Closed Doors?

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I understand that this may look like a cold, snowy, nothing day. This is a “closed door” for sure. But wait-I have some words of wisdom for you.

They say that when God closes a door He opens a window. Sometimes though a door closes because it no longer leads to somewhere you should go.”

So, next time it looks like a nothing day, a closed door so to speak, give these suggestions a try:

  1. Call someone
  2. Read a book or magazine you have wanted to look at for a while but not had the time
  3. Bake, Cook, Kitchen Create
  4. Pull it together, dress warm, and go for a walk
  5. If you have a dog, all the better. He is probably dying to go outside
  6. Catch up on Facebook
  7. Write a card or better yet, a real letter, and send it to a friend
  8. Join an on line group but be sure it is free and not tagged
  9. Do a craft-knit, crochet, update recipes, color in your coloring book
  10. Last resort?? Clean your house!

By Request-Apple Pie!

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Yes, apple pie a la Max and Ruby

Max and Ruby are great favorites of my grandson and we love to make Max and Ruby apple pie together. No, there is not really a Max and Ruby apple pie, we just made that up. We also made up this recipe which has most of the usual ingredients, but we always include going out together to our local farmer’s market when we can to pick out the apples. How much more fun is this??

PS When apples are not in season we do the same thing at the grocery store.

Max and Ruby Apple Pie

For pie crusts we use the Pilsbury ones that come in the red package in the freezer section. We roll them out so that it seems like we are making pie crusts, which BTW I do not do anymore.

  1. 1/2 cup regular white sugar
  2. 2 Tablespoons flour
  3. Your taste: cinnamon and or nutmeg
  4. 6 to 8 apples (depending on the size of the apples and the size of your pie pan)
  5. Just a bit (1 or 2 Tablespoons) of butter or marg.
  6. Toss all ingredients gently with your hands-this is part of the fun.

Arrange apple mixture in the bottom crust and place top crust over. Pinch the edges together (this is fun too) and make slits in any design you like on top. We like to cut lightning designs in the top crust!

Bake at 400 degrees for about 50 minutes. Start to watch the crust at about 45 minutes. Pie should be light brown on top and bubbles of yummy apples should be coming up.

Variety is the Spice of Life!

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There are so many different foods that are considered part of the Mediterranean Eating Plan. I know, I know, there are also many foods that we think taste good but we know are not healthy for our bodies. Sometimes it is really tough to know what to do. I have said before that it is recommended to “Eat The Rainbow” which means searching for food that is colorful. Not too hard, right? BTW, did you know that the color of the food also tells you how fresh it is? Look for this especially in fresh veg. Bright greens and reds, yellow bananas, dark rich colored fresh herbs, and so on.

Watch out for fish and shell fish. Be sure not to buy fish that is not responsibly farmed or wild caught. I buy salmon that is farmed in Norway. Yes, it is farmed, but in a cold water natural habitat, not warm water that may be contaminated with sewage. Watch for this especially in Talapia. Frozen fish, like frozen veg. is not bad for you. In fact, it is very healthy. Often vegetables (Birdseye for example) are frozen in the field and many fish are frozen as they are caught to insure freshness.

I know I have said this many times, but Read The Label!

PS-Watch sodium also!!

Why Not Indeed?

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I asked myself one fine day, just exactly why was it that guys couldn’t go into the kitchen and simply Make Something? Bingo-The answer is that they don’t need to. Okay, at least that is the case with my dear and wonderful husband. He told me that it was too hard for him because he was not used to doing it and he would mow the lawn instead if I did the cooking. Wrong answer. Mowing the lawn used to be giving a check to the yard guy, and now that he is retired it means sitting on his rider mower and going around the property.

Meanwhile, my definition has not changed. Food prep, I grant you, is easier now but it is still the same in many ways if you chose to cook farm to table or organic or in my case vegetarian and for some regular guests even pre-diabetic. Still a challenge, right? In the spirit of being a guide rather than a dictator, I have come up with a list of REALLY easy things that anyone can prepare. Don’t say you can’t do it simply because you have never done it either.

