2005

HAM SNACKS

Our six and a half year old grandson, Nate, is losing patience with his own teeth. It seems ALL the other kids in his classroom have lost a tooth and here HE is with ALL of his! (Boy! Will he change his mind about THAT in later years!) Well, over Christmas vacation, he was one VERY happy kid for he FINALLY had a tooth that wiggled! He was "working" it one day when to his surprise, he spit out some blood. Now, this is the kid who does NOT take kindly to illness, dangerous things, blood, etc. So, the tooth got much more respect from its owner . We will ALL be SO glad when he finally DOES lose a tooth! It simply is VERY uncool to NOT have a gap in one's mouth! Sara Dinkens gave M.E. this unusual and unusually delicious recipe many years ago. I think the name for it is a misnomer for it sure is more than a mere snack! You can put these together ahead of time but heat only the number you actually need, for they do not reheat well. Freeze those you do not need and bake them for a future time. My sister served these to a group of women several years ago and she is STILL getting compliments! Are her friends hinting to her that they would like to have these again? Ummmmm?

ARROZ CON POLLO (Rice With Chicken)

One evening last October, our daughter Mattie was on the phone to say that the sweetest thing had just happened and she was calling to tell us about it. (She is very good at keeping us up to date on the goings on in the Krautheim household for which we are eternally grateful.) It seems Stephen had put Ike and Nate in the tub for a fun time bath. Mattie heard splashing and squeals and giggles and belly laughs as she came upstairs to her office to check on her computer. All of a sudden Mattie reported that there were a few seconds of calm and then in a very quiet little voice she heard Isaac say, "I wuv oo bubba!" Nate's reply to his little brother was, "I love you too, Isaac!" Complete bedlam ensued after that, as the boys continued to have their bath time fun. I was fortunate to have Rosa Sales in my class when her family came to this country from Cuba way back in the sixties. I never have worked with a child who learned a new language (and the very difficult one of English at that!) as she did. John and I were invited to their home for this delicious meal and Maria Sales kindly shared her recipe with M.E. I like one pot meals, don't you?

BACK HOME CORNBREAD SALAD

Last October Mattie had THREE little 'uns in her van---Isaac, Nate and Bobby, a neighbor boy who is in between our two boys in age. The three had been playing all afternoon doing one of Bobby's favorite things, "shooting" bad guys. They continued this game as they rode along, "killing" bad guys who were hiding in the trees. Nate must have spied an especially bad guy for he really yelled, "BAM! BAM! BAM!" A couple seconds later Bobby complimented Nate's markmanship with a, "Good shot, Nate!" Mattie about ran off the road from laughing. Rhonda Bolner brought this to an August meeting of the Columbus Herb Society. It is a recipe from fellow member Jeanne Harned's cooking classes. She holds these classes in her lovely Victorian home in Westport, Indiana. This was a hit, of course. Rhonda also shared her variations on this recipe.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE KISSES

One morning last fall when we were visiting in Connecticut, the kids and Mattie were downstairs. All of a sudden Nate told Mattie that he was going to go upstairs to awaken Grammy and Grandpa, so up he went. After a bit he came back down with a toy in hand. Mattie asked him if he had awakened us for she had not heard any moving about. There was a soft, "Oh!" and a hurrying back up the stairs! One evening Isaac had an especially bad bout of a low sugar reading. Stephen went upstairs to Ike's bed to take another reading of his sugar level . Ike asked, "Whatcha doin' Daddy?" "I'm just making sure that you are still not low." The little one informed his Daddy, "Not low, Daddy......I am seepy!" (sleepy) When our Mattie ate one of these delectable cookies at a friend's house she thought she had died and gone to Heaven. I thought I should share this recipe with you this month. She made these while we were visiting last fall and I think they beat those peanut butter/chocolate kiss cookies by a mile. If you cannot find the dark chocolate kisses, the milk variety will do very deliciously.

GINGER APERITIF

One Saturday in October was an especially busy one for our kids. First, there was a soccer game for Nate at which all went well even though sometimes a bug in the grass was MUCH more interesting than what was going on with a ball! After that, they had to go to the Portland Fair where they helped sell popcorn at the Cub Scout booth. The boys really liked doing that! Later, it was Isaac's turn to have something special going on---his very first birthday party to attend. His mommy said that he behaved fairly well. That evening Mattie had transcribing to do so Stephen suggested they do take out for their supper. They agreed on Chinese and got sweet and sour chicken. This place serves the chicken in one container and the sauce in another. Mattie told Nate they were having chicken nuggets (think McDonald's here.) After he had had his, Nate said, "These are absolutely delicious! Are these Chinese chicken nuggets?" She assured him that they must be and his reply was, "Well, I have never had them before but they are absolutely delicious!" The nuggets must have done a number on the kid for he helped his Mommy fold the laundry and even dried some dishes as she washed them! I think they may do this again! This is a recipe you may never want to try but I just have to share it so you really adventuresome cooks can try it if you wish. Phil Sauer says that this is what the Gods drink. He has invented something that will make your toes curl with ecstasy. Those are his very words. Remember, ginger is so very good for soothing the stomach and the flavor is memorable!

K.K.Ks and Ranch Crackers

Our little Isaac is now getting a shot every morning of a slow acting insulin which works like one's pancreas would. Then, he gets a fast acting dose according too what carbs he has ingested. This has made for much happier meal times. No more forcing him to eat. No more telling him he cannot have a particular item. Many moons ago my sister Anne visited with Kathy, our sister-in-law who lives in California. These crackers were served and, of course, Anne brought back the recipe to M.E.! They had no name so I dubbed them Kathy's Kalifornia Krackers or K.K.K.'s! Then, several years later, Jane Thomas of Hagerstown, Indiana, sent M.E. another version of this tasty snack. I liked the use of dill weed. Both are good, however. You decide which one you like best.

