Maxine,

Try this link for some great sounding recipes. Dates and source are included and many are from old newspapers. Whole site is interesting.

http://theoldentimes.com/recipes/html

Lillian

Good Morning,

It seems as though we are all looking forward to a better, healthier new year. I'll be the first to be a cheer leader for that!

Rosemarie,

I'm happy to hear that you are doing so much better. David will still be your #1 dressing attendant if you need him to be. Want to bet that he won't be very far away for awhile, until he knows for sure that you can handle it. Aren't we fortunate to have such great husbands?

Shirlely,

You have the "recipe fever" that so many of us, myself included, have. It is such a fun thing to do and you can enjoy this hobby/need for years to come. Your children and grandchildren will look back upon your labors of collecting and will appreciate it so much. I have recipes written by my Mother, grandmother and two favorite aunts as well as a few from Bill's Mom and sister. All of these people are gone now and this is always a link with them. I also have recipes written by two sisters and a sister-in-law who are gone now, and some from sisters who are still living. They are all treasures. I used several of them over the holidays and it just brings the "giver of the recipe" into our celebrations and I can see their faces in my mind. This is the best of comfort foods, to me.

Rosemarie and Donna,

I didn't know how long it took for the P.T.'s to earn their degree, but I knew that it was awhile. The times that I had to go for their help, I found each to be very professional and helpful. They took the time to explain what we were going to do and why. I learned more about the workings of my muscles from them than I ever did when I was in school. Of course, I graduated in 1950, and we didn't know too much about such things then. We are so much more "in tune" with our bodies now and that is a good thing.

What good news that James is feeling better now. He just seems to have been hit hard this past year by the illness bug. Here's hoping for a better year for him, for you. I really don't think, though, that you mind being the nurse for him. My bet is that you are good at your job, too.

You are right about keeping Richard on the straight and narrow, too. He is so ornery and we have to keep him in check. Richard wouldn't be Richard if he weren't ornery and trying to pull his sneak attacks of some sort or other; I think that it keeps him young.

Lillian

Donna --
You are right about physical therapists -- had some when I had my kneecap removed in '98 but these now are the best.
DID YOU KNOW the schooling they have? I thought - stupidly - it was a 2 year vocational degree. They all have 4 years of college, 2 years of masters and now are required to put in one more year of a doctorate.
Can you even imagine?
They are really dedicated and they never tell you how hard they have worked to get where they are unless you ask. I am great at questioning people -- love to know everything about everyone -- but not gossipy -- just interested.
We were totally amazed. Any my gal's husband does PT an hour away in Kansas and works only with MS patients. How great these angels are!

Thanks everyone for all your words of encouragement and prayers, too.
Had a good report at PT today -- elbow bending measured R 144, L 141 - and she wants me up to 155. I've only been going 3 weeks. The pain is so much better(?) if pain can be better. If I did not have the surgery, I probably could live with this for the rest of my life. Just dull pain (constant) with sharp twinges once in a while. But I'm back to sleeping in bed and not screaming in my sleep. Still need David to dress me so I'd best mind my Ps and Qs so he doesn't leave me stranded. LOL!
  Will see what the doctor says on Tuesday - the last week was a real turn around. But now -- I'm going to lose - as he calls himself "Mr Mom" --kind of liked having him around. X-rays on Tuesday will show if the 1 1/2 inch breaks in each shoulder have mended enough to let it go -- sure hope so! Just hate talking about myself all the time. It's been a strange year - and it sounds like it was for many of us. 2007 will be better for all - we'll have good health -- and if we have that, that's all we need to find the other good things in life. Thanks again. Rm

Donna, Lillian, Maxine, Richard and anyone else lurking out there Hello.
Buck is home. Out of the hospital and was told they aren't going to fix the plug vein because other ones are taking over for it and operating on it would hurt more than leaving it alone. They shaved him from the waist to the knees and made bawled spots all over his chest and then painted him BLUE. Bright blue. He is already complaining about the itch. Now we who have had kids wouldn't know anything about that. Would we?
I have been working on my recipe notebooks. Those that only are on a half page goes into my little cooking note books with tabs but I got to come up with something for the standard size, full page ones. The ones I cut out of magazines are being glued into a spiral notebook that is 4x6 inch. It is working out better than I figured it would. Walmart has some good glue pens and it just takes a drop to stick them in there. Beat hunting thur a envelope for them. Which I seem to have an abundance of.
We fixed a large pot of butter beans with ham and carrots tonight for supper. It was very filling and tasty.
I copied off a lot of saurKraut recipes last night. I love the stuff. Not on hotdogs tho. but in cake, salads, and main dishes. Buck is a Rueban sandwiches with lots of cornbeef fan. It and patty melts. Me,
 I like it with butter and caraway. Saute'd till it is golden brown. Stuffed in peppers with ground beef is not bad either, especially with jasmine rice and a little tomato sauce.

