Buttermilk

Growing up my grandparents always drank buttermilk or had buttermilk with cornbread crumbled up in it for a cool evening meal. My husband cooks with buttermilk when he makes cornbread or pancakes. I love the powdered buttermilk to use in cooking...it is great to add a tablespoon or two into cornmeal or flour being used to bread something like fried dill pickles!  

Considerations - Buttermilk is a good source of potassium, Vitamin B-12, calcium and phosphorous. It also contains probiotics; they help with digestion and strengthen your immune system. Buttermilk is rich in lactic acid bacteria and aids in digestion and gets rid of problems like acidity and indigestion.

Benefits - Buttermilk is easier to digest than regular milk because it contains even more lactic acid than can be found in skim milk.

Potential - Buttermilk is effective in reducing heat in the body. That's why many people drink it in the summer months. Buttermilk can offer relief from hot flashes and high body temperatures.

Misconceptions - Because the word butter is in its name, it's naturally assumed to be higher in fat content than regular milk. Buttermilk actually has less fat than regular milk; the fat has been removed to make butter.

Buttermilk is a great drink to aid in weight loss. If you drink buttermilk a while before a meal or even with a meal, you will get full easily and will tend to eat less. Also, the food that you eat will be better digested. Buttermilk also contains very low fat, so it meets your basic requirement for fats as well.

Did you know that there are various buttermilk benefits for skin too? Regularly drinking buttermilk will ensure that your digestive system remains clear and the first place where this will reflect on is your skin! There are even various buttermilk bath benefits, where people have a bath with buttermilk or rub it on their skin and wash it, as it acts as a cleansing, de-tanning and a moisturizing agent.

A person who has had his gallbladder removed really needs to watch his diet and is not allowed to have anything that is very high in fats. Buttermilk is said to be a part of gallstones diet, as a person is discouraged from having whole milk or fatty milk. This is the person's best source for calcium after he has had his gallbladder removed.

Who knew buttermilk was so great? All this time I just thought it was used in cooking!

100th Day of School Shirt - 2012

For $3.00 I made a 100th Day of School Shirt for Granny's Love aka my Grandson. I went to the Family Dollar Store and purchased a package of 3 t-shirts (white undershirts), because they were cheaper ($6.50 for the package)  than purchasing individual shirts. (I use the word "cheaper" when I should say less expensive...point is saving money, so bear with me and my old fashioned wording when I write.) Plus, I have the other two shirts to make two more projects for him. I also picked up a package of brightly colored permanent markers, $2.00 for package of 8. I will also use them for additional projects. I love to purchase things that I can use for multiple projects.

I slipped the t-shirt over my lap desk for a firm surface.

Word to the wise, if you do not want your lap desk top to say 100 Days Smarter,

put a layer of foil or plastic wrap on the lap desk and then slip the t-shirt over it.

The permanent markers will bleed through the shirt.

Then I wrote 100 DAYS SMARTER and drew on 100 STARS.

You could stencil the words and stars, but he is only going to wear

this shirt to school one day and then it will be play shirt.

This Granny is into easy projects these days,

so I just freehanded the words and stars.

The shirt below is the one I made for him last year see my blog post 1-2-11.

The year before the safety pin shirt, I sewed 100 buttons on a shirt for him.

That was way too much work!

Chimichangas

When we do not cook enough the night before to have for lunch the next day Chimichangas are always in the freezer to put in our lunch. These are under $4 for a package of 8.

We put two Chimichangas in our lunch dish straight from the freezer. By the time they are in the fridge until noon the next day and we microwave the lunch they are perfect. This day for lunch we had pinto beans with jalapeno peppers and onions and whole kernel corn with butter.

This dish was lots cheaper than eating out and much better tasting.

Funny Looking Yard!

I have never seen a yard look like this.

It looks like the "winter" grass is coming up in a pattern.

This is the yard of one of my friends in Oklahoma City.

 She lives in a place where the yard work is done by the maintenance people.

Carnegie Library

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie set up a program to build libraries around the world. Communities who wanted to have a Carnegie Library had to apply for grants and agree to provide matching contributions for the buildings. The Carnegie Library buildings were built between 1883 and 1929.

If you have followed my blog, you know by now that I love old buildings. I love the grand way the builders once constructed the facilities, and I can see the pride the workers applied to their trade. I have driven by the Carnegie Library in Ardmore in the past. One day I took a different street in Elk City, Oklahoma and saw this Carnegie Library. I ask my husband (who knows more facts about more stuff than the average person) why there was a library in Ardmore and one in Elk City with the same name. He told me about Andrew Carnegie and his library program.



Carnegie Library 221 West Broadway Elk City, Oklahoma

Then I found out that Andrew Carnegie had granted money to build 24 Carnegie Libraries in the State of Oklahoma! That is awesome! Not only did the communities have to provide matching contributions to build the facility, they also had to agree to collect a tax to continue providing books, supplies and staff the library in their community. As you can see by the information below every town raised a different matching amount. Elk City got a $10,000 grant, so their building must have cost $20,000 to build and in 1914 that was a lot of money! 

