I'll Take the Twenty Year

Warranty that is.  It's funny how something  pops in my mind at the oddest times.  Ok, here goes..........when the guy asked us, do you want the 20 or 30 year warranty?  Immediately I laughed and asked do you have a 10 or 15?  Of course they didn't it's a 20 or 30 choice.  I did the math quickly on the 20 and 30,  in that many years I won't even remember the warranty!  I will be 84 or 94!  I'm not whining or complaining, I just find it amusing how our priorities change with each passing ten years.  Now it's every passing year, good grief no warranty at all will do.  Besides you know what they say about warranties, they're only as good as how how they back them.  Through the years we have had to test a few warranties.  50/50 some no problems while others would be almost impossible to get the problem covered.  These people are hoping customers get tired of the chase and give up.  Remember, when they push for extended warranties they are banking on you never using it.  Customers are banking on something going wrong with their new purchase.  The fear factor for security sets in and the extended warranty is bought.  If you have to use it and it covers that's great.  If not the profit just went up for a company.  50/50 what to do.

I have been getting wonderful emails and messages referring to different blog subjects.  I love them and getting some really good ideas for future blogs.  Long time friends, long distant friends, friends in passing, friends I see regularly and others I have not seen in 50 years, how great is that?  It is amazing and I am enjoying each and every one.  Today I am going to write about a gal named Michele.  I met her when we were "oh so young."  She is actually my niece Pam's cousin.  I'm not sure the last time I saw her,  maybe I was 14 and have not seen her since.  Through face book we have connected and it is great.  Pam and Michele's Gramma Maxson was the neatest "old gal" and I mean that with the up most respect because she was cool and a blast to talk to..  cool, blast there's some 60's slang.  Ok here are a couple things I remember hearing their gramma say.  For every Jack there is a Jill, if you only knew Laura Maxson how many times I have referred to that comment!  The other was referring to child birth.  This not for the faint of heart.........she said, if you want to know what having a baby is like grab your top lip and try to pull it over the top of your head.  The grand finale of the "Ring of Fire".  No beating around the bush with their Gramma Maxson.  Looking back she reminds me of the old time movie stars sitting at the table with a cigarette and cup of coffee.  She always looked so perky and fresh.  They sure had an interesting gram.  Pam and Michele also had an Aunt Winnie.  Both women lived on the lower Bells Run Rd.  The only time I saw Aunt Winnie was Halloween.  She always gave out homemade cookies.  I enjoyed stopping, she was a sweet lady but her house smelled like natural gas fumes and I couldn't wait to get out and smell fresh air.  Last summer I was talking to an older man (yes, older than me)  and he mentioned Winny Maxson.  He said she had been a midwife and delivered many babies in her time, including him and his siblings.  I had never heard that information before.

Back to Michele.  She has sent me two recipes, one is similar to what I make but I'm going to pass her salad dressing on.

Garlic Maple Dressing
Place 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup syrup, juice from 1 medium lemon, 1-2 tsp. Dijon mustard and 1/8 tsp. of salt and pepper in a container.
Cover tightly and shake like crazy until combined.  Shake like crazy  she said.....that will be standard for me, the crazy part ;)
 I like it on butter lettuce but any lettuce will do and I like some bacon in the salad.

I made Michele's salad dressing tonight and it is very light and good.  The only 
difference from mine is I use balsamic vinegar but her lemon recipe is delicious.  She has  me thinking.........why not lime or orange juice?  Good change up!  Michele's comment about butter lettuce is "right on",  it is tender and so mild.  We raise Butter Crunch in the garden.  The best, never bitter.

The other recipe is a cake that I made tonight.  It has the house smelling almost as good as maple steam! It is going to be tough to stay away from it until tomorrow.  Confession, I cut a little nibble off the corner.  This is a ★★★★★to pass on.

For a quickie that tastes homemade and not time consuming this is a must make treat.

 1- boxed carrot cake mix
3 eggs
1 can of apple pie filling
some raisins and I put in a cup of chopped walnuts

Mix, pour into a greased and floured bundt pan (I used a 9x13, never did follow directions)  the real reason my square one has a cover and it is easier to divide for my grands.
Bake 375 until center is done.  Michele takes a can of store bought frosting, melts it and pours over the bundt for a glaze.  I used a Betty Crocker whipped frosting and it is delicious!

Thanks Michele,  Happy Trails to You Until We Meet Again!