National Adoption Month

There has been a lot in the news and posted to the media sites concerning National Adoption Month. This has given me cause to think of the special people I've been fortunate to have in my life. First there is my own "father." He is the first man I ever fell in love with; the one who gave me "the talk"; a constant in my life, an anchor. He taught me that love is unconditional and forever. (Yes, I'm writing this through teary eyes and a runny nose!) He is the "Daddy that didn't have to be." He loved my momma enough to love her girls too. He taught me right from wrong, how to fish, camp, and swear. Because of him and momma, I have been fortunate to have "brothers" in my life. They have come in the form of friends sons (Ronnie, Ricky, and Jason), truckers that are around the ages of their girls (Ronnie), and one who has a great father, but "adopted" my Daddy too (Will)! In turn, I have "adopted" a few "extra" kids of my own. They have come into my life through my own children and there are approximately three dozen give or take a few! I have been able to witness this phenomena in my children as well. Bryan gave his heart to two wonderful girls and supported them, while their own fathers were court ordered to pay child support. These men do not have a clue as to what they are missing out on. Bryan has taken these girls camping, to the zoo, various theme parks, and local historic sites. He also has two children of his own and still manages to have room in his heart to worry about their older siblings. Scotty married a wonderful lady (Missy) with two girls of her own and finally admitted to me that when the chips are down-he will always side with "his girls." He was recently able to adopt Missy's youngest. We tease her that she is now "legal." The truth is that blood has nothing to do with those we choose to love or who choose to love us. I like to tell people that I have a crazy eclectic mixed up family. The truth is I would not trade even one of them for anyone else in the world. At a family reunion you would be hard pressed to figure out just how we are really related! I have what I refer to as "a sister of the heart" (Debbie);cousins' children that call me Auntie; and children of my ex-brother-in-law who call me Auntie. My father always says that, "We had four girls, and were luck enough to raise three of them." The reality-four girls (two with DNA compatible to both parents); nine grandchildren (only two with DNA compatible with both grandparents); and eleven great grandchildren (none with compatible DNA). What a rich legacy my parents have left us. What love and joy fill our lives because two people fell in love!

Happy Birthday Kelly Jo

Today is my sister Kelly's 50th Birthday. Each family member and friend is celebrating it in their own way. My niece took her little one (Kelly's only grandchild) to Olive Garden and got her a piece of birthday cake for her grandma. The picture of her sweet face with all of the cake, frosting, and smiles was totally worth the effort. Today, I got a hair cut, wore red (her favorite color), and am now in the process of making a nice dinner for myself. I have a bottle of Martinellis to toast her with that I have saved from when her daughter got married. I bought Junior Mints and will watch the movie Hocus Pocus. Watching a movie with Junior Mints was something that Kelly and I did whenever I would go up to visit. We had a lot of jokes about those mints! I chose to watch Hocus Pocus tonight because it's a movie about three sisters. I will let each of you chose which witch is which! Halloween night I will, of course, require each trick or treater to show me a trick! This was something our Daddy always made us do before we could get a treat from him. Kelly and I always take great delight in the "tricks" the children come up with each year. If the child can't come up with one, they can always sing "Happy Birthday" to Kelly. I have had at least one each year sing for her. It's nice to have good memories to fall back on when life becomes to hectic. Love you Sis!

Casseroles

I have been trying to find an effective way to post my recipe for generic casseroles. I think I might have it! Casseroles are great for the winter months and can be great for the grocery budget. They can be healthy or not so healthy depending on your preference. Protein: This could be any kind of meat, dairy, or a combination of beans, cheese, and rice. I have used hot dogs, browned hamburger, tuna, stew meat, leftover pork roast, etc... Filler: This would be your starch. I suggest whole wheat pasta, brown rice, or cubed potatoes. Veggies: Don't skimp on these! Peas, carrots, corn, green beans, broccoli, and any other veggie you can get your family to eat. I even combine them. I like to get the frozen variety packs. Sauce: Something soupy to bind the goodness together. Any creamed soup or gravy will work great. I like the low sodium varieties. Toppings: I like to top it all with cheeses, but you could used crushed potato chips, or bread crumbs. The amount you use depends on how large your group is. One pound of protein, 2 cups of starch, 2-3 cups veggies, and one can of soup. Mix well and pour into a 9x13 cake pan and sprinkle the topping on. Bake 350 degrees for half an hour. You could microwave it as well if there is only cheese on top. Everything is cooked, you just need to heat it up! Combinations I have done are: hot dogs, mac and cheese, mushroom soup, and peas with cheddar cheese on top; brown rice with hamburger, mixed veggies, and mushroom soup; you could layer the protein, veggies, and sauce, then put mashed potatoes on top for a shepherd's pie. What ever combination you come up with enjoy the meal with your family!

