Chet Huntley, The Jaycees, Businesses in 1963 in Wheeling...Crow and Mushroom Stew

I'm sorting through papers and books. It probably sounds like a productive pastime. Unfortunately, I have a horrible habit. I love researching items. I love reading every bit of information I can gleen about them. Today I found an autographed program from the Jaycees Citizen Of The Year Award Banquet held on February 20, 1963. Mr. D. Miton Gutman is pictured and listed as the 1961 Citizen Of The Year. I can't find any information on who actual winner in 1962. But it does list each individual of the month and the person's achievement.
This particular program is autographed by Chet Huntley. He was the speaker for The Citizen Of The Year banquet. Imagine the cost to have a nationally known NBC news commentator come speak at a banquet. It's hard to imagine any group/club in the Wheeling Area being able to do this today in the year 2012. This program tells alot about the economy in the city of Wheeling in 1963. There are 85 businesses listed as sponsers. There's only 9 of the listed burinesses still in the Wheeling area. The census lists Wheeling's population as being 53,400 people in 1960 compared to 28,486 in 2010. It's sad to see our hometown so diminished.

Anybody want to take a guess at the 9 businesses?

Chet Huntley was a native of Bozeman, Montana and worked for Movietone News and then CBS radio in Los Angeles, as well as NBC TV in Los Angeles. His big break came when he moderated NBC coverage of the 1956 political conventions.He was paired with UPI reporter David Brinkley.Their on the air chemistry was apparent from the start, with Huntley's straightforward approach countered by Brinkley's sarcastic wit. This partnership led to the Huntley-Brinkley report. The closing catch phrase of "Good night, Chet" , "Good night, David and good night for NBC News" made them as famous as their reporting. I wonder if any stars will emerge from the upcoming elections?

Huntley was known for keeping his personal views separate from the subject he was reporting. This isn't always the case for all reporters. At times a reporter will have to "eat crow". Eating crow is a U.S. colloquial idiom meaning having been proved wrong after taking a strong position. Eating crow is foul-tasting in the same way that being proved wrong might be emotionally hard to swallow. Below is a WW II recipe for eating crow. I found this on Bert Christensen's Website http://bertc.com/subfive/recipes/threecrows.htm. This site has some very peculiar recipes!

Crow and Mushroom Stew

Ingredients

3 crows
1 Tbsp lard/shortening
1 pint stock or gravy
2 Tbsp cream
1/2 cup mushrooms
salt and pepper
cayenne pepper
Directions
Clean and cut crows into small portions and let them cook a short time in the lard/shortening in a saucepan, being careful not to brown them.
Next, add to the contents of the pan, the stock or gravy, and salt, pepper and cayenne to taste.
Simmer 1 hour, or until tender, add mushrooms, simmer 10 minutes more and then stir in cream.
Arrange the mushrooms around the crows on a hot platter.

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It's a chilly, rainy autumn day...Comfort Food time! Friends, homemade chili and cornbread!

I have possibly my last batch of garden tomatoes. I love when you can cook down the last batch of garden tomatoes to make the first batch of chili for the cooler weather. I know you can preserve tomatoes; can them or freeze them and have garden tomatoes throughout the winter.There's just something tastier about straight from the garden into the sauce. The tomatoes seem brighter, meatier and more tantalizing to the taste buds.when you cook them down and use them right away for sauces, soup or chili.

Chili was never one of my favorite foods but we ate it pretty regularly throughout the winter when I was growing up. .I use to love to come home to the smell of chili and cornbread mingled together. It warmed your nose and prepared your tastebuds. Favorite or not I'd be hungry for chili by dinnertime.

My Mom always encouraged my friends to visit our home. There's was always plenty of food for dinner. One evening my friend Karen was visiting. The table was set and Karen sat down to eat with us.The menu was chili and cornbread. Karen ate all the chili. She proclaimed with gusto that it was the best she had ever eaten. My Mom thanked her. My Dad smiled at Karen across the table and said, "But Karen, you don't like chili.". She smiled back and said, "But if I did this would be the best." My Dad still has his quirky sense of humor and Karen still would eat food she dislikes to save the cook's feelings. And my Mom, she made sure we never again had chili when Karen was visiting!

Chili has some fun history.

Chili in the 19th Century
Some Spanish priests were said to be wary of the passion inspired by chile peppers, assuming they were aphrodisiacs. A few preached sermons against indulgence in a food which they said was almost as "hot as hell's brimstone" and "Soup of the Devil." The priest's warning probably contributed to the dish's popularity.

Chili in the 20th Century

Around the turn of the century, chili joints appeared in Texas. By the 1920s, they were familiar all over the West, and by the depression years, there was hardly a town that didn't have a chili parlor. The chili joints were usually no more than a shed or a room with a counter and some stools. Usually a blanket was hung up to separate the kitchen. By the depression years, the chili joints meant the difference between starvation and staying alive. Chili was cheap and crackers were free. At the time, chili was said to have saved more people from starvation than the Red Cross. The Dictionary of American Regional English describes chili joints as: "A small cheap restaurant, particularly one that served poor quality food."

I found these facts on www.chili.com. They have plenty more facts and recipes on their site.

Simple Chili Recipe

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons oil

1 pound lean ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1 large can tomatoes, (28 ounces)

1 can (15 ounces) small red beans, drain liquid

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preparation:

In large saucepan brown ground beef with onions in hot oil. Drain off excess fat. Add remaining ingredients; bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer.

This is a basic recipe. Corn, garlic, celery and peppers can be added. Its fun to top chili off with diced tomatoes, sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Miss Em Turned 18!

To My Niece


You are a joy to my eyes and delight to my heart! You are a precious gift to our family and a wonderful addition to our lives. Your 18th birthday is significant. It’s not like you woke up yesterday and your world was different. Your transition into adulthood has been gradual. Since the day I first saw you I have been watching you grow, mature, learn and turn into the person you are today. You have changed so much, but you are still you. You still get the same quizzical look on your face today when your thinking as you did when you were 3. I'm glad you no longer pre-moisten cookies for me but I do love the way you still try to make life easier others!

