REMINDERS FROM GOD:

 Romans 10:1-3

(1) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (2) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 

It is not so much a lack of the availability of true knowledge as it is a lackadaisical, careless, "it really does not matter all that much," "any way is as good as any other," "sin is not really all that bad" approach. It at first might seem to be a gentle form of stubbornness, but the real problem here is two major spiritual sins: pride and covetousness. In effect, Israelites are guilty of telling God that He does not know what He is talking about. As a nation, we are somewhat like teenagers who tell their parents that they are "out of it" old fogies, but it is far more serious than this.

Generally, Israelites are not a particularly violent people. However, our pride influences us, as Amos shows, to be deceitful and sneaky and to take advantage of those weaker than ourselves. We are masters of competitively seeking advantage, not for the purpose of sharing, but to get for the self. Consider Jacob's characteristics in his dealings with Esau and his father-in-law, Laban.

However, these sins are just as much deviations from God's standards as the violent and vicious sins of the Gentiles. Sin is sin is sin. God nowhere says, "This level of sin is passable"; sin will always be failure. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The continuous nature of these pesha' sins (presumptuous transgressions) strongly indicates that they will not be repented of.

Leviticus 19:18

““‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

mosque • MAHSK  â€¢ noun

: a building used for public worship by Muslims 

Examples:

On the last day of Ramadan, Abdul and his family attended prayer services at a local mosque.

"Last year, a Muslim congregation in Murfreesboro, Tenn., a pleasant college town of about 110,000 people southeast of Nashville, decided that the time had come to build a proper mosque." -- From an op-ed by Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times, May 19, 2011

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Today's Dog Tip:

So today I want to address 5 common dog myths that people believe. Let's take a look at them and dispel some common myths.

1. The best way to remove a tick is with a match. This is not true. The best way is simple. Find out. Go to: petplace.com/myth1

2. Dogs like taste of blood once they bite . This is not true. Some dogs are aggressive for a variety of reasons but not because they like the taste of blood. To learn more about dog aggression, go to: Go to: petplace.com/myth2

3. Skittish dogs are "abused". Dogs can be skittish for lots of reasons and one of them can be abuse. However there are a lot of dogs that are skittish - that doesn't mean that they've all been abused. Some people are shy - the same is true for dogs. Find out more. Go to: petplace.com/myth3

4. Mixed breeds are healthier than purebred dogs . Some mixed breeds are healthier than pure breed dogs. However, there are a lot of unhealthy purebreds as well. What are the advantages and disadvantages of pure breed vs. mixed breed dogs? Find out here: petplace.com/myth4

5. Bones are good for dogs. This is not true. Bones can be very dangerous and are not recommended. Learn more here: petplace.com/myth5

I hope you found these myth busters helpful.

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Tip on Risks for Dog Bloat

Bloat is a condition in which the stomach of a dog becomes distended and can "twist". This condition is also called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) and is a very common cause of death for many large and giant breed dogs. 

Breeds at most risk include breeds with deep narrow chests and large or giant breed dogs such as the Akita, bloodhound, collie, Great Dane, Irish setter, Irish wolfhound, Newfoundland, rottweiler, Saint Bernard, standard poodle and Weimaraner.

Untreated, it results in death. If you have a large or giant breed dog, be familiar with the risks and signs of this condition. Early identification and prompt treatment can safe your dog's life. 

Canine bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is the number-one cause of death for several large and giant breeds. It is a life-threatening disorder and if left untreated, results in death.

Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with food, water and/or gas. This results in increased pressure that enlarges and compresses the stomach and eventually causes the stomach to rotate or twist into an abnormal position. When the stomach twists, it actually crimps the inflow and outflow of gastric contents and blood to and from the stomach. This in turn cuts off the blood supply to the organ causing a cascade of events that can eventual cause death. Approximately 30 percent of dogs that develop bloat die or have to be euthanized.

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How to Draw Lightning McQueen

Lightning McQueen is the main character from the Disney Pixar film Cars and Cars 2. In appearance he's very similar to a NASCAR car but what really matters is that he makes an enjoyable and friendly subject for drawing.

This drawing tutorial will guide you through the various stages of creating a Lightning McQueen drawing.

Steps

Start off with the basic shapes for the body. Draw two ovals for the front of the car, and two large ones to form the body. Then, draw a curved trapezoid for the head and a rectangle to shape his backside.

Pencil in guidelines for his features. Sketch in the lines for his eyes and mouth, his tires, windows, etc., as shown by this image.

Sketch in his outline. Add two circles to the windshield area for each of the eyes. Draw two smaller ones inside each circle for the pupils.

Add in eyelids to add more life to Lightning.

Then, give him a smile. Include his teeth and tongue.

Sketch in circles for the wheels. At this stage, you need to to add perspective to create the sense of dimension and depth.

Add the wheel details. Draw in smaller circles for the rims, a smaller circle in the middle and small squares around the rim.

Add in the finer details. Draw his stickers, Rusteez logo and lightning bolts, as well as marking in the number 95. Shadow outline the number to create depth.

Outline the image and color in the black areas, such as the tires, pupils, and part of the mouth as shown in the image. Then erase your guidelines.

Color the rest of Lightning McQueen. Use the colors as suggested here. While you're coloring, add shadows and highlights, and you're done!

Tips

If you've enjoyed this drawing, check out How to draw Mater from Cars too!

Things You'll Need

Pencils, pens, or markers (whatever your preferred medium for coloring)

Erasable pencil for drawing guidelines

Eraser

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Easy Bake Toffee

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 1/2 cups chopped pecans - divided use

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly butter a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan; set aside.

Combine butter and brown sugar in a heavy, medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in 2 cups of pecans.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake 15 for minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the chocolate chips; when chips have softened, spread evenly over toffee. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup pecans on top. Let cool completely and break into pieces. Store in airtight container.

Makes about 2 pounds candy.

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Double Cheese and Bean Nachos

PREP TIME  10 Min

TOTAL TIME  25 Min

SERVINGS  8

It's hard to resist a platter of crunchy, gooey nachos, especially this jalapeño-studded version loaded with cheese.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups small round corn tortilla chips

1 cup Old El Paso refried beans (from 16-oz can)

1/2 cup Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa

2 tablespoons Old El Paso pickled jalapeño slices, drained, chopped (from 12-oz jar)

1/2 cup chopped green onions (8 medium)

2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)

1  Heat oven to 400°F. Line 12-inch pizza pan or 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. Spread half of chips evenly on pan.

2  In small bowl, mix refried beans and salsa. Drop about half of mixture by small spoonfuls over chips. Top with half each of jalapeño slices, onions and cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese.

3  Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Expert Tips

Layer the nachos on a microwavable plate; microwave on Medium for 2 to 4 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Fresh chopped jalapeño chilies can be substituted if you like.

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Easy Toffee Candy

1 1/4 cups butter - divided use

35 to 40 saltine crackers

1 cup packed dark brown sugar 

1 (14-ounce) can NESTLÉ CARNATION Sweetened Condensed Milk 

1 1/2 cups (9-ounces) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 

3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with heavy-duty foil.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in medium saucepan. Pour into prepared jelly roll pan. Arrange crackers over butter, breaking crackers to fit empty spaces.

Melt remaining butter in same saucepan; add sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in sweetened condensed milk. Pour over crackers.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and slightly darkened. Remove from oven; cool for 1 minute.

Sprinkle with morsels. Let stand for 5 minutes or until morsels are shiny; spread evenly. Sprinkle with nuts; press into chocolate. Cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Remove foil; cut into pieces.

Makes 50 pieces.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/50 of recipe): Calories: 130 Calories from Fat: 70 Total Fat: 8 g Saturated Fat: 4.5 g Cholesterol: 15 mg Sodium: 70 mg Carbohydrates: 14 g Dietary Fiber: 0 g Sugars: 12 g Protein: 1 g

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EASY BOSTON CREAM PIE  

1 (2 layer size) pkg. yellow cake mix

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (1 oz.) sq. unsweetened chocolate

1 tbsp. butter

1 c. sifted powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3-4 tsp. water

Prepare cake pans and mix following directions. Cool cake layers. Prepare pudding mix following directions for pudding. Let stand 10 minutes. Lay 1 cake layer on platter, bottom side up. Spread pudding over. Top with second cake, bottom side down. In a pan, stir chocolate and butter over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla. Blend enough water into chocolate mixture so it will pour easily. Spread chocolate mixture over top cake layer. Chill.

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Cream Cheese Mints

This recipe is made annually in the kindergarten classes in my hometown. The

mints are also very tasty and creamy.

1 3-oz pkg cream cheese at room temperature.

4 drops food coloring

   (mint - green, lemon - yellow, strawberry - pink)

1 tsp flavoring extract as above

1 T milk

Stir the above together until well mixed then add

1 lb confectioner's sugar

Mix all the sugar into the cream cheese mixture, kneading it with your hands.

When completely mixed, roll into a large sausage. Break off small amounts and

roll into balls, about 1" diameter. 

Place balls on waxed paper, and press flat with fork dipped in confectioner's

sugar. Let dry until tops are just dry, then flip and dry out underside.

Store in airtight container so they don't dry out any further.

Yields 80-90 mints.

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English Toffee

1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons butter

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons cold water

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Dash salt

1 (6-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips

Generously butter a cookie sheet.

Put butter, sugar, and water in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a bubbling boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Continue cooking, without stirring, to a very brittle stage (300°F to 310°F | 150°C to 155°C on a candy thermometer). Or, when a small amount is dropped into cold water, the candy separates into hard, brittle threads.

Remove from heat and add nuts to mixture. Stir in vanilla and salt.

Pour onto prepared cookie sheet and spread to 1/4-inch thickness. Cool slightly, top with chocolate chips and spread once chocolate softens.

Cool completely and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 36 pieces.

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JAEGER SCHNITZEL (GERMAN STYLE VEAL

CUTLETS)  

Veal cutlets

Mushrooms

Onions

Salt and pepper

Brown gravy

The portions you use depends upon how many people you have and how much you want. Either way you should find it most enjoyable.

Step 1: Bread veal cutlets (flour, eggs, bread crumbs, and fry).

Step 2: While your cutlets are frying cut your onion in rings and fry until they have a glazed look.

Step 3: Take brown gravy (canned or if you have your own meat gravy) and put in saucepan.

Step 4: Take one can of mushrooms (or fresh cut in slices) and drain well.

Step 5: Mix mushrooms, onions and gravy together, add a dash of salt and pepper and bring to a gradual boil.

Step 6. Serve sauce over cutlets with home fries and your choice of veggies and enjoy.

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Pat had but a limited knowledge of the bird kingdom. One day, walking down the street, he noticed a green bird in a cage, talking and singing. Thinking to pet it he stroked its head. The bird turned quickly, screaming, "Hello! What do you want?" Pat shied off like a frightened horse, lifting his hat and bowing politely as he stuttered out: "Ex-excuse me s-sir, I thought you was a burrd!"

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A police detective was investigating a homicide. As he questioned the on-scene officer, he learned the body was that of a young woman. The body was found with a bowl over her head and a spoon stuck in her back.

The on-scene officer asked what the detective thought had happened to the woman.

The detective responded, "I think it's obvious. A cereal killer got her!"

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Every December it was the same excruciating tradition. Our family would get up at the crack of dawn, go to a Christmas tree farm and tromp across acres of snow in search of the perfect tree. Hours later our feet would be freezing, but Mom would press on, convinced the tree of her dreams was "just up ahead."

One year I snapped. "Mom, face it. The perfect tree doesn't exist. It's like looking for a man. Just be satisfied if you can find one that isn't dead, doesn't have too many bald spots and is straight."

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At five-ten and 114 pounds, our son, Dan, is the skinniest player on his high school football team. During one of his games, I remarked to a cousin, "I wonder why they gave him the uniform with the number 1 on it."

"It's probably the only one that fit," she said.

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A suburban train was slowly working its way through one of the blizzards of 1894. Finally it came to a dead stop and all efforts to start it again were futile.

In the wee, small hours of the morning a weary commuter, numb from the cold and the cramped position in which he had tried to sleep, crawled out of the train and floundered through the heavy snow-drifts to the nearest telegraph station. This is the message he handed to the operator:

"Will not be at office to-day. Not home yesterday yet."

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Two young guys appear in court after being arrested for smoking dope.

 The judge says, "You seem like nice young men, and I'd like to give you a second chance instead of jail time. I want you to go out this weekend and try to convince others of the evils of drug use. I'll see you back in court Monday."

 On Monday, the judge asks the first guy, "How did you do over the weekend?"

 "Well, your honor, I persuaded 17 people to give up drugs forever."

"Seventeen people? That's wonderful. How did you do it? " 

"I used a diagram, your honor. I drew two circles like this: O o. Then I told them that the big circle is your brain before drugs and the small circle is your brain after drugs."

 "That's admirable," says the judge. Then he turns to the second guy. "And how did you do?"

 "Well, your honor, I persuaded 156 people to give up drugs forever."

 "Wow!" says the judge. "156 people! How did you manage to do that?"

 "Well, I used a similar diagram," the guy says. "I drew two circles like this: o O. Then I pointed to the little circle and said, 'This is your asshole before prison..................

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An interesting case for anyone who wants to be a homicide investigator.

 At the 1994 annual awards dinner given for Forensic Science, AAFS President, Dr. Don Harper Mills astounded his audience with the legal complications of a bizarre death. Here is the story:

 On March 23 , 1994... The medical examiner viewed the body of Ronald Opus , and concluded that he died from a shotgun wound to the head.

Mr. Opus had jumped from the top of ten-story building intending to commit suicide. He left a note to that effect indicating his despondency. As he fell past the ninth floor, his life was interrupted by a shotgun blast passing through a window, which killed him instantly.

 Neither the shooter nor the deceased was aware that a safety net had been installed just below the eighth floor level to protect some building workers and that Ronald Opus would not have been able to complete his suicide the way he had planned.

 The room on the ninth floor, where the shotgun blast emanated, was occupied by an elderly man and his wife. They were arguing vigorously and he was threatening her with a shotgun.  The man was so upset that when he pulled the trigger, he completely missed his wife, and the pellets went  through the window, striking Mr. Opus.

 When one intends to kill subject 'A', but kills subject 'B' instead, one is guilty of the murder of subject 'B.'

 When confronted with the murder charge, the old man and his wife were both adamant, and both said that they thought the shotgun was not loaded. The old man said it was a long-standing habit to threaten his wife with the unloaded shotgun. He had no intention to murder her.

Therefore, the killing of Mr. Opus appeared to be an accident, assuming the gun had been accidentally loaded.

