My Favorite Things - Gum

I have decided to use the rest of December to write about my favorite things. People will not be included, except for Han Solo, so don't think that family does not rank in my most favorite things list because they do, but they get birthday posts!

Kenny Rogers, in my opinion, does the best version of the song!

I have loved chewing gum for as long as I can remember. If you are ever in need, I am your go to person. My all time favorite was Black Bart. It had a pungent black licorice flavor and made your tongue go a purplish black. It would also make your jaws ache when you chewed it. This gum has been discontinued and was only available in Canada. I haven't chewed any for at least 15 years but I can still remember chewing it like it was just yesterday.

My second favorite would be Thrills. This gum tastes a bit like black licorice too, with a hint of Palmolive dish soap. Uh-huh. It is also a Canadian favorite AND is still available (thank goodness) but only through the internet.

Honorable mentions...

Now if I could only learn not to swallow it! Yes, you heard right. I don't spit my gum out like a good girl should, I swallow it. My mom does it too. We have contests with Juicy Fruit to see who can keep their gum the longest. It's 50/50. Speaking of Juicy Fruit, it did not get an honorable mention because it is not in my mouth long enough for me to really enjoy it.

FYI: It does not take 7 years to digest either. Snopes has proved that false saying that once it is sent down the alimentary canal, it is no more remarkable than almost anything else we swallow.

My Favorite Things - Lop-Eared Bunnies

Stanley

Stanley was not your ordinary lop-eared bunny, nor was he an ordinary pet. Stanley thought he was a dog. Stanley had the run of the house like a dog, greeted you at the door like a dog and snorted with joy like a... pig. He also liked to stretch out in front of the fireplace to warm himself.
He was mine from 1990-1992. I don't remember where he came from, but he was certainly a joy in my life. It was sad to part with him when I moved back to the US...

Grandma Anhder

My grandma Anhder would have turned 91 today. This post is dedicated to her. How I miss her... I have so many wonderful memories of my grandma. We had so much in common and it grows every day still. My one hope is that I get her beautiful white hair. I already have a few, but I hope when my whole head turns it is as pretty as hers was.

Grandma in 2004

I have several memories that come to mind when I think about her. I can only say that I won't be able to cover them all through this post alone, but you will surely hear me talk about her in the next 330 days... You have already had a taste (no pun intended) of her wonderful cooking. Here are a few memories.

• The fruit room. My grandparents had a food storage room in their basement chuck full of all kinds of canning that my grandma did. They had a spectacular garden and orchard in their backyard which will be posted when I blog about my Grandpa Anhder. Their room had pickled beets, green beans, sweet rosemary pickles (the best on tuna sandwiches), any kind of jam you could think of and dried apples. Not to mention the pears and peaches... I am sure there were more, but those are what stand out in my mind. My very favorite was the choke cherry syrup and black cap jam. Oh, if I could market this, I would be rolling in the dough. We would drive down from Edmonton as least once a year and when we left, Grandma made sure that our car was full of all kinds of canned items. We would ration them out until our visit the next year.

• When Jill and her dad and I moved to the States in 1992, our family became our best friends. We had a weekly date with grandma and grandpa every Wednesday. We would drive to Richmond and play hours and hours of pinochle with them. Jill entertained herself with Disney movies while Dave and I played cards. Grandma was my partner and I can say that while the boys thought they were the masters, Grandma and I certainly held our own. Now we didn't just play cards, but also ate. Grandma would make circular tuna and sweet relish sandwiches (she would cut them out with one of her canning lids) and we also ate crackers and her delicious Holiday Cheese Ball. Try it, it is awesome and my mouth is already watering...

Holiday Cheese Ball

1 pkg Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
1 small can of crushed pineapple (drained)
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 tbsp chopped green pepper
1 tbsp seasoning salt
1 tbsp chopped nuts (walnuts)

Mix well, form ball and roll around in nuts. Chill. Eat with Ritz crackers.

• I remember when I was about 8 years old, we were taking a long trip in our boogie van and I loved it when she sang. One of my favorites at the time was Old King Cole. She must have sang this over 50 times during the drive. As a parent now I can understand what kind of patience she must have had for me.

