2007

APRICOT SCONES and ORANGE RUM BUTTER

Mary Abbott Williams is formerly of Hagerstown, Indiana. She and her husband Jan once lived in Liberty but now reside in North Carolina most of the year but in Richmond during the tax season. Mary sent M.E. this very delicious and unusual recipe. I think the secret to these is the spread one makes for the scones. See if you think the same way.

FRIJOLES REFRITOS

Mattie had to bring the boys in for their first visit to an Indianapolis dentist. On the way there, she made mention to the boys that they were running quite low on gas (the red light was on even!) and would have to fill up on their way to our house after their appointment. Nate was REALLY worried about their being low on gas so he would inform Mattie when they passed a gas station by remarking, THERES ONE! Isaac would ask, One what? Nate then would answer back with A gas station! We just ZOOMED right by one! Mattie was put out with the fact that the youngster thought her driving seemed like zooming! When John and I married in 1956, we spent our honeymoon in Chicago. Great city. Back then Tex-Mex or Mexican restaurants were not known in our area. No Taco Bells! John had been stationed in California and wanted to take me to a Mexican restaurant so we looked in the hotels yellow pages and called for a reservation. We got all gussied up only to find the place to be a real hole in the wall and we the only Gringos in attendance. We had a delicious meal. However, I was MOST surprised with the beans. I had grown up on them but we had never called them Frijoles!!! I now wish I knew where my mother had found that recipe. She was always cooking unusual dishes that others did not even know about.

NOAHS ARK CLAM CHOWDER

On her birthday last October, Nate asked his mother how old she was and then proceeded to tell her she was 35. Mattie corrected him with the information that she was NOT that old, she was only 29! No, Mommy! YOU are 35! Again, Mattie denied her true age. Nate thought for a minute and then came up with, No, Mommy, you ARE 35 and, well, you know Mommy that 35 rounds up to 40! All of a sudden, 35 did not sound quite so bad to the Mommy! (Guess what Nate was studying in third grade math at that time?)

LOBSTER BISQUE

When school began last fall, I told Mattie that if she werent careful, she was going to be known at Triton Elementary as the DITZY MOM. It was on the first day of school and she saw BOTH Nate and Isaac off on their school bus that morning. She then drove over to the school for the nine thirty open house for Ikes room only to find the other mothers going in with their kindergarteners in tow! Mattie maintains that there was NOTHING said on the information sent home to bring the kid in with the mom. I suppose they have done it this way for years and she was just supposed to know. Bet Ikes teacher was thrilled to have him under foot!

PEANUTBUTTER TREATS

 

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE CAKE

One morning, while the boys were getting ready for school, Isaac asked Nate, Will you wead to me on the bus, Bubba? Nate answered his little brother with, Yes, I will read to you and I always will take care of you even when I am a teenager! Both boys classes had gym that same day. Isaac was going in to the gym while Nate was leaving. Isaac saw his big brother and yelled, Hi Bubba! Nate grinned and said, Hi there Isaac! back at him. Shame on M.E. for not sharing this recipe with you before this. It was given to M.E. by Dororthy Jones many years ago. This would be a delightful dessert to fix for Valentines Day, dont you think? There just seems to be a special culinary delight with the flavor combination of raspberry and chocolate.

GATHERING IN SALAD

Nate was counting the money he had in his piggy bank one day and found he had a little over $73. (This is a collection of several years!) After putting the money back in the bank, he informed his mother that when they moved into their new house, he wanted to give the money to help pay for the new house. Mattie assured him that was not necessary but Nate insisted that he wanted to give it to Mark Miller of Vintage Construction in Wannamaker for building the house. This was also the child who thought the house would be ready to move into in a couple of weeks after he saw the first bit of framing put up! Martha Davis of Columbus, Indiana, has been a friend of Johns family for years and years. Martha attended the luncheon for the Gathering In of Mission Supplies at her church and this delicious variation of a salad was served. Martha lets no dust settle. She got the recipe and sent it to M.E. Martha wrote that she had recently had some dental work done and found that this salad was easier for her to eat than slaw would have been. She also thought that a little less oil and more vinegar would make this even better. You use your own judgement on that.

