On My Mind Today

If you are a big fan of ice cream, then you will love this easy ice cream cake. This recipe is one my sister gave to me many years ago. With only five ingredients, it takes very little time to put this together. It calls for vanilla ice cream, but you can use any of your favorite flavors. I make mine with 1/2 vanilla and 1/2 chocolate. It makes a good size cake, so it is a perfect dessert for a larger group. Ice Cream Cake Makes 12-15 servings 1 stick of butter 1 Family size package of Oreo cookies 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream 1 - 15.5 oz. jar of Mrs. Richardson's hot fudge topping 1 - large container of Cool Whip Crush Oreos. Melt butter and add crushed cookies. Press into a 13x9 pan (I use a large round pie holder as it has a lid for storage). Put into the freezer for 1/2 hour. Let the ice cream soften for 5 minutes. Take the Oreo crust out of the freezer and cover with vanilla ice cream. Pour hot fudge sauce over ice cream and spread evenly. Top with the Cool Whip and put in ...

 Anyone growing up in the northeast can relate to the old saying "summer is a short month in New England". The actual duration is the same as anywhere else but depending on the weather it can seem extremely short. As soon as we experience the first warm day our thoughts turn to all the events we want to plan with family and friends, and the coordinating of schedules begins. There are only so many weekends of summer and trying to bring everyone together can be a logistical nightmare. If we are lucky, most people will be available on the same date. For a major event we will have to plan a year in advance. Of course, all of the above needs to be maneuvered around any vacation plans we have made. Whether it is a major overseas trip, traveling locally or visiting another state, these are usually arranged well ahead of the summer season. Once these trips are set, we can only hope we will not miss family gatherings while we are away.  Now all we have to do is pray for the weather to...

Sometimes life throws us off kilter, filling our head with too much to absorb. The ensuing chaos swirling in our brain, can overwhelm even the strongest soul. Noise constantly surrounding us, so much of it out of our control. Unless we are in total isolation, there is no way to find an escape. How do others enjoy the constant din, of voices and external sounds? They seem to thrive on the chaos, still able to function through it all. For those of us who enjoy some solitude, we yearn for days free of artificial sound. No television, radios or cell phones, can help to restore some balance in life. The ultimate way to soothe the soul, is to embrace Mother Nature's sounds. The sound of the birds or calling loons, can release all the tension we hold. We need a few moments to gather our thoughts, to stop the swirling chaos in our brains. May the day ahead bring a few moments peace, to renew our tired soul once more.

Not only is this pork tenderloin delicious, but also a heart healthy choice for dinner. From the American Heart association, this elegant main dish will impress your guests when the pork is sliced open to reveal its beautiful, bright filling. It may look complicated, but it’s simple to prepare. Sweet sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and crunchy pine nuts provide a wonderful contrast to rosemary-scented pork. Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Spinach, Pine Nuts and Sun-Dried Tomatoes 1/2 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes Cooking spray 1 pound pork tenderloin, all visible fat discarded, butterflied and flattened to 1-inch thickness 2 tablespoons pine nuts, dry-roasted 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, divided use 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, divided use 4 cups loosely packed baby spinach Bring 1 cup water to a boil. Put the tomatoes in a small bowl. Pour in the boiling water. Let stand for 10 minutes, or until softened....

There are an endless number of words that can be used to describe mothers, loving, nurturing, caring, healer, protector, cheerleader, warrior, comforting, understanding, compassionate, selfless, accepting, resilient, strong, courageous, generous, patient, beautiful and wise. We all have our own words to describe our mothers, and what comes to mind depends on where we are in our lives. Each stage of life brings a different role with its own meaning. Being a mother is a huge responsibility. From the day we hold our children for the very first time we become acutely aware of two things; just how much we can possibly love another human being, and the enormity of the responsibility ahead of us. Our children are a miracle we give to the world; there is no other word to describe giving birth. We love and nurture them as they grow and try to not only see our hopes and dreams for them fulfilled but also hope they achieve their dreams. Mothers are not perfect. We are human after all, and we will...

Today is a typical April day in New England; gray, rainy and cool. It's the kind of day that would make it easy to stay in bed covered by not only warm blankets, but also gloomy thoughts. There are those who may look forward to giving in to the rainy, dreary day as if it's a chance to escape from the world for a while. Many of us, however, prefer to look at these April showers in a more positive light. Instead of letting them surround us with a melancholy mood we choose to see what they will soon bring. The trees that have been barren all winter are sprouting buds that will suddenly burst into green leaves. The transformation always seems to happen overnight as we sleep, and the sight is as refreshing as a breeze gently blowing across our face. Birds that have returned to nest for the season reap the benefits of April showers. They provide puddles for drinking and a quick bath and will bring worms and bugs closer to the ground's surface for the birds to feast upon. Watching...