Put Your Time In

Just had a flashback down memory lane while in discussion in class this morning.  We use to sing a song in church that only had two lines:  Put your time in, pay day coming after while.  My Grandmother use to love saying, "Put your time in baby cause pay day coming after while" when I would tell her of a project I was working on.  It didn't matter if it was for school or Girl Scouts.

When I first started writing this book I'm currently working on, I was so excited.  I worked on it day and night.  Then a curve came into play.  I realized I was writing two books at once and had to start the game plan all over (3 times).  It's taking longer than expected to get this project out, but I inherited a "Don't Give Up" spirit when I was a child and I operate in it a lot these days.  My goal is to have the first book completed and published by the beginning of 2014, and the second to follow shortly after that.

I just wanted to drop a line of encouragement this morning that no matter how tough it is, no matter how frustrating, no matter how long it seems to reach your goal, continue putting your time in.  Your project will be completed as you continue to do so.  Before you know it it's pay day.

So put that time in and get those projects done.  Pay day is coming after while.

Much love,
Granny

Is there a project you're currently working on you would like to share with us?  Leave us a comment so we can encourage you.

Growing Up In The 70s

I was one of the fortunate beings growing up in the 70s.  It was a fun time to grow up in.  There were some bad times, but the good out weighed them all.  Here is a list of things I found on Google that we experienced during that time.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Some of the other things I remembered experiencing were:

• Colored beads hanging in the doorways
• Big Afros
• Dashikis 
• The TV went off at 12 midnight
• You only had 3 stations to look at.  No remotes to the TV, only dials (the children were the remotes).  Rabbit ears on the TV (sometimes you put aluminum foil on the tips of the rabbit ears to pick up signals
• Lava lamps you stared at for hours
• Doughnut trucks coming to your neighborhood on Saturday mornings
• Ice cream trucks every evening when school was out
• Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, And Jimmy Carter were Presidents
• Mealtime with the family at the table was huge
• Splash parties where the kids played in the water shooting from the fire hydrants
• Sunday dinners at church after morning worship, or at a family members house on the regular
• Oldie but goodies playing on the hi-fi and we would pretend we were the groups singing (wearing some of Grandma's and Granddaddy's old clothes for costumes)
• Soul Train with Don Cornelius and American Band Stand with Dick Clark
• The famous Super Heroes were:  Superman, Wonder Woman, Almighty Isis, Evel Knievel, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Batman and Robin, Captain Marvel, etc....

My sisters and I growing up in the 70s.  Granny in the middle.

I'm sure there are way more other great things I can't seem to think of that was popular during that time.

Help a Granny out and post what great things you remember from that time in the comment section below.

Much love,
Granny

Granny's Secret Ingredient for Fantastic Eggs

Most of my life in the south has been centered around food.  Working around the house, food was set out to make sure we snack in between to keep our energy going.  Family and friends show up, food was always served to entertain them.  Singing rehearsals at our Grandparents house, food was always sitting around for us to snack on when we were hungry.  Anything happening at church, food was always served after service.  Is there any wonder why I post so many recipes of my favorite dishes on this blog? 

One question I'm asked all the time is, "Granny, what is your secret ingredient for your eggs?  They are the bomb!"  So I decided to share this secret ingredient I use in my fantastic eggs:

That's it in a nutshell. Just a splash of white wine mixed with anything else you use except milk (doesn't compliment each other well).  Any white wine you prefer to drink is good.  Granny never uses cooking wine.  Why would I when the greater stuff is in the house already?  I'm partial to my Robert Mondavi Private Selection.  I never stray from it and use it in a lot of my dishes.

Breakfast was really great Sunday.  No starches used this time.  I've trained myself to cut back on bread.

FYI:  Sunday is my "Be Greedy a Little Day". It's the day I allow myself to have a little more than usual.  Now you know the reason for the extra piece of veggie sausage on my plate.  Turns out, I was full before I got to it so I saved it for the next morning.

