UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

   My Grandbaby  came to me with a dilemma recently:  she has a boyfriend who just turned 3 years old that she is going to marry.  She has been saying this for a long time (she is 5).  But recently, there has been another boy in her life.  He is in her kindergarten class and her Sunday School class.  Now, she is torn about giving up her future husband in exchange for her new boyfriend.  Oh, the problems girls have!  Yes,  I kept my mouth shut and let her talk.

   I didn't tell her that homosexuals are demanding that they be allowed to marry, or that a Federal Judge has recently ruled that Utah's anti-polygamy law was unconstitutional.  I didn't tell her that by the time she is of age to actually make decisions concerning her relationships, that it probably won't matter if she wants to marry a dozen men at the same time or marry her gerbil!  She may even be allowed to marry when she is 10 years old!  I kept my mouth shut about these things, because it is her parent's role to raise her and I don't want to interfere with their role.

   The only thing discerning Americans really have to do is trace the money.  Who benefits from sexual deviants marrying?  The lawyers, of course.  What occupation makes up the majority of politicians?  Lawyers, of course.  Since divorce is so easy to obtain, lawyers benefit from anyone getting married.  And, since criminal invaders (illegal immigrants) are given lawyers paid for by real, hard working Americans, guess who will foot the bill for the gerbil's lawyer?  Well, "at this point, what does it matter?"

   The world that I grew up in is just so upside down!  People have truly turned from God and are worshiping the god of pleasure and the god of self.  There is just no self control anymore!

You are welcome to leave a comment with your thoughts.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.  

RED VELVET CAKE RECIPE

RED VELVET CAKE RECIPE

   My daughter wanted a red velvet cake for her birthday.  I don't like red velvet cake, because I find them dry and tasteless.   So, I told my son that IF I could find a moist recipe, that I would bake her one.  The hunt was on.  I found a website named www.divascancook.com, which had the recipe for "The BEST Red Velvet Cake Recipe.  Easy.  Moist.  Homemade."  What sold me on trying it was that she said she added a bit of  "down home Southern" twist to it. So, I am sharing her recipe and really encouraging you to visit her site.  She also has videos on how to prepare it.  Did I mention that it is so good that I left a comment on her site?  It is by far the best red velvet cake I have ever had in my mouth.

Ingredients:

  

2 C all-purpose flour

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

1 t salt

2 T unsweetened, cocoa powder

2 C sugar

1 C vegetable oil or canola

2 eggs

1 C buttermilk

2 t vanilla extract

1 - 2 oz. red food coloring, depending on how deep you want the color

1 t white distilled vinegar

1/2 C plain hot coffee (brewed)

Instructions

 

   Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  

 

   In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, and salt.  Set aside

 

   In a large bowl, beat the sugar and vegetable oil on low speed.  Add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and food coloring and beat until combined.  Stir in the hot coffee and white vinegar.  

   Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients a little at a time, on low speed, just until combined.

   Generously grease and flour two round, 9 inch cake pans with shortening and flour.  Pour the batter evenly into each pan.  Bake on the middle rack for 30 - 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  DO NOT over bake, as cake will continue to cook as it cools.

   Let pans cool on cooling rack until the pans are warm to the touch.  Slide a knife or offset spatula around the inside of the pans to loosen the cake from the pan.  Remove the cakes from the pan and let them cool.

   Frost the cake with her cream cheese frosting that I will also share when cakes have cooled completely.  It is the BEST EVER!

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

2 (8 OZ) packs cream cheese, softened

1/4 C milk, may need more

1/2 C butter (one stick), softened

2 t vanilla extract

4 C powdered sugar

Instructions

 

   Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until softened.  Add milk and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Beat in half (2C) of the powdered sugar until smooth, then repeat with the other half until smooth and fluffy.

   Frost your cake as desired.

 

####################################################
This recipe came from Divas Can Cook which is
Old School Cooking For The Modern Woman.
Make sure you go check out the website for more great recipes.

###################################################
Read More http://divascancook.com/the-best-red-velvet-cake-recipe-easy-homemade-moist-with-southern-flair/ 

 

 

You are welcome to leave a comment with your thoughts here and encouraged to visit her website.  I just can't tell you how favorably impressed I was.

FAMILY MOTTO

FAMILY MOTTO

   When the end of your life comes, there are little thoughts to how you wish you could wash your hair once more, or how well you performed your job at work.  The thoughts that do come to mind are of your family and friends.  Our lives, whether great or dismal, are determined by our relationships, with the greatest relationship of all being with our God.  Not everyone has studied the relationship concepts God has established for us, so we depend on family and friends to help us get on the right track.  Yes, Virginia, everything comes back to The Bible.

