Zim proposes....

 

My Grandmother's beautiful handwriting. I never tire of reading things that she has written.

I love this look back in time. When I look at these photos, I try to imagine myself there with them on this special day. I wonder what words my Grandpa chose to say. Did he rehearse how he planned to propose? Was he nervous? Did my Grandma suspect that date would be the day they became engaged? I continually hope that as I stare at these pictures, answers will come, that I will remember more details of the engagement stories that they told me.

My handsome Grandpa...Laguna Beach, California 1939

 I do know that my Grandma knew she would say yes if he ever did propose. She told me that it took him a while to have enough money to be able to support a wife, purchase a home and be independent. She was patient for the most part. I think they both knew fairly quickly after going on a few dates that their personalities meshed well, that there was a definite attraction between them. It is never difficult to imagine them being young and in love. Possibly because I've seen so many photos from their lives together, and listened to so many stories about their adventures. The word "adventurous," truly does describe the way they lived. Since they lived in Southern California, there were many places to visit and explore. And Grandma wasn't one to sit back and let the world go by. It's really no surprise that they became engaged at Laguna Beach and then spent the afternoon at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Any chance they had to see new things, experience something fun, or go for a drive, they were taking advantage of  it. Grandma often said, "Let's go on an adventure!" Sometimes, we would jump in the big gold Suburban that they had in the 70's and take a drive, with no specific destination in mind. We would end up in the desert, or pack a lunch and picnic in the local mountains, we might even find ourselves at the beach, and of course we'd have to put our feet in. It seemed that anytime we found ourselves near a body of water, Grandma would take of her shoes, roll up her pants and dip her feet in. She had an affinity for water.  I'm sure they also took spur of the moment trips when they were a young couple. Grandpa said that taking spontaneous little drives was how they saw many of the popular tourist destinations in California.

Young and beautiful...

 

Mission San Juan Capistrano

 I love the clothing from this time period. I think my Grandma did as well. She saved quite a few blouses and skirts for many years, even after they were out of style. Grandpa told me, on more than one occasion, that he loved her figure. She was gorgeous...about 5'2", barely 100 pounds when they got married, beautiful shoulder length brown hair, olive complexion, hazel eyes. He felt that he was a lucky man. Not only did she have outward beauty, she also had a fun personality. A perfect match for my handsome Grandpa, tall and slender, auburn hair, fair skin, piercing blue eyes and a stunning smile. Quite the catch! This photo of him with the birds brings to mind of one of his best qualities; his love of animals. Throughout his entire life, he had such a compassion and kindness for all animals. It was a great thing to witness. Cats, dogs, rabbits, even horses. He was always so gentle with any animal he came into contact with.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Seeing my grandma laugh in this photo brings a smile to my face. I miss her laughter. She had such a silly streak. She could be serious one minute, then find something funny and the seriousness would be gone instantly. I love the fountain and palm trees behind her, the birds, her smile. Everything about this photo makes me happy. I wish I could hear her tell me about this day again. 

Still enjoying life and having fun after more than fifty years together.

They never did lose their desire for adventure. Even well into their eighties, they were still driving 40 miles once a week to go to dinner and play cards with friends. They still enjoyed evening walks around their neighborhood. They even went to Disneyland by themselves for their anniversary one year. Knowing them as well as I do, I'm not sure why I was surprised when they told me about their trip to Disneyland. It wasn't out of character for them. They would also go to Palm Springs twice a year to stay in a friends' time share condo. I can only hope to be as active as they were.
I'm not sure where this last photo was taken but I do know that wherever there was a body of water....Grandma was sure to have her shoes off and her feet wet!

Courting in the 1930's

Courting: on a date at Balboa Island, late 1930's

 Growing up in their home I remember looking at this photograph and thinking it was sweet but I don't think I understood it completely. I knew the two people pictured where my grandparents but when you see them as parental figures, both in their 50's, it's difficult to imagine them as a young couple, kissing on the boardwalk. This was the beginning of my grandparents relationship. These are the days that they fell in love. Zim and Myrtle had their whole lives ahead of them. Possibility. Wonder. Excitement.

Myrtle and Zim, the beginning....

