Finger Lickin' Good!

Searching through the recipe box for a dinner entree to brighten a cold and dreary night. Approaching the 6 - 0 means your recipe box has a few tasty menu items that may be gathering a bit of dust. With fewer people at the table, you tend to cut your time standing at the stove and opt for a quick sandwich at the end of the day.

Which is why this recipe stands out. It makes enough to freeze for later, make sandwiches or have an impromptu dinner party. The author of this finger lickin' good recipe is my Auntie Cecile. Her biggest claim to fame in my memory is the fact that she had lots of kids - the four legged kind. The Swensons lived around the corner from us and every time we came over, Auntie Cecile welcomed us with a cup of goat milk. 

This recipe was one of her favorites. With four strapping boys and one girl, she had a hungry brood when the dinner bell rang. Her big house and huge backyard that was an endless opportunity for exploration, always drew hungry kids to the table. Auntie Cecile, was my aunt by choice rather than birth. She was an outstanding woman, character, mom and cook. 

Apricot Chicken Divine

2T margarine

2T oil

8 chicken breasts (can adapt to a smaller amount)

1/2 c flour

1 t salt

1/2 c apricot preserves

1T French's Honey Dijon Mustard

1/2 c yogurt

slivered almonds

Melt margarine and oil in shallow pan. Shake chicken in plastic bag with flour and salt.

Put chicken in single layer in pan and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Combine preserves, French's Honey Dijon Mustard and yogurt and spread on chicken baking an additional 25 minutes or until done. Sprinkle with slivered almonds.

Prepare to lick your fingers clean! Then toast my Auntie Cecile with a cup of goats milk! That's what a wise grandma would do.

A Mother's Cry For Help

"We have got to stop this. We need to stop this now," cries Valerie Brewer, the mother of 15 year old burn victim, Michael Brewer from Broward County, Florida. 

This story is playing out all over the world. Violence has become a child's plaything. The United Nations World Study on Violence Against Children reports show that 60% of today's children have witnessed violence. It comes at the hands of a loved one, bullies or street violence. 

Doused with rubbing alcohol and set on fire, Michael was called a snitch for reporting to the police that his attackers attempted to steal his father's bike. The attackers? Five teenage boys, one is 13 years old and now the charges have gone from attempting to steal a bike to attempted murder. They could also be charged as adults. For most of us, this may make sense but despite the actions, the mindset is obviously still that of a child.

Barely alive with burns over 80% of his body, Michael struggles to hang on. Dr. Namias, the boy's doctor spoke from Jackson Memorial Hospital saying that Michael was not out of the woods because he had not yet entered the woods for doctors to see the other side. The road ahead was filled with fears of organ failure and infection for a boy who was doing the right thing. 

As parents and grandparents were at once horrified and sympathetic to the plight of this family. But as a people, we must listen and respond to Michael's mother. She is not asking for revenge, but for action. 

"People around the world, do what you can to work with your neighbors to help our children. We need to stop this violence now." Valerie Brewer is sending out the call. How will we answer? Better yet. When will we answer? Today. That is what a wise grandma would do.

Until Death Do Us Part

In Western culture we believe that marriage is a union between two people and that union can only be separated by death. Pretty stiff penalty for sticking out a life that should be hallmarked with marital bliss. But it signifies the solemnity of a vow that should be made with the intent - to love and cherish despite any unforseen circumstances short of death. 

As a witness to my niece's wedding recently, I heard the minister charge all of us in attendance to see that those vows are honored. She eluded that it was our concern that this young couple have every opportunity to comply with these vows and our duty as loving friends and family to help them do so. This really struck me as I heard my niece and her groom say "I do" indicating they understood and agreed to these vows. It is my charge then, to offer support to mend rather than end from this day forward. After thirty eight years of marriage, I still take the vows I made seriously. There were no crystal balls handed out at my wedding, nor the 20/20 visions of hindsight. And yet, I knew that perfect marriages exist only in fairy tales and that better or worse was bound to come our way. Both have come our way and as at the end of every storm, there comes sunshine. 

I came home from the wedding and looked up the familiar Corinthians verse. Perhaps on their anniversaries, married couples should read the words again as a reminder that although the vows seem easily spoken in the white gowns and tuxedos of the day, that repeating them when the bouquet has wilted and the cake is eaten, may be an even more significant pledge of unity. 

Therefore, for your consideration, read this fine print.

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.

It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

And that's precisely what a wise grandma will do, until death do her part.

What's In A Name?

We have always had animals of one sort or another around our little piece of heaven for many years. The dogs and cats are usually named after baseball players. There was a beautiful yellow lab named Babe because of his gentle giant ways like the King of Swat, Babe Ruth. A handsome tabby we called Casey and our current boxer mix, named for Ty Cobb, the meanest, roughest player to ever put on a pair of cleats. 

