It Came From My Mother's Meatloaf

The Simple Wisdom of Dr. Seuss

2012-03-02T09:45:00.000-06:00

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!”

“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.”

“I meant what i said and i said what i meant. An elephant’s faithful one-hundred percent!”

And here's a fun candy making project to share with your kids - green eggs and ham !!! NOTE: I would use green m&m's if you're doing a Dr. Seuss theme, but how cute are these fried eggs treats?!

From Grandma Cat to Jonas and Paisley

2012-03-01T11:06:00.000-06:00

Twenty years from now, I don't know if there will even be an internet, but should my darling grandchildren google their grandma cat, I hope they will stumble upon this blog post I've written just for them. To make it easier for my grandson Jonas to distinguish between his two sets of grandparents, my daughter and son-in-law have taught Jonas to call me Grandma Cat ... (this is probably due to the fact that at the time he was born we had three cats ... now down to two). His other grandmother has the distinction of being called Grandma Fish (her last name is Troudt ... I know it's a stretch ... grin). There are also a Grandpa Cat and a Grandpa Fish, but we will save stories of them for another post.

Growing up I have such fond memories of both of my grandmothers.

My Grandma Ollie taught me how to sew (she had one of those old pedal driven Singer machines and would save fabric scraps for me to create doll clothes with). She taught me how to make fudge from scratch. When I would spend the night I got to sleep in her HUGE (or so it seemed to me) four poster feather bed that I needed a step stool to climb in with. In her kitchen, she had this jar next to the stove where she would store bacon drippings (and other cooking fats that to this day are still unknown entites). She would then use these grease renderings in her homemade cookies and baked goods - and to this day I cannot duplicate them, but oh the memories! She let nothing go to waste. If a cake went dry, then she would make pudding to put on top of it. If there were leftover hot dog buns, she would make these sinful breakfast treats (she would lather the buns with REAL butter, sprinkle on brown sugar and cinnamon, and then put them under the broiler until the butter melted and made a sort of caramel breakfast bun). Later in years she injured her hip and walked with a cane, and by golly if you were naughty and within reach, you would get a swat with that cane (or at least that's what my brothers said, because I was always such an angel - grin). She was also a master quilt maker and had a large quilting loom where I could sit for hours and watch her nimble fingers fly across those fabrics making such ease and grace making these amazing designs. And every year I could count on birthday packages wrapped in white tissue paper and filled with clothing she had lovingly made just for me, and an angel food cake with pink frosting and sprinkles. She was a woman of few words, but huge gestures and I loved her dearly.

Now my Grandma Ellie was a whole other ball of wax! She taught me how to play poker. She taught me how to crochet and would sit with me for hours while I practiced and got the tension on each stitch just right. She taught me how to "let go" and have fun. She could jump rope at lightning speeds (even into her 60's) and could clean a crystal goblet until it hummed when you tapped it. She smoked cigarettes and liked her whiskey. She always brought homemade donuts holes to all of the family picnics. She was quick to laugh and quicker to give hugs. And I loved her dearly.

I'm hoping that I'm a combination of BOTH of my loving grandmothers when it comes to the memories I create with my two grandchildren. I want Jonas and Paisley to know the following ...

I love you both unconditionally. Period. Always.

I know you both will be kind, funny, wise, sensitive, interesting, and a ball of fire! Your parents are all of these things!

I know you will be strong and wonderful huggers. There is NOTHING that a hug can't fix.

I wish you happy, happy, days! You will have some bad days, yes. They are important so you can appreciate the good ones.

There will be disappointments; I know you will be able to handle them.

I pray you learn about humility.

Please always, always, be kind.

I hope you learn that honesty is the best policy, and that doing hard days work will always make you feel better.

Be a loyal friend, one people can count on and trust. And surround yourself with friends just like that!

You have such wonderful parents. Know that no matter how big the problem, you can always go to them for direction and help. Never be afraid to talk to them ... about the big stuff and the little stuff. They are your biggest fans and will always be in your corner. Remember, they were once your age too and whatever you're facing they've already been there and can help you through.

Challenge your mind to keep sharp. Don't be afraid to try new things.

BRUSH, FLOSS ... and do it again. I can't stress this enough.

Take time to sit under a shady tree and watch the clouds go by ... remember, it's the quiet times that will help you through all the stress that life will throw out at you.

Anything is possible if you want it bad enough. There are no mountains you cannot climb, no things that you cannot do if you just put your mind to it, and try your best.

Whether you end up being the president, a CEO, an artist, a carpenter or work at McDonalds, as long as you are happy that is most important.

Find something that you are passionate about and you will never "work" a day in your life. I wish I had known at 16 what I know at 59. That I can write and people enjoy reading. That I can teach and people enjoy learning. That I can cook and entertain and people love coming to my home.

If Grandpa Cat asks you to pull his finger ... don't. :0)

And I'll add to and update this post from time to time, but I think I've covered the important stuff for now.

And I'll say it again ... I love you both unconditionally. Period. Always.

Precious!

2012-02-29T07:39:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of my grandniece, Avlyn, and her Uncle James that I just had to share. Have you EVER seen a photo that encompasses PURE love and devotion??!! Avlyn has such a crush on her uncle and it truly shows in this picture.

It's International Pancake Day!

2012-02-28T13:31:00.001-06:00

There is NOTHING I enjoy more on a special Sunday morning than a sweet stack of feather light pancakes! Of course, they aren't feather light by the time I add some REAL butter (and none of that fake stuff allowed if I'm splurging on a homemade pancake) and the really good quality maple syrup (although Log Cabin is pretty darn good and it's the stuff I was raised on). But I'm sure adding some blueberries puts this sweet indulgence into the "fruit" category on the food pyramid! And while some take the easy route and use a pancake mix, there really isn't that much involved in achieving restaurant quality - knock your grandma over - pancakes!

I really enjoy buttermilk pancakes, although buttermilk is not something you will find in my refrigerator at any given moment. I'm sure my grandmother always had this staple handy, but it's just not something I use much of ... except for making fried chicken, pancakes, and an occasional cake recipe. But there really is a remarkable difference in the taste and texture of a pancake using buttermilk versus milk. And try adding a tablespoon of malted milk powder to your pancake mixture ... this also adds a subtle and tasty extra something to pancake batter.

Here's a few of my favorite pancake recipes for you to try some weekend soon ... or hey, take a walk on the wild side and have pancakes for dinner! I won't tell !!

This lovely and unusal pancake is OVEN baked and puffs up to create a crater where you can then add your favorite fillings. It's called an apfelpfannkuchen - or translated - a German Apple Pancake! http://pinterest.com/pin/272608583664191262/

And I'm danish by heritage, but I grew up enjoying what is known as swedish pancakes ... almost crepe like in texture and thinness and so fun to just roll up and eat with a bit of cinnamon sure. http://pinterest.com/pin/272608583664197048/

And here's the basic recipe for MILE HIGH buttermilk pancakes:

Ingredients

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

salt

Directions

1. In a medium bowl combine the eggs, buttermilk, and butter. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry mixture and stir just till combined (do not over beat).

2. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto a hot, lightly greased griddle. Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown, turning to second side when pancakes have bubbly surfaces and edges are slightly dry. Serve warm with butter and maple syrup.

So whatever jack you flap on, splurge sometime soon and share a plate of pancakes with a loved one. You'll be glad you did!!!

It's 5:00 Somewhere!

2012-02-22T12:42:00.000-06:00

Today is National Margarita Day!

Celebrate National Margarita Day 2011 today with this easy recipe. This is the day for all margarita lovers to celebrate, whether you’re going out to your favorite restaurant, or making yours at home. There are even margarita machines for people who just can’t make them fast enough. All true Margarita lovers have their favorite recipe for the perfect Margarita. This recipe comes from Patrón.

Patrón Margarita Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Patrón Silver

1/2 ounce Patrón Citrónge

3/4 oz Lime Juice

margarita salt and ice

lime wedge to garnish

Method: Run lime wedge around glass to moisten the rim. Dip in a bowl with margarita salt to salt the rim of the glass. Add ice to shaker. Add Patrón Silver, Patrón Citrónge and lime juice to shaker. Shake well and strain into a glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

Now if drinking isn't your thing, here's a SWEET version of a Margarita Cake you might enjoy:

Crust

1 1/2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

3/4 cup bottled nonalcoholic margarita mix

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon grated lime peel

3 egg whites

Topping

1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Additional grated lime peel, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only and lightly flour 13x9-inch pan, or spray bottom with baking spray with flour. In medium bowl, mix crust ingredients. Sprinkle evenly on bottom of pan; press gently.

In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter over crust.

Bake 34 to 39 minutes or until light golden brown and top springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool completely, about 2 hours. Frost with whipped topping; sprinkle with additional lime peel. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Happy Birthday to my FAVORITE son-in-law!!

2012-02-21T09:46:00.000-06:00

Okay, so Jeremy is my ONLY son-in-law, but I would still feel the same if I had a dozen of 'em! He is just a wonderful human being ... caring, intelligent, compassionate, a GREAT husband to my daughter, and even GREATER father to my two grandchildren.

We are TRULY blessed to have him as part of our family.

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!!

Happy Mardi Gras!

2012-02-21T09:35:00.000-06:00

"Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday." Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge—and often overindulge—before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent. The first treat that comes to mind when I hear Mardi Gras is of course the King Cake. The King Cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a small plastic baby, and a party. The King Cake is baked with a small plastic baby hidden inside, the person who gets the slice with baby in it has to host the next party.

And if you are making the trip to New Orleans (or hosting an event where you live), it would't be complete without inhaling one (or 2 or 3 or 4) of these sweet delights ... beignets!

Here's a fabulous recipe for these amazing light and airy desserts:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/New-Orleans-Beignets

And last but not least would of course be an indulgence into a really good jambalaya!!

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jambalaya-10000000833319/

So go and indulge ... and catch a few beads!!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

2012-02-20T13:52:00.000-06:00

Today is my mother's birthday ... and if you ask her how old she is she will say she doesn't know. The story goes that when she was born, they didn't expect her to live ... and months later when she was well, they somehow never issued her a birth certificate. Of course, this was back when they delivered babies at home and had midwives, so it could easily happen that getting a birth certificate could somehow have gotten lost in the shuffle. Here's a pic of my mom with my older brother, John ... at least I'm assuming it's him and not me with the giveaway being the football.

This was back in the day when mothers wore dresses ... every single day ... and I even remember my mom vacuuming and ironing in high heels ... can you imagine??!!

And here's my mom with my Grandma Elly ... bathing beauties!!!

And when I was growing up there were many things my mother told me . . . lots of words of wisdom and sound advice. Most times I paid attention. However, that there were other times that I rolled my eyes and thought to myself ... what does she know? This mental faux pas is what is known as the teenage years. One day many years later I heard myself spouting off these same pearls of wisdom to my own children, and I realized my mother was wise beyond compare! Here's a few phrases that might sound familiar ...

Don’t ever leave the house without clean underwear.

Touching frogs causes warts.
Eating carrots will give you good eyesight.

Fish is brainfood. [I like fish and I'm smart . . . point proven!]
If you keep crossing your eyes, they're going to stay that way.
Don't talk with your mouth full.

Don't sit so close to the television, you'll go blind.

Eat everything on your plate ... there are starving children in Europe. To this day I'm not sure how cleaning my plate off made a difference.

How do you know you don't like it if you don't taste it? [I don't think my mother ever tasted sushi !!]

Don't get your Sunday school clothes dirty. [she should have told my brother!]

