Better Than Robert Redford

My Nana was an amazing woman. She taught me from an early age to be proud of my Irish heritage. She also taught me about the finer points of a good whiskey. She would warn me about it though, and say that whiskey was the reason that the Irish never could conquer the world.

It is from her that I inherited my dark hair, Waterford Crystal and one of our most treasured family recipes. No one made a Redford, like my Nana. I would always pull up the stool at the end of her counter to see what she had cooking in the kitchen.  Sometimes it was something simple, like a toasted tomato sandwich with a fresh picked tomato from her garden. Other days offered Hungarian Goulash simmering on the stove, scenting the house with the delicious aroma of supper to come. She was forever swatting people away from the pot. "Patrick and Jerry get out of that pot or we wont have enough for dinner!"

One of the things I wish most, other than to have her here with us again, is that I would have written down her recipe for Irish Soda bread. Now that she is gone, that family recipe is lost to us forever. Sandi has not even had any luck trying to duplicate it. I was however, fortunate enough to learn the amazing Redford recipe from her. I watched her make this for many Gillespie Family Reunions at Lake Chemung.  When I make this dessert to take for a pot luck, I am guaranteed to come home with an empty pan, much to the Mr.'s dismay. Sometimes I have to make him a spare, so he can have some later. There are even people in my family that actually fight over who is going to get the last piece.

In honor of my Nana, I will share with you her recipe for Better Than Robert Redford. I should tell you that the original name of this dessert was Better Than Sex. Nana wouldn't call it that, so she changed the name to Better than Robert Redford. Today we all just call it Redford and everyone knows that you better get your piece fast before its long gone. I once set out a pan of Redford and went to go get more forks from the kitchen. When I got back, the whole pan was gone. Yes, folks, it is that good!

Better Than Robert Redford

Crust: 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 stick of butter softened, 1 tbs granulated sugar

Pre-heat oven to 375. Blend flour, butter and sugar until thoroughly incorporated. Press into a greased 9*13 baking pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Cool completely

Layer 1: 1 8oz package of cream cheese softened, 1 cup of Cool Whip softened, 1 cup of confectioners sugar

Blend cream cheese, Cool Whip and confectioners sugar until smooth. Spread mixture over completely cooled crust. Cover & Refrigerate 2 hours.

Layer 2: 2 small boxes Jello Instant Chocolate Pudding, 3 cups cold milk

Mix pudding and milk. Pour over 1st layer. Cover & Refrigerate 2 hours

Layer 3: Spread remaining Cool Whip on top and garnish with 2 cups crushed Heath Bar. Cover & Refrigerate 30 minutes.

If you decide to give Nana's Redford a try make sure that the butter, cream cheese and Cool Whip are all at room temp. They will blend better this way. I assure you that there will be enough dough for the crust, even if it doesn't look like it. Put it in the pan and use your fingers to press it down and spread it out. It takes a few minutes to work it across the pan. It is worth it I promise! You could also make it with pistachio pudding instead of chocolate and use crushed pistachios in place of the Heath Bar.

I hope you all enjoy my wonderful Nana's delicious dessert!

A Collection of Cookbooks

One of my favorite things to do when I was young was to bake. I got my first Easy-Bake when I was 9. At that point it was official, I had been bitten by the baking bug. I would page through my mothers 1970's faded orange copy of The Betty Crocker Cookbook amazed at all of the imaginative things you could do with food. There were instructions on fondue, iced sugar cookies, tinted frostings, cakes in the shape of Christmas trees, Easter eggs, hearts and even a castle. I found fudge, divinity, stained glass cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and more. I absolutely could not wait to try my hand at the beautiful masterpieces pictured on the pages.