The continuing investigation turned up a witness who saw the old couple's son loading the shotgun about six weeks prior to the fatal accident. It transpired that the old lady had cut off her son's financial support, and the son, knowing the propensity of his father to use the shotgun threateningly, loaded the gun with the expectation that his father would shoot his mother. Since the loader of the gun was aware of this, he was guilty of the murder even though he didn't actually pull the trigger. The case now becomes one of murder on the part of the son for the death of Ronald Opus.

Now comes the exquisite twist...

 Further investigation revealed that the son was, in fact, Ronald Opus.  He had become increasingly despondent over the failure of his attempt to engineer his mother's murder. This led him to jump off the ten-story building on March 23rd , only to be killed by a shotgun blast passing through the ninth story window.  The son, Ronald Opus, had actually murdered himself. So the medical examiner closed the case as a suicide.

A true story from Associated Press

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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REMINDERS FROM GOD:

 Luke 4:16

(16) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 

There is no argument in the world of religion over which day the Old Testament reveals Israel was to keep holy. Jesus kept it. What is one supposed to think—that God goes to all the trouble to record all that information about the Sabbath in the Old Testament, and then after four thousand years, He has second thoughts and changes one of His royal laws? He changed no other law of that rank, so why that one? That demands an answer, especially since God-in-the-flesh kept it.

If anyone knew how to live life in a way that would please God, it was His Son, Jesus Christ, who never committed a sin. He kept the Sabbath. It was His custom, not only to keep it, but it was also to fellowship with His fellow Israelites and to read and expound Scripture to them (see Luke 4).

Do we worship some kind of unstable God? How can we have faith in Him and His way, if we fear that God might have changed something and we are not aware of it?

The truth about those ceremonies, rituals, and laws is not done away. Jesus' own testimony to this effect is found in Matthew 5:17-18, "Not one jot or tittle will pass from the law." They are still in effect but elevated to their spiritual application. The Head of the church, the One whose example His disciples are to follow in all things, kept the Sabbath. He did not keep it because He was a Jew but because the Word of God—the Old Testament—instructed Him to do so, and He set an example for His followers.

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

amanuensis • uh-man-yuh-WEN-sis  â€¢ noun

: one employed to write from dictation or to copy manuscript 

Examples:

Marco worked as an amanuensis for a judge who needed to compose his opinions orally while recovering from cataract surgery.

"As early as the 1840s and 1850s, the Ohio Cultivator published women's columns that spoke vividly for women's rights and honed the talents of two important abolitionist feminists, Hanna Maria Tracy Cutler and Frances Dana Gage, who is now best remembered as the amanuensis for Sojourner Truth's 'Ain't I a Woman' speech." -- From Frances W. Kaye's 2011 book Goodlands: A Meditation and History on the Great Plains

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I thought it mushroom when I found

It in the woods, forsaken;

But since I sleep beneath this mound,

I must have been mistaken.

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Cheese Cookies for your Doggie

Ingredients: 

2 cups flour

1 ¼ cups cheese

1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil

4 to 5 Tbsp water

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit.

Mix all ingredients well. 

Bake for 10 minutes.

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Candied Citrus Peel

zest of 4 lrg. lemons, 3 oranges, or 2 grapefruit

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

First simmer zest in 1 quart water for 6 min.  Drain, rinse with cold

water, and set aside.  Bring sugar and water to simmer.  When sugar

dissolves, cover pan and boil a few minutes until last drops of syrup fall

from the end of a metal spoon to form a thread.  Remove from heat, stir in

peel, and steep 1 hr.  Ready to use or store covered in refrigerator.

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Banana Cream Angel Bites

Angel Bites:

5 large egg whites

1/3 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 pinch salt

Banana Cream Filling:

1/2 cup egg substitute

1 cup LACTAID Fat Free Milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons light butter

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon banana flavor

2 bananas, sliced

2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly oil a 13x11 inch-baking sheet. Set aside.

Make Angel Bites: Place egg whites in a medium mixing bowl. Whip on high speed using an electric beater or wire whisk until frothy.

Add SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener, vanilla and salt. Mix on high speed until medium-stiff peaks form (approximately 20 to 30 seconds).

Spoon rounded tablespoons of egg white mixture onto prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated 350°F (175°C) oven 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan. Cool.

Make Filling: Place egg substitute, LACTAID Fat Free Milk, vanilla and light butter in a small saucepan. Blend SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener and cornstarch together and add to ingredients in the saucepan. Stir well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken and bubble (approximately 3 to 4 minutes).

Remove filling from heat and add banana flavor. Stir until well mixed. For an extra creamy filling, pour into the bowl of a food processor or blender. Cover and process until very creamy (approximately 10 seconds). Pour filling into a bowl and refrigerate at least 20 minutes or until ready to serve.

Assemble Angel Bites. Just before serving, sandwich Angel Bites with filling. Place three Angel Bites on a plate with the bottoms facing up. Top each with sliced banana and a spoonful of filling. Stack another Angel Bite on top. Repeat for each serving.

Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Makes 5 servings. Serving Size: 3 prepared angel bites. 

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

Total Time: 35 Minutes

Note: If egg whites start to separate, whisk them back together using a wire whisk.

Nutrition Info Per Serving: Calories 90 | Calories from Fat 20 | Fat 2.0g (sat 0g) | Cholesterol 0mg | Sodium 140mg | Carbohydrates 14g | Fiber 2g | Sugars 8g | Protein 4g

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Cow Patties

2 cups granulated sugar

4 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

Bring first 4 ingredients to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan for exactly 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.

Quickly spread on either wax paper or greased cookie sheet. Allow to cool and then cut into squares.

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Boston Cream Pie I

"A rich creamy dessert also known as Boston Cream Cake. It is a wonderful combination of yellow cake, custard and chocolate glaze."

Original Recipe Yield 1 -9 inch layer cake  

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter, softened

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup light cream

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch salt

4 teaspoons cornstarch

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup light cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans. Sift the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.

In a deep bowl cream 6 tablespoons of the butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the 2 eggs, one at a time, then beat in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture alternately with the 1/2 cup of the milk in 3 additions, Beating the batter smooth after each addition. Divide the batter between the 2 prepared pans.

Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until cakes begin to shrink away from the sides of the pans and centers spring back when lightly touched. Turn the cakes onto wire racks to cool.

To Make The Filling: Combine the 1/2 cup light cream with 1/4 cup of the milk and cook over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan. Immediately add 1/4 cup of the sugar and the salt, stirring until dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the milk with the cornstarch and whisk to remove lumps. Whisk in the 2 eggs. Add the hot cream mixture in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Return to the mixture to the saucepan, bring to a boil, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and is smooth (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and allow to cool to room temperature.

To Make The Chocolate Frosting: In a heavy saucepan over low heat, stir the chocolate pieces and 2 tablespoons butter until they are completely melted. Remove from the heat and, stirring constantly, add the 1/4 cup light cream in a thin steady stream. When mixture is smooth, stir in the confectioners' sugar and beat vigorously. Stir in the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

To Assemble Cake: Spread the cooled filling over one the cooled cakes and place the second cake on top. Pour the chocolate frosting evenly over the top allowing it to spill down the sides.

Nutritional Information  

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 325 | Total Fat: 15.1g | Cholesterol: 102mg

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BOSTON CREAM PIE

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. milk

2 egg whites

1/2 c. sugar

2 1/4 c. sifted flour

1 c. sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/3 c. cooking oil

2 egg yolks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 9-inch cake pans.

Add vanilla to milk, set aside. Beat egg whites to soft peaks; gradually add the 1/2 cup sugar, beating until very stiff and glossy. Sift flour, the 1 cup sugar, baking powder and salt together into another bowl. Add oil and half the milk; beat 1 minute at medium speed on mixer. Add remaining milk and egg yolks. Beat 1 minute more. Fold in egg white mixture. Pour into cake pans. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool slightly; remove from pans. Cool. Spread one layer with Custard Filling. Top with second cake layer.

CUSTARD FILLING:

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk

1 egg and 1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 

1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups milk; mix well. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and boiling. Cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Beat together 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, stir a little of the hot mixture into egg; return to hot mixture. Cook and stir until mixture boils. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cover surface with waxed paper; cool.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:

1 (1 oz.) sq unsweetened chocolate

1 Tablespoon butter

1 cup sifted confectioners sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Place 1 (1 oz.) square unsweetened chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted. Remove from heat; add 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Blend in enough boiling water to make soft enough to spread. Spread on cake. Eat and enjoy.

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VIENER SCHNITZEL  

6 veal chops or steaks

salt and pepper

2 eggs, slightly beaten

flour

3 tbsp. bacon drippings

juice of 1 lemon

1 cup thick sour cream

Sprinkle veal lightly with salt and pepper. Dip into eggs, then into flour. Brown on both sides in hot bacon drippings, then cover and cook slowly until chops are tender and cooked through.

Sprinkle with lemon juice and arrange on a hot platter. Blend the tablespoon of flour with drippings from pan. Add sour cream and cook for three minutes, stirring constantly.

Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with chops. Garnish with slices of lemon.

Variation: Currant jelly can be melted in the drippings in which the chops were sauted instead of adding flour and cream.

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If a cowboy rides into town on Friday and three days later leaves on Friday, how does he do it? The horse's name is Friday!

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Visitor: Wow, you have a lot of flies buzzing round your horses and cows. Do you ever shoo them? Cowboy: No we just let them go barefoot.

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Why was he woman arrested on a cattle ranch for wearing a silk dress? She was charged with rustling!

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One day a lady from the church had come over and had given a gift for all the wonderful sermons that her husband has given.

Mrs. Johnson had said, "Thank you very much but what is it?"

The lady said, "It is a Damn ham."

Mrs. Johnson looked shocked and said, "Don't speak that way to me, don't you know that I am the preachers wife!"

The lady said, "Yes, yes I know, but that is the brand name of the ham!"

Mrs. Johnson said, "ooh I see well thank you" and the lady left.

Later that night when Mrs. Johnson was cooking dinner the preacher came into the kitchen and said, "Mmmm! That smells really good! What is it?"

Mrs. Johnson said," Well thats your dinner tonight, some Damn Ham"

The preacher was shocked and said, "Don't speak to me that way! Don't you know who I am?"

Mrs. Johnson said, "Yes, yes! I know who you are! It is just the brand name!"

The preacher said, "Oh! I see! Well it smells great!"

That night when dinner was ready she had set it out on the table. The corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, and ham!

When the family sat down they said their prayers and began to eat. The preacher said to his wife, "Could you please pass me some of that Damn ham?"

The wife said "sure".

Then little Johnny said, "Alright dad! While you're at it can you pass me the fucking mashed potatoes!"

****************************

BLONDE's SCHOOL DAY

One day a blonde came home from school and came to her mother and said, "Hey, Mommy! Mommy! Today in school we learned to count. The other kids could only count to three but I can count to Ten..... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!"

The mother responds, "Very good honey." The blonde asks, "Is that because I'm a blonde mommy?" And the mother responds, "Yes dear."

Next day the blonde came home and went to her mother and said, "Today in school we learned our ABCs! The other kids could only get to D but I can get to K! .... A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K!"

The mother says, "Very good honey." The blonde then asked. "Is that because I'm a blonde, Mommy?" The mother responds, "Yes dear."

The third day the blonde come home from school and said to her mother, "Mommy today in school we went swimming! But I was the only one who had breasts. Is that because I'm a blonde, Mommy?"

And the mother responds, "No Honey, it's because you're twenty five."

****************************

There was a prostitute on the beach without any arms or legs, and crying. A man came along and asked her what the matter was. She tells him that she has not been hugged before, so he picks her up and hugs her.

The next day she is still there crying, the same man comes along and asks her what the matter is. She tells him that she has not been kissed before, so he picks her up and kisses her.

The next day she's still there crying, and same man comes along again. He asks her sternly what the matter is and she tells him that she has not been fucked before. So the man picks her up, walks to the end of the pier, and throws her in the sea and says: "Now you're fucked."

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CHICKEN ONE LINER JOKES

Why did the chicken cross the road ? 

To get to the other side

Why did the rooster cross the road ?

To cockadoodle dooo something

Why did the chicken cross the basketball court ?

He heard the referee calling fowls

Why did the turkey cross the road ?

To prove he wasn't chicken

Why did the chicken cross the road, roll in the mud and cross the road again ?

Because he was a dirty double-crosser

Why didn't the chicken skeleton cross the road ?

Because he didn't have enough guts

Why did the chicken cross the playground ?

To get to the other slide

Why did the dinosaur cross the road ?

Because chickens hadn't evolved yet

Why did the turtle cross the road ?

To get to the shell station

Why did the horse cross the road ?

Because the chicken needed a day off

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Think about this: 1. Cows 2. The Constitution 3. The Ten Commandments

COWS 

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11  million illegal aliens wandering around our country.. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.  

THE CONSTITUTION 

They  keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq  ....why don't we just give them ours?  It was  written by a lot of really smart guys, it has  worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.  

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS  

The real reason that we can't have the Ten  Commandments posted in a courthouse is this --  you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' 'Thou  Shalt Not Commit Adultery' and 'Thou Shall Not  Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and  politicians, it creates a hostile work  environment.

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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Reminders from God

 Leviticus 19:35-37

(35) "You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. (36) You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (37) "Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the LORD.""

God states things so simply. Manufacturers have the responsibility to produce high quality, fairly priced products. According to a report from the National Journal, dangerous or misused products result in 28,000 deaths and 130,000 serious injuries each year. Certainly, the manufacturer has a rightful claim to a profit, but he should not attempt to increase his profits improperly at the expense of the consumer, the public at large, or nature.

Many will recall what happened at the Ford Motor Company several years ago. Even after fairly low-speed rear-end crashes, the Ford Pinto was known to burst into flames. Internal memos showed that Ford knew of the danger yet refused to recall the cars and install a $10 shield because the total fleet-wide cost would exceed the cost of an occasional lawsuit. However, between 500 and 900 people died in rear-end crashes involving the Pinto. Many lives were stolen away!

Notice how clear and insistent God is that businessmen deal fairly with the public: "Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. . . . Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and dishonest scales are not good" (Proverbs 20:10, 23). Proverbs 16:11 adds, "Honest weight and scales are the LORD'S; all the weights in the bag are His work [margin, concern]." Why are they His concern? Because the sin of stealing is involved, and as we have just seen, even death can result.

Micah 6:10-12 sets this sin in a historical context, showing that sly cheating by businessmen is no minor affair to Him. Amos 8:5-7 adds further evidence that, in His judgment, secretive business thievery that takes advantage of the unwary is in no way beneath His notice. Ezekiel 45:9-12 extends the sin of thievery into the realm of religion as God makes charges against those involved.

God demands clearly set and well-advertised standards, and He expects people to conform to them. We must understand, too, that the spirit of the principles involved in dealing fairly with one's neighbor reach out to include things like false advertising, doctors who perform unnecessary operations (a third are unnecessary, according to the American Medical Association), and lawyers who enter into unnecessary, and in many cases, frivolous litigation in behalf of a client.

