Funny how a person who once upon a time didn't really like tomatoes much at all, today, creates a whole dinner menu around that very ingredient.
What's for dinner you ask?
Why Tomato Pie and Tomato Soup.
I even have a few tomatoes left over from the Farmer's Market this week. If time allows, I plan to make a homemade fresh tomato and mozzarella pasta dish sometime soon.
MMmm.
Dinner is ready and we're off to the pool. What could be better?
If only...
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Heavens Party
I happened to peek outside of the window when it was teeth brushing time in our house. There just aren't words to descibe the beauty in what I saw outside our window. It literally took my breath away.
There is a reason people say "Outta the mouths of babes!"
"Oh Mom! Heaven's having a party! " said my middle child when she caught a glimpse of the sunset sky.
She was right indeed.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Bacon Cider Pork
Hot? I know, I know, it is summer after all. It was down right steamy here where we live today. My skin was sticky and when that happens, I am in no mood to cook anything in the oven for dinner.
Our monthly meal swap crept up under my feet again this month.
My assignment-pork.
My challenge was to find a recipe which would not require us to turn on our ovens.
My result- Bacon Cider Pork
Ingredients:
Trim, cut, and season one pork tenderloin (1- 1 1/2 lbs) - I used boneless pork chops since they were on sale and cut them in half.
Wrap each pork steak in a strip of bacon
olive oil to saute pork
1/4 cup shallots minced
1/2 cup of cider or apple juice
2 T unsalted cold butter sliced
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Trim tenderloin of fat and silverskin and cut into steaks about 1 1/2 inches thick. Season with salt and pepper.
Wrap each steak in a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Saute pork for 5 mins. per side or until browned. Tip the steaks on their edges to to brown the bacon, rolling them until they brown, about 3 minutes total. Cover and finish cooking to an internal temp. of 145 degrees., about 5 mins. Remove pork and keep warm. Pour all but about 1 T of the pan drippings.
Saute shallots for 2 mins in the same pan, stirring constantly. Deglaze pan with cider, scraping up the brown bits and simmer for two minutes. Then add butter, swirling until butter melts. Return pork to pan along with any accumulated juices and season sauce with salt and pepper.
Serves 4 (2 steaks per person)
The recipe suggests serving the pork with Marmalade Sweet Potatoes and a second side of spinach. I must say the picture looks very pretty with the variety of colors in the meal, which by the way, means lots of good healthy vitamins!
Cut 2-3 Sweet Potatoes into strips like steak fries.
Toss in 1/2 cup of Orange Marmalade that has been melted
salt to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Wrap inside of baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick spray.
Cut potatoes into wedges and toss with marmalade. Season with salt. Arrange on a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 35 minutes or until fork tender. Turn once.
I plan to use my toaster oven to make the Sweet Potatoes.
Would you please share any family friendly recipes you have for hot weather?
Thanks.
Our monthly meal swap crept up under my feet again this month.
My assignment-pork.
My challenge was to find a recipe which would not require us to turn on our ovens.
My result- Bacon Cider Pork
Ingredients:
Trim, cut, and season one pork tenderloin (1- 1 1/2 lbs) - I used boneless pork chops since they were on sale and cut them in half.
Wrap each pork steak in a strip of bacon
olive oil to saute pork
1/4 cup shallots minced
1/2 cup of cider or apple juice
2 T unsalted cold butter sliced
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Trim tenderloin of fat and silverskin and cut into steaks about 1 1/2 inches thick. Season with salt and pepper.
Wrap each steak in a strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Saute pork for 5 mins. per side or until browned. Tip the steaks on their edges to to brown the bacon, rolling them until they brown, about 3 minutes total. Cover and finish cooking to an internal temp. of 145 degrees., about 5 mins. Remove pork and keep warm. Pour all but about 1 T of the pan drippings.
