LIFESTYLES

Share joys
with children

They'll have no trouble
picking up your weaknesses

KIDS DON’T learn the way
most parents and teachers
hope they learn. You can’t
force Icarning on a_ kid.
They learn what they like.

In 7 years of school, no one
ever managed to “teach” me
mathematics. Fo crammed, they
crammmed and f maniged to get
enough algebra (temporarily) into
my head to pass Alberca’s dreaded
Math 30. Just.

A week later, an ‘ta-squared”*
was some nerd who phoned for a
date.

Kids learn frem teachers and
parents a lot of stuff that they
don’t” realize we're teaching. 1
learned from my mother to detest
housecleaning. To her, it was an
essential task, horrible, demeaning
and a punishment. That made me
very aware that my kids should
never get that ugly message from
meso I gritted ny teeth and smil-
ed while 1 swept. The message
they got was that making a big
mess was the ugly part aud today
they are happy doing heavy-duty
cleaning but freak out when
someone makes an unnecessary
mess.

1 learned to love English from a
wonderful grouo of teachers, in-
cluding my dad. who loved the
written word. My kids learned to
hate reading because [ read so
much and they resented my way
of closirig them out with a book.

Their father is a picky eater.
One daughter picked up on this
and picks to this day. Oddly, she
is a wonderful cook ‘and will
prepare foods that she wouldn’t
eat if a salary was involved,

1 love to cook. The girls felt it
was a privilege to join me in the
kitchen. It never occurred to me at
the time that | was giving them
positive messages — ‘‘look at that
wonderful dough, hon, we did
everything right?’ — it was a
mutual thrill in getting a delightful
resuit. while enjoying a relaxed,
companiable hour in a clean, spicy
kitchen.

Both Brian and | love animals
and spoil them rotten. We don’t
train animals — they train us and
we enjoy every minute of it. [oa
guest props his backside on my
kitchen counter, [I get upset. If
Cricket props hers aginst my cof-
fee pot, I'll have tea instead or
apologize and move her over to
the blender. So why should | be
surprised to find one of the girl's
cats in the middle of the dining
room table?

I am trying to get a message
through (to young parents. Stare
your joys and your hobbie. with
your kids. They’ pick vp your
weaknesses with no hel: from
you.

kK

I particularily enjoy getting rec-
ipes from my daughters, | know
without even testing them that the
results will be outstanding. They,
she said modestly, are three of the
finest cooks { know. Their
favorites reflect their lifestyles:
Suzy entertains a lot, Fanine is the
authority on wholesome dinners
for two when she’s in a rush and
Lori is a neat hand with family -
style meals and desserts.

Here are three recipes from my
daughters.

Geri’s Oyster Crackers (rom
Suzy)

Perfect for entertaining, keep
for weeks, need no reftiger
Geri is > close friend of Suzy’s
and they often share a_ kitchen

Barbara
McCreadie

BUDGET BEATERS

when they entertain.

regular box oyster crackers
(hard to find) or

1 vegular box mini-Ritz crackers

§ package (dry) Hidden Valley
Ranch dressing mix

1 teaspoon garlic powder

I teaspoon dsy dill weed

“% cup olive ofl (you may
substitute corn oif but olive is
best)

Toss the box of crackers with
dressing mix and spices in a Tup-
perware-type container with a
tight lid. Add the ofl and_ stir.
Press the lid firmly in place and
set the mix on your kitchen
counter. Every time anyone passes
the rule is to give the container a
shake. Prepare at least a
day ahead but the tongr they sit
the better they taste.

sanine’s Quick Chicken

This takes «wo minutes to put
together but needs an hour to
bake. If she’s home at 5:30, din-
ner is ready at a reasonable hour.
New potatoes are easy and so is
long-grain rice. Microwaved broc-
coli and sliced tomatoes are a
suggestion.

2 whole chicken legs

t tin mushroom soup

seasoned salt and seasoned pepper
Ys cup grated cheddar cheese

¥Y2 cup sliced almonds

Place the chicken legs in a
non-stick cake pan. Spread the
mushroom = soup on top and
season. Sprinkle with cheese and
then almonds. Bake at 375° about
an hour.

Lori’s Chocolate Mousse Pie

“Mom! You want to give away
all my secrets. I tell everyone that
this takes me hours in the kitch-
en."*

This is fast and fancy.

19° graham cracker shell (see di-
rections on crumb package)

2 packages Chocolate Mousse
Whip-and-Chill, prepared as to
package directions

1 carton (Lori uses a medium,
small is OK) whipping cream,
sweetened with a few drops of
vanilla

To one-ounce square semi-sweet
chocolate, grated

Fil cracker shell with prepared
chocolate mousse mix. Chill ses-
eral hours or overnight.

Whip the cream with sugar and
vanilla, Top pie and sprinkle with
arated chocolate.

“totasted: erent as a mousse so
i figured it would Gaste even better
asa piel tt dees. Now, fourm to
took like you spent drours ue the
hitehen,

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