The Greedy Sons
From Tales of the Dervishes By Idies Shah
There was once a hard-working and generous farmer who had several idle and greedy sons. On his deathbed he told them that the would find his treasure if they were to dig in a certain field. As soon as the old man was dead, the sons hurried to the fields, which they dug up from one end to another, and with increasing desperation and concentration when they did not find the gold in the place indicated.
But they found no gold at all. Realizing that in his generosity their father must have given his gold away during his lifetime, they abandoned their search. Finally, it occurred to them that, since the land had been prepared they might as well now sow a crop. They planted wheat, which produced an abundant yield. They sold this crop and prospered that year.
After the harvest was in, the sons thought again about the bare possibility that they might have missed the buried gold, so they again dug up the fields, with the same result. After several years they became accustomed to labor, and to the cycle of the seasons, something which they had not understood before. Now they understood the reason for their father's method of training them, and they became honest and contented farmers. Ultimately, they found themselves possessed of sufficient wealth and no longer to wonder about the hidden hoard.
Monday, November 28, 2011
From the Food Network Magazine . . .
My all-time favorite magazine has got to be the Food Network Magazine. There is hardly an issue where I can't find something new and interesting to make, bake, or cook. This recipe sounds exceptionally easy so, until you get your own subscription, I thought I'd share!
Chocolate Fudge
1/2 cup butter
4 cups marshmallows
1 cup cream
2 cups granulated sugar
1 pinch of salt
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, melt, and simmer for five minutes, stirring constantly. Off the heat, stir in 3 cups chocolate chips until smooth. Spread in a foil-lined 9x13-inch pan. Let cool and cut into squares.
Don't want chocolate? Just substitute white chocolate chips.
This is definitely on my to-do list for the Christmas holidays. And I'm wondering if peanut butter chips would work, too . . .
Chocolate Fudge
1/2 cup butter
4 cups marshmallows
1 cup cream
2 cups granulated sugar
1 pinch of salt
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, melt, and simmer for five minutes, stirring constantly. Off the heat, stir in 3 cups chocolate chips until smooth. Spread in a foil-lined 9x13-inch pan. Let cool and cut into squares.
Don't want chocolate? Just substitute white chocolate chips.
This is definitely on my to-do list for the Christmas holidays. And I'm wondering if peanut butter chips would work, too . . .
Making an Advent Calendar . . .
http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-gifts-cards-decorations/christmas-countdown-calendars/
This was a neat site for inventive ways to have an Advent Calendar for the children. No need to purchase an ordinary one when you can put together a memory for 2011. In fact, if you saved last year's Christmas cards, you have the makings of a great calendar complete with Christmas and holiday illustrations.
This was a neat site for inventive ways to have an Advent Calendar for the children. No need to purchase an ordinary one when you can put together a memory for 2011. In fact, if you saved last year's Christmas cards, you have the makings of a great calendar complete with Christmas and holiday illustrations.
Kind of strong but with some basis . . .
When you cook it should be an act of love. To put a frozen bag in the microwave
for your child is an act of hate.
Taking over?
I'm rather conservative in my beliefs and do not like how our Church has become overrun with women who seem to want jobs better suited for males. I've learned to live with it, however, and can overlook the matter . . . most of the time! Sunday was an exception!
Father had just finished the sermon and was preparing to bless the Advent wreath. He had just gotten the words for the blessing out and was about to make the Sign of the Cross when the reader for that day walked up to the microphone and said she had forgotten to give the intention of the Mass. Her lack of regard for manners and her inattention to the fact that Father was performing a spiritual task was shocking. Naturally, I can't and won't judge the climate of her soul but you have to wonder how much attention she was actually paying to the Mass to interrupt it like that.
Unfortunately, the woman is prone to this behavior and has a few other interesting moments in and around Mass to her 'credit'. My favorite (NOT!) was just before Mass, one Sunday. The sacristan and four altar boys were dressed and lined up for the beginning of Mass. With seconds to spare until Mass began, two girls come in and ask if they could serve Mass. The sacristan nicely said the assigned boys were already there and they couldn't hold up Mass waiting for them to get dressed. The woman yells at the sacristan that girls have just as much right to serve Mass as boys do and he should have two of his altar boys step down in favor of the girls. Our sacristan is a kindly man and rather than further fuel a confrontation, he said if they could get ready in time, they could join the group although our small church really can't deal with six altar servers. That wasn't good enough for the woman and the sacristan just ignored her further gripes while he lined the girls up behind the boys and headed down the aisle.
