Author Archives: patty

Gummy Bears Picnic at the Ballpark

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Dearest Boo,  last Friday I was thrilled to be able to have a new experience and I loved it!  Your Aunt Teri asked me to join her beloved family in attending the Husker Baseball game.  I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I have never been to one game.   I did join them, it was fun, and I will go again.  We sat in the General Admission seats, which means that we sat in the grassy area on blankets.  Except for the fact that it was still a bit cold, we had a good time.  It was so great to see all of the families that were there together supporting our team.  Sitting next to us was a young man and his wee little boy.  They were having so much fun together.  The little one had such joy on his face while he copied his father’s actions.  Dad stood up to cheer, wee little one did too.  Dad clapped when our right fielder made a great catch, wee little one did too.  One of our boys scored a home run and Dad picked up wee little one and spun him around in a circle celebrating.  Wee little one let out the biggest squeal of joy.  It was so tender to see the love on both their faces.

And I so enjoyed spending time with my baby sister and her family.  There are ten years between our ages, so I don’t know much of her childhood.  At that time I was too busy trying hard to be grown up and not wanting to be with family.  It was not “cool”.  How sorry I am for that, as I so admired the wonderful woman she has grown up to be and I love seeing what a great mother she is to her two young girls.

Going to the ball park reminded me of the times when you were younger and we would go as a family to see the Royals play in Kansas City.  You were so excited to go, but I was never sure if it was because of the game, or the fact that you were able to take along a friend or if it was because we were going to Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun.  You always wanted to ride all the roller coasters first.  You sure did not get that from me!  Just the thought of getting on a roller coaster would make me want to puke.  Just saying the words “roller coaster” makes me want to puke.

The very last roller coaster this old behind ever got into was during your eight grade Sunday School trip to Kansas City.  I can close my eyes and picture the cars slowly clanking their way up to the very first hill, anticipating the drop that was to come all too soon, feeling my stomach slowly creeping up into my mouth, wondering if what was in my stomache headed towards my mouth was going to come out in a “Exorcist-like” moment.  Oh my gravy!  There I was in the ride, sitting with one of your classmates and I was trying hard not to embarrass myself or you.  Just before the drop I recall my mouth being open and screaming out.  I looked over at the poor, sweet little girl that was sitting with me.  Here eyes were huge with what I interpreted to be total fear.  It was only when we got off the roller coaster that I overheard her telling one of the boys on the trip that she had never heard those kinds of words before, let alone those kind of words coming from my mouth.  Apparently, I was in need of a bar of soap and getting my mouth washed out.

All of this is leading to the treats that I brought to the game last Friday.  I had found a recipe for home made Gummi Bears and I wanted to try it out.  The hardest part is paying for the candy molds.  They were about $4 a piece at Michael’s, but I had a 75% off coupon.  Score!!  They tasted okay.  A bit too strawberry for my taste.  Next time I will try another flavor.  Perhaps there will be better success and then there will be Joy Rising.

Home  Made  Gummy  Bears

Prep  Time: 20 minutes

Cook  Time: 0 minutes

Source: Sadly I Cannot Remember

Ingredients:

  • 2  three oz. packages of flavored Jello
  • 6 envelopes of knox unflavored gelatin
  • 2/3 c of cold water
  • 1/6 c of cold water (I know, it confused me at first.  Just fill measuring cup to about half of the 1/3 mark)

Directions:

  1. Make sure you have your candy molds ready.  This made enough for five molds, this will totally depend on how large/deep are your molds.
  2. Measure the water into a glass measuring cup and slowly add all the gelatin the Jello.  Make sure to add it a little at a time and stir in completely before adding more.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Put the glass measuring cup into your microwave for about 60 seconds.  You may need to go another 60 seconds.  You just want to melt the “goo”, not cook it.
  5. Pour the mixture into your molds, just is made easier because you were smart enough to use the measuring cup.
  6. Put the molds into the fridge for 5-10 minutes to help them set faster.
  7. Once they are set you can pull them right out of their molds.  I found it to be a bit easier to use a knife to help loosen up one side.  They pulled out much easier at that point.