Much love,
Granny

Do you have a secret ingredient used in special dishes you're willing to share?  What is the main compliment you receive when you use it?  Share with us in comments below.


Feel free to visit my other sites:
Be Wise and Know  http://www.bewiseandknow.com
Time With Granny  http://www.timewithgranny.tumblr.com

Cabbage and Kielbasa

One thing is for sure, my sisters and I always thought we were being rewarded when Nah Nah served us this dish when we were little.  Whenever we would sneak into the kitchen to see what she was cooking and saw the ingredients for this delightful meal, we were just as excited as if Christmas was the next day.  It is still one of our favorites to eat whenever we are together -- Cabbage and Kielbasa.

Me using Tofurky Kielbasa.  Regular Kielbasa is richer in color.

By the first sentence, you can tell we were stinkers for girls, huh.  Nah Nah used to say, "Raising my girls is like raising boys; rough and always hungry."
This recipe will include both Nah Nah's (beef) and my version (vegan). Two recipes in one post.  Lucky you!

Ingredients
Large head of cabbage
Large sliced onion
Crushed garlic (optional)
Salt and Pepper
Beef Kielbasa or Vegan Kielbasa by Tofurky 

Clean cabbage as usual.  Cut cabbage to fit in pot.  Add all ingredients into pot, except kielbasa.  Bring cabbage to boil.  Stir, reduce heat to medium-high.

If you desire boiled Kielbasa:
Cook cabbage for approx 10 min before adding kielbasa.  Continue cooking meal, stirring occasionally, until cabbage and sausage are to your liking.

If you desire Kielbasa sauteed or grilled:
Saute separate in pan with very little oil of your choice, or, grill to your liking.

Add ingredients together in large bowl, without liquid, from pot (this will cause the cabbage to be too wilted and reduce the great taste of the creation).  

Another great option is use the Kielbasa with Granny's Sauteed Cabbage which can be found here.

Serve with Granny's Corn Cake found here and you have yourself something wonderful.

Enjoy!

Much love,
Granny

Feel free to visit my other sites
Be Wise and Know  http://www.bewiseandknow.com
Time With Granny  http://www.timewithgranny.tumblr.com

   

Compilation of Childhood Snacks

Growing up in the '70s, the grownups seemed to be very concerned about children's bowel movements.  They believed most illnesses came from unhealthy colons.  Every Friday night, we had to get in line for some form of laxative to ensure we remained healthy.  The choices often used then were Castor oil, Cod Liver oil, Ex-Lax chocolate, Milk of Magnesia, or Feen-a-mint gum.  Of course there were more used then, these were the top five used in my household.

You always end up with this one person who was the odd ball in the fold, namely me, whose body just did not react to things as everyone else did.  So my family decided to give me all types of snack food to help me.  The one thing I hated so much were prunes.  I could not stand the smell of those things (even to this day I cringe and gag at the smell of them).  Weird story before giving you a tasty recipe, huh.  I know, but it was the only one that came to mind as I was writing this.

The snack I'm sharing with you today is a compilation of things I like.  In the 70s, we didn't do much with dried fruit except bake them into cakes.  This recipe makes it easier to carry the snack to work and store in my locker, or purse, until I'm ready for it.  I haven't come up with a name for this combination as of yet so I am requesting help from each of you to help me name this delightful treat.  Now on with the recipe Granny!!!

Ingredients
Unsalted Cashews
Dark and Golden Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Banana Chips

Just take a little of everything and mix in a bowl.  If you're not really big on sweets as I am, you can add more nuts to balance the flavor of the mixture. Around the holidays I tend to use mixed nuts because that's what everyone else prefers when I serve this treat.  Normally, I would use carob for chocolate but it is so
hard to find in my area now.

Hope you enjoyed Granny's weird post for the week.  Enjoy the snack and enjoy life with a happy colon.

