TIME SURE FLIES!!

Seems like only yesterday - I was sitting here in this same spot - a year younger, several pounds thinner and waiting on 2011 to appear!  Now it is early evening -- but the year is winding down!! For many, including us - it has been a good year - good health - good jobs - wonderful church friends - wonderful family - including my 94 year old Mom - but for many it hasn't been so good.  One friend lost her dad, her husband, her favorite uncle, and her cousin's husband - that is so sad - and it could be any of us!  So my prayer is that 2012 will be a better year for all of us and that we each will live to our fullest, reach our goals - and always keep Christ centermost in our lives.

These holidays have been full of food.  I have made about 3 of my chocolate pies with the mile high  merrainge!  Travis made one for the Man Pie Contest at church -- but the pan was cleaned out so fast - enough people could not get a taste to vote on it -- so he lost!  He was disappointed - but also recognized the pan was empty and several told him how good it was!  Anyway - let's pass the baton around!!  I absolutely did not want Ham for Christmas - it seemed we had had ham from Thanksgiving until Christmas at every event -- but my sweet Mom bought one -- so I cooked it because she wanted it.  I got to thinking about her and her age (94) and knew she loved dressing for Christmas - so I made our Chicken and Dressing and she exclaimed over it - "Oh I am so glad we are having dressing -- it just makes it seem more like Christmas!"  I am so glad I did one thing right!!!   It was a great Christmas -- so thankful we could have her with us.  She was feeling so good -- but on Tuesday of this week she started feeling bad - and we can't discover the reason and it scares us.  I know how blessed we have been - but we want the blessing to continue!!

One of the things that I enjoyed cooking was the Peach Cobbler that my friend Marilena gave me.  It was her "Granny's" peach cobber - so I made it last night to take to our neighbors and brought the pan back  across the street almost empty.  I have probably posted it before - but who wants to search for it -- so here it is!!

GRANNY'S PEACH COBBLER

Use  a 9 x 12" pan, cut up a stick of butter (several big chunks) into pan.

Set pan in oven.  Turn oven to 425 degrees.

While butter is melting, mix together:
1 cup Pioneer Original Baking Mix
1 cup Sugar
3/4 cup Milk - whole is good, 2% is good, Half and Half is best
1 Teaspoon vanilla flavoring

When butter is melted:
Pour batter into hot pan; spoon peaches  (1 large can and 1/4 th cup of the juice) and I added another small can of peaches) over the batter.  Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture to taste.  (About 3 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
Return to 425 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Then redue heat to 340 degrees and bake for about 30 minutes.   Make sure it is good and golden brown and bubbly and remove.

The recipe is wonderful - the more you bake i - you will be comfortable with your preferences.

Enjoy!!  )The original basic recipe is used at THE OLD STORE IN GALLATIN!  (Look up where Gallatin is -- I had to!!!)

I have already posted another of my favorites - the Sweet Pepper Glaze Dip - I am making it for tomorrow - but Sweet Gourmet is out of the Heritage Sweet Pepper Glaze - so I am going to us the Cranberry Jalapeno Jelly they stock in the place of the Sweet Pepper Glaze!!!

I am also doing my neighbor's baby back ribs.  She had them last night and they were wonderful.  She had marinated them and then cooked them in a big pot for about 2-1/2 hours with two big bottles of Jack Daniel's barbeque sauce.  Brookshires didn't have the Jack Daniel's barbeque sauce - so I bought the KC Masterpiece Original - I've used it before and it is wonderful.  The ribs are marinating right now and I probably can't even remember everything I put on them- but it all blends together and will be wonderful.  My blackeyes are ready - and they are seasoned rather well too - awesome actually - so I will take them out of Crock Pot and put in the ribs about 3 in the morning1 

Enough cooking for the evening.  Looking forward to Tim's message tomorrow - Mark is on a much deserved vacation - and then an afternoon with friends.   God is so good - and sends us the right people at just the right moment.  May HE continue to bless each of you - and each of you listen for HIS instructions.  Good night and talk to you next year!!!

WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEK

How is everyone? I am wonderful – not even tired.  OF course, this is Saturday not Sunday night or Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday or Friday!  We worked so hard to pull off the “Perfect Christmas Brunch” for church last Sunday – and not to brag – except on the awesome people that worked non-stop with me to make it such – it was the “Perfect Christmas Brunch.”  We served Breakfast Enchiladas, which involved cooking 25 lbs. sausage, 30 dozen eggs and making over a gallon of homemade cheese sauce for them.  Also the filling and rolling them up was involved. These were served with salsa and sour cream, and jalapenos.   Thanks to Gwynn, Billie, Michelle P., Brenda, and Pam -- and all the others that played a big part.  Also on the menu were Baked French Toast with a Hint of Orange, and Baked French Toast with Praline Topping – which about 25 gracious and wonderful ladies made for us!  Of course there was the traditional Ham with yeast rolls, and old fashion sausage gravy, jelly, juice, milk and coffee!    Then of course, it all had to be cleaned up – but some great friends stopped by to help us!  All and all we are thankful it is over, thankful it went so well and was so well received, and looking forward to doing something much simpler next year!!!

I also hosted a brunch for the Pilot Club ladies on Saturday morning and the menu was quite different – but also well received.

I have lots to say today – I thought about calling it “Rant’s and Rave’s” but didn’t want to infringe on the Tyler Paper, so I will just call it “Likes and Dislikes!”  So for the dislikes – here goes!

First – what is the deal with manufacturers that keep downsizing the amount of food in a container and upping the price for us to pay for less, or changing the packaging?  It is getting pretty hard to do “Grandma’s Hot Sweet Pickles” or Aunt Nelda’s Coconut Cake” when you can no longer buy a five pound bag of sugar, or a 10-1/2 oz. can of coconut!  Those are just examples of how recipes' products no long fit our old heirloom recipes!  I was trying to buy fruit for my Warm Fruit Compote – and not one can in the store fit the ounces description on the recipe!  I know change is good – but not in the grocery store!!!

 
Second – whoever invented the “Tacky Christmas Sweater Party” is pretty tacky.  Taking something that many women still wear and look forward to December so they can pull out their beautifully embellished sweaters to wear and making fun of them is just plain mean!  Wonder what they wear that we could laugh at – those short little skirts that barely cover the things that need to be covered with those knee high boots – or those skin- tight tights that need a shirt over them because they leave absolutely nothing to the imagination??  So – to the ladies that wear Christmas Sweaters – I say “More Power to you!!! Enjoy them!”

Third - and this is the one of the worst of all! The other day on the radio the disk jockey said they had been receiving calls from listeners asking if they could play some holiday music that didn’t include “Christmas or Christ.”   So they said that you could Google anything on the internet and find anything, and they had some music that left “Christ”mas out – and they played a line or two of the horribly butchered songs such as Silent Night and Little Town of Bethlehem.  Then the disk jockey said “There you are and Merry Christmas!”  He followed it with a great Christmas song – so I know they didn’t like it anymore than I did – but you know – if someone doesn’t want to hear a song about Christmas – I think all radios have off buttons – so turn it off and leave us alone. 

Fourth:  Tyler traffic - especially in wet weather and most especially - Christmastime traffic.  People are absolutely crazy - and have no idea how to drive.  I don't have time to tell you all of the crazy things I have seen just this week. 

Now – surely you are tired of “Dislikes” – so some things I really like.

1. Christmas Songs – I could listen to them all year long – they make me feel good and thankful that I live in a country where they can be heard!

2.  Even though I have not been able to attend many of the classes lately, I love our Women of the Word classes and the service projects that we undertake.  That is what Christianity is about – helping others – isn’t that what Christ did? 

3.  I like getting ready for Christmas – thinking about people that I want to remember with a kindness of some kind – and hearing from old friends even if it is just this one time a year!  I guess I enjoy the hustle and bustle because I sure do a lot of it this time of the year.

4.  And lastly – I like the readers of my blog and the people who comment on some recipe they have tried.  It makes it all worthwhile! 

And to that end – I have something that I want you to read!  I heard it read at Travis’ Pine Cove Christmas party!  It is called “Parable of the Birds” and was originally written by Louis Cassels, in 1959.  This is the adaptation of the “Parable of the Birds” by a Chaplan Sam Houchins.I've heard that for years Paul Harvey has read it on his radio show!!

                                                            “PARABLE OF THE BIRDS”

This is the story about a modern man, one of us.  He was not a Scrooge.  He was a kind, decent, mostly good man, generous to his family, upright in his dealings with others.  But he did not believe in all that incarnation stuff that the churches proclaim at Christmas time.  It just didn’t make sense to him and he was too honest to pretend otherwise.  He just could not buy the Jesus story about God coming to earth as a man.

