The end

 

...about 25 years ago, 50 of my closest friends and family, who had been on an

  e-mail forum with me, sent in recipes in different categories and we compiled a cookbook.

I decided to count those down!

Why?

because one night I was looking thru the cookbook and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog."

The Handyman/Mayor, who thinks he knows me better than I know myself, said "you'll never EVER do that."

Well, maybe I will!  Maybe I'll show him!

Which brings us to recipes #355, 356, 357 and 358

THE END!

I did it! I showed him, didn't I?

What exactly did I show him?

Hmmmm--well, lots of good food and fond memories for a couple things.

And remember how I said that thinking of stories was so hard to come by and I struggled with it after recalling so many of them thru the years?

Well--now tons more memories come flooding back into my brain.  I have so many stories left to tell!

I am relieved and sad... but more about that later. 

For now, here are the last four recipes of the whole cookbook.

I held these until the very end for my own reasons.  They are from 

Traci Marques--because her's was the very first recipe I made for the cookbook.

Shelly Noble--because she has made me beautiful 'cookbooks' of all these blog posts from Shutterfly

and

Barbarba Brown, who typed up and printed the original Friday Friend Cookbook.

(she was the editor and chief) 

Let's start with a little appetizer from our Editor Barb.

Barb and her husband Doug.

I was going to say Barb and her better half, but everyone knows that Barb is the better. 

(sorry Doug)

All of Barb's recipes can be found if you click here

Do it now!

And then we'll also have some beverages to go with our appetizers,

 Traci Marques' champagne punch.

(and yes, we had this entire menu as our meal--it was great)

Traci and her husband Larry.  She too is the better half. 

Larry has to know that, right?

LOL

All of Traci's recipes can be found by clicking here--right here!

Do it now!

  

And the main dish--spaghetti from Shelly Noble!

Which in a way is fitting because we have a total of 26 spaghetti sauces in the Friday Friend Cookbook Countdown.

Twenty-Six!  

I begged the Friday Friends to turn in their spaghetti sauce recipes.  I've always found it funny, how you can take the same basic ingredients, and they all turn out so different.  And they did.   All were good--but how can you go wrong with pasta and sauce?

But Rich (I just said his name!  I've called him the Handyman or the Mayor during the past 11 years of this project.) and I do have a couple that stand out as the best for us. 

We don't feel we are prejudiced, but his mom's and my mom's spaghetti are it for us!

And finally, Lorin and his better half Shelly!

I got that right, didn't I?

And you can find Shelly's entries right here--click now.

And to end this fabulous meal we have some of Traci's 

Saltine Cracker Cookies

(which I call Toffee with a Twist)

Wa-Lah!

I'm done.

No more!

I can't even think of a funny story right now.

I think I deserve a prize!

That was a lot of stuff to make-- and a lot of $$$ just to prove my husband wrong.

It's only taken me 11 years.  My first post was in September of 2013.

I wrote this:

I know that my blog has an interesting name.  A name/title that no one gets, because there are no 'friends' writing posts every week. There is only me. 

Long before I knew what a blog was, I had a group e-mail forum that included my friends from near and far...and originally I would ask them a question on Fridays, cut and paste their answers and  share with all.

So there is the history of my name.  Well, not MY name, (that would be 1950's Debbie Reynolds popularity) but rather my blog's name.  It started as a joke, when I thought that only they would be reading this blog.  Now, over 800 posts later, a few other people do read my blog.
It's nice to have made other friends thru this.  But too late to change my name (my blog's name ) to something catchy like " Debbie's Dishes"  or  "Dining with Debbie" or even "Debbie is a hot dish".   Okay, we can leave the last one out, but you know what I mean....you are stuck with the Friday Friends.

I have about 50 of my closest friends on the e-mail forum.  At first, most of them didn't know each other, (they knew me) but over the past 15 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.
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 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."

The reason I said I was relieved and sad at the same time is because

1)  Relieved that I hit a goal

2) Sad because it was fun to 'remember' all those fun times and write them down.  No what'll I do?

3) Sad because a few of my FRIDAY friends and family are no longer with us.  But what great and fun memories I have.

