First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros....

My life's been crazy...

okay, I ALWAYS say that, but what I am implying is that  I am not as organized as the rest of you who do manage to keep weekly goals.

My life is crazy, but probably not any crazier than anyone else's.

I feel I haven't been reading like I used to.  That fact is bothering me, as I love to read.

Nevertheless...

....here I am again, participating in 

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros

hosted at

Bibliophile By the Sea.

(which I love very much,  I just can't keep up.  It's the crazy life you know.)

Every Tuesday you share the first paragraph or (a few) of a book You are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is mine:

There could be no wearing of clothes without their laundering, just as surely as there  could be no going without clothes, not in Hertfordshire anyway, and not in September.  Washday could not be avoided, but the weekly purification of the household's linen was nonetheless a dismal prospect for Sarah.

What do you think?  Should I continue on reading it?

So.... the first paragraph doesn't sound too intriguing, but  we would all continue reading...  ....if we love Jane Austen, that is.  

No, this book was not written by her, but by Jo Baker, who does a take on Pride and Prejudice by writing from the maid's point of view.

We just get snippets of what goes on "upstairs."

But, what happens 'downstairs' is very good indeed!  

Goodreads says:

• Pride and Prejudice was only half the story •
 
If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing of her own petticoats, Sarah often thought, she’d most likely be a sight more careful with them.
 
In this irresistibly imagined belowstairs answer to Pride and Prejudice,the servants take center stage. Sarah, the orphaned housemaid, spends her days scrubbing the laundry, polishing the floors, and emptying the chamber pots for the Bennet household. But there is just as much romance, heartbreak, and intrigue downstairs at Longbourn as there is upstairs. When a mysterious new footman arrives, the orderly realm of the servants’ hall threatens to be completely, perhaps irrevocably, upended. 

Jo Baker dares to take us beyond the drawing rooms of Jane Austen’s classic—into the often overlooked domain of the stern housekeeper and the starry-eyed kitchen maid, into the gritty daily particulars faced by the lower classes in Regency England during the Napoleonic Wars—and, in doing so, creates a vivid, fascinating, fully realized world that is wholly her own. 

Friday Friend Cookbook Recipe #23 -- Zucchini Cake

Friday Friend cookbook:   I have about 50 of my closest friends and family 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 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.

Which brings me to this... recipe #23:

Zucchini Chocolate Cake.

You might not think you see much chocolate in these photos, BUT there is a tablespoon of it in the cake and some chocolate chips too!

It's a great summer time snack cake that my mom used to make. 

I can really only remember my mom making a chocolate cake from scratch and this zucchini cake.  (she baked many things, but cakes?  Not so much)

We would take them on picnics.

This zucchini cake is moist and sweet --kind of like a carrot cake, but not THAT moist because  you can really pretty much eat it by hand like a brownie or bar--perfect for picnics!  See?  My mom was smart!

If you like zucchini bread, you'll like this snack cake.

None of these recipes in the FF cookbook are going to be new, and exciting and cutting edge trendy, but they are going to be ones filled with family and friends and memories and love.

Click here for all recipes from my mom.

And here for all Friday Friend Cookbook Recipes.

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

my mother, Bev Hambelton

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup oil

1  3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup sour milk

2 1/2 cups flour

1 Tbsp cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 cups grated zucchini

Cream butter, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and milk.  Mix dry stuff and add to creamed mixture. Stir in zucchini.  Spread in  9x13 greased and floured pan.  Sprinkle chips over top and bake at 325F for 45-50 minutes.

And now...

Friday Friend Bev!  My mom!

She is the one holding the dog. (the dog who is now mine)

This is my mom and dad and their best friends Betty and Jim at their combined  50  year anniversary party, 6 years ago.

My grandma and Jim's mom were best friends  (Irene and Vera)

So... my mom has been friends with Jim, since they were babies (we have bathtub pictures from 1939--seriously) and she has been best friends with Betty since they were in the 6th grade.

My dad and Jim have been best friends since kindergarten.

They all  graduated from high school together in 1957.  30 in their graduating class.  Those 30 people have remained very close.

My dad        My mom        Betty          Jim

And these are those same exact people!

Betty, my mom, my dad and Jim, at my parents wedding in 1958.

Betty and Jim were the 'best' people.  Best Man and Matron (Betty was an old married lady of 3 weeks by then) of Honor.

I love these people.

I'm going to link up today with

Weekend Cooking
at 
Beth Fish Reads
Some really fun and interesting posts!
She says:
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. I


and

See ya in the Gumbo 

at

Ms. enPlace

Be sure and stop by  to check out what it's all about!

She says:

To "make a gumbo" means much more than cooking.  When someone says "I'm making a gumbo," it means family and friends are invited

Saturday Snapshot

We just got back from a little vacation...

...at our cabin in the woods.

While we were there, the Handyman and I were out taking a walk and  discussing how all of Oregon and Washington (and now California) are burning up this summer and how lucky we were that there had been no fires near our cabin.

Then we looked up.

Wildfires are a serious and sad thing, but it was amazing to watch the firefighters do their jobs.

