Banana Crumb Muffins

 I think muffins were among the first things I was taught to make.  They are lesson packed, measuring, mixing, recipe reading.  They are fast and don't make a mess.  Make a muffin today!  Or better yet, teach someone else how.

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour.  I don't sift.  Do you? I scoop it in, then level it off. 

 You don't want to pack it.  Keep it as light as possible. 

Now 1 t. baking soda, 1 t. baking powder and 1/2 t. salt

Same process, dip in and level off straight at the top.

3 large ripe bananas or 4 medium to smallest ones.  mash them with a fork. 

Not a pretty job, but it can be fun.  Are you having fun?

 Add 3/4 c. granulated sugar, 1 egg and 1/3 c. butter melted.

There's that whole beautiful melted butter thing.  Can we have a moment of silence? 

Oh, and my favorite sous chef stops by just in case I need some help.  Or drop something good on the floor.

By now, you may be getting tried of pictures of the baby.  If so, you'll need to find another blog to read because I can't get enough of this kid.

And no, he isn't sticking out his tong.  He is giving me the raspberry.  Who teaches him this stuff.  In his hands, he has a shot glass inside a jam jar.  I couldn't make up this stuff.

When they are ready, maybe I could have one, Meemaw.

And here he is with the action end of the turkey baster.  Blowing and humming into it like a kazoo.  Who needs any other entertainment than a baby and a cat?

Now the topping for the muffins.  1/3 c. brown sugar.  You pack brown sugar into the measuring cup with the back of a spoon.  1 T. flour.  1/8 t. cinnamon, 1 T. melted butter.

Put a paper muffin cup in each cup.  Fill each cup about 3/4 full.  They use ice cream scoops on the food channels, which is cute.  But I use a measuring cup.  Sprinkle the topping over each muffin.  Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes.  Cool for a few minutes then move to a wire rack. 

I don't remember where I got this recipe, so I can't give proper credit.   It was during my yellow index card and blue gel pen phase and that's been quite a well ago.  I've been making it for a while.  

Remember to teach someone to make muffins. 

Relationships

I'm thinking a lot about relationships right now.  So here is my checklist on relationships.

• Mature adult relationships are give and take.  Some days you need to take a bit more.  Some days you can give back a little more.  And it's all good.
• Some people give too much and find themselves taken advantage of. 
• Some people take too much and find that the world is all about them. 
• Those two types some times hook up with each other.  Works in a limited way, but it's not really all that good.
• If you find yourself needing to deal closely with some one who is a really alot take or a really alot give, sometimes a mature person can stear the relationship to a more equal place.  Sometimes it isn't possible.  I have someone in my life who is almost all take.  What do I do?  Well, this is an important person, so I keep trying.  But it is also important for me to keep some distance from this person, take care of my own feelings, and not get too caught up in their stuff for my own sake.

Remember to take care of yourself.

Game Day

First, Did you know that cats don't come when called? 

Second, do you know how to get a cat out from under the bed if she doesn't want to come out? 

Apparently there is some football game.  Since I barely know what football is, I'm kind out of the loop.  But I went to U of O for 4 terms before I transferred to OSU.  And I'm the only one in the house who did attend and also the only one who does not own and is not wearing U of O clothing.  This school must be raking it in hand over fist considering the amount of green and yellow I saw today.

I'm not sure who Auburn is.  If you are a fan, I apologize.

Did I mention we have several employees who pre-arranged for a day off tomorrow because they are partying tonight.  We work hard and we play hard. 

 My barbecue meatballs with Josh's sauce hot and bubbly.  They are a lot better than my ability to take a picture of them. 

Daughter in law's taco dip, layers of taco meat, refried beans, lettuce, salsa, tomatoes, olives and avocados.  We ate it with chips and extra taco sauce.

Babies like it. 

Well, babies like everything as long as their big people are happy.

Remember to be happy.  

 

Oh, yea, this was about football.

Asian Pork Roast

We've past our first full week with the "kids" staying with us.  This type of thing is never quite convenient for anyone.  In the old days, multiple generations lived together to help each other and take care of each other.  These days, everyone wants independence.  You can't fault it. 

But, Daughter in Law has done a fabulous job of feeding us all, her own crew plus Papa and I.  We've been grateful for her efforts to handle the domestic chores for so many.

The dog and cat are getting along fine.  The cat couldn't care less.  The dog cares a great deal.

My main contribution for the week has been Asian Pork Roast

1 c. soy sauce

1/2 c. wine

1/2 c packed brown sugar

2 T. red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

2 T. fresh ginger, shredded
1 t. salt

1 large pork roast, clean and dry

Combine all but the last ingredient and pour into a gallon zip lock bag.  Place the roast in the bag and seal.  Place in the frig, turning the bag a few times, for 1 to 2 days. 

To cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the roast on a roasting pan and bake until internal temperature reads 160 or 170 degrees.

Meanwhile, pour marinade from the bag into a sauce pan and simmer slowly until the sauce thickens. 

The sauce is good poured over the roast.  If you happen to get it on the rice or vegetables it won't hurt you.

