COOKBOOKS AND......

I am positively smittened with cookbooks. I have hundreds of them!! Whenever we go on a trip I buy a cookbook as a souvenir and I haunt grocery stores to see if I can make a new discovery to bring home. I read the cookbooks as if  they are novels and make a list of recipes I might like to try. Lest you think I am a gourmet cook let me remind you of the operative word; might.  Many years ago I bought a HUGE tin of olive oil in Italy and placed it on the airplane floor by my seat. Unfortunately the tin had a leak and we had to throw the whole thing out after landing. In China I bought tea leaves from a tea farm.  Too much caffeine for me!  In Greece I bought oregano to add flavor to my tomato sauce.  Now- a- days the airlines discourage food products but I still manage to put products in my stowed baggage.  As a gift for the children (all six) I hand wrote a cookbook journal for each of them (similar to my sister's journal) with my recipes. (hello carpal tunnel!) They tell me that when they make recipes from them they think of me. How nice!

At this time of my life it is the simple things that I enjoy. Sitting in an easy chair and reading, visiting with friends and family, playing bridge, doing crossword puzzles and yes, watching T.V.  These things make me happy. I used to be a news junky but the world has changed and I am so disappointed to see what is happening to our country and I feel terrible when I hear about tragedies happening throughout the world.

 I am not a puritan but what is going on with motion pictures? So much bad language, sex and violence. Is this really what the public wants? That's a little scary to think that young kids are being exposed to all of this. Leland and I sat down with Laura and her boyfriend, Joe to watch a movie on our T.V. We were all mortified with the opening scene and as a group decided to watch something else. I would like Hollywood to make movies we can view with our adult children without being embarrassed.

Believe it or not I am already pouring through some of my cookbooks because we got some really good news: Our daughters, Jennifer and Laura and their husband/boyfriend will be spending Christmas with us. And, possibly Andrea and grandson, Nicholas. What a merry group! This year I will be baking goodies and I already am planning on making the following recipe for a brunch.

Recipe: Baked Pear Frittata

2 - 4 firm-ripe pears (about one lb. total)

2 tablespoons butter

6 large eggs

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

l teaspoon vanilla

1/4 salt 

whipped cream cheese (optional)

1 to 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

Rinse, peel and core pears. Cut fruit into 1/2 chunks. In a 9 to 10 inch ovenproof non- stik pan over medium-high heat, melt butter; add pears and turn occasionally until lightly browned and tender when pierced, 7 to 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk to blend eggs, milk, flour, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt. Remove frying pan from heat and pour egg mixture over pears. Bake in a 425 degree oven until frittata is golden brown and set in center when pan is gently shaken, 8 to 12 minutes. Cut into wedges to serve. Spoon dollops of cheese onto portions and sprinkle with brown sugar.

This recipe is a winner!

A note from Laura, the photo editor of Tees-Time:

"When I read this blog I knew I wanted to snap a picture from the recipe book my mom wrote for me. Having the recipes in my moms handwriting is truly special and I will cherish it always.  This recipe is one of my favorites and I made it for my boyfriend, Joe's family last Christmas.  

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful mom!" -- LWL

Reading Recommendation:

Author: Ann Purser,  "Lois Meade" Mysteries.

Can't you feel fall in the air? Halloween and Thanksgiving are on their way. And, we will be celebrating our son, Gregory's 50th birthday on October 29th. Where in the world have the years gone!? We are so proud of the wonderful and caring man he has become. Thank you Greg for always being there for Dad and I.

LOVE OF MY LIFE!