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WORD FOR THE DAY

catawampus   

 kat-uh-WOM-puhs , adjective;

1  .Off-center; askew; awry.

2  .Positioned diagonally; cater-cornered.

Quotes:

Very circuitous, I must say- most sidelong and backhanded, cockeyed and skew-jawed, catawampus and wonky.

-- Candace A. Croft, Annalia's Simply Splendid Flight: From Another Side of Day

The only traditional touches are the catawampus walls and whichaway entrances dictated by Feng Shui, the art of placing things so as to ensure luck and not disturb spirits.

-- P. J. O'Rourke, Eat the rich

Origin:

Catawampus arose in the United States around 1840, during a particular vogue in elaborate coinages. Cata- stems from cater-, a now-archaic root meaning "diagonal," while the source of -wampus is subject to debate

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CONFUCIOUS QUOTE:  Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.

THINGS TO PONDER:  How do they get the cream in the Twinkie?

You might be a REDNECK if...

    ...you've ever filled your deer tag on the golf course.

"For every failure, there's an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. 

When you come to a roadblock, take a detour."  - Mary Kay Ash

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Fran's Microwave Toffee

1 cup chopped toasted almonds - divided use

1/2 pound grated semi-sweet chocolate - divided use

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cut into chunks 

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 

2 tablespoons water

Butter a large piece of aluminum foil; set aside.

Have the almonds ready and set aside.

Mix together the butter chunks, 1/2 of the chocolate, brown sugar and water. Microwave for 5 minutes uncovered; quickly whisk in 1/2 of the almonds and then microwave again for another 5 minutes on HIGH, covered.

Quickly pour and spread hot mixture onto prepared foil.

Sprinkle reserved chocolate and remaining almonds on top.

Let cool for 30 minutes and break into pieces.

Store in airtight container.

Makes about 20 pieces.

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Homemade Peanut Butter

Prep time: about 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1½ c. unsalted roasted peanuts

1 tbsp. peanut oil

Utensils:

food processor (you'll need help from your adult assistant)

bowl

mixing spoon

storage container

measuring cups and spoons

Directions:

For smooth peanut butter:

Mix the peanuts with the peanut oil, and pour the mixture into the food processor.

Process the mixture until it's very smooth.

Store your smooth peanut butter in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be good for 2 weeks.

For chunky peanut butter:

Take about ¼ cup out of your 1½ cups of peanuts and set them aside.

Mix the rest of the peanuts with the oil, and pour the mixture into the food processor.

Process the mixture until it's very smooth, then stir in the peanuts that you had set aside.

Process a few seconds more to create the chunks in your chunky peanut butter.

Store your chunky peanut butter in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be good for 2 weeks.

Serves: 12

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

Nutritional analysis (per serving):

116 calories

4.3 g protein

10.25 g fat

4 g carbohydrate

1.5 g fiber

0 mg cholesterol

1 mg sodium

10 mg calcium

0.4 mg iron

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

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Grilled Tex-Mex Nacho Packets

PREP TIME15 Min

TOTAL TIME30 Min

SERVINGS4

Turn to the grill for a fun way to heat and serve nachos, with foil packets holding chips, prepared meat sauce, cheese, and more.

INGREDIENTS

8 cups bite-sized corn tortilla chips

1 1/2 cups refrigerated taco sauce with seasoned ground beef (from 18-oz container)

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed

1 cup chopped Italian plum tomatoes

3/4 cup diced peeled pitted avocado

1 can (11 oz) Green Giant Mexicorn whole kernel corn, red and green peppers, drained

1 cup shredded hot pepper Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)

1Heat gas or charcoal grill. Cut four 18x12-inch sheets of heavy-duty foil; spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Spread tortilla chips in center of each foil sheet.

2Spoon ground beef in taco sauce evenly over chips. Sprinkle all remaining ingredients evenly over beef mixture. Wrap each packet securely using double-fold seals, allowing room for heat expansion.

3When ready to grill, place packets on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill 4 to 6 inches from medium coals. Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and toppings are thoroughly heated.

4To serve, carefully open each packet to allow steam to escape.

Expert Tips

To bake packets, place on large cookie sheet; bake at 375°F. for 15 to 20 minutes.

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Greek Seasoning Mix

Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 5 mins

Yield: 1/4cup

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon thyme

Directions:

1 Combine all ingredients.

2 Store in an airtight container.

3 Serve with red meat, pork, poultry, or fish.

4 Yield: 1/4 cup.

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Greek Seasoning

"Can't find Greek seasoning at the grocery store? Our Test Kitchen home economists came up with their own rendition of the ethnic blend."

Prep Time: 5 Min 

Ready In: 5 Min

Original Recipe Yield 12 servings  

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried mint

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram

1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion

1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic

Directions

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.

Footnotes

Nutritional Analysis: One serving (1/2 teaspoon) equals 2 calories, trace fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium, trace carbohydrate, trace fiber, trace protein. Diabetic Exchange: Free food.

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Homemade Peanut Butter

Total Time: 5 min

Prep 5 min

Yield: approximately 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

15 ounces shelled and skinned AB's roasted peanuts, recipe follows

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil

Directions

Place the peanuts, salt and honey into the bowl of a food processor. Process for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the lid back on and continue to process while slowly drizzling in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Roasted Peanuts:

2 pounds in-shell raw peanuts*

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 to 2 tablespoons kosher salt

*Cooks note: If eating peanuts roasted right out of the shell, use Virginia or Valencia peanuts. If utilizing roasted peanuts to make peanut butter, use Spanish peanuts as they have a higher oil content.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Rinse the peanuts under cool water to remove excess dirt. Pat dry and place in a large bowl and toss with the peanut oil and salt until well coated.

Place on 2 half sheet pans, making sure to spread them out into a single layer. Roast in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. Once you remove the peanuts from the oven, let them cool slightly before eating. They will continue to "cook" and become crunchy as they cool.

If using peanuts to make peanut butter, remove shells and discard. Remove the skin by rubbing the peanuts together in your hands held over a salad spinner, allowing the peanuts and skins to fall into the bowl. Once the skin has been loosened from all of the peanuts close the salad spinner and spin until all of the skin has been separated from the peanuts.

Yield: Approximately 2 pounds roasted peanuts in shell

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Grilled Picnic Taco Nachos

PREP TIME 15 Min

TOTAL TIME 15 Min

SERVINGS 4

Keep the heat outside with munchy nachos. A foil pan takes them from grill to picnic table in just minutes.

INGREDIENTS

5 cups tortilla chips

1 can (15 oz) Progresso black beans, drained, rinsed and mashed

1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso chopped green chiles, drained

2 teaspoons Old El Paso taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)

2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, chopped

2 medium green onions, sliced (2 tablespoons)

2 cups finely shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend (8 oz)

1Heat gas or charcoal grill. Spray 12x18-inch foil pan with cooking spray. Spread tortilla chips in pan.

2In medium bowl, mix beans, chiles and taco seasoning mix; spoon evenly over tortilla chips. Top with tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover pan with foil.

3Place foil pan on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Carefully remove foil.

Expert Tips

To reduce the calories to 470 and the fat to 12 grams per serving, make these nachos with baked tortilla chips and reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese.

Foil pans can bend or buckle when you lift them. Slide the pan onto a cutting board to give it more stability.

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The cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo theatre. When the usher came by and noticed this he whispered to the cowboy, "Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The cowboy groaned but didn't budge. The usher became more impatient. "Sir, if you don't get up from there, I'm going to have to call the manager. The cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle. In a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police. The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, what's you're name?" "Sam," the cowboy moaned. "Where ya from, Sam?" With pain in his voice Sam replied.... "The balcony."

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WHO IS GOD?

Little Johnny goes to his father and asks, "Dad, is god a man or a woman?"

His Dad replies, "Johnny, both. God is both."

Johnny asks, "Dad, is god black or white?'

His Dad says, "Both. God is both."

Ok, then Johnny asks, "Dad, is Michael Jackson God?"

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Blonde Ransom

A blonde and her boyfriend are going through they're daily routine in the bathroom when there's a knock at the door. The boyfriend who is in the shower tells the blonde to go answer the door.

The blonde puts on a towel and goes to the door. A man is standing there, and says "Hey hun, do me a favor."

"What?" askes the blonde.

"Drop the towel and I'll give you $500!." replied the man.

The blonde drops her towel and jiggles her tits for the man at the door.

"Thanks, a ton hun, i'll catch you later" says the man and he hands her the $500.

The blonde walks back smilling to her boyfriend who had just got out of the shower.

As he steps out, he says "Hey hun? I just thought I'd let you know John will be stopping by to pay me back that $500 he owes me!"

*******************

A blind guy on a bar stool shouts to the bartender, "Wanna hear a blonde joke?"

Quietly the guy on the stool next to him, leans over and says "You should know that the bartender is blonde and so is the bouncer. Plus I myself am blonde and there are two blonde football players sitting on your right. Now go ahead and tell your joke."

"Oh no..." replied the blind guy. "I'm not telling it and have to explain it 5 times"

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A jogger is running along one morning when he hears crying. He slows down and sees an armless, legless woman sitting at a table bawling. Heart heavy, he walks over and asks her what the problem is. Sniffling, she says, "I've never been hugged before.." The jogger leans over, hugs her, and smiles as he takes off. The next day the cripple is still there, crying again. The jogger slows down and asks her what the matter is this time. She leans over and wipes her snotty nose on the table and says, "I've never been kissed before.." The man leans over and lays a wet one on her cheek. He jogs off, waving bye to her smiling face. The next day, he jogs up and shes crying her eyes out yet again. The jogger runs over and asks her "what now?" The bleary-eyed woman looks up and says, "I've never been OWNED before.." The man bends over, picks her up, and chucks her into a pool and calls, "Now you're OWNED!"

*******************

Why did the woman cross the road?

Wait, better question, why is she out of the kitchen!?

Why don't women wear watches? 

There's a clock on the stove.

Why do women have short feet?

So they can stand closer to the stove.

Why dont women have a penis?

So they can stand closer to the kitchen sink.

Why don't women need drivers licenses?

There is no road between the bedroom and the kitchen.

Why couldn't Helen Keller drive?

Because she was a woman.

How many men does it take to open a beer? 

-None, it should be opened when she brings it to you.

A man is walking down the beach and comes across an old bottle. He picks it up, pulls out the cork and out pops a genie. The genie says "Thank you for freeing me from the bottle. In return I will grant you three wishes." The man says "Great. I always dreamed of this and I know exactly what I want. First, I want 1 Billion dollars in a Swiss bank account." Phoof! There is a flash of light and a piece of paper with account numbers appears in his hand. He continues, "Next, I want a brand new red Ferrari right here." Phoof! There is a flash of light and a bright red brand-new Ferrari appears right next to him. He continues, "Finally, I want to be irresistible to women." Phoof! There is a flash of light and he turns into a box of chocolates.

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Bad Combinations

Many of us "Old Folks" (those over 60, WAY over 60, or hovering near 60) are quite confused about how we should present ourselves. We're unsure about the kind of image we are projecting and whether or not we are correct as we try to conform to current fashions. Despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations DO NOT go together and should be avoided: 

1. A nose ring and bifocals 

2. Spiked hair and bald spots 

3. A pierced tongue and dentures

4. Miniskirts and support hose 

5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads 

6. Speedo's and cellulite 

7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar

8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor

9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge 

10. Bikinis and liver spots 

11. Short shorts and varicose veins 

12. Inline skates and a walker 

And last, but not least... my personal favorite:

13. Thongs and Depends. 

Please keep these basic guidelines foremost in your mind when you shop.

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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REMINDERS FROM GOD:

 Psalm 2:10-11

(10) Now therefore, be wise, O kings;

Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

(11) Serve the LORD with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

  Psalm 34:11

(11) Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

A hundred other verses say essentially the same thing: We must have the fear of God in us. Nevertheless, many persist in believing that, in Christianity, the fear of God has been replaced by love for God.

There is no doubt that God wants us to fear Him. Notice that Psalm 34:11 says that the fear of God is a quality that we must learn, indicating that we do not have this characteristic in us by nature. The fear of God, then, is different from the fears we normally have in life. Thus, it must be learned.

Fear is a powerful motivator. Our normal understanding of fear spans from being a mild apprehension or awareness of anxiety all the way to outright, bowel-moving terror. As an extreme, it creates the "fight or flight" response. Why, then, does a loving God want us to fear Him? Would He not rather want us to snuggle up to Him with no thought of fear?

Many people have that conception, but it is a mistaken one. We must not forget that God is not a man; He is God. He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that He does not think like a man. Yes, He wants us to love Him, but even in that love the sense of fear should always be present.

Recall that Psalm 2:11 commands, "Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling." To a Christian, fearing and rejoicing seem to be an odd couple. Paul writes in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Ordinarily, we associate "trembling" with fear, of being frightened. What is there to fear and tremble about in taking salvation to its conclusion?

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Within a Christian setting, we are much more comfortable with this command to love, yet notice verses 1-2:

Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

Immediately preceding and following (verse 13) His command to love Him, He also affirms that we are to fear Him. The sense of verses 1-2 is that this fear is produced as we keep His commandments, not before! Clearly, fear of Him and love for Him cannot be separated from our relationship with Him.

Isaiah 8:13 adds another interesting aspect. "The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." Surely, we might think that someone as close to God as Isaiah did not need to fear Him, but here God commands Isaiah to fear him. Why? Because the fear gained within the relationship with Him always motivates movement in the right, godly direction, regardless of the intensity of life's circumstances.

What about I John 4:17-18? Does it not contradict the assertion that our relationship with God should contain godly fear?

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

This passage does not contradict in the least, once we understand the kind of fear the apostle John is writing about. The clue to this fear appears in verse 17 in the term "boldness." John is referring to being bold in spite of the circumstances we face from life in this world once we are converted. The love of God works in us to dispel the fear of disease, oppressions, persecution, and death, but it does not drive out the fear of God. If it did, John would be contradicting what the Bible says elsewhere about the necessity of continuing to fear God. Christianity has not replaced the fear of God with the love of God, as many wrongly believe. Instead, the two work hand in hand.

Psalm 121:7-8

“The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

sirocco   

 suh-ROK-oh , noun;

1.Any hot, oppressive wind, especially one in the warm sector of a cyclone.

2.A hot, dry, dustladen wind blowing from northern Africa and affecting parts of southern Europe.

3.A warm, sultry south or southeast wind accompanied by rain.

Quotes:

The winter, with its cutting tramontana and sultry sirocco days, we spent in the eternal city, taking rooms of an old woman who had a flat with stone floors and straw chairs in the via Torre Argentina.