 

As I grew, I started to appreciate this faded orange book more and more. I found recipes to make meatloaf, pork chops, scalloped potatoes and my own spaghetti sauce. Additionally, there were helpful tips to guide you from purchase to presentation. For my first marriage, I was given my own copy of Betty's New Cookbook. It was a fantastic gift, lovingly signed by my great aunt Elsie. Aunt Elsie is no longer with us, but every time I use this book, I think of her. Not only is it a wonderful memory, the knowledge contained within helped to provide valuable insight, allowing me to refine my culinary abilities. I have since added many other cookbooks to my collection over the years. Many were gifts from special people in my life, making them all the more meaningful. Some are old, spattered with the drips and drizzles from the creations conceived within their pages. A few are new, in pristine condition, and have even been autographed by the author. It doesn't matter to me though, if they are old or new, signed by the author or not, they are all my treasure. That being said however, Jamie Deen you are next on my autograph list because I can not have a complete collection of autographed Deen family cookbooks without you  :-)

 

One of the things that endears these books to me, is that each one is a snapshot of domestic life during the time frame that it was printed. The 1965 Edition of Betty Crockers New Boys and Girls Cookbook suggests that you "Choose a time to suit your mother, so you won't be in her way"  and to "always leave mother's kitchen spotlessly clean, so she will be happy to let you use it again". Very sage advice, even in today's society. We are also instructed to make sure to get father's permission before making smores out on the grill. A special side note is included, indicating safety first,  we should always allow father to light the grill. Was mom not allowed to hold the matches either? Although I love the vintage nature of these books,  I am grateful that we have evolved beyond these typical gender stereotypes. I will most certainly be teaching my young son, to know his way around a kitchen. 

Pictured above right, is my prized, first edition 1955 Better Homes and Gardens Jr Cookbook.  

Lately, you may find me reading this book by a fellow blogger Bakerella. Cake pops are the new craze, popping up in classrooms and bakeries around the country. I am planning a tutorial for making my own version of these cute, tasty treats just in time for the holiday baking season :-)

That's all I have for today folks. Thank you all for your continued readership. I am blessed and astounded by your response to my little corner of bloggland. 500 page views in the past week and counting! You all rock!

Honey Me This

Did you know that honey is one of natures super foods? Honey has been used by mankind for over 2500 years and is known for its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, it is loaded with antioxidants that help boost your immune system and  when combined with warm water, cinnamon or lemon juice it can be used to help aid weight loss. Eating honey that is local to your area can also aid those who suffer from allergies by helping the body build immunity to local pollens. There are an infinite amount of applications to use honey, from cooking and baking to skin and wound care to easing a cough and sore throat. Just a quick side note, you should never feed honey to children under the age of  12 months due to the risk of botulism.

Ironically, most honey sold in the United States can hardly even be considered honey (source).  3/4 of the honey on grocery store shelves has been filtered so that all of the pollen is removed.

Why is the pollen so important? It is how honey is traced to a region. Different regions produce different flowers and pollen is a key ingredient in honey. Despite the fact that we have a  Food & Drug administration honey, unlike milk or meat, does not have a standard of identity. The lack of regulation enables potentially unsafe honey to make its way to our grocers shelf.  It is estimated that 1/3 of the honey on our store shelves has been smuggled in from China and contains traces of illegal antibiotics and heavy metals (Source) . 

How can you be sure that you are getting safe honey? Make sure that the honey you purchase is non-filtered. 

                         

When I buy honey, I buy from either of these two companies. I like them both, but for different reasons. The Sleeping Bear Farms honey is somewhat local to me and I can usually find it at my local grocer. It is made in the northern MI area, where I spent so many summers as a kid. I love the way the Star Thistle honey tastes, its like pure sunshine on a spoon. The Savannah Bee Company makes the best Tueplo honey I have ever tasted. This is the honey I use when I make Baklava. I also adore their line of body care products. The blackberry lip shimmer is my current go to lip gloss and the mint julep honey bar soap keeps my winter skin super soft and moisturized . It smells fantastic to boot.  Both companies have great reputations for being a quality product and if you get the chance, check out their websites.                                                             

I consider honey to be a mandatory kitchen staple since the variety of uses are endless. Did you know it never goes bad? From time to time it will crystallize and become cloudy in the jar. To return to its natural state put a pot of water on to boil. When it barely begins to boil place the jar of honey in the pot, turn the heat to low and let it heat up. The heat will make the honey clear again. When the jar is clear take it out of the pot and let it come to room temp before you put it away.

If you want to learn more about honey and find some links for great honey recipes check out The National Honey Board for more information.

