Over the past several years, I have been visiting one of my mother’s friends in a nursing home.   My mother passed away several years ago, and so our visits in the nursing home have meant as much to me as to the lady I visit.  We talk about my mother, the upcoming birth of my grandbabies, or catch up on news about people we both know.

Due to the fact that her health is deteriorating (she’s 90 years old), her hearing has gotten worse and it’s getting hard for her to talk.  Sometimes the words just won’t come out like she wants them to.  So, our past several visits have mostly been a one-sided conversation with me doing the talking and with her having a hard time hearing what I say.  This last visit, though, I didn’t talk much since she was straining to hear me.  I just sat there holding her hand and gently rubbing it.  After a while, she looked at me and said, “I like for you to rub my hands.  That feels good.  It makes me feel like someone cares about me.” Wow!  That really touched my heart and goes to show how much touching someone communicates love!

How do you like the dyed Easter eggs in the picture?  My kids decorated those!   Our daughter, s-i-l, and son had so much fun coloring these eggs several years ago.  But… I didn’t boil the eggs and instead blew out the insides so we could save their eggs.  I’m SO glad I did that!   I just wish I had put their initials on the eggs so I would know who decorated each egg.

I store the eggs in an egg carton during the year, and then we enjoy them every Easter.  They make a pretty centerpiece!

Here’s how to blow the insides out of an egg:

• Let the eggs sit out for half an hour or so.  Make sure they don’t have any cracks, etc.
  
• Hold the egg over a clean bowl and gently poke the smaller end of the egg with a straight pin and then made the hole a little larger with a sharp knife until the hole is about 1/16 of an inch in diameter.  Make sure to puncture the membrane inside the egg.
  
• Then gently poke the larger end of the egg with a sharp knife until the hole is about 1/4 inch in diameter but no larger.  Again, make sure to puncture the membrane inside the egg.    Insert a toothpick into the hole and gently stir to loosen the inside of the egg.
  
• Hold the egg over the bowl with the smaller end on top.  Gently wipe the outside of the egg to clean it, and then blow into the smaller hole.  The inside of the egg should drip out of the larger hole into the bowl.
• After the eggs are completely emptied, add a drop of dishwashing detergent and water inside each egg.  Cover the ends and gently shake the egg.  Then rinse out the egg with water.
• Let eggs dry and then decorate as usual.  (We used an Easter egg kit.)

Come join us at Val’s Four Foods on Friday on her site, Fun Crafts and Recipes!

#1. What’s your favorite cereal?

I like several different cereals, but Cheerios is my favorite right now.
#2. What do you use to flip food on the stove?

Usually a spatula (my favorite one is from IKEA and cost $0.99)
#3. What’s your favorite type of donut?

Blueberry cake donut
#4. Share a rice recipe.

Singapore Curried Chicken with Rice

Some of my favorite lights are the solar powered led lights that are used outside in gardens and flower beds.  I wish we had more of these and plan to eventually get more.  They are really great because they are practically maintenance free.  Our friends have quite a few in their garden area, and the soft light is very inviting.  It’s just the right amount of light to sit outside and enjoy the evening.

Are you going to be visiting San Diego soon and needing a San Diego hotel to stay in?  There are beautiful hotels there such as the boutique hotel pictured.   I have a friend who visited that area on a business trip with her husband and really enjoyed it.  It sounds like a nice place to visit, whether for a business trip or for a vacation!

(TRUFFLES CAN BE MADE INTO EASTER EGGS)

Here’s an easy recipe that looks impressive:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 package Oreo cookies, crumbled
  
• 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
  
• White chocolate bark
• 1 chocolate candy bar or chocolate chips

Using a food processor or by hand, mix the crumbled Oreos with the cream cheese.  When mixed well,  form into balls or Easter egg shapes.   Chill in the fridge.  Melt white chocolate bark and dip each ball/egg into the white chocolate, securing the ball/egg  from underneath with toothpicks when dipping.  Cool on waxed paper.  Melt the candy bar/chocolate chips and then drizzle over the tops of the truffles.  Let cool again.  Enjoy!

Ideas for serving:

• Fill a pretty, glass canister with truffles.  Tie a fabric ribbon around the top and tie a bow.
• Place truffles on pretty glass plate with a paper doily.
• Place truffle eggs on a “grassy field” of coconut dyed green. (place coconut in a plastic bag with a couple of drops of green food coloring, close the bag securely, and shake until coconut is colored)
• Decorate the top of an empty egg carton and place truffle eggs inside the carton.
• Put truffles in Easter paper cupcake liners.  Place inside an Easter basket that is low and wide so the “eggs” can be seen easily.

Nowadays, people are looking outside the box, so to speak, to find various ways to make a living.  They’re exploring what talents they have, what opportunities are available, and maybe looking into what franchises are for sale.  They want an honest way to make a good living for their family.  There are franchises available in most states, so if this is something you’re interested in then research, find people who are already in that particular line of work and ask them lots of questions.  See if that franchise would be best for you.

#1. What’s your favorite green food?

A nice fresh, green salad.
#2. Do you eat anything special on St Patrick’s Day?

No, just regular food.
#3. Do you drink any Irish beverages – tea, coffee, ale, beer, etc?

Tea which I drink every day.
#4. Share a recipe for corned beef.

I don’t have a recipe for corned beef, however, I do have a recipe that uses canned roast beef hash.  That’s the closest thing I have.  LOL

My Mother-in-Law’s “Hash Tacos”

What girl doesn’t like a pretty piece of jewelry to accent her outfit?  Some may want just one piece of jewelry such as a bracelet for their accent, while others may want a matching set of necklace, bracelet, and earrings.  Whether one wants diamonds or colored gemstones, Reeds Jewelers has been serving customers since 1946.

Customers can design their own jewelry such as a custom made diamond engagement ring, or they can choose from a great selection of engagement rings as well as wedding bands and wedding gifts.  This family-owned company wants to help plan a perfect wedding!

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe years ago.  It’s been a long time since I’ve made these tacos, but I used to make them a lot.  They’re really tasty!

INGREDIENTS:

• 15 ounce can roast beef hash
• 15 ounce can chili without beans
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper
• taco shells
• diced tomato
• shredded cheese
• shredded lettuce
• diced onion

Mix the hash, chili, and green pepper together.  Heat thoroughly and serve in taco shells.  Top with tomato, cheese, lettuce, and onion or whatever you like on tacos.