It is Thursday night! Have you looked outside? God's glory surrounds us! I just wanted to get in the car and drive and drive and drive. This reminds me of a time when Travis was in the Army and it had been my dad's birthday and Travis waited until it was too bad to travel safely but he had to back in Fort Hood by the next morning so he left. Left determined - but also left a very scared and worried young wife. We did not have cell phones back then so all we could do was trust he could make it. He tells us now that he jumped curbs, slid around corners, and doesn't to this day know how he made it back - except for the Grace of God. God is good!!
THIS WAS ALL WRITTEN THURSDAY EVENING AND I WAS TOO TIRED TO FINISH. NOW IT IS FRIDAY EVENING AND I WILL CONTINUE!
I know I have said: "WHAT A DAY" often - but today was truly one of those. My Mom,(remember 92) had a pacemaker "installed" today and everything went wonderfully well. They told her she is in great health -nothing else wrong - and I think that at 92 she might think something should be wrong -- but we are so thankful for her and acknowledge completely how blessed we are!! Thanks for the prayers too!!
Today at the hospital I saw a lady from church - she walked in and offered to help with my Mom and I recognized her and said "You'd better take good care of her." She was so sweet and said she wished she had known we were going to be there today. Of course I did not know where she worked but she is so precious and was so sweet to Mom. I was so proud to tell my Mom and sister that we go to church with her! Thanks Deanne!!!
I left off on Wednesday talking about beans and how healthy they are - great fiber, protein and filler. Let's talk about fiber tonight! According to studies the average American consumes only about 15 grams daily - definitely to the detriment of both our hearts and our waistlines. According to Dr. Ralph Clinque, one cup of cooked beans (or two thirds of a can -- Canned are ok - just don't seem as healthy) provide 12 grams of fiber -- not quite half the recommended daily amount needed (21 to 25 grams) per day for women and 30 to 38 grams for men. The difference in fiber content means that meat is digested fairly quickly, whereas beans are digested slowly, keeping you satisfied longer. Besides beans are low in sugar, which prevents insulin in the bloodstream from spiking and causing hunger! I know I have eaten some things and not long after - I am starving! Other times I can go for hours and hours without feeling hunger!! Hmmmm- guess there is something to this Fiber thing!! Eat some beans -- and here is a wonderful, old recipe we have had for years!! Arizona Beans - from a deceased Aunt from - where - well Arizona, of course!!!
1 Small pkg. dried pinto beans
1 onion, chopped
2 -3 cloves garlic - pressed or minced
2 to 3 tablespoons Tony Chesario - (can't spell it) or any good Cajun seasoning that is hot and spicy!)
Salt and pepper
1 or two whole jalapenos
Soak beans overnight, rinse and put on to boil with onion, jalapeno peppers, and garlic. (you can add meat but I don't because of FAT). Cook until begin to be fork tender and then add spices, salt and pepper to taste. At this point I like to take out whole jalapeno peppers (I once heard they absorb the gas) and add a chopped up one - or two. Continue to cook until tender like you like it -- and enjoy some great - hot beans!! Add this to my homemade (with Jiffy) cornbread (have you tried adding the vanilla yet? Believe me - it is good!!!! Anyway - together you already have a great meal!! WELL after this - you certainly deserve something sweet! How about a sweetheart of a cake - often made this time of the year -- no not especially for valentines - but for my birthday!! Tonight I got an email requesting this recipe and I was very, very honored because she is such an excellent cook too! THanks Charisse for the compliment!!!
STRAWBERRY JELLO CAKE
1 Pkg. Duncan Hines White Cake mix
1 small package strawberry jello
1/2 small carton frozen strawberries (reserve other half for icing!)
1/2 cup water
4 eggs
3/4 cup Canola oil
2 tsp. Vanilla flavoring
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13 X 9 pan.
Mix cake mix, strawberries, jello, water, eggs, oil and vanilla. Beat about 2 minutes at medium speed.
Pour into greased and floured pan. Bake for about 40 minutes - Test to be sure it is done. Allow to cool,.
Icing:
3/4 stick of butter, softened
1/2 carton strawberries
1 Box (or about 4 cups) powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
Mix all together until well blended. May add 1 Tablespoon milk for smoother consistency if needed. (I didn't have milk and used sour cream and it made a wonderful icing!!!!)
Spread on cake - and ENJOY!!
Now after that you need something sweet.
Hope this makes up for nothing last night! Have a blessed night and a wondeful and beautiful tomorrow! Trust in the Lord Always.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
ANOTHER SUCCESS - THANKS TO SOME GREAT HELPERS AND GOD'S GRACE
Wow - I think it was a winner -- the meal I planned and prepared tonight was awesome. Where could you get a meal of perfectly cooked prime rib type roast, large baked potato with all the trimmings, salad, rolls and choice of Strawberry cake or Red Velet cake for only $4.00? Thanks to those that looked me up and said they enjoyed it -- they are the ones that keep me going and make me thankful that I can share my love of cooking with them! Of course - credit is also due to Gwynn and Sue who took home a huge roast, seasoned it and cooked it all night - as I did. It is interesting how we each used our own creation and seasonings and the meat all tasted wonderful - and you could not distinguish one from the other!! Thanks ladies for a great job!!! Also - a special thanks to Pam and Harry - newcomers to Shiloh for coming and working diligently to make sure everything was as I wanted and did an outstanding job of helping clean up! Great team players and I am grateful to have them! Another thanks to Ruth - her artistic ability always shines brightest when she only has a few vases and flowers to work with. Great job on the tables!! Always a thanks to Travis and Michelle -- I am nothing without them! They are the "wind beneath my wings!" I sometimes (for an instant) get my feelings hurt when I hear someone throw a general "thank you guys" toward the kitchen - when I have worked my heart and soul out on every detail - or they shower all the praise on - say Travis -- but I have thought about that and rudely reminded myself of the scripture that says "Do all things in secret" -- and to slightly paraphrase -- or "if you tell it - you have your reward!" So humility Jon Carole - humility!
I promised information about beans! They are such protein enriched superfoods! They are much more than a meat substitute - the latest dietary guidelines recommend we triple our current intake to 3 cups a week! DO YOU GET YOURS? Beans are comparable to meat when it comes to protein, yet they really shine in terms of fiber and water content, two ingredients that make you feel fuller, faster. Adding beans to your diet help you cut calories without feeling deprived - plus many other health benefits!
I will give you more information tomorrow on the absolute need for beans and how they can help you loose weight, remain healthy and enjoy. So you say they make me feel bloated -- you know the old saying: "beans are the musical fruit - the more you eat, the more you -----! Don't think I will finish that little poem! But not so - if you eat just a few - for instance - if you are making a soup - or even a casserole - throw in a cup of beans -- make whatever you are cooking - healthier - with beans!!
Try this recipe - and I do have more for you!!
CRANBERRY BAKED BEANS
1 -16 oz. can cranberry sauce,jellied
1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce
2-31 oz. cans pork and beans, undrained
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard (what you have in the frig!}
1/2 Cup onion, chopped
6 slices bacon, halved
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
In a large bowl, combine cranberry sauce, tomato sauce, beans, mustard, and onion. (I would add some garlic - for sure). Place in a greased 13x8x2 baking dish. Lay bacon on top and then sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 12 to 16 servings.
