To add to the atmosphere try adding flowers, and of course chocolate.
With Valentine's Day coming next week, the Chef thought it was time to plan the romantic meal for two.
To add to the atmosphere try adding flowers, and of course chocolate. Diocese Celebrated National Catholic Schools Week
Sunday, January 25, 2015 to Saturday, January 31, 2015 The Diocese of Scranton joined with Catholic schools across the United States to celebrate National Catholic Schools Week 2015, Sunday, January 25 through January 31. This annual observance, with the theme "Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," focused on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation. Back in 2012, President Obama's budget was unanimously rejected by the US Senate, where the Democrats had a majority. It also was unanimously rejected by the Democrat-majority Senate in 2013. If anything, the $4 trillion budget (with a half-a-trillion-dollar deficit) just submitted by President Obama, is even worse - and now the Republicans control not only the House by the Senate as well. The phrase "dead on arrival" was coined just for instances such as these.
Super Bowls Past and Present
It was January of 1969 and I was spending a weekend with a dozen friends at a hunting camp located near County Bridge State Park, midway between Canton and Blossburg. The membership of “ Camp It” was comprised mostly of downstate York County men. Several were eager to break camp early that Sunday morning to start their three hour trip downstate to watch Superbowl III, to be televised later that afternoon. Like most National Football League fans I was arrogantly confident the Baltimore Colts would have no trouble mauling the New York Jets representing the recently formed American Football League. The previous two Super Bowls had resulted in convincing wins for NFL teams but the two year old words of Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers for whom the Bowl's trophy is named, still hung in the air that Sunday morning as we prepared to break camp. Lombardi had chastised his team for their lethargic behavior during the practice sessions leading up to the first NFL/AFL showdown. He warned that any NFL team that didn't give 100% effort could find themselves on the short end of the Super Bowl scoreboard and becoming the league goat for letting “those pass happy kids” win. Once again not much news, except for the snow that keeps everyone home, or the illness that is all around right now. Hope everyone gets better soon.
Visitors of Gary and Esther Butcher on Sunday were Bill, April, Zachary and Danika, Danville and George and Gloria Johnson, Powell. Spoke with Pauline and she said Hanna Clark her granddaughter has visited her on and off this past week. Hope Phyllis and Roxy are both getting better after their bouts of sickness and Roxy’s slippery ice experience. They have been plowing our road and keeping it pretty good. Hope we don’t get anymore snow. I see by Facebook, many children are sick and many adults too, hope everyone gets better soon along with the weather. Many people think they are starting their day in the right way by having a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Little do most people know that the cereal that they think is healthy may actually be leading them to overeat later, or may be much worse for their blood sugar and body composition than they realize.
Simply put, breakfast cereals are carbohydrate-dense and do very little to promote a fat-burning environment. While we’re frequently led to believe that these ready-to-eat cereals are filled with minimally-processed whole grains, the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of options in the breakfast cereal aisle are filled with high-glycemic index carbohydrates in the form of heavily processed grains and refined sugar. It’s no secret that high GI carbohydrates like these are some of the most fattening ingredients around and closely linked to obesity. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2002) Studies have shown that these fast-digesting, processed carbohydrates quickly raise blood sugar and later lead to the proverbial “crash” which leaves you looking for your next sugar fix. High glycemic index foods also spike insulin and blood triglyceride levels, which means bad news for someone with diabetes or high cholesterol. On the other hand, low glycemic foods – generally those with a high protein, low starch profile – make you feel full longer, increase energy levels, keep blood sugar and insulin levels more stable and thus are a better choice for improving body composition. But aren’t many “healthy” cereals high in fiber? The label may make you think so, but a few things to note. The label may say, “whole grain wheat”, but then later say “wheat bran” or other bran. Research has shown that adding fiber back to processed cereal doesn’t have the same health benefits as consuming whole, unprocessed grains with the germ and fiber intact. Sugar is another sneaky additive. Listing sugar separately in all its forms is how a company can get away with not having sugar listed first on the label as the main ingredient. Check a box of cereal and look for these: Sucrose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed starch, Invert sugar, Corn syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup/sweetener, Brown Sugar, Honey, Cane sugar, Maple sugar, Malt Extract and Molasses. You might be UNPLEASANTLY surprised. In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God a-lone can see. Many folk feel that the winter woods are either dead or sleeping; however, if paying close attention when walking in the winter woods, one would certainly notice that the trees are preparing for spring. Well I guess we are getting cold weather.
