Taking time....

On this Thursday, I am taking time to send my thoughts and prayers to Nana Diana at the passing of her brother on Monday afternoon.  If you have a chance, make a visit to her blog -  thenanadiana.blogspot.com - and leave your condolences.

I will be back tomorrow with a regular post.

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.

Something healthy....

In 1995, a friend (who reads this blog) gave me a book entitled "Simplify Your Life" by Elaine St. James.  There are 100 ways mentioned that remind us to slow down so that we may enjoy the things in life that really matter,   Among the chapters are suggestions for simplifying your household, your life-style, your job, and - among others - your health.  It is this last one that is my focus in this post, especially the suggestion to "eat a muffin!"

Wet ingredients ready to add to the dry ingredients.

Cooling on the rack.

So, this recipe comes from the book I mentioned above. 

GIBBS'S OAT BRAN MUFFINS

2 1/2 cups of oat bran
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar or maple syrup
2 Tablespoons chopped almonds
Handful of raisins or blueberries (I used raisins)
1/4 cup shredded coconut, optional (I didn't add this).
1 1/4 cup nonfat milk
Whites of two eggs
2 large overripe bananas

- Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Make a puree of the remaining ingredients, and mix thoroughly with the dry ingredients.
- Fill muffin tins, allowing room for muffins to rise.  If you use blueberries, it is easier to add them by hand to the filled muffin tin.
- Bake at 450 degrees until tops are brown, usually about 15 minutes.  Yield - about a dozen muffins.

We have found these muffins to be very tasty and a good snack choice, as well as a good choice at breakfast.

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.

Eat dessert first....

What is the rest of that quote?  Something about "Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first!"  I believe Susan Branch has featured that comment from time to time.:-)

With that in mind, the recipe that I will share with you today is - you guessed it!  Dessert!:-)

As I have mentioned, this is the day that I provide lunch for the adult day care program at our church. The menu I have selected has been greatly influenced by the brunch menu when we had guests a few weeks ago.  It includes quiche, baked potatoes, glazed fruit, banana bread muffins, and chocolate pound cake.  I will try to remember to take a picture of the plate as it is served and post it one day in the future.

Now - to the recipe!  This has been in my file for years and years!  I actually remember baking it about 43 years ago as a treat during a snow storm, and I had already baked it several times earlier.

CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

2 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
5 eggs
3 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 Tablespoons cocoa
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

- Line bottom of a tube pan with waxed paper; lightly grease and flour sides of pan.
- Cream sugar, shortening, and butter.  Add eggs, one at a time.
- Sift dry ingredients.  Add to other mixture alternately with milk.  Add vanilla.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Bake cake in tube pan for one hour (I needed to add 15 minutes for baking this one).

Ready for the oven.

Just out of the oven!

 I think this cake is good just as it is; however, if you REALLY want to turn it into something decadent, you may serve it with whipped cream - or a scoop of vanilla ice cream with fudge sauce poured over!  Yum!

Well, after this dessert, surely there must come something a bit healthier.  Return, and see what it is!

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.


- 








1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Weird weather....

The first full week of February is before us.  I wonder what kind of weather it will bring us.  The last week of January was certainly full of all sorts of weather surprises around here.  Actually, some of our "surprises" DID wait until February to come.

Watching the moon.....

....in the Western sky.

I was heading out to pick up the morning paper about 7:15 last Tuesday morning and was able to catch these pictures of the moon as it was moving across to the west.

Wednesday morning....

...the rains came.....

....and came....

....with flooding into the back yards of houses on our street....

....and along the adjoining road.

I apologize for the blurriness of the last picture.  I was in a moving car, and it was difficult to get the proper focus set.

When all was said and done, we measured over four inches of rain in our rain gauge, with about 2 1/2 inches of that coming within a two-hour period.

Following the rain, the high temperatures dropped as many as 30 to 40 degrees by Thursday.  Our high temperature on last Tuesday was near 70 degrees!  Weird!

On Saturday, Groundhog Day, this is what we welcomed.

Not fog!

Some light snow.

On the street and driveways.

 The Saturday snow was not around long, disappearing around midday.  There was a "rerun" for Sunday morning, however, this time taking a bit longer to disappear from where we live.

Looking at the week ahead, things look pretty good as far as weather is concerned.  The tasks that are before me in the immediate hours, however, have to do with preparations for the lunch I provide for the adult day care program at our church.  That must mean it is time for a recipe or two!  Stay tuned!

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.

For today....

The following comes from a book I have - "Love Adds A Little Chocolate."  The author is unknown.

"Your Life Will Be Richer - If...."

Your life will be richer if on this day -

    You will make an effort to

        Mend a quarrel.

        Search for a forgotten friend.

        Dismiss a suspicion and replace it with trust.

        Write a letter to someone who misses you.

         Encourage someone who has lost faith.

         Keep a promise.

         Forget an old grudge.

         Examine your demands on others, and vow to reduce them.

         Fight for a principle.

         Express your gratitude.

         Overcome an old fear.

         Take two minutes to appreciate the beauty of nature.

         Tell someone you love them.

          Tell them again.

          And again.

          And again.

Sending you special blessings on this Sunday.

Groundhog Day....

That is what today is!  Groundhog Day!  Is there a "resident groundhog" who is used as a weather predictor in your area?   I'm sure many of you are hoping he will not predict six more weeks of winter!

Here are some things that are disappearing for the season.

Snowflakes.

Snowflakes, too.

The only snowmen we saw around our place.

In place of the snowflakes and snowmen, this is the month for these:

Do you see the hearts?

Repeat from previous post.

More hearts.

So - I am ready for February - from head....

                                                                         .....to toes!:-)

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.

Wearing red....

Here we are at February 1 already!  This is the shortest month of the year, so it is sure to pass quickly.

It is a good month for wearing red, and this is what I am wearing today.

Oops! A little sideways!:-)

In fact, I will be wearing red each Friday in recognition of Heart Month.

Red dress.

I will also be wearing this red dress pin most days.

Scarf!

 

 

This scarf is also with me today as I head out to play bridge!  Perhaps it will give me some good luck.:-)

We had been expected to have some snow overnight, but there is none this morning.  It is just very, very cold!  Wherever you are, stay warm and safe!

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.