The Thank-You List

  • By Daphne Ross
  • November 16, 2011
  • 304
                        
Column Summary Saying thank-you is like giving thanks, only it doesn't need to be expressed only on holiday occasions. A simple phrase, "thank-you" can be given at the moment, or shared years down the road. It is never to late to say thank-you. We have all heard about the lengthy and secretive “Naughty” list (though we all know who is obviously on the list), the ever-growing or shortening grocery list, and the continuous Honey-Do list, but have you ever compiled a “Thank-You” list? For me, saying thank-you is an easy phrase to say out loud for nearby ears to hear, easy to shout-out across the yard, easy to whisper in a prayer, easily spoken privately into a cupped ear of a loved one. And on occasion, mouthing the words thank-you in a room where only silence is tolerated, can say a lot to the one who reads your lips. Some folks say thank-you with their hands, by motion or sign language. All ways of saying thank-you are golden efforts. My thank-you list begins with family. 1) Thanks dad for finding the woman you married, mom. For all the life and hands-on lessons you passed onto me or gave instruction to; defensive driving, paint brush handling, living with patience, religious faith in God, and try-it-yourself first directions. Thank-you for a happy home, first used cars, station wagon vacations across the states, and family pets, even if they were outside. 2) Thanks mom for finding the man you married, dad. For all the creative genes you have so generously shared, for showing me how to keep a clean and organized house, for enjoyable girlfriend time, and for child raising advice, even when it was not requested. Thank-you for a home-sweet-home, you love for doll collecting (it really paid off for us on birthdays and Christmas), your knowledge of retail shop keeping, and good food cooking. 3) Thanks husband dear, for saying “I do” nearly 30 years ago, for getting up before the rooster crows, and coming home every day after a long day’s work. Thank you for having the best TLC/shop garage around, it has saved me and profited me, and thank-you for the time you spend caring for and maintaining our warm and happy home. Thank-you for being the best friend ever and for two of the finest examples of children ever born. 4) Thank you daughter April, for spending time with your mom, coming home for an occasional family dinner and sitting in the chair where you always sat when growing up. Thank-you for graduating college and receiving your degree and working at job that is in your field of study, a job that values you and what you have learned. Thank-you for your friendship; texts, phone calls, opinions, and sincere interest. 5) Thank you Mason, our young man son; for your tender heart, your polite behavior, and your respect of others. Thank you for your good grades, your good work ethic, and your at-home assistance. Thanks for living as an example that a good person can live and learn; still having fun being a leader not a follower. Thank-you for your have-a-good day hugs, your goodnight wishes, and cleaning your dinner plate. Send your holiday recipes to: Country Cupboard, 5973 Blachleyville Rd., Wooster, OH, 44691. Emails are always welcome: thewritecook@sssnet.com Chicken Pot Pie 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup boxed baking mix 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cups chicken stock 2/3 cup cream 3 to 4 cups chicken cut in large pieces Heat oven to 450 degrees. Melt butter. Blend in baking mix, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat. Stir in chicken stock, cream and chicken. Cook over low heat until thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour hot filling into baking dish, 11 x 7 x 2. Cover with Richer Biscuit Dough (recipe below) rolled out to fit top of baking dish. Cut 2 or 3 slits in center. Bake about 15 minutes. Yield: 4 to 6 servings. Richer Biscuit Dough Add 1/4 cup soft butter to 2 cups baking mix. Add 2/3 cup milk all at once. Stir with fork into a soft dough. Beat dough vigorously 20 strokes, until stiff and slightly sticky. Roll dough around on board lightly dusted with baking mix to prevent sticking. Knead gently 8 to 10 times to smooth up dough. Roll to fit dish in recipe listed above. Green Beans with Mushroom Cheese Sauce 1 can (1 1/4 cups) condensed cream of mushroom soup 1/2 cup shredded American cheese 2 cups cut green beans, cooked and drained Combine soup and cheese; heat slowly, stirring constantly until cheese is melted. Add green beans; heat thoroughly and serve immediately. 4 servings. Winter Shortcake 1 cup canned crushed pineapple (9 ounce can) 1 cup finely chopped or shredded red-skinned apple (1 medium to large apple) 1 cup finely chopped fresh cranberries 1/4 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt Mix all ingredients. Let stand at room temperature 1/2 to 1 hour before serving. Make Shortcake Dough (recipe follows). Cut individual shortcakes. Split while piping hot and serve shortcake style with the fruit mixture. Shortcake Dough Heat oven to 450 degrees. Add 3/4 cup cream to 2 cups baking mix. Add 2 tablespoons sugar, if desired. Mix thoroughly with fork. Keep dough soft; if too sticky, add baking mix. Knead 10 times on floured surface. Pat or roll dough to half the thickness desired in baked shortcakes. Shortcakes double in volume during baking. Cut into individual shortcakes with floured cutter. Bake about 10 minutes. Split. Butter, if desired. Place fruit in-between layers and over top. Yields: Six 3-inch shortcakes. Sale Barn Tapioca (Lois Schlabach) 4 cups cold water 1/2 cup tapioca 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 (3 ounce) box raspberry gelatin 1 can fruit cocktail or crushed pineapple Combine the cold water and tapioca and let stand 5 minutes, then bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add sugar, salt, vanilla, and gelatin. When cold, add fruit cocktail or crushed pineapple. Marvelous Muffins 2 cups sifted flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 can (1 1/4 cups) condensed cream of chicken soup 1 egg, beaten 1/4 cup melted shortening Sift dry ingredients into a bowl; make a well in the center. Combine soup, egg, and shortening; pour into flour-well. Stir until just mixed. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake in a hot oven, 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins. Chili Supper and Corn Muffins 1 pound ground beef 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 tablespoons fat or drippings 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, more if desired 2 cups cooked (canned) tomatoes 2 cups cooked (canned) kidney beans, drained Brown beef and onion in fat in heavy skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Stir in tomatoes and kidney beans. Cover and simmer gently about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve hot over Corn Muffins (recipe below). 6 servings. Corn Muffins Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix 1 1/4 cups baking mix, 3/4 cup corn meal, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 egg, and 3/4 cup milk and beat well with rotary beater. Fill greased medium muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Yields: 12 muffins. Royal Eggnog (Betty Yoder) 4 cups skim or whole milk 1/4 cup sugar 4 teaspoons instant coffee 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 beaten egg yolks 2 beaten egg whites 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Combine milk, the 1/4 cup sugar, coffee, and salt; heat. Stir a moderate amount of hot mixture into beaten egg yolks; return to saucepan. Cook 2 minutes more. Beat together egg whites and 3 tablespoons sugar. Pour eggnog mixture into mugs. Top each serving with meringue mixture. Party Pork Chops 6 pork chops 1 tablespoon shortening Dash black pepper 6 slices onion 6 green pepper rings 1 can (1 1/4 cups) condensed tomato soup Brown chops in shortening in a heavy skillet; sprinkle with pepper. Place an onion slice and a pepper ring on each chop; pour soup over all. Cover and simmer about 1 hour. Yields: 6 servings. Apricot-Orange Salad (Martha Begly) 1 small box apricot Jell-O 1 small box vanilla pudding (regular or instant) 1 cup Cool whip 2 1/2 cups water 1 small can mandarin oranges (drained) 1 small can crushed pineapple (optional) Bring Jell-O, vanilla pudding, and water to a full boil. Chill until partially set. Add Cool Whip and mandarin oranges; crushed pineapple can also be added.


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