Bob, Evelyn, and myself were over to Sayre for her to see her doctor. Ron and Vi were up on Saturday. Edie was up on Saturday. Parker Renzo was up to grandpa and grandma Suazo's on Sunday. Get well wishes to Evelyn as she was back in the hospital. My condolence to Ruth Manley's family. This Week I guess there isn't going to be much this week due to weather. Edie and I went to Mansfield on Thursday and had lunch at Eddie's Truck Stop. We enjoyed the food. Bob and Evelyn were here on Saturday. I heard this morning on the radio school was delayed for two hours. This is short but I stay home in this kind of weather. Stay home and stay warm. My grandson L.J. called from Great Lakes. He's in schooling for electrician mate. Waiting for orders to see where he is going to be stationed. My grandson Demetrius is on the Towanda swim team. Hi, all. This week flew by!
A lot of people were at Mr. Guthrie's funeral on Saturday. He will be missed by all and I know I will miss talking to him on the road while he was walking. That's where i got the scoop of Ms. G. and Kelly. Saturday afternoon Carlene Austin, Shirley Greenough and Louise O'Hare went to see The Jersey Boys at the Clemens Center. Carlene said they had a good time and the place was packed with people her age. Modern technology -- My satellite box went out so Dish replaced it with a new one. This one records without the disc thing. Well, I don't know what I pressed but I recorded fifty hours of My Little Pony and cancelled half the programs. Spent twenty minutes on the phone for tech support. Too many buttons to get in the way. Abbie Smith got her fourth grade artwork in Sunday's Towanda paper. It's also at the top of this page, above this column. I think it's called dazzling arrangement of color. Full shapes and color it has. Congratulations on your art. Abbie takes after her aunt Sandra Smith and cousin Arizona. All aunt Terren can do is draw stick people. And there are two sizes - big and little. Barb Eiffert still has the flu. And Dora McDonald has to have surgery soon. In this cold ad flu season please check in with elderly neighbors. Have a good week. I'm going to try to delete My Little Pony. We Have Joy, We Have Fun,
We Have Seasons In The Sun Recently I conducted the funeral service of a 33-year old man from western Colorado. I was interested in the fact that he once attended the University of Oregon at Eugene. I, having lived in the Pacific northwest for nine years myself, and having friends in Eugene, was curious as to why he left that very beautiful part of the country. Upon asking, his brother told me that he left because he didn't like the darkness. Then I remembered - yes, it was dark out there! The rainfall where I lived was 120 inches a year. Darkness does tend to come down heavy on the human spirit. Because of the darkness, the suicide rate is higher in the Pacific northwest. Even here in the northeast, people tend to get what we call "cabin fever" in the long, dark winters. In the darkness of winter, my counseling load is always much heavier; then, come spring, people tend to fell much better. There is actually a diagnosis called seasonal depression. Though some seasonal depression is thought to be caused by stress, loneliness or memories involving the holidays (or a letdown afterward), research increasingly shows that a lack of sunlight is a contributing factor for many people. It seems that our incandescent home lighting is missing many of the natural rays of the sun. Susan, a friend of mine, remedies this by sitting under a special lamp for a period of time each evening. She claims to get through the winter just fine with her lamp. Ahoy! Welcome aboard Noah's Ark!
As winter wears on and February fast approaches thoughts turn to espying the first harbinger of Spring! A robin, red-winged blackbird, or flowering crocus are what the majority look for, but those with agricultural ties know that mail order seed catalogs and "chick days" at local feed establishments are the true signs that spring's re-growth, re-birth, and re-newal will once again re-appear! I'm enjoying the winter scene outside my window as I write down the few items that i have from "The Ridge."
