On My Mind Today

Over the last few years, my time has slowly been transitioning into being a caregiver. It has been a slow progression, but time for me is becoming more elusive these days. It can be difficult to r emember that if you do not take care of yourself, you will not be any good to those in your life.  It is not in my nature to put myself first, and I know there are many others like me. We try to make sure that everyone else in our life is taken care of and their needs are met. There are two reasons for this: we enjoy doing for others as it makes us feel good, and it is rewarding when we see them happy. Of course, my sister would say there is a third reason; our purpose in life is to help others. When our children are young our role is to take care of them. We plan, organize and prepare for whatever arises each day, nurturing them as they grow into young adults. As our children leave the nest we tend to transfer these actions to others in our life. The need to nurture so strong that we can...

Growing up, a lot of children do not like spinach - even when Popeye tells them it can make them strong. This recipe from Taste of Home contributor Judy Batson, Tampa, FL just might change their mind. Spinach with garlicky butter and Parmesan is filled with delicious flavors that will win anyone over - even my non-veggie eater. Spinach-Parmesan Casserole 2 pounds fresh baby spinach (I used 3 - 8oz. bags) 5 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 400°.  In a stockpot, bring 5 cups water to a boil. Add spinach; cook, covered, 1 minute or just until wilted. Drain well. (I did not boil the spinach. I added it to the butter and oil with the garlic, Italian seasoning and salt and sauteed it.) In a small skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic, Italian seasoning and salt; cook and stir until garlic is tender, 1-2 minutes. Spread spinach in a grease...

Compassion: Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.  Understanding: Sympathetically aware of other people's feelings; tolerant and forgiving.  Tolerance: The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.  Acceptance: The quality or state of being accepted; the act of accepting something or someone. Although we have our differences, we all should expect these values to be practiced when dealing with one another. It's called common decency and respect for others, and these should not be compromised for any reason. In our ever-changing world we need to take time to step back, acknowledge, and learn to accept our differences. Just because we have contrasting lifestyles or opinions, it doesn't give us the right to criticize one another. We can live in harmony if we learn to be accepting, and if we mind our own business. Somehow over the last several d...

Some days the sunshine will not grace our door, and it will be hard to find our way. When our minds feel the clouds and fog, we must push through to the other side. When we are faced with a day filled with to-dos, the list can become daunting and overwhelming. With determination we can make light work of it all, and push through to the other side. There will be times when we feel down, and self-pity can easily move in. Don't linger there for too long, just push through to the other side. Days will come when we feel lonely, even though we may stand in a crowd. If we reach out to those we are close to, we can push through to the other side. Holidays arrive with much joy and a bit of sadness too, as gatherings feel the absence of loved ones we have lost. If we share our memories of those gone but not forgotten, we will be able to push through to the other side. Life brings with it many experiences and emotions, the ups and downs that we all live through. Although we may stumble now an...

From Taste of Home contributor, Marilyn Louise Riggenbach from Ravenna, Ohio, these old-world cookies are filled with the delicious flavors of cinnamon and cloves. Her uncles call them cupcake cookies because of the unique way they are baked. The recipe is her grandmother's and is quite simple. Once the batter is mixed up, it is covered and refrigerated for an hour. I used a standard size muffin tin, and the recipe made 15 cookies. They are absolutely delicious and sure to be a hit with your family. Baki's Old-World Cookies 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature 1 cup ground walnuts 1-1/2 cups al-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Confectioner's sugar Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add nuts. In another bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon and cloves: add with vanilla to creamed mixture. Cover an...

As I sit here on Mother's Day, I find myself thinking about my two daughters and how proud I am of the amazing women and mothers they have become. They have had their struggles, some I am aware of and many I'm sure I am not, but they have persevered and emerged stronger and wiser. Just as I did as I found my way on the road of motherhood. As we all know it's not an easy road to maneuver at times; there will be great joy and some heartache along the way. Looking back there are many things that come to mind, and some that have stayed with me are: When I was carrying my children and heard their heartbeat for the first time. The day they were born; both the pain of childbirth and how I forgot that pain the minute I held them in my arms. The feeling of overwhelming love for my child, and fear of having to care for them and protect them. How could I do all of this? Sleepless nights caring for a colicky baby yet cherishing the feeling of holding and comforting them. The first time...

Early morning as daylight is breaking through; silence envelops us in peace and solitude. Savor these moments you quietly say,  before the beginning of the day. The sun slowly rises on the horizon, filling the sky with rays of heavenly light. The beauty takes your breath away; savor these moments you quietly say. Mother Nature's creatures begin to stir; birds chirping, loons calling, and fish silently sending ripples across the water's surface. Take in her beauty as they set about their day; savor these moments you quietly say. Full daylight arrives to break the spell; people arise and homes begin to stir. We filled our soul with peace and joy, to bring with us as we go. Savor these moments you quietly say, until the beginning of another day.

From Brandie at thecountrycook.com , this recipe for chicken and biscuits uses simple ingredients and is very easy to make. We all can use a one dish recipe that can be put together in 15 minutes and popped into the oven. In about an hour, you will have a delicious weeknight dinner for your family that they will love. Chicken and Biscuits Casserole 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon rotisserie seasoning ½ teaspoon black pepper 12 ounce can refrigerated biscuits (or 2 6-ounce cans) 1 cup f rozen peas and carrots 1 cup s hredded Cheddar cheese 2 cups cooked chicken  (shredded or diced) ¼ cup sliced green onion (optional) Instructions: Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl whisk together the cream of chicken soup, milk, garlic powder, rotisserie seasoning and black pepper. Whisk until fully combined and most of the lumps are gone. Open the can of biscuits and separa...

Spring has arrived with warmer days, bringing hope of what is to come. The birds that winter in New England, begin a flurry of activity once more. As the days have stretched into April, warm weather birds return to nest. Each day brings more and more species, to watch with a heart filled with joy. They fly and scurry here and there, finding what will make a warm nest. And once again the air is filled, with beautiful songs as they work. First, come the Robins scratching the ground, searching for worms, insects, and grubs. Then others will fly north to join them, the Grey Catbird, Scarlet Tanager and more. Soon we see Chickadees, Bluebirds, and Swallows, filling the skies, trees and backyards. They make all the days seem brighter, even when spring rains come along. But this year something was different, something did not appear quite right. The Mourning Dove pair that lived nearby, did not come by together this time. One lonely Dove sitting on the wire,  or searching for seeds on the...