Cooking with Philosophy Part 4 End

About the Author

2011-06-05T20:38:00.001-05:00

This is my last page of "Cooking with Philosophy" Parts 1 through 4.

My decision to write a book began in second grade and put on the bookshelf as I lived a life. My teacher, Mrs. Naramoore at Black Elementary School said "You have it in you to be a writer".
In 1977, my diary was born, being a single parent of three girls, there was never a shortage of stories to write and I vowed to never write a harsh word towards anyone and I never did.
Cooking is something I love to do and I do it well. I collected name brand pamphlets beginning in the 1970s until the Internet took over. Oddly but true, my Aunt Minnie passed away and left me her collection of pamphlets that ended where I started, without any idea she collected them too so now I have first editions
i.e. Karo Syrup, Jello, etc.
Also, this book is on my bucket list. I suppose racing in the Iditorods is not possible or meeting Michael Jackson.
My book is uploading to Kindle soon and you can purchase it in parts.
Thanks to Twitter. Com for support and inspiration and the bonds we have formed

"My Mom cooked everything"...my four children

1-600051831. copyright

The cover" The First Thanksgiving"

Mom's Five Cup Salad

2011-06-05T18:54:00.000-05:00

April

1 c. canned Mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. crushed pineapple
1 c. sour cream
1 c. coconut
1 c. miniature marshmallows

Combine and mix well. Chill before serving.

There is a secret to this delightful recipe. Mom instructed me not to add those extra few oranges or marshmallows just because you have some extra. It throws the balance of taste off. She was right.
She holds the record for the best Potato Salad for a get together and this is right behind it.
For your next event requiring a dish, try this! A little goes a long way and the presentation is beautiful.

Thanks Mom for teaching me to enjoy Lawrence Welk. I still watch him.

What A Crock!

2011-06-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

April

1 can mushrooms,chopped
1 c. celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 c. oleo
1 1/2 t. poultry seasoning
salt / pepper
2 c. chicken broth
1 16oz. box cornbread stuffing mix

In a skillet, saute mushrooms, mushrooms and onion in oleo until tender. Ass to stuffing mix in a large bowl. Add seasonings and broth, toss to mix. Pack tightly into a crock pot. Cover, cook on high one hour. Turn to low and cook thirty minutes.

This recipe is made on every holiday in my realm.

If children didn't ask questions, they would never know what grown ups know.

Hush Puppies

2011-06-05T13:06:00.000-05:00

April

Saucer Magnolia aka: Tulip Tree, this is right out from Devins bedroom window

1 c. yellow cornmeal

1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. onion, chopped
dash garlic powder
oil for deep frying

In a medium bowl, sift together cornmeal, flour, baking powder and seasonings. Mix well. Add the egg, milk, and onion, stir until just moistened. Heat oil. Drop batter by yablespoons into oil. Fry 2 1/2 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serves 5.

Some kids are like ketchup bottles. You have to slap their bottoms a few times to get them moving.

Baked Lemon Pudding

2011-06-05T11:36:00.001-05:00

April

3 T. shortening
1 1/8 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. milk
3 T. flour
3 eggs. separated
juice of 2 lemons

Cream shortening and sugar. Add yolks and lemon juice, mix well. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Set casserole dish in an oven proof pan full of hot water. Bake 45 minutes at 350* Make a meringue if desired with the egg whites.

My eldest daughter Jody, loves this because it's pie without the shell.

A babysitter is a teenager you hire to let you stay up and play.

Cookie Crust

2011-06-05T01:15:00.000-05:00

April 30, 1989

1 c. vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
3 T, sugar
1 t. orange zest
1/4 c. soft oleo

Combine and press into an 8" pie tin. Bake 7 minutes at 350*. Cool before filling.

An alarm clock is a device used for waking people up who don't have children.

Beef Brisket With Mushrooms

2011-06-05T00:15:00.000-05:00

April

4lb. boneless beef brisket
1 onion, sliced
salt / pepper
2 T. flour blended with 1/4 c. cold water
1/4lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 T. oleo

Brown beef in its own fat in skillet. Add onion and seasonings. Cover and cook over low heat 1 hour. Skim fat from pan. Slice meat and return meat to pan liquid and simmer 2 hours. Stir flour water into pan liquid,cook until thickened. saute mushrooms in oleo, stir into gravy.

Among those things which are so simple that even a child can operate them are"parents".

