It's Thursday and She's Heeeere!

   Arrival time: 5:03 p.m. The kidling and her bestie Ashley breezed in talking a mile a minute!

   Ashley, who returned safely from her deployment in Iraq in December, is now a guard in a large correctional facility and will soon be buying her first house! They are discussing living together once the kidling graduates and said correctional facility would likely hire Jen (my kidling) on as a teacher. Sheesh, it was just the other day I was doing their hair and make-up for prom wasn't it??? Still, it will be grand to have her so close to home and have both of them pouncing on me for something to eat......just like the good old days!

   Yes, I'm walking around with a great big smile on my face. See, it stretches from here<------------------------------------>to here.

It's Wednesday and it's BUSY here tonight

  So this is going to be another short post I fear, but it's all in a good cause. Tomorrow, well later today technically, the kidling will be arriving for a month-long visit! It's been a year since she was home last and I've missed her dreadfully, so there is a great deal of planning for her favourite foods and so on. Not to mention all those last minute things one wishes to get done before company arrives. Fortunately La Bebe is pretty laid back so mostly what we'll be doing is spending time catching up, relaxing and being silly. We're both pretty good at being silly; not that you would have guessed, right?

Before I scoot out of here: you should really go check out the giveaway at A Cup of Jo . It's a topper!

Good thing for the day: What do you think?

Music for the day: Just because it suits the mood...

Tea Party Tuesday - Around Town Walkin'

   A couple of interesting things going on in the area, this first is happening at Rockville Correctional Facility . This is a medium-security women's prison that has begun a very interesting programme which brings hope to the prisoners who have joined it as well as to dogs who might not have a home....or life...without their help. In short, dogs (and pups) from local animal shelters are paired with a small number of trained handlers for proper socialization, housebreaking, and the learning of basic commands; at the end of their training period the dogs 'graduate' with certification showing they have passed the course which makes them much more likely to be adopted into good homes. The inmates, after 4,000 hours of training and experience, receive certificates of their own in animal training, making it easier for them to find employment after leaving prison. Since the programme is mainly supported by Scott Pet Products this is a winning situation for the animals, prisoners, and tax payers! Now wouldn't it be great if these dogs could be readied to live with senior citizens or those with disabilities...not as service animals but as companions who have been taught behaviours appropriate to those who are easily over-balanced, etc... I think it would be a great idea.

   In other news; Special Hoosier Olympians will be converging on the Indiana State and Rose Hulman campuses this coming weekend, June 1-3. Special Olympics Indiana has been held on the ISU campus for over 30 years now and Rose Hulman opened their campus for the aquatic portion of the Games both last year and again this one. I can think of few organizations which provide the level of joy and support that Special Olympics does...encouraging healthy physical activities while providing the sense of joyful accomplishment and fun camaraderie that can too often be missing from the lives of those who are developmentally disabled. How could one not take joy when seeing faces like these?

                                                            Photo courtesy of Special Olympics of Indiana.

   The History of Special Olympics is a fascinating one with direct links to the Kennedy family. It was, in fact, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister to John F. Kennedy and mother of Maria Shriver. Many of the Shriver and Kennedy family members (as well as the Schwarzenneger since we're name-dropping) continue to be heavily involved with Special Olympics, whose first official 'games' were held in Chicago in 1968 and have spread around the world.

   Although it isn't mentioned often, Mrs. Shriver's Special Olympics muse was her older sister. Known variously as Rose Marie, Rosemary, and Rosie this Kennedy sister was developmentally disabled and, on medical advice given to the Kennedy patriarch, (Joseph Kennedy Sr.) was lobotomized at the age of 23. After the procedure Rosemary was installed in a Wisconsion convent geared to caring for those with special needs....despite the fact that she was generously and comfortably cared for throughout the remainder of her life her father never came to visit her at the institution. Her mother, siblings, (most particularly Eunice Kennedy Shriver) and other family members visited with her frequently and took her on vacations, etc... with them. Rosemary Kennedy ,of whom relatively little is known, has nonetheless inspired an organization which spans the world and touches myriad lives; from celebrities to the grinning bowler who has just made the first strike of their life!

                                                          Kennedy Family Portrait, Rosemary at bottom right.

                                                  Eunice Kennedy Shriver on left, Rosemary Kennedy on right.

Good thing for the day: The kidling has chosen a pina colada cheesecake for her birthday!

Music of the day: 'Walkin' music inspired by a question from Joe on yesterday's blog; beginning with my personal favourite, continuing with one of the first great falsetto groups (long before the BeeGees) and winding up with the incomparable Patsy Cline. Enjoy!

Musically Misc. Menu Mondays - Memorial Day Weekend

   And I must say thank you to the many veterans, including my grandfather, father, and brothers, who have given up time, health, and even their lives for their people. I would prefer that there be no war (what sensible person wouldn't?) but honour those who have done what they feel is the right and honourable thing.

   It's been a very relaxing holiday weekend at Blether House with a visit to look forward to next week. The kidling, along with my mother and stepfather, will be here for the next month so expect somewhat fewer posts! Wonder what the kidling will request for her birthday dinner this time? (Her birthday falls during her visit, yay!) We have a long-standing family tradition that the birthday person gets to choose what we have for dinner on their special day; my mother began it and I've carried it on....it's a sweet tradition, imho. Last year, in lieu of a traditional birthday cake my bebe...okay, she's going to be 22 this year but she's still my bebe....requested a black cherry and chocolate cheesecake. She likes to keep me on my toes, she does!

   So on to the menu portion of the blog; as always, I'm posting what we had in the past week since no menu, no matter how well-planned, ever goes unchanged!

Menu beginning May 21, 2012

Breakfasts and lunches:
Cereal, yoghurt, fruit, toast, sandwiches, feijoada wraps, leftovers

Suppers:
May 21: Feijoada

May 22: Fruitilicious Salad with homemade citrus dressing

May 23: Spaghetti and meatballs

May 24: Farfalle, ham, and snow pea salad

May 25: Brats and cole slaw

May 26: Baked steak with green bean 'stew'

May 27: Chinese Takeaway

Good thing for the day: The luscious smells of smoked chicken and pork wafting through the house and garden...teasing the neighbours and their critters. Jess has no rival when it comes to the smoker and we make a great team; tonight we're going to have a smoked chicken, bacon, cheddar and apple salad, and the things we're going to do with the smoked pork could bring a tear to a glass eye!

