Friday, May 9, 2008, by Sherra
When we want to try to eat healthy…
…okay, that made me laugh just typing it.
Let me start over.
When we’re out of chocolate chips, we make these cookies.
Well, that and if the applesauce doesn’t have mold on it since no one really eats it except if it’s in these cookies.
(Or at Red Lobster in lieu of a green salad.)
They could be mistaken for being “semi-healthy” if there is such a thing.
I’m sure you could use whole wheat flour and sneak in some flax. Yum.
I did grow up eating these and the recipe is in our family cookbook.
These could be my Mom’s recipe or Betty Crocker’s. I just don’t know for sure.
Truth be told, these are really good! So maybe when you are burned out on chocolate chip cookies and brownies, you might give these a try.
Applesauce Cookies
3/4 C soft shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 C applesauce
2-1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
Heat oven to 375º. Mix shortening, sugar & egg thoroughly. Stir in applesauce. Measure flour by dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Blend dry ingredients; stir in. Drop by spoonfuls on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Makes 4 dozen.
Enjoy and let me know if you try them and if you like them!
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 6%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Food, Raves
Wednesday, May 7, 2008, by Sherra
I got home late Sunday night from five fun-filled days visiting relatives in Indiana.
As I shared last week, I went back home to Indiana to visit Imogene.
One week ago on Wednesday I surprised Imogene and spent the afternoon with her. She has fallen twice since I was there last year so she spends most of her time in a wheelchair. She has made a remarkable recovery especially at age 92.
She doesn’t go out very much, if at all. Since I was there by myself and was not on a schedule, I made myself available if she wanted to go anywhere. After a little encouragement because I’m sure you know how much her generation “doesn’t want to be a burden” she finally said “I sure would like to have some good food at Gray’s.”
Gray Brothers Cafeteria is a local landmark in Mooresville, Indiana.
Photo of Gray’s sign came from this fun food blog.
Cafeterias are not my favorite kind of restaurants. I actually refuse to eat at them here in Georgia. (Another one of my issues…for another day.)
But Gray Brothers is different. I love it.
PhilBillPaul loves cafeterias so I had to take a picture of our food so I could show him I had his favorite chicken and noodles (and corn and potatoes and a roll and butterscotch pie if you’re taking inventory.)
I found a far better picture of their food at RoadFood.com which is a fun site that features reviews the kind of down-home restaurants we love.
“A tray of lunch, Gray Brothers-style. Clockwise from the bottom left: candied beets, dinner roll, banana cream pie, orange chiffon Jell-O, lemonade, chicken with cornbread dressing.”
- Michael Stern
Imogene had those candied beets (yuck) and jello salad and fried potatoes and strawberry pie with her chicken and noodles. My photography skills really didn’t do justice to our meal.
Yes, it does appear that we might have thought this was our last meal. I’m happy to report it wasn’t. We actually took some beets, jello salad and pie back to her room.
Everything was absolutely delicious and words cannot describe what it meant to me to get to spend the afternoon with her and take her out to dinner.
The waitress took our picture and I’ve already ordered two 5 x7 prints that I’m framing–one for me and one for her!
Life Lesson (LL): In spite of gas prices and a nine hour drive, the trip was worth every moment I got to spend with Imogene and other relatives!
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): Any trip you’ve taken or are planning to take to visit someone special in your life?
Popularity: 16%
Categories: Food, Life Lessons, Milestones, Moments, Raves
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, by Sherra
First, thank you to all my email subscribers who are being patient as I continue to try to get help from the service that actually delivers the emails.
I am back in town from a week in Indiana visiting Imogene and some other relatives. More on that visit on Wednesday!
I am overdue in telling you the answers to the questions about the doll and the record album from my little impromptu history quiz.
Everyone got the doll right!
Yes, it was Chatty Cathy. 
However, the album stumped everyone.
Maybe we were the only family who owned this little gem?
I remember it well. And I personally never thought Puff was about anything except a Dragon!
The album “quiz” made me ask PhilBillPaul to dig out a few albums from our extensive combined collection we still have in the basement.
The Puff the Magic Dragon album and Chatty Cathy doll were a few years before we started listening to really cool music and being boy-crazy.
