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OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL: 1 Timothy 2:1
(1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 1 Timothy 4:5
(5) for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
New King James Version Change Bible versions "Intercession" is exactly the same Greek word as is translated "prayer" in I Timothy 4:5. It has an interesting etymology that instructs us on an important aspect of prayer. The word, a verb, is entugchanein. It began to appear in Greek centuries before Christ, meaning simply "to meet a person," as if a person would meet another along the way. However, through the centuries, the word took on a somewhat different meaning. Eventually, it meant, not just "to meet," but "to meet and converse." This is natural because, if a person falls in with another along the way, he usually does not ignore the other but strikes up a conversation. Then, as time went by, it began to take on yet a different meaning: "to have intimate fellowship with the person." To this point, the word describes how to have a right approach to God. In practical fact, it illustrates that we are not conversing with God from a distance. We are so intimately associated with Him that we are His children. This word is describing an intimate family relationship. God is not way off on the top of a mountain somewhere. Even as early as Deuteronomy 30:14, He says, "The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart"! If we are going to have the right kind of fellowship and relationship with God in prayer, we have to understand that we are in His very presence. Looking at this as humanly and physically, this is how He can rub off on us. We are in His fellowship, in His presence. He is not far off. When Christ gave His life for us, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom, symbolizing that access to God was completely open to Him, and now we have this same access to the Father through Christ. We are right before His throne when we are talking to Him. However, entugchanein continued to change. The change shows up in the noun form of the word, enteuxis, meaning "a petition to a king." It can be used in the sense of the king summoning someone into his presence or of someone presenting a request to the king. Putting these together, it sugests that we have "intimate access to petition the king." We do not merely we have intimate fellowship with just anybody, but to the King of all the universe! We have both privilege and power in prayer. This is where the concept "the power of prayer" comes from. Because we have the privilege to come before the King in intimate fellowship, we have access to His power. It is not that prayer itself has the power, but that we have access to the One who has the power. This means we have to be extra careful what we ask God: He may give us what we ask, and we will be sorry. Mighty forces can be unleashed when we ask God for things. God's people have a responsibility to ask of Him things that are according to His will. As a tool, prayer is to be used to accomplish a wide variety of things within God's purpose. It is to be used in regard to the things of this life. God wants us to pray about this life, as in supplying our daily need. However, He will primarily use it, not for this life, but for His eternal purpose, reproducing Himself and creating His holiness in us. His purpose is in preparing us for the Kingdom of God. So be warned that His purpose will supersede ours when we pray. Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.â€
*********************
WORD FOR THE DAY: ossify • AH-suh-fye • verb
1 : to become or change into bone or bony tissue 2 : to become or make hardened or set in one's ways Examples:
When a baby is born, many of the bones in its body have yet to ossify. "But too many businesses are surviving because credit costs nothing, and bankers care little whether their borrowers are profitable or not. That has two damaging consequences: it ossifies corporate culture, and it drags down productivity." -- From an article in The Economist, November 18, 2010
*********************
Brownie Pudding Cake
Ready in: 30-60 minutes
Serves/Makes: 10 Ingredients: 1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons shortening, melted
3/4 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 3/4 cup hot water Directions: Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and 2 Tbsp cocoa. Add milk, vanilla, and shortening and mix until smooth. Add nuts. Pour into a gresed 8x8-inch baking pan. Mix brown sugar and cocoa and sprinkle over batter. Pour hot water over entire batter. Bake in 350F degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. ********************* QUICK AND EASY CHICKEN ALA KING
1 c. milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can peas, drained
1 c. rice
1 lb. cooked and shredded chicken cutlets (leftover roasted chicken works well too!)
Cook and drain rice. Mix cream of mushroom soup with 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 can of water. Do the same with cream of chicken soup, then mix the two together. Add the chicken and rice, stir so it is mixed well.
Cook over medium flame until soup mixture starts to boil and becomes thick. Add peas and cook for 2 more minutes. Serve over toast points.
************************ CHICKEN CORDON BLEU WITH MUSHROOM
GRAVY
1 1/2 lbs. skinless, boneless, chicken cutlets
1/4 lb. boiled ham, slices cut in half
1/4 lb. Swiss cheese, slices cut in half
1 1/2 c. bread crumbs
1 egg
1 c. white wine
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 oz. grated sharp Cheddar or American cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in skillet. Remove fat from chicken. Pound chicken to flatten. Place 1 piece each ham and Swiss cheese on chicken. Roll chicken and place 2 or 3 toothpicks in chicken to hold together. Place chicken into beaten egg, then roll in bread crumbs. Brown in oil on all sides. Remove chicken from skillet and place in baking pan. Pour 1 cup wine over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove chicken from pan over burner on top of stove on low heat and add Cheddar cheese and mushroom soup to wine mixture, stirring until hot and smooth. Pour over chicken to serve. Approximately 4 servings.
**********************************
Easy Beef Pot Pie "Convenient cooked beef and vegetables bound with a creamy mushroom gravy are tucked into a flaky pie crust." Prep Time:15 Min
Cook Time:35 Min
Ready In: 50 Min
Yield 4 servings Ingredients
1 refrigerated pie crust
2 cups diced cooked potatoes
1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 1/2 cups diced cooked beef
1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup
1/3 cup water 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed Directions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Let the pie crust stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or until it's easy to handle.
Put the potatoes, vegetables and beef in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate or 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
Stir the soup, water, Worcestershire and thyme in a medium bowl. Pour the soup mixture over the beef mixture. Gently put the pie crust over the beef mixture. Crimp or roll the edges to seal it to the dish. Cut slits in the crust with a knife.
Bake for 35 minutes or until hot and the crust is golden brown. Footnotes
Time-Saving Tip: To thaw the vegetables, microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. ************************ An auditor is checking the books of an airline.
He is puzzled by the excess use of fuel on a Melbourne to Canberra flight.
He rings up the pilot and asks for an explanation.
"It was late at night'" says the pilot, "Canberra was covered in fog and I lost my bearings." "I'm sorry," says the auditor, "but you'll have to bear the cost yourself." "The cost of what?" asks the pilot.
"Of the bearings you lost."
**************************
Uncle Nehemiah, the proprietor of a ramshackle little hotel in Mobile, was aghast at finding a newly arrived guest with his arm around his daughter's waist. "Mandy, tell that niggah to take his arm from around yo' wais'," he indignantly commanded. "Tell him you'self," said Amanda. "He's a puffect stranger to me."
**************************
A lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves, "What are you doing in there?" she asked.
The rabbit replied, "This is a Westinghouse, isn't it?" The lady confirmed, "Yes." "Well," the rabbit said, "I'm westing." **************************** How to Develop Self Esteem Our self esteem is instilled in us during our youth. Being constantly criticized by family, friends, and society tends to slowly strip us of our feelings of self worth. Our low self esteem strips us of our self confidence to make even the smallest of decisions. We think little of ourselves, and feel we do not deserve to be happy. Improving your self esteem increases your confidence and is a first step towards finding happiness and a better life. You gain this confidence by believing that you are unique, you are special, and that you deserve to have your dreams come true!
Steps
1Start from within. Ignore any and all destructive criticism or insults, including any from your past; your opinion of yourself is the most important opinion of all, because you know yourself better than anyone else. Many of us have been hurt by others at some time. It is crucial NOT to internalize that abuse and let them continue to hurt us, because that is, in fact, letting them win. But if we let go of the past and ignore hurtful negativity, and make ourselves happy, then we win. Tell yourself that you are a wonderful person who DESERVES to be happy. And believe it. Make a list of all the things you like about yourself. And if you've made mistakes that prevent you from believing that you deserve to be happy, take measures to relieve that guilt: apologize to people you may have hurt (if possible), learn from those mistakes, and most importantly, forgive yourself. 2 Start with the small things to gain confidence. Take small steps and make small choices to gain confidence in your ability to make a decision. As you become secure in your ability to make good choices, you will gain confidence in yourself, and be more secure about your abilities in general.
For example, if purchasing jeans makes you anxious because of the plethora of brands, colors, and styles, then just go with your instincts. Trust yourself and go with whatever feels right to you. And if, in retrospect, you really feel you made a wrong decision, the situation can be easily rectified by exchanging the jeans. However, try to stick to your original choice.
Buy a shirt next, to go with the jeans. Take your time trying on different styles and colors. When you feel a bit of excitement inside of you, you will know you are making a good decision, so buy it. It is that inner feeling that will help you build self-confidence. You will begin to think, 'If I can do this well, I can do other things well too!'
Wear your new jeans and shirt the next time you go to meet friends. Show off your outfit. Smile and be proud of yourself because you took the first step of many in gaining confidence in yourself via your ability to make decisions. The new found confidence comes from your willingness to assert yourself and make a simple decision. 3Don't always try to please others. It is great to be considerate of others, but think before sacrificing your own needs to please them. It's completely rational to want to help a loved one or a friend, since that person contributes something to your life. But bending over backwards for strangers, mere acquaintances, or people you don't trust may leave you with the short end of the stick. In short, don't allow yourself to be used. 4Be your own person. Don't try to copy anyone else. You will be at your best when you are being yourself because of your uniqueness. Strive to be your best, do not criticize yourself if you fall short of your expectations. 5Avoid negative people. People who have a negative attitude which may rub off on you are not good for you. If you're timid, loud and aggressive people are probably not good for you, and vice versa. Whatever you do, do not compare yourself to others. Just be the best that you can be. 6Face your fears and learn from your failures. We only fail when we do not make the best out of adversity. When something doesn't go the way we would like it to, there is something to be learned from that, which can be applied next time you are in a similar situation. Get up and try again. 7Stop the negative thoughts. Try positive thinking on for size. The term “self-fulfilling prophecy†in relation to self-esteem basically states that whatever you believe about you, whether it be perfect or totally off base, becomes true. If you constantly tell yourself you are stupid or that you will never achieve success, you will in turn act as such. So, make a habit out of saying positive things about yourself and use the self-fulfilling prophecy to your advantage. Look in a mirror and see the good things such as if you have big brown eyes say "Wow I have big cute brown eyes!" or "My freckles are so cute!" Don't stare at yourself or examine yourself from various angles, searching for flaws. Instead, smile at yourself! THAT is who you really are. 8Improve your self confidence. You can do this by simply doing things that you make you feel good, like accomplishing something. Accomplishment is the key ingredient to gaining self confidence. Just do it, don't worry about making mistakes. We all make mistakes. 9Do something to impress yourself. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or vet's office. Be a Big Brother or Sister. Help someone else. Nothing makes you feel better about yourself than seeing how your help can make someone else's load a little lighter. Take a class, study hard, and pass - learn something useful or interesting. It could be photography, oil painting, a literature appreciation class, or beginning guitar. You can do a daring feat: bungee jump off a bridge, skydive, go hang gliding (all with a guide, of course). Or you can do something adventurous. Put past events and thoughts out of your mind and enjoy the moment. Your accomplishment raises self-esteem by raising self confidence. 10Don't worry about being "perfect." Aiming for perfection in life is a lost cause because it is different things to different people. Nobody is perfect in the eyes of everyone else, so by trying to be perfect you set yourself up for disappointment and failure. Instead, seek to achieve goals. For example, take a class in the visual arts. The visual arts allow you to explore yourself and find "perfection" in "imperfections". This self exploration, artistic knowledge, and the accomplishment of finishing the class can do wonders for your self-esteem. 11Learn to appreciate yourself. Everyone has strengths, weaknesses, habits, and principles that define who you are and can make you distinctive. Spend more time focusing on the qualities about yourself that you like and less on the ones that you dislike. You can better accomplish this by taking up hobbies and projects that you can do that will make use of your strengths. Additionally, by starting on some projects that emphasize your good traits, it will keep you busy so you will end up spending less time thinking about your weaknesses. 12Reward yourself when you succeed. Bask in the glow of your successes. You deserve to have your dreams, and you can make them come true. Believe in yourself completely, and others will also believe and trust in you. When you accomplish something always treat yourself to something wonderful. Tips A good trick to starting to build self-confidence is to pick something about yourself that you do like (EVERYONE has as least one aspect about them that they like) and create a phrase: "I'm (aspect) and I'm awesome!" Then pick something that you want to improve: "I'm going to ________ and life will rock even more because ______!" Pick a time to repeat this mantra, like every time you brush your teeth or rub your eyes. Examples: "I'm a good artist! I'm going to be less shy and life will rock even more because more people will see my art!" "I'm clever! I am going to think things out more to solve minor problems around me. Life is in my control!" Don't feel like you are not good enough because you have been created the way that you should be, and that is what makes you individual.
Your inner strength will enable you to reach your goals in life. If you fall down, pick yourself up and try again.
As your self confidence builds, you will feel better about yourself, and your self esteem will grow from the inside out.
Not all decisions may turn out to be right ones. Just keep in mind that right or wrong, you are the one who makes the decisions in your life. Because you are responsible for your choices, you have the power to change your situation. Do not let your confidence disappear because you made one wrong choice. Do not let the feeling of self worth that you have built up crumble and fall. There are other choices to be made; believe you can make them, and you will! Remember that most people will tell you that they would rather regret things they did do than things they didn't do. Be bold! And comfort yourself, if something doesn't quite work as well as hoped, that at least you tried something.
Choices are made by individuals and their ability look deeply into themselves and say 'I can do that' or 'I would like that'.
Decisions will not be only about what to buy or wear. We have to make decisions all of our lives about many details, circumstances, and people. It can be where to live, what type of person to marry, a choice of a job or career, where to go to school, or whether or not to go on to College. It could be if you move to another State, or to another country.
Every day look at yourself in the mirror. Try to find something to admire about yourself, and try to say some positive things about yourself and your accomplishments and achievements.
Make sure your self talk is positive at all times. Tell yourself how great you are, or how good you look today, anything positive about yourself to help you feel confident. Make being positive your natural state of being.
Visualize yourself being surrounded by people, who are patting you on the back or shaking your hand, or standing clapping you. Visualization is a very powerful tool to use.
The most important thing of all is that you have to believe in yourself. If you believe you can, then you will be able to.
Once you convince your subconscious the way you want to be, you will find that you will start to become far more confident and life will be the way you want it.
Be assertive. Boosting your self-esteem is all about getting what you need/want. So do things for your own sake. Remember, you must help yourself first before you can help others. You can't lose or give away what you don't have so be selfish and when you come to a higher level to yourself you can start helping others with lower self-esteem. And at the end only you will recollect what you have done and define who you are and what you're about.
Listen to a song that suits your mood. There is a song for almost everything! When you jam to a favorite tune that you can relate to, it gives you confidence.
Don't let the 21st century take advantage of you. Magazine ads and other media tries to take away your self confidence for marketing purposes. Don't let people who don't know you tell you how to feel or what to strive for. You choose your own path. Choose people YOU admire, whether they are famous figures or just people you know, to be your role models. No one is perfect in every way, but often, people who we see doing good in the world can inspire us to do better as well. Don't let media tell you who to be, think about it and decide for yourself.
All decisions will involve another person, a medical decision, or where to live if you marry. Therefore, some decisions may have to be made jointly. You might have to compromise, but once your self confidence becomes something that you can rely upon, that inner feeling of self worth will guide you through tough joint decisions. In compromise, self confidence matters a lot, because you need to trust yourself to do your best.
The opposite feeling of self-esteem is anxiety. But don't immediately dismiss this feeling. Feeling anxious is not a good nor a bad feeling. It's just a mechanism of yourself of telling you that there's something wrong and you need to act upon it. Anxiety is the fuel to responding to what is wrong and thus developing self esteem.
Be careful not to act as though you are better than others. Even if you are, true self confidence leads you down the path of modesty and respect for others. Your self-esteem is something that fills you up and helps light your way through life. Pomp, conceit, inability to compromise, and disrespect for the self-esteem of others are merely masks for inner insecurity and weakness. People who try to hide behind these aren't fooling anyone.
Everyone goes through the phases of feeling low or high i.e. low or high self esteem. This happens especially; if you judge yourself by your successes or failures (as others do). If you learn to estimate yourself by the nature of actions (e.g. their benefit to the society), then you are likely to develop high self esteem (respect yourself) without any disrespect or bitterness about others. .
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
REMINDERS FROM GOD: Our Daily Devotional: Outside Looking In 1 John 3:1, NIV: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him A man I know described how He felt that God viewed him. He said, "I feel like I am a dog on the floor beneath God´s table, scrounging for crumbs." To Him, he was somehow undeserving of God´s full and rich blessings. It reminds me of a picture of a child with his face pressed against a window, looking into a room where he is not welcome. I confess there are days I feel like I´m on the outside looking in. I hear someone talk about Jesus, or quote scripture, and do it with such heartfelt expression; all the while I feel like I am missing something?or like I´ve lost something. Fortunately for us, our status in God´s house is not dependent upon our feelings. As His children, we do not have to stand outside, pressing our faces against the glass, looking in. All we have to do walk through the door, go in, sit at His table, and find in Him whatever might be missing. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: - Job 19:25 *********************** WORD FOR THE DAY: spirituel spir-i-choo-EL , adjective;
1. Showing or having a refined and graceful mind or wit. 2. Light and airy in movement; ethereal. Quotes:
Some said, yes, and that the youth was really gifted and spirituel , with a vein of quiet, caustic humor, most amusing; others - and I half incline to this notion - pronounced him dull and uninteresting.
-- Charles James Lever, The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly
This woman had rather a bulky head, a long face, a snub-nose, high cheek-bones, a keen, bright eye, a large mouth, about which played a smile, at the same time spiritual , imperious, and contemptuous.
-- Victor Cherbuliez, Samuel Brohl & Company Origin:
Spirituel enters English from the French word for spiritual , but takes up a distinct yet related meaning to its English sibling.
**********************
QUOTES FOR THE DAY: People often write me and ask how I keep my wood floors so clean when I live with a child and a dog, and my answer is that I use a technique called Suffering From a Mental Illness.