Well I hope you all have a great day tomarrow. I will see the foot doc. at 1:00p and hope he can help me. Wish me luck. Shirley

Hello, again,

I just went to the link that Maxine sent and the cake recipe is like the one I was going to post. Mine is in an old church cookbook and it really is a good cake, very moist and tasty. OH, how could something that begins with chocolate NOT be tasty? Chocolate makes everything all right, in my book.

Lillian

Richard,

The old saying goes, "Don't believe everything you read". Well, when it comes to the heat of a FL summer, believe it! When it comes to the mild (most days) days of a FL winter, you can also believe it. I really love the winter but the summer is pure "you know what". You would think that, after 36 years here, I'd be used to it, but I'm not. It was much easier to adjust to the heat of an Arkansas summer and then be transferred to Glasgow, Montana for the remainder of summer and into a frigid winter. We all did well with that change. Both states are truely beautiful and the people were very friendly. We made some good friends in both places.

Rosemarie,

You are right when you said that the Chicken with Sauerkraut doesn't sound good on paper, but many times those are the recipes that seem to be the biggest hit. I'll put it in my recipe folder and try it someday. I have made the Chocolate Cake made with sauerkraut and it is heavenly. It tastes like coconut and has that texture. No one ever believed that it was made with kraut. Thanks for posting the recipe for all of us to enjoy.

You sound as though you are making progress with your shoulders. I hope so and I pray that this new year will be a much healthier one for all who have problems with health. We had a terrible 2006 and I intend to make every effort to have a better one this year.

I'll round up that cake recipe and try to post it tonight.

Lillian

Thought I had better report in. I am still among the living, I think.
Seems like the holidays took a lot out of me. May be just the lull after all the hustle and bustle of the season.

James and our internist are becoming close friends as we seem to have to go and see her quite often. Still haven't diagnosed his problem, but he is feeling much better so anything is an improvement. He's prone to any kind of infection and it takes him longer to recover than most. Me, I just try to stay well so I can be the nurse. He says sometimes I tend to be a little bossy, but I told him nurses can be that way if the patient is not doing as the doctor ordered.

Our weather has been seasonal for Texas. Cold nights and cool days. We are expecting rain tonight and hope it doesn't disappoint us and skirt around us. We have had some rain in the last two weeks, but we need lots of it. The lakes are still dangerously low. With the black soil we have the foundations of our houses are in trouble and we had to have some work done last week and supposedly, it is sound now. Should be from the cost of it. James said to forget it...just be glad we can afford to have it done.

Maxine, it was nice seeing you on here...always enjoy your posts. You have such a way with words and it is such fun to read them. Always feel like we have had a visit. Loved the sights you suggested and have put them on my favorites.

Richard, I think Maxine and Lillian were both trying to make you feel
better or maybe trying to get you back on the straight and narrow.

Lillian, hope Bill's holter monitor proves nothing serious with his ticker. Tell him to take it easy and do as the doctor orders.

Shirley, hope you and Buck have recovered from your New Years bash. Sounds like fun.

Loretta, hope you are feeling better. I could never make it without my electric blanket. It's a life saver for me.

Rosemarie, sounds like you are improving every day. I know you think it has been a long road to recovery, but aren't we thankful for the physcal therapist. Sometimes they tend to push you, but the ones I have been to really know their stuff and have helped me.

I have seen so many football games this past week that they are all running together. They have kept James entertained, though so that is a blessing. I do watch the Dallas Cowboys, but the way they have been playing lately, I feel like their season will be over this Saturday when they play Seattle.

Hope everyone has a great evening.

Donna

I recieved the message below from both Maxine and Lillian and I can't tell if it' a commentary on FL weather or it's offered as encouragement for me not to be afraid. Y'all will have to decide.

  A minister in Florida lamented that it was difficult
to get his message across to his congregation:
"It's so beautiful here in the winter," he said,
"that heaven doesn't interest them."

"And it's so hot here in the summer that hell doesn't
scare them."

Just went to the Frank's sauerkraut site -- and it is a treasure trove.
Thanks for the address.
Here's a wonderful recipe -- sounds not so good on paper -- but everyone who tries it, loves it

Chicken with Sauerkraut (I'm sure it has some other name in the cook book but that's the name in my head)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bag of refrigerated kraut (or whatever you choose)
1 C (or more of BBQ sauce - your favorite)
Garlic powder or salt (your choice)
Spray 9x13 pan with Pam. Line with rinsed and drained kraut. Top with chicken breasts and sprinkle with garlic powder or salt. (I try to avoid salt as much as possible) Cover all with BBQ sauce. Bake (covered) at 350 for 1 hour. Bakers go good with this but so do mashed potatoes.
Easy meal and it really is yummy comfort food.

