My - the weekend is over and I must say - "It was a busy one!" Busy but mostly rewarding. Gwen and I met at the church at 8:30 Saturday morning and by about 10:30 - we had the equivilent of 12 Sopapilla Cheesecakes made! - It took about 18 cups of sugar, 24 -8 oz. packages of cream cheese and I'm not even sure how much butter and vanilla was used. Oh - and 24 cans of crescent rolls. We then delivered them to the ETCA gym for the evening's annual dinner and auction. Then I came home and made the icing for my strawberry cake and completed my Cherries Jubilee for the auction. They both turned out really nice - guess I held my mouth just right!! Just an old saying! Today Michelle and Maura and I went to church and then to Chili's for lunch! Travis woke up all stuffy and feeling really bad so Michelle and I basically tried to stay away most of the day. This evening after church we went grocery shopping and to the drug store. I have spent the last hour and half cleaning my kitchen of clutter. It seems to grow overnight! I proably made 10 trips to the recycle bin and garbage! It is clean clutter -- but we get so much junk mail and most of the time I don't want to bother with looking at it so it stacks up! Sure looks better now!! When I get in this mood - nothing is sacred -- well I didn't throw away any cookbooks or recipes!
Tonight as our preacher was talking - he mentioned all the "quick fix" things this world offers! People want their marriages, their jobs, their mates "quick fixed." There are books "on How to --- quickly!" You fill in the blank. I let my mind wander for a few minutes and thought about how this also applies to cooking. How many books I've seen on "Fast suppers", "Quick desserts", "Super fast breakfasts" - and I realize those are sometimes necessary -- but I've also heard people say "If it has over 3 ingredients - I won't make it!" Well - let me tell you -- they are missing out on some very good food! Cooking is an art that takes time - study, practice, patience, study, and following! Where else do we find these principals? The Bible - right! There are two things that to me are very rewarding! One - when I follow God's advise (or commandment) and love someone that needs love but doesn't want you to know it - or I have helped someone! Equally rewarding to me is to follow a new recipe and have it turn out exactly as it should! How many of you have attempted to make bread from scratch? I don't mean banana nut bread out of a box - I mean made with yeast and kneading, and letting it rise, then making out the loaves or rolls - and letting it rise again - then baking? It takes time, practice, patience, following the recipe exactly! Then comes the reward -- seeing it rise even higher in the oven and the sweet aroma that fills the house! Helping someone come to know Christ takes the same - study, time, practice, patience and following God's instructions. Then our actions are a sweet aroma to God! So whatever you do - take the time to do it right -- don't search for a "quick fix!"
Early this summer I am going to be helping with a wedding and preparing food for it. I am about to start making some different dips, etc., for the bride-to-be and her family to try - to see which they would prefer for the guests! It will take time but should be worth the effort!
This afternoon I watched (basically it was mostly just listening)a video taking about loosing weight and the foods that were bad for us -- and I thought I was pretty savy about these things but I was wrong about quite a few. They said that the whole wheat bread that is pushed as being so healthy is not really and it also turns to sugar (OUR NO. 1 ENEMY) and that we should look for a bread that is made from sprouts and nuts. I already have been buying the Ezekiel bread (you can find it at Drug Emporium) and it is made from sprouts and other good things. (I was told you could eat the entire loaf in one day and not gain weight!) Also listed on the "bad list" was Canola Oil,- which I thought was "the good stuff!" In addition, was pasta (even the wheat kind), the packaged microwaveable foods - such as Weight Watchers and Lean Cusine, and orange juice. (They all turn to fat in our bodies!) The good list included - of all things - rice, sprouts, all fruits, vegetables - sweet potatoes (not the white ones), butter, olive oil, eggs, bacon,avacados,and nuts. So - I bought some chicken and ground turkey, brocolli, lettuce, and asparagus. I am going to try to prepare Michelle and I healthy foods for lunch! I'll just have to fit that in with everything else I do. So - I am still going to give you lots of recipes -- some with really good ingredients and some with really bad ingredients - but that do taste really good! Looking through a magazine today - searching for pictures of plants for my little niece I ran across this recipe and it sounds so good!
NEW SOUTH JALAPENO PIMENTO CHEESE
1 (8oz)block extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shreded
1/2 (oz) block mild Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1- 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 (7 oz.) jar diced pimentos, drained
1/2 (12 oz.) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained
1/4 cup drained pickled jalapeno pepper slices
1/8 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Process first three ingredients in a food processor 45 seconds or until well blended. Add pimento and next 4 ingredients, and pulse 5 to 6 times or to desired consistency. Cover and chill. Serve with crackers or bread slices.
This is really different from my recipe that I've already given you - but it peaked my interest! So try it -- and let me know!!!
The next recipe I am giving you is one I plan to make this week -- not quite sure why I bought so many groceries - we are supposed to go out to eat the first two nights of the work week! First to El Charro's for Sue and I to celebrate our birthdays together and then on Tuesday - we are going to FISH CITY GRILL because they are generously donating 15% of their entire day's proceeds to the American Red Cross - another one of my passions! So - I sure want to do my part!!! Hope you will too!!!
BROCCOLI SALAD (Jon Carole's version)
1 Bag (Sam's) broccoli rosettes
1 Large red onion, chopped
1/2 cup bacon bits
1-1/2 cups dried cranberries
1 large can mandarin oranges, chopped
1-1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon black pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper - Optional
Place the broccoli into a colander. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil; pour over broccoli. Immediately rinse with ice water (have this premade!) Chop the broccoli into small bite size pieces (about the size of a nickel); add the bacon bits, mandarian oranges, cranberries and onion. Mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and peppers. Pour over broccoli mixture and chill well!
Now for some more words from HANDBOOK 2010
SOCIETY
1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. Remember - what other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!
Have a blessed evening - get up refreshed and ready go do something good! Take the time to bless someone else. God's Will - I'll be back!!!
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