New Beginnings of Hope

It's May and officially after Mother's Day is when the time is supposed to be safe to plant flowers and gardens.  The last couple of days, I've been outside cleaning out my garden, weeding, preparing the dirt and taking inventory of what i need to do before purchasing plants.  Along with cleaning out the dead from the beds, there was a hydrangea plant that i had purchased after my sweet Kari was put down year before last.  My intentions were to find a place in the yard and plant it along with some of her ashes....just as i had planted my butterfly bush to accompany my beloved first greyhound, Barbie.   These greyhound girls were my first two and i cannot even begin to express how much i loved them both.   Anyway, with the hydrangea purchased, i could not seem to find a place to plant it...or never time to do it and it was bad enough that i had procrastinated in even buying a plant for her.  And i guess that the real truth of the matter was that i was just too sad to deal with her death and not wanting to be reminded of it by planting the hydrangea along with her ashes.  I just didn't want to do it.  So it sat by our gate...and like her, wilted away and died.  All winter, that plant sat there.  And yet, i couldn't even pick the damn thing up to throw it away.

So, as i looked at this poor dead thing in the temporary plastic planter, i remembered how beautiful it was when i first spotted it at the nursery.  Ohhh...like Kari, so beautiful.  Kari was a gorgeous parti, white body with brown ticking...and such a sweet face.  She had beautiful soulful eyes with permanent eyeliner which i coveted.  I remembered  the beautiful pink color of the hydrangea and how delicate the flowers were....and how this color seemed to suit Kari who was such a little girlie girl.  My intentions were good...but i procrastinated, not wanting to actually do the burial deed.  And now, like Kari, this once beautiful and living plant was dead.  I felt guilty for letting Kari suffer as long as she did with the cancer  by trying to manage her pain.  I didn't know it could be so bad...and i just wanted her to be with me.  I guess i let this plant suffer a painful death too by not watering anymore and just letting it die.

Well..it is what it is and now time to throw it out.  But wait...as i looked closer, there was a lone sprout about 3 inches tall with some small leaves.  It was not connected to the roots  that i could tell.  Maybe it was a tree sapling.  I mean, we had them all over the yard and it was possible the wind could have blown a seed into the pot.  But yet, the leaves on the sapling did not look like the ones i had pulled up in my flower beds.  Hmmmm. 

Could it be?  I came in the house and googled hydrangea to see what the leaves looked like....and sure enough  it was, indeed,  the hydrangea plant!  I could not believe it!  Did it re-seed?  As i looked at that little seeding i thought about how something so very much alive was now growing in place of that dead plant and tears streamed down my face.

It occurred to me that this was yet another gentle and loving reminder telling me that when we lose all hope and all faith, that good things can come to lift our spirits just in time.  New beginnings can happen to replace the dying past or a past that has been hurtful.  Not necessarily a replacement maybe.  But a new start.   This little plant was to represent Kari...and although Kari could never be replaced,  a new greyhound came to help us mend our hearts (Gwennie) who, like Kari, also had to be put down because of osteosarcoma  several months ago.  And now...i have a new little girl named Mona to once again help me deal with the pain of losing (within the past 4 years) three greyhounds.  It just now occurred to me  that Mona came here to live with us two weeks ago which is probably just about as old as this little sprout.  Yes indeed, wonderful things can come from something that appears to be dead to the eye.  We only need to take a closer to look to see the positive in a bad situation.  If i had thrown the dead plant out without taking the time to notice and investigate, i would have never seen this little sprout of hope.  This little plant is a reminder to me of life and not death,.... hopeful new beginnings and not dwelling on the sorrowful endings.  Look to the future, remember the past, and live life now to the fullest. 





Mona and I on her Gotcha Day, 4/30/11



I carefully pulled the little sprout out from the dead plant and it's temporary pot and planted into a nice pot with good soil and fertilizer.  I am remembering my beloved dogs and other things in my life...but with some nourishment, care and love...i will begin to look at the now and the future.

No recipe here...just some thoughts.  Hope you can look at everything in a new way today because of my story.

 

A new beginning.









A Simple Little Recipe with a Great Big Taste..and Lesson

About a month or so ago, I was visiting a good friend at her home.  Of course, food always enter conversations at some point...and she pulled out her mom's old recipe box from the closet, anxious to show me some of her favorite family recipes  (of course, this is heaven for me!).  As we are sitting on the couch, flipping through these old recipes, I'm thinking about the family that this woman fed...the boys and one girl that these recipes must have pleased so much.  Each one was hand written from my friend's (now deceased) mom on either an index card or scraps of paper...some in better shape than others and some with tell tale splatters of the cooking itself on them.  Not only was there the memory of Mom with her hand writing forever on those cards, but the memories, sights, and smells that each recipe brought to my friend.  Each one brought out a..,"Oh, i remember this one and we would have this when..."  Or perhaps a special story revolved around one particular recipe.  While i enjoyed looking at these old time treasures and analyzing the simple ingredients used back in the day (compared to the complicated recipes, low-fat, and spices used in today's cooking), i realized how much these meant to my friend.  The joy of sharing these with me and talking...and the chance to remember many of these wonderful family meals.  Priceless.

