When my grandchildren were young, my annual visit included strollers, diapers, playground swings, and naps—now they're all teenagers except Ansley, the seven year old. This year we listened to music, went to Caleb's basketball game, cropped digital pictures, watched a little football on the TeeVee, compared braces, and shopped. I love this time of their lives.

Caleb is tall, handsome, charming and plays a mean game of basketball. Mary Elizabeth is bright and beautiful, with a mass of dark, curly hair. Katie is small-boned, intelligent, well-read and can tame any electronic device. Syd, lean and athletic, is a good cook, rides horses, and has a beautiful smile. Lauren is warm and vivacious, loves people and has hair to die for. Ansley, the baby, has a quick mind and the face of an angel.

Ronnie, the dad, always takes us on an adventure—usually featuring a precarious water feature. This year the setting was urban and much tamer. The day started in a downtown Knoxville coffee house with a live broadcast featuring bluegrass music and Pokey LaFarge. Then on to a picnic lunch at the Market Square and the Knoxville Art Museum.

From the left: Syd, Ansley, Mary Elizabeth, Katie, Gramma, and Lauren



Caleb



Pokey LaFarge, Lauren, Katie and Caleb



Bridget at the museum

Pokey LaFarge

We ate extremely well: creamy chicken chili, spicy beef chili, and corn muffins one night. And specially for Jon the birthday boy, we ended our day at Dollywood with the full round of a Lebanese dinner crowned with carrot cake. During our long weekend we ate Lara's Tastees and grape rolls, Bridget's kibbee and Amish Friendship bread and my late evening snack of burritos. Each year after I return from my trip, I am so thankful for my children, their families, and the lives they have built. 

Amish Friendship Bread
Put starter in plastic bowl with a lid (do not use metal bowl). Do not refrigerate.
Day 1: Do Nothing 
Day 2, 3, 4: Stir with wooden spoon 
Day 5: Add—1 c. flour, 1 c. sugar, 1 c. milk. 
Day 6, 7, 8, 9: Stir with a wooden spoon.
Day 10: Add: 1 c. flour, 1 c. sugar, 1 c. milk

On day 10, make the bread. First, after adding the ingredients pour off three one-cup starters. Keep one for yourself and give the other two to friends. Pour remaining batter into a large bowl and add the following:
2/3 c. oil
2 c. flour
2/3 c. sugar
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
3 eggs
1 ½ t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
½ c. milk
½ t. salt
½ t. baking soda
1 c. nuts
1 t. vanilla
Mix well, pour into two well-oiled large loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pan. Add more or less cinnamon to taste, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, nuts, raisins, currants, dates, chopped prunes, or apricots if desired. Freezes well.


Bridget’s Kibbee
• 3 lbs. ground beef chuck roast
• 2 c. #1 bulgur wheat
• ½ cup cold water
• 1 cup finely chopped onions
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. allspice
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ cup pine nuts
• 2 Tbs. minced garlic

Soak bulgur in cold water for one hour. Squeeze to drain water.

Brown ½ lb. ground meat with onion, pine nuts, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Reserve.

Combine ground meat, squeezed bulgur, 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. white pepper. Put through meat grinder twice. Add cold water and knead for five minutes. Divide meat/bulgur combination in half and layer one half in 8x8 baking pan. Spread browned ground beef, onion, pine nut, spice mixture over meat/bulgur. Spread remaining meat/bulgur on top, pressing down firmly.

Cut diamond shapes into top of mixture. Pour 2 Tbs olive oil/2 Tbs. melted butter on top. Bake covered for 30 minutes at 375˚ and uncovered for 15 minutes more. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Lara's Tastees
• 1 c. salad oil
• 1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (dry)
• 2 Tbs. dill weed
• 2 tsp. lemon pepper
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
• 16 oz. small unsalted oyster crackers

Mix first 5 ingredients together and let sit for 10 minutes. Place oyster crackers in large bowl and add the mixture to the crackers. Mix well. Stir every 5 minutes until the oil is absorbed. These make great croutons.