A new twist on burrito/taco wraps - and news(ish) stuff

I've been making things with beans, lots and lots of beans.
This dish uses the Raspberry Chipolte Sauce I used with the cauliflower pizza crust. I found it at World Market, luckily Bronco Bob's can also be found on Amazon.

Ingredients:
Whole wheat tortillas
Organic chicken grilled with sauce glazed on top
Tilamook cheddar cheese - made from Cows not treated with hormones
Black beans - slow cooked not from cans

Compile ingredients heat and compile. Serve with veggies.



I've been quiet on here lately, I know. It's the holiday's and I don't have cute kids to post all the fun things that they are doing, or funny things they are saying, or how old they are making me feel.  I feel it more during the holidays.  I've been going to a Grief Share group to support a friend of mine who was recently widowed.  Things like that make my life and things that I'm dealing with so trivial, it's hard to muster up a good recipe or chat about the dangers of BPA.  It's all about perspective.

I have had some other things brewing and I did not want to share the news until it could be confirmed.  It will be soon, and I will post links and shout it out.  Until it's all ready to go I will leave you to wondering what in the world I could be getting all excited about. Here is a hint: InCyst Trained...
Oh fine, here is another hint: Shop Cysters

This Saturday I am hosting a party for my friend. She will be 40, and doesn't mind sharing that with everyone. I will be a bit less excited for anyone to share that news once I get there.  But I've been gearing up for that and getting the house all pretty, or clean and orderly at least.

I will leave you with what I am working on for my health lately....sleep. Yes, that's right, sleep.  It's the one thing that I know for sure is out of balance in my life, and currently the situation in our abode has not suggested that it will be rectified soon.  Here's to hoping and planning on it though. It will require another exhausting cleaning day, since all my previous efforts are now strewn about the art room floor, and there is no longer space to move at all. So there, no art work done this last weekend and none in the foreseeable future.  It seems that I still need to figure out how to have others take responsibility for their own OCD issues and not let them put it all on me.  When I figure that one out, I'll bottle it and sell it.

Day one: partial lights

Trip down memory lane...part two

Finally...the rest of the story.

Our Labor Day travels took us first to a small little town outside Yakima WA. From there we traveled onto Bremerton WA.  It was fun to see where hubby spent his early youth, and to see how different it was from where he lived when I first met him.

This is where I keep getting to share fun new things with my hubby. 

dinner with the family

The house with a view I'm very fond of

Shuffle board any one?

Coloring?

I will post more pictures soon. There was a show with heckling from the parents, it was awesome! 

Trip down memory lane...part one

One of my favorite scenes in Washington

This is the ending picture of a lovely surprise journey we took over the Labor Day weekend.  I was lead to believe we would be staying in the local area, but there were plans forming in hubby's mind that he had decided to surprise me with, and it was a wonderful surprise.  First we went to see where he grew up, and then we went to see my Aunt & Uncle, and my cousin's and their kids.  I love traveling so does hubby, but it's lots of fun when he does things like this to surprise me.
Some people have hobbies together, or have other things they like to do together, we like to travel.  Of course we like things like movies, and bowling as well...but really we like to go to new places.  Three day weekends provide a great time for us to get away together.

This journey began with a rouse and ended up in a small town, where I got to see places that my hubby grew up in. He doesn't tell stories like my family does, but this sort of thing works too. 

outside house he lived in a long time ago

Park in Wapato right down the street from his old house

Outside the old church, he used to walk his dad to this church

a re-enactment of a bicycle accident

The day was filled with lots of memories as my hubby showed me where he spent his younger youth growing up in Wapato Washington.  We had a lovely lunch and continued on our journey to see my family in Bremerton Washington.


 I will post more pictures and the second half of our journey later.

First Swimming lessons were held here

It was lots of fun to see this quite town and walk around all the places and see how much has stayed the same.

