Summer Sausage

Hello Dear Hearts,

You know sometimes you just forget what you know.  Be it in art, which such great teachers as Karen Bonaker, Marilyn Sholin and Jeremy Sutton, my digital teachers help me remember my art training of many years ago.  Life in general and we all help each other with this task.  Who helps me remember about the past things I have cooked and why I started cooking them?   After a nasty week of Eldon getting better with a bout of onion salt in some summer sausage we purchased,  I did remember ------- I have a recipe of SUMMER SAUSAGE  without any of the ingredients he is deathly allergic to.

Please enjoy this recipe and as a note at the bottom I put a little foot note stated it is ugly but really good.   I can't remember where I got the recipe but thank you whoever for it.  I use to make it all the time and now have a batch in the refrigerator  doing what things do in there before they cook   

Here goes:



SUMMER SAUSAGE




2 lbs of lean hamburger  ( I use 93/7 mix)
2 T. Morton's quick cure ( now called Morton's Tender Quick)
3/4 t. crushed red pepper
1/2 t. minced garlic or powdered garlic
1/2 t. peppercorn
1/2 t. liquid smoke
1 t. mustard seed
2/3 c. water


Mix all ingredients together and let stand 24 hours in refrigerator.  Be sure and cover with foil tightly or it will smell the refrigerator up quite nicely.  Make into 2 rolls and place each on piece for foil shine up .  Seal and make 2 slits in bottom of rolls.  Place on trivet in shallow pan (aka broiler pan).  Bake 2 hours at 250 degrees.  Cool and wrap in saran wrap and foil.  Store in refrigerator and it also freezes well.   To serve slice and serve with crackers and cheese.   


Like I said it looks ugly but really yummy.  One of the goodie packages I gave our mail man one year had some of this in it.  They loved it.  Their kids wouldn't eat it because it was ugly.   


Had to share this with you and hope you try it and enjoy it.   


Thanks for stopping by and see you in the next post.  

SUMMER SAUSAGE

The Purpose of a Dog from a 6 year old.

Hello all, now usually I don't do a lot with emails but our daughter sent this one and it is soooooooo   good and true.  Please enjoy reading it and don't tear up like I did.   

A Dog's Purpose from a 6 year old

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a 10 year old Irish wolfhound named Belker.  The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker: and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.  I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for 6 year ole Shane to observe the procedure.  They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him.  Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.  Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefullyaway.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.  we sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.  Shane, who had been listening quietly, piper up, "I know why."

He said," People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life-like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The 6 year old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher, you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

NEver pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.  

when someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Enjoy every moment of the day!!!!!

Libby the rescue dog

                                                                 Hello to Libby. 

This is the sweetie that we rescued from the pound in November 2009.   After going to Pet'smart  many many times, they have dogs for adoption there every weekend, and going to a home of Pit Bulls called the Haven we had almost given up finding Jewel a friend.  Charlie dog, her friend of many years died this summer and we thought she needs a friend.   Someone told us that Lubbock does have a pound.  We couldn't believe they didn't have one.  So about the 5th or so of November we finally found it and there she was.  Probably the  most dirty dog you have ever seen.  Those beautiful eyes just looking at us, tail wagged ever so slightly.  We got to take her out of her cage and she was so happy and laid on her back to pet her tummy.  We were wanting an older dog and she just fit the ticket.  Doing the paper work and everything for her to come home with us was pretty uneventful.   We did get a big discount being as she and us were older.  

We had to take her to the vet and have her spayed AGAIN!!!!! they said they couldn't tell if she was or not.  Poor thing to go thru that twice.  Seems like it is a law when you adopt them.  So we did what we had to do.   After the two weeks for everything to heal we took her to the groomer and out came the most beautiful dog.  So well behaved and happy to be with us. As we were happy to have her as well as Jewel.  They get along so beautifully.   Libby does know that Jewel is the boss.   So had to get everyone in their pecking order.  Lots of playing  and Jewel cannot keep up with Libby on the running.  Runs so fast the fur just flys in the wind.  We have an acre so there is plenty of room to do this and Jewel sits and watches and sometimes runs as much as those little legs lets her.

I know someone has lost a wonderful dog but we will take good care of her and she has a home


I heard on TV yesterday that if we lived or behaved like the dogs it would be so good.  One thing I remember is always greet  others happy and like you mean it and that you are glad to see them .  

We had not had a dog for 25 years but when Charlie and Jewel came to live with us it was such a good thing---for them and for us.  Now Libby is with us.  Can't get any better than that.   Well, I do wish we knew what she knows, she is very well behaved and has been taught things.  If we only knew what.  



