"thank goodness for grand children or you would be forced to look at pictures of me" this quote was accompanied by his changing his profile picture to this:
Saturday, August 7, 2010
from Brian -
copied and pasted here from Brian's Facebook page -
"thank goodness for grand children or you would be forced to look at pictures of me" this quote was accompanied by his changing his profile picture to this:
(for the record, no, the headphones were not plugged into anything ;-p she's such a silly girl :-D )
"thank goodness for grand children or you would be forced to look at pictures of me" this quote was accompanied by his changing his profile picture to this:
Friday, August 6, 2010
Party Foods # 3 -
This posting is the third 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.
Today's feature: Party Foods # 3:
Garden Fresh Bruschetta
In my recipe box, this particular recipe states that it was made up by myself and my friend Amie Moran.
Over three years ago now, Amie was getting married and Brian and I had offered to do the food for their reception as our gift to them. They bought the ingredients, we cooked and prepped all of it, went to the site and set everything up, Brian and Kate oversaw the buffet (I was suppose to be being a guest), then we broke everything down and left the place cleaner than when we'd gotten there (cuz that's our motto).
They wanted to do a 'finger food' reception. They didn't want 'fad' type foods, due to most of their guests being down home type of people. But they didn't want it to seem like the food you'd eat at a graduation open house either. So one day Amie and I actually got together (not an easy task to pull off!) and brain stormed.
At the time, 'Bruschetta' was just making a big come out in the appetizer's and party foods arena. We decided that we wanted to do some! But neither of us had ever made it before. So I pulled out all of the various recipes for it, that I had clipped and stuck into my 'make some day file'. We went over all of them and ended up coming up with our own version. No, we did not try it out ahead of time. We were just going to be brave with our 'winging it'.
Were we successful? "My" Kate does NOT like tomatoes. Especially fresh ones. But she kept looking at how pretty the mixture was in the bowl and listening to the comments people made when they came back for seconds, and thirds. She finally decided she was going to try one "no thank-you bite". (A "no thank-you bite" means that you willingly try one small bite of something. If it turns out your right and you don't like the product, you then may then say "no thank-you" to ever having to try it again.) She came over to where I was sitting and whispered in my ear, "Mom, I got brave and tried "one no-thank-you bite" of the bruschetta, and it was like there was a party going off in my mouth!!! :-D" Yes, our made-up recipe was a success! :->
One more note before I give you the recipe. Yes, this recipe makes a very large amount. That's why it's a good "Party Food". Your welcome to tweak it down to family size if you want.
6 loafs French Bread (from Sam's Club)
1 cup (2 sticks) Butter
1/2 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 - 5 lb. package GFS chopped tomatoes
(or - 5 lbs. fresh Roma Tomatoes, chopped)
(in the mixture pictured, we had tried using chopped canned tomatoes. The end product wasn't quite as vibrant in color, and missing just a tish of the zestyness, but it was still really good tasting. We also had not pre-treated the bread.)
3 good sized Red Onions, finely chopped
3 Tablespoons Thyme leaves (I did not use fresh ones, but you can)
3 Tablespoons Basil leaves (ditto)
1 cup Kraft Greek Vinaigrette dressing
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Shredded Romano Cheese
For the Bread:
Slice French bread into 3/4 inch thick slices. Put butter into microwavable bowl. Top with garlic powder. Melt butter and mix together with garlic powder. Using a pastry brush, spread garlic butter on one side of each piece of French bread. Place bread on slightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes per side, or until LIGHTLY browned. Cool. (Store in bread bags.)
For the Topping mixture:
In extra large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, onions, basil, thyme, salt, pepper and Greek dressing. Mix well. Refrigerate till serving time.
