Trip to New York City 2008

Our trip started early on Friday morning by leaving for the airport at 4:30am. The plane left at 7:00am. and we had a nice flight. I slept most of the way. We arrived at La Guardia airport around 11:30am. TF and I walked across the street to our hotel. We freshened up and decided to head into town on the 33 bus line into Jackson Heights and on the 7 train into town. We emerged from the subway at Times Square and into the bright sunlight and the Heat! It seems that they were having a heat wave and the temperatures were in the mid 90’s…Sounds like Houston to me…lol

The first thing we did was buy us a pair of NY Yankee hats to wear to the game the next day. We found a Ruby Tuesday nearby and stopped in for lunch…The air conditioning felt great. After lunch we walked around and found the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum and decided to go in and see what they had. I’d purchased an Entertainment book for NYC before we left and it was already coming in handy. We saved a pretty penny for the museum fees, enough to justify the cost of the book. It was so much fun seeing the likes of Whoopie Goldberg, Julia Roberts, Al Roker and Matt Lauer, Lucy Ricardo, Samuel L. Jackson, famous sports figures, famous leaders of the past and many more. We took lots of pictures and had a great time.

We left the museum and walked some more. On the way back to Times Square we saw lots of people clamoring to see someone. I asked a few people who it was and finely a lady said it was Milley Cirus and the Jones brothers. I didn’t see them but I saw plenty of cameras flashing and young girls screaming. We made our way around all of the commotion and headed home on the 7 train, transferring at Queensboro station to an N train out to Astoria and then on the M60 bus back to our hotel across from the airport. By the time we got back we were starving but it was late and my feet were hurting.

TF went down to the front desk and asked if there was a place close that we could eat. They suggested that we order pizza and have it delivered right up to our room. That sounded like a plan so we order a “Small” pizza called the Airport special and waited for it to come. About 45 minutes later, we heard a knock on our door and there it was. All I can say is, that it was the best pizza that I have EVER eaten. I’m not kidding folks, it was out of this world. Their idea of a small pizza is huge…. We could only eat half of it and we were starving….I peaked my head out the door and saw three ladies coming down the hall. You could tell that they had just arrived and that they were tired. I offered them the rest of the pizza and wished them well. Quiet time and then to bed.

Saturday morning we slept in till 9:00am showered, got dressed and went down stairs for a continental breakfast. Out the door by 10:00 o’clock and off to Yankee Stadium. We followed the bus and train map and got there sometime around 11:30am. I stepped off the train and could see Yankee Stadium on the left and the NEW Yankee Stadium on the right, what a sight to see. More pictures were taken and off we headed to find our seats.

As we walked into the stadium, it was apparent to me that the structure was showing some age; you could tell that it had been there a long time. We found our seats in the Loge section, under the overhand of the deck above. We were sitting between home and first base and had a great view of the field. (Did I tell you that we got our seats from a fellow blogger? Well we did and we can’t thank him enough for his generosity.) It was a sunny day and the temps again were in the mid 90’s. HOT! We watched batting practice and drank lemonade. The game started at 1:00pm and went for 12 long innings….The Yankees won in the bottom of the 12th, with the bases loaded and then a hit batsman…Now is that any way to end a game? Oh well, they won and that is what counts.

We left the stadium, along with the rest of the crowd, and started our way back to the train. At the last minute we took a little detour to a real New York deli and picked up some chips and cold bottled water. I was starting to get dizzy and we need to eat some real food. The snacks held us over till we could get into town and to Grand Central Station, where we ate dinner in a beautiful seafood restaurant on the main level of the station. We had a great time eating, relaxing and just enjoy the views. We headed back to the hotel again on the same route as the night before…. Once again, my feet were killing me and I need to get off of them. It didn’t help that I twisted my right foot only a week before we left. I took some Aleve and hopped into bed. A little TV, quiet time together, and then bed.

