Vacation is over

I have taken a break from blogging for a few reasons. This is not an excuse post, just information and sharing. I downloaded my camera this morning and found some pictures ready to go with recipes I have already typed. I will get those on soon.

Reason # 1: Christmas.
Reason # 2: I am running out of tried and true recipes and have not spent time in the kitchen experimenting and inventing.
Reason # 3: I have been spending less time in the kitchen, because I have spent more time working on this replica of a quilt my grandma made for my mom. This is hand appliqued and is now ready to be hand quilted.

A Cooking Story

A couple of weeks ago Marilyn had some friends over and I made them a Koolaid Slushie, the vanilla flavor. They really loved it.
Last week, Marilyn wanted to make it again and so she came to me with a note pad and asked how to make one. I gave her the instructions and she wrote down the ingredients and amounts on her note paper. I was outside so she was totally on her own. She came out a while later concerned that it tasted too sweet. I told her it would taste better when she put the cream in it.
She still did not like it and said it was too sweet. I said, "You liked it last week when I made it for you and your friends. It is the same recipe. I put 3/4 cup sugar that day."
Marilyn said, "3/4 cup? I put 3 and 3/4 cup. I thought that is what you said."
The grandkids loved it.

Recipe Organization

I think I found a way to organize my recipes.
I wanted something that was fluid, since I'm always on the lookout for something new and my recipe box is too small for my ever changing recipe formats. When I got a recipe on something bigger than a 3 x 5 card it went to a file folder and then that was very disorganized. I also have a few recipes that I use out of cookbooks and so I had a stack of books that were rarely used, but necessary when the recipe was called for. There was not room for them to stay orderly. It was a mess.
I have decided to go with 3 loose leaf binders. One will be main dishes, the other two will be divided up with other categories. I can not really make an index that would last long, so I am just putting the recipes in plastic sheet protectors and putting them in alphabetical order. When I print out a new one, I can put it where it goes alphabetically. I am also printing them out in a size 16 font so I don't have to put on my glasses to read them.
This is a work in progress. I am typing the recipes from my cook books and putting them away.  I actually print them for my book when I blog them.
I hope this is going to work!

Main Dish List

I had an inspiration about this blog while sitting in the temple this morning. Yes, you read that right. It is ok. I know that we can receive revelation for all parts of our life when we sit still and listen. Everything we do is important to the Lord.
Here it is. The Main Dish Idea List. I put it as one of the first posts and I keep editing it as I think of more to include. I'm sure it will never be complete. This is what I will do.  As I post recipes that are on the list, I will create a link that can take you to the recipe. I hope that will make it easier to find and use. I will label it as Main Dish List so you can easily access it on the side bar.

Some Thoughts

I know this is a recipe blog and you didn't think you would have to sift through thought posts, but here I go anyway.
This whole blogging thing has surprised me in a good way. I didn't think I would like doing this, but it is rewarding to me. I felt like I should start this a while ago, but it sounded so time consuming and difficult. I like to cook, but I didn't think I wanted to write about it. It is challenging and takes time, but I like it.
Some things I like about it:

1. The positive feedback I receive. I like feeling that I have something worth sharing. Your encouragement makes me feel wonderful. Thank you.

2. It feels good to share and help someone else. I have been helped for years with recipes and ideas.

3. McKay thinks I'm awesome.

4. I like the challenge, I'm in a good place in my life to do this.

5. I'm so glad that it prompts me to get organized in the cooking part of my life. I know it will never be a finished product, but it is improving.

6. I like sharing a talent (Yes, I finally realized I have a talent for cooking) I enjoy for my posterity. Maybe some grandchild will take to cooking like me and can connect with me on that level. I love that my Grandma Christensen was a fabulous quilter and my Grandma Whitney was an excellent seamstress. I share their love for sewing.

7. I like thinking about how I learned to cook. I had a unique experience in high school. Mom was ill and so I took over some of the cooking responsibilities. I had a 'in house' expert to guide me as I learned. I vividly remember taking a pan off the stove and taking it to her room to show her how something was cooking and getting her instruction on what to do next. Very valuable experience. I learned gravy, white sauce, breads, enchiladas and many more with my Mom available to me. PS I still miss her.