I make these with sugar snap peas too. SNOW PEAS WITH ORANGE 1 tsp. vegetable oil, preferably canola oil 1 tsp. finely chopped garlic grated zest of 1 orange 1/2 lb. snow peas, stems & strings removed (3 cups) 2 Tbsp. orange juice salt & freshly ground pepper to taste Heat oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and orange zest and cook, stirring, until golden, about 30 seconds. Add snow peas and orange juice. Cover and cook until the peas are tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover the pan and cook until the juices thicken slightly, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 4.

Peach Jam With Brown Sugar and Rum Makes 6 half pints 6 cups frozen peach slices, thawed (I used fresh) 2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar 6 tablespoons strained fresh lemon juice (2 lemons) 3/4 cup dark rum, preferably Jamaican (divided) 2 cups granulated sugar Wash 6 half-pint jars and keep hot until needed. Prepare the lids as manufacturer directs. Combine the peaches with the brown sugar, lemon juice and about half of the rum in a large pot and stir the mixture well. Stir well, cover and refrigerate overnight. Pour the fruit mixture into large, heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover the pan, reduce the heat and simmer until the fruit chunks start turning translucent, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring several times. If the jam becomes too thick before the fruit clarifies, add 2 or 3 tablespoons water. Add the granulated sugar and cook the jam rapidly over medium-high heat, stirring almost constantly, until a spoonful placed on a chilled saucer and refrigerated for a few moments wrinkles instead of running when the saucer is tilted sharply. (Remove the pot from the heat while testing.) Stir in the remaining rum and cook the jam for 2 minutes, stirring. Ladle the boiling-hot jam into 1 hot jar at a time, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe the rim with a clean, damp cloth. Attach the lid. Fill and close the remaining jars. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner. -- Adapted from "Fancy Pantry" by Helen Witty (Sharon Maasdam) *Note: For Mango Jam use 6 cups peeled, chopped firm-ripe mangos and 6 tablespoons strained fresh lime juice in lieu of the lemon Nancy Carol (Readinglady) also posted this and swears it is wonderful!

yarrow, the fact that you are persevering through a difficult situation, indicates that you are a woman worthy of respect. And your statements that you are struggling and feeling unworthy of the challenge, makes you human. I agree with the others that you (and your DH) desperately need a support group of others who are dealing with similar challenges. You can encourage one another, and just to have those people to be able to call when you desperately need a friend who understands (because they are walking in your shoes) is vital. On line help can be helpful, but it will never take the place of real people who can give you a shoulder to cry on, and a hug. 2. If it were me, I would also sit down with DH, and (quietly, without yelling) tell him that everything in me wants to give up and walk away from this situation, and yet, I would explain that I cared about him, and knew that it would be a tremendous struggle for him to go it alone. I would say that I had three conditions to staying and supporting him and helping him to raise his son. A. Could he talk privately to his mother, and explain that her critical spirit (comments) and attitude has created a situation where you simply want to give up, and walk away. He needs to explain to her that you need her unwaivering support, encouragement, and friendship. She needs to understand that if his marriage fails, that it will come down to he and his mother raising this boy with so many needs. He needs her to understand that he loves you, and he expects her to give you encouragement, kindness, and support so that he does not find himself struggling on his own to raise his son. He should also let her know that he appreciates her help and love for this child. So many grandparents today are doing their own thing, and not helping with their grandchildren, and she needs to hear that he is grateful for her help. Everyone needs to feel appreciated. B. Then you and your DH need to schedule a meeting with this boys doctor, and a counselor (even if by telephone if out of the area) who specializes in guiding parents through parenting issues that are unique to autistic families, such as disapline, setting routines, diet, etc. and come up with a very concrete parenting plan. For many of us, it does not seem right to spank a child who is fundamentally unable to understand, or control behavior. It seems cruel somehow. And I say this, not judging you, because I imagine that you are trying to parent as best you can in a difficult situation. And perhaps that is why your husband may tell you to do this, but may not be able to handle it because at some level he feels it is cruel too. And yet you have very frustrating problems to deal with, from the boys behavior, that would stretch many beyond their limits. So pay a counselor for an hour or two of their time, to help you understand how you should handle discipline with this child. You may also want to talk to a specialist(s) at your sons school to find how they discipline autistic students at school, and any others questions you and your husband have. Then the two of you should come up with a firm game plan, and sit down with his mom, and explain the game plan, the diet that will be followed "exactly" and why, and that you need her full commitment to following the plan, because it is necessary that you all do everything you can to help this child, and the plan is to try everything the specialists recommend to try and give this boy a better life, which will help each of you as well. Perhaps his mother should be included at the doctors visits so that she is very clear on why all of this is so important, and is in on the game plan. 3. And last, think about your other two children, and your marriage. The other two need "fun" time with just you at least once a week. It can be a simple as taking a walk, just the three of you and listening to them, without distractions. Reminding them of your love for them, and allowing them to talk about their feelings, and staying connected with them. And your marriage needs a date night at least twice a month, because it is so important. It sounds as though you love your man, and want to support him. I imagine that he too gets overwhelmed, and yet you are both doing your best, and you are both human. You both get tired, frustrated, and discouraged, and yet...together you have the ability to do this exceptional job of raising a boy whose needs are great. You have come this far! Pat each other on the back, and look at each other and tell one another how proud you are of the people you are, and are becoming. I believe that you must both be exceptional! Become each others best friend, and work together. P.S. Give yourself a break on those hard days, and remind yourself of all the good things about you, because you are one of those people who are willing to hang in there and persevere when the going gets tough! I respect that. Just get your support group together, even if you have to drive an hour to find them! They will become vital friends to have! We all wish you the best as you find your way. You will be awesome!