Sunday morning we slept in again….We showered, dressed and decided that we wanted to go somewhere, anywhere, out on Long Island. We went our usual route to Jackson Heights, had a light snack at Burger King and went on our way to the train station in Woodside where we had to get to the next level down to transfer to the Long Island Railroad. TF asked the ticket agent what he recommended and he suggested Long Beach so we bought tickets and waited for our train….The trip out was great and we met some really nice people on the way. As we got off the train, I could feel a strong breeze, boy did it feel good. (Remember the heat wave?)

We walked a few blocks to the beach and found a seat on the boardwalk….Some really cute guys and a girl were getting ready to go down to the volleyball courts to play. There were nets set up as far as the eye could see for people to play volleyball and almost every net was occupied. The beach had so many people on it that it looked like an invasion of ants. The water was slightly rough because of the wind but it looked great to swim in. TF and I were not prepared to go swimming so we sat down on a bench, put our feet up on the railing and just watched the people. After a while we decided to walk around and find a place to eat a late lunch. We found a nice seafood place and had dinner before we headed back to the beach for one more look.

The train that we wanted to ride on was to leave Long Beach at 5:05pm so we headed back to the train station and found some good seats on the train. You guessed it, my right foot was aching and I needed to rest. I think I slept most of the way back into NYC. We got back to our hotel on our usual route and crashed into bed. A short nap later, we ordered pizza again and got the same, but smaller (Mini) pizza. Again, it was awesome. This time we were able to eat all of it. Did I mention that we purchased some sodas, our first day there, to keep in our room? Well we enjoyed soda with our pizza…So good! Quiet time and then bed….I have never slept so sound…

Monday was our going home day, but we weren’t going to leave till 7:00pm so we decided that we wanted to go to Little Italy for lunch. More buses and trains and we were there. I have never seen so many Italian restaurants in one place, how were we to pick? We did pick and had a great lunch. I ate eggplant parmesan and TF had spaghetti…Yummm...We still needed to find some goodies to take home to our kids and grandkids so we found T-shirts and ball type caps at a sidewalk store along the way. We walked and before we knew it we were in China town.

TF had wanted to walk on the Brooklyn Bridge so we asked directions from a lady police officer and started our walk to the bridge. We got on the walk way to the bridge and then realized that we were on the Manhattan bridge. It was too late to turn around so we walked, and walked and walked. We must have walked five city blocks before we saw water…..My feet were killing me and the heat was beginning to get to me….We kept walking.

I took several pictures of the city and the Brooklyn Bridge, which was right next to the one we were on. I have to admit that it was beautiful but the heat was trying to get the best of me, so was my attitude. About half way across the bridge, TF asked me if I was alright and I glared at him and said, “What good what it do if I weren’t?”….We are miles from either side, “Just Shut up and keep walking.” I still can’t believe that those words came out of my mouth. I have never talked to TF in that kind of tone….I think he was in shock because he didn’t say another word to me for a while…poor guy.

We took more pictures and finally got to the other side. I saw a bench and headed straight for it. I cooled down a little and we asked where the next train station was. More walking, but we made it to our train and back into the city. We ended up right were we got off in Little Italy. After drinking a chocolate shake, I cooled down and found my happier attitude. On the way back to the hotel, to pick up our luggage, we found a deli and ate some good sandwiches. We made it to our plane and were home, in Houston, by 10:00pm and thru our front door by 11:00pm. I was so happy to see my own bed.

All in all, I loved our trip. Not only did we see Yankee Stadium, but we celebrated our 37th anniversary. I have known this man since we were 16 yrs old. I feel like I have lived with him my whole life. We have shared many experiences together and I can’t imagine not having him in my life. Yes, I’d marry him again, if the choice were before me. I’ve been blessed…

PS: I’m still having to pamper my right foot…Have a great week everyone!

Cute Video......Back from trip

Check out this youtube video and tell me this is the cuties thing you have seen in a while.