Saute shallots for 2 mins in the same pan, stirring constantly. Deglaze pan with cider, scraping up the brown bits and simmer for two minutes. Then add butter, swirling until butter melts. Return pork to pan along with any accumulated juices and season sauce with salt and pepper.
Serves 4 (2 steaks per person)
The recipe suggests serving the pork with Marmalade Sweet Potatoes and a second side of spinach. I must say the picture looks very pretty with the variety of colors in the meal, which by the way, means lots of good healthy vitamins!
Cut 2-3 Sweet Potatoes into strips like steak fries.
Toss in 1/2 cup of Orange Marmalade that has been melted
salt to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Wrap inside of baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick spray.
Cut potatoes into wedges and toss with marmalade. Season with salt. Arrange on a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 35 minutes or until fork tender. Turn once.
I plan to use my toaster oven to make the Sweet Potatoes.
Would you please share any family friendly recipes you have for hot weather?
Thanks.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Super Saturdays
interrupted sleep
overslept and missed the Swim Team photos AND warm ups
upset child having missed said photo
I forgave myself almost immediately... which almost never happens
I finally made it to the meet only to discover we forgot a few items...AHHH
small child at home begins throwing up
Plan B for the day begins to unfold...
RETAKE
deep breaths
I GET to have an interrupted night's sleep because there are three living children in our house.
I can't remember the last time I overslept and was late for something. I may be late for events or arrive at the eleventh hour, but thankfully being this late is not a regular pattern for our family. We missed the photo and warm ups and not any of the swimming events. There really are worse things in life...
Sure, the photo would have been nice but the memories made from the swim team this summer will linger forever in our hearts. I've taken a few pictures of my own throughout the meets this season as evidence that we really swam this year. Besides, we can still order the photo and remember our other swim team friends and coaches.
Maybe we lost the meet and didn't improve our times but my daughter did GET to swim AND we had fun today! There are many children who would give anything to swim. They wouldn't take for granted the simple blessing of just being healthy enough to swim and to be able to get to the other side of the pool. Neither would their parents. As far as I am concerned, we did WIN in all the ways that really matter.
Little one throwing up is most likely an irritating little bug in our house. I am sorry that he is sick but I have also painfully learned perspective. I think I managed to balance my natural tendency to worry and to have the big picture. Again, many would gladly take this bug over some of the other mountains they are facing. Insert prayers here for Mandi, Matthew, and James.
I was also thankful and grateful to have a husband to balance the scale of need. One person cannot be in two places at once. Insert special prayers for Julie and others facing a new life of single parenthood.
I love swim meets. I love seeing the community pull together for the good of our kids and have fun swimming. There's no doubt that a lot of hard work and time gets put into making the day happen. My belief is to find some way, big or small, to be a part of the action. Trust me, the experience that you leave with will be far richer for we are stronger when we all work together...
My volunteer position allowed me to meet a mom who had previously been a friendly face at the pool for a few years. I enjoyed meeting her officially and learned we shared some things in common. While doing our job, we also learned our families are both facing the challenge of grieving the loss of an immediate family member. Our situations were different but the pain was understood. Insert evidence of my own growth. There have times in the past that I would have avoided any and all conversation with a new person. There have been times that I have been a mess worried about having to answer the "How many kids do you have?" question...I answered today with a strong heart. I was even strong enough to revisit periods of my own early days of grief and flip back to the present time of today without crying. (Tomorrow could very well be a different story and that would be okay too.)
Due to our late arrival, we needed to look harder for some shade from the hot sun. A blessing in disguise unfolded and we discovered we liked our new spot. In fact, we didn't know what we were missing. The temperature was much cooler and there was a delightful breeze in our new location. Thanks to the W family for your help in locating our shady spot for the day!
I enjoyed visiting with friends at the pool and watching the smiles abounding in slow motion it seemed...
Still more grateful heart moments...
I have become in contact with a few people to help me get our foundation off the ground and running. I can hardly contain my excitement and yet I am nervous too. I want so badly for this new venture to be successful and for it to be done well. I fear my emotions will be a weakness.
