Celebrate Life!

Echoes of Laughter: 11 Best Camping Tips & Recipes... : This is the time of year we are getting ready to go camping! I found this really neat blog.  Many of the tips she gave are the things I try to do. Enjoy this great resource! Wendy

Written by Grandma Marjean Yutzy  in the 70's  We found this handwritten card in a box of Jeff's Mom Marjeans things that we were given. She passed away from Luekemia in the early 1980's.  Jeff was around 12. Wendy

by Wanda The beautiful beet.  Ok, so maybe not. I recognize this may not be a popular post with everyone, but bear with me. Raw beets washed and ready to cook. While my husband is not a picky eater,  he will not eat red beets!  Never has, never will.  His dad loves them!  So, a few years ago, we bought some red beet seeds and attempted to grow red beets for Grandpa.  It took a few years of sporadic growth and losing red beets to the weed monsters until we harvested some beets. A few things we learned about growing red beets - by trial and error: Red beet seeds are small - a little smaller than a pea.  Don't plant them very deep or they wont sprout! They need room to grow.  If they are planted too closely together, the beet can not form.  Give some space between the seeds, but also thin them as they grow - smaller beets are delicious too! Raised beds work great for red beets!  You don't lose them as quickly as you do in a huge garden!

Pick enough rhubarb for 4 Cups chopped Clean and dice into small cubes. Set aside 4 cups Crumbs Mix together and reserve half for top: 1 Cup Flour (whole wheat works great too!) 3/4 Cup Oatmeal 1 Cup Brown Sugar 1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine - melted 1 tsp Cinnamon Sauce In a saucepan combine and heat until thickened. 1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Water 2 Tbsp Cornstarch 1 Tsp Vanilla On the bottom of 9x13 baking pan pat half of crumb mixture Then cover with 4 cups Rhubarb Next pour thickened sauce over Rhubarb Then cover with remaining  crumbs. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

This week is going to be extra full for our family! Swimming lessons in the morning, beach time and then Vacation Bible School in the evening! Being one of the Directors, making sure everything is taken care of goes from fun to a bit stressful. I will be glad when the first night is in full swing and running smoothly! As far as feeding my family this week, It will take some organizing and planning ahead. I haven't done that yet, anyone have any great ideas? At least Alabama can make me some coffee if i sleep in this week. (Alabama wrote that!) I just taught her how to make coffee this morning! We have some beautiful sunshine today! Work first then play! Have a wonderful Saturday! And did I mention, WE MISS EMILY????

Jalapeno Poppers: 1  8 ounce Cream Cheese 1 Jar or small bag of bacon bites  (Real bacon bites or real bacon tastes best!) 1 small jar of pickled Jalapenos (About 1 cup) Simply allow the cream cheese to soften enough to stir easily. Drain the liquid off of the jalapenos. Chop to smaller pieces. Mix it all together with a fork. All mixed together I made this recipe up after trying hard to make the fried and the baked kinds. They were so much work, and messy. Jeff took this hunting with his brothers and apparently it went over pretty good. Jeff's favorite: Spread onto a pita bread. You get the bite without so much bread. Wendy's favorite : Jalapeno Mountain Pies Butter two slices of thin bread Place buttered side down on metal Pie Iron, (also known as mountain pie maker.) Spread a layer on one slice of bread and cook over the fire slowly. Check often to make sure it

By Wendy June 21 is finally here!   Longest day of the year! Last Day of School! Today didn't come soon enough for my kids! They have been anxiously crossing off the calendar days until summer break! I always like to do something fun for them on their last day to celebrate their accomplishments! So, since I got called to work the past three days, I had to think of something quick and easy!     Last day of School Celebration! Ice Cream on Sugar cones!! Yeah, and everybody knows how summers are right??? Jeff took the kids and rode to the bike park tonight!   That was just what I needed!  It gave me a chance to start summer off on the right foot!   Now to gear up for Vacation Bible School next week!

From Wanda's Kitchen 2 cups boiling water 1/2 cup instant coffee 1/4 cup vanilla syrup (sugar free) 1 cup sugar (or you could use splenda or other sweetener if desired) Dissolve all ingredients into boiling water.  Chill. To serve, mix 1/4 cup concentrate with 1 cup milk.  Serve with ice and whip topping if desired. Perfect for our 90 degree summer days!