Another interesting recipe: ROASTED GREEN BEANS
20 oz. fresh green beans
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss green beans with olive oil and sea salt. Spread out in a single layer on a flat pan (such as cookie sheet). Roast 10 minutes. Turn green beans over and roast another 10 minutes or until green beans are browned or just crispy!
That is the recipe and now my version: Add some garlic and a dash of cayenne pepper! I also do asparagus that way -- and it is WONDERFUL!!!
Ok - you have it for tonight! It has been a God "blessed day" and I thank everyone of you for being in it -- Stay tuned - if it is God's Will - more great info about beans and their benefits to our health and diet and more great "bean" recipes!
I promised information about beans! They are such protein enriched superfoods! They are much more than a meat substitute - the latest dietary guidelines recommend we triple our current intake to 3 cups a week! DO YOU GET YOURS? Beans are comparable to meat when it comes to protein, yet they really shine in terms of fiber and water content, two ingredients that make you feel fuller, faster. Adding beans to your diet help you cut calories without feeling deprived - plus many other health benefits!
I will give you more information tomorrow on the absolute need for beans and how they can help you loose weight, remain healthy and enjoy. So you say they make me feel bloated -- you know the old saying: "beans are the musical fruit - the more you eat, the more you -----! Don't think I will finish that little poem! But not so - if you eat just a few - for instance - if you are making a soup - or even a casserole - throw in a cup of beans -- make whatever you are cooking - healthier - with beans!!
Try this recipe - and I do have more for you!!
CRANBERRY BAKED BEANS
1 -16 oz. can cranberry sauce,jellied
1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce
2-31 oz. cans pork and beans, undrained
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard (what you have in the frig!}
1/2 Cup onion, chopped
6 slices bacon, halved
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
In a large bowl, combine cranberry sauce, tomato sauce, beans, mustard, and onion. (I would add some garlic - for sure). Place in a greased 13x8x2 baking dish. Lay bacon on top and then sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 12 to 16 servings.
Another interesting recipe: ROASTED GREEN BEANS
20 oz. fresh green beans
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss green beans with olive oil and sea salt. Spread out in a single layer on a flat pan (such as cookie sheet). Roast 10 minutes. Turn green beans over and roast another 10 minutes or until green beans are browned or just crispy!
That is the recipe and now my version: Add some garlic and a dash of cayenne pepper! I also do asparagus that way -- and it is WONDERFUL!!!
Ok - you have it for tonight! It has been a God "blessed day" and I thank everyone of you for being in it -- Stay tuned - if it is God's Will - more great info about beans and their benefits to our health and diet and more great "bean" recipes!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A DELICIOUS MEAL - THANKS TO FRIENDS
Wow - it is late and I am tired. I stayed about 3 hours at the church working and preparing for tomorrow night's meal - and unless a castastrophe takes place - the meal should be good. We got the potatoes washed, seasoned, wrapped and ready to bake. The cakes are baked and ready to ice - the meat is tucked in our ovens - Sue's, Gwynn's and mine - dressing for salad is made, the nuts and noodles are toasted -- so hopefully we will be ready when Mr. Lee shows up at 5:30. None of this preparation or the ability to be ready would be possible if it wasn't for wonderful people like Ruth - it was such a treasure getting to work with her again (we used to have such fun doing hot dogs, treats, planning parties and retreats, and counseling our teens (sometimes not so fun) from Omen Road -- we were a good team and we still are!!!), Travis, Gwynn and Michelle. Thanks ya'll.
Did you get the opportunity to read Mark's blog today about a boy named Addie - it was so good! If you are not following this blog -- it is definitely worth a couple of minutes a day -- it is kind of my "devotional for the day!" It can be found at http://mark-edge-tellmeastory.blogspot.com - and it is worth the time!! Now - Mark - you can pay me next week! No - I am serious - read it - you will like it and gain some wonderful insight into how we should live!
Being with Ruth tonight made me think about friendship and no matter how much time passes - the time passes away so fast when you are with a real friend - and it is like it was only yesterday you were working and planning the "next event" with them! I hope you have a friend like that -- there is nothing better on this earth- unless it is the promise of being with our Lord in Heaven!! You know - we all have a friend like that - if we will only take the time to call on Him!!!
I am going to start telling you about some healthy foods - some facts and recipes -- but tonight I want to tell you and "my dear sister Alice, "HOW TO SEASON A SALAD BOWL"
First thing you should know -- is "YOU SHOULD HAVE A WOODEN BOWL" - but you know what - I was at the church tonight and for as much salad as I was preparing -- there were only these great big plastic tubs! I treated them as if I had the most expensive wooden bowl ever purchased - so season whatever bowl you are using! Pour enough good Olive Oil in the bowl -- probably for a normal size bowl - about 2 tablespoons full, then add to the olive oil - 2 or 3 cloves of garlic - pressed are best, about 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, several dashes of Penzey's Fresh ground black pepper (the only kind I think is worth the money), rub into the bowl and then add lettuce and other ingredients and toss well. You can still use a dressing but this just gives the salad a delicious "gourmet touch!"
Stay tuned for "beans" -- the benefits and recipes to try!!! Now have a blessed night's sleep (no leg cramps I pray) and God's will - I will survive tomorrow night and talk with you again.
Oh - Please pray for my Mom - remember 92 - she is having a pacemaker "installed" Friday and although it is a simple procedure - she is 92!! Thanks!!!
Did you get the opportunity to read Mark's blog today about a boy named Addie - it was so good! If you are not following this blog -- it is definitely worth a couple of minutes a day -- it is kind of my "devotional for the day!" It can be found at http://mark-edge-tellmeastory.blogspot.com - and it is worth the time!! Now - Mark - you can pay me next week! No - I am serious - read it - you will like it and gain some wonderful insight into how we should live!
Being with Ruth tonight made me think about friendship and no matter how much time passes - the time passes away so fast when you are with a real friend - and it is like it was only yesterday you were working and planning the "next event" with them! I hope you have a friend like that -- there is nothing better on this earth- unless it is the promise of being with our Lord in Heaven!! You know - we all have a friend like that - if we will only take the time to call on Him!!!
I am going to start telling you about some healthy foods - some facts and recipes -- but tonight I want to tell you and "my dear sister Alice, "HOW TO SEASON A SALAD BOWL"
First thing you should know -- is "YOU SHOULD HAVE A WOODEN BOWL" - but you know what - I was at the church tonight and for as much salad as I was preparing -- there were only these great big plastic tubs! I treated them as if I had the most expensive wooden bowl ever purchased - so season whatever bowl you are using! Pour enough good Olive Oil in the bowl -- probably for a normal size bowl - about 2 tablespoons full, then add to the olive oil - 2 or 3 cloves of garlic - pressed are best, about 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, several dashes of Penzey's Fresh ground black pepper (the only kind I think is worth the money), rub into the bowl and then add lettuce and other ingredients and toss well. You can still use a dressing but this just gives the salad a delicious "gourmet touch!"