           

Decking the Halls

I inherited my mom's Christmas tree a few years ago. She got tired of stringing lights, decided to save herself the hassle and just buy a pre-lit tree. She asked me if I wanted it, and I said Yes! Please! She also included these cool vintagey looking bubble lights, Thanks Momma!

This year I have a few new baubles to add to the tree. I bought this pair of  50's era green drop bulbs at a church rummage sale for a quarter a piece. They match a few of the ones that are on display in the china cabinet. I was undecided about where to put them. Ultimately they ended up on the tree. I loved the slender shape, they are so delicate.

The elves on top belonged to my mother in law. She put them in my Mr.'s room every Christmas when he was little. When she passed, he continued to carry on their tradition. Now they share a prominent spot at the top of the tree, right next to the star.

This glass bulb is is from the Czech Republic and is hand painted & glittered. It used to be a twin, until tragedy struck one year and now it is single. Maybe I should go back and buy her a mate. You know I am a sucker for the sparkly baubles, and this one captured my attention immediately. I bought the pair from Jim Marvin Enterprises in Dickson, TN. I did not know that he was a wholesale suplier, when I dragged my friend Jenn to the store to check it out. I almost didn't get to buy them. Good thing we ran into Jenn's mom while we were there. She owns a business and was walking in to shop, just as we were walking out. Fantastic timing. Those babies were meant to be mine.  The Mr. has Czech heritage and I am happy to represent him on the tree.

Despite the pink glitter above, The Mr. is well represented  in a more manly fashion. I didn't entirely  revoke his mancard!

The doodle is represented as well. I love putting Ty's handmade ornaments on the tree every year. It is another reminder to me that of all that he has acheived. These two gingerbread men are from first and second grade and the glitter pine cone is from preschool. My little man is growing up so very fast. The Mr. and I are so proud of the handsome young man he is becoming.  

 

And here she is in all of her 2011 glory...............

I hope you are all having a fantastic time decorating your homes for the holidays! May they all be Merry and Bright :-) 

A Stately Lady

At the end of this past summer, my father in law gave me a beautiful family treasure. It is a triple bow-front china cabinet that belonged to his step-father's grandparents. Not only is it a glorious piece of family history, it is a stunning example of Early American Arts and Crafts Movement cabinetry. It is stamped Grand Rapids MI and was made from quarter sawn oak somewhere between 1890 and 1920. From what I have read on the internet I am guessing this particular example is from right around 1900.

I am just gaga over it. The detail on it is reminiscent of a time long past. That is one of the reasons I love antiques so much. It is so cliche to say, they don't make things like they used to, but in this case, its the honest truth.

The claw feet and the tulip like carvings on the top are hand carved, unlike today's furniture, which is mostly machine made. The cabinet compliments an antique cedar hope chest handed down to me through my fathers side of the family. That too has intricate carved detailing and was made around roughly the same time frame. There are no maker marks on it though, so I have yet to establish where that piece was made.

You can see the tiger stripe of the wood well in this photo. That is what quarter-sawn oak looks like. Quarter sawn or quartermortersawn, as it is known to woodworkers,  is the way the wood is cut against the grain. It brings out the natural rings in the wood and allows for greater stability of form and size. Although more expensive, the reason that quarter sawn wood was preferred  is that when used, it is difficult for the wood to warp and it allows for less shrinkage. It makes for beautiful long lasting furniture.

I loaded her right up with a few of my flea market finds. The two plates in the back are Johnson Brothers and the pattern is called Rose Chinz. The delicate coffee cups are Staffordshire and I don't know the maker of the soup tureen. I found all of these goodies at my local flea market for less than $10. Can you believe it?! The plates alone are worth $15 ea and the cups about $7.00 ea. I bought all 8 for .50 a piece. I so love a great bargain! I was eager to scoop them up, for while they adorn my china cabinet now, they will one day grace the table at Sandi's future bed and breakfast. 

I have included a photo of how I decorated the cabinet for the fall. The mirror on top was a happy accident. I purchased it at a flea market 3 years ago, I fell in love with it when I spotted it hiding under a bunch of old picture frames. It has a lovely patina to the glass and it reminds me of the mercury glass that I love so. Since we moved I had been patiently waiting for the Mr. to hang it up on the wall. Well, since he was taking his sweet old time and I was fearful that the either Tyler or Tutie would knock it over and break it, I put it on top of the cabinet. I was so surprised it looked like it was meant to be right up there on top. 