  1. Heat some soup-Some canned soups are sooo good. I especially like Progresso, or the soups that come in boxes like Bisque of Tomato or Butternut Squash. but experiment around.
  2. Any kind of a sandwich-Buy ahead for this. Cold cuts, sliced cheese, tomatoes and lettuce a can of tuna, etc, are all you need. If you must, keep it prepped in the fridge so there are no excuses.
  3. Boiled eggs, toast, and fruit-Yes, any time. This is both healthy and high protein.
  4. Three Bean Salad-Open 3 cans of beans (kidney, black, green, garbanzo, and so on) and add a bottled vinegar and oil type dressing.
  5. Any bagged salad-This is totally a no brainer
  6. Any good frozen entree-Also a no brainer. (I like Amy’s or Marie Callendar)

I could go on and on, but I am sure you get the idea. Not just guys, but kids in the kitchen too. Just make a start and see where you go from there. Bon Appetite!

Just For You

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Promise me you will always remember that you are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

Christopher Robin said this to Winnie the pooh and I am saying it to you.

Do a quick self evaluation and see if perhaps you are undervaluing yourself.

Go Somewhere!

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Yes, you! get up and go somewhere. Take the kids, or in my case grand child, out to someplace where actual food is grown and sold. We went to a place called Kitchen’s Farm Market this last Saturday and they were giving out free coloring books. We came home with pears, a pumpkin to carve, and a couple of hours of fun coloring. The best picture went up on the fridge and we had pears and ice cream for dinner. Okay, so I am not perfect but Mmmm boy, it sure was yummy!

PS The apples were great too!

Eat This, Not That

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The lowly potato is highly under rated. I slice potatoes on my mandolin and toss them in a bit of salt and olive oil and make chips in the air fryer. Potatoes quartered are a super addition to a sheet pan dinner. Use both Russet and Sweet potatoes. Mashed potatoes with just a bit of salt and pepper and a small pat of real butter is the perfect match for just about anything.

Baked potatoes are one of the most versatile foods ever. Have one with just a bit of salt and pepper, a pat of butter, 1/2 cup cottage cheese or chili, two tablespoons of LITE sour cream, or broccoli and a bit of grated cheese. I could go on and on, and so could YOU!

FKO (For Kids Only)

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I found this book in a thrift shop and wanted to share not only the title, but the idea. Take your kids to a farmer’s market or just a farm. If that is not possible, share a book about farms, dairies, or anyplace that gives us food.

So many children today do not realize that food comes out of the ground or from a tree or even a cow. They think it all comes from the grocery store, or worse yet, a Fast Food Restaurant!

euwww!

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Now is a really great time to check out closets and any other possible forgotten areas of your home. As heaters are going on, look out for dust, lint, old papers, any sort of leaks, etc. Home safety is a wellness issue!

No Pun Intended (NOT)

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It seems more and more often in these Covid Times one’s life can seem like a “blank slate.” Well, I am personally telling you not to let that happen. Give yourself a break. Try to get out there. Go for a walk. I just got back from our local school grounds which was empty because it is late afternoon, and played fetch with my dog for nearly an hour. I had 4,020 steps on my fitbit and almost 50 active minutes.

I also called an old dear friend that I have not spoken to in almost two weeks. That was a really special art of my day. We both had time to chat and loved it. I also wrote two cards to family members in California. I love to write cards to people and I usually buy them in Thrift Shops, otherwise cards can be more expensive that a gift!

Finally, I masked up and went to the grocery store and purchased the final ingredients for chicken noodle soup that I plan to make tomorrow and deliver to my son and his family. I have also booked a manicure. We can still do that here in beautiful West Virginia so I am going to DO it while I can.

Just stop for a minute to think about what you CAN do rather than dwelling on the things that you can’t do. BTW with masks our church is still open and that is not a bad thing to do either.

PS-Read any good books lately?