Black & Blue Crumble

     First, I would really like to thank all of you for sharing your thoughts, suggestions and support on my post yesterday. I've spent much of the weekend researching and all morning on the phone. I've decided that this is something that many of us rarely think about until we are in the midst of a crisis. I read all of your comments to my husband and he was very grateful for all of your good thoughts and prayers for his parents.

     I finally tried a recipe from the cookbook my daughter gave me for Christmas. Dam Good Sweet by David Guas, is full of New Orleans recipes. It was difficult to decide which one to try first. I opted for Black & Blue Crumble.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup quick oats

4 T. unsalted butter at room temperature

1/4-1/2 cup sugar

2 T. light brown sugar

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup all-pupose flour

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

4 cups blackberries

4 cups blueberries

Zest of 1/2 lemon plus 2 T. lemon juice

Sugar (anywhere from 2 T. to 1/4 cup)

3 T. cornstarch or tapioca flour

Ice cream or whipped  cream for garnish

     Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread out the almond in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 8 minutes. Add the oats and continue toast 4 to 6 minutes longer. Remove and put in medium bowl, set aside. Increase temperature to 350 degrees.  (my almonds got too brown-I answered the phone while they were in the oven)

     Mix the butter, 1/4 cup of sugar and brown sugar in a medium bowl until relatively smooth (I used my fingers). Stir in vanilla, flour cinnamon and salt. Mix until crumbly with large nuggets. Freeze for 10 minutes, stir in almonds and oats...refrigerate if you aren't using immediately.

     Place the berries, lemon zest and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add enough sugar to lightly sweeten berries.

     Add the conrstarch, toss and transfer to an 8-inch baking dish. I used a small rectangular pan.

     Evenly cover the berries with crumbly topping. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the berry juices are bubbling, about 1 hour.

Remove from the oven and serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

     I found this recipe to be delicious. The only thing I would change is the lemon juice. I didn't measure the juice, I just squeezed out the lemon and I think I got a little too much. I think I would prefer it without any lemon juice, although the the lemon zest is just enough to add to the flavor. The topping is perfect. I'm going to be making this with other fruits as well.



I Need Your Advice

     One of the best things about having a blog is that it reaches so many different people all over the world. It is a great resource for information gathering. Today, I'm hopeful that some of you will be able to use your experience to help me.

     A few weeks ago I mentioned that my mother-in-law was diagnosed the week of Christmas with pancreatic cancer. She has been going through chemo over the past 4 weeks. The chemo hasn't made her sick, her hair isn't falling out and a recent scan shows the cancer is not spreading. This is all great news. However, she is exhausted, confused and not at all the person we knew just a few weeks ago. She has been the primary care person for my father-in-law who has suffered balance and memory problems since a car accident 3 years ago. He too seems to have rapidly gone downhill over the past 2 months. They have insisted on staying in their home and my sister-in-law arranged to have someone come in the mornings and two hours in the evening. This isn't working.

     I've been asked by my husband and sister-in-law to make calls tomorrow to find out options. The research I've done online, says that a nursing home costs about $5000 per person, per month. Assisted living with services might be a bit less, but not much. They are currently paying $18 per hour for the woman to come to the home. That would be around $3000 a week if they hired someone to stay around the clock. My in-laws are not wealthy, but they are also do have some assets such as their home.

     I really have no idea where to start this process. I don't know what questions to ask to make sure we pick the best place to "put them". I have read that unless a person spends 3 full days in the hospital and then goes to a nursing home, they are responsible for paying the full amount. I don't know what resources might be out there that could help with expenses. I think most people would find it difficult to pay $10,000 a month for care. Eventually we could sell their home, but something has to be done right away. We don't live where they do and my sister-in-law can't be with them all the time.

     This has all happened so quickly that they weren't prepared. The only thing I know about nursing homes is that the quality is very different. My mother's brief stay before her death was in a beautiful place, but we knew it was short-term, my dad is still mentally and physically competent to make decisions and their financial situation didn't limit my dad's choice of care. In the case of my in-laws, it may be long-term for at least one of them and they are neither one able to make decisions at this time. It is a mess to say the least and I don't even know what agencies to call to start asking questions.

     So, for those who have been through this with a loved one...what questions should I ask? Who should I call? How did your family member afford this? Is a reverse mortgage a good idea? One thing I'm learning very quickly is that long-term care insurance is a "must have" for my us to protect our kids. We will be looking into that for ourselves over the next 10 years. If you have any information that might be a help to me before I start making calls tomorrow...I would love to hear it. I've decided over the past year that aging is a bit more frightening than I realized. Thanks in advance for any help you can suggest.

A Little History In the Baking

     It hasn't exactly been a week of table setting at my house. We are in the midst of a massive ice storm and my husband has been working 18 hour days for the power company. My son has been staying here babysitting his mom...but, when you are 28 and used to eating your own cooking...mom's cooking barely makes it to the plate before it is gone. We certainly aren't setting a pretty table for him! I have had a few things I wanted to share and this seemed like a good day to do so!

     I found these sweet measuring cups on sale at T.J.Maxx after Christmas for $2.50. They have been sitting on my kitchen counter and I'm not sure where to put them, but they just had to come home with me.

     My paternal grandfather, who was born in 1895, worked for many years as a baker at the Sally Ann Bread Bakery in Mattoon, IL. It was a commercial bakery. You couldn't buy bread there, but the smell was heavenly. I can remember being a little girl and taking a tour of the bakery with my brownie troop. I was so proud that my "grampy" took us on the tour. Many Sunday mornings after church we would stop at the bakery and he would give us warm bread. The apron was his. I love it! I also have his baker's hat packed away. I think they are such treasures. The rolling pin was my maternal grandmother's. It is the one I use all the time. I have a newer one, but you know, I really think grandma's rolling pin makes the food taste better!

Think how many pie crusts have touched this rolling pin!

     My ruffled Crate and Barrel plate has some freshly baked scones ready for you. It is still my favorite scone recipe. You can find it here.

     I had to share a picture of the ice on my patio door through the blinds. It almost looks like a lace tablecloth. How can something so beautiful be so dangerous?

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for

Tablescape Thursday

Please stop by and thank her for being our hostess!

Every Picture Tells A Story...

I am joining Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

A Little Valentine Color

     I don't really decorate for Valentine's Day. In fact, I have more out this year than I've had out since my kids left home. I'd say that blogging is a factor. When I did my topiary redo, I planned on putting bows around the bases. Once I had the bows done, I didn't like the way they looked, so I didn't use them. I hated to let them go to waste, so I opted to add a little bit of color to the top of my china cabinet. This isn't my favorite vignette, but it will do for now!

     We are in the midst of a massive winter storm. We had some ice yesterday (I fell flat when I went out to get my mail) but the worst is coming later on this morning and tonight. My husband works for the power company and they brought in 200 linemen last night just to be ready for what is coming. We are in the part of the state that will be getting more ice and high winds, a dangerous combination for power crews. Hopefully, mine will stay on as we have no fireplace and the temps are dropping below zero later in the week. They say this is the worst storm we've had since 1978...ugh! I hope all of you stay safe out there!

I'm joining Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Stop in to see her and all the fun tables in Blogland!