Joan Reeves: May 2025

Saturday Share Recipe - Blueberry Crumble Bake

I love blueberries, that super fruit that is so good for your brain and other crucial parts of the human body.

I buy a carton of them every time I shop. Mostly I eat them fresh, but sometimes I make a blueberry dessert with them—a take on blueberry pie but instead of a double pie crust, I make a crumble crust.

This is a pie you can easily make if traditional pastry crust frustrates you.

I reduced the amount of sugar that was originally called for in this old recipe because it was too sweet to us.

Actually, I've done this with a lot of old recipes. I guess since we don't eat much sweets many of them taste too sweet when made according to the original recipe.

By the way, if you use AP flour, add 1 tablespoon of baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt.

BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE BAKE

Serves 8-10.

Crust Ingredients

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

2 1/2 cups self-rising flour

1 3/4 cups sugar

3 sticks of butter

Filling Ingredients

3 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

2 cups chopped pecans (or your favorite nut or omit completely)

3/4 cup brown sugar (can use white)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176.7°C)

2. Prepare crust by mixing all ingredients together. Mixture will be crumbly.

3. Divide crust dough into 2 pieces. Line bottom and sides of baking dish (either 10 inch pie plate or 9x13 inch dish). Press dough to a quarter inch thickness.

4. Prepare filling by mixing all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into the crust-lined dish.

5. Crumble the remaining dough crust into pieces over the filling.

6. Bake for 15 minutes then raise the temperature to 375°F (190.5°C) and bake for 15 minutes more or until golden brown.

Serve hot or cold.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you make this, let me know if you think the sweetness level is good. Leave a comment or email me.

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Language of Medical Prescriptions

Doctors may no longer handwrite prescriptions, but they still use the Latin words in the prescription.

If you've been mystified by obscure abbreviations in prescriptions and wondered why doctors don't write a prescription in plain English, this post if for you.

I blogged about this many years ago so I'm happy to disclose the secret language of prescriptions once again.

No need to be puzzled by the esoteric words any longer. Just print and save the chart below.

Here is the Rx, which, by the way, means recipe in Latin, to understand what your doctor is telling your pharmacist.

PRESCRIPTION TRANSLATIONS FROM LATIN TO ENGLISH

Rx (prescription) = recipe

a.c. = ante cibum = before meals

p.c. = post cibum = after meals

č = cum = with

Ꞩ = sine = without (Symbol is Latin upper case S with line thru it.)

d = dies = day

b.i.d. = bis in die = 2 times a day

t.i.d. = ter in die - 3 times a day

q.i.d. = qauter in die = 4 times a day

p.r.n. = pro re nata = as needed

h.s. = hora somni = bedtime

O.D. = oculo dextro = right eye

O.S. = oculo sinistro = left eye

O.U. = oculo utro = in each eye

p.o. = per os = by mouth

git = gutta = drop

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Seriously, it's to your benefit if you know what those abbreviations in prescriptions mean. I hope this helps.

By the way, laughter is the best medicine. I prescribe a reading of THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE, on sale for only 99¢.

THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

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Review - The Dry on Tubi

Looking for a movie packed full of surprises? Try THE DRY, an Australian thriller starring Eric Bana, directed by Robert Connolly, with a screenplay by Connolly and Harry Cripps.

The film is based on the novel by Jane Harper and also stars Genevieve O'Reilly, Keir O'Donnell, and John Polson.

It's available on some subscription services, i.e. Acorn, Sundance Now, and AMC+ and for rent on others. Lucky for you, it's available to stream free on my favorite free service, Tubi.

The film was released in Australia in 2021, received positive reviews from critics, and made its way to the U.S.

Since this is a series of books based on the main character, Aaron Falk, portrayed so well by Bana, that a movie squel also starring Bana was produced and released last year.

I'm looking for it on the streaming services. The sequel, The Dry 2, is based on the second book of the series, Force of Nature.

ABOUT THE DRY

Australian federal agent Aaron Falk returns to his drought-stricken home town to attend a funeral for one of his high school buddies. Falk left the town immediately after high school, under a cloud of suspicion that he had killed a girl who was part of their friends group.

Stalwart and determined, he senses something is wrong with the official verdict of his friend's death. Somehow, his death may be tied to the girl's death years ago. Now in law enforcement, he doggedly pursues the truth.

MY TAKE ON THE MOVIE

The movie has layers that peel away like an onion to reveal the secrets and lies in what seems like a peaceful town. The atmosphere is ike a slow fuse burning that eventually ignites a powder keg of violence. One surprise after another builds the suspense. Just when you think you've got it figured out, you'll learn you're wrong.

