A ride of wonder

    Several interesting things happened on our ride home from Brian's dad's last evening.  The first, was this thing, out in the field, what was it? As we got even with it, we realized it was a crane (the bird type), in the middle of a field of soy. ?!?!  A bit later we spotted some deer. Those we are use to spotting, well at least we are unless the guys are actually out hunting for them. 

   We stopped at the MickeyD's in Wayland. "What use to be there?" we questioned each other, about the now empty lot next to it. Neither one of us was sure. Turned out, both of us had an idea, but didn't share it because it couldn't have possibly been that, right?! We were right in our unspoken guesses. They had completely taken out the Speedway station. The one that had at least three cars at it, no matter what time of day or night you passed by. 'If it was always so busy, why in the world would they take it out' we questioned. According to the sign on the front of the fencing, a new one would be replacing the old one soon. "Awww.....".

   As we were approaching the 54th Street exit off the highway, Brian pointed to two buildings along the side. I wondered why they were being taken apart that-a-way. Certainly not the usual way to demolish a building. Turned out that it was due to them first being victims of the recent tornado. The tornado itself had been the slightest of blips on the radar screen, and it was gone the second time the scanner passed over that area, so they hadn't rung any alarms. But it had definitely been a tornado. The proof is in the evidence it left behind. Now true, compared to lots of tornado destruction paths you see on the national news broadcasts, this one didn't do much. But it did enough.

    Brian got off at the exit and drove me around to see the spots where it had caused havoc, lifted up, then dropped lower again. I said "OH  MY  WORD !!!" a whole lot during our drive. I had seen some pictures of the damage on line. In-fact, one of my brothers had stopped by the house he use to live in in that area, introduced himself to the current owners, and gotten permission to enter the property and take pictures. We had lived there with him for seven months after our house fire, so I knew the area. Oh my word is it not the same looking now!! And it's not because of the years which have passed since we lived there. The evidence to the difference is in all of the tree stumps which now show where all of the huge, wondrously shady trees use to stand between him and the houses on the street behind him, houses that we had forgot were back there because you couldn't really see them due to the trees. The evidence was in there no longer being a three season porch on the back of my brothers old house, it had literally been ripped off. The evidence is also in how many homes have tarps covering parts of their roofs, or are missing parts of their garages or houses. The evidence is in the insulation caught way up in the trees by and in, what use to be a beautiful wooded park. While we weren't able to access the park itself, we could see for quite a distance, and all we saw were toppled over trees. Not sure if a single one was left untouched. The owners of one house we passed, were installing an electric meter to the side of their house. Others were working on framing in sections. It was just all too surreal. 

   Brian then treated me to Dairy Queen :-]  Their waffle cone turtle sundae is good! yup, yup, yup! We were sitting on the bench, enjoying the wonderful evening air, enjoying watching people. Two pretty girls in their twenties were walking our direction, when this moped went down the street, with the helmet-less male driver standing straight up on the pedals, arms spread wide. We laughed. The girls laughed. Brian inquired if they'd been impressed. They exchanged a look, looked at us again, then their laughter became kind of the embarrassed type. My puzzlement must have registered on my face, because one of the girls walked over, put her hand on my knee, leaned in and asked, "you don't recognize us do you?". Awkward. "You do look familiar, but I don't know from where." They laughed joyously. I was all the more confused. Then (of their own accord) they told me their names, twice. Finally it dawned on me, they were my cousins! Well technically, my cousins daughters, making them my second cousins. But it was them!! They were out for a walk enjoying the evening air. They said they had already passed us once and had been quite sure it was us.... .  It was good to see them! One of them has two kids and they said that their sister is due for her third any day now. I had no idea any of them lived any wheres near us. We laughed. We hugged. What a neat surprise in my evening! :-]

