oA WEEK OF WORK - ALL WORTH IT -- FOR THE INSPIRATION THAT CAME AT THE END OF IT!

My - what a busy weekend this turned out to be!  Busy but rewarding -- in more than one way!  My weekend actually started last weekend - when we started gathering groceries for cooking for Wednesday night at church.  Tuesday night we started making chili - which the finished product is worth the trouble -- but when you are doing six times your original recipe -- cooking 22 lbs. of meat is an overpowering job.  Then there are all the onions to chop, the cans to open, the tablespoons to measure!  Oh well, we had some compliments -- the real compliments come when you get asked for the recipe - and that happened too.  This was posted way back in either October 2010 or November 2010 -- so I am going to post it again tonight.  It is just too hard to find something published that far back!!  Then on Thursday evening, I went to get the groceries I needed to make 6 times my recipe of Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup. (posted September 11, 2011)  Cooked it on Friday evening for a Ladies Day event at church on Saturday.  An awesome day -- it was a true reward to all who attended -- well, if they were affected like I was!  The morning started with a little ice breaker and then Amy Clem gave a very inspiring and thoughtful devotional.  Amy is one of our young ladies at church and it is so wonderful to see a young person with a heart like hers - so devoted to loving the Lord and willing to share that love through her delightful personality and talent.  As she continues to grow, she will be an awesome and inspiring speaker for the Lord.  As the morning progressed Melody Parker, daughter-in-law of John and Janet Parker brought a wonderful lesson.  We had heard her before and were definitely blessed by her coming back to discuss "Recipes for Life."  She reminded us of how important it for us to take care of our bodies and how what we do at one age will affect how our bodies hold out for years to come.  She stressed proper rest, diet and exercise, and prayer.  But with prayer, she brought home our responsibilty to do our part - such as teaching our children properly, taking care of them, etc.  Here I have to say, I was guilty as sin of taking on more than I should, and certainly of not taking care of myself - after finding out I have several cracked ribs.

Then it was time for lunch - a lunch of soup, salad and desserts.  Billie Usrey made a wonderful Cheese Tortellini soup and I made my Creamy Broccoli Cheese soup.  Barbara Warner made a deliciously mixed green salad filled with fresh apples, cranberries, and walnuts.  Then several ladies brought scrumptious cakes for dessert.  The room was transformed into a beautiful fall setting with very pretty rented table toppers and decorations borrowed from Prime Timers, Billie, Barbara, and Beth.  All and all it was a wonderful combined effort.  We had prepared for the 90 people that signed up - we rented 100 china bowls, 100 forks, spoons, and tablecloths to cover tables for 100.  We used glass plates and glasses.  Of course, we were very disappointed by only 50 showing up.  We had paid for at least half of what we didn't need.  We understand that some emergencies occur, but 40???

After lunch Melody spoke to us again - taking us through a couple of exercises to give us practical ways to alleviate tension and clutter.  She was as amazing and inspiring in the afternoon as in the morning.  She is an amazing young woman with six children, the oldest 14 and the youngest only 5 months old.  She teaches, does inspiring talks, cooks, takes care of her family, and finds time to read and study her Bible, other family enrichment books,  and be good friends with many! 

The only other thing I want to say about our Saturday event - is that I felt so privileged to get to help with the food and just thank Barbara Warner for allowing me to help.  I also truly enjoyed working with Billie.  She and I have the same philosphy - "Do it right or Don't do it at all!!"

If you have seen us lately, you will have noticed that Michelle has lost weight and looks so cute -- but all of her pants are almost falling off - they are just way too big.  So I took her shopping this afternoon -- and in our quest - we shopped 4 different stores - but she came home with some really nice and cute size 6 Petite pants - and a cute top!  Yes - Mom was in pain - but determined she would have pants that fit!  SHE did this all on her own - slowly - just cutting back on her food and being more picky about what she ate.  I am so proud of her!

Ok - here is the recipe I promised:
REAL TEXAS CHILI
                       Jon Carole Gilbreath

 3 Lbs. Ground meat (I like to mix really lean meat half and half with chili meat – you get better chili)
1 Cup Flour
2 Tablespoons salt
2 Teaspoons black pepper
Work the above ingredients together until all of the flour is worked into meat.  Saute` slowly in a large, heavy pan until meat begins to change color – then add:

2 Medium onions, chopped

3 Tablespoons minced garlic
Allow to cook until done, but not brown, stirring frequently.

Then add 2 quarts hot water and simmer one hour.

Next – add:
4 Tablespoons Paprika
6 Tablespoons Chili Powder
2 Tablespoons Cumin
2 Small cans tomato sauce
Simmer for 1 hour, stirring gently, but often.  Add more salt, pepper, or some Tabasco sauce to taste.  Best when made 24 hours before serving. 
Freezes well – makes great enchiladas too!!

Here is the other recipe some asked for:  The drizzle of salad dressing on the salad both on Wednesday night and Saturday.  They were made without measuring - but this is the measured recipe:

DRESSING
Combine:
1 cup Extra virgin olive oil ( or canola oil)
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
2 minced or pressed fresh garlic cloves or 1 tablespoon of dried minced garlic or omit salt and use 1 T garlic salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4th teaspoon cayenne pepper

Wisk together the sugar and remaining six ingredients together until sugar starts to dissolve.  Then while wisking, slowly add olive oil, continuing to wisk until it begins to slighly thicken.  Wisk really good again before drizzling onto salad.  NOTE:  It will not take all of this for a salad with even 5 to 6 cups of mixed greens.  Go lightly!!!  Enjoy!!!

I hope you enjoyed my journey back through Saturday as much as I have.  IT is good to have a reminder about how inspiring these young women were!!!
 Well - I had something really inspiring to give you tonight - but I will save it and go get some of that rest that Melody said we need!

I hope each of you feel as blessed as I do - to have a wonderful family - and to have the privilege of a good deed now and then!  May God bless each of you and your efforts!