I know....that is the title of a book but it is so apropos I had to borrow it. I want to thank all my friends and family that have responded to my blog. I am amazed at the comments and emails. I was especially pleased to see, according to blogger.com, my blog has had over 9,000 views! Wow, and I thought only a few friends and family would be it! So, thanks everyone!
Since I have been alone....I spend most of the time thinking or talking out loud to the dogs. I try hard to shut off the "thinking" but it just creeps right back in. Now the last thing I want in my life is depression.......so I take deep serious thoughts and try to turn them into something constructive. I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer" but I feel this is an important subject for everyone and that is, communication with people that are alone. I know I am so guilty of this......so I am pointing my finger first at myself. I think of my own Mother and the years and years she was alone. I was living in Mexico so communication was difficult but I did call at least once a week. Not enough. When Bob passed away I was barraged with love from friends and family, slowly it all but disappeared, and I am still alone. Okay, okay, this is a fine line in voicing my feelings but not wanting pity or guilt feelings.....I just want awareness. I am sure each of you have someone in your life that is alone. I know that it is hard sometimes to communicate with them but if you only knew what a phone call, a note, a message on FB, or an email means to that person you would do it. I have a friend from Canada that has called me almost every other day since Bobs death. My dear friends, Brenda and Mike from Cabo San Lucas called me everyday, after Bob died, for 22 days straight, before they moved to England. I'll remember that all my life....they cared. I have several other friends that call almost as often. If you only knew what those calls mean to me. Sometimes, I can't even talk, I just cry, but it is such joy to me to know that someone cares and is thinking of me enough to call or write. Before the conversations ends......I am usually smiling or laughing. Its just a shot in the arm that a person alone needs. So, remember that one caring act can keep a lonely person from feeling sorry for themselves and start to smile and have a good day instead of a bad one.
Okay, enough of that........please understand...its just a message I want everyone to think about.
I know I have given you this recipe before but since it is peach season.....this one can't be beat. This is my Mothers Peach Ice Cream recipe....so simple.....its like eating peaches and cream but you can keep it in the freezer and dig it out anytime.
I will give you her measures for a large ice cream maker. I have a small, hand crank, so my measurements are in parenthesis.
2 quarts cream (2 cups)
2 quarts mashed peaches (2 cups)
3-4 cups of sugar (1 cup)
Just stir it all tog..........put in your ice cream maker.......it takes mine exactly 20 min.
Scoop out into a freezer container and freeze.
I promise this is just delightful. I have 3 peaches left so tomorrow will make a mini peach pie. Enjoy your peaches while the are fresh and wonderful. Its a sunshiny day and sunshine always makes me smile!
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
BITTER/SWEET
Everyday is different. I have some good days and I have some bad days. Yesterday was my Nascar race. Bob and I looked forward to it every week. I would plan special food to eat and all friends and family knew not to call or come by during a race. Our "man" was Dale Earnhardt and then after his death, of course, turned to Dale Earnhardt Junior. Junior has had a rough road to haul but suddenly is on the right course. He won yesterday, his third win of the year, and I was so excited but my heart ached as I could not share it with Bob. For 12 years we have cheered for Junior, wanting so badly for him to be a Champion like his Father. The irony of it.......I believe he is headed for the Championship this year and Bob will miss it. Oh, I know, he won't "miss" it but it won't be the same for me. These are some of the things we just don't think about with the death of a loved one. No one is sitting in his chair.
Okay, so I spent the rest of the day trying to stay busy. I see the beautiful peaches in a basket on my bar. I'll make peach jam! Now, I am not sure why more people don't make fresh fruit jam or jelly any more. Its so easy and nothing to be afraid of. My daughter Robin has a crab apple tree in her back yard that would serve the entire city of Ft Collins crab apple jelly! Every branch was just weighted down with crab apples. I hope she finds the time to give it a try.
So for 6 pints of peach jam: First buy your pint jars, lids and screw tops. You will need 4 cups of peaches, I cut up my peaches, mash some and leave some of the small pieces whole. Put these peaches in a large pot and add 1 package of pectin. I use Sure Jell. Stir like mad on med/high heat. When comes to a full on boil.........add 5 1/2 cups of sugar. (I know that sounds like a lot but its not....AND it must be exact. Bring all of this to a full on boil.......boil 1 minute. Ladle into clean jars leaving about 1/4" from the top..........Nothing to it. Just follow the directions that come in your package of pectin.
Okay, here's the hints: Wash jars and make sure they are warm. Put the lids in a pan on the stove and bring to a boil, then simmer. As soon as you ladle the hot jam into the jar,
wipe the rim with a wet cloth, to remove any drops......any debris on the rim of the jar will keep the jar from sealing.......place the lid on the jar, then the screw lid and just set aside until you have done all six. You will hear them "pop" as they seal themselves.
I don't put mind through a water bath.......this is all that I do. If one or more doesn't seal....just put them in the frig......will last a long time. Please give it a try.......any fresh fruit is great.......you will be so proud! Okay, Brenda, not sure what kind of pectin you have in England but search around and give it a try.....I remember how much you love peach jam and homemade is the best!
Okay, so I spent the rest of the day trying to stay busy. I see the beautiful peaches in a basket on my bar. I'll make peach jam! Now, I am not sure why more people don't make fresh fruit jam or jelly any more. Its so easy and nothing to be afraid of. My daughter Robin has a crab apple tree in her back yard that would serve the entire city of Ft Collins crab apple jelly! Every branch was just weighted down with crab apples. I hope she finds the time to give it a try.
