Many of you out there suffer from some form of chronic disease.  My husband suffers with Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy that causes progressive muscle weakness predominantly in the eye (oculo) and throat (pharyngeal) muscles.  Patients usually appear healthy before the onset of disease symptoms, typically between the ages of 40 to 60.
https://musculardystrophynews.com/symptoms-of-oculopharyngeal-muscular-dystrophy/?fbclid=IwAR0QsUHZlX00UtR-wkf-GouoLYhEk1bKIeTzpWNysUcLOLPvXRK8ogncNTk

There is more information regarding this disease at:

Here is some information that I have learned through the years.  Jacks Mom (Antoinette Rancout)  was a French-Canadian descendant.  From what I understand, her Dad had droopy eyelids.  Most of my mother-in-laws siblings ( there were 10 children) were affected starting with eyelids, trouble swallowing and walking. Some had feeding tubes, throat stretching, some had minor symptoms and others had all three.  The disease has been passed down to some of their children who are staring to have difficulty with their eyes, throat and legs.  OPMD is genetic.

A few years ago, Jack (my husband) started with droopy eyelids.  His eye doctor at the VA Hospital operated on him and after several surgeries, he was seeing double in one eye.  Dr. Tien, another eye specialist tried to correct the double vision and found it difficult because he had built up a lot of scar tissue around the lower muscle of his eye. Dr. Tien research this rare disease and found that 3 Sisters from France moved to Canada and brought this gene with them.  As they married the gene was passed on to their children and so forth and so on.  There are clusters of this rare form of Muscular Dystrophy through out the United States. He still has double vision but is able to overcome it.

Within a few years after the eye surgery Jack started have trouble chocking.  He has also adjusted to that situation by eating slowly and avoiding spicy foods.  He seems to have the situation under control.

Now he is having trouble walking.  His legs are very weak so he has resorted to a walker.  Luckily that is working out.  We don't know what's to come next but we will be prepared for it because now there is so much information out there.

If anyone reading this has any information regarding this disease, please contact me.  I would appreciated any helpful information.

CAPRESE PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS:

You will need:
Two large Portobello mushrooms
Fresh sliced tomatoes
1 scallion
Fresh sliced mozzarella
Garlic salt
Italian Seasoning
Olive oil
Balsamic glaze
Cooking spray

Spray bottom of pan with cooking spray. Place the mushrooms and spray them also.  Top with tomatoes, seasoning, garlic salt and olive oil.  Place sliced mozzarella on top of tomatoes.  Sprinkle olive oil and seasoning and top with sliced scallion.

Bake at 375 for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Top it off with some Balsamic glaze.  Yummy!!!

Chicken Breasts stuffed with Red Roasted Peppers and Shredded Mozzarella

 2 chicken breasts
4 slices of roasted peppers
1 clove of garlic - pressed, sliced or diced
salt
McCormick's "Perfect Pinch" Italian Seasoning
1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella
1 package of Steam Fresh Brown Wild Rice w/Broccoli & Carrots
1 package of Asparagus Spears (frozen)

Wash and trim and butterfly chicken breasts.
Place them in foil pan and arrange roasted peppers,
garlic, salt, Italian season and top with mozzarella.  Fold over and secure tooth picks.
Sprinkle with Oil and Italian seasons.
Bake at 350 oven for about 45 minutes.  Meanwhile, place the frozen Asparagus on cookie sheet and drizzle with oil and your favorite seasoning.  About 15 minutes should do it.  If you like them crunchy place them under the broiler of a couple of minutes.  Just before everything is ready, put the Brown Wild Rice packet in the microwave to cook.  It should only take about 4 to 5 minutes.

Arrange the Chicken Breast over the Wild Rice mixture.  Cut up a piece of roasted pepper to garnish.

I served this to my Hubby and he gave it a "pass with a push".  Anyone that knows hubby will know

that this was a 10 on his scale of 1-10.  I hope you like it too!

Buon Appetito!

MONKEY BREAD

Monkey Bread is a favorite among young and old.  I decided to post this recipe given to me by my friend Margo.  She has made this so many times for us.  My grandchildren love it!  You simply pull it apart and eat it!
Here is what you will need:
Grease a tube pan or bundt pan.  Preheat oven at 350.  Cook for 35 minutes.
3 large Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits
1/2 cup of sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 stick of butter or margarine.
Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Cut the slices in quarters and roll them in the sugar and cinnamon mix.  Place them in the pan.  After placing all of them in the pan, sprinkle with brown sugar.  Cut up the margarine or butter and place it on top. 
Bake in a 350 oven for about 35 minutes.  Cool for a few minutes and serve.  Tastes best when warm.
IF you should have any left over (which I doubt) Place in an air-tight container so it will stay fresh.

