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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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

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/

Don’t forget to join Kim Power Stilson and me on March 17th at 3 p.m. Eastern as we talk about all things Irish. Did you know the Irish once saved civilization? Here’s your link:  http://www.byuradio.org/listen

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Archimedes’ Pizza for Pi Day

For all you neo-classic Greek enthusiasts who live for Pi Day 3.14., here is a recipe I invented to pay homage to the great Archimedes and his discovery of pi (pizza that is.)

image

GREEK (PIZZA) PI
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, whose last words were “Don’t disturb my circles.”
            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 rise until you can make a dent in the dough and it doesn’t puff up. Add
roasted garlic Alfredo sauce
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.

Serve with a salad of sliced cucumbers, pepperoncini, mushrooms, spinach, sliced red onion, Kalmata olives and tomatoes dressed lightly with Greek salad dressing.

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Craving Green

As another winter slowly winds down, I find that I am craving green.  With the approach of St. Patrick’s Day, my thoughts are turned to the verdant hills of Ireland. 

For now, I am a full-time student, tethered at home. Primroses and ranunculus are a lovely consolation, sigh.

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Shamrock Service

As Ireland converted to Christianity under St. Patrick, legends of magical creatures like fairies and leprechauns grew smaller until they were “wee people.” Even mischeivous leprechauns honor St. Patrick by doing secret acts of kindness and your family can help.
 Give everyone a handful of shamrocks (make or buy at a craft or fabric store) and have them look for opportunities to do secret acts of service and kindness anonymously. Mark the spot with a shamrock. At dinner on St. Patrick’s Day, collect the shamrocks to  sprinkle around the table and enjoy evidence of kind and loving deeds.
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Valentine’s Day Dinner: Beef Stroganoff

In honor of love and the Olympics in Russia this winter, 
here is a Beef Stroganoff dinner for your Valentines. 
This recipe is a variation of the classic dish popular in  
19th century Russia. It can be ready in less than an hour from start to finish; for a special treat make heart-shaped bread sticks and a strawberry and greens salad with candied pecans.

Beef Stroganoff 

     Dissolve

3 beef bouillon cubes 
     in 
2 ½ C. hot water
     Set aside. Cut into ¾” x 3″ slices
2 lbs. beef tenderloin or sirloin steak
      Melt                

3 TBSP. butter

     in a large skillet, sauté

1 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 onions

¼ C. catsup

1 ½ tsp. garlic salt

     Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 
     Blend together reserved broth with

1/3 C. flour

     Add to meat. Heat to boiling stirring constantly. Boil and stir
      one minute.

     Reduce heat and add

2 C. low fat sour cream

     Heat through. 

Cook 12 – 16 oz. egg noodles noodles as directed on package. Serve with Stroganoff sauce. Makes  6 – 8 servings

Strawberry and Green Salad With Candied Pecans

 Toss together

1 5-7 oz. bag baby salad greens and spinach

2 C strawberries, sliced
1/3 C candied pecans
Dress with 1/3 – 1/2 C Strawberry Vinaigrette
Strawberry Vinaigrette
Mix  together
1/4 C vegetable oil
1/2 C strawberry vinegar
1/4 C honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Candied Pecans
In a nonstick pan, cook and stir until melted and golden
1 C sugar
2 C pecans 
Add 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Break into chunks and cool on parchment or non-stick surface

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

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Valentine’s Day Radio Broadcast

Please join me on Friday, February 14th for Kim Power Stilson’s Talk Worthy show on BYU SiriusXM Radio 143 at 3 p.m. Eastern – that’s 1 p.m. Mountain and noon in CA. We’ll share tips and fun ideas for sharing the love.
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Thank you; The Positive Benefits of Gratitude

What if all you had tomorrow are the things you are thankful for today? 

If everyone in the world was more grateful and less hateful, could we put an end to wars, theft and the evils covetousness leads to, and take better care of the poor and afflicted? 

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28248277&nid=1010&title=a-little-gratitude-every-day-goes-a-long-way&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-2

This article had almost 7,000  views the first day and a half that it appeared online.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744 

I’m excited to announce that I will be doing a series of wedding planning broadcasts on Kim  Power Stilsons’ Talkworthy Show on BYU SiriusXM Radio 143 at 3 p.m. Eastern; the dates will be announced soon. 

Please join me on Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day for a discussion about the relevancy of the wisdom of ancient saints and how we can benefit from their teachings. That’s February 14th and March 17th at 3 p.m. Eastern.

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Eagle Scouts and Art

We were so excited and thrilled for Tim when he became an 
Eagle Scout after working so hard.

 I made this commemorative painting for him. 
This collage represents Tim’s love of his country, 
nature, gardening and swimming.
Oil and paper on board
24 x 20 inches

If you’d like to purchase any of these, call or send me an email at pammcmurtry@yahoo.com.  I’m also taking orders for commission work, if you see a style you like but want a different subject I’d be happy to make something special for you.
These are my latest paintings for a portfolio of religious art.  The other pieces are also available, the sizes and information are on the website above. I am also looking into having giclee copies made  which are beautiful and less-expensive than original art.

Guardian
Oil on canvas
18 x 24 inches
First Miracle
Oil on canvas

18 x 24 inches

 
The Prisoners Shall Go Free
Oil on board
30 x 24 inches

  Lifeguard
Oil on canvas
18 x 24 inches