There was one recipe that stood out.  I mean, it LITERALLY stood out and made itself known over and over again to the point where we laughed each and every time.  The recipe for 'Fiery Chicken Wings' was written about 5 different times...a couple on an index card and several on scraps of paper.  As we plowed through the recipes, sure enough, yet ANOTHER repeat would show up!  Wow...was this such a good recipe that she needed all these copies as to not lose it or did she simply have it on hand to give out to other friends?  Well...we will never know the answer BUT i decided to look at it more closely.

As i read through the ingredients and directions the first time, i must admit i was not very impressed.  My friend raved about this...the smells, how tender, the taste of the sauce.  Well, of COURSE she would feel strongly about how great this meal was...i mean, this was HER mom's recipe and mom's food always rules (well, there ARE exceptions!)!  The recipe was so simple...simple ingredients..no braising, searing, frying, grilling...and no marinades or super spice combinations.  And not more than about three steps.  Hmmmm. Julia Child would not understand this concept at all! 

Needless to say, I had to try it and I must say that i was VERY surprised by the results of such a simple but wonderful recipe.  I guess this recipe is a lesson...not just in food, but with a lot of things in life too.  We tend to feel like the more work we put into things and the more 'spices'...and complicated steps....well, that the better something will taste. True...in some cases.  We are told that the harder we work at relationships, jobs, etc...the better things will be.  And here's a question to answer:  Who decides this?  Why must there be so many complications to our lives in order to be 'meaningful'?  I guess that in a lot of cases this is true.  BUT...isn't it wonderful when something so simple and uncomplicated turns out to be so glorious?  Just like the components of this vintage recipe, as we get older and wiser, it becomes apparent that those fancy steps, expensive ingredients, and time consuming work isn't what it is all cracked up to be.  Who are we impressing?  Does the food really taste better in the long run?  Well, this simple recipe got me thinking about a whole lot of things other than food.  Try to simplify your life every chance you get and don't get caught up with the unnecessary things to complicate and add stress.  Know what your goals are...simple and clear, written by hand and with love. Perhaps we can all learn something from this old recipe.

Thank you, dear friend, for sharing your mom's recipe.  It taught me much more than just about cooking, for sure.

Please enjoy this very easy recipe...I'm also including my recipe for the fruited slaw.  Both simple, delish, and complimentary to each other....kind of  like two best friends.

PS..Both recipes are Gluten free also!

Mom's Fiery Chicken Wings

400 degree oven

5 lbs Chicken Wings
1/2 Cup Catsup
1/4 Cup Vinegar
1/4 Cup Honey
2 TBS liquid hot pepper sauce - more or less, as needed.
3 TBS lemon juice

(add more honey and hot sauce to taste)
My friend recommends doubling the sauce also!

Rinse and pat dry wings.  Cut into sections (Flats and drumsticks - some like the points attached as well)
Line 2 pans with heavy foil and divide wing parts between pans.
Bake in 400 degree oven  for 40 minutes or until brown.
Turn once or twice, drain as needed.
pour sauce over wings and turn to coat.
cook another 30 minutes or so - turning once or twice. Cover for half the time, then uncover to brown a little.

Wings are perfectly done when you can suck them off the bone in one motion.
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Kim's Fruited Slaw

1/4 to 1/3 large cabbage, shredded or chopped
1 carrot, shredded or chopped
1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored and cut in small pieces
1/2 Cup of Craisins
1/2 Cup of pineapple tidbits (or more)


Dressing:

2/3 cup mayo 
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper (optional)

Combine dressing with cabbage mixture, refrigerate.



Chocolate Chip Cookies for my Heart

I haven't been much in the mood to write lately...actually not much in the mood for anything.  Alot has been happening, along with the regular stresses of life... and it has just about brought me to my knees.

I have worked with Greyhound rescue for many years and although not as active as in the past, I am and forever will be a lover of these beautiful dogs.  Many of them have not had the best life at the track as people would think...and many have been lucky enough to come off the tracks and go into  'forever' homes.  My home was one of these and we have been fortunate to be able to foster about 20 greyhounds in the past (not all at the same time!) and also been blessed to have had four of our own.  But, like all big dogs, they come with issues.  Osteo took the lives of two, along with a little rescue pitbull mix we had found.  All of this within the last three years.  The latest to 'cross the bridge' was my beautiful Gwennie, a petite little black greyhound only 7 years old.  I lost her only the day before last, March 16, 2011....again, to the monster named Osteosarcoma.

Now Gwennie, like many others, came to me with a story.  It was her mission to come to my home and fill a void for my solo greyhound at the time, Kari.  You see, Kari had lost her greyhound companion months before to an unknown and sudden death.  We were in shock over Barbie's death and Kari depended heavily on Barbie.  (Barbie and Kari were my two original greyhounds and the the reason i became interested in helping retired racing greyhounds.)   So...i needed an alpha type personality for Kari and also a dog that was not so young as Kari was going on 9 years old.