We all have different ways of living our lives. Different people find success and happiness in different ways. Some lessons in life we learn the easy way. Either we listen when someone tells us, or we figure it out for ourselves and learn it quickly. Other lessons are learned the hard way, by trial and error before we eventually figure it out. Some things we never learn at all.

Ultimately, you are responsible for your own life. What a scary concept, isn’t it? Your happiness, your fortune, and your emotional well-being all essentially belong to you to control.

Other people will influence your life in many ways. Some will be a blessing. These are the people that you need to keep in your life and enjoy what they add to your life. You have the gift of being a positive force in others lives just by being the person you have grown into being.You show your appreciation for people with your smile, grace and selfless attitude. Some people will take from your life and happiness. Most of the time, these people can't become positive force, no matter how much effort, stress, or love you pour into them. Learning to recognize the people who are negative forces in your life and removing them is important.

The most important relationships you have in your life are going to be with your family and friends that love you like family. These are the people that have help us most in shaping our lives. Family teaches us the value of love, care, truthfulness and provides us with tools and suggestions which are essential to get success in life. Family is a place where you can be yourself. It is a place where you’re admitted for what you are. There are no terms and conditions. This is where you’re completely tension free and everyone is there to help you. Family supports you when you are surrounded by troubles. It helps you endure through tough times. Family brings joy and pleasure into life. I'm so proud to have you as my family! You have always been a source of great joy and pride! Love you Miss Em! ~ Aunt Sheri



The Ohio River, Adena Indians, Bear Recipe!

The majority of my walks take place along the Ohio River. When Alex and Tony were small, our walks along the river were great adventures filled with alligators, tigers, and bears! A small child's imagination can make a log floating in the river to an alligator in a second. Dried, gnarled, grape vines hanging from trees become snakes slinking out of the tree towards the river. When they became a bit older and were studying the river's history our imaginations turned to pioneers and Indians.


My favorite translation for Ohio River is the Seneca name, Ohiyo, which means it is beautiful. The river's beauty begins wtih the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania it then journeys south where it spills into the Mississippi river. The river had great significance in the history of the Native Americans, as numerous civilizations formed along its valleys. The Adena Indians left burial mounds that dot the Ohio Valley terrain. One of my parent's neighbors have a small mound in their backyard. The largest and most famous of the mounds is found in Moundsville, WV. The Delf Norona Museum is located next to the mound and offers many exhibits and displays of artifacts from the Mound. Please visit their site for more information: http://www.wvculture.org/museum/GraveCreekmod.html.

Books on Ohio River history was always a top request in my bookstore. The one book that I always had a waiting list for was Allan W. Eckert's "That Dark and Bloody River". This book traces the struggle for control of the great Ohio River valley from the first known people in about 700 a.d. to the birth of steamboats on the river in the 1800s. The majority of the book focuses on the Indian Wars that took place along the Ohio River in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois.Mr. Eckert lived a large part of his life in Ohio. He was well known as being an accurate researcher. "That Dark and Bloody River" won a Spur Award in 1996. This book is a large narrative history filled with the valley's history. I enjoyed it and frequently revisit it's pages for information!

The Adena's hunted deer, elk, black bear, woodchuck, beaver, porcupine, turkey, trumpeter swan, ruffed grouse. I food this bear recipe on www.cooks.com. I noticed that all bear recipes seem to have a marinate or a rub that decreases the gamey taste. Bona petit!

SAVORY BEAR

Read more about it at www.cooks.com

Content Copyright © 2012 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

Ingredients:

1 pt. tarragon vinegar

2 peppercorns

3 bay leaves

1 stick cinnamon

2 onions, quartered

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. rosemary

1 c. minced celery

2 lb. bear meat, cut in cubes

1 c. minced shallots

Salt and pepper to taste

Flour

1 pt. water

1 stick butter

2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 lg. can sliced mushrooms

Directions:

Combine the vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves, cinnamon, onions, thyme, basil, rosemary, and celery and pour over the bear meat in a bowl. Marinate in refrigerator for 24 hours. Drain bear meat; strain and reserve the marinade.

Cook bear meat in a Dutch oven in small amount of fat until browned. Sprinkle with shallots, salt, pepper, and small amount of flour and add water, reserved marinade, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and mushrooms. Simmer for 2 hours or until the bear meat is tender, adding water as needed. Yield 4 servings

I love my dog!

Lady

Eyes that are expressive and so loving

they speak a thousand words,

And  she melts our hearts within

because she truly became a part of our world!

Her is love forever faithful

how can one be without

Such loyalty and devotion

and the nudging from that snout?

For a house is not a home unless

one pauses to see it

through the eyes of she who lives

and loves unconditionally.

   I love my dog. She's a Heinz 57.  She's loveable, personable and devoted.  My Dad was impressed that after 5 kids and countless pets I finally have someone that listens to me. I walk her, feed her, play with her and bathe her. It sounds like a typical owner/dog relationship. It would appear that she's my dog. I did pick her out at the pound and pay for her.
This is obviously a ruse. She has simply been stringing me along all these years. Until recently I have always left my home before the boys in the morning. They would usually put her in her crate when they'd leave the house. I usually left her out. I was always joyously greeted.
Tony now leaves the house first. Lady wags her tail and stands while he pets her good bye every morning. She then returns to me until Alex gets ready to leave. Again she stands wagging her tail and Alex pets her good bye. Alex generally talks to her a bit before he leaves.
This is how I discovered the ruse. Once Alex closes the door Lady then stands sadly, her head drops, the tail goes into dejection mode. It breaks my heart to see her looking so pathetic. I could swear that her eyes begin to tear up. She then disappears for a bit. When she returns to the living room she has a piece of Alex's clothing clamped between her teeth. She then drags the clothing onto her spot on the love seat. She curls up on it and waits for Alex's return.
I decided that enough was enough this morning. After Alex left I had a heart to heart with Lady. I explained that it was very degrading to us females to have her head turned by a few sweet words. I explained that she should be happy that she wasn't going into the crate day after day. I then put her blanket on the love seat and placed her on it. I told her that after my shower we'd go for a walk.
 I got my shower and went to find Lady. Her blanket was on the floor and in its place was Alex's pajama top. I maybe Lady's owner but her heart most assuredly belongs to Alex!

