The "Must Goes" ~ Leftovers

I hate to admit it, but my frige looked almost like the one pictured. I couldn't put another single thing in it and three-quarters of the junk in there was not recognizable to me. (Let alone know when it was cooked!) Today was "dump the frige" day...

So, I began. Out came the tupperware, the corningware, the foil wrapped parcels (one of which was a half of a piece of a frozen fish fillet?), the ziploc baggies and all the rest. Thank God I had unloaded the dishwasher before I began this task. Not that it mattered. Some of the casserole dishes had to be soaked to get the baked on grime softened enough to wipe out before I put them IN the dishwasher. Its over, now. Guess what's for dinner? Stouffer's! And we're eating off paper plates tonight...

~

Good-bye Gas Grill? NOT

Yesterday, Hubby was cooking food on the grill. Yes, I know. It was Father's Day, but he ended up cooking for everyone, anyway... So, when just he and I were outside, he proceeded to tell me he was NEVER going to buy another gas grill. This was the conversation:

H: I'm never gonna buy another gas grill.
Me: Bullshit
H: I'm NOT. Next time I get a new grill, its gonna be charcoal.
Me: Why?
H: 'Cause I like the flavor of charcoal cooked food.
Me: I think you should think of the time element. It takes awhile for the charcoal to get ready to cook on. It already takes you about 2 hours to do a steak on a gas grill.(WHY?- Who knows!) What if there's an ice storm in the winter and we lose power? The gas grill might be our only way to cook. Do you want to stand out in below freezing temps waiting for the damned charcoal to heat up?
H: I want a charcoal grill just like Yaddy Yah's. That son-of-a-bitch will last forever!
Me: That's what you said when you bought your current gas grill. If THAT is going to last forever, you won't be buying a fancy charcoal one, 'cause it's never going to wear out! (I turned around and walked into the house)

Yesterday was one of those days!

Presenting: Pickled Apricots

Wow, I can't beleive its been a week since my last post. I've been busy around the house on painting projects and then... BAM... threw my back out! Thank goodness for Chiroprators! I'm finally on the mend.

Thought I'd share a recipe from one of my Mother-In-Laws's cookbooks. This recipe is for "Grandma's Pickled Apricots", from "The Farmer's Cookbook", (1980). This cookbook has a really different way of categorizing the recipes- by ingredients. The particular chapter where this recipe is located is under "Apricots: The Beauty and Fitness Fruit". Under this chapter, there are savory appetizers and meat dishes, among others. All having, of course, apricots as an ingredient. Who'd have thought?

Enough of my ramblings, here is the recipe!

7 lbs. of apricots
Whole cloves
1/3 oz. stick cinnamon
16 fl. oz. vinegar
4 lbs. of sugar (Yes, you read right, 4 lbs.!)
Brandy, as needed
(You will also need canning jars and know how to can)

Wash apricots and stick 2 or 3 cloves into each one. Comine cinnamon sticks, vinegar and sugar in a large pan and bring to a boil. Add half the apricots and boil gently until soft. Repeat, using the remaining apricots. Pack fruit into hot, sterlized canning jars, adding enough hot liquid to cover fruit. Add a piece of cinnamon stick and 1 tablespoon brandy to each jar. Seal at once.

The description of the recipe says these are a nice accompaniment to meat and poultry and makes wonderful gifts.

A "New" Old Recipe ~ Tomato Soup Cake

I know, it sounds awful. I doubt if I ever make it, but the ingenuity of the frugal cook is an inspiration. Why or how did anyone think of using this cupboard staple in a dessert? When I think of tomato soup, I think of chilly autumn nights and grilled cheese sandwiches- not a spicy, cinnamon laced cake!

For your eating pleasure, I present the recipe for "Tomato Soup Cake"...

Ingredients:
1/4 pound shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 can of tomato soup
1 teaspoon baking soda–put in the soup
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons baking powder
Method:
Cream the butter until nice and fluffy. Add the sugar and mix well. Add the egg and mix well. Put in the tomato soup/baking soda combo.

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Add to the moist ingredients until well mixed.
Bake the cake at 350 degrees in a well greased and floured 9" pan and bake for 40 minutes.

The result:



It is suggested to top with a cream cheese type frosting.

Oh Mamma MiO

I don't know why, but this stuff disturbs me. First of all, if you are going to drink water, why is there a need to add a flavor enhancer? Water is water and its good for you. If you want it to look and taste like kool-aid, why not make a pitcher of pre-sweetened kool-aid with the artificial sweetners? If portability is a problem, pour it into an empty plastic bottle and carry it along. Or just buy a packet and pour a little into your bottle of water? I've read up on this stuff and you can read some facts about it HERE. I guess to each their own. Personally I'll take a bottle of plain ol' water any day.

Horlick's? Why?

Why, oh why, would any company take this name for their product? Especially a product aimed at the kid market. Would any parent actually buy their child a bottle of Horlick's Malted Milk? I certainly hope they eventually changed the name! On second thought, I guess its better than Horlicker's...???

There's "Then" and Then, There's "Than"

A big pet peeve.... the misuse of "then" and "than". I notice it everywhere! Even the most seasoned bloggers, who blog for $$$, can't distinguish. My sympathies go out to the home-schooled student whose Parent-Turned-Teacher makes the mistake... what kind of English are they teaching their kid? The worst is when I hear a certified, college educated English teacher get it wrong. I mean what's so hard to understand??

"Use than as a word indicating comparison. When you are talking about a noun (thing, person, place or concept) being more, less, better, cooler, dumber, etc. in relation to another noun, the word than is necessary."

"Use then as a word indicating time. When you want to tell about a sequence of events or are giving instructions in a step-by-step order, the word then is necessary."

Ok, enough of this rant. Don't get me started on "their", "they're" and "there"!