Some merit to this quote . . .

"The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues."
-- Elizabeth Taylor

On God's Terms . . .

When I was growing up, there were various social strata when it came to people. There was, of course, our family with whom we were on close terms. Then there were school friends, after school activity friends, and neighborhood friends. There were also a lot of people we knew but only had a nodding acquaintance with for the most part. They were there, we greeted them civilly when we met but we never delved into a deeper relationship on any level.
And as I was growing up, there were certain proformas to be observed in situations. It seemed that most of my discipline outside the family took place in my formation of behavior in church. I was brought up to realize that although the church was built by man, it was in actuality God's House and we respected this.

I remember practicing for my First Communion. To avoid excessive talking and moving around the church, the good sisters did most of our rehearsal for the great day outside the church. To be sure, we did have several ‘dress' rehearsals in church but only after we had mastered our place in line and could behave properly in God's house. It was drilled into us with kind firmness that we were guests in God's house. To show our respect, we must enter quietly, bless ourselves reverently and genuflect graciously to show our utmost respect. Since this took place in the fifties, we didn't have the handicap of trying to locate the Blessed Sacrament in order to pay homage.

When the changes in the Mass and church began, I knew deep down inside that the transubstantiation was still the center of the Mass. I stepped aside in the wake of the exodus of Catholics who left because Mass was not as they knew it or wanted to know it anymore. As they left, the ones still in attendance seemed to take a more casual viewpoint of God. Instead of our Lord and Master, many considered Him less in his role as our Creator and more of a forgiving Pal. As I have gotten older, I know that you can't be a parent and a pal to your children. Friends are on an equal basis and equality cuts down on respect to a degree. You don't often look up to a friend.

I have noticed that as people have started considering God more of a friend than a Father, their consideration of Him has lessened. Believing and honoring don't go hand in hand. Thinking on this, I have started to reflect on my various levels of friends that I categorized in my growing up years. Many times I have seen genuflecting replaced by a nod in passing to the tabernacle. I remember my thoughts on people with whom I had a nodding acquaintance with--- I greeted them civilly but never thought of encouraging a deeper relationship.

A quote to keep in mind . . .

"Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery."
-- Dr. Joyce Brothers

Pay dirt between pay days . . .

There is food enough in the cupboards to last until payday but anything extra or special will have to wait . . . unless you happen to have six cups of flour, a packet of yeast, salt and water available. Although it seems an unlikely combination to evolve into something of any particular palate-pleasing result, there are possibilities.

First you have to mix up the basis of your future inspirations! Dissolve the yeast in a quarter cup of cool water. Put in the flour, salt and enough water to form into a pliable dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. The time you spend kneading give you moments to start creating possibilities! Place the kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to double in bulk. Go on with your life as this can take a couple of hours depending on the weather.

You come back later to find a delightful, great batch of dough pushing against the plastic film. Pull back the wrap, take a deep breath of the smell of developing bread dough and. . .punch it down! I know! It hurts to seemingly destroy that beautiful puff of dough but this procedure helps develop the flavor of the final outcome and it will rise again.

Now you come to the creative part of your day. What do you need to round out your family's snack time or meal? Do you need sweet, savory or plain? The following are some suggestions but remember almost anything works and with a little thought you can come up with that secret, family recipe.

Rolls are always nice with a meal. They stretch the calories and everyone loves them. You can take half your dough and divide into roll size bits. Carefully curve them into smooth rolls, place them on a lightly-greased cookie sheet, let rise and bake at 425 degrees for about ten minutes. In fact, with a little forethought, the rolls can exit the oven as your family enters the kitchen for dinner. A brush with beaten egg before baking and a pinch of poppy seeds on the top, will make them even more spectacular.

The other half of your dough can be placed in a loaf pan and when it has risen, baked at 425 degrees until you have a golden loaf to be put aside for breakfast the next morning.
Now if bread is not what you sweet tooth wants, you can pinch off tablespoons of dough, roll them into pencil-thin lengths and deep-fry them until brown. Drain them on paper towel, pile them on a platter and dust with confectioners' sugar. This makes a good dessert during the hiatus between paydays. You can also shake them in cinnamon and sugar for a donut-like treat.
You aren't in the mood for sweet or plain? Take a portion of the dough, roll it out into a rectangular (or as near as possible!). Sprinkle a generous handful of grated cheese (your choice) over the dough. Fold the dough together, roll out again and repeat with the cheese. Do this three or four times, depending on how much you like cheese. With the final rolling, cut dough into narrow strips,, place about an inch apart on greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees about ten to fifteen minutes.

