Burnout (16 page)

"That explains why you kept running out of the room all the time."

"You're not upset? You said you didn't want to have any kids yet. The boys were more than enough."

"Of course I'm not upset. How could I be? We're going to have a baby." He laughed. I reached up and felt Zach and Tyler behind us putting us in a group hug.

"Let's see Betsy," Aunt Maggie said, "the way I figure it, that ought to put the baby due in September next year." 

"That's right smack dab in the middle of hurricane season." Leo's head rocked back at the revelation.

"Okay, but promise me if it's a boy, even though the quilt is pink, promise me if it's a boy we don't name him...Hurricane Hal."

"It's a promise." I said as I reached over and kissed my husband. That's right, all mine and no bottle blond would ever have her hands on him.

Like Rocky, life had just given us all a new path.

Miss Caroline's Cornbread Stuffing

Cornbread Mix

Pepperidge Farm Herb Dressing

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup finely chopped celery

Salt and pepper

Prepare a batch of cornbread according to the instructions on the box. Once cooled break cornbread into a large bowl and add an equal amount of herb dressing. Mix together. Add chicken broth and chopped celery. Add salt and pepper. Place in a prepared baking dish and bake at 350° until it reaches the desired moistness you prefer.

Banana Split Pie

2 graham cracker-crusts

2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick butter or margarine

2 eggs

1 can crushed pineapple 15 1/4 ounces

5-6 bananas

1 cup chopped nuts

1 small jar maraschino cherries

1 large container whipped topping

Mix powdered sugar, softened butter and eggs with mixer for several minutes. Pour half of this mixture into each pie crust. Drain juice out of canned pineapple. Pour half of pineapple over mixture in the pie crusts. Pour half of the pecans over each pie. Spread whipped topping over each pie. Decorate the top of the pies with maraschino cherries and sprinkle nuts on top. Put into freezer until frozen. Let it thaw at room temperature before serving. This pie can be refrozen.

Pumpkin Squares

One box spice cake mix

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs separated

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 cups pumpkin

1-2 containers of whipped topping

Mix all ingredients folding in be egg whites last. Bake in a 9 x 13" prepared pan for about 30 minutes at 350°. Top with whipped topping. Refrigerate for six hours before serving.

Lump-Free Turkey Gravy

Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water.  Bring your turkey drippings to a boil and then cut off the heat.  Once the bubbles are gone, stir in your corn starch mixture using a wire whisk.  Using a whisk is the most important part because it breaks down the potential lumps much more easily than a spoon.  If you are still having difficulties, put your cooled gravy in the blender and cross your fingers.

Earl's Mama's Carrot Cake

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups canola oil

2 1/2 to 3 cups grated carrots

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon soda

1 cup chopped pecans

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

Mix together all ingredients. Pour into two prepared cake pans. Bake at 450° for 25 to 30 minutes. Let them cool and then slice each layer in two.

Cream Cheese Icing

1-8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

One half stick of butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 pound box confectioners' sugar

Mix together cream cheese and butter and add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar. Frost all four layers.

How to Get Dog Urine Out of the Carpet

Pick up any items like pillows, rugs and towels and wash with detergent and baking soda.  Throw out anything that can't be washed.

Use a hand held black light to spy out old urine stains that you may have missed, but your dog won't.

Warning: If you haven't used anything on your carpet before, you might want to test an area that is not easily seen.

When you get a fresh puddle of urine on your carpet try these suggestions:

1.  Soak it up with paper towels before too much of  it descends into your carpet.

2.  Clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner (Fizzion, Nature's Miracle, Simple Solution are some name brand enzymatic cleaners.  These can be found at grocery or pet stores.)

3.  Sprinkle a little fresh water on the area.

4.  Sprinkle baking soda on the area.

5.  After it has dried, vacuum up baking soda.

Shampooing carpets regularly can help lessen a dog's habitual accidents.

How to Take the Hinges Off of a Door

To take a door off by its hinges you will need a nail set or some other long cylindrical piece of metal and a hammer. Make sure your door is closed and then place the nail set at the bottom of the hinge and tap upwards with gentle movements. If it comes out partially and then sticks you can tap at the lip of the pen to remove it.

How to Get Water Rings Off of a Table

Place a smooth, lint-free cloth over the stain and then iron over the area for a few seconds.  Check under the cloth and repeat this process until the stain has disappeared

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup From The Pecan Bayou Diner

2 C chicken stock

2 C vegetable stock

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

3 celery stalks, diced

3 carrots, diced

1 tsp dried marjoram

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp crushed sage

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 packet Goya chicken bouillon

1/2 C frozen mixed vegetables

1 C egg noodles

Pour stock into slow cooker. Add chicken, seasonings, and vegetables. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours; add egg noodles and cook one additional hour on HIGH.
Birdie's mother found this recipe at 
The Self Taught Cook

.

How to Avoid the Flu

Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after you have been around people who are sick.  Also if you touch something like a doorknob, computer mouse, shopping cart, even the handle of a toilet, make sure you wash your hands.

Try not to touch your face.  This is a surefire way to transmit a cold or flu germ to yourself.

Cover your sneezes and coughs and ask people around you to do the same. 

Practice good health habits.  Get enough sleep and eat a healthy diet.

Disinfect doorknobs, keyboards, handles and telephones.  Spray disinfectant spray on a soft cloth to clean commonly used items.