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Bread for The Journey



Psalm 34

It's been my habit to read through the Psalms - usually one Psalm each day. 
I am amazed by the breadth and scope of emotions they cover and
the freedom with which the writers expressed their hearts  to God.
One Psalm I've read and re-read recently is Psalm 34.
 It speaks of determination, trust, praise, despair, hope, petition and resolve.
As you read this familiar Psalm, make it your heart's expression to God.

I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. 
I will constantly speak of His glories and grace.
I will boast of all His kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart.
Let us praise the Lord together, and exalt His name.

For I cried to Him and He answered me!
  He freed me from all my fears.
Others too were radiant at what He did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection!
This poor man cried to the Lord - and the Lord heard him and saved him 
out of his troubles.
For the angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence Him.

Oh, put God to the test and see how kind He is! 
See for yourself the way His mercies shower down on all who trust in Him.
If you belong to the Lord, reverence Him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.

Sons and daughters, come and listen 
and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord.
Do you want a long, good life?
Then watch your tongue!  Keep your lips from lying.
Turn from all known sin and spend your time in doing good.  
Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it.

For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives
and He gives attention when they cry to Him.
But the Lord has made up His mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth.
Yes the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for help, and saves him out of all his troubles.

The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; 
He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins.
The good man does not escape all troubles - he has them too.  
But the Lord helps him in each and every one.
God even protects him from accidents.

Calamity will surely overtake the wicked; heavy penalties are meted out to those who hate the good.
But as for those who serve the Lord, He will redeem them; 
everyone who takes refuge in Him will be freely pardoned.
 Psalm 34 The Living Bible

Saturday in Ellen's Kitchen

Good Saturday to all of you. Today in my kitchen I wanted to share one of my favorite ways to make a meal. One pot meals are quick and economical and can be real tasty. The clean-up is simple, too. This week in preparation for my post today I made two one pot meals. One was a lasagna pot meal that I saw on My Mother's Apron Strings blog. With that idea tucked in my head I came up with this one pot chicken enchilada meal. Another great thing about this recipe using these ingredients is that it is Gluten Free!
 Ellen's Chicken Enchiladas One Pot Meal

Ingredients:
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves
  • 1 - 7 oz. can of diced green chilies drained
  • 1- 4 oz. can of diced jalapenos drained (optional) 
  • 10 oz. package of Queso Fresco grated (Mexican cheese)
  • 1 - 28oz. can of green enchilada sauce (mild)
  • 1 - 15 ounce can of pinto beans drained.
  • 10 count package of white or yellow corn tortillas sliced.
  • 1 cup Mexican blend grated cheese

Method:
  1. Use a stove top 4 quart or larger dutch oven to heat the oil.
  2. Add the chicken, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, green chilies and jalapenos (if using).
  3. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink.
  4. Remove the chicken mixture to a plate.
  5. Now it's time to layer the ingredients.
  6. Add to the same dutch oven 1/3 of the enchilada sauce.
  7. Place one third of the cut up corn tortillas evenly on top.
  8. Put 1/2 the chicken mixture on top of tortillas.
  9. Place 1/2 the queso cheese on top. 
  10. Add all the beans on top of the queso.
  11. Add another layer of the tortillas.
  12. Add the second 1/2 of the queso cheese on top.
  13. Add the next 1/3 of the sauce.
  14. Add the second half of the chicken.
  15. Place the last portion of tortillas on top of the chicken.
  16. Pour the last 1/3 of the enchilada sauce on top.
  17. Sprinkle the top with the Mexican blend grated cheese.
  18. Cover and cook on medium low for up to 30 minutes. After about 15 minutes use a turner to gently slide down all around the edges to lift up the bottom portion so the bottom doesn't burn or stick.
  19. After the 20-30 minutes of cooking take lid off and let it cook off some liquid for 5 minutes longer.
 You just want the ingredients to be heated through and for the cheese to melt nicely.
Serve with a salad or veggies.
This can serve 4 to 6 people.

 I didn't get photos of all the layers but these are the first layer and the middle layer and the last topping of the Mexican blend of cheese. The last photo shows the spatula going down the edges of the pan all around to lift the bottom layer gently.

