Thinking about mom

Like every American September is such a surreal month.  Sunday Craig, the girls, and I watched the stories about 9/11.  Like every year I cry thinking about those innocent, brave people that had their lives taken from them for absolutely no reason.  Along with the memory of 9/11 I also am then taken back to that same September 10 years ago because during 9/11 and the days before that my mom was facing the battle of her life and 18 days after 9/11 she lost that battle.  As I was sitting on the couch fighting back tears ( and I do mean fighting them back, the kind that makes your neck hurt because your trying so hard not to loose it!) Craig  noticed that I was sitting there quietly crying.  Being the man I love so much without many words he just acknowledged that September is really a hard time for me.  I just quietly nodded and continued the internal fight with my pain.  I'm like every American and feel the pain for all of those innocent people but I also am taken back to the last month I had with my mom.  When I have those times of "breaking down"(as I like to call it) I sort of get mad at myself because I don't know why I rehash all of the sad times I had in September.  My mom wouldn't want me to sit here and think about those things.  She would want me to think of how active she was and how she seriously couldn't sit still for 5 minutes.  Like the time that when I was about 14 years old and we had gotten home from church.  My dad was sitting on the chair reading the newspaper and I was lying on the couch ready for an afternoon nap. My mom had told both of us we needed to get up and get outside and get some sun (she always believed everybody looked better with a tan- oh my!) we of course said,"Ok, in a minute." I swear not 5 minutes went by and the loudest noise made me and my dad jump!  She of course was outside and took the water hose, turned it to the "jet feature" and sprayed the window!  Point taken, dad and I were outside quickly.  I have so many little stories like that and have promised myself one day I'm going to write them all down so I can read them whenever I need a little pick me up or trip down memory lane.  

So after I have my small break down I normally feel a little better, a good cry for some reason helps and then I enjoy remembering my mom the way she would want to be remembered.  With all of that said I also find my mourning in the month of September to be somewhat healing.  I can look back at those sad times and it's a time of reflection for me. Reflection for the fact that I had a mom that loved me so much, a mom that was a giver (she loved to help anybody), a mom that enjoyed life, a mom that was a true believer in Christ, and also I realize the kind of mom and person I want to be.

So about now you might wonder why I'm posting pics of recipes!  This first one makes me think of my mom.  Do you have things that remind you of people or places?  I do!  Every time I take the first sip of apple juice I am instantly taken back to my Grandmommy's house!  It makes me so happy!!  So like that I have several things that make me think about my mom some are food, some are smells, some are flowers, the list goes on.  This is a recipe that she would make all the time and they are ADDICTING!!! The recipe follows:

1 packet of Ranch dip mix

2 TBSP of dillweed

1 TSP of lemon pepper

1/4 TSP of garlic powder

1 1/2 cups of cooking oil

2 packages of oyster crackers.

Mix the first 5 ingredients in a bowl, pour it the over crackers(they are spread out on cookie sheet) stick the cookie sheet into a preheated 200 oven and cook them for 30 minutes.  Every 10 minutes stir the crackers around to cook evenly. Let them cool and store them in an air tight container (as long as they last !) 

Pic of all the ingredients.

I put foil down so I don't have to wash the pan, anytime I can save myself from washing anything I do it!  Make sure and spread the crackers out.

This is one of my pieces of Jadite.  Another thing that reminds me of mom.  We would go around everywhere trying to collect it. Love it!  One day it will be displayed in my kitchen.

I got this for the girls at the HEB.  They love to cook with me, I love to use it while whisking small stuff like dressing, etc...

Yummy!  

Bake for 30 minutes and stir every 10 minutes.

Craig and the girls are going to be happy campers when they get home today!!!

This next recipe is a weight watcher recipe that I know my mom would have loved if she were still here. It's super easy and the girls love these muffins!  They are 2 points on weight watchers.

 Recipe:

1 Box of Spice cake mix

1 can of pumpkin (15 oz) make sure it's pumpkin not pumpkin pie mix!!

1/2 cup egg substitute 

Icing ( I don't do this we just like them plain, plus I think if you leave this off maybe points are a little less)

1/4 cup orange juice

2 TBSP powder sugar 

little orange zest

Preheat oven to 350, mix cake mix, pumpkin and egg sub.  Scoop into cupcake liners.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Let them cool.  Mix orange juice, sugar, and zest drizzle over muffins.

I made the muffins b/4 taking pics of ingredients so in this pic there is a pic of "pumpkin pie mix"  don't use that just use "pumpkin"  I tried to restage and I didn't have another can of pumpkin.  I also ran out of egg beaters and showed egg whites but you get the idea.  Just follow the recipe! :o)