Thursday, November 08, 2012

Joy in Haiku



Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.
And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
God's palate



must be open to it!
~~~~~~~~~~

Healing always comes
It's many forms surprising
Smiling, laughter, tears

Happiness and joy
God's abundant love, mercy
Thanksgiving treasures

~~~^j^~~~

Will be at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods this weekend for recommitment as a Providence Associates.  Pray with me!!!

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy


Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 




I'm also joining Lou Ceel at Haiku Friday.  Come play with words.  It's such a joy!!!




Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Once Upon A Time Recipes


There is always that special recipe that brings back wonderful memories of holiday meals with family and friends and grand times spent together.  Thanksgiving and  Christmas holidays are one of those times when memories flood back for me.  What about you?

It's always been a challenge for me to make chicken and dumplings.  Here in Indiana chicken and dumplings is another way of saying chicken and noodles (wide noodles).  But being raised in Colorado I always knew chicken and dumplings as chicken soup with fluffy puffs of batter steamed atop the soup.

******
And the challenge was not the soup...It was the dumplings.  As a wedding gift a dear friend gave me a cookbook called The Complete Book of High Altitude Baking by Donna Miller Hamilton and Beverly Anderson Nemio.  (I'm not sure if the book is still in print, but I did find 2 used copies on Amazon.com.)  I decided one afternoon those many years ago when the wee ones were napping that I'd make chicken and dumpling.  And so the adventure began.

Chicken Soup

3 boneless chicken breasts                1 medium white onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced                 1 49.5 oz can of chicken broth 
2 bay leaves                                        salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredient to a 6-quart sauce pan.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes until the chicken is done.  Remove the chicken from the broth and when it is cool enough to handle cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.  Return the chicken to the pot and simmer until you are ready to add the dumplings.  (I also make the chicken soup in my large  Crock Pot and then when I get home from work I only need to transfer the soup to the sauce pan to make the dumplings.)


******
Dumplings 

1 egg, slightly beaten                            1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted                 1 teaspoon parsley, chopped
1 cup milk                                                 OR  1/4 teaspoon thyme
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted                 savory, if desired
2 teaspoons double-acting
   baking powder. 

Blend egg, melted butter and milk together.

Sift flower once before measuring.  Mix and sift together flour, baking powder, salt and herbs, if desired.

Make a well in the center of dry ingredients.  Add small amount of liquid mixture.  Blend quickly.  Add remaining liquid mixture, using as few strokes as possible to blend  the two [mixtures] together.  Dough should be stiff.  Add a small additional amount of flour if necessary 

After having removed the bay leaves, bring the chicken soup to a rolling boil.  Reduce the heat to medium.  Then drop dough by tablespoonfuls into hot broth.  Cover with lid and cook 10 minutes.  Uncover and cook 10 minutes more.  (I have never adjusted the recipe because of altitude, but you can if you desire.)

Recipe yields 12 dumplings.  

I serve it tonight with Cheese Biscuits.  The mix a gift from Jimmy and Kelly because they know how much I love Jim 'n' Nick's when we visit them in Alpharetta. ( If you find a copy of the cookbook the recipe is on page 106.)  

What an adventure it has been, because for 44 years now I've been making and loving those chicken and dumpling meals on a chilly Autumn/Winter evening.


~*~*~*~
Thanks be to God!!!


Cathy


Please join the fun. Share your family recipe and memories surrounding it. Make your comments here and then go to Mr. Linky so we can visit and share your recipe. Who knows your recipe might start a new holiday tradition at someone else's holiday gathering.


Sunday, November 04, 2012

Mosaic/Macro Monday


Tis the season for anticipation and reasons for giving thanks.  The family gatherings, harvest moon, and the glory in God's creation!

On the Wednesdays during the preparations for these wonderful holidays please join me for Once Upon A Recipe.  Share your recipes and tradition stories behind them from Grandmas sugar cookies to Mom's best stuffing recipe!!!  All are welcome and what fun we'll all have sharing these memories!!!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Stop by  The Little Red House and offer words of encouragement to Mary.  Mosaic Monday is postponed this week due to the devastation in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.   Visit Macro Monday,  too.  Lisa has a wonderful time planned for you.  The pictures all are an inspiration!