These years are the best years of your life.

What goes around comes around.

Always carry kleenex in your pocket! (which she would use to "spit" wash our faces if we got dirty in public)
You just wait til your father gets home. (no explanation needed) ... usually followed with my dad saying "I'm getting my belt ..."

If you don't go to sleep, Santa won't come. This was one I never took a chance on.

Go play outside, you need the fresh air. (Not to mention mom needs some peace and quiet.)

Don't slam the door! [oops . . . sorry . . .]

Because I told you so!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T08:34:00.001-06:00

A bit of Cardmaking Today

2012-02-12T13:44:00.000-06:00

I've been in my craft room this morning making a few cards I need to get out this next week. Here's a valentine's day card for my grandson!

And a welcome baby card for our dear neighbors.

And a really simple but cute get well card (can you see the tissue?)

Stampendous Monthly Challenge Card

2012-02-12T12:24:00.000-06:00

I'm entering this card into the Stampendous Monthly Challenge. They said to use lots of "texture". I've used Stampendous Birthday Cages image for the birdcage. I added liquid glass to the heart. In the background I've stamped, added painted checkerboard, lace, wasabi ribbon, and a piece of lattice under the card. You can click on the card to see the elements better.

Go here to get in on the fun: http://stampendousblog.wordpress.com/

Art Journaling

2012-02-12T10:43:00.001-06:00

Tracy over at Helmar USA pulled me into yet another form of creative expression (and she had to apply a bit of pressure for me to take this plunge into uncharted territory!). Art journals. This is a PERSONAL book where I can doodle, sketch, paint and just feel free to be creative. If I like what I create then I can transfer the idea to either cards or canvas. Here's the cover I created for this new adventure into art journaling.

There are some amazing ideas and inspiration out there for art expression. If you are a follower of my pinterest pages, then you can find more on the "she art" creativity there. Here's my first she art page.

And birds on a wire is something I just had a bit of fun with.

My next pages are already in pencil and waiting for me to find some time to bring them to life. And be sure to catch Tracy on Monday nights on her Upstream feed where you are sure to be inspired!

http://www.tracywburgos.typepad.com/

Pie on a Stick

2012-02-09T11:50:00.000-06:00

Everyone is making cake pops! I've been following Bakerella for several years now and can attest that her recipe for these delightful pops is a true WINNER. However, they are VERY time consuming to make.

ENTER ... Babycakes Pie Pop Maker!!

So today I stumble across a new gadget called a Pie Pop Maker. What is this? Sweet little fruit pies that you can make quick and easy?

I try NOT to acquire gadgets and appliances that have only one function. But in the case of this Babycakes bite-size pie maker, I am going to make the exception.

I am looking at this as an investment and a way for my grandson (and granddaughter when she is old enough) to spend time with me in the kitchen ... coming up with creative fillings for these sweet (or savory) treats on a stick.

Let's face it ... EVERYTHING tastes better on a stick!!

The Babycakes Pie Pop Maker is:

Easy: Just add a favorite filling and a stick between two crust circles and bake.

Fast: Makes six pie pops in four minutes or less.

Safe: No hot oven racks or pans for kids to deal with.

Low Maintenance: Nonstick coating wipes clean with a damp cloth.

Small: Just 6¼”W x 11¼”L x 3½”H when closed.

Versatile: Leave off the sticks and you’ve got bite-size pies for adults.

Inexpensive: Just $19.95 with free shipping (on sale from $29.95), which includes treat sticks, a pie pop stand, stainless steel crust cutter, and instruction manual with recipes and cooking tips. And in bright red, it also can be a Valentine gift (don't tell hubby). I just ordered one from SurLaTable.com.

Snowy Saturday

2012-02-04T09:44:00.000-06:00

We awoke this morning to this vista in our front yard ...

I think there's about 5 inches or so, and before it is all said and done they say we could get up to 11 inches - egaads!

But can't complain as my son (in Denver) got 14 inches and it is still snowing ...

I do love snowed in days though ... we seem to get a lot done. Hubby is working on putting in some new wood flooring this morning.

Looks nice, doesn't it??!!

I'm off to throw some laundry into the dryer, make some deviled eggs for the super bowl tomorrow, along with a batch of peanut butter cookies (and I'll throw in some M&M's for the grandson's enjoyment). Then it's into my craft room for an afternoon of creativity and watching the snow fall.

It's Headed Our Way!

2012-02-03T14:46:00.000-06:00

My son just posted this pic of their home in Parker Colorado ... and the storm system is headed our way here in Nebraska. We've been SO lucky this year and most of the storms have passed north or south of us, but I'm thinking our luck has finally run out as the weather center has been posting severe winter storm warnings starting later tonight and throughout the weekend. They are saying we could get any where from 6 to 11 inches. And the grocery stores were absolutely CRAZY ... thank goodness I was able to just send the hubby over to get what we needed for both the Super Bowl on Sunday and staples in case we get snowed in for a while ... LOVE to bake when the flakes are flying outside! And I have some new paints mediums to try out on some canvas and card projects this weekend too. My sister is coming over Sunday morning so we can have some quality creative time together ... might have to send a sled over to get her if this storm hits too hard!

Happy Ground Hog's Day!

2012-02-02T08:31:00.000-06:00

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club made their decree Thursday morning in central Pennsylvania: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and there'll be six more weeks of winter.

The One You Feed

2012-02-01T09:12:00.000-06:00

I just read this story and wanted to share it ...

A Cherokee elder was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, hatefulness, and lies. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, humbleness, kindness, friendship, generosity, faith, and truth. This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too.” The children thought about it for a minute. Then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The Cherokee elder replied… “The one you feed.”

Phlegm

2012-01-31T08:31:00.000-06:00

It's flu season again, people! People are hacking and coughing everywhere we go. I have been struggling with a head cold for OVER a week now, and it just seems to be hanging on and getting worse instead of better.

So I went online and googled "phlegm" (after I figured out how to properly spell it, that is). So here is what you can do to keep from getting this yuck!

There's no cure for most of the bugs that are going around, so it's important to keep from catching 'em. Don't inhale other people's sneezes. Don't kiss folks who are ill. But most important, wash your hands frequently, especially before eating. Most people pick up germs with their hands, and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes: instant infection. When you touch your face before washing your hands, it's like licking every doorknob you've touched since you last washed.

Yuck.

Many viral syndromes start with a sore throat or cold symptoms, often followed by a cough. It's not technically "flu," or influenza. True influenza is caused by influenza viruses. Certain drugs will make it less severe or may prevent your getting it. However, doctors see so many viral infections that aren't influenza that true influenza may be hard to spot.

Smokers have more trouble than non-smokers, since their lungs have lost their natural cleaning capabilities. Normal lungs are lined with tiny hair cells that sweep up the watery mucus layer inside your bronchial tree. This is how lungs clean out the dirt, air pollution, dust, and germs you breathe. One minute of cigarette smoke will paralyze your lungs for 24 hours: all the dirt, smoke, and grime in the air stays in.

What to do when you're definitely sick? The first thing is to beware overuse of cough and cold remedies! Most contain strong drying agents which make your nose drip less, by drying it out. Unfortunately, that dries your lungs out, too. You end up with dried phlegm plugging up your chest. This tickles and irritates your bronchial tubes, making you cough. It blocks off small sections of your lungs and your bronchial tubes get infected with bacteria. This is called bronchitis.

Once you've got a chest full of dried phlegm, how do you get it out? The key word here is "dry." Ever notice how a steamy shower makes you cough? That's because water vapor moistens and loosens the dried phlegm, which then starts to slide down the bronchial tubes. It tickles a new area and makes you cough. However, you want the phlegm to go up and out.

How do you get phlegm up? Easy: steam up your lungs. 5 or 10 minutes in a closed bathroom full of steam works fine. Then, lie face down on a bed or couch with your head, shoulders, and back hanging downward over the edge, and have somebody pound your back with cupped hands while you're breathing as deep as you can and coughing hard. Do the chest percussion twice a day if possible. This may help you get some phlegm up and out, which is where you want it. Chest percussion should last about 5 minutes. Have a cup nearby for the phlegm.

Always check the phlegm color. If it's clear, white, or pale, the infection may still be viral, and antibiotics may not be necessary. If it's yellow, green, brown, or bloody, or if you are having fevers, chills, chest pains, or have other health problems, you might need antibiotics. Contact your health care delivery person.

Very important: get plenty of fluids. If you're dry, the phlegm will be thicker and harder to get up. Don't use alcohol as a primary fluid source: it dries you out. Coffee and tea do the same thing, to a lesser extent, but the caffeine can help wheezing.

A humidifier is very helpful, especially with a heating system that dries out the air. Since you're often breathing through your mouth when sleeping with a stuffy nose, your lungs get even drier. Use the humidifier in your bedroom at night. If you're sensitive to molds, be careful: they grow better when it's damp. Turn the humidifier off during the day and air out the room.

Watch for high fevers not responsive to aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetominophen; shortness of breath; coughing up blood; or painful breathing. If you get any of those symptoms, get in touch with your healthcare provider!

The number one remedy for the common cold? Bed rest. Your body needs to recouperate and regenerate ... take lots of naps and get a good nights sleep and you'll feel better faster!

Pecan Pie Muffins

2012-01-26T10:33:00.000-06:00

I try not to think deep thoughts early in the morning. Generally, just finding shoes that match can totally make me happy. But every once in a while I find myself reflecting on life in general and how it can change seemingly in an instant. Every day I struggle with paying attention to the here and now. Lofty ambitions and long-term plans have their place, but there’s also something invaluable in the simplest pastimes: a long walk in the evening; organizing that junk drawer; playing catch with the grandchildren; baking a batch of cookies.

I find cooking to be very relaxing. A creative endeavor which always calms and soothes. Your hands get busy, your mind wanders and the senses take over. And, in the end, you are rewarded with something tangible, edible, shareable. It’s a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

This past weekend I tried a new recipe that I thought my husband would enjoy. His FAVORITE pie in the whole world in pecan pie. So when I saw this recipe for Pecan Pie Muffins I immediately saved it and placed it in my "to try soon" list of recipes. There are only SIX ingredients ... it is the SIMPLEST of recipes to throw together, and afterwards my husband came up to me and said DO NOT LOSE THIS RECIPE. He absolutely LOVED them. Said they were even better than pecan pie because they were so portable and easy to toss into his lunchbox.

So here's the link to the recipe. http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2010/09/a-tasty-recipe-pecan-pie-muffins/

And don't be surprised that they don't rise very much ... and let them cool about 15 minutes before trying to get them out of the pan ... they will hold together nicely at that point. And once cooled immediately put them into an airtight container or individual baggies.

I actually had one RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN slathered in butter (my bad) ... and it was definitely one of those OMG this is sinful moments!!

ENJOY!

Jenny Suchins Giveaway Event

2012-01-25T07:56:00.000-06:00

SO here are the GIVEAWAY details:

Jenny over at Wee Memories is having a HUGE giveaway event. If you aren't familiar with Jenny's designs, here's one of her creations ... isn't this family of owls just the CUTEST thing??!! Love her whimsy style! I've been following Jenny for quite sometime now and am always blown away by her creativity!

She is going to be giving away:

1 of her new stamp sets from The Crafts Meow

A HUGE paper stack from Graphic 45

1 stamp set from Graphic 45

1 stamp from Unity Stamp Co.

1 stamp set from Your Next Stamp

1 PRINT of your choice from her Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JennySuchinDesigns?ref=pr_shop_more

Some twine and misc. embellishments and some surprise goodies!!

