I Hope To Say The Magic Word!

Well my clip art gives away the magic word. On Thursday evening when visiting Dad in Missouri that word is “BINGO”.  At least that is what everyone at the KC Hall in Kelso, Missouri is hoping to yell out. I will be sitting across from my Aunt Dorothy with Paul by her side. Taking Aunt Dorothy to BINGO is one of the activities we look forward to the most when we visit Missouri.

I, personally, caught the BINGO fever after joining my Mother and Aunt Dorothy many years ago. It was our social interaction with local community. BINGO is not just a group of games for money prizes. BINGO is the place you go to catch up on neighbors, friends and yes, even family.  Winning money is just the Bonus of BINGO. 

Aunt Dorothy will give Paul and I the update on the family, friends and of course, the BINGO Buddies. We will know all the local news in the 3.5 hours for this group of BINGO Buddies and have a fairly good update on the family.   It is just another night of fellowship, laughter and love.

BINGO is a very important part of the local community.  At BINGO, you talk, you share, you snack and yes you either win or lose. Odds are that most of the times you never get to scream out that wondrous word "BINGO".  It really doesn't matter; it is the camaraderie that BINGO creates among all the participants.

The only person at risk at a BINGO hall is the ball caller. They have to have nerves of steel to sit up on the platform and call out numbers. For any slip of tongue or hand will immediately be chastised by the unity of the crowd sitting before them. 

Yes, BINGO with Aunt Dorothy is a special time for us when in Missouri. We see old BINGO Buddies, cousins and friends.  They see our Tennessee tags in Dad's driveway and our seats are saved upon our arrival to the hall.  That is Midwest hospitality. 

Now if I just get to yell BINGO… Especially on the Progressive cover-all game, the jackpot is over $5000.

Till Next Time... LB

Simple Recipe from Larry B

I was asked for more simple recipes from my collection so here is a very simple entree for when you just need something quick and easy. This is a great one for during the work week or for a group gathering.

This is a very simple ground meat recipe.  It does not matter what type of ground meat used.  I have made this recipe with beef, pork, veal, lamb and venison.  The following recipe is basic for 4 servings, you can adjust accordingly to accommodate 4 to 40 or more.

Country Meat Rollups  

1.5 pound ground meat
1 medium size onion (chopped)
1 can of  sliced mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic(minced)
1 cup of sour cream
1 egg (beaten)
1 egg separated (make egg wash with white and add egg yolk to the beaten egg) 
1 package of Crescent Rolls
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Brown the ground meat, onions, mushrooms and garlic till meat is no longer pink. Set aside to cool.

Take the Crescent Rolls, pull the rolls apart and then roll each one out as large as you can.

Once the meat mixture has cooled, add 1/2 cup of sour cream and the beaten egg, Mix well.

Now take a scoop of the meat mixture(approximately large egg in size or medium scoop) place this in center of each rolled out Crescent Roll.  Once this is complete take each Crescent Roll and roll it around the meat mixture, complete seal the meat inside the roll.

Place rolls on a cooking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.  Take the egg wash and brush over each roll. 

Bake at 350 for approximately 15 -20 minutes rolls should be nice and brown.

While the rolls are baking, take the can of Cream of Mushroom soup and mix with remaining 1/2 cup of sour cream. Heat the soup mixture and serve as a sauce on the rolls.

Variations for this recipe: I have also taken French Onion Soup and Golden Mushroom soup together to create a sauce.  I have also used Ready to Bake Bread dough for a large rollup for a group of 8-10. I let the dough thaw over night in frig. I then roll out the bread dough to the size of a cookie sheet. Place the meat mixture in the center of the dough and rollup. Bake this for 30-40 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe. I have gotten so many compliments over the years.  Enjoy and Bon Appetite!

Ex Spouse Day!

