Cranberry Torte

I know Christmas has come and gone--but here's just one more Christmas recipe worth sharing. Not too sweet, light after a big Christmas dinner, a fresh change from Christmas cookies...

CRUST

1 1/2 graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup chopped pecans (or any nuts)

1/4 cup sugar

6 tab. melted margarine or butter

Mix it all together and press into a 9" springform pan. Refrigerate.

FILLING

2 cups of cranberries

1 cup sugar

2 egg whites

1 tab frozen orange juice concentrate

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Chop the cranberries finely with a food processor or stick blender. Cover them with sugar and let it stand for 5 minutes. Add the unbeaten egg whites, orange juice concentrate, vanilla and salt. Beat with the mixer on low speed until frothy. Then beat on high speed for 6 to 8 minutes until stiff peaks form. In another small bowl, whip the cream. Then fold the whipped cream into the cranberry mixture. Turn onto the crust. Freeze firm.

CRANBERRY GLAZE

1/2 cup sugar

1 tab cornstarch

1 1/2 cup whole cranberries

1/2 cup water

Mix together the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan til smooth. Stir in the berries and water. Cook and stir until bubbly. Keep cooking and stirring until the cranberries pop and the sauce thickens. Cool to room temperature.

Freeze the dessert until firm. Then cut into wedges. Top with cranberry glaze and garnish with more whipped cream.

Delish. Merry Christmas! (one more time)

Comfort and Joy

The refrain "Comfort and Joy" has been coming to mind all through this Christmas time. Knowing friends who are going through extreme hardships this season-- a dear friend whose sister was murdered a few days ago, another friend in for cancer surgery today-- there is comfort.

For other friends -- one whose 4 children are coming home and will be celebrating the coming of another new grandchild-- there is joy. God, who gave his son as a babe for our salvation, also gives us comfort and joy as needed. God is good.

FUDGE

I know. I know. Everyone thinks their fudge recipe is the best fudge ever. Maybe that's because they haven't tasted my fudge recipe! I've been making it and overeating it every Christmas since I've had teeth. I remember it as one of my father's few culinary skills. So give it a try. I also have a strong opinion about the necessity of walnuts in the recipe (for all you no nut fudge eaters). Delish!

FUDGE

In a heavy pan mix: 2 cups sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

11 marshmallows

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook it all 6 more minutes after it starts simmering, stirring it the whole time so it doesn't stick to the pan. Then take if off of the heat and add:

1/4 lb. margarine or butter

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix until blended. Pour it all into a 9" square pan that has been buttered. Refrigerate. Wait as long as you can resist to cut the first piece so the fudge can harden.

This just tastes like Christmas to me.

Merry Christmas!

Favorite Five Books for Christmas

December 1st I package up my shelf of Christmas books for children and trundle them off to school. I love reading these stories at the end of the day to my students huddled around me on the rug. Here are my favorite five:

#1. The First Christmas by Tomie dePaola. Actually my copy is entitled Il Primo Natale since Larry bought it for me on a trip to Italy. It's a colorful pop up book with dePaola's simple bright illustrations, unfolding the wonderful story of the nativity. On each page there are moving parts--the kids love with the colossal star unfolds before the three kings or the innkeeper's arm moves to point the way to the stable. Colorful and engaging.

#2. Merry Christmas, Alex by Hanne Turk. In this tiny book an endearing small gray mouse sets to making cinnamon star cookies. The clean watercolors against the white background make each picture a joy in itself. After all that baking the little mouse falls asleep and suddenly awakes to find the cookies burnt black in the oven. After a tearful moment, the door bell rings and the mouse discovers a beautifully wrapped box of cinnamon stars left on his door step. The tiny perfect illustrations capture his joy, alarm, despair and eventually contentment perfectly. There is no text in the story, but the flap of the book, which was first published in Austria, explains that in that country 99% of the population eat cinnamon stars at Christmas time. A lot of cozy happiness in this little book.

#3. Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant. You pick up this book first for the beautiful, simple illustrations by Diane Goode. But then the text pulls you in. It is the dear story of a young girl living with her grandparents through Christmas time-- the quiet country preparations, decorating and baking -- the trips to the little baptist church to sing with the other children, the friends and neighbors dropping by. She writes, "Grandfather always brought home a tree that was a little too wide or a little too tall and we would have to spend the next few weeks squeezing around it in the living room. It seemed sometimes like an embarrassed guest. But we loved that tree and couldn't wait to turn on the lights at night. It was the prettiest thing we had." Lovely text, sweet story. I sent this book to my Chinese daughter-in -law Jodi so she could imagine our Christmas here.

#4. Merry UnChristmas by Mike Reiss. This tale takes place in a town named Christmas City where they celebrate 364 days of Christmas each year and one glorious day of "UnChristmas!" The protagonist, Noelle, is thrilled when the big day arrives-- She can go to school! the family gets to enjoy tv dinners! her parents take he downtown to watching the un-lighting of the city tree. "De-lightful" her father says every year. And when a fat jolly man arrives with a huge pack on his back, it's the post man with a years worth of mail! Charming story with bright quirky illustrations that make you smile in themselves. A favorite of my kids at school.

