I love to Cook!

I have a secret. I LOVE to collect........COOKBOOKS. no kidding, it is a thing I can't resist. I love them all. I read them. I love older ones the best. I love also, ones women collect recipes and make their own, you are getting family favorites. Oh heck, just take me to a yardsale, with cookbooks and I will shake. I am addicted.

To add to it I love to cook and bake. I couldn't wait to have kids and bake all these yummy things for them. So I had kids. Then I found out, trying to keep up with them, I had no time left. Now finally even with health issues, I have begun again, slowly.

I don't have any money (who does with the economy) but getting help with food is humbling, and you learn to do with what you have. The uber best banana muffins I have EVER had were made by my new cousin J, whom I have fell in love with (waving hi J!) She is a strong wonderful spirit in a young body. I will let her share her stuff on her blog. So I made a banana nut bread. without the nuts. Because we have no nuts. And I found out Hero doesn't like the walnuts in his sweet breads. What you learn. So, here is how my bread turned out:

And you see the loaf pan. Yes, I also like to collect older cooking tools, pans and dishes. LOVE it. they are so pretty. Oh I love the older corel bake ware, with the colors, shapes and sizes. And what a deal you can get at thrift stores and yard sales. and how pretty! I tried my hand at a pretty presentation. But that is real butter, yes it is. and it made a huge loaf. I have to tell you it has been one day and it is gone. I didn't get much either. I  had no nuts and they still loved it.  Here is the recipe, it is from "Betty Crocker's Cookbook" 8th printing, 1983.

Banana Nut Bread

2  1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/4 cups mashed bananas
1 cup chopped nuts

now here is how I put it together, i used an old fashioned wooden spoon to cream, etc, I was too lazy to get out the kitchen aid mixer.

Heat oven to 350. Grease bottom only of loaf pan (I used a generic Pam type spray) 9x5x3 inches or 2 loaf pans 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches. Mix all ingredients. Beat 30 seconds.

I did it by hand and here is how I did it. I mixed the sugars together. I then separately combined the dry ingredients. I altered mixing in first some or the bananas and wet ingredients, then some of the flour mixture, until it was all mixed in really well.

Pour into pans. Bake until Wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 9 inch loaf 55 to 65 minutes (you might need 5 minutes more up to 70, I am at a 5500 feet altitude so mine will vary from others). 8 inch loaves 55 to 60 minutes. Cool slightly. Loosen sides of loaf from pan, remove from pan. Cool completely before slicing. to store, Wrap an refrigerate no longer than one week.

Now, I kept it in my wooden bread box, and it didn't last a day but it was yummy.

Ponderings aloud on Knowledge

I have had a lot of experience this past year with people in the government, and with careers that require college education sometimes, masters to doctorates. So, with this, I have to say I am not the type to stereotype, so I have to say with that in mind, is there something that happens to SOME  people that the more education they get the more dumb they are? I have seen and heard the most insane, and also idiotic comments from these so called educated people. Now I do know a lot of educated people who are bright and highly qualified, so no one get offended. So here are my ponderings about this.

I know, being Mormon, that we are taught the only thing you can take with you to the next life is what you learn here, so that fancy car or your favorite chair, well it just isn't going with you. But I wonder if some people, feel that because they have a higher education, and there are mucks like me that have an IQ of 154 but choose to stay home, are not that bright and I get patronized. So is it possible that some actually forget to stay humble and realize that you can study and learn your whole life and still not know EVERYTHING. I think this is the thing that annoys me. And that maybe is one of the problems.

I do think it is. And some of the things that have fallen on my ears I have to wonder why doesn't this person have COMMON SENSE because it is the most dumb thing I have ever EVER heard and then how do you reply?

Now I know this is a problem that just goes over the human race in general, but I have been working with people in fields the past year, I don't normally work with, and some I do, and it is the individual. When you stop listening and trying to understand what is going on around you, you can develop tunnel vision, and not see the whole picture. Listen. I have learned amazing things about my AVON independent business from young people just started selling. I could close myself down and say I am doing so wonderful, have a great downline and high sales, so I know EVERYTHING. And then I would fail. I ask people how did you do that? How can I do that? I am willing to learn. Now sometimes I am not I get the I don't give a damn days.

