Eat them as they are or you can dip them in melted butter, garlic oil or chocolate. They are fantastic!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 1/2 c water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
4 cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup baking soda
4 cups hot water
kosher salt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measure out warm water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Add the sugar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the yeast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix it together and set it aside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measure out the flour by spooning it into the cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then scrape the excess flour off to level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dump it into a mixing bowl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the salt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add brown sugar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at the yeast now it should look like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The foamy bubbles means the yeast is alive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and knead until smooth and elastic about 6 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gather your dough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lightly grease a container

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I make a proof box in my microwave by adding boiling water into a cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the dough to the container. I like this one because I can easily see when the dough is doubled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover with a towel and place into your proof box or in a draft free place to rise until double

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dough is now doubled in about an hour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dissolve the baking soda in the water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Divide dough into 12 equal portions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover all but one with a towel and roll it out into a long rope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cross like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Twist like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Fold the ends down and pinch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Dip the pretzel into the baking soda solution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Make sure the whole pretzel is in the solution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. I like to use parchment paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Bake at 450 F for about 8 minutes or until your desired color

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I like mine dark but they are good light. They are yummy dipped in chocolate or garlic butter!

A blog
Paranormal Investigation of the Frederick Army Airfield by Mick Ross

This is my second trip with the paranormal investigation team called the Society of the Haunted. This time the team was called to Frederick OK to look into claims of mysterious shadows and distant voices at an old air force hanger built during WWII. Are the shadows the spirits of pilots and paratroopers haunting the hanger and barracks?

The Frederick Army Airfield Hanger opened in September of 1942 during WWII and was inactivated in October of 1945 when the Army Air Forces were reorganized. The base was declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers in September of 1946. Eventually the base became a civilian airport.

To read the rest of the article click here

http://mickster.tumblr.com/post/13164827830/paranormal-investigation-of-the-frederick-army-airfield

Did you know that 1 cup of cooked squash has 457% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin a? It is also a good source of fiber, potassium, and magnesium.

Butternut squash
4 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons brown sugar
4 cups chicken stock
1 onion
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cut the squash in half

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scoop out the seeds and save to roast

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place halves in a baking sheet flesh side up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place 1 teaspoon butter in the middle of each squash

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkle salt, pepper and brown sugar over each squash

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roast 25 minutes or until flesh is fork-tender

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chop the onions

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melt the butter

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the onions and sautee until light brown

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the squash

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the chicken stock

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simmer

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puree until smooth

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add cream, spices, salt and pepper to taste

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you hungry?

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you are ready toss the seeds with olive oil and roast at 170 degrees for 15-20 min.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toss with salt and pepper and they will be yummy!

Yesterday I went into Kroger to get a roast and forgot to bring my card with me. I have had it since they started doing the Kroger plus cards. I do not even remember the telephone number I had at that time so they cannot look it up when I forget it. I decided to go ahead and just get the roast because I needed to start dinner. On my way out I saw the customer service desk and thought maybe I could get a new card with my correct number. I went over and was going to go to one window when I noticed it was closed so I turned to go to the other window. There was a woman with kids that looked like she was waiting in line. So I waited behind her for a bit until she moved to let me by. I started to go by her and out of the corner of my eye I noticed another woman that looked like she was going go between all of us even though I was moving to the desk. I heard her say Wow. For whatever reason all the hair on my body stood up for a minute as I realized she meant that wow for me like I was being rude. She was going to cut in line but I was being rude. I was so upset by her wow that I made a rash decision to turn around and leave letting her go ahead to the desk. As I turned around to go past her she almost yelled at me well excuse you. OMG! I couldn’t believe it.

I kept going towards the car and thought about putting my roast in the car and then going back to confront her but changed my mind. I would have told her that I was waiting in line for a bit and asked her why she said wow to me for moving forward. I would have told her it bothered me so much that I decided to let her have the turn she thought she deserved. I would have told her how rude it was to speak to me that way. She didn’t know who I was or know anything about me. She didn’t know what kind of a day I had.

First of all let me say that I believe in the golden rule which is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I didn’t go and speak my mind because I was also turning the other cheek. Confronting her could have causesd a horrible scene instead of making her have an aha moment where perhaps she would think before she speaks mean to someone.

Imagine if you will that you go into a restauraunt to eat and the waitress is sloppy, horrible and you just do not have any satisfaction with her. Do you confront her by making sarcastic remarks? Do you get up to go tell the manager? Well, asking the manager for help would be better than muttering ugly things to someone you don’t know, right? Imagine that the waitress is someone who is usually spotless, fast and efficient but this day is different. You wouldn’t know this information because you never met her before. This day she was told her father died whom she never met. It is a sore sot and she came to work because she had no choice but to go in or loose her job. Her emotions are so all over the place that she is even suicidal. Here you are upset with her and not knowing this information. Your bit of sarcasm to her and those unkind words are enough for her to take off her apron and run from the building. It is enough for her to end her life that day. Would you want that responsibility? You being the last straw tha broke the camels back causing her death?