Pathetic isnt it?

I know that cookies are a no-no for dogs but I suspect that Alex shares his chocolate chip cookies with her.  Find the Original Toll House recipe at this link: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx

Technology, Grades, and Doggy Biscuits

Modern technology is wonderful! The school does a blanket phone message to all parents that interim reports are coming home. I then text the boys that I expect interim reports to come home They text back excuses for the interim reports. All this occurred in a space of 5 minutes or so. I almost feel sorry for them. I at least had a 50/50 chance of getting the mail before my parents. Hence sometimes they never saw my interim report. Back in the day we only got interims for classes we weren't doing well in. Now every child receives an interim report.
I have five children. They range in age from 15 to 31. I have signed off on alot of interim reports and report cards. I have read a lot of comments. I have read comments that made me feel as if I was raising a future president of the United States to comments that made me wonder if there was any hope at all for the child. My 2 youngest boys are 15 and 16 years old. It's nice that they are still able to surprise me. As I was reading the interim reports my one son was reading over my shoulder and commented, "I didn't know they could write stuff like that." These interims come with standard comments. They are numbered. I wasn't amused to find the comment "Attempts to sleep" on the interim. This comment sadly reflected the amount of effort applied to the grade as well which makes me wonder if there was any attempt at all.

This was a day that cooking favorites for the boys just wasn't an option. So since my dog, Lady always deserves treats.
Doggy Biscuits:
Ingredients:
3 pieces bacon cooked and crumbled
1/8 cup of bacon grease from bacon
2 cups flour
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 cup oats
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
3/4 cup water
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325° F
Cook bacon and drain. Save 1/8 cup of bacon grease.In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground flax, wheat bran, and baking powder.Crumble the bacon into the flour mixture.In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg. Then pour in the peanut butter, water, and bacon grease. Use a fork to mix the wet ingredients until completely combined.Make a hole in the dry mix, and pour in the peanut butter mixture.Stir until completely combined.Roll out on wax paper to an 1/2 inch thickness.Lightly grease a cookie sheet.Cut into squares or shapes can be made out of the dough. Place on cookie sheet. Bake about 15 minutes.Reat until all the dough is used. Allow to set for several hours.
For more recipes visit:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Dog-Biscuits

As summer fades and the temperature dips!

"Then summer fades and passes and October comes.  

We'll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness,  

a thrill of nervousness, swift elation,  

a sense of sadness and departure."-  

Thomas Wolfe

All summer the boys and I battled with the thermostat on the air conditioning. I'm pretty sure that one day last week I found it set on 68 degrees. When I questioned the boys, they swore that they hadn't touched it. The invisible ghost strikes again. Imagine my amazement yesterday when I arrived home to find my living room feeling very similar to a sauna. The temperature outside was 68 degrees but my living room was a toasty 78 degrees.

Now  I'm willing to give credit. When I asked the boys about this strange phenomena of it being so warm in the house, Alex confessed. He stated that he had been outside walking in the rain and had gotten cold and wet. He further stated that when he got home he kicked on the heat to warm up and dry out. I explained that it just wasn't cold enough to kick the heater on. He argued that it was freezing out. Now here's the part I don't understand we had this conversation with him wearing only his gym shorts. He looked at me as if I had grown horns when I suggested that in the future he try putting on jeans and a sweatshirt to get warm. I've been having this battle of the thermostat for many years. The child's name changes but the logic remains the same. My memory is probably a little rusty but I may have understood this logic when I was a teenager and I had this argument with my own Mom.

One of my favorites when its rainy and chilly outside is chicken noodle soup.

Chicken Noodle With Spuds

Ingredients:

2 tbsps butter

1 diced medium onion

3 celery ribs (diced)

2 cups of new potatoes (diced)

6 cups chicken stock

2 cups of chopped cooked chicken (I use breast meat)

8 ozs noodles of choice (Prepared as package directed to add to soup.)

sage, salt, and pepper to taste

Directions:

 Melt butter in large stock pot. Combine onion,and celery with butter and cook until onion is translucent. Combine chicken, potatoes, and stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until potatoes begin to soften. Add noodles. Bring to a boil and serve.

The rain stopped and the clouds drift away in the early morning hours. The sky was dazzling with stars. I'm not much of an astronomer but I was able to pick out the dipper and what I think was Venus. This site has the visible constellations for September.  http://www.jodcast.net/sky/

Rainy Days, Umbrellas and Banana Bread!

It's a rainy dreary day!


The day started with the boys wanting to know where the umbrellas were located. This was a good question. I had looked in the proper home for the umbrellas but it was empty. I have found over the years that umbrellas can be used for many inventive purposes but typically not for keeping dry. And once they disappear from their proper home you might as well buy new ones.
The most common use for an umbrella I have found is self-defense. The umbrella is perfect for beating your brother or sister over the head. If beating over the head doesn't work than stabbing in the gut or a swift blow to the back of the knees will work. The idea being to incapacitate the victim before they can retaliate.
I have seen my boys use umbrellas frequently for sparring. King Arthur's knights had nothing on my boys when it comes to sparring. One hand in the air the other holding the umbrella, jumping in and out stabbing at each other. The only thing missing is the medievil garb with plumed hats.
Umbrellas also make perfect roofs for club houses. This involves breaking off the pesky handle and lodging the ferrules into the frame of the club house. *Note: Ferrule is the tip of the umbrella. No, I didn't know the technical name but I looked it up on www.answerbag.com.
One of my favorite all time uses is the parachute. This involves a child leaping from a ledge with an open umbrella. Yelling "stop" has never deterred a single child from following through on this endeavor. I have learned that whispering a prayer that the ferrule doesn't stab an eye is probably a usage of time and breath.
Umbrellas are also perfect for stabbing at tree limbs to loosen stuck balls or frisbees.
I didn't waste anytime hunting for the missing umbrellas but I did offer to ride them to the bus stop. Apparently its more cool to stand in the rain then have your mother ride you to the bus stop!

