Shopping for a Cause!!!

Spent the night with 2 dogs shuffling for the best spot!!That would be my daughters pets! YES! here I am at DELILAHS' residence! Those dogs remember even though I do not see them a lot,they know I bring them TREATS!! Usually I get to the grocery,however it was too late last night when we got here! Yogi and Tia are the BEST!!! SO... now we get to the point,I am going shopping with my SIL! today to get a present for my Delilah! I am the consultant of sorts i cannot tell yet what the GIFT is so you will have to wait and see! However it may cause things to take a bit more creative turn at Shabby Accumulations! Add to the talent you already see so much of! So here we go! TTYL! love nana!

Mothers Day!

My day started out with a run ,in the cool air in upstate N Y ! baked a cake for my mom then a strawberry rhubarb pie for my "little sister" Tammy she has DOWNS SYNDROME she is my little sister although she is 40 yrs old! she lives her life as a perpetual 5th grader! she does very well! she loves her food favs although she is thinnish she is active and participates in a daily program with others who are also "challenged" in various ways. I have been involved in her care for many years as has my younger sister Tina who she lives near and has pretty much responsibility for both my mom and Tammy,my mom is 76 yrs old and cares for Tammy daily,they still live together,this is amazing to me and many others who have relatives who reside in "community" residences.I think it is a testimony to the love Tammy and my mom have for each other! One day Tammy will live with Tina and/or myself hopefully we will share,which is why I am trying to MAP a plan to return to N.Y.Tina has a career as a Social Worker for the state of N.Y. mostly her years have been spent working on child abuse programs and investigations she has taught many others the valuable lessons she has learned along the way as well as shared many sad experiences to educate those throughout the system.I have much admiration for what she does,she has no birth children but many whose lives have been enriched because of her compassion ,she would have made an amazing mother! In many ways she "mothers" so many without them ever knowing! Those who are lucky enough to call her "friend" will never be alone when in need. We had a busy day as I am sure all of you have,so HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all those wonderful "women" by birth or by choice of love,we labor in the same field,to bring others joy and lives of purpose that will be passed to the next generation,and so goes life! Until I post again LOVE TO ALL NANA

Tired!!

I am sooo tired! from working 4 days in a row then flying,then trying to see everyone for just a few hours the first day,can't be done at my age! Catches up with a body! and I consider myself pretty endurance capable! well I had to take the day to catch up pick a time up a few things i needed to bring but did not and so I missed a time I should have been somewhere! Imagine! I must be loosing it! Well not really,but JET LAG in the same time zone??!!! Well perhaps tomorrow will be relaxing as today i feel partially caugt up! The trees are bloomin!! The pollen is different here and so my nose is stuffy my eyes are teary!! my throat is tight!! BUTTT!!! GOOD NEWS!! There is little humidity MY HAIR LOKS GREAT!!! YEAH!! A GOOD HAIR DAY!! who could ask for more?? Well I am just being silly here so i will go,but my map took a turn and hit a slight speed bump!! I am continuing to navigate and will post soon!! love nana!!

My Trip!

So here i am in N.Y.!! I flew here yesterday for a much needed break,but especially to spend Mothers Day with my mom my daughter,you all know by now,it is her birthday on May 14,what makes it so special is it is also my grandsons birthday May 14!!! I have not spent a birthday with her since I left N.Y. over 10 yrs ago! I am so happy to be here!!! I found some "awesome" blog sites this morning that were an inspirstion ,what a labor of love to share your life and family here! I have a plan brewing in my brain! Say a prayer and send it to the "blogosphere"!!! for me.I have a map forming!! I would love to follow my "road" I'll post my progress,wish me luck!

My Blog!!

My blog has suffered from a lack of attention! This does not come from a lack of affection!! But life gets in the way and some hearts cannot be swayed,to bring to life that which the mind will not compute,be I not remiss,will now not dispute,and strive to make better the "art"of the "letter"

Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe actually is an original recipe stated as featured in Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook of 1950,although published as Sweet Roll Dough then featured as Orange Rolls i took the original sweet dough and made Cinnamon Rolls from it! I hope you can try it and devise your own variation on the original recipe!

