Happy Halloween!

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...BOO!

 

This is as scary as I get for Halloween...LOL...all those chins are not the latex ones from the store...they are real and like everything else gravity is beginning to drop them lower and lower...I took this photo with my phone one morning to send to my kids...so I thought I would use it to wish all my readers Happy Halloween! The following is a brief history of this candy grabbing trick or treating festive day...

Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.

This is my sweet husband humoring me by posing, with the trick or treat pumpkins we got for three of the grand children that live near us. He cracks up at some of the crazy things I want to photograph to us on my blog. He is use to whiplash when I come to a screeching halt along side the highway or turning in to a place I see that I want to take pictures...he has even got really awesome at taking them too!

I love CAT photos!

Natural Painkillers

 

Thanks to Ema's Herbs for posting this on Facebook...Cracks me up "The Farmacy" at the top is a cute name...and to think we can get these from our kitchens!

Cheese-Garlic Biscuits Mix

My daughter sent me these photos and assures me that we all need to try this mix! She said they are almost as easy as canned biscuits and really good. I love quick mixes!

 

 

Apples

This is a really awesome "chart" to know how to shop for apples.

My daughter sent it to me and she probably found it on Facebook,

so I don't know who to thank for putting it together.

 

 

 

Honey Maid Grahamfuls

 This is a yummy snack bar...

 

 

Friday Foto

Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren enjoy the fall carnival.

Photos by Danny and Shelby...thanks for sharing!

This was set up in the local grocery store parking lot...

only in Western Oklahoma!

 

 

Brown Beans & Cornbread

My husband made brown beans in the crock pot. Normally he cooks brown beans on top of the stove in a dutch oven or large stock pot. The top of the stove method is to bring the pot to a boil and then turn down on low and let them cook for several hours until they are done. This crock pot cooking is such a good way to put something on in the morning and have ready to eat when you arrive home from work! With his crock pot beans he washed two pounds of pinto beans and picked out the goofy looking ones. He dumped the beans in the crock pot and added fourteen cups of water.  

Normally we add ham hocks or bacon ends or salt pork to the pinto beans, but this time he took a canned ham from the cabinet, cut it into little square pieces and put in with the beans. He also chopped one medium onion and added to the beans.

Next he added garlic powder, salt, pepper and a couple sprinkles of red pepper flakes. He does not measure so the amount is to your individual taste. He is not crazy about the red pepper flakes, but I love them. Stir everything together and put the lid on the crock pot.

He cooked the beans on high for seven hours. And the beans were just perfect. He likes to eat his brown beans in a bowl with lots of bean juice. You can see in the photo he was able to have enough. If you do not want so much juice cut back on the water a little bit. Just make sure you have enough water to cook the beans. They soak up a lot so I would use 12 cups for sure.

2 pounds pinto beans = $2.00

1 pound canned ham = $2.50

1 medium onion = .50

salt, pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes 

Approximately $5.50 for the entire pot of brown beans!

The bean package said 13 servings per pound of beans...now that made me laugh...if those fools think there's 26 servings in this pot they must have a really small bowl! 

YOU HAVE TO HAVE CORNBREAD WITH BROWN BEANS...

Shawnee Best White Corn Meal Mix made according to package directions: 2 cups corn meal mix, 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons melted oil. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put the oil in a cast iron skillet and place in the oven. Mix the rest of the ingredients together. Pour the hot oil out of the skillet into the mix. Stir and pour the mixture into the skillet. Bake at 400 degrees approximately 35 minutes until golden brown. Yield: 16 two inch squares.

Ok we are not going to get 2 inch squares out of a round cast iron skillet! NOTE: The reason for heating the oil in the skillet is to obtain the golden brown crust on the bottom of the cornbread like the example above.

He makes the best cornbread. Sometimes he adds jalapeno peppers or corn or onions or cheese to the cornbread and sometimes he puts them all in at once. You did note that he uses Shawnee Best White Corn Meal Mix because it is MADE IN OKLAHOMA!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Chocolate Topping

from Better Homes and Gardens e-mail newsletter

I you are not signed up to receive the Better Homes and Gardens e-mail newsletter you should sign up asap...you will find recipes crafts home decorating, etc.

 

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1   17 1/2 ounce package oatmeal cookie mix
• 2   8 ounces packages cream cheese, softened
• 1   3/4 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1   15 ounce can pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1/4 cup butter
• 48 pecan halves

                                                                

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15x10x1-inch pan with foil, extending foil over the pan edges. Lightly grease foil. Set pan aside. In a large bowl, use a pastry blender to cut 1/2 cup butter into cookie mix until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press mixture evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until set.