EASY GREEK CHEESE APPETIZER

January 19th was a VERY SPECIAL day for our Nate. He had this loose tooth you know and he really, REALLY wanted the thing to come out. The Saturday before he went to a birthday party where Joseph, the most rambunctious kid in his class was in attendance. When Nate got home from the party, his tooth was REALLY loose. Mattie remarked about it and Nate told her that this Murphy kid gave him an "under cut." She could not imagine where he had learned that term or even what it WAS. His daddy said it was a boxing term. Stephen met Nate on THE DAY at the his bus stop after school and Nate told him that he had lost a rooster in math class. When excited, Nate talks too fast and jumbles up his sounds. What he REALLY meant was that he had lost a tooth in math class and it did not bleed either! So, thanks in part to Joseph, four days later Nate lost his first tooth. He wrote the following note to the Tooth Fairy: DER TOOTH FARY... TAKE MY TOOTH PLEES...LEEV ME MONY PLEES...FROM NATE. He had to decide whether he wanted her to take the tooth or not. Inflation has sure set in. I got ten cents and he got a dollar! The lady left him the following note: DEAR NATE...CONGRATULATIONS ON LOSING A TOOTH... I REALLY CAN USE NEW TEETH AT MY CASTLE... LOVE, THE TOOTH FAIRY. The fairy wrote what she did because Nate thinks that her castle (ALL fairies have castles, right?) is made up of teeth. Why else would she be buying up little kids' teeth? Mary Abbott Williams of North Carolina sent this recipe to M.E. She had tasted it at a quilting get-together. It can be an appetizer or served along with a salad. It is easy to make and really delicious, especially while still warm from the oven. I used bleu cheese crumbles but want to try it again with the feta. Do try this one soon.

OLD FASHIONED SUGAR COOKIES

My sister Anne, daughter Mattie, and I share paperback books. One series we really enjoy is written by Joanne Fluke and each book includes delicious recipes. In her first book, Chocolate Chip Murder, this recipe was included. Mattie made these. Nate, Mattie's in house Cookie Monster, wanted to know what she had baked. When he found there was no chocolate in them, (this was a concept for this 6 year old found hard to fathom,) he did not think he would want some. However, they DID smell good and they WERE cookies after all, so he threw ALL caution to the winds and tried one. He LOVED them! I think you will, too. Ms. Fluke's newest book is coming out this month titled, Peach Cobbler Murder.

SPRING SOUP

Little Isaac, our diabetic, quickly learned how to tell his parents when he did not feel well by saying he felt "low". When testing his blood sugar level, Stephen and Mattie would remark about it being "high" or "low" or it being a VERY good number, etc. One day, Mattie and Ike were running some errands in their van and Isaac asked his usual question as to whether they were FINALLY heading home. Mattie told Ike that she had to stop at the filling station because the car was low. He then asked, "Van low, Mommy?" and proceeded to pat the window and say, "Poor van! Van low, Mommy!" A couple months ago Nate wanted to paint so Stephen set up water, brushes and paints on the big table in the boys' room. Of course, when Isaac saw Bubba painting, HE had to paint as well. All of a sudden, Stephen (who was working in their room putting up a chalkboard) heard some loud gulping noises and looked over to see Ike drinking the rinse-the-paintbrush-water! He panicked but the Mommy was not worried. Thank goodness for nontoxic paints! "Spring has sprung, the grass has riz. I wonder where the flowers is?" Silly rhyme, but fun. I am sure that this soup will put you in a spring-like daze.

JILL'S CHEESECAKE

A former student of my husband's was Sara Hoffman Hershauer when he taught high school English at Hagerstown, Indiana. We have been back in touch thanks to e-mailing. Sara wrote to M.E. about a time when she and her husband were driving down the mountain from their cabin (they live out west) one evening. They had two grandchildren with them, three year old Jake and his six year old sister, Samantha. All of a sudden, Jake announced to big sis, "When I grow DOWN, I will be a baby again!" Of course they all laughed but he was insistent. No growing UP for HIM! Bob Jackson of Indianapolis is John's delightful cousin and Bob's wife, Jill, is one great cook. She shared this with M.E. many moons ago. Recently Barbara King asked me for a good cheesecake recipe and that got me to thinking I ought to share this with all of you. Cheesecake is not something I really much care for but this is one cheesecake I will eat. See what you think of it.

PORK AND BEANS BREAD

One evening when visiting in Connecticut, we took the kids out to dinner so that Mattie could have a break from the kitchen. While waiting for our food, Nate asked his daddy if he would like to hear a VERY funny story. Of course Stephen did. The story was, "Once upon a time (looong pause here) the end!" Naturally, we all had to laugh big time. The lad had heard this from Luke, his fellow first grade classmate. Talk about an unusual recipe, this is it! Our daughter says it comes from the Connecticut Courant and the gal who shared the recipe said that her friends could not guess what the main ingredient was in the bread. Everyone was amazed, which I think you will be, too. Many moons ago I put in the column a recipe from Connecticut for Grandma's Depression Soup which had canned baked beans in it to provide some protein. Then, there is the sauerkraut cake, the green tomato cake, and so on and so forth. Just add this one to that genre of strange ingredients found in some recipes.

