tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45053936577445712382024-02-07T18:57:38.482-08:00Table-FoodsLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-37277169350773503092012-02-17T13:29:00.001-08:002012-02-18T04:30:27.742-08:00Teff-full Crepe and LOVE<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Valentine’s Day 2012 is over, I KNOW…but I have to share my thoughts and recipe for a yummy and special meal. It was SOOOOO good and sometimes the “it” factor is needed, even for meals other than Valentine’s Day. This is “IT”!! A little time consuming, but a special thing to serve for the one or ones you love. FIRST…some background as to how this recipe came to BE! I have discovered a new grain for my culinary pleasure. It is a grain with an ancient history. The grain is called teff…LOVE it!!! It is nutty when cooked, with the reminiscent taste of my childhood…cream of wheat. EXCEPT it is wheat free and has a reddish brown color…burnt sienna...to all you pigment people. Teff is really high in protein, iron, zinc, and calcium…best thing…it tastes good! I purchased the teff grain at our local grocery store, so I feel sure it is now easy to find. What I used is the Bob’s Red Mill brand of teff, but that is just what our local store carries. You won’t believe how small the grains are….LOOK!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdpyFU3ScG2JygzsLK5JHmS6J8ut2ydwLAJvo_s7VWdd8s_ylp-OSmMoc5wq9kh0vUL9Ez4TQT1bL9onDBwpxCgO8UAt_Yn5ZRtJdGTw-RtmI-RynX3nCkmW-DlYWhLQCu7VYvAnNcsU/s1600/IMG_2438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdpyFU3ScG2JygzsLK5JHmS6J8ut2ydwLAJvo_s7VWdd8s_ylp-OSmMoc5wq9kh0vUL9Ez4TQT1bL9onDBwpxCgO8UAt_Yn5ZRtJdGTw-RtmI-RynX3nCkmW-DlYWhLQCu7VYvAnNcsU/s640/IMG_2438.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Told ya!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Teff, comes from the Ethiopian word…teffa, meaning lost (read this in my Vegetarian Times magazine). Yep… drop this on the floor and you could NEVER find all the little grains!!! I did some reading about this Ethiopian grain and found out that it is known as lovegrass and related to the weeping lovegrass growing on the hillside near our house. Lost….love…weeping….hmmmmm…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-1LATDJc5eqnpDC4Se1NsqAGBEaS9TtwPrWp-h3lQfx3ZwwYWOQMkuIVF1cP8VgvqhFmPmfEdGd5yXWBr4V0H9vS5jU1fJK6B6f4hqmRTg8-FrAC6y7WH-Bv55tKnFPWj-091z25Mlg/s1600/IMG_2488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-1LATDJc5eqnpDC4Se1NsqAGBEaS9TtwPrWp-h3lQfx3ZwwYWOQMkuIVF1cP8VgvqhFmPmfEdGd5yXWBr4V0H9vS5jU1fJK6B6f4hqmRTg8-FrAC6y7WH-Bv55tKnFPWj-091z25Mlg/s640/IMG_2488.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Well…I couldn’t let that go…lovegrass…Valentine’s Day meal?????? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Yep…had to go down this road!!!! So, I figured out how to do a lovely </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">teff </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">crepe for our special meal. I am calling this Teff-Full Love Crepes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Teff-Full Love Crepe Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Makes 6 to 8 crepes…depending on the size of skillet used.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Teff grains cook very quickly…15 minutes. Cooking the teff needs to be done before making the crepe batter. You could also make some porridge in the morning and have some leftover and make these from leftover teff porridge. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I seem to always finish all my porridge!!! ;-D)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a small sauce pan:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pinch of salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bring the water to a boil and stream in:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup teff grain<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir well…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6fLt8pR63thhkCgBmVBaC8yj5t1dZH1mbmR8c4LmcT7YFRaRebPVfXo89KX3kGbcD8xGMTWGHAXySwRHPJDIveQ2mEx0pI2_x36scdVtc0nRs49KH9eWq8NrPHM3Es3X95OSXvlMYXc/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6fLt8pR63thhkCgBmVBaC8yj5t1dZH1mbmR8c4LmcT7YFRaRebPVfXo89KX3kGbcD8xGMTWGHAXySwRHPJDIveQ2mEx0pI2_x36scdVtc0nRs49KH9eWq8NrPHM3Es3X95OSXvlMYXc/s640/IMG_2452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cover the pan and lower heat to simmer for 15 minutes…</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">stir occasionally as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GiSTs4NQsjkG_TclgzxipQao_OJ6RzLhJUhJ35q1hDfZ5RJ0LmDh7lYqqbBzaJ8JZI_mvz_-dpb6rkj7GHIr9miK0BXdeMGRw79mkd9aVwzsIYx1b_Z5BIfRCWL15gGjq90jqh8W5Qg/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GiSTs4NQsjkG_TclgzxipQao_OJ6RzLhJUhJ35q1hDfZ5RJ0LmDh7lYqqbBzaJ8JZI_mvz_-dpb6rkj7GHIr9miK0BXdeMGRw79mkd9aVwzsIYx1b_Z5BIfRCWL15gGjq90jqh8W5Qg/s640/IMG_2456.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Teff is thickened to a porridge consistency with the small grains absorbing all the water. In measuring the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;"> cooked teff, you will have approximately ¾ cup…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">in case you are using leftovers…hahaa!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place cooked teff in bowl of food processor. Allow teff to cool a few minutes while getting out the ingredients to make the crepe batter. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Combine:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. ground flaxseed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 T. water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlkaaOIAti_eZ4_ElnCecDLh4IWy4Mdqqj6-gh_hh6NZ1Dew9xnZXWEkPiELeM0tuGGo6Vf3LLlYI_qwjggDn-lfNBxLWpnnIhAubIQ6UyJEwd0x_98zWoAkC-dWmaGQ542HKZ3ufnRs/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlkaaOIAti_eZ4_ElnCecDLh4IWy4Mdqqj6-gh_hh6NZ1Dew9xnZXWEkPiELeM0tuGGo6Vf3LLlYI_qwjggDn-lfNBxLWpnnIhAubIQ6UyJEwd0x_98zWoAkC-dWmaGQ542HKZ3ufnRs/s640/IMG_2455.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Look….a heart friend…perfect for a Love meal!!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow flax meal to get gooey with the water (technical term).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Melt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup of Earth Balance vegan spread…I do this in microwave…15 seconds…COVER WITH A PAPER…less spatters to clean…FYI<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Bx5hRb3NwkjmAtINbzrO8gdvF8vPWuamr5Ug5wyABSaMK7DG_LcD7S65_ivq9h0L9wwwnQmA1HK2q058Zj0nD8YgU3DLyHxf2LO2VdCAAsdmdGhRWI_0NyTMGaZfQOqjgU66hwqEoA/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Bx5hRb3NwkjmAtINbzrO8gdvF8vPWuamr5Ug5wyABSaMK7DG_LcD7S65_ivq9h0L9wwwnQmA1HK2q058Zj0nD8YgU3DLyHxf2LO2VdCAAsdmdGhRWI_0NyTMGaZfQOqjgU66hwqEoA/s640/IMG_2460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add the flax meal, and melted Earth Balance to the teff in processor… Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup unflavored almond milk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup water (plus additional as needed later when cooking crepes)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OE_2erpm4QW0mYsdDu2Th25aVDc7Bo5qM4bxilTb3WIljTiCHqRDR-W2aBWvNTQ6r_IobDlG0D5UAWzWpW7emmrCa5mtzYia3nLalGrKRhGHnXqEu7YdhJLaD8DsoTjSWTiSDIlg3x8/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OE_2erpm4QW0mYsdDu2Th25aVDc7Bo5qM4bxilTb3WIljTiCHqRDR-W2aBWvNTQ6r_IobDlG0D5UAWzWpW7emmrCa5mtzYia3nLalGrKRhGHnXqEu7YdhJLaD8DsoTjSWTiSDIlg3x8/s640/IMG_2475.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Process the wet ingredients a few seconds to incorporate the teff with all of the liquids.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now combine the dry ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup whole-wheat pastry flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¾ cup unbleached all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add dry ingredients to the wet and again…process for a smooth batter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The batter should look like heavy cream with specks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQBf0pa1UgcG9XWlDfQdohoM-BZpUINe8_XM0bo5_8MF2XEqr0yrMbRjPhDlrLXIH9_R5wVo5U6OpUdIq0A0I_O_M0J0igaRg0b0sM0i_Y8iXly7Mr6l5u1MYjnPGjzvTS1g0MpvyPwE/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQBf0pa1UgcG9XWlDfQdohoM-BZpUINe8_XM0bo5_8MF2XEqr0yrMbRjPhDlrLXIH9_R5wVo5U6OpUdIq0A0I_O_M0J0igaRg0b0sM0i_Y8iXly7Mr6l5u1MYjnPGjzvTS1g0MpvyPwE/s640/IMG_2482.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Most crepe recipes have you refrigerate the batter for at least 30 minutes or longer before using…I simply cleaned up my batter making utensils and processor bowl/blade…readied my crepe making at the stove…and started in making crepes. I think the grain makes it a little sturdier and easier to begin quickly making crepes. Heat a NON-STICK skillet. I used an 8” skillet because I wanted larger “dinner-sized” crepes. I cooked the crepes on a medium heat as you want them to cook quickly, but not brown much…the setting was between a 3 and 4 on my electric cook-top, but you will get a feel for it as you cook the crepes on your stove.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Lightly oil the skillet (spray or brush with olive oil)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFunF6StlZCtYGYX7J49KU7KuI6D8ILqJU8z7pyWujw8gQg-J2xZd9lZjgM-cQeSycMETJ5TNh42mExNCGRkUmMqF_hVUF3o33LP-kNhjdvKALQt4d-RNFgyQCiRHAD5U2l9MblRzklDo/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFunF6StlZCtYGYX7J49KU7KuI6D8ILqJU8z7pyWujw8gQg-J2xZd9lZjgM-cQeSycMETJ5TNh42mExNCGRkUmMqF_hVUF3o33LP-kNhjdvKALQt4d-RNFgyQCiRHAD5U2l9MblRzklDo/s640/IMG_2477.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once the skillet sizzles when a bead of water is dropped onto the surface…crepe making begins…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It is really FUN!! Don’t be scared!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Lift oiled skillet off heat and pour a scant ½ cup of batter into the center of the pan. Immediately begin tipping and rolling the skillet…making the circle of batter larger and larger…until the batter has been rolled all across the bottom of the skillet and even a little up the edge. The batter should just thinly coat the skillet surface…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnaYCwMDmPt_xxpZrJq-T46I0ogurx8jSoFzQTWj0s6Xw62dTRCVO1NiHxTzx1R_2TkhSsVsd7wVh4I5tRZnDd_jzxW_DufOdPWHzm7O3Xgtg72O5juGkA0fo8gCTrQMDr1njHHaTgqo/s1600/IMG_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnaYCwMDmPt_xxpZrJq-T46I0ogurx8jSoFzQTWj0s6Xw62dTRCVO1NiHxTzx1R_2TkhSsVsd7wVh4I5tRZnDd_jzxW_DufOdPWHzm7O3Xgtg72O5juGkA0fo8gCTrQMDr1njHHaTgqo/s640/IMG_2479.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place skillet back on heat and cook the first side of the crepe approximately 2 minutes…may take longer on the first crepe. Don’t worry if the first one is bound for the trashcan…it sometimes happens. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cook the crepe until the edge looks dry (you will see a change in color).<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT89JCr-11oxl5r2lpNkyMWMO83sirH7y8TF6bevg7tRmIpjS9dTEHKltbOpTyoQwyNEGXRHvpMrO3KH4FqK42GQZdx7Bg52mGGosucVaBuOp-64R5wBWSmzCEhjMKIUYcgNKWQ6I0jPk/s1600/IMG_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT89JCr-11oxl5r2lpNkyMWMO83sirH7y8TF6bevg7tRmIpjS9dTEHKltbOpTyoQwyNEGXRHvpMrO3KH4FqK42GQZdx7Bg52mGGosucVaBuOp-64R5wBWSmzCEhjMKIUYcgNKWQ6I0jPk/s640/IMG_2480.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Lift the edge of the crepe with the tip of a table knife or metal spatula…then…simply using your hands…FLIP. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I flip front to back…but you may find it easier to flip back to front…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">probably is a right brain, left brain thing….????)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtTYiVLjzXdhyphenhyphenHIO3PaLDdxDgQZs8VHxiOe_VfQLQvAkfHScWaBRH3qPTYjHSjZkb4RlKkcjxvdDjIsObKtD3yQvguP8TE2QcuIsyx_pbwIvvnJX5ZduXo2iCq1TQBZuBklUbJUPonvA/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtTYiVLjzXdhyphenhyphenHIO3PaLDdxDgQZs8VHxiOe_VfQLQvAkfHScWaBRH3qPTYjHSjZkb4RlKkcjxvdDjIsObKtD3yQvguP8TE2QcuIsyx_pbwIvvnJX5ZduXo2iCq1TQBZuBklUbJUPonvA/s640/IMG_2472.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The cooked side of crepe will be dry, but not really browned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cook the second side... again about 2 minutes…maybe a little less. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Flip the cooked crepe out onto a plate.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6NoAWoDJgCveCFSqrFF1w3_IZ8RkUc6L6VW9MEKYUvzxjkSnSifyKV0As9xSI3EyjtC1zzEt9n40xzHQWUjj2oMSFYDD_jDc88zOY3Eej56owbFQGT2PluhrBSfKaEgwbWPL-CbEEaQ/s1600/IMG_2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6NoAWoDJgCveCFSqrFF1w3_IZ8RkUc6L6VW9MEKYUvzxjkSnSifyKV0As9xSI3EyjtC1zzEt9n40xzHQWUjj2oMSFYDD_jDc88zOY3Eej56owbFQGT2PluhrBSfKaEgwbWPL-CbEEaQ/s640/IMG_2473.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Re-oil the skillet and do it again and again…until the batter is used up. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Should the batter be too thick for easy rolling…happens as it sits…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">add 1 T. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">of water at a time…stir…and then make additional crepes.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place wax paper between the crepes and stack.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlrdov-ipWI0ewqzHBb6c4B4N7kCR64eHwn4uYYY8PgLHdOzSBJZSJbL0LNf46aN8M5JjXZaGXxHk1BGxWXR2QruPKJzGM66pfiLQoy1nckjuEHw1ybRCq3X9kr-1UAJW2oOGyEhqIf8/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlrdov-ipWI0ewqzHBb6c4B4N7kCR64eHwn4uYYY8PgLHdOzSBJZSJbL0LNf46aN8M5JjXZaGXxHk1BGxWXR2QruPKJzGM66pfiLQoy1nckjuEHw1ybRCq3X9kr-1UAJW2oOGyEhqIf8/s640/IMG_2485.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(At this point…you could stop…allow the crepes to cool completely…place in a ziplock bag…and have the crepes ready to go for the next day. I only filled four crepes, so I stored the rest for another meal. The crepes “keep” well in the refrigerator for a few days. Stuffed with tofu scramble for breakfast….YUM!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now here is the filling I used inside the teff crepes for our “LOVE MEAL” on Valentine’s Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Spinach and Mushroom Filling Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(This fills four 8” crepes…increase accordingly)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into a hot skillet place:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 8 oz. package of cremini mushrooms (FINELY chopped)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55WFH6zniSPh7OQXIX2JY07zGLsY9IPH70ZAA-XBD8xSxwcyNSz0c-cXPmiXOqRRghxRz4aGgL3Q5DOz4VRw6OxSia1Ag5LFyoX8CjuPweorP0bQbFKo1ceYLAmQMuo3Nj3XgDZfkGLg/s1600/IMG_2496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55WFH6zniSPh7OQXIX2JY07zGLsY9IPH70ZAA-XBD8xSxwcyNSz0c-cXPmiXOqRRghxRz4aGgL3Q5DOz4VRw6OxSia1Ag5LFyoX8CjuPweorP0bQbFKo1ceYLAmQMuo3Nj3XgDZfkGLg/s640/IMG_2496.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the mushrooms to get seared and browned.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. of dried basil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. ground poultry seasoning<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ to ½ tsp. red pepper flakes…depending on your spice preference<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup FINELY chopped onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cup (measured frozen) chopped spinach…defrost…squeeze dry<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB9BhDifaiW2QTa1n0tWnX2dfB_B3jU_vKWf5fXsPf8kxQtNqTaZWXXhdTrQT3l9VBdU6WXaeAsbZgplxWAFd-EPt7ZiNXGJ-Fr7bWn8hWyRy4YHI79BBMI-JN61StmDo0eGA81d0LCc/s1600/IMG_2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB9BhDifaiW2QTa1n0tWnX2dfB_B3jU_vKWf5fXsPf8kxQtNqTaZWXXhdTrQT3l9VBdU6WXaeAsbZgplxWAFd-EPt7ZiNXGJ-Fr7bWn8hWyRy4YHI79BBMI-JN61StmDo0eGA81d0LCc/s640/IMG_2500.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup unflavored almond milk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup vegan cream cheese (Follow Your Heart brand...appropriate;-))<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup mozzarella veggie shreds (Galaxy brand)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup FINELY chopped walnuts…(plus additional ¼ cup for topping)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir well…allowing the vegan cream cheese and shreds to melt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUD9nAVsEeVoHYR9ASF6xoMcIfVMx_xF8O-Reihc-hBZyLVIJtppS8VUkxdPZ1_pMwObcO1Nil_MCOkQ41CIj_GeRYFAC0V1rX53-bYl3DF8s8jCQicnFt5NWMOqR6spF7eydoa5Xro4/s1600/IMG_2501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUD9nAVsEeVoHYR9ASF6xoMcIfVMx_xF8O-Reihc-hBZyLVIJtppS8VUkxdPZ1_pMwObcO1Nil_MCOkQ41CIj_GeRYFAC0V1rX53-bYl3DF8s8jCQicnFt5NWMOqR6spF7eydoa5Xro4/s640/IMG_2501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. of salt…or to your liking…taste and adjust to your preference.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Remove skillet from heat and make white sauce for topping.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">White Sauce:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Enough sauce to cover four 8” crepes…increase accordingly)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into a small sauce pan place:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of Earth Balance vegan spread<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJohrE51GO9ITbOBmi6-ojBtNb1O2Us5BOhhcHY2cCOu944NRtG15kgGGPJ-2Eumzc9M6w2a9D4nRSh6Mqqmb_XL25HqytaG1okS3IYpkNmB3AnAlO544PhyZeICQWcah3y6OHJ62vHs/s1600/IMG_2504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJohrE51GO9ITbOBmi6-ojBtNb1O2Us5BOhhcHY2cCOu944NRtG15kgGGPJ-2Eumzc9M6w2a9D4nRSh6Mqqmb_XL25HqytaG1okS3IYpkNmB3AnAlO544PhyZeICQWcah3y6OHJ62vHs/s640/IMG_2504.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Anyone see a heart????<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Melt Earth Balance over medium high heat and add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of unbleached all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mxoWB99lgKr6ql3eakBpB0vQBByHyOi1Jax_pwP5beYniZbEHUFRaEMQUv26vKEbKgW6LI3qZtr6ouxzma4gDhUNTnMCYQu57bTTthwtho8Tm1Sr-3OeaXOHP6xv4LX5XyyvHB4AWtU/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mxoWB99lgKr6ql3eakBpB0vQBByHyOi1Jax_pwP5beYniZbEHUFRaEMQUv26vKEbKgW6LI3qZtr6ouxzma4gDhUNTnMCYQu57bTTthwtho8Tm1Sr-3OeaXOHP6xv4LX5XyyvHB4AWtU/s640/IMG_2561.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Whisk the flour into the Earth Balance and allow the flour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> a minute or two to cook…now slowly whisk in:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup of unflavored almond milk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTOTs18UplMptdgwfO5OTTxoYTCnGSxI_PskSVmuu5mxepNQYD1fON3-4yW-_FnWK47zbSP1b8Zgp-8e88hc3K5A7jE_S2_lZnZl6xSy8ofc9TOVspcs20oF917wnPz1efv8sF16ckP8/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTOTs18UplMptdgwfO5OTTxoYTCnGSxI_PskSVmuu5mxepNQYD1fON3-4yW-_FnWK47zbSP1b8Zgp-8e88hc3K5A7jE_S2_lZnZl6xSy8ofc9TOVspcs20oF917wnPz1efv8sF16ckP8/s640/IMG_2564.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup vegan cream cheese (Follow your Heart)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup mozzarella veggie shreds (Galaxy brand)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOaRXjmZZw-M7_Bauy3_j-UBOGNQdk8zKxoDdAbxXEuDVyjM6WxZWOBNaroS5LzQNoMLZ6Y1r44Zwk1Wck_SaSJXPOkSbgKtuV2kzNRMZqejdzrQ7ytOJKrp1L3TatHBITw5iJk6DMus/s1600/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOaRXjmZZw-M7_Bauy3_j-UBOGNQdk8zKxoDdAbxXEuDVyjM6WxZWOBNaroS5LzQNoMLZ6Y1r44Zwk1Wck_SaSJXPOkSbgKtuV2kzNRMZqejdzrQ7ytOJKrp1L3TatHBITw5iJk6DMus/s640/IMG_2565.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Whisk until all is melted and smooth. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Grate some fresh whole nutmeg.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKCxXLbyviEM69zC5l_oHUmWjie9y2jz4oyAeNW4MIiyh-SODaEs1GGzCvzgek1ZB42FQUYVQwfGAZj55ezh5UxA_iAKAAaOA2eSOjdjaMzhY9D4eRPE4ljzQJdGdd0o-kN3sVIsBPVg/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKCxXLbyviEM69zC5l_oHUmWjie9y2jz4oyAeNW4MIiyh-SODaEs1GGzCvzgek1ZB42FQUYVQwfGAZj55ezh5UxA_iAKAAaOA2eSOjdjaMzhY9D4eRPE4ljzQJdGdd0o-kN3sVIsBPVg/s640/IMG_2568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add seasoning to almond milk mixture:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. of nutritional yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. of salt…or to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pinch of cayenne pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe7zUBOZawBfe8QTTmJSWDrCnFb_Zs6ptQAxdNg_r7TY2DPq9D5Op52kPCBSNnzLNDP1vHbmS-fDcNPgCYrZ_lO4rAAG9qtfNvlecXlfmW5N3Sc6GzBChyHdr4hVuNY7c7re7oCnvcJE/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe7zUBOZawBfe8QTTmJSWDrCnFb_Zs6ptQAxdNg_r7TY2DPq9D5Op52kPCBSNnzLNDP1vHbmS-fDcNPgCYrZ_lO4rAAG9qtfNvlecXlfmW5N3Sc6GzBChyHdr4hVuNY7c7re7oCnvcJE/s640/IMG_2572.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">All the parts of the crepes are completed…so now…FILL CREPES </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">AND BAKE!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees…lightly oil a square 9” baking dish.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Lay one of the cooled crepes on a flat surface. Down the middle of the crepe, place about ½ cup of the mushroom/spinach filling.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh3Jh9R_iFr7XITZvBBt4FdCQaczdP3qSltI0nwXj8Cm3ApYXKIbQrhPWxjTYWRGDKkyR50wTMWd18IZ3pj2c5quYa7U-WXWnsBdDXE-bkWQ1tre9Lil34odG92nSEoXDGwrxdOk5oeQ/s1600/IMG_2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh3Jh9R_iFr7XITZvBBt4FdCQaczdP3qSltI0nwXj8Cm3ApYXKIbQrhPWxjTYWRGDKkyR50wTMWd18IZ3pj2c5quYa7U-WXWnsBdDXE-bkWQ1tre9Lil34odG92nSEoXDGwrxdOk5oeQ/s640/IMG_2505.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Fold over both sides to the center over the filling.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1gnneXAJeXo6NJNUZ8-se4wGr9XOAM8XNpB1MQx7ePBRrvirK1Nj2RFIisxsuJkP0WZf3EKrGkViEf9qcH2gB-kPh-1gWt_SLaiHIEsWOxTGHWWS-Bf-NLMf_ps-Lfhy-ZHZVbV_Gek/s1600/IMG_2507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1gnneXAJeXo6NJNUZ8-se4wGr9XOAM8XNpB1MQx7ePBRrvirK1Nj2RFIisxsuJkP0WZf3EKrGkViEf9qcH2gB-kPh-1gWt_SLaiHIEsWOxTGHWWS-Bf-NLMf_ps-Lfhy-ZHZVbV_Gek/s640/IMG_2507.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place the crepe seam side down into the lightly oiled 9” baking dish. Repeat this process for the other crepes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPxgDkqxNx7m8bp3gEZ9SLQC_fn8j7GEtK-u6kTvg6l2mpCY1aASV_kgv-9I1xOZ39vf4IYXLPTg5O88UBu2Ejn55p9UgkahIdULBecG54DU3GiZP7adiG3rEqW6hPR9AbkWCX2JBoLU/s1600/IMG_2508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPxgDkqxNx7m8bp3gEZ9SLQC_fn8j7GEtK-u6kTvg6l2mpCY1aASV_kgv-9I1xOZ39vf4IYXLPTg5O88UBu2Ejn55p9UgkahIdULBecG54DU3GiZP7adiG3rEqW6hPR9AbkWCX2JBoLU/s640/IMG_2508.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pour white sauce over the crepes. </span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sprinkle with:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup of FINELY chopped walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dash of paprika<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6GCiU6TTbyTLZcv-eR6GnlEeGhDZ8ZbBWZxLEOH56Ywnio3Ka_jPpkRD0XT46bSE8Vu70lXk94f40NTZ6NJeDA8KVUCLbngiIJuwhyphenhyphen4wNFLLTTzPpxDOV5Pm62op5okXrg-XwzBzCw4/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6GCiU6TTbyTLZcv-eR6GnlEeGhDZ8ZbBWZxLEOH56Ywnio3Ka_jPpkRD0XT46bSE8Vu70lXk94f40NTZ6NJeDA8KVUCLbngiIJuwhyphenhyphen4wNFLLTTzPpxDOV5Pm62op5okXrg-XwzBzCw4/s640/IMG_2509.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bake crepes In a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes...or until bubbling </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">and hot.</span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the baked crepes a few minutes to “set” before trying to serve…otherwise it will be difficult to keep the crepe whole for a nice presentation on the plate. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I steamed some asparagus during this “crepe resting time” ;-))<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">OK…deep breath…serve carefully... supporting the crepe out of the baking dish with your serving spatula…</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">TA….DAH!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6jjZVplBoRCg7bdWYr7xAQFSwWyJRdexySbuIpQQi99PbZOzry2cC_T6oC3ahrDVO9OdMmIRg07lW5GXqR8tIKGvHe-_Cq1YGE8MhNC69Fa_fkB-0aCwWWr0p3DWTY4jpgyPfy4GJ64/s1600/IMG_2516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6jjZVplBoRCg7bdWYr7xAQFSwWyJRdexySbuIpQQi99PbZOzry2cC_T6oC3ahrDVO9OdMmIRg07lW5GXqR8tIKGvHe-_Cq1YGE8MhNC69Fa_fkB-0aCwWWr0p3DWTY4jpgyPfy4GJ64/s640/IMG_2516.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">LOVE ON A PLATE!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Candles lit, music playing, fireplace blazing…yes, it was a LOVELY MEAL... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">if I DO say so myself. Quite a special meal for a Tuesday!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We cleaned our plates and then exchanged cards.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAWCsV73Q3yN2s7ChfK6_xmW5wsdnwW6mbi96-b1W4dnrb29dr_lWBerMLsVmi9OrsACi7st_y3qEYY9VQP8ODguqcn-cOe_6MLxqhEDqtf8PLh-ANhDMx64ie0mb_eojyOT1y1K-TEA/s1600/IMG_2557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAWCsV73Q3yN2s7ChfK6_xmW5wsdnwW6mbi96-b1W4dnrb29dr_lWBerMLsVmi9OrsACi7st_y3qEYY9VQP8ODguqcn-cOe_6MLxqhEDqtf8PLh-ANhDMx64ie0mb_eojyOT1y1K-TEA/s640/IMG_2557.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Those who know us well, know how much we love our pugs!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Well…here’s the Avanti card I gave Jim…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIV6hrifZhgXav81O3YNI5yx4k0YV3Pr-PFZMXr6VtDy70KkkGgzDCMuO3epMlUGVXR9N62KeqzKHIiSnUiVC2WA4xhX_d4HPvcJtDryRn_cDCSJSAnNd6x0vFdUUJaht5M-bsSiG33z0/s1600/IMG_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIV6hrifZhgXav81O3YNI5yx4k0YV3Pr-PFZMXr6VtDy70KkkGgzDCMuO3epMlUGVXR9N62KeqzKHIiSnUiVC2WA4xhX_d4HPvcJtDryRn_cDCSJSAnNd6x0vFdUUJaht5M-bsSiG33z0/s640/IMG_2448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Jim’s card to me…much more elegant…a Hallmark card...<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaTVcpdxmzKV6mfA_e3zmBpbYLCLij8Z9P5stSLAr3A4qfYmiFuGeydQdEE1y83gYQrfdQ6DKifz69nn0KhsqSQ16WHuTYzxSlVf-vEDyaXyyopGbLsPd3wIHp4TmyaR35twpaGv9fkw/s1600/IMG_2559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaTVcpdxmzKV6mfA_e3zmBpbYLCLij8Z9P5stSLAr3A4qfYmiFuGeydQdEE1y83gYQrfdQ6DKifz69nn0KhsqSQ16WHuTYzxSlVf-vEDyaXyyopGbLsPd3wIHp4TmyaR35twpaGv9fkw/s640/IMG_2559.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">As we remembered the Valentine Days of the past (you do this as you get older…) we remembered Valentine’s Day three years ago. My father was dying. Jim, our son, and I had gone back to the nursing center where Dad was being cared for... just to check in on him for the night. We found him, sitting up in bed, being fed a small spoonful of sherbet by the young aide. Clear as can be, he asked if I would see that my mom receive a Valentine’s Day card. The remarkable thing was that Dad had not been really lucid about anything in the days prior to or after THIS brief moment in time. (It was a Grace Moment…as Jim calls them!) I assured him, Mom, would receive a card from him and we had our final two-way conversation with Dad in those brief minutes before tucking him in and saying goodnight. Not being able to find a card that would begin to say what I thought needed to be said…</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I purchased a blank card and hand-wrote these words of scripture after they caught my eye.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(A framed paper cutting hanging on my wall.)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The only words that seemed to sum up the love of a 50-year marriage were these words. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Three years ago today…on the February 17, 2008 my father was gone…but love not lost…only out of sight. I’ve thought a lot about that time over the last three years. I lost the physical presence of my dad, my business, and a sense of my orientation during that week of Valentine’s Day 2008. It made me appreciate the parables in the Bible about the lost in a way that I never had before. These are the parables about the lost sheep... lost coin... and the lost son... I gained a new understanding. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Look in the 15<sup>th</sup> Chapter of Luke if you are curious.) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">What is lost...is pursued by LOVE! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">That is what brought me comfort and hope. The knowledge... that no matter what... LOVE…NEVER fails…even when everything in life seems to fail. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Even when lovegrass is weeping…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The scattered grains of love are not lost…only out of sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Grace (our black mutt) and I walk by this grass daily…I see this grass differently this week. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">While walking…I’ve been listening to down-loaded new single on my phone that I’ve fallin’ in LOVE with…by Jason Mraz…”I Won’t Give Up”. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">One of the song’s lines says...” we didn’t break, didn’t burn, we had to learn how to bend without the world cavin’ in”…”I won’t give up…we’ve got a lot to learn…God knows we’re worth it…even if the skies get rough, I’m givin’ you all my love…I’m still lookin’ up”…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Nothing is LOST…only out of our sight…</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">LOVE finds us, holds us, sustains us…LOVE NEVER FAILS!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In memory and thanksgiving of the love of Charles L. Williams Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">This teff crepe is a special recipe…the crepe holds all of the “stuff”… the filling…the heart of the recipe... a warm enfolding, comfort food…the perfect meal for the ONE you love and for remembering the ONES you love. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Love meals are needed more frequently than once a year on Valentine’s Day, SO… make some crepes:-).<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Or hold a pug and remember…</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">LOVE pursues you... it will NOT LET YOU GO!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful Living Moment Today: EVERY small grain of love is gathered into our hearts, so not even ONE is ever LOST! </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Keep Looking Up!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiBowQmnJIeyH8MAJgtEeqMTYG4Sd-0-4ho9ZF4YazVyE46LvtpCvAi_ysDkf49cUF2oC8JxqY9PlHpDE15ugCMZhI0HCevDSdkOU4fB5al4rymGfxuZ-vX8qYBK8l5o39K0NKYv0Kqc/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiBowQmnJIeyH8MAJgtEeqMTYG4Sd-0-4ho9ZF4YazVyE46LvtpCvAi_ysDkf49cUF2oC8JxqY9PlHpDE15ugCMZhI0HCevDSdkOU4fB5al4rymGfxuZ-vX8qYBK8l5o39K0NKYv0Kqc/s640/IMG_1079.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-4495841566719824672012-02-07T20:35:00.000-08:002012-02-08T07:56:11.720-08:00Florentine Lace Valentine Cookies and Shadows<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So… the buzz this week…did the groundhog see his shadow??? Yes…he did. Six more weeks of winter…ummmm….okay. I will try and endure it with all of my hearty genes!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3y6rvhudqR99Jz8T-lnFVfezjGaKBMI3lUZrUIaOyrfoWLzF6pHJf4A2ziyWnF61KiIyJJuWT-AJJUl7SwnDBogB2_iX10xNfIy_3GmRbbCpcLYbRdGG0aN7Gx7DkbHHf_ji7jol7V4/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3y6rvhudqR99Jz8T-lnFVfezjGaKBMI3lUZrUIaOyrfoWLzF6pHJf4A2ziyWnF61KiIyJJuWT-AJJUl7SwnDBogB2_iX10xNfIy_3GmRbbCpcLYbRdGG0aN7Gx7DkbHHf_ji7jol7V4/s640/IMG_2297.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I always find the whole Groundhog Day confusing. How is it that a sunny, bright day means more winter and a cloudy, dreary day means spring…it has always seemed odd to me. But then again…I hadn’t really thought too deeply about it EVER!! This week, I thought about the whole shadow thing. Sometimes seeing my own shadow makes me want to run back and hide too!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCMIgq4F5UMLxCgQx1lGfevouGjlRxcOBqV9ddTNAQOEubjg0juXuuq1MTKL0C_DjPgpvs3Bwc9DkaMaxAKdhxUK3WtwP5NsV4E2OvWdp2k2a8jywgqMugjbjx6BXxy0ueXntDh1rD0I/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCMIgq4F5UMLxCgQx1lGfevouGjlRxcOBqV9ddTNAQOEubjg0juXuuq1MTKL0C_DjPgpvs3Bwc9DkaMaxAKdhxUK3WtwP5NsV4E2OvWdp2k2a8jywgqMugjbjx6BXxy0ueXntDh1rD0I/s640/IMG_2388.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Maybe the whole winter/spring prediction wasn’t what I was to notice this year! Maybe it was the part about running from the shadow. The story goes that the groundhog after seeing his shadow, runs back into his burrow to hibernate for another 6 weeks. As I thought about it, in order for a shadow to be cast…light must be present. Sometimes light shining on us is just too much. Sometimes what is cast for others to see is too much and we need time to adjust. I felt great love for that little rodent and the new insight I gained from my shadow watching.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3jxBt_M5RBF781ALzGDrqFNtXWo7m_Ge31477NVIFAbfZhmW4nRq2x5HPZpYK7FtLn1EMZcp9-WFIWwha4LZ528YmpVziXiCiY_NpL5UgfD35A_J99DAHclhJsMlRvzGNobNJfthhxA/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3jxBt_M5RBF781ALzGDrqFNtXWo7m_Ge31477NVIFAbfZhmW4nRq2x5HPZpYK7FtLn1EMZcp9-WFIWwha4LZ528YmpVziXiCiY_NpL5UgfD35A_J99DAHclhJsMlRvzGNobNJfthhxA/s640/IMG_2348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In my everyday life, I have always been drawn to the positive space to view: the surfaces, colors, textures, movements, the solid forms of life, but this week…I forced myself to the shadows. The forms created by the shadows. I thought about it as an artist views objects…the dark is what makes the object have form!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Through the front window, a lacy pattern was cast on the carpet… shadows from our landscape. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IaLBgZobFER-Ziquoq4y_bxvRYDhyphenhyphen9r06X8nXWwr62QYGYMsZLDFXPeJVLVycr35-pcMiE2wn4ibseoh4Mk-jjFO1LE84vBGgfasBXGh_mI_gPEZewz_Cz8xgoHUgB4MyTF8Rw3PHM0/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IaLBgZobFER-Ziquoq4y_bxvRYDhyphenhyphen9r06X8nXWwr62QYGYMsZLDFXPeJVLVycr35-pcMiE2wn4ibseoh4Mk-jjFO1LE84vBGgfasBXGh_mI_gPEZewz_Cz8xgoHUgB4MyTF8Rw3PHM0/s640/IMG_2408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It was the beginning inspiration for the recipe this week. I KNOW…BUT… it involves chocolate…so hang with me on this idea!!!! I had been thinking about Valentine’s Day… hearts…LOVE…and all those wonderful images this week. Pair that with my shadow exploration and the two seemed destined for a recipe!!!! The shadow-side of love…think movie plot, opera, or nightly news cast!!! A lacy Florentine heart-shaped cookie with a dark chocolate backside was the cookie for the week. A great treat for my valentine sweet table…or simply a treat to share…a little chocolate indulgence. Yes…we do eat sweets occasionally!!! This little cookie is DELICIOUS!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Florentine Lace Valentine Cookie Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Makes 3 dozen cookies<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into a small sauce pan over medium high heat place:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup Earth Balance vegan spread<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup soy coffee creamer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup natural sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBaL92GtkQnjE4dzColcwkBVZNs2sr3eJ-615C-IJJiRNr0_wHlIIKeRVXalsACn4xjJUuSTA7tWyNF3_sx-rMYl2nAvQ5RJii1nlp5Q5SBRNdJXNJdLr89PomjNIw18-unHno-qHgqw/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBaL92GtkQnjE4dzColcwkBVZNs2sr3eJ-615C-IJJiRNr0_wHlIIKeRVXalsACn4xjJUuSTA7tWyNF3_sx-rMYl2nAvQ5RJii1nlp5Q5SBRNdJXNJdLr89PomjNIw18-unHno-qHgqw/s640/IMG_2357.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir as the ingredients are heating to dissolve the sugar and incorporate the Earth Balance into the creamer. Bring this to a rolling boil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQccthx04BmFZSMiib814MVXocuEusuCMwQtMsLbq98My44jqQx3Zq7G5v-q8JCm6-k5gj5K4-OJ0e9E8nJ1mSmmAFTMRyW-gzxlgwYeUgt3cvVYtde_Fj0LO2AZ6Kss3U89C5D8ZCsM0/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQccthx04BmFZSMiib814MVXocuEusuCMwQtMsLbq98My44jqQx3Zq7G5v-q8JCm6-k5gj5K4-OJ0e9E8nJ1mSmmAFTMRyW-gzxlgwYeUgt3cvVYtde_Fj0LO2AZ6Kss3U89C5D8ZCsM0/s640/IMG_2359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Remove saucepan from heat after coming to a boil.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Grind walnuts in the bowl of food processor)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsIiDmJK9Qjvg1XEtQFHuFfm8E4NwM_WfxksxzYVr40SuTAh0oT8ZcgJmhAkGmVIQtENqg-Y3d382B6WNBty3xL92Zu60K-zYPIkbAB_GnwWAkka5ZRp9tv6H52ThIcrv88wFdgMHpuw/s1600/IMG_2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsIiDmJK9Qjvg1XEtQFHuFfm8E4NwM_WfxksxzYVr40SuTAh0oT8ZcgJmhAkGmVIQtENqg-Y3d382B6WNBty3xL92Zu60K-zYPIkbAB_GnwWAkka5ZRp9tv6H52ThIcrv88wFdgMHpuw/s640/IMG_2361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(You want walnuts to be a fine powder, but not ground to the point of a paste.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Measure and place into a bowl:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cups finely ground walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into the emptied food processor bowl…no need to clean…measure:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup of dried cranberries<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup tapioca flour <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Bob’s Red Mill brand is what I had on hand…flour made from the starchy cassava plant roots…has the texture of corn starch.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ORQLkwTYFs4_X6hMirVbrC1r3KoiybdPnSnqE5iUOoH3hSqmxG4FZQXSJ42KLqCSgk0xcUrCO-Busd_mlOfL_4z31wDXZGapginmMmOsGNzcq1hhzCMG2a1yXvTJVrXjgnz7AEW4AKc/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ORQLkwTYFs4_X6hMirVbrC1r3KoiybdPnSnqE5iUOoH3hSqmxG4FZQXSJ42KLqCSgk0xcUrCO-Busd_mlOfL_4z31wDXZGapginmMmOsGNzcq1hhzCMG2a1yXvTJVrXjgnz7AEW4AKc/s640/IMG_2362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Process the two together until the cranberries are finely chopped. The tapioca flour helps the dried cranberries to grind without becoming gummy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeAMWFGKSbl7x5UNwl0VKKOTZr8otI2mqN3hI5hLW_z4Q8ddmjGNucb521X_YGQXFL64taUVxdWMGBFwXB8UJAr_I_98rmD_WBaSMBpW7H5gdlxa16ulSwffZzM-Ce9inoK5YMyCTTzg/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeAMWFGKSbl7x5UNwl0VKKOTZr8otI2mqN3hI5hLW_z4Q8ddmjGNucb521X_YGQXFL64taUVxdWMGBFwXB8UJAr_I_98rmD_WBaSMBpW7H5gdlxa16ulSwffZzM-Ce9inoK5YMyCTTzg/s640/IMG_2366.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place ground cranberries and tapioca flour into bowl with walnuts and add the warm liquid from the saucepan. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. orange extract<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. pure vanilla extract<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">pinch of salt</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJY0iJb4197xUy5DIbCQZM0FAToKSEtQISSm3-dkFXC72xfI6iroZI2dvWWkNv_gNkQCCTzzhuTjksMOCOYeOSbdw4JONzgdzMQTrsCFf_nknHnxto0bdUMbIlO8qdqL4T1-FXkdSKpg/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJY0iJb4197xUy5DIbCQZM0FAToKSEtQISSm3-dkFXC72xfI6iroZI2dvWWkNv_gNkQCCTzzhuTjksMOCOYeOSbdw4JONzgdzMQTrsCFf_nknHnxto0bdUMbIlO8qdqL4T1-FXkdSKpg/s640/IMG_2368.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir until all ingredients are well combined.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncu3JRxUxVk-t6o7uDBBhTF89BISomvVGQjplVmDu-V2B3uLNBvDLSfr8vsQ-RIHWZWtrQy8Zd_YpAz918pcj4udqjMfhudSXu3iWx1Ok5omLfs6u88LIkqVW5KYYclaFQXrOuI4PoN4/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncu3JRxUxVk-t6o7uDBBhTF89BISomvVGQjplVmDu-V2B3uLNBvDLSfr8vsQ-RIHWZWtrQy8Zd_YpAz918pcj4udqjMfhudSXu3iWx1Ok5omLfs6u88LIkqVW5KYYclaFQXrOuI4PoN4/s640/IMG_2370.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Line baking sheets with parchment paper, scoop or measure 1 T. worth of batter per cookie onto the baking sheets.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMZ1_sw3ImuHiXx5beIsBWaQW9hiHoSyht6fz43bcEvLhnZNxJN4NBa5NLpRyZRna5eHEMq20ugd_LrGq98T05JpS_gBqzKBgl4HKHHkoUGcgzG03_q_eVaMunUVe8FeBkJyNaZImeiw/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMZ1_sw3ImuHiXx5beIsBWaQW9hiHoSyht6fz43bcEvLhnZNxJN4NBa5NLpRyZRna5eHEMq20ugd_LrGq98T05JpS_gBqzKBgl4HKHHkoUGcgzG03_q_eVaMunUVe8FeBkJyNaZImeiw/s640/IMG_2371.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place the cookies FAR apart…only 6 cookies at a time per sheet. The batter will spread and it makes it easier to shape after baking if there are only 6 to cut while the next pan is baking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn8JC_RB9xmz_W5n-UHL6nxorPUmw0KWAcoGTUj6HkSvbX-hYw9SE6FbyRYecDlItXW5YocXFTXIAt6tS_a69jsDHunDgSM85nmDjPCYokmPcBQFh_69wqN_8OqQwdT3ZofXYIh8cLP0/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn8JC_RB9xmz_W5n-UHL6nxorPUmw0KWAcoGTUj6HkSvbX-hYw9SE6FbyRYecDlItXW5YocXFTXIAt6tS_a69jsDHunDgSM85nmDjPCYokmPcBQFh_69wqN_8OqQwdT3ZofXYIh8cLP0/s640/IMG_2372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once the mounds of batter are on the parchment, place a spoon in a glass of water. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP1vReTY39OaNs2SBTOgVXZCgqmEf_vIDe2_yUcABs34XS26tk3WSV3AHAAgnRDHcB3-i3gwhW8fq_JSUPnVJosRQ-KB6-SpVlWbSs74KwNbGVE38XnivZXUCo6QxIrvq5X0q6WO8nOU/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP1vReTY39OaNs2SBTOgVXZCgqmEf_vIDe2_yUcABs34XS26tk3WSV3AHAAgnRDHcB3-i3gwhW8fq_JSUPnVJosRQ-KB6-SpVlWbSs74KwNbGVE38XnivZXUCo6QxIrvq5X0q6WO8nOU/s640/IMG_2374.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The wet spoon makes smoothing the mounds into disks easier. Simply flatten the mounds into smooth disks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN-ic3oMvHpxxLiS10G05uNWD3KZdKWiJbrSZjg0wS1g0IsS8bd8M7paupTFMznYdC_CJWFLP-HU6TBkGf_-nAjRYaUrZ2yQW0lYSh8JOAJczs5SLeD2ydoqxEkj_sZkWoZPxw32g9eQ/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN-ic3oMvHpxxLiS10G05uNWD3KZdKWiJbrSZjg0wS1g0IsS8bd8M7paupTFMznYdC_CJWFLP-HU6TBkGf_-nAjRYaUrZ2yQW0lYSh8JOAJczs5SLeD2ydoqxEkj_sZkWoZPxw32g9eQ/s640/IMG_2376.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The cookies are now ready to be baked in a pre-heated 350 degree oven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_VkIu9nNv2v82W_l8eTwn99yLZOp3nMBssjP2FjlC12T_ubctv5FC7nFDeMdW4kI5bJZY8BA5sAuaU0-mjLSmeuXNKyitTqDdY0sgJaGBFhK1dW_G87onIc2PLUZW4Zn7VuKR7Xf71w/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_VkIu9nNv2v82W_l8eTwn99yLZOp3nMBssjP2FjlC12T_ubctv5FC7nFDeMdW4kI5bJZY8BA5sAuaU0-mjLSmeuXNKyitTqDdY0sgJaGBFhK1dW_G87onIc2PLUZW4Zn7VuKR7Xf71w/s640/IMG_2378.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bake the cookies for 11 minutes. The lacy cookies will be golden around the edges.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3RG_G0qUM52vagLBzWp-kfMRvHf4ekzUSxk8eQr5mJCy1HhXBwhny4DjbtWkQ4R-OyIRv93AkvGut6KzCbHnHlL0kOBLFsNnt26Vhxns_b5pmHIThFBSRfiDoH1kJVTkb-3324psJ_o/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3RG_G0qUM52vagLBzWp-kfMRvHf4ekzUSxk8eQr5mJCy1HhXBwhny4DjbtWkQ4R-OyIRv93AkvGut6KzCbHnHlL0kOBLFsNnt26Vhxns_b5pmHIThFBSRfiDoH1kJVTkb-3324psJ_o/s640/IMG_2389.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet (DO NOT REMOVE) for 4 to 5 minutes. They will harden and become firm enough to pick up, yet still be somewhat pliable. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(While the cookies cool ready the next pan of cookies to bake and keep the rotation of baking and shaping going until all the batter has been baked.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">To form the cookies into a heart shape…I use kitchen scissors. It makes the shaping quick and easy!! Cut into the circle at the top and take out a wedge shaped pie piece…the top of the heart!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvuyMKGVqCIVDPl7MinhDcSMny-Gzz3JDKwnWXsqtxGqBz1uXEzVO0TjrtkZv_plIGFfGmaOlZSnXivSOhsF1-tVEpLsgHI7g5P6q_KHE-jgrAVvLEZhBWa4RTXm5eB9qPhKGgLd6tgg/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvuyMKGVqCIVDPl7MinhDcSMny-Gzz3JDKwnWXsqtxGqBz1uXEzVO0TjrtkZv_plIGFfGmaOlZSnXivSOhsF1-tVEpLsgHI7g5P6q_KHE-jgrAVvLEZhBWa4RTXm5eB9qPhKGgLd6tgg/s640/IMG_2391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now shape the bottom point from the sides…not much will need to come off…just a shearing of the edge to a centered point on both sides of the bottom edge of circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknOyHl68xeriMrGQlpQExE0hoOd2RFJrM6J0Up_rYTI5iuVYqicCAk6KYoTTcjUe8TV8X3Wkgjh2eStsQvNn-UmWVk1kc03lPFJpAOg1nvc15XAFGQjd3eLx0uKRpmntwZ0K8c-hnHTs/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknOyHl68xeriMrGQlpQExE0hoOd2RFJrM6J0Up_rYTI5iuVYqicCAk6KYoTTcjUe8TV8X3Wkgjh2eStsQvNn-UmWVk1kc03lPFJpAOg1nvc15XAFGQjd3eLx0uKRpmntwZ0K8c-hnHTs/s640/IMG_2394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">A finished heart now cools on rack until completely cool and hardened.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBloCPvGcdV7CE3Q345kJAcWvn5vo0uV2oXdoL_nQdQo-04plzZeEztZ8AzhJjVdi5s_vbOrkGnZkx1XoyDaM7ciQBG5HRNisCBho_bkX3jg96Yc9bs7jXl6aFe0WRNcTSlVf46APKhec/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBloCPvGcdV7CE3Q345kJAcWvn5vo0uV2oXdoL_nQdQo-04plzZeEztZ8AzhJjVdi5s_vbOrkGnZkx1XoyDaM7ciQBG5HRNisCBho_bkX3jg96Yc9bs7jXl6aFe0WRNcTSlVf46APKhec/s640/IMG_2398.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Continue until all hearts have been shaped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Save all of the crumbs from shaping…these are great snacks, on top of oatmeal for breakfast, on coconut or soy yogurt…etc….yummy!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx0TvMSrZqPkN8eyMIkr8xTfQaYMRUyTzfx-CMW3D8ozNzHsx4RmuqLu3pjC-2MIIH3KaOjhNUgjx6zxGx8ibhCjMAh3Q871g4NDIalwiSMfBGZIMSLOytd2PHn6n9HBpUsk0VOdDcIY/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx0TvMSrZqPkN8eyMIkr8xTfQaYMRUyTzfx-CMW3D8ozNzHsx4RmuqLu3pjC-2MIIH3KaOjhNUgjx6zxGx8ibhCjMAh3Q871g4NDIalwiSMfBGZIMSLOytd2PHn6n9HBpUsk0VOdDcIY/s640/IMG_2396.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now for the “shadow” side of the heart!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Melt in microwave:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ¾ cup dark chocolate (non-dairy) chips<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Time the melting process in 30 to 35 second intervals…checking and stirring. The chip will still be visibly whole, but upon stirring in the hot bowl, the chips will readily melt. This way you won’t burn your chocolate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybzaZTJU5b67tOkF3fwEb_l5Se68Pd6qdvrEo6hcAoxtfFYbsDKFd06VphQ88mGas1dDZiQD42H0NXt6qH8lBMQnWRdqWho_FbeVKnsTac_4P1zinTeDmhGoOEz1yWhyoYVh3-NA6sVE/s1600/IMG_2423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybzaZTJU5b67tOkF3fwEb_l5Se68Pd6qdvrEo6hcAoxtfFYbsDKFd06VphQ88mGas1dDZiQD42H0NXt6qH8lBMQnWRdqWho_FbeVKnsTac_4P1zinTeDmhGoOEz1yWhyoYVh3-NA6sVE/s640/IMG_2423.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir and it becomes melted and smooth…shiny….yummy!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCROZuWslA5lTXqPpF1OFwUyHcxz9yQVpQZHLJtn4DG0i7-dr9w2aVDK-gaHd1jRrty6Ga4gekoSAHFI-OfNHhOFGUrR-cm2Fa41aerdObmRpjpHQOFlgBcIH3BThpBY6RFPgYpu9t0N0/s1600/IMG_2426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCROZuWslA5lTXqPpF1OFwUyHcxz9yQVpQZHLJtn4DG0i7-dr9w2aVDK-gaHd1jRrty6Ga4gekoSAHFI-OfNHhOFGUrR-cm2Fa41aerdObmRpjpHQOFlgBcIH3BThpBY6RFPgYpu9t0N0/s640/IMG_2426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Turn each lacy heart over, so that the smooth side is up and spread this side with a thin layer of melted chocolate. Spread each cookie until all the hearts have been covered. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId6MqQgM8FcI0m71A_LxvDoK4_qPsW2WA9bftXelYmELCUIISQa9ijf7ZiwtM56sW3GpPnM-aEyYmFqxB2B0k38MO-PZ63NEu-GxNxzIMB0pwAWD1gtL1EuMtRDAjEsK0yTJDEbX781M/s1600/IMG_2430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId6MqQgM8FcI0m71A_LxvDoK4_qPsW2WA9bftXelYmELCUIISQa9ijf7ZiwtM56sW3GpPnM-aEyYmFqxB2B0k38MO-PZ63NEu-GxNxzIMB0pwAWD1gtL1EuMtRDAjEsK0yTJDEbX781M/s640/IMG_2430.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place the hearts back on the rack…chocolate side up until the chocolate hardens.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIHMtp4sKmvxoPz9SbJyn5Vl86bBLy25eX4VJa-GiK4VqX5ENTIT4pSk2IxLqpKjvO-JvjLgpKeTUWoIQ5Rf9RSZGNQGAuanyXAUaw4e0OMCibbNFtswvSVfbuqdt67Ct22H3HUlO1XM/s1600/IMG_2433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIHMtp4sKmvxoPz9SbJyn5Vl86bBLy25eX4VJa-GiK4VqX5ENTIT4pSk2IxLqpKjvO-JvjLgpKeTUWoIQ5Rf9RSZGNQGAuanyXAUaw4e0OMCibbNFtswvSVfbuqdt67Ct22H3HUlO1XM/s640/IMG_2433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once the chocolate hardens…try not to eat them all, but pack into airtight containers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Right side up…the dark shadow of chocolate peeks through the lacy heart!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrqSbsbpquRvPmWu5D-7R9_hCdYT3Ci7C3aCnw4OGyp3ofCsx3iJA7Dsx8kmwsL9v_rWOLDDFG-ufxbWaMyGtnjsr0aH5UEOogvEaC_5CxwC-zWA_xrU8JOU7ej7bVSCCwfQoYUH0j2E/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrqSbsbpquRvPmWu5D-7R9_hCdYT3Ci7C3aCnw4OGyp3ofCsx3iJA7Dsx8kmwsL9v_rWOLDDFG-ufxbWaMyGtnjsr0aH5UEOogvEaC_5CxwC-zWA_xrU8JOU7ej7bVSCCwfQoYUH0j2E/s640/IMG_2435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The chocolate adds weight to the cookie and strength. It seems more like a “real” cookie rather than just a fragile, sugary, confection filled with holes. It is yummy without the chocolate, but the chocolate adds substance.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In my shadow watching this week…I thought about how those we love have glimpses of our shadow side. We may not be Jekyll and Hyde, but we each have those parts in us that are shadows of our being that we run from, or avoid, rather than face. Sometimes the glare of the light seems too much, but given time, we return to embrace the light and see those parts of ourselves with the promise of spring…just like Mr. Groundhog. The shadows of our lives give us weight, they bind us to the earth just like those leaves way up in the tree found their way down to the carpet of my living room.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54ZmP8Oz8qIsFOjYz4VAF1K3KBQs3OY14D_qNEmXF6lwrZS03BV-HCOYH_J8owPkjvVX2ocW1zZsWJiv-OfueblDOBbxJm1Hv1AEjwSOlrTg1rnRQ_84XxxgglxNjAdsE1YeS98nlLHU/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54ZmP8Oz8qIsFOjYz4VAF1K3KBQs3OY14D_qNEmXF6lwrZS03BV-HCOYH_J8owPkjvVX2ocW1zZsWJiv-OfueblDOBbxJm1Hv1AEjwSOlrTg1rnRQ_84XxxgglxNjAdsE1YeS98nlLHU/s640/IMG_2407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">But the beauty is that the shadows in our lives make us whole…real. As I watched the shadows this week, the closer the object was to the light….the larger the shadow… the farther away the object from the light…the smaller the shadow. Shadows get a bad rap, but shadows make life interesting…they make the light visibly more spectacular. The light/shadow contrasts show the qualities of dark and light and all the textural nuances of creation. Without shadow…life would have no depth. What is THERE to be seen…regardless of the light's position…is THERE all the time. It is only experienced and seen in our eyes as the light travels around and above and beside. A revelation of the width, breadth, and height of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbfpEeTsKvxB3IEW6JkoaJ9Q_XQJT8iu6xorikMo1P0vNyy06gtY09U-Wa1uikvw3jx5-KjzkXXcjENwkdeuOwG6vQAaRoDvvM8J44jWvVYHXIxfOqCnZS-CRY-gjhOJ3sD2YTYxmdA4/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbfpEeTsKvxB3IEW6JkoaJ9Q_XQJT8iu6xorikMo1P0vNyy06gtY09U-Wa1uikvw3jx5-KjzkXXcjENwkdeuOwG6vQAaRoDvvM8J44jWvVYHXIxfOqCnZS-CRY-gjhOJ3sD2YTYxmdA4/s640/IMG_2383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">That is how I see life. The closer I stay to the LIGHT, the more of my own shadow is visible to me and to others…the real me…the earthbound me. My shadows add depth, strength, substance, and dimension to my life. Not to be feared, not to hide, not to send me back into a hole to sleep and avoid. No…the sweet treat of all this shadow study this week is…that as the dark shadows of life are allowed to peek through the holes of our hearts…real and genuine love is shared…imperfect…sometimes misshapen…just like my Florentine cookies, but good and sweet all the same. Don’t be afraid of your shadows…don’t run and hide…embrace the light and celebrate the promise found in the light illuminating the shadows of life. Mr Groundhog…SPRING is welcoming us in it’s light! Love is in the air…..the periwinkle is blooming…the flower of new friendship…fidelity…and spiritual harmony!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OneFbLbCw3SiF8TkU8nSxplIsW_BWLW8_szUeH1EG5uosynvbIhtUw2_zNELGadXocuDafmCLOAAkDnZTGGHUHOxZnpkd0hncLPZY-DmJ55UPmUx8CFytKeBoNEiilK7yusKsISo9qA/s1600/IMG_2303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OneFbLbCw3SiF8TkU8nSxplIsW_BWLW8_szUeH1EG5uosynvbIhtUw2_zNELGadXocuDafmCLOAAkDnZTGGHUHOxZnpkd0hncLPZY-DmJ55UPmUx8CFytKeBoNEiilK7yusKsISo9qA/s640/IMG_2303.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Love is in the air….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Will cleans the shadowy depths of his beloved Hope’s ears!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8cWlfvW_6Vga9ddpi4HJMeTAsAs-GBOC_vyZ4r7f_PoC1p4HySLCFv-sqjkyg9oV2_86xG4W0PgYzqB07TSnF6wpytFqIH0VhQ3X66mBMrTw1m4z2QFJ_z_62fmfNuRJBukjsGMIq4/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8cWlfvW_6Vga9ddpi4HJMeTAsAs-GBOC_vyZ4r7f_PoC1p4HySLCFv-sqjkyg9oV2_86xG4W0PgYzqB07TSnF6wpytFqIH0VhQ3X66mBMrTw1m4z2QFJ_z_62fmfNuRJBukjsGMIq4/s640/IMG_2411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now that is TRUE LOVE!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The shadows of clouds only make the light more spectacular…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the shadows of your life to peek through your heart </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">and real </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">and genuine love will be your sweet reward! </span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-89888339863333080312012-01-31T20:25:00.000-08:002012-02-08T05:22:06.014-08:00Diggin' Good Earth Pie<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">With the warmth of these last days of January, the Spring Fever bug has bitten me! When this happens, I want to spend my days outside digging in the dirt, clearing the beds of leaves and debris, taking long walks, and soaking up the air! It is intoxicating to see the signs of new life bursting…just odd to see it in January. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The rose bush has a flush of new leaves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI-01F8PIq9sHX8QmTarVBChyphenhyphenj5iF8waN4GznW7GxEiSRzW_2K7tMNgZGGhE830Em3p2_amAeRiZxn5CLfl1IBMK0poR9jBEFIZjxCUArwvkjsvB7CuPaLqSEswSWLcCU1xUCXYpi88o/s1600/IMG_2338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI-01F8PIq9sHX8QmTarVBChyphenhyphenj5iF8waN4GznW7GxEiSRzW_2K7tMNgZGGhE830Em3p2_amAeRiZxn5CLfl1IBMK0poR9jBEFIZjxCUArwvkjsvB7CuPaLqSEswSWLcCU1xUCXYpi88o/s640/IMG_2338.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The daffodils are sending their petals sunward in friendship to our day!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRqsNhawu3ZU2aysFdevMoDQbWUoTfcgKkQqoJK3oXxFLskVGRXBhGfPImnwc0lExsihoX0oJ8h73wIt_VmbuEPfNplCXhTYIkQu62dyxUiIGratdGlHWXnm-IkNCrfY490OxpauWSUA/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRqsNhawu3ZU2aysFdevMoDQbWUoTfcgKkQqoJK3oXxFLskVGRXBhGfPImnwc0lExsihoX0oJ8h73wIt_VmbuEPfNplCXhTYIkQu62dyxUiIGratdGlHWXnm-IkNCrfY490OxpauWSUA/s640/IMG_2306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The Camilla is blooming with it’s elegant beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The bees are busy collecting goodness from the Sweet Breath of Spring Winter Honeysuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I started cutting back the old Liriope foliage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I gave the foliage a good haircut!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I heard fluttering wings. Above my head, a nest was being fluffed with pomp and circumstance!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Yes….I feel the rhythm of the spring arriving earlier than I remember…maybe EVER in my memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It won’t surprise me if I don’t start getting shout outs from my gardening friends for the swapping of perennial divisions soon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">My black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) are spreading into every bed, but I love leaving the seed heads for wintertime interest and for the little finches snack time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">All of this digging, compost, and fresh air, made me hungry....so off to the kitchen to make….?????? I now went digging into the refrigerator and what I found was a little of this…a little of that…and so a recipe was unearthed! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It reminds me of the ground and new growth and better than that…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">IT TASTES GOOD!!! Don’t you love to take leftovers and add enough new ingredients to make a whole new creation? It is just like gardening. Adding in new plants, perennials or annuals to the existing landscape to bring new life and interest is just SO FUN!!! I like to do that in the garden AND with leftovers…then the family doesn’t realize…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">THEY ARE LEFTOVERS…shooshshshs!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In honor of playing in the dirt…I am calling this DIGGIN’ GOOD EARTH PIE.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I had some cooked spaghetti squash leftover and so I thought…hmmmm….What to do??? I had an eggplant, a bit of canned diced tomatoes, some frozen spinach, and a few vegan Boca crumbles in the freezer????? What to do??? What to do??? I had a compost of individual parts…now to design! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">DIGGIN’ Good Earth Pie Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I used an 8” deep dish pottery pie plate…from Seagrove, NC – that’s <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">another blog…maybe later this Spring;-))<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour in 400 degree oven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow eggplant to cool a bit and carefully peel by pulling just the purple peeling back with your hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4biYtHESxBaofp4hyphenhyphenbWb2kOKSkxI1KFIFesn37zEu8_awgwP2N9btlfkXYSlIRMgHR5qf2_L9A-dB-4GMO817S_myt5GtCvLy-ZM4k-gnrSLFXVCAXiRV6mRMp8b6BmiSJrE_98Sc6_Y/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4biYtHESxBaofp4hyphenhyphenbWb2kOKSkxI1KFIFesn37zEu8_awgwP2N9btlfkXYSlIRMgHR5qf2_L9A-dB-4GMO817S_myt5GtCvLy-ZM4k-gnrSLFXVCAXiRV6mRMp8b6BmiSJrE_98Sc6_Y/s640/IMG_2223.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Place baked eggplant in bowl of food processor)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> (If you don’t have leftover squash…bake squash while baking eggplant…just halve…take out seeds and place cut side down in a baking dish and add a bit of water. Cover with foil and bake until the peel yields when pressed…1 hour to 90 minutes)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJcFrk_RiYN6_OYbmznMI59L0MshHaoVIECm1DXqe7kF-U6I2NFO4VgP_UU4_0rP0NwN2wvyJGkWju_AsI0D3NcpNGextRYeicWUwyQ8YNhyFzldXQ10AmLAwfD2KXCFJuPqeCIWPQ9Y/s1600/IMG_2215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJcFrk_RiYN6_OYbmznMI59L0MshHaoVIECm1DXqe7kF-U6I2NFO4VgP_UU4_0rP0NwN2wvyJGkWju_AsI0D3NcpNGextRYeicWUwyQ8YNhyFzldXQ10AmLAwfD2KXCFJuPqeCIWPQ9Y/s640/IMG_2215.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a bowl, combine:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cups cooked and “raked” spaghetti squash<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup peeled and shredded or grated potato <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. black ground pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup tapioca flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(stir to combine…this will be the “crust” of the pie….)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place squash and potato mixture in a lightly greased pie plate and pat evenly into the pie plate across the bottom and up the sides.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJ7IKoHcTgl0tCPh-32oNkITYWS0f4R3HbzXOGq1tbUp7NzO1EdqG4kU6sPwjrW8jRcIbkiI7XvR8YRvqskr75cmHgAlfu5hFNtQ8nVgLTB_0Uy24lDFuGMok7vG8MiGAJMpuEpgyvoM/s1600/IMG_2256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJ7IKoHcTgl0tCPh-32oNkITYWS0f4R3HbzXOGq1tbUp7NzO1EdqG4kU6sPwjrW8jRcIbkiI7XvR8YRvqskr75cmHgAlfu5hFNtQ8nVgLTB_0Uy24lDFuGMok7vG8MiGAJMpuEpgyvoM/s640/IMG_2256.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Spray surface lightly with oil and bake in a 400 degree oven for 35 minutes...depending upon the water content in each individual squash...you may need to pre-bake the "crust" a little longer than 35 minutes. The squash "crust" surface should be lightly brown and dry to the touch for easier cutting later.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Can bake the “crust” along with the eggplant and the “crust” can be cooling a bit while you finish the filling)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">To make the filling…I used leftovers and what was in the refrigerator…hahaa, but would do this again without having these leftovers…just sayin’!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>In a skillet heat:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Add:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">8 oz. package of sliced baby bella mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Cook until caramelized on both sides….mmmmmm!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7KfSGF2HpB015KwxRwFnIjWQZuZCNyGTjpDUqebksQ_U2XNA3V-8JoSjp8GnXtUN-lEMcaxtXnh1XB4wuEx7dT03oe8JHxfv4JPpGG2g_p6u_lsdhBSgb_jL_zvv_XHIGeprG7oF8r4/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7KfSGF2HpB015KwxRwFnIjWQZuZCNyGTjpDUqebksQ_U2XNA3V-8JoSjp8GnXtUN-lEMcaxtXnh1XB4wuEx7dT03oe8JHxfv4JPpGG2g_p6u_lsdhBSgb_jL_zvv_XHIGeprG7oF8r4/s640/IMG_2254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Place mushrooms in the bowl of food processor.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into same (now empty) skillet:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Sauté:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup chopped purple onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 clove minced garlic <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Cook until they are soft and translucent)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeokdOeyKNwGO9pM6HwedEoxG6mUzmv0e346BwMadEU1ESGDzU891-2-nXWfdIJfZqfwcPWWuGji2gKdnNIxjNtchE8ykiICC2p0sRz50IUAGE8NGVCtS5RQZCW6lo59REN1ebdCt1Qok/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeokdOeyKNwGO9pM6HwedEoxG6mUzmv0e346BwMadEU1ESGDzU891-2-nXWfdIJfZqfwcPWWuGji2gKdnNIxjNtchE8ykiICC2p0sRz50IUAGE8NGVCtS5RQZCW6lo59REN1ebdCt1Qok/s640/IMG_2257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Add to the food processor with the eggplant and mushrooms.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into the same skillet add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of more olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup of frozen vegan BOCA crumbles<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Cook until all crumbles have a good sear and firmness)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8O5xS1cY88vR1wrWuF3ZuSoGp3ex9yesgWXOvHLuMbTz99WarIQsdz6SJ5IIwtLyBn0RL_PQ-Kxzw9gpzVLZwzR7EJnfO8MMVdYVIouSDpM_XQWNhxlzejNztZ3MSPW3Axvzr5zyfLQ/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8O5xS1cY88vR1wrWuF3ZuSoGp3ex9yesgWXOvHLuMbTz99WarIQsdz6SJ5IIwtLyBn0RL_PQ-Kxzw9gpzVLZwzR7EJnfO8MMVdYVIouSDpM_XQWNhxlzejNztZ3MSPW3Axvzr5zyfLQ/s640/IMG_2263.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Into the food processor that already has cooked eggplant, mushrooms, onions and garlic…</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup canned diced tomatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup cooked black beans <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(If you don’t have leftover cooked beans…drain and rinse canned black beans)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/8 tsp. allspice<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/8 tsp. cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. table salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. dried basil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Process until it is a “chunky” paste.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add to processed filling:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 10 oz. box of defrosted and dry chopped spinach<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW-FHWjQWGhoqrdYeydC1pjX32cqlSuqFkS18dnA0muawgFOK_EmYeK8FIosqJiZ6BvgcTSydYU4zAeXoPiUaF_Bvhuq8qkb8ryIlaRZ779VDPY71esY_gk_KkO5d5zZBEP3LmHbh_M4/s1600/IMG_2264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeW-FHWjQWGhoqrdYeydC1pjX32cqlSuqFkS18dnA0muawgFOK_EmYeK8FIosqJiZ6BvgcTSydYU4zAeXoPiUaF_Bvhuq8qkb8ryIlaRZ779VDPY71esY_gk_KkO5d5zZBEP3LmHbh_M4/s640/IMG_2264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Seared crumbles<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup of vegan mozzarella “cheese” shreds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Stir well to combine the filling.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dust crust with dried breadcrumbs or finely ground walnuts…or a combo of the two…helps to absorb the moisture of the squash.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-KnZgFZniSnwdxBCUIkIDBUouaahJO7n4K8HgkS3v1d4ITvT9ViG2lJk3Qwr8flStzwsb3Hul0K0TzKaXnFADJ9TUptRQoBpSwJx7U4Z3VSzXwRXywhXizCdhYcBw7TVx6ca-dryAG8/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-KnZgFZniSnwdxBCUIkIDBUouaahJO7n4K8HgkS3v1d4ITvT9ViG2lJk3Qwr8flStzwsb3Hul0K0TzKaXnFADJ9TUptRQoBpSwJx7U4Z3VSzXwRXywhXizCdhYcBw7TVx6ca-dryAG8/s640/IMG_2266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place filling into “pre-baked” and "dusted" squash crust.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dot the filling top with slices of black olives…I had seven black olives that I sliced into four slices per olive</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3T6bxkhGNB1GC7SluV8SrtOEDSb1qKVpb3ZZfxNIkiqZnzcCFQwO-95agNPIdv7NdByfacgxSSdxR-I631GvnQY2R6-0NzdUz1wn4cUW6T_dH3TWR3UCD2XDa_Dj5mF_gtxmYKIRZMQ/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3T6bxkhGNB1GC7SluV8SrtOEDSb1qKVpb3ZZfxNIkiqZnzcCFQwO-95agNPIdv7NdByfacgxSSdxR-I631GvnQY2R6-0NzdUz1wn4cUW6T_dH3TWR3UCD2XDa_Dj5mF_gtxmYKIRZMQ/s640/IMG_2269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Sprinkle the top of pie:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup more of vegan mozzarella “cheese” shreds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(For a crunchy top add:)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup breadcrumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup finely ground walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. nutritional yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. paprika<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Mix crumbs with fingertips and then sprinkle all over the top of pie)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_f-HYyJCFHf0cJ6YnQs_E-onu27mmGBt9YAAjLJj0YTbiD1pIp4JgDxP-2C6yq0npaqI2Nt0LnLy0SHtmUwos0wRbqvSCYLcHd_Xp6iUgE9jxc3yL3825AN93KWPUwG_OO0g0TCZ2bk/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_f-HYyJCFHf0cJ6YnQs_E-onu27mmGBt9YAAjLJj0YTbiD1pIp4JgDxP-2C6yq0npaqI2Nt0LnLy0SHtmUwos0wRbqvSCYLcHd_Xp6iUgE9jxc3yL3825AN93KWPUwG_OO0g0TCZ2bk/s640/IMG_2273.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bake 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until top is golden brown.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7XXL1Ccg8u2SM2X-eseD7LmmFCup_YGu1F1TxebjB3eLbxdEKuRINhOjcUyuqAYz-n6Nne29xuk-7g42h_ZEyXs-USSXQrrS5ZLG-UTQFPM_E1-YhnUh3dER48Ljk2EPswF9xUW7ezw/s1600/IMG_2280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7XXL1Ccg8u2SM2X-eseD7LmmFCup_YGu1F1TxebjB3eLbxdEKuRINhOjcUyuqAYz-n6Nne29xuk-7g42h_ZEyXs-USSXQrrS5ZLG-UTQFPM_E1-YhnUh3dER48Ljk2EPswF9xUW7ezw/s640/IMG_2280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I also made individual “nests” that would be sooo fun for a luncheon! Had extra so just experimented and just had to show you…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYnn5aJLE5fNbpGxoho5oMDgFnIz7zf22B0-ssdwd0zBuym8aqDLf9FQFi26Z9y1jG7tX3J0US97kSZmvbUS12vQOCHYuV1N3qJ90wXX-1upinhj6aqnSKYYCVrtoI_9Q6ejRV49tIds/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYnn5aJLE5fNbpGxoho5oMDgFnIz7zf22B0-ssdwd0zBuym8aqDLf9FQFi26Z9y1jG7tX3J0US97kSZmvbUS12vQOCHYuV1N3qJ90wXX-1upinhj6aqnSKYYCVrtoI_9Q6ejRV49tIds/s640/IMG_2343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I served our good earth pie with a salad of baby spinach, celery leaves, tangerine segments, black olives, walnut “dust” (I use finely ground walnuts for EVERYTHING), and dressed the salad with a balsamic vinaigrette…soooo good!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So…I know you won’t have the same leftovers I did to create this pie. Next time I make this…I won’t probably either, BUT…I WILL make THIS combination again....regardless. I guess, my point is….it is fun to create something out of what is in your refrigerator and make it taste new and fresh. You feel in-tune to what is here now and that is sooo Spring-like!!! This recipe looks just like my garden right now and you may not appreciate that as much as I do, but it SURELY makes me smile….hahaaa!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Ask any gardener…the very beginning of any planting starts with the soil. Preparing the soil makes all the difference. Good agriculture practices include allowing the ground a time to be fallow…a resting time. Studies have shown that ground that is given time to be fallow increases yield, the nutrients in the harvested crops are even greater, disease is reduced in the crops, and even the subsequent crops are positively affected for increased benefit. I LOVE DIRT!!! Dirt teaches me a great lesson about life…preparation determines growth. The small signs of spring bring great joy to me…fallow ground breaking forth with growth….<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We all have periods in life, of being in a “fallow” time…it feels empty…void of growth. What I have discovered is...that following those times of seemingly “nothingness”... great growth or discovery follows. I now trust this fallow time as a rhythm of life that is confirmed by my garden. It brings less dis-ease, greater beauty, and greater yield to our lives…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Out of the dry and "deadwood" nothing….<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Comes...New growth!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">EVERYTHING in our past makes up the soil that nourishes each our lives. So many times I have hoped that I have tilled and nurtured my “soil” so as to keep growing and blooming...producing “good fruit”…that my roots are deep. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I just keep reaching for the LIGHT. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Our lives, like our gardens, take time. They need tending, weeding, pruning, shaping, and most of all LOVING LIGHT! <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Go outside…dig in some DIRT…or make <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">a Diggin’ Good Earth Pie!!! ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful Living Moment Today: Preparing the soil….leads us to greater beauty! What seems to be a time of fallow now, will be the source of great growth and beauty to come!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">HELLO SPRING!!!!</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-23934155012749115792012-01-24T20:34:00.000-08:002012-01-24T22:09:42.867-08:00Water Dragon Fruit Bars and Rain<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Rain…rain…go away…come again another day! That has been the theme the last few days. The rain coming down sent all of us inside. I didn’t walk…NOT GOOD! Our dogs didn’t want to go out….NOT GOOD! The dogs just slept, as if to say…”Wake me when the rain stops.” I decided, I had a choice…to sleep, or “play” and I decided to “play!” My first act of “playing” was first to grab the camera and really look at the rain coming down. Here is what I saw…rain is nature’s jewelry…caught on surfaces…the refraction of the gloomy light displayed little beads of watery jewels….EVERYWHERE. The temperature was JUST cold enough to suspend the watery beads to my delight!!!! :D<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">On the deck railing….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8tIroaZnmm7EKoXgDJGIjV3rRI0nZdKlxH42_Li3VF7Ww5yIYN_etO_AIwXR_spx1YLdCpcb0gHJIKYxyZOQpHRAYfj7tdtg349s1MReyPnjEiYih-aZmgGTV-ZLwAGZHWcqohdkuGY/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8tIroaZnmm7EKoXgDJGIjV3rRI0nZdKlxH42_Li3VF7Ww5yIYN_etO_AIwXR_spx1YLdCpcb0gHJIKYxyZOQpHRAYfj7tdtg349s1MReyPnjEiYih-aZmgGTV-ZLwAGZHWcqohdkuGY/s640/IMG_2087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">On the pine needles over the driveway….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lRt_YBAvOS3Torgvye_dNhvo7GBdvLonpXugCVZ_YifAe6ffPlbYa0mTno6ZqZCJW50XY0UCQ4Cydn05IYEWYJ3INSPaFPr4yDbLfKYyo4tEmvEJ1I6UQ9OzI4hrtI8qpPrdmEaqd4Q/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lRt_YBAvOS3Torgvye_dNhvo7GBdvLonpXugCVZ_YifAe6ffPlbYa0mTno6ZqZCJW50XY0UCQ4Cydn05IYEWYJ3INSPaFPr4yDbLfKYyo4tEmvEJ1I6UQ9OzI4hrtI8qpPrdmEaqd4Q/s640/IMG_2098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">On the dormant potted ornamental grass…….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd1_alE30n9c7fNWe8ljnurz8eudDME39SLn9cQDZvijvFCMpCEdq3C9NF73mjMK0hJXAz_FfcvQFvoD0SDW7zYk4_e5xYtu7FBHaKgJ3N9dYyfrWAqFFgP4_GonU5n1DcQ74Wdiu3V8/s1600/IMG_2088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd1_alE30n9c7fNWe8ljnurz8eudDME39SLn9cQDZvijvFCMpCEdq3C9NF73mjMK0hJXAz_FfcvQFvoD0SDW7zYk4_e5xYtu7FBHaKgJ3N9dYyfrWAqFFgP4_GonU5n1DcQ74Wdiu3V8/s640/IMG_2088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">On the Japanese maple tree……. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DRxyVtjV2FawtiZRTbdRKKlmBC3OfC_uCagdJs-Nq2wGvUs4_Y9NLIph-smFK6OCAsHGVc8Du9fCBnGLc7SVMjFAmNdvreYiOEeDFdH_DPmDBi5XX2RLxQNpo__K2sRIUAuhEphSW2E/s1600/IMG_2096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DRxyVtjV2FawtiZRTbdRKKlmBC3OfC_uCagdJs-Nq2wGvUs4_Y9NLIph-smFK6OCAsHGVc8Du9fCBnGLc7SVMjFAmNdvreYiOEeDFdH_DPmDBi5XX2RLxQNpo__K2sRIUAuhEphSW2E/s640/IMG_2096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">And so, after being soaked in the rainy mist, I was chilled and ready for a hot cup of tea…the ONLY answer to cold dampness…just ask the smart people of Great Britain. While sipping my tea, I watched the TV coverage of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year and THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON. Not just any dragon, but the WATER dragon….haaaahhaaa. SO....the wheels started turning and I decided I would have a Year of the Water Dragon tea party and toast in the new lunar year with tea and a treat. No wonder we were having so much rain…the Water Dragon was arriving!!!!! Heheee!!! Hearing about the different customs in celebrating this 15 day festivity, fuelled my playtime. The dragon was roaring…and I was OFF!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST-MLKj-KSI-wLUHsyZKiQ6aYuYCix7_Qmuvtnon5YWOx2OuDkaP1JZdSq77XpRG14DZh87ZksL7e9rzLx2EBrKtTD78XUJnmOahthi7J0STui59bc1c5UD7G7Htkwo0jgi9tJMSLILA/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST-MLKj-KSI-wLUHsyZKiQ6aYuYCix7_Qmuvtnon5YWOx2OuDkaP1JZdSq77XpRG14DZh87ZksL7e9rzLx2EBrKtTD78XUJnmOahthi7J0STui59bc1c5UD7G7Htkwo0jgi9tJMSLILA/s640/IMG_2180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It’s amazing what you find at Mom's house….heeeeheeeee!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We have been eating up a large bag of grapefruit I got for the holidays. I started saving the emptied halves in a ziplock baggie over the weekend, with the intention of making candied grapefruit peel. My mother used to make this sweet (with just a slight bitter edginess) during the holiday season when I was young. I remember thinking how we were SO lucky if a friend or relative would send a box of those enormous ruby red grapefruit in that heavy, rectangular green and white box. The fruit would be individually wrapped in a thin tissue paper and nestled in nests of green straw-like grass that seemed SO wonderfully special to me as a child. Mom would make the candied peel, and I thought it was so amazing to utilize every last bit of this special gift of fruit. My job as a young girl was to roll the cooked/candied peel in the sugar… and then sneak a taste….haahaa. It is amazing to me, that as a kid, I found grapefruit peel such an appealing flavor!!! I think of the grapefruit as such an unusual sensation on the taste buds of the tongue….especially the peel. It seemed we only had grapefruit at special times….thus the candied peel meant SPECIAL… AND STILL means special to me today. So….the empty grapefruit halves had been in the refrigerator waiting to be candied. I candied them and there they were drying on the cooling rack....it was meant to BE!! On TV, I heard about the Chinese custom of candied fruit during the New Year’s festivities and especially about the gifts of oranges or tangerines…ALMOST a grapefruit. Then I thought…HEY….why not make a bar cookie and add the candied grapefruit. With a cup of green tea and a baked treat….. WhooooHOOOO! I could have a Chinese New Year’s tea party!!!! Thus, Water Dragon Fruit Bar was born…from the watery depths of this rainy, Chinese New Year’s Day!!!! I will show you how I made the candied grapefruit peel, but you could just as easily use candied orange peel for a sweeter taste. It’s just what I had to use and makes for an interesting flavor in the cookie. Making candied peel is not hard…just takes some time…that is why I did it over the weekend. Here are my steps if you want to make your own candied peel of ANY CITRUS. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(You could still make the bars without the peel…just a different flavor with out the bitter "dragon" zing of the grapefruit….)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Candied Grapefruit Peel: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">An explanation of a somewhat lengthy process…but great for a day when it’s cold and rainy, OR SNOWY….maybe someday???