These are things that run through my head that make me be nice to people even when they are mean. How do I know what they have going through their head to make them be mean in that moment? I don’t! So I just let things slide and turn the other cheek and walk away. I would like it if that woman came and read my blog though. Maybe she would know I am not a rude person at all and how offended that I was. Perhaps reading this would be enough for her to bite her tongue in the future?

Proverbs 15:4

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Matthew 12:36-37

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:8

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Proverbs 12:18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Today is my 25th wedding anniversary! We were together for almost 5 years before we got married too. I have spent over a quarter of a century in love with my husband Bill. I have had people ask me how it is possible to spend all of your life with one person. It is easy if you love them! I have had people say they could never do that because they would get bored. How can you get bored with your family? You would never get bored with your son or daughter would you?

I remember seeing my husband for the first time. It was love at first sight. Why? Well I think he was my soul mate and perhaps my soul recognized it at the time. He was working at a restaurant where I happened to be having coffee with my mother and sister. I asked someone who he was and they turned around and went to tell him. I was so smitten that I actually applied for a job just to be near him. It was the first job I ever applied for! We worked different shifts but I knew he was there sometimes. Then one day a few months after I started working my car wouldn’t start and I started bawling. I called into work for the very first time in my life to tell them I was going to be late because I had to try to find a ride. My boss took care of that by telling me he would send someone.

Guess who pulled up to pick me up? Yes it was HIM! OMG was all I could think. I couldn’t even close the door because it wouldn’t pull shut so he had to lean across me to shut it. OMG!!! What did I do?? I talked all the way to work about how other people liked him. He knew it was me I was really talking about. He was shy and I was shy. It was painful to be near him because I was so nervous. I almost could not speak to him.

After that day he started staying at work after his shift ended so we could chat for a bit. Casually one day he asked me to go out on a date. I still remember that moment. I remember every detail of that moment. What I was doing, wearing, how he looked what time it was and on and on. I had on black corduroy pants with a purple heart that I had embroidered with a white blouse. I was rolling silverware by the counter where he was sitting drinking an iced tea. I was engrossed in my task when he asked me if I would go out with him. I know my chin dropped to the floor because he told me that later. It felt like my chin dropped to the floor too …haha. I said yes of course.

The next day he picked me up for lunch and the day after that was our first date. We went out to eat and then he took me to meet his family. We went to see the movie “Class of 1984” where I have no memory of any bit of that movie. My memories are all of sitting near him. At one point I had to go to the bathroom and I am sure it was my nerves. I kept thinking OMG. After the movie he took me home where he kissed me before I got out of the car. I walked backwards towards the house talking with him and fell over the trash that my mother had put out at the curb. I was mortified and laughing to cover it up. After I got up ad dusted myself off I did something I couldn’t help. I blurted out “I love you.” Mortified again I wanted to slap myself for uttering those words. Why did I do that? OMG! Guess what he did? He said it right back to me. I love you too! That was all she wrote for us to spend all of our lives together.

For my husband…..

Today I vowed to love you,
we began a life,
As two hearts entwined,
We become man and wife.

It was always me and you,
Through work and leisure,
Building a family,
We really treasure.

There are so few who are lucky,
To have what we do,
We put family first,
Me and you were the glue.

All this time gone by,
Our children are almost grown,
Can you believe that,
Life has really flown!

Here is to another 25 years,
spending our time together,
Almost back to just you and me,
We really meant forever!

I love you!

Fall produces an abundance of fresh, crisp tart apples. Don’t have a tree in your yard? You can find them at the farmers market and grocery stores sitting there screaming for you to use them in every way you can think. One great way to use them is in an apple pie. Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 large apples or more depending on size (mix up the types)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup cold butter
1 recipe for double crust pie crust
2 teaspoons milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon brown sugar or sanding sugar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select your apples and preheat oven to 350 degrees F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peel the apples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use an apple corer or cut through from the top into 8 parts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then cut out the core with a knife, a spoon or use a melon baller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slice up the apples thin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep slicing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place the apples into a mixing bowl, toss with the lemon and add sugar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add brown sugar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the flour, cinnamon and nutmeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stir to combine

Get out half of the pie crust and shape into a circle on a lightly floured surface

Roll it out and wrap over your rolling pin

Transfer to the pie plate, unroll and trim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layer the apples into the crust with random pats of butter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkle with an additional teaspoon flour and brown sugar then dot with butter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roll out the remaining crust and cut into strips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cross cross the strips to form a lattice, trim and decorate the edge of the crust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix the egg and milk to make a glaze and brush over the top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brush the top crust with milk, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Place into 350 degrees F oven until the crust is golden brown (about 60 minutes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover the edges with aluminum foil or a shield to prevent over browning in the last 30 min

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drizzle caramel sauce over the top and allow to cool completely before serving. This will prevent filling from running all over the place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best served a la mode with additional caramel sauce. Enjoy!