BAKED ITALIAN APPETIZER

While we were in Connecticut last fall, our kids participated in a walk for diabetic research. Stephen got the idea to write up a letter and send to family and friends to see how much their little family could raise for this worthy cause. John and I stayed at home, for that was much too much walking for us. The kids were amazed at the hundreds and hundreds of folks who showed up. About halfway through, however, their own little diabetic just stopped right in the middle of the melee and absolutely refused to take another step! Daddy got the dubious honor of finishing with his babe in arms. The family ended up raising a grand total of $1630! A lovely thank you note was received from Stephen afterwards. That young man is a Class Act! Times for entertaining are looming ahead and my favorites to serve are good appetizers. I am sharing two this week and another two next. Hopefully these may help you out over Memorial Day weekend. The first appetizer has an Italian flavor while the second one goes southwest. One or both of the two should please the palates of your guests.

JEZEBEL AND CRANBERRY APPETIZER

Last March, our kids had a snowstorm over night and so school started late. The boys were allowed to watch some TV. The parents were talking nearby and loudly as well so Nate turned up the volume. When they were finished talking, Mattie went over to the TV set to turn down the sound. Isaac figured she was going to turn it off and yelled, "NO! No, Momma! I wanna watch TV!" When all she did was turn down the volume, Ike muttered, "Whew! THAT was a CLOSE one!" Our daughter likes to tease the boys when there is smooching on TV. She will say to them, "Boys! look quickly! They are kissing!" Isaac will quickly reply with one word---GUSTING! (Read "disgusting" here, which is also big brother Nate's reply!) It is getting close to the Memorial Day weekend when folks often have their first outside pitch-in. Appetizer recipes come in handy for entertaining and I have a couple of good ones to share. The first one hails from Peggy Brandes's sister in St. Louis, Missouri. It is hot and spicy, just like its name. The second one comes from our daughter and it can have a kick to it if you wish. I have found that both quickly disappear.

MARVELOUS WINGS AND SWEETSOUR MEATBALLS

We have a heat pump and the thing was wearing out. We called our insurance and they sent out two different guys to check it over. Nothing was fixed. The third time was charm however. Mr. John Long came to our house. He was thorough, kind, and GOOD. He did not give up on our heat pump with the first visit. We were greatly impressed. When he told M.E. that his wife, Mona, loved to cook, my culinary mind went BINGO! Yep! I now have several recipes of hers to try out Mona and I have talked by phone and corresponded via e-mail. She and John live in the Greenfield area and have three children: Brandon, 17, Megan 8 and Brian 5. Long & Sons was founded in October 2003. Their dream is to build a successful business that the kids can continue on in. Their motto is to be fair, honest and treat people like they would like to be treated. That sums up John Long to a T. His phone number is 317/326-3457 and he can also be contacted with his e-mail address of: longandkids@hrtc.net. The first recipe of Mona's that I tried was her wings and it is really easy and yummy. This recipe is a tradition at Thanksgiving for this family. Then, if you are tired of those grape jelly meatballs, try Mona's version and you may never go back to the others.

CORN CHOWDER

One Sunday last winter when traveling to church, Nate asked his parents if he could shovel the driveway after they got home. It had snowed about an inch. Mattie and Stephen told him that he did not HAVE to shovel the driveway, that he could just go out and PLAY in the snow. The kid replied with, "I LIKE to shovel. It gives me exercise and helps give me strong muscles." He shoveled after every snowfall and he does not use a kiddie shovel either but the REAL adult size shovel. Have you ever noticed that wherever you go you see Indiana license plates with the prefix of 29 for Hamilton County? It seems to us that everyone there must leave for the day! And, whenever we travel we ALWAYS see more than one. Well, on our way back last fall across Pennsylvania on I-80, I realized that we had not seen a number 29 the WHOLE trip. Well, shut my mouth! On our last leg of the trip, early in the morning, while driving away from the motel, we saw one! We just cannot go ANYWHERE without encountering a prefix number of 29! This trip, we saw only four killed deer while traveling across I-80. I say only four because we usually see dead Bambis in the double digits! We saw more other kinds of critters though, like a fox, two skunks, a squirrel and an opossum. I keep track of things like that! This is a quick and easy and hearty and delicious soup recipe I got when out In Connecticut last fall. I think it is one to fix now and to file away for fall. I made it after I had baked a ham and had that meat left over to use up in various ways.

David's Spicy Salsa

Little Rose Wilfong from down the road asked her mother what she was making for Valentine's Day and was told "Swedish Apple Pie." Of course, not a minute later, big brother Ben also wanted to know what Dorothy was making. Rose promptly replied with, "Apple Sweetie Pie!" Don't you think Rose's name for the dish was absolutely perfect? Just before Easter, our kids were in a shoe store where the Easter Bunny was giving out candy. Mattie reminded the boys to thank the Easter Bunny. After he left, Nate leaned over to his Mommy and said, "I know that is NOT the Easter Bunny. It is just someone dressed in a costume to LOOK like him!" Mattie's heart dropped and she thought that the end of her world had arrived for the kid now KNEW! Then, he said to her, "The REAL Easter Bunny is the one who comes to our house!" She breathed a HUGE sigh of relief. You see, when she was five she out and out asked M.E. if I was the Easter Bunny. She had figured it out and it ruined the whole thing for her. She never asked a thing about Santa! It is always a great pleasure to be around my nephew Steve Garner and his bubbly and fun loving wife, Ellen. They stopped by one day and Ellen was talking about her son-in-law, David George, who is the owner of All-Phase Landscaping in Marion County and who also now has The Sod Farm here in Shelby County. He can be reached at his web site of: www.thesodfarm.net. David and his wife Renay (who is Ellen's first born) have two sons, Tim aged 20 ad Mike 18. David has come up with a delicious salsa that Ellen says is great served with chips or salads. Of course, I HAD to have the recipe and, of course, have to share it with you!