I didn't argue it gave me more time for my favorite rainy day pastime, snuggling back into the covers and reading a book!

My Mom baked banana nut bread over the weekend. This is a smell that when baking makes a rainy day feel much better!
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; lumps are expected. Pour batter into pan. Bake for aprox. 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Turn pan on side and allow to coll for about 10 minutes. Then gently remove from pan.

Visit the food networks's site for more recipes .http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/banana-bread-recipe/index.html

Umbrellas for insects!

My friend, Brenda found this incredibly cute idea for umbrellas:

http://followpics.com/black-umbrellas-and-witch-legs-how-fun/

Happy Birthday Trevor...Mayo Cake!

Today is my oldest grandchild's birthday! Trevor is nine years old today.  It really doesn't seem that long ago that he was born. Alex was in second grade and Tony was in kindergarten. The boys were so excited about being "Uncles". They couldn't wait to go to school and share the news with their friends.
I received a phone call mid morning the day after Trevor was born from the school. Both boys were having problems in class. None of their friends believed that they were uncles. Apparently, in the minds of 6 and 7 year olds, there is an age for when its acceptable to become an Uncle. This age seemed to range from the advanced age of 10 upwards. Unfortunately, my boys don't appreciate being called liars so they had offered to settle this problem in a less than acceptable fashion. I was fortunate that the principal, Mr. Yoder came from a large family comprised mostly of boys. I told him that I'd pick the boys up after school and talk to them. He suggested that maybe I could bring Trevor to school one day to share with the boys classmates.
I picked the boys up that afternoon. They shared such sad stories about how no one but their teachers believed that they were Uncles. Their chins quivered and their fists clenched and unclenched as they shared the stories of the great injustice of no one believing them. It broke my heart. They had been so excited about Trevor joining the family only to be crushed when they went to school.
I told them about Mr. Yoder's phone call. We decided to ask Danielle if it would be ok to take Trevor to the school for a short visit one morning. Being a new proud Mom and an outstanding older sister, she agreed!
I was overwhelmed by the look of pride on each boy's face the day I took Trevor to the school for a short "show and tell" in each classroom. They seemed to stand taller and their chests were broader, and the blue eyes were a shining!
Each boy held Trevor at the front of the class and introduced him. The classmates were duly impressed by Trevor and the fact that yes you can be an Uncle at the ages of 6 and 7!
Happy Birthday Trevor! Grammy misses and loves you!
Trevor and I share a love for many of the same things books, family, and chocolate cake! My grandma made the most delish mayonaise cake ever, here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups flour

1 2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/3 cup of water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3 eggs

1 cup mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bottoms of two 9 inch round cake pans.

Mix together flour, cocoa, soda and powder and water in one bowl.

In a large bowl with mixer on high beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Reduce mixer speed and blend in mayonnaise. When mayo is completely blended into mixure gradually add flour and cocoa mixture to bowl. Mix on slow until mixture is all blended together to a creamy consistency. Scrape all the edges and bottom to ensure that the batter is evenly mixed.

Pour into pans. Bake aprox. 30 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes remove from pans. Wait until the cakes are completely cool before frosting!

Visit Hellman's website for the recipe using a cake mix:

http://www.hellmanns.com/recipes/detail/8241/1/

Weddings...and wedding cookies!

Most people immediately recognize the song within the first few notes and everyone loves to watch the exquiste bride as she floats down the aisle. There is such joy and love on this special day. Everyone anticipates the tears of the bride, the bride’s maids, the parents and other close friends. Likewise we all know that the groom has the jitters and most of his line is very nervous about standing in front of the crowd. Whatever mistakes they make are acceptable and part of the memories.
Today I'm participating in my first wedding in the learning capacity. I'm blessed that I was asked if I wanted to be a part of it. Pastor Doug is a magnificent person to have the opportunity learn from. He's shared every part of this experience with me so that going forward I have a good foundation.
What about the pastor? Is this their first wedding? Do they have the shakes so bad they can barely talk or hold their Bible? What happens if they make a mistake or if something goes wrong in the service?
Even seasoned pastors can make mistakes and need to be prepared to adjust the program to overcome a challenge. Let’s be honest, there is pressure on the pastor as they are viewed as the key person who has control over the service and is expected to make it perfect.  What will you do if someone stands and objects to the couple being married? What will you do if someone in the line passes out? I've been in, gone to many many weddings I can't remember the pastor, priest, reverend ever making a mistake. This worries me. In a few weeks I'll be participating in my first wedding. I worry that I'll be the first pastor in my memory to make a mistake. The upside...Pastor Doug is doing the officiating so hopefully I'll also learn how to handle that as well. Its a beautiful day for a wedding. God is smiling down on this couple!
My favorite cookies at the reception will always be Wedding Cookies! Yum...

 WEDDING COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 stick butter (room temperature)
4 tbsp. powdered sugar
1 cup  flour
1 cup of finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Powder Sugar for rolling in about a cup.
Directions:
Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla. Stir nuts into flour; add to butter and sugar mixture, mixing well. Roll into shape of ball. Bake 12-14 minutes, until done. While still hot, roll in powdered sugar.
My Jessica last year.

God's winks...like Mother, like daughter!