Ardmore March 20, 1903 $15,000 grant - 500 Stanley Street SW
Current location of the Pansy Garden Club



Bartlesville April 23, 1908 $12,500 grant - 7th and Osage


Chickasha February 12, 1903 $10,000 grant -  527 Iowa Ave
Razed in 1963


Collinsville June 1, 1915 $7,500 grant - 1223 W Main St


Cordell January 6, 1911 $9,000 grant - 105 E 1st St
Location of Washita County Historical Society museum since 1981


El Reno November 25, 1903 $12,500 grant - 215 E. Wade

Elk City (shown in photos) April 13, 1914 $10,000 grant - 221 West Broadway


Enid February 20, 1904 $25,000 grant - 402 North Independence Avenue
Razed in 1972


Frederick September 25, 1914 $10,000 grant - 200 East Grand


Guthrie October 17, 1901 $26,000 grant - 406 E Oklahoma Ave


Hobart May 2, 1911 $10,000 grant -  200 S Main


Lawton March 31, 1916 $20,000 grant - 5th & "B" Avenue
Currently Lawton town hall


McAlester March 24, 1906 $25,000 grant - 325 E. Grand Avenue
Razed in 1973


Miami March 15, 1916 $10,000 grant -  200 N. Main
Razed in 1962


Muskogee August 30, 1910 $60,000 grant - 401 E. Broadway
Currently occupied by Ark of Faith


Oklahoma City October 27, 1899 $60,000 grant - 131 Dean A. McGee Avenue
Razed in 1951


Perry February 13, 1909 $10,000 grant - 302 North 7th Street


Ponca City August 29, 1908 $6,500 grant - Grand Avenue and Fifth Street
Razed in 1935


Sapulpa January 28, 1916 $25,000 grant - 27 W Dewey


Shawnee June 2, 1904 $15,500 grant - 331 North Broadway
Now the District Attorney's office


Tahlequah March 25, 1905 $10,000 grant - 300 S College Ave


Tulsa November 30, 1910 $55,000 grant - 3rd and Cheyenne
Razed in 1965


Wagoner December 7, 1911 $10,000 grant - 102 South State


Woodward December 3, 1915 $10,000 grant - 1207 8th Street

The Carnegie Library buildings had a "grand" entrance, usually with a set of stairs to the main doors. This building is no exception, and the green tile roof really sets it off. Note that the ends of the building have another special feature. I have no idea if those cement toppers were original on the building, but they look neat to me. There were hundreds of Carnegie Library buildings built in the United States. Do you have a Carnegie Library building near you?

Grandson & The Governor

Last month my Grandson, aka Granny's Love, got to go to the State Capitol with his class and meet the Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin. My grandson is on the floor left front of the photo and the Governor is in the back of the photo right side in the black dress with red jacket. Next to the Governor is Janet Baressi the State Secretary of Education. This was quite an honor for his class. They were chosen out of thousands of classrooms in the State of Oklahoma, to go to the capitol and decorate a Christmas tree to be on display during the month of December.

Vegetable Beef Soup

Vegetable Beef Soup

Package of cubed beef

Onion chopped in big hunks

3 cans diced tomatoes

1 can tomato soup

1 can green beans

2 cans whole kernel corn

6 medium potatoes cut in pieces

1 small package of carrots

1/4 head of cabbage chopped

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Season Salt

Red Pepper Flakes

and any other seasoning you like in soup

you can also add lots of other vegetables 

Put a little oil in the bottom of your favorite large soup pot

Brown the beef and onions

Add the seasonings

Add the rest of the ingredients

Bring to a boil and then turn down to low and simmer for several hours

Check the carrots and potatoes and it is ready when they are tender

Monday!

Someone sent me this picture in a e-mail and I can SO relate!

Easy Barbecue Spaghetti

Ever since we went through Memphis and ate barbecue spaghetti at Neeley's it has been a favorite for my family. My daughter sent me these photos (yellow cast because she took them with her cell phone) of the EASY way to make barbecue spaghetti. She picked up a tub of hickory smoked barbecue beef brisket at one of the super stores. Just cook the spaghetti and mix with the barbecue brisket. EASY. She also made three-cheese biscuits to go with this easy dinner menu.

If you have never tried barbecue spaghetti, I suggest you do it as soon as possible...OH MY....it is good! Before trying it at Neeley's I would have never done it on my own.

Ree Drummond on Food Network Saturday 9am!

Make yourself a note to watch Ree Drummond The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network at 9:00 am central time on Saturday mornings! AWESOME SHOW! Last Saturday she made a pork roast that looked so yummy! I wrote down the information so I could get my husband to make it for us. If you want to see all the recipes and get more information check out Ree's Blog The Pioneer Woman or go to www.foodnetwork.com/pioneerwoman

Yummy Pork Roast to make pulled pork.

2 onions, peeled and quartered

1 whole pork butt or pork shoulder roast

Salt and black pepper

One can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

2 cans pop of your choice

4 tablespoons brown sugar

Put the onions in the pot and add the roast.

