30 Things…..

30 THINGS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE & SHOULD KNOW BY THE TIME SHE'S 30.

“This isn't new, exactly. But it's definitely the most famous piece of journalism I've ever written. In the eight years since Glamour first published this list, it has been attributed to Maya Angelou (nope), been posted on countless websites and fridges (thank you very much), been published as a book and quilted into a museum piece, and inspired millions of women all over the world (love that).” Pamela Redmond Satran

By 30, you should have:

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better

16. How to fall in love without losing yourself.

17. How you feel about having kids.
18. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
19. When to try harder and when to walk away.
20. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
21. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
22. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
23. How to take control of your own birthday.
24. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
25. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
26. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
27. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
28. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
29. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
30. Why they say life begins at 30.

This is Pamela’s updated list and she encourages us to add to it! How about it?

What would you add?

Katherine’s Earrings

Ohhhh, La La !!!

Part 2: Cindy & Susie’s Visit

Cindy(left), Stan, & Susie(right) Such sweet girls.

Susie

Nancy, Stella, & Bill

Rosemary

Boots & Mark

SH is so thrilled to have his family here!

Stella and Bill

SH’s sister, Jean, & her boys, Brad & Mark

Our daughter, Nancy

Remember, I mentioned that SH’s sister, Katherine, passed away this past year, her daughters, Rosie and Shelia came and brought two big boxes of Katherine’s old jewelry to share with us. She had some beautiful, old pieces and we had such a good time laughing, telling stories and going through these boxes. Thanks, Rosemary & Shelia!

Patsy, Jean, Susie

 

SH and his sister, Jean.

Stella, Shelia, me

Rosie, Terry(Shelia’s fiancé), Cindy, me

SH’s brother, Carl and his wife, Kay.

Rosie brought this painting that she had found in her Mom & Dad’s house. Carl painted it in 1954.

All the “girl” cousins who were here.

first row: Susie, Rosie, Shelia, Stella 2nd row: Nancy and Cindy

Cindy and Susie’s brother, Steve, lives with his family, Yvette, Audrey, Jillian,and Ian, in Tokyo, Japan(14 hr. time difference) He called three times, which was much of his night, and got to talk with almost everyone.

Wayne, another cousin, called from Jackson, MS.

Dear, dear, family that we hold close to our hearts.

Cindy & Susie’s Visit (and how to feed a bunch of folks)

We had anticipated this week-end for a while. Our two nieces, daughters of SH’s brother who died 14 years ago, were coming to visit. (Their mom had also passed away this past year). One of them lives in Texas and the other in Florida.

As southerners do, we immediately started talking about the food we would have. We knew we would invite our extended family and we also knew that everyone would be coming at different times during the day (Saturday).

I also have come to the realization that I have no sense when a large group of people are in my kitchen and I’m trying to cook. Soooo… this what we decided to serve:

Broccoli and cheese soup (with chicken)

Taco Soup

Chicken and dumplings

Mexican cornbread

Assorted crackers and chips

Iced brownies

peanut butter cookies

Halloween candies

I doubled all recipes and prepared everything in advance. I cooked two fryers early in the week, had lots of nice stock, froze the meat for dumplings and broccoli & cheese soup.

I actually completed the Taco soup, placed in gallon freezer bags, froze, and it was good to go.

Oops….

Please replace this chili seasoning mix with a TACO SEASONING MIX.

 

Taco Soup

Paula Deen’s recipe:

• 2 lbs. ground beef
  
• 2 cups diced onions
  
• 2 cans pinto beans
  
• 1 can pink kidney beans
  
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
  
• 1 can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
  
• 1 can diced tomatoes
  
• l can tomatoes with chiles
  
• 2 cans diced green chiles
  
• l can black olives, drained, chopped
  
• 1/2 cup green olives, sliced, optional
  
• 1 package taco seasoning mix
  
• 1 package ranch salad dressing mix
  
• Corn chips, for serving
  
• Sour cream, for garnish
  
• Chopped green onions

Brown ground beef and onions in large skillet, drain excess fat, then transfer beef and onions to stockpot. Add beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, green olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix. Simmer over low heat for about l hour. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, green onions.

