Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Special Note

Since the vast majority of Mom's recipes have been posted, we will no longer be posting on a daily basis. We will only post occasionally when we have something new or when a recipe is given to us by friends or family. For those with an Amazon subscription, you can cancel your subscription through your account.

#3931 - Fresh Tomato Salad Dressing

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 medium ripe tomatoes (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped onions
2 TBSP honey
6 TBSP red wine vinegar
3/4 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
3 cloves garlic (minced)
3/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

In a blender add chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, honey, vinegar, olive oil, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, paprika and pepper--put the lid on and blend for 1 minute or until dressing is smooth. Pour mixture into a glass container with a lid. Refrigerate until cold before using.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

#3930 - Garlic Steak Marinade

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh sqeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 TBSP garlic powder
3 TBSP dried basil
1 1/2 TBSP parsley flakes

In a blender add soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, dried basil and parsley flakes--blend for 1 minute. Place steaks in a glass dish, drizzle with the marinade, cover the dish and refrigerate for a few hours before cooking/grilling the steaks. Discard leftover marinade.

Monday, July 25, 2016

#3929 - Ice Cream Bon Bons

(by Shirley McNevich)

good quality ice cream (your choice of flavor)
1/2 cup butter
2 cups Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips OR milk chocolate chips
6 TBSP milk
toothpicks
sea salt

Line a cookie sheet with foil and place it in the freezer to get it cold (about an hour). Remove cookie sheet from freezer. Soften ice cream just a bit. Use a cookie dough scoop to scoop an ice cream ball (golf ball sized) from the pint of ice cream, then place it on the cold cookie sheet and stick a toothpick down through the center of the ice cream balls. Repeat with more ice cream. Place the cookie sheet back in the freezer for 5 hours or until ice cream balls are solid. In a saucepan over low heat add the butter and chocolate chips--cook/stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat--add the milk--stir to mix. Cool the mixture to room temperature, then stir again. Remove cookie sheet from the freezer. Pick up one ice cream ball by the toothpick and coat it in the chocolate mixture, set it back on the cookie sheet and twist the toothpick to remove it. Get a little extra chocolate on the end of the used toothpick and spread it over the hole where the toothpick was removed. Sprinkle a little sea salt over the coated ice cream ball. Repeat with all ice cream balls, then return the cookie sheet to the freezer until ice cream balls are firm. Note: you have to work quickly. If you notice the ice cream balls starting to melt before you have a chance to coat them, put the whole tray back in the freezer for an hour, then try again OR you can just remove one ice cream ball from the freezer at a time, coat it, and immediately place it back on the tray in the freezer.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

#3928 - Strawberry Kiwi Frosting

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup softened butter
1 cup Domino's powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 diced strawberries
1/2 of a kiwi (peeled and diced)

After dicing strawberries and kiwi, place the pieces on paper towels to soak up some of the moisture. In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add butter and vanilla--beat. Slowly add powdered sugar--beat until creamy. Add diced strawberries and diced kiwi--beat. If frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar and beat again. If frosting is too thick, add a little milk and beat again. Note: this is enough for one 9 x 13 cake. If making cupakes, you'll need to double the recipe. Keep cake/cupcakes refrigerated after frosting.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

#3927 - Rhubarb Meringue Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
1 - 9" unbaked pie crust dough
3 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Half 'n Half
2 TBSP flour
a pinch of salt
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

Spray a 9" pie plate with Pam, insert the pie dough, flute the edges and spray the inside of the pie dough with Pam. Spread the rhubarb pieces evenly in the pie dough. In a bowl add 1 cup white sugar, the Half 'n Half, flour, salt and egg yolks--beat with a whisk until smooth. Pour the egg yolk mixture evenly over the rhubarb. Cover the edges of the pie dough with foil. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake 20-30 minutes longer or until pie crust is browned and filling is set. Remove from oven but DO NOT turn the oven off. In a mixer add the egg whites--beat until stiff. Slowly add the 1/4 cup white sugar and cream of tartar while beating until you have a fluffy meringue. Spread the meringue over the top of the pie, use your wet finger to make any designs in the meringue that you wish and return the pie to the oven for 8-10 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Cool completely.

