OVER HEARD ON THE DECK.

Smile pretty for the camera, Izzy.

Katrinka--What’s with this new look? Are you on a different look per month plan at the groomers? You look like a little lamb with all your fur sheared off. I didn’t know you had such skinny legs; I guess you had more fur than leg before your shearing. I am not being mean. I just think one should have “a look” and stick with it. I have had this classic, timeless black look for over 12 years. I am elegant and beautiful in my simple basic black. There are no changes I could make that would make me more gorgeous. I just think you need to consider what your look is and stick to it. And what’s with the purple skin? Mine is white.

Izzy---Your basic black sheds all over the place. I don’t shed and people don’t sneeze when I am around. My legs aren’t skinny; they are stylishly chic not stubby and sturdy like yours. We are as different as can be. Black vs. white, little vs. big, curly vs. straight, scary vs. cuddly, long legs vs. short, floppy ears vs. radar ears, big teeth vs. tiny. We are like night and day. I was born with this purple skin, so what? I just am glad Mom loves us both and that we love each other.

Katrinka—ya, ya even though you are purple, you're right Izzy. Having you around helps me forget my old hips hurt.  Can’t wait to see what you look like next month.

TOO LAZY TO MAKE POLISH PICKLE ROLL'EM UPS FOR TERRY

The Michigan Cottage Cook post for April 23, 2010 was TOO LAZY TO MAKE HAM ROLL UPS.  It has become a family favorite.  Last night I was at a Daughter-In-Law party where she served the Too Lazy To Make Ham Roll Ups cheese ball.  We were talking about her brother who loves to make Polish Pickle Roll Ups.   We decided that he could just add chopped dill pickles and chipped dried beef, chopped, to this recipe and have Too Lazy To Make Polish Pickle Roll 'Em Ups.  I said I must post that idea.  Thank you Daughter-In-Law!!

12 oz. light cream cheese, softened
½ -1 T Hidden Valley Ranch Party Dip Mix, dry (I use 1 ½ t)
2 to 3 green onion with the green part, chopped (I use more)
1 c ham, chopped
Chopped dill pickle to taste
Chopped chipped dried beef to taste
Cheddar cheese, shredded, optional

PLUS

In a medium sized bowl, mix softened cream cheese with dry dip mix. Gently fold in the green onions and ham. Roll into a ball and cover with shredded Cheddar cheese or put a layer of Cheddar cheese in the bottom of a small bowl. Then put in the cream cheese mixture and cover with more cheese.

ADD

Enjoy!!! 

WHERE HAS MY GET UP AND GO GONE?

Do all Grandmas get tired or am I an anomaly? We just returned from a fabulous, fantastic, fun weekend in Chicago with Oldest Son’s family. Weekend included a softball tournament, a parade and a celebratory dinner for Michelle’s new promotion.  Now I just want to sit on the couch and stare into space.

The softball tournament was 75 miles away through lots of road construction with 45 mile an hour speed limits. Of course, the games started early in the morning! What a joy to see so many young girls playing sports. Our Grand-daughter is an outstanding pitcher and great all round player. Our Son is the coach, difficult with his schedule but he makes it happen. We were able to see three of the games which meant early morning wake- up calls.

Go Hurricanes!

Other Grand-daughter is in a flag corp and marched in Elk Grove’s Annual Hometown Parade. We had to be there early to deliver her and then the parade started late. After the first part of the parade started, it stopped for over a half hour. Finally it got going. The Chicago Blackhawks were in the parade with the Stanley Cup. It was great to see the Cup even though it belongs in Detroit!! Go Red Wings. The flags were almost at the end of the parade but to see our beautiful Grand-daughter performing was well worth the wait!!!!

Waiting for the parade gave us plenty of time to watch airplanes take off.

Stanley Cup.

Tommy Hawk--Go Red Wings!

The Flag Corp.

Grandpa's taking my picture.  Big brown eyes are closed but can't hide those dimples.