Jolly Time Popcorn For those of you who know my husband, he has a sense of humor that I love! He's been making fun of me for taking soooo many pictures of FOOD lately. When I started taking this impromptu video of him making popcorn, he got right into it! Jolly Time Popcorn: Pour  about 1/ 2 cup oil in the kettle.  May need to adjust measurements to fit your kettle size. Turn to a high heat and add 1/2 cup kernels. Be sure to keep a close eye on it and shake it to keep the kernels from burning. Once all the kernels stop popping remove from heat and salt. When Jeff and I first got married I didn't eat popcorn. I really didn't like getting the kernels stuck between my teeth! Then he introduced me to Tiny Tender Popcorn and Ladyfinger. I couldn't believe the difference! Every time we go to Indiana, Ohio or Pennsylvania we buy as much as we can. We can go through a 50 lb bag in about 1 year! It's a relatively healthy snack, and it

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/06/frozen-fruit-pops.html Summer comes around and my first thought for a summer snack is popsicles, ice- cream, lemonade... SUGAR, SUGAR, SUGAR I don't know about you, but I am constantly trying to avoid sugar! It is everywhere, in everything.. Summer is here and I found this recipe that I really like! The recipe that I found on Pinterest was a  pretty small batch. I decided with 4 kids, I might as well make a large batch! Frozen Fruit Pops Watermelon Kiwi Strawberries Pineapples Mix your choice of fruit together. Spoon fruit mixture into small cups. Pour orange juice, pineapple juice or lemonade to cover the fruit. (Really, you can use your favorite juice!) This batch I used the leftover fruit that I had for the fruit pizzas. Canned Peaches Raspberries Apples Kiwi Grapes I spooned a little bit of strawberry yogurt in the cup first, then a spoonful of fruit. Then I poured a bit of juice to fill up the cup. Popsicle

Years ago, I had this awesome fruit dip with cream cheese and marshmallow creme. It was so quick and yummy, I would make it often.  Food prices went up and I stopped making it. Marshmallow creme is just so expensive in Red Lake! Well,  Emily and I made a fruit pizza for Karen and Baby Lydia's baby shower. As I cleaned up our mess, the beaters and all, I was reminded of my old fruit dip! Now I  have a new fruit dip that is quick and a lot cheaper to make! Cream Cheese Fruit Dip: 8 oz cream cheese 1/3 Cup Sugar 2 Tbsp Milk 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Cream together and serve with your favourite fresh fruit. Bananas, apples, strawberries, etc.

Bannock The video is to give you an idea how to mix the flour! Not the best quality video, but it still gives you an idea how Helen mixes it! Ingrediants 5 Cups flour 2  heaping Tbsp.  Baking Powder 2 1/2 to 3 Cups water Directions: Add flour and baking powder and mix together. Make a well in the center of the flour. Slowly pour the water into the center of the well. With a fork, slowly stir in circles to mix little bits of flour at a time. When it gets too stiff to stir with a fork, gently use your hands to fold in the rest of the flour. The dough should feel light and fluffy. Form into patties for Bannock Burgers,  or larger for Indian Tacos. Poke with a fork. Have oil heated in a frying pan. Fry at a Meduim high heat until golden brown. Then flip them over and fry the other side.   If you fry it too fast the inside will be doughy.

by Wanda Here is Lancaster County, we are BLESSED with delicious strawberries in the end of May and beginning of June.  The season is very short and very, well, sweet.... The season is way too short for me, so I try to extend it by buying berries in bulk and freezing some. I try to buy when the price has moderated - sometimes it never moderates and the season all of a sudden ends.... and I don't have my strawberries.  That is a sad day. But this year, I was on the ball and got many quarts of yummy ripe strawberries in my freezer.  It is quite simple.  Wash the berries and take the caps off, the same way you would if you were making jam or pie. Plunk them into a freezer bag - in whatever size bag or container you would like for later.  (I do approximately 3 cups in a bag.) Seal and freeze.  I use my frozen berries for strawberry smoothies so I leave them whole.  You could slice them - or crush them.  I am sure there are many other uses for frozen berries