My family really enjoyed this dish with the jalapenos but it did add some good kick to it so if your family is sensitive to spicy meals just delete the jalapenos. They also enjoyed tortilla chips on the side.



Maple Toast Egg Cups - Flashback Friday


For flashback Friday I'm bringing back these maple toast eggs, they are a nice change for breakfast, it's a one egg breakfast in a muffin cup.
  • 6 bacon strips, diced, I used maple flavored bacon
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/8 cup butter
  • 6 slices firm textured white bread, I used multigrain
  • 6 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. In skillet cook bacon till crisp, place on paper towels to absorb grease, then dice and set aside.
  2. In small saucepan heat syrup and butter until butter is melted.
  3. Trim crusts from bread, flatten slices with a rolling pin.
  4. Brush one side generously with syrup mixture and press each slice into a lightly greased muffin cup with syrup side down.
  5. Divide diced bacon among muffin cups.
  6. Carefully break one egg into each cup.
  7. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  8. Cover with foil.
  9. Bake in a 400º oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until the eggs are done. I baked them for 22 minutes.
  10. Serve immediately, I had a little syrup mixture leftover so I drizzled it over the eggs.

Onion Gravy


Here is a gravy that pairs perfectly with Salisbury steak, meatballs or schnitzel. And one can never go wrong by smothering mashed potatoes with a spoonful of onion gravy!  
  • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups liquid (water, meat juice or broth)
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
  • salt, to taste

  1. Cook onion in oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat, until onion is softened and browned, about 10-15 minutes.
  2. Add  minced garlic and saute for another minute or two.
  3. Sprinkle flour over the onions and continue to cook, stirring, for several minutes.
  4. Gradually stir in broth, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. 
  5. Simmer (stirring often) until gravy is slightly thickened.
  6. Season with salt.

 

Mediterranean Pizza

Pizza is really just an experiment of combinations. I had a jar of roasted red and yellow peppers and a jar of marinaded artichokes that looked like a good start. I found some pitted Kalamata olives and feta in my refrigerator. The base for my experiment was a herb and Parmesan flavoured crust, spread with a garlic infused mayo. 
Let's begin with the crust. This recipe makes 2 12" pizza crusts. The dough can be made, risen once and then divided and remaining dough can stay in refrigerator well sealed for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 6 weeks. To use from frozen, thaw in refrigerator. Allow cold dough to come to room temperature before using.
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (not instant)
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups white flour
  • 1/2 cup semolina flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning (I used a thyme based seasoning called Zatoun that I buy at Ten Thousand Villages)
  • 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
  1. Place warm water in a bowl. Stir in sugar and sprinkle with yeast. 
  2. Allow to stand without stirring for 10 minutes.
  3. While yeast is proofing, stir together flours, salt, seasoning and cheese. 
  4. Stir yeast mixture and pour over dry ingredients, and add 3 tablespoons of the oil.
  5. Stir until dough begins to come together. 
  6. Using hands pull dough into ball, adding extra oil if needed.
  7. Knead on a lightly floured board for about 3 minutes. Dough will be smooth and not sticky.
  8. Place in a well grease bowl. Cover lightly and allow to rise for 45 minutes to and hour. 
Toppings: for one 12" pizza
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise 
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1 skinless boneless chicken breast grilled or baked and cut into thin strips 
  • 3 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
  • Kalamata olives
  • 3/4 cup marinaded artichokes, drained and cut into bite size pieces
  • 1/2 cup roasted yellow and or red roasted peppers, drained and cut into thin strips
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  1. Begin by grilling or baking chicken. ( I rubbed the chicken breast with a bit of olive oil and sprinkled it with Greek seasoning, then grilled it. 
  2. Fry bacon, drain fat and crumble. 
  3. Once dough has risen, punch it down and divide it in two. Take one portion and roll it out and place it on a sheet of parchment paper sprinkled with corn meal. This will give the crust a nice crunch.
  4. Stir together mayonnaise, crushed garlic and Parmesan cheese. Spread over crust.
  5. Top with mozzarella cheese.
  6. Next place the cut up grilled chicken pieces, bacon. artichokes, roasted peppers, olives and top with remaining cheeses.
  7. Heat pizza stone to 475º-500º and lay pizza on stone. We bake ours in our Big Green Egg grill at 500º, but this can be baked on a hot stone in oven as well. Baking time will be approximately 15-18 minutes. 

