Nancy’s Kitchen

Trying to solve problems in different ways than one’s personal opinion is no reason to angrily call names. This applies to both sides of the aisle. Accusations of lack of character or abundance of idiocy are not kind, accurate, nor productive. It really brings sadness to me when our politicians and government officials, and yes, radio & television celebrities resort to debasing others. My mother taught me that a person of good character does not put others down so he/she can feel better than or superior to others. Too often, it seems to me that that is all that is happening. Every person has innate value and should be treated as such.

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French Toast Strada, courtesy of Karina Turkiewicz

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

2 Tbsp maple syrup (or light corn syrup)

1 loaf French bread (a couple of days old is better, or dry out a bit in warm oven)

5 eggs

1 ½ cups milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Melt in saucepan the brown sugar, butter and syrup.

Pour into a 9 x 13 pan.

Slice (or cut in cubes) French bread, about 1” thick.

Arrange over syrup mixture.

Mix eggs, vanilla and milk. Pour over bread, sprinkle with cinnamon, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Bake at 350º for 30-40 minutes

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or colored sprinkles.

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I am absolutely ruined for anything other than Christ Jesus and His precious children!! My heart cries out for me to return to the Gypsies and I’ve only been back 2 months! I’ll be praying and saving and doing whatever I can to get back to see “my” Gypsy Girls next summer! I do so love them!!

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Yesterday I noticed that we had some day lilies blooming.  Then I realized that they are located right where Stretch buried his bone.  You know what is good for lilies and other bulb flowers?  Right!  Bone meal… or in this case, the bone intact!! 

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I’m participating in a ladies’ marriage study by the above name. I am finding the study challenging and refreshing, because it brings back to mind all those principles for living in harmony with your mate. Yes, those are the ones, the ones we read, say “yea, makes sense”, and then go on as if we’d never read them!!

This study really does make sense, and the principles really work, too! It uses a book to read and a study guide with lots of really tough questions. Homework takes several hours! This would be a good study for couples preparing to marry as well as those who have been married long enough to find that life is not always bliss! Just don’t wait too long to start working on your marriage… it’s easier when you are proactive instead of fixing things after they’re broken!!

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Lovely weather today!!

I thought I’d treat our dog, Stretch, and gave him a frozen beef bone. He gently took it from my hand and calmly walked out the back door, down the walk to the side garden, and buried it among the lilies! He never flinched with the cold. He just saved it for later.

I love my dog!

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It began snowing last night – our first snow of the year. Living in Tidewater, Virginia – in the southeast corner of Virginia – we don’t see much snow. Last night we received maybe 1/2 an inch – enough to trim the brown grass and yellow daffodils with a light dusting. Our camellia bush, with red buds preparing to burst, also was trimmed like a Christmas tree with red lights.

Most of the day today, we’ve had some bit of snow falling, but usually as a “fluttering”. A few minutes ago I could say we actually had a “snow flurry”, but now it’s back to flutterings. What a beautiful day! I’m getting my laundry done, and some reading and praying. It’s a great day for staying indoors (although I did go sit in my porch swing for a few minutes and enjoy smelling the crisp, cold, snowy air)! Did you know that you can smell snow? Yes, you can! Growing up in Eastern Kansas, I learned to smell both the approaching snow and rain. It’s something in the air, drawing my attention, like a “heads-up” from Jesus.

I’m having a REALLY GOOD DAY. I hope you are, too.

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Well, I’m getting back into the after-holiday routine.  Julia and Amy and I are taking the ASL class.  Last night was the first class of the term.  We are in ASL 101, tempered to a comfortable pace.

Last week-end I began weaving baskets again.  I went to a Guilders Weave, where basket-weaving guild members from all over the region came together for various levels of classes (workshops) and learned new techniques and wove new baskets.  I had a wonderful time, but still have aches and pains in my hands and fingers from using those small muscles so much!  My baskets turned out not-too-bad considering I have not really done any weaving in about 15 years!!  I have joined our local Tidewater Basketry Guild so will be weaving something at least once a month.

I am also having personal “growing pains” and trying to find out what I think, how I feel, who I am…  sounds like I’m in college, doesn’t it?  Perhaps these are questions we face from time to time throughout life.  I’m 61, and I sense that God has some pretty exciting stuff for me these next 20 years or more.  I just wish I knew what that “stuff” is and where it is taking me.  Change is difficult, but since I’m still on my life’s journey, change will continue to come before me.  Thanks to Jesus, I don’t have to do it all by myself.

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Here is a “Praise the Lord” recipe that I created one day when my sons were young.  It was one of those days when I could not think of what to make for dinner, and I just looked in my cupboards and pulled this together.  Thanks, Jesus.    (Steve, Sean & Bob, this is not the same recipe I got from Carrie, but close to it.)  Adjust amounts of ingredients to taste and to size of casserole you want to make.  This serves 4 to 6.

Tuna (or Chicken) – Noodle – Vegetable Casserole, October 1979

Serves 4 to 6

• 1 large can of chicken with water in the can
• 1 can  condensed cream of chicken or mushroom or celery soup
• 1/2 can water or milk
• 2 Tbsp butter
• several dashes of poultry seasoning
• chicken bouillon (1 cube or 1 pkg)
• chopped celery
• chopped or shredded carrot
• chopped onion
• peas or corn
• cooked noodles

Mix together and put into baking dish

Top with potato chips or herbed stuffing

Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes at 350º. (Done when mixture bubbles)

Serve hot with fruit salad and bread.

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This recipe came to me from my mother, Peggy, and probably also from my sister-in-law, JoAnn.

Brown in 1 c. butter (2 sticks):

• 3/4 c. diced onion
• 3/4 c. chopped celery

Add & mix together in large bowl:

• 2 large packages Pepperidge Farms Herb Stuffing Mix

Add & mix thoroughly:

• 1 1/2 c. hot water
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. rubbed sage
• 2 slightly beaten eggs
• cooked wild rice (1/2 c. before cooking)

Stuff loosely and Cook Turkey immediately.

Refrigerate remaining dressing until 1 hour before turkey is done.

Add to remaining dressing:

• 1/2 c. turkey drippings from the pan
• 1/2 c. broth from cooking giblets
• 1/4 c. chopped cooked giblets (optional)

Mix well and put into greased 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish.

Cover & bake at 325º for 45 minutes OR at 375º for 30 minutes.

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