Ramblings. . .

Not too long ago, I read an article online about things we know today that will be obsolete in the near future.  I don't remember all of them, but here are a few:  Blockbuster Video Stores, long term power outages, manual transmissions in cars. . . WHAT?  No more stick shift cars???  NO!!!

I was raised by a father that wouldn't have anything but a stick shift car, so therefore, that's how I learned to drive!  In those days, there was significant gas mileage savings with a manual transmission.  That is no longer true, I am told.

Driving an automatic transmission car, in my opinion, is boring.  Just like using cruise control.  I like to feel I am engaged in the driving process.

Over the years, whenever I sold a stick shift transmission car, I found that buyers were especially looking for a stick shirt.

As for the demise of long term power outages, the reasoning behind that is that new technology will allow power to be restored much quicker.  Tell that to blizzard and hurricane victims who are stepping over downed power lines!

A wonderful new salad recipe

Here is a great salad recipe I ran across recently.  It is colorful, has a nice blend of flavors, and is good for you!

1 cup green cabbage, chopped
1 cup red cabbage, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup cucumber, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
olive oil
salt


Combine all the vegetables and mix well.  Pour olive oil over, about 1/4 cup, and season with salt.  Chill to let the flavors blend.

A Christmas Surprise!

A few weeks back, I ordered a shirt jac from an online retailer.  There were many color choices and I had a difficult time deciding on just one.  I went with the red plaid.  When the order arrived, I really liked the jac and planned, at a later time, to order another one.

Fast forward to this Christmas morning!  I opened my present from my son, Michael, who was here for brunch.  I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it!  It was the same shirt jac that I liked so much, only in another plaid, one in which I had considered in the first order!

Like minds think alike!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and may your New Year be bright and happy.

A snowy morning

We got about 6 or 8 inches of snow overnight and it clings to everything!  Late yesterday, the Sheriff asked people to avoid any unnecessary driving due to the conditions.

Thanksgiving in Virginia

I enjoyed visiting for a few days with John and Jen and my grandsons, Kevin, Jake, and Andrew.

The day before Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a hike along the James River in downtown Richmond.  It was a picture perfect day.

Their dog, Bingo, just loves to get attention!

Buttermilk Pancakes

Oh, the impact of social media!  I posted a few minutes ago on Facebook that I am going to make buttermilk pancakes for breakfast this morning and already someone has e-mailed me wanting the recipe!  Here it is and it is out of this world delicious!

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
3 tablespoons melted butter
butter to grease the skillet

Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and butter.  Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Spoon onto hot skillet.  Flip after about 30 seconds.

I use low fat buttermilk.  A purist would use whole buttermilk!

Enjoy!

A great new kitchen tool

Can you guess what this is for?  It is approximately 4 inches square, two layers of smooth stainless steel rings.

It is a cast iron scrubber!  And it works great.  I have quite a few cast iron pans in my kitchen.  It does a fantastic job of quickly removing stuck on food and oil.  And it goes right in the dishwasher. . . unlike my cast iron!

I found it in Cook's World here in Rochester, a quality kitchen store.  I had never heard of it before and wondered if it was worth the hype.  It is!

I run it under the kitchen faucet when I'm done with it, then dry it with paper towels and hang it to dry completely.

What Morgan and Bailey think of the election craziness

Snooze. . .

The Annual Cousins' Reunion is coming soon

Every Spring, my cousins' from my Dad's side of the family, get together on our "ancestral" land in rural Alabama!  My grandparents were farmers decades ago and the land has stayed in the family.  The property has been in the family ever since it was deeded from the government back in the 1800's.  In the 1960's, my dad and his siblings built a dam and a pond was formed from two natural springs on the property.

The reunion is on a Saturday, but a few of us arrive earlier in the week.  My cousin, Kenny, and I are "gun nuts" and we enjoy target shooting before the crowd arrives on Saturday.

We walk the land, some of us like to fish, we enjoy catching up with everyone, and yes, the stories get bigger every year!  We pull out the grills and cook hamburgers and hot dogs and enjoy the dishes to pass.

It's a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, but just as importantly, it is a time to get away from the rat race of everyday life, miles from civilization.

I suppose we are no different from any other family in that we have our share of colorful characters.  There is Aunt Ilene.  She is 94 this year.  When we had our first reunion in 2009, she said, "I'm just glad to get here one more time to the property."

I replied, "Well, I'm coming back next year so you may as well come back too."

"Oh, I'm sure I won't be able to make the trip next year."  She did and has ever since!

Two years ago, she said that would be her last time there.  "I will either be dead or out partying."  I wonder what her line will be this year!

I just have to get through another New York winter and then it will be time to pack up for the trip South!

Delicious Sweet Potato and Swiss Chard Gratin

I could never be a total vegetarian.  But there are so many vegetarian recipes that I love.  This is one of them.  Here it is, just out of the oven.  The top and bottom layers are thinly sliced sweet potatoes.  In between is a delicious layer of swiss chard combined with garlic, shallots, and fresh thyme.  Covered with a sauce of heavy cream, white wine and a topping of parmesan, this one is a real winner!