God's winks...like Mother, like daughter!
My youngest daughter, Danielle, has grown into a beautiful young woman. She's a wonderful mom and wife. When Danielle was about 4 I realized I needed to enter her into pre-school. She had been home with me and was not very sociable. Where my older 2 children entered a room with bright smiles and happy chatter, Danielle entered a room with her face resembling a storm cloud with eyes filled with lightening bolts. A friend once commented that she was my child from the dark side.
It took close to an hour the first day to get Danielle dressed for pre-school. She was flat out refusing to go. I finally let her wear her bathing suit under her clothes as a compromise. While I was signing her in at the door she disappeared. The entire school went on alert hunting for her. I found her in the car with all the doors locked. It took a bribe of eating lunch at the "Ben Franklin" to finally enticed her to unlock the doors. This was the beginning of years of battles to get her to go to school.
 We had battled every morning for weeks. Each morning ended with both of us in tears. She managed to miss the bus every morning. I'd drive her to school only to then battle to get her out of the car once we got to the school. The teacher would call encouraging words from the porch of the school once I got her there.
One memorable morning, Rick, my oldest son. told me, "Go in the house Mom, I'll get her on the bus". I closed the garage door watching him lug his book bag, a musical instrument case, Danielle's book bag with Danielle tucked under his arn to catch the bus. It kinda reminded me of a homeless man in Washington D.C. trying to lug all his belongings from one place to another.
The entire family worked at finding creative ways to get Danielle to go to school. It took her 6 months to get a week of stars on the calender to have lunch at McDonalds and almost a year to get her ears pierced.
I'm glad Danielle couldn't see my smile yesterday when she called. Apparently, Danielle's 4 year old daughter, Kyla, hates school. They have had to battle with her every morning to get her to go. I feel Danielle's pain very well, but I also feel God's wink!

Sternwheelers and Ice Cream Trucks

The majestic Mississippi Queen was inspired by Mark Twain’s famous quote: “Someday, they’ll build the biggest steamboat the world has ever known; and she’ll be long, white and gleaming in the sunshine…And that one shall be the Queen of the Mississippi.”

This weekend is the Sternwheeler Festival at Heritage Port. I love Sternwheelers. I always envision gamblers with garters around their arms and dancing hall girls with feathered costumes performing on them. When I was small my parent's took me to see the Mississippi Queen when it was in town docked at what is now Heritage Port. It was so glamorous. It had lights and bright big ornate decor. Calliope music was played through the loud speakers.It would probably be considered tacky by today's standards. But to an 8 year old it was glorious.

Over the years I took my own children to see the Delta Queen in Pittsburgh and when it came to town. They weren't as impressed as I was when I had been their ages. It did work to my advantage though. When Alex and Tony were small we'd get their baths and then snuggle on my bed to read bedtime stories. When they were about 4 and 5 years old calliope music would start to play around 8:45 in the evenings. Alex looked at me the first evening he heard it and said; "That sounds like one of those big boats on the river." I replied that he was right it did sound like a big boat on the river.The calliope music played every evening all summer long. We'd wonder where the boat was going. I was able to share with the boys how the sternwheelers played into the city of Wheeling's history along the Ohio river. Those times when they were small are such precious memories.

One evening when the boys were around 8 and 9 years old I didn't get them into the house in time. A friend was visiting her parents up the street. The music began and my friend looked at her son and my sons. She said those dreaded words, "C'mon let's go get ice cream off the ice cream truck!" The boys were astonished. Tony looked at me and said; "Mom, can you believe it all these years we could have been getting ice cream."

I just smiled.

If you'd like to learn more about The Sternwheeler Festival visit: http://www.sternwheeling.org/
Or like their page on FB: http://www.facebook.com/groups/157721918266/

If you'd like to learn more about sternwheelers visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sternwheeler

Sharing...not always a good thing!

We love to share with folks. We love when folks share with us. I love when my children share with each other. I love when they share with others.


We have so many ways to share in today's world. We can share by google. We can share on facebook. We can share through snail mail or email. We can share our thoughts on facebook with our friends and family on our phones. We can tweet and linknd. I have never tweeted but I hear its the best way to share up to date news.

I like sharing recipes. I like when others share recipes with me. We share thoughts and memories. We share time together. My congregation shares worship with me every week.

One particular thing I'd really rather NOT have shared but over the years I have found my children share this easily and fequently...The flu. Alex returned to school today. His shared germs are going back to bed after taking more meds. And yes I have comfort clothing on, ratty sweatshirt and flannel pj bottoms.



Jess, Rick or Dee, this is the link to the recipe for Chicken Crescent Rolls you wanted.



http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/savory-crescent-chicken-squares/8d5b35f0-69ef-4a69-bbaa-d4c18fbbe696/

9/11 and The Hillbilly Snack Shack

Today my thoughts and prayers have been with those loved whose lives were changed forever in a single day. I visited the online memorial for the 9/11 and read the letter written by the foundation's president Joe Daniels. If you'd like to read it the website is  http://www.911memorial.org/commemorating-11th-anniversary-911-0 . Its well written and its hard to add anything to his comments. I was pleased to hear that the day had been honored at Wheeling Park High School.
The hotel where I was working filled that evening with the troop that had been deployed from southern West Virginia. It was heart renching watching these young men bravely going off to defend their country. Many of these young men had never been away from home before this. The hotel staff went beyond the call of duty to ensure that these young people had the best send off we could provide. Each and every soldier was hugged over and over. It was a scary day and the sacrifice was certainly brought home by meeting this troop of brave soldiers.

I lightened my thoughts and mood by stopping in to visit Ed and Tracy McDaniel. Ed and Tracy own The Hillbilly Snack Shack. Ed known as Mac is retired from the military. The two of them had a dream. The Hillbilly Snack Shack is the dream.
It was a good day to stop. They have enlarged their menu and extended their hours starting today. The warmth of the owners fill the restaurant. Their hope is to provide a place for young people and families that is alcohol and gambling free. The prices are already very affordable.

