Rainy days bring out the creative in our children. For some reason, the lessons that take forever to complete on a sunny day, are done in minutes. You, the mother, spend the rest of the day second guessing disasters as the children find ways to keep themselves amused. Hard as it is to believe, doing an extra book report or some encyclopedia research doesn’t seem to appeal to them.
Even though the majority of your children may have reached the age of reason, reason and active children don’t always find a common meeting place. So, while the rain pours down and the thunder shakes the house, you realize every word that comes from the mouths or your babes will have to be analyzed carefully. Children can keep themselves occupied when confined to the house. It is up to the parent in charge as to whether the house will still be standing when they have had their fun. There are certain key words or phrases that should immediately raise the red flag.
1. Mom! Where do we keep the rope?
2. Did you know that dogs really like peanut butter, especially straight from the jar?
3. Can the vacuum spit things out again if you need them back?
4. No, you jump first!
5. How many vitamins can the cat eat before she gets sick?
6. Where does the water go when it overflows the bathtub?
7. What happens if all the labels fall off the canned food?
8. Did you see how muddy the dogs were when they ran past?
9. Mom! Did you know you could call France from our telephone?
10. How long do we have before Dad gets home?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Yes, I'm Pro-Life!
A seemingly easy question to answer is, “What is a pro-life parish?” Over the past several months, I have talked to various people who claim that their parish is exceedingly pro-life. They tell me about the programs available for mothers, adoption options, clothing drives for newborns and the many other aspects of helping pre-born babies become newborns. I was impressed until I started relating the status of our government system with saving babies. The government doesn’t, for the most part, recognize any rights for the pre-born. Unborn babies are either a problem or a blessing and our world makes it possible to handle it any way the individual sees fit. Yet, I wondered, how could abortion on demand be so prevalent when there are so many pro-life, Catholic parishes?
During the last presidential election, I got a definite clue. Catholics attending Mass regularly, voted for the very people who would see that abortion would always be available. And the very people who praised God in church, went to the polls and praised the politicians who ran on a platform that condoned choice by willingly offering them their vote. The democratic process has not been very democratic to our unborn. Abortion has become wholesale slaughter. Our future children are met with a legacy of death before they even breathe their first breath of life outside their mother’s womb.
Legacy, according to Webster’s is something received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. The most tragic legacy is, of course, future lives that are cut down before they get a chance to live. As Catholics, we abhor this and participate in pro-life parishes. Until, however, we vote for the pro-life candidates, our pro-life efforts will not go far. A sign on the door proclaiming a church to be a pro-life zone is worth little if the majority of the congregation voted in the current government of death. Have any of these people ever considered their misplaced votes as legacies to their children and grandchildren?
The legacies that count most in life can’t be sold or held in our hands. The legacies that go into our lives that count are the ones that shape us, our outlook on life, the world we live in and that which we hold in our heart. And many of the legacies influencing our lives do not come as bequests from a Will. The legacies are given to us, directly or indirectly, from the examples and actions set by parents and grandparents. Can all of us claim to be thoroughly pro-life in all we think, do and say in every facet of our life?
We all teach our children about pro-life. And being children, they will ask questions. How do we answer when they ask us how we voted? Can we look them in the eye and honestly say we voted in their best interests. It is obvious from election results that votes deprived the world of many potential people . . . Catholic votes. Pro-life will continue to be a good thing and, perhaps, if people think they are pro-life, eventually they may actually be totally pro-life.
May is the month of our Blessed Mother, the ultimate mother! Can we each tell her truthfully that we have done our best for all her children, both here on earth and to come?
During the last presidential election, I got a definite clue. Catholics attending Mass regularly, voted for the very people who would see that abortion would always be available. And the very people who praised God in church, went to the polls and praised the politicians who ran on a platform that condoned choice by willingly offering them their vote. The democratic process has not been very democratic to our unborn. Abortion has become wholesale slaughter. Our future children are met with a legacy of death before they even breathe their first breath of life outside their mother’s womb.
Legacy, according to Webster’s is something received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. The most tragic legacy is, of course, future lives that are cut down before they get a chance to live. As Catholics, we abhor this and participate in pro-life parishes. Until, however, we vote for the pro-life candidates, our pro-life efforts will not go far. A sign on the door proclaiming a church to be a pro-life zone is worth little if the majority of the congregation voted in the current government of death. Have any of these people ever considered their misplaced votes as legacies to their children and grandchildren?
The legacies that count most in life can’t be sold or held in our hands. The legacies that go into our lives that count are the ones that shape us, our outlook on life, the world we live in and that which we hold in our heart. And many of the legacies influencing our lives do not come as bequests from a Will. The legacies are given to us, directly or indirectly, from the examples and actions set by parents and grandparents. Can all of us claim to be thoroughly pro-life in all we think, do and say in every facet of our life?
We all teach our children about pro-life. And being children, they will ask questions. How do we answer when they ask us how we voted? Can we look them in the eye and honestly say we voted in their best interests. It is obvious from election results that votes deprived the world of many potential people . . . Catholic votes. Pro-life will continue to be a good thing and, perhaps, if people think they are pro-life, eventually they may actually be totally pro-life.
May is the month of our Blessed Mother, the ultimate mother! Can we each tell her truthfully that we have done our best for all her children, both here on earth and to come?
Making it easier . . .
I have a go-to recipe for pie crust that is a favorite for either sweet or savory pie fillings. Today, I came across an even easier method of quickly getting a pie ready for the oven. Thought I would share before I put it aside and forget!
Pie Crust
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup salad oil
2 tablespoons cold milk
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
If you are just baking a crust for a filling later, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
In the pie pan, put flour, salad oil, milk, sugar, and salt. Mix well with a fork until it starts to come together. Don't overmix or the crust could become tough. With your fingers, press crust out into the pan and up the edges and flute the edges. Prick well with fork (if you are baking the crust) and bake until light brown. When cool, fill with desired filling.
