Sunset At The Beach

I'm enjoying a few relaxing days at the beach. One of my favorite things at the beach is sunset. (I like the sunrise too, but I can't seem to get up early enough to enjoy it.) In case you haven't watched a sunset at the beach lately, check out this video of the sun going down over Pamlico Sound off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Enjoy! Hope you make it to the beach sometime soon!

Recipes From My New Cookbook...Again

I like unusual cookbooks and I picked this gem up at a yard sale a few weeks back. Glancing at the title before I bought it I didn't know if it had real recipes or was just a joke. I also wanted to find out if any of the foods that I liked to cook were inside. There's nothing quite like finding out you're white trash by the foods that you like to cook, and that somebody actually took the time to write it all down. I've included a recipe from different sections of the cookbook: Vegetables 'n Meats Nobody's Corn Topper Casserole 1 pound can cut green beans, drained 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 pound can cream-style corn 4 tablespoons chopped onion 2 cups cubed cooked ham 3/4 cup Bisquick Place beans in a 2-quart greased casserole, reserving a few for garnish. Sprinkle onion on top; spread with soup. Top with a layer of ham. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Combine, corn and biscuit mix. Spoon mixture on top of casserole. Bake for 20 minutes longer. Garnish with rest of beans. Fish, Cooter 'n Shrimp Clara Jane Vickar's Creamed Tuna Lunch Brown 2 tablespoons of flour and 3 tablespoons of butter or oleo in a skillet. Add the tuna (big can is best) chunk style and 1 small container half-and-half or 2 cups of milk. Cook over low heat til thickened. Salt, pepper, and serve with toast or rice. Carnation evaporated milk is good in this, too. Sandwiches 'n Eggs Oozie's Okra Omelet 1 cup of fresh okra, cut in rounds 1/2 cup chopped scallions 6-7 eggs 1/3 cup of milk Fry okra and onions in 2 tablespoons of bacon and grease or oil til onions are clear and okra is bright green. Remove okra and onions. Stir eggs into the skillet til they start thickening; then add okra and onions and work til done. 5-9 minutes. Serves 4 to 5. Best with cornbread. Candies, Cakes, Cobbler 'n Cookies Post Office Cookies 1 1/3 sticks oleo 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup flour (measure before sifting) 1 cup chopped nuts 1 teaspoon McCormick's vanilla extract pinch of salt 2 eggs, beaten together Cream oleo and sugar; add eggs and flour, vanilla and nuts. Cook in biscuit pan in a slow oven (250 degrees) about 40 minutes. When cold, cut in small pieces and roll in confectioner's powdered sugar. Sweet Pones, Puddins 'n Pies Sweet Tater Surprise 2 cups warm mashed sweet taters 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 cup crunchy peanut butter 1 whole egg, beaten 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup crushed cornflakes Combine warm taters with beaten egg, sugar, and salt. Form into balls with peanut butter inside each one. Roll in crushed cornflakes. Brown in oven at 375 degrees. Marshmallows can be used inside the balls with the peanut butter for a little extra treat. Cornpones, Cornbreads, Biscuits 'n Rolls Spoon Bread 1 cup yellow cornmeal 2 1/2 teaspoons Calumet baking powder 2 eggs, separated 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 cups of scalded milk Mix cornmeal and salt. Add hot milk, and cook in double-boiler until thick and smooth, stirring it once in a while. Take it off the stove and cool it. Pour in well-beaten egg yolks, and fold in stiffly-beaten egg whites. Place in greased casserole, which has also had one tablespoon of melted fat. Bake in moderate oven, 375 degrees, for 35 minutes, or until firm and the crust is brown. You should be able to serve a complete meal from the recipes above. Let me know how it turns out. Are you white trash? Or do you just cook like it!

A Silent Reminder

In memory of those who lost their lives on that tragic day and for the family and friends that continue to grieve for you, I silence my laughter on this day and fill my heart and soul instead with the prayers and songs of those who remember. You will never be forgotten and we will never forget. God Bless America.

Another Chance To Get Your Copy

In anticipation of the next installment of Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman, I'm giving you the opportunity to get a copy of the first book in the series by ordering here.     If you would like a signed copy, because I know you do, you can order directly from this blog by clicking the left side of the screen where it says 'Purchase Book Via Amazon'.   Also, look for a new look for the blog. Blogger has finally fixed the bugs that have prevented making any changes so I intend to make up for lost time. Change is always good, right?   Don't miss your chance to get a copy of my book!   Order today!     

