7/30/14 - Back to food - Picky Palate

Oy!  It's chilly out there this morning.  According to Weatherbug it's 60 degrees...brrrrrrr.  The high today is only supposed to reach 81 degrees...Ahhhhhh.  Sure doesn't feel like the end of July.

Our annual camp meeting begins tonight.  This is the 126th year of service for Carey's Camp.  If you are in area, or would like to travel to make one of our services, I would like to extend an invitation to all.  There are no tickets to be bought, however we do take up a collection during the service.  I have gotten all the singing groups for this year and some of them are full-time so their fees are a bit high. If you come to any of the services stop by tent #11 and say hi.  I was unable to attend any services last year due to MS, I'm going this year if I have to be carried.

Today I want to highlight Picky Palate.  Jenny is the creator of Picky Palate when she realized that creating recipes for her family was a fun thing to do.  She became a food blogger and has out her first cookbook.  I found one of her recent posts:  10 Easy Back To School Dinner Recipes to look very yummy.  I don't have anyone going back to school anymore but these recipes would be well suited for couples, like David and I, that don't make a big fuss about dinner.  Check this one out...

Cheesy Sausage Skillet Lasagna

My mouth is watering just looking at that.  Now I think David and I could polish a lot of that off.

I hope you enjoy your day.  I pray that God blesses you from top to bottom, from right to left, from front to back and all points in between. 

I better scoot, doing Mom's laundry today and going grocery shopping with her.  Please pray that things will go well with us.

Better days are coming!  Camp tonight...Woohoo!!

+Jenny Flake
  

7/29/14 - I stand with Israel - edited

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 121.

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Last night a friend posted in fb this link about which side to pick between Hamas and Israel.

Ministry Matters

The article more or less states that we as "Christians" shouldn't pick a side and what would Jesus do.  

I disagreed with my friend as I disagreed with the article.  If we turn our back on Israel, as I believe this regime is doing, then we turn our back on the apple of God's eye.

The liberal media is so slanted towards Hamas that we are not presented with the truth of what is actually happening in that region.  

My profile picture is one example of something you won't see on headline news.  The Arabic letter "N" seen here is being put on houses of Christians.

From this article:

  

It’s being reported that for the first time in history, the Iraqi city of Mosul is now empty of Christians after a warning was blasted from mosque speakers, and flyers passed out. The ultimatum issued was to either flee the city, pay the ‘al-Jiziya’ tax for Jews and Christians living under Muslim dominance prescribed in the Koran, or “face the sword.” After seeing their bloodthirsty viciousness in dealing with the remnants of the Iraqi army, the Christians chose to leave.

From Al-Arabiya:

Christians were fleeing Iraq’s jihadist-held city of Mosul en masse Friday after mosques relayed an ultimatum giving them a few hours to leave, the country’s Chaldean patriarch and witnesses said.

“Christian families are on their way to Dohuk and Arbil,” in the neighboring autonomous region of Kurdistan, Patriarch Louis Sako told AFP. “For the first time in the history of Iraq, Mosul is now empty of Christians.”

Witnesses said messages telling Christians to leave the city by Saturday were blared through loudspeakers from the city’s mosques Friday.

A statement dated from last week and purportedly issued by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) jihadist group that took over the city and large swathes of Iraq during a sweeping offensive last month warned Mosul’s Christians they should convert, pay a special tax, leave or face death.

“We were shocked by the distribution of a statement by the Islamic State calling on Christians to convert to Islam, or to pay unspecified tribute, or to leave their city and their homes taking only their clothes and no luggage, and that their homes would then belong to the Islamic State,” Sako said.

In a perverse reversal of the Old Testament story, homes of Christians have been marked with an “N” for “Nassareh,” the term the Koran uses to refer to Christians.

Arm yourself with the truth.  To get the truth you must dig for it because the liberal media will NOT present it to you.  Question what you see and hear.

Better days are coming.  Pray for Israel.

ETA:  The pacifism of our churches and church leaders is one of the reasons I no longer believe in organized churches or no longer attend church.  I may not know everything that is being taught from the pulpit but the above ministry matters article is an example of the "tolerance" that is being spewed to the congregations.