Stay tuned for "beans" -- the benefits and recipes to try!!! Now have a blessed night's sleep (no leg cramps I pray) and God's will - I will survive tomorrow night and talk with you again.
Oh - Please pray for my Mom - remember 92 - she is having a pacemaker "installed" Friday and although it is a simple procedure - she is 92!! Thanks!!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
EVER FELT SO LOST - I DID - NOT GETTING TO POST LAST NIGHT
Wow - thank goodness - I am back on. Tonight I discovered when T was trying to log me on to the internet = he was signed in as himself - not as me - and of course - nothing is set up for him -- so a night wasted and I so missed visiting with you! My head has been full of things I wanted to tell you!!! Yesterday our preacher's lesson was about "Being Gracious for God During Triumph" - and he had some wonderful examples of real life people who gave back their wealth because they realized how blessed they had been, i.e., Paul Newman, Andrew Carnegie, and then he provided visual examples of what successes we could be, and possed the question: "would we use that success to help others!" Man - what an impact! Maybe we are not Paul Newman or Andrew Carnegie - but are we a salesman, a doctor, a business man, an attorney, a carpenter, oh what about a preacher? If God has blessed us - how are we using that blessing! Isn't that right Mark?
I just have to say -- never in my life - have I ever been challenged week after week - to do more - to look further for an opportunity to serve others!!! I love this church, my family here - and the opportunities it offers for us to serve the One we owe our blessings to!
I always get the opportunity to help Travis write his puppet skit for LTC - for whatever age he is working with. It's interesting - he starts it off and then asks me to type it for him - I think he knows I will start editing and adding and finish it for him! It is so much fun - even though I often forget it is for puppets and visualize real kids acting out the play! This year the scripture is from 2nd Samuel 22:32 "FOR WHO IS GOD BESIDES THE LORD? AND WHO IS OUR ROCK EXCEPT OUR GOD?" David asked that so long ago -- Shouldn't we ask that now: "Who is our Rock?"
I am getting ready to cook at church for Wednesday night and I really want to make it special -like an early valentine's present for everyone who attends! Thanks to Pine Cove for getting our meat at a great price, we are able to have a big roast - the carving kind, and with baked potatoes, salad, rolls - and surprise valentine cakes - it should be a memorable meal! Come eat with us and we will invite you to a great class afterwards!! We have wonderful teachers and every day I am thankful for the circumstances that brought us to Shiloh.
Sunday afternoon was awesome -- yes - personally I am thrilled because New Orleans won the Super Bowl and that little quarterback was so cute with his precious son - and I loved him saying "God is Good" - but better than the Super Bowl was the shower I attended! Nothing of it's kind had I ever been to before! The mother, child, and our dear sister - Diane, the grandmother, were all present via sattelite - we saw them and talked to them -- and we were in Tyler and they were in Peru! What an invention! Another awesome thing happened - I had the chance to visit with someone that I had only smiled and spoken to before - and we had so much in common. We both have tons of recipes, love to cook - and I look forward to getting to know her better!!! Beth - let's visit!!! The entire "shower experience" was a great blessing to me!!! This time I never felt "alone" but a part of a wonderful fellowship!
I have a couple of great recipes for you. Isn't it wonderful if you have someone that has been your hairdresser, and mostly your friend for over 20 years? Jeanine, my friend, gave me this delicious recipe just recently and I made it last night - and it is almost all gone -- and man did I have a pan full. When Harley (you know - my oldest Schnauzer) would hear the oven door open he would come flying into the kitchen because he knew some would drop on the floor! The pan was so full and I did have to stir it and whatever fell on the floor was his. Michelle and I would retrieve the rest and put it back on the pan! Oh - by the way - I took some to work and it is gone!!! Also left some at Mom's but not sure if she tried it or not!! Anyway -- here is: WONDERFUL CARMEL CORN
2 LARGE bags popped Orville's Smart Pop (94% FF) popcorn
1 Can Mixed nuts
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Stick Butter
1/4 Cup Honey
1 Teaspoon vanilla (You know I had to add 2)
Pop corn, put in large bowl, add 1 can mixed nuts. Bring to a boil - brown sugar, butter, honey, butter and vanilla - boil just until sugar is melted. Pour over popcorn and nuts. Put into a large cookie sheet (2 might work better) and drizzle any remaining sugar mixture over it. Stir and put in 250 degree oven for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Be sure and do this where you can gather up that what falls and put back in pan! Remove to a large bowl and allow to cool Eat it all --or store in an air tight container! Enjoy -- it is really light and delightful!!
Another great recipe from my past is: Millionaire Pies -- I know it is an old recipe because it is typed on a Southside STATE Bank note pad -- think how old that must be!!! Old it may be - but still delicious! MILLIONAIRE PIE (Makes 2 - and two is good - it is so yummy!!)
Mix 1 large can crushed Pineapple, drained
1 can Eagle Brand Milk
1 Pint Whipping Cream
2 Graham Cracker Crusts
1/3 Cup Lemon juice
1 Cup chopped Pecans
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla (BET IT WOULD BE BETTER WITH TWO!!!)
Add to 1 Pint Whipped whipping cream. Pour into two (2) graham cracker crusts. Chill 3 to 4 hours. Enjoy!!!
Well - this is enough to make you gain a pound or two! Think about the ROCK you depend on -- do something good for someone and come back tomorrow for more good things to eat - and who knows what else. God Bless and if it is His Will - see you tomorrow!
I just have to say -- never in my life - have I ever been challenged week after week - to do more - to look further for an opportunity to serve others!!! I love this church, my family here - and the opportunities it offers for us to serve the One we owe our blessings to!
I always get the opportunity to help Travis write his puppet skit for LTC - for whatever age he is working with. It's interesting - he starts it off and then asks me to type it for him - I think he knows I will start editing and adding and finish it for him! It is so much fun - even though I often forget it is for puppets and visualize real kids acting out the play! This year the scripture is from 2nd Samuel 22:32 "FOR WHO IS GOD BESIDES THE LORD? AND WHO IS OUR ROCK EXCEPT OUR GOD?" David asked that so long ago -- Shouldn't we ask that now: "Who is our Rock?"
I am getting ready to cook at church for Wednesday night and I really want to make it special -like an early valentine's present for everyone who attends! Thanks to Pine Cove for getting our meat at a great price, we are able to have a big roast - the carving kind, and with baked potatoes, salad, rolls - and surprise valentine cakes - it should be a memorable meal! Come eat with us and we will invite you to a great class afterwards!! We have wonderful teachers and every day I am thankful for the circumstances that brought us to Shiloh.
Sunday afternoon was awesome -- yes - personally I am thrilled because New Orleans won the Super Bowl and that little quarterback was so cute with his precious son - and I loved him saying "God is Good" - but better than the Super Bowl was the shower I attended! Nothing of it's kind had I ever been to before! The mother, child, and our dear sister - Diane, the grandmother, were all present via sattelite - we saw them and talked to them -- and we were in Tyler and they were in Peru! What an invention! Another awesome thing happened - I had the chance to visit with someone that I had only smiled and spoken to before - and we had so much in common. We both have tons of recipes, love to cook - and I look forward to getting to know her better!!! Beth - let's visit!!! The entire "shower experience" was a great blessing to me!!! This time I never felt "alone" but a part of a wonderful fellowship!