Salmon Quiche


This Salmon Quiche is great the day it is made and is just as tasty reheated in the oven the next day.
My mom in law makes this and I'm always happy to take home a few slices for our lunch the next day.  You can use your favourite pastry recipe or purchase unbaked frozen pie shells to put this together in minutes.
  • 1 unbaked 10 inch pie shell
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 5 eggs
  • 2 cups light cream
  • 2 cups shredded Swiss or Gruyere Cheese
  • 14 ounces / 398 ml canned salmon, drained and flaked
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
  2. Line the unbaked frozen or fresh pie shell with heavy foil.  Bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and set crust aside.
  3. Fry onion in butter in a small fry pan. 
  4. In a medium bowl,  beat together, eggs and light cream.  Add salt and fresh dill.
  5. Place salmon evenly over the bottom of the baked pie shell.  Sprinkle with cheese.
  6. Pour egg and cream mixture over salmon and cheese.
  7. Reduce oven temperature to 375F and bake for 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean when tested in the center.  
  8. To reheat the next day, place individual pieces of quiche on a baking sheet and warm in 350F oven for 20 minutes.  




Toasted Zucchini Snacks


Maybe it's your turn to take snacks to the office, you're planning appies for a dinner or have been asked to contribute food to a baby shower. These Zucchini toasts are quick and easy to prepare. You can use any type of tiny bread slices you like, prepare your topping ahead and quickly put them into the oven for 10 minutes just before serving.

Ingredients:

  • 24 slices snack rye or pumpernickel bread (2"x 2") OR French baguette 
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini (1 small zucchini)
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Monterrey cheese ( I like Habanero Heat or a sprinkle or chili flakes added)
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 tsp Tabasco
Method:
  1. Combine all topping ingredients.
  2. Spread by rounded teaspoon on each slice of bread.
  3. Bake at 375 for 10 - 12 minutes, until bubbly or starting to just starting to brown.( I like to bake these on convection) 

Bread for the Journey


This is one of my favorite songs we sing in church. It touches me in a special way every time we sing it, especially the chorus. We need to release everything to God and place our trust completely in him. When we feel there is no hope, no matter what we face, we have to let go and trust God.  Gott Kann. (God can)
If you haven't heard this song before go to u-tube and listen to these touching words.

"Trust In You" ..Lauren Daigle

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see

I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!

Quiche Tips


I was asked to bring a quiche to a birthday brunch recently.
I love quiche but the last time I made it,
 it turned out a bit watery so this time I wanted to avoid that if I could.
I did a bit of research online and decided to share what I learned with you.

1. Freeze the crust for at least 30 minutes before baking. Once your crust is rolled out and placed in the pan. Put it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. (Use a metal pan or a tempered glass one that can go from freezer to oven without breaking.) While the crust is in the freezer, you can prepare the ingredients for your filling.

2. Blind bake the crust. Blind Baking means baking it before filling it. Carefully line the unbaked crust with parchment paper and then fill with beans or pie weights, making sure the weights go to the edges. This ensures that crust edges will not slide down into the middle as it bakes.  
Bake the crust at 350º for about 20 minutes with the weights in it, then remove the parchment paper and weights and continue to bake until the crust begins to turn colour.  Remove from oven and fill.

                          

3. Make sure all your filling ingredients are fairly dry.  This means frying mushrooms until the liquid evaporates, wilting spinach and blotting it with paper towel to get the excess moisture out, and pre frying bacon, sausage or proscuitto. For the quiche in the pictures, I used sauteed onions, red peppers, spinach and proscuitto.


4. When filling the quiche, start with a a layer of the grated cheese of your choice. Sprinkle the vegetables over that and then top with the remaining cheese. (I used 1/3 Cheddar and 2/3 Swiss)
A rule of thumb here is to use about 1 1/2- 2 cups cheese for a 10" pie plate.


5. Eggs to milk ratio. I found that using 2 large eggs to 1 cup of milk works well.  For a 10" pie plate I used 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream.  I also like to add a tablespoon or so of Worcestershire sauce to give it an extra punch of flavour.