- Heather Armstrong Imitation is the sincerest form of television.
- Fred Allen There is no moral precept that does not have something inconvenient about it.
- Denis Diderot
************************
You might be a REDNECK if...
...you think people that send out graduation announcements are show-offs.
You might be a REDNECK if...
...your whole family is Democrats except little Mary. She lernt to readin'.
You might be a REDNECK if...
...you and your dog use the same tree.
********************* Baked Deep-Dish Strawberry French Toast Yield: 8-10 servings
INGREDIENTS For the Toast:
16 ounce loaf of French bread, cubed
6 ounces cream cheese, cubed into small pieces
6 large eggs
1 pint half and half
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup For the Topping:
2 cups fresh sliced strawberries
10 ounce strawberry jam Cooking spray or butter for greasing pan
DIRECTIONS Arrange half of cubed bread in a lightly greased, deep 9 by 13 inch pan. Sprinkle with cubed cream cheese, and cover with remaining bread cubes.
Whisk together eggs, half and half, butter, and maple syrup. Pour evenly over the bread cubes, making sure they all absorb the egg mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 dregrres F. Bake covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.
While French toast is baking, combine and heat topping ingredients in a saucepan. Cut French toast into 8-10 servings. Plate each serving, then ladle heated topping onto each serving
************************ Shepherd's Stew Quick and easy to prepare -- and very good, too. Yield: 6 servings 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
6 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup sliced celery, including leaves
2 cans (16 ounces each) whole tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1-1/2 cups beef broth or stock (or 2 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in 1-1/3 cups water)
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
salt to taste In a large saucepan or nonreactive Dutch oven, brown the sausage over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Serve hot. ********************* Pulled-Pork Torta This fun layered tortilla and pulled pork dish is made in a pie pan, which is just the right size to fit an 8-inch flour tortilla. Serve with a dollop of guacamole or sour cream and a tossed salad. 6 servings Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Ingredients
3 cups finely shredded Pulled Pork with Caramelized Onions, including sauce (recipe follows)
1 14-ounce can no-added-salt diced tomatoes, drained, juice reserved
1/4 cup diced Spanish-style chorizo (see Note) or pepperoni
4 8-inch flour tortillas, preferably whole-wheat
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped scallions for garnish
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a deep-dish pie pan or other 9-inch round baking dish with cooking spray.
Heat leftover pork and sauce just until warm. Combine with tomatoes and chorizo (or pepperoni) in a bowl. Mix well. Spread about 1/2 cup of the mixture in the prepared pan to cover the bottom. Top with 1 tortilla. Spoon one-third of remaining mixture over the tortilla. Repeat twice, topping with the fourth tortilla. Drizzle the reserved tomato juice over the top and cover with foil.
Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle cheese on top and continue baking until the cheese is melted and the torta is bubbly, about 20 minutes more. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with scallions and cilantro, if desired. Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Equipment: Deep-dish pie pan or 9-inch round baking dish Note: Spanish-style chorizo is a seasoned, fully cooked smoked pork sausage. Find it near other cured sausages in well-stocked super markets or online at tienda.com. Nutrition
Per serving: 374 calories; 18 g fat (7 g sat, 7 g mono); 68 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrates; 4 g added sugars; 22 g protein; 3 g fiber; 574 mg sodium; 274 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (23% daily value), Zinc (21% dv), Calcium (20% dv), Iron (15% dv) 2 Carbohydrate Serving Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 2 vegetable, 2 1/2 lean meat ********************* Mini Mushroom-&-Sausage Quiches These crustless mini quiches are like portable omelets. Turkey sausage and sauteed mushrooms keep them light and savory. Small and satisfying, they're also a good finger food for your next cocktail party. 1 dozen mini quiches
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour Ingredients
8 ounces turkey breakfast sausage, removed from casing and crumbled into small pieces
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
5 eggs
3 egg whites
1 cup 1% milk
Preparation
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Coat a nonstick muffin tin generously with cooking spray (see Tip).
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Add oil to the pan. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to the bowl with the sausage. Let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in scallions, cheese and pepper.
Whisk eggs, egg whites and milk in a medium bowl. Divide the egg mixture evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the sausage mixture into each cup.
Bake until the tops are just beginning to brown, 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Place a rack on top of the pan, flip it over and turn the quiches out onto the rack. Turn upright and let cool completely.
Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Individually wrap in plastic and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, remove plastic, wrap in a paper towel and microwave on High for 30 to 60 seconds.
A good-quality nonstick muffin tin works best for this recipe. If you don't have one, line a regular muffin tin with foil baking cups. Nutrition
Per quiche: 90 calories; 5 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 105 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 9 g protein; 0 g fiber; 217 mg sodium; 108 mg potassium. Exchanges: 1 medium-fat meat **************************** How to Make an Adjustable Rope Halter
A rope halter on a show heifer
A rope halter is good to have around for cattle, sheep and goats, and it's an absolute necessity around the farm and ranch. It's much cheaper to make an adjustable halter than to go and buy a horse halter from a feed store and find out it's not the right size for the animals you're needing to use it on.
Homemade halters are great to use to teach livestock, like cattle, sheep, and goats, to lead, to do routine handling in day-to-day activities, and to restrain them when necessary. A halter's low cost allows the producer to make extras to place around the farmstead where and when needed. Steps
Select a 12' to 15' (feet) (3.6m to 4.5m) length of half-inch (1.27cm) three-stranded rope. Any type of rope, from cotton to nylon will work. However your choice depends on the strength needed, durability required, and the cost. Smaller rope that is 1/4" to 3/8" (6.35mm to 9.52mm) diameter is suitable for sheep and goats.
Finish one end of the rope by whipping it, clamping it with a ferrule, dipping, or heat-treating it. Note that the method you select depends on your wishes and the type of rope being used. Failure to finish the rope ends will result in fraying and un-laying.
Temporarily finish the other end of the rope with tape or string.
You will need to form a crown knot into this end after the halter is completed.
Mark a point with your hand about 12 to 15 inches (30.5cm to 38cm) from the whipped end of the rope. Refer to this length as the short end of the rope. The remaining length is the long end.
Place the short end on your right and the long end on your left. Grasp the rope at the 12" to 15" (30.5cm x 38cm) mark between your thumb and first two fingers (fore and middle) of both hands.
Separate your right and left hands by around 2" (5cm) apart.
Rotate the rope clockwise with your right hand and counterclockwise with your left. This will open the strands of the rope between your hands.
Isolate any one of the open strands with your thumb and index finger of your left hand. Use your right hand to insert the whipped end of the short end of the rope under the strand opening until the loop formed has an eye opening of around double the diameter of the rope.
Position the rope so that the eye loop is on your left hand with the short end pointing towards 3 o'clock and the long end pointing towards 6 o'clock. Grasp the eye loop and the single strand running across the short end of the rope between your left thumb and forefinger.
With your right thumb and forefinger, grasp the short end of the rope at a point near the eye loop.
Twist the eye-loop and short end of the rope with your hands until you have isolated two strands between your right thumb and forefinger.
Use your left hand to insert the long end of the rope from the bottom up under and through these two strands.
Pull it completely through until there's no slack. If you have done it properly up to now, one side of the loop will show three strands lying smoothly side-by-side. This is important because they will be positioned against the animal's face.
With the eye loop in your right, grasp the short end of the rope between your left thumb and forefinger about 2 inches (5cm) from the whipped end. Two inches farther from the whipped end, grasp it in the same manner in your right hand (your hands should be 2 inches apart, the left closest to the short end than the right).
Open the strands by twisting clockwise with your right hand and counterclockwise with your left.
When the strands are opened wide, push your hands together. This will cause the strands to buckle and fold over, forming three loops.
Line these three loops up in order and work a sharpened stick of the same diameter of the rope into the loops. Use your right hand to feed the long end of the rope into the loops, starting at the one closest to the eye loop. Remove the stick from one loop at a time as you run the long end of the rope through them.
Run the long end of the rope into and through the eye of the loop. This completes the halter!
Permanently finish the long end of the rope halter in the manner you choose. Consider making a crown knot at the end because a crown knot and backsplice creates a convenient handle.
Do not use a hog ring to finish the end since it could catch and tear the skin of your hand.
Tips
Always place the halter on the animal so that the eye loop is on the left side. This way you lead from the left. Things You'll Need
12' to 15' (feet) (3.6m to 4.5m) rope
Sharpened stick same diameter as rope *********************** Arthur is 90 years old. He's played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago. One day he arrives home looking downcast. "That's it," he tells his wife. "I'm giving up golf. My eyesight has got so bad. Once I've hit the ball, I can't see where it went."
His wife sympathizes. As they sit down, she has a suggestion: "Why don't you take my brother with you, and give it one more try."
"That's no good," sighs Arthur. "Your brother is 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. He tees up, takes an almighty swing, and squints down the fairway. He turns to the brother-in-law. "Did you see the ball?" "Of course I did!", says the brother-in-law. "I have perfect eyesight." "Where did it go?" asks Arthur. "Can't remember."
********************** This is a real tough one!! This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line.
THE SITUATION: You are in London There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical proportions. You are a photo-journalist working for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster.
The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing into the water. Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.
THE TEST:
Suddenly, you see a man in the water. He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer... Somehow, the man looks familiar... You suddenly realise who it is.............................................................
...................It's Muslim Cleric Abu Hamza (the hook handed bastard)
You notice that the raging waters are about to take him under forever. You have two options: You can save the life of Abu or you can shoot a dramatic Prize winning photo,documenting the death of one of the country's most despised, evil and powerful men!
THE QUESTION: Here's the question, and please give an honest answer... Would you select high contrast colour film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?
************************ MY LIVING WILL Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room
and I said to them, 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'
They got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.
They are SO on my shit list .....
************************* Observations on Growing Older ~Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them ...but your grandchildren are perfect!
~Going out is good. Coming home is better!
~When people say you look "Great"... They add "for your age!"
~When you needed the discount, you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything... Movies, hotels, flights, but you're too tired to use them.
~You forget names ... But it's OK Because other people forgot They even knew you!!!
~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose Is now 15 and you have a better chance Of losing your keys than the 15 pounds.
~You realize you're never going To be really good at anything .... Especially golf.
~Your spouse is counting on you To remember things you don't remember.
~The things you used to care to do, You no longer care to do, But you really do care that you Don't care to do them anymore.
~Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair With the TV blaring than he does in bed. It's called his "pre-sleep".
~Remember when your mother said, "Wear clean underwear in case you GET in an accident"? Now you bring clean underwear in case you HAVE an accident!
~You used to say, "I hope my kids GET married... Now, "I hope they STAY married!"
~You miss the days when everything worked With just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..
~When GOOGLE, ipod, email, modem ... Were unheard of, and a mouse was something That made you climb on a table.
~You used to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
~Now that you can afford Expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.
~Your husband has a night out with the guys, But he's home by 9:00 P.M. Next week it will be 8:30 P.M.
~You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it.
~Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~Everybody whispers. ~Now that your husband has retired ...You'd give anything if he'd find a job!
~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet ...2 of which you will never wear.
~~~~But old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, And best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
*************************
Diary of a Snow Shoveler
Author unknown December 8: 6:00 PM.
It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow! December 9:
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life. December 12:
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man I'm glad he's our neighbor. December 14:
Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so. December 15:
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all. December 16:
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel. December 17:
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room. December 20:
Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying. December 22:
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying. December 23:
Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0o. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying. December 24:
6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the goddamn snowplow. December 25:
Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the !=3D@x@!x!x1 slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her. December 26:
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves. December 27:
Temperature dropped to -30o and the pipes froze. December 28:
Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE BITCH is driving me crazy!!!!! December 29:
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? December 30:
Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted. December 31:
Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling. January 8:
I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
REMINDERS FROM GOD: "Absorb beauty. When the beauty of a flower or tree is impressed on the soul, it is reflected back in your actions." -- GOD Our Daily Devotional: Outside the Box John 7:24 NIV: Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. Jesus´ ministry was not the typical ministry of His day. His ways and teachings continuously clashed with those of the mainstream religious leaders. His methods and message were, to say the least, unorthodox. He resisted the pressures of Pharisees, followers, and family, and maintained His focus on the Father. Pleasing God was more important to Him than pleasing men. There is a seminarian quip, which asks, "What are the seven last words of a dying church?" The answer: "We´ve never done it that way before." When seeking God´s will for our church, we may often grind against the grains of tradition, doctrine, preference and bias. And yet, just as Jesus did, we must maintain focus on the Father throughout. The easiest thing to do is to go with the flow and accept the usual ways. Yet, our goal must remain to find God´s will, regardless of how "out of the norm" it may seem.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
- John 10:16
**************** WORD FOR THE DAY: lickerish LIK-er-ish , adjective;
1. Fond of and eager for choice food. 2. Greedy; longing. 3. Lustful; lecherous. Quotes:
His regular features, strong to the point of coarseness, would as readily harden to an expression of energy and cool astuteness as they would relax into a look almost lickerish as though relishing a savory tidbit; and he was, in fact, equally at home whether driving a bargain with shrewd peasants or arguing with a stubborn salvage gang, or whether sitting with gray-bearded sinners over the last bottle of port wine, listening to stories more than salacious or telling them with the picturesque frankness for which he was noted.
-- Jens Peter Jacobsen, Niels Lyhne
He that either for quantity eats more than his health or employment will bear, or for quality is lickerish after dainties, is a glutton ;-as he that eats more than his estate will bear, is a prodigal; and he that eats offensively to the company, either in his order or length of eating, is scandalous and uncharitable.
-- George Herbert, The works of the Rev. George Herbert Origin:
Likerish shares a common ancestor with the less positive term lecherous . The Old French licherous ,"pleasing to the palate," evolved into both English words. **************** CONFUCIOUS QUOTE: I will not be concerned at other men's not knowing me;I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
THINGS TO PONDER: Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
You might be a REDNECK if...
...in tough situations you ask yourself, "What would Curly do?"
**************************** How to Make a Panini
Achieving widespread US popularity in the new millennium, the 'panino' or Italian sandwich is known more commonly in English by its plural form 'panini'. The difference between a panini and a regular sandwich is that it's grilled with ridges, and the sandwich ingredients melt or fuse together, giving a delicious flavor and texture to any combination of foods.
Panini are easy to make, and can be made with any variety of food desired. Served with a salad, or soup, a panini can make a complete, fast, and healthy meal, eaten any time of the day. Here is how to make your own panini. Ingredients
Bread
Tomatoes
Mozzarella cheese
Olive oil Steps
Choose the type of panini you're going to make. You can use whatever filling you'd like, but here are some suggestions: A ham panini
Use slices of ham, pimento, cheese, anchovies, and bread. Traditionally served with a tossed salad. A chicken panini
Use chicken, cheese, and spinach. Serve with a side salad, or chips and a pickle. A bacon panini
Use fried bacon, scrambled eggs or omelet, and mayonnaise if you like. Serve with a side of baked beans.
Prepare the ingredients. Remove the cheese from its container and slice. (Or use pre-sliced cheese if you prefer.) Slice any other ingredients or condiments and add on top of the cheese.
Brush the bottom of a slice of bread with olive oil. Place onto a pre-heated panini grill. Place the sandwich fillings on top and top with another brushed piece of bread.
Grill for 2 to 4 minutes.
Open and check to see if the ridges are well-formed, the cheese melted properly, and the bread toasted.
Remove the sandwich from the panini machine. Add a cup of soup or a tossed salad, and you have a delicious, nutritious, and simple meal. Tips
Panini can be made with any combination, from cheeses, to steaks and onions, or fish depending on your taste.
If you don't have a panini grill, place the sandwich onto a hot outdoor grill, and top with a clean covered brick (wrap in foil, for example). Turn the sandwich when done on one side and again top with a covered brick. The brick will add weight to the bread, causing the ridges to form on each side, taking on the look of a panini grilled sandwich.
Or, you could warm the sandwich in a skillet on a stove and flip it after a while. It's basically a grilled cheese sandwich with extra toppings. If you want a little oil in the outside, spread a little in the skillet before starting. Weigh the sandwich down with something if you like, but it'll be fine either way.
A George Foreman Grill will make great panini, but make sure the grill is heated prior to using. Warnings
Carefully remove the panini from any type of grill, as it will be hot and you can easily be burned by touching it.