<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(We had eaten the segments so all that remained in the halves were the membranes and pith. I had 2 full grapefruit or 4 halves)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOkjOGRpZs4V_MSpIr72GuMvXj8Cmc_OhyAgAUawZfB5U8mGyOsujevQIAntjRW9XeQBaEpegUgrC8XGRHQeA6tMsc_bCV54BmsK7CFYweqIID0oQD9C8PQ9tF5kcwaeFbx72527hoN0/s1600/IMG_2113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOkjOGRpZs4V_MSpIr72GuMvXj8Cmc_OhyAgAUawZfB5U8mGyOsujevQIAntjRW9XeQBaEpegUgrC8XGRHQeA6tMsc_bCV54BmsK7CFYweqIID0oQD9C8PQ9tF5kcwaeFbx72527hoN0/s640/IMG_2113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place the empty halves in a large pot and cover with water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOZMo4tkraTdruYBJWaGlQFyagO-fZQG7VID-K7oeMgUltHvWTwgPBEdszy-eKkIHApjQjEVlD6toIynGm5mwt_7o0wak9oHY466x8tBnhm-bRRewzVZ8lUbDph2duZ-K5FTf3Oo_ACk/s1600/IMG_2116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOZMo4tkraTdruYBJWaGlQFyagO-fZQG7VID-K7oeMgUltHvWTwgPBEdszy-eKkIHApjQjEVlD6toIynGm5mwt_7o0wak9oHY466x8tBnhm-bRRewzVZ8lUbDph2duZ-K5FTf3Oo_ACk/s640/IMG_2116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bring water to boil and lower heat to simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Remove grapefruit halves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the grapefruit halves to cool somewhat so you can handle them comfortably. Use a large spoon (I used a soup spoon) and carefully scrape the membranes and pith from the inside of the grapefruit halves. Go gently so you have some peel left to candy….hahaa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqpegd1cS84_pWs6-2B5X_u_2X-8eJsmaQCQ3mxb14bQX4CZiDDVB4Gic_jmSFm_5y220IIuFijiZLPjJ3hevTOBCwBCG_P1iULgRKVv2TIgJJ1Omu3fSxU_0UpRKjcU2v-Zeom1Innw/s1600/IMG_2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqpegd1cS84_pWs6-2B5X_u_2X-8eJsmaQCQ3mxb14bQX4CZiDDVB4Gic_jmSFm_5y220IIuFijiZLPjJ3hevTOBCwBCG_P1iULgRKVv2TIgJJ1Omu3fSxU_0UpRKjcU2v-Zeom1Innw/s640/IMG_2131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now, using a serrated knife…cut the halves into strips. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I cut the half into quarters and then made the strips across the length </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">of the peel.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPC0DMsaU3BaZpAVc0yVxfgsF-FDrgPbDrgm703OOmY9SjKhwd-xcDZCKb3Uuk5jxMdAK5tIDrp9c0bLgRaczjJwf-iBt4XtaY2H8D1lsJOnVVWMlHq3HSSImaZaU_Cuu5oN9PN_hMEI/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPC0DMsaU3BaZpAVc0yVxfgsF-FDrgPbDrgm703OOmY9SjKhwd-xcDZCKb3Uuk5jxMdAK5tIDrp9c0bLgRaczjJwf-iBt4XtaY2H8D1lsJOnVVWMlHq3HSSImaZaU_Cuu5oN9PN_hMEI/s640/IMG_2139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place strips in a pot and cover with fresh water. Bring this to a boil. Pour off the water and place fresh water over the strips. Bring the strips and water again to a boil. Do this for a total of four (4) times. This process seems repetitive, but it helps to take the astringent bitterness from the peel. After the last time of draining…Leave grapefruit strips in the colander while making the simple syrup.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJ6L5IX8FC7rTGTLgU9ZaWqn-ZXGXcgFgJ62dKXiYcrCSWXLHO47WzDqHLfCW3fEc9_UuG0cWwvVrFluHBuQwMU_6oPzSEjURdfeUkcxqZzxQjHOaJalxo1IrS5D6okOr3UNdo5LLWP0/s1600/IMG_2142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJ6L5IX8FC7rTGTLgU9ZaWqn-ZXGXcgFgJ62dKXiYcrCSWXLHO47WzDqHLfCW3fEc9_UuG0cWwvVrFluHBuQwMU_6oPzSEjURdfeUkcxqZzxQjHOaJalxo1IrS5D6okOr3UNdo5LLWP0/s640/IMG_2142.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place 3 cups of water and 2 ½ cups natural sugar in the pot over medium low heat. Stir sugar into water as the water heats to dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved, place strips of grapefruit into the clear simple syrup. Cook the peel until the strips are tender and translucent. I added some peeled and thinly sliced strips of fresh ginger to cook along with the grapefruit. I LOVE candied ginger and wanted to include it along with the grapefruit. I just did a few pieces as too much ginger would flavor the grapefruit peel too much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkHN5-7cVrI9986yn03VjUkSLb8gJ44qBczhvv-L-o7A9HTu3yY5BbZpMHoM-EKzIuGs9zLoPm_c3CxOebHpJw9BbBgxtIUg_XiMNkBVF7BYOUm4Ml_CiBQwVaZ3oZldc-pqnLAMsMz4/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkHN5-7cVrI9986yn03VjUkSLb8gJ44qBczhvv-L-o7A9HTu3yY5BbZpMHoM-EKzIuGs9zLoPm_c3CxOebHpJw9BbBgxtIUg_XiMNkBVF7BYOUm4Ml_CiBQwVaZ3oZldc-pqnLAMsMz4/s640/IMG_2148.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I cooked the grapefruit for about an hour and the ginger about 90 minutes. You can see the fruit and ginger become tender and translucent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I spooned out the strips with a slotted spoon and placed the candied fruit and ginger on a cooling rack with a sheet pan underneath the rack to catch the sugary drips. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv8yowxcK87xtzMV2uVBmdpBIGI9g4V5jmpVp41Z4jdNEP6jVshyphenhyphenA3kzwj_OLm7jZoLk8-TZ22_9SZlsYcgYrCrqc85m8NcQKvlxSrOA4dZ6RSVzs8FZvlaeyhaqNTjJ21j7OTGjYypc/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFv8yowxcK87xtzMV2uVBmdpBIGI9g4V5jmpVp41Z4jdNEP6jVshyphenhyphenA3kzwj_OLm7jZoLk8-TZ22_9SZlsYcgYrCrqc85m8NcQKvlxSrOA4dZ6RSVzs8FZvlaeyhaqNTjJ21j7OTGjYypc/s640/IMG_2151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Spread the strips for air to circulate around each one. Allow the strips to dry </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">4 to 6 hours or even overnight. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyzd_aeoLT4L3pAoCwxTVZdRwmmxwNXAogPjpsnOcqkGQFIUBTT7Eo1wvX1YXNc3XmAYjWWcr69k7x70n3q0_Vpkjui2GzoIV46GfDbL0VZEg3JldJPTL9YUYHLi9dLspq7OkM85VRQA/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyzd_aeoLT4L3pAoCwxTVZdRwmmxwNXAogPjpsnOcqkGQFIUBTT7Eo1wvX1YXNc3XmAYjWWcr69k7x70n3q0_Vpkjui2GzoIV46GfDbL0VZEg3JldJPTL9YUYHLi9dLspq7OkM85VRQA/s640/IMG_2149.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">When they are tacky to touch, roll them in natural sugar or for a real sugary crunch some demerara sugar. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMpNmCerKRNEkoLkjl79V42ITQtGv4TK2NHeUmcAtOSIBUI-RFdR4MFsmMlCJDxnALqk4uZ6qkEYjyJNTAn-bcHWU5zVFhp3OMkJnh65aHK_7AzaDOjUOYzBTozGFxIAa66-NRmo3n0Y/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMpNmCerKRNEkoLkjl79V42ITQtGv4TK2NHeUmcAtOSIBUI-RFdR4MFsmMlCJDxnALqk4uZ6qkEYjyJNTAn-bcHWU5zVFhp3OMkJnh65aHK_7AzaDOjUOYzBTozGFxIAa66-NRmo3n0Y/s640/IMG_2154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Demerara sugar, is a natural large-crystal sugar that is golden in color and smells of molasses…yummy) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ts2g9VoGjH70b37aaRLzkrK9sxnIDyCyS4JCmpv3wYp25Quzav60_BPf7kjBLvFSRrb2aWbewNBd_0Vi3T0v9UyHJIWSM6WLmOhWCAPu9tJirpFhDhxHSJAV3ZroJwszSm6XHxNrVcU/s1600/IMG_2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ts2g9VoGjH70b37aaRLzkrK9sxnIDyCyS4JCmpv3wYp25Quzav60_BPf7kjBLvFSRrb2aWbewNBd_0Vi3T0v9UyHJIWSM6WLmOhWCAPu9tJirpFhDhxHSJAV3ZroJwszSm6XHxNrVcU/s640/IMG_2159.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>I LOVE candied ginger!!!!! (Dragon breath....mmmmmm)</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow strips of peel and ginger, to air dry and then pack away in an air-tight container for sweet snack or to add to muffins, or in this case BAR COOKIES!!!!! Okay…so candied peel is an easy process…just a little time involved, but it is not difficult at ALL. You do as you wish….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now for the BAR COOKIES! My second “playing” for the day, came in creating this recipe! It has a little bite from the grapefruit peel and ginger like the dragon, but enough sweetness to soothe the fiery beast!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSFZ1YathuzLmPTHeBBVJsrnA2IcQ7Ki8q66KxWkthZfK8UIpv4BPsAISjM0fuRWEx3WailUKV1E-zS-cETCcoCUIWx6dU_6MvPNY3BuwkJ_aKxcLI3IV22EPMMuvLqiPJUCP3j7jggY/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSFZ1YathuzLmPTHeBBVJsrnA2IcQ7Ki8q66KxWkthZfK8UIpv4BPsAISjM0fuRWEx3WailUKV1E-zS-cETCcoCUIWx6dU_6MvPNY3BuwkJ_aKxcLI3IV22EPMMuvLqiPJUCP3j7jggY/s640/IMG_2196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Enjoy!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Water Dragon Fruit Bar Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Lightly oil or spray oil into a 9 X 9 square baking pan…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Combine wet ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. flaxseed meal (ground flax seed)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">6 T. of water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">4 T. Earth Balance Melted (vegan spread)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. agave nectar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. pure vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a bowl place dry ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¾ cup unbleached flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Grind in processor or blender Old fashioned rolled oats…finely ground like flour)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup old fashioned rolled oats <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup almond flour <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(FINELY ground almonds…Bob’s Red Mill…or make your own)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. ground allspice<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. ground ginger<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. ground cardamom<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Whisk the dry ingredients well) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup of chopped candied grapefruit peel <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5gzFJVCYRoJ6jquSKiQlVXhIwBRztfFk97PM2jSUV900BoINjCXTI_N3zXGmAV3W6BPLFx2BEuRa_qX9T3sKYtoY2hj-WY4GwfxrIOGHWuZsS6mt_QrGJD59761NQtWIf51WcZitpPI/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5gzFJVCYRoJ6jquSKiQlVXhIwBRztfFk97PM2jSUV900BoINjCXTI_N3zXGmAV3W6BPLFx2BEuRa_qX9T3sKYtoY2hj-WY4GwfxrIOGHWuZsS6mt_QrGJD59761NQtWIf51WcZitpPI/s640/IMG_2162.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Stir to distribute peel through the dry ingredients.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add wet into dry and stir. Pour the batter into prepared 9 inch pan and with lightly greased fingers press the batter into the pan so it is evenly distributed and level. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTGnb-QHWDmvVBoZPVPa3SIDus9MV-2wxSmqhT5KHH4X69IgcFnArXO2sC2UNIUlR3AxpTyG6KfgwA4paBneFyNtnaCeSQvsqptI9l6SP9lNY4Tkb-PfDst-JVwkuSBWS74xZK8j9U6s/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTGnb-QHWDmvVBoZPVPa3SIDus9MV-2wxSmqhT5KHH4X69IgcFnArXO2sC2UNIUlR3AxpTyG6KfgwA4paBneFyNtnaCeSQvsqptI9l6SP9lNY4Tkb-PfDst-JVwkuSBWS74xZK8j9U6s/s640/IMG_2175.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">While bottom layer is pre-baking...prepare the middle fruit layer and streusel topping.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup Peach Polaner fruit with fiber spreadable fruit<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(No added sugar…just fruit and pectin)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Heat preserves in microwave for 35 seconds to help in spreading over the pre-baked bottom layer of bar cookie)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57-joI9LqoTDQklJTqlHPoGpTW0ogWjHhDx_OiGQ7zm9Pdo4SxC4pXhCHEkpSHDhvgyuqRj-k1aeumVHwcZBfcTVGUx1_t1auuhJbj-4MGTx52lAll8UqlV_OdPjpkAVgViD4RMDEFyk/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57-joI9LqoTDQklJTqlHPoGpTW0ogWjHhDx_OiGQ7zm9Pdo4SxC4pXhCHEkpSHDhvgyuqRj-k1aeumVHwcZBfcTVGUx1_t1auuhJbj-4MGTx52lAll8UqlV_OdPjpkAVgViD4RMDEFyk/s640/IMG_2176.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Streusel Top Layer:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup unbleached flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup old fashioned oatmeal (no need to grind)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup chopped almonds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. allspice<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Stir well to combine)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">8 T. or 1 stick of Earth Balance (vegan spread)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Cut vegan buttery spread into dry ingredients)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of chopped crystallized ginger (homemade or packaged)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6jreruHjN_qxiBYU-zTN9DHX7_N-lT31f0Jr5RVKwaTP0tGhM-u7fhBn202fApZRkKGSUoVuPSnkKHEgru7SvZkr9rRslLkHa7T6rIq-bx8Myhu6rgWetqsncVpEjxrl33aoAYsDg4s/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6jreruHjN_qxiBYU-zTN9DHX7_N-lT31f0Jr5RVKwaTP0tGhM-u7fhBn202fApZRkKGSUoVuPSnkKHEgru7SvZkr9rRslLkHa7T6rIq-bx8Myhu6rgWetqsncVpEjxrl33aoAYsDg4s/s640/IMG_2170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once bottom layer has pre-baked for 15 minutes, remove pan from oven and carefully spread peach spreadable fruit…not quite to edge…of the pre-baked “crust” layer of bar. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUEAlhH3zU1mEANSIwvIXfTM_wDHFV6qcpx0rU0lPH7BXJDDIqNezL1Zv4dm1PEU7CEowpuDrd-JhsSpPWIoeA7f7qPu1x4uG2EGj4ggIeUpaIe5GU78Zc3Vje-iZMlV4g2vEsvo0ts8/s1600/IMG_2177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUEAlhH3zU1mEANSIwvIXfTM_wDHFV6qcpx0rU0lPH7BXJDDIqNezL1Zv4dm1PEU7CEowpuDrd-JhsSpPWIoeA7f7qPu1x4uG2EGj4ggIeUpaIe5GU78Zc3Vje-iZMlV4g2vEsvo0ts8/s640/IMG_2177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now pile on the streusel…spreading to edge and leveling across the surface of the peach layer. Chop 1 T. of candied peel to “dot” across the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80vXsER5Lzi_XoQ7t1L82Ep8gTjnd8Jld3HrJNFXnqzkMNXzgdExcJcRZc_XG2fq_l4_HS9JuWN9xOaj1bWUvjyw8YWnLKpCvJEPBt1JFn-5jXJftdb8Ncgdr_SGWQTBHb4eULth4mqM/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80vXsER5Lzi_XoQ7t1L82Ep8gTjnd8Jld3HrJNFXnqzkMNXzgdExcJcRZc_XG2fq_l4_HS9JuWN9xOaj1bWUvjyw8YWnLKpCvJEPBt1JFn-5jXJftdb8Ncgdr_SGWQTBHb4eULth4mqM/s640/IMG_2179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bake bars for 30 minutes in the 350 degree oven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Remove bars and sprinkle with 1 T. of the coarse demerara sugar.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9VuCU5ijmGkKc9VOJ0w12Tq6w6_DruhaHgs810SEBde9309FKgVHuihVq0E9rVsGpM3Kp4q4VduO2rN1KcGnLujIM-SC0ou0GDyIY-E9SENNCwiRHZmk6jJQx02jLN_yRHL5fsOhAYc/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9VuCU5ijmGkKc9VOJ0w12Tq6w6_DruhaHgs810SEBde9309FKgVHuihVq0E9rVsGpM3Kp4q4VduO2rN1KcGnLujIM-SC0ou0GDyIY-E9SENNCwiRHZmk6jJQx02jLN_yRHL5fsOhAYc/s640/IMG_2186.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cool before cutting into squares to get nice edges on the bars. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBih34jDofbiqdtTm_ih4QZxTqqLmpD4zt0p8zkl1Oz-pWkMnQ8aNsXhHyqwFK8U7zbwoa-xhrXG2EJexmueCdhEPrvYCrUqyFzehRzgxS8wm8D38aZy_V5RdcRdT2iMvPr3rLNniZnRA/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBih34jDofbiqdtTm_ih4QZxTqqLmpD4zt0p8zkl1Oz-pWkMnQ8aNsXhHyqwFK8U7zbwoa-xhrXG2EJexmueCdhEPrvYCrUqyFzehRzgxS8wm8D38aZy_V5RdcRdT2iMvPr3rLNniZnRA/s640/IMG_2187.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Remember these are for tea…so cut small)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I brewed myself a pot of tea and enjoyed my Water Dragon fruit bars!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqNj1U8zI4u0NxbrKx2jLAWCUl013LLIBxKasgP71wsGGpL6CN4BpWSMOIa-EqlQMSvPxgBLr18NLRDDYRtE0ldge52QXTEQA6A7MWhUXcYegepNgjlHdLwAnhbAT1G9leeyppCrdPNg/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqNj1U8zI4u0NxbrKx2jLAWCUl013LLIBxKasgP71wsGGpL6CN4BpWSMOIa-EqlQMSvPxgBLr18NLRDDYRtE0ldge52QXTEQA6A7MWhUXcYegepNgjlHdLwAnhbAT1G9leeyppCrdPNg/s640/IMG_2195.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Tea time is such a wonderful ritual. Filling the kettle…warming the pot…measuring the tea…timing the brew…the little treats…the smell and warmth of the hot liquid…sitting…sipping…being…..just the thing for a grey, rainy day!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtUfobMGjtzZ8EC5VvXTbEwbN0CN6FnZcZT1bsbrUKrTNzHOuan5Sd3E7jmVsAzSEtst6SNe1JYKJOfpGnu2c8fSZM-0zv63D9x1z6rJAtBS7L8_dAv3fIMHXdk4-cnlcCgnUyHNbI8U/s1600/IMG_2199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtUfobMGjtzZ8EC5VvXTbEwbN0CN6FnZcZT1bsbrUKrTNzHOuan5Sd3E7jmVsAzSEtst6SNe1JYKJOfpGnu2c8fSZM-0zv63D9x1z6rJAtBS7L8_dAv3fIMHXdk4-cnlcCgnUyHNbI8U/s640/IMG_2199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It’s interesting how the weather has a way of affecting how we experience the day. When it snows….ESPECIALLY in North Carolina….EVERYTHING stops. Schools close, businesses close, everyone STOPS. We look at the snow as a gift, unless of course it lasts too long…hahaa! We all say, ”Wish it would snow!” Of course that sentiment changes when it really DOES snow…(well not for me!!!) When it rains…people complain…we feel sleepy…we feel inconvenienced…it’s a PAIN! We all want it to STOP!!! Then…when the sun again shines…all is right with the world. People are out and about…”Beautiful day!”, is heard down the street….We feel energized….happier somehow…until it gets too hot! Weather is a powerful determiner of our daily experience. Weather shapes our conversations. When people don’t know what to talk about…what do they talk about??? THE WEATHER!!!! What I found this week in the mist of my days is…RAIN IS A GIFT!!! Ask the farmers, the plants and trees, the animals, our rivers, our streams…our sources for drinking. RAIN, is a gift! I saw that through my camera lens this week. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Rain is a jewel…a glistening bead that sustains life as we know it. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I have found that the very things I think I don’t like…are the very things by which I learn the most about myself and LIFE.! It’s so hard to realize this, especially when we are stressed, or hurt, or sick, or lonely, or anything else where we find ourselves “RAINED ON”!!! The GOOD NEWS is…Life is a cycle…and the rain doesn’t last forever…the sun surely finds its way back into our days. Rather than complaining, my hope for all of us…is that we will look more closely…more carefully…more objectively…more trustingly…at the moments that bring “rain” to our days. Because…just as my camera lens found the jewels of raindrops…all of us can look for the jewels in the rainy mists of daily life. Usually, it’s the search that leads us OUT of the rain. Sometimes…we need rain. The Chinese New Year has promise…a promise that 2012 is a year of excitement and intensity, yet with the calming influence that water brings to the dragon. Water does that…calms the savage beast in all of us. So…let it rain…and when it does….stop….put on the kettle…and…HAVE A TEA PARTY with some Water Dragon Fruit Bars!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Chinese Dragon Statue bought by my father in 1960…..<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9_SvxqZnmG85GEWjtb5Rmx539J9YKGu_GP3H651IhGee-soOf4IwAcsrqAIl_j9fXTmWMU4cZJGKztXJdCVX8VJCZLyRPPlCcgMz-I5vDkW2SoOK6UlRSJWjbPd_PEa3hABSslgJiRM/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9_SvxqZnmG85GEWjtb5Rmx539J9YKGu_GP3H651IhGee-soOf4IwAcsrqAIl_j9fXTmWMU4cZJGKztXJdCVX8VJCZLyRPPlCcgMz-I5vDkW2SoOK6UlRSJWjbPd_PEa3hABSslgJiRM/s640/IMG_2173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpRX4pGMNjnbHD6qbzvj7j9nOZSWpRGY8TKCLFmHpobrR5mGmeeXxwmTarYr53l-WMlSDkact9GTuo_t9oZo6hY663vYFVDI7WObYm-XjgvF2p4MmZljxaCLHiHUIvXRKxQJ6ae_51_8/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpRX4pGMNjnbHD6qbzvj7j9nOZSWpRGY8TKCLFmHpobrR5mGmeeXxwmTarYr53l-WMlSDkact9GTuo_t9oZo6hY663vYFVDI7WObYm-XjgvF2p4MmZljxaCLHiHUIvXRKxQJ6ae_51_8/s640/IMG_1480.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">See the resemblance?????hahahaha!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">The Year of the Water Dragon Cometh....</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDg95qjYCLFVlPrcBOWm0Tym-Pu1RpAPxtkBSeBanbdFVrDdKW8-ndQndXx5S6yt36pyqYpdIBWuaiYbDAipT9srWqhoisauNXyRqRTVBk8Hfrlxr-V7ua7OoaSWpB79k9EN68vPB2pYw/s1600/IMG_2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDg95qjYCLFVlPrcBOWm0Tym-Pu1RpAPxtkBSeBanbdFVrDdKW8-ndQndXx5S6yt36pyqYpdIBWuaiYbDAipT9srWqhoisauNXyRqRTVBk8Hfrlxr-V7ua7OoaSWpB79k9EN68vPB2pYw/s640/IMG_2094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful Living Moment Today: The rain doesn’t last forever…look closely…trust deeply…as deeply as the rain soaks the earth...and know…out of the rainy mists comes LIFE!!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-64393418823177553152012-01-18T08:19:00.000-08:002012-01-18T12:22:21.109-08:00Deeply Rooted Soup and Grateful Dreams<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So…I have been trying to post on Tuesday each week, but this week I had to wait until Wednesday. I wanted to be able to direct you to our local newspaper and an article written by Katie Scarvey for the Food Section about my blogging and recipes…and out of pure curiosity and excitement….well….I wanted to see it first…haha!!! THANK YOU KATIE!!! Go to </span><a href="http://www.salisburypost.com/"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">www.salisburypost.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> to see her kind words and Jon Lakey’s great pictures. Wow…so FUN </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">and I am grateful!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Winter has been trying to arrive here in North Carolina. TRYING is the key word. The days have been like late March, but the nights have been cold or rainy and I have been grateful for the heat in our home. I left earlier than usual one day this week and the car windows were covered in frost. My initial reaction was annoyance at myself for not thinking about the cold and checking to warm up the car ahead of my leaving time. I had timed my leaving NOT taking into account scraping and defrosting the car windows….ugggggg! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I looked through the windows and taaaa….daaaahhhhhhh!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQsLXrJ1XoFNTEIiNbHnII2Xk_F-C86vIYxH9Fi_7IM8XlPVmwCJi5r7munla5PPI8IdY9E5wSgevslb1Hn-ViR8I2s2NaQWIclXLGh18Tx0tkEj0pHXvcWD4zsr9OJw2lez7-aE1O-Q/s1600/IMG_2000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQsLXrJ1XoFNTEIiNbHnII2Xk_F-C86vIYxH9Fi_7IM8XlPVmwCJi5r7munla5PPI8IdY9E5wSgevslb1Hn-ViR8I2s2NaQWIclXLGh18Tx0tkEj0pHXvcWD4zsr9OJw2lez7-aE1O-Q/s640/IMG_2000.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Like an impressionistic painting entitled, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Winter Whisper</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I looked out the side window and, no kidding, I thought it looked just like the sparkly tree garland used, “back in the day” on Christmas trees. If I squinted ‘til it appeared to be silver…exactly the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCAwcdrba88zxpUwoRDwMCbIEvVFI72KtCmtys1HsMcPWJbxF3Ld4um_7Bx10EUVWPkUkTyA7uNAb6JjR3USynszW_hUwncQ-J8ORDYEub2Lo4NjSc0wdk1SCsoHfBlASkVAh7ATI774/s1600/IMG_1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCAwcdrba88zxpUwoRDwMCbIEvVFI72KtCmtys1HsMcPWJbxF3Ld4um_7Bx10EUVWPkUkTyA7uNAb6JjR3USynszW_hUwncQ-J8ORDYEub2Lo4NjSc0wdk1SCsoHfBlASkVAh7ATI774/s640/IMG_1998.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I ran and got the camera before I scraped. I wanted someone else to see my “aha” moment. As I scraped the ice from the windows, it hit me. I was potentially missing lots of beauty because of my un-seeing eyes. When I scraped away the frost, the layers peeled from the glass were leaving traces of crystals behind. I muttered a small, “Forgive me”, under my breath. I then uttered a louder, “Thank you”, for this chance to see a miracle of nature and a louder, “Thank you”, that I internally made the connection to make meaning out of this ordinary situation. Not to carry this to the point of complete weirdness, but….how many moments had I missed because I was too busy, too stressed, and too inwardly consumed???? LOTS!!!! I’ve been noticing the planet Venus each evening…so bright…so beautiful and the first “star” that I have been wishing on each night. You remember that don’t you??? “Star light, star bright…the first star I see tonight….I wish I may…I wish I might…have the wish, I wish tonight!!!” I still make wishes…dreams…and prayers…really….(sigh)….each night. A childhood ritual with hopefully more grown-up wishes…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">....well some nights better than others!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9J2WEKjDoBzsiC2glcFwxytiW5dAaOZW8A2cztx-4ZGc-uvPOL9qkDIEoBukLAC3OqV3H3QAz3mvjJvVA6V4gIrVf3yrno2YEEOLJthEXDoyXMfkVBcP8RCAShmyO1c1v4LGALRdtOA/s1600/IMG_2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9J2WEKjDoBzsiC2glcFwxytiW5dAaOZW8A2cztx-4ZGc-uvPOL9qkDIEoBukLAC3OqV3H3QAz3mvjJvVA6V4gIrVf3yrno2YEEOLJthEXDoyXMfkVBcP8RCAShmyO1c1v4LGALRdtOA/s640/IMG_2001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I’ve been having vivid sleeping dreams this week, must be all the kale I am ingesting…haha!!! I LOVE some smoothies!!! I thought I was dreaming pretty good dreams and then…I reread Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I have a dream” speech. Now that’s a DREAM! What a wonderful dream!! We… I think…are closer to that dream of his, but we ALL still have more work to do…for sure. No… my dreams are not deeply prophetic like Dr. Kings. My dreams are much simpler. My dreams are for people to simply be grateful…that’s it…be grateful. In my simple mind, so much could be better if people could be grateful for the day, the hour, the moment where they are right NOW. Then GRATEFULNESS would lead us to act on that gratitude for the good of others and in turn ourselves. Dr. King said his dream for our world was “deeply rooted”. I LOVE that phrase…”deeply rooted” and thus a recipe was born from my pantry and refrigerator. The recipe is to prove something to myself and to others. You can always create something with what you have NOW…and for sure I can ALWAYS make soup. Making soup is especially good because I found out this week that January is “National Soup Month”…so even better. (Maybe I AM prophetic…hahaha…nope…just lucky!!!!) I made soup from ingredients I had on hand and the vegetables represent those that are “deeply rooted”. I have named this soup, Deeply Rooted Winter Soup. I am also sharing a bread recipe that I made to go with this root soup…try it…you’ll like it!!!;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Deeply Rooted Winter Soup Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsj8SNMfYp8dziZ5W6f8MtixBMKwEERGqG9BRT-hS7dE9eZGedpQNaaWfchdoYg0XqY2fSaZtjgEz5HxjataJaXePTLYclJ6li6ApSUoN7XpJ68VSdRtSen6OTUOM_FKef_BecJ_rdiI/s1600/IMG_2048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsj8SNMfYp8dziZ5W6f8MtixBMKwEERGqG9BRT-hS7dE9eZGedpQNaaWfchdoYg0XqY2fSaZtjgEz5HxjataJaXePTLYclJ6li6ApSUoN7XpJ68VSdRtSen6OTUOM_FKef_BecJ_rdiI/s640/IMG_2048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t say you don’t like beets…you won’t even know it is in the soup…PROMISE!! How could you not love this beauty…???? Look at those deep roots!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">In a soup pot or Dutch oven:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup chopped onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup chopped green onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup chopped celery<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Sauté onions and celery until they are soft and translucent.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Add:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1cup chopped parsley<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup chopped carrot<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cups peeled & chopped beet<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 cups chopped potato<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Beautiful colors!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Add:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">32 oz. of vegetable stock/broth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(remember if not using homemade… use the no salt added variety)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShtFJAHhVQhzxDsqeC8JmW5MqFEDUuLha9C74pI77Mmm1yYZ_TwNH18ihNJICueW7HLuYlEpNZ81oV2YtHm7dsMaZT6Wa6GwrEamRgsrk-bLwLEc4hSB6rdQ1j9aOwNVDmA7VdQDSOXY/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShtFJAHhVQhzxDsqeC8JmW5MqFEDUuLha9C74pI77Mmm1yYZ_TwNH18ihNJICueW7HLuYlEpNZ81oV2YtHm7dsMaZT6Wa6GwrEamRgsrk-bLwLEc4hSB6rdQ1j9aOwNVDmA7VdQDSOXY/s640/IMG_2064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cover the pot with the lid and allow this to simmer over medium high heat until the beets are tender when pierced with a fork. This could take an hour or so…While soup is simmering you can go dream like my dogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEbyfYJRdV9kQIChpMqBT6TvDmOzapU6gOIoDQ-qBrn4y5ihURjFAHVHpBK1JRyo4aYOByMCtgVFIiFazB7q8Swup8v0PNXAkEY8VhUisopZHEjZmWAHsLCXP_HY_FfM5ok2oZvJpjOA/s1600/IMG_2021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEbyfYJRdV9kQIChpMqBT6TvDmOzapU6gOIoDQ-qBrn4y5ihURjFAHVHpBK1JRyo4aYOByMCtgVFIiFazB7q8Swup8v0PNXAkEY8VhUisopZHEjZmWAHsLCXP_HY_FfM5ok2oZvJpjOA/s640/IMG_2021.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once the veggies are soft, puree them in a food processor or blender until smooth. Be CAREFUL!!! Remember that expansion thing that happens with hot liquids and do not overfill the blender or food processor. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Puree in several batches!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Av8hU7YbAXegHU-OUAnnOkCsGuCmsAY79QGQtMfKFT7GULSWVzMBwy32JwbRA05CNhG4GSDeRXifM6wk_ZK4PoWUhxx8Xx7fhu5gZzwDnEXLsXc-EQ1sCrP2I82Vu-IaQODsEGuAhi8/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Av8hU7YbAXegHU-OUAnnOkCsGuCmsAY79QGQtMfKFT7GULSWVzMBwy32JwbRA05CNhG4GSDeRXifM6wk_ZK4PoWUhxx8Xx7fhu5gZzwDnEXLsXc-EQ1sCrP2I82Vu-IaQODsEGuAhi8/s640/IMG_2068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place the pureed vegetables back into the pot and add the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. curry powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/8 tsp. ground cumin<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cups of unflavored almond milk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the soup to heat back up over medium high heat, stirring well to combine the seasoning and almond milk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">To serve...garnish with a bit of fresh parsley...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">...presentation...presentation...presentation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMovMVfTXVckykdEVFgBnxgUSK5ZiLmdq2REHE0aXJ2tvQJ85Rpr9K9SV5bGkZBdsvXcdfscCbDzRiQG4XrRPS1MNO9YMQwpbCASh5ZzQs9s20h3NGftLnck4pRHjjTJzhE2JOVCkWyN8/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMovMVfTXVckykdEVFgBnxgUSK5ZiLmdq2REHE0aXJ2tvQJ85Rpr9K9SV5bGkZBdsvXcdfscCbDzRiQG4XrRPS1MNO9YMQwpbCASh5ZzQs9s20h3NGftLnck4pRHjjTJzhE2JOVCkWyN8/s640/IMG_2075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now for the bread recipe…stay with me as this is easy and so worth the time. You can start the bread before starting the soup and it will be hot and ready when the soup finishes. I made up this recipe in my “normal” association thing that I do…so follow my line of thinking????? The soup has a beet…which made me think of borscht, which made me think of Russian rye bread…which made me think... too much time…something quicker…focaccia…but with a twist…hmmmm…Swedish rye…hmmmm….orange, anise, molasses…yum…THAT’S IT!!! Orange-Studded Rye Focaccia…DONE! I know it may sound odd…but IT IS SOOOO GOOD!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Orange-Studded Rye Focaccia Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 ¼ cups warm water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 package dry rapid rise yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Allow 5 minutes for the yeast to soften and bloom)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7kOie10sINIHfamcih8y8RhGZkJCiGk5QjpeL5C-ZXju_ecNjV4fH6AHZYgC7-eUVQlqzclbhKIxG-6pgOVxGzJ7MUQR4cIXiZT3HUGsMUXBMAVuGixk02Uei9hrs3aWzu-bSMPJ8RY/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7kOie10sINIHfamcih8y8RhGZkJCiGk5QjpeL5C-ZXju_ecNjV4fH6AHZYgC7-eUVQlqzclbhKIxG-6pgOVxGzJ7MUQR4cIXiZT3HUGsMUXBMAVuGixk02Uei9hrs3aWzu-bSMPJ8RY/s640/IMG_2027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Zest 1 medium sized orange it will be approximately 2 tsp.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8UMNOmN9LQ_HY50gxfHXqxLCw8xnoVmw9k0YmpWzVEKLfUR3cKdor1w8JMEyXNDxh5zV1cQvblMK2PYnkGkqpc7trLit0ELjSztdGVteEWRnrzQN5RFNfwB78i9LOiOjDJPS_Zy8Dng/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8UMNOmN9LQ_HY50gxfHXqxLCw8xnoVmw9k0YmpWzVEKLfUR3cKdor1w8JMEyXNDxh5zV1cQvblMK2PYnkGkqpc7trLit0ELjSztdGVteEWRnrzQN5RFNfwB78i9LOiOjDJPS_Zy8Dng/s640/IMG_2022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now cut the orange in half and “juice it” into a bowl…it will be approximately </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkZjUbnKvur3QluyW2M-SLfRi-I9_Mbex_QTEv1N6RLqXFsz7lcNgB708lqR1kQHHfgwHsPZ4bPr3ldjxMfe8_VGfpcvXBIMK0FMDoJqB5g09tzoJMaO8GqCjxHAwOwtktgiUqRYw8uE/s1600/IMG_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkZjUbnKvur3QluyW2M-SLfRi-I9_Mbex_QTEv1N6RLqXFsz7lcNgB708lqR1kQHHfgwHsPZ4bPr3ldjxMfe8_VGfpcvXBIMK0FMDoJqB5g09tzoJMaO8GqCjxHAwOwtktgiUqRYw8uE/s640/IMG_2029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>To this juice add:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. of flaxseed meal<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">& the 2 tsp. of orange zest<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8ZK5PIzG1NrS6wcxS8eKwow27cuwgtk3YdpafHbYMmbZYuwTkeqwEtm7EXnRQUKt0-daYT_eqGnvRpjr-mpAn1CScVI644dwBkjlDy9_aZcjJCaxu4QEi61rmeYxN3AUYRyyA-U0JGw/s1600/IMG_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8ZK5PIzG1NrS6wcxS8eKwow27cuwgtk3YdpafHbYMmbZYuwTkeqwEtm7EXnRQUKt0-daYT_eqGnvRpjr-mpAn1CScVI644dwBkjlDy9_aZcjJCaxu4QEi61rmeYxN3AUYRyyA-U0JGw/s640/IMG_2034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the flax to soften in the juice while you measure the dry ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a large bowl:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cups rye flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 ½ cups unbleached all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. anise seed (grind slightly in mortar and pestle)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJpBHvgoOAH_tB3PvZxQ3P0jidWMVf56GCJMblvGyaqEWbIxRDvmp55usOVnevNIrOpemOZLUMTn48dQhIlUItLEZQGqBmMC-EsteZRL80uVK-e8v9f8YaimqdGZUVahq1i0ni7NyNF8/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJpBHvgoOAH_tB3PvZxQ3P0jidWMVf56GCJMblvGyaqEWbIxRDvmp55usOVnevNIrOpemOZLUMTn48dQhIlUItLEZQGqBmMC-EsteZRL80uVK-e8v9f8YaimqdGZUVahq1i0ni7NyNF8/s640/IMG_2031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Anise is typical in Swedish rye breads and has a unique flavor that pairs soo well with the orange and rye!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Whisk all of the dry ingredients together. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Make a well in the center of the flours. Into the well pour:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 T. of extra-virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 T. of molasses<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PET2xkZdnBXsnTzq4_x07FbW8UFQu0nBcoSNDZ2hHyLlC-cbK9EuaXgC8X4ff8ifK1B2FMvY_fp9opHl8KU63VeUlgQHXG5_6uWMFUt0ww0RvVHncRgMR8EYTtepChHWRu2oUP56K0s/s1600/IMG_2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PET2xkZdnBXsnTzq4_x07FbW8UFQu0nBcoSNDZ2hHyLlC-cbK9EuaXgC8X4ff8ifK1B2FMvY_fp9opHl8KU63VeUlgQHXG5_6uWMFUt0ww0RvVHncRgMR8EYTtepChHWRu2oUP56K0s/s640/IMG_2037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">You do know the trick to measure the oil first and then sticky liquids (like molasses) flow right out without having to scrape or lose a single drop…right????<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now add the orange juice/flax mixture and the yeast/water mixture into the </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">well too….it’s more a lake than a well…heheee!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifx_JnrlWOPpb6SN3gvS3gkpfpSA0cn4LW0RcVFKIwCTSogn_GPNlpQ3uK0Y2PKpSBEqYdu97_89VCi6gIrCg02RYeB9RUXkeURk5bAz9m1T40o7-7heN_eqt0Vgqc0ocOM5nHl3V4R4M/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifx_JnrlWOPpb6SN3gvS3gkpfpSA0cn4LW0RcVFKIwCTSogn_GPNlpQ3uK0Y2PKpSBEqYdu97_89VCi6gIrCg02RYeB9RUXkeURk5bAz9m1T40o7-7heN_eqt0Vgqc0ocOM5nHl3V4R4M/s640/IMG_2038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir the dough with a wooden spoon until it comes away from the bowl…it will still be sticky.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW38FWEgxo64DdLnq-qOGyoTNmWOKs5PsjXc12ZwgVRWCQVJMBZ8EDq9kRDR3XFT8JGvTPmoDvrSUs4I6htxS1SDRg8qM00aOz8dKD3bs92r-m9JjKCNMyiRKr4Eh01TLFGnxMx48ZyI/s1600/IMG_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW38FWEgxo64DdLnq-qOGyoTNmWOKs5PsjXc12ZwgVRWCQVJMBZ8EDq9kRDR3XFT8JGvTPmoDvrSUs4I6htxS1SDRg8qM00aOz8dKD3bs92r-m9JjKCNMyiRKr4Eh01TLFGnxMx48ZyI/s640/IMG_2040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Turn out the dough onto a flour-dusted counter or board and begin kneading in another ½ to 1 more cup of unbleached flour. Keep kneading until dough feels elastic and smooth. Come on…it’s an easy upper body workout!!!!! It only takes 5 minutes or so….Form dough into a ball shape. Place kneaded dough ball into a large bowl greased with olive oil. Turn the ball over so that the oiled bottom is now on top. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(This helps the dough to not form a crust)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDEAmZx0L95e-9fUWNmg8MesfMbEsEicQKnlnC6F_yFtd1JTIkN3MuoFD-lDoC6ej2gZVHcvmlGnWSE4n7ORE1X1BrFB6OMIuHIfdXb0Wz0iwiAJxW9CP6dpPITMezv8O4zwTVhlumUQ/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDEAmZx0L95e-9fUWNmg8MesfMbEsEicQKnlnC6F_yFtd1JTIkN3MuoFD-lDoC6ej2gZVHcvmlGnWSE4n7ORE1X1BrFB6OMIuHIfdXb0Wz0iwiAJxW9CP6dpPITMezv8O4zwTVhlumUQ/s640/IMG_2043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now cover with plastic film and then a kitchen towel and place in a warm place in the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtNuBzP6vWzMd1hnAQWRfL9uLgWMlngGWNQkCyfteikZIxzhCm9ST4aWkxLI4hQHqU44IpmvqXBh-gtolALcynKjW-tpWxnOTjdSuTWxBkfKYmtGKWzmm0rpDIAoGpiSL-skYR9Lq1Io/s1600/IMG_2046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtNuBzP6vWzMd1hnAQWRfL9uLgWMlngGWNQkCyfteikZIxzhCm9ST4aWkxLI4hQHqU44IpmvqXBh-gtolALcynKjW-tpWxnOTjdSuTWxBkfKYmtGKWzmm0rpDIAoGpiSL-skYR9Lq1Io/s640/IMG_2046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size…an hour to 90 minutes…depending on the warmth of the room. (I sometimes turn on my oven BRIEFLY and then turn it back off and place the bread in there to rise…90 degrees is a happy place for dough to rise…just FYI…no hotter or you’ll be cooking a boule instead of a focaccia loaf!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once doubled in size…the dough is ready to place onto a 12 X 19 inch baking sheet that has been well oiled with olive oil. Spread the dough out making a long rectangular loaf. (Think fat pizza) Now let it rest for 10 minutes and pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spread out the dough a little more (it will almost fill the pan) and dimple the surface of the dough with your fingertips. Drizzle the surface with still more olive oil, allowing the oil to puddle in some of the dimples. Now…for the best part…the topping!!! Cut a small orange, or tangerine into thin slices…crosswise…so you have circles…YES peeling and all! Cut the circles of citrus into halves or if you want smaller pieces into quarters and place the fruit…flesh down into the dough…peeling on the surface. Studding the dough with citrus….BRILLIANT!! Now, sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and red pepper flakes…LIGHTLY! Now…dust the top with FINELY…I mean FINELY ground walnuts…powdery…it’s like the parmesan cheese of other focaccia breads. I am sorry…don’t really measure this, but I would say about ½ cups worth of walnut powder…hahaha!