Music for the day: Today is definitely a B day and what would a B day be without a "B" song by the Beatles?

Sometimes on Saturday - A Site For Sore Eyes

   Yes, you read that right and it's not a misspelling....I really did mean a site for sore eyes.

   A few months ago, when unfriendly weather and my decreasing ability to drive were making me stir-crazy I happened upon Photo Potpourri ... a blog by Joe Konz, former Wisconsinite and current Hoosier. Mr. Konz, who has a lovely way with prose as well as photography, is a former career newspaperman who has reawakened his interest in photography and does most of his work in Central Indiana.

   While I enjoy and appreciate beauty, artistry, and creativity what particularly speaks to me about his work is his ability to capture the essence, the spark if you will, of places I am familiar with and have loved. At a time when my world felt like it was shrinking around me, finding Mr. Konz's blog was pure serendipity. Through his eyes and remarkable talent I can once more walk by Wasatch Lake on a stilly, chilly, misty morning and marvel at the wildlife. I can poke around Fountain Square and watch it come alive and grow vibrant once more; chuckle at photos of DePauw University where I used to live (the current science and math center is built over the lovely bungalow I lived in) and work (at a sorority, where 'my' girls loved me and I loved them).

   Photo Potpourri is a lovely blog that I urge you to check out...not only for what it means to me personally but because such a gift of eye, of hand, of beauty, and of beautifully written prose should be shared and appreciated.

It's Wednesday And It's Feeling Urky Out

   So if no one minds terribly I think I shall post recipes and call it a night. For some reason I cannot get warm tonight, yuck! On the other hand, I'm still very enthused about the salad and dressing I made last night and the other two Bletherskites (happily) agree. When you're in the mood for something light and refreshing...sweet but not too much so....and that is both gluten and sugar free this is the perfect dish. Unfortunately it got gobbled up before pictures could be taken, I'll try again next time!

    Fruitilicious Salad

1 bag mixed field or baby greens
1 perfectly ripe mango, peeled and diced
1 orange, peeled and pulled apart (I used Mineola but a blood orange would be excellent as well!)
1 pint strawberries; washed, hulled, and quartered
1 1/2 c. diced ham

   Toss together right before serving. Feeds 4.

              Gluten Free Citrus and Stevia Salad Dressing

1/3 c. olive oil
slightly under 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 orange
juice of 1 lime
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. Each: ground ginger and Oriental 5 spice powder
orange and lime zest
1 pkt. (or 1 tsp.) stevia powder.....or you could substitute 1 tsp. honey
salt to taste

   Pour all ingredients into a medium bowl and emulsify with an immersion blender OR pour into a blender. Run for 1 minute or until all ingredients are completed blended. Pour into a clean bottle and tightly cap. Keep in refrigerator until needed; will stay good up to 5 days. (It doesn't take a lot to pack a powerful punch that will also satisfy your sweet tooth.)

Tea Party Tuesday - Food, Glorious Food!

   As I mentioned last night, I have a feijoada recipe for you tonight...but before I post it let us talk about food for a bit. In particular, since it's still the month of Mother's Day (in the States at least) I'd like to discuss the food your mother made. No one, after all, cooks just like your Mom, or yours, or mine. There are sure to be some dishes you immediately think of when you think of your mother; something no one else makes quite as well.

   My mother (hi Mom!) always had a reputation as a good cook, and when it came to a holiday she did it up right! I recall one Thanksgiving in particular when she made deviled eggs, turkey, ham, stuffing, chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, creamy bean salad, green bean casserole, broccoli, rolls, salad, apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, and a jello salad. Oh, and I'm pretty certain there was a cake in there somewhere as well but don't ask me what kind. There was a ton of family present but it was difficult to find somewhere to eat because the food took up all the room! We only had four generations for that particular shindig but I doubt not that there will be a fifth generation sooner rather than later.

   Mom was known for several dishes (well, all of them really) but the ones I recall being especial favourites and being oft requested follow, in no particular order. Who knows, she might even be willing to share some of her recipes one day!

First we have such favourites as her brown sugar barbecue (a restaurant was once built around it) and 'Spanish' hamburger...a depression era recipe that was later a hit in the restaurant my grandparents once owned. Mention must also be made, of course, of her spaghetti and meatballs.

   I must confess that when she began making spaghetti with meat sauce, rather than meatballs, I felt just a tad let down. Her meatballs were da bomb. Mom made a creamy red bean salad that is one of my brother's favourites; her morels also deserve a big shout out! Here in Hoosierland we fry our morels; many fry them in a corn meal breading that (to me anyway) too often ends up gummy and overwhelms the lovely flavour of the mushrooms. Her version, made with cracker meal and other things, always turned out light and crispy and accentuated the morels rather than overwhelming them.

   For those who gasp in horror at the thought of frying morels in breading; don't knock it until you try it! Of course no Hoosier cook worth her salt would neglect desserts, especially the ubiquitous jello salads of the Midwest. Mom's butterscotch puddings, and strawberry banana jello salads were to die for. (How does one define Hoosier cookery? Hmmmm, think of a combination of Southern, Depression, and Upper Midwest styles and ingredients ....cheese!....all rolled into one, and you come close.) One of my favourite cakes was pineapple upside down cake which I requested for my birthday one year when I was in my early twenties. The request was apparently passed around and I ended up with five pineapple upside down cakes! As much as I loved it, five cakes was about four cakes too many so my birthday cake(s) were widely and generously shared. So generously that I suspect people enjoyed seeing me walk in with cake just as much as they liked having the crazy neighbour leave sacks full of zucchini from their rampant vines in the middle of the night. Whew! Was that ever a run on sentence!

   So there you have some of the dishes my Mom fixed....what are some of your favourite Mom dishes dear readers?

   Newsflash: Just found out that artificial sweeteners such as those found in the little blue and pink packages (Equal and Splenda) are not gluten free, which breaks my little diabetic heart. I use stevia, which is gluten free, in cold drinks and dishes....like the citrus salad dressing I'm making to go with our supper....but it isn't good for cooking; it turns bitter when heated. Now I'm searching for a sugar replacement for baked goods, etc... Oi!!!

