about cooks ;-p

    I'm sure that at least most of you have heard the line, "Never trust a skinny cook". Back in my 'skinny days', I didn't always appreciate that line ... now-a-days ... well, it's a good excuse anyways o;-p
    Also now-a-days, there is one experience in particular that always comes to our minds when we hear or read that line ... "bless her heart" ... ;-p

   I was just trying to catch up on some of my blogging friend Nan's posts, and something she had blogged about brought another line to mind. "A 'clean' cook is more concerned with the condition of her kitchen, than the taste of the food!"

 (oh, and yes, I am sticking to them!!! o;-p your welcome to join me in doing so ;->)

Let's hear it for attics!

      As a friend was giving me a tour of her new home, she stopped before opening one door in her basement. "This room is a jammed full mess" she warned. She then talked about the difference between our basement and theirs. "With yours being an unfinished basement, you can put up shelves to store stuff, or at the least stack stuff out of the way. But ours is a finished basement. That means it's suppose to be livable in."
     She then opened the door to the room. She was right. It was totally full. Thing was, it was only a small sized room to start with, designed to hold the furnace, water heater, etc..
     We then got talking about how so many of the newer built homes have lots of wide open spaces, but most don't really have much storage space. Use to be that if a house had a "finished" basement, it was actually that only half of the basement had been 'finished' off. The other half had the laundry area, and the furnace area, and storage area.
     We then questioned why architects and builders had done away with attics. Was it because many viewed them as 'unlivable space'?  Or was it because 'they just seemed to collect stuff'?
     We both agreed that attics were wonderful, highly useful places!
     If you do away with attics, where are future generations going to unearth wonderful antiques?  Where are little girls going to find trunks full of grandma's clothes to play dress up in? Where else would kids be able to unearth the toys from their parents and grand parents youth? Many an attic was a wonderful place full of intrigue and adventure!
     In the mean time, if you have a finished basement, and you don't have an attic, where are you suppose to store a child's clothing, so it can be handed down to the next child in the family? Or their out grown Tonka trucks and Lego toys, that you know your grandchildren are going to enjoy just as much as your kids did, and your definitely not going to want to pay the higher prices for them down the road!
     And then there's all of the 'seasonal' stuff. You know, the Christmas decorations, and the Halloween paraphernalia, and the Easter baskets, and plastic grass and eggs. And any and all other decorating stuff you like to use. It is totally 'the thing' to decorate for any and every occasion and season, and some people even go so far as to have seasonal dishes for each and every one. But where in their house are they suppose to store it?
    So we talked about starting a campaign to promote the return of attics in each and every house!  If we started a Facebook page for it, would the architects and builders pay any attention to it? Didn't really think so. But then again, m-a-y-b-e.....  We decided that the good 'ole method of word of mouth would probably work best. If people started talking up the benefits of attics ... and people having new homes built wanted them incorporated into their design ... And the people whom have them stopped turning them into things other than attics ....  then maybe, just maybe, attics would make a wonderful revival!!!

Metal Trash Can Lids

      One Sat. we had gone down to visit Brian's parents. We usually take the high way to get there, but often take the bi-way back home. Just for clarification purposes, I'm sure all of you know what a highway is. A bi-way is the main route that was used before the highway was built. And taking 'back roads' means you were meandering your way there via non main streets.
     My usual preference is the bi-way or back roads methods of getting someplace. Well, if we have to be at such and such a place by a specific time, then take the straightest and quickest route. But then I pay a whole lot of attention to the scene passing by my window that's beyond the highway! Yes, I am one of those who really does enjoy taking long scenic drives. Well, at least I was back before this vertigo business. Now all of the curves and dips in the roads, etc. are anything but enjoyable ...
     A-n-y-ways, as we were driving along, we passed this guy on a riding lawn mower trying to mow the grass on his property that grew close to the fence, which was about four feet back from the road. The thing was, there were huge bushes growing up close to the other side of the fence. So he was driving along with one arm up in the air trying to protect himself from all of the branches which hung over the fence. The branches were definitely impeding his progress! Yet we were sure his wife wouldn't let him just cut them back due to all of the blooming flowers on them. o;-p
      I told Brian that it was to bad the guy didn't have a metal trash can lid to use as a shield. He could have held it along the side of his head thus protecting both his head and his neck!
      We then got to talking about all of the wonderful ways that those old metal trash can lids had proved themselves useful. ;-p
     They worked great as shields (such as knights use to use) for a variety of purposes!! Examples being: snow ball fights, when being unwillingly sprayed with the hose (helped you approach your attacker!), getting in underneath the overgrown bushes while playing hide and seek,  protecting your eyes from the bright rays of a flash light, as cymbals in a 'street band', etc..
     If there was at least two and a half inches of s_ _ _ (that white flaky precipitation stuff, the name of which my husband declares is a swear word ;-p), then those lids made wonderful impromptu sliding saucers when placed upside down on the s_ _ _ .
     Upside down, they even worked good for giving the dog water in. You know, when you forgot to bring his bowl out with you like you had been told, and you didn't want to face going back in to retrieve it .... or at least I'm sure they would work good in such a situation ... o;-p
     Many of us grew up hearing about how "the lids were suppose to stay ON the trash cans!!!"
     And we knew parents who deprived their children of many adventures, by chaining the lids to their cans!
     It was probably one of those same parents who invented the trash bins with the permanently attached lids which can be flipped on or off, but always stay attached. Yeah, yeah, yeah.... they might be ever so convenient, but where's the adventure in that?!!!

