Spicy Mississippi Soul!

Everybody's talkin' bout' it........."The Help!" And to think I almost missed it! Now understand, as you know, I am very protective about my home state of magnolia's, pine trees, gardenias, the best southern food you will ever have and the softest of southern accents. My beloved Mississippi! Yes, I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi from the early 1950's through the mid 1970's. This is when Darling and I married and embarked on his Air Force career and we moved to Biloxi, then were required to relocate to Illinois. Talk about a culture shock! It's funny that when people ask where we are from and our reply is Jackson, Mississippi, the most perplexing expression comes across people's faces. Really! You can tell they are asking themselves the typical stereotype questions that arise from the volatile times of the 60's and the south.

Yes, once I read the novel, "The Help", I thought it was probably representative of the time. I was raised by Mary, our maid in Vicksburg, from birth until the age of three. Mother always said, "Why Betsy Jane, I did not even know you until we moved to Jackson!" That never bothered  me. I was well loved, happy and content with my beloved Mary. I can tell you my parents, brother and sister also loved Mary. She was part of our family. My parents took good care of her and her family. Mary came to visit us in Jackson, after Darling and I were married. I opened the front door and there she was! I could not believe my eyes after all that time had passed....she said, "Oh, is this my baby?" and we hugged each other like the bond had never been broken. Mary's daughter Gladys kept in touch with Daddy since Gladys was an x-ray tech at Baptist Hospital, where Daddy was a practicing physician.

Betsy Jane, Judy, and Steve

 

Bonita was our "help" in Jackson. I loved her also. She was part of our family for pretty much the entire time I grew up. She was a fabulous cook! I do remember that I had asked her if she would make a grilled cheese sandwich for my lunch one day, as she had been preparing one for herself. She said, "sure baby!" However, when we began to sit down at the kitchen table to eat, she said, "honey, you can't sit with me!" I remember feeling hurt by that...I didn't understand why not? I thought perhaps she just wanted to eat lunch alone. I have never forgotten that little incident. I also remember a very funny time when Mother wanted to relocate our piano from the lower den, into the living room. This meant the piano had to be moved across the den floor, up a single stair, across the upper den, maneuvered into the hallway, then into the living room. Are you serious? She had Bonita and my brother, Steve, trying to push and pull that heavy piano up that single stair and they all got tickled and pooled into a puddle of laughter because that piano was not budging!! Her idea was abandoned and the piano remained in the lower den.

Oh, I have stories, plenty of them. Darling's family in the Mississippi Delta all had "help!" It was the way life was. However, I never knew anyone like Hilly, who was extremely haughty and dismissive. My parents did not raise us to treat others in that manner. Bridge games were played just like what was filmed in the movie. I vividly remember the maids getting off the city bus and walking to their various employers in the neighborhood. And, yes, they took care of someone else's little children, while leaving their own babies to the care of their mother's.  Our "help" made a difference in our lives. They were loved. I only hope we made a difference in theirs.

 Anyway, I love Mississippi! Always have, always will.

They're good people! Just the best!

These are some of the best of my Mississippi Recipes!

Are they fattenning? Of course they are Baby Girl!

This salmon croquettes recipe is tasty and quick to make.

 Be sure to keep a couple of cans in your kitchen for a quick

 meal you can prepare in no time.

 Mississippi Salmon Croquettes

1 (15 oz) can of pink salmon, drained and bones taken out

1 egg

1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced

1 small red onion

1 small red bell pepper, finely diced

2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp of garlic powder

2 tsps of Goya Seasoning

2 tablespoons of Italian Style Bread Crumbs

¼ cup of all- purpose flour

6 tablespoons of olive oil

In a large bowl, combine the drained pink salmon, egg, red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, fresh parsley, Goya seasoning and Italian style bread crumbs. Stir well. Divide the mixture and shape into 8 patties, about 4 inches each. Pour the ¼ cup of flour onto a large plate. Dredge each patty with flour on both sides. To a heated large cast iron skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Place croquettes in skillet and cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side. Cook the patties until they are golden brown in color. Be sure to turn often so they do not burn. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Mississippi Baked  Macaroni and Cheese
4 cans of Campbell's cheddar cheese soup