 Now it was Christmas Eve and the family was getting ready for church.  “I’m truly sorry to distress you,” he told his wife, “but I’m not going with you to church this evening.” He said he’d feel like a hypocrite.  Rather, he would stay home while they went.  But, he promised, he would wait up for them.  So, he stayed and they went.

Shortly after the rest of the family drove away, snow began to fall.  He went to the window and watched the flurries getting heavier and heavier.  It was one of those picture-postcard winter evenings. So he walked back to his comfortable fireside chair and began reading his newspaper.  Soon, though, his leisure was abruptly interrupted.  He was startled by a loud “thud,” quickly followed by another.  And then another.  “What could that be?”

At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window.  But when he went to investigate, he found a pitiful flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow.  They had been caught in the storm, and in a desperate search for shelter they had tried to fly through his large picture window.

 “I can’t let those poor creatures lie there and freeze,” he thought.  He was, after all, a reasonably compassionate man.  “But how could I possibly help them?”

Then he remembered the barn out back where his children stabled their pony.  That would provide a warm shelter – if only he could direct the birds to it.  He quickly put on his coat and boots and trampled through the deepening snow to the barn.  He opened the doors wide and turned on the light to show the poor birds the way.  But the birds didn’t go in.

“Food will bring them in,” he thought.  So he hurried back to the house and fetched bread crumbs, which he hastily sprinkled on the snow to make a trail from near where the birds were into the safety of the barn.

But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow.  He tried catching them.  He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waiving his arms.  None of that worked.  Instead they scattered in every direction – except into the protection of the warm, lighted barn.

“They find me a strange and terrifying creature,” he said to himself.  “If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me.  If only I could convince them---if only I could show them I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them.  But how?  Any move he made tended to frighten the birds, confuse them.  They just would not follow.  They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

In frustration and with a growing sense of urgency as the storm grew and the birds plight worsened, an odd thought came to him: “If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes, perhaps I could lead them to safety.  If only I could mingle with them and speak their language, and tell them to not be afraid, and show them the way to the safe, warm barn.  But I’d have to be one of them, so they could see and hear and understand and not be afraid.”

At that moment the sound of the church bells pierced the frigid night, reaching the man’s ears clearly even above the sound of the howling winter winds.  He stood there, suddenly awestruck, listening to the pealing of the bells and their age-old message.  Joy To The World.  Oh Holy Night.  Away In A Manger.  These were all Christmas carols he had heard since childhood.  But they never before affected him in the way they now did. 

Then, there in the snow, he sank to his knees, gazed heavenward and, choked with emotion, whispered, “Now I understand.  Now I see why you had to do it.”

“In this the love of God was manifested toward is. That God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him….And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”  (1 John 4:9,14.)

Jesus said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  (John 18-37)

I think we have all experienced this feeling of frustration in trying to make someone understand and wishing we could communicate in their language or ability.  Whether it is with someone with a disability, or from another country, it is hard for us to do – God surely felt the same way about us!

I do have some recipes for you.  Some – tried and delicious with great reviews!  One – I first did for the Pilot Club brunch and just about everyone there wanted the recipe. 

                                WARM FRUIT COMPOTE

2 (15-1/4 oz.) cans sliced pears, drained
1 (29 oz.) can sliced peaches, drained
1 (20 oz) can Chunk pineapple, drained
1 pkg. (20 oz.) pitted dried plums
1 (16 oz.) jar unsweetened applesauce
¾ cup Dried Cranberries (Optional)
1 21 oz) can Cherry Pie Filling
¼ cup brown sugar

Combine first six fruits and pour in 9 x 13” casserole dish

Top with Cherry Pie Filling and sprinkle the brown sugar on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Delicious!!!

Another new and wonderfully different chicken salad recipe is this:

                               CHUTNEY CHICKEN SALAD

3 Cups chopped cooked chicken

2/3 cup raisins *
1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
2 tablespoons minced green onions
½ tsp. salt
2/3 cup prepared chutney
6 tablespoons low-fat Greek yogurt
      1)      In a large bowl, combine chicken, rains, pecans, green onions, and salt

2)      In a small bowl, combine chutney and yogurt.  Add to chicken mixture, stirring gently to combine.  Cover and chill up to 3 days.  Serve on toast rounds.   ** Note:    I substituted dried cranberries for raisins. 