NUTTY N FRUITY STUFFING

It was the first Sunday of the new year of Bible studies at the First Presbyterian Church in Shelbyville, Indiana. For the Childrens Talk, Ms. Patty talked with the youngsters about learning about God in Sunday School. She then mentioned that the learning went on with grown ups as well and asked if anyone knew what adults would talk about. Isaacs hand shot up and he answered with, Jesus died on the cwoss and was waised from the dead! Mattie had volunteered to co-teach Isaacs class and their first lesson was God Made the Earth. So, afterwards, Mattie asked Nate a very loaded question of what did HIS class talk about that morning? He answered with the theme that God made the earth. Mattie was so pleased until after a pause, the child went on with, But then I told them what REALLY happened, that the earth was nothing but a big lump of molten lava until a wandering planet (he even knew the name of the thing) smashed into the lava and the earth was formed with a hunk of it flying off and becoming the moon! Oh, my! Nates mommy shared this one with M.E. It was even good the next day! I hate to admit it, but this was the first time I had used this boxed stuffing mix. I was most surprised how good it was.

SKILLET CHICKEN AND RICE

The music director, Nancy Niemann and the choir of the First Presbyterian Church in Shelbyville, Indiana, present a Medieval Feast about every five years. John and I were the King and Queen ten years ago. The audience gets a good meal and entertainment ala Merrie Olde England. Our Nathaniel was the Trumpeter this year. For three nights, he had to go up front in his cute Middle Ages costume and hold the trumpet just so while Nancy played the actual tones. Nate made it look real. Nancy told me afterwards that she was really impressed that this eight year old willingly and beautifully gave five nights (two for rehearsals and three for actual performances) of his time. Mattie practiced with him at home on how to stand. We attended the Saturday performance. I tried to get the childs attention but he was very serious in doing his job and looked straight ahead. Mattie had him come out to speak with us at one point when the various characters were mixing with the audience. Then, a bit later, he came to see us once again and I asked him if he was done blowing the trumpet and his answer, which was given in a MOST serious tone of voice and demeanor was, Well, I DO believe that I have one more time Grammy! Isaac was in Seventh Heaven during the performances as he was out of sight watching TV and eating snacks.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Soccer began just before school did last fall. Isaac was the youngest member of his team. At the second practice, he also proved to be the teams clown. At the end of play, he began to do a little dance routine while singing at the very top of his lungs, I am FAST! over and over and over. Everyone laughed including the coach. Isaac loved the attention. Mattie found out that Isaacs soccer coach, Tom Hunter, turned out to be a former student of Johns at Howe High School! Small world.

APPLE SCONE CAKE

Last October I shared a prize winning recipe for Swiss Apple Pie. Well, here is another winner that was entered at the same Johnson County Fair. This recipe comes from Shirley DePrez who has retired from being an elementary teacher at Triton Elementary School. Many years ago I subbed for her and met her student who had written an original recipe to give to his mother for Mothers Day titled Soop On A Stick. It was a simple recipe. Just stick a popcicle stick into a frozen can of soop and eat away! Actually, I thought his basic idea pretty good. One could make popcicles out of any cold soup like Gaspacho for instance. Anyway, here is Shirleys recipe. It is one you will want to try soon.

PUMPKIN PIE DIUMP CAKE

One day, all of a sudden, Isaac declared to his mother that he did NOT want to be eight years old on his next birthday. Mattie assured the lad that there was no fear of his being eight as he would actually be six on his next birthday in June. Being curious, the mommy asked why he was so obviously upset. I just dont want to gwo up! And why is that? I want to always be YOUR little baby! Mattie assured him that with his being the second child, he would always be her baby. Even when I gwo to be weally big? Yes, even when you get really big! Isaac was then a very happy little baby boy! I realize this is not the time of year one thinks PUNKIN but this is such a good recipe and anyway, who says we cannot have something pumpkin flavored in March, huh? Paulette Kruer of down south in Indiana sent me this yummy recipe that I am sure you will like. Not only is it good, but it is super easy to make as well. Any woman who rids her lawn of moles by taking a shotgun and shooting them, has to have something on the ball!

HAPPINESS CAKE

It is close to April Fools Day when I usually share something dumb or goofy. This year, however, I am going to share something that is neither one. It is something that is especially sweet from Adele Klingberg, who is a very delightful lady who now hails from Texas. Even though she has moved away from our area, she is still a member of the Columbus Herb Society. This is one recipe you might want to copy and tuck away to read periodically. It is full of good advice for living. See if you dont agree.

COCONUT RICE

I guess there is no end to kids activities. When soccer was over, basketball began for both boys. There was great anticipation when Nates first game arrived. Stephen noticed that Nate was told at least a couple times by the coach to get his man. It was more than obvious to Stephen that the kid had NO idea what the coach meant, so when Nate came out of the game, the daddy explained to Nate that he was to guard the person he had been assigned to guard. Whos my person? inquired Nate and he was told that it was the boy with a Number One on his shirt. Next time he played, Nate assiduously guarded Number One all right---the Number One on his OWN team, that is! I dont think we have a future NBA player here, thank goodness. When I went to Crossville, Tennessee, with my sister, I used to be able to procure jars of Old Farmhouse Chutney and Roasted Garlic Onion Jam that are made by Stonewall Kitchen of York, Maine. I was very disappointed when that store quit carrying these products. Now I order directly. For a catalog, feel free to call them at: 1-800-207-5267. They make all kinds of things. These two are particular favorites of ours. This is a twist on cooking rice that we have found very pleasing served with chicken breasts that have been slowly cooked in a little butter on top of the stove. I could eat this rice just by itself.