1 ½ pound of  macaroni

1 large bag of shredded mild cheddar cheese

1 large bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 large bag of shredded Monterey Jack Jalapeno cheese

1 large green bell pepper, finely chopped

½ small can of evaporated milk

1 egg

1 tablespoon of flour

1 tsp crushed black pepper

½ teaspoon of kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a large baking dish. Prepare macaroni according to package directions. While macaroni is cooking in a large bowl, combine the egg, milk and 1 tablespoon of flour and whisk together.Add to the bowl, the four cans of cheddar cheese soup, the three bags of shredded cheese, and the chopped green bell pepper. When macaroni is cooked, drain well and place into greased baking dish. Pour cheese mixture over macaroni and stir well until evenly coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until the top of macaroni is golden brown.

This tasty Lemon Coleslaw recipe is delicious.

Not your ordinary coleslaw, this recipe has the tartness from the

lemon juice and has some sweetness with red pepper.

Mississippi Lemon Coleslaw

1/2 cup of  Miracle Whip Salad Dressing

1/2 cup of sour cream

1/4 cup of lemon juice

2 tbs of Dijon mustard

2 tbs of olive oil

2 tbs of sugar

1 tbs of apple cider vinegar

1 tsp of kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

8 cups of shredded cabbage 
1 small red bell pepper sliced thinly

1 small green bell pepper, sliced thinly

1 small shredded carrot

1 small red onion, sliced thinly

2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons of grated lemon zest

Combine the first nine ingredients into a mixing bowl. Whisk until blended and put dressing into refrigerator until chilled. Combine cabbage, bell peppers, red onion, shredded carrot, parsley and lemon zest into a large bowl. Toss with the dressing.

 

Mississippi Rice Pudding With Raisins

1 large egg

1 cup of sugar

2 cups of cooked cold rice

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted

2 cups of evaporated milk

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

¼ cup of dark raisins

¼ cup of golden raisins

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray and put to the side. In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg and sugar and beat well. Stir in the 2 cups of cooked cold rice.
Pour in the two cups of evaporated milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, melted butter and vanilla extract. Stir until well blended. Add the dark and golden raisins. Pour into the coated baking dish and place in oven that has been preheated. Cook for about 35-40 minutes or until browned.

Tummy Warming Snacks!

As Labor Day approaches and children head back to school, I would highly recommend that you have some good recipes on hand for the kiddo's since they are normally trying to quickly grab something healthy to snack on before running in from school, changing into their sports gear and jumping back into the car to head out to their practice games.

I would hate for you to discover a note such as this one,

which was left to us by our

 darling Nicholas when he was a tad bit younger!





Now  mind you, I believe I was not neglectful in feeding my four children. Only problem was, most of their snack food would disappear all too quickly! We look back on this and laugh now, but poor darlings....it must have been an act of desperation when tummies were growling......the plight of  working parents no less. Oh the guilt, the guilt!

We especially enjoy this hearty bread at autumn apple picking time,

but it is wonderful year 'round. It also freezes well!

 A single vintage quilt patch would make a charming topper or liner

 for a bread basket when serving this apple bread!

Apple Pie Bread

3 cups all purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. ground cloves

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup oil

1 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup sugar

1 T. vanilla

2 cups Fuji apples, cored, peeled and roughly chopped

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a bowl, set aside. Beat eggs, oil, sugars and vanilla together in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, beat well. Add apples and pecans, stir until well mixed. Pour into 2 greased 8" x 4" loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 40-60 minutes. Turn bread out of pans when completely cooled. Delicious with a glass of cold milk!

This recipe is over 100 years old and came from

Nancy Neff Bell's Grandmother in Kansas.

This scrumptious bread is very moist, yet it has no eggs in it.

Raisin Spice Bread

1 cup shortening

3 cups water

3 cups sugar

16 ounce package of raisins

1 t. ground ginger

1 t. ground cloves

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

1/8 t. salt

5 cups all purpose flour

2 t. baking soda

1 cup chopped walnuts

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, combine shortening, water, sugar, raisins, spices and salt. Bring to a boil, boil for  minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool completely. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into 2 greased 9" x 5" loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cool completely before turning out of loaf pans.

