Recipes from Mary

Today was the funeral for Mary Catherine Rhinesmith Bowman.  In memory of her I thought I would share some recipes she had in her church cook book.  Besides singing and taking care of kids and just being a sweety, Mary was an excellent cook! 

No Fry French Fries

Non-stick spray coating

2 large potatoes

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp pepper

Lightly spray a 15×10x1 inch pan.  Cut potatoes in thin wedges.  Place in a plastic bag and spray with non-stick spray.  Add remaining ingredients, close bag, and shake.  Spread on pan in single layer.  Bake 425^ for 30 min.  Turn once halfway through.  Season with salt.

 

Hash Brown Potato Casserole

2 lbs frozen hash browns, thawed

1/4 lb melted butter

1 pt sour cream

1/2 c. chopped onions

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 c. shredded chedder cheese

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Mix hash browns and butter together.  Mix remaining ingredients together and then combine with potatoes.  Pour into 9×13 pan.  Sprinkle with crumbs (bread, cereal, potato chips or crackers) on top.  Bake 350^ for 1 hour.

 

California Blend Casserole

1 pkg California blend veggies

1 can water chestnuts, sliced and drained

1 4oz can mushrooms

1 can cream mushroom soup

1/2 lb cubed Velveeta

1 roll ritz crackers, crushed

1 stick butter melted

Mix veggies with soup and cheese.  Put in bottom of buttered casserole.  Sprinkle with crackers; drizzle with melted butter.  Bake 350^ for 45 min.

 

Beer Bread

4 c. bisquick

3 Tbl sugar

dash of salt

12 oz can warm beer

4 oz shredded chedder cheese

chopped green chiles (optional)

Mix well and pour into a greased bread pan.  Bake 375^ for 45-50 min.

 

Duane and Brandon’s Treat (Duane was her husband, Brandon her son)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

1/2 c butter

2 c. smooth peanut butter

2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

12 oz pkg chocolate chips

1 Tbl butter

Cream 1/2 c butter and peanut butter.  Add the sugars and vanilla.  Pat into 9×13 pan that is lightly greased.  Melt 12 oz chocolate chips in microwave with 1 tbl butter.  Pour over peanut butter mixture.  chill

Pray for those who are grieving today

I’m preparing a meal for a family to eat during/after  the viewing/visitation/wake of their loved one.   You may know someone who is grieving too.  You may know someone who lost a loved one years ago!  All of them need our prayer support and to know that we love them.

If you feel the need, send them a note of encouragement.  If it’s been more than a month since the person died, don’t send a sympathy card or a note that says you know they are grieving  or anything like that.  They know they are grieving still.  They know they have your sympathy.  Send them a thinking of you card.  Tell them about your day and that they came to mind.  Send them a smile!! 

Praying for those of you reading who are grieving too!

Much love!

Success through Failure?

The website, School for Champions, offered this information on Abraham Lincoln:

List of Lincoln’s failures

“A common list of the failures of Abraham Lincoln (along with a few successes) is:

• 1831 – Lost his job

• 1832 – Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature

• 1833 – Failed in business

• 1834 – Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)

• 1835 – Sweetheart died

• 1836 – Had nervous breakdown

• 1838 – Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker

• 1843 – Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress

• 1846 – Elected to Congress (success)

• 1848 – Lost re-nomination

• 1849 – Rejected for land officer position

• 1854 – Defeated in run for U.S. Senate

• 1856 – Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President

• 1858 – Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate

• 1860 – Elected President (success)

That looks like a pretty glum résumé, making you wonder how he ever made it to the top. But when you really think of it, to run for office or high positions so many times, you have to have something on the ball and have more successes than meet the eye.”

Few history books mention Lincoln’s faith in God as a way for him to persevere through all this failing but I found a quote from Lincoln himself about his faith and I want you to focus on it today.

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.  My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.

 -Abraham Lincoln

Being famous in our history, seems to put people in the light of their success.  This makes it hard for the common man to think of success as something attainable.  Lincoln’s failures made him who he is because they forced him to focus on God and his inability to do things independent of Him.  Every time you fail, stop and ask God for help.  God is the reason for all successes in life no matter who you are !  Success comes through failure. . . .

Just a reminder. . . . .

All crazy children do not just live at your house. . . . . .they dwell here as well!!!    AND crazy, hectic, busy lives exsist here as well as there!!!

Friday- spend the day in town at dr. office and pharmacy to find out that my #1 son is really sick and not just tired from being out of shape and in football.  Missed my haircut appt.

Saturday- spend wee hours of the morning consoling “mr. puker” as he worships the porcelain god.  survive rest of day on 3 hours of sleep, constantly reminding the other boys to quit screaming, running , and having so much fun because they are bothering their brother.  Get #2 and #3 set up to use the victoria strainer on a small batch of tomatoes- yes they are 7 and 9 years old but they find this work fun and I don’t have time and the tomatoes need someone to take of them!!  Made small batch of tomato sauce!