PRETZEL KISSES

Nate is quite the big writer of notes. Here is what he wrote to Santa last year: DR SANTA COS WOD YOU PLES WILL YOU PLES WOD YOU PLES WILL DING MY PIRIC SHIP LOVE NATE. Translated it reads: Dear Santa Claus, Would you please, will you please, would you please will bring my pirate ship? Love, Nate. Christmas Eve the Parental Units wanted to have a fire but Nate would have none of THAT! He did not want Santa to get burned. The note he left with Santa's snack was: WOD YOU PLES WILL YOU PLES WRITE ME A NOTE LOVE NATE. Translated: Would you please, will you please, write me a note? Love, Nate. AND.....Santa did!!!!!!! When Nate stayed at friend Bobby's for an overnight, Isaac was told he could not stay as he was too little for an overnight. This went over like a lead balloon. "I'm NOT too wittle!" he informed his parents, but to no avail. Our daughter Mattie told M.E. about these little gems of deliciousness last fall. A lady had brought them to serve during the social hour after their church service. Nate went absolutely bonkers over them. Even though they looked easy to make, she was like M.E. in that she felt there was some little trick to making these just right. Good friend from North Carolina, Mary Williams, came to our rescue. She sent this to M.E. after the December recipe for cookies using a cake mix was in this column. I really like the flavor combination of sweet and salt together. It is a wonderful taste treat for the mouth. Also nice is that these can be made any time using the right color M&M's for the season as red and green at Christmas, red and white at Valentine's, pastels at Easter, etc.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE SCONES

One evening, Nate decided that he did not want a bath with little brother Ike but wanted to take a more grown up shower instead. So, the curtains closed and the water was turned on. After a bit, the water went off and the curtains opened with a statement from the tyke that he was finished. "Did you wash your face?" He had. "Did you wash your arms and hands?" Ditto. "Did you wash your chest?" Sure. "How about your bottom and environs?" Uh, oh! The curtains closed and water was turned back on. "All done!" was the announcement a bit later. "Did you wash your legs and feet?" He had. "What about behind your ears?" Uh, oh! To a six year old, this taking a shower does not seem to be all it is cracked up to be! Isaac informed his mother one day that she was not married! Mommy came back with she thought she WAS married and to his daddy! The youngster's answer was, "You are NOT married! You are MY girl!" Shirley DePrez of Franklin sent M.E.this award winning recipe of hers in with a thank you note she sent to M.E. after having been to our house to tea. You will be given accolades from family and friends if you serve these to them. As Shirley wrote, "These are heavenly when served warm!"

NANCY'S BAKED CHICKEN SALAD

While visiting our kids last fall,they took us to a restaurant in New Haven, CT, that claims to be the first place to have pizza served. The place was packed and catty-cornered across from us was a large group consisting of an older couple (grandparents?), a young lady, and a young couple with two children the oldest of which was about two and singing a song at the very top of his lungs. The kid was so cute that at first we all thought it very funny. Mattie was especially happpy that it was not one of HER young uns who was "performing." The singing went on and on and on with the father applauding the kid after each round of "singing." Finally, three rather large males (I was where I could see all of the action) left from three different booths and sauntered over to the father and complaind. EVERYONE gave the three a lusty round of applause. The father said to the guys, "We did not say anything to our boy because YOU never said anything!" A customer in the booth next to us yelled, "We had to SAY something?" There was yet another BIG round of applause! Nancy Niemann served this delicious dish before the Christmas snows hit. We always look forward to dining at her home as she always comes up with something different and most delicious.

SWEET BRINE CORN

When our daughter Mattie was born in 1971, I left teaching full time to stay at home with her. In 1977, I began a recipe column with an east side Indianapolis and Hancock County paper. Since my name is Martha Ervin, my older sister came up with this name for the column. My husband tells people that I am the only person he knows of who can go through a check out line in a grocery store and come out with someone's recipe! I have literally done that! The very first recipe that was published is this wonderful one for freezing that delicious Indiana corn. When I was young, I always hated when corn freezing time arrived. First, we had to shuck and remove the silk. Then the ears had to be boiled for a certain amount of time and then they had to be put in ice water to cool. The cutting and bagging came next. This method given to M.E. by a Mrs. F. Becker of Indianapolis is so MUCH easier to do and when you open up a package from the freezer in the winter time, your family will think you were serving them fresh corn! I have been told that this is the German method of freezing corn. I know that it is a favorite method for the Amish. Be sure to use as fresh picked corn as you can get, for then you will have the very best flavor. I am really looking forward to sharing recipes with you all and hope that you will share your favorite with M.E. My phone number is: (317)835-4348 and my e-mail address is: mjervin@worldnet.att.net. I also have a website if you would like to see past recipes. Go to the following: www.cookingwithme.com

D.C. CABBAGE SALAD

Last spring Nate was very interested in death and dying. He said to his daddy one day, "When you die, I will remember you!" In church before service Nate asked Mattie where would he go when he died and she told him to Heaven to be with Jesus. Agitated, Nate came out with a loud, "BUT I DO NOT WANNA GO AND BE WITH JESUS!" At just that time the congregation had quieted down so what he said rang throughout the sanctuary! Stephen leaned over and asked Mattie what in the world were they talking about? Nate has decided he does not want to go to Heaven when he dies. He wants to stay here on earth! Isaac asked his mommy one day where her "sticky wits" were? (Read "sticky lips" here meaning the wearing of lipstick.) Before she could answer, Ike ran into their bathroom and came back with a tube of lipstick so she could have "sticky wits." This lovely child will say every whip stitch to his mommy things like, "You beauful, Mommy!" or "Mommy, you MY girl!" What's not to like? Mattie is MOST happy being the only woman in this household. Even the two cats are males! My niece, Glenna Garner, has retired from working for the government in D.C. She attended the prestigious Gallaudet University there. This recipe was brought to a pitch-in at a church she attended and she left with the recipe. She must be related to M.E.!!! This is most refreshing, as well as delicious and easy to make. What more can you want?

