OUR FAVORITE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP

Nancy took the Colorado kids to our neighbourhood coffee shop, Mojo's (i had to be at work), where they enjoyed latte's and cappicino's. My personal fave is a half cafe, 1 shot, breve' with caramel & toasted marshmallow syrup...yummmmmmmm!

RECIPE CORRECTION

On the recipe of Honaker style Clam Cakes recipe of last week, the eggs were omitted from the list of ingredients. Add 2 eggs to that recipe and things should come out "much more betta"...sorry! Also, drain on paper towels and blot with another paper towel...otherwise they will be quite "greasy"!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

EASY CHICKEN CORDON BLEU

3 large boneless chicken breasts, pounded flat to 1/2" thick *** thin sliced smoked ham *** brick of swiss cheese *** flour *** butter and/or oil *** 1 tsp chicken bouillon *** small can of mushrooms, drained or 4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced and sauteed *** 1/2 cup white wine *** toasted sliced almonds

After pounding the breasts flat, cut each in half. On each half at wide end, layer several slices of ham and a 1/2" x 1/2" x 4" stick of cheese. Roll up carefully and secure with several toothpicks. After all are rolled up, melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Roll breast rolls in flour, season with salt & pepper, and brown lightly, removing and placing into sprayed 9" x 13" pan. Add oil to pan bits to make about 1 TBSP, then add 1-1/2 TBSP flour to make roux. Stir and cook slightly, then add chicken base, wine, mushrooms with liquid(or 1/2 cup water if using fresh 'rooms). Add toasted almonds and stir till slightly thicken sauce is achieved. Pour over chicken breasts, cover and bake in 350 degree for 1 hour...serve with a rice side dish.

SEASONS EATINGS!!!

THEY'RE HERE! the kids arrived from ft. collins wed. nite...sara watching me cook!
michael sharing a moment with his 5-15/16th month old nephew. what's up with that beard!?
sutton watching us eat...always happy, even with a bad cold. notice the retro toys he's playing with...toys that Michael & Gina, and maybe even Nancy played with as a child!
us all (minus Adam) around the table the first nite sharing a feast of chicken cordon bleu, baked sweet potato, and fresh garden salad...a little something i just whipped up after work on Wed.

SUNDAY'S RECIPE- a day late

Honaker Style Clam Cakes

1 c. flour *** 1 tsp. baking soda *** 2 tsp. baking powder *** 2 eggs *** 1 TBSP lemon juice *** 1/3 c. clam juice(reserved from clams) *** 1/4 c. milk *** 1 TBSP melted butter *** pinch cayenne pepper *** 2 TBSP fresh parsley, finely chopped *** 2 - 10 to 12 oz cans clams, drained (or 4 dozen cherrystone clams, shucked, drained, minced) *** salt & pepper *** oil for frying

Stir together flour, soda, powder - whisk in eggs, lemon juice, clam juice, milk, butter & cayenne just till batter is smooth. Stir in parsley & clams, season with salt & pepper. Bring 1/8" of oil in skillet to 325-350 degrees, spoon 2 TBSP batter at a time into hot oil. Fry till golden brown on bottom side, flip and fry approx 2 minutes more on 2nd side. Drain on paper towels. Serve as appetizer or main dish.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Just got back from a scooter ride on my 'Ferguson, and did some thinking while i was rumbling around town...decided to relay some of the Christmas memories I have experienced over the last 50+ years of my life...

-singing in the little kids choir in the old Goessel Church with the big wooden stage, forgeting my "piece" that i had memorized, and pounding my head with my fist to dislodge the words!

-playing Walter Cronkite in our school Christmas program (i was the main character), and at the end saying his famous line..."and thats' the way it is, December 25, 1968...goodnite!"

-my older brother Rod & I getting this HUGE 2 train set for Christmas (we crapped our pants!) complete with a layout board that Dad built in the basement completely without us knowing!

-getting a brand new Schwinn StingRay bike with ape hangers and a rear slick tire one year (an old man had won the bike at the local credit union Christmas meeting...Dad went and bought the bike from him)

-opening up a box under the tree and finding inside a beautiful green SK Wayne toolbox with my name printed on the top, and inside finding a couple of SK Wayne screwdrivers

-always going out the week or 2 after Thanksgiving and picking out a real Christmas tree(no one had artificial trees) and the tedious job of putting on the tinsel( and taking it off afterward)

-going to all the obscure Christmas gatherings of people i had no idea of who they were(Funk, Reimer, Duerksen sides of the family), eating fabulous carry-in food, and making the best of the aftenoon trying to play with kids i didn't know!

