Sunday Afternoon Tea- Seasons of life

I've been thinking a lot about seasons.  Partly because Spring is trying to arrive in my part of the world.  It snowed this weekend but I saw one yellow daffodil shivering in the cold wind.  Spring will win eventually.

Part of my ponderings about seasons came about when my daughter told me about a book she was reading and how it made her feel a little guilty.  She couldn't practice the kind of hospitality the author was suggesting that Christians should provide to others.

I knew how she felt because some books have had that affect on me.  They challenge others to adopt third world children or visit prisoners or move to the slums to minister or at least open one's house to an entire neighborhood in the name of Jesus.  I always have to stop and ponder that this is neither my calling, nor my season in life to do such ministry.

Which is what I told her since she is an incredibly busy homeschooling mother of five children, active in their CC co-op, and their church.  Not to mention all the other work moms have to accomplish each week.  I reminded her that she indeed does show hospitality when she has another family over for a cookout (they live next to a lake) or a sleepover for a child's friend.

We are finite creatures who live one day at a time, which becomes one year at a time, and before we know it we look back and wonder where the decades have gone.  But God knows this Truth and He doesn't expect us to do any more or any less than the season we are currently living in... that for which He has equipped us and given us the grace needed for the present season.

For instance, the season of life that I "had people over" the most were the years when my daughter was in college and my son was elementary school age.  We lived in a large house that seemed to be built for having people over, whether family dinners or larger parties with a crowd.  We hosted our daughter and son-in-law's wedding open house in our home, Christmas parties, Thanksgiving celebrations, the family get together after my mother's funeral, and many times of friends dropping by.

I have had family members ask if I miss that house and I can say that most of the time I don't.  I do miss the formal dining room that had doors one could shut leading to both the kitchen and the formal living room. It was so nice to set the dining room table days before an important event like a Holiday.  Otherwise, I have neither the financial nor health resources to take care of such a large house these days.

Another area of my life that went through a huge change was working with politics and the "culture wars" as a Christian. Just as when I worked in Organization Development, I absorbed information about business and leadership... the season of political activity filled my reading and watching with news programs, news magazines, etc.

I do not have the desire to be political these days.  Neither do I have the grace for that battle, anymore.  What do I mean?  Well, I have noticed that when we are walking in the will of God for that season of our life, then there is a balance between our interests and our ability to do the work He has called us to do.  We can walk through the storms in peace when He is the one leading us there.

During that season in my life, I could watch arguments between politicians and not only follow them in what they were saying but I enjoyed doing so.  I loved reading books about political figures.  Now I look at such things and make the proverbial sign of the cross, as if they were blood sucking vampires. 

Now, if God was still calling me to be involved, then He would also provide the interest and the grace in which to walk in the midst of the chaos with gusto.  Which is how Christians whom I respect are able to stand firm and knowledgeable in the battle of the culture wars.  They are there "for such a time as this".  My time has passed...

Sometimes our changes of season are sudden such as a graduation, new job, marriage, the death of a parent, when the last child graduates from high school, etc.  Sometimes the change is gradual.  Both of my children kinda' merged into college (it's a long story... two stories, actually).

My illness has been progressive through the years, at first I only noticed that I could no longer walk three miles a day and that I was thirsty all the time.  I had lost weight but that was a good thing, right?  Twenty years later and it affects every hour of every day.  However, I have friends who went to the hospital for annual tests and had their world change overnight with the results of x-rays or biopsies.

What I have found in each season... both walking through the good seasons and the unpleasant... is that God is not surprised by the change of seasons in our life.  He is there ahead of us, making provision and giving grace for that season of life, that part of the road of life for which we find ourselves walking.

Sometimes I think of the enjoyable days of past seasons of life but when asked if I would want to relive anything... not really. This is where God has me right now, this day.  This is where His grace is given.  Not yesterday.  Not tomorrow.  He gives His grace where we are right now.

When I looked at that daffodil in the snow yesterday, the word that came to me was... Hope.  What a lovely symbol for the soon to be Spring season but also Hope for that Eternal Spring which is to come. 

My mother had been bedridden for a long time before she passed away.  As I whispered to her when she was getting ready to leave this world, while holding her hand... "It won't be long now and you will be able to run again!".

This place is not our true home.  This is but the shadow-land of the real Home. The One who holds our Forever can be trusted to keep us through each season we walk here... until He welcomes us There.

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Some more of my favorite things

I appreciated the Comments from last week's post.  I completely forgot my 12" Lodge cast iron skillet.  I bought it the year we went to Colonial Williamsburg to make the cornbread recipe I brought home.  I also use it for those rare times I make my mother's fried chicken recipe and when a recipe calls for a cast iron skillet.

I have only recently learned the difference between vintage cast iron skillets and the newer skillets.  Vintage cast iron skillets tend to be thinner, making them less heavy.  It has to do with the way they are molded now.  There were a few more differences, I believe one is that some of them had straighter sides. 

I have a smaller vintage iron skillet that I don't use often so I pulled it out of the cabinet and sure enough... it was exactly as they said... thinner, lighter, and with straighter sides.  All the skillets work great when properly taken care of but the lighter weight of the vintage cast iron skillets has me thinking I should have checked into them the times my daughter and I went to Brimfield.

I have one other pricey favorite thing to share before moving on to much less expensive food items.  When I was in my early 30s, I had the opportunity to purchase either a Cuisinart food processor or a Kitchen Aid stand mixer.  At the time, I didn't bake very much so I chose the Cuisinart, which gave me about twenty years of good service.  It fit the style of cooking I did at that time.

Then about eighteen (or so) years ago, Kitchen Aid had a great price on their Professional series stand mixers.  I was doing a lot of baking and at the time I could afford the sale price, since then the red stand mixer has been one of my very special things in the kitchen.

If you have never owned a very good stand mixer, it makes baking so much quicker and easier.  That's how I can still bake cookies and such for Holiday gifts.  The only thing I no longer use it for is making bread, just due to decreasing energy.  For that, the bread machine gifted to me by a dear friend has made all the difference... and is one of my favorite things in the kitchen.  I use the dough cycle a couple times a week.

