Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
Henry Ford
Friday, April 29, 2011
I wonder . . .
We had a rule in our home when our children were little. We only had dessert on the weekend whether it be a dish of ice cream or a freshly baked pie or cake. On Mondays through Friday, don’t even ask if you want to avoid the disappointment of a negative reply. The children were being raised with this rule and they knew more than an extra sweet will be lost if they nag.
There have been times, however, when an extra dessert was forthcoming during the weekdays because of a holiday or other special occasion. The children greatly enjoyed this break but it didn't take them long to consider this the new rule! Any break from the usual discipline sent them on a quest for more and more laxness in their upbringing. It is very seldom considered a rare treat but a stepping stone to more freedom.
Once when I was checking my calendar, I noticed that Holy Days of Obligation are not always an obligation for us anymore. Making time for Mass on a Holy Day in my childhood was often a challenge between school and parents’jobs but we always managed it. Now, when ever a Holy Day falls on an awkward day, some diocese make it easier for us by cancelling our obligation. I often wonder if, we, as grown ups view it much the same as children and treats. Do we strive to live within a certain discipline or do we adjust our discipline to fit our lives?
There have been times, however, when an extra dessert was forthcoming during the weekdays because of a holiday or other special occasion. The children greatly enjoyed this break but it didn't take them long to consider this the new rule! Any break from the usual discipline sent them on a quest for more and more laxness in their upbringing. It is very seldom considered a rare treat but a stepping stone to more freedom.
Once when I was checking my calendar, I noticed that Holy Days of Obligation are not always an obligation for us anymore. Making time for Mass on a Holy Day in my childhood was often a challenge between school and parents’jobs but we always managed it. Now, when ever a Holy Day falls on an awkward day, some diocese make it easier for us by cancelling our obligation. I often wonder if, we, as grown ups view it much the same as children and treats. Do we strive to live within a certain discipline or do we adjust our discipline to fit our lives?
New etiquette?
The world took a further dip into the stupid side today. I just heard on the news that the animal rights people feel that calling our dogs, cats, etc. a 'pet' is somehow disrespectful to them. They should be referred to as companion animals. Wildlife? They should be called 'free living'. Oh, and such phrases as 'clever as a fox' shouldn't be used. Okay, I'll go for that since none of these people who thought this stuff up is 'wise as an owl'. I'm waiting for our dog, Chick, to serve with notice for her having such a derogatory name.
Just desserts . . .
The family wanted dessert the other evening as opposed to needing something sweet. I decided a small treat was in order.
Chocolate pudding was the number one choice but I discovered a four-serving package cost a dollar or more when not on sale. Anyone with more than the acceptable 2/1 children knows that four servings of anything tempting doesn’t go far in the family circle. I took some time to go through a few cookbooks and found that making pudding (without the help of the handy cardboard box!), wasn't all that difficult or time consuming. From beginning to spooning it into individual dishes, took me all of ten minutes. The ingredients for eight servings may have come to the cost of a dollar but it was still twice the product offered on the quickie shelf variety. I got out my favorite, medium-sized pot and placed the following in it:
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
I used a wire whisk and thoroughly combined the dry ingredients. I blended in four egg yolks and one cup of milk, mixing it until smooth. Then I gradually stirred in three more cups of milk. Keeping a constant eye on and spoon in the mixture, I brought it to a boil. I kept on stirring until it thickened. At that point, the pot was removed from the heat, four tablespoons of butter and two teaspoons of vanilla were beaten into the pudding. Spoon into dessert dishes, refrigerate and there you have homemade pudding at half the cost. And I imagine that the ingredients are already on your shelf.
In ten minutes, you can master chocolate pudding. Give yourself another five and you can turn it into pie filling, too. Reduce the milk by one-half cup, proceed as above and pour the finished product into the baked or crumb pie crust of your choice.
I was thinking about going into details about what to do with the leftover pudding after dinner but there wasn’t any! And I don’t believe you will have to worry about that either.
Chocolate pudding was the number one choice but I discovered a four-serving package cost a dollar or more when not on sale. Anyone with more than the acceptable 2/1 children knows that four servings of anything tempting doesn’t go far in the family circle. I took some time to go through a few cookbooks and found that making pudding (without the help of the handy cardboard box!), wasn't all that difficult or time consuming. From beginning to spooning it into individual dishes, took me all of ten minutes. The ingredients for eight servings may have come to the cost of a dollar but it was still twice the product offered on the quickie shelf variety. I got out my favorite, medium-sized pot and placed the following in it:
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
I used a wire whisk and thoroughly combined the dry ingredients. I blended in four egg yolks and one cup of milk, mixing it until smooth. Then I gradually stirred in three more cups of milk. Keeping a constant eye on and spoon in the mixture, I brought it to a boil. I kept on stirring until it thickened. At that point, the pot was removed from the heat, four tablespoons of butter and two teaspoons of vanilla were beaten into the pudding. Spoon into dessert dishes, refrigerate and there you have homemade pudding at half the cost. And I imagine that the ingredients are already on your shelf.
