Quick Caramel Pie Recipe

 The gooey pie below may be served with or without a topping.  For pie topping, use whipped cream or cool whip spread on the entire chilled pie or add a dollup onto of each slice.  Another topping option could be chopped pecans sprinkled over top of caramel, mini chocolate chips instead of or along with pecans, or simply a little powdered sugar sifted on top.  A few recipes use pre-baked crust or graham cracker crust instead, but this requires cooking the ingredients together until it thickens and then pouring into crust, then immediately chilling for 4 hours or more to set the caramel filling.

Quick Caramel Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup milk 
4 Tablespoons flour 
1 cup brown sugar 
3 Tablespoons butter 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 egg, beaten
8-inch pie/pastry shell 

Steps:

1. In saucepan on low heat, melt sugar and butter together. 
2. Add milk and flour until caramel colored and slightly thickens.
3. Remove from heat, add vanilla and egg.
4. Pour filling into pie shell, spread evenly, and bake at 350 degrees until edges of shell are golden or according to pie crust recommendations.
5. If pie does not set as desired for slicing, chill it before serving.

For a cool creamy caramel pie, try Easy Caramel Pie made with cream cheese and prepared caramel sauce or the decadent no-bake version QuickCaramel Pie.  If 2 pies are desired without doubling recipes, consider making Southern Brown Sugar Pie instead.

Glynda's Graham Cracker Treats - An Easy Dessert Recipe for Kids

 I try to include a few recipe ideas or activities for children at the holidays or during the summer break.  In the below recipe older kids can help by breaking up graham crackers and lining them up on the pan.  They can also help with measuring and mixing ingredients.

To see more kids recipes, check out blog posts Kid's Dessert Ideas, Easy Decorated Cookies, and My First Cookbook. 

Glynda's Graham Cracker Treats 

Ingredients:

1 package out of a box of graham crackers.
1 stick oleo/margarine
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup pecans, coursely chopped or broken

Steps:

1. Lay graham crackers broken into fourths side-by-side on cookie sheet lined with foil.
2. Melt oleo in sauce pan.  Add in brown sugar.  Stirring constantly, cook over medium-low heat for 2 minutes or until it begins to thicken.
3. Remove from heat.  Add pecans.  Stir until very thick.
4. Spread on top of graham crackers.
5. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
6. Cool and remove while still warmish or they will stick to foil.
7. Treats will harden when cold.

 For other types of children's activities besides cooking, see posts Summertime Activity Kits and Flower Motif Mats.  

Groundcover Oxalis, Lucky Shamrock, or Wood Sorrell?

 Great greenery with common groundcover "Oxalis." It is a wonderful semi-tropical plant for most areas in the Southern garden including places where nothing seems to grow.  Oxalis can grow in sunny or part-shade spots.  It will produce green leaves and flowers most of the year, while creating a natural weed blocking blanket.  In very cold temperatures, it will still have green leaves but no flowers.  If under snow and ice for three days or more the leaves will turn black, however in about 2 weeks  the black will be replaced by new green leaves.  In states where the daytime Summer temperatures can get hot, such as the high eighties or more, the leaves will disappear as the plant goes dormant in exteme heat or drought.  Since the groundcover is will disappear in heat or during drought conditions, consider mulching or growing another groundcover that does well in hot zones.  During the coolish/warmish temperatures of Spring and Fall, Oxalis will produce tiny pink or white flowers.

Good luck plant since the leaves look similar to clover,  During March, Oxalis plants are often sold in cute planters as "Lucky Shamrock," or "Giant Shamrock" for Patrick's Day houseplants.  Purple leave varieties also exist, but they are not as hardy as the green and do not have as fast of groundcover growth rate.  There are also variegated leaf options and larger flowering options of Oxalis available in some areas.  Many of  these plants may also be sold under the name "Wood Sorrell" since that is the plant species. 

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Sinple spreading Oxalis is a bulb-based plant, so it is easy to start with a few plants to eventually cover a larger area.  Simply dig up the mounding clump the next year it comes up and there will be lots of little bulbs along the root to divide for new plants.  Remove any greenery still on the bulb balls because leaves disappear for awhile after replanting or leaves can mold if storing bulbs to plant later.  Bulbs can be stored for months in a paper bag and will still produce plants even if they dry out somewhat, unlike most other bulbs.  Separate the bulbs from each other by tearing them apart where they are grown together strung along a base root.  The ballish bulbs may be as big as 1-inch or as small as 1/4" to reproduce.   

