused by hard water; the harder the water the more likely the glassware is to appear cloudy.

Vintage Linens

Caring for Vintage Linens

When caring for and storing old linens, keep in mind the following:

• determine whether fabric should be hand washed. Anything with small detailing such as hand stitching should be soaked in lukewarm water and cleaned with powdered soap
• using a washing machine is perfectly acceptable when cleaning heavier fabrics; just be sure to use mild detergent on the cold water cycle and a whitener. Select the quickest and most gentle wash cycle
• after the machine goes through its deep rinse, rinse again to remove detergent from the fabrics. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar during the final rinse cycle
• if possible, line dry linens to retain color and preserve delicate fabrics
• when using a machine dryer, use the permanent press cycle
• iron only if linen is to be used right away. Use two or three towels on the ironing board in addition to a standard pad. For added crispness,use spray-on starch. For scented linens, spray on distilled water mixed with a few drops of essential oil
• between uses, store linens in a white cotton pillowcase. This protects them from bright light and dust. Wat pillowcases several ties, even if new, to make sure dyes and other preservatives are removed.
• store linens at room temperature; avoid attics and basements

Shopping Flea Markets

When embarking on a hunt for treasures, keep in mind the following:

• GET UP EARLY. Hit the market as the sun is rising. In the early morning, dealers are usually still unpacking. Everyone is chatting, welcoming each other, and if you're lucky, offering hot tea from a thermos. By your second walk through, dealers begin to recognize you and may invite you into their booths.
• TAKE A NOTEBOOK Scribble down prices as your peruse. If you don't speak the language, having the dealer write down the asking price is a great way to communicate. Then try crossing out the price and asking for a lower price, the dealer may return the favor by scratching out the offer and writing one in between, which is still lower than the original asking price.
• LOOK FOR UNIQUE THINGS Uncommon, rare,and unique purchases always add character to a home. My favorites are old herbiers, early sewing baskets (better if they are filed), old journals, autograph books, small paintings (especially in pairs), and any sort of household textile in good shape.
• EAT AT THE FLEA MARKET This sounds like a basic idea, but you'll be surprised that, before you know it, it's already noon. I always feel better after I eat. My decisions are sharper and if you get dehydrated in the middle of a flea market jaunt, nothing is fun.
• DON'T FORGET THE WET WIPES These are nice to have on hand to clean your hands after looking through piles of old pottery, black-and-white photographs, and other flea market items.
• BRING A CARRYALL If you have a carrier or cart with wheels, bring it. Rather than walking around with many bags, fill your carrier and wheel it behind you. It will also keep your hands free to explore your next great find.

Unpacking the Groceries

TIPS FOR HANDLING, STORING AND THAWING

• Store produce in non-plastic bags. Ethylene-absorbing free produce bags really work, and so do low-tech cotton bags. Both are reuseable and keep produce fresh longer than plastic bags. Bring them with you when you shop, too, to skip carting plastic produce bags home.
• Store in glass with reusable lids. When storing fresh foods and leftovers, pick glass over plastic storage containers. A number of companies make glass containers that go safely from refrigerator to microwave and oven, with either microwave-safe lids or oven-safe glass lids. Even when designed for food storage, plastic containers may emit hazardous gases, both when heated at home or in the manufacturing process.
• Thaw foods in the refrigerator. It's safe and more energy-efficient than thawing in a microwave. To prevent food-borne illnesses, don't thaw a room temperature unless recommended by the manufacturers.
• Rewrap for oxygen-deprivation. Oxygen hastens rancidity and staleness. If you buy big, repack a portion of the nuts, crackers, meats, or cheeses for later use. Seal them in reusable air-tight containers.