Thursday, February 27, 2014

So Sweet Bread Pudding

Who does not know Paula Deen and her too much of everything? This time I made her "best bread pudding" that is so sweet it will make your teeth hurt. (And mine double hurt since my sweet hygienist niece cleaned my teeth yesterday!)

One for us.

One to take to my dear neighbor whose husband just passed away.

So double the sweetness!

Here is Paula's recipe:

The Best Bread Pudding
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2007

Prep:
10 min

Cook:
50 min
Yield:8 to 10 servings
Level:Easy

Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar
5 large beaten eggs
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups cubed Italian bread, allow to stale overnight in a bowl
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 cup chopped pecans

For the sauce (which I was too lazy to prepare)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup brandy

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan. (I made two small ones in disposable aluminum pie pans.)

Mix together granulated sugar, eggs, and milk in a bowl; add vanilla. Pour over cubed bread and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, mix and crumble together brown sugar, butter, and pecans.

Pour bread mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over the top and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until set. Remove from oven.

For the sauce: (would have been waaay toooo sweeet for us)

Mix together the granulated sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together until the sugar is melted. Add the brandy, stirring well. Pour over bread pudding. Serve warm or cold.

© 2014 Television Food Network

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/the-best-bread-pudding-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback


From the Heart

Four years ago when my in-laws (ages 93 and 94) were finally considering moving to a care facility, my 93 year old father-in-law was most concerned and disturbed that he would be having his meals in the community dining room with mostly "old ladies." Indeed men are outnumbered in such situations. But lately I have noticed that the male population in my own "neck of the woods" is also decreasing. 

Earlier in this short month, our closest Dutch neighbor passed away due to cancer. A. had only reached his 76th birthday two days before his death. We will miss his kind wave as on our way to our Beltway apartment we pass his kitchen window. 

And then yesterday morning early we received the sad news that our farthest neighbor on our street here in the US had passed away. I am still not sure what caused T.'s death, but I am reasonably sure he was younger than I am.

Two "young" men that we called our neighbors are now only in our thoughts and memories. May they both rest in peace. 

And their loving wives will live on to help us all remember the good times we enjoyed being neighborly.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Anyone Can Garden

Master Gardener. Who Are We Kidding?

My thumbs are clean. 
Neither is green nor any other color than my flesh color. 
I am not special. 
I have weeds and mostly grass in my front flower beds. 
There are new buds on my hydrangeas. 
The daisy plants have multiplied. 
Old dusty miller plants are budding from the ground. 
Blooming yellow jonquils just mysteriously appear on compost heaps. 
Our "homegrown" boxwoods looked golden and sad all winter, but now they are "fresh green." 
My garden chair sinks into the muddy earth as I lean over to pull the meandering grass where it does not belong. 
Garlic plants surprise me in a deserted raised veggie bed. 
The over-mature yellow turnips hide Dutch field lettuce that I seeded last October. 
Dutch endive grows heartily between the un-named weeds. 
Lemon balm creeps down the busy veggie bed and over the garden path. 
My favorite salad green the arugula grows and flowers and grows and flowers. 
Five year old asparagus plants wait patiently for sunnier days and warmer soil. 
The rich soil with a layer of decayed rice hulls is ready to grow. 
Whatever I want it to grow!

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Turtle-necked Beagle

According to our vet, Flip had an infection on his neck. The doc irritated the huge bubble over a week ago, and last weekend it festered and drained naturally. Now Flip wants to scratch. And scratch. And scratch.

So now he has to wear either a turtle-neck collar or gloves. We decided on the collar. And shouting, "Don't scratch!"

Here Flip is in his latest fashion statement. 


Don't our tile floors in the kitchen look great? Our cleaning lady treated the dirt spots, then she scrubbed them, then I scrubbed them, and finally my hub sealed the brick pavers.


Happy people and happy beagle. Look at that wagging tail!

Oatmeal Waffles or Pancakes

Sunday Breakfast at Wetcreek

Oatmeal Waffles or Pancakes

Ingredients:
2 cups bisquick mix
1 cup quick oats
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (or 1 cup milk plus 1/2 cup Greek Yoghurt)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tblspoon sugar 

Directions:
Preheat waffle iron (or pancake griddle). Spray iron lightly unless it is conditioned to not need repeat greasing.
Stir together bisquick mix and quick oats.
Stir in buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar until well blended. Let sit for a minute or two.
Pour with ladle or measuring scoop onto center of waffle iron, leaving room on the edges to spread. Do not peek until done signal. Keep warm on oven rack at 175 F.
Serve with butter and syrup of choice.

