Friday, July 13, 2007

Happy Friday the 13th!

How many times have you stayed home on Friday the 13th to prevent anything bad from happening to you?
How many times have you made an x on your car windshield after a black cat ran across the street in front of your car?
How many times have you thrown salt over your shoulder after spilling some on the table?
How many times have you stepped over the crack in the sidewalk or walked around the ladder instead of under it?
Your answers to these and other such questions just might tell how superstitious you are.

I really like the one about the left palm itching means you are going to get some money. Every time my palm itches I head for my nearest store and lottery tickets. Alas, that isn’t the money my itching palm must be announcing. All I can say is that if all those left palm itches every come true, Bill Gates watch out; there is a new multi billionaire.

Seriously speaking, there are many people who do believe strongly in superstitions. I must admit I am not one of them.
I stay home around most holidays because everyone is away and the streets and restaurants aren’t as crowded.
I find black cats beautiful majestic looking animals.
Open ladders mean that some much needed painting is getting done.
Rain on a wedding day means a nice cozy night with this person you have just promised to love no matter what.
Oh and the beautiful four leaf clover, please leave it and let it stay green and beautiful where it grows.
Let’s not forget the rabbit’s foot. The only bad thing I remember about it is that my brother always chased me with one to scare me because I felt sorry for the poor three legged rabbit.
And the chicken wishbone, again my brother always rigged it so he got the longer end.
The chill up my spine usually means I have run outside in the cold just for a second and didn’t wear a coat.
A bat in the house could mean serious illness or death as their droppings are highly toxic.
And finally, the idea that a great horror turns your hair white. I was graying by the time I was 18. According to family photos many of my ancestors did too. Hum. Do you suppose we all saw the same horror?

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Who's the Best Cooks: Men or Women Round 2

Happy 4th of July. It is a special day for me. It is my daughter's birthday and yes she was and still is a firecracker.

Well, it is time for another round in the battle of who's the best cooks, men or women. This time, I am including four recipes because they are a family affair. Neit, Edith and Mat are sisters who are fantastic cooks and Ollie Mae Pearson is their mom. Enjoy these.


Taco Soup
2 lbs. ground beef, browned, drained
2 (15 oz. each) cans pinto beans
2 (15 oz. each) cans whole kernel corn
2 (15 oz. each) cans diced tomatoes
2 pkg. taco seasoning mix tortilla chips
sour cream
grated cheese

In large pot, combine beans, corn, tomatoes and taco seasoning: mix well; add beef. Simmer over medium heat until soup is thoroughly warm. Place tortilla chips in bottom of soup bowls; ladle soup over chips; top with sour cream and cheese. Can substitute tomato sauce for tomates. Serves 6-8.

Submitted by: Juanita Pearson Watkins

Strawberry Pudding
2 pt. frozen strawberries, thawed, undrained
1/2 small box strawberry Jell-o
1/2 c. sugar
1 large box vanilla instant pudding mix
1 large carton Cool Whip
1 box vanilla wafers

Use 3 quart casserole. Place strawberries, Jell-o, and sugar in saucepan; heat until sugar and Jell-o dissolves; set aside to cool. Prepare pudding according to box directions; fold in 1/2 of Cool Whip. In casserole, layer: wafers, pudding, and strawberries. Top with remaining Cool Whip. Refrigerate until set. Serves 6

Submitted By: Mat Pearson Wolfe

Pineapple Cake
2 c. sugar
1 c. Butter Crisco
3 eggs
2 Tbsp. vanilla flavoring
2 c. Red Band Self-Rising flour
1 c. milk
1 box 10X powdered sugar
1 c. Crisco
1 medium can crushed pineapple, drained
reserved pineapple juice

Preheat oven to 350~. Grease and flour 3 - 9" cake pans. Blend sugar and Butter Crisco with mixer until smooth; add eggs, 1 at time; mix well; add 1 tablespoon vanilla. Add flour and milk, alternating; mix until smooth. Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake 25 minutes or until middle springs back at touch. Remove; cool. To prepare icing: Combine powdered sugar, Crisco and 1 tablespoon vanilla; mix until smooth. Place bottom layer on plate; prick with fork; spoon 1/3 of pineapple juice over layer; frost with icing; spread 1/3 of crushed pineapple on top. Repeat with juice, frosting, and crushed pineapple with remaining layers. Refrigerate.

Submitted By: Edith Pearson Battle

Bread Pudding
4 - 5 homemade biscuits
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1 stick butter, sliced

Preheat oven to 400~. Use 9x13 baking dish. Place biscuits in bowl; just cover with hot water; cover and steam until soft. Add eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla; mix well. Place in dish; dot top with butter slices. Bake 40 minutes. To make chocolate bread pudding, add 1/4 cup cocoa. To make rice pudding, substitute bread with 2 cups cooked rice. Serves 8 - 10

Submitted By: Ollie Moore Pearson

Mrs.Pearson lived to be 92 years old.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the Timeless Treasures cookbook, you can call the Interact office at 828-7501

Interact is a non-profit agency in Wake County that assists victims of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

There are still Good Samaritans

A friend of mine sat with her husband who was waiting for tests to be done at a veteran's hospital. She looked up to see an elderly man being pushed into the room in a wheelchair by a young woman who had a noticeable limp. The man in the chair was thanking the young woman for being so kind and helping him into the hospital from the parking lot.

The young woman was an employee of the hospital. She called for someone to besure that the man had a wheelchair to help him during his entire visit at the hospital. She helped him from the wheelchair to one of the regular chairs in the waiting room.

Then, with some difficulty she managed to turn and sit down in her wheelchair. The man thanked her again and wanted to know who her supervisor was. He wanted s/he to know how wonderful the young woman had been to him. When the young woman was leaving the older man assured her that God would reward her. She smiled and told him that God had already rewarded her. Eleven years ago, the doctors only gave her one year to live.

It seems that the young woman had come up on the man struggling in the parking lot and gave him her wheelchair and then pushed him into the hospital.

"The Samaritan used his own bandages, wine, oil, donkey, and money to care for a hurt man he did not know. Luke 10:30-35."