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju47Fm8FzR874LWLypYyzTwqm_ZyO4cUJgR53ELErGlypyYSW-blLOQ1boqEupYyoCRAmrCiNR-lfK77S9NeVOOrhu6Y1tT_vIPaAZ8EDfiSXNd2uL8kRvav_t5HnrDmn4-1ZzcDCYfAo/s1600/IMG_2056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju47Fm8FzR874LWLypYyzTwqm_ZyO4cUJgR53ELErGlypyYSW-blLOQ1boqEupYyoCRAmrCiNR-lfK77S9NeVOOrhu6Y1tT_vIPaAZ8EDfiSXNd2uL8kRvav_t5HnrDmn4-1ZzcDCYfAo/s640/IMG_2056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now place in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. The top should be lightly golden. Allow the bread to cool for a few minutes before cutting and then serve with a good cold pressed extra virgin olive oil for dipping. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The perfect accompaniment for the “Deeply Rooted Soup” ….YES!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2nIZAKvCSvGagGtfVLzL2f1z20UmMgcxz2IOWVHP2uOWIzbtsW8ntcjdyhMUsMckYuK7y1wJcuV6nYfs_1KmN7jbXJZOCKrfQu0DSQO7yfk-mr1NWnrRrxff7G1-w9Tq3n9OBx-ZrZo/s1600/IMG_2078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2nIZAKvCSvGagGtfVLzL2f1z20UmMgcxz2IOWVHP2uOWIzbtsW8ntcjdyhMUsMckYuK7y1wJcuV6nYfs_1KmN7jbXJZOCKrfQu0DSQO7yfk-mr1NWnrRrxff7G1-w9Tq3n9OBx-ZrZo/s640/IMG_2078.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So…back to gratitude…Gratitude has been everywhere in my path this week and so…ding…ding…I knew it was the lesson for my week. I always try to be grateful, but I really upped my awareness this week and it was really amazing how the "gratitude thing" kept being woven into my days. I want to share with all of you a link that came to our home last week via email. We have shared this with many of you, but I pass this along for YOUR week of gratitude. It takes about nine minutes to watch, but you won’t be sorry…it is breathtakingly wonderful…hey the man is a world-renowned cinematographer…watch this and dream!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;">&lt<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&feature=share%3E" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1326904767_0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&feature=share&gt</span></a></span></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So after watching this piece, I admit it…I looked up at the sky more…remembering that this formation of clouds would never be again…I said, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">"Thank You"!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Be grateful...this is my dream this week. Thank you Dr. King for leaving traces of sparkling crystals behind like on my frosty car window…</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thank you for your dream!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZexSAdfQg_CoHyHicMX1yUo1XkMpuvs91LCby_n3UFh0Xdh-Nt_vTOYaAdID-bORCcwZXF1gJldHZ7OVagCjlMhEnGO5x70gSm8eigKwWuYcsrdxM66SoC44E39Xq07yvC1d9TyE74g/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZexSAdfQg_CoHyHicMX1yUo1XkMpuvs91LCby_n3UFh0Xdh-Nt_vTOYaAdID-bORCcwZXF1gJldHZ7OVagCjlMhEnGO5x70gSm8eigKwWuYcsrdxM66SoC44E39Xq07yvC1d9TyE74g/s640/IMG_1999.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful living moment today: Stop…Look…Listen….Taste….Smell…..Touch….Dream….be grateful!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-47285914311370982342012-01-10T19:41:00.000-08:002012-01-10T20:07:14.649-08:00Rag Bag Pasta and Auld Lang Syne<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I think there is a saying or sentiment that as you clean and un-clutter your house…so your mind and spirit will be cleaned and un-cluttered. That has been my focus this week as all the decorations and “stuff” went back up to the attic. In Scotland, the New Year is welcomed by cleaning the house. Perhaps some small-encoded Scottish gene is called forth within me during this month of January, but I get in a sort and destroy mode that leaves even the dogs shaking their heads. It has seemed to my eyes that everywhere I look this week there are piles! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Piles in my junk drawer…Oh come on...you know.... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">you have one </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">too!!!;-)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKfXs2fyo52Eic3JGmAQC8JsfI4f3BQ3QXEulDJoog-cTUhlEUknOKqHRdHwRagSKu6HfUbzXU4dbMaSDCX9mxMsXWNnr6Ynt7An8xP0-vypT0POnLOKfjHOinD3QvioSrMozBT7r3CM/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKfXs2fyo52Eic3JGmAQC8JsfI4f3BQ3QXEulDJoog-cTUhlEUknOKqHRdHwRagSKu6HfUbzXU4dbMaSDCX9mxMsXWNnr6Ynt7An8xP0-vypT0POnLOKfjHOinD3QvioSrMozBT7r3CM/s640/IMG_1962.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Piles of clothes in my closet…it’s called….come home…change clothes….back out the door for the next event…a mess!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGZUGD3G9epAN9ZsWMsz1HtsaghamuqLKM6lplO1qIB2-HMPMoN2xKSvrta14Khnu4qyU46gwsgypbv7dB2g_5MY11oEQ-mQm7Dm6ki8WFAvYTyMXo-nkHQEOLGAvlKaGazGbpOBQxkA/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGZUGD3G9epAN9ZsWMsz1HtsaghamuqLKM6lplO1qIB2-HMPMoN2xKSvrta14Khnu4qyU46gwsgypbv7dB2g_5MY11oEQ-mQm7Dm6ki8WFAvYTyMXo-nkHQEOLGAvlKaGazGbpOBQxkA/s640/IMG_1855.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Laundry piles to be washed….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5VVPBC44mKLwtPXOfVmSBqsu9mHp9gYAj_GSQ1lWEQbknSIW2J-vmb6KCFYLSh1PbEeWkwEihJoSZgBzDg5SR7qvWENbSKduhiJQlA0mdvUEu-JRjhXMa7HOtp8ITv4u_ICF6_kj2E8/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5VVPBC44mKLwtPXOfVmSBqsu9mHp9gYAj_GSQ1lWEQbknSIW2J-vmb6KCFYLSh1PbEeWkwEihJoSZgBzDg5SR7qvWENbSKduhiJQlA0mdvUEu-JRjhXMa7HOtp8ITv4u_ICF6_kj2E8/s640/IMG_1854.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">And so during these warm, grey, and gloomy days I started. I started cleaning, sorting, washing, and rubbing. I needed rags. I couldn’t find rags to clean the house. As a child, I remember a large canvas bag with a drawstring that held rags…lots of rags. How on earth could I not find a single old piece of material to use as a cleaning rag????? Rags for me are wonderfully comforting…. probably because they come from old cIothes and towels, memories of days of old…(now I KNOW I am getting old!!) I finally found my small rag “stash” and it made me stop and think….What was this rag in its “former life”…????<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11YpQxbpdRY4NnjgYlUSBV2WUCOmnFRxdKWg_zfgPNqgykS051DBL2Te5TTDSQP9WN-SngedOEpOs1Hdt-TD3BWn-83wHGRzOLcg5InmGiGxd2IegGdoiKlyTxDphch2FP-ylyu0rhfM/s1600/IMG_1850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11YpQxbpdRY4NnjgYlUSBV2WUCOmnFRxdKWg_zfgPNqgykS051DBL2Te5TTDSQP9WN-SngedOEpOs1Hdt-TD3BWn-83wHGRzOLcg5InmGiGxd2IegGdoiKlyTxDphch2FP-ylyu0rhfM/s640/IMG_1850.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I started with the dirty front windows…Three dog noses all leaving their trace.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">See one of the culprits????<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhilyDDspV_TpBRwTkJeQi8uRMwXY1FDAQwOnGzjr4waI-3h5xNTjC2AAkkEUegiOuP6SjnkkixfunROE0hze3xUvFeJ_ErnG7AqbS43AAEzRxFoleXtytqOhyk_5V9uqTVbdrdezS8Y/s1600/IMG_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhilyDDspV_TpBRwTkJeQi8uRMwXY1FDAQwOnGzjr4waI-3h5xNTjC2AAkkEUegiOuP6SjnkkixfunROE0hze3xUvFeJ_ErnG7AqbS43AAEzRxFoleXtytqOhyk_5V9uqTVbdrdezS8Y/s640/IMG_1969.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">When my hands get busy…my mind at first quiets and then lots of thinking begins and my mind starts getting busy too. I think I do some of my best thinking….I know...let me rephrase! When cleaning…I have inspired, focused thinking that brings ME enjoyment. I guess I need to clean more…huh ???….Oh, dear!!! Well...anyway....I started on the windows at least the on the inside and it began raining.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWUfoXLDikW2-JrJ4hCI3MlaSzopF3jW7osWyGgOLSXQSfkvLJLRSqzyd0CEthPBnAZ9xkwT5NwXZKSze8RAhvAWNZxxVmXiaeebskTx6s4gM02jLXNh8WWhqfZQQDtM6uUicX06HeG8/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWUfoXLDikW2-JrJ4hCI3MlaSzopF3jW7osWyGgOLSXQSfkvLJLRSqzyd0CEthPBnAZ9xkwT5NwXZKSze8RAhvAWNZxxVmXiaeebskTx6s4gM02jLXNh8WWhqfZQQDtM6uUicX06HeG8/s640/IMG_1867.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Rats!!! So I postponed the window project and began laundry and cleaning out the refrigerators. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9gWs85z4Ju0kh2tQctU_eefbZMCFBLb2s69wd-4s9D1bDgtx-tZ5JMQEGu4XXKGPVsYmCCQJq2vPNmASdQzIHmc7zFtrpNfY5ypUF2d7Mjx9Gc_CLyUCJQrrgEcE5wAujPaIKgBy56k/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9gWs85z4Ju0kh2tQctU_eefbZMCFBLb2s69wd-4s9D1bDgtx-tZ5JMQEGu4XXKGPVsYmCCQJq2vPNmASdQzIHmc7zFtrpNfY5ypUF2d7Mjx9Gc_CLyUCJQrrgEcE5wAujPaIKgBy56k/s640/IMG_1776.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Every shelf came out…every drawer came out…every <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">tid-bit….gone…a clean fresh start! I was a HAPPY WOMAN!!! I looked at the time…where did the afternoon go???? Time to start thinking about dinner and voila…the recipe of RAGS came to mind. Mario Batali says that there are two groups of people…Italians and those who wish they were Italians…well let’s just say I am in the latter group. I LOVE the flavors of Italy. So….a pasta dish had to be dinner.... in honor of my day of rags and a New Year’s cleaning frenzy!! Long ago I had this dish that was called straccetti – beef tatters with arugula…rather rag like. Then the pasta called stracci that is formed to look like rags came to mind. My mind just played with all this a bit and I came up with my version and homage to RAGS. I am calling it…Rag Bag Pasta. Besides…a person can only clean for so long and the reward is to go make pasta!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Rag Bag Pasta:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;">(You can make this recipe using already made lasagna noodle sheets...Just break them into random shapes. However, they need to be approximately the same size. Try and make homemade pasta once though...you'll be hooked....just sayin'.....)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Pasta recipe…no eggs</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup unbleached all purpose flour <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I know 00 flour is the preferred pasta flour, but I don’t have any so…. I used King Arthur unbleached…just fine…really fine for this rustic pasta!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup whole-wheat pastry flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup semolina</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil…helps the texture with no eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¾ cup water (it may take a little more or less depending on day)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Measure three flours and combine well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhgBS-SKIrwqjWb2KzyRvafoKf7aaHrAFAaXuRmadAWGvEzpBom7R3GtMeF_nNe8-be_kMVRxw8KV9tGfImiIpJ05h6F1wkCOHCOpBWyi_vTysJVoOIy5SC96TMAobVLAmzMK4qHd03E/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhgBS-SKIrwqjWb2KzyRvafoKf7aaHrAFAaXuRmadAWGvEzpBom7R3GtMeF_nNe8-be_kMVRxw8KV9tGfImiIpJ05h6F1wkCOHCOpBWyi_vTysJVoOIy5SC96TMAobVLAmzMK4qHd03E/s640/IMG_1874.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Make a well in the middle and add oil and a little water. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48i5hTuSNJMqFeYXCxWmD-seYfDgYC6n6BRNp048GvfqhUUdmHIrWBgLy_ORtHogE80b1CHG_xMabpDaVZpTXoutdGtXjHvRfUPtmea-vbLSVuwJKyze0xmTi3QN_nUlxdrDvXST2Vj0/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48i5hTuSNJMqFeYXCxWmD-seYfDgYC6n6BRNp048GvfqhUUdmHIrWBgLy_ORtHogE80b1CHG_xMabpDaVZpTXoutdGtXjHvRfUPtmea-vbLSVuwJKyze0xmTi3QN_nUlxdrDvXST2Vj0/s640/IMG_1879.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Work the flour from the perimeter into the liquid and continue adding water as needed to bring the flour into a “craggy” dough.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_X4b65LeYBpBGuM0l9hjSjYDmV9AIR1wlt8dF8o_mwgPTbq0cpkKQj68oXnbk6CE6XMRc-Zq8n7GspA1VoP-nVBsiWSroBRa5Yd5jRVDF8pv6qduPHKDMWYS_3kFR5qAn9yKWUmSrVO8/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_X4b65LeYBpBGuM0l9hjSjYDmV9AIR1wlt8dF8o_mwgPTbq0cpkKQj68oXnbk6CE6XMRc-Zq8n7GspA1VoP-nVBsiWSroBRa5Yd5jRVDF8pv6qduPHKDMWYS_3kFR5qAn9yKWUmSrVO8/s640/IMG_1881.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Knead the dough for a good 10 minutes or use stand mixer with dough hook. Dough will become smooth and you will no longer feel the grit of the semolina. Come on…it’s the New Year’s Pasta Upper Body Workout!!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dampen a kitchen towel and put the dough to rest for 20 to 30 minutes…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Dd8-kRRlRBXTNRzZPQu69Cr48Ou2WgM2HYpwRJmRXpEkF4SkH3FG_N28IVLgBYrY3VDGyMOWGX_B2XlMK7PTzXG7Dl_a2IY6W0ZkxzDS-Zk3UQsfTyrhqi29iKCSbhUQuTyT9Q5V8T8/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Dd8-kRRlRBXTNRzZPQu69Cr48Ou2WgM2HYpwRJmRXpEkF4SkH3FG_N28IVLgBYrY3VDGyMOWGX_B2XlMK7PTzXG7Dl_a2IY6W0ZkxzDS-Zk3UQsfTyrhqi29iKCSbhUQuTyT9Q5V8T8/s640/IMG_1884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">awww sweet baby!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">After rest time...cut dough ball into quarters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaCqfHzbfAMWX3A24UVkYuqSkGzP4GP_av1KmJSPKsxaXYuXcnoJu1aJWPyXzrjfGrkhioHkDNVMuYjgm2lr_knh8JPMZt-Yr0POtLiSw7RJGBblxRXCZfrwYiQkcAwDWtYX5vevtgoc/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaCqfHzbfAMWX3A24UVkYuqSkGzP4GP_av1KmJSPKsxaXYuXcnoJu1aJWPyXzrjfGrkhioHkDNVMuYjgm2lr_knh8JPMZt-Yr0POtLiSw7RJGBblxRXCZfrwYiQkcAwDWtYX5vevtgoc/s640/IMG_1893.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Take a quarter section and flatten with your hands…dust dough with a bit of flour and run it through pasta machine on the widest setting. (If you don’t have a pasta machine… just roll very thinly and disregard the rest of the pasta machine suggestions…;)) I run the dough through on the widest setting and then the next one down 3 times folding and passing it through. I alternate between the two settings. The rollers are not only are thinning the dough, but they are kneading it and the pasta dough becomes satiny smooth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFqdvPBdP1xOuqBcoirEh0deK8MxVWxzxXKv5Hjsd8WSGcdp0W5STArWu2jWB9sQFF9s6g2T53zCtb6lgpumUFPKa3UvR6Ox3INPmd6s4DaRpmSJfPzkq3NMx9TCcpqlAoMcbgF33poA/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFqdvPBdP1xOuqBcoirEh0deK8MxVWxzxXKv5Hjsd8WSGcdp0W5STArWu2jWB9sQFF9s6g2T53zCtb6lgpumUFPKa3UvR6Ox3INPmd6s4DaRpmSJfPzkq3NMx9TCcpqlAoMcbgF33poA/s640/IMG_1897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now I run the dough through the next settings in order until it is the thickness of a playing card. It doesn’t have to be paper thin for this rag shape. Dough will get thin and long….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSpPYPEIExRlSq-vlax9mVGltqlan20pVFUl_RTPRF0YPZaIL0S2dRUGtEl9rt2D438EcfZZYsbk8Ag7fl6oMHnn-tNGPEtNxlawCmt5iJSk5xhvizxWsBXccWx_Bki4ZtGwE7TG2Rw8/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSpPYPEIExRlSq-vlax9mVGltqlan20pVFUl_RTPRF0YPZaIL0S2dRUGtEl9rt2D438EcfZZYsbk8Ag7fl6oMHnn-tNGPEtNxlawCmt5iJSk5xhvizxWsBXccWx_Bki4ZtGwE7TG2Rw8/s640/IMG_1899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now this shape is EASY! Cut dough into rag shaped triangles, rectangles, or trapezoids… whatever your rag fancy. The shape doesn’t matter, but keep them all about the same size so you have an even cooking time for all the pasta.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAW7LeSEaEpH6DGNxy6rVkscmQxu8SoT5FbkBAP5Jlby-LRAU5sAVGBmPAvJDWB7PpFukGbVBKcaGi_ELNcrP4gke1tYSA3bjDKMk45jiYtmsWw2oNdbbS6Z6TUKFbABOCnu6eN2Ri4Nc/s1600/IMG_1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAW7LeSEaEpH6DGNxy6rVkscmQxu8SoT5FbkBAP5Jlby-LRAU5sAVGBmPAvJDWB7PpFukGbVBKcaGi_ELNcrP4gke1tYSA3bjDKMk45jiYtmsWw2oNdbbS6Z6TUKFbABOCnu6eN2Ri4Nc/s640/IMG_1910.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Do each quarter of dough the same way. I was only cooking for two tonight, so I had more pasta than I needed. YOU CAN FREEZE fresh pasta dough!!! I simply take each quarter of dough and dust it in some flour and place it in a freezer bag. Place in the freezer and it stays great for 2 to 3 months. To thaw just put it in the refrigerator the night before you want to use it and you have fresh pasta….yippee!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">See my pasta rag pile????<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdzUhcNztfPh2w2j5za8Mrrce7nJbSTHzyAsQZrCJbi6pdYJgHfpI_14yoxodgUwyd8fIvxZNBK86n3NqjxUpAWdeCf1nW6EKosWfqWNODKRt74HNyK0oQc6B2A2Msa7SRRQ2hCi0aGU/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdzUhcNztfPh2w2j5za8Mrrce7nJbSTHzyAsQZrCJbi6pdYJgHfpI_14yoxodgUwyd8fIvxZNBK86n3NqjxUpAWdeCf1nW6EKosWfqWNODKRt74HNyK0oQc6B2A2Msa7SRRQ2hCi0aGU/s640/IMG_1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now for the sauce and topping!!!<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees...</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sauce:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In the bowl of a food processor or blender…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 cups fresh baby spinach<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup fresh baby arugula<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 cloves of roughly sliced garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">5 oil packed sundried tomato halves<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. nutritional yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 tsp. dried basil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">pinch of salt - go easy as the topping has the saltiness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">pinch of red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDal9WfL0xwDp1SgVbqXNIpcLtB4NcH7vMFRX6jpKV7Q6OpwOvekGjCoP4rZ2Ynvz1mvRZp0RPFEPJLDQMb6qPMxJwnMcqKKUucDTlBZH1Pqk265YZx_rYTHfaZVYBhyye6mTHC4QLHFY/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDal9WfL0xwDp1SgVbqXNIpcLtB4NcH7vMFRX6jpKV7Q6OpwOvekGjCoP4rZ2Ynvz1mvRZp0RPFEPJLDQMb6qPMxJwnMcqKKUucDTlBZH1Pqk265YZx_rYTHfaZVYBhyye6mTHC4QLHFY/s640/IMG_1919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Process until roughly chopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stream in:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup extra-virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WJE_RfdOkYIV6c3XKfoHrVHiGI0Y29NekHrBP__hCihI31a0itXUXu3DNS_njh7EHtn8aC49yS_vphag47TZkPUvd271SNjoptYtb-rAvyq7rmM2JK24qgeZfkGNglbwA_RsUJtOXko/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WJE_RfdOkYIV6c3XKfoHrVHiGI0Y29NekHrBP__hCihI31a0itXUXu3DNS_njh7EHtn8aC49yS_vphag47TZkPUvd271SNjoptYtb-rAvyq7rmM2JK24qgeZfkGNglbwA_RsUJtOXko/s640/IMG_1921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> A yummy pesto that is good on ANYTHING…but is the base of the rag bag pasta sauce. Remaining pesto can be stored in refrigerator. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It is great on sandwiches!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup pesto will be used for the sauce for two servings it will take all of it for 4 servings.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>Topping:</o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Peel a medium sized eggplant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI5akN7Mic5yghE61s-th6vDc97vysKrW2NUzPlq3wg5KvbGA3b11nQ-HLBUcjO6WpKL34Oq6OwlcOfGZi6OYYoBGUzos5X09OxGLDeu6NA2ON-KaBl0rKPoD5xcpv2KnSDGRXO04FBQ/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYI5akN7Mic5yghE61s-th6vDc97vysKrW2NUzPlq3wg5KvbGA3b11nQ-HLBUcjO6WpKL34Oq6OwlcOfGZi6OYYoBGUzos5X09OxGLDeu6NA2ON-KaBl0rKPoD5xcpv2KnSDGRXO04FBQ/s640/IMG_1869.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Slice eggplant long-wise into thin ¼ inch slices. Place slices on a baking sheet. Spray or brush both sides lightly with oil and season with black pepper and garlic powder. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, turn slices over and roast for another 15 minutes. The eggplant will become brown and a little crispy. Don’t let it burn!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbYpOU3zxpo-J_OSuCxEO9ourJ0kj_0ePAHwcM3kz0sdf4MgZHGRbLT4gVBX_6rQ9Bep1sFYC7FCOESoBWnYIZ0XY5cYRlKZtLT-Waq_pkllMO3lJda0w8HL1EYB-oRdxeAXOhI2dEoc/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbYpOU3zxpo-J_OSuCxEO9ourJ0kj_0ePAHwcM3kz0sdf4MgZHGRbLT4gVBX_6rQ9Bep1sFYC7FCOESoBWnYIZ0XY5cYRlKZtLT-Waq_pkllMO3lJda0w8HL1EYB-oRdxeAXOhI2dEoc/s640/IMG_1890.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">10 minutes before eggplant is ready to come out of oven...start pasta water to boil…you need a large pan and please salt the water. Bring water to a boil while you finish the rag topping as the pasta takes such a short time to cook…2 to 3 minutes tops!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(In a LARGE skillet)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 T. of olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">5 oz. of sliced Shiitake mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sauté shiitake mushrooms over medium high heat<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Shiitake mushrooms are packed with good minerals, iron, and B2 and the smoky, hearty flavor is really wonderful…but whatever your favorite mushroom…that works too.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Once mushrooms are caramelized add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 clove chopped garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/3 cup chopped onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pinch of red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Let this hang out for a few minutes.... and add:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">12 Asparagus <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(wash and snap off tough ends…cut remaining stems in half so the pieces are 3 to 4 inches long)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add asparagus to sautéing veggies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup olives pitted and sliced into quarters <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I used kalamata)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. of rinsed capers<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1/2 of a jarred roasted red pepper sliced into thin strips<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. fresh chopped rosemary<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Continue heating until asparagus is crisp tender. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kP9weuo8-q39_J0dMNwXcFAQ16rH_HEL0mHsE0p0QAtFj4c1DT77Z1zKwuKv-g5-DW5RbzUYAnGQ4iQ106TAGAAlmNxv_5j9asedHljBNktKqpxJ_PV5xhxLcikHcQrMkQVLsAp9ND8/s1600/IMG_1933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kP9weuo8-q39_J0dMNwXcFAQ16rH_HEL0mHsE0p0QAtFj4c1DT77Z1zKwuKv-g5-DW5RbzUYAnGQ4iQ106TAGAAlmNxv_5j9asedHljBNktKqpxJ_PV5xhxLcikHcQrMkQVLsAp9ND8/s640/IMG_1933.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Remove eggplant from oven and tear or cut it into smaller rag shapes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX7ZeDX-6tJdhdieVDF_pmFzL4WFrTUnmF5gEvJ1F08eX2Mz6LfDfhgiG6i2SpKA-SyTzIud8wmWNPce2Wgx5aD2xJ2nZ7cHooOQ7y5av7jUUeShCkUbeaElekje8v3ripqfzOWAIHVk/s1600/IMG_1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX7ZeDX-6tJdhdieVDF_pmFzL4WFrTUnmF5gEvJ1F08eX2Mz6LfDfhgiG6i2SpKA-SyTzIud8wmWNPce2Wgx5aD2xJ2nZ7cHooOQ7y5av7jUUeShCkUbeaElekje8v3ripqfzOWAIHVk/s640/IMG_1926.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add the crispy browned eggplant to the veggie sauté. Taste for seasoning…the olives and capers are salty and thus you probably will not need additional salt.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cook the Pasta….<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">If using pre-made pasta...follow package directions.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(We eat smaller amounts of pasta and more veggies…so prepare the amount YOU like to eat. I cook 12 small rag pieces per person...it is about 1/2 cup )<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place pasta rags in the boiling salted water. Stay put…do not overcook the fresh pasta after you have gone to this effort. Be ready to fish out the floating </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">al dente rags and place the pasta rags directly into the sauce…it takes just minutes…start checking after 2 minutes. The pasta will float like gnocchi floats when it is done. SO…..BE READY!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyShtSPO84JDh8tlnu0xcEUJu_VoSyzwV1bPXLpSncdHWbWHIQ-oLiW1xdVaCSIUbZFYB7itPiMsd5VM8c3Udr37-jqjEQUECLUcvzgzUjezW2MU6E0PLvmjIO-AQK_bfbpreEkYCUbc/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyShtSPO84JDh8tlnu0xcEUJu_VoSyzwV1bPXLpSncdHWbWHIQ-oLiW1xdVaCSIUbZFYB7itPiMsd5VM8c3Udr37-jqjEQUECLUcvzgzUjezW2MU6E0PLvmjIO-AQK_bfbpreEkYCUbc/s640/IMG_1932.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sauce:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a large skillet placed on medium low heat add: <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(this is for two servings increase to 1 cup for 4 servings)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup of the pesto<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pour one ladle of the pasta water into the pesto and stir well to combine. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUdgNYq27LAh3MDEcuOdmuSmVFAh22P0BeO56uiEE4yQ1PPyKV2aqOEgd11tSP6Y0OR0mVFAetCUPhcnVs7S-kAkz4RaOyO8BpCvTJsc7cZ03NWyH-xCgfQpCjTGQxDwj8LXFckwKIds/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUdgNYq27LAh3MDEcuOdmuSmVFAh22P0BeO56uiEE4yQ1PPyKV2aqOEgd11tSP6Y0OR0mVFAetCUPhcnVs7S-kAkz4RaOyO8BpCvTJsc7cZ03NWyH-xCgfQpCjTGQxDwj8LXFckwKIds/s640/IMG_1935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">As the pasta finishes cooking spoon into the sauce and toss gently. There will be some water with the pasta as it goes into the sauce. All pasta should be lightly coated in the green goodness and add more pasta water if needed to thinly coat all pasta rags evenly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzECAZpstv5SAuM3lVGg6hh-xE5R-CW0GZrM3e3a4T_opXsquG4Zo2gNABQeLBve2DazVtjNQJfZ5zDFm_QVe9vXntR5UEDdLrwELKLOkc6z_5oVCoyO4s7G4JqfROdxRsh-p1CiGxRI/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzECAZpstv5SAuM3lVGg6hh-xE5R-CW0GZrM3e3a4T_opXsquG4Zo2gNABQeLBve2DazVtjNQJfZ5zDFm_QVe9vXntR5UEDdLrwELKLOkc6z_5oVCoyO4s7G4JqfROdxRsh-p1CiGxRI/s640/IMG_1937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Ready to plate!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a large shallow bowl for each serving:<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup of fresh baby arugula or baby spinach or a combo of the two…<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhyphenhyphenA0n-0TxMeS2LRKp3KhXzZbAOJWC_NAbpb-4EFmNUFyDJ8QOxbjhE-Ko62G0cN1Aa8gMT2MmPkvOgkMpmu4l2gvSIUT6dhcRFC5qoeShVekhIsHe_lPJ5M_xxs0mtO-hUoySIs10os/s1600/IMG_1939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhyphenhyphenA0n-0TxMeS2LRKp3KhXzZbAOJWC_NAbpb-4EFmNUFyDJ8QOxbjhE-Ko62G0cN1Aa8gMT2MmPkvOgkMpmu4l2gvSIUT6dhcRFC5qoeShVekhIsHe_lPJ5M_xxs0mtO-hUoySIs10os/s640/IMG_1939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add a serving of pasta on top of each serving of fresh greens.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Top pasta with the rag vegetable topping arranging the asparagus around the bottom and colorful red pepper strips across top. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to finish….Yummmy!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Better than the beef straccetti years ago….mama mia….it sa good!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I KNOW BAD ACCENT!!! Sorry, Mario….<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">This first full week following all the holiday hub-bub is always a challenge. It takes a few days to get back into a routine. Cleaning the environment where you live or work is a good transition back to reality. My rag hunt was valuable in that it helped me remember how things have been long ago. Going through the Christmas Greeting and Photo cards one more time and remembering all the friendships we've made through the years made me smile. Every year I hear, “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year's Eve. I remember as a child hearing Guy Lombardo and his orchestra play this song from some fancy New York hotel on TV. I remember my parents singing, “Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should old accquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne…….we’ll take a cup of kindness then and auld lang syne.” I remember learning in school that the Scottish man, Robert Burns, wrote these words back in the late 1700’s as a poem and I remember thinking as a young girl…Wow…Mr. Burns must be smiling in heaven. People hundreds of years later are singing his words every year…now that’s a POEM!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cleaning my surroundings allowed my mind to remember, to be creative, to relax and focus. I found out this week staying hydrated doesn’t hurt either. I have a new Christmas present that is the BEST and I have to share it. I got a BRITA water bottle and I have NEVER had so much water to drink…I am cleaning my insides too!!! I highly recommend it. Try one…it’s great!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Trying to clear away clutter and excess…well…it reminded me of the important parts of life…the relationships that make life meaningful, the memories that make life rich, and the affirmation that clearing away makes room for newness. I think that is why the dogs put their noses against the glass…they are waiting for something new. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Here’s to new…and not worrying about nose marks on the glass….Are you waiting for something new???<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful living moment today: Cleaning one area a day…either physically or mentally…makes room for something new to be present in life and……. it surely prevents piles!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-13372001121754468242012-01-03T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:12:55.948-08:00Hanging Rock Hoppin' John<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>1523</o:Words> <o:Characters>8684</o:Characters> <o:Company>1st presbyterian church</o:Company> <o:Lines>72</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>17</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>10664</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy New Year!!! Is it not amazing that we are now in 2012? I don’t write as many checks as I used to, but we will see how long it takes me to automatically write 2012. I am sure it will take a few tries. It has been a wonderful Christmas and it will end this week for us with a Twelfth Night Luncheon and Epiphany staff party. The Christmas decorations will all be packed back up in boxes and the house will seem naked. I love having all the "fluff" out, but there is something about stripping away all of the Christmas clutter and having the bareness back that is calming. At first, it seems rather stark, but then it feels REALLY good. New Year’s is like that too for me. It is a fresh start. A chance to clear out all the "fluff" and decide what you want to have in your life…even if the resolution is short-lived…it is an attempt to do better and to set some new goals. This year on New Year’s Eve day…we went hiking. We packed a yummy picnic and headed for Hanging Rock State Park. The weather was spectacular and the perfect temperature for our hike. It was a moderate hike. Certainly a lot of “stair climbing” and our quads were burning by the time we reached the top.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is great to look out from that height. AWESOME is really the word that comes to mind. I feel this way out in nature. It puts life into a perspective that I can lose sight of in our “town” life. Looking down from that height…looking across that horizon…I truly felt like a puzzle piece. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Probably because we are working a jigsaw…heheee)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Looking down further on the rocks at all the people looking out across the view…it seemed we all probably share this same feeling. We all are trying to FIT into this puzzle of life. We all want to see how OUR piece fits into the big picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A new year, causes us to look back over time and reflect. I love the year in review pieces they do on TV, but it also marks how fleeting time really is…it causes one to pause. That is why our hike this year, just seemed to be the perfect activity for the day. It may become a new family tradition. In my mind, the hike was such a metaphor of life as we made our way up the face of this enormous rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Staying on the path…looking for the small markers that we were going the right way…getting tired, but continuing one step at a time…not looking ahead too far and definitely not looking back…helping each other when the going got tough…sharing water…encouraging others on the path…breathing hard and knowing it would be worth it at the top…the glorious view…feeling small yet part of something bigger…not wanting to leave the mountaintop experience…thinking the path going back down would be easier and it was just as demanding…getting back down below tree line and looking back up and feeling the accomplishment for having climbed to that height…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">YES…just like life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHF40m7PDLrkduwJmOblP4u1icPW-Ve7IAUZAihyphenhyphenbVHT096b0SOefFQbqAhK8NnayMbzWErCi9ncseWqS7u7o_uqf6tpg0y9RfZ42ZNOjGIAgUmDE7M-PW-Nr0RkXNFPU73ek31WnUqE/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHF40m7PDLrkduwJmOblP4u1icPW-Ve7IAUZAihyphenhyphenbVHT096b0SOefFQbqAhK8NnayMbzWErCi9ncseWqS7u7o_uqf6tpg0y9RfZ42ZNOjGIAgUmDE7M-PW-Nr0RkXNFPU73ek31WnUqE/s640/IMG_1797.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So my recipe for this New Year’s meal combined all of my day’s experience from this day of hiking and thinking. It takes all of the Southern tradition that MUST BE EATEN on New Year’s Day and uses a bit of my puzzle piece and rock climbing experiences to add a new twist to the dish. In the South, black-eyed peas, greens, and cornbread must be the staple menu for ringing in the New Year. The peas represent prosperity as they swell when cooking and also are symbols for coins. The greens represent money, more especially paper money, the cornbread is the color of gold, and tomatoes good health. This tradition has been going on, to my knowledge, since before the Civil War and hey…we all could use a little good luck and good health!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am calling this recipe…Hanging Rock Hoppin’ John. Hoppin’ John, is a traditional Southern recipe combining rice and black-eyed peas and the perfect meal for us. My version has three puzzle pieces and builds a hanging rock and the view to prosperity and health on a New Year's plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hanging Rock Hoppin’ John Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4 plus servings<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(Begin with the grit cakes as they need some chill time before cutting)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Grit Cakes:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4 cups water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tsp. of salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 T. of Earth Balance<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup stone ground grits - NOT INSTANT <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(I use stone ground yellow grits…if not available where you live…use a medium to course grind of cornmeal…yes all you grit haters it’s just a Southern polenta….)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iYI4ZIOIb8VM3TyWo9avJQmDy5LQRfRRo6RY2rXhTP3PvFhwzHee5P-E8ctQNNKCWjf9CNDdJ6E_M3uIxwB75AFF5siHvAVzNL_U9pXy7WNUu7te4KC7GB119rUG3LIjfP3y4xCY19E/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iYI4ZIOIb8VM3TyWo9avJQmDy5LQRfRRo6RY2rXhTP3PvFhwzHee5P-E8ctQNNKCWjf9CNDdJ6E_M3uIxwB75AFF5siHvAVzNL_U9pXy7WNUu7te4KC7GB119rUG3LIjfP3y4xCY19E/s640/IMG_1806.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bring water, salt, and earth balance to a rolling boil. Slowly stream in the grits and whisk vigorously to prevent lumps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKmuAJEE5PuCBFQH2KKIF9Yt0KdeRB2HK0aXcwPqExP6s8aAhOvnZMYGdRrQU1guA9tuzbVlziNKi0u044dU4YW81VB0kx_RA3P9EZprlg9-uqK_QPJCIEiUOBvNOnvMdJhII_NzjGKI/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKmuAJEE5PuCBFQH2KKIF9Yt0KdeRB2HK0aXcwPqExP6s8aAhOvnZMYGdRrQU1guA9tuzbVlziNKi0u044dU4YW81VB0kx_RA3P9EZprlg9-uqK_QPJCIEiUOBvNOnvMdJhII_NzjGKI/s640/IMG_1805.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lower heat and simmer the grits for 25 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep grits from sticking to the bottom of your pan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When the grits are cooked (thick and softened) remove from heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Add:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1/8 tsp. cayenne or red pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup veggie shreds mozzarella flavor (I used Galaxy)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ cup vegan cream cheese (I used Follow Your Heart)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMoDxJEDacgabvhkVpS_DatSK5PUFJH1kQ17BZMiZqolTJMROVvdDpvdNmkNWTnfOfs-KEVSWazsdMmOThP4zdsr5xbT7yiuG3mrtEPHx6OUsOed_K3_tZexklBk-oFOW5HyT_sthh30/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMoDxJEDacgabvhkVpS_DatSK5PUFJH1kQ17BZMiZqolTJMROVvdDpvdNmkNWTnfOfs-KEVSWazsdMmOThP4zdsr5xbT7yiuG3mrtEPHx6OUsOed_K3_tZexklBk-oFOW5HyT_sthh30/s640/IMG_1807.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Stir in the flavorings until the “cheese” is melted and all is thoroughly combined. Lightly spray or oil a 9X9 pan. Pour the grit mixture into the pan and shake the pan to smooth and level the surface.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfjCwj6B2V0AYbMBrk_AG8qcnYp0R7X0vQb2CN420-j6xCNHK7yiuBD-qZ0DQOXCIlOm7WYFeeZqnBPad80TwbselhSMLRLqSlXjLl8-Ifq55jtpA4eEi5fryE03Emt4XamLioFAqfNE/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfjCwj6B2V0AYbMBrk_AG8qcnYp0R7X0vQb2CN420-j6xCNHK7yiuBD-qZ0DQOXCIlOm7WYFeeZqnBPad80TwbselhSMLRLqSlXjLl8-Ifq55jtpA4eEi5fryE03Emt4XamLioFAqfNE/s640/IMG_1829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cool this for 20 minutes at room temp and then cover pan with film and chill in the refrigerator. I like to give it at least an hour or more to chill firmly for a clean edge when cutting it into cakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hoppin’John:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(You can certainly cook dried black-eyed peas, but I just used canned for this as we were busy napping and doing the jigsaw puzzle :-).)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 T. olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">¾ cup chopped onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup chopped celery<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup chopped green pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 cloves chopped garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sauté the veggies over medium high heat until they are soft and translucent. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7slIsvwYlxRl9zgXR5pS77Zn7eFglG3UmdTxd_TmTNDmHbXLvfLT35OhVwn5x7OtZdqwmHZo3j1-9k5qGHVvVDSZXfXGbiCPcwLOKTjSAPtiBt67pYn73sPFLxXJMBO_ec1QmLXU6JY8/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7slIsvwYlxRl9zgXR5pS77Zn7eFglG3UmdTxd_TmTNDmHbXLvfLT35OhVwn5x7OtZdqwmHZo3j1-9k5qGHVvVDSZXfXGbiCPcwLOKTjSAPtiBt67pYn73sPFLxXJMBO_ec1QmLXU6JY8/s640/IMG_1815.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Add:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup of a wild rice mix<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(I used a store brand that is a blend of: basmati, brown, red, and wild rice and it is a quicker cooking time…15 to 20 minutes versus 50 to 60 minutes. Adjust the cooking time depending on the blend you use)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0Z1S-3Gh3zcuEMRhVLv31OH9KzVXy8zgLvOQinP_Zl2eXVMFBSk2wfyja-4I1lZUJkrMaxgU-Wj3hxWBnBN2g3DQjRHw3_OIaBPblDkZQJ8816XWi5S2tIwReZ5UFrfJVuWq5OTbxgU/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0Z1S-3Gh3zcuEMRhVLv31OH9KzVXy8zgLvOQinP_Zl2eXVMFBSk2wfyja-4I1lZUJkrMaxgU-Wj3hxWBnBN2g3DQjRHw3_OIaBPblDkZQJ8816XWi5S2tIwReZ5UFrfJVuWq5OTbxgU/s640/IMG_1816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Coat the rice in the oil and veggies and cook for a couple of minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1dC5h5ZoBiq8QlfZV5CQrIGn3xobhm-V9Oxa1KlfH6ConlS69pITHfo4ZDS8hB6Gg9muW0cs9cvTcaaKaAYvzC2Wkguxkyx3D3SdbVuFAtyW2OHrJsKujSJRPhrQIey9421UCYJQyVA/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1dC5h5ZoBiq8QlfZV5CQrIGn3xobhm-V9Oxa1KlfH6ConlS69pITHfo4ZDS8hB6Gg9muW0cs9cvTcaaKaAYvzC2Wkguxkyx3D3SdbVuFAtyW2OHrJsKujSJRPhrQIey9421UCYJQyVA/s640/IMG_1817.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 cups water<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 cup chunky rotel (tomato, pepper combo)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 veggie boullion cube<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ tsp. ground cumin<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 tsp. dried basil leaves (fresh is gone for the year…boo…hooo)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 T. fresh thyme OR 1 tsp. of dried thyme leaves<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(My thyme in the garden is flourishing so I used fresh, but dry is fine too. To use fresh, simply strip leaves from woody stem and chop. Measure 1 T.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bring all of this to a boil. Lower heat and cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOO1qKnckAke7sQg8NIuJDlAXAOzbaY1llMIy8OXl-dOuw8Mh0GHOdMVUg23nrqkZ3-iAIf2Qql3MUci-cVhxj85NivW2mh6fQ8CMY-5F9uIMYnLLd4Rkqkj4MjrhJrOIX1EJL2GGpmc/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOO1qKnckAke7sQg8NIuJDlAXAOzbaY1llMIy8OXl-dOuw8Mh0GHOdMVUg23nrqkZ3-iAIf2Qql3MUci-cVhxj85NivW2mh6fQ8CMY-5F9uIMYnLLd4Rkqkj4MjrhJrOIX1EJL2GGpmc/s640/IMG_1818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Simmer for time suggested on your rice blend package…mine was 15 minutes. Check after timer rings and rice should be tender. There should be some liquid remaining and this will help to incorporate the rest of the ingredients. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now add:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 cups cooked black-eyed peas </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(or a 15.5 oz can of black-eyed peas)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Drain and Rinse the beans if using canned<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmULb7pglE0FUvq79j2L1LzdfuIPXTOzAMnbk2q5yKgUfO5Wu18zVoWLa0UdNKcy9y6RTHHVuKyHakTOoP_29sS4US34oYM9mTjc39uo0Ag_kFOkxWoLeILg2Ecyl6iXybHocHJOcU2A/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmULb7pglE0FUvq79j2L1LzdfuIPXTOzAMnbk2q5yKgUfO5Wu18zVoWLa0UdNKcy9y6RTHHVuKyHakTOoP_29sS4US34oYM9mTjc39uo0Ag_kFOkxWoLeILg2Ecyl6iXybHocHJOcU2A/s640/IMG_1826.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Add Seasoning:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ cup nutritional yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ tsp. onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ cup fresh chopped parsley<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Stir to combine with rice and put lid back on pan. Keep pan off the heat covered until ready to serve. Rice will get fluffier and peas continue to heat up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(While the rice is cooking for the Hoppin’ John, start the greens)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Good Luck Greens: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(I used Red Kale, but Green is great too! I used kale because it is QUICK.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTPhhwOXh4Q96QxUBH9HoRvbqpCocy57n6fkNv0KFzI2ydx5C4so6j9I9-fktwQLfQD_XtnYwxMmDOZRLVwLons1Ncaejr-LhPwcakK0WWNx_bHfrI7juMXbSKJb2ZmMglqq6HfQrncw/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTPhhwOXh4Q96QxUBH9HoRvbqpCocy57n6fkNv0KFzI2ydx5C4so6j9I9-fktwQLfQD_XtnYwxMmDOZRLVwLons1Ncaejr-LhPwcakK0WWNx_bHfrI7juMXbSKJb2ZmMglqq6HfQrncw/s640/IMG_1821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">¼ cup olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 medium onion chopped (3/4 cup approximately)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1 large clove (or 2 small) garlic minced<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ to 1 tsp. red pepper flakes depending on how spicy you like your greens.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 bunches red kale (approximately 16 cups chopped)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">½ to 1 tsp. of onion salt…your preference on saltiness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 T. brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3 T. red wine vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wash the Kale. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">Strip the tough stem out of the leaves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildvK5fFbuSal1ALMQTye9gtihmY30YIlNhl0YODHazxcUgN5Tqd3TALhYd-0FZ4cOSkFYRNZ3NVcZ97wVmvzKRu90EOQHsZgSuFCf-O37iitn3_gaMH-SqHY_TN8xD3RDoo0n7XAPOAM/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildvK5fFbuSal1ALMQTye9gtihmY30YIlNhl0YODHazxcUgN5Tqd3TALhYd-0FZ4cOSkFYRNZ3NVcZ97wVmvzKRu90EOQHsZgSuFCf-O37iitn3_gaMH-SqHY_TN8xD3RDoo0n7XAPOAM/s640/IMG_1823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Chop leaves roughly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Heat olive oil in LARGE pan or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Sauté chopped onion, garlic until soft…add red pepper flakes to release oils. Add washed kale…leave water on leaves to assist in cooking. It looks like a lot, but it will cook down to nothing very quickly. Stir to coat leaves in the oil and onions. Put lid on pot. Dissolve sugar and onion salt into the red wine vinegar. Once the leaves have begun wilting and there is more room to stir the kale…add the vinegar mixture. The acid will further break down the leaves. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Keep stirring. Kale leaves will be tender and yet still a dark green. Don’t cook the kale until it turns brown…just not as appetizing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX15LYRGumV9HpcQkzc3BbZCmw2GNAbWoyZBxSXm6Yg7YS2v2Lx1hNVVXhtRdgPWwcDrUWbKV-0Ud8zi37fGxYqNdtX3Z-veWpWAs6-RAdZN5bK0WdaUvwnUD_8H5o18mgNaoN5J60Jxs/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX15LYRGumV9HpcQkzc3BbZCmw2GNAbWoyZBxSXm6Yg7YS2v2Lx1hNVVXhtRdgPWwcDrUWbKV-0Ud8zi37fGxYqNdtX3Z-veWpWAs6-RAdZN5bK0WdaUvwnUD_8H5o18mgNaoN5J60Jxs/s640/IMG_1837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finishing Grit Cakes:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Remove the pan of grits from the refrigerator and slice into four squares. Then cut square into a triangle by cutting from corner to corner of the square. Take the grit cake and dust with all purpose unbleached flour and season with salt and pepper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04EOhWqAaP8OcW3_AvydMNcOlrdc1Hzwr4T9fPqaXRUGA05bNmiEYh5HG8r94BSb3YxsixdKnaEZoscyHz7pqjdOHGfoIvAZASFha9164U5YAqh5yy-yfLvZMioa36q_VaTf8q8uA-pg/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04EOhWqAaP8OcW3_AvydMNcOlrdc1Hzwr4T9fPqaXRUGA05bNmiEYh5HG8r94BSb3YxsixdKnaEZoscyHz7pqjdOHGfoIvAZASFha9164U5YAqh5yy-yfLvZMioa36q_VaTf8q8uA-pg/s640/IMG_1830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In a non-stick skillet, heat 3 T. of olive oil. Once the oil is hot fry the grit cakes until a nice brown crust forms. Flip and brown the second side of the grit cake. Do this over medium high heat, so that the cake is heated through in middle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01XfQQc72rOmc9kUS9oZ13wpPzL0ueZeCrkAA_SkJaP7OPOFCT8XXHdvpFOzuP8Al1pKzEi6prwA9JAoxFm_bxc8ljz-42NN96N2kcmcAYPQ9Wut4_8U7vQZaf6UuNFKIMFnMPt6_5Z4/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01XfQQc72rOmc9kUS9oZ13wpPzL0ueZeCrkAA_SkJaP7OPOFCT8XXHdvpFOzuP8Al1pKzEi6prwA9JAoxFm_bxc8ljz-42NN96N2kcmcAYPQ9Wut4_8U7vQZaf6UuNFKIMFnMPt6_5Z4/s640/IMG_1833.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(While grit cakes are browning…do a quick re-heat of the hoppin’ john if necessary, so all layers are hot when plating this Hanging Rock Hoppin’ John!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Plating:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Place 1/3 cup of kale on the plate and make a bed…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBv1vAf040IbI97GElMnYg8ocV5JSQZw0IohnXrCjF5ofTv57YJ65ECUVS0ODmBIhxXIXpVMiO6orz9VqrlF5QUT42v_1lpaS8o2-rDuG8exHH3lHkJKC3nGvnPzDOuCB9YNGpw_pncQ/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBv1vAf040IbI97GElMnYg8ocV5JSQZw0IohnXrCjF5ofTv57YJ65ECUVS0ODmBIhxXIXpVMiO6orz9VqrlF5QUT42v_1lpaS8o2-rDuG8exHH3lHkJKC3nGvnPzDOuCB9YNGpw_pncQ/s640/IMG_1838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The bedrock and tree line of the hike.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQFfYwLmxgw8M2qgiPyg4bLroYkhEEevjO3nxGinwAfeQHk2yRmPCW5RpLvj1AIv2RBFxjG8yrJG0W9wBTzHSrGBO6ogT7RRJmTu2KeYH3m9aRiBcWYvQsyG0jYuGAzATEsEcyTwE1Nc/s1600/IMG_1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQFfYwLmxgw8M2qgiPyg4bLroYkhEEevjO3nxGinwAfeQHk2yRmPCW5RpLvj1AIv2RBFxjG8yrJG0W9wBTzHSrGBO6ogT7RRJmTu2KeYH3m9aRiBcWYvQsyG0jYuGAzATEsEcyTwE1Nc/s640/IMG_1836.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The grit cakes should be nicely browned on both sides</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now place the browned grit cake triangle(s) on top of the kale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zYrjpj9Du3kWN67Tk6HC3UnwuM2LUeIuNSTpEsKw7WN4BdkOhnYSw77pwSh4jT6uTPA2oTcUjd8r1cYmTd6gCase9c4qtZ66zrlqflagXwqrNBujOXojVGa13u95LzLQYhCQbPK1fBQ/s1600/IMG_1841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zYrjpj9Du3kWN67Tk6HC3UnwuM2LUeIuNSTpEsKw7WN4BdkOhnYSw77pwSh4jT6uTPA2oTcUjd8r1cYmTd6gCase9c4qtZ66zrlqflagXwqrNBujOXojVGa13u95LzLQYhCQbPK1fBQ/s640/IMG_1841.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">See the inspiration?????<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CTM0zQhRX3uZ2tIYUQhvpXuOBX-6icNoG4a_xsx0T3sxl9gLRq7kXOEIDNnr6-oVz_4KKV25H7qfUs5J6EP5FMvMncwrt-TGjIUjj9ItweobCaUmyQwId5xWLY-7KKq7Z7llwRd5TRg/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CTM0zQhRX3uZ2tIYUQhvpXuOBX-6icNoG4a_xsx0T3sxl9gLRq7kXOEIDNnr6-oVz_4KKV25H7qfUs5J6EP5FMvMncwrt-TGjIUjj9ItweobCaUmyQwId5xWLY-7KKq7Z7llwRd5TRg/s640/IMG_1789.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now take the Hoppin’ John rice and pea mixture and pile it over the grit cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcJbT4lLJGl6kdyzP4Erz2Lis4X6izedwGfrO7DT6CnOCnTavLbPiExyLd_NFzkiTfm9bwrWsg2YpQBunf3pVeGGTmapmPIVUfKVCdajMejsekJlXLW7CG5Cl14H7S-O8NycWi0s2Du8/s1600/IMG_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcJbT4lLJGl6kdyzP4Erz2Lis4X6izedwGfrO7DT6CnOCnTavLbPiExyLd_NFzkiTfm9bwrWsg2YpQBunf3pVeGGTmapmPIVUfKVCdajMejsekJlXLW7CG5Cl14H7S-O8NycWi0s2Du8/s640/IMG_1842.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Loose rocks on top of the formation....oooooo!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKLr3So6GecLwCMAPMT0lSWGsldwkfRglSq3t02SQWl8uK7MBfv74nIysKUhVQz7NNBzL-4FVX0EBsROANR9shVtiwmUzf5whOUi8ptZ1Yi8DbeqgaOgLBb_6qQ5fcztm1_9wmII1FHg/s1600/IMG_1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKLr3So6GecLwCMAPMT0lSWGsldwkfRglSq3t02SQWl8uK7MBfv74nIysKUhVQz7NNBzL-4FVX0EBsROANR9shVtiwmUzf5whOUi8ptZ1Yi8DbeqgaOgLBb_6qQ5fcztm1_9wmII1FHg/s640/IMG_1847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finish the dish with some chopped fresh thyme and a drizzle of cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy, Prosperous, Healthy New Year on a plate!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIKWOLe9qFykYf7hnwphHm6z7eAzhkmXFajcO6yYvMCcQZY6g7oCTxAYLJ80rOBrcNE2K1N0xbJ7zJpo2PbKP3ubuAuUryVShl1c4K7oy6UR4m2CC7k_HhvSOktcNF-aSFSEmY3yG_VM/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIKWOLe9qFykYf7hnwphHm6z7eAzhkmXFajcO6yYvMCcQZY6g7oCTxAYLJ80rOBrcNE2K1N0xbJ7zJpo2PbKP3ubuAuUryVShl1c4K7oy6UR4m2CC7k_HhvSOktcNF-aSFSEmY3yG_VM/s640/IMG_1813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Puzzle” pieces that fit together.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a saying in the South that goes something like this: “Eat poor on New Year’s Day, and you’ll eat rich the rest of the year.” I feel very rich eating this meal, but my hope is that these simple “poor” ingredients bring riches and peace to your year! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">May 2012, be a year that brings all that you need. Sometimes…all we see are separate pieces…but by placing one foot in front of the other, we climb to a place where we get a glimpse of the larger picture. May this year bring that to all of us! We each fit in a place where no else can fit…it is OUR place, OUR purpose. Trust that place. Be renewed to be where you ARE…IT IS YOUR PLACE TO BE…at least for now. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The picture is being revealed….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">….and don’t forget to enjoy the hike!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHovMJ7FThiGgC6xtWhWYFf4_kfMbmNWOpOACUTFbTCdf5uOeqVQMel3KMGuMkkv6sIJatkQIPoBBfuqSm4tW8L6GmnDLodqyrM_IhKgdK6MTEcpVX3qj6I_9ljFztll46XtNwyCgu8E/s1600/IMG_1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHovMJ7FThiGgC6xtWhWYFf4_kfMbmNWOpOACUTFbTCdf5uOeqVQMel3KMGuMkkv6sIJatkQIPoBBfuqSm4tW8L6GmnDLodqyrM_IhKgdK6MTEcpVX3qj6I_9ljFztll46XtNwyCgu8E/s640/IMG_1796.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thoughtful living moment today: The picture of our life is being revealed through the separate pieces of our individual experiences. Trust…</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and enjoy the JOURNEY of the hike!!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><!--EndFragment-->Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-55625544280004521182011-12-27T12:51:00.000-08:002011-12-28T07:44:52.732-08:00Christmas Wellingtons and Light...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Happy third day of Christmas! It’s the day of three French hens…you do know the song don’t you?? The “Twelve Days of Christmas”, is a fun song, but perhaps you didn’t realize that the twelve days of Christmas happen AFTER Christmas…Not before like so many retail stores have been advertising. The twelve days of Christmas start with Christmas day (1<sup>st</sup> day) and go through the 5<sup>th</sup> of January (the twelfth night). You see, Christmas does not end on the 25<sup>th </sup>of December…it BEGINS on December 25<sup>th</sup>!!! We have just started celebrating at our house. Tradition has it that the, “Twelve Days of Christmas”, song was written as a way for young Catholic children to learn and or remember the tenets of the faith in the 16<sup>th</sup> century when it was against English law to even BE Catholic. The symbolism is fun to think about and it makes me love the song even more thinking about it as a mnemonic device. So here’s to Faith, Hope, and Love…the meaning of the third day of Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Awww...bet you’ll now be humming…..;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas day. I love Christmas day, but even more, I LOVE Christmas Eve!!! It is always a full day, but the culminating moment comes at the 9:00 o’clock candlelight service at church. This year was very special for me. The service always begins with the White Christ Candle being brought down the main sanctuary aisle. This year, a Down Syndrome teen of our church was the acolyte chosen for this honor. Having this young man in his long, white robe walking down the dimly lit aisle so reverently, brought such emotion within me, I momentarily lost my breath. It wouldn’t have been a problem, but I was to help start a chant from the back balcony of the sanctuary during this procession. This particular moment was MY present for Christmas…truly…Christmas made visible to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiqxFrCGQa3oXb9wXvOGRZ7LR9MaKN7SiWQikazdFspFpa3CV2jKACRPvlFQh6W6k5r42BgzbCCqjEV8dgoyee_jbEV26P5lZOWw2d2ph8bGpEln8VnvWpRTRDgWChh-HnF7PkjKVGVY/s1600/IMG_1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiqxFrCGQa3oXb9wXvOGRZ7LR9MaKN7SiWQikazdFspFpa3CV2jKACRPvlFQh6W6k5r42BgzbCCqjEV8dgoyee_jbEV26P5lZOWw2d2ph8bGpEln8VnvWpRTRDgWChh-HnF7PkjKVGVY/s640/IMG_1697.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light…it is a wondrous thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So when thinking about my recipe this week, I decided to share with you a “Light “ version of “No Beef” Wellington that we had for our Christmas celebration meal. It is soooo yummy and a real celebration entrée.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Christmas Wellington Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">(4 to 5 servings)</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Prep: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The day BEFORE making Christmas Wellingtons…place one 17.3 oz package of sheet puff pastry in the refrigerator to thaw. (1 package makes 4 to 5 servings) Thaw the 10 oz. box of spinach in the refrigerator as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Day of…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(So you only have to clean the bowl of food processor once…prep the dry ingredients needed for the filling first) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Grind in processor walnuts…you will need 2/3 cup finely ground<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Set aside nuts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Grind fresh breadcrumbs from a firm bread…we had a heel of a whole grain left. Go figure…use stale bread to make fresh bread crumbs….heheee. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">You will need 2/3 cup finely ground breadcrumbs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Set aside breadcrumbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Wellington Pate`<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of oil <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I used walnut oil because it was Christmas and walnuts were being used in the pate` filling)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">8 oz. of sliced mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Your choice…I used baby bellas because they were on sale;-))<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Heat the oil on medium high heat and sauté the mushrooms until they are golden and caramelized. Place mushrooms in bowl of food processor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. of oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 chopped medium onion <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 sliced cloves of garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In the same skillet used for mushrooms, sauté onions and garlic until both are soft and translucent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 10 oz. box of frozen spinach<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohTvffROr5Eo3Yf4kb0NCfZuN82lO5_YnDaEAP22_uaJc7L9acCeTAZNOARmVhQffaWltnT1um67ibChNz8p7iwCbKD0Zcf-xl4Ds4Vggf39FiqXYEjZoHglA3NkJzGk-D5sKMMmsowg/s1600/IMG_1600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohTvffROr5Eo3Yf4kb0NCfZuN82lO5_YnDaEAP22_uaJc7L9acCeTAZNOARmVhQffaWltnT1um67ibChNz8p7iwCbKD0Zcf-xl4Ds4Vggf39FiqXYEjZoHglA3NkJzGk-D5sKMMmsowg/s640/IMG_1600.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoroughly squeeze the thawed spinach dry. Wrap spinach in toweling and really wring it dry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq8jJih1yylw0LQRuMlxPJ-54Pt57Zyir7AWI1jo0KmfiRA0A0ilDbAFyF4kELehQnLUq8TS60yV3S6LxbS_luEkELxlgPxi9mrWOV2UYDpg6As_24-8A1SFIKryKh7zQsA4CEfZRxX0/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq8jJih1yylw0LQRuMlxPJ-54Pt57Zyir7AWI1jo0KmfiRA0A0ilDbAFyF4kELehQnLUq8TS60yV3S6LxbS_luEkELxlgPxi9mrWOV2UYDpg6As_24-8A1SFIKryKh7zQsA4CEfZRxX0/s640/IMG_1741.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Place onions, garlic, dry spinach all in the bowl of the processor with the mushrooms. Process the veggies until they are finely chopped and paste-like. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Transfer filling to a large bowl and add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. Herbes de Provence<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(An herb blend that usually contains: savory, fennel, basil, thyme, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">and lavender)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. of kosher salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. of black pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup vegan cream cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup finely ground walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup finely ground breadcrumbs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Chill filling for 1 hour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>Veggie Burger Prep:</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ canola oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">4 to 5 Frozen Veggie Patties - servings of this recipe<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Amy’s Quarter Pound Veggie Burgers)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Black pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Heat a non-stick skillet with the canola oil on medium high heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Brown patties (no need to thaw) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFyDDJ6wLOFJNRez5ANgZAiyWcKyZ_eZNuM1TVC681lQxedtt2CYktoNbcZAsiaxVKxQLZ_2XMIRmvIVgKJXdjgWhOxzq6PvKj6czSXooE0yqeYLwopBgeFBdBpzZvs8y124pJ0226So/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFyDDJ6wLOFJNRez5ANgZAiyWcKyZ_eZNuM1TVC681lQxedtt2CYktoNbcZAsiaxVKxQLZ_2XMIRmvIVgKJXdjgWhOxzq6PvKj6czSXooE0yqeYLwopBgeFBdBpzZvs8y124pJ0226So/s640/IMG_1752.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Flip after browning first side and season with a sprinkling of onion salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Continue until all patties are browned on both sides. Set aside while preparing the puff pastry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw4TcTrY1DhSW_cLUZQO07BeRs6FHtgVnyNqfLI3zK_dwjJXrOYQ8P3EPH5CRnGoasvOM3S-0IwTI44YEKtOx_gdlPXUU4OAQJHk9WsOZdcE4jFW55TBqk00BhjnaDFHpxAEQhIaMbfs/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw4TcTrY1DhSW_cLUZQO07BeRs6FHtgVnyNqfLI3zK_dwjJXrOYQ8P3EPH5CRnGoasvOM3S-0IwTI44YEKtOx_gdlPXUU4OAQJHk9WsOZdcE4jFW55TBqk00BhjnaDFHpxAEQhIaMbfs/s640/IMG_1755.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Two sheets of puff pastry are in the box. The pastry will be well thawed if you defrosted it the day before in the refrigerator. You can defrost on the counter the day of, but the pastry can become soggy when defrosting at room temperature. When the puff pastry warms too much, it can become difficult to work with...soooo...plan to do this defrost in the refrigerator and thus less difficulty opening the folds of the pastry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3YHDtw5IgRaNPiQ_E8ra5EfX45WUa6dJ4UACNlOd4eJs7QJmqjNaXDx4NnK1k9Kc8KAhnzUIXXShLuoIdyMD64tanh4hHk8tKYC-mnCt4D8xrPJOp0ud_Di6OvFUtLT6tHgECpoK2k8/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3YHDtw5IgRaNPiQ_E8ra5EfX45WUa6dJ4UACNlOd4eJs7QJmqjNaXDx4NnK1k9Kc8KAhnzUIXXShLuoIdyMD64tanh4hHk8tKYC-mnCt4D8xrPJOp0ud_Di6OvFUtLT6tHgECpoK2k8/s640/IMG_1756.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dust counter with unbleached all purpose flour. Open the folded two sheets of pastry and line up the two sheets of pastry together to make one long sheet of pastry. Slice from short edge to short edge of pastry to make 4 or 5 equally wide strips across the length of the pastry. Working with one strip at a time… Roll with rolling pin to lengthen and widen each strip to enclose the veggie patty and filling…use one of the veggie patties to measure the first strip to see how much rolling you need to do. When the strip of pastry is longer and wider….place 1/3 (heaping) cup of the mushroom/spinach pate` on the center of the pastry. Top pate` filling with a browned veggie patty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsF4CPzg_DOHutwmHzVUzra4sb5-WfVcvaIlIUPEvr0uADCeeNgFympUbjCExaesT1xrpBqebkd3MwEkuIdktmatc0pakRMyrJvo4kluL2c5bqmfETdGqH5oFb7FN4OTt1Tdu43fFbWM/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsF4CPzg_DOHutwmHzVUzra4sb5-WfVcvaIlIUPEvr0uADCeeNgFympUbjCExaesT1xrpBqebkd3MwEkuIdktmatc0pakRMyrJvo4kluL2c5bqmfETdGqH5oFb7FN4OTt1Tdu43fFbWM/s640/IMG_1761.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">There should be an overlap of the pastry dough and this extra dough can be trimmed and used for a decorative add on to the top…just wait…you will see!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Using a bit of water on your finger, seal the seams of the dough to completely enclose the filling and patty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJwJbWlekjdYY3Ki8dNpHkPofGCCAnRFBYpM1VTTJy_eOxu2mTctNzD4OrCyvnCm2SRYBtZsVk4n2PtTJlC1UU99W4pNzpBUOr_FdfuVi2wN-sAFiXEC_wyfhbgfFYiQ_eT7JgSQsxnw/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJwJbWlekjdYY3Ki8dNpHkPofGCCAnRFBYpM1VTTJy_eOxu2mTctNzD4OrCyvnCm2SRYBtZsVk4n2PtTJlC1UU99W4pNzpBUOr_FdfuVi2wN-sAFiXEC_wyfhbgfFYiQ_eT7JgSQsxnw/s640/IMG_1762.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Flip the package over so the seam is on the bottom. Fold the rectangular ends under too, so that the package is now round.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Gather the scraps from trimming the pastry package. Roll out enough to accommodate a small cutout. I used a small snowflake cookie cutter, but you can use whatever shape you might have for decorating the top. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIJomsi7twD-LssPhtdlVQ4D8B7xPo5ZCaRDxc51kbj5zipUnltYpZ7nLpznxmSXSkzGPDb_xZ2GtK07hlmpxoTt4iTfbw0RQcAq6bFQg9X0D22a4ZG_bdXuxxAsAoZrCrMaLq8Vtb3M/s1600/IMG_1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIJomsi7twD-LssPhtdlVQ4D8B7xPo5ZCaRDxc51kbj5zipUnltYpZ7nLpznxmSXSkzGPDb_xZ2GtK07hlmpxoTt4iTfbw0RQcAq6bFQg9X0D22a4ZG_bdXuxxAsAoZrCrMaLq8Vtb3M/s640/IMG_1763.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Wet the back of the cutout and place on the top of the smooth pastry package.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK2QWUxNCDoPvCZ0u5Z5Tu2_yAU4Xv7Uy6rDDd-Hmq6VAN-lBF6qkcvja9A31Rqodi3u81PkCQRtPDKd3JCXi3BLL_lP-CCkJsFnlmHDBPwl81J7xOrooSwKw7je7_bttI9an8yOQ1K4/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK2QWUxNCDoPvCZ0u5Z5Tu2_yAU4Xv7Uy6rDDd-Hmq6VAN-lBF6qkcvja9A31Rqodi3u81PkCQRtPDKd3JCXi3BLL_lP-CCkJsFnlmHDBPwl81J7xOrooSwKw7je7_bttI9an8yOQ1K4/s640/IMG_1764.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Continue the process until all packages are formed. Place the pastry packages on a parchment lined baking sheet. Gently and lightly, brush each package top with soy creamer…this will help to develop a golden color.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69tPG-lnNM5Erul7RCkS2_H1sl_0yzjQGF17vYaGe8TRQA4gszEYerHhQL1GlQ67p_ua3X_FAbnrc821N7rDis8TQUQs3DmG9D-rg6SmdQplKzjzORo90FqjOXgkV3o-R9oGO5DbNSMY/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69tPG-lnNM5Erul7RCkS2_H1sl_0yzjQGF17vYaGe8TRQA4gszEYerHhQL1GlQ67p_ua3X_FAbnrc821N7rDis8TQUQs3DmG9D-rg6SmdQplKzjzORo90FqjOXgkV3o-R9oGO5DbNSMY/s640/IMG_1768.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bake Christmas Wellingtons for 45 minutes in a 400 degree oven. This allows the pastry to become golden and the patty and pate` to be hot inside the yummy package. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Remove Wellingtons from oven and serve.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9akDnL2GMjJnSq7sr2QS58uf7vrREELYwVWdcD0juZeftuk3Cx2Vmdtd9W_RqXR9471Rq_Hci_V2-0JTNFjODzpU8rKG7eDGHOotW9hkK6ojJzltbnSGFSZFEoYic0Mjqjh5BGj6o0c/s1600/IMG_1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9akDnL2GMjJnSq7sr2QS58uf7vrREELYwVWdcD0juZeftuk3Cx2Vmdtd9W_RqXR9471Rq_Hci_V2-0JTNFjODzpU8rKG7eDGHOotW9hkK6ojJzltbnSGFSZFEoYic0Mjqjh5BGj6o0c/s640/IMG_1770.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Wonderfully delicious….Really!!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I served these with steamed asparagus with a warm, cranberry,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> balsamic vinaigrette, and roasted butternut squash. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Can we just say…CELEBRATION!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">A fire was going in the fireplace, candles lit on the table…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-TAxcfWJzQt8KVCJdAovPHwC2kJc45IB0oYkTl2q5-rJPXn-Ipu16QTnSdv-j5EitdwHzWadxJ1966Gp8a5mrnODA3n1d4-U42gEDGmuCyGr8Go4ixcDXLAg2EaMDoMAYMPiV8Nzy0c/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-TAxcfWJzQt8KVCJdAovPHwC2kJc45IB0oYkTl2q5-rJPXn-Ipu16QTnSdv-j5EitdwHzWadxJ1966Gp8a5mrnODA3n1d4-U42gEDGmuCyGr8Go4ixcDXLAg2EaMDoMAYMPiV8Nzy0c/s640/IMG_1717.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">...the room felt special.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">My eyes during our meal were drawn to the glass stars on either side of our advent wreath…flickering almost like real stars. It was mesmerizing….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlL49inticrF9Dki4x0WIYp98H6_2hf2qroS2WPruoxsvK3d_-TPer_3W2p2obTPT-gjXLm0e4lby_mNIMQQC1hqxV7HJHVH3eKwF5p7nUnzmik93rIQ8YL6uhGbNhbkxjgZO1s9kWjI/s1600/IMG_1700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlL49inticrF9Dki4x0WIYp98H6_2hf2qroS2WPruoxsvK3d_-TPer_3W2p2obTPT-gjXLm0e4lby_mNIMQQC1hqxV7HJHVH3eKwF5p7nUnzmik93rIQ8YL6uhGbNhbkxjgZO1s9kWjI/s640/IMG_1700.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I thought about how we naturally are drawn to light… sunshine, firelight, candles, tree lights…I even have this glass cube that is full of lights that sits on my kitchen counter during Christmas. I stare at it while I cook….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_calQ4MUyUh8xwcidnbQDNJZsaqChEcfb-m3Vk-udmpdS6gCuOMSa16kPcme3Mvb3SyaBVQPLteeY8vQ5PzqpXhHsBtMkAKoB-1jlzeD1O12twHRObmsUU6VlBGiYXTMeXj0UQSN6ZpU/s1600/IMG_1753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_calQ4MUyUh8xwcidnbQDNJZsaqChEcfb-m3Vk-udmpdS6gCuOMSa16kPcme3Mvb3SyaBVQPLteeY8vQ5PzqpXhHsBtMkAKoB-1jlzeD1O12twHRObmsUU6VlBGiYXTMeXj0UQSN6ZpU/s640/IMG_1753.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light is a word that we use as a noun…an object that brings visibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light is also used as a verb…an action of making light…like to light a fire<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light is also used as an adjective...a light room or in describing a color.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light is also used as an adverb…how one travels…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I wish I could travel light – I am a big suitcase kind of girl)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light can be used in all parts of our speech, yes, but light filters into all areas of how we communicate and how we live. Light IS special!!! Light illumines our lives and something draws us to that light. All of us are drawn to light. We just feel safer in the light. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Even my little pugs follow the sunlight around the room to bask in its warmth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Yes, my word for this week of Christmastide is Light. May the Light of Christmas bring warmth and illumination to each of you. It has been a difficult week for many, but today is the third day of Christmas and so, I remind each of you that Three French Hens tell us of: Faith, Hope, and Love…and the greatest of these is LOVE. As our Will sat in the sun and the light bathed him in December Light…his eyes said it all. Love leads us to the LIGHT!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Light...it IS wondrous!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful living moment today: Even the smallest glimmer of light dispels darkness and rids the heart of fear. Whatever YOUR darkness...Fear not...</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The Light Has Come!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-30176176939409379112011-12-19T19:35:00.000-08:002011-12-20T03:33:00.417-08:00Christstollen Calzone and LOVE<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Wow…it is the week of Christmas 2011!!! It is a busy week for sure, but SO fun. For several weeks we have been having practices with the young elementary children for the church Christmas pageant. It is always so fun and it is always a "made for TV moment" on Christmas Eve. I always sit with the “animals”. This includes sheep and cows. They are mostly Kindergarten and 1<sup>st</sup> grade boys. (Can I just whisper…type casting!!) They cannot sit still and they definitely make smells. They are in a constant state of wriggling, punching, poking and bumping, but they can sure baaaaa and mooooo on cue! I have always had a tender spot in my heart for little boys and sheep…Baaaaa!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1yTOt6RifhDEJvp0OVkUujQz8mbRqBuS0wHr7swKl3IdvqX1aYZ-CbpZGARhsYH9tisvDuCU98BVU3WOr_-1deHamuU2bdQU344GGrO32VBqGY6Ftmq5-ckhBfkWuC04-ZNKrXqAmk8/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1yTOt6RifhDEJvp0OVkUujQz8mbRqBuS0wHr7swKl3IdvqX1aYZ-CbpZGARhsYH9tisvDuCU98BVU3WOr_-1deHamuU2bdQU344GGrO32VBqGY6Ftmq5-ckhBfkWuC04-ZNKrXqAmk8/s640/IMG_0565.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I guess because I have been sitting on the floor in front of the stage, I have been seeing a wonderful view looking up to the stable where the manger of hay is center stage. I love the words swaddling clothes...(without all of the theological foreshadowing stuff). I just love the idea of a newborn baby all wrapped in cloth as a way of providing warmth, comfort and security. It represents an act of love. I don’t have an actual picture of my little animals making their Saturday night appearance....wish I did, but I would have needed too many mama permission slips. Yikes!! Here, though, is one of my Nativities. I made it twenty some years ago. As I placed the figures, I thought about a baby all wrapped in white cloth in the midst of hay and lots of sheep. I thought about a new scared mother, totally in love with her newborn child. I sighed.....such love!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In thinking…as I do… the question came to my mind…what food most represents love to me???? Answer...BREAD! We have all heard “bread is life”. So...Life is given by God…God is love… Especially shown in the gift of His Son that first Christmas…This tiny babe we now celebrate... AND…bread from early in our human history has had a sacred connection...Holy Communion, Passover Matzah…So…on this special week of Christmas, I made a Christmas bread. Sorry, how my mind works.... All my little animals helped inspire this recipe. I created a Christstollen Calzone. Most Christmas stollen are flavored sweetly. They usually contain dried fruits and marzipan. My recipe is a savory stollen...more sheep and cow like...I thought more like a calzone, but with the shape of a classic stollen and using the inspiration of the season of Christmas. I have made the dough “red” in color and with the green gooey filling….ummmm….can we just say CHRISTMAS!! Don’t be afraid of yeast dough! This is not a finicky dough…easily put together and sooo worth the extra effort. I mean, what is better than the smell of baking bread…NOTHING!! A gift of Christmas!!! You can make this before or after Christmas. Make this when everyone is ready for pizza, but hey…it’s a special time...so make a Christmas Stollen Calzone instead! Special!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Christstollen Calzone Recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 cup water…should be warm to touch <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(I usually use an instant read thermometer and like it to be about 110 degrees)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add to water: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 package of dry rapid rise yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 tsp. of natural sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir to mix and allow to “Just be” for 5 minutes or so…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> Look at how good the yeast is...lots of foam!</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ½ cups all purpose unbleached flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¾ cup whole-wheat flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup vital wheat gluten<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. of kosher salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 tsp. of dried basil (or oregano if you prefer)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add ½ cup of your favorite marinara sauce to the water and yeast…stir well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Make a well in the center of the flour and add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. of extra virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">all of the yeast, and marinara liquid.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir well. The dough will be soft and ready to turn out onto the counter to knead. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dust the counter with all purpose flour and begin kneading the dough, pushing and turning with the heels of your palms. Add more flour as needed (could be up to ½ to ¾ cup more of flour). The dough will become shiny and elastic. This takes about 10 minutes. You can also do this in a stand mixer with a dough hook, but I just love to knead dough by hand!! Form the dough into a ball. Put 1 T. of olive oil in a bowl and place the kneaded ball of dough in the oil. Roll the ball over so that the oiled bottom is now up and on top.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cover dough and place in a warm place to rise. It will need to double in size. The time it takes depends on the temp where the dough is rising. At least an hour or two will be needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">While dough is rising make the filling:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 (8 oz.) package of frozen spinach - thawed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(chopped) – I could only get leaf…the store was all out for all the spinach dip being made I guess hehe!! Just chop after thawing and it works just as well. To quick thaw from a frozen state – open paper box and place on a plate. Place opened box in the microwave and cook on high for 2 minutes. Leave it in the microwave until the spinach is cool to the touch. Squeeze out the water and place in several layers of toweling. Allow this to absorb any additional moisture)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JhppcqlLA5NM5FwLu4H0cMddE6wWlPwhUePUmi308ubskSr8Mrgp2rhL1mlThrr77uksefnXa-gInnDMRIpVuyNB5lnTorCwbiZPMvL19tRatQLEUv-U1XoAzuJcanvCTbwERbY4hag/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JhppcqlLA5NM5FwLu4H0cMddE6wWlPwhUePUmi308ubskSr8Mrgp2rhL1mlThrr77uksefnXa-gInnDMRIpVuyNB5lnTorCwbiZPMvL19tRatQLEUv-U1XoAzuJcanvCTbwERbY4hag/s640/IMG_1598.