Cinnamon & Apple Hill

I love the fragrance of Autumn!!! This season with all its color and deep aroma's, it's intoxicating. I love going to Apple Hill, looking at the foliage turning wonderful colors, and sipping on hot cider early in the morning fog. Our small group goes every year. My second trip out to Sacramento DH took me to Apple Hill, we wandered though many different orchards and farms, it was fantastic.
I think of the aromas when I think of Apple Hill and fall, mainly cinnamon. Cinnamon is added to all of the fall fragrances that I love. So, while driving to class the other night my ears perked up when a listener called in to thank John Tesh about a tip regarding cinnamon in their coffee. I had to search and find out what his comment was. I tried putting cinnamon in my coffee instead of Stevia (natural sweetener) and was pleasantly surprised that it was sweet enough I did not need to add sugar or sweetener.

Here are some of the comments:

"-For a Quick Energy boost. Get a whiff of peppermint or cinnamon! Researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University say that peppermint boosts mood and motivation. So, pop a Tic-Tac, or drink a cup of peppermint tea. Also, studies show that cinnamon improves circulation, alertness, and energy. So, chew some sugar-free cinnamon gum, or add a dash of cinnamon whenever you brew a pot of coffee.

-Cinnamon. Studies have found that it controls blood sugar and lowers cholesterol. Sprinkle it in coffee or on oatmeal. (I have been doing this regularly now, on my old fashion oatmeal.)

-If you’d like to earn the title of “smartest person in the room,” sniff cinnamon. According to psychology professor Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, cinnamon’s aroma appears to increase blood flow to the brain, supplying it with nourishing oxygen and glucose. The scent ALONE raised scores on memory, attention, and mental processing tests. So sniff some cinnamon if you want to stay sharp.

-Stop and smell the cinnamon. A study in Australia found that the aromas of cinnamon or vanilla will set off a wave of feel good endorphins. You don’t even have to eat anything to get the effect!

-When it comes to your morning oatmeal, try sprinkling a teaspoon of cinnamon on top instead of sugar. A recent study by the USDA’s Human Nutrition Research Center found that cinnamon has the double benefit of lowering your blood sugar AND curbing your appetite. So odds are you’ll feel full after only one bowl of oatmeal, instead of two. The 150 calories you’ll save is like saying “no” to 3 chocolate chip cookies.(another site that refers to this)

-If you’ve got a tough test at school – or an important presentation at work – grab the cinnamon! New research at Wheeling Jesuit University finds that cinnamon sharpens cognitive functioning by instantly increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain. In fact, the scent ALONE raised scores on memory, attention, and mental processing tests. So, sprinkle some cinnamon on your oatmeal in the morning if you need to be sharp. Here’s an added health bonus: Cinnamon protects against diabetes and heart disease, and even lowers cholesterol levels.

-If your halitosis comes from drinking coffee: chew some cinnamon gum. Research shows that one stick of Big Red gum has enough germ-killing cinnamon to cut coffee bacteria by about HALF. Cinnamon gum works better than a mint or mouthwash because it creates more saliva, which washes away food particles. Saliva is a natural antibiotic that decreases the number of bad bacteria in your mouth.

-Cinnamon. It helps control your blood sugar, which decreases your risk of heart disease. In fact, USDA researchers found that people with type-2 diabetes who consumed one gram of cinnamon a day – that’s about a quarter of a teaspoon – for 6 weeks, significantly reduced their blood sugar and their LDL cholesterol – also known as your “bad” cholesterol. Why? Experts think the spice’s active ingredients increase your cells’ ability to metabolize sugar by up to 20 times.

-Do you commute to work by car? Then, this one’s kind of fun - stink up your car! Psychology professor Bryan Raudenbush from Wheeling Jesuit University says the aroma of cinnamon and mint can help you stay alert and give you a boost of energy for the ride – and for hours afterward. So, break out the Altoids and de-stress your commute.

-Tips to keep you warm. It turns out that ordinary spices like ginger and cinnamon dilate blood capillaries. That boosts the production of heat in the body and makes you feel more comfortable in cold weather. In fact, they’re so powerful, they can make you sweat.