-- Thomas Mann, Heinrich Mann, Hans Wysling, Letters of Heinrich and Thomas Mann, 1900-1949

The sirocco had burnt into my very soul, and I bowed my head and submitted without groaning, after a while-and now wait for the hour when the grass, if not the laurels, will whisper over me.

-- John Esten Cooke, Pretty Mrs. Gaston: and other stories

Origin:

Sirocco enters English from the Italian scirocco, which in turn derives from the Arabic sharq, literally meaning "east."

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You might be a REDNECK if...

    ...you consider pork and beans to be a gourmet food.

THING TO PONDER:  Is there another word for synonym?

"All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, 

and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you" 

- Wayne Dyer

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PET TIPS:

Natural Flea Repellent for Kittens

Flees attacking your kitten? Use natural prevention against fleas for your kitten's health.

Non-natural ingredients in chemical flea killers can be dangerous for your kitten. Kittens are especially vulnerable to being overdosed on chemicals that are introduced into their bloodstream. In addition, fleas attack animals which are ill, have weak immune systems, or are young, which kittens obviously are. Natural repellents meet this threat without harming the kitten.

Kinds of Natural Repellents

Many natural repellents will keep fleas away from your house, kill them if they get inside or remove them from the kitten. The most popular ones are cedar chips, eucalyptus leaves, traps and garlic. Checking for fleas is an important part of making sure your efforts are working, so include combing and regular baths to take care of your kittens.

Method of Application

Spread cedar chips around the perimeter of the house. Fleas are cut on these chips, somewhat like diatomaceous earth. You can place eucalyptus leaves inside the house in various spots. Their smell repels the fleas. Spread garlic into the kitten's food, in the drink or onto the skin. Fleas dislike the presence of garlic in the kitten's blood, and so they will abandon her as a host.

Another natural remedy is a simple trap: Set out a bowl of water mixed with soap and put a lamp facing it. The heat and water attract the fleas, which die in the bath of soap. Though this is a natural remedy, it may still be toxic to kittens, so make sure you keep the kitten in a room with the door locked when you try this method.

Advantages

Each type of natural repellent has its advantages. The trap is nearly free. Garlic is inexpensive at the grocery store. Cedar chips are harder to come by but are available at nurseries and pet stores in bags. Eucalyptus leaves may be the most expensive remedy. The essential oil can be around $10 a pound. A florist will sell the leaf or branch itself, though it may be hard to get in a large quantity.

Disadvantages

The main issues with these remedies is that they are not guaranteed to kill all of the fleas, an essential factor when dealing with an infestation. You may have to use a combination of some or all of these methods to rid your house and kitten of the pest. In addition, you'll have to add a rigorous routine of vacuuming and cleaning your house to scour away the larvae, eggs and mature fleas.

Considerations

When looking into flea repellents for kittens, consider how safe it is for the animal. Just because an ingredient is natural doesn't mean it's non-toxic. Diatomaceous earth, for example, is considered a natural flea killer, yet many pet owners won't use it with their pets around because it irritates the skin, eyes and lungs. Furthermore, a kitten is such a small creature that repellents, if overused, can be harmful: natural eucalyptus oil, garlic oil, or cedar oil will be hazardous if the kitten ingests too much of it. Use common sense whenever leaving these ingredients around the house and serving them to the flea-ridden kitten.

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Pecan Kringle

Makes 2 kringles, each serving 8.

Note: This recipe must be prepared in advance. To toast pecans, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat and toast, occasionally shaking pan, until nuts are fragrant and begin to darken slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. 

For filling:

• 1 c. pecans, toasted

• 3/4 c. packed light brown sugar

• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/8 tsp. salt

• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-in. pieces and chilled

For dough:

• 4 c. flour, plus extra for rolling dough

• 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-in. pieces and chilled

• 1/4 c. shortening, cut into 1/2-in. pieces and chilled

• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar

• 1 envelope (21/4 tsp.) rapid-rise or instant yeast

• 3/4 tsp. salt

• 2 c. sour cream

• Water

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

For glaze:

• 1 c. powdered sugar

• 2 tbsp. whole milk

• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

To prepare filling: 

In bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and pulse until coarsely ground. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to a bowl and reserve.

To prepare dough: 

In bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add flour, butter, shortening, powdered sugar, yeast and salt and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in sour cream until a dough forms (if dough appears shaggy and dry after adding sour cream, add up to 2 tablespoons ice water until dough is smooth). On a lightly floured work surface, divide dough in half. Pat each half into a 7- by 3-inch rectangle and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes, then freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll one dough half into a 28- by 5-inch rectangle (dough will be about 1/4 -inch thick). Cover bottom (long) half of dough with half of filling, leaving a 1/2-inch border around bottom and side edges. Brush edge of uncovered dough with water, fold dough over filling and pinch seams closed. Shape into an oval, tuck one end inside the other and pinch to seal. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

When ready to bake, adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Discard plastic wrap, brush kringles with beaten egg and bake until golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Remove from oven, and slide parchment paper and kringles to a wire rack and let cool about 30 minutes.

To prepare glaze: 

In a medium bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle glaze over kringles and let glaze set, about 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

PREP TIME 20 Min

TOTAL TIME 2 Hr 40 Min

SERVINGS 24

Craving chocolate and sweet peanut butter all wrapped up into one indulgent bar? Start with a no-fail brownie mix, then add layers of peanut butter and melted chocolate chips. Yum.

INGREDIENTS

Brownie Base

1 box (1 lb 2.4 oz) Betty Crocker Original Supreme Premium brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

Filling

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1 1/3 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons milk

Topping

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons butter

1Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with cooking spray or shortening. (For easier cutting, line pan with foil, then grease foil on bottom only of pan.) Make brownies as directed on box. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

2 In medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownie base.

3 In small microwavable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds; stir until smooth. Cool 10 minutes; spread over filling. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. For brownies, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Expert Tips

Cut brownies into bite-size treats for a dessert buffet.

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Never Fail Divinity

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup hot water

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large egg whites

1 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine sugar, syrup, water and salt in a 3-quart saucepan. Cover pan and bring to a boil. Remove cover and cook, stirring occasionally, to hard ball stage (260°F / 125°C), or until a small amount of mixture is dropped into cold water and forms a ball that holds its shape but is pliable.

Meanwhile, beat egg whites in large mixing bowl until stiff. Gradually pour in hot syrup in small stream while continuing to beat. Add vanilla and continue beating until mixture will hold its shape when dropped from spoon.

Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or pour into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan lined with lightly buttered waxed paper or aluminum foil. Cool; invert pan and peel off paper. Cut into squares.

Makes about 2 pounds candy.

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Peanut Butter Balls

Here is a great snack and wonderful recipe for kids:

1 c. peanut butter

1 c. powdered milk

1/2 c. honey

Blend all ingredients together (preferrably with hands).

Roll into balls the size of large marbles and refrigerate.

Optional:

roll balls in powdered cocoa

"    "      " coconut

dip into chocolate fondue

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PRALINES

1-1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 stick butter

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup milk

1-1/2 cups pecans

1) Combine all ingredients.

2) Bring to soft ball stage (238-240 degrees).

3) Remove from heat and stir until mixture cools and thickens.

4) Spoon out on buttered wax paper or aluminum foil.

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Male Sensitivity

The room was full of pregnant women with their partners. The class was 

in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe and 

was telling the men how to give the necessary assurance to their partners 

at this stage of the pregnancy.

She said "Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you. Walking is 

especially beneficial. It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make 

delivery that much easier.." Just take several stops and stay on a soft 

surface like grass or a path.

She looked at the men in the room, "and Gentlemen, remember -- You're in 

this together -- It wouldn't hurt you to go walking with her.

The room suddenly got very quiet as the men absorbed this information.

Then a man at the back of the room slowly raised his hand.

"Yes, answered the Instructor.

"I was just wondering if it would be all right if she carries a golf bag 

while we walk??

---- This kind of sensitivity just can't be taught..

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I went out with some friends last night and tied one on.

Knowing that I was wasted, I did something that I have never done before.

I took a bus home.  I arrived home safe and warm, which seemed really surprising as I have never driven a bus before!

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This old man visits his doctor and after a thorough examination, the doctor tells him, "I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?"

Patient: Well, give me the bad news first. Doctor: You have cancer, I estimate that you have about two years left.

Patient: OH NO! That's awful! In two years, my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this???

Doctor: You also have Alzheimer's... In three months you'll forget everything I told you.

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Ten Recruits had just arrived at the training camp and were lined up for inspection.

"Hey johnson!" yelled the drill instructor, " those are the ugliest shoes i've ever seen! " "Yes, sir" the young man answered.

"Those shoes are really really ugly, right?" hollered the D.I again "Yes, sir!"

"And that hair- dont they have barbershops where you came from?" "Yes, sir", answered the recruit. "So why didnt you get a haircut?" "I was saving up for shoes, sir!"

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Democrats' favorite Christmas carol is "Deck the Halls." Young Democrat's favorite Christmas carol is "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." Republican's favorite Christmas carol is "White Christmas." Young Republicans' favorite Christmas carol is "White Christmas."

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Keeping an Eye on the Golf Ball

Arthur is 90 years old. He's played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago. 

One day he arrives home looking sad. "That's it," he tells his wife. "I'm giving up golf.  My eyesight has become so bad that once I hit the ball I can't see where it goes."

His wife makes him a cup of tea, and says, "Why don't you take my brother Harold with you and let him help you track the ball."

"That's no good" sighs Arthur, "your brother's a hundred and three. He can't help."

 "He may be a hundred and three", says the wife, "but his eyesight is perfect."

 So the next day Arthur heads off to the golf course with his brother-in-law Harold.   He tees up, takes a mighty swing and squints down the fairway.

 He turns to the brother-in-law and says, "Did you see the ball?"

 "Of course I did!" replied Harold. "I have perfect eyesight".

 "Where did it go?" says Arthur.

 "I don't remember.

********************************

The clergyman was calling, when the youthful son and heir approached his mother proudly, and exhibited a dead rat. As she shrank in repugnance, he attempted to reassure her:

"Oh, it's dead all right, mama. We beat it and beat it and beat it, and it's deader 'n dead."

His eyes fell on the clergyman, and he felt that something more was due to that reverend presence. So he continued in a tone of solemnity:

"Yes, we beat it and beat it until—until God called it home!"

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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REMINDERS FROM GOD:

"I made a promise to always be with you. Trust in My Love. Leave your cares to Me." -- GOD

Our Daily Devotional:

The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-3, KJV: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name´s sake."

A sheep seldom knows where the shepherd leads it, but it has learned to trust the shepherd's leading. The shepherd knows where the sheep will find food, water, and rest. The shepherd knows where the sheep will be safe and on what paths to safely take the sheep. The sheep simply needs to follow. The sheep does not have to understand why one path is better than another, or why one pasture is chosen over another. The sheep simply must heed the shepherds voice and obey. For in so doing, the sheep will truly find peace and contentment. Can you imagine how Jesus pleads with us at times, "Dear child, if only you would heed my voice and follow me--there is so much I have in store for you." How marvelous it would be, if we could simply learn to be better sheep--then perhaps we would discover the remarkable wonders of the Shepherd.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

- Isaiah 53:3

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

refection • rih-FEK-shun  â€¢ noun

1 : refreshment of mind, spirit, or body; especially : nourishment 2 a : the taking of refreshment b : food and drink together : repast 

Examples:

"Miss Vavasour, so assiduous in other areas of her care of us, is capricious, not to say cavalier, in the matter not only of luncheon but of meals in general, and dinner especially at the Cedars can be an unpredictable refection." -- From John Banville's 2005 novel The Sea

"The hospital, he added, had been instituted for the reception and refection of the poor and it should concentrate on those duties.…" -- From Jonathan Riley-Smith's 2008 book The Crusades, Christianity, and Islam

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You might be a REDNECK if...  

...dressing up means changing your shirt.

THING TO PONDER:  Why don't we get dizzy from the world spinning so fast?

"If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" - John Wooden 

You might be a REDNECK if...

...you cut the grass and find a Car.

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TODAY'S PET TIP

Summer Citronella Candle Safety

Use candles with care. Never use candles around dogs if left unattended and keep them stored in an area inaccessible to pets.

Exposure to candles can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and/or paws of curious pets.

Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of the reach of pets. 

Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression, and if inhaled, the oils could potentially cause aspiration pneumonia as well.

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Today I want to talk about why dogs chase things. For example:

Why do dogs chase other animals? And why are some dogs fine around other dogs or cats - until they run? (Then the chase is on!)

Why do dogs chase cars? (And why do some dogs ignore cars but never miss a chance to bark at a bus or a large truck?) Is it because cars are cowards and always "run way", giving the dog a sense of victory for having chased off the big noisy intruder? Well, there is a little more to it than that.

Dogs chase cars for the same reasons they chase kids on bikes, cats, small animals and other dogs... they are either playing a game or they are hunting.

To some degree, chasing involves a dog's natural prey drive. In most socialized, well-adjusted dogs, the prey drive expresses itself as a canine tag game in which the dogs take turns being "it." The object isn't necessarily to catch the other dog; the real fun is just running around.

Chasing balls or Frisbees is another good outlet for dogs' prey drive.

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Simple Way to Dry Fresh Herbs

To make fresh herbs into dried herbs, place them on a paper towel and cook them in the microwave on high for about one minute. When dry, store them in labeled resealable plastic bags. They should retain their flavor for up to one year.

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How to Determine Why Someone Is Treating You Poorly

Think someone's being mean to you, but you're not absolutely sure? Think they're up to something or secretly despise you? Whether it's friends, a family member, or people you don't even know, here's how to tell if someone is being mean to you.

Steps

1 Note how they act around you. What are some of the more overt signs that this person is not behaving in a very nice way and has mean-spirited intent? Some of the possible signs might include: gossiping about you to others, ignoring you, saying hurtful things to you, breaking or stealing your stuff, belittling you, setting you up to get into trouble for something you didn't do or say, calling you names, implying that you're not as clever/good-looking/well-connected/valuable, etc. as them, intimidating you, leaving unfriendly/unkind messages about you on social media sites, or breaking promises they swore they'd meet.

2 Consider how you're feeling. What feelings or reactions do their words and actions give rise to in you? If you have a feeling that you're being picked on incessantly, that things being said are aimed at provoking or undermining you, and that everything the person says or does around you leaves you feeling negative, hurt, or demeaned in some way, then it's possible that this person is behaving in a mean way.

