Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

“Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am in a thousand winds that blow;

I am the softly falling snow.

I am the gentle showers of rains;

I am the fields of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush;

I am in the graceful rush.

Of beautiful birds in circling flight,

I am the star shine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom,

I am in a quiet room.

I am the birds that sing,

I am in each lovely thing.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I do not die.”

                        Author Unknown

Cleaning Wicker

• To dust wicker, use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. This will loosen the dust and get it out of small crevices. You can also try your hair dryer. Just make sure that you set it on cool so that your wicker doesn’t become damaged from the heat.
   

• Now, if your wicker is getting dry and brittle, rejuvenate it by washing it with warm soapy water and rinse it well. Allow it to dry naturally. This will keep the wicker strong.
   

• Always remember to bring your wicker furniture inside when the weather turns nasty. You should never let wicker freeze.

Houses are built to live in—not to look at.

Fools build houses—wise men by them.

Married men make the best husbands.

Marriage! Nothing else demands so much from a man.

He who speaks ill of his wife dishonors himself.

Man’s best possession is a loving wife.

A church is God between four walls.

A farmer is going to be rich next year.

An ounce of Mother is worth a ton of school.

One Father takes better care of 10 children—then 10 children take care of one father.

Hot Chicken Salad

2 cups cooked diced chicken

2 cups diced celery

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon onion

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup chopped almonds or cashews

1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese

1 cup crushed potato chips

1 cup mayonnaise

            Stir ingredients lightly. Pout in a greased baking dish and cover with an extra layer of potato chips. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. Serve when hot for best taste. Use a 9X9 inch pan.

Helpful Tips

• A common lead pencil rubbed up and down a zipper a few times will make it work like new.
   

• To remove colored wax candle stains from linen tablecloths, place stain between paper towels and press with warm iron. Keep changing paper towels until wax is removed.
   

• Unknown carpet stains? Try white shaving cream! It’s a great spot treater when you just spray a little on and then dab it out with water and a clean white cloth.
   

• The formula for baby stains, unflavored meat tenderizer! Just rub it in and wash with cold water.
   

• Make delightful brownies with the addition of cinnamon-sugar. Grease the pan, dust it with cinnamon-sugar, pour in the batter, sprinkle more cinnamon-sugar over the top, then bake as usual. The brownies have a crisp coating and have a delicious flavor.
   

• Mix equal amounts of honey and Dijon mustard over green beans for a very delicious new flavor.
   

• The fingertips of garden gloves last longer if you paint them with clear nail polish.
   

• If you have a squeaky hinge on a cabinet door, put a dab of dishwashing liquid on it. It works as well as the lubricating oil used in the shop and smells so much better.

Nutty Fudge Torte

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil’s food cake mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 can (15 ounces) sliced pears, drained

2 eggs

1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted

2 teaspoons water

1/4 cup hot caramel ice cream topping, warmed

1/2  teaspoon milk

Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and additional toasted pecans, optional.

            In a microwave, melt chocolate chips with condensed milk, stir until smooth. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, oil and cinnamon until crumbly. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping in a blender or food processor, process pears until smooth, add to remaining cake mixture with eggs. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased 9-inch spring-form pan. Drop melted chocolate by tablespoonfuls over batter.

            Combine pecans, water and reserved cake mixture; crumble over chocolate. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around sides of pan to loosen. Cool completely on a wire rack. Remove sides of pan.

            Combine caramel topping and milk until smooth; drizzle on serving plates. Top with a slice of torte. If desired, serve with whipped cream or ice cream and sprinkle with pecans. Makes 12-14 servings.

Ham and Cheese Omelet Roll

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

12 eggs

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2-1/4 cups shredded cheddar of Swiss cheese, divided

2 cups finely chopped fully cooked ham

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions

            Line the bottom and sides of  a greased 15 X 10 inch baking pan with parchment paper; grease the paper and set aside. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add flour and salt; mix until combined. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until blended. Add cream cheese mixture; mix well. Pour into prepared pan.

            Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until eggs are puffed and set. Remove from the oven. Immediately spread with mustard and sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.

            Sprinkle with ham, onions and 1 cup cheese. Roll up from a short side, peeling parchment paper away while rolling. Sprinkle top of roll with the remaining cheese; bake 3-4 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Makes 12 servings.

Hamburger Casserole

1-1/2 pound hamburger
2 packages Italian vegetables, frozen
l can cream of mushroom soup
1 can biscuits

            Cook hamburger and also cook vegetables. Heat mushroom soup. Layer vegetables and hamburger in a 9 X 13 inch cake pan. Add about 1/4 can of soup; save rest of soup to put over the top, when eating.

            Put biscuits over the top and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until biscuits are done.

Breakfast Burritos

1 pound pork sausage

1/4 cup diced onions

1/4 cup diced green or red peppers

1-1/2 cups Southern-style hash brown potatoes

4 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup Cheddar cheese

Picante sauce

Sour cream

12 (8-inch) flour tortillas

            Brown sausage in skillet. Add onions and peppers; cook until tender. Drain. Add potatoes; cook 6 to 8 minutes until tender. Add eggs and stir. Cook until eggs are set.

            Prepare tortillas by browning in hot oil in a large skillet, 5 seconds on each side. Divide mixture between 12 tortillas spreading down middle; sprinkle with cheese. Serve with picante sauce and sour cream. Serve 12.

All In One Casserole

1 pound hamburger

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 can tomato soup

16 oz. can cut green beans

1/2 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheese

1 1/3 cup water

2 tablespoons butter

1 1/3 cup mashed potato flakes

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

            Brown hamburger and onion; drain and add remaining ingredients, except potato flakes. Prepare mashed potatoes according to directions on box for 4 servings. Spoon mashed potatoes on top of casserole and top with cheese. Sprinkle paprika on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Mary Hoff worked at the Platteville Journal  before she got married.  After a few years, she started a column at the Tri-County Press and also covered Cole Acres Notes. When the Tri-County Press was sold to Bill Hale in Lancaster,  he asked to carry the column in the Grant County Independent.  Mary says she writes, "just to keep my mind from getting rusty." 

mjandmjh@pcii.net

"Be sure to send me your comments, recipes, or helpful tips."