Friday, July 22, 2016

#3926 - Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
3 TBSP honey
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 TBSP pineapple juice

In a bowl add brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard and pineapple juice--stir well. Taste--if too sweet add more mustard and stir again. If too sour, add a little more pineapple juice and stir again. Use glaze on ham, chicken or pork chops.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

#3925 - Cherry Lemon Sweet Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups flour
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup canola or OR melted butter
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 tsp. lemon zest
Glaze: 1/2 cup Domino's powdered sugar; 1 tsp. lemon zest; 1 tsp. lemon juice (more if needed)
turbinado sugar

Place the golden raisins in a saucepan and cover them with water--bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, cook them for 5 minutes, then drain them well. Grease the whole inside of a bread loaf pan. In a bowl add flour, white sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda--stir. In a separate bowl add the egg, milk, oil/melted butter and vanilla--stir well. Add the cherry pieces, drained raisins and 1 tsp. lemon zest--stir. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture--stir just until moistened. Pour the batter into the greased bread loaf pan. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over the top (optional). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove the bread and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, wrap the bread loaf in foil and leave it on the counter overnight. The next day, in a bowl add the powdered sugar, 1 tsp. lemon zest and 1 tsp. lemon juice--stir well. If glaze is too thick add a little more lemon juice the stir again. Unwrap the loaf, place it on a plate and drizzle the loaf with the lemon glaze before cutting and serving.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

#3924 - Crescent Cubans

(by Shirley McNevich)

French's yellow mustard OR spicy mustard
2 - 8 roll cans Pillsbury crescent rolls
3/4lb. ground pork
1 large onion (sliced and rings separated)
8 slices deli ham
8 slices Swiss OR provolone cheese

Place 1/4 of the sliced onions into a microwave safe bowl--spray them with Pam. Repeat until all onions are in the bowl, finishing by spray the top of the onions with Pam. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then stir and return to microwave. Continue microwaving the onions in 30 second increments until they are soft, then set aside. Grease a cookie sheet with Pam. Open one can of crescent roll dough, separate the dough and place the dough triangles on the cookie sheet (not touching each other). Spread mustard over the top of each dough. Spread the ground pork over the mustard. Place the ham and cheese over the pork (folding as necessary). Spread the softened onions over the cheese. Open the second can of crescent dough and top each sandwich with a second dough (make sure the doughs are orientated the same direction). Use the tines of a fork to press the two doughs together on each sandwich so you end up with a sealed sandwich. Bake at 400 degrees 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and pork is done. Optional: brush a little butter over the top dough on each sandwich before baking.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

#3923 - Spanish Salsa Rice

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 TBSP canola oil
1/2 of a small onion (chopped; more or less as you wish)
1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice (NOT Minute Rice)
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chunky salsa (the higher the spice/heat level of the salsa, the more tasty the rice will be)
other spices (to your taste)

In a skillet over medium heat add canola oil and chopped onions--cook/stir until onions are tender. Add the uncooked rice--cook/stir constantly until rice starts to brown. Add the chicken broth and salsa--stir well. Turn heat back to low, cover the skillet and simmer 20-30 minutes or until rice is done and mixture has thickened (and liquid has been absorbed). Before removing from heat, taste--add other spices to your taste, stir well, and taste again.

Monday, July 18, 2016

#3922 - Skillet Polish Pigeons

(by Shirley McNevich)

2/3 cup water + extra for the cabbage
1/3 cup uncooked white rice (prepared according to package directions)
1 head of cabbage
1lb. ground chuck
1/4 cup chopped onions (more if you wish)
1 beaten egg
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's tomato soup (undiluted)
1 small can Italian diced tomatoes

Fill a Dutch oven 3/4 full with water--add 1 tsp. salt and bring to a boil. Remove the core from the cabbage (discard it) and place remaining cabbage head into the boiling water--cook it for 6 minutes, turning frequently, until cabbage leaves loosen. Remove from heat, drain, and wait until cooled enough so you can handle the cabbage. Remove the leaves one at a time until you have 8 large cabbage leaves. In a bowl add ground chuck, the cooked rice, the onions, beaten egg, salt, pepper and 2 TBSP of the tomato soup--mix well. Divide the ground chuck mixture evenly between the 8 cabbage leaves. Tuck in the end of the cabbage leaves and roll them (like an egg roll) and secure them with toothpicks. In a skillet over medium heat add the rest of the tomato soup and the chopped tomatoes. Place the cabbage rolls into the tomato mixture. Bring to a boil, then turn heat back to low, cover with a lid and simmer for 40 minutes (stirring the tomato mixture and basting the cabbage rolls with the tomato mixture every 5 minutes).