These were my boyfriends.
These were Julie’s boyfriends.
We’ve always had different tastes in music, boys, clothes, hobbies, etc.
I figured this was as good a time as any to tell Julie (my older sister) that I’ve had her albums for all these years.
Did I mention they got wet in our basement? Sorry. Out of my control. I would send them to you but they are really in no condition to be mailed or played. Like you have a record player anyway?
Side note: I usually read each post out loud to PhilBillPaul to make sure it makes sense. He just asked me if I had contacted our boyfriends to be sure they knew I was posting their pictures. He was totally serious. I’m still laughing.
I said “I’m pretty sure Julie hasn’t kept in touch with Donny Osmond or Tony DeFranco and no, I haven’t actually talked to Bobby Sherman or David Cassidy in YEARS. ”
Okay, maybe never.
Popularity: 24%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Moments
Friday, May 2, 2008, by Sherra
We have several pancake recipes that we love and rotate for Sunday brunch.
PhilBillPaul and I love breakfast any time. We have it for dinner at least once a week. Much to the chagrin of Wizzy. There’s one in every family or in our case–two. The Grunter doesn’t eat eggs.
Remember my food chart? Sigh.
PhilBillPaul loves IHOP buttermilk pancakes and I figured some brilliant cook had worked out a copycat recipe.
So this recipe was found through the detective work of The Grunter and Google. Mostly Google.
To keep it real, here is the actual recipe that sometimes finds its way back to one of my recipe binders divided by categories. Usually though, it’s just loose in the cabinet and we search through a big pile to find it.
Have I mentioned that we have a slew of artists in the house? This is an unsigned work so I can’t give proper credit.
Have a great breakfast this weekend!
P.S. Credit for the recipe source is noted on the recipe itself but in case you missed it, it was found on Top Secret Recipes.
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 42%
Categories: Food, Raves
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, by Sherra
I hope that when you are reading this I am visiting or about to visit Imogene in Indiana.
She’s the only Grandma I’ve ever known as my mom’s mother passed away when I was just six months old.
I’ve been lucky enough to be the keeper of some very special family photos.
Side note: Volunteer to make an album and relatives might give you some precious pictures.
My mom grew up on this farm and I grew up as a city kid who was lucky enough to visit the farm.
Imogene sent me a thick envelope of pictures in 1995 and I love what she wrote and I included it on the album page. Grab a magnifying glass, it’s worth reading!
My cousin Dayna captured the essence of us city kids visiting the farm by writing this story for the family reunion album I created almost 15 years ago.
For a little girl who lived in the city, the farm might as well have been Disney World. There were so many things to explore and never enough time. From the gravel road you turned into the driveway which had a bridge over the pond. Never mind that there was probably only inches of water beneath it, I always held my breath as we went over it because there were no sides to this bridge and you just never knew how good a driver your Dad was! Up the hill stood the farmhouse and many, many other buildings just waiting to be explored. There were skinny sidewalks that surrounded the house and sometimes led to nowhere. There were so many doors and porches on that house it was amazing. Of course, one sidewalk led down to the outhouse which was, to a city kid, unbelievable. The darkness, smell and bugs in the corner were just enough to make you wish you were back home! Then there was that huge big tank in the yard which you never fully understood what it was used for. It was best for telling your little brother or sister that if they hit it too hard, it just might explode the whole farm! What a great place this farm was for me. I can remember every little detail about it as if I were just there yesterday. It’s all in my heart and memory forever.
My Grandad passed away the year I married PhilBillPaul. We continued to have family reunions on Labor Day weekend at my Uncle Jack’s farm for more than 25 years.
Now it was my turn to bring my city kids to the farm. City kids getting to see pigs is a big deal.
But the bigger deal has always been spending time with extended family. The stories. The pictures. The memories.
Here is one of my favorite quotes I included on the album page that was my Grandad’s last Labor Day reunion…
Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
–Robert Brault
All those reunions were the big things. I always knew that. I still know that.
My mom is the second youngest of seven children who are all still alive.
(I won’t mention names but ages range from 81 to 59…can you hear my slow whistle? It’s impressive, we know!)