6. Bake the quiche at 350º for about 35-40 minutes.  Don't over bake it.  It should still be a tiny bit wobbly in the middle and a knife tip inserted into the middle should be clean with just a bit of moisture.
Let the baked quiche sit for about 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving to give it time to set.
 

I found these tips helped a lot and I had a nice silky filling with no watery residue.
Quiche remains a brunch favourite and I hope that keeping these tips in mind will improve your quiche skills.



Baked Chicken Ranch Roll Ups

I saw these chicken rolls using Pillsbury Crescent Refrigerator Dough Sheets and had to give them a try. I didn't realize that the Crescent dough was sold in sheets that aren't perforated. It makes this recipe a lot simpler as I purchased the basic crescent rolls and had to pinch all the perforations! Buy the sheets if you want to make this tasty dish.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups shredded baked chicken
  • 1/2 cup Ranch dressing
  • 3/4 cup shredded Italian blend cheese
  • 1 can (8 oz.) Pillsbury Refrigerator Crescent Dough Sheets
  • 2 tablespoons sliced green onions


Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Prepare a 9 inch round pan with cooking spray.
  3. Mix together the chicken, ranch dressing and cheese in a small bowl.
  4. Unroll the dough sheet onto a large cutting board. 
  5. Spread the chicken mixture evenly on top of the dough leaving one inch at one end of the long side uncovered.
  6. Roll the dough with the filling carefully toward the uncovered edge.
  7. Pinch the seam when you have it rolled.
  8. With a sharp knife cut 8 equal parts.
  9. Place the 8 rolls carefully into the prepared pan.
  10. Bake for 18-22 minutes until the the dough is golden brown.
  11. Cool in pan for a few minutes.
  12. Top with the green onions and serve with side of your choice.
  13. Serves 4 people.

Beet and Pineapple Salad with Pistachios





We recently had a salad similar to this at a restaurant.
The combination of flavours was unusual I thought, and made for a bright and delicious salad.
I tried out my version at our Mennonite Girls' Christmas party and got their approval 
so here it is.

A few things to note before making the salad:
- I've not included amounts for the ingredients as it will depend on the number of people you are serving. 
-  I like to plate this salad rather than serving it in a salad bowl because the beets will discolour the pineapple..
- You'll want the beet and pineapple pieces roughly the same size so if your beets are large, cut each slice into 4 and cut the pineapple pieces into quarters as well.
- The dressing can be changed up depending on what kind of balsamic vinegar you have on hand.

Champagne* Dressing
  • 3 tablespoon Champagne* vinegar - * I have also used a grapefruit balsamic vinegar but any good white balsamic will do
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste1/4 cup olive oil or avocado oil
  • Roasted or boiled beets  sliced 1/2" thick. 
  • fresh pineapple, rind and core removed sliced 1/2 " thick
  • Spinach 
  • Arugula
  • chopped pistachios
  • a mild, soft goat cheese
  1. Mix dressing before making salad. Set aside.
  2. Combine vinegar, shallots, mustard, honey and seasonings in a salad dressing shaker or a small bowl.  Shake or use a whisk to blend well. 
  3. Slowly add oil, shaking/whisking after each addition until the oil is emulsified and the dressing is cloudy.
  4. Arrange salad on individual plates:
  5. Mix baby spinach and arugula making a bed of greens.
  6. Alternately lay pineapple and beet pieces in a circle on the greens.
  7. Place a small scoop of goat cheese in the center of each plate and sprinkle with pistachios
  8. Drizzle dressing over each salad and serve.


Cornbread for Two


Cornbread is one of those side dishes that I think about when we have chili. It is also delicious with  soup or as a dessert with butter and honey.  Now that I often cook for two again, it is fun to use this small cast iron pan I received as a gift from a friend. You can double the recipe to make it in a large cast iron, regular loaf pan or 9 x 9 baking pan.

Ingredients:

  • butter or margarine to grease pan
  • 3/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 cups cornmeal
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp oil
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease pan well.
  2. Combine dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
  3. In a small bowl beat eggs with fork, add in the oil and buttermilk to combine.
  4. Add liquids to dry ingredients and stir until blended in well.
  5. Spread into prepared pan and bake 25 - 30 minutes.


Thai Linguine

We have enjoyed this Thai dish several times over the past few months.  I think you will too!


