CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

1 gallon dill pickles ( in glass jar preferably but not necessary)

5 cups sugar

1 cups cider vinegar

3 T. pickling spices

Drain off juice from pickles.  Cut pickles into 1" pieces.  Fill jar with sugar, vinegar, spices.  Set jar on counter.  Flip jar every 24 hours.  It takes 4 days to complete.

It is absolutely amazing how these pickles change into sweet pickles!

Have fun with this  one.

Gogi

Do you have errands to run and have to be gone for a few hours?  How about getting dessert started before you leave? 

1 chocolate cake mix

1 box instant pudding mix

4 eggs

1 pint of sour cream

3/4 cup oil

1 cup water

6 oz. chocolate chips

Mix and pour into  crockpot on low.  Cook for 6-8 hrs.  Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.  DELICIOUS!!!

Now if you really want to make it easy on yourself, tear or chop up some lettuce and add leftovers from the frig.  This could be ham, chicken, tuna, carrots, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, grated cheese, chopped bacon, mushrooms, you name it.  That could be your main course with your choice of dressing.  Now you have dessert and your main course ready to serve. Just pop it into the frig until you get home.

Be stress free and enjoy!

Gogi

Here is a tip on instant tea.  Some people like the instant lemon, sugared tea.  When I buy the Lipton mix I also buy the Lipton plain instant tea.  I combine the two and it is not quite as strong with sugar or lemon.  None of us should have a lot of sugar or lemon especailly those of us with acid reflex.  Those are the fringe benefits you get after age 50.  

I also do this with the raspberry flavored tea.  In fact we not only use the raspberry tea for "tea time", I use the mix from the can in my punches that I fix for parties or get-to-gethers. 

Just a thought

Gogi 

Here is suggestion that might help you out if you are in a bind at the last minute.

I make spaghetti sauce and put it in the freezer in quart containers.  That way if I have company I can pull out one or more depending on how much sauce I need.  I purchase a 5 lb. sack of meatballs from the store and keep them in the freezer and also make sure I have plenty of spaghetti noodles and canned mushroom soup on hand. 

Once I do this my options are numerous.  I can now have:

spaghetti and meatball dinner

pick up some fresh sub buns and have meat  ball sandwiches

meatballs and mushroom gravy as a main dish for dinner

slice meatballs and have meatball and mushroom soup ( or leave whole)

I am not stating quantities because that depends on the size of your family or number of guests.

Think ahead

Gogi

Here is a quick bread for breakfast or a brunch.

3 cups baking mix

1/3 cup sugar

3 eggs

3 T. grated orange peel

3/4 cup orange juice (fresh or frozen)

3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Orange glaze:

Makes one loaf 9x5x3- preheat oven 350 degrees

Mix baking mix, sugar, eggs, orange peel and orange juice and beat 1/2 minute on slow speed.  Beat another 2 1/2 minutes on medium.  Stir in nuts and bake for 55 to 60 minutes.

Orange glaze: Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup butter or margarine melted, 1 T. grated orange peel, 1 T. orange juice.  Mix thoroughly…  If needed add more juice.

Try this some morning with a great cup of your favorite coffee!

Gogi

This is a cheese ball you can make ahead without much fuss.

2 pkgs. cream cheese

2 cups sharp shredded  cheddar cheese

l T. chopped green onion

l T. chopped green and red bell pepper

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. lemon juice

Finely chopped pecans (amount as desired)

Soften and mix cheeses.  Add remaining ingredients except nuts.  Chill.  Add nuts and form into ball. Save some of the nuts to roll the cheese ball in.

You could make this into a centerpiece for a a snack table. 

Enjoy,

Gogi

 WOW!  Here is an easy snack!  I was just talking to my friend Barb in Georgia and she gave me this recipe.  Just follow the simple directions.

box of Ritz crackers

jar of peanut butter

chocolate chips

Melt chocolate chips in double boiler VERY CAREFULLY.  While melting chocolate spread peanut butter between Ritz crackers making little sandwiches/cookies. 

Dip each little sandwich/cookie  into melted chocolate.  Remove and let cool on waxed paper.

This is sure to be a hit with both the young and old!!!!  Thanks Barb  for this quick and easy recipe.

You all enjoy,

Gogi