A friend suggested we name her Libby because we liberated her from the pound.  Sounded good to us.   


Thanks for stopping by and see you on another post.

Mom, you haven't posted a thing about Christmas!!!!!!!

Hello and hope all will have a great 2010.  Seems to come around quicker and quicker every year.  You know I use to hear that the more fun you are having the quicker time seems to fly by or time flies the older you get.   I am not sure which one is true, how about both of them?   Sounds good to me.  

Our daughter Vickie says I haven't blogged about Christmas or the snow or even my cooking.  So Vickie Denese this is for you.  

Snow, oh my did we ever get it a blizzard for sure, especially for this part of the country.  It snowed and then the wind blew this a like old father north can.  You have seen the pictures of the clouds looking like an older gentleman blowing the winds?  Well this was it, even nearly a month ago and we still have snow on the south side of the yard knee deep.  Course the dogs still romp in it.   We didn't make snow ice cream though.  That is just the best and the memories that go with it.  My thinking was after the snow the wind blew the snow  in drifts but the drifts came from the back yard and that is where the dogs are and do their business.  Hence that is why we didn't make snow ice cream.  I have always heard don't make snow ice cream with yellow snow.

.                                      Scenes from the yard

The weather was so bad here but our wonderful grandson came and we had him to ourselves on Christmas day.  He commented that is was a mini Christmas dinner.  I only made enough for three, didn't see any reason on making enough for an army, to many left overs you know.  So we had our Christmas and then he left the next day, but was such a great visit.  Grandchildren are the best you know.   I bet every grandparent will agree 100%.  We celebrated Christmas in Midland a few days early, Vickie and hubby didn't want us out in the bad weather and other daughter Dedria lives in Oklahoma and they got the snow .

Addison and Eldon making it a little safer with the snow and lots of ice underneath.                        Thanks Addison for the help.   

Addison with Jewel, she is our rescue dog.  When they moved she got to live with us.  Isn't she a cutie and so full of personality.   We couldn't do without her now. 
 

New Years eve came and we semi celebrated it with dear friends of 33 years.  We were going to celebrate Nova Scotia  time.  This would be 10:00 PM central time.  Eldon and I stayed up until 1 AM. so probably saw the new year in for several time zones.   It is here and we will see what it will bring.

Making resolutions is such a waste of time, who keeps them?  So we saved ourselves time and didn't make any.   I could make a list, being as I am a list maker, and then throw them away but didn't do that.   I guess cleaning and getting the office ready to tackle the new year would and could be a resolution being as that is what I am doing at the moment.  I could say lose weight but the same weight just hangs around like little butterflies floating around and waiting to pounce on a flower.   Sounds better that way doesn't it? 

Well, that is my thoughts on the Christmas, Jesus birthday, and the 2010 welcoming.  

This sweet little nativity scene, we have had this since 1967 and purchased from Sears and Roebuck.  Probably didn't give $12 for it.   Funny how we hang onto precious memories such as these. 

Thanks for dropping in.  Will write some more but don't want to wear your eyes out.

From Lowes to a Chocolate Cake

Now how in the world do you go from Lowes  Home Improvement Center to buy paint stain, to a chocolate cake?   It was Eldon's fault I started this cooking challenge.   We were checking out and lo and behold there was a magazine with the most wonderful cake on the cover.   I had to have the magazine  and make the cake.


Getting the ingredients, which I  am known for substituting everything, was an adventure in its self.   I need bittersweet chocolate not more than 61% cacao.   All I could find is 100%, not much difference.  Right?  Did I ever find out, there is a difference, I had to put a million cups of sugar to make that stuff so it wouldn't turn your mouth inside out.    Peppermint schnapps, easy enough.   Went to a store to get it and all they had were giant bottles of it, I didn't want to open a bar, all I needed was 1 tablespoon.   They have what they call the strip here so off we went to find peppermint schnapps---small size.   

It took me all day from about 10 am to 4 pm to make it and I swore  I would never make it again.  That was before we tasted it.   It had three layers of peppermint meringue, two layers of chocolate cake and a wonderful peppermint syrup and then buttercream frosting.   Next time I make it and I do say next time I believe I will make the cake thicker, nothing else Texas size and the meringue thicker and the frosting less .  Gotta keep the peppermint syrup the same, basically simple syrup with some schnapps in it.   Nothing wrong with that in the cooking world. 