  • 12 ounces linguine
  • 1 pound chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 4 tablespoons oriental sesame oil, divided use
  • 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 2 cup thinly sliced red peppers
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (or use white vinegar)
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

  1. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Transfer pasta to large bowl; add 2 tablespoons sesame oil and toss to coat.
  2. Heat remaining 2 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat.  
  3. Stir fry chicken pieces and remove to separate plate.
  4. Add green onions, garlic, and ginger and red peppers; saute until red peppers soften, about 2 minutes. 
  5. Add honey, peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, chicken broth and pepper flakes; whisk to blend. 
  6. Simmer sauce for several minutes.
    Pour over pasta and toss to coat. 
  7. Transfer to platter; sprinkle with remaining green onions.


Bread for the Journey


". . . then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

I recently finished reading through the Old Testament books of Kings, giving a chronological order of the kings of Judah and Israel and a bit of their life. One thing that stood out when I read these chapters is how time after time it says something like, " Jehoahaz, son of Ahaziah king of Israel, became king (and) he did evil in the sight of the Lord." Sometimes it refers to "evil just like his father had done".  Once in a while, a king such as Joash is listed of whom it says, " He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord."
These thoughts have reminded me how each generation chooses the way they will go for themselves. God has given us all a free choice in this. King Josiah was eight years old when he became king and had no upbringing in the Law, However, he made a bold move to get rid of idol worship and renew God's covenant with the people.

My prayer is that, as grandparents and parents, we will choose to serve the Lord and never give up praying for the generations to follow.  Unlike the people in Old Testament times, we have the Bible to show us the result of disobedience and rebellion. We stand on this side of the cross, God's story of forgiveness and we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Let us take our stand with Joshua to serve the Lord.



Warming the Heart

It is January... a month that brings to mind  warm fireplaces, afghans and sweaters. But sometimes warming our bodies is not enough, our hearts feel a chill and nothing warms the heart like sentimental thoughts.

I am perhaps more sentimental than most - and the sentimental attachment I have to many of the things in my home  keep me from 'decluttering'.

One of my recent additions to my sentimental 'heart warmers'  is the above gift from my dear friend, Judy.  She came over one afternoon so I could do her a sewing favor.  Knowing monetary thanks would be refused she found a way to reciprocate. She brought  me a gift. A beautifully wrapped box of  herbal tea and a unique tea cup set.  I love  the curves of this delicate cup and tray and of course it is in my favorite colors.  When I need a heart warming, I can make myself a cup of tea and sit for a few moments reliving the  happy memory of the afternoon Judy and I shared.

The Sunshine Muffins, pictured above, were  warm out of the oven and the coffee freshly made when my friend came.   The recipe is a long time favorite of mine that I have adapted to be gluten free. I love them because they are so quick and easy to make - don't take long to eat either !
.
Sunshine Muffins

  • 1 whole orange (cut into quarters) 
  • 1/4 cup water 
  • 1/4 cup milk 
  • 1 lg egg 
  • 1/4 cup oil 
  • 3/4 cup sugar 
  • 1 1/2 cup Julie's Flour mix 
  • 1/2 tsp xanthan gum 
  • 1 tsp baking powder 
  • 1 tsp baking soda 
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  1. Put orange, water and milk into blender and pulse until perfectly smooth
  2. Add egg and oil and sugar, blend well 
  3. Mix dry ingredients and add to liquids and mix until smooth. 
  4. Fill muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 or 25 minutes 
****************************************
Note -  Sentimental is defined as "expressive of or appealing to sentiment, especially the tender emotions and feelings of love, pity, or nostalgia"  
and then I thought this definition for 'sentiment' interesting - "The thought or feeling intended to be conveyed by words, acts, or gestures as distinguished from the words, acts, or gestures themselves." ***************************************
How sentimental are you ? What stirs your sentimental feelings?

Flashback Friday ~ Spaghetti Sauce


There's nothing more comforting on a cold winter night than to come home to a fresh hot bowl of cooked spaghetti sauce dished over capellini noodles.  I live opposite a greenhouse and  I am so fortunate that my neighbor lady supplies me with many fresh tomatoes all summer and I just throw them in a bag to freeze and make spaghetti sauce in the winter when I have more time. 
For this week's flashback Friday I paired it together with Capellini noodles (angel hair) and also added Char's fresh roasted beans.  