So for 6 pints of peach jam: First buy your pint jars, lids and screw tops. You will need 4 cups of peaches, I cut up my peaches, mash some and leave some of the small pieces whole. Put these peaches in a large pot and add 1 package of pectin. I use Sure Jell. Stir like mad on med/high heat. When comes to a full on boil.........add 5 1/2 cups of sugar. (I know that sounds like a lot but its not....AND it must be exact. Bring all of this to a full on boil.......boil 1 minute. Ladle into clean jars leaving about 1/4" from the top..........Nothing to it. Just follow the directions that come in your package of pectin.
Okay, here's the hints: Wash jars and make sure they are warm. Put the lids in a pan on the stove and bring to a boil, then simmer. As soon as you ladle the hot jam into the jar,
wipe the rim with a wet cloth, to remove any drops......any debris on the rim of the jar will keep the jar from sealing.......place the lid on the jar, then the screw lid and just set aside until you have done all six. You will hear them "pop" as they seal themselves.
I don't put mind through a water bath.......this is all that I do. If one or more doesn't seal....just put them in the frig......will last a long time. Please give it a try.......any fresh fruit is great.......you will be so proud! Okay, Brenda, not sure what kind of pectin you have in England but search around and give it a try.....I remember how much you love peach jam and homemade is the best!
Friday, August 1, 2014
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE BOOK OF LIFE
I given this a lot of thought. I am not trying to be morose or asking for pity but I am writing this as a therapy for the new journey I am taking. As most of you know, I lost my beloved husband Bob in April. Of course my life has changed. I have had days and days of crying, pacing the floor, looking out the window, and begging God to help me. I finally said, "enough, get a grip, thousands of ladies out there have been through what you are going through and they made it......you can too!" I think I am unique, that no one loved their spouse as I loved mine....not true. So I am moving on and this blog is going to help me and maybe someone out there will benefit from my words also. I am going to continue with my recipes, as cooking is my therapy. I'll always love to cook, it will just be different. I had just learned to adjust recipes to cooking for two and now I'll cut it one more time.......to cooking for one. I am sure this won't be daily but as often as I have thoughts and food I want to share.
Going through this difficult time.......I find my mind just races with different ideas and things I need to do. One day I packed up all of my painting supplies and put them away in the garage. The next day I woke up and said, "Why did I do that, do I think I'll never paint again?!" I move things around in the house from place to place and then suddenly I have everything right back where I started from. So, now I realize I must just take my time and eventually I will find the right answers.
So, quite a bit of TV time right now. I have full control of the remote. Cooking shows do tend to top my list and I was watching Rachel Ray the other day when her guest was Heidi Klum, whom happens to be a great cook. Heidi made her mothers recipe of Sauerkraut Soup, looked so good I immediately jumped up and made it. It was really good and I do want to share the recipe. Oh, I have no eating schedule now.....eat when I am hungry........actually quite nice. Yesterday I had a rib eye at 10:00 am!
Sauerkraut Soup:
3 med onions
1 lb hamburger
2 cups chopped mushrooms
1 2lb bag of sauerkraut (I used canned.....don't drain)
1 28oz diced tomatoes
1 cup vegy broth (I used chicken broth)
1 bottle of shish kebab sauce......no where to be found in OK.....I used a little bottled
sweet n sour sauce and generous amount of hot sauce
2 cups water
1/2 cup cream
Brown onions and hamburger, add mushrooms.
Add sauerkraut, tomatoes, broth and the kebab sauce....add water as needed.
Just before serving, stir in the cream.....do not let come to a boil!
Misty suggested adding navy or pinto beans.......good idea.
Now I know that this sounds more like a winter dish but I have found that in the hot days of summer, I just want something light and soup is always good. Of course the rib eye was an exception. Enjoy!
Going through this difficult time.......I find my mind just races with different ideas and things I need to do. One day I packed up all of my painting supplies and put them away in the garage. The next day I woke up and said, "Why did I do that, do I think I'll never paint again?!" I move things around in the house from place to place and then suddenly I have everything right back where I started from. So, now I realize I must just take my time and eventually I will find the right answers.
So, quite a bit of TV time right now. I have full control of the remote. Cooking shows do tend to top my list and I was watching Rachel Ray the other day when her guest was Heidi Klum, whom happens to be a great cook. Heidi made her mothers recipe of Sauerkraut Soup, looked so good I immediately jumped up and made it. It was really good and I do want to share the recipe. Oh, I have no eating schedule now.....eat when I am hungry........actually quite nice. Yesterday I had a rib eye at 10:00 am!
Sauerkraut Soup:
3 med onions
1 lb hamburger
2 cups chopped mushrooms
1 2lb bag of sauerkraut (I used canned.....don't drain)
1 28oz diced tomatoes
1 cup vegy broth (I used chicken broth)
1 bottle of shish kebab sauce......no where to be found in OK.....I used a little bottled
sweet n sour sauce and generous amount of hot sauce
2 cups water
1/2 cup cream
Brown onions and hamburger, add mushrooms.
Add sauerkraut, tomatoes, broth and the kebab sauce....add water as needed.
Just before serving, stir in the cream.....do not let come to a boil!
Misty suggested adding navy or pinto beans.......good idea.
Now I know that this sounds more like a winter dish but I have found that in the hot days of summer, I just want something light and soup is always good. Of course the rib eye was an exception. Enjoy!
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