I was also approached by a young man who sold homemade donuts (YUM!) and who wanted to donate his proceeds to charity. His choice? Yep, you guessed it. He wanted his proceeds to help spread "Rays of Sunshine" to critically ill children and their families. Honestly folks, it really doesn't get any sweeter and more pure than to witness the heart of a child ministering to the hearts of others in need. Thank you N! Please thank your other team members and your parents too for helping us to make a such a difference in the lives of children in need of your help! Your efforts will shine hope on other kids who need it most!
Swimmer girl ended up having a great day and so did the boys at home. Grandparents blessed us by lending their support too. Swimmer girl tried a new stroke and did very well. I am so proud.
So for a day that sure started off very cloudy, the sun sure did SHINE!!
overslept and missed the Swim Team photos AND warm ups
upset child having missed said photo
I forgave myself almost immediately... which almost never happens
I finally made it to the meet only to discover we forgot a few items...AHHH
small child at home begins throwing up
Plan B for the day begins to unfold...
RETAKE
deep breaths
I GET to have an interrupted night's sleep because there are three living children in our house.
I can't remember the last time I overslept and was late for something. I may be late for events or arrive at the eleventh hour, but thankfully being this late is not a regular pattern for our family. We missed the photo and warm ups and not any of the swimming events. There really are worse things in life...
Sure, the photo would have been nice but the memories made from the swim team this summer will linger forever in our hearts. I've taken a few pictures of my own throughout the meets this season as evidence that we really swam this year. Besides, we can still order the photo and remember our other swim team friends and coaches.
Maybe we lost the meet and didn't improve our times but my daughter did GET to swim AND we had fun today! There are many children who would give anything to swim. They wouldn't take for granted the simple blessing of just being healthy enough to swim and to be able to get to the other side of the pool. Neither would their parents. As far as I am concerned, we did WIN in all the ways that really matter.
Little one throwing up is most likely an irritating little bug in our house. I am sorry that he is sick but I have also painfully learned perspective. I think I managed to balance my natural tendency to worry and to have the big picture. Again, many would gladly take this bug over some of the other mountains they are facing. Insert prayers here for Mandi, Matthew, and James.
I was also thankful and grateful to have a husband to balance the scale of need. One person cannot be in two places at once. Insert special prayers for Julie and others facing a new life of single parenthood.
I love swim meets. I love seeing the community pull together for the good of our kids and have fun swimming. There's no doubt that a lot of hard work and time gets put into making the day happen. My belief is to find some way, big or small, to be a part of the action. Trust me, the experience that you leave with will be far richer for we are stronger when we all work together...
My volunteer position allowed me to meet a mom who had previously been a friendly face at the pool for a few years. I enjoyed meeting her officially and learned we shared some things in common. While doing our job, we also learned our families are both facing the challenge of grieving the loss of an immediate family member. Our situations were different but the pain was understood. Insert evidence of my own growth. There have times in the past that I would have avoided any and all conversation with a new person. There have been times that I have been a mess worried about having to answer the "How many kids do you have?" question...I answered today with a strong heart. I was even strong enough to revisit periods of my own early days of grief and flip back to the present time of today without crying. (Tomorrow could very well be a different story and that would be okay too.)
Due to our late arrival, we needed to look harder for some shade from the hot sun. A blessing in disguise unfolded and we discovered we liked our new spot. In fact, we didn't know what we were missing. The temperature was much cooler and there was a delightful breeze in our new location. Thanks to the W family for your help in locating our shady spot for the day!
I enjoyed visiting with friends at the pool and watching the smiles abounding in slow motion it seemed...
Still more grateful heart moments...
I have become in contact with a few people to help me get our foundation off the ground and running. I can hardly contain my excitement and yet I am nervous too. I want so badly for this new venture to be successful and for it to be done well. I fear my emotions will be a weakness.