Ingredients
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 green pepper, chopped
  • 1-quart canned tomatoes undrained. ( I use fresh tomatoes, skin them, chop them and they are the best.)
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tsp prepared mustard
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 11/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/4 - 1/2 Cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese.
  1. Brown ground beef, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper. Drain.
  2. Place all ingredients except cheese in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
  3. Turn heat to medium and cook until sauce is thick - about 11/2 hours - 2 hours.
  4. Serve over spaghetti.
  5. Add freshly grated Parmesan cheese
This sauce freezes well. I often double it and freeze half.




Chicken Peppercorn Dip


Dips and spreads are delicious anytime but especially nice to serve on game nights. Serve them with crackers, multigrain or corn chips.  This dip has a bit of spicy heat to it, feel free to adjust the hot sauce according to your taste.
  • 2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce (I used Louisiana hot sauce)
  • 3/4 cup peppercorn ranch salad dressing
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
  1. In a bowl, whisk together cream cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce until smooth.
  2. Stir in salad dressing, chicken, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
  3. Spread into a 9" x 13" greased baking pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheese over top.
  4. Bake in a 350º oven for 35 minutes.
  5. Serve hot.

Skillet Tuna Noodle

This was a go to meal for my family when our kids were young. I added a couple steps to deepen the flavor from my original easy Tuna Noodle.

12 ounce bag of extra wide noodles
2-7ounce cans of tuna
1 -10-3/4 ounce can of cream of celery soup
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 celery stalk finely chopped
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon butter

Boil noodles in salted water.
While noodles are cooking saute celery and onion in the oil and butter till onions are translucent.
Add tuna, soup, and milk to the pan and heat through to bubbling.
Drain the noodles when al dente.
Mix the noodles with the bubbling ingredients.
Serve with some green vegetables.
I served them with jalapeno chips, too, for some added kick.
 

Twice Baked Potatoes

The humble potato brought to the next level. 
  • baking potatoes, I like to use russet 
  • olive oil, garlic salt, pepper
  • 1 tablespoon herb and garlic cream cheese, per potato
  • 2 teaspoons butter, per potato
  • 2 tablespoons milk, per potato
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped chives or green onions, per potato
  • 1 tablespoon bacon bits, per potato, plus extra if you are a bacon lover to add to the topping with the cheese.
  • 2 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese, per potato
  1. Wash potatoes and make a little slit through the skin of each one in 3-4 places.
  2. Rub outside of potatoes with a little bit of olive oil and sprinkle lightly with garlic salt and pepper.
  3. Place in a baking dish and bake potatoes at 375º for 1 hour or until tender. The skins should turn nice and crisp.
  4. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Slice each potato open lengthwise.
  5. Scoop baked flesh of potatoes into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients except for the cheddar cheese. 
  6. Mash mixture together and refill the potato skins. Top with cheddar...and the extra bacon if using.
  7. Place back in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.
You can bake ahead of time and assemble. Baking time will be a little longer once stuffed as the filling will be completely cooled off. 

Apple Pancake Syrup


When the orchard apples were first available in fall, I purchased a large bag of my favorite apples for baking. I've been using them up in various recipes and this is one of them. We really like this syrup on apple pancakes. Dipping slices of apples in this syrup is really tasty as well.
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup pure apple juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.
  2. Whisk in apple juice until mixture is smooth.
  3. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until bubbly and thickened.
  4. Stir in lemon juice and butter.
  5. Serve with pancakes. (really good on apple pancakes)
  6. Yield: 1 cup. 

Bread for the Journey

(photo credited to Lora Martens)
Be Still and Know and Know That I am God...Psalm 46:10

The New Year has just begun.  A few tracks have been made.
Sometimes we get to choose the kind of tracks we make and where they go.
These words, 'Be Still'  will be my 'go to' verse for this year.
I know that I am wired for anything than stillness.
When I face challenges and set backs, my first inclination is to fix it.
No one hears.  Can there be a God?
I didn't sign up for this.

What does this really mean?
The Hebrew language suggests that it means to abandon, to slacken, to let go.
I've realized for me it means, 'Quit Striving.'