Once again, Christian Hospitality did not come into play through that woman's attitude. And, what did it teach the young ladies who only wanted to serve and not start a war . . . that a war is okay as long as it gives them first place?
Father had just finished the sermon and was preparing to bless the Advent wreath. He had just gotten the words for the blessing out and was about to make the Sign of the Cross when the reader for that day walked up to the microphone and said she had forgotten to give the intention of the Mass. Her lack of regard for manners and her inattention to the fact that Father was performing a spiritual task was shocking. Naturally, I can't and won't judge the climate of her soul but you have to wonder how much attention she was actually paying to the Mass to interrupt it like that.
Unfortunately, the woman is prone to this behavior and has a few other interesting moments in and around Mass to her 'credit'. My favorite (NOT!) was just before Mass, one Sunday. The sacristan and four altar boys were dressed and lined up for the beginning of Mass. With seconds to spare until Mass began, two girls come in and ask if they could serve Mass. The sacristan nicely said the assigned boys were already there and they couldn't hold up Mass waiting for them to get dressed. The woman yells at the sacristan that girls have just as much right to serve Mass as boys do and he should have two of his altar boys step down in favor of the girls. Our sacristan is a kindly man and rather than further fuel a confrontation, he said if they could get ready in time, they could join the group although our small church really can't deal with six altar servers. That wasn't good enough for the woman and the sacristan just ignored her further gripes while he lined the girls up behind the boys and headed down the aisle.
Once again, Christian Hospitality did not come into play through that woman's attitude. And, what did it teach the young ladies who only wanted to serve and not start a war . . . that a war is okay as long as it gives them first place?
Albert Einstein has the last word . . .
"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions
which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are
even incapable of forming such opinions." -- Albert
Einstein
Crispy Coconut Chews
My husband doesn't like coconut but, for some reason, he likes these cookies! They are easy to make and a nice contrast to all the chocolate and spice cookies that show up at Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against chocolate and spice cookies but don't mind chomping down on an extra coconut cookie in addition to the rest! Sometimes, I use bran flakes for the called-for crushed flake cereal in the ingredients. I'm always sneaking in extra vitamins and fiber even with treats.
Crispy Coconut Chews
½ cup butter
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup crushed flake cereal
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the butter and sugars until smooth and fluffy. Stir in egg, extract, and lemon zest. Add the flour, baking soda, and baking powder to the butter mixture. Add the oatmeal, cereal, coconut, and walnuts. Mix gently until well combined.
Drop dough by tablespoons onto greased baking sheet, keeping them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for approximately ten minutes or until cookies are lightly browned at the edges. Cool on wire racks. Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies depending on size.
Crispy Coconut Chews
½ cup butter
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup crushed flake cereal
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the butter and sugars until smooth and fluffy. Stir in egg, extract, and lemon zest. Add the flour, baking soda, and baking powder to the butter mixture. Add the oatmeal, cereal, coconut, and walnuts. Mix gently until well combined.
Drop dough by tablespoons onto greased baking sheet, keeping them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for approximately ten minutes or until cookies are lightly browned at the edges. Cool on wire racks. Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies depending on size.
Can't get easier . . .
I like meals that taste good but go together quickly when I have many other things that need attention in the household. You can't get any easier than this suggestion and you can also be creative with it.
4-6 thick bone-in pork chops
1 packet of your favorite dried soup mix like onion, herb & garlic, etc.
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup white wine
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix together your choice of soup mix with the oil. Generously brush both sides of the chops with the mixture. Bake pork chops in preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes or until they are no longer pink inside. Remove the meat to a serving platter and keep warm.
Add the hot water and wine to the baking pan and stir. Make sure you scrape up the brown bits from the sides and bottom of the pan. Serve the sauce over the pork chops.
Rice goes great with this meal especially with the sauce.
4-6 thick bone-in pork chops
1 packet of your favorite dried soup mix like onion, herb & garlic, etc.
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup white wine
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix together your choice of soup mix with the oil. Generously brush both sides of the chops with the mixture. Bake pork chops in preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes or until they are no longer pink inside. Remove the meat to a serving platter and keep warm.
Add the hot water and wine to the baking pan and stir. Make sure you scrape up the brown bits from the sides and bottom of the pan. Serve the sauce over the pork chops.
Rice goes great with this meal especially with the sauce.
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