Younger children should have an adult present when making a panini, or have an adult make it for them. Things You'll Need
Panini grill
Spatula ************************ Top Five Pet Toxins of 2010
By: Courtesy Pet Poison Helpline
It is no surprise that dogs and cats are, by far, the most common pets in U.S. households today. The cat population in the U.S. outnumbers dogs by more than 10 million, making them the most populous pet species. This is due, in large part, to apartment dwellers in urban environments, the ease of cat maintenance, and the potentially lower financial cost of ownership. Dogs tend to be prone to mischief and account for a large percentage of calls to Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control based out of Minneapolis. That said, almost nine percent of calls to the helpline during 2010 were for potentially poisoned cats. The top five cat toxins of 2010 include: 1. Human or veterinary drugs
2. Poisonous plants
3. Insecticides
4. Household cleaners
5. Other toxins, such as glow sticks and liquid potpourri The veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline would like to help keep our feline companions safer in 2011 by educating pet owners about the most common cat toxins. 1. Human and Veterinary Medications – During 2010, about 40 percent of feline cases at Pet Poison Helpline involved cats that improperly ingested human or veterinary drugs. Cats have difficulty metabolizing certain drugs, especially as compared to dogs and humans. Common drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) are some of the most deadly to cats. When ingested, NSAIDS can result in severe kidney failure and stomach ulcers. Likewise, one acetaminophen tablet can be fatal to a cat, as it results in damage to red blood cells. Untreated, it can cause severe anemia (low red blood cell count), difficulty breathing, a swollen face, liver failure and death. Cats also seem to like the taste of certain antidepressants (e.g., Effexor), which seem to contain an attractive smell or flavor in the coating. With any accidental medication ingestion, immediate veterinary care is imperative. 2. Plants – Poisonous plants were the second most common cat toxin in 2010, representing about 14 percent of feline-related calls. True lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis spp.), including the Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies, are among the most deadly and cause kidney failure in cats. Because these flowers are fragrant, inexpensive and long-lasting, florists often include them in arrangements. Small ingestions of two or three petals or leaves – even the pollen – can result in severe, potentially irreversible kidney failure. Immediate veterinary care is imperative. Despite their name, other plants such as the Peace, Peruvian and Calla lily are not true lilies and do not cause kidney failure. Instead, these plants contain insoluble oxalate crystals that can cause minor symptoms, such as irritation in the mouth, tongue, pharynx and esophagus. 3. Insecticides – Nine percent of feline-related calls in 2010 were for cats exposed to household insecticides or inappropriately treated with a topical flea and tick medication meant for dogs. Exposure to household insecticides such as lawn and garden products, sprays, powders, or granules often occurs when a cat walks through a treated area; however, serious poisoning is rare. More concerning is exposure to concentrated topical flea and tick medications meant for dogs. Dog-specific insecticides containing pyrethrins or pyrethroids are highly toxic to cats. Poisoning occurs when pet owners apply such products directly to cats or cats lick these medications off dogs that live with them. Severe drooling, tremors and life-threatening seizures can occur. Always read labels carefully before using any kind of insecticide and ask your veterinarian about appropriate topical flea and tick medications for your cat. 4. Household Cleaners – Exposure to household cleaners accounted for approximately six percent of feline-related calls to Pet Poison Helpline in 2010. Many cat owners don't realize that some common household cleaners like kitchen and bath surface cleaners, carpet cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners can be toxic to cats. Symptoms can include profuse drooling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and even organ damage. After cleaning your home, make sure all excess liquid or residue is wiped up or eliminated, and stow the products out of your cat's reach as soon as possible. Only allow your cat back into the cleaned areas after the products have completely dried. 5. Other Toxins – The remainder of feline-related calls during 2010 involved less obvious toxins, such as glow sticks and liquid potpourri. Glow sticks and jewelry contain a very bitter tasting liquid called dibutyl phthalate. While rarely deadly, just one bite into these items can cause your cat to drool profusely. Most of these exposures can be managed at home. Offer (but do not force) your cat chicken broth or canned tuna (in water, not oil) to help to remove the bitter taste from the mouth. Remove the glow sticks and clean up any remaining liquid to prevent re-exposure to cats, who may continue to groom it off their fur. A bath may be in order to remove any "glowing" liquid from his or her skin. If you see signs of redness to the eyes, squinting, continued drooling, or not eating, a trip to the veterinarian may be necessary. Keep your feline friends safe by protecting them from these toxins in 2011. If, however, you think a pet may have ingested something harmful, take action immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. About Pet Poison Helpline Pet Poison Helpline, a division of SafetyCall International, is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $35 per incident includes unlimited follow-up consultations. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com. ******************************** THE BEE STING A young woman had been taking golf lessons. She had just started playing her first round of golf When she suffered a bee sting. Her pain was so intense that she decided to return To the clubhouse for help and to complain.
Her golf pro saw her come into the clubhouse and Asked, 'Why are you back in so early? What's wrong?'
'I was stung by a bee', she said..
'Where', he asked.
'Between the first and second hole', she replied. He nodded knowingly and said,
'Then your stance is too wide.'
*************************** THE TEST Tyrone applied for a fork lift operator job at a famous firm based in Detroit. A white man applied for the same job and since both applicants had similar qualifications, they were asked to take a test and led to a quiet room with no interruptions by the Manager. When the results were in, both men had scored 19 out of 20.
The manager went to Tyrone and said, "Thank you for coming to the interview, but we’ve decided to give the white guy the job."
Tyrone, "What 'cho mean, why you be doing that, you be racist? We both got 19 questions right? This is Detroit and I be Black, I should get the job."
Manager, "We have made our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you got wrong."
Tyrone said, "Tell me how would one wrong answer be better than another?"
Manager, Simple, On question number 7 the white guy wrote down, 'I don’t know.'
You put down, "Neither do I."
*************************** Carrot Cake Active Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Yield: 16 servings An old favorite with an updated nutritional profile, but still as moist and delicious as ever. INGREDIENTS For the Cake:
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour (see Ingredient note)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved
2 cups grated carrots (4-6 medium)
1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut For the Frosting:
2 tablespoons coconut chips or flaked coconut
12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Ingredient Note:
Whole-wheat pastry flour is milled from soft wheat. It contains less gluten than regular whole-wheat flour and helps ensure a tender result in delicate baked goods while providing the nutritional benefits of whole grains. Available in large supermarkets and in natural-foods stores. Store in the freezer.
** CAN USE ALL PURPOSE FLOUR INSTEAD OF WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR
DIRECTIONS
To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Toast walnuts in a small baking pan in the oven until fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes.
Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Whisk eggs, sugar, buttermilk, oil, vanilla and 1/4 cup of the reserved pineapple juice in a large bowl until blended. Stir in pineapple, carrots and coconut. Add the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula just until blended. Stir in the nuts. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.
Bake the cake until the top springs back when touched lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. To prepare frosting & finish cake:
Place coconut in a small baking pan and toast in the oven at 300 degrees F, stirring several times, until light golden, 5 to 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Sprinkle with the coconut.
**********************
Beans and Pasta (Pasta Fagioli) 2 c. navy beans
1 can tomatoes
2-3 stalks of celery, with leaves, slliced
1/3 - 1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 t. dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, mashed
1 1/2 c. elbow macaroni
salt & pepper Pick the beans over, removing stones and debris, wash them and put them to soak overnight. Drain the beans, rinse, cover with water and bring to a boil. Add the garlic and simmer 1/2 hour. Add celery, olive oil and oregano. When beans are tender add the tomatoes, pasta and a bit more water to cook the pasta if necessary. Cook about 20 minutes more, until pasta is done. Correct seasoning with salt & pepper. This dish should be thick. ************************* Turkish Ground Beef and Potato recipe: Ingredients
*3-4 Medium Potatoes- Idaho Style
*1/2 lb. ground beef
*2 T. Tomato Paste
*Salt and Pepper to Taste
*1 Small Onion- diced
*2 T. Butter
*Water Preparation
*Wash and peel the potatoes.
*Slice the potatoes 1/2" thick. Place them in a bowl of water so they do not brown.
*In a saucepan, under medium heat, melt the butter and add the diced onions. Saute until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
*Add the ground beef, cook until brown.
*Add the tomato paste. Mix with the meat.
*Place the potatoes on top of the meat mixture.
*Add enough water to barely cover the potatoes. Please note: Do not add too much water or it will be like a soup. The liquid should be of an orange color from the tomato paste.
*Add Salt and Pepper to Taste.
*Bring to a boil. Once it boils, bring it down to a medium-low for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. ***Check the water level during the cooking process. There should be enough liquid, but not like a soup. It should not turn into a paste either. So, you may need to add some water during the cooking process. *************************** Slum Goulash (also called concoction) 1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
8 oz. container of mushrooms, sliced (optional)
1 jar spaghetti sauce or large can of diced tomatoes or 2 cans stewed tomatoes
1 box of rotini or penne pasta, cooked
- Brown the ground beef. Add vegetables while beef is browning.
- Cook until beef is browned and vegetables are cooked through. You may add garlic or garlic powder if desired. - Add spaghetti sauce or tomatoes. If using diced tomatoes, you may want to add a dash of Italian seasoning. Cook another couple minutes. - In a large pot, mix together beef mixture and noodles. Sprinkle with some parmesan. ********************** The Cowboy Boots (Anyone who has ever dressed a child will love this one!)
Did you hear about the Texas
teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put on his
cowboy boots?
He asked for help and she could see why... Even with her pulling and him pushing, the little boots still
didn't want to go on. By the time they got the second boot on, she had
worked up a sweat. She almost cried when the little boy said, 'Teacher, they're on the
wrong feet.' She looked, and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier
pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to
keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on, this time
on the right feet..
He then announced, 'These aren't my boots.'
She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream,
'Why didn't you say so?' like she wanted to. Once again, she struggled to
help him pull the ill-fitting boots off his little feet. No sooner
had they gotten the boots off when he said, 'They're my brother's boots.
My mom made me wear 'em.'
Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry. But, she mustered
up what grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet
again.
Helping him into his coat, she asked, 'Now, where are your
mittens?'
He said, 'I stuffed 'em in the toes of my boots.' She will be eligible for parole in three years ********************** 12 of the finest (unintentional) double-entendres ever aired on British TV and radio:
1. Ted Walsh - Horse Racing Commentator - 'This is a really lovely horse.
I once rode her mother.'
2. New Zealand Rugby Commentator - 'Andrew Mehrtens loves it when Daryl Gibson comes inside of him.'
3. Pat Glenn, weightlifting commentator - 'And this is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing!'
4. Harry Carpenter at the Oxford-Cambridge boat race 1977 'Ah, isn't that nice. The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of the Oxford crew.'
5. US PGA Commentator - 'One of the reasons Arnie (Arnold Palmer) is playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them. Oh my God !! What have I just said??'
6. Carenza Lewis about finding food in the Middle Ages on 'Time Team Live' said: 'You'd eat beaver if you could get it.'
7. A female news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have snowed and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked, 'So Bob, where's that eight inches you promised me last night?' Not only did HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too, because they were laughing so hard!
8. Steve Ryder covering the US Masters: 'Ballesteros felt much better today after a 69 yesterday.'
9. Clair Frisby talking about a jumbo hot dog on 'Look North' said: 'There's nothing like a big hot sausage inside you on a cold night like this.. '
10. Mike Hallett discussing missed snooker shots on 'Sky Sports': 'Stephen Hendry jumps on Steve Davis's misses every chance he gets.'
11. Michael Buerk on watching Philippa Forrester cuddle up to a male astronomer for warmth during BBC1's UK eclipse coverage remarked: 'They seem cold out there. They're rubbing each other and he's only come in his shorts.'
12. Ken Brown commentating on golfer Nick Faldo and his caddie Fanny Sunneson lining-up shots at the Scottish Open: 'Some weeks Nick likes to use Fanny; other weeks he prefers to do it by himself.' ********************** Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighbouring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question?...What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life. Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighbouring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments? What would YOU do? What Lancelot chose is below.
BUT....make YOUR choice before you scroll down below.
OKAY? Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life. Now....what is the moral to this story? The moral is.....
If you don't let a woman have her own way....
Things are going to get ugly
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL: 1 Timothy 2:1
(1) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 1 Timothy 4:5
(5) for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
New King James Version Change Bible versions "Intercession" is exactly the same Greek word as is translated "prayer" in I Timothy 4:5. It has an interesting etymology that instructs us on an important aspect of prayer. The word, a verb, is entugchanein. It began to appear in Greek centuries before Christ, meaning simply "to meet a person," as if a person would meet another along the way. However, through the centuries, the word took on a somewhat different meaning. Eventually, it meant, not just "to meet," but "to meet and converse." This is natural because, if a person falls in with another along the way, he usually does not ignore the other but strikes up a conversation. Then, as time went by, it began to take on yet a different meaning: "to have intimate fellowship with the person." To this point, the word describes how to have a right approach to God. In practical fact, it illustrates that we are not conversing with God from a distance. We are so intimately associated with Him that we are His children. This word is describing an intimate family relationship. God is not way off on the top of a mountain somewhere. Even as early as Deuteronomy 30:14, He says, "The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart"! If we are going to have the right kind of fellowship and relationship with God in prayer, we have to understand that we are in His very presence. Looking at this as humanly and physically, this is how He can rub off on us. We are in His fellowship, in His presence. He is not far off. When Christ gave His life for us, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom, symbolizing that access to God was completely open to Him, and now we have this same access to the Father through Christ. We are right before His throne when we are talking to Him. However, entugchanein continued to change. The change shows up in the noun form of the word, enteuxis, meaning "a petition to a king." It can be used in the sense of the king summoning someone into his presence or of someone presenting a request to the king. Putting these together, it sugests that we have "intimate access to petition the king." We do not merely we have intimate fellowship with just anybody, but to the King of all the universe! We have both privilege and power in prayer. This is where the concept "the power of prayer" comes from. Because we have the privilege to come before the King in intimate fellowship, we have access to His power. It is not that prayer itself has the power, but that we have access to the One who has the power. This means we have to be extra careful what we ask God: He may give us what we ask, and we will be sorry. Mighty forces can be unleashed when we ask God for things. God's people have a responsibility to ask of Him things that are according to His will. As a tool, prayer is to be used to accomplish a wide variety of things within God's purpose. It is to be used in regard to the things of this life. God wants us to pray about this life, as in supplying our daily need. However, He will primarily use it, not for this life, but for His eternal purpose, reproducing Himself and creating His holiness in us. His purpose is in preparing us for the Kingdom of God. So be warned that His purpose will supersede ours when we pray. Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.â€
*********************
WORD FOR THE DAY: ossify • AH-suh-fye • verb
1 : to become or change into bone or bony tissue 2 : to become or make hardened or set in one's ways Examples:
When a baby is born, many of the bones in its body have yet to ossify. "But too many businesses are surviving because credit costs nothing, and bankers care little whether their borrowers are profitable or not. That has two damaging consequences: it ossifies corporate culture, and it drags down productivity." -- From an article in The Economist, November 18, 2010
*********************
Ideal Husbands ... While creating husbands, God promised women that good and ideal husbands would be found in all corners of the world. And then he made the earth round. That God ..... He's such a joker!
********************* WEDDING RING BEING REPAIRED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WATCH?
Another piece falls into place.
In a press conference last week Obama was not wearing his wedding ring nor was he wearing his watch.
When noticed, his staff said his ring was out for repairs.
No reason was given for the missing watch.
So it’s just a coincidence that Muslims are forbidden from wearing jewelry during the month of Ramadan! (think about that one)
Can't possibly be that because, although he hasn't gone to a Christian church service since entering the White House,we know he's a committed Christian because he said so during the campaign ..... and we know that he never lied to us, don't we?.
********************* How to Make a Silicone Mold for Polymer and Precious Metal Clays
Mold making is easy to do when you use a pre-packaged two part silicone mold putty. Silicone putty is non-toxic and can be used for creating simple but detailed molds. Easy, fast, flexible, and accurate, silicone putty is ideal for using with precious metal clay or polymer clay. Steps
Choose a subject. This project uses a curable putty to make a mold from an original object to copy, not directly to create the form which the finished product will take. Make or choose one or more small, moderately thin objects without narrow or undercut parts, and with interesting relief, to copy. For instance, a coat button.
Take out the amount of silicone putty to be used. You'll find that the purchased silicone putty comes as two substances, "Part A" and "Part B". One part will be white, the other a different color. Dispense (or cut off) the amount you need of each substance, generally an equal amount of each (check the instructions).
Return any unused portions of Parts A and B to their storage containers for later use, to prevent the silicone from drying out.
Take one piece of Part A's putty and roll it into a ball. Then do the same to a piece of Part B. It is very important that you ensure that both pieces from Parts A and B are the same amount in size, otherwise the finished mold will not set.
Mixing the silicone putty
Mix both Parts A and B together. Mix until the piece is one color only. Don't worry – it doesn't take long for the putty to be completely mixed.
Obtaining an image
Press the putty onto the item you want an impression from. Set the item on a smooth flat surface. Remember to press firmly to ensure that no air is trapped. Make the back of the putty somewhat smooth and level, too (you could press the bottom of a plate against it; don't make it too thin). Then lift the putty gently from the item being copied.
Completed silicone mold
Put the putty mold aside to set. The setting time required will depend on the type of molding putty used; read the instructions accompanying the product you've purchased for a clearer idea.
Use the silicone mold. Once set, the mold is ready for use with precious metal clay or polymer clay. Simply follow the instructions for the use of the clay and create your items.
To use: Once the mold is set, just lay the clay on the mold and run a roller across it to transfer an impression of the mold.
Tips
Remember to always read the manufacturer's instructions.
Silicone putty can also be used to make more complex molds of different shaped objects. Experiment to see what you can create.
The mold should last a long time if cared for; keep stored in a safe, dry spot.
Things You'll Need
Silicone putty kit from a hobby, craft, or art store
Plastic dividing knife or putty knife
Clean surface for working on
Drying surface such as wax paper or a baking rack
Storage container
*********************
Happy and Sad A husband and wife were sitting watching a TV program about psychology
and explaining the phenomenon of "mixed emotions". The husband turned
to his wife and said, "Honey, that is a bunch of crap. I bet you can't tell me
anything that will make me happy and sad at the same time.
She said: "Out of all your friends, you have the biggest dick." ********************* Paddy goes to the vet with his goldfish.
"I think it's got epilepsy" he tells the vet.
Vet takes a look and says "It seems calm enough to me".
Paddy says, "I haven't taken it out of the bowl yet". Paddy spies a letter lying on his doormat.
It says on the envelope "DO NOT BEND ".
Paddy spends the next 2 hours trying to figure out how to pick the feckin thing up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paddy shouts frantically into the phone "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "Is this her first child?" asks the Doctor."No", shouts Paddy, "this is her husband!"
An old Irish farmer's dog goes missing and he's inconsolable.
His wife says "Why don't you put an advert in the paper?"
He does, but two weeks later the dog is still missing.
"What did you put in the paper?" his wife asks.
"Here boy" he replies.
Paddy's in jail. Guard looks in his cell and sees him hanging by his feet.
"What the feck you doing?" he asks.
"Hanging myself" Paddy replies.
"It should be around your neck" says the Guard.
"I know" says Paddy "but I couldn't feckin breathe".