TOMATO SALAD

When those WONDERFUL Indiana tomatoes come into fruition, it is time to make Barbara King's delicious tomato salad. (In my book, Indiana tomatoes and Indiana corn are the ONLY reasons for putting up with the ungodly high humidity and temperatures we condone in the summer time.) The first time she sent some of this salad home with M.E., I found myself digging into it at various times all day long. It is SO refreshing. Since this is her very own recipe, Barbara just sorta throws everything together. (Good cooks often do this.) I asked her to pay close attention to what she was actually doing so I could make this myself and even more importantly, share the recipe with you readers. Barbara said that this is one of those recipes that you just have to fix to your own taste but the amounts given below are the closest she can come to actual measurements. Do try this, for it will be a palate pleasure for your family and friends. One word of warning: wait for really good tomatoes. This very lovely gal from Beech Grove, Indiana, says she would make this year 'round if she could get really good tomatoes.

FRUIT SALAD PIE

Our kids went shopping at a mall one day. While they were parking, six year old Nate asked his parents if this was a place where there were a lot of stores. He was told it was. He then asked if it was called a hall. "No, this place is called a MALL," he was told.Then, he came out with, "Hall and mall are EXACTLY alike except they are different!" He sure sounded like his Grandpa Ervin there. Last January our next door neighbor, Bill Nichols. called to say that his lovely wife, Rosaline, had made something for us to eat. Bless his heart, he sloshed through snow to bring over a WHOLE PIE!!!!! It took us three days to get it eaten and I swear it got better tasting with each passing day! This is a pie that you would think of perhaps serving when the weather is warmer but it really did knock our taste buds for a sensational loop in the middle of winter. SO delicious! SO refreshing! Good anytime of the year in MY book!

LOADED MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE

During the Christmas break last year, the Krautheim family was in their van and discussing holidays with six year old Nate. They talked about Christmas being the holiday for the month of December. Then Nate inquired what holiday was for the month of January and was told New Year's Day. Under his breath, the parents heard him say, "January, February." He then asked what was the holiday for February and was told Valentine's Day. March was St. Patrick's Day or sometimes Easter.Then under his breath, he said, "January, February, March, April" and then, "I know what holiday is in April---MY BIRTHDAY!!!" There is no hope for three old Isaac. One day he ran into Mattie's office and said, "I wrote a I Mommy! Show me! Show me!" and pulled on her to their chalkboard. There it was...a perpendicular line with a little cross bar at the top and at the bottom. He had learned this from school as he will NOT be shown anything to do with learning colors, letters, numbers, etc. from the parental units, thank you very much! Mattie thinks that now he just MAY be able to write his full name by the time he is in middle school! If you like twice baked potatoes, then you will go really wild over this dish. Debbie Monts of Columbus, Indiana, sent M.E.this terrific recipe. It is delicious and SO much easier than stuffing those potato shells.

MEXICAN CHEESECAKE

Last fall our daughter volunteered to teach Isaac's Sunday School class for three year olds. The first time, guess who the only kid was who would NOT sit down and do what he was told? Yep! Sad to say, you are right! She had the young uns tell their names and what pets they had. One little boy mentioned he had two cats and gave their names. Then a little girl named Taylor asked him the very same question she had asked of EVERYONE else, "Are they boys or girls?" The boy looked at her a minute and then answered with a MOST emphatic, "They are CATS!" Bully for him! A couple years ago, my husband attended a meeting and pitch-in of the Edinburgh Antique Club. One MOST delightful member, Mary Ann Williams, is one FANTASTIC cook. John knows that he wants to be SURE to taste anything Mary Ann brings! He was especially taken with this particular dish and begged her for the recipe. She very kindly complied. I must admit however that I filed the recipe away so well that it did not surface until now, for which I am VERY sorry indeed. Ah, tis better late than never, right? Do try this one as it is MOST delicious and a real crowd (and husband) pleaser!

THE BEST SANDWICH YOU EVER TASTED

I really goofed big time for not sharing this delicious sandwich recipe with you last year. In 2003, there were five gals spending a fun week in Tennessee in my sister's time share condo in The Glade in Crossville. One gal, Patty Smith, is a terrific teacher of grades kindergarten through third grade. She sang the little songs she had made up over the years to use in her classroom and I have been pestering her to get them written down so they can be shared . They are as delightful and fun as she is. I must admit that when Patty told us what made up her sandwiches, I was very doubtful of the combination. Just goes to show what I know! I was willing to try one, of course, and that first bite made a believer of M.E.! I would venture a guess that you will get hooked on these as well. This past year in October it was back to the usual three in Tennessee. We had a very scary experience on our return from shopping at Krogers on our first evening there. All of a a sudden, Frances and I noticed that the car in the left lane was heading right at us! Thank goodness my sister was driving or else the results would have been disastrous. We did not even have time to scream! How Anne managed to not get hit on the left and not hit a car coming out of a parking lot on her right and also miss a huge pole ahead of her, we do not know but she did. What a driver! The only casualty was the groceries which were scattered about the van. We had to go at a s-l-o-w-e-r pace this year due to my having to use a cane to walk and Frances on oxygen 24/7. She is fantastic. Wherever she went in the condo there was a plastic tubing following. Did this stop her? No! She was like that pink bunny. Nothing stopped HER from doing what she wanted to do!

ITALIAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Our little three and a half year old grandson Isaac has a propensity for smelly feet and they are referred to by the family as "Stinky Feet." One day the boys were wrestling each other and all of a sudden Stephen heard Isaac give out with a huge I-am-hurt type of howl. It so happened that Nate had stumbled and fallen on Ike's right foot. The answer to Stephen's, "Isaac, what happened?" was, "Bubba hurt my tinky toes!" My brother Rupert and his wife Alice, who live in Columbus, Ohio, have friends they have traveled to various places with. They also play cards together every Friday night. Bill and Annabell Young got this recipe from the man who catered a luncheon at their church for a woman's group there. This makes a lot and is very good. It freezes well so you don't have to eat it all up in one fell swoop!

HAWAIIAN DESSERT

Last January, Nate's first grade teacher had been talking about the Tsunami disaster. Nate told his parental units all about what a Tsunami was. He then wanted to know if they would have one. The parents assured him they were located too high to be hit with one. He then remarked that if they DID have one and Mommy and Daddy were washed away, he would then be able to do whatever he wanted!He would not have to pick up his room ever again! Mattie asked him what would he eat and the kid said he would go to the grocery store. Stephen then told Nate that that would be a mighty long walk to the store and anyway, what if the stores were destroyed Well, Nate would then get help from other people and build a grocery store right next door! He had an answer for everything! The kids stopped at the Golden Arches for a sack of take home food. Nate leaned over and sniffed REALLY big time into the bag and said,"Ah, THAT'S the smell I like!" When the C.C.C. group of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville, Indiana, had a pitch in last December, Mary Ann Wasson brought this very delicious dessert. I was given marching orders from my Significant Other to GET THAT RECIPE! Mary Ann kindly sent it to M E. so I could share it with all you readers.

GREEN CORN TAMALE CASSEROLE

Our kids are the den leaders of Nate's Cub Scout unit. Last January they attended an ice hockey game. It was Cub Scout night so there were many little boys attending. Our daughter did not realize ice hockey was such a bloody sport. What an event to take impressive young boys! As they entered the arena, everyone was searched. Now get this---they could take in Isaac's kit with needles for his insulin but Mattie could not take her knitting in with her. Knowing there were two breaks in the game, she thought she could while away the time with knitting. I guess the folks there figured her knitting needles were weapons. So, she had to take them back to the car. When she got there, she realized that Stephen had the keys so she just put the bag underneath the car and hoped it would still be there when she got out. It was. However, she worried that someone would think she had put a bomb under the car. What a convoluted world we now live in! Susan Montgomery, former student now living in California, sends M.E. recipes for yummy dishes she has tried. This is such a one. When I read it, I just KNEW that it would be delicious. Susan served a dinner of all Spanish dishes. This one was a favorite and one that we in Indiana could easily find the ingredients for. I used fresh corn for this.

MILKY WAY CAKE

Renee Wertz came from Dallas to Indianapolis to join the Chase Manhattan Education Finance Corporation as Warehouse Supervisor. While in Texas, she was well established as a cateress. Renee made and shared this cake at work. Good friend Ray Brandes' daughter Elizabeth is her boss and brought some cake home. Since Ray and my husband do lunch every once in awhile, Ray sent a piece of this cake home with John so I could taste it. OF COURSE, I requested the recipe which Renee kindly shared. I must admit it is rich but MOST delicious.

PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE

I have ended up with four (count em!) four recipes that are called PINEAPPLE CASSEROLE. I am going to give you all four and will let you decide which one sounds best to you. I think they are ALL delicious. Instead of a title, I will put the person's name who gave it to M.E.

HAZELNUT CRISPS

Last spring, Nate had what his Mommy called a "Weekend of BIG Words." He used carnivore, nocturnal, illustrator (he asked if the illustrator of a particular book they were looking at had won any awards,) humongous, and herbivore. That was all the Mommy could remember. Mary Yeager and Susan Montgomery were good friends when I was their teacher in sixth grade at I.P.S. School #88. Delightful, bright, entertaining, clever and MOST interesting girls they were and still are. I have shared recipes from Susan several times but this is a first from Mary. I am going to quote some of her musings, for they are priceless. "I have tried these cookies out on many an unsuspecting victim.The results have been fabulous. Everyone who tried them wanted the recipe. It all started with Judge Sarah Evans Barker when we were working on the McKinney courtroom in the Federal Courthouse. If she judges them well, I say, we ALL may. Thus far it is a clear winner." She then gives us all this warning: "Make these cookies at the risk of being worshipped as the goddesses you are. Expect frequent offerings and sacrifices in your name. You deserve them!"

COLORFUL RICE PILAF

Our kids have a VERY strict rule at their house that involves some words. These words are VERY BAD WORDS and are NOT to be used at ANY time because they are so hurtful to others. They are: stupid, dumb, shut up, and bored. One day recently the Daddy muttered under his breath that something was really stupid. Isaac was close by, of course, and his eyes got as big as saucers and he yelled, "Daddy said a BAD word!" So someone had to get down and hang his head in shame and say he was sorry and would try and not say it ever again. Now, I am not going to lie to you and say that cooking dishes of Indian origin is easy because it is not and every time I fix this cuisine, I remember why I do not do it every day!!! HOWEVER, I must say that it is WELL worth the trouble and MOST delicious. And, preparing the various parts ahead of time and having it right there, you really just throw it all together in the final step and the dish sorta fixes itself for you. This is a great dish for vegetarians. Every once in awhile I want a meatless meal and this dish does the trick; filling and very, very satisfying.