To Serve:
Top pieces of bread with tomato mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Or - put the bread slices in a basket next to the bowl of tomato mixture, with a sprinkle type container of the cheese sitting there as well, and let your guests fix their own pieces.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You might also like:
- Party Foods # 1 - Bean 'Salsa'
- Party Foods # 2 - 'Polish Roses' and Pickle Wraps
- Deviled Eggs
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You also might be interested in checking out our series on 'Warm Weather Desserts'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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/)
~ "Topsy Turvy Tuesday's", are hosted by Ashlee, at 'I'm Topsy Turvy' (http://imtopsyturvy.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/)
Mainly, we will be featuring 'finger food' type of foods.
Today's feature: Party Foods # 3:
Garden Fresh Bruschetta
Over three years ago now, Amie was getting married and Brian and I had offered to do the food for their reception as our gift to them. They bought the ingredients, we cooked and prepped all of it, went to the site and set everything up, Brian and Kate oversaw the buffet (I was suppose to be being a guest), then we broke everything down and left the place cleaner than when we'd gotten there (cuz that's our motto).
They wanted to do a 'finger food' reception. They didn't want 'fad' type foods, due to most of their guests being down home type of people. But they didn't want it to seem like the food you'd eat at a graduation open house either. So one day Amie and I actually got together (not an easy task to pull off!) and brain stormed.
At the time, 'Bruschetta' was just making a big come out in the appetizer's and party foods arena. We decided that we wanted to do some! But neither of us had ever made it before. So I pulled out all of the various recipes for it, that I had clipped and stuck into my 'make some day file'. We went over all of them and ended up coming up with our own version. No, we did not try it out ahead of time. We were just going to be brave with our 'winging it'.
Were we successful? "My" Kate does NOT like tomatoes. Especially fresh ones. But she kept looking at how pretty the mixture was in the bowl and listening to the comments people made when they came back for seconds, and thirds. She finally decided she was going to try one "no thank-you bite". (A "no thank-you bite" means that you willingly try one small bite of something. If it turns out your right and you don't like the product, you then may then say "no thank-you" to ever having to try it again.) She came over to where I was sitting and whispered in my ear, "Mom, I got brave and tried "one no-thank-you bite" of the bruschetta, and it was like there was a party going off in my mouth!!! :-D" Yes, our made-up recipe was a success! :->
One more note before I give you the recipe. Yes, this recipe makes a very large amount. That's why it's a good "Party Food". Your welcome to tweak it down to family size if you want.
6 loafs French Bread (from Sam's Club)
1 cup (2 sticks) Butter
1/2 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 - 5 lb. package GFS chopped tomatoes
(or - 5 lbs. fresh Roma Tomatoes, chopped)
(in the mixture pictured, we had tried using chopped canned tomatoes. The end product wasn't quite as vibrant in color, and missing just a tish of the zestyness, but it was still really good tasting. We also had not pre-treated the bread.)
3 good sized Red Onions, finely chopped
3 Tablespoons Thyme leaves (I did not use fresh ones, but you can)
3 Tablespoons Basil leaves (ditto)
1 cup Kraft Greek Vinaigrette dressing
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
Shredded Romano Cheese
For the Bread:
Slice French bread into 3/4 inch thick slices. Put butter into microwavable bowl. Top with garlic powder. Melt butter and mix together with garlic powder. Using a pastry brush, spread garlic butter on one side of each piece of French bread. Place bread on slightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes per side, or until LIGHTLY browned. Cool. (Store in bread bags.)
For the Topping mixture:
In extra large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, onions, basil, thyme, salt, pepper and Greek dressing. Mix well. Refrigerate till serving time.
To Serve:
Top pieces of bread with tomato mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Or - put the bread slices in a basket next to the bowl of tomato mixture, with a sprinkle type container of the cheese sitting there as well, and let your guests fix their own pieces.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You might also like:
- Party Foods # 1 - Bean 'Salsa'
- Party Foods # 2 - 'Polish Roses' and Pickle Wraps
- Deviled Eggs
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You also might be interested in checking out our series on 'Warm Weather Desserts'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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/)
~ "Topsy Turvy Tuesday's", are hosted by Ashlee, at 'I'm Topsy Turvy' (http://imtopsyturvy.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/)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Benson's hair -
This picture shows the length of our son Benson's hair in December of 2007
This picture shows the length of his hair on July 27th, 2010
This one shows how much the beautician cut off that day
The length that he is holding in his hand, was donated to 'Lock's Of Love'.