BROCCOLI SLAW

There before Christmas, Isaac began to play a little game with his mother. It reminded me of the time when Mattie was five and would put on a hat and her poncho and purse and tell me goodbye and would go out to a little back porch area and shut the door. One could count to fifty when she would burst through said door and tell me she was back and would be full of all the things she had done while she was away. Well, Isaac did her one better. He became Santa and would tell Mrs.Santa (whom he called wife) that he was on his way to deliver gifts to good children. Then he would take a pull out tape measurer and use it for a whip to get the reindeer in motion. He would go here and there about the house delivering presents. Then, he would come back to where Mattie was and say, Wife? Im back! and she would ask him if he had a good trip and he would say, Oh, yes, but I sure am tired! Being the understanding Mrs. Santa that she was, she would agree with him that she could see why he was tired after all that work. Then he would jump up and declare that he had MORE presents to deliver and off he would go again! One time, Stephen was near by when Isaac called Mattie wife and he looked at Mattie with a HUGE question mark above his head. All Mattie could say to Stephen was, We must have a child here with an Oedipus complex! Caryn Wiggins brought this delicious salad to Herb Club one day and kindly shared her recipe. It is that time of year when we begin to hanker for something light and tasty. This is also a good way to get your family to eat that green vegetable that is so good for us.

SAVORY CHICKEN

Isaac has been waiting for three years to become a Tiger Scub Scout. (No, that is not a misprint!) And, I must tell you that he has not been very patient about it either. He thinks that that will be the greatest thing that could ever happen to an almost six year old. This summer, in fact, he will be able to go to the weeklong daily summer Boy Scout Summer Camp. He will be a bone fide scout and not a tag along like he was last year. He will be able to do things like the Big Boys do, like shoot arrows and BB guns! (Why does that thought cause such nervous reverberations down my Grammy spine?) For years I have read that one should use a really good (read here expensive) balsamic vinegar for optimum taste. So, when I got a catalog from Zingermans in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I was thrilled to find one vinegar (their 30 year anniversary balsamic) that was more than I would normally pay but was less than some others as well. I not only use much less, the flavor is fantastic. I kid you not. Also, the label on the bottle is cleverly done. To get one of these catalogs, call: 1-888-636-8162. In my book, it is worth the price to make this wonderfully yummy chicken dish that good friend Ellen Sauer shared with M.E. See what you think.

GUSSIED UP GREENS

Our kids did not realize that they would not be in their new house to celebrate Christmas. This caused a dilemma, for their tree was in storage and unavailable. Dorothy Wilfong suggested that Mattie get a live tree but since that was not available to her, she got a four footer that already had lights. The boys strung popcorn and cranberries for the garland. A star was bought for the top. Nate wanted Mattie to get him some styrofoam balls and toilet cleaners (he meant pipe cleaners) at the store. His class had made spiders using them and he wanted to make an ant. Mattie remembered from her Brownie days sticking pins with beads on them into styrofoam balls so that is what they made for ornaments plus any paper ones the boys saw fit to make. I think that will be a Christmas tree well remembered. I really like kale and will cook it fresh often. My mother would pour boiling water over the greens and bring them up to a boil and drain them. She would then put in bacon grease in the pot and add the wilted greens. I have found that they are just as good without the wilting and the throwing away of that water with all the vitamins in it. A little old lady told M.E. once, while we were standing in a grocery line, that she cooked garlic with her kale. That is also very good. I think we tend to forget our greens that are so important for a healthy diet. Now, greens from a can are easier to serve than starting from fresh and a whole lot easier. Any green, in my book, has to be gussied up to be really eatable and your family will be more likely to eat them if they are prepared in a special way like these are.