TF and I are back from our wonderful trip to New York City.....I'm busy with playing "catch up" and trying to get past a big meeting tonight and then I can concentrate on a post about the trip.

Soon.

Fitness, Junk Mail, Vitamins, Cookies & Quote

* * * * * *
PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST FOR ADULTS
Remember in school, when everyone would do the Presidential Fitness Test and you could compete with scores to be in the best shape possible? Well, now it’s available for adults as well. Head to this site for lots of ideas for getting active, staying in shape, and measuring your progress in endurance, strength, and flexibility. POST IT…on your bathroom mirror.

Stop Junk Mail! Save Trees!

GreenDimes stops your entire household's junk mail and plants 10 trees on your behalf for $20. We also offer you the choice to remove only the catalogs you don't want. Check it out here:
Our impact is huge. In just over a year, we've stopped 3 million pounds of junk mail and saved/planted 1,000,000 trees. We have over 75,000 happy members and have gotten a ton of press - NY Times, Ellen, Good Morning America to name a few.
Note from Lucy: I'm not a tree hugger, but it would be nice to save some trees and stop some of that junk mail.....

VITAMINS FOR EASILY UPSET STOMACHS:
While we should always try to get our vitamins from food, some of us need some supplementation (always check with your doctor first). But many people have problems with vitamins upsetting their stomachs. So here are some tips to ease that problem. First, try taking the vitamins with food, or at least milk; avoid an empty stomach. If you still have an upset stomach, then try taking liquid vitamins which are absorbed more readily. Nature Made is a major company that has recently started a line of liquid vitamins, including B, C, D, calcium, and multis. There are also some vitamins that are in liquid form naturally like E, CoQ10, and Flaxseed/Fish oils. If all else fails, adults can also take children’s vitamin/mineral supplements. If the chewables are still causing problems, consider the gummy versions. POST IT…with your vitamins.

* * * * * *
RECIPE: MICHELLE OBAMA’S SHORTBREAD COOKIES (from Family Circle magazine) A couple of weeks ago we had Cindy McCains cookie recipe, now I have found Michelle Obama’s recipe…… Which one do you like?
Ingredients:
• 1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons Amaretto (almond liqueur)
• 1 teaspoon each orange and lemon zest
• 3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 beaten egg white
• Chopped nuts or dried fruit (optional)
Directions
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Line a 17 x 12 x 1-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. In large bowl, cream together butter and 1-1/2 cups of the sugar.
2. Slowly add egg yolks, and beat well until smooth. Beat in Amaretto and zest.
3. Stir in flour and salt until combined.
4. Spread dough evenly into prepared pan, flattening as smoothly as possible.
5. Brush top of dough with egg white; sprinkle with nuts or fruit (if using) and with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
6. Bake at 325°F for 25 minutes or until brown, turn off oven and allow cookies to sit in oven (with door ajar) for 15 minutes. Cut while slightly warm. Makes 6 ½ dozen.
POST IT…on your shopping list, in your recipe box, and on your computer.
Click here: To print out in recipe card sizes.

All of the above items came from the Make a Note weekly emails that I get.

I like this statement:
"We are not born into this world with fixed habits. Neither do we inherit a noble character. Instead, as children of God, we are given the privilege and opportunity of choosing which way of life we will follow—which habits we will form. Confucius said that the nature of men is always the same. It is their habits that separate them. Good habits are not acquired simply by making good resolves, though the thought must precede the action. Good habits are developed in the workshop of our daily lives. It is not in the great moments of test and trial that character is built. That is only when it is displayed. The habits that direct our lives and form our character are fashioned in the often uneventful, commonplace routine of life. They are acquired by practice."
--Delbert L. Stapley, "Good Habits Develop Good Character", Ensign, Nov. 1974, 20

Note from Lucy: I'll be out of town this weekend and won't be back till late Monday night. I'll get my first and last look at Yankee Stadium before they tear it down. After watching the home run derby and the All Star Game, last night, I am really getting excited about seeing the stadium in real life. Bonnie will be here to hold the fort down and feed the cat, no worries!