Pumpkin Pie

    Let's see, I've done the postings about the pie crust, as well as the Blueberry, Toll House and Pecan Pies. I had previously posted about the Butterscotch Pudding /Pie. So all that's left to post about, in this series about the pies I made for Christmas this year, is the one on the Pumpkin Pie. This then is that posting. ;->
     I use canned pumpkin. The 'solid pack' variety. I have some friends who make their own canned pumpkin, out of fresh pumpkins every fall. I just might try doing that myself some day. But I shall be very cautious of the 'how to' when I do!  See, this one time, at this one place, Brian nabbed a piece of pumpkin pie for me, knowing that I like that type of pie. And normally I do. That time, I didn't. As in - I did NOT! Oh man. The pumpkin was all stringy. More like some squashes are. And they had barely added any sugar. And I tasted no evidence of them having added any spices. The stuff was just nasty, I tell you! But we were in a situation where we had no idea who had made said pie. Or if that person was watching me eat their pie. So I tried to chew it up. But I out and out couldn't. Thankfully, we were using paper napkins. o;-p  So as discretely as possible, out it went. Then I tried to clean the taste out with a drink of water. But my cup was empty. And so was my husbands. And so was my sisters, who was sitting across from me. Her husband was looking the other way and had no clue that his still half full glass, was my rescue. ;-p. We were also sitting with a guy, who we had always claimed would eat just about anything. I said that I was fuller than I had thought and offered it to him. He ate it. We were right. Chuckle, chuckle.

    Step #1 - Make your pie crust.

    Step #2 - Measure your sugar into a bowl.

     Step #3 - Add your eggs. REMINDER TIP - use the edge of the shell to break the egg yolks. Doing so will ease the stirring process greatly!
            Blend the sugar and eggs together until they look like this -

     Step #4 - Measure and add your solid pack pumpkin.

                  [I was doubling the recipe. Aka: making two pies]

    Step #4 - Blend the two together until they look like this -->

     Step #5 - Add the salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and ground cloves to the bowl. Mix them in thourally. Remember to snap a picture here, if you plan on doing your own posting about this. 8-/

    Step #6 - Add the Pet(R) Evaporated Milk.  A BONUS TIP here --> Chilling your unopened can of evaporated milk for 15 to 20 minutes first, in your freezer, makes the baked pie turn out a lot lighter / fluffier in texture. :-D

      Step #7 - Make sure everything is completely blended together. (aka: scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as you stir). Once it is, pour the mixture into your waiting unbaked pie crusts.

      Step #8 - Bake at 425o for 15 minutes, then turn your oven down to 350o and bake for 45 minutes longer - OR - until a metal knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. ( <--- BONUS TIP there)  If you end up needing to test it more than once, try making your knife test fall where your cutting lines will be. <--- Another BONUS TIP there)

     Pumpkin pie is good served warm, or cold. Plain, or with cool whip, or with ice cream.  Is it good for you? OF COURSE! Pumpkin is either a veggie or a fruit, I get confused. o;-p 

         And now for the actual recipe -
                 Pumpkin Pie
                   recipe taken off of a can of Libby's(R) pumpkin ( a 'few' years ago)

         for one single pie:
         Unbaked pie crust (set aside)
         3/4 cup Sugar
         2 large Eggs
         1 can (16 ounce) (aka: 1 pound) Libby's(R) Solid Pack Pumpkin
         1/2 teaspoon Salt
         1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
         1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg (my addition)
         1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
         1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
         1 tall can (13 fl. ounce) [Chilled] Pet(R) Evaporated Milk

          Preheat oven to 425o. (REMINDER - most ovens take 7 minutes to reach the temp. you set)

          Starting with the Sugar, mix the rest of the ingredients together in order given. Pour into prepared pie crust.
          Bake for 15 minutes at the 425o temp. Then reduce the heat to 350o and continue baking for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

       Hopefully, you'll enjoy it from the moment it enters your mouth. o;-p

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You might also enjoy these postings: 

