All Ya'll Ancestors

Pocket Tree

Pocket Tree
Keep your ancestry in your pocket!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Mrs. Richard (Betty) Berry Boiled Peanut Butter Cookies Bluefield College Virginia


Bluefield College is a small Christian Liberal Arts School in Virginia - it's on the border of West VA and VA.
  I figure this boiled cookies recipe is either June's or Bernice's recipe.  It may be June's, becuase she was a teacher, and intereacted with a lot of other teachers from all over...Or more probably it may have been Bernice's because she was a pastor's wife, and knew many other people from Christian backgrounds.  I tried to google Mrs. Betty Berry.  There seem to be several other Berrys still attending Bluefield College....but I still need to do an ancestry search on Mrs. Berry.  I am curious!  It makes me think I need to go back through all my recipes and put notes about how and where and when I got MY recipes from friends.  That way my descendants will know a little bit more about me and not have to wonder......

Friday, April 15, 2011

Family Recipe Friday: Chocolate or Vanilla Spritzkuchen Cookies with Fluffo!

June was very good friends with a couple of Mary's,
so I am not going to guess which Mary this recipe is from. 
All I know if that they sound like good cookies to make for Easter. 
Or anytime!
And here is another recipe for FLUFFO!  
Maybe I should have just designated this as
FLUFFO week!
It just cracks me up.
(You can use Crisco instead of Fluffo.)
Sounds like a dog's name!
Or instead of "Here kitty, kitty."...
"Here, Fluffo!"
Thinking of Easter...
Fluffo would be a fantastic name for any Easter chicks or bunnies.
If you get live ones that is. 
Someday, I will have to get a good laying hen
and name her Fluffo! 
Have a good weekend everyone! 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Fluffo Jam Sandwich Cookie Bars


Word of the day:
FLUFFO!
This was a new one to me.
Maybe I'm just dating myself,
How many of you have ever used FLUFFO?
How many of your grandmothers have ever used FLUFFO?
You should ask them!
These jam sandwich cookies sound like a precursor to
a power breakfast bar. 
Not anything you really worried about
back in the days of
FLUFFO!
While you're at it though...
don't forget to take off the paper before you bake the cookies!
ANd for more tidbits on FLUFFO, do a search on youtube....
Nowadays you can probably use Crisco shortening instead. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Hot Fudge Sauce for Ice Cream Sundaes

Umm  Yummm!  I think I could make this and eat the whole pot! 
My dear hubby (aka resident tomato hater)  made stir fry for me tonight. 
It was delicious, but has left me hankering for something sweet. 
I wonder if he'd notice if I made this and ate the whole potful? 
I am sure June Parker Vissotzky would approve! 
Although the more I think of it the less appealing the "whole pot" idea is sounding. 
Plus I have no ice cream in the house. 
Soooooooooo
just strike the whole pot idea. 
 Hot fudge sauce will have to wait for another day.
Sometimes it is a good thing I talk myself out of things.
Sometimes.... 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Hash Browns, French Fries, French fried Potatoes, and Mushroom Gravy


Hash Browns! 
If I would have had potatoes on hand, I would have surpised
my dear hubby with hash browns and eggs this morning!
But, alas, no ptoatoes!
Sacriledge!
Growning up with a mother from Germany,
how on earth can ANYONE be without POTATOES in the house?
 Some of you can probably relate!
But there you have it.  Not even a box of instant Mashed taters in house!
SSHHhhhh!!!
Please don't tell my mom! 
In the meantime...
I think a good plate of nicely browned
hash brown potatoes
with mushroom gravy on top
sounds delicious!
AND inexpensive!
Now excuse me while I go to the store to get some potatoes! 


