Happy 16th Birthday Allen! February 28, 2009

We celebrated Allen’s 16th birthday a little early so that his brothers and sisters could take part. He was pretty excited, to say the least. He had no clue he was getting a car for his birthday. I think we kept the secret pretty well!

He couldn’t believe it and kept asking “Is it really mine?”

He was spoiled further by his brothers and sisters with a new Pioneer Stereo System for his CRV.

And to top it all off, he got his hoped for XBox 360 from Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton. I don’t know if he’s been THAT good this year, but, you only turn 16 once. I think I can safely say this was a birthday he’ll never forget!

Happy early birthday Allen!

My ten favorite kitchen things February 24, 2009

I was inspired to write this after reading another list like it from one of my favorite blogs:  The Kitchn. I’m sure many of the rest of you who cook have similar lists. Please share some of your own favorite things. I may have to add a few more to my own list if you inspire me!

1. An old sheet cake pan like my Mom’s that actually doubles as a lid to a roaster. I borrowed hers so often that when she saw one in an antique store she bought it for me. It is the perfect pan for my carrot cake recipe!

2. My Mom’s iron skillet. Again, I borrowed it so often she finally gave it to me since she didn’t use it anymore. It’s well seasoned and the perfect size for cornbread and oven pancakes.

3. My set of Wustof knives. Don’t know what I did before I had them, but, don’t think I could live without them now.

4. My family cookbook. I set about the task years ago of collecting the favorite recipes of my Mom’s and my grandmothers, adding them to my own and making copies for my other close family members. It sure did save a lot of phone calls and digging through tupperware boxes full of clippings searching for them when I needed them.

5. My Pampered Chef garlic mincer. It’s a newer addition to my kitchen and, again, don’t know how I lived without this one!

6. The KitchenAid Artisan mixer with dough hooks. Now that I have a husband that makes bread, this is an even more important kitchen tool. However, I think it’s time we graduated to the next model up in both power and capacity.

7. My walk-in pantry. This one should have been at the top of the list. I don’t know how any avid cook manages without the storage space this pantry provides. My husband did a good thing building this for me. He even finished out the interior in oak to match my kitchen cabinets!

8. My spice rack. It’s oak, has a moon-phase clock built-in and tons of  shelves and drawers for all kinds of spices. The best thing about it is that my husband made it for me as a wedding present. We designed our kitchen to leave a special space just for hanging this spice rack. Yes, it’s that important!

9. My deep-dish Longaberger pie plates. Beautiful, functional and they fit perfectly in my Longaberger pie basket that I take to church dinners.

10. My custom-made oak cabinets. They’re beautiful, they’re roomy and my husband built them for me when we built our new house. I especially love the silverware drawer that fully extends with extra heavy-duty slides and has 8 sections built-in for all kinds of silverware items.

My Funny Little Valentine starring Gregory Pecked February 13, 2009

Gregory Pecked: “Fat Chick, I have a singing Valentine for you!”

Fat Chick: “Bring it on, rooster boy. But if it starts losing its feathers, I’m outta here.”

Gregory Pecked: “Not THAT kind of singing Valentine, silly bird. It’s not one of the Chickendales! I am your singing Valentine!”

Fat Chick: “But Greg, honey, you don’t sing. You don’t even cackle. What’re you going to do, crow me a little tune?”

Gregory Pecked: “Well, I may not be the best crooner in the chicken yard, but, I’m an excellent poet. Would you like to hear?”

Fat Chick: “Sure! Sounds like a safe enough bet.”

Gregory Pecked: “Roses are red, birdseed is yellow, you are my chick and I am your fellow…”

Fat Chick: “Uh…well…hmmmm…is that it? That’s my Valentine?”

Gregory Pecked: “Well, yes my little chickadee, don’t you like it?”

Fat Chick: “Well, I just thought maybe there might be something a little more…substantial coming along. You know like flowers or chocolates or a fancy card or something.”