Well if that Title did not grab your attention, nothing will! As you all know, I am totally into this wild and crazy days of recognition. I think there is always a reason to send a friend, neighbor, family and yes, even the EX, a surprise arrival to let them know you were thinking of them.

I came across Ex Spouse Day. This day, always on April 14th,  is in recognition of your Ex. Someone must have been kidding when they created this day, right? Is there anyone that wants to recognize their Ex. Most of us want to forget them. Once again, I will remind you that I do not create the days, I merely find them and pass them on to you. So, please don't shoot the messenger.

All too often, relationships don't work out. Life provides us with many ex-girlfriends, and ex-boyfriends. There are many ex-wives, ex-husbands and ex-partners. Most likely, we would prefer to forget them.

If you value your Ex in any way, give him or her whatever appreciation and recognition you feel is appropriate today. If you cannot find any redeeming trait, no one will fault you for skipping today's celebrations altogether.

April 14th is a busy day of recognition, not only is it my dear sister's birthday but also International Moment of Laughter Day. This special day will put a big smile on your face. The objective of this day is to get people to laugh, and to laugh more often. After all, "laughter is the best medicine".

To celebrate this special day, simply tell jokes or do funny things that cause people to laugh. A smile is not a good enough reaction. Successful participation in this day results in whole-hearted laughter.   As a boy of 5, when my Mom told me I had a baby sister, I cried. Who knew it would turn out to be the day of laughter.. sorry sis.

But we are not finished with April 14th, this date is also National Pecan Day.  It's a day to celebrate and enjoy the popular, tasty pecans. Apparently, someone thought that it was such a great nut, that they created two days to celebrate Pecans.  Pecan Day is March 25th.  A little nutty perhaps, but true.  April is also National Pecan Month, but why not the Pecan tree is the only native nut tree to North America. Celebrate Pecan Day and National Pecan Day by cracking open and eating a few pecan nuts. Also, have some pecan pie.

Till next time LB

Quick Easy Desserts

First you have to understand how I shop for food items. I love the "buy one get one free" items, you just never know when that extra item will come in handy for last minute dishes. I am also watchful for sale items, even though I might not need the item for that week's meal menu, it is always good to save a little money now for that great dish later.
Although I think fresh is best, you can never go wrong with a canned or frozen item for these last minute recipes.
This offering is of two of my most recent creations that were a big success and only took 45 minutes to prepare and bake. First one that was a great success for my chocolate lover friends a few weeks ago.

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars

1 box chocolate cake mix
2 packages cream cheese room temperature
2 eggs
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
1 box confectionery sugar
1 stick butter room temperature
- Mix the cake mix with butter till crumbly separate ½ cup of mix and set aside press the rest of cake/butter mix into bottom of a 8x11.5x2 baking dish
- Take the cream cheese, eggs, sugar and blend till smooth
- Melt the chocolate chips and mix into this mixture till well blended
- Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of your cake mix, sprinkle the half cup of cake mixture on top
- Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes till center is set. - Let cool, then cut into 2 inch squares.
- Refrigerate the left over bars, just set out few minutes prior to serving. Substitution for cream cheese, and sugar- cream cheese icing

So what was the dessert that inspired me to start sharing my recipes with all of you and especially my Apple loving friends. From the kitchen Cabinets of Larry, here is the newest creation.

Quick and Easy Apple Oatmeal Crisp
2 cans of Apple Pie Filling
1 cup of Golden Raisins
1 ½ sticks of butter room temperature
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
1 ½ cup light brown sugar
1 ½ cup Oats
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1teaspoon nutmeg
- Prepare a 8x11.5x2 baking dish by rubbing with oil or spray with cooking spray
- Mix the raisins and the pie filling together and pour into baking dish
- Mix the butter, flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg till crumbly.
- Spread this mixture over the apple/raisin.
- Bake at 350 degrees till the top is brown and apple are bubbly. Approx. 30 minutes

I hope you enjoy these great quick recipes.

Till Next time LB