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Irish Virginity Test Kit Paddy is planning to marry, he is, and asks his family doctor how he could tell if his bride-to-be is still a virgin. His doctor says, "Aye, Paddy, all Irish use three things for what we call a Do-It-Yourself.... Virginity Test Kit.... a small can of red paint, a small can of blue paint and a shovel." Paddy asks, "Aye, and what do I do with these things, doctor?" The doctor replies, "Before ye climb into bed on your wedding night, you paint one of your balls red and the other ball blue. If she says, "That's the strangest pair of balls I ever did see...", you hit her with the shovel.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paddy tells Mick he's thinking of buying a Labrador .
Feck off say's Mick, “have you seen how many of their owners go blind�
************************ Cheesecake Factory's Carrot Cake Cheesecake For Cheesecake:
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs For Carrot Cake:
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 1/2 ounces can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well,
reserve juice
1 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts For Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice Directions:
In large bowl of electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and
vanilla until smooth. Beat in flour, eggs and vanilla extract until
smooth. Set aside. Meanwhile prepare Carrot Cake. Carrot Cake:
In large bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract; mix
well. Stir in dry ingredients; mixing well. Stir in drained
pineapple, carrots, coconut and walnuts. Spread 1 1/2 c. carrot cake batter over bottom of greased 9- or 9
1/2" springform pan. Drop cream cheese batter over carrot cake
batter by spoonfuls; top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot
cake batter. Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading
evenly with a knife. Do not marble with a knife. Bake in preheated
350F oven for 50 to 65 minutes or until cake is set and cooked
through. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. When cake is
cold, prepare Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting. Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter,
confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and reserved pineapple juice.
Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency. Frost top of
cheesecake. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving. Serves 12 ********************************** Chicken Stroganoff w/ parsley noodles Parsley Noodles
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sour cream
12 ounces dry, wide egg noodles Chicken
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 4 halves), cut in about 1-inch by 2-inch strips
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
3/4 cup high-quality red wine
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire
1 cup beef broth (from boullion cubes ok)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
.
Place a pot of water on the stove and bring to a simmer. Cover until ready to cook noodles.
To make the parsley butter: Combine in a food processor the butter, garlic, parsley, salt, and sour cream. Process until smooth, then set aside.
To cook the chicken: In a very large nonstick pan heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 4 to 5 minutes until chicken is lightly browned on the outside and about three-quarters cooked. With a slotted spoon remove chicken from pan onto a plate and set aside, keeping pan on the heat.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan, then add the onion and mushrooms. Stirring often, cook for about 2 to 4 minutes, until onions are tender. Add the wine, turn the heat up to high, and cook until the wine is almost totally evaporated, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together in a small bowl the Worcestershire, beef broth, and cornstarch until smooth. Add mixture to pan after wine has evaporated and bring to a boil. Sauce should thicken slightly.
Stir in sour cream, then add reserved chicken. Cook until heated through. Remove from heat. To cook the noodles: Boil noodles per package directions until just cooked. Drain well and place back into cooking pot. Add parsley butter and stir until well coated.
Divide noodles among large individual pasta bowls and top with chicken and sauce. Garnish with a sprinkle of green onions. ************************ APPLEBEE'S DEADLY CHOCOLATE SIN
A decadent chocolate cake drizzled with raspberry coulis. Cake
2 tablespoons butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 ounces bitter chocolate
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs, room temperature
4 egg yolks, room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
6 tablespoons cornstarch Raspberry Coulis
One 10-ounce package frozen raspberries in heavy syrup, thawed Garnish
1 pint fresh raspberries
12 sprigs fresh mint
12 triangular cookies or chocolate pieces Special Equipment
Twelve 4-ounce ovenproof ramekins 1. Do ahead: Make the raspberry coulis. Process the thawed berries
in a blender and strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove the
seeds. Refrigerate until needed. 2. Butter the bottom and sides of each ramekin and set them aside
on a baking sheet. 3. Make a double boiler and add the semisweet and bitter
chocolates, butter, and vanilla. Stir until melted. Keep the flame
low so the butter and chocolate melt slowly--if the pan is too hot,
the butter will separate into oil and the chocolate will taste
burnt. 4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar.
Beat at high speed until thickened and increased in volume, about 5
to 7 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly incorporate the
cornstarch, one tablespoon at a time, then turn the mixer back up
to high and continue to beat until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. 5. Preheat the oven to 275*F. 6. Gently fold the chocolate into the beaten eggs, using a rubber
spatula, until well blended. Spoon the mixture into each of the
prepared ramekins and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool when finished
baking. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. 7. To serve: Dip a dinner knife in hot water and run it around the
sides of each ramekin and invert it onto a serving dish--gently
remove the ramekin from the plate and spoon the raspberry coulis
around the cake. Garnish with the fresh raspberries and a mint
sprig, or cookies and chocolate pieces if you prefer. Serves 12 ************************** Copycat Starbucks Caramel Scones 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 pinch nutmeg
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla
1/2 teaspoon butterscotch extract
1 cup butterscotch chips === TOPPING ===
1/3 cup butterscotch chips - finely chopped
1 egg white -- whisked
Confectioners' sugar -- (optional) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line top sheet of doubled up baking
sheets with parchment paper or line 8 tuna tins with muffin liners
and spray inner sides with non-stick cooking spray. In a food processor, place the flour and butter and pulse to break
up butter. Add sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg or cloves and
pulse to combine. Turn out dough into a large bowl. Make a well in the center and
stir in cream, vanilla, butterscotch extract and egg. Stir to make
a soft dough. Fold in butterscotch chips. Scoop onto baking sheet or into prepared tins. Brush tops with egg
white and add ground butterscotch chips. Bake until browned -- 16 to 18 minutes. Dust with confectioner's
sugar when cool. *************************** KFC Grilled Chicken Recipe INGREDIENTS Brine:
8 cups water
1/4 cup salt
1 tablespoon Accent Flavor Enhancer
1 small chicken, cut up into 8 pieces Liquid Coating:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/4 teaspoon soy sauce Dry Rub Seasoning Mix:
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon chicken soup base
1/4 teaspoon beef soup base
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon pepper, coarsely ground
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Pinch dried oregano
Pinch garlic powder DIRECTIONS 1. Do ahead: Make the brine by combining all the brine ingredients
in a pot large enough to hold all the chicken pieces and the water.
Dissolve the salt and Accent in the water, then add the chicken
pieces, making sure they are covered. Refrigerate the pot for at
least 2 hours. 2. Do ahead: Combine all the dry rub ingredients and store in a
covered container until ready to use. 3. Do ahead: Combine all the ingredients for the liquid coating and
set aside. 4. Preheat the oven to 350*F. 5. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry - discard the brine.
Brush the liquid coating over both sides of each piece of chicken
and then sprinkle generously with the dry rub. 6. Heat a grill or grill pan, one with raised ridges, and cook each
chicken piece by laying it on the grill or pan just long enough to
make the distinctive grill marks. Transfer the chicken to a baking
sheet and bake in the oven until it is golden brown and cooked
through, at least 20 minutes on each side. The brining will ensure
that the chicken is moist and tender. Secret Recipe Tip: The Accent can be substituted for another brand
of monosodium glutamate, which can usually be found where herbs and
spices are sold. Food for Thought: You can omit the beef soup base, just increase
the total amount of chicken soup base to 1 teaspoon. Serves 4 to 5 ****************************
Couldn't resist....
-----
A Mexican, a Black, and a Texas Redneck were walking together on a beach
when the Black stumbled over a bottle in the sand. He picked up the bottle,
rubbed the sand off, and a Genie appeared.
"I can only grant 3 wishes," the Genie said. "Since there are 3 of you, you
may have one a wish each."
Pointing at the Black dude he said, "Since you found the bottle, you may
havethe first wish."
The Black studied for a moment then said, "I wish for a fleet of ships so I
cangather all my people and take them back to our homeland, Africa ."
*Poof!* It was done!
Hundreds of ships appeared on the skyline.
The Mexican said, "I weesh for enough Cheby peekups to take all my people
backto our homeland... May-he-co!"
*Poof!*It was done!
Row after row of Chevrolet pickups appeared on the beach.
Turning to the Redneck, the Genie asked, "And what is your wish?"
The Redneck watched as the loaded pickups began moving toward the border, thenlooked out to sea and watched the loaded ships sailing off into the sunset and said with a broad smile: "Man just give me a Bud Light. It doesn't get any better than this!"
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
REMINDERS FROM GOD: Our Daily Devotional: Oh The Possibilities Matthew 17:20 NIV: "...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ´Move from here to there´ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Perhaps you have heard the old expression, "Don´t make mountains out of molehills." Well, sometimes, what may have seemed like molehills take on the likeness of mountains. And sometimes, we are simply faced with mountains. But neither mountains nor molehills are too big for God, or too small for His consideration. When we imagine having a faith that moves mountains, the faith itself seems an impossible feat. How could we possibly have a faith that could move mountains? That kind of faith in God comes from Him. In order to have it, you must trust Him to provide it. In our humanity, it is easy for us to see that we face many situations with fear and anxiety. We can recognize that we are inadequate in ourselves to hold the kind of faith it takes to fear no mountain. But in Christ is perfect faith. And Christ in us can bring us the faith we need to remove any mountain--regardless of its size *************** WORD FOR THE DAY: triskaidekaphobia • triss-kye-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh • noun
: fear of the number 13 Example sentence:
"Billy Hart suffers absolutely no triskaidekaphobia. The Salem Avalanche infielder has worn No. 13 for six years…." (Katrina Waugh, The Roanoke Times , July 14, 2007) *********************************** Father cardinal, I have heard you say, That we shall se and know our friends in heaven:
If that be true, I shall se my boy again;
For since the birth of Cain, the firs male child,
To him that did but yesterday suspire,,
There was not such a gracious creature born.
. . . . And so he'll die; and , rising so again,
When I shall meet him in the court of heaven
I shall not know him.
King John. Act III Sc. 4 ******************************** There's husbandry in heaven,
Their candles are all out,
Macbeth. Act II Sc 4 Nature knows no pause in progress and development,
and attaches her curse on all inaction
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
and death shall be no more. John Donne The seed dies into a new life, and so does man. - George Macdonald *******************************
BROWNIE PUDDING makes this dessert at her store loaves RECIPE INGREDIENTS 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for buttering the dish
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup good cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean
1 tablespoon framboise liqueur (optional)
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2-quart (9 x 12 x 2-inch) oval baking dish. Melt the butter and set aside to cool. 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed for 5 to 10 minutes, until very thick and light yellow. Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside. 3. When the egg and sugar mixture is ready, lower the speed to low and add the vanilla seeds, framboise (if using), and the cocoa powder and flour mixture. Mix only until combined. With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.
4. Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan. Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour. A cake tester inserted 2 inches from the side will come out three-quarters clean. The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding. Allow to cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.
Note: The cocoa powder is Pernigotti.
This dessert can be made up to 3 days in advance. Wrap well, refrigerate, and bring to room temperature before serving.
********************************* WE ARE FRIENDS WHO ARE BLESSED I AM HERE FOR YOU
GOD KNOWS HOW HARD I TRY
WE ARE FRIENDS FOR LIFE
WE WILL WALK SIDE BY SIDE
YOUR ARE IN MY HEART
AND YOUR IN MY PRAYERS
WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE
YES I WILL BE THERE
YOU ARE HERE FOR ME
GOD SHOWED ME HOW HARD YOU TRY
WE ARE FRIENDS FOR LIFE
WE WILL WALK SIDE BY SIDE
I AM IN YOUR HEART
THAT IS SO SWEET AND KIND
I AM BLESSED BY GOD
THAT YOUR A FRIEND OF MINE
I AM IN YOUR PRAYERS
YOU HAVE NEVER LET ME DOWN
WHEN IT COMES TO FRIENDS
YOUR THE BEST I HAVE FOUND BY JOHN DAWSON 2010 I AM BLESSED WITH YOUR FRIENDSHIP ********************************************* January is here,
With eyes that keenly glow—
A frost-mailed warrior striding
A shadowy steed of snow.
–Edgar Fawcett, American poet (1847–1904
-------------------------------------
Weather Rules of Thumb Packed snow begins to squeak underfoot at about 5 degrees F. At 0 degrees F, it squeaks with a distinct hollow sound.
–Mark Breen, meteorologist, The Fairbanks Museum If a jet flying overhead doesn’t leave a visible contrail, you can be pretty sure it won’t rain the next day.
–Jeff Johnson, meteorologist, Northwest Weathernet Walking a mile through snow takes as much effort as walking 2 miles on bare ground.
–Fred Gadomski, Penn State Meteorology If a moderate rain falls all day, you’ve probably picked up about an inch of rain. A brief, heavy thunderstorm will typically produce a quarter of an inch or so.
–Mark Breen, meteorologist, The Fairbanks Museum -------------------------- Weather Proverbs While not as scientific, weather proverbs—traditional weather sayings—often contain a kernel of truth! If a snowstorm begins when the Moon is young, it will cease at moonrise. Fog in January brings a wet spring. Moonlit nights have the hardest frost. ************************************** I believe that you will enjoy this trip back throught time.
The attached photos requiring viewing several times.
These photos bring back lots of memories!
This is the largest collection of old electronic gear I have ever seen.
Lots of great stuff here. You can slow down the picture show by changing the duration number.
http://picasaweb.google.com/WVRadioMuseum/MuseumOfRadioAndTechnology#slideshow/5359999311731081282 ******************************************** President BARACK OBAMA was invited to address a major gathering of the American Indian Nation two weeks ago in upstate Oregon .
He spoke for almost an hour about his plans for increasing every Native American’s present standard of living. He referred to his time as a U.S. Senator and how he had voted for every Native American issue that came to the floor of the Senate.
Although President Obama was vague about the details of his plans, he seemed most enthusiastic and spoke eloquently about his ideas for helping his “red sisters and brothers.â€
At the conclusion of his speech, the Tribes presented Obama with a plaque inscribed with his new Indian name, “Walking Eagle.†The proud President then departed in his motorcade to a fundraiser, waving to the crowds.
A news reporter later asked the group of chiefs how they came to select the new name they had given to the President.
They explained that “Walking Eagle†is the name given to a bird so full of shit it can no longer fly. ******************************************** Monte Cristo Dijon
Try this easy, delicious recipe from Campbell's Kitchen. Prep. time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10
Dijon mustard
4 slices Pepperidge Farm Breads
4 slices cooked ham, (about 3 ounces)
2 slices Swiss cheese, (about 2 ounces)
4 pickle
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp. butter or 1 tbsp. margarine
DIRECTIONS:
Spread mustard on 4 bread slices. Top 2 bread slices with ham, cheese, sandwich stackers and remaining bread slices.
Mix egg and milk in shallow dish. Dip sandwiches into egg mixture.
In medium skillet over medium heat, heat margarine. Add sandwiches and cook until lightly browned and cheese is melted. Makes 2 sandwiches.