~ Pie Crust

~ Blueberry Pie

~ Toll House (R) Pie

~ Pecan Pie

~ Homemade Butterscotch Pudding / Pie

~ Homemade Chocolate Pudding (Pie filling)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
  ~ "Simply Delish Sunday('s)", are hosted by KB and Whitesnakes, at 'KB and Whitesnakes Home' (http://kbandwhitesnakeshome.blogspot.com)
 ~ "Creative Monday's", are hosted by Clair Justine, at 'Clairejustineoxox' (http://clairejustineoxox.blogspot.com/), and Judy, at 'Judy-H-JS Thoughts' (http://judyh-jsthoughts.blogspot.com/)
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/). 
 ~ "Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits", hosted by Susan, at 'Permanent Posies / Creative Chaos' (http://permanentposies.com/)
 ~ "Totally Tasty Tuesdays", are hosted by Mandy, at 'Mandy's Recipe Box' (http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace'  (http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/).
     (taste wonderful served as a pie!)
  ~ "Foodie Wednesday('s)", are hosted by Bibi, at 'Daily Organized Chaos' (http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/). 
   ~ "These Chicks Cooked Link Party", hosted by Katie L, at 'This Chick Cooks' (http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com)
  ~ "What's Cooking Wednesday('s)" (shall we say # 1 ?), are hosted by Cristi, at 'The King's Court IV' (http://www.thekingscourt4.blogspot.com/), and by  Diane, at 'Turning The Clock Back' ("one eco friendly step at a time") (http://turning-the-clock-back.blogspot.com/)).
  ~ "Full Plate Thursday('s)", are hosted by Miz Helen, at 'Miz Helen's Country Cottage' (http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/).     
  ~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)   
  ~ "Sweets For A Saturday", hosted by Lisa, at 'Sweet As Sugar Cookies' (http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com)       
 

Pecan Pie

    The next pie in the current series I'm posting, about the pies I made for Christmas this year, is the 'Pecan Pie'. We've already done the ones on Pie Crust, as well as the Blueberry Pie, and the Toll House(R) Pie.
     In a way, the recipe for Pecan Pie, is similar to the recipe for Goulash. There are ever so many variations of it! And just because you like some types of it, does not mean you like all types of it. In-fact, it's highly probable that you strongly dislike some types of it.
     Another irony is, many people claim 'their' pecan pie to be 'southern style'.  Most likely, that just means it's a sweet rendition of the pie. It definitely does not mean that it tastes exactly like all the other pecans pies, which have been dubbed with the same title.
     All of that being said means, that I know some of you will not like this particular recipe for it. Others of you however, will L-O-V-E it!
      None of the guys in my house like pecan pie. Yet it is one of my favorite types of pies! I got the recipe from my mom. And most of my siblings and dad like it. So when I make it, it's usually in conjecture with a gathering of some sort, on my side of the family. But I usually make more than I know will be eaten, or even *taken home, by them. o;-p
      About the * by "taken home". People LOVE being able to not only eat a piece while they are at the gathering, but to also take a piece home with them, to have the next day. Sometimes I take a bag of empty containers (like Cool Whip or such had come in from the store) with me. My sister however, always has her own stash available for everyone to use. ;->  ( <--- BONUS TIP there)
      I got such a heart warming, tear provoking, awesome, compliment from my sister, about the pie this year. She wandered into the room I was sitting in, carrying a piece of the pecan pie on a plate. While fighting tears of her own, and poking at the pie, she said, "Cheryl, I just wanted to tell you that you totally nailed mom's recipe this time!! It's so-o worth the points I saved up to burn on it!"  (She belongs to Weight Watchers(R)).

    Step #1 - Make your pie crust.

    Step #2 - Measure your sugar into a bowl.

      Step #3 - Add your eggs. REMINDER TIP - use the edge of the shell to break the egg yolks. Doing so will ease the stirring process greatly!

                 [I was doubling the recipe. Aka: making two pies]

    Step #4 - Blend the two together until they look like this -->

      Step #5 - Add your melted butter and light Karo(R) Corn Syrup.

        (You do not have to finely groom your hands before making this pie o;-p)
         Blend every thing together thourally.

     Step #6 - Chop your pecans. No, we do not use the pecans as whole half's. And no, that is not an oxymora. ;-p.  We like them chopped, but not super finely chopped. Add your chopped pecans to the bowl.