FRUIT CAKE COOKIES

I know, I know, this is really the wrong time of year to share this recipe with you all but I have a good excuse. You see, when we moved last December, I had to get a new computer. Our wonderful Stephen set it all up for M.E. This recipe got stuck in some file or other and I did not discover it until after the holidays. I am sharing the recipe now with you and putting the burden of remembering on YOU! Just file it away. Or, better yet, make some if you can find the candied fruit, that is. I find it difficult to find candied fruit after Christmas. Oh.....I must tell you where I got this recipe. My sister was served these at the home of a gal who had taught with her at the Jefferson County Traditional Middle School in Louisville, Kentucky. This gals name is (are you ready for this?) COOKY Thomas!!! And, her husbands name is the same as the founder of the Wendy eateries. When Cooky was little, she would pester her Uncle Buddy to get her cookies from her Grandmothers cupboard. After so much begging and pestering, Buddy began to call her Cooky and the name stuck. I am hoping that you will not have to wait several months before trying these delicious cookies that Cooky served Anne!

BEAN SPREAD

There is a child in the Indianapolis area who is the spittin image of our Isaac. In the Metro & State section of the December 16, 2006, issue of the Indianapolis Star was a picture of three children performing in a program as Hanukkah candles. The boy in the picture even has Isaacs big ears and same color of red hair! I called Mattie and told her to dig up that section of the paper (she had missed it) and even SHE thought it was Isaac. She then had Nate look at the picture and big brother also thought it looked like his little brother. Then THE BOY himself looked and began to jump around singing, Im in the paper! Im in the paper! It is really strange. If we got the two boys together in person, we might think there was not this similarity but in that picture, there WAS another Isaac Kautheim! Race Day and cook outs hit many of us big time in May. I am always looking for something new and different in the way of an appetizer. This spread fills the bill beautifully as it does not have any mayo in it to make it turn funky in the late spring heat. One can serve this with any kind of cracker but I have found the most delicious way (albeit a tad more trouble but well worth it) is to slice a French baguette about 1 to 2 inches thick and brush with olive oil and sprinkle herbs, salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet and bake at 325 until a light brown.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Butch Kings parents, Midge and Tony King, live in a very festively decorated house. Midge decorates all year long, changing her theme with each season or holiday. There is not one inch, inside OR outside that is not up to snuff with a decoration. So it was with great pleasure that we accepted their kind offer to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. Butch and Barbara were there, of course, along with Midges granddaughter Tracy Calvert and her husband Kevin, their five year old daughter Jaylin, and the two year old twins Kendall and Koby. The food at Midges is always something special and always very delicious. Since most folks wanted white meat, she cooked a turkey breast in her slow cooker. It was so flavorful and tender; and it just melted in our mouths. Tracy brought this sweet potato casserole dish that was the hit of the day. I thought I had tried all the dishes of that genre but this one absolutely tops the list! Tracy says it is a dish that her husbands family has made for years and it is brought to all their family gatherings. I bet it will be a dish you will add to your list of favorites.

SGRO MESS

It was the last day of school before Christmas break. When Nate bounded into the house, he instantly informed his mother that this had been the BEST day of his life. She asked him what had happened to make the day so special. His answer? We PLAYED more than we WORKED! And we all went over to the HIGH SCHOOL to see the movie, Over the Hedge! Mattie then asked him where they saw the movie, in the cafeteria? No, he knew it wasnt the cafeteria, but he did manage to see the word TORIUM. So, it was the new auditorium they went to which is new to Mattie anyway because it was built after she had graduated from Triton High School in 1990. What a difference 16 years make! John had Nick Sgro as a student at Howe High School. Nick conned John into taking him home one rainy day. There was nothing to do then but to come in and meet his mother, Madeline. Soon John was taking Nick home on unrainy days as Madeline always had a pot of something good to eat to offer John. We became fast friends with the whole Sgro family, so much so that we were even invited to their family reunions! Madeline would make this dish and put it into sandwiches for Dominic to take with him when he would go to a nearby park and play Bocci Ball with some guys. She did not have a name for it so our poor attempt does not bode well for making a person want to try it (mess????) but trust M.E., it IS delicious. We have not eaten it as a sandwich filler, however.

CHEESE CASSEROLE

I understand that the grades at Triton Elementary take turns giving a Christmas program and 2006 was the year of the kindergarten. The children all wore antlers on their heads made from drawing their hands. Isaac wore his the rest of the day and had his mother make his nose red, by using lipstick. That night, he went to the Cub Scout meeting as a reindeer, including the very red nose. He would have slept with the antler headband on but his daddy told him he would tear the thing up. Mattie refused to let Isaac wear his antlers to school the next day but as soon as he got home, on they went along with the nose begin reddened again. Stephen took half a day off from work so he could attend the program. Mattie had to laugh at him, when after a little while Stephen leaned over to her and said, Oh! Those are ANTLERS! Being the realist engineer he is, he had looked at them and saw outlines of hands! Emily Featherstone of Indianapolis gave M.E. this recipe many years ago. It is SO good and easy to make. It is not spicy but I reckon one could spice it up if one chose to do so. Emily called it John Waynes Cheese Cassserole. I have NO idea how it got that name unless it was something the Duke liked or fixed. Put this on your list of something to try and soon!

