Sometimes You Just Have to Eat the Whole Thing

For anyone who knows me, you know that I can be a tad bit extreme.  Some of you may even call it inappropriate.  It's all good, I have a high sense of self-awareness when it comes to this.  I have to say, however, I've tamed down a bit in my old age...except when it comes to two things...wine and Ice Cream Dessert.

Ice Cream Dessert.  If I embarrassed easily, I MIGHT be embarrassed to say that I once ate half a pan of this stuff in less than a day.  And, when I say 'less than a day', I really mean 30 minutes.

I'm not even sure where this dish originated because, like Gigi, I can't remember a thing.  With that said, it has made an appearance at most birthday celebrations since I was a wee child.  

Its most recent appearance was a week ago when 9 of our family friends came over to pack meals for Kids Against Hunger.  I wanted something extra good to reward their generous hearts.

I remember thinking to myself...
'Becky, you could make one pan of this delicious dessert, but warning, you may not have any leftovers for yourself afterwards.  I very much think it would be proper for you to make two pans'.  
If I can brag for a moment,  my self-talk can lead to great ideas. So, two pans it was and thus the 30 minute snarf fest of all the leftovers.

I hope you enjoy it enough for an inappropriate feast of your own:

Ice Cream Dessert

Ingredients

36 Oreos
½  cup melted butter
½ gallon vanilla ice cream (you know me…Schwan's is the best)
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup powdered sugar
4 oz. squares semi-sweet chocolate
5½ oz. evaporated milk

Instructions

•  Crush Oreos in a zip lock baggie; add the melted butter and combine.
• Press Oreo mixture into a 9x13 pan.
• Spread ice cream over top the Oreo mixture.
• In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter, powdered sugar, chocolate and milk; cook until thick, stirring constantly.
• Allow chocolate to cool thoroughly.
• Top the ice cream with the chocolate sauce.
• Keep frozen until ready to serve.

Consistency Matters...I'll sign up for Corn Dip

Spend one day with Gigi and you will know pretty much everything about her...she is likely THE most consistent and routine person you'll ever meet.  I often wonder if anyone else with memory problems does the same.  Let me ask one...  Okay, so I just asked myself and came to the conclusion that no...a bad memory does not mean you will do the same thing every day to avoid forgetting but it's a good hypothesis regardless.

Anywho.  Start off your day and give Gigi a call, oh say around 9:00 to be safe.  WRONG...you will quickly find out that Gigi is not a morning person.  A 10:00 phone call is preferable.  She'll still be in her pj's, but hey, she'll at least have gotten to an upright position.

From 10:00 until someone pays her any attention, you will find Gigi engrossed in either smutty TV or with one of her word puzzles.  When she's feeling REALLY sassy, she can do both at the same time.  Note to self, avoid Gigi during this time frame.  The TV is on a volume level that will make you cuss or she will ask you a gazillion times what the 3 letter word for 'fuss' is.  (It's 'ado' if anyone cares).

Next, take Gigi to lunch.  I don't care where you go, the lady will order a tuna fish sandwich.  This is where her routine comes in handy.  Allow me to explain...If you take Gigi to lunch and hand her over a Scotty's Brewhouse sized menu, be prepared to also hand her over her Xanax because giving her too many choices stresses her out.  Ensure the location either has 1-2 choices on their menu or just take her to Subway, like I do, so that you can order a 6" tuna on white, no cheese, add tomatoes, pickles, lettuce and onion...BA BAM!!

Onto the afternoon.  An afternoon with Gigi can be difficult...she doesn't nap.  Why doesn't she nap?  I can't understand this.  She says she has never been able to nap.  "But," I say to her, "you are old...old people nap."  Either way, one must either prepare themselves for the aforementioned 10:00 routine or engage her in a riveting game of Dominoes.  I prefer the latter...so does my mom...so does my 4-year old daughter.  What I find most intriguing is that Gigi reverts to a toddler when playing Dominoes...she will pout and carry on if you play your domino where she wanted to play hers.  My 4-year old shows more maturity than Gigi.  It's quite entertaining.

By dinnertime, it's time to drop Gigi off at home.  You're exhausted (even though you have done nothing strenuous) and she is exhausted, because, well, she's 82 and most everything exhausts her.  She will hunker down to a blaring tv and put in a microwaveable dinner.  She may eat a bite or two of it but the sweets sitting on her counter will eventually win her over.  You know, she once told me that she ate a gooey bun and root beer for dinner so that she could save some space for dessert.   She then followed it up with, "Don't tell your mom." What the...?  So, of course I called my mom to fill her in.  We both got a good laugh.

Bedtime is always a chore when it comes to Gigi.  She can't understand why she has trouble falling asleep and gets annoyed with me when I tell her it's because she doesn't wake up until 10:00...or because a hibernating bear wouldn't be able to sleep if he had to hear her tv.  Either way, late to bed for Gigi which inevitably means a 10:00 wake up.