-going Christmas caroling with all the 3 local church youth groups (Goessel, Alexanderwohl, and Tabor) just because it was the thing to do (and you got to cuddle up real close to the girl you'd asked to go along...i had several, one of which ended up being my wife!)

-finishing up my freshman finals at K-State, then driving home in the snow for a wonderfully long Christmas break (of which i spent most of the time with my sexy, delicious girlfriend-Nancy)

-the hassle of making 3 gatherings on Nancy's side and 3 on my side while trying to keep our sanity intact while dragging along 2 little kids

-the fun we had shopping for toys for our kids...always had a hard time figuring out what to buy a girl, especially as Gina got older!!!

-the wonderfully LARGE bonuses that we gave us/our employees at Mid Kansas Propane...I always made sure to buy something very nice with the $$$ and not pay bills/buy food with it

-learning to wrap Christmas presents expertly when I worked at Grabers (there we days that i'll bet i wrapped 20-25 presents, some of very weird shapes).

-the time that I was unemployed for a year and received a Christmas box from the Salvation Army...what a humbling experience. This year I resolved to NEVER pass a Salvation Army bucket without dropping in a buck, or at least some change...and have rang the bell for several years.

which brings me to this year...I am the happiest that I have been in many years this Christmas. Maybe because for the first time in many years I have a job I enjoy, maybe 'cause I have had the $ and the inspiration to buy gifts this year, maybe 'cause I have been so blessed this year...don't know exactly why. I do know we are going to make some new memories this year...the first year with a grandchild. So...Merry Christmas!

Thanks, Mom & Dad

Thanks, Mom & Dad, for the early Christmas present...a new stainless steel sink & garbage disposal. After suffering for 20+ years with an ugly white cast iron sink, we finally took the plunge and got a stainless steel sink...way better than the old p.o.s.! and the disposal hadn't been working correctly for a long time, so it went too.

We spent the day vacuuming, dusting, washing floors, etc getting ready for the Colorado kids to come home...man are we bushed! Cocktail time!

JOINED THE CLUB...

well, its official...i have joined the club. which club you say...the club of people that have had kidney stones, that's which club. The pain started this morning at 3a...just thought i had the usual back pain, so i got up and took some pills. but by 7a this morning, i knew i wouldn't be going to work and nancy took me to the ER. they didn't find an actual kidney stone on the CT, but they found evidence that i had "had" one and had passed it. so i stayed home today with some nice big pain medication...and caught up on a little of the sleep i missed.

i was in charge of Taco soup day at work today...guess we'll do that tommorow. and i'm glad that if this had to happen, it happened today instead of late next week...gotta lot of plans for then!

Which brings me to my point, and i'm not going to preach. all my life, literally, i've wondered why we (the public) can't be/act as nice to one another as we do these couple of weeks before Christmas. we're Christians (well, some of us) all year, not just from Thanksgiving till dec. 25, so why can't that happen all year?

I'm having a great Christmas season and wished it went longer. the music, the food, the kids coming home from Colorado, the present God gave us of a grandchild (and the nicest one that you could ask for), the visiting, going to a K-State basketball game, our health, and much more. i know "the reason for the season" and celebrate all the gifts God has given me...all i have to do is look around to see them.

HOT COCOA MIX

Hot Cocoa Mix

1- 8 quart box dried milk *** 1-6 oz. jar non dairy creamer *** 1 cup powdered sugar *** 1- 1 lb box instant chocolate drink mix *** 1- 3 oz box instant chocolate pudding mix ***

Combine all very well in large bowl, store in airtight container. Put 1/3 cup mix into favorite mug (8 oz) and fill with hot water, stir in marshmallows if desired.

Mmmmm! you all probably have this recipe already, but its such a cold blustery day here in Newton that I thought it appropriate to post this recipe.

Adult Recipe - add a shot of Bailey's Irish Creme

Its An Elf!!!

We went Christmas shopping to Wichita yesterday...something we haven't done in a long, long time. And we were successful!!! We got there about 10 am, and were home at 3 pm, and that even included a WONDERFUL hour long lunch at one of my favorite restaurants...Red Lobster. The crab legs, scallops, clams, shrimp, chowder, and ceasar salad were INCREDIBLY good! not to mention those cheddar bay bisquits!
Anyway, we only made stops at less than6 stores...we had a plan and a list of ideas. Its amazing how smooth things can go when great minds think alike and agree easily(who they talking about....me, agreeable?!)

