Nat’l Homemade Cookie Day

October 1st celebrates HOMEMADE cookies. Hailing from Texas, I naturally looked for what is considered the true TEXAS cookie. Cranberry Pecan Cookie Ranger Cookie Texas Sheet Cake Cookie Texas Cowboy Cookies Cranberry Pecan Cookie The Cranberry Pecan Cookie was selected as the Reader’s Digest favorite best TEXAS cookie. While this cookie contains pecans, which are certainly a Texas staple, the cranberries seemed an odd Texas choice. As cranberries are grown in Northern states: Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington – just to name a few – these cookies don’t seem to easily trace their roots to Texas. They sure sound mighty tasty, though. Recipe link below: Recipe – Supplied by Louise Hawkins, Lubbock, TX. Ranger Cookie Then … Read more

Cooking Tools 101

Are most of your culinary adventures ‘cooking chaos’? Your car mechanic or plumber or fix-it person wouldn’t work without tools, would they? Why should a cook — even a beginner, perhaps, especially a beginner — work without handy kitchen gadgets? But which kitchen tools are a necessity? Let’s start with inexpensive additions. Was one of your New Years’ Resolution to STOP throwing away expendable cash on extras? Worthy, but who wants to give up those treats altogether. 1st step – limit perishable extras. Say, coffee house muffin treats. I didn’t say limit the coffee craving – don’t panic. Focus on the extras. Those high-priced, calorie-laden bakery temptations. Ready to tackle a do-able kitchen experience? Start … Read more

Not the same old start!

New Year’s Resolutions: Start as you plan to go on. Is this your path for the new year? Dusty . . . winding . . . uncertain??? Or, are you ready to build bridges that lead to new horizons? Folks come in all shapes & sizes . . . so do New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve read any number of blogs & posts over the past several weeks regarding personal New Year’s Resolutions. Lots of folks put their goals into cyber space – maybe as a way to make themselves accountable – but few follow-up at the end of the year as to what they’ve accomplished. Why? Good question. Why do New Year’s resolutions fail? Not … Read more

Southern Humor – Friday Funnies

Jeanne Robertson’s ‘The day I sent my husband to the grocery store!‘ If you need a laugh . . . and who doesn’t? Take seven minutes out of your schedule and watch this YouTube. Not only will you smile — you’ll laugh out loud. Whether you have a husband, a significant other, or a roommate, you will relate to Jeanne Robertson’s husband’s LITERAL translation of her grocery list. Being raised in Texas, which we consider part of the South, I can relate to Jeanne Robertson’s accent and sense of humor. You do need to wait for the punchline when dealing with Southern humor and certainly Southern women. We don’t get in a hurry to reach … Read more

Universal Truths from CHILDHOOD to ADULTHOOD to OLD AGE!

As I’ve aged, I learned several universal truths. I ran across a few of these in past emails and wanted to share the wisdom. Enjoy! Childhood wisdom . . . trial and error. Sometimes, the smartest in the room are the youngest. Families . . . are like fudge . . . Then there is adulting when you’d rather be relaxing on a beach with a drink & umbrella. And finally, with age comes WISDOM . . . or does it? Age is only ONE moment in time! From the youngest to the oldest, it’s often the simple pleasures that measure our success. Final thoughts . . . too important to be left out: Dog … Read more

Summer Memories

Special shout-out to my writing friend, Marsha R. West. She put on my thinking cap for summer end. What are you favorite/not so favorite summer time ends? Marsha mentioned her first summer job and memories flooded back. 1st summer a bit over 16 and I went to work for Leonard’s (now Dillards) in the cosmetic department. Three strong memories: 1) All women department – even in the men’s cologne. 2) Old-styled cash registers – counting change a requirement (loads of folks used cash for purchases. At least once a shift, I’d get some lady who dumped all her change on the glass counter-top and counted pennies/nickels/dimes until she made up the odd amount.) OLD fashioned … Read more

If Women Ruled the World or Something

A recent article brought this blog to mind: ‘If women ruled the world. . .’ All right, all right, I’m not insinuating that women can’t drive. Far from it. I tool around in a full-sized van, 6600 pounds, thank you very much and I can park the puppy in a rat hole. Do remember, I’m from Texas and things are bigger here than in other parts of the world — rat holes included. But gals are normally handling a number of things while trying to park and I think it’s only fair we should get a bigger parking spot. If women ruled the world, there would be a little ‘bill’ equality. If women ruled the … Read more

Why? Questions with no answers

Silly and sometimes serious questions to ponder, mull, and debate. Most importantly, a little something to make you smile. Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are dying? Why do banks charge a fee on “insufficient funds” when they already know there is not enough money in the account? Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet? Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard? Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when a revolver is thrown at him? Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets? Whose idea was it to put an “S” … Read more

Feeling Friday Fabulous

Been to the Chiropractor and he successfully put everything back where it went, and now it’s a lovely Friday morning. We’re headed for hot But then it’s almost July 4th and in Texas . . . that means scorcher. IT ALSO MEANS: MEMORIES WATERMELONS My dad grew up on a farm and told of working the fields in the summer. They’d pull a watermelon, put it in the ‘crick’ to cool, then by lunch, when they were more sweaty then dry, he and his brothers would pull the cooled melon and split it open on a rock. They ate the meaty center – best part and the rest wasn’t worth the effort. He’d call today’s … Read more