   Ready for another gluten free recipe that will be enjoyed even by those who don't need to eat gf free? My recipe for feijoada takes a bit of time but is well worth it....however, you can easily cheat and used rinsed and drained canned black beans. Oh btw, if you have someone who isn't fond of cilantro an easy way to work around it is to freeze the cilantro before adding it to the dish....the cilantro 'disappears' leaving only the flavour behind; or you could substitute an equal amount of flat leaf Italian parsley. Okay, here we go!

        Jacqueline's Savoury Feijoada

1 pkg. dry black beans; soaked for several hours then drained and rinsed (or four 14 oz. cans)
4 c. cooked rice (I like to use saffron rice but any will do.)
24 oz. salsa (If you don't have homemade a good quality commercial brand will do.)
1 meaty ham bone OR 1 c. salt pork in large cubes (will be removed before serving)
2 c. leftover shredded beef OR  1 lb. pkg. sliced smoked sausage or linguica (I sometimes like to use andouille as well.)
16 oz. fresh or frozen medium shrimp
1 c. Each: diced onion and green pepper
1/2 c. diced celery
1 poblano chile, seeded and sliced
1 heaping Tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. Each: smoked paprika, ancho chile powder, and ground ginger (fresh ginger is better but I didn't have any on hand)
zest of one lime
salt and pepper to taste

   Place all ingredients except rice, shredded meat or sausage, shrimp, and garlic in large Dutch oven with a tight lid; add water until liquids are 2 inches above level of beans. Place lid on pot and bring to a rolling boil.
   Reduce heat and allow to simmer on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally and adding water as necessary to keep stew from sticking. Remove lid for the last hour of cooking. Remember that feijoada is a stew and should be nice and thick.
   After beans are tender and stew is thickened add shredded meat or sliced sausage, garlic, and shrimp; heat until meat and shrimp are cooked through; don't forget to remove the ham bone or salt pork! Serve ladled over hot rice. Feijoada is traditionally served with a number of sides, including but not limited to: sliced oranges, hot sauce, fried bananas or plantains, and pickled onions. Me? I like a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt on top. If you try this recipe, dear readers, please leave me a comment and tell me how you like it. Feeds 8-10. This is another recipe that is great for freezing and reheating. Oh! As a sidenote: Jess likes taking some of the leftover feijoada and heating it up with a bit of cheese, wrapping it in a tortilla, and gobbling it up just like that; you might like it as well!

What I'm reading:

 Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman...the hilariously intelligent follow up to his book American Gods. Like many of my favourite authors, Mr. Gaiman understands the sheer silliness of life and invites us to smirk along with a wink and a nod.

 The Salvage Sisters' Guide to Finding Style in the Street and Inspiration in the Attic by Kathleen Hackett and Mary Ann Young. Funny, sweet, and incredibly inventive!

 Japan Style: architecture + interiors + design by Geeta Mehta and Kimie Tada, photography by Noboru Murata. This is a gorgeous coffee table book covering everything from minkas (old Japanese farm houses) to modern designs inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright student Antonin Raymond. Despite the disparate styles all these buildings share a serenity and dedication to nature that is breath-taking, as are the glimpses we catch of the gardens throughout the book.

Good thing for the day: Experimenting with creating a lovely salad with lots of fresh fruit (strawberry, mango, and Mineola orange) and field greens, etc... as well as the homemade citrus dressing. Omnomnomnom!

Musically Misc. Menu Mondays - Hullo Blog, How I've Missed You!

   Forgive my long absence; it's been a particularly difficult week or so but I hope to get back into the swing of things.... I have some new recipes for you, well they're actually old standards but I've redone them my way. I'm also making a lovely dish for our supper, whilst actually measuring ingredients, to share with you tomorrow. I've always been a 'bit of this, smidge of that' kinda cook so slowing down to make measurements takes a bit of thought on my part. So on to the menu portion of the blog...it's a bit shorter than usual since last week's was a bit long. As always, I post my menus after the fact since no menu, no matter how well-planned, ever goes unchanged.

Menu for May 15 through May 20, 2012

Breakfasts and Lunches: Cereal, fruit, yogurt, sandwiches, leftovers.

Suppers:

Tuesday: Reheated Mob Soup and fresh bread. (Recipe Here , it's a great soup for freezing and re-heating.)

Wednesday: Glazed baked pollock with saffron rice and vegetable stuffing.

Thursday: Sauteed cabbage and smoked sausage with caramelized onion and crispy potato cubes.

Friday: Baked ham with corn on the cob.

Saturday: Spiced crockpot shredded beef and vegetable wraps.

Sunday: Fried chicken, loaded baked potato salad and strawberries

Now for a couple of recipes, but first a bit of back story. I've always loved the idea of cabbage rolls but couldn't handle the tomato sauce it was cooked in and slathered with. I don't know why, it just didn't work for me. (Just like raisins, ew!) Jess can't eat eggs and dislikes raw onion intensely so really didn't enjoy most potato salad; (What's summer without potato salad?!?) taking these varying dislikes into consideration I decided to experiment with making these great standards into food we would all enjoy and eat, and these two recipes are the result.

   Jacqueline's Savoury Cabbage Rolls (Gluten Free)

10 large outer leaves of cabbage, whole and rinsed well
1 quart water
1 lb. Each: ground beef and spicy pork sausage (any ground meats can be substituted)
1 1/2 c. leftover cooked rice
1/2 c. diced onion
1 large egg, beaten
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. turmeric
1/3 c. Each: Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar (gluten free)
salt and pepper to taste

   Bring water to a rolling boil in a large pot and drop cabbage leaves in, making sure all are covered. Cook for 2 minutes and immediately remove cabbage leaves, rinsing in cool water and setting aside to drain until needed.
   Cook ground beef, sausage and onion, breaking up into small pieces, until meat is thoroughly cooked. Drain and add rice, garlic, turmeric, and salt and pepper; pour beaten egg over mixture and mix well.
   Working with one cabbage leaf at a time, place meat mixture in center of leaf....fill, roll, and tuck just as you would with a burrito....and place in a 9"x 13" baking dish. (Don't worry if a bit of the meat mixture is left over.)
   Mix Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, water, and leftover meat mixture...if any....in a small bowl and pour over cabbage rolls. Cover baking dish tightly and bake at 350F for a half hour. Feeds 3-5 people and travels well for parties, potlucks, and reunions.