The time period was the late 1930's. They had both graduated from High School. And as fate would have it, they both worked at Kresses', a small department store in Alhambra, California. My grandpa worked in the back of the store, in the stockroom. He also made deliveries. Grandma worked at the glass counters in the front. She told me that her job was to sell gloves, hats, jewelry and other small items. There are no photos of the inside of that store but because I've heard stories and seen photos of similar stores from that time, I see it as if I'm watching a movie. I hear my grandparents voices while their are having conversations with customers. I can clearly picture my Grandpa lifting heavy boxes in the back of the delivery truck, my Grandma modeling a watch or a pair of gloves for a customer. As I've mentioned before, employees at Kresses were not allowed to date one another. It was strictly forbidden. Mrs. Dunn would not allow fraternizing among her workers. When Grandpa was in his 90's, I asked him to once again,  tell me the story of how they met...and he talked about "Old Lady Dunn" with the same disdain after all those years. She was quite a character. A bit rotund, as Grandpa would say. She apparently ran the store like a Navy ship. You either did things her way or you were told to leave. I don't even need a photo of Mrs. Dunn, after all of the stories I've heard, I can clearly picture her in my mind. Yes, my sweet grandparents broke the rules and hid their relationship. They dated in secret. My Grandma often said, "I wasn't going to let anyone tell me what to do!" She was feisty. She had spunk and I guess you can even say she had "attitude." Definitely not the same type of attitude as the young girls of today. She still had excellent manners. She just had her own way of doing things and was determined to do them. I really think that I learned this from her. Although, I could use a refresher course on the manners portion at times. Grandpa was a sweet, kind soul. He was gentle, somewhat soft spoken but still opinionated. I only saw him angry a handful of times in my whole life.  I see why she was attracted to him. I imagine their innocent flirting, their smiles to one another. The first time they held hands, their very first kiss.

"Brought me home from Kresses' in his dad's new Ford. Fooled me, I thought it was his."

 

When my Grandma was in her 70's, she decided to make an album of their lives. She organized all of the photos and then used a small felt marker to write notes and descriptions on the pages. I lost count of how many times I looked through that album. When she first showed it to me, we must have sat in the living room for hours while she told me the stories behind the photos. This was one of my favorites. Grandma had dated a man before she met my Grandpa. He did not own a car, so all of their dates were either walking to their destination or riding their bicycles. She said she wasn't going to do that again. She wanted to date a man with a car! Then, along came Zim. Handsome, young, strong, and he was nice! What a catch, she said. She was even more excited when he drove her home one evening, in a new Ford. Of course, after several dates, it was revealed that the car belonged to his father. Grandma said, "So much for that!" Yet, she continued to date him. She told me, "At that point, I was sunk. I already liked him."

Myrtle and Zim. I guess they were meant to be together. Grandpa also dated someone else before Grandma. He told me that she was beautiful but they didn't have that something special that he had with my Grandma. They just seemed made for one another. Of course, their relationship wasn't perfect. None are. But they were married for 67 years. No huge arguments, no separations, just a solid marriage. Every marriage begins somewhere...this was their beginning.

Indian Spiced Curry Turkey Soup

Indian Spiced Curry Turkey Soup

New recipes make me happy. When I'm trying a new recipe for the very first time, I get a feeling similar to the feelings one has while opening a birthday present. Excitement. A bit of anxiety, because I'm not sure how it will turn out. And joy. Who doesn't love a gift of something new? Just like a birthday present, a new recipe brings excitement. And the possibility of adding a new meal to our repertoire. Wisdom from my Grandma: always be willing to try new foods. Even if it is just once. Even if you don't like the look of it. Even if it is an exotic, rare food. I would say that is very good advice. Our meals should be an adventure. We all have our favorite stand by meals that we can put together quickly, meals that we know our families enjoy. But every now and then, we should add something different to the mix. A meal, an ingredient, a spice or herb. A guaranteed way to get stuck in a food rut is to prepare the same things continuously.
Growing up, I knew my Grandpa didn't care for curry or anything with a curry flavor. I knew this because we never had any meals with curry included. I remember trying Indian food as a teenager and really being intrigued by the intensity and complexity of the flavors. My husband actually found this recipe in an old issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. He brought the opened magazine to me and suggested we try this recipe. With our current weather of single digit temperatures at night, soup is always a good choice. We both agreed that this recipe is a keeper. I could easily make this once a month. I hope you'll give it a try. And if you do, please let me know what you think. I'd love to have some feedback.
Happy Cooking!

Indian Spiced Curry Turkey Soup

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 Tbsp chopped ginger
1/4 tsp chili flakes (I used 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp mustard seed
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp tumeric
1 small tomato, chopped (I used grape tomatoes, cut in half)
2 cups chopped cooked turkey or chicken
1 cup plain low fat yogurt, divided
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped (I used a bit extra, simply because I love cilantro)
1 jalepeno, chopped (optional)

1. Heat a medium or large stockpot to medium heat. Add olive oil and onion, and cook until light golden brown.

2. Add ginger and all spices. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Then add tomato, turkey, most of yogurt and chicken stock and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.

