Ed Note: It has been nearly 20 months since my husband Duane passed away. At last, with God’s help and a terrific printer, Rita Lang, Catalog #40 and Recipes is ready!
Please write to me with your comments: marilyn@urbanhomemaker.com or post a comment!
Ed Note: According to apronmemories.com here is a huge reason to not only be humbled but exceedingly thankful to our Puritan ancestors as we prepare for the big day. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for if we do not give up we will reap a harvest of righteousness.” I am so grateful to these folks who had a vision and did not give up despite overwhelming difficulties.
“Of the eighteen married women who sailed on the Mayflower, only four lived through the first winter to see Fall of 1621. With the assistance of five surviving girls and one maidservant, the four, thankful to be alive and grieving for those not, prepared a meal of gratitude.”
We have an amazing amount to be thankful for even during difficult times. I am particularly thankful for the legacy left to my family and I by my late husband Duane, that my daughter and son-in-law will be home for Christmas, my daughter, Mary for her terrific housekeeping and musical talents, and my son Stephen’s soon-to-be officer commissioning. Please post some of the things, large and small you are thankful for.
I have complimentary copies of either one of my spiral bound books (your choice), A Beginner’s Guide to Baking Bread or Breakfasts for Busy Moms, for 15 people who post their thankful comments. I am particularly looking for contest particpants willing to share how they have faced very difficult trials this past year and you are still able to see the positive blessings of God’s goodnesss to you and your family.
The following excerpt was in our paper last week under the “You Said It Column.” These are comments phoned into the paper. No names are used. This is from the Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 edition of the Grand Junction Sentinel.
“Let me get this straight: We’re going to pass a health care plan, written by a committee whose head says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that doesn’t understand it, but exempts themselves from it, signed by a president who also hasn’t read it, and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and, financed by a country that’s nearly broke. What possibly could go wrong?”
Food for thought for today. Be sure to call your Senators and Congressmen with your thoughts.
Gifts for all occasions for just under $10.00 each and the shipping is free! Spiral Bound, Plastic Splash Cover Cookbooks
Coupons codes: Buy Three get One Free – BTGO, Buy Four Get Two Free – BSGT Buy Six Get Three Free – BNGT
I like to get as much of my holiday shopping done in November as I can. I always need some $10.00 and under gifts for last minute gifts. My spiral bound cookbooks make perfect gifts for friends and relatives. These books are filled with tasty, reliable, healthy, practical recipes.
FAST AND HEALTHY MENUS FOR BUSY MOMS by Marilyn Moll
The focus of this book is that, yes, you can cook fast and healthy meals for your family with natural whole ingredients. You must have reliable recipes, a plan, and a willingness to commit to that goal.
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO BAKING BREAD by Marilyn Moll
If you’re new to bread baking, this is a no-nonsense, easy to use book that teaches whole grain bread baking step-by step. Over 90 pages and includes the two-stage process.
BREAKFASTS FOR BUSY MOMS by Marilyn Moll
Kick that cold, breakfast cereal habit and learn to cook a wide variety of nutritious breakfasts, including hot, kid-pleasing cereals using the nutrient packed two-stage process and much more.
Choose any combination of my books – 1 of each, 3 of each, 2 of one, 1 of another or any combination of multiples of three or more of my cookbooks and get one cookbook free for every three cookbooks you put in the shopping cart. Use the above coupon codes to save $14.95, $29.90 or $44.85. If you want more, put a note in the comments section of check out.
What an easy way to encourage your friends and relatives who are looking for a way to get started with a healthier lifestyle!
It’s not too early to plan the big Thanksgiving Feast. Be sure to get out your recipes and buy as many ingredients ahead of the big rush as possible. Even if you aren’t hosting the Thanksgiving Dinner, you might want to cook a turkey yourself, just for your family, just for the leftovers.
First of all set a beautiful table:
You might be surprised at what gorgeous centerpieces children can create from simple items such as gourds, pinecones of various shapes and sizes, nuts, acorns, mini-pumpkins, oak leaves, Indian corn, ribbons, turkeys, pilgrim statues, candles, napkins, doilies, dried grasses, and whatever else you may have in hand that fits into the theme of harvest and Thanksgiving.
Many of these items may be found while walking around in your neighborhood or a park. Older children can teach and supervise the younger children. Teaching practical life skills to children is the foundation of priceless traditions and memories. Try to make it a point to take lots of pictures. They will make timeless additions to student notebooks or family photo albums.
Homemade gravy making is the foundation of a very tasty and successful feast
1. The secret to homemade gravy is to make a delicious stock/base by simmering the giblets and neck in 2-3 cups of water while the turkey roasts, and saving ALL the drippings and browned crusty bits on the bottom of the roasting pan. Canned chicken broth or commercial gravy mix is a poor substitute, so resolve not to be tempted to compromise these steps.
