An Abundance of Cucumbers

by Sandy // July 6, 2016 // 6 Comments

This year, my husband, Eddie, started a garden with our friend and neighbor, Vertie. Their gardens are side-by-side and, unlike me, who is wilting in the humid heat, the gardens are flourishing. There is corn, tomatoes, marigolds (to provide natural pest control) and — cucumbers!

When you have an abundance of cucumbers, either by growing them, or purchasing bushels from your local farmer’s market, the first thing that comes to mind is pickles.

Make no mistake, I love pickles! I also love the flavour of fresh cucumbers that don’t have the supermarket wax on them.

Here’s just a few things you can do with your cucumbers.

CUCUMBER MINT INFUSIONS

Thinly slice 1-2 washed cucumbers. Pluck, wash and pat dry 6-8 fresh mint leaves. Pour water (filtered and bottled works great) into a large glass pitcher. Add cucumber slices, mint leaves and ice. Stir and refrigerate. After an hour or so, the cucumber-mint will infuse flavour into the water, making a super refreshing drink for enjoying on the porch swing. It will keep refrigerated for a few days, but don’t expect it to last that long!

Replace the water and ice with vodka for a light and delicious cocktail! Put the cucumbers in vodka, cover and let sit for 3-4 days. Add mint leaves, cover and let sit for 3-4 more days. Strain. Pour into bottle and cork.

BENEDICTINE SPREAD

You don’t have to wait for the Kentucky Derby to enjoy this great, open-faced sandwich. I use the recipe from Idel Sego’s cookbook (Dining at the Whistle Stop: Kentucky Recipes & Reflections).

Voted the best non-franchise restaurant in Kentucky for many years, Idel created The Whistle Stop in 1975 by preparing good, Southern food and published her best recipes. You can get your own copy at Amazon. Idel’s Benedictine recipe is simple and delicious. A creamy spread of cream cheese and cucumbers on wheat bread.

CUCUMBER BITES

Use slices of cucumber instead of crackers or bread for small open-faced sandwiches (and they’re gluten free!). Try different combinations. For lunch, we prepared tuna salad with olives. A dollop on a cucumber slice makes a great bite-sized lunch.

They’re also great as appetizers for your backyard barbecue or pool party!

There’s also cold soups, sweet-and-sour cucumbers and a huge selection of salads. You can even stuff cherry tomatoes with a minced cucumber creation. Most importantly, share them with your friends and neighbors! Happy harvesting!

Do you have cucumber recipes? Please share them… we have enough cucumbers to try them all!

Like Father, Like Daughter

by Irene // June 19, 2016 // 3 Comments

None of us had a “perfect” upbringing and we’ve all experienced some pain in our family relationships, but I was my imperfect father’s biggest fan.

It’s my opinion that Dad wasn’t meant to marry and have children, but he stuck it out without complaint. Having family meant financial commitment. To provide, he worked hard on the midnight shift at GM’s Fleetwood Plant. His lunch always consisted of a pair of clean socks, a whole tomato, bread, a hunk of kielbasa or ham wrapped in tin foil and a pint of vodka to get him through his shift.

Even at a young age, it broke my heart to see him leave for work at a time when most of us were getting ready for bed. Sandy and I would say goodbye and without acknowledgment, he would silently leave for the plant. Dad never spoke to us. If we needed attention, he would tell Mom to wipe a nose, take one of us to the restroom or tie a shoe. He never laid a hand on me. He just gave a nod to Mama Capo and she did the punishing. Then, one day, when I was about 12-years-old, he said “good-bye” before leaving for work! This was a game changer! We could (finally) talk to each other.

My father wasn’t the kind to paint our toenails. He didn’t participate in his little girls’ tea parties. Our “quality” time was going to Detroit’s Eastern Market where there were fruits, vegetables, live poultry, pigs and, wait for it, a chilidog at 7:00 am. This farmers’ market was not in a good neighborhood. Constant announcements of “Beware of pickpockets!” blared over the PA system reminding us that we were in a crime-ridden neighborhood, but I always felt safe.

We pulled worms from our backyard for the next morning’s fishing trip to Belle Isle or Kensington Metro Park. After fishing, we would forage for hazelnuts. These often became overnight fishing trips. In the morning, our family would wake up scattered on the grass, a lawn chair or a picnic table with part of the weekend still in front of us. What an adventure!