I barely had chosen this verse when I was asked to
 sit at the edge of a bedside saying goodbye to a dear friend.
I clenched her hand....and my eyes filled with tears.
I whispered a few encouraging thoughts.
Its hard to grasp that God is infinite during those solemn moments.
She whispered, "It's time to let go...."
I knew what those words meant or did I?
How can one "Let Go?"

I walked slowly and quietly out of the room
turning my face, waving goodbye once more and
reflected over the words...."Be Still"
God is God and we are to rest that he is in control over our lives.
Teach me to be quiet before God and enjoy a calm confidence.
Hours later she passed away peacefully.

So as I move forward and the world continues to crumble,
let me not stand as a composed person in disaster,
but let me stand with confidence that I know who 'He' is.
Only God can provide calm for the future.
She knew who 'He' was and taught me what it meant to 'Let Go.'

Old Fashioned Cream of Tomato Soup


What does a cold wintry day call for but a good bowl of soup?  This soup is 'naturally' gluten free.

 I was invited to my friend, Dorothy's house for lunch some months ago and she served me a lovely tomato soup.
 I had not had tomato soup for a long time and found her's so tasty, I asked her for the recipe.
She told me that years ago she and her husband had been travelling and stopped in a town they were not familiar with and asked someone for a good place to have lunch.  They were told that they had to go to  4B's because they were known for their excellent tomato soup.
They took the advice and did enjoy the soup, so much that Dorothy asked for the recipe.
Contrary to many restaurants that refuse to share their recipes, this place was so happy to share, that they had pre-printed recipe cards for those who asked.   This restaurant is closed now, but my friend still had an original card and was happy to give it to me - the one pictured in the above photo.

The recipe is as follows ...

  •  1 tbsp. chicken base paste (I used a chicken bullion cube - make sure it is gluten free if you are on a gluten free diet.) 
  • 1 cup water 
  • 1 oz. butter (1 tbsp)
  • 2 tbsp sugar 
  • 1 tbsp chopped onion 
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda 
  • 1 15 oz. diced tomatoes (pureed) 
  • 1 16 ox. can crushed tomatoes
  • 8 oz. (1 cup) whipping cream
  • 8 oz. liquid coffee creamer (I used milk) 
  1. Combine chicken base, water, butter, chopped onion and sugar
  2. Simmer until onions are clear
  3. Add tomatoes, baking soda and stir well. 
  4. Add cream, milk and heat to serve. 
Serve with crackers and a salad - and you have a meal that satisfies. 

Macaroni and Creamy Sausage Gravy ~ Flash Back Friday


I first posted this recipe in 2013 and I thought I would share it again for a cold winter night quick dinner idea.  I loved reading the ideas from our readers and think that maybe there might be other memories of the way mom's used to bring comfort food to the table. 

I would have never thought to put this recipe on the blog except that my beloved said it should go on since it is one of his favorites and maybe not everybody knows how to make creamy gravy from fried sausage.  
My mom often made this quick meal and I don't think I ever truly appreciated how delicious it was when I was small.  Now...it has joined the ranks as a true comfort food in our home.
Somehow, dill pickles are a must on the table and I often make coleslaw that has grated carrots and shredded red cabbage to add color to the plate.

  • 2 pounds sausage (I use smoked farmer sausage but go ahead and use your favorite)
  • 2 cups uncooked macaroni
  • sausage drippings  and butter to make 1/4 cup
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 1/2 - 3 cups milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
  1. Slice sausage into 1/4 inch coins and fry in a large flat bottomed fry pan stirring occasionally to brown both sides.  Do not use a non stick pan or the sausage will not brown as it should and you want browned bits to stick to the pan.  Remove sausage and keep warm in oven while you make the sauce.
  2. Cook macaroni according to instructions on the box.  Drain.  
  3. Add flour to the drippings in the fry pan, scraping bottom to remove browned bits and stir to combine over medium heat.  Cook and stir until the mixture becomes thick and stir for 1 minute to cook the flour well.
  4. Add the milk a little bit at a time at first, stirring to create a sauce.  Add 2 cups milk and then additional milk to make medium sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Add macaroni to the pan and stir to warm up macaroni.