Leland T. Larson


On September 19, 1982 Leland flew up to New York. At the time he was living in Key Largo, Florida and was a pilot for the now defunct Pan American Airlines.  I was living in a delightful little cottage in Armonk, New York that I rented. I moved from California because I had recently learned that my Dad was terminally ill and I wanted to spend time with him. Mutual friends instigated (me too!) Leland's visit so we could meet again after over twenty years.  It was a wonderful visit and I was so happy that my  parents got to spend time with him.  My beloved Dad passed away on December 29, 1982. Fast forward to March 5, 1983 when we said our marriage vows in a small church in the keys. My son, Greg was in college in California and my newly acquired four daughters were all living in Florida. A BIG surprise!! A total but wonderful shock! I introduce to you:


Laura Wood Larson - An art teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, alumni of UGA


At the age of 44 I was pregnant with Leland's fifth daughter. I was so delighted that Greg would have a sibling. Laura Wood Larson joined the gang rounding out the number to six on January 17, 1984. When Laura was six weeks old we flew out to California so that Gregory could meet his little sister. It was such a touching moment to watch them develop this mutual instant love for one another.

Well folks, Leland and I were now living in Gainesville, Florida and were still newlyweds. We moved to Brookfield, Connecticut shortly thereafter. Because we wanted to be together Laura and I would tag along on Leland's trips. Laura spent her first Christmas in Toulouse, France where Leland was training on the airbus. We traveled to temporary assignments in Tokyo, Bangkok and a two year stay in Berlin, Germany. We were so fortunate to be there when the wall came down. We flew along with Leland to what was then Yugoslavia, Istanbul, Oslo etc. What a wonderful man to have taken on this responsibility with patience . We were just happy to be  together.  Laura saw a lot of the world from a stroller. She developed a love of traveling even though she doesn't remember her earliest adventures. We flew from Tokyo to attend Greg's college graduation and from there I planned and executed Lee's surprise 50th birthday party to be held at our dear friends' Waldine and Peter Peckham in Bedford Village, New York. Just before Pan Am went out of business Lee went over to Delta along with the airbus and their routes. And as a result we have been living in Georgia for over twenty years and I must say we are very happy here. God worked his magic and I have now been married to the "love of my life" for the past thirty years. I am a very lucky woman. Now you know a little of our story. I told a bit about our beginning in an earlier posting on caringbridge.

When we first moved to Georgia we lived in Parsons Run. One of the residents that we met, Anna was from Italy. The following is her recipe and I have served it many times. I call it:

Recipe: Anna's Concoction

2 Packages of puff pastry
2 Large block of Swiss cheese, cubed
Some Feta cheese crumbles
8 - 10 Slices of thinly sliced excellent quality ham

Lightly spray a Lasagna size pan with Pam. Use one package of slightly thawed pastry pieced together on the bottom of the pan bringing the pastry up slightly on the sides of the pan.

Layer cubed cheese on the top, sprinkle Feta over the swiss cheese, cover with ham slices. Cover the ham with the second package of puff pastry. Brush with egg white. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes or until lightly browned.

I always get great reviews from this dish. Serve with either a salad or roasted asparagus.

Reading Suggestion;  Novels by Charles Todd (a mother and son writing team) the inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries.  Start at the beginning of the series if you can.

Whomever said that "life is a bowl of cherries" forgot about the pits! Everyone has to face adversity every once in a while but my wish for all of us is that everything eventually comes up "smelling like roses". Every little "bump in the road" will hopefully make us stronger. We all should appreciate what we have and who we have in our lives. I know I do! That's a bunch of quotes but how true they are. Have a terrific weekend. ~ Arlene

A GIFT

Barnes & Noble

I  have a daily addiction which is fulfilled at Starbucks in Barnes & Noble around the corner from our home. Today when we went there we had the good fortune to meet the author, Nelson DeMille. He was signing his latest book "The Quest". It is the very book that I am now reading. We had a lovely chat and I explained that I had read every one of his fabulous books including "The General's Daughter" which was made into a major motion picture. Because of this chance meeting I do want to recommend Mr. DeMille's books. He was delightful and charming!



For My Sister

The day my sister was born I was in elementary school. I was nine years and seven months old, an only child. The principal called me into her office to share the most wonderful news, I was a big sister!!!  I was and am  so thrilled to have my baby sister in my life. She is a terrific person who has accomplished a lot in her life. I love her to pieces!!! Mom and dad allowed me to help choose her name. I was given two choices, Margaret Anne or Carole-Anne. I selected the later but most everyone calls her C.A. She has always been there for me and for that I say, thank you dear sister.



