More Celebrating

Valentines is being spread out over the week this year.
It began with a small package for two, dropped off at the post office.
On another day Papa took Makenna to the new Walmart for a treat while
Tehya came over for another episode of Anne of Green Gables.
We also baked a cherry tart / platz.
 

Tehya learned how to use the pastry cutter for the pastry and the crumb topping.
She liked taking handfuls of the crumbly mix, squeezing and dropping it on the cake
before it went into the oven.
 

It was still warm when the taste testing began.
The next "grand" baking date is coming over tomorrow . . .
and we will see what comes out of the oven,
when Valentines continues.
 

Happy Family Day!

 

The last family picture we took was about a year ago. As you can see . . .
it is not an easy feat to get everyone co-operating.
When the babies are being good, the big kids may not be . . .

but I love the scene.
It's family. . .
a kinship needing no special day,
but to seize the days we have been given.

Dear Lord in heaven, creator of life
and family,
You know the things that threaten
family relationships today . . .
You see the silent tears
of hearts breaking - walls built . . .
We pray that we will remember
that You, who made us,
knows how we are made, that we are but dust.
And because of this, You also know how to fix us.
Help us to turn to you as families,
to receive Your forgiveness and healing.
May the gift of family be an extension
of Your love to the world . . .
an example of grace and mercy
in daily life.
Amen

 

Make Your Own Breadcrumbs

My mom once told me that she cannot bear to throw out bread.
I know she will if it's absolutely necessary, but I think I know what she means...
and it's funny how I've been reminded of that.
I remember when we were living in Brazil, beggars coming to our gate
and asking for old bread. They did not ask for money,
they were truly hungry and had nothing.
In many countries, bread is symbolic of life.
It's the staple around which other meals are planned . . .
be it a loaf, a flatbread or a tortilla.
Our grandmothers quickly learned that stale bread has valuable use.
Did you know that French toast and bread pudding taste better, using stale bread?



I wanted to use up these frozen hot dog buns -
 a reminder of  the last outdoor wiener roast, months ago.
Not a good quality for either of the above.
 

So I decided to toast them up for breadcrumbs. I put them in the oven at 300 F on convection
( if you do not have a convection oven, just bake them up  350 F)  for 20 - 30 minutes until they are dried out and brittle - just beginning to brown on the edges.

 

I put them in my blender  

and had fine crumbs in no time.
Once the blades are covered with fine crumbs,
 it is best to remove the large pieces and pour out the fine crumbs,
to start it up again.

I keep dry breadcrumbs in the freezer.
It is one of those staples that is needed when least expected . . .
to top off  a casserole, add to meat dishes such as meatballs and meatloaf
or quickly bread some fish fillets or country fried steak.

 

Even in This . . .

I love driving into our thirty-year-old cul-de-sac! One that gives evidence of homes that have lovingly been cared for by one family after another. A street where young boys have played hockey with their dads before moving on to bigger things. A place where you will find neighbors visiting on sidewalks on long summer evenings. I appreciate the 'established' feeling of homes framed by tall evergreens and backyard birches bending in ice storms to bud with bright green foliage in the spring -joining the cherry blossoms - and Japanese maples that turn ever so red in the Fall before they blanket the ground in color.

There is a sense of ownership of what happens on this street, where neighbors take in each other's mail when one is on vacation and just generally look out for each other. So . . . no wonder . . . when, one day last week, I jumped when I heard the sound of tree cutting and mulching and all that goes with it. I was almost afraid to look out . . .



 

but there they were . . . our new neighbors across the street obviously do not share any of my sentimental feelings.  Barely moved in, the tall evergreens were quickly coming down.

  

I watched in horror . . . and when they were done in front, they continued in the back yard.

The land is cleared . . . for what I do not know.
Yet I have to remember that even in this, . . .
in trees and streets and neighbors . . . there is a season.
May I find grace to embrace the new.

Happy Birthday, Teddy

Dear Teddy . . . since we cannot be there today to watch you blow out your candle . . .
 I zoomed in on the closest thing I could find . . .
wondering where the year has gone.



A year that began when your big sister was hastily dropped off  at our door with a bag . . .
and we waited for the call that eventually came.
Tessa Lynn Dior . . . born February 3, 2012
 

Your easy smile lights up the room. You are
 sweetness to your daddy,
joy to your mom,
laughter to your sister and
love to all of us . . .
the baby in our family.

 It is evident that  you rise above circumstances . . .
content . . . joyful . . . savoring the moments.
May you always stay this way . . .
and may God protect and shower you with love.
Sending hugs and kisses
over the mountains,
Papa and Mimi

   

Soup for a Cold Day

I finally got around to trying the taco soup in the MGCC cookbook and blog. I don't know why it took me this long, but I have enjoyed it a number of times within a short time now. Last week Lovella and I each cooked a triple recipe for a large group. We let it simmer for several hours and served it with sour cream, cheese, fresh cilantro and shredded taco salad toppers.
I love the colors of the shredded tacos that Lovella brought. You can use your favorite toppings, make the soup spicier or not so spicy . . . but I'm pretty sure you'd like it too.
(oh and, if you follow in the book, don't be fooled into adding the taco chips, sour cream and cheese with the rest of the ingredients. It does only get added as garnish. Oops!)