Having said that, a lot of my favorite things are inexpensive ways to add flavor by using spices, herbs, and condiments.  Many of them have been talked about here before and I will only provide a link to Amazon to give information when I think it is needed.  Otherwise, most items are available at the grocery store and often much cheaper.

First, the condiments I love.  In the interest of keeping this somewhat shorter, I won't mention the obvious things like Hellman's mayo.  Hmmm... I guess I did just mention it.

However, there are some items I added in the last few years.  Probably the most unusual (for me) was the addition of Sriracha hot chili sauce.  I get the brand with the rooster on it.  I don't like foods that are too hot but I do like a little heat.  My husband likes... no heat at all.

I have found Sriracha makes it easy to add a little heat to smaller servings without adding it to the entire dish.  For instance, I add a little Sriracha to my goulash serving and not to the entire skillet.  I like a little Sriracha over my scrambled eggs.  One "recipe" I use it in for both of us is when I make crustless quiche, just the tiniest couple of drops in the mixture adds flavor and not too much heat.

Red pepper flakes provide the same little bit of heat and flavor, added to the oil with spices to flavor the oil before going on with the rest of the cooking.  Just the tiniest pinch is all that is needed.  If I'm making a recipe just for me, I'll add a little more but even I can't handle too much heat.  No wonder it is used so much in Italian, Spanish, etc. cooking.

Speaking of oil, do you remember The Frugal Gourmet?  He always said, "Hot wok, cold oil"?  I still remember that and now always heat the skillet before adding the oil (or a mixture of oil and butter).  But I digress...

I bought a small container of Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Chile and Garlic at Aldi's a couple months ago.  I usually toss "sliced or cubed" root veggies with California Olive Ranch Everyday Extra Virgin Olive Oil (another kitchen favorite) before putting them on a parchment lined half sheet to roast them. 

I gave the Carlini oil a try one time, tossing the root veggies in a bowl with it instead of olive oil before placing them on the sheet pan, and it worked great, just the slightest heat and great flavor.  It worked with potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash.

Another spice (mixture) that I don't use a lot but I find essential is Tajin.  I had been given a couple small sample jars at one time and found I liked the spice mixture.  I think I found mine in the section of the grocery store that sold Spanish and Mexican foods. 

I need to research ways to use it even more but my very favorite is how Nigella Lawson uses it... on melons.  I sprinkled it on watermelon last summer for the first time and used it each serving of watermelon after that.  It is another way to add a the tiniest bit of heat and flavor to individual servings.

A spice I have come to love and research ways to use it is sumac.  This citrus tasting spice from the Middle East is now showing up in more cooking shows.  Just recently, a Milk Street episode on PBS was all about using sumac.

I first tried it without realizing what it was.  I thought it was paprika sprinkled on the hummus my son and I enjoyed at a favorite restaurant near campus when he was in college.  Then I found out it was sumac!  Yum.

I bought a bag at the local Asian grocery store, which I'm still using today.  It is one of those spices that do not seem to lose their flavor when ground.  I do plan to replace that this summer since it has been in the pantry a long time.  I have used it when making homemade hummus and a summer favorite - Jerusalem Salad.  I have also seen it added to a basic lemon and oil salad dressing.

This is getting quite long so I'll continue with more "favorite things" next week.

Some Items Mentioned in this Post
Sriracha... here. 
Tajin seasoning... here.
Sumac... here. (This is a much smaller container than the bag I bought, good for trying it.)

If you have any specific questions, just leave them in Comments and I will answer them next week.  I think most other food items should be available at the grocery store.  Sriracha and Tajin are also available in my store but I live in an area with a lot of Spanish, Hispanic, and Asian people.

Recipes
Hummus... here.
Jerusalem Salad... here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

I apologize for any typos, my right eye has been giving me trouble today.  ;(

Image:  One shelf in my vintage (antique?) chimney style cabinet.

The NIV Maxwell Leadership Bible, a review

I enjoyed studying what makes a good leader from my years of working in Organization Development to the time I was on staff for a church.  John Maxwell's books and materials were well respected by both secular and church leadership.

I was very interested in seeing what information was in this Bible.  While not a Study Bible as one thinks, it will be a welcome addition to anyone wanting to learn more about all aspects of being a good leader from a Biblical standpoint.

Where a normal Study Bible would concentrate on theology, this Bible provides John Maxwell's teaching about leadership regarding individual Scripture verses as well as the various people we read about in the Word.

Included are The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Over 100 biographical profiles, Introductions to the books of the Bible, hundreds of short articles and read-as-you-go notes on mentoring and influence, and a topical index to Scripture and articles.

I was sent the Burgundy Bonded Leather Bible, which is one of the best actual Bibles to read I have enjoyed in a Study Bible.  It is a good size Bible, with comfort print font that is large enough for anyone who does not need a large print Bible, and the NIV version makes it very easy to read.  (This Bible is also available in the NKJV.)

I recommend The Maxwell Leadership Bible to anyone who desires to learn more about becoming an excellent leader from a Biblical perspective, as well as great secular teaching. I probably would not use it as my primary Bible as I need more theological information, however, it would make an excellent resource in addition to such a Bible.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible was provided by the publisher for the sake of review but the opinions are my own.

More information about this NIV Bible can be found... here.
More information about this NIV Bible in hardcover can be found... here.
More information about the NKJV of this Bible can be found.. here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Sunday Afternoon Tea - How smiles helped heal my 9/11 trauma

I don't know exactly why the Christchurch shootings affected me as they did.  As one person there said to a reporter, "You people in America are used to mass shootings".  Unfortunately, he may be correct.  I have seen it on the news so many times that, unless something happens in my town, I tend to put it out of my mind after a week or so.

Perhaps it was because New Zealand doesn't experience these kinds of events and I think if it can happen there, it can happen... here.  In a place I always assumed is free from mass shootings.

Now, this will sound odd but I hope you stick with me to hear all of the story.  If taken out of context, you would think me against Muslims and that is not at all true.  I was greatly relieved that I could feel such grief but there is a story behind it.

