Contentment

What a wonderful Christmas season! Get togethers are so much fun when egos are left at home. For our family the focus was on the little ones and they really put on a show! Each of the children were not only excited by their own gifts, they were excited for their brothers, sisters, and cousins. They laughed, shared, and played - gleeful as wished for and each brought a smile to our faces.

We are a female dominate family with five girls and four boys, but on Christmas Eve there were four girls and one boy and he quickly learned he was definitely outnumbered. However, with the grace and charm of a true gentleman, he fell right in with the girls, depending on Dad and uncles when he needed support.

Mom and Dad did not get too tired but were more than ready for us to clear out and give them their quiet. Dad got a real laugh over the suspenders that Mom gave him and there was a gleam in his eye when he opened box after box of his favorite candy - peanut brittle. Mom seemed a little confused as her gift pile mounted, but did so with a smile on her face. My Mother has always been the big giver in the family and a much appreciated one at that. This year with her limited mobility and lack of stamina, she assured that all had a gift, but could not manage to shop as diligently as she once could. Ah-h-h! The benefits of getting older. I am not a shopper!

The older boys were told they had to get under the piano to open their presents as through the years, that is where they would hide, knowing that Mom had purchased them all underwear and socks. Getting under the piano to open a present has become a favorite joke that the little ones still don't understand.

As the little ones got tired and fussy still thinking of Santa to come, as the big ones dreamed of pajamas and bed, we all quietly slipped away so Nanny and Pa could rest. I am so blessed to have such a loving and compassionate family. God has blessed us with his love and given us the joy of living along with the contentment gained from both.

As we look forward to the coming year, I wish for peace, joy and contentment for everyone. May God bless each heart with forgiveness, understanding, and compassion for our fellow man.

Happy reading!

Belle

Merry Christmas!

Christmas arrived quickly for me this year and I know it will be gone just as fast. I wish for each and everyone of you a joyful and safe Christmas.

Our Christmas tradition of visiting with my parents on Christmas eve will prevail once again. My parents are much older now and the revelry of so many children, spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren put them on edge after a short time, but we want and need to spend those joyful moments with them. We don't linger as we once would for fear of tiring them out, but they have given up their tradition of visiting all the little ones on Christmas morn so on Christmas eve we celebrate with the people that started this group called our family.

We will eat too much, as always. Our hearts will be full from the twinkling of those innocent eyes and the wonder expressed with each package they receive. Oh! How I wish for the innocence of a child.

I miss my daughter and my oldest grandchildren terribly, but look forward to seeing them after the first of the year.

Thank you for allowing me to share a small portion of my thoughts and my life over the past few months. It has been an enjoyable year of discovery and peace in my journey to rediscover myself.

Again, I wish for you a safe and Merry Christmas!

Happy reading!

Belle

Jogging in a Jug Recipe

1 quart red grape juice
2 quart apple juice
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Mix well adding up to 3/4 cup of honey to taste. Refrigerate. Take 2 ounces per day.

Crescent Rolls With Cheese

There is a heavy debate going on at my house. It is all over crescent rolls and cheese. In my humble opinion, cheese sprinkled over the dough, then rolled and baked is best. All the yummy cheese is baked into the dough. Hubby thinks that the rolls should be cooked, then sliced, buttered and cheese spread on the inside to melt. What is your opinion?

I also like to sprinkle shredded ham in with the cheese for really delicious ham and cheese crescents. There is just so much you can do with crescent rolls.

Let me know you favorite concoction for crescent rolls.

Happy reading!

Belle

A Bird Seed Shut Me Down

Are you familiar with bird seed bags? They are the absolutely greatest thought that anyone has come up with - except for maybe electricity, cars, central heat, microwaves, cell phone - well, anyway they are great! A small piece of flannel or wool sewn into a small bag then filled with bird seed. Throw these little bags in the microwave for a minute or two and you have the best heating pad ever. No up and down hot then warm, just warm flannel to ease those aches and pains. They are flexible so they bend to your body and oh the relief they bring.

Well, I was stitching up a few bird seed bags and the needle popped into three pieces - a bird seed had wiggled its way right into my top stitching line and broke. How in the world do those little tiny birds digest something so hard? As you may have read, I have just gotten my sewing machine up and running again after a 6 year dry spell, so I had no idea if there were spare needles hiding in those cabinet drawers.

