More Things to do with Leftover Mashed Potatoes . . .

 After having both my daughters home for three weeks, my cooking amounts increased and I keep forgetting to reduce servings now that one of them in back at school.

Yesterday, I ended up with about three cups of leftover mashed potatoes and didn't want to waste them although the dog was trying to send brain messages to me that she would gladly see to their disposal.

Being Easter, we went traditional but the daughter still at home does not like sweet potatoes and that was what was on the menu. I remembered the leftover white potatoes and decided to turn them into potato cakes. They ended up being more enjoyed than the rest of the meal!

My Last-Minute Recipe for Potato CakesAbout 3 cups of cold, mashed potatoes
2 eggs
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Swiss cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Use your hands because I won't tell!

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I used an ice cream scoop to divide the mixture into even mounds directly on parchment paper.

Freshly grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese
Granulated onion
Granulated garlic

Grate about a tablepoon of your chose cheese on top of each mound of potato. Dust with the onion and garlic. With the bottom of a glass, press down to about 1/2-inch thick.

Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes or until starting to get golden around the edges.

Wisdom has no era . . .

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

- Confucius

Understanding our place in the world . . .

My 18 year old was discussing politics and such with his dad today. His main concern was prejudice and racism and how to make it stop. He felt there should be some kind of laws to make people be kind to everyone. The world is more simple in the teenage years when the thought of if only seems so feasible. Although he did want answers, there was no bitterness or anger in his discourse and he enjoyed venting and pondering aspects of the situation with his father.

The only answer either my husband or myself could come up with is to be a good example to the world, let people know where you stand, and work at changing one mind at a time. I said it reminded me of a Chinese Checkers board with all the marbles. Every player has their marble situated at the point of the triangular space. Consider the marble your place in life. Then look to the two marbles in front and talk and work with them to improve the world. In front of those two marbles in the pyramid are three marbles. If you can change the mind of the two marbles and they go on to impress the three who, in turn, come in contact with the next 'row', there is a difference happening.

The trouble with change is that it happens slowly and when it comes to a point where the bad change needs revising, that change, too, will happen slowly. It all begins in the heart of each person to change within themselves and pass on their thoughts to others.

Happy Easter 2012!

Christ the Lord is risen today:

Christians, hasten your vows to pay;

Offer ye your praises meet

At the Paschal Victim's feet;

For the sheep the Lamb has bled,

Sinless in the sinner's stead.

Christ the Lord is risen on high;

Now He lives, no more to die.

Roman Missal, Easter Week, Sequence Victimae Pacchali at Mass. (Tr. J. Leeson)
(Att. to Wipo, 11th Century.

A Problem in Evidence Today . . .

The political problem of mankind is to combine three things: economic efficiency, social justice and individual liberty.

John Maynard Keynes