The Kitchen

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to make a short post to let you know that I have been working on some things, nothing big but making some changes and reflecting on my home and what it means to me.

What is it about the kitchen that draws everyone there?  Is it the food?  Is it because the hostess/host is  there and people gather around to visit with her?  Is it because we love the homey feeling it brings just to be around the smells and sounds of something cooking?  I wonder.  If you notice, every time there is a party or get together, people seem to end up in the kitchen.

I love the kitchen.  It is my place to be creative with food and in some cases, not so creative.  I love new recipes and I love my old recipes.  Those traditional ones that I learned from my mom and carried over and prepare for my family.  I love that they enjoy them as well.  I love that my grandchildren enjoy them now too.

I love teaching my granddaughter to make cookies and pies and the benefits of eating healthy and why we eat certain foods and why certain foods are not good for us and I also love that she knows she can have whatever she wants in GRANDMA'S KITCHEN.

Cooking for my family is something I truly enjoy.  I know many women feel it is such a chore but to me it is a blessing.  I feel that I am giving them food to nourish their bodies and help them be healthy and in this way I bless them each day.  I am responsible for serving my family food and in this act of service to them I try to find joy in the love I feel for them. 

 Ladies as we serve our families, we are demonstrating an act of love.  Even if you prepare a quick meal, serve it in love. Don't just toss it on the table and let everyone fend for themselves.  Use nice dishes, set the table, take a few minutes to make sure everything is set correctly.  This is a good time to teach the younger children.  Also use your silverware, save the plastic spoons and forks for a picnic.  Your family should be treated as the special people they are.  Don't save your best for the guests.  After all who are the most important people in your life, are they your guests?  Use nice things for your family, they deserve it.

I love candles and use them whenever I can, especially at meal time.  You will be surprised how it changes the mood.  Try it on your little ones.  Light some candles at dinner time and see if their mood changes and calms them down.

Again, I love the kitchen.  I love everything that makes up a kitchen.  I enjoy being there and cooking good meals for family and friends. 

I'm trying to pass down my love of cooking to my daughter and granddaughter.  I hope that one day they will realize what a blessing it is to serve their families with joy and love.

Until next time may you find joy in the meals you prepare remembering that your service to your family is a  gift of love, give it freely. 

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE WALNUT BISCOTTI

Hi everyone, glad to see that some of you stayed with me after my long, long absence.  I think I lost a few readers along the way but hopefully I'll pick up some newbees and maybe my long-lost followers will return.  I did get some requests for the biscotti recipe so I'll post it for all to enjoy.  I think it was a Barefoot Contessa Recipe so I can't take the credit for it but all I can say is try it and you'll love it.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup walnuts chopped

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 tablespoon confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350F and butter and flour a large baking sheet.

In a bowl whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.  In another bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and beat until combined well.  Stir in flour mixture to form a stiff dough.  Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips. 

On prepared baking sheet with floured hands form dough into two sightly flattened logs, each 12 inches long and 2 inches wide (don't flatten too much or your biscotti will be too flat since these don't really rise that much.)

Bake logs 35 minutes or until slightly firm to the touch.  Cool biscotti on baking sheet 5 minutes.



On cutting board cut biscotti diagonally into 3/4 inch slices.  Arrange biscotti cut sides down on baking sheet and bake until crisp about 10 minutes.  Cool biscotti on a rack.  Biscotti keep in airtight containers 1 week and will freeze well for about 1 month.  ENJOY.

Let me know if you make these and how you like them.  I'll be back soon.  Until then, may you enjoy all the blessings in your life because nothing should be taken for granted.

Hugs

Kathy

STILL HERE

Hi Everyone, just wanted to let you know I'm still here.  A lot has happened over the last few months.  For one thing I've finally retired from 46 years of working outside the home and can't believe the freedom I feel right now not having to answer to a boss.  My time is now my own and I love it.  My husband is also retired and we are enjoying life as much as we can.  Of course we have had to scale back on things but it is worth it.  We are loving the free time to volunteer with our church and other community activities and to be available for our family when they need us.  Best part is we are here for our granddaughter whenever she wants to visit like during Christmas vacation.

We had such a good time.  I taught her how to sew and she started making a very simple quilt.  We also worked on other crafts and just spent some good quality time together.  I love being a grandma.

