News from the Vatican . . .

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/19/pope_adds_name_of_st._joseph_to_eucharistic_prayers/en1-702859

Tipsy Beer Cake

Here is my take on an interesting recipe. I like cooking/baking with beer as it adds an interesting level to the finished product. Just make sure you use a good brand so the outcome is just as tasty!

Tipsy Beer Cake
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup shortening
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounce can of beer
1 cup mashed banana
1 cup finely diced dates
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Vegetable oil spray an oblong baking pan or pans to accommodate batter. Batter should fill the pans 2/3rds full.

Stir together the salt, soda, spices, and flour together in a separate bowl.

Cream together sugar, shortening, and eggs. Add beer, bananas, dates, nuts, zest, and vanilla to creamed mixture. Add the dry ingredient and mix to combine well.

Pour bather into prepared pan(s). Bake for approximately 45 minutes depending on size of pans used. Use a toothpick to test for doneness - no wet batter should be evident.

Let cool and ice with a lemon glaze. Keeps well . . . if it lasts that long!

Choice is a selfish choice . . .

Conservative talk show host, Rush Limbaugh seems to be either loved or hated. The love part comes from people who want the truth. The hate part comes from people who find the truth irritating to their entitled way of life. In his program, last week, he hit on a very controversial topic - abortion. According to him 'much of the cultural and economic decay facing America can be traced to the more than 50 million abortions performed since 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.'

Although the anti-life faction consider abortion merely a woman's right to choose (forget about the females in the womb), Rush Limbaugh stated that "It's had an impact on crime. It's had a profound impact on our politics. It is a the root of our cultural rot and decay."

It isn't just about a woman's choice, Rush said. "I'm talking the overall effect of a society having literally no problem with eliminating 52 million of its citizens." In other words, few people want to take responsibility for what they do, what they want, and how they get it.

I found it a thought-provoking comment when Rush Limbaugh noted that ‘Americans still feel guilt over slavery, yet aren't bothered by abortion.’ The fact is that more minorities abort their children.

This remark summed up what is so wrong with our country today: "Why is our society so permissive, anything goes, the more ribald, the better? The more honorable, the more boring it is said to be."

A Prayer for Father's Day

God, bless all the fathers in the world.
Guide them to be good role models
and loving to all their children.
Help them to be a father like You are.
Give them grace and patience
to handle situations in a loving way.
Amen!

Father's Day!

It is kind of sad that Father's Day doesn't quite get the response that Mother's Day enjoys. Yes, mothers are totally important but, in many cases, it is the father who is going out into the world to support the family. Perhaps, we have too many single-parent households these days. Anyway, Father's Day is a day that should be revered and our dads and husbands should be spoiled!

Since we went gluten-free for my husband's health, cooking has been a challenge but I'm taking up that challenge in a new avenue for Father's Day. I'm making him an Asian dinner without the use of gluten. Fortunately, I have a fantastic cookbook that is dedicated to cooking Asian food gluten-free. My menu is lined up and we went to the Asian market, yesterday, to get the ingredients. I decided to make three 'nibble' dishes - small items for tasting rather than actually filling up on. I decided on roasted pork meatball, steamed dumplings, and pot stickers. The main dish is a rice noodle/chicken dish with peanut satay sauce and lime. Dessert, we go all-American with a big cheesecake with strawberry topping. In deference to Father's Day, I'm using full-fat cream cheese. Me, I prefer non-fat and can't tell the difference but my husband declares that he can tell the difference and he wants all his calories on his holiday.

I was very good at making pot stickers pre-gluten-free lifestyle so I'm looking forward to renewing my 'fame' with a gluten-free recipe.

I hope everyone is thinking about their male parents today and planning on providing them with a great Father's Day. Don't forget to pray for all the fathers who have already passed on from this world, too.

US Support of Christian Massacres?

This is a sad commentary on the mind set of our current administration. It sends a message that should be totally alien to what our country and Constitution should stand for in this day and age. Helping people who take time out to persecute innocent people because they have different beliefs is not what our country was founded on and we shouldn't support it in another country. Where is the headline news on this sort of thing? Why are the actions of movie stars and celebrities more important than reporting the real news to people? Candy-coating the events of the country and world won't make the bad stuff go away.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/06/obama-backed-syrian-jihadists-massacre-christian-village-population.html

Donut Frenzy at Our House!

 I recently acquired one of those mini-donut baking machine gadgets. Initially, I thought them a frivolous idea but once I tried it, I was hooked. It baked up six mini-donuts every three to four minutes. It actually helps to avoid binging on warm donuts because the first few bites of most anything are enough to cure the munchies . . . and, mini-donuts are just that amount. Have to admit, however, I did feel I had to try one of each kind I made.

Oh, and if homemade donuts weren't enough, these were gluten-free donuts!

Here are a few links to cookbooks I like for cooking/baking gluten-free along with one for that handy donut baking gadget.

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Shoestring-Quick-Easy-Love-Fast/dp/0738215937/ref=pd_sim_b_1 This cookbook has the donut recipe in it both plain and chocolate.

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Bible-Editors-Favorite-Recipes/dp/1605537233/ref=pd_sim_b_3 Great, overall cookbook for making gluten-free food.

http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Shoestring-Recipes-Eating-Cheap/dp/073821423X Check on Amazon as you can get all three of these cookbooks for around $35.

http://www.amazon.com/Babycakes-DN-6-Doughnut-Maker-Yellow/dp/B005PO9TT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371052492&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+cake+donut+maker Perfect for making gluten-free donuts. I use a pastry bag for putting the batter in neatly.

 

My secret for the cinnamon donuts? While they are still warm, I brush/dip them in melted butter and then roll them in a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a minute dash of cayenne.