If you are making a pumpkin pie or something of that sort, put your filling into the crust before baking and follow directions and temperatures for whatever type you are making.
Of course, if you want to double the recipe and just do it in a mixing bowl, that works just as well.
Pie Crust
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup salad oil
2 tablespoons cold milk
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
If you are just baking a crust for a filling later, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
In the pie pan, put flour, salad oil, milk, sugar, and salt. Mix well with a fork until it starts to come together. Don't overmix or the crust could become tough. With your fingers, press crust out into the pan and up the edges and flute the edges. Prick well with fork (if you are baking the crust) and bake until light brown. When cool, fill with desired filling.
If you are making a pumpkin pie or something of that sort, put your filling into the crust before baking and follow directions and temperatures for whatever type you are making.
Of course, if you want to double the recipe and just do it in a mixing bowl, that works just as well.
A new slant on chicken . . .
I've tried this recipe and it is a little sweet so you might want to adjust the sugar called for in it to your own tastes. I added chili flakes to offset the sweet with the tangy and my family enjoyed it with steamed rice.
Lemonade Chicken
1 6 ounce can frozen lemonade, thawed
3 tablespoons catsup or tomato paste
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon chili flakes
Salt & black pepper to taste
2-2 1/2 pounds chicken pieces
Oil for frying
Combine all the ingredients except the chicken and oil in a bowl and set aside.
Dredge chicken with flour and brown in the hot oil until golden but not cooked through. Drain excess oil and pour the bowl of sauce over the chicken. Cover and simmer for approximately 30 minutes our until chicken is tender. Goes great with either brown or white rice.
Lemonade Chicken
1 6 ounce can frozen lemonade, thawed
3 tablespoons catsup or tomato paste
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon chili flakes
Salt & black pepper to taste
2-2 1/2 pounds chicken pieces
Oil for frying
Combine all the ingredients except the chicken and oil in a bowl and set aside.
Dredge chicken with flour and brown in the hot oil until golden but not cooked through. Drain excess oil and pour the bowl of sauce over the chicken. Cover and simmer for approximately 30 minutes our until chicken is tender. Goes great with either brown or white rice.
Crossing the language barriers!
A priest friend of the family told me that one Sunday the scheduled priest for the Spanish Mass didn’t show up. Our friend, who does not have a major grasp of Spanish, made his way phonetically through the Mass. He did give a sermon but, for safety’s sake, did it in English. He felt pretty good about his performance. A few weeks later, he was again drafted without notice. This happened a few times and, although he got through the Mass, each time he felt less comfortable with his linguistic performance. However, through his secretary he soon learned that the Spanish congregation thought he was great!
A few months later, the Spanish priest scheduled our friend in advance to take over on vacation time. When the Spanish priest returned, he was talking to one of the congregation and asked how our friend had done with the Spanish Mass while he was gone. Our friend took it as a compliment when the woman came back indignantly with, “He could have preached in Spanish if he had really wanted to!”
A few months later, the Spanish priest scheduled our friend in advance to take over on vacation time. When the Spanish priest returned, he was talking to one of the congregation and asked how our friend had done with the Spanish Mass while he was gone. Our friend took it as a compliment when the woman came back indignantly with, “He could have preached in Spanish if he had really wanted to!”
Sugar Drop Cookies make memories . . .
I remember one incident from my childhood days that always brings back a nice and cozy memory. It was a rainy, cold day and I was watching cartoons on our old black & white television (tell me that doesn't date me!). My mother was busy in the kitchen and good smells were drifing around the house. Suddenly, my mother appears with a plate of warm cookies directly from the oven with a cup of hot cocoa. She said that could be my lunch today which to any child is cause for celebration!
I acquired that cookie recipe when I left home and it is my go-to cookie when I need a quick batch. It is simple and basic but that seems to be the beauty of it. My own children have had a few surprise lunches with this cookie over the years. It is a welcome plate at potlucks. I may have shared this before but for new readers, I thought I run it past, again.
Super Simple Sugar Drops
2 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat eggs until foamy; stir in oil, vanilla, zest, and sugar. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Combine until smooth. Drop by teaspoonsful about two inches apart on very lightly greased cookie sheet. Dough should be rather soft. Sprinkle a bit of sugar on each cookie before baking. Colored sugar is fun if it is on hand. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
I acquired that cookie recipe when I left home and it is my go-to cookie when I need a quick batch. It is simple and basic but that seems to be the beauty of it. My own children have had a few surprise lunches with this cookie over the years. It is a welcome plate at potlucks. I may have shared this before but for new readers, I thought I run it past, again.
Super Simple Sugar Drops
2 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat eggs until foamy; stir in oil, vanilla, zest, and sugar. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Combine until smooth. Drop by teaspoonsful about two inches apart on very lightly greased cookie sheet. Dough should be rather soft. Sprinkle a bit of sugar on each cookie before baking. Colored sugar is fun if it is on hand. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Spans the ages . . .
"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way."
-- Bertrand Russell
While this is very pertinent to grownup 'discussions', it so reminded me of my children when they were little and I had to arbitrate arguments that really had no basis in reality. Funny how a group of words can send one off on a trip to the past and you shed a tear or two about the swift passing of the years and how come those baby battlers are now all growing and grown up now.
-- Bertrand Russell
While this is very pertinent to grownup 'discussions', it so reminded me of my children when they were little and I had to arbitrate arguments that really had no basis in reality. Funny how a group of words can send one off on a trip to the past and you shed a tear or two about the swift passing of the years and how come those baby battlers are now all growing and grown up now.
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