I have a couple of great recipes for you. Isn't it wonderful if you have someone that has been your hairdresser, and mostly your friend for over 20 years? Jeanine, my friend, gave me this delicious recipe just recently and I made it last night - and it is almost all gone -- and man did I have a pan full. When Harley (you know - my oldest Schnauzer) would hear the oven door open he would come flying into the kitchen because he knew some would drop on the floor! The pan was so full and I did have to stir it and whatever fell on the floor was his. Michelle and I would retrieve the rest and put it back on the pan! Oh - by the way - I took some to work and it is gone!!! Also left some at Mom's but not sure if she tried it or not!! Anyway -- here is: WONDERFUL CARMEL CORN
2 LARGE bags popped Orville's Smart Pop (94% FF) popcorn
1 Can Mixed nuts
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Stick Butter
1/4 Cup Honey
1 Teaspoon vanilla (You know I had to add 2)
Pop corn, put in large bowl, add 1 can mixed nuts. Bring to a boil - brown sugar, butter, honey, butter and vanilla - boil just until sugar is melted. Pour over popcorn and nuts. Put into a large cookie sheet (2 might work better) and drizzle any remaining sugar mixture over it. Stir and put in 250 degree oven for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Be sure and do this where you can gather up that what falls and put back in pan! Remove to a large bowl and allow to cool Eat it all --or store in an air tight container! Enjoy -- it is really light and delightful!!
Another great recipe from my past is: Millionaire Pies -- I know it is an old recipe because it is typed on a Southside STATE Bank note pad -- think how old that must be!!! Old it may be - but still delicious! MILLIONAIRE PIE (Makes 2 - and two is good - it is so yummy!!)
Mix 1 large can crushed Pineapple, drained
1 can Eagle Brand Milk
1 Pint Whipping Cream
2 Graham Cracker Crusts
1/3 Cup Lemon juice
1 Cup chopped Pecans
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Vanilla (BET IT WOULD BE BETTER WITH TWO!!!)
Add to 1 Pint Whipped whipping cream. Pour into two (2) graham cracker crusts. Chill 3 to 4 hours. Enjoy!!!
Well - this is enough to make you gain a pound or two! Think about the ROCK you depend on -- do something good for someone and come back tomorrow for more good things to eat - and who knows what else. God Bless and if it is His Will - see you tomorrow!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
SATURDAY NIGHT AND ALL IS WELL!!
I missed last night - visiting and giving you a great recipe -- hope you either have the ingredients you need for the one tonight - OR - can go get them tomorrow before game time!! Our wireless router went out - just like a burned out light bulb - so we bought a new one - still can't get it to work - but finally I am plugged in direct - so here I am!
I know I had probably bored you with all the hoop-la about my magic drawer and all of the recipes in it -- well I also had a plastic bag full of even older recipes in another drawer under the oven (maybe now I can clean it out and get a "warming drawer!) Today I hit the "mother-lode" - I found the recipe I knew I had but could not find -- My dad (who died over 15 years ago) had written his Ice Cream recipe out for me -- Good ice cream but nothing spectacular -- the prize to me - was HE HAD WRITTEN IT! The paper is stained and torn, but it is oh so special! I would recognize his hand writing any place and now I have my original! It has always been a special "collector's item to me" and I am so thankful I once again know where it is! It is definitely going in my Dessert Book in a place of honor!!!
A couple of days ago I was listening to the crazy guys - Big D and Bubba - on the radio as I was going to work and one of them said they had gotten their feelings hurt and the other argued that men get mad but don't get their feelings hurt. I've thought about that a lot -- and I really don't remember any man ever saying "You hurt my feelings" but I do vividly remember being told I was wearing my "feelings on my sleeves!" Well if they are, don't you think that is where God put them on women?? Don't you think that is why we are so sensitive to others, even why we cry at sad movies or stories we see or hear? I often cry when I watch movies I've seen before or read an email about some misfortune! I really don't think men understand the difference -- mad is being put out, disgusted, or fed up. Hurt feelings are realizing you are misunderstood, not given the chance to express yourself, or bruised with hurtful words. So do men get their feelings "hurt" or do they just "get mad?" I would love to know what you think!!! As for me - I will still get "my feelings hurt" and will still cry at the misfortune of others - real or in the movies or a book I read!
Now here is a fun and easy - last minute recipe (found it in my old plastic bag!) CHILI CHEESE STUFF
1 LB. Velvetta cheese
2 Cans Hormel or Wolfe chili (no beans)
2 Cans Ranch Style beans
1 Pint Half and Half
1 Can Rotel tomatoes and chiles
Mix, heat and serve on Fritos or whatever you want!!!!
Another great recipe is: PEACH BUBBLE OVER PIE
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup Flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix and add:
1 Cup milk
1 Egg
Melt 1 stick butter in 13 X 9" baking dish. Pour batter into dish. Add 1 large can sliced peaches. Our peach juice over top. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Great served with ice cream or whipped cream!!
The other day my sister and I went to lunch together - really without telling anyone - we shared food and had a great time for about an hour! We had been trying to do this for the last month and I either had a meeting or her hair was dirty - or she had to take Mom to an appointment. We had a really "stolen good time!" That same afternoon I read the following: "I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in half an hour? She would gas up and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast. IT looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "it's Monday!" She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together." I sent this to my sister and told her how glad I was that we had lunch together and that I loved her. She responded with the same sentiments. Please make sure you take the time to be with the ones you love!!!!
Remember: When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.. Thrown away...Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.
Take care - have a blessed evening (or day) and remember 'Smell the roses - while they are blooming!" With God's blessing - be back tomorrow ....
I know I had probably bored you with all the hoop-la about my magic drawer and all of the recipes in it -- well I also had a plastic bag full of even older recipes in another drawer under the oven (maybe now I can clean it out and get a "warming drawer!) Today I hit the "mother-lode" - I found the recipe I knew I had but could not find -- My dad (who died over 15 years ago) had written his Ice Cream recipe out for me -- Good ice cream but nothing spectacular -- the prize to me - was HE HAD WRITTEN IT! The paper is stained and torn, but it is oh so special! I would recognize his hand writing any place and now I have my original! It has always been a special "collector's item to me" and I am so thankful I once again know where it is! It is definitely going in my Dessert Book in a place of honor!!!
A couple of days ago I was listening to the crazy guys - Big D and Bubba - on the radio as I was going to work and one of them said they had gotten their feelings hurt and the other argued that men get mad but don't get their feelings hurt. I've thought about that a lot -- and I really don't remember any man ever saying "You hurt my feelings" but I do vividly remember being told I was wearing my "feelings on my sleeves!" Well if they are, don't you think that is where God put them on women?? Don't you think that is why we are so sensitive to others, even why we cry at sad movies or stories we see or hear? I often cry when I watch movies I've seen before or read an email about some misfortune! I really don't think men understand the difference -- mad is being put out, disgusted, or fed up. Hurt feelings are realizing you are misunderstood, not given the chance to express yourself, or bruised with hurtful words. So do men get their feelings "hurt" or do they just "get mad?" I would love to know what you think!!! As for me - I will still get "my feelings hurt" and will still cry at the misfortune of others - real or in the movies or a book I read!