      Step #7 - Stir everything together. If you 'should' get some on your finger, enjoy licking it off.

      Step #8 - Pour the mixture into your waiting unbaked pie crusts.

      Step #9 - Bake at 400o for 10 minutes, then at 350o for 20 minutes.

         And now for the actual recipe -
                   Pecan Pie
                              recipe given to me by my Mom - Pat B.

         for one single pie:
         Unbaked pie crust - set aside

         1 cup Sugar
         3 large Eggs
             Mix together until eggs are well beaten.
          1/4 cup Butter (1/2 stick)
          1/2 cup light (clear) Karo(R) Corn Syrup
              Add these to sugar and eggs and mix well.
          1 cup chopped Pecans
               Mix in with everything else.

           Pour mixture into the unbaked pie crust.
           Bake at 400o for 10 minutes then at 350o for 20 minutes.

      Savor every bite! :->

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You might also enjoy these postings: 

~ Pie Crust

~ Blueberry Pie

~ Toll House (R) Pie

~ Homemade Butterscotch Pudding / Pie

~ Homemade Chocolate Pudding

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
  ~ "Sweets For A Saturday", hosted by Lisa, at 'Sweet As Sugar Cookies' (http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com)
  ~ "Simply Delish Sunday('s)", are hosted by KB and Whitesnakes, at 'KB and Whitesnakes Home' (http://kbandwhitesnakeshome.blogspot.com)
 ~ "Creative Monday's", are hosted by Clair Justine, at 'Clairejustineoxox' (http://clairejustineoxox.blogspot.com/), and Judy, at 'Judy-H-JS Thoughts' (http://judyh-jsthoughts.blogspot.com/)
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/). 
 ~ "Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits", hosted by Susan, at 'Permanent Posies / Creative Chaos' (http://permanentposies.com/)
 ~ "Totally Tasty Tuesdays", are hosted by Mandy, at 'Mandy's Recipe Box' (http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace'  (http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/).
     (taste wonderful served as a pie!)
  ~ "Foodie Wednesday('s)", are hosted by Bibi, at 'Daily Organized Chaos' (http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/). 
   ~ "These Chicks Cooked Link Party", hosted by Katie L, at 'This Chick Cooks' (http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com)
  ~ "Full Plate Thursday('s)", are hosted by Miz Helen, at 'Miz Helen's Country Cottage' (http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/).     
  ~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)   

Party foods #12 - Shrimp Dip

    The year before Brian and I were married, my family went up to Sutton's Bay, Michigan on vacation. (A beautiful area!!). My parents had rented a cabin and is often the case, we became 'friends' with the people staying in a nearby cabin. At one point, we were getting together and of course we were going to eat. Seeings how I had my own 'wheels' (a red 1976 Buick Skyhawk), I was sent into town to pick up a few ingredients (a task I enjoyed doing!! o;-p) The list given to me by the lady from the neighboring cottage, included canned shrimp. I was happy to pick it up, just had plans on not eating even a bite of the stuff!
   See, I do NOT like any type of "sea food". Not fresh. Not canned. Not frozen. I do not like it 'Sam I am!!' ;-p  My husband does. Most of my close girl friends do. But I do not!
   At least usually. There have been two exceptions. One of them being the Shrimp dip. Figures, eh?
   The irony is, I also as a rule do not care for Triscuit (R) crackers. Which is what the lady served the shrimp dip with. But somehow, some way, which I have yet to figure out, the combination of the two was great!!! To the point that I always wished I had gotten the recipe from her!
    Then one time (s-e-v-r-a-l years ago now), as I was browsing through my sisters copy of a little cookbook made up by Better Homes and Gardens Realtors, There was the recipe! I knew it was the same, because I clearly remembered what all (or at lest the main ingredients) the lady had put in hers.
    The first time I made it for Brian, he was quite amazed I liked it, due to how often he had tried to get me to like "sea food" products. Maybe I like it because the shrimp is diced up very fine and thus blend ever so much better with the other ingredients. I still do not know 'the why' for sure.