13 years and one month flew by and we didn’t miss the irony when she was the first to lose her spouse, my dad, at the age of 60.
Meanwhile, the years continue to pass by and time doesn’t stand still.
I know I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. I hope this will be a soft whisper and a gentle reminder.
Last year as I made my way back home from The Black Hole, I stopped in to spend the afternoon with Imogene. We went shopping and out to eat and before I left I snapped this picture of her standing by my car with my camera phone. At age 91, my bright blue VW Bug matches her personality.
Imogene is funny and spunky and I have always loved spending time with her. To get to spend one-on-one time with her is a sheer delight for me.
Of course, the time I get to spend with her is rare since we moved from Indiana when I was in the 3rd grade and I’ve never lived there again.
Kids and life have a way of getting in the way of visiting.
I’m making the time to visit this week. It is a privilege that I don’t take lightly.
Notice I said I’m making time. It’s not in the budget. It’s not on the schedule. The teenagers will probably think of new reasons for me to take Valium while I’m away. Maybe I should leave some Valium for PhilBillPaul…
But I’m going because I can’t stop time and on my list of priorities, this one is right at the top of my list.
Hopefully I’ll get to see Uncle Jack, Uncle Jerry, Aunt Jane, Sally, Dayna and anyone else interested in seeing me while I’m there. As you can imagine, there are a whole lot of relatives in Indiana. But I’m starting with the oldest and most favorite first.
Dysfunction still abounds but…
There’s a magical tie to the land of our home, which the heart cannot break, though the footsteps may roam.
–Eliza Cook
And I’m bringing my good camera this time.
Life Lesson (LL): Life is short. Make time, take pictures and don’t forget to write down the stories.
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): Share a favorite story about your grandparents…your memory might help someone create a family memory for their family!
Popularity: 47%
Categories: Life Lessons, Milestones, Moments
Monday, April 28, 2008, by Sherra
No real surprise for those who know me.
For those who don’t, it’s probably not a real surprise either.
I have written about the fact that I have issues.
I have learned to live with most of them. Some require Valium. Some will require more therapy.
I think writing about my issues will be cheaper than therapy.
I truly believe we all have issues. Some of you may not want to admit it. Some of you are just better at hiding them then I am. My kids would like it if I could keep most of my issues to myself.
Before I tackle a specific issue, I’d like to reveal a little about my fashion sense. It is actually related to this post.
(Which could be a separate issue I’m not going to write about today.)
I just wanted to share this t-shirt that screamed “BUY ME, WEAR ME” last year. I had to shut it up so I bought it.
In fact, I bought this shirt last year because it really did speak to me.
The issue of the day is…
SCISSORS.
I have lost count but a pretty accurate estimate of the number of pairs of scissors that I have purchased since becoming a mother is approximately 972. Since The Grunter is 18, that is an average of 54 scissors per year. Yeah, that seems about right.
I have bought them their own. I have color-coded them and announced their purpose. Kitchen. Scrapbooking. School projects. Sewing. Etc.
Call me crazy but I don’t want to open a hermetically sealed package of bacon with a pair of scissors that have glue and other unidentifiable objects stuck to the blades.
Nor do I want to trim a picture with scissors that have bacon fat on them.
I have hidden them. I have bought them in cases of six. I have them in drawers on all three floors of our house.
When I need a sharp, clean pair, do you think I can open a drawer and they are there?
I have found “MY GOOD SCISSORS” on the front porch, the sidewalk, the backyard, the garage, the stairs, their bedrooms, the bathrooms and various other places.
When I was scanning pictures for Scary Baby’s birthday post, I saw a few pictures that gave me some insight into my scissor issue.
The inappropriate use of scissors started at an early age…
Obviously, I was a rookie scrapbooker and must have had a brand new, shiny pair of scissors that I went a little crazy with. I swear my family albums look a lot better now. It takes a little while to develop your own personal style.
Try to ignore the hack job I did on the pictures and instead, focus on the hack job Roger Leroy did on her twin sister’s hair AND her own. I especially love Wizzy’s expression.