Song Of The Moment

I'm sure this has happened to you on more than one occasion. I was getting out of the shower the other day and was suddenly hit with an overwhelming urge to sing. Sing? Yes, sing. What was more surprising was the choice of songs. In my head for a second and out of my mouth the next: Thump, thump, thump, another one bites the dust. Hey, hey, another one bites the dust. And another one's gone, and another one's gone. Hey, we're gonna get you through; another one bites the dust. Thump, thump, thump...chicachicachica. When I awakened from my trance I found myself playing air guitar with the towel and both of the cats puffed up and hiding in the corner.  I guess they don't like Queen. Or maybe it's my singing. That got me to thinking about where had that song come from. I don't have any Queen records. Or cassettes. Or CDs. Or even on my iPod. Since I no longer commute on a daily basis, I seldom listen to the radio. Where had I picked up this song? As the day continued on, I found myself randomly singing, "Thump, thump, thump, another one bites the dust." Was I trying to kill somebody and not know it? The days wore on and I was almost worn out. I was SICK of the thumps and I didn't care who bit the dust. This song had definitely worn out its welcome; time to move on. Take a bow, Queen; the song is over! A few more weeks passed, and finally, the thumps began to subside.  I was visiting with mom at her house and the television was going full-blast in the background. There's something about her television that's not quite right.  You can barely hear someone speaking during a show but when the commercial comes on, it almost blasts you into outer space. Mom was in the laundry room folding some clothes when I overheard her singing, "Thinking about working up an appetite, looking forward to a little afternoon delight. Sky rockets in sight, afternoon delight." Afternoon Delight? That was almost as bad as my Queen song. A few moments later, mom was walking back into the room when I heard the all to familiar thump, thump, thumps; they were loud but they weren't coming from me. It was coming from the television; it was a Target commercial. Light bulbs went off in my head--so, that's where the song had come from. "Wow! What's that noise?" mom asked. "It's a commercial," I yelled back. "I know that. But, what's the song?" "It's Another One Bites The Dust by the group Queen," I replied. "Oh, I like it. It's got a good beat to it," she said.  "Thump, thump, thump; another one bites the dust," she sang as she walked away. I just shook my head. Good--now, maybe I'll stop singing it all the time. Later, back at home, I was getting out of the shower, when out of nowhere I bellowed, "Sky rockets in flight; Afternoon delight." Oh, crap! I've traded in the thumps for a little afternoon delight. I wonder what's next?

It's My Lucky Day...Year VI

****It's the sixth time around for this post. It's hard to believe I have been blogging for this long. I am absolutely positive that this is going to be my luckiest day ever. I sure have changed a lot in the last year. I'm not really a middle-aged fat woman any more. I'm still middle-aged but not nearly as big as I once was. (I'll wait while you tell me Congratulations!) Anyhow, I'll let you know how it all turns out. ****It's the fifth time around for this post. I'm incredibly excited about the whole month of August this year, not just my lucky day. Super things are happening for me right now so I just know this will be my luckiest day ever! ****It's the fourth time around for this post. I don't even remember what happened last year but I just know that today is my lucky day and the Pythagoreans believed that four was a perfect number. A perfect number for a perfect day! ****It's the third time around for this post. I just know that this will be the luckiest day of the year...Third time's a charm, right? ****This was what I posted last year on my lucky day. It didn't turn out as lucky as I would have wanted. So, I'm giving it another whirl. Maybe, better luck this year...year 2! Today, August 22, is the luckiest day of the year for me. If something exciting is supposed to happen, it usually happens on this day. I can't remember the specific events (okay, maybe I can, but a girl has to have some secrets) but I do know that it was on this date. I do remember that I got my wisdom teeth pulled on this date in 1989. I know that wasn't lucky but I did get to eat mashed potatoes for every meal for a few days. And luckily, my favorite food is mashed potatoes. I think I am going to try my lucky numbers on the lottery this evening. The problem is that I have to pick five numbers and I only have two: Eight for August and twenty-two for the twenty-second. That means that I will only get two out of five numbers and you don't win anything with just two correct. But, since it is my lucky day, I might get the other three numbers as well. I'm a winner and I didn't even know it. Now, what am I going to do with all that cash?

It's National Relaxation Day

Today, August 15, 2013, is National Relaxation Day. Are you relaxing? So, in honor of this special day I bring to you the Top Ten Things To Do On National Relaxation Day: 10. Do nothing. 9.   Do nothing, it's National Relaxation Day. 8.   Do absolutely nothing. 7.   Write a top ten list about doing nothing. 6.    Relax after doing absolutely nothing. 5.    Well, that's all I can manage. I'm not supposed to be doing anything, remember? And when I think about it, writing a  list about doing nothing is actually doing something... I'm gonna go take a nap...