     Like I've mentioned the last two days, this week I am doing the postings about the snackie foods we made for Christmas, due to how how next weekend is New Years and lots of people either attend parties which they are suppose to take "snackie foods" to, or, they make that type of foods to eat while watching the football game on New Years Day. The foods we made were: Fresh Vegetable Pizza, Bacon Cheese Ball, Spinach dip with Pumpernickel, Shrimp Dip, "Italian" Meatballs in Parmesan Sauce and Sausage Dip.
    Today I am posting the recipe for the Shrimp Dip. At the bottom of this posting, you will find links to the other "party type foods" I have previously posted about. You'll have to come back and visit us again, to find the recipes for the other items. ;->

     First step is to soften even further, your room temp cream cheese. Short stints in the microwave work great for this! ( <-- BONUS TIP there)

     Get it nice and smooth.

     Blend in the mayo.

     Add the finely chopped celery.

     The finely chopped onions.

       (we were making a double recipe)

    The miniature shrimp, diced small
       [we used frozen shrimp, thawed and drained]

        (I always dice it much smaller than this! But Brian did the dicing, and when he asked me if it was chopped down enough, I said sure, seeings how I knew that would make me leave more of it for him o;->)

     Add the lemon juice

     Blend everything together thourally and chill.

    And now for the actual recipe -
          Shrimp Dip
              from the lady at the rented cabins, as well as the BH&G Realtors Cookbook

    8 oz. of Cream Cheese
    1/2 cup Mayo
    1/2 cup finely diced Celery
    2 Tablespoons dried onion
          - OR - 1/4 cup fresh onion, chopped very fine
    1 can miniature shrimp, drained, and chopped small
         - OR - frozen shrimp, thawed, drained, and finely chopped
    1 1/2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

    Get your cream cheese good and soft, and 'blend' it till smooth. Blend in the mayo, then the diced celery, the onion, the chopped shrimp and the lemon juice.
     Chill!
    Serve with crackers, especially the Triscuit ones.  ;->

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You might also enjoy these postings:

~ "Party Foods" -
   - #1 - Bean Salsa (also known as "Rugby dip")
   - #2 - 'Polish roses' and Pickle Wraps
   - #3 - Garden Fresh Bruschette
   - #4 - Deviled Eggs
   - #5 - Chocolate Covered Strawberries
   - #6 - Improvised Chili Based Dip Recipe 
   - #7 - Bacon Cheese Ball
   - #8 - My version of Fruit Pizzas
   - #9 - Brownie Cups
   - #10 - My version of Veggie Pizza
   - #11 - My rendition of Spinach Dip

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:

 ~ "Full Plate Thursday('s)", are hosted by Miz Helen, at 'Miz Helen's Country Cottage' (http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/).  
  ~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)     
  ~ "Simply Delish Sunday('s)", are hosted by KB and Whitesnakes, at 'KB and Whitesnakes Home' (http://kbandwhitesnakeshome.blogspot.com)
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
 ~ "Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits", hosted by Susan, at 'Permanent Posies / Creative Chaos' (http://permanentposies.com/)
 ~ "Totally Tasty Tuesdays", are hosted by Mandy, at 'Mandy's Recipe Box' (http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace'  (http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/).
    ~ "Foodie Wednesday('s)", are hosted by Bibi, at 'Daily Organized Chaos' (http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/). 
   ~ "These Chicks Cooked Link Party", hosted by Katie L, at 'This Chick Cooks' (http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com)
  

Home made Butterscotch Pudding (Pie)

    My maternal grand mother (aka: My mom's mom) was an absolutely wonderful cook!! I know I've written about her and that before, one example being THIS posting.  Today I am going to be sharing her recipe for homemade butterscotch pudding with you. (I'd previously mentioned it back in THIS posting.)
    This is one of those 'old style' puddings, which you cook on the stove top. You can then pour it into a pre-baked pie shell, let it cool, and serve. Or, you can spoon it into individual sized bowls and serve it that way. Warm or cooled. All of these serving methods, taste wonderful!! Trust me, I've tried each and every one. Multiple times. And plan on doing so again! o;-p  As do my sons.
     No matter which way you serve it, you'll either want to have a big glass of cold milk with it, or a cup of coffee. The choice is yours. I always choose the milk. ALWAYS. Yes, because I do not like coffee (even though I serve it often and posted tips about it back HERE). But also because the pudding is oh so wondrously rich. And smooth. And... I need to go buy some more cornstarch, so I can make some more of it!