The ensuing search took me down memory lane. Black lace from my daughter's prom dress, buttons from a jacket for said daughter, snaps from sunsuits, and on and on. Memories take a long time to go through, so I probably spent an hour or so going through these memories. No, it wasn't wasted time. It brought me much joy and in the process I found one needle. Not packaged as it should have been, but stuck in a piece of paper in the bottom of the drawer.

On with my project! I was relieved and anxious to finish up my project. The first problem I noticed was the thread was bunching on the backside on my material. A bad needle - no wonder it was stuck back in the drawer! Off I went in search of sewing machine needles. You would have thought I asked for the moon. No needles within 10 miles!

Today the search is on! I will find needles if I have to go to Atlanta to get them. Does anyone sew these days?

Back of the Bottle or Package

The best pecan pie recipe ever was on the back of the Karo Syrup bottle. Now they have a website filled with goodies. This week I am going to try their Pecan Chocolate Pie Bars. They sound delicious. Dixie Crystal's Brown Sugar falls right in there when baking. And don't forget the Baker's Chocolate, we all need a little chocolate in our lives.


Carnation Evaporated Milk was used in every creamed soup recipe for years and now they have a website filled with recipes from sweets to soups. I remember Mom chilling evaporated milk and then whipping it into a creamy mountain of fluff. Eagle Brand condensed milk has always been a staple during the Holiday baking season and it is a must for rich creamy ice cream.

Until the past few years, recipes have been handed down from generation to generation or found on the back of the bottle or package of one or more of the ingredients. It was a real treat 35 years ago to get a Betty Crocker or Better Homes and Gardens cookbook - I was lucky enough to get a Better Homes and Garden. As you can see, I have collected a few recipes over the years that I cherish for not just the recipe, but for the memories invoked when they are in the making. With the advent of the Internet and the ease of use, recipes are as close as a click of the mouse.

As you do your baking this Christmas season, there is one ingredient that is never listed in the recipe and that is love. Please remember to add a heaping cup whenever you mix your ingredients together. It is the secret ingredient in the best cooked foods.

Happy reading!

Belle

Shopping

I love shopping at Christmas. I just spent $85.00, but I saved $145.00. These sales are fantastic!

My list has been shortened this year, so does that mean I am not saving as much. I am trying my best to spend my way out of debt! Isn't that what we are suppose to do?

Better Than Sex Cake

Laugh, go ahead laugh! If you think it can't be true, try it out!

1 stick margarine
1 cup pecans
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg

Mix thoroughly. Press into an oven safe dish.

1 box confectioner's sugar
2 eggs
1 pkg 8 oz. cream cheese

Mix well on medium until smooth. Pour over cake mix crust.

Bake for 35 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

Enjoy!

Winter Is Upon Us

The fog moved in last yesterday afternoon and my mind automatically kicked into the "I don't want to" mode. I don't want to go out. I don't want to go shopping. I don't want to feed the chickens. I don't want to go out to eat.

Rain, fog, cold, snow and ice are the triggers for my "I don't want to mode". I am not afraid of any of these weather conditions, it is just a comfort thing for me. Hot tea, warm soup, lap blanket, pillow and a good book or movie - my comfort mode.

It looks like I am in for a comfort winter. The rain seems to go on and on, but I won't complain. We had too many thirsty years to resent the rain now. Hope to see some snow this year, but really don't want to see the ice.

Ice is really beautiful (like the snow) for about 15 minutes. It takes that long to realize there is no water or no electricity - comfy things cease to exist until the ice starts to melt. It has taken several days afterward before electricity is back. The snow is not nearly as bad, but after an hour or so, it is just messy. No, that is why we live in a nice warm climate instead of the icy cold of our northern states.

Our northern neighbors must be much more industrious than us southerners or they were all Boy Scouts. They stay prepared for that snow and icy stuff. Here in the south we are too laid back for winter's special sports. We can mud bog any time of the year and clean up with a hose pipe. No special equipment needed either - or pickup trucks work just fine!

If the winter is as mild as our fall, we don't have anything to worry about. It is suppose to be in the low 60s today and we have hit the middle of December with only 4 frosty days to date. Sounds like spring is around the corner.