PICKLED BEETS

For the next few posts I will be sharing my Mother-in-laws "canning" recipies.  This is one of my Husband's favorites.  Here is what you will need:
1/2 bushell of Beets
1 quart of white vinegar
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of salt.
Peel Beets and put aside.
Place all ingredients in pan and add enough water to cover the Beets.  Bring the mixture to a boil and add Beets.  Be sure that the Beets are covered, if they are not, add more water.  Let it all boil for about 5 minutes.  Meanwhile steam the jars.  Pack while everything is hot and keep out of drafts.  **you can cut the recipie down for smaller amounts of Beets.
Enjoy!

Hi, sorry I haven't posted any recipes lately....very busy.  I am going to Italy for a family wedding, but I will certainly gather some recipes from my family in Milano and share them with you. 
Meanwhile, I have just come across so recipes for preserves that belonged to my mother-in-law, many of you that know me, knew her as Meme.
My very favorite is BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES.  Here is what you will need:
5 medium cucumbers
3 medium onions1/4 cup salt
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
3/4 cup sugar
14 teaspoon turmeric
1/ teaspoon ginger
Wash cucumbers and onion then cut into thin slices ( you can use your food processor or veggie slicer)
Combine them with salt and let stand for two hours.  Drain.  Heat vinegar, water, celery seed, mustard seed, sugar, turmeric and ginger.  Bring to a boil.  Add cucumbers and onions, bring to a slow boil until tender.  Pack in clean jars while still hot. Keep them out of a draft,  covered with a towel.  Store in cool dry place.
ENJOY!

Cod Fish Fillets 9 to 10 points plus meal

Here is a great Weight Watchers dish.
This is what you will need:
2 Cod Fish Fillet (about 6 oz each)
1/4 cup of Panko Italian Seasoned breadcrumbs
1 whole lemon
string beans
almond slivers
roasted peppers
garlic
salad
oil and vinegar

Spray pan with Canola Oil cooking spray. Arrange the Cod. Squeeze 1/2 of the lemon on both fillets and then sprinkle the Panko breadcrumbs. Slice the second 1/2 of the lemon and place them on top of the fish. Bake at 350 oven until the fish is flaky.
Meanwhile to complete your meal, cook string beans according to package directions and add slivered almonds when ready to serve. Toss a salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, Roasted pepper with garlic slivers (you do not have to add oil to the roasted peppers you have their own juices, especially if you roast them yourself) and you have a fantastic meal.
Weight Watchers Points Plus: 4 for full fillet, 3 for the breadcrumbs, o string beans, 0 for roasted peppers and 1 for every teaspoon of salad dressing!
Buono appitito!

Easter Rice Pie

Easter Sunday is practically around the corner. Everyone has a favorite recipe for Rice Pie. I will be sharing my Mother-in-Laws recipe with you. I hope you try it and enjoy it. Unfortunately I don't have a picture to show you, but rest assured it is delicious!
Here is what you will need:
4 1/2 dozen eggs
3 quarts of milk
1 lb of sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla
3 tablespoons of melted lard (I use Crisco)
2 lbs. of white rice
1 tsp cinnamon
4 lemons
1 tsp. salt
citron ( I prefer crushed pineapple)
First soak the 2 lbs of rice for 1/2.
Boil rice with enough water to cover rice, add salt.
Squeeze lemons and put the juice to one side.
Add the lemon skins to the rice and water and boil until water simmers down. Add milk gradually till rice is partly cooked. Remove from heat.
Beat together eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, sugar and melted lard and cinnamon; add the crushed pineapple. Fold all the ingredients together.
Prepare pie dish as follows:
Spray the sides and bottom of dish, sprinkle plain bread crumbs of graham cracker crumbs to cover the bottom and sides of dish.
Pour the rice mixture filling the dish 3/4 full. Cook in 350 oven for 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of you baking dish. Test center with tooth pick or cake tester.

Chicken Tenders with Spinach

Here is a new twist on Chicken Tenders. I didn't know what to make with Chicken Tenders this one particular night. Dinner can sometimes be a challenge being on Weight Watchers - especially if you are Italian and like to eat only Italian foods. I had a batch of Spinach which I prepared for a calzone. Simply saute the spinach with pepperoni cut in small pieces, sliced olives, garlic and sliced mushrooms.




In a well seasoned Pampered Chef stone I sprayed Olive oil (a small amount), placed 8 chicken tenders side by side. I proceeded to season them with Mrs. Dash Italian Blend and topped it off with Panko Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.




Cover and bake for 20 minutes (or until tender) in oven at 350. Remove from oven and layer the Spinach mixture on top of the Chicken Tenders. Return to oven for 10 minutes. Serve with a garden salad! Mmm good!If you are Weight Watchers like me,it is approx. 11 point plus value: The Salad with dressing is usually 2 to 4 points. Depends on how much dressing you use. Yeilds 2 servings.