A HUGE prize worth over $80!!

So run over to her blog and sign up ... and let her know I sent you! Good luck!

Me Oh My ... I love pie!!!

2012-01-23T10:32:00.001-06:00

Good Morning, and Happy National Pie Day!

Just the word PIE conjurs up images of mile high meringues, velvet custards and flakey crusts.

While those who know me best know that I am not a fan of FRUIT pie ... I've never liked cook fruit. But I swoon over the aroma of apples simmering in cinnamon and sugar. I've posted my family's favorite apple crisp recipe here: http://lillianchild.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-has-arrived.html, which is one of my go to recipes for family potluck events. And I've posted about my mom's SINFULLY rich lemon meringue pie here: http://lillianchild.blogspot.com/2011/08/today-is-national-lemon-meringue-pie.html.

And I adore Bakerlla's cake pops, but take a look at her PIE POPS!: http://www.bakerella.com/easy-as-pie/

And every year for my daughter's birthday, she requests PIE ... not cake. And ALWAYS french silk pie
from Village Inn.

So whatever your PIE passion, indulge tonight in one of YOUR favorite pies!

Today is National Popcorn Day!!

2012-01-19T09:49:00.000-06:00

The HISTORY of Popcorn

Popcorn was very popular from the 1890s until the Great Depression. Street vendors used to follow crowds around, pushing steam or gas-powered poppers through fairs, parks and expositions.

During the Depression, popcorn at 5 or 10 cents a bag was one of the few luxuries down-and-out families could afford. While other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived. An Oklahoma banker who went broke when his bank failed bought a popcorn machine and started a business in a small store near a theater. After a couple years, his popcorn business made enough money to buy back three of the farms he'd lost.

During World War II, sugar was sent overseas for U.S. troops, which meant there wasn't much sugar left in the States to make candy. Thanks to this unusual situation, Americans ate three times as much popcorn as usual.

Popcorn went into a slump during the early 1950s, when television became popular. Attendance at movie theaters dropped and, with it, popcorn consumption. When the public began eating popcorn at home, the new relationship between television and popcorn led to a resurge in popularity.

Microwave popcorn -- the very first use of microwave heating in the 1940s -- has already accounted for $240 million in annual U.S. popcorn sales in the 1990s.

Americans today consume 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year. The average American eats about 54 quarts.

The SCIENCE of Popcorn

People have been fascinated by popcorn for centuries. Some Native Americans believed that a spirit lived inside each kernel of popcorn. When heated, the spirit grew angry and would eventually burst out of its home and into the air as a disgruntled puff of steam. A less charming but more scientific explanation exists for why popcorn pops.

Popcorn is a type of maize, or corn, and is a member of the grass family. Popcorn is a whole grain and is made up of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (or hull). Of the 4 most common types of corn—sweet, dent (also known as field), flint (also known as Indian corn), and popcorn—only popcorn pops! Popcorn differs from other types of corn in that its hull has just the right thickness to allow it to burst open.

Each kernel of popcorn contains a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop. The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer surface.

As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand. Around 212 degrees the water turns into steam and changes the starch inside each kernel into a superhot gelatinous goop. The kernel continues to heat to about 347 degrees. The pressure inside the grain will reach 135 pounds per square inch before finally bursting the hull open.

As it explodes, steam inside the kernel is released. The soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and spills out, cooling immediately and forming into the odd shape we know and love. A kernel will swell 40-50 times its original size!

And what is it about theater popcorn that makes it SO addicting? My husband and I have been known to go to our local theater JUST to buy a tub of popcorn to enjoy at home watching t.v. It has it's own special flavor that just cannot be duplicated on a stove top or in a microwave!

Here's my favorite carmel corn recipe ... ENJOY!!

1 cup butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup peanuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F.

Over medium heat, combine first 4 ingredients and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Stir well. Pour over 8 quarts popped corn. Stir to coat well. Bake in large roaster or pan for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to dry. When cool, seal tightly in storage bags.

Canvas Fun

2012-01-14T14:45:00.000-06:00

Okay, I think I need some photography classes, as these pics do not show ANY of the actual colors. But you get the idea. I recently started creating on canvas and am having SO MUCH FUN!

This canvas is for a very good friend of mine who is deeply religious. Not sure if the whimsy will suit her wall decor, but I had fun making it for her.

This second canvas is for a dear friend who I met years ago when I sponsored a humane society card event. We became fast friends and have so much in common. Her birthday is next week and I hope she likes what I created for her. I even made the flowers (which are a beautiful burgandy color, but look black in this photo).

And I want to again thank Tracy over at Helmar USA for inspiring me to create on canvas. She was such a huge inspiration for me to go outside of my comfort zone.

Very Superstitious

2012-01-13T07:47:00.000-06:00

Friday the 13th - Superstitions

Where Do They Really Come From?

Black Cats

Although in the U.S. we believe that having a black cat cross your path is bad luck, it's not the same the world over. In Egypt, for example, all cats are considered lucky. This dates back to ancient times, when cats were considered sacred. Our modern-day fear of black cats may stem from the Middle Ages, when it was believed that a witch could take the form of a black cat

Breaking A Mirror

The belief that you’ll have seven years' bad luck if you break a mirror is said to come from the Romans, who were the first to create glass mirrors. But long ago, many cultures, including Greek, Chinese, African and Indian, believed that a mirror had the power to confiscate part of the user’s soul. The thinking was that if the mirror was broken, then the person's soul would be trapped inside

Walking Under

A LadderAn open ladder forms a triangle, and triangles were once considered a symbol of life, so walking through that shape was considered tempting your fate. It is also thought that because it has three sides, the triangle symbolizes the Holy Trinity, and “breaking” it by entering the triangle is bad luck

Tossing Salt

The belief of tossing a pinch of salt over your left shoulder to get rid of bad luck come from the legend that the devil is always standing behind you, and throwing salt in his eye distracts him from causing trouble. Nowadays, most people only do this after spilling salt, which is thought to be bad luck because salt was an expensive commodity long ago and folklore linked it to unlucky omens in order to prevent wasteful behavior.

Knocking On Wood

Knocking on wood, or simply saying "knock on wood" after making a hopeful statement, is rooted in the idea that you’re tempting fate by acknowledging your good fortune. The expression comes from the ancient belief that good spirits lived in trees, so by knocking on something wooden, a person was calling on the spirits for protection.

Opening An Umbrella Inside

One explanation for this one comes from the days when umbrellas were used as protection from the sun; opening one inside was an insult to the sun god. Another theory: An umbrella protects you against the storms of life, so opening one in your house insults the guardian spirits of your home, causing them to leave you unprotected

Saying “Bless You”

Considered a polite response to a sneeze, the phrase is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great, who said it to people who sneezed during the bubonic plague. "Blessing" someone after they sneezed originated from the erroneous beliefs that the soul escapes the body during a sneeze and that the heart momentarily stops as well. Therefore, saying “God bless you” was a way of welcoming the person back to life.

Rabbits’ Feet

This one can be traced as far back as the seventh century B.C., when the rabbit was considered a talismanic symbol, and the left hind foot was a handy way to benefit from the rabbit’s luck. In some cultures, this foot is believed to promote reproduction, so women carry one around to boost their odds of conceiving.

Crossing Your Finges

It’s a near-universal sign of wishing for something, but there are many theories about its origin. One is that when Christianity was illegal, crossing fingers was a secret way for Christians to recognize each other. Another is that during the Hundred Years' War, an archer would cross his fingers to pray for luck, before drawing back his longbow with those same fingers.

Four-Leaf Clovers

Legend says that when Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden, Eve snatched a four-leaf clover as a remembrance of her days in Paradise. Since then, lucky attributes have been assigned to all four-leaves of the rare plant—each associated with St. Patrick and the Holy Trinity in Irish legend.

Horseshoes

There are several theories here. The first is that the devil appeared at the door of a blacksmith, who agreed to remove a shoe from his hoof if he promised to never enter a place where a horseshoe is hung over the door. The second belief is that witches rode on broomsticks because they were afraid of horses, so a horseshoe is a good charm for scaring them off.

Bird Droppings

Many people the world over believe that if a bird lets loose on you, then good things are coming your way. One idea is that it's a sign of major wealth coming from heaven, based on the belief that when you suffer an inconvenience (albeit a pretty gross one), you'll have good fortune in return.

Use by October 2007

2012-01-11T12:53:00.000-06:00

I thought I should purge some of the items here at my desk that I keep in my personal drawer for "emergencies". You know, those foodstuffs you keep on hand just in case you get snowed in and can't leave the office (okay, so in 28+ years that has never happened - but what if it did??!!).

Or what if you get an undeniable craving for a twinkie at 4:30 in the afternoon (although twinkies NEVER expire so they don't really count).

How about that leftover throat lozenge from the flu of 2003? Would using it make Madame Curie roll over in her grave?

I ran across something that looked like this ...

And I asked myself ... what does "best by" really mean? What if I'm hungry enough that I don't care if it is the "best" noodle soup I've ever had and would settle for something less? I mean, it's been vacuumed packed and NOTHING gets through a vacuum seal, correct? So it should really still be okay. Then I wonder if there is a study going on somewhere testing the benefits of expired products for their medicinal value. I could be their poster child!

And have you ever "sniffed" a carton of milk, even though the expiration date is blatantly over a week old? You just KNOW you're gonna get that spoiled milk high ... sort of like the smelling salts they used years ago to bring women that would swoon back to their senses. Maybe you could still use it in place of sour cream in that banana bread recipe you were going to make. I mean, isn't that what sour cream is made from ? Soured milk?

So I did some research, and learned the true meanings of all of the terms used to denote expiration ... here's what I found.

The actual term "Expiration Date" refers to the last date a food should be eaten or used. Last means last -- proceed at your own risk.

Other, more commonly spotted terms are:

"Sell by" date. The labeling "sell by" tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires. This is basically a guide for the retailer, so the store knows when to pull the item. This is not mandatory, so reach in back and get the freshest. The issue is quality of the item (freshness, taste, and consistency) rather than whether it is on the verge of spoiling.
"Best if used by (or before)" date. This refers strictly to quality, not safety. This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. Sour cream, for instance, is already sour, but can have a zippier, fresh taste when freshly sour (if that's not an oxymoron!)

"Born on" date. This is the date of manufacture and has been resurrected recently to date beer. Beer can go sub-par after three months. It is affected by sun. The light can reactivate microorganisms in the beer. That's why you have to be especially careful with beer in clear bottles, as opposed to brown or green. But this is a MOOT point in our household, as I've never seen a 12-pack last more than one weekend!!

"Guaranteed fresh" date. This usually refers to bakery items. They will still be edible after the date, but will not be at peak freshness.

"Use by" date. This is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.

"Pack" date. You will find this one on canned or packaged goods, as a rule, but it's tricky. In fact, it may be in code. It can be month-day-year-MMDDYY. Or the manufacturer could revert to the Julian calendar. January would then be 001-0031 and December 334-365. It gets even weirder than that.

If you are not up on your Julian calendar and dating seems sort of a hodgepodge, how about memorizing some basic rules?

Milk. Usually fine until a week after the "Sell By" date.

Eggs. OK for 3-5 weeks after you bring them home (assuming you bought them before the "sell by" date). VanLandingham says double-grade A's will go down a grade in a week but still be perfectly edible.

Poultry and seafood. Cook or freeze this within a day or two.

Beef and pork. Cook or freeze within three to five days.