Look at a society as US citizens how we treat our elderly in general, they get old and we stick them somewhere like nursing homes. Treat them like they are past their use. Other countries, revere the older generations, there is a lot of wisdom and life experience. they are cherished and cared for and kept in the family. I have customers that when I have time I love to sit with and hear of days before my time, from people who have lived there and done that. how they survived, things they have learned.

So maybe it isn't the knowledge so much as some feel they are too important and busy to spend that time to learn more. Be humble,listen to your kids, they can teach amazing life lessons. And your spouse, a good debate without mud slinging, is enjoyable, I always come away with maybe my same view and opinion, but much more knowledge, and things to ponder. Well this has been on my mind lately, so I just thought I would ramble it out here.

Allowance

Jellybean has been getting an allowance. On Fridays, if she has been doing her best to do her chores, she gets her allowance. But with the excietment of having the cash in hand, she does what most of us do, especially when we were 14. With good intentions, we will go to the store, and she impulse buys. She has handfuls of candy and junk and within a short time is broke again.

Well comething has changed. Jellybean has finally gotten tired of the impulse buys. With a little help from mom, when she finds things and sighs, I tell her she should save her money and she could buy that. Mom does NOT purchase things for Jellybean that aren't needs, and should have been bought with allowance instead of candy. Since then she has found things she wanted and then bought them with her allowance. if it is more than her allowance she saves.

But now she is showing even more maturity. She is "window shopping" when with me. And keeping track of what she wants on her own. When she got her allowance this time, she said, Mom can you take me to Walmart so I can get the pajamas I want? She saw them at walmart and loved them but didn't say anything. So off we went, with some things I needed to get her for school. I drove in my scooter to where she led me to the pajamas. She knew what color right away. And they are OP anc cute! She also is learning prices, she was excited to see the price was 9 dollars. She thought it was 11 dollars becasue she misred the price, the 11 dollars is for plus sizes. So she bought them and had money left over. Here she is proudly modeling her new pajamas she earned herself. Yes the leggings went wth it.

Love, Debstar

Jellybeanism

Well I wanted to post this last week, but Jellybean is like a butterfly flitting around. always has been and delightful to watch, and frustrating. I think she has alwasy had a boho spirit, with her curly hair flying. Now she is 14, and we have all kinds of things going on with the teenage hormone thing going on. here is my new jellybean "ism" as I call them the silly things she does and says.

Last week I stopped at a Holiday convience store, and gave her a 5 dollar bill. they had 44 oz drinks for 99 cents, I said Jellybean, get me a diet coke, no.....a diet dr pepper or if they don't have it get me a diet coke. Get yourself something to drink, whatever you want, and get me one of those jerkey sticks I like out of the tall jar.

Jellybean comes back and gives me my drink jerkey, and has a Mountain Dew, her favorite. When driving out, I taste mine and say what IS this. "Diet Pepsi". Um, jellybean where did you hear me say that, I said diet Dr Pepper, or Diet Coke. Jellybean "I got the diet part right". Teasingly, like I do, I tell her, well NOW you owe me a dollar so she reaches into the dash, and scoops up a dollar and some change to give me. I said "Hey that is my change." She said "I Know". I said you can't pay me back with my own money" and she giggles. I said I was kidding anyway. But it was funny. She is a funny kid.

Well I love summer, and it is coming to an end. I just received this recipe from a dear friend, and I plan on trying it. I will let everyone know how it turns out to me. Do you like Zucchini like I do? I love it, and at this time of year everyone is overflowing with it. I am a grateful recepient if you are tired of zucchini. if you try this before me drop me a line if you like it. her family loves it. I will try my hand at posting a picture when I get my chance to make it. Ciao baby.

 ZUCCHINI-CHEDDAR CHEESE BREAD


1/4 c. butter, melted

1 c. chopped onion

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tbsp. sugar

...1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

2 eggs

1/4 c. milk

1 c. shredded zucchini

1 1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Melt butter in skillet. Saute onion, cool slightly. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, Italian seasoning. Add onion mixture, eggs, milk and stir until ingredients are moistened. Press moisture from zucchini. Add to batter, mix in Cheddar cheese. Batter will be very stiff. Mix with hands. Spread batter in well-buttered 9-inch round cake pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm. Yield: 6-8 servings.See More

11 hours ago · UnlikeLike · 1 person

You like this.

About Paul: Fight with Metro

About Paul: Fight with Metro: "Approximately three years ago, Dad's retirement pension from Metro Transit Police Department in Washington, D.C. was reduced from $2800.00 a..."