VEGETABLE SUPREME

When living in Connecticut, every Saturday was the changing of the beds in the Krautheim household, and a very special game was played by Nate and Isaac. The blankets, spread and pillows from the boys beds as well as the parents were piled upon the floor preparatory to being washed. This made for quite a pile since the adult bed was a king size. This all became as tempting as a big pile of leaves in autumn. The game consisted of one boy burrowing under the bedding and becoming the egg while the other sat upon it. After a period of time, the egg would hatch into various animals. One time Mattie had gone downstairs while the game continued. She put on a movie and yelled up to the boys if there was anyone who would like to watch. (This suggestion usually elicited a thundering of four feet hurrying down the stairs along with squeals of pleasurable anticipation.) Nate came to the top of the stairs to inform his mother that it was Ikes turn to break out so they would be down in a minute. Those boys sure had their priorities!

BROCCOLI PECAN

In third grade, Nate had a LOT of homework. This would get done first thing when he got off the bus. Mattie had both boys work together. If Isaac had no homework, she made some for him! Nate is pretty good with his numbers but Ye Olde English gives him a turn or two every once in awhile. One day, he was given the word PERSISTENCE and he was to use it in a sentence. He did and it went like this: The persistence was the head of the government. Nate had mistaken persistence for president. I keep telling him that he ought to consider himself lucky that he lives in a country where English is spoken, (or it still does as of right now, but who knows about the future?) for English is considered one of the hardest languages to learn. I wonder if any of my little wise Grammy sayings like that do any good?

WELSH STARTERS

Bruce Beck is remembered with great respect and much fondness by fellow teachers and students. He was a teacher of English and then department head of the English Department and lastly vice-principal and principal at the Thomas Carr Howe High School located in the Irvington area of east Indianapolis. Bruce had had an English pen pal over the years, a George Bayliss by name. George had come here to visit and so one Easter break, Bruce visited Merrie Olde. When in Penarth, South Wales, Bruce and George visited Angela Higgins, an old school friend of Georges. They also got to meet Angelas daughter and son-in-law who traveled over the world doing lighting and sound for big musical groups. The fellows were served this dish that was most memorable to Bruce and he gave M.E. the recipe for it. Save this recipe to use when the delicious peppers come on in your garden. This makes quite a delicious side dish with any entree.

SZECHUAN NOODLES

It was the week for the letter N in Isaacs kindergarten class. He and Mattie were naming all sorts of things that began with this special letter. Isaac would have to decide what object starting with the letter N he would be taking to class. It could not be something that he held near and dear and would not want to part with for any length of time as said object would stay in the classroom on a shelf for A WHOLE WEEK. Isaac then mentioned to his mommy that the special letter for the NEXT week was to be the letter M Mattie told him, Oh! That is the letter for MOMMY! Isaac then giggled and stated that he would have to take his Mommy for the M word. Oh, then I would have to stay there ALL WEEK sitting on a shelf if you did that, the mommy told him. Oh, no, I would bwing you home wif me! Isaac stated MOST emphatically. This is a delicious and different side dish to serve. I got this recipe several years ago from Leslie Wilhelm who is a sister to Steven Wilfong. You can make this as authentic as you wish with the hotness.

COLCANNON

Stephen and Mattie got great entertainment for a couple hours every Saturday for a few winter months. Their time was spent in the gym at Triton Elementary. It was fun to watch Nate improve with his skills of guarding the right person, taking the ball down court and once in awhile, making a basket. One Saturday Isaac played a team that had two girls on it. One girl really impressed Mattie with her ability to make a basket every chance she got to do so. The other girl was a fooler. Here she was with lovely blonde hair tied back into a ponytail with lots of cute ringlets around her face. Her face. It was the face of an angel. Her attitude was just the opposite. What a tough little player she was! All the players on Isaacs team were getting pretty good at taking the ball down court and then when they would get under their basket, they would simply stop and look around! Even big brother Nate had to do some encouraging yelling of, Throw the ball, Isaac! Yes, there is much entertainment to be had in an elementary gym on a Saturday morning. Nancy Jordan lived in the village of Hertford Heath north of London, England. She gave M.E. this recipe when she was here on her first visit to the United States. I think it was way back in 1978. I remember her taking a great liking to the potato peeler I used. This is a very tasty side dish. Try it soon.

