family

Music Monday: Edelweiss

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Last weekend, we lost my Grandma Sugarplum.  She was 93 and one of the best people I’ve ever known.  She was kind to everyone, loved her family with all her heart, had an inquiring mind and a love for tv game shows, baked the best brownies in the world, had the biggest sweet tooth, and was eternally grateful for everyone from a cup of Lemon Zinger to a warm hand to hold.

This was one of her absolute favorite songs – when I used to bring my guitar to her house. she would sit through the John Mayer and cowboy songs then would request this one which we would sing together.  It will always make me think of her, and remember this amazing woman who has left the world, but will stay in my heart forever.

 

Rocking the broccoli casserole

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When I think of winter-time family gatherings, I think of board games, cider, and broccoli casserole.  My friend Cody once called this dish a hillbilly’s perfect dinner, but if being a hillbilly is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:
  • 20 oz frozen broccoli, thawed
  • 1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
  • 3 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (usually around one block)
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 2 gloves garlic (optional)
  • 1 bag ruffled potato chips – actual amount needed depends on the size of your pan
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Thaw/defrost the broccoli so it’s not frozen when you start.
  3. Stir everything other than the chips together in a bowl, mixing well.  Spread into a casserole dish – any size you want, depending on the surface area you want to leave for the chips.  (We did it in a huge pan so basically every other bite had chips on top).
  4. Top with crushed potato chips.
  5. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes – let rest for 5 minutes when done, as this comes out of the oven really hot!

Does your family have any crazy recipes that show up at group gatherings?  Anything with potato chips on top?

Listen up!

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This Friday is the National Day of Listening, according to StoryCorps, a project of NPR that encourages people to sit down with their loved ones and talk, listen, record, and share the stories of our lives.  I promise you: you’ll never be sorry that you did, and you’ll probably have your best post-Turkey Day ever, and it won’t cost you a thing!

Here is my favorite StoryCorps story, part of a series that has been made into cartoons.

If that didn’t make you cry, at least a little, watch this one and try not to crack.