 I wanted to do something special for my sister's 50th birthday so I hand wrote a journal of recipes that our mother had made. I sifted through all her old recipes and found the ones that she frequently made. I also wrote a duplicate for my own enjoyment. I included the following letter in the journal: June 10th, 1999. You and I were truly blessed to have had such wonderful parents. Our needs and desires were always met without us being aware of the sacrifices Mommy and Daddy made,  They were always there for us. They were kind, decent and caring. Daddy's garden provided us with unlimited fresh vegetables and Mommy's canning abilities kept the larder stocked. I especially remember all the fun times at Mt. Tremper (Catskills, N.Y.) To this day I love the mountains. I can't remember a Christmas when "Santa" didn't fulfill all our wishes. As modest as our home was Mom and Dad had some of the best get togethers. Everyone loved to come to our house. Food was abundant and delicious and people "could put their feet up". Our childhood was made safe and happy by two people who adored their two little girls. Yes, we were indeed so lucky to have picked out the very best parents in the world. And, we truly lived on a "Golden Pond"

Journal Recipe

Peach Crunch
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup Quakers oatmeal
2/4 cup brown sugar (either light or dark)
1 teaspoon  cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted butter (unsalted)
l lb. 3 oz.  can  cling peach halves

In a casserole set the peaches. Mix other ingredients and sprinkle on and around the peaches. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. It is such a cozy dessert!

Life can be very funny! If you told me even a year ago that I would have my own blog I would have laughed and said "No Way!". But when I faced and am facing a crisis I thought about a lot of things including a legacy. This in a way is my way of leaving one for my wonderful family. Maybe through these little stories they can get to know me a little better particularly the younger me. Our daughter, Laura never got to meet her grandfather. She is his only granddaughter. He would have adored her! She certainly got his artistic gene!  I will deviate from the personal in future blogs but will always try to include a recipe and an author.  In the meantime, I hope you will let me know if you have made any of the recipes. ~ Arlene

REMEMBERING

In 1944 I was five years old. I was standing on line with my mother who was clasping my hand. We were on line at the Borden's milk distribution center to receive our allotment of milk. It was during World War II and my parents' also had rationing coupons. I collected the foil from gum wrappers and made balls from them for donation. The 40's and 50's were the eras in which I grew up. It was a time of innocence and a time free of cell phones, TV's and computers. I spent my free time listening to the radio and reading Nancy Drew. I was involved in dancing, swimming at the Y, church, the brownies and playing outside with my friends. In the winter time we would sled down the embankment, ice skate on the frozen pond and go Christmas caroling during the holidays. In the summer we went to the local swimming pool when we weren't summering in the Catskills.  Being with family was ever so important. 

We have come a long way electronically and in every other way. Parenting has evolved to the point where I sometimes wish we could go backwards in time. I never talked back to my parents, I obeyed them. They were supportive but they never overwhelmed my sister and I with advice and their expectations. They allowed us to make our own decisions, our own mistakes without retribution from them. But, we always felt protected and loved. They were the best role models we could have asked for. Thank you mom and dad. Carole-Anne and I have made wonderful lives for ourselves, have loving husbands and loving children. My sister is a successful artist living in New Hampshire and I am trying my very best to be a good human being. 

Recipe of the Day: 

To make Frozen Peanut Butter Pie you will need a 9" graham cracker crust, 4 ounce Philadelphia cream cheese softened, 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup milk. Blend the above ingredients. add a small cool whip and mix well. Pour into the crust and freeze. Remove from freezer 35 minutes before serving. I serve with chocolate fudge sauce. Optional: sprinkle chopped peanuts on top. The recipe is easy to make and quite good!  

What to Read: 

Anything written by Vince Flynn (he left this earth much too early).                                                    

ENGLISH BREAKFAST

My Grandfather:

Gerald Claridge Wood, Sr.  was the eldest of thirteen children born in Huddersfield, England. He met his wife, my grandmother, Sarah Frances Vivien, a lace designer on a ship heading to the USA. Long story short, they married and had five children. My dad, Gerald Claridge Wood, Jr was the baby of the family along with his twin sister, Edith.  I have always had an affinity for all things English because of my heritage. Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, lamb etc. were traditional meals at my grandparents. And, my mother carried on the traditions. I can remember her famous lamb curry made with leftover lamb. Simply, delicious.