The next night I made Josh's barbecue sauce.  The recipe has previously been given. 

I cut the remaining roast into small pieces, added it to a large sauce pan with the barbecue sauce and simmered until the sugars slightly carmelized and it thickened.  We ate it on toasted hogey rolls with a big salad made by Daughter In Law.  Babies like it.

I had other photos, but they vanished under suspect circumstances, so you'll have to use your imagination. 

Oh, and I finished my wrap.  I took this picture to post it to the web site where I got the pattern.  Here it is if you are interested.  http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60500.html?noImages=

It was fun to knit.  I've enjoyed wrapping myself in it.  It looks pretty nice sitting on Aunt Christine's quilt, if I do say so myself, and I do.    

Remember to learn your lessons when you see them or you'll be seeing them again.

  

Challenges of a business person

I know and like a woman who has decided to end her business.  She is a lovely, caring person who had the most sincere hopes for a successful business that contributed to her community and served her customers. 

Like all small businesses during the recession, she has struggled to keep it together for some time now.  I have seen her start to loose heart and passion for her business.  A business owner needs heart and passion.  When it goes bad, it can take a toll on the mental and emotional well being of a business owner.  Everyone looks to the owner to provide - a product, a paycheck, a secure and stable presence.

But what I really want to write about is the toll a failing business has on a marriage.  Entrepreneurship involves financial risk.  Financial loss can feel like betrayal.  Loss of security. Failure.  It bleeds into a marriage.  That is happening to the woman I'm writing about.  She and her husband are separated, I'm hoping temporarily.  Neither want to be separated.  Both see the situation differently.  The woman is a sensitive soul.  The husband is a nice guy.  I wish them the best. 

The Osborne's business had their own times of struggles during the recession.  It appears to be in the past.  I check every day to make sure we are staying in the black.  But there was a time.  Most of 2009 and the first four months of 2010 were the worst.  Every day was one nightmare after another.  When things are going bad and the buck stops with you, I just can't tell you.  We had some big problems.  My husband and I work together pretty well the majority of the time.  The fact that we are very different people in our approach to life and in our talents, skills and abilities can be really great when we are working together well.  But during the worst times, we lost track of each other and went floundering about on our own.  It was horrible.  Eventually, the tough times brought us closer.  Today, you couldn't pry us apart with tools.

So to you, T and J.  Please work it out.  Twenty years of marriage is more important than loss of money.  Land this thing with dignity and move on together.  Forgive each other for your mistakes.  You've both made them.  T just told me "I just need to feel safe."  J just asked me "what were we thinking?"  You had a dream which would have been successful in another place and time.  Feel safe in each other.  Land this thing with your heads high and move on together. 

Remember to have faith in each other.     

Cali, the Cat and Humble Baked Custard

Cali the Cat

I'm kind of obsessed with the cat right now.  You'll remember that this is not my cat.  It belongs to Step Son and Daughter in Law, who are staying with us temporarily.  Of course, this is not my first acquaintance with Cali.  We've known her for years. 

But now everywhere I go in my house, there is this freaking cat.  She may not look like a special cat in these pictures, but yesterday, I poked her with my big toe to see what would happen and she did a back flip.  Are all cats this entertaining? 

I might mention that I've never had a cat in all of my 51 years.  I'm a dog person.  My father didn't like cats.  They disturbed his landscaping, if you know what I mean.  He liked his yard.  If you don't know what cats do in bark dust, well...

     

 If I hand you the duster, could you get the high spots for me?

Why do I have the creepy feeling that she might jump down on me?

Dude, don't touch my new chair or we are going to have a problem.

And

Humble Baked Custard

4 eggs from Willamette Farms Eggs

2 c. Milk from Alpenrose

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/4 t. salt.

Homemade Blackberry Jam

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in a bowl with a whisk.  Divide between several custard dishes or small ramekins. 

Add a dollop of your favorite preserve to eah.  I'm using homemade blackberry jam right now.  Stir it around a couple swishes, just enough to spread it around a bit.   

Place the dishes into one larger flat pan, a roaster, large cake pan or the like. Place in the oven and pour water into the larger pan being careful to not get water in the custard.

 Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  

A humble dessert.  A snack for the kids.  Just a nice, old fashioned thing that makes me happy.  

  

Linked with
The Nourishing Gourmet http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2011/01/pennywise-platter-thursday-1611.html


and Culinary Bliss
http://culinarybliss.blogspot.com/

Christmas, A Public Apology, New Residents

A good Christmas, healthy and well.

And a public apology.  A few days before Christmas, I asked to have my knives sharpened. 

Then I got a little pissy (maybe a little more than pissy) when I got sympathy, but no action. 

I'm usually a pretty smart girl.  They all knew.

It seems that Santa was very good to me this year.  And he'll be getting some extra kisses. 

And, my knives won't need sharpening for a while.

Sorry and thank you. 

And among the new residents, Cali, the cat. 

Cali, you've met Jake, the Golden Retriever? Jake, you know Cali.

Remember to get along.