Have a great week everyone!

A letter to the Editor......

This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points. For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions. This lady made the argument pretty simple.

NOT printed in the Orange County Paper........

Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace!

My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the Orange County Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to 'print' it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined. Written in response to a series of lette rs to the editor in the Orange County Register:

Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people.

When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who h ad sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are in 2008, with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges, Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules; one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.

(signed) Rosemary LaBonte

Note from Lucy: This is not something I usually put up on my blog, but it pretty well describes how I feel about Immigration.

Have a great week everyone.

Have you ever tried this cake?

7up Cake: Recipe sent in by P.R. Montgomery

3 – sticks of butter
3 – cups Sugar
3 – Eggs
½ tsp. – Vanilla Extract
1 – (12 ounce) can 7up
3 – cups Sifted flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a Bundt pan.
Cream butter, sugar and eggs; add vanilla. In three rounds, alternate adding 7up and flour into the mixture. Pour cake mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour, o until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

The heat at hand:
In The Barbecue! Bible, Steven Raichlen recommends the “Mississippi test” for those who don’t have grill thermometers, Hold your hand about 6 inches above the coals or gas fire and count “one Mississippi, two Mississippi,” etc., until the heat causes you to pull away. The number of seconds you can hold your hand above the heat roughly corresponds to these temperatures:
High Heat (650 degrees): 1 to 2 seconds
Medium High (400-450): 4 to 5 seconds
Medium (350) …………. 6 to 7 seconds
Medium-low (300)……... 8 to 10 seconds
Low (250-275)…………. 12 to 15 seconds

Organizing Tips for recipes:

Purge: Organizing recipes is like organizing anything else. Purge first, and be ruthless. Honestly, will you ever make that multistep Sweet Corn and Peach Trifle that requires cornmeal cake, corn pastry cream, roasted peach filling and candied corn kernels? And if you ever decide to make dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), surely you can locate another recipe.

Think: Before investing time or money in an organizational system, ask yourself what you want most, the ability to search your collection? To scale recipes up or down so that your white-bean chili will work for two people or 30? To calculate the nutritional content of Aunt Millie’s yam and pineapple casserole? Or do you value holding a recipe card written in your grandmother’s hand? How you answer such questions will guide you to the solution that suits you.

Categorize: Consider how you typically select recipes. By course (appetizer, main dish, dessert)? By function (fast and easy, for the grill)? By ingredient or season?

Update: The longer you let clipped recipes accumulate in a pile, the more daunting the prospect of organizing them. Sort and organize as you collect. Otherwise you will end up with a box in the attic, such as the one described by Cypress baker Connie Rosenthal: “I don’t look at it, but I can’t throw it away. The box is just up there living its own life.”

Backup: If you keep your recipes in a computer program, be sure to back up the files.

Note from Lucy: Yep! Sounds like me. I have a bag of recipes that sound wonderful and I might want to try someday. My “handful” of recipes that I always use are located in the kitchen drawer where I can get my hands on them. I love the recipe cards that are handed down from TF’s mom and grandmother. My favorite “chocolate glaze” recipe was cut off of the Duncan Hines box many years ago. My pancake recipe is cut off the Pioneer baking mix box. I also have recipes saved on my computer. I actually did use the Crockpot Breakfast Casserole for the Fourth of July church activity. I suppose it is time to purge the recipes in the Ziplock bag…….How do you handle your recipes?

All of today’s news comes from the Houston Chronicle “Flavor” section dated July 9, 2008.

On a personal note: Three weeks ago I pulled some muscles in my right arm while cutting some tree limbs. It has healed up well. Last night I slipped and turned my right ankle. Am I trying to kill myself???? I have gone years without incident and within three weeks, I have hurt myself twice. TF and I leave for New York next week and I should be healed by then……I’m keeping my fingers crossed….

