Two part harmony

Practice playing second fiddle.
Now there's a thought from The Message which  is not advocated by many in our society.  But if we desire to live in harmony, that may be just the thing we need to do.  Realistically speaking, don't we find ourselves playing second fiddle more often than not? We might as well practice so we can play it well. It's the second, third, and fourth fiddles that bring the beautiful symphony to music and to our lives.
Hugs,
Mimi D

Shel's Chili and Snow slows 'em down

Finally the chili recipe. It is so simple that I don't think of it as anything special. Kinda like my cherry dessert where you pour the cake mix out of a box, over cherry pie filling from a can, top with pecans and melted butter, cook until golden, and serve warm with ice cream or dream whip.  Hey, how about that?  Two for the price of one! Much of our snow is gone now that the weather is back in the high 40's and 50's. That's why we live in New Mexico, four gentle seasons and sometimes experienced within the same 24 hours. From my perch in the dining room I can see part of the highway and the cars on it the other morning were moving at the pace of a snail in good shape—super spiral , I guess.  We can call NM DOT or just look out the window and see the pace of the cars on the stretch going down the hillside of the highway. It was a good day, people going slow but no flashing lights to be seen or people in need of tow trucks.That's what we have to do to let the presence of the Lord make us whiter than snow.Go through this life at a safe pace and you will find yourself whistling, smiling, and loving more.
Oh yea, the chili recipe

Eight Maids a-milking and Recipe : simple syrup

The eighth day of Christmas and along come eight maids a-milking and according to some this part of the carol correlates with the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. Here’s a link to a modern version from the Message Bible: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:%201-12%20&version=MSG


If pondered, it will give you a whole lot to think about. The same way milk nourishes and strengthens our bodies the milk of God’s Word does for our Spirit, Soul, and mind.

I drink very little milk ‘straight up’ but the exception comes: when I’m eating cookies and sometimes pancakes or French toast. Of course, you gotta have syrup with the last two, too, which I always make from mapeline. This recipe was requested by one of the best cooks I know so I am honored!

Mapeline syrup

Dump 2 cups of sugar in a medium saucepan and add one cup of water. Stir. Bring to a boil while continuing to stir and then add 1 t. of Mapeline. Turn off heat and you are ready to serve some “at least you know what’s in it” syrup.

Who knows? Maybe those 8 maids a milking had a flask of syrup in their back pocket.

Happy New Year!

Mimi

Great recipe for a group:Southwest Cassoulet

Don't serve this dish without having the recipe available to your guests....because it always brings the highest form of admiration: imitation. It has been rumored that some guests even refused to leave the house of the dinner party until they got the recipe!

Southwest Cassoulet

Ingredients
1 large chopped onion 1 teaspoon of thyme
2 large carrots thinly sliced 1 dried bay leaf
1 small red bell pepper cut into strips .25 t of pepper & liquid hot pepper
2 cloves of garlic,minced 28 oz. canned white beans, drained
1 can 14.5 oz of stewed tomatoes 2 chicken breasts, 1 in. cubes
2.5 cups of chicken broth 1 lb. of Italian sausage, browned

In a 5 to 6 qt. pan over high heat, combine and brown the onion, carrots, pepper, and garlic with 1/2 cup of water. Do this several times until veggies begin to brown. Add tomatoes broth and seasonings. simmer, covered, for 45 min. to blend flavors. Add beans and sausage, simmer uncovered 10 min, Add chicken and simmer gently until chicken pieces are white in the center, about 15 min. Add salt to taste.
Substitutes:2/3 cup dry red wine for part of broth and 1/2 pound turkey kielbasa sausage cubes.
Bon apetit!

Recipe plus

My advent devotional reading reminded me that Bethlehem means "house of bread". Interesting that Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven....and whoever eats this bread will live forever." John 6:51 On a gluten free diet? Jesus and the following recipe can be consumed.

Oatmeal Pancakes
1 cup milk, heated
¾ Ingredient quick cooking oats and ¾ of oat flour
2 T. Sugar
2 t baking powder
½ t. of salt
2 beaten egg yolks
1 T of cooking oil
2 egg whites beaten until stiff
Stir oats into heated milk and let stand for 5 minutes. Combine remaining dry ingredients in mixing bowl then add milk/oat mixture. Stir in egg yolks and oil. Fold beaten egg whites into batter. Cooked on hot, oiled griddle.
Substitutes: applesauce for half of the milk. Add when you add the egg yolks and oil.

Mimi D

Learning to like Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving is over. well, more accurately, the sun has set on the day set aside for everyone to give thanks. Chalk up another one for the Cowboys!
Before I share my sweet potato recipe with you I must confess that they are not on my weekly or even monthly shopping list. Sweet potatoes should make the monthly one but I just forget about them....oh, well, let's not go down or explore that mental aisle any further...I have matured quite a bit over the years when it comes to sweet potatoes. The first huge monumental step was discovering that they do not come from a can! I was shocked as I experienced a fresh one instead of the sticky-icky let's cover up the taste kind with marshmellowskind that I had to get to before the pumpkin pie was served.. No orange s'mores for me. Many a Thanksgiving paper napkin stuffed with the gooey variety accompanied me to the kitchen to "get more water" when I was a kid. Another real big help in getting over the sweet potato hurdle was eating at my mother-in-law's table as a newly wed who didn't want to offend her. No one else at the table was still holding on to the common childhood dietary requirement made by many parents, that is, "You've got to try at least three bites of everything being served."
The recipe is very tasty, not too sweet, and a zinch to do. I think I'll make it again .....in a couple of months.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples
4 large sweet potatoes

1 cup cinnamon flavoured
Applesauce

¼ tsp salt

½ cup of dried crispy apple
chips, broken tn large
pieces
Scrub, dry and pierce the sweet potatoes in several places with a fork. Arrange on paper towels in microwave and cook on high 15 to 20 minutes, turning halfway, until soft when pierced with a fork. (Oven 400 for 45 min.)
Halve, then scoop potatoes from skins. Mash in large bowl, then stir in applesauce and salt. Heat in microwave 5 minutes until hot. Spoon into serving dish and top with crushed apple chips.
Dish made be made one day ahead, just reheat and serve.
This is my favourite way to serve sweet potatoes.
Mimi D