How Do I Stay Sane?

One of the most frequent comments I hear regarding my current occupation is: "I don't know how you do it!" Well, I don't know either, I just do it. It does help that I really like little kids... they make me laugh... (they've taught me patience) and I DO have a lot of fun with them. I like talking to them, I love to hear them tell me they love me and they like my house. They comment when I put on a different necklace or have a new shirt on. One day last week I had on a headband part of the morning, because I hadn't gotten around to combing my hair after I had washed my face. This little girl Jayden (age 4) told me I looked pretty. That afternoon, after I had taken time to wash & dry my hair, she again told me how she liked my hair the fancy way it was that morning.


This is Jayden, last February on her birthday

Well anyway, I do have one fun thing that I started doing about a year ago. The local Macey's grocery store just up the road has cooking classes held at their "Little Theatre" several times a week at 7:00 pm. That has become a fun outlet for me. A lady by the name of Nancy Judd is in charge of the Little Theatre classes. She introduces the guest and does a running commentary throughout the entire class. She is such a hoot. I would go just to listen to her. She is in her early 60's now, but she taught Home Economics for many years when she lived in Texas and is a fabulous cook herself. Did I mention how much fun she is? I laugh & laugh at the things that come out of her mouth.

I have been to many fun classes this past year, and I have learned some really great things. After I took a bread making class last fall, I started to make my own bread. I've got a recipe that you mix, raise & cook the bread all within a hour. Even I have time to make bread this way. I haven't bought a loaf of bread at the store since last November!

Last week I went to a class that taught how to make food you would get at the fair: soft pretzels, fresh squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, Navajo taco's and fried Oreo's. I was most skeptical about the fried Oreo's because one time when I was in Vegas with my sisters (& Andria) we had a fried Twinkie at a place down on Fremont Street. I thought it was pretty disgusting. But... the fried Oreo's were wonderful. Since we always have a stash of Oreo's at our house, this is something I could do without having to go to the store to buy Oreo's first. But it is also something I will do when there are lots of people at my house, because I don't think Terrell, Kimball and I could eat them all, and they are not good cold.

The recipe she gave us is from Emeril Lagasse. I have seen others on the internet, but they use pancake mix. I like this one, because you mix up the batter from scratch.


(I didn't take this picture - just got it off the internet - so of course my fried Oreo's would look Fabuluous!)

Fried Oreo's (From Emeril Lagasse)
1 1/4 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1 large egg, lightly beaten
20-25 Oreo cookies
Powdered sugar for dusting
oil for frying
Heat oil in fryer to 360 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and vanilla. Combine the milk mixture with the flour mixture stirring just until well blended. Dip cookies in batter and carefully place in hot oil. Fry until batter is golden brown. Turn cookies and fry other side. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately.
Makes 20-25 cookies