Enjoy your Holiday season and here's to wishing each and everyone of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy, but please stay safe.

Happy reading!

Belle

Southside Grill

We just enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Southside Grill in Griffin, Ga. located on Highway 19. The food was delicious with a variety filled menu. Those that ordered steaks were very happy with the way they were cooked (and believe me, we had some "hard to please" when it comes to a good steak), those ordering chicken advised that it was delicious, the grilled Shrimp Alfredo was very tasty as was the Chicken Alfredo.

The service was impeccable. Everyone loved the fried dill pickles.

The prices were very reasonable and the atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming. If you haven't tried this place, make time for a visit.

Chocolate Refrigerator Pie

4 Hershey Almond bars
1/4 cup milk
20 lg Marshmallows
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup whipped cream
1 baked pie shell

Melt hershey bars, milk, marshmallows and salt in double boiler. When chocolate mixter has cooled, fold in whipped cream. Pour into baked pie shell. Refrigerate for several hours. Garnish with additional whipped cream and almond slivers.

Danish Potato Salad Platter

1 bag 16 oz frozen hash brown potatoes
1/2 cup water
1-1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1 med onion - chopped (1/2 cup)
1 pod bell pepper, quarters, seeded and cut in thin stiprs (julienne)
1 pod red bell, seeded and diced (1/2 cup)
4 hard boiled eggs
1 pkg 8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup blue cheese salad dressing
1 tbsp milk
1 bunch fresh broccoli
2 tbsp french dressing
Boston lettuce
2 med tomatoes - thinly sliced
red pepper seasoning (will need 2-3 drops liquid or 1/2 tsp of powder)

Heat to boiling in a large skillet the frozen potatoes with 1/2 tsp salt. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until potatoes are tender and liquid absorbed. Combine potatoes, onion, and peppers in a large bowl. Dice 3 whole eggs and the white of the 4th egg (setting aside the yolk of the 4th egg for garnish) into the potato mixture. Combine cream cheese, blue cheese dressing, milk, red pepper seasoning and remaining 1 tsp salt in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. Fold cream cheese mixture into the potato mixture. Cover, Chill several hours to absorb the seasoning.

Broccoli should be washed and cleaned of all leaves, then deflowered. Cut stalks into 3 inch sections, paring the skins as needed and cutting lengthwise into strips.In a large skillet, place stalks on the bottom and florets on the top. Pour boiling water over broccoli until there is 1 inch of water in the skillet. Cover and cook about 12 minutes or until crisp and tender, drain and place in a shallow dish. Drizzle french dressing over broccoli, cover and chill for an hour.

To serve, line a large platter with lettuce, fill center of platter with potato mixture, surround with broccoli florets and pieces. Garnish with thinly sliced tomato and remaining egg yolk crumbled over tomato.

This is a great side dish that is at home with any meal. Dresses up a meal of sandwiches or hamburgers.

Olive Cheese Nuggets

Shred 1/4 lb of cheddar cheese into a large mixing bowl, blend in 1/4 cup of soft butter (not melted), 3/4 cup of sifted flour, 1/8 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp paprika. Blend thoroughly.

Break off globe of dough and shape around a stuffed olive. Bake on and ungreased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

Nuggets can be refrigerated or frozen to be cooked later, but allow to warm to room temperature before baking.

This recipe came from Martha in Rockford, Illinois as part of a recipe exchange back in the 70s.

A great hors d'oeuvre and something out of the ordinary for us Southern cooks.

Ground Beef or Venison

There is so much you can do with ground meat - beef, turkey, deer, etc. - hamburgers, meatloaf, mac cheese and ground beef, scrambled burgers, meatballs, and the list goes on and on. It can be dressed up, left plain or an entire meal in a skillet can be concocted with ground meat. Remember there is a vast difference in the fat content of ground beef so go for the lean if at all possible.

The most popular additions to ground meat is onions and bell pepper. Oh! That can be so good without adding anything. Adding your favorite vegetables, a can of cream of mushroom soup and a bag of noodles creates a meal in a skillet. Browned ground meat, a can of cheddar cheese soup, and a box of elbow macaroni is a real hit with the small ones. Adding sour cream or cream cheese to the blend gives an easy change up in the flavor without changing a complete recipe or a lot of dollars out of the pocket. The Hamburger Helper people learned real fast and created their meals in a box. It is easy to do and a pound of ground meat yields a variety of yummy dinners straight from your cupboard.