Anyway, on our travels we saw the cutest elf! I
think there's a family resemblance. He helped us
with our list, and told us all had been nice, so no problem there (i noticed there's no presents under the tree with my name...maybe not quite everybodys' been nice). Gina gave us an early Christmas present...a $10 coupon to Red Lobster, which we used of course (I could eat seafood 5 days a week!...should'a lived on the coast).

Thought of the Day

"I'm too old to worry about dying young".

SUTTON COMES TO VISIT...GINA TOO!

Look everyone, I can sit up by myself...for a few minutes before I fall over!
Look at the "old school" baby toys my grandma found for me to play with...they are all made by some company called Fisher-Price?!
We all get a lap...me on Grandma's and Annie on mommy's!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

CAJUN PRETZELS

1/2 cup oil, 1-1 oz pkg Hidden Valley dry salad dressing mix, 1-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1-12 to 16 oz bag pretzels

Mix the oil and the seasonings till dissolved, pour over pretzels and mix well(either in large bowl OR ziplock bag. Store airtight...that's it! (recipe i got from co-worker-delish!)

GRANDPA'S WORKSHOP

Grandpa's Workshop
-established 1990, serving the greater metro North Newton area, handcrafting the finest in solid wood gifts & furniture utilizing predominately Kansas hardwoods (oak & walnut)as well as lyptus, mahogany, and pine, all items finished with a durable satin sealer or poly urethane finish (paint finish also available)


*items pictured here starting from bottom left in clockwise order...coat tree from scraps of library ladder, 1930's Model T tanker, semi flatbed trailer with culverts and box of freight, Freightliner semi-tractor with propane tanker, intarsia of owl in hollow of tree, Harley Davidson child's rocker, North 81 Chili Co. sign, 1929 Pontiac coupe, small racer, engraved sign. Chevrolet bowtie dash plaque sign, end table (part of twin endtable & headboard set)

All work is custom made to order as per customers specs. Delivery available. Hours are some weekday evenings if in the mood and some weekends as needed. Call Grandpa Bruce for an appointment to create your next family heirloom.

North 81 Chili Company

Grandpa's Woodshop was recently contracted by
the proprietors of North 81 Chili Company to make a new sign for their establishment. It was requested to be of a natural oak & walnut construction, with appropriate antique lettering and to be finished with a hand-rubbed patina. The initial coat of finish has been applied in these pictures, with touch sanding and 2 more layers of sealer to be applied. Presentation of the handmade piece to the founder of this well-known & highly sought-after purveyor of the finest Texas-style chili is anticipated in the next week to 10 days for final approval.

Pictures of last weeks recipe

once again, the pictures are in reverse order. this is the finished product, ready for whipped cream...i had my first piece tonite!
here is the shell fresh out of the oven and ready to cool, along with the pumpkin mixture ready to cool before adding the whipped egg whites...
i was going to use a store bought pie crust, but when i was ready to start the pie, i didn't want to take the time to run to Dillons, so i quick whipped out a baked shell...just as good!

GRANDPA'S WOODSHOP

with winter season setting in finally, the woodshop has been re-opened for the season and several projects are in progress or already done.

after visiting our local coffee shop Bubbert's several times, i was intrigued by their sign inside that someone had handmade. i took my tape measure along and took some rudimentary measurements and started formulating the sign i would build. these first 2 pictures are the start of said project. i love working with different woods and bringing out their natural beauty...this one will be using oak and some walnut that a friend of my folks gave me from a tree in their yard that was cut down.


more pictures will follow (and i haven't figured out how to rearrange the pictures to get them in the order i want)












this is the first project of the winter season...a coat rack that Nancy wanted for our entrance. i ordered the cast iron hooks online, and used a piece of oak from my scrap pile. i ended up having to paint the hooks and the screws to mount them, cause you can't find wrought iron flat black screws just anyplace. anyways, she was happy and i think it came out pretty nice!

THE BEST IN THE WORLD-PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE

Sorry i don't have a picture of this pie, but i will be making one this week...its a bit of work, but the best pumpkin pie in the world!

PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE

3 eggs, separated * 1cup sugar, divided * 1/2 cup milk * 1-1/4 cup canned pumpkin * 1/2 tsp each-salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger * 1 pkg Knox unflavored gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water * 1/2 cup sugar * 1 baked pie shell or graham cracker crust

Put yolks into saucepan, add 1/2 cup sugar. Beat till blended, then add 1/2 cup milk, pumpkin, and spices. Cook and stir over medium heat till hot and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin mixture, set aside till cooled to room temperature. Then beat room temp egg whites, slowly adding 1/2 cup sugar, till stiff. Fold into pumpkin mixture gently and pour into pie shell. Refrigerate till set up, serve with whipped cream (the good stuff if possible-not Cool Whip)

My mom made this pie every Thanksgiving that I can remember, traditional pumpkin pie would never hold a candle to this (even though I like it too). I plan to carry on the tradition.

Fall Colors in North Newton

this was supposed to be Nancy's blog, but after she gave up in frustration (very unlike her) due to pre-surgery stress, i decided it would be a waste to not share these pictures.

Nancy has become inspired by our daughters' gift of photography, and has been trying to emulate some photos of her own. now that the surgery is over and we have been very, very blessed by a positive outcome of that surgery and a much shorter than expected recovery time, i want to bless you with some of the scenery God has given us in north newton.

please take time to stop during the next 10 days, look at God's splendor, and give thanks to all the gifts he has bestowed upon you.



the top picture is on ivy drive, 1 block east of us.




the 2nd picture is on west 24th street, the 3rd is at the north end of our block.





















the last one is looking out our back door...i think these are better than any Christmas decorations you will find around town! great job, hon!

...the weekend from Hell

i know i'm a bit of a drama queen, but i've just come thru an experience that i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. after apparently sustaining an injury to my back lat friday, i woke up saturday morning in excrutiating pain...i could barely walk, could not tie my shoes, was basically an invalid. luckily i had some leftover pain medication at home, so i took some and was even able to get out sat. afternoon to watch my son-in-law compete in an RC flying competition. but as evening came on, the pain returned...another pain pill. i fully expected to wake up sunday ready to go. i did get a decent nite's sleep, but sunday was about 85% as bad as saturday had been...another pain pill just to survive.

then came the worst...sunday nite. about 6:30p, i first started to experience anxiety attacks (ever been claustrophobic and got stuck in an elevator...HORROR!) after trying everything to get over them, i lay down in bed about 11pm with the lights on in the bedroom and the TV on (poor Nancy!) i dozed off & on till 1a, then it was just too much, so i spent the rest of the nite sitting on the couch watching reruns of weekend football and trying to stay awake?!!? morning finally came, and the attacks were back. finally Nancy gave me a Valium she had and that settled me down enough to go to work. i was abale to get into a chiropractor at 9am, and when he felt my lower back exclaimed..."yep, there is the problem" and when he pressed it back into placed there was such a pop it was "oh my" from him.

i realize now that i did a major injury to my big back muscles, as they are still quite sore after several icings. i also know that the trama to my back caused my night terrors to flare up in reaction to that injury(and i don't think the pain meds helped either). i was able to come home early from work (thanks, Schaben!) and get a couple hours of sleep this afternoon. i am hoping for a full nites sleep tonite. i am so thankful for a supportive wife...i am supposed to be her strength this week as she undergoes rotator cuff surgery Wed., and i'm the one thats the invalid!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

SWEET HOT PICKLED JALAPENO & GARLIC

1 to 2 dozen fresh jalapenos
2 or 3 big heads garlic
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup + 2 TBSP. white sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. mustard seed

Wash and slice crosswise the jalapenos' (we take out all the pith & seeds so they aren't so HOT) and separate the garlic into individual cloves. In a pint jar put a layer of jalapenos', then a layer of garlic cloves & repeat, filling the jar..then gently press down to get it really full. In a saucepan, combine rest of ingredients of brine and just bring to boil. Cool 15-20 minutes, then pour into jar full to the top, place lid on and seal tightly. Store in fridge for a week before using. We take a Townhouse or Ritz cracker, spread on some softened cream cheese, then a jalapeno & a garlic clove. Have a cold beer (or other beverage) handy in case you get a "live" one. * Hint: everyone with you must have one, otherwise the person that doesn't try one will not be able to stand everyone else's "garlic breath"...these are very healthy, with all the Vitamin C in the jalapenos and antioxidants in the garlic!