7/27/14 - Linda and (drum roll) ICE CREAM!!

My friend and neighbor Linda fell over a cat and hurt her legs yesterday.  Will y'all keep her in your prayers.  I checked in on her a few times yesterday, that's my story, actually I not only wanted to check on her but I got to see her dog Brody.  He's adorable!!  He's a Yorkie and fills my puppy lust.

I actually slept the night through until 0630!  Thank God!  My body needed it.  Still have some things to complete on the tent at Camp but hopefully will be ready for Wednesday night.

I don't know about you but I love homemade ice cream.  I remember my Daddy getting the ice cream churn all ready while Mom fixed the ingredients. I was allowed to churn the first part until it got too hard and then Dad would take over.  When it was done the soft, cold, delicious results were well worth the weight (bahahahahaha, I meant wait but weight is right too).  One of the two things I have on my Birthday/Christmas list is an ice cream maker.  Since it's summer and the best time for ice cream I found on Mom's Test Kitchen 64 Ice Cream recipes.

Thin Mint looks good.

Butter!!

Oh I hope Santa brings me that ice cream maker!!

 

Check my sidebar for the latest updates from Mom's Test Kitchen.  If you make any of these ice cream recipes, invite me over for pity sakes!!

 

Have a great day!  Better days are coming.

7/26/14 - Another food blog - Fifteen Spatulas

No need for a spoiler this morning.  David pointed out that when I get tired I get emotional.  I say when I get tired I get emotional and then I get mean.  He disagrees about the mean part because he loves me and he's a sweetheart.  So, first thing in the morning until around 2ish I'm good.  Now on to better things to talk about than MS...FOOD!!

I love to read.  Sometimes I just don't feel like reading a book or glancing through a magazine.  I find these wonderful blogs that I want to spotlight and share with you.  Today's blog/website is entitled Fifteen Spatulas.  Joanne's interest in food started when she was six with a new flavor of Haagen-Dazs ice cream.  She has grown up into a home chef that has been featured on no less than:  Redbook, The Cooking Channel, the kitchn and Gourmet Live.

The first dish I saw of hers was found on my Google+ feed.  It is

Nancy Silverton’s Butterscotch Budino

Her site offers how to's and why's of cooking.  She also offers junk-food makeovers.  What??!!  I know!!

She has a sizable recipe index and you can save her recipes to your Ziplist recipe box.

I hope you give her a look, your belly will thank you for it.

Better days are coming!!

7/25/14 - spoiler alert Whine du jour

Up at 0430 hrs (still use military time after all these years), before the mockingbird even.  I have way too much stress.  What you say?  My body and brain haven't been in sync.  My body doesn't work right and neither does my brain.  I'm walking like a drunk and I haven't even had a glass of wine.  Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat worms.  I HATE MS!!!

So instead of boring you with my whining I shall bid you adieu.  For today anyway.

Better days are coming (soon I hope!)

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7/23/14 - Book review for BookLook Bloggers

Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook by Nancy Vienneau

This is one extraordinary southern-recipe cookbook.   This is not only a cookbook but a wonderful idea of getting community together to celebrate the bounty of the season.  Nancy and Gigi have formed a community potluck every third Thursday of the year, with exception of December.   The cookbook flows cohesively into a wonderful story of friends gathering around a table made with love.

My mouth watered the whole time I read!  I have made so many bookmarks for the recipes that I should just try them all.  And the idea!  What a wonderful way to gather folks from the community, no matter who they know, to enjoy a good meal with friends.  This is the first time I “read” a cookbook but it is well worth the read.  Rhonda, one of the potluckers says, “What happens here is not your usual potluck.”  The recipes found in this cookbook are anything but usual.   I have learned many new techniques like boiling potatoes with garlic and bay leaves for a subtle hint of flavor. 

Nancy Vienneau is a “recovered” caterer turned food writer and activist.  I would recommend this book to anyone loving southern recipes and loving a slow walk through the garden with the potluckers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

7/22/14 - BookLook blogger - why I like G+ over Facebook and a recipe from The Gourmet Mom

Once upon a time, in the same land but oh so far away I used to be able to sleep at night.  Dawn wakes up before dawn every day!  Sometimes it's even before the birds...now that's early!