 Right now this grand lady is loaded up with my collection of vintage Christmas bulbs. One of these years I am going to find a tin tree so I can do a 1950's inspired tree. I'm such a nut for vintage finds :-)

I will be putting the finishing touches on my Christmas tree this week so I promise to have a post ready for you soon. But just to be a good neighbor, I will share a pic of my 2010 tree. Come back this week to see the full unveiling of my 2011 tree. 

Paula Deens Ya'll Come On Inn

In the fall of 2010 I was blessed to be able to take a fantastic Sister Trip to Savannah GA, with my mom, her two sisters (my aunts), a cousin, and two of my sisters. We stayed at Paula Deen's Condo on Tybee Island.  We spent an amazing week enjoying the sights, eating at the Lady & Sons & Uncle Bubba's, shopping, walking the beach and enjoying each others company. Savannah is a beautiful city and a gracious hostess. The shopping is stellar, there are so many unique items and one of a kind baubles. It was a fabulous vacation, and I am beyond thrilled that we have another Sister trip in the works.

 

In the spring we are planning on visiting Biltmore, in Ashville NC. It is the home of the Vanderbilt family and is touted as the largest home in America. It was completed in 1895 and is modeled after a french chateau. It has 250 rooms filled with antiques from around the world. The gardens are exquisite as well. I can hardly stand the wait :-) Until then I will just have to settle for a trip down memory lane, via the photos from Savannah. 

Do ya'll want to check out Paula Deens Ya'll Come on Inn? Well here are my photos of that special vacation. If your interested in staying at Ya'll Come On Inn here is the link for Mermaid Cottage Rentals in Tybee GA. They handle the reservations for the Inn.

 Here is the front of the condo. Look at us, we are such tourists, lol! The condo is about 4 or 5 blocks from the ocean. It was such a relaxing luxury to get in the car and drive down to the beach in the morning to stick my toes in the sand and watch the dolphins jump in and out of the water. I could so get used to that. 

The condo has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a laundry room on the second floor and there is also a pull out couch in the living room. You can comfortable sleep 8 people. The entire home is furnished with Paula's line of furniture and her own personal family photos. The kitchen too, is stocked full of her line of cookware, spices, seasonings and marinades. There is even a cardboard cutout of Paula. We moved that thing everywhere and we did photo shoots with it too! Oh good times :-) I almost forgot to mention that you get a signed copy of the Lady and Sons cookbook and a reservation to the Lady & Sons restaurant with your stay. 

Here we have a shot of the kitchen, never you mind the mess or the mad stash of booze on the right ;-)

A shot of the entertainment center in the living room. One of the things I like best about this condo was the comfy rocking chairs out on the big old front porch. It makes me want a house with a wrap around front porch again.

The weather was just beautiful the whole week we were there. Not to hot, not to cold, just perfect. The breeze that comes in off the water in evening is just lovely and I just love the smell of the salt water in the air. This was a prime spot to curl up with a book and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Some of Mrs. Paula's sayings.

This is the dining room and the cardboard cutout of Paula. I read somewhere, I think it was Michael Groovers book, that the reason that they had it made was because during the filming of her show her bird, Lady Bird, would not stop calling for his mama. It was difficult for them to tape over the bird and Lady Bird would just not be consoled unless he was close to his mama. They had a cardboard cutout made of Paula to put by the bird and the problem was solved. Im glad they thought of this idea, because we sure did have a fun photo shoot with it. I will have to dig up the pic we took of her with the all of the butter on the counter.  

Paula's family photos adorn the walls at Ya'll Come Inn. It is an exciting glimpse into her fantastic life. I think the reason she is so popular with people is because of her sparkly personality and the fact that she keeps it real. What you see is what you get, and despite her fame she has never forgotten her roots. That is an amazing feat. Here we have her precious grandson Jack. What a sweet little boy!