Better Late than never...

well, it was 28 years ago last Thursday nite, November 4, that we went to the Tabor Church Mennonite Men's chicken barbeque and enjoyed delicious grilled chicken, beans, coleslaw, and an ice cream bar for dessert...all the while Nancy was having contractions prior to the birth of our son Michael. So, this year, exactly 28 years to the day, we again went to the barbeque...same menu, but this time my wife was not pregnant. They grill the chicken outside over coals and apply the barbeque sauce with a hand pressure sprayer!

Guest Blogger spooked...

My wife took some awesome(apparently!) pictures and started to do a guest post, but her stress level is astronomical, so she freaked out and quit in disgust when things didn't go right. she is very emotional now with less than 1 week till her major shoulder surgery and the stress is showing badly. i'm trying to be a good husband, but i'm nervous myself about doing all the dishes, laundry, cooking (which i do already) while taking care of my invalid wife for 6+ weeks.

gonna take some big-time help from the big guy above...thanks in advance, God!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

HOMEMADE NOODLES

This recipe isn't as much about ingredients as it is method...and wholesomeness. You need to start out with buying a noodle/pasta maker...I got mine probably 10 years ago for $20 at a kitchen gadget store(some of the best money I've spent for the kitchen). The other item you need will be a cheap kitchen scale to weigh the flour (not absolutely necessary, but they are cheap and it makes it a little easier).

VERY IMPORTANT! take 5 large eggs out of the fridge at least an hour before starting...the eggs need to be at room temperature, otherwise the dough will be VERY hard to work. Stir in a strong tsp. of salt and beat a little till mixed, then add in 1 pound of flour...today I used 1/4 whole wheat and 3/4 unbleached white flour. Stir until well blended, then add 1 TBSP olive oil, then add only 1 or 2 TBSP warm water to be able to make a dough that is homogenized but not sticky. Knead a bit like you would a bread dough, then cut into golf-ball sized pieces. Picture 2 shows the pasta machine I have that clamps onto the edge of a table (whoops, and my K-State cap and my ticket from last nights' huge win over Texas..it was a great time!)

You squeeze the dough a little flat and run it thru the rollers several times until you have a nice smooth slab of noodle dough, then cut it into 4" pieces, the run it thru the noodle cutter.(Picture 3 shows a clump of dough ready to roll out and a plate of just made noodles). You very lightly toss the noodles with flour to make sure they don't stick to each other, then I spread them out to dry on a tea towel (Picture 1) Let them dry for 3-6 hours, then bring 6 cups of broth(either chicken or beef) to a boil in a big pot, then dump in all the noodles. Next add your meat (either chunks of beef or chicken) and boil till noodles are done...10 minutes?( you just have to sample). The flour on the noodles will thicken up the broth.

We use a whole small chicken boiled and deboned, which we like the best. You can also use a couple of pounds of a beef roast or chunks of sirloin or some other steak. Another variation we like is using a thawed 10 oz. frozen box of chopped spinach, squeezing all the moisture out in a tea towel before adding it to the egg/flour mixture...makes great spinach noodles!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE - EAT OUT!

I'm pretty well tapped out, so take yourself out for lunch/dinner today! Had a great! weekend putting on Judgement House, but it was physically taxing. Friday was up at 5:30a to start my day, work till 5:15p, buzz home and eat a quick bowl of chili, shower, and head for church, which went till after 10p.

I got to sleep in Sat. till 8a, then up and made myself the Deluxe Funk breakfast (basted eggs, hash browns, bacon, toast & o.j), then ran over to the store and bought a new 32" flat screen HD LCD tv. At 9:45a it was off to Goessel to attend my Uncle Rudy Schmidt's funeral and have a light lunch afterward. Got home at 1:30p, piddle a bit on a wood project, showered and off to church again at 2:30p for JH, which i got home from at 11p Sat. nite. I'm bushed!!!!!

So, I slept in today, had my coffee, our Sunday morning discussions about the upcoming week and Nancy's surgery, and I made "real food" for lunch...smothered baked pork chops, scalloped potatoes, and a fresh tossed salad....mmmmm! I also made a batch of homemade noodles this morning (cooking is my release/relaxation mechanism if you haven't guessed!) that i will be making into chicken noodle here pretty soon.