Have a great week everyone.

More Dollar Stretcher tidbits.............

Make Your Home Flea-Free

When I buy flea collars for my three dogs, I use the extra that I cut off to put in my vacuum cleaner bag to kill any fleas that are sucked up! It helps to keep the house flea
free. Allison F. in Texas.
Note from Lucy: Here in Texas we are always looking for ways to keep the fleas off of our pets. It doesn’t get cold enough down here to “freeze” off the fleas during the winter months. I have used the extra bits of flea collars and put them under the couch cushions….

Save Your Clothes

I learned years ago quite by accident just how much dryers wear out clothing. The boss's wife came into the office wearing the same outfit I had on that day. Her outfit was badly faded and mine still looked great. I drip-dried mine on the shower rod. She dried her outfit in the clothes dryer. Her outfit looked years older. We bought them at the same store around the same time.

If you need to use the dryer, be sure to add a small, clean, dry towel to your load. I have one of those cheaper small bath towels set aside for just this purpose. This saves a lot of drying time. Before I started using this method, I had to put extra money in our apartment house dryers in order for my cotton socks and undies to get completely dry. Now I save that extra 75 cents a load and have saved a lot of money with this method. J. Grandmother & Great Grandmother of 41
Note from Lucy: I was looking at a pair of my pajama bottoms last night and wondering why they are wearing out so fast. The fabric around the top of the waist line is fraying and they are just too new to do that.

Soap Scum

Many people use Lemon Oil to polish their furniture; however, it is also a great way to clean soap scum from the shower doors. Have you ever noticed how no matter how hard you scrub those doors and how much glass cleaner or bathroom cleaner you use there is always that nasty film left on the doors? Next time you clean your bathroom just wipe a little lemon oil on the doors and you will see the soap scum just run away. Not only does it clean the soap scum, but it also puts an oily film on the doors, which repels the soap scum from building back up. Just wipe the doors occasionally with the lemon oil, and you will not have any more problems with soap scum. Also, you will have a lemony fresh scent. M.

Revenues from Bank Fees Up 41% in Four Years: Wow, this was an eye opener. The banks and credit card companies and using unique ideas to nickel and dime us to death with fees in these struggling times. Check it out.

Security freeze better than fraud alert: This was an interesting read considering, the fact, that TF had his lap top stolen and we decided to pay Life Lock to protect us for a year against identity theft.

Doing the student loan shuffle: Do you have kids who need to get a student loan? It’s going to be harder to obtain one with our economy the way it is: Check it out.

All of this information came from the Dollar Stretcher website. I really love this site because it has all kinds of articles to help out the American consumer and lots of tips… Here's another one that I liked.

Practical and Frugal Home Security: This article gave some great tips on securing your home. Check it out.

Note from Lucy: We had a great 4th of July again this year….It started off the night before, in the Woodlands, with the Houston Symphony playing wonderful patriotic music. The next morning I went to the pancake breakfast at the church, then home to nap, and watch my favorite movie for the fourth of July (Yankee Doodle Dandy). Around 6:00pm we had a dinner of BBQ ribs, chicken and sausage, some potato salad and baked beans. Then we were off to the Woodlands to watch the fireworks….I was so tired when I got home that I don’t even remember taking off my clothes and going to bed. I feel very grateful to live in this free country. I am such a cry baby when I hear patriotic music.

Have a great week everyone!