APRICOT BARS

Both our kids could not get over how much kids are now learning in first grade. They are dividing! They are having problems in probability which neither parent even heard of until they were in a high school math class and the grandparents NEVER did!This concept of probability and improbability (they use those very words) Nate did not understand. Mattie was sure the teacher had explained it and either the kid was day dreaming or just did not understand, for the concept was beyond him. Stephen patiently sat down on the floor with Nate and worked it out with him until the child could understand. Mattie, knowing the other kids in Nate's room, knows full well that not all of them understood even if they were listening and she wonders how many parents have the time or will take the time to explain to their kid. She was so grateful Stephen had come home early that day or else SHE would have had to explain and dinner would have been very late.The role of parents is so VERY important. Schools cannot do it all. Jacque Chambers brought these little gems to a Columbus Herb Society meeting. Caryn Wiggins wanted the recipe and asked her for it. Jacque sent it to Caryn who sent it to M.E. knowing full well that I would LOVE to have a recipe using apricots! The original recipe used a cooked sauce but Jacque has found, and so did I, that the preserves work great in this recipe and is SO much easier.

APPLE PUDDING

Last fall Nate was beginning to get a sense of where he lived. He knew that Connecticut was a small state but not THE smallest. His parents had begun to read big kid books to him, doing a chapter a night. I sent them Oliver Butterworth's The Enourmous Egg and it was a huge hit as the main character's name was Nate and this Nate lived in New Hampshire. The family had driven up to Vermont before Christmas and so Mattie pointed out to Nate that he had been close to the state where the story took place. A girl in Nate's classroom went to Oklahoma over Thanksgiving and so, thanks to his terrific teacher and a U.S. map, he knew where that state was and that it was a loooooong way away from Connecticut. Nate informed his Mommy that Oklahoma was also pink! Many years ago in West Lafayette, a friend of my sister Margaret made up this recipe. She had served it to her friends who found it most delicious so she decided to enter it in a contest. However, Fate stepped in and she got pregnant (having morning sickness almost 24/7) so she had to give up on that idea. Then, she was going to enter the recipe with the same thing happening to her for THREE more times, so she decided to heck with contests and shared her recipe with her friends. We are the happy recipients with this decision. I am sure you will love this very moist cake-like dessert. Calling it a pudding is a misnomer in my book.

MOM'S FROZEN COLE SLAW

Here is a story to cool you off. One day last January, Portland, Connecticut, got about 18 inches of snow. It was not a good snow for making snowmen but if one stomped on it a bit, one COULD do a little sledding. While the parents were shoveling off the sidewalk in front of the house, the boys were in the driveway just playing around with their sled which was a plastic thingy shaped sorta like a toboggan. All of a sudden, there came the boys around the corner with NATE on the sled and little Isaac pulling HIM!The boys began to slide down a hill in front. Nate would ride down with Ike and then get up and climb back up leaving Ike to pull up the sled. Mattie remarked to Nate that HE could pull the sled himself but he maintained that Ike wanted to do it himself. I imagine that Isaac felt like he was a really BIG kid by doing so. They had to wait as he would get tangled up in the string and it took him FOREVER to get the sled pulled up! Last April Isaac came home with a mouse hat they had made in preschool.It was kind of a cone in shape and they were told to put on a tail at the back and two ears on top. Then the children were to draw eyes on the face. That is exactly what Isaac did. He drew two very nice capital I's, the only letter he could make at the time. His mommy thinks the kid must be very literal! This recipe comes from the late 1940's or early 50's. My mother would make some of the cabbage we grew into this really delicious salad.The nifty thing about it was that it froze so beautifully and especially delicious in the middle of winter! It has such a refreshing taste.

MY APPLE SALAD

I have a tooth story for you. Here Nate was, going into 7 years and 3 months of his life, and he had lost only two teeth! By August, his two top middle teeth were loose. Nate got MUCH joy in grossing out his mother by pushing the right tooth way forward and over his lip and then asking her to look at it. He would also cross said tooth over the left tooth which also did a number on the Mommy. Who would have thought that losing one's teeth could be so much fun? By the way, that tooth came out while eating breakfast one morning. Nate called his daddy to tell him what had happened and Stephen teased Nate by asking which tooth in the back came out. The answer to him was a MOST emphatic, "Oh, Daddy! It was in the front, an INCISOR!" One day last winter, Nate's school began late due to a big snowfall so a neighbor dropped her son Conner off at their house. Conner is a year older than Nate and a very nice boy. Nate showed Conner their hamsters. Conner wanted to know why the animals were not running around on their wheel and Nate, in a VERY pontifical tone of voice said, "Well, you see, Conner, they are NOCTURNAL. They play only at NIGHT!" After getting requests for this recipe, I decided it might be a good idea to share it with you readers as well. It is a favorite with us.

RICOTTA COOKIES

One day Nate came home from school full of ALL kinds of information about teeth. He knew the names of the various ones and what jobs they did. Then later that evening, he and Ike were playing when all of a sudden Nate said to Ike, "I have to go RIGHT NOW and brush my teeth! I think I have a cavity!" His mommy did not think anything of it until a couple days later when at dinner, Nate complained of a tooth hurting. She had him show her where it hurt and lo and behold one of his 5th year molars was breaking through! This is a tooth that SHOULD have come in when he was around five.This kid is very late in getting his new teeth. The parents take turns when they give Isaac his insulin shots. The Lantis (the one shot in the morning) is always given in the belly. He does not care for this. For the other shots, they alternate from bottom, arms and legs. One day Mattie asked Stephen what day it was---bottom, left arm, right arm, left leg or right leg? (They have it written down in a book where they keep records.) Ike said, "It is ARM day, Mamma!" Stephen looked it up and announced it was a bottom day. Ike yelled, "NO! I want an ARM day!" Nate informed his mother one day that when HE gets married, HE is going to have a baby. He then went on to say,"Mommy, do you remember when we got Isaac from the dog pound?" Mattie shared this recipe using ricotta cheese.This cheese is used a LOT out her way. I think it is a kind of substitute for sour cream perhaps. Anyway, these are WONDERFULLY delicious!