I was also approached by a young man who sold homemade donuts (YUM!) and who wanted to donate his proceeds to charity. His choice? Yep, you guessed it. He wanted his proceeds to help spread "Rays of Sunshine" to critically ill children and their families. Honestly folks, it really doesn't get any sweeter and more pure than to witness the heart of a child ministering to the hearts of others in need. Thank you N! Please thank your other team members and your parents too for helping us to make a such a difference in the lives of children in need of your help! Your efforts will shine hope on other kids who need it most!
Swimmer girl ended up having a great day and so did the boys at home. Grandparents blessed us by lending their support too. Swimmer girl tried a new stroke and did very well. I am so proud.
So for a day that sure started off very cloudy, the sun sure did SHINE!!
What a difference it makes looking for sunshine rather than focusing on the clouds. Jeremy, all these many months later, we still remember one of the lessons that you taught us so well, to always hang on to the sunshine. It's there, you might have to look harder for it some days than others but if you look, you will find it.
Wishing you a sunny and Grateful Heart day!
**Had high hopes to post on Saturday but didn't quite make the cut.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wide Open
The nitty gritty of reality for me is that two years out from this origin of horror and tragedy is that it still hurts like ****. My gut reaction at least once on a daily basis is to close up, curl up in a ball, and to put armour on so tight that nothing and no one can penetrate my soul. This is surely no way to live. One can exist this way but the questions is can you live this way? Can one live fully this way?
In the past I have cocooned. I have tried each and every way I could to make the pain go away. I've learned it doesn't really ever go away. Pain silently waits and will reappear again, and again, and again. In my case, it most likely always will throughout my lifetime. So I live with the challenge to find a way to carry the pain of Jeremy's illness and death with me but not let it define me.
I am asked, AGAIN, to try the opposite, to instead try to OPEN MY HEART WIDE. I was asked once again, to surrender and to take off my shoes. I was asked to trust in HIM and to surrender the pain to the One who can and will carry it and me to a place of peace. IF I can truly open my heart wide then I can allow the grace and mercy of God to flow inward to each and every hurt that lies within my soul. To allow that God given grace, undeserved but given grace, to flow and to heal. I am invited to ask not WHY but HOW can I use this pain to live in this world?
I was inspired to not fight anymore and to surrender to the pain by the lyrics of this song .
Deep? Yes. That's me. Transparent? Yep. That's me too. Look out...you may not recognize me when I fully surrender. I think I've been trying to be in control of this life for way too long. I surrender! ( At least a little more today than yesterday and hopefully a little more tomorrow :))
In the past I have cocooned. I have tried each and every way I could to make the pain go away. I've learned it doesn't really ever go away. Pain silently waits and will reappear again, and again, and again. In my case, it most likely always will throughout my lifetime. So I live with the challenge to find a way to carry the pain of Jeremy's illness and death with me but not let it define me.
I am asked, AGAIN, to try the opposite, to instead try to OPEN MY HEART WIDE. I was asked once again, to surrender and to take off my shoes. I was asked to trust in HIM and to surrender the pain to the One who can and will carry it and me to a place of peace. IF I can truly open my heart wide then I can allow the grace and mercy of God to flow inward to each and every hurt that lies within my soul. To allow that God given grace, undeserved but given grace, to flow and to heal. I am invited to ask not WHY but HOW can I use this pain to live in this world?
I was inspired to not fight anymore and to surrender to the pain by the lyrics of this song .
Deep? Yes. That's me. Transparent? Yep. That's me too. Look out...you may not recognize me when I fully surrender. I think I've been trying to be in control of this life for way too long. I surrender! ( At least a little more today than yesterday and hopefully a little more tomorrow :))
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Super Saturday
No Sunshine this morning but we were grateful for the rain!
Grateful for only rain and no thunder or lightening. Will our grass ever be green again?