Grandma Wicke's Bread

I have my grandmother's bread recipe that I have been using since I first got married in January of 1980. My mother said that she believes it is an alternate recipe to the one she used when her children were growing up as this recipe is quite small compared to what my mother remembers her making. Momma said she remembers her mother using a large galvanized tub to mix and knead the bread in. The recipe I have only makes three loaves and does not need that large of a container. I first used a 32 cup Tupperware bowl and now use my Kitchen Aid to mix the dough. It is super easy to mix and takes 2 hours from start to finish depending on how you use the dough. I use this recipe for cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, bread, and scones (the Utah way, which is fried bread). Mix 3 cups warm water and 2 tablespoons of yeast (2 packages); let sit for 10 minutes to proof. The mixture will look bubbly and smell yeasty. Add 2/3 cup oil and 1 cup sugar or honey and mix well. Add 8 cups flour (I like to use 1/2 white and 1/2 whole wheat; I have used rye before and had a good product also). Mix this well until no flour remains in the bowl. Raise the dough for half an hour, more if the room is on the cooler side. Bread dough likes to be warm for the yeast to do its thing and raise the dough. When the dough is ready beat it down and knead for 10 minutes or so. you are now ready to use it for what ever bread product you like! Rolls and cinnamon rolls need to raise about 20 minutes and bake for 20-30 minutes. Bread needs to raise for 30 minutes and bakes for 30 minutes. Bake all bread products at 350 degrees. If you choose scones, deep fry until golden brown on both sides and drain on a paper towel. My kids love this with home-made jams or honey. Enjoy!

Halloween Party

Our family Halloween party this year will be an Oktoberfest. I am excited to share our German heritage with my children and grandchildren. We cook traditional German dishes together and have lots of laughs. This year it will be at my son's house. We will have currywurst, onion pie, German potato salad, molasses cookies and pfeffernuse. The grandchildren will have hot dogs. Currywurst is a spicy dish made with brats, and a spicy chili sauce, onions, and peppers. Our families that came to America from Germany are the Coleman (Khulman), Wicke, and Shrum (Shramm) families. The Shrum and Coleman families have been in America since the early 1700s. The Wicke family came in the mid 1800s. I look forward to our heritage dinners, because it is a chance for everyone to be together and experience another culture. Take a minute or so to look up the foods and cultural ideals of your heritage. It is fascinating to me how America truly is a "melting pot" of cultures.

Taco Soup

Fall is here and the air is crisp! Time for Taco Soup! My kids love this and it is an easy recipe for the four quart crock pot. 1 lb browned hamburger; 1 can beans ( I like black beans, but kidney beans are great too); 1 can of corn, juice too; 1 can of tomato soup; 2 cans of vegetable soup; 1 c of your favorite salsa; Mix all of this in your crock pot and add enough water to fill it up. Cook on low 8 hrs or high 4 hrs. Serve with grated cheddar cheese, Fritos corn chips, and chopped green onions, and sour cream.

Suicide

Recently, my son installed an aquarium in our living room for my grandchildren to enjoy. Originally, there were eight fish in the tank. Slowly over the week, one at a time, their numbers are dwindling. It occurred to me today that we are not the only living beings on earth to be suicidal. There are now four of the original eight fish in the tank. I have been wondering why the fish feel the need to leave the tank. They have all the food, water, entertainment, and company of the other fish. People contemplating suicide need to have a "hope" to hang on to for their survival. As a member of the human family, hope can come from any direction. Family, friends, accomplishments-they are all a vital part of our existence. When my children were small, and even now that they are older, I would touch them. Hugs, a pat on the back or arm, ruffling their hair, I knew that they would know the touch of their mother and feel safe and loved. I have tried to strive over the years to keep that contact with them. Telephone conversations end with an "I love you." There are hugs when they walk through my door and hugs when they leave. My youngest said that we are a very "huggy-kissy" family. Looking back on my childhood, there were always hugs and kisses from my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Make sure that your loved ones have the touching and hugging and "I love yous." Quantity and Quality matter! Maybe, the fish in the tank need more touching.