Roasted Chicken

2011-06-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

April

3lb. roasting chicken
1/2 lemon
2 T. oleo
1/2 t. thyme
1 3/4 c. water, divided
8 small new potatoes
2 T. flour
1/2 c. milk
1/2 t. poultry seasoning
celery tops from 1 bunch celery
1/2 t. paprika

Rub entire chicken with lemon. Stuff cavity with celery tops, then truss. In a dutch oven, brown oleo. Add chicken and brown well. Do not pierce skin!. Season. Add 3/4 c. of the water, potatoes cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove chicken and carve. Discard celery and skim fat from pan. Blend in flour and gradually stir in remaining water and milk. Cook until thickened and smooth Simmer 2 minutes. Serves 6.

This recipe is dated pre 1930, but beats any roast chicken method by far. Serve stuffed celery and lots of any fresh garden veggies.

The best gift a man can give his children is to love their Mother.

Brunch Cakes

2011-06-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

April 27, 1990

2 c. baking/biscuit mix

1 T. sugar

1/2 c. milk

2/3 c. banana yogurt

'2 eggs

In a medium bowl, beat ingredients by hand or mixer until well blended. Batter will be thick. Lightly grease a skillet and heat. pour about 1/4 c. batter onto skillet and cook until edges are dry. Flip and cook until done. Makes 10 cakes.

My babysitter taped the wrong show so I am watching a show called "Twin Peaks." Oh well

An excerpt from my diary, 1977, April

I fixed this recipe and my littlest baby says "What kind of ketchup is this?" because I served her blueberry syrup..I love it, lol
We are singing to Tommy James and the Shondells "Crystal Blue Persuasion"

Frozen Chocolate Pie

2011-06-04T18:01:00.001-05:00

April 15, 1996...Caution: Contains raw eggs

1 9" cooked pie shell
1 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. oleo, softened
6 sqs. semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 t. vanilla
4 eggs
frozen whipped topping

In a small mixing bowl, blend powdered sugar and oleo on slow speed until fluffy. Blend in chocolate and vanilla. On high speed, beat eggs in, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour into pie shell.
Cover and freeze overnight. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving. Pile on topping.

My daughter Debbie loves chocolate pie. We all have a comfort food and this is hers. Personally, I do not care for raw eggs and if the pie is not eaten, I discard it, but I do enjoy trying various recipes for her and she is still alive.:)
Our garden is entirely planted

Vegetable Beef Dinner Dumplings

2011-06-04T14:03:00.000-05:00

April

1 1/2lb. ground beef
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 can condensed vegetable soup
1 large potato, diced
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. celery, sliced
salt / pepper
2 c. baking/biscuit mix
2/3 c. milk

Brown beef and onion in a dutch oven. Drain. Stir in water and vegetables and soup. season to taste. Heat to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Stir biscuit mix with milk to form a soft dough. Drop by spoonfuls onto meat mixture. Cook, uncovered over lo heat 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes.
Serves 5

People have seasons too, I think. There is something steadfast about people who withstand the chilling winds of trouble, the storms that assail the heart and have the endurance and character for an April time.
Gladys Tabor

Herb and Wine Marinade

2011-06-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

April 2, 1989

1 c. BBQ sauce
2 T. red wine
1 T. garlic powder
1/2 t. each: basil, oregano and lemon pepper

Combine, mix well and pour over your choice of meat. Cover and marinate over night. Drain, reserving liquid. Cook meat, brushing on sauce. Makes 1 cup.

I have used this on chicken and ham, very easy and good.

Since I prepared this, ham now has code dates. Ham will stay fresh 7 to 10 days after purchase. Wrap opened ham in plastic wrap, not foil to prevent discoloration. Avoid frying ham as color and flavor is reduced. Only store frozen ham up to 2 months. Not long ago due to my own ignorance, I let a nice bone-in ham spoil because I lacked knowledge on how to use it.

Barbecued Onions

2011-06-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

April 20, 1990

1 medium onion, sliced
2 T. oil
3.4 c. BBQ sauce
3 T. vinegar
splash lemon juice

Saute onion in hot oil until just tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Great on burgers!.

This is easy to fix at the campsite, like today on a hot Sunday.Got home in time to watch "Life Goes On."

An excerpt from my diary, Sunday April 2, 1978 RIVERFEST

We just had the best day ever! Wichita River Festival was so fun. We participated in Easter Seals, ate from the world's largest Pizza, put money in the world's largest piggy bank, danced in the middle of street, ate a new health food called frozen yogurt, and sat on the curb and had our dinner.