-Have You Sniffed the Air Lately? (This is my favorite, since I love fragrance, and so many of my memories are linked to aromas)
The smell of wood fires, evergreen, and cinnamon is everywhere. It’s definitely the season to be jolly. Why? Because those familiar aromas are one of the reasons the holidays feel so cozy, warm and wonderful. Susan Bowerman, assistant director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, says that the reaction to aromas is mental and physical. First, sniffing familiar scents stimulates your brain – and helps you recall pleasant holidays past. And certain smells cause actual chemical changes in your body.
Take gingerbread, for example. The spices include ginger, cloves, nutmeg, anise and molasses. And studies show that baking turns them into mood-boosting chemicals that can cheer you up better than a lot of prescription drugs.
Then, want more energy? Sniff a fresh Christmas tree! The oil that gives evergreens their oomph – called turpineol – is used by aromatherapists to boost energy. So, a couple of whiffs can make it easier to conquer your holiday to-do list.
The next holiday scent does wonders for your attitude: Cinnamon. Experts say the smell is a mood-booster, and creates a sense of soothing warmth and comfort. So to get a sunnier disposition: boil a couple of cinnamon sticks in water on your stovetop.
And the final holiday aroma is stress-reducing citrus. Studies show that scent of orange, lemon and grapefruit lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol in your body. So, set out a bowl of oranges, or attack a lemon with a zester to create a citrus-scented room. You’ll feel instantly calmer and more uplifted.
To recap, this holiday season, increase your energy with evergreen, boost your mood with gingerbread, feel sunnier with cinnamon, and stop the stress with citrus. And you’ll be creating a Christmas to remember, a Kwanzaa that captivates, and a very happy Hannukah."
John Tesh: Intelligence for your life


-Have a Happy Autumn Season!

Easter with Family and Friends

The hunt is on

searching for goodies!

all with matching dresses!

dividing the loot!

The pictures I missed where of the little girls heading back up the hill to re-hide the eggs, hunt them again, and end up with a very uneven amount of goodies since they forgot to invite the littlest one to the second hunt.  Yep, it was a fun and long day.  Easter is my favorite holiday, the Resurrection, spring, bright colors, flowers, family, all of it. My favorite part growing up was all about the new dresses!  For a while both of our grandparents bought us dresses, but then it was all about our maternal grandparents.  They lived in Bremerton Washington, and we lived in Utah, not quite close enough for a Sunday dinner.  The mail would come with a box of gifts, dresses, gloves, hats, purses....it was great! 

These Easters here with my hubby's family are filled with fun, family, and good times.  This year we got the added fun of having my nieces friends come and they all had lots of fun.

Earth Day - April 22

Image found here: sacramentoscoop.com [Graphic property of and courtesy of Environmental Council of Sacramento created by Dana Gray, a local Sacramento artist.]

Earthday.org


Green Cleaning

I like the thought of Earth Day being in Spring, it feels fitting to have a brand new vision for how to better our planet at the beginning of the season when things are bursting into growth and bloom.  it does us all good to sit and think about how our lives impact our planet.  We are not living in the caveman era when things like eating and cleaning only had a minimal impact on nature.  Now everything we purchase and consume affects the globe from an economic standpoint as well as health, and destruction of our natural resources. 

I love driving my car to work as much as the rest of you, but I live close enough I need to start biking some of these days to help cut gas, and exhaust etc. It's also beneficial for my health.  These are things that I'm working on changing in my life.  I'm working on the green cleaning, using baking soda and vinegar more than these other chemicals that pollute things. I've already been using a steam mop for my kitchen floor, although it still uses electricity, it's healthier for the air and my little doggies.

There are small changes that people can make, switching to the energy efficient light bulbs, drinking water from BPA free reusable containers and not buying bottled water, taking your own coffee container when purchasing coffee at a local coffee store, using the reusable bags when shopping, purchasing local organic foods, planting a garden to eat from etc.  There are many changes that can be made, focus on one or two and make them a part of your life, and next year find some other new things to incorporate into your life.


