Tasty Tuesday: Hot Dog Sandwich a la Tiffany

I thought I would share a Tasty Tuesday from a college student’s perspective! My niece has a blog where she shares her many adventures as a busy co-ed. She is an amazing young woman who loves people and travel. Her blog is a lot of fun to read, and her travel posts are amazing! I can’t really comment on her cooking skills, but when I saw this post I just knew I had to share it. And yes, I have Tiffany’s permission. So check out her recipe and then click the link at the end to visit her blog. Thanks Tiffany!

How to Make a Hot Dog Sandwich

Due to apparent discrepancies regarding this culinary masterpiece, I have decided to dedicate this post to the proper composition of what is colloquially referred to as the “hot dog sandwich.” Hopefully all those poor souls out there struggling to find their place in the kitchen can use this guide to aid them in the pursuit of deliciousness. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

You will need:
-two hot dogs
-two slices of bread
-slice of cheese
-mayonnaise
-knife
-plate
-microwave

Step 1: Cut each hot dog lengthwise and warm in microwave. I generally heat mine for about 30 seconds. They will be heated again in a later step, but this way they’re on the same temperature track as the rest of the ingredients. I also put mayonnaise on the bottom slice of bread now. The Z design is preferred but not mandatory….if you don’t have a squeeze bottle then you’ll probably have to break out the knife at this point.

Step 2: Align the heated hot dogs on the bottom slice of bread as shown, flat side down. Make sure they are evenly spaced so that the cheese can properly melt between the hot dogs. If you are using individually-wrapped cheese, unwrap it now.

Step 3:  Place cheese on top of the hot dogs and place the entire creation on a plate. Microwave for approximately 30 seconds, or until cheese has melted. Remove from microwave.

Step 4: This is what the inside of your sandwich should look like. Add the top slice of bread and cut the sandwich in half diagonally from corner to corner. Optional: You could add more mayo to the top slice of bread if you’re a big condiment fan.

TA-DA! The final product. Hope you have a rewarding sandwich-making experience! I assure you that the consumption part will be life-changing. :)

Popular variations include toasting the bread or dicing the hot dogs.

Hope you enjoy Tiffany's sandwich, and her blog! ~Marla.~

this is tiffany.

Remind Me Again; Why Do I Live Here?

It is hot outside! As I write this it is already 94° outside, on its way up to 100°. The rest of the week looks pretty much the same. Days like this I wonder why I stay in this state of extremes. Winters can have temps in the negative digits; while summer we swelter away in the extreme heat. Spring and fall, the wonderful break from all this lasts about 2 weeks each! In the winter I contemplate living in south Texas, or better yet, Cozumel. In the summer the mountains of Colorado call my name. But here I remain, in Kansas, year after year after year. Usually this urge to flee is satisfied with a vacation get away to somewhere where the weather is pleasant. So why am I still here?

Before I answer this question; a quick disclaimer. Everyone has a different opinion. I am not knocking whatever wonderful state you happen to live in. I am simply stating what I like about my state.

Kansas is my home. I have lived here my entire life. My roots are here. My family is here. The people are friendly and the cost of living is low.

Kansas weather is rarely boring. There is a saying here, “Don’t like the weather? Wait awhile, it will change.” A Kansas thunderstorm is a performance by nature itself. They can be truly beautiful. Enough snow in the winter for an occasional day off from school.

Kansas sunsets are some of the most beautiful and colorful I have ever seen. Our blue cloudless sky can seem to reach forever. Less than five minute drive out into the country, and stars light up the night sky.

Kansas is right in the middle of our country. Close enough to get away. If I really need to take a break I can. In a twelve hour drive I have 20 states to choose from that I can visit. I can visit the Rocky Mountains, Minnesota Lakes, The Gulf of Mexico, Mt. Rushmore, Graceland, the Alamo, and the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. I can cruise the Mighty Mississippi, eat fresh Wisconsin cheese, walk in Kentucky bluegrass, and visit the Windy City. I can chill out in the lakes in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri or visit a plantation home in Alabama. I can walk in a Civil War battlefield in Arkansas, eat Cajun food in Louisiana, and visit the Amana Amish communities of Iowa. I can experience a rodeo in Cheyenne Wyoming, tour the Carlsbad Caverns or Native American Cliff Dwellings.