In ten minutes, you can master chocolate pudding. Give yourself another five and you can turn it into pie filling, too. Reduce the milk by one-half cup, proceed as above and pour the finished product into the baked or crumb pie crust of your choice.
I was thinking about going into details about what to do with the leftover pudding after dinner but there wasn’t any! And I don’t believe you will have to worry about that either.
The last one is how our government seems to view us . . .
"People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest."
-- Hermann Hesse
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
-- George Santayana
"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there."
-- Richard Feynman
"Democracy is the name we give the people whenever we need them."
-- Marquis de Flers Robert and Arman de Caillavet
-- Hermann Hesse
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
-- George Santayana
"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there."
-- Richard Feynman
"Democracy is the name we give the people whenever we need them."
-- Marquis de Flers Robert and Arman de Caillavet
Losing weight and sour grapes . . .
Ever since I had a bout of anemia, I've had to work at maintaining my weight. I've also had to rethink my approach to food in order to see the pounds disappear . . . very slowly!
Lent, this year, gave my a new perspective. I didn't fast to lose weight but to work off a little Purgatory time. However, I realized that if I was cutting back on my eating, I had to make sure I didn't wear sackcloth and dust myself with ashes so EVERYONE knew I was SUFFERING! From other attempts, I knew that I knew I had to reevaluate my approach. Instead of depriving myself of food, I changed my eating habits. I soon discovered a bowl of oatmeal in the morning was enough until noon. Sure, I COULD have nibbled on something between times but I kept in mind that I had eaten sufficiently for my needs.
Lunch is where I usually fool myself in food choices. I decided to go with a big lunch but nothing processed, only fresh. You can indulge in a lot of fruits and vegetables with not much calorie return. Besides, the chewing necessary provides you with a 20 minute eating period and you start listening to your stomach when it has enough. I added an ounce or so of some protein and I was good until dinner. Yes, by dinner time, I was hungry but the fact that I started out telling myself there would be no eating between meals, period, facilitated the change in lifestyle. Dinner was always a reasonable helping of whatever I had fixed. Dessert was an orange or apple.
Lent is over. I lost 16 pounds but, more importantly, I feel like I've put myself in charge of my eating. A priest friend said that if you can make one change during Lent to the good, you've done well.
I also got to thinking about the times I used to have an extra cookie just because it tasted good not that I was hungry. Looking back, it was a form of gluttony. And the fact that I would consume non-productive calories that I didn't need, seemed to me to be a form of 'suicide' by diet. When you know you don't need it, when you know you are not nourishing your body, you have to start realizing you could be cutting short your life. Wouldn't that come under one of the Ten Commandments?
Lent, this year, gave my a new perspective. I didn't fast to lose weight but to work off a little Purgatory time. However, I realized that if I was cutting back on my eating, I had to make sure I didn't wear sackcloth and dust myself with ashes so EVERYONE knew I was SUFFERING! From other attempts, I knew that I knew I had to reevaluate my approach. Instead of depriving myself of food, I changed my eating habits. I soon discovered a bowl of oatmeal in the morning was enough until noon. Sure, I COULD have nibbled on something between times but I kept in mind that I had eaten sufficiently for my needs.
Lunch is where I usually fool myself in food choices. I decided to go with a big lunch but nothing processed, only fresh. You can indulge in a lot of fruits and vegetables with not much calorie return. Besides, the chewing necessary provides you with a 20 minute eating period and you start listening to your stomach when it has enough. I added an ounce or so of some protein and I was good until dinner. Yes, by dinner time, I was hungry but the fact that I started out telling myself there would be no eating between meals, period, facilitated the change in lifestyle. Dinner was always a reasonable helping of whatever I had fixed. Dessert was an orange or apple.
Lent is over. I lost 16 pounds but, more importantly, I feel like I've put myself in charge of my eating. A priest friend said that if you can make one change during Lent to the good, you've done well.
I also got to thinking about the times I used to have an extra cookie just because it tasted good not that I was hungry. Looking back, it was a form of gluttony. And the fact that I would consume non-productive calories that I didn't need, seemed to me to be a form of 'suicide' by diet. When you know you don't need it, when you know you are not nourishing your body, you have to start realizing you could be cutting short your life. Wouldn't that come under one of the Ten Commandments?
A quote to head to Heaven with . . .
“Salvation is shown to faith, it is prepared for hope, but it is given only to charity. Faith points out the way to the land of promise as a pillar of fire, hope feeds us with its manna of sweetness, but charity actually introduces us into the Promised Land.” ~St. Francis de Sales
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