We lived in the Detroit Metro area on 9/11, just off of 12 Mile Road in the suburb of Warren.  The City of Detroit proper begins at 8 Mile Road, made popular to those outside of Detroit by the movie starring Eminem by the same name.  That week was life changing to most Americans.  Innocence was lost.  America had not been attacked like that except for Hawaii and that was far out in the ocean.

That morning, my husband left early for the airport as he did most weeks.  Christopher and I always walked to our favorite diner after he left, one of our traditions for when "Dad travels".  I'm not sure why but in the Detroit area, most restaurants have TVs.  I was used to only sports bars having TVs at home.

I think it was Good Morning America that was on as we ate our breakfast and they were showing that a plane had flow into one of the towers of the World Trade Center.  At that time, they considered it an accident.  Then... as we watched... a second plane flew into the other tower.  This was not an accident.  America was under attack.

We had finished our breakfast so I quickly paid and we walked home.  I turned the TV on as soon as we walked through the door and like most homes, it stayed on all day, every day, for a long period of time.

There were two events  happening in addition to what we saw on TV that stayed with me for years.  First, we didn't know where my husband was until late that night.  If he had flown according to his original tickets, he could have been over Pennsylvania when that plane crashed.

We found out later that he was still in the air between Detroit and Chicago when the first tower was hit and didn't call because he was trying to rent a car to get back home.  He ended up having to take a taxi to a town in Northern Indiana where a rental car was available.  He made it home two days after the first plane hit.

The other event that most people don't realize is that Detroit was put on high alert as a possible target due to the factories making military equipment and vehicles.  We also were only a couple miles as the crow flies from the U. S./Canadian border crossing.  For what seemed like a very long time, one could hear the sounds of helicopters overhead continuously.

Another event in Detroit most people outside of the area may not remember is that the suburb of Dearborn has the largest Muslim population outside of the Middle East.  There were images on the local news of Muslims in the street... in a suburb not that far from us... celebrating the attack.

All of that combined brought about a form of PTSD in a lot of us after that time.  Mentally, I knew the Muslims I had met at home... in the University town... had been peaceful and friendly.  Mentally I knew that it was a small fraction of people who were celebrating in Dearborn.  But the fear I felt was overwhelming.  For a very long time.

I recall walking into a kitchen supply store to shop for a needed portable "island" for our kitchen and being met by a young woman who, by her dress, I knew was Muslim.  I almost wanted to run out of the store.  Thankfully, I didn't but it was hard.  She was very nice but all I could think of was what we had so recently been through.  The fear was still fresh in my head and my heart.

How did I get over it?  It happened when we moved back home a few years later and I once again spent a lot of time on campus.  It was the lovely Muslim women I met.  Now, the men rarely give American women any consideration.  They tend to walk by as if we are invisible.  I understand, it is a cultural thing.  However, many of the women... especially if they are alone or with their children... will give a shy smile.

I have remembered for a long time the story of a famous leader of another country who disliked America and the reason why.  It was because as a foreign student in an American University, he had not been invited into any American home.  I loved having my kid's foreign born friends into our home when possible.

Of course, I didn't know any of these women well enough to invite them even to meet for coffee.  Their culture would not have allowed it.  But what I could do was to smile and say hello when I saw one of them in the grocery store (as happened quite often), on the streets of campus, in the bookstore where I worked part time, etc.

So when I heard about the shooting at the Mosque, I didn't think about 9/11.  God had healed my heart of that trauma.  Instead, I thought of the young women... the young mothers... I have exchanged smiles with for so many years.  Women I have prayed for at each opportunity, just within my own mind and spirit but God knows them by name.

One thing you learn when involved in any campus ministry is how we think of churches sending missionaries out to the various lands but on a large college campus, we have many people from other countries coming to us.  How many of them did God lead here to meet Him?  Especially people in whose countries that do not allow the Bible and sharing Christ.

If there is one thing that our God does not allow in His people, it is a hatred of others just because they are different than us.  We cannot reach another with the message of Christ's redemption if we have anything against another.

We are definitely to act with wisdom and do that which is necessary to protect our land.  Yes, there are people in this world of various political agendas that want to destroy my country and most likely your country if you live elsewhere.  It has been that way throughout history, since the enemy of our souls asked that question in the Garden, "Did God really say...?".  Since then, he has planted seeds of hatred in some and distrust in all of us.  However...

God does not ever want us to look at a people group... He wants us to see the person.  

Sometimes all we can give a person is a smile and perhaps because we did, if enough of us were kind, they will return to their own country and see us differently than the descriptions they were told by their governments.

When I think of other countries these days, I think of the students from the countries that I came to know personally.  Especially those who were in my home.  Even those that I only knew for a few seconds in passing, exchanging smiles at the produce aisle.  God could use smiles to heal both our hearts.  I no longer felt that urge to run away.

We live in an age where not only nations are divided but these divisions can be felt within families.  The next time we think of "them" vs. "us", we must see the individual person instead of the people groups.  If I start to go a little nuts from Socialist-promoting people in Congress, I think of my good friend who campaigned for Bernie.  She cooks me soup and makes me smile.

Image:  Photo of firefighter Michael Saber on 9/11 by Yoni Brook, The Washington Post 

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Some of my favorite things

This post is late today for a good reason, my daughter and oldest granddaughter were in Kentucky this week and they traveled out of their way to visit us today. Piper and Oliver brought their parents, too!  It was a fun... albeit brief... family reunion, so quick that there wasn't time to miss the rest of our New England family but we will see them in late Spring.

My idea for this blog post came last week when I was using my favorite chef's knife.  I decided I want to share off an on some of my favorite things in the kitchen.  Today is about knives and cookware, those items we use on a daily or weekly basis.

I don't even remember how I came to have this Kitchen Aid knife!  I have always told people that the most important items to have for cooking are the best cookware you can afford and the best knives you can afford.  But this Kitchen Aid chef's knife changed my mind about the knives. 

I have had chef's knives that cost more but this inexpensive Kitchen Aid knife fits well in my hands and does a good job on (almost) anything I have to slice, chop, etc.  I admit (as she blushes), that I have excellent knife skills.  Although after watching all those British murder mysteries, maybe I should rephrase that.  I know how to use a chef's knife...