Barbie (brindle) and Kari, my first greys

I contacted my 'group', All Star Greyhounds in Lafayette, Indiana and told the president what i needed.  They had a dog haul coming soon from Daytona and she told me she would make a call to see if they could find a dog of my description for me (i should say that most greys coming off the track are younger...so this was a stretch to find one that would be older).  A week later, i got the call that a dog had been found, a spirited little black beauty whose kennel name was Gwendolyn and her racing name was 'Lips are Sealed'.

Apparently it took some doing to talk the trainer out of her.  She had not raced for 4 years but for some reason they had kept her...perhaps as a kennel pet?  It is my understanding that sometimes favorite ones are kept behind.  (Don't get me started on how they could treat a 'favorite one' like this by not allowing them to have a REAL home outside of a crate.)  Nevertheless, she was put on the truck at the last minute with the other 10 lucky ones that would be coming to Indiana.  Indeed, this was to be the start of her life after 6 years of being crated probably more that three-fourths of her life and many times with only one meal per day.

It wasn't easy for her when she got to Lafayette.  After her vet visit, it was determined that her tick titer had come back positive for a tick disease.  She was flea invested, had to be spayed, and needed 6 black, nasty teeth pulled.  The treatment for the tick disease is similar to Heartworm treatment and took several treatments over a 6 week period, i believe.  She needed time to heal before she came to me and that was fine...but at least she was coming!

Finally in June '09, she came to our house.  Such a happy day!  The group president  had fostered her personally while she was healing and told me that she was one of the best that she had ever had and that she was beginning to play with toys and stuffed animals...learning all the things that she never got to experience inside the kennel at the track.  Even treats are foreign to many of them!  Well, this little girl did a wonderful job bringing much happiness to the family...and especially to Kari and myself. 

Gwennie's last day before 'crossing'.

Skip to the present, it was only about 3 weeks ago she started having problems with her back leg.  If you have ever lost a dog to osteo, you know it is always in the back of your mind.  When  her leg got no better but only worse, i took her to the vet.  X-ray showed a growth on the bone, but not definitive of cancer.  I took her home with three types of meds, two of which were for pain.  One week later my gut told me it was osteo.  She was so much worse, in pain..crying into the night with me sleeping on the couch to be close to her.  Her time was too short with me but she had a good life here and got to know what it is like to truly be 'retired' and in a loving home.  She got to see her first snow this past winter and wore a bright red coat with a snuggly 'snood' that made her look like Little Red Riding Hood!  She got to experience going to the local hot dog and root beer stand.  She got to experience laying in the sun in the grass (not gravel).  Most of all, she got to experience the love and affection that she so deserved.  Oh, how i miss her as i type this!

Now to the cookies....  In my blogs, i have written about foods and recipes... bringing back  memories of past years, the focus of social events, sharing with friends and family, and for celebrations and comforts.  Well, in my case...these cookies were brought to me today from my sweet neighbors that live across the street.  They knew what these dogs meant to me and know how i am grieving now.  They were brought to me to comfort me.  They were brought to me FOR my heart and not necessarily for my stomach.  They could  taste like crap (which they don't!) or be the most delicious cookie ever but that really wouldn't  matter to me anyway...nothing tastes great right now.  What really matters is the thought and love that accompanied these chocolate chip cookies. All of the kind text messages, phone calls, and postings on my Facebook...support from people who understand that these pets we have, no matter what breed...they ARE truly family members.  I thank all who have been a positive support for me.  And thank you Sherri, Jared, and little Ruthie for bringing the cookies...you have no idea how much it means to me.  :-)

I will end this by saying that the only thing worse than losing a beloved greyhound is never having one at all.... not ever having the privilege to experience these beautiful animals.  If you are considering adopting a dog, do consider a retired racing greyhound...let them race into your heart forever!

Chicken Pot Pie...ANOTHER pie!

Finished Chicken Pot Pie....gone by the end of the evening!

Pies seem to be on my mind alot these days...well, more in my mouth i should say.  The spaghetti pie was such a success with several of my friends that read the blog, not to mention some facebook friends.  So i decided to blog about another favorite pie of mine : a wonderful chicken pot pie that i have been making for many years now (and by the way, is still a fave!).

My mom never made chicken pot pie.  Instead i remember her cramming a whole chicken in the crock pot and dumping a bag of frozen mixed vegetables in on top.  She worked many long hours each day as a factory line worker at one of our local GM plants. (That was back in the day when General Motors was the key employer for most folks in my town.  Now, GM is gone along with  much of our population in this dead, dried up town...ugh.!)  As you can imagine, my brothers and i didn't exactly love this so much and picking the bones out was kind of ...ummm...gross too.  But, i guess it's the closest i got to a chicken pot pie back then...or at least the filling part. And i should tell you that my mom was an awesome cook...but this one just lacked...most likely due to a time issue!

