Homemade Cough Syrup...

I had mentioned my Amish friend yesterday and this is a recipe that she gave me.... your gonna love it. It works - its been thoroughly tested and approved.


First you need a gallon glass jar or a half gallon depending on the size of your family or how bad your cold is. I used a gallon jar because we have had such bad colds that this has been a 'good thing' - not to quote someone who totally doesn't need my help....

My mom came over last night and saw the 'jar', tested it and said 'Grandpa used to call this 'snakejuice'..... Come to find out my grandpa used to make this very thing and I never new it. SO from now on its going to be 'snakejuice'.....

Take your jar and make sure its good-n-clean and this is the rest of what you will need..


I know your first thought was the same as mine... Amish consume booze.....

My friend strolled right into the liquor part of the grocery store and snatched this off the shelf for me because, well - I am a liquor prude.... *hangs head* I admit it - a liquor virgin.. I have never tasted it and I have never tasted beer. Cant get the smell past my nose on the beer, it smells like your gonna lick a loaf of bread dough... yish

First you cut up 3-4 lemons - I had BIG ones and used 3. I then cut up 2 large onions into slices..


Then the onions.....

Then I layer them - first lemons then onions until I have about the same amounts...

Then you take a jug of honey and pour that over the top.....





THEN... the booze - a bottle of blackberry brandy and a bottle of peppermint schnapps.....



Yes use the whole thing if you are making a jug like this...



Notice the Milk Man is wearing a DARE shirt... *snicker*

Here is the finished product....

We take about a Tblsp as adults and 1/4 tsp of it IF we give it to the boys.... There is no more alcohol in this than there is in 'boughten' cough syrup - just none of the synthetic stuff that they stick in it. My Amish friend said that she keeps hers in a cool place and that it will last.... are you ready - over a year..... I suppose with all the booze the lemons are 'pickled' - *snort*

Now for some other food....

I make a veggie salad that I am sure everyone does, but Milk Man said - Heidi tell them about - The Salad... that is what he calls it - The Salad.... *eye roll*

Its just a head of cauliflower, broccoli, 1 lb of bacon - I always use more cuz we like bacon - a pound of mozzarella cheese, onion and Parmesan...

I always fry mine crispy - that's how we like it....

I put all of these together based on how much I like each ingredient. I use a whole onion, because the world revolves around onions, oh and butter - and garlic...and chocolate....

Anyway - cut the broccoli, cauliflower into bite sized chunks. Crinkle up the crisp bacon, throw in the chopped onion and mozzarella cheese, lastly I put in the Parmesan....foot rot cheese as the boys say. It smells like a cows foot that is 'bad'... gross huh? I mix it together then I add my stand by 'sauce'....

My sauce is pretty easy, but I consider it mine - only because my mother in law gave it to me to use for my very own......

Sugar

Buttermilk

'salad dressing'.... like miracle whip, but I don't like miracle whip.... I use generic Aldi's stuff, cant afford the ritzy ditsy...

I start with a little salad dressing in a bowl and add some buttermilk - and about a 1/4 cup sugar then blend it to taste - a little more sugar, salad dressing or buttermilk till its a nice consistency.... like I don't know how to explain so I will show you a picture.

Here is what it looks like on the salad - I hope this helps with the consistency of it...

Well, I hope you like this - it really is good. The same day I made this we had beef roast, mashed spuds, glazed carrots, brownies for dessert and this. I also made sweet rolls and bread that day. I am in the kitchen most of the time and I do keep 'stuff' on hand if I cant get a big meal out.. I always have soup that they can grab, or home made sandwich spreads etc.... I buy little to none processed food. I do buy Aldi's cheap pizza's - they are ROCKIN good I think. I also buy tater tots for tater tot hotdish and the cheap pot pies for Big Son when he gets home from school famished to the point that his belly is rubbing a blister on his back bone..... I will post some more later about food - right now Milk Dud is on a great white titty hunt..... *tries to hide behind the desk out of site*


OH I almost forgot -here is a picture of the elusive Baking Ninja....

yes he has underwear on....only because I told him they wore underwear....he saw no need.

Or Injtha - if you speak fluent Lispy.... He is wearing my good baking towel.... the one I use as a pastry cloth... or should I say used, past tense....

SNOW - is a swear word.....