They began with air strikes immediately and  were lucky enough to be able to dip water out of the lake.

As the day progressed, firefighters began to arrive by the truckload to do a 'foot' assault  (for lack of a better word)  (ground assault?)

This fire was in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in North East Oregon.

Wilderness = no roads in or out.  

They have to fight the fire by air and by hiking in.

They do an amazing job.

Watching the helicopters was amazing too.

They would fly back and forth down to the lake to pick up water.

In the morning before they closed the trails to hikers, we did hike up high enough to be eye level with the helicopters as they flew to the fire.

(pay no attention to the date on the first photo---the handyman had to put in some new batteries and didn't set his dates.  My camera has no dates on there.  I hate that by the way---I hate the date on the picture)

Those water baskets are a lot bigger than they look in the photos.

For now, they have the fire contained.

Thank you fire fighters!

I am sharing this with  West Metro Mommy  Reads and her Saturday Snapshot meme.

To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken.  Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

The Hurricanes (or bookclub)

What happens in book club stays in book club!

Unless you go to book club with me.

August's Lit Wit book club was fun- as  always.

I have a confession tho,  I did not read this book. 

 I've been having a bit of a reading slump lately.  Just kind of not into it, but that's enough about me,

most of my group, my wonderful, wonderful book club group enjoyed the book.

They did not love the book, but they enjoyed it.

See?  Here they are below---enjoying the book.

and here they are from the other side of the table---enjoying the book.

Or at least enjoying each other.

(That's all I have for the book.  I didn't read it, how can I review it?)

It was a great evening.

Let me tell you about it.

Our host Shauna, on the left, is a wonderful, gracious host. 

She made a couple of wonderful quiches--that were to die for!

And cheese cake for dessert that was YUMMY!

Shauna also loves a good theme, so when our book title said "Hurricane", she thought, why not?

She whipped up some authentic Hurricane glasses and made us some  authentic Hurricanes.

Look at this beautiful drink!

Look at this beautiful drink!

Look at this beautiful drink!

It was a beautiful, deadly drink.

Hidden inside was way too much rum. 

But, we really couldn't taste it.

Before we knew it --- we were a but tipsy. And we had all only had one.

We were out of rum.

Thankfully, we live only a couple of blocks away.

I texted this to the Handyman

You might be thinking "wow, how embarrassing"     "she should be ashamed".

Well.... I am not embarrassed.  I think it's rather funny and to be fair, I didn't have my glasses on.

When we realized we were out of rum, I asked the Handyman to bring some down.

Then, when I realized how tipsy we were, I was trying to make sure everyone had a ride home.

Translated?

bring down rum

Can you be available to take people home later

Do you think I'm hot?  

(it was my husband, we've been married 36 years, he better!)

(but then again, the hotness could just be menopause)

Please do not notice that it was only  8:20 when this took place.

Book club started at 7pm.

We are more than lightweights--we are feather weights!

I should be embarrassed that I can get so tipsy on one little drink.

That is the embarrassing part!!

As I said, Shauna is a great hostess.

It was a beautiful night.

Good food.

Good friends.

And I'm sure there was some great book discussion in there too.

I love these girls!

We never did have more than the one drink.

We might be silly when we get together for book club, but we are not stupid.

I love these girls.

(i think i said that)

Here are a few pictures I snapped that night, on my phone:

(I am laughing to myself as it looks like Massey jumped into every photo that evening)

The only tipsy photo I got....we decided to do the book club 'wave'.

Friday Friend Recipe #22 -- Yummy Drink

The end of summer is here.  Labor Day weekend has come and gone, soon we will be seeing Pumpkin recipes all over the place.  There will be no more time  for reading in the hammock sipping a cool beverage like this one.

Okay, there might be time, but the weather won't be cooperating  very much--already it is 48 degrees around here in the morning.  It warms up to 84 during the day, but it won't for very much longer.  And it's true---pumpkin pie spice EVERYTHING will be here soon.  Not to say that I'm not looking forward to it--I am, but  for now I still have some of this Yummy Frozen drink in the freezer and I'm going to enjoy it in these last warm days.

My mom used to make this Yummy Drink every summer and just kept it in her freezer.  My parents had a swimming pool and like to entertain friends during the summer at a swimming party or two.  This was always a refreshing drink to have on hand...for adults.  Because, of course it is an adult beverage.  

 Yummy Frozen Drink

1 12oz can frozen lemonade

1 12oz can frozen orange juice

1 fifth of vodka

9 cups of water

7-up

Mix all ingredients together except -up.

Stir and put in freezer.  It will get slushy but not freeze.  Fill glasses 2/3 full and top with 7-up.

Friday Friend cookbook:   I have about 50 of my closest friends and family 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 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.

Which brings you to this recipe #22 contributed by my mom.

Click on this link for all recipes in the Friday Friend cookbook--so far.

My mom:

I am not sure why we took this picture---except my mother was laughing over something that didn't work right in the kitchen.  (we were at our cabin in Oregon)  That is one thing I've always admired about my mom---she has a great sense of humor.
She laughs in the kitchen!!  

