Special Occasion Cakes

My daughter's friend Kim makes some awesome special occasion cakes. These are some of the neat ideas she has come up with to make her special cakes.

Friday Foto

My sister Cinda sent this post card to me...

"It is winter here, so very cold!"

This is a photo she took of the Whangarei Falls.

Chinese Food Ingredients

I love Chinese food and eat at my favorite restaurant, New Young China, every chance I get. I found this list of ingredients commonly found in Chinese food. I thought it was interesting to learn what exactly the stuff was that made Chinese food taste so wonderful.

Chinese food ingredients:

bamboo shoots: Tender, fleshy yellow sprouts from bamboo canes

bean sprouts: Sprouts from the mung bean. Bean sprouts are not to be confused with alfalfa sprouts, which are smaller and finer

brown candy: A hard form of dark sugar available in packages or sometimes sold in bulk at specialty markets

Chinese black vinegar: A dark vinegar with a deeper, smokier flavor than light rice vinegar

Chinese (celery) cabbage: A pale green vegetable with broad, tightly packed leaves, often used in soups and stir fries. Other leafy green vegetables, such as fresh spinach or chard, can be substituted for Chinese cabbage.

cornstarch: A fine, white starch made from corn and used to thicken sauces. When using cornstarch, put the required amount of dry cornstarch in a cup and add just enough cold water to form a smooth, think paste. Then add this mixture to the other ingredients. This method keeps the cornstarch from forming lumps when cooked.

duck or plum sauce: A thick sauce often used as a dip. Made from plums, chilies, sugar, and spices.

garlic: A bulb-forming herb with a strong, distinctive flavor. Each bulb can be broken up into several small sections called cloves. Before you chop a clove of garlic, remove the brittle, papery covering that surrounds it.

gelatin: A clear, powdered protein used as a thickening agent.

ginger roon: A knobby, light brown root used to flavor food. To use fresh ginger root, slice off the amount called for, peel off the skin with the side of a spoon, and grate the flesh. Freeze the rest of the root for future use. Do not substitute dried ground ginger for fresh ginger, as the taste is very different.

glutinous rice flour: A powder made from sweet or glutinous rice. Also called sticky rice flour or sweet rice flour, this is different from regular rice flour and the two cannot be substituted for each other.

hoisin sauce: A dark, sweet, thick sauce made from soybeans, sugar, and spices. It can be used in cooking or as a dip.

oyster sauce: A sauce made from oysters, sugar, and soy sauce, used in cooking and as a dip.

rice: There are three main varieties of rice. Long-grain rice, the kind used in most Chinese recipes, if fluffy and absorbs more water than other types of rice. Short-grain rice has shorter, thicker grains that tend to stick together when cooked. Sweet or glutinous rice is used in Chinese pastries and special festival dishes.

scallion: A variety of green onion.

sesame oil:  A strongly flavored oil made from sesame seed.

soy sauce: A salty-tasting sauce made from soybeans.

sugar(snow) peas: Tender, green pea pods. Usually a flat type pod.

wonton skins: Small, thin squares of soft dough made from flour, water, and eggs. Dumpling wrappers are similar to wonton skins, but they are always round.

Yellow Squash

We love yellow squash!

My husband was cooking some hamburger "steaks" wrapped in bacon

and onions on his grill the other evening.

I sliced yellow squash and put on the grill with them.

Just added a little black pepper.

Normally we would "round" slice the squash or cube and steam it.

Once in a while we slice and dip in flour and fry it,

but we are trying to eat less fried foods.

He just turned the squash a couple times and OH MY it was good.

Yellow squash is good with just about any meal.

Rosemary herb - benefits

I planted a ROSEMARY HERB plant this year. I had one for about 10 or 11 years and it finally died. They are a wonderful evergreen plant that fills the air with fragrance. OK...if I had one for that many years you can bet they can survive on their own. My other Rosemary plant got about 4 feet tall and 4 or 5 feet wide.I know Rosemary is awesome to add to dishes when cooking, but I found the following information I thought was very interesting.

Rosemary plant 2012

http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/rosemary.html

Benefits of Rosemary herb

After lavender, rosemary is probably one of the most often utilized and loved plant in aromatherapy. Its uses have extended in time from uses with culinary purposes to medicine and later to perfume industry, because of its aromatizing properties.

Description of Rosemary herb

Rosmarinus officinalis is known from ancient times as having many uses as a medicinal, ritual and seasoning herb. In those times it used to be consumed for relieving abdominal pain, gout, icterus, insomnia, cephalagia, for the calming of nerves etc. In Ancient Greece, people burned rosemary branches on the altars of the gods, considering it a sacred herb. However, the Greeks were not the only ones; the plant was also sacred for the Romans (those who gave it its name) and Egyptians (the evidence to that was finding traces of rosemary in the pharaohs' tombs.) The custom of burning rosemary branches has become a practice in hospitals in France - where it has been maintained until the 20th century - and used for cleaning the air. Also because of its antiseptic effect, the plant was appreciated and used for conserving meat, even in extremely hot weather - it was known that rosemary prevents and delays the alteration of meat foods.