ANYTHING GOES SALAD

Mattie volunteered to help out with the Santa Workshop at the boys school last December. She was there the day the morning kindergarten classes shopped for gifts for family members. Of course, she did not help Isaac and this little one was SO afraid his mommy might see what he got her that she had to close her eyes at certain times. When they were all shopped out, Ikes teacher told him to just stand there with his mother at the doorway as it was time for the kindergarteners to leave for the day. Mattie was amazed at how ALL the children from ALL three rooms (boys AND girls alike) waved and said friendly goodbyes to Isaac. It seemed that EVERYONE knew Isaac! Mattie said it was like she and Isaac were standing like Queen Elizabeth, waving to the people as they walked past!

THREE RECIPES WITH BRUSSEL SPROUTS

Bless Betty Johnson of Columbus, Indiana, for sharing this story with M.E. via that wonderful thing called e-mail! Betty said that her youngest granddaughter, Emily, and the tykes mother were at her home one day. Emily would be five in May. Betty mentioned to Emily how wonderful it was to have her there but that she did miss her older sister, who is eight. I dont! Emily quickly piped up. She tells me what to do all the time, like another parent! Grandma then mentioned that Lindsey had guided Emily along when she was quite small and was a big help in showing her how to do things, etc. Emily then came back with, Well, yeah, I guess she just cant help it! Betty went on to say that she did not want Emily to be five, that she wants her to stay just like this because she is so funny. Then Betty also sagely wrote that if Emily is opinionated at 4 1/2, just think what she will be on down the line? (My guess is she will become a teacher!) NOTE: A warm and bright and loving light went out in the world when Betty succumbed to cancer in early spring. Her death was a shock to us all as she seemed to be doing so well. She is sorely missed. m.e.

ZUCCHINI SKILLET CASSEROLE

Well, we all knew it would happen sometime. I told Mattie she should be grateful that it lasted as long as it did. When he got in the house from the first day back to school after the Christmas break, Nates first question to his mother was, When I told Faith what Santa brought me for Christmas, she told me that there was no Santa Clause, that it all came from my parents. Is this so? Mattie said she surely must have looked like a deer facing a pair of headlights. She sorta felt herself outside of herself and wondering what in the world to do and say as Isaac was standing right there. (By the way, if little neighbor Faith had been there then, she may not have survived!) Mattie had to end up lying to the boy as his little brother was in close proximity of what was being said. The parental units then decided to tell him, if he ever asked again and when the little one was not around. My thumb is not very green. I used to put out a garden and would get some sass (old fashioned term for veggies) but I always felt a failure due to the fact that I could not produce enough zucchini to make all the stuff I liked to make with this squash. Everyone else I knew had the stuff running out of their ears. This is one way to use the veggie if you happen to have an abundance. It is easy, it is tasty and even reheats well.

STATE FAIR CORN DOG CASSEROLE

Mattie volunteered to head the committee that deals with selling Market Day foodstuffs at Triton Elementary. She knew she had better volunteer for something and since she is good at organizing and it is only once a month and she even gets some free food once in awhile, she felt this was her niche. On delivery day, she takes the boys with her and Stephen picks them up on his way home from work. One particular evening, Isaac was due to have a new tube inserted for the insulin pump he wears. Mattie called to remind the daddy of this. It did not get done since he could not find the gizmo that pushes the needle in. So, the next morning, Mattie had to do it manually and she had to do it quickly and with force. She thought to lighten the atmosphere (the recipient was a little scared) so she said she was going to slap him as that would usually make Isaac laugh. It did not. Nate had to hold his hand and Mattie almost had to sit on him to hold him down but the needle got deposited under the skin. Nate asked his mother if she slapped Isaac because she was putting in the needle or because the kid was insolent. That was Nates big word for the day at the ungodly hour of 6:30 in the morning.

JATINDERS GREEN BEANS and GREEK GREEN BEANS

Ever since he began to talk, Nate has amazed his parents with the words he uses. One evening, he and Stephen were watching a TV show on prehistoric creatures. A drawing of one speciman, a hynenadont (pronounce the dont with the short o sound) was discussed. Thinking aloud, Stephen asked, I wonder what dont means? Mattie looked over just then at Nate and without taking a breath or batting an eye, in fact with his eyes glued to the TV set, he replied with, BONES!

FRESH TOMATO TUNA PASTA

Mattie was really on pins and needles. Mark Miller, their builder, had called Stephen to tell Mattie that she had to come out to the new house to pick out the color of stain for the woodwork. She really hated to have this responsibility for as was the case with MY husband 27 years ago in building our salt box, this house was Stephens baby but he could not leave work to make the decision. A couple days later, the family went out to the house to see the woodwork. The minute they walked in, however, Nate noticed the light switches being covered over with tape and he desperately wanted to pull it all off and uncover them. He was told to leave them alone by his mother. Nate then asked Stephen if he could uncover the switches and was again told not to. After the third attempt by Nate, Mattie asked him What is it about the word NO that you do NOT understand? Just then Isaac, aka Mr. Goody Two Shoes, piped up with, Well, I did not ask to uncova the light switches! And, as for the stain? Stephen approved Matties selection; it was neither too dark nor too red but just right.