Involve kids as children may have fun helping replant the bulbs after an adult has dug and divided them.  Simply give a school-age child a bag, bowl, or bucket of bulbs and show them how to push the balls into soft or damp ground until they are covered over with soil. No new hole digging needed!  Since each Oxalis plant will have a mounding habit of up to 6-inches high and a diameter of about 8-inches (4" each direction from bulb), the child can use their foot to measure a distance for each ball to be placed apart by putting their heal over the last one pushed in and then pushing the next ball into the ground in front of their toes!  Tell them a pattern to make, such as straight line, zig-zag, or circle rippling out from center.  Then just wait until the plants start popping up and remind them they did the planting.  

Warnig! Do NOT let kids or pets chew on or eat the bulbs, leaves, seeds, or flowers of any Wood Sorrell  plants.  They are pretty, yet toxic if ingested.  However, toxicity does not stop deer, rabbits, and other animals from snacking on the plants when no other greenery is available.  I have never had a sensitivity issue with the bulb variety, but others might so consider that when choosing to plant.  Also note that in some states seed-bearing (not bulbs) Wood Sorrell is considered a weed because of its quick spreading and disease/pest resistant nature.   

Cornbread Salad Recipe for Pot-Lucks and Picnics

 Below is my aunts recipe for cornbread salad.  Everyone who has tried it loves it.  Give it a try at a summer potluck or spring/fall picnic.  Although this recipe does not include bacon, beans, cheese, corn, nuts or onions; some other southern version do include one of these options too.  So feel free to add or substitute to make a personalized version of cornbread salad. 

Cornbread Salad

Ingredients:
1 pan cornbread (baked and cooled in advance), crumbled
1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch green ones, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
2 medium-size firm tomatoes, cut-up
1 pint Hellman's mayonnaise

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients well in a large bowl.
2. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Easy Peach or Cherry Dessert Recipe

Looking for an easy dessert that does not require you to be in a hot kitchen for a long time?  Try the dump-cake-style dessert that you can make in advance to serve as is or topped with whipped cream.  Or for a summer treat, serve it while still warm from the oven topped with a scoop of ice cream!

Easy Peach or Cherry Dessert

Ingredients: 

1 can cherries or peaches 
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1 box white or yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter

Steps:

1. Pour fruit into cake pan.
2. Sprinkle sugar & cake mix over fruit, pat down good,
3. Melt butter. Then and pour over mixture.
4. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

For other quick summer dessert recipes, see our cake or cobbler recipe links at the bottom of the old-fashioned choices on post It's Fruit Cobbler Season!   

From Brokenhearted to Healed Soul: Hearing Whispers Book Review

 The book Hearing Whispers (Amazon ad) by Tracy Wainwrigth is one of those books that are hard to put down.  As each chapter in the main character's (Sarah) life is completed, you want to go on to the next to find out what happens to her.  Will she get over the  broken heart that grew out of disappointment of two men from her youth and childhood?  This is a story of a woman who is just starting her adult life and a new career.  She must learn to trust others again and move forward to the person she is meant to be.   Not t give too much away, but Sarah finds a new love not only in a man, but in her redeeming God.  

Tracy Wainwright's writing style is easy-to-read and her storytelling is interesting.  Hearing Whispers will get you personally involved with Sarah's journey.  Although I will not tell you too much of the story, as it can spoil the readers fun, I can highly recommend adding this book to your reading list this summer.  This book will take you through Sarah moving from bitterness to a healed soul that is open to experiencing new friendships and true love, as well as growing in a spiritual relationship with God.  I give it 5 stars!

Spoiler alert! Within the love story of Hearing Whispers, another mystery of an unknown sister is also introduced.  Will the mystery of the lost sister be resolved in the the next book Open Arms or will readers have to keep wondering how that part of the story plays out until a future release in the series?  Find out about more about the book series on The God Bless Girl blog.

Stacking Jewelry Tips and Tricks

Some say jewelry stacking is a way to show your own personal style.  Others say it was started by jewelers to make people think "more is more" is better than tradition.  However, most agree stacking jewelry is a trend that is not going anywhere any time soon.  

How do you make a good stack without creating a bad look?  The correct answer depends on your personal preferences.  Some people like it neat, wheas others find the boho or messy look more their styel.  Tips for wearing Layering Necklaces for Elegant or Messy Looks.  Bracelet stacking is usually done by type:  lots of bangles or wraps, rows of stretchy beads or pearls, multiple chains with tennis or bolo style.  Cuff bracelets usually stand-alone because they are larger, but very petite ones may be mixed with chains the same way a bolo can be.  Ring stacking is the oldest style trick, which usually is a series of band rings or simple solitaries mixed in on a few fingers (see 15-mins video below for tips) either up a couple of fingers or smaller sets stacked across the hand.  Large cocktail rings are not stacked on the same finger and too many statement rings on a hand can look tacky instead of stylish.  Stacking earring is another trend that has been around for whiel due to multiple piercings.  Usually the stack has one or more small hoop mixed with studs in the other piercings, however dangle style earrings may replace the hoop(s).   Typically oversized hoops or dangles should only appear in the lowest piercing with a series of studs in the others.  Finally, the trend of stacking brooches on hats and caps is back in style. Brooches or pins may also be artistically arranged on handbags or backpacks.