************************************** Belief in the general humorousness of the human race is more deep-rooted for that every man iis certain that he himself is not without sense of humor - Sir Max Beerbohm Good Humor isn't a trait of character, it is an art which requires practice - David Seabury All husbands are alike, but they have different faces so you can tell them apart - anonymous The longer I live the more I think of humor as in truth the saving sense. - Jacob August Riis **************************************************** Wish i could have gotten the photo but this craft looked so dang cute I thought I would put this in here. Maybe someone would be interested, and could pass it on to others who would be, Something fun to do with kids. Think of doing this with the colored duct tape and braid it. That could make one colorful and pretty bag! MJS/MU
Duct Tape Crafts: Make a Duct Tape Bag
By Joe Wilson The following is an excerpt from Ductigami: The Art of the Tape by Joe Wilson (The Boston Mills Press, 2006). Not to be confused with origami — the ancient Japanese art of paper-folding to create delicate, fragile items for the moment — ductigami employs ordinary off-the-shelf duct tape in the creation of functional folded objects that are built to suffer the rigors of modern life. Once you master the art of the tape, you will be able to construct some of the world’s most unique items of function and fashion. And part of their beauty is that if they ever wear out, they can be repaired quickly with more duct tape. I am sure that you have enough knowledge and imagination to create a purse out of a solid sheet of tape, but here is a twist. We are going to do advanced ductigami: the weave. (Doesn’t work for hair, if anyone asks.) And remember: A number of companies sell different colors of duct tape, so you’re not limited to just classic gray. INSTRUCTIONS Make 14 14-inch little strips in the color of duct tape of your choice. Make 14 more 14-inch little strips in another color of your choice. Lay down a piece of tape 12 inches long on your work area. Now lay your 14 14-inch pieces side by side halfway up the 12-inch piece. Once completed, fold the piece over to secure them. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) Now take one of your 14-inch pieces and begin to slide it into place at the top of your 12-inch piece by going over and under your 14-inch strips. As you slide pieces into place, keep them as close together as you can to create a tight weave. Continue until you use all your strips and you end up with a woven sheet. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) Now take three pieces of tape and close all open ends to complete the sheet. Take your completed woven sheet and bring the ends together so you have two open sides. Measure the open ends so you know how large of a sheet you will need to close them. After you have your measurements, make the two sheets you need to complete your purse. On one of the sheets, get a round template to create the circular bottom. (I used a lid to a jar as my template.) Now cut the sheet with a round bottom halfway up the sheet to make the final cut and make the sheet look like a giant teardrop. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) After you have the piece done, put it on top of the remaining sheet, trace it and cut it so you have two identical pieces. Take one of the ends and tape it into place inside and out to finish the side. Repeat on the other side to complete the purse. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) OPTIONAL LINER, CREDIT CARD SLOTS AND CELL PHONE HOLDER You can cover the entire sheet with a layer of tape to act as an inside liner for the purse. Add a series of credit card slots to the inside of your purse to keep yourself organized. Add a cell phone cradle to the inside or outside of your purse so you don’t have to dig for it when it rings. To do this, make two small strips based on the size of the phone, then tape them together and into place. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) THE SHOULDER STRAP Make two big strips about 27 inches long using two pieces that match your purse. If you have trouble with strips that long, you can make three strips 18 inches long. Once completed, tape your strips together to create one big strip that’s 54 inches long. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) STRAP OPTION NO. 2 Depending on the size and the style of purse you design, you can make different handles or shoulder straps. Here’s another option. Let the roll of tape hang down to whatever length you want and give the roll a spin so you form a twisted length of tape. Cut the twisted piece and set aside. On your work area, lay a piece of tape sticky side up the length of the twisted piece you created. Take the twisted piece and place it on the very bottom of the piece on your work area and roll it up to make a duct tape cord. (See diagram in the Image Gallery.) To attach the shoulder strap to the purse, you have to cut a slit 1 1/4 inches from the top of the purse and another 1 1/4 inches from the bottom. Feed the strap through the top so that the strap is visible from the outside, and then feed it into the bottom slit and fold back up inside and tape into place. Repeat on the other side and you are done. As I said at the start, this is just one style of purse. You can make a solid-sheet or woven purse, and you can make it bigger or smaller by adjusting your measurements. You can make your sheet longer and finish it off by having a flap to close the opening. With your ductigami knowledge and your imagination, anything is possible. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reprinted with permission from Ductigami: The Art of the Tape, published by The Boston ***************************** Bible Verse of the Day 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.†***************************** Charles Kuralt
"You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars." Alfred Hitchcock
"Television has brought back murder into the home - where it belongs." George Burns
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." ************************ You might be a REDNECK if... CONFUCIOUS QUOTE: In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. THINGS TO PONDER: ...your parakeet knows the phrase "Open up, Police!" Why does belly button lint not match your shirt color? "Slay the self within that hinders progress and prevents the flow of My invigorating Life and Spirit." - GOD Our Daily Devotional: Oh The Possibilities Matthew 17:20 NIV: "...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ´Move from here to there´ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Perhaps you have heard the old expression, "Don´t make mountains out of molehills." Well, sometimes, what may have seemed like molehills take on the likeness of mountains. And sometimes, we are simply faced with mountains. But neither mountains nor molehills are too big for God, or too small for His consideration. When we imagine having a faith that moves mountains, the faith itself seems an impossible feat. How could we possibly have a faith that could move mountains? That kind of faith in God comes from Him. In order to have it, you must trust Him to provide it. In our humanity, it is easy for us to see that we face many situations with fear and anxiety. We can recognize that we are inadequate in ourselves to hold the kind of faith it takes to fear no mountain. But in Christ is perfect faith. And Christ in us can bring us the faith we need to remove any mountain--regardless of its size ******************************************* Kim's Midnight Brownie Recipe 30 min | 10 min prep This recipe was one of many that helped Kim lose over 200 pounds! The secret ingredient, black beans, stumped Dr. Oz. http://kimbensen.com/recipes/dr-oz-brownies SERVES 12 , 12 Brownies
Ingredients 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup agave syrup
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup egg white
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips Directions 1 Preheat oven to 350º.
2 Lightly spray a 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
3 In a food processor, or blender, mix all brownie ingredients (except chips) together.
4 Chop on high, until smooth.
5 Clean off sides and blend for another 20 seconds.
6 Add the chips in and stir well.
7 Spread into the 8x8 baking dish.
8 Cook for 20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
9 Cool for about 1 hour in dish at room temperature. *******************************************
Classic Quotes by Elmer Davis (1890-1958) US newspaperman, radio commentator, and author, January 13
Applause, mingled with boos and hisses, is about all that the average voter is able or willing to contribute to public life. -------------------- One of the things that is wrong with America is that everybody who has done anything at all in his own field is expected to be an authority on every ------------------------------------ TRIVIA Q: Who was the first to break the four-minute mile? A: Roger Bannister was the first man to break the four-minute mile, however he did not break the four-minute mile in an actual race. On May 6, 1954, he ran 3:59.4 while being carefully paced by other runners. Bannister's quarter-mile splits were 57.5 seconds, 60.7, 62.3, and 58.9. Twenty-three days after Bannister had run the most famous mile of all time, his fellow Briton, Diane Leather, became the first woman to break five minutes with a 4:59.6 seconds, in Birmingham, England, on May 29, 1954. In the forty-plus years since the two British runners broke these significant marks, women's times have improved by a far higher percentage than men's. ******************************** A thought for the day
in The Guardian, Alec Issigonis wrote that, A camel is a horse designed by committee.
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
REMINDERS FROM GOD: "To the listening ear I speak. To the waiting heart I come." -- GOD
Don't Let Your Past Determine Your Future
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."1
In his book, Confidence, Alan Loy McGinnis talks about a famous study entitled, "Cradles of Eminence" written by Victor and Mildred Goertzel, in which the family background of 300 highly successful people were studied. Many of the people in the study were well-known personalities including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, and Gandhi. And Einstein—all of whom were brilliant in their field of expertise. The results of this study are both surprising and very encouraging for those of us who came from a less than desirable family background and home life. For example: "Three-quarters of the children were troubled by poverty, a broken home, or by rejecting, over-possessive or dominating parents. "Seventy-four of the 85 writers of fiction or drama and 10 of the 20 poets came from homes where they saw tense psychological drama played out by their parents. "Physical handicaps, such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs characterized over one-quarter of the sample." These people may have had more weaknesses and handicaps than many who had a healthy upbringing, but lacked confidence. What made the difference? Perhaps, realizing they had weaknesses, they compensated for these by excelling in other areas. One man said, "What has influenced my life more than any other single thing has been my stammer. Had I not stammered, I probably would have gone to Cambridge as my brothers did, perhaps have become a tutor, and every now and then published a dreary book about French literature." This man who stammered until his death was W. Somerset Maughan, "a world-renowned author of more than 20 books, 30 plays, and scores of essays and short stories." It's not what we have or don't have that matters in life, but what we do with what we have. God wants us to acknowledge past hurts and grow through them. In so doing, we don't allow our past to determine our future. Someone has wisely said, "It may be true that I have been a victim in the past, but if I remain one, I am now a willing volunteer." No matter what our background was, when we trust our lives daily to God, and work through our past hurts to resolution, we can and do have hope for the future. It's up to us what we do about the present. Once we have resolved our past hurts, we can say, as did the Apostle Paul, "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."2 Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to realize, as an adult, that while I wasn't responsible for my background, I am totally responsible for what I do about resolving all past hurts and for becoming, with your help, the person you have envisioned for me to be. Lead me always on the pathway of truth and responsibility. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
***********************
WORD FOR THE DAY: rapscallionrap-SKAL-yunDEFINITION
noun : rascal, ne’er-do-well EXAMPLESThe rapscallions who hung around the deserted parking lot at night were nothing but trouble. "Being evil is serious business, and business is goooood for Gru. He's a feared and loathed rapscallion of the highest degree who's been responsible for some of the greatest heists in recent history." -- From a movie review of Despicable Me by Melissa Bobbitt in Creators Syndicate, July 8, 2010 DID YOU KNOW?The word "rascal" has been part of English since the 15th century, but on its own it apparently didn’t quite capture the disagreeable nature of the wily knaves of yore. By the 17th century, English speakers had modified "rascal" to create "rascallion." But it seems that even that term didn’t sound quite mischievous enough. By the century’s end, "rascallion" had been further altered to create "rapscallion." Today, "rapscallion" is still commonly used as a synonym for "blackguard," "scoundrel," and "miscreant." "Rascallion" is still around as well, but it’s very rare. ********************** PET TIPS: How Healthy is Your Dog Tip
There are several signs that may indicate a problem with your dog. It is important to recognize what they are and have your pet evaluated. Problem signs include a lack of appetite, decreased activity, weakness, changes in water consumption, not grooming, bad breath, sleeping more, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, trouble breathing, frequent urinations or bloody urinations. This past weekend, I stopped by the pet emergency room and saw a 7-year-old lab name "Max". Bill, his owner, thought Max was just eating a little less. Max was still eating, drinking, and playing but just seemed a little less exuberant. Bill couldn't put his finger on it, but thought something was wrong. To the vet on duty's eye. Max looked great. He was happy, no history of vomiting or diarrhea, eating, drinking (more if anything upon further questioning), went for his normal morning walk that morning and had a normal bowel movement that morning as well. The vet on duty thought Max seemed fine however, he respected Bills opinion that Max was a little off and recommended blood work. The results showed that Max was a diabetic!
Yes, dogs can get diabetes just like humans. Actually Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of dogs. Like in humans it is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the dog's ability to metabolize sugar.
Luckily, Bill and his vet caught it early before Max was really ill. In this case, Max didn't even need to be hospitalized to treat his diabetes. He went home with medication. Unfortunately, Bill had never purchased pet insurance for Max, which could have really helped with the cost of Max's ongoing car. Now that Max has been diagnosed with diabetes, it was too late. Bill's entire cost for that visit with Max included the emergency room visit, blood work, urinalysis, and that was it. He got a prescription for insulin that he took to his local pharmacy. His entire bill for his visit was approximately $250.00. If Max's diabetes had gone undiagnosed for a longer period of time until Max got REALLY sick - it is likely he would have required hospitalization, fluids, an insulin drip, drugs for vomiting, etc and his bill would likely have been between $1,100 and $1,500 (depending on how sick he was and how quickly he responded to treatment). Did Bill get away cheap? Not really, $250.00 is just the tip of the iceberg for Bill and Max. Max will require repeat blood glucose testing, periodic full blood work, and medication for the rest of his life. Well, Max is doing fine thanks to Bill. Left uncontrolled, diabetes can become life threatening. The first step in treating the disease is getting a correct diagnosis. I was glad that Max did. So if you suspect that your dog may be drinking excessively or that something is wrong, do not hesitate to take him to the see your vet. ************************** A guy walks into a store to buy brains. He asks the woman behind the counter how much each of the brains cost. They saleswoman tells him, "$5/gram for women's brains, $20/gram for dog's brains, and $100/gram for men's brains." So the guy is surprised with the varying prices, and he asks the saleswoman, "How come men's brain's are so much more expensive than women's brains or dog's brains?" And the saleswoman replies, "Are you kidding!?!?!?!? Do you know how many men it takes to get a gram of brains????" ********************** Returning from her vacation, the young secretary was telling anyone who would listen about what a fun time she had.
She then asked for two weeks leave in which to get married.
"But you just had two weeks off," said the boss.
"Why didn't you get married then ?" "What and ruin my vacation ?" she whined. ************************************ Au Gratin Chicken Bake
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Total Time 50 Minutes
Makes 4 servings Cheddar just makes dinner better. This convenient ingredient combo can be on the table in less than an hour for family or friends!
1 bag (14 oz) Green Giant Select frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained
1 box (7.8 oz) Betty Crocker Deluxe creamy Cheddar au gratin potatoes
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/2 cup milk
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 1/4 lb)
2 slices (1 oz each) Cheddar cheese, cut diagonally in half
Heat oven to 400ºF. Spray 11x7-inch baking dish or 2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
Spread broccoli in baking dish. Stir Potatoes, Sauce Mix, Cheese Sauce, boiling water and margarine in medium bowl. Stir in milk. Spread over broccoli. Place chicken breast halves on potato mixture.
Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Place cheese slices on chicken. Sprinkle with Topping. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut. Let stand 5 minutes or until sauce is as thick as desired. **************************** Taco Pan Bread Old El Paso salsa and seasoning mix add Mexican flavors to this cheesy casserole that's filled with beef and Progresso® beans and topped with Pillsbury® pizza crust.
2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 jar (16 oz) Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa (2 cups)
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso taco seasoning mix
1 can (15 oz) pinto beans or Progresso black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (3.8 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 can (13.8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust
1/2 cup corn chips, crushed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup diced tomato (1 medium)
1/2 cup sour cream
Heat oven to 400°F. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in salsa and taco seasoning mix. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.
Stir beans and olives into beef mixture. Cook until thoroughly heated and bubbly. Spoon into ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Unroll dough over filling; sprinkle crushed corn chips over top.
Bake 13 to 17 minutes until light golden brown. Sprinkle cheese evenly over chips; let stand 5 minutes to melt cheese. Serve with lettuce, tomato and sour cream. *********************** Potato-Clam Chowder
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Total Time 50 Minutes
Makes 4 servings 4 cups hot water
1 box (4.7 oz) Betty Crocker au gratin potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt, if desired
1 cup Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamersâ„¢ Niblets frozen corn
1 cup Green Giant SELECT frozen broccoli florets
3 cups milk
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
2 cans (6 1/2 ounces each) minced clams, undrained
Heat water, Potatoes and salt to boiling in 3-quart saucepan. Boil 20 minutes; drain.
Stir in Sauce Mix and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat; simmer uncovered about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender. **************** How to Save a Friendship
"Friends are like stars. You don't always see them but you know they are there." Once said by someone wise, this quote sums up how easy it is to take a friendship for granted, and yet, just as stars fade away, so do friendships from time to time. Whether it's because your circumstances have changed, time has passed and eroded commonalities, or something has been said or done that has spoiled things between you, it's sad and often painful to experience a fading or dying friendship. If you believe that it's worth trying to save your friendship, then it is worth it. The only time it's not worth trying is when you've stopped believing in the friendship. So, if you're still stirred by a friendship that has given you priceless moments, unconditional love, and treasured memories, at least give saving the friendship a chance. While problems are inevitable, if both of you see the value in saving the friendship, focusing on fixing things may just be effective, and your friendship may even come through this trial better and stronger than before. Steps
Act now. The moment you're aware that there's a chasm opening wider than the Grand Canyon between the two of you, do something about it. Waiting will only bring about an inevitable permanency of the loss of your friendship. Be prepared to be the one who makes the initial steps; your friend may be laboring under the belief that it's something you've done to harm the friendship, so it's not worth waiting around for her to solve things.
Do some honest analysis of the situation. Sit down and think back to where it all went wrong. Was it your fault? Was it something you said or did or didn't say or do although you should have? This involves thinking about your inaction as well, such as all those times you failed to make a call to see how your friend was, or when you missed appointments, or failed to show up at important events.
If it was your fault, apologize. Briefly explain your side of the story and avoid making excuses or shifting the blame. By taking responsibility for your part in damaging the friendship, you demonstrate to your friend that your desire to keep them as a friend is more important than your pride or sense of self-righteousness.
Talk, talk, talk. If you can't seem to find the reason for the growing interpersonal distance between you and your friend, suggest that the two of you simply talk. Tell your friend that you're sad that things don't seem to be that great between the two of you anymore and that you'd really like to work out whether it might be possible to restore the friendship you had in the past. Your willingness to work through the issues will be appreciated, especially if you make it clear that you're totally open to hearing their side of the story. Try not to interrupt your friend while explaining their side of the story. Instead, listen attentively.
Listen to your friend. If a third party has been telling different stories to both of you to cause conflicts, listening to your friend is the best way to spot it. Ask who told them that if you hear that you said something you'd never say in a million years. It's amazing how fast a third party liar's mind games blow up in their face once the victims compare notes. So even if someone is trying to avoid you, ask why and be prepared to listen no matter what your friend says.
Make a decision as to the worth of disputing points about your behavior or issues that have arisen in the friendship. If your friend has the wrong end of the stick and has misunderstood things that you've said or done (or not done), then by all means clarify what you believe to be the case. However, do not be argumentative or confrontational, as this will cause your friend to feel defensive and it will simply speed up the end of the friendship. Be patient, explain clearly how you see the situation and give your interpretation of past events without judging or defensiveness. For example:
Your friend might accuse you of never being there during important events in the opening of their new business over the past year. They might say that it got to the point that every time he or she asked you to help out, you seemed too busy or disinterested in their new venture even though at first you had been very supportive. You might reply that you accept it was wrong of you to never be available to talk things through. You might also outline what happened to prevent you from being the close friend of former times. For example, perhaps you had to take care of a sick child or spouse, all the while trying to hold down your job with its unforgiving deadlines. Provide factual explanations of why you weren't as engaged with your friendship as you could have been rather than offering excuses - the truth is important. And don't seek sympathy or pity but do clarify why you were not able to be there for your friend.
Acknowledge your differences. Your friend might be footloose and fancy free while you're a dad to three kids. As life changes around us, friendships change too. However, this doesn't mean that you lack that vital connection that sparked the friendship in the first place and shifts in your working, personal, and lifestyle doesn't have to undermine your friendship. Talking openly about the changes is important, as well as accepting that the two of you have different trajectories but still have space, love, and respect for one another in your lives.
If your friend has distanced from you because of changes in your lives, take the opportunity to reassure each other that while life has changed, the importance of your friendship has not. And acknowledge that if you have changed, you certainly don't expect your friend to change.
Resurrect some things that the two of you can still enjoy doing together. For example, set aside a regular night, afternoon, or day when the two of you meet up to spend time together doing the things you both enjoy such as seeing a movie, sitting in a cafe, playing a sport, etc.
Avoid being naive. While you may want to rescue the friendship, be alert for signs that your friend is deliberately seeking to end it. Given that this is an unthinkable prospect in a previously loving, and caring connection, only resort to believing this is a possibility if the signs make it extremely obvious, for example, if your friend goes out of their way to avoid you, or stops answering your calls, or can never be found by you but mutual friends don't seem to have this problem, it's possible that your friend is trying to end things. If this is the case, try to revive things but don't beat yourself up if it fails because it's not your fault and the other person has a made a choice that you can't change.
Find a compromise. Assuming your friend has talked and listened, and both of you have cleared the air, look for ways that you can reach compromises on the things that have undermined your friendship to this point and look for ways to set the relationship back on track. If you mean as much to this person as they means to you, through mutual compromising in the end you will have at least made some progress in the right direction.
