In Like a Lion....

You know that old saying about March?  "In Like a Lion - Out Like a Lamb"?  Bullshit!

There's a winter weather advisory again today.  Another 1 - 2 inches after the sleeting stops later this morning.  This month has SUCKED!  And not just here in northern Iowa.  All over the net I've been reading others bitching and moaning about the cold and snow that's plagued us here in the northern hemisphere all spring.

Someone that I read the other day called this climate change "global weirding".  They got that right!  This spring has been weird any way you look at it.  I, for one, will be very glad when this miserable month is done and over with.

Goodbye March and good riddance.  Don't let April hit you in the ass when you leave!

Breakfast Take Alongs

Ever since Christmas, I've been in a real "baking" mode.  After the fiascos over Christmas, I made up my mind that baking is like riding a bicycle - you never forget how.  You just sometimes need to practice regaining your balance and pretty soon you'll be riding along without using your hands. 

You can make your pastries, doughnuts, pies and desserts.  My sweet tooth calls for cookies.  I was getting kind of tired making all the "standard" cookies and decided to look for something a little different.  That's when I remembered these cookies.

I sent for this little recipe booklet from Quaker Oats way back when I was with Husband #1 in 1979.  I'd give you a link, but I doubt it's published anymore.  It was one of those "Send us $2.00 for shipping and handling and we'll send you this recipe book FOR FREE!" 

I've made many recipes from it, but my favorite was these Breakfast Take Alongs.  They're crispy and chewy; kind of salty, savory and sweet.  The book claims that it provides 11% of the U.S. RDA of protein and I can believe it with bacon and cheese in them.  Although I wish they would have given the number of calories, etc. in them as well.

So if you're looking for something a "little different' to make for the cookie jar, I highly recommend these.

BREAKFAST TAKE ALONGS

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup AP flour

1/2 teaspoon soda (as in baking - not Pepsi)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned)

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup wheat germ or finely chopped nuts (I used nuts)

6 crisply cooked bacon slices, crumbled.

Beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until well blended.  Add combined flour, soda and salt; mix well.  Stir in oats, cheese, wheat germ (or nuts) and bacon.  Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet; bake in preheated moderate oven (350F) 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Cool one minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire cooling rack.  Store in loosely covered container in refrigerator or at room temperature (I put mine in the 'frig - bacon, you know...).  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!

Elvis Update

 

It's been about 6 weeks since Elvis' surgery and he's recovering nicely.  He's still not very strong on his back legs and that prevents him from jumping up on the couch.  The vet said that awareness of limb placement would be the last thing to return.  That's probably what makes him walk like he's in a marching band with his hind legs while trying to run with his front ones.  It is rather comical to watch....poor dear.

Meanwhile, Dusty's having a grand time at Montana's house.  They have the same spirit and energy (and mentality) and play with each other continuously.  Bettina took a video of them playing out in the yard this winter and I thought I'd share it.  It cracks me up every time I watch those two idiots running and wrestling.  It looks like they're hurting each other - but they're not. 

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny's little helper dyed his eggs yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?

I hope everyone's tummy is full of candy and ham and the rest of your day is spent watching scary movies. That's what we're doing anyway.

Happy Easter to all my friends!

Happy St. Pat's Day

A WISH FOR A FRIEND

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through

ANOTHER IRISH BLESSING

May the frost never afflict your spuds.

May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms.

May the crows never pick your haystack.

If you inherit a donkey, may she be in foal.

The Mouse on the Barroom Floor

Some Guinness was spilled on the barroom floor

when the pub was shut for the night.

Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse

and stood in the pale moonlight.

He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor,

then back on his haunches he sat.

And all night long you could hear him roar,

'Bring on the goddam cat!'

An Irishman's Philosophy

In life, there are only two things to worry about—

Either you are well or you are sick.

If you are well, there is nothing to worry about,
But if you are sick, there are only two things to worry about—

Either you will get well or you will die.

If you get well, there is nothing to worry about,
But if you die, there are only two things to worry about—

Either you will go to heaven or hell.

If you go to heaven, there is nothing to worry about.
And if you go to hell, you’ll be so busy shaking hands with all your friends

You won’t have time to worry!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!!

Question

I have a question. Since I redid this blog, I can now see (in the links to the left) when others have newly posted because they are in bold. Can you see this as well? Or is it only because I am this blog's administrator? Just curious.

Thanks!

Sick of My Linens

I washed my bedding today. Biggie-wow, you say? That's really something to write about, huh? Yea, well, while remaking the bed one of my pillow cases ripped in two. First I cried, then I got pissed.

Over Christmas, my daughter had called to tell me that Target was having a linen sale and did I want her to pick up a set of king-sized sheets for $30.00. $30.00 - that's less than the cost of a pair of shoes for cripes sake. Every store has a January White Sale EVERY YEAR, so why in the hell would I NOT get new linens. They might not be 5,000,000 count Egyptian cotton, but who cares.

And that blanket! Are you still using the blanket your mom got you when you went to college? Or that you got as a wedding gift from your FIRST marriage? I don't think so. Ladies, this is just ridiculous. We work, we take care of our families, our pets, our homes. This is not a luxury - this is a necessity.

I have made a promise to myself. I will never keep linens longer than three years from now on. That includes towels. Towels fray from the frequent washing and I deserve to have towels that aren't coming apart at the seams. Besides, I'm sick of the sight of them. Sheets, towels, pillows - they're all gone! I'll line the dog's kennel with them or use them as drop cloths when I paint. But I'm never going to put them on my bed again.

And, while I'm at it - I'm getting kind of tired of my dishes too. Ten years is long enough for a set of dishes, don't you think? It's not like they're heirlooms or expensive or anything. They're just a set I picked up at K-Mart when I was sick of the mis-matched ones I'd been using forever.

I'm fully aware of where this frugal nature comes from. But it's been a while since I was toeing the poverty line. Sometimes it's just the rut that we've dug that keeps us complacent. And I am heartily sick of this rut.

I remember visiting Aunt Della as a child and going through her numerous chest of drawers and closets. I would find new, never-worn nightgowns, slips, house dresses, aprons, bedding and blankets. When I would ask her about them, she'd tell me that they were all gifts from family and friends. When asked why she didn't use them, she said that she was "saving" them for "good". Good what?! Bless her heart - I can still picture her in that same house dress and apron that she always wore. When she died, her children were left to clean out those drawers and closets and haul it all to the Good Will.

So I got the sheets that Della had bought for me out of the drawer and put them on the bed. Tonight, I'm sleeping in a new bed. Yee haa!