Author: Launi

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Keeping Secrets

One year at Christmas time my little, then three-year-old Lyndi, wanted to help me wrap some presents for Daddy. Seemed harmless enough, so I let her do all the easy stuff–you know, “hand Mommy the tape,” and “pick which paper,” that sort of thing. The whole time I carefully explained to her that all these presents were secrets until Christmas morning and to be sure not to tell Daddy or it would spoil his surprise. We even practiced. Oh, how she promised to keep the secret.

Then Daddy came home.

She ran up to him and grabbed his legs and said, “Guess what? We wrapped your Christmas present today.”

Uh-oh, I think.

“It’s a secret…”

Good girl, good girl…

“…so I can’t tell you…”

That’s right, good job!

“…what it is…”

Well done!

“…but it ticks.”

…sigh…

If you’d have known this particular little sweetheart, you wouldn’t have been able to be mad at her, any more than I could at the time. Especially, since–from what I’m told, I was the very same sort of kid. Apparently, Christmas secrets or any other kind were just not safe with me. I don’t remember being the surprise spoiling blabber-mouth, but according to my siblings…I was.

Having lived a million years, since that time–I think I’m a little better at it…but sometimes it’s still really hard. I love to share surprises more than anything, which makes keeping a secret for very long–a trial. Probably why I have the “Secrets” tab on this very blog. I need to tell someone!

Then this very cool thing happened. Our household recently discovered a notebook stuffed full of “secret” famous recipes–just waiting to be tried and shared. And what-do-you-know, I’m really good at both things!  This could be the healing enterprise that I need…and the cool, famous restaurant favorites that  you need!  Hee hee hee.

So stand by. I’ve got some great recipes coming. Some from the “Secret Notebook” and some serendipitous finds from other places.

In fact, we’ll start with Brazilian Limeade, served at places like Tucano’s, from my sweet friend Susette.

What you choose to do with the secrets….

…is up to you.

 

 

PS—You are welcome to request a restaurant favorite and I’ll go on a hunt for it as well.  ;}

 

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Brazilian Limeade

Brazilian Limeade 2

Brazilian Limeade

4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins)
1 c. sugar
6 c. cold water
6 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk

Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use.

Wash limes thoroughly with soap (I just use hand-dishwashing soap or regular hand soap); you need the soap to get the wax and pesticides off of the limes because you’re using the WHOLE lime, baby. Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.

Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.

Add 1/2 of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse 5 times. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you’ll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water.

Add sweetened condensed milk.

You may want to taste test it at this point. If it’s bitter, just add some more sugar and maybe a little more milk. Serve immediately over lots of ice. This does not keep well, so don’t make this in advance .

Serves 6

Brazilian Limeade
 
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Ingredients
  • 4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins)
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 6 c. cold water
  • 6 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
  1. Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use.
  2. Wash limes thoroughly with soap (I just use dishwashing soap); you need the soap to get the wax and pesticides off of the limes because you're using the WHOLE lime, baby.
  3. Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.
  4. Place ½ of the limes in your blender.
  5. Add ½ of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse 5 times.
  6. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you'll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher.
  7. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher.
  8. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer- into the trash.
  9. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water.
  10. Add sweetened condensed milk.
  11. If it's bitter, just add some more sugar and maybe a little more milk.
  12. Serve immediately over lots of ice.
  13. This does not keep well, so don't make this in advance .

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Food Storage Folks

The Bare-bones year supply!
Ok, so I am fully aware that everyone on earth does NOT store food and have a wheat grinder.
I also know that most people don’t really worry about updating a 72 hour kit and rotating the canned goods.
AND I’m sure it’s quite likely that if you announced to a lot of folks that there was a big sale on 50 pound bags of rice and black beans–they’d look at you like you had a blue face.
But then, on the other hand, I know that in these parts, there are quite a few families that have organizing a year supply and 72 hour kits as a pretty hefty priority. Some of us do try. But the dilema has always been–how to make it interesting?

Yes, you’d survive–but you’d be so bored!

Our ward has a new program that I want to tell you about–it’s called Wheat Watchers. They send out a weekly newsletter–which is worth signing up for–and have a blog to share tips and information so that if an emergency does come–we’ll know what to do. It promises to help us get beyond the boring basics and learn ways to take care of everyone without making them all sick.
Oh, go on…check out the site. It’s pretty cool. And you know, as long as we are trying to do this storage thing–we may as well be creative about it!
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The Home Is a Refuge

“When the seas of life are stormy, a wise mariner seeks a port of peace. The family, as we have traditionally known it, is such a refuge of safety. ‘The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfil its essential functions.’ Actually, a home is much more than a house. A house is built of lumber, brick, and stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. A house can be a home, and a home can be a heaven when it shelters a family. When true values and basic virtues undergird the families of society, hope will conquer despair, and faith will triumph over doubt.
“Such values, when learned and lived in our families, will be as welcome rain to parched soil. Love will be engendered; loyalty to one’s best self will be enhanced; and those virtues of character, integrity, and goodness will be fostered. The family must hold its preeminent place in our way of life because it’s the only possible base upon which a society of responsible human beings has ever found it practicable to build for the future and maintain the values they cherish in the present.”

~Thomas S. Monson