So Long to Another Decade

Dear Monika,
Although today I am surrounded by sister-in-laws . . . nine of them . . . you are and always will be the only sister I shared my childhood home with. The only sister who looked up to me, wore my hand-me-downs, proudly walked the isle on my wedding day and continues to be there through everything . . . just a phone call away.

My earliest memories of you are embedded in the life of a Spanish culture where people would stop to admire your big blue eyes and curly blond hair.

You were everything I was not. I would go to the mirror and try to convince myself that I too had beautiful blue eyes, asking my Omi (Grammy) to confirm that. Another precious memory is of the bedroom we shared as little girls and how we would lay in bed in the dark and sing out all the songs we knew . . . one after the other . . . by memory . . . our brother, a thin wall separating us, made it a trio.

School Days came along and we found that our study habits were opposites. My first report card was proof of a perfectionist at work, while yours gave away your love for play and a general unpreparedness for the rigmaroles of school.
The three and a half year gap in our age seemed to spread further apart when I became a teenager . . .  feeling quite superior. You will remember when my best friend was over, teaching me the fine art of applying mascara . . . and you were not allowed to look.

It’s funny . . . how we think our childhood just goes on and on. Sharing a closet, helping mom with chores, walking to school, eating pancakes, playing cards with dad, reading books on our beds, going to Saturday German School, riding bikes, going to church. . . but when I think of these random bits right now, I realize that it really was so short . . . in comparison to the time we’ve now experienced as grown women.

Yet . . . the memories of today are built on the memories of yesterday . . . one day stacked upon another . . . all of them rooted in the home we once shared. In a sense, the home we keep going back to.
We’ve taken our turns folding diapers, doing science projects, reminding our kids to practice piano, hosting showers as aunties, re-decorating our homes, taking on roles in our church kitchens, sharing scrapbooks and supporting each other in sadness and in joy.

Monika, today you close another decade and tomorrow you begin a new one. I want to tell you that I’m proud to call you my sister. I’ve watched you grow up and I’ve also watched you grow as a woman. Your service and faithfulness does not go unnoticed. I wish you much joy on your special day and in this season of your life with so much to look forward to. It’s a time when your house can feel quite empty one moment and very full the next. Enjoy both. Wishing you an early Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I know . . . It looks like I can hardly wait! Love, Anni

Shower Ideas

I don't know about you, but I get inspired to host when I get invited into someone's home. There is something about getting treated that makes me want to pass it on. So, today I am simply inviting you into my home via photos of a small baby shower I hosted this week. It came up so suddenly, I hardly had time to think about it and that's what made the preparation simple, economical and enjoyable too.

I knew I had some unbaked appetizers in my freezer. I even had extra cupcakes in the freezer from another venue last week as well as unbaked tart shells. All I had to do was to get some fruit, vegetables, flowers and napkins. On the morning of, I set the table with my Royal Albert china. What else is it for, but to use?

And since, in this small group of women, two are expecting this Spring . . . we made it a double shower. A surprise for both of them. Two baby chicks came down from a shelf nearby and some tea lights too, for added ambiance.

I set the frozen cupcakes onto a pedestal plate. Then I baked and filled the tarts.

I cooked lemon pie filling from a package and let it cool. Then, instead of piling the meringue on top, I beat it into the pudding, to make a light lemony tasting filling.

The frozen mushroom turn overs were popped in the oven . . .

at the same time as the Mexican spirals.

During that time I cut up the veggies and fruit. And got out the teapot.

Lacey, our youngest lady at the table, was not one bit bored, as we all listened to our young moms-to-be share some of their dreams for their babies.

After lunch, the gifts were opened . . . such cute things! It was so much fun! And then it was time for the working women to get back to their jobs . . .

and for Miss Lacey to go home for her afternoon nap.

Thank you for dropping by!

Fresh-Scented Towels

When our moms and grandmas did their laundry they often hung it outside and let the wind, fresh air and sunshine do its work. I still love the scent of laundry dried outside and hang it out when the weather permits. Certain things, that is, because some things are just too tedious to hang . . . or the neighbors do not need to see them. I also do not like to hang towels to dry because they tend to feel like scrub brushes if there is no wind to blow on them. I like them soft, but not necessarily the soft that comes from using fabric softener. There is a happy medium between having enough scrub/drying ability and a freshness that is not perfumed.

So, maybe it's because I rarely use any kind of fabric softener that my towels need a boost now and then. Upon my sister's recommendation, I've begun using Pine Sol every once in a while . . . about 1/4 - 1/2 cup along with the detergent. The pine oil in this cleaner acts as a natural deodorizer and disinfectant. I find it eliminates stale odors and leaves my towels feeling clean, absorbent and smelling fresh, without fabric softener.

PS After using the lemon fresh Pine Sol for a while now, I've read that you are only to use the Original Pine-Sol for use in the laundry. Not sure why. I have had not had problems. I add it to the compartment where I would add the bleach in my energy efficient washing machine. For grease spots, you can rub in right into the spot.