What really made my day is when I took some to the neighbors and the little girls saw it and said------Mom it's  Mrs. Graves and she cooked!!!!!   What better response could you ask for.  

Attention World---Eldon likes it!!!!!

Today I took a break from painting.  I did a little fall clean up in the front flower beds.  I don't want to rush into it and do all of it before spring comes.  Just a little to tease the neighborhood.   I thought , Annette you need to cook.   I do talk to myself, they say it is ok unless you answer yourself.  Sometimes I do.   So, we had gone to the store yesterday and bought some things for a new dish.  I have everything, right?   Not.   Oh well, I don't ever make a recipe exactly right anyway.   

Today's dish was from the Food  Networks Rachel Ray.  Now she does 30 minute meals, but it took me an hour which is pretty good I thought.   It was Well Dressed Salmon.  Now I was treading lightly anyway, dear hubby of 48 years does not like salmon and not to keen on new dishes.  I was feeling like an adventure so why not?   It was really very easy to make and had a wonderful sauce to put over it with some vegetables you chopped and put with it.   Course I forgot the fresh dill and the seafood seasoning.   I had Cajun seasoning and used it instead and the dill?  Sorry next time little dill.  I also made the Crispy Mashed Potato Cakes and they were easy and good.   So two new things?   My ice was thin here.   Mr. Graves ate is and said  it is good, very good.  He liked the sauce and even the salmon.   It was a winner for sure.   I guess I will make this one again----Thank you Rachel Ray.   


My history of new dishes, unless sweets, is not 100%.   When all the girls lived at home, new dishes were always presented to them.   Sometimes they ate them with grace, sometimes just looked at each other-gagged and went to Dairy Queen or PBJ is always a life saver.    Now Mr. Eldon would chime in with them and help make it more "fun" about the food.  We had this sweet dog, he was German Shepard/Border Collie.  He went to meet us at the Rainbow Bridge years and years ago.    Now today Smokey would be over 35 years old, human years not dog years.  They said he would be alive today if he hadn't eaten my new dishes.    Mr. Eldon does say he has to sacrifice and eat the new dishes now, we have two new dogs and wants them to live a long and healthy life.


This is my latest cooking adventure.  I feel like it was a huge success.   It is getting close to making candy and goodies that aren't good for you but wonderful to cook and eat and give away.   


Thanks for stopping by.  


 

Adventures of cooking

     Today I cooked!!!!!!!  The November 2009 Southern Living Magazine is full of yummy things to cook.  So I thought, lets try some of them.   This one was even in the Healthy Living section.  Today it was Cornbread Stuffing with Sweet Potato and Squash  page 114.    Now sweet hubby does not like stuffing.  He say it looks dead and blah.  Well this dish does not.   The time given on the recipe says total time is 1 hour and 57 minutes.  It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish and not even with a break for Facebook.   

   It started with oil and minced garlic.   I don't use it enough to keep fresh on hand.  It usually dries up and looks like some wrinkled old prune.  Don't think that is what it is suppose to look like.   So I buy the minced in a jar and it never goes bad.  Did you know that when minced garlic and hot oil meet that it acts like popcorn going wild and crazy in your pan?   Well I didn't and was batteling  it  like a wild woman.  Then I thought, Annette take the pan off of the fire.    

The cutting up of the butternut squash and sweet potatoes was more time consuming than I thought.   Once before I had cut up raw sweet potatoes and they were hard as rocks.   I had the bright idea to put them in the microwave for a few minutes to soften a tad.  Thank goodness I remembered to punch little holes in them or that would have been a realllllllly big mess.  ARG!!!    The rest of the adventure went pretty good, now remember I am a baker not a cook.  Of those of you know there is a big difference between the two.    Cakes, pies and candy are a snap but it is a true adventure to cook .   Now I can make roasts, mexican food and Chicken fried steak.  The basics like that.  Our nieces love my flat enchiladas.    Another point about my cooking wares is to  remember the only real pans I have is when we first got married in 1961-yes that far back and I got most of the pans with S&H Green Stamps.  What a treasure those were.   We won't even go into that adventure with the pans with cooking this dish.   

It was a pretty good dish, and for Cat---even healthy.   The toasted pecans on top added some yummy crunch and the blending of all the flavors were really good. It is colorful also, not dead and blah looking .  I do think maybe a tad more sage or some pepper might have jazzed it up a tad. 

This it it for the Cornbread Stuffing today.  I forgot it was Taco Tuesday at Rosa's so we  just sampled the stuffing and will really eat it tomorrow.  Course our samples were a nice portion.      Remember----never trust a skinny cook.