Author: Donna Chandler

By Donna Hale Chandler

I love cookbooks.  I read them as if they’re a novel of mystery and suspense.  I also enjoy trying new recipes.  (Fortunately I have a ‘better half’ that never complains, no matter how the end result looks or even tastes.)  I have good intentions when I choose a new dish to try.  I carefully read the ingredients and add them to my grocery list – the one on my phone – the one I’m not likely to lose or leave behind.

It seems with each recipe I end up missing at least one small item – usually something that I thought I had in the cupboards but when I reach for it, it’s not there.  (Has the List Gremlin branched out to stealing from the kitchen?)  I don’t allow myself to stress over such a small dash of this or that, I simply substitute something else that I suspect might be similar.

For example, I recently ran across a tasty-looking recipe for apple crisp.  It appeared easy to throw together, even had a picture of the end result.  (Yum – looked delicious).  Right off the bat I was in trouble with the flour.  I had self-rising flour and it called for all-purpose flour, “Oh well, that shouldn’t be a problem,” I said to myself as I continued to add items to the mixing bowl, thinking that if that was the only substitute I needed to make I’d be just fine.

However, it wasn’t the only substitute I made.  The recipe called for a 9 x 9 baking dish.  My dish is 8 x 8.  Again – no problem.  Cover the bottom with sliced apples, pour the batter over the apples and pop in the oven, set the timer and wait.

Do you want to guess what happens when you use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour and a smaller baking dish?  When the timer buzzed, I learned yet another lesson.  One I have proven by past experiences that I may never get through my thick head.  Recipes should be followed to a tee!

I opened the oven door expecting to see a nicely browned, delicious-looking apple crisp.  Instead I saw that my concoction has risen over the too-small baking dish, had spilled out over the sides where it baked onto the glass, onto the oven rack, and of course onto the bottom of the oven.  It looked like a major mess  AND it wasn’t nearly baked through.  I simply closed the door and let the whole disaster continue to bake, thinking I’ll deal with cleaning the oven  later – maybe tomorrow or even the next day.

The end result was that the apple crisp really was tasty.  It wasn’t very pretty and of course neither was the inside of my oven.  Oh well, it’s time to find another recipe to botch. (AFTER the oven is cleaned.)

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012 #363

About: Consequences

“When you desire a better ending,
seek a better beginning.”

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By:  Donna Hale Chandler

Earlier I touched on all the lists that I make, only to lose them – or have them taken by the thieving List Gremlin.  Lists are not the only thing I can easily lose.  I can even manage to, at times, lose my car.

Not too long ago, we flew from Florida to Michigan to visit family.  We drove our car to the air port long-term parking lot.  As always the lot was close to full and finding a parking space meant driving up one floor after another.  After several minutes we finally pulled into a spot.

Knowing how easily I forget things, as we were preparing to exit the car and gather our luggage, I decided to write down the floor and parking space number so when we returned the next week, we wouldn’t have to search each floor for a white Ford Taurus.  (By the way – there are HUNDREDS of them and they all seem to be in the parking lot that I’m searching at the time.)  It took a few more minutes to dig around in by beach-bag-size purse to find a pen and a scrap of paper, all the while my sweetheart is waiting patiently.  The number of the floor was on a big post right in front of the car but I had to get out of the car and look at the pavement to get the space number.

Feeling a bit of pride at remembering to make this record, I checked my note to make sure it was correct and then wondered where to put it so it wouldn’t disappear, someplace that would be safe, someplace where it wouldn’t get lost.  “I know,” I thought to myself, “I’ll put it in the car’s cup-holder between the front seats.”

I know, I know, but it made perfect sense at the time.  AND I didn’t even realize my mistake until we returned, collected our luggage at Baggage Claim and headed toward the parking lot.  Now where did I put that note telling me where my car is parked?  Oh yeah, IT’S IN THE CAR.  (I’m so fortunate to have a patient sweetheart.)