  Stuffed Baked Potato Salad (Gluten Free)

6 large baked potatoes, cubed
3/4 c. + 1/3 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. + 1/4 c. crumbled cooked gluten free bacon
1/3 c. + 1/8 c. Each: chopped fresh chives and parsley
3/4 c. sour cream
1/3 c. mayonnaise
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Each: onion powder and turmeric
salt and pepper to taste

   In large pot, cover cubed potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat, cook until potatoes until edges are just beginning to crumble. Drain well and rinse with cold water; drain again and place into a large bowl.

   Add mayonnaise, sour cream, 3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 c. bacon, and 1/3 c. Each of chopped fresh chives and parsley. Spread turmeric, garlic and onion powders and salt and pepper evenly over the top to facilitate mixing. Mix well (the consistency should have somewhat more chunks of potato than lumpy mashed potatoes) and add a bit more mayonnaise if mixture seems dry.

   Top with reserved cheese, bacon, chives and parsley. This makes a lovely potato salad either warm or cold and is another great dish to take along to parties, potlucks, picnics, or reunions. You can easily lighten it up by using low or no fat versions of the cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream and substituting turkey bacon for regular. Serves 10-12.

3M loved this version of potato salad and so did Jess!

Tomorrow night I'll share the recipe for tonight's supper....I'm making feijoada, a black bean and meat stew served over rice that is often referred to as Brazil's national dish. It's related to the great cassoulets of France and descended directly from the great feijao (bean) dishes from Portugal. To make mine a bit different I toss in some lovely shrimp as well as veggies, and serve it with saffron rice.

Good thing for the day: All those lovely cooking smells in the air!


Music for the day: Today feels like an 'A' day....

Wednesday Catch Up

   Sheesh, it seems like forever since I blogged; me addicted much? How are all of you?

   It was a fairly quiet weekend highlighted by grocery shopping and buying a twin size air mattress. Hmmm, wonder who will be using that? Oh, and reached the conclusion that the peas will need to be sacrificed in favour of tomatoes....the prematurely warm weather did the peas in dagnabbit. Tuesday night I had a sleep study done and am still scrubbing the adhesive gunk out of my hair! Exciting, no? Still, we had some lovely meals this past week and have some recipes to share in the next few days. (And, possibly, some awesome news!) As always, this is for the past week or so since no menu, no matter how well planned, runs exactly as planned; at least not in Blether House.

Menu from May 7 to May 15, 2012

Breakfasts and Lunches: Bacon sandwiches, egg cups, yoghurt, fruit, cereal, leftovers.

Suppers:

Monday 5/7: Pulled pork nachos.

Tuesday 5/8: Beef roast with carrots, potatoes, onion, and gravy.

Wednesday 5/9: Chicken and veggie wraps with homemade ranch dressing.

Thursday 5/10: Shrimp fried rice.

Friday 5/11: Savoury cabbage rolls.

Saturday 5/12: Pizza.

Sunday 5/13: Chicken, bacon, and veggie wraps. (I love 'em so much I had to have them again on Mother's Day!)

Monday 5/14: Carnitas, saffron rice and refried beans, etc...

Tuesday 5/15: Mob soup and corn pone. Yes, that's right, corn pone.

   Tonight I'll be working on the next week's menu and, since the coming week is supposed to be pretty warm, working on some cooler recipes to make and eat. I could happily eat salads all summer long but suspect there would be protests, especially as one of the Bletherskites considers salad the food their food eats. What are some of your favourite cool foods for hot days dear readers?

   I'm afraid that tonight's version of the Wondrous Women of Wednesday feature will have to be somewhat abbreviated but fear not oh fearless readers; it's still a goodie! (Drumroll please!) Tonight I'd like to shine a spotlight ooonnnnnn: Carolyn of Letters From An Urban Trench 

   Along with being a dear friend (her Mom knitted socks for 3M and I, can't get much dearer than that!) Carolyn is a published author, mother, partner, brat, friend-who-sends-special-seeds (love in a mist, aka nigella, woot!) cook, knitter, and self-reliant Canuck. It's hard to explain all her special qualities with just words so perhaps these pictures will help...

   So Carolyn, this one is for you...extraordinary partner, friend, mother, daughter, writer and all around hyperbrat. May the Force be with you and Sauron ground under your heel!

Good thing for the day: I can't tell you. Well, I could tell you but then I'd have to keel ya.  Why yes, I am in a goofy mood tonight, how could you tell?

Music for the day: (Since Carolyn's nickname IS Dragon...hehehe)



  

A Temporary Hiatus

   I have tests the next couple of days, one of which will include an overnight stay. It's no biggie but there won't be time to blog; see everyone Wednesday!

Mother's Day Guest Post from the Kidling

Hi there folks, I'm the oft-mentioned kidling, and Mommasita's asked me to crosspost this here for ya'll.

I love you, Momma.

You’re my hero. With everything you’ve been through, you just keep pushing harder. You don’t settle for good enough if something’s important. You’re amazing, and I’m glad you’re my mother.

For those of you who don’t know, my mother’s been struggling with undiagnosed Parkinson’s for years. Since I was in high school, unfortunately. It was only recently diagnosed, and her old doctor’s retired. Turns out that was a good thing, sine she has a new lady doctor who is awesome and helping her out SO MUCH. Miz Doc has made Up North make some changes, and Mom’s already improving. :D

At the same time, I’m down here in Floridurp and can’t do anything to help, and it just makes me SO MAD that people will seriously make comments on how her head movements affect her sexual capabilities.

In public.

In the grocery store.

While surrounding her.

Yeah. How would you like it if someone did that to your mother? Or implied that she’s mentally disabled because of it? My mother can’t go to the grocery store without risking this sort of disgusting encounter.

And let's not forget what people do when they think people aren't looking! In another incident, Up North were going to the doctor, and Momma had to use the bathroom, so they stopped at a convenience store. 3M and Jess stayed in the car and weren't all that visible. When Momma was coming out? A guy came up behind her and was just about to grab her when he finally saw 3M and Jess.

I'm glad she's okay, but it's things like this that make me consider moving back up there. There's a lot of people who need to be kicked in the shins. Please, folks, keep an eye out. You can save lives just by being observant - and everyone's important to someone. Imagine if that was your mother.