Friday, April 8, 2011

Kraft Gaucho Dinner a la June

You know, this sounds pretty good.  And easy. 
And I am a sucker for anything that sounds
like even a resemblance to Mexican or Tex-Mex food!
I don buy or make processed foods much. 
Not because it seems to be a trend. 
I'm just that way.
But I looked up Kraft Mexican dinner on their website,
and I am not sure they make it anymore!
So when I make this I will probably just buy a box of good ole
Kraft Macaroni and cheese
and then make it as posted here. 
Yum!
Oh - and the 20 gold stars for Gebhardts Tamales?
What can I say - it was in June's recipe box! 
And I like the art.
And Gebhardts!
Let me know if ya'll stumble upon any Kraft mexican dinners!
Pretty Please!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Spring into Easter with Cheese Bunnies

Cheese Bunnies.   Easter falls on a late date this year. 
If your kids or grandkids are driving you hopping crazy (sorry...couldn't resist!) 
settle them down with cheese bunnies! 
But for the life of me, I can't figure out why they are called bunnies -
unless it because they are round (the bun) with a little white tail (the egg). 
But I can't keep myself from wondering - where are the bunny's ears? 
Or his head for that matter! 
The more I thnk about the more it worries me. 
All different scenarios flash before my eyes...
and as I hum in my head
"Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin down the bunny trail..."
it quickly becomes
"little rabbit FuFu, I don't wanna see you,
scoopin up the field mice and boppin them on the head!" 
Oh my.
SO - in order to save questions from inquiring 4 year olds,
and so that I can sleep at night without worrying about the bunny...
Here is an addendum to the Cheese Bunnie Recipe:
After cooking the recipe as per the instructions above,
serve the bunnie onto the plate,
take the part of the bun that you cut out with the cookie cutter,
(you may want to toast that part as well)
and place it above the bigger bun with the egg.
Voila!
The bunny now has a head!
Just remember you are looking at the backside of Mr. Bunny.
"But what about the ears?" says your inner 4-year old voice.
You have options here.
Either cut off a piece of bread in ear shapes from the bunny head,
(Oh no - I am hearing little rabbit FuFu again!)
and place above the head for ears, or slice a piece of fruit -
 banana, apple, or what have you,
and place above the head.
Just make sure you give it a nice bunny ear shape.
You want your bunny to have ears he'd be proud of, don't you?
Okay.
I am back to humming "Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin down the bunny trail,
hippity hoppity, Easter's on it's way....!"
I can picture June Vissotzky making this for her 2 children when they were little, can't you?



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

English Muffins


Oh do you know the muffin man,
the muffin man, the muffin man?
Who didn't sing this nursery song while growing up? 
I'm not sure who Mary H. was - one of June Parker Vissotzky's
many good friends. I have an idea who it was...but
can't ever know for sure since all that was written
was Mary H's cookbook.
I made English Muffins once. 
once being the keyword.
They made great dog frisbee treats, and flung really well off the deck!.
Let's just leave it at that, shall we?
My Dad always enjoyed a good English Muffin.
They were a real treat for breakfast on the weekends.
He also really enjoyed breakfast. 
I would have liked to make English Muffins for him.
Good English Muffins. 
Not the dog frisbee kind.
Maybe I should try again
using June's recipe from Mary H's cookbook!
I hear the muffin man calling me.....

Monday, April 4, 2011

One Lovely Blog Award!

I was honored to be presented the "One Lovely Blog Award: by both Lori at of  Genealogy and Me and Judy at UK-Australia Genealogy.  (Nice to be offered from across the ocean, Judy!)  I am so glad you all are enjoying my blog.  Along with the award comes the following responsibilities:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and    their blog link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I have chosen the following 15 blogs...If you haven't already discovered them, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Flint Hills of Kansas
Why? Because this is a very informative blog on an area near and dear to my heart.  I used to live in this neck of the woods.  The Leaches, Reaughs, and Crouses lived here on my side, and my husband has the Andress's who still live in the Alta Vista area.  Thanks Dr. Bill!  Your blog brings back many fine memories!

Stiffs and Stones Over Thy Dead Body
What can I say...I love the name! I also can relate with Jennifer's passion for traipsing around cemetaries with a camera! 

Barking Up Our Family Tree
I can relate with her drive to push on with genealogy after her mother died....When my Dad passed away he was the last link on his side of the tree...