   That said, our family motto is this:  family first; people before profit.  This is how we have operated and been taught to operate.  If you have a need, you don't usually have to deal with it on your own.  Throw it out there; let the family know what you are going through and what you could use help with.  If any is able, they usually freely step forward without regard to pay back.  Sometimes, they just have a simpler way to accomplish the task or deal with the issue.  

   I have operated this way for years:  If you need something, call me.  If I can help, I will.  If I can't take care of the issue in full, I will let you know what I can do.  I don't drive in Houston.

   Not everyone needs to be recognized for their effort they give.  Some of us assume support roles, others have leadership skills.  Some might pray about it while others might perform physical tasks to help.  Still others might pick up the phone for emotional support.  What ever the need, we join together to lighten the load.

   If you are my family, what ever little sacrifice I make for you, whether of time, action, money, whatever, will never compare to the sacrifice my Jesus made for me.  I was not worthy of His sacrifice, but He loved me anyway, and He gave of Himself.  I just don't understand how anyone in my family would act like they are more important than anyone else.  The rich man, also, thought he was better than Lazarus.  Reference John 11.  

 
   You have a choice today:  Are you going to have the attitude of the rich man or Jesus?  I pray that you choose Jesus.

You are welcome to leave a comment with your thoughts.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

SETTING UP YOUR FAMILY BUDGET (PART 1)

SETTING UP YOUR FAMILY BUDGET

   If you follow me at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com, you are aware that a family budget is important to the overall health and well being for your marriage.  My dear sweet Dad told me in his later years that his biggest regret is that he didn't teach his children how to budget.  Like everything else in life, though, everyone reaches a point in life where they have to accept responsibility for their own decisions, mistakes, and successes.  Here is what I have learned.  I hope it is helpful to you and yours:

   You have to discover where your money is going.  There are computer programs that are available to track your spending.  When you are married or have children, it is a little more complicated to track all the places the money is spent.  Try tracking your money for a month.  At the end of the month, review it.  You may be able to identify other places your money is going.  Your finances affects all members of your family, so engage all members of the family in this project.  Stress the importance of the financial health to them, as if it were a medical condition that needs to be diagnosed. 

  

1.  The budget starts with giving 10% of your bring home pay to God.  If you spend all the cash you

      have in the house, go ahead and send the check to Him.  There are many ways to give to Him:  

     A.  Your local church that you attend.

     B.  The television ministry that has ministered to you (that preaches Jesus and Him crucified).

     C.  Sending your donation to His chosen people (Israel), which the world hates.  (The United States

           government is trying to coerce Israel into acting in a way that is against what God has said.)

     D.  A Christian who is going through temporary financial struggles. (this is not a permanent               arrangement)

     E.  A Christian radio station

     F.  I would also like to add our Holy Bible Study ministry if you have found us true to His Word

     G.  Any combination of the above.

2.  Save 10% of your bring home pay.

3.  Now you have 80% of your net pay to live on.  You have 30 days in the month in which to spend

     it, or roughly four weeks.  Now, lets subtract the mandatory spending from the net income.

     A.  Mandatory spending

           1.  house payment

           2.  light bill

           3.  water bill

           4.  phone

           5.  insurance

           6.  car payment
           7.  food
           8.  clothes

           9.  any bill that comes due monthly and has no flexibility.

   Well, for most of us this action alone is really discouraging.  We didn't know how much debt we

had.  Here is where our eyes become wide open.  If our net income is not enough to cover mandatory spending, we may have to make some tough decisions.  We will discuss these decisions in another post at a later time. 

     B.  Discretionary spending
           1.  vacation
           2.  new big screen television

           3.  money to support our habits:  cigarettes, alcohol, fast food, sodas (after leaving home)
           4.  any item that is not essential to survival

  

So, here is the beginning of dealing with our financial health.  You are encouraged to leave a comment.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com and http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com.

PLANNING FOR TAX FREE WEEKEND 2023

PLANNING FOR TAX FREE WEEKEND

(updated July 27, 2023)

   Tax free weekend this year is August 11 - 13, 2023.  Here are a few tips to prepare for savings and less stress:

1.  Make a list of what items you want to buy.

2.  After consulting your BUDGET, opt to buy the more expensive items now, such as shoes and coats.  You can buy the less expensive items later, as  you can better afford them.

3.  SHOP early, especially if you have children.  If you are unsure of what size that is required, go to the brick and mortar store you plan to purchase the item from and try the clothes on.  The trick is to go during off-peak shopping hours when there is less traffic.