Gregory Pecked: “But my little egg-drop, I worked on this all week. I have another poem, maybe you’ll like it better! How do I love thee, let me count the ways. I love you for every feather in your head, every chirp upon your lips…”

Fat Chick: “Chickens don’t have lips, birdbrain! Good grief, all I wanted was a little of the traditional chicken worship that’s supposed to happen on Valentine’s Day. Don’t you know me at all? I require chocolate on EVERY holiday. Lots of it. That’s why they call me FAT CHICK! Men!”

Gregory Pecked: “Ha, HAAAAAAAA, ha ha ha. I had you going there didn’t I? Got real flap out of you! Of COURSE I know that! I am, after all, a very well trained bird.”

Fat Chick: “You mean you weren’t serious? There IS more?”

Gregory Pecked: “Yes my little feather pillow. Chocolate and a fancy card, all for you.”

Fat Chick: “Ahhhh, that’s so sweet. And what a surprise! And the best part of it is that on Valentine’s Day no one expects you to share your chocolates!”

Gregory Pecked: “No my sweet. That’s why we call you Fat Chick!”

Fat Chick: “Why, yes it is! Happy Valentine’s Day, Greg. You’re the best!”

Things I Love: In recognition of Valentine’s Day February 12, 2009

I haven’t written in the blog for awhile. There have been lots of other things going on that have taken my time and attention, and I haven’t really felt very creative lately. However, I decided it’s time to make a long list of things I love to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Note that I didn’t say “people I love.” I’m sure all of my family and friends already know how much I love them. No, I thought it might be fun to just share a few of the other things in life that give me pleasure. Here goes:

• Dark chocolate (oh yeah!)
• A fire in the fireplace early in the morning with a cup of coffee
• My Mom’s spaghetti
• Old pictures from my childhood
• Getting a personal, handwritten letter in the mail (that just doesn’t happen anymore)
• Playing board games with my kids
• Old gospel music
• Jane Austen books
• Watching Gone With the Wind by myself (so others don’t make comments and make fun while I watch it)
• Old recipes that remind me of people I love
• The smell of new leather shoes
• Watching my dog sleep (it’s very entertaining)
• Humor that doesn’t require vulgar language
• Puns and analogies
• Video games (especially Zelda)
• Pretty earrings
• Blue sapphires, although I’ve never owned any except the one that represents my daughter Ashley in my mother’s ring
• My husband’s homemade bread
• My mother-in-law’s cherry rhubarb jam (on my husband’s homemade bread)
• Primitive antiques
• Quilts
• Oak
• Going to work and being with the people in my office (most days)
• Public speaking and getting good reviews
• Teaching others
• Anything my husband cooks on the grill. He’s an expert!
• Asparagus
• The colors red, purple, green, blue and fuschia
• I like sunrises better than sunsets
• When my parents tell me they love me
• Old people
• Oral storytelling. I think I get that from my Gramps.
• Patriotic moments
• Random acts of kindness
• Finding forgotten money in your coat pocket
• Getting an unexpected call from an old friend
• Sunday afternoon visits with family
• Watching little people play pretend things
• Feeling proud when my kids have done something really cool
• Watching one of my granddaughters draw pictures of the two of us in sidewalk chalk on my walkway. (It’s still there. I won’t wash it off.)
• Watching my gray hair come in and realizing it’s the same beautiful silver-white as my Granny’s
• Home grown tomatoes and sweet corn
• People who smile a lot and always say good morning
• The German Chocolate cake my Mom always made for my birthday
• Playing the piano for fun
• Waking up in the morning, still being sleepy and realizing it’s Saturday! That’s just the best!
• The smell of coffee brewing. I prefer Dunkin’ Donuts coffee beans.
• Learning new things.
• Making lists.

Well, this list is probably long enough. I can think of a million other things I could write, but, it’s time for supper and remembering certain foods in the list has made me hungry! Want to add a few of your favorites? Comment away!