The food is scrumptious! The hoagies are filled with fresh meat, cheese and vegetables. My favorite is the steak and cheese hoagie smothered in grilled onions. Mac slices down the steak and grills it to perfection! It literally melts in your mouth! My other all time favorite item is the Corn Dog. Fried to perfection it brings back memories of every fair I've ever attended without the flies. The hotdog menu is awesome! There is a slaw dog but I'm not sure if its a West Virginia Slaw Dog.

To accommadate the new members of the community they have added the "Oil Field Trash Burger" to the menu. This burger is 1/3 lb. Angus burger, 2 pieces of cheese, bacon, sauteed mushrooms and onions with cole slaw and fries on the side. The menu also includes a variety of salads served with rolls and butter.Kid friendly, there is a children's menu. The extended menu includes dinner items for the extended hours. The Hillbilly Shack is now open from 11am - 9pm, Monday - Saturday. The Hillbilly Snack Shack is located on National Rd. outside of Triadelphia. Visit and like them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Hillbilly-Snack-Shack/237623356285098.   Mac was stirring hot dog sauce when I got there. Here's my recipe though I'd suggest trying his first.   Chili dogs are great for bon fires and cookouts you can make the chili sauce ahead of time and all you have to do is grill the hot dogs long enough to get some deep char marks. They cook up quickly and can feed many!
INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds ground beef

1 small onion, finely chopped

a pinch of salt

3 teaspoons chili powder

2 1/4 cups water

1 cup ketchup

4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Cook ground beef with onion in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink; drain well. Return to heat. Add salt, chili powder, and beef. Cook 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in 2 1/4 cups water, ketchup, Worcestershire, white vinegar, dry mustard and pepper.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid evaporates. (About 30 min.)

Sunday dinners with family! Recipe for City Chicken

Sundays with family!


Sunday, we gathered at my Mom and Dad's home to celebrate my daughter and son-in-law's first anniversary. My Mom prepared a beautiful meal. The star of the meal was the city chicken. Her city chicken falls off the stick when you put a fork to it. My Mom has always been a good cook which makes her home the natural choice for gathering. More important than the food, my Mom and Dad have created a place where children and grandchildren can gather full of confidence that they are loved and accepted.

Our family gatherings have dwindled. We use to gather every week together when our children were younger. We now gather to celebrate milestones. This has made the gatherings all the more precious! Certain elements are constants. My Mom always cooks enough food as if she's expecting a small army to show up! The food is always home cooked, to die for comfort food, artery busters. There is typically conversation about which ballgame to watch.. This Sunday football was on in the living room and tennis was on in the kitchen. Catch up conversation is a must and includes everyone's work, school, and new endeavors. We also share memories of past events and highlights from previous dinners.

Starting her own memories my 2 year old grandaughter included everyone in her game of "swipe dog". This game is what inspired her nickname for Alex, Uncle Sneaky Fox. Its pretty simple someone swipes her dog from her and hides it. She then puts her finger to her chin and says, "Mum, this is a mystery." We then have to find dog. This caused alot of laughter as poor dog was passed around from person to person and hidden and sometimes found.

My parents have a record of everyone's height on their kitchen wall. This always prompts a measuring contest on who has grown most since the last visit The kids always look forward to when they have passed my Mom in height. Sunday my niece officially passed my Mom. It seems to be a milestone into young adulthood. My nephew presently holds the #1 position for being the tallest of the grandchildren. My two younger sons have hopes of passing him up. My girls never passed their grandma.

Family dinners are a dwindling tradition. I sometimes wonder if the dive in the economy has to do with a need for us to get back to basics, rediscover the important things in life. I cherish my memories of family dinners growing up. I learned about family and the importance of them in my life.These times are priceless. These family dinners create memories for our minds, hearts, souls and tastebuds!

City Chicken is an odd name given to this dish that originated in the 1700's but became popular during Depression in the United States when chicken was ridiculously expensive, and pork and veal were cheaper to buy, go figure! The cubes of pork and veal are sewered on a wooden stick and thought to resemble a drumstick.The only meat market in Wheeling where you can buy "real" city chicken is Miklas Meat Market, http://www.miklasmeatmarket.com/ . I say "real" city chicken because the city chicken in the grocery stores is made with pork and beef cubes. Miklas uses veal. Miklas' is located on Edgington Lane, visit their website for more information, http://www.miklasmeatmarket.com/ .

Below is a recipe for my Mom's City Chicken or rather what I think is her recipe.


City Chicken

Ingredients

2 pounds of city chicken

wooden skewers if they're not included in the meat pack

salt and ground black pepper to taste

4 eggs

3 tablespoons milk

2 cups of seasoned bread crumbs

1 cup water

1/4 vegetable oil

Directions

Alternate the pork and veal on the skewers. Sprinkle each skewer on all sides with salt, and black pepper. Set skewers aside.

Whip the eggs and milk together in a bowl. Crush bread crumbs in another bowl. If baking after frying place water in a baking dish.

Preheat oven to 350 F if frying on the stove in a skillet and then baking. Heat oil in a electric frying pan or skillet.

Dip each skewer of pork into the egg mixture, then dip in crumbs. *Optional dip the skewers a second time into egg mixture and then crumbs. Place the skewers into the hot oil, and brown until the coating is crisp and golden brown. Once the skewers are all browned either add water to electric skillet and cover or place in baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Simmer an additional half an hour in electric skillet or bake in oven aproximately a half an hour. If you prefer them a little crunching uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. I like to cover mine in marinara sauce instead of water.and bake.

Sweatshirts and Pork Loin Recipes

Sweatshirt weather is better weather! I love the changing of the seasons. All of a sudden, the greens aren’t as bright and vivid as they were the day before but they haven't changed to the orange and yellows yet. The wildflowers have stopped blossoming. The humingbirds are no longer in evidence, they've migrated away. Ducks, and geese are gathering up into large groups before their migration away from the West Virginia winter.The wind kicks up. and when you go out you feel the chill that sends you scurrying back into the house for a sweatshirt. Sweatshirts to me are comfort clothing. The more ratty the sweatshirt the more comforting it is to wear.The recipes below are perfect for autumn.Cooked in the crock pot the aroma fills the house.The nice thing about the crock pot is that you can snuggle into the corner of the couch in your sweatshirt, read a book and forget about dinner for hours! Before that though I'm going to pull on a sweatshirt and walk lady.