This all leads me to Corn Dip in a most bizarre way.  Corn Dip is part of my routine...it is the dip I consistently go to for work pitch-ins, parties with friends, holidays...you name it.  See how I italicized the words 'routine' and 'consistently'?  That's my stretch.

Regardless, it always is a hit!  Even my gluten-free peeps eat this although I have no idea if it is, in fact, gluten free.  My mom started making this dip several years ago after her bestie, Vickie, introduced her to it and it's now a staple in my house.

Corn Dip

Ingredients

2 - 17.5 oz cans corn, drained
1 - 4.5 oz can chopped green chilis
1 - 4.5 oz can jalepeno peppers
3 green onions, chopped
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream (use regular, not reduced fat or it will make the dip too thick)
1/2 cup salsa verde or jalepeno salsa
10 oz shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
10 oz shredded cheddar cheese (regular shred, not finely shred)
dash of garlic powder
dash of salt

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, salsa, garlic powder and salt
• Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well
• Refrigerate overnight if possible, but at the very least, a couple hours.
• Serve with Fritos Scoops (seriously, nothing else tastes as good...Yes, the pic has tortilla chips but that is only because I ran out of Fritos Scoops while eating the rest of the corn dip)

"The Last Supper"...Red Meat Edition

Gigi's 82nd Birthday Gift -- A Kindle

Happy 82nd Birthday Gigi!!  Okay, so this post is a bit tardy...she turned 82 a week ago.

To celebrate our love for Gigi (and our love for dinner), mom put together Gigi's "Last Supper".  This means that Gigi was put in charge of choosing her very own birthday meal.   Now, for anyone that knows Gigi, you know that making decisions is not her forte.  I'm sure she had to pop an extra sleeping aid over worry of making the right choice.  Despite this,  no one in the family was surprised when meatloaf was the chosen meal.

To understand the meatloaf, one must go back to the olden days...you know, the days when Gigi was a young bride.  You see, my grandparents were dairy farmers.  And, if you know a farmer, you know that a steady diet of red meat is on the menu...hence, the meatloaf.  You think I joke, but I'm as serious as a hog on butchering day when I say I cannot recall a meal at my grandparent's table where red meat wasn't the star of the show.  (Look at me acting like I know farm talk...totally came up with the hog metaphor all by me lonesome.  I realize it doesn't probably make sense)

Although Alzheimer's has taken many of Gigi's memories from her, the memories of the farm are as sharp as ever... Grandpa Earl milking and running the combine...Gigi tending to her garden...a long gravel driveway with a Model A parked in its spot...composting on the farm side of the fence... two Irish Setters lazing around on the property...wait a sec, these are MY memories too!!

Farming wasn't just a job for them, it was a lifestyle and they LOVED it.  In fact, Grandpa Earl bought the farm for $1 from a guy in St. Louis.  This man saw that Grandpa had the passion...just not the green stuff, so he allowed him a downpayment of $1 and his good word.  I just love that story!

Okay, back to meatloaf.
This recipe is not Gigi's although she made a great meatloaf.  This recipe is not my mother's...she made an even better meatloaf.  This recipe is mine.  I'm not saying it's better than my mom's, but it is.  You know why?  Because it contains onions and green peppers...two of my mother's enemies.  Mom...seriously, get on the bandwagon.

B's Meatloaf

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1/2 cup shredded carrots, minced
1 medium onion, minced
1/2 green pepper, minced
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 tsp Famous Dave's Rib Rub
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Topping

1/2 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp yellow mustard

2 Tbsp mild sweet chili sauce

2 Tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

• Saute carrots, onion and pepper with some salt and pepper until softened (about 10 minutes); set aside to cool
• Mix the panko crumbs and milk in a large mixing bowl until milk is absorbed (may take a little more milk depending on how dry and coarse the panko)
• Add the meats, egg, and seasonings to the bread crumb mixture; use your hands to incorporate all ingredients being careful not to over mix. 
• Press into a loaf pan...I use a 4-mini loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35 minutes.  (If you make one ginormous loaf, you will likely have to bake it at least 45 minutes)
• Add topping half way through baking.
• Once baking is complete, let meat rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Before I sign off, I should explain the Kindle.  For as long as I've known Gigi, she has been engrossed in word and number games...cross word puzzles, Scrabble, word searches, Solitaire...she loves them all.  Not kidding, she even has special pens that she uses on her puzzle books.  Don't even think about using one...she will go off the deep end.  

Thus, the Kindle...no need for special writing utensils.  She is intrigued by the iPad and is constantly trying to figure out how to use it.  So, we decided we can download a bunch of puzzles AND let her go to town trying to figure the stinkin' thing out.

Truth be told,  I LOVE that she has this as a hobby.  I often wonder how much sooner she would've been diagnosed if this hobby of hers did not exist.  There are TONS of research articles out there linking strong minds and strong memories with word games.  Many state those engaged in puzzle games throughout their life were much less likely to form the brain plaques that are associated with Alzheimer's.  I just find that very interesting and thank puzzles for having given us some more years to her mind.  Now, I'm off to stimulate my own magnificent mind with a good game of LogiGrid on my iPad while snacking on a meatloaf sammie (free app...check it out).

