Saturday, February 11, 2012
Cranberry Muffins turned into loaves . . .
A Delightful Surprise . . .
A friend from daily Mass is always sharing the produce from his trees. Over the years, we have enjoyed the lemons, tangerines, and oranges he has brought for us. Earlier this week, he gifted us with a bag of very pretty, solid, round oranges. Given their small than usual size, I figured the crop hadn't produced quite as well this year. Imagine my delighted surpise when I cut into one and discovered they were blood oranges!
The first time I saw a blood orange was while visiting a small, Greek village on a tour. It wasn't the usual tourist stop. Instead of the usual junk food and such, they had produce for sale. A friend got herself an orange it was quite a shock to all of us when she bit into it and suddenly had red liquid running down her chin! When I got home, I planted a tree of my own. I was very sad when we moved and I had to leave the tree behind.
The most fun was presenting my son with a fresh-squeezed glass of only it was not 'orange' juice but 'red' juice. He said it was very odd to look at the juice while he drank, see red but taste orange.
Cranberry Nut Muffins
Sharing the recipe I just prepared and put into the oven. Hey, I have to keep busy while I wait for the baking to get done, right? I like this recipe because you dump all the ingredients in a bowl, mix it up, and put into the pan(s).
Cranberry Nut Muffins
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking sod
1 large egg
1 2/3 cups milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup vanilla chips
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
2 tablespoons orange zest, finely grated
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin pans with cupcake papers. You should get 12-18 cupcakes depending on size.
Scoop the batter into the muffin pan filling it no more than 2/3rds full. Bake for approximately 25-45 minutes depending on size of your tin, heat of your oven, etc. Poke one with a toothpick to test for doneness. It should come out 'clean'. Cool and remove from tin and complete cooling on a rack. You can drizzle with orange or lemon icing. A dusting of powdered sugar is fast and easy, too.
Cranberry Nut Muffins
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking sod
1 large egg
1 2/3 cups milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup vanilla chips
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
2 tablespoons orange zest, finely grated
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin pans with cupcake papers. You should get 12-18 cupcakes depending on size.
Scoop the batter into the muffin pan filling it no more than 2/3rds full. Bake for approximately 25-45 minutes depending on size of your tin, heat of your oven, etc. Poke one with a toothpick to test for doneness. It should come out 'clean'. Cool and remove from tin and complete cooling on a rack. You can drizzle with orange or lemon icing. A dusting of powdered sugar is fast and easy, too.
It's raining . . . sort of . . .
It's cold and raining . . . sort of but in sunny California, we will take what God sends us in moisture and be glad. It is definitely cold enough to merit some heat in the house. I plan, however, to use the oven for warmth and if the oven is on, shouldn't there be some cakes and cookies in play, too?
If my plans go as hoped, I should soon have some loaves of cranberry bread baking away following by some Valentine cupcakes and/or cookies. I have baking items left from Christmas time and need to use them up before Lent comes upon us and the calendar says that is soon!
Cranberry bread is a favorite. I like the contrast of the sweet bread with the pockets of tangy cranberries. I purchased a few bags ahead during the Fall holidays and froze them for just such and occasion. I have also found that any strawberry dessert goes up a notch in flavor if you can incorporate a few cranberries, too.
The only blot on the weekend is finishing the taxes. Fortunately, all the necessary paperwork arrived on time so we just have to 'fill in the blanks' and e-mail it into the State and Feds. Since we are getting a refund, should we include a thank you note for them returning the money they have been using all year?
If my plans go as hoped, I should soon have some loaves of cranberry bread baking away following by some Valentine cupcakes and/or cookies. I have baking items left from Christmas time and need to use them up before Lent comes upon us and the calendar says that is soon!
Cranberry bread is a favorite. I like the contrast of the sweet bread with the pockets of tangy cranberries. I purchased a few bags ahead during the Fall holidays and froze them for just such and occasion. I have also found that any strawberry dessert goes up a notch in flavor if you can incorporate a few cranberries, too.