Lands Sakes!! I cyber shared and ya'll got in a fight over my Buckeyes!! ya knows I love all of you bestest!! Cynic...sorry too late...after spending two days in the kitchen with these things...Milk Choklit is what your getting...take it or leave it!! (and don't you dare wash them down with beer...you'll ruin the beer!) LOL!! Toni...since ND and Zipper are fighting over them...I'll just send them some coal...naughty naughty gals...you were sweet and can have all the cyber looking you want!! They've been a hit at work...and since work is where I first discovered them some 25 years ago...I feel I'm paying it forward...A women came on my plane around Christmas and brought each of us a plate of them...I begged and pleaded and she sent me her recipe...Here it is: (I'm forever thankful she followed through and actually sent it!) This was way before the days of internet and recipes are at our fingertips!! one pound of stick butter (I use margarine) 2 pounds of creamy peanut butter 2 pounds of sifted confectioners sugar 2 12 oz packages of semi sweet chocolate chips l/4 bar paraffin I melt the butter/margarine in the micro mix it in the creamy peanut butter sift in the confectioners sugar after awhile you're gonna have to start kneading it like bread to get it mixed up...yes I put on rubber gloves for this... After it holds consistency of a little rolled up ball...I put it in the frig for awhile to get chilled...maybe an hour or more Roll it out into balls...I put them on foil covered cardboard...set in refrigerator overnight...It helps keep their shape when dipping into the hot chocolate mixture the next day! The next day melt the semi sweet chocolate pieces with the l/4 bar of paraffin..I use my little crockpot...I think it's the reason I first bought a crockpot was to make these things! dip the peanut butter ball mixture with a toothpick in the chocolate shaking off excess chocolate (or not), leaving a small spot of peanut butter at the top! Sit them back onto the foil lined cardboard...Put them back in the frig to set...Store in ziploc bags...(I keep them in the frig till I'm ready to pass them on!! Pris...I'm only guessing here but I think someone with a buckeye tree in their yard thought it would be fun to make something like the things laying in her/his yard...They look just like these... ENJOY!! I know my co-workers, kids and neighbors are!! The picture is a double batch...about 300 balls!! The Divinity was a hit with my brother and arrived just in time for his birthday yesterday...I don't know how he ever got to be 70 years old cause we're only 16 years apart and I'm only 10!! Kay...I think my mom's recipe is pretty easy peasy...I copied it down as she was making it and teaching me how...She never used a candy thermometer and would only make it on a day when it was low humidity...nor did she have the recipe written down anywhere...no way no how I could do that...I went immediately and bought a candy thermometer and it's really the only thing I use it for...but my divinity comes out everytime! 2 l/2 Cup Sugar l/2 Cup light Corn Syrup (Karo) 2 egg whites l/2 Cup Water l/2 tsp salt l tsp vanilla In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, l/2 tsp salt and l/2 Cup Water...Cook to the hard ball stage stirring only till the sugar dissolves...(i take it off the burner right before it reaches the hard ball line on the candy thermometer...it stays softer longer...My mom just held up a spoonful and when dropping it back into the pan it would form a hair like stream...that's how she knew it was ready. Meanwhile... Beat egg whites to stiff peaks...(mom used a whisk and it took her forever...I use a mixer) Gradually pour the sugar mixture over the egg whites beating at high speed with your mixer..Add Vanilla and continue mixing until candy holds a shape...usually 4-5 minutes...(or in my case till my mixer starts smoking...LOL) Stir in crushed nuts...or not...I can't have nuts so I drop a few on waxed paper then add walnuts or peacans (a cup is plenty!) Drop by tsp onto waxed paper...store in ziploc bag... Enjoy!!