Kansas has its own beauty. Ignorant people say Kansas is flat. They obviously have not traveled much around our state. If I drove from north to south in eastern Colorado, I would call it flat too. About 1/3 of the state of Colorado is as flat as about 1/3 of Kansas is. Kansas just doesn’t have the Rocky Mountains in the other 2/3’s of the state. We do have the beautiful Flint Hills, the Smokey Hills, and truly beautiful amber waves of grain.

Really, not such a bad list!  I think I’ll stay awhile longer.

~Marla

Amazing Grace

If you were asked what your favorite word in the English language was, what would your answer be? What one word brings you peace, comfort, joy, hope? For me that word is grace. It is the sweetest word I know. It is a word that took years for me to fully understand. A word with so much power, that to dwell upon it can easily cause tears to stream down my face.

What is grace? Well the definition of grace simply put is “God’s unmerited favor.” That does not even begin to encompass grace as I know it. It is so much richer, so much more complex than those three words.

As a child I carried quite a lot of guilt around. I felt mean, bad, worthless, stupid and ugly. All this while I was still in grade school; quite a load for little shoulders to bear. At age 14 I accepted Christ and was baptized. I still remember the relief I felt. I was clean now, all that sin washed away! I just had to be good from now on and I would be deserving of God’s love. Well, we all know how that turned out! I was reaching for an impossible goal, and without grace, I had no hope. It was decades before I truly understood God’s grace. Baptism into Christ washed away my sins and brought me salvation, but fully understanding grace washed away the years of guilt and self loathing. 

Grace is what God rains down on me every single day. Every single day that I try to follow His path and stumble. Every single day that I try to speak His words and misspeak. Every single day that I try to be an example of His love and fail. His grace envelopes me and gives me hope and peace. His grace allows me to forgive, not only other people, but myself as well. Grace was always there, I just needed to allow myself to accept it; every single day.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
Amazing love
Now flowing down

From hands and feet
That were nailed to the tree
As grace flows down

And covers me

God Bless ~Marla 

Home Improvement

I am finding myself in an unfortunate quandary. Now that I am at home full time I am bothered more by all the home improvement projects that need to be done. On the other hand, the money to do something about them is limited. Add to that fact that my husband would rather have a root canal than work on a DIY project, and it really becomes an issue! 

Yesterday we did finish up one small project. I had started painting the dining room. Painting is something I can do in small spurts and I can change position frequently. It takes me a little longer with my many breaks, but I can get it done. As we have a tray style ceiling in our dining room we painted it the same color as the wall. Or I should say my husband did. I sat on a chair pointing out all the places he missed ;) We had to remove the ceiling fan to paint and had decided to replace the 30 year old fan with a new one. Oh boy.

Now, let me point out that we have been together longer than the life of that old fan. But projects like this are not the reason why. The first thing I noticed was my son fleeing the house with his fiancé in tow. Chicken! The second was the constant low grumblings of my husband. Upon listening quite carefully I could make out, “You know I hate doing these types of things”, being repeated like a mantra under his breath. My job was to read the directions and keep him informed of the next step. No problem!

I will say I rather enjoy putting things together. Following the directions is just like following a recipe!.....My husband does not like to cook. Now, lest you think I am slamming his ability, I am not. I am simply saying he does not enjoy these things. It can make for a stressful time, especially when you are on a ladder, juggling a fan motor, in low light conditions. My husband is a godly man who doesn’t swear. Otherwise I’m sure a stream of curse words would have been swirling about the room!

The end result is a beautiful new fan and lights and a freshly painted room! Our son and his fiancé returned with impeccable timing! Just as my husband was moving the dining room table back into place. As I talked later with my future daughter-in-law, she stated that my son has the same aversion to DIY projects as my husband. Apparently it is a genetic condition. Lucky girl!