RUM CREAM PIE

On the way home from church last May, the parental units were praising Nate on the good job he did saying the Lord's Prayer at church. There was a pause and then Ike piped up with, "Let's pway!" He bowed his head and said, "Dear God," and then there was quite a bit of undecipherable mumbling and then a loud, "THE END! Oh......AMEN!" Stephen almost ran off the road from laughing so hard. Larry Barnhart taught high school social studies in Hagerstown, Indiana. My husband taught English there and I, fifth grade. We became good friends even after we left to teach in Indianapolis and Larry went on to teach in Anderson. Larry liked to cook and over the years I gleaned many good recipes from him. It was such a terrible shock and great loss to us when he suddenly died from a severe heart attack. This recipe is of a pie that was served many years ago in a restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana. While in school there, Larry would go to this place just to get this pie. He would hold intense conversations with the gal who made the pie trying to coax the recipe out of her. She refused to give him the recipe for the longest time but Larry persevered and finally obtained the much-desired recipe. It is such an impressive dessert to serve to special guests. One pie serves quite a few as one gives out small portions as it is quite rich. This recipe should be on your "I must try soon" list!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PIE

partner because she was a GIRL! His daddy hunkered down in front of him and got right in Nate's face and told him that, sure, she WAS a girl but, more importantly, she was a member of his baseball team and that he WOULD pitch balls with her! And he did! It was another story with Ike who came to the game with his mommy later on. He soon found Danny, a little boy from his preschool to play with. Danny came hopping by Mattie saying that HE was a kangaroo! Mattie told him she thought a kangaroo was a fine animal and that she liked them very much. Isaac heard her and informed his mommy with a,"Not ME! Not ME!" Mattie then asked the tyke what HE liked the best and his answer came quickly and emphatically,"I like Herbie cars and ghouls!" This is how he pronounces the word girls. Grammy remembers Nate liking girls at that age. What a difference a few years make. Give Nate another ten years, and I bet his attitude will change yet again. I have a box labeled TO LOOK AT LATER in which I place recipes I come across and think I might want to look at at a later date. This is such a one. John liked it better than I but it IS good and something you might like to try.

ANGEL HAIR WITH SUN DRIED TOMATOES AND GOAT CHEESE

Last winter, first grader Nate had a project to do for homework. He was to choose an animal or bird that did not hibernate in winter. Nate chose the turkey which they often see cross their property. He had to draw a turkey in its habitat in the middle of a small poster so he drew a tree and a stump by the turkey with grass below and snow on the grass.There were several questions to answer. He then put the facts (answers to the questions) on index cards around the picture. They were fortunate to get a picture taken of a flock of turkeys in their yard and also of turkey prints in the snow. He could also put in any other facts that interested him and he chose one: turkeys roost in the trees at night. It is such fun when people share a good recipe! Such is the case here. Ruth Tower sent this to Gladys Fields,who in turn sent it to M.E. I love pasta and am always wanting new ways to fix it. Marinara sauce is fine but can get a bit boring. This is easy and delish! See if you don't agree.

SUPER DELICIOUS CARROT CAKE

Judy Schwab has figured our taxes for many years now. She told me about one time when her granddaughter, Hannah, came to visit her from Lafayette and brought her five year old Tyler and almost three year old Alexis. She also brought homemade chicken pot pie for their lunch. While eating, Tyler said, "Mmmmm! This is good! Do you like pot pie, Grandma?"Judy assured him she did and little Sis answered with,"I like pot pie the sailor man!" Rosaline Nichols, our next door neighbor, asked me for a carrot cake recipe. Did I ever have THE one for her to try. I have eaten many a piece of this genre but this is absolutely the best. A gal at our church, Susan Gorham, gave me this many moons ago. She has since moved away. My daughter does not use the black walnuts as they are difficult to find but uses pecans.

MASHED POTATO CANDY

One day little Isaac took quite a long nap so when it was time for night time bedding down, he was not ready. Mattie told us that he played ALL his cards. First, they heard him from the top of the stairs announce that he was thirsty so they give him a drink. Then, he informed them that he had a headache. He was told the way to take care of that was to go to bed and to sleep but he did not agree. Then he told them, "I low. Test my sugar blood!" He was tested (cannot take chances on this) and of course, he was fine. Nate slept through all of this. That kid could sleep through anything. Phid (Phyllis) Alexander Tyra is a friend from Lincoln High School days in Cambridge City, Indiana. Phid has a granddaughter, Sybil Norberg, who met her Air Force husband, Jason, when he was stationed at Dayton, Ohio. They have lived in Florida and Honduras but have lately been in Exning-Newmarket, England. Grandma Phyllis says that Sybil's four year old is talking like the Brits. She is funny and will correct you if you do not say a word right. There is also a ten and a one year old in this family. They were visiting back in the States while Daddy was serving in Iraq. Anyway, Sybil was given this old timey candy recipe by her mother-in-law, Audrey, who lives up in Minnesota. This candy will make you think MOUNDS!