Canned goods. Highly acidic foods like tomato sauce can keep 18 months or more. Low-acid foods like canned green beans are probably risk-free for up to five years. "You do not want to put cans in a hot place like a crawl space or garage," Peggy VanLaanen, EdD, RD, a professor of food and nutrition at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, tells WebMD. She suggests keeping canned and dry food at 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in a dry, dark place. Humidity can be a factor in speeded-up deterioration. The FDA notes that taste, aroma, and appearance of food can change rapidly if the air conditioning fails in a home or warehouse. Obviously, cans bulging with bacteria growth should be discarded, no matter what the expiration date!

AND FINALLY, A WAY TO KNOW WHAT TO PICK AND WHAT TO SAVE!!

THE GAG TEST

Anything that makes you gag is spoiled (except for leftovers from what you cooked for yourself last night).

EGGS

When something starts pecking its way out of the shell, the egg is probably past its prime.

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Milk is spoiled when it starts to look like yogurt. Yogurt is spoiled when it starts to look like cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is spoiled when it starts to look like regular cheese. Regular cheese is nothing but spoiled milk anyway and can't get any more spoiled than it is already. Cheddar cheese is spoiled when you think it is blue cheese but you realize you've never purchased that kind.

MAYONNAISE

If it makes you violently ill after you eat it, the mayonnaise is spoiled.

FROZEN FOODS

Frozen foods that have become an integral part of the defrosting problem in your freezer compartment will probably be spoiled - (or wrecked anyway) by the time you pry them out with a kitchen knife.

EXPIRATION DATES

This is NOT a marketing ploy to encourage you to throw away perfectly good food so that you'll spend more on groceries. Perhaps you'd benefit by having a calendar in your kitchen.

MEAT

If opening the refrigerator door causes stray animals from a three-block radius to congregate outside your house, the meat is spoiled.

BREAD

Sesame seeds and Poppy seeds are the only officially acceptable "spots" that should be seen on the surface of any loaf of bread. Fuzzy and hairy looking white or green growth areas are a good indication that your bread has turned into a pharmaceutical laboratory experiment.

FLOUR

Flour is spoiled when it wiggles.

SALT

It never spoils.

CEREAL

It is generally a good rule of thumb that cereal should be discarded when it is two years or longer beyond the expiration date.

LETTUCE

Bibb lettuce is spoiled when you can't get it off the bottom of the vegetable crisper without Comet. Romaine lettuce is spoiled when it turns liquid.

CANNED GOODS

Any canned goods that have become the size or shape of a softball should be disposed of. Carefully.

CARROTS

A carrot that you can tie a clove hitch in is not fresh.

RAISINS

Raisins should not be harder than your teeth.

POTATOES

Fresh potatoes do not have roots, branches, or dense, leafy undergrowth.

CHIP DIP

If you can take it out of its container and bounce it on the floor, it has gone bad.

EMPTY CONTAINERS

Putting empty containers back into the refrigerator is an old trick, but it only works if you live with someone or have a maid.

UNMARKED ITEMS:

You know it is well beyond prime when you're tempted to discard the Tupperware along with the food. Generally speaking, Tupperware containers should not burp when you open them.

GENERAL GUIDELINE:

Most food cannot be kept longer than the average life span of a hamster. Keep a hamster in or near your refrigerator to gauge this.

New Discovery!

2012-01-06T08:29:00.000-06:00

I love discovering new unique websites. Especially ones that cater to my inner artist! This site has so much going on that I can't even begin to describe it. You just have to go and experience it for yourself. And hopefully you still have a few pennies left from Christmas, because there is going to be at least ONE item you won't be able to live without!!

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/

I was really surprised at how reasonable the prices were on most of their items. Here's a few things I am placing on my WISH list.

I adore these 6x6 banana leaf envelopes. Would be such a unique presentation for my handmade cards!

My new baby granddaughter, Paisley, is definitely going to be getting one of these precious stuffed animals!

And I have a HUGE weakness for decorative bottles !!

And just look at these decorative paper tapes for cardmaking!

And vintage - you KNOW I have a thing for anything vintage or distressed! These would look SO GOOD in my craft room holding all of my fun embellishments!

Okay, I think you get my excitement about this fabulous vendor! And again, their prices are VERY reasonable!

Let me know what you think!!

January 5 - National Bird Day!

2012-01-05T15:13:00.000-06:00

Happy National Bird Day!

It's Tough to Be a Bird" is a 1969 educational animated short (21 minutes) made by The Walt Disney Company. It won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoons in 1970 and was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Animated Film in 1971. A red bird explains how birds have contributed to human culture, even as people often try to kill them. He claims this may be because humans were jealous that birds could fly but people cannot, mentioning the legend of Icarus and films of early unsuccessful flying machines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al_Zxx6HUG0

These colorful guys look like they are waiting for the gun to go off ... on your marks, get ready ... FLY!

This little guy just makes me smile!

And here's a pair of snow birds! I used to drive behind them all the time when I lived in Arizona!

This photo just brings out the "mom" in me!!

And my son just recently introduced me to the phenomenon that is known as Angry Birds! So addicting to play!

This movie STILL gives me the chills when I watch it!

And then there is THIS amazing species

... is there any wonder why it is the national bird?

Have a bit of fun and go here to "name that bird call" :

http://www.nationalbirdday.com/g_birdquiz.php

Winter?? Winter?? Where Art Thou?

2012-01-03T12:43:00.000-06:00

No, this is not a photo from my deck (I actually found it on pinterest).

... and no, we don't have ANY snow on the ground.

And we haven't since way before Christmas.

And we are expecting highs in the 40's and 50's for the next TEN days with NO moisture in the forecast at all.

This is highly unusual for Nebraska. But you won't see me shedding any tears, as while I do enjoy watching a nice snowfall on the WEEKENDs when I don't have to drive on any hazardous roads, I prefer dry pavement whenever possible! It seems the older I get, the less comfortable I feel traveling in any sort of hazardous weather conditions.

Anyone else feel that way?

First day of 2012 Cardmaking Frenzy!

2012-01-02T18:02:00.000-06:00

So here are 20 cards that I made for a special order. Let me know what you think! (click on any image for larger more detailed view).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-31T23:59:00.004-06:00

Wishing all of my family, friends and bloggers a Happy New Year!

We spent this evening at my office building where they had tables set up with hats, horns and noise makers. They set up dinner tables on the 33rd floor overlooking the Missouri River and where we were able to watch the fireworks in comfort and what a great view! They also provided pizza, beverages and snacks of all kinds. The kids had a blast as it is a huge open space where they could run off steam. They also had the walls covered in butcher block paper and gave all the kids markers and crayons ... what delightful creations they came up with!

And I will be in dreamland come midnight, but here's a toast to all of you for a Happy and Healthy year ahead!

Leftover Egg Nog - What's a Girl to do?

2011-12-28T08:06:00.000-06:00

My son and daughter-in-law were in town recently for the holidays and I bought a carton of his FAVORITE holiday beverage - only problem is we didn't end up opening it up. So before it expires, I wanted to use it in some new fashion, and I happened upon THIS recipe for a morning coffee cake using egg nog. I'll be making this over the weekend - it looks SCRUMPTIOUS!!!

Mark also said another way they like to use egg nog is to mix it with peppermint ice cream and make a Santa shake serving it with gingersnap cookies. Chrysty likes to crush the gingersnap cookies right into the shake!

And yet another idea would be to make some egg nog french toast!

And I found SEVERAL recipes on Pinterest for egg nog cookies!

So what's YOUR favorite way to use up that leftover holiday egg nog?

Look What We Got For Christmas!!

2011-12-26T18:16:00.000-06:00

Almost Here!

2011-12-23T07:35:00.001-06:00

Just Sayin'

2011-12-19T14:16:00.002-06:00

It's National Cupcake Day

2011-12-15T15:41:00.002-06:00

I found this ADORABLE little one on YouTube asking for a cupcake!

And here's a few of my NEW favorite cupcake recipes that I've recently found on Pinterest:

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcake

LINK: http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/2011/08/pineapple-upside-down-cupcakes.html

Root Beer Float Cupcake

LINK: http://www.yumsugar.com/Reader-Recipe-Root-Beer-Float-Cupcakes-494746

And my favorite pie is lemon meringue and here it is in a cupcake! This is on my "must try soon" list!

LINK: http://www.tarteletteblog.com/2007/10/lemon-lime-meringue-cupcakes.html

And if these aren't enough to tempt you, go over to my pinterest board for cakes and cupcakes here and don't say I didn't warn you!

LINK: http://pinterest.com/lillianchild/cakes-and-cupcakes/

It's a Girl !!!

2011-12-11T07:37:00.000-06:00

My daughter and son-in-law have blessed us with a new baby granddaughter.

Paisley Sloan Troudt came into the world on December 9 at 4:41 p.m. weighing in at 6 pounds 11 ounces and 20 inches long. She has blond peach fuzz and long toes and fingers. She looks so much like her big brother Jonas did when he was born.

Mom and baby are doing well and will be coming home today.

As my son-in-law said ... get ready for a PINK explosion!

Grandma Ollie's Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

2011-12-07T11:26:00.000-06:00

This is a photo of my Grandma Ollie (and Grandpa George) taken back in 1950-something. My Grandma Ollie ALWAYS wore an apron and walked with a cane from the time I can remember. She made THE BEST sugar cookies - EVER! Actually, I can't remember not liking anything she put on the table. I make these delicious cookies every year and always do so with a smile from the memories of watching and helping grandma make these frosted delights.

(NOTE: look at that tinsel !)

Here's her recipe for sugar cookies:

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup softened butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten

Cream together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients. Stir flour mixture into creamed mixture in 3 increments for easier mixing. (NOTE: if dough is too sticky or wet, add more flour as needed). Chill dough overnight.

Let dough come back to room temperature and roll out 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes (until edges are brown). Cool complete and decorate with simple frosting of powdered sugar thinned with milk (you can add a bit of vanilla if you want too).

Add sprinkles and it's Christmas!

Cookie Butter ... SERIOUSLY!

2011-12-07T07:38:00.000-06:00

I just found out about this UNBELIEVABLE product this morning when I was on Facebook. Inspired by the Dutch spread, the cookie butter from Trader Joe's has the look and consistency of peanut butter but tasty like gingerbread biscuits in a spreadable form. It's like comfort and Christmas in a jar. Someone pass me a SPOON!

Wrap It Up!

2011-12-06T15:51:00.000-06:00

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought what a unique and fun way it would be to wrap gifts.

Egaads - It's Monday Already?

2011-12-05T11:07:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday Steven!

2011-12-04T10:31:00.000-06:00

It's my nephew, Steven's, birthday celebration with family today. We're having the party at our house since we have room for everyone to spread out and relax, and for the kids to run around without bumping into everybody. So this morning I made my FAVORITE blueberry muffin recipe AND I tried a recipe I've been wanting to make for a LONG time. We always frequent Stephenson's Apple Farm in Kansas City whenever we make the 3 hour trip down. They have THE BEST apple fritters, bar none. And don't even get me started on their creamed chicken dish and green rice. Oh my ... not for the faint of heart (or anyone eating healthy). But if you want to splurge on calories, this is the place to do it.

Here's their recipe for fresh apple fritters (makes 40 fritters):

1 cup milk

1 egg (beaten)

4 tbsp butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 orange, rind and juice

1 cup applies (chopped fine)

3 cups flour

2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp vanilla.

