"Nonunions?" = a grandma tale ;-p!

     A couple of days after Analyse had come to live here for a bit, she had asked me to sing "One, Two Nonunions". I hadn't a clue what she was talking about. So I repeated what she had said, in the form of a question. "you want me to sing "one, two nonunions"?". She stopped moving, looking at me ever so intently. Her eyes showed me that she was giving great thought to what I had just said. With a kind of perplexed expression, she repeated her request, adding emphasis to the last word.
    I was still totally lost. What song has the other grandma taught her this time, that I'm not catching on to, my brain silently questioned. Think, think, think. I had nothing.
    So I questioned just the word. Pronunciating it to the max. She cocked her head side ways (a trait I'm sure she picked up from Boo {;-p}). She then again requested that I sing "one, two nonunions".
    "One, two onions?" I questioned. Definitely a no. But it did earn a silly giggle with the response. ;->
    After about the fifth time of me questioning her, her look changed to one of disappointment, mixed with frustration. It was as though she was silently questioning why this grandma didn't know this song, and/or why I couldn't understand her. In her mind, she was saying it ever so clearly. But what her two and a half year old mouth was pronouncing, was not clear to this grandma's ears. Mind you, she sounded ever so cute, I just couldn't clearly decipher the word.
    But there was absolutely no way I was going to allow that disappointment to continue!!! Not on my watch!!! She's been working hard at her talking and pronouncing skills, and I didn't want her feeling negative over not being able to communicate with me. So, I did what I often do, I fudged it.
    I started making up both a tune and words, as I went along.
    She smiled, then she giggled, then she again cocked her head sideways, indicating to me, that this was most definitely NOT what she'd had in mind. But she kept smiling. And every single time I said the word "nonunions", she'd giggle with glee. I sighed inside, and smiled too.
    She enjoyed it to the point that when I was done, she put up that adorable little finger and requested "One more time".
    By the eighth "one more time", I chose to try and teach her a new song. Yes, a real one this time. o;-p
    The next day, she requested the "one, two nonunions" again. In-fact, she did almost every single day for two weeks time. And during that span of time, I still had no more of a clue as to what it was she was really requesting that I sing, then I'd had the first time she'd requested it. She seemed to 'get' that, but it also seemed to add to the merriment for her. For she'd giggle with delight every single time I'd say the word "nonunions", and by the end of my made up tune, she'd be out and out laughing. What a wondrous sound!!! For the sound of that laughter, I could easily swallow my pride and sing it "one more time".
    Then, t-h-e-n, one day when she requested it, as I started to sing, the huge light bulb over my head finally lit up. You know, that free hanging light bulb that hangs over every person's head and lights up when you get inspired as well as when you finally catch on to something. Yup, THAT light bulb. It lit up, because suddenly I had more than just a clue as to what she had been requesting all along, I totally "knew"! :-]
    I stopped singling my made up dingy and asked, "Do you mean "One, two Indians?" Her face BEAMED!!! She laughed ever so hard and while doing a little happy dance, said yes!  "All righty then" ;-p
    But wouldn't you know it, this time we had an audience. All of those other times, no body had been around to help me figure out what it was she'd been saying. But this time, this time as I had yet again started in with my made up jingle, and then mid note caught on to what she really wanted, this time her grandpa, my husband, was sitting not three feet away.
    His roaring laugh over our little exchange, told me that he had totally caught on to the whole situation. Sigh. So-o embarrassed.
    But with more happy dancing and giggling, Analyse kept requesting the song. So, o/~ "one little, two little, three little Indians" o/~ I sang. When I was done, up went her little finger, requesting "one more". So off I started again. Only this time, when I said the word "Indians", she giggled and said "no, nonunions".
    I was sitting on one of the couches. She had come forward and put her hands on my knee, peering at my singing with all her might. If I said the word 'Indians', she'd say "no, 'nonunions' ". If I said 'nonunions', she'd giggle and say, no 'Indians'. And even though there wasn't a whole lot of difference in her pronunciation of the two, I totally got the different distinctions.
    After about the fourth time of stumbling through the song in such a manner, just for kicks, I used the word "onions" instead. She laughed ever so hard, and clapped those little hands, and turned to tell "pappy" what I had said, as though he hadn't heard it himself. What a delightful time we had. What silliness. What wonderful memories were created!
     Almost every day after that, for the next two weeks, she would again request the song, and again insert "no, ___ " stating which ever word I hadn't used. And I'd again give in to her requested "one more" for several times, just to see her delight.
    Aww my Analyse, the things you do to this grandma's heart. :-D

