Victor and I do what we can to lend a helping hand in the areas we enjoy and are experienced at…which are home improvement, food preparation and childcare. Visiting Gina, Tom and the boys is always an adventure, but this time
we were very busy giving them a helping hand for the move into their new house!! Victor was the busiest… teaching Gina and 8-year-old Aaden how to tile the floor of their guest bath…
Then making back ribs for the big game…they were yummy!!!
Dry Rub for one rack of back ribs (about 12 ribs)
• 8 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons coarse salt
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon jalapeño seasoning
• ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
• ½ teaspoon rubbed thyme
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
Braising liquid
• 1 cup wine
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Two cloves chopped garlic
Here’s what to do:
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius).
2. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl for the dry rub.
3. Place the ribs on a piece of aluminum foil. Sprinkle each side generously with the dry rub and pat it down. Refrigerate the ribs for one hour.
4. Place all the liquid ingredients in a bowl. Cook them in the microwave on high for one minute.
5. Take the ribs out of the refrigerator.
6. Place the ribs on a baking sheet.
7. Pour half the liquid on the ribs. This will braise the ribs.
8. Bake the ribs for 2½ hours at 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius).
9. Simmer the remaining liquid in a saucepan, until it thickens. Stir the mixture occasionally.
10. Take the ribs out of the oven when they’re done.
11. Brush the hot liquid on the ribs as a glaze, then serve.
Gina put together this salad and baked potato bar…she made the potatoes in the crockpot, after wrapping them in aluminum foil…they cooked for about 8 hours on low…She put out romaine and baby field greens for lettuce, small sweet peppers, green and kalamata olives, cucumbers, scallions, shredded cheddar and bacon bits…As you can see, it wasn’t fancy…Gina’s mantra is KISS (Keep It Simply Simple)…and Aaden’s mantra is This is the Life, in which he wanted me to name my blog:)
Gina, also, made chocolate covered strawberries and then piped vanilla frosting on them to make them look like footballs!!! Aaden and Parker loved them:)
Me and the boys walking in the field of their new house, it might look like I’m holding their hands but they are actually holding my hands, keeping me from slipping down the hill on this snowy and icy mix!!! My job during all these helping hands? Keeping the boys busy, my favorite job:)
A Helping Hand from Audrey Hepburn
This quote from Audrey Hepburn seems to make sense to me, now that I’m older:) “Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.” Good advice for our golden years… These photo’s of Audrey Hepburn show where her heart and hands were in her later years, notice the picture on the left, the children holding her hands, she was a beautiful woman, inside and out.
Visions of My 70s 