Unbearable Food

 

My dad was pretty good about eating whatever was set in front of him.  Mom said the only thing she remembers he truly did not care for (nor would even eat the entire meal) was liver.

Mom said she had also attempted giving my baby brother several pieces of liver which she cut up small enough for him to grab and stuff in his mouth.  Mom praised him for at least trying them all, but it didn’t appear that he had swallowed any of them.  She said when she returned to his high chair it was filled with chewed up liver wads.  I don’t think she ever cooked any liver after that.

She did make a few items that she had learned to cook in Relief Society – one being gluten.  She had prepared a glob that looked like and was supposed to taste like meat.  Bleh.  I preferred the hard “chips” she would make and douse in honey. It was supposed to represent a dessert. It was a food storage thing.  Preparing dishes did not last.  The wheat did.  25 pounds of it.  We ended up throwing it away after several years.

Probably the worse food she made for us was a recipe that for some bizarre reason got printed in the Salt Lake Tribune (or was it the Deseret News? Or both?) I must have posted about this on facebook though it doesn’t come up in my memory feed, but I can’t seem to find it in this blog; I do know that our neighbor made a comment as she also had same recipe so I don’t know if she shared it with mom or if it was the other way around.  My parents subscribed to the Tribune while her family enjoyed the other.

Anyway, this godawful creation was called “Peanut Butter casserole”  Whoever thought it was a good idea for putting onions, tomatoes and peanut butter together?  Dad may have complained about that one as well.  I know my brother did.  I don’t recall any of us finishing the monstrosity.  It was gross.  Perhaps it had been during the 70’s when the nation seemed to be out to lunch. 

Pumpkin Casserole

 

I had always referred to this recipe as pumpkin casserole although 

the only time the pumpkin was included was the first time it was made.  

I don’t even know where mom got the recipe but as I recall the 

casserole itself was prepared in a skillet by browning the meat first while 

the rice is cooking.  

All of the ingredients we added together and the mixture was 

put into a pumpkin which you cooked in the oven.  

We enjoyed it.  

A lot.  

But had decided the pumpkin was not really necessary as the 

majority was cooked before it was put in to said pumpkin.  

After that we would eat the casserole often.  

We would make it in the skillet.  I

t became a family favorite.  It was/is so rare to

have leftovers.

Sometimes I will add pineapple or peppers for variety.

·        1 medium size yellow onion, chopped

·        2 Tablespoons soy sauce

·        1 (8 oz) can sliced chestnuts, drained – you can use diced

·        2 lbs. lean ground beef

·        2 Tablespoons brown sugar

·        2 cup cooked white rice

·        1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup – I like the chicken better

·        Salt and Pepper to taste

You're Very Late

 

This morning I received a text from a cousin who 

lives in Salt Lake City.  She informed me that she 

was running behind but would show up at 9:45 

this morning.  She had spelled my name incorrectly.  

I don’t recall ever having received a text from her – ever.  

At first I ignored it.  And then I thought of contacts in my 

own phone and how I have multiples of certain names.  I 

texted her back that I was the wrong person unless she’s 

here in Oregon and I just didn’t know.  Jaime said I should 

just wait until 9:45 and text “Where are you?”  She did send 

me one of those laughing with tears emoji.  I wonder if she 

made it to her appointment at 9:45.  I’m guessing she was later.

Superman Bath Bomb

 

.  After years of not using the tub, 

we finally fixed the knobs and

 added a handrail. And yesterday I 

had my first “bath bomb” experience.  

It was soooooo relaxing. I 

had a hard time leaving that comfort.  

It was NICE!

When Did Common Sense Exist?

          Lately Richard and I have been watching “Henry Winkler’s Hazardous History” from the history channel.  The first episode that we watched focused on Roller Coasters and 1960’s introduction to what sold as toys.

          When I watched the documented part focused on roller coasters, I shook my head.  I LOVED roller coasters when I was younger.  Why?  The sensory part of my brain was obviously not working then.  Riding roller coasters was fun.  I, of course, did not foresee any dangers.