Pancake Mix: 4 Cups Flour  2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour 2 Cups Oatmeal flakes (Quick Oats or Porridge Oats) 1 Cup Wheat Bran 2 Tbsp. Sugar 3 Tbsp. Baking Powder 1 1/2 Tbsp. Baking Soda 1/2 Tbsp. Salt Mix well and store in an airtight container. I keep a batch in my freezer for those early mornings that I need something quick and thoughtless!  On mornings like these, when no one feels like moving or waking, these are very simple: Watch and see... Even Alabama can do them in her sleep!   Hey, just keeping it real!!!  Welcome to our life at 7:00 A.M.! Pancakes: Stir together: 1 Cup Mix 1 Cup Milk 1 Egg 1 Tbsp Oil Heat frying pan or skillet to a medium high.   Spray with Pam spray and spoon a small amount onto heated skillet.   Cook till browned on one side and flip.  Want pancakes for Breakfast?

By Wanda This morning I drug myself out of bed at 6:00 - trying to be a "good" mom and get up before my kids.  Actually - I am trying to be a WISE mom and get up before my kids, even during summer vacation. I don't do very well at this - I truly love to sleep - could be my sleep apnea kicking in, however, I try. My trying amounted to moving from my bed, to the sofa downstairs - and I fell asleep. I was awakened about 7:45 by my 10 year old daughter - who touched my shoulder and said, "Here, Mommy."  She presented me with this platter that she had prepared on her own, with no instruction or supervision - at least this morning.  She has been making eggs for a few years, under my supervision - I have taught her how to make coffee - and how I like my coffee..... and her eggs were awesome.  She apologized that she didn't make toast - I was plum out of bread.... Eggs, fresh coffee, just the way I like it - without being asked - it can't get any be

I am finding it interesting how the things that I want to do to relax are the things my kids ask to do too. We spent the weekend at a friends cabin during March break and I took along my markers and drawing pencils, some paper and cards.  I also took some drawing books out of the local library for some inspiration. I think the kids ended up doing more drawing that weekend than I did!

Summer is here and I think of the days we picked meadow tea from the abundant patch in our backyard. Grandma also had it growing along the stone wall by her house. Now, I'm jealous of those patches and wish I could grow one at my house. I bought a Peppermint tea plant at the greenhouse last year and it didn't amount to much. So, I thought I'd try again this year, but in the mean time I want some refreshing Mint tea to drink! So, I've made up my own! Cold Mint Tea : 3 mint tea bags 1/2 sugar or more, adjust to your tastebuds! Water What I do is make a full pot of hot water in my Bunn coffee maker. Then add the tea bags and sugar and stir. Let it steep for a few minutes Remove the tea bags, and after it cools a bit I pour the concentrate into my Gallon (4 Litre) pitcher. Then fill the pitcher up with water. Stir and add ice or refrigerate till cool.

Strawberry Pie 4 Cups Strawberries, crushed 1/3 Cup Instant Clear Jel 1 Cup White Sugar 1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust Cool Whip First, wash and take the caps off of the strawberries. Taking caps off Crush berries - You want 4 cups crushed Mix sugar and clear jel together. Add crushed berries to the sugar/clear jel mixture. Put a layer of this mixture on the bottom.  Top with sliced berries. Seal with the rest of crushed berry mixture

Meadow Tea Concentrate Bring 4 quarts water to boil  Add 4 cups sugar and dissolve Add 12 cups (packed) tender stems and leaves  Boil for 10 Minutes and let set. - Longer for stronger tea. Strain with fine strainer or cheese cloth to remove leaves. This recipe makes 4-5 quarts of syrup.   After it cools down, freeze concentrate in quart containers.  Gallon of Cold Meadow Tea: Pour 1 quart concentrate into a one gallon pitcher.   Add water to fill one gallon.  Chill.

Chocolate Chip Cookies -Grandma Marjean's Recipe 2 1/2 Cup Margarine 2 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar 1 Cup White Sugar 1 Tbsp. Vanilla 1 tsp. Salt Mix together thoroughly. Stir in: 6 Eggs, unbeaten. Beat till fluffy. Stir in: 4 tsp. Baking Soda 4 tsp. cream of Tartar 7 Cups of Flour Mix then add: 12 ounces of Chocolate Chips 1 Cup nuts, optional Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Do not over bake. Makes about 10 dozen