The only blot on the weekend is finishing the taxes. Fortunately, all the necessary paperwork arrived on time so we just have to 'fill in the blanks' and e-mail it into the State and Feds. Since we are getting a refund, should we include a thank you note for them returning the money they have been using all year?
You say . . . WHAT?
I am so tired of people proclaiming their Catholic standing while acting in direct opposition to the teachings of the Catholic Church. What is further dismaying is the lack of response from these people's priests and bishops. Last Ash Wednesday, biden and peolosi proudly paraded their ashes for all to see and 'venerate' while participating in and planning legislation that undermines the Catholic Church. Where are the clergy who should be reprimanding them for this? Wouldn't this display of anti-Catholic actions and speech be considered grounds for excommunication? No, we can't personally maintain they are/should be excommunicated but once the actions are public . . . ?
Okay, suppose their pastors/bishops don't want to entangle themselves in this situation (shame on them!) . . . How can they, however, continue to give them the Blessed Sacrament and demean It by offering It to someone who has taken a side against the Faith?
Since I am not 'one of the powers that be' in the Catholic Church, I can only sigh deeply and pray. I do want to set the record straight on the latest peoloi statement and clearly separate myself from what she has said:
“First of all, I am going to stick with my fellow Catholics in supporting the Administration on this. I think it was a very courageous decision that they made, and I support it,” the minority leader responded.
She is definitely not any 'fellow Catholic' of mine and she ceased to stand by me or my Church the moment she opened her mouth on this. What does she find courageous in trying to force people to violate their conscience and go against the preceipts of their Faith? Shame on her and the pastors that
don't contradict her on this erroneous statement?
Okay, suppose their pastors/bishops don't want to entangle themselves in this situation (shame on them!) . . . How can they, however, continue to give them the Blessed Sacrament and demean It by offering It to someone who has taken a side against the Faith?
Since I am not 'one of the powers that be' in the Catholic Church, I can only sigh deeply and pray. I do want to set the record straight on the latest peoloi statement and clearly separate myself from what she has said:
“First of all, I am going to stick with my fellow Catholics in supporting the Administration on this. I think it was a very courageous decision that they made, and I support it,” the minority leader responded.
don't contradict her on this erroneous statement?
Pay Day Splurge!
One of our favorite 'holidays' is coming up . . . pay day! Twice a month we get to celebrate the fact that we made it to our next pay period with a few bucks left and some extra money with which to splurge a bit.
Our treat is a pot roast! Any beef that makes it into our freezer usually gets cut up and made into stretched meals - you know, where the meat more scents the dish than is the meal? Hey, we don't suffer because I can be creative but it is nice to have a meat/meat dish. This evening is such a time!
I learned a trick to deepening the flavor of a pot roast and it is now a part of my usual preparation. After I brown the roast on all sides, I put in a cup of red wine, lots of onions/garlic, some beef bullion, and . . . trust me on this - a tablespoon of cranberries and 1/4 cup of coffee liquer. The finished product doesn't taste like the fruit/coffee combination but it add a flavorable depths that sets your pot roast a notch or two above the usual. You like to hear, "Wonderful! What did you do to the pot roast?" rather than, "This pot roast tastes funny. What did you put in it?"
Don't worry! The stretching part of the meal still remains because I save the leftover drippings and meat and it will appear in a soup or casserole before the next week is over!
Our treat is a pot roast! Any beef that makes it into our freezer usually gets cut up and made into stretched meals - you know, where the meat more scents the dish than is the meal? Hey, we don't suffer because I can be creative but it is nice to have a meat/meat dish. This evening is such a time!