He took us to his favored neighborhood bar where we were treated to table shuffleboard, French burnt peanuts and an open, little blue/green glass bottle of Coke with an upturned glass on top. He allowed us to “drink” the foam off his beer (not for selfish reasons).

Today, he may have been thought to have OCD, but I remember it as being meticulous. He sharpened our pencils with a knife. He precisely chopped vegetables as tiny as humanly possible and cooked everything oh, so slowly. He once stuffed a fish so on-point, it looked like it was just pulled out of the water and was napping. Dad never drank water from the faucet and always used cutlery, including on fruit and sandwiches. This he most certainly passed on to me.

Tradition. Are you kidding me? He ruled in this area. Christmas Eve involved 12 exquisite, non-meat dishes. Next, Midnight Mass even though he believed to have been excommunicated for marrying my non-Catholic mother.

For Easter, Dad made kielbasa and horseradish. He dipped the head of a straight pin into wax and applied designs to the eggs before he dyed them in water colored with the skins of onions. The best designs were placed in a museum of sorts. The eggs rested in shot glasses lining the top shelf of our pantry so we could enjoy them for years to come.

Coming from Lithuania he was in unfamiliar territory so he and our mother took on what now would be considered traditional roles. Today, fathers have taken on more housework and child care duties. Dad didn’t do housework, but he could cook. He concocted a breakfast that we called “Eggs Adolfas”. It was a slice of bread with a hole in the middle where an egg was placed to cook. Topped with green onions, it was living art.

Childcare duties were demonstrated when he arrived home from work. Unquestionably hungry, he usually made himself a grand breakfast. Sacrificing his meal, he fed two little birdies (my sister and I), one forkful at a time.

We were not pampered or showered with affection, which, I believe, led us to become independent and resourceful adults.

My father was entertaining (He could “play” a tune with his nose), smart, tenacious, strong and stoic. He never waved a white flag until cancer took his life. I hope when he died he knew the impact he had on the capable, hardworking, smart and funny young adults he left behind.

You can read more about our Dad at A Good Man

Fashion for the Ageless

by Irene // May 26, 2016 // 3 Comments

My husband’s childhood friend, Joyce, suggested we write a post on fashion and style for the mature woman. Although I don’t consider myself very fashionable or stylish, I do know what I like when I see it. Sandy will tell you she thinks my style leans towards Diane Keaton’s (Thank you, Sandy!) I would agree that I share the love of pockets, pearls and polka dots, but that’s pretty much where it ends. I don’t wear hats (huge head) and I wouldn’t be able to pull off this look:

I also have personal rules for what not to wear, (bared knees, abdomen or upper arms), and what to wear (bra), but I’m not going to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t wear. If you can rock those Hello Kitty hair accessories or that Goth spiked choker, who am I to judge?

We don’t have to move to dowdy-town as we age, but doing the same things we’ve done for decades, could be a mistake. We’re at that in-between stage (tweeniors?), so we have to be wary of looking like we’re trying too hard. Or, if we feel like we’ve “earned” the right to wear whatever we want, there’s the chance of looking like we’ve given up. So:

Re-evaluate what’s in your closet — get rid of any “Juicy Couture” clothes, fishnet hose and any T-shirts that say “WTF” or “Drink Until You Want Me” (pretty much any t-shirt with messages should be shushed immediately).

As women age, bodies shift — hourglass figures are now orbs or rectangular. One thing I’ve learned…TRY THINGS ON! When I was in my 20’s and 30’s I could buy a bikini off the rack. No more bikinis. No more buying off the rack. I’m not that sleek, slim gazelle any more and I even, at times, feel like that pile of walrus.

Wear a belt, no matter how large your waistline. This restores body definition.
Nude shoes stretch your legs, which elongates your entire body for a slimmer, sleeker look.
Pairing tops and bottoms in the same color, including the all-denim look, is a quick, fool-proof formula for style. Monochromatic colors are slimming and sophisticated.

Until we commit to tightening our abs, here are ways to hide a belly:

Choose clothes with draping or ruching:

Worn with leggings, tunics or short dresses are two-fers; they hide bellies AND thighs.

Choose tops that skim over your tummy without being tight. Baggy tops and pants will exaggerate a big tummy (believe it).

