Loving Letters Legacy

One of my favorite books is Louisa May Alcott's Little Men. I find Jo and her husband to be enchanting teachers of troubled boys. One thing that caught my attention was that before the busy days of television and computers, people would sit in the evenings and read or write—both are now a rare choice of personal entertainment. In the book Little Men, Jo would spend time every evening and write about each boy under her care. She would take note of things the boys had done-good or bad and things they had learned. She kept a notebook for each boy. In time she hoped to give each boy his notebook. 

Long before I had a child I found myself inspired by that specific idea of Jo’s and wanted to do something similar for my children. Although, I do not take the time to write every night, I have started to create a collection of letters to my daughter that I hope to give to her someday, when she is on her own. I began writing these letters when I found out I was pregnant and have kept it up—describing the moment we found out we were having a baby, when we found out it was a girl, through her birth, and now on to the years of her childhood. 

Although my accounts are not as detailed as Jo’s in Little Men, nor is my pen as crafty and wise, it has been good for me to remember each event as I wrote it down. Writing my daughter a love letter once in a while has also helped keep my love for her constantly in my mind even during those grumpy days. I hope someday my daughter will enjoy reading the thoughts and feelings I had for her throughout the stages of her life. Above all, I hope it will always be a reminder to her how much she is loved. Just as our Heavenly Father left us Precious Letters to show us how much He loves us.

Essential Small Kitchen Tools and Appliances

Being a major in Family and Consumers Sciences, I have had the privilege of taking a class all about appliances. One would think that I would have gained the necessary information to run a perfect kitchen in my home. However, knowing and applying information are still two different things. I have become attached to some appliances that I thought I would never use and found some that I had I never touched. I thought it would be helpful to make a list of the tools and appliances that I have found to be my right arms in the kitchen.

Appliances and Gadgets

1. Kitchen Aid Mixer-this can be used to mix anything from whipping cream to kneading bread. I use it for mixing a lot of quick breads.

2. 2 Crock Pots (a small size and a large size)-Crock pot cooking is always moist and delicious. It is easy cooking and cuts down on the use of an oven which will use a lot of electricity and make a hot kitchen in the summer. 

3. Blender-This is good to keep on hand to make milkshakes, smoothies, or puree ingredients if one doesn’t have a food processor.

4. George Foreman Grill-I use this about once a week. It makes easy, quick, and tasty food without the mess of grilling outside or the heat of the oven. It is handy to throw some pieces of lemon pepper chicken on and cooks in 15 minutes.

5. Electric Skillet or Griddle-This is great for making pancakes or tortillas-anything that needs a large, flat surface to cook.

6. Mini Food Processor-This handy gadget will chop up an onion in seconds or puree food to make baby food. It is easy to clean and inexpensive to purchase.

7. Hand Mixer-Although I have a Kitchen Aid Mix Master, a hand blender is convenient for a quick stir, or for blending foods on the stovetop.

8. Hand Blender-I do not own one of these yet, but it is on my Christmas list! It can be a convenient tool to emulsify salad dressings or blend something quickly.

9. Meat Thermometer-I do not own one of these yet, but intend to get one. I can’t tell you how often I slice meat to see if it is done and hope it is hot enough inside. A meat thermometer could tell all that in one prick.

10. Toaster-Simply to make toast—it can also be used to reheat waffles.

Nice, but not Necessary

1. Ice Cream Maker-Wonderful summer treats can be made with this gadget-it is easy to use, but can be pricy to purchase.

2. Cookie Press-Fun to make traditional cookies.

3. Fry Daddy-Is a safer method of deep frying than using a pot on the stove.

4. Air Popcorn Maker-Low-fat and quick way to pop corn.

5. Waffle Iron-can be used to not only make waffles, but fry bacon as well.

6. Bread maker-A very nice, convenient tool for those who like to wake up to the smell of fresh bread-dump in the ingredients, turn it on. A huge time-saver.

7. Coffee Maker-Even if you don’t drink coffee, you may have guests that do. No home given to hospitality aught to be without one.

8. Pressure Cooker-I do not have one yet, but hope to get one in time for canning season next year—truly the safest and easiest method to can food. It can also be used in place of a crock pot to cook meats slowly.

9. Large Food Processor-A nice commodity which I have no need of yet-It is good for making breads and chopping food.

10. Weight Scale-Good tool for canning or measuring ingredients by the pound.

Non-Electric Tools

1. 2 good knives-a paring and butcher-Other than tableware, I only own 2 knives and they service me well. A good sharp knife beats a hundred dull cheap ones in the drawer. 

2. Microwave Rice Steamer (Pampered Chef)-We eat rice over two times a week, so this gadget is a wonderful asset to my kitchen. It takes the brainwork out of cooking rice. Because of the cooker, my rice turns out perfect every time. I just pop it in the microwave for 20 minutes-EZ.