Eric Bana is superb in this role.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for an intelligent story with "real" people, not a super hero rehash, watch THE DRY. Leave a comment and let me know how you like it.

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Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Wasting Time and Wounding Infinity

Lest you think I've been wasting time and shirking my usual tasks, allow me to assure you that Life has been frantic since late April.

Despite my good intentions—yeah, yeah, I know those are the paving stones on the road to Hell—I've let some important tasks fall by the wayside.

Life got complicated by trying to squeeze in all of our annual doctor appointments, check frequently on property we're selling in another county, line up electricians and painters for our home in Houston, and two out of town high school graduations.

Next on the agenda is my semi-annual sibling reunion in another state. Everything was taking a lot of time, but I had everything scheduled and was crossing each item off the list, but things got a little complicated.

We got home only yesterday, and we're now packing to leave for a funeral in West Texas. When I get home next week, I will immediately pack so I can meet my brothers for our reunion.

TIME IS PRECIOUS

I kind of feel as if I'm running a marathon. When I have a publishing deadline—yes! I'm trying to finish that book that keeps getting out of reach—and I'm not writing, I get overwhelmed and anxious. I keep chanting my affirmation: "I have all the time I need to do all the things I want." I hope.

I think the next time I buy a laptop I'm going to try to find one that has a daylgiht-readable monitor because I spend so much time traveling by car—the motto for Texas should be "The Road Warrior State"—that I'd like to utilize that time while Darling Hubby drives.

I do have some blogs written and scheduled to entertain you while I'm gone so feel free to drop by SlingWords.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Never say, "I'm just killing time." Wasting time has an impact on the infinite nature of existence. That's what Thoreau meant when he wrote in Walden, "As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."

OLD ENOUGH TO BE BOLD

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Review - Nonnas on Netflix

If you're looking for a delightful, heartwarming movie about a man chasing an impossible dream, you need to watch NONNAS, a Netflix exclusive.

First though, pour a glass of good red wine and get some hearty Italian bread and a dish of excellent extra virgin olive oil with some fresh minced herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary added to it.

The movie is chockablock with mouthwatering Italian pasta dishes, rich red sauce, meatballs, and other Italian dishes that are to die for.

You'll be sipping that wine and dipping the bread in the oil as you watch this delightful movie starring Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Cardellini, and Susan Sarandon.

Based on a the life of Joe Scaravella, the owner of Staten Island (NYC) restaurant Enoteca Maria, the comedy-drama film was directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Liz Maccie.

The story is how Mr. Scaravella, played by Vaughn, risked everything he had to honor his beloved mother who had passed. His idea was to open an Italian restaurant with actual grandmothers, or nonnas, as chefs.

He grew up eating his mother's cooking who was using her mother's recipes. Joe thinks grandmothers, the nonnas, were the only ones who could deliver the wonderful food that would honor his mother and grandmother.

The film—rated PG because of suggestive content, language, etc. which is too bad because it would be a great family movie—was released on Netflix on May 9, 2025, Mother's Day weekend in the U.S. and hit No. 1.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Definitely put this on your list to watch. Darling Hubby and I loved the movie. As soon as it was over, we headed to the kitchen for bread, dipping oil, and wine. Deliziosa!

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Monday Magic - YouTube Trick - Loop Video

My blogs about YouTube Tricks are proving popular.

Here are the preceding ones:

Go To Specific Part of Video

and

Change Where YouTube Starts

Today, I offer you a trick you'll love if you like to replay a video over and over. I do this with music videos I love. Today, I offer you...

YouTube Trick - Loop A Video

This one is so easy that I should have figured it out a long time ago.

1. When playing a video, simply right click inside the video as it plays.

2. A menu will open with several selections. The first one is LOOP. Click the LOOP selection.

3. When the video finishes, it will restart at the beginning.

The complete list of selections in that popup menu are:

Loop

Copy video URL

Copy video URL at current time

Copy enbed Code

Copy debug info

Troubleshoot playback issue

Stats for nerds.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I love to save time so I collect tips and tricks that help me do that. If these tricks help you, let me know with a comment. Have a great week!

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Happy Mother's Day

Mother, Mom, Mama, Momsy, Ma—by whatever name you call her, just make sure you call her today if you can't see her in person.

This is what you should tell her.

I love you, Mom. I know you did your best for me, and I'll do my best for you to show that your love and guidance helped me become a good person.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Happy Mother's Day to all who have loved a child and did her best to raise a compassionate, intelligent, unselfish adult who sows seeds of kindenss wherever he or she may go.