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">While the spinach is drying out... take...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">7 oz. of extra firm tofu – ½ of the standard 14 oz. package<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7bjJCrbNQT-xyngHkMheOAaFvX-meDVcoBnR9zATQLjC4HR0VQAZzVycdRlCiWXBDrMXPKoK7vV_aa3nI3Xkh5UeL1qlDMGwpoYaKAPzpYPNmAHqMLkO2bjENKoEeHoZDJzpMQ1_AEQ/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7bjJCrbNQT-xyngHkMheOAaFvX-meDVcoBnR9zATQLjC4HR0VQAZzVycdRlCiWXBDrMXPKoK7vV_aa3nI3Xkh5UeL1qlDMGwpoYaKAPzpYPNmAHqMLkO2bjENKoEeHoZDJzpMQ1_AEQ/s640/IMG_1544.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Wrap tofu in toweling. Place on plate and cover with another plate or I used a small cutting board. Weight the plate with a heavy can…I used some beans. This pressing takes out some of the moisture in the water packed tofu)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi7eRvzyG7Ym6-Sdx_A3FUnrKldnDO49HHmC2fJ_nbBktmqxVlTkVCR1E3ZMOGx5cOhPSxcGw15Byb6rGGc_6-UOHIFPPIcSU0S17J6NCD22OuBfn_kZ2vLPc_pkKQUtpGP4Px0s5f-4/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi7eRvzyG7Ym6-Sdx_A3FUnrKldnDO49HHmC2fJ_nbBktmqxVlTkVCR1E3ZMOGx5cOhPSxcGw15Byb6rGGc_6-UOHIFPPIcSU0S17J6NCD22OuBfn_kZ2vLPc_pkKQUtpGP4Px0s5f-4/s640/IMG_1546.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Chop up an 8 oz. package of baby bella mushrooms. Place in a hot skillet with 2 T. of extra virgin olive oil. Sauté until golden and then add 1 T. of fresh thyme leaves. Add 2 green onions chopped and 1 clove of garlic chopped. The pan will become dry… keep moving around the veggies. Then, deglaze with 2 T. of white wine, or veggie broth. Allow all of this to cook until the liquid is again evaporated. Add a bit of salt and pepper at this point. Wait to season...until the mushrooms have browned. Salting before the mushrooms are seared, causes the mushrooms to release too much liquid and they will stew, rather than brown.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(This is all about building layers of flavor)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOCbkYc4GVR7s7w5e3uKNzLs8uLZed7X3_6VE6Ek69MUCk3c5P8DyB2PyFkYZgunw2-W1kprwD00KIMumfyEpVVW1XTcIxIked0PoyK19P_AW-9RvqZ_sAYvjq1FgUPtbKS_diXE7lkg/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOCbkYc4GVR7s7w5e3uKNzLs8uLZed7X3_6VE6Ek69MUCk3c5P8DyB2PyFkYZgunw2-W1kprwD00KIMumfyEpVVW1XTcIxIked0PoyK19P_AW-9RvqZ_sAYvjq1FgUPtbKS_diXE7lkg/s640/IMG_1591.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Place all in a large bowl:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dry chopped spinach<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pressed tofu (crumble with your hands)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Mushroom mixture...cooled a bit<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 T. chopped roasted red pepper (jarred is fine)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup mozzarella flavored veggie shred “cheese”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup nutritional yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup vegan cream cheese<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ tsp. onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. kosher salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. dried basil or oregano<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 T. extra virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Mix thoroughly with large spoon, or better yet your hands. Chill the filling until the dough has risen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1UKHkpwQ8o6_fKy5Qam5m-lwGFMKSkMF99gRc0NldG03H-v7i-xyYrrnYpcgYDC4uW7J0HAvYWa7zTfKWYj2N1598-h7CZ5RgcqxgBKiSANEltol3bbrXPEkMEgwRVg5k6dDN4URCuw/s1600/IMG_1604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1UKHkpwQ8o6_fKy5Qam5m-lwGFMKSkMF99gRc0NldG03H-v7i-xyYrrnYpcgYDC4uW7J0HAvYWa7zTfKWYj2N1598-h7CZ5RgcqxgBKiSANEltol3bbrXPEkMEgwRVg5k6dDN4URCuw/s640/IMG_1604.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Take risen dough and cut in half. Cut in half again, so there are now 4 equal pieces of dough. Roll into balls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJcgokEH8lmj2tJT4zm5CrYwiJFL42uGW3ZvMUDQCaeqmwvx1UZ5SvXpbsjyG0-XFqqOVuV1XlOilESTuR4kEWMeP-rvpSlLq46T64jnwUTxeDUm0m7QbiVNty8w5U5aDz_RpVwOMt08/s1600/IMG_1606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJcgokEH8lmj2tJT4zm5CrYwiJFL42uGW3ZvMUDQCaeqmwvx1UZ5SvXpbsjyG0-XFqqOVuV1XlOilESTuR4kEWMeP-rvpSlLq46T64jnwUTxeDUm0m7QbiVNty8w5U5aDz_RpVwOMt08/s640/IMG_1606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Roll each ball of dough into an 8 or 9 inch circle. Take filling out of the refrigerator. Divide the filling into 4 equal portions. Roll the filling into a 6 inch log and place along the far end of the dough circle. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcPv4zayQ4OntKovyFQmhCcVY4fkVc1WcHwKI0Vfo7PhNAxrO8o9OxBh5s5osmYoQvDgd51647YYr_oVmPJY4McVjpcm-y6eCkgg5yMHZQF-S4bh2_5_vZOiI2zTxXvnqmHRu-kar9Pg/s1600/IMG_1608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcPv4zayQ4OntKovyFQmhCcVY4fkVc1WcHwKI0Vfo7PhNAxrO8o9OxBh5s5osmYoQvDgd51647YYr_oVmPJY4McVjpcm-y6eCkgg5yMHZQF-S4bh2_5_vZOiI2zTxXvnqmHRu-kar9Pg/s640/IMG_1608.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now to form into a stollen shape….Take far end of circle (away from the filling) and fold over across the filling (baby).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTnMxV9F_048aeJ5T6BNDNWB26DmkKpTq-ouCFye-Z-x_DXwr_dmmbkE4sA3yYOqPxHpfzLfjo6C5mJmqJhAKLtSN_Ww7mfny8XmL3gwoh9Gbw53PA4Gvx1WNRUZz5HctT7GBYTl7puY/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTnMxV9F_048aeJ5T6BNDNWB26DmkKpTq-ouCFye-Z-x_DXwr_dmmbkE4sA3yYOqPxHpfzLfjo6C5mJmqJhAKLtSN_Ww7mfny8XmL3gwoh9Gbw53PA4Gvx1WNRUZz5HctT7GBYTl7puY/s640/IMG_1610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Press dough around the filling. Then flip up the “tail” of the circle back across the stollen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s1dUz81zxH2JiqFxyMJczpQluRGNqEAWdyXbKgNX7QjMn1tQ0GJQTVyanLfL94zH91YkEpjcSNreJHmLLHfFbBUP5pohdV_UJTybsZ5LBmGEsAqEVHmYujIB56P8Jr3zkOMDcABqm0o/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s1dUz81zxH2JiqFxyMJczpQluRGNqEAWdyXbKgNX7QjMn1tQ0GJQTVyanLfL94zH91YkEpjcSNreJHmLLHfFbBUP5pohdV_UJTybsZ5LBmGEsAqEVHmYujIB56P8Jr3zkOMDcABqm0o/s640/IMG_1612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Crimp the edges of the stollen to seal in and tuck the ends underneath.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The "babe wrapped in swaddling clothes" is now formed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">Place all four of the stollen calzones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVPwcuDw02a2cx8Kgp_zNutcwUM5xVg8i8e3nBWgQhNlmmUqZXpe_RuERzvJhxJ6iWWWnSToKTAtGf_0AFfP9OsLs0NEK57j-FM7qFxm0Du7nvYB4IStshI9eW8mS7eG6iknaCf4HI2c/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVPwcuDw02a2cx8Kgp_zNutcwUM5xVg8i8e3nBWgQhNlmmUqZXpe_RuERzvJhxJ6iWWWnSToKTAtGf_0AFfP9OsLs0NEK57j-FM7qFxm0Du7nvYB4IStshI9eW8mS7eG6iknaCf4HI2c/s640/IMG_1618.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bake the stollen calzones for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Take out and brush stollen with earth balance vegan spread. Dust with some nutritional yeast, almond flour (finely ground almonds), oregano, kosher salt, and pepper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Put stollen calzones back in the oven for 20 minutes more.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GEk9kPxuYLXt5H8aGgTEp5RChfij9VYCwUYo7qKPylziAsnFhWd5Un1feuYxcuRZlusNBYLbptpm30o8CznbNoCJHm78xdU2r6Sa0ngAXC8wXgkKnVICIsiDymPUys3rVLgxmAtjtO0/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GEk9kPxuYLXt5H8aGgTEp5RChfij9VYCwUYo7qKPylziAsnFhWd5Un1feuYxcuRZlusNBYLbptpm30o8CznbNoCJHm78xdU2r6Sa0ngAXC8wXgkKnVICIsiDymPUys3rVLgxmAtjtO0/s640/IMG_1622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">While the Christmas stollen calzones are finishing baking, prepare the marinara. Place the remainder of the jarred marinara into a pan to heat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I always season up jarred sauce. If you make your own, disregard this portion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">If using jarred sauce ( use approximately 3 cups of sauce)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ½ tsp. of basil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ½ tsp. of oregano<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/3 cup wine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. of red pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup of natural sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Drizzle of olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Allow to simmer on low while the stollen calzones are finishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTRGE_9psxiTUO7NuL6bQ3Judfnajpu3i-9P-1gJ7h2HSieEjZvXJBksdtbb9VRPAqqDp4x7f9qAYmnAsyqD56ZxSZAXDblg1a-ri-Yx7U3DBHR8NJYmlvx9vE0GUaUY2c8lVQ4VVCgM/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTRGE_9psxiTUO7NuL6bQ3Judfnajpu3i-9P-1gJ7h2HSieEjZvXJBksdtbb9VRPAqqDp4x7f9qAYmnAsyqD56ZxSZAXDblg1a-ri-Yx7U3DBHR8NJYmlvx9vE0GUaUY2c8lVQ4VVCgM/s640/IMG_1637.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">When the stollen calzones are done remove from oven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpIVzIUtgOFtG7hP3K0MVkJyd9NomYR84fQFbQWGvZDv-wzNCGWxrQj9nMizvdMeRkW4tyfx-DFGKHMQYgeXbfpMJiXQ4SJtiLaRDZOMXCJmF5mMUUku9iPS02rBwvkLZLyt9tbCeREE/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpIVzIUtgOFtG7hP3K0MVkJyd9NomYR84fQFbQWGvZDv-wzNCGWxrQj9nMizvdMeRkW4tyfx-DFGKHMQYgeXbfpMJiXQ4SJtiLaRDZOMXCJmF5mMUUku9iPS02rBwvkLZLyt9tbCeREE/s640/IMG_1566.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Gorgeous!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Here is what the stollen calzones look like cut open!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Christmas colors for sure!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Serve with the spiced up marinara.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Eat this with a crisp salad and you will have a filling yummy meal!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">All of this bread baking for Christmas??? Yes! Nothing says love like the smell of baking bread. The word yesterday was…LOVE. We lit the fourth advent candle and love was remembered in sooo many ways. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4xfUGC1XXQZQCpoqFsoqWN5uC21eHx58Bo01BDgBluoh-jgxrpwi_BfOwq5BpIdHjaDK_9WW80l_TkNn4jlh6wD2ApYAuLChgK9SEEVRA-y2-MFRdt3enp90Tey6IVlpXFAYCwaee4A/s1600/IMG_1585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4xfUGC1XXQZQCpoqFsoqWN5uC21eHx58Bo01BDgBluoh-jgxrpwi_BfOwq5BpIdHjaDK_9WW80l_TkNn4jlh6wD2ApYAuLChgK9SEEVRA-y2-MFRdt3enp90Tey6IVlpXFAYCwaee4A/s640/IMG_1585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We sang carols and lullabies in choir and I then remembered singing to my own babies....“You Are My Sunshine”. It’s easy to love our little babes, but the challenge comes loving those outside, or even inside our families that are not little babes. We speak of love, but how challenging it becomes to DO LOVE when we don’t get our way. When things don’t go “according to OUR plans and expectations”…let’s face it…each of us gets in the way of real love happening. My wish for all of us this Christmas is that the sweet aroma of baking bread will remind us of the sweetness of LOVE. It truly is the answer for all of our life’s challenges. The word rolls off the tongue so easily, but we all know how difficult it really is to DO…right??? We all KNOW better than we DO! My prayer is that each of you this week will recognize and become aware of the ways that your selfless ways of showing love will influence the people and situations in YOUR LIFE and bring about a real Christmas in each of your celebrations. Really, being aware of this and DOING IT will be better than any wrapped gift under your tree. As you swaddle someone in love, I know love will rise within you...just like rising bread. As quoted from a sappy Christmas movie this week…"LOVE is the secret ingredient!" Add love to your recipes this week. There is always hope...always love....even when we cannot see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It’s been cold, but my knock out rose is the bush that never quits…little buds of hope! A little Christmas rose!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvsG4zaksLcbSmmnVfMD9BhJIlkcUgcXnnsASQEOqrMYWks0jrzwadbTzsglKskIzd6lSkhQjLyKz_y-Y-BNi08usCSABXyxRpUyRyHRDte2JVeri0AP0UDXJS2UKOCmTYfCRcPdqX0I/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvsG4zaksLcbSmmnVfMD9BhJIlkcUgcXnnsASQEOqrMYWks0jrzwadbTzsglKskIzd6lSkhQjLyKz_y-Y-BNi08usCSABXyxRpUyRyHRDte2JVeri0AP0UDXJS2UKOCmTYfCRcPdqX0I/s640/IMG_1594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">“Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Of Jesse’s lineage coming, by faithful prophets sung.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It came a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">When half spent was the night.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><i><br />
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</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful living moment today: Love IS the miracle of Christmas, the sweet aroma when all respond…ahhhhhh, how sweet! Yes..bake some bread ...or swaddle a pug! </span></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!! And I LOVE YOU...Leslie :-)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-30440190168558447812011-12-12T14:27:00.000-08:002011-12-12T14:27:52.694-08:00The JOY of Mockingbird cake<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Okay…so I just opened the number 12 on my Advent Calendar and the news said today was the busiest shipping day of the month. Thanks all of you who get our packages where we want them to be for Christmas, but I’ve been baking instead of shipping. Before I tell you about the recipe…here is how it came to be! Remember how I told you about how I walk everyday???? Well, since early Spring last year, my walking buddy and I have been watching a hawk that circles our neighborhood. It is a beautiful sight as it catches an air current and glides across the sky. It’s a red-tailed hawk that has a piercingly loud cry that has a descending pitch that is immediately recognizable. We always turn to one another and say, “Oh…there’s the hawk!” So, last week as we walked we heard the hawk. We stopped and looked up through the trees. The hawk cry was quite close…like right above our heads. We both searched, looking for this large beautiful bird. Nothing! We heard the cry again…no hawk, but again the hawk cry. Then, fluttering across the limb above me…a mockingbird. A mockingbird making the exact call of the red-tailed hawk AND WE LAUGHED, AND LAUGHED! What big sounds to come out of such small bird. Here’s one that visits my backyard. Sometimes I get the entire standup show with a rapid-fire string of all the sounds this little bird likes to imitate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamsNnjy3Nw91Ee87bIOcLtx3gHv89JaS3GSl-pXDw6XfHIuFSG-0H5CizoFH3aENdsz1eq-bSNN-N0r93jG6mODyZABcq01a4BwT9AfrBcd9_bbV0FlHvWH6UkjyCiAePCMltrcvsR0M/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamsNnjy3Nw91Ee87bIOcLtx3gHv89JaS3GSl-pXDw6XfHIuFSG-0H5CizoFH3aENdsz1eq-bSNN-N0r93jG6mODyZABcq01a4BwT9AfrBcd9_bbV0FlHvWH6UkjyCiAePCMltrcvsR0M/s640/IMG_1219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">This same bird also does a mean cardinal imitation! One little female listens too!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlCft6JndCyTmVpGgWJO6-DrqHDgCi_ya33nJyJr4f3-lIDyoYprWLUmfyiaVebb62UEaOVudnQsHh8bilYSuqPDfGnGExXo_qpS1WSKdGY_MloWv-1ChfQePQ2tykhujO_xkt4oz3V4/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlCft6JndCyTmVpGgWJO6-DrqHDgCi_ya33nJyJr4f3-lIDyoYprWLUmfyiaVebb62UEaOVudnQsHh8bilYSuqPDfGnGExXo_qpS1WSKdGY_MloWv-1ChfQePQ2tykhujO_xkt4oz3V4/s640/IMG_1228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So last night, I needed a cake to take to our choir Christmas party and I thought…what would be a good Christmas cake to celebrate! I immediately thought…hummingbird….no…..pig pickin’…no….coconut, nothing says Christmas cake like coconut. And then it hit me! Mockingbird Cake will be the one I will make. I will do a little imitation of all THREE of these and make a cake that cries…CHRISTMAS!!!! Thanks to you little mockingbird for your inspiration and a new cake for Christmas!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Mockingbird Cake<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Prep two 9 inch round cake pans as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(for those who have asked how to line cake pans with paper easily)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Tear two sheets of wax paper the width of the pans. You can fold both sheets together and fold in half long wise and then bring ends together to create a square.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uPUfQ7wqocI2ghUZ1GZSbBiKdJuDmEt7q3H9N0GW-OQjBql2aeZFZnaM8YIj-w7tWuQajif5MCJvRGly2MTZeiZs2kEb7lqWl83D3q-j6cdTdkrUZKuGzJYEQIFhUntmnjF6ryVZehw/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uPUfQ7wqocI2ghUZ1GZSbBiKdJuDmEt7q3H9N0GW-OQjBql2aeZFZnaM8YIj-w7tWuQajif5MCJvRGly2MTZeiZs2kEb7lqWl83D3q-j6cdTdkrUZKuGzJYEQIFhUntmnjF6ryVZehw/s640/IMG_1330.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Fold square into a triangle two times creating an arrow shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNE7Mgl67c_NKfhZtrf3X957B1UE32vknnWD5Iu1JsfueK4G7_nPo3N6aXeZ9Qph-MYbW6ysL2UI5KNz51UKgwWT2ITr0mgueEO0RpjkDXrSQpE2nd4EPtkkC7g4zS-WuhVk1J8NX-cw/s1600/IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNE7Mgl67c_NKfhZtrf3X957B1UE32vknnWD5Iu1JsfueK4G7_nPo3N6aXeZ9Qph-MYbW6ysL2UI5KNz51UKgwWT2ITr0mgueEO0RpjkDXrSQpE2nd4EPtkkC7g4zS-WuhVk1J8NX-cw/s640/IMG_1331.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Measure by holding the arrow of paper and from the center of pan to edge and using scissors, cut across the wide end of the arrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Unfold!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFByAz1RJ9Nqy9Ys0dfeS8GkPI-PpQK-volsjRiLzf-Bf4wEowJga-Fk40nlNMqs506_mAGUZgs14Fz0mYbR5KqvM9jwo8dp5VY9RQzpRLyMQ7D0ELSkooDFMpFIVBemk75wGmX68Hho/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFByAz1RJ9Nqy9Ys0dfeS8GkPI-PpQK-volsjRiLzf-Bf4wEowJga-Fk40nlNMqs506_mAGUZgs14Fz0mYbR5KqvM9jwo8dp5VY9RQzpRLyMQ7D0ELSkooDFMpFIVBemk75wGmX68Hho/s640/IMG_1333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">You now will have 2 circles that will fit the cake pans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPtYZ1VbiH9MkzazqNohwbWC2xx2PPrny_u9_kT0buwjHi1dLvcrZvPuf4V7FjV0T9kfrCgQCgRDaAtcajA5zNOTGodcZQs-E2dbJ80Cfs_ZOOH7rVMrHjAgrd09rLHW2lPyNljYXw2U/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPtYZ1VbiH9MkzazqNohwbWC2xx2PPrny_u9_kT0buwjHi1dLvcrZvPuf4V7FjV0T9kfrCgQCgRDaAtcajA5zNOTGodcZQs-E2dbJ80Cfs_ZOOH7rVMrHjAgrd09rLHW2lPyNljYXw2U/s640/IMG_1336.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Spray the pans and place the wax paper in the bottom. Spray paper again and then dust pan and paper with unbleached all purpose flour.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGasl7qIyWaqRb6hZq17ZZBczkM_YVpWIIGaWEckCBFDFzWDQHtqQqQxuY-KuGsnrAaTjJVVOLFmxYY0eAJzCe9YFeK_oUrMW74sIuHX3qBHEMCZ0CUO9fh6j1tPciNQ16tcMIUxdTJg/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGasl7qIyWaqRb6hZq17ZZBczkM_YVpWIIGaWEckCBFDFzWDQHtqQqQxuY-KuGsnrAaTjJVVOLFmxYY0eAJzCe9YFeK_oUrMW74sIuHX3qBHEMCZ0CUO9fh6j1tPciNQ16tcMIUxdTJg/s640/IMG_1337.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now, measure ½ cup of dried cranberries into a microwaveable bowl. Pour 1/3 cup of peach brandy on the cranberries and place in the microwave for 1minute. (You could certainly use orange juice, or apple juice…the peach brandy just adds another layer in the fruit flavors of the cake) Allow the dried cranberries to macerate while making the rest of cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcT83Kobd6xb7uGcjpUcY91X4z-P-BJrBfjPsaTn8FgRllHnwD7Wr1IIm-_5DfvjADJa4UDH8Rr5E1_dovq8XGtZq2kYvzks3EZ9ZVzsbMrJ1YG3eROmWA6iesYZHz5bL75TIYo93IYHk/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcT83Kobd6xb7uGcjpUcY91X4z-P-BJrBfjPsaTn8FgRllHnwD7Wr1IIm-_5DfvjADJa4UDH8Rr5E1_dovq8XGtZq2kYvzks3EZ9ZVzsbMrJ1YG3eROmWA6iesYZHz5bL75TIYo93IYHk/s640/IMG_1339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Drain small can of mandarin oranges and save the juice. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Get the oranges packed in pear juice or another juice, not heavy syrup.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Finely chop enough of the well drained oranges to measure ¼ cup.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSv0e1MKoW_2hWedQeM2ucyPPnPJ876OXca8KhtNO258sSFAWK1yRS6nBobib59HaD1_uAt56O2V0d_B222n0JmWKPR4S2mGE8d2WWj1xdEQTyIqMlV9rS2h7yE6ukfc5-mePk4aMnZk/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSv0e1MKoW_2hWedQeM2ucyPPnPJ876OXca8KhtNO258sSFAWK1yRS6nBobib59HaD1_uAt56O2V0d_B222n0JmWKPR4S2mGE8d2WWj1xdEQTyIqMlV9rS2h7yE6ukfc5-mePk4aMnZk/s640/IMG_1340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sift the following dry ingredients into a large bowl:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3 cups unbleached all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ½ cups natural granulated sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ½ tsp. baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 ½ tsp. baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 tsp. cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ tsp. all spice<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMnyEdtD5hP5-47dor3wttnZAVUd6HT9kiPNEpaxftzg_vf07mYDKkFgUnIVeV9mm37hgGEMKyczEVb2m__58l9OFSUeq_-RnffqA36m59rUbpzmjPN4K7ctqV2sKjzmEKsuw9kTDpDY/s1600/IMG_1342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMnyEdtD5hP5-47dor3wttnZAVUd6HT9kiPNEpaxftzg_vf07mYDKkFgUnIVeV9mm37hgGEMKyczEVb2m__58l9OFSUeq_-RnffqA36m59rUbpzmjPN4K7ctqV2sKjzmEKsuw9kTDpDY/s640/IMG_1342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir in 1 cup of finely chopped pecans and mix dry ingredients well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ_ST7YhyphenhyphenTv7rS57HG9KCG81dBxPERibnOdzv-8C32enCPzaISomjB_1RZdgY9L-FMoGfwFL1sL8BZ_CyT_zChwGQaFRRff4PauRmGCqcH-Zzsy5eWKn_bIVFCyfMQg5EGi3Dg0Ffm7U/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ_ST7YhyphenhyphenTv7rS57HG9KCG81dBxPERibnOdzv-8C32enCPzaISomjB_1RZdgY9L-FMoGfwFL1sL8BZ_CyT_zChwGQaFRRff4PauRmGCqcH-Zzsy5eWKn_bIVFCyfMQg5EGi3Dg0Ffm7U/s640/IMG_1351.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Measure 3 tsp. of EnerG (dry egg replacer) and whisk in 4 T. of the juice from the drained mandarin oranges. Allow EnerG to fully dissolve while measuring the remaining ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj32sIf-_gakX0xVTYg7JdamY5N4VPv16-pUo9WihoEtZL-ApuQVhvULESeQEQYaoRDEcl2lRevZjyEbsqktyI4sPDm8fxMhEy4G0z4OlDf8-gQvl9a2xZAzX2HJiVvzyBd_t4pzHuyA/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj32sIf-_gakX0xVTYg7JdamY5N4VPv16-pUo9WihoEtZL-ApuQVhvULESeQEQYaoRDEcl2lRevZjyEbsqktyI4sPDm8fxMhEy4G0z4OlDf8-gQvl9a2xZAzX2HJiVvzyBd_t4pzHuyA/s640/IMG_1344.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px;">Smash 1and ½ to 2 bananas (enough to measure ¾ cup)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7-uJypP2cfkIDT_mAHZHMzLfIlCfV3OJZlkRkDVZ7h14_9f_vGxudIsU1v-XP8eN4y2fzzbMODBGTsC9yTx82cs1p560tJTjMQ9W8lCjIxntCSl3XO0eYBlDVa3tLzVNcOWsChGO37g/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7-uJypP2cfkIDT_mAHZHMzLfIlCfV3OJZlkRkDVZ7h14_9f_vGxudIsU1v-XP8eN4y2fzzbMODBGTsC9yTx82cs1p560tJTjMQ9W8lCjIxntCSl3XO0eYBlDVa3tLzVNcOWsChGO37g/s640/IMG_1346.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Combine:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup unsweetened applesauce (jarred or homemade)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">1 (8 oz.) can of crushed pineapple do NOT drain<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¾ cup smashed banana<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">¼ cup finely chopped mandarin orange segments<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup plumped dried cranberries (this includes any juice or brandy not absorbed by dried fruit…most all liquid will be absorbed)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh6ZO7B8hTlZCzsQbxgVOd9GkD-9gL2E8EBfVXv9uxT7movGih9VqVv_uH6INCVqRs7IMUnryoRSmtLuffnxVc8zlU3D42waINa1tsk8wj0hTZHPd536eoCePzNNHjEWfheN3zd29wts/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh6ZO7B8hTlZCzsQbxgVOd9GkD-9gL2E8EBfVXv9uxT7movGih9VqVv_uH6INCVqRs7IMUnryoRSmtLuffnxVc8zlU3D42waINa1tsk8wj0hTZHPd536eoCePzNNHjEWfheN3zd29wts/s640/IMG_1350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Add fruit into bowl with dry ingredients. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Then add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup canola oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">½ cup almond milk<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 tsp. of pure vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Stir well by hand…no need for a mixer with this cake. EASY!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Divide batter evenly between the two cake pans. Smooth top and place in the pre-heated 350 degree oven. I like to place the rack in the middle of the oven to bake cakes. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. The cake will be firm to touch in the center and a toothpick will come out cleanly. Allow the cakes to cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Then run a thin knife around the edge of the cake and invert onto a cooling rack. Peel off the wax paper from the cake bottom gently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcHnS1QOevoLPaof3s-1eiQ5NtKJ7PgMK9haLV2SV8CDCSX2ZBIvQ60jIFl0PYfcDZSzLNkNb9XOZVJJMqGF13NkBn2PYL-KQb7NVtKOwUrShxbniQttPbOZcQ_b2DIGV-c6BoAVm38U/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcHnS1QOevoLPaof3s-1eiQ5NtKJ7PgMK9haLV2SV8CDCSX2ZBIvQ60jIFl0PYfcDZSzLNkNb9XOZVJJMqGF13NkBn2PYL-KQb7NVtKOwUrShxbniQttPbOZcQ_b2DIGV-c6BoAVm38U/s640/IMG_1352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I have small square racks that allow me to then right the cake so the top of the cake is up and the bottom is against the cooling rack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXizMmQ_nqdR45Y5nTeyYx_AheSI359E5SkSWgzlcG3tgISrIbHPdI_L37-DmXmSGCeK29-5QIJFeGBqH8vsNRqhxiYA0BTfy0WNuOUxbFtl49mNO9mwQj1ojZlpq2HaTbVHi2vsqFPdk/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXizMmQ_nqdR45Y5nTeyYx_AheSI359E5SkSWgzlcG3tgISrIbHPdI_L37-DmXmSGCeK29-5QIJFeGBqH8vsNRqhxiYA0BTfy0WNuOUxbFtl49mNO9mwQj1ojZlpq2HaTbVHi2vsqFPdk/s640/IMG_1355.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">You can ice the cake the same day that you make it, but I prefer to allow the cake to cool completely, then wrap it well in film wrap and then ice it the next day. The important thing is to allow the cake to COOL COMPLETELY before icing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">While cake is cooling I make the garnishes for the cake. I sugared some fresh cranberries and fresh rosemary. I picked some rosemary out in the garden…it is feeling like December, but this hearty herb is as green as ever. I just love having my fresh rosemary and thyme when the other herbs have died out from the cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5ioypvp92UrS9U5X1IM8FJKhiy0BuAiNZq7TOtUSq87H94bXbhetfvYwhCNLPNMKdSfW4eWVvKn6sbT1anGcGclRwBRN7IVfXnKe82VtbRp0yMJI2rNLgqvX46YihuvIGMZW8QFvSrY/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5ioypvp92UrS9U5X1IM8FJKhiy0BuAiNZq7TOtUSq87H94bXbhetfvYwhCNLPNMKdSfW4eWVvKn6sbT1anGcGclRwBRN7IVfXnKe82VtbRp0yMJI2rNLgqvX46YihuvIGMZW8QFvSrY/s640/IMG_1155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The other bit of joy comes in seeing the camellia’s blooming. How lucky are we to have beautiful flowers in spite of the chilly temperatures. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CN_YqYE_WgswSK-oD2C9KZ-KOEXt6dHsXP86hNQyaeBsVKPRvIPbVD9DMHUJ0dQaHKvKO2QDp7fbc4BAGOVCZLx_s1oJ6Hv1TCWDvl2miu-L3vSRid9OzFSzLCtGyBkJVdwbq9BM1Zw/s1600/IMG_1448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CN_YqYE_WgswSK-oD2C9KZ-KOEXt6dHsXP86hNQyaeBsVKPRvIPbVD9DMHUJ0dQaHKvKO2QDp7fbc4BAGOVCZLx_s1oJ6Hv1TCWDvl2miu-L3vSRid9OzFSzLCtGyBkJVdwbq9BM1Zw/s640/IMG_1448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Joy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So I took the fresh rosemary and coated it in some of the EnerG dissolved in water like it was egg white. I then sugared the rosemary with some natural sugar and allowed it to dry. I did the same for the cranberries only I used some colored sugar I had in the cupboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It looks just like a snowy Christmas card when complete!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Sk4NpUo_NsxFvp1ZZsB2yXcJkdxTJgyYCXNcw6O5FgCEnRv5uX-_Wly5GDohRonGmEnJ5PUShJaWmSPH9mgaH5lx90FBsiY70w_2kDQcteRqzisWhpVC10fVgfovxeEAeRu-qlV_dpA/s1600/IMG_1418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Sk4NpUo_NsxFvp1ZZsB2yXcJkdxTJgyYCXNcw6O5FgCEnRv5uX-_Wly5GDohRonGmEnJ5PUShJaWmSPH9mgaH5lx90FBsiY70w_2kDQcteRqzisWhpVC10fVgfovxeEAeRu-qlV_dpA/s640/IMG_1418.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">But back to Icing the cake…..<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Icing Recipe:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I always make more icing than I need. I cannot stand barely having enough icing and making it stretch to ice the cake properly. You will have enough to put on additional cupcakes during your holiday baking. Just put leftover icing into a container and keep it in the refrigerator. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 sticks of Earth Balance (room temperature)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">8 oz. of vegan cream cheese (room temperature)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">(Allowing the earth balance and vegan cream cheese to come to room temperature allows it to be creamed more easily and smoothly!!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Zest of 1 medium size orange<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Juice of ½ of the orange<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 tsp. of pure vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2 lbs. of confection powdered sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cream the earth balance and vegan cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add zest, juice, and vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl and mixing until smooth and the spreading consistency you like. It may not take all of the sugar or it might take a bit more – it’s all about the day!! I like the frosting a bit stiffer so it is easy to spread, but loose enough to be fluffy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now take cooled cake, either fresh or next day after being wrapped, and level it with a thin, serrated knife. This cake is very level, but I like to take off a VERY THIN layer from the top of all cakes. I then place the first cake layer on the cake plate and slide strips of wax paper under the bottom edge of the cake. (It takes 4 strips) Do the same leveling to the second layer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Put several large spoonfuls of icing onto the first layer, and carefully spread icing from the center to not quite the edge of the cake. When placing the second layer of cake on the filling, it will squish to the edge. The amount of icing depends totally on how much icing you like. I like about ¼ of an inch, but again it is up to your preference when eating cake. Now top the icing with the second layer of cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1URJdrW7P64ukne_pUEf9_Nagm1EAzszN1Vy8eCdbnqtwC7TQT_UqaB_MaQ40dpmt7TlThvESG50wmSMzEFRxJnu1TdT9rADn6Ww1RAQcQkNyY-chWeCTOabwcpvV5prqjgKARacqCik/s1600/IMG_1366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1URJdrW7P64ukne_pUEf9_Nagm1EAzszN1Vy8eCdbnqtwC7TQT_UqaB_MaQ40dpmt7TlThvESG50wmSMzEFRxJnu1TdT9rADn6Ww1RAQcQkNyY-chWeCTOabwcpvV5prqjgKARacqCik/s640/IMG_1366.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Ice the sides of the cake first. This cake is so moist and because it has a denser texture (like a carrot cake) a crumb, skim coat of icing to hold the cake crumbs in place is not necessary. Just carefully ice the sides using an off-set spatula.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT5T3sECDGiASEbfy9P4AOxS2fTrpTXVq5MDyNKMfuCgoRPB2U2JMWkYX5a4auneEGvM5xaEAMyX7d_CUw-4dN9m1PmXi1k6SpbNcHwuHuQC89G7dQ-ewlDNWJkm0dgNlo82xC04ZdtI/s1600/IMG_1372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT5T3sECDGiASEbfy9P4AOxS2fTrpTXVq5MDyNKMfuCgoRPB2U2JMWkYX5a4auneEGvM5xaEAMyX7d_CUw-4dN9m1PmXi1k6SpbNcHwuHuQC89G7dQ-ewlDNWJkm0dgNlo82xC04ZdtI/s640/IMG_1372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Then Ice the top and smooth the icing on top and sides again. It does not have to be perfectly smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht22vPZnytaE4tT0w0tCRo9ywZ2forXtCgKP3oLgfAhgwqoGRGWvACaRw5zS7QoWQbkFkLhm5NGtBPVLFejw_agH0FSaF_Fnmlb6WA4cOq7Ivn3rX8e3LTh67_pW9jGbeY2WlqiF_gMZA/s1600/IMG_1375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht22vPZnytaE4tT0w0tCRo9ywZ2forXtCgKP3oLgfAhgwqoGRGWvACaRw5zS7QoWQbkFkLhm5NGtBPVLFejw_agH0FSaF_Fnmlb6WA4cOq7Ivn3rX8e3LTh67_pW9jGbeY2WlqiF_gMZA/s640/IMG_1375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">BECAUSE….coconut snow is now going over all the icing. Just carefully pat it all over. I place the cake plate on a baking sheet to catch any wayward coconut so I can easily scoop it up and use it for the next sprinkle of coconut. Continue until all the icing is covered with coconut flakes!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3EtyrT63brhUncgE1S7iFFecgoWlPcROTD4wyDnlDUPJCjwbkqb_c1HSvB6-QZDJW5dT-Fe-t2XDe82f2eAu2_PXfzVc3O6u7hPmTUM_JPuK8mwOGD8PeM09anLMIp9LqgwRphPXwMw/s1600/IMG_1428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3EtyrT63brhUncgE1S7iFFecgoWlPcROTD4wyDnlDUPJCjwbkqb_c1HSvB6-QZDJW5dT-Fe-t2XDe82f2eAu2_PXfzVc3O6u7hPmTUM_JPuK8mwOGD8PeM09anLMIp9LqgwRphPXwMw/s640/IMG_1428.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now using a knife, carefully push the knife against the bottom edge of the cake and pull out the wax paper that is protecting the plate from being covered in icing and coconut. Continue until all four pieces are out and you have a clean edge. I use the knife to push everything back in place. I piped an edge around the bottom of the cake, but it is just fine to leave it as is…totally up to whether you like to pipe icing. Just takes a little practice with the bag and piping tips and gives the cake a finished look. Add the sugared cranberries and rosemary made earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I placed some around the bottom….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">And some on top…..<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Oh….what a little mimicker mockingbird cake…hehe!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t you just LOVE cake!!! We love cake here in the South, especially at Christmas. It brings joy to the party…it just does! Which brings me to my word this week, JOY! Yes, the third candle we lit yesterday on our Advent wreath was the pink candle…the JOY candle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCo2sdbAgp-JH2GpOY2UbgS5EqMPosPKPrG5AFyp-h_U1OSTPGHa6rLAWBrsFmoNMhqLparlJfXufQUblrnLgfmsct6VFKo7rUGJqr5L7Z6kiNy1FCcxgGRLh5p0gl8u2SzEshH0I5pI/s1600/IMG_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCo2sdbAgp-JH2GpOY2UbgS5EqMPosPKPrG5AFyp-h_U1OSTPGHa6rLAWBrsFmoNMhqLparlJfXufQUblrnLgfmsct6VFKo7rUGJqr5L7Z6kiNy1FCcxgGRLh5p0gl8u2SzEshH0I5pI/s640/IMG_1429.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Like peace, joy has nothing really to do with life circumstances. Joy is a gift that is within…it is this byproduct produced from just fully enjoying the moment. Don’t you find that when you truly enjoy something like a beautiful song – joy just wells up from within you??? That so happened while the choir was singing yesterday. A beautiful, college student sits next to me in choir. We were singing, “Joy to the World”. The organ was full, and the brass was soaring. Our voices joined in this grand final phrase, “And wonders of His love” and Allison whispered, “NOW, it’s Christmas!” Thankfully, it isn’t quite, but I fully understood that feeling. This young woman’s finals were over, she was about to go back to her hometown and be with family. The swelling experience that surrounded us up in that choir loft can only be described as pure JOY. We were taking in and enjoying that moment. Joy came like a wave over, and around, and within us! Everyone was smiling. Joy is a way of experiencing life. Joy is seeing the glass ½ full, looking at the silver lining, not giving into despair. Joy makes smiles spontaneously appear. Like what happened when we were trying to get the pugs to dress up in their Santa hats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So I smile and laugh! I am so filled with joy, even from two little Santa pugs.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">When I woke up this morning…the full moon was just going down and the pink ribbons of a new day were woven across the sky. A new day! <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p>I took the picture and then looked at the rocking chair on the front porch...the pillow says, JOY!!!!!</o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Like I’ve said…you can always find a sign. You only must stop and look! <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Look for joy this week! Eat cake and take in some JOY!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thoughtful living moment today: Take in all of life and enjoy each moment…it is there…deep within you...that joy will be born!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-4187761194301076902011-12-05T18:28:00.000-08:002011-12-06T12:34:33.199-08:00Muscadine, Rosemary Christmas Jelly<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It is now December! Whaaaatttt!!! I know…breathe deeply…it comes the same time every year. You would think I would be prepared, but it sneaks up on me every year. I am not a work ahead kind of person. I admire those people…you know…the ones who have the special closet where they stash gifts all year long. I admire the people who make things ahead to give as gifts. I admire the people that have their Christmas cards done the week of Thanksgiving. I bow before all of you, as I am not worthy. I have tried…but I have decided....I like the urgency of getting it done between now and Christmas…it makes it exciting. CRAZY…but it is exciting. So I started this week making some of my gifts. It is always fun to take something special that cannot be bought in a store as a hostess gift or “add in” to a gift box. This week I started making my Christmas jelly!!! I think I should get some points for picking these grapes back at the end of September. You know, I WAS planning ahead a bit to do that much!!! Hehe!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA6H28J7-i7c_8I4vKSDHJWKejyDLWtEED-sUdQq1kqUahdyPrDyMokbnAcE8jXmzSLrp1R7obUEzTxEP0JAlFwrGOqRBnNKbmcXLSSd0eWl402fSRfI36ZZc-GUi2TcZ6aygnYg1Mcc/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA6H28J7-i7c_8I4vKSDHJWKejyDLWtEED-sUdQq1kqUahdyPrDyMokbnAcE8jXmzSLrp1R7obUEzTxEP0JAlFwrGOqRBnNKbmcXLSSd0eWl402fSRfI36ZZc-GUi2TcZ6aygnYg1Mcc/s640/IMG_0111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This small vineyard is a place of peace and tranquility not far from my house. I am so blessed!!! My mother and I went on a beautiful Friday afternoon at the end of September and picked the most beautiful muscadine grapes. Okay, if you aren’t from the South, you may not be as familiar with these grapes. They are large, sweet and they make wonderful jelly. They are also great to eat, but just know the skins are thicker and the seeds much larger than other grape varieties. The great thing about Chestnut Trail Farms Vineyard is they do not spray, so you can eat them right off the vine!! They even encourage you to eat as you pick!!! FABULOUS!!!! I try and restrain myself…it is so FUN!