This is for my mother, and for mothers everywhere. You’re all heroes, for the things you put up with, and for being the better people. Rock on.

Remember your mom folks, and not just on Mother’s Day. And for those of you with the unfortunate situation of mothers-who-could-be-better-people, I’d share mine with you but she’d probably object to suddenly having a bunch of new kids. I hope things get better for you.

All the love in the world,

Tluthal

Sunday Surprise! - Happy Mother's Day!

   I know, I never post on Sundays but with it being Mother's Day how could I not? Sit back and relax whilst I post about my mother on her special day.

Remember me saying on Wednesday's post that all of us, from my greatgrandmother down, look a lot alike? Well here's proof for you....first my mother, who was born in 1937, then myself...born in 1961, and then my daughter who was born in 1990....

   Other than hair colour and fashions, c'mon, we could be almost be triplets! Scary isn't it? I remember being accused of cloning the kidlet when she was wee, and there were comments when I was wee about how much I looked like my mother, which were guaranteed to make me wriggle with delight!

   Then again, Mom was shy as a child while the kidling and I were anything but. Mom was still beautiful though....The top one is of my mother (2nd from the left) with her parents, two of her older brothers, and her younger sister. The others are school pictures.

See, what did I tell you? Beautiful! I always envied her the combination of brunette hair and bright blue-green eyes.

There aren't too many more school pictures of Mom; she and my father married, and she became a mother, when she was 15. When I asked her if there was anything she would like to say about motherhood, and in particular being a Mom, this is what she said:
   "The first thing that came to mind was, it is a shame most women were not prepared to be Mothers, in my time especially, because the understanding of how important the formative years were for children wasn't taught to us. If the wisdom that comes along with age could be transplanted to us when we were younger it would help tremendously. But at that age we all thought we knew so much more than our Mothers. I don't think that mindset has changed too much over the years.
   If I had to choose one thing from my memories of being a Mother I treasure the most it would that I took such an active part in both my children's lives before and during their school years. Especially encouraging my son in his trumpet playing and acting, and my daughter with her dancing; just trying to be supportive in whatever they needed.
   Sometimes I feel as though I could have done better, but hindsight is always that way. One thing I do not recommend, that I did, is marry too young. I was only 15 when I married and had my first child, and 15 is definitely too young to take on that responsibility or to have the knowledge you need to be a Mother."

   Funny, as a child you don't think of Mom as not being confident about her skills....and Mom's skills were definitely not lacking, at least not by the time I came along!

Despite Mom's misgivings I have many happy memories of childhood; Mom always worked at something, until I began school she took in ironing or babysat, etc... to be able to pay for my dancing lessons, special shoes, and so on. In my case, the dancing lessons were for more than just a fun recreation; for some reason my feet turned right out the way rather like a duck's. I needed special shoes to help turn them to the correct position; heavy, awkward, painful things they were too; I hated them. Fortunately the doctor at the time had a great deal of good sense and recommended I be placed in ballet class to straighten and strengthen the muscles rather than painful and (possibly) debilitating surgery. We didn't have a lot of money at the time so Mom babysat to bring in the cash to pay for lessons and my shoes, sewed my dance costumes, and made sure I did my practice. Thanks to her dedication I soon outgrew the need for those hated 'special' shoes and have had no problems since. I'd say, all in all, she was a pretty smart cookie!

I have to pity Mom though, I was really a pretty dreadful child, hehe.

Let's see.......there was the time I almost ran the door to door purveyor of children's Bible stories off because I kept correcting him. (I believe Mom did buy a volume from him out of the kindness of her heart.) Oh, and the time I embarassed her horribly when Mrs. Victoria Franklin, a very prim and high-class former teacher and current Sunday school teacher, stopped by for a word with my Mom while I was in my bath. Mom and I must have had a fairly recent and quite interesting conversation because I called out from said bath that I had a question, to which she replied I could ask it from there. Erm, uh oh! I did, of course, do as she suggested and came out with: "Mom, what did you say that thing boys have that girls don't is called?" I can picture Mrs. Franklin turning slightly green and tottering off, gathering the tattered shreds of her dignity around her, lol. Then there were the ripe opportunities with the band of ragamuffins Mom babysat....jumping off the piles of boards the lumberyard had stacked behind our house (thank goodness she never caught us at it!) and staging raids on the grapevines growing in our back garden. I daresay we were hellions and Mom had the patience of a saint!

Mom was also an inventive 'babysitter', rather than stacking us up in front of a television she did things like read Pinocchio to us then set us up making papier mache puppets, etc... Definitely ahead of her time.

This isn't the only way in which Mom proved herself strong and adaptable; in 1989, at age 52, she went and got her GED, something she'd wanted to do (and was nervous about trying) for years. She wanted to go to college and get an Industrial Hygienist degree for the asbestos abatement monitoring laboratory she and my stepdad had started. Oh yes, she was also the general manager for a thriving company, and she and Pop also owned a pest control business. Not shabby for someone who was a wife and mother at 15. (Me proud? Whatever gave you that idea?)

Mom, I hope you have the best of Mother's Days....with all the Chinese food, carrot cake, and yellow roses you could desire (her favourites) and surrounded with love.

A final quote: "You know, people usually fall into one of two cateories, you are either a giver or a taker. I think most Mothers are givers and being a Mother allows us to give to those who really appreciate and return our love."

Well said Mom. Happy Mother's day and I love you. (Mom and her family...on the top, from the left, my brother Jim, his son-in-law Steve, Granny A, and Pop. Second row is Jim's wife Sharon with their oldest grandson Blake, my niece Tabitha, (married to Steve) me (blonde!!!) with my nephew Dana...and last, but certainly not least, Mom.)

Oooo, A Mystery! (And It's Solution)

  


 As most of you know, with 3M working nights and Jess working late evenings, we sleep during the day...it works out fairly well and keeps everyone on the same schedule. Today, however, my sleep was disturbed when Lily 'sounded off' rather vociferously an hour or so ago. I, of course, reacting with my usual aplomb; leaping lightly out of bed and lilting lovely phrases directed at the Doodle of Wakefulness. (They did not have anything whatsoever to do with death, or the tying of canine tongues in knots. Me say anything like that? I'm shocked you would even think of it, shocked I tell you!)

   Wafting whimsically toward the door, which still bore an echo of a knock, sartorially splendid and genial as I always am when first awakened.....