4.  Purchase a re-loadable visa or master card and fill it with the amount of money your budget will allow.

5.  During the tax-free weekend, shop online.

   You can go to the state comptroller's site to learn what is approved for tax-free purchase:  98-490

   I have spent a lot of time during my years of raising children trying to find ways to reduce my stress.  I hope this will help.  



You are invited to leave a comment with your thoughts.  You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

PHONE PROTOCOL FOR CONTACTING BABY BOOMERS

PHONE PROTOCOL FOR CONTACTING BABY BOOMERS

   It is time to educate Millennials on proper phone protocol when contacting Baby Boomers.  By the way, this also applies to anyone who has forgotten the phone protocol your Mama taught you:  

   1.  My phone is a phone, not a typewriter.  

   2.  When you call me, please place your phone next to your mouth to talk.  

   3.  Do not put me on speaker phone unless I agree to it.

   4.  You are welcome to send me a text message but do not expect me to carry on a

        written conversation on the phone.  Again, let me say, it is a phone.

   5.  When I phone you, please return the call.  That means to either leave a message or keep
         calling until you talk to me.  I phoned for a reason and it is rude to ignore me. 

   6.  Identify yourself, as you are the one initiating the contact, and I may not have my glasses

        on to see who is calling.

 
  

You are invited to leave a message with any of the protocols I may have missed.

PIZZA RECIPE

PIZZA RECIPE

   I like to make my food at home.  I don't have to concern myself about any kind of diseases of the staff or how my food will be handled before it gets to me.  I also wash my hands....a lot.  So, I told my Grandbaby that we will have pizza for dinner.  She asked me if we would go here or there to buy one and I asked her if she would like to make one at home.  What child would not like to assist their Grandparent in the kitchen?  It was a no-brainer.  So, the following is a recipe for the pizza:

Cheese Pizza

1 small onion, diced (about 1/4 C)

3 C shredded mozzarella cheese (12 ounces)

1/4 C Parmesan or Romano cheese

   Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare Pizza Dough. Divide dough into halves.  Pat each half into 11 inch circle on greased cookie sheet or 12 inch pizza pan with floured fingers.  Add onion to tomato sauce mixture.  Spread tomato sauce mixture over circles to within 1/2 inch of the edge; sprinkle with cheeses.

   Bake on lowest oven rack until cheese is light brown, 15 - 20 minutes.  

Pizza Dough

1  package active dry yeast

1  C warm water (105 to 115 degrees F.)

2 1/2 C all purpose flour

2  T vegetable oil

1  t sugar

1  t salt

Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2 quart bowl  Stir in remaining ingredients; beat vigorously 20 strokes.  Let rest 5 minutes.

Pizza Sauce Mixture

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

2 t oregano leaves

1/2 t salt

1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t pepper

   Mix together in a small bowl. 

Hamburger Pizza

1/2 lb. hamburger

*decrease mozzarella cheese to 2 C

   Cook and stir the hamburger until light brown;  drain.  Sprinkle hamburger over pizza dough (above) before adding cheeses.

Pepperoni Pizza:

 1 package (4 ounces) sliced pepperoni
*decrease mozzarella cheese to 2 C

   Arrange sliced pepperoni over pizza dough (above) before adding cheeses.

Italian Sausage Pizza

1/2  lb bulk Italian sausage

1 C mushrooms

1/2 C diced green peppers

*decrease mozzarella cheese to 2 C

   Cook and stir the sausage until light brown; drain. Sprinkle sausage, mushrooms, and green pepper over pizza dough (above) before adding cheeses.

Stuffed Crust

 

   If you want to get fancy, you can place string cheese along edges of the pizza dough and fold 1 inch of the dough over them.  Press the dough edges to seal it, then add the sauce and your choice of toppings.  Bake as directed.

Try these recipes and leave us a comment on how you liked them.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

MOTHER'S DAY, 2014/SUE

MOTHER'S DAY 2014

  The following is a video of Mother receiving the flowers and candy from my kid sister, Sue:

   She says that Sue always does this.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

HOMEMADE LIGHT BREAD

WHITE BREAD
HOMEMADE LIGHT BREAD

   I have been looking in every cook book I have, trying to locate my recipe for white bread using scalded milk.  All of the cook books use water, but none had the recipe I was looking for....until today.  When baking yeast bread, water gives it a crisper crust, but milk gives a velvety texture and added nutrients.   So, here it is:

1        package active dry yeast

1/4 C very warm water (105 - 115 degrees F.)

2    C milk, scalded

1/4 C margarine

2    T. sugar

2    t. salt

6   C sifted all purpose flour

Sprinkle dry yeast into water.  Let stand for a few minutes; then stir until dissolved.

Pour hot milk over butter, sugar, and salt in large mixing bowl.  Cool to lukewarm and add yeast and 3 C flour.  Beat well.  Add remaining flour and mix well.  