White Whole Wheat Chocolte Chip Cookies

Here is what you will need:
3/4 cup granulated sugar (you can used splenda)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups of Gold Medal white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package ( 12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Prep Time: 30 min. Start to Finish: 40 min
3 dozen cookies.

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. (dough will be stiff) Stir in chocolate chips.
2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft.) Cool sightly: remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

**You can find White Whole Wheat Flour at Walmart

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Frozen Mixes

MyBlogSpark asked me to do a review and giveaway for Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers. I was not influenced by them, the opinions are my own. I need to try something first and if I believe in it, I will write about it. I was having company for dinner last week so I decided to try the Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers. I choose the Broccoli in Cheese sauce. I served it with oven roasted chicken, potatoes and a salad. The Broccoli in Cheese sauce was a hit not only with my guests by my Husband loved it! Next I will be trying the vegetables with pasta. Making meal time easier than ever, Green Giant has introduced vegetables with pasta and savory sauces to their already convenient and tasty line-up of Valley Fresh Steamers frozen mixes. New Valley Fresh Steamers Vegetables with Pasta varieties include: Macaroni and Cheese Sauce with Broccoli - classic elbow pasta and broccoli in a mouth watering cheese sauce Pasta and Vegetables with Alfredo Sauce - delicious corkscrew pasta with carrots and broccoli in a savory Alfredo sauce Steam-in-the-bag sides will have your family asking for seconds. Join in the conversation today on the Green Giant Facebook page. this is what you will receive in the Giveaway: Coupon for a free Green Giant Valley Steamers, serving bowl, two Green Giant place mats and a broccoli stress reliever. Here is what you need to do to enter this giveaway: 1. Visit Green Giant on Facebook...become a fan. 2. Follow me on twitter 3. Tell a friend about this giveaway and send me a copy of your email to your friend. 4. "Like" Grandmas Cooking Corner and more on Facebook. You can enter as many times as you want. this giveaway will end Dec. 28, 2011. "Disclosure: Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Pumpkin Spice Bars from Gold Medal Flour

I got this recipe from the giveaway I just ended from Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour from MyBlogSpark. I made the Pumpkin Bars and they were scrumptious. I decided this is definitely one to share.
Prep Time: 15 min. Start to Finish: 2 hrs 45 min
Bars
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 cups Gold Medal white whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger'1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2cups powdered sugar
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of 15x10x1" pan with shortening.
2. In large bowl, beat eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger and cloves. Spread in pan.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on cooling rick, about 2 hours
4. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, I cup at a time until spreadable. Frost bars. Cut into 7 rows by 7 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
1 Bar: Calories 140 (Calories from Fat 60); total Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 25 mg: sodium 90mg: Total Carbohydrate 18g (Dietary Fiber0g, Sugars 13g); Protein 1g% Daily Value: Vitamin A 30%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0%
Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1/2 other Carbohydrate, 1 1/2 fat
Carbohydrate Choices: 1

Jewish Apple Cake

This wonderful recipe was given to me by my adopted Auntie Pat. Cake is awesome. This is the best time to make it because of apple picking season. Make a few and freeze them for later on. Great for the Holidays that are just around the corner.
Here is what you will need:
Peel and cut 6 or 7 apples, add 2 tsp.cinnamon and 2 tbs. sugar, mix and set aside.
Mix together

3 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
3 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
1 cup cooking oil
4 eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 tsp Vanilla
Beat together until smooth, grease a tube pan, large loaf pan or bunt pan. Pour 1/2 of batter in pan, arrange 1/2 of the apples, then pour the rest of the batter. Arrange the rest of the apples on top.
Bake at 350 over for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.....Check cake after 1 hr and every 1o minutes until done.
Let cool before removing from pan.
YUMMY!

Spaghetti Sauce (Gravy) with Meatballs, Sausage & Pork Meat

Everyone loves my spaghetti sauce (we call it gravy) so I thought I would share it with my readers.
Here is what you will need for the sauce:
Large Sauce pot
6 cans of Pastene Kitchen Ready tomatoes.
1 can of water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
Oregano to taste
Two cloves of garlic, pressed.
Combine everything in large pot and simmer. Add cut up sausage and pieces or pork meat or pieces of beef. Next are the meatballs.....best part of the meal. My Grandchildren love my meatballs.
2 1/2 lbs of ground beef
5 large eggs
1/2 sweet onion, chopped fine- I use my Pampered Chef manual food processor.
1 cup of Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
Mix it all up and form meatballs. I used the medium size scoop
from The Pampered Chef so that they would all be the same size.
Add raw meatballs to the sauce that already has been simmering with the sausage and pork. Cook on stove top until meat is cooked.
I sometimes make my sauce in a crock pot. I start it at 11pm and cook it on low heat all night. The next morning it's done. Deliciouso!
I hope you try it....please let me know how it turns out.

