CLODHOPPERS

Finally, winter is almost behind us and we are looking forward to Spring, Snowdrops, daffodils, forsythia and pussy willows are all heralding the warmer weather in my garden.

With recession in the wind, something has been brewing in my mind. My mother arrived in Canada in 1918 at the beginning of the Depression. She came over to work and save some money to send to her parents to help them get out of debt. They were hard working farmers, but as hard as they worked, they could never pay off their debts. Mom being the oldest child, she came over with her cousin as a picture bride. To land in Canada, she had to go through marriage vows in Victoria with a cousin who was only 17. They had no intention of marrying, but it was the only way to enter Canada.

Having lived with hardship, she can never throw anything away if it can be reused. Following in her footsteps, I can never throw anything away either. The plastic bags are washed and our children mocked me for being stingy. Now the motto is REUSE, RECYCLE, RETURN.

Two things I have been doing for a long time is cutting the dishwashing Electrosol tablet in half (I read it in a magazine) and the dishes come out just as clean as the whole tablet. Another is cutting the BOUNCE dryer sheets in half and it does the same job. A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned!

Now for a wonderful recipe I acquired before Christmas. It’s called CLODHOPPERS. I tasted it about two years ago on an airplane and loved it! It is SO EASY to make and everyone raves about it and wants the recipe.

CLODHOPPERS
2 cups vanilla wafers
1 teaspoon oil
Melt the above in a large glass bowl in the microwave for 3 minutes.
Add 4 cups of Golden Grahams (honey Graham Cereal)
Mix and put on a waxed papered cooking tray in small clumps and refrigerate till hardened.

It’s Addictive!

Another sweet along the same lines:

TRAIL MIX CLUSTERS
These delicious treats make wonderful gifts.
2 cups (12 ounces) semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup salted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cashews
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried cherries or blueberries

In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth
Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets.
Refrigerate until firm. Store in the refrigerator.