Enjoy!


Better Late Than Never

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Dearest Boo,  once again I am late with my thoughts.  Your Uncle Mike’s birthday was ten days ago.  I did remember the date and I did get his gift to him in time, but I wanted to post this idea sooner.  It was a fun gift and I am sure that I enjoyed making the gift more than he did receiving the gift.  Fun, fun, fun for me!

“A friend is a brother who was once a bother.  ~Author Unknown”.  This sure does fit your Uncle Mike.  What a pain little brothers are and then I grew up and discovered what a charming young man he grew up to be.  Life was never dull when he was around and usually up to his antics.

Michael is a given name that comes from the Hebrew: (Mikha’el), meaning “Who is like God?” In English, it is sometimes shortened to Mike, Mikey, or, especially in Ireland, Mick.  Michael was a popular name among many royal houses of Europe for centuries; this was also the name of nine Byzantine emperors and a czar of Russia.  It has been in the top ten list since 1954 of the most popular names for boys.

Some notable Michaels – Michael is one of the Archangels, however, your Uncle Mike was not an angel.  Okay,  maybe when he was a wee baby he was an angel.  I remember that he had a horrible case of eczema all over his sweet little face.  His little cheeks were just so red and raw and so blistering and cracking.  It just hurt to look at this sweet face.  He was such a trooper during that time.  I remember that it seemed like he was allergic to everything.  We were always being reminded by your grandmother of things that he would have a reaction to if he ate it.  All I can remember is his being allergic to eggs, but I am sure that there were more things.

Famous sports Michaels – Michael Jordan in basketball and Michael Phelps in swimming.   I remember your Uncle Mike shooting hoops, just like Michael Jordan.  However, he was not your uncle’s favorite.  Magic Johnson was his “man” and I have to agree with him on this one.  The only thing better than Magic Johnson’s performance on the court is his performance off the court.  He is a true gentleman, both on the court and off.  His business enterprises are extremely successful and his is also a philanthropist and motivational speaker.   Uncle Mike picked a great sports hero in Magic Johnson.  Michael Phelps…what else can anyone say about this young man’s swimming accomplishments?  He has won fourteen Olympic gold metals, broken thirty-seven world records in swimming, and eight gold metals in a single Olympic.  Uncle Mike can swim, not Michael Phelps swim, but he can swim.  Aunt Charlotte tells the story of one time that Uncle Mike wanted to go swimming.  Only problem being that the swimming pool at the local park was locked for the night.  That did not stop him.  Somehow he was able to talk Aunt Char into climbing the fence and taking a midnight swim.  Another thing Uncle Mike has in common with Michale Phelps – they are were tall and lanky and had nicknames.  Michael Phelps was called “Gomer” in reference to “Gomer Pyle” a good natured, naive country boy.  Growing up we called Uncle Mike “Skeletor”, as he was so gosh, darn skinny.  He looked like all he had was his skin hanging on his bones.  Kind of a play on the character from He-Man.  You remember He-Man….one of your all time favorite cartoons.  Uncle Mike would eat and eat and eat and never gain a pound.   I was so jealous.  These two Michaels also had another thing in common, but that is a story for another day!  It involves “oregano”.

Then you have the fighter, Mike Tyson.  Mike Tyson has a temper and several of his assaults outside of the ring are well documented.  Your Uncle Mike had quite a temper growing up.  You could always tell when he was getting ready to let go of his anger.  His face would turn a bright red color, his body would stiffen, and his hands would start to ball up in a fist.  That was a giant clue for all of us to exit, stage right, get out of Dodge, make like a tree and leaf.  However, for some bizarre reason I felt that I could save us all by creeping up behind him and capture him in a giant bear hug.  What was I thinking????!!!  Lordy!  That was like waving a red flag in front of a bull!  He would start to struggle and I would hold on tight and be laughing.  Then I would realize that he was not laughing and I was in deep, deep trouble.  I could not let him get free or I would be in big trouble.  Not that I thought he would ever hit me – he was and still is one of the kindest, gentlest men I know, he would lay down his life for a loved one.  What I feared was that I would continue laughing, he would get angier, and I would laugh so hard at his frustration that I would pee my pants.  Nope, that would give me a nickname that I NEVER wanted to have.  So, what did I do?  I hung on for my dear life.  I remember having my arms and legs wrapped around him and we were on the ground. He was struggling so hard to get away and I was struggle so hard to make that not happen.  What was I thinking???