Beat egg. In mixing bowl, combine with milk, egg, melted butter and sugar. Add the orange juice, rind, chopped appplies and vanilla. Sift together the flower, salt and baking powder. Stir into wet mixture with spoon until blended. Do NOT over mix. Preheat oil in a skillent to 350 degrees. Drop off end of tablespoon into hot oil. Fry to a golden brown, turning so they brown even. Allow to cool. Roll in powdered sugar.

I added a tsp. of cinnamon to the batter, and I also added 3 tsp. of cinnamon to the powdered sugar.

Just one word ... YUM !!!

Elf on the Shelf - A Holiday Tradition

2011-12-01T15:43:00.000-06:00

When I was young, all we had was the threat of being put on Santa's NAUGHTY list if we weren't on our BEST behavior all during the holiday season - or getting coal in our stockings. Oh how I wish we had had an official ELF to talk to! I'm sure you've heard of the Elf on the Shelf ... unless you live in a remote part of the country ... say Brisbane, North Dakota ... although residents of Brisbane are CLOSER in proximity to the North Pole that we are, so who's to say they didn't invent the sweet idea of Elf on the Shelf.

And just what IS the Elf on the Shelf Tradition?

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? The Elf on the Shelf – A Christmas Tradition is the very special tool that helps Santa knows who to put on the Naughty and Nice list. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition is perfect for children and families of all ages.

The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus’ cookies!

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families.

On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy.

So get yourself an ELF and give him a name and start your OWN family tradition!!

Here's the official website: http://www.elfontheshelf.com/Home.aspx

Secret Children of Hollywood: Clark Gable's Daughter Dies at 76

2011-12-01T14:00:00.000-06:00

Okay ... I'm going to give my age away here, as I actually REMEMBER watching the Loretta Young show, which ran from 1953-1961. I always thought she was the PERFECT hollywood starlet ... so refined and beautiful ... and untouched by scandal. Or so we were led to believe.

Story from ABC NEWS:

Judy Lewis didn’t find out she was the secret daughter of two Hollywood stars until she was 31 years old.

Lewis only learned the truth when she had an identity crisis just before marriage and her fiancé blurted out, “It’s common knowledge, Judy,” he said. “Your father is Clark Gable.”

Lewis, a former soap opera star, died Nov. 25 at the age of 76 in Pennsylvania, leaving behind a sordid tale of family deception – one that is all too common in Hollywood.

Her mother was Loretta Young, a budding actress, who told Lewis she was adopted after getting pregnant in a short-lived affair with Gable, the rogue romantic lead with the trademark big ears in “Gone With the Wind.”

For years, her mother reportedly hid Lewis’ Gable-like ears under a hat and had them surgically clipped at the age of 7 to quell rumors about her parentage. According to her obituary today in The New York Times, Lewis spent the first 19 months of her life being hidden away in orphanages so her mother could protect her career from the shame of pregnancy. Though Lewis was a child of the 1930s and 1940s, when extramarital affairs and out-of-wedlock pregnancies were scandalous, her life story echoes those of other Hollywood celebrities who were or had secret babies.

In the case of Loretta Young, then 22, and Clark Gable, then 34, they had an affair in 1935, while in Washington state filming, “The Call of the Wild.” He was married to someone else at the time. Young, a Roman Catholic, went to Europe to wait out her pregnancy, then returned to the United States and put Lewis in a San Francisco orphanage. She later married radio producer Tom Lewis and told her daughter she had been adopted, admitting no biological relation to her.

When confronted in 1966, Young told her daughter the truth. Lewis went public with her story in her 1994 memoir, “Uncommon Knowledge,” and after that her mother would not talk to her for three years.

Lewis said in an interview at the time: “It was very difficult for me as a little girl not to be accepted or acknowledged by my mother, who, to this day, will not publicly acknowledge that I am her biological child,” according to The New York Times.

In Young’s memoir, “Forever Young,” she eventually admitted Lewis was her daughter, but refused to allow the book to be published until after her death, which was in 2000.

Young explained that she and Gable would have lost their careers in Hollywood, if the scandal had ever become public. Other actors like Charlie Chaplin and Ingrid Bergman had been banned from acting in the United States when it was revealed they had extramarital affairs, though both ultimately salvaged their star status.

Gable and Young’s daughter Lewis worked as a soap actress for years before going back to school at age 40. She went on to become a child psychologist and to specialize in foster care and marriage therapy – a career choice that, “I have no question … was in some way consciously or unconsciously related to healing her own wounds,” said psychologist Lynn.

Judy really does take after BOTH her parents, doesn't she?!!

Van Gogh Look Out!

2011-11-26T13:49:00.001-06:00

Okay, maybe Van Gogh has nothing to worry about. Truth be told my first artistic canvas creation might be more in the line of a Picaso painting. But WHAT FUN I had in creating this sweet little piece of canvas art. I was inspired by Tracy Weinsapfel Burgos, who is the President of Helmar USA, Inc. (http://www.helmarusa.typepad.com/). You really need to check out her creative resume here: http://sites.google.com/site/tracewb/creativeresume.

First, may I just say that Helmar products are some of the best quality adhesive products I have used in my papercrafting. I now reach to my Helmar stash FIRST when starting a new project. I especially love the scrap dots product, which I used to adhere the flowers to my project below.

But back to Tracy ... if you haven't participated in one of her Monday night Ustream videos, you really MUST stop in sometime soon and check it out. She has such a great sense of humor, and shares her artistic talents with all of us as well as providing encouragement for us to take the plunge and try something new and outside our comfort zones. I will be the FIRST to admit that I have no real artistic talent when it comes to anything involving paint. My first and last attempt at art was a paint-by-number set I completed back when I was eleven. I just never felt that comfortable with a brush in my hand. But I am now inspired to create even more canvas artwork ... it's more fun than a box of legos!

Here's a photo of Tracy's project, which you can watch her create here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18528213 (note: you might have to join Ustream to view the video, but it is SO worth it!) And be sure to check back EVERY Monday night for new projects! Tracy sure puts the fun back into Mondays!

Isn't this so very lovely??!! And check out some of her earlier projects on Ustream and her blog as well!!

http://tracywburgos.typepad.com/

And ... drum roll please ... here's a photo of MY first canvas project (click to enlarge):

Tada! Whadayathink?

Eat Ham!

2011-11-24T16:01:00.001-06:00

I've Been Published!

2011-11-24T08:36:00.000-06:00

And here's the publication I'm in ... (Winter 2012)

And here's my card ... (click on image for larger view) (page 47)

I feel like I've hit the lottery! What an amazing feeling to see something I created featured in such a prestigious magazine! And they get thousands of card submissions and I sent in ONE card ... makes me think I should try it again!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-24T04:25:00.004-06:00

National Fast Food Day!

2011-11-16T15:04:00.000-06:00

Have it Your Way!

Where's the Beef?

Hold the Pickles, Hold the Lettuce, Special Orders Don't Upset Us!

We do Chicken Right!

Two All Beef Patties, Special Sauce, Lettuce, Cheese, Pickles, Onions on a Sesame Seed Bun!

The U.S. has more than 300 fast food chains, representing 40% of the nation’s total restaurant sales. Americans spend more than $110 billion on fast food annually, on cuisine that ranges from barbecue, fried chicken and pizza to chinese food and Tex-Mex. Fast food is defined as a meal that can be prepared quickly and easily, to be consumed on premises or taken out.

The Father Of Fast Food

In 1954, a milkshake machine salesman named Ray Kroc started the momentum leading to America’s fast-food phenomenon. Kroc was a milkshake machine salesman in California. He then became the exclusive distributor of a speedier milkshake machine, the Multimixer. One of his clients was the McDonald’s hamburger stand in San Bernardino, owned by brothers Richard and Maurice. Kroc inadvertently invented modern fast food with his vision of franchising the McDonald’s concept, in order to sell several Multimixers to each location. He offered his services as their franchising agent. Six years later, he bought the brothers out.

The rest, as they say, is history!!
Today McDonald’s is the largest restaurant company in the world, with 31,000 restaurants located in 126 countries. The Moscow location is the busiest in the world; the largest location is in Orlando, Florida. It would be hard to find an American who has never eaten at a McDonald's!

Homemade Vanilla

2011-11-16T08:47:00.000-06:00

I came across this fabulous homemade gift idea on pinterest the other day and wanted to share it with all of you!

Who knew that you could make vanilla from TWO simple ingredients? And what a delightful homemade gift this would be for neighbors, friends and even relatives (at least the ones that know how to cook - grin).

Here's the link: http://whipperberry.com/2011/09/holiday-neighbor-gift-homemade-vanilla-extract.html

Heather, at the Whipperberry blog, demonstrates how to put this together, and she even offers a darling label that you can print off onto sticky canvas for a delightful vintage look here:

http://whipperberry.com/2011/10/how-to-package-your-homemade-vanilla.html

Today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day!

2011-11-15T14:01:00.000-06:00

Time to check those expiration dates ... or at the very minimum toss any frozen leftovers from LAST YEAR's thanksgiving dinner!

Get out your trash bags (and plastic gloves and gas masks), because today is National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day.

It's high time to remove the Chinese food cartons that have turned into science experiments and start making room for the Thanksgiving leftovers that will soon be occupying space in your fridge.

The origins of National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day are not entirely clear. One Web site pins it on a Whirlpool Appliance Ad campaign from years ago, while other sites say it's to make space for Thanksgiving provisions!

Whatever the reason, you know you're gonna need room for Aunt Kate's jello salad and that extra pan of dressing!

Ready, set ... clean!

Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix

2011-11-14T13:31:00.000-06:00

The countdown to Thanksgiving is upon us!

I love taking vacation time off from work during the week of Thanksgiving, as it gives me a chance to prepare the house for the holidays and to enjoy those last few crisp autumn days before winter gets a firm grip on us!

Back during Halloween, I was making a pumpkin recipe when I reached into the cupboard to grab a jar of pumpkin pie spice, only to realize to my dismay that I didn't have any. So instead of grabbing the keys to head to the store, I looked into my cupboard and discovered I had all the spices necessary to make my own version of pumpkin pie spice.

Here's my recipe:

1 heaping teaspoon ground allspice
4 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Just give all of these spices a mix and store in an airtight container until needed.

Happy Veteran's Day!

2011-11-11T07:48:00.001-06:00

Operation Write Home makes handmade cards to send to deployed heroes, so they can in turn write home to their families. It's one small way we can serve them as they serve us - and by the notes they write back to us, they love writing on them as much as we enjoy making them! They are having a blog hop today (blog candy alert) and are being sponsored by some BIG names in the papercrafting industry. Go and check them out here:

http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/11/111111-veterans-day-bloghop.html

And as many of you know, my husband, Sterling, is a Vietnam veteran. While he doesn't like to talk much about what happened there, I do know that he walked point and was a helicopter gunman. He and his crew were shot out of the sky by enemy soldiers where he suffered blindness for two weeks and other injuries. They awarded him the purple heart, but he says so many others deserved it more than him. I feel fortunate and proud to call this humble man is my husband.

Somewhere in the world today, an American soldier will ring in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day with gunfire. Another will arrive home after an honorable tour of duty, perhaps passing brothers and sisters in arms saying farewell to their families. A mother’s tears will fall on a letter from the far side of the world. Old veterans will spend a beautiful afternoon watching children play beneath the flag they raised at Anzio, Guadalcanal, Incheon, or Khe Sanh. Young veterans will put their lives on the line, to give the children of Iraq and Afghanistan a chance at a future free from murderous evil. A little girl will playfully salute a uniform she will one day grow up to wear. A pilot will land a machine that was impossible in his grandfather’s day on the heaving deck of an aircraft carrier. The USS New York will ride at anchor, close to the site of the fallen buildings whose bones became her steel.