#5. B Is for Bethlehem by Isabel Wilner. This Christmas alphabet book is for children/adults of any age. The highly detailed illustrations by Elisa Kleven use collage, ink and paint for a riotous explosion on every page. The book tells the Christmas story A to Z. "W's for worship, O come and adore. In starlight, in candlelight, glad carols soar." A wonderful, worshipful walk through the glad tidings. Glorious.

Jingle Bells

I just couldn't help posting this irresistible pic from a video of the grand-girls (kind of) singing Jingle Bells. Love it! Have nothing else to say. That's all.

Tuesday Evenings

There's a lot of joy sitting around this table. I never laugh so much as when our young moms group (well, at least they are younger than me by quite a bit!) gets together on Tuesday evenings. Don't get me wrong, they have all the normal ups and downs and when we share our stories, there are plenty of hard bits. But when Aimee starts in on... (well, maybe I'd better not say what Aimme starts in on), we cannot stop giggling! I love the time with these dear girls.

Ready for Christmas

I have to admit, I have come into this Christmas season with less than my normal enthusiasm. Maybe it is because last year at this time I was elatedly preparing for 2 grand-girls and all of my kids home for Christmas time. What joy! Or maybe it's just that Christmas shopping is not quite so fun when you are watching you pennies. Or could be the phone call last week to find out Aaron and Jessica can't make it home for Christmas.

After a few days of pouting, I had a thought. Perhaps like peeling back the layers of an onion, this is God's way of peeling back all the things I think I need to make a Christmas. Maybe I should remember to be thankful for God's enormous gift of our savior and hope, real hope.

Don't misunderstand. I've still got the tree up and a list of cookies to bake, presents to wrap and a bright painted sign to welcome home our Ani, Brian & Laurel. But I'm hopeful, I have a more tender heart to God's great, glorious gift. God is good.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving has come and gone. The dishes are all washed and back in the cupboards. Turkeys and pilgrims are packed away for another year. There is just a smidge of cranberry sauce moldering in the fridge. But the thankfulness I've known this month lingers.

I'm thankful first for my Larry--with me through thick and thin--and there have been a lot a thicks and thins in the last couple years. I'm thankful for the joyful, lovely wedding of Ani and Brian last winter and the romantic engagement in a medieval garden in Spain of Aaron and Jessica. I'm thankful for visits with Micah, Jodi & girls both in China and CA-- and for our 7 uproarious weeks with Charlotte in the house. I'm thankful Laurel is sitting on our sofa right now-- "photojojo-ing" and waiting for dinner together. I'm thankful back to parents I can still admire and the wonderful childhood they gave us. For a job I'm happy to go to, for Monday night friends who share my life, for my adorable MOPS girls, for afternoon walks and meals with friends. I'm thankful for God's presence in my life that never lets me down. How could I not be thankful?

Orange Rolls

Orange rolls first crossed my path in a book. Edith Schaffer in Tapestry describes rolling up orange rolls in the kitchen of her Swiss chalet for tea/coffee with friends. Once I found this recipe, they became our family favorite, especially at Thanksgiving time. We made a pan this week in Ani's SF kitchen for our bedtime tea

--so much warm, orangey goodness.

ORANGE ROLLS

1 package yeast

1 cup warm milk (120-130 degrees)

(warmed 1 minute in the microwave)

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

3 tab. canola oil

1 egg

3 1/2 cups flour

Mix this all up and turn into a glass bowl that has been sprayed with pam. Cover with a damp towel and put into a warm oven for 1 hour 15 minutes (I turn the oven to 350 degrees while I'm mixing the dough for 2 minutes to warm the oven and then turn it off and it's ready to go).

Let the dough rise and meanwhile make the filling:

5 tab melted butter or margarine

2/3 cup sugar

grated peel of one orange

Mix butter, sugar & orange peel all together. Then when the dough is risen roll it out into a long rectangle about 10" tall and 24" wide. Spread the orange sugar mixture over the dough and roll it down into a 24" tube. Cut 12 rolls and space them evenly in a 9x13" pan sprayed with Pam. There might be a little space between the rolls. Put them back in the oven covered with the damp towel and let them rise 45 minutes more.

Take off the towel (I missed this step at Ani's and scorched her towel-ugh!) and then bake the rolls at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

While they are still warm drizzle on the glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

3 tab orange juice

Delectable eaten warm from the oven with a mug of tea. Also good passed though the toaster the next morning for breakfast.

Thanksgiving 2010

Laurel's 1st grade turkey and Ani's pilgrims are on the fridge so I know that Thanksgiving is imminent. And now I have no kids at home to fill in the "Thankful Heart Chart" with me (I miss you Laurel!), so we're making them at school. Kids draw in their parents, their pets, their DSI games and lots of pizza pics... There is a lot of gratitude swirling around that room these days. I've been looking over the 25+ Thankful Heart Charts I have from years past, from Costa Rica to Spain to California. I was reminded to be thankful for donuts, hot showers, music, libraries, calculators, grandparents and, of course, friends from over the years. Hundreds of little pictures drawn by the 6 Sittigs, reminders of God's hand of goodness to us. I remain thankful.

