Friday Friend recipe #353 Chipped Beef and Chicken

 

and you know all the whys and wherefores of this countdown, right? Homemade cookbook, friends contributed, Handyman said I couldn't/wouldn't do it, I'll show him, yadda yadda yadda....

...and the rest is cookbook history!

Just remember, the countdown is not all about pretty food and food design---it's about the people and the stories.

And (the most important thing) proving my husband wrong--and that I can and WILL make every recipe in this cookbook.

Which brings me to recipe #353

My mom's Chipped Beef and Chicken

Loved my mom with all my heart---but I don't think I'll be making Chipped Beef and Chicken again.

Just sayin'

I had to have the baked potato because my mom said the sauce was good with it.

It was.

I just had to show you my chipped beef--it comes in a jar and is round.  

Who the heck still buys this?

Me, I guess.

(and it is not cheap--considering)

This is my mom's 51st recipe in the cookbook countdown.

(you can check them all out here--just click)

You know how I feel about ending this cookbook countdown, right? 

It's extremely satisfying to have cooked 353 recipes--358 when I'm finished--but at the same time I feel as if I'm saying goodbye to old friends and family.  For good!

Weird, I know.

And on the other hand, what more can I say about my mom?

She's been gone (really gone) for 10 years, so it's hard to have a new story 😀 (sorry, but she would think that was funny)

I've gone from telling you about my parents living on the same street when they were growing up.

started first grade together

had their first kiss together 

first everything together!

To their old age together (altho they never really got old, they passed away in their late 70's) throughout the 50 recipes and stories of her.

One thing that was always consistent in their 50+ years together is that they had fun.

My mom more so than my dad--she was good for him.

She was the most positive, accepting, kind person I have ever known, and she drug him along for the fun--and he followed, because he was head over heels in love with her--always had been. 

I was going thru an old box of "stuff to throw away most likely" and I came across this email which I had sent to a couple of my friends.

It was dated April 17th, 2006

and the subject was: Easter Fun

On Saturday night after we had had a bbq, we played cards with my mom and dad. It was fun. We played a few games thru-out the Easter Weekend...but that was not the "fun."

My dad's neck was hurting while we were playing cards and I guess they have been using this muscle medicine similar to Ben Gay, that you spray on.

It comes in a little spray bottle.

So, my mom runs upstairs to get the spray medicine out of their suitcase.  Comes downstairs and sprays it on my dad's neck.  We continue to play cards, but my dad says, 'this medicine isn't feeling the same as it usually does.  He says it usually gets icy cold and then warms up and feels really good on his sore muscles.

He asks if the bottle might be getting old.  My mom says no, it's a brand-new bottle.

We continue to play cards and we have a nice time.

When the card game was over and we were sitting around the table chatting, Rich reaches over and grabs the bottle just to look at it---he turns it around and he and I both notice at the same time the bottle says "PAUL MITCHELL" ...and I'm wondering when Paul Mitchell hair products started making medicine.

So, we both say....mom! This is HAIRSPRAY!!!

She just grabbed the first think that looked familiar to her. 

hahahaha--and my dad was wondering why the hell it wasn't working.

We laughed so hard! 

I went to bed laughing and woke up laughing.

And then I thought---these are the genes that have passed to my children!

And that sums up my parents' marriage!

And that my friends is recipe #353!

I have 5 more to go!

I'm gonna get this done. 

I really am.

Five more!!

Friday Friend recipe #352

 

Making my way thru my Friday Friend Cookbook, one recipe at a time.

What is the Friday Friend cookbook? I once had about 50 of my closest friends and family (from all over the county) on an e-mail forum which I called the Friday Friends. At first, most of them didn't know each other, (they knew me) but over the past 24 years, we've answered and shared silly--and serious---questions, exchanged Secret Santa Christmas gifts, had a dieting contest in which we paid a $1 a week and that money went to a scholarship fund for a Friday Friends son's memorial scholarship, and we went on a great vacation for my 52 birthday. (plus, so much more....)  

AND we contributed recipes for a cookbook.

I was looking at the cookbook the other night and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog."
The Handyman--who thinks he knows me better than I know myself (this happened to be a question on the Friday Friend forum once---does your spouse/partner know you better than you know yourself? Said, "you'll never, EVER do that."
WELL---maybe I'll show him!  Maybe I will.

Which brings me to recipes 352. 

My favorite mother-in-law's

Chicken in Gravy 

If you've been paying attention, you might think this looks a lot like the recipe I just made--Barb's Australian Breasts in Wine Sauce.