With ground turkey or deer I always add celery. It brings out the flavor of the turkey and kills any wild game taste in the deer. Garlic is also a favorite of mine. Adding ground basil to a ground meat dish is especially good when tomatoes are used. I also use a little olive oil when cooking ground deer as venison does not contain a great deal of fat and some fat is needed to cook properly.

Below is two old favorites and these were before Hamburger Helper hit the shelves. The recipes seem identical at first, but changing a couple of ingredients can render a new and tasty dish with ease.

Picadillo

1- 1/2 lb ground chuck
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green pepper (bell)
Garlic, Salt, and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup green salad olives
2 tbsp olive oil
cooking wine to taste (optional)

In a large skillet or large saucepan, brown meat, onions, and pepper in the olive oil with garlic and wine. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low until meat breaks up completely or about 2 hours. Serve over white rice.

Quick Beef Put-together

1 lb ground beef
1 pod bell pepper
1 med onion
1 sm box of Instant Rice
1-2 1/2 tomatoes
Chili Powder
Garlic Salt

In a large skillet or saucepan, brown beef, pepper, and onion. When browned, add tomatoes, rice, chili powder and garlic salt. Add water as needed to keep mixture loose. Simmer for 20 - 30 minutes.

Chicken Gumbo

Our family refers to this as my sister's Chicken Gumbo, but in reality it was shared by a close family friend. My sister makes this according to the recipe as I do or my mother does, however, hers is different. It is just one of those things, no explanation! My children will tell you, Mom's is good but . . . I feel the same way and as a result, this has become her recipe!

This is great for those cold winter nights or when you have a crowd to feed. Warm and nourishing, it is a pleasant detour around the chili or vegetable soup meals.

Boil a large fryer or hen in salted water until the meat falls from the bone. Remove hen from broth, remove meat from bone, returning meat to broth.

In a small skillet, fry 4 slices of bacon and set aside to drain on a paper towel. Stir 1 cup of chopped onions and one clove of crushed garlic into the bacon drippings. Saute until brown, then stir 1/3 cup of flour into the onion and garlic mixture. Stir constantly until flour has browned; pour mixture into broth. Also add 1 pint tomatoes and 2 tsp Gumbo Filet to the broth. Cover and let simmer. Add 1 pint okra, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce to broth. Simmer at least 45 minutes. Serve over rice.

Delicious!

Ham In A Blanket

I haven't tried this recipe, but have eaten the results at one of the many covered dish dinners/suppers. The contributor did not sign the card, so if it is yours, Thank You very much!

Small to medium sugar cured ham, trim off fat.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp cloves
1 cup pineapple juice

Mix ingredients adding pineapple juice a little at a time until a stiff paste is formed. Coat the trimmed ham with the paste and cook in 250 - 300 degree oven for 20 minutes for each pound of ham. (example: 8 pound ham would cook for 160 minutes or 2 hours 40 minutes)

Meatloaf

Don't skip this one! Most people either love meatloaf or they hate it! I have eaten good meatloaf and then . . . well, you know. There really isn't any so-so meatloaf. The trick is to find the combination you and your family love. Most any vegetable is good with meatloaf. A good meatloaf sandwich is hard to beat.

I am not a tomato sauce or ketchup eater, but I do love tomatoes. I can't eat - it just won't go down - meatloaf smothered in ketchup. Some people love ketchup on everything they eat and so finding what is right for you is the best route.

Easy Meatloaf

1 pound lean ground beef
1 package of Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 egg
2 tbsp Worchestershire (optional - again this depends on preferences)
bread or cracker crumbs (about 1 cup)
salt to taste (normally about 1 teaspoon)
pepper (normally about 1 teaspoon)
garlic (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Bake in a loaf pan or 8" x 8" oven safe dish in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on the baking dish). It is up to you whether you cover in ketchup. This recipe is very adaptable. You can add as many or as few spices as you like. The onion soup mix probably has enough salt for the average person - I am a salt eater, much to the chagrin of my doctor.

Note: Food baked in a loaf pan takes 15 - 30 minutes longer to get done than in an 8" x 8" baking dish due to the depth of the loaf pan.