3. Hand Food Chopper (Pampered Chef)-This gadget is wonderful for chopping nuts, to fresh herbs and spices for cooking. 

4. Mandolin-This is not a part of my kitchen gadget collection yet, but it makes beautiful slices of fruits and vegetables-unlike the food processor which chops quickly for cooking-this piece of equipment slices evenly and perfectly for making potato chips to gorgeous vegetable trays.

5. Candy Thermometer-This is a convenient tool to have around the kitchen for measuring the temperature of water and candy. You can’t make candy without it.

Summer Cereal Treats

If you are like me, cereal treats have usually consisted of the traditional Rice-Krispies mixed with marshmallows. Since I have had diet restrictions with nursing, I have explored for ways to fill the sweet tooth that don't include dairy or soy. Cereal treats have become a low fat favorite. Cereal treats are also great snacks to make in the summer because they do not involve the use of the oven. I can be creative and experiment with various cereals and additions to the classic bar. I have even been known to eat them for a quick breakfast.

 

Peanut Butter Cheerio Treat

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 pkg. marshmallows
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
5 cups toasted oats cereal

1. Grease a 13x9 pan

2. In a large saucepan melt the butter or margarine

3. Add marshmallows and melt on medium heat

4. Add peanut butter and stir in until mixture is smooth

5. Stir in toasted oat cereal

6. Pat into greased pan with wet hands

Coconut Cornflake Chocolate Treats

6 cups corn flakes
3 T. Butter or margarine
1 pkg. marshmallows
1 c. Chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate)
1/2 c. shredded coconut
1/2. chopped nuts

1. Grease a 13x9 pan
2. In a large saucepan melt the butter or margarine
3. Add marshmallows and melt on medium heat
4. Stir in toasted oat cereal, nuts, coconut, and chips
5. Pat into greased pan with wet hands

The two recipes above are currently my favorites, but there are still others varieties I am dying to try. I have heard of people using Lucky Charms cereal or Coco Puffs, drizzling the bars with chocolate, Filling the bars with caramel or peanut butter, making fruity flavored one, but using bran flakes and adding bits of dried fruit. The possibilities are endless.

Save Your Electric-10 Most Costly Appliances to Run

http://www.walletpop.com/2010/06/10/10-most-costly-appliances/

Poor Man's Staples

When I was in college, one of my teachers wisely made us jot down some standard and inexpensive staples to keep on hand. If in our future we had tight purse strings, she said we could make dozens of nutritious meals with these standard items. Today, they are the life-source of my cooking and I have added a few of my own to the list since then.

Produce

Celery

Carrots

Potatoes

Bananas

Apples-in season

Dry Goods

Oatmeal

Rice

Dry Beans

Pastas

Condiments

Peanut Butter

Dairy

Eggs

Margarine

Meats

Hot Dogs-not nutritious, but cheap

Ground Turkey

Canned Tuna

Canned/Frozen

Corn, Peas, Beans

Snacks

Popcorn kernels

Baking Goods

Flour

Sugar

Baking Soda/Powder/Salt

Shortening/Oil

Color the Tastebuds

http://www.google.com/imgres

Since I can remember I have been fascinated by Herbs and Spices. If I had my choice of a garden to grow, it would definitely be an herb garden. Herbs and spices are like various colors of paint in cooking. They add different shades of flavor like an artist adds shaded to a canvas. To me, without them--food would be black and white. I am always trying to learn more about different types of herbs and spices, and enjoy experimenting with them in my cooking.

Educational Moment: Herbs are seasonings obtained from the leaves of non-woody plants

                                 Spices are seasonings obtained from flowers, roots, bark, or seeds

I keep a variety of different herbs and spices on hand for various types of cooking. I am going to list a few of my favorite ones and what I typically use them for.

Italian Herbs:

Basil, Oregano, Parsley

Mexican Herbs/Spices:

Chili Poweder, Cumin, Red Pepper Flakes, Cilantro

Most Everything:

Onion and Garlic-both in the powdered and flaked form

Chicken Seasonings:

Roesmary, Dill, Sage, Tarragon

Casserole Seasonings:

Celery Seed, Powdered Mustard

Autumn Food Spices:

Cinnamon, Allspice, Cloves, Ginger, Nutmeg

(All these spices I like to keep in ground and whole form with the exception of Ginger which I use ground and candied)

Soup and Stew Seasonings:

Bay Leaves-Whole

Personal Favorites:

Chipotle (for Mexican)-nice meaty flavor, Cardamon, Coriander (for savory breads and baked goods), Paprika (whenever I feel like using it-I think it gives a European-country flair to anything I put it in)