I think the first time i had a chicken pot pie (a REAL one) was at a restaurant when i was in college....and it was my new favorite thing and to this day, rules with my family as well.  When i was in my 20's, i came up with a recipe that seemed to fit the bill and the only thing i have changed within the last several years is to make the filling without flour so that my youngest daughter (who has a gluten intolerance) is able to eat some of the reserved filling over rice or even her gluten free pasta.  Trust me, the taste has not suffered one bit!

Now, i was reminded not too long ago about the first time that one of my dearest friends (since high school) ever had my pie.  She reminded me that I had made it when i was living in an old house that my then future husband and i were renting, along with another room-mate.  We were both attending Anderson University at the time.  Jenny, my high school friend, was attending Purdue University at the time and had come back to visit with me over the weekend.  We were, all of us, non-traditional college students...making another go of it.  I was trying to complete the first degree ....while Jenny was going for yet another degree (some of us are slower and less motivated than others!)  Anyway, lucky for us all....i was a great cook who could cook cheaply and in mass quantities!  College students rejoice!  This was the meal i made for us all on that weekend.

This recipe included all of my favorite veggies...and i like to do it with big chunks of potatoes, a big turnip (yes, a turnip!), carrots, celery, mushrooms, onions, peas, and corn.  The chicken should equally be in big chunks and lots of it.  And it's in the best 'chickeny' , creamy, bubbly sauce you have ever tasted.   So..the filling is wonderful...without an equally great crust, it is RUINED! 

Let's talk about the crust for a minute.  There is nothing like a real old time home made crust...made with Crisco or even better...good old lard, like back when our grandmothers made a  REALLY good crust.  Yes, i know...but we are talking flaky, light, and tasty.  But i will just say ONE thing here.  IF you can't make a good crust, DON'T put a crappy one on this pie or any other.  It will ruin the whole thing!  There's nothing wrong with not being able to make a crust...after all, just like the meringue on many pies, it takes lots of practice to be able to do it well.  So...to make things easy, go ahead and cheat with the Pillsbury pie crusts in your refrigerated section of the store.  Nope..not as good as grandma's but better than a cardboard crust. 

To prove my point, a friend of mine recently had a birthday and requested Grandma's Pie recipe of Lemon Meringue.  Now, I will at least give kudos to the spouse for  ATTEMPTING to make this recipe (she is not much of a cook except for reheating things that come in a bag...his words, not mine!).  But she made the mistake of trying to make a homemade crust and let's just say that when it came time to cut the pie, i was told that she had to actually pound on the knife to make it go through!  Was it flour or a bag of cement she used??  So..people...know your limits!  (Note:  If there is still pie left the next day and you have more than one person in your family....it could be sign that your pie wasn't the most successful creation and you should probably never make it again!)  

I can't harp too much on making mistakes.  After all, if you don't make the mistakes, how will you ever learn?  None of us are perfect cooks or ANYTHING.  I can definitely remember putting baking soda in some brownies instead of baking powder.  If you want brownies to come out like rocks, this is your recipe!

Back to my friend Jenny.... Lucky for her, she has a husband who is a wonderful cook.  Jenny, you know i love you..but we all know that cooking was never your thing.  (But a true engineer...she can fix anything that breaks inside or OUT of the house!)  This recipe, however, (using the store bought crust) is easy enough that even she has been able to manage and she told me recently that she has made it for her own family and even her parents...and that ALL love it.  So, try it...it's good and not so hard...and a real comfort food that everyone will love. 

To the girls at IU...let me know if you want this chicken pot pie to come visit y'all!  :-)
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                                      Kim's Very Best Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients for one deep dish pie  (I usually use a shallow bowl to put mine into instead of a regular pie dish):

• 2 lbs or more of breasts of chicken
• 1 small can of chicken broth (gluten free if need be)
• 1 1/2 cups each of chunked veggies - carrots, potatoes, turnips, celery (tops included), mushrooms...frozen peas and corn.
• About 2 cups of milk
• corn starch
• Bottom and top pie crust - either Grandma's or store bought
• Salt, pepper, onion powder, parsley to taste.



Preparing the filling

 Preparation:

Boil chicken in chicken broth and enough water to barely cover.  When fork tender, remove on plate to cool and reserve broth. 

Chunk veggies and cook in broth in same pan...hard veggies first...then celery, onions, mushrooms last.  When veggies are nearly cooked but not mushy (remember this goes in oven also for 30 minutes or so!) add frozen veggies and chicken chunks.  Add about a cup of milk to make as much liquid (sauce) as you want.  Make sure there is enough liquid or your pie sauce will be too thick and too dry.  Add about two heaping tablespoons of cornstarch to about a half cup of milk and stir well.  Then add this mixture to the pot pie filling.  It should thicken up as it cooks on med heat.  (if after about 5 minutes, it has not thickened up, add another TBSP of cornstarch.) Add frozen veggies at end, along with seasonings...taste to see how it is.  Allow to simmer for about 5-10 mins to blend all flavors and cook frozen veggies.

