Chewy Doozies

On my todo list

Chewy Doozies
   
   This recipe makes a huge batch of wholesome, toothsome cookies to tuck away for breakfast, snacks or dessert. Make them during the week, then grab and go to eat on the fly when you're trying to get to a first-come campground early on Saturday. Plenty of nuts and eggs add protein. Fruit adds fiber and a little brown sugar adds carbs to get you through the morning.
  These cookies are moist and fruity, so they will mold in a warm, humid environment.  They also freeze well. If your supermarket doesn't carry candied cherries except during the holidays, substitute chopped, dried plums.
 
3 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon each cinnamon and baking soda
1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs
1/2 cup milk or water
2 sticks butter, melted

2 cups candied cherries, chopped
1 cup chopped, dried pineapple
6 cups broken pecans
2 cups raisins
2 cups chopped, pitted dates

   Line baking pans with parchment or nonstick foil. Set the oven to 250 degrees. In a bowl or bag, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
  In a bowl, whisk eggs with milk or water until light.  Cool melted butter until it's pourable but not hot enough to cook the eggs. Whisk in melted butter.  Stir in dry ingredients.
   When batter is evenly mixed and no dry spots remain, fold in nuts and fruit. Drop by teaspoons on baking sheets and bake 25-30 minutes until set. Cool completely and store in a cool, dry place.

Galumping along

So it was Costco on Monday. Tuesday we took the motorhome to Inline Services in Callender Iowa for a partial paint job. Brock Smith is our go-to guy there. We were surprised at the size of the business in little Callender Iowa. There were other Motorhomes there and quite a few Semi-trucks. They do repair and body work. Impressive place. We assured them we did not have a time frame for completion especially since Butch will be unable to drive for 10 days. We are sure they will want it completed, paid for and out of their way as soon as possible.

After dropping off the mortorhome we went to Menards in Fort Dodge and bought a small refrigerator for the garage. We had been looking for a used one but it had to be small and all we found would need a great deal of clean up and were bulky to boot. So this is what we bought and with a $54 rebate coupon it seems reasonable. We were able to get it in the back of the car with it laying down. We left it upright and unplugged for 24 hours as we know you must do after a refrigerator is laid down. The guys who loaded it were amazed we were able to get it in the car not knowing we had measured carefully prior to buying it. We even were careful to note the measurements of it while it was in the shipping crate.

Criterion® 9.8 cu.ft.Top Freezer Refrigerator

$323.10


So home we came with our purchase.
On Wednesday we took a break, I think! The day passed quickly.

Thursday was surgery day. Supposed to arrive at 12:00 and we were on time. Allowing for a pesky detour on our main track of highway 30 we left home at 10:30. Stopped at WalMart for a med renewal. Butch drove and I thought he was helping me to look forward to driving as I will be for the next 10 days as he was not as attentive as usual. I later found out he had taken a night time cold medication. I noticed! An interesting note: I had a cold and Butch caught it a couple of days before his scheduled surgery and I thought it could change his surgery date. He called to check and it did not. I was surprised by this. He could even take his cold meds without an issue. He had a block for anesthetic. So he was semi awake for it all. That must be why.
For anyone wondering about the detour on highway 30 between Grand Junction and Ogden it is a pain to endure for the next 7 months. They detour on the east by going on 169 north for 5 miles and then west to Dana Iowa and then back 5 miles south on 141. We have found a local way to get around it, however it involves 1 1/2 mile of gravel. I would much rather have a 1 mile detour than a 10 mile detour even with gravel involved. They are making changes to a railroad overpass at Grand Junction.
So after waiting in Ames for what seemed like ages everything was done and we were on the road back to Jefferson at 4:00 PM. Just in time to get Butch settled before I joined the crew at HyVee for trivia night. We did not do well with trivia but we sure had a good time.

A side note. Butch and I watched The BFG on Netflix last weekend. I enjoyed it immensely. BFG is the big friendly giant. It is a kid movie but do not let that stop you. Will watch it again and again. This 'human bean' gives it 5 stars

"Ten-year-old Sophie is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). Naturally scared at first, the young girl soon realizes that the 24-foot behemoth is actually quite gentle and charming. As their friendship grows, Sophie's presence attracts the unwanted attention of Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and other giants. After traveling to London, Sophie and the BFG must convince Queen Victoria to help them get rid of all the bad giants once and for all."

Butch had surgery

Butch had his first carpal tunnel surgery last August on his left hand and then the same surgery today on his right hand. All is well. He recovers from nearly everything quite quickly. It has been a long day so I will let that news be enough for now.😁

Costco Trip in Iowa

Butch is having his hand surgery on Thursday so this week has been busy getting things done and lined up to be done. Monday was a washout. The alley had endured quite a bit of rain so we waited for some drying out and changed our date to get the Motorhome to Callender Iowa for some paint work to Tuesday.

Yesterday we went to Costco in DesMoines. All Costco's are laid out with the same floor plan but the door to the one in DesMoines is located in a different location making the starting point different. That really screws me up!  Next time I plan to find where we start in Texas and find that location in the DesMoines store and start from there. Do not know if it will work but worth a try.

Last winter I ran across a list of 12 Kirkland brand things they claimed to be a best buy.
They are:
1. Kirkland Signature Bacon
2. Kirkland Batteries
3. Kirkland Signature Light Beer
4. Kirkland Coffee 100% Columbian fine ground
5. Kirkland Gasoline
6. Kirkland Signature Golf balls
7. Kirkland Signature Greek Yogurt
8. Kirkland Signature Premium Ice Cream
9. Kirkland Keurig K-Cup pods
10. Kirkland Signature Virgin Olive oil
11. Kirkland Signature Organic Peanut Butter
12. Kirkland Signature Salmon

Butch nixes Golf balls, Ice cream, and Organic Peanut butter. He would not knowingly touch greek yogurt, olive oil or salmon. So that narrows the list down a bit. The coffee we swear by. I use the bacon. We get the gasoline when we are in the vicinity. K-pods we do not use and I think are way too pricey a way to have coffee. Also, the machine is bulky and would not fit in our way of life. That leaves the beer which Butch knew nothing about till this list came to light. We bought a case of 48 yesterday for $22.49. He doesn't know if he likes it yet but the price was right. He can find a case of 30 Old Mill light for $14.99 on sale now and then, and sometimes but rarely for $13.99. If he likes it we really do not gain much because it isn't available in Texas. If it were it would save us from transporting beer from Iowa to Texas as we could buy it as we use it. Durn it! Hmmm, wonder if we could request it.
Sure wish Costco would consider a store in Ames or Fort Dodge.

Leo and Keri's grandchildren.

I am assuming that Leo took these pictures. He has always had a good photographic eye. I snipped these from Facebook because I think they are above the ordinary. Keepers for sure.

Brady and Beckett Westergard

Clara and Jorgen Davis