Our trips to England have been among my fondest memories. Years ago we had the privilege of meeting three of my father's cousins and sharing tea with them. at one of their homes.  We lived with my grandparents for several years and I can remember him vividly. He was always properly dressed complete with a tie and he spoke with an eloquent English accent.  I also remember the day when I was fifteen and the ambulance passed me by as I was walking home. Sadly, I never saw him again. I missed him terribly because I would spend hours with him in his little den in the basement. He was my buddy.  My sister and I were his precious granddaughters.

To this day I carry forth with my English ways, collecting Royal Doulton figurines, and loving the allure of all my English decorating books and magazines, reading them over and over again. I am proud of my ancestry and as a result I often serve to guests the following recipe learned from my grandmother. I hope you take the time to make it as it is truly worth the effort. It is a wonderful breakfast, and a great delicious dish when having company.

Recipe:
                                                                
Mix together the batter for the Yorkshire pudding: 3 cups of flour (NOT SELF RISING), 1/2 t baking powder, 1 t salt, 3 cups of milk and 4 eggs.  In a lightly greased lasagna sized pan layer the bottom of the pan with  2 packages of Jones Link Sausages. Pour batter on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until puffed and lightly browned. Serve with warm maple syrup.  Do not double the recipe.      

Reading:

Books by Susan Hill, featuring Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler. Yes, an English Breakfast and an English Mystery are a wonderful way to start your day. 

MICKI G

Generosity:

Today I want to chat about generosity. When I had my brain surgery last March and was finally up to having visitors in walked Micki G. with a straw hat. My first hat and how cute it is!  It has even been to Scotland! It turns out it is the first of many that I now own, but the most memorable because it was the sheer thoughtfulness of the gesture that made it so special.

Yesterday Micki stopped by with another "head" gift; "Fusion" keratin hair fibers. She proceeded to sprinkle just a bit on my head and it made my bald spots look as if I do have a bit of hair.  What a miracle!  Besides the tangible gifts Micki has given me her time, advice and her unwavering friendship.  And, she just listens without judgement. Micki G. is very special.

The Meaning of Tee:

Now yesterday I wrote that I would explain where Tee comes from. Very simply it was my nickname in my younger days.

Reading:

I have been on a reading binge and I want to share with you an author by the name of Louise Perry. Her books featuring Gamache are fantastic. Another favorite author is Diane Mott -Davidson. Both are mystery writers and I encourage one and all to start at the beginning of their series.

Recipe:

A recipe that I want to share has no name but was given to me by my kindergarten friend, Mary Rutherford (please keep her husband John in your prayers as he goes through treatments). Layer ice cream sandwiches in a 9" x 11" pan. Poke holes in the sandwiches and pour amaretto on them. Spread cool whip (mixed with a tablespoon of the amaretto) on top and then coat the top with sliced almonds, cover and freeze. Just before serving remove from the freezer. I promise you that this desert is delicious and as you can see very easy to prepare. Bon Appetit!!

Reading Revisited:

I almost forgot one of my favorite British mystery writers, M.C. Beaton featuring Agatha Raison. I feel so "with it" having my very own blog because honestly, I am hopeless when it comes to texting ( I don't do it) and using new-fangled phones. I don't even think my cell phone takes pictures, thankfully, and friends know not to leave me messages as I don't know how to retrieve them. Well, I think I will say goodnight now. Have a terrific weekend one and all.

WELCOME TO TEE'S TIME

I am so excited!  My wonderful son, Greg is here helping me to set up this fun blog. Welcome to Tee's-Time. Caringbridge will be for my medical updates but this one is for stuff that just pops into my head and / or for recipes, books that I recommend, commentary on life, love and happiness. My next post  (I'm keeping you in suspense) will explain the origin of the blog's title. In the meantime, have a great weekend!

Please note my caringbridge.org page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/arlenelarson as I will be maintaining this occasionally as well.