I have also been doing many of the things around my home that have been overlooked because of my lack of time.  You know all those tedious things like cleaning out drawers, replacing shelf lining, arranging and organizing pantry shelves, closets and throwing away all those extra items we accumulate.  I really needed a lot of time to accomplish that.

I have been neglecting my blog because of being busy with different chores around my home.  I'm hoping to get back to blogging on a more regular basis soon.  I would like to add pictures of my home and some of the changes we've made. I am not a very good photographer but I do the best I can.  Hopefully 2012 will be better and I'll have more pictures to show together with some recipes and other organization ideas for you.  There are so many ideas floating around in my head but putting them all down is another matter.

Here is a picture of some chocolate brownie biscotti I made that are absolutely to die for.  They are not dry like regular biscotti and are fantastic especially if you like to dip them in your coffee.  If anyone wants the recipe let me know.  If I get enough responses I'll post it. These are fabulous.

It looks like a bite was take out on the right side but that was just a piece that broke off.  Believe me, I wanted to bite it but thought that would be too tacky.  These are pretty easy to make too. 

I hope to write more often and keep this blog going.  I wish all of you are very blessed New Year and may you all enjoy good health and prosperity.

Until next time

Hugs

Kathy

Been Gone Too Long

Where did the time go?  Somehow the summer has gone by so fast.  I can't believe my last post was for Mother's Day and now Labor Day is almost here.  This is just a short post now to let you know I'm still alive and well.  I've made a few changes in my life and I want to share those with you.  I will be making a longer post with pictures and details a little later on but wanted to let you know that I haven't stopped blogging or disappeared, just had a hiatus and did some soul searching, making some decisions affecting my life, all good, all positive allowing me some opportunities to reach out in other directions and areas I've always wanted to. 

Please come back for the details and some pictures of what I've been up to.  It has been a long very, very hot summer here in California and we are still in the midst of a heat wave.  Today at least it is down to 97.  Yeah, I know that is still hot but better than 107 which we had over the weekend.

I hope you all stick with me because I think you'll enjoy some of the changes I hope to incorporate into my blog. 

Until next time, stay safe, be good to one another and help those in need when you can.
Hugs,

Kathy

Honoring Motherhood

In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to do a post as my way of honoring all moms, grandmas, great grandmas, stepmoms, moms to be and all those who have the "momitude".  Often there are those women who just take on that role of "mothers" giving advice, helping out, acting like moms but not really moms at all.  We love you too. 

Unfortunately my own mom passed away over 20 years ago and her death has left a void in my life.  If you have lost your mom, you know what I mean.  They may be gone physically but still they are in your heart.  There is nothing like a mother's love.  It seems though we never appreciate all our moms did and who they were until we are moms ourselves.   We finally realize the sacrifice and devotion it takes to raise responsible children, to nuture them, teach them right from wrong, and help them through the disappointments and rejections in life.  It isn't a job it is a vocation that never takes a day off.

If you are a mom, grandma or any of the above, I praise you for all you do.  The days are long and the work is endless.  It is the hardest job on the planet but the rewards are worth it.  You get to be part of watching another human being develop and grow into an adult.  You get to share in their journey from infancy into womanhood or manhood.  You are part of the miracle of birth or are blessed to be parents to someone elses child.  

Then, of course, there are days when you seem invisible.  You work hard and nobody seems to notice.  Or those times when you make a great meal and all you get are complaints.  I feel your pain.  I wish you comfort when you feel sad because you have a sick child and feel so helpless.  I offer you a cup of joy when you finally get the laundry all done and you want to shout with glee but nobody cares.  I have for you a box of tissues when you are in tears because you just found out you have to make 5 dozen cupcakes for your son's school tomorrow and it is 7:00 p.m.  For all the times you've held a crying baby and walked the floor, I give you a medal of honor and some Tylenol PM to take when you are 60 years old because that's probably the only time you'll get a good night's sleep again. 

When I had my first child, I was very young compared to today's standards.  I loved being a mom and still do.  It is my greatest joy.  I never wanted a career or to be famous just to be somebody's mom.  I love babies and little children but those little children don't stay little for very long. They grow up and get married.  So what starts out as being a mom can lead to becoming a grandma.  All the hard work of raising your own children was well worth it when your child blesses you with a grandchild. When you hold that grandbaby in your arms for the first time, there are no words to describe the feeling. 