Sunday, July 17, 2016

#3921 - Skillet Zucchini and Corn

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup butter
1/2 of an onion (diced)
3 small zucchinis (diced)
3 ears sweet corn
salt
fresh ground black pepper

Husk the corn. Cut the corn kernels off of the cob into a bowl. Dice the zucchini and onions. In a skillet over medium heat add the butter and onions--cook/stir until onions are tender. Add the diced zucchini and sweet corn kernels--cook/stir 8-10 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Remove from heat--add salt and pepper--stir well.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

#3920 - German Red Cabbage

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 TBSP butter
5 cups shredded red cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced green apples
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 TBSP water
1/4 cup white sugar
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 onion (sliced; rings separated)

In a Dutch oven add butter, shredded cabbage, sliced onions, sliced apples, white sugar, water, vinegar, salt, pepper and ground cloves--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Once boiling, turn heat back to low and simmer (with tilted lid) for 2 hours (stirring mixture every 15-20 minutes).

Friday, July 15, 2016

#3919 - Chicken Wing Sauce

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1/4 cup butter
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. celery seed
fresh ground black pepper (if you wish, to your taste)

In a saucepan over medium low heat add hot sauce, butter, garlic powder, celery seed and pepper--cook/stir until butter is melted and mixture is hot and smooth. In a large metal bowl add cooked chicken wings and the sauce--toss to coat.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

#3918 - Spicy Chicken Bites

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 tsp. canola oil + 1 cup canola oil
3-4 garlic cloves (chopped)
3 TBSP chopped green onions
1 cup pineapple juice
2 TBSP chili sauce
2 TBSP white vinegar
4 TBSP white sugar
1 tsp. soy sauce
2 TBSP water
1/2 tsp. cornstarch + 1/3 cup cornstarch
2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite sized pieces)

Cover two dinner plates with paper towels--set aside. Salt/pepper both chicken breasts, then cut them into bite sized pieces. In a bowl add the chicken pieces and the 1/3 cup cornstarch--toss to coat. In a saucepan over medium heat add 2 tsp. canola oil. When the oil is hot add the chopped garlic and the chopped green onions--cook/stir for 30 seconds. Add the pineapple juice, chili sauce, white vinegar, white sugar and soy sauce--cook/stir for 1 minute. Dissolve the 1/2 tsp. cornstarch in the 2 TBSP water, then add it to the saucepan--stir. Keep stirring and bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat back to simmer and simmer until mixture is thickened (like syrup). While the sauce is thickening in a skillet over medium heat add the 1 cup canola oil. When the oil is hot add the dusted chicken pieces--cook/stir on all sides until chicken is browned on the outside and no longer pink inside. Drain the chicken on the paper towel covered plates. In a bowl add the drained chicken pieces, and drizzle the sauce over the chicken--toss to coat. Serve the chicken with cooked rice.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

#3917 - Cracker Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/4lbs. fresh yellow string beans
2 TBSP butter (sliced into smaller pieces)
1/4 cup crushed Ritz crackers
salt (to your taste) + 1 tsp. salt
fresh ground black pepper (to your taste)

Trim the beans and cut them into whatever size pieces you wish. Place the cut beans into a pot with 1 tsp. salt, then cover them with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat--cook/stir until beans are soft. Remove from heat--drain but DO NOT RINSE. Place the hot beans into a glass bowl--add the butter pieces, salt/pepper and the cracker crumbs--stir just until combined.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

#3916 - Quick Beets

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 16oz. can beets
1/2 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 TBSP cornstarch (more if you want a thicker sauce)
salt (to your taste)

Open the can of beets and drain the liquid into a saucepan--add the white vinegar, sugar, cornstarch and salt to the beet liquid. Bring liquid to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, turn heat back a bit and add the beets--cook/stir until beats are hot. You can serve them hot, or cool them to room temperature and put them in a covered glass bowl before refrigerating.

