On My Mind Today

If you're looking for a quick, delicious dessert for last minute company, then you're in luck with this berry tart. From Food Network Magazine this recipe couldn't be any easier and can be ready in less than an hour. This calls for fresh strawberries, but you could change it up by adding raspberries, blueberries or apple slices. Shortcut Berry Tart 1 thawed frozen puff pastry sheet fresh sliced strawberries 2 tablespoons melted butter sugar 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slightly roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet on a floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. 2. Score a 1-inch border around the edges with a knife. Brush the whole sheet with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. 3. Arrange sliced strawberries inside the border, sprinkle with more sugar. 4. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.

Spring has truly arrived, and we're finally able to enjoy some sunshine and warmer temperatures. Feels like it has taken forever to get here. It has been a pleasure over the past month or so to have a glimpse of what's to come from friends and acquaintances in the more southern areas. Having said that, I must admit that it has created garden envy; the photos of their flowers in bloom have been only a vision in my mind here. Green leaves have sprouted on the trees and created a thick canopy for birds to hide their nests. They dart in and out bringing nourishment to their new offspring, and the air is filled with beautiful melodies. A break in the spring rains last week afforded me the opportunity to turn over the flower bed and put out the bird baths for their enjoyment. The chives are flourishing and will soon have flowers for the bees to begin collecting pollen. Feeling secure about the warmer weather remaining, I made a trip to the local garden center. After weeks of

Women have been fighting for women's rights in our country since pre-settlement times when Iroquois women fought to gain power so they could nominate and depose council elders and chiefs. Women are not only still fighting inequality, but now must fear being dragged back to the Dark Ages. From the 1600's through today it has been a hard-fought battle for every right women have. They have marched, protested and struggled to win the right to vote, for gender equality, for equal pay, to serve in public office, and so much more. One of these rights, the right to choose and have control of our own bodies, is once again under attack and being taken away. Under attack by aging men who feel they have the right to tell women what they can and can't do. Sadly, I admit there are women who are standing behind these men, and that I don't understand. They claim it's because they are pro-life and every life matters; that they are thinking of the children. They say if a woman

This comes from Taste of Home - Our Favorite Recipes from Amish Country, and was submitted by Flo Burtnett from Gage, Oklahoma. Filled with the delicious flavors of cinnamon and raisins it will bring memories of childhood as the sweet aroma fills the kitchen. It's a great breakfast to take with you, or a nice after school snack for the kids. Cinnamon Raisin Quick Bread 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar, divided 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 2 cups buttermilk* 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup raisins 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1-1/2 cups sugar, soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk* and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; set aside. * To make buttermilk put 4 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice in container and add milk to make 2 cups. 2. Spoon half the batter into two

"You are not here to sit in the audience for anyone's drama and strife.... but to be the star of your own life!" ~ Unknown~ Singing competitions, talent shows, survival shows, races, reality shows and more; it's like everyone's goal today is to be a star. Not everyone is going to be a star, at least not on stage or in the movies. However, this doesn't stop people from putting themselves on the line to try and obtain stardom. In the process many of them give up their dignity to those willing to exploit them purely for entertainment profits. There are those who put themselves out there on social media and determine their self-worth or "star" power by how many people view or like their posts and videos. They don't need anyone else to exploit them as they are doing it to themselves. The reality is none of it will make them a star. If we want to see true stardom, we need to open our eyes and see the role we play in our own life. What we percei

A I write this it's a gray and rainy day; one that makes work, household chores, errands, financial worries, health issues and more feel like a heavy weight. When we're in the midst of this it's difficult to rise above it all, and even harder to find our joy. With everything that comes at us today we feel more stress than the generations before us. I'm not saying that they were without stress, but they were not confronted by millions of images and sounds as we are today. It can be nearly impossible to shut it all out; to surround ourselves in silence to think. There are times I envy those who lived without computers, cell phones and television with over 200 channels. How nice it must have been to live each day without those distractions; to have time to do something that brought them joy. People today don't take time to find out what that is, or to indulge in it once they discover it. Being over 60, I do know the things that bring me joy; reading, writing, coo

Every month Food Network Magazine offers several recipes that readers can add to their weekly menus; all of them can be prepared and ready in under an hour. These grilled steak rolls are brushed with hoisin sauce mixed with soy sauce, ginger and garlic, then topped with toasted peanuts. Served with a side of grilled broccoli, asparagus and scallions this makes for a delicious restaurant quality weeknight dinner. Japanese-Style Steak Rolls 2 large bunches scallions, trimmed and halved crosswise 1 head broccoli, trimmed and sliced lengthwise into spears 2-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for the grill 3 tablespoons salted peanuts, chopped 1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger 2 cloves garlic, finely grated 1-1/2 pounds thinly sliced steak for braciola (4 pieces) salt and freshly ground pepper 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed 1/4 cup hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce 1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil; add the scallions and cook unt

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

The definition of bullying is far broader than physical or verbal abuse. It can be more subtle and in many cases is used as an active form of exclusion; the end goal is to gain power and dominance. When a leader uses bullying to gain power it becomes a dangerous and destructive force. When times are difficult there are some who will see aggression as strength and bullying as leadership. Both assumptions are detrimental. Just look back in history to see how destructive it can be. Our society has taken on bullying in schools and have created programs to recognize and report bullying. Expecting zero tolerance it is a noble cause; our children should not be called names, made fun of, or portrayed as an outcast. Those who perpetuate this hatred do so for power - sound familiar? The result of bullying is two-fold; not only does it perpetuate hatred, but it emboldens those who hate to act. The bully does the name calling and spreads the hate; the followers react, usually in the form of