    First step is to get out a big heavy sauce pan. Then dump your brown sugar into it.

     Pour the water in over the brown sugar.

    No need to stir yet. The brown sugar breaks down into the water all on it's own.
    Turn the burner on medium, and wait for it to come to a boil.

    While your waiting, mix together the flour, cornstarch and white sugar. Then add in 1/2 cup of cold water.

    The brown sugar mixture is now boiling.

    Remove it from the heat (or if you have a gas stove, turn the burner off) and add in the cornstarch mixture. Stir like crazy! ("Stir well constantly").

     Separate the yolks from the whites of eggs, and beat them (the yolks) while still in a bowl.
    (When using only the yolks or the whites of eggs, save the other part and add them to a couple of additional eggs, to make french toast the next morning! <--- Bonus Tip ;->)

    Add spoonfuls of the mixture in the pan, to the broken eggs, using a fork or whisk to blend smoothly. Keep adding it, till the mixture is a lot less yellow colored. Keep mixing, till it's smooth textured. (Doing so will help prevent lumps from forming when the mixtures are combined. If they still do, beat the mixture with your whisk!!  <-- Bonus Tip!)
    When those things are accomplished, add the mixture in the bowl, to the mixture in the pot.

 
    Keep stirring, till all is smooth!
    Cook for one more minute, stirring constantly, making sure your scrapping the bottom of the pan as you stir. The pudding should be thickening.

     Nope, no pictures of these steps. I was so busy stirring and mixing, I forgot all about taking pictures. Sorry!

    Again remove the pan from the stove, or turn the burner off on a gas stove.
    Add 1/2 stick butter, pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

    Mix them in WELL!

    You can now use the pudding as the filler for a pre-baked pie shell, like I did here,

    Or pour it into individual sized serving bowls.
   
    And now for the actual recipe -
        Butterscotch Pudding
             handed down to me, by my Grandma Mary Darling

   1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar
   1 1/2 cups water
   3 Tablespoons White Sugar
   1/2 cup Cold Water
    3 Egg Yolks
    1/2 stick Butter
    pinch (1/8 teaspoon) Salt (Table style)
    1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

   optional - pre-baked pie shell

   Put the 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar and water on to boil.
   Meanwhile, mix the flour, cornstarch and white sugar together thourally. Then add in the 1/2 cup of cold water, mixing well. Then add to the boiling sugar water. Boil till clear, stirring well constantly.
   Remove from heat.
   Beat 3 egg yolks in a bowl. Add spoonfuls of the mixture in the pan, to the broken eggs, using a fork or whisk to blend smoothly. Keep adding it, till the mixture is a lot less yellow colored. Keep mixing, till it's smooth textured. Then add the mixture in the bowl, to the mixture in the pot. Keep stirring, till all is smooth!
   Cook for one more minute, stirring constantly, making sure your scrapping the bottom of the pan as you stir. The pudding should be thickening.
    Again remove the pan from heat, and add the 1/2 stick of butter as well as the pinch of salt and the 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix in WELL!

