Hot Apple Cider

Hot Apple Cider 2 qts apple juice or cider 2t cinnamon 1/2t cloves Heat to boil and turn stove on low. Can be crock potted on low. My family enjoys this on those cool October nights, and I always have some on the stove for my trick or treaters!

Suicide Prevention

My granddaughter Kira was really on the ball this month and way a head of her grandma! The month of September is SUICIDE AWARENESS PREVENTION month. Nine years ago, my husband made the choice to end his life. We had no warning and he left no note. We later found out that he had been going off of his medication at a fast rate. Neither his doctors nor I knew about it until after his suicide. The choice he made has affected the lives of so many people, not just myself and my children. However, because of his choice, we as a family became stronger and have been able to help others. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has classes that are FREE. The people who teach these classes are family members of other people who are diagnosed with a mental illness. The classes are to help give you the coping skills necessary to live your life and help your loved one live their lives to the fullest. I take this class every 5 years or so just to keep up on the latest data and practices. One in four Americans will face mental illness this year. The statistics are high, but get educated and help others become educated. www.nami.org

Russian Tea

I grew up drinking "Russian Tea". As kids we loved it, especially in the winter months western Montana gets a bit cold at that time of year. I hope that you enjoy it also. I have been to different parts of the country and have found the same basic recipe called Wassail, Orange Tea, and Orange Cider. 1 large container of orange drink beverage 1 3oz lemonade (the kind with sugar) 1c instant dry tea (I omit this as I don't want the caffeine) 1t cloves 1t cinnamon Mix well and store in an air tight container. Use 2-3 spoonfuls in 8oz of hot water. This makes great Christmas presents. I put them in canning jars one year with plaid ribbons around the top. My kids fought over the Russian Tea jars vs. the Cinnamon Cocoa jars. The drink is really nice when you have a cold and want "comfort" food.

Where ever I go people seem to want my recipes. This is my way of reaching everyone who wants them. Some are "secret" family recipes and other I have developed myself.