   In these pictures, she is proudly strutting about in "Auntie Kayla's" heels - and keeping her balance while doing so! That girl has quite a thing for shoes.... but that's a story for another posting. ;->

   (It use to be quite the thing for Ladies to wear pumps with heels with their pajamas o;-p)

The 'Yum-A'Setta Recipe got featured again ;->

     Back on Oct. 31st, I posted the much beloved recipe for 'Yum-A-Setta'. In that posting, I told you how an extremely high percentage of the people whom we have served it to, have really liked it.
     Well, it seems that it has caught the interest of a lot of you people out in 'blog land', as well.  On November 29th, I told you about how my linking that original posting up to Susan's "Totally Tasty Tidbits" one week, and all of the people who had followed that link, had gotten us highlighted the following week. That was cool!
    Well, that recipe got highlighted again! :-D  By Katie L., at "This Chick Cooks". Katie hosts a "These Chicks Cooked Link Party". I had linked the recipe/posting up to her party. She had then included it in her "Highlights from Recipe Swap #28" posting.

     We hope that all of you whom are checking this recipe out on line, are also actually trying it in real life!!!

     Thanks for highlighting us Katie! We definitely feel honored!
                    

how to keep things from boiling over

  [ At least on the stove top. Yesterday was proof that I haven't yet conquered it in the oven 8-/ ]

   Recently, as a pot of potatoes was just reaching the boiling point

   I remembered a tip I had read real recently on Tammy's blog. In THIS posting, Tammy had written, "To keep potatoes from boiling over when cooking, put a streak of butter around the pot on the inside, at the top. "
   "Hummm... I wonder if I can still add butter around the top and still have it be effective?" ... "Worth a try!"  I got a paper napkin and rubbed it on the butter sitting in the butter dish, then smeared it all the way around the top bit of the pan (just below the rim).
    My 'plan' had been to stand there and watch, to see what happened. But you know how often 'plans' go awry in my life. I ended up being called out of the room, and not returning for ten (10) minutes.
   As I reentered the kitchen, I was expecting to see quite the mess. But  I  Didn't!!! :-) This is what the boiling pan of potatoes looked like.

   Nothing had risen above that line of smeared on butter! :-D And for the record, it had not been smeared on thick enough to even see. I had just started smearing by one handle and went around the pot till I was back to where I had started, leaving no easily visible evidence that I had even been there.
    There was no mess! I was so-o-o thrilled!

    A few days later, as I was boiling up a really big batch of wide egg noodles, the potato incident came to mind and I wondered if the butter trick would work for noodles as well. "Worth a try!!"
    So using the exact same methods, I tried. I even left the burner set on high, seeings how I was trying to speed up the completion of this meal.
     And it worked!!! :-D

   I tell you folks, I am ever so grateful that Tammy shared this wonderful tip with us!!! From now on, every time I'm cooking something on top of the stove, which has the possibility of boiling over, it's going to have the inner top of it's pan buttered!!! I'm serious! I find buttering the inner top of a pan, far more enjoyable than cleaning up the over flow later!!!

    As for over flows in the oven -
    Next time I will put what I baked yesterday in a larger pan!!!   But thankfully, the mess WAS easy to clean up. I remembered Brian saying that his mom always put sheets of foil down in the bottom of her oven, before baking up a big meal. So I had tried it. Let the oven cool off. Remove the foil. Wa-la!!!

     To help keep any smoking down while the item which over flowed is still baking, HEAVILY sprinkle salt on the spill. Cuts the smoke in no time. And, if you'd forgotten to put in the foil, it crystallizes the spill, which makes it easy to scrape/scoop out later with a solid bottom, metal pancake type spatula. ;->
      

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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)

Whit and Wisdom from Brian

copied and pasted here from his Face-book page -

"Brian B_ _ _  ate so much over the holidays, that he decided to quit cold turkey."