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This farm grows a number of varieties, but I picked the James muscadine grape this day back in September.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">You are wondering, how if I picked in September, that I am just now making jelly??? Good question…easy answer! You freeze these jeweled globes until you are ready to work them up!!! BRILLIANT! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">After bringing them home, I simply place them on a cookie sheet (DO NOT WASH) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">freeze them solid. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then once frozen, I pack them into freezer bags.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then when I am ready to make jelly, I take them out of the freezer and give them a rinse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I let them start thawing out on the counter and get all of my ducks in order to make jelly. What??? You have never made jelly??? It is so easy and it really doesn’t take as much time as you think. The taste is SO superior and you can do it lower in sugar and get creative with the flavors!!! FUN! So this is my Christmas jelly made with muscadine grapes and rosemary. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Et3Z2wJiXKBYyFkFqybF8T3r_xDx-jIWYjbKFRewMeoGTX5YO4VcEJBxUXFUZ-E_9RQK0eVtxb_W3w3Y8MAnSz-urs0C-V0Hx6nr0LLm4NFBZtRWRK07ZiDuTuljfvMn1IV9t5qGwxw/s1600/IMG_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Et3Z2wJiXKBYyFkFqybF8T3r_xDx-jIWYjbKFRewMeoGTX5YO4VcEJBxUXFUZ-E_9RQK0eVtxb_W3w3Y8MAnSz-urs0C-V0Hx6nr0LLm4NFBZtRWRK07ZiDuTuljfvMn1IV9t5qGwxw/s640/IMG_1149.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Rosemary has that Christmas-ey, piney, smell and flavor that is a great balance to the sweetness of the muscadine. Rosemary is also the herb of remembrance and thus the symbolism of the Christmas season is perfectly paired in this jelly recipe. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Remember Christmas…the gift to the world found in the sweetness of a tiny babe.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Making Christmas Jelly<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Wash the jars. (This recipe makes six ½ pints of jelly – so wash six ½ pint jars;-))<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Jelly does best when made in small batches, so don’t be tempted to increase the recipe, just make more!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUUsAksmgTngJtqJdiGX-pG0UBWN5zqMaNGfW_N2IEXoWoOXOL42IKquX5LFkSnhzFXo4y9qGcVXkLXF1u1ZwWf9OgxgTMRbSI_M4SwJk-4yUQsjC-VahB-oUhrsLduupep3YHvkc1bE/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUUsAksmgTngJtqJdiGX-pG0UBWN5zqMaNGfW_N2IEXoWoOXOL42IKquX5LFkSnhzFXo4y9qGcVXkLXF1u1ZwWf9OgxgTMRbSI_M4SwJk-4yUQsjC-VahB-oUhrsLduupep3YHvkc1bE/s640/IMG_1146.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Start heating the water in a canning pot, It takes longer than you think for this much water to boil. A canning pot is easy to find in local hardware stores. It is just a large enamel pot with a rack inside to hold the jars upright.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5TkVEsI7bSxfzqNIewZrQAyRm0z7Iw_z6itjIhx01RsNKirMZbL_aTfd9SdRNtAT1Y5ZJganyWBjvOgCfAc8PnjfzgaLVjPyO8EBuFZ42xVZ9l1i_GJI1pRdPbOyBXn6ShylQJNQd60/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5TkVEsI7bSxfzqNIewZrQAyRm0z7Iw_z6itjIhx01RsNKirMZbL_aTfd9SdRNtAT1Y5ZJganyWBjvOgCfAc8PnjfzgaLVjPyO8EBuFZ42xVZ9l1i_GJI1pRdPbOyBXn6ShylQJNQd60/s640/IMG_1205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I use ½ pint jars (perfect size for jelly jars) and they use regular lids and rings. When you first buy jars they come with lids and rings, but after you have used the jars, you can just buy new lids, unless you give them all away – which is the point, but you may have some friends give you back the jar and say, “Please refill this!” </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> Lids can be purchased separately from the jars…even at the grocery store!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Once the jars are washed and rinsed well, place them in a deep pot of boiling water to sterilize. The jars need to boil for 10 minutes. I know this sounds picky, but you must have them safe to preserve food products. You can also do this in your dishwasher on the sanitize cycle, but for jelly made in such small batches, it seems to be a waste of energy to use the dishwasher. Just boil the little jars for 10 minutes and you are good to go!!! I then keep them in the hot water on low while I am making the jelly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYsxRq4UmIRddUu20ljxCxf5THG9Tvx2cLGzIiA9IKD3QygzprbElQqxQ-vefn1vjUYDAnEHP_PAPbRU4DpBEpXaZzqEGzE0qhnpf8o2zmE37NzZLMbuv_GS0Qie942h69ZXr_CkVnss/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYsxRq4UmIRddUu20ljxCxf5THG9Tvx2cLGzIiA9IKD3QygzprbElQqxQ-vefn1vjUYDAnEHP_PAPbRU4DpBEpXaZzqEGzE0qhnpf8o2zmE37NzZLMbuv_GS0Qie942h69ZXr_CkVnss/s640/IMG_1147.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I start with about 5lbs of grapes per recipe…that is standard on most all the pectin instructions. If you aren’t sure, just know you are going to need 5 ½ cups of juice. You can also start with all natural, unsweetened grape juice from the store and skip the fruit preparation part of this recipe. (Just start with the juice in the pan and begin the recipe where you add the pectin. You can always add your own flavor enhancement before adding the pectin too.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b>Back to the fruit prep:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Crush the grapes! I just use my potato masher. I place smaller amounts of the grapes into a microwaveable bowl and heat for 2 minutes to warm the cold grapes. I then mash away!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-t9ddBRVyfCWTRsR-xWrMyN13qishZ2s4TxDtn7mZz22fGF73i-Tnpmi0Cp78Km5AcTxZ7aXAp8KKFtYX7w4MjTODIC5dttIOOqi6fpLQovFO-ZqCgzTUBJ7g7-nw1jsectB5yrUd00/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-t9ddBRVyfCWTRsR-xWrMyN13qishZ2s4TxDtn7mZz22fGF73i-Tnpmi0Cp78Km5AcTxZ7aXAp8KKFtYX7w4MjTODIC5dttIOOqi6fpLQovFO-ZqCgzTUBJ7g7-nw1jsectB5yrUd00/s640/IMG_1162.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Place the crushed grapes into a deep Dutch oven or soup pot and cook to break down the grapes and help them release even more of the juice and color!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Bring this juice to a boil. You should not even need to add any water with this method.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdgW5FFP3wr5tW7woAkpXYnWhepbVm1MCXMHgsdAwd4aLVTX6lwXiRslD41PmnMmRRp1IX9U1j-KjtqYwdsj1-sbiBctv1MWkqccwjS1HogUjv4yddkcqnk7OckN406_cf617ZtjJ-tA/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdgW5FFP3wr5tW7woAkpXYnWhepbVm1MCXMHgsdAwd4aLVTX6lwXiRslD41PmnMmRRp1IX9U1j-KjtqYwdsj1-sbiBctv1MWkqccwjS1HogUjv4yddkcqnk7OckN406_cf617ZtjJ-tA/s640/IMG_1163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Add 1 cup of fresh rosemary “needles” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(Just rake the leaves from the woody stem – just makes it easier to measure 1 cup). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Lower the heat and simmer </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(little bubbles breaking the surface) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Cooking all of this for 10 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb3EXX-cw3n5e79Ir2XgZU-3PNuvGNVc4M50KdZxkIzS_OStHOByRPlx-dLzQBQ-8YwIFUYoJKc9JJzbqGc7WLwikupsiS7mzZviZwTYzFWJJ6S5H8sgKls_h6Lnrif1ZTcNnNv3D3Cg/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb3EXX-cw3n5e79Ir2XgZU-3PNuvGNVc4M50KdZxkIzS_OStHOByRPlx-dLzQBQ-8YwIFUYoJKc9JJzbqGc7WLwikupsiS7mzZviZwTYzFWJJ6S5H8sgKls_h6Lnrif1ZTcNnNv3D3Cg/s640/IMG_1165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">While cooking I get my straining system in place. I cut three large squares of cheesecloth and place them in my colander. Wet the cheesecloth AFTER placing in the colander. The cheesecloth is too flimsy to move around after wetting, so having it in the colander BEFORE wetting makes life easier. Place colander and stand into a flat -bottomed bowl. If you don’t have a cone shaped colander just line bowl shaped colander the same way and place in large bowl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggGxZ1pARnBtFHLdrPy7MZFwmDWuD2WpIXLCwYCu8bLvRu_m8IIKBB7hnaPi8AyM20u80fLq0dnyxsZ-8IVrLq-gePBbnAZEVDJts3wVomX70Yqv573rdsQZIKNSfnJMM7n3YZTZ6tx0/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggGxZ1pARnBtFHLdrPy7MZFwmDWuD2WpIXLCwYCu8bLvRu_m8IIKBB7hnaPi8AyM20u80fLq0dnyxsZ-8IVrLq-gePBbnAZEVDJts3wVomX70Yqv573rdsQZIKNSfnJMM7n3YZTZ6tx0/s640/IMG_1171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This cone shape colander with the wooden pestle is perfect for pressing the juice into a bowl, while leaving the skins, pulp, and seeds behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdWER4LeQCyODV23ELqevVgfgJE_ouR6W2dBYIEoTZ_W6P9KSu0CMQA_dpbNS9nUrImeXL6LcisqnWrmlgN7A2D7eGh8A5pj6QnyGUehpIb8L580bycr6ZG2wmksWCKN2SuVkowl0N5Q/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdWER4LeQCyODV23ELqevVgfgJE_ouR6W2dBYIEoTZ_W6P9KSu0CMQA_dpbNS9nUrImeXL6LcisqnWrmlgN7A2D7eGh8A5pj6QnyGUehpIb8L580bycr6ZG2wmksWCKN2SuVkowl0N5Q/s640/IMG_1179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The juice left in the bowl is a jeweled purple treat!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF_K4bgal2JY3M77zGVI-W_4TurI5NXXVphvF7UDD1INnvn4hTOCgWpLY4GohChaUA39G7rhq1kSkRy_tkpD4j2IOZyQwH7sGz_hjPZ2LzgxG70QhCbcL6Lwj4teXvO_2Njrg9Tu5zL0/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF_K4bgal2JY3M77zGVI-W_4TurI5NXXVphvF7UDD1INnvn4hTOCgWpLY4GohChaUA39G7rhq1kSkRy_tkpD4j2IOZyQwH7sGz_hjPZ2LzgxG70QhCbcL6Lwj4teXvO_2Njrg9Tu5zL0/s640/IMG_1177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Place the strained grape juice into a large Dutch oven or stock pot. Measure to make sure you have exactly 51/2 cups.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(Start here if buying natural juice)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xyUYM3DJ4RIy1BNHquhi13zu6YZ9fNrL1RWbWL4ZnL5__iLlLMlSmt2WDsPOndZgzRwR-iPaOUhHfNfOkVIqszsQTBVHZMEezR6ynyJZJ8EnxdGEQJgfDysgLXr3nOUuszGiEQNI7OI/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xyUYM3DJ4RIy1BNHquhi13zu6YZ9fNrL1RWbWL4ZnL5__iLlLMlSmt2WDsPOndZgzRwR-iPaOUhHfNfOkVIqszsQTBVHZMEezR6ynyJZJ8EnxdGEQJgfDysgLXr3nOUuszGiEQNI7OI/s640/IMG_1180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mix 1 package of premium fruit pectin with ½ cup sugar. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(I use the kind requiring less sugar)…okay specifically Sure-jell - the pink box.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRTZkLcGkR8IoRXvHB2U-PvMBu3avXuihu26FbVt4fHpd1W62z9NAYA6RuhEQuKiiffx4ydA_vKans2AxaX-E82O_CMGe78kOtlywmLaV36u_G6E7YELoo3eCuVIh-PJ_ywOzL3k0yjk/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRTZkLcGkR8IoRXvHB2U-PvMBu3avXuihu26FbVt4fHpd1W62z9NAYA6RuhEQuKiiffx4ydA_vKans2AxaX-E82O_CMGe78kOtlywmLaV36u_G6E7YELoo3eCuVIh-PJ_ywOzL3k0yjk/s640/IMG_1185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Whisk this pectin sugar mix into the juice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeFBXY7m1k8Wrcqf1rpZGNpB-wWMyUd1x4WfNfPkIt3FVoJGX5sdIDFZHYGPK2cSkMNyWNbQVh1LSHrpthYj73MWREy-SnDyIFLND82pEYM2N8ARhHcpGWQovqlsSkT85XcIhHOlzPEs/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeFBXY7m1k8Wrcqf1rpZGNpB-wWMyUd1x4WfNfPkIt3FVoJGX5sdIDFZHYGPK2cSkMNyWNbQVh1LSHrpthYj73MWREy-SnDyIFLND82pEYM2N8ARhHcpGWQovqlsSkT85XcIhHOlzPEs/s640/IMG_1187.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Bring this now to a FULL boil. That means that it does not stop boiling even when you stir it. It will take maybe 10 minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">While this is coming to a boil…put the jar 6 lids (the flat disks with the orange/brown seals) into water that you need to bring to a simmer. Do not boil – just hot simmering water to soften the seals.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Okay, so the juice is now at a rolling boil. Now add 3 ½ cups more of sugar and stir well. Return juice to a rolling boil. Once it is back to boiling…time it for 1 minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then take the juice off the heat and skim off the foam from the surface of the juice. This will ensure your jelly is clear. Just spoon it off carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhPBjwd_-LFQr1npdAiErqesK1lv6ejcORhBjp-UObLxWMF6I4tqJloktyE36Kg6bD6ib-d2wvvnhVVDNv4yZj9XObUpAWraa8twCfeVTKOdSkAskQUBU2OWA7UV0pa0At4SRYZNuHeU/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhPBjwd_-LFQr1npdAiErqesK1lv6ejcORhBjp-UObLxWMF6I4tqJloktyE36Kg6bD6ib-d2wvvnhVVDNv4yZj9XObUpAWraa8twCfeVTKOdSkAskQUBU2OWA7UV0pa0At4SRYZNuHeU/s640/IMG_1192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Take hot, sterilized jars out of hot water and turn over on a clean towel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCimTyeOmQAfvy5woHVZjNlUcAeBNmoxoK-UScNzD97vLBaAXiLSm8pSG492L3bXFZD2x4nnMwsd_L-cQ1quWMBJMTA4lSOA0hT_sZk83UUlAfEf34MUIZcttdRQaXLZnJl_nz8_hzuZo/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCimTyeOmQAfvy5woHVZjNlUcAeBNmoxoK-UScNzD97vLBaAXiLSm8pSG492L3bXFZD2x4nnMwsd_L-cQ1quWMBJMTA4lSOA0hT_sZk83UUlAfEf34MUIZcttdRQaXLZnJl_nz8_hzuZo/s640/IMG_1193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Right the jar and ladle the hot purple goodness into the hot jar. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(A jar funnel really helps keep this neat, but you can do this carefully with out a funnel) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Fill the jar to ¼ of an inch from the top.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCMNIVUgDYv2jZfH97hYvk6x_d2dA-jc8wADtXD5KEUm9_1cEQ_oX4KFU3UOTFm4xkDOGiNoz5r4-UeXErgD4GecihL6IA2K00jlK22bv5Kdgwye2zDRlz_b1bIZAXeK46DfFk5e76L4/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCMNIVUgDYv2jZfH97hYvk6x_d2dA-jc8wADtXD5KEUm9_1cEQ_oX4KFU3UOTFm4xkDOGiNoz5r4-UeXErgD4GecihL6IA2K00jlK22bv5Kdgwye2zDRlz_b1bIZAXeK46DfFk5e76L4/s640/IMG_1194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Wipe the surface of the jar lip with a damp cloth. This ensures a good seal. After all this work, you want the jars to seal!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Place a lid from the hot water onto the jar. I have this lid lifter that has a little magnet and lifts each lid. Cool invention, but you can do this carefully with tongs too!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BEJJgMg0qT8I_f6TPpYu5HyZHpR8hJ3NwG4ZpkIyNDG8pPflROxV2Sc3memPMIhysFaKTdRcgFRp07_kSnfAsn4l34mTchBNfBaYAgmqQmH6izf7cNos4ubLag7URW3i8d84jLeKFN4/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BEJJgMg0qT8I_f6TPpYu5HyZHpR8hJ3NwG4ZpkIyNDG8pPflROxV2Sc3memPMIhysFaKTdRcgFRp07_kSnfAsn4l34mTchBNfBaYAgmqQmH6izf7cNos4ubLag7URW3i8d84jLeKFN4/s640/IMG_1196.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Screw the band onto the jar tightly and repeat until all the juice is ladled into jars.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg3oieZGBbohtekoxF77_RT5Gv1VFQB2sGqtrAgmT1cBcD2MUQRxz3yUJWfJasiCA94ekTXn_P3NKE4RaisuVBhS-70wMOiOiLI6HzzUWX9L3XtQ5Sf4vp5iftSxsEjBpp6_pWJJ17gs/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqg3oieZGBbohtekoxF77_RT5Gv1VFQB2sGqtrAgmT1cBcD2MUQRxz3yUJWfJasiCA94ekTXn_P3NKE4RaisuVBhS-70wMOiOiLI6HzzUWX9L3XtQ5Sf4vp5iftSxsEjBpp6_pWJJ17gs/s640/IMG_1198.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The water should be boiling in the canner. Lower each jar carefully into the boiling water. The water should cover the top of the jars by a couple of inches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyTokKkbJChAYU15-UNd55Rl1rUKz6ia_I1vj5yr_xX535JKmxJPPMacsufQXKf38F2NZVuLi5byAFQImqeE_Dh2Al5usTNiEexM29YxReRTkYIPBxBqfUYQPHLnppRxtXfGPQtPTzL4/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyTokKkbJChAYU15-UNd55Rl1rUKz6ia_I1vj5yr_xX535JKmxJPPMacsufQXKf38F2NZVuLi5byAFQImqeE_Dh2Al5usTNiEexM29YxReRTkYIPBxBqfUYQPHLnppRxtXfGPQtPTzL4/s640/IMG_1201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Set timer for 5 minutes. Cover the canner and allow the jelly to process in the hot water bath for 5 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Should not all the juice fit into the jars – you can place it into a small container to be refrigerated. It is called the chef’s portion and awwww….I had some left that I had to leave out!! Yummy!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">When the 5 minutes are up. Carefully lift each jar out of the bath and place on a towel to cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX6TZ6s2ZwhlCyScwQQoO5vdJd7Z7sHyVSt_rohiUjfuirtUIu89ztadU3M34Ib5jV0_8toC_ahfARnu0iOtHoeg_58gaOZQ9OewDLnwNpKl2QvHUjq3XxMxcDp9jHiI56q208Rsk4Ws/s1600/IMG_1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX6TZ6s2ZwhlCyScwQQoO5vdJd7Z7sHyVSt_rohiUjfuirtUIu89ztadU3M34Ib5jV0_8toC_ahfARnu0iOtHoeg_58gaOZQ9OewDLnwNpKl2QvHUjq3XxMxcDp9jHiI56q208Rsk4Ws/s640/IMG_1208.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">You may hear immediate “pings”, but sometimes it can take awhile before the seal is complete. I leave the jars on the counter overnight so they are completely cooled before moving them. The middle of the lid should be sucked down and not make any kind of popping noise when you press. If you hear this sound, simply refrigerate that jar and use it first. It will be gone in no time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KvYtfhSwuMBmptgJBpC6FqEDdybn-TzECxsK3_FTj_ZoJHEvqsoeTQXF949Qp1AglQBeOpZEYheSrXi606N37ybZ2MZQKEmUPqlhzaY59INwp2IEnRtCvhEp7ipyOE5PpdH3z-Ie4BU/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KvYtfhSwuMBmptgJBpC6FqEDdybn-TzECxsK3_FTj_ZoJHEvqsoeTQXF949Qp1AglQBeOpZEYheSrXi606N37ybZ2MZQKEmUPqlhzaY59INwp2IEnRtCvhEp7ipyOE5PpdH3z-Ie4BU/s640/IMG_1211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Food Art!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So……I couldn’t wait to try the jelly. I whipped up a batch of whole-wheat biscuits and Oh my….I got a “GOOD DO” as my dad use to say! Sweet, but not cloying! There is a hint of savory, piney rosemary, but not too much bitterness. Christmas jelly for sure!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">A sweet remembrance for the season!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtuVL3_F9Hl1gbiE9x44ymiptgmoHEnu4e3B9DFhEkyCS99Sea45fhN5vBRYxKy6iMqSKaJMFed_TU6m-nSejnZOaDt9tLJ3VY0yy2gXG2fykxE-Bdsj3P9N5S8kqIzdPy4RThM_jWFQ/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtuVL3_F9Hl1gbiE9x44ymiptgmoHEnu4e3B9DFhEkyCS99Sea45fhN5vBRYxKy6iMqSKaJMFed_TU6m-nSejnZOaDt9tLJ3VY0yy2gXG2fykxE-Bdsj3P9N5S8kqIzdPy4RThM_jWFQ/s640/IMG_1265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So, you ask…why jelly?? Well, yesterday we lit the second candle on our Advent wreath. This is the candle of PEACE. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CcpcxngRtQ_H4iu0ZoNcWtofnddgXx3j2wvuJQZuPVkTgXWXzlW2tetm08FatG_iNILc6C88ZLXIoaL6jeGq6BipU-7nJ6ZAZpdtJKx-n1HqGzwxjCgzHyg7r_BDvSi7tmrjcZWaxG4/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CcpcxngRtQ_H4iu0ZoNcWtofnddgXx3j2wvuJQZuPVkTgXWXzlW2tetm08FatG_iNILc6C88ZLXIoaL6jeGq6BipU-7nJ6ZAZpdtJKx-n1HqGzwxjCgzHyg7r_BDvSi7tmrjcZWaxG4/s640/IMG_1291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">For me…making jelly IS all about peace. Peace so needed in our world. This beautiful fruit is crushed and bruised and cooked until it falls apart. It releases every bit of itself. Out of all of this mess, comes a clear, jeweled liquid. A substance transformed… shining and translucent. It is a quiet process…making jelly. It takes awhile to prepare and then it all happens quickly…within minutes. Out of the churning and boiling comes this sweet liquid that is poured out as a gift. Peace is like that. It seems nowhere in sight…nowhere to be witnessed. Everything seems to be a mess! Then in some small, quick moment.... a glimpse of full blessing is felt. An internal "ahhh" that feels perfect. It feels divine. Peace is not the absence of chaos and turmoil…no…it is a sense of full blessing inspite of the external chaos churning all around us. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">For me this week, my peace moments came in small, lovely moments. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Peace came in a passage of music that caused time to stand still as the bowed head of a little pug listened intently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhav44yNdFDT1m6iivujavSM-LYyy_6LjB7jYmObwNL7AV1iy7KGcRy6Rrs4R5msaN5GkCwTQWa4Lc1sr0NSmwzGlt_Fsj959ZqvXwGxJBkoK_7fAW8ZtLbDewcl1ONfAbPSY1xQp93dAI/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhav44yNdFDT1m6iivujavSM-LYyy_6LjB7jYmObwNL7AV1iy7KGcRy6Rrs4R5msaN5GkCwTQWa4Lc1sr0NSmwzGlt_Fsj959ZqvXwGxJBkoK_7fAW8ZtLbDewcl1ONfAbPSY1xQp93dAI/s640/IMG_1280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Peace came in the song of the little bird outside my window calling me out to listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDAMja_xOBTXdC-oHCmYsjMQcYz2INcreUOijnABrz8cnaEaEPoNg_xNpSDFkjdDC6PWcLNLB8c7edqhazbOjXim8V6TviO0iz0sErhxhLrwj5GSMIhdzAf_B5E2kF-AkfZuNwax-PX8/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDAMja_xOBTXdC-oHCmYsjMQcYz2INcreUOijnABrz8cnaEaEPoNg_xNpSDFkjdDC6PWcLNLB8c7edqhazbOjXim8V6TviO0iz0sErhxhLrwj5GSMIhdzAf_B5E2kF-AkfZuNwax-PX8/s640/IMG_1219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Peace came in the changing sky as it morphed into darkness behind the stark, bare branches of our trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsM2XG-9B_f_zDD7x1VHg39cdAl_j1FjGEvM5y2KDP16nr0CnXQDHN5a03dELxpbJACNdYxmHxem4rJU8H5a7t6Qsh2JuyH7bUAOjz1DovZIv2oV62NrFhM-MzD5y2nNwWeYmxRdCmO4/s1600/IMG_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsM2XG-9B_f_zDD7x1VHg39cdAl_j1FjGEvM5y2KDP16nr0CnXQDHN5a03dELxpbJACNdYxmHxem4rJU8H5a7t6Qsh2JuyH7bUAOjz1DovZIv2oV62NrFhM-MzD5y2nNwWeYmxRdCmO4/s640/IMG_1078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So these might not be answers to world peace, but they are a small grape’s worth. These are MY moments of peace this week INSPITE of the chaos churning around me. Sweet jelly to bottle up and savor in the days ahead. So prepare…even if you don’t make Christmas jelly! Prepare…. so that you are ready when the sweet moments of Christmas peace come to you in the days ahead! Stay alert….wait…be still…and there WILL BE A SIGN!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mfrYjUNC2leK_NUCGlXCfRvz2g2OeAzIoUrYQphr89Og__0ceSx8RBAOWL29y-ct6Brd5HATnkMEsxtJtINb5YFOrd8L54Hvc1eiT9-vWvNvNvhHnStbOHTKm3x7S4YKEQbed4jUDEA/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mfrYjUNC2leK_NUCGlXCfRvz2g2OeAzIoUrYQphr89Og__0ceSx8RBAOWL29y-ct6Brd5HATnkMEsxtJtINb5YFOrd8L54Hvc1eiT9-vWvNvNvhHnStbOHTKm3x7S4YKEQbed4jUDEA/s640/IMG_0436.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Thoughtful living moment today: Find a time to be still…then…. you will recognize the peace that was present all the time…you just didn’t realize it!!!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Peace...</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-44475473480579322582011-11-28T15:28:00.000-08:002011-11-28T19:58:13.317-08:00The Tree and Veggie Sausage<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It is that last week of November, when the flurry of having Thanksgiving co-exists with the beginning preparations for Christmas at our house. Every year, I seem to have pumpkins, corn, autumn leaves, and the Christmas tree all decorating my house during this last week of November. I’ve learned through the years though, that if I don’t start pulling out the decorations from the attic on the Friday following Thanksgiving, our family gathered for Thanksgiving misses putting “their” ornaments on the tree. I get excited about re-visiting every ornament as it is brought out of the box. Each story of how… or when…or where…gets re-told as it ceremoniously is hung on a branch. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcU7dXbnhhuzIIxkrIUK15Gzp1k7udA0pFbimDPnzwYw0agnfZ9HjGhAw9ScmgiYg3VU6zeTSCWWvQfpPBBi9OzAULV-eidZH-csr7K4iyM48o-zIYBD7q4x_QByoHoSqPb-lDy9caPs/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcU7dXbnhhuzIIxkrIUK15Gzp1k7udA0pFbimDPnzwYw0agnfZ9HjGhAw9ScmgiYg3VU6zeTSCWWvQfpPBBi9OzAULV-eidZH-csr7K4iyM48o-zIYBD7q4x_QByoHoSqPb-lDy9caPs/s640/IMG_0993.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Even the dogs help…or better yet…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEPDecBjzLFncd4dxrYq5Gxhwq7ibXTAoOTldLQh_9A09XHXMGxM18RIXlVshiwhrO7F1vkLNHywdpMAMeqriSVSmandQsnXt7inBrcL3PxSx3JS3q3aSM6Ho1Iz0RS5bZk7vWn9TGkU/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEPDecBjzLFncd4dxrYq5Gxhwq7ibXTAoOTldLQh_9A09XHXMGxM18RIXlVshiwhrO7F1vkLNHywdpMAMeqriSVSmandQsnXt7inBrcL3PxSx3JS3q3aSM6Ho1Iz0RS5bZk7vWn9TGkU/s640/IMG_1007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> sleep as we decorate!</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG4UV_XSdPLnj0VdnkOrmw0j8q0I5VyN6d_EFaIXYzuRHTJy3syDx9O7BtddXgLVxozAOLxEuugsUp4G52j6VQuCDsKMogucY1hAL4lNXxaGSNto1jRCcccmZPRKTH2rUjMT7IqYv3HQ/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUG4UV_XSdPLnj0VdnkOrmw0j8q0I5VyN6d_EFaIXYzuRHTJy3syDx9O7BtddXgLVxozAOLxEuugsUp4G52j6VQuCDsKMogucY1hAL4lNXxaGSNto1jRCcccmZPRKTH2rUjMT7IqYv3HQ/s640/IMG_0914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Some families have very posh, designer trees right out of a magazine. I think these coordinated trees are very beautiful. Our tree is not one of those trees. Our tree is simple, ordinary, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">but OUR living history.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRokym_9L8w_5MlU5baqkevJCdeOnW3gi2FI0-9_CPU8uDLr1CgkN6p0Ffklhax12ijkM-wcf1JuDiGf6bZJcMkUG9LTXKkc4NdMdTaZ3MLr9BInzrJFsC7V0zQmGIrMP89_qq0d4IvJg/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRokym_9L8w_5MlU5baqkevJCdeOnW3gi2FI0-9_CPU8uDLr1CgkN6p0Ffklhax12ijkM-wcf1JuDiGf6bZJcMkUG9LTXKkc4NdMdTaZ3MLr9BInzrJFsC7V0zQmGIrMP89_qq0d4IvJg/s640/IMG_1102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> A remembrance of people we have known. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlxz3DptYEiC1cMhTRK60hMraJKSwpHazY85o9w5uROgO4-hVLbejM46cGlS8CHGi7HhAVBVum0vRMrRlfeTSqf46rNpHMZu95CQtxSb-OuMclIdgFqT8RVeQ_Tjr4M1vkYDj0kSHmFc/s1600/IMG_1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlxz3DptYEiC1cMhTRK60hMraJKSwpHazY85o9w5uROgO4-hVLbejM46cGlS8CHGi7HhAVBVum0vRMrRlfeTSqf46rNpHMZu95CQtxSb-OuMclIdgFqT8RVeQ_Tjr4M1vkYDj0kSHmFc/s640/IMG_1047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">A treasured collection of creations crafted by our children’s hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gf1EDor6q6aqHodMf30GLSCZSQ9qCnj1A9Z7x9Micau1b72jDieY1twBy-9hK7mTD6AF87dw6WA0x2_rcVxDpD65V1s3Q-fKcRD9DaGyYb_LbC_R6347ZzRQzzkSsLAwQoj-GUZoSHk/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gf1EDor6q6aqHodMf30GLSCZSQ9qCnj1A9Z7x9Micau1b72jDieY1twBy-9hK7mTD6AF87dw6WA0x2_rcVxDpD65V1s3Q-fKcRD9DaGyYb_LbC_R6347ZzRQzzkSsLAwQoj-GUZoSHk/s400/IMG_1051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Our tree holds now 29 years worth of memories. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05xoYZbkcLkPHQSMVLfGI7BSg3W-dqAnvTwm1XBgTkfnYsRAclAok5Gp9n06qedWF34lOwgd4wokg4AOry-2Da9V4n03xpxDDub8_iNrTCL-dBuyKhs1P6puG5ltOa5AeSBAEsSnVcWM/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05xoYZbkcLkPHQSMVLfGI7BSg3W-dqAnvTwm1XBgTkfnYsRAclAok5Gp9n06qedWF34lOwgd4wokg4AOry-2Da9V4n03xpxDDub8_iNrTCL-dBuyKhs1P6puG5ltOa5AeSBAEsSnVcWM/s640/IMG_1061.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It is the most beautiful tree to me in the entire world! We all stand back when we are finished and "oooo" and "ahhh"!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefXSpgBhPaq8-x_srNBFZ3-KKakWUHMA1tk-kozjXAb97g05Zl14p_F2wDWRkp6pi8YnGFm1Ut7tOsC8Eje7EVzEOeeKGy43EiUWDv8QZmYMNIPi0g9_pNbBrQioIt_mtveVtFzPPSJc/s1600/IMG_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefXSpgBhPaq8-x_srNBFZ3-KKakWUHMA1tk-kozjXAb97g05Zl14p_F2wDWRkp6pi8YnGFm1Ut7tOsC8Eje7EVzEOeeKGy43EiUWDv8QZmYMNIPi0g9_pNbBrQioIt_mtveVtFzPPSJc/s640/IMG_1059.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Then we go outside once it gets dark and view it from the street. The white lights twinkle </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">through the picture window!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdfkfT2wUOkf6fc1FYlvO1XT1QWI2Cei1apFvRhH2Uvs25IqfH4FBeEZUIogyV87d7QI-T83RP_5OsC6Vw_WxO7GUkwSHtFckZE3YSpFoNJLanFMxfqj5YU74cZpp4CVj0gHgXHC5hRM/s1600/IMG_1100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdfkfT2wUOkf6fc1FYlvO1XT1QWI2Cei1apFvRhH2Uvs25IqfH4FBeEZUIogyV87d7QI-T83RP_5OsC6Vw_WxO7GUkwSHtFckZE3YSpFoNJLanFMxfqj5YU74cZpp4CVj0gHgXHC5hRM/s640/IMG_1100.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">We then eat breakfast. Don’t you just love breakfast?? I LOVE eating breakfast for supper. Unless it is the weekend, or a holiday, we never have a big breakfast. Yes, I know it is the most important meal of the day, but we always just have simple breakfast meals, so to go all out and fix a big breakfast meal is a treat! Here was our menu: pumpkin waffles with apple cider/cranberry syrup, fried apples, tofu scramble, and “sausage”. I was again STUFFED! I rationalized how hard we had worked carrying boxes down from the attic, putting up the tree, and exerting ourselves out of our usual Post-Thanksgiving prone position. I enjoyed every bite!! I told you I would share with you my sausage recipe. Here it is for your upcoming holiday breakfasts to come, or to use in other recipes in your entertaining days ahead. It makes great sausage balls, stuffed mushrooms, or to use to make my meatball recipe instead of the </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">pre-made sausage. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8JHMyKCO3lbmUQWmxxLsJKvRH_gbK5W5g3FwJfhNPVYmIB8FAE6beLwBr-OvqCPE1t_1IiBAyJMsSfPjjIWp2u4Qi0Nq_9kXQm3ScId2bT2S2xB6117me7UxBX56jIcqZ2UOMP9RmzE/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8JHMyKCO3lbmUQWmxxLsJKvRH_gbK5W5g3FwJfhNPVYmIB8FAE6beLwBr-OvqCPE1t_1IiBAyJMsSfPjjIWp2u4Qi0Nq_9kXQm3ScId2bT2S2xB6117me7UxBX56jIcqZ2UOMP9RmzE/s640/IMG_0951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">To be honest with you, I said a little prayer to my grandfather Mohler (my mother’s father) when I created this sausage. He was a sausage maker by trade. He worked in a meat packing plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas and his recipe was never written down. A loss…probably one of the reasons I am writing down my recipes. I ate his sausage as a young girl every time we visited him and that spicy taste is still in my mind. I always remembered the red pepper flakes and so this has that same kick. If you don’t like things as spicy, just back off on the pepper, but it is really good and so much like his sausage – without the meat! Thanks, Grandpa Mohler!! (He looked just like Santa without the beard…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">REALLY :-))<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg6J6J8Duqv_7a0KAFRoOY31gz2mJHFCxCerl4WFr1KtuUuWPE9dYQUOPSd1Wl62SH5z5Byv5cYyp5R8opIOXSYEQnf0sjPVAhjKqaDTBlG8mImtiiT1olL9DKifLIw6r1dGmqV3W48I/s1600/IMG_0979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg6J6J8Duqv_7a0KAFRoOY31gz2mJHFCxCerl4WFr1KtuUuWPE9dYQUOPSd1Wl62SH5z5Byv5cYyp5R8opIOXSYEQnf0sjPVAhjKqaDTBlG8mImtiiT1olL9DKifLIw6r1dGmqV3W48I/s320/IMG_0979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It seems a bit…well…overwhelming to make your own sausage, BUT in timing this, it goes together in 15 minutes. Cooks in just 14 to 16 minutes, so really you have no excuse to say making this sausage takes too much time! It is quicker than you think...and so worth it!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Veggie Sausage:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 Cup TVP (Textured vegetable protein) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(This is found near the dried beans in our grocery store – Bob’s Red Mill brand)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1(scant) Cup boiling unsalted vegetable broth </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(I just heat broth for 1 minute in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">microwave oven)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(Allow TVP to absorb liquid while getting additional ingredients together)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QlSE5zD3j0xnu3gwFq1e99iZQLrGF9Sjq5Nz9kL0yXz2ZX5JFShYtizUU5p24TfoYexo3xJfWqDojAh8-Yse2Odww2oArGLbsWnmnK8NHYMgwApjArPH5a5RZFA89oUUK-PrJ2eo0P0/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QlSE5zD3j0xnu3gwFq1e99iZQLrGF9Sjq5Nz9kL0yXz2ZX5JFShYtizUU5p24TfoYexo3xJfWqDojAh8-Yse2Odww2oArGLbsWnmnK8NHYMgwApjArPH5a5RZFA89oUUK-PrJ2eo0P0/s640/IMG_0795.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 15 oz. can of pinto beans (drain and rinse)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 T. of vegetable broth <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">2 T. olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 T. maple syrup<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1/8 tsp. liquid smoke<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(Place all of the beans and liquids in food processor and process until smooth. Scrape sides down and process again to achieve a smooth consistency)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp94JaB8AEzATpPqthH0Mhvri4r0NM202xzPlrlPXcsZwScyvqFxpb4aw5Bdl5fX-M4D2Z5__A7ELRBh_EC4-ZtPFtckAZqZwatqCRmwOEQxTURMsRWCuyVJXxxsklxLGkRAaa39rr0E/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp94JaB8AEzATpPqthH0Mhvri4r0NM202xzPlrlPXcsZwScyvqFxpb4aw5Bdl5fX-M4D2Z5__A7ELRBh_EC4-ZtPFtckAZqZwatqCRmwOEQxTURMsRWCuyVJXxxsklxLGkRAaa39rr0E/s640/IMG_0929.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Add the beans to re-hydrated TVP.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b>The seasoning to make all of this taste like “sausage”!!! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(I know it looks like a lot of different herbs and spices, but you are making sausage out of vegetables so…TRUST me!! These are seasonings you should have on hand at all times, but especially during the Holidays!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. rubbed dried sage<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. poultry seasoning<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. dried basil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. garlic powder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. onion salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. paprika<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 tsp. fennel seed – (grind in mortar and pestle)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TuTge9v4z6RPGNN-7GNoZns05HAo2PI3csRCgDiJaqXI4sk1_iM_maw8vDKMfBIAVp_loVfL4eE5Z0hpJUk1jfZ9e6lMtQwcNIAxjw5VcuzIg5Ck-qtQ7x-a30IUtVdc8EQqV7j3Jh0/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TuTge9v4z6RPGNN-7GNoZns05HAo2PI3csRCgDiJaqXI4sk1_iM_maw8vDKMfBIAVp_loVfL4eE5Z0hpJUk1jfZ9e6lMtQwcNIAxjw5VcuzIg5Ck-qtQ7x-a30IUtVdc8EQqV7j3Jh0/s320/IMG_0934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">½ tsp. black ground pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">½ tsp. red pepper flakes </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(again you can back off the pepper if you choose – but I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> highly recommend the heat if you can – sooo good!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mix the spices into the mixture to distribute evenly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">½ cup vital gluten </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(This is used in bread making – found in the section with flour and yeast in our grocery store and also what is used to make seitan…wheat meat)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mix vital gluten into the mixture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YMoXoeFOdHpqTL17-7ZC_G_dJP2IZpFjprybigHW21ltdUBXRdmy9xcefmEZ9e-95-KxkscdVF4_8WQqn6k9cGnsa35fVdA_vM_gXk8BfnPPU_6l316Tj1lIrYTtCZfMez9OKz9yAoc/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YMoXoeFOdHpqTL17-7ZC_G_dJP2IZpFjprybigHW21ltdUBXRdmy9xcefmEZ9e-95-KxkscdVF4_8WQqn6k9cGnsa35fVdA_vM_gXk8BfnPPU_6l316Tj1lIrYTtCZfMez9OKz9yAoc/s640/IMG_0943.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Dust bench or counter with additional unbleached all purpose flour and knead lightly. Knead this mixture for 3 minutes or so to develop the gluten strands. I keep dusting with flour and scraping with bench scraper. The technique is like making bread. I use (depending on day and moisture in the air) about ¼ cup of all purpose unbleached flour to knead the veggie sausage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IOVnHqNA3KZxpQO0bIpMfSjU_UrMVEy2fn-Ff9pOgF99SvMVlaQY5LzbMVK0X63CK_SINQQwVq9tkT3evTuuJj9DyScoclb-M7TVcxPGCBEenfyrBonyYfRoNWY1idnOTIs38UsNyH4/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IOVnHqNA3KZxpQO0bIpMfSjU_UrMVEy2fn-Ff9pOgF99SvMVlaQY5LzbMVK0X63CK_SINQQwVq9tkT3evTuuJj9DyScoclb-M7TVcxPGCBEenfyrBonyYfRoNWY1idnOTIs38UsNyH4/s640/IMG_0944.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The veggie sausage becomes firmer to the touch and I roll it into a log. The diameter is up to you, but I usually make it about 2 to 2 ½ inch diameter…like a roll of pork sausage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPLWD_2FGpPQG5MZGBGgymfvZa2Zt-eTJ3Mblu1Bgjs0igDnQfrVCBtyyz6MFCU_2GWVz57LgTPV7jZAE8S4ILa_eZOnhdNBQSX8sOCy1f3LW9K6Sh1V5JTIHRpyl5igOp9O-0q4fvCE/s1600/IMG_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPLWD_2FGpPQG5MZGBGgymfvZa2Zt-eTJ3Mblu1Bgjs0igDnQfrVCBtyyz6MFCU_2GWVz57LgTPV7jZAE8S4ILa_eZOnhdNBQSX8sOCy1f3LW9K6Sh1V5JTIHRpyl5igOp9O-0q4fvCE/s640/IMG_0815.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Wrap in wax paper like a giant caramel – yum!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACkdx89QZgeqSCkPiberQG1EZyyGiHYDajIAqfRcwjuBeVoM1h_xvoE4FOehJMePevKP6_bdZYm-sAs00Jq3gQ888srS4ZYRWMQOrqq7aCxSmOI9fdRCWjLkqgusXTj-bSEdHZAyNYTQ/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACkdx89QZgeqSCkPiberQG1EZyyGiHYDajIAqfRcwjuBeVoM1h_xvoE4FOehJMePevKP6_bdZYm-sAs00Jq3gQ888srS4ZYRWMQOrqq7aCxSmOI9fdRCWjLkqgusXTj-bSEdHZAyNYTQ/s640/IMG_0812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Refrigerate until you are ready to cook. With it chilled, you can slice it like pork sausage into small patties. You can also use it right away and the slices are a little more organic in shape. I do think the texture improves if given a bit of chilling time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwejepKWewI7xmQEbbyQWO3cyDv1czhwdIES1LCxAy2CqpaE7aESi98pmJxZWynmbuZuAlm-mvJsoP0hzTjgVKTQwsfYjz1k8kCdbe3WGRhxjp6rPrP_riDETssyedOae5fi1ekdUlYHQ/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwejepKWewI7xmQEbbyQWO3cyDv1czhwdIES1LCxAy2CqpaE7aESi98pmJxZWynmbuZuAlm-mvJsoP0hzTjgVKTQwsfYjz1k8kCdbe3WGRhxjp6rPrP_riDETssyedOae5fi1ekdUlYHQ/s640/IMG_1125.