I ran into a friend who asked me if I had any recipes for the crock pot. I hope these are different from the ones he's already tried. Please feel free to share your own favorite pork loin recipes!

Ingredients

1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin

1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix

1 cup water

3/4 cup red wine

1/2 cup diced onions

3 tablespoons minced garlic

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Place pork tenderloin in a slow cooker with the contents of the soup packet. Pour water, and wine, over the top, turning the pork to coat. Spread garlic and onions over the pork, leaving as much on top of the roast during cooking as possible. Sprinkle with pepper, cover, and cook on low setting for 5 hours. Serve with cooking liquid on the side. *The original recipe had 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. I've never used the soy sauce.

I've never made the below recipe but found it while I was looking for pork crock pot recipes. I must have liked it since I had a copy. The cola was a surprise..

Ingredients

1 boneless pork loin roast aprox.3lbs

1/2 cup of water

1 teaspoons seasoned salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon of oregano

1 cup barbecue sauce

1 cup cola

Directions

Cut roast in quarters; place in crock pot with water. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and garlic powder, oregano. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until meat is tender. Remove meat; skim fat from cooking juices. Shred meat with two forks and return to crock pot. Combine barbecue sauce and cola; pour over meat. Cover and cook on high for an additional hour or so the sauce should thickened. Serve on rolls. Yield: 10 servings.

Enjoy the day!

Vegetable Pizza ~ Family Favorite

This is one of my most requested dishes. I change up the toppings but this is the basic recipe.
 Ingredients:
 2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of mayo 1/2 package of Hidden Valley Ranch Mix
1/4 cup diced broccoli florets
1/4 cup of green peppers
1/4 cup tomatoes diced
1/4 cup shredded carrot or diced cauliflower
1/2 cup of fine shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
 1.Heat oven to 375°F.
 2. Unroll both cans of dough; separate dough into 4 long rectangles. In ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan, place dough; press in bottom and up sides to form crust.
3.Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4.In small bowl, mix cream cheese, mayo, Hidden Valley Ranch mix until smooth. Spread over crust.
5. Top with vegetables then cheese. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours before serving. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Makes about 32 appetizers
~Bon appetit!

Flag on the ground at the University Of Iowa...

Photo from The University Of Iowa Do you remember standing everyday and reciting the "Pledge Of Allegiance"? I do. Every classroom had a flag in it. Most classrooms today do not. Probably a cut back or maybe it offended someone. And "The Pledge" is a huge no no. But this Pledge recited everyday help teach us what the flag symbolizes. I remember being taught what each line meant and why it was important. I don't remember any of my children learning the Pledge let alone learning what it meant. So were the folks in Iowa really surprised that the University kids had put a massive flag on the ground? The kid's response to public outrage was "We didn't know". The kids didn't think it was a huge deal. These kids probably don't know the Pledge of Allegiance. They were never taught it.I hope that others think that this is a huge deal. I hope that it becomes such a huge deal that we start teaching again what it means to be an American! Why that flag is such a huge deal! Oh and by the way...The University was preparing for the President's visit. Just sayin.... Tammy Maas' blog has some great points in it and the original article link to the Blaze. http://aniMAASity.weebly.com/

Edgington Lane Grade School...Homeroom Mothers and Parties

Some fabulous pictures have been posted from our grade school days...I didn't arrive at Edgington Lane until 2nd grade so I didn't have that rumored torturous first grade teacher. I had heard about her and always avoided her with a passion. Rumors of kids tied to chairs, and taped mouths simply petrified me. A week or so ago I made a phone call and was flooded with memories from the past. The beautiful voice on the other end brought back memories of our grade school parties. She was one of the few homeroom moms that knew my terrible secret. I was allergic to chocolate. Even more impressive she always remembered. Unlike the parties our kids have today our parties were an opportunity for the Moms to out do the Moms in the other classrooms. I remember that they were the entire afternoon. We had cake, ice cream, cookies, candy, and played games. I dreaded when my Mom wasn't homeroom mother. The moms that noticed when I wasn't eating the delicious choclate treats would single me out and try to make it right. They were being kind but I usually was embarassed. The voice on the other end of the phone was the one mom besides my Mom and Mrs. Rosenberg, that always remembered that I couldn't eat chocolate. These moms always went the extra mile to ensure that we didn't have a completely chocolate party! It was a wonderful voice to hear and brought back such sweet memories. So many wonderful memories of our grade school! Please share your memories.....

Beautiful music and wonderful company!

This afternoon was filled with beautiful music and wonderful company! Aproximately 95 women and 2 men gathered this afternoon for a luncheon hosted by Women in Christ United. The beautiful chapel at Roneys Point Presbyterian Church was the back drop for The Thursday Morning's Music Group's Chorus to perform a variety of songs. Their voices blended together and rose to the heavens in harmony. The versatility of the selections range from Perry Como to Spiritual soul touching melodies. Several women sang solos and Anita Chops did the directing. We then had lunch at Generations Restaurant and Pub,http://generationswhg.com/home.php . The lunch special was a crab cake sandwich with lobster sauce, tomato, and lettuce. Hopefully, this scrumptious sandwich makes it to the regular menu. The atmosphere was warm and the service was efficient and professional.