Add mixture to deep dish with bottom crust.  Don't get it too full but i do like to heap the veggies and meat.  Then put top crust on, making slits for steam escape.  Follow directions on a two crust pie...usually the oven is set at 375 for about 25 minutes or so.  Be sure to put the dish on a baking pan in case of over flow. 

Serve with a nice salad and rolls...perfect!!!  Enjoy!

Spaghetti Pie visits IU...maybe I should take orders!

My daughter, Sophie, writes a blog also and it is wonderful to read..she shares about her life as a freshman college student.  (http://sophieguthrie.blogspot.com/)  Anyway, she posted my blog about her birth and the spaghetti pie on her blog.  I was just praying that my story would not have embarrassed her...it seems that anymore i am NOT COOL at all with my three teen girls, no matter WHAT i do!  So..you can imagine how thrilled i was that she was pleased enough with my piece that she posted it on hers.

Here's the Pie before it 'traveled'.

This in turn, meant that many of her friends read my blog...many of the girls on her floor in her dorm.  So a couple of days ago, i get a call from her saying that the "Harper 9 Girls" are requesting my Spaghetti Pie!  You know, dorm food is MUCH better now than when i was in college a million years ago...but it is still not home cooking no matter.  And you just don't realize how much those meals that mom made meant until you are gone.  Hey, isn't this what my blog is about...the memories of food through the ages???  So, as you can imagine i was thrilled to accommodate and maybe create a new fun memory for her by sharing that same recipe of Spaghetti Pie that was brought to my home when she was born. ( http://cook-my-way.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html)

My daughter, Abbie, who is a Senior in high school had planned to make an official college visit today to Indiana University...so i made the pie last night and it was transported with my husband and Abbie to college, along with some store bought valentine sugar cookies.  (I had full intention of sending what was left of the chocolate cake with butter cream frosting (the last blog), but didn't because i realized there were only about 3 slim slices left...and i didn't want this to be a source of fights...because this cake IS worth fighting over!)

So...a while ago, i get a call from Sophie.  I answer.  "Where's the cake?"  No hello, no nothing..just where's the cake!  I ask if she received the yummy sugar cookies with the icing on them and she replies..."You are avoiding the question...where is the cake?"  Ok..well sorry.  Hey..i made the huge pie, didn't i ?  Don't i get some credit for THAT?   Ok, ok...so now...my next visit to Indiana University will have me transporting that delicious cake.  I guess i can't blame her for being mad..it's a bazillion times better than those cookies! 

Once again...for all i do right, there is always something else that i didn't do!  Geesh!  Well, it's all good....and I'm just glad that she appreciates my cooking enough to request it.  So, here's to the girls of Harper 9 at Indiana University:  Bon appetite!

Some of the girls enjoying the Pie...thank you, Sophie for the pictures!




 

A Cake Full of Delicious Memories...to honor my friend.

I was recently reminded again about how foods can, with one bite, bring back such wonderful memories that may no longer live except within that food itself.  Each time a special food is prepared, it gives you a pass to go back in time as each bite brings back the family members, friends, visions, smells and sounds from the past.

  

My friend from college, 'Tom',  was telling me about his daughter's upcoming 15th birthday and how he was, with the help of his daughter, making this special birthday cake for her that his mother had  always made for him.  As he described this cake (which he claimed tasted like a delicious Oreo cookie), he painted the setting of his past family gatherings surrounding birthdays at his house as a boy. 

Julie and her uncle share the cake...a much fancier version, but the same cake.

Tom was the youngest of four brothers and one sister and his mother made a different 'favorite' cake for each of  them on their birthdays.  Celebrations were always designated on the Sunday closest to the birthday In order for the whole family to gather. The chocolate cake was the favorite of Tom and his father, and although i don't think he mentioned all the specific faves of the others,  he did share that two brothers really liked  some sort of a sweet yellow cake (resembling cornbread) that was served warm with a hot fudge topping.  Tom could never bring himself to try this yellow cake.... mostly because they reduced their pieces to a mashy mush (true boys!) and it would look like a brown kind of glop...so the end result didn't look so very appetizing.  (He did finally break down and try it in his later years, but claimed that it was definitely not even in the same class as the chocolate cake which was his!)

  The interesting  thing is that i asked Tom to tell me about a special birthday..maybe one in which he got a favorite gift.  After thinking for a few minutes, he replied that he really couldn't remember any gifts that made an impact...but only the cake, year after year.  That was the ultimate gift that his mom gave him...not the material things but the traditional cake that he loved so much which was made for him with love.  I wish kids today (and even adults) could understand this simple lesson.

 Now, i don't know exactly when his mother stopped making this cake...perhaps she made it when he would visit back home after he was grown and married.  And i am told that his wife did attempt to make it for him (at his request) on his birthdays from time to time...but somehow she was just not able to manage the cake without 'incidents' and stress.  Without further detail here...we will just say that each of her attempts were definitely NOT his mom's cake and eventually he took over the job of making his own birthday cake periodically. After a while (probably because it is no fun to make your own cake!), i think the recipe just got shoved to the back of the drawer.