These egg rolls are not rolled but folded into little packages. Especially good when dipped in fresh buttermilk ranch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 oz can black beans
15 oz corn
7 oz chopped spinach (canned is best)
6 oz Monterrey jack cheese
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 fresh jalapenos chopped
1 sm bell pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
salt and pepper to taste
package egg roll wrappers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sautée onions, peppers and jalapenos until translucent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add black beans and corn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add chopped spinach and heat through

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grate the cheese and add to the filling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season with cumin, chili powder and add salt and pepper to taste

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get ready to build the egg rolls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lay one wrap on your board and place a heaping tablespoon in the middle. Moisten the edges with water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of making a traditional roll I think it needs to be made into a package. Fold it up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fold one side over then the other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fry them in a skillet or a deep fryer on one side until brown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flip over to brown the other side and drain on paper towel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make them until all the filling is gone. Whatever you cannot eat now can be frozen and heated in the microwave. It will not be as crisp though

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serve with buttermilk ranch dressing. Please make it yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t they look good! They are really yummy! Check out the ranch dressing recipe here

http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/11/17/buttermilk-ranch-dressing/

You should always make it yourself instead of buying off the shelf. I will not like a restaurant if they do not make the dressing themselves even if the food is good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 cup Buttermilk
1 cup Sour Cream
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dill
1 teaspoon Garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Pepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measure out the mayonnaise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the buttermilk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the sour cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the spices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix it up until combined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a nice consistency. Feel free to change the amounts of everything to suit your taste. Refrigerate for 30 minutes prior to serving. Make this enough and you will not need to remember the amounts of anything 🙂

 

 

7040 N Eldridge Pkwy
Houston, TX 77041

We went through the drive through to try what some call the best burger in Houston. At lunch time this place has a line out of the door. I was excited to try it knowing it is such high demand. When I opened the box this is what I saw. The bun is obviously handmade and just look at all those crinkle cut fries.

 

 

 

 

Guess that we paid???? A combo meal for $5.67 and then you build your own burger just like you can at a higher priced place like fuddruckers! So we went around the building, went inside and got all the extras we wanted including cheese on those fries.

 

The meat was seasoned just fine, the flavor was good but it was dry. The star of this meal was that homemade bun which added flavor and appeal for me. The crinkle cut fries were also seasoned well. The burger was really good especially for that price!

If I did a comparison between all of the burgers I would not put this on the top of the list however. The meat was overcooked where the juices were not running down my arm. I really need that magic to happen for me to put it towards the top. For the price however, you cannot beat it! This is one place I can go back to again and again!

Eaten for thousands of years, split pea soup has really been around since 500 BC! Can you imagine stopping by a vendor and grabbing a bowl in the Roman market? Not only is this a very inexpensive meal but this soup is also very healthy for you! It happens to be a member of the legume family and is one of the worlds healthiest foods. Split peas are high in protein, fiber, molybdenum, tryptophan, manganese, folate, thiamine, potassium and phosphorus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 oz dried split peas
2 1/2 quarts cold water
ham hock or bone
1 lg onion
2 stalks celery
3 carrots
4 potatoes
bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are going to make something really good with these little split peas. If you can remember please cover the peas with 2 quarts of cold water and let them soak overnight.  Alas, I usually don’t remember myself, so I do what I call the fast method

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a large stock pot add the water then add the peas and bring to a simmer for 2 minutes. Then turn off the heat and soak for l hour. You could use stock instead of water for more flavor

Add your ham hock or bone to the pot, turn the heat back on and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Stir on occasion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile…. peel an onion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dice the onion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wash the veggies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peel the carrots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dice the carrots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dice the celery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peel the potatoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dice the potatoes but be careful you don’t dice them too small or they will disappear in the soup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sautée the carrots, onions and celery in butter until they are translucent. Guess what you just made…… a mirepoix… yay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the mirepoix, potatoes, bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste. Cook for an additional 40 min or until veggies are tender. Stir on occasion. Skim any foam off the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove bay leaf and the bone. The meat is great addition so dice it up and return it back to the soup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to eat and very good for you!