Here’s the excerpt from the photo album of 1995:
Roger Leroy’s Hair Salon Now Open Out of Business
Roger Leroy opened up her shop in our basement on January 24. Her “Grand Opening” was followed immediately with her last and only day of business. Mom shut down the shop. It seems that Wizzy was her first customer after she did a trim job on her own bangs. When Wizzy appeared to show her new haircut, it was quite obvious that Rachel had no formal training and was operating without a license which is illegal in Georgia! Mom screamed and cried and cleaned up the hair–the girls collapsed after a busy day.
History repeated itself in 2003.
Excerpt from that album:
Another Humphreys girl discovers that her chosen vocation should NOT be hairdresser! Scary Baby found a pair of scissors and snuck off to her room to trim her bangs. No twin sister to blame this time. Mom didn’t cry this time and Dad called our family hairdresser to do what she could to “disguise” this very uneven trim job. As we already know, it takes a long time to grow your bangs back!
For some odd reason, we bagged up and photographed the hair. I think PhilBillPaul has it saved somewhere with all their baby teeth.
(Those would be his issues, not mine.)
I think you can see why scissors are a touchy subject at my house.
Life Lesson (LL): It is unhealthy for me to covet scissors like I do.
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): Am I all alone? I’d be honored if you share an issue or two so I could at least tell my kids that other moms have issues too…
Popularity: 52%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Life Lessons, Random Thoughts, Rants
Friday, April 25, 2008, by Sherra
I have no idea where my Aunt Jane got this recipe. I’m visiting next week so I’ll try to get the history of the recipe because I don’t want there to be any bad press surrounding the release of this recipe.
I just remember that whenever we visited her house she always had a pan of brownies for us.
The important facts you need to know right now are that these brownies are super easy to make and delicious. This is a great recipe for kids to make as you teach them to cook.
I’ve yet to meet a bad brownie.
Enjoy!
Aunt Jane’s Brownies
- 1.5 C flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 C sugar
- 1 C shortening
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 4 heaping TBSP cocoa
Beat by hand. Bake at 350º in greased 13×9″ pan for 30-35 mines. No icing needed. Melt in your mouth delicious!
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 44%
Categories: Food
Wednesday, April 23, 2008, by Sherra
We might have been dysfunctional but we were also hip and cool.
1968 was the year.
Ann guessed correctly last week.
Thanks to those of you who guessed in the 70’s. That was either very polite or you’re too young to be guessing. Either way I appreciate it.
I thought I’d give you a glimpse of how hip and cool we were. (In case you missed it by our hair and clothes.)
This was our bedroom.
The turquoise bedspreads, the wall art, the lamp…how much hip and cool can you stand?
I think you can now purchase reproductions of the entire room at Ikea.
Toy box was a retail display cabinet that my dad brought home that served us well through three states and at least four moves.
As you can clearly see, Julie and I had our own stereo record player. And blender? I don’t remember the blender but maybe Julie was mixing drinks and I didn’t know it. She is older than me and was much more social.
I thought the pictures were another great opportunity to test your history skills. I bring you another guessing game. This is practice for future contests with prizes. Yee haw!
Rules are the same as last week:
- Cousins and siblings are ineligible to guess.
- No prize will be awarded except your own personal satisfaction that you may receive for being correct.
1) What is the name of the doll on the upper bunk bed?
2) What record album is partially covered sitting next to our stereo?
Earn your bragging rights by leaving a comment right now and we’ll see who can answer both questions correctly. I’ll let you know who was right on Friday. Let the guessing begin!
Popularity: 59%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Moments
Monday, April 21, 2008, by Sherra
She turns nine tomorrow.
That last baby we actually planned.
The one that we waited so long to have because having one + two more in less than three years was daunting.
We strategically planned to have that last baby so that the first three would be old enough to babysit. That plan has served us well.
We also knew that we wanted an even number…um, why? I have no idea why except the first three so close together just threw me off balance.
I was sure #4 would round out our family.
I love, love, love babies.
I did know I wanted to rock and hold and nurse and love just one baby.
Side note: I confess that I did pray that there would only be one baby.
I didn’t know I would have to fight Roger Leroy (a.k.a. Mama Jr.) to get a turn to hold her.
I did know that that last baby would be adored by all of us and she would always be “The Queen.”