Next, I asked how long he and his daughter had been making the cake and was surprised to hear that the cake had 'come back to life' at his house only in the last couple of years.  The funny thing is that his daughter took a cake decorating class for a short period of time and Tom actually went to a couple of the lessons too.  Well, when they found out just exactly what the ingredients were in the store bought cakes (lard, Crisco shortening, etc), THAT is when the recipe came out again!  I have to agree, that it is hard to imagine eating ingredients like that...no wonder our society has so many  problems with heart disease, etc! 

I think that as adults, we get so busy in life that we forget these wonderful memories...full of family, childhood hopes and dreams...sitting around a table with all of your siblings or fighting in the car when you would travel anywhere (which meant over 30 minutes).  We simply don't think and remember because we are so busy trying to be successful, getting married, raising our own kids...living the rat race.  These memories are the 'constants' in our lives:  the special meals and acts of love, and even dear friends and family members.  We knew they  would always be there year after year and we could count on them....but the reality is that we don't stay young forever and things change.  The lesson here is that these are the presents that mean the most in the very end.  The recipes of our lives often get shoved to the back of the drawer for a period of time.  But eventually, when we get them out and blow off the dust...it all comes flowing back.  The taste, sounds, laughter, happiness and sadness of how we grew up and loved.  I think it is wonderful to be able to pass on a special traditional recipe with our children and let them know the ingredients that make us US....which in turn, makes them who they are also.  True...they may not see the meaning behind it all now or appreciate it as much as we would like... and the recipe may be shoved to the back of the drawer again.  But just know that when it finally comes into the light again there will be a new appreciation and more stories will be added to the old.  This is about so much more than a chocolate cake with butter cream frosting...it is a delicious family memory that will never die if it is nurtured and passed on from one generation to the next.

Now, being the true 'foodie' that i am...i simply had to have the recipe so that i could make it and try it for myself.  The recipe is very easy, using all natural ingredients....and very, VERY good.  It gets 5 stars in my book!  This is a very dense chocolaty cake with dreamy, creamy buttery icing and will melt in your mouth.  You just have to try it to understand and appreciate.

Many thanks to my friend, 'Tom' for sharing this wonderful recipe with me....and wishing him a very Happy Birthday on March 1!  (Wonder what he will have to celebrate?)

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Betty's  Chocolate Cake with Butter Cream Frosting

For a single 9x9 pan:   (Double recipe if you want a two layer cake)

Mix together: 

1/4 Cup butter, softened at  room temp
1 Cup sugar
1 egg
 2- 1 ounce squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted

Sift together:

1-1/3 Cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
Add to mixed ingredients.

Slowly add:
1 Cup boiling water
1 tsp. pure vanilla

Mix until smooth, texture may seem thin.

Bake for 23-30 minutes in a greased, floured pan.  Done when toothpick comes out clean.


ICING:  (This makes plenty to ice a single layer in the pan)

1 stick of butter, softened at room temperature
2 Cups of powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla
A very small amount of milk if needed

Cream together with a spoon or mixer..Add a slight bit of milk to obtain the proper texture.  Make sure the cake is cool before frosting it!

Pie is in the Eye of the Beholder....and then some!

Sometimes, the simplest offering can mean years of memories…in kindness, appreciation, and taste.  I made a recipe the other night that came to my house the very first time as a kind gesture and dinner after I delivered my first baby 19 years ago.  At the time, I was fortunate to belong to a sorority in our town and the group of women that year were many of my very good friends.  One of the committees prepared meals for ‘sisters’ who needed meals for one reason or another…one person would make a side dish, another the main meal, and another the dessert.  I had participated many times, but this was the first time I was a recipient and I didn’t realize how much it meant until that evening.

Often a first pregnancy, no matter how much you think you know (I’d worked for an OB-GYN doc in my earlier years for about 5 years), or how many books you read…..well, when it is YOU, you know nothing!  This was obvious when, at about 6 months into my pregnancy, on January 16, 1992,  I had severe pain and some contractions.  My doc was in Indianapolis…about an hour from my home.  I had spent all day there, hooked up to all kinds of contraptions and monitored.  Finally the contractions ended with no reason to explain any of it.  But I was allowed to go home.  On the drive back, we stopped and ate….and by the time I got home I was feeling a little uncomfortable.  I chalked this up to anything and everything associated with pregnancy. 

I decided to take a bath to help ease my pain.  About 10 minutes into the bath, I realized that something was really wrong.  To make a long story short…I was having very close contractions and was very close to delivery.  To make matters worse, there was an ice storm going on (much like a night like we are having tonight in Indiana!) and there was not even time for an ambulance.  So, into my husband’s big truck I went…and off we went to the town hospital (which, by the way, was NOT my hospital or where my doctor practiced.