Much love,
Granny

What were some of the things your parents/grandparents gave you for your colon health?  If you have a name to help Granny attach it to her snack, leave it below in comment section.  

Feel free to visit me at my other sites:
Be Wise and Know  http://www.bewiseandknow.com
Time With Granny  http://www.timewithgranny.tumblr.com

Sauteed Cabbage

** In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to do a post on an Auntie who was also a Mom for everyone that encamp around her.  Pictures of Auntie and her work will be in August's post.
 
Hello everyone!  Granny here!!
Nice to be back with you with another great recipe.  This one is a favorite dish we all love for Aunt Beverly to fix when we visit her in DC: the famous Cabbage Dish.  I call it Sauteed Cabbage.
The ingredients are diverse and very pleasant just like Aunt Beverly.  A woman of many talents and always pleasant.  She is very skilled in playing the piano, videography, historical documentation, and training people to find their singing part.  OH, did I mention she has been a Nurse for over 30 years as well as an Artist who grace us with her own designs of Birthday and Christmas cards each year.  In another post this summer when I post mini biographies on my family members, I will showcase some of Aunt Beverly's work.

Now to the recipe (Granny's version, of course):

Ingredients
Large head of cabbage
1 whole onion sliced (the size of onion depends on how much you like)
1-2 cloves of fresh garlic crushed (you may substitute with garlic salt if you wish)
Fresh carrots sliced (the quantity depends on how much you like)
Olive oil (or oil of choice)

Begin cutting cabbage open and cleansing to prepare it for cooking as you would any other time.  Set aside to drain.  Place sliced carrots in pan of olive oil cooking on med-low, covered (the amount of oil used is of
your preference when sauteing). Stir frequently to keep from burning.  Cook until soft.  You may brown them just a bit if you choose.  Once done, but into a bowl and set aside.

You may use the remainder of the oil used for the carrots or use another pan with fresh oil for cabbage.  Place cabbage in oil using the same med-low heat (cabbage cooks quicker than you realize).  Add onions and garlic (or garlic salt).  Cover cabbage.  Aunt Beverly just uses regular salt and black pepper for seasoning.  Stir frequently to keep from burning.  Cook to your liking (Granny likes her cabbage with a little crunch, Aunt Beverly cooks hers longer to get very soft).  Mix all ingredients together in large bowl and allow to sit covered for approx. 10 min to allow all flavors/seasonings to incorporate.

**Sometimes Granny mix in a pan of fried potatoes in the mixture

Serve with cornbread or bread of choice and enjoy!

Much love,
Granny

Do you have a memory of a recipe from an Auntie or other relative you loved them to fix when you visited as a child?  Comment Below. 

**Stay tuned for next week when Granny shares a combination of different childhood snacks into one tasty treat**

Feel free to visit me at my other sites:
Be Wise and Know  http://www.bewiseandknow.com
Time With Granny  http://timewithgranny.tumblr.com 


Click links to see who I honored last year on Mother's day:
http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/05/these-mothers-of-mine.html
http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/05/these-mothers-of-mine-part-2.html

Egg Salad Sandwich

Today for lunch, I was craving an Egg Salad Sandwich really bad.  One of my first memories of having one was with my Paternal Grandparents.  They had great pleasure fixing me something to eat.  Although I was the 2nd oldest Grandchild, I was also the smallest of everyone.

My Grandparents often encouraged me to eat more (although I ate more than some of the grown ups) because most country folks believed you weren't pretty unless you were fat.  At least that's what they used to tell me.  If only they were able to see when I hit 220lbs.  So glad I lost most of it. 

Now for the recipe:

Ingredients:
2 eggs
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Chopped onion(optional)                                          
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Splash of lemon juice (optional)
White pepper (optional)


After boiling eggs, separate cooked yoke from eggs. Put into mixing bowl.  Mash egg yolks until fine in texture (or until yolk no longer looks whole, but crumbly).  Dice egg whites into small pieces.  Add into bowl.  Add remaining ingredients of choice.  Add and mix according to the texture that suits you (I prefer mine a little thick).