BTW, if you happen to be Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels or someone who works for the American Heart Association, please know that I get that red meat should be limited.  We try to limit our red meat consumption to once a week, but when Mama B makes her meatloaf, game over...we'll be eating red meat leftovers for a good 4 days.  Thank you and goodnight.

The Schwan's Man, an Ice Cream Scoop & Gigi's Chocolate Sauce

Ahhh, "The Schwan's Man"...this lovely shell of a man showed up every other week at Grandpa Earl & Gigi's Illinois farm house to unload a 5 gallon tin of vanilla ice cream.  (Yep, I said 5 gallons and yep, I said every other week...keep it to yourself ...my curves don't come from eating celery.)  My grandparents had some massive sweet teeth...a dominant gene I have inherited from both of them.  To be honest, I'm fairly certain that sugar has allowed Gigi's dentist to take an early retirement but I digress.

"The Schwan's Man" is to our family like whiskers are to a kitten.  I have absolutely no idea where that came from but I imagine that whiskers are vitally important to a kitten...thus, "The Schwan's Man" was and is vitally important to me.

Okay, so let me put it one other way just to ensure you really get it.  When my sister, Kelly & I moved to Indiana in grade school with my mom and dad, we felt lost.  That is, until my mom caught a glimpse of a Schwan's truck out of the corner of her eye one afternoon.  Unafraid that she looked like a crazy, starved wolf lady, she ran down the street, arms a' flailing and screaming for "The Schwan's Man" to stop and sell her 5 gallons of vanilla ice cream (and frozen cookie dough, Gold'n Nugget Bars, and Scooter Crunch Bars to boot). 

Fast forward 25 years and I now have Jason, my very own "The Schwan's Man" who makes pretty much the same delivery to my home as his predecessor made to Gigi's.  Love!  BTW, if you want a "The Schwan's Man", here's their website.

Our love for ice cream is great...not denying this, but let's just break it down like it really is...a vehicle for the chocolate sauce...and Gigi made THE BEST!!  And, I would really be lying if I didn't acknowledge the fact that Grandpa Earl's green ice cream scoop made our treat taste even better somehow.

My Grandpa Earl gave me his ice cream scoop for Christmas one year...just a couple of years before cancer took him from us.  Cancer is just as rude as Alzheimers...just sayin'.  To this day, this beat up ol' green ice cream scoop is my most cherished gift.  It is a constant reminder of him and his love for us (and ice cream).  Not to get too sappy, but I really wish he was here right now snarfing down this delicious bowl of Schwan's vanilla ice cream with me.  

Gigi's Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
1 (14.5) oz. can evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup butter  (Gigi used "oleo" because that's what she used in EVERYTHING)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp instant coffee grounds (not in Gigi's original recipe but I like the boost of flavor)

Instructions

• Heat the milk and sugar in a medium sauce pan to a rolling boil, stirring constantly
• Boil and stir for AT LEAST 1 minute, or until sugar is dissolved
• Add chocolate, stirring until melted and smooth (use your whisk and beat the tar out of it)
• Remove from heat to add your butter, vanilla, salt and coffee

May you enjoy this recipe as much as I have!

I'm a newbie...please be kind

So, I'm new to this blog thing.  Was somewhat resistant to it but was hounded by enough people to create one, so here I am...be easy on me.

I've created this blog for two reasons...I love food and I love my Gigi.

We all get the food thing.  There are enough food blogs out there to make a girl go blind.  That doesn't make it any less lovely to me.  Cooking is a hobby for me.  No, actually cooking is therapy to me.  I am a happy and content person...I love to cook...coincidence?  I think not.

But Gigi.  Now that's something that's unique to me and my history.  Gigi is my maternal grandmother and she has been one of the most significant institutions in my life.  Yes, I said institutions.  She is more than a person, more than my mother's mother, more than my grandmother.  She is Gigi, she is an institution.

Gigi was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.  It's an awful and rude disease and if you harp in on these characteristics, it will getcha.  I, however, choose to focus on the characteristics that absolutely make me crack up.  Not every day, mind you.  Yes, sad and weepy at times.  But mostly, I find it amusing that she wonders how the black bean got it's name (story to follow I'm sure) and other such shenanigans.

Gigi initiated my love of cooking.  It's not that she's a good cook or anything (no offense Gigi) but she always had a spot for me inside her kitchen.  My innards are probably coated with cookie dough and brownie batter, but I believe every happy and content person's innards should be so lucky!!

Thus, the blog.  It combines my two loves and allows me the ability to share recipes and my love for Gigi as well as provide me an outlet on "the disease" and it's course in our lives.  Let's face it, when Gigi was diagnosed, I saw my very own fate right before my eyes...

More to follow...

By the way, have you noticed my love for the three period sentence endings?  Doesn't it give such a sense of impending doom? ...