a different kind of stuffed manicotti

    I had wanted to make Byron something special for his birthday dinner. I had had a couple of different things in mind, which I know he really likes. But 'life' kept happening. Coming at us left and right, and I hadn't been able to be taken to the store, or send somebody to the store, for the necessary ingredients. It was one of those times where you just keep trudging on, as best you can.
    It just so happened, that Byron did not work at all on his birthday. But I wanted him to have time to play with his kids, not have to drag all three of us through a store, nor run to the store for me.
    So I trudged on. Into the panty, to see what was in there. And then over to both stand and kneel in front of the refrigerator, to see what I could find in there.
    Think brain, think. "Lord, I need some inspiration here."
    The light bulb came on (you know, the one that dangles mid air above our heads, waiting to suddenly click on, when we get some wonderful insight or inspiration). THAT one. ;->
    "Thank-You Lord!!!"
     I started to gather all of my possible ingredients together on the counter (so that I wouldn't forget to add any thing, as I proceeded forward), then thought, might as well arrange them for a picture first. o;-p

    Along the right side is, 'Leaf Oregano', 'Italian Seasoning', 'Garlic Powder', 'Parsley Flakes' and 'Basil Leaf', seasonings.  ('Trade East'(R)) ('Tone's' (R))
    Across the back is, 'Manicotti Noodles', 'sliced Mushrooms', 'Mild Chili Powder', and 'Creamy Alfredo Sauce'.
    Next 'row' in is, 'Cottage Cheese', 'grated Real Parmesan Cheese', a couple of eggs, 1/2 of a 5 pound pkg. of 'Meijer(R) Ground Chuck' and 2 'Spanish Onions'.
    Moving forward - 'shredded Cheddar Cheese' and 'Cream Cheese'.

    Mind you, I had only made stuffed manicotti noodles one time before. And that had been ages ago. So this was going to be an experimental dish in more ways than just the recipe for it, which I was concocting as I went. ;->

    After spraying my large skillet with pan coating spray, I added the ground chuck, broke it up some, and added a lot of the garlic powder.

   Finely chopped both of the Spanish onions, and put them on top of the garlic powdered meat.

   Then added a lot of the Chili Powder.

   Then some Italian Seasoning.

   While that was browning, I was going to start mixing the cheeses, etc..
   But first, Ms. Analyse had asked ever so politely, so she got to eat some of the shredded cheddar. ;->

    (Yes, the kitchen cupboards could use both a good scrubbing down, as well as sanded and repainted. They'll be getting one of the two soon. ;-p)

    First into the mixing bowl, went the cream cheese and the shredded cheddar. I had "nuked" (aka:microwaved) the cream cheese a bit (to make it easier to work with), before adding the cheddar, seeings how I had just pulled it from the fridge.

    Then the parsley flakes, basil leaf and leaf oregano were added.

     I took a break and feed Mr. Elliot his bottle, while Byron and Analyse fixed lunch. ;->

     (see the loafs of Banana Bread on the counter?  If you wrap a paper towel around them before sticking them in the fridge or freezer, it helps keep them moist and freezer burn free. (<-- Bonus Tip there.) )

     After mixing the cheeses and spices together (yet again using a sprayed pastry blender), I added the eggs. Why?  They help bind everything together.

    Blend thourally.

      The hamburg mixture is done, when most or all of the grease is evaporated and the onions have turned clearish. (That is too a word 'spell check'! geesh! o;-p)

    The full pan of browned meat and spices looked like this when done.

     I took half of the amount in the pan

     and added it to the cheese, etc. mixture.

    When I had gone back to cooking after feeding Elliot his bottle (and getting him asleep)

                                           (Elliot sleeping, at 4 months of age)
                                            (Isn't he ADORABLE? !!! )
        
    I had put the water on to boil for the manicotti noodles. Once it was boiling, I sprayed some pan coating into the water (it helps noodles not stick together. <-- Bonus Tip) and then added the noodles.

   I added the alfredo sauce to the other half of the meat mixture, which had been left in the pan.

    Time to start assembling.
    At first I thought I would be able to fill the tubes via a make shift pastry bag (aka: a baggie).

    No, I had NOT used the scissors to cut the slit in the noodle.

    After awhile, with the tube idea not working, I used one of Elliot's cereal spoons to fill the tubes.

    Why had I added some of the meat in with the cheese? Because I wanted to see how it would taste that way.

     Lots of the noodles split on me. At first I grumbled. Then I found that if I spread a little of the cheese mixture along one edge of the cut and overlapped the noodle a bit, they stuck together just fine. I also made sure to put the mended side facing the bottom of the sprayed pans. ( <-- Bonus Tip there)

    Spread one half of the meat / alfredo sauce mixture

    Over the top of one of the 9x13 pans of filled manicotti noodles.