Put on bread of choice and enjoy.

Much love,
Granny


What fond memories do you have fixing a simple lunch with your Grandparents?  Share story with us in comment section below.

Feel free to visit my other sites:
Be Wise and Know  http://www.bewiseandknow.com
Time With Granny  http://www.timewithgranny.tumblr.com

Spinach Salad

Tonight's dinner was delicious.  One of my favorite things for dinner is Spinach Salad.  I don't have to tell you of all the good properties that come with it.  Mamma or Grandma have probably already told you so I'll just skip to the recipe.
*Some of the ingredients listed may not be viewed in the picture due to me eating before snapping the shot.

Mix in large bowl:
fresh spinach
sliced tomatoes
sliced red onions      
sliced cucumbers
black olives

Drizzle with oil and vinegar or dressing of choice.  You may also add or delete other ingredients you would rather have.  This is just the way I like it.  YUMMY!!!

Here's another post I did telling the story of how salad sandwiches became an important childhood memory for my sisters and I http://www.1elegantgranny.com/2012/11/salad-sandwiches.html

Hope you enjoy

Much love,
Granny


What did you have for dinner tonight?  Was it as simple as this?  Leave comments below.

Beef and Macaroni Bake with Pinto Beans

Hello everyone!  Granny here!!  No time no hear huh.  Just been busy with school reports and preparing for exams.  Tonight's dinner consisted of a dish I decided to explore with.  You know Granny loves her beans.  So here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
ground beef ( I prefer ground chuck )
chopped onions
chopped peppers ( I prefer mixture of green, red, and orange )    
diced tomatoes
fresh chopped garlic
whole grain elbow macaroni
sliced mushrooms
seasoning of choice
extra sharp cheddar cheese

1) Brown meat until done, adding seasoning of choice 
2) Saute peppers, onions, mushrooms, and garlic until soft but not mushy - feel free to cook with meat.  I like them separate
3) Add mixture to cooked pinto beans and cooked macaroni noodles - follow instructions on packaging for beans and noodles.  Make sure noodles and beans are drained - I like to use a little of the bean juice
4) Add diced tomatoes
5) Layer mixture as if layering a lasagne with the cheese
6) Bake covered for 15-20 min.  Uncovered for 10 min or until top layer of cheese is melted
7) Let stand approx 10-15 min before serving

You can change the ingredients to suit yourself.  I had this dish with a spinach salad.  I'll post about this later.

Granny loves cooking!  She loves eating even more!!  What are you having for dinner?  Leave comments below.

One of my Favorite Things

While going through the news feed on my Facebook business page earlier, I came across a status from @Women Are Gamechangers about being a nerd girl still loving the smell of books.  Boy did this take me back to a memory that helped me to behave myself.

Just a snippet of my collection

I've always had a love for books - paper or hard back.  Growing up, I'd rather read than go out to play.  My mother used to take whatever book I was reading at the time away from me as punishment for doing or saying something wrong.  With my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) for completing what I started instead of skipping on to the next thing, she knew it would be hard for me to start reading something else until she gave me back the book she took so I could complete that one first.  It was so nerve racking for this here chick.  So glad that was all it took for me to straighten up. I would also fight to keep the other kids away from my book collection.  If that gives you any indication how I feel about books.


I love books so much!!!

Although eBooks are great, I still prefer my hard copies.  There is always at least two on me at all times.  That's why my shoulder bags are so big.  If you see me with a smaller hand bag, rest assure, there is a couple of books somewhere in the car.
To this day, whenever I'm out, if I pass by any books for sale, you will see that little girl - instead of my forty something self -getting very excited like it's the morning of Christmas until I leave with all I have the money for.