Nick Gombash's Genealogy Blog
Nick is young, but he writes a good blog on Hungarian genealogy!  What...nno Hungarian roots...weeell, he's not too bad at German genealogy either...and who can resist a fellow gardener?

The Lost Fort
Gabriele lives in Germany and has a WONDERFUL blog chock full about life and times in the middle ages in Europe.  Fascinating!

Kentucky in My Heart
What a witty blogger!...altho this should be no surprise since she also writes the Diary of a Mad Genealogist blog...love it!!!

Two Bubbles Off Center
Oh she's good!   Harold's Daughter already has the One Lovely Blog Award...but what the hey!   Her blog is how I think I would like to write about my ancestors some day.  Love her use of pictures to make it all more real! 

American Pomeroy Historic Genealogic Association
What can I say?  I have some Pomeroys up my tree....!

Ancestral Wormhole
OMG - I need to copy over ALL my VHS!  like - YESTERDAY! Just enough tech info to appease the geek in me, combined with  genealogy. Thank you!

Haplogroup H
Because I am still trying to wrap my mind around DNA -speak!  FINALLY!  Somebody is here to help me make heads and tails of it!

Genealogy Guide Poland
My husband is Polish, and My Mom was born in what is now Poland.  How can I not recommend them for the One Lovely Blog Award?  I would love to go on one of their tours someday....

Al's Polish American Genealogy Research
WOW! Al packs a ton of info into his blog....It's like opening presents at Christmas!

Illinois Genealogical Society
The Kansas side of the Leaches and Reaughs settled there from Illinois in 1876. It was Illinois' strong presense on the web that helped me break through my first brick walls.  Thank you for that!

Mckinney, Texas Public Library Genealogy Blog
What a gem of a blog!  I went here not sure what to expect.  My husband's ancestors had an historic home in McKinney - The John Faires home is at the Chestnut Square Historical Village and is the oldest still standing home in McKinney. But more than that, this blog is great at keeping you in the loop of what is out there to help us check our genealogical sources! 

Prince William County Virginia Genealogy Cool!  If I am not mistaken, I need to pour through this blog.  Now that I have found out that my family has been in America since dirt...some came through Prince William County, VA.  Lots of enticing tidbits to be found here! 

So there you have it folks!  My 15 blog choices for the One Lovely Blog Award.  What a brilliant brainstorm someone had when they developed the One Lovely Blog Award concept.  GREAT Marketing!  Now go forth and Blog!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Pineapple Icebox Dessert with Vanilla Wafers

Opal Faires Troop never had any kids. 
My husband and sister-in-law remember her as being very set in her ways
and always having to be on best behavior when they went to visit her in Oklahoma City.
Maybe it's because I met her as an adult. 
Or maybe it's because she was always nice to me and loved
holding my son when he was a baby.
But I liked Opal.
I liked Opal alot.
And I miss her now that she is gone. 
Which is why it is especially nice to have her recipe. 
It's the kind of recipe you could take to a potluck and never get a chance
to try it unless you were in the front of the line.
I doubt you'd have even have a crumb to bring back. 
Especially on a hot summer day.
It will be here soon enough!  
But until it is...make your family some of Opal's Pineapple Icebox Dessert
and make your plans for warmer weather!  

Friday, April 1, 2011

Family Recipe Friday: Easy Cheesy Pizza Sandwiches

AT LAST!!!  It's Friday!!!
AND April Fool's Day!
And I can't think of one thing to do for a prank.
It has just been one of THOSE kind of weeks! 
So instead of a prank - here's an easy cheesy dinner that everyone should like! 
When I make this, I usually use colby jack cheese
instead of processed cheese...
nothing personal, I just don't usually buy that stuff.
Probably because of the word "processed" in front of it.
I have been known to devour it when served as a hot dip with chips however.
I do break my standards every once in a while. :)
So here you go. 
Processed cheese or otherwise...
Pizza sandwiches can fit the bill for an easy cheesy lunch or dinner!
And I bet that is why it was in June's recipe box!!! 
She liked to fix fancy sandwiches for her folks!
Happy Friday and April Fool's Day everyone! 

Ancestors Gotta Eat!