Mrs. Kinard's Meatloaf

1 pound ground beef
2 eggs
4 stems celery
1 med onion
1 pod bell pepper
1 sm can tomato paste (1/2 can for beef mixture, 1/2 can for topping)
2 tblsp flour (heaping tablespoons)

Mix all ingredients saving 1/2 tomato paste for the top. Press mixture into loaf pan/dish or 8" x 8" oven safe dish. Top with remaining tomato paste, cook covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour, uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes.

Jackie's Meat Loaf

1 cup oatmeal
1 small onion
1 sm can tomatoe paste
1/3 cup celery
dash of parsley
dash of garlic
2 1/2 to 3 pounds of ground beef
1/2 - 1/2 cup evaporated milk

Mix all ingredients, cover top with ketchup. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

As you can tell, I have had to be creative in making my meatloaf. Hubby can smother his with ketchup is he wants after it is cooked, but I am happy without the tomatoe paste or ketchup.

Another note - if ground beef rather than ground chuck is used, add more crumbs, flour or oatmeal. This filler will absorb the extra grease from the beef and make your loaf firmer.

Belle's Meatloaf

1 pound lean ground beef
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 finely chopped medium onion
1 finely chopped bell pepper
1 finely chopped clove of garlic
1 cup finely crushed saltines
2 tbsp Worchestershire

Mix all ingredients, press into loaf dish or 8" x 8" oven safe dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Virginia Chicken Casserole

This casserole starts with a boiled fryer. For those working Mom's and Dad's this is a good recipe to start in the crock pot .

Boil a fryer (or a hen) until it comes off the bone. Cut the meat into small pieces. Mix with one can of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup and a little water (1/4 - 1/2 can). Put into a 1 2/2 quart casserole (oven safe) and cook in a preheated 350 degree oven until mixture is bubbly. Remove from oven, cover bubbly mixture with 1 package of Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Stuffing (your choice of flavors). Return to over and cook until top browns.

Note: Salt or salt substitute, pepper, garlic, celery seeds, or your favorite seasoning is added to the water in which fryer is boiled. Makes a tasty and healthy casserole. You can also add your favorite vegetable to the chicken and soup mix for a great one dish meal.

Breakfast Muffins

2 cups self rising flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 egg, well beaten
3 tbsp melted shortening

Sift together flour, sugar, salt into mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, stir milk into well beaten egg and add melted shortening. Pour liquids into dry mix and stir quickly, until ingredients are just blended and batter is still rough looking. Don't over stir. Fill well greased muffin pan cups 2/3 full. Cook in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

This is a good basic muffin recipe. These are extra yummy with a little cinnamon and chopped pecans added to the batter.

Pound Cake

I have 3 recipes for old fashioned pound cake. Nothing beats a good pound cake and it can be fancied up for any occasion.
Only one of these recipes call for vanilla extract. The third one calls for lemon extract, making this one a lemon pound cake. Any of the extract flavors can be used to vary the taste of the cake. Almond and vanilla are a good blend and makes a big difference in the taste of the cake - I would use 1 tsp of each. All of these cakes make a large tube cake.

Ms. Bell's Pound Cake

3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup crisco or your favorite shortening
1 stick oleo, margarine or butter
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup whole milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar, continue mixing adding 1 egg at a time, thoroughly mixing it into the batter. Add flour and milk alternately. Mix on medium until well blended. Pour batter into a large greased and floured tube pan. Bake 1 1/2 hours in a preheated 300 degree oven.

Note - this makes a large tube cake.

Unknown author - Pound Cake

3 sticks whipped butter
1/2 cup crisco
2 1/2 cup sugar
5 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk

In a large bowl, cream butter, crisco, sugar. Once creamed, add eggs one at a time, then vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk to the creamed mixture continually beating to blend.

Pour batter into a large greased tube pan and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

Lemon Pound Cake

2/3 cup shortening
1 1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
1 tsp lemon extract
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp double acting baking powder
3 eggs

Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk and extract, blend well. Sift dry ingredients together and add to mixture. Beat until smooth. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each. Beat entire mixture well before pouring into well grease loaf pan or tube pan. (Makes a smaller tube cake.) Bake for 1 hour 25 minutes - t 1/2 hours in a preheated 300 degree oven.