One summer we were having supper outside, after an afternoon in the pool.  I grabbed a bowl of baked beans out of the fridge (my mom served them cold) and I turned to hand it to her---well, we hit and missed and the bowl of beans went up into the air, spun around and landed on the kitchen floor.  Bowl right side up, but there were beans everywhere, even on the ceiling.
My immediate reaction was to be mad and frustrated at the situation!  
But then my mother started laughing.  And she couldn't stop, she laughed and laughed and laughed.  People came in to see what was so funny.  I think they saw beans on the ceiling, on the floor, on the appliances and in my hair.  She thought it was the funniest thing ever.
That would be my mother!  I need to take a cue from her and not take things so seriously.

I love that about her.

Needless to say, we didn't have beans that day.

Here is a link to other recipes from my mom.

Sunday Soup

Cheeseburger Paradise Soup

Today is the last day of August, an unofficial fall begins tomorrow.  I know it is still plenty hot in most places, but here in Winnemucca, we can feel fall in the air once in a while.  And in  the way the shadows fall as well as the earlier sunsets.

I might  get in trouble, but..... I love it.

What I love most about it is being able to try some new soups---and old ones too.  This was a new one for us, from the Taste of Home Magazine.

The Handyman LOVED this soup....and he is not a soup lover (he puts up with me because I do love it).   He raved about it, which can only mean a couple of things:

1.  It was really good 

2.  It was filling and hearty

 (emphasis on the filling, because that is his beef with soup usually.  He feels it's more of a first course)

He said, and I quote:  it has beef, potatoes, and cheese and bacon, what more do you need?

He is right.

What more do you need?

Okay, if you really feel you need a bit more, read the directions below.  Because you really do need the broth and seasonings---just makes it a bit better all the way around!

Cheeseburger Paradise Soup

Taste of Home

Ingredients

• 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 small carrot, grated
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
• 3 cups water
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 pounds beef
  
• 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5 cups 2% milk, divided
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 package (16 ounces) process cheese (Velveeta), cubed
• Crumbled cooked bacon

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, bring the first nine ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and mushrooms in butter over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add to soup. Stir in 4 cups milk; heat through.
3. In a small bowl, combine flour and remaining milk until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheese until melted. Garnish with bacon. Yield: 14 servings (about 3-1/2 quarts)

I am going to link up to 

Souper Sundays

at

Kahakai Kitchen

what is Souper Sundays?

Well...taken straight from the horses--I mean blogger's---mouth:

What is "Souper Sundays"?: 
Souper Sundays is a weekly blog event that started because of my love of soup and a desire to work through the many soup and soup-like recipes in my cookbooks and magazines, I set a goal to make a soup or "soupish" dish each week and post it each Sunday and invited others to do the same. I do a round up of all the participants each week on Sunday afternoon (Hawaii time!) with a description of their entry and link back to each participant's blog and their post

Friday Friend Recipe #21-- Brandied Steakside Mushrooms

 If there is anything harder to take a photo of.....uh...it could be mushrooms. I did my best tho.  
The Handyman grilled a  Tri-Tip roast the other day.  I understand that Tri-Tip is strictly a  western cut of meat, because the rest of the world has never heard of it.  It's beef.

The tri-tip is a cut of beef from the bottom sirloin subprimal cut. It is a small triangular muscle, 

 Often labeled "Santa Maria steak", the roast is most popular in the Central Coast of California and Central Valley regions of California,and has begun to enjoy increasing favor elsewhere for its full flavor, lower fat content, and comparatively lower cost.

It's good and easy to grill and sliced.   I said 'roast' but some people call it a Tri-Tip steak.   We grill it and then slice it.  Perfect for mushrooms.
These were really good too.  A bit different than my usual, butter and garlic salt rendition.
As you know...it's from the Friday Friend Cookbook, and this one is from my friend Theda.  (Please read here all about  her and all the other Theda recipes)
She's one of my oldest and dearest friends.

The reason these are a bit different is because they have brandy in them. And for some strange reason I have Brandy just sitting around.  I have no idea why as the Handyman and I are not ones to sit around in our dressing gowns with a snifter of brandy in the winter evenings.

I don't even own a dressing gown.

Or a brandy snifter.

I loved these mushrooms!

They are a perfect side dish anytime, but very fancy when you have company.

I am not going to retype the recipe because I think you can see it here well enough.

From the Friday Friend Cookbook:

And now, Theda!

I really hope you have  clicked and gone to see my other Theda posts.

I have a fear of repeating myself when it comes to FF Stories.

A few years ago,  My parents and their friends floated down the

Grand Ronde river in North Eastern Oregon and they invited us to go.

We in turn, invited Theda and her husband John.

The four of us were the youngest on the river trip.... and we are all over 50!

It's like where's Waldo in this picture.   I mean for finding the 'youngest' ones. All of the sudden we don't look so young.

How did that happen?

It was a lot of fun.

This was a July 4th weekend.  Look at all that snow in the mountains still.

John and Theda getting their safety gear on, so they don't drown if they fall out of the boat.

Relaxing during a lunch break.

These mountain goats watched us float by.