Sherry Morris's Blog, page 35

My Lavender, Pink and Green Life

My Lavender, Pink and Green LifeBy Sherry Silver
You know me and my lists and schedules and ta-da's. I love to plan. I love to accomplish tasks. I love to have a clean house. I love to write. I even kinda sorta love to exercise. You've patiently read all of my house cleaning tips and no doubt grumbled under your breath. Me too.

This year, I got a brilliant new idea. Instead of scheduling minutia, knowing life (and laziness) so often gets in the way and I won't always be able to accomplish my tasks, I decided to plan in general. And in living color. I don't live well when I don't have some sort of structure. So this is what I came up with: On Lavender days, I will clean my house. I chose lavender in fond memory of my mother, who always managed to keep a clean house and nutritious home cooked meals on the table despite working six days a week. No list of tasks. I will do whatever needs to be done, most likely vaccuum, dust and clean the bathrooms.

I have a husband with a rotating travel schedule and two young adult children who are still at home while persuing their higher educations. I am not working outside the home. So keeping their schedules in mind, I have decided to make every fifth day Lavender. No, I don't just clean every five days. I do the dishes, laundry, bathrooms and sweep as needed. but on the Lavender days, I'll pull out the heavy duty tools. And since there is no list, there is no guilt if I don't do this or that.

On Pink days, I will exercise. I chose pink because it's feminine and pretty and that's what I strive to improve on. Most of the time I'll do the treadmill for 30 minutes, 200 ab reps between my ab roller and ab wheel and every other day I'll do weights. More or less. No rules. As long as I do something, get moving, I can feel I've done my Pink day proud.

On Green days, I will do something related to the writing business. Blog, tweet, query, or write. Green because I hope to generate some money from it. Some day. No big deadlines. Just whatever I decide at the time. I haven't promoted my work in years. I hate doing it. So, to entice myself into wanting to promote again, I bought myself a new work wardrobe. On my Green days, I am wearing velour lounge wear. Warm, comfy and super-modelish. Not the old lady kind. I hope.

I've completed my first month and so far, I love my new Lavender, Pink and Green year.

Cleaning Filters Saves Appliances...and Lives

Cleaning Filters Saves Appliances...and LivesBy Sherry Silver
We'd been annoyed that the through-the-door icemaker in our year old fridge was freezing up and we frequently had to open the door and pound on it to break up the ice so it would dispense. We were ready to call the repair man, if it was covered by warranty.

The electronic message center had been telling us to change the water filter for quite awhile. We finally did. And guess what? The water dispenses much faster, in a thick stream. And the ice isn't freezing up anymore. Imagine that.

Our Keurig hot beverage maker started giving weird error messages and only filling cups half full, then waiting and filling them more. I figured it was time to buy a teakettle. Hubby dug out the owner's manual, and lo and behold the error message meant it needed to be delimed. Guess what? Vinegar saved the Keurig. Imagine that.

My two year old washer is giving weird error messages. One was for an unbalanced load. I don't stuff it as full as I used to, so this was unexpected. The other message doesn't match anything in the owner's manual. I'll ask hubby if there is some way to clean it's filter to.

Change or clean your furnace filters on the regular schedule recommended by your manufacturer. It will really help if any of your family members have breathing problems, and it will save energy if the filter isn't clogged. In a prior house, we had a metal one on furnace which was dishwasher safe. That was awesome. We just have the cardboard ones in the intake vents in this house. 

By the way, please make sure you clean your dryer lint trap after every use. Dryer fires are the second cause of residential house fires. Food forgotten cooking on the stove is the first. And we can't forget about falling asleep smoking.

Anyone else have filters in need of cleaning?

Video: Passions Cast Tribute (1999 - 2008) - "Breathe" Theme

Old NBC Soap Opera

I discovered the NBC paranormal soap, Passions, shortly before it was canceled. Does anyone know if it went into syndication somewhere? I love the theme song.

Recipe: French Cheesecake

From the Kitchen of the Late Great Marion Morris, Long Island Housewife Extraordinaire French Cheesecake 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 lb cream cheese 3 tbsp flour 1/4 tsp salt 3 eggs separated 3/4 cup cream 1 tsp vanilla extract Rich prepared pie dough or 1 stick butter and 2 cups graham crumbs 1 can fruit pie filling to top (optional). Sift flour, sugar and salt together. Ad to softened cheese and cream, egg yolks & vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy. In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff & fold into above mixture. Line an 11" x 7"x 1 1/2" pan with rich prepared pie dough or 2 cups graham crumbs mixed with 1 stick melted butter to form a crust. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes, then at 325° for 45 minutes. Turn heat up to 375° and bake for 10 minutes or until firm & golden brown. When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar. Best to cool inside oven.Add any can of fruit pie filling to top (optional).

Recipe: Dump Cake

Dump Cake
1 can crushed pineapple (20 oz)

1 can pie filling (any flavor)

1 box dry cake mix (white, yellow or spice)

1 stick butter

350° oven - ungreased 13" x 9" x 2" pan

Spread pineapple on bottom of pan

Spread pie filling over pineapple

Spread dry cake mix over mixture

Slice butter into pieces and dot over cake mix

Bake 50 to 60 minutes.

***This recipe is from an old dear friend, Anita Lutrario.

Recipe: Coffee Cake

From the Kitchen of the Late Great Marion Morris, Long Island Housewife Extraordinaire Crumb Top Coffee Cake1 stick butter1 1/2 cups sifted flour1 cup firm brown sugar1 1/2 tsps baking powder1 tsp ground cinnamon1/2 tsp salt1 egg, beaten1/2 cup milk
Cut butter into mixture of flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon & salt until crumbly. Save 1/2 cup for topping. 

Combine egg and milk, stir into remaining flour mixture, mix well. 

Pour into a greased and floured 8" x 8" x 2" baking pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup topping. 

Bake 375° for 30 to 35 minutes.

Recipe: Chocolate Cake

A retro recipe from the kitchen of Marion Morris, 
the late great Long Island Housewife Extraordinaire
Chocolate CakeSlowly add melted chocolate and mix about 1 1/2 minutes. Stop and scrape bowl. Beat on medium speed for one minute. 

Recipe: Blueberry Crumb Cake

Blueberry Crumb Cake 1/2 cup butter or margarineGradually beat in the 3/4 cup sugar. Beat in egg. 
Sift together the four, baking powder and slat. Add flour to creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Mix well. 
Spread 1/2 the batter in a greased baking pan 9" x 9" x 2". Cover with 3/4 blueberry filling. Spoon on remaining batter and top with remaining blueberry. 
In a bowl stir the 1/2 cup each of sugar and lour together with the cinnamon and salt. With two knives or pastry blender cut in the 2 tbsp of butte until well blended. Sprinkle these crumbs over filling evenly.
Bake in 375° oven 40 minutes or until cake starts to leave the sides and is lightly browned. Test for doneness. Cool. Cut into squares.

Recipe: Angel Food Cake

Angel Food Cake