Swim Meet with times that were improved from last week. Our team lost the meet but all the team swam really well. Way to go Swimmers !
Strawberry Cherries are super yummy!
Our sillies shared smiles and sentimental tears watching the story about our favorite Toys in the theatre. An expensive afternoon $$$, at least compared to usual bargain of Redbox or free rentals from the library, but the smiles were priceless. Plus we supported our school fundraising by purchasing our movie tickets with Script!
Special birthday dinner celebrations continued as our family ventured out for a dinner at a restaurant. When it came time to hear the waiters/waitresses sing Happy Birthday, someone looked as if they wanted to slide under the table.
Now all is quiet and everyone is snug in their beds dreaming of the many ways our family found joy and lived fully today on this SUPER SATURDAY!
Hope your day was filled with many special moments too!
Start Living... Now
At a swim meet last Saturday, I saw a man from our team wearing a shirt that said Start Living... at such and such place. It was a shirt advertising for a vacation spot of some kind, a restaurant, resort, I truthfully cannot really remember. I only remember the message and how I nodded silently with my whole heart and soul every time he walked past me and I read the words on his shirt. I now wonder if he thought I was weird staring and nodding at him...:)
Plain and simple folks, life is short! We have today and the here and now to capture as much joy as we can, to make a difference in big and small ways in the hearts of others, to make our dreams a reality, to LIVE, and not to just exist, but to live fully. Seriously ponder that for a moment...Are you living fully today? If you knew your days were numbered would you live as you are now? No? ( most of us would say no) What would you change? If the voice in your soul beckoned you to change something...DO it! Do it now!
The hamster wheel of life goes round and round. Blink and life passes you by.
Capture the moment NOW and today. Those of us who have lived through the life changing lessons of this world and those that are in the trenches of them right now will all tell you the same thing...LIVE and LIVE Fully. We have today... Live fully. Slow down and take in the simplest of joys and grace that are right before you in the here and now of today.
Life has a way of reminding us all of this lesson to live more fully. Look around and I'm sure you'll see what I mean. There is trouble in this world. I petition your prayers for a few members of my family and a friends. Our Lord knows the details and needs of every situation and hears each and every whisper of our prayers...Thank you.
Plain and simple folks, life is short! We have today and the here and now to capture as much joy as we can, to make a difference in big and small ways in the hearts of others, to make our dreams a reality, to LIVE, and not to just exist, but to live fully. Seriously ponder that for a moment...Are you living fully today? If you knew your days were numbered would you live as you are now? No? ( most of us would say no) What would you change? If the voice in your soul beckoned you to change something...DO it! Do it now!
The hamster wheel of life goes round and round. Blink and life passes you by.
Capture the moment NOW and today. Those of us who have lived through the life changing lessons of this world and those that are in the trenches of them right now will all tell you the same thing...LIVE and LIVE Fully. We have today... Live fully. Slow down and take in the simplest of joys and grace that are right before you in the here and now of today.
Life has a way of reminding us all of this lesson to live more fully. Look around and I'm sure you'll see what I mean. There is trouble in this world. I petition your prayers for a few members of my family and a friends. Our Lord knows the details and needs of every situation and hears each and every whisper of our prayers...Thank you.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Anonymous Sunshine
Wanted to take a moment to thank the Prayer Warrior who left a yellow folder, cards, a CD of the song Afterglow, and the book about Letting Go. What a wonderful gift that was to find on my doorstep. Thank you for your continued prayers and also for your thoughtfulness.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wisdom of Walt
Unpacking again. I am not complaining for I am very fortunate to be able to even go on a vacation in the first place. None the less, we are trying to get reacquainted with our real world life but all the while still on vacation time! There are lots of thoughts swirling around in my brain for later posts, but for now, here's a little thought to ponder.
"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors, and doing new things because we are curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
-Walt Disney
**No we did not go to Disney World nor is there a trip on the horizon any time soon. You know me and my quotes...
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