Nancy’s Kitchen

We were almost all together for Christmas this year. We missed Mom and Dad as Mom is recovering from surgery. The rest of us were here, though: Steve & Jodi, Sean & Amy and Julia, Andrew & Jesse, and Bob & Suzy. We enjoyed enchiladas (recipe from Paul Adkins) for our Christmas Dinner.
Then today, we shared my mother’s black cherry jello salad at the toddler shower for Steve & Jodi. We were also blessed with a beautiful blanket of snow! It was a bit difficult driving to the shower in it, but beautiful, none-the-less.

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This is one of my favorite recipes, from the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook.
30 minutes to prepare the pie filling (which is also home-made lemon curd) 1 hour to cool 10 minutes to prepare meringue 12-15 minutes to toast meringue Total Time about 2 hours, plus time to cool before serving

Organize before you start 1 1/2 c sugar 3 Tbsp cornstarch 3 Tbsp flour Dash salt

 3 slighten beaten egg yolks
 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
 2 Tbsp butter
 1/3 c lemon juice

 One 9" baked pastry shell

 3 egg whites
 1 tsp lemon juice
 6 Tbsp sugar

Pie Filling

Mix in Saucepan: 1 1/2 c sugar 3 Tbsp cornstarch 3 Tbsp flour Dash salt

Gradually blend in: 1 1/2 c hot water

Bring to boiling over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium, cook & stir 8 minutes more. Remove from heat.

Stir small amount of hot mixture into: 3 slightly beaten egg yolks Return to hot mixture.

Bring to a boil over hight heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, cook & stir 4 minutes longer. Remove from heat.

Add: 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel 2 Tbsp butter

Gradually stir in 1/3 c. lemon juice.

Cover entire surface with clear plastic wrap, sealing out air.

Cool 10 minutes.

Pour into cooled pastry shell. Cool to room temperature - about 1 hour.

Meringue - preheat oven to 350º

Beat till soft peaks form 3 egg whites with 1 tsp lemon juice

Gradually add, beating till stiff peaks form & sugar is dissolved 6 Tbsp sugar

Spread meringue over filling, sealing to edges of pastry.

Bake at 350º for 12-15 min or till meringue tips are golden.

Cool before serving.

Garnish with mint leaves

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Richard & I had fun this morning with Julia (age 4). We volunteered with our church to help the Salvation Army by being “bell ringers”. We put the red apron on Julia and gave her the bell. She enjoyed ringing it and saying, “Thank you. Merry Christmas.” And sometimes she would greet people by saying, “Give me your money!” We finally told her that the bell asks people to give their money, so we don’t have to. She did fine. A real joy and pleasure!! I got some pictures… I hope some turn out well!

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We came downstairs this morning, getting ready to go ring the bell for the Salvation Army, and found the dining room table full of water!! We had cleared off the mantles and bookshelf tops to decorate for Christmas and put everything on the table. It ruined a stack of devotionals – they were sopping wet, and Steve & Jodi’s wedding album. I was able to save the photos, but not the book. Looks very much like we have a leak, a break?, in our waste line coming from upstairs. The plaster wall is very wet in a tell-tale pattern, showing right where that waste line runs down in the wall, and then the water traveled horizontally as well, along the wooden slats in the wall and along the ceiling where it drained out around the ceiling fixture, pudding in one of the chandelier globes, then spilling over onto the dining room table. It was not hard to clean up the dining room, but the wall and probably the ceiling will have to come out to fix the pipe and the resultant water damage. We could end up in some not-too-pleasant smells soaking into the insulation and plaster!! I called the insurance company right away, notifying them and beginning the claim filing process. Of course it’s Saturday so no one is really available to deal with it until Monday. We are to do what we can to prevent more damage, take pictures, and keep all receipts. The estimator should be out on Monday, or at least call. Ah, the joys of a 100-year-old house! Thank You, Lord, for the insurance company.

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You know it’s time to clean the fridge when the milk freezes, the bottle breaks, and everything in the fridge is standing in milk!

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My Ti-Book has Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder! It apparently gets caught in a loop and just keeps spinning, even though the world is… or is not…. falling down around it! Aaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!

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I was in my “almost-first-thing-in-the-morning” quiet time, re-reading Isaiah 26:20, when John 14:2 came to mind, and I wondered…

about “your rooms” in Isaiah 26:20, “Come, my people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while until indignation runs its course. For the Lord is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain.”

and “dwelling places”, “place” in John 14:1-2, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God. Believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”(NASB)

or back to “room” as paraprased in The Message, “Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.”

Do these words, one Hebrew and one Greek, have the same meaning or connotation? Can I draw any comparisons or conclusions from this? Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bilble – Isaiah 26:20 #2315, “rooms”, and John 14:2 #3438 “dwelling places”

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As I was changing my newest grandson’s diaper today, I remembered with a smile this little “poem” I came up with last summer….

Poopie!

Poopie, poopie, poopie! Poopie, poopie diaper! Poopie, poopie, poopie! What? Not me!

Poopie, poopie, poopie! Poopie, poopie panties! Poopie, poopie, poopie! Put that poopie in the potty!

    by Grandma & Julia & Andrew
        August, 2004

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Adapted by Nancy Ivy from Better Homes & Gardens Casserole Cook Book © 1961, pg 19

Preheat oven to 350º f Lightly spray 11” x 9” shallow baking dish with PAM Baking Time 25-30 minutes Quantity 6-8 servings

Thaw & Arrange in baking dish 2 10-oz pkgs frozen broccoli or 2 bunches fresh.

Spread 2 c sliced cooked chicken, or 3 chicken breasts, cooked & boned, evenly over broccoli.

Combine & pour over chicken 2 10-oz cans condensed cream of chicken soup 1 c mayonnaise or salad dressing 1 tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp curry powder (to taste)

Sprinkle or lay 1/4 c shredded sharp process cheese (or 4 slices sandwich cheese) evenly over all.

Combine and spread evenly over all. 1/2 c Pepperidge Farm Herb stuffing cubes
1-3 Tbsp melted butter

Bake at 350ºf for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and stuffing cubes are lightly browned. Serve hot.

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Our next-door neighbor, Joey, brought over some Christmas lights he didn’t need since he’s downsizing and moving soon. His lights are now beautifully adorning our front fence and house! Thanks, Joey! What’s more is that I — yes, I — put them all up, all by myself, with Richard’s design consultation. I can’t wait to take some pictures to show you!

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