Mrs Paula and Michael in front of their Tybee home. This home is where she shoots Paula's Home Cooking.

A nice family shot. There are so many photos. There are photos of Paula with the President and First Lady, another of her at the Smithfield Plant in white protective gear and goggles, pictures of Jamie and Brooke's wedding, and of course photos of young Jamie and Bobby. Its like it is her personal family home.

 

This is the master bedroom. We call it the Brown room. Kind of funny since that is one of our family names.

And last but not least is the Green Bedroom. I loved this bedroom so much I re-created it (with my own modifications, of course) when I got home. I am still looking for the Peacock pillows though. I am also still holding out for that bed. I think its a great design and that who ever came up with the idea of the posts that screw on and off so you can change the look of the bed, was a genius.  It comes with tall and short posts so you can change them out as necessary.

I hope you enjoyed our little mini vacation and I am so excited to be able to share with you, one of the best vacations I have ever taken. I will surly let you know how my trip to Biltmore turns out and I promise to take lots of pic to share.

Santa's Magic Forest

Every year we go and see the magical wonderland that is Santa's Magic Forest. I love this tradition for two special reasons. First, the remaining years my young son will believe in the big red man are numbered. There is nothing better than seeing Christmas through his eyes and Santa's Magic Forest is a magical Christmas wonderland that can turn even the most hardened cynic into a believer again, if only for the afternoon. The second reason is that the proceeds from Santa's Magic Forrest go directly to support the local food bank, Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry.

With times being so hard, it is difficult for many to provide even the basic staples. In 2010, 15.1% of people in the United States lived in poverty, this is the largest number since 1993. (Source). Since opening in 2008 Fish and Loaves has fed more than 4,000 families in the Detroit/Downriver area. The need here is tremendous, and by supporting places like Fish and Loaves, your donation can be stretched further though partnerships with local grocers to help continue to meet the needs of those less fortunate in our community. To donate directly click the link and visit their site. http://downriverfishandloaves.org/home.asp

One of the greatest things about this particular pantry is that in addition to helping to stamp out hunger in our community they are trying to stamp out the stigma that comes with with being food insecure, thus providing needy families with dignity as they struggle to get through hard times. The pantry is set up like a grocery store, so that family's can shop for the things that they will eat. The food goes home in bags like you would get from the regular grocery store. This allows for higher satisfaction from the needy family, less waste, as people only pick what they will eat, and it allows for positive supportive social interaction between the volunteers and families. 

We are delighted to have an opportunity to volunteer at this wonderful organization and I am so looking forward to teaching my son about the true spirit of the holiday season. Thanks to the super EARLY release of the Toys R Us big toy book, Tyler has a bad case of the holiday "gimmies"  and I am eager to teach him that it is truly better to give than to receive.

I hope the following photos will entice you to visit Santa's Magic Forest and help out the Fish and Loaves Food Pantry with your visit. Here is the link to all the info you will need to visit. Now as promised a pictorial holiday feast for the eyes.

 

Worker mice sewing new stocking for the good little boys and girls.

 

Mr and Mrs Clause turning in for the night

A view of the forest, aglow with holiday lights

Tyler engrossed in the magic

 An Elf Camp

 Tree Elves, Tyler asked if they were the ones that make the cookies :-)

 Snuggle Buggs staying warm by the fire 

 

The Clauses 

 Working elves (yep that is an elf outhouse)

 Tyler talking to a friend "Come check this one out!"

 Delivering Gifts

 I love how there are Fish and Loaves references through the displays

 Shoveling Elves

 Winter Wonderland

 Santa's big toy bag

 Skiing Penguin

Over the river and through the woods

Even the worker mice have a space

 Elves that chop wood

 Elf Mail

 Feeding the reindeer

 The Nativity

Face time with the big man

 Elves with reindeer

These were my favorite, the gamblin elves. They made me laugh so hard and remind me the of the Mr.  :-) 

So there you have it folks. Make sure to take your little ones on down to the Activity Building at Heritage Park in Taylor for a spectacular visit through an amazing Christmas wonderland. Again here is the link for all of the info you will need to visit. If you are interested in donating either money or time to Fish and Loaves Community Food Bank click here . Thank you all for your support!