Fourth of July Weekend approaches……

When was the Fourth of July first Celebrated? Read about it right here:

TF and I will be traveling to the Woodlands on the 3rd for the yearly Houston Symphony music celebration of the Fourth of July. Then on the fourth, early morning, we will go to our annual church “pancake breakfast and flag raising ceremony.” I will be taking a breakfast casserole and TF and I will join in the fun before going home to crash….lol This year we will “take it easy” by staying home and relaxing. We will probably watch the fireworks on TV and just chill out. Maybe I’ll cook some ribs, potato salad, cold slaw and fix a nice dinner, then again maybe not. Who knows, I’m playing it by ear this year. I’ll be missing my blog buddies who are up at Cliff’s enjoying blogstock and hoping they bring home lots of pictures. I know for sure that I will be making this refreshing “Watermelon Cooler” recipe by Paula Dean….yummmmmm!

Watermelon Cooler (by Paula Dean)

1 1/2 pounds (4 cups) sliced seedless watermelon, rind removed
1 cup lemon sorbet
1 lemon, zested
1 1/2 cups cold water
Watermelon wedges and mint, for garnish
In a food processor, blend watermelon, sorbet, and lemon zest until very smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with watermelon wedges and mint.



A Few Frugal finds:
KEEP THAT CAST DRY
This one had to be invented by a child with a cast experience, or a parent tired of saying “no” to a child with a cast. Either way, if you have someone with a cast, you can benefit from this invention. At…http://www.xerosox.com You can find a way to waterproof casts, bandages, or even prosthetic limbs. You can order it yourself, but should also check with your doctor. POST IT…on the inside of your medicine cabinet. From Make a note.


Smilebox

Create a free Smilebox scrapbook in 5 minutes. Just drag photos into amazing e-designs. Email them free. Also create greetings, slideshows, photo books and postcards.
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/email-1399272-10460578 Found on the make a note webpage.


Spare Table

We love to entertain, but in our small home, dining room seating for guests can be quite a problem. Our solution was to purchase a five-foot long (rectangular) folding table and
store it in the kitchen space between the wall and the refrigerator. We can move it easily to the dining room or even bring it out to the backyard without a problem. It gives us
seating for six, looks nice with a tablecloth, and is stored out of the way. It was also inexpensive to purchase. Another bonus is when I am working in the kitchen, I can pull it out, unfold and use as an extra counter top! Kayla B. in Milwaukee, WI


PRESIDENTIAL COOKIES COOKBOOK
Did you know that Family Circle magazine’s Presidential Candidate Cookie Contest has predicted the outcome of the last 4 elections? Each of the final candidates’ spouses are asked to submit a cookie recipe, the magazine publishes them online and in print (look for the July issue), and readers vote for their favorite. They’ve done this for the last 4
elections and the husband of the each winner was elected President (see our recipe section below for how you can see this year’s recipes and vote). So you can see that Presidential Cookie recipes are a serious matter. Here’s a great cookbook for any cookie and/or history lover out there. Presidential Cookies by Bev Young is a collection of the favorite cookie recipes from George Washington to George W. Bush, with some historical commentary thrown in. The older recipes are adapted for current appliances. You can find out why the Kennedys’ gingerbread cookies were re-named Tuiles. You can read about how Teresa Heinz Kerry’s initial submission was rejected, and she had to send in another one. This would also be a great idea for history teachers, or a yummy history lesson for the whole family. So check it out or place an order at…
http://www.presidentialcookies.com Found on the make a note webpage.

* * * * * *
RECIPE: CINDY MCCAIN’S OATMEAL BUTTERSCOTCH COOKIES
When I first found this website, Cindy McCain was in the lead, so we are reprinting her recipe (apparently some people were unhappy with an uncommon ingredient in Michelle Obama’s recipe). Who knows who will be leading when this issue goes to press. In past contests, it seems that the more classic recipes tend to be more popular.

Makes 5-1/2 dozen cookies
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1-2/3 cups butterscotch chips
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375F.
2. In a large bowl beat the butter or margarine, granulated sugar and brown sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well.
3. In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until blended. Stir in oats and butterscotch chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Transfer
to a wire rack to cool.
POST IT…on your shopping list, in your recipe box, and on your computer.

Have a great safe weekend everyone!