The veterans of the United States military have always been there for us, in the desperate eleventh hour of our need.

Be there for them.

Guy Fieri's Buffalo Balls Recipe

2011-11-08T11:32:00.000-06:00

I have Rachel Ray's daily show on my DVR. Depending on the content, I usually just skim through for something that interests me or I just delete it. But yesterday she had on MY FAVORITE chef, Guy Fieri. I've been a fan of his since his win on Your Next Food Network Star. He just comes across like your favorite cousin, and someone who is really accessible and down to earth.

Yesterday on the show he demonstrated a recipe for buffalo balls ... buffalo coming from the team up of hot sauce and blue cheese, and made them with of all things, ground turkey. They really look delicious and are not that hard to make. Would be a fabulous tailgate recipe. I definitely will be making these ... maybe for Superbowl Sunday?

HERE'S THE LINK FOR THE VIDEO DEMONSTRATION:

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/guy-fieris-buffalo-balls/

National Sandwich Day

2011-11-03T08:58:00.000-05:00

Today is National Sandwich Day, so I thought I would feature the popular sandwich that put Omaha, my home town, on the map. The Reuben!!

Reuben Kulakofsky, a Lithuanian-born grocer from Omaha, was the inventor, perhaps as part of a group effort by members of Kulakofsky's weekly poker game held in the Blackstone Hotel from around 1920 through 1935. The participants, who nicknamed themselves "the committee", included the hotel's owner, Charles Schimmel. The sandwich first gained local fame when Schimmel put it on the Blackstone's lunch menu, and its fame spread when a former employee of the hotel won a national contest with the recipe. The classic reuben sandwich made with luscious corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, creamy Russian dressing and melted swiss cheese grilled until the cheese has melted and the rye bread is crispy and golden brown. We typically will buy several corned beefs when they are on sale for our annual St. Patrick's Day feast and we always cook way more than we need just so that we can make reubens, but don't wait until then to try this amazing and delicious sandwich. I remember my Aunt Lil used to make them using canned corned beef, and they were just as tasty!

Reuben Sandwich Recipe

Sandwich ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter, softened

8 slices rye bread

8 slices Swiss cheese

3/4 lb corned beef brisket, thinly sliced

1/2 lb sauerkraut

1/4 cup Russian Dressing

Russian Dressing:

Combine the following ingredients. Makes one-half cup.

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 1/2 Tbsp ketchup

1 1/2 teaspoons prepared horseradish

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method

Butter one side of four slices of bread, and place the slices buttered-side down on a large piece of wax paper on a flat surface. Top each with a slice of Swiss cheese, and then divide half of the corned beef among them. Using paper towels, squeeze out excess moisture from the sauerkraut. Divide the sauerkraut among the sandwiches, and top each with one tablespoon of Russian dressing. Add another layer of corned beef and a second slice of Swiss cheese to each sandwich. Top with the remaining bread slices; butter the side facing out. Preheat a griddle or frying pan to medium heat. Cook the sandwiches on one side until the bread is golden brown. Use a spatula to carefully flip the sandwiches over and finish cooking on the second side. Cut the sandwiches in half before serving.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2011-11-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

This morning on the radio the weatherman said to expect periods of light rain on and off throughout the day. So this is what my mind is picturing.

And then he said to expect the possibility of a bit of snow mixed in starting around 4:00, but nothing that would accumulate or stick. So I'm thinking maybe we might get a bit of slush ... and I picture this ...

So, okay, maybe today would be a good day to wear regular shoes instead of sandals. And maybe if we're getting a bit of "cold" rain I should wear thin black socks instead of nylons. And maybe instead of that light linen jacket I'll grab a heavier fleece jacket.

And I'll take the umbrella, just in case.

As I got out of the car, I grabbed the umbrella, even though there wasn't any rain falling yet. By the time I crossed the street, the winds picked up dramatically. It was all I could to to walk upright as I got closer to my office building (which happens to be the tallest building in our downtown district).  It is so tall, in fact, that it creates a vortex for ALL weather conditions making them seem ten times worse than they actually are once you reach the end of the block.

Anyway, it is now just about 3:00. The rain turned to HORIZONTAL blowing snow about 11:00 this morning.  Snow IS in fact accumulating and making the roads a bit treacherous. Which means that by 4:30 when I leave for the drive home it should be a HUGE adventure just getting back to my car.

And NO ONE remembers how to drive in ice/snow conditions ... they have completely erased from their memories any safe driving tactics one should employ when driving on ice/snow covered roads. I will not be surprised to see cars off the highway as I drive home, because they didn't take the necessary step of reducing their speed to accommodate the road conditions.

UGH. I'm not ready for winter. I want to join the bears and hybernate until spring.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T13:32:00.000-05:00

Here's a just a few photos from the annual family event held at the last Saturday night. First off, here are the fabulous HOSTS of the event ... Marilyn and David ... thanks you two for putting on such a fun holiday event for all of the family to enjoy every year!

And just take a look at a small sample of their holiday decorations, which you will find in EVERY room of the house! There are spiders and ghouls EVERYWHERE!

Just knowing that Jonas is going to enjoy his grandpa's villages more and more every year as he gets older and able to really appreciate all of this amazing collection!

And here's a photo of the NEXT generation of cousins! Oh what fun they will have growing up with so many fun family traditions to look forward to!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

Hail Caesar!

2011-10-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

I'm still filtering through all of my family recipes and transferring them to either my blog or my pinterest pages. I ran across this lovely Caesar dressing recipe that my cousin, Jeff, made for us several times when we visited him in the Hamptons. He is what we call the family success. Very ambitious, very bright and very successful. Right now his new adventure is cooking school, and he is currently apprenticing with Ina Garten in the East Hamptons.

Here's a photo of Jeff, his mom, Shirley, and his sister, Tina taken a few years ago when he was here in Omaha visiting.

And here's Jeff's fresh Caesar salad dressing recipe:

2 cloves garlic, diced
1 Tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp kosher salt
juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon
1 egg

Put in blender and drizzle and whisk in 1 cup olive oil. Toss with desired salad leaves and add croutons and fresh grated parmesan cheese.

Hallowee Treat Bags!

2011-10-26T16:15:00.000-05:00

Every year we have a family Halloween party that my son-in-law's parents host. Everyone brings a "spooky" potluck item to share. I like to tease my sister telling her that anything she brings would be considered scary ... LOL. One year we even had a pot of chili that "glowed".

This year I am making apple cider donuts and caramel corn ... and then wrapping them up in clear bags tied with black and orange ribbons, and then putting them into individual craft bags. Here's some of the pics that I've printed onto each of these treat bags ... what FUN it has been searching through Pinterest to find just the right images!

Isn't Halloween FUN????!!!!

Taco Salad for a Crowd!

2011-10-25T15:35:00.000-05:00

I've been making this crowd pleasing salad for MANY years, and it is still one of the recipes my family requests most often. And it is SO simple to make.

Here's the cast of players:

1 head of iceberg lettuce (broken into small pieces)

2 bell peppers (any color you like), cut into small pieces

1 container cherry tomatoes (cut in half)

1 small red onion, diced

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup sliced radishes (optional)

1 can black olives, drained and sliced (or buy them already sliced)

1 pkg. (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese (I like sharp)

1 can ranch style pinto beans (drained)

1 to 2 bottles CREAMY italian dressing (I use Seven Seas brand) (depending on how many veggies you add, you might need more than one bottle of dressing - completely up to your taste)

1 regular bag dorito chips (crush chips in bag)

COMBINE all salad ingredients. Just before serving add beans, dressing and crushed chips. Serve immediately.

I also sometimes add ground beef (one pound cooked and drained) to make this a more hearty meal.

And you can add other vegetables of your choice, as well as chopped cilantro.

I SO want one of these!!

2011-10-24T10:21:00.000-05:00

We own a food processor, a free standing mixer, a hand-held beater, and an upright blender.

I even used to have a an old hand-crank egg beater and I remember turning this beater to make whipped cream at Thanksgiving at my grandma's house. She gave the job to us kids because it took A LOT of hand cranking to get cream whipped to into peaks!

The immersion blender was created by a Swiss inventor, Roger Perrinjaquet, who patented it in 1950. It was first used by professional chefs in Europe and was then discovered by chefs worldwide. A home version arrived in the U.S. in the 1980s.

Chefs could easily blend sauces and soups in the pot, without having to transfer the hot contents to an upright blender. Do we really need another special-use kitchen appliance? YES, if it makes life easier!

You can use it to blend just about anything in a pot or bowl. It’s a multi-tasker that’s good for smaller tasks and easy to transport.

You can buy one for under $30, or chose a deluxe model with wire whisk and chopper attachments. The deluxe models typically have twice the motor power and more speed options.

The immersion blender can also take the place of a food processor, upright blender or handheld beater for many tasks. In alphabetical order, they are:

Custard. Unless you want the upper arm exercise, for anything that needs to be constantly whisked, the IB with whisk attachment is much easier to hold.

Chopping. For smaller tasks that don’t require a large food processor bowl—such as chopped nuts—use the chopping attachment.

Drinks. If you’re just making one portion, there’s no need to use and wash a large blender pitcher. Place the IB in a large glass to make malted milk, milkshakes and smoothies.

Eggs. Beating eggs is easier—less splatter, less to clean—than with the hand mixer.

Gravy. It’s easy to get rid of those lumps!

Purées. If you have a stronger motor, the IB can turn out puréed peas and other veggies—even mashed potatoes.

Soups and Sauces. Instead of laboriously transferring hot soups or sauces to a food processor or a blender, stick the IB right into the pot and whir away.

Whipped Cream. Use the whisk attachment. It’s so easy and spatters less.

IMMERSION BLENDER OPTIONS

While there are numerous products on the market, here are two representing the basic and deluxe models:

Basic: Waring Pro SB10 Professional Immersion Blender, $29.95.

Deluxe: KitchenAid KHB300 Hand Blender with attachments, $87.90.

Did you know ... The first egg beater was patented in 1870, by Turner Williams of Providence, Rhode Island, who improved upon an earlier design. The first electric mixer was invented by Herbert Johnston in 1908. It was sold by the KitchenAid division of the Hobart Manufacturing Company.

Top of the Morning to you!

2011-10-20T10:09:00.001-05:00

Did I mention that my lovely niece, Trisha, is doing a TON of geneology for our family tree and just recently discovered that we are a wee bit Irish??!!

Well that certain explains my love for ...

and this ...

I remember as a child scouring our yard for these ...

For a short time I had a sweet redhead named Ginger ...

Which brings me to what's for dinner tonight ...

We're celebrating my daughter's birthday tonight, and one of her FAVORITE meals is corned beef and cabbage. We usually only make this on St. Pat's day, since that is when the price of corned beef is a bit more reasonable, but given this is her special day and the fact that she's worth every penny, we're splurging and making her favorite dinner.

And for dessert her favorite PIE from Village Inn!!

But the sweetest thing I'm looking forward to enjoying tonight is ...

Yep ... my grandson Jonas! He's more fun than a box of Lucky Charms!!

Happy Birthday To My Daughter!