4 Garnish with remaining yogurt, cilantro and jalepeno.

Serves 4
365 calories per serving

Cookies and Friendship

Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Cookies

 Once in a while, I get this funny intuition sort of thing that says "Bake some cookies for your friends." It usually happens when I'm busy cleaning or occupied with another household chore. Sometimes, I am sure it comes from knowing my friends and the things they are going through. Other times, I get that feeling because I like to make people smile. I love to bake. And I love to give. The two go together so well. I can bake an entire batch of cookies and share them with others, rather than keep them all in my kitchen. If I did that, I know for a fact they would get eaten. My husband and I certainly do not need 5 dozen cookies sitting on the counter calling to us as we walk by. We truly lack will power when it comes to sweets. By sharing, I can enjoy one or two cookies and send the rest to those that need some cheer or just a little reminder that someone is thinking of them.

Cookies really are simple to bake. I've never understood the pre-made dough at the grocery store. It just does not taste good. I guess I enjoy the process of baking so much that I don't mind the time it takes. I'd rather pass on having  the convenience of store-bought cookie dough. Plus, when you don't make them from scratch, there is no dough to lick off of the beaters! That has always been my favorite part. According to friends, I have pretty much mastered chocolate chip cookies so I thought I would try a variation of that. Walking down the aisle at the store, this package of Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips practically jumped off the shelf and into my basket. I just had to buy them. Macadamia nuts seem to go really well with white chocolate so my decision was made. There is nothing better than the aroma of cookies baking in the oven. When you're trying to watch your calorie intake, it can prove to be excruciating torture though. Not something I recommend. Hence, one of the many reasons to give the cookies away. Package them up quickly and declare the containers off limits. Of course, that does not always work. Especially when one lives with a man with a horrible sweet tooth. I did offer him two fresh from the oven and I think that satiated him for the moment.

The next day was cookie delivery day. This is the best part! I am friends with a couple that are a little older than me, okay...maybe 20 years older than me. Don and I used to take a watercolor class together. And Sally is just as adorable as can be. Don's had some health issues recently and Sally's been taking care of her mother. I knew they desperately needed cookies. When life gets rough, eat cookies, right? I knocked on the door, handed Sally a container of freshly baked cookies and for a moment, all was right with the world. She invited me in and had me deliver the container to Don, who was in the den watching football. It was a Sunday, I think all men must watch football on Sundays. I wish I had a photo of the expression on his face. Truly priceless. I love the element of surprise. I had previously mentioned to Sally that I might bake them a batch of cookies some time, but I didn't say when. But Don had no idea. His entire face lit up, he got out of his chair to give me the best bear hug any girl could ask for. Cookies really aren't a fancy, expensive gift. They aren't difficult to make and they don't require an enormous commitment of your time. While I'm sure the cookies tasted good (because I sampled them...quality control, you know) I believe that it's the thoughtful gesture that says so much. I treasure my friendship with them. I enjoy their company and I've learned so much from both of them. I think a batch of cookies was the perfect gift on a cold winter day.

This recipe made 5 dozen cookies. That is a lot of cookies. I was able to make a smaller container for two other couples. I headed over to Holly and Menzie's house. They had no idea I was coming, which made it even more fun. They were also watching the football game. And enjoying a nice afternoon drink. Holly loves cookies but doesn't bake often. So, I came to the rescue. We chatted for a few minutes, they invited me to stay for a drink. If it hadn't been a work day for us, I would have loved to stay and visit a while. Holly and Menzie are also a bit older than me. And I absolutely love talking to them. I could spend an entire day with the two of them, asking questions, sharing stories, and listening. I would do a lot of listening. I have such fascinating friends. I checked back a few days later and the cookies did not last long. Not with Holly around. Knowing that my cookies made them both smile really was the highlight of my day.

I had one last container of cookies to deliver to my dear friend Tami. I've known her for about five years. We met at a Highland Games. She is incredibly talented and creative. She had a booth there with all handmade items. She's currently working on getting her PhD. It may seem rude to some, but I never call before stopping by at her house. I don't think she minds. In fact, it's more fun for both of us when there is that added element of surprise. As soon as she came to the door and saw a container of cookies in my hand, she asked me how I knew she needed them? There goes my intuition again. I can't explain it, I just felt it. I've delivered many goodies to her before, and each time, it just seems right. We hugged and I handed her the cookies. I didn't stay long. Again, I wish I could have but work was waiting. She knows how much I care for her and think of her. Even without the cookies, she knows.

One of the many things that my Grandma taught me was how important it is to have friends. And not just a few friends that you have everything in common with. She encouraged me to have many friends, to search out diversity, to listen to their stories. I learned to volunteer and be of service from realizing that everyone benefits from it. The giver, the receiver and those that are witness to the experience. You can never go wrong when you share.