I'm going to pick a new goal.

I think I mentioned that I stole my mother-in-law's recipe box when she passed, and we were cleaning out her home? 

She has index cards with menus on them!

Maybe I'll make the Mayor some of his childhood menus!

They were written back in the day of four:

1. main dish/meat

2. veggie

3. a starch -- potatoes, rice or noodles with every meal.

and 

4. a salad.  My MIL would write 'green' salad or 'tossed' salad

I wonder if she had a difference.? 

I am meandering now....

but this is it--I'm going to recreate and modernize my mother-in-law's menus 😁😁

As I've said before---this feels like I'm saying goodbye to my friends.
I am so sappy sentimental!!

It's ridiculous.

Anyway--this has been fun!

Bye!

Friday Friend Cookbook Countdown #341 Hot Apricot Punch

 

I must get this done!  At least to prove something to myself if not the Handyman...

 because...

...about 22 years ago, 50 of my closest friends and family, who had been on an

  e-mail forum with me, sent in recipes in different categories and we compiled a cookbook.

I decided to count those down!

Why?

because one night I was looking thru the cookbook and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog."

The Handyman/Mayor, who thinks he knows me better than I know myself, said "you'll never EVER do that."

Well, maybe I will!  Maybe I'll show him!

Which brings us to one of my recipes--Hot Apricot Punch. Number 341 on the countdown.

I searched high and low for apricot 'nectar'.  

Here is the deal--I turned this in to our Friday Friend Cookbook countdown editor (Barbara Brown) as one of my favorites--because that's what we were supposed to do--turn in our favorites.

But I have no recollection of every having made this in my life!

None.

It was good, but the first time I have ever had it or tasted it was when I made it for this countdown.

I must have imagined it would be good.

So, let's do some more imagining.

Go back with me, if you will, 22.5 years ago, when, at a graduation party for my middle son, Dustin, I went around to all the guests and asked them what their dream job was.

Now let me just say--it was late in the party and there might have been some alcohol involved.  Maybe.

BUT--YES, I have saved this handwritten list for 22 years.

In case you doubt me?

I couldn't put a photo of everyone who told me their dream job---that would be way too many photos, so I chose a select few from the party.  Where alcohol might have been involved.   Not saying it was or wasn't.  

But let me start with how the party was going---

It was 'warmish'.  It was only the 1st of June after all.

The Pacific Northwest family (in the kiddie pool was one of my favorite brothers-in-law, Mike) was HOT.

The Arizona family/friends were loving the cool and being able to actually be outside in the sunshine.  

The local friends and family were just happy it was a nice day.

And that there was alcohol. (did I mention there might have been?)

Now for the dream job list!

Those cute people in the photo above?

Gina--dreams of being a famous figure skater.

Larry--would have loved to have been a puffer fighter pilot.

Mitzi--missed her calling as a famous watercolorist and veterinarian.

Another of one of my favorite brothers-in-law, Scott--would love to be the owner of a cruise ship.

And Barb just wants to be a singer on stage or a checker at Safeway.

These were lofty goals my friends! Too bad you fell short.  

Look, it's two of my favorite sisters-in-law.

LeAnne always dreamt of being a Neonatal Nurse.

Cherrie?  A mistress to a wealthy person.

(I did say alcohol, right?)

My good friend Peggy!  She would have made a great traveling graphic artist.

And one of my mothers-in-law, (I had two of them! this is the Handyman's stepmother) Pat wanted to be a head taster--at a Swiss chocolate factory. 

If I had two mothers-in-law, it stands to reason I have two fathers-in-law.

The one above?  Phil? Since his younger years has always wanted to be the piano player in a whorehouse.

GEEZ LOUISE!!  I didn't even know he played the piano!

The one below (on the right) his name is Richard Stone (so is his son, my husband), well his dream is to be a wine taster or the center for the Lakers.

The guy next to him is Mike, one of my favorite brothers-in-law, who is still to this day, 22 years later, trying to live his life-long dream of being a professional recreationalist. 

Below--

There is Barb again, singer or Safeway checker?  You be the judge.