How to Green Your Kitchen Guide

Green Cleaning

Goclean.com

Go Green with Natural Cleaning Supplies

Long before going green became popular, Mary Findley dedicated her life to changing people's use of toxic chemicals. Years of cleaning homes professional and breathing toxic chemicals convinced Mary of the necessity to change our way of life. Some of the cleaners she used were not tolerated by her customers and her own throat and lungs soon showed issues after breathing the fumes for years on end. For her own health and that of her customers, Mary found healthy ways to clean, which set her on a course to change the way the world views cleaning.
Since writing her book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Cleaning", Mary's eyes opened even wider to the various ways people could make small changes in their lifestyle that would slow the damage being done to Mother Earth. One person can make a difference especially when multiplied by even one million people - the numbers are staggering.
Mary's goal is for one million people to sign up to be a Moppins Greener Cleaner and make the suggested small changes in their life for the sake of Mother Earth and themselves. Sign up now and receive Mary's free article called "The Hit List" which states the worst toxic cleaners commonly found in our products, the health issues they cause and where you find them. In addition Mary will send you her "Totally Green Home." This is a simple step by step method to help you convert you home to green living. You will also receive Mary's monthly newsletter and be privy to special discounts. 

Earth Day Inspires Eco-friendly Changes

Realsimple.com What Eco Friendly Changes Have You Made In Your Life

April in all of it's Glory

April is quite a month here isn't it? Just for the Earth day, National Infertility Awareness week & the Light it up blue for Autism recognition alone, but then it hosts Easter and Passover quite often, and then there are the family birthday's and anniversaries, and finally the dreaded tax day. It can get quite exhausting figuring out all of the things to accomplish, celebrate, and campaign for.

I'm quite fond of April, but I'm very glad that we skipped it in choosing our Wedding day, not that we missed it by much getting married in the first week of May, but still it does give us some time to let April's business settle a bit.  I've been seeing post for Autism, and Earth day, but I've got Easter on my brain.  I also want to keep things earth friendly though.  That's why I got kind of excited by an article in Fine Cooking regarding Easter eggs: The Recipe For The Perfect Easter Egg Dye.
Having dealt with beets recently I didn't have to guess to much about all of the natural dyes they suggested, but here are some of the ideas.

How to dye Easter eggs I (Kirsten Whatley) start with fresh, clean, white eggs placed in a stainless steel or enamel pan. You can experiment with brown eggs, but they don’t absorb color as well. Then I add the dyestuff—leaves, flowers, vegetable peelings, spices, roots. I rinse the vegetable matter, especially if it isn’t organic or doesn’t come from my own garden.

Next I add water to cover the eggs and dye materials. I use water slightly warmer than the eggs to reduce the risk of cracking. A little vinegar helps break down components in the eggshell to allow it to absorb the dye better. Slowly, I bring it all to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until done, about 15 minutes.

At this point, I’ll either run cold tap water into the pan to stop the cooking, or leave the eggs in the dye bath up to two hours to deepen the shade. This may lead to overcooked but edible eggs, marked by green rings around the yolk. Since I’m concerned with the color of the shell, I feel it’s worth the compromise. I’ll even steep the eggs in their dye water in the refrigerator overnight for still darker hues—a safe alternative to leaving the eggs out at room temperature. Afterwards, I let the eggs air-dry, then polish them. If you plan to eat the eggs, refrigerate them, but if they’re purely decorative, you can leave them out.

This method can be applied to any natural dye source; what differs will be the amount of dyestuff used. For fresh flowers and greens, vegetable peelings, or berries, use 2 cups of material per quart of water; for dried flowers or leaves, 2 tablespoons per cup of water. For ground spices, use 2 teaspoons per cup of water. You can also experiment by substituting pure fruit juices that are rich in color in place of water and other dye materials.

