The Birthday Card

  • By Daphne Ross
  • June 22, 2011
  • 255
                        
When birthdays are calendar close to big holidays you should celebrate the two events separately. I understand it’s just easier to have one picnic over the 4th of July or cut one cake if family members happen to be born on a close date. But if you want that person to feel extraordinarily special, celebrating their own day is a gift not wrapped but welcome. My Aunt Nancy was born on Valentine’s Day. Now that would be a fine combination. I wonder if she got chocolates and a birthday cake, I wonder if she got wined and dined. I wonder; did she open a birthday gift, unwrap a Valentine package, and exchange a Valentine all at the same time. I knew my Uncle Jack, and I have my guesses, but he was a man full of surprises so I just don’t know. My daughter’s dear friend Cassie, her birthday is the day after Christmas. I wonder if her birthday gifts were wrapped with holiday paper, and topped with a green or red bow. I wonder if she had a birthday cake, when so many cookies have been baked and frosted, Christmas is indeed an occasion of sweet treat overload. Did the girls have a slumber party under the Christmas tree; gift wrap shoved aside, a bow stuck in their hair by morning. Our wedding anniversary is April 2nd, the day after April Fools Day. When choosing a date for the ceremony, I knew for certain not to choose April 1st. While I am not superstitious, I just couldn’t kick the nightmare of my groom having second thoughts, the wedding party showing up without gowns and tuxes, or all the flowers wilting overnight. But in spite of the occasional ribbing by family and friends I was confident the wedding was going to happen without tricks or mischief. The stuffing and decorating of the wedding car was expected, the spiking of the wedding punch was not. (That Uncle Jack I guess he was a celebrator.) Father’s Day is a great day. You give love, appreciation, and honor to the man who raised you. You give him a card, and deliver all the ingredients for a banana split party at a table for five. To the man you married and fathered your children, you refill his empty chocolate bowl and sign his card with true feeling. It all means the same; from the early years of small hand scribbles, to the penmanship of a teenage son, to the sweet sentiments of a young lady almost out on her own. The dad in this house his birthday just happens to fall ten days after Father’s Day, it is close, and some years a combination gift was a purchase that seemed a good idea. But this year the two will definitely be separated. You just can’t combine a milestone birthday with a holiday millions of families celebrate, Father’s Day is over; my husband Ronni, his birthday is almost here. (Happy Birthday xoxo!) Our husbands have their favorite dinner and dessert plate fillers; send husband choice recipes to Country Cupboard, 5973 Blachleyville Rd., Wooster, Ohio, 44691. Emails are always welcome; thewritecook@sssnet.com Ronni’s Favorite Cornbread 1 cup sugar 1 1/2 cups milk 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs, beaten well 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal Mix well together. Spray a #8 cast iron skillet well. Pour in batter and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes. (Serve with ham and beans.) Ronni’s Favorite Banana Nut Bread 1/3 cup oil, may use olive oil 2 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 3 large ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup nuts, optional Mix oil, eggs, sugar, salt, flour and baking soda; mix well. Add bananas and nuts. Bake for 60 minutes in a 9x4x4 greased loaf pan at 350 degrees. Ronni’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies 2 cups cooking (vegetable) oil 2 cups white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 4 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons soda 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 1/2 to 5 cups flour 2 bags chocolate chips, divided Mix all ingredients except flour and chocolate with an electric mixer for 8 minutes (yes 8 minutes). Add flour and 1 bag chocolate chips. Blend. Drop on lightly greased cookie sheet. For picture perfect cookies, stick extra chocolate chips into scooped dough balls. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Do not over bake. Cookies should be soft to touch when removed from oven. Ronni’s Favorite Sausage Gravy 1 pound ground bulk sausage 3 tablespoons flour 2 cups milk, heated Salt and pepper to taste Butter or margarine Bisquick drop biscuits (have ready) Brown sausage; do not drain. Remove from heat; stir in flour. Slowly add heated milk. May heat 2 minutes in microwave; return to stove top. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. Season to taste. Drop a pat of butter onto hot gravy. Cover until ready to serve. This is a great campfire recipe. Ross House Chili 2 pounds ground venison, browned 1 quart tomato juice 1 envelope chili seasoning 1 can diced tomatoes 1 family size can condensed tomato soup 2 (16 ounce) cans mild chili beans 1/4 cup diced sweet onions 1 teaspoon salt 1 to 2 tablespoons brown sugar Shredded cheddar cheese Combine all ingredients except shredded cheese in a large cooking pot. Bring to a low boil. Lower temperature and simmer. This is a good crock pot recipe. Serve with shredded cheese garnish. A dollop of sour cream is good, too. Extra flavorful when reheated the next day. Ronni’s Creamed Tomatoes for Breakfast 1 quart home canned tomato juice Flour and milk for thickening (as would for thick gravy) Salt, pepper and butter to taste Cook tomato juice until boiling. Combine flour and milk in shake container. Shake vigorously until smooth. May pour through sieve to remove all lumps. Remove boiling juice from heat; slowly add thickening mixture, stirring constantly (should thicken quickly). Return to low heat; season and drop in tablespoons of butter. Serve over buttered toast or Bisquick drop biscuits. Daddy, Cook Me a Bird’s Nest 1 slice of bread 1 egg Butter or margarine Butter bread. Buttered side up use rim of drinking glass to cut hole from center of bread. Place both parts of buttered bread in skillet. Crack egg and drop into hole in center of slice. Fry until egg is cooked through. Use cut out center as dipping toast.


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