Oatmeal Crisps - Vintage Recipe

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Look to Vintage Cookbooks for Great Recipes

Oatmeal Crisps




Oatmeal Crisps - Vintage Recipe
Calling all kids! You'll love these good cookies with a mug of milk...is the way this recipe starts in my 1953 edition of Better Homes and Garden NEW Cookbook. That's right 1953. I love Vintage Cookbooks. My friends and family for years have bought me cookbooks. There is just one problem I don't use them. I like to make up my own recipes for the most part or have one handed down except for baking. I always use a recipe. I love this cookbook because it answers almost every question that a cook might have. They are always putting out updated versions of the cookbook but they are not the same. I have a few other Vintage Cookbooks that I hold close as well. If you ever run across a cookbook from the 1950's you must buy it.

Cream Butter and Sugars

1 cup shortening [you can use butter]
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats

Mixed Cookie Dough

You can add nuts, crasins or choc chips if you like. Add 1/2 cup each. I added mini choc chips and Crasins.
These are all optional  ingredients. This recipe calls for shortening [vintage] but you can use butter if you want. I used the shortening and they were out of this world.

Wrap Into a Log Shape 2"

Thoroughly cream shortening [butter] and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. sift together flour, salt, and baking soda; add to creamed mixture. Stir in rolled oats and any other of your optional ingredients such as nuts etc.

Cut into 1/4" - 1/2" Coins

Form dough in a roll [you can make 2 rolls so it is easier to handle]
1 1/2" - 2" in diameter. Wrap in saran wrap or wax paper and put in fridge for at least 30 minutes. I put mine in for 2 hours.

2 Sizes

With a sharp knife, slice cookies about 1/4" - 1/2" thick. Bake on ungreased cooky sheet in moderate oven [350 degrees] 10 minutes or till lightly browned. Make about 5 dozen.

Masterpiece

I made a couple of different sizes. For the bite size cookie I cut my disk into 4 pieces. It make it feel like you are not eating so much because they are so small and harmless. Cooking times will vary a few minutes depending on size. Keep your oven light on so you won't need to keep opening the door to check on them






I'm telling you they were sooooo good. I only cooked what you saw here and froze the rest for later. Prep once and enjoy a multitude of times.
Let me know how you like them....
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Weekly Grocery Bargains and Tips

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

If at First You Don't Succeed Try Try Again



Money Saving Ideas


Weekly Grocery Bargains and Tips
This week we will see a variety of sales and discounts as Easter is only a few weeks away. You will find everything from Eggs, Flowers, Meats and yes, even a raised Garden bed and patio Furniture at the grocery stores that you frequent. It is amazing how much "stuff" they can fit into a store. Make sure to NOT buy anything unless it is at a discounted price. Most seasonal merchandise starts at 20% off once it hits the floor. Here are some great deals for this week. Prices are good thru April 12th 2011.

It Means a Great Deal

Believe it or not Alberstons is the WINNER again for 1 stop shop. They have a descent selection of products across the board that are on sale. They are having their Meat and Seafood Truckload Sale. You do not need a rewards card to receive discounts.
Print Albertsons Coupons here.






Chicken wings - $1.99lb family pack
rib eye steaks - $4.99lb
Atlantic salmon fillets - $3.99ea 5oz
grilling sausage - 10 4oz - for $10
lobster tails - $5.99ea 4oz
split fryer breast - .79lb great deal and perfect for the BBQ
asparagus - $1.99lb
home pride bread - .99 24oz
avocados - 10 for $10 good deal
cantaloupe of blackberries - .99ea [can you say cobbler]
eggs - .99dz
dreyers ice cream - $2.79 for 48oz
BBQ sauce KC Master piece - .79 great deal
The deals go on and on. This is a MUST stop.

honest to goodness savings

Once again Aldi has kept to it's reputation for no frills and great deals. Their gardening merchandise just hit the stores and they have some really good items. Don't forget to stop by Aldi for your staple like milk and eggs. Who knows maybe you will leave there with tree.
Print Aldi Ad here.

Seafood Month

It looks like Fiesta is having another Seafood Month. Make sure to check out the produce while you are their. They have a very diverse selection. You do not need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Fiesta Ad here.









red snapper - $5.99lb
jumbo shrimp - $6.99lb 25/30count
sword fish steaks - $6.99lb
NY steak strips - $3.99lb
chicken breast quarters - .99lb great for the BBQ
Dreyers ice cream - 2 for $5 1.5qt
tomatoes - .99lb
asparagus - $1.99lbground chicken - $1.19lb
navel oranges - 7 for $1
lemons 5 for $1 great deal

Meat Mania

I really like Kroger and the usually have the best deals. They are having the Meat Mania which is an event. The saving are OK...not great and not bad just OK. You will need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Kroger Coupons here.







boneless skinless chicken breast - $1.99lb
beef skirt steak - $2.99lb
pork shoulder - $1.49lb
NY steaks - $4.99lb
live crawfish - $1.99lb
jumbo mangos - 10 for $10