    Pour pudding into a pre-baked pie shell. Or serve as pudding.
    Serve with milk or coffee and ENJOY! ;->
   

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:

  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~  "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes'  (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
 ~ "Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits", hosted by Susan, at 'Permanent Posies / Creative Chaos' (http://permanentposies.com/)
 ~ "Totally Tasty Tuesdays", are hosted by Mandy, at 'Mandy's Recipe Box' (http://www.mandysrecipebox.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace'  (http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/).
   ~ "Foodie Wednesday('s)", are hosted by Bibi, at 'Daily Organized Chaos' (http://www.dailyorganizedchaos.com/). 
   ~ "These Chicks Cooked Link Party", hosted by Katie L, at 'This Chick Cooks' (http://thischickcooks.blogspot.com)
 ~ "Full Plate Thursday('s)", are hosted by Miz Helen, at 'Miz Helen's Country Cottage' (http://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/).  
  ~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)  
 ~ "Simply Delish Sunday('s)", are hosted by KB and Whitesnakes, at 'KB and Whitesnakes Home' (http://kbandwhitesnakeshome.blogspot.com)

Our "new" living room furniture

   This posting might not be of interest to many of you, and that's o-kay. The main reason I'm doing it, is so that the ones whom can't come around often, can still see the changes in our home.
   On the other hand, maybe you will find it inspiring - how to pull off a "new living room" with out bankrupting your bank account.

    Most all of our furniture had always been of the "early attic" variety. Then we had our house fire. Courtesy of our insurance company, Brian and I went out and picked out two new couches, as well as a wonderful, door closeable, entertainment center.
    The couches were supposedly two seater, tanish in color, sink into the comfort of them, couches.
     Here is a picture of one of our "part time sons", with his wife and one of their sons, taken years ago when they were here visiting. It was so-o long ago, that their second son is now at least this age. And this son is now in school. ;->   But it's the clearest picture of the couch I could find (at least one I was willing to put on the web. o;-p)

    The thing is, the couches weren't exactly designed to last forever. Especially enduring the life style we live. Right off the bat, they would often hold five (yes, 5 - three in the seat part and one on each end cushion) teenagers during our 'Sunday Night Movie Nights'.  (Good memories right there!)  And they'd hold multiple bodies and endured wrestling, etc. when all of our "part time kids" would come 'round. (Which was weekly for several years there.)  Let alone just our four sons, and a big strong dog, a-n-d life. As we know and live it. Which equals crazy!
     Over time, the seats started sinking further. And further. Till the springs totally gave out under one cushion of each of the couches. So Brent mended them. Then mended them again. And ...
    They needed replaced. But a couch was never allowed to even stay on the priority list, let alone climb to the top of it and get handled. More of that 'life' stuff.

    Sometime after the fire, we had also acquired what had been my parent's brown couch. I don't remember exactly when. I do know that we had all three couches the year that both Brandon and Brent had their tonsils out the same day. They were both in high school at the time.
    Any-ways, like I said, the big brown couch had come via my parents. I asked my dad if he remembered when they had gotten it, because we had had it as long as I could remember.  Here's the answer he sent me - "Sure do!!!! It was in 1957 - we got two end tables, two lamps and a coffee table to match it at the same time. Back then we paid $2,000.00 for it --- which was a lot of money then. They said it would last us for quite a while and it has!! We got it reupholstered 2 times I think!! Love you, Dad."   Yup, they had had it since before I could even possibly remember.  ;->
     It was one of the original 'futon' style couches. You rocked the bottom up and back, and it would flatten out into 3/4 of a sized bed. You could store the brace for when it was a bed, as well as sheets and blankets, in the base of it. It was built solid. And HEAVY (as any of the guys in my family will eagerly (and moan-fully) attest to. ;-p)
     Oh the memories I have connected to that couch over the many years it existed. From my parents living rooms. As well as my own. But I can't share them, because (my sister) Brenda and I, "know nothing!!!" ;-p!!!
     I know my brother Craig still had the end tables and coffee table up til the point that he married Stacy. Not sure where they went after that.  But this posting isn't about them.
     This is the best picture I could find that showed a lot of the couch. In most of the pictures I found, the majority of it was covered up either by people, or 'stuff'.

     Benson - in one of his long hair periods. (He has donated to 'Locks of Love' three (or is it four?) times.

