On My Mind Today

A frittata is one of the simplest breakfast foods to master and uses ingredients that are normally in the fridge. From Southern Living, this Hash Brown Frittata transforms plain eggs and hash browns into one tasteful dish. Once you are comfortable making frittatas, you can make them your own using additions such as bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach and cheese. No matter what your preference is, be sure to watch the eggs carefully as they bake as overcooking can make them chewy. Hash Brown Frittata 5 large eggs 1/2 cup half-and-half 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion 1 (20 oz.) package refrigerated shredded hash browns 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk together eggs, half-and-half, pepper, and ½ teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 10-inch nonstick oven-safe skillet over medium-high. Add onion; cook, stirri...

Morning begins with calm and quiet, with only the sound of nature breaking through. Our soul is at peace with no worries, and our mind has not been filled with noise. Cling to these moments for as long as you can, you will need them to take you through. In no time at all, the day will begin, and your peace will fade quickly away. Voices start seeping into the calm dragging your thoughts into the day. Someone looking for answers or help, pulling you out of your quiet place. Inevitably the buzz of the television will start, with the latest news headlines of the day. Although we want to be informed,  the reality of it all can be more than we can take. Whether at home, work, or venturing out in the world, the constant chatter and noise do not end. At times we find time to escape sitting quietly  behind a closed door, or even in our car. Noise, noise, it never seems to end, and we grow weary as the day goes by. What we wouldn't give for a moment or two to shut out the constant din....

Most days it is easy to find the good in our lives and to be thankful for what we have. Then there are the days that we are discouraged and must dig deep to find the positive.  We all have times in our lives when we are faced with obstacles that can make it difficult to approach our days with a positive attitude. It can be something very personal, or it could be from the negative messages that we are bombarded with every day. Both have the same impact and will take over if we allow them to. It is not easy to change how we think and approach our daily lives even if we know it would be the best thing for us. It takes significant effort, and the path of least resistance can seem much simpler. Unfortunately, that does not do anything for our physical and mental health.  When we focus on looking for the positive in the world, there is one thing that stands out every time; people who do good things for others. Their focus is on what they can do to make another's life better. In doin...

My original intention was to make a strawberry rhubarb pie. I thought some of my rhubarb was just about ready, but unfortunately it is still too early. I had a few apples in my refrigerator, and I purchased some fresh strawberries and blueberries in the market recently, so I decided to throw all of them into a pie. The result was wonderful. It is absolutely delicious served with whipped cream and was a big hit in my house.  Apple, Strawberry and Blueberry Pie pie crust for 2-crust pie (homemade or pre-made) 3 apples, cored, peeled and sliced 1 pound of fresh strawberries, sliced 1-pint fresh blueberries 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1.2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons butter Preheat oven to 425℉. Prepare pie crust (make your own or use the pre-made). Line bottom of pie plate with crust. Core, peel and slice apples and toss with the lemon juice. Add sliced strawberries. Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir in with the app...

Although it's been twenty-plus years since my father's passing, I still miss him. There are some days when I feel his absence more than others; with the arrival of Father's Day there have been many of these days. My father was not a perfect man; like everyone he had his flaws. However, he was a good man. He was very intelligent and had a sharp wit and good sense of humor. He also had a good heart and treated people fairly, regardless of social status or race. He was strict when it came to his daughters, but what father wouldn't be? Even though I rebelled as a teenager, I came to understand his reasons when I became a parent. He was only trying to protect us from the bad in the world. I remember him bringing candy bars home in his lunch pail for us and taking us for a ride on Sundays. Sometimes in the summer we would go to the lake for a cookout, or pile in the car to see a movie at the drive-in theater. He also taught us fun things like reciting the alphabet backwards a...

The sun rises with clear blue skies, with hope for peace and serenity. I remain still with shallow breathing, careful not to disturb those who sleep. These days quiet moments are rare, they are more precious than gold. Silence is like an elusive butterfly, hiding just out of sight. Noise surrounds me far too early, and sometimes never seems to end. From television to constant chatter, at times it is difficult to breathe. Some days the sensory overload, can exhaust my weary soul. Just a few moments of silence and solitude, a bit of tranquility is all I need. Let me watch the sunrise appear in the sky, and see Mother Nature awaken. Her creatures stir and start the day, a great joy for the eyes to behold. So, give me just a few moments, to soothe my weary soul. The peace and serenity of silence, are far more precious than gold.

In our youth we have many dreams, ever changing with each new day. So much ahead in our lives, with choices we will need to make. Early on our dreams are smaller, with visions of first dates and kisses. Imagining gliding across the floor, at school dances with our first crush. Some of our dreams are a fantasy, of living a rich and famous life. The younger we are the bigger the dream, never believing it cannot become real. As the years pass by the dreams evolve, into much larger events in life. Marriage, children and so much more, making precious memories along the way. In mid-life things begin to change, and we see things with new eyes. After years of chasing our many dreams, we learn some things don't go as planned. Dreams become so much different, more personal and smaller in scope. With each year we begin to realize, the smaller dreams mean so much more. As we enter into our senior years, everything becomes crystal clear. Our only dream is to embrace each day, for sometimes life...

From Just a Pinch Recipes contributor, Vicki Butts, Grapeview, WA. this Crock Pot Beef Bourguignon is a good comfort food that warms your soul. The beef is extremely tender, and it pairs well with the smoky bacon and sweet carrots. You can serve it over mashed potatoes, with a baked potato side, or as a soup over rice. Any way you choose to serve it, the flavor is absolutely delicious! Yield: 4 -6  Prep time:15 Min Cook time:12 hours Beef Bourguignon 3 lb. rump roast, trimmed, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 carrots, peeled and sliced (I like to use baby carrots instead) 1 md onion, sliced 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 3 Tbsp flour 10 oz beef broth 6 slice cooked bacon, cut into 1-2-inch pieces 2 c red wine 1 Tbsp tomato paste 2 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp thyme 1 bay leaf 1/2 lb. small white onions, peeled 1 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced Place the beef cubes, carrots, and onion in the crock pot. Season with salt and pepper; stir ...

Looking at all the so called "reality" shows they keep producing that exhibit the worst of people's lives, and knowing that so many are watching, is very disconcerting. The people they present are often offensive and negative, or willing to make a fool of themselves for their fifteen minutes of fame. It is truly sad in many ways. To think we would rather look at such negative nonsense, instead of embracing our own life, absolutely puzzles me. It is very apparent that we have become a society that seems to dwell on the negative. I guess it is easy as there are so many negative messages put in our faces and screaming at us, while we must look much harder and deeper to see the many positive possibilities. It takes energy and a positive attitude to move your life in a direction that will bring joy and happiness.  None of it comes by just sitting back and expecting it to show up. You need to engage yourself each day and see what could be. Try something that you have ...