If you take the time to figure out the price of flour, your investment in time will make the days between payday so easy, you may forget to watch for payday. . .but I doubt it!

Motherly love vs. quilting . . .

Decisions! Decisions!

My husband treated me to a trip to the fabric warehouse yesterday. For anyone who lives in Southern California, M&L Fabrics on Ball in Orange County is the place to go for designer fabrics at Wal-Mart prices. The trip was a 25th Wedding Anniversary present so I got to indulge quite drastically. When I got home yesterday, I had an enjoyable time refolding my fabric stash and putting away my new fabric. A lot of ideas were running through my head about what I could make with the fabric. I also have six almost completed quilts waiting for final stitches. My conscience said to finish those before starting yet another project. My new fabric seemed to tell my conscience to 'shut up' and go with the creative flow lest it be lost. My son just reminded me I promised him a trip to Barnes & Noble and lunch out. Guess I'll discuss quilting priorities with my fabric when I get back from the bookstore. Sigh . . .

A favorite, fast, meatless meal . . .

1 pound spaghetti
10 peeled cloves of garlic
1/2 stick butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth
Freshly ground pepper
Fresh basil (optional), shredded in strips
Salt to taste
1 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese

Smash the garlic with the flat of a knife blade and finely chop. Smashing the garlic helps release the flavor. Very gently saute the garlic in the butter until the garlic is soft but not browned.

Meanwhile, boil the spaghetti until it is just barely done. It will cook a bit more in the final preparation and you don't want mushy pasta. Drain, and put spaghetti back in the pot. Add the garlic,/butter and mix thoroughly. With the stove set on a low flame, add the eggs and quickly stir them in so they cook and spread out evenly. Add the cheese, pepper, and basil and mix. Add salt and serve immediately.

This is a nice meal for a meatless Friday and goes well with a big salad and some sour dough bread, lightly toasted.

Interesting thing about Fridays and no meat. Everyone (I hope!) strictly observes them during Lent but seem to think that it does't apply the rest of the year. Unfortunately, many pastors have not been clear on this. Meatless Fridays have not exactly been changed but we are offered the option of choosing another form of penance for Friday. Too many Catholics I have talked to seem to view meatless Fridays as a thing of the past. The 'rule' is that unless you come up with a definite alternative, you should still refrain from meat. We have found it more of a penance and less of a strain on our brains to observe all Fridays as a meatless day.

Another year, another Lent . . .

I just realized that the Lenten Season is nearly upon us . . . again! There always seems to be that slight feeling of dread about what we can't have in order to be sacrificial during Lent. Yes, we should 'give up' things in order to strengthen our spiritual resolve, but we can add things to our life, during Lent, to bring about change in our outlook, too.

Our family always does meatless on Wednesdays as well as the mandatory Fridays of Lent. We also try to stick to the 'old-fashioned' notion of fasting. We have our three meals a  day and avoid snacking. It is always interesting to note, during the first few days of Lent, how many times we actually find ourselves absentmindedly putting food in our mouths.

That is our 'give ups' of Lent. This year, however, I'm thinking I'd like to put some more positive spins on the six weeks. I'm going to be a better steward of our grocery budget taking more time and creativity in meal preparation. I usually fix a decent meal for my family but am thinking about watching the health aspect more and incorporate more healthy foods in a way that will add to their nutrition as well as their happiness. I guess I want to cut down on the unnecessary edible extras (like fats and sweets) yet present an acceptable meal that is enjoyed. It is sort of like the 'good' way of fasting where you wash your face and put on a smile so people don't know you are being penitential thus making your sacrifice more meaningful as you aren't looking for admiration.

Anyway, I'm going to spend time researching meatless recipes and healthy recipes recipes this week in preparation for the next six weeks. I'm hoping that some of the habits we put into play will last us beyond Lent, too. Seems like the incorporation of extra prayers and healthy habits that remain kind of give you a good report card for Lent!

I'll share any meatless recipes I discover and enjoy. Anyone with like-minded ways, is welcome to also give us the benefit of their experience.

"It is better not to fast and be thereby humbled, than to fast and to be self-satisfied therewith." Pascal Pensees 17th century