Welllllll, if it isn’t already almost 2019 and I haven’t posted shit for years!!!   Has my life changed?   Yep!!!   Has it changed a lot?   Yep!!!!!  Time to make the donuts!

Coconut Snowballs

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/8 teaspoon salt (if using unsalted butter)

3/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon milk

1 cup finely chopped dates

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups rice krispies cereal

Coconut (about 1 package)

Directions ~

1.  Combine butter, salt, sugar, milk and dates in a large saucepan.  Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, and using a whisk to mash the dates a bit. 

2.  In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork, then add a spoonful of the warm date mixture to temper the egg a bit.  Add egg mixture to the saucepan, stirring constantly, cook about 2 minutes.

3.  Remove pan from heat, add vanilla and stir, then add rice krispies and stir.  Allow mixture to cool about 1 minute.

4.  Pour about a cup of coconut into a bowl, then use a 1 tablespoon sized cookie scoop (or a spoon) to scoop a ball of date mixture into the bowl of coconut.  Use your hands to press coconut onto the date mixture, until fully covered with coconut, shaping into a ball as you work.  Refill small bowl with coconut as needed.

5.  Set finished Coconut Snowballs on a baking sheet or casserole dish.  When all the snowballs have been made, serve immediately, or cover until ready to serve.  These can be stored (at room temperature) 3-5 days.  Recipe yields 30-34 balls.

My Family's Traditional 

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Basic Relish Tray

Black Olives, Green Olives, Broccoli, Carrots, Celery, Cauliflower

Deviled Eggs

Oven Roasted Turkey

Traditional Dressing In the Bird W/Onion- 

Traditional Dressing W/O Onion 

Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese 

Giblet Gravy 

Sweet Potato Casserole 

Green Bean Casserole 

Parslied Corn 

Cherry Fruit Salad 

Fresh Cranberry Sauce 

Old Fashioned Biscuits

Pumpkin Pie 

Had to post this after I saw Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg making this recipe!!    "Big Martha" is Martha Stewart's mom - can't wait to try this for Thanksgiving!Recipe: Big Martha's Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese©From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish

Prep time: 5 min |Cook time: 45 min |

Yield: About 8 servings

Ingredients

• 3-1/2 pounds potatoes, Russets or Yukon Gold
• Kosher salt and white pepper or freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1/4 cup whole milk, warmed
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, warmed

Instructions

Place unpeeled potatoes and 1 tablespoon salt in a medium pot, cover with cold water by 2 inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover partially, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Drain, and let stand until just cool enough to handle. Rub off skins, and discard. Cut potatoes into large pieces.

Combine potatoes, cream cheese, butter, milk, and 1/4 cup cream in a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until combined. Season with salt and pepper, and beat to desired consistency.

Return mashed potatoes to pot, and place over medium heat. Add remaining cream, and cook, stirring constantly, until heated through. Serve immediately, or keep warm in a covered bowl over simmering water for up to 2 hours.

To Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes: You can add the peeled cloves directly into the boiling water with the potatoes, then remove, roast in a pan for additional flavor, and mash them. Add to the cooked potatoes. For this recipe you'll want most of a full head of garlic, but use it to taste, adding some and tasting before adding more. Even better is roasted. Cut off the tip end of a whole head of garlic, place it with the cut side up into a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle all over with good olive oil, pull the sides up a bit and loosely cover. Roast in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until the cloves are fork tender. Let cool, then squeeze out what you want to use and mash. Add to the potatoes. Save or eat the rest! 

Source: http://deepsouthdish.com

Summer Fun Safety Tips

It’s a gorgeous summer day outside: The sun’s shining, there’s not a cloud in the sky, and you can’t wait to jump in your inviting pool water. But enjoying your pool this summer doesn’t have to mean putting your skin at risk from the sun. By following a few sun safety tips, you can protect your skin and your children’s skin.

Dr. Adean A. Kingston, a preventive and cosmetic dermatologist at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, recommends avoiding the peak hours of the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as much as possible, and scheduling outdoor activities for the morning and evening hours. But if you do plan to spend time outside during these peak hours, Kingston recommends a few simple precautions.