What are the rules for stacking rings, necklaces, earrings, or bracelets? Once upon a time the rule was keep all your metal colors or other bead/bangle types the same.  Then that rule changed to mix metals but keep the color of the gems or enameling the same a few years ago.  Now there is no real rules, except there is the suggestion to not overstack.  For instance if you do a big bracelet stack, use less rings on the finger or necklaces around the neck.  If you are big into cocktail rings or multiple rings stacked, wear leass bracelets and it is ok to wear more around the neckline.  The main idea is to not look over-done but keep true to your personal style and your favorite looks or colors.  Mix textures, links, and tones to make things more interesting ,without getting too clunky.

Get adventerous with your jewelry!  This will give you more options for the investment you have made in your purchases.  Test multiple stacking looks with your wardrobe to find your preferred style.  For more ideas on stacking, check out Standard Style article 6 Jewelry Trends That Are Out and The Styles To Invest In Now.

Easy Four-Ingredient Weight-Loss Smoothie Recipe

Everyone loves a good smoothie.  However, they can be very fattening.  

If you want to make your own smoothies, below is a master recipe that you can use to create your favorite without adding lots of calories.

4-Ingredient Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients: 

6 ounces Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt

Fruit (choose 1 from below fresh options or use a cup of a frozen fruit mix)

• 1 banana, peeled and large sliced
• 3/4 cup blueberries OR raspberries
• 20 seedless grapes 
• 2 kiwis
• 1 orange, peeled and sectioned 
• 1/2 cup papaya OR pineapple chunks 
• 1 cup strawberries

2 Tablespoons of Liquid (Water for low-cal, OR Low-fat Milk for creamy, OR Fruit Juice for flavor)

4-6 Ice Cubes OR 1/2 Cup Chopped Ice  (omit or half ice if using frozen fruit and double the desired liquid)

Optional Add-ins: 

• 1 teaspoon Syrup OR 1/2 teaspoon low-cal sweetner, if desired
• 1 teaspoon Protein (slivered OR chopped nuts, protein powder, OR seeds)
• Flavoring  (1 teaspoon of cocoa powder OR ground ginger, OR 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract OR cinnaman

Steps:

Combine in blender per instructions at Two Tips for Quick and Easy Smoothies

Optional: For blender clean-up, consider Six Tips for Cleaning Your Smoothie Maker 

Reviving Southwest Style with Dessert Pearls Popularity

 Southwest style jewelry is making a comeback all across America and in other courtries as well.  The big thing with the younger crowd is something they are calling "Dessert Pearls."   

Why the new trend?  Maybe is is a natural extension of the freshwater pearl craze that was big a few years ago, because farms culturing pearls in water lost many crops during the shutdown of workforce availabilty.  Or maybe the rise in silver prices has made people more aware of these beads as they look for alternatives to the chuky precious metal chains that are another current fashon "must have" for layering.  Whatever the reason for reviving style trend toward silver beads, knowing what to look for is imprtant.  

What is the difference between the dessert pearls and tradtional Navajo or pearls?  The primary difference is dessert pearls can be from any Native American/Indian tribe or industrial manufacturer and may or may not be handmade silver.  Navajo pearls are traditionally handmade and oxidized by actual members  of the Navajo tribe of Native Americans.  If dessert pearls are handmade by another tribe, they will usually call them by their own tribe name instead of using the generic term of dessert pearls.  To see the difference between manufactured silver bead/pearls watch the TikTok video by a bead artist at Black Wolfe White Wolfe Designs.  To learn more about the different "cowgirl styles" and sizes of silver beads, watch the TikTok video by a bead distributor from Tin and Turquoise, in Canada?! 

Are there more southwest jewelry options than plain dessert pearls?  Another great bead option for southwest style is "Liquid Silver,"  which offers a more eligant or delicate look to southwest style depending on the number of strands and the necklace leangth.  Taking southwest style past just a silver beaded necklace  means adding a pendant or purchasing a ready-made native style.  The "Squash Blossom" necklace is also making a huge comeback.  Squash Blossoms are fluted trumpet-shaped silver (with or without stones) extended out from dessert pearls.  These flutes are named after the sideview of blossoms on squash plants.   Most of the blossom necklace will include a large center pendant that usually is a horseshoe-shape known as the "Naja."  For this reason, some people may refer to the necklace as a naja because of the shape, but a naja necklace does not have to have blossoms on it.  The naja pendant may be all silver or also have inset stones, often turquoise or shell are the most popular stone choices.  Although some blossom necklaces may have a "Concho" or Cross as their focal-point, these are usually stationary or separate pendants on dessert pearls, liquid silver, silver chains, or stone beads.  Conchos usually are oval shaped, but may be round too.  Conchos may be silver with a stamped design, be a large stone set in a small silver frame, have a smaller stone in the center of silver design, or be a circular pattern of stones set to resemble the top of a flower or the rays of the sun.

