Sweet n Salty

I don't know about you but when I eat something sweet, I have to follow with something salty, then back to sweet again. This can keep going until I gulp some water or brush my teeth.

I remember Mom used to make these cheesy Ritz snacks that consist of sharp cheese on a Ritz cracker, topped with a marshallow then toasted. It became a family favorite. I even got my husband and daughter hooked on these things. I've never known anyone to try these and not like them. 

Here is a list of other sweet and salty snacks that remarkably go well together.

• Chocolate covered pretzels.
• Maple syrup on country ham.
• Peanut butter and marshmallow cream on toast.
• Cheese puffs dipped in marshmallow cream.
• Salt on apples.
• Chocolate covered bacon.
• Bacon sprinkles on cupcakes.
• Pretzels dipped in peanut butter.
• Candy corn and peanuts. 

What are some other odd combinations you found that go great together? Is it sweet n salty you like? Hot and sour? Let me know. This could be interesting.

Memories- Fishin

Some of the days I miss the most are when I was young and dad took us fishing. There were four of us. When we all went, mom would come along too but most of the time he'd take only one or two of us.

First he told us to go dig for worms. This was fun too. We would walk down to the edge of the forest and rake back the dead leaves that blanketed the rich black dirt. There were several squirmy worms and in no time we would fill a container up with fifty or so worms. This was in the days when you could fish without a license as long as you used live bait. 

We'd grab our bamboo poles and bobbers as he would shuffle through the storage room for his reel and rod and tackle kit. He would often take us about three miles away to small waters around the foot of Cramer Mountain where there were flat river banks and fresh water. 

Poor Dad. I do not think he got any fishing done because we were always hanging our line in brush or feeding the crappies the bait faster than he could put it on the hook. I think we could have caught crappies with no bait at all. We even caught daddy's shirt and fingers several times. We kept him busy and made him grumpy. It was fun though. I later learned to bait my own hook and even take the fish off the hook myself. 

Then there was fishing with Grandma. That was special. She would only take one of us at a time. I remember getting to sleep over at her house so we could get out to the lake before sunrise. She liked to fish in the man made ponds that you would pay a small  price and fish all day. All day it was.
With shrimp or worms as bait, I would help her catch catfish. They were never as big as her stories, but that was our secret. 

She would bait her hook and with a cigarette in one hand and coffee in the other, she would sit with four or five rods on stands waiting on the lines to sneer. She was a good fisherman. I spent most of the day reeling in and out and often running from bees. This is were I learned to eat potted meat sandwiches and beenie winnies from the can. I also learned how to potty behind trees.

Those were the days.

Egg Chips

You haven't seen as many food post from me lately have ya? Well that's because its just to darn hot to use the oven. Things will change come Fall. You can bet on that.

Last night I sacrificed the cool house and cranked up the oven.
I made something really weird and unusual.

Egg Chips.

Yep you heard me right.
There is no rule that chips have to be made from a vegetable.
  

They were actually pretty good but not worth the trouble. Unless you add more cheese (which mine needed). Cheese is always worth the trouble. I like something this simple to be a quicker fix.
But thats just me. Try it for yourself.

Egg Chips

1/4 cup of egg beater egg whites. (or 4 whites from regular eggs)

1/4 cup of water.

Mix enough to blend but not froth.

Pour into greased or nonstick muffin pans. Just enough to thinly cover the bottom.

Salt and Pepper.(or other seasoning of choice)

Add cheese on top.

Bake 400 degree for 15 minutes. ( flip half way, but not necessary)

They become crunchy egg chips.

On half of these, I added some old bay seasoning to spice things up and they were delicious. You can experiment by adding other seasonings or dipping in ranch dressing.

These will work perfect for a morning snack or trick your kids into eating something healthy.
Enjoy.

ZERO CARBS

My recipe was inspired by this one

The fedora

During my recent beach vacation, we spent every sunlight hour on the beach under the umberalla or walking.

There are several hotels between our camground and another campground in which my brother-in-law lives. Its a mile stretch. We always walk down to say hey.

On the way back from the visit I wanted to check out the outdoor pool bar at the Hilton Hotel. My husband, daughter and I stepped off the beach wearing our bathing suits and coverups. I was sporting a fedora hat. Its my favorite head covering at the beach because we all  some of us know that vacation hair dont care.

The bar and pool was nice. But we didn't have any money with us to purchase a cool fruity, umbrella drink so we just observed.

While I was standing there waiting on Nick to check out the menu, a little old man approached me. He was dressed in blue jeans and plaid shirt. His leathered hands trembled as he gave me a sweet little smile and said "I like your hat, where did you get it?" I really don't remember but I gave him a grin and said "why thank you, I think I got it at Walmart." 

My daughter and husband were heading back to the sand so I had to run and didn't have time for chat. "Good bye. Have a great day" I said as I ran off.

Later that evening we visited the local outlet mall to walk off the dinner we just had at Hamburger Joe's. 
Low and behold there he was! My pool bar friend.

He was dressed in a long sleeve blue shirt, jeans and....had his own fedora hat! He didn't speak but I think he recognize me because he made a point to walk over to where I was taking a rest to get a soda from the machine as he kept sight of me from the corner of his eye.

He wanted me to see his hat. Ha!, 
And I thought it was some sort of pick up line, but no, he really liked my hat. He went out and bought him one and was walking proud.

Nick and I had a good giggle and went on our way. 

I wish I would have approached the man to tell him I like his hat too. 

That moment will never come again. 

Scoop It Right

Believe it or not, I'm not a real big ice cream fan, but when I go to the beach, I love walking around while eating a cone of butter pecan.

"Ill take a single scoop in a cone please". The person behind the freezer will take the ice cream scooper out of a bowl of (who knows how clean) water and proceeds to dip a large scoop of ice cream into a cake cone. A small cake cone that is.

They will plop it right on top, if your lucky they will use the back of the scoop and smash it down a little. After many incidents, I'm aware of what will happen once I do a good hard lick to the sweet stuff. It will roll off and hit the floor.

(Source)

If your really lucky, they will scoop it right.

When scooping ice cream, yes, wet the scooper for an easier dip. THEN, with small amounts at a time, fill up the cone. THEN add your adequate scoop on top. This helps hold it on the cone and gives you ice cream all the way to the last bite and we all know the last bite is the best!

So next tome you go to an ice cream parlor, watch and see if they scoop it right. If not, you may be getting a cheated fragile scoop of ice cream where the 3 second rule does not apply.