2011-10-19T10:17:00.000-05:00

My "baby" turns 37 today. HOW and WHEN did THAT happen??!!! Trust me ... when someone tells you to seize the moment and enjoy - DO IT !!! Time is fleeting! And while I would LOVE to take all the credit for the AMAZING woman my daughter has become, I will give her SOME credit for her fabulous hard work and successful career, her embracing motherhood 110% (she is the BEST mom Jonas could ever hope for), her sense of humor and love of family. She is who I want to be when I grow up! Happy Birthday, sweetheart - love you more than macaroni and cheese!!!

What a PRIZE !!!

2011-10-17T14:14:00.000-05:00

Talk about excited!! I received this AMAZING prize in the mail on Saturday. I want to give a HUGE shout out and thank you to Joe Rotella and the entire gang at Create N Craft (http://www.createncraft.com) for sending me this amazing product. Can't wait to give it a try.

With it I will be able to create personalized books, albums and journals with ease! Your Story is a thermal book binder with unmatched versatility and is perfect for creating unique gifts, memory books, and a host of paper crafting projects. The package prize included the following:

12″ YourStory book binder / laminator machine

12 – 9″ x 11.5″ Laminating Pouch 3mil

12 – 4.5″ x 6.5″ Laminating Pouch 3mil

1 – Paper Trimmer

1 – 8.5″ x 11″ Binder-Black Leather Texture Portrait no window

1 – 8″ x 8″ Binder-White Linen Texture w/window

1 – 4″ x 6″ Binder-Black Linen Texture no window

1 – 8.5″ x 11″ Binder-Brown Leather Texture Landscape no window

1 – 12″ x 12″ Binder-Black Leather Texture no window

1 – User Manual

Again, thank you so much Create N Craft for SUCH a generous giveaway event. I truly appreciate it!

Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts with Maple-Cinnamon Glaze

2011-10-14T15:51:00.000-05:00

I am definitely going to try this recipe THIS weekend ... pumpkin - maple AND cinnamon? OH MY GOODNESS, but these sound DELISH!!! And they are baked, so not "as bad" as they could be. GRIN!

Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/2011/09/baked-pumpkin-doughnuts-with-maple-cinnamon-glaze/

Hope everyone has a FABULOUS weekend!

New Look for an Old Chair!

2011-10-12T11:44:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure where I stumbled across this blog, but I saw this project and fell IN LOVE with the idea. The author indicates that a similar chair was done with stickers about in Better Homes and Garden's 100 Decorating Ideas for under $100. The chair was all white, very chic, and quite lovely. This chair is more bold and fun! A piece of furniture that says "hey look at me!"

BEFORE PHOTO:

Kids' foam stickers. Not subtle but handy...and fun!

Give the whole thing a good coat of primer.

Then comes the paint...satin finish...two coats.

I'm in love with this chair !

Complete tutorial here: http://sweetgrace.typepad.com/the_inadvertent_farmer/2010/01/painting-an-antique-old-oak-chair-a-fun-craft.html

Prehistoric Fruit?

2011-10-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

My grandson's dinosaur halloween costume got me thinking about this exotic fall fruit ... Dragon Fruit. Okay, so technically dragons are not dinosaurs - but they MUST be from the same genetic group, right? GRINNING.

When cut open, the fruit reveals a scoop of sweet pulp speckled with tiny black seeds (similar to a kiwi).

It's even a variety of Celestial Tea!

Dragon fruit looks so summery. Who’d think this exotic tropical charmer is a fall fruit—not to mention the fruit of a cactus? It's lightly sweet and pleasantly crunchy. Depending on the species, the skin is textured like dragon’s flesh. Dragon fruit is now grown in California and Florida, making it more available in U.S. markets. Depending on the species, the skin ranges in color from hot pink to red. There is also a yellow variety that has a more spiky, dragon-like texture. The flesh can be white, pink or magenta and has tiny, edible black seeds similar to those in kiwi fruit.

The fruit is a bit of a tease. The exterior looks resplendent but the flesh is on the mild side: like a watermelon that is only mildly sweet. The flavor comes up best when the fruit is chilled. Some varieties (look for the yellow skins) are more tart, which makes them more refreshing. Whenever something is exotic and seasonal, it’s reason enough to bring it to the table. The arresting-looking dragon fruit may not taste as luscious as the homely mango, but it’s crunchy and interesting. Or, in the word most used to describe dragon fruit, it’s exotic.

How To Eat Dragon Fruit: dragon fruit should be refrigerated, unwashed, for up to 5 days, and served chilled. To eat dragon fruit, just wash and peel it. Refrigerate cut fruit in an airtight container.

Dragon fruit is very nutritious, delivering B vitamins, calcium, carotene, fiber and vitamin C. The typical dragon fruit has 60 calories, reflecting the low sweetness level.

So quit "dragon" your feet and run to the supermarket to try a taste of this exotic fruit!

Resource: http://blog.thenibble.com/

Dyno-mite!!!

2011-10-10T13:43:00.000-05:00

Doesn't this remind you of how much fun it used to be picking out that perfect costume for Halloween? This was Jonas' first pick and he was so tickled with his choice! Can't wait to see him in it and hear him go "ROAR"!!!!

The Best Egg Salad

2011-10-07T11:10:00.002-05:00

Egg Salad Sandwiches ... the stuff my childhood memories are made of. Although my mom's version of egg salad was as simple as it got ... hardcooked eggs, smashed with a fork, add heaping tablespoon of miracle whip and put between two soft pieces of white bread. White bread ... remember white bread? What every child's sandwich was made of when I was a kid. Unless you were lucky enough to be spending the night at grandma's house, where she still made bread from scratch. There was no such thing as 9 grain bread. You pretty much just had the one choice - unless mom was thinking healthy and got a loaf of Roman Meal bread, but that was as eccentric as it got. And the only brand of white bread I remember having was Wonder Bread. You just can't find bread that "soft" anymore. And this was also back in the day when they didn't worry about keeping things refrigerated. (Memory: there was NOTHING like the taste of a bologna sandwich with miracle whip after it has sat in your Elvis lunch pail for four hours - seriously - it tasted GREAT!) Oh, but I digress. We were talking about egg salad, weren't we??!!

Anyway ... here's my absolute favorite recipe for egg salad:

One 3 ounce package of cream cheese with chives, softened

2 Tablespoons butter, softened

3 Tablespoons finely chopped celery

4 Tablespoons mayonnaise (the real stuff - not miracle whip) (more or less depending on how "wet" you like your egg salad)

1 tsp. grated onion

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. horseradish

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Salt and papper to taste, and a dash of garlic powder for good measure.

6 large hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped fine

Combine cream cheese and butter; stir until smooth. Stir in celery, mayonnaise, onion, sugar, horseradish, lemon juice, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Fold in eggs. Cover and chill for an hour or more. When ready to serve, let stand at room temperatur for about 10 minutes before making sandwiches. If mixture seems too dry, add a bit more mayonnaise.

Yet another version I make of egg salad does use Miracle Whip, adding 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, and a squirt of prepared mustard to my smashed eggs, then adding some dry dill weed to the mixture as well.

And mom also used to make egg sandwiches out of uneaten deviled eggs, which she made using the same ingredients as her egg salad (grin). But deviled eggs deserves their own blog post, so expect to see that sometime soon.

So what do you put in YOUR egg salad?

Who Doesn't LOVE Penny Black?

2011-10-05T10:28:00.000-05:00

Vicky over at Clips-n-Cuts is having a fun event spotlighting Penny Black.

HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.clips-n-cuts.com/

Stop by and let her know I sent you!

Rocky Mountain High (Fall 2011)

2011-10-03T09:53:00.000-05:00

My son and his wife went hiking in Colorado's Golden Gate Canyon State Park this past weekend.

He shared some photos with me this morning, and they literally took my breath away. Each one is a panoramic thing of beauty. So go grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and enjoy each photo of this magnificant area.

With Heartfelt Sympathy

2011-09-28T15:16:00.001-05:00

A really good friend of mine lost her husband suddenly yesterday afternoon. While he had been ill for quite a while, things had been going along just fine ... until they weren't. It is never easy hearing those words that someone you love has died ... or that someone you care about has lost a loved one. It happens to all of us at some point. My friend is fortunate in that she has a wonderful and loving family and a multitude of close friends to help her through this tragic and vulnerable time. My heart goes out to her and I hope she knows that I am here for her.

It can be tough to know what to say or do when someone you care about is grieving. It’s common to feel helpless, awkward, or unsure. You may be afraid of intruding, saying the wrong thing, or making the person feel even worse. Or maybe you feel there’s little you can do to make things better. While you can’t take away the pain of the loss, you can provide much-needed comfort and support. There are many ways to help a grieving friend or family member, starting with letting the person know you care. I found these helpful suggestions ...

Practical Help

There are many practical ways you can help a grieving person. You can offer to:

Shop for groceries or run errands

Drop off a casserole or other type of food

Help with funeral arrangements

Stay in their home to take phone calls and receive guests

Help with insurance forms or bills

Take care of housework, such as cleaning or laundry

Watch their children or pick them up from school

Drive them wherever they need to go

Look after their pets

Go with them to a support group meeting

Accompany them on a walk

Take them to lunch or a movie

Share an enjoyable activity (game, puzzle, art project)

The Grief Process

The better your understanding of grief and how it is healed, the better equipped you’ll be to help a bereaved friend or family member.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief does not always unfold in orderly, predictable stages. It can be an emotional rollercoaster, with unpredictable highs, lows, and setbacks. Everyone grieves differently, so avoid telling the bereaved what they “should” be feeling or doing.

Grief may involve extreme emotions and behaviors. Feelings of guilt, anger, despair, and fear are common. A grieving person may yell to the heavens, obsess about the death, lash out at loved ones, or cry for hours on end. The bereaved need reassurance that what they’re feeling is normal. Don’t judge them or take their grief reactions personally.

There is no set timetable for grieving. For many people, recovery after bereavement takes 18 to 24 months, but for others, the grieving process may be longer or shorter. Don’t pressure the bereaved to move on or make them feel like they’ve been grieving too long.

If anyone wants to share what has helped them through the loss of a love one, I would love to hear your kind words.

Oh How Pinteresting!

2011-09-26T15:41:00.000-05:00

Just loving all the seasonal photos I'm finding on Pinterest. Each and every one is so unique and lovely.

And if you want to view my growing list of "pins" you can access my boards on Pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/lillianchild/

Cardmaking Fun

2011-09-25T11:44:00.000-05:00

I noticed that I haven't posted many card creations recently, so here's a few.

Spiked Apple Crisp Shooters

2011-09-22T11:08:00.000-05:00

Shooters and tapas seem to be ALL the rage in dining and entertaining - smaller portions but ALL the flavor! Here's a fabulous recipe idea for entertaining this fall ... wouldn't your guests get a kick out of these yummy apple crisp shooters? And get the kids involved by replacing the butterscotch schnapps with butterscotch ice cream topping.

Apple Crisp

4 medium tart apples, chopped (about 4 cups)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butterscotch schnapps

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix

Cream Layer and Topping

1 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon butterscotch schnapps

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Caramel topping, if desired

Heat oven to 375ºF. Spray bottom only of 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, toss apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 cup schnapps. Spread in pan.

2 In medium bowl, mix melted butter and cookie mix. Spread on top of apples.

3 Bake 40 minutes.

4 Meanwhile, in chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream, 1 tablespoon schnapps and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.

5 To serve, alternately spoon warm apple crisp and cream mixture into small glasses. Top each with caramel topping. Serve immediately.

Makes 10 shooters!

Iowa Machine Shed Baked Potato Soup !!!