What a weekend!!! I got to meet Debbie, the real life mother of Hannah, the girl who the story is told of. She died Nov. 9 4 years ago, and our JH was a snapshot glimpse of the last 9 months of her life. Debbie flew all the way here from North Carolina at our request to join us for the last day of our drama, and wow, what a woman! She talked to each group that went thru (totally on her own idea) about losing her daughter, and talk about a Spirit-filled woman! She will be at our follow-up celebration today at 3pm at church...can't wait. I got a picture taken of me and her (i introduced myself to her as her "husband", which is the character I portrayed in scene 5), and we hugged and she asked for a picture...the cast got a laugh out of my comment! I have been truly blessed thru this last 2 weeks...what an adventure it was (and always is every year). PTL!

Life just got a little more hectic...

-a couple of things...Nancy just scheduled her rotator cuff surgery for Nov. 17. I hope I can get that day off to be with her, and then we're going to have to lean on some family to help/be with her for a couple of days after that. She needed the surgery (everything else was tried) and needed to get it done yet this year so her insurance would pay for it. Hope she's pretty well healed up by Christmas when the kids come home from Colorado!

-just found out that this years Judgement House is so powerful, we've had to expand our hours. That translates into me working from 6p-11p on Friday interviewing exiting people for their thoughts. On Saturday, it means acting in the scene where Hannah dies from 3p-11pm. Lord, I/we will need your strength to make it thru...not our will but yours, to be a witness to the unsaved! Sunday will be crash & burn for me and a whole lot of other folks from church, I'm sure.

JUDGEMENT HOUSE-Hannah's Hope

well, here it is, sunday afternoon, and we're about halfway thru this years edition of Judgement House, the story we are portraying is called Hannah's Hope.

The true life story is of Hannah, a high school junior that discovers she has cancer, the treatments she goes thru, the witnessing she does, her death & her eternal reward. It again, like the stories we have done in the past, is very gripping and dramatic.

i have 2 roles this year, 1 as a substitute for Hannah's dad in the scene where she dies, and the other as an interviewer who talks to people on camera after they come thru the drama. Our scene is incredible...even after i've done the role several times, when i went thru the whole drama after i was done acting, my eyes well up with tears as Hannah dies in "my" scene. i can't tell you how many people i saw coming out of scene 5 with tears in their eyes. talk about powerful...whoa!

i'm looking forward to tonite, when i'll be able to concentrate on interviews from 6p-9:30p. i'd like to ask some real "prying" questions, but i need to be discreet too. so we'll find out how that turns out...should run across some people who have just accepted the Lord, will be way cool!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

FISH TACOS

1 to 1-1/2 lbs tilapia, 3 TBSP butter, table salt & black pepper, Old Bay Seasoning, curry powder
Melt butter in microwave. Salt, pepper, Old Bay one side of fish, place seasoned side down in baking dish. Salt, pepper, Old Bay & curry powder season top side, drizzle butter on fillets. Bake 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until fish flakes.

Chop fresh tomatoes, fine shred lettuce, and shred some Swiss cheese. Microwave 4-6 tortilla for 30 seconds to soften (i place a damp paper towel on top to prevent drying out). Layer on tilapia, lettuce, tomato, cheese, minced jalapeno(if you like it hot) and top with a squirt of Ranch dressing.

Random Thoughts this Tuesday Morning...

-well, here it is, Oct. 19, and i'm still biking every weekday morning at 5:30am since i got inspired by my son on July 31...longest i've stuck with an excercise routine ever, and i still look forward to it every morning... its so quiet, still, and refreshing!

-very busy the next 10 days...don't know exactly why i volunteered for so much at church. We are giving an outreach drama as we have for the last 3 years...its called Judgement House. I've been in security 1 year, and actor in a scene 1 year, and a group starter the last year. This year i decided to wait and be a "fill in where needed" person, and sure enough, there was plenty of need. I play the dad for a couple of hours both of the next Saturdays in the scene where the high school daughter dies...its VERY dramatic. Then when i'm not doing that, they have me scheduled for 11 hours interviewing persons that have just come thru the drama, asking about their feelings. i'll certainly be ready to unlax by next Sunday. I guess this is my way of serving for the Lord...i hope my efforts are for his glory.

-did i mention that i have the most wonderful woman in the world as my wife of 32+ years? She is my joy and inspiration (and i have 2 of the best puppies too!)

-i still am very much enjoying my new job...its the slow season now, but it'll pick up here in a couple of months. hope i can handle the busy season w/o too much stress...i have a new theology about that...what will get done will get done, and "ineptitude on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part"...i can only do so much, i am only human, i'm getting older every day, and i do the best i can (sounds like Stuart from Saturday Nite Live?!?!)

