Friday Friend recipe #352

 

Making my way thru my Friday Friend Cookbook, one recipe at a time.

What is the Friday Friend cookbook? I once had about 50 of my closest friends and family (from all over the county) on an e-mail forum which I called the Friday Friends. At first, most of them didn't know each other, (they knew me) but over the past 24 years, we've answered and shared silly--and serious---questions, exchanged Secret Santa Christmas gifts, had a dieting contest in which we paid a $1 a week and that money went to a scholarship fund for a Friday Friends son's memorial scholarship, and we went on a great vacation for my 52 birthday. (plus, so much more....)  

AND we contributed recipes for a cookbook.

I was looking at the cookbook the other night and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog."
The Handyman--who thinks he knows me better than I know myself (this happened to be a question on the Friday Friend forum once---does your spouse/partner know you better than you know yourself? Said, "you'll never, EVER do that."
WELL---maybe I'll show him!  Maybe I will.

Which brings me to recipes 352. 

My favorite mother-in-law's

Chicken in Gravy 

If you've been paying attention, you might think this looks a lot like the recipe I just made--Barb's Australian Breasts in Wine Sauce.

It is almost exactly the same.  If I had been paying attention, I would have spaced these further apart, but I am down to 6.

SIX! 6!  Six! Recipes to make and post. 

So, there isn't much room to space anymore. (as if YOU cared anyway 😉)

The difference is there are mushrooms added here and not as much wine and no bacon or almonds.

This is my mother-in-law's 15th recipe in the countdown--and her last.

My mother-in-law was alive and well when I began this countdown 10 years ago, but she passed away 4 years ago— March 16, 2020.

I adored her and she adored me.

 I've said it before and I’ll say it again… I am so lucky.  I feel like I belong to the Handyman's family.  Like I am one of them.

I’m not so sure they feel the same way 🤣

Anyway, let me tell you her last story--oh and if you want to see all her recipes and read all her stories, just click here. Right here. 

This is my mother-in-law, Teresa Marie Solaro-Stone- Belcher and my father-in-law, Philip Belcher. 

In June 2004, my mother had a knee replacement. So, I went up to our hometowns (the Tri-Cities, Washington.) To help my mom. 

After I had been there a few days, I called my in-laws. 

My father-in-law, Phil answered, so I asked him how it was and told him I would be coming out for a visit on Friday around 10 AM. He said OK.

On Friday at 10 AM… I am late — but was doing stuff for my mom. I called my in-laws in this time my mother-in-law answers.

I say... hi I’m not gonna be there until 11 so don’t worry about me.

She says... OK. I am so excited to see you!!

I called back about 15 minutes later to ask her something about my mom. And my adored mother-in-law says, oh, are you there with your parents?

I say… Yes

She says… I am so glad you were able to come up to me with your parents.

I say… Me too.

She says… Guess who’s coming to visit us today?!

I say… uh, me?

She says (pausing a bit) you’re coming to visit today?

I say…Uh, yeah.

She says… Oh, good. Guess who else is coming to visit around 11?

I Say… um, me?

She says…(pausing again) did you just call us an hour ago and tell Phil you would be here at 11?

Hi, say… Yes

She says… That, damn Phil!! He can’t get anything straight!! (she’s yelling at Phil now) Phil, it’s Debbie who’s coming to visit. Not Chris!! So you can stop hiding. (Chris is Rich’s ex-wife. 🤣) but now Debbie, I’m really excited to see you.

By this time, I was laughing so hard-- so hard!! I think I had fallen on my bedroom floor. My parents came rushing in to see… My mom hobbling with her new knee and my dad right behind her, to see what was the matter… I was laughing so hard.  

I was laughing at my favorite mother-in-law, who was trying to backpedal and telling me why she would’ve been excited to see my husband's ex-wife.

(Chris had had that stomach bypass thing and had lost 70 pounds and my mother-in-law was looking forward to seeing her)

 They remained friendly with Chris until they died. And it’s OK. We’re friendly too, the Handyman and I.  With Chris, his ex-wife.

Laughing at my in-laws and their antics that day was such a stress reliever for me.  It was great!

I always loved laughing with them.

And now---no more recipes from her. At least in the Friday Friend Cookbook countdown. (did I tell you that I took her recipe boxes when she died?  Don't tell her daughters!)

It makes me sad to say goodbye.

This photo below is in front of my in-law's house in Prosser, WA.

When she turned in the recipe for Chicken in Gravy, she lived in this house. 

I'm pretty sure that Phil knew who he was waving goodbye to. 😄

Love this whole extra family I got when I married Rich. 

I knew he was good for something.

And that my friends is recipe #352!

I have 6 more to go!

I'm gonna get this done. 

I really am.