Introducing Frozen Pillsbury Grands Biscuit Sandwiches

To celebrate the launch of new Frozen PillsburyŽ Grands!Ž Biscuit Sandwiches and Pillsb uryŽ Egg ScramblesTM, the Pillsbury Doughboy teamed up with Grammy-award winning American gospel music duo Mary Mary and surprised morning commuters with an unexpected performance. Mary Mary is the featured artist behind the catchy jingle titled "Brand New Morning" accompanying the new Pillsbury Frozen Breakfast television spots. Get a sneak peak of the new Pillsbury frozen breakfast products and visit www.facebook.com/pillsbury to receive a $1 off coupon, while supplies last. Then let us know what you think. Click on the link below to see 14 Pillsbury Doughboys and Mary Mary doing a breakfast boogie! Pillsbury Grands! Biscuit Sandwiches and Pillsbury Egg Scrambles heat up in minutes in the microwave and are available in your grocer´s freezer. Made with quality ingredients like real egg, tasty meat, cheese, Grands! Biscuits and Green Giant® vegetables, this new line of quick and delicious frozen breakfast dishes comes in six flavorful choices: Sausage & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich Bacon & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich Ham & Veggies Biscuit Sandwich Bacon & Veggies Egg Scrambles Sausage Egg Scrambles Sausage & Veggies Egg Scrambles So what are you waiting for? Head over to www.facebook.com/pillsbury to "Like" the brand and learn more about Frozen PillsburyŽ Grands!Ž Biscuit Sandwiches and PillsburyŽ Egg ScramblesTM. Disclosure: I received the above details from Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark. Pillsbury Website: http://bit.ly/pbbreakfasts Pillsbury on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/pillsburyonfb Pillsbury Doughboy Breakfast Boogie Video: http://bit.ly/doughboyvideo

Grilled Portabello Mushrooms

I found this wonderful recipe in the Federal Hill Gazette and I must share this for those of you who do not have access to this newspaper.

Potobello mushrooms grilled with marinade served on a bed of arugula topped with sliced tomato and fresh mozzarella cheese.
4 portobello mushrooms (without stems)

marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves crushed garlic
5 leaves chopped basil
3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp. wine vinegar

Stir and brush top of mushrooms while grilling. Turn once ( low grilling) about 8 to 10 minutes until tender. Reserve remaining marinade. Place a few leaves of arugula on plate.
place mushroom and top with tomato and fresh cheese. Drizzle remaining marinade on top of each mushroom. Serve warm.

Please come back and let us all know how much you enjoyed this.

MELTING BUTTER

Here is a good cooking tip from "The Pampered Chef"

The Pampered Chef

Ever notice that butter burns SO easily? Here's a tip to help prevent that. When cooking with butter, add a little oil. Butter browns easily and burns at a lower temperature than most vegetable oils. The combination of the two will give your food a rich, golden color.

Disclosure: this information came from The Pampered Chef and I was not compensated for posting it. This post is for your information only.

The Winner of the Pampered Chef Giveway is:

Nancy from Vermont....she has 24 hours to get in touch with me. If I don't receive an email from Nancy, I will pick another winner. Thank you all for entering my giveaway. Look for another next month.

The winner is picked at rand0m by Random.org.

Spring Cleaning made easier

Here are some wonderful ideas to help with your Spring Cleaning. I ran across these suggestions in "all you" Magazine. I want to share them with you.
Substitute cleaners in a pinch:

1. Instead of Toilet Cleaner try: sprinkling the sides of the toilet bowl with a few teaspoons of Tang, or drop in a couple of denture-cleaning tablets or a cup of white vinegar. Let the remedy sit for 10 minutes, then brush and flush.
2. Instead of Microfiber Cloths on Glass Surfaces try: coffee filters. They're lint-free.
3. Instead of Eraser Pads try: whitening toothpaste on a toothbrush to scrub away crayon and scuff marks.
4. Instead of Glass Cleaner try: a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water to clean mirrors. Spray the homemade solution onto a cloth and wipe.
5. Instead of Silver Cleaner try: filling a spray bottle with inexpensive vodka. Spritz, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rub with a cotton cloth. Buff to a shine
6. Instead of Baking Soda try: a charcoal briquette to absorb odors inside your fridge and freezer.

Disclosure: I read this article in "all you" Magazine. Sources: Jeff Campbell, author of Speed Cleaning: Tips, Trick and Strategies to Get Everything Done in Half the Time or Less: Linda Cobb, author of Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean; Cynthia Ewer, editor of organizedhome.com; Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner

Winner of the Old El Passo "family taco night" Giveaway is.....

Drum roll please...the winner is "Liz" I will contact Liz and she has 24 hrs. to email me. I will pick another winner if I don't hear from Liz by the deadline. The winner is chosen by Random.org. thank you all for your participation.