Now here is a fun and easy - last minute recipe (found it in my old plastic bag!) CHILI CHEESE STUFF
1 LB. Velvetta cheese
2 Cans Hormel or Wolfe chili (no beans)
2 Cans Ranch Style beans
1 Pint Half and Half
1 Can Rotel tomatoes and chiles
Mix, heat and serve on Fritos or whatever you want!!!!
Another great recipe is: PEACH BUBBLE OVER PIE
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup Flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix and add:
1 Cup milk
1 Egg
Melt 1 stick butter in 13 X 9" baking dish. Pour batter into dish. Add 1 large can sliced peaches. Our peach juice over top. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Great served with ice cream or whipped cream!!
The other day my sister and I went to lunch together - really without telling anyone - we shared food and had a great time for about an hour! We had been trying to do this for the last month and I either had a meeting or her hair was dirty - or she had to take Mom to an appointment. We had a really "stolen good time!" That same afternoon I read the following: "I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in half an hour? She would gas up and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast. IT looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "it's Monday!" She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together." I sent this to my sister and told her how glad I was that we had lunch together and that I loved her. She responded with the same sentiments. Please make sure you take the time to be with the ones you love!!!!
Remember: When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.. Thrown away...Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.
Take care - have a blessed evening (or day) and remember 'Smell the roses - while they are blooming!" With God's blessing - be back tomorrow ....
Thursday, February 4, 2010
YOU ASKED FOR IT - HOW TO STOCK A KITCHEN WITH COOKING INGREDIENTS NECESSARY FOR MEALS
The list is here! It was requested and now it is here: "HOW TO STOCK A KITCHEN WITH COOKING INGREDIENTS NECESSARY FOR MEALS" - this has been a labor of love - for the one that asked, and for all of you that wait for it. IT IS ATTACHED TO THE SIDE AS AN ADD ON PAGE! Let me know what you think!!! For years I have been asked, "How do you know what to keep in your cabinet or pantry to be able to cook just good, ordinary food?" That is hard for me --- when I first got married and went to the grocery store the very first time - that little store had never even heard of some of the stuff on my list tonight -- as great as it is - it may not have been invented; Garlic has been here forever, but I'd never heard of it -- my love and dependency on it developed in the last 10 years of a 47 year marriage - YES - I WAS A CHILD BRIDE - I WISH! I have developed a list for you - yes - there are things there that you may not need for years and I may use weekly - but take the list - think about what you cook, (and maybe the recipes I've given you - and choose prudently what will work for you.) Honestly - I could double the list - just looking at my cabinet -- but I want this to be something you can use and grow from experience! GOOD LUCK.
I think I have given you some awesome recipes in the past few days - I hope you will try some of them and report back to me. You need to try some and let me know how they worked out. Tonight I am going to close with a rather lengthy story - but one everyone should read -- yes - I am prejudice - because if you know me - you know I have a precious and beautiful (inside and out) "handicap" daughter - even though she has more poise, more sense of style , more love, more innocence,and more knowledge than most of us will have in a lifetime; she just can't always communicate it back to us. So - dear sweet daughter - this story brought tears to my eyes - even after a lifetime with you - !!!
Tonight I want to share with you a story that came to me on the internet -- it brought me to tears and had I been at home it would have brought me "to my knees!" I think this father speaks for all of us with a "special" child that does not meet "society's idea" - but is God's creation and has a purpose that many don't understand and only those lucky enough to be blessed by their presense hopes to understands!
TWO CHOICES
What would you do? -- You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice? (THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT HAS BEEN AROUND BEFORE - I ask - why hasn't it disappeared as most others do -- maybe because God intends for it to make a difference!!)
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilites, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay cannot learn things as other children do ..He cannot understand things as other children do! Where is the natural order of things in my son? The audience was stilled by the question. The father continued. " I believe that when a child like Shay., who was mentally and physically disabled comes into this world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child. Then he told the following story: "Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" I knew that most of the boys would not want soneone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, I would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spike of his candicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the nineth inning. Shaw strugged over to the team's bench and with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the nineth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the nineth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay run to first, Run to first." Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the base line, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, grinning, and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest boy on their team who now had his chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third basemans's head. Shay ran toward third base diliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the base toward home. All were screaming, Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay." Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base and shouted "Run to third!" Shay, run to third."
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home. Run home!"
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team! "That day,", said the father slowly with tears now rollling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
And now a little footnote to this story: We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things" I BEG TO ARGUE ABOUT ONE THING: NATURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SHAY OR MICHELLE OR JIMMY -- GOD PUT THEM HERE AND THOSE WHO KNOW THEM- KNOW LOVE AND PURITY and HE chose who would care for them!!!!
As a mother of a child ,that perhaps never had an opportuntity like Shay, has accomplished so much in her life - even though many times she has been taken advantage of -- I must ask -- "What would your choice have been?" I pray it would be: LET'S MAKE IT A SHAY (OR MICHELLE, OR JIMMY OR MARK OR LIBBY) DAY!!!
God bless - " , have a blessed night and look forward to some great recipes tomorrow!
I think I have given you some awesome recipes in the past few days - I hope you will try some of them and report back to me. You need to try some and let me know how they worked out. Tonight I am going to close with a rather lengthy story - but one everyone should read -- yes - I am prejudice - because if you know me - you know I have a precious and beautiful (inside and out) "handicap" daughter - even though she has more poise, more sense of style , more love, more innocence,and more knowledge than most of us will have in a lifetime; she just can't always communicate it back to us. So - dear sweet daughter - this story brought tears to my eyes - even after a lifetime with you - !!!
Tonight I want to share with you a story that came to me on the internet -- it brought me to tears and had I been at home it would have brought me "to my knees!" I think this father speaks for all of us with a "special" child that does not meet "society's idea" - but is God's creation and has a purpose that many don't understand and only those lucky enough to be blessed by their presense hopes to understands!
TWO CHOICES
What would you do? -- You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice? (THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT HAS BEEN AROUND BEFORE - I ask - why hasn't it disappeared as most others do -- maybe because God intends for it to make a difference!!)
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilites, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay cannot learn things as other children do ..He cannot understand things as other children do! Where is the natural order of things in my son? The audience was stilled by the question. The father continued. " I believe that when a child like Shay., who was mentally and physically disabled comes into this world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child. Then he told the following story: "Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" I knew that most of the boys would not want soneone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, I would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spike of his candicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the nineth inning. Shaw strugged over to the team's bench and with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the nineth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the nineth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay run to first, Run to first." Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the base line, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, grinning, and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest boy on their team who now had his chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third basemans's head. Shay ran toward third base diliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the base toward home. All were screaming, Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay." Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base and shouted "Run to third!" Shay, run to third."
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home. Run home!"