One of my favorite Michaels is Michael J. Fox.  Like your uncle, Michael J. Fox is a hard worker, compasionate and a dedicated father.  His compassion and dedication to his job is evident with the care he gives to all the disabled individuals he helps at the center.  He takes great joy and pride in his job and the work he is doing there.  And there is no one that can ever doubt the love and joy he has for being a father and the pride he has in his two sons.

So, for all of these reasons I decided that a rainbow to celebrate his birthday was appropriate.  Afterall, I wanted him to know that the was our “pot of gold” at the end of our rainbow.  Joy Rising!

Rainbow  Cupcakes

No real recipe for this one.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • red, yellow, green, and blue food color
  • your favorite frosting

Directions:

  1. Prepare one box of white cake mix.
  2. Once it is all mixed together divide it equally into four bowls.
  3. Into each bowl drop in three or four drops of one food color (you may need more to darken it to the color you desire).
  4. Place cupcake liners into your cupcake pan.
  5. In the bottom of each one place a tablespoon of red batter.
  6. Then add in spoonfuls of yellow batter, green batter and blue batter.   DO NOT MIX, keep the layers separate.  You do not need to add in equal amounts, although I did try to do so.
  7. Bake according to your cake mix directions.
  8. Once completely cooled, frost with your desired frosting.

Ta-da!

The best part, for me at least, was the presentation.  I placed the cupcake into an “unopened” tin can and put that tin can into a plastic, new and unused, paint can. Here is a picture of one cupcake inside of a tin can.  I could tell you how I did this, but why spoil the mystery???

I Got My Geek On……..My Flag is Flying High

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Dearest Boo……….Happy Pi Day!  It’s true; I have gone to the Dark Side….I have gone to the Geek Society.  It was so much fun telling you “Happy Pi Day” and you had no idea.  Yeah!  I got one over my resident Geek.

And I even have my own Geek Code:

GO d-@ s:+ a++ C@ U---? P--? L? E? !W++@ !N* !o-- K--? w@ !O--- !M-- !V-- PS@ PE@ !Y !PGP- t@ !5 !X- !R- tv+@ b++@ DI++ !D-- !G e++>$ h->$ r@ z+

I have no idea what it really says, based on the questions I had to answer it probably means “One Giant Idiot”.  The code generator asked how good was my knowledge of Unix, Perl, Linux, Emacs, USENET Oracle, Kibo, and VMS.  Heck, most of those things I have never head of before in my entire life.  I was just pleased that I know what “Pi” means.  It ‘s the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle; approximately equal to 3.14159265358979323846.  Math, you say that word and my eyes glaze over, a giant knot grow in my stomach, and I am searching for food to help eliminate the pain.

What I can understand are Pi jokes.  And here are some for your laughing pleasure

  • Q:  What do you get when you cut a jack o’lantern by its diameter?
  • A:  Pumpkin Pi!
  • Q:  What do you get when you take green cheese and divide its circumference by its diameter?
  • A:  Moon Pi.
  • Q:  What do you get when you take the sun and divide its circumference by its diameter?
  • A:  Pi in the sky.
  • Mathematician:  “Pi r squared”
  • Baker:  “No pies are round, cakes are squared!”

Oh, gosh I kill me sometimes!  Okay, you may not think these are funny, but I know that your cousins Colton and Shea are “ROFL”.

National Pi Day has only been a “holiday” since March 11, 2009 – so, using my all knowing math skills – this is it’s second celebration.  When I was online “Googling” to find more information about Pi and why it is important to me here is some things that I did find interesting.