SIX LAYER DINNER

While Daddy was away at his new job in Indianapolis, Mommy and the boys were back in Portland, CT, selling the house, finishing first semester of school, celebrating Thanksgiving and preparing for Christmas of 2005. Christmas Eve FINALLY rolled around and as is the custom, the Krautheim boys were to write a note to Santa. That year, Nate was able to do the whole thing himself. The reason to write a note was for asking any question the tyke might have. That year it was, Is Rudolf real? The boys were told it was time for a quick bath and then to bed. Nate then remembered their going online the year before and finding out where Santa was at that moment so when they looked, they found he had already been to Europe and was heading for our eastern coast. Mattie said you never saw two little boys move so fast. It was like watching a Harry Potter movie where they were at one place one instant and then the next split second, were in bed! Santa ate one cookie left for him and took a bite out of another and left it. This caused MUCH excitement the next morning from Isaac who was thrilled that HE had a cookie Santa had bitten into! The family moved a couple days later. When leaving for the very last time and crossing the bridge from Portland, CT, into Middletown, Stephen told the boys to really look hard for they were crossing the Connecticut River on their old bridge for the last time. After a moments pause, our little philosopher Nate piped up with, But, we will have NEW bridges to cross in Indiana!

GARDEN CASSEROLE

At bedtime one evening in March, Isaac informed his mother that she was going to have to take him to the dentist the next day after school because he had a cavity in his lower front teeth. Mattie informed him that people usually do not get cavities in those teeth but rather back further in the mouth. He was insistent, of course, as only Isaac can be. Well, the next morning, he informed his mother that he had, Two woose toofs. (Try saying THAT five times really fast!) He was SO glad the funny feeling he had in his teeth was not cavities but loose teeth. This is a big milestone for a five year old and something to be really excited about and proud of!

ORIENTAL SALAD

John and I made a special effort to be at church one Sunday in March. Our son-in-law, Stephen, was to have a role in a little radio play the choir was giving to the congregation after service. We were even fed a meal and did not have to bring in a dish! I especially looked forward to the Childrens Moment during the service. Ms. Patty talked to the children about babies and had a picture of a special one she knew about. Nate then put up his hand and she called upon him. (What else could the poor woman do as the kid was waving his arm like it was in a 60 m.p.h. gale?) He said to her, We have a new baby in OUR family and her name is MOLLY! He had seen a picture of Molly Beckstedt of Cincinnati, Ohio, on his mothers computer. Molly is the great grand daughter to my brother Richard. My mind cannot figure out what Nate and Molly are to each other. He was thrilled to see and hold both Molly and her cousin Lillian, who is a few months older, at our family reunion held in June. Lillian and Mollys grandmother, Jeri, sent M.E. this recipe that makes that noodle oriental style salad into a main dish. This is a great variation on a delicious theme.

EGGS IN ZUCCHINI CUPS

Almost no one believes Mattie when she tells them that at home Isaac tends to be on the grumpy side. He is ALWAYS so cheerful and likeable away from home. Then, one morning when he got on the bus, he told the driver he had a headache and he was not his cheerful smiling self so the driver phoned ahead and said she thought he was not well and that she would bring him in to the office. The office lady tested him and his sugar level was perfect. So, the office gal took Isaac down to his classroom whereupon his teacher was SO happy to see him and asked him if he now felt better? His answer was a most resounding, NO! The office gal phoned all this to Mattie. She was still laughing, for Isaac was certainly NOT being his usual cheerful self.

CURRIED LENTILS

When it came time to sell Cub Scout popcorn in the neighborhood, either Mattie or Stephen would go with third grader Nate. They had rehearsed at home what he should say to the people who answered his summons at their door. Hi! My name is Nate and Im selling Cub Scout popcorn. Then he would describe the products. The parents were surprised when Nate, all on his own, would then add either, Now, what can I get for you? or, Which ones do you want? Needless to say, he was able to sell quite a lot of popcorn products! Dorothy and Steve Wilfongs first graders stumped them. When it was time to sell popcorn, Ben got a case of the shys and would not go to the door but sister Rose was more than willing. When it came time to sell cookies for her Brownie troop however, Rose got that same illness and let brother Ben do the selling for her! Kids! They are hard to figure out sometimes!