My granddaughter Hannah is now 11 and such a blessing in my life.  I couldn't wish for a sweeter, more loving granddaughter than her.  She has the heart of an angel.  She is so sensitive to others and very caring and loving.  I am so touched by the things she does and says.  She has many talents and is gifted in her school work as well as in drawing. I pray that she will always keep the sweet spirit that dwells within her.

So in honor of Mother's Day I want to leave you with this poem that I've had for a very, very long time.  I don't know who wrote it but I feel it is appropriate.  Your children are everything, but wait, the other surprise is just around the corner.

The Love and Devotion I Gave To My Child

I Thought I Could Give To No Other

But Life Had A Wonderful Surprise For Me

The Day I Became A Grandmother

I wish you all a very blessed Mother's Day and may it be filled with the love of your family who will shower you with appreciation for each and every thing you do.  May you have a day of peace and tranquility, relaxation and pampering as you deserve the best.  Without mothers, our world would never know the true meaning of unconditional love.

Until next time, remember a mother's love is never failing, never lacking and always present.

Hugs

Kathy 

Spring Fever

Well Spring has finally arrived here in California.  It decided to take its sweet time just like it has with the rest of the country.  I know many of you are saying that we have nothing to complain about and you are right, we have nice weather most of the year but this year we had to wait a bit longer than usual.

Since we have had some nice weather, the urge to get things spruced up has hit us so we have done a little work around the yard.  We cleared out the old to make room for the new.  Here are a few pictures of what it looks like in the front of our house.  These are Martha Washington geraniums which bloom every year.  I like these type of flowers, pay once enjoy forever.

We still need to do some trimming and our grass is not the greatest but I love the colors of the flowers. 

This is a hillside that we always have trouble keeping up with.  Right now there are blooms and it is colorful but sometimes it is just full of weeds and a lot of work to manage.  Things just seem to grow wild here.

We love our little wagon.  We are still working on it and will fill it up with more flowers and better pots.  In the fall we have hay bales and pumpkins.  It is really a great focal point to decorate for each season.

Since I had a little time one day after a dental appointment, I stopped at an antique store that was on my way.  This place had been there for years but I never went in before.  You could barely move around it was so crowded and small.  I wouldn't say it was a very good place to shop but I did find some cute items.  It reminded me more of something you would see in grandma's basement.  There were boxes filled with stuff, books all over the place.  I  did manage to get a couple of nice things at least I think so.

I found a few baby dresses that had a few stains in some areas.  I thought some of them looked like blood and started wondering what happened, did the babies get hurt, were they okay, got me pretty sentimental for a few moments. 

There are also small tears but barely noticeable.  They were just stuffed in a box along with other shawls and blankets.

This is a beautiful long infants night shirt.  It could have been a baptism outfit as well.  It is made of a little heavier cotton than the others with a couple of tiny tears.  The neck edge is trimmed with delicate lace and the upper bodice has some smocking.  The handiwork is gorgeous.

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It wouldn't be complete without a bonnet.  This alone was worth the money.  The cut out work and the lace is so beautiful.  I know this must have taken a lot of time to make.  I think I paid about $7.50 for everything  and there is one other small dress that I didn't show so I think I got a good deal, don't you. 

I also managed to get these old books which I think are just perfectly prim.  One is an old arithmetic book and it actually had a paper with math problems on it.  Wonder if it was somebody's homework.

This bonnet I bought also but it was a light pink and white check.  I think it was $2.00.  I ended up soaking it in coffee to stain it.  I know I took the before picture of how light it was but I can't find it now.  I hate when that happens.  Anyway, this is how it looks after coffee stained.  Remember it was a light pink and white gingham.

It really looks different now.  It took quite a long time to get this way.  Apparently gingham doesn't like coffee too much.  The fabric would not soak it in .  I ended up putting in some instant coffee to just to make it darker.  I do like how it looks now.  It really aged quite a bit.

So if you are finally getting some lovely spring weather where you are I hope you get out and do something fun.  I love working in the yard and seeing things grow.  My hubby and I started a raised bed garden and we are hoping to get some nice fresh vegetables this summer.  Next time I'll have some pictures of our plants.  Of course, I forgot to take the before pictures.  I never seem to remember that.