Believing God Can

I keep going back to the title. Do I believe that He can . . .? Continuing on through Beth Moore’s study, it seems that believing that He can is more important than that He does what I think He should do. Maybe what is more important is what we are learning in the process . . . learning to know the Healer of our souls, rather than knowing healing of our body. The apostle Paul prayed for God to remove his thorn, and God told him that His grace is sufficient for him. God does what He does to bring glory to Himself . . . whether it be by showing His power through His healing or through His sufficiency. Both are miracles.

John the Baptist, who lived his whole life to prepare for Jesus and baptized Him, ended up in prison. While there, he had his friends go to Jesus and ask Him if He truly is the One who was to come. Jesus said, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Exactly! Jesus was performing miracles for everyone but him. This was supposed to be a comfort? I’ve often wondered about that last sentence.
Another version goes like this, “Blessed are you if you are not offended with me.” One of Greeks translations for offend is ‘to cause a person to begin to distrust.’ Beth states that, “Few of us will escape a painful opportunity to be offended with Christ . . . Blessed are we when we could be offended and choose with every shred of tattered faith not to be.”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, administrators under king Nebuchadnezzar, exercised this kind of faith when he had them hurled into the fire on account of not worshiping his image. They placed their faith in a God who could save them, but declared their faith in God even if He did not save them. In this case, God saw the greater good in a miraculous rescue before the eyes of an unbelieving nation. (Daniel 3)

In the hard things we face we have the privilege to ask of a God who loves us, knowing He is able, but trusting He is still good if we can't see what He is doing.

"Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." Matthew 11:6

Breakfast Reading

I don't often get out the cereal for breakfast so recently, when I sat down with it at the counter, I actually looked at the box and noticed that you can change it into hot cereal, if you like . . .

. . . but I did have to laugh at the warning. No kidding!

Sometimes I choose something more meaningful for my morning read . . . and I wish I would choose this option more often.

Lessons from a Friend

My friend, Doreen and I have, on several occasions, chatted about cooking and compared notes on how we are both following some of our dreams in this area. Last week she invited me over to her house to show me how to bone a chicken . . . since that is something I was quite interested in observing. I wanted to call it de-boning … doesn’t that make sense? But apparently it’s known as boning … go figure. Now, I had never actually eaten a stuffed chicken without bones, but it just sounded like an amazing way to serve up a roasted chicken.
When I got to her place, she had four raw whole chickens ready to go. I had to take some pictures . . . and I will explain the process.

1. Lay the chicken, breast side down and pull the thighs back so that they snap.
2. Using a small sharp knife (a boning or paring knife) cut lengthwise along the backbone from top to bottom.
3. Using the tip of the knife, cut along each side of the ribcage with short strokes, staying close to the bones and pulling away the meat with the skin on. You will also need to make a cut where the legs and wings attach, all the while keeping the skin intact. Cut around the wishbone to pull it out.
4. Once you’ve cut along both sides of the ribcage, down to the breastbone, pull out the carcass. Use the fillet pieces that come loose to later patch areas where there is no meat.
5. Cut along both sides of the thigh bone, pulling the meat away and taking the bone out.
6. Continue shaving away the meat from the bone on the drumstick too. Once the bones are out, flip the leg (outside in) so that the skin is on the outside again . . . forming a small tube.( Do both legs)
7. Remove the tips of the wings and leave them be, unless you'd love the challenge. (Throw all the bones into a pot to make stock or broth . . . cover with water, add salt, spices, onion, a carrot and a stalk of celery . . . bring to boil and simmer about an hour. Strain once cooled.)
8. The center picture in the collage shows the finished product, folded up, without stuffing.
9. Lightly season unfolded inside of chicken. Using a large needle and strong thread (doubled) sew up part way, starting at the leg opening, to make a pouch.
10. Stuff with your favorite bread stuffing, some into the legs as well, and then continue sewing up, securing flap of skin from the neck area to the body.
11. Rub with oil and season. Cook in roaster, open for ½ hour and closed for 1 ½ hours. Remove onto serving platter, cover and let rest 15 minutes.
12. Make gravy in roasting pan, if desired. To serve chicken, slice thick slices.
    

After massacring of my first chicken, I boldly went on to the second one . . . only to gasp after my first big cut. I had it turned the wrong way, with the breast up. There was nothing I could do but continue the same drill and see if it would work. It did . . . I ended up using my hands to pull away most of the meat. So it’s all about what is comfortable. There really is more than one way to skin a cat . . . I mean, a bird.

Doreen invited me to sit down

and she served some delicious mini pavlovas and coffee.

While we ate I got a chance to browse through her promo album, showing samples of the appetizers she serves for her “elegant tea” catering business. Turkish apricots wrapped in bacon, mini-rouladen, spicy coconut ginger shrimp skewers and pinwheel sandwiches are just a few on the list. I was impressed with what she is promoting in her invitation to experience the tradition of afternoon tea.