Anyway...

Oh guess what?  No really, guess.  Go on.  Well at least try!!

Ok, I'll tell you.  You are reading the newest member of the BookLook bloggers.  Finally!! And for my first book to review is one of my first loves.  A cookbook, yes, you saw that right, I'm reading a cookbook.  It's really good too plus it has loads of recipes I want to try.  When will I try them, who knows because David is becoming a great chef in the house.  He fries chicken, makes chicken and dumplings, makes the creamiest mashed potatoes and looks good doing it too!!  So when will I try my first recipe from this book...probably when he reads this.

Now onto another subject I've been thinking about.  I've been on Facebook for quite a while and won't be deleting myself or stop checking on it a couple times a day.  But...I like Google+ a lot better.  I don't have to see someone changing their profile picture several times a day or have to name one thing about a person or see others whining about MS.  Yes, I whine about MS, just read below but there comes a time when something new pops up every day that you don't have to ask about it.  I'm on a couple MS pages on FB and yes I can leave the groups but there are a few there that are great encouragers.  Ok, encouragers may not be a word but you know what I mean.  On G+ I'm in several communities and follow a lot of people but if I don't feel like going to a community and seeing their posts I don't have to nor do I have to leave the community.  I'm losing my hair, I might post something on FB about it LOL. Well, that's my .02 cents, for what it's worth.

The featured food blogger of the day is The Gourmet Mom. The featured recipe is fettuccine carbonara. Lisa Montalva is The Gourmet Mom. In her "About" page she writes: "With a love for cooking and more importantly "eating" Lisa Montalva became "The Gourmet Mom". The Gourmet Mom website is filled with free recipes, tips and information about cooking." I wish that when I was her age we had this great thing called the internet. Of course at her age I didn't look as good as she does...Wow! she's cute!! She offers advertising on her website and you can add your own recipes. The fettuccine carbonara recipe that I wanted to feature looks so good and so easy...my kind of recipe. Take a look! Does that not look tasty??

I've got to head out and water my garden.  I think it's supposed to be hot today here in slower, lower Delaware.

Better days are coming (with more sleep I hope).

7/21/14 - The best kid in the world and Miss Cecil's Squash Pie

Cali and I had a blast yesterday!! We made necklaces, played house (I'm always the Dad), colored with some kind of goopy, glittery stuff AND I got tons of kisses.  All in all a great time.  Now mind you I'm not 25 or 35 but Cali doesn't realize that and so she wants me sitting on the floor and likes to wrestle.  With that being said no matter what she wants to do, I'm in.  I don't want her to have to suffer because I have MS and may hurt a bit more the next day.  She is going to be a big sister soon and that is a big responsibility for a 4 year old.  I asked her if I could sleep in Nash's crib and she said "No! That's for my brother!".  Already a defender of the baby brother, she's gonna rock this!

Miss Cecil is one of my Mom's oldest friends.  She, like my Mother, is close to 90.  Her age never stopped her.  She has been a widow for years and years.  She still has her own garden and often cans from it.  She makes the best pickles!  I can remember her and Mom grinding peppers for sweet relish.  She recently had a bad accident where she burnt herself.  She's in the hospital now and will be undergoing surgery from what I hear from Mom.  This recipe is hers, I just recently copied it from Peggy, the owner of the beauty shop Mom and Cecil go to.  I haven't tried it yet.


Miss Cecil's Squash Pie

Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups peeled and grated yellow squash
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs beaten
1/2 cup coconut plus some for topping
1 pie crust (you can make it yourself or use a store bought one)

The recipe goes on to say:
Bake at 400˚F for 15 minutes, turn down to 350˚ for 40-50 minutes until set.

Now I assume that you would melt the butter with sugar and then add the rest of the ingredients except for the coconut topping.  Once all ingredients are mixed pour into unbaked pie shell(s) and then top with the remaining coconut.

I didn't grow yellow squash in my garden this year nor zucchini but I bet it would work with zucchini as well.

7/20/14 - Cali!! and 50 best ways to use Mason Jars

I get to babysit my Baby Gem today!  I can't wait!  She is one special girl.  She loves when GiGi reads her something from my Kindle.  I think her favorite is Little Red Hen.