Is it a wonder why we called them "Partners in Crime?"

The Reading Corner.....An Author at 90...Bravo Miss Glenna!

I discovered this book quite by accident really. Our only bookstore, Borders, is closing it's doors. This is a heartbreaking occurrence since it is our ONLY bookstore within hundreds of miles and normally packed with shoppers, especially during the winter months. We have made a few trips to browse through the store and pick up new books, cards. etc. I love books on Maine and picked up one for Luke and then found a new author for me.  I am so glad I did. I have been mesmerized by this grand dame! Now that we have experienced a few Maine winters, her writings describe what life is really like during those cold, bleak isolating months. I think she reminds me of my mother and grandmother. What a great read about life!

Excerpt from The Forward

"Some people consider the words 'old woman' so insulting that they refuse to use them, substituting 'elderly lady,' which reminds me of furs, pearls, and lavender toilet water, or 'senior citizen,' which is a term too recently coined to be trustworthy. I prefer my 'old woman' pictures of weather-beaten faces, gnarled knuckles, and ancient, faded, baggy-elbowed sweaters for going to the clothesline, the hen pen, the woodpile, and the berry patch. ”

The following is from Glenna Johnson Smith’s new book,

“Old Maine Woman, Stories from The Coast to The County.”

Smith, 90, grew up in coastal Hancock County and

moved to an Aroostook County farm as a young bride.

This excerpt is from the chapter,

“Snowed In”

The snow came down hard last night.

This morning son Mel calls and asks if I plan to leave the house today. When I tell him no, he says he will wait until the storm is over before he plows me out.

There’s a holiday feeling about being snowed in—an I’ll-do-whatever-I-like feeling. I’ll think of something really great. But first there’s my morning routine of pills, exercise (strenuous for me but not much compared to what younger people can do), breakfast, and the word puzzles in the Bangor Daily News. And then I’ll think of something.

But since this is Friday I must put the garbage out, to be picked up at about eleven. I empty the wastebaskets and check the refrigerator. I might as well throw out last week’s casserole. Or was it the week before’s? The snow is so deep that I need my high boots for going to the garage for a big plastic container. For years I just put the garbage bags out by the street, but then the hungry crows started shredding the bags and strewing remnants of my private life all over the place. I love crows, but there is stuff I’d just as soon my neighbors don’t see.


I look in my downstairs closet. Finally I find one boot. Lord only knows where the other one is. I don’t think I wore these boots at all last year. I tug at boxes and bags until the den floor is piled with them. Here’s my boot! It was under a box of old handbags I’ve been planning to throw out. I’ll put them out now, with the garbage. Oh, here’s the L.L. Bean bag that I loved. Since it’s washable I might as well keep it a while longer. And this patchwork bag. There’s a little tear, but I could easily mend it. Maybe that will be today’s project—cleaning out this closet since all the stuff is hauled out anyway.


But I’m all out of breath. I’ll just sit for a few minutes and drink my coffee. I’ll check to see what’s on TV while I’m sitting here. Here’s an old Ava Gardner–Clark Gable movie on Turner Classics. I saw it years ago but I can’t remember much about it. I remember that Clark Gable passed through Presque Isle during the war. He stayed at a hotel for the night and somebody I knew saw him shove a woman aside so he could use the telephone in the lobby. Anyway, I still think he’s a hero. I’ll watch for a minute while I finish my coffee. I fall asleep in my chair. Oops! I wake up at ten-forty. Must hurry and get the garbage out. I pull on the boots and take my cane. I get dizzy when it’s all white out. It feels good, being out in the cold air.

I’m out of breath when I get back in and get the boots off. I’ll sit down a minute and see if I can finish the crossword puzzle. Most every evening my friend Pat and I have a phone visit, and if she says the puzzle was easy and I still have blank squares in mine, well, I feel just awful. The house feels so warm and cozy after being out in the cold that I fall asleep again.