For those of you whom aren't familiar with 'Lock's Of Love', it is an organization which takes people's donated long hair and turns it into wigs for cancer patients.
Benson is currently 25 years old. This was the third time he has done this!!! :-)
He has very wiry hair, which seems to have an identity of it's own, so he always laughs and wishes the wig recipients the best of luck with their wigs ;-p
Seeings how he is donating his hair, his whole hair cut is free. This is what the finished result looks like.
Is he going to grow it out and donate it again? He's not sure. Then again, he wasn't the last two times either! chuckle, chuckle.
Well done Benson!
For those of you whom aren't familiar with 'Lock's Of Love', it is an organization which takes people's donated long hair and turns it into wigs for cancer patients.
Benson is currently 25 years old. This was the third time he has done this!!! :-)
He has very wiry hair, which seems to have an identity of it's own, so he always laughs and wishes the wig recipients the best of luck with their wigs ;-p
Seeings how he is donating his hair, his whole hair cut is free. This is what the finished result looks like.
Well done Benson!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Brent has returned to work :-)
As many of you will remember, last year Brian was hit with both big cuts in pay and hours. OUCH!! Brandon and Brent had been living on their own. Of their own accord, they had moved back home to help us not loose the house. Shortly thereafter, first Brandon and then Brent lost their jobs due to the company cutting back. Benson (whom also still lives to home) had also lost his job.
A few months later, Brent had begun the process of signing up for the Navy. That dream got denied due to his ribs, etc. - all of which were lasting results from his having gotten hit by that car back in fourth grade.
Monday he again headed out to apply for jobs. He had a couple of leads about places that were hiring certified welders (which he is). One place took his app., another told him they weren't even taking app.'s .... he got frustrated.
Brent got to thinking about his old job. He had sort of stayed in touch with a couple of the guys from there. He knew that company wide they had taken pay cuts - but that they were not extreme cuts. He knew that the manager whom had been such a pain in the side had gotten out and out fired the same day he (Brent) had been let go. And he knew that the boss whom they had gone to with challenges over the now fired boss, was now over the whole shop.
Brent decided to give him a call. The guy was happy to hear from him and said he would check with the higher up's to see if there was any way he could call Brent back. :-) Brent was ever so hopeful!
Around ten Tuesday morning, Brent came bounding in to let me know he was headed-in there for an interview. Seeings how there had been some changes, they wanted to go over everything with him and make sure he still wanted the job. "Duh!" was his not to them response. ;-p
He arrived back home grinning ear to ear. He started at 7 this morning. A-n-d, even though there was a 5% cut in pay, he most likely gets his vacation time and insurance back, seeings how he'd just been 'layed off'. :->
THANK-YOU Lord!!!
We know that Brent is now 22 and an independent spirit, and thus will not live here all that long. And we really are okay with that. That's why we're glad he found a job nearby, as in, IN Michigan, instead of out of state!!!
Thank-you to so many of you whom were/are praying for our "boys"!
A few months later, Brent had begun the process of signing up for the Navy. That dream got denied due to his ribs, etc. - all of which were lasting results from his having gotten hit by that car back in fourth grade.
Monday he again headed out to apply for jobs. He had a couple of leads about places that were hiring certified welders (which he is). One place took his app., another told him they weren't even taking app.'s .... he got frustrated.
Brent got to thinking about his old job. He had sort of stayed in touch with a couple of the guys from there. He knew that company wide they had taken pay cuts - but that they were not extreme cuts. He knew that the manager whom had been such a pain in the side had gotten out and out fired the same day he (Brent) had been let go. And he knew that the boss whom they had gone to with challenges over the now fired boss, was now over the whole shop.