Oh my aching back!!  I worked for 3 hours on the tent yesterday.  I've vacuumed up all the Styrofoam stuffings from the torn up teddy bear.  My upstairs is back in order and I may have another day of work to get everything put out and wiped up.  Mike Sr., Mike Jr., and David put some kind of siding on the tent and Mike Jr. then spray painted it white.  It really looked good when I left.  We'll be going back out tomorrow to shovel the dirt back in the trenches.  We have about a week and a half before Camp starts so I should have plenty of time to get it just right.  I might put some solar lights next to the tent to light up the pathway between my tent and the Jones'.  It's a well traveled path and not well lit.

I have tons of bookmarks for cool stuff but I wanted to start blogging about them.  First up is 50 best ways to use Mason Jars.  This is from Country Living Magazine.  I subscribe to their updates.  I like that magazine and also Southern Living Magazine.  They have some great ideas and also some great recipes.  I'd also like to start sharing some recipes that I've found or that I have made and want to highlight.  I hope you will share my blog with others and find me some new followers.

Love this one!



Well, I better get myself ready to see a sweetheart.

7/19/14 - Carey's Camp is coming

Today David and I will be going out to Carey's Camp to work on the tent with my brother Mike and my nephew Mike.  Mike Sr. is the carpenter, Mike Jr. knows more than I in carpentry and David can swing a hammer.  I have been hurting so much lately that I may just be encouragement.

If you've never been to Camp or it's been a while I encourage you to come on out.  I got some great singers for this year, some of which I've never heard.  There is a wealth of history at Camp, this is our 126th year.

A great friend of mine, Debbie O'neal met her husband Rick at Carey's Camp.  My children both grew up at Camp.  We would pack up the van and have a trailer pulled behind packed up as well.  We stayed for all the 12 nights and sometimes a couple more.  It looked like we unloaded the house, we had everything we needed.  Bird baths in a tub, piggy back rides for the kids after they got their feet cleaned off at night and giggles and screams from the girls if they saw a spider.  It is a wonderful memory.

We would stay up late at night playing cards or talking or...chasing skunks.  Oh yeah, a stinky prospect but he finally waddled out of the circle.  I won't be staying out this year as some punk decided to shoot out a window and trash the tent.  That's what we will be working on today.  I'm hoping to have a sleepover with Randy and Donna to get in some much needed giggling.

It's hard to keep good friends when you have to let them down over and over by either hurting or not feeling well.  It's a real pain to be hurting ALL THE TIME!!  I had to let down some new friends last night, Morris and Anne Hendley.  I'm so sorry we couldn't be with them but she graciously gave me a rain check.  I'm hoping my body will comply.

I better scoot now and get my shower.  Gonna meet my brother around 8.

Better days are coming!

7/6/14 - Time flies

Summer is half over, the 4th of July has come and gone and I haven't written in a loooooong time!

David and I have a small garden going, 5 tomato plants, 2 cucumber plants and lots of basil.  The morning glories have tried to take over most of it but I think I have them trained to one section of our dog run fence.  My Dad would have a fit if he knew that I was growing morning glories on purpose.  They were the reason for his corn picker accident.  They are so beautiful though.  I also have some plants that I've rescued from the Lowe's discount rack...lantana, a purple grass and some ground crawlers.  The purple grass still has a way to go but the others are doing well.

Adding some whimsy

This was tasty!  Can't wait for the next

With 5 tomato plants and 2 of them being San Marzano I think I'm going into canning.  I've never done it but I've watched my Mom a lot of times.  I've gotten a few books on my kindle about it and I think I'm ready when they are.

My MS isn't being so nice lately.  I've been listing to the left a lot and this morning my everything is hurting again.  I'm not on any MS meds because I just don't want to inject every other day.  If I can make it through the summer I think I'll be able to make it through.  I'm going to the ophthalmologist Tuesday as my optic neuritis has been acting up.  I know I'm going to need glasses too.  Oy!

Well, hopefully it won't be as long between posts.  I spend most sunny days out in the garage and putzing with my plants.

Better days ARE coming!