1. Use a broad-spectrum sun block with at least SPF 45. If your skin burns easily or you have a family history of skin cancer, use an even higher SPF of between 55 and 100.
2. Make sure your sun block is broad spectrum. That means it blocks UVB—the ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburns—and UVA, which passes through windows or glass and penetrates the skin more deeply causing wrinkles, pigmentation alterations and changes in texture, Kingston says.
3. Liberally apply sun block (1 teaspoon per body area) 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply a second coat 5 minutes after the first coat. “Reapply at least every 2 hours,” Kingston says.
4. Use water-resistant or waterproof agents if you’re getting in the water. And reapply your sun block each time you get in and out of the water—even more than every two hours.
5. Begin teaching children about sun safety at an early age. Dr. Kingston says an estimated 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. “Be a role model for your children and get them in the habit of practicing sun protection measures early,” she says.
6. Use sun blocks with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for those with sensitive skin and for kids. These sun blocks are generally safer and more hypoallergenic than sunscreens with chemicals.
7. Don’t use sunscreen or sun block on babies younger than 6 months. Instead, keep them out of the sun completely.
8. Wear a wide-brim hat. This will help protect your head and shoulders.
9. Have umbrellas readily available to sit under and provide shade in your pool area. “Additionally, awnings, trees and other shade structures provide valuable protection to outdoor areas while one safely eats, plays or relaxes,” Dr. Kingston says.
10. Wear sunglasses that also block UVA and UVB rays.
11. Frequently apply a lip balm with sun block to protect extra-sensitive lips. “Also, avoid lipglosses, which can actually increase the amount of ultraviolet penetration,” Dr. Kingston says.
12. Get vitamin D through diet or oral supplements. “I take 2,000 Units of vitamin D every day,” Dr. Kingston says.
13. Drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day and hydrate more frequently when outdoors, exercising or sweating excessively. Sports drinks contain electrolytes, so they’re good for extreme sports or lengthy outdoor activities, but water alone is sufficient for most people.

Skin: you can love it or hate it, but no matter what, it will age. 

Don’t go broke trying to preserve it! 

Janet Maccaro, Ph.D C.N.C., shows us some simple, natural, and affordable remedies for your skin.

Janet says milk of magnesia can help the face by using it as a mask. She says keep it in the refrigerator and apply before bed after cleansing your face and then let dry. She says to apply another layer of milk of magnesia to help remove the mask. Maccaro says the mask tightens smoothes and minimizes pores. The mask works great on oily skin and it can also be used as a primer during summer.

Second, she explained some easy uses of aloe vera and mint leaves. Keep both refrigerated and you can use them any time. Whether it’s for simply cooling your skin or even a burn, the aloe and mint leaves will work wonders! An extra tip would be making aloe and mint ice cubes. “Apply to sunburns, bug bites, scrapes, and to take down inflammation from pimples. Aloe is an excellent natural anti-inflammatory!”

If you want to make your own face or body scrub, Dr. Janet says to combine 1/4 cup rolled oats, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon stevia, 1 tablespoon plain yogurt. “Yogurt supplies lactic acid which contains naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acid,” Maccaro said. “And oats are saponins that help dissolve oil while cleaning dirt out of clogged pores.

Finally, if you have sagging elbow skin, apply sugar scrub and rinse then dab miracle whip on the elbow and let sit for 15 minutes. She says in no time your elbows should be smooth, plumper and soft.

Thanks AZ Republic for this article!

Oh Honey!!

I have been doing some research on natural sugars, and I use honey for sweetener when I cook. I did not really realize all of the benefits of honey.  Did you know that honey is an antioxidant?  Did you know that honey helps on sunburns, burns, and minor abrasions.
There are many kinds of honey, 300 kinds to be exact. Honey is about 80% sugar, (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) the rest is water that contains trace minerals. A colony of 50,000 bees will make 40-50lbs of honey during the summer months.
Honey has been around for longer than the little squeezable plastic bear containers in our cupboards.
Did you also know that one quart of honey is equal to three pounds. Other facts I learned about honey are that bees fly 55,000 miles for one pound of honey  Honey bees must tap two million flowers to make one pound of honey. Bees have been producing honey from flowering plants for ten to twenty million years.

Why You Need At Least Three Jars Of Honey  Having honey on hand in the kitchen is a fantastic idea. Honey is an ideal sweetener that offers numerous nutritional benefits over the white sugar alternative.However, that one jar of honey really isn’t enough. You might need two containers. You could even use three.

Let’s take a look at the advantages of honey Jar One: The Kitchen This is the obvious honey jar. If you are being smart about your health and the flavor of your food, you will want to make sure you have a big jar of honey on hand in the kitchen. Honey is a tasty treat on its own and can be put to simple use in many different ways. Consider topping some ice cream with a ribbon of honey instead of hot fudge, or adding a squirt of the golden liquid to your breakfast yogurt, for instance. However, honey is also valuable in more complicated recipes and should be used in place of sugar whenever possible. Your cookie and baked good recipes may require some slight adjustments, but the finished products will be exceptional. Honey is a prefect ingredient in a host of other dishes, too.. You definitely want to have a jar of honey in the kitchen, but you will want to make sure you use it whenever possible. The taste and nutritional value make it a “can’t-miss” proposition.

