On My Mind Today

Tomatoes, basil and mozzarella are a great combination in any recipe. From Weelicious, this quiche is rich, delicious and easy to make. You can make it in advance and warm it before serving. Sure to be a hit with your family or brunch guests. It received a big thumbs up from my Italian man! Caprese Quiche 6 large eggs 3/4 cup whole milk 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup packed basil, thinly sliced (I used 1/2 cup and it was plenty) 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 unbaked pie crust (you can make your own or use a refrigerated pie crust) 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Place the dough into a pie or tart pan and mold into the shape of the dish. Place the crust in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill. 3. Line the crust with parchment paper and pie weights or dried beans and bake for 15 minutes. 4. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and mozzarella cheese. Gently fold in the basil and cherry tomatoes. 5. Pour the fil...

There are days we wake up refreshed and ready to face the world, and then there are the days we wake up tired. We feel more worn out than before we went to bed; as if we ran a marathon all night. Our exhaustion can be explained many times by what has taken place in our lives. Perhaps we have done more physical activity than we normally do, or there may be something weighing heavily on our mind. Mental or emotional stress can be even more exhausting than physical activity. Depression, or the loss of one we love, can drain all of our energy. An injury that causes pain and limits our normal movement can wear us out. It's impossible to feel rested and ready to face the day with the limitations an injury can create. There are so many things that can have an impact; a fight with a spouse/partner, children not cooperating, a hard day ahead at work, worrying about aging parents, or current events. The list can go on and on. Then there are those days when we just feel tired upon ris...

Seems like only a few short days ago that we welcomed summer with such joy after a long hard winter and cold spring. Ready for all the fun activities on the lake and at the ocean; so many days ahead to enjoy the heat of the sun on our cold weary bodies. Even though we think that we never want those hot summer days to end, we always seem to be ready for a change when they do. So here we are again entering fall; my favorite time of year with the warm sunny days and cool nights. A time when open windows allow the fresh crisp air to flow through and clear out the staleness from a long hot summer with a closed home and A/C running. Nights of sound and restful sleep as we snuggle under covers with the cool night air. The leaves will soon be changing to show off their brilliant colors. The apples are ready for delicious homemade pies and fall flowers will begin to grace the door steps on many homes. With the cooler days we will start to prepare our comfort foods that have been set aside d...

Although we should always be engaged in our communities and country in terms of social and political issues, there does come a time when we need to let go of the reigns; a time to turn things over to the next generation. This act of letting go can make us uneasy, but if we have prepared them properly then things will be in good hands. I'm sure that our parents, and their parents, had great trepidation about allowing us to make decisions that would impact our community socially, and our government politically. We all prefer to be in control, and don't always understand the changes that take place as each decade passes. We tend to think that what has worked for us will work for generations to come. If we are pragmatic, and are able to put things in perspective, we will see things in the light of the present and not the shadows of the past. Rationality tells us that nothing can stay the same forever and much of the transformation is necessary to adapt to the rapidly changing w...

The inability to set priorities, and learning to live within their means, has led to a personal debt crisis for many families today. They are finding themselves so deep in debt that they will never get out, or will end up filing for bankruptcy. Once they do this it will take years to rebuild their credit. Somehow we have been convinced by advertisers that our life is not complete without all the latest and greatest on the market. It's easy to get caught up in this when you have been given credit cards with fairly high limits. Once you start using them you can reach your credit limit quickly if you're not disciplined with your purchasing priorities. If individuals take their cue from the government then being in debt is the "norm". If the government feels they can run this way then why not its citizens? The truth is neither the government, or their citizens, should be spending money they don't have. Consider this: if you have about $3400 in debt on your credi...

I recently found this recipe through social media and figured it was worth a try. The original calls for 2 - 20 ounce cans of apple pie filling, but I used fresh apples and prepared them as I would to make a pie. I was pleasantly surprised at the results. The cake is moist and delicious, and great with French vanilla ice cream! This will be on the menu for future dinner guests, and I may even try different variations. Perhaps a blueberry/lemon cake combo or peach/vanilla cake. Will enjoy experimenting! Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake 5 cups of sliced apples 1/2 cup sugar 3 tablespoons flour 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (in place of the above you can use 2-20 oz. cans apple pie filling) 1 box Spice Cake Mix 2 sticks butter ( 1 cup) 1. Mix sliced apples in a bowl with the sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. 2. Place the apples in the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the dry cake mix over the top of the apples. Place 2 sticks of butter on top of the ca...

Recently I have been thinking about how slang has changed from the 1950's up to the 2010's. Each decade had its own amusing terms, but today's slang is influenced heavily by the internet and social media; in earlier decades current events and movies tended to have a bigger influence. So, I have gathered some terms from each decade to share with you. Hope you enjoy taking a trip down memory lane as much as I did. 1950's - Sputnik (1st Satellite), poodle skirts, gas at $.20 per gallon and TV shows like Lassie and Father Knows Best: Big Tickle - something really hilarious. Chrome Plated - someone all dressed up. Beat Feet - to run away from something, usually to get out of trouble. Cruisin' for a Bruisin' - looking for trouble. Copacetic - everything's all right. Classy Chassis - someone with a nice figure. You Dig? - Beat community term to ask if you understand. Drip - someone uncool. Word from the Bird - telling the truth. Kibosh - put a stop to s...

We love meatloaf, but on occasion I like to change it up a bit for new flavor combinations. My latest meatloaf recipe came about as I had some Hot Capicola and Swiss cheese on hand. This is easy to make and was a big surprise and a big hit at dinner. The combination of flavors was delicious, and this would be a great entrée for guests. Meatloaf with Hot Capicola and Swiss Cheese 1.25 to 1.5 lbs. ground beef 1 egg 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs 1/4  to 1/3 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (enough to make mixture moist) 6 slices Hot Capicola 6 slices Swiss cheese 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce together until well blended. 3. Put l...

Another year has passed by in a flash. As I struggle between accepting my age and being in denial, I look back on all that has transpired in my 64 years. I am realistic about the fact that I'm not twenty-something any longer; I'm not even forty-something at this point. Not that I still don't like to receive attention, we all like to be admired from time to time. It makes us feel good. Even if the occasion arises where I can turn the head of a man as he walks by, it will no longer be a young man, but one much more mature. The days of young men turning and admiring have passed, and are left for the younger women. A favorite aunt of mine once said to me that she had her day in the sun; now it was the younger women's turn. I always felt it was an admirable way to accept the passing of time. My life is blessed with two amazing daughters who have given me three grandchildren, and they all  fill my life with joy. I am lucky to still have my mother, and five siblings that ...