I wake up to see two cats sitting and staring at me. It is snowing so hard that they don’t want to go outside, yet they hate to use the litter box in the cellar. They blame me for the weather. They try all three doors, find it’s storming outside every one of them, then chase each other up and down the stairs, howling and snarling. I always thought that when I got old I’d have gentle, loving cats. Mr. Gray usually has a good disposition, though. He likes to sit in my lap when I watch ball games. He stares at the game. Coty, never a lap cat, sleeps in the chair beside us. Sometimes after the game I stare at something that doesn’t interest me just because I don’t want to disturb the cats. After all, they’re old and set in their ways, like me.

The telephone rings and I’m glad to hear the voice of my granddaughter Jasmine. But I can barely hear her. My left ear has shut down, and that’s my good ear.


I’ll go get the eardrops. I’m glad that most of my parts still work, after a fashion and with lots of help. I’ve had to give up long walks and instead walk in stores, pushing a cart for balance. But I’m grateful for the things I can do. I always loved to dance, partly because I liked snuggling up to some lad I had a crush on. But I’ve learned that dancing is fun for its own sake. That’s one thing I can do for fun today—play some peppy music and dance. My only partner would be a chair back in case I get dizzy. I don’t move fast, but I still like moving to music. But I’ll take another crack at that puzzle before I dance.


Where’s my pen? I buy cheap pens by the dozen, and yet there is never one in the room.


I’m in. Must be one here somewhere.


Oh, here are the family pictures from last summer. I wondered where they were.


That’s what I can do today, put them in an album. But first I must organize some albums so each will contain Ashville pictures or farm years pictures or . . . I’ll just sit here and look at the pictures for a few minutes and remember what a great time we had.


I might as well have some lunch before I start work. Some leftover corn chowder and a bran muffin would be good. I always doze off after lunch for a few minutes, so I check Turner Classics again. Ah, an old musical with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I like to doze to music. I hope my left ear comes back before the telephone rings again.


Now I’m wide awake and ready to work. I wonder why it’s getting so dark. Four o’clock? Can’t be. That’s when I prepare my supper so it will be digested by bedtime. I sure do like storm days; the snow is still peacefully falling. I’d better put those bags and boxes back in the closet or I’ll trip over them in the night. I can organize those pictures after supper. Or maybe there’s a Celtics game. Anyway, I’ll get up earlier than usual tomorrow and get right to work.

I always get a lot done on storm days.

Our First Maine Winter

A Maine Estate....Those Were The Days!

Their home was known as "the jewel of Prouts Neck."
 Clipperways, is an 8,000-square-foot home built at Prouts Neck in 1898,
is expected to be torn down this fall.

I was so glad when I saw this article today in the Portland Times Herald. I am fascinated by old homes and Maine is full of historic estates, which contain a wealth of historical secrets and facts. The beauty of Prouts Neck, which I have detailed in previous posts, is simply a visit well worth taking when visiting Maine. So before Clipperways is gone, I thought you might find the history of this glorious home, worth reading! I guess nothing lasts forever.....I find this sad........

Clipperways was listed for sale in 2010 for $5.5 million with Sotheby's. Robert Gould of South Hamilton, Mass., bought the property for $4 million last year. He plans to replace Clipperways with a home that is consistent with the architecture of the original. Demolition and building permits were approved by the town this month.

Averil Porcaro, who sold Clipperways along with her four sisters, said she was sad to learn that the 113-year-old house would be demolished.

A Maine House Mosaic

 

The house was a vacation destination for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was a friend of a former owner, Porcaro said. It is on Winslow Homer Road, not far from the late artist's studio, which is now owned by the Portland Museum of Art.

"There's so much history there," said Porcaro, of Snowmass Village, Colo. "I knew that I was most likely never going back to Prouts Neck after we sold the house, but the idea that it would be there for future generations to enjoy, I liked that."


Porcaro said she is not upset with Gould, whose family owns other properties at Prouts Neck and whom she has known for many years. She said Gould intended to preserve the house and make renovations, but changed his plan after investigating the structure. According to the permit applications, asbestos was detected in various spots within the home.