Much love,
Granny



What is one of your favorite things you were very protective of as a child?  Leave comments below. 


 

Family

Warning:  This is my family.  This is NOT how we have fun.  This is how we live........

I don't know about you, but I do believe I have the most fun family there is.  And for this I am very thankful.  No matter what trials, tribulations, sorrow, or pain, we still have the most fun.  The picture below is from last year.  I decided I wanted the family to go to church '70s style for my birthday.  It seems I'm stuck in that era for some reason.  I love those days!!!  We were amazed Mama went along with it. We believe she had more fun with it than we did.  The Pastor got the biggest kick out of it as well.  He had us to stand up and introduced us as Foxy Brown, Cleopatra Jones, Christie Love, etc....

The Real Get Fresh Crew.  Me in the plaid coat.

The following picture is of my other mother and her sisters.  We have a birthday celebration for all of them on the same day due to everyone's birthday falling within 2 weeks of each other at the beginning of the year.  The theme for the party that year was '50s, '60s, and '70s.  Aren't they cute?!

Ma in center as Don King
 

 Looking forward to fun next year.  I hope you are with your family.

Much love, 
Granny

What are some things your family do together for fun?  Share with us in comment section.

Salad Sandwiches

Growing up, my sisters and I use to play "Old Sisters."  It was a day we use to dress up in hats, gloves, and purses pretending what we would be doing when we get old.  Our bedroom was the house of one sister, the other two sisters, one lived in the living room while the other in our parents bedroom.  We would pretend to call each other on the phone to make a "sister lunch date" at our favorite restaurant (the kitchen).  The meeting place would be at one of the sisters pretend house which was usually our bedroom or our parents room - that's where the lip gloss or Vaseline was for our pretend lip sticks.

When Mama called to let us know when it was time for lunch, we would commence to the kitchen - our favorite restaurant - for our food.  When we were the age of depending on Mama for lunch, we ate what she gave us.  As we got older and were allowed to prepare our own lunch, we decided as a tradition to have salad sandwiches for lunch.  It only consisted of lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise but it was a favorite lunch for "Old Sisters Day."

Now that I'm in my 40s, I often wonder about that play date we use to have.  Sometimes I wonder if we prophesied happy living in our years of retirement.  The three of us have our own lives living in different places and doing different things.  It will be a pleasure to see and to live life as the real "Old Sisters" enjoying that season of our lives.  The only difference, we have a younger sister, and she will be included.  Here's to happy memories with my sisters.

What fond memories do you have of you and your siblings?  Leave story in comment section below.

Much love,
Granny

Generosity

Generosity is normally defined by society as being liberal with your giving.  A definition I found on Dictionary.com has become a favorite:  freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character.  There should be at no time, where any human is mean to another human being.  We are all created by the same Creator, in His likeness, and should be treated as such.

It is being free from meanness and smallness of mind or character that we are enabled to freely give.  I remember growing up, how my Grandfather use to always say, "Think about somebody else besides yourself."  He instilled in us how important it was to always share what you had.  No matter how small.  Earlier this year I wrote a post on him giving me $5 to feed over 20 people and how I was able to do it.  More on this story can be found here.

We are also free to give words of encouragement .  It is something everyone could use.  Especially those transitioning from one lifestyle to another.  Transition of any form is never easy. It is when we are at one of the most vulnerable moments in our lives.  There will be people who will be our cheerleaders, and those who will be our opposition.  When we encounter those who oppose our better life, we should be generous enough to tell them thank you.  We can use every negative dart as a tool to catapult us to our next level sooner than expected.  For those who are in our corner, we should never forget to say thank you.  Because of them, we are able to keep our heads held high and march forward.   

We must always remember to choose to be generous in our giving, be it money, words, or deed(s).  When we do, it must be done with a cheerful heart.  The only way to do it with a cheerful heart, is to be free of meanness or smallness of mind or character.

Much love,
Granny