3 People can act strangely when attraction is involved Work through some possibilities before reaching your conclusion. Our own feelings tell only part of the story and sometimes we can get them very wrong because we haven't understood things from the other person's perspective. Thus, while you may be convinced that the actions or words of the other person are mean-spirited in intent and outcome, it remains important to work through some of the possible motivations or causes behind their behaviour. Doing so may give you a better idea of what their motive is; sometimes people are unintentionally hurtful or have been thoughtless without purposefully being mean-spirited. Whatever the act or comment, there is always an underlying cause which is good to understand before you take action against the person. Here are some things to ask yourself (and be be honest when answering):

Could it just be your imagination? If you're having a bad day, people can sometimes seem angrier and meaner than they would on a day in which you were happy; this is just the way your mind works, conferring your own nuances and feelings onto others.

Could they have a crush on you? Sometimes a person can try to gain your attention by being mean or insulting you, or they might be embarrassed and using it to deflect you temporarily. Not all people do this and if a person is seemingly being mean to you, it doesn't mean they have a crush on you and if it is a crush, you'll probably get other vibes and the mean behaviour is unlikely to go on for too long.

Could they be trying to teach you a lesson? Often young people, or even older people, take well-meaning advice or tough love from friends and family as being remarks intended to hurt or wound. Constructive feedback is not mean-spirited though, and people who love you could just be trying to help, so don't confuse the different approaches.

Could they be jealous? Do they say things to put you down or build themselves up? This could be the case if they're insecure, and what they're trying to do is to to make themselves seem better than you. In this case, it is more a statement of what they think of themselves than what they think of you but it can be hard to see that when confronted with it.

Could you have accidentally insulted them? Without knowing it, you may have actually insulted them first. This is especially common among friends who don't want to upset each other; they may not want to confront you about something that you said or did, so they take out their passive anger on you by being mean instead of openly talking about their feelings.

Could they have troubles of their own? People who are unsure of how to reach out to others may take out their frustrations using anger - making other people feel bad seems like a convenient way to make yourself feel good, but it's always at the expense of the other person. Stress is a big cause of people being mean - someone may snap at you for no reason other than that they're feeling stressed and they've lost their ability to self-control their emotions. It's important to recognise when someone's simply venting their emotions in contrast to someone who is actually intending to be mean to you. Again, this isn't so much a statement about you, but concerns how they feel about themselves.

Could they just dislike you? This is probably a result of a number of the reasons given above (having personal issues, being jealous of you, even mixing you up with someone they didn't like from their past, etc.), but in many cases, people who are being mean to you don't do it because you've done something to hurt them.

4 Ask others. Get the opinions of others, especially your parents and friends, so you can decide what to do next or to help you become clearer on why this person is behaving in this manner. Never ask for advice from friends that may dislike the person you're asking them about; there is a risk in this case that they'll only paint the person in a negative light, possibly in order to make you have a fight or continue aggravated interactions with this person. The best people to ask are your parents or spouse, a trusted mentor or very trusted friend, or family; usually you'll find someone who is neutral and external enough from the mean behaviour who is in a position to help you.

5 Confront the person if you know them. Confront the person if you know them. It's important that you complete the steps above about noting factual evidence of the mean behaviour, considering your own feelings, and working through the possibilities before confronting a person. Alleging that someone is being mean carries a lot of emotional weight and if you haven't got your facts sorted, and you accuse rather than express yourself (using "I statements"), then you may make them feel angry or stupid, giving rise to defensiveness in place of a constructive conversation. Be sure that you weren't imagining it and they weren't having a simple one-off venting session; it is better not to turn the proverbial molehill into a mountain. Express to the person how you feel about the mean-spirited behaviour you've witnessed and let them know that you're open to discussing any relevant issues with them if they want to, and that you're especially keen to clear the air should you have said or done anything to upset them.

Stay calm and don't demand an apology or recite what they said word-for-word; just ask that they be more mindful of your feelings.

If the person doesn't have an answer, give them time to come back to you later - the ball's in their court now and they can either continue being mean or stop.

If they continue, you know that you've told them how much it hurts you. You have confirmation that they're doing this on purpose now, and you can consider taking other actions.

If this person is not well known to you, consider having someone else come with you, such as a friend, counsellor, parent, or other trusted person.

6Avoid contact with the person if the mean behaviour continues. After you've tried to sort things out, there isn't much more you can do to influence them to change their mind if they decide to keep being mean. It probably means that either they do actually hate you (which again, is not usually to do with you – mostly it is to do with them) or that they feel they can't lose face by changing their attitude and carry on regardless of the facts before them (again, this is not about you but about their own insecurities). However – and this is the key part – you do not have to put up with someone trying to make you feel bad. Remove yourself from their sphere and don't listen to their taunts, spiteful attitude, or meanness. Ask your friends to stop repeating any of it back to you and suggest that they also remove themselves. Just let people know that you're not going to tolerate it anymore and make a clean cut. Even the meanest person gets bored when their target stops responding and they'll look for someone else to hassle.

7Move on. By this stage, if mending fences hasn't worked even though you tried and you've put up a good defensive strategy of avoiding them, then consider acting as if this person isn't a part of your life. However, it's likely that there will be residual feelings in you about why this even happened and about how it has left you feeling. Remember that there's no point in dwelling in the past; you did all you could to reconcile with the person and to stop them being mean to you. Get on with your life and activities, surround yourself by people who aren't mean to you, and focus on what matters to you. By demonstrating that the meanness hasn't tripped you up or spoiled your other relationships, you thrive while the mean person gets to live with their meanness.

If the mean behaviour continues or escalates, tell someone who can make a positive difference - if it's school, tell a teacher, family member or adult immediately. If it's at work, tell human resources, a trusted boss, or even trusted co-workers. You need to ensure your own safety from retaliation in the instance where it appears that the person in question may have developed a vendetta against you.

If the mean behaviour continues in the home environment, you're in a more difficult position. If it's siblings, ask your parents to intervene and to set solid rules and limitations on behaviour across the household. If it's a parent, talk to your other parent first. If both parents are defensive and refuse to help you, ask for help outside of the home, such as close family not living with you, a church or school counsellor, a trusted adult mentor, etc. Don't put up with anything that endangers you emotionally or physically.

Tips

Although it's always good to try and find out why exactly someone is being mean to you, you often may never know; however, you may have a gut feeling if someone's being mean to you and you don't have to stand for it. Stick up for yourself if it's intended to hurt you.

Never try and be mean back; this ruins relationships, escalates arguments and can result in dangerous behaviour. There's no point in stooping to their level as this turns into a lose-lose situation.

Warnings

People feed off gossip but they do not use it to help you - bear that in mind and don't spread any.

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Japanese-Inspired Beef & Noodle Salad

Sirloin steak, soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles) and shredded carrots make this healthful, aromatic salad a sophisticated treat any night of the week.

4 servings, about 2 1/4 cups each

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

 INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons mirin, (see Note)

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 12-ounce sirloin steak, trimmed

Sesame-Soy Dressing, divided (recipe follows)

4 ounces soba noodles, (see Ingredient note)

1 cup finely shredded or julienned carrot, (1 large)

4 cups mixed salad greens

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted (see Tip)

THIS RECIPE CALLS FOR:

Sesame-Soy Dressing

PREPARATION

Whisk mirin and ginger in a small bowl. Place steak in a shallow baking dish or pie pan. Pour mirin mixture over the steak; turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or for up to 2 hours, turning occasionally.

Put a large pot of salted water on to boil for cooking noodles. Make Sesame-Soy Dressing.

Cook noodles in the boiling water until just tender, about 6 minutes. Drain; rinse under cold water. Transfer noodles to a large bowl. Add carrot and 1/3 cup Sesame-Soy Dressing; toss to coat.

Prepare a grill. Lightly oil the grill rack by rubbing it with an oil-soaked paper towel (use tongs to hold the paper towel). Grill the steak for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until it reaches desired doneness. (Alternatively, brush a little canola oil over a large skillet or ridged grill pan, preferably cast-iron, and heat over high heat. Add the steak and cook for 4 to 6 minutes per side.) Transfer the steak to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.

Build the salad on 4 plates starting with about 1 cup mixed greens, one-fourth of the noodle mixture, then one-fourth of the steak slices. Whisk remaining dressing again to combine, then drizzle about 4 teaspoons over each salad. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately.

TIPS & NOTES

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare recipe through Step 3 up to 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

Ingredient Notes:

Mirin is a sweetened rice wine, made from glutinous rice, found in the Asian aisle of many supermarkets and in Asian markets.

Soba are Japanese buckwheat noodles.

Rice vinegar is a mild vinegar made from glutinous rice; bottlings range from clear to aged (very dark). Clear rice vinegar works best in this recipe. Substitute cider vinegar in a pinch.

Tip: To toast sesame seeds, heat a small dry skillet over low heat. Add sesame seeds and stir constantly until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 390 calories; 13 g fat ( 3 g sat , 7 g mono ); 49 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrates; 32 g protein; 2 g fiber; 712 mg sodium; 701 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (100% daily value), Zinc (47% dv), Potassium (36% dv), Iron (30% dv), Folate (25% dv), Magnesium (21% dv), Vitamin C (15% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 2

Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean protein, 3 fat

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Lemon & Dill Chicken

Fresh lemon and dill create a quick Greek-inspired pan sauce for simple sautéed chicken breasts. Make it a meal: Serve with roasted broccoli and whole-wheat orzo.

4 servings

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

 INGREDIENTS

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (1-1 1/4 pounds)

Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, or canola oil, divided

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 teaspoons flour

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided

1 tablespoon lemon juice

PREPARATION

Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil.

Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to the pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 173 calories; 6 g fat ( 1 g sat , 4 g mono ); 64 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 24 g protein; 0 g fiber; 236 mg sodium; 219 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (30% daily value).

Exchanges: 3 very lean meat, 1 fat

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Savory Jerk Marinade

Prep Time: 15 min

Yield:  2 cups

INGREDIENTS:

6 green onions, cut in 1-inch lengths

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup Crisco® Pure Canola Oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons apple cider or red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh gingerroot

1 tablespoon chopped habanero, Scotch bonnet or jalapeno pepper

1 tablespoon ground allspice

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

2 large shallots, peeled

2 large cloves garlic, peeled

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1.COMBINE all marinade ingredients in food processor or blender container. Cover and process until smooth. Store in refrigerator in covered, non-metallic container, for up to 1 week. Use as a marinade for grilled poultry and pork.

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Nutty Chocolate Chip Picnic Cake

PREP TIME  15 Min

TOTAL TIME 1 Hr 50 Min

SERVINGS 15

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup chopped pecans

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist devil's food cake mix

Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

1 Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Mix chocolate chips, brown sugar and pecans; set aside.

2 Bake and cool cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan--except sprinkle chocolate chip mixture on batter in pan before baking.

3 Store tightly covered.

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Grilled Pepper Salad

Toss a colorful mix of grilled bell peppers with briny olives, sweet sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette for a lovely side dish. Or spread crostini with goat cheese and top it with this salad for an easy summer appetizer.

4 servings, about 1 cup each

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

 INGREDIENTS

4 bell peppers, (mixed colors), halved, seeded and stemmed

1/4 cup halved and pitted oil-cured black olives

1/4 cup rinsed and chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/8 teaspoon salt

PREPARATION

Grill peppers on medium-high, turning once, until soft and charred in spots, about 5 minutes per side. When cool enough to handle, chop the peppers; toss with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, oil, vinegar and salt in a large bowl.

TIPS & NOTES

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 107 calories; 7 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 1 g protein; 2 g fiber; 330 mg sodium; 331 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (200% daily value)

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 fat

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A student was heading home for the holidays.

When she got to the airline counter, she presented her ticket to New York. 

As she gave the agent her luggage, she made the remark, "I'd like you to send my green suitcase to Hawaii, and my red suitcase to London." The confused agent said, "I'm sorry, we can't do that." "Really??? I am so relieved to hear you say that because that's exactly what you did to my luggage last year!"

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My husband was telling me about a news item he heard on National Public Radio about how the U.S. military is enlisting honeybees to find land mines. The insects are trained to react to the scent of TNT, then are fitted with transmitters and sent out to search for underground explosives. "When they smell TNT," my husband explained, "the insects hover over the area and the military tracks them to the site to safely eliminate the land mine."

"Gee," I remarked, "it gives a whole new meaning to the slogan 'Be all that you can be!' "

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My friend and I run a kids' clothing consignment sale twice a year called "Duck, Duck, Goose," after the popular children's game. One time we advertised our sale in the local newspaper, and I checked to make sure it appeared on the front page of the classifieds as we had requested. It wasn't there. I started looking through the section, worried that it hadn't run at all. Finally I found it in the "Livestock" listings. It was placed beneath the category titled "Poultry."

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Little Eleanor's mother was an American, while her father was a German.

One day, after Eleanor had been subjected to rather severe disciplinary measures at the hands of her father, she called her mother into another room, closed the door significantly, and said: "Mother, I don't want to meddle in your business, but I wish you'd send that husband of yours back to Germany."

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FIRST DEAF MUTE—"He wasn't so very angry, was he?"

SECOND DEAF MUTE—"He was so wild that the words he used almost blistered his fingers."

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This could be considered THE ideal world for many men:

His son on the cover of a box of Wheaties.

His mistress in the centerfold of Playboy.

A picture of his wife on the milk carton.

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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FOURTH OF JULY JOKES:

What’s red, white, blue, and green?

A patriotic turtle!

Why did Paul Revere ride his horse from Boston to Lexington?

Because the horse was too heavy to carry!

What dance was very popular in 1776?

Indepen-dance!

What would you get if you crossed George Washington with cattle feed?

The Fodder of Our Country!

What did King George think of the American colonists?

He thought they were revolting!

Do they have a 4th of July in England?

Yes. That’s how they get from the 3rd to the 5th.

What quacks, has webbed feet, and betrays his country? 

Beneduck Arnold! 

What did Paul Revere say at the end of his ride? 

"I gotta get a softer saddle!" 

What protest by a group of dogs occurred in 1773? 

The Boston Flea Party! 

What happened as a result of the Stamp Act? 

The Americans licked the British! 

What would you get if you crossed a patriot with a small curly-haired dog? 

Yankee Poodle! 

Did you hear the one about the Liberty Bell? 

Yeah, it cracked me up! 

What's red, white, blue, and almost as ugly as a dog? 

A revolutionary warthog! 

What did one flag say to the other flag? 

Nothing. It just waved! 

What's red, white, black and blue? 

Uncle Sam falling down the steps! 

Where did George Washington buy his hatchet? 

At the chopping mall! 

What kind of tea did the American colonists thirst for? 

Liberty! 

What was General Washington's favourite tree? 

The infantry! 

Which colonists told the most jokes? 

Punsylvanians! 

What would you get if you crossed Washington's home with nasty insects? 

Mt. Vermin! 

What did a patriot put on his dry skin? 

Revo-lotion! 

What would you get if you crossed a dog with the Father of Our Country? 

George Washingtongue! 

Who is a dogs favourite Founding Father? 