I think every cook needs a chef's knife and the knowledge of how to use it.  One used to have to take a class like I did eons ago but today I'm sure there are plenty of lessons on YouTube.  If needed, I could get by with just an 8" chef's knife, a good paring knife, and a long serrated knife.  The serrated knife is sometimes called a bread knife.

My daughter bought me the cutest colorful set of knives one year, for my birthday I think.  That set contained a carving knife and I had never owned one of them before.  It is actually perfect for... carving.  Go figure. I use it now for carving when I roast a chicken or turkey.

My paring knife I've used for awhile is the 4" Henckles paring knife.  It is not the original German made Henckles but the line that they have made in China.  You will know immediately which you are looking at by the price.

If there is someone in your family that loves to cook and does so a lot, they may know of the German made Henckles and Wusthof knives.  These are investment quality knives, the kind that if you take care of them, never put them in the dishwasher for instance, they should last a lifetime.

Another favorite kitchen item I used all the time was my much beloved Le Creuset enamelware dutch oven.  I invested in one when I was working full time and it lasted over twenty-five years. I miss my red Le Creuset enamelware dutch oven but it costs too much to replace these days.

I now have a Lodge enamelware dutch oven.  It is so heavy, I tend to avoid using it unless necessary.  I have heard there are now other brands that may not be investment quality but are very good.  Aldi has one they sell once in awhile.

It's just that Le Creuset kind of ruins you for anything else.  Recently I gave Christopher my All-Clad saute pan and cover since I wasn't using it and he is beginning a collection of very good cookware.  I had warned him that once you use All-Clad, it will ruin you for any other brand.  Today he told me how right I was after he has been using it awhile.

I have mentioned before my love of All-Clad cookware before.  I bought my saucepan when it was half price at the gourmet shop one year and that saute pan at another half price sale a few years ago.  I found a skillet barely used at Goodwill, too!  All-Clad cookware is definitely investment cookware but if taken care of, will last a lifetime.  I use the sauce pan almost every day of the week and the skillet quite often.

I must admit that the workhorse skillet of my kitchen is a Cuisinart skillet that was a fraction of the price of All-Clad. I use it for most frying.  If I remember correctly, in Cooks Illustrated tests they always have an All-Clad skillet as the winner and a Cuisinart skillet as "Best Buy". 

I hadn't been married very long when I heard a cooking instructor say that most people who think they are bad cooks because they burn everything probably just have cheap cookware.  Now that I have cooked for decades, I believe that.  The cheaper the skillet, the thinner the metal, the quicker food burns!

It is worth investing in good cookware and knives, even if it is just a little at a time.  They don't have to be investment quality when "Best Buy" brands are not all that expensive.  I just don't recommend buying cookware and knives at the dollar store.

I learned the importance of knowing the good brands even when I could not afford them. That's how I have found excellent cookware and other items at Goodwill and thrift stores.  I knew they were of high quality when I saw them but it was verified when I saw the brand name.  It works for everything from skillets to teapots.  ;)

It is late so I'd better hit publish...

Mentioned in this Blog Post
Kitchen Aid 8" chef's knife... here.
Kitchen Aid knife starter set... here.
Wusthof 8" chef's knife... here.
Henckles 4" paring knife... here.
Le Creuset dutch oven... here.
All-Clad saucepan... here.
Cuisinart 12" skillet... here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Memory Making Mom, a review

I tend to stay away from books by younger bloggers, having been disappointed in their content more than once.  They all seemed to be written by the same person!  However, the title drew me in to read this book... or I should say the subtitle.

The subtitle of Memory Making Mom is "Building Traditions that Breathe Life Into Your Home".  The making of traditions was important to me when my children were growing up, to leave them with good memories of family life.  I am happy to say that this book did not disappoint me at all.  It is a very enjoyable book to read through regardless of where one is in the raising of families.

In the book, Jessica Smartt shares the stories of how building traditions became important to her, what these traditions are, and a book full of practical ideas for ways the reader can incorporate traditions in their own homes.

However, if it was just another book about traditions, then I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did.  For it is also a book about discovering the importance of beauty in everyday life.  The author had me the first time she quoted Edith Schaeffer.

I  highly recommend Memory Making Mom for all families.  In particular for the younger mom who needs to understand the desire for beauty is within all of God's creation.  It is a book to read through at least once and then return to over and over for practical suggestions for making your own traditions.

Memory Making Mom was provided by the publisher for the sake of review but the opinions are my own.

More information can be found... here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Sunday Afternoon Tea - Ponderings during a spring snow

When I first looked outside this morning, walking through the living room with a brief glance at the picture window, I had to stop and gaze upon the scene.  There had been a forecast for a "dusting of snow" but apparently, our area received far more than expected.  It honestly did look like Narnia.

If this was a blizzard, I would not have been happy at all.  But the snow was falling with the largest and fluffiest flakes, settling so gently on the forest that everything appeared dressed in the purest of white.  After a cup of coffee to awaken the senses enough that I dared walk outside, I stood on the porch with my ancient camera and snapped away at the surrounding beauty. 

Such a snow in true winter would be expected to stick around for awhile.  This snow would be melted by noon. Spring snows remind us of the brevity of life, that if one wants a photo of the beauty then they had better slip on their wellies and a knitted hat to take the photo from the front porch immediately.

If I were a true photographer, I would have walked the gravel lane to the county road but as I had not sipped a second cup of coffee and wasn't fully awake, I figured the photo taken from the front porch with a zoom lens would do nicely.  My body has not adjusted to the time change, yet.  Sigh... 

I wish you could have seen the other glimpses of red in the falling snow.  The cardinals in our backyard seem to preen in snow, as if they understand how it shows off their beautiful red feathers.

One bird in particular sat on a high branch in the bushes that divide our back yard from our neighbor's, as if he was waiting for our applause. It is our neighbor who treks out in all kinds of winter weather to toss seed below the bushes.  We thank him every once in awhile since these bushes are in our line of sight from the kitchen window.

My husband walked into the kitchen as I was admiring the beauty, I told him to look out the window quickly.  There may not be any more glimpses of red feathers against the white snow for months upon months.  Which is fine, I am ready for chubby robins and daffodils and the blooming of the crab apple tree.