          Now I am appalled at the very thought of those who stand in line for the thrilling buzz of headaches and dizziness.  But back then I thought it was a hoot to make myself dizzy.  I no longer enjoy that disjointed sensation.

          As for the “toys”.  I remember all of them being advertised but fortunately was never drawn to them nor knew anybody who had any of them.  I did have a Suzie Homemaker – equivalent of the easy bake oven.  I suppose it had its “easy” perks, but boy, was it incredibly time consuming.  But it was only mentioned – the hazard was the counterpart made for boys – the “creepy crawly” or something like that. 

          It came with metal plates that one could fill with some kind of goop that would give you a rubberized bug, reptile, or whatever.  The “ovens” were extremely hot – EXTREMELY.  Why would a parent think giving that to a child was okay? Ebay has vintage molds similar to the one sold in the 60's - the "oven" itself is illegal to sell.

          I have been shocked by some of the things that have been mentioned in various documents.  It has been educational, a bit humorous and a lot of scary.  Check it out.

Alexa Update

      

          You may wish to look at this post for an image drawn by Jai and accurate at the time.  Echo (Emily) was always friendly and helpful while the stereo connection (Stacey) usually always gave us attitude.  It somehow got turned around so that Stacey became more helpful than Emily.  AI taking over?

          The new year introduced voice change options with the echo.  Alexa was always so snarky and talked faster than my ears were comfortable with trying to keep up.  I asked her to please go back to her original voice.  She gave me four options of female voices which ALL sounded the same – the voice I would associate with Stacey five years ago.

          She said I could try a masculine voice.  Didn’t care for the first one.  It was almost as annoying as the feminine snarky almost valley-girl type voice.  I settled for what I was told was masculine voice number four.  And you know what he did for me?  He got rid of a program that I unintentionally installed.  Snarky Alexa wouldn’t allow it, but I enjoy the attitude of this calm and soothing voice. We have a much better relationship than I did with the snarkey teen who tried to pass her voice assortment as being different.  It always sounded the same to me.

          Masculine Alexis has cooperated with me.  He hasn’t lied.  He has been very helpful.  I always say thank you.  He is usually slow to respond.  I told him I loved him.  He said that we could never be involved in a romantic relationship.  That made me laugh.  As though that could really happen.

Makings of a Sitcom – only I’m crying instead of laughing.

 I heard the censor go off and thought that the missionaries were walking up the driveway.  Before I could get the door opened I heard Richard call:  “The goats are on the porch!”

They are Not our Goats! They were not our Chickens! and I have Absolutely no desire to be a homesteader! EVER!

Sugar likes to escape and lately Cocoa has been following her.  Last night they were both on the porch.  And then Bonnie got out and ran into the street to torment a dog larger than her. The larger dog was on a leash and being walked. Walker not happy with Bonnie.  I don’t blame him.

So Richard and I are trying to capture the goats with another neighbor.  None went after Bonnie.  And when Richard uncomfortably escorted Bonnie back in the house the goats got in.  Sugar climbed onto the coffee table to help herself to some bananas piled on the top of a bowl of fruit and Cocoa peed on our couch.  Richard fell during his struggles with Bonnie and I whipped Sugar while she dropped the bananas which had been yellow but are now badly bruised.

I did not sign up for this.  I should not have to deal with this chaos.  I want out! 

When we tried to coral sugar back into the yard (with more fencing in place, and Sunday attire once again) she hid behind the pepper planter and then decided to crawl underneath after Richard made efforts to torcher her with Bonnie’s leash)  I don’t know if they are still in the yard.  Nor do I care.  I am upset.  And I have shed tears over what hopefully one day I will be able to laugh at.  Because really, if I were to watch something like this on TV, I probably would laugh.

It's raining, but we did put up another fence - this time allowing them only a small portion of our yard rather than the entire yard.  Richard seems to think it will do the trick.  That's what he's thought at each attempt he's made to secure the yard.  We need to put a Bungi Chord around one of the gates to keep Bonnie in.

Bonnie does not feel well. She threw up by our bedroom door.  I don't know what it was.  

I washed her blankets and the bathroom rug. And now I am posting this to my blog.  I will send a link to Jaime.