.....where I discovered a 'tried to deliver' tag from a local florist's shop hanging on the door handle. Huh? Say What? Who would be sending me flowers?

    Scratching my head and yawning I hastened ( a sloth could have outrun me) to dial the number and assure the shop that I was indeed home and, no, my dog won't eat the delivery person. Promise! So now, to sit and wait, wondering who would be sending me flowers and why......

   So a few minutes ago came another pounding on the door; fully awake and sartorially splendid....okay, I was dressed and my hair was brushed....I answered the door to a nervous floraly deliveryman who was scanning rapidly for the dog with the big bark. Relieving his trembly hands of a perfectly gorgeous  pink and white bouquet (and I thought I had trouble with tremors! hehe) thanked him profusely, and hopefully generously, and sent him on his way. Then, of course, I needed to soothe the other daysleepers back to sleep; it was worth it!

   The bouquet, which is safely ensconced in the center of the dining room table, looks exactly like this:

   The note tucked into it reads:

                                  I LOVE YOU MOM!!
                                           Love, Jen


Awwwwwwwwwwwww! Sniffle! My first flowers from the bebe; I'm such a lucky Momma! Thank you bebe!

Thinking About.....Thursday - Gluten Free Pina Colada Pancakes Guest Post!

  Hi everyone! My name is Christi and I'm the author of Mom, What's For Dinner? where I write recipes for my daughter with Celiac disease. So my recipes are gluten free. I was honored when Jacqueline asked if I would want to do a guest post on her lovely blog! I really enjoy reading her blog too! So what to make? My daughter has been begging me to come up with a gluten free pina colada pancake for ages. I think the fact that she works at Ihop around all those gluten filled pancakes, makes her come home and dream of being able to eat them!

                  Ingredients you will need:

1 can coconut milk
Lite Corn Syrup
1 can of sliced pineapple, in juice
powdered sugar
Butter
Coconut Flour
Gluten Free all purpose flour
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Eggs
Rum
Vanilla
Coconut Oil
*optional Coconut flakes

First lets make the syrup:
In a saucepan add the following:

1 shot of rum
1 shot of coconut milk
1 shot of lite corn syrup
1 shot of pineapple juice from your can of sliced pineapple (save the rest)
1/4 c. powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons butter

Bring to a boil and immediately turn low to simmer and reduce it down to a syrup.

Now it is time for the pancakes. Add all the following ingredients to a large mixing bowl:

1/4 cup coconut flour
3/4 cup gluten free all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 tsp. vanilla
The rest of the Juice from your can of sliced pineapple.
Mix until fully blended with no lumps. I used a paddle attachment.

Heat Coconut oil in hot pan or griddle.
For each pancake pour 1/3 c. of batter onto hot pan.

When pancakes puff up and have little holes in them turn over and cook other side.

Repeat with remaining mixture. Serve warm pancakes drizzled with warm syrup, pineapple slices, and optional coconut flakes.

Recipe and photographs are property of Christi at Mom, What's For Dinner?

Oh my goodness, thank you SO much for sharing this recipe and photographs Christi; I'm drooling on my keyboard and know what I'm asking for on my birthday! Your hard work for this guest post, as well as all the thought and caring you put into creating delicious and safe recipes for your daughter are very much appreciated! (I would like to point out that any mistakes in formatting, etc.... are strictly my own; my computer and Blogger were conspiring against me tonight!)

Christi's blog contains other fabulous fare like this, as well as those good old-fashioned comfort foods that someone who can't eat anything with gluten will very much appreciate. I urge you to check out her blog if you haven't before and find great recipes like Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

Good thing for the day: Finding a way to get this posted despite multiple computer crashes, etc...

Music for the day: (I had to do it Christi!)

Wednesday's Wondrous Women - Clara, Elizabeth, Florence, aaaand Jennie Atkins Ross Long

   So it's time for another post about wonderful women of the world (and my family!) and all but the last woman I discovered in books. Back when I was a young reader (but voracious even then) my mother got me a series of books which were biographies of women who were pioneers or otherwise outstanding in their fields of endeavour. Did any of you read similar books, dear readers?

   These books, published in the early to middle part of the '60's ....yes, that would be the 1960's smartypants people!...had a tremendous impact on my life and outlook, and I daresay that they affected many other women in the same way. Suddenly the world opened wide and everything became possible, even at a time when girls still had to wear skirts and dresses to school (murder in the winter!) and women needed a male spouse or relative to co-sign loans for them and so on.

In alphabetical order, I give you a few of the women I read about and was inspired by (with a brief biography of an incredibly brave and adventurous relative).

1. Clara Barton .  

  Teacher, patent clerk, Civil War nurse, suffragist, activist for the civil rights of African Americans, and the founder of the American Red Cross....Ms. Barton, despite the times she was born in, never allowed being a woman to stop her from attending college, establishing a school, becoming a patent clerk in a notoriously misogynist government, establishing field hospitals at the front in the Civil War, or pressuring the government to establish an American branch of the Red Cross.

2. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell

Or, as I remember the title of the first book I read about her: The First Woman Doctor: Elizabeth Blackwell. To be accurate; it should have actually read the first American woman doctor, but 'tis inspiring nonetheless. An abolitionist and suffragist, Elizabeth began her working life as a teacher but, after speaking with a dying friend who opined that "my suffering would have been lessened if my physician were a woman" Ms. Blackwell decided to become a doctor, despite her initial repugnance toward dealing with the human body. After a great deal of hardship being accepted as a medical student she was finally allowed to study Geneva Medical College (where her acceptance was put to a vote of the student body, who voted 'yes' thinking it was a joke) and received her degree in 1849. Although she retired from medical practice in the 1870's she continued writing, giving lectures, and working as an advocate of women in medicine until her death.

3. Florence Nightingale

Named by her wealthy, upper-class parents for the Italian city in which she was born, Florence scandalised her mother and sister (but surreptiously supported by her father who gave her the equivalent of $40,000 a year) when she insisted on being allowed to become a nurse, Ms. Nightingale later established her public credentials as a nurse in the Crimean War. Although she was assiduously pursued by a number of wealthy and influential men she remained determinedly single, fearing that marriage would interfere with what she considered a calling from God. Beginning as the superintendent of the Institute for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen, Florence was moved to care for the soldiers of the Crimean War, where she learned the value of sanitary conditions and good nutrition in healthcare, and became one of the first advocates of both. Although Ms. Nightingale was decidedly not a suffragist, believing that women craved sympathy and were not as capable as men, her work did, in fact, improve the lot of women and patients worldwide.