Another of my favorite brothers-in-law, Greg, who has always wanted (every since I've known him, 46 years) to be a professional chef.

And me-- a columnist.  OR a cultural sociologist/anthropologist/archeologist.  My dream job. 

and last of the photos but never the friends--

John and Robbie.

She always wanted to be a famous painter or sculptor.  

John's dream job would be to be a lawyer--another a-hole. (His words, not mine) (I did say that maybe alcohol was consumed?)

Again, not room for photos of everyone, but dream jobs?

Here you go:

Leslie--a singer

Don--pro basketball player

Ashley--worker at Disneyland

April--Cruise Director

Mom B (my other mother-in-law) wants to be a CSI.

My mom--to work in a baby nursery.

My dad-- PI (he said he's too old to dream.  He was a private investigator at this time)

David-- a sports physician

Charmie-- another CSI

Jeff--audio engineer

Marisol--teacher

Michael--a DJ

Doug and Rich?

one a playboy photographer and one a p--n star.

You decide.

And two of my children

Luke (who was 21 at the time) wants to grow up to win the megabucks.

Dustin (whose graduation we were all celebrating--with alcohol, did I mention that?)  wants to inherit the Dry Cleaners!

(we owned one at the time)

There were more people at the party, but I started late, so only the hangers on got to tell me their dream job.

So, friends, My friends!  This is recipe #341

out of 361 (I'm 99% sure I have all the math down pat now) (it would have helped if I had gone in a linier progression instead of jumping all over the place)

2023 will be the year!!

(Although I'm slow going) (soooo  slow)

Then what will I do?

Friday friend blog number 327--Bourbon Slush

 

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 21 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 recipe #327

Cindy's Bourbon Slush

It seems that the Handyman and I are always eating chips and salsa and playing cards with a cocktail.

What can I say--we are wild and crazy like that. 

Now days it's easy to go buy a single serve slushy in a foil packet to stick in your freezer for anytime you want to enjoy it.  There is none of the mixing and freezing and stirring and waiting as in the olden days. But you know what?  It was kind of fun doing all the buying and mixing and stirring and waiting--- waiting is half the fun, right?

Look at all the bubbles from the 7-up!  This is a great summertime slushy. (Although I made it in November and stuck it in front of a cornucopia--still good!) 

This is where my story gets hard--

My friend Cindy Borchgrevink (in the middle) only had two recipes in the cookbook countdown.

See her other recipe and story here.  Just Click.

So I am saying goodbye to her in the cookbook---the hard part is that Cindy passed away last summer, from a fast type of early onset Alzheimer's. 

(this photo is of me, Cindy and Debbie E about  21 years ago.) 

Cindy and her husband Larry came thru town in January of 2021 and surprised me.

I got a phone call early one Saturday morning and I saw her name pop up on my phone. 

She said they were driving thru Winnemucca on their way home to Wyoming and wanted to see we if could meet them for breakfast.

I said, of course, and then she said they were staying at the Model T and then she asked me if I knew where that was.

Strange question because, it's a small town and everyone knows where that is and also, I work for the Chamber of Commerce, so I have to know where.  (It's a hotel/Casino) It's on the main street--everyone knows where it is.

I just laughed and said yes.

We had a nice breakfast--she went to the restroom early on and her husband told us what was happening with her.

Then the Model T question made sense. And it put a whole different vibe on the visit--for me. 

It's sad to lose a friend--and while I hadn't lost her yet, I know from experience what a long, painful road dementia and Alzheimer's can be.

They were making a trip--a trip to see old friends--in essence to say goodbye.  Her husband was taking her on a big loop around some western states to say goodbye to people while she still could. That's what she wanted.

She passed away about 15 months later.

I had the Handyman take a picture of us--even tho I wasn't at my best.

That's the thing about friendship-- we see each other thru thick and thin, thru best and worst, good and bad-- and it's worth it, worth every minute even if the end is not fun.

Good friends are worth their weight in gold.

My friends!  This is recipe #327 out of 361  (I'm 99% sure I have all the math down pat now)

2023 will be the year!!

Then what will I do?