April | 2021 | Grandma’s Stories

Apr 20th “Share Your LOVE with a Fine Meal”

Sometime ago, seems now to me, to be a good many years ago… that I heard… that there is one time a day that we should share our LOVE with our Family… and that “time” is, when we are sharing our meals together!

So… always liking to cook good foods that I like and know that others will enjoy, too… figured out, that foods that are made from scratch take time and will taste better being enjoyed by all of those that are invited to share in this gathering… if and when you , the preparer is enjoying this preparation time and enjoying using only the best of ingredients.

When the Grandchildren were much younger… and staying with me, overnight up at the Airport… I was up very early and started something different… the making of pancakes which will serve many and will have some extra for guests coming in later… and this recipe I was using … I did need to increase and added some extras… as I will do with some recipes… extra time was also needed… when making from scratch.

This recipe that I follow is one that I still use with all of my corrections in new amounts, as I change amounts from time to time and adding something new sometimes… makes all the difference in the world, when your guests are enjoying that which you prepared… just for them!

The Grandchildren just enjoyed and LOVED their breakfast …they just sang out how absolutely terrific this was and were asking about my secret ingredient… and so you will find out , too!

Love XOXOXOXOXO……

When the grandchildren came to stay overnight with me, I would always have their favorite foods… for all their meals.

On this particular morning, bright and early, I was making a bigger batch of pancakes.

The kitchen was like a restaurant with delicious smells inviting everyone to come in and enjoy. The pancakes made a real hit with the grandkids, asking what made them so good?

My reply was , “I have a secret ingredient, like all good cooks!”

One started looking in the spice rack, and another in the pantry, and the searching begam to be a very serious search for the item, that makes pancakes taste so good.

When children are young and looking for something so special, an intangible item a substance to see AND or feel, you know THAT they are looking for the truth.

So, I took them to the kitchen, for an inspection of the evidence, finding nothing visible, had to leave… the cat out of the bag.

“Everything I do for You, I add Love.”

That made their day.

Now some twenty plus years later, I will still hear, “Grandma put Love in this for us!”

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Apr 19th “NATIONAL HANGING OUT DAY”

Each year on April 19th, Project Laundry List works with hundreds of other organizations to sponsor National Hanging Out Day. This day encourages communities to learn about the benefits, both financially and environmentally, of using a clothesline for drying laundry. According to Project Laundry Lists’ website, clothes dryers account for an astonishing six to ten percent of residential energy consumption. Hanging your clothes out to dry also includes all these other benefits:

You will reduce your carbon footprint.
You will save money.
The fresh air and sunshine recharge our bodies in therapeutic ways.
Clothes dried on a clothesline have a natural freshness.
It encourages us to slow down.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHangingOutDay

Have you ever hang your clothes out to dry? Some people even consider sleeping in sun-dried sheets a luxury. Reap the benefits of hanging out. Spend the day hanging a new clothesline and conserving energy. Then, celebrate the day by hanging out your clothes to dry and sharing your pictures on social media using #NationalHangingOutDay.

While you’re waiting for the clothes to dry, download and print the Hanging Out Day color page.

NATIONAL HANGING OUT DAY HISTORY

Since 1995, Project Laundry List and several other organizations have sponsored National Hanging Out Day. Project Laundry List is a New Hampshire-based group encouraging outdoor drying of clothes, “making air-drying laundry and cold-water washing acceptable and desirable as simple and effective ways to save energy,” as quoted from their mission statement.

“Copy and color”

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Apr 19th “NATIONAL OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING COMMEMORATION DAY “

Each year, National Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day on April 19th honors the memory of those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. The Oklahoma City bombing was a domestic terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. It remained the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001, attacks. The blast in Oklahoma City claimed the lives of 168 people, including 19 children under the age of 6, and injured more than 680 people. (http://www.history.com/topics/oklahoma-city-bombing)

The day serves as a day of remembrance for those who perished and for those who were injured. If you would like to learn more about this awful day in Oklahoma, you can visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum website.

The day also honors all those who served and volunteered as part of the emergency response. Throughout the devastating event, emergency response and humanitarian aid flooded in from around the country. Donations of medical supplies, gear, food, water, and equipment supported the rescue and recovery efforts.

HOW TO OBSERVE #OklahomaCityBombingCommemorationDay

Each year, join the nation in 168 seconds of silence for the 168 people killed in the bombings. Show support for EMS and humanitarian volunteers. Learn more about the bombing, the memorial and how Oklahoma City recovered in the aftermath.

Use #OklahomaCityBombingCommemorationDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING COMMEMORATION DAY HISTORY

While the day serves as a reminder of the horrible events on April 19, 1995, and of a Nation coming together, National Day Calendar has not identified the creator of this commemorative event.

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Apr 18th “We Can Collect New Friends Every Day”

We all start off, on our journey on that one and only “LIFE ROAD” by ourselves and all alone!

Everyday of our LIFE…from the very beginning… someone comes along to do something for us and or to help in some special way… as most of us are unable to really do much for ourselves. All we really know… is that we are here and in a strange place… to which we are in great need of so very and many things and services, just to stay alive.

When we are LUCKY to make it into that “FIRST YEAR” of Life…we feel our “OATS” and we feel like we have to show everyone…”We can do it… and all by ourselves!”