Brent decided to give him a call. The guy was happy to hear from him and said he would check with the higher up's to see if there was any way he could call Brent back. :-) Brent was ever so hopeful!
Around ten Tuesday morning, Brent came bounding in to let me know he was headed-in there for an interview. Seeings how there had been some changes, they wanted to go over everything with him and make sure he still wanted the job. "Duh!" was his not to them response. ;-p
He arrived back home grinning ear to ear. He started at 7 this morning. A-n-d, even though there was a 5% cut in pay, he most likely gets his vacation time and insurance back, seeings how he'd just been 'layed off'. :->
THANK-YOU Lord!!!
We know that Brent is now 22 and an independent spirit, and thus will not live here all that long. And we really are okay with that. That's why we're glad he found a job nearby, as in, IN Michigan, instead of out of state!!!
Thank-you to so many of you whom were/are praying for our "boys"!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
from Brian, for my B-day :-)
I was sitting on the kitchen counter when Brian handed me my birthday card. Us and Boo were the only ones around.
It is an American Greetings card. In the bar across the top it reads, "THE 7 MENOPAUSAL DWARFS" Below that are seven dwarf looking women arranged in three rows. Under each one it a title caption. "Itchy" is scratching herself something fierce. "Bitchy" has a totally irritated look on her face and is wagging her finger. "Sweaty" is perspiring from every pour on her body. "Bloaty" is so puffed up that her arms are sticking straight out the sides of her body and you can't see her neck or mouth. "Sleepy" is sitting down, head nodded, and there are a couple of "Z" 's in the air by her head. "Forgetful" is standing there looking lost, scratching her head, with a couple of big "?" 's in the air by her. "Phycho" is dressed like a cave women, carrying a hatchet, she is not wearing a cap like all of the others were, but rather her hair is sticking straight out in every direction, she is wild eyed / bugged eye and her teeth are tightly clinched.
On the inside, the card reads, "Another Birthday? (next line) Don't Worry. Empty space underneath it, and then "It'll Be Over In A Flash."
Under that, Brian had written, "I Loved You Then, (next line) I Love You Now, (next line) I'll Love You Tomarrow." Then signed it.
I looked the front of the card over again and all teary eyed stated, "I'm sorry!" With tears in his own eyes and a questioning look, he asked, "for what?" "For at times being all of those things I was never going to be". "I LOVE you, and together we'll get through it just like we have everything else in life."
The tears started down my cheeks.
His hug and kisses were wondrous!
He took me out for dinner (on a date! ;-} ). At the restaurant he told me what my gift is going to be.
My sister had recently approached him after they had attended a 'Picnic Pops' concert of our cities Symphony. At the concert, they had announced some upcoming events, one of which is a concert by the Von Trapp Family Singers - aka: the grandchildren of the VonTrapp Family - aka: the family in the movie 'The Sound Of Music'. :-D .. :->.. :-)
Brian will be buying the ticket for me to attend the concert with my sister in Nov. (I looked the details for it up on line ;-p). And Brent's gift to me, is that he will pay for my dinner to go out before or after the concert. :-)
Sing it with me - o/~ "The hills are a-live, with the sound of mu-sic, ..... my heart wants to sing, every word!" o/~
It is an American Greetings card. In the bar across the top it reads, "THE 7 MENOPAUSAL DWARFS" Below that are seven dwarf looking women arranged in three rows. Under each one it a title caption. "Itchy" is scratching herself something fierce. "Bitchy" has a totally irritated look on her face and is wagging her finger. "Sweaty" is perspiring from every pour on her body. "Bloaty" is so puffed up that her arms are sticking straight out the sides of her body and you can't see her neck or mouth. "Sleepy" is sitting down, head nodded, and there are a couple of "Z" 's in the air by her head. "Forgetful" is standing there looking lost, scratching her head, with a couple of big "?" 's in the air by her. "Phycho" is dressed like a cave women, carrying a hatchet, she is not wearing a cap like all of the others were, but rather her hair is sticking straight out in every direction, she is wild eyed / bugged eye and her teeth are tightly clinched.