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">When ready to cook – pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Place a couple of Tablespoons of oil into a non-stick skillet. Allow oil to get hot and then place patties into the hot oil. Brown 2 to 3 minutes on each side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSNsDo2TYbLuE2isjcI46TYjigdvLEDQ8O31djEH_xawNUUQdW8OnnLlKvoLazf0e6UiNPzFI2J4CrBvfV7aIC0N7Z7PhBZW8wa7W8sCxwOvZAGE_XcOTnPL2DixkxTKZi7-cCEFc-as/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSNsDo2TYbLuE2isjcI46TYjigdvLEDQ8O31djEH_xawNUUQdW8OnnLlKvoLazf0e6UiNPzFI2J4CrBvfV7aIC0N7Z7PhBZW8wa7W8sCxwOvZAGE_XcOTnPL2DixkxTKZi7-cCEFc-as/s640/IMG_1133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">A nice crust will be formed, but the middle will still be a bit soft and not completely hot, SO…place patties on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. If your skillet is oven-proof (and handles) you can drain grease and place skillet in oven. It is important that the grease is removed or the bottom of the patty will continue to brown and be too overly browned…learned the hard way…that is what I am here for… to help you not make my mistakes - hehe! I place veggie sausage patties on a baking sheet and then use that flavored veggie sausage oil to make the tofu scramble, but that is just what I do…you do as you wish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The patties will become firm in the middle, hot, and ready to add to your breakfast meal in 10 minutes!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQTo5r5PKHVpz8gPJVi294WySakY4S-THKqDViB3Lws2jfN_t1TxIBY7zmFaZ3VkfKvFGUAOLbxtaVqrZ00kQwr3-uvaSqYvxAmhVyqnxcXb4uKFBa_bj-1nSuao7hiCDCFhDoYxsL3k/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQTo5r5PKHVpz8gPJVi294WySakY4S-THKqDViB3Lws2jfN_t1TxIBY7zmFaZ3VkfKvFGUAOLbxtaVqrZ00kQwr3-uvaSqYvxAmhVyqnxcXb4uKFBa_bj-1nSuao7hiCDCFhDoYxsL3k/s640/IMG_1135.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I started off this week’s blog by talking about putting up our tree. I want to share with you my gift today (my Christmas a..ha…moment) as I walked with our dog Grace and my neighbor from across the street. We walk almost every morning and last year about this time when we walked, we noticed a little tree in a yard in our neighborhood. It looked just like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. The little tree was crying out to be decorated. The tree just needed a little LOVE. So each morning when we walked, my neighbor and I took turns taking an ornament and placing it anonymously on the little tree. It was so much fun to sneak the ornament onto the tree. Day by day, the little Charlie Brown tree looked better and better. As Christmas day came near, my neighbor added a tree skirt just like Linus adding his security blanket in the story and the look was complete. Well, to our amazement, this morning – the little tree was decked out with our cast off ornaments and looking like a real Christmas tree!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwKo04ooDQZrTxgqfX1e4P51S85YcUhBJciwAu4ZAigsoyDVEPH7H6NleZt6D1sRmBjzInzMGbG8wvQmpWZctzquge7LxNpiqypSutSnjv_ftsYiBB93yIT4e6nDrqR_GnCqHfmNsHCQ/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwKo04ooDQZrTxgqfX1e4P51S85YcUhBJciwAu4ZAigsoyDVEPH7H6NleZt6D1sRmBjzInzMGbG8wvQmpWZctzquge7LxNpiqypSutSnjv_ftsYiBB93yIT4e6nDrqR_GnCqHfmNsHCQ/s640/IMG_1106.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Is it not the perfect Charlie Brown tree???<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">On Sunday, we lit the first candle on our Advent wreath that is in the center of our dining room table. This first candle is the candle of Hope. Each evening we light this single candle and have a reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRsb6zGzCErNGS5spzoex_WfrVHphQv8CUbxSAplcRw5UQNpHjzW10WDwR9ziGmUKQ1kxRb37wHNc0OROW-a4E6fyZ5UVsSDdrBa5jEEO0ElchPRBMD0gRbrQyaDu16p_0dxM54QEE2U/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRsb6zGzCErNGS5spzoex_WfrVHphQv8CUbxSAplcRw5UQNpHjzW10WDwR9ziGmUKQ1kxRb37wHNc0OROW-a4E6fyZ5UVsSDdrBa5jEEO0ElchPRBMD0gRbrQyaDu16p_0dxM54QEE2U/s640/IMG_1123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So all of this has been dancing in my head today. I guess the little Charlie Brown tree decorated today was my sign of Hope for the Day! Like Charlie in the Christmas story, I was drawn to a baby tree, a real tree! It represents for me today the Hope of Christmas. What is the baby tree in your life that needs a little love??<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbUS1jlUmXocP_giznzJo_foXclRNCC-LQ5_PrOLzC4z6msVa9f6K_N0SY5Xo2qPQ87UX8kirwcmWZBKS9BGCPvxhqzIbO9F1TxWC1h5vPbCDpSEjhVCl-Pfn_wC-Zhz2A4QlHPkJmwQ/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbUS1jlUmXocP_giznzJo_foXclRNCC-LQ5_PrOLzC4z6msVa9f6K_N0SY5Xo2qPQ87UX8kirwcmWZBKS9BGCPvxhqzIbO9F1TxWC1h5vPbCDpSEjhVCl-Pfn_wC-Zhz2A4QlHPkJmwQ/s640/IMG_1005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Thoughtful living moment today: Even the smallest acts of love done in the past are not forgotten. They return and remind us that Hope is REAL! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD5pJ9mob8_UmE9fiQPzlFiiEcLjUz8nqoqjSOFMgLIk5_2ASSFhCRDoVTX0dNXQh_PWaVsFmsi4xkAu7q2RfJPrqOeqf3yuEEsJ7U6ZnyyVA48AuySCxcIL1mVP-cEJBohgBkKOhjUA/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD5pJ9mob8_UmE9fiQPzlFiiEcLjUz8nqoqjSOFMgLIk5_2ASSFhCRDoVTX0dNXQh_PWaVsFmsi4xkAu7q2RfJPrqOeqf3yuEEsJ7U6ZnyyVA48AuySCxcIL1mVP-cEJBohgBkKOhjUA/s640/IMG_1107.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><i> May Hope be your word this week too! </i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><i>Look for a tree!</i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-11491443329553866352011-11-21T17:48:00.000-08:002011-11-21T17:55:37.579-08:00Tis the Season for Stuffing and Gratitude<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It is the week of Thanksgiving! I don’t know where the month of November went, but it is about over. It is that time when not only Santa is checking lists, but I am too. Let’s face it! In the next 8 weeks, our lives revolve around FOOD. Extended family dinners, parties, parties, and parties and - I LOVE IT! I find myself, however, wanting to stuff everything (besides myself)! Maybe it is because the leaves have all come down on the ground, and the streets are over-flowing with mounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NaaLnrPR-ZM0tV-q7HQbNJ18dMhtx4BY3QhMqtpo8AOlrpFRbcExhUyQTx_s8Ug8UEo-sXVmZ4sVV9WnGChX9vfzjym_L_d82sZYMzZ6xq4yunChvG91YzIe7ZJVUW1hzBwhwchVN3s/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NaaLnrPR-ZM0tV-q7HQbNJ18dMhtx4BY3QhMqtpo8AOlrpFRbcExhUyQTx_s8Ug8UEo-sXVmZ4sVV9WnGChX9vfzjym_L_d82sZYMzZ6xq4yunChvG91YzIe7ZJVUW1hzBwhwchVN3s/s640/IMG_0727.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I know...leaves…food??? Sorry, I see food in everything – no kidding. I was filling the tarp as I raked and thought, <i>ooooo I need to make burritos, or crepes, or stuffed peppers, or…????<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFMakNZAyaJwmqax1s2PZ5EsMin2dnJqSmgz5KvEFlg2rxcyJc_q_wwLvqGj5wLR10ZHlDH4Xi4BuWgkO6xwqbCKusqtyFnFRVMzEWubJdW4AGOlLro7Z8Bg2EYU8SnggYQHHlJjCyCI/s1600/IMG_0729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFMakNZAyaJwmqax1s2PZ5EsMin2dnJqSmgz5KvEFlg2rxcyJc_q_wwLvqGj5wLR10ZHlDH4Xi4BuWgkO6xwqbCKusqtyFnFRVMzEWubJdW4AGOlLro7Z8Bg2EYU8SnggYQHHlJjCyCI/s640/IMG_0729.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Maybe it’s because for some bizarre reason, I associate stuffed foods with abundance. I wonder how much was stuffed by the Pilgrims at that Thanksgiving back in 1621? My preoccupation with mounds and stuffing this week brings to mind a recipe for savory stuffed apples.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I am lucky enough to live close to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway and the apples are…well delicious doesn’t even describe well enough the sweet, yet tart, crunch that only a freshly picked apple brings to your tongue from this part of the world. About six weeks ago, we woke up and it was one of those perfect early autumn mornings. We looked at each other, harnessed up the pugs and got into the car to go apple picking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The apple of choice this day was Winesap and quickly our basket filled with the most beautiful apples.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">An orchard is a magical place for me – I really didn’t want to leave. But the thought of a cider slushy got me out of the orchard and down to the barn. Yum! Look at that blue sky…that’s how we got Carolina blue...at least that is the story told here!!!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Well I’ve stored these apples in the garage refrigerator – kept them cool and dark. It is amazing how long apples will last. I’ve savored each bite and I am now down to the last few just in time for my Thanksgiving stuffed apples. This is a savory stuffed apple and it makes a great presentation on the Thanksgiving buffet table, but we also have them BEFORE Thanksgiving because I use the stuffing ingredients and “sausage” during the Thanksgiving eat fest that continues through the weekend – haha!! Really... since all of the ingredients are out in preparation of the Thanksgiving Day Feast and all you think about is the Thanksgiving day meal, you might as well fix something to eat NOW that uses those same ingredients. The norm is that I am so busy cooking for that one meal, there is nothing to eat three days ahead – UNLESS – I cheat and use parts that I am already using…I know brilliant!!! Don’t tell my family! You know… while you are sautéing onions and celery for the dressing, just pull out ¼ cup for this recipe. OR, use the leftover stuffing from your Thanksgiving meal and make these AFTER Thanksgiving when you have a day of decorating or shopping.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Preface to recipe:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">For Thanksgiving, our dressing is made with both cornbread and a dark, whole grained bread. I make my own cornbread (will post that in the near future) I dry these breads in a low 200 degree oven until they are dry and firm to the touch. I use this combination of bread to make these stuffed apples, but you can use your own combination of bread, but I highly encourage the cornbread crumbles!! The same goes for the sausage. I make my own now, but will give you that recipe next post as it goes with decorating the Christmas tree on Black Friday morning….ooooooo. Long story – not so short – use bread of your choice and meatless sausage of your choice or...a meat sausage if that is your choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Savory, Stuffed Apples:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(This small amount just makes four apples, so increase as needed for your family)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 cup cornbread (dry cornbread crumbles)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">½ cup dark, multi-grained bread dried and firm to touch<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">¼ cup finely chopped onion and celery sautéed in earth balance <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(if you aren’t making dressing just use 2 T. of onion and 2T. of celery and sauté in 1 T. of earth balance until translucent)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveA22KVmRMtEQfIzsZmGyv9Iim7g33KONL6ONKyOKJKuxU3Mr1W1NoYCjiU18oG3axE0uXPh0nPVfJuJDP-mNzfv1E4H0OEdT3z2DDkk40Qm7NBnHedW6RfV7-nSgUMJnoWAqfxSowU4/s1600/IMG_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveA22KVmRMtEQfIzsZmGyv9Iim7g33KONL6ONKyOKJKuxU3Mr1W1NoYCjiU18oG3axE0uXPh0nPVfJuJDP-mNzfv1E4H0OEdT3z2DDkk40Qm7NBnHedW6RfV7-nSgUMJnoWAqfxSowU4/s640/IMG_0859.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">½ cup vegan sausage browned in 2 T. of olive oil until crispy and brown<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">(I know it sounds like a lot of oil, but you need that in order for the meatless sausage to brown well and there is no animal fat in this, so don’t worry too much about the oil)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Season with:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">¼ tsp. of rubbed sage<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">¼ tsp. of poultry seasoning<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 1/2 tsp. of dried basil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 T. of finely chopped parsley<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">2 T. of finely chopped pecans<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">2 T. of dried cranberries<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">2 T. of ground flax seed dissolved in 2 T. of almond milk (or non-dairy milk of <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> your choice)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">½ cup of vegetable broth – plus a touch more if needed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">salt and pepper to taste (remember you can taste safely as nothing is raw or "dangerous" ;-))<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Mix everything well to combine. After you have prepped the apples make sure the mixture is moist enough to clump together. If dry, after hollowing out the apples, add a little more broth as needed. Clumpy, not soupy!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Prep apples as follows while the liquids are absorbed into the bread and seasoning. Wash the apples well. Cut off a small piece off the bottom of the apple, so that the apple will be stable and not tip over in your baking dish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Now slice off a small slice from the top, stem end. Using a small scoop or spoon, carefully hollow out a cavity inside the apple. Leave ¼ inch (or a bit more) border and don’t go too deeply into the apple or you will go through the bottom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Fill each apple cavity, mounding up the stuffing (like my leaf piles…hehe – told you!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Dot each apple with earth balance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Pour 1/3 cup of vegetable broth around the bottom of the apples to create a seasoned sauna.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and baste apples with the broth. Bake apples another 15 minutes or until the apples are tender and filling is browned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I baste </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">the apples again right before serving, the broth is reduced significantly, so just divide the remaining broth among the apples to be served and spoon the broth over the stuffing.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I served these stuffed apples tonight with roasted butternut squash with fresh rosemary and creamed spinach. It was Pre-Thanksgiving on a plate – Yum, Yum!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I wish for all of you a true day of Thanksgiving on Thursday! May gratitude be the food of choice and thus bring an abundance of blessings to each of your tables and hearts!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i>“Come ye thankful people come!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-62705322135226703322011-11-14T14:16:00.000-08:002011-11-14T15:29:08.235-08:00Peanut Soup? Think Colonial Williamsburg<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">What a week it has been! I visited Colonial Williamsburg for the first time for my 50<sup>th</sup> (no comments please) birthday and it was one of those magical moments in time that I will remember forever. It was truly a time travel experience to journey back to our American beginnings in eighteenth century style.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">We had so much fun staying in one of the colonial houses. Yes, I pretended it was ours, however, the kitchen was missing or I would have moved in permanently – really - ADORABLE.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmv7b3rCWaBoXs5v4lNvT4yburxyoVShYoa5nOoCfebfNPg-o-L58S4yvZ6GjlQTm_itMUQAGNoHhM9GbEHfMPYzfB2K8nxkFej9LXou82wQb5zLma8KfSEekhTo9ewjlykd4aZRNnrl4/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmv7b3rCWaBoXs5v4lNvT4yburxyoVShYoa5nOoCfebfNPg-o-L58S4yvZ6GjlQTm_itMUQAGNoHhM9GbEHfMPYzfB2K8nxkFej9LXou82wQb5zLma8KfSEekhTo9ewjlykd4aZRNnrl4/s640/IMG_0579.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">We did the checklist for first-time guests and I still could do it again as there is so much to see and take in. We did the ghost walk on the misty night of the 10<sup>th</sup> and see for yourself…we were not alone – hehe!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">So we ate some really wonderful food, but the one thing I was so curious about was the peanut soup. They serve it in the taverns in the Historic Area of Williamsburg and yet I knew it had been made with milk and butter, so I didn’t try it…till I came home and made up my version of peanut soup. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">This WILL be our first course in a few weeks for Thanksgiving. It is so yummy and a different thing to serve, unless you are from Virginia and have eaten it all your life. Mine is spiced up a bit, but I think you will enjoy it as much as we did as we re-lived our Williamsburg Trip. The natural peanut butter I used in the recipe came from The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg in Merchants Square. It is so good and contains only peanuts and a little salt, but no sugar. I know you probably won’t have this particular peanut butter, but just choose a natural peanut butter that doesn’t have any added sugar. You also can go online and order peanuts and peanut butter from The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg – easy and good for your Christmas and Holiday gifts – I get nothing for plugging – just a great product and I love quality products to cook with and eat!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here’s my peanut soup:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">3 T. of Earth Balance (vegan buttery spread)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">1 small onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">2 small carrots<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">1 rib celery<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">2 small cloves of garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Sweat these in large saucepan or Dutch oven on medium high heat until vegetables are soft and just starting to caramelize a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Add:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">32 oz. of vegetable stock (no salt added if possible – I like to control that myself…ok so maybe I do like to control some things in my life now that I am 50!!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Let the vegetables simmer in the stock for 25 to 30 minutes <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Strain out the veggies and you can use these for another recipe…ummm like veggie patties or another soup. You could leave them in, but I wanted that smooth, velvety bisque like texture so I strained them out. I did use the back of my spoonula to smash them through the strainer a bit to get some of the color and goodness into the stock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">I added 1 cup of creamy all natural peanut butter to the pot. The peanut butter will need to be stirred a bit as it separates and you want the solid goodness going into the soup and not just the oil - :) After stirring measure and then whisk into the hot stock and don’t worry if it looks like it is breaking a bit, as it warms everything gets smooth and delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Now add the seasoning:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">¼ tsp. garlic powder – what can I say I like garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">¼ tsp. cayenne – a little zip to the taste buds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">¼ tsp. of onion salt – remember no other salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">1 T. of jalapeno vinegar juice (I always have sliced jarred jalapenos in my refrigerator and this is a nice acid to use because it has added flavor – feel free to use another acid like pickle juice or white vinegar would even work fine. It is just a good way to use that jarred juice and it is a very colonial idea to waste not.) Whisk in all of these seasonings well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Bring the soup to a simmer and then whisk in 1 cup of soy creamer – this adds a rich smooth creaminess instead of whipping cream or half-n-half</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Let soup get good and hot and then ladle into mugs or bowls. I garnished with some chopped peanuts and fresh parsley. I served a fresh herb and mixed greens salad topped with grapes, apples, chopped dates, and walnuts with a red wine vinegar/walnut oil vinaigrette. Add some whole grain bread and you have a filling meal or serve the soup alone as a first course on Thanksgiving like we will;-) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Geneva;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;">Thanks Williamsburg for the inspiration. I will be back!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Geneva;"><i>Thoughtful living moment today: Looking back at our history as a Nation and as a People, gives us the gift of inspiration and gratitude. Be inspired! Be grateful!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</o:p></span></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-10044139873856479102011-11-07T20:07:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:32:21.937-08:00All Saints' Sunday /EvensongLast evening we celebrated All Saints’ Sunday. This is a day where attention is directed toward all people who have gone before us in death. We celebrate and give thanks for the lives they lived and the lives they live now with God. As we completed the time of prayer, music, and scripture, the evening was fast approaching with the moon just rising over the tops of the trees. Goosebumps scurried up my arm at the beauty of the service, the sky, and my thoughts of this mystical connection we have with the Divine.<br />
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I decided that the occasion called for a dinner of remembrance. This would be a meal for personal thanksgiving to those in my own family tree. A great-aunt on my father’s side of our family just turned 101 on October 28th. She’s been on my mind a lot this week. This side of my family is of Scandinavian descent and mostly Norwegian. In honor of Aunt Opal I made meatballs and so here is my attempt to do her and my ancestors proud and yet - well…not use meat “uff da”!! I served these meatballs with what we call Scandinavian Potatoes. I sautéed some kale and scooped up some lingonberry preserves I had purchased from IKEA. Yummy!!!<br />
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If you want to make the roasted potatoes it is sooo easy. I do these in my iron skillet, but if you don’t have an iron skillet, just use a pan that can be used at high heat. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Peel russet potatoes and then slice them crosswise without going all the way to the bottom of the potato into 1/8-inch cuts. It should look like an accordion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVKtUroXjR7bxJYlVJEdHMwo2WNDOHFJq6r4BGFPBSc5HskIAXfBUCXPeAiMZL7IdM0DVCWWUYv8yY-tq7-Xc5RvqZVqq4vHc2XSDzOk31aS8Dxq3Ol-jOVMYJRNHHX54CO4weFM8B7c/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVKtUroXjR7bxJYlVJEdHMwo2WNDOHFJq6r4BGFPBSc5HskIAXfBUCXPeAiMZL7IdM0DVCWWUYv8yY-tq7-Xc5RvqZVqq4vHc2XSDzOk31aS8Dxq3Ol-jOVMYJRNHHX54CO4weFM8B7c/s640/IMG_0483.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Put 2 T. of canola oil in the bottom of skillet or pan and roll potatoes. Place potatoes in with cut side up and wedge a few dots of earth balance between a few of the accordion fans. Salt and pepper the potatoes.<br />
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Bake for 25 minutes at 450 degrees. Take out of oven and sprinkle top of potatoes with equal amounts of breadcrumbs and finely ground almonds or walnuts. I had walnuts ground for the meatballs so I used walnuts. Moisten crumbs with a couple of glugs of oil. Just dust potatoes lightly with the crumbs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaUuZqyoCo3uoURUSkJNjMx_oU827pmm6OhVVcNO6olx09h-huWrJU2lhe0gKlauehxObl-WO1Aa0ARG1FZZOK-8JH8SPFrC7YVd0bxsH0xPV7ISzdZr-021OeMdT-4UXROFOMaL62Dw/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaUuZqyoCo3uoURUSkJNjMx_oU827pmm6OhVVcNO6olx09h-huWrJU2lhe0gKlauehxObl-WO1Aa0ARG1FZZOK-8JH8SPFrC7YVd0bxsH0xPV7ISzdZr-021OeMdT-4UXROFOMaL62Dw/s640/IMG_0486.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Cover with foil and cook for another 25 minutes. Remove foil and cook for another 10 minutes to brown the crumbs and edges of potatoes. Potatoes should be tender inside and crisp on the outside. Total cooking time is about 1 hour for medium sized potatoes. Finish them with fresh chopped parsley to serve.<br />
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While potatoes were baking I made the meatballs.<br />
I boiled some red potatoes that needed to be used up. Potatoes again?? I know it seems like a lot of starch, but this is a special meal that we don’t do a lot and the potato is spread out so it really isn’t that much potato - hey - you only eat a few meatballs. You could also use a russet, but I just needed to use up these small reds. So place the potatoes into cold water peel left on and boil gently until a fork or knife pierces easily into potato.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGHYok8QLD7h86Nuo0vvWkXNUD3vRrPI0Aq7vkaO-sJp5u7kCGH_QHSzL5LqVUHWDcKykbvj2XGG1T7LcffZQhp3f5sNaA33SsUpcgVD-ntk8TivJn65TYN4EGgG6Go0H5hu3RRj6-ps/s1600/IMG_0448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGHYok8QLD7h86Nuo0vvWkXNUD3vRrPI0Aq7vkaO-sJp5u7kCGH_QHSzL5LqVUHWDcKykbvj2XGG1T7LcffZQhp3f5sNaA33SsUpcgVD-ntk8TivJn65TYN4EGgG6Go0H5hu3RRj6-ps/s640/IMG_0448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Rice or mash potato – you will need 1 heaping cup – it was about 4 small red potatoes. The great thing about using a ricer is you don’t need to peel. Just place potato inside ricer and out comes the white fluff leaving behind the peel in the ricer. So easy!!<br />
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Grate 1 small onion. Yes, grate it. Especially for this meatless version I like the onion to be a flavor and not a texture.<br />
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In a large bowl combine:<br />
12 oz. package of smart ground meatless crumbles<br />
½ roll or approximately 7 oz. ground sausage style roll meatless (Gimme Lean)<br />
3 T. grated onion<br />
2 cloves garlic (or to your taste) grated<br />
1 cup riced or mashed potatoes<br />
Cut all of this in to combine well the sausage style roll and potatoes with the crumbles<br />
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Measure ½ cup of almond milk or your choice of non-dairy milk. <br />
To the milk add: <br />
1 T. flaxseed meal<br />
1/8 tsp. nutmeg<br />
1/8 tsp. ginger<br />
1/8 tsp. allspice<br />
¼ tsp. black pepper<br />
½ tsp. kosher salt<br />
1/3-cup fresh breadcrumbs<br />
1/3 cup finely ground walnuts<br />
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Allow spices, flaxseed meal, and crumbs to absorb some of the almond milk soaking liquid. I like putting my spices in the liquid so they are evenly dispersed without having to over mix the “meat”. Gently mix all into “meat mixture”.<br />
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Using small spoon, or better yet a small scoop (for even sized meatballs) form into balls. I place them on parchment or a silpat so they do not stick to baking sheet. (Save out two scoops of mixture to be used for gravy) Roll meatballs lightly with hands.<br />
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Spray all the meatballs with favorite cooking spray so each meatball has been sprayed. This helps to form a crust and gives it a meaty texture.<br />
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Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Turn meatballs over and spray again with cooking spray. Bake another 10 minutes or until underside is firm to touch and browned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyWF9K18Ok7VaE1lXxHEtvZj0hznhBpnq03GwyB8SVE90n0Vsw1IYgpB4ZJgRmJ8dysKA6u3LuL_dG7awb_rD7N3z87TgiJadqBKr7xYPQf97ch42-Mhl0hfm-78INBYOVoUgbfoqpMw/s1600/IMG_0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyWF9K18Ok7VaE1lXxHEtvZj0hznhBpnq03GwyB8SVE90n0Vsw1IYgpB4ZJgRmJ8dysKA6u3LuL_dG7awb_rD7N3z87TgiJadqBKr7xYPQf97ch42-Mhl0hfm-78INBYOVoUgbfoqpMw/s640/IMG_0479.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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To make gravy: In a large skillet brown the 2 scoops of meatball mixture held back in 1 T. of oil.<br />
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Once the crumbles are brown add 4 T. of earth balance vegan stick. Once melted add 4 T. of unbleached flour and stir to cook flour with the earth balance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B48mSq_HTnXio1SY27P2MPCrKqeowdDxuEpDIqXZLBmWEvYc5ki4TdzqyEq-WCrBSS0D0osaj9sDgzsQiheeWRy1z2otXcX58d4UCN-rpjH7EJMRZYD8z2Nxav9GJbZsZNSxTgPh0bU/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B48mSq_HTnXio1SY27P2MPCrKqeowdDxuEpDIqXZLBmWEvYc5ki4TdzqyEq-WCrBSS0D0osaj9sDgzsQiheeWRy1z2otXcX58d4UCN-rpjH7EJMRZYD8z2Nxav9GJbZsZNSxTgPh0bU/s640/IMG_0487.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Whisk in 2 cups of vegetable broth and whisk vigorously to smooth out gravy. <br />
Season with: <br />
¼ tsp. pepper<br />
½ to ¾ tsp. salt or to your taste preference<br />
1/8 tsp. nutmeg<br />
1/8 tsp. allspice<br />
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To finish gravy add ½ cup soy creamer. Allow sauce to thicken and cook. If it thickens too much before serving, add some more broth to thin to the consistency you like for gravy. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lMApzuFudS4lsMoDXQ8XlMAmSX7ybXMrg9KCpHbF8mpFhRMWBH8M24B5AIXBdGJx8d6FZOvP1UXJQdjJyKhClQ1V_ZaDowPVJ1Zqy1vIyMfUNn4XYxbNtHniZeoUabrlvw-fco9Qt_k/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lMApzuFudS4lsMoDXQ8XlMAmSX7ybXMrg9KCpHbF8mpFhRMWBH8M24B5AIXBdGJx8d6FZOvP1UXJQdjJyKhClQ1V_ZaDowPVJ1Zqy1vIyMfUNn4XYxbNtHniZeoUabrlvw-fco9Qt_k/s640/IMG_0488.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Place meatballs into gravy and coat. Finish with fresh parsley.<br />
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The kale isn’t really Scandinavian, but I had it in the refrigerator and it was green and broke up the potato thing I had going. Here is what I threw together: <br />
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2 T. oil I used canola<br />
2 cloves of garlic sliced thinly<br />
Good pinch of red pepper flakes (we put them in everything)<br />
1 large bunch of kale sliced without the tough rib – just the leaves<br />
3 T. vegetable stock<br />
1 T. red wine vinegar<br />
1 T. brown sugar <br />
1/8 tsp. onion salt<br />
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Additional salt and black pepper to taste as desired<br />
1 T. finely chopped walnuts and a drizzle of walnut oil for serving<br />
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Sauté` garlic in oil and add red pepper flakes. Add washed and cut kale. Add remaining ingredients except for walnuts and walnut oil. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdNWaKNB5Wdpp8BD0Z0xOHaFGnumyCsH61P3eBi8715ae5BOSwY6Y0q9kI621idVJs0zst_-cWXTBt0tU6yJ3qI-Q4M9lFN82xYU0EVTlCA8UmAozzbmMzJOU0hYXtas4vD9ciNKzc_M/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdNWaKNB5Wdpp8BD0Z0xOHaFGnumyCsH61P3eBi8715ae5BOSwY6Y0q9kI621idVJs0zst_-cWXTBt0tU6yJ3qI-Q4M9lFN82xYU0EVTlCA8UmAozzbmMzJOU0hYXtas4vD9ciNKzc_M/s640/IMG_0492.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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When kale is cooked (it only takes about 20 minutes or so) and you are ready to plate, drizzle some walnut oil over the surface of the kale and sprinkle with the finely ground walnuts. <br />
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Here is what our remembrance meal looked like. It was family comfort food...yes it was!!:)<br />
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Really - “Uff da” ! If you cannot find ligonberry you can always cook up some cranberries. It is a similar - a sweet yet tart flavor that is a perfect pairing to cut the richness of the meatballs.<br />
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<i>Thoughtful living moment today: Remember and gain strength in the faith and grace of those saints living and dead, known and unknown to you. All are witnesses to bring encouragement for your life. </i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Fast falls the eventide…Peace to all!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DxXyAbElvMRvpoCLKdyOm4zySG8HS8wYsyrzI56kel2IT3nmuO9X3X0Zz9UzEOar0BBOoLVG3yzcBPy6LfBzPsyXsxmbWH5W4FRsb12dGmcVK05ac0XdDdc7P4hC4RP6it-_CbArZ1w/s1600/IMG_0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DxXyAbElvMRvpoCLKdyOm4zySG8HS8wYsyrzI56kel2IT3nmuO9X3X0Zz9UzEOar0BBOoLVG3yzcBPy6LfBzPsyXsxmbWH5W4FRsb12dGmcVK05ac0XdDdc7P4hC4RP6it-_CbArZ1w/s640/IMG_0526.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505393657744571238.post-92103025105600611882011-10-28T14:00:00.000-07:002011-10-28T14:46:48.761-07:00Fall/Fair Time<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s been that time…You know…when people take their prized items to be judged at the Fairs of this great country. I know… it seems old fashioned. It seems like something of yesteryear. People only go to ride the rides (which I would not be caught dead on – just saying honestly) and the concerts, and the food that you only get at the Fair! Some of us though got our start entering these Americana events. My baking started with 4-H. What??? You don’t know what 4-H is? Aww… 4-H is what I did for fun growing up in the rural mid-west. The green four-leafed clover stands for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. It is a practical hands-on learning club and it instills, leadership, citizenship, and life skills. I mean how else would I have made biscuits or pancakes over and over until the crumb was just perfect? I wanted that blue ribbon at the Fair!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyJeKxD8yfdoNJu3gO_Lh2pmxgODN7iOp4powyaUg6NOG2BhW9-LmS0HGLKTVQFNCp7q51jrFMm1nipUqHxa0x0LSqcJDV4vFIy_JndNNAVrWZDsY6pkpfQzTdytKil-GtdHGjHzoSfI/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfRyiMaZKzIm7Zs1NDlL5rAn-cztBnpxV1BZIpB0DDbYVjo9TD8h8VdTbVu18wJLKjPYpimTfqSZHabbnu7RYIM7wm3sQEb-foQrtdnrs8RtiOvoFc6mDWplXBp6KODDxdCpRDOTgXAM/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfRyiMaZKzIm7Zs1NDlL5rAn-cztBnpxV1BZIpB0DDbYVjo9TD8h8VdTbVu18wJLKjPYpimTfqSZHabbnu7RYIM7wm3sQEb-foQrtdnrs8RtiOvoFc6mDWplXBp6KODDxdCpRDOTgXAM/s640/IMG_0087.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What started all of this nostalgia is, yes it has been Fair Time, but I noticed a spider working to weave her web outside my front door between two trees. It was like Charlotte’s Web. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9tTiyxA-JAH9SCWb72-on_JLZUyYdqMXZnYbk4vXcaBitajqEeafc4QDMp6RZoS_2B0t48ip46p7WQ6CwwDjC3VcRNnhxeA7NTtR5hDfyqfD5gAhFPU499nFg6dHC5tL8hcqDW7_1ew/s1600/IMG_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9tTiyxA-JAH9SCWb72-on_JLZUyYdqMXZnYbk4vXcaBitajqEeafc4QDMp6RZoS_2B0t48ip46p7WQ6CwwDjC3VcRNnhxeA7NTtR5hDfyqfD5gAhFPU499nFg6dHC5tL8hcqDW7_1ew/s200/IMG_0281.JPG" width="133" /></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-zDI0QVO7qxV3G-A9f8xl12nw07KKU5f2vaAMZ-uYzciWduanK3bdFd1NosDu7WT1zivux6rtAwxlvNDGj06rdE3BaZIJ77OOBRE8TsrM0V0mY5JW9hPpaWjjEY7WqAzeaQWJKWr7O0/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-zDI0QVO7qxV3G-A9f8xl12nw07KKU5f2vaAMZ-uYzciWduanK3bdFd1NosDu7WT1zivux6rtAwxlvNDGj06rdE3BaZIJ77OOBRE8TsrM0V0mY5JW9hPpaWjjEY7WqAzeaQWJKWr7O0/s640/IMG_0039.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember when Wilbur and Charlotte go to the Fair? Re-read this classic if you don’t remember the story, it is one of my favorites.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thoughtful living moment: Remember your childhood loves and past-times, they can reconnect you with where you need to be today.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we headed on a rainy day to our County Fair and it brought back all of those memories of agonizing over my baked goods to choose the best of the best.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Passing all of the Food Booths, I was reminded how much I LOVE the smell of Fair Food. You know open air and cooking food just makes my mouth water!!! ( Ohhh marketing, marketing we are easily led astray) The kettle corn was at the top of my list and yes; I refrained because of the butter. However, I could not get the craving out of my head, so I came home and created this at home baked version that takes the standard oven caramel corn recipe and spices it up with an Autumn flavor flair - try it – You’ll like it!!! I based the recipe on one out of an old church cookbook from Kingfisher Oklahoma. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This recipe pairs sweet with spicy and would be a fun Fall Festival or Halloween Party Treat to share in the days ahead.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Start by making the spice blend – you won’t use all of this at once, so store in airtight container because you WILL be making more!!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grind in a spice grinder until it is finely ground and then sift to get any large particles. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 T. anise seed</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 T. chai tea</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 T. ground cinnamon (unless you want to grind your own)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 T. whole black peppercorns</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp. whole cloves</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp. ground allspice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp. red pepper flakes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know it seems like a lot of spices, but it is TOTALLY worth the flavor and it makes enough so next time you won’t have to make the spice blend. Just place in an airtight container and try not to make more caramel corn everyday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pull out that old air popper from the back of the cupboard. Pop those kernels until you have 16 cups of popped, fluffy corn. It took me two batches and I had enough left to munch on too:-)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In a deep sauce pan:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Melt ½ cup of Earth Balance (1 stick of the vegan buttery stick)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1-cup brown sugar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">¼ -cup light corn syrup</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">¼ cup amber agave syrup</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">½ tsp. kosher salt </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bring this to a slow boil and cook for 5 minutes. It will be bubbly goodness and stir occasionally.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remove from heat and add 1 T. of the spice blend. Then add ½ tsp. of baking soda. This will foam a bit and syrup will lighten in color.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pour this over the popped corn in a very LARGE bowl. I added 1 cup of slivered almonds to my popped corn just because I could rationalize having a small protein snack when I munched. The nuts are totally up to your liking. Stir this until all pieces are coated well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Divide the coated corn onto ungreased sheet pans or a large shallow roaster pan. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bake for 1 hour while stirring every 15 to 20 minutes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cool and stir to break up any large clumps.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enjoy!!!</span></div></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591714566780040993noreply@blogger.com2