Yield: 12 to 16 servings

Beginnings of Broccoli cheese soup, sautéing onions in butter.

Chopped broccoli in chicken broth

Mmmm…adding chicken to soup.

Done!

Broccoli Cheese Soup w/chicken

• 1/2 gallon chicken broth
  
• 1 lg. onion, chopped
  
• 1 lg. package frozen chopped broccoli
  
• 1 lb. Velveeta cheese
  
• approx. 2 cups chopped chicken
  
• 1 stick butter
  
• lemon pepper to taste

Melt butter, add chopped onion and sauté. Thicken broth with flour. (make paste of approx. 1/4 c. flour and water. Dilute with some chicken broth. Add to melted butter and onion. Combine broth, flour mixture, and chopped broccoli in stock pot. Cook gently until broccoli is tender. Add chicken. Add cheese last and simmer until melted. Serve with Mexican cornbread.

Chicken & Dumplings(recipe from Southern Plate blog)

3 or 4 chicken breasts
32 oz Chicken Broth (feel free to use water with bouillon cubes added)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1-10 count can Pillsbury layered biscuits
salt and pepper to taste
flour
Cook chicken breasts in approx. 4 c. of water until fork tender, about 45 minutes. Place broth in medium to large sized pot. Stir cream of chicken soup into gently boiling broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pull biscuits apart into three layers. Dip each layer into flour and then tear each layer into three pieces and drop into gently boiling broth mixture. Do not stir biscuits a lot, or they will cook up, only gently push dumplings down into broth as they float to the top. Cook about ten minutes after last dumplings are added. Add shredded chicken and turn on low until ready to serve. added, Tear up chicken, add to broth mixture.Turn to low until ready to serve.

note: I actually use my rolling pin and roll each layer of dough as thin as I can. We like thin dumplings.

These brownies are impressive and sooo easy!

2 boxes of Duncan Hines brownie mix, mix as directed, add lots of nuts (pecans & walnuts). Icing is homemade coca-cola cake icing. To die for!

Coca-Cola Icing

• 1/2 cup butter
  
• 3 T. cocoa
  
• 6 T. Coca-Cola
  
• 1 box confectioners’ sugar
  
• 1 t. vanilla
  
• 1 cup broken pecans

Bring to boil the butter, cocoa, and Coca-Cola. Add the sugar, vanilla and pecans. Pour over brownies in pan while icing is hot.

.

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

• 3/4 c. Creamy peanut butter
  
• 1/2 stick Crisco butter flavor shortening sticks
  
• 1 1/4 c. packed brown sugar
  
• 3 T. milk
  
• 1 T. vanilla
  
• 1 large egg
  
• 1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
  
• 3/4 t. baking soda
  
• 3/4 t. salt

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine peanut butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Blend well. Add egg, blend. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix until just blended. Drop by rounded Tbls. of dough 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with tines of fork. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Cool 2 min. on baking sheet. Makes 3 doz. cookies. Add hersheys kisses when cookies are almost cool.

I baked the Mexican cornbread on Friday, kept it in a warm oven on Saturday and it was perfect!

Sorry, I didn’t get a picture of the Mexican cornbread but it is sooo good

• 1 1/2 c. self-rising cornmeal
  
• 3 eggs
  
• 1 small can mexicorn
  
• 1 t. salt
  
• 2/3 c. cooking oil
  
• 1 c. buttermilk
  
• 1 sm. can mild green chiles
  
• add jalapeno pepper(finely chopped) to taste
  
• 1 c. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Mix all ingredients, except cheese. Pour half of batter in greased 13 by 9 pan. Pour cheese over batter. Add remaining batter and bake @375 until golden brown, about 40 min.

Life is so much easier if you wash as you go.

No Words Needed…..

He Restores My Soul…..