Zuzu and Papa

October 23, 2011June 18, 2013

Southern Chess Pie

This pie is…what can I say? Delicious! Melt in your mouth!

You should definitely put this on your list of things to bake.
It was GONE within an hour of taking it out of the oven.

Ingredients

3 whole eggs

1 T. vinegar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 stick butter, melted

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 T cornmeal

1 ready to bake pie crust

(I like the Pillsbury crusts that you unroll)

Combine eggs, vinegar, vanilla, butter, sugar and corn meal.

Stir only enough to mix.

Do not beat.

Pour in an unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

September 26, 2011June 18, 2013

Spinach Manicotti

This is such an easy recipe and my whole family loves it. It’s great to make ahead and also freezes well.

Ingredients

package of manicotti shells

package of frozen spinach (thaw and drain in a colander)

carton of ricotta cheese (6-8 oz)

package of mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

one egg

1 t. Italian seasoning (I put a little more!)

your favorite pasta sauce

Cook the shells until done

Combine all ingredients (except pasta sauce)

Stuff shells and pour the sauce over the top

Sprinkle with a little more cheese

Bake at 350 until bubbly (approx. 30 minutes)

September 8, 2011June 18, 2013

Really Good Reubens

My whole family loves Reuben sandwiches, which is surprising because of so many things mixed together and the sourness of the kraut. They’re gooey, savory, crunchy outside and melty inside.

Things you’ll need:
Rye bread
sauerkraut
Thousand Island dressing
Swiss cheese
corned beef

Warm up a pan of kraut

Swiss cheese (I had a block, but slices work the best).

Rye bread (we don’t like the type with seeds).

Thousand Island dressing

Sliced corned beef

Butter one side of the bread and layer the ingredients. I like to use the George Foreman grill, but will do just as well in a pan. Top with another slice of buttered bread.

Yummy goodness!

July 27, 2011September 12, 2013

The height of discourtesy is to break continually into the speech of other people. Too many of us have the deplorable habit of cutting into conversation with monotonous repetitions of, “You don’t say so!” “Really!” or “My, my!” Such interruptions are not only discourteous but extremely annoying to everybody present.

Only a rude person will break into a story, to which others are listening, with the impatient, ‘Yes, yes – I heard that!” or “I know all about that – I was there.” Not even a bore should be so crudely and tactlessly cut off. Well-bred people have patience and courtesy enough to listen to a story no matter how often they have heard it before.

Inattention is another rude discourtesy. Whether you are interested or not, always show an interest in what others are saying. Be sincerely glad to see people, eager to hear what they have to say, interested even in their most trivial remarks. Force yourself to be attentive even if you are bored, and let your expression show an intelligent interest. If you are truly sympathetic, this should not be difficult; and the effort will bring you big dividends in popularity.

Ridicule, of course, is intolerable. “Words cut deeper than weapons” and only a rude, unthinking person will make another the butt of ridicule. No one admires the man who makes another feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

Gossip has no place in the conversation of well-bred people. If you want to make and keep friends, don’t say anything about a person that you would not be satisfied to have that person overhear. It is best not to talk about people at all unless you can say pleasant and agreeable things about them.

The New Book of Etiquette by Lillian Eichler
Garden City Publishing Company, Inc.
Garden City 1945
New York

July 26, 2011July 21, 2015

Nanny and Poppy’s Garden ~ revisited

Earlier in the spring I shared some photos of my in-law’s garden. It is in full bloom now and producing beautiful flowers and vegetables. They live on a small plot in the city and have done wonders in their yard. It is truly a labor of love.

July 25, 2011June 18, 2013

Snippits for Moms ~ #3

Whenever I sit down to write a blog post I am humbly and gratefully aware that all moms are not just like I am. Therefore, these posts may be a good fit for some moms on some days and may not be relevant at all for others.

I know many of you are not moms, you may be single, empty nesters, grandmothers, some of you may be aunts ~ some even dads and grandpas!

I’ll just keep chugging along with my Snippits, though, in hopes that someone may benefit along the way.

Snippit #3 ~ Dad may do things differently, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong!

This was a very, very hard lesson for me to learn. After all, I had read all the child rearing books. I listened to Dr. Dobson DAILY. I subscribed to all the latest parenting magazines. I gleaned wisdom from other mothers and grandmothers. I had years and years of babysitting experience. So, therefore, I was pretty much an expert on childrearing when our first one came along. Or so I thought!