Grandma, Great-Grandma Maughan & I

• I remember her visits to Canada and how fun it was to have her and grandpa there to celebrate with us. You have to understand that we did not have any family there and it was so special to have them around during the holidays.

• I can't thank my grandma enough for introducing me to the English comedy, Keeping Up Appearances. Funny, clean English humor. I will leave a clip at the bottom for you to enjoy. We had our favorite episodes that eventually we watched over and over because she got them on videotape. I have her videotapes in my possession.

• My grandma was very creative. She could make something out of nothing. She was like a Grandma McGyver. She made me paper dolls when I was little and Jill when she was little too.

• Quilts. Each of my children received a quilt she made when they were born. Jillian never used hers because I wanted it in good condition and I was a brand new mom and didn't know any better. Maybe she will have a baby she can pass it down to. My boys however used (and still do) their blankets every night and just for good old comfort. I think my mom still has my baby blanket. My grandma LOVED her great-grandkids.

Grandma with Jill (3 wks old)

• Sports - OK this is something that we did not have in common but my grandma was a huge sports fan. She followed BYU and she had a book that listed all the LDS players and their teams and that is who she rooted for. I haven't ever met another woman so interested in sports.

• My grandma was from Wellsville. In fact I believe that her Great, great grandpa was the founder of Wellsville. Yes, I have Maughan blood in me. Don't we all? :)

Beautiful Wellsville

• The Grouse - My grandma didn't mind hunting. One time I went up the canyon with her, my Uncle Mark and my dad to hunt some grouse. Grandma was awesome for spotting birds. Anyway we were driving along this very narrow road that had a very steep drop off on the left side of the car. I was sitting in the back on the left and panicking because I am deathly afraid of heights. So grandma spots the grouse on the right side (she was in the back seat next to me) and my uncle stops the car. He gets out and bang, shoots the grouse. Not being very exposed to the whole killing thing, he gets the bird, come to my side of the car, rings it's neck, stuffs it in a black garbage bag and puts it in the backseat with Grandma and I. I am now sitting in the middle, very close to my grandma. We turn around and head back down the mountain. I am just getting over the trauma of him ringing the birds neck when I hear something rustling in the bag beside me. Then the flapping and screeching started. The bird was NOT DEAD! My uncle stopped the car, got the bag and whacked it against the car a few times until he was sure it had been put out of it's misery. Can you imagine? I didn't EVER go hunting with them again.
  

• One year, I brought my hamster Midnite on vacation. My grandma hates anything around her feet because they were very ticklish. I remember giving her a start once when I was playing with my hamster around her feet. Again, she was very patient but I do remember her raising her voice and telling me not to do that again.

• My grandma always saw the roses and never the thorns. She could take a bad situation and just find the good in it. This is a trait that I am happy she passed on to me. Well that is all for now. I love blogging for this reason. It gives me the opportunity to remember, recognize and record good memories of the people I love. Grandma Anhder, I love you and I miss you terribly.

Haters

Can I just tell you that I bought my dad the new Trans-Siberian Orchestra album, New Castle, and it TOTALLY ROCKS?

Can I also tell you that all the nice things I wrote about my co-workers on Thanksgiving I am now taking back? Yes, I was the butt of many jokes today just because I wanted to share my musical interest. NO ONE will be getting a copy for Christmas (that was my plan), NO ONE will be getting anything for Christmas, that includes you, Jill. Dancing to my music like Elaine Benes does not warrant you a present either. I can take sarcasm and criticism on just about anything but my music.

To Steve A, this music is NOTHING like metalocalypse! Ok, maybe a little but Dethklok does not have any Christmas music, I looked. And if they did, I would probably like them even more.

Just remember folks, I am planning your schedules...