Doreen has just opened a web page, that is still in progress, but delightful to check out. Her service is available for showers, weddings, cocktail parties, dessert buffets and almost any kind of elegant party you wish to plan. I wish her all the best in her venture!

The TV Interview

Last Thursday Lovella received an email from the producer of the weekend morning and noon news at the Global TV network station. She was wondering if Lovella or any of us ladies would like to come into the studio to talk about “Mennonite Girls Can Cook”.

And that is how it came to be . . . that Lovella and the first "one of us" who responded to Lovella's email . . . namely Kathy, got to head to Vancouver yesterday . . . while the rest of us sat glued to our TVs at home, waiting for the final part of the 12:30 News. Well, almost final . . . sports came later yet . . . so there were still some people tuned in.

We were eating lunch when the "heads up" announcement, showing our book cover, came along . . . saying something like . . . "Coming up after the break . . . we'll talk about "Mennonite Girls Can Cook."

And there they were! Sophie Lui interviewing Lovella and Kathy about how the blog came about.

On my couch . . . I sat and giggled through the interview myself. It seemed so surreal. My friends sitting there with Paska and Platz in front of them, talking about the upcoming cookbook that we have been working on! I would never have expected to see this on the News. Sort of like the old Sesame Street song that went something like . . . one of these things is not like the other . . . one of these things just doesn't belong! Can you guess which thing is different before I end this song?

But . . . here we are! Mennonite Girls Can Cook on the Global TV Noon News! I wonder. . . is that the name we would have chosen for the blog . . . had we known it would become our name too? None-the-less, I'm tickled pink to be on this ride . . . with all of you!

HAPPY ONE-DERLAND

This week, as we are literally enjoying a winter wonderland, we are invited to a one-derland Birthday party that I’m looking forward to!

On this your First Birthday, Lacey . . . I want you to know what a wonder it has been to watch you grow and learn! The process simply amazes me!

From helpless little babe to one discovering hands . . . learning to use them to pick up

. . . to point or to open cupboards

. . . to lift flaps and turn pages

or to copy older cousins.

From a little mind that communicated with silence or crying . . . now showing understanding with your smiles, giggles, nods and shakes.

From tiny wrinkled feet that now patter across the floor as you have learned to balance yourself and enjoy more freedom.

Dear Lacey Love . . .

You observe so much more than we imagine . . . and your eyes show it. They show love and delight for family, routines, being flipped, playing peek-a-boo, books, music and going for walks. We look forward to many more of these . . . along with shrieks of delight when you drive up our driveway. We wish you a very Happy Birthday!

Love, Papa and Grammy

You Just Never Know

We were watching Hawaii Five-O one night . . . the usual drama. In this episode a young lady in a travelling vehicle was locked up in a trunk and calling her brother from her cell. He told her to kick out the tail light . . . so she could see where she was going and tell him.

I asked, "Can you actually do that? . . . kick out the tail light?"

He figured, "Yes."

"That's a good thing to know." I replied in all seriousness.

He chuckled . . . like I would need to know this!

Well . . . you just never know. I thought it was worth knowing.

A Surprise Win

I don't know when it first happened that Menno Jeweler left comments on my blog. The name intrigued me and I had to see who it was. I found out that her name is Kathy, she designs and makes handcrafted jewelry and I have to say . . . she is a true gem, herself! I hope to meet her one day. Last Fall I voted on a beautiful necklace that she had submitted in a jeweler's contest. To my surprise, I received an email sometime later from a company called Vintaj Natural Brass, letting me know that I had won a draw . . . not the necklace, but something from this company. I had not realized that commenting would put my name into a draw. Now all I needed to do was to send in my mailing address.

The parcel arrived before Christmas!

In it was a card to congratulate me . . .

and two bags of jewelry . . . ready to assemble. Was I supposed to be a jeweler?

I laid out the pieces for the necklace . . .

and the earrings . . . kind of puzzled because there were no instructions . . . don't you need those . . . and some tools?

I feel a little bit at a loss here. I've noticed that, besides jewelry, Kathy can whip up some nice baking. It's not fair . . . she has instructions to follow . . .

but I have nothing . . . am I supposed to bend the pin?

How do I attach the loop? I will need some help, if I am to wear these. Good thing I know whom to ask.

Menno Jeweler has a blog, Artful Accents (on my sidebar) and I encourage you to check out her Etsy Shop sometime. She has just sold a lot of her jewelry for Christmas, so she will need a bit of time to catch up again . . . but keep checking.

A Surprise Gift

My sister gave me a random gift . . . not for Christmas . . . not for my Birthday . . . she had seen these dishes and got them for me.

I especially like this one . . . it's called a pasta dish, but very nice for dips. She mentioned that she had to get them because they had my name on them. I was somewhat surprised because I don't have anything blue in my house.

I turned over the plate and saw what she meant . . . you may need to click on the picture to see . . . sorry, I should have done a retake.

How sweet is that? She figured we may like to use them for dessert, knowing it's a nightly habit for us.

Last night my H came home from a business trip and dessert for two was waiting. For the recipe you can go to Mennonite girls can cook today.