And the answer is...

 I absolutely cannot cook without my Pyrex measuring bowls/pitchers.  They are essential for me to cook.

However, everyone who guessed coffee was a close second.  I honestly didn't place that cup there to throw you off.  It just happened to be there.  Sorry, but no prize has been offered!



 . 
My daughter, Tessa (Tmarie) was probably the most accurate.  She mentioned the Pyrex measuring bowls, the coffee, and the butcher block.  I hadn't even thought of that butcher block when I took the picture but she hit the nail on the head.  It would be like cooking with my hands tied behind my back if I didn't have my butcher block.

Tessa had to bring up whether I looked in the closet for my coffee!  You see, during my child rearing years I'd often move at what Jim calls "warp speed".  It was hard getting everyone going in the right direction, working full time, keeping the house in order....  She knows what I'm talking about now, since she has four kids.  You'd think she'd take pity on me.  Anyhow, my coffee cup was suppposed to move at warped speed with me, but sometimes it got left behind - often getting left in strange places, such as a closet shelf.  It became the family mantra that when I would yell "Where's my coffee?!?", they would respond "Look in the closet!"  After all these years that darn coffee cup still has a mind of its own and stays behind in the strangest places.

Our company was an 80 year old guy Jim works with.  He is a sweetheart.  His wife died a month or so ago, so we thought he might like to spend an evening with us.  About an hour before he was supposed to arrive, the heavens opened up with torential rain and hail.
 

This is not snow - it is hail

Fortunately the storm didn't last long.  John showed up right on schedule and we had a fun evening together.  It is hard to believe, but I did forget to take a single picture more.  Between putting together the final touches, visiting, laughing and just having a good time, it didn't occur to me.

Before dinner, we sipped on a Cubalibra (rum and coke with a splash of lime) for an hour or so. 
The dinner menu was a lettuce salad, chicken spaghetti casserole, and asparagus.  We served a light red wine with dinner.  I tried to keep it simple but that casserole took me forever to make.  Dessert was a chocolate sheet cake with a homemade icing that resembled whipped cream.  It took an insane amount of beating to make the icing.  Next time I will go back to beating heavy whipping cream.  Sometimes the basics are best. 
After dinner, we spent a couple of hours curled up in the living room with an after dinner drink.

The evening flew by.  John is one of those people who has done so much in his life, and likes to tell stories of his experiences.  He talked comfortably about his wife and her passing.  We were all suprised when 9:00 came and John said he probably should be heading home. 

And here we are - Saturday and more drissle.  I'm just glad it is not snow!

Last night's hail

Can you guess?

We have company companing tonight.  I'm out to impress because I like the guy.  So I am cooking up a storm today.  Looking at these pictures, can anyone tell me what I cannot live without when I cook?

My messy kitchen.  I'm cooking up a lot of goodness in the middle of this mess

  Maybe this closeup will help you guess.  Anyone?



What in the world can I not do without?

 If I remember to take pictures, I will blog the final feast.  But don't hold me to it.  I seem to be rather forgetful these days.

No excuse…

    
It’s been busy around here.  I’ve shamelessly neglected blogging.  I am sorry!  Enough said about that.
Saturday the kids came over and we made homemade pizza.  Julie and Doug didn’t make it, but Tessa & Bill and Greg and Alicia and their crew did… except for Cara because she had a music concert.  It is almost impossible to get everyone together at one time these days. 



I whipped up the crust ahead of time.  This is the best and easiest recipe for pizza dough there is.  My brother used to work for Pizza Hut 30 years ago and he claimed this crust, at that time, is as close to their original dough recipe he had ever seen.

You need: 1 envelope active dry yeast, 1 1/3 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons oil, 4 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. 
Sprinkle yeast on warm water, stir to dissolve.  Add oil, flour and salt, knead dough to make a smooth satiny ball.  Turn to coat in greased bowl.  Cover, let rise in a warm place 2 hours.  Punch down, divide dough in half.  Wala!  It is ready to use.

Divide the dough in half and roll it as thin as you wish.  I like mine very thin.  This recipe makes two good size pizzas.  Once you build the pizza with your preferred sauce, toppings and cheese, you bake it in a 450 degree oven for about 30 minute. 



I prepared all of the toppings (hamburger, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Black Olives) ahead of time.  That way the kids could be in charge of creating their own masterpieces.
 


Just looking at this picture makes my mouth water and reminds me of the first time I ever had pizza.  I’d tell the story, but it would make this post too long.  What am I talking about?  This post is already going to be too long, so I may as well tell the story.

It must have been around 1956.  We were still living downstairs from Grandma.


  
My Aunt Yvonne and her boyfriend brought home a pizza.  I don’t know what kind of pizza - it could have even been a frozen pizza.  All I know is that everyone gathered around the table to examine the novelty.  We each got a small piece to taste.  I remember everyone saying how expensive it was, and that the first taste was not to my liking.  But then later I kept thinking back to it and found myself wanting more.  To this day I still want more.  Thus was the beginning of my shameful love affair with Pizza.

Back to Saturday's get together.


  
I neglected to take very many pictures and for some reason most of those I did take turned out blurry.  Maybe I was moving too fast that day.  Reagan was fascinated by the silly horse.
We spent hours poring over our family history, trying to figure it all out.



The above photo is my Paternal Great, Great Grandma Emily Brisack, holding my Great Grandma Hattie.  Someone put a lot of work into this book and I had forgotten I even had it.  The other book is Jim’s Paternal heritage.  More on this later maybe. 




Yes, Reagan will be very (very, very, very…) upset with me in a few years.  Right now she couldn’t care less.  What I want to know is:  Is she practicing for a career as a plumber, or preparing to join the ranks of those photographed as “the people of WalMart”…  Once again, enough said.

I was sad to see everyone go home, ending a great day and wonderful memories.

But I’m not done yet.

After Church on Sunday we geared up for a few more days of excitement.  Our 13 year old step grandson, Cody, was going into the hospital for a fairly serious operation.  His chest was “concave” and could potentially cause a lot of trouble for him down the road.  It was much safer to correct the problem now, rather than wait until it caused breathing problems when he is older.  I guess it should have come as no surprise when Insurance declined to cover the operation, deeming it “cosmetic”.  In other words, “we don’t want to cover it now, let’s wait a few years when the condition is life threatening and more difficult to fix – and hopefully it is some other insurance company’s cost”.  After numerous appeals were denied, Doug and Julie and Cody’s mom appealed to Shriners Children Hospital in St. Louis.  They agreed to take on Cody’s case – free.  Thank God for the Shriners and all of the wonderful people in the world who support them.
 
The operation was successful and Cody is on his way to recovery.  He will be unable to participate in sports for awhile, missing out on his beloved baseball this Summer and football this Fall, but it will all be worth it in the long run.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Jim and I were in custody of Austin and Dakota.




It seems like we spent much of Sunday and Monday eating.  They filled their hollow legs and I gained five lbs.  Some things just aren’t fair. 




Things got a little goofy around here at times.



Mohawk guy here (yes, that mop of hair really is a Mohawk without the spiky stuff) still loves to cuddle.  I’ll have to admit that I took advantage of every second of snuggle that I could get since I know those days will soon come to an end.



This brings us to today.  Jim and the boys headed out for school and work at 7:00 this morning.  I’m going to miss them.  Please take note that there is NO snow on the ground.  I hope it stays that way until  next Christmas.