HERMAN THE MONKEY AND THE APPLE TREES

While sitting here looking at my blog I got to thinking about my father-in-law who has passed on. I am all the time writing about him as he was so funny. Now most people can't get alone with their in laws but he was just like my dad. We never did have a unkind word to say to each other. He was always as good to me as his son.
I was thinking about a monkey that one of his friends had given him. His name was Herman and I believe that had to be one of the most meanest creatures going. My father-in-law was a animal lover and you would never know what would turn up at his front door. I have seen him many times take care of a bird or dog, etc. that someone had sit off to die and get it well again.
Anyway, this monkey was just a small beige one with a big and I mean big long tail. He had it in a cage in the hall way and ever time he would pass by it it would reach out and grab his pencils or pins that he carried in his pocket. That would really make him mad but he still kept it. One day someone left the cage open and Herman got out. Oh, boy what a time it was. He tried to catch him, his wife tried, my husband and no one could get him. He would go from room to room swinging. So Herman got mad because everyone was after him. All at once we heard the biggest noise in the back bedroom. He had throwed a lamp I believe. Next came my mother-in-laws home interior figurines. Pictures went sailing off the wall and I mean he was demolishing that bedroom. So since no one could catch him I believe they opened up a window and out he went. Where did he go, down to my father-in-laws apple trees. Now no one was allowed to touch those apple trees. We all went running down in the back yard and here went Herman climbing higher and knocking off all of the green apples. By that time all of us was mad because it was one of the old time Lock apple treees and the best one they had. We called, begged, got him something he liked to eat to no adveil. So we all went back up to the house,  left the window open and a little later in came Herman, got in his cage and shut the door. Now isn't that just like a monkey.
 He took him to a pet shop and the man bought him. He was at the mall and saw a monkey all dressed up riding a bicycle on a tightrope. Now who do you think it was, Herman.
That just goes to show you some people can tame anything. His wife told him that was one animal that he would never have another one like it in the house.
Talk about having a mess to clean up we did. We had enough apples left to put some in the freezer but the ground was covered in little green apples that day. They were to little to be ate with a salt shaker like we all liked to sneak and do. If he only knew how many times we all would sneak and eat them that would be something because no one was allowed to touch them until they were red. A few years ago lightening hit the tree and uprooted it. It was one of the best apple tree around and the apples were not good until the first frost hit them. We all miss Herman and the apple tree and my father-in-law. But don't never get a monkey for a pet unless you raise it from a tiny baby up where you can teach him to be gentle and mind..........

CUKE AND TOMATO SALAD

2 Tomatoes
2 Cucumbers
1 Purple Onion or Sweet Onion
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Sugar

Peel and slice the cucumbers. Chop the onion and tomatoes. Put in a large mixing bowl. Mix up the dressing in another bowl. Pour over the vegs. and ref. After letting it set in the ref. stir again before serving. You can also use the zesty italitan dressing over this instead of the vinegar, sugar and water. I would use 1/2 bottle of the dressing. Can also add green chopped bell peppers if you like.

COKE-COLA CAKE

All of us know how a good ole Coke will tendrize meat but here is a recipe for a Coke-Cola cake that is so good. Do not use any diet coke in this recipe.


1 Box White Cake Mix
4 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
8 Tablespoons(1 stick) Blue Bonnet Marg., melted
1 Cup Coke-Cola
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
2 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
11/2 Cups Marshmallows
Frosting:
8 Tablespoons(1 stick) Blue Bonnet marg.
4 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/3 Cup Coke-cola
4 Cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 13 x 9 cake pan. Set the pan aside.
Put the cake mix, cocoa powder, melted butter, cola, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla in a bowl. Mix with a electric mixer for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides with a spatula. Increase the speed to medium and beat 2 minutes. The batter should be well blended. Fold in the marshmallows. Pour into pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until it comes away from the side. Frost the cake while still warm.

Frosting: Place the butter in a saucpan as it melts, stir in the cocoa powder and the cola. Let the mixture come to just a boil, stirring constantly and then remove from the heat. Stir in the powdered sugar until it is thick and smooth. Fold in the pecans. Spread the frosting on top of the cake and let it go out to the sides. Let cake cool 30 minutes before serving it.