2. Pour all the turkey drippings from the roasting pan into a large measuring cup (at least 2 Cup measure) and allow the grease to separate. While the drippings are separating, pour 2-3 cups of water into the roasting pan and bring it to a boil by placing the pan on two burners on your stove top. Using a wooden spoon, stir up these browned bits so they “dissolve” into the water.
This step is essential to wonderful tasting, beautifully browned gravy and makes cleaning up a roasting pan a much easier task. Reserve 4-8TB (1/4- 1/2 Cup) of the turkey grease once it separates from the drippings.
3. After the roasting pan has simmered with water and turned a deep brown color, combine this liquid with turkey drippings (not the fat) and the broth from simmering turkey giblets so that you have 5-6 Cups of liquid. I use my 6-Cup blender as a measuring cup.
4. Then combine 1/4-1/2 Cup turkey fat (or butter) with 8-10 TB flour (whole wheat pastry preferred) until it gelatinizes, or thickens in a large sauce pan. Keep stirring over medium low heat for about one minute.
5. Now, VERY GRADUALLY, pour the liquid from the turkey giblets and the roasting pan into the fat/flour mixture while you stir it continuously so as to not have any lumps. Stir continuously until the entire mixture thickens. Adjust the liquid if needed so you have a nice pourable gravy. Add 2-3 tsp salt or to taste. Save leftover gravy serving leftover turkey, or for soup stock, or open face sandwiches, etc!
Dear friends,
I don’t normally like to post on political topics, but mandatory government health care is such a major intrusion on our freedom and our finances I can not in good conscience remain silent. Since Duane and I have been self-employed for about 17 years, we have had to seek out alternative “health insurance” or Christian mutual care ministries where the members share the costs.
Currently I am a member of Samaritan’s Ministry, where I send my monthly share directly to the member whose need qualified. The cost of this sharing system is dramatically lower than commercial health care policies and offers the added benefit of fulfilling the biblical mandate to “bear one another’s burdens.”
The current legislation recently passed by the House, a requirement to buy government-approved insurance would be a violation of the religious freedom of people of faith who want to express their faith through health care sharing. Requiring them to buy health insurance would be an unreasonable burden that would make it very difficult for them to continue practicing their faith through health care sharing.
I have MANY other objections to the current House version, but please contact your Senators today and tomorrow regarding your concerns about mandatory government health care.
Friday, I prepared my Sunday School lesson for parents of teens based on the scripture, Ephesians 3:20:
Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…Unto Him be the glory!
As a parent or mother, a wife, business person, whoever you are, you will face circumstances far above your ability to handle. You can bank on it. There is a war being waged daily against you.
The war is waged by an enemy speaking subtly destructive messages you will hear as thoughts in your mind. Such thoughts may include variations on the theme of: “The situation is hopeless, you are hopeless, things will never change, you are a failure, you might as well give up, why bother, etc.”
Don’t listen to this. Resist these lies. Stand on the truth.
A modern paraphrase of Ephesians 3:20 may be just what you need to hear today.
When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient. When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful. When you feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable. When you are the weakest, He is the most able. When you are the most alone, He is intimately present. When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest. When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you. When it is the darkest, He is the only Light you need. When you feel th least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress. When you are the most humble, He is most gracious.
Instead of being discouraged, think upon the truth, dwell on it constantly.
He is able, as we surrender our cares and anxieties to Him. Are you willing to submit to his complete care?
Denver is in the middle of about a two day snow storm. My son’s college is shut down for today. Things have come to a halt in the Denver Metro area.
Here in Paonia, the Western side of Colorado, we have about 1-2 inch blanket of snow on the grass, cold temps and partly cloudy skies.
No snow day for us. But I’m pretending to have a snow day this afternoon, after all I feel a little jealous of my front range friends and relatives.
I have a cup of hot cocoa and I’m thinking about making Honey Glazed Chicken for tomorrow night’s dinner.
My neighbor, friend, and book keeper, Renee, is having it tonight. It is one of my favorite recipes and I don’t even remember the last time I had it.
All you need is a chicken, honey, curry powder, lemon juice, and an oven.
Here is the link for the recipe, it’s nice and easy:
Do you need a really easy way to use up a bunch of tomatoes? My friend Jodie just told me how to make up some tomato sauce that I think is delicious and easy.
All you need to do is slice end-of-the-season-very ripe-tomatoes that need to be used up, into 1/2″ thick slices. Place them into a large roasting pan that has a light coating of olive oil. Stack up the tomato slices, sprinkle with chopped onion, peppers, basil, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper if desired. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 90 minutes. Blend, pour into freezer containers in 2 cup portions. Freeze. Is that simple or what? I blended in some pine nuts to add a little extra richness, but they are optional.
How easy is that? You won’t believe how great your house will smell or how tasty this sauce is. No more Prego, No more Ragu for me.
VOILA! You have just made use of tomatoes and other produce you might otherwise have put into the compost.
Why didn’t I know how to do this a long time ago?
Try it, you’ll really like it. I did this while the dinner soup was heating up, we ate dinner, and dishes were being washed up. I even get to go to bed at a reasonable hour and I’m not exhausted.