I must admit that there is one part of the winter season that I will miss when the sun doesn't set until well after 9:00 by the end of spring.  That is the joy of popping a DVD in the player and watching a movie or TV show with a throw over me and a cat beside me.

My daughter and I were in agreement when she lived at home that some movies and shows had to be watched with a particular atmosphere in place.  For instance, Casablanca had to be watched when it was a dark and rainy day, a thundershower would be perfect.  A snowstorm would provide a close second in "atmosphere".

I will miss the dark winter "atmosphere" for watching favorite DVDs, especially knowing my affection for broody British murder shows.  They are so good at taking my mind off of my own problems (when well written).

Currently, I have been making my way through a set of Midsomer Murders mysteries titled Barnaby's Casebook.  I rediscovered Midsomer Murders a few months ago and as I watched the early episodes, I vaguely remembered seeing them in the late 1990s on A&E.  They hadn't been broadcast anywhere I live since that time (that I know about) until Ovation starting playing two episodes each week. 

The concept for the show and the first five episodes, now playing for twenty years in Great Britain, are based on the novels by Caroline Graham.  If anyone had told me I would enjoy a show set in beautiful English surroundings in the mythical county of Midsomer, I'd believe it.  But Midsomer is not your usual county. 

So much murder happens there that in the early seasons, when Inspector Barnaby and his wife are looking for a new home, he told her it is safer in the city.  Behind the beautiful homes and the polite upper crust people, there lurks one or two or more murders each episode.  It is often compared to Cabot Cove in Murder She Wrote.  There are no CSI closeup murders here but one quickly realizes residents of Midsomer country are all a little... wonky.

I hear the many episodes that starred John Nettles are the best but later episodes are good.  I am watching the boxed set a little at a time but many libraries have the DVDs and many of the seasons are on Netflix.  They are much tamer than other favorite British murder mysteries but my husband thinks they are weirder because of the psychological drama.  He may have a point there.  I think he is just worried that I'm taking notes while watching all these mysteries.  ;)

Such are my ponderings as it snows outside.  Perhaps sunnier and warmer days will bring a desire for lighter entertainment?  We'll see... maybe a Haley Mills marathon?

Mentioned in this Blog Post
Casablanca... here.
Midsomer Murders Season One... here.
Barnaby's Casebook set... here. 

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Spring cleaning and vegetable beef soup

I have spent the last few days doing spring cleaning in the Study.  It was one of those large reorganizing projects that I didn't have written on my planner.  Instead, I was sitting at my desk one day and realized it was past time to pack up what was left of my son's things in the large bookshelf.  Since my energy level was good that day, that is exactly what I did.

Thus began what I call an "If you give a mouse a cookie" sort of project, when what started out at most as a half-an-hour of simply packing his collection turned into a huge project of switching and reorganizing shelves in the large bookshelf and the shelves over the dresser.  I must admit that I like the results very much but it kind of took over my life for awhile.

All that to say, except for the book reviews, I didn't get any writing accomplished.  So at least I will try to write out the recipe for my mom's vegetable beef soup as requested.  As with any such recipes, it is more a technique than a "set in stone" recipe.  I will copy this to the recipe "blog" soon.

Vegetable Beef Soup

Stock

• 1 to 2 lbs. chuck roast (or similar cut of beef)
• 1 package beef bones*
• 1 onion
• 2 or more carrots 
• bay leaf and peppercorns (optional)

Soup

• soup stock
• chuck roast, cooled and shredded
• 2-14.5 oz. cans of stewed tomatoes**
• carrots, sliced
• potatoes, cut into chunks
• corn, I use one package frozen corn or one can - drained
• green beans, I use one can sliced green beans - drained
• salt and pepper to taste

I like to roast at around 325 degrees the beef bones, the onion, and the carrots used for stock 30 - 60 minutes before starting the stock.  However, my mother never did this and her soup tasted just fine.

Place the bones, chuck roast, onion, and carrots into a large dutch oven or a stock pot.  Cover with water approx. three to six inches or so above the mix.  Add bay leaf and peppercorns if you desire.  Simmer until the chuck roast is tender and falls apart with a fork, at least two hours.  Check off and on as you will have to add more water.

Transfer the meat to a dish and I drain the stock into a dutch oven pot (I use a metal colander).  Discard everything but the meat.

In the dutch oven, add into the stock the two cans of tomatoes, sliced carrots, potatoes, and corn.  Some people like to add a sliced parsnip, too.  I just never have them on hand.  Simmer until veggies are tender, then add back the cooked and shredded meat and the drained can of green beans. Simmer a few minutes longer.

I serve this often the same day I make it, with leftovers the next day.  It is one of those soups that taste even better the next day.  Of course, all amounts can easily be doubled as necessary.

*When I first started making this soup, most chuck roasts at the grocery store still came bone-in.  Then it seems overnight they were all boneless and sometimes you could find packages of bones separately, if you were fortunate.  I talked to the butcher at the store (years ago) and he said most meat sent to stores were now boneless.  The few packages of bones were all there were. 

I learned at that time to always keep a couple packages of bones in the freezer for when I wanted to make soup.  However, since the popularity of bone broth began, it is easy to find packages of beef bones.  Only now they cost what I used to spend for steaks!  But bones are important to this soup for flavor as well as nutrition.

**You can use other tomatoes besides stewed tomatoes but I found they are what gave the soup the same taste as my mother's soup she made.  If you don't use stewed tomatoes, you may need to add Italian seasoning or another seasoning you like better.

Image:  Vintage housewife  :)

You're My Little Sweet Pea, a review

I have always appreciated board books for babies and toddlers.  My own children literally teethed on books at that age.  This book sounded lovely and I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint when I saw it in person.

You're My Little Sweet Pea shows a different animal and their baby on each page with the cutest little poem.  For instance, on the first page (which is inside the padded cardboard cover) is a deer and fawn with the words "Little Sweet Pea, I love you, from Button nose to baby coo.". 

Some board books have just a few "pages" but this rather larger than usual board book has quite a number of pages.  The illustrations are lovely and will hold the attention of small children.  As mentioned, the small poem on each page is enjoyable to read and actually goes along with the illustrations.