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team! "That day,", said the father slowly with tears now rollling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
And now a little footnote to this story: We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things" I BEG TO ARGUE ABOUT ONE THING: NATURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SHAY OR MICHELLE OR JIMMY -- GOD PUT THEM HERE AND THOSE WHO KNOW THEM- KNOW LOVE AND PURITY and HE chose who would care for them!!!!
As a mother of a child ,that perhaps never had an opportuntity like Shay, has accomplished so much in her life - even though many times she has been taken advantage of -- I must ask -- "What would your choice have been?" I pray it would be: LET'S MAKE IT A SHAY (OR MICHELLE, OR JIMMY OR MARK OR LIBBY) DAY!!!
God bless - " , have a blessed night and look forward to some great recipes tomorrow!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
LET'S DO OUR PART AND HELP THE CHILDREN
I feel like I should never eat again - I've had way too much food today! Tonight at church Gwynn and Charisse were in charge of the meal and they treated us to delicious homemade tamales and all of the trimmings. Another member of the church made the tamales and said they started at 10 o'clock last night and finished at three this morning. What servants! Thanks to all of you!
Early this morning I woke up thinking about the article I mentioned last night that I found in the New York Times by Nicholas Kristof about the young girls in Cambodia sold into prostitution often by a relative or friend and how Mr. Kristof bought back their freedom and returned them to their homes. He told how on the trip back to their homes, the girls worried over what their Mothers would think and if they would receive any kind of welcome at all. They knew they could never let their Mothers know what they had been doing. I thought about this and all the children throughout the world who are deserted by their Mom's and how the must feel - growing up without one! My Mom played such an important role in my life and I learned so many life skills from her! There are some things I promised I would do differently and I have - but I believe my values and skills came from her! There is a country song and the girl is singing to the Mom she never knew and it says: "You were never there to teach me how to tie a bow, or see me in my prom dress" and on and on. I looked up some statistics and in 2006, it was reported that there were 500,000 children in Foster Care in the USA. In 1990, the NY Times reported that in the US alone, there were 500,000 underage runaways and THROWAWAYS (by their own parents!) One lady had written an article "Growing Up Without a Mom" and she relates how her Mom died when she was eleven years old and the struggles she had, the wisdom she lacked, and she said "When I became a mother, I felt I lacked something in my motherhood. Oh I wanted to be a Mother, and I loved my children and felt I could be good at being a mom but I also felt very alone." She goes on to say she started subconsiously pulling away from her children, scared something might happen to her, and asking, "what would happen if I weren't here." She said realized much later that she had inadvertently pushed them away. We've seen this happen - if a child is abandoned or not loved during her childhood, many of these women can have children - but can't raise them. One of the saddest thing about this is - regardless - the children love their Moms - no matter what. They crave their mother's attention! We've seen children who are left with others for months at a time with no word from Mom, and when Mom finally calls or shows up - the child is thrilled to death. They have a bond that even neglect or abandonment or abuse can't break! So we ask what can we do? Sadly - not a lot - but if we are in contact with a child abandoned by a parent, be especially kind and loving to them, try to teach them self worth and how much they are loved by the ones around them and that God loves them. Show them God's love and kindness! And Moms - be the parent God intented you to be. Put away selfish desires and think about the life you brought in this world and what is best for them!! Easy for me to say - yes - but I believe if we align ourselves with Christ - we can overcome any obsticle!
Tonight I want to give you an easy, easy recipe that has been a hit at many a get together:
ECHRICH SAUSAGE IN APRICOT SAUCE
2 pkg. Echrich beef sausage
1 Jar Blackburn's Apricot preserves
1/4 cup prepared plain mustard
Cut Echrich sausages into 1 inch pieces. Put in crock pt with apricot preserves and mustard. Let simmer about 45 minutes. Very good. You could also use the little weiners!
Now I am going to share my signature PIMENTO CHEESE
12 oz. Sharp cheddar cheese (large half moon piece) to grate (makes the best) or if you choose for 2nd best - one 2 to 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 - two cup package Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 large jar pimentos
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. sugar
1 garlic clove minced
1-1/2 to 2 cups Hellman's mayonnaise
Stir together really well - taste and add salt if needed. More cayenne is always good!
This is simple and delicious. We used to make Pimento cheese and put all kinds of things - pickle relish, etc., in it and then I ate some made downtown at The Tea Room" above the Antique Store in the old Sears store! It was the best and this is basically their recipe plus of course, the cayenne pepper.
Serve with crackers or makes wonderful sandwiches! Try grilling one!!! Yummm - and I am not even hungry!
Well - once again it is getting late and there is still lots to do - so I will wish you good night - and God's will - sign back on tomorrow!
Early this morning I woke up thinking about the article I mentioned last night that I found in the New York Times by Nicholas Kristof about the young girls in Cambodia sold into prostitution often by a relative or friend and how Mr. Kristof bought back their freedom and returned them to their homes. He told how on the trip back to their homes, the girls worried over what their Mothers would think and if they would receive any kind of welcome at all. They knew they could never let their Mothers know what they had been doing. I thought about this and all the children throughout the world who are deserted by their Mom's and how the must feel - growing up without one! My Mom played such an important role in my life and I learned so many life skills from her! There are some things I promised I would do differently and I have - but I believe my values and skills came from her! There is a country song and the girl is singing to the Mom she never knew and it says: "You were never there to teach me how to tie a bow, or see me in my prom dress" and on and on. I looked up some statistics and in 2006, it was reported that there were 500,000 children in Foster Care in the USA. In 1990, the NY Times reported that in the US alone, there were 500,000 underage runaways and THROWAWAYS (by their own parents!) One lady had written an article "Growing Up Without a Mom" and she relates how her Mom died when she was eleven years old and the struggles she had, the wisdom she lacked, and she said "When I became a mother, I felt I lacked something in my motherhood. Oh I wanted to be a Mother, and I loved my children and felt I could be good at being a mom but I also felt very alone." She goes on to say she started subconsiously pulling away from her children, scared something might happen to her, and asking, "what would happen if I weren't here." She said realized much later that she had inadvertently pushed them away. We've seen this happen - if a child is abandoned or not loved during her childhood, many of these women can have children - but can't raise them. One of the saddest thing about this is - regardless - the children love their Moms - no matter what. They crave their mother's attention! We've seen children who are left with others for months at a time with no word from Mom, and when Mom finally calls or shows up - the child is thrilled to death. They have a bond that even neglect or abandonment or abuse can't break! So we ask what can we do? Sadly - not a lot - but if we are in contact with a child abandoned by a parent, be especially kind and loving to them, try to teach them self worth and how much they are loved by the ones around them and that God loves them. Show them God's love and kindness! And Moms - be the parent God intented you to be. Put away selfish desires and think about the life you brought in this world and what is best for them!! Easy for me to say - yes - but I believe if we align ourselves with Christ - we can overcome any obsticle!
Tonight I want to give you an easy, easy recipe that has been a hit at many a get together:
ECHRICH SAUSAGE IN APRICOT SAUCE
2 pkg. Echrich beef sausage
1 Jar Blackburn's Apricot preserves
1/4 cup prepared plain mustard
Cut Echrich sausages into 1 inch pieces. Put in crock pt with apricot preserves and mustard. Let simmer about 45 minutes. Very good. You could also use the little weiners!