    Recently I spotted three of the old metal style trash cans. They were being used as huge flower pots out in front of a retro style cafe'. I glanced around, but was unable to spot their missing lids.... hey, I was going to take one of them down to that poor guy who had been mowing. Honest!!! o;-p

"Certified" ???

     Do you remember me telling you about sorting through all of the "piles"? Well, in that there process, I found a paper on which I had jotted down some blogging topics. (Come on, you know your looking forward to me writing about them, so that you can read them ... o;-p)

     While Brian and I were doing our 'hurried home trip' from our anniversary get away, we passed a vehicle which had one of those magnetic signs attached. You see lots of them around town. It's a relatively inexpensive way for people to promote their business. So it wasn't the sign itself that kept our attention and piked our curiosity, but rather what the sign said.

     According to their sign, they were a "Certified Home Organizer". 

     I questioned how, or for what, do you get certified (in) to be a "certified home organizer"? I questioned if a mom had to have had a certain number of kids to qualify? Did the health department have to semi condemn your home and then you clean and organize it enough to pass their follow up inspection, in order to qualify as a "certified home organizer"? I mean, you have to pass some sort of a test, know some type of specific/specialized information in order to be "certified", right?

    We got talking about that. Here are some of the areas we covered -

    - a "certified public accountant" has to have been approved by the IRS. In other words, they have to prove they have a good working knowledge of the current tax laws.

    - a "certified welder" (which our Brent is) has to take and pass certain tests, proving they know how to weld certain types of metals, certain ways, so that the weld will hold, etc.

   - a "certified life guard" has to take and pass tests which include things like CPR, being able to rescue a body out of deep water, etc.. I took the course as a teenager, but didn't pass due to lack of body strength. While I was able to pull a full size male body some distance to get it out of the water, I wasn't able to keep their head above water the whole time.
   - a "certified chimney sweep". On one episode of the 'cable' TV show "Dirtiest Jobs", Mike was in attendance at a class which people must attend to become "certified chimney sweeps". They had to pass tests in testing the safety in the chimney's structure; in how to handle it if a fire should start while your working on the chimney; on proper, effective methods of doing the cleaning; of cleaning up after everything, etc..
   - a "certified babysitter". The Day Camp we were a part of at lest use to offer a class in this as one of their 'craft' selections. The test to be a "certified babysitter" included such things as infant CPR, what to do if a child was choking on something, in what type of situations do you call 911 before you call the parents, etc. .
   - a "certified EMS driver/technician". They must pass tests in medical diagnosing, in safety procedures for moving patients with varying types of injuries, in being able to clearly relay information to the technicians at the hospital via radio, and even in driving skills.

    For all of those "certifications", there requirements make absolute sense. But for what, do you get certified (in) to be a "certified home organizer"?!?!
    I just went to the on line dictionary site and looked up the word "certified". Of the six definitions given, I thought the one as a verb -> "used with an object", would be the appropriate application. Here is what it said for that:

1. to attest as certain; give reliable information of; confirm: He certified the truth of his claim.

2. to testify to or vouch for in writing: The Medical examiner will certify his findings to the court.

3. to guarantee; endorse reliably: to certify a document with an official seal. {such as birth or marriage certificates}

4. to guarantee (a check) by writing on its face that the account against which it is drawn has sufficient funds to pay it.

5. to award a certificate to (a person) attesting to the completion of a course of study or the passing of a qualifying examination.

6. to declare legally insane and committable to a mental institution.

7. Archaic . to assure or inform with certainty.

   Numbers two (2) through five (5) seem to aleign with what we had thought.
   Number six (6) is something which I'm often amazed hasn't happened to me. ;-p  Those 'pink bunnies' are again (or is that still ?) attacking ....
   But numbers one (1) and seven (7) seem to imply that somebody could just state that your capable of such a thing.  Humm mmm.... Wouldn't that actually be 'giving references'? In that case, shouldn't the sign on the car have read, "Home Organizer for hire - references available?"

