Well!

I joined the HLA bone marrow registry close to 20 years ago; a former classmate’s son had some strange disease, and staged a bone marrow drive in my hometown. The classmate was (and still is for all I know) a total bitch – I absolutely hated her guts! - and I donated a blood sample out of spite for her, if that makes any sense.

Well, I just got my first and only call that I’m a potential match for someone! I have to submit a more significant blood sample next week, and they do more testing. After 60 days, they’ll let me know if I’m a match and if I have to donate marrow or stem cells. The stem cell thing sounds less harrowing. I’d take a specific drug for 5 days to induce more somethings to occur in my blood, then have blood withdrawn, the somethings removed and the rest pumped back in. The marrow will involve a needle under either local or general anesthesia, into the rear of my pelvic bone-gahhh!

I’m kind of excited! Annnddd I’ll just not dwell on any of the rest of it! The HLA person had a charming British accent- I would have said “yes” to anything she asked- but don’t tell her that!

Wicked Wednesday Wrecipe

First up is a home economic tip:

Kids- read your shelf prices!

The package says “$2.79”, but the shelf says “$2.89”. And my local supermarket offers a price scanning guarantee. So I grabbed my cheese with giggle and skipped to the register:

Sure enough, the cheese rang in at $2.89. But look what they did:

I got the 10 cents difference back, plus they deducted $3.79, which is either a 130% back or the $2.79 plus a dollar. Regardless, they ended up paying ME to buy the cheese! Yay me! I’ve gotten lots of items free, plus the bonus money back, numerous times, just by paying attention at the register.

……….END OF LESSON……… on to the recipe………….

Rustic Apple Pie

makes 2 small pies

• 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1/3 cup Splenda sugar substitute (or use real sugar)
• 2 TBSP flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 TBSP butter, cut into bits
• 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (Pillsbury or store brand)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Peel & chunk apples into a large mixing bowl.
3. In a small bowl, combine Splenda (for diabetic boys) or sugar, flour, cinnamon & nutmeg with a whisk, then sprinkle over apples in large bowl and toss to combine. 
4. On 2 separate pieces of parchment, open up the 2 pie crusts. Divide apple filling between each crust, mounding in the center. 
5. Top each apple pile with a tablespoon of butter bits. Gather up sides of crust around apples, pinching folds together, and pressing into apples.
6. Lift each pie by the parchment onto a large baking sheet. The 2 pies should fit side by side on a large commercial cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 30 minutes in 400 degree oven. Test for doneness by inserting the tip of a sharp knife into the apples- if they’re soft, it’s done. 
8. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

I use one of these apple slicer/corer things:

It makes it really easy to peel. Just be sure to remove the bits of the seed pockets that may remain- those are tough little buggers to get in your nice slice of pie!

Back at it…

Quaker Halloween update:

I spent the entire Labor Day weekend dreading having to go door-to-door with a petition in my little neighborhood for a re-zoning issue. Speaking in front of a large group is my number one phobia; going door-to-door is a close number two. I waited until Monday evening around 6:00. One household wasn’t home and a second homeowner wanted to wait for her husband. So technically, I’m not done. And I’m already procrastinating about returning to those houses. Jeesh! I think I’m going to “forget” all about it. Yeah, that’s the ticket!

PS

Chickie ended up being fine. She's back to all her doggie activities: chasing the cats away from her food dish, going up & down stairs again (I have to warn her to slow down), she even pulled out some of her toys. Thanks for your good thoughts!

She got her humor from MY side of the family….

The daughter forwarded a link to this site—**********BEWARE!!!!!!!!**************

Contains potentially offensive material (like swear words and potty humor, and, if you look thru all the links, even worse!)

Regretsy - “Where DIY meets WTF”

This chick needs to be writing for Jimmy Fallon…

just sayin’ …….

Happy Meals and Happy Hours blog.

Laugh ‘til the Pepsi spurts out your nose.

Is it me?

or is the internet vvveeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyslow today?

Wicked Wednesday Wrecipe….

I know everyone may not own a bread machine, but maybe you’re clever enough to alter this recipe for “by hand”. This is a very tasty bread, ever-so-slightly sweet, and hearty from the oats.

Honey Oatmeal Bread (for the bread machine)

Makes one 1-1/2 pound loaf

• 1-1/4 cups water
• 3 TBSP honey
• 1-1/4 tsp salt
• 2 TBSP softened butter (I cut it into little cubes when chilled, then micro for 13 seconds on high)
• 3 cups bread flour
• ½ cup old fashioned or quick-cooking oats
• 2 TBSP dry milk
• 2 tsp bread machine or quick active yeast

 

Measuring carefully, place all ingredients into bread machine pan in the order as given. Select “sweet” mode and “light” crust. This sets my Betty Crocker machine to cycle in about 2 hours 50 minutes +/-.

When done, remove immediately from pan and cool on a wire rack.

I read somewhere recently that salt will inhibit the action of the yeast, so I started adding the salt directly to the water; my bread definitely rises higher! I dare you to NOT eat a slice right out of the machine!