CHINESE NEW YEAR
FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Better than last year;
It's put out to pasture.
For good fortune and fun,
Try two thousand twenty-one.

Happy Chinese New Year, y'all!

I like pork chops. I like cream style corn. Put my two "likes" together and you have this recipe. It's something different. I suppose you wouldn't think of combining those two, but this is a great dish. If you have thinner pork chops, adjust the first baking time accordingly. You know, we can get in a rut planning our weekly menu. Try something different this week. Try this recipe.

Apple butter is delicious. So is pear butter. You will agree after you taste this recipe. Pick up 3 pounds of pears at Food City and stir up a batch. Don't try to hurry it along by cooking it at a higher temperature. Grab a favorite read and sit next to the stove for the 1 3/4 hours necessary for its slow cooking. Read a bit and stir, read a bit and stir. Don't let it stick and burn. Who says you can only make preserves in the Fall. Whenever you see the necessary fruit in the produce section just pick up some and sir up a batch.

We had a heavy snow storm this last end of December 2020. The power would go out for a few seconds, then suddenly return with a “Bang!” I feared for our TV's and computer, but they survived the ordeal. Our electric coffee pot? Not so much. That was the end of Mr. Coffee.

Forget calorie counting when you dip your taco chip into this tasty mixture. But who's counting calories anyway. Make a bowl full to munch on while you are watching that movie on TV tonight. Stir it up and keep it in the fridge until the movie starts.

I like cookies with walnuts or pecans. Peanuts, not so much. But most everybody likes Rice Krispies. I thought, “Why not substitute Rice Krispies for nuts in a recipe.” When making my Christmas cookies one year, I came up with this recipe. There is another surprise tucked in that cookie, too. Cayenne pepper. It gives a little zing to the cinnamon spice. You will wonder why the cinnamon tastes so good: cayenne pepper. When you try this recipe, I hope it will become a favorite. Don't tell anyone about the cayenne. Let's keep it our secret.

You won't find any rice in this dish. Spinach is the star here. Use rice or potatoes any way you like in another side dish. Of course, you could use frozen chopped broccoli instead of the spinach. Makes a good meatless supper.

Hanukkah's an O. T. tale.
Kwanzea's seven can prevail.
But Jesus' the reason I will call
Merry Christmas to one and all.
"Merry Christmas"

Coconut is one of my favorite flavors. This is one of my current favorite cookies. There are other favorites, but this is the one I go to now. I try to use a cookie batter that doesn't have to be rolled out. Just drop from a spoon or roll into small balls, like this recipe.

Here is another use for those Earl Grey tea bags lounging in your cupboard. If you are looking for an unusual cookie, you've found it.