Missing the Math . . .

The news continues to point up the fact that our politicians have no concept of basic math. Perhaps their disregard is due to the fact that the checks are not being written from their account. The latest is a 400 billion job stimulus package. Let's see . . . The president says he will have to raise taxes in order to fund the job package. The taxes come from people who already have a job and pay enough taxes already. I don't know about other people but when the taxes go up, our spending goes down which reduces what the government will get from us in the way of tax revenue. On a larger scale, the big companies, who have the option of offering more jobs, will circumvent their tax increases by needing fewer jobs. Seems to me that we are facing taxes that will go no where in any productive degree.

It amazes me that my teenage son can listen to what is going on with the government and more clearly see the problems with their legislation than they do.

I don't think that handing out money to make jobs is the way to go. Less financial oppression on the working classes and businesses would go further in providing jobs. But what do I know? I can, however, balance a check book and have never used my overdraft protection. Just sayin' . . .

Thinking of the holidays - Bread Stuffing

School is in session for the Fall which means the next few months will fly by and you will be facing a turkey and company for Thanksgiving or other festive dinner events over the holidays. In our house, the star of the show, after the roasted turkey, is the stuffing. There are lots of ways to make stuffing but we like the basic bread variety. Also, I do not stuff the bird as that cuts down on potential problems that could lead to stomach upsets. I bake my stuffing in a separate baking dish and periodically give it generous servings of turkey drippings. For a stuffing that stands up to the liquids, use a firm, white bread. Sour dough bread is also good and gives it a bit of a tang.

Bread Stuffing

Approximately six cups cubed bread

One large onion, chopped finely

One cup diced celery

2 sticks butter or margarine, melted

2 teaspoons ground, black pepper

3 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon each onion powder and garlic powder

Fresh or canned chicken or turkey broth to moisten bread

Gently simmer the onion in the butter or margarine until tender. Add the diced celery and remove from stove. In a large bowl, combine the bread and spices and toss thoroughly. Add the melted butter, onion and celery mixture and mix well. Add enough broth to moisten the bread without letting it become soggy. Pack into a well-greased baking dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until crusty on top and well-browned.

Ideas . . .

You can brown ½ pound of sausage and add it to your bread stuffing.

Finely diced, tart apples work well with your Thanksgiving fare, too.

Remember to make more than you will need as it fries up nicely with leftover turkey.

That's the way I see it!

Define multiculturalism:

State-sanctioned grievance industry that stokes division and resentment, while always under the delusion that it is doing something positive called "celebrating diversity." From the best selling book by James Delingpole, 365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy.

Miss Piggy has it right!

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."
-- Miss Piggy

"Behind the phony tinsel of Hollywood lies the real tinsel."
-- Oscar Levant

"That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong."
-- William J. H. Boetcker

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."
-- Edgar Allan Poe

Starving Students . . .

One of my children has been back at college for almost three weeks now. Just today, she is informed that she doesn't have financial aide so they stopped her from using her dinner card and we have been frantically seeing what the problem could be. This is her fourth year at the school so you'd think there'd be a little leeway as they always got their funding in the past. I do have to interject that there has been a problem, mostly on their side, every year so I shouldn't be surprised.

The problem was rapidly resolved. They claimed they had sent an e-mail to my daughter about filing something or other. This e-mail never made it to her in-box . . .   Between phone calls to the financial office and the federal loan office, she will be funded by Friday . . . at which time, the school said they would reinstate her meal card!

It seems to me that when you have an out-of-state student who is relying on a meal card, you should see that she is provided with food. Friday is four days away. They generously said she could use her credit card. Let me see . . .  The school knows the loan will be funded for a certainty, the loan office has informed them definitely of this fact, we have been informed of this fact, yet the meal card remains in jeopardy until Friday. Somehow, it doesn't seem right.

Another case of Christian Charity not in full use. Wonder if it would be worse or better in a public college? Not the first problem we've had but, fortunately, my daughter graduates in December. She will miss the friendships she has made there . . . As for the school . . .

Another way to chicken . . .

Since chicken is usually the one item we can rely on to be on sale, I'm always looking and trying new recipes. I found one that looked interesting but decided it needed a bit more power to it. Thought I'd share!

Oven Chicken Tortilla

Approximately 2 cups of crushed tortilla chips
1 package of your favorite taco seasoning
About 2 1/2 pounds of either chicken wings or chicken pieces
Flour to coat
3 eggs, beaten
1 generous teaspoon of hot sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use vegetable oil spray on a baking sheet with rims.

Mix together the chips and seasoning in a bowl. Beat the eggs together with the hot sauce in a second bowl. Place about a cup of flour in a plastic bag.

A few pieces at a time, shake the chicken pieces in the flour to coat. Shake off the excess and set aside until all the chicken is done.

Dip each piece into the egg mixture and then coat with the tortilla chip combination and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 30-40 minutes depending on size of chicken pieces you used.

Ideas . . .
You can be adventurous and use other packets of seasoning. I like using the dried Ranch for mine.

You can also cut thick 'fingers' of boneless, white chicken. Remember it will take about 20 minutes for this type to bake.

I like using chicken thighs. For special occasions, I slip a piece of cheddar cheese under the skin and then proceed as indicated.

Only have spicy, seasoned chips on hand? Skip the seasoning packet!

Nine, Ten, Eleven . . .

My younger daughter will have no trouble forgetting the date of her college graduation as it reads, "Nine, Ten, Eleven!" (9/10/2011) But what a shock to realize how fast the time has gone by. How soon each year is completed and dumps us into the future. Hey, it happens every day!

I think the fact that my daughter graduated the day before the tenth anniversary of the infamous 9/11 date showed up the passing of the years even more clearly. We were chatting with a group of young people and talking about 'where were you' on 9/11. Most of them were between the ages of 7 and 10 years old back then. Ten years changes a lot.

My daughter attended a relatively new college. Her graduating class was the third one to come from this institution of learning. Amazing, something that was thought impossible is showing itself to be possible - a college based on Catholic principles with Catholic teaching woven into the everyday fabric of it's educational system. As the young man who gave the senior address said, and I'm working from memory here, "Believe in us so what we are attempting will happen." The wording is not precise but the thought is there. I think that too many times, people will applaud an effort but don't totally support it because it seems impossible in this day and age. However, if you find enough people to believe in the concept, things happen.

We went to the graduation with seven, close friends and filled up a whole church pew to support my daughter's accomplishment. There was a beautiful Mass celebrated with five priests. Unlike a lot of graduations, it did not drag out and all the talks were well-thought out and fit the moment. The whole event took two and a half hours yet it didn't seem long.

This is my second child to graduate from college. My third one graduates in December. Only my 'baby' is left and we have hopes there will be room for him to take classes at the community college in the Spring. According to the counseling office, there probably won't be but we have prayer on our side. We just need for him to get one class and his foot in the door.