Friday, December 31, 2010

The Friday Dog Blog

Hello, and happy New Year's Eve!!

Sofi the talking Schnauzer has a date for the New Year's party this year, but she's a little wary.  He looks like a shady character.  So true - when your date is wearing a burglar's mask and it's not Halloween, maybe you should re-think your decision....

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A Burglar's Secrets

It's never too late to learn more about keeping your house safe from intruders.  I recently came across this information, and thought I would share it with you.  I will have more next week....

Things A Burglar Won't Tell You....

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere
 or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check
 dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.



Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Monday Recipe Blog

Wow, we have almost survived the holidays - one more to go!

Today, straight from the recipe box of Lois Elaine Mueller, is a recipe for Black Cherry Drink. For the next several months I will be featuring Lois Elaine's recipes every Monday. Her 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.

The recipe I am featuring today was not enjoyed by the kids, but I'm sure the adults loved it during the holidays.  With New Year's Eve approaching, I thought that this Black Cherry Drink recipe was appropriate.  But it has to sit for 6 months, so make it in early summer to enjoy it during the holidays.

The Muellers are from Michigan, one of the best producers of cherries, so quite a few of Lois Elaine's recipes feature cherries.  Cherries are one of my favorite fruits, and none are better than those from Michigan, in my opinion.  Black cherries are black, without any red tint.  They are wonderful, but you probably won't find them in the supermarkets.  We order our's straight from Michigan.  Expensive, but great.  I'll bet that you can substitute other sweet cherries for black cherries in this recipe, but it might not be quite as good.  With this much alcohol, you probably won't notice....

Lois Elaine's Black Cherry Drink:

2 qt. fresh black cherries
1 fifth whiskey or vodka
2 c. sugar

Mix the ingredients.  Let sit for 6 months.

Friday, December 24, 2010

The Friday Dog Blog

Hello....Hope you are having a terrific Christmas Eve!

Here is a dog for your holiday enjoyment....

Sofi the Talking Schnauzer is a serious dog with only one thing to say today....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Have A Great Holiday!!

Here's hoping that your Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah is joyful and peaceful this holiday season.  Put a log on the fire, mix up some hot chocolate and count your blessings.  While you're at it, watch 1983's A Christmas Story one more time - another helping of Christmas goose (minus the head) and the Bumpus' dogs will put you in a great frame of mind!

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Monday Recipe Blog

Hello and happy Okie Monday.  Don't you just love the holidays?

Today, straight from the recipe box of Lois Elaine Mueller, is a recipe for Lebkucken (Lebkuchen). For the next several months I will be featuring Lois Elaine's recipes every Monday. Her 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.
The Muellers were a German family and enjoyed many traditional German dishes.  One was Lebkuchen, a German biscuit dessert that is somewhat similar to Gingerbread.  Lebkuchen has been around since the 1200's, so it definitely has staying power.  It evolved from an even earlier dish called Honey Cake, and was invented by monks.

The cookies are traditionally very large, around 4 to 5 inches in diameter if round and bigger if rectangular.  This is a recipe for an experienced baker and requires the dough to stand for a week before baking, so don't start this if you need a batch of cookies tomorrow.

Even Lois Elaine would sometimes skip a year in making Lebkuchen, so be aware of how much of a challenge this recipe is.  But you love challenges, right?

Lois Elaine's Lebkuchen:

4. c. honey
4. c. white sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1 lb. citron, ground
1 lb. salted large peanuts, ground. (rub off all the salt by Turkish towel)
9 T. cidar vinegar
1 T. ginger
1 T. cloves, ground
1 T. anise seed (grind and sift)
1 T. fennel seed (grind and sift)
1 T. salt
2 T. cinnamon, ground
1 lb. raisins, ground - (pour hot water over them, drain, then grind)
3 T. baking soda, dissolved in...
1 c. warm water
19 c. all purpose flour

Mix all together except the flour, then add enough flour to make a soft dough.  Let stand a week.  Roll 1/4 inch thick.  Bake at 350 degrees about 11 minutes on a greased baking sheet.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Friday Dog Blog



Happy Friday, folks. It's time for another pooch pic. This one loves gifts so much that she will dress up, dance and beg for them. It's....Merry Christmas Schnauzer!!!!