Memorial Day Recipes

Below you will find some tried and true recipes to celebrate Memorial Day. Use this weekend to remember and celebrate those lives who are no longer with us.

Remembering Memorial Day. 

For some, it is just an extra day off of work but for my family, it is much more than that.  It is a day to remember and honor those whom we have lost.  Sadly, this year we have 3 more precious souls to remember, we will place flowers at their graves and stand and reminisce about them…the funny things they did and said.  We will share our favorite memory of each of them and we will listen to their favorite songs by Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Meatloaf and many others.  We will gather with loved ones and share a meal through laughter and tears while we recall what each of them would have loved about the food.  And when the sun goes down, we will write our prayers on Chinese Wish Lanterns and we will set them afloat into the night sky and watch as they make their way up into the heavens. 

Whatever you might be doing this Memorial Day weekend we wish you a safe and happy holiday.

I have chosen a few of our families favorite recipes that are quick and easy to make for this holiday weekend.  ENJOY!

CHOCOLATE LASAGNA

1pkg. Oreos (36 cookies, not double stuff) - Crushed

6T Butter - Melted

1-8oz Cream Cheese – Softened

2 T Cold Milk

½ C (scant) Powdered Sugar

1-12oz Cool Whip – Thawed

1- 3.9oz pkgs Instant Chocolate Pudding

3 ¼ C Cold Milk

Mini Chocolate Chips or Chocolate Shavings

·        Crush Oreos, add melted butter and blend well.

·        Press crumb mixture into a 9x13 pan and place in refrigerator.

·        Beat cream cheese until fluffy.  Add 2 T milk and powdered sugar, mix well.  Fold in 1 ¼ C Cool Whip.

·        Spread over crust and put back in refrigerator.

·        Whisk pudding mixes and 3 ¼ C milk until it starts to thicken.

·        Spread over cream cheese layer and let set up.

·        Spread remaining Cool Whip over pudding layer.

·        Sprinkle mini chocolate chips or shavings over top.

·        Refrigerate for 4 hours or freeze for 1 hour prior to serving.

Options: 

Substitute vanilla or mint Oreos for chocolate Oreos.

Substitute any flavor of pudding for the chocolate.

Substitute chocolate Cool Whip on the last layer

Substitute white chocolate or butterscotch chips or toasted coconut on top.

WAIKIKI COLESLAW

1 Lb Shredded Cabbage

4 – Green Onions – chopped

2/3 C Macadamia Nuts – Chopped*

¾ C Maries Poppy Seed Dressing **

¼ C Papaya, Mango or Pineapple Juice

½ C Fresh Pineapple – Finely Diced***

Mix all together and Refrigerate.

*  I loosely chop the nuts leaving some larger pieces

**  You will find this dressing in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

***  Optional

I double this recipe every time I make it but I don’t double the green onions.

COWBOY BAKED BEANS

In a large skillet brown:

1 lb ground beef

4 slices of bacon cut up (I always use more)

Chopped onion to taste

Add to beef mixture:

½ C ketchup

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp dried mustard

1 tsp Worchesire Sauce

¾ C brown sugar

Heat well, place in a 2qt baking dish and add:

1 – 15oz pork & beans – partly drained

1 – 15oz kidney beans – drained

1 – 15oz garbanzo beans – drained

Cook at 350° for 45 minutes or put in Crockpot on low for 2-3 hours.

This recipe does not have to be exact, I rarely measure the ingredients instead just tossing them into the skillet.  I like to make this up the night before and refrigerate it so the flavors combine well before cooking it.

Help Red Cross help those devastated by the Oklahoma Tornados

Red Cross Helping Tornado Victims With Shelter, Food, Supplies

Posted May 21,2013

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 — The American Red Cross is working around the clock to help people in Oklahoma after Monday’s devastating tornadoes with shelters, food, water and supplies, and more workers, supplies and equipment are moving into the area today.

“Our thoughts and sympathy are with all those impacted by these horrific tornadoes,” said Trevor Riggen, vice president of Disaster Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross. “Specialized Red Cross disaster teams are helping now and will be helping for weeks to come as people in Oklahoma recover from these storms.”

The Red Cross deployed almost 30 emergency response vehicles to distribute food and relief supplies and more are on alert. Two Southern Baptist Convention kitchens and kitchen support trailers will join the relief effort with the ability to serve tens of thousands of meals a day.

Emergency aid stations will open where people can get food and snacks, mental health and health services and information about what help is available. The Red Cross is supporting first responders and working with local and state officials to make sure people get the help they need. Meanwhile, the Red Cross continues to provide shelter in Shawnee and other parts of the Oklahoma City area following storms over the weekend.

SAFE AND WELL The Red Cross has several ways people can let loved ones know they are safe. They can register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website by visiting www.redcross.org and clicking on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”. Those who can’t access a computer can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and a Red Cross operator can help them register. Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website or visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell on their smart phone and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.

DOWNLOAD TORNADO APP. If someone has the Red Cross tornado app on their mobile device, they can use the “I’m Safe” button to let loved ones know they are okay. The app can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. It includes a high-pitched siren and tornado warning alert that signals when a NOAA tornado warning has been issued, as well as also an all-clear alert that lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled. Content is preloaded so users have access to critical information even without mobile connectivity, including locations of open Red Cross shelters and the one-touch “I’m Safe” messaging to let loved ones know they are okay through social media outlets. More than a million alerts were sent from the Red Cross tornado app with 340 separate tornado warning/watch notices on Sunday and Monday as tornadoes hit in Oklahoma and other states.

HOW TO HELP Those who would like to help people affected by disasters like tornadoes, floods and other crises can make a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. People can donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. These donations help provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters.

BLOOD SUPPLIES The Red Cross stands ready to help meet the blood needs of patients in and around Oklahoma City if needed, and there is currently enough blood on the shelves to meet patient demands. The Red Cross is a secondary supplier of blood products to hospitals in the affected area in Oklahoma. People with type O negative blood are encouraged to give blood when they are able. All eligible blood donors can schedule an appointment to give in the days and weeks ahead by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or visiting www.redcrossblood.org to help ensure blood is available when people need it. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

In My Pocket, In My Purse

I put my coat on last night to head into town. It was chilly outside. I reached into my pockets for my gloves and chuckled at what else came out with my gloves.
In one pocket, I found three pennies, a marble and a button. All treasures of my youngest daughter. She finds things she wants to play with in the car and rarely brings them back into the house. Somethings, I put those things in my pocket with the thought that I will give them back to her when we get home. Other times, the pennies, for example, are "found things" discovered while running errands.
While I have to shake my head at all the things that I manage to collect, I also have to smile at the small, insignificant, "important" treasures I carry with me. A little reminder of the mom in me.

I found myself wondering the other day, walking out the door, "what do I have in my purse that is making it so heavy?" At that point I was not in a place to be emptying my purse to lighten the load. I continue to put it off.
It did not take very long to figure it out. We went out to dinner and the hostess left one set of crayons for use between my two small children. How well do you think that worked? Right, not well. I dug in my purse and found a small box of crayons for just this kind of occasion. Next to the crayons was a package of oyster crackers, in case of a sudden fit of hunger, for my children. I also discovered a big wad of tissues for the random, messy hands or runny nose. I think I caught site of a princess or two and a few other miscellaneous kids related items.
I normally also have a pull-up/diaper and a small container of wipes in my purse. In other words, I carry a part of my house with me. No wonder my purse is so heavy. I would guess that the amount of kid items in my purse would outnumber the things "mom" things I carry. Funny how that is.
What random things do you unknowingly carry around?