In the past several days, I have been asked for a good biscuit recipe. I always share my Gram's 1-2-3-4 biscuit recipe. It's super easy and gives great results! I even won 2nd place at the State Fair with these biscuits! Sorry for not pictures, I had made biscuits before everyone asked for a recipe.
The ingredients are simple:
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 cold butter
3/4 milk (I've used everything from buttermilk to half and half to regular milk)
The instructions are just as easy.
I sift the salt, flour and baking powder but you don't have to.
Cut in the butter, I suck at using a pastry cutter so I just use two knives until it looks like cornmeal consistency.
Then using a fork, stir in the milk just until it comes together.
I take the mixture to a floured counter and using my hands press it out to the thickness I want..generall 1/2" or so. Handle them as little as possible so they don't get tough. I'm not precise in this. Cut the biscuits, if you don't have a biscuit cutter, use a glass.
Bake in a 450 degree oven on an ungreased baking pan for about 12 minutes, give or take, depending on how hot your oven runs.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Be kind to one another
I've struggled with whether or not I wanted to write this. I came to the conclusion that I *need* to write this.
To start with, I want to acknowledge that COVID-19 is something that will change life as we know it in the near feature and quite possibly beyond that. This is serious business folks. Please pay attention to the directions from the CDC and local authorities.
I know many of you are doing what you need to do for the best of the community: hunkering down, social distancing, not hoarding, etc. I applaud you!
For those of you who think you are young and not compromised, that you'll be fine. Let me say this loud and clear. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU! Even if you do not get this awful illness, you can be a carrier and take it to your friends or family who ARE compromised or elderly. I would hope you would not intentionally do something that holds the real possibility killing someone....possibly someone you love.
The directive to practice social distancing, or for those of us who are immune-compromised being quarantined...this is really what I came to write about tonight. Yes, due to cancer and asthma, I am compromised. My doctors wanted me to stay home but knew that I worked so they requested other than my office, I was to stay home. I am lucky that my employer decided (about this same time) to have me work from home before the full shut down of the college I work for. I know how fortunate I am in that respect.
My husband and I decided that we were going to go all in. Full quarantine for my safety. I am trying to do my part for my safety and the safety of my friends, neighbors and medical professionals. The gearing up for this kept me busy and my mind occupied. My doctor and I made sure I had 90 days of meds on hand. I already keep a well stocked pantry & freezer, so we were good there. I didn't need toilet paper, thank goodness since everyone is making a run on TP supplies! I set up my temporary office. Physically, I was ready.
I'll be raw and vulnerable here, so please be kind.
I consider myself to be a strong person, a true bad-ass. I've survived cancer, a traumatic brain injury, domestic violence and more. I can do this, right? Right. I can and I will, but I am admitting it is far, far harder than I could have ever imagined. I am a very socially active person, I am a hugger of all, a person who needs people.
My work is going surprisingly well, even if I am in the office my students have the opportunity to meet by phone or online, so this is not vastly different...I just don't have to commute. I have time to work on a couple of pet projects. I feel like I am handling this part well.
I miss coffee with friends, lunches with friends, former colleagues and former students, girl's night out, shopping (even for groceries), my son's DeMolay activities, neighborhood activities...shoot, even random conversations at the gas station or with the waitress, etc. I miss human contact. Desperately. I live with a husband and son who are quite ok with being alone for stretches of time. (Who are these people? LOL) I am envious of them being so comfortable with being alone. They are trying really hard to help me out of my funk. Bless their hearts I love them so much for trying. I just feel like a hot mess.
I know I am not alone in what I'm going through right now. I know this. But, knowing this doesn't make it easier. I've had several tearful melt downs. Once was feeling sorry for myself, which in and of itself, irritates me to no end. I'm a bad ass, remember? The others were due to being so very angry at the situation. More realistically, being mad at COVID-19. Yup, extremely angry at a virus. I can recognize that anxiety and depression are controlling all of this right now. I'm working on researching ways to help alleviate some of this. I will reach out to my doctor if needed. There is no shame in asking for help.