Baked Bass

2011-06-04T01:29:00.000-05:00

April

6 T. oil
1 clove garlic
1 3lb. bass, with head
1 lemon, sliced
1/4 c. lemon juice
salt / pepper

In a 13" x 9" x 2" pan, add oil and place garlic in the middle. Heat in oven at 375* for 5 minutes, discard garlic. Leave head on bass until done. Turn bass in oil to coat. Place lemon in cavity. Sprinkle with lemon juice and salt and pepper. Bake 45 minutes or until flaky. Discard head.

My bass was caught in Mulvane, ks.3lb.! And cooked on a portable stove

A good architect can improve and old house by simply discussing the the price of a new one.

Nannas At Gramma's

2011-06-04T00:03:00.000-05:00

April 27, 1994

4 sqs. semi sweet baking chocolate
2 T. milk
1 t. oleo
1 store bought graham cracker crust, or any flavor
1 large banana, sliced'2 C. milk
2 mall boxes pudding/pie mix, instant, any flavor, but I used vanilla
1 tub whipped topping

Melt chocolate, milk and oleo over lo heat until melted. Pour into crust and chill 1 hour. Pour milk into a large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Whip 1 minute and let stand 1 minute. Stir in half the tub of whipped topping. Serve.

My two toddlers here knew I had only 1 banana and I told them after dinner we would eat it and this was a big hit.
When Trai went home he wanted to come back and have "Nannas at Grammas."

Barney is on so I can balance my entire checking account.

About Jicama:

Cut a jicama in half from top to bottom on a cutting board. Place cut side down and cut off brown skin.

Butterscotch Cookies

2011-06-03T16:17:00.000-05:00

April

1/2 c. oleo, softened
1 c. light brown sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. orange peel, optional

Cream oleo and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients. On waxed paper, form dough into a log. Chill 2 hours. Slice and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in a 350*. oven for 8 minutes.
Makes 3 dozen.

If you really want to save money here's a good popcorn tip. Buy bulk kernels. Heat 3 T. oil in a heavy pan with a domed lid. Heat oil until a kernel pops. Pour 1/3 cup popcorn or enough the pan one kernel deep. Shake until popping stops. Pour in a bowl and season. Do not use crock spread as they have to much water content. Use only oleo or butter.

Carmel Corn

2011-06-03T15:01:00.000-05:00

April

1 c. oleo
2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. corn syrup
1 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. vanilla
6 qts. popped corn

Combine oleo, corn syrup, salt, vanilla and brown sugar in a 2 qt. saucepan.\boil 1 minute. Add soda. Pour over popped corn. Place in a greased pan and bake 1 hour at 250*, stirring every 15 minutes.

This recipe came in my electric bill way over 20 years ago and is still the best to date that I make yearly.

German Cookies

2011-06-03T13:34:00.001-05:00

April

1 c. soft oleo
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 T. white corn syrup
1 T. baking soda
1 egg
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1 1/2 t. nutmeg
1 1/2 t. cloves
1 1/2 t. orange peel

Mix in order. Dough will be stiff. Roll out and cut. Bake 10 minutes at 350*. Do not add more cookies on cookie sheet while it's still hot. Cool before decorating.

This is my grandson's favorite cookie. Jason Marshall is going to Hollywood. He's going to be a movie star.
I love my little guy.

Nifty Cheese Appetizers

2011-06-03T11:35:00.001-05:00

April 5, 1996

4 clean empty soup cans
1 pkg. quick nut bread mix -small box
1 c. water
1 egg

Topping:..Mix together well
2 3oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 t. onion, minced
1/4 t. mustard
dash garlic powder
8oz. pkg. cooked ham
8 stuffed green olives, sliced

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease and flour bottom of soup cans. Prepare bread mix as directed on box. Spoon batter evenly into cans. Bake 35 minutes at until toothpick clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen edges and remove from cans. Slice each loaf into 8 rounds. Spread on topping. Makes 32

An excerpt from my diary April 7, 1978

Your half brother BJ, is here to play and interact with his older half sisters. So far so good. He is so adorable.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

2011-06-03T10:10:00.001-05:00

April 21, 1983

6 large green bell peppers
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 c. cooked rice
1 15oz. can seasoned tomato sauce
1 1/2 t. seasoned salt
3/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. ground oregano

Cut around stem of peppers and remove pith from inside. Boil 10 minutes. In a large skillet, brown beef and onion until red is gone. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 10 minutes. Divide the meat between the 6 peppers. Arrange in a 7" x 11" glass dish to standing up. Bake 40 minutes at 350*.

This is easy and good. My kids eat green peppers before I get a chance to cook with them.