Sushi Night

One of my favorite things to do is get together with my kids and grandkids. Life is NEVER boring with my group. Last night, we celebrated two birthdays, Nathan and Emily. We made sushi and had dragoons, lemon poppy seed cake, and no bake cookies. We played a Monte Python card game and was I ever lost with all of the jokes and cards! I was still able to follow the rules and play the game. During the sushi making part of the evening things were really interesting. My son Scotty made a mac and cheese sushi for his daughter Marissa. It was fun to watch her face when she found out how to eat it. Scotty put a dollop of ketchup on top of each roll and told her to put it all in her mouth and chew. Marissa looked at him skeptically and said, "I even have to eat the paper! No way!" Then, her father put one in his mouth and chewed. She ate her plain mac and cheese. Sushi is a family favorite for most of us. There are a few dissenters. I discovered a tutorial on YouTube that shows how to make California rolls and other types of sushi. I taught the kids and now everyone makes their own when we have a sushi night. We talk and eat and laugh. Lots of fun and teasing going on in this house! Life is definitely good.

Suicide Prevention

It is once again that time of the year when we celebrate the life of our husband, father, brother, and cousin. The decision he made has affected us in many ways over the last ten years. Some are positive and others not so much. Please remember that it was his decision, whether we feel it was wrong or not. I know that he would want us to carry on and do him proud. That is why I have pressed forward with my book and will continue to advocate for mental illness issues. I believe that education, support, and advocacy for mental illness is the way to lift the stigma associated with it and set the next generation free from that stigma. Every few years, I take a class through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). I refreshes what I have already learned and gives me new information and hope for future generations. I have promoted the classes in the past and will continue to advise everyone to take them if they are available. THEY ARE FREE! Here is a write-up that was in my city newsletter. Good luck and God Bless! The Bear River Health Department issued this in our city newsletter. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK National Suicide Prevention Week is September 8-14. During this week, we want to raise awareness about suicide and how we can prevent it. Suicide is a complex and multi-dimensional problem and no one is immune from its effects. It is important to remember that suicide is preventable, but it will take the entire community's efforts to be successful. There were over 38,000 deaths by suicide in the United States in 2010. That breaks down to one death by suicide about every 15 minutes in our country. In Utah, an average of 400 die from suicide with an additional 4,152 suicide attempts each year., During 2007-2011, the Bear River Health Department lost nearly 100 persons to suicide (data from DC and YDOH-IBIS). What can you do to help prevent suicide? Educate yourself and others. Participate in local events and trainings where you can learn more about suicide prevention. Let your loved ones know you care. An easy way to do that is to send an e-card. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline now has e-cards available at ecards.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Participate in Suicide Prevention Week by lighting a candle near a window on Tuesday, September 10th at 8 pm. This gesture supports World Suicide Prevention Day, suicide prevention awareness, survivors of suicide and memories of lost loved ones.

Cranberry Pork

I was looking through my recipe books for something "new" to make for dinner and came across a recipe I had never tried. (Imagine that!) After "tweaking" it a bit to suit my "Italian" side of the family, I realized that the recipe was unique. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I think it is my new favorite way to make pork! 4 pork chops (I used a roast and trimmed the fat and cut it into 5 slices); 1 can cranberry sauce (I used the jellied kind, but next time will try it with the whole cranberry sauce); 1 "full tablespoon of chopped, minced garlic; 1/4 c apple cider vinegar; 1/4 c honey; 2 onions, sliced and caramelized. Mix cranberry sauce, vinegar, honey, and garlic. Layer in a crockpot-onion, sauce, pork, onion, sauce, pork......Crockpot on high for 4 hours. I served this with corn on the cob; it was delicious!

Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Coconut Oatmeal cookies were my husband's favorite. He didn't like coconut, but as his girlfriend I didn't know that and sent him many boxes of these while he was in the Navy. When he found out they had coconut in them, he was first appalled; then agreed that he never knew to begin with so keep it in the recipe! I hope you enjoy them as much as our family does. 2c flour; 1t baking powder; 1c butter; 1c sugar; 1c oatmeal; 2c coconut; 1t salt; 1t baking soda; 1c brown sugar; 2 eggs; 2t vanilla. Mix well and spoon onto cookie sheet-bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!

Grandma Bischoff's Marshmallow Fudge

This is the promised fudge recipe! Marshmallow Fudge has been a family tradition for 7 or 8 years now. My girls brought the recipe home from "Grandma Marion". In a saucepan add: 1/3c butter; 4 1/2c sugar; 1 can (12oz.) evaporated milk; 1c marshmallow creme; and let it come to a boil-boil 5 1/2 minutes. Take off the heat and add: 1 13oz. chocolate bar; 2 pkgs (12oz each) chocolate chips; 2t vanilla; can add 2c chopped nuts (WE DO NOT!) Stir well and put into a buttered 9x13 cake pan. I like to use Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate for this. It makes about 5 pounds of fudge. I love to take a small bite of this fudge and just let it melt in my mouth. It is wonderful!