After a year of battling an aggressive form of cancer, every complication and side effect of intense chemotherapy and radiation, as well as the spread of the cancer to multiple sites, landing in the intensive care unit on life support came as no surprise to Harry's wife and children. The year had given them time to grasp the reality of possibly losing their father. While Harry lay in the ICU bed with multiple IV lines through which life-saving medications were infusing, each of his children were making arrangements to fly home to see their Dad, not knowing if this would be the last time, or just another scare during the journey of watching their father battle cancer. One by one each of Harry's sons and daughters came to see him. When all had arrived, they met together to discuss the ... View Post
Playground Bible Study
As I sit down to tell you a story about a little girl named Jordan who loves Jesus, my friend sends me an audio message of her brand new, sweet little grandson coo-ing. Her timing was perfect; or, perhaps it was God's timing. I had just asked Him to give me His words to tell this story. When I imagined the proud smile of my friend over her adorable new grandson, the love she already has for him, and the influence she will have in his life, I am reminded of Matthew 18:3 that says, "And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." We have such an incredible opportunity to influence our little ones. I am more aware of that influence now, as my own children are young adults, and especially as I watch friends ... View Post
Open-faced Texas Burgers
INGREDIENTS: One small garlic clove, 2 T chopped onion, 1/2 t dried thyme, 2/3 cup shredded colby jack cheese, 2/3 pounds ground sirloin, slices of frozen garlic toast, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1-1/2 t packed brown sugar, 1/2 t A1 steak sauce, and 1/2 t Worchestershire sauce. DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, combine the onion, garlic, thyme and 1/2 cup cheese. Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well. Shape into oval-shaped patties. In a large skillet, cook burgers over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink. Meanwhile, prepare the toast. Drain burgers, set aside, and keep warm. Add tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worchestershire sauce, brown sugar, and steak sauce to skillet. Boil and stir 1-2 minutes until slightly thick. Return the burgers to skillet, ... View Post
Gnocchi Chicken Minestrone Soup
1-1/4 pounds chicken, 3/4 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 3 sweet peppers, 2 Tsp olive oil (divided), zucchini, 1/3 cup chopped red onion, 1/2 cup deli ham, 4 cloves garlic, 2 cans chicken broth, 1 can Italian diced tomatoes, 3/4 cup canned white kidney beans, 1/2 cup frozen peas, 3 Tsp tomato paste, 1 package potato gnocchi, 1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese, 1 tsp basil Sprinkle the chicken with oregano, salt, pepper. Saute covered in 1 Tsp olive oil. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, cook veggies. Add ham, garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add broth, tomatoes, beans, peas, tomato paste, and chicken. Boil. Reduce the heat and simmer NOT covered x 20 minutes (stir!). Cook the gnocchi separate, then add. Garnish with cheese and basil. ... View Post
Grandma Dody’s Peanut Butter Cookies
My grandmother's name was "Josephine," but when my Uncle Lawrence was young, and unable to pronounce her nickname "Josie" he called her "Dody." So my grandma was always known as "Grandma Dody." This was her recipe, passed down to MY mom, and down to me. I remember walking home from school and smelling them baking when I would get about 3 or 4 houses away from our house. I loved the smell of "home" when I was young, and to this day, the aromas in my mom's house still make it feel just like "home." 1 cup shortening, 1 cup peanut butter, 2 cups brown sugar (packed), 2 eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp milk. Cream the shortening and peanut butter. Add the brown sugar and mix! Add eggs, and mix well. Add the milk. Now, add the sifted ingredients a little bit at a time and ... View Post
Nova Scotia Butter Tarts, by Aunt Joanie
PIE CRUST: 2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 2/3 cup shortening, 1/3 cup water. Roll out and cut with a small glass. Roll out large enough to fill a muffin tin. FILLING: 1/3 cup melted butter, 1 cup sifted brown sugar, 2 T milk, 1/2 cup raisins, 1 beaten egg, 1 t vanilla. Mix together and put spoonfuls into each of the tart shells (in the muffin tins). Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. ... View Post
Chocolate Shirley Russell Cake
3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 6 tablespoons cocoa (1/3 cup), 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt. Combine above ingredients with a fork! Add: 3/4 cup salad oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 cups of water. Bake in a 9 x 13 inch pan at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. DO NOT USE A MIXER! This MUST be mixed by HAND!! ... View Post
Nicole’s “Seven-Layer Spanish Dip”
For this dip - Use a large clear glass bowl, because it is very colorful and pretty ! 1) One 10-1/2 ounce can of bean dip and one 10-1/2 ounce can of refried beans. Mix and spread in a large cake pan. 2) 4-6 avocados, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Mash and spread on the bean layer. 3) One package of taco seasoning mix, 2 tablespoons of mayonaise, 3 tablespoons of sour cream. Mix and spread on last layer. 4) 1/2 pound grated jack cheese, 1/2 pound grated cheddar cheese, mix and spread on the last layer. 5) Two 8-1/2 ounce cans of chopped black olives. Spread on the last layer. 6) 3-4 small tomatos diced and spread on the last layer. 7) 4-5 chopped green onions. 8) Another optional layer of cheese! ... View Post