"I know it was very painful for them, too, because he did say that it caused them a lot of heartache," Porcaro said. "With change comes sadness. We made a decision to sell, so we did, and we can't control what happens to it, that is not our right."


It's the second recent tear-down project on the southern cliffside of Prouts Neck, a gated community at the end of Black Point Road. The house next door to Clipperways was demolished, along with a World War II military observation tower, in 2004.


Clipperways was built in 1898 by Dr. F.B. Stevenson of Portsmouth, N.H., Porcaro said. The next owner was James Shaw, and in 1935 the property was sold to Dr. George Huntington and his wife, Elizabeth Dodge Huntington.


Huntington was a minister, a professor and vice president of Robert College, an independent private high school in Istanbul, Turkey. Visitors from around the world came to Prouts Neck for summer visits, Porcaro said. Dr. Huntington had been paralyzed by polio, and he installed an Otis elevator at Clipperways to access the second floor. He also had the thresholds sloped, to allow for wheelchairs.

According to historical accounts, including the memoirs of Elizabeth Dodge Huntington, the couple met President Roosevelt, another victim of polio, at Warm Springs, Ga. "The story goes that FDR said Clipperways was the only wheelchair-accessible house on the East Coast with such incredible views of the ocean," Porcaro said.


After Dr. Huntington died, Elizabeth married Dumont Clarke. In the 1960s, after Clarke's death, she sold the house to George Collier, who owned the nearby Black Point Inn. Collier sold Clipperways to Porcaro's parents, Dr. Arthur Cairns and Marlee Cairns, in 1974.

 Porcaro was a teenager at the time. One of her most vivid memories is of sitting at the enormous dining room table, which overlooked the sea and could accommodate more than 20 people. Because the Cairns family carried on a European tradition of late dinners, friends of the daughters often got impatient.

"They wanted us to come out and go to the beach, or to parties," Porcaro recalled. "We'd be sitting down for dinner and we'd hear the screen door slam and one of our friends would come in. My father loved the house so much, he never wanted anyone to leave. So he would just get our friends to sit down and join us, and the party would be right there."

After Marlee Cairns died a few years ago, Porcaro and her sisters inherited the property. It was difficult to manage because the sisters live in Colorado, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Toronto, and have 16 children among them. The expense of the home was also overwhelming, including an annual tax bill of nearly $50,000, Porcaro said. "It was a heartbreaking decision to sell, but we realized that we couldn't afford it anymore," she said.


Vicki Halmos, who lives two doors down from Clipperways on Homer Winslow Road, heard just this week about Gould's plan. She said it's always hard to watch older homes torn down, especially in a place like Prouts Neck, where owners generally value the unique histories of their homes. Halmos' house, The Barnacle, is more than 100 years old, and she is the third owner. A former owner, an Episcopal minister, left a traveling trunk and a Bible in the home, and Halmos takes care of them.

Prouts Neck Coastline

"You go back and look at the Prouts Neck history books

and there is Clipperways," Halmos said.

 "It's a fixture here."

As Time Goes By...Being Three!

Yesterday, The Maine House received a distress call from the Divine Miss M in Atlanta! HELP! I thought three year olds were supposed to be fun? It seems that The Duke is giving Mommie Dearest some stressful moments, even attempting to bargain with her by promising good behavior in exchange for a cup of Mrs. Butterworth's pancake syrup! Apparently, he located a bottle of this delicious sweet syrup in the pantry and decided to take his find into a corner of the kitchen and take a few gulps before he was caught in the act! Both Ohio Grandma and Maine Grandma laughed uproariously at this tale of woe, since we both can look back and see the humor in all of this after raising four toddlers of our own!

Smith Toddlers

The world of toddlers is both enchanting and maddening, no doubt about it. Gaining independence, venturing out to try new things, yet wanting to cling to their babyhood ways is an everyday adventure. Luke will begin preschool in a few weeks and this will most likely prove to be a turning point for all three, Dad, Mom and baby. He has made milestones in the past few weeks having transitioned into his big full sized bed, keeping all of his babies close at hand, and now learning the ways of  "the potty!"