Spring is also a time for new beginnings, new things spring to life and that which looked dead over the winter seems to blossom into something of beauty.  We all can take a lesson from that.  I know I seem to reflect on my life at this time of the year.  I think of what I need to weed out, get rid of the junk so to speak and make room for the new and better things.  We sometimes have to prune ourselves too.  We could be holding on to some things that keep us from living a full and complete life.  It isn't worth it.  I know I try to think of how I can live more in peace and if that means forgiving someone or going the extra mile to help someone then I try to do it.  We shouldn't let those hurts take over our lives because they will develop roots, grow so deep and be hard weed out. 

Make it your mission that going forward into a new season, you will strive to "bloom where you are planted" and remove all those weeds and debris and allow flowers to grow and the beautiful fragrance to take over your life from now on.  It is not worth it to hold on to anything that robs you of blooming into the beautiful person  you are. 

So until next time, may your garden of life be always filled with fragrant blooms.

Hugs

Kathy

Jury Duty Surprises

Last Monday I had to report for jury duty.  In California you get the summons and the weekend prior you call a phone number to see if your group has been selected for Monday.  If you are not needed for Monday you have to call every evening to check in to see if you are needed for the next day and so on until Thursday evening.  If you are not called by then well you are one of the lucky ones, your jury service is completed and you don't have to report for another year.

I did my duty and called the Saturday prior and of course as luck would have it I had to report on the Monday.  It was one of our rainy days and the drive I  had was quite far.  I was not looking forward to this.  I dragged myself out of bed early and was sure I'd be in for a day of boredom.  Most of the time you just sit and wait and if you do get called to a jury room well, you wait some more and then either get picked, let go or go back and sit in the jury room again. 

It was a long morning and a few people were called but were still waiting for the courtroom to be ready for them.  We broke for lunch and we didn't have to report back for 1-1/2 hours.  I surely didn't want to wait there so even though it was raining I decided to take a walk.  As I was walking, I remembered an Antique/Primitive shop that was close by.  I hadn't been there for at least 2 years or so.  I began to pick up my pace.  The rain didn't help, but it didn't deter me either.  I was getting anxious by the minute.  I finally got to the store and was overwhelmed.  I didn't drive because I didn't want to lose my parking place but I wish I had.  There were more items I would have bought, well again, money had to be figured into it too.  I posted earlier about my cabinet and how I wanted to find some more crocks well I did.

This is a good size crock and is pretty old but I can't tell the age.  There are no marks on it but there are nice streaks going through the coloring and it is in excellent shape.  No cracks or chips.

I just kept findings so many things I liked.  I wasn't thinking about carrying these to my car.  I also found this nice crock, well actually it looks like a jug more than a crock

Do you notice the swirl effect going through it.  I thought that was so neat.  She had so many great things in her shop.  Again, I wish I had driven there.

I also picked up this pitcher and loved the stripe in the middle  I have a small crock that has a stripe in middle very similiar to this pitcher.

As you can see, I wasn't thinking about the weight of these objects at all.  I had to carry them to my car before the next session of my jury duty began.  It was a few blocks away. I must have been crazy because it was raining, I had a purse, a tote bag for my goodies to eat, water bottle, snacks, reading material and then I had these items to carry too.  I guess when you see what you like all at once you don't think of things like how you are going to transport them.

I also found this cute dish, not sure what you would call it but I liked it.  I'm sure it has a name, maybe somebody knows.

I've seen these before but I'm not sure if they have a name.

Anyway those were my jury duty surprises.  No I never did get called for any jury thank goodness.  I just stayed there most of the day and did manage to carry those heavy crocks to the car but had a backache the next day.  Of course, it was all worth it. 

Here is a picture of what my cupboard looks like now.  It still needs a few more touches here and there.  I need some little things to make it complete.

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So the next time you get called for jury duty, don't be frustrated, maybe something good will come out of it.  I am so happy I went that day.  That antique store is not very close to my house but if it were, I probably would be there more often.  I think my husband is very glad that it isn't.

Until next time, you can always find something positive in an otherwise negative situation.

Hugs

~Kathy~