We got more snow.... ish - I know we need it, but I am SO ready for summer. My heart aches for the warm breezes of spring, the smell of freshly 'rolled' dirt - for those non-farm folks, rolled dirt is dirt that has been 'worked' or in the process of being worked for spring planting. It DOES have a clean smell to it. Plowing is my favorite, its like letting loose the essence of how God must smell. Clean, pure, fresh and full of life... have you ever thought of how God must smell? I have, obviously, I have also thought about how he laughs - only because I am sure my stupidity is somthing he laughs at or about regularly. I am also sure he has wept on my behalf or because of my actions at times. SO - what would you think that God smells like.... yes, I am serious - let me know how you think he would smell..

OH by the way my friend - http://bayouwoman.wordpress.com/ Is haveing a contest - GO CHECK HER OUT BABY!!!

Now on to other things. I have been so busy this week that I dont have time to die - really it just wouldnt work out. The Milk Man threatend to call the tv station, if I didnt come out from under the bed and make him some supper. He said - I can see it now - woman found under bed mumified by the dirty laundry.... sicko....he needs somthing to do.... I have pictures of my cooking the other day, but am to lazy at the moment to get them loaded. I have had to work almost full time hours at my part time job because they are so busy. I am SO thankful for the Amish family that lives up the road. She takes my boys and keeps them as her own whenever I darken her door. She is a God send - she is my age and has 8, yes I said 8 children - I want to be just like her!!! Anyway - I have to get busy and I will try to be back later tonight to post about my cooking... LOTS of stuff to post about!

DONT FORGET to go visit Captain Wendy!!!

See you all shortly or shortly see you all..... have I lost my last marble.. *blank stare - Hears it rolling accross the floor*

Taking a vote...

Milk Man and I are 'discussing' our family size and wondering - one more? SO - I am taking a vote.... one more baby or no more babys... give me your opinion in the comments. EVERYONE TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!

this is a public service announcment..

Summer lawn orniments...

How about this bugger....



I am going to try to post a little later about a recipe that I am making today - its GOOOOD... ;)

Good Morning my little prisoners....

I say this often in the morning while trying to get the boys - and I do mean all of them - Milk Man included - out of bed and on their merry little way. This is early my friends....

Lately I have been sleeping in - till 4:45 *listens for gasping* Big Son, he ok'd this picture, is the second to the last one I get up... he needs his beauty sleep he says. Here is the first glimpse I get of my first born in the morning...... He looks like has been kissing - those pouty puffy lips.... *searchs for picture of his girlfriend*

After I say, loudly of course - GOOD MORNING MY LITTLE PRISONER! This is the face I get... I know his thought at this minute, cuz we're close ya know - He's thinkin - I am going to kill her.

Then I promise bacon and he is putty in my hands.....
Yes, the walls of his room are pink. We have lived here 10 years and still have 2 rooms to repaint. We do them as we have the $$$ - Yes, those are bows on his bunk bed because I bought those beds at an auction and a girls grandpa made these for them... they dont care about the bows - they sleep in the beds with eyes closed - ok - I am trying to get them in touch with their feminine side, just not TOOOOO in touch... you believe me yet???

He used to be like me and get right up, not so much anymore I guess . He is getting ready for his teenage sleepathon. By the way, when do I get to have a teenage sleepathon - I never had one of those....

The first is myself, then Dale and Palmer. Dale gets up the second I yell his name at the stairs. Palmer however likes to doze....then fall back to sleep and not wake up till noon.... BUT, I dont let him being the warden that I am. This is what goes on at about 5am. Palmer, get up.... *hears shut up* Palmer, did you tell the warden to shut up? *hears back off* Palmer, did you just tell me to back off? This is where I grab the covers and give a yank...... He flys out of bed and either hugs me with a big grin on his face or swears and grabs the covers kicking his feet that I am cruel because its cold - then I threaten to open the window... no response - then I bring out the big guns... IF you are not upstairs DRESSED in 5 minutes - your breakfast is out for the cats.... Before I hit the door he hits the floor - you dont mess with the boys' grub. THEY LOVE FOOD! and will eat whatever I make them. I love to cook for people like that. Now this whole time, Dale is dressing and ready to shovel it in. When I talk about these guys, you have to keep in mind that they both have fetal alcohol syndrom and that they are not our bio-children. Palmer is 23, with the 'book smarts' of a 7 year old, the emotional level of a 14 year old and the hormones of a 23 year old man!!! He has come SO FAR since he moved in with us 10 years ago. Big Son was born in August of 98, we lived with the Milk Mans folks at the time and moved into our own home the first week of September of 98 - Palmer came to live with us Dec. of 98 and has never left. He is a great guy and we love him as our own.