Serious Food ... Silly Prices

Sunflower farmers Market is my personal favorite place to shop. I still only buy when the are having sales but the environment is great. I just had some basil chicken sausage with pasta the other night for dinner. They make the sausage at the store. It is always fresh and yummy. you do not need a reward card to receive discounts. Don't forget some table wine as low as $3.33 a bottle. It is good.
Print Sunflower Ad here.



strawberries -$5 for 4lbs great deal
broccoli crowns - .88lb great deal
pork ribs - $1.99lb
zucchini or yellow squash - .88lb great on the BBQ
cluster tomatoes - 41.77lb
green beans - $1.99lb
cucumbers - .77ea
Pork Sausage Extravaganza - $2.99lb

Simple Nutrition

Tom Thumb labels their food with colored tags indication it nutrition level such as organic or gluten free. They are also having their Truckload meat sale. You do need a rewards card to receive discounts. Print Tom Thumb Coupons here.




whole chicken - .79lb
raw jumbo shrimp - $7.99lb 21-25 count
vine tomatoes - $1.48lb
clementine oranges - $2.99 3lbs

Where Creativity Happens

The Easter Bunny is on his way so it is a MUST that you stop by Michaels to get in on all the Easter decorating savings you can. The entire stock of Easter Baskets and decorations are 40% off.
Print Michaels Ad here.






Here are some additional LINKS for store that might be in your area. Let me know if there is a store you would like me to add.
Safeway - HEB - Trader Joes - Jewel - Raleys - Ralphs - Vons
Happy Shopping and Saving.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Decorate for Spring

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Rotate Accessories and Make them Look NEW.

Spring Decorating

Decorate for spring
I don't know about you but I love to DECORATE and mix up all the things I love to make them seem new again. For this spring I am doing Whites, Apple Green with an Asian flare. I always start with a blank slate. I remove EVERYTHING from the area I am going to redecorate. It becomes your blank canvas and you are now the artist. Have FUN and enjoy the process. I gather everything that has to do with my colors and any Asian pieces I may have and put them out on a table so I know what I am working with. You might end up changing it a few times until you get what you like as your final result, just don't rush it and if you get frustrated, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes.



Add something Organic

I think it is important when dealing with design to break it down into smaller parts to make it more attainable. I add some Organics like a Bonsai, Lucky Bamboo or Candles to breath life into the space. It adds a touch of romance to the space when the candles are lit. I add keepsakes as well to keep memories fresh. I have this little Asian figurine that I purchased on the day of my Dads wake and it has been with me ever since. I think of him every time I see it.

Asian Ceramics

When setting up this portion of the mantle I am very careful not to make it seem like scenes yet still have interest. I have use organics as well as Asian ceramics that I have collected. Notice that white with a small amount of green has been added to ensure continuity.

Apple Green Aaccessories

To anchor the fireplace I did a small collection in Apple Green. I have Jonathan Adler Vases and a Fu Dog for good fortune. I like to have things in clusters where possible. It creates impact and really defines the space, in this case through color. I use varied heights to add dimension. If you noticed I do this on most of the surfaces on the mantle.

On the Patio

Here is what it looks like on the Patio. On top of the Fridge that I refinished is a cactus, apple green bird house, small apple green vase and a metal tea light holder that looks like a rock. On the cart next to the fridge i kept it pretty simple with a trio of White ceramic vases all various sizes to compliment each other.

Wishing Urns

You can easily make something fresh again just by moving things around. Here I took the Jonathan Adler Wishing Urns that were given to me as a gift from the downstairs mantle to an Upstairs Lane Coffee Table. Notice they are keeping with the white and there are 3 of them. Not to mention my memories of these gifts every time I see them.








So get out all of your keep sakes and ReDECORATE for SPRING.
I hope this inspires you too !
Send me some of you pictures or leave a comment about your Spring Decorating.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Happy Hour with Your Gay Husband

Your Gay Husband Drink of the Day :

Algonquin - Perfect Southern Cocktail

Algonquin

Algonquin
Any drink that has Bourbon in it makes me think of the South. They love their Bourbon in the South. This is a perfect cocktail after a long drawn out Monday. I hope you like It.
4-5 ice cubes
1 part pineapple
1 part dry vermouth
3 parts Bourbon or Whiskey
Put the ice cubes into a mixing glass. Pour the pineapple juice, vermouth, and whiskey over the ice. Stir vigorously until nearly frothy, them strain a into a chilled cocktail glass. decorate with cocktail umbrella and a straw if you like. What the heck make it a double.

salty snacks

Make sure to have something salty to snack on with this drink like pretzels or nuts. MMM








Bottoms Up !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Spring Day Outside

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Go to a Park and Enjoy Nature

You Can Call Me FLOWER

Spring Day Outside
I think one of the healthiest things to do for both physical and mental well being is to spend time in nature. Now that the weather is starting to change it is the perfect time to reconnect with nature. There are several ways to do so such as...a walk in the park, going to the Arboretum, going to a lake, on a hike, flying a kite, renting a bike, going to the Zoo or beach, etc. As you see it doesn't matter where you live...Nature is EVERYWHERE. We had such an amazing time I wanted to share some of our experiences at the Dallas Arboretum. It has one of the Largest displays of spring flowers in the world. It is called Dallas Blooms.

