Anzac Biscuits

If you remember, I believe I promised a recipe of an authentic Australian dish that my new nephew Stuart made for his and my niece's wedding reception. Anzac biscuits are actually what we would call "cookies" in this country, and let me tell you--they are yummy! The guests were certainly enjoying them. I saw folks with three, four, or even more on their plates, and there were no leftovers at the end of the evening! These are easy to prepare, use basic ingredients, and would be excellent to serve at any kind of celebration or as a simple family treat.

In case you'd like a little background on this tasty bit of indulgence, Wikipedia says, "An Anzac biscuit is a sweet biscuit popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, dessicated coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, bicarbonate of soda and boiling water. Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I. It has been claimed the biscuits were sent by wives to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation."

This recipe is slightly different than the original. Many variations have been developed, and you can find recipes with ginger or an assortment of nuts, macadamia or almonds being the most common that I've seen. And I imagine it might be simple to make a healthier version using low-fat margarine/butter and sugar substitutes. All I know is, I'm definitely going to have to get Stuart to make another batch!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup regular oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup stick margarine or butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons golden cane syrup (such as Lyle's) or light-colored corn syrup
• Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Add water, margarine, and syrup; stir well. 
3. Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. 
4. Bake at 325°F for 12 minutes or until almost set. 
5. Remove from oven; let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Enjoy!
Sherry

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The Calm After the Storm

Well, we are thankful to be able to get through Hurricane Irene without any injuries or property damage.  There were lots of branches and leaves in the yard, driveway and pool, but nothing we couldn't clean up ourselves after the storm passed.  Our electricity did go out for most of the day yesterday, but it came back on last night around suppertime.  

At our house today, things are pretty well back to normal.  The weather is beautiful, sunny with no humidity. As I'm typing this, my daughter is entertaining some of her friends out on the back deck.

Our friends, Maggie and John, on the other hand, were not as fortunate.  Their house is set back in a wooded area.  A couple of trees came down in their yard during the storm, blocking their driveway, so they couldn't get their cars out.  As of an hour ago, they still do not have electricity. After successfully moving a portion of one of the trees, they were able to get one of their vehicles out of the driveway.  

It's during times like this that I really appreciate having a wonderful church family. Our pastor and a couple of men from church went over to help at Maggie and John's house.  

Also, thankfully, my husband had emptied the freezer in our basement before the storm hit, so Maggie came over earlier today with the contents from her freezer.  I was able to easily fit everything  into our freezer.   

In preparation of the storm, my husband harvested the vegetable garden.  We have given away some of the vegetables, and this is what's left.  I can definitely see some Italian food  in our future, maybe some eggplant parmesan and bruschetta.  

I hope all you east coast bloggers are safe and sound after Hurricane Irene.  

Hurricane Preparedness

Here in Massachusetts, we have been busy preparing for the potential impact of Hurricane Irene.  The National Hurricane Center suggests having the following supplies on hand before a hurricane hits: 

• Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
• Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days, including non-perishable packaged or canned foods/juices, food for infants or the elderly and snack foods.  Have a non-electric can opener on hand, as well as cooking fuel. 
• Blankets / Pillows, etc.
• Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
• First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
• Special Items - for babies and the elderly
• Flashlight - with new batteries
• Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
• Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
• Cash (with some small bills) / Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
• Keys
• Important Documents - such as insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc. Store in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag.
• Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
• Vehicle Fuel Tanks Filled
• Pet Care Items - proper identification / immunization records / medications, ample supply of food and water, a carrier or cage, muzzle and leash

It is also important to check around the yard and put away items that could blow around during high winds, such as potted plants  and lawn furniture.  

Finally, if you have well water and lose power, your pump will not work.  Therefore, it is a good idea to fill up a bathtub with water, in case the power goes out.

Stay safe!

Alternative Uses for Lemons and Lemon Juice

I like the scent of lemons, and I really love the simplicity (not to mention the low calories) of ice cold water with lemon slices. More often than not, that's what I have with a meal in a restaurant. And there's nothing like good, cold lemonade in the summer, is there? How many of you spritz lemon juice on sea food? And lemons are loaded with vitamin C. Lemons are just as good for you as they are yummy! 

A lemon and its juice are more than just basic food elements. You can do so much more with them! Plus, using something as cost-effective as lemons and lemon juice in place of more expensive products just makes good economic sense. Check out these ideas...