 I applaude Miss M for showing a great deal of patience and love to her "Paluka", even when he brings her his latest find in the backyard! Remember my darling, time passes all too quickly! Enjoy the world of being three!

If you have back- to- schoolers, be sure to make these

 "Best Blondies!" to welcome them home from their first day of school!

Estelle's Best Blondies

1 1/2 sticks of butter or margarine

1 1/2 c. dark brown sugar

1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips

1/2 c. walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. I just mix these up in the pan and pour into a 9" x 13" baking dish. Melt butter in a saucepan, let it cool a bit then add sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add all dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Bake for 25 -30 minutes. Cool then cut into even squares and sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar! These are heavenly!

The Art of the Pie!

Everything comes down to this! Whatever you choose to do, take it on with purpose, do it well and with your heart! For what I lack in professional baking credentials, I try to make up for in each handmade pie, a proud example of what I learned from my mother and grandmother!

A Maine House Mosaic

My new kitchen gadget.....Pocket Pie Molds! Now this is just plain fun!

I discovered these wonderful pie molds recently and found two at

 Williams-Sonoma and one on Amazon from Norpro!

Not only are these pies easy to make, there are a wealth of ideas in which to use them. Holiday parties, Back-to-School lunchboxes, after school snacks, potlucks, picnics...just use your imagination and have a great time baking these beautiful little pies for your family! These little mini pies can be filled with your favorite sweet and savory fillings – from fresh fruit to meats, cheeses and vegetables.

Perfect Pie Crust

2 sticks/16 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1 tablespoon chunks

2 ½ cups flour

2 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¼ - ½ cup ice water

Wild Maine Blueberry Pie Filling

6 cups wild blueberries, rinsed, stems removed

3/4 cup sugar

1 t. Vanilla

¼ cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into bits

1-2 tablespoons whole milk

turbinado sugar for sanding the top of the pie crust

Make the crust: whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Using a fork, pastry cutter, or your hands, cut the butter into the flour mix until incorporated in small, pea-sized bits. Slowly add the water, tossing with a fork after each tablespoon addition and adding just enough for the dough to adhere. Divide into two equal balls, pat each into a disc, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least half an hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Make filling: Stir together sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add to blueberries and stir gently, then add lemon juice. Roll out the pie dough. Add blueberry mix to the lower crust and cover with the top crust (using lattice strips if you want or a plain top if you don’t). Brush the top crust with the milk, then generously sprinkle sugar atop. Bake for 50-60 minutes, using a tinfoil ring to prevent the outer edge of the pie crust from burning.

 

Sour Cherry Pie Filling

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 T. cornstarch

Dash of Salt

2 cups fresh or frozen sour cherries, pits removed

1 t. Vanilla

In a saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the 1 1/2 T. cornstarch and pinch of salt, then add the cherries (2 cups fresh or frozen pitted sour cherries, thawed and drained if frozen) and 1 t. vanilla. Set over medium-high heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Let the filling cool.

Summer Fruit Pie Filling

1-2/3 cups each sliced peeled peaches, nectarines and apricots

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

In a large bowl, combine the peaches, nectarines, apricots and lemon juice. Combine the brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon; sprinkle over fruit and toss gently to coat. Place 3 T. of fruit filling in pocket pastry and dot with butter.

Mini Meat Pie Stuffing

1 T. Olive Oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey

1 (8 oz.) can Mixed Vegetables

1 package of gravy mix

2 T. Worchestershire Sauce

Heat oil in skillet. Add onion and chopped garlic cloves and saute until clear. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain and return to skillet. Add the can of mixed vegetables and mix gently. Add gravy mix per package instructions and simmer until most of liquid is reduced. Add Worchestershire Sauce and fill pie pockets, continuing with mini pie mold instructions. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 25-30 minutes.

  

Whether you choose to bake or deep-fry your creations,

you’ll end up with a tasty snack to enjoy at home or on the go.

I made little lattice apple pies for Darling yesterday.

He said, "These look great! Don't think they are gonna last the night!

Are these on our diet?"

"Of course," I replied......"They are baked, not fried!"

Bless his little heart!