What happened afterwards was a series of events that could only happen on a TV sitcom.  My husband pulled up to the ER and proceeded to walk me in…and of course, we told them it was an emergency situation but apparently, no one took me very serious since this was my first pregnancy (first pregnancies take longer in most situations).  Questions, questions..Insurance stuff…sitting in wheel chair on my SIDE (HELLO…because I am beginning to deliver!)  Meanwhile, my husband was told his truck would be towed if not moved, so off he goes while the two nurses zip me to the labor/delivery ward in the other part of the hospital.  As they are rattling on about this great recipe for a meatloaf (yes, I still remember that!) I am desperately trying to tell them about the events of the day…and that I could possibly be sitting on my baby’s head!  The professional response I got was, ‘Oh honey, it will all be ok…this is your first one’…and then back to the green peppers and make sure the grease is drained…!

Well, of course when they began to put me on the exam table and put a lovely unflattering (hey, a girl's got to look her best!) hospital gown on me, the ever so enlightening comment was,  ‘Oh my God!  You have started to deliver!’   Umm….like, really?  Do ya think so??  And of course, the doctor on call (whom I cannot say too much bad about because he was my dear friend’s father) continued to eat his dinner at home..Not wanting to be disturbed because it was my FIRST delivery (which should take HOURS!)

  Needless to say, I had the fastest natural delivery on earth…so fast I don’t think there was even any pain.  THAT was the good thing.  The bad thing was that my daughter was 3 months premature and after blowing dust off the incubator (yes, the hospital was that impressive); they decided to have her rushed to Riley Children’s hospital in Indianapolis…some 50 miles away.  I had to stay and she had to go.  It was a nightmare. 

Now, the other things that were pretty funny (well, not then…but at least now) was that my poor husband couldn’t find me and no one knew where I was (shouldn’t they know where a pregnant woman who is delivering should go???).  Honestly, it happened so fast…I’m not sure he was even there.  I think I need to go ask him now...  My husband’s parents were called and were on their way to provide support….only his dad was having some intestinal testing done the next day and had orders to take laxatives in preparation so, he was stuck in a certain room of their house and not able to leave.  So my Mother-in-law came and by the time she got to the hospital, they were taking baby Sophie to Riley.  My husband left to go with the baby and my mom-in-law reluctantly stayed with me…let’s just say I was not her first choice.  Well... it's the truth!  ;-)

It took me just about 9 hours until I realized I was NOT staying any longer…it was now around 6am and I checked myself out against medical orders and my mom-in-law and I left.  And by the way, I should tell you for the record that my own mother was meanwhile enjoying  herself in her condo at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida…although I know for a fact she would not have attended to my needs at the hospital because she is ‘not a hospital kind of person’!  I could say more here, but I am choosing not to...you just gotta know how she is.  And hey, I’d choose Ft. Lauderdale over this too!

As we headed out of town towards Indianapolis, I realized I was famished…and asked to stop at the local little dive breakfast place to eat first.  It was 6am and I swear that only very old people were there that morning…maybe they had a special on shredded wheat and oatmeal, I don’t know.  But regardless…when the waitress asked how we were, I replied that I was sure I was the only one in the room that delivered a baby last night and that I would like the BIG MAMMA platter!  She looked at me like...oh yeah, right.  So I swear, that was the best meal I ever had…and ate it in about 5 minutes flat.  Ok, again....in retrospect, maybe i was just hungry!

My little baby was very fortunate..She was able to go to a wonderful children’s hospital and Riley literally saved her life.  Fortunately she was a whopping 3 lbs, 4 oz…which is a very good weight considering she was 3 months premature.  Yes, she had breathing problems and other issues too…but three months later, she was able to come home with the help of an apnea machine, respiratory treatments, medications, and a visiting nurse.  When it was all said and done and after looking at the paperwork of bills from the hospitals that we needed for our insurance company, she was indeed EASILY the million dollar baby.

I’m proud to say that she currently is in her first year at Indiana University and excelling there.  The thing that is really neat is that she actually participated in a dance marathon for Riley Children's Hospital and raised $500 with the help of friends and relatives.  Aside from that,  she interviewed recently and earned one of the 44 positions for the planning committee of this huge event for next year"s event. (This is the second largest student-run philanthropy to raise more than $1 million for Riley in the nation)  She is only one of three freshmen in the group and her determination is remarkable.  I’m pretty sure on the application there was no mention of a spaghetti pie…but one of the questions asked if she had a ‘Riley Story’.  How about…Riley saved my life.



Sophie

Ok..So enough storytelling and back to the spaghetti pie.  My point to this whole thing is the very first line of this blog.  Sometimes it is the smallest gesture that can mean the most to folks.  That pie was the best thing ever that evening.  I remember that Sophie had just come home and I was exhausted with all the night feedings, not to mention all the treatments and medications.  I was cranky and the last thing on my mind was cooking. To this day, each time I prepare it, I am amazed that it is not only a very simple dish to prepare but also very delicious and satisfying.  And I remember how much I appreciated having this meal on that evening….  and how very  fortunate and blessed we were for having a healthy baby girl in the end.  But most important also was how grateful i was to have such a loving and caring group of friends. So, along with this story about Sophie, I am sharing the recipe.  Share this with a friend in need, an elderly neighbor, or make it as a surprise for someone who is special to you.  Leave a tasty memory  of love for someone else….and pay the spaghetti pie forward.   I hope you make it soon!