• In the Laundry: To brighten, whiten, and freshen your clothes, add a half cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang the wash outside to try. Ink can be lightened or even removed by soaking the spot in lemon juice before washing. Be sure to check for color-fastness on fabrics and other surfaces before using lemon in an obvious area.
• In the Kitchen: To remove strong odors like onion from your counter tops and cutting boards, rub a lemon over the surface. This will work for your hands, too. You can also use to to freshen your drains. Just pour lemon juice in periodically to keep them smelling clean and fresh. Rubbing a lemon on your faucets (kitchen and bath) will help remove lime scale and grime. Lemon and salt is excellent for cleaning your stainless steel sinks, too. You can also freshen your garbage disposal by grinding up left-over lemon peel. To keep fruit from turning brown, spray it lightly with a solution of lemon juice and water.
• Around the house: Lemon is a wonderful glass cleaner. Rub a cut lemon over mirrors and windows, then scrub dry with newspaper. You can also use lemon to clean and shine many metals. Use straight lemon on copper and a paste of lemon and cream of tartar on aluminum and brass. One cup of olive oil mixed with one-half cup of lemon juice makes a super all-natural lemon furniture polish.
• Personal: Add highlights to your hair by streaking lemon through it and sitting in the sun. A weak lemon and water solution poured over your hair and scalp after shampooing will keep dandruff down. Lemon juice can be good for the skin--use it as an astringent to tighten pores or as a quick energizing facial. Lemon and honey combined to taste can ease a cough, soothe a sore throat, and help you relax if you aren't feeling well.

One word of caution: Additionally, some people are allergic to lemon and other citrus fruits, so be aware of that when using lemon on your hair, skin, or if you take it internally.

Give the colorful, fresh-scented lemon a try in more than lemonade. You'll be glad you did!

Enjoy!

Sherry

Mary's "Second" Wedding

This past Saturday, my niece, Mary Beth, and her husband, Stuart, had their second wedding in a small church in a nearby town. It was lovely, and they were surrounded with family and friends to celebrate with them. Stuart’s dad, David, and Daniel, one of his brothers, flew in from Australia to support him and to meet our family—Stuart’s new in-laws.

The wedding was so pretty! The arch, the bride’s bouquet, and all of the other flowers were in purple and white with greenery. Although I was given the honor of decorating the arch, all of the flowers were done by Mary’s mom, Mae, who is amazingly talented and creative. As you can see in the photos, they are incredible! The men wore dark tuxedos, and Mary’s attendants wore purple. The little flower girl, Halley, was all in white, and the little ring bearer, Koda, even wore a miniature tux. Mary’s brother, Chris, was in charge of all the music and he played his guitar and sang "The Road that Never Ends" as part of the ceremony.

Mary was absolutely beautiful, and she was escorted up the aisle by her dad, Dave, and Chris. Stuart’s best man was his dad, and his brother was his groomsman. The same minister who conducted the first wedding, Dave’s friend, Ronnie, also conducted this one.

The reception was held in a large meeting room at a local hotel. Stuart’s dad David, and Mary’s dad Dave both made beautiful, heart-felt speeches. The bride’s maid-of-honor Diana also spoke of her long friendship with Mary and of her wishes for the couple. And then the feasting began! Mae and her niece Becky had made nearly all of the refreshments, and Stuart had made a yummy authentic Australian dish. Mae also made the chocolate groom’s cake decorated with Stuart’s favorite Australian football team’s emblem and the three-tiered white and purple wedding cake. Needless to say everything was super tasty and very pleasing to the eye!

Chris was in charge of the music for the reception also, and he chose beautiful music for the special wedding couple dance, the father/daughter dance, and the mother/son-in-law dance. Then the rest of us joined in. Now we can tell Mary and Stuart, “I danced at your wedding,” and really mean it! What fun!

Because her college classes begin again this coming week, Mary and Stuart have decided to wait a bit before they take a honeymoon trip. However, her parents took Mary and Stuart, David, Daniel, Chris and his wife Meranda, and yours truly on an overnight trip to Great Wolf Lodge and Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a great opportunity for our two newly united families to get to know each other and strengthen our bond. We had a fabulous time!

It was definitely a grand, happy celebration for two dear people who love each other very much, and it was also a nice way to welcome our new Aussie family members. Now Mary and Stuart can settle into a long and beautiful life together. I wish them both as much love and joy as their hearts can hold, plus a whole bunch more!

Sherry

(If you would like to see more wedding photos, you are welcome to visit my Facebook page! And the lyrics to "The Road That Never Ends" can be found here on Weddings by Rhiannon. Photos courtesy of David Morgan.)