As you can tell, I highly recommend this book for babies and toddlers.  I think even early readers will enjoy it, too.

You're My Little Sweet Pea was provided by the publisher for the sake of review but the opinions are my own.

More information can be found... here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Placemaker by Christie Purifoy; a review

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I heard Christie was writing it.  I loved her book called Roots & Sky, a book to read over and over.  As expected, Placemaker didn't let me down for it is written in the same beautiful style as her previous book.

In Placemaker, there are multiple layers of story telling.  The most obvious is the story of the places Christie and her husband have lived, the apartments and houses they made their own.  Including their home they live in currently, made famous in her original book. 

The second layer is a story of trees and gardens.  I so enjoyed the research she has done over the years about trees. The pages where she described the battle of keeping the forest from growing again in her yard made me laugh.  For anyone who lives in a forest knows what it is like to find baby trees growing throughout your lawn and garden, most likely planted by squirrels.

I would say the third layer of this book are the stories of the people they have met in the various places they lived and the people in her family... and how people are all part of the places we have known.

Christie also reminds us that we are all makers of places.  Wherever we have lived and will live, we put our unique mark on each place.  This book inspires us of our God given need of place and our equally God given need to make each place better because we were there.

I highly recommend Placemaker, you will enjoy the process of reading it immediately and return to its' pages over and over in the years ahead.

Placemaker was provided by the publisher for the sake of review but the opinions are my own.

Further information can be found... here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Sunday Afternoon Tea - Living the magic of Narnia

The light is changing in my part of the world, even if the temperatures want to hold on to winter.  The angle of the light tells me that the time of darkness is almost over.  I enjoyed the darkness in season, with long candlelit nights and a warm throw.  But now I long for the light and color and warm breezes and strawberries and asparagus of the new season.

There was a time when spring was celebrated by putting together picnics for my children.  Stephanie and I would go to the beach at the Lake when we lived in Holland, Michigan.  Since both of us have the coloring of Disney's Snow White, our complexion was not conducive to the summer sun.  It didn't take long for either of us to turn the shade of lobsters after a good boil.

So our picnics tended to be in spring and after playing in the sand and watching the waves of Lake Michigan, we would walk to the park and enjoy a lunch at a picnic table.  It can be cool by the lake even in mid-summer.  You can imagine what early June felt like as we would nibble on cheese and fruit and good bread.  A hot beverage was definitely appreciated, as well as a sweater.

I knew before I had children that I wanted to teach them there was a time when God walked with people in the cool of the day... and that the echoes exist today. I wanted them to know both the God of the Law and the God who created us to enjoy the Beauty of art and music and words and cinnamon rolls with coffee.

I wanted them to know that God expected holiness but that He knew they would fall and that He would pick them up and brush them off and give them a nudge to keep going.  It is the Story that is in the Book.  Yes, there are laws to keep but they are not a burden and the Book is full of great wonders such as the world could never match.  If one is taught to hear the echoes of Eden.

When my son was young, we lived near forests where we would take a picnic lunch to the park and instead of playing on the sand of the beach, we walked on trails through the nearby forest and looked... really looked... at leaves and trees and bugs and rocks and if we were fortunate, a few native arrowheads here and there. 

Sometimes his sister (in high school and later college) would join us for picnics at the park by the forest or on a summer's afternoon as we took our lunch to eat at another picnic table... this time near the zoo of the city park.  Their father did not share my love of alfresco dining but he did join in once in awhile.

I'm pretty sure they grew up with the ability to hear the echoes, to look for Narnia when the world is cold and the battle has been long.  They have different ways to hear the Ancient music but I think they do and that they are teaching it to their children.  But what about their mother...?

I think it is a little harder to hear the echoes as we grow older but we never want to stop listening.  If we are not careful, life's experiences can cause us to lay aside the magic and see only the fallen-ness of the world.  But they are there if we keep our eyes on Him and not the culture and not on Facebook or Instagram or any other social media. 

They are found in mornings having coffee and reading His Word.  In long walks and picnics and animals and in really good books.  They were... and are... hinted at in the perfect chocolate chip cookie and afternoon tea and good bread and buttered popcorn while watching a movie.

We see God's presence in the light of Autumn and the way the days are longer come spring.  Each year.  Every year.  The calendar set in motion so long ago but with such precision that we can know the longest day of the year and the shortest and what moon will be full in what month... hundreds of years from now.

I've been thinking recently of where I have been, where I am now, and where I am going.  I heard that the older one gets, when one is a Christ follower, that Heaven becomes more real.  Perhaps as we realize we have less time before us than behind us, the soul who calls Him by name hears the beckoning of Home.

If we have spent a lifetime listening to the echoes of Eden as our True North, we then realize they began in another Place and another Time.  The homing signals were never turned off for humans who made the decision to accept His offer of Redemption.

How do we hear the echoes?  How do we know the singing of the morning stars?  When the Holy Spirit lives with us.  For He was there.  Someday we will know perfection again and honestly, I can hardly wait.  He just asks us to follow Him until that day He takes us Home.  When the sounds will no longer be echoes and the sight will be in full multi-dimensional color.  Maranatha!

Image:  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Time for seasonal changes

Just as I am ready for green grass and a gravel lane free of ice, I am definitely ready for a change in menus.  Not that we didn't enjoy the stew this past week and the soups of previous weeks.  They were very good but well, it is time to make a few tweaks here and there.  Even if we were under a Winter Weather Advisory only yesterday.

Instead of chili, I made a favorite goulash recipe last night.  It makes enough that I could freeze half of it but instead we will have the rest as leftovers.  Mainly because it is a recipe I hadn't made in awhile so we are not tired of it.  (This has been the season of popping something in the oven so it warms that part of the house instead of stove top cooking.)

When I was making it for dinner last night, I once again thought how a written recipe may provide the ingredients and a few instructions but your dish can still turn out differently than the original cook, especially if it was a family member or friend's specialty.

