Robyn's Recipes

Meal of the Week

How about devoting next weekend
entirely to spending it with your kids?
Put housework and all of the other
parts of the every day "rat race" aside.
And don't allow yourself to feel guilty
about it, either!
Have a family meal together at
the dinner table instead of everyone
taking their plates off to their
own little corners of the house.
(Ha!  You thought I didn't know about
that, huh??)
Your kids will always remember the
time that you give to them.
Your time is the best investment you
can make!!

Dear Justin,

I thank God every day of my life
that you are my son.  I know that I
have you on borrowed time, and that
in a couple of years, you're going to
spread your wings and soar!!
Life has so much in store for you and
I hope I've been able to offer you the
tools you'll need to live life to its
fullest.

The reality is beginning just now to
set in that you're not going to be my
little boy forever.  A couple of months
ago, when I received the order blank
in the mail, notifying us that it's
time to order your class ring, I simply
stood there, staring at it, and began
to cry.  It was the first
time that I've really been hit with the
fact that you're just not a little kid
anymore.  You've become a man before my
very eyes, so quickly, that I barely can remember
seeing it happening!  It completely took 
me by surprise.

In a few months you'll be driving a car. Soon
after that, you'll be going off to college,
and I know that if I dare to blink,
I'll turn around, and see you as
a groom, receiving his bride.

The past couple of years with you have
been the happiest time of my life!  You've
given me such an opportunity to get
really close to you and to really know
who you are.  We've shared things that
we've not been able to share in the past
due to circumstances beyond our control.
I have grasped on to every one of those
times, held them close to my heart, and
they will be there in the form of wonderful
memories forever...
You've offered to me, the opportunity
to grow with you and I've so graciously
accepted, and I enjoy every moment.

I want you to know that I'm so proud of
you that I could just burst.  You are
absolutely the most important person
in the world to me.  I love you more than
you could ever know.
Forgive me for the times that I just have
to reach over and touch your little
cheekie, or hold your hand for a little
while.  It's just me being a "mom", but
it's also me realizing that the time is
going to fly by and my little nest is 
going to be empty.  But, I'll surely look
forward to you visiting that nest as much
as possible!!!  And hopefully, one day,
you'll fill my nest again with little
ones of your own, that I might have
one last glimpse of childhood remembered.

My promise to you is that for the
remainder of the time I have with you,
whenever you come to me, I will stop
whatever I'm doing, no matter what it
is, and I will spend that time with you,
whether it's just to talk, or to take
you somewhere, whatever you need....
I'll graciously accept all the hugs and
kisses I can get, too!  (
You are truly a star that shines brightly!!

I love you, Justin...

                     Love,
                      Mom

Breakfast

Old-Fashioned
Home-made Pancakes

3 eggs
1 cup flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl, beat eggs with a mixer
until light and fluffy --- about 2 minutes.
Add flour, baking powder, salt and
granulated sugar.  Add brown sugar.
Beat until smooth.

Stir in buttermilk and melted butter
just until combined.  Do not over-beat.

Meanwhile, slowly heat the fry pan
or griddle.

Use 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.
Cook until bubbles form on surface and
edges become dry.
Flip over to other side using spatula.
Cook 2 minutes longer, or until nicely
browned on underside.

Serve with good ol' warmed maple syrup!!!

Makes 8 4-inch pancakes.

**For a really BIG breakfast, serve pancakes
with a side of sausage, home fries, eggs
prepared your favorite way, and a
pitcher of orange juice!

Dinner

Beef Creole with
Potato Puffs

1 lb. ground chuck
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 10-oz. pkgs. frozen peas, partially thawed
1 tablespoon flour
1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup tomato ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Potato Puffs:

1-1/2 cups mashed potatoes
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 375º.
In a large skillet, slowly brown ground
chuck, leaving it in large chunks.

Add onion, green pepper and celery.
Cook, stirring until tender-crisp --- about
5 minutes.  Add peas.

Blend flour with chili powder, salt and
pepper.  Stir quickly into meat mixture.

Add ketchup and Worcestershire.  Cover
and simmer 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, make potato puffs:

In medium bowl, combine  mashed potatoes,
egg, salt, onion, parsley, bread crumbs,
flour and baking powder.
Beat to blend well.

Turn meat mixture into a 2-quart
casserole.  Drop potato puffs by tablespoons
onto hot meat mixture.
Cover and bake for about 40-45 minutes.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Dessert

Bake cookies together.  Supply the
ingredients and let the kids mix 'em
up and drop 'em on to the baking sheet.
Be there to help if they need it.
And most importantly, have fun and
laugh together!  When they're all
finished, make sure you sit down
with your kids, have plenty of cold
milk and eat those cookies while they're
still warm!!!!
Create a new memory that none of
you will ever forget, for tomorrow
they'll be on their way to other
things... (and that's when you start
planning how to spend special time with
those grandkids you'll be getting one day!!!)

Chocolate Raisin
Cookies

3-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 sticks butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup raisins
12 oz. (2 6-oz. pkgs.) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350º.
Sift flour, baking soda and salt onto
waxed paper.
Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla in a
large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.
Stir in flour mixture by hand until
well mixed.  Stir in walnuts, raisins and
chocolate pieces.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls,
1 inch apart, onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake in a preheated oven (350º) for
10-12 minutes or until cookies are
golden brown.

Remove from cookie sheets, and allow
to cool.
Store in covered containers.

Makes about 4 dozen.