NOW - Dale is a completly differant story - he is harder to.... like. He has so many great qualitys but being around him you would quickly find that you must think about those qualitys at all times to prevent yourself from wanting to choke him. The hardest thing about both of the boys is that they are little boys in mens bodys AND they dont look - retarded as they put it. Those are their words not mine. Palmer always says, I am not a 'special needs' person I am a retard, then he laughs at himself. That is one of the things that I love about him the most - he is himself and accepts that he cant do things that others do. That is NOT to say that he always feels like this, but we try to guide him and yet make his own decisions.... Wow this got away from me didnt it??? I will do a post about them soon.. promise.

When those 2 are awake and eating I then get Lispy up....

This picture is from when I was away at training and he was in the hotel room... 4 year old farm kid in a hotel room is NOT NOT NOT NOT a good combination.... and I will never attempt it again I swear to GOD and all that is holy.

He gets up pretty good and yells Morning Dad... before he even gets out of his room.
I dont have any picures of him just out of bed, but I do have one that is a few minutes after brushing his teeth.


This little bugger is my best friend - he just is so fun and usually pretty easy to be around.

Last but not least, I wake the monster...





These were taken about 2 months ago - but he has not changed much ... he's just bigger with quirky toe...
After that, its all down hill people. Nothing gets done with all the baby kissing, smooch, squeezing and giggleing going on. This is when I become the prisoner - my heart is completly locked up in this one.... help me.

The mailwoman bringeth heaven.... and garden porn..

Oh I have made some WONDERFUL friends here. Friends that send things like this for a weary soul...
Male (nuts) and Female (no nuts) those are her words - just so that I got exactly what I like -sending someone chocolate is the sign of a TRUE FRIEND - so the rest of you get busy if you want to be my friend... *double snort* just kidding - your all my friends, so send chocolate anyway... am I funny ? -NO - didnt think so, please forgive me by sending chocolate... LOL


Then this same wonderful friend sent my spawn these....

No its not a bag of green goobers, or spinich, or anything like that - THIS is what she sent..


Gummy GI Joes!!!! FREAKIN COOL!! were Big Sons exact words...... What a woman to think of feeding the kids so that I dont have to share my chocolate - that was why you sent them right Tina? Because this is all about me right? What do you mean its because you like my kids - man you dont KNOW my kids!!! *double snort* But seriously - THANK YOU to my dear friend Willow Witch - this is where I would put your link if I could EVER get that to work for me - The boys LOVED them and I know this because I found Big Son at the sink with this...

A 'soldier down' - it hit the floor and he was NOT about to let it go to waste, so it was going to the 'medic' - See the dirt on there? This is proof that my house is SO clean that you can eat off of the floor at any time of day - providing that you wash it first.... just so you dont all think we are TOTAL SLOBS - he did drop it under the table where Milk Man had just gotten up from, with his dirty shoes on. Does that make you feel better? Nah, me neither...

The best part of this little package - ok not the best but the funniest was this little gem... put your coffee down and DO NOT HAVE FLUID IN YOUR MOUTH....

Dont blame me if your computer screen is full of liquid - you were warned.... The inside says "just a little card to crack you up"!!! I seriously thought I was going into cardiac arrest. I laughed until I thought my guts would never be the same. Big Sons comment - "Whats so funny about someone haveing a flip-flop stuck up thier butts" Then I laughed harder, not believing that I could laugh harder than I had.... he had no clue that we used to call them thongs - so I had to explain the whole 'thong' thing including the horrid bathing 'strings' women wear... Needless to say, he was not impressed... but I sure was!! LOL So thank you again my dear friend. I got this gift of Friday and it was right when I needed it the most. Big Son issues, Lispy having broncitis, Milk Dud just getting over strep now has broncitis also and Big Son just got done with his meds for strep - we have NEVER had a winter that we have all been so sick. I want spring NOW!!!

Now onto the garden porn.... I know that you are all waiting with baited breath for this.....

This is the holy grail of gardening - even though I dont buy from them because they are expensive.... but they have the best catalog..

I find myslef carressing the pages, dreaming of a midsummer trist in the warm dirt...

and FREE are words of pure rapture!!!

Please make your young children leave the room before you look at these next photos. NO young eyes should see these things..

Dont you LOVE pictures like that? And then the centerfold...

The beloved order form - dare I speak the words..

Why does this picture make me laugh? Is it because I have little boys????
Well, the boys need nourishment and I am the only one that can help them... Milk Man should be home soon for breakfast. He was fixing somthing in the barn this morning and i didnt have to milk. He is feeling much better, other than he has a bad cold.... I love playing his nurse.. *snicker* yes, I have the dress....