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HOMEMAKERS WAY OF LIFE GAZETTE
Edition: Long Summer Evenings

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In This Edition:
(=) Homemaking-Take Control of Your Summer Evenings
(=) From Our Kitchen-Summer Desserts
(=) Traditions-Summer Evening Traditions
(=) Entertaining-Summer Evening Entertainment

******************WELCOME*************

Even though summer doesn't officially end until Sept 23, the season looses its flare for me when August ends. So, with only a few weeks left, I want to take advantage of the
more temperate, pleasant long summer evenings. I have planned out my month and would like to share with you and perhaps inspire you to try a few of these evening activities along with me.

I would also like to share that I have started a LOW CARB diet otherwise known as the ATKIN'S Diet. For the great recipes I post I will try to include supplemental information for any who are watching how much sugar and Carbohydrates they are in-taking. Since I am only one in my family who is on this diet I still cook and prepare THEIR favorite meals. I plan on adding Low-carb pages to the website with recipes,if anyone is interested check soon.

From time to time I may even let you know my weight loss progress. If any of you are on the Atkins Low Carb diet, please write in and share. I would love to hear from you and encouragement is always welcome!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

*****************HOMEMAKING***********

Take Control of Your Summer Evenings.

Summer is a great time to break routines and habits. Turn off that TV (its just repeats anyway) and get out and enjoy what
the season has to offer.

I was inspired by last weeks events. After our usual summer storm (much later in the day then normal) we had a power outage that lasted a few hours. Normally we would leave
home to visit somewhere electrical. But this particular night we stayed home. The temperature in the house quickly rose,
so we escaped outdoors where the storm had cooled the air.
There was just enough light left for hubby to tinker in the garage, but I took some candles to a table in the garden. I finished my summer read, wrote down a few inspiring thoughts
into my homemaking journal and relaxed. When complete darkness descended, the power was still out and the house still to hot to return to, so we turned to the pool.
I have to tell you, I enjoyed that swim more then anything. We have swam many times at night, but this was different, we had broken some routine or nighttime habit and I LIKED IT!
We frolicked and played in the candle light until we were all pruney. I was sad to see the power come back on and the family return to the TV.

Since that night I have returned to the garden many times with my candles. I planned my calendar for the month, started a new book and just enjoyed the quiet of the garden. It is such
a different scene from being inside-perfect for summer evenings.

************FROM OUR KITCHEN********

Summer Evening Desserts

Vanilla Cheesecake
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 large box of INSTANT Vanilla Pudding
16 oz Container of Sour Cream
1 small can of Crushed Pineapple (any canned fruit will do as long as it had some of the syrup in it.)

Mix all together and pour in a ready made graham cracker crust - chill, serve.

Alterations-Be Creative and use any Instant pudding you like, Lemon, Butterscotch, Lemon.....Yummy!

Cherry Slurpee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tastes just like the real thing!
2 cups club soda, chilled
1/2 cup sugar or Splenda
1/2 teaspoon Cherry Kool-Aid powder
1/2 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice
2 1/2 cups crushed ice

Combine half the club soda with the sugar, cherry powder and maraschino juice in a blender until completely mixed.
Add the crushed ice and process until blended smooth. Combine the cherry mixture and remaining club soda in a pitcher. Stir just to mix. Pour into glasses.

Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 pack of instant or vanilla pudding
1 1/4 cups of crushed strawberries

Prepare pudding according to package, and blend in strawberries. Pour mixture into a prepared graham
cracker crust and chill until firm. Top with piles of whipped cream.

Members Recipes
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This recipe comes from
Maria Keyser
Colorado Springs, CO

Our Favorite Summer Dessert!
Strawberry Dreams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 8-oz. package of softened cream cheese
2 cups sliced strawberries
1/4 cup sugar or Splenda
Whip Cream

Line two muffin tins with aluminum foil. Mix cream cheese with sugar/Splenda until smooth. Add strawberries to cream cheese and blend. Fold 1 cup of whip cream into
the strawberry mixture. Spoon into foil lined muffin tins.
Freeze for at least 2 hours. To serve, remove the foil, and top with whipped cream.

*This is a low carb Recipe if you use Splenda*****

Thanks for the GREAT Recipe Maria! Please share more.

***********Fun*********************

When we were children, summer times in Washington meant mom picking ripe berries from her small strawberry patch in the garden. With the delicious fruit, mom made her
traditional Strawberry Julius. Even though we've moved, and don't have a strawberry patch
any longer, mom keeps this tradition alive for us.
Here is her recipe.

Mom's Strawberry Julius
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6 oz. Ripe Strawberries
1 cup milk, cream or 1/2 n 1/2
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar Or Splenda (or less to taste)
1 tsp. vanilla
5 - 6 ice cubes
Place all ingredients in blender. Blend about 30 seconds.
Serve in summer glasses with spoons.

>>>>>SPECIAL NOTICE>>>>>>>>>>>>>

WHAT A GREAT NIGHT TO WATCH THE STARS!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Aug. 27, 2003, Mars will be less than 34.65 million miles away -- closer to our planet than it's been in nearly 60,000 years. The view will be stupendous.