    I'd say that couch lasted for more than "quite awhile"!!! The first part of the break in it's back, happened when my brother Craig and his son Andy were wrestling on it, in my living room. There was no denying the sound that it omitted. Then one time, as I was attmpting to scooch "the beast" myself, while cleaning and rearranging the room, the arm rest on one end broke off. Bother! And then the back broke more when my guys were... And then more ... Till we literally wedged it on an angle across one corner of the room, so that it was braced against the two walls. Then it got to the point, that if you leaned back against it's back, it kept going. Old fashion proper lady sitting, where your back is ram rod striaght and not touching the back of the chair, was pretty much the only way to sit on it. Or in the very last spot on either end.
     So I started having people take me on 'mission store therapy' trips, so that I could look for couches. We wanted one that made into a bed. With a thicker mattress. Not one of those 1/4 of an inch thick thingies. But my shopping turned up nothing. At least couch wise.

    Then one day, as we were headed out a nearby street, heading to pick Benson up from work, there, in these peoples driveway, sat a couch, a dresser, and some appliances. It was the same weekend that Brent was moving into what was to become his and Kayla's house. So at first, we were going to put it upstairs into the room that was going to become my sewing room. That way it could be a bed for when Byron and Cyndi (or Brent and Kayla) spent the night here. I would just keep looking for one (or more) for the living room.
     But then Byron and his kids moved home, due to him and Cyndi separating. Thus we started moving around who was in which bedroom, etc..
     The crazy thing is, that before any of the bedrooms got finished, the living room got "new" furniture. Both of the small couches, as well as the brown couch, got loaded up into the back of Brandon's pickup, and a couple of days later they were taken to Pitsch Wrecking (cheaper than putting city tags on all three, and less gas consumption than driving to the closest dump).
     The brown couch was so broken, yet still so heavy, that the guys had quite a time trying to get it out of the house. These pictures tell the tale best.

                              (the back is laying on the porch floor)

     Then the blue checkered couch we had picked up for $20.00 off of that small sale, got moved into the living room.

  (the difference in the color of the bottom and the rest, does not show up this much "live")

    And the tan couch out of the basement, got moved up to the living room. Brandon and Brent had gotten it from Byron, when they had moved out on their own. Byron had gotten it from Cyndi's mom, when she'd bought a new one. 

    And the wing chair (?) which I had gotten a few years ago for Brain (nabbed it for $35 at Goodwill), which had been in the corner of our room, joined the couches in the living room.

    My trunks, which we use to use as "coffee tables", are currently stacked in the front entry. That leaves a big open space in the middle of the room, which aids in navigating Elliot's bouncy seat, and dancing 2 1/2 year old Analyse, and Boo and Daisy when they are here, as well as the rest of us. "Traffic flow" can become ever so interesting!

   The blue couch didn't come with a mattress. For now, to help it sit more comfortably, we took the cushions off of the small couches before getting rid of them, and put them in where a mattress is suppose to be. MUCH better!

    Oh, the rocking chair is still in the living room as well. And gets used as "grandma's chair" quite often. ;->

[I'm filing this under 'projects we've done', cuz I'm really not sure where to put it. Besides, trust me when I say, that getting everything moved around, W-A-S quite a "project"!!!]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:

  ~  "Frugal Friday('s)", (shall we say # 1 ?), are hosted by Wendy at 'Shabby Nest'  (http://shabbynest.blogspot.com).

  ~  "Frugal Friday('s)", (shall we say # 2 ?), are hosted by Jessica, at 'Life as Mom' (www.lifeasmom.com).
 ~ "Show and Tell Saturdays", are hosted by Lorie, at 'Be Different..Act Normal' (http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/).
 ~ "the simple things", are hosted by Rebecca, at 'simple as that' (http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "nifty thrifty Sunday('s)", are hosted by Vanessa, at 'nifty thrifty Things' (http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/).
 ~ "The Penny Worthy Project", is hosted by Laura, at 'Hey What's For Dinner Mom?'(http://heywhatsfordinnermom.blogspot.com/)."
  ~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)'  (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Amaze Me Monday('s)", are hosted by Carrie, at 'Dittle Dattle' (http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven'  (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
  ~ "Unwasted Homemaking Party('s)", are hosted by Marcie, at 'Don't Waste Your Homemaking' (http://www.dontwasteyourhomemaking.com/).