Bone Franklin! 

What would you get if you crossed Jon with the English king in 1776? 

King George the Nerd! 

What dance was very popular in 1776? 

Indepen-dance! 

Which one of Washington's officers had the best sense of humour? 

Laughayette! 

What is a hungry boys favourite picnic event?

The snack race! 

"How was the food at the Fourth of July picnic?

"The hot dogs were bad and the brats were wurst!"

What did Washington say as he crossed the Delaware?

"Next time I'm going to reserve a seat!" 

Teacher: "Why did Washington chop down the cherry tree with his hatchet?"

Student: "Because his mom wouldn't let him play with the chain saw!" 

Teacher: "The Declaration of Independence was written in Philadelphia. True or false?"

Student: "False! It was written in ink!" 

Why did Washington win the battle of Trenton? 

Because the enemy soldiers were Hessian around! 

What would you get if you crossed a monster with one of Washington's officers? 

Baron von Steupid! 

What has four legs, a shiny nose, and fought for England?

Rudolph the Redcoat Reindeer! 

What march would you play at a jungle parade? 

"Tarzan Stripes Forever"! 

What would you get if you crossed a monster with a redcoat? 

A bigger target. 

Why did the British soldiers wear red coats? 

So they could hide in the tomatoes. 

Why is the Liberty Bell like a dropped Easter egg? 

Because they're both cracked! 

Teacher: "Who wrote `Oh say, can you see?"' 

Student: "An eye doctor?" 

How is a healthy person like the United States? 

They both have good constitutions! 

What would you get if you crossed Patrick Henry with a hungry boy? 

A patriot who says, "Give me lasagne or give me death!" 

What has feathers, webbed feet, and certain inalienable rights? 

The Ducklaration of Independence! 

Why did the duck say "Bang!"? 

Because he was a firequacker! 

What cat said, "The British are coming! The British are coming!"? 

Paw Revere. 

What was the craziest battle of the Revolutionary War? 

The Battle of Bonkers Hill. 

What was Thomas Jefferson's favourite dessert? 

Monti jello! 

Teacher: "Which son of old Virginia wrote the Declaration of Independence?"

Student: "I think it was Thomas Jeffer's son." 

What did King George think of the American colonists? 

He thought they were revolting! 

Why were the early American settlers like ants? 

Because they lived in colonies.

What famous pig signed the Declaration of Independence?

John Hamcock! 

What did George Washington say to his army at Valley Forge?

"Sorry, men. The flights to Florida are all booked up!" 

What would you get if you crossed the American national bird with Snoopy?

A bald beagle! 

What would you get if you crossed a colonial hairpiece with a teepee?

A powdered wigwam! 

What's red, white, blue, and green? 

A patriotic pickle! 

What did the visitor say as he left the Statue of Liberty? 

"Keep in torch!" 

What's big, cracked, and carries your luggage? 

The Liberty Bellhop! 

What ghost haunted King George III? 

The spirit of '76! 

Did you hear about the cartoonist in the Continental Army?

He was a Yankee doodler! 

What would you get if you crossed a monster with Yankee Doodle?

Yankee Doofus! 

What's red, white, blue and green?

A seasick Uncle Sam! 

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HAVE A WONDERFUL 4th of July Make it a SAFE one !!

REMINDERS FROM GOD:

What Might Have Been 

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"1

I think it was Dwight L. Moody who, when seeing a drunk in the gutter, said, "But for the grace of God there go I." Many a time I have wondered where I would be if it weren't for the grace and mercy of God? The probabilities are unthinkable. Spiritually speaking, for certain I would have been lost at sea and, quite possibly, would have made shipwreck of my life. 

Ronnie Hinson has written the words and music of a gospel song that is very meaningful to me. It's entitled "The Lighthouse" and says it well:

"There's a lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life's sea. When I'm tossed it sends out a light that I might see. And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead me home, If it wasn't for the lighthouse, my ship would sail no more. 

"And I thank God for The Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him. Jesus is The Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin, He has shown the light around me, so that I might clearly see. If it wasn't for The Lighthouse, Where would this ship be?"2

Dear reader, have you come to Jesus, the Lighthouse, and found the light—the light of life and the assurance of everlasting life with God? If not, I encourage you to do that today by praying the following:

Suggested prayer: "Dear Jesus God, I confess that I am a lost sinner and come to you believing that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sin so I could be freely forgiven and receive your gift of eternal life. I ask you, Jesus, to forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart and life as my personal Savior, and thereby grant me your gift of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1. John 8:12 (NIV).

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

shaggy-dog • shag-ee-DAWG  â€¢ adjective

: of, relating to, or being a long-drawn-out circumstantial story concerning an inconsequential happening that impresses the teller as humorous or interesting but the hearer as boring and pointless; also : of, relating to, or being a similar humorous story whose humor lies in the pointlessness or irrelevance of the punch line 

Examples:

The actor's next film is a shaggy-dog comedy in which he plays a burnt-out, unemployed slacker who falls for the girl next door.

"The new material uses the same low-tech, movement-centric style to act out two other Carroll poems: The Phantasmagoria, a ghost story with a shaggy-dog ending, and The Hunting of the Snark (An Agony in 8 Fits), a 'Jabberwocky'-like verse-play about a clueless sailing crew searching for a nonexistent sea creature." -- From a theater review by Elaine Liner in the Dallas Observer, April 21, 2011

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USA 

Fourth of July is Independence Day

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

Why Do We Celebrate the 4th of July?

After learning about why we celebrate the Fourth of July, check out our main 4th of July page more great crafts, activities, and recipes to try out during your Independence Day celebration.

Most people in the United States celebrate the 4th of July, but do you know exactly why the holiday is so important to our country? Imagine how you would feel if someone older than you (maybe an older sister or brother) kept telling you what to do all of the time and kept taking more and more of your allowance. That is how the colonists felt in the years leading up to 1776. Great Britain kept trying to make the colonists follow more rules and pay higher taxes. People started getting mad and began making plans to be able to make their own rules. They no longer wanted Great Britain to be able to tell them what to do, so they decided to tell Great Britain that they were becoming an independent country. (To be independent means to take care of yourself, making your own rules and providing for your own needs.)

The Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they appointed a committee (a group of people working together to do a specific job) to write a formal document that would tell Great Britain that the Americans had decided to govern themselves. The committee asked Thomas Jefferson to write a draft (first try) of the document, so he worked for days, in absolute secret, until he had written a document that he thought said everything important that the committee had discussed. On June 28, 1776, the committee met to read Jefferson's "fair" copy (he put his best ideas together and wrote them neatly.) They revised (made some changes) the document and declared their independence on July 2, 1776. They officially adopted it (made it theirs) on July 4, 1776. That is why we call it "Independence Day." Congress ordered that all members must sign the Declaration of Independence and they all began signing the "official" copy on August 2, 1776. In January of the next year, Congress sent signed copies to all of the states.

The Declaration of Independence is more than just a piece of paper. It is a symbol of our country's independence and commitment to certain ideas. A symbol is something that stands for something else. Most people can look at a certain little "swoosh" and know that it stands for "Nike." Well, the signers of the Declaration of Independence wanted the citizens of the United States to have a document that spelled out what was important to our leaders and citizens. They wanted us to be able to look at the Declaration of Independence and immediately think of the goals we should always be working for, and about the people who have fought so hard to make these ideas possible. The people who signed the Declaration risked being hanged for treason by the leaders in Great Britain. They had to be very brave to sign something that would be considered a crime! So every time we look at the Declaration of Independence, we should think about all of the effort and ideas that went into the document, and about the courage it took for these people to stand up for what they knew was right -- independence!

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Declaration of Independence

The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing inv ariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.

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Barbecued Baby Back Ribs For Charcoal Grill

Yield:  Serves 4

For a potent spice flavor, brine and dry the ribs as directed, then coat them with the spice rub, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate overnight before grilling. You will need two wood chunks, each about the size of a lemon, for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

For the Brine:

1/2 cup table salt or 1 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 racks baby back ribs (about 2 pounds each), or loin back ribs

For the Spice rub:

1 tablespoon sweet paprika , plus additional 1/2 teaspoon

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1 3/4 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons dark brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon table salt or 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS

TO BRINE THE RIBS:

Dissolve salt and sugar in 4 quarts cold water in stockpot or large plastic container. Submerge ribs in brine and refrigerate 1 hour until fully seasoned. Remove ribs from brine and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.

While ribs are brining, cover two 3-inch wood chunks with water in medium bowl; soak wood chunks for 1 hour, then drain and set aside. Combine spice rub ingredients in small bowl. When ribs are out of brine and dried, rub each side of racks with 1 tablespoon spice rub; refrigerate racks 30 minutes.

TO BARBECUE THE RIBS:

Open bottom vents on grill. Ignite about

4 1/2 quarts charcoal briquettes (3/4 large chimney-full, or about 65 briquettes) and burn until covered with thin coating of light gray ash, about 20 minutes. Empty coals onto one half of grill bottom, piling them 2 to 3 briquettes high; place soaked wood chunks on top of coals. Position cooking grate over coals, cover grill, open lid vents two-thirds of the way; heat grate 

5 minutes, then scrape clean with wire brush.

Arrange ribs on cool side of grill parallel to fire; cover, positioning lid so that vents are opposite wood chunks to draw smoke through grill (grill temperature should register about 350 degrees on grill thermometer, but will soon start dropping). Cook for 2 hours, until grill temperature drops to about 250 degrees, flipping rib racks, switching their position so that rack that was nearest fire is on outside, and turning racks 180 degrees every 30 minutes; add 10 fresh briquettes to pile of coals. Continue to cook (grill temperature should register 275 to 300 degrees on grill thermometer), flipping, switching, and rotating ribs every 30 minutes, until meat easily pulls away from bone, 1 1/2 to 2 hours longer. Transfer ribs to cutting board, then cut between bones to separate ribs; serve.

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Carolina Barbecued Pork

Active Time:  10 Minutes

Total Time:  5 Hours 10 Minutes

Yield:  Yields 2 1/2 pounds of barbecue; 

serves ten

I like to marinate the meat for at least a day; two is even better. You can roast the pork in the oven or on the grill.

INGREDIENTS

1 recipe Carolina Barbecue Sauce, cooled

2 boneless fresh pork butts (3 pounds each), untrimmed

White hamburger buns for serving

DIRECTIONS

One or two days before the barbecue, put the pork in a container just large enough to hold it and deep enough for the sauce to cover the meat. Pour in enough sauce to cover the meat, cover the container, and refrigerate for at least a day, preferably two. Reserve the rest of the sauce for basting and dressing the meat. Halfway through the marinating process, turn the pork in the sauce.

If you're using a charcoal grill, start a slow fire; you should be able to hold your hand just a few inches above the grate for 10 seconds without becoming uncomfortably hot. If you're using a gas grill, oven, or smoker, heat it to 200 degrees F.

Put the marinated pork butts fat side up on the grill or smoker and close the lid. (For the oven, put the pork on a rack in a roasting pan.) Leave the pork alone for about 3 hours, then begin basting with sauce every 30 min. Four hours into cooking, turn the pork over and continue cooking for another 2 hours. The pork is ready when the internal temperature reads between 150 and 160 degrees F. This should take about 2 hours per pound. Take the pork off the heat and let it sit until cool enough to handle.

Chop and shred the the pork. You can slice the pork or pull it apart with your fingers. For slicing, cut the pork across the grain in 1/2-inch slices. For pulling, start pulling at the meat with a fork, then attack it with your fingers; the pork will come apart in large chunks. Pick out any unrendered fat.

TO SERVE: With a large, heavy knife, roughly chop the pork coarse. Put the chopped pork in a large bowl and begin tossing in some of the reserved sauce; the amount is a matter of taste. Serve the pork warm with more sauce on the side.

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Inside-Out Cheeseburger

Yield:  Serves 8

Sure, slapping patties on a hot grill is a great summertime treat, but this “surprise inside” technique of seasoning ground beef then shaping burgers around a piece of Cheddar cheese will wow guests and keep meat moist.

 INGREDIENTS

2 pounds natural ground chuck or lean ground beef

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons organic Dijon mustard

4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 teaspoons)

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

8 oz. Cheddar cheese, cut into 8 pieces

8 whole-wheat hamburger buns

DIRECTIONS

Preheat grill to medium-high.

Combine ground beef, onion, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in bowl with your hands. Shape into 1/2-inch thick patties. Poke a hole in the center of each patty. Place piece of cheese in hole and form meat into patty around cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

Brush grill with oil. Cook burgers, 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until meat thermometer inserted in side of burger reaches 160F. Meanwhile, toast buns on the grill 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.

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Grilled Salmon

Active Time:  10 Minutes

Total Time:  1 Hour 10 Minutes

Yield:  4 entrees

This is so easy to do in a few moments. The salmon skin should be nice and crisp but the flesh still very pink. Use a good quality maple syrup (Canadian), be sure to oil the pan well , and make sure the grill is really hot to sear the salmon skin.

 INGREDIENTS

1 salmon filet with skin on (up to 1.5 pounds)

Marinade: equal parts* of: maple syrup

light soya sauce

*about 1/3 cup of each

fresh ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Marinade the salmon flesh side down in a 8x13 inch pan for up to one hour, in the refrigerator.

Spray a 12x16 inch BBQ grilling pan(the type with holes in it)with Weber brand or cooking spray specifically "for grilling".

Heat the grill on high with the oiled pan on the BBQ grates and hood closed for about 10 minutes or to 450F.

Carefully slide the salmon SKIN SIDE DOWN onto the heated BBQ pan. Generously season with fresh ground black pepper. You will not be flipping the salmon.

CLOSE THE HOOD and open only to gently release salmon skin from sticking to pan a few times during cooking.

Cook for about 5-7 minutes, depending on how thick the salmon is and desired doneness.

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Barbecue Pulled Chicken

Active Time:  25 Minutes

Total Time:  5 Hours 30 Minutes

Yield:  8 servings

This fanciful reinterpretation of pulled pork uses chicken and lots of tomato sauce. Have sliced jalapenos, sliced red onions and some sour cream on hand to top this hearty main course.

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

 INGREDIENTS

1 8-ounce can  reduced-sodium tomato sauce

1 4-ounce can  chopped green chiles, drained

3 tablespoons  cider vinegar

2 tablespoons  honey

1 tablespoon  sweet or smoked paprika

1 tablespoon  tomato paste

1 tablespoon  worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons  dry mustard

1 teaspoon  ground chipotle chile

1/2 teaspoon  salt

2 1/2 pounds  boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat

1   small onion, finely chopped

1 clove  garlic, minced

DIRECTIONS

Stir tomato sauce, chiles, vinegar, honey, paprika, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ground chipotle and salt in a 6-quart slow cooker until smooth. Add chicken, onion and garlic; stir to combine.