Why am I sharing all of this? I know often in this blog, during weather extremes, I've implored you to check on your elderly and shut in neighbors to see that they're safe and not in need of anything. I am sharing this with you to remind you all to continue to be a community. Yes, check on your elderly and shut in neighbors...please either call them or be absolutely sure you are utilizing social distancing when you check on them in person. Additionally, please check on each other, even your strong friends. Sometimes, we're not ok.
Now that all fifty states are affected by this virus, we must realize that we are all in this together. We are one large community now facing the same invisible enemy. Let's show the world how awesome we all are in looking out for each other. Break it down to the small community, even the small section of the street that you are a part of, check on each other. Help each other out. Check to see if a neighbor needs you to pick up something for them when you run to the grocery or the pharmacy. Every little bit will help.
We are in this together. Be kind. Check on each other.
To start with, I want to acknowledge that COVID-19 is something that will change life as we know it in the near feature and quite possibly beyond that. This is serious business folks. Please pay attention to the directions from the CDC and local authorities.
I know many of you are doing what you need to do for the best of the community: hunkering down, social distancing, not hoarding, etc. I applaud you!
For those of you who think you are young and not compromised, that you'll be fine. Let me say this loud and clear. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU! Even if you do not get this awful illness, you can be a carrier and take it to your friends or family who ARE compromised or elderly. I would hope you would not intentionally do something that holds the real possibility killing someone....possibly someone you love.
The directive to practice social distancing, or for those of us who are immune-compromised being quarantined...this is really what I came to write about tonight. Yes, due to cancer and asthma, I am compromised. My doctors wanted me to stay home but knew that I worked so they requested other than my office, I was to stay home. I am lucky that my employer decided (about this same time) to have me work from home before the full shut down of the college I work for. I know how fortunate I am in that respect.
My husband and I decided that we were going to go all in. Full quarantine for my safety. I am trying to do my part for my safety and the safety of my friends, neighbors and medical professionals. The gearing up for this kept me busy and my mind occupied. My doctor and I made sure I had 90 days of meds on hand. I already keep a well stocked pantry & freezer, so we were good there. I didn't need toilet paper, thank goodness since everyone is making a run on TP supplies! I set up my temporary office. Physically, I was ready.
I'll be raw and vulnerable here, so please be kind.
I consider myself to be a strong person, a true bad-ass. I've survived cancer, a traumatic brain injury, domestic violence and more. I can do this, right? Right. I can and I will, but I am admitting it is far, far harder than I could have ever imagined. I am a very socially active person, I am a hugger of all, a person who needs people.
My work is going surprisingly well, even if I am in the office my students have the opportunity to meet by phone or online, so this is not vastly different...I just don't have to commute. I have time to work on a couple of pet projects. I feel like I am handling this part well.
I miss coffee with friends, lunches with friends, former colleagues and former students, girl's night out, shopping (even for groceries), my son's DeMolay activities, neighborhood activities...shoot, even random conversations at the gas station or with the waitress, etc. I miss human contact. Desperately. I live with a husband and son who are quite ok with being alone for stretches of time. (Who are these people? LOL) I am envious of them being so comfortable with being alone. They are trying really hard to help me out of my funk. Bless their hearts I love them so much for trying. I just feel like a hot mess.
I know I am not alone in what I'm going through right now. I know this. But, knowing this doesn't make it easier. I've had several tearful melt downs. Once was feeling sorry for myself, which in and of itself, irritates me to no end. I'm a bad ass, remember? The others were due to being so very angry at the situation. More realistically, being mad at COVID-19. Yup, extremely angry at a virus. I can recognize that anxiety and depression are controlling all of this right now. I'm working on researching ways to help alleviate some of this. I will reach out to my doctor if needed. There is no shame in asking for help.
Why am I sharing all of this? I know often in this blog, during weather extremes, I've implored you to check on your elderly and shut in neighbors to see that they're safe and not in need of anything. I am sharing this with you to remind you all to continue to be a community. Yes, check on your elderly and shut in neighbors...please either call them or be absolutely sure you are utilizing social distancing when you check on them in person. Additionally, please check on each other, even your strong friends. Sometimes, we're not ok.