Medium rise jeans are best to avoid the “muffin top” look.
Layer. A tank long enough to tuck in and worn under a shirt or blouse, even a sheer one, works well. It will create the illusion that you are taller than you are. My favorite are sweetly called “girl shirts” which are very long and almost like shape-wear without that binding feeling. These (and many other unique fashion items) can be purchased at Serendipity, on Main Street (across from the Whistle Stop) in beautiful, historic Glendale, KY. Or message the owner, Rhonda, on her Facebook Page, Glendale Serendipity at https://www.facebook.com/glendaleserendipity/?fref=ts. Don’t forget to Like the page!

Here’s good news for mature women and spring trends!

Shoes — Flats and sturdy heels in lace-ups, slides and sneakers with a new and unusual look are making a statement this spring. Yay! No need to wear high heels just to be fashionable. Here are some that I love:

Pant lengths — Trends include skimmers, capris (3/4 length pants that hit anywhere from mid-calf to above the ankle) and boot cut. You must have at least one pair of ankle pants (hemline ends at your ankle bone or just above it) in your wardrobe. Why? They’re flattering on almost any figure; you can wear them with flats or heels; ankles are sexy at any age. And, don’t be afraid of prints — they hide “lumps and bumps”.

Luckily, almost any length works this spring, although I’d avoid cuffed and wide-legged capris as those take a certain body type and confidence.

Jeans — Go for darker jeans that are narrower and fit well. Jeans are important in your wardrobe, so take time to get the ones that fit your shape.

Colors for spring:

Ladies! There’s no need to match shoes, bag, belt and jewelry any longer! What a relief! — Orange, blue and coral, black, white and blush and anything on Pantone’s 2016 spring choices:

Here are some great websites for us older women:

And you’re bound to find something you like at Macy’s, Kohl’s and even Target.

I’ve written this post using photos of professional models and celebrities. Know that there are people in everyday life that exude style, and I know at least two of them.

I’ve worked with Joy Van Patten for almost eight years. Although she may be too young for this blog post, she dresses beautifully and uniquely every day! It’s a party in the lobby every time she walks in.

Joy doesn’t necessarily follow fashion or trends, but embraces her own sense of style. She exhibits great daring and originality. She’s stunning. She’s edgy.

Joy thinks in terms of the total picture she creates. This includes her makeup, clothing, accessories and the way she carries herself. I’ve always said that the office is “Joyless” when she’s not there. Here’s a sample of Joy’s style. The photos were taken spontaneously by the also creative, Denianne Gardner. Thank you Denianne (blowing you a kiss)!

The second person who exudes style is Regina Williams. Regina is an artist and it shows in her fashion style. She dresses like the free spirit that she is. Regina’s style truly represents her personality with a graceful silhouette. She has a flair for the spectacular.

Regina’s self-expression is demonstrated by the beautiful jewelry that she creates. There is no end to the positive adjectives that can be used to describe her style.

Copying what’s on the runways isn’t for Regina. She humbly calls it “inspiration” when she sentimentally resurrects a piece she’s found thrifting. She can select an article of clothing and instinctively knows it creates balance and harmony that makes it “right”. Regina has a knack for mixing pieces and accessories to create interesting, exciting looks. Not only is she envied for her fashion sense, but for her humility, charity, sentimentality and artistic talent.

As you get older, there are certain things you can show off – your attitude and how you feel. Radiate an aura of calm. French women demonstrate they have all the time in the world. And…smile! Warmth is a plus when you’re a “mature” woman.

Salted Carmel Scribble (Cocktail Mmmmmm!)

by Sandy // May 18, 2016 // No Comments

Whenever Irene and I are together and 4:00 p.m. rolls around, it’s cocktail hour! Our latest creation had us licking the glass!

The perfect blend of sweet and salty, it’s easy to over-do it with this one, so watch your P’s and Q’s.

SALTED CARAMEL SCRIBBLE

INGREDIENTS:

1 part vodka
1 part Kahlua
2 parts cream (Half and Half works great!)
Caramel sauce (Hershey’s Classic Caramel Sundae Dream is divine!)
Ice cubes
Coarse ground sea salt (to garnish)

“Scribble” caramel along the inside of your drinking glass. Let it drip down. Don’t put too much, but don’t be stingy.

After it dripped to the bottom, there was less than ½” of caramel at the bottom of our glass. Fill the glass with ice cubes.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes (yes, again with the ice). Add vodka, Kahlua, cream and shake it like a Polaroid picture. Pour the cocktail into the glass filled with ice (and yay! Caramel!).

Sprinkle sea salt over the top of the drink.

Be prepared to have many!

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How to be a fabulous, middle-aged+ woman in the 21st Century….