My Mom, sister Cindy and I posed in the sun just before Cindy’s wedding.
I’m getting ready to paint this happy group – how I love my girls!
(Photo by Becky Gemmel)
The Girls
Pizza Pi for 3.14 PI DAY!
The number and symbol for pi are credited to the Greek genius Archimedes who lived in the third century. This Greek pizza entree for Pi Day is a tribute to the brilliant man.
GREEK (PIZZA) PI
Preheat oven to 400°. In a large mixing bowl stir together
2 C hot water
2 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP yeast
Leave in a warm place until foam covers the surface. While the yeast is rising,
lightly grease two 10” x 15” rimless cookie pans with olive oil, set aside. When foam covers
the surface of the yeast/water mixture, add
4 C. bread flour
2 C. whole wheat flour
1 TBSP salt
1 TBSP olive oil
Mix until a smooth dough is formed, Divide in half. Divide each half into thirds. Make
a pi symbol π and place one on each baking pan. Flatten the dough with your hands. Let
a pi symbol π and place one on each baking pan. Flatten the dough with your hands. Let
rise until you can make a dent in the dough and it doesn’t puff up. Add
1/2 jar roasted garlic Alfredo sauce
1 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
Add any of your favorite Greek toppings:
roasted chicken
red onion rings, thinly sliced
julienne spinach leaves
pepperoncini slices
Kalmata olives, sliced
sautéed mushrooms
marinated artichoke hearts
basil pesto
tomatoes, quartered
Top with
crumbled Feta cheese
Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Oh My Goodness Delicious Corned Beef, Dijon Buttered Cabbage and Leprechaun Treasure Dessert
GLAZED CORNED BEEF
This is so tasty, you may never go back to old-school corned beef.
Preheat oven to 350. Place fat side up in a baking pan
1 corned beef brisket, rinsed, don’t use the spice packet
Cover with foil, bake for 2 1/2 hours or until fork-tender. Drain, score with a knife, stud with
whole cloves
baste with
ginger ale
brush on glaze, return to oven and bake for 30 – 40 minutes uncovered. Let cool for 15 minutes,
slice across the grain
1 corned beef brisket, rinsed, don’t use the spice packet
Cover with foil, bake for 2 1/2 hours or until fork-tender. Drain, score with a knife, stud with
whole cloves
baste with
ginger ale
brush on glaze, return to oven and bake for 30 – 40 minutes uncovered. Let cool for 15 minutes,
slice across the grain
BROWN SUGAR MUSTARD GLAZE
Stir together
1/2 C prepared mustard
1/2 C + 2 TBSP brown sugar
DIJON-BUTTERED CABBAGE
Cut in half, remove core and cut into 1/2″ slices
1 medium head of cabbage
Steam covered for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp-tender, drain, drizzle with Dijon butter and season
with sea salt and pepper.
DIJON BUTTER
Melt
1/2 C butter
Stir in
2 1/2 TBSP Dijon mustard
LEPRECHAUN TREASURE DESSERT
The leprechauns keep this hidden until the end of the meal for good reason. You might wish to dig out a Halloween cauldron to serve this dessert sprinkled with gold (chocolate) coins; this treasure has layers of rich chocolate goodness. You may wish to make your own or buy these ingredients:
1 pan of brownies (9″ x 13″ size)
1/2 gallon good-quality mint and chip ice cream
fudge sauce
whipped cream
shaved chocolate
BROWNIES
Bake brownies according to package directions, then cool and break into large chunks
FUDGE SAUCE
Warm in a sauce pan
1 1/2 C heavy cream
Add and stir until melted
16 oz. milk chocolate chips or chocolate bars
1 tsp vanilla
WHIPPED CREAM
In a chilled bowl, whip until soft peaks form
1 1/2 C heavy cream or whipping cream
1/4 C powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
ASSEMBLE LEPRECHAUN TREASURE DESSERT:
In a cauldron or other container layer:
brownies
fudge sauce
ice cream
brownies
fudge sauce
ice cream
fudge sauce
whipped cream
Sprinkle with shaved chocolate and serve with gold coins
Thank you Beth for posting this delicious recipe on Mint.com!
https://www.mint.com/blog/how-to/beyond-green-beer-9-shamrock-inspired-st-patricks-day-recipes-0314/
Easy-to-make Easter Gift
Is the Easter Bunny at your house looking for easy inexpensive gifts to fill the baskets? Here’s a cute and easy project:
You will need:
2 twelve inch scrapbook papers
2 plain white 8.5″ x 11″ papers for each booklet
miniature colored pencils (shown from Michael’s Crafts)
gluestick or glue
grommets, punch and setter or sewing machine
twine or ribbon
Attach the scrapbook papers together with right sides out using the adhesive.