Saturday Share - Dishwasher Rinse Aids

If you're wondering why today's post is about dishwasher rinse aids, I'll explain.

In watching a video about environmental health concerns, I mentioned it to my daughter. She asked, "Did they mention Jet Dry?"

I didn't know there was a controversy about Jet Dry and other dishwasher rinse aids. I immediately went to Google and was surprised by what I found.

CONTROVERSIAL INGREDIENTS

"The main controversy surrounding Jet Dry revolves around the possibility of residue remaining on dishes and the health implications of some of its ingredients."

Well, I've smelled Jet Dry on dishes which of course suggests that it's not completely rinsed away.

The other concerns are about the safety of ingredients like alcohol ethoxylate and glycol ether which are listed as possible components of Jet Dry's surfactants. Yes, possible, since the exact ingredients are top secret I guess.

Share this post with your family.

So if you have ever smelled Jet Dry or other rinse aids on your "clean" dishes or thought a dish had a soapy taste, you should be concerned especially if you have sensitive skin.

Some other concerns are that rinse aid residue may damage the intestinal barrier.

Now, Proctor and Gamble have stated that alcohol ethoxylate is safe, "some sources suggest that glycol ether, another potential surfactant, can be harmful, including causing birth defects."

Just as ingredients in foods are vague, i.e., "natural flavors," so are ingredients in popular cleaning products. How are we to make an intelligent decision on what we use if we don't know the possible ramifications of ingredients?

The debate about the safety of these products continues, but I decided to take the safer route and eliminate them from my dishwasher.

ALTERNATIVES

At this time, there are only 2 real options to using rinse aids.

1. Stop using them and see if you can live with possibly "spotty" glasses and plates.

2. Instead of using rinse aids, fill the dishwasher dispenser with ordinary white vinegar which will be dispensed as if it were rinse aid.

I chose to try the white vinegar alternative. So far, I haven't had a problem with the end result.

WHY THIS MATTERS

We take things for granted. We live in a chemical world, consuming food and beverages with ingredients that can have devastating effects on our health and using cleaning products that may have the potential to harm humans.

Is it any surprise that cancer and auto-immune diseases are rampant in our country?

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Let's question more and make smarter decisions about everything we put in our bodies, on our bodies, and in our environments.

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Review - The Beekeeper Streaming Online

When I saw the trailer for The Beekeeper 2, I was prompted to review the first movie, same title minus the 2. Actually, I thought I'd already done this, but I couldn't find it on the blog.

The film is streaming free for subscribers on Amazon Prime, Roku, MGM, and YouTube Premium. You can also rent it on Amazon, Apple, and probably a few other places too.

To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed by the movie. It had some good parts, some unique ways to kill people, and some elements that made you wonder if it was inspired by the previous President's son's cocaine escapade in the White House.

In any event, here are my thoughts on this action movie starring Jason Statham, an actor known for high concept thrilling action movies. You'll also see Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi Minnie Driver, Jeremy Irons, Jemma Redgrave, and Phylicia Rashad along with many others in the cast.

So far, I don't believe he's outdone the first Transporter movie which had unqiue fight sequences and, dare I say, comedy? Each of his films seems to get more violent than the previous one. I guess it's Art imitating our increasingly violent times.

In The Beekeeper, the premise is an emotional one that's a hot button issue in our contemporary world: senior citizens victimized by online thieves intent on lining their own pockets—corporations with huge call centers—and stealing everything the elderly may have saved.

Every good action film needs an emotional reason for the violence. Right? That way we can root for the guy visiting justice on the evil-doers. In this movie, it's another "cut off the head of the snake" story where all who created the asset-stealing crooks must pay the piper.

That's all I need to say about the film because I don't want to give spoilers about the set pieces and how The Beekeeper goes about getting justice. In this case, Statham teaches all involved that "Crime does not pay." Especially if someone he loves is the victim in that scheme.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I won't say this is a feel good movie, but if you like high-octane action flicks with an emotionally resonant reason for the violence, you'll probably enjoy The Beekeeper. With the sequel on the horizon, this first flick will tell you if you'd like the second.

OLD ENOUGH TO BE BOLD

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Monday Magic - YouTube Trick - Change Start Page

Good Monday Morning! Ready for a little Tech Magic?

If you're like me and have Subscriptions to dozens of YouTube channels, do you still start YouTube with the Home Page opening?

That takes time, doesn't it?

