Only in New York...

Can you find someone playing bagpipes in the park.


Can you find a lake THIS big...in a park!

(...big enough to row boats on!)

Only in New York can you find traffic lights...in a park
eat the BEST Artichoke Pizza!!

Sink the "Titanic!"
watch my son officially become a "DOCTOR"
hug my FAVORITE baby!...and spend time with my favorite people!
Congratulations Bryan and Bre!!
...And WELCOME HOME!

Ouch!

About two weeks ago, I woke up with  canker sores on the bottom of my mouth.  They appeared out of nowhere and have continued to spread all over my mouth.  I just get a few of them healed and new ones appear.  I think I am on the last set.  (I hope!)  

I get canker sores when I eat oranges, strawberries, pineapple, tomatoes, nuts (including peanut m & m's!) and sugar.  I even get them when I go to the dentist.  (always around the tooth he works on.)

I have tried a number of things, and some of them help to shorten the duration of them, but does anyone know anything that will help PREVENT them?  Summer is coming and I am looking forward to all the fruits and vegetables in my garden, but these canker sores are a high price to pay for enjoying the bounties of the season.  Any suggestions?

Oatmeal Carmelites

Don't let the title fool you...I know they have "oatmeal" in them, but these are not really a healthy dessert.  They are however, a delicious treat and are easy to make!  (You can make it even easier by substituting the caramels and the cream with a 16 oz. bottle of "Mrs. Richardson's" Carmel Butterscotch topping or "Nestle's" Dulce de leche.)  They both work great!  These will keep in an air tight container for about three days and they freeze really well! 

I hope you like them. 

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
• 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 14 oz. pkg. light caramels, unwrapped
• 1/3 cup light cream
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips  (you can also use milk chocolate)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (my kids don't like nuts, so I omit these when I am making them for my family)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9-inch pan and set aside. In large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, soda and salt and blend. Add melted butter and mix until crumbly. Reserve half of crumb mixture (about 3 cups) for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of greased pan.

In a small bowl, combine caramels and cream. Heat in microwave oven for 4-6 minutes on 50% power, stirring twice during cooking, until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth.

Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over reserved crust. Drizzle evenly with melted caramel mixture and sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Cut into bars.