On the inside, the card reads, "Another Birthday? (next line) Don't Worry. Empty space underneath it, and then "It'll Be Over In A Flash."
Under that, Brian had written, "I Loved You Then, (next line) I Love You Now, (next line) I'll Love You Tomarrow." Then signed it.
I looked the front of the card over again and all teary eyed stated, "I'm sorry!" With tears in his own eyes and a questioning look, he asked, "for what?" "For at times being all of those things I was never going to be". "I LOVE you, and together we'll get through it just like we have everything else in life."
The tears started down my cheeks.
His hug and kisses were wondrous!
He took me out for dinner (on a date! ;-} ). At the restaurant he told me what my gift is going to be.
My sister had recently approached him after they had attended a 'Picnic Pops' concert of our cities Symphony. At the concert, they had announced some upcoming events, one of which is a concert by the Von Trapp Family Singers - aka: the grandchildren of the VonTrapp Family - aka: the family in the movie 'The Sound Of Music'. :-D .. :->.. :-)
Brian will be buying the ticket for me to attend the concert with my sister in Nov. (I looked the details for it up on line ;-p). And Brent's gift to me, is that he will pay for my dinner to go out before or after the concert. :-)
Sing it with me - o/~ "The hills are a-live, with the sound of mu-sic, ..... my heart wants to sing, every word!" o/~
Monday, August 2, 2010
Warm Weather Dessert # 5
As I had mentioned in the other warm weather dessert postings, in warm weather we start wanting different kinds of desserts. Today, I am posting recipe # 5 in the series I had started. This series features a few desserts that we are not limited to making only in warm weather months, but that is when we usually enjoy them much more.
Today's feature: warm weather dessert # 5:
Ice Cream Pie
(THANKS for taking the picture for me yesterday Erin! :-) )
In my recipe box, this particular recipe states that it came from my my sister - Brenda Carpenter. She let me know that she had gotten it from her mother-in-law, Nyla Blakeman. It's extremely smooth texture, rich flavored "yummyness", makes it one that's always well received where ever we serve it. When we served it at Josh and Ashley's rehearsal dinner, Ashley's comment of, "If I knew this was going to be this good, I'd just had this as my wedding cake ;-)" totally made 'the best compliments ever' list!!!
16 single (8 double) graham crackers
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
2 cups ice cream
1 cup milk
1 large package INSTANT pudding mix
[*for best flavor, pick similar pudding and ice cream flavors.
choc. pudding with choc. ice cream
strawberry ice cream with vanilla pudding (add a few finely chopped fresh strawberries too) ]
~ Pull your ice cream out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter while you make your crust(s).
~ Make crust.
- place graham crackers in a used bread bag, fold the end over a couple of times, and use a rolling pin to crush the graham crackers. Then keep rolling over them until they are finely crushed.
- dump crushed graham crackers into a bowl, add the 1 Tablespoon of sugar, melt the 1/2 cup of butter and pour it on top. Then use a pastry blender to mix everything together well, with out lumps.
~ Spread crust mixture into bottom and up the sides fo a pie plate (often use bent fingers for this process).
(If your doubling the recipe, it can be made in a 9 x 13 pan)
~ Make Filling.
- Blend milk with ice cream (* any flavor). [If your adding finely chopped strawberries, add them now]. Add pudding and beat slowly with egg beater for about 1 minute, or until mixtures just sort of starts to thicken.
- Pour into crust and chill (not freeze - the fridge is where you store this ;-) ) for about one (1) hour.
