I Am Rich
So the New Year starts with a mega-sized Mega-Millions Jackpot. I stayed up for the eleven o’clock news, I heard the numbers, and I turned off the television, rolled over and went to sleep. I thought about writing the numbers down, to check them before the news was over, but I didn’t.When I woke up this morning, I had this feeling, I knew, I just knew; I am rich. I am so rich my bank account won’t know what hit it. My family already knows and my friends might have a hint, but they don’t know how to act.
I will continue shopping at my favorite grocery store, I will still frequent my late night pharmacy, and I have decided to remain in this old house. I will send my son to college if he wants to go or help him until he finds his path. And even though I am rich I will always cart through the thrift stores, root through garage sales, and clip a few coupons now and then.
I will drive my van-slash-truck until it no longer serves me well, I will continue to remind my husband to take out the trash, and I will still hold the door while he carries in wood from the back deck. Doing the laundry, scrubbing the bathroom and grooming our dog will remain on our list of home chores; no dry cleaners, no pet groomer, no maids or butlers will be on our payroll.
Instant coffee, homemade biscuits, and trophy venison will never be replaced by fresh-picked, flown-in gourmet beans, a high-end cupcake bakery, or slivers of protein on an overpriced plate of pretty morsels. My shopping habits will still wiggly-wheel me to the clearance racks. My list will be supported by stacks of sale ads, and riffling though my purse for a rewards card will save me every time.
Now, you may be asking why; are you shaking your head, too? Are you wondering why-in-the-world is this rich woman doing all this hard, petty work all her self? The answer is simple; I am simply rich. I am simply rich because I have been married for nearly 29 years to really a great man, a good provider; he is gold in my book. I am simply rich because I have a bright and beautiful daughter, who talks to me, we text, we are friends. I am simply rich because our strong teenage son has a heart way bigger than most young men his age; and he loves his mom.
My treasure chest is the home in which I live, with my family, my secondhand finds, and a dog that has claimed the couch. No matching numbers on my lottery card, my riches are already claimed.
Mail your favorite recipes to Country Cupboard, 5973 Blachleyville Rd., Wooster, OH, 44691. Emails are always welcome; thewritecook@sssnet.com
Golden Pan Rolls (Alice Ayers)
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup small-curd cottage cheese
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups bread flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine, melted
In bread machine pan, place the first 10 ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting. Check dough after 5 minutes of mixing (dough should be stiff). Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed. When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes. Roll or pat to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place in greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan. Brush with butter. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1nhour. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.
Country Club Salad (Beth Martin)
1 package (10 ounces) ready-to-serve salad
1 package (6 ounces) fully cooked chicken breast strips, cubed
10 to 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup Italian salad dressing
In a large bowl, combine the salad, chicken, tomatoes and bacon. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Yields: 6 servings.
Ruby Pears (Kathy Ginn)
1 can (29 ounces) pear halves, drained
1 can (16 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Place pears cut side up in a greased 8-inch square baking dish. In a saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture is heated through; spoon over pears. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Yields: 5 to 6 servings.
Couch Potatoes (Shary Geidner)
2 large baking potatoes, baked
1 can (15 ounces) chili without beans
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 jar (4 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup cubed fully-cooked ham
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream optional
Cut each potato in half lengthwise but not all the way through, leaving potato attached at the bottom. Push potatoes open and fluff pulp with a fork. Place on a microwave safe plate. Top each with the chili, onions, mushrooms, ham and cheese. Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream if desired. Yields: 2 servings.
Loaded Potato Fans
4 large baking potatoes
2 tablespoons butter, melted
23 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup real bacon bits
1 green onion, chopped