They Call It Bacon Love

Now thats a lot of love

 I came across this very cool store and could not resist the urge to let the world know. My daughter-in-law works at Nueskes in Wittenberg (no affiliation with Patina's) and Leah is always looking at bacon stuff.  Check this out, it is wild. I have an aversion to live pigs (not my favorite) but I do love Pork.

I love you more than bacon...c'mon thats funny.

"Bacon Love" the Mens Dept. at Patina

Hey man if you are gonna chew gum...this is the stuff.

When you bring home the bacon this is what you put it in...a bacon wallet

For extra kissable lips...what woman could resist that?

You have heard of beef steak on a bruise, well this is  for cuts and scrapes.

There are other items for the truly cultured these are only a few found in the mens dept. 

Schroeder's Chocolate Sauce

Well once again we will crack open our Peanuts Cook Book and try out another recipe; this month it is a chocolate sauce for ice cream. Ice cream is the perfect treat makes no difference what the season or time of day it always seems to satisfy that inner longing for comfortable eating. I sent this recipe to my daughter and she is going to give it a try...I will let you know what she says. Christal said that she may try making it with Agave syrup instead of honey; her son has food allergies and in the past has had to go somewhere special to get the type of chocolate ice cream syrup that he can eat.


Just a reminder that this book is over 40 years old and they cooked a little differently than we do now; things were not so convenient back in the day. I can well imagine that big sisters still act the same way that Lucy did however...my youngest sister has always acted that way. (just joking Jackie)

A Really Fine...Beer

Yes this month we are celebrating Root Beer with a recipe from our Peanuts cook book. If you simply follow the recipe you could be basking in the glow of a warm summer afternoon, and refreshing yourself with a fancy glass of root beer that has an exotic little cherry that has the potential to make you feel like one of the rich and famous. Oh snap!

I remember the rather short summers with the long afternoons; I never had a video game system like my kids; not even a Vic-20. Remember those old Commodore Vic-20, and C64 computers that had the game cartridges to play games or else you had to have the little cassette player to load a game and if you had all day you could program the computer by keyboard in C64 basic language? The C64 had the fancy disk drive with floppy disk that allowed you to load games with fancy graphics like Tank or Pong.

I got all of that cool stuff for my kids, They were spoiled!!!

( I walked to school uphill for...you get the picture)

My preferred choices of summertime fun were the swimming pool, climbing a tree, going fishing, or riding a bike. Pretty simple lifestyle really. Oh, and lets not forget, I never had a care in the world; my parents did all the worrying for me, I had wonderful dad, and have precious mother. Truly a wonderful childhood.


But a recipe like this could have made the good old days even better. Give it a try. After all Snoopy dreamed about it.

French Fries and Coping With Grief

 

This is another recipe from my "Peanuts Cook Book" published in 1970, (I was just a little kid).This month we are looking at the way Mrs. Brown made french fries, and the way that Snoopy copes with love lost.

Do You remember what Charlie Brown's dad did to earn a living? 

French fries are real comfort food, we had some oven baked french fries last night for supper. With this recipe you will be able to warm up the house a bit and sit down to a plate full of hot, salty goodness. Be certain to dry off the potatoes before you try to bake them.

I hope you try this recipe and enjoy them.

Back in 1970 we would go to McDonalds in Schofield. I would ride my bike down Grand Avenue, cross over to the east side of the street, which was a rather scary endeavor, because of the traffic. The McDonalds had golden arches and ceramic benches attached to the side of the building where we would park our bikes and eat our fries, and Coke. I think the price was 19 cents for an order of fries and 29 cents for a hamburger. I remember how exciting it was to go there...funny.

The McDonalds in Schofield looked almost identical to this one from Pensacola Florida.

Cold Weather Calico Beans

As long as we were snowed in and had a whole day at home I decided to cook something that I have never cooked before. I first ate Calico Beans at the hospital where I used to work, one of the cooks assured me that if I liked BBQ's and baked beans that I would like calico (funeral) beans, and she was right. So here is the recipe, it is pretty simple and does not require much preparation. You just gotta love a simple recipe.