Every big and mighty person has a magic way of doing things… and they all think, that they know the very best way for us “Little Tikes” to do things … their way…which is so confusing to us…since everybody has a different way to do things!

“So which way is the correct way…rather than just the RIGHT WAY?”

Take a look at the above Photo.

I know …”Little Miss Ruby”…and not the older child.

Do you see how easy… it is, for the older child to hold the hand of “Little Miss Ruby”and just walk… and walk with no problem.

Stop and think how easy it is, for the two children to blend their thinking, that the older knows how and what to do, and the younger child knows and understands, that the older child, since they seem to have and without words a “knowing” way, to do things correctly and that they have that, so very natural understanding of some kind of friendship and trust … that everything, that they are going to do… is done in the correct way.

Keep your eyes wide open… on your friends… watch how they do things. Listen as well… some people have words that go forth for no good reason…evidently something is not going the correct way, and they seem to be the type that are thinking, that by their crying out… some how… some magic will happen and everything… will just fall correctly into place?

Now, there are another type of beings…they have better brains developing in that block of wood, that sits high on their shoulders. This type will check their computer and or their books of reference, just to see how this project needs to be completed.

So… before making a complete mess of things im the wasting lots of time and money doing things two and or three times, as so many will do… as that is all done, way before doing them right the first time, will immediately get the correct directions and or instructions, and then with knowledge will complete the project with a song in their heart… leaving them with much more time for the better things in Life… then those that have not taken that small amount of time to wise up…before doing that job correct and only once!

It is so good and so wonderful to learn from those, that may be only a year or two older and they know how to to something and will also lend that helping hand… to a very new and younger soul…just starting out on that road of LIFE… especially in those very first years!

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Apr 18th An Easy And Delicious Flatbread Recipe With Only 3 Ingredients””

What Can Flatbreads Be Used For?

This recipe for flatbread is so easy you’re going to find yourself whipping it up all the time. Not only is it made in one bowl and in just a few minutes, but it lends itself to so many flavor combinations.

I love to brush my 3 ingredient flatbread with melted butter and minced garlic. This adds a nutty flavor and really helps the bread to toast up. After my flatbreads are cooked, I like to sprinkle them with fresh chopped parsley — from there it’s pretty much endless. Imagine this homemade flatbread dipped into your favorite curries and stews or wrapped around fresh veggies and chicken.

You can also use flatbreads for making flatbread pizza. Looking for a flatbread pizza dough recipe? Then look no further than this flatbread recipe that uses no yeast, perfect for a thin crust pizza.

The sky is the limit when it comes to using this flatbread recipe. I encourage you to top yours with your favorite seasonings and spices and to dip them or wrap them around anything you have on hand!

“You’re going to call it … YUMMY!”

Is This Flatbread Recipe Healthier Than A Normal Loaf?

This flatbread recipe results in a delicious product that’s naturally lower in carbohydrates than your average slice of bread at only 18 carbs and 102 calories per flatbread.

Since each flatbread is rolled out into a thin large sheet it can easily wrap around all your favorite sandwich fillings, eggs, and meats. For me, this bread often takes the place of 2 slices of toast with my breakfast, 2 pieces of sandwich bread, and sometimes even buns.

Made with no egg and no oil, this bread is not only easy for everyone to make but it’s perfect for everyone to eat!

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 4 mins

Total Time 9 mins

My delicious and easy flatbread recipe uses a base of yogurt and flour — and that’s it!

Use it everywhere you’d normally use regular bread :).

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 6 flatbreads

Ingredients

1 cup (8 oz/225g) full fat natural plain yogurt (or greek yogurt)
Add enough yogurt to match the consistency in my video. You may not need the entire cup depending upon the type of yogurt and flour you use.
1 cup (5 oz/142g) all-purpose flour*
2 teaspoons baking powder

Optional toppings

1/2 cup (4 oz/115g) butter
2-3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
parsley (roughly chopped)
1 pinch salt (to taste)

Instructions

In a large bowl combine the flour and baking powder.
Next, add in the yogurt and mix with a spatula until the yogurt has absorbed the flour.
You will need to get in there with your hands to really bring the dough together.
Please Note: Depending upon where you live and what flour you use, you may not need all of the yogurt. Start with the initial quantity of flour and add yogurt until you get the same consistency as I did in my video. You may not need all the yogurt so it’s best to add it little by little.
Once the dough is formed into a smooth ball, place it on a floured surface.
Using a knife divide the dough into 6 (2 oz) balls.
Working with one ball of dough at a time, roll each one out to an 8 x 8 circle.
Try to roll the dough as thin as possible as this will ensure the bread cooks evenly on both sides with nice air bubbles in between.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. While the skillet is heating melt together the butter, minced garlic, and salt in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Using a pastry brush, brush one side of the rolled dough with the garlic butter before placing it (garlic side down) into a hot skillet. Allow the bread to toast and bubble up cooking for about 2-3 minutes on each side.
Once the bread is nice and toasty on each side remove from the heat sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley or herbs of your choice
Repeat this process until all 6 flatbreads are cooked. Stack up on a plate or in a covered basket to keep warm. Store at room temperature for 3 days and reheat on the pan before use.

Recipe Notes

* You can replace the all-purpose flour with whole wheat, chickpea or

other gluten free flours.

I placed my whole stack of flatbreads in the freezer. I take them out, place them on the pan for roughly 1-2 minutes on each side to refresh and they are ready to use.

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