My Grandmothers' Kitchens

I loved to watch my grandmothers in their kitchens. Watch them as they cooked and baked. I wish I had learned the art of pie crust from them. Both could "feel" what needed to be added to a crust. More salt, more flour, more liquid.

I struggle and struggle to make a decent pie. They're just not my forte.

And then there was the bread . . . Lord, Lord, Lord, both women could make rolls and bread . . . in their sleep.

My Grandma Foremaster (dad's mother) always hummed while she cooked and baked. For every holiday, I could count on her making bread pudding. She made the BEST bread pudding. The fact her sauce was full of rum had absolutely nothing to do with my love of the dish.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

In addition to the holiday breading pudding, Grandma Foremaster also made a pie filled with shredded beef and raisins. I love raisins and looked forward to each holiday and a slice of that pie.

As I grew older, I realized I was the only person who ever ate that particular pie.

After one Christmas dinner, while driving home with my parents, I said, "I don't know why no one, but me, eats Grandma's raisin pie."

Dad replied, "Because you're the only one who doesn't know what she puts in it."

Being a woman of pioneer stock, my Grandmother bottled her own pie fillings. The beef in this filling was from the heart and intestines of the latest slaughtered cows.

That bit of information ruined "my pie". I couldn't bring myself to eat it again.

My Grandma Chadburn (mom's mother) made the best apple pie. She would slip a can of crushed pineapple into her filling.

Her annual Holiday baking produced something she called, Twice Cooked Cake. I loved that cake. As I grew older, a slice of that cake and a cup of tea was as close to heaven as I could get.

It was a Christmas tradition to receive one of these cakes. And once Grandma Chadburn was no longer with us, my mom continued the tradition making a Christmas cake for me and my son, Jeff.

The only person who loves Twice Cooked Cake more than me, is Jeff! Jeff has been known, in one sitting, with a gallon of milk, to polish off an entire 9 x 13 sized cake.

A few months ago, mom gave me the original recipe card for Twice Cooked Cake. Written in my Grandmother's hand. The recipe card was written, during mom's bridal shower. It is dated, May 3, 1950. I smiled as I read the recipe. It calls for English walnuts. English. Not California walnuts. Not pecans. English walnuts.

While my mom is still with us, receiving the original recipe card inspired me to move the tradition one more generation. This Christmas, I will be making the Christmas cake for my son, Jeff.

This will be my first time using this recipe. And based on the fact I did not inherit either Grandmothers baking skills, I'm a little nervous. I want to do the recipe and the tradition proud.

When I was young, I couldn't wait to show Grandma Chadburn my latest accomplishment. She always hugged me and smiled. With that smile she said, "What took you so long? I ALWAYS knew you could do that!"

As my house fills with the smells of Christmas cake, I will pour myself a cup of tea. When I pull the cake from the oven, I hope to hear Grandma whisper, "I ALWAYS knew you could do that!"

The real test of success will be Jeff. If he finishes that cake in one sitting, I will know the Twice Cooked Cake torch was successfully passed.

Limit Political Terms

Political terms need to be limited.  No more than eight years period---no exceptions.

The entire Congress of the United States is corrupt. And I mean both Houses and I mean both parties. I realize that a few Members of each House are Independents and at least one is a declared Socialist but, as a group of people, they are absolutely the most corrupt bunch to ever disgrace our Nation.

In November of 2010 the entire House of Representatives will have to stand for re-election; all 435 of them.  One third of the Senate, a total of 33 of them, will also stand for re-election.

Vote every incumbent out.

And I mean every one of them. No matter their party affiliation. Let's start all over in the House of Representatives with 435 brand new people who have absolutely no experience in running that body, with no political favors owed to anyone but their own constituents. Let's make them understand that they work for us. They are answerable to us and they simply have to run that body with some common sense.

Two years later, in 2012, vote the next third of the incumbents in the Senate out. You'll know who they are because their names will be on the ballot and, in most cases, will be shown as the Incumbent. Vote them out, too! Vote out every incumbent.

We can do the same thing in 2014 and, by that time we will have put all new people in that body as well.

We, the People, have got to take thiscountry back and I prefer to do it peacefully.