Monday, February 27, 2012

The Monday Recipe Blog

Hello, happy Monday everyone.  It's the day for another Lois Elaine recipe...

This blog features Lois Elaine Mueller's recipes every Monday.   Lois' heyday was in the 1950's and 1960's, and her children swear she was the best cook that ever lived. Many baby boomers will remember these mouth-watering recipes, and these dishes are just as tasty today as they were in the sixties.

Chop Suey was huge in the sixties, and it still makes a wonderful meal.  Lois Elaine had three Chop Suey recipes - a Chop Suey Casserole, Slow Cooker Chop Suey and the one we are featuring today, just plain old Chop Suey...

Lois Elaine's Chop Suey:

1 can bean sprouts, drained
1 1/2 pound veal, beef or pork, diced
2 c. sliced onions
2 c. celery, cut up
4 T. soy sauce
1 T. brown sauce
2 T. shortening
2 T. flour
1 T. sugar

Brown meat.  Put in kettle and cook 20 minutes.  Add onion, celery, soy sauce, brown sauce and sugar.  Cook until tender.  Add bean sprouts and thicken with flour.

Friday, February 24, 2012

The Friday Dog Blog

Hello, hope you are having a good Friday!  Here is a goofy dog just for you....

The original Trail Boss loves those cardboard toys that dogs rip apart.  But she likes to wear her's as a fashion accessory.  You've heard of an earring? The Trail Boss has a mouth ring.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Money and Politics

Is anyone out there sick of politics already?  We have a big election coming up in November, and it seems that these people have been campaigning since 2008.  Something that has been worrying me of late is money.  Money and politics, to be specific.

It has always been more difficult for a poor person to rise to the office of the presidency, but there was always a possibility.  Now there is none.  Unless a person is wealthy or can be bought by an ambitious billionaire who thirsts for power, there is no presidency in his or her future.  Abraham Lincoln would have stood no chance in today's world, and that's really, really sad.  We are getting candidates who are so removed from everyday life and everyday people that our needs are swept aside and we are left with laws that are wonderful for people who make over a million dollars a year.

To lead the masses away from the current state of our taxes (who pays them and who receives huge breaks), the current candidates have been successful in throwing in the bone of social issues, which has been leaped upon and now dominates the political discourse.  Too bad.

My hope is that America wakes up over the next few months and that the people make it clear that the elected officials work for them.  Social issues are easy to understand and emotional, but will do nothing to help our economy or bring back our jobs from overseas.  They will distract us and allow politicians to continue doing what they are doing.  Let's get the country back on track, bring jobs in, and lower taxes for the working people (not the rich).  And, since our new House and Senate has never had a lower satisfaction rating from the people they serve, maybe we should look at who we elected in the last elections for lessons we can learn.

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Monday Recipe Blog

Hello, hope your week is starting out to be a good one.  It's time for another Lois Elaine recipe....

This blog features Lois Elaine Mueller's recipes every Monday.   Lois' heyday was in the 1950's and 1960's, and her children swear she was the best cook that ever lived. Many baby boomers will remember these mouth-watering recipes, and these dishes are just as tasty today as they were in the sixties. 


Cake sounds really good right now, so today's recipe is going to feature one of Lois Elaine's great cakes, Cookie Sheet Cake.


Lois Elaine's Cookie Sheet Cake:


Boil together:
1 stick of butter or butter substitute
1 c. water
1/2 c. oil, such as canola or vegetable oil
4 T. powdered cocoa


After boiling, pour in a large mixing bowl and add:
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour


Stir together and add:
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
2 eggs


Mix well and bake on a greased cookie sheet, 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.


Frosting:
Boil:
4 T. powdered cocoa
4 T. milk
3/4 stick butter or butter substitute


Add 3/4 box powdered sugar and 1/4 t. vanilla extract.  Fold in 1 c. small marshmallows.  Mix well and spread on cooled cake.

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Friday Dog Blog

Hello, happy Friday everyone.  It's time for the Dog Blog!

Heidi and James' Sadie is hoping for a big snowstorm again in Oklahoma.  Last year she had so much fun playing in the Okie snow she decided to run away to Minnesota where she would get even more. She came back in a few minutes, though.  Too cold.

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Monday Recipe Blog

Hello, how is your Monday going so far?  Time for another Lois Elaine recipe....

This blog features Lois Elaine Mueller's recipes every Monday.   Lois' heyday was in the 1950's and 1960's, and her children swear she was the best cook that ever lived. Many baby boomers will remember these mouth-watering recipes, and these dishes are just as tasty today as they were in the sixties.

Last week I published one of Lois's two recipes for the German potato dumpling dish KartoffelKloesse.  This week comes her second recipe for this tasty treat....Her recipe card notes that she got this one from Arlene.

Lois Elaine's KartoffelKloesse II:

4 c. cooked potatoes (measure after they are mashed)
2 slices cubed dried bread, browned in 2 T. butter
2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
3 eggs (beaten real well)
1/4 c. flour

Mix and shape into balls the size of a small orange.  Keep hands floured.  Put in boiling salt water for about 20 minutes.  Remove and serve with gravy.

Friday, February 10, 2012

The Friday Dog Blog

Hello, hope your Friday is going great!  Here is a nice dog for your Friday....

Sofi the Talking Schnauzer took a walk last week at the Sutton Wilderness area in Norman, Oklahoma. Funny how all the grass is dormant for the winter everywhere else, but in the forest there is still a lot of green.  Sofi gave her best pose for the Dog Blog....

Monday, February 6, 2012

The Monday Recipe Blog

Hello, hope you are doing good as we head into the dead of winter, otherwise known as February.....

This blog features Lois Elaine Mueller's recipes every Monday.   Lois' heyday was in the 1950's and 1960's, and her children swear she was the best cook that ever lived. Many baby boomers will remember these mouth-watering recipes, and these dishes are just as tasty today as they were in the sixties.

Today's recipe is a little different - it's a traditional German dish known as KartoffelKloesse.  Lois had two recipes, and I will publish the other one next Monday.  The Muellers were of German descent and enjoyed many traditional treats.  KartoffelKloesse are potato dumplings.  These are good with sauerkraut or any kind of gravy.

Lois Elaine's KartoffelKloesse:

2 c. mashed potatoes
1 c. flour
1 egg
2 slices bread
salt to taste
butter for browning

Cut bread into small cubes and brown slowly in a little butter. To the mashed potatoes, add egg, salt and work in the flour until smooth.

Put in bread cubes to the mixture and mix lightly.  Put a little flour in palm of hand and take enough potato mixture to make a ball about 2 inches in diameter.  Make the balls until the mixture is used up.  Then drop them into a pan of salted boiling water.  Cover tightly and let boil slowly for 20 minutes.

Do not lift the lid until done.  Use large fork to put on platter.

Friday, February 3, 2012

The Friday Dog Blog

Hello, hope your February got off to a good start!

Sofi the Talking Schnauzer is ready for the Super Bowl and tried on her uniform to get into the spirit.  She plays for the K9 team....