Had fun reading about all your New Years Eve celebrations - sounded wonderful -- and FUN!

Have a healthy, happy new year. We all need that! Rm

oooh! Sauer kraut. Buck makes the best lazy porogies. The recipe is easy and it is so good. The Kluski recipe is almost the same but not quite, it is worth a try Maxine. This sight has some interesting recipes to say the least. A different salad to. I make the old standard around here but I think I will add peppers next time. Mine has the kraut, onions, celery and the dressing. I like it but everyone makes it so will try the jello one and see if it is a go. I think the one made with v-8 and lemon/lime jello sounds good. What kind do you make? I love it washed and fried in butter with caraway seeds too. Now that is good eating.

Another kraut site on file:

http://www.sauerkrautrecipes.com/

The site I'm looking for I surfed into a day or so ago. Most of the recipes were either handwritten or had been snipped from a bag of sugar or whatever, and scanned into the site. Some had only ingredients and no directions but it was neat to see what someone had collected and saved.

Two books I bought recently are "Sauerkraut Yankees" (Pennsylvlania Dutch Food & Foodways by William Woys Weaver and "Pennsylvania Trail of History Cookbook" by Stackpole Books and the PA Historical and Museum Commission. Foreword by Wm. Woys Weaver.

The Trail of History Book isn't very thick but it has wonderful pictures and a recipes with measured ingredients. The Yankee book is a stroll through the past. Precise measurements are almost non-existant but you will know how to roast a suckling pig by the end of the book. It can be used for special ocasions of community-wide importance, such as militia musters, fairs, and Second Christmas--the great market fair celebrated by the Dutch each December 26.

Huh? mm's dad never learned to speak English until he went to school and had to and our area is rich in Dutch history but there are things in there I've never heard before. I've also learned that some of the stuff we attributed to the Amish and Mennonite influence were actually Pa Dutch. It was also enlightening to how PA Dutch cooking varied from one area to another in PA.

Oops, forgot to mention I bought another cookbook from the Market in Lancaster! Oh, yeah, Richard, Lee and I went to Sarasota for some business and we're quite familiar with Pinecraft, an area where the Amish and Mennonite have settled. Of course, they're playing up the Amish/PA Dutch angles for restaurant fare and shopping. I think a cookbook or two may have followed me home from there too.

One gal who works at the bulk food store told me her mother is living in Lewisburg, PA which is where I used to go to farm market. The gentleman who owns the creamery used to live in Selinsgrove, which is where I used to work! Small world, eh?

Now I really have to rest. Catch y'all later.

Love,
 ~m

Maxine,

Your other link just came in and OH, BOY, you have my attention! I love history, and particularly Civil War and WWII. This will keep me occupied for awhile and out of trouble, too. Many thanks, my friend.

Lillian

Maxine,

Wow! What a find! There are some great recipes on that site and the sections of Family Treasures recipes is so interesting with the comments of the author. Many thanks for the link. I'll sure use it, if not for cooking/baking, just reading. Aw, you know me, I'll use the recipes, too. Recipes are a real addiction for me.

Rest up and perk up and post some of your newsy words for us later, OK?

I had my dates mixed up and Bill will get the Holter Monitor tomorrow morning. Good thing that he checked his little calander and saw the mistake. Gee, having two Mondays off in a row has me not knowing what day it is at all. One week, I felt as though I had 3 Sundays and then this week, yesterday was Sunday. How I ever had his appointment (in my head), for Tuesday instead of Wednesday, I don't know. Maybe that is the problem! I said, "in my head". I should realize that my head is not the greatest place to store anything. At any rate, he knows when he sees the doctor.

I managed to remember today that it is now 2007 and I didn't type 2006 on any service order. Now, if I can only remember that, when Iwrite checks out tomorrow for us at home. I am still trying to figure out how the heck we got to 2007 anyway. I'm heading for the quarter century mark in age and I can't believe that, either.

We had some nice rain today and it is most welcome. Temps are a bit cooler, but we shall be back to 83º by the end of the week. Going to be about 78 tomorrow. When will winter come along and what day shall that be?

Lillian

Here's another link I had on file:

http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/cookbook.htm

Oops! I just had a newsy response to you, Sis, but it went *Poof* into cyberspace! Anyway, I know you'll be anxiously awaiting the results of Bill's reports. We'll send up some extra prayers for him, of course, and for all the other walking wounded on here too.

I have to rest now. If I can get my thinker into gear, I'll try to reconstruct some of it. If not, here's a link to a site y'all may enjoy:

http://www.soul-food-advisor.com/recipe-center.html