Color and patterns come from the world of nature

	Dye sources, and the colors they produceFollowing are the dye sources I’ve found to yield the richest colors. Remember to use only edible plants or portions of plants (no rhubarb leaves, for example).
	• Onion skins	marbleized oranges and yellows
	• Onion skins with unsprayed rose petals	peachy hues with green or yellow tints
	• Shredded red cabbage	midnight blue and teal
	• Beet root	brown with a purple cast
	• Beet tops	dove gray
	• Spinach	pale green
	• Carrots	yellow with olive overtones
	• Carrot tops	soft gold
	• Blue potatoes	muted teal
	• Grape juice	deep lavender (for a lovely crystallized sugar coating, let the egg dry without rinsing)
	• Blueberries (frozen is fine)	deep blue
	• Raspberries (frozen is fine)	light fuchsia
	• Blackberries (frozen is fine)	plum
	• Coffee	milk-chocolate brown
	• Black tea	reddish tan
	• Cinnamon	subdued mahogany
	• Paprika	light orange
	• Turmeric	vivid gold
	NOTE: Beware of using cayenne. When it is boiled in water, its vapors permeate the air and can irritate the nose and throat.

Natural egg dyeing, like everything in nature, has its idiosyncrasies. The most obvious is the illusion of color: A plant often looks unlike the color of its dye. Red and white onion skins yield pale apricot hues; green and red beet tops produce a mauve gray. And the color of the dye bath can vary dramatically from the final dye color.

A plant may produce a different dye water when steamed rather than boiled. Add baking soda to the mix and the color will change again. Red cabbage, for instance, yields blue, celery, or teal hues depending on whether you steam the plant first, boil it, or add baking soda. That’s when the lure of experimentation ensnares you, and before long your kitchen takes on the appearance of a chemistry lab.

With natural dyes, the character of each egg emerges through markings on the dyed shell. Some appear mottled or etched like a wild bird’s egg, others absorb the dye in streaked bands. Science attributes these variations to an uneven distribution of calcium in the shell. I prefer the notion that the closer we work with nature, the more our results approximate hers.

Artistic touches
Since there are no wax crayons in the natural world, I’ve turned to the intricate patterns of leaf and flower to design my eggs. By affixing tiny bits of greenery before dyeing, you can create delicate natural stencils. Small, soft flowers and leaves with crisp outlines, like ferns, work best. Experiment, as some materials are too thin to block out the dye, while others are too stiff and may need to be blanched for a short time to soften.

Stick greenery to the egg by wetting it with egg white thinned with water. Then wrap the whole egg, greenery attached, in a square of cheesecloth and secure at the top with string. Follow the same dyeing process as before and rinse before unwrapping. The result is a striking silhouette where the leaf or flower was attached.

One of the most artistic effects is made by wrapping layers of yellow onion skins around the egg. Or first encase the egg in rose petals, then onion skins. Secure it all in cheesecloth and simmer in water (don’t use vinegar with onion skins). This produces a beautiful marbleized appearance. After running out of onions, I’ve been caught rummaging through the produce bins of my local market for extra skins—this is guaranteed to draw curious looks from store clerks.

The appeal of dyeing with natural materials is that you’re free to invent your own rules. Soon you’ll be looking with fresh eyes on every weed, flower, and fern for dye potential. You may even find it in a cup of coffee.

Basic recipe for Easter egg dye
• 6 uncooked eggs
• Dyeing material: berries, vegetable peelings, etc.
• White vinegar
• Water to cover eggs
• Baking soda (optional)
• Vegetable oil (optional)

Place uncooked clean eggs in a pot large enough to accommodate all the ingredients. If using fresh material, add 2 cups per quart of water. For dried flowers and herbs, use 2 Tbs. for every cup of water. For ground spices, 2 tsp. per cup.

Add water slightly warmer than the eggs, one cup at a time, to cover all by 1 in. Add 1 tsp. of vinegar for every cup of water. To change the dye color of most fresh materials, add 1⁄4 tsp. baking soda per cup of water.

Bring water to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 min. When the eggs are done, remove them from the dye bath. For a deeper shade, let them cool in the dye bath or refrigerate to steep overnight.

Air-dry so as not to rub off the dye. For a subtle sheen, polish with vegetable oil.

Marbelizing an egg, using an onion skin dye
Lay a square of cheesecloth flat and cover its surface with the onion skins, so that no fabric shows. (Add a layer of fresh rose petals for a peachy hue.) Place the egg in the center and gather the edges tightly around the egg, securing at the top with string.