Last, but assuredly not least, (in my opinion) is my great grandmother, Jennie Atkins Ross Long; a decidedly colourful individual!

This is a picture of she and I, when I was wee. Grandma Sugar, as she was called by her family, was divorced from my greatgrandfather after he deserted she and their family to move to Oregon shortly before the Great Depression. Although they had seven children together there were apparently two, my grandmother and her younger sister Jo, who needed support at that time....to provide for she and the girls Grandma Sugar ran a boarding house (where my grandparents met) for many years. Sadly, for unknown reasons, Grandma Sugar was unable to keep my grandmother home much of the time and she was sent to live with various friends and family members; this occasioned a great deal of bitterness on my grandmother's part...directed toward the father who had abandoned his family, thus putting her in such straits. I can see why she would harbour hard feelings!

In any case, Grandma Sugar, (named thus for both the fact that she was diabetic, and because she was so sweet and giving to those she loved) married again, later in years, to Charles Jack Long, for whom my oldest uncle is named. Mr. Long, or so the story goes, adored my mother for whom he would buy gifts like a little velvet coat with a matching hat, how cute! His best friend was H. Weir Cook , ace fighter pilot and pioneer in commercial aviation, for whom Indianapolis International Airport was originally named.

Among other family stories, lovingly bruited about, was the tale of Grandma Sugar playing poker in her later years to bring in extra money. When I asked my mother if it was true she told me about the summer she spent with her grandmother when she was 13. As she put it: " If I was good I got to go to the games with her and when she won the pot she put a nickel in a purse for me; at the end of the summer I went home with a very full purse!" Speaking on about her grandmother, (for whom both she and my daughter are named) Mom said "She was the grandmother everyone always wanted, she would do anything for you, help you however she could, and you could talk to her about anything."

Sadly, Grandma Sugar died when I was still quite young and I have few memories of her...that hasn't stopped me from being quite proud of her and I still love listening to stories about her! Oh, and we all look very alike as well; my greatgrandmother, grandmother, mother, myself, and my daughter. When I look at the picture of Grandma Sugar I know exactly what I'll look like at that age and I love it!

Good thing for the day: Knowing all of you, dear readers, are going to love the recipe Christi has for tomorrow's blog!

Music for the day: (Don't smack me Mom! I know she wasn't from Pasadena.)

Tea Party Tuesday - Nothing In Particular

   There's nothing in particular on my mind at the moment, well, except for a couple of things which are making me smile that is!

First thing that is making me smile: On Thursday, as part of my You Are What You Eat series, I'm having my first guest blogger, yay! Christi Silbaugh, who authors the blog Mom, What's For Dinner? has graciously agreed to share one of her fabulous gluten free recipes, complete with lots of beautiful pictures, (much nicer than the photos I manage!) and the recipe is a doozy. I'm not going to tell you what the recipe is, you'll just have to wait until Thursday, but let me tell you that I will definitely be trying it at home. As I've mentioned before, Christi's daughter has celiac disease so Christi has taught herself how to make wonderful meals, snacks, and desserts that are safe for her daughter to eat. It's especially fitting to share something from this wonderful mother in the week before Mother's Day! To top things off, Christi has an e-cookbook out called, fittingly, Mom, What's For Dinner  ....available at Amazon.com.... and her new hardback cookbook, with new recipes, will be coming out in November. As much as we've enjoyed her recipes around here (I now have a standing request for her homemade ranch dressing from everyone in the house, and you should definitely check out her Baked Garlic Fries.) I'm looking forward to reading and trying the recipes in her new cookbook!

   So the second thing making me smile? The changes Dr. Lady ordered me to make (teehee!) are having a positive effect. I'm not at 75% better yet, more like 25%, but there is a definite upswing; fewer incidents of tremoring, a bit more energy and stamina, fewer stomach upsets, etc... I did have one minor scare this weekend where my blood sugar level dropped to 56, but it was my own fault for not having eaten enough that day. Outwith that incident I'm seeing gradual but steady improvements in almost every area, and that gives me hope that I really will be able to start driving and working again in the not too distant future. Pardon me while I go bouncy bouncy! Yes, I am a happy camper!

Good thing for the day: Getting caught up on my reading.

Music for the day: (3M, this one is for you! hehehe)

Musically Misc. Menu Mondays - It's Baaaack!

   It was a lovely weekend here at Blether House...warmish, it almost reached 90F Sunday, with a good mixture of sunshine in the afternoons and thunderstorms in the mornings. Since we're daysleepers the timing couldn't have been better for us! We did get the lace leaf Japanese maple we wanted this weekend but haven't planted it yet; it did, however, occasion slurs upon my personality!

   Y'see, it was like this.....I spotted it sitting on a pallet inside; tiny, sad, withered leaves....the soil completely dried out in it's pot, and couldn't leave the poor little wispy thing there to die. It's now sitting on my front porch in a partly sunny area, receiving regular waterings, (she'll receive a healthy dose of organic fish fertilizer on the morrow) and will be moved to a spot with full sun when a bit healthier. It will probably be a week or two before it's planted but that's okay; it already looks so much perkier the wait will be worth it! But really, names like 'softie' and 'marshmallow' don't apply to me, right? I'm ruff and tuff and hard to bluff; that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

   So on to last week's menu (I do my menus for the prior week since no menu, no matter how well-planned, ever goes completely unchanged) and there is going to be a new feature: from now on any gluten free menu items will be marked with a GF; expect it to show up more frequently over the coming weeks and months.