Calico beans must be the ultimate "comfort" food, they are served a funerals all of the time.

Calico Beans
1     pound Ground Beef
6     oz        Bacon   (sliced into 1/4 inch slices)
1/2              Large Onion    (diced)
1     tsp       Garlic    (I used prepared garlic from a jar)
          (cook until beef is done)

1     can     Kidney Beans 15 oz
1     can     Baked Beans   15 oz
1     can     Butter Beans   15 oz    (I drained some of the liquid from the beans)
1/2  cup    Catsup or Chili Sauce
1     Tbsp   Cider Vinegar
1     Tbsp   Dry Mustard
1/2  Cup   Br. Sugar
   (place all ingredients into frying pan and cook until blended and warm)
Salt and pepper to taste

Place in a bean pot or cake pan and bake for  40 mins at 350.
(I covered my pan with foil for the first 20 mins. (no bean pot) and uncovered for final 20 mins).

Silas's BBQ Sauce...I Like It

There will be little garlic and onion bits 

My grandson Silas was diagnosed with seizure disorder over a year ago. He began having severe seizures about a year ago which was likely one of the most difficult situations we have ever had to deal with, it was heart breaking. After chasing down neurologists and conventional meds, seemingly with no positive results, Christal sought out a diagnosis from a nutritionist; the results were amazing. Silas has been seizure free for almost 10 full months...I think. I thank God for the way that He holds us when our days are darkest.

Silas cannot have a number of foods that you and I eat everyday. No wheat, no corn, nothing with corn syrup, or corn starch, no fermented cheeses, and a number of other things. I asked Christal if Silas had any BBQ sauces that he ate and she said that all of the sauces had high fructose corn syrup in them so no he did not eat BBQ sauce when he eats his specially coated chicken strips (fried at home or grandpas house). So I set out to make him a BBQ sauce that he could eat and here is what I came up with.

Silas's BBQ Sauce

2     Tbsp     Butter
1/8  of a large Onion minced (or about an 1/8 cup)
2     tsp        Prepared Garlic
(saute' onions and garlic in the butter and soften well to avoid a lumpy sauce).
1     cup       Organic Catsup (no corn syrup)
2     Tbsp     White Sugar
1/2  cup       Lemon Juice
1     Tbsp      Cider Vinegar
1/2  tsp        Paprika
1     tsp         Dry Mustard
2     Tbsp     Molasses
1     Tbsp      Olive Brine
(the juice from a jar of green olives, or canned black olives)
Salt and pepper to taste
(I used the molasses, paprika, and brine as a means of "deepening" the flavor, instead of something like worchestershire sauce which has both corn and wheat).

Simmer for about 20 mins over low heat, stirring often
(test the flavor you may like the flavor of extra molasses,  a little hot sauce for a kick, or horseradish)

My Crandon Breakfast (a tribute to Grandma and Grandpa Kincaid)

My Grandma and Grandpa Kincaid lived in Crandon Wisconsin; what sweet people and wonderful memories.

I did something this morning I hardly ever do; I pan fried bacon. It is not that I never do it it just happens so seldom around here, generally my wife who loves bacon, will fry some or microwave some and eat but we usually don't buy it. My daughter in law Leah works at Nueskes and will gift us some every once in a while. Bacon is sort of a Mary thing, don't get me wrong I like it but not enough to buy very much of it.

Love Birds

Last week I was making some meat loaf for some older friends from church who are not well, and I bought bacon. I checked the freezer and we had some in a small bag but I thought I might need more to wrap around the loaf with, so bought a package of bacon, and never used it. Well this morning I found the bacon and fried up the package, and when I was done the pan had bacon grease and some bacon scraps in the pan so I thought I would fry some eggs. As I am frying them I thought of Grandma and Grandpa Kincaid and all of those mornings she would fry up bacon and then fry up some eggs for me. We would go up on weekends and stay at the Jennie house; it was a house that my parents bought from Al Gish (??? or Greskusky???, I am sure I got that wrong) Jenny (his mom???) used to live there and I think she died there as well; there are a lot of ghost stories about that house. Well anyway I was always up first, so I would walk across the yard between the two houses. As a pre-teen it was exciting to get grandma and grandpa all to myself; it would be very exciting now to spend time with them...someday on a beautiful heavenly morning.