Show willingness to strengthen your friendship and to avoid growing apart ever again. Once you have worked through the challenges facing your friendship and come to a shared solution, show your friend how much they mean to you. Start creating new memories and precious moments that will make the unpleasant page in your common history look insignificant and never worth mentioning again. Tips
Share something important and personal or ask for advice on some problem. This will stress on the definition of "friendship" - be there for each other - and move the focus off the issue you are trying to put behind.
Do new, exciting things with your friend but also keep the traditions you both enjoy. This will strengthen your relationship even further.
Don't be afraid to be the one to talk, especially if your friend isn't speaking up.
If (s)he is truly your friend, they will feel open with you and vice versa.
Remember to maintain continuing contact with your friend. Sending a Christmas card each year could be a nice gesture. Warnings
Saving your friendship should never come at unbearable cost like your and the other person's health and morale or those of the people you two care about. Do not make or yield to such demands. ***********************
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
REMINDERS FROM GOD: "To the listening ear I speak. To the waiting heart I come." -- GOD
Don't Let Your Past Determine Your Future
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."1
In his book, Confidence, Alan Loy McGinnis talks about a famous study entitled, "Cradles of Eminence" written by Victor and Mildred Goertzel, in which the family background of 300 highly successful people were studied. Many of the people in the study were well-known personalities including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, and Gandhi. And Einstein—all of whom were brilliant in their field of expertise. The results of this study are both surprising and very encouraging for those of us who came from a less than desirable family background and home life. For example: "Three-quarters of the children were troubled by poverty, a broken home, or by rejecting, over-possessive or dominating parents. "Seventy-four of the 85 writers of fiction or drama and 10 of the 20 poets came from homes where they saw tense psychological drama played out by their parents. "Physical handicaps, such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs characterized over one-quarter of the sample." These people may have had more weaknesses and handicaps than many who had a healthy upbringing, but lacked confidence. What made the difference? Perhaps, realizing they had weaknesses, they compensated for these by excelling in other areas. One man said, "What has influenced my life more than any other single thing has been my stammer. Had I not stammered, I probably would have gone to Cambridge as my brothers did, perhaps have become a tutor, and every now and then published a dreary book about French literature." This man who stammered until his death was W. Somerset Maughan, "a world-renowned author of more than 20 books, 30 plays, and scores of essays and short stories." It's not what we have or don't have that matters in life, but what we do with what we have. God wants us to acknowledge past hurts and grow through them. In so doing, we don't allow our past to determine our future. Someone has wisely said, "It may be true that I have been a victim in the past, but if I remain one, I am now a willing volunteer." No matter what our background was, when we trust our lives daily to God, and work through our past hurts to resolution, we can and do have hope for the future. It's up to us what we do about the present. Once we have resolved our past hurts, we can say, as did the Apostle Paul, "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."2 Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to realize, as an adult, that while I wasn't responsible for my background, I am totally responsible for what I do about resolving all past hurts and for becoming, with your help, the person you have envisioned for me to be. Lead me always on the pathway of truth and responsibility. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
***********************
WORD FOR THE DAY: rapscallionrap-SKAL-yunDEFINITION
noun : rascal, ne’er-do-well EXAMPLESThe rapscallions who hung around the deserted parking lot at night were nothing but trouble. "Being evil is serious business, and business is goooood for Gru. He's a feared and loathed rapscallion of the highest degree who's been responsible for some of the greatest heists in recent history." -- From a movie review of Despicable Me by Melissa Bobbitt in Creators Syndicate, July 8, 2010 DID YOU KNOW?The word "rascal" has been part of English since the 15th century, but on its own it apparently didn’t quite capture the disagreeable nature of the wily knaves of yore. By the 17th century, English speakers had modified "rascal" to create "rascallion." But it seems that even that term didn’t sound quite mischievous enough. By the century’s end, "rascallion" had been further altered to create "rapscallion." Today, "rapscallion" is still commonly used as a synonym for "blackguard," "scoundrel," and "miscreant." "Rascallion" is still around as well, but it’s very rare. ********************** PET TIPS: How Healthy is Your Dog Tip
There are several signs that may indicate a problem with your dog. It is important to recognize what they are and have your pet evaluated. Problem signs include a lack of appetite, decreased activity, weakness, changes in water consumption, not grooming, bad breath, sleeping more, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, trouble breathing, frequent urinations or bloody urinations. This past weekend, I stopped by the pet emergency room and saw a 7-year-old lab name "Max". Bill, his owner, thought Max was just eating a little less. Max was still eating, drinking, and playing but just seemed a little less exuberant. Bill couldn't put his finger on it, but thought something was wrong. To the vet on duty's eye. Max looked great. He was happy, no history of vomiting or diarrhea, eating, drinking (more if anything upon further questioning), went for his normal morning walk that morning and had a normal bowel movement that morning as well. The vet on duty thought Max seemed fine however, he respected Bills opinion that Max was a little off and recommended blood work. The results showed that Max was a diabetic!
Yes, dogs can get diabetes just like humans. Actually Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of dogs. Like in humans it is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the dog's ability to metabolize sugar.
Luckily, Bill and his vet caught it early before Max was really ill. In this case, Max didn't even need to be hospitalized to treat his diabetes. He went home with medication. Unfortunately, Bill had never purchased pet insurance for Max, which could have really helped with the cost of Max's ongoing car. Now that Max has been diagnosed with diabetes, it was too late. Bill's entire cost for that visit with Max included the emergency room visit, blood work, urinalysis, and that was it. He got a prescription for insulin that he took to his local pharmacy. His entire bill for his visit was approximately $250.00. If Max's diabetes had gone undiagnosed for a longer period of time until Max got REALLY sick - it is likely he would have required hospitalization, fluids, an insulin drip, drugs for vomiting, etc and his bill would likely have been between $1,100 and $1,500 (depending on how sick he was and how quickly he responded to treatment). Did Bill get away cheap? Not really, $250.00 is just the tip of the iceberg for Bill and Max. Max will require repeat blood glucose testing, periodic full blood work, and medication for the rest of his life. Well, Max is doing fine thanks to Bill. Left uncontrolled, diabetes can become life threatening. The first step in treating the disease is getting a correct diagnosis. I was glad that Max did. So if you suspect that your dog may be drinking excessively or that something is wrong, do not hesitate to take him to the see your vet. ************************** A guy walks into a store to buy brains. He asks the woman behind the counter how much each of the brains cost. They saleswoman tells him, "$5/gram for women's brains, $20/gram for dog's brains, and $100/gram for men's brains." So the guy is surprised with the varying prices, and he asks the saleswoman, "How come men's brain's are so much more expensive than women's brains or dog's brains?" And the saleswoman replies, "Are you kidding!?!?!?!? Do you know how many men it takes to get a gram of brains????" ********************** Returning from her vacation, the young secretary was telling anyone who would listen about what a fun time she had.
She then asked for two weeks leave in which to get married.
"But you just had two weeks off," said the boss.
"Why didn't you get married then ?" "What and ruin my vacation ?" she whined. ************************************ Au Gratin Chicken Bake
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Total Time 50 Minutes
Makes 4 servings Cheddar just makes dinner better. This convenient ingredient combo can be on the table in less than an hour for family or friends!
1 bag (14 oz) Green Giant Select frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained
1 box (7.8 oz) Betty Crocker Deluxe creamy Cheddar au gratin potatoes
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/2 cup milk
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 1/4 lb)
2 slices (1 oz each) Cheddar cheese, cut diagonally in half
Heat oven to 400ºF. Spray 11x7-inch baking dish or 2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
Spread broccoli in baking dish. Stir Potatoes, Sauce Mix, Cheese Sauce, boiling water and margarine in medium bowl. Stir in milk. Spread over broccoli. Place chicken breast halves on potato mixture.
Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Place cheese slices on chicken. Sprinkle with Topping. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut. Let stand 5 minutes or until sauce is as thick as desired. **************************** Taco Pan Bread Old El Paso salsa and seasoning mix add Mexican flavors to this cheesy casserole that's filled with beef and Progresso® beans and topped with Pillsbury® pizza crust.
2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 jar (16 oz) Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa (2 cups)
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso taco seasoning mix
1 can (15 oz) pinto beans or Progresso black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (3.8 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 can (13.8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust
1/2 cup corn chips, crushed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup diced tomato (1 medium)
1/2 cup sour cream
Heat oven to 400°F. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in salsa and taco seasoning mix. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.
Stir beans and olives into beef mixture. Cook until thoroughly heated and bubbly. Spoon into ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Unroll dough over filling; sprinkle crushed corn chips over top.
Bake 13 to 17 minutes until light golden brown. Sprinkle cheese evenly over chips; let stand 5 minutes to melt cheese. Serve with lettuce, tomato and sour cream. *********************** Potato-Clam Chowder
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Total Time 50 Minutes
Makes 4 servings 4 cups hot water
1 box (4.7 oz) Betty Crocker au gratin potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt, if desired
1 cup Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamersâ„¢ Niblets frozen corn
1 cup Green Giant SELECT frozen broccoli florets
3 cups milk
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
2 cans (6 1/2 ounces each) minced clams, undrained
Heat water, Potatoes and salt to boiling in 3-quart saucepan. Boil 20 minutes; drain.
Stir in Sauce Mix and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat; simmer uncovered about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender. **************** How to Save a Friendship
"Friends are like stars. You don't always see them but you know they are there." Once said by someone wise, this quote sums up how easy it is to take a friendship for granted, and yet, just as stars fade away, so do friendships from time to time. Whether it's because your circumstances have changed, time has passed and eroded commonalities, or something has been said or done that has spoiled things between you, it's sad and often painful to experience a fading or dying friendship. If you believe that it's worth trying to save your friendship, then it is worth it. The only time it's not worth trying is when you've stopped believing in the friendship. So, if you're still stirred by a friendship that has given you priceless moments, unconditional love, and treasured memories, at least give saving the friendship a chance. While problems are inevitable, if both of you see the value in saving the friendship, focusing on fixing things may just be effective, and your friendship may even come through this trial better and stronger than before. Steps
Act now. The moment you're aware that there's a chasm opening wider than the Grand Canyon between the two of you, do something about it. Waiting will only bring about an inevitable permanency of the loss of your friendship. Be prepared to be the one who makes the initial steps; your friend may be laboring under the belief that it's something you've done to harm the friendship, so it's not worth waiting around for her to solve things.
Do some honest analysis of the situation. Sit down and think back to where it all went wrong. Was it your fault? Was it something you said or did or didn't say or do although you should have? This involves thinking about your inaction as well, such as all those times you failed to make a call to see how your friend was, or when you missed appointments, or failed to show up at important events.
If it was your fault, apologize. Briefly explain your side of the story and avoid making excuses or shifting the blame. By taking responsibility for your part in damaging the friendship, you demonstrate to your friend that your desire to keep them as a friend is more important than your pride or sense of self-righteousness.
Talk, talk, talk. If you can't seem to find the reason for the growing interpersonal distance between you and your friend, suggest that the two of you simply talk. Tell your friend that you're sad that things don't seem to be that great between the two of you anymore and that you'd really like to work out whether it might be possible to restore the friendship you had in the past. Your willingness to work through the issues will be appreciated, especially if you make it clear that you're totally open to hearing their side of the story. Try not to interrupt your friend while explaining their side of the story. Instead, listen attentively.
Listen to your friend. If a third party has been telling different stories to both of you to cause conflicts, listening to your friend is the best way to spot it. Ask who told them that if you hear that you said something you'd never say in a million years. It's amazing how fast a third party liar's mind games blow up in their face once the victims compare notes. So even if someone is trying to avoid you, ask why and be prepared to listen no matter what your friend says.
Make a decision as to the worth of disputing points about your behavior or issues that have arisen in the friendship. If your friend has the wrong end of the stick and has misunderstood things that you've said or done (or not done), then by all means clarify what you believe to be the case. However, do not be argumentative or confrontational, as this will cause your friend to feel defensive and it will simply speed up the end of the friendship. Be patient, explain clearly how you see the situation and give your interpretation of past events without judging or defensiveness. For example:
Your friend might accuse you of never being there during important events in the opening of their new business over the past year. They might say that it got to the point that every time he or she asked you to help out, you seemed too busy or disinterested in their new venture even though at first you had been very supportive. You might reply that you accept it was wrong of you to never be available to talk things through. You might also outline what happened to prevent you from being the close friend of former times. For example, perhaps you had to take care of a sick child or spouse, all the while trying to hold down your job with its unforgiving deadlines. Provide factual explanations of why you weren't as engaged with your friendship as you could have been rather than offering excuses - the truth is important. And don't seek sympathy or pity but do clarify why you were not able to be there for your friend.
Acknowledge your differences. Your friend might be footloose and fancy free while you're a dad to three kids. As life changes around us, friendships change too. However, this doesn't mean that you lack that vital connection that sparked the friendship in the first place and shifts in your working, personal, and lifestyle doesn't have to undermine your friendship. Talking openly about the changes is important, as well as accepting that the two of you have different trajectories but still have space, love, and respect for one another in your lives.
If your friend has distanced from you because of changes in your lives, take the opportunity to reassure each other that while life has changed, the importance of your friendship has not. And acknowledge that if you have changed, you certainly don't expect your friend to change.
Resurrect some things that the two of you can still enjoy doing together. For example, set aside a regular night, afternoon, or day when the two of you meet up to spend time together doing the things you both enjoy such as seeing a movie, sitting in a cafe, playing a sport, etc.
Avoid being naive. While you may want to rescue the friendship, be alert for signs that your friend is deliberately seeking to end it. Given that this is an unthinkable prospect in a previously loving, and caring connection, only resort to believing this is a possibility if the signs make it extremely obvious, for example, if your friend goes out of their way to avoid you, or stops answering your calls, or can never be found by you but mutual friends don't seem to have this problem, it's possible that your friend is trying to end things. If this is the case, try to revive things but don't beat yourself up if it fails because it's not your fault and the other person has a made a choice that you can't change.
Find a compromise. Assuming your friend has talked and listened, and both of you have cleared the air, look for ways that you can reach compromises on the things that have undermined your friendship to this point and look for ways to set the relationship back on track. If you mean as much to this person as they means to you, through mutual compromising in the end you will have at least made some progress in the right direction.
Show willingness to strengthen your friendship and to avoid growing apart ever again. Once you have worked through the challenges facing your friendship and come to a shared solution, show your friend how much they mean to you. Start creating new memories and precious moments that will make the unpleasant page in your common history look insignificant and never worth mentioning again. Tips
Share something important and personal or ask for advice on some problem. This will stress on the definition of "friendship" - be there for each other - and move the focus off the issue you are trying to put behind.
Do new, exciting things with your friend but also keep the traditions you both enjoy. This will strengthen your relationship even further.
Don't be afraid to be the one to talk, especially if your friend isn't speaking up.
If (s)he is truly your friend, they will feel open with you and vice versa.
Remember to maintain continuing contact with your friend. Sending a Christmas card each year could be a nice gesture. Warnings
Saving your friendship should never come at unbearable cost like your and the other person's health and morale or those of the people you two care about. Do not make or yield to such demands. ***********************
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
REMINDERS FROM GOD: 1 Peter 1:15-16
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.â€â€ A Religious War . . . Reminder "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son."1 A friend of ours recently returned from England where he received first-hand knowledge of Muslims active in the very place where he worked for many years. These Muslims were claiming that Judaism was dead, that Christianity was dead, and that now is the time for Islam to become the dominant world religion and world power. Certainly not all Muslims are radical, but many around the world are radical fundamentalists who not only hate Jews, Christians, Americans and other Westerners, but are determined to have us killed or made slaves to their religion. Be assured of this, Allah of the Islam faith and the Koran is not the God of the Bible, nor is he the God of creation. To Muslims, Jesus Christ may be a prophet, but he is NOT God the Son who died for our sins, nor is he the Savior of the world. Note today's Scripture verse and what God's Word says about those who deny that Jesus is the Christ. The war today against terrorism that is seeking to destroy Jews, Americans, Westerners and Christians is a religious war. We are not warring against a people or a nation as such, but against religious zealots whose goal, as taught by the Koran, is to destroy all infidels. And who are the infidels? It's everyone who is not a Muslim or a member of the Muslim or Islamic faith. That includes me and many of our Daily Encounter readers. Some of our readers in various parts of the world are already in the crosshairs of radical, fundamental Muslims. And as 9/11 has shown us, we in the West are not as safe as we would like to think we are. According to Michael S. Rose of CruxNews.com, a well-known French actress "denounces the 'Islamacization' of France and blames the degeneration of French society on her country's liberal immigration laws. 'For twenty years we have submitted to a dangerous and uncontrolled underground infiltration,' she writes in her new book that became an instant bestseller in France when published. 'Not only does fail to give way to our laws and customs. Quite the contrary, as time goes by it tries to impose its own law on us.'"2 Think of Spain, too, where the majority of people not so long ago voted out government leaders who were taking a stand against terrorism and voted in leaders who yielded to terrorists' tactics. God forbid that we should ever surrender to religious terrorists' tactics here in the U.S. Tragically, however, here in America where Christian bashing is increasing at an alarming rate and where even using the word, God, in public places is being condemned by so many who claim to be leaders, who, at the same time, are appeasing Muslims, and claiming that Islam is a religion of peace. What is the answer against all forms of evil? We Christians need to awake and not only demonstrate our faith in our everyday lives, but also aggressively communicate the gospel in word and action across the nation and around the world. The average American church is spending 95% of its income on itself—preaching to the choir as it were. No wonder we Christians aren't making an impact on our society, let alone the rest of the world. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, open the eyes of every Christian at home and abroad so that we will see what the forces of evil are doing among us in today's world. Please send a great spiritual awakening so that we will never yield to the beliefs and tactics of those who deny that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. And help us in our manner of living to demonstrate the love of God in everything we do, and be genuinely committed to help spread the gospel across the street and around the world. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen." 1. 1 John 2:18, 22 (NIV). For a comparison grid between Christian and Islamic beliefs go to: http://tinyurl.com/24zlgs3. ************************* WORD FOR THE DAY: issuable • ISH-oo-uh-bul • adjective
1 : open to contest, debate, or litigation 2 : authorized for issue 3 : possible as a result or consequence Examples:
When they created their new LLC, the owners decided to start with 1,000 issuable shares. "At the time of the first prospectus, a total of nearly 14 million shares were issued or issuable, and Nouri, his family, and his offshore partner controlled half of them." -- From David E. Y. Sarna's 2010 book History of Greed: Financial Fraud from Tulip Mania to Bernie Madoff ************************* How Healthy is Your Dog Tip
There are several signs that may indicate a problem with your dog. It is important to recognize what they are and have your pet evaluated. Problem signs include a lack of appetite, decreased activity, weakness, changes in water consumption, not grooming, bad breath, sleeping more, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, trouble breathing, frequent urinations or bloody urinations. Watch your dog carefully for any sign of illness. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, please contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic as soon as possible.