A Few More Kitchen Improvements

The rooms in our home have evolved over time. The kitchen is no exception.  We've made  improvements to it over the last two years as our budget permitted.   

old light

My husband recently replaced the flush-mount light fixture with a Royce Lighting pendant light I found on sale a couple of weeks ago on amazon.com for $24.95.  When I looked it up on amazon.com today, I noticed the price has increased almost $10.00, so I am glad I bought it when I did.   However, even at $34.71., it is still a great deal.  

new pendant light

old television

We also replaced our 13-year-old kitchen television with  a 15-inch flat screen television I bought on eBay for $82.99 including shipping.  

new television

My husband mounted it to the wall using an inexpensive, articulating wall mount. 

Kitchen Before Redo

The above photo shows how dated our kitchen looked two years ago, before we started making improvements to it. 

Kitchen Now

These two photos show how it looks today.  I am pleased with the progress we have made  over the last couple years. 

Best of all, because we did it in stages, it didn't break the budget. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Frugal Fashionista Finds at TJ Maxx

Wednesday afternoon, my daughter had an appointment  out of town, and I drove her there.  Since I knew she'd be awhile, I decided to go poke around in the TJ Maxx Store across the street while I waited for her.  I am so glad I did!  There was a clearance sale going on.  There was one clearance rack that said everything was $7.00. 

On the $7.00 clearance rack,  I found the cute, olive Willi Smith jacket pictured above.  I love styling, with the ruffle at the bottom and military cuffs.  I also like the comfy, cotton fabric it is made of; it reminds me of wearing sweats.  It will be perfect for wearing on those upcoming crisp fall evenings.

I also found this adorable, floral peasant top on the $7.00 clearance rack.  The fabric is lightweight and comfy, and it looks and feels terrific on.  With the olive jacket, tan cargo capris  and a pair of  rope espadrille wedges I have in my closet, it will make a great outfit!

I also found these French Country napkins , which I used in yesterday's tablescape, at TJ Maxx; they were $6.99 for four of them.  


I left TJ Maxx spending only $21.00, and I had a blast finding my great bargains! 


Today, my daughter and I are off to our local TJ Maxx, to see what bargains we can score there.  


Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerful Breakfast Tablescape

  

Today is Tablescape Thursday, so it's time to play with dishes.  The table is set for breakfast in a cheerful, French Country style.

 These cute French Country napkins, which I found at TJ Maxx yesterday, were the inspiration for today's tablescape. Taking the color scheme from the napkins, I began by layering gold matelassé  placemats over brick red braided placemats.  On top of the placemats, I layered ivory and green stoneware dishes with Susan Winget country plates from the Cracker Barrel Country Store.

 At each place setting, I added matching Susan Winget country mugs from the Cracker Barrel Country Store.   I love the sunflower detail at the top of the handles.  


The pewter coffee service was a gift from my father many years ago.

 

When I saw this guy at at the Cracker Barrel Country Store, I knew I had to take him home.  I especially liked that his sides are painted with chalkboard paint, making him perfect for holding fun messages.  

No breakfast would be complete without the eggs.  I found this cute chicken egg basket at a yard sale.   

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!

Alternative Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is not just for salad dressing.  Here are a few other ways you can use it:

Chrome Polish: Apple cider vinegar can help clean buildup and grime on chrome pots, fixtures and even wheel spokes and hubcaps. Just dip a clean cloth in vinegar and gently scrub. If extra cleaning power is needed, add a pinch of baking soda.

Facial Toner:  Combine 1 part apple cider vinegar with 4 parts water for a homemade facial toner that restores the delicate pH of your skin. Apply gently and avoid the eye area.

Rust Remover: Soak a clean cloth in apple cider vinegar and try scrubbing away the rust. To remove a large amount of rust, soak rusty items in apple cider vinegar overnight.

Soap Scum Scrub: Spray items with stubborn soap scum with apple cider vinegar to help dissolve soap scum, mildew and other grime, then wipe with a clean towel or cloth. This remedy also works well for your dishwasher – pour 1 cup of  apple cider vinegar in the bottom, let it sit for a few hours and then run the (empty) dishwasher on a hot water cycle to remove soap scum and food buildup.

Ant Repellent: Deter ants from invading your home by spraying doors, windows, and crevices with a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water.  It's all natural, so you can use it indoors without worrying about dangerous toxins.   


It can also be used as the base for bait in hornet & wasp traps.  


Thanks for stopping by!