Grandmas and Grandpas house in Crandon...it's gone now.

Grandma would fry the bacon, and then, fry the eggs, that way you would get eggs that were sort of dirty looking. It seemed they just tasted better that way. Grandpa would start talking about politics and religion; the two things that got him most fired up. The bad guys were the Republicans and the Pope. Too funny, I can almost hear it all as I write. Any way my Crandon breakfast consisted of bacon, dirty bacon grease eggs (with just a little crusty brown ring around the edges because the pan was too hot...just like grandma), coffee, and toast. Some of the toast for sopping up the yolk and some for the open faced toasted egg sandwich (because egg whites all by themselves are sort of boring) and one more slice for toast and jelly as dessert. It was awesome.

Sally's Broiled Cheese Hot Dog Sandwich

Well it is time once again to look into the 40 year old Peanuts cookbook; this month let's delve into the culinary expertise of Sally Brown. This months recipe is a must for anyone who has an appreciation for an all American favorite; the hot dog. I am not certain that hot dogs were any more healthy  40 years ago compared to now, but I do like to have a hot dog every once in a while.

The skills that this recipe requires is minimal so have fun. Go crazy with the toppings and make Sally proud. I love catsup, (or is it ketchup or maybe, catch-up) and horseradish and if I have them chopped onions on my hot dog. When I was a kid we always, and I MEAN ALWAYS, ate our hotdogs with a slice of bread wrapped around the dog as far as it would reach; (we were poor I guess because we never bought buns) With the top of the hot dog exposed you could balance all of the toppings on a round hot dog and hope that it would all stay in place until it reached your mouth. Too funny.

So how do you like your hot dog?
Do you ever use bread?

Banana Bread (an easy to make great tasting recipe)

 I know this wonderful couple, both are true Christians who love people, and are former missionaries to the men and women of the military  in Asia, including Mongolia. Be honest when is the last time you thought about Mongolia? Rufus and Pam Parker are great people and I am fortunate to name them among my friends; I should ask if they name Mary and I as friends...I sure hope so.


We had Brother Rufus Parker, who was at that time a missionary, come to Wausau and talk to our men at church on a Friday night. As a Command Sergeant Major in the Army he had achieved the highest rank that an enlisted man could attain; so he does know a great deal about dealing with men, and motivational skills. Sis. Pam his wife, is a excellent communicator, and teacher. Teaching practical Christian life skills is what she does best, (at least I think so). Great People!


As a missionary Bro Parker was selling a cookbook that had been put together by families in the military, and friends; it was here I found one of my favorite recipes. You know me I like simple recipes that produce great tasting food, if the recipes is too complicated I will likely not make it no matter how good it is. Croissants being the possible exception. The recipe is for Banana Bread. It is the sort of bread that you can teach a kid to make, it is simple and very good; but you really need brown or black bananas to make it taste best. Don't be shy pick up a brown bag of brown bananas next time you go shopping and give it a try. Here it is.


Banana Bread by Amy Regal
1 cup Sugar
1/3 cup butter
2 eggs
1  1/2 cups mashed bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/3 cup water
1  2/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)


(here is the best part) instructions:
Mix all together and pour into greased bread pan. Bake 350 until golden brown. (Simple) I use a tooth pick to check the center; like a brownie.


I bake mini loaves. If you oil the blade of a knife and slice the top of the batter before you bake, you will be able to control the "crack" that forms when you bake any batter bread.


