another mug rug swapped

This month over on the HGTV message boards there was another mug rug swap.  The theme for this one was country fairs.

I had several things in mind when I embroidered the 1^st place ribbon, and started off with the idea of a crazy quilt pattern to get in chickens, cows, horses, fruit/vegetables, sewing, and cooking…whew!  As you can imagine, that was just too busy looking for me to be able to pull off on a little mug rug.  Instead, I just looked at my western gal, and pictured her big win in the rodeo. 

I have to say that fairs are near and dear to my heart.  My dad was one of four year-round employees at the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival in Lancaster, California.  Yes, I was raised in southern California.  In fact, his job as the maintenance man provided us with a house on the fairgrounds, so I grew up playing among the barns, grandstand arena, and even learned to drive a car on the streets of the fair.  Later on, I worked in the office 3 or 4 summers while going to school.  Can you picture all the little entrant cards for every pie, cake, jar of jelly, and who knows what else…all typed by hand because we didn’t have computers back in the late 60’s.  That was part of my job. 

As a youngster, I followed in my sisters’ footsteps, and entered a Chocolate Vinegar Cake in the junior division.  I was so proud of that first place ribbon.   From what I understand, it’s also known as a depression cake.  Whether because the original instructions call for making three depressions in the dry ingredients to add the wet ingredients, or because it didn’t use eggs and is inexpensive to make, your guess is as good as mine.   This recipe actually makes a small cake, maybe one layer or an 8x8x2” square pan.  It’s moist too.  (Now I just mix in a bowl and put in cake pan, but this was the original version)

Chocolate Vinegar Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Sift dry ingredients into ungreased 8x8x2” pan

1 ½ cup flour

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp cocoa

½ tsp salt

Make 3 depressions with spoon in dry ingredients, and add these:

1 tsp vanilla                1 Tbsp white vinegar              6 Tbsp melted butter

Pour 1 cup water over all, stir together until well mixed.

Bake 30-35 minutes

Note:  batter will be thin

 In other news, Robert had a birthday this past week.  I think he was about 2 or 3 in this picture.  Time just keeps flying by!  I went over and stayed with the kids while he and Angela went to dinner.  I took my camera, but we got busy with "projects" and I didn't get any pictures taken...darn.

 Elise was over the other night and we made some cookies.  She's turning into quite the little helper.  :)

That's it for now.  Have a good week!

Another milestone!

Happy birthday dear Robert, happy birthday to you!

We've come a long way, haven't we? 

In other news, Summer is rolling right along.  Been playing a few of those dang computer games, but I sure do like them.  There's Draw Something, a fun way to work on your art skills.  Now these pics were screen shots, so they're kind of small, but there's a golf cart and a canoe.

And Words With Friends.  Again, an educational way to keep your mind working.  Win or lose, its another fun one.

This past week I kept Elise while Elizabeth and David had a few days away.  Always discovering something new, I learned she likes to pose for pictures!

I've done a little experimenting with cooking too.  Made these cheese sticks using a recipe from Pinterest, with some marinara sauce on the side.  They weren't bad, probably will make them again.  They didn't brown as pretty as the store-bought, but tasted good.

I also tried a chicken and rice casserole that my Bunco buddy Colissa made, and it came out so yummy.  Thought I had taken a picture, but no, so here's how the professionals do it.  Like Colissa, I added fried onion rings after the cheese...sooooo good!   I took a serving to my neighbor and froze a couple of servings, as well as eating off of it a couple of days, so it went a long way. 

Okay, guess that's it for now.  Have a good week everyone.

chicken soup

I'm not known for cooking a lot,  but there are a few things that I enjoy and prepare regularly.  Lately, this chicken soup has been a favorite.  

I've had this recipe for several years...long enough that I can't remember where it came from, and I don't still have the original written copy.  Usually I just wing it, and it seems to work.   I don't want a huge pot when I'm finished because I'll  be about the only one eating it, unless I happen to take a bowl to my neighbor or give one to Elizabeth for her lunch, so I just use one chicken breast.  You could certainly use more if you want to.  Even with a giveaway or two, I still have several bowls to enjoy for a few days.   Its flexible enough that you can add or delete whatever you want.

