How to make a neck cooler

It's the end of September, and 100 degree days are behind us, but . . . just to get ready for next summer, here is a link to the site that taught me how to make neck coolers. It's a good use for scraps of material and it really does help to keep you cooler in the heat of the summer. We tried them out at a Rangers game in July with the temperature over 100 at 7 pm. Neck Cooler Directions

Granola Bars

This recipe came from the All Recipes website as Granola Bars III
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/granola-bars-iii/detail.aspx

I have adjusted the original recipe as follows:

Place parchment paper into 9 x 13 inch baking pan
(I do not spray the parchment paper)

In a large bowl, stir together:
2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup raisins (or cherries or other dried fruit)
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 to 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

In a smaller bowl, thoroughly blend:
1/4 cup applesauce, no sugar added
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract

Pour applesauce-oil-honey-egg mixture into flour mixture and mix by hand until the liquid is evenly distributed.
Press evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350. Look for edges to be golden.
Cool completely in pan before turning out on cutting board and cutting into bars.
9/14/11 Ran short on the honey and added about 2 Tbsp molasses to the honey to equal 1/2 cup total.

What to do when temperatures are over 100 degrees

What to do when it is so hot?  From 2 separate blogs, the answer is . .. bake cookies in your car.
Meringues

Chocolate chip cookies

September 11

10 years ago, I was getting ready for work when I heard that a "small plane" had hit the World Trade tower. I turned on the TV in the back bedroom in time to see the 2nd plane hit the tower. "That's no accident," I thought, but had no idea at the time just what was going on . . . much like you all. As I went through my day of visits to hospice patients, I saw the same news reports repeated over and over. It seemed like there was no respite from the horror. By early afternoon, I remember feeling just overwhelmed and wanted to go somewhere quiet to gather my thoughts. I went to my church, only to find the doors locked. (I guess they had closed the office and sent everyone home.)  I went to a nearby church, St Vincent's (in Bedford TX) and found several other people in the sanctuary, probably for the same reasons. We didn't speak, but nodded to each other in sad acknowledgment. After a few minutes, I left and went on to finish the rest of my visits. On every September 11th, I think of the people who died . . . the people who were just going about their every day lives and the rescue workers who made the ultimate sacrifice to help others. I especially think of my nursing school classmate, Jean Hoadley Peterson, who was on United flight 93. We must never forget.

How many different colors of green felt are there?

My current project is a Christmas tree skirt, from Simplicity 2488.  The tree skirt is a dark green (seemed like a good idea when I purchased the material).  I am now to the part where I have to cut out 4 trees, to be appliqued on the tree skirt.  Good news:  I found some dark green felt in my "stash"  that actually looks good against the dark green material.  Bad news:  I have enough for 3 trees out of one color and 2 trees from another piece of green felt.  No problem . . . I'll just take both pieces of felt to Joann's and get a matching piece.  HA! HA! HA!.  My old "kelly green" is nowhere near the new "kelly green."  Sigh.  So while I am at Joann's, trying to match colors, I buy 2 pieces each of Kelly Green, Apple Green, and Pirate Green.  (What is Pirate Green? I didn't know Pirates had an interest in greens.)  I am determined to get this right on the first trip to Joann's.  I did learn a lesson, when I tried to match navy blue bias binding (from years ago) with current dye lots.  Doesn't work.  Maybe this is a conspiracy to sell more sewing notions?  I'll have to investigate that, just as soon as I finish this Christmas tree skirt.

Dottie's Oatmeal Cookies

These are the legendary cookies that Dottie Fulbright used to make.  "They are the best!" according to my granddaughters.
Note:  due to my grandson's peanut allergy, I omitted the pecans and added chocolate chips.

Beat until creamy:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar

Add
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Beat well.
Combine and add to butter mixture
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Mix well
Stir in:
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup raisins
1 cup pecans

Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.  Use parchment paper to make it easy to take cookies off sheet.
Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet.  Move to rack to cool.  Store in airtight container.

Note:  When you leave them cooling on the cookie sheet, they continue to cook a little.  When I took them out of the oven, they were not as brown as I thought they should be, but by the time I removed them from cookie sheet, they were golden brown.  So, don't over-cook them in the oven.

Pineapple Peach Dump Cake

An easy dessert for a pot luck meal.  I have made it twice.  First time I used fresh peaches, the second time I used canned peaches.  The first time it was very moist; the second time there were a few pockets of cake mix that didn't get any fruit juice on them, but that may have been because I didn't use enough peaches.

I don't know who gave me this recipe.  It was written on a scrap of paper, so probably someone at a pot luck meal gave me the recipe.

It would be good with other fruits.  If you don't use the crushed pineapple in the bottom, you would need to add some water or juice (see the cake mix box for amount of water needed).

In a 13 x 9 inch cake pan, layer:

Large can crushed pineapple

Layer of canned sliced peaches (no syrup)
Dry white or yellow cake mix
Another layer peaches
sprinkle brown sugar
scatter raisins
1 stick butter sliced

Layer each without mixing

Bake for 1 hour at 350.

Note:  don't be stingy with the peaches.  You will need several cans of them.  They should be almost touching each other.