With all the activities it is a good thing we travel prepared. My heart would have a red convertible to run around in as the car my Dad bought my Mom when I was sixteen and driving was a red Ford convertible. Mom hated it. Dad and I loved it. However I will give you a tour of what we need to carry in our car for every day life. First there is a full sized dog bed for Katrinka. She is elderly and sitting on a seat for any length of time is uncomfortable for her. There is also a small dog bed for Izzy. There is a booster seat for youngest Grandson so he can be picked up at a moment’s notice and be driven around legally. Chairs in bags are essential for parades and ball games in parks without bleachers. Bleacher seats with backs help old grand parents sit on for longer periods of time without pain. Our yoga mats and yoga bag take up another section of the back area. A cooler is necessary for water bottles and unexpected purchases. Umbrellas are needed as we seem to be rain makers when it comes to grandchildren performing. I am sure there is more but I am too tired to go out to the van and check. However, I think you can “see” why we drive a red van rather than a red convertible.

I picked up two wonderful ideas for good food at the Celebratory Dinner at Cooper’s Hawk restaurant. Hopefully I can get them developed and posted soon for you. One is their Drunken Shrimp. I did get one before Tom eat all the ones we were suppose to have been sharing. The other is a flavored butter I have come up with to duplicate their wonderful Cowboy Steak.

We arrived home just in time to go to Grandson's baseball game coached by Youngest Son.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

My paternal Grandfather on the left with the mustache.  His father in the center with my Great Grandma.  This is a picture of Grandpa and his family.  He had three sisters and three brothers.  The little sister on the right could be a twin to one of my grand daughters.  They look as much a like as two girls born a century apart could look.  The picture was taken in the Netherlands.

My paternal Great Grandpa, my paternal Grandma's father.  Picture taken in the Netherlands.  It is my understanding that he died when my Grandma was young.

My maternal Great Grandpa seated on the left with his son, my maternal Grandpa next to him.  Mom is the little girl sitting at the bottom of the page.

My matenal Grandpa on the South Pier with his Tootsie.  He did not call me by my name until I was a teenager.  He was patient with his grand children, not so much his daughters.

The World's Greatest Father, my Dad!

He has gone to his glory so the title now goes to my favorite son-in-law, my oldest son and youngest son.

Oldest son.

Youngest son.

All three of them work at least 10 hour days, six to seven days a week but they find the time to be there for their children.  They cook, coach, clean, whatever their children need somehow they find the time to fulfill those needs.

FATHER'S DAY WINGS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY INCLUDING THE KIDS.

TERIYAKI CHICKEN WINGS

Imagine these wings cut into three pieces before marinating with the tips saved to make Build a Better Broth in the crockpot.  Tom likes to chew on the wing tips so he left the wings whole the way he likes them.

 On May 12th Michigan Cottage Cook featured Teriyaki Chicken which is wonderful.  The inspiration for that recipe was Teriyaki Wings which is the family's favorite appetizer.  Buffalo Wings are great for Grandpa and Dad but most kids do no like anything that hot.  Our grandchildren certainly don't.  Teriyaki Wings are loved by all.  Grandpa and Dad can dip theirs in hot sauce if they want them hot.  Make plenty of these wings as people don't want to stop eating them

Chicken wings, cut into three pieces (reserve the tips for Michigan Cottage Cook Build a Better Broth)
Kikkomann Teriyaki Sauce, original or the new one with spices floating on top

Ingredients-Tom used the fancy varity of Kikkomann Teriyaki Sauce with the spices floating on top.

Place wing pieces in a plastic bag.  Cover with teriyaki sauce and marinate overnight or at least a few hours.  Remove from marinade and place on a medium fire on the grate of a grill.  Cook with cover on the grill.  Cook 5 minutes, turn to other side and cook 5 minutes.  Turn wing pieces over and cook 10 minutes.  Cook the other side of wing pieces another 10 minutes.  Internal temperature should be  a 160° F. 

Marinate wings overnight if possible in the Teriyaki Sauce.

Tom used a medium fire in his Weber Grill.

Cook wings for 5 minutes and turn over.

Cook wings in covered grill.  Cook second side 5 minutes and turn to other side.  Cook 10 minutes and turn to other side.  Cook additional 10 minutes or until internal temperature of 160° F.