Chicken Soup or maybe a version of Tortilla Soup

1 chicken breast (or more if you prefer)
1 1/2 - 2" of water to cover      
boil chicken, then shred it and put back in the water; removing bones if necessary

add the following, and simmer awhile:

1 can chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes and  chopped green chilis (I use the store brand of Rotel)  (optional)
salt and pepper to taste, if any
1 Tbsp chili powder or to taste if you want more
couple sprinkles cayenne pepper (to taste, and definitely optional)
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
2-3 ribs of celery, chopped
1/2 onion, diced or chopped

 then add and cook until these are heated:
1 can great northern beans, drained
1 can carrots  (if using fresh, add them with the bell pepper, celery, and onions)

can be served with any or all of the following:

grated cheese          sour cream             sliced avocado     
tortilla strips (in the area of croutons at the grocery store)

Some may not think of soups as summer fare, but this tastes good and is a nice break from sandwiches.  Or heck, even have it with your sandwich!

Here you see it just cooked, served up, and embellished with cheese and tortilla strips.  Yummo.  :)

another vacation is history

It's been a really good week, and I've loved being off. Not much longer, and being off will be the norm! I checked my work's email the other day, and it was a bit strange to read the internal posting about my position coming available. Sigh. But not strange enough to make me change my mind!

I got to keep this little cutie two days while her momma went to work. She got in a little quality Grams time. :) A lot of her quality time was spent sleeping, but that's okay.

And of course there was Thanksgiving (see previous post), and it's always nice when I can be with everyone.

I finished this quilt top for Ashlynn. I'm really pleased how it came together, and think she'll like it. I'll be tying it off for the finishing. This takes care of the older grandkids' quilts for Christmas, and for me, three quilts in 3 months is doing pretty good.

I mentioned in an earlier post about the Secret Santa Stocking Swap I'm in over on the HGTV quilting forum. I even got that boxed up and mailed yesterday! I know December will be busy, so better to get it out in plenty of time than to wait and fight the crowds at the post office. And since it will take a week or so to get there, I didn't worry about sending priority mail since it's plenty early.

Another birthday has come along as well. I don't think you'll ever see me complaining about that, I like to see them keep on coming. One of my presents was Julia Childs cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". Now when I issue an invitation, everyone will really be asking "what are you cooking" before they give an answer...

the torch has been passed

For quite a few years, I've made deviled eggs to take to family gatherings. What's ironic is my own kids don't even care for them, but my sister's kids seem to really like them. "Is Aunt Elsie bringing her deviled eggs?" I can even remember quite a few Christmases ago showing two of the next-generation cousins, Brenda and Stephanie, how to make them. They were young girls then, but the seed was planted.

Back in July I went to a baby shower for grand-niece Brenda. Everybody brought a little dish of something, and she requested I make the deviled eggs, which I did. Alas, when I left that afternoon I forgot my egg container.

Then for yesterday's gathering, I was asking my sis what she needed me to bring. I had thought of baked beans, but no, they had that covered. She did say that Brenda wondered if I was bringing deviled eggs. Since I was at the store, I picked up another container, went home and made up some eggs. Well.

I got to sis's house, walking in with my eggs and no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies (another favorite...yum), and lo and behold there was my first egg container filled with eggs! Brenda made some herself! Mighty proud of that girl, for the eggs were quite tasty. I told her, the container is now yours, and the torch has been passed.

The question for future family gatherings? Is Brenda bringing her deviled eggs?

edited to add "recipe" on making deviled eggs:

I don't use specific measurements. Peel some boiled eggs, cut in half length-wise, and scoop out the yolk. To the yolks, add a nice spoonful of Miracle Whip, a squirt of mustard, a spoonful or so of pickle vinegar, and some salt...all to taste. Mash/stir to a less than pasty consistency...you don't want it too dry, but not too runny. Spoon the mixture back into the egg whites, and sprinkle the top with paprika. I usually chill them for a bit before serving. Theoretically you'll get 2 deviled eggs per egg. Actually I usually lose one or two halves in the process...some might be "fragile" and split, but also I like them to have a nice rounded filling, so I fill the firmest eggs first and toss the one or two that might be left...or use them in another recipe.