Ghirardelli Macadamia White Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened ( I always use real butter when baking. Margarine just doesn't cut it.)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups unsifted flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups (one 11 oz bag) Ghirardelli Classic White Chips
1 1/2 cups Macadamia nuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Blend in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in white chips and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. (I always use Parchment Paper) Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Makes 5 dozen cookies

Winter sunset at Rock Creek

Enchilada Casserole

Do you want a meal that is under 400 calories per serving, yet packed with flavor? Then this is a great recipe for you! Nothing fancy or overly complicated, just hearty, filling and incredibly delicious. At my request, my husband often searches through some of my cookbooks for meals he would like to try. It is better to have his input since he is the one that will be eating whatever I end up preparing. No point in making something he doesn't like. But after more than two decades together, I have a good idea of the type of food he likes. Once in a while I will prepare a recipe that isn't normally something he would eat, just to see if his tastes have changed. And I will admit, sometimes I do it to see if he notices. I've been known to hide carrots in a stew by shredding them, and adding pureed squash to soups. He never seems to notice. Imagine that.

 In many of my cookbooks, certain recipes will have a little star beside them. This means they are hubby approved and I can feel free to make them anytime. If there are two stars, then that is considered a true winner that I can make as often as I please. Some people are adamantly against writing in any sort of book. But for me, writing in the margins of my cookbooks personalizes them. When someone gives me a cookbook that they no longer want or need, I always search for their personal notes. It means so much to see someones handwriting, thoughts and suggestions along side of the recipes. I'm guessing that someday, someone will wonder who wrote all of the little stars in all of my cookbooks. Maybe I should write a note on the inside cover about those little stars....

Enchilada Casserole

1 lb ground turkey
1 large red onion, chopped
2 cups chipotle salsa
1 can chipotle pinto beans, drained
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/4 tsp ground cumin
6 flour tortillas (8 inch) I used low carb tortillas
3/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 cup shredded low fat cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped (I used cherry tomatoes)
1/4 cup minced cilantro

1. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the salsa, beans, taco seasoning and cumin. Place a layer of tortillas in a 2-qt baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with half of the meat mixture, sour cream and cheese. Repeat layers.

2. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand for 5 minutes before topping with lettuce, tomato and cilantro.

3. Pull up a chair and join us for dinner! This was two star recipe!

Irish Stew

Delicious Irish Stew

"When a man's stomach is full it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor." 

                                                                ~Euripedes

Winter is in full swing at Rock Creek. Temperatures have been dropping in to the single digits during the night. For me, cold weather has always meant hearty stews, soups, chilis and chowder. One of my cookbooks has over 500 recipes for soup! As most of you know, I'm always searching for new recipes. I've never prepared Irish Stew before and when my husband chose this, I decided it was time to give it a try. I'm not sure how traditional this version is, considering that is comes from an American cookbook but I'm incredibly pleased with the results. The meat was tender, the vegetables were not overcooked, the flavor was perfect. I don't think I would change a thing. And it took less than two hours to prepare. Now don't get alarmed, an hour of that was simmer time for the lamb. And the last 20 minutes were for the vegetables to cook. 

While watching a cooking show, the host gave the advice to get all of your ingredients and supplies out and have them handy before you even begin preparing the recipe. I have always been organized in the kitchen and I thought I was efficient. When I began following that host's advice, I realized how much time it saved. Every minute counts when you have hungry husbands waiting for their meal. (He helps in the kitchen most of the time, I'm just using him as an example.) 

I definitely think that I will be making this recipe again. Don't you love it when you see something in a cookbook, decide to try it, buy all of the necessary ingredients, go through the process of preparing it and find out that it's exactly what you had hoped for? It doesn't always happen, but boy, when it does, it's time to celebrate! 

Irish Stew

1/3 cup plus 1 tbs all purpose flour, divided

1 1/2 lbs lamb stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes

3 tbs olive oil, divided

3 medium onions, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups reduced sodium beef broth

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

4 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces (I cut them into smaller pieces, hubby doesn't care for them so I do my best to hide them.)

1 cup frozen peas

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp pepper (I always use a bit more than it calls for)

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbs water

1. Place 1/3 cup flour in a large resalable plastic bag. Add lamb, a few peieces at a time, and shake to coat. 

2. In a Dutch oven, brown lamb in batches in 2 tbs oil. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, saute onions in remaining oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. 

3. Add broth, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Return lamb to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender. 

4. Add potatoes and carrots; cover and cook 20 minutes. Stir in peas; cook until vegetables are tender. 

5. Add seasonings and Worcestershire sauce. Combine remaining flour with water until smooth; stir into the stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. 

Yield 8 servings (2 1/2 quarts)