Many signs of disease are non-specific, suggesting they can be common for many different diseases.
Let's look at some common non-specific signs of illness in dogs that should worry you and prompt veterinary care and attention:
Lack of appetite – Anorexia is often one of the first signs of illness in dogs. It can be difficult to determine if you feed your dog dry food only and keep the bowl full. For this reason, some veterinarians recommended feeding dogs a scheduled feeding at the same time every day so that you accurately assess their appetite.
Less active - Dogs that don't feel well are often less active. Many times this "less active" sign is mistaken for "getting older". If your dog is less active, the safest thing to do is have your vet check your dog out.
Weakness - Weakness can be displayed as either being "less active", having a lethargic appearance, or by displaying a loss of balance and coordination. All of these are potentially serious signs and should prompt immediate evaluation by your veterinarian.
Lethargy – Lethargy is a general lack of interest in the environment. It is a very common symptom and can be an early or late sign of illness depending on the severity.
Weight loss – Losing weight is another common sign of disease or illness. Sometimes it is difficult to notice weight loss, especially in longhaired dogs or dogs that you see every day and may not notice subtle changes. If your dog feels bonier, lighter, or you can easily feel the ribs, this could be a problem.
Increased water consumption – Drinking more is often associated with a few diseases including kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. If you notice your dog is showing these symptoms, see your veterinarian.
Not grooming – Dogs that don't feel well don't groom or you just notice a dull lusterless coat. If your dogs coat changes, have him or her evaluated by your veterinarian.
Bad breath – Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can result from dental disease as well as other metabolic disorders.
Sleeping more – Sleeping more can also be associated with lethargy. Dogs sleep an average of 13 to 16 hours each day depending on the age and personality of the individual dog. If you notice your dog is sleeping a lot more than he used to, don't assume it is just age. Make sure that is not an underlying disease or illness.
Less involved in social interaction with you or your other dogs
dogs that don't feel well don't tend to play or be as social with you or your other dogs.
Drooling – drooling or hypersalivation can be associated with oral or dental disease and should be evaluated by your veterinarian.
Vomiting - Gagging or vomiting is a very common sign of illness. Some dogs will vomit occasionally. Vomiting that occurs once a week or less frequently is generally not considered a big problem if your dog is otherwise healthy, maintaining his weight and having normal bowel movements. However, if your dog is vomiting on a regular basis or is loosing weight, this could be an indication of a serious problem.
Difficulty breathing – Trouble breathing is a very severe sign of illness. It is often caused by underlying heart or lung disorders. Difficulty breathing can be noted as increased respiratory rate or effort, open mouth breathing, or a posture in which the arms are slightly abducted and your dog neck is extended. This is a life-threatening emergency.
Diarrhea – Loose stools can be caused by dietary reasons, allergies and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Coughing – Coughing is serious symptom and should be evaluated when it occurs.
Bloody urine – This can be a sign of urinary tract disease or infection in dogs. It should be evaluated immediately. It can also be associated with frequent attempts to urinate as well.
Watch your dog carefully for any sign of illness. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, please contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic as soon as possible.
**************************** much of this unfortunately is so true... Observations on Growing Older
~Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them ...but your grandchildren are perfect!
~It’s harder to tell navy from black
~Going out is good. Coming home is better! ~When people say you look "Great"... They add "for your age!" ~ When you needed the discount, you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything... Movies, hotels, flights, but you're too tired to use them. ~You forget names .... But it's OK Because other people forgot They even knew you!!! ~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose Is now 15 and you have a better chance Of losing your keys than the 15 pounds. ~Your spouse is counting on you To remember things you don't remember. ~The things you used to care to do, You no longer care to do, But you really do care that you Don't care to do them anymore. ~Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair With the TV blaring than he does in bed. It's called his "pre-sleep". ~Remember when your mother said, "Wear clean underwear in case you GET in an accident"? Now you bring clean underwear in case you HAVE an accident! ~You miss the days when everything worked With just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.. ~When GOOGLE, ipod, email, modem .... Were unheard of, and a mouse was something That made you climb on a table. ~You used to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ??? ~Now that you can afford Expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~Your husband has a night out with the guys, But he's home by 9:00 P.M. Next week it will be 8:30 P.M. ~You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it. ~Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!! ~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers. ~Now that your husband has retired .... You'd give anything if he'd find a job! ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet ... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~~~But old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, And best of all, OLD FRIENDS!! Love you, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!"if you can remember who they are and Let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! ************************** A guy walks into a store to buy brains. He asks the woman behind the counter how much each of the brains cost. They saleswoman tells him, "$5/gram for women's brains, $20/gram for dog's brains, and $100/gram for men's brains." So the guy is surprised with the varying prices, and he asks the saleswoman, "How come men's brain's are so much more expensive than women's brains or dog's brains?" And the saleswoman replies, "Are you kidding!?!?!?!? Do you know how many men it takes to get a gram of brains????" ***************************** Potato and Bacon Omelet This hearty supper omelet tastes great any time of the day. Serves: 2
Prep. time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes 4 to 6 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup thinly sliced onions or scallions
1/2 cup cooked, chopped potatoes
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
4 eggs
3 tablespoons milk
salt, to taste
freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Cook the bacon over medium-high heat until the fat has rendered. Add the onions and cook until softened. Reduce the heat to medium and add the potatoes and parsley. Cook until the potatoes are lightly browned. Pour off the excess fat. Beat 2 of the eggs lightly with half the milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in an 8-inch omelet pan or skillet over high heat. When the butter stops foaming, pour in the beaten eggs. With the flat side of a fork, stir the eggs lightly while shaking the pan gently back and forth. When the eggs have set to the desired consistency, add half the filling. Tilt the pan to fold or roll the omelet. Tip it onto a warmed plate and put in the oven to keep warm while you prepare the second omelette, using the remaining ingredients. Sprinkle the chopped chives over the omelets before serving. ****************** You might be a REDNECK if...
...you can't tell what color your car is because of the dirt.
************************* Most people would like to be delivered from temptation but would like it to keep in touch.
- Robert Orben But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.
- Carl Sagan Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.
- E. W. Dijkstra "Adversity is another way to measure
the greatness of individuals. I never had
a crisis that didn't make me stronger."
- Lou Holtz ***************** How to Build Your Vocabulary When you leave school or college, someone will inevitably point out that this is not the end and that it is only the beginning. Of course the speaker is right. No educational process is the end. It is always the beginning of more learning and more living. And that is the case here. What has happened to you as a result of your reaction to the material and suggestion in this site is only the beginning of your development. To stop increasing your vocabulary is to stop your intellectual growth. To continue to grow intellectually as long as you remain alive with the momentum that your weeks of hard work have provided, continuing will not be at all difficult. You can maintain a clever, astute and erudite persona whether you're adolescent or octogenarian. This article will spell out how to find, learn, and use, ostentatious words so other people will kick up their estimate of the level of your intelligence. And here is a little secret. If you can learn to utilize words of this ilk, you doubtless are pretty sharp to begin with. Steps
1 Become actively receptive to new words. Every time you read, there are opportunities to increase your vocabulary. Don't ignore these opportunities; many of us tend to form a habit of skipping unknown words and gaining general understanding of phrases or paragraphs from the whole context. If you're used to doing this, it may require additional effort to remember to note down the words that are unusual or that you really don't know the meaning of. Train yourself to be on a constant lookout when reading and listening to others, and remember the words that are not known to you.
Consider keeping a small notebook with you and quickly jot down unknown words as you come across them, for checking later. If you hear someone using a word you don't know, be sure to look it up.
Let new words percolate in your mind. Learn the meanings and then add them into everyday speech as regularly as possible. Provided you're using each new word in context and accurately, it will begin to become second nature.
2 Read more. Once you leave school, you won't get the new word drills and reading becomes a large part of the way in which you increase the range of words in your vocabulary. As well as aiming to read well written magazines, essays, and online material, read as many books as you have the time and inclination for. Seek out the tomes of Dickens, Austen, and Hawthorne. Deliberately find books that are hard to read like William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury and James Joyce's Ulysses.
If your reading today is largely restricted only to the quick perusal of daily newspapers, then change your habits. If your aim is to have superior vocabulary, you will have to make the time to read at least one book and several magazines every week. Not this week and the next week, but every week for the rest of your life. As well as improving your vocabulary, you'll also keep updated and backdated, your general knowledge will increase, and you'll be a well-rounded person who knows a lot more than many other people do.
3 Add the new words you meet in your reading to your own vocabulary. When you see an unfamiliar word in a book, magazine, manual, etc., do not skip over it impatiently. Instead, pause for a moment and say it to yourself. Get used to its sound and its appearance. At first, try to puzzle out its possible meaning in the context of the sentence. Whether you come to the right conclusion or not, whether indeed you're even able to come to any intelligent conclusion at all is of no importance. What is important is that, by that process, you're becoming super conscious of the new word. As a result, you will suddenly notice that this very word pops up unexpectedly again and again in all sorts of places. For now your mind has been alerted to notice it. Once you've tried this exercise, look it up in the dictionary and confirm its meaning. After you've seen each newly learned word a few times, you will know fairly accurately not only what it means but the many ways in which it can be used; best of all, it'll now form a part of your natural vocabulary.
4 Write more. The more you write, the more your vocabulary increases as you're forced into a position of expanding your word usage to convey precisely what it is that you wish to get across to the reader. When writing, aim to replace commonly used words with less used and more descriptive and interesting words; get out the thesaurus and use more challenging words. Doing this can improve your fiction, biographical, and some forms of work writing a great deal.
Most material written for public dissemination aims to avoid the use of words that the average reader would not know. Keep this in mind when flexing your new vocabulary – you'll still need to keep your plain English in good usage for everyday writing, especially in most work environments.
Try to avoid falling back on buzzwords. You can still say what you mean without resorting to them and people will probably have a far clearer understanding of your point.
5 Read the dictionary. Expanding your vocabulary will always be improved by regularly diving into the dictionary and reading entries for words you aren't yet familiar with. This requires the ownership of a quality dictionary to make it more interesting, so look for a dictionary that has lengthy explanations on the origins and uses of words, as these will go a long way to helping you remember the word and enjoy using your dictionary.
Sign up to be emailed a "Word of the Day" using one of the many online dictionaries. You can also procure for yourself a Word of the Day calendar; be sure to read the word on the page each day and aim to remember each day's word and even use it somewhere in your day.
Visit word building sites such as freerice.com and construct an expansive vocabulary while nourishing the hungry or doing something else useful.
There are many online sites devoted to compiling alphabetical lists of unusual, weird, old-fashioned, and difficult words. Avail yourself of the search engine to find these sites and to learn from them. This is a great way to while away time waiting for a bus or in the bank queue.
6 Do word puzzles and play word games. Word puzzles are an excellent source of increasing your word knowledge because the puzzle creators will often need to resort to an array of unusual words to ensure that the words fit into their puzzles and that they are interesting for the puzzle doer. There are many varieties of vocabulary puzzles, including crosswords, find-a-word and hidden word puzzles. As well as strengthening your word knowledge, puzzles are also good for improving your critical thinking skills. For word games, try such games as Scrabble, Boggle, and Cranium to extend your vocabulary.
7 Learn a little Latin. Although it might seem like a dead and done language, knowing a bit of Latin is an excellent way to learn the roots of many words in the English language and can help you figure out the meaning of a wide range of words that you don't yet know without having to resort to the dictionary. There are online Latin learning resources, as well as plenty of texts (check out your favorite used books bookstore).
8 Read outside your usual realm of interestOpen your mind to new ideas. Every word you see is the translation of new idea. Think for few minutes of the areas of human knowledge that may possibly be unknown to you - psychology, semantics, anthropology, science, art, music, management, etc. Then, attack one of these areas methodically, by reading books on that particular subject. In every field, from the simplest to the most abstruse, there are several books for the average, untrained lay reader, right through to those for experts in the field. Push yourself with the reading as far as you can, to expose yourself to new ways of using the vocabulary and forming ideas; doing this will give you both a good grasp of the subject and, at the same time, add new vocabularies to your existing knowledge.
9 Learning is foreverSet a goal. If you do nothing about your vocabulary, you will learn, at most, twenty-five to fifty new words in the next twelve months. With a conscious effort, you can learn several thousands of new words. Set your self a goal of finding and remembering several new words every day. While this may sound ambitious, you will discover as soon as you start actively looking for new words in your reading, and actively doing reading of a more challenging type, that new words are all around you and that this is an exciting goal to fulfill. And understand this – vocabulary building snowballs. The results of each new day search will be greater and greater. Once you provide the necessary initial push, once you gain momentum, once you become addicted to looking for new words, for finding new words and for taking possession of new words, you'll find you can't stop.
Tips
The more obscure the words you employ, the better - a slighter number of people will discern the odd malaprop you may happen to launch.
Use flash cards for new words. These can aid with meaning and pronunciation. Also, you can purchase pre-attached small blank vocabulary cards which you can throw into your bag and carry anywhere. Write the new words you're learning on them and pull out the flashcards while you're on the bus, in a queue, waiting to collect someone, etc., and brush up your learning.
There are many websites devoted to improving vocabulary. Find your favorites and make the most of them.
Using protracted and lengthened words to deride others will function superbly, if you are given to this kind of mischief. After all, it gives you a ten to twenty minute lead time to egress before the enemy party can ascertain that you've directed a pretty spot of impertinence its way. Warnings
Never become obsessed with vocabulary. Vocabulary building should be a fun activity, not something that you feel you have to do but don't enjoy.
People with choice vocabularies will not be caught unawares, and might call you out, so don't be a pretender. Internalize the terms you seek to utter and speak them well, and even more so, know how to use them accurately with the correct context.
Big words can, via various vicissitudes, become fascinating and addictive.
Using big words as invective against your nemesis won't ameliorate your mood, nor will it mend your own insecurities, however ephemerally gratifying their consternation. Things You'll Need Dictionary
Word cards and marker
Notebook and marker
Classic novels, difficult reads
Wide range of reading material ******************************** Cheesy Broccoli-Potato Soup Hearty soup made simple. Loaded with chicken, broccoli, cheese and creamy potatoes, this flavorful soup is just minutes away. 1 carton (32 oz) Progresso chicken broth
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 bag (12 oz) Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers frozen chopped broccoli
2 cups milk
1 1/3 cups Betty Crocker Potato Buds mashed potatoes (dry)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese (4 oz)
1/2 teaspoon salt
In 3-quart saucepan, heat broth, onion and frozen broccoli to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in milk and dry potatoes until well blended; stir in remaining ingredients.
Heat over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot and cheese is melted *********************** Florentines
Prep Time 1:40 Hr:Mins
Total Time9:55 Hrs:Mins
Makes 5 dozen cookies These sweet chocolate-orange cookies are so luscious and chewy, they taste just like candy.
3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 pound candied orange peel, very finely chopped
1/4 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour
2 bars (4 ounces each) sweet baking chocolate Heat oven to 350ºF. Generously grease and flour cookie sheet.
Stir whipping cream and sugar together until well blended. Stir in almonds, orange peel and flour. Dough will be very thin.
Drop by scant teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Flatten with knife or spatula.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or just until cookies brown lightly around edges. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.
Melt chocolate bars over low heat. Turn cookies over; spread with chocolate. Allow to dry 8 hours at room temperature or until chocolate becomes firm. Store in covered container or in refrigerator. Substitution
Florentines were invented by Austrian bakers and traditionally contain butter, sugar, cream, honey and candied fruit. Often, one side is dipped in chocolate. Success
Watch these cookies carefully because they brown quickly. ********************* Baked Cereal Honey Snack Mix
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Total Time 1:40 Hr:Mins
Makes 20 servings Betty Crocker's Heart Healthy Cookbook shares a recipe! Sesame sticks mix up with Chex® cereal and popcorn in this party pleasing snack.
3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
3 cups checkerboard-shaped pretzels
2 cups popped light microwave popcorn
1 cup sesame sticks
1 cup mixed nuts
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons canola or soybean oil
2 tablespoons sesame seed, toasted, if desired*
Heat oven to 275°. Mix cereal, pretzels, popcorn, sesame sticks and nuts in ungreased jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x1 inch.
Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
Bake 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread on waxed paper; cool about 30 minutes. Store in tightly covered container up to 1 week. *To quickly toast sesame seed, cook in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat 1 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until light golden brown. ****************** Groucho Marx
"Military justice is to justice what military music is to music." Voltaire
"The superfluous, a very necessary thing." Dennis Miller
"I rant, therefore I am."