Slices of the choc. pie can be garnished with a small dollop of whip cream, topped with a choc. chip. Put a slice of strawberry on top of strawberry pieces. Put whatever you like on top of plain vanilla pie.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You might also enjoy these postings:
~ warm weather dessert # 1: NO BAKE CHEESECAKE
~ warm weather dessert # 2: (No Bake) Banana Split Dessert
~ warm weather dessert # 3: Rice Krispie Treats / "The Thick Soft Type"
~ warm weather dessert # 4: Graham Crackers With Icing
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "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://beautyandbedlam.com/)
~ "Topsy Turvy Tuesday's", are hosted by Ashlee, at 'I'm Topsy Turvy' (http://imtopsyturvy.com/)
Today's feature: warm weather dessert # 5:
Ice Cream Pie
(THANKS for taking the picture for me yesterday Erin! :-) )
In my recipe box, this particular recipe states that it came from my my sister - Brenda Carpenter. She let me know that she had gotten it from her mother-in-law, Nyla Blakeman. It's extremely smooth texture, rich flavored "yummyness", makes it one that's always well received where ever we serve it. When we served it at Josh and Ashley's rehearsal dinner, Ashley's comment of, "If I knew this was going to be this good, I'd just had this as my wedding cake ;-)" totally made 'the best compliments ever' list!!!
16 single (8 double) graham crackers
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
2 cups ice cream
1 cup milk
1 large package INSTANT pudding mix
[*for best flavor, pick similar pudding and ice cream flavors.
choc. pudding with choc. ice cream
strawberry ice cream with vanilla pudding (add a few finely chopped fresh strawberries too) ]
~ Pull your ice cream out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter while you make your crust(s).
~ Make crust.
- place graham crackers in a used bread bag, fold the end over a couple of times, and use a rolling pin to crush the graham crackers. Then keep rolling over them until they are finely crushed.
- dump crushed graham crackers into a bowl, add the 1 Tablespoon of sugar, melt the 1/2 cup of butter and pour it on top. Then use a pastry blender to mix everything together well, with out lumps.
~ Spread crust mixture into bottom and up the sides fo a pie plate (often use bent fingers for this process).
(If your doubling the recipe, it can be made in a 9 x 13 pan)
~ Make Filling.
- Blend milk with ice cream (* any flavor). [If your adding finely chopped strawberries, add them now]. Add pudding and beat slowly with egg beater for about 1 minute, or until mixtures just sort of starts to thicken.
- Pour into crust and chill (not freeze - the fridge is where you store this ;-) ) for about one (1) hour.
Slices of the choc. pie can be garnished with a small dollop of whip cream, topped with a choc. chip. Put a slice of strawberry on top of strawberry pieces. Put whatever you like on top of plain vanilla pie.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You might also enjoy these postings:
~ warm weather dessert # 1: NO BAKE CHEESECAKE
~ warm weather dessert # 2: (No Bake) Banana Split Dessert
~ warm weather dessert # 3: Rice Krispie Treats / "The Thick Soft Type"
~ warm weather dessert # 4: Graham Crackers With Icing
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "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://beautyandbedlam.com/)
~ "Topsy Turvy Tuesday's", are hosted by Ashlee, at 'I'm Topsy Turvy' (http://imtopsyturvy.com/)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
another 'communicating' tale ;-)
Yesterday evening, Brian and I were in the living room and I started telling him about something from my Dr.'s appointment. Something VERY personal. He was listening while looking for something. He hadn't found it, so he wandered out of the room. I stopped talking. A minute later I hear, "I'm still listening". "Yeah, but it's not something I want to shout about." For one, I wasn't sure where exactly the three "boys" were. For two, the living room windows and front door were open. This wasn't information I wanted to share with anybody else.
About another minute and a half later, he wanders back into the room. The thing was, Benson was almost directly behind him. He had just come up from the basement because the two of them were going to watch something they had recording together. I asked Benson if he could go back in the kitchen for just a couple of minutes so I could finish telling Brian something. With a sigh and this 'expression' he said "fine".