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-05:00

My husband and I love driving over to Des Moines for fun "day trips" since it is only a 2 hour drive away. We have SO MANY "favorite" places to stop for breakfast/lunch/dinner that it's hard to choose each time we go! But one that stands out above the rest is the Iowa Machine Shed. Go and check them out here: http://www.machineshed.com/locations/desMoinesLocation.html

They are famous for their Chicken Fried Steak- just be aware that it's enough for two! And the cinnamon roll - it may be the largest you've ever seen! Dinners are served "family style", accompanied by fresh breads and rolls. The their Iowa Chop may be the best pork you've every tasted!

They have a simply fabulous baked potato soup ... VERY rich, but oh so worth the calories for a special treat. Here's the recipe.

Ingredients

2.5 pounds red potatoes, skins on, cut in bite-size chunks
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup Fleischmann's original corn oil margarine
1 quart milk
3 cups water
4 Tbsp. bacon bits
1 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup wondra flour
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup parsley
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

Boil potatoes in water to cover (without salt) for 10 minutes.
Drain and set aside.
Saute' onion and celery in 1/4 cup margarine in 5-quart heavy pot over medium heat until celery is tender.
Add milk and 3 cups water.
Heat over medium-high heat until very hot, stirring frequently ~ do not let soup boil. (It's helpful to use an instant-read thermometer to keep track of temperature ~ aim to keep it under 212 degrees.)
Add 1/2 cup butter to soup. Mix chicken broth, Wondra flour, salt and pepper and add mixture gradually to the hot soup while stirring.

Stir constantly until soup bubbles gently and becomes thick and creamy. Constant stirring prevents the milk from scorching, an irreversible mistake. Stir in potatoes, parsley and whipping cream.

Garnishes: green onions, bacon bits, shredded cheese or croutons

FALLing in Love!

2011-09-20T09:41:00.000-05:00

carved pumpkins

colorful gourds

hot cocoa with marshmallows

candy corn

scarecrows

apple picking

jumping into a pile of leaves

squirrels hiding nuts

knitted scarves

harvest moon

crisp mornings

bonfires

spooky costumes

football games

comfy quilts

howling winds

scented candles

hay rides

warm sweaters

homemade soup

apple cider

popcorn balls

canning tomatoes

school carnivals

pumpkin patch
apple doughnuts

thankfulness

a bowl of chili

movie nights

county fairs and blue ribbons

turkey and dressing

pumpkin pie

cinnamon rolls

hunting season

crockpot meals

apple butter

bobbing for apples

puzzles

tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

cranberries

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

roasted pumpkin seeds

flannel sheets

reading by the fire

casseroles

cinnamon sticks

These are a few of my favorite things ... !!

I fought the law, and the law won!

2011-09-20T08:27:00.000-05:00

I just had to share this adorable pic of my grandniece, Avlyn. The expression on her face is just priceless!

Fall Has Arrived!

2011-09-16T09:13:00.000-05:00

For me, fall doesn't begin until we've gone to the apple orchards for the annual AppleJack Days in Nebraska City. It's a fabulous family event with go-cart races through town, fresh kettle corn made in these HUGE iron kettles, and EVERY possible apple treat imaginable! There are 3 different orchards in the Nebraska City area and we try to hit each one as they all offer something different in the way of apple goodies. I think my favorite apple is a Jonathan apple, as it is both sweet and tart and WONDERFUL for making apple butter ... and here's my favorite fast and easy recipe for this annual treat.

Microwave Apple Butter

Ingredients

8 cups (about 9 medium) apples, cored, peeled and quartered
2 cups fresh apple cider
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Directions

In 3-quart microwave-safe casserole dish, combine apples and cider. Microwave on High for 12 to 15 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring twice during cook time. Transfer apple mixture to blender or food processor , and process until smooth. Return apple mixture to casserole dish. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, cloves and allspice; mix well. Microwave on High for 25 to 35 minutes or until thickened and dark brown, stirring once halfway through cooking. Cool (mixture will thicken as it cools). Pour into sterilized jars; store in refrigerator. Makes 4 cups.

And now is also the time when the family starts asking for my infamous apple crisp ... which is a Land 'o Lakes recipe that I've used for years.

6 medium (6 cups) apples, peeled, cored, sliced (I like to use Jonathan apples)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup quick uncooked old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter

Directions: Heat oven to 375°F. Place apples into ungreased 9-inch square (2-quart) baking dish. Combine brown sugar, oats, flour and cinnamon in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown.

SPOILER ALERT!! Okay, while this basic recipe is good, I ALWAYS kick it up a bit by DOUBLING the topping ingredients and adding THREE + teaspoons of cinnamon! And be prepared to loosen your belt a notch or two because this treat is memory making goodness! Serve it warm with a heaping scoop of ice cream (my kids like cinnamon ice cream with this!) and/or fresh whipped cream (and NOT the kind out of a tub or can - beat up some FRESH whipped cream - you'll be glad you did!)

Canvas and Cocktails

2011-09-15T08:38:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday evening, my family and I were walking in the Cherry Creek district of Denver on our way to have dinner at The Cherry Cricket (here's their link: http://cherrycricket.com/site/?phpMyAdmin=9mS-kJDz%2CLAsr%2CInVnyBOzZtE15), where they make the most incredible burgers with toppings you can't even begin to imagine. Peanut Butter??!! I hear from those who have had this on a burger that it is REALLY incredible. My combination was cream cheese and green chili ... YUM!

On our way to dinner, we passed this place and my daughter-in-law said that one of her friends had been here and that she had a fantastic time. It's one of those "why didn't I think of that" type of places! Imagine yourself sitting with friends, sipping on your favorite cocktail and creating art ... it just doesn't get any better than that. And they promise that even in you don't have a lick of talent for painting, that you will walk out with something you will be proud to put on your wall at home. What fun this would be!!

And here's their website ... take a look at the gallery and see the fun projects that have been made. I do so wish we had one of these here in town! http://www.canvasandcocktails.com/

Giveaway Alert!

2011-09-14T10:57:00.000-05:00

Did you know Vicky from www.clips-n-cuts.com is having a $25 giveaway? Just click here and find out!

http://www.clips-n-cuts.com/

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Grandniece ... Hailey !!!

2011-09-08T15:06:00.002-05:00

Don't Let Your Salmon Loaf

2011-09-08T10:50:00.000-05:00

This is a very basic canned salmon recipe, which can be made into a LOAF or into patties. You can serve it with a simple creamed peas and white sauce, or the cucumber dill recipe I've included below. This is a VERY old recipe, but always a family favorite.

SOUR CREAM SALMON LOAF

1 (15 1/2 oz.) can salmon

1 (8 oz.) container sour cream

1/2 cup melted butter

1 egg, beaten

2 - 1/2 c. corn flakes

Measure the corn flakes and then crush into crumbs. Drain off half of liquid of the salmon. Combine all ingredients; press into a loaf pan. Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

NOTE: if firmer texture loaf is desired, use less butter and add 1 more egg. You can also toss in some chopped celery, chopped onion, chopped pimento, chopped green olives ... whatever savory "extras" you have on hand. But the original recipe doesn't call for more than the above five ingredients.

DILL SAUCE

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon 2% milk

2 teaspoons snipped fresh dill

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Mix together and chill.

Vacation in the Rockies!

2011-09-08T08:28:00.001-05:00

We're leaving for Colorado in the morning and I'm SO excited. First, I get to spend time with my son and his wife who live in Parker, Colorado. It's SUCH a lovely community and has a really nice small town feel.

On Saturday we're heading up into the mountains to Georgetown to take a ride on this!

Then on Sunday we'll go to the new IKEA store!

Monday we're heading up to Estes Park to spend the day.

And then later that day we'll head down to Black Hawk for the night!

And before we know it we'll be heading back home on Tuesday!

I couldn't resist ... it's not really THAT bad ... but coming back after being in such beautiful vistas is gonna be a reality check for sure!!

Here's a nicer photo of our town. :0)

Bountiful Harvest

2011-09-07T16:02:00.000-05:00

I've had the pleasure of one of my recipes being published in a Taste of Home publication called Bountiful Harvest many years ago.

Here's the photo of my recipe from that publication. The recipe was for a squash and potatoes dish that I created one summer many years ago.

And here's the link to the actual recipe:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Squash-and-Potatoes

And this coming January, I will be featured in TWO separate issues of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. I'll let you know when they hit the stands as well.

ENJOY!!!

Soup Weather Is Almost Here!

2011-09-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

I have SO many cookbooks, including two LARGE 3-ring binders of "favorite" recipes ... some that I'll never use again, some that I've never even tried, but all have been sitting in these binders for years. My fall project is to filter through these recipes, keeping only those that I think I will actually make in the next ten years and then saving them on my blog and/or pinterest boards, where I have instant access whenever I want that recipe again. Of course, I have ONE cookbook at home that has my ABSOLUTE favorite recipes that I use over and over again, and that might become just a bit thicker when all this is said and done, but for the most part my main focus is to PURGE.

But here's a recipe that I make several times when fall weather hits. It's my daughter's FAVORITE soup recipe, so it is a keeper for sure.

HAMBURGER SOUP

1 pound extra lean ground beef (or I actually use ground turkey)
1 medium onion, chopped
4 red potatoes, washed but unpeeled, cut into cubes (2 cups)
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cans beef broth
2 TBSP beef bouillion
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 tsp. pepper
3/4 cup catsup
1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables (any assortment you like)

Combine ground beef and onion in large stock pot cooking over medium heat until beef is browned and thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain well. Add all remaining ingredients to stock pot except frozen vegetables. Mix well. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occassionally. Add frozen vegetables. Cover and simmer an additional 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Makes 8 servings. Serve with large loaf of crusty warm bread.

ENJOY!!!

Basket Case!

2011-09-07T14:36:00.000-05:00

Grace over at Design Sponge has a fabulous tutorial for these ADORABLE little crochet baskets. What a neat idea and these little baskets can be used for ANYTHING ... buttons, dad's key collection, your grandson's marble collection, your daughter's ribbon collection, etc. And they are small enough that you can whip up several of these little baskets in an afternoon!

Here's the link: http://www.designsponge.com/2009/07/mini-crochet-baskets.html

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T12:10:00.000-05:00

I found this lovely fall photo on pinterest and thought it the perfect photo to announce that fall is JUST around the corner! We had some lovely cool weather yesterday and today here in the heartland, and the air conditioning is OFF and the windows are OPEN! Definitely my favorite time of year. And soon we will have crisp mornings and evenings and the crockpot will have something yummy simmering just waiting for us to arrive home to enjoy! Hope you all are having a fabulous holiday weekend! We had 30+ relatives arrive at our home yesterday with potluck dishes in hand. Hubby made his famous baked beans, and we had a large honey ham and red velvet cake as our contributions. But oh my goodness there was a bounty of yumminess to be had! Deviled eggs, hamburger cheese dip, fresh salsa and chips, two different potato salads, coleslaw, hot milk sponge cake with broiled coconut icing (one of my personal favorites!), and so much more! My immediate family is coming over today for a nice lunch of leftovers, as there is a plethera (love using that word) of goodies to be enjoyed!

A Road Less Traveled

2011-08-31T09:17:00.000-05:00

Now that the flood waters are finally starting to recede here in Nebraska/Iowa, this is a photo of what is left behind of our interstate system. They say it'll take quite some time to fix since they can't use the soil around the flood area to pack and rebuild the foundation for new pavement, and access roads to/from are in the same or worse shape, so getting equipment to/from will be precarious at best.

There's also a video here: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110831/NEWS01/708319910#i-680-is-obliterated-gone