I put the elbow macaroni in the skillet immediately after the ground beef has been seasoned and browned.  This way the dried macaroni gets a little browned and seasoned before adding any liquids. I also give an extra fifteen minutes or so of prep time so that once the goulash is done, I can take it off the heat and stir it while it cools a little.  It helps any extra liquid (and flavor) to be absorbed into the macaroni.  I'm pretty sure I didn't write that down on the recipe card the family may use someday.

I suppose my mind could wander since I was doing a lot of stirring before adding water and putting the lid on the skillet to simmer.  Most of my mother's recipes I use are straight forward but I did make certain to stand by her and watch how she made her vegetable beef soup we all loved.  That was definitely worth cajoling her into letting me watch her cook (which she did not enjoy).

I enjoy being in the kitchen in Spring and I'm looking forward to its' arrival.  The windows can finally be opened to let in a breeze and the oven can be used on most days without having to turn on the air conditioner.  In this season when Winter and Summer can overlap, so can my cooking.  I still enjoy making soup and casseroles but the recipe cards with the quicker skillet meals are dusted off for fresh ideas.

Of course, this is all different than hot weather cooking.  That is when my cooking creativity shuts off except for new ways to throw together a salad.  I would say BLTs and tacos are about as close as I want to get to the stove.  This is the area where I need to be a little more prepared with new ideas and recipes.  I have never liked hot weather cooking.  It is probably a good idea I live in a somewhat northern climate.

A cookbook I have been enjoying (and real bookmarks inserted to try a few recipes) is one called  Cozy Christmas Baking: A Hygge-Inspired Christmas.  It is a self published cookbook that was recommended by another blogger whose self published cookbook called, From France to the Farm, I own,  I know self published books cost a little more on Amazon but I do like to support bloggers when possible.  Amazon credit helps me to do so and I thank you.

Cozy Christmas Baking has a feature I love, larger-than-average font as well as beautiful photographs of the food for each recipe.  While the title would indicate Christmas cooking and baking (and that is when I would use it the most); the recipes for cookies, breads, etc. will be good all year.  Since I like to give baked goods as gifts, this book will still get a lot of use so it remains in the basket where I keep cookbooks in use.

I've also been doing some virtual bookmarking for recipes I want to try soon.  I will add those links below.  Rarely do I try complicated recipes these days but I do enjoy easy recipes and those which provide a simpler way to make certain dishes... like the crazy crust pizza and the pancake muffin recipe in the links.

Now that I have made both of us hungry, I will provide you with links and then head to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Mentioned in this Blog Post
Cozy Christmas Baking: A Hygge-Inspired Christmas... here.
From France to the Farm... here.

Easy Pancake Muffins... here.  (I may try this recipe today or tomorrow)
Orzo Pilaf... here. (I often use orzo instead of rice these days.)
Crazy Crust Pizza... here. (I have not tried this, yet, but I have successfully tried other crazy crust recipes with good results.)

Image:  Brambly Hedge (my pantry heroes)

Grateful American, a review

I've been a fan of Gary Sinise's acting for many years, especially his work in CSI:New York.  Within the past couple of years, I've have appreciated his work with military veterans.  This book contains his story, how he came to be raised in the South side of Chicago as a young child to become a well known actor, and personal stories of his family and career.

As the wife of a veteran who still suffers from the affects of the Vietnam War, I was especially touched by the section where he shares how he first came to realize the importance of being an advocate for all veterans but especially the Vietnam vets who were treated badly when they arrived home.

If you enjoy Gary Sinise's television and movie shows, you will enjoy reading the book.  If you are a military veteran or have one in your family, you will enjoy this book.  As a Christian, I appreciate how becoming a part of the Catholic faith helped strengthen his family after his wife's alcoholism almost tore the family apart.  Enabling her to have the strength to stay away from alcohol for decades now.

I enjoyed this book very much and recommend it.

Grateful American was provided by the publisher for the sake of review but the opinions are my own.

Further information can be found... here.

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.

Sunday Afternoon Tea - The Ancient Paths

Thus says the Lord: stand by the roads, 

and look and ask for the ancient paths, 

where the good way is; 

and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16

 

The above Bible verse has been on the sidebar of this blog almost from the beginning.  It is one of my two life verses, the first verse chosen was Proverbs 3:5,6.  Well, it actually chose me.  I hadn't heard of a life verse when I memorized that one to hold close when needed.  Later I realized that it was a God given life verse.

Jeremiah 6:16 jumped off the pages of the Bible and was embedded in my memory a couple decades later.  I have been thinking of it a lot recently.  Especially with the constant change surrounding us, not only in technology but in the culture.

This verse brings a mental image of looking for and finding the ancient paths, then standing firm to walk in them when the hurricane force winds of adversity and change come against us.  While others fall on the wayside, we stand firm because our roots are bound in ancient Truth.

For me, it is a beautiful reminder that real Truth is found not only in God's Word but in a relationship with the Ancient of Days, Himself.   I find by holding on to these Ancient truths, it is also easier to keep an Eternal perspective on all things.  You may laugh but I think most will understand that I find myself muttering saying, "I'm just passing through, this world is not my home" quite often each week.

While I do what I can to walk in peace, I know when I've spent too much time reading online when I feel jumpy... unsettled... definitely not at peace.  Sometimes it is just by not turning the channel after our local news is over and I catch the first few minutes of the national news, so often slanted against conservative principles in general and the Ancient Truth in particular.

Like Lot, I am vexed in my spirit.  

However, I also know... and have written quite often... that this is the time in history and the place and with the people that God has ordained me to live (Acts 17: 26-27*).  Each of us as we follow Him.  He did not promise us it would be easy, no... He told us it would be difficult at times.  But as we look to those Ancient words, we will successfully reach the goal line.

When I was considering closing Coffee Tea Books and Me a few years ago, I knew God was telling me not to do it.  Even though I kinda' stomped my feet and told Him that I was tired of being tired and what in the world could I continue writing?  Even if it meant not saying hello each week to people I have come to cherish.

If you remember... because I have shared my little pity party tantrum before... I told Him that I would indeed keep writing if He would give me the ideas of what to write about each week.  He has and while I may not always write perfectly what He has said... I do my best.