Now I am going to share my signature PIMENTO CHEESE
12 oz. Sharp cheddar cheese (large half moon piece) to grate (makes the best) or if you choose for 2nd best - one 2 to 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 - two cup package Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 large jar pimentos
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. sugar
1 garlic clove minced
1-1/2 to 2 cups Hellman's mayonnaise
Stir together really well - taste and add salt if needed. More cayenne is always good!
This is simple and delicious. We used to make Pimento cheese and put all kinds of things - pickle relish, etc., in it and then I ate some made downtown at The Tea Room" above the Antique Store in the old Sears store! It was the best and this is basically their recipe plus of course, the cayenne pepper.
Serve with crackers or makes wonderful sandwiches! Try grilling one!!! Yummm - and I am not even hungry!
Well - once again it is getting late and there is still lots to do - so I will wish you good night - and God's will - sign back on tomorrow!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
WOW - WHAT A MAN - AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COLOR -PINK
Wow - what a compliment! Travis said his boss told him yesterday: "I found you!" Confused Travis asked for clarification. He was told to look up Exodus 31:1-6 and Exodus 36:1. It does describe the man I am married to - and I am so proud of him. He has built some amazing things for Pine Cove and for the misistry at Shiloh! To be honest - his talent amazes me -- guess I am - well at least - one of his greatest fans!!! This has been a hard day at work and I am thankful to be here talking to you! I have a recipe I want to share with you now - early on. We ate at Cheddars on Sunday (and I am suffering withdrawal from the want of Mexican food) - and Travis ordered their Spinach dip and it was very good. This is a "light and healthy" version of one and I think it would be equally as good as the "fat one" we had on Sunday! BAKED SPINACH-and-ARTICHOKE DIP
2 (6 oz.) packages fresh baby spinach
1 Tablespoon butter
1 (8 oz) package 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mazzarella cheese, divided
Fresh pita wedges or baked pita chips
Microwave spinach in a large, microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 3 minutes or until wilted. Drain spinach well, pressing between paper towels. Chop spinach.
Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add cream cheese, garlic and cayenne pepper; cook three minutes, stirring constantly, until cream cheese melts. Fond in spinach, artichokes, sour cream and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Stir until cheese melts.
Transfer mixture to a 1 qt shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 250 degrees for 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve immediately with fresh pita wedges or baked pita chips.
There - with just a few more recipes before Sunday - you should have some food that will wow even the most discriminating critic!
Today I thought about a wonderful young lady that is planning her June wedding and has chosen the color Pink (in all shades) to compliment her wedding party's dresses! To me - pink is the perfect color for a bride to choose -- think about where you find "Pink!" Newborn babies are "pink" - so beautiful and pure; pink cheeks - when you see the one you love (and maybe they don't know yet) so you blush that beautiful pink; pink lips - when you've just been kissed by that special - maybe - one and only - or surprised at a young age with a stolen kiss; or what about that cheek that some innocent girl has slapped because some young man took a liberty she wasn't ready to give; or cheeks that played in the sun too long! All special things to each one! When you combine the different shades of pink - you have a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors and just perhaps - of memories. PERFECT COLOR!!!
If you are ever feeling depressed about our countries' situation and just wish you could escape - or you are disgusted by something you have read -- want to know how to regain your appreciation of this wonderful America we live in? Log in to the New York Times and look up the articles by Nicholas Kristof on Cambodia - and the slavery of young girls there - often sold by their relatives into prostitution and you will hit your knees with Thanksgiving to God for putting you here in this United States of America - even with its' problems today.
The thought of listing the "Essentials of a well stocked pantry" has really become a "project" to me - because I want to lead you right -- so today I Googled it and was amazed at the answers different ones had. I've taken a couple of them, revised them to fit what I think and will share with you soon! You see - my cabinets are very different than when I first got married - so I want to make sure you have essentials and not all the wonderful stuff I have now - that I might use this year and I might not!!
I love my notebooks full of recipes. We ran out of Six Week Muffin mix last week and Travis indicated he was ready for more muffins. (I get up around 5:15 and turn on the oven, get about 3 muffins ready to go in the oven, sit down and read a little of the paper, and then put the muffins in the oven, set the timer and go take my bath.) The rest is up to Travis - get them out and eat!!! Tonight I made the mix up again and instead of looking at least 30 minutes for the recipe - I look in one of the notebooks for the catagory "Orange" (which is "Breads"), found it, found the recipe in less than a minute! Wonderful!!!!
Well - one recipe is probably all you want tonight -- so I will just say - God Bless, Good night - and ask a special favor - Go about doing good tomorrow!
2 (6 oz.) packages fresh baby spinach
1 Tablespoon butter
1 (8 oz) package 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mazzarella cheese, divided
Fresh pita wedges or baked pita chips
Microwave spinach in a large, microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 3 minutes or until wilted. Drain spinach well, pressing between paper towels. Chop spinach.
Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add cream cheese, garlic and cayenne pepper; cook three minutes, stirring constantly, until cream cheese melts. Fond in spinach, artichokes, sour cream and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Stir until cheese melts.
Transfer mixture to a 1 qt shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 250 degrees for 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve immediately with fresh pita wedges or baked pita chips.
There - with just a few more recipes before Sunday - you should have some food that will wow even the most discriminating critic!
Today I thought about a wonderful young lady that is planning her June wedding and has chosen the color Pink (in all shades) to compliment her wedding party's dresses! To me - pink is the perfect color for a bride to choose -- think about where you find "Pink!" Newborn babies are "pink" - so beautiful and pure; pink cheeks - when you see the one you love (and maybe they don't know yet) so you blush that beautiful pink; pink lips - when you've just been kissed by that special - maybe - one and only - or surprised at a young age with a stolen kiss; or what about that cheek that some innocent girl has slapped because some young man took a liberty she wasn't ready to give; or cheeks that played in the sun too long! All special things to each one! When you combine the different shades of pink - you have a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors and just perhaps - of memories. PERFECT COLOR!!!
If you are ever feeling depressed about our countries' situation and just wish you could escape - or you are disgusted by something you have read -- want to know how to regain your appreciation of this wonderful America we live in? Log in to the New York Times and look up the articles by Nicholas Kristof on Cambodia - and the slavery of young girls there - often sold by their relatives into prostitution and you will hit your knees with Thanksgiving to God for putting you here in this United States of America - even with its' problems today.
The thought of listing the "Essentials of a well stocked pantry" has really become a "project" to me - because I want to lead you right -- so today I Googled it and was amazed at the answers different ones had. I've taken a couple of them, revised them to fit what I think and will share with you soon! You see - my cabinets are very different than when I first got married - so I want to make sure you have essentials and not all the wonderful stuff I have now - that I might use this year and I might not!!
I love my notebooks full of recipes. We ran out of Six Week Muffin mix last week and Travis indicated he was ready for more muffins. (I get up around 5:15 and turn on the oven, get about 3 muffins ready to go in the oven, sit down and read a little of the paper, and then put the muffins in the oven, set the timer and go take my bath.) The rest is up to Travis - get them out and eat!!! Tonight I made the mix up again and instead of looking at least 30 minutes for the recipe - I look in one of the notebooks for the catagory "Orange" (which is "Breads"), found it, found the recipe in less than a minute! Wonderful!!!!