Jar Two: The Medicine Cabinet Honey isn’t just a great food product. It is also an awesome home remedy. Honey can be used to reduce coughs, cure bladder infections and more. Let’s take a quick look at some of the many maladies subject to treatment with honey. Some claim that arthritis pain can be eliminated with frequent honey intake. Honey contains an antibacterial agent that makes it a nice addition to remedies targeted at infections, too. A glass of warm water featuring honey and some cinnamon can be used to fight bladder infection, for instance. Honey has been linked to reduced cholesterol levels, which can decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Honey is also a source of antioxidants that strengthen the immunes system and fend off dangerous free radicals. Honey is an ideal topical treatment for sunburn, burns and minor abrasions. It seals off the area from foreign substances, fights infections and more.

Jar Three: The Vanity Honey is tasty. Honey is medicinal. Honey is also a great way to improve one’s good looks and hygiene. It is a frequently used ingredient in a variety of health and beauty aids. Whether consumed as a mouthwash or applied to the hair in order to increase shine, honey can contribute to one’s beauty regimen. Honey is well-suited for use in a great variety of skin products. It cleanses and moisturizes, leaving skin clean, soft and supple. Honey is used in facial masks, skin lotions and face cleansers with other natural ingredients. These homemade beauty aids generally cost much less than the store-bought variety are. All natural and tend to actually work better than what you might find on the shelves of your local department store. Honey also does wonder for the hair. Some people use a hair shiner based on honey that is applied after washing. Others are believers in pre-wash hair conditioners that use honey. Some maintain that a special honey-based paste can keep hair loss at bay. If you want to get the most out of honey, you might need to increase your supply. Three jars will probably make far more sense than one! If you are interested in learning more about honey and its numerous uses, seek out a solid reference guide that covers honey’s many uses

A few more uses of Honey are:

Bathtime: Add a few squeezes of honey to your bath for moisturized, soft skin when you step out and dry off.

Shine Serum: Mix a tablespoon of honey into one cup of very warm water, then put the mixture into a spray bottle. Spritz onto damp hair and comb through. Then, style as normal and prepare for hair so shiny, you’ll stop traffic with one toss of your locks.

Lip Balm: Add a few drops of honey to a small amount of petroleum jelly and you’ve got a tasty moisturizing lip treatment. From there, depending on how creative you want to get, you can add various essential oils and food coloring and experiment with different colors, scents and flavors. Vaseline sells these teensy baby jars of petroleum jelly, which work perfectly.

Shave Balm: Mix together one part honey to two parts cream and slather on your legs instead of shaving cream. It’s way more hydrating than soap or shaving cream and cuts way down on razor burn and irritation.

Mani/Pedis: Before soaking your tooties for a pedi or your fingers for a mani, rub a little honey on your cuticles or rough spots (like heels and the balls of your feet) to soften them.

Honey is a wonderful ingredients for all kinds of things. Look for products with Manuka honey in them. They contain health-giving properties for skin.
I found another source on honey you might like as well.

 

Home Remedies - Look in Your Pantry!

Sunburn, Razor Burn

Remedy: Milk

Dip a clean washcloth into a bowl of cool milk and dab it on the burned areas. (The coolness can help reduce swelling, and milk's lactic acid has anti-inflammatory properties.) Then rinse it off. Or try: Olive oil, which has natural compounds that protect against inflammation.

Minor Wound

Remedy: Honey

Honey deprives bacteria of the water it needs to multiply. Thwart infection with a swipe of the sweet stuff, and cover the cut with a bandage.

Flaky Hand Skin

Remedy: Sugar

Coat your wet hands with sugar—the coarser the better. The rough grains scrub away flakes and dead skin cells. If possible, use demerara, a dark sugar with large granules; it's sold in specialty-food stores.

Dry Skin and Lips

Remedy: Olive Oil

Olive oil closely resembles your own natural oils, which can be stripped away by harsh soaps and dry heat. Smooth a few drops onto your palm and rub it into your skin to soften rough spots and form a protective moisture barrier.

Insect Bites

Remedy: Apple-Cider Vinegar

Dab the vinegar onto each bite with a paper towel. The acidity can help reduce swelling and curb your urge to scratch.

Athlete's Foot

Remedy: Apple-Cider Vinegar

A mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water can kill the fungi that cause foot infections. For athlete's foot relief, just soak your feet in it for a while.

Stinky Sneakers

Remedy: Baking Soda

A sprinkle between wearings can help neutralize funky odors. Just don't forget to dump out the excess before you slide your shoes back on. Or try: Orange peels. Leave peels in your shoes overnight to replace bacterial odors with a fresh scent.

Reeking Armpits

Remedy: Apple-Cider Vinegar

It's not sweat that makes your pits reek—it's the bacteria that break down your sweat. (Gross, right?) So dip a cotton ball or a washcloth into cider vinegar and rub it under your arms. Vinegar's astringent properties won't allow microbes to thrive. And don't worry about the sharp smell—it dissipates quickly. Or try: Baking soda, which absorbs stench.