It is almost exactly the same.  If I had been paying attention, I would have spaced these further apart, but I am down to 6.

SIX! 6!  Six! Recipes to make and post. 

So, there isn't much room to space anymore. (as if YOU cared anyway 😉)

The difference is there are mushrooms added here and not as much wine and no bacon or almonds.

This is my mother-in-law's 15th recipe in the countdown--and her last.

My mother-in-law was alive and well when I began this countdown 10 years ago, but she passed away 4 years ago— March 16, 2020.

I adored her and she adored me.

 I've said it before and I’ll say it again… I am so lucky.  I feel like I belong to the Handyman's family.  Like I am one of them.

I’m not so sure they feel the same way 🤣

Anyway, let me tell you her last story--oh and if you want to see all her recipes and read all her stories, just click here. Right here. 

This is my mother-in-law, Teresa Marie Solaro-Stone- Belcher and my father-in-law, Philip Belcher. 

In June 2004, my mother had a knee replacement. So, I went up to our hometowns (the Tri-Cities, Washington.) To help my mom. 

After I had been there a few days, I called my in-laws. 

My father-in-law, Phil answered, so I asked him how it was and told him I would be coming out for a visit on Friday around 10 AM. He said OK.

On Friday at 10 AM… I am late — but was doing stuff for my mom. I called my in-laws in this time my mother-in-law answers.

I say... hi I’m not gonna be there until 11 so don’t worry about me.

She says... OK. I am so excited to see you!!

I called back about 15 minutes later to ask her something about my mom. And my adored mother-in-law says, oh, are you there with your parents?

I say… Yes

She says… I am so glad you were able to come up to me with your parents.

I say… Me too.

She says… Guess who’s coming to visit us today?!

I say… uh, me?

She says (pausing a bit) you’re coming to visit today?

I say…Uh, yeah.

She says… Oh, good. Guess who else is coming to visit around 11?

I Say… um, me?

She says…(pausing again) did you just call us an hour ago and tell Phil you would be here at 11?

Hi, say… Yes

She says… That, damn Phil!! He can’t get anything straight!! (she’s yelling at Phil now) Phil, it’s Debbie who’s coming to visit. Not Chris!! So you can stop hiding. (Chris is Rich’s ex-wife. 🤣) but now Debbie, I’m really excited to see you.

By this time, I was laughing so hard-- so hard!! I think I had fallen on my bedroom floor. My parents came rushing in to see… My mom hobbling with her new knee and my dad right behind her, to see what was the matter… I was laughing so hard.  

I was laughing at my favorite mother-in-law, who was trying to backpedal and telling me why she would’ve been excited to see my husband's ex-wife.

(Chris had had that stomach bypass thing and had lost 70 pounds and my mother-in-law was looking forward to seeing her)

 They remained friendly with Chris until they died. And it’s OK. We’re friendly too, the Handyman and I.  With Chris, his ex-wife.

Laughing at my in-laws and their antics that day was such a stress reliever for me.  It was great!

I always loved laughing with them.

And now---no more recipes from her. At least in the Friday Friend Cookbook countdown. (did I tell you that I took her recipe boxes when she died?  Don't tell her daughters!)

It makes me sad to say goodbye.

This photo below is in front of my in-law's house in Prosser, WA.

When she turned in the recipe for Chicken in Gravy, she lived in this house. 

I'm pretty sure that Phil knew who he was waving goodbye to. 😄

Love this whole extra family I got when I married Rich. 

I knew he was good for something.

And that my friends is recipe #352!

I have 6 more to go!

I'm gonna get this done. 

I really am.

Friday Friend Recipes #'s 350 and 351

 

...about 24 years ago, 50 of my closest friends and family, who had been on an

  e-mail forum with me, sent in recipes in different categories and we compiled a cookbook.

I decided to count those down!

Why?

because one night I was looking thru the cookbook and I said, "I should make every recipe in here for my blog."

The Handyman/Mayor, who thinks he knows me better than I know myself, said "you'll never EVER do that."

Well, maybe I will!  Maybe I'll show him!

Which brings us to why I have a photo of Barb here.

Well--it's Barb's last appearance in the Friday Friend Cookbook Countdown. because

I ONLY HAVE 7 LEFT---SEVEN after this. 

Barb has been there since the beginning--she typed out the original.

Anyway---let's say goodbye (it always makes me so sad) to Barbara Brown.