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
Reminders from God: Amos 5:14-15
“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.†And Jesus Stood Still
"And Jesus stood still."1
Down the long, dusty road on their way from Jericho to Jerusalem, almost two thousand years ago, trod Jesus with his motley band of twelve disciples, followed by a huge crowd. They were all hot and sweaty. The dust clung to them. They were weary, but Jesus was at the height of his popularity, and the great crowd of people pressed close to him. They were jabbering endlessly. Asking questions. Seeking favors. They could be heard a mile away. "Hey, what's all the noise?" blind Bartimaeus asked his friend as they sat by the roadside begging. "I don't know," answered his friend with a puzzled tone in his voice. "Let's ask someone," they agreed. "It's Jesus," a passerby informed them. "You mean Jesus of Nazareth, the fellow they claim can heal the sick and the blind?" Bartimaeus excitedly asked. "That's the one," the man said, "and I'm on my way to see him. Good-bye." The crowd came closer and closer. Excitement filled the air. The noise became intense. "I can't believe it," shouted Bartimaeus to another friend. "This just has to be my lucky day. I've got to get to Jesus; I know he can heal me." "Hey, Bart, there he is," cried Bartimaeus's friend, "but how will you ever get his attention?" Dignity was dismissed. "This is it," said Bartimaeus, "I may never see Jesus again and I desperately want to be healed." So, seeking to drown out the noise of the crowd, Bartimaeus yelled at the top of his voice, "Jesus, have mercy on me! O Lord, son of David, have mercy on me!" "Cool it, man! Shut up!" retorted some of the crowd. "You're making too much noise. You don't stand a chance of getting to Jesus, so just relax and quit your stupid yelling!" But Bartimaeus was all the more determined to get to Jesus. He couldn't see, but he could yell. He cried out all the louder. Hear his voice rise above the din of the crowd. It rings out like a great clarion call, "Jesus, O Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus, O Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stood still. And the crowds stood still. And a great calm settled down over them all. The winds and the waves couldn't stop Jesus. Neither could angry mobs. Crowds of people couldn't stop him either. But a lone, blind beggar could—and did. And Jesus with his great heart of compassion asked for Bartimaeus to be brought to him. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "Lord," Bartimaeus replied, "please give me my sight." And Jesus did! "Go your way," he said, "your faith has made you whole."2 Friend, what do you want Jesus to do for you? Are you as determined as Bartimaeus was? Am I? Suggested prayer: "Dear God, have mercy on me a sinner. Hear the cry of my heart. Please save me from sinfulness. Heal my wounded spirit and fill my empty heart with your love, joy and peace. Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me too. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen." ******************* Word for the Day: woebegone • WOH-bih-gahn • adjective
1 : strongly afflicted with woe : woeful 2 : exhibiting great woe, sorrow, or misery 3 : being in a sorry state Examples:
Jerry's face had the woebegone expression of a man who had just lost a beloved pet. "The Giants also were able to shake off Kevin Boss' early fumble and kept the woebegone Seahawks from gaining any life from it." -- From an article by Vinny DiTrani in The Record (Bergen County, NJ), November 9, 2010 ********************* How To Tell If Your Dog Has Heart Failure Or Heart Problems Today I thought I'd talk to you about a common medical problem that occurs in both dogs and cats. Some pet owners are quite familiar with heart disease in pets while others that I talk to never knew that pets could even get heart disease. Well - they can. Pets can get a variety of heart diseases. They can be born with heart problems (congenital heart disease) or develop heart disease as they age. The problem can be due to one of the heart valves malfunctioning, infections or a problem with the heart muscle itself. Symptoms will vary depending on the underlying problem - but commonly include: Slowing down - an inability or lack of desire to exercise
Breathing heavy or being "short of breath" with normal activities
Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Many pets will lose weight For information on a common heart disease, please read - Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs. Several tests can be done to help determine the underlying problem. Some of the tests include (click on any of the links to find out more about that information): General physical examination with emphasis on stethoscope examination (auscultation) of the heart and lungs
A chest radiograph (X-ray)
Measurement of blood pressure
An electrocardiogram (EKG)
Ultrasound examination of the heart ( echocardiogram) If you see any of these signs in your dog - please call your veterinarian immediately. ******************************* Cavatappi with Pepperoni Pepperoni gives this delicious sauce a kick! The kids will love this -- a tempting change from the more expected meatballs or sausage. Serves: 4
Prep. time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 24 minutes 4 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni, slices cut in half
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes, with juice (one 16-ounce can)
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound cavatappi, or another tubular pasta
3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
In a large frying pan, saute the pepperoni over moderate heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off the fat from the pan and wipe the pan clean. In the same pan, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice, breaking them up. Add the salt, cover, and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the cavatappi until just done, about 13 minutes. Drain and toss with the sauce, the pepperoni, and the parsley. ************************** A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the lady behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yells, "PULLOVER!" "NO," she yelled back over the sound of the siren, "It's a SCARF!" *********************** Dennis Miller
"I rant, therefore I am." Toni Morrison
"I like marriage. The idea." Joan Rivers
"The first time I see a jogger smiling, I'll consider it." ******************* THING TO PONDER: Why are movie theatres always so cold? ******************** "Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and
influence. It is no more or less than faith in action."
- Henry Chester I always find it more difficult to say the things I mean than the things I don't.
- W. Somerset Maugham Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children and no theories.
- John Wilmot Human beings are the only creatures that allow their children to come back home.
- Bill Cosby ****************** Mixed Grill with Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Sauce yield: Makes 8 servings
active time: 1 hour
total time: 6 hours 15 minutes Ingredients Marinade:
1 1/4 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
18 garlic cloves, peeled, pressed
1 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
3/4 cup tamari soy sauce (do not use low-sodium)
6 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon (or more) hot chili sauce (such as sriracha)
3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
9 green onions, chopped Meats:
2 racks meaty baby back pork ribs (about 5 pounds)
8 meaty beef short ribs (about 4 pounds), top membranes trimmed
8 chicken thighs with skin and bones
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons bourbon
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
Ingredient info:
Look for tamari at supermarkets and natural foods stores. Sriracha can be found in the asian foods section of supermarkets and at asian markets.
Preparation For marinade:
Place sugar, next 8 ingredients, and 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper in large bowl. Whisk until salt dissolves. Mix in green onions. For meats:
Sprinkle pork, beef, and chicken on all sides very lightly with coarse salt and pepper. Let stand 30 minutes. Arrange pork rib racks in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange beef short ribs in single layer in 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan. Arrange chicken in another 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan. Pour 3/4 cup marinade each over pork, beef, and chicken; turn to coat. Marinate 1 hour at room temperature. Cover, chill, and reserve remaining marinade for grilling. Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Add beef broth to pan with short ribs; turn ribs, meat side down, in broth. Cover pork, beef, and chicken pans tightly with foil. Place pork on lower rack. Place beef and chicken on upper rack. Bake pork and chicken until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove both from oven; open foil. Continue to bake beef until tender, about 1 1/4 hours longer (2 hours total). Remove from oven; open foil. Pour pan juices from pork, beef, and chicken into medium saucepan. Spoon off fat. Boil until reduced to scant 2 cups sauce, 25 to 30 minutes. Add bourbon; return sauce to boil, then remove from heat. Season with salt, pepper, and more hot chili sauce, if desired. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm before serving. Coat grill racks with nonstick spray and prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Cut pork racks between bones into ribs. Brush all meat with some of reserved marinade. Grill pork, beef, and chicken until slightly charred, brushing with more marinade and turning occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes. Mound pork, beef, and chicken on platter. Pass bourbon sauce alongside. **************************** JESUS AND THE DEMOCRAT (I don't care what party you like, this one's funny!!) A Republican, in a wheelchair, entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked
the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Republican looked across the restaurant
and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?" The waitress nodded "yes," so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a
cup of coffee, on him. The next patron to come in was a Libertarian, with a hunched back. He
shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot
tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus, over
there?" The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot
tea, "My treat." The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Democrat on crutches. He
hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there honey! How's
about gettin' me a cold mug of Miller Light?" He too looked across the restaurant
and asked, "Isn't that God's boy over there? The waitress nodded, so the Democrat directed her to give Jesus a cold beer.
"On my bill," he said loudly. As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Republican felt the strength come
back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door. Jesus passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, "For your kindness,
you are healed." The Libertarian felt his back straightening up and he raised
his hands, praised the Lord, and did a series of back flips out the door.
Then, Jesus walked towards the Democrat, smiling. The Democrat jumped up and yelled, "Don't touch me ... I'm collecting disability." ************************* A beautiful fairy appeared one day to a destitute refugee claimant outside the Ottawa Immigration Offices.
'My good man,' the fairy said,
'I've been told to grant you three wishes, since youve just arrived in Canada with your wife and seven children.' The man told the fairy: 'Well, in Pakistan where I come from we don't have good teeth, so I want new teeth, maybe a lot of gold in them.'
The fairy looked at the man's almost toothless grin and ~ PING!!! He had a brand new shining set of gold teeth in his mouth!
'What else?' asked the fairy, 'two, more wishes, to go'.
The refugee claimant now got bolder.
'I need a big house with a three car garage in Toronto with eight bedrooms for my family and the rest of my refugee relatives who still live in my country. I want to bring them all over here.
PING! ~ In the distance there could be seen a beautiful mansion with a three car garage, a long driveway, a walkout patio with a BBQ, and a sparkling inground pool and a Hummer, full of his nephews, playing their music.
'One, more wish, left for you', said the fairy, waving her wand.
I want to be Canadian with Canadian clothes instead of rags, and a baseball cap instead of this shawl and I want to have white skin like the Canadians.'
PING! ~ The man was transformed, wearing worn out jeans from Best for Less, a dirty Wall-Mart T-shirt and a greasy baseball cap. He had his bad teeth back and the mansion had disappeared from the horizon. 'What happened to my new teeth?' he wailed. 'Where is my new house? Wheres my Visa Gold Card?'
The fairy said, 'Tough luck. Now that you are Canadian, you're entitled to sweet fuck all like the rest of us. And she disappeared.
**********************************
Global Facts About Sex
At Any Given Moment:
FACT:
79,000,000 people are engaged in sex - right now.
FACT:
58,000,000 are kissing.
FACT:
37,000,000 are relaxing after having sex.
FACT:
1 old person is reading emails.
You hang in there, Sunshine .......
**************** Chicken and Corn Soup with Cornmeal Muffins Active Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Yield: Serves 8 as an appetizer
INGREDIENTS For Cornmeal Muffins:
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
6 tablespoons butter
1(4 1/2 oz) can corn kernels
3/4 cup grated cheese For Soup:
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 oz chorizo sausages
4 boneless single chicken breasts
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon ground cumin
3 cups stock
3 cups tomato juice
2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 red bell peppers
2 zucchini
1 can (12 oz) kidney beans
1 can (12 oz) corn kernels
2 1/2 tablespoons coriander (cilantro)
DIRECTIONS TO PREPARE CORNMEAL MUFFINS:
Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, melt the butter and drain the corn kernels. Stir in with the remaining ingredients and mix well. Spoon the mixture into 8 greased muffin cups (1/3 cup capacity each). Bake at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes, or until cooked when tested with skewer. While the muffins are baking, prepare the soup.
TO PREPARE SOUP:
Heat the oil in a large pan. Chop the chorizo and slice the chicken. Add in batches and cook, stirring, until lightly browned; remove from pan. Reheat the pan, add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onions soften. Add the cumin and cook, stirring, until the spices are fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the stock, tomato juice and tomato paste and bring to a boil. Chop the bell peppers and zucchini and add. Simmer, uncovered, for about 5 minutes or until just tender. Stir in the chicken, rinsed and drained kidney beans, drained corn and coriander (cilantro) and simmer, uncovered, until hot. Serve with the Cornmeal Muffins. The soup can be made a day ahead. The Cornmeal Muffins are suitable for freezing. ********************************** Fast Fiesta Soup
Yield: 4 Servings
INGREDIENTS 2 cans (10 ounces each) diced tomatoes and green chilies
1 can (15 1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
Shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, optional
DIRECTIONS In a saucepan, combine tomatoes, corn and beans; heat through. Garnish servings with cheese and sour cream if desired. ************************ Smoky Mountain Chicken And Rice Casserole Yield: 8 to 10 servings
INGREDIENTS Vegetable cooking spray
2 cups sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cooked rice
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups shredded smoked cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat 13x9x2-inch baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. In large bowl, stir together sour cream, soup, chipotles, salt and pepper until well blended. Stir in rice, chicken and cheese. Spoon into baking dish. Bake uncovered in preheated oven 20 to 25 minutes, until edges of casserole are bubbly. Turn oven to broil setting and lightly brown casserole. ********************************* A married Irishman went into the confessional and said to his priest, 'I almost had an affair with another woman.' The priest said, 'What do you mean, almost?' The Irishman said, 'Well, we got undressed and rubbed together, but then I stopped.' The priest said, 'Rubbing is the same as putting it in. You're not to see that woman again. For your penance, say five Hail Marys and put $50 in the poor box.' The Irishman left the confessional, said his prayers, and then walked over to the poor box. He paused for a moment and then started to leave. The priest, who was watching, quickly ran over to him saying, 'I saw that. You didn't put any money in the poor box!' The Irishman replied, 'Yeah, but I rubbed the $50 on the box, and according to you, that's the same as putting it in!' Lemon Squeeze There once was a religious young woman who went to Confession. Upon entering the confessional, she said, 'Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.'
The priest said, 'Confess your sins and be forgiven.' The young woman said, 'Last night my boyfriend made passionate love to me seven times.' The priest thought long and hard and then said, 'Squeeze seven lemons into a glass and then drink the juice.' The young woman asked, 'Will this cleanse me of my sins?' The priest said, 'No, but it will wipe that smile off of your face.' Looks of Disappointment A man was just waking up from anesthesia after surgery, and his wife was sitting by his side. His eyes fluttered open and he said, 'You're beautiful.' Then he fell asleep again. His wife had never heard him say that before, so she stayed by his side. A few minutes later his eyes fluttered open and he said, 'You're cute..' The wife was disappointed because instead of 'beautiful,' it was now 'cute.' She asked, 'What happened to beautiful?' The man replied, 'The drugs are wearing off.' Catholic Dog Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company.. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, 'Father, my dog is dead... Could ya' be saying' a mass for the poor creature?' Father Patrick replied, 'I'm afraid not; we cannot have services for an animal in the church.... But there are some Baptists down the lane, and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature.' Muldoon said, 'I'll go right away Father. Do ya' think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?' Father Patrick exclaimed, 'Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic? Donation Father O'Malley answers the phone. 'Hello, is this Father O'Malley?' 'It is!' 'This is the Internal Revenue Service . Can you help us?' 'I can!'
'Do you know a Ted Houlihan?' 'I do!' 'Is he a member of your congregation?' 'He is!' 'Did he donate $10,000 to the church?' 'He will.' Confession An elderly man walks into a confessional. The following conversation ensues: Man: 'I am 92 years old, have a wonderful wife of 70 years, many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Yesterday, I picked up two college girls, hitch-hiking. We went to a motel, where I had sex with each of them three times.' Priest: 'Are you sorry for your sins?' Man: 'What sins?' Priest: 'What kind of a Catholic are you?' Man: 'I'm Jewish.' Priest: 'Why are you telling me all this?' Man: 'I'm 92 years old ..... I'm telling everybody!' Brothel Trip An elderly man goes into a brothel and tells the madam he would like a young girl for the night. Surprised, she looks at the ancient man and asks how old he is. 'I'm 90 years old,' he says. '90!' replies the woman. 'Don't you realize you've had it?' 'Oh, sorry,' says the old man. 'How much do I owe you?' Senility An elderly man went to his doctor and said, 'Doc, I think I'm getting senile.. Several times lately, I have forgotten to zip up.'
'That's not senility,' replied the doctor. 'Senility is when you forget to zip down.' Pest Control A woman was having a passionate affair with an Irish inspector from a pest-control company.. One afternoon they were carrying on in the bedroom together when her husband arrived home unexpectedly. 'Quick,' said the woman to the lover, 'into the closet!' and she pushed him in the closet, stark naked. The husband, however, became suspicious and after a search of the bedroom discovered the man in the closet.. 'Who are you?' he asked him.. 'I'm an inspector from Bugs-B-Gone,' said the exterminator. 'What are you doing in there?' the husband asked.. 'I'm investigating a complaint about an infestation of moths,' the man replied. 'And where are your clothes?' asked the husband. The man looked down at himself and said, 'Those little bastards!'.. Marriage Humour
Wife: 'What are you doing?' Husband: Nothing. Wife: 'Nothing...? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour.' Husband: 'I was looking for the expiration date.' ------------------------------- Wife : 'Do you want dinner?' Husband: 'Sure! What are my choices?' Wife: 'Yes or no.'
--------------------------------------------------------
Stress Reliever Girl: 'When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten your burden.' Boy: 'It's very kind of you, darling, but I don't have any worries or troubles.' Girl: 'We ll that's because we aren't married yet.' ------------------------------
Son: 'Mum, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady.' Mom: 'Well, you have done the right thing.' Son: 'But mum, I was sitting on daddy's lap.' ________________________________ A newly married man asked his wife, 'Would you have married me if my father hadn't left me a fortune?' 'Honey,' the woman replied sweetly, 'I'd have married you, NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE!' ------------------------------------------------------------
A wife asked her husband: 'What do you like most in me, my pretty face or my sexy body?' He looked at her from head to toe and replied: 'I like your sense of humour!'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Husbands are husbands
A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the head with a frying pan.
'What was that for?' the man asked.
The wife replied 'That was for the piece of paper with the name Jenny on it that I found in your pants pocket'..
The man then said 'When I was at the races last week Jenny was the name of the horse I bet on' the wife apologized and went on with the housework..
Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious.
Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again.
Wife replied.. 'Your horse phoned' Let us pray..................... Give me a sense of humour, Lord,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some humour out of life,
And pass it on to other folk
Tags: Religion, Recipes, Jokes, Quotes, tidbits
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