RED AND GREEN MIX IT

Last winter Nate worked on a God and Me religious medal for Cub Scouts. He and another scout from Triton Elementary had four lessons with Ms Patty at church plus the family had something to do each of those four weeks. One week was to sit around a table and talk about what they liked about each member of the family. The boys said they like Mommy helping them do things and she is nice to them. They liked their daddy to help with Cub Scout stuff and he was fun. Mattie also reminded the boys that Daddy was away all day at work to earn money so Mommy could be home when they got home from school. This was a new concept. Nate, they decided, was honest and very hard working and kind. They then came to Isaac and there was complete silence! For several heart beats, in fact. They then decided that he made them laugh and was a good one to cuddle with and a good cleaner upper, when he was in the mood that is!

SLIT PEA SOUP

 

APPLE PIZZA TREAT

 

MOTHERS CARAMEL CORN and MICROWAAVE CRACKERJACK

 

CURRIED APRICOT CHICKEN

Stephen did a number on his back when he and Mattie shoveled the driveway early one morning in February. It got so bad that he could not the climb stairs and had to sleep downstairs. The morning after the first night of that, Mattie was bristling about making her bed and straightening up when Isaac came into her bedroom looked around and with a MOST puzzled look on his face asked, Mommy! What HAVE you done with Daddy?

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE

 

HOT CURRIED FRUIT

 

PUNKIN TRIFLE

I had to call Patty Rice Shuler, the Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries at our church. During our conversation, I told Patty how much we enjoy her mini talks with the little children during the service. She then told M.E. about one session that was particularly touching to her and one she would never forget. She wanted the children to talk about the various ways of giving and handed some pictures to a few. One picture was about the woman giving her tithe. Isaac had a picture of a person praying. Patty asked Isaac what kind of giving that his picture was about and he quickly said, Pway! Patty told me that Isaac then scrunched up his little face, put his two hands together, bowed his head, and proceeded to say a little prayer! That about did Ms. Patty in, she said.

PEANUT CHICKEN SOBA SALAD

 

WINTER CASSEROLE

Last year both Nate and Isaac played soccer at a field in Shelbyville. The boys were asked this year if they wished to continue and in what sport. The boys were allowed one sport to participate in as the parental units found out a few years ago that having each boy playing in two different sports was absolutely way too much! Nate wanted to continue playing soccer. Isaac wanted to change to T-ball so he joined a league that played back of his school. Nates team won their play offs again this summer and so he has yet another big trophy to put on his special shelf. Isaac enjoyed T-ball. However, he would have been a better contributor to the teamss efforts if he had not spent so much time chatting away with the basemen as he made the rounds. Everyone, including a brother and parent of his, kept screaming at the kid to RUN but he often did not move fast enough and got tagged out. Ike is a true social butterfly!

CRACKAWAY FARMS GINGERBREAD

Last spring, during the last week or so of school, the buzz with kids was about who would be their teacher in the fall. Our boys lucked out. Isaac has a teacher who will keep him in tow and have her students do lots and lots of writing. When Nate was told he would be having Mr. Whittaker in fourth grade, his response was a MOST enthusiastic, FINALLY, a GUY!

CHRISTMAS JAM and HOLIDAY PEAR-HONEY JAM

 

PEACHES N MINCEMEAT

One of the good reasons for us to attend antique shows is not only the finding of something special but the dealers who have unusual wares to sell. Over the years John has become acquainted with many of these lovely people so that when doing an antique show, it is more like a homecoming with long stops for chatting at the various booths. Ted and Harriet Schmidt of Fairhaven, Ohio, are two especially delightful dealers. We always look forward to getting to visit with them. Harriet always has some pieces of coin silver for John to peruse and sometimes even purchase! Their shop is in their lovely old home and we have been there but we see them at shows. Harriet shared this recipe with M.E. It is one that sounds very Christmasy dont you think? I think it is the use of mincemeat that does it even though this would be tasty any time of the year.

BROCCOLI SALAD

After watching some TV specials about the universe, Nate informed his mother that when HE grew up, HE was going to invent a satellite that will give off an earth force that will protect the earth from being hit by an asteroid and also protect the earth from sun storms, too. Go, Nate!

ZUCCHINI-NOODLE CASSEROLE

The nut does not fall far from the tree. A case in point is: One day, when Nate walked in the house from getting off the school bus, his nose went up into the air and he began to sniff like a Beagle Hound. Do I smell chicken noodle soup? he asked. He was overjoyed to find he was right. It is one of his favorite meals. A couple of hours later Stephen walked into the house, home from work. His nose went up into the air and he began to sniff like that hound dog and said, Do I smell chicken noodle soup? History repeats itself. This time it was taller and bigger. As I said, the nut does not fall far from the tree!