Hydrangea Tree

 I have seen alot of specimen trees but I have never seen on like this. There was a part of the Arboretum that had these everywhere. They are Hydrangea Trees. I only saw them in white..my favorite especially when there were huge pink rhododendron behind them.












Specimen Tulips




Specimen Tulips

There were these gardens where you would see hundreds of Specimen Tulips in every color and size imaginable. I was like a kid in a candy store..just less fattening.



Garden Sculpture





Garden Art

 









You never knew what to expect around each corner. There was original art through out the garden and it was great to watch people of all ages enjoying their beauty. We both found such inspiration.


Tulips



Tulips...



and more Tulips

I am not even kidding when I say Tulips... Tulips... and  more Tulips. They were everywhere in every size and color and everywhere you looked. I have never seen so many tulips and that is saying alot because I used to sell them at the SF Flower Mart.  If you are lucky enough to live where they have an arboretum or Flower conservatory you may just learn a thing or two while enjoying the scenery. They usually have the plants labeled.

We had such a great day. I hope this inspires you to get out there and enjoy the beauty in Nature...sight, sounds and smells delight the senses.
Please leave a comment on about your Spring NATURE experience.
and DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA !









Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Healthy Pasta Dinner

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Use Whole Wheat Pasta

Broccoli with Wheat Pasta and White Wine Sauce

Healthy Pasta Dinner
This is dinner is so quick and easy you can make it anytime in no time. I used left over boneless skinless chicken breast. Yet another thing to use your left over chicken for. I am Italian and was raised eating pasta, just not like this. I was breast fed on garlic and kept quiet with bread which explains alot. When making pasta or anything that is done on stove top... be fearless and use the ingredients that you like. It will make the experience much more fun and eventful. This was a dinner for 4.
COST - $20 including 3/4 a bottle of wine for dinner
TIME - 15 - 20 minutes
Level of Difficulty - 2 on a scale of 1-5 due to timing.

White Wine Suace

Here is an easy White Wine Sauce. In a skillet add 3 boneless chicken breasts cooked with salt and pepper and cubed into 1" pieces. [The chicken I used was from left overs the night before which saved alot of time.] with 2 Tbsp Olive oil and 4 -6 cloves of  minced garlic on medium heat for 2 minutes. Now add 1 cup of White Wine and let cook for 2 minutes then add 1/2c ricotta cheese and 1/4c Parmesan cheese, 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

Steamed Broccoli

Broccoli is one of my favorite veggies. It is like and all in one when it comes to it's healthy attributes. I used alot of Broccoli for this, 2 lbs to be exact. This is the easiest part of the recipe. Steam Broccoli on High for 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.

Whole Wheat Pasta

For this recipe I used 1lb of whole wheat pasta. This is not alot of pasta for 4 people but when you add all of that Broccoli it becomes a huge meal. Turn your pan with sauce and chicken to medium heat.After cooking pasta on high for 4 minutes strain and put directly into pan with sauce and chicken.

Everything is Better with Butter

Add Broccoli, juice of 1/2 a lemon and 2 Tbsp butter stir together and serve. If you think it is too thick at this point go ahead and add some of the left over pasta water...up to 1/4 cup. Didn't I tell you this was quick and easy. This is a very filling meal as well as being healthy and good for you. I hope you enjoy this with some friends soon. I recommend a nice Chardonnay with this meal.







Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Fashion Friday: Mens Spring Trends 2011

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Men Have Options Too



D&G Short sleeve dress shirt

Mens Spring Trends 2011
Spring is here and the options for mens fashions are out there. It is a season to create your own personal style. One of my personal favorites is the short sleeve dress shirt. The look is slim and crisp, all American. I like to wear my shirttails out, with a pair of my favorite jeans.

Slim pant

Pant options for men this season are slim, fitted thru the thigh and straight to the floor.The traditional khaki pant is back but not as we know them, try them in a new color, grey, blue, or green. When feeling sporty, cuff them a few times and show off your favorite spring shoe.

Michael Bastian Unlined Jacket

The unlined blazer is a quick add to create a fresh look. It is fact that a unlined jacket is better constructed than a jacket with a lining.Look for the details while shopping for one. The look can be put together with many things we have in our existing closets. You can go anywhere with a blazer...better yet a unlined blazer.

The Off Duty shoe

Wearing a pair of casual looking shoes can update a look quickly. When selecting a new casual shoe, think of your personal style and go with your heart. It's OK to express yourself..This look is by Aldo.com.These shoes are usually unlined and fit between a dressy shoe and a sneaker. Sperry Topsider made this look was made popular back in the late 70's and 80's.

The Easy Pant by Dolce and Gabanna

The ease of a pant that is fitted yet comfortable thought the entire leg is my personal favorite this season. My work life is suited every day and on my day off I like to be comfortable. This pant pictured is a perfect fit...focus only on the pant....

The spring season is upon us, take some time and go thru your closet, put away your fall/winter wardrobe and spring forward into a fashionable season...Have fun

I hope you find some FASHION INSPIRATION for this Spring.
Happy Shopping !
Til Next Friday,
Your Gay Husbands Husband