    I reheated the meat and alfredo sauce which was still in the pan, added the drained cans of mushrooms, and spread it over the second pan of filled noodles.

   "Wa-la", both pans were now "made".

    Well, almost. I sprinkled the tops of both pans with the Parmesan cheese.

    Covered the pans and baked for an hour at 350o.

    While this picture of the baked product might not look all that impressive

     It tasted great!  To the point that I never got the chance to do my usual "So-o, what's the verdict on this experiment?"  Kayla took three bites and then declared "This is GREAT(!) Mom!!"
     The "boys" thought she was trying to earn brownie points, to which her laughter filled response was, "Brownies are fine... pretty much anything chocolate she wants to make me, is okay with me. o;-p"
     After harassing Kayla, ALL of the guys said it was a "keeper" recipe. :-D Byron even made sure to point out how fast Analyse was downing her's. She then asked for more.
    "I love it when a plan comes together" ;-p

    What did I serve with it? His birthday was close to a month ago, and now I don't remember....

    This is the point in a posting about cooking, where I usually give you just the recipe. But I can't. It wasn't that exact. But  P-L-E-A-S-E  do  NOT  let that stop you from trying this yourself!!!   Eyeball it as you go. You'll be glad you did!!!

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Next week - 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)" (shall we say # 1?), are hosted by "Gollum" (aka: Michael), at 'Designs by Gollum' (http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/)  

it's December 1st.

   Yes, that means that Christmas is only 24 days away. More about that subject in a minute. For now, I want to write about something else. Today is December 1st. That means this year is almost over. What things, whether via "New Year's Resolutions" or just setting goals for myself, did I set out determined to accomplish/do this year? How many of the yet unaccomplished ones, can I still, via hard work and re-prioritizing things, get accomplished, before that ball drops on New Years Eve? 
   Two different ones come to mind, that I won't be able to accomplish. The first one has to do with weight loss. Dropping as much weight as I have in mind to lose, in one months time, would most likely land me in the hospital. And that was an item on my "I hope I don't have to go there this year" list. ;-p  While I haven't dropped any-where's near to what my goal was, I have made a good start over the last two months.  Having the grand children in the house, has been good for more than just this grandma's spirits!! ;->
    The second item had to do with wanting to once again do lots of canning and freezing of fresh fruits and veggies. The vertigo wasn't under control enough yet, when all of that stuff was in season. So this particular item shall be transferred to next year's list.
    How-ever, a couple of items that I could still conquer, have also come to mind. One has to do with using my sewing machine, the other is a sorting out / organizing project.  My determination about both of these is rising!!!
    What kind of things/goals were on your lists? Can any of the yet unaccomplished ones, still get ticked off as "done"?  I KNOW you CAN!!! (choo-choo...;-p )

    Now, yes, today being December 1st, also means that there are only 24 more days left till Christmas.  Thus, I have tackled the getting all of the pop corn strung, so that some how, some way, we can get the tree up this weekend (scheduling 'life' around here is a tricky business!).

                                                l-o-n-g strands -

                      (eight strands hanging double over a hanger)
     And I've also redecorated our blog for Christmas. (If you get these postings via email, you ought to go visit our actual blog.) And I've been giving some thought as to what baking I want to do this year. And what to get to put in our kids stockings. A-n-d....
    I would encourage YOU to check out THIS posting, which reads - "Thought I'd start the season right off, by doing a directory of all of the previous subject related postings we've done, in the hopes that you will find at least one of them helpful. "

   o/~  "May your day's be Merry and Bright . . . " o/~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
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/).

WONDERFUL compliment

   As he was eating his dinner last evening, Brian looked over at me and said, "the stuffing is r-e-a-l-l-y good this time. You did a great job on it!"

   I must have been wearing a puzzled expression, because he went on with, "I thought you were over reacting more than a little bit on Thanksgiving, when you insisted that the stuffing had been bad enough, we should just dump all of the leftovers. I had thought it was "okay" and ate all I had taken. But now, after again eating this batch that you made Sunday, I get the difference. You nailed it this time! :-D"



   THANKS Brian!!! I love that you showed en-thus-si-ou-si-ous-si-asm! O;->