On My Mind Today

A friend was recently looking for a good refrigerator pickle, so I went in search of a recipe that looked easy and flavorful. Sommer from aspicyperspective.com described these as perky and crisp pickles, so I figured they were worth a try. The recipe is very easy and they can be put together in less than 30 minutes. After 24 hours the pickles are ready to eat. If you love dill pickles then these will become a favorite. A nice crisp dill pickle with a little kick. Best Homemade Refrigerator Pickles 3 pickling cucumbers (each about 4 inches in length) sliced evenly 1/4 cup Vidalia onion, sliced 3-5 sprigs fresh dill weed 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1/2 cup water 2 cloves garlic, smashed 1-1/2 teaspoons pickling salt (or kosher salt) 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns 1/4 teaspoon whole yellow mustard seeds Pinch of red pepper flakes 1. Pack a clean pint-sized jar with sliced cucumbers, onion slices, and dill springs. Leave a ...

Growing up we were taught the basic skills we would need in order to take care of ourselves, and our families, when we became adults. It seems the generations that have followed are not as well prepared; parents have done too much for them. We all want to take care of our children, but there are many times we coddle them. We are not doing them any favors if we don't ensure they are able to perform the basic skills needed to be successful adults. With this in mind, I have come up with a list of things they need to know; there are many others that will come up along the way to adulthood.  Budgeting and saving: Start by giving them an allowance for doing chores and explaining the value of saving vs spending it all on impulse purchases. If they want something of greater value, and save at least half of their weekly allowance, in time they can afford something bigger. An added bonus - as they see their savings grow it may encourage them to save more rather than spend it.  Us...

If you are a type A personality, which I am, it's difficult to stop and do nothing. There is always some task that we feel compelled to complete; once done, we find another on our to do list. The only way that some of us will relax, and savor what life brings into our day, is to leave home. Yesterday was one of those days. My daughter and granddaughter came to visit and we went to Hampton Beach to soak up some sun, and to look at the entries for the annual sand sculpture competition. We couldn't have asked for a better day with blue skies, bright sunshine and an offshore breeze. After dipping my feet into the cold waves rushing ashore, and watching my granddaughter play for a bit, I retreated to my beach chair. In spite of all the chatter from the other beachgoers, I found much peace and solitude. People watching is one of my favorite things to do at the beach. Such a variety from the loners, to families, to groups of teens; all absorbed in their own little world. Sun w...

Creamy, full of flavor and low carb - it doesn't get better than that. From BeyerBeware.net (mother running on empty) this easy recipe can be made in under an hour. It's very rich and filling, and makes a good size pot of soup. Goes well with homemade bread or rolls. Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup 2 pounds chicken, cooked and diced 1 pound diced ham 4 teaspoons butter 8 ounces cream cheese 1 cup heavy cream 3 cups chicken broth 1-1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese 1 teaspoon parsley 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional) 1. Melt butter in Dutch oven or large pot. Add cream cheese to melted butter and melt (stirring constantly). 2. Add ham and heavy cream to melted butter and cream cheese. Stir to combine. 3. To the ham add chicken and three cups chicken broth. Simmer on low for 5-10 minutes. Stirring occasionally. 4. Stir in 1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese and continue to stir until the cheese is melted. Add salt, pepper and pars...

Although it's been twenty-plus years since my father's passing, I still miss him. There are some days when I feel his absence more than others; with the arrival of Father's Day there have been many of these days. My father was not a perfect man; like everyone he had his flaws. However, he was a good man. He was very intelligent and had a sharp wit and good sense of humor. He also had a good heart and treated people fairly, regardless of social status or race. He was strict when it came to his daughters, but what father wouldn't be? Even though I rebelled as a teenager, I came to understand his reasons when I became a parent. He was only trying to protect us from the bad in the world. I remember him bringing candy bars home in his lunch pail for us and taking us for a ride on Sundays. Sometimes in the summer we would go to the lake for a cookout, or pile in the car to see a movie at the drive-in theater. He also taught us fun things like reciting the alphabet backw...

Throughout my adult life I have found the need to be resourceful when it comes to household projects and maintenance. As we all know, there are not always the financial resources to hire someone every time something needs to be done. In the years I lived by myself I came to appreciate that I inherited my father's aptitude for learning how to do things. As a teenager I remember watching as he changed the oil and filter in the car. I'm not so sure I could do this today with all the changes that have taken place with automobiles. However, there are many tasks that I have learned to do in the years since watching that first oil change. Hanging blinds, shades and curtains, patching holes in sheetrock, sanding floors, putting up wallpaper, painting, hanging pictures and so much more. All these things were learned out of necessity, but once mastered gave me a sense of pride in a job well done. I have become quite adept at taking the kitchen faucet apart to replace cartridges or ...

Healthy, family friendly recipes is what you will find at momskitchenhandbook.com . With the winning combination of blueberries, ginger and pecans these breakfast oatmeal cups will be a big hit with your family. Easy to make ahead of time and loaded with nourishment, they are perfect to take with you when you're on the go. These are very moist and delicious! Blueberry Pecan Baked Oatmeal Cups 2 cups rolled oats 2/3 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger (see notes) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 cups milk (or plant-based milk substitute) 2 eggs 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup frozen blueberries (no need to thaw) 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners. 2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, pecans, ginger, baking powder, and salt. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla until blended. 4. Pour t...

Laughter - noun: The action or sound of laughing; an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement. Syn onyms - belly laugh, cackle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, horselaugh, snicker, hee-haw. It has become clear to me that people don't laugh enough today; at least not the hearty kind of laughter that makes us feel good. We have fallen into routines where we allow daily stress to dominate our days. Is it any wonder we feel unhappy so often? They say that laughter is the best medicine, and as it turns out, there is some scientific truth to this. Per research by Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan at Loma Linda University in California, laughter leads to benefits such as:  Reducing stress hormones Working our abs Boosting T-cells Lowering blood pressure Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increased blood flow which can help to protect us from a heart attack. It can also temporarily relieve pain, and it burns calories. Another bonus to laughter - it has been s...

Imagine a world where we all could turn our passion into our work. A world where we support one another's dream so we all succeed; not a world of competition set up to create winners and losers. There are many people who have been fortunate enough to follow their passion and turn it into a career. However, the majority spend their days on a proverbial treadmill trying to make ends meet. They work every day to allow another to reach success; never feeling the joy of acquiring the same success for themselves. We live in a monetary society, and we need to work in order to provide for our families. In a perfect world we would be able to have financial stability pursuing our passion, but we know this isn't possible for everyone. Because of our needs and desires, there are jobs to be filled and services that need to be provided. Someone must fill these roles, and for most it's a job and not a passion. If we can't turn our passion into financial success, we need to look ...