Banana Muffins with Crumb topping Gluten Free



My favorite banana muffin recipe is this one, It came about because I had a couple of too ripe bananas and hated to throw them out and I was suddenly hungry for banana muffins...  Maybe you are too !
  • 2 eggs 
  • 2 lg bananas
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla 
  • 1/2 cup sugar 
  • 1 1/4 cups Julie's blend flour 
  • 1/2 tsp xanthan gum 
  • 1 tsp baking powder 
  • 1 tsp baking soda 
  • 1/2 tsp salt 
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 
  1. Place eggs, banana , melted butter in mixer bowl and beat until perfectly smooth.
  2. Blend dry ingredients together and stir into liquids , stir in nuts 
  3. Spoon into greased or paper cup lined muffin tins and sprinkle the crumb mixture over the tops.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. 
Crumb Oat Topping 
  •  2 tbs. melted butter 
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar 
  • 1 tbsp Julies' flour blend 
  • 1/2 cup of gluten-free oats 
  1. With a pastry blender or a fork, work the above ingredients together to  forms crumbs 
These muffins rise beautifully, have a really nice texture and flavor. They keep well for a couple of days on counter or freeze well for future use.  This recipe makes 6 super large muffins or 12 regular sized muffins. 
Enjoy !! 

Chicken Noodle Soup Made Easy



There's nothing quite like homemade chicken noodle soup to cure whatever may ail you. (And it seems that in January there are many who are 'ailing'!)  If the thought of cooking up stock and making your own noodles is a little daunting, here's a short-cut recipe that is delicious and doesn't take long to cook up! 

  • 1 rotisserie chicken
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 or two cloves garlic, minced
  • 10 cups chicken stock (store-bought or homemade)
  • 350 gr / 3/4 pound noodles (I used fresh linguine from the deli, cut into 2 or 3-inch pieces)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 star anise* 
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

  1. Remove the meat from the rotisserie chicken; cut into bite size pieces and set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium heat.  Add the onions, celery, and carrots, and saute until onions begin to turn translucent. Add garlic and saute for another minute or so.
  3. Pour the 10 cups chicken stock into the stock pot. Add bay leaf, star anise and parsley and simmer over medium-high heat for about 30 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, cook noodles in a separate pot according to directions...being sure not to overcook.  Drain.
  5. Add chicken pieces and noodles to the soup pot.  Test and adjust seasonings as needed.  Heat through and serve.
*star anise is optional, but gives a wonderful exotic flavour to the soup.

Serves 6-8



Brown Rice Pilaf


This recipe comes from the first cookbook our ladies group at church produced back in the 80's
A friend recently served it to us alongside a pork chop dish and I was glad to be reminded of it.
It has a nice nutty flavour and is baked in the oven so that last minute preparation is avoided.


  • 4 slices bacon (optional but as you know, everything is better with bacon)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (or you can substitute more broth)
  • 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  1. Cook bacon in a large frying pan until crisp. Drain and reserve 3 Tablespoons drippings. 
  2. Crumble bacon and set aside.
  3. Saute onion and celery in drippings until tender, but not brown. If you are not using bacon, use 1-2 tablespoons of oil instead of the drippings.
  4. Stir in remaining ingredients and reserved bacon.
  5. Heat until boiling.
  6. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 quart casserole dish 
  7. Cover and bake at 325º for one hour or until liquid is all absorbed.

Oatmeal and Walnut Gingersnaps





With the kids back at school after the holidays, it's a good day to put a simple drop cookie into the freezer for those lunches.  I love this gingersnap that has oatmeal and walnuts added in for texture and nutritional value.  It's a recipe that gets repeated requests at our home.  It's a big batch making about 100 cookies so there is plenty for the freezer and some to share.

  • 1 1/2 cups room temperature butter
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups large flake oatmeal
  • 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
  • 3 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ginger
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • sugar to roll cookie balls in
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Cream together butter and sugar with a stand mixer until light.  Add in eggs, one at a time and then molasses.  Beat together to combine.
  3. Stir together dry ingredients and then slowly add to creamed mixture.
  4. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to make handling the dough easier. 
  5. Use a small spring loaded ice cream scoop or form small 1 inch balls.  Roll balls into sugar and arrange on greased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.  They will flatten so there is no need to press them down. 
  6. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and cool on wire racks.