Sunday- try to sleep in but can’t.  Wake up in time to console “mr. puker” one more time at the porcelain idol.  Try to clean house up a bit but am too tired to really accomplish much.  Take #2 son to soccer practice and listen to other soccer parents yackety yack yack yack (yawn).  Try to figure out how we are going to transport 9 very large turkeys and 6 ducks to the processing plant when the largest cage we have only holds 2. 

Sunday evening- magically “mr. puker” has recovered from the stomach portion of his bug and has moved on to the “moving phlegm” portion.  Hack and spit – hack and spit. . . . . . .   Ooh it’s bedtime!!  I think I’m feeling much better now!  Too good to go to bed.  Good enough to chase my brothers around the upstairs trying to put underwear on their heads!!!!  Oh, there is laundry to put away??  I think I’m still too sick to do that. . . . .  ooh, lets chase the brothers again!!

Don’t get me wrong- I am VERY thankful that “mr. puker” is feeling better.  I truly missed his sense of humor and his rude comments the 3 days he was “down for the count”.  But, why do children have to do that sudden recovery???  Can’t they gradually come around or warn us ahead of time that health and wellness will be here in 5, 4. . . . . . . ??????

Tomorrow????  You might wonder what I have on tap. . . . only a few things. . . . .

We are expecting an insulation guy on Tues. to come and inspect our entire home and audit where we need to improve our energy efficiency with insulation.  So, not only do I have to straighten up the entire part of the  sty we live in house that is normally seen by company but also the bedrooms and I really wish I had time to straighten the basement and attic but the guy is just gonna have to understand that we are pigs lead busy lives and just don’t have time for spotless housekeeping. 

Besides that I will also have to help husband place the portable chicken coop on the trailer and catch and put into the coop -that is now on a trailer- the 9 turkeys (that weigh between 20-40 lbs A PIECE!!) and 6 ducks.  I will have to do this shortly before I go pick up “mr. puker” from football and attend a meeting for football.  So, staying clean would be helpful but probably won’t happen. . . . .  I am praying that husband will take the turkeys and ducks to the processing plant himself while I shower and go to football. . . . . . 

Remember- the events in this blog are real.  They are not meant to scare you.  They are not meant for you to worry about the well-being of the residence in my home or the psychological health of this author.  These events are in this blog to remind you that your reality is not your own. . . . it is mine. . . .

You are normal!

You can do anything you set your mind to!

You are capable!

You are loved!

You are worthy!

You can do it!

I am proud of you!!!!!

Easy and Cheap Sloppy Joes and Leftover Sloppy Joes

I made a huge batch of sloppy joes the other day because we had some other kids over and because I bought on clearance the other day:  70/30 ground beef for 1.79/lb and 90/10 ground beef for  3.09/lb.  I mixed a package of each together to give us a little more moderate amounts of grease fat.  I know, I know- 3.09 /lb doesn’t sound cheap but it is regularly 4.79!  If you average the two, it comes to 2.44/lb which is pretty good for 80/20 beef.  Anyway,  on with my ramblings. . . . .

Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained (cook a chopped onion in with it if desired)

Heaping Tbl brown sugar (or similar combo of sugar, molasses, honey)

1/2 tsp mustard

1/4-1/2 cup ketchup

salt/pepper

After draining beef, return it to the skillet and stir in the remaining ingredients.  With the ketchup, use your judgement starting out with a small amount and adding more until you get the consistency you prefer.  Simmer until flavors are well blended- approx. 5-10 min. or place in crockpot on low until ready to serve.

Need to stretch your hamburger to serve a few more?  You can add a stalk or two of celery and more onion  (chopped fine so the kids won’t notice)  to your ground beef when browning.  This will add maybe one more serving.  To get even more, stir in a  handful of instant rice right before you turn the heat down to simmer.  Simmer with the lid on for the 5-10 min.  I have also heard of people adding quick oats or refried beans but I have not done those myself.

Leftover Sloppy Joes?

You can use leftover sloppy joe meat for:

• nachos
• tacos
• sloppy joe casserole (Spread in bottom of square pan.  Sprinkle on some cheese. Make drop bisquit dough – or bisquick casserole topping on side of box.  Spread on top.  bake)
• spagetti sauce or goulash (because of the sugar in the sloppy meat, rinse your meat under hot water to remove some of the sloppy sauce, then add to your spagetti or goulash.  It will be slightly sweeter than regular but still good)
• sloppy joe cheeseburger pizza

OR just leave it in the fridge for a week and feed it to the dog (ha ha ha- now that is funny!  you know you’ve done it!!  a million times Isn’t truly amazing how real life “truths” are often the funniest things ever!!??)

People need Prayer

With so many prayer requests going on around my community recently, I was reminded  of Elizabeth George’s book, “A woman’s Call to Prayer”.  Below is a quote that Elizabeth has in her book about the importance of prayer.    As you are thinking of and worrying about those in need today, don’t forget to pray that God will take care of their every need.

Lord, Awaken in us the realization that we need to call on You continually. . . . Teach us to have hearts that pray.  Teach us to keep ourselves focused on You. To set up an altar in our hearts, where our soul might call out to You continually. Amen   -Terry Glaspey (from his book Pathway to the Heart)

Remember your first leather jacket?

