https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-stromboli/

Cranky Old Man

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when t...he nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Chicken Pillows

Chicken Pillows

2-3 cups shredded or chopped chicken (I buy a Rotisserie chicken and chopped it into bite sized pieces).

1 can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
1 bag Pepperidge farm stuffing mix (crushed, not cubed)

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic powder and pepper until well combined with a hand mixer. fold in chicken. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.

Unroll crescent dough, separating into 4 rectangles; press perforations to seal. Spoon 1/4 of chicken mixture into center of each rectangle; bring corners of each rectangle together over chicken mixture, and twist gently to seal.

Brush pillows with melted butter and then dredge and press into crushed seasoning mix and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Drizzle tops with butter and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Parmesan Sauce:

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup sour cream

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, cooking over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden and bubbly.

Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper once the milk has been completely added. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sauce thickens and bubbles, about 5-10 minutes, taking care to adjust the heat accordingly so the sauce doesn’t burn on the bottom.

Stir in the Parmesan cheese and cook, stirring, until the cheese is melted. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Thin the sauce with a little milk if needed.

Toaster Oven Baked Smores

Take one graham cracker ... break it up into bite-sized pieces and place in the bottom of your dish.  I have 3x5 individual dishes that worked very well.   Break up a Hershey's Milk Chocolate candy bar and place over the graham crackers.  Then cover this with miniature marshmallows.   Bake in Toaster oven for about 10 minutes or until marshmallows start getting toasty brown and - take out and enjoy!

Household tips

Garden Egg Bake - Sounds YUMMO!

Green Chile Chicken

Green Chile Chicken Over Asparagus

Ingredients
1 lb fresh asparagus spears
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon zesty Creole seasoning
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons + 3/4 cup water, divided
3/4 cup plain Greek (or regular) yogurt
1 (1.25-oz) packet broccoli cheese soup mix
1/4 cup diced green chiles

Prep

• Trim asparagus, removing tough root end.

Steps

1. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Coat both sides of chicken with Creole seasoning. Place oil in pan, then add chicken; cook 2–3 minutes on each side or until golden.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low. Arrange asparagus spears over chicken. Add 2 tablespoons water and cover; cook 4–5 minutes or until chicken is 165°F and asparagus is tender. Transfer asparagus to serving plates; top with chicken.
3. Whisk together 3/4 cup water, yogurt, and dry soup mix in small saucepan; bring just to a boil on medium. Reduce heat to low and stir in green chilies; simmer 2–3 minutes or until thickened. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve.

CALORIES (per 1/4 recipe) 420kcal; FAT 19g; CHOL 135mg; SODIUM 1110mg; CARB 11g; FIBER 2g; PROTEIN 52g; VIT A 20%; VIT C 25%; CALC 10%; IRON 15%

Hummus Crostini

Ingredients
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup tomato basil bruschetta topping
1/2 cup fried peppers and onions
4 Deli pita bread
4 oz Deli classic hummus

Prep

Preheat oven to 450°F.

• Cut cream cheese into cubes; let stand at room temperature to soften.

Steps

1. Combine bruschetta topping and fried peppers and onions. Bake bread 5 minutes or until toasted.
2. Blend cream cheese and hummus together until smooth. Spread hummus mixture evenly over each toast; top with bruschetta mixture. Bake 3 more minutes or until hot. Serve.

CALORIES (per 1/4 recipe) 320kcal; FAT 19g; CHOL 30mg; SODIUM 750mg; CARB 20g; FIBER 5g; PROTEIN 7g; VIT A 15%; VIT C 70%; CALC 6%; IRON 4%