Pumpkin Brownies

I love these things! It's the recipe you forget about most of the year, but then comes November and you pick up a can of pumpkin at the grocery and suddenly remember--OH! Pumpkin Brownies! They are the ultimate fall baking treat. Or maybe I just love them because the recipe is from my beloved Aunt Mary Ann.

PUMPKIN BROWNIES

Bottom layer:

1/2 cup butter (or canola oil)

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix all the ingredients together and spread into a 8x8" (or slightly larger) pan sprayed with Pam.

Top layer:

8 oz. cream cheese

2 eggs

1/3 cup sugar

2 tab. flour

3/4 tsp. vanilla

5 tab. margarine

With a electric mixer blend the ingredients together until smooth. Pour over the pumpkin layer and swirl the two layers with a knife until it looks marbled together.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (do not under bake)

Serve in small squares or in larger portions with ice cream and caramel sauce for a full on dessert. A plateful of fall ready to enjoy!

PS- the pumpkin pie spice at Trader Joe's is less expensive and a great blend of fall spices. I use in place of straight cinnamon in lots of recipes.

Ready

I just received this email from a close friend who is in the middle of chemotherapy. Her trust in God strengthens my belief. And she sent me this quote.

"No one warns which days will forever change our lives. No one wakes us that morning and says, 'This day will require you have an unwavering trust in the sovereignty of God. This day you'll need to be prepared with all truth'." --Swindoll

So we must live "ready," intentional about who God is and what we believe. Because hard times will come. And God alone is our help.

Aaron and Jessica

What a happy surprise! --a late phone call Monday evening from Aaron, to say he and Jessica were coming down for a nice long visit! Four days of sitting over meals, sharing pics and plans from computers to hear all the details of their next years wedding. That's a joy! So much anticipation...

Zinnias

I have always been envious of Mr. Wicks bright beds of zinnias next door, and so when I saw a pack of zinnia seeds for $1.69 at Target, I decided to see what would come up across the fence in our yard. Planted in August, we picked the first blooms about the time school started and have had a steady crop every since. It's my new fall luxury!! (up there with apple cake and pots of soup). I've gotten many times $1.69 worth of joy out of these bright sturdy flowers--vases all over the house! Thanks to God for the gladness he gives us in the creation!! Beautilicious!!

Butternut Squash Lasagne

This recipe is part William Sonoma, part Tyler Florence and part my own-- kind of mix and match lasagne, but Larry liked it just fine!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNE

8 slices of bacon

2 chopped yellow onions

12 oz. package butternut squash chunks

4 cloves of garlic, minced

ground pepper, fresh ground

4 tab. butter

1/4 cup flour

3 cups milk

1 cup parmesan-reggiano cheese

1/4 cup chopped marjoram

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

a large hand-full of spinach, shredded (optional)

10 -12 Barilla no cook lasagne noodle

Chop the bacon into bits and brown it in a pan--adding the chopped onion at the end to brown as well. Stir in the garlic. Cook the squash in the microwave until tender and then smash it into the bacon-onion mixture to make a paste. In another pan, melt the butter, stir in the flour and slowly stir in the milk over low heat until it makes a thick sauce. Stir in the parmesan. Season with pepper, marjoram and oregano. Then in a smallish 9x13 pan layer the sauce, noodles, bacon mixture and spinach, starting and ending with sauce. Cover with foil and bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the foil and cook 5 minutes more to brown. Garnish with a sprig of marjoram (or any green herb).

It's a lighter lasagne with less cheese and meat, delicious and full flavored. Pretty on the plate with a big antipasto salad. Hearty and warm as nights get cooler.

Black Notebook

Propped up beside my nightstand is my tattered black notebook. In it I keep things I want to remember-- the combination for a padlock we no longer use on the shed, paint chips of colors I have spread on walls in our house, copies of hymns with wonderful words, and measurements & bits of fabric from quilts I have made.

I also keep lists-- Several lists of house projects that I've worked on over the years, a log of every book I've read since April 2002, lists of trips I've taken and/or would like to take ahead. Leafing through yesterday I found an old list I had forgotten. It's not dated, but I'm guessing about 2001. It's a list "50 goals to do before I turn 50." Nine years later, I was oddly pleased to see how many of the goals actually came about:

Go to NY City with Larry -check!

Visit the MacDonalds, Tuckers, Wrobbels and Newmans in Illinos-check!

Finish a masters degree -check!

Celebrate my 50th birthdday -check! (thanks to Jenni)

Sew up quilts for each of my kids -double check!

And a quilt for each grandchild -check!

Get down to 130 pounds -almost check! :)

"learn the internet" (what does that mean?!) -check? (thanks to my kids for the bit I know)

Get my ears pierced -check (thanks to Ani & Laurel)

Take a family portrait -check (done twice as we've grown!)

But I have to admit there are plenty of worthwhile goals left to complete:

Travel to Seattle and North Carolina

Go overseas to fill/teach in at a mission school for a year

Take an oil painting class

Write 3 handwritten letters/notes each week

Sing in a production of the Messiah...

There's more. It's time to rework my list, add some new goals for a new decade. How about celebrate Mom's 80th birthday in style?! or go back to teach English in China with Larry this time? Retire so I can do all these things! I'm thank for life and energy for goals and projects ahead of me, for a life that's full.

Thai Noodles

Visiting kids in the Bay Area guarantees some good eating. Pakistani,Venezuelan & Turkish food in Berkeley, dim sum and Thai in Oakland, Spanish tapas, Vietnamese and salted caramel Bi-Rite ice cream in SF.

So here's my happily satisfactory attempt at Thai noodles with chicken-peanut sauce . In my book, anything with peanuts AND cilantro has to be delish! (sorry Brian)

THAI NOODLES

1 skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup peanut butter (I like chunky)

1/2 cup water

1/6 cup soy sauce

juice of 1 lime

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1 tab oil

2 good shakes of red pepper

1/2 cup chopped peanuts

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (or more!)

3 green onions, chopped

6 oz. cooked rice noodles

Cut the chicken breasts in to small bits and saute until brown and cooked through. To make the sauce blend the peanut butter, water, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, ginger, oil and red pepper in the food processor. Mix in with the warm chicken. If it seems a bit thick, add more water.

Just before serving it up, stir in the peanuts, cilantro and green onion. Serve it all over warm rice noodles. This is the one dish that will make me reach for a second helping!

This night we served it up with a salad of oranges, cucumbers and salted pistachios over red leaf lettuce with a tarragon vinagerette. (Thanks Laurel for the photo!!)

Monday Nights

On Monday night by ones and twos, twenty women drifted into our family room. Pour a cup of tea, greet a friend back from vacation, listen to someone's hard week, catch up on the news of someone's family. Then we settle in to read through a part of 2nd John, talk though the ideas of the verses and encourage each other in our faith. We share stories and pray. Some nights we laugh a lot, others are painful.

There are reasons I anticipate Monday nights-- This women remind me of what is true and eternal. My heart is encouraged by the faith of their day by day stories. It's heartening to know these friend truly understand my life and are walking through it with me. God is good.

Peach Cake

It's the tail end of peach season, so I found this peach cake recipe just in time! Fresh and sweet for dessert, it could be a morning breakfast cake or perfect for afternoon coffee. I know it will be a favorite for a long time...

PEACH CAKE

3 cups peaches, peeled & chunked

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cube butter or marg.

(or canola oil if you're being good)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. amaretto

1 large egg

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup sliced almonds

sugar to sprinkle on top

Peel and chop the peaches into nice big chunks. Set aside. Beat the sugar and butter. Add vanilla, amaretto, & egg. Then mix in flour, baking powder and salt. Finish up stirring in the milk. Stir in all the peaches and spoon into a 9" round pan sprayed with Pam. Cover the top with the almonds and sprinkle it all with sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes until golden brown.

It's good warm and cold--and always better with piles of whipped cream! On this first try, I added 1/2 cup chopped walnuts--just because I'm a nut nut. And I sprinkled powder on top through a sieve jus before serving--just for the "pretty." The cake has as much fresh peach as it does batter, so it's light and just sweet enough.

September

September, the threshold to my favorite time of year--back to school, catching up with friends after summers away, baking again--apple crisp and cranberry bread, a certain order that comes from the regular routine. I usually anticipate it all with a particular autumn joy. This year though, I'm over my head at school, a dear friend is just beginning her chemotherapy journey, financial complications and more medical concerns... Where's the joy? I think this year I'll have to settle for mere contentment. That's enough for now. God have mercy.

Salmon Salad Nicoise

After a delightfully cool summer, we are finally having sweltering days that demand a fresh salad for supper. So last night we enjoyed a Salad Nicoise with salmon with a dense loaf of crunchy sour dough bread.

SALMON SALAD NICOISE

Lettuce greens

Sliced tomato

Cooked, chunked red potatoes

Cooked baby green beans

Assorted good olives

Salmon, grilled and flaked into chunks

Layer all the ingredients into a artful plate for salad. Pour on dressing just before serving.

DRESSING

1/3 cup olive oil

2 tab white balsamic vinegar

garlic salt

pepper

Combine in a little jar and shake until emulsified.

Top Ten - China 2010

Another amazing trip to China, good days with Micah, Jodi and the lively grand-girls, punctuated by a memorable train trip down to Hunan to stay with Jodi's dear parents. I could write dozens of memories--but here's my "top ten."

#1. Getting to know the new "grown up" Maryann was the best! She was my little buddy and would sit and listen to books forever, constantly asking "What's that? What's that?" on every page. She's our curious little kid!

#2. In Changsha, we explored the grounds of the oldest university in China. Great fun toddling through the gardens with Micah and Maryann--photo opportunities galore in such a beautiful place.

#3. I'll never forget the days of remarkable hospitality in the Zhou's home. It was wonderful for me to see how & where Jodi grew up. From the chicken feet dinner our first night to the warm send off at the train station as we headed back to Shanghai, they were so gracious and kind. I wish I could speak Chinese and really get to know them...

#4. One hot evening Jodi's childhood friend guided us across Changsha to a historic courtyard building --part Buddhist temple, part small shops and we continued upstairs to the most incredible dim sum restaurant. A sea of bright flagged carts surrounded us as we sat down--so many choices! Micah and Jodi chose 25+ small dishes for us to sample, all washed down with green bean juice (surprisingly refreshing!) The table was beautiful, so full of colorful offerings.

#5. I loved watching Micah being the "Daddy" --showing the girls the rainbow in a fountain, doing water "calligraphy" on an old stone wall, pointing out Venus and Jupiter in the night sky.. He had them giggling and squealing as he tossed them in the air-- and is the fun bath time Dad. He has amazing patience and understanding for 2 little girls. They are blessed.

#6. The Zhous hired a little gray van to take us over an hour out of town to a lake filled with lotus plants. We were ferried around the lake in a gondola style boat, poled by an older Chinese man who was informative and clever--He made us a lotus leaf/flower hat that we all modeled for pictures and dug out seeds from lotus pods for us to sample. The brilliant pink flowers big as platters dotted the masses of enormous green lily pads. So beautiful and tranquil.

#7. On our travels home in the little gray van I had a wonderful chance to chat with Jodi. She really is a bright, amazing person. With girls almost asleep on our laps, it was a quiet spot in our week and I feel like I got to know Jodi in a new way...

#8. One evening we had dinner in a little restaurant a short walk from the Zhou's home--including a huge "corn fritter" and for dessert candied apples and bananas--delish! The Zhous headed home while Jodi took Micah, the girls and I on a little walking tour of her growing up neighborhood. We passed her old schools, a small lake, simple stores and the city park. Jodi stopped at a sidewalk toy vendor to buy the girls little twirly light up toys with a very repetitive chinese melody. They loved them! It was a real highlight for me to see more of Jodi's world.

#9. One afternoon I pulled out the little photo album I had sent Charlotte of her visit here with us last winter. I wondered how much she really remembered of her weeks at "Grandma Rhonda and Grandpa Larry's house." But when I turned to the page of us eating stew for dinner she started to sing the "I like carrots" song that we had sung that very night! It made my heart so very happy to know she still remembered!

#10. I did have a chance to babysit one afternoon and evening while Micah and Jodi took a day away. Charlotte and I walked to the market for lunch/dinner supplies and then we came home to play all the grandma favorites --Maryann can squish play-doh forever. And there was a tea party, lots of coloring, story books, punchy balloons, paper dolls, the chinese equivalent of Sesame Street on tv and of course bath and bed time. It was the best!

Now I'm home. I told Larry I made two resolutions in China-- Never go again in August (too darn hot & muggy!) and never go without Larry. It's too much for him to miss. I thankful for these amazing, memorable days.

He Lijun, Jodi's mother

The person who's been on my mind since I left China is Jodi's mom, He Lijun. She and I share an affection for two adorable grand-girls. We were both born the same year, but that is where our life similarities end. At 14 years old Lijun became one of millions of victims of China's Cultural Revolution. She was taken from her family to labor on a farm in the countryside for a number of years. That is where her schooling ended. At age 24 she took a job in a fertilizer factory where she met Jodi's father. They married and had their one child, sweet Jodi. By marrying in this town she lost her chance to return to live by her family. For years the Zhous lived in a 6th floor walk up apartment owned by the factory until home ownership became possible and they bought it from the company. They live there still in their tidy home with the squat toilet and a compact kitchen where she turns out dish after dish for each meal. She has traveled to Shangahi to be with Micah and Jodi, but not far beyond. She's never driven a car or attended a church. I wonder what she would think of my life here. She is a strong woman and as far as I can tell from eavesdropping on Chinese conversations, she has a definite point of view. I wish I could know her better. She seems an amazing woman.

On my way to China

I'm almost out to the door to China. With a little (no, make that big) help from Larry, I have my visa in hand. Two cunning little black checked dresses are hanging in the hallway to be packed and the pile of take-along items is growing in my bedroom. In a way, my heart is already there, ahead of me, with Micah & Jodi and those two kissable grand-girls. I'm in the thrall of anticipation. Charlotte &Maryann, here I come! Want to get out the playdough? How about a story? My heart is thankful...

Summer Salad

Peaches sweet and juicy make this the perfect fresh summer salad...

Salad:

fresh greens

1 chicken breast, cut in small bits

1 tab. fajita seasoning

a big juicy peach

1/3 cup pecans

2 tab. sugar

Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tab. tarragon vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

1 tab. sugar

Saute the chicken breast pieces in olive oil until cooked through and browned. Sprinkle on the fajita seasoning. Stir in 2 tab. of water until all the chicken is coated. To prepare the pecans, put the pecans and 2 tab. sugar in a nonstick pan. Stir until the sugar melts and carmelizes a bit (be sure not to burn the sugar). Turn the coated pecans out onto a piece of foil to cool.

Then layer the lettuce, chicken, peach that has been peeled and cut into chunks and finally the pecans. Pour on dressing just before serving.

Best eaten out under a maple tree in the backyard on a hot summer evening with a tall glass of "tinto de verano" and a slab of good bread. delish!

Our Spain Family

In 1982 Larry and I along with small guys, Micah and Aaron headed to southern Spain to begin our 12 years there. It didn't take long to realize we needed "family," and they were there-- the missionary friends who became family as we worked together, prayed together, spent out holidays together... Every August we spent a week in a 500 year old farmhouse in the hills of Andalucia. We would meet & plan & pray while the kids--virtual cousins- played together outside by the creek. We'd play loud trivial pursuit matches until late into the night and talked though our lives and work in pueblos/cities across Spain. They still are "family."

Larry and I are just back from a week in Chicago with our dearest Spain friends. We were all young families in Spain. Now we're a little chubbier and more wrinkled, but not much else had changed. Elaine and Phil welcomed us in with a Spanish feast. Bob told his stories. Lori led us in a rollicking game time. Denise brought pictures of the days in Spain. Paul and Karen invited us all to their "cottage in the woods." --a warm and wonderful time back together. I'm so thankful for them and for those Spain years we share.

Life as Story--Donald Miller

Donald Miller starts his new book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" with a story. He tells about his friend Bob who is writing down hundreds of pages detailing the stories of his life. Then he imagines getting heaven and hearing God ask, "Donald what did you do with your

life?" After a pause he remembers getting a merit badge in Cub Scouts to report to God. But he predicts that when Bob with all his stories comes face to face with God, they will probably talk for days.

So he begins tales of his and other people's stories--stories written across lives. His idea is to write a story that worthwhile with his life. He never uses the word "intentionality," but that is the bottom line. There are few sermons as motivating as a well told story, and this book is full of them.

My favorite story is of a friend who comes to Miller and says he and his wife were distressed to find marijuana in their 13 year old daughters backpack, likely from her older boyfriend. The father lamented that she didn't like the story her parents had written for her and had channel surfed to find a better story. Over time the father takes the family to Mexico to work on building an orphanage, a new story for his daughter that makes all the difference.

I read Donald Miller's first book "Blue Like Jazz" a few years back to see what my girl's friends were all reading. I didn't expect to like this modern take on Christianity, but was pulled in by his likable, honest, often convicting stories. This new book continues to move me to construct a well storied life.

Berry Cream Cake

This is a recipe from our newly wed days in Dallas. You can use any fruit from peaches to pineapple. But I like berries best and this week we have a crop of boysenberries coming ripe, so I can plop them into this cake!

Ingredients:

*white cake mix

*3 eggs

*canola oil

*8 oz. cream cheese, softened

*2 cups milk

*1 small pack vanilla instant pudding

*berries (strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries or a mixture of these)

*1 pint whipping cream

Make the white cake according to directions. Divide it between two 10" springform pans (I use one and put the other in the freezer for later) (or use a 3x13" pan, but use some of the batter to make 6 extra cupcakes so your cake is thinner than normal). When the cake cools, Mix the cream cheese, milk and pudding mix with a mixer until smooth. Let it sit a few minutes to set up and then spoon it over the cake. Top with berries and then cover it all with cream, whipped until firm. Set it all into the fridge to set up for 3 or 4 hours (will keep over night). Serve cold.

I like to garnish the top with extra berries or mint leaves. So creamy and cool on a summer evening.

Tip: It helps to add a tablespoon of vanilla instant pudding and a couple tablespoons of powdered sugar when whipping cream to make it hold firm until it's all served and for a bit of sweetening.

Flowers for the table

I had a sad moment today. Early this Saturday morning Larry asked, "Is is about time to cut down the sweet peas?" Well, yes. But I hate to see them go. So I went out and picked one last little fistful of the fragrant blooms to rest on the coffee table. That's all 'til next year...

I love a clutch flowers on the table, in the kitchen, by the front door... If I plan right and the weather is obliging, I can have flowers from the yard almost year round. Camelia's ("winter roses") begin in January, freesias and then masses of sweet peas in the spring, summer roses and hydrangeas on into the fall. I have to settle for a greenery and a pumpkin late November and holly in little bunches for Christmas. But it's a joy to bring the fresh, bit of life into the house. When I sit and study the curve of a petal on a double delight rose (my Grandma Roses's favorite) and the way the vivid deep pink fades gracefully down to a soft ivory along the slope of the petal. Who put God could design such beauty? I'm thankful.

Life

Just finished reading Anne Lamont's Imperfect Birds--sort of a sad tale that only gets worse and then ends too abruptly. But I did love one insightful character who lamented the twists and turns life can take. She said "Life on earth is a head-scratcher for anyone who's paying attention." ha! Last night at our Bible study, we prayed for a dear one facing cancer, a few in precarious financial situations, siblings with serious problems... It's enough to make you ask "Why Lord?" I've been doing plenty of "head-scrathing" and praying these days.

Coconut Cake with Chocolate & Orange

This is my newest version of coconut cake! You can serve it as a breakfast coffee cake, if you have a sweet-tooth crowd or with ice cream for dessert after dinner. It's sort of like an Almond Joy candy bar with a little orange peel thrown in.

CAKE:

1 3/4 cups flour 2 tsp. grated orange peel

2 tsp. baking powder 2 eggs

1 tsp salt 1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup coconut 1 cup canned coconut milk

3/4 cup sugar 6 oz. dark chocolate bar,

1/2 cup chopped whole almonds chopped to bits

1/2 cup canola oil 1/2 cup coconut

Mix the first eleven ingredients, then stir 1/2 of the chocolate. Then top the cake with the remaining chocolate and the 1/2 cup of coconut. Spoon into a buttered springform pan or 9 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

GLAZE:

3/4 cups powdered sugar

2 tab. coconut milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix until smooth and drizzle over the cooled cake.

Sweet and fresh-- Serve with fresh fruit and scrambled eggs with avocado for breakfast. Enjoy!

Thomas Chalmers

Tonight in the chapel service, John quoted a Scottish pastor Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847). He said that every person needed three things--someone to love, something to hope for, and something to do. It made my heart thankful to realize I have so much of all three! God is good.

Coconut Pecan Cake

When we were first married in Dallas, all marvelous southern cooks would serve up their "Italian cream coconut cake." But, alas, every time I tried to produce this yummy confection, I failed. I suspect was my lack of patience at beating all those egg whites! So imagine my delight, when a couple years ago, I found a coconut cake recipe from a cake mix! oh joy! It's been one of my favorites ever since.

COCONUT PECAN CAKE

1 white cake mix

1 1/3 cup water

1/3 cup canola oil

3 eggs (all the egg, not just the whites)

1 full cup of coconut

1 full cup of chopped, pecans

Mix of the first4 ingredients. Beat with a mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut and pecans.

Spoon into 2 round cake pans and bake about 30 minutes at 350. What could be easier!

FROSTING

1 cube butter

8 oz cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box powdered sugar (1 lb.)

more coconut & pecans

Beat the first 4 ingredients together until blended. Spread on cooled cake. Cover with coconut and pecans.

Sometimes I just top the cake with coconut and set fresh flowers on top (white roses, bright nasturiums), if I want a pretty cake.

That's it. Usually a big hit--except for that small group of people who do not like coconut (I just can't understand that!) Enjoy!

House

Ani and Brian are beginning to shop for a house in San Francisco. So I am drawn back to our own first house shopping not so long ago. When we still lived in Spain, I would often have dreams in the night-- Larry and I were walking through large, old houses, searching for one of our own. But as the sun rose, I'd always wake up to our 7th floor apartment in the city. Then when we came to live in California, my dreams were literally realized. Larry's aunt unexpectedly left us enough money to afford a down payment and within days were we found our very own house--providential! We filled it with hand-me-downs from family and friends--the old owners sold us 3 couches for $100, we found a used table at Pottery Barn for $39, odd beds from friends and a rocker that we had given away when we went overseas found it's way back to us. My favorite story of God's provision, were the bookcases I loved in a catalogue but were too much ($$) to buy. Then one day I was taking my Grandmother to a Walmart near her home and there was an outlet store next door with the exact same bookcases at 1/3 the price! A piano my folks no longer needed, a desk from Larry's parents garage... A lady I'd never met from church heard about us and dropped by our blue lamp. Bit by bit our house became a home and I love it so.

I have some favorite spots in the house-- on the tiny office sofa, looking down the hall over the bookcase out the back window toward the maple tree... or coming in the front door to be welcomed by the green of the yard through the big wooden window. Standing at my kitchen counter with dinner brewing on the stove.

Mostly I love the house when it's filled with people, like in a couple hours when my Monday Bible study friends arrive, everyone telling stories over mugs of tea, always a blessed time... or on Tuesdays when the young moms group comes and we share our lives and laugh (I mean laugh!) together. Last week week when friends came for Sunday night soup and Saturday night banana pie and a rousing game of banan-o-grams. And it's always a lovely joy when my kids are around the table, with the grandparents for a meal together.

I was watching HGTV this week at a young woman shopping for a house in Portland. She said she wanted a house she "could hug." Sounds corny, but I do love my huggable house. And I thank God for all that he has provided in giving us this home and all that is in it...

Happiness

Last summer for my stay in China, I packed a book, "The Geography of Bliss" in to my reading bag. The author, Eric Weiner, traveled the world, starting at a happiness research center in the Netherlands to study the happiest places on earth. His sometimes wise, always witty description of his journey takes him down rabbit trails of money, success, health and family, but doesn't come up with the ultimate formula for happiness. He tip toes around the facts he gives that religious people/people who worship are happier, but doesn't give that much credence. A thought provoking book...

Last week Larry shared a David Brooks article (NY Times) about happiness. He wrote that people who are married have a happiness boost that equals a $100,000 pay increase. He said people who have a group of friends they meet with once a month (or more) are 50% happier than whose who don't. He continues on with more research to finally conclude that it is the people in your life that engender happiness.

Which reminds me of the idea Chuck Swindoll used often when he was at the church-- The only two things in life that are eternal are people and God's word-- We should invest our time and energy in those two. I can't forget that at my father's funeral 1,000 people came to honor the time he had invested in them. That, for me, was a picture of a life of godly happiness.

Maundy Thursday

Last night another Maundy Thursday service-- my step into the holy days. The prayers, the music, the worship was rich, beautiful and true. The sacrifice of my Lord was real and eternal--those years ago, now and forever. How can I be so blessed? God have mercy.

Saint Andrews Church with Paul. Sue, John, Patty and David.

35 years

Here we are--celebrating 35 years of being married together with a hearty breakfast in a cottage on the shore--followed by a long beach walk. We sat on a rock and talked through lists we had made-- "Eight Greats"-- 8 highlights of the last 35 years--from Dallas to California to Costa Rica to Spain. I remembered our stay in a jungle shack along the beach in Costa Rica. Larry picked the remodeling projects around the house. We both had listed our trip wandering through the alleys of Seville and exploring the old core of Lisbon as a great memory together. What lies ahead? Hopefully, we have years of creating memories together in front of us. I'm thankful for this husband of 35 years.

Eggplant Pizza

Yumm... If you like garlic, you'll love this pizza. Got it from Ani (with a couple changes) and it's scrumptious! has a homey, earthy flavor and heats up nicely for leftovers.

EGGPLANT PIZZA

*pizza dough for one pizza

*2 tab olive oil

*2 cloves garlic (I like Trader Joes

frozen minced garlic cubes)

*1 chinese eggplant

*provolone cheese (or mozarella or both!)

*chopped green olives

*a little more oil and garlic

Make the pizza dough (or pick it up made from Trader Joe's) --spread it on a pizza stone sprayed with Pam and let in rise in a 100 degree oven.

Cut the eggplant into chunks and then saute it in olive oil and a glove of minced garlic

Then mix the 2 tab oil with the 2 cloves of garlic and spread them on the pizza. Top with cheese, then the eggplant and olives. What could be simpler?

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

Que aproveche!

7 Weeks with Charlotte

When Micah emailed offering to let Charlotte stay with Gr & Gr for 7 weeks after Christmas, I could scarcely believe it! We had won the grandparent lottery!

And the time with that girl turned out even better than I had hoped! Armed with Laurel as the world's funnest nanny and two doting Grandparents to attend to her every need, we made sure she would be well taken care of!

The sweetest moments for me with at bedtime. We'd pull a couple of library books off of the shelf, read and talk and sing a couple hymns til Charlotte was lulled almost to sleep. It was pure serendipity--a chance to be a "mom" again for a few weeks with adorable Charlotte. We made dinner together and baked brownies--I have the chocolate face photos to prove it! We made several trips to the library--playing puzzles and carefully picking out the weeks books. We had tea parties and played with Ani & Laurel's old doll house furniture in houses made of my father's childhood blocks. I loved, loved watching Charlotte and Laurel dancing in the kitchen--Larry and I would join in for a crazy dance-a-thon. When Charlotte visited me at school, she was the most popular girl on campus! While I worked after school, she'd color and draw on the board, build with blocks and "read" books-- great companionable time together. She loved Sunday school almost as much as I loved sitting with her in our JH class at church. What a girl!

So last Saturday we skyped with Micah and Charlotte. She came on and informed us "I'm in China!" How well we know. I miss that girl on my trips to the library and all the time in between. I'm just waiting til Micah and Jodi send Charlotte and Maryann for another good stay with the grandparents.

Christmas 2

Writing about Christmas in March? Well, just saying it was a very busy winter (more later). But I can't resist adding this pic to the blog-- good times with the "fam" all decked out in the monogrammed sweatshirts Ani and Laurel gifted to us-- ala 1985 matching family sweatshirts. It was a marvelous, memorable week together. So here are my "Top ten Christmas together memories":

#1. Micah, Jodi and the girls arrive at LAX! On the way home Charlotte shows me her "funny face." Hillarious! And we spend the afternoon snapping pics of girls throwing leaves in the backyard. They're really here!

#2. Micah, Charlotte & I spend a day picking up a visa-- and eating pralines at Olvera Street, drinking tea in Chinatown while we wait. good talk time.

#3. Everyone arrives and we have our first dinner together. Charlotte helps me make the salad while the butternut squash lasagne bakes in the oven. A joy to set all those plates around the table. Nothing could be better than that.

#4. Tuesday morning everyone got polished up to have our photo taken together in the park (Thanks Laurel for the great Christmas gift!). Bright day & pretty faces...

#5. Bridal shower for Ani at Aunt Kathi's-- the interview with Brian on the computer was a hit! Fun to all be together.

#6. Aaron and Jessica brought home a "Settlers of Catan" game-- great fun-especially the time I won!

#7. Evening walk with Jodi and Maryann bundled up in her stroller. We took pics of Christmas lights and talked about their plans ahead... Very dear for me.

#8. Trip tip lunch celebrating with Gr. Honey, Gr Stu and my lovable mom. The table was full and Larry read the Christmas story and lighted the advent wreath.

#9. Christmas Eve Service. Caroles that I love and my kids and the Grs. in the pew with me. What could be better?

#10. Christmas breakfast together--waffles with Cranberry topping, ham and lots of goodies. All together in different stages of wakefulness. Larry took a great video around the table and Maryann and Charlotte kept us entertained.

#11. (I know I said top ten, but I couldn't narrow it down more!) Aaron and Jessica made us all a yumptious brunch-- egg/bacon/cheese/avocado breakfast sandwiches. So fun to watch them working together in the kitchen.

That's it. It was a warm and wonderful houseful. I won't forget it. When will be all be together for Christmas again? God knows when. But my heart is thankful for the time we had together for Christmas this year...

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Christmas

Christmas, Christmas. It's the same every year. At the time I should be lost in wonder and gratitude, in the days that mark the advent of my salvation in the form of God come to earth, Emmanuel-- I find myself harried & busy-- consumed with matching wrapping paper, last minute gifts and the right cranberry topping for the waffles. There are more photos and packages than moments of real prayer. I am sad and so sorry. Lord have mercy.