-Gina, Adam & Sutton just posted several family pictures on her blog...OMG, they are the cutest family i have seen ever!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

My Breakfast Fav- Biscuits 'N Gravy

Biscuits - Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Blend together 2 cups flour, 3 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt & 1/3 cup canola oil. Stir in 2/3 cup milk and mix till dough forms, do not over-knead. Roll out 1/2" thick on board(not any thinner!) and cut 2" biscuits. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes (do not over-bake)

Gravy - Brown 1/2 lb or sleeve of breakfast sausage(i like Jimmy Dean sage flavor) in large saucepan(if you like spicy stuff, add a dash of cayenne to meat). When thoroughly browned. add 2 rounded TBSP flour and stir well till flour is well incorporated. Add 2 cups milk (i preheat mine in the microwave so it cooks/thickens quicker) and stir constantly until it bubbles and thickens. Serve over warm biscuits.

Adder - I like to scramble a couple eggs and put them on top of the biscuits before the gravy...that'll stoke your fire and carry you till lunch!

Fantastic Thursday

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, Please welcome...your victorious Kansas State Wildcats! Wow, what a beat-down my Wildcats issued the Gayhawks of KU. 59 to 7...enough said. Here I am towards the end of the game doing the Willie K-S-U-Wildcats thing with my trusty Rolling Rock in hand.
we had a burrito bar for eats...everyone chipped in with a dish. we rented a projection machine & one of our guys has a DJ sound system, so we had a 14' x 14' image of the game thrown up on a garage door in the shop...it was awesome!!! sat around with full bellies and coolers of beverages on lawn chairs and cheered our Wildcats to victory...it was great!
during the day of the game, me being "civil" to a fellow "misguided" KU fan employee (their are 2 in our 20 person workforce) check out the "way cool" fatigues i got this year for games! i'll be wearing them in Manhattan when i go up for the Texas game. it was a gooood day!

Annie

poor little annie! she has an owwie on her passenger front, and we have to put triple antibiotic & hydrocortisone on it, which she promptly licks off. so we tried the self-adhering elastic wrap and she surprised us...she didn't chew it off and its been on almost 24 hours! way to go, girl corgi!

Lazy, Rainy Sunday afternoon

what else do you do on a lazy, rainy Sunday afternoon...we lounge in the front room watching Ghostbusters on the A&E channel and enjoy a plate of sharp cheddar with our favorite wine, a 2008 Piesporter Michelsberg from the Schmitt Sohne vintners. Ahhhh, relaxation...

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

OATMEAL BREAD FOR THE BREADMAKER

Add ingredients in this order: 1-1/4 cup boiling water, 1 TBSP butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 TBSP salt, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, 1 TBSP gluten and/or 1 TBSP cornmeal, 3-1/4 cup flour, 1-1/4 tsp yeast.

Turn bread machine to Dough only setting and walk away. When bread has mixed, kneaded, and rose, turn out and roll up tight, place into greased bread pan-cover with towel and let rise in warm place. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Sutton comes for a visit...

everyone watching Sutton, including the hounds, to see if he can roll over yet.(sorry, no dice)
Sutton wanted to sit on the arm rail of our deck, so we gave him the chance. He did make a remark about "ahbmphf reee"... must have meant" what a beautiful evening for dinner on the deck"

A Good Day....

what a great day it is today, P.T.L.! what is a good day?...

- a load of fresh washed socks & underwear drying on the line

- a beautiful, crisp, clear Sunday morning of temps in the high 50's to low 60's

-the quietness of a Sunday morning to meditate & give thanks



-a nice fire going in the chimenea with a fresh cut pile of firewood

-fresh overseeded lawn coming up nicely

- a great lunch of a chuckwagon sandwich (big burger bun, chicken-fried steak, lettuce, tomato, onion & mayo) and beans n' fruit (pork 'n beans, bbq sauce, chopped raisins/apples/onion, and brown sugar)

WOW, what a great day! b.t.w.- the poppers last nite were outstanding!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

Bob's Jalapeno Poppers

24 fresh jalapenos, top cut off and seeds/veins removed, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 2 TBSP brown sugar, 5 oz. can whole water chestnuts, 1-1/2 pkg cream or neufachel cheese, 1 lb bacon, slices cut in half

Open and drain can of water chestnuts. Mix soy sauce & brown sugar well, dump chestnuts in and marinate 4-8 hours. After cleaning jalapenos, spoon 1-2 tsp of cheese in each, shove in a marinated water chestnut, then top with more cream cheese. Wrap each with 1/2 slice of bacon, stand up in popper rack (really helps if you have one...i borrowed Bob's). Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes, till bacon looks well cooked.