    We're curious -
   a) how do you think somebody would become a "certified home organizer"?
   b) are you "certified" in some area? If so, what?

    and c) .... you do realize don't you, that somebody CAN be a very organized individual, but due to the fact that they are not the only one living in a home, the house might not hold lots of evidence to that fact .....   o;-p

America -

o/~ God HAS(!) blessed America, land that we love. He's stood beside her, and He's guided her, through the night, with his light, from up above ... o/~

May we turn from our evil ways and follow him!!!

[picture came from: http://s3.amazonaws.com/estock_dev/fspid10/51/84/09/flag-barn-american-518409-l.jpg]

Party Foods # 2

     This posting is the second one in a series. Some of the type of party foods we will feature, are most suitable for deck or Super Bowl parties. Others, when presented right, will even work at 'fancy' parties or wedding receptions.
     Mainly, we will be featuring finger food type of foods.
     Again, for the record, NO, starting this new series does NOT mean that we are done with the entries in the 'Warm Weather Desserts' series!!! In-fact, I am really looking forward to using blogging as an excuse to make some of the yet to come features. o;-p
     I learned this recipe while working for Baker Catering. I really have no idea just how many hundreds of the green onion type I made during my years there. Seriously!

        Today's Feature: Party Foods # 2
        'Polish Roses' and Pickle Wraps

{Yes, Many of you know the green onion wraps by a name other than 'Polish Roses'. It seems that lots of nationalities have their own name for them. And yes, there are also names out there for the pickle wraps... just haven't heard any I'm willing to use o;-p}
     Ingredients:
     thick sliced sandwich ham
        (or buy a boneless ham on sale and have the store cut it thick sandwich style)
    Cream Cheese - it takes a lot! So buy the huge block of it like at Sam's Club or GFS
    non-wimpy green onions
    and / or
    (Meijer brand) Kosher dill spears - fresh pack (green label, 24 fl. oz. jar)
       (no, you don't have to use that brand, some people had just raved over them last time and wanted to know which brand we had used)

    Kate and I made these via team work for Analyse's B-day party. Found that it went ever so much faster!!! :-) I did the spreading, she did the rolling. But it can be done single person style too.

      - the night before you plan on making these, pull the cream cheese out and leave it sitting on the counter !

    - Using kitchen shears, trim the straggly ends off of the one end of the green onions, and cut the root ends off of their other end. Then rinse the onions and let set for quite awhile in a strainer.
    - If your also doing pickle wraps, dump the pickles into a strainer as well.

    - Once it's time to make them:
    - Using a large solid cutting board as your work surface, lay out a piece of the ham.
Then, using a thick paper towel, pat the excess moisture off of both sides of the piece of ham. (you will not need a new piece of paper toweling for each piece of ham. In-fact, the paper toweling keeps absorbing even once it's considerably soggy).
    - Using a thick bladed knife, (a frosting spreader works great!) spread cream cheese on to the ham, staying about a sixteenth of an inch from the edges. While you don't have to be overly generous with the cream cheese, do  NOT  be  greedy  with  it  either!!!! You should not clearly see the ham through the cream cheese, nor should there be holes in it.
    - If your making the 'polish roses' - lay the green onion so that the trimmed off root end, is about even with the width side of the piece of ham - but laying so that it's at one end of the piece. (Hope that makes sense...). Then GENTLY roll the piece of cream cheese spread ham around the green onion.
    - Repeat, repeat, repeat.
    - If your making the pickle wraps, you do it the same way, including the patting dry part.


    ~ For the record, these not only go over big at parties, but at 'Potlucks" ('Pot-scrappers') as well!

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You might also like:
- Party Foods # 1 - Bean 'Salsa'

- Deviled Eggs
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Foodie Friday('s)", are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.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/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Market Yourself Monday", are hosted by Sumo, at 'Sumo's Sweet Stuff' (http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/)
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Tuesdays at the Table", are hosted by Cole, at 'All The Small Stuff' (http://allthesmallstuff-cole.blogspot.com/).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).
~ "Tasty Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Jennifer, at "Balancing Beauty and Bedlam" (http://www.beautyandbedlam.com/)
~ "Whatever Goes Wednesday('s), hosted by Michelle, at 'Someday Crafts'
(http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/)
~ "Make it from Scratch", are held at 'Make it from Scratch ... Where creativity and frugality intersect'. (http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/)

Whit From Brian -

    Whit from Brian, and this time it's not from his Face-book page ;-)

     Last night Brian headed up for bed stating that he really didn't feel good. I took care of a few details and then headed up myself. When I snuggled in, his arm felt really warm to my hand.
     "Your arm is hot. Are you running a fever?"
     In a very straight lined tone of voice he answered,
     "Cheryl, I am laying down. I'm not running anywhere."
     I laughed. Couldn't help but.
     Not even a whole minute later, he returned to his snoring. ;-)