Cut into 4″ x 12″ strips. Decide which will be the outside, lay the paper with the outside down. Fold 2” of the bottom edge up toward the center and crease. Punch holes and use grommets in the corners or stitch to make a pocket.
Bring the top edge down to the bottom fold and crease the center, it should be 5″‘ x 4″ . Set aside the cover.
Fold the white paper lengthwise into 4.25″ x 11″. Cut into three strips 4.25″ x 3.66″ Stack the six sheets and punch holes on the crease, about an inch in from each edge.
Lay the white papers on the cover, center them and punch matching holes in the cover. Tie together with twine or ribbon.
Tuck pencils into pocket and give to darling little people.
It must be March
I’m popping the corn and pulling out the “Irish” movies. Oh yes.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People was my favorite St. Patrick’s Day flick forever, then I discovered charming The Secret of Roan Inish, and Waking Ned Devine (for grown-ups) . When I crave an early proxy romp over the verdant hills of the Emerald Isles, I know just where to turn. The snow is still piled high on my Utah hillside and the closest thing I get to the beach is an occasional whiff of the great Salt Lake, but I turn on my DVD player and the charm of a quaint seaside Gaelic village beckons my imagination.
Erin Go Braugh! (Ireland Forever!)
Share the Love – the Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift
Here’s a little message about giving your loved one(s) just what they want for Valentine’s Day and every day. It’s published by Deseret Connect.
http://familyshare.com/share-the-love-giving-the-right-kind-of-gift?Itemid=631
Valentine’s Day Beef Stroganoff and Cherry Delight
This delicious Stroganoff is a classic and is fairly simple to make. It’s included in my (proposed) book; A Caterer’s Handbook. While the Stroganoff is cooking, boil the water for the noodles, add them at the very last while the sauce is heating through. The Cherry Delight can be made a day ahead and refrigerated.
BEEF STROGANOFF
Dissolve in
2 1/2 C hot water
3 beef boullion cubes
set aside. Cut into 3/4″ x 3″ slices
2 lbs. beef tenderloin or sirloin steak
Melt
3 TBSP. butter
in a skillet, sauté
½ lb. sliced mushrooms
remove and set aside. In same skillet, brown beef. Reserve
2/3 C. beef broth
stir into skillet remaining broth and
1/3 C. dried onion
¼ C. catsup
1 ½ tsp. garlic salt
Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Blend together remaining broth and
1/3 C. flour
Stir into meat, add sautéed mushrooms, heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute. Add
2 C. low fat sour cream
Heat through. Cook 8 –10 oz. medium noodles as directed on package. Serve with Stroganoff.
6 – 8 servings
This is a light, creamy cheesecake style dessert that people rave over.
CHERRY DELIGHT
Preheat oven to 400°
Crust
Mix together as for piecrust
2 C flour
1 C butter, softenened
1 C chopped nuts
½ C brown sugar
Press into 9 x 13” pan, bake for 15 min.
Turn out of pan onto waxed paper, crumble and pat back into pan. Chill
Filling
Whip in a chilled bowl
1 C whipping cream
¼ C powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Set aside. Cream
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 C powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Fold into whipped cream, spread over crust. Pour over
2 cans cherry pie filling
Refrigerate 12 hours, keeps several days in refrigerator. Serves 15
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for 1619…
My ancestor, William Tracy, came from England to America in 1619 to serve as Governor of the Berkeley Colony in Virginia. The company’s charter gave them instructions to kneel and give thanks when they arrived; and every year thereafter. America’s first Thanksgiving was held in Virginia one year before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts in 1620.
Last month on my birthday we traveled to Andrew and Annie’s house in Virginia, where they live just a few minutes away from the “plantation”, home of the Tracys 394 years ago.
William died in 1620, his wife, daughter and her husband were killed by Native Americans in the Indian Massacre of 1622. His one surviving son was sent back to England to learn a trade.