I switched gears, figuring I'd finish telling Brian at some other point in time, and asked Benson If I could use his room and TV. I wanted to rent a movie off of U-verse, and his room has a U-Verse box, mine doesn't. Brian said that he'd help me upstairs, and carry my glass of Pepsi for me and I could finish telling him up there. Okay.
Boo was standing at the front door, wagging his tail with ALL of his might and really wanting let out. I started to open the door to do so, but Brian said not to, because he'd just get in the way of "the boys" (Brandon and Brent) carrying the air conditioner up onto the porch. I had looked out and seen Brent walking towards the front steps carrying something with one hand, so I'd figured it would be fine for me to put Boo out there on his leash. But I didn't argue, just headed on up the stairs.
Brian also looked out and said it was the front panel off the air conditioner that Brent was carrying. (Some friends had gifted us with their HUGE air conditioner that they no longer needed, due to having central air. The boys had brought it home in the back of Brandon's suburban. THANKS friends!!! ;-> )
But by the time Brian had said that, I had already started to step into Benson's room and made a comment inquiring if it was very cool in there.
I had then walked over to our room and commented about how there was such a wonderful breeze in there. This whole time Brian's mind is still on the air conditioner, so he thinks that I am making comments in reference to that, and started saying something about how it's a big air conditioner so it will probably help the whole house ...
I'm still comparing the coolness/breeziness of the different bedrooms upstairs.
We met back up in Benson's room and I started talking about where to sit the glass of Pepsi Brian was holding. I didn't want Boo tipping it over later.
(Now) I don't remember what the next thing was that I had started talking about, but it was like I had started up a whole new conversation. When Brian didn't respond, I looked up at him. The poor guy was wearing this lost/bewildered/confused expression. I couldn't help myself, I started laughing. He commented, "I'm lost AND I WAS EVEN LISTENING THIS TIME!" I laughed harder. I knew exactly what he was referring to.
Years ago now, he had attended a "Dad the Family Shepherd" conference. One of their sessions had dealt with the difference in the ways that men and women think. Men think more like a climbing rope. You climb down it, tie a knot at the end, and that's that! Well, unless something shiny, food, or a pretty female crosses their path during the thought. ;-p
Women on the other hand, think more along the style of a spider building it's web. First they're over here. But then by some magical, male non-understandable way of how, that thought triggers a thought about something in a different section of the web, so they jump over there. And then it happens again, and again. And yet, by a methodology still completely non-understandable to guys, when women are done, we've created a beautiful spider web where-in everything we talked about IS connected to each other, and we (at least usually) even know what all was discussed or thought about.
The conference had encouraged the guys to really/actually listen when their wife's were talking. They told them that often you can make some sense out of all of it by paying close attention. And that when you do, it's GINORMOUS brownie points with the wife for having done so!
Brian HAD been listening! His mind had automatically assumed that I was going back to finish telling him the info. from my doctor's visit, since we were again in a 'private' situation. But instead I had jumped to a completely new section of 'my web'. ;-p!
The poor guy. While (at the time) I completely knew where I was in all four conversations, I had sent him into a 'no-can-keep-up/comprehend' state of being. And while the look of his face was saying it all, I could not stop laughing at it, even though I did feel ever so sorry for him and kept trying to stop laughing long enough to say so.
S-l-o-w-e-l-y, one by one, I went back over and even finished each and every subject. He stood there shaking his head while smirking at me. "Sometimes I just don't stand a chance at keeping up with you". But he smiled. A big very friendly smile. I liked that!
This has been yet another example of how you can be communicating, and yet not be at the exact same time. We sometimes share these with you folks to encourage you to keep trying in your own relationships! A good laugh goes a long ways towards clearing things up!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
About another minute and a half later, he wanders back into the room. The thing was, Benson was almost directly behind him. He had just come up from the basement because the two of them were going to watch something they had recording together. I asked Benson if he could go back in the kitchen for just a couple of minutes so I could finish telling Brian something. With a sigh and this 'expression' he said "fine".