Spaghetti Pie  (my version – of course it has been ‘tweeked’ to perfection!)

Ingredients:

                *9 ounces spaghetti

                *4 tablespoons butter

                *½ C. parmesan cheese

                *3 eggs (well beaten)

                *1 ½ C. cottage cheese

                *1 ½ lbs. ground beef or Italian sausage, or combination of both

                *¾ C. chopped onions

                *½ C. green peppers or mushrooms (or both!) – optional

                *1 (12 ounce) can of diced tomatoes

                *1 jar (26 ounce) of really good spaghetti sauce – I like the three cheese kind

                *1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning or 1 ½ tsp. of oregano

                *2 cloves of garlic, chopped  (please note that a clove is NOT a whole head…I have a friend that    made a very potent pizza sauce when he did not understand this simple fact!)

                *¾ C. mozzarella cheese, shredded.

Directions: 1- Cook spaghetti as directed, drain and set aside. (I break the spaghetti in half)

2- Mix together melted butter, parmesan cheese, and eggs….then add to cooled spaghetti and mix really well.

3- Line a greased 9x13 baking dish or a really big deep dish pie pan with the spaghetti mixture, pressing to make a crust.

4- In a separate big pan, fry hamburger or sausage with onion, garlic, green peppers until brown – drain off grease.  Add mushrooms if desired and mix.

5- Add rest of ingredients and mix well…heat thoroughly.

6- Pour meat mixture on top of spaghetti mixture and spread evenly over top.

7- Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, adding cheese at last 7 minutes or until melted and bubbly.

               

Boeuf a La Mode....the real lesson.

Well, friends, it has been a while since I wrote anything here….and for my faithful five followers (at least I have some!) and others who have enjoyed my entries…I sincerely apologize for the lack of devotion to this blog the last several months.  Truth of the matter is that I had a full time job for those months…and sadly, it did not work out.  But I am back to cooking and writing, and ….<sigh>….looking for another job!

Midlife is a funny kind of thing.  It seems like when you hit your 50’s you start rethinking your whole life.  What I should have done, could have done, would have done….if only this or that had happened.  And to make matters worse, I’ve been listening to a lot of Dan Fogelberg lately.  Geesh…don’t do that if you are even mildly depressed!  (I swear that every one of his songs were written about me and lost loves!)  So, when I want to get my mind off of things and fill my time with something productive…what do I do??  Cook, my friends!  Cooking is my therapy.  No talking required, only skill and concentration with a lot of reward in the end….and the only cost is for the ingredients.  I guarantee it is less expensive then laying on the couch and blabbing to the professional…and much more filling!

Dusting off the Julia Child’s Cookbook with one hand and  a 4.5 pound rump roast in the other hand, I decided to make the Boeuf a La Mode (braised beef in wine).  Warning here:  If you don’t have all day to cook, do not attempt!  This recipe is a good two pages in her cookbook and takes about 5 hours, not counting the marinade or the time spent drinking the wine…kidding.  Ummmm…it’s not a little deal.  You better have good music to cook by (I would not recommend Dan Fogelberg unless you want tears in your sauce.).

So, Kim…(I ask myself), why would you want to spend all day in the kitchen slaving over a recipe???  Five hours!  Well…yes, I like to cook…but that is a long time.  Like a full day’s work.  And the pay?  Well, …I guess the pleasure my family gets from experiencing a wonderful meal (French, at that!).   But then, I started thinking….

I think the thing that pulled me  and kept me in was the anticipation of getting to taste something that could take  so much time and effort to make.  I mean…it literally kept me going.  Anything  that you have to work so hard at  and takes soooo long to prepare…  Well, it surely must be something  wonderful, even magical.  And then,  suddenly…it was no longer about the recipe.  It was about this very simple life lesson we have all heard growing up:  The very best things in life are worth waiting for and working for.  Now, this applies to love, relationships, education, and careers….everything!   And just as I am lately looking at my life reflecting and regretting or rethinking,  I suddenly see a positive to this whole thing.  Sometimes the very best thing can come towards or at the end…and when it comes, the appreciation is much greater and even love is enhanced to a different level.  Sometimes….the best things don’t always happen in our youth, but in later years.  Sometimes it is not about the now…but about the later.   Yeah, this recipe kind of hit it home.  I could have made my usual  rump roast recipe in the oven (which, by the way is still great!).  But I did the work…took the time…and found out that the results of my hard work and patience were all worth it in the end.  The melt in your mouth satisfaction.  That is what I want in life too…the melt in my mouth satisfaction.  GREAT things are worth the work, the pain, the patience, and the time.  Nothing good happens in a 30 minute dinner in a bag or box scenario.  Sometimes recipes can teach us the strangest things….but this one hit home with me.

So…I enjoyed the wonderful meal because it not only tasted so good…but my heart was wrapped around this recipe in a new way by reading between the lines and applying it to my life.  I hope this makes some sense  to you all.  But if not, it’s ok.  Because I get it and I’m better with myself tonight for it.