“Pi Day” was so designated to be March 14, as this is the birth day of Albert Einstein.  I found a website on BBC News explaining how we all use pi every day in our lives and why it is so important:

“Pi shows up everywhere. In mathematics, pi appears in many fundamental equations that have nothing to do with circles. In science, pi is inextricable from measuring everything from ocean waves to economic statistics.

Pi is found in the very measurements of the Great Pyramid at Giza. And if you divide the length of a river from source to mouth across a gently sloping plane by its direct length “as the crow flies”, you’ll find pi.

Pi also appears where you least expect it. Religious scholars point to the Old Testament which, when describing the measurements of Solomon’s Temple, implies that pi is only three. In the transcripts of the famed OJ Simpson trial, you can find arguments between the judge and an FBI agent about the actual value of pi.

For a time, Givenchy offered a men’s cologne emblazoned only with the symbol. Nobel Prize winner Wislawa Szymborska (Polish) wrote a poem about pi, and pop star Kate Bush sang 100 digits of pi on her album Aerial.

In this age of high-tech precision instruments, where we assure ourselves that perfection is attainable, pi is an ever-present, sometimes grating reminder that there are puzzles that can be solved and there are mysteries that, perhaps, can not.”

I also know that pi can mean “private investigator” and in my book the very best PI is

Hubba Bubba, Baby.

For me, the most important thing to know about pi is “You can’t spell “happiness” without “pi.”  So, for me pi is important, because it brings “happiness” into my life.   And how did I use pi today?  Why by making a pie and using pi be cut it into nice, even slices!   The best part?  Sharing it with you and your cousins, Kim, Stuart, Colton and Shea.  Joy Rising!

The Best Chocolate Cream Pie You Ever Ate

Prep  Time: 20 minutes

Cook  Time: 4 1/2  hours  (actual cook time is 30 minutes, the rest is cooling time)

Source: www.forkingdelicious.com

Ingredients:

  • 8 T unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 3 1/2 c half and half
  • 2/3 c sugar
  • 1/4 c cornstarch
  • 9 eggs,  divided into yolks and egg whites
  • 9 oz semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1 2/3 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Optional: 2 c heavy cream for topping  or use the egg whites to make a meringue
  • 3 T milk chocolate shavings for topping
  • 1 purchased oreo crumb pie crust or graham cracker pie crust

Directions:

  1. Heat half and half in a 4 qt saucepand over medium-high heat until it just begins to simmer.
  2. Remove pan from heat.
  3. While heating the half and half, in a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch until combined.
  4. Add the egg yolks to the sugar/cornstarch mixture and whisk until smooth.
  5. Temper the half and half into the egg mixture.  When egg mixture ready drizzle in  the remaining half and half.  Whisk completely.  To temper means to add small amounts of the hot liquid into the eggs, slowly raising the temp of the egg mixture.  By doing this you will not “cook” the eggs, causing them to become scrambled eggs.
  6. Return the mixture to the saucepan, heat over medium heat.  Cook, stirring often, until bubbles rise to the surface and mixture is very thick (about five minutes).
  7. Remove pan from heat and add butter and chocolates in small batches, whisking until smooth.
  8. Stir in the vanilla.
  9. Set a fine mesh sieve over a medium bowl and strain chocolate mixture.  Do not skip this step! This will remove and “scrambled” egg pieces that are in the mixture.
  10. cover the bowl with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic onto the surface to prevent “skin” from forming.
  11. Refrigerate until set, about four hours.
  12. Remove plastic wrap from the chocolate filling and, using a rubber spatula, stir mixture until smooth.
  13. Spoon mixture into reserved crust, forming a dome, and smooth surface with the spatula.
  14. Your choice of topping.  You can either whip the cream into stiff peaks and spread on top of pie.  Sprinkle on the milk chocolate shavings.  Or you can make a meringue using the egg whites, spread on top of pie, and broil until lightly brown.  Sprinkle on the milk chocolate shaving.