I don't claim to be a popper expert, but I've tasted a few in my time...these are the best I've had. You can also grill them if you want, be very careful not to burn with the bacon dripping onto the coals.

here's a couple of pictures of what i sell at where i work...put together during some spare time to make.....MR. BANJO MAN!!!!











he's made out of Banjo camlock fittings, poly pipe fittings, and Kanaflex hose

Sunday's Recipe

Very Berry Bundt Cake

2 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 TBSP baking powder, 1 + cup sugar, 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup slightly beaten eggs (2 large or 3 medium), 1/4 cup oil, 2 cups (16 oz) frozen mixed berries(i used blueberry/raspberry/blackberry mix)-thawed OR 2 cups fresh mixed berries

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In bowl, dump thawed berries and add 2-3 TBSP sugar-set aside. Combine flour, b. pdwr., soda, and salt in 1 bowl. In another bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, buttermilk, eggs and oil-pour into dry mixture and stir just till mixed. Drain & reserve juice from berries, then fold them gently into cake batter. Pour into greased bundt pan and bake 55-60 minutes till toothpick comes out clean. Invert pan over cake plate and cool.

For the glaze, use 1-1/2 TBSP of reserved juice, 1/4 tsp vanilla, and 1/4 tsp. almond extract (optional) and combine with 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar... glaze should be a bit runny, not like a frosting. Drizzle over cake.

Early Kansas morning

it was early Friday morning, the big day of INVENTORY at work. i knew it was going to be a long, stressful day. after a kiss & a hug from my wonderful wife, i headed out the door wide open and gearing up...but God had other plans. as i turned east and got to main street, this is what God sent me to calm my day. you'll have to click on it and enlarge it to get the full effect. a thick ground fog covered this little pasture and the sun highlighted it as it started to rise behind the trees. i was so awestruck that i turned around & went home to get my camera. by the time i got back it had lost a little of the effect, but i still snapped off this one. that was just what i needed and all that i needed...the day went smooth. Thanks, God!

HANGIN' WITH SUTTON

everyone stretched out on the couch for a nap...Sutton at 1 end, and Diesel didn't want to be left out so he joined in at a comfy spot, with Grandma "supervising"....
this little guy is all full of smiles, you just need to know how to set him off.......

Boy I hope I get out of this funk! Friday I dropped our crockpot and broke it, Saturday while draining the hottub, I hooked the stand of our chimnea and pulled it over and broke it...its to the point I don't want to touch anything breakable!

SUNDAY'S RECIPE

Pizza

For The Sauce: 8 oz. can tomato sauce, 1 medium onion-fine chopped, 1-2 cloves garlic, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp dry basil (fresh can be used-adjust amount up), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper. Combine all in saucepan, simmer 20 minutes, then cool.

For the Dough: 1 pkg dry yeast (2-1/4 tsp), 3/4 cup warm water, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 TBSP oil, 2 cups flour (we use some whole wheat-some white), 1-2 TBSP cornmeal-optional. Dissolve yeast in water with sugar, then add salt & oil. Mix in almost all the flour and some cornmeal, knead in enough flour to make nice, barley-sticky dough. Place in greased bowl and cover with towel, let rise 20 minutes. Add favorite toppings and bake in 425 degree oven 15-20 minutes

Will make 1 large or 2 medium thin crust or 1 "hand thrown" medium pie. Our favorite toppings are browned & crumbled bratwurst and lots of fresh mushrooms.

RAW PASSION IN OUR BACKYARD!!!

some beauty in amongst my ramblings...the neighbor planted passion flowers this spring (she says it is an annual..I HOPE) and they have promptly grown over the top of her privacy fence, down over our side and into our snowball bush. notice the tendrils on this shot.
they produce absolutely gorgeous flowers that look almost artificial and we have 2 passion fruits hanging on the vines. they look really nice, but i hope they go away this fall...at the rate they are spreading, out whole garden would be covered in a few more weeks. anyone know when to pick passion fruit???