Blueberry Jello

I've been meanin to post recipes before, but I just haven't got around to it, til now. This recipe is a family favorite. The ingredients can be somewhat of a turn-off to many but I'm tellin ya now, it tastes NOTHIN like you'd think it would, so just give it a try!

For starters, you need 2 of the 3 oz boxes of grape jello, 2 Cups of boiling water, 1 can of blueberry pie filling, 1 can of crushed pineapple, 1 9 by 13 inch dish or the equivalent, like 2 pie dishes.



Dissolve jello in 2 cups of boiling water. Add pineapple (in this case I forgot and bought chunked, so I ran it through the mini-food processor) and blueberry pie filling to jello. When I make 2 pans of this, I pour the jello in the pans first, to make sure each pan has even amounts, then I divide the pineapple and blueberry pie filling evenly among each pan also.



Refridgerate until set. Last Saturday, because it was late, I made up the jello base and threw the pans in the fridge overnight to set, then early Sunday morning I made the topping and put them back in the fridge so the topping would have the length of hours needed to set before it would be devoured. (This dish is ALWAYS devoured).

In a saucepan, melt 16 (or in my case, 19) large marshmallows, in 1/4 C milk.



Let cool and add frozen cool whip and one small carton of cottage cheese.



You won't believe it but the cottage cheese really makes this dish. It adds a perfect blandness, if you will, that tones down what would be the too sweet flavors of all the other ingredients.



Then, because you made two pans and only one of them is goin to a party, feel free to eat half the second pan with your eldest son, before lunch time, because you know, this is much better than any protein your son could eat for lunch! And, one more thing, don't feel guilty about it!!

I'll bet this guy doesn't feel guilty about indulging in a little too much bird seed he finds in someone's backyard! Go for it!

A Day At Santa Fe Lake

Last Saturday a bunch of us went out to Santa Fe for the day.

Uncle Mike, E and the boys:












JD, River (Kendra and Jason's daughter), Wyatt, and mom:


Kendra and her cute baby belly:




Aunt D and her long-time friend, Gina:


JD had his first taste of pickle:






It doesn't look like he liked it but he went in for another bite:


Stubborn?
Nah! I prefer to think of it as 'determined'. God rest my mother's soul.

E, Uncle Mike, Wyatt, Jason, Riverlyn, Kendra, Gina, JD, and Aunt D:


Guess who was in the water all day?

Yup, him! The one that hasn't been in a lake, I think, since he was a kid. I was more than happy to stay longer just because he wasn't drenched in sweat, wearin his usual attire of jeans, sittin on the beach waitin for all of us to get done swimmin.

Politics vs. Patriotism

I have never posted about politics and this is not a post intended to be political. The main reason is patriotism. Just the word literally gives me goose-bumps. Patriotism runs coarse and thick in my blood. It's a way of life. It's a duty. It's a right. It's a feelin of pride that rivals the likes of no other.

I have a friend who is very knowledgable in many areas. She has posted in her blog on www.jingoist.us about the political issues affecting us now and what will be affecting us.

I watch the news, sometimes, because much of it is so sickening, and I hear what bills are bein passed, I read the Focus On The Family e-mails, have been on the NationalReview, and my thought is....Where in the world is the American Republic? I know there are many that are knowledgeable and many that are exercising their God-given and American freedom of speech, but for the most part I wonder just what the percentage is of those that aren't in the know of what is goin on from day-to-day in the White House, Senate and Congress. I have, in no way, reached the height of knowledge that I would like to be at but I'm workin on it! I don't want to be one of those dumb, numb, jump-on-the-bandwagon citizens that repeat what they've heard but can't engage in a healthy and wise conversation with someone of the opposite view!! I'm not so much into politics, but when it comes to my patriotism and love of my country and what it is grounded upon then I DO want to know politics as it pertains to the things I need to know in order to be an American who is not a by-product of a generation who mindlessly recites versed information about the issues at hand. I want the words that come out of my mouth to be based on truth, conviction and an all-encompassing knowledge.

One day, there will be a call-to-arms for the American Republic. I want to be ready to fight for my country using my inalienable rights to stand for the principles and guidelines that framed our Constitution and made our country the great and blessed one it has been. What I do have is a faith in the American townsmen and women that remember and live out our heritage with the zest and fortitude of that of our Fore Fathers! That is not a fire that will snuffed with a small puff but will be fanned to grow and engulf the wrong! I only pray our nation and the hard and honest citizens will not be detrimentally bruised. God knows the hearts of kings and the maneuvers of every army. Everything is in His control but we cannot forsake the blessings our nation has enjoyed being a nation that fears (i.e. respects) and trusts in Him.