A good laugh is good for the soul

Saturday, while rambling around the market, I ran into some longtime friends – Virginia Jones, Helen Poole, and Marylin Hooten. We chatted and visited while we collected our produce for next week. It was so good to visit with them along with many others that I saw and who thanked me for the column. A good laugh is good for the heart and soul. I am so glad that I can bring a little laughter and entertainment into your lives. You made my day.

My fresh steamed cabbage and peach cobbler were delicious additions to our noon-day meal. Try some next week … I’ll be seeing you around … Agnes.

Recipe Request: (This is a re-print. I had to do some digging to find it…Agnes)

3, 2, 1 CAKE (These individual little cakes are amazing and ready to eat in one minute! They are perfect for whenever you feel like a treat without all the fuss. Genius idea!

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix (Just remember that one of the mixes has to be the angel food mix)

1 box Cake Mix – Any Flavor (Try flavors like carrot, red velvet, pineapple, lemon, orange, etc.)

Open both cake mixes into a gallon storage bag, one that ‘zip locks’ or ‘self-seals’, or a container that seals tightly. Shake the two cake mixes to blend and then make the recipe. Storage is simple. Since the mix is dry no need to refrigerate. For individual cake serving, in a small microwave-safe container combine (the little Pyrex custard cups are great):

3 Tablespoons of the cake mix

2 Tablespoons of water

Microwave on high for 1 minute. Serve as is, with frosting, fresh fruit or berries or cream.

Baked Onions

6 large Vidalia onions, peeled and sliced

¼ cup butter, melted in skillet. Cook onions in butter until tender (about 12 minutes).

In a bowl, mix the following:

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ can regular milk

Pepper to taste

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Stir in onions and pour into a buttered 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle top with another cup of shredded Swiss cheese. Top with 6 to 8 slices of French bread that have been buttered on one side. Place buttered side up and bake uncovered in a 350 degree, pre-heated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly. You can place under the broiler until bread is golden brown. Let set a few minutes before serving. Serves 6 – 8

Canned Hot Dog Slaw

1 gallon shredded cabbage

3 large onions, minced

2 large bell peppers, small diced

3 carrots, shredded

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon canning salt

1 and ½ teaspoon red pepper

1 and ½ cups prepared mustard

1 cup cider vinegar

Sugar, if desired (1 to 3 cups)

Mix cabbage, onions, and salt in cooking pot and let set for 20 to 30 minutes. Mix in all other ingredients and slowly bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Put in half pint or pint jars, seal, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Good with hot dogs, sausage, and vegetables.

Swiss Steak (This is an oldie of mine. It is a request from a friend that has had it many times.)

2 pounds round steak cut into serving size pieces. Season with salt and pepper and coat with flour. Heat Dutch oven and add 2 tablespoons cooking oil. Cook meat to a golden brown on both sides. Add the following to the Dutch oven:

1 medium onion, diced

1 cup minced celery

½ small green bell pepper, diced

2 cups tomato juice

½ cup water

2 beef bouillon cubes

Black pepper to taste

Slowly bring all to a boil, reduce to a low simmer, cover, and simmer until steak is tender. Add more water if necessary while cooking. Serve over rice. (Note: In the winter, I dump a quart of tomatoes in the blender and puree and use…omitting the water.) Can be cooked in the oven for several hours, in a pressure cooker, or in a slow cooker.

Recipe for Laughter: (Newspaper Article)

Brothel Sues Local Church over Lightning Strike! 

Diamond D’s brothel began construction on an expansion of their building to increase their ever-growing business. In response, the local Baptist Church started a campaign to block the business from expanding – with morning, afternoon and evening prayer sessions at their church. Work on Diamond D’s progressed right up until the week before the grand reopening when lightning struck the brothel and burned it to the ground! After the strike the church folks became rather smug in their outlook, bragging about “the power of prayer.”

Late last week Jill Diamond, the owner/madam, sued the church, the preacher and the entire congregation on the grounds that the church – “was ultimately responsible for the demise of her building and her business – either through direct or indirect divine actions or means.”

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently and voraciously denied any and all responsibility or any connection to the building’s demise. 

The crusty old judge read through the plaintiff’s complaint and the defendant’s reply, and at the opening hearing he commented, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this case. It appears from the paperwork, that we now have a brothel owner who staunchly believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that thinks it’s all bull.”

HHJ News