There's an easier way to get going with YouTube by going straight to your Subscriptions page, and it's easy to do.

CHANGE HOME PAGE TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS PAGE

1. When you click on YouTube, it opens automatically at the Home Page. Go to the link displayed in the browser, which will be https://www.youtube.com and add this bit of code to that link:

/feed/subscriptions

which results in this URL:

https://www.youtube.com/feed/subscriptions

Now, with that URL displaying, bookmark it. Next time you go to YouTube, go to your bookmarks, click the one you made for YouTube, and the website will open on your Subscriptions page.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

A minute saved is a minute earned—or something to that effect. Have a great Monday!

THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

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Sunday Thought - Change

I guess it's part of the human condition that no one seems to like change. I guess it's because we feel safe in our present circumstances.

Even when people are in bad situations, they cling to the status quo rather than change.

Socrates—yes, that ancient Greek—said, "The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new."

Yes, change is often inevitable. Would we better off not fighting it? Perhaps we'd be better to analyze the impending change to ascertain whether it will be bad or good before we start fighting against it.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I guess it's like the Serenity Prayer of bygone days. "God grant me the ability to accept the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things that can be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Saturday Share Recipe - Baked Pork Chops and Rice

Recently I came across my Mom's recipe for Baked Pork Chops and Rice.

I remember this main dish because it was the first time my Mom used Cream of Mushroom Soup, a shortcut for her since she made everything from scratch.

The dish was a big hit tastewise for the family and time-saving for her. It's easy to put together and serves 6 hungry people.

In today's world when it seems pork is less expensive than beef—at least that's how it is in Texas—it may offer savings on a family's food budget.

BAKED PORK CHOPS AND RICE

Ingredients

Seasoning Mix for 6 Chops

3 teaspoons salt

1-2 teaspoons ground black pepper, to your taste

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teapoons celery seeds

2 teaspoons Tony Chacere's No Salt Creole Seasoning

6 pork chops

1 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon of butter

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 large onion, chopped

1 1/2 cup rice, uncooked

3 cups water

Large skillet or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Mix the soup and water together in a large measuring cup or bowl. Blend well.

2. Wash the chops. I encourage you to always wash meat you purchase. Many supermarket meat departments no longer properly clean cut meats which is why you can find bone residue on chops, steaks, and roasts.

3. Pat the chops dry.

4. Sprinkle the seasoning mix on both sides of the chops.

5. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet.

6. Add the chops to the heated pan and brown on each side. Remove for now.

7. Add the onion to the pan and saute until light brown. Remove for now.

8. Add the rice and saute until light brown.

9. Return the onion to the pan and stir with the rice. Add the chops back in the pan and arrange evenly over the rice and onion.

10. Pour the soup mixture over everything, cover the pan with the lid, and place in pre-heated oven. Bake 40-45 minutes or until rice is done.

All you need is something green to complete this meal.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Cooking at home is fun. Get your family involved in making delicious, healthier meals than you can get with takeout or even most restaurant food that may contain ingredients harmful to health.

The Trouble With Love

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99¢ Sale for May - The Trouble With Love

May sneaked up on me. I've been so busy writing to finish OLD ENOUGH TO BE BOLD , now on pre-order at Amazon, and trying to pack up my office because painters are scheduled.

I'm afraid I lost track of some things I should have done in April—like sending my newsletter to subscribers and blogging each day.

I hope to get my April newsletter out to subscribers by Sunday. (I'll mark that task as "Better late than never.")

I'm trying to get ahead of the curve on the writing, and the blogging will take care of itself.

May is going to be a frantic month. We have a couple of high school graduations and 2 out of town trips. Then there are the painting, landscaping, and a few other projects to wrap up.

I'm afraid some of these things will carry over into June, and new projects will be added to the list. But let's get to the 99¢ sale.

MAY 99 CENT SALE

THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE went on sale yesterday, and this book is also on Kindle Unlimited for you subscribers.

Please leave a review. The competition grows fiercer every day. Authors need a lot of good reviews to make it in today's world.

Susannah Quinn is a by-the-book Texas deputy who's about to have her life turned upside down! When the tall, dark, and too-darn-yummy FBI Special Agent D.E. Hogan strolls into the Sheriff's office, battle lines are drawn. To her consternation, she finds herself in a steamy battle of the sexes—and a battle of wills—that's hotter than a bowl of Texas chili!

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'm looking forward to the weekend, and you probably are too. Here's wishing you good weather—none of that scary stuff involving storms—and relaxation. Get a fun book and your weekend will be complete.

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