I didn’t know how hard it would be for her to have five pseudo parents instead of two. You have to have a lot of personality and a good sense of humor to keep up in our house. Obviously, she can hang with us.
I did know we would see the world through her eyes and she would make us slow down and see beauty in the simple things.
I didn’t know she would be my only girly-girl. But still love dirt and bugs and
caterpillars.
I did know that her daddy had more than enough love for another daughter.
He lights up in her presence.
I didn’t know she would test my patience in ways I never dreamed before the teen years even hit. Big sigh…
I did know that our family would be blessed beyond measure to have her in our world. And having an even number isn’t so odd.
Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are beautiful and smart and funny.
We all love you to the moon…
xoxo
Mama
P.S. For the observant few, oh yes, that is a giant tattoo on her hand.
Popularity: 74%
Categories: Milestones, Moments, Raves, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
Friday, April 18, 2008, by Sherra
I choose not to talk politics or religion here.
Mostly because I started this site so we could share and support one another.
I didn’t start this site to get into any heated debates and I heartily respect other people’s views even when they are different than mine. It’s how I learn. It’s what makes the world go ’round.
It’s also what makes me laugh. Especially when I’m right. Which is often. Just ask PhilBillPaul.
Or you could ask my mom since I was right about the year of the photo.
I was amused when they got into a heated debate this week on The View. If you didn’t hear about this BIG news story, hurry, click on over and get yourself educated about this newsworthy event.
Even if you don’t want to get educated, please click just so you can see
the author’s name. I feel like I’m being stalked by ________s.
Fill in the blank with author’s last name.
The answer is no for those of you asking yourselves if I’m going to stop being immature any time soon…sticking out my tongue as I type this.
I had already planned to share this recipe with you all before I heard about the story.
My Mom’s Butterscotch Brownies are brownies she has made since I was a little girl. They are a lovely change from your regular chocolate brownies and they are a perfect addition when making a brownie tray medley which I’ve been known to do on occasion. Easy and quick, PhilBillPaul whips them up from time to time.
Now because of Cindy McCain and the recipe scandal, I feel I must put a disclaimer here before actually revealing the recipe.
Disclaimer: To my knowledge, my mother has never created her own recipe. She has added and omitted different ingredients to match our family’s taste buds. I have followed that same tradition and customized recipes to match our love dislike of vegetables.
We call them “Family Recipes” because they are the recipes our family grew up loving and were prepared in our home - hence the name “Family Recipes.” I don’t know for sure where her Butterscotch Brownies recipe originated. She may have lifted this recipe right from the pages of a very old and worn Betty Crocker cookbook that looks just like this…
Sidenote & reminder to my mom: Remember, I get the cookbook along with the black cast iron skillet and Grandad’s desk.
I feel better now that it’s in writing on the internet just in case she hasn’t made that clear in her will even though we’ve discussed it dozens of times through the years. I think this will hold up in court; you all are now my witnesses. Thanks.
I’ve done my research and Betty Crocker was not a real person and if she was, she’s dead. General Mills could come after me or my mom. Um, yeah, okay, whatever.
Here’s the thing…speaking only for women (since I am a woman), we trade recipes, share recipes, print recipes, type recipes, email recipes and post recipes. Whenever possible, I give credit as to the origin of the recipe. Many times, I just don’t know or remember. I don’t think any of us are trying to plagiarize or steal anyone’s original recipes.
Relax people. Share the recipes. Share the love. Journalists: Find a news story worthy of reporting and more importantly, worthy of our time!
Next week I might get really wild and share my Aunt Jane’s Brownie recipe. Who knows who she stole it from. My mom and my Aunt Jane have a long history of theft and deception.
Until then, bake these this weekend and enjoy!
Our way: We usually double this one and bake in a 13×9″ pan since there are six of us. The top has a thin crispy-like layer and they are gooey underneath. Don’t overbake!
My Mom’s Butterscotch Brownies
- 1/4 C margarine, melted
- 1 C light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 C flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Cream margarine, sugar and egg. Add dry ingredients; mix well. Spread in 8×8″ or 9×9″ well-greased pan. Bake at 350º for 25 minutes.
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 81%
Categories: Food, Rants
RSS Subscription
E-Mail Subscription