Turn out on floured pastry cloth or board and knead until smooth and satiny.  Put in 2 1/2 quart greased bowl; turn once, cover, and let rise until doubled, about an hour.  You can test if it is time, by pressing fingertips 1/2 inch into dough.  If your impression remains, the dough has risen enough.

Punch down; divide into halves. let rest 5 minutes more.  Shape into 2 loves by flattening each half with hands or rolling pin into rectangle (18 x 9 inches) on a lightly floured surface.  Fold 9 inch sides crosswise into thirds, overlapping sides.  Roll up tightly toward you, beginning at the open end.  Pinch the edge of the dough into roll to seal well.  Press each end with the side of your hand to seal; fold ends under loaf, and put in greased pans (9 x 5 x 3 inches) seam side down.  I like to brush them with margarine at this point.

Let rise until doubled again, about 45 minutes. 

Place on low rack so that tops of pans are in the center of the oven.  Bake in preheated hot oven (425 degrees F.) until golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped, about 25 - 30 minutes.

Remove from pans and let cool on wire rack.

INDIVIDUAL LOAVES

Using the recipe for white bread, after the first rising, cut half of the dough into 6 pieces.  Shape into small loaves and put in greased pans (4 3/4 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/2 inch).

Let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Brush with melted butter and bake in preheated hot oven (425 degrees F.) for about 20 minutes.  

Shape remaining dough into 1 loaf and put in greased loaf pan.  Let rise and make as directed for white bread.

Leave a comment with your thoughts after you have tried this recipe.  Enjoy!

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

PEPPER STEAK WITH RICE

PEPPER STEAK WITH RICE

2 C  hot cooked rice

1 T  paprika

2  cloves garlic, crushed

1 C  onion, cut in half and sliced cross grain

2 T cornstarch

1/4 C soy sauce

1  lb lean round steak, 1/2 inch thick

2 T margarine

1 1/2 C beef broth

2 C green peppers, cut in strips

1/4 C water

2 large tomatoes, cut in 1/8 inch slices

While rice is cooking, pound steak to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut into 1/4 inch wide strips.  Sprinkle meat with paprika and allow to stand while preparing other ingredients.  Using large skillet, brown meat in butter.  Add garlic and broth; cook and simmer 30 minutes.  Stir in onions and green peppers.  Cover and cook 5 minutes more.  Blend cornstarch, water and soy sauce; stir into meat mixture.  Cook, stirring until clear and thickened, about 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes and stir gently.  Serve over the rice.

You are welcome to leave a comment with your opinion of this recipe.

You are invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.

ELEPHANT AUTO INSURANCE

ELEPHANT AUTO INSURANCE

 

   Have you seen the commercial for Elephant auto insurance?  It begins with a statement from the 

elephant that, "When I founded Elephant Auto Insurance, I had one thing in mind....the customer."  Really?  Why would anyone buy that statement from a guy dressed in an elephant suit?  If you aren't proud enough of yourself to, at the very least, show your potential customers who you are, why in the world would anyone believe anything in the commercial?  "Stupid is as Stupid does."  

   That is all I'm saying.  We have enough fictitious garbage going on in D.C., we don't need that pile of crap when it comes to buying auto insurance.

What are your thoughts?  Please leave a comment.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com   and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.    

DO IT YOURSELF LAUNDRY SOAP

DO IT YOURSELF LAUNDRY SOAP

   Not everyone who reads my blog lives in the Houston area, so I thought I would share a link to the local ABC news channel where they were giving the recipe for homemade laundry soap and homemade dish soap:      URL:  http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/consumer&id=9434730   title:  Save on laundry, dishes with homemade detergent.        They even include a video.

Here is their recipe for the laundry soap, but they also show you how to make dish washing machine soap:

Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:

• 1 box (3 lbs. 7 oz.) of super washing soda
• 1 box (4 lbs. 12 oz.) of Borax
• 1 box (4 lbs.) of pure baking soda
• 3 bars of ivory soap
• 1 container (1.3 lbs.) of Oxy Clean or generic store brand
• Purex crystals (28 oz.) for scent (or you could use Downy Unstoppables)

Instructions:

1. Finely grate the ivory soap.
2. Mix all ingredients together and store in the container of your choice.
3. When you're ready to do laundry, use 1-2 tablespoons per load.

Price:

• 4 lbs baking soda - $3.18
• Washing Soda $5.98
• Borax - $4.79
• Purex - $3.99
• Store Brand Oxy Clean - $3.79

Total $21.73 / 504 washes = $.04 vs. Tide Tablets $12.99 / 38 loads = $.34


You are invited to leave a comment.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com  and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.