Menu beginning April 29, 2012

Breakfasts and Lunches: Zucchini and Cheddar muffins, yogurt, fruit, cereal (GF Cinnamon Chex) soup, leftovers, sandwiches

Suppers:

Monday 4/29:
Spicy Chorizo Chili-GF

Tuesday 4/30:
 Meatloaf-GF, mashed potatoes-GF, gravy, sauteed zucchini-GF

Wednesday 5/1:
Turkey, cheddar, and bacon wraps

Thursday 5/2:
Mob Soup-GF

Friday 5/3:
Crusty Parmesan chicken tenders, baked potato, brussels sprouts (all GF)

Saturday 5/4:
Red rice shrimp, ice cream with butterscotch (all GF)

Sunday 5/5:
Pulled pork sandwiches, vegetable sticks with Christi's homemade ranch dressing-GF, fresh pineapple-GF

All in all, I think it's been a decent start to going gluten free; although I'm definitely going to have to do better. There are some gluten free products available in town but not that many; we seriously lag behind the Coasts here in the Midwest in terms of providing gluten free products in the stores. However I did discover that there are two Whole Foods stores in the state, the closest being some 70+ miles away. Not a store I can get to on a regular basis but if we can get there 2-3 times a year to stock up, a lot of stuff can go in the freezer or pantry and Whole Foods gives a discount for buying in bulk. If we combine the shopping trip with other 'big city' errands we have to run it becomes much more do-able.  

    So how would all y'all like another recipe?

                                       Red Rice Shrimp

(Btw, you can adjust the spiciness level of this dish very easily; this is just the way we like it.)

3 1/3 c. water
2 c. uncooked brown rice
12-16 oz. fresh or frozen medium shrimp, tails and veins (if any) removed
1 14 oz. can fire-roasted tomatoes
1 small onion, diced
1/2 c. salsa (I used medium.)
2 ripe Roma tomatos, coarsely chopped
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, chopped
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 Tbsp. Each: minced fresh cilantro and olive oil
1/2 tsp. Each: ground cumin seed, ancho chili pepper, turmeric and salt

   Heat olive oil until shimmery in a Dutch oven that has a tight lid; add onion, roma tomatoes and garlic, cooking until onion is barely transluscent. Add brown rice (but not water) and 'toast' in pan for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add water, all other ingredients and bring to a boil.
   Reduce heat and allow to simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until liquids are absorbed and rice is tender. Remove lid and add shrimp, simmering until shrimp are cooked through. Feeds 4 hearty eaters....there was enough left that I sent it in 3M's work lunch tonight; someone has bragging rights at work!

   I also made a lovely loaf of Zucchini-Cheddar quick bread but, as with the zucchini-cheddar muffins, I need to perfect the gluten free version before posting the recipe. Yes, that is cheese melted over the top; along with all the cheesy goodness inside.

Good thing for the day: Looking forward to having my first guest blogger this week; more about that tomorrow!

Music for the day: (With a rain theme.)



                    

Foodie Friday - At Last!

   I don't know about you, dear readers, but I've been looking forward to Foodie Friday all week! For the next few weeks I'll be spotlighting some of my favourite food blogs as well as sharing a recipe or two of my own; hope you enjoy!

   The first food blog I'm featuring is called Young Grasshopper; written by Heidi....lawyer, wife, and mom of three....it is dedicated to her late mother, Ruthie. I urge you to check her blog out; not only does she feature fun restaurant reviews and sweet memories of her mother, Heidi serves up great recipes for edibles and libations! <Not to mention the fact that she's smart and hilariously funny!> Some recipes are gluten free, like her Asparagus with Parmesan and Bacon (doesn't that sound decadent!) and Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables . Some are libations which sound so refreshing, like her Sparkling Limoncello Sangria ... perfect for having at a party! Happy Blueberry Pie Day! is actually a guest post she did for another blog and showcases a wonderful pie inspired by her mother; I crave this pie. Seriously. Make me this pie and I'll love you forever.....okay, like you......a lot. For a really long time. Especially if it's gluten free. Oh, and lest I forget: Heidi has begun doing monthly giveaways! This month's give away is an incredible sea salt collection from Williams Sonoma; (and if she gets more than 150 total entries she's going to add an Ultimate Grilling Rub Collection) this is an incredibly cool gift for foodies so I urge you to go check out her blog, and maybe get in on some of the good stuff as well.

Next week my Foodie Friday featured blog is going to be: Mom, What's For Dinner . There is also going to be a wee surprise next Thursday involving Christi, the author of the aforementioned blog; can't wait!

   So I've been promising to post recipes from this week's journey into gluten free territory, and here they are!


   Gluten, Soy, Corn Syrup and MSG free Delicioso Dip

8 oz. bar of cream cheese or neufchatel, at room temperature
1/4 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. sour cream or plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt.)
1 tsp. Each: hot sauce, parsley, dill, marjoram, chives, garlic powder and onion powder

   Blend well by hand or with hand mixer and use for dipping crisps or fresh veggies, or spread on crackers. I used Nut Thins Smokehouse almond and rice crackers. Yup, they're gluten free and very tasty!

   This next recipe requires a bit of explanation: we love turkey here at Blether House and use it on a regular basis, rather than waiting for holidays. (We tend to eat a nice bit of beef or lamb on holidays instead.) With only three of us and a large turkey in the house to use up, we tend to get a bit 'creative' with it...now this isn't one of our more far-out recipes, but it is a great way to use Thanksgiving leftovers! As a side note...not only are the spices I've used in this soup tasty, they're healthy additions to your meals! Turmeric and ginger are great natural anti-inflammatories, parsley is a natural diuretic, and garlic is super for reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol, especially if you toss it in at the last minute. If you can't use up such a huge amount of soup at once, it freezes and reheats well. (I named the soup for the number of people it can feed btw.)

                   Mob Soup (Free of gluten and lots of other stuff but not free of flavour!)

4 qts. (1 gallon) turkey stock (I make my own with the carcass)
8 c. coarsely chopped kale
6 c. leftover turkey (or however much you have on hand)
5 c. cooked rice (I used saffron rice but any will do.)
2 1/2 c. raw, peeled sweet potato, cubed
1 1/2 c. Each: carrot and yellow squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1/3 c. chopped garlic
2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 1/2 tsp. Each: turmeric, ginger, and marjoram
zest of one lemon, minced
salt and pepper to taste

   In large stock pot, bring turkey stock to a rolling boil. Add kale, carrot, onion, and sweet potato and reduce heat to a low boil; cook for 30-40 minutes, or until sweet potato is tender. Reduce heat to a simmer.

   Add yellow squash, cooked rice and all seasonings except garlic; cook 20 minutes then add turkey and garlic. Cook 5-10 minutes longer.

Good thing for the day: This Recipe from Christi at Mom, What's For Dinner. Yay for not having to give up ranch dressing!