Today my daughter Debbie won the $500.00 jackpot at Bingo. She had to split with someone, bless her heart. She insisted on someone taking her shopping without me and bought me a food processor. I wore it out over the years. I learned real quick to take the last few slices of bread or buy day old to make bread crumbs. Same with corn flakes!

Orange Coconut Pie

2011-06-03T00:29:00.000-05:00

April 30, 1989

1 small box coconut pudding and pie mix
2.c. milk
1/2 t. grated orange rind
1 envelope whipped topping mix
1/2 c. milk
2 T. sugar
2 T. orange juice
1 t. orange peel
1 graham cracker crust

Combine pudding mix with 1/2 c. of the milk in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and add the orange peel. Blend. Cool 5 minutes and pour into crust. Chill 4 hours.
Combine whipped topping mix. 1/2 c. milk, sugar, orange juice and and 1 t. orange peel. Whip until fluffy. Top on pie.

I'm trying not to choke as I eat this while watching Roseanne on tv.

An excerpt from my diary: April 17, 1978 Monday

It's 9:30 a.m. and the house is cleaned before I head out to work. Our garden is nicely getting full of pumpkins, carrots, watermelon, turnips and bell peppers, if Nancy will quit walking on them.

Chicken Broccoli Divan

2011-06-02T19:44:00.000-05:00

April 7, 1994

1 pkg. frozen broccoli spears, cooked and drained
1 1/2 c. cooked cubed chicken
1 can cream of broccoli soup
1/3 c. milk
1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 T. oleo, melted
2 T. dry bread crumbs

Combine oleo and bread crumbs. Set aside. Place chicken in a greased 10" x 6" casserole dish. Place broccoli on top of chicken. Combine soup and milk and pour over broccoli. Sprinkle on cheese then bread crumbs. Bake 20 minutes at 375*.

Danny, my nephew, stopped in to visit on his way to coaching basketball and we chowed down on this. He loves it!. It's a glorious sunshiny evening at 61* and Jody is washing her car. I am watching "Full House".
I don't understand humor in lippy kids.

An excerpt from my diary April 18, 1978 2:30 p. m.
Today there was a school luncheon and I received a volunteer award. I brought deviled eggs and Debbie kept sneaking them out. Nancy calls everyone her new word "bull-headed. There are soap bubble spot on my clean clothes on the clothesline. It is time for Joyland!

Snack Mix

2011-06-02T18:22:00.000-05:00

April

6 c. popped corn
1 small bag corn chips
2 c, pretzels
1 can chow mien noodles
1 c. roasted peanuts
1 stick oleo
1 1/2 c. cheese curls
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed

In saucepan melt oleo and garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over combined ingredients and toss well. Bake 1 hour at 250*. Makes 3 quarts.

An excerpt from my diary, April 17, 1983
Not much going on and we all have sore throats and snow is predicted. The store next door wants to pay my girls 2.00 a day to pick trash up from the parking lot. I said no because it's well, germy

Tomato Bouillon

2011-06-02T16:27:00.000-05:00

April

1 can beef broth

1 16oz. can tomato juice

1 T. lemon juice

1/4 t. ground sea salt

Heat in saucepan and simmer 3 minutes. Serves 6

Ready to sip on, but this is a secret ingredient to chili or soups I rarely share, until now

An excerpt from my diary, April 9, 1977
It's nice, so we went outside so you could play and first thing the neighbors dog was ran over and it was so sad and so bloody. After we calmed down, Nancy's balloon popped and she cried loudly because she thought it was going to bleed. Debbie tried to take the garbage out and it spilled right in the middle of the living room. Jody is counting to five, over and over and over, making me listen.

Mackerel Patties

2011-06-02T12:17:00.001-05:00

April

1 15oz. can mackerel, drained, flaked
1/2 c. celery, diced
3 T. onion, minced
3 T. oleo
3 T. dry parsley
1 egg
1/2 t. horseradish
salt/pepper

Mix fish, bread crumbs, veggies, egg, horseradish and seasonings. Shape into 5 patties, Fry on each side in oleo for 4 minutes or until golden brown.

If you are living on air or food pantries and health matters most, this is very healthy and that old bread and that single egg can make this meal. I don't fix it a lot but I have been in those shoes.

An excerpt from my diary April 23, 1978

I'm trying to teach you the song "Point of no Return" by Kansas as we walk to Mayberry Park to fly kites.
All went well until a stray dog ran across our lines, jumping at the kite tails. He just wanted petted and you girls did that well, then he just walked away. You see, there are enjoyable yet fleeting moments in ones life that happen for a second but the sweet memory lasts a lifetime. When you feel down, take yourselves back to those seconds in your own lives..Mother