Monday, July 11, 2016

#3915 - Hard Fudge Glaze

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups white sugar
3 heaping TBSP Hershey's cocoa
2/3 cup whole milk
1 stick butter (cut into small pieces)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a saucepan add white sugar, cocoa, and milk--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling (hard boil). Once boiling, cook/stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat--add butter pieces and vanilla--stir vigorously until thickened and smooth. Pour the mixture over a cooled pound cake, bundt cake, etc.--the glaze will harden as it cools.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

#3914 - Vinegar Tuna Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 6oz. pouch/can albacore tuna (drained and flaked)
1 - 7oz. can light tuna in water (well drained, then flaked)
1 TBSP olive oil
4 TBSP balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar if you wish)
a dash of salt (if needed)
fresh ground black pepper (optional; your choice of amount)
1 celery rib (chopped)
1 hard boiled egg (chopped)

Refrigerate both types of tuna in their original packaging overnight. The next day, into a bowl flake the albacore tuna and light tuna. Add the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, chopped celery and chopped eggs--stir to mix. Note: if you're not a vinegar fan, you won't like this recipe at all.

Saturday, July 09, 2016

#3913 - Bacon Wrapped Meatballs

(by Shirley McNevich)

3lbs. ground chuck
3 eggs
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup 4C Italian bread crumbs
1 TBSP minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped onions (more or less to your taste)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
other spices (to your taste)
1lb. good quality bacon
marinara sauce OR BBQ sauce

Cover a jelly roll pan (flat pan with a lip) with foil and spray the foil with Pam. In a bowl add ground chuck, eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, bread crumbs, minced garlic, chopped onions, salt, pepper, oregano and basil--mix with your hands until combined. Form the meat mixture into 12 - 2" meatballs. Open the bacon--find the middle point of the slab of bacon. Using a sharp knife start at the top/middle of the bacon and slice all the way to the bottom (vertically) to make half slices of bacon. Wrap one meatball with one half slice of bacon, then turn the meatball 1/4 and wrap with a second half slice of bacon. Place the bacon wrapped meatball (bacon seams down) on to the foil lined jelly roll pan. Repeat with all meatballs. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until meatballs are done and bacon is crispy. Carefully pour off extra grease. Serve with marinara sauce or BBQ sauce.

Friday, July 08, 2016

#3912 - Grilled Marinated Shrimp Skewers

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 minced garlic cloves
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 TBSP chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2lbs. fresh shrimp
bamboo skewers
Old Bay seasoning (optional)

Wash, peel and devein the shrimp. In a large bowl add minced garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, red wine vinegar, chopped basil, salt, and cayenne pepper--mix well. Add the shrimp to the bowl--toss to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Carefully thread the shrimp on the skewers and place them on a pre-heated outdoor grill. DISCARD the marinade left in the bowl. Cook the skewers 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the shrimp are done. Optional: when you place the shrimp skewers on the grill, lightly sprinkle Old Bay on the tops of the shrimp, then repeat after you turn the shrimp.

Thursday, July 07, 2016

#3911 - Fresh Parmesan Green Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. fresh green beans
2 TBSP chopped onions (more if you wish)
2 TBSP chopped garlic
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. salt
fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Place the green beans in a pot--cover them with water and add the salt. Cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Once boiling, turn heat back to low and simmer them for 10 minutes. Drain the green beans and immediately rinse them with cold water. In a bowl add chopped onions, chopped garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil--stir to mix. Place the cooled green beans in a serving dish and drizzle the vinegar mixture over the green beans--carefully toss to coat. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Remove the cover and sprinkle with fresh grated Parmesan cheese to serve.

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

#3910 - Watermelon Tomato Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

5 large tomatoes (cut into bite sized cubes)
1 small seedless watermelon (cut into bite sized cubes)
1 tsp. salt + extra
1/4 cup olive oil
2 TBSP cider vinegar
fresh ground black pepper
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
dried basil (for sprinkling)

In a large plastic bowl add the cubed tomatoes and cubed watermelon--toss carefully to combine. Sprinkle 1 tsp. salt over the top. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes. In a small bowl add the olive oil and cider vinegar--whisk to mix. Add salt, pepper and dried basil to your taste--mix well. Drain off all of the liquid from the watermelon mixture and discard the liquid. Add the feta cheese to the watermelon mixture--toss to combine. Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the whole thing--toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

#3909 - Greek Salad Dressing

(by Shirley McNevich)

3/4 cup olive oil
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. dried basil
1 1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

In a blender add olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, dried basil, pepper, salt, onion powder and Dijon mustard--beat well. Pour the mixture into a glass bottle with a lid and add the red wine vinegar--screw on the lid and shake well before using.