(Recipe thanks to http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/2014/02/biscuit-mix-waffles-and-pancakes.html)  Mennonite Girls Can Cook

Friday, February 21, 2014

What Was Happening 99 Years Ago (1915) in the World?

Jan 12th - US House of Reps rejects proposal to give women right to vote

Jan 13th - Earthquake in Avezzano, Italy kills 29,800

Jan 15th - Japan claims economic control of China

Jan 17th - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek's Hospital in Amsterdam, The Netherlands opens

Jan 19th - 1st German Zeppelin attack over Great Britain, 4 die

Jan 25th - Alexander Graham Bell in NY calls Thomas Watson in SF

Jan 28th - 1st US ship lost in WW I, William P Frye (carrying wheat to UK)

Jan 28th - US Pres Wilson refuses to prohibit immigration of illiterates

Feb 7th - 1st wireless message sent from a moving train to a station received

Feb 12th - Cornerstone laid for Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

Feb 17th - Edward Stone, 1st US combatant to die in WW I, is mortally wounded

Feb 18th - Germany begins a blockade of Britain

Feb 21st - 20th Russian Army corps surrenders

Feb 21st - World's Fair in SF opens

Feb 21st - My mother-in-law was born in Goor, The Netherlands. She passed away in Velp, The Netherlands on May16, 2011 at the age of 96. Happy Birthday, Ma.

All info except the last entry came from the History Orb website (http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/1915).


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Wake-up Call

What wakes you up each morning?

Usually our dog Flip wakes us when the daylight brightens up his hallway bedroom. 

This morning it was the "mystery alarm clock" that woke both Flip and me. That blasted clock has been minding its own business for years and years in our living room, but today at 6:15 it went through the entire alarm cycle.

And who knows, maybe it has been "alarming"  more often and I did not hear it until this morning. 

Things just creak and pop and even ring when you have a house full of old things and old people ;)

Friday, February 14, 2014

Beauregard Master Gardener Garden Festival – DeRidder – March 1, 2014 (8:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

Just want to get this info out on the WWW. My friends in DeRidder,Louisiana are working hard on making this a great day for gardeners in the area.

Beauregard Master Gardener Garden Festival – DeRidder – March 1, 2014 (8:00 AM – 3:00 PM). Location: Parish Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, Pine Street, DeRidder, Louisiana 70634

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Look What I Found in Cyberspace!

I just "found" my photo and some of the blog text that I erased this afternoon.


Oh, No. I Have Picked Up the "Pest"!
Linda at Wetcreek - 1 day ago

It isn't any news that I am a thrifter. How else did my niece have so many milk white vases on her wedding reception tables? Even her mom and dad got into the "junk shops" while planning for her decorations. And that is saying something, since they really don't even visit Dollar Stores either because someone they know might see them shopping there. 

Getting a bargain has never bothered me. Just ask my hub. Well, yesterday we took our Flip for his annual check-up. (No bargains there!) Next to the vet's office was a *real *junk shop that I had never noticed before. When we left the vet... more »

Although I do not collect Pyrex, I follow a few Pyrex Collection blogs. Yesterday I bought the two pictured Made in England Blue Iris Pyrex bowls. No Lids, but I paid $5.00 for the two bowls.

Think I will keep my Pyrex collection to just European specimens. That should be a fun search!

The "Pest" Gobbled Up My Post!!!!

A Huge Oops!!!!!!

Friday, February 7, 2014

No Kitchen Witch, But Kitchen Dolls

These cuties sit in Opa's highchair (at least 95 years old!) keeping watch over our kitchen.  They only give up their seat when wee family members come to visit.


(By the way, I like to party with the following:
http://thriftermakerfixerfarm.com
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
http://cityfarmhouse.com
http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com
http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com
http://www.thecottagemarket.com
http://www.blackbirdhasspoken.com
http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com)

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Human Hibernation

Back when I was still teaching English to 7th graders, I always thought about assigning today's blogpost topic. That never happened, but I still think it would have produced some real "doozies" of compositions.

The weather we have had the last few weeks (extremely cold and now rainy) sort of put me in the hibernating feel. 

Our beagle awakens me before 7:00 am each day to go outside, and I wonder why he doesn't want to "sleep in" ( or "sleep out/uitslapen" as the Dutch say). 

What else is there to do, but hibernate?

(Note: Google Translate is not working!!! Maybe some human IS hibernating!!)