Have a Rappy Birthday Kristy

To my dear sister-in-law Kristy,
This might make your eyes a little misty.
Whether you laugh 'til you cry or you get something in your eye.
I won't know why, you might just sigh
Or think it's sentimental or just plain dry.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

You make me laugh, and not just once in a while,
But every time we go out, there ain't no doubt
If we be eating, it ain't take out.
You be looking through the menu for what seems like hours,
'Cause there's as many options as the earth got flowers.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

You've got great teeth, I wish I did too
'Cause then I'd be just as coo as you...
A natural beauty, without even tryin'
Time's been good to you even though it's been flying.
You be so pretty even when you cries but especially
when you smile and I can't see your eyes.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

You gots so much love for my little bro Matt,
You are patient and tender, no denying that.
As far as your kid, yo he is so smart
And I am absolutely sure it's 'cause you've done your part
Of raising such a boy with brains and wit,
And not a holy terror we could nickname 'lil _____.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

I know you be a fantastic cook, you should write a book
With recipes and baking advice
I can always come to your house for a really rare spice,
I mean you probably even have that spice called cumin,
If you do you got a new name - Chef Wonder Woman.
Your oreo cookies are my personal fave, its them I crave
But Jill likes your rolls, learning how to make 'em should be one of my goals.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

I think it's cool that you stay in such great shape, your favorite color's grape
And you don't drink cola, and you don't own a Motorola.
You are easy going, you couldn't be any funner
And you enjoy sports, running and the Road Runner.
You are creative with the bracelets and earrings
Which brings me to the next topic... how you still got your hearing.

You watch little children every day
You love 'em like your own, to my kids this you've show
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
This gift you have to love someone else's kids
Without the aid of booze, you deserve a cruise.
Seriously though, more than you'll ever know
That is what I love about you
That you love my kids almost as much as I do.
So I can dare leave them in your care.
Without any fears and not a lot of tears.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

My one favorite memory, let's see if I can rhyme
Remember Sweeney Todd, wasn't that a great time?
You in the backseat to Salt Lake to see the play,
What were you really thinking along the way?
Matt and I a singing, bet your ears was ringing
You didn't say a word, but I'll bet you wish you had some tape
Or at least had the ability to make a great escape.
But you paid us back later on in the night
You know what's coming, no not a cat fight.
But the reality is you fared pretty well
Gettin yo self the last taco from Taco Bell.
That's all I saying, and you know I just playing,
Matt will blog it to the letter, besides he tells it much better.

Yo Kristy, you're so fine,
I am glad you belong to this family of mine.

So here comes the end to my little 'ol rap
About a sweet lady who doesn't take any crap .
She's my sister-in-law without one flaw,
I would roll her a rolo (get it?) and wouldn't trade her for Han Solo.
Ok, maybe for a day because he is HOT,
But only for one day, not one more, I would not.

I love you Kristy, you are one of a kind,
I couldn't have picked better, Matt's wasn't blind.
He saw you were perfect in every way
I hope you like this ode from me to you on your birth day.

Love,
Jennifer

Happy Birthday to You & Recipe

First I would like to wish a private Happy Birthday to a private person who would wish not to be named, but knows who he is... It may be belated, it may have been today, or it may be sometime down the road. He knows I know the date... Today however is the day for me to exclaim, Happy Birthday! I value and enjoy our friendship.


Grandma Anhder's Stuffed Peppers
(my modifications are in red)

1/2 stick of butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp salt

(I make about triple this amount because you can never have too much stuffing and my kids like it on toast as opposed to eating the peppers)

1/2 lb hamburger (1lb)
pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated cheese (tons more, like 1-2 cups)
1 can Mexicorn (2 cans)
3 green peppers (they are better day 2, so I will usually make a dozen, so 6 peppers)

Heat butter, add flour, then milk, salt and pepper. When thick, add cheese and Mexicorn (set aside). I always drain and rinse my hamburger in hot water, I think it gets rid of a ton of fat.
Cut peppers lengthwise and clean out seeds. Boil 5 minutes (I boil them about 20 mins, then I only cook them for 30 in the oven) in salted, boiling water and then drain. Lay in 9x13 inch baking dish (or whatever dish you have that will fit the amount you are cooking) (butter the bottom of the dish). Stuff (I wouldn't call it stuffing, more like filling) with hamburger mixture, sprinkle with paprika. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 50 (30) minutes.

*Note to Leslee - You might like them but Jason does not, trust me.

Why I Hate Sports

In 3rd grade, we were playing floor hockey in school and I was passed the puck like 6 times and missed every shot. Easy shots...

I climbed up on the stage and sat sobbing behind the curtain. No one came to tell me it was OK.