Add all the other stuff and put the lid on the pot.

Cook at 300 degrees for 6 hours.

Ree also made a flat apple pie topped with  a carmel sauce...wow it looked good too!

www.foodnetwork.com/pioneerwoman

Bounce

Bounce is for other things besides putting in your clothes dryer! My friend sent this to me and I thought WOW I never even thought of most of these...I will be trying a lot of these and hope they work!

U.S. Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away.

Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. Use it when working outside. It really works. The insects just veer around you.

1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from

entering your vehicle.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling..

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

12. To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds.. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack

cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.

23. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it. While you are at it, travel with several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed, it will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in it.

Do you have any other suggestions for using Bounce?

License Tag Dust Pan

Goulash

GOULASH

One pound package elbow macaroni

One pound hamburger meat

One medium or large onion

Four cans chopped tomatoes

Two cans whole kernal corn

One twelve ounce can tomato juice

Black Pepper to taste

Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain. Put the macaroni in a dutch oven type pot. While the macroni is cooking chop the onion and cook it together with the hamburger meat. Drain the grease off the cooked hamburger. Now dump the hamburger and onion, tomatoes, corn and tomato juice in with the macaroni. Stir until mixed together. Simmer until everything is hot and flavors have had a chance to blend. Be careful to not let it stick to the bottom of the pan.

This is one version of GOULASH. I have made it a zillion different ways, but the basic stuff is macaroni, hamburger meat, onions and tomatoes. Sometimes I use tomatoes with green chilis in them or I will add green bell pepper or what ever I might have on hand. Some people add chili powder to their GOULASH. No matter how you make it, GOULASH is a great winter comfort food.

Eggs Good for Snacks

I get regular e-mails from  http://www.care2.com and I love some of the things I learn on that site. For years I have taken hard boiled eggs in a cooler when I was going to be traveling. They make a perfect snack for me to eat while driving. I read this article the other day about how easy eggs are to make and transport. It also says they are good-for-your-mood snack...I am not telling my husband this little bit of information or he will keep an 18 pack boiled for me all the time! If you have not looked at http://www.care2.com do it soon.

Eggs might not be the first food that comes to mind when you think of a snack, but a hard-boiled egg is easy to make and easy to transport. It’s also a really good-for-you and good-for-your-mood snack. Full of high-quality protein and omega-3s (from hens eating a diet rich in omega-3s), eggs are also an excellent source of vitamin B12 (riboflavin) and a good source of vitamins B2, B5, and D. And one boiled egg contains more than 20 percent of the daily recommended amount of tryptophan.

While carbs are crucial for converting tryptophan into serotonin, protein is an important part of the process, too. A balanced diet that includes high-quality lean protein, like you find in eggs, and healthy carbs also helps stabilize blood sugar and prevent emotional highs and lows. And the Vitamin B12 in eggs plays a significant role in the production of energy and helps alleviate memory problems and symptoms of depression.

Get even happier:

Add your egg to whole-grain toast for a satisfying snack that will give you a boost of long-lasting energy and fuel a feeling of well-being. Complex carbohydrates are an ideal pairing for protein-rich eggs, since they temporarily produce a calming effect by delivering a dose of tryptophan and triggering the production of serotonin. Carbohydrates also aid in the absorption of tryptophan in the brain.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/super-snacks-5-best-snacks-for-mood.html#ixzz1h5Q1hlcO

Finger and Toe Nails High Maintenance!

This is about three girls who cannot breathe if they do not have their finger and toe nails done! Then they have to go back and have them filled in every couple of weeks. They are what I call HIGH MAINTENANCE! I have never had my finger or toe nails done in a salon, but then I have really hard strong nails. I also do not like polish on my finger nails, but I do like to keep my toe nails painted. These are only examples of some of the nails they have spent good money to have put on their fingers or toes.

These are not professional toe nails...

these are some my granddaughter did for me at home.

She used polish, decals, top coat and it lasted for over a month!

I know my toes are old and ugly, but I wanted you to see what $4 could do from home...

 instead of $40 from the salon.

Stain Removal

I get so much junk mail, but the other day I received this really neat Stain Removal information. I wanted to share it with you, so here it is:

Lots of information and since I can read the print I sure hope you can too!

Paint Sample Art Project

Tiffiany sent me these photos of the ART PROJECT she did using PAINT SAMPLES.

She purchased 2 inexpensive 11 x 14 frames that already had a 8 x 10 opening mat.

Then she picked up some of those free paint sample cards at the store.

She purchased some Pearlescent Paper, but said you did not have to use this.

Couple pieces of aluminum foil and some glue.

She put the Pearlescent Paper in the mat.

Then decided how she wanted the paint samples laid out.

She crumpled up some pieces of the aluminum foil just to add a little bling.

Once she got the patten she wanted she glued everything down to the paper.

She made two different pieces of art to compliment each other.

I think they are really awesome!

The photo below shows how she made a complete art installation on the wall.

This is Tiffiany...my "third" daughter.

Thanks Tiffiany for sharing this project with us.