Have a great one! ~Marla

A Time to Remember

Up in the attic

Down on my knees

Lifetimes of boxes

Timeless to me

Letters and photographs

Yellowed with years

Some bringing laughter

Some bringing tears 

Memorial Day. A time to remember. My husband and I decorate graves on Memorial Day weekend. We usually start on Friday with our parents graves. It means a lot to us to take a moment out of our busy schedule and pay tribute to those who came before us. 

My father died 15 years ago. My mother-in-law 12 years ago. My own mother, 7 years ago. Decorating the graves is a bittersweet time. The pain of loss is still there, though tempered by the passage of time. But the overwhelming love hasn't changed at all. The sweetness of it is almost more than I can bear. These wonderful people, who sacrificed, nurtured and protected us. Rubbed and kissed our boo-boos. Worked long hours to put food on the table. Comforted us during difficult times. They are without a doubt my heroes.

And so we honor their memory with beautiful flowers placed upon a grave that bears their name. A day of remembering, a lifetime of love.

Time never changes

The memories, the faces

Of loved ones, who bring to me

All that I come from

And all that I live for

And all that I'm going to be

My precious family

Is more than an heirloom to me

~Marla

Lyrics are from the song "Heirlooms"

Now, Give it All Away

Photo by Mike Gullett – AP

I have spent the past two months trying to save money. I have bought toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and deodorant. I have gotten free samples of anything I can get my hands on. Even samples I can’t use, but family or friends can. I have enough of some items that I will not have to buy them again for a year. Or so I thought. Within the next week I will be giving it all away. When I look at the pictures of Joplin my budget worries seem pretty insignificant. Of course I can afford to help. God commands it.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 (ESV)

I give not only because God desires this from me, but also because it feeds my soul. I give not because I expect anything in return, but I rest easy in the knowledge that God will provide for me.

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 (ESV)

Have you been looking for an opportunity to give? A chance to teach your children the importance of sacrifice? I promise you will be less anxious when you are giving than when you are holding on tightly to your possessions. Give it a try.

~Marla

The Hand of God

There is a line from the movie Twister that comes to mind when I see the videos of the massive tornado that destroyed 30% of Joplin, Missouri. They are discussing the Fujita Scale and what this means. When they get to the F-5 category it is described as "The Finger of God." Rather a chilling description. For those not familiar with the newer Enhanced Fujita Scale, the tornado in Joplin was rated as a high end EF-4. Winds were estimated up to 198mph. At 201mph it would have been an EF-5. Regardless of rating, the impact on, and loss of human life and property is staggering. As of 10:00am today, the death toll was at 118, and is expected to rise. Adding to that news, is that here in south central Kansas the TORCON (Tornado Condition Index) is a whopping 9 out of 10 for today. This means that in any 50 miles radius in this area, there is a 90% chance of a tornado developing. I think I'll make sure that anything I value is in the basement today!

So where does the "Hand of God" enter this picture? In each and every person here in the Midwest/Great Plains area and beyond who has began collecting supplies, donating items, money, or blood. People who have began loading vehicles with items and dropping them off at supply distribution centers. We are the hand of God, or at least we should be. I wanted to show just an example of what can be done. My niece and her friends, upon hearing of the disaster, began immediately going to work. They went and purchased supplies to make hygiene kits to send to Joplin. I have posted some of the pictures that my niece took.

I plan to make some kits of my own to send either with them or to another place accepting donations. I encourage all my area friends to do the same. Get your kids or grandkids involved. Even little hands can be the hand of God!

God Bless ~Marla

Donation Ideas

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Soap

Deodorant

Hand Sanitizer

Tampons

Bandaids

Shampoo

Non-Latex Gloves

Bottled Water

Bottled Sport Drinks

Energy Bars

Baby Wipes

Diapers

Pull Ups

Ready Made Formula

Blankets - All Sizes

Tarps

Batteries - All Sizes

Flashlights