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012 #370

About: Goals
“Everyone cain’t be a rose,
but never let that hinder yer effort

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By:  Donna Hale Chandler

A list is a good thing.  I make lists for EVERYTHING.  Of course I have a Shopping List, which I’ve learned to keep on my phone so it is ALWAYS with me – can’t be lost or left at home.  I have a separate Shopping List for items not found in the grocery store.  I have a First-Of-The-Month-List that reminds me to put bleach in the a/c, change the filter, etc.  I have 2 lists for each holiday.  One would be things I need to go out and purchase.  The other for things I need to do — decorations to put up.  If there’s a get together planned, then there would be a list of who’s coming and a list of food to prepare.   I also have a To-Do-Today-List.  The idea being that what doesn’t get completed will go to the top of tomorrow’s list.  If we have a trip planned, I will have a What-To-Pack-List.  I have this list on my computer so I only have to change the amounts on the items depending on how long we will be away.  (Packing tip —- always pack TOO much — you never know when you might be stranded and alone on a desert island.  That’s my theory anyway).

I’m sure this is just the tip of the ice berg for the number of lists I have but you get the idea.  You would think that I would be organized beyond belief.  However there is a flaw in my list planning.  With the exception of the grocery shopping list, everything ends up on paper.  Paper lists can be easily carried from place to place – to the store – to the bedroom to pack – to the closet for the holiday decoration search.  But we all know what happens to paper lists.

The little paper-list gremlin sneaks into our home when I’m not looking and HIDES my lists.  That is the only explanation that makes sense because as organized as I am, I would never misplace my precious list.  One of these nights I will catch that rascal in the act.  He’s devious and dangerous so I’m afraid to try to capture him but perhaps I can snap a picture and put up Wanted posters.

Watch the wall for your local post office for his photo to appear.

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012 #374

About: Revenge

“Anybody can carry a grudge,
it ain’t all that heavy.”
(Though it generally weighs heavily on the mind.)

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By Donna Hale Chandler

I didn’t finish that sentence because I’m sure that I am NOT the only one who has in some way been affected by breast cancer.  Maybe it was a mother, as in my case, or a sister, cousin, aunt.  In the United States about 1 in every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her life time.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  If you don’t yet have a cause that you donate to on a regular basis, please consider breast cancer research.

In our small community we play bingo every Wednesday evening.  Last Wednesday, the bingo chairman promised to donate $1.00 for every person who participated.  There were 26 people there and those players donated an additional $40.00.  I know $66.00 may not sound like a lot of money and you may think that your $5 or $10 is too small to be helpful.  But add all small amounts together and they suddenly become a large amount.  Remember what you’re father told you, “Every penny counts.”

And of course have annual mammograms.  Early detection is the key.

Sending prayers and thoughts out to those in treatment and feeling thankful for those survivors among us.

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012 #378

About: Troubled times

“99% of the time a comforting hug
will trump most anything you might say”

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  I suspect that lots of you write out grocery lists in order to be able to speed through the grocery store.  Well, so do I.  I could be the Queen of List Making.  I always have a grocery list, and it often was sitting home on the kitchen counter when I went to the store.

Just a quick tip for those of you who make grocery shopping lists and shop at Publix.  They have an amazing app that I absolutely love.  You add things to your list on their app.  When you get to the store to shop and open the list, it is in the order of the aisles.  Yep, that’s right, it will have little sub-headings that will say ‘Aisle 2 – and list your items that are in aisle 2’.  I love it and since my phone is practically glued to the palm of my hand I never find myself at the store without my list.

Of all my crazy apps and games that take up memory space on my phone, this is absolutely my favorite.  Maybe other grocery stores offer the same type of app.  Publix is the one that I’m familiar with and the one that I now cannot exist without.

Try it – you’ll like it.

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Gramps use’ta say
R.L.King2012 #390

About: Wealth

“The greater wealth is often derived
from that which cannot be bought.”

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