Well - one recipe is probably all you want tonight -- so I will just say - God Bless, Good night - and ask a special favor - Go about doing good tomorrow!
Monday, February 1, 2010
COMMIT - AND YOU WILL WIN THE PRIZE
Have you ever felt defeated? That is exactly how I feel right now. It is almost 11 PM and I came out here at 9:00 p.m., and have been writing ever since. I was about to sign off when "whish - ever thing was gone." IT shows a "draft" with nothing in it. Tonight I had written my heart out - and had given you two great recipes! As I sit in this wonderful room that Travis built in 1998 - and look at the pointed ceiling covered in beautiful knotted pine- and to be honest - see mistakes he would never make today - I see a room full of memories. At the top of the walls - before the ceiling accends 12 ft up - he built me a shelf - I call it my "Memory Shelf"! It holds special things like the little train and a jar of marbles his Mom saved for him from his childhood - (He says he was the champion marble player -however that was played), a to-scale log truck that someone made for him, a little black doll with braided pigtails and ribbons in a little pull-wagon that my aunt and uncle made me when I was decorating "country", a US flag waving Santa that my long-gone friend Cyndie made for me one Christmas, and a picture I loved of a country goose an aunt bought for me and several other things she gave me before she left this world - a bitter old woman - and a teapot from my Mom that she had early in her marriage. Such memories -- do you have a "Memory Shelf" -- if not - start one!!!! I watched the cute little show "The Bachelor" tonight with all of the beautiful women - "with feelings" for the same cute, handsome guy - that is "attracted to all of them!" Attracted - isn't that something we have all felt one time or another? But does that build the basis for a marriage that will last? He (Jake) is suppose to choose his wife - his lifetime partner- from one of these attractions! Realistic - I don't think so! So you ask - "Well - what about a long time ago when the father picked the husband and their life together lasted 50 or more years - until one died??" Well - yes - times were different - but don't you think the marriage lasted because of a commitment - whether forced or desired? A commitment says that no matter if you hurt my feelings, I don't feel loved today, or I don't like you for that - you go to God and ask him to help you love the person you are married to - and you look back to the day you wanted to marry that person and you see what you saw then - and realize COMMITMENT is "YOU STAY MARRIED" unless there is something there that God forbids or grants you the right to uncommit!
I dare to say we all have had our "I don't likes" and "hurt feelings" and "I don't like you right now" - but look around and see the people that have been married 25, 45, or 50 plus years - and mostly you will see Godly people loving one another!
I bet you are saying to yourself - "I thought this was a Cooking blog - where did all of this "Moral stuff" come from?" Well - it did start out to be a "Cooking Blog" but as I wrote I thought about - Cooking and how it could fill an empty stomach, but not an empty heart, could fill a hollow tooth - but not a hollow life, could fill a plate, but not a life. It takes much stronger food than meat and potatoes to do that - it takes love and Jesus is Love and with Him - we can all find that fulfillment! So - I trust you will stick with me - and you will get some great (well I think they are) recipes to cook and enjoy - but with God's help - some recipes to an abiding life in Him as well.
Super Bowl is nearing and the HYPE is growing. Here is a recipe that is so easy - and so good! It disappears nearly as fast as you can cook it. Thanks to Shellie Arnold with Azalea Bell Catering - here is DATES STUFFED WITH FETA CHEESE that she served at my Mom's 90th birthday party! She was married to my dad over 50 years before he passed away.
DATES STUFFED WITH FETA CHEESE
Pitted Dates
Feta Cheese
Bacon - strips cut into thirds
Split the dates on one side and stuff with Feta cheese. Wrap with bacon and fasten with toothpicks. Bake at 400 degrees for about 18 minutes or until bacon is done. Make as many as you need - but just remember - people will love them - so make plenty!!!
Another easy and favorite recipe!!
SPICY TORTILLA ROLL-UPS
1 -8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 (2 oz.) can chopped black olives
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
1 (4 oz.)jar sliced pimentos, drained
2 green onion, minced
3 Tablespoons hot pepper sauce
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
10 -10 inch flour tortillas
In medium size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, olives, chiles, pimentos, green onions, hot sauce and fresh cilantro. Spread the mixture onto tortillas. Roll the tortillas up and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Slice the rolls and serve with salsa for dipping. Delicious!
NOTE: You can put just about anything with the cream cheese and roll them up -- but this is very good!!!
Well - what a night -- I'd better get off before something bad happens again -- or I fall over on my computer and delete it myself! Take care - cook something good - and COMMIT to love the one you love until death do you part. If you are not there yet - don't say "I do" until you can! God Bless!!!
I dare to say we all have had our "I don't likes" and "hurt feelings" and "I don't like you right now" - but look around and see the people that have been married 25, 45, or 50 plus years - and mostly you will see Godly people loving one another!
I bet you are saying to yourself - "I thought this was a Cooking blog - where did all of this "Moral stuff" come from?" Well - it did start out to be a "Cooking Blog" but as I wrote I thought about - Cooking and how it could fill an empty stomach, but not an empty heart, could fill a hollow tooth - but not a hollow life, could fill a plate, but not a life. It takes much stronger food than meat and potatoes to do that - it takes love and Jesus is Love and with Him - we can all find that fulfillment! So - I trust you will stick with me - and you will get some great (well I think they are) recipes to cook and enjoy - but with God's help - some recipes to an abiding life in Him as well.
Super Bowl is nearing and the HYPE is growing. Here is a recipe that is so easy - and so good! It disappears nearly as fast as you can cook it. Thanks to Shellie Arnold with Azalea Bell Catering - here is DATES STUFFED WITH FETA CHEESE that she served at my Mom's 90th birthday party! She was married to my dad over 50 years before he passed away.
DATES STUFFED WITH FETA CHEESE
Pitted Dates
Feta Cheese
Bacon - strips cut into thirds
Split the dates on one side and stuff with Feta cheese. Wrap with bacon and fasten with toothpicks. Bake at 400 degrees for about 18 minutes or until bacon is done. Make as many as you need - but just remember - people will love them - so make plenty!!!
Another easy and favorite recipe!!
SPICY TORTILLA ROLL-UPS
1 -8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 (2 oz.) can chopped black olives
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
1 (4 oz.)jar sliced pimentos, drained
2 green onion, minced
3 Tablespoons hot pepper sauce
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
10 -10 inch flour tortillas
In medium size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, olives, chiles, pimentos, green onions, hot sauce and fresh cilantro. Spread the mixture onto tortillas. Roll the tortillas up and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Slice the rolls and serve with salsa for dipping. Delicious!
NOTE: You can put just about anything with the cream cheese and roll them up -- but this is very good!!!
Well - what a night -- I'd better get off before something bad happens again -- or I fall over on my computer and delete it myself! Take care - cook something good - and COMMIT to love the one you love until death do you part. If you are not there yet - don't say "I do" until you can! God Bless!!!
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