Saturday Morning Musings . . .

Every time we have an earthquake or storm, people pipe up with, "This is a sure sign that the End Times have started!" Seems to me that we have had an awful lot of storms and disasters so which one of them was the beginning of the End Times?

I remember learning about Adam and Eve and how they lived out their lives for the promise of a Savior. How many thousands of years went by before Jesus did arrive, as promised, to die on the cross to save us? In my humble opinion, I think the waiting for the End Times began the moment Jesus was crucified because that suffering and death brought us the promise of eternal life . . . but still left us with a lot of living to do through the ages. When Jesus Christ went back to Heaven, He promised to come again on the last day. Seems we should look back at history and practice patience because the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior happened in His own time . . . as will the End Times. As mere humans, we are being kind of smug in annointing each and every disaster as the beginning of the End Times as the only way we will know the conclusion is when it happens. Millions of people have already faced their personal End Times so we might  consider the practicality of concentrating on our individual part in the world and do the best we can so we will be at the hand of the just when the End Times do catch up with the human race.

Just my moderate musings of the morning!

No respect for heroes!

As they offer a memorial on 9/11 this year, what a tragedy they are offering the people of the United States in their disrespect of the policemen, firemen, and first responders of that dark day. I just can't figure out why these people are not on the invitation list. My memories of that day, besides the smoke and devastation, were the police, firemen, and responders running straight into the burning buildings without a second thought. They were doing their job and put their own safety second in trying to save as many people as possible. No one knew exactly what was going on but these people didn't stop and consider, they raced to help. They put their lives on the line and they aren't given the consideration of an invitation ten years later? They were the backbone of sanity in a very confused disaster. What about the families of these men who have gone through the last ten years without that husband or son? You would think they would be on the invitation list to honor the survivors and the fallen.

Also, word is out that no prayer or clergy will be in attendance. Wasn't it prayer and comfort from our priests, pastors, and ministers that helped us through those days after 9/11? I remember an instance where a priest raced behind the firemen heading for the towers and giving them a group absolution as it was evident they were going into an iffy situation. Where is our country's prayer of thanks in all this memorial stuff? God wasn't on the invitation list, either.

As usual, the ones 'in power' don't realize who is actually in power while they preen in front of the cameras and show their 'care' for the situation and the memories. I will definitely double my prayers on the anniversay of that day but I think I will skip watching the New York broadcast. We are a country built on faith in God and to leave out our Creator and the people who died and risked their lives that day in respect for that Creator deserve to be remembered more fully in prayer. From all reports to day, the prayer isn't coming from the actual memorial service.

Looking forward to a Depression? Nope, but cake is always welcome!

There are so many versions of this cake but the history goes back to having to make do because of hard times, recession, depression era, etc. Thought it would be a fun recipe to put out there in view of how depressed the antics of our State and Federal Government make us! :-)

My Version of a Great Depression Cake

1 apple, peeled and grated (tart, green-skinned apples work best)
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
2 cups brewed coffee,
2 cups granulated sugar sugar
1/2 cup shortening

Dry ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
|1 teaspoon each of nutmeg, all spice, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange or lemon zest . . . or a combination of both.
1 cup chopped nuts, your choice

Directions

Simmer the first set of ingredients for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from stove and let cool for 10 minutes.

 Combine the dry ingredients. Place dry ingredients in a bowl, pour in cooked mixture. Mix ingredients together until it forms  a cake batter. Pour into a vegetable oil sprayed  9" x 13" baking pan. Bake for approximately 25 minutes at 350 degrees. To check if cake is done, place a toothpick in center.

Ideas . . .

Sift cooled cake with powered sugar before serving.

Have some freshly whipped cream ready for serving.

Are you kidding? Tomato Soup Cake!

This is a fun dessert to pull on your family. Who can resist a chocolate cake but what will their reaction be when they find out one of the ingredients? Besides being a fun joke, it is a tasty cake, too!

Chocolate Tomato Soup Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 can tomato soup
1 cup chopped nuts, your choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray a 9"x13" pan.

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Whisk together dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix the tomato soup and vanilla with the water.

Add dry ingredients and soup mixture alternately to creamed mixture. Fold in the nuts. Spread in the prepared baking pan and bake for approximately 30 minutes our until the top springs back when lightly touched.

Ideas . . .

Sift powdered sugar over the cake once it has cooled.

A lemon or orange icing wouldn't go amiss and would compliment the tang of the chocolate/tomato ingredients.

A plain, vanilla buttercream frosting always goes will with chocolate cake.

Need any of these recipes, please let me know,

Mexican Fiesta Cookies

I don't know how these cookies came by their name except for the fact it combines a popular chocolate/cinnamon flavor of that country. The addition of the coffee and cherries makes these cookies very unique. Their sugar powdery coating really highlight a plate of cookies. A definite favorite around Christmas time at our house. Okay, you can often find them other times of the year, too!

Mexican Fiesta Cookies

1 cup butter
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 heaping tablespoon instant coffee
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped nuts
½ cup chopped, drained, maraschino cherries.
1 cup confectioners' sugar for coating.

Beat butter until light; gradually add sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and beat to blend well.

Sift together flour, cocoa, coffee powder. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Blend in nuts and cherries; chill until easy to handle dough.

Shape dough into one-inch balls and place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove cookies to cooling racks and, while still warm, roll in confectioners' sugar.

Not always crazy . . .

One of the times when I actually follow a set patten for a quilt! I love the contract between the deep blue and the Fall colors of the stars. My husband, who is more conservative in his choice of colors, immediately claimed this one for our own. He enjoys the fact that I can be creative but will always be happier with a pattern that doesn't make him dizzy.

I got nine of the twelve squares quilted on my ongoing Christmas quilt project done yesterday. I'm using a star pattern for the stitching. I'm still surprised at how the four different fabrics came together to actually form a 'scene' of each Christmas event.

Someone asked me, once, how I can bear to give any of my quilts away. It's funny but when I decide I need to make a quilt for someone, it is not longer 'my' quilt so gifting it to someone has never been a problem. It's my random quilts that I have trouble parting with . . . but I often do!

Computer humor . . .

"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside."
       -- Robert X. Cringely