So, when my husband didn’t burp or hold him just right… I told him how.

When he didn’t feed him correctly….I showed him the correct way.

When he didn’t use enough enthusiasm in his voice when reading Pat the Bunny….I corrected that, too!

When he played too rough and made him cry….I just couldn’t stand it!

I left him detailed lists on how to care for him when I was out for two hours.

My poor husband!

It didn’t take long for him to feel as if he just didn’t know anything about being a parent. I was treating him like a babysitter, not as a father.

Perhaps it was an article or a radio program, I’m not sure, but I began to feel very convicted over the way I had been basically undermining my husband. I took a huge step back and began to keep my mouth shut more. I began to respect my husband as the wonderful father God made him to be. It was a beautiful thing! I began to realize that we were the perfect combination for rearing our children.

Children need a little roughness…and a little softness.

A little neatness….and a little messiness.

Some rough and tumble…and some quiet time.

That’s why we have mothers and fathers. To balance each other out and to round out our children.

I have learned a very important lesson through the years:

Dads do things differently than Moms….and that’s the way it’s supposed to be!

July 16, 2011July 16, 2013

Sweet Stickles

14 lb. cucumbers, peel and remove seeds

Cut into pieces

Mix 1 cup lime in 2 gallons water.

Add cucumbers and let soak 24 hrs.

Rinse well.

Cover for 3 hours longer in clean water. Drain.

Cover with the following:

2 quart vinegar

1 t. celery seed

1 t. mixed pickling spice

1 T salt

4 1/2 lbs. sugar

1 t. whole cloves

1 t. tumeric

Soak overnight. The next morning, boil for 35 minutes. Put in jars and seal. Process for 15 minutes for quarts ad 10 minutes for pints.

June 20, 2011September 10, 2013

True Wisdom

My prayer today is to have a little True Wisdom.

James 3:17

“But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Pure – true, real, from God. I will pray every morning for wisdom to meet the challenges of the day.

Peaceable – I want a peaceful home and so I will speak peacefully to my family members…and insist that they do the same.

Easy to be entreated – to ‘entreat’ means to ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something. As a mom, I am ‘entreated’ all day long! I will not be short with my children and will always have enough time to give when they entreat me for the thousandth time.

Full of mercy – I will have mercy when something is broken or misplaced or even when something is said in haste. I will not hold grudges or pout.

Good fruits – may my children and husband witness the fruits of the spirit in my life.

Without partiality – I will treat all with fairness and respect – not giving more respect (time, cuddles, a listening ear) to one and less to others.

Without hypocrisy – May my family see that I am the same at home as I am in public.

Continue reading "True Wisdom"

May 30, 2011April 29, 2015

Grandparents

Poppy ~the poet

My parents dropped in for a visit yesterday. It was a nice surprise. We are so blessed to have all of our parents healthy and vital parts of our lives and very involved with our children. When I was a young mother, I resisted the ‘spoiling’ part of grandparents’ role and just knew it would harm the children. Then one day, I heard Dr. Dobson say that grandparents should absolutely spoil the grandchildren, within reason, of course! So, I’ve been a happy participant ever since! They dole out their time, attention and love joyfully and they seem to have a little extra free time for fun things that harried parents are lacking. Oh, and they’re also happy to pull out that wallet every once in awhile or take a special little shopping trip.

Grandparents add richness to my children’s lives. They seem to have a little more patience. Things are not quite as hurried and stressed at grandma’s.
We have a Nanny, Poppy, Nana and a Pawpaw.
Between them we have a:

published author
seamstress
several amazing cooks, canners, bakers
vegetable farmers
retired teacher
prayer warriors
2 pianists
poet
scientist
fisherman
master gardeners
quilter
naturalist
storyteller
preacher’s kids
business owners
excellent neighbors and friends
church leaders
singers
community leaders

I want my children to be with them as much as they can! I have only wonderful memories of being with my grandparents. They enriched my life like none other. I remember when my sister and I would want to go shopping and Mother had worked all week…who would we call? Mamaw! She would even drive us around the Dairy Dip on Friday and Saturday nights like the big teenagers did (and buy us a “cone of cream”). I have so many grandparent stories and I hope my children will, too.