The name "Rosemary" originates from the Latin words "ros", meaning "dew" and "marinus" meaning "sea". Originating in areas of Mediterranean coastlines, but also Uruguay, the plant has become a shrub which has spread very fast in the entire Europe, North America and Mexico.

Being a perennial, woody plant, it belongs to the Laminaceae family. This Mediterranean shrub with a pleasant flavor, ramified and displaying small, needle shaped evergreen leafs, with flowers of various colors (from white, pink, red, to purple and blue), has a medium height of 20-50 cm and can reach 150 cm in conditions of optimal heat and humidity.

Properties and benefits of Rosemary

Among the main properties of rosemary we can enumerate: analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antiviral, aphrodisiac, disinfectant. Its active elements have choleric, antiseptic, diuretic and tonic aspects at a nervous level, stimulating bile secretion and eliminating it in the intestines, destroying microorganisms, increasing the quantity of eliminated urine, improving the blood flow and refreshing and energizing the mind. Apart from this, scientific researches indicate that rosemary is an ideal memory stimulant for both adults and students. Rosemary contains a series of secondary elements such as carnosol and carnosic acid, with a reflecting action in case of free radicals. Rosemary also has calming effects by working against fatigue, sadness, anxiety, calming muscle soreness, digestive pains and also, indigestion caused by stress.

In aromatherapy it is appreciated for bringing youth, protection, love, optimism, vitality health and a restful sleep.

Treatments and mixtures

Rosemary can be consumed under the forms of tea, tincture, capsules or ethereal oils. Rosemary consumption improves digestion, fights against obesity, liver diseases, gastritis, cholesterolemia, bronchic asthma, edemas, and adjusts fast heart beats caused especially by irritability, coffee or tobacco excess. Because of its antiseptic and tonic properties, rosemary is extremely beneficial in cases of fainting, influenza, hangovers, asthma, bronchitis, cramps, constipation, cystitis, headaches, polypus, colds, cough, sinusitis or muscular pains. The plant also has a good influence on the blood circulation and blood pressure.

As a natural fortifier, rosemary is extremely efficient during convalescence because it increases energy and optimism, also being recommended in cases of asthenia. For long term periods it fortifies and revitalizes the body.

Rosemary tincture

Indicated in cases of indigestion, diabetes, vomit, stomachal atony, colics, liver congestion, icterus, chronic and painful inflammations of the biliary bladder, high cholesterol, insomnia, dizziness, headaches, irritability, depressive states, convalescence, weak memory, asthenia, palpitations, asthma, and convulsive cough. Two teaspoons of tincture, diluted in a cup of water, are administered before main meals. Rosemary tincture is also used for sprains, swelling (articular or ankle swelling), rheumatism and torticolis. For this, a teaspoon of tincture is diluted in 100 ml of water and administered three to four times a day.

Rosemary essential oil

The essential rosemary oil is a main ingredient in the industry of cosmetic products because of its analgesic, aromatizing, anti-inflammatory, peripheral blood circulation stimulating, antimicrobial and hair fall preventing action. Adding a few drops in a votive light or in the bath water, the essential rosemary oil is adequate for states of anxiety, headaches, debility, and weakness. It acts through unblocking the interior energies and in aromatherapy it is believed to help improve relationships with others.

Capsules

They are recommended in biliary dyskinesia, renal and rheumatic diseases, physical and intellectual overwork. Taken as a phytotherapic supplement (a capsule taken three times a day before the main meals) is efficient in abdominal diseases, anemia, rheumatism, coughs and minor cardiac disturbances.

Warning

Consumption during pregnancy or in cases of epilepsy or hypersensitivity should be avoided.

Ink Garden Shopping Bag

inkgarden@inkgarden.com

Ink Garden had a special promotion to order a personalized shopping bag and just pay the shipping. I ordered this bag to give my daughter for her birthday and put photos of her and my grandchildren on the bag. I thought it turned out pretty neat and I love reusable bags. The bag is 13 1/2 X 11 1/2 X 6 1/2 inches, so it is a nice size to take to the grocery store. Ink Garden has a lot of nice things to personalize for those you love.

French Style Scrambled Eggs

My niece Debra loves to cook and studies lots of cooking methods.

This is French Style Scrambled Eggs she made for us.

First you start with a COLD non-stick pan.

Coat the pan with soft butter.

Add the eggs, salt and pepper.

Cook on low heat and stir until done.

Then add a tablespoon of butter and mix into the cooked eggs.

This takes longer than starting with a warm pan, but they are quite tasty.

Dip & Squeeze Ketchup

Finally someone came up with a usable Ketchup dispenser! I hate those little flat packets of Ketchup that you have to fight to get to open, and usually have to end up cutting the corner off. When we grabbed some burgers and fries to go from Braum's we got these wonderful new Dip & Squeeze Heinz Ketchup dispensers. On the top you tear off (easy) to squeeze and on the bottom corner you peel back (easy) to dip. And it kinda looks like a ketchup bottle.