Put the lid on and cook on low until the chicken can be pulled apart, about 5 hours.

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and shred with a fork. Return the chicken to the sauce, stir well and serve.

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Barbecued Baby Back Ribs

Active Time:  5 Minutes

Total Time:  3 Hours 35 Minutes

Yield:  Makes 4 main course servings

Everybody loves ribs. For my money, you can't beat the baby backs. For the best results, cook these ribs on your grill, using wood chips. But highly tasty ribs can be made in the oven as well. Delicious with potato salad, baked beans and a chilled Rose wine.

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons salt

3 tablespoons black pepper

3 tablespoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons paprika

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons dry mustard

4 pounds baby back pork ribs (about 4 half racks)

Disposable 9-by-6-by-1-inch aluminum broiler pans

2 cups hickory wood chips, soaked in water 1 hour, drained

3 cups good-quality purchased barbecue sauce

DIRECTIONS

Mix first 6 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Sprinkle most spice mixture over both sides of ribs, patting with your fingers to adhere. Cover and refrigerate ribs at least 2 hours.

If using charcoal barbecue: Mound charcoal briquettes in barbecue and burn until light gray. Using tongs, carefully divide hot briquettes into 2 piles, 1 pile at each side of barbecue. Place empty broiler pan between piles. Sprinkle each pile with generous 1/2 cup hickory chips. Position grill at least 6 inches above briquettes. Position vents on barbecue so that chips smoke and briquettes burn but do not flame and temperature registers 350 degrees F.

If using a gas grill: Set up for indirect grilling and place wood chips in the smoker box or wrap in foil and place on one of the burners. With some gas grills, you need to preheat the grill to high until you see smoke, then reduce the heat to the desired temperature.

Place ribs in rib rack and place on grill. Cook until meat pulls back 1/4 inch from ends of bones and meat is very tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes. On a charcoal grill, you'll need to add 10 fresh coals to each side after 10 minutes. Don't over-cook. I like a rib that has some chew to it.

During last 10 minutes of cooking, brush both sides of ribs with sauce. Cook ribs directly over fire to caramelize sauce. Transfer ribs to platter. Sprinkle ribs with a little more spice mixture and brush with more sauce. Let ribs rest 5 minutes Serve, passing remaining sauce separately, if desired.

VARIATION:

Oven Method - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Rub and marinate ribs as described above. Place in roasting pan and roast ribs until well-browned and meat is very tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cover ribs with foil if beginning to dry out. Brush with sauce during last 10 minutes of baking. Serve as described above.

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Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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REMINDERS FROM GOD:

Love Opens Doors 

"Love never fails."1

According to an article in Today in the Word, soon after Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert, the couple had a quarrel, whereupon Prince Albert locked himself in his private apartment. Queen Victoria knocked furiously on his door.

"Who's there?" asked Albert.

"The Queen of England, and she demands to be admitted." 

There was no response and the door remained locked. The queen knocked furiously again.

"Who's there?" asked Albert again. The queen's response was the same … as was Albert's. 

After more furious knocking and no response came a quiet pause—and then a gentle tap.

"Who's there?" asked Albert once more.

"Your wife, Albert," the queen replied. Immediately the door was opened.

As the writer of this article pointed out, "Love opens doors." 

Need I say more?

Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, help me always to be a door opener and not a door closer! Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen." 

1 Corinthians 13:8

 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

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WORD FOR THE DAY:

Fountain of Youth 

proper noun 

(mythology) Legendary spring of water with magical properties to restore youth and health to those who drink from it.

fountain of youth   

noun 

(idiom) Anything reputed to have the power to restore health and vitality or to restore a youthful appearance.

Just watching the advertisement, you'd think the face cream was a .

Translations: (trans-top, anything reputed to have the power to restore health and vitality)

(trans-mid)

(trans-bottom)   

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PET TIP:

Granny was exploring on this old puter Friday and found this product.  With all my dogs I thought it was a fifty item. . May have to rob Paul to pay from this but  sure Peter wont mind. . .giggles

Pet Product Advisor http://t.co/3dUzODy  Water Fountain for your Pet. . 

What a neat idea!!! much healthier I do believe!!  

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Cooking Lesson: Seasoning Cast Iron Like the Pros

RELATED TAGS: 

cast iron  cooking  cooking techniques  cookware  nonstick  seasoning  

In the days before we had non-stick cookware, we had the next best thing – seasoned cast iron cookware. While non-stick cookware has certainly outdone cast iron cookware in the non-stick category, cast iron pots and pans are still favored by many chefs, including the professionals because of their durability and ability to retain flavor.

But, if you're not lucky enough to have a hand-me-down from Grandma, you may find yourself confused about how to become a cast iron chef. Have no fear – you can learn to season cast iron cookware with the pros and keep them in great shape for years to come.

Seasoning New Cast Iron Cookware

The process is actually quite simple. When done correctly, your pans will last a long time and may even become your own hand-me-downs in the future.

1.Heat your oven to 300 degrees.

2.Coat the pan with lard or grease. (Be sure that you do not use vegetable oil or commercial cooking sprays. While they may seem easier, they will not only cause your cookware to be seasoned incorrectly, but they will also leave a sticky film on the outside of the cookware that is impossible to remove.)

3.Place the pan in the oven on the middle rack and allow it to bake for 15 minutes.

4.Remove the pan and pour out any excess grease or lard.

5.Put the pan back into the oven and bake for another two hours

6.Repeat as needed. Many cast iron enthusiasts will swear upon repeating the seasoning process several times before ever using the cookware the first time. Each time you season the cookware, the seasoning bond becomes stronger. Many people will recommend that the first few times the cookware is used it should be used to cook greasy foods (bacon, fatty meats, etc.) to again strengthen the seasoning bond.

Re-seasoning Cookware

If you find that you seasoned the pan improperly the first time, or if food starts to stick to the pan after a period of time in use, you may want to re-season the cookware.

Cleaning Your Cast Iron Cookware

To make your cookware last the test of time, be sure to take proper care of it. Remember the creed of every enthusiast of cast iron - no soap and no steel wool. Soap and steel wool will cause a breakdown in the seasoning bond and should not be used to clean your cookware on a regular basis. If you're baffled at this moment, have no fear. Cleaning cast iron cookware is a breeze.

You'll need to rinse your cookware while it is still hot. If food is stuck to it, then scrape the pan or pot as needed.

That's it! Remember not to store food in your cast iron cookware because it may attach a metallic flavor to the food. In addition, store your pans with the lids off to prevent moisture from accumulating and rusting from occurring.

Now that you know the ins and outs to cast iron cookware, you can start creating your own family heirloom – as well as some great food!

Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Cooking Schools for those wishing to enter the trade.

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World's Greatest Fudge

Ingredients:

4 tbsp cocoa

1 box (16 oz.) 10-X sugar

4 tbsp. peanut butter

1/2 lb. (2 sticks) margarine or butter

Steps...

Mix the cocoa and sugar together well until they are of a single consistency.

In a double boiler melt the butter and peanut butter together.

Pour the melted mix into the bowl with the sugar/cocoa mix in it.

Mix well (but not with a mixer, but rather with your hands or a wooden spoon).

Grease a 9 x 9 pan (or one of similar size).  Place the fudge mixture into the

pan and pat down until evenly distributed.

Cut the fudge as desired (this is important to do before you go to the next

step because it is not easy to cut after this point...)

Place the fudge into the fridge until it is firm (actually more like hard)

When you are going to eat the fudge get it out for a bit and let it warm up to

room temperature (much better than when it is hard and cold).

ENJOY.... (P.S.  Don't feel bad if the first time you don't have the patience

to wait for the fudge to warm up to room temp.  I make this thing all the time

and I still wind up eating at least one piece while it is cold...)

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CHOCOLAT-ANISE TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

------------

1/4 cup   Anise liquor

1/2 cup   butter

12 oz.    semi-sweet chocolate

2 cups    pulverized anisette cookies

Instructions:

-------------

In a double boiler melt the chocolate, constantly stirring with a wooden

spoon.  When the chocolate has melted, add the butter and slowly stir it

into the chocolate as it melts.  Continue to stir for another minute

until it is well mixed and smooth.  Add in the Rum and stir until well

mixed, then sprinkle in the pulvarized anisette cookies (a little at a

time, as sometimes it takes less) until the mixture is slightly

thickened but still smooth.  You want the mixture to remain as a thick

sauce at this point.

When you have thoroughly mixed in the anisettes, rest the top of your

double boiler in a bucket of ice and WHISK the truffle mixture slowly

until it has cooled (about 15 minutes).  Do not stop whicking or the

butter and rum will separate out of the chocolate-anisette.  When the

sauce is completely cooled it should have a soft but solid consistency

which you can then spoon out and form into truffles and coat with

chocolate powder or confectioners sugar. 

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

(makes about 6 dozen)

Ingredients:

------------

3 pkg    (175 g each) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 can    sweetened condensed milk

1 Tbsp   (15 mL) vanilla

Coatings:

---------

Finely chopped nuts, flaked coconut, chocolate sprinkles, coloured

sprinkles, unsweetened cocoa powder, icing sugar

Instructions:

-------------

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened

condensed milk.  Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.  Chill 2 hours or

until firm.  Shape into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls; roll in any of the

above coatings.  Chill 1 hour or until firm.  Store covered at room

temperature.  

COGNAC TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

------------

3 1 oz   square of unsweetened chocolate

1 1/4 c  confectioners' sugar

1/3 c    butter

3        egg yolks (I use the whites to make macaroons or meringue cookies)

1 tsp    vanilla or 2 TBSP of cognac

Instructions:

-------------

Melt chocolate.  Combine sugar and butter in bowl.  Cream together.  Add

egg yolks, 1 at a time.  Stir in melted chocolate and flavouring.  Chill

mixture.  Break off pieces and form into balls.  Roll in coating. 

Air-dry 1 hour.  Store in air-tight container in very cool place.  Makes

about fifty truffles. 

Suggested coatings:  ground almonds or other nuts, cocoa, more melted

chocolate, confectioners' sugar, coconut, chocolate or coloured

jimmies.

Note that this uses raw egg yolks.  I find a melon baller to be very

handy in forming the truffles. 

DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

I use little wax paper cones for the piping bags, then filled them with

the appropriately colored chocolate. 

An attempt to describe how to make the cones :

(for a real description, see "Cocolat", by Alice Medrich)

Take a 8" by 12" (or smaller) sheet of waxed paper or parchment

paper.  Cut it into two equal triangles.

         B  ---------         Lightly hold the triangle at

                  |         point C.  This will be the pivot

                   |         point.  Start to make a cone by

                  |         rolling B towards A.  The tip of

            C      |         the cone should be at C.  Try to

                  |         keep B far away from C, that is,

                   |         close to the unlabeled corner.

                  |         When you have a cone, fold in the

                 A |         straggling edges to keep it from 

                              unrolling.  The tip should be closed.

To use, melt some chocolate (Alice Medrich says "Chocolate chips

do NOT make good piping chocolate.").  Then put a spoon full or

two into the cone, fold the open end over til it is sealed, cut

off the tip, and pipe away.

You can do some fabulous decoration with these little piping cones!

EASY TRUFFLES

(Servings: 64)

Ingredients:

------------

8 oz    Semi-sweet chocolate

1/3 c   Milk

1/3 c   Unsalted butter

2 ea    Egg yolks, slightly beaten

1/4 t   Vanilla extract

1 x     Unsweetened cocoa

Instructions:

-------------

In saucepan, melt chocolate with milk and butter over low heat, stirring

until smooth. Remove from heat.

Stir 1/4 cup hot mixture into egg yolks, the whisk yolks into chocolate

mixture in saucepan. Add vanilla; beat well. Pour into small bowl; cover

and refrigerate until firm. (You can store in refrigerator for up to 2

days at this point.)

Form teaspoonfuls into balls; roll in cocoa and shake off excess.

Makes 1 pound (about 2 dozen). About 75 calories each. 

For gift-giving: use a glass jar with lid or candy dish covered with

plastic wrap. Store covered in refrigerator for 3 weeks and in freezer for

up to 2 months.

GENERIC CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE RECIPE

Ingredients:

------------

8 ounces   of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup    whipping cream (32% milk fat)

1/4 cup    unsalted butter

2 tsp      vanilla OR 4 tsp favourite liquer

Instructions:

-------------

Place whipping cream and chocolate in a heavy saucepan over low heat and

stir occasionally until chocolate melts.  Add butter and continue

stirring until butter is melted.  Remove from heat and let cool to room

temperature.  Add liquer or vanilla (or nothing!  Works this way also). 

Let sit in refrigerator until hard (about eight hours or so).  Dig out

by the teaspoon and form into balls, then roll in finely chopped nuts

(ground almonds are heavenly), cocoa, icing sugar, or coconut or dip in

chocolate.  Makes 36-48. 

This year I'm experimenting with Frangelico-Espresso truffles and

raspberry truffles dipped in white chocolate along with my usual

batches. 

RUM BALLS

(makes approx. 75 small balls)

Ingredients:

------------

1       12 oz. box vanilla wafers

1 cup   walnuts (or pecans)

1 cup   powdered sugar

3 Tbsp  cocoa

2 Tbsp  corn syrup

1/2-2/3 cup rum (or bourbon)

powdered sugar for rolling balls, sifted

Instructions:

-------------

Place vanilla wafers in bowl of food processor and process to texture

similar to cornmeal.  Put in a large bowl.  Process the walnuts until

well ground (but not walnut butter!).  Add to wafer crumbs.  Add

remaining dry ingredients and mix well.  Add corn syrup and rum and mix

well. 

Roll into balls (loosely small bite size) and roll in powdered sugar. 

Store in airtight container.  It is best to try to wait 24 hours before

eating.  The flavor improves greatly. 

RUM TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

------------

4 oz.      semi-sweet chocolate

1/2 stick  of butter

2 1/3 cup  sifted powder sugar

2 tsp      or more if you like of RUM

chocolate sprinkles

Instructions:

-------------

Slowly melt chocolate in saucepan, add butter, stir constantly until

blended.  Remove from heat stir in powder sugar and add rum.  Make into

1" balls and roll in chocolate sprinkles.  Let cool for 5 hours. 

RUM TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

------------

3.5 ozs  cooking chocolate

2        egg yolks

coconut

1 oz     ground almonds

2 ozs    butter

7 ozs    icing sugar (powdered sugar)

2 Tbsp   dark rum

1 oz     plain biscuit crumbs  

Instructions:

-------------  

Put broken choc.  & butter in bowl & soften in microwave or double

boiler.  Mix in egg yolks then remaining ingredients, except coconut. 

Chill until firm then form into small balls & roll in coconut.  Keep in

refrigerator. 