2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition until just combined. Stir in pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Pour pumpkin mixture onto the hot crust.

3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes more or until mixture is slightly puffed around edges and just set in center. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

4. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate pieces and the 1/4 cup butter. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 30 to 60 seconds or until softened; stir until smooth. Drizzle chocolate over the cooled bars and carefully spread evenly. Gently press pecan halves evenly across top of bar mixture. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut bars out of the pan. Cut into bars, cutting straight down with a large knife.

Kennda's Chili

 What ever my daughter cooks she always adds 4 basic seasonings...

 

This is Kennda's Chili Recipe

4 pounds hamburger meat

1 pound sausage

Minced onions 1 cup red and 1/2 cup white

Accent, onion powder, garlic powder, lemon pepper

and chili powder

Cook onions, meat and seasonings

then add 2 packages of McCormick Chili Seasoning

1 large can and 1 small can tomato paste

2 cans chili tomatoes

extra chili powder

Simmer for at least 30 minutes

 Top with your favorite cheese...

 The first day you can have just plain chili

the next day you can have chili dogs

the next day you can have corn chips and chili pie

and so on until you finish the pot of chili!

Wendy's Chili

Wendy's Chili

  Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh ground beef
1 quart tomato juice
1 (29-ounce) can tomato purée
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained
1 medium-large onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
1/4 cup chili powder (use less for milder chili)
1 teaspoon ground cumin (use more for real flavor)
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions:
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain off the fat. Put the beef and the remaining ingredients in a 6-quart pot. Cover the pot and let the chili simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes. You can also cook this in a slow cooker on low for 3 to 4 hours.

Antique Crafts to Make Now

I looked up on the cabinet above the clothes dryer today, and hanging there was a pretty ugly "craft" that my Grandmother "Mama Gen" had made probably 40 years ago. No telling how many years I have had it hanging there! It is the second photo. It made me think of sharing with you some of the "antique" crafts hanging out at my house. My kids would have tossed these things long ago, but they make me smile.

 Below in the first photo you will see on the left a YARN WEATHER FORECASTER. If you knit this might be a fun little thing to make. I do not knit so no telling where I picked up this crafty item. The old yellowing paper attached to it says,

 "You are the proud owner of an "Okie" weather forecaster.

 For best results, hang on a nail outside your window.

If it's moving, it's windy.

If it's wet, it's raining.

If its stiff, it's freezing.

If it's white, it's snowing.

If it's gone, it's been ripped off!

The middle "GRAPE CLUSTER" reminds me of my Granny. As long as I can remember she had a couple of these hanging on her wall. I wish I had one of hers, but this one I picked up at an auction or garage sale. It is beautiful craft work. The grapes are made by crocheting over/around pop bottle lids. The grape leaves and hanging loop also display excellent crocheting skills.

The third item on the right in the top photo is a BOOK MARK. It is made by weaving yarn in and out of that plastic mesh stuff that was so popular years ago.

This second photo is the craft my Mama Gen made. It has a message that goes with it too.

Put your THIMBLE in my pocket...

Stick your NEEDLES in my knees...

Put your THREAD down my neck...

and Hang me where you please!!

She gave these to lots of people and I even remember the fabric of some of the others being much prettier than this one. She was always sewing something, so I rarely saw her without her thimble on her finger. She made quilts all the time and loved to mend things for people.

This old craft, in this third photo, is made from two dish cloths and some yarn. It's attached verse is...

Don't be misguided.

Don't be misled.

These aren't for you, but for your dishes instead.

Take out the bows.

Take out the stitches.

You've got two dishcloths, but you've lost your britches!

Hope you have enjoyed my "antique craft" show! Or at the very least it made you smile. I know I have plenty more hidden away.  Look around at your house or your parents house and I bet you can find a few "antique crafts".

 

Note: This was one of the first posts I did when I started my blog and I wanted to share it again, because I love these funny craft ideas.

Halloween Crafts

Spider from clay pot, pipe cleaners and acrylic paint.

Spider from pipe cleaners, sucker and pearl eyes.

 Bats and Spiders from craft foam and eyes.

Hang on wall or hang from string.

 

 

Friday Foto

My Granddaughter has fun playing with photos

this is a photo of my Great Grandson

the original and then one with a background

and then one she really had fun with...enjoy.