On My Mind Today

From myjewishlearning.com , this coffee cake is one of the best I have ever tasted.  Ashkenazi coffee cake has a history going back to 17th century Eastern Europe. The original Jewish coffee cakes called for coffee as one of the main ingredients, but today most are perfect partners for a hot cup of coffee but are totally caffeine-free.  If you’re hosting some chocolate lovers, try the chocolate filling. If your family likes raisins, try the raisin-nut filling. The simple combination of pecans and walnuts in the nut filling is delicious. No matter what your choice is for fillings this coffee cake will be a big hit with family and friends. Jewish Coffee Cake Step 1: 3 tablespoons brown sugar 3 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped 3/4 cup pecans, chopped Step 2a: 2 cups sugar 1 cup butter Step 2b: 2 cups flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Sep 3: 3 eggs Sep 4: 8 ounces of sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla Optional fillings: 1/2 cup raisins 1 cup chocolate chips...

Thankful:  expressing gratitude. Daily routine, world events, and unexpected personal trials and tribulations sometimes make it difficult to give thanks.  Although we may want to remain positive, it may be easier to follow the path of least resistance and sink into a pool of negative thoughts.  We all have faced troubles and tragedies throughout our lives, and it could be very easy to dwell on these. Some days it seems impossible to lift ourselves out from under the weight placed on us from difficult times. However, this is not a place we want to stay for too long. Every once in a while, we need to find the strength to push away the dark cloud hanging over us. Permitting the winds of our emotions to blow all of it out of our mind clears the way for a more positive reflection of our life. If we allow ourselves to sit in peace and look back at all that has transpired over the many years we have traveled, the bright and positive memories will far outweigh the troubled t...

In conversations with family and friends we often hear that they feel tired. Based on what is said it seems that the majority are mentally tired. Some of the factors that create this are: Stress of work/home. Health issues. Too much time looking at phones, computers and TV. All of these keep our mind constantly engaged and zap our energy mentally, which is not a good kind of tired. Years ago, we spent a greater percentage of our time doing physical activities. Whether it was playing outside as a child or doing household chores or yard work as an adult, we worked our bodies. We didn't have the constant distractions which keep our minds engaged whether we want to be or not. Having our minds stimulated by looking at a computer, smart phone, or TV with 200+ channels is enough to make anyone feel tired all the time. Our society as a whole does not do the amount of physical labor that our bodies need. Whether it is because we have a desk job, or because we have become too ...

Recently I was looking for a quick and easy dessert, and once again Betty Crocker came to the rescue. This recipe is very easy and can be ready for your evening dessert in a little over an hour. The gingerbread is very moist and rich, and filled with great flavor from the molasses, ginger and cinnamon. Can be served warm or cold, with or without a topping. **Suggested toppings: Apricot-Cream Topping, Honey-Ginger Fluff, or whipped cream. Gingerbread 2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 1 cup molasses 3/4 cup hot water 1/2 cup shortening 1 egg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 325 ℉ Grease and flour square pan 9x9x2 inches. Beat all ingredients in large mixer bowl on low speed, scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 3 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Serve with Apricot-Cream Topping, Honey-Gi...

What is this life I have come into? There is nothing familiar to what once was. Have I have walked into someone else's life, or perhaps it is all a dream? So many things we used to do, so simple and without much thought. These same routines have now become much more effort that requires a plan. The one we care for never thought they would be in a place where they would need such help. If asked I'm sure they would tell their loved one that they wished for what used to be. We did not choose this role we play, and never believed it would be ours. It is something that others must do, how could it permeate our life? We ask God to give us patience, as we go through every step and phase. Although we always give our best effort, there are days where we may fall short. We want to be the angel and savior, that makes their life good every day. Running through our mind always seems to be,  "What could I have done better today"? We must remember we can't do it all, even though...

We all have our list of things to do, the special projects that we will do someday. Unfortunately, someday never seems to come around.  Even with the best of intentions, daily life seems to get in the way of our attempt to tackle a chore that has been hanging over our heads. The kitchen cupboards that need cleaning, closets that are overflowing with long forgotten items, pictures that need sorting, and the list goes on and on.  When overwhelmed with so many extra projects, it is easier to let them float into a vast neverland. Once they get lost in our foggy deep seeded memory bank, we can forget they exist for a while. As the old expression goes, out of sight, out of mind. Eventually, some projects spill out and smack us in the face. We open a closet to look for something and all the things we have shoved in there prevent us from finding what we need. This is the point where we can no longer ignore that particular project and must deal with it head on. Once we let go of our da...

From Chef Rachel at McCormick.com , this Jambalaya recipe is quick, easy, and made in one pot. Chicken combined with sausage, sauteed onions, and Cajun seasoning, gives this dish amazing rich flavor, and it can be on the table in about an hour. Although the recipe calls for smoked sausage, I used Chorizo for an added kick of spice. This dish goes well with homemade cornbread, or a side salad. Bon a petit! Easy Jambalaya 1 tablespoon oil 1-pound  boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2-pound  smoked sausage, sliced 1/4-inch thick (or Chorizo) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 tablespoon McCormick® Perfect Pinch® Cajun Seasoning 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes 1 cup long grain rice Heat oil in large heavy skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage; cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from skillet. Stir onion into skillet; cook and stir on medium heat 2 minutes or until onion is softened. Stir in Seasoning. Return chicken and saus...

Looking back on my youth brighter days are remembered. Hopes and dreams seemed reachable even in the midst of war and turmoil. It's not that there were no obstacles, but they did not appear insurmountable. Progress took shape in many forms as the years have passed by. Each step made life better, and yet so much more complicated. Not all that has been put before us has been good for humanity. What appeared to bring us closer, in fact, has torn us apart. The youth of today are faced with choices that we could not imagine would come to be. Expected to be adults too soon, and having their childhood taken away. Seeing the world being torn apart, how can they hope to reach their dreams? I worry for our grandchildren, and their children yet to come. What kind of world will greet them; will it just be doom and gloom? If this is what we leave them then we have failed to protect all that is good. Will we rise above the negativity being spread far and wide? Will we bond together to drive out ...