Place wrapped eggs in a pan with enough water to cover. The water should be slightly warmer than the eggs. Do not use vinegar with this dye. Bring to a slow and gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 min. Remove from heat and let eggs cool in the dye bath for up to 2 hours. Unwrap and gently dry. Try red or white onion skins for a different hue.

Onion-skin dye materials (for a half-dozen eggs) • 6 white eggs • Yellow onion skins • Fresh rose petals (optional) • Six 7-in. squares of cheesecloth • Six 4-in. pieces of string • Water to cover eggs • Vegetable oil (optional)
		1. To create a marbleized look, start with onion skins, cheesecloth, a bit of string, and an egg.		2. Lay the onion skins over the cheesecloth; and place the egg on top.
3. Encase the egg with skins and gather all together in a bundle		4. Boil in the dye bath and remove the bundle when cool. Peel off the onion skins; rinse lightly and dry gently.		5. Peel off the onion skins; rinse lightly and dry gently. For a sheen, polish with vegetable oil.

by Kirsten Whatley April 1998 from issue #14

If you are looking for other things to do to create fun green Easter Ideas.

Sunny Easter Menu

This brunch menu is designed for Easter al fresco, but can be enjoyed just as thoroughly indoors.

Sunny Easter Menu:
 Grilled Wild Salmon and Vegetables
 Ham and Asparagus Frittata
 Herbed Potato Salad
 Fresh Berry Pavlovas

• 

  Sunny Easter Menu

• 

  Stormy Easter Menu

• 

  Snowy Easter Menu

• 

  Easy Easter Menu

• 

  Easter Brunch Buffet

• 

  Easter Dinner

• 

  Easter Brunch

• 

Finecooking.com: Easter recipes

Martha Stewart: Natural Egg Dyeing Techniques

Five Ecofriendly Easter Crafts

Easter Symbols

I'm not a mother, so the egg thing is not a requirement in our house, but I am an auntie and I like to do things with my niece who is close by, and if i were close to my other niece and nephew we would definitely be decorating some eggs together. I'm sure if you think about it, mother or not, there are kids in your churches and classrooms and family members who can use the more green ideas to celebrate.

For More information on all things regarding Autism go to Speaking on the Spectrum.

Earth day has some other considerations regarding fertility and health for our whole planet Check out the InCyst post Healthy for the Planet...Healthy for your Hormones

Now, remember to keep things hormone friendly, the Easter bunny did have it's origins as a symbol of fertility and we want to keep it that way.

Table Settings and other formailities

I like to have nice dinners, I'm used to them for Holidays.  Spending time with my grandma and grandpa (dad's parents) taught me to enjoy festive occasions with the good china, the good silverware, the pretty stuff.  We celebrated in style.  The kids had their table, and the adults had theirs, until we were older and  could behave well at the table with the parents.  I missed the kids table, but the formal dinning area was amusing and adventurous in our family.  Grandma would eat off the people's plats next to her, my father, uncle and grandpa would talk "shop", and the ladies kept the kids in line and had conversations between themselves.  There were moments of fights between my aunt and grandma, they loved each other but were both very strong willed and rarely ever saw eye to eye on anything. Conversations were loud, and rambunctious.  It was fun just trying to keep up with it all, let alone try and interject a comment or two.  This differs greatly from my husbands family dinners.  They are more casual, but also more mannered in their conversation.  There is no raising your voice over the conversation of others to be heard.  They will move or talk later to finish a conversation.  It is much easier to speak and be heard, but I miss the more elegant table setting.  So, when I host dinners, I do it with all the formal trimmings that I'm used to, and a few more at times for fun.  My husband thinks I'm nutty, and he teases me about it, but when else will we ever use the fine china? When else will we pull out the fancy linens?

me as a kid at the grown up table in the formal dining area.

I have learned one very important lesson in the death of my mother, and that is, life is short.  There are no more times to celebrate with her, those have ended.  So, now I celebrate the moments I have left with the ones I love with flair.  I want them to know how special they are, how important and loved they are, how this celebration is worthy of the good stuff.  They are worth the fine things, the extra attention to detail, even the extra effort in cleaning up.