(okay, there is a chance she might make a reappearance in the Grand Finale` but this is the last post/story about her)

And we have recipes #350 and 351

 Barb's Australian Breasts in Wine and

Mexican Chicken Casserole

There it is!  There is the original typed Friday Friend Cookbook in the upper left. 

It is worn and well used. Most pages splattered--all written in. 

Well loved. 

Australian Breasts in Wine

(the Handyman did ask how we were going to get some chicken from Australia) 

So, that my friends are 64 and 65 of Barbs recipes. 

It's been hard towards the end to think of a 65th story (and a 49th story, etc.) 

But I did it!  I did it. 

If you want to see all her recipes (and I'm sure you do) click here.

There are great memories of great friends!

How did our friendship begin?

You might remember that she was friends with my husband first. Very good friends.

They were career colleagues.  

I will give you her version and then mine.

Because I have the memories saved from the Friday Friend Forum times. 

Barb's exact words... (she was writing to me)

The first time we 'met' was in Konocti (near Ukiah, CA) when Rich and I went to our very first meetings as brand-new store managers.  Actually, I don't remember being introduced, but I vaguely remember a woman (that would be you) standing quietly by Rich's side that evening when some of us were being rowdy and playing pool. 

I do remember Rich as he was seated right next to me at that first manager's meeting, and I don't think he said one word to me the whole time. 

So, we made up for that at all the rest of the meetings in our JCP career--to the point that they had to keep us separated, because we had too much fun. 

But the first time I REALLY met you was at another meeting in Reno.  The store managers had gone to Susanville, and then the "males" stayed to play golf.  Rich let me and Ceci driver his car back to Reno and he got a ride with someone else later.  Anyway, Debbie and the 3 boys had driven from Winnemucca for some reason, and we met them in the lobby of the hotel. 

I remember staring at Luke and fascinated that he looked exactly like his dad (at that time, he must have been about 10) And then Debbie saw us and asked us to give Rich a card that she had for him---probably something all mushy--and that was that!

When they finally moved to Los Banos, CA is when we finally got to know (and love) Debbie.  Well...I know that Doug does. 

Me/Debbie again--

YES! Doug does love me.  And so does Barb, even tho that is a word she finds hard to use.  

Doug and me.

And these are the troublemakers below--the ones they had to separate at manager meetings.

Barb and Rich.

You know, they are not huggers either and it's weird, but I have tons of pictures when he has his arm around her.  

 

Like I said, weird. 

Now for my side of the story (taken from the same Friday Friend Forum files)

I first met Barbara Brown at the JCPenney meeting at Clear Lake, CA

And then I did run into her at the Peppermill Casino in Reno, while trying to deliver a mushy love note to Rich with my three little boys in tow.  It was very intimidating meeting two career ladies, who were dressed in business attire and then me in jeans and a T-shirt and snotty nosed kids, but I had wanted to surprise him with a mushy note. (I'm romantic like that. hahaha)

But the first GREAT memory I have of Barb was when we went to their house in Monterey for the weekend. 

We were pulling into the driveway, and I was wishing I were someone else (someone with much more personality and good looks) and she comes running outside of the house laughing and waving her arms!  (It's how she usually is--laughing). She was so happy because she had won the bet--they made a bet on what time we would arrive. That set the tone for this very good, very long friendship with the Browns.

Everything is always a game. 

Now... I also had asked her daughter Kim the exact same question (I asked all the Friday Friends at the time)

and this is what Kim said:

Oh jeez, you expect me to go back to when I was 6 or 7 years old and remember How I met you?  I don't!  But I think it was when you and your family came to stay with us in Monterey for the weekend.  I had to play with the boys while the adults played games all weekend long.  From the times I do remember, you seemed a little reserved to me, and not as "vulgar", per say, as Mom, Dad and Rich were. 

Okay,,, me/debbie again.

There you have it! 

Not as VULGAR! 

HA!

And it is proven by this photo below. 

Check out innocent me---just holding my golf club, looking adoringly at my husband.

And then look at the rest of them.

Vulgar!

Tasteless, crass and unrefined there were.

You can only imagine what they were saying.  Look how the guys are holding their clubs!  Tawdry!

And look at Barb---holding Doug's---

(shame shame)

And that's my story!

Innocent me.  Reserved me.

The me who thinks we need to make some more memories!

Goodbye Barb. 

(my heart is breaking just a little bit.)

BUT

7

seven

ONLY

SEVEN

more recipes to go.