Where is the best place to buy southwest style jewelry?  For authentic Native American jewelry, it is best to buy from artisans at tribal locations.  Alternatively, do a search the internet for "Native American Jewelry" and then read the about section to verify the site belongs to a Pueblo, Tribe, or Collective.  Since everything is handmade and usually one-of-a-kind, expect to pay laot.  Buying from TV shipping channels is typically a lower cost option, as the jewelry peices may by handmade but made in multiples.  HSN offers Chaco Canyon , which is a collective from New Mexico.  HSN also offers Mine Finds by Jay King of New Mexico, who has a modern twist on Southwest bead designs. QVC offers an American West line also from New Mexico.  JTV has a lower-priced southwest inspired line that is manufactured in India.

Jewelry is just one part of the current southwest fashion trend.  Cowgirl and cowboy style is in again!  Not just jewelry but boots and hats are being revived too.  As an extension of the USA trend - red, white, and blue patriotism clothing is surging as well.

Momma, Do You Know Me? - A Poem

I was thinking about my mother the other day and this poem began to flow out of me.  I loved her so much!  I cried with almost every line I wrote, so I had to wait a few days to edit and finish this one.  I feel anyone with a spouse, mother, or father suffering from a form of dementia can relate; regardless if their symptoms were related to Alzheimer's, Brain Injury, Huntington's, Hydrocephalus, Parkinsons, or something else.   For all those going through this, remember although sometimes it may be hard,  there are times they recognize and know you.  At those times, you can really feel the love coming from them back to you.

I often felt sorry for my brothers when they visited Mom at the end of the day, because she was too tired to communicate.  Sometimes they thought she did not know who they were, but I know she did.  If she was looking intently at someone or smiling when they spoke, that was an indication she knew them and was happy they were there even if she never said a word.  If she did not remember or know someone, she acted shy or had a quizzical look on her face as if to say "Do I know you?"  

Momma, Do You Know Me

by Shirley Fine Lee (Copyright 02/19/2025 all rights reserved.)

See the clock?
What time is it now?
Tick, tock,
Wish it would stop.
Look at the calendar,
What month is it?
What date is today?
Don't be flustered!
You are a blessing each day,
So it doesn't matter anyway.

Momma, do you hear me?
Momma, do you see me?
Momma, do you know my name?

Put one foot in front of the other
Then do another.
We're walking now.
Don't look down,
We're walking now.
Right foot,
Left foot,
Keep mov'n along
Singing this song.
Then repeat
Til we're in our seat.

Momma, do you hear me?
Momma, do you see me?
Momma, do you know me?

Someone peeking in the window?
Man standing in the door?
Don't be frightened anymore,
No one is there.
No need to be scared!
I'm right here,
Always very near.

Momma, do you hear me?
Momma, do you see me?
Momma, do you know my name?

Last week, you laughed.
Yesterday you cried.
Some days, you just stare.
Today, you have angry glare.
Every day, we try for uniformity,
Yet every time is unpredicatbilty. 
Favorite meals are a charm.
Taking pills rasie alarms.
Sometimes long talks,
Others tears or giggling.
As the day fades away,
Your attention span wanes.

Momma, do you hear me?
Momma, do you see me?
Momma, do you know me?

Sharing laundry chores,
Doing puzzles and therapy,
In the kitchen or cleaning,
Or just talking,
You and me.
You read or do coloring book.
Instead of TV watch,
Let's take another look
Through photos and memories.
Oh, the stories you tell!
One might think you're well.
Tired? Take a nap.
Finish later will we.

Momma, do you hear me?
Momma, do you see me?
Momma, do you know my name?

A kiss on the head.
A peck on the cheek.
We say "I love you."
All may seem bleak,
I know you love me.
It is no time to be weak.
As things slowly slip away,
Life goes on
And so do we.

Momma, do you hear me?
Momma, do you see me?
Momma, do you know me? 

FYI:  If anyone is wondering why thar weird little stepping song is in the poem, it was a song I made up to sing when she was learning to walk with a walker at home.  Her therapist said it was important to keep her looking where she was going because if she was watching her feet, it could cause her to topple.  Sometimes she would laugh at me after I was singing and say "You're silly." once she was sitting down.  But if I stopped singing during her walking time, she stopped too and looked back to be sure I was still there.  So that silyl song means a lot to me!