But there was something else He has put on my heart, another reason to keep writing.  So that there would remain places people like me can go to and know they are not alone.  If we were to judge only by what we see mostly in the media (not always but most of the time), then those people who believe the Ancient words and the Ancient paths have either died off or there is only a small remnant.

That is not true, it is a lie of the enemy and the age in which we live.  We need to remind each other that Truth.  Since Eden, the enemy of our souls has tried (and often succeeded) in getting God's people off the Truth.  Sometimes in the smallest of lies which lead to huge consequences.  Did God say?  Really?

I think that is why the Word says we are not to forsake the assembling together, especially in these last days.  The best assembling is face to face with fellow believers in His ways.  Next best is in writing and reading and getting to know others from all over the world.  There is a remnant, my friends, but it is not tiny.

What happened in Jeremiah's day?  Did the people heed God's advice?  We learn in the next verses that they didn't... "we will not walk in it... we will not listen".  Eventually, judgment came and Jerusalem fell. 

However, we can personally be like Joshua and tell Him, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"**.  If everyone else turns against His Truth... we will not.  I don't know about you but I want to finish well, to cross that finish line having stumbled and failed but having never given up.

*Thank you, Joy, for leaving the correct verse in Comments!
** Joshua 24:15

Image:  I moved the palm plant from my study to the dining area to get some more green in that area! 

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Q and A on Comments (not just the pantry)

I had some great questions and comments in the past few weeks so today I will comment... on comments. 

Pantry Related

1) I stopped using taco seasoning packages a long time ago because my husband and children are very sensitive to MSG.  I made up my own seasoning mix (lots of recipes available online) for awhile.  Then when I decided to cook more like great grandmother used to cook, I realized she most likely just added the seasonings individually.

So I started adding about a teaspoon of sea salt, half a teaspoon of cumin (not my husband's favorite spice or I would add a teaspoon), a tablespoon or so of chili powder, a teaspoon or more of onion powder, and sometimes a teeny tiny pinch of red pepper flakes.  I add them when browning the meat so it all gets nicely seasoned.

If I'm not going to use all of it at that time, I set aside about half to freeze for later use.  Otherwise, I add about half a jar of mild salsa and saute a bit (more salsa if needed).  This mixture works for tacos, taco salad, nachos, etc.  Of course, homegrown tomatoes and peppers can be used but I always have salsa on the pantry shelf.

2) Now that I have had to cut down on sugar in baking, it seems like most of the old recipes did have a great deal of sugar.  I have been able to cut down on quick breads and such as well as pies but I'm always looking for more ways to lessen sugar.  So thank you!

Did you see the episode of The Great British Bake Off where the contestants had to make "American" pies?  Paul Hollywood mentioned that he usually does not like them because they are too sweet. 

3) I love sauteed cabbage and I have cabbage in the refrigerator now to use this week!  It always reminds me of my mother because she made cabbage a lot, except she mostly boiled it.  She was of a generation who seemed to think veggies were alive and had to be simmered for hours to be edible.  ;)

One of the meals I used to make a lot was my Boiled Midwestern Dinner (changed to "Midwestern" when my New England son-in-law reminded me smoked sausage or kielbasa was not in the original recipe).  I make it with potatoes, carrots (sometimes), the smoked sausage or kielbasa laid out on top of those, and thick wedges of cabbage on top of the layers.  Yes, I stopped making it a lot when I became bored with it, too.  Maybe it is time to add back.

Another cabbage dish I make is colcannon and I always make it for St. Patrick's Day (which is coming up!).  Some recipes call for cabbage and others for kale.  I will always choose cabbage over kale for anything.  I started making it for St. Pat's day as a tradition but it is my husband's favorite way of eating cabbage so I make it more often now.

4) The easiest way to deepen the pantry is to keep buying an extra can or jar or bottle, etc. for the pantry shelves and not to use up everything in your pantry except in an emergency.  Add the newest items to the back of the shelf, bringing the oldest items forward and you should be able to use everything before it goes bad.  If you are only storing what you eat or use regularly.

You may remember that I made the mistake of letting my husband stock the pantry and we ended up with things going bad because he accepted canned goods from food pantries that we didn't eat... just in case we needed it.  Thankfully, we don't have to go to food pantries now (once I got off of Obamacare but that is a nightmare I want to forget) and I stock most of the pantry while he stocks a few items only he uses for his special diet.

Non Pantry Related

5) I don't put in my planner those things I do everyday like cooking and dishes.  Unless it is something unusual like remembering to make soup stock from leftovers.  I do write down those things done only once or twice a week.  Of course, appointments and special days are written down (Holidays, birthdays, etc.).

Sometimes when I feel like not much was accomplished in the past week, I can look at the planner and realize I actually did do more than I remembered.  It also reminds me of things I forgot to do that can be put on next week's pages.

6)  I love Eugene Peterson's Long Obedience in the Same Direction, too.  I have it on my Kindle, where I can bring up where I last stopped reading.  It is the kind of book that is easy to take in short reading times and come back to later. 

I have the review reader's copy of As Kingfishers Catch Fire that I find extremely good.  I know he apparently said he supported same sex marriage (as does his denomination) later in life but then he retracted that statement and said he continued to believe the Biblical view of marriage.  Who knows?  Another reason to remember that even our favorite Christian authors are not perfect so we must use discernment.  The good stuff is still quite good.

7) I was asked about the Illustrated Larkrise to Candleford and completely forgot about it until writing this post.  This is a lovely abridged edition that is illustrated with scenes from that era in England and various colorful flora and fauna. 

Remember that the TV show is based on this book, which is a nonfiction account of the author's growing up in an era she knew was quickly passing.  Think more Gladys Taber writing than a fictional account.  There are regular non-illustrated and non-abridged versions available but this one is fun to read.  It does take one back to another time, when even the poor could make a life that is good.

Mentioned in this Blog Post
Long Obedience in the Same Direction... here.
As Kingfishers Catch Fire... here. (This is for the hardback version, the paperback version is available for preorder.)
Illustrated Larkrise to Candleford... here. (Third Party)

Disclaimer:  Most links to Amazon.com are Associate links.
Image:  Shady Patio; Allposters.com (we can only dream of such color in the North)