I switched gears, figuring I'd finish telling Brian at some other point in time, and asked Benson If I could use his room and TV. I wanted to rent a movie off of U-verse, and his room has a U-Verse box, mine doesn't. Brian said that he'd help me upstairs, and carry my glass of Pepsi for me and I could finish telling him up there. Okay.
Boo was standing at the front door, wagging his tail with ALL of his might and really wanting let out. I started to open the door to do so, but Brian said not to, because he'd just get in the way of "the boys" (Brandon and Brent) carrying the air conditioner up onto the porch. I had looked out and seen Brent walking towards the front steps carrying something with one hand, so I'd figured it would be fine for me to put Boo out there on his leash. But I didn't argue, just headed on up the stairs.
Brian also looked out and said it was the front panel off the air conditioner that Brent was carrying. (Some friends had gifted us with their HUGE air conditioner that they no longer needed, due to having central air. The boys had brought it home in the back of Brandon's suburban. THANKS friends!!! ;-> )
But by the time Brian had said that, I had already started to step into Benson's room and made a comment inquiring if it was very cool in there.
I had then walked over to our room and commented about how there was such a wonderful breeze in there. This whole time Brian's mind is still on the air conditioner, so he thinks that I am making comments in reference to that, and started saying something about how it's a big air conditioner so it will probably help the whole house ...
I'm still comparing the coolness/breeziness of the different bedrooms upstairs.
We met back up in Benson's room and I started talking about where to sit the glass of Pepsi Brian was holding. I didn't want Boo tipping it over later.
(Now) I don't remember what the next thing was that I had started talking about, but it was like I had started up a whole new conversation. When Brian didn't respond, I looked up at him. The poor guy was wearing this lost/bewildered/confused expression. I couldn't help myself, I started laughing. He commented, "I'm lost AND I WAS EVEN LISTENING THIS TIME!" I laughed harder. I knew exactly what he was referring to.
Years ago now, he had attended a "Dad the Family Shepherd" conference. One of their sessions had dealt with the difference in the ways that men and women think. Men think more like a climbing rope. You climb down it, tie a knot at the end, and that's that! Well, unless something shiny, food, or a pretty female crosses their path during the thought. ;-p
Women on the other hand, think more along the style of a spider building it's web. First they're over here. But then by some magical, male non-understandable way of how, that thought triggers a thought about something in a different section of the web, so they jump over there. And then it happens again, and again. And yet, by a methodology still completely non-understandable to guys, when women are done, we've created a beautiful spider web where-in everything we talked about IS connected to each other, and we (at least usually) even know what all was discussed or thought about.
The conference had encouraged the guys to really/actually listen when their wife's were talking. They told them that often you can make some sense out of all of it by paying close attention. And that when you do, it's GINORMOUS brownie points with the wife for having done so!
Brian HAD been listening! His mind had automatically assumed that I was going back to finish telling him the info. from my doctor's visit, since we were again in a 'private' situation. But instead I had jumped to a completely new section of 'my web'. ;-p!
The poor guy. While (at the time) I completely knew where I was in all four conversations, I had sent him into a 'no-can-keep-up/comprehend' state of being. And while the look of his face was saying it all, I could not stop laughing at it, even though I did feel ever so sorry for him and kept trying to stop laughing long enough to say so.
S-l-o-w-e-l-y, one by one, I went back over and even finished each and every subject. He stood there shaking his head while smirking at me. "Sometimes I just don't stand a chance at keeping up with you". But he smiled. A big very friendly smile. I liked that!
This has been yet another example of how you can be communicating, and yet not be at the exact same time. We sometimes share these with you folks to encourage you to keep trying in your own relationships! A good laugh goes a long ways towards clearing things up!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
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