I learned a trick to deepening the flavor of a pot roast and it is now a part of my usual preparation. After I brown the roast on all sides, I put in a cup of red wine, lots of onions/garlic, some beef bullion, and . . . trust me on this - a tablespoon of cranberries and 1/4 cup of coffee liquer. The finished product doesn't taste like the fruit/coffee combination but it add a flavorable depths that sets your pot roast a notch or two above the usual. You like to hear, "Wonderful! What did you do to the pot roast?" rather than, "This pot roast tastes funny. What did you put in it?"
Don't worry! The stretching part of the meal still remains because I save the leftover drippings and meat and it will appear in a soup or casserole before the next week is over!
Judged by the company you keep?
"You are the average of the
five people
you spend the most time with." - Jim Rohn
you spend the most time with." - Jim Rohn
Where is OUR choice?
The battle wages on with the Catholics/Christians vs. obama's mandate on contraception. You have to wonder about it even being a issue that they have to force their agenda on everyone regardless of belief or faith? It goes against all that makes American great.
Although, it clearly goes against our amendment rights to force everyone to pay for contraception, it most certainly crosses the separation of Church and State line that is supposed to protect us.
Whether you have a child or not is the individual choice. Whether you use birth control or not is the individual choice. Whether you want to spend the money on birth control is an individual choice. The president, however, wants to take over that choice and make it the government's choice and use everyone's money to pay for it.
The money issue is actually the least of the problem. It is the fact that it opens a door to more and more invasion into our homes and lives. It is another step towards managing our households according the a liberal standpoint. What next? Perhaps, they would also like to put us on the Chinese population plan and limit us to two or less children?
What the political liberal doesn't understand is morality and values. They can't seem to understand that we revere our Faith and wish to abide by the tenents of said religion. They can't perceive of anyone not wanting to take the easy way out in life. They want to control us down to how we are allowed to worship. They don't understand the value of a conscience and just want to dampen that problem area down.
Many bishops have been outspoken on the matter. The Conference of American Bishops have come out against it. A lot of dioceses asked that a strongly-worded letter from their respective bishops be read following the announcement of the mandate. The president is trying to back off and still save face but, so far, only makes things worse.
It is a time for all bishops to come forth strongly. As many dioceses have spoken out, many have not. I was saddened when no letter from our bishop was forthcoming immediately regarding the mandate.
Someone told me once that the Church would have to turn around based on the actions of the people not the clergy. It is certainly a time to pray for the preservation of our constitutional rights and the strength of our bishops. You will never gain the status of white or red martyr based on lukewarm, liberal values.
Although, it clearly goes against our amendment rights to force everyone to pay for contraception, it most certainly crosses the separation of Church and State line that is supposed to protect us.
Whether you have a child or not is the individual choice. Whether you use birth control or not is the individual choice. Whether you want to spend the money on birth control is an individual choice. The president, however, wants to take over that choice and make it the government's choice and use everyone's money to pay for it.
The money issue is actually the least of the problem. It is the fact that it opens a door to more and more invasion into our homes and lives. It is another step towards managing our households according the a liberal standpoint. What next? Perhaps, they would also like to put us on the Chinese population plan and limit us to two or less children?
What the political liberal doesn't understand is morality and values. They can't seem to understand that we revere our Faith and wish to abide by the tenents of said religion. They can't perceive of anyone not wanting to take the easy way out in life. They want to control us down to how we are allowed to worship. They don't understand the value of a conscience and just want to dampen that problem area down.
Many bishops have been outspoken on the matter. The Conference of American Bishops have come out against it. A lot of dioceses asked that a strongly-worded letter from their respective bishops be read following the announcement of the mandate. The president is trying to back off and still save face but, so far, only makes things worse.
It is a time for all bishops to come forth strongly. As many dioceses have spoken out, many have not. I was saddened when no letter from our bishop was forthcoming immediately regarding the mandate.
Someone told me once that the Church would have to turn around based on the actions of the people not the clergy. It is certainly a time to pray for the preservation of our constitutional rights and the strength of our bishops. You will never gain the status of white or red martyr based on lukewarm, liberal values.
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