My Sister at the kids table, the room behind her is the formal dinning area, this is the kitchen.

I now go all out when I invite friends over for tea as well.  It's easy for me to post recipes and pictures of friends and family, but sharing how I set it up and what goes into the planning, that takes more effort.  I can plan for a while on how, and what I will share, what food I will present, what table settings I will use.  These are the rituals that I enjoy, and savor but they are hard to explain.  I will do my best though.

Setting up for tea

A More informal Thanksgiving setting

Partially set Christmas ever dinner table, the tea cups were out of place but we did not have a bread plate.

I was watching a comedian with my hubby, Larry the Cable Guy go to visit interesting sites Only in America.   One of his stops was at the home of Emily Post.  Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy — Episode Guide — History.com Larry Makes Moonshine. (2011). The History Channel website. Retrieved 4:15, March 25, 2011, from http://www.history.com/shows/only-in-america-with-larry-the-cable-guy/episodes/episodes-guide.This was hilarious to me, Larry is not known for manners at all and Emily Post was the Etiquette Queen.  If you get a chance watch the episode, the family of Emily Post is continuing the legacy.
All of this started me thinking about how many people I know here in my circle, who are not familiar with formal dinner settings, or many other formalities that I was raised to know.  I thought I should share.  I do not have kids to pass this stuff down to yet, and so you reading have become my students in this post. I hope you will allow me to share.

The glass was moved on this place setting, and I'm still teased about the place cards. Everyone was family, but the holders are Christmas themed, and we only host the Christmas Eve dinner with family each year.

I love sharing recipes and other things, but the real satisfaction is from the whole package. I did Medifast, and although the food was nourishing, and my hunger was satisfied, I was never completely sure that I had really eaten.  I started to bring my lunch with real utensils, and cloth napkins, to aid in the appearance of an actually dining experience.  I am eating real, whole foods now, and I am truly thankful.  There are some things that make sitting down to a meal together, magical.  People talk, ideas are shared, there is a time to relax and just be in the presence of those we love and cherish.

Buffet Table Setting

Remember to use the utensils on the outside first and work your way in.  That is a helpful thing to remember if you are in a social setting where you are using unfamiliar utensils. 

Here are some links to help you if you need to brush up, or learn it new entirely.
Table Settings with cheat sheets. 
Tip of the day: Properly Setting The Table

Table Settings

Settings Tips
Entertaining Table Setting

Have fun entertaining, and hosting family events.  Use the good stuff, and savor the memories.

St. Patrick's Day celebrations

I have a special affinity for St. Patrick's day, it was my grandma's birthday.  Isn't she just beautiful!  I know her kind heart, soft voice and hands, and what a wonderful baker she was.  I absolutely loved taking trips to see grandma and grandpa every year.  I also was delighted to find out that we both had birthday's on holiday's, once I was old enough to make the connection.

Georgia

That being said, I do not wear the color green well, so all other "normal" traditions of wearing green so you don't get pinched just irk me.  I'm so glad that there are rules about behavior in the work place for times like these. If I forget to wear something green, it's still wrong for a co-worker to pinch me. It's the small things in life that make me happy. 

I do have somethings that I like to do for St. Patrick's day, like watching Darby O'Gill and the Little People and The Quiet Man, it's one of the few John Wayne's that I can really appreciate, there are a few others as well, but that one is a favorite.  I like Maureen O'Hara, she is a wonderful actress, and she makes this one fun.  My new family, the one I married, has a small feast at certain times to share with us. Hubby's mom makes corned beef and cabbage, and we are usually invited to come over and enjoy the meal together.  There is no green beer, or beer bread, or all of that crazy stuff, but good food and family.

There are no special family recipes for this particular holiday on my side of the family, but I have a head of purple cabbage that I'm thinking I really should incorporate into something for the holiday.