CHICKEN SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

A friend gave me this new recipe and it looks so good. I can't wait to make it. It would be good for a family or church homecoming.

1 Cup Chopped Celery
1 Medium Green Pepper, chopped
1 Medium Onion, chopped
1/4 Cup Butter or Blue Bonnet marg.
1 Can (10-3/4)oz. Can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, undiluted
1 Can(10-3/4)oz. Can Condensed Cream Of Chicken Soup, undiluted
1 Can (10)oz. Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, undrained
8 oz. Velvetta Cheese Product, cubed
3 Cups Cubed Cooked Chicken
1 Box (14.5)oz. Spaghetti, cooked
1 Pack Cheddar Cheese or Moz., shredded
1 Sleeve Ritz Crackers, crushed

In a skillet, saute the celery, green pepper and onion in butter until tender. Can add some fresh mushrooms or 1 small can, drained. Add to celery mixture. Stir in the soup, tomatoes and cheese. Cook over low heat until the cheese is melted. Stir in the chicken and spaghetti. Transfer to a sprayed 13 x 9 baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through.
The celery, green pepper and onion-you can vary this. If you don't have all of this just use the onion. On the top you can crumble up some Ritz crackers and add to the top along with the shredded cheese. You can use a rotisserie chicken but can just boil some chicken breasts or strips until done and chop up. Do not let the cheese scorch on top and if not using cheese don't let the Ritz scorch on top.

SOUP BEANS AND FRIED CORNBREAD?

Now everyone knows how all of us ole Ky. people love a big bowl of soupbeans with that ham hock or pork fat floating around in the kettle just begging to be got out and ate. But have you ever ate soup beans with fried cornbread.
 I had never heard of this until one of my friends was telling me about it. I always bake a big pan of cornbread but never any fried cornbread with this.
How to make fried cornbread. Just make up a small amount of a cornbread recipe and instead of putting it in a pan fry it on the stovetop. I like to use 1 cup cornmeal, 1/4 cup self-rising flour, 1 egg, beaten and milk to make a medium thickness or like pancake batter.
Then take a heavy skillet, I like to use my iron skillet for frying cornbread and put some oil in it and put on medium heat as you do not want them to burn when you pour the batter in.
 Make you about three cornbread cakes and fry on one side until they bubble around the edge then flip them over and fry on the other side. May have to add some more of that oil. Use up the rest of the batter.
When done put them on a plate and get your beans out in a bowl and crumble two of the cakes into the beans. Or more bread if you like.
 Now what else do you need, of course some of that good ole Kraft mayo to stir in with the beans and you are set for a very good eating.
Oh, I forgot that big ole piece of sweet onion and plenty of toothpaste after you eat. lol. Try it, I am going to this week. Any that you don't put in the beans just eat with plenty of butter on top of them.
My husband loves fried cornbread in a bowl, cooled, with milk in the bowl and eat like milk and bread.
 Now me, I just don't care for that but I love the butter on top of them and just eat them by their-self or have some of them good Amish molasses to stir up in some butter to eat with them. Good eating.........

GREEK TOMATO FETA SALAD

6 Tablespoons Olive Oil
3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Chopped Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Cucumbers, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
4 Tomatoes, cored and cut into bite sized pieces
1 Green Bell Pepper, cored and deseeded and roughly chopped
1 Small Red Onion, peeled and thinly sliced
4 to 6 ozs. Feta Cheese, cut into cubes
1/2 Cup Pitted Kalamata Olives

In a large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper to make a dressing. Add cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, feta cheese and olives and toss gently to combine. Serve.

GARLIC SPAGHETTI

Pasta
Minced Garlic
Olive Oil
Parsley Flakes


In a large pot, cook desired amount of pasta. You can easily adjust the amount of garlic/oil to make more or less.
In a skillet, heat 1/4 c. olive oil over medium heat. Add 2 T. minced garlic. Stir until lightly browned and immeditaly remove from burner! Drain pasta. Pour olive oil/garlic over pasta. Toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowl and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. You can also sprinkle some parsley flakes on top for a fresh herb taste. You can use more or less of the garlic.