William died in 1620, his wife, daughter and her husband were killed by Native Americans in the Indian Massacre of 1622. His one surviving son was sent back to England to learn a trade.
Andrew, Tim and I stand outside the gates of the Berkeley Plantation, near where our first
“American ” immigrant ancestors landed almost 400 years earlier.
Andrew, an American soldier, discovered that “Taps” was composed at the Berkeley Colony in 1862.
Next stop, Colonial Williamsburg….
This was the capitol of Virginia until Thomas Jefferson moved it to Richmond.
Are you going to forget my birthday card next year? I think not….
This King James Bible was a gift from the King of England to the Episcopal Church in America. Teddy Roosevelt commissioned this ornate stand to support and display the Bible. Lady Liberty stands with one foot on North America and one foot on Europe. Photo courtesy of Newell McMurtry
The newer areas of Colonial Willaimsburg are delightfully decorated for Christmas – this store reminded us of grandaughter Brynn (“Binns”). The boys and I stopped at Williams Sonoma for a sample of hot cocoa and English toffee while Newell inspected tartan plaids at a Scottish import shop.
This old house was only about eight feet deep!
These trees appeared to have been transplanted from a hobbit yard in the Shire.
Tim is standing near the Capitol in Washington DC where we stopped on New Year’s Eve hoping to see the American Constitution. We arrived too late to view the document, but were able to see the Senate in session. There were a handful of Senators on the floor, presumably more arrived later to work on the “fiscal cliff” problem. The fleet of black SUVs parked around the building looked like they were out of a spy movie.
P.S. Did I mention I saw Dorothy’s ruby slippers at the Smithsonian?
Time For A Climate Change: Civility and Respect; A Remedy to Bullying and Hate
While bullying and hate crimes fill the news and desrupt the peaceful environment we long for; we may wonder what are the remedies? Some people strive to do the right thing; to please God, be an ethical person, to help others… there are myriads of reasons; social, emotional, physical. We may wish to help, but not know how to teach and encourage respect through our actions. For answers we turn to the scriptures, look to the examples of Jesus Christ. We may read Plato or Buddha, C.S. Lewis or other philosophers.
Last night as the storms raged, I sat in a Diversity and Health class at the University of Utah listening to a wise teacher construct a framework of respect that will be adhered to in her classroom. Her ideas were simple and powerful and with regards to Ms. Farnsworth, I will share her instructions on creating a respectful environment, with my additional comments.
RESPECT is treating people as equals. RESPECT is not the same as being nice in a passive-aggressive way, especially to avoid conflict. God says He loves all His children equally, who are we to judge, disdain or dismiss? (He does say He favors the righteous.) Wasn’t our country founded on the idea of universal equality? Isn’t this the foundation of the greatest country ever?
We must take OWNERSHIP for our opinions. Our experiences, beliefs and thoughts are our own and are unique; everyone comes from a different place, with different experiences and outlooks. Qualify a statement with “I believe…” or “I think…”, my favorite – “I could be wrong, but…”
SUPPORT statements with facts and information, cite outside sources and studies that back up assertions.
LISTEN RESPECTFULLY. No side conversations, rolling eyes or sighing. No rude comments, and especially no loaded passive-aggressive or dishonest questions that are in reality, trying to hurt others, “But don’t you think…”
Maintain CONFIDENTIALITY and be RESPONSIBLE for the information you know (or think you know). Too many lives and reputations are disrupted by lies, half-truths and innuendo.
If you feel OFFENDED or DISRESPECTED contact the person immediately (privately.) I need to do this better, it’s much more effective than a grudge.
REMEMBER the Golden Rule: Treat others as you wish to be treated. And the Platinum Rule: Treat others as they wish to be treated.
As I walked through the driving snow after class, I thought of Christ’s response to the woman who was taken in adultery (where was her partner?) He, who would ultimately pay the penalty for her act if she repented, simply said “Go and sin no more.” No abuse, dismissive behavior, gossip or punishment. We have much less at stake, but our behavior does affect the emotional climate of our culture and the world.
It’s time for a climate change! Let’s do our best to bring warmth and kindness to a cold and weary world.
Joy to the World
This is the story we read every year and never tire of hearing.
Every Christmas Eve we gather and read
Luke 2 from the New Testament in the Holy Bible
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
I wish you a very merry Christmas and a year filled with rich blessings.