Halloween Bon Fire

There's just something about fire that's so mesmerizing. 

As I sat by the fire tonight and gazed into the bright flames,  I let myself be still  and listen to the wonderful sounds of numerous family conversations going at once.   Laughter abounds as children run about with masks seeking to scare some unsuspecting family member.  The wolf mask goes really well with the princess dress, don't you think?

It was the perfect night.  Just cool enough to sit close to the fire, and warm enough that you didn't freeze if you were doing something away from the fire.

Gaze deeper into the flames.  You're content to not move.  Stuffed full of good food and soda. Life is good.

 Now for smores and hot chocolate.  What more could you ask for?  Life is very good.

G

Squash With Cheese Sauce

SQUASH WITH CHEESE SAUCE

1med              Onion, slivered, separated

½ med            Green Bell pepper, in chunks

½ med            Red Bel pepper, in chunks

1 sm.               Zucchini squash, sliced

2 sm.               Yellow summer squash, sliced

1can                Water chestnuts, slivered

2 tsp.               Garlic, minced (Gina likes lots of garlic)

! can                Mild Rol Tel Tomatoes or 1 chopped jalapeno pepper and  plain diced tomatoes.  If too hot use just the plain diced tomatoes.

½ lb.                Velveeta cheese

½ cup              Sour cream.

Sauté onion, peppers and squash and chestnuts in order given.  DO NOT OVERCOOK.  Vegetables still need to be crisp.  While squash is still crisp, add garlic, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream.  Simmer for a few minutes longer or until cheese is melted.  Watch carefully to keep from scorching.       Ruth Buckmaster

This recipe is one of Gina’s and many others’s favorite. I first ate this squash dish at a Lubby’s Cafeteria while dining with Mother.  We sat there until I had figured out what all was in it and the rest is history.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

CANDIED SWEET POTATOES

1-1/4 lb           Sweet Potatoes ( 2 or 3)

1 ½ c.              Water

½ cup              Brown Sugar

2 T.                  Cornstarch

½ cup              White Karo syrup

2 drps             Red food coloring

1/4 cup           Butter, melted

½  tsp.             Salt or to taste

Partially bake sweet potatoes in a conventionally oven for 15 to 25 minutes or microwave for about 5 minutes.. Cool.  Peel and slice and place in oiled baking dish.  In separate small container mix cornstarch  with the brown sugar.  Mix well.  Add water and syrup and food coloring and salt and melted butter. Mix well.  Pour over potatoes and bake uncovered in 350*F degree oven for 1 hour.

                                          Ruth Buckmaster

    

This recipe is one of BJ’s favorite.

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

2 med.            Eggplants

2                      Eggs, slightly beaten

½ cup              Milk, add to egg

1½ cup           Shake or bake or bread crumbs of choice.

                        (May need more crumbs)

1 can               Hunt’s (no sugar added) Spaghetti sauce or you may want to make your own spaghetti sauce.  See the Sauce section.

1 cup               Parmesan cheese. shredded

1 cup               Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Peel and slice eggplant in half inch pieces, salt lightly and stack.  Then dip each slice in egg and milk mixture and then into crumbs.  Either fry in hot oil or bake in a 350* degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until tender and brown, turning once.  Place eggplant slices into a  9x12 baking dish, alternating with the spaghetti sauce and Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese saving some of the mozzarella cheese for topping the last 10 minutes of baking.   Bake for 20 to 30 in a 350* degree oven.

                                                          Ruth Buckmaster

Dad's Potato Salad Recipe

DAD’S POTATO SALAD

5-6lbs.            Potatoes

2 lg.                 Onions, minced

½ cup              Salad Green Olives with pimientos, chopped

3/4 cup           Sweet relish

2 tsp.               Salt

½ cup              Celery, minced, optional

½ cup              Green peppers, minced, optional

½ tsp.              Celery seeds

1 cup               Miracle Whip

                        Paprika

Peel, chunk and boil potatoes until done.  Add all other ingredients and mix well.  Top with paprika.  Chill overnight in refrigerator before serving.

                                                     Stanley Buckmaster

This recipe is all the children’s favorite!  

Fresh Corn Salad Recipe

FRESH CORN SALAD

4 cups             Fresh or frozen corn

1/4 cup           Vegetable oil or olive oil

1/3 cup           Cider vinegar

1½ tsp.           Lemon juice

1/4 c.               Minced fresh parsley

1 tsp.               Salt

2 tsp.               Sugar

½ tsp.              Basil

2 lg.                 Tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped

½ cup              Onion, chopped

½ cup              Green pepper

1/3 cup           Sweet red pepper

Cook fresh or frozen corn for 5-7 minutes or until tender.  Drain.  In a large bowl, mix the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, sugar, salt, if desired, and basil.  Add corn, tomatoes, onion and peppers to the oil mixture.  Mix well. Cover and chill for several hours or overnight.

Halloween and Mystery

At Halloween, it's time to talk about mysteries.  If you know me, you know I love to read (or watch ) mysteries.  I've gone from Nancy Drew to Janet Evanovich.  Truth be told, I've been known to still read a Nancy Drew.  It's like visiting an old friend.  It reminds me of one of my childhood friends, Carol.  We both loved Nancy Drew.  We would, on occasion, be desperate enough to read a Hardy Boys book.  But mostly we read Nancy Drew.  Do you still have all those Nancy Drew books, Carol?

My favorite mysteries are now Janet Evanovich.  Janet has even written a Plum Spooky novel to just help you get into the spirit of Halloween.  Her books are a mystery and a comedy all in one!  She truly makes me laugh out loud.  Especially number 10.  But it's best to start with number 1:  One for the Money. 

Her Stephanie Plum series is about, you guessed it, Stephanie, a not so competent bounty hunter.  The range of characters will keep you reading the series.  From the hot cop to the dark and dangerous security consultant.  And let's not forget the crazy for food, always on some new made up diet, gun toting ex-hooker who helps get Stephanie out of or, in a lot of cases, into trouble.  But its Grandma Mazur that will make you laugh the most.  Everything goes with grandma!   Go to the library.  Borrow it from a friend.  Click on the link to the right to order it from Amazon.    Do whatever you have to do to read it.  You'll love it!  I'd loan you mine, but someone has already taken it.

And talk about mystery, some day I'll tell you the story of the time everyone was gone except for myself and my mother and someone was trying to break into the house.  Until then, happy reading!

G