Just ahead of an historically close approach to Earth later this month, Mars has become the "star" of the night.

For months visible only during morning hours, the red planet starts August rising around 9:45 or 10 p.m. local daylight time and peeks above the horizon about four minutes earlier each night. Mars is now the third brightest
object in the nighttime sky, after the Moon and Venus.
To the unaided eye, Mars is by far the brightest "star" in the late-evening sky.

Already dazzling, Mars attains unusual brilliance this month, reaching magnitude -2.9 on Aug. 22 and staying that bright through Sept. 3.

Anyone who has a telescope, no matter how modest it is, will probably want to find out what it can do with Mars.

Mars comes closest to the Earth on the morning of the Aug. 27 at 5:51 a.m. ET. The planet is then 34,646,418 miles from Earth, measured from center to center.
This is closer to Earth than Mars has been in nearly 60,000 years or will be again until the year 2287.

******TRADITIONS**********************

Summer Traditions For LATE EVENINGS

There is a season for everything and its time for Summer Evening Traditions. There are a few things that speak summer to me and just can't be duplicated at any other time of year. Summertime always meant staying up late
and spending time outdoors late into the evening hours.
Here are some ideas to inspire you.

~*~A Swedish Summer Tradition is the Crayfish party. On warm August evenings, it has become a custom to eat cold, boiled fresh-water crayfish, washed down with the
potent Swedish "schnapps". Crayfish parties are lively and colorful. Hosts and hostesses decorate their patios and terraces with paper lanterns, and all make the
most of the mild late-summer nights.
(Crabs are a great alternative.)

~*~Carnivals and Theme parks are a whole new exciting world at night. Cooler temps and bright lights make it a 'must do' for summer nights.

~*~Outdoor Cafe-enjoy a cafe latte (decaf) and dessert with your sweetheart or best friend.

~*~Support the Home Team-Attend an evening sports game. "Get your hotdogs, Popcorn, Peanuts." Can you just hear it?

~*~Drive-In-Movies- If you are still lucky enough to have one in your town, drive-ins just scream "summer evening fun".

~*~Hot summer nights find my husband and I driving to the ice cream stand. Sometimes, spur of the moment, we call my siblings and they join us there for banana splits and fresh strawberry sundaes. (hmmm. I wonder
if they have low-carb Ice cream?)

~*~Most towns have their own summer evening traditions. Block parties, theater or music in the park. Check local listings for what's in your town.

~*~Riverboat Dinners-We have been blessed both times in our lives to have lived near enough to enjoy Riverboat tours and cruises. First in Washington where they had The Spirit of The Puget Sound Dinner Cruise and
here in Florida where they have Casino Cruises, boat rentals and evening tours on the river.

~*~Back in 1983, our family ran a small nursery out of our front yard. We lived less then a mile from two of the most glorious lakes. During the hot summer, we would
help out by watering and potting plants while everyone else seemed to be at those wonderful lakes. But after dinner mom would takes us down and we would swim till nearly sunset. To this day it seems our family holds this
same tradition of swimming after dinner, only now it is the beach not our beloved twin lakes. And we still pile in moms van!

~*~Evening Rainstorms-We have been at the ocean a few evenings when a storm could be seen approaching. We would head back to the car and sit and watch the Beautiful lightning over the ocean.

I also have even been known to 'play in the rain' which my family thinks odd-but rainwater makes my hair soooo soft.

If you have a good covered porch, then next rainstorm-Have dinner out there. What wonderful ambience, the pitter-patter
of rain, a few candles, soft music, bottle of wine........

*****ENTERTAINING********************

Here is my calendar for August Evenings.

~*~Ice Cream Party-Invite each guest to bring a pint of their favorite ice cream and topping to share. Provide: brownies, bananas, fresh fruit and entertainment. (For me it will be
heavy cream whipped with sugar free Jell-o topped with fresh fruit).

~*~Romantic Dinner in the Garden-I plan on continuing my garden evenings with candles and delectable dishes to honor thy garden such as BLT's, Chicken Caser Salad,
Burger steaks topped with Grilled tomatoes and Mozzarella Cheese.

~*~Cocktails and Games on the Veranda-Now is the time to try all of those delicious summer drink recipes I have been collecting, with or without the alcohol. Purchase a few oil
lanterns to play games by and crank the blender.

~*~Pool Party with BBQ Appetizers after Dark-We are always in the pool during the day, so having a pool party that starts at seven'ish will definitely be a change.

BBQ APPETIZERS
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~~Lil Smokey Kebabs-Layer smokies, pineapple, hard cheeses etc.
~~BBQ'd Chicken wings, riblets.
~~Grilled fruits soaked in rum. (provide a bowl full of fresh whip cream)
~~Grilled Veggies brushed with olive oil and smeared garlic, salt and pepper.
~~Grilled Mini Pizzas-Grill dough, brushed with olive oil on one sides, top with 'pizza toppings' return to coolest part of the grill to finsih. Slice into wedges.

*****INFORMATION*******************
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Copywrite-2003-Homemakers Way of Life Gazette-Sheila Hollinger