Many residents here are recuperating from whatever illness is around and some are still sick, so mot much happening here. LaVonne McNett put a news note in the mailbox saying that she visited some friends in Mansfield on Sunday. Just out enjoying the sunny day, she commented. Pauline Watts was at her window when I stopped in earlier. She said that her son Kelly Watts had called her on Sunday and reported 60˚ and sunny in Arizona. Actually it as quit mild here a couple days last week. I know i took a walk one of those days and everything was thawing. I noticed especially the cute little snow man someone had made outside here at the East side of the building. He didn't last long, his little scarf was getting pretty soggy, when I saw him last. Maybe someone will make another one. We do have folks who like to play in the snow. Lat Tuesday, Irma Earley said that her daughter, Deb Eilliot took her to see her brother Paul Machmer, Sr. at Twin Oaks. Irma's daughter, Maxine Shedden was able to join them also and they all enjoyed the visit. On Sunday, Maxine and Irma enjoyed the sun as they drove to Sylvania for lunch at the Iron Skillet. Another puzzle has been finished i the second floor lounge. It's very pretty and another smaller one has been started. It looks complicated to me, but the puzzle people here don't mess around. They are done before I get to see them sometimes. France Kobbe told me that her daughter Carol has been up to have lunch with her after this past week. Frances also said that she is feeling much better, now. The resident at Cedar Ridge want to offer their sincere condolences to Mable DeBruin at the passing of her brother, this past week. “And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1st Peter 4:18-19. The text begins with a quotation from the Septuagint verse of the Old Testament in the Greek from Proverbs 11:31. Translating from the original language to English it reads this way, “If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” The reality is you can not take your relationship with Jesus Christ hap-hazardly. Many believe God is a loving God and therefore, He will not send anyone to hell. They forget God is also a just God and punishment will be given to those who need to be punished. Throughout the Scriptures you will find those who disregarded God’s instruction receiving their just punishment.
When it comes to the Church, Ananias and Sapphira are examples of what happens when you do not tell the whole truth. They decided together to say they gave all the money they received from the land they sold when true fully they had kept some of it for themselves. The fact they lied about what they gave to the Church cost them their lives. Do you remember when sweat pants came without pockets? It used to be that they were made with the sole intent of being used during strenuous exercise. You only saw people wearing them while running or working out in the gym. Now these, “sweat pants” come with all kinds of designs and pockets and are used as casual dress in and out of public. They have the appearance of exercise clothing and can be used as such, but for most of us they are worn for comfort and convenience. Most of the time, when I am wearing this, “workout clothing” and am exerting energy, it’s only by accident, (Like, running to the fridge!) How about you?
A friend of mine reminded me that many of us as Christians wear our, “Christianity” like we wear our sweat pants. Perhaps we started out with the intention, (and practice) of serious, focused and dedicated use of our faith and relationship. Then over time, we got comfortable and wore our faith with the appearance that we exercised it, but in reality it has/had become a matter of comfort and convenience. Going through the motions keeps us warm, but it does not produce the sweat and results that our faith and commitment was designed for. This is easy to do and I am trying very hard to stay away from MY mirror so that I don’t have to look at it! Because this weekend is the Super Bowl, the Chef thought it might be a good idea to have snack recipes for the occasion.
The first one is a Latin Chip Mix Combine 3 tablespoons melted butter with 1 teaspoon each ground cumin and chipotle chile powder. Toss with 3 cups black bean chips, 1 cup corn nuts, 1 thinly sliced jalapeño and 2 teaspoons lime zest. Bake at 400 degrees F, 10 minutes, stirring once. Chesapeake Snack Mix Toss 5 cups potato chips, 2 cups each oyster crackers, fish-shaped cheese crackers and pretzel sticks, 1/2 stick melted butter and 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees, 25 minutes, stirring once. Buttery Herbed Nuts Mix 3 tablespoons melted butter with 1 tablespoon each minced parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, and 2 teaspoons salt. Toss with 3 cups unsalted mixed nuts. Bake at 325 degrees F, 25 minutes, stirring once. Pizza Snack Mix Bake 1/4 pound sliced pepperoni at 350 degrees F, 15 minutes; drain on paper towels. Toss 2 cups each pita chips and cheese crackers, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons each minced parsley, oregano and basil. Bake 10 minutes. Stir in the pepperoni. Asian Snack Mix Combine 1 cup each sesame sticks, wasabi peas, crisp rice cereal and peanuts. Toss with 1/2 stick melted butter, 1 tablespoon each soy sauce and sesame seeds, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon each red pepper flakes and salt. Bake at 350 degrees F, 20 minutes, stirring once. Toss with 5 cups vegetable chips. |
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