Monday, July 04, 2016

#3908 - Deviled Egg Potato Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 1/2 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes (peeled and cut into 1" pieces)
salt
pepper
1 cup mayo
3 TBSP French's yellow mustard
6 hard boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)
3 celery ribs plus some of the celery leaves (chopped)
1/3 cup chopped parsley (less if you wish)
4oz. jar pimentos (drained and chopped; optional)
paprika

Place the potato pieces in a pot and cover them with water and add 1 tsp. salt--bring to a boil, then cook until tender. Drain well. In a large bowl add mayo and mustard--stir. Add chopped eggs, chopped celery/leaves, chopped parsley and chopped pimentos--stir. Add salt/pepper to your taste--stir. Taste--if too sour, add some white sugar and stir again until you like the flavor. Add drained potatoes--toss to coat. Place whole mixture into a serving dish, then sprinkle paprika all over the top. Cover and refrigerate until cold. Optional: if you like onions in your potato salad, add them at the same time as the parsley.

Sunday, July 03, 2016

#3907 - Dove Ice Cream Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 pint good quality vanilla ice cream
12oz. Dove Promises milk chocolates (unwrapped)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
popsicle sticks
sea salt

Place the pint of ice cream in the coldest part of your freezer until it is rock hard. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper. Run some hot water in a tall glass, and place a sharp knife into the glass (so the blade gets hot). Remove the ice cream from the freezer, remove the top and place the pint of ice cream on its side on a cutting board. Cut the pint in half (through the carton and the ice cream), then cut each in half again so you end up with 4 round ice cream slices (still with the carton on them). Place them on the wax paper and place back in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove the tray from the freezer again, remove the carton pieces from each slice, place a popsicle stick into each slice, then put them back in the freezer. Fill a small pot halfway with water, and bring the water to a boil. Turn the heat back to simmer. Place a glass bowl on top of the pot and add the unwrapped Dove chocolates and the vegetable oil--stir until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat, place it on a pot holder, and let it cool to room temperature. Once chocolate is cooled, stir it again. Dip each of the ice cream slices into the melted chocolate until coated, place them back on the wax paper and sprinkle a little sea salt on each. Return them to the freezer until solid (at least an hour).

Saturday, July 02, 2016

#3906 - Strawberry Lemonade Pops

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 12oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate
3 cups Sprite soda (cold)
16oz. frozen sliced strawberries

In a large bowl add the lemonade concentrate and the Sprite--stir well. In a blender add the frozen strawberries--puree until smooth. If you have trouble with the puree getting too thick and not blending, add some of the lemonade mixture to the blender to thin it out. Add the strawberry puree to the lemonade mixture--mix well. Ladle the mixture into popsicle molds, then freeze until set. If you don't have popsicle molds, fill paper cups 2/3 full with the mixture, freeze for 1 hour (or until slushy), then place popsicle sticks in the centers and freeze until hard. If you don't want to make popsicles, place the mixture into ice cube trays (and freeze them), then serve the ice cubes in regular lemonade.

Friday, July 01, 2016

#3905 - Vanilla Cream Soda

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups white sugar
1 cup water
1 TBSP PURE vanilla extract (more if you wish)
seltzer water (chilled)
Half 'n Half (chilled)
ice cubes

In a saucepan over medium heat add the water and white sugar--cook/stir until sugar dissolves, then cook/stir until boiling and the liquid turns clear. Remove from heat--cool the mixture for 5 minutes. Add the pure vanilla extract--stir well. Pour the mixture into a plastic container with a snap-on lid. Put the lid on, then refrigerate until cold. When ready to serve, place 3 TBSP of the chilled vanilla mixture into a 12oz. glass. Add ice cubes, 8oz. of cold seltzer water, and a dash of cold Half 'n Half--stir.