Variations: 

-----------

Replace Rum with tipple of your choice ie Brandy, Sherry, Orange or

Coffee liqueur.  The mixture may be rolled around a glace cherry or

ginger.  Try choc.  hail instead of coconut.  For a real luxury, soak a

few glace cherries in the same liqueur overnight (or longer) then make

the balls.  Superb with coffee liqueur...I'm trying them with Grand

Marnier this year..cheers

TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

------------

150 gm    very good quality desert chocolate

150 ml    double cream

 25 gm    butter 

Instructions:

-------------

Grind up the chocolate in a food processor until granular.

Melt the butter and cream (also yoghurt if you want) in a saucepan until

simmering.  Then pour the cream mixture into the processor whilst

working.  When the mixture is welll and truly mixed (making sure to get

the cream that has splattered onto the underside of the lid) separate in

to four bowls.  Allow to cool completely and then place in a fridge

overnight. 

In the morning using a cold spoon form the chocolate mixture into little

truffle shaped balls.  This is best done if your hands have been rinsed

in cold water for a while.  You now have about 20-30 chocolate truffles. 

First if you want rum truffles mix a good quantity of rum (or a few

drops of rum flavouring) into the cream mixture as you melt the butter. 

Once you have spooned out the truffles you can roll them in cocoa,

chopped nuts or whatever you want. 

TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

------------

1/4 cup   of heavy cream

1/4 cup   of butter (softened)

6 oz.     bittersweet chocolate.

Instructions:

-------------

Boil the cream until it thickens.  Add the chocolate (broken so it melts

faster) and heat until melted.  Add butter and stir till melted and

mixed.  Then whisk in 3 tablespoons of your favorite liqueur, pour into

a bowl and chill.  Stir several times during the chilling process, and

when the stuff is firm, shape it into balls and roll in cocoa, or

whatever strikes your fancy.  I made:

-- Kahlua dipped in chocolate

-- Drambuie rolled in cocoa

-- mint/Baileys rolled in powdered sugar

-- Frangelico rolled in chopped nuts,

-- Rum rolled in granulated sugar with cinnamon.

Notes:

------

Store them in the fridge, and bring them out shortly before serving to

soften up some. 

WHISKY TRUFFLES

I don't know much about ingredient quantities but I should point out

that the ingredients are in British measures.

Ingredients:

------------

1.5 lbs    good quality plain chocolate

10 fl.oz.  double cream

1 "small"  glass whisky (original recipe says use malt whisky but I just

           cannot bring myself to do this; I use 'Famous Grouse')

Instructions:

-------------

Bring cream to the boil.  Remove from heat and add half the chocolate

(broken up).  Stir gently until chocolate melted and thouroughly mixed. 

Add the whisky and stir until well mixed in. 

Transfer mixture to a metal bowl (I don't bother with this and just keep

it all in the original saucepan) and place in a bowl of iced water. 

Beat with a wooden spoon until cool and thick. 

Transfer mixture into piping bag and pipe into 2.5 cm rounds on sheet of

greasproof paper.  Place in fridge to firm up. 

Remove from fridge and roll into balls (original recipe suggests dusting

hands with icing sugar to prevent sticking but it doesn't seem to work). 

This is incredibly messy.  Make sure you have a bowlful of hot water to

plunge your hands into afterwards or else you'll end up with chocolate

covered taps. 

Keep balls on greaseproof paper and chill in fridge again until firm.  I

actually put mine in freezer section for about 1/2 hour. 

Melt the remaining chocolate.  Try to do this with as little heat as

possible or else the balls will rapidly disintegrate with the heat. 

Using small forks dip each ball into melted chocolate and cover

thouroughly.  Do each ball as fast as possible.  The original recipe

suggested rolling each ball in cocoa while the chocolate is still molten

but I reckon this will cause ball breakdown due to the extra handling

involved. 

Eating and storage:

-------------------

It is suggested that they improve if you keep them for a few days before

eating. It is extremely difficult to verify this. In any case, keep in

an airtight container in the fridge with a padlock on.

WHITE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT-APRICOT TRUFFLES

(makes 28 truffles)

Ingredients:

------------

1 1/4 C    hazelnuts (aka filberts)

1/4 C      finely chopped dried apricots

24 ounces  imported white chocolate

6 Tbl      heavy cream

Instructions:

-------------

On a baking sheet, spread out 1 1/4 C hazelnuts. Bake at 350 F for 10

minutes, or until nuts are light brown and the dark skins are cracked.

Remove as much of the skins as possible by rubbing nuts in a terry-cloth

towel. Finely chop nuts in a food processor.

In a 1-quart glass container, combine 12 ounces imported white chocolate,

cut up and 6 Tbl heavy cream.

[Note:  I used the Nestle white chocolate chips that are available in

my local supermarket.  It worked well, but I am sure it would be better

if you use a good import instead.]

Microwave mixture on MEDIUM (70% power), 3 to 4 minutes, stirring twice,

until chocolate is melted and smooth.  [You can do this step in a

double-boiler if you don't have a microwave.]

Stir into melted chocolate 3/4 C of the chopped nuts and 1/4 C finely

chopped dried apricots. 

Cover the mixture and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or until mixture is firm

enough to hold its shape.  (If mixture gets too hard, let stand at room

temperature for 30 minutes or so, until firm but soft enough to shape.)

Form 28 smooth 1 1/4-inch diameter balls, either by using a 1 1/4-inch

automatic-release ice cream scoop, or by rolling 1 Tbl of the mixture

between your (clean!) hands.

Place on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm, 1

hour or longer.

In a small glass dish, place another 12 ounces imported white chocolate,

cut up.  

[Variation: use 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate.  Or use 2 separate

6-ounce portions of each and dip 14 of the truffles in the white

chocolate and the other 14 in the semisweet.]

Microwave on MEDIUM (70% power), 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until

chocolate is melted, smooth, and warm.

Work quickly so the dipping chocolate does not harden before you are

through.  If it does, pop it back into the microwave for a few seconds.

Using a fork to 'hold' the truffle (do not 'spear' the truffle.  I

found 2 forks worked better for me.  Maybe you are not as clumsy as I

am), dip the truffles, 1 at a time, into the melted chocolate.  Tap on

edge of dish to remove any excess.  Place on a wax paper-lined cookie

sheet and, before the dipped layer can harden, sprinkle with the

remaining chopped nuts.

Store in airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or in

freezer 1 month.  Serve in paper candy cups.

Nutrient Analysis Per Truffle:

------------------------------

Calories             183 kcal

Protein                2 g

Carbohydrates         15 g

Fat                   13 g

Cholesterol           10 mg

Sodium                27 mg

Fiber                 0.2 g

64% calories from fat (ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!)

WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

(Servings: 24)

Ingredients:

------------

8 oz      white chocolate

48 ea     good walnut / pecan halves

6 T       unsalted butter, room temp.

1 1/2 T   water

1 ea      large egg yolk

Instructions:

-------------

Preheat oven to 300F.  Set aside a wax paper-lined baking sheet.

Chop the white chocolate into small pieces and set aside.

Toast the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer for 5 to 8 minutes.

Set them aside.

In the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling water, melt the white

chocolate and the butter in the water.  Stir until smooth.

A NOTE on Melting White Chocolate: Since the fats in white chocolates

melt at different temperatures, and since the milk proteins tend to

clump if overheated, melting white chocolate can be very frustrating. 

I've found that the easiest method is to chop the chocolate into small

pieces and melt them in the microwave.  Microwave at high power for 1

minute, then stir.  If necessary, continue the process for additional

30-second intervals until completely melted.  Microwave only until

smooth; DO NOT OVERHEAT!!! 

Pour into a bowl and add the yolk.  Continue beating until the mixture

is fluffy and cooled to room temperature.  Chill until firm (about 4

hours).  Remove from refrigerator and form into 24 1-inch balls. 

Sandwich between 2 nut halves.  Chill until ready to serve. 

*****************************

Toffee

1 cup butter 

1 cup granulated sugar 

1 tablespoon water 

1 tablespoon light corn syrup 

2/3 cup slivered almonds 

6 ounces milk chocolate candy bars

Combine butter, sugar, water, light corn syrup, and slivered almonds. Cook in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it becomes a dark brown honey color.

Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking and pour in the candy; spread quickly with a spoon. Place a chocolate candy bar on top. When the chocolate melts, spread evenly over the toffee. Cool before breaking into pieces.

Makes 24 pieces.

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Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix

3 cups crispy rice cereal squares

2 cups toasted O-shaped cereal

2 cups small reduced-fat pretzels

1 cup oyster crackers

1 cup dry roasted peanuts

1 egg white

1/2 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granular

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl.

Beat egg white until foamy; stir in SPLENDA Granular, Worcestershire sauce and red pepper. Pour over cereal mixture, tossing to coat.

Spray a 15- X 10-inch jellyroll pan with cooking spray; spread cereal mixture in a single layer in pan.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool.

Makes 16 (1/2 cup) servings.

Note: Store mix in an airtight container

Nutrition Information per serving Serving Size: 1/2 cup; Total Calories 140; Calories from fat 50; Total Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 1g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 290mg; Total Carbohydrate 19g; Dietary Fiber 2g; Sugars 1g; Protein 4g

Exchanges per Serving: 1 Starch, 1 Fat

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Slow Cooker Spicy Cheeseburger Nachos

PREP TIME  20 Min

TOTAL TIME  4 Hr 20 Min

SERVINGS  22

A surefire crowd-pleaser, with the added convenience of heating and serving in a slow cooker.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1 clove garlic, minced

2 boxes (16 oz each) Mexican prepared cheese product with jalapeño peppers, cut into cubes

2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained

1/2 cup chopped green onions (8 medium)

22 oz tortilla chips

1In 10-inch skillet, cook ground beef and garlic, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Spoon into 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker. Add cheese and tomatoes; mix well.

2Cover; cook on Low heat setting 3 to 4 hours, stirring after 2 hours.

3Before serving, stir in onions. Serve with tortilla chips.

Expert Tips

The cheese in this recipe is a loaf-shaped shelf-stable product. For less heat, use the plain variety without the jalapeño peppers.

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Veal Tenderloin

Serves 4

For an award-winning veal meal, these medallions are a mouth-watering offering that's sure to impress your diners. Did we mention the melt-in-your-mouth taste?

Ingredients

1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

6 oz. crumbled blue cheese

1 tbsp. chopped parsley

1 tbsp. chopped chives

3 tbsp. softened butter

3 tbsp. flour

3 cups beef or veal stock

3 oz. sweet red wine

Salt and black pepper

4 6-oz. veal tenderloin medallions

1 tbsp. olive oil

Methods/steps

Combine bread crumbs, blue cheese, parsley and chives to form a paste; set aside. Combine butter and flour in a small bowl. In a saucepan, bring stock to boil. Whisk in butter/flour mixture; simmer 15 minutes, until thickened. Add wine and adjust seasonings. Salt and pepper medallions. Heat olive oil in non-stick skillet over high heat. Sear veal until just browned on both sides – about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove medallions to oven-proof pan. Crust top of each medallion with 3 Tbsp. blue cheese mixture. Roast in 400-degree oven until crust is golden brown and meat is cooked as desired (approximately 6-8 minutes for medium rare). Serve medallions in pool of warm wine sauce.

*****************************

The society matron explained the necessity for immediate reform in conditions at the State Penitentiary:

"Nowadays, there are such a number of our very best people who are being indicted and tried and convicted and sent to serve their sentences in the prison that we really must make their surroundings there more pleasant and elegant."

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Successful Poultry Farmer: "You'd be surprised what a difference these incubators make. We can hatch out two or three hundred chicks every week."

Champion Dog Breeder: "Good gracious! How ever do you manage to find names for them all?"

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Fred: I met a really conceited actor the other day.

Harry: Why do you say he's conceited?

Fred: Well, every time there was a thunderclap during the storm, he went to the window and took a bow. 

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Dispatcher: Nine-one-

one Caller: Hi, is this the police?

Dispatcher: This is 911. 

Do you need police assistance?

Caller: Well, I don't know who to call. 

Can you tell me how to cook a turkey? I've never cooked one before.

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Q: How many liberals does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: One liberal and twenty eight delegates representing all the social, economic, and ethnic communities.

A: Two-one to do it and the other to keep the first one's knee from jerking.

A:None: They can't remove the old ones since they are already part of the environment. 

*****************************

Upon entering the little country store, the stranger noticed a sign saying; DANGER! BEWARE OF DOG! posted on the glass door. 

Inside he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor besides the cash register.

He asked the store manager, "Is THAT the dog folks are supposed to beware of?" "Yep, that's him," he replied. 

The stranger couldn't help but be amused. 

"That certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. 

Why in the world would you post that sign?" "Because," the owner replied, "before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him."

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

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Salmon Fritter Salad

Makes 1 serving

Holy fritters batman! This salad is only as great as its salmon topping turns out. Chock full of lush ingredients, you'll make this recipe over and over.

Ingredients

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. sherry vinegar

1/4 tsp. fresh oregano

1/4 tsp. fresh parsley

1/8 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/8 tsp. honey

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tbsp. chopped roasted red pepper

1 tbsp. chopped sun-dried tomato

2 cups organic greens

2 oz. vinaigrette

2 salmon patties

1 oz. toasted sunflower seeds

1 oz. feta cheese

Methods/steps

Whisk in bowl oil, vinegar, fresh herbs, mustard, honey, salt and pepper. Add peppers and tomatoes; set aside. Combine greens; toss with vinaigrette. Plate greens. Pan-sear salmon patties and place atop greens. Top patties with relish. Sprinkle with toasted sunflower seeds; top with feta cheese.

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A young woman said to her doctor, 'You have to help me, I hurt all over!'

'What do you mean?' said the doctor.

The woman touched her right knee with her index finger and yelled,'Ow, that hurts.'

Then she touched her left cheek and again yelled, 'Ouch! That hurts, too.'

Then she touched her right earlobe. 'Ow, even THAT hurts!'

The doctor asked the woman, 'Are you a natural blonde?'

'Why yes,' she said.

'I thought so,' said the doctor. 'You have a sprained finger.'

********************

A silly boy spent the afternoon with some friends, but when the time came for him to leave, a terrific storm started with thunder, lightning and torrential rain. 

'You can't go home in this,' said one of his friends, ' you'd better stay the night.' 'That's very kind of you,' said the boy. 

' I'll just run home and get my pyjamas.'

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The knot was tied; the pair were wed,

And then the smiling bridegroom said

Unto the preacher, "Shall I pay

To you the usual fee today.

Or would you have me wait a year

And give you then a hundred clear,

If I should find the marriage state

As happy as I estimate?"

The preacher lost no time in thought,

To his reply no study brought,

There were no wrinkles on his brow:

Said he, "I'll take three dollars now."

Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Tips n More

2 comments View Entry