But when it comes to the chickens, rabbits and ducks we use pet names only to designate those who may end up in a stew or roasting pan as the main course. There have been the Buffys, Fluffys and Quackers and it was duly noted that their life on this planet was safe and secure. We always thanked the others for the eggs and manure, offering up the occasional treat for their efforts. The words free range and organic were not yet common place other than in our own backyard.

A pair of British researchers are the winners of the Ig Nobel Veterinary Medicine Award for their study of the affect of human behavior on animals. The Ig Nobel awards are preceded by the Nobel Prizes. They honor people who not only make people think, but that also make them laugh. This year they celebrate turning tequila into diamonds and whether it hurts more to be hit over the head with a full or empty beer bottle. An among these interesting award winners, these British researchers, Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson of Newcastle University in Newcastle UK, have found that cows with names produce more milk than the other moo cows in the field.

Not sure what this information will mean to dairy farms with hundreds of cows but don't be surprised to see the newest book on Best Seller List - A Thousand Animal Names for Guaranteed Productivity! 

For now, I'll stick with  "here chicky, chicky". That's what a wise grandma would do. 

Behind The Wheel

My Mom and Dad must be gloating and my kids, especially my daughter with two teens, are now looking at us with a little more respect. 

The Today show aired a feature about the influence of parents on the driving habits of their teen drivers. It seems simple enough to me, since my parents kept close watch on everything we did and getting behind the wheel was no exception. 

Realizing that my first experience behind the wheel alone involved much of the same rules, I set down for my teenagers, made watching this Today Show feature even more satifsying. Guess Mom and Dad do know best. Here are a few of the rules we had in the 60's, we laid down for our teens in the 80's and 90's and apparently are still going strong in the 21st century.

#1  No one else rides in the car with you.

#2  No radio, CD or other distractions.

#3  Use the family car. No car of your own.

New rules for today's teens include no talking on the phone, no texting and no taking phone calls while driving.

Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg is an adolescent specialist, studying more than 6,000 teen drivers, found that teens with strict rules set by the parents were half as likely to be in a crash, twice as likely to wear seat belts and 70% less likely to drink and drive. The study found simple rules are the most effective at keeping teens safe on the road. Since car accidents are the number one killer of young people, it makes sense to lay down a few rules to save a few lives. The study reveals two important messages. One, that parents can have a huge influence on teenagers driving and they should think twice when deciding to give teens their own car.

Although hard to imagine that your child (or grandchild) will grow into a teenager with keys in their hands - it happens all too fast. My advice, keep in mind that teenagers are craving independence. Rules are the best and safest way to drive them there. That's What A Wise Grandma Would Do.

Guess What I Got For My Birthday

Months in the making and hours in the delivery, my birthday gift came with all the drama and excitement one would expect from a miracle. 

The stork dropped Miss Emilia in my arms on my birthday. Wrapped in a swaddling blanket and baby bonnet, I quickly unwrapped my gift to be sure that all parts were assembled. I had to stand in a long line of expectant siblings, grand parents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles to pass the bundle of wiggly parts around the room. First glimpses, smiles and flashing cameras all gave rave reviews to a tired mother and beaming father.

I hugged my daughter, who told me this was all she had time to get me for my birthday. Interestingly enough, I felt that my daughter was the real gift. One way or the other, we all knew a baby was coming. But my daughter was the most beautiful face in that room. I was so anxious to see her, to hold her, to make sure she was all right. The hours of waiting wore deeply in both our faces and the joyous crowd made it difficult to be heard. I hope she knows that she will always be my baby, no matter how many babies she puts into my arms. 

In our heart, in our arms, in our lives, in our thoughts, from the cradle to the crib, to school, down the aisle, to the delivery room and beyond, our children are engraved, sculpted from our very beings. And like any work of art, are priceless and enduring. Today, I celebrate my mother, and her mother, myself and my daughter as we again lay claim to the title "mother and child".

That's what a wise grandma would do.

Labor - Before and After

I have yet to determine which is more difficult - the labor of a natural birth, the labor of an adopted baby or the labor of your own child.

Each of my two natural births were long from 26 to 32 hours. The labor of adopting my oldest daughter was an arduous year long process. But watching one of my daughters going through labor, is an even more difficult ordeal.

Ask any mother, and she will tell you in a heartbeat that she would gladly take the pain to spare her child. Truth is, most of the time you are helpless to do little more than watch.

Today I watch as my daughter brings my 4th grandchild into the world. Interestingly, it is no easier than the first time. As a bonus, this precious spirit will make her arrival on my birthday. This begins another cycle of labor - my mother spent this day decades ago laboring to bring me into the world. I wonder how difficult this is for her. Does she know how grateful I am for my life, for my daughter's life and for the life of this new grandchild?

From daughter to daughter, we share a bond. This new grandbaby will be welcomed by mother, grandmothers and great grandmothers. That is a birthday gift that is truly priceless.