The ten minute tackle
Column Summary
Finding time to shorten our spring cleaning to-do list is often interrupted by other warm weather duties; hanging the hammock, hosing off the lawn chairs, and lighting the gas grill. Darn.
I wish spring cleaning was a season that made its round more than once a calendar season. I would certainly maintain the duties of keeping a much cleaner house.
I complained when the days were shorter, I needed those daylight hours to complete, or just simply begin tasks that required light of day, such as dusting and window washing. My excuses could continue to list but I will refrain from such a waste of time.
Most mornings I get up at 5:30 a.m., it has become such a practice I no longer require setting an alarm, but I still do. Theres something about hitting that snooze button, once, twice, heaven forbid three times, but I have before. It feels like I am treating myself to extra sleepy time minutes. In truth those snooze minutes that we crave so dearly are the fastest minutes of time to pass. Snooze buttons, another waste of time, a good fifteen minutes simply vanished into thin air.
I know how to tackle the tasks that are visible to me and my dear husband, but now those tasks are better described as jobs. If I look at the overall picture I am over whelmed by the work load. Its like setting a weight loss goal, the big number is too tough to handle at once, and setting smaller goals are more attainable. Celebrating a five or ten pound weight loss, keeps your spirits up continuously. Setting a five or ten minute timer to a master a short chore clean-up, is rewarded by a quick cross-off on that to-do list.
I should take ten minutes and wash just one window; glass, frame, and sill. I should take ten minutes and empty the dishwasher. I should take ten minutes and load the dishwasher.
Ten minutes to gather laundry, another ten to sort, another ten to set and load the washing machine. In ten minutes I could shift a wet load from the cellar to the dryer on the first floor. In ten minutes I could make my bed (but why). In ten minutes I could dust and polish my hutch, and another ten to wipe down all the kitchen appliances.
All these chores in less than two hours, and greater the reward is that not all these jobs took an entire ten minute time slot. I found the fifteen minutes I lost hitting my morning snooze button three times.
So what to do with those found fifteen minutes? I think I will tackle the junk drawer, but which one? Did you hang the hammock yet, dear?
A chill may still be in the air, so best keep a good soup on simmer, a rising biscuit in the oven, and a sweet dessert cooling on the counter; send your recipes to Country Cupboard, 5973 Blachleyville Rd., Wooster, OH, 44691. Emails are always welcome; thewritecook@sssnet.com
Cherry-Topped Coffee Cake (Amanda Nolt, Willard)
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
Mix ingredients together like a pie crust. Save 1/2 cup crumbs for top.
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup milk
Cherry pie filling
Mix eggs with milk and add to 1/2 of crumbs. Spread in greased 9 x 13 pan. Cover with cherry pie filling and top with reserved crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Crunchy Cheeseburger Casserole (Justin Nolt, Willard)
2 cups instant mashed potatoes
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Mix potatoes and butter; reserve 1/2 cup. Spread the rest in an 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Brown ground beef with onion, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon over potato mixture in dish. Mix eggs and cottage cheese, pour over beef. Top with slice tomato, sprinkle with cheese and spread remaining potatoes on top. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
Rocky Road Bars (Ruth Leinbach, Greenwich)
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup powdered sugar
1 beaten egg
1 package chocolate chips
2 cups miniature marshmallows
Graham crackers
Line pan with crackers, sprinkle with marshmallows. Combine first 4 ingredients and melt; pour over all. Let cool.
Delicious Rhubarb Dessert (Elva Witmer, Shiloh)
4 cups fresh or frozen rhubarb
1 cup sugar
1 (3 ounce) box strawberry Jell-O
1 box yellow cake mix
2 cups water
Put in pan in order given, in layers. Do not stir. Bake at 350 degrees in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Top with whipped cream or ice cream, or enjoy as is.
Banana and Strawberry Pudding
1 box of Jell-O French Vanilla Instant pudding
1 box of Jell-O Banana Cream Instant pudding
Milk
1 large container of Whipped cream
3 to 4 ripe bananas
1 small carton of strawberries
1 bag of the cheapest vanilla wafers (they stay crunchy longer)
The amount of layers depends on the dish it is prepared in. I use an 11 x 9 inch glass casserole dish. In a bowl combine both boxes of pudding mix and prepare according to the package directions omitting 1 cup of milk. Fold half of the whipped cream into the pudding mixture. Now make a layer of vanilla wafers on the bottom of your casserole dish (none of the wafers should be on top of one another), then slice bananas over the wafers until you get an even cover but you should still be able to see the first layer. Now slice strawberries over the bananas. The next layer will be the pudding. Start over with the vanilla wafers, continue layer up to the pudding. After you've applied a layer of pudding, line the sides of the pan with wafers. Take the rest of the whipped cream and spread it on top. Crush the remaining wafers and crumbs, and then sprinkle them on top of whipped cream. Optional: Garnish top with strawberries.
Strawberry Banana French Toast
1 loaf French bread, cut into 1 inch slices
6 eggs
3/4 cup 1% milk
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla
10 ounce bag frozen cut strawberries
4 ripe bananas, sliced thick
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon apple pie spice
Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray. Place bread slices in pan. In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, baking powder and vanilla. Pour over bread slices. Cover, refrigerate overnight. Next day, preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a bowl, combine strawberries and bananas. Place in a large casserole dish. Sprinkle with sugar and apple pie spice. Place slices of bread on top of fruit. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Apple Banana Bread
4 apples
3 large bananas, mashed
Lemon juice
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brandy flavoring
Core and pare apples, chop fine, sprinkle with a little lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Add mashed bananas to apples and mix well. Cream butter to consistency of mayonnaise. Add sugar while continuing to cream. Add eggs, beating well after each addition. Stir in apples and bananas; mix. Sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Stir and add flavoring. Spoon into 2 well-greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until bread tests done. Cool. Makes 2 loaves.
Apple and Banana Fritters
1/2 cup flour
Flour for coating
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons beaten egg
1/2 cup apple juice
1 banana
2 tart apples
Oil for frying
Sugar or cinnamon sugar for dusting
Combine flour, sugar, salt and nutmeg with a fork. Beat an egg and measure out 2 tablespoons and stir into apple juice. Add to the flour mixture until smooth. Peel banana and cut into diagonal slices. Core and peel apples. Cut into rings. Heat oil in a large pot or deep fryer 380 degrees. Dredge fruit slices in flour and shake off excess. Dip into batter. Place coated fruit into hot oil. Fry until brown. Drain on paper towels and while warm, dredge in sugar.
Fresh Strawberry and Peach Pie
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 cups sliced peaches (3 to 4 large)
2 cups sliced strawberries (1 pint)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 (9 inch) pie crust
Heat oven to 375 degrees. For filling combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl. Add peaches and strawberries. Drizzle with lemon juice. Toss to coat fruit with sugar mixture. Spoon into pastry-lined 9-inch pie plate. Add top crust.
Topping (optional):
Milk
2 teaspoons sliced blanched almonds, crushed
2 teaspoons sugar
Brush top crust with milk. Sprinkle with nuts and sugar (can omit nuts). Cover edge with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is light golden brown. Cool before serving.