1 pkg active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water 105-115*
1/2 cup lukewarm milk [scalded then cooled]
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine or butter softened
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2 - 4 cups all purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water in large mixing bowl,stir in milk,sugar,shortening,salt,egg and 2 cups flour.Beat until smooth.mix in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough easy to handle.Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic this will take around 5 min.place dough in greased bowl turn the dough over in the bowl to bring greased side up,cover and let rise until double.Punch the dough down,turning onto surface and roll into "rectangle" shape,approx 12x17 inches.You can make the cinnamon rolls or the orange rolls,or use your imagination!! the rolls will be baked in 375* oven for 20-25 min or until golden brown. I will now give recipe for both!

Cinnamon Rolls : Take 2 tablespoons butter or margarine which has been softened and "spread" over dough this may be a little difficult if butter is too hard,soften well or melt in microwave till soft, then sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar using your judgement as too how much of each you like! Add raisins to the top scattered evenly but not too thick! roll the dough from the 12 inch side and pinch ends tightly! Cut evenly into 12 1 inch slices,place slightly apart on greased baking pan and yes!! let rise again until double! this should take only about 40 minutes!! then bake as directed above. Now,for the good part! when just so slightly cooled you can "frost" your new rolls with a frosting! I use a small batch of "buttercream" just a cup of confectioners sugar with 1-2 tsp. of butter,or margarine and a 1/4 to 1/2 tsp vanilla and a touch of milk to make a thin frosting to top your rolls!!


Orange Rolls: 1 cup powered sugar
2 tbsp.margarine or butter
2 tsp.grated orange peel
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp orange juice

Beat sugar margarine orange peel and juice until creamy,spread 1/2 of mixture over your rectangle of dough and roll up as with previously stated for roll recipe,bake as directed,then frost with remaining frosting!! Enjoy!

I should clarify that with the orange roll recipe the amount of dough used is stated as 1/2 dough for the frosting recipe the other half can be baked also if you double the frosting.
This recipe for the dough states it may be refrigerated for 3-4 days and used as you have time I have never refrigerated any! I always bake it all!!
Oh! another little "TIP" I use DENTAL FLOSS ! to cut the rolls in the 1 inch pieces,just slide your length of floss about 12 inches should do it! under the dough and bringing it up through the dough it will "cut" the slices of dough nicely for you, they are a little tricky to work with as they are a soft dough,but practice makes perfect and as I always say:

Happy Baking ! !

Butter Rolls

I will attempt to read the original recipe as given to me more than 28 yrs ago by a friend at Church the recipe is in my head so forgive me if the language is not "textbook" I am going to visit "Delilah" and this is the best way to send the recipe!!

2 cups unsifted flour
1 pkg dry yeast
1 cup milk
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 beaten eggs
2 cups unsifted flour

In a bowl mix together 2 cups flour+ dry yeast
In saucepan heat milk with butter and sugar until blended and dissolved make sure it's not too hot as it will "kill" the yeast! Stir the liquid into the flour mixture,mix until blended then add the 3 beaten eggs,I have always had the eggs at room temp and beaten them in a small bowl before adding.mix the ingredients well then add the remaining 2 cups flour and mix well your batter will look smooth NO LUMPS!! batter will be on the thinnish side kinda! Trust me! have a large bowl greased ready which you will transfer the "dough " to,cover this with a cloth,which I have always wettened slightly.this must now rise in a warm place until double in size,you will then turn onto a floured surface adding enough flour to keep from sticking and "knead' for a
few minutes then cut into 4 equal pieces which you will roll out into circles and "cut" like you would a pie!! you will then roll from wide-to-narrow making a cresent shape roll! Now you will place them evenly on greased baking sheets to cover and rise again until slightly under double after which you will bake them at 375* they will be done when nicely browned! Perhaps around 20-25 min depending on your ovens' personality!!

This recipe is said to make 32 rolls also the original recipe states to roll those circles into 9 in. circles,however you can vary this according to the size rolls you like,I have done so many times usually dividing the dough into 3 parts and cutting each part into eight rolls,oh and i also use a "pizza" cutter to cut the wedges! It's easy!!

Good luck bakers!!! Happy Bakers have happy Families!!