On My Mind Today

How could it be that this much time has passed. Seems like only yesterday we greeted you with a smile, our hearts filled with anticipation. Wondering what you would bring with your new year. We approached this new beginning filled with hope, and dreams of what could be. Things we want to accomplish, places we want to go, and so many people we want to spend time with. Early on the time goes at a leisurely pace, giving us the illusion all is possible. We meander through winter with ease taking a breath and a break from all the holiday chaos. With spring our thoughts turn to what is to come. The winter snow starts to melt, and warmer days arrive. Each day seems to go by a bit faster as we prepare  to greet the summer days that follow. The long, warm, lazy days of summer slows the pace a bit once more. Time for lying on the beach to soak up the sun,  tending gardens, and the many  cook-outs with family and friends. Along comes fall signaling the end of summer, and the beginning of the last

From the kitchen of Better Homes and Gardens, this will be a great addition to your Sunday brunch. The recipe calls for 9 oz. of frozen cut asparagus (thawed and drained), but I prefer fresh so have adjusted the recipe accordingly. This can be prepared the day before and kept in the refrigerator until ready to bake. You will be certain to get rave reviews from your guests when they get a taste of this delicious strata. Bacon-Asparagus Strata   8 strips bacon, crisp cooked, drained and chopped** 3/4 - 1-pound fresh asparagus, cut and blanched 3/4 cup roasted red peppers, drained and chopped 12 slices dry white bread (I prefer sourdough), cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups) 3 cups shredded Swiss cheese (12 ounces) 8 eggs 3 cups milk 1-1/2 teaspoons dry mustard or 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper     1. To blanch asparagus put cut pieces into small microwave safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons water and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes until cri

 "Twas The Night Before Christmas," was written in the early 19th century, and is one of the oldest and most popular Christmas poems. There is a dispute over the author, and the poem has been attributed to both Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston, Jr. over the years. It was first published on December 23, 1823, in the  Troy Sentinel  newspaper in upstate New York. It is also referred to as "A Visit from St. Nicholas" or "The Night Before Christmas." Today I want to share with you the original lyrics to the poem. Hope you will enjoy sharing this with your children and grandchildren. 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,  In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,  And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,  Had j

With Christmas less than a week away, here is a great appetizer for your special gathering. I have never been a mushroom lover, but a good friend gave me a container of beautiful large mushrooms. Not wanting to waste them I went looking for a stuffed mushroom recipe. I discovered this one from Taste of Home and gave it a try. They were absolutely delicious! I hope they are as big a hit with your family and friends as they were in my home. Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms 12 to 15 large fresh mushrooms 2 tablespoons butter, divided 2 tablespoons chopped onions 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon dried basil salt and pepper to taste 4 ounces bulk Italian sausage 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1. Remove stems from mushrooms. Chop stems finely; set mushroom caps aside. Place stems in paper towels and squeeze to remove any liquid. 2. In a large skillet, heat 1-1/2 teaspoons butter. Cook stems and onion until tender. A

In our younger years we believe we have all the time in the world. There is no sense of time passing us by as we get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life. Between work, raising children and a myriad of other things, we sometimes proceed mechanically through our days. As the years rush by we become aware of how we are allowing precious opportunities to slip by. With this awareness comes an urgency to stop and give family and friends our greatest gift, the gift of our time. Our children become adults, our grandchildren grow quickly from babies to teens, and our parents age before our eyes. It all happens in a heartbeat, and if we don't give them our time, we may find there is no time left. Visit your children, or if they live too far away, call them.  Let them know how much you love them; show an interest in their lives and listen when they have difficulties. Share in their joys and their sadness; be their friend. If you have grandchildren, take them for at least a few days ev

From  Arman Liew at the BigMansWorld.com , these healthy flourless cookies are delicious! This quick and easy recipe needs no eggs, no milk, and no dairy. All you need is just one bowl and one food processor! I did not need these to be dairy free, so I used regular unsalted butter and made the oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip variations. They were a big hit at our holiday gathering. I look forward  to trying the other varieties  or trying some other mix-ins. No Flour Cookies - Basic No Flour Cookie Base  12 Servings 1 1/2 cups* gluten free rolled oats any rolled oats work 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 cup sugar of choice white, brown, coconut or sugar free 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoon coconut oil can substitute for dairy free butter/butter of choice 1/2 cup milk of choice 1/4 cup chocolate chips of choice or mix-ins of choice *I ended up using between 1-3/4 - 2 cups oats as the batter seemed a bit thin. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie 1/4 cup raisi

 It does not seem possible that another year has passed; yet here we are once again at the beginning of another Christmas season. Thanksgiving had not even arrived before the holiday advertisements appeared on television. The big push to convince consumers they need the latest gadget or fashions, the dreaded commercial aspect of the holidays. However, this is not what the Christmas season is all about. It means so much more, and if we open our hearts and minds, we will receive the best gift of all, the spirit of Christmas. As children it was easy to get caught up in the magic and excitement of what was to come. Watching holiday classics on television, indulging in Christmas cookies and candies, writing letters to Santa, and waiting with anticipation to see what Santa would leave under the tree. It seemed like Christmas day would never arrive. As we grew up and became teens, we lost much of the Christmas magic we never doubted as young children. We did enjoy our time with family, but it

We all know couples who have been together for decades. Sometimes it is obvious why these relationships have lasted, and other times not so much. There are couples we can look at and see immediately they were meant for each other, but one must wonder about the ones that do not fall into this category. When couples are asked how they have managed to remain together for so long, there are many ways that question is answered. A few common responses are: They are not only partners, but best friends. They tell one another they love each other every day. They allow their partner the time and space for hobbies, friendships, and time alone. They discuss differences and never go to bed angry. They make time for "date" night. They still hold hands. They work together as a team to make the relationship work. All of these are particularly good parameters to live by, but there are most likely very many other reasons that these relationships survive for decades. I recently read something f

Chicken, cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese and Ranch dressing; what's not to like? This recipe comes from Sarah Olson at themagicalslowcooker.com . A great simple recipe for a cold winter day, just put the ingredients in the crock pot and let it cook while you work. You can serve this over rice, a baked potato, or on a bulky roll. Very rich and filling, your family will walk away satisfied. Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Serves 6 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, or boneless skinless breasts (trim off excess fat if desired) * 1 oz. packet ranch seasoning mix 16 oz. cream cheese 8 slices bacon (sliced, cooked and drained) 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup sliced green onions Add the chicken thighs (or breasts) to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the ranch seasoning mix. Place the cream cheese on top of the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. Shred the chicken, this can be done right in the slow cooker with 2 forks. S

There are those days in all our lives where nothing seems to be right. No one thing to point to, no one to blame, just feelings that settle too deep. We can tell ourselves to let it all go, that our life is really not bad. As hard as we try, we can't shake it off like a cold chill that refuses to leave. When these feelings linger and refuse to leave, we may hear a whisper in our ear. Call it fate, or a guardian angel, in a stranger who suddenly appears. A kind word or compliment not expected will catch us by surprise. We turn to see the smiling face of a stranger sent to lift our soul. This small act of kindness, no matter how brief, will impact the rest of our day. A simple reminder to be aware of so much we have to be thankful for. As we go about our day, we must remember to spread kindness whenever we can. Some days we will be the guardian angel, and others the one who needs a hand. A few kind words, a compliment, and a smile can have impact far more than we know.