See! I loved Grandma from the moment we met.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Rated: Submitted By: Laria Tabul Photo By: Jenbc27 Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 2 Hours 25 Minutes Ready In: 2 Hours 35 Minutes Servings: 5

"This traditional Irish dish is the centerpiece for many a St. Patrick's Day table. Corned beef takes a long, lovely simmer with potatoes, carrots and cabbage for a hearty and satisfying dish."

Ingredients:

3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet 10 small red potatoes

5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces 1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges

Corned Beef and Cabbage I (continued)

2 of 2

Directions:

1.	Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
2.	Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
3.	Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain.

Here is one that get's high praise from Allrecipes.com




For those with kids, or who just like new ways to celebrate, or add kale to breakfast, here is a Green Eggs recipe from Elana's Pantry.  She also has a Gluten Free Irish Soda Bread if you are interested.

Green Eggsprinter friendly

• 4 eggs
• 4 large kale leaves (do not trim or remove stems)
• pinch celtic sea salt
• oil of your choice for frying pan

1. Place eggs, kale leaves and salt in Vitamix
2. Blend on high until smooth
3. Heat oil in pan over medium heat
4. Pour egg mixture in pan
5. Allow eggs to cook a bit, then scramble them
6. Cook eggs to your preferred doneness
7. Serve

How ever you are celebrating or just letting the day pass, remember to pray for your missionaries out there, and if you have none that you can think of, let me share an organization that is close to my heart.  This holiday is actually a religious one in Ireland, and places close so they can go and pray for Missionaries.  I think this is a delightful way to remember the history, and to help missionaries around the world.  What ever your religious beliefs, if you are or are not I would hope that you could at least appreciate these two organizations that help stop human trafficking.  I know there are others out there, but these two are the ones I have chosen to highlight.  I have met with David and Beth Grant, long long ago when I went to India, and they are wonderful people to begin with, and they have huge hearts for those who have been sold into sexual slavery.

Project Rescue Blog
Project Resuce: home page

Help to stop the violence against women, human trafficking needs to be stopped.

"Project Rescue is a ministry to women and children in sexual slavery focused on providing physical, emotional and spiritual rescue and holistic restoration. Our multifaceted programs aim to provide a safe environment for transformation and growth. Click here to discover the Project Rescue difference."



There is also another group working against human trafficking.  Their is beneficial in many ways, by just purchasing their coffee you are helping a whole community get out of poverty and end the selling of their women and children into sexual slavery. 

Mercy House Coffee

"OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS:
To stop child prostitution and eliminate poverty.
We now have 11 villages that no longer sell their children into prostitution but grow coffee instead.
We have a dozen children homes that rescue children off the streets and out of prostitution.
The sale of coffee supports the development of farms and industries like coffee that eliminates poverty and supports our children.
A donation of just ten dollars can support a child for an entire week with schooling, health care and a good home.
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THESE CHILDREN!
Changeadestiny.org is the parent company of Mercyhousecoffee.org"
  
Background

"By admin, September 1, 2010 6:07 pm

Stopping human trafficking has become a journey, a mission and a lifestyle.  In a sense we are all orphans.  In a sense we are all sold into human bondage.  To some degree, we have been sold out.  As we embrace these abused children in foreign lands, we become aware of the abused in our own neighborhoods and realize the abuse we have tolerated to our own souls.  Is the quick divorce of our spouses and the isolation of our children from our fathers and the turning of the hearts of the children against their fathers, in the media and in our culture, injustice? When we reach out to the furthest child, we reach in to our deepest need.  We begin to know our Father who is in Heaven.  We begin to see the heavens open and we pull down the will of God into the system of this world.  Where there is injustice, may we bring justice.  Where there is violence, may we bring peace.  Where there is wickedness, may we bring righteousness.  Where there is great sorrow, may we bring joy.  Where there is fear, may we bring love. Where there is loss of spirit, may we bring the Holy Spirit.  To all those who have been abandoned, to all those who have lost their purity, to every child who has been harmed, may we be the hands and heart of Jesus. 10/25/10"


So, those are two to get you started if you have no other idea's of who to pray for, or to give to.

For more History on St. Patrick's Day.
and on St. Patrick himself.

Our good by picture, before we head home again.