Mary's "First" Wedding

I know I haven’t blogged much at all in the past few months, but there has been quite a lot going on in our family. One of the more special and spectacular things is the marriage of my amazing niece Mary to a wonderful young man named Stuart.

Stuart is from Australia, and he and Mary met online many years ago. They were casual friends for a very long time, but as they got to know each other through many long conversations, their friendship grew into a truly beautiful love. Finally, last fall, Stuart was able to fly to the U.S. to meet Mary (and us, her family) in person. He stayed a month, and during that time, we all grew to care for him, too. He fit in well with our family, and seeing how happy Mary was with him and how good they were for each other solidified our fondness for him. They became engaged during his visit, and plans were begun to help him move to this country.

The visa process is a long and complicated one, and it was seven months before it was completed on both sides of the “pond”. In the meantime, Mary and her mother Mae were able to make a trip to Australia to see Stuart again and meet his family. They had a wonderful time! Stuart’s family is just as warm and friendly as he is, and Mary and Mae felt very welcome there. Both dads have gotten to talk by phone and email, and they’ve also become friends. The lines of communication are very open between the two families, and that is an incredibly positive and helpful thing.

Stuart’s visa was finally approved, and he flew to the U.S. on July 30. Because of the requirements set by a “fiancé” visa, the wedding had to take place soon after his arrival here. Additionally, they needed to be married to live in married housing on Mary’s college campus, and she was in the midst of summer classes and couldn’t leave. So, on Monday evening, August 1^st, we held a simple, sweet wedding with family and friends present at Mary’s home. The photos you see here are from that wedding.

On August 13^th, Mary and Stuart will have a more traditional church wedding with all the accouterments, and, like most other important things we do, it will be very much a family affair (and yes, I’ll share those photos with you, too!). Mary’s dad, my brother David, has a best friend who is an ordained minister, and he performed the home ceremony and will be conducting the second ceremony in his own church. Mae has done all of the flowers herself (she has an incredible flair with flowers) and will even be making the wedding cake. Mary’s brother Chris is a talented musician and will be taking care of the music for the church wedding and reception afterward. Other musically-inclined family and friends will also be contributing their skills. Rather than have caterers and professional wedding planners involved, a multitude of relatives and friends will be taking part in everything, including the decorating and food preparation. Stuart is even going to make a few authentic Australian dishes for the reception dinner, and his visiting family will certainly not be left out of the fun. It’s going to be a true family celebration for Mary and Stuart!

Stuart’s dad David and brother Daniel will be making the trip from Australia for the wedding on the 13^th and spending a few days before and after with the newlyweds and visiting with us. We will show them a little Kentucky hospitality and provide them with some (hopefully) genuine American experiences.

Not many couples can say they had two weddings within two weeks, but these celebrations will give Mary and Stuart some beautiful memories that will last their entire lives. They are expressions of caring and support by the people who love them best, and that’s what family is all about.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sherry

Shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store

In these trying economic times, the smart shopper will explore every money-saving avenue she (or he) can find. Some of my favorite places to shop are thrift stores, and one of the best is the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I think most people will recognize the Salvation Army musicians that can be seen and heard around the holiday season, but there is more to the organization than that. Not only does the Salvation Army do wonderful work by helping humanity all over the world, but it runs stores where good clothing and household items are available in just about anyone's price range. My family and I have donated gently-used things to the Salvation Army's stores many times, and we encourage others to do the same.  


The Salvation Army Thrift Store in my town is one of the most caring and community-supportive places I've ever seen. For example, if a family loses their home to fire, the Salvation Army Thrift Store will give them clothing, furniture, and household supplies to start again. This organization will assist those in need in any way it can. They also have a shelter for homeless folks. Their goal is obviously to help, not to make big profits. That's one of the reasons I love to support them. They operate from the heart, not from the pocketbook.


Recently, my mother and I went on a fun little Salvation Army shopping adventure. Between the two of us, we purchased several clothing items--mostly pants and shirts, a few cookbooks and two novels, three ceramic potpourri containers, a
basket or two (one of my weaknesses), some bedding, and a few miscellaneous items. And together, our total was just a little over $39.00!

Although you can often find things with the original store tags still attached, none of today's purchases did. However, they all were in excellent condition. (Regardless, I still wash everything before we wear or use it. I think that's just a safe practice and do it no matter where I purchase anything.)

So I recommend that you check out and support your local Salvation Army. Shopping at the Thrift Store just makes good economic sense, and donating to it helps both you and those in need.

Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry