New blog

I'm excited to say that I'm moving over to a new blog site, thanks to Mr. Amazing Brian who got it all sorted out for me. So if you care to see the new posts (starting with my new favorite chocolate recommendation), go to

thethankfulheart.wordpress.com

Hope you take a look...

Maple Oatmeal Scones

One of my favorite pastimes up at Ani and Brian's cozy house in SF is to leaf through her collection of cookbooks. And what do you know?--it often pays off with a recipe I just can't wait to try! So in the oven it goes, right there in Ani's kitchen. This one is from a book titled Flour by the author Joanne Chang, who operates the Flour Bakery in Boston. Warm and hearty with whole oats and a just sweet enough maple glaze. Here's the yumscious recipe with a few adaptations.

MAPLE OATMEAL SCONES

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 cups old fashioned oatmeal

(not instant or quick cooking)

2 tsp. baking powder

2/3 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup currants or chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 egg

Mix the flour, oatmeal, baking powder, pecans and currants in a bowl. Cut in the butter using a food processor or a pastry blender by hand. Then in a separate bowl stir together the cream, syrup and egg. When they are blended, stir them into the dry mixture. The dough will be soft and sticky enough to drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet sprayed with Pam. Makes 8.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown

Take them from the oven and cool ten minutes before you drizzle on the maple glaze.

GLAZE

1 cup powdered sugar

3 tab. maple syrup

1 tab water

Drizzle the glaze over the scones with a spoon and serve warm, although, I promise, they are still yummy later when they've cooled.

San Francisco with Jenon

Just back from another trip to SF to see our kids. But this time it was a little different. I headed up the Interstate 5 with my dear friend Jenon. We walked and ate and hiked and ate some more--and caught up with the 5 SF kids...

Highlights:

#1. Visits to Laurel's fun new photo Jojo offices, Ani's impressive new office space and a little time at facebook to catch up with Jessica--summer plans and wedding news.

#2. Multiple, memorable meals--sunset dinner at the Beach Chalet, our "second breakfast" at Crepevine, warming dumplings and lionshead meatball soup at Shanghai Dumpling King, delectable Spanish dinner including Laurel's potato tortilla around Ani's table, and Aaron's invitation to a beautiful Palo alto place (oh, the garlic fries!!)

#3. Hikes with Jenon--around Land's End in and out of the woods toward the Golden Gate Bridge, up-up-up the hill to Grandview park (thanks Brian!), a wander through Golden Gate Park ending at a lovely, quiet lake, and an intrepid hike in the oh so very beautiful Muir Woods--redwoods along a bubbling stream.

#4. Touring AA & J's new Menlo Park home--traditional and charming in a quiet wooded neighborhood, and finally getting to drop in at Laurel's new home sweet home--her cozy room and the whole truly beautiful house.

#5 And a few miscellaneous memories-- Touring the lovely Dolores Mission, shopping on Irving street with Laurel, a Sunday afternoon in the DeYoung Museum, and Sunday morning at the City Church.

Thanks Ani and Brian for taking good care of us as you alway do-- love your beautiful, cozy home. Thanks Laurel for showing us around town--and being the best Trivial Pursuit partner. Thanks Aaron and Jessica for the chance to catch up and see you new house. And thanks, thanks Jenon for being the best travel buddy. We had a fine, full weekend together.

Thinking over 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

This summer I'm trying to get my old brain to hold a few Bible verses that have become dear to me. Starting with 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is see, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal."

Just when I was "losing heart," I happened again upon these verses. When my trust in God wavers, my heart is lost over things I wish I could change, but cannot.

Just looking in the mirror reminds me about the wasting away part--59 years of living does wear a body down a bit. And also there's a friend who is starting on the journey of breast cancer, so much more severe. So our inward renewal--every day--is my hope, an eternal hope.

And best of all fixing my eyes on the unseen. I love all the things I see around me, our home, the faces of people I adore, the sun on our maple trees, sweetpeas on the table, a slice of tart on a plate. How can I remember that all that is so short lived and not forget to fix my eyes on the eternal? God, help my small faith to have the "assurance of things unseen."

Egg Plant Parmesan

More often than not when we got to an Italian restaurant my Larry orders Eggplant Parmesan. and last week at Norma's house she served up a great dish of it. So when Larry came home from Sprout's and dropped a large shiny purple eggplant on the kitchen counter, I called up Norma for advice.

Here it is:

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

1 lovely plump purple eggplant

1/2 cup flour

2 tab. milk

1 egg

Italian bread crumbs

Mozarella cheese

parmesan cheese

your favorite spaghetti sauce

olive oil

Set out 3 bowls. In the first spoon in 1/2 cup flour, in the second 1 egg beaten with a couple tablespoons of milk, in the third a cup or so of bread crumbs. Slice the eggplant into slices 1/2 inch thick. Heat the olive oil in the pan. Dip each slice in the flour, coating both sides, then coat with the egg mixture and then cover with crumbs. Set into the hot oil until brown --about 4 or 5 minutes on each side. Don't have the heat on high or the crumbs will brown before it cooks clear through. As they finish set them on a paper towel to absorb extra oil. Put a nice thick slice of mozarella on each piece. Top then with spaghetti sauce and then parmesan. Arrange them on a baking dish and put in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese. In the meantime you can warm the bread and make a luscious green salad and dinner is ready. Hearty, homey meal in less than 30 minutes.

Summer Goals 2011

So I sat in our last teachers meeting, listening intently I assure you, (I'm pretty certain my principal will never read this blog) and wrote out my list of "Summer Goals." Ten glorious weeks of unfettered hours, long lazy days of dilly dallying over breakfast, puttering around the house aimlessly, reading under the maple tree... Forget all that. I have totally once again filled up my schedule with my annual LIST! But I have to admit it all sounds like big fun. Here it is:

SUMMER GOALS 2011

#1. Read 10 books (and I have got some great ones on the stack! new Tim Keller, David Lebovitz, An Chi Min Pearl Buck biography...)

#2. Blog twice a week

#3. Have friends over for a meal once a week --breakfast, lunch or dinner.

#4. Meet and pray/walk/eat breakfast with Debbie and Jackie every Tuesday morning

#5. Finish two quilts-- For AA & J's wedding and for new baby Sittig

#6. Attack my (other!) list of house projects --starting with the family room redo.

#7. Buy & wrap the Christmas gifts for the Shanghai family.

#8. Plan & do as much as I can for a post wedding party for Aaron & Jessica (after the wedding we'll have the adorable grand-girls here so have to plan ahead)

#9. Three Bible study friends events & once MOPS girls dinner

#10. WALK- Monday with Diane

Tuesday with Jackie

Wednesday --walk and bagels with Mom and Lu

Thursday with Shawna

Saturday with Jenny

#11. Go see the kids in SF... twice

#12. Mom's Super birthday weekend with the fam--give her the time of her life!

#13. Visit my school kids and invite them to VBS --plan, prep, teach VBS

#14. Change rooms at school (waiting to hear on that one)

#15. Spend a long reading weekend at Big Bear with Larry

So that's it--my summer. Sound full and a bit frenetic but also full of fun. So far we've eaten spaghetti under the maple tree with friends (new fresh recipe-delish) and in ten minutes I'm "hooking to the sewing machine" (as my grandma would say) and sewing up a quilt top. Summer--looks like it's going to be a good one.

Years End in Third Grade

Just in the door from the last day of the school year. It was a good one. Having a 3rd/4th grade combination class gives you a lovely roomful of kids. They were a bunch of little work-a-holics, always beavering away. And really so much fun! I will miss them one and all.

But at this point I always have a few regrets. So I'm making my list for next year--goals for improvement. It really comes down to knowing the kids better and giving them just what they need-- and not just with reading and math. They learn a lot about life and the world in 3rd grade... It's a big job.

Peach Salsa

Summer peaches on sale at Ralph's this week. Yahoo! So I tried out a new recipe for peach salsa-- fresh and tangy. Put it over grilled chicken and served it with couscous flavored with grilled zucchini, almonds and red pepper. With a big green salad, it's a real summer meal!

FRESH PEACH SALSA

16 oz. peaches, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

1 tsp. lime zest

2 tab. lime juice

2 tab. chopped cilantro

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 tab. chopped jalapeno or chipotle, minced (optional)

Great on chicken. It would work on pork or fish as well. And I would be great in a line up of salsas and guacamoles with chips to kick off a party.

Berry Crostata

In the side yard the boysenberries have turned from blossoms to berries. We'll have a real crop in about a week. So I have a new summer favorite thanks to a recipe link from Jenny and it couldn't be more fresh and luscious.

BERRY CROSTATA

PASTRY (makes two crusts)

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 pound cold butter, diced

6 tablespoons ice water

Combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the butter in with a food processor or a pastry blender. Divide the dough into two balls. Wrap them in plastic wrap and put them in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees when the dough is chilled and roll out each of the 2 balls of dough on a floured surface to make two 11" circles. Transfer to the dough to two baking sheets coated with cooking spray to top with fruit mixture.

BERRIES (for two crusts):

12 oz. boysenberries

12 oz. raspberries

12 oz. blueberries

2 tab. flour

2 tab. sugar

Mix the berries, flour and sugar and mound onto the 2 prepared crusts. Fold up the edges of the crust about an inch all the way around. (mix up the berries and the topping while the dough is chilling and you'll be ready to go!)

TOPPING (for 2 crostatas)

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar plus a bit more

dash salt

4 tab (1/2 stick) cold butter

Mix the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the butter with the food processor or a pastry blender. Sprinkle it evenly over the fruit. Then sprinkle the edges of the crust that are turned up with a couple spoonfuls of sugar.

Slide those crostadas into the hot oven and bake til they are a lovely brown, about 25 minutes.

Extra good served warm with ice cream or my favorite, mounds of vanilla whipped cream. This recipe makes the two crostadas. They aren't too big and so yummy you'll want a second one (for breakfast the next morning?). But if you by chance should want to just make one, put the second ball of wrapped dough into the freezer for another day and half the fruit and topping recipes.

I'm waiting to try this with peaches, topped with toasted almonds in August. That could be a winner too!

Mini miraculous munchable apricots

It almost seems miraculous. A few months ago that apricot tree was bare, not a leaf. Suddenly, it sprouted into spring with snowy blossoms and leaves of the tenderest green. And then so many apricots--all the mini variety, no bigger than a plump grape! They were sweet and all the better since they grew in the corner of our yard. We gathered our crop and tossed them in salads with almonds and tarragon dressing, cut them up over vanilla ice cream and stirred them into cake. Oh, and munched quite a few straight from the bowl on the kitchen sink. Tender and so, so sweet. It's gratifying to be a "farmer."

Time

Take your time. Time waits for no man. Good times! One day at a time. A stitch in time saves nine. Time after time. Kill some time. Just in time. Time heals all wounds. Can't stop the hands of time.

Hitting your 59h birthday can make you think about time, all right. Just like my favorite house cleaning rock song declares-- "Time is ticking away!" 59 years of my "ticks" are gone. How much time is left? I want to "number my days" in the best sort of way. Sure, I want to spend the time stretched out ahead this summer with some house fix-it-up projects, and lazily reading through a novel or two. But from this perspective, spending the time I have with my God and the people he has given me seems a good use of my time-- spending time on things that are eternal.

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent." --Carl Sandburg

Good Old Chocolate Cake

Off to Grandma Lo's for dinner with all the family from far and wide. And I'm taking chocolate cake--our easy, good old family favorite. I usually have one waiting on he counter when Ani comes down to visit. It's just a cake mix, but don't we all know it's the frosting that makes it so very delicious!

GOOD OLD CHOCOLATE CAKE

dark chocolate cake mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup canola oil

water

1 cube butter/margarine

1/2 cup Hershey's dark chocolate unsweetened cocoa

8 oz. cream cheese

2 tsp. vanilla

1 pound box powdered sugar

1 cup toasted almonds

1/2 cup sugar

Make the cake in two 9" cake pans according to the directions on the box--with the eggs, oil and water. While it's cooling sugar the almonds by putting the almonds and 1/2 cup sugar in a small non-stick pan. Start on high heat, stirring ALL the time til the sugar starts to melt. Then turn it down to medium and keep stirring until the almonds are coated with the caramelized sugar. Turn them out of the pan onto a piece of foil to cool. Then make the frosting. Melt the butter in the microwave. Stir in the cocoa completely (this keeps the chocolate darker) Next add the cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar. Use the mixer on low to blend and then turn up higher once the sugar is incorporated. When the cake is cool, frost it and arrange the almonds on top.

To my taste, it's the perfect chocolate cake. Fragrant and tender, so rich and chocolaty. Love the nuts! (I buy the almonds already toasted in bags at Trader Joe's) Extra almonds are also great on salads or ice cream or just snack them down while you frost the cake--kind of a cake appetizer.

Weekends with the Girls

I'm feeling rich this month. Not from a surfeit of cash or some fabulous vacation on the horizon. But I've had the luxury of two weekend visits from my girls in May. What more could I want?

The lovely thing is that even if they weren't my daughters, they exactly the kind of people I'd wish to have as friends-- capable & smart, inventive & fresh, lively & unselfish, cute as 2 buttons. They make me laugh and stay up way too late at night because I don't want to miss one minute of the fun. So here's to weekends with the girls. There can never be too many. I'll be in to see you in SF next month!!

the Grand-girls are coming!

I'm jumping up and down! I talked to Micah last night and it looks like Charlotte and Maryann will be staying with us for a few weeks this fall! They'll come for Aaron & Jessica's wedding and when Micah, Jodi and the new baby return to China, the girls will stay on until we carry them back to Shanghai over Thanksgiving break. So now I'm anticipating all the BIG FUN together. We will:

*stock up on books at the library

*mix up brownies

*play "kickball" in the backyard

*take a ride on the Ferry at Balboa

*roar at the lions at the San Diego Zoo

*have splashing fun at bath time

*make up stories with the doll house furniture

*break up lettuce to build beautiful salads together

*visit the great grandparents for peanut butter sandwiches

*have tea parties galore

*enjoy fun times at Sunday school

*get out the old favorite-- playdough

*walk to playgrounds for picnics

*dance in the kitchen, just like the good old days!

*cook hot dogs and s'mores in the fireplace

*sing songs in the car

*paint pictures

*give stories, hugs and prayers at bedtime

*and so much more!!

I'm trying to contain my excitement--but it's not easy. I'm overjoyed!

Morning Reading

I've been resisting this book-- Friends have loved it but I thought, "nice, but not my style." Then when Jenon showed up with a copy she'd bought for me, I gave in and gave it a try. Now I'm hooked. I've determined to study the daily reading, the verses and pray before my feet hit the floor each morning. It's been so worthwhile.

Here's a sample:

"The world is too much with you, my child. Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots. When you think like that, you leave Me out... Though I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom. I stand silently in the background of your mind waiting for you to remember that I am with you. When you turn from your problems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter. Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your burdens together."

"So do not fear, for I am with you for not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." --Isaiah 41:10

God is good.

Chocolate Chunk Bars

If you love chocolate, I mean really love chocolate, this recipe is for you. If you are one of those people who say, "I just couldn't finish it. It's just too rich," maybe this recipe won't hit the spot! I fall squarely in the first group, myself. So read on for chocolatey, squishy, finger lickin' gooey bars.

1 cup flour

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

14 oz. condensed milk

1/4 cup cocoa*

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking powder

8 oz. chocolate cut into chunks.

1 cup chopped nuts

powdered sugar

Combine 1 cup flour with the sugar. Cut in the margarine. Press into a 9x13" pan sprayed with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the condensed milk, cocoa, egg, 1/4 cup flour, vanilla and baking powder. Then stir in the chocolate and nuts. Spread over the crust and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes more.

When it cools down, sprinkle with powdered sugar through a fine mesh strainer. Cut into chocolatey, gooey bars and try to eat just one.

*I love the new Hershey's Dark chocolate cocoa and prefer walnuts in this recipe. They don't get overwhelmed in the chocolate and add texture against the creamy filling.

Reading ala John Stott

There are just too many books and not enough time. My nightstand over-floweth! I'm longing to get into The Sweet Life in Paris by one of my favorite "American in Paris bloggers." And I picked up The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, a children's book about a plucky governess last week after I had seen the new "Jane Eyre" movie. There's the Lit group I should finish by Tuesday next (probably not)-- and the short stack I just picked up from the new book shelf at the library. I have another Yancy book I've been meaning to start. Oh, and on top of the stack-- the new Time magazine dedicated to the Royal Wedding. Will I get to that before their anniversary? But I am really deep into Bill Bryson's At Home, following him down rabbit trails of domesticity as he describes the history of rooms in his 19th century British parsonage. Fascinating...

I'm thinking I should follow the example of Larry's favorite theologian John Stott. He determined to read one full hour a day, one full day reading each month, and take a full week just to read each year. He was a single vicar and wrote several important books himself, but I'm imagining he didn't have the distractions of 3rd graders, cleaning or laundry. Still, if he could do it, I'd sure like to give it a go. So I'm off to bed with my book...

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Driving by the pancake house and Jenon commented, "I always get the same pancakes when we go there. Cottage Cheese Pancakes." Cottage cheese? Really? (one of my unfavorite foods) But trusting Jenon's good taste, I came home to find dozens of cottage cheese pancake recipes on line and landed on one from Smitten Kitchen. Baked up a batch for dinner tonight (with a few modifications) and they were as good as I'd hoped-- tender, warm, moist, but sturdy enough to hold up to a good drenching of syrup. Yummm.

COTTAGE CHEESE PANCAKES

1 1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 cup small curd cottage cheese

3 tablespoons canola oil

2 egg yolks (save the whites)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup currants

2 egg whites

Mix the first 4 dry ingredients. Then add in the milk, cottage cheese, oil, egg yolks and vanilla. Stir in the walnuts and currants. Then beat the egg whites until frothy (I used the stick blender, but a fork will do). Fold in the egg whites until it's all blended.

Cook the pancakes on a non stick griddle sprayed with Pam. Don't put the heat up too high. They take a bit to cook through.

I ate double my quota of pancakes with these good guys! And you couldn't even taste the cottage cheese, ...thankfully. I recommend them!

Easter

"Did e're such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?"

This Lenten season began with an quiet, reflective Ash Wednesday service at St Angeles and concluded last night at the marvelous, meaningful Good Friday service at our church. Reading through the gospels these days has made me love our God more and my overflowing heart is thankful for selflessness of his passion, his sacrifice to give us eternal hope. This morning working in the yard the melody, "Hallelujah, what a savior..." kept coming to mind. God is good.

Travels with Lolo -part1

I never would have taken this grand adventure if it hadn't been for Laurel--and the car-- and all her things waiting in Chicago. It started with an amazing city boat cruise and only improved from there!

Chicago was a time with dear old friends-- Phil and "my friend Elaine." They just get more dear as time goes on. And for Laurel a last hang out with good old Raul and Katie--her Chicago family. I especially loved seeing their adorable home where they welcomed Laurel to camp out for all those months.

We launched across the county on a Tuesday fortified with Dunkin' Donuts and Laurel's trusty iphone. It was a marvelous, memorable adventure. Thanks Lo!

Travels with Lolo -part 2

We saw the arch before we even saw St. Louis, peeking up beyond the hills surrounding the city. Arriving at the riverside park, we tracked down a grocers for a picnic and lunched under the arch. Potato salad, always good in the sunshine!

It's hard to describe how it can be so monumental and at the same time so simply, perfectly beautiful... luminous with the late afternoon sun. We were quite taken with the arch! Exquisite.

Travels with Lolo -part 3

We checked for Texas Bar-b-que in Amarillo and when Laurel's phone yelped a joint known as "Crazy Larry's," we knew we'd found our dinner. Pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw and Moose style Frito Pie!! Truly crazy!! and actually quite tasty.

But the best part of our hours rolling through Texas and New Mexico were the skies--glorious skies! I could scarcely take my eyes off the luminous white clouds set in a pristine blue sky, and one evening a silvery, glowing sunset filled my heart with worship...

Travels with Lolo -part 4

Here we are on the streets of Gallup, Laurel's camera ever at the ready. We walked across the small old downtown, dipping in to a couple museums, Richardson's (fascinating) trading post--Where else could you buy an enormous stuffed mountain goat?? -- and the tempting Cheapo-Depot used book store. We rounded out our stay at the Historic El Rancho Hotel, the stop off for old time movie stars--truly atmospheric! It was a great day in the car, watching Laurel be the Photojojo worker as we rolled along. I always knew she was clever and inventive, but talking through her work was exciting. That girl can turn a phrase --in fact, she should be writing this blog post!

Travels with Lolo -part 5

We woke up to snow-yes snow!! in Arizona. The report said 18 inches in the next 35 hours. So I was all for heading straight home. But intrepid Laurel urged us on to the Grand Canyon, snow and all! And it was Grand-- not the views we had anticipated but beautiful in a unique way, a softer, peaceful canyon... We hiked along the edge and after the requisite hot chocolate, we were on our way home. I can't tell you how much I loved this entire trip--all that time with Laurel was a true treasure-- good times, big sights, fun food, intriguing podcasts, bright skies and great talks...

Anipasti

Last weekend we had friends in for an Italian dinner in 4 courses. Larry put on the Italian opera music and gave it a bit of a go to thank God for the food in Italian. The rest of the meal was fine, but the best to me was the simple antipasti to start us off--bread sticks, olive bread, hard salami, honeyed goat cheese, pepperoncinis, good marinated olives and ground artichokes with parmesan. So easy to just arrange it all on a board and honestly, I'd be happy with just this for dinner with friends and a good class of wine...

Potato Chips

Last night Larry and I celebrated our 36h anniversary over hot potato chips. That may sound a little odd, but they were nostalgic and amazingly delicious. We have a history of hot potato chips. In a small plaza near our first home in Spain, every evening the potato chip man served up hot chips straight from the oil from his little kiosk. We would walk down, kids in tow, and buy a kilo of chips. That teamed up with a chicken roasted in white wine from the tiny chicken shop on the plaza and a big green salad made a memorable meal.

36 years together leaves you with a lot of memories. Some of the sweetest (and hardest) ones were those first years in Spain. Meals with Spanish friends, wandering cobbled streets of Seville, adding 2 sweet girls to the family and those chips!! --all dear memories. I'm glad I share them with my best friend, my Larry.

Ode to Thrift Stores

See these smiling faces? They're just back, shopping bags in hand, from Suzanne's guided tour local thrift shops. Oh the bargains! From my cheerful bright yellow platter to Aimee's half price jeans, from Suzanne's luxury belt to Esther's classic white vase! We fortified ourselves with a "french toast bar" brunch and all squeezed into Aimee's van for our shopping extravaganza.

So I want to salute thrift stores far and wide--our chance to recycle while we feel noble for spending so little to bring home all those uncovered treasures. Shop on!

PS- For another (much more clever) blog about thrift stores, check out Laurel's blog by googling "receshbreak/wordpress.com" It will make you smile.

Other People

If you know my buddy Jill, you'll know she is the friendliest, most generous and endearing friend around. So years ago when she recommended Dale Carnegie's old classic "How to Win Friends and Influence people," I trotted off to the library to check out a copy. Don't ask me for details, but I do remember that he wrote that people think about themselves about 90% of their thought time. And I've noticed (at least in my thought life) it's unfortunately true. So I'm trying small bit by bit, to be thinking about other people... to take care of them as well as I manage to take care of myself.

A friend posted this on facebook a couple weeks ago:

"Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside of themselves and their personal happiness." --Leo Tolstoy

And today I read, "the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." -Mark 10:45

Thinking about other people, serving them, putting them first. It's harder than it sounds...

Lonely

If you were alive in the 70's (and a lot of people I know and love weren't!), you may remember "The Ungame." Players moved along a simple game board and drew cards to answer questions about themselves. I remember responding to the card asking, "When are you lonely?" I had to think a bit on that one. I guess coming from a family of four kids and being at school and church several times a week, my life had been full of people. I honestly couldn't remember a lonely time.

I will say that our first couple years in Spain, I never felt alone, but did long for someone who knew me well. And in my 50's I don't have time for lonely days. Although to be honest I miss my kids spread far and wide. But people are there for the "friending," not just on facebook. I'm ever thankful for old friends like Jenon and Lulu and new ones like my MOPS girls. Being rich in people is a true measure of riches.

Penne with Butternut Squash, Bacon & Chard

Dinner tonight--an old favorite I thought you might like. Larry calls it "mac'n'cheese for grown-ups." Lots of cheesy goodness, but all that Swiss chard makes you feel good about eating those greens!

3 cups of butternut squash, cubed

salt & pepper

6 slices of bacon

1 cup chopped shallots (or onion)

3 large leaves of swiss chard cut in

slivers (or use spinach--about 3 cups,

cut up)

8 oz. mini penne

3 tab. flour

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

3 oz (3/4 cup) grated provelone

1/3 cup grated parmesan

First cook the penne pasta according to the directions on the box while you are getting everything else ready. Salt and pepper the cubed squash (I buy it already cut up in a bag from Trader Joes's) and then roast it on a cookie sheet at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes (just until tender). Cut the bacon into bits and cook it-- about half way through throw in the shallots to brown with the bacon. When it's all cooked drain the fat and stir in the swiss chard to wilt it just a bit. In a pan melt 3 tab. butter, stir in the flour til it's all mixed, and then stir in the milk until it simmers to make a nice white sauce. While it's still hot stir in the grated cheese (really any kind of cheese will do). Taste to see if it needs a bit of salt--not much, the bacon is salty! Then add the drained pasta, squash, bacon and shallots all into the sauce and stir it all together. Turn it into a 7x11 inch pan and top with the parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until bubbly and nicely browned.

We ate it tonight with a pear/almond/greens salad with a tarragon dressing and a multigrain roll--warm and filling. Oh, and delicious!

This recipe will stand a lot of substitutions-- ham for bacon, any cheese for provelone, any pasta you have on hand, spinach for swiss chard... We just have chard because larry grows it year round--it's beautiful in the yard! Hope you enjoy it--good warm-upable leftovers.

A Morning in Palm Springs

Yesterday morning, google maps in hand, I drove out to Palm Springs to meet up with Aaron. He was there at the hotel where he and Jessica will have their wedding in the fall so he could meet with the planners/designers. I can't remember when I've had a better time with old AA--fun talk with the design guys over pancakes, a tour of the hotel and AA's descriptions of the wedding details I'd been waiting to hear, a little window shopping downtown and good conversation about his work and plans ahead, even a surprise phone chat with Jessica. It's hard to say just how much a morning alone with one of your kids is worth-- it's a treasure. I've known this old Aaron for a long time now, through lots of ages & stages and this new, improved 30 year old version of our Aaron is the best one yet.

Advent

Wednesday morning early I joined my Catholic friend Maryann for the Ash Wednesday service at her church. I wanted to truly mark the start of the Lenten season, to begin the weeks ahead with a time of quiet and reflection. It was so different than my own church. I loved kneeling to pray before we sat in the quiet. The grand space and slow deliberate service seemed a world apart. The reading of scripture, the responses to God's word, the mark of the ashes on my forehead set my heart for days of special worship ahead...

Apricot, White Chocolate, Walnut Bread

Tried a new recipe to serve to my Monday night ladies. Tender and sweet (kind of like those ladies)-- perfect with a cup of tea.

APRICOT, WHITE CHOCOLATE, WALNUT BREAD

1/2 cup dried apricots, cut in small bits

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tab. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/3 cup canola oil

1 cup walnuts (or pecans)

1/2 cup white chocolate baking bits

Put the apricots in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it sit for 15 minutes. In a large bowl mix the flour sugar, baking powder and salt. Then stir in the egg, milk and oil just until it's all mixed --the batter will be a bit lumpy. Stir in the drained apricots, nuts and white chocolate. Spoon the batter in on standard loaf pan or two smaller pans that have been sprayed with Pam. Bake 45 to 60 minutes (depending on pan size) at 350 degrees. Let it cool a bit before taking it out of the pan.

Next time I might shred up a white chocolate bar for finer pieces of chocolate-- and perhaps throw in some dried cranberries too for color it it's Christmas time. Dust the top with powdered sugar before you cut it to make it pretty (right Laurel?)

Waiting

Waiting. Nobody enjoys it--the proverbial 8 year old waiting for Christmas morning, waiting in the endless line for security at the airport or the interminable wait on hold when telephoning your doctor's office. I guess is just shows my impatient nature, but I do so hate waiting.

Larry and I are currently waiting on some important news. It's driven me to endless hours of American Idol recordings and cups of hot chocolate pudding to pass the wait that is stretching out beyond what we had hoped. How long will we wait on this one?

On waits of some consequence, I do find myself turning to God with my impatient prayers--the casting all your cares on him offer (1 Peter 5:7). I've persisted for years with a couple prayers of waiting. He know my desires, my needs, my impatience with the wait. I can rest when I trust him with that.

And on a back page of my Bible, I'm making a growing list of verses that talk about waiting. Exodus 40:12 recounts the Israelites waiting 430 years on God in Egypt! ugh. But Psalm 33:20 helps me "wait in hope on the Lord." There's a lot of waiting in that book.

I'm trying to learn to find contentment, even joy in the wait--like finding the fun in my 3rd graders when summer vacation looms on the horizon. I don't want to foolishly miss the good in "now." The wait could be time to reconcile myself to news I don't want to hear when the wait is over, to be ready. It could be a rest in the journey to read, or quilt or encourage friends while I wait, and wait... I think it's called "living in the moment" even as I impatiently wait. I know God is good. And I'm waiting...

Baked Oatmeal

We're in the depths of winter here in Socal. It rained! But this morning the sky is a dazzling blue, garnished with fluffy, puffy white clouds. Perfect. Anyway, for a winter's breakfast what is more satisfying than baked oatmeal? (with thanks to dear Debbie for the recipe)

BAKED OATMEAL

2 2/3 cups old fashioned oats

1/3 cup currants

4 cups milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tab. melted butter

1 tsp. cinnamon (or I prefer pumpkin pie spice)

1/4 tsp. salt

2 medium apples, cored, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix is all up in a baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Serve with milk and any of these yumscious garnishes:

strawberries

almonds

brown sugar

dried cranberries

pecans

bananas

blueberries

granola

hazelnuts

boysenberries

raspberries

pineapple chunks

The more add-ons, the better-- a little like Yogurtland! Serve them in small bowls along with the big pan of oatmeal. Here's to a toasty, warm breakfast!

Cranberry Bars

These creamy, tart bars have been a favorite ever since I copied the recipe from my dear Aunt Mary Ann. They're a Christmas staple but this batch I baked up for a bridal shower dessert. And I've made a pan for a "tea" and cut them out into cunning heart shapes with a cookie cutter just to make them pretty...

CRANBERRY BARS

2 cups flour

1 1/4 cup "quick" style oatmeal

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

16 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

16 oz. can whole cranberry sauce

Crust: Mix the flour, oatmeal and brown sugar. Then cut in the butter with a pastry blender (or a food processor). Reserve 1/2 cup of the mixture and press the rest into a 9x13" pan sprayed with Pam. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Filling: With a mixer blend cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Pour over crust.

Topping: Break the cranberry sauce into bits and sprinkle it over the top of the filling. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of the oatmeal mixture.

Return to the 350 degree oven for 40 minutes more.

Just right with a cup of tea. These will keep for a week sealed well in the fridge. Enjoy!

Trust

I once sat with someone near, dear to me and listened to a daunting problem they were facing. Can we pray about that I asked? The reply--"No, I've tried that. It doesn't really work for me."

It makes me think of a recent sermon illustration (thanks again Tim Keller). He talked about the day Jesus was crucified on the cross. How many people that day, standing at the foot of the cross lost their faith, said "Well, I guess this didn't work out for me after all."? When God was, in fact, in the middle of his greatest work for mankind-- the salvation of all who believe.

That's what trusting God takes-- believing him, going to him, even when it's not working out like you imagined it all would. Lord help me trust.

Family time in Colorado

Just back from delightful, delectable weekend with Jessica's family in Colorado. Jessica called it the"family union weekend" since a reunion weekend would depend upon us having been together previously. By any name it was marvelous! So keeping up tradition, I'd like to list my top ten favorites from the weekend at Beaver Creek:

#l. I'll always have the image in mind of Jessica appearing at the doorway of the house to welcome us all in. The house was surprisingly luxurious, but the best was the warm and wonderful way Jessica settled us all in. That she coordinated so many details to give us the lovely weekend was an amazing gift to us all. Thanks (again!) Jessica & AA.

#2. We sat down to Brian's marvelous meatballs the first night--yumcious and just right on a cold winter night. But my favorite meals were breakfasts with Brian. Big fun watching him whip up the oversized spinach fritata and talking over meals with his Italian family. I got some great cooking tips!

#3. Larry and I followed Ani, Brian & Laurel out to the hot tub that first evening-- A little crazy to sit by the snowy ski trail in the hot bubbling cauldron. Cold noses, but warm conversation... So glad they were able to make the trip!

#4. Big fun to hit the grocery store with Aaron. We came home with three times the items on our list, but the best was talking up and down the mountain in the car-- about his new job, the trip to Thailand, the new house... Never can get enough AA time.

#5. I met 3 amazing junior bananograms players--Ethan, Jakob and Tyler!! We had some wild fun. Favorite word-- poop! And the flying bath tub game was pretty awesome too.

#6. Puttering in the incredible kitchen (I did feel like a Top Chef, Laurel!) with Karen was good times. We washed few dishes, made soup, salads and got in lots of "mom talk." Thanks Karen.

#7. Ethan, Tyler and Dave built a great little snowman, but Ethan let me get in on the fun part --putting on the face etc. Afterwards, Jaci and I had a lively photo shoot with ever photogenic Ethan, and of course, the snowman!

#8. It was great to get to meet Jaci and Kristy, Jessica's warm, friendly sisters. It was fun to watch them be great moms to their kids and hear bits and pieces of their lives in New York.

I'm hoping to get to know them better ahead...

#9. In the mornings I could stand out in the sunshine and watch the skiers pop out of the ski room and slide down the slope to start the trip down the mountain-- Everyone was all smiles and obligingly posed for my camera. They gracefully sailed across the snow-- seemed a festive start to the day. It made me want to ski (almost).

#10. And I saved the best for last. On Friday evening we traversed the mountain in a oversized sleigh pulled by a intrepid snow cat. Decked in heavy capes and hoods through the icy air, we trundled up to Beanos, a log cabin of a restaurant, that served up 5 elegant courses at 9,025 feet. We talked our way through sweet potato soup, luscious salad, crab/salmon appetizers, buffalo steaks, and beautifully plated desserts. Larry and I sat across from Alfie and Karen and traded stories about younger Aaron and Jessica. Toasts and laughter rounded out the evening. Later sledding down the hill, our guide showed us his new banjo skills under thousands of brilliant stars and Alfie led the sing-along on the "dance bus" as we finally headed home.

Goals, Hopes & Resolutions

Is it a little late for New Years' resolutions? Well, I never liked that word resolution anyway--sounds like something waiting to be broken, or just forgotten. I prefer goals (being a first born type)-- something you write down and check up on next January. And then there's hopes. Things you wish for, pray for but can't really do yourself. I have plenty of those.

So here are my hopeful, resolute goals for this year ahead:

*Have more fun with Larry, more walks, more yogurts, more trips to Big Bear.

*Phone my mom and Helen/Stu more often. Who else will listen to all my stories like they will?

*Give my kids joy, encouragement and chocolate cake!

*Make for videos for Charlotte & Maryann. I know I look dorky, but I think they don't mind.

*When kids at school talk to me, stop and look at their faces and really hear them.

*Email my Monday ladies, my Tuesday moms more, check in on how they are doing.

*Most importantly be more prayerful for all these people. Love God and listen to his voice.

That's it. A lot to try for. But I'm hopeful.