Now that all fifty states are affected by this virus, we must realize that we are all in this together. We are one large community now facing the same invisible enemy. Let's show the world how awesome we all are in looking out for each other. Break it down to the small community, even the small section of the street that you are a part of, check on each other. Help each other out. Check to see if a neighbor needs you to pick up something for them when you run to the grocery or the pharmacy. Every little bit will help.
We are in this together. Be kind. Check on each other.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
What a crazy time we are in right now!
Hello everyone! I hope you are all safe amid the COVID-19 crisis! Please follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) guidelines for your safety! More information on COVID-19 from the CDC is here
PLEASE, check on your elderly neighbors or those that are shut ins. Don't go inside and expose anyone but call them or ask through the door, find out if they need anything...you can always get it and leave it on their porch. We are all in this together!
Please take the social distancing seriously as well. This will protect those with compromised systems and the elderly.
Here are some suggestions from a Professor at Ball State University for getting through social distancing:
PLEASE, check on your elderly neighbors or those that are shut ins. Don't go inside and expose anyone but call them or ask through the door, find out if they need anything...you can always get it and leave it on their porch. We are all in this together!
Please take the social distancing seriously as well. This will protect those with compromised systems and the elderly.
Here are some suggestions from a Professor at Ball State University for getting through social distancing:
Practicing social distancing to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic may sound scary or impossible to do, but there are ways to appropriately handle the process.
“Social distancing can be tough on people and disrupt the social and economic fibers of our society,” Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor at Ball State said. “Given the existing crisis of isolation in societies—with probably the loneliest young generation that we have today—social distancing can also take a personal health toll on people, causing psychological problems, among many others.”
Khubchandani, a health science professor at Ball State University, has recommended 15 ways to counterbalance the effects of social distancing:
- Maintain a routine. As much as possible, social distancing should not disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, working hours, and daily activities.
- Make social distancing a positive by taking the time to focus on your personality and personal health, reassessing your work, training, diet patterns, physical activity levels, and health habits.
- Carve time to cook for yourself and others in need.
- Go for a walk or exercise at home.
- Do not let anxiety lead you to indulge in binge eating or alcohol and drug use. Don’t oversleep, but do sleep at least 7 hours. A recent study found that more than a third of Americans sleep less than 7 hours.
- Think forward and try to make best use of technology to finish your work, attend meetings, and engage with coworkers with the same frequency that is required during active office hours.
- Small breaks due to social distancing are also times to reassess your skill and training- think of an online course, certification, training, personality development or new language to learn.
- Engage in spring cleaning, clear that clutter, and donate non-junk household stuff.
- Pay attention to you social media habits. While you can certainly become a victim of myths, misinformation, anxiety, and fear mongering, you may also inadvertently become a perpetrator, creating more trouble for communities.
- Based on American Time Use Survey and leisure related time-spending patterns worldwide, we spend too much time on screen. Limit your screen time, but watch national news for general consumption and local news to check spread of COVID-19 in your own community, you are likely over-consuming information and taking away time from yourself and friends and family.
- Reach out to people and offer help. Consider providing for and helping those at risk or marginalized (e.g. the elderly, disabled, and homeless; survivors of natural disasters; and those living in shelters). You will certainly find someone in the neighborhood who needs some help, this can be done from a distance, on phone, or by online activities and giving.
- Check your list of contacts on email and phone.
- Engage in alternative activities to keep your mind and body active such as: listening to music and singing, trying dancing or biking, yoga or meditation, taking virtual tours of museums and places of interest, sketching and painting, reading books or novels, solving puzzles or engaging in board games, trying new recipes and learning about other cultures, etc.
- Do not isolate yourself totally (physical distancing should not become social isolation). Don’t be afraid, don’t panic, and do keep communicating with others.
Here are some links for blogs I've posted in the past concerning meals and stretching them, and a bonus one for cleaners.
Again, please check on your neighbors...safely. We need to work together to get through this. Check on them...maybe call someone just to chat for a minute. You don't know the change you could make.
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