Great Quotes!

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." Thomas Jefferson

“For strength and character…on good days, pray hard – on bad days, pray harder!” author unknown

“If you have a pulse you have a purpose.” Author, Rick Mathes 
                                                                                            
"He who saves a single life, saves the world entire." Inscribed in the ring given to Schindler by Jew Survivors [Jews he helped save].

THE Questions for Believers . . .

“You seem to believe that the only virtue in the world is “to be nice.” Do you think anyone, in the history of the world, has ever or will ever be thrown in jail or persecuted for being nice?”

  Questions posed by Father John Hollowell

Work or Entitlement?

This is a great example of how entitlement mentalities tend to work . . . or, as in the little parable, do NOT work!

Tiger and the FoxFrom Tale of the Reed Pipe By Massud Farzan

A fox who lived in the deep forest of long ago had lost its front legs. No one knew how: perhaps escaping from a trap. A man who lived on the edge of the forest , seeing the fox from time to time, wondered how in the world it managed to get its food. One day when the fox was not far from him he had to hide himself quickly because a tiger was approaching. The tiger had fresh game in its claws. Lying down on the ground, it ate its fill, leaving the rest for the fox.

Again the next day the great Provider of this world sent provisions to the fox by this same tiger. The man began to think: "If this fox is taken care of in this mysterious way, its food sent by some unseen Higher Power, why don't I just rest in a corner and have my daily meal provided for me?"

Because he had a lot of faith, he let the days pass, waiting for food. Nothing happened. He just went on losing weight and strength until he was nearly a skeleton. Close to losing consciousness, he heard a Voice which said: "O you, who have mistaken the way, see now the Truth! You should have followed the example of that tiger instead of imitating the disabled fox."

Can you resist?

 Our cat, Marcella, get a tiny tin of canned cat food every three days as a treat. When we were putting away groceries, yesterday, she saw the stack of little cans and immediately knew what they were and that she wanted one as in right NOW! It wasn't her day to indulge but how can anyone turn down a face like this? Besides, I was afraid she break a took trying to open one on her own.

Sour Cream Apple Cake

I was looking for a recipe to use up some sour cream left over from Thanksgiving. I finally found one but . . . my husband can't eat nuts and the recipe needed the pecans to work well. It called for using a Bundt pan and mine is ancient and always sticks. I did like the basic cake part of the recipe so improvised! Since it turned out good, I'm sharing it with you! I was the first to make it  and you can now be the second one to enjoy it warm from the oven! The first sour cream cake recipe I posted was good but I might like this one even better.

Sour Cream Apple Cake
1 cup butter (NOT margarine!), softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup full-fat sour cream

Filling
2 large apples, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon brandy
Zest and juice of one lemon

Crumb Topping
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup solid shortening

Prepare the apples and set aside for now. Blend together the ingredients for the Crumb topping. It should be crumbly. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray an approximately 13x9-inch baking pan or two smaller ones. You could also do this recipe as cupcakes, too.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Beat in the extracts. Add the dry ingredients and the sour cream and blend well without over beating.  Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan(s). Top with the apple mixture. Sprinkle the crumb topping over that. Depending on the size pan(s) you used, bake for approximately 45-60 minutes. Test with a toothpick for doneness. If wet batter sticks to it, give it a few more minutes.

The cake tastes good hot with a scoop of ice cream or at room temperature with a generous serving a freshly whipped cream.

You can add 1/4 cup of ground nuts to the topping mixture, if you wish.