If you are interested in the books that have been written by Rufus Parker or his daily devotional, check out:
 http://morningmanna-parker.blogspot.com/


Books by Rufus Parker:
"If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us"
"Developing The Man In The Mirror"
"Reflections of the Man In The Mirror"

Lucy's Lemon Bars

The Peanuts recipe of the month is Lucy's Lemon Bars. I actually did make this recipe twice; it is a simple almost anyone can do it bar. Lucy's Lemon Bars have a mild lemony flavor and not as tart as I would have liked; but it is still a sweet and comforting sort of bar. A great lunch or after supper snack.

This recipe is over 40 years old. Can you imagine a mean little black haired girl making lemon bars on an autumn afternoon? I can't, unless it would be my sister Laurae. Lucy would be too busy trying to get Charlie Brown to kick the football.

I hope you like it. Do you know what Lucy's last name is?

Fudgy Brownies

Before baking; this is a Cooks Illustrated recipe

Hey there, this recipe should make an 8” square pan of brownies; I have in the past multiplied everything by 3 to get a large 9” by 13” pan. This brownie is very easy to make but as with all brownies you need to be careful in the baking. The thing I love about this recipe is that you mix it by hand, so it does not seem like you are messing up the whole kitchen to make them.

Because it is a “brown” bar it can be tricky to know just when it is done. They say if you can smell chocolate the brownie is done; it will be a soft fudgy brownie that way, (which is great if you like extra fudgy brownies). The best way to tell is to stick a toothpick in the brownies, and when the pick comes out clean it is done. (It will come out clean if the brownie is "burnt" as well). So when you are checking them, the toothpick should come out with a little brownie stuck to it; everyone’s oven varies a little but check it after 22 mins and let it go longer if you think they are not quite done. Depending on how you like your brownies, you can bake longer; this recipe is pretty forgiving in baking times. 

"Legend" says that if you smell chocolate baking; you are actually baking the flavor out of the brownie. (So bake wisely...grasshopper).

Remember this is a fudgy brownie, so it will seem a little "raw" if you are used to cake type brownies. I sprinkled chocolate chips on top so it will seem even more chocolaty. Enjoy.

3	ounces unsweetened chocolate , chopped (do not experiment with cocoa powder and oil)
8	tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick) , cut into chunks
1	cup sugar
1/2	teaspoon baking powder
1/4	teaspoon table salt
2	large eggs (I allow the eggs to warm a little at room temp)
1	teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3	cup all-purpose flour

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Melt chocolate and butter in small bowl in microwave or in heatproof bowl warm slowly in microwave, stirring occasionally to combine. Cool mixture for several minutes.

3. Whisk sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs, and vanilla together in medium bowl until combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk in cooled chocolate mixture until smooth. Stir in flour until no streaks of flour remain (not too much). Scrape batter evenly into prepared pan.

4. Bake until toothpick inserted halfway between edge and center of pan comes out fairly clean, 22 to 27 minutes. Cool brownies on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cut brownies into 2-inch squares. (Brownies can be stored in airtight container for several days.)

The Great Pumpkin season is near

Today is Labor Day and fall is in the air. I mowed my yard short. There are parts of the yard that will not need to be mowed anymore this year. The Great Pumpkin time of year is getting closer.

The other day I went to Two Rivers to see a good friend of mine who had surgery. I love books; used books. A really good place to find used books is in a Goodwill store. So while I was visiting and on the way home I stopped at Goodwill stores. I came across a used cookbook written by Charles M. Schulz; it was not until I got home that I realized that the book was a first publication with a date of January 1970.

Wow, I was a pre-teen back in January of 1970. It was around the same time that a neighbor of mine named Mark, first told me about Snoopy and Charlie Brown. I really wanted to get myself some books but we did not have a lot of extra money and I knew that paperback comic type books, were not on the list of priorities for our family budget. Anyway I bought this book the other day and thought I would share a recipe with you.

I have not tried this formula; I was a baker for almost 30 years and this recipe looks like it would make a real honest to goodness cookie. I think the oven seems a little hot and the time seems a little long but that is why you should make a test pan; even professional bakers do with a new formula. If you make changes be sure to write them down so you don't forget. 

As always cookies go great with milk or coffee; especially if you over bake them by mistake, then you just tell people that they are intended for "dunkin".