Ready to eat!  Enjoy!!  This is just enough for the two of us.

For those who like their wings hot, supply dipping sauces.

DAUGHTER'S METHOD OF FREEZING BASIL

This is my herb garden.  I use to have a magnificent garden. It was started by my Dad in the 1940’s. I continued it when I moved here in 1980. It was the first thing everyone wanted to see. It was located in a bowl of the dune. It was enchanted with hostas over four feet tall, heirloom plants and bulbs, poppies from seeds gathered in our travels, and every flower that will grow in our climate. Then came urban deer. The City did nothing for five years as the herd grew. In three years my garden was completely destroyed. Gone. What they didn’t eat, they trampled. Now instead of flowers we have deer ticks and deer droppings. So if you are in Grand Haven, watch carefully for ticks as deer ticks carry Lyme Disease.

My deck pot of basil, four different kinds.

Now I garden on my deck and hope they don’t come up on the deck as they have on other people’s decks. My basil was getting tall and needed to be cut back so it doesn’t go to seed. June is galloping along at sonic speeds and like a good squirrel; I must start to think of the coming, dare I write it, winter. This is a wonderful way to preserve the freshness of basil for winter soups, pasta and sauces.

DAUGHTER’S METHOD FOR FREEZING BASIL
Chop basil in the food processor with enough olive oil so that all the basil gets coated with oil. This keeps it from turning dark in the freezer. Freeze in ice cube trays or small freezer bags.

Topping off Ruffles basil.

I like to use all the varieties together.

Put basil leaves into food processor with metal blade and drizzle on some olive oil.

Process.

Pack into ice cube trays or into freezer bags.  I like to put it into a freezer bag and flatten it so it is easy to break off a frozen piece when I need it.  My Daughter likes to freeze it in ice cube trays.

TART CHERRY BRAN MUFFINS LIKE CHERRY POINT MARKET’S

TART CHERRY BRAN MUFFINS
Located in Shelby, Michigan in the heart of the fruit growing area is Cherry Point Market.  The Market is known for their baked goods using cherries and blueberries plus their home baked bread. In July the farm on which the market is located has a huge Labyrinth formed by living lavender plants in full bloom. The Market also serves traditional Scandinavian fish boils. If you are in the area the market/farm is worth visiting. http://www.cherrypointmarket.net/

Ready to eat.  See how easily the cupcake liner comes off when it is sprayed with cooking spray?

I buy their tart cherry bran muffins when they bring them to the Muskegon Farmer’s Market. I dearly love them but they are expensive so I decided I needed to make up my own recipe. I added the orange peel and cinnamon as they are not in the Market’s muffins. The orange peel is optional but I think the cinnamon is not.

1 ¼ c flour
½ c sugar
¼ t salt
3 t baking powder
½ t cinnamon
1 ½ c all-bran cereal
1 ¼ c skim milk
2 eggs
¼ c vegetable oil
2 c frozen tart cherries, pitted
1 T flour
1 t grated orange peel, optional

Ingredients.

Put the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl and mix well; set aside. Put cereal and milk into a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Let stand 2 minutes or until cereal is softened. Add eggs and oil to milk/cereal mixture; beat well. Put 1-tablespoon flour and cherries and stir to mix. Add cherries and orange peel, if desired, to cereal mixture and mix well. Add dry ingredients to cereal mixture, stirring only until combined. Put batter into 12 greased 2 1/2-inch muffin pan cups. Bake at 400° F. about 22 minutes or until lightly browned and top springs back when lightly touched.

Mix milk and cereal together.

Mix 1-tablespoon flour with cherries.

Mix dry ingredients together.

Grate 1-teaspoon orange rind.

Mix eggs and oil into cereal/milk mixture.

Mix cherries and orange rind into cereal/milk mixture.

Add dry ingredients to cherry/cereal mixture.  Stir just to combine.  Do not over mix.

Spray inside of cupcake liners for easy removal of the muffin.

Scoop muffin batter into cupcake pans.

Ready to bake in preheated 400° F oven for 22 to 25 minutes.