Do you remember back to your teen years or before?  Do remember wanting something really badly and the parents saying, “no” over and over again and then one day deciding that you were old enough or “ready”?  I remember waiting and begging to get my ears pierced.  I remember waiting and begging to go to the mall with my friends and no parents.  But today, I remember waiting and begging for a leather jacket!!!   My husband had the same dream and eventually both of us high school sweethearts got that leather jacket.  His was a stressed brown leather flight jacket.  Mine, well, I wanted a biker jacket in white with fringed sleeves and zippers everywhere but mom thought that was too worldly for her daughter.  So, I settled for a nice textured leather bomber type leather jacket with a Thinsulate liner so I could wear it in all seasons- mom thought that would make it worth the money- more money than we had ever spent on a coat for me in the past!

Flash forward 20 years or so!  My 11 year old son is home from school sick today.  I took him to the doctor to find out that he had a throat infection and one hugely swollen gland on his neck.  Anyway, just a few days before today’s dr. trip he received $20 from his aunt for his birthday.   Since dr. said he could not go to school today, we took a few extra minutes to run some errands in town.  At one stop I had to use the restroom so I told him he could go see if they had any crocs to replace his that broke.  When I return from the restroom he tells me that he didn’t find any crocs but he did find something else.  He takes me to the kids clothing section and low and behold he is pointing out the cutest (err, excuse me mom’s say cute, kids say “cool”) coolest biker jacket!!!  It’s not leather, just vinyl but it’s only $15!!!  He tells me he wishes he had brought his birthday money along so he could buy that jacket.  He’s in the middle school this year and being cool is sooooo important.  So, I floated him a loan.  As soon as we got back to the car, he called his aunt to tell her about his purchase!  He is soooooo excited and I bet he is hoping for cool temperatures come Monday so he has an excuse to wear it to school! 

He’s such an angel- boy after my own heart (well, and his dad’s too! lol)

Words of St. Francis of Assisi

Who Was St. Francis?
by Leonard Foley, O.F.M.

Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a mite of self-importance.

Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life as leader of Assisi’s youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: “Francis! Everything you have loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy.”  (this excerpt taken from www.americancatholic.org)

 

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace

That where there is hatred, I may bring love,

 that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness,

That where there is discord, I may bring harmony,

that where there is error, I may bring truth,

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith,

that where there is despair, I may bring faith,

that where there are shadows, I may bring light,

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Ever Feel like you’re in a hamster wheel?

Do you ever get something stuck in your head?  Something that you can’t get out of your head?  Something that seems to take over your thought processes?  Maybe your mind is telling you that you’re fat.  Maybe your mind is telling you that you’re not lovable.  Maybe your mind is telling you that your house is a pig sty.  Maybe your mind is telling you that no matter what, you won’t be good enough.  This spinning wheel train of thought is wrong!!!  It is FALSE!!  It is from Satan. 

It says in Genesis 1:27 that God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. . . .   If we were created to be the nature of God himself, how in the world could we possibly be too fat, not lovable, not capable, or not good enough?  God is the right size.  God is lovable.  God is capable.  God is good enough.  Therefore, you are the right size.  You are lovable.  You are capable.  You are good enough!  You are who God sees when HE looks in the mirror!!!

Mark 12:31 says that God commanded us to. . . . Love others as well as we love ourselves.  Some of you may have heard this as love your neighbor as yourself.   Stop thinking about showing love to your neighbor for a second and look at this differently.  If you’re neighbor needed someone to walk with them for exercise, would you if you had the time?  If your neighbor was lonely or depressed and needed cheering up, would you send them a card or make a visit?   If your neighbor needed help getting started cleaning their kitchen, would you spend a little time in their kitchen with them offering tips and encouragement?  If you would do these things for your neighbor, then you MUST do these things for yourself as well.  So often, we think this verse means that we should treat our neighbor better than we treat ourselves.  Turn it around, learn to love yourself as much as you show love to your favorite neighbor or friend!

Romans 12:3 says that we must not. . . .misinterpret ourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God.  No, God brings it all to you.  The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.  We are who we are because of what God is.  God does for us.  No, we may not be worthy of all the wonderful things he does for us.  No, we might not feel like accepting it either but it’s God who is offering it, who are we to refuse to accept how wonderful he made us??  God does not make junk!  God made us like Him and I highly doubt that he considers himself worthless.  He is God for goodness sake!  Creator of all the universe.  King of all kings.  We are his children!!!!

Decide today which part of Proverbs 15:15 you will become. . . . a miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.    I hope you are choosing the cheerful heart!  If so, go to a mirror.  Look at yourself.  Smile, force a fake one out if you have to.  Say out loud, I am looking at the image of God himself! I am God’s child!  I am worthy; I am capable; and I am loved!!!

Are you overwhelmed?

Psalm 61:1-5  says: O God, listen to my cry!  Hear my prayer!  From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed.  Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.  Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!  For you have heard my vows, O God.  You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.

No matter what is overwhelming you today (me? my list of things to do. . . .), God is with you.  He knows that you need peace, perserverence, and energy to overcome that feeling of “too much”.  May he bless you with his all encompassing love and grace today and always.