Today we attended a sweet wedding of a very dear friend's son and the bride was beautiful and the groom so young and handsome.  Our prayer is that God will always be first in their lives and that they will continue to love one another forever - as they promised before God and all of their friends and relatives.

Guess this is about all the time I have and I’m sure each of you are just as busy.

Keep safe, and find time to stop and help someone this wonderful season!  Lift a spirit, calm a fear, spread the Word!

A GREAT SHOPPING WEEKEND

One night late - after driving 100 miles in pouring rain, wrecks happening all around me, dodging car parts rolling accross 635 - needless to say I was exhausted when we arrived home, thanks to the good Lord above, safely!  My sister, sweet niece and daughter, and I had a wonderful shopping trip to Dallas - and for the first time in the history of my Christmas shopping - I am almost through!!!  Our experience at the Galleria and Macy's was amazing.  I added up what I had charged on my Macy's card and the total savings was over $500 and I didn't charge near that amount!!  (Strange things happen though -- I was looking online at my Macy's account and they showed I had paid a large amount on my card in November - double what I thought it was.  I checked my bank account and sure enough I had only paid them once - and the credit showed two payments.  I called them and after about 15 or 20 minutes, they said that for them to take one of the credits off, I would have to fax them bank statement showing only one payment had come out.  So I did what they ask, but I told Kathy at work that I had never worked so hard to prove I owed someone money!!!)   We loved staying at the Westin and just going to second floor and walking straight into the mall! 

Travis said I missed one of Mark's best sermons - don't see how - they have all been amazing lately!!

I am looking forward to a very busy weekend - Pilot Club Brunch and Christmas party at my house Saturday morning - and then on to the church - to help my wonderful friends, Gwynn, Michelle, and Billie prepare brunch for our entire church!!  We think we have a wonderful menu planned - and are so thankful our Elders and staff allow us to do this for our brothers and sisters.

Last week I gave you the recipe for the Sweet Pepper Glaze Dip and it was funny - in the paper on Wednesday, Christine had the recipe published in the paper.  She also gave credit to Pam Gabriel and Sweet Gourmet!  Sure glad I did it first!!!
Don't you love going to a tea or ladies party and having cucumber sandwiches.  I am always looking for a great recipe and this one sounds wonderful!  Now I haven't tried it -- but I plan to!!!

HERBED GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES
(Makes 40 to 45 sandwiches0

For The Spread

8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
10-1/2 ox. mild goat cheese, at room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, (2 cloves)
1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme leaves
3 Tablespoons  minced fresh parsley
5 to 6 tablespoons milk, half and half or heavy cream
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE SANDWICHES
2 loaves 7-grain bread, thinly sliced
1 hothouse cucumber, not peeled

1) For the spread, place the cream cheese, goat cheese, garlic, thyme, parsley, 5 tablespoons milk, salt and pepper in the bowl of an electric mixed fited with the paddle attachment.  Beat on medium speed until well mixed.  Add an additional tablespoon of milk if the spread is too thick. 
2.  To make the sandwiches, spread each slice of bread with tthe goat cheese spread.  Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and arrange on half the bread slices.  Top with the remaining bread.  Press slightly, trim off the crusts and cut the sandwiches into halves, thirds or triangles. 

A JON CAROLE TIP:  This was given to me by my 94 year old Mom - after having made zillions of sandwiches and fought crusts -- she told me to use my electric knife to take off crust - and it is amazing - clean - fast - smooth!!  One of the best tips I've ever had!

The second best was when Travis discovered that instead of struggling with sausage ball dough - getting your hands in it and wearing yourself out - put all of the ingredients in the mixer, mix well - and then roll out the balls.  Takes half the time and everything is mixed so much better!!! 

Have a great tomorrow - or today if you are reading this on Tuesday!
We have an opportunity at church to serve -- there is a young lady that needs meals and we have the change to take "freezer meals" - that we make -- not from Sam's please!, and help her out!!  Have thought of a dozen things to do - just got to nail it down, get it made - and get it to the church on Wednesday night!!!

May God bless each of you!!  Until next week - or wheneve I have something I need to share with you - Good night!!!