The Hills Are Alive With...Zucchini

It's the time of year when you need to be suspect of the neighbor or friend offering you tomatoes. The tomatoes will no longer be delivered in a clear bag or in a basket. You'll be handed a brown bag that feels slightly heavier than normal. Before you plan the day for canning tomatoes you need to empty the bag. I have found that frequently in late summer the bag only has enough tomatoes on the top to hide the abundance of zucchini on the bottom. I've been raised that you should always accept gifts from the garden when you add that to the "its a sin to waste food" bylaw it becomes a challenge to use all the zucchini. To help with the dilemma try the Zucchini Fritter below. You can add jalepino peppers to the mix if you like heat in your food. Salsa is a perfect dipping agent for these delectable treats! Zucchini Fritters Ingredients 1 large zucchini, finely chopped or grated 1 small onion, chopped jalepeno pepper finely diced (optional reduce onion to half) 3 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 cup 2% milk 2 cups all-purpose flour salt and pepper to taste garlic powder to taste onion powder to taste cayenne pepper to taste, optional, provides a bit of kick 1/4 cup vegetable shortening Directions: In a large bowl, mix together the zucchini, onion, eggs, Romano cheese, Parmesan cheese, milk, and flour. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Heat about 1 tablespoon of shortening in a large skillet over medium heat. Drop 1/4 cupfuls of the batter into the skillet, and flatten slightly with the back of a spatula. Turn fritters over when the center appears dry. Cook on the other side until golden brown. Add more shortening to skillet as needed, and continue with remaining batter. About 2 and a half dozen fritters.

Road trip with Mom...

We started out at 8:20 am. My Mom insisted on driving. I think the fact that she makes the trip to my Aunt and Uncle's home in Irwin, PA in an hour and a half to my 2 hours maybe the reason for her insisting on driving. My 71 years old Mom displayed the reflexes of a 20 year old when a man in a truck pulling a trailer crossed into our lane. She zigged and then she zagged avoiding the concrete divider and his vehicle. I think I was more rattled than she was after the incident. Her only response was to pass him honking her horn and shaking her fist at him...very IMPRESSIVE. If I had been driving we probably would have ended up like smashed flies on a wall. My Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Phil live in Irwin, PA. They are very gracious and have a warm, inviting home. We visited for a bit and then went for lunch. We had lunch at Bella Mimi's Restaurant And Catering in Jeannette, PA. The restaurant offers fine Italian cuisine in a relaxing, clean, and friendly environment. The food was outstanding. I got the chicken devonshire and french fried sweet potatoes. We shared the fries as our dessert after our meal. My Uncle ordered his angel hair spaghetti with an oil and garlic sauce. My Mom changed her order to the same. The spaghetti and meatballs were done to perfection as the empty bowls gave testimony too. My Aunt's salad was colorful and crisp with a light Italian dressing that she enjoyed. My Uncle had to work so he left and generously treated us to lunch. On our way back to my Aunt's home we stopped to visit my Aunt Shirley. She was on her break at work. I sat down beside her and bumped her arm. She jumped and exclaimed, "Sheri". I feel that since she recognized me I obviously have inherited my Mom and Aunt's genes. We dropped my Aunt off at her home anad had an uneventful trip home!

A Visit to The House Of Carpenter

Triadelphia United Methodist Church is a small community minded church. We collect food items to help support the House of Carpenter. The House Of Carpenter is a Methodist based ministry established in 1964 to help the poor. Its located at 200 South Front Street in Wheeling, WV.
Yesterday, a fellow member of the church and I delivered our items that had been donated to the House Of Carpenter by our members. This was my friend's first visit. She was amazed at the size of the building and how beautifully it had been renovated.
We dropped our items off and went inside to take a short tour. The thrift store was clean. It was staffed with personable  people eager to help. They had a wide variety of clean, stylish clothing priced for 25 cents. A selection of books, jewelry, tapes, and pottery were also available to purchase.
A gentleman showed us where the food pantry was located. He told us that they had provided food for up to 850 families in one month. The new leadership has been requesting a variety of items a tad different from the normal requests. Yesterday we delivered soup and crackers along with peanut butter and jelly. In the past we had been asked to collect spaghetti sauce and pasta. These items are popular and easy to fix. Our congregation enjoys donating food that is kid friendly. 
Those who wish to make a monetary donation can mail it to: the House of The Carpenter, 200 S. Front St., Wheeling, WV 26003. For more information about helping the House Of Carpenter, call 304-233-4640.

Through the eyes of a 2 year old...

I took my grandaughter for a walk around the lakes at Oglebay. I had forgotten how magnificent the world looks through the eyes of a 2 year old. Her face was an incredible explosion of expression. Her eyes twinkled, and her mouth would turn up in delight at the amazement of the simplest things. I thought I'd share some of her comments on our exursion.
There was only one gaggle of geese at the lakes yesterday but they were noisy and argumentative. Kel's was totally memorizes until they decided to bring their disputes to us. When the geese came ashore bickering back and forth Kel's looked at me and said. "Mum let's walk quietly away." She then started tip toeing away with her finger on her lips.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera.
 A bit further down the path we saw a turtle on a rock with his neck stretched towards the sun. He resembled bathing beauties everywhere. The sun filtering through the trees had him spotlighted on the rock. Kel's asked me, "Is he singing Mum?" With that our singing bathing beauty became an Olympic swimmer and dove into the lake...
On the path between the 2 lakes we watched a chipmunk scurrying through the fallen leaves. To me his travels looked random. To Kel's he looked as if he was playing hide and seek. She laughingly told me that he he didn't hide very well.
The upper lake is smaller. Yesterday it was geese free. Kels seemed to find this lake much more to her liking. She noticed that the leaves were falling off the trees. She asked, "Mum, why is the tree losing the leaves?" I explained that autumn was coming and trees were getting ready for winter. She replied, "Ok, its cold in winter right?" I said. "Yes." She grinned and said, "I like winter."
When we left the upper lake and started down the path to Schenk lake she took my hand and said, "I dont want to lose you." I looked down at her wondering what she could ,mean. Her and I were the only 2 people on the path. I said ok and asked, "How is this path busy?". She pulled me down and said, "Look." There were ants and other bugs all over the path. They were scurrying everywhere. I laughed at her and agreed that the path was very, very busy!