I know it doesn't take much to entertain me!



Friday Foto

Great Grandson

Custom Crafted Headbands

My friend Pat has been custom designing headbands.

She has them selling in two stores and no two are alike.

Pat Clayton
Pat Clayton Design
www.patclaytondesign.com



Stay Cool in the Pool

Tiffiany and her children helped my daughter put up the pool in her back yard.

Here are some photos of the process...

Hope you stay cool in the pool this Fourth of July!

Blackeyed Peas

This is my niece Debra's recipe for blackeyed peas and it is oh so good!

1 pound package dried blackeyed peas

8 cups water - soak over night

4 or 5 pieces of bacon cut up added to peas

1 1/2 tablespoons Wyler's instant bouillon beef granules

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cook on medium/low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours

Serve with cornbread and onions

Reuse Plastic Lids

My daughter sent me this e-mail and it has some good ideas for all those lids that have lost their container and come spilling out of the cabinet when you open the door. I keep looking at them thinking there must be some kind of neat craft project that will jump out at me one day. Do you have other ideas for using all the excess plastic lids?

Have any plastic lids around the house? Here are 14 Useful Ways you can put them to good use:

1. Move furniture easier…Place lids on the bottom off furniture legs for easier movement.
2. Avoid sticky messes like honey, syrup, oil, etc….Place lids underneath jars or containers.
3. Keep twines untangled…punch a hole in the lid cover and place one end of string through hole.
4. Hamburger patties…Use lids to push down on the hamburger meat to form patty
5. Keep your earrings paired up…punch a couples holes in a lid and place your earrings.
6. Coasters…you can also decorate them if you’d like.
7. Secure and keep trash bags closed…cut an X on the lid and slip bag through lid all the way through.
8. Avoid messy spills…Place lids underneath plant pots to catch excess water.
9. Keep the bugs out of your drinks…simply place the lids over your drink.
10. Snack server…use them to place snacks on
11. Avoid dog hairs in your drain…punch a few holes in the lid and placing over the drain.
12. Avoid nicks and scratches on walls…place the lid in between an object and the wall.
13. Garden Plant Markers…Cut, Label and place in the plant.
14. Avoid rust stains…place lids under containers that can rust (for examples, shaving cream)

40 Goes Fast!

Here I am 40 years ago expecting my bouncing baby boy.

He arrived on my Daddy's birthday July 1, 1972.

My Daddy was so proud.

This is Erick at 23 days old.

This is Erick at Trick or Treat - October of 1972.

This is Erick now holding his Granddaughter Ava.

That is me in the red shirt.

Now scroll back up and see what 40 years does to ya:(

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY BOY!

Pimento Cheese

THE CHEW...

Love this program on ABC!

 Stars Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz, Mario Batali and Michael Symon

will keep you entertained with their lively banter.

They share tips and tricks of the trade as well as cook up some awesome dishes.

Carla Hall's

PIMENTO CHEESE

Ingredients

8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese (grated)

8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese (grated)

2/3 cup Prepared Mayo

1/2 cup Pimentos (finely chopped)

1/4 cup Shallots (finely chopped)

1 clove Garlic (minced)

1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

2 teaspoons Hot Sauce

salt and pepper to taste

makes 2 cups



Friday Foto

GREAT GRANDSON ON GRANDSON'S BOOTS...BIG SHOES TO FILL

Baby Shower Decoration

My Granddaughter hosted a baby shower at the park. It was a typical windy day in Oklahoma. Since the shelter she was using for the shower was so big, we had to be creative with decorations. I had rolls of pink plastic table cloth, cups, plates and napkins purchased for half price after Valentine's Day. We took nylon rope and tied it across the shelter like a clothes line. Then we took onesies and hung on the rope. These photos would have looked better, but the wind had whipped the onesies up and over. It covered a large area fairly inexpensively. This could also be used for an indoor shower and hang along the walls.

I love this diaper cake made by Amy.

And this diaper cake made by my daughter.

Always think outside the box when you find yourself needing to decorate.

Car Air Freshner Craft

This is a quick and easy car air freshner craft to make.

I used the Art Foam Conversation Heart Stickers

Perfume Samples

Pieces of fabric from sweat pants

(I had cut off to make shorts)

Felt would also work good for the fabric.

and Ribbon

First I sprayed the perfume on the fabric and let it dry a bit.

(You could go to the dollar store and get the car freshner oil.)

Peeled the back off one of the hearts and laid the ribbon down on the sticky side.

Make sure you leave a loop of ribbon at the top to hang it with.

Next I put the fabric soaked in perfume on the heart.

Then peeled the back off another heart and put the sticky sides together.

I continued this process for three hearts -

I used 6 hearts total.

After I got the three hearts assembled I tied a knot at the bottom.

Then I decided to take a sharpie and personalize the car air freshner.

You could use as few hearts as you want, but I was doing three for the kids.

I have also seen car air freshners cut out in the shape of people that were too cute.