A couple of day ago I had two chicken breasts to cook for dinner the next night. I used a recipe from the South Beach cookbook called Tequilla Chicken. I had no tequilla, so I substituted a little red wine to which I added lime juice, salt, pepper and chili powder. I marinated the chicken in this mixture overnight. Using Julia Childs recipe for sauted chicken, I rolled the breasts in whole wheat flour and sauted in butter. It was so good and Anna has asked for it again.
The bisquits were not as successfu. I am still tring to do light and fluffy. Well, these were from a "healthy" Bisquik and skimmed milk. The dough was very stiff and they turned out flat as my baking always does. Send suggestions?
My next feat will be lunch or dinner for Jerrold and Jenna Ford, but Ihave a bit part in Granbury Opera's The Sunshine Boys. I will be on stage a minute for Friday and Saturday twice a day. I don't know what I will cook or when, so watch for the next installment. Bon Appetit and come to see the show
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
THE CUPCAKE
I have been preparing to work on a Chrysallis for Young Men next week. This is part of the Walk to Emmaus www.ctcemmaus.org only for young men 18-25. Unfortunately we only have 5 young men sign up so it has tenatively been rescheduled for December right after Christmas.
I decided the other night to make cupcakes as a test to make them for the weekend. You all know how much I like Julia Childs and my first sponge cake was pretty much a disaster. I went to www.cupcakesrecipes.com. They have a ton of cupcake recipes. I found one for "sponge cake cupcakes". The egg whites with the addition of cream of tartar were lovely and tall and stiff, but the egg yoke mixture was dry and yuk. I attempted to "fold" it in but it was lumpy and dry. I baked the cupcakes anyway and they turned out ok, but not the light and fluffy that I want to accomplish. I got a recipe for butter cream frosting from "North Creek Cooking" by Olive Rumage. Olive was Anna's next door neighbor when she was in high school in Jacksboro, Texas. The recipe called for cream and I had none so I substituted skimmed milk. Well, the frosting was tasty but never really set up. I took the cupcakes to the office www.winstonproperties.net and we ate at our Parrish Team meeting www.granburyhomes.net. The rest were consumed by the office during the day. People said they liked them, but I want to make something that they love.
Before I made the cupcakes, as Anna was in Arlington staying with Penny Ellerd who just had double knee replacement, I made my famous Bobby Dean goulash. It always turns out a little different because I put in different seasonings. It makes a lot and it freezes well. Now the freezer is filled with containers of goulash.
That night the goulash wasn't ready and I went to show a house so I made grilled cheese toast in the oven made from whole wheat bread from Niester's German Restaurant in Granbury. It contains no preservatives and lasts a long time in the frig. Try some. They serve a great breakfast with thick bacon cooked just right and grilled toast made with their own bread.
It's a great day to try something new. I don't know what I will make next but I will let you know. God Bless and Bon Apetite
Thursday, August 5, 2010
BELIZE MISSION TRIP 2010
This is not about food though food that was cooked by Mario in Belize was wonderful. We left air coniditioning and comfort on July 24th and flew to Belize. I was one of 20 adults with 50 teenagers from Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury. We got to sweltering Belize and got on the school bus for the orphange. The 60 kids were looking forward to our visit. I recogized many of the kids from our visit last October including Christopher. A cute 10 yr old black boy who told me that he came there when he was a baby. Such sadness from our parts to these happy little kids. We left the orphanage and drove to King's Park Church of the Nazarene, which was to be our home for the week. We had a declicious meal cooked in the little kitchen by our beloved Mario. She does amazing things with little facilities. After a moving service where we told what we hoped to happen during the week, we went to bed (my sleeping pad was on a pew next to a window where a breeze came most of the time). The men were in the sanctuary and the women were in the school building on the grounds of the church. There is little public education in Belize. The schools seem to be mainly church related with some private schools. All the children go to school in uniforms.
I woke up at 5 AM by knocking on the door and a car horn tooting outside. Someone had locked the door to the church and Maria and her helpers were trying to get in. I got my cold shower (no hot water) and got ready for the day. Someone had made the coffee, I got my cup and took a chair and went outside where it was cooler. As time went on several others made it out including my friend Cathy Childers. The paster, Mark Forrest, and Micky Shearon went on a five mile sweating run. I went by to ask Maria what was for breakfast. Some wonderful jack things much like a sopapia plus scrambled eggs and fruit.
Lakeside did the Sunday School and church service with Mark preaching. We had to put off our shorts and tees and dress for church. I had forgotten this so had to get out my "good pants" and the shirt that I had worn on the plane. I flew on a buddy pass thanks to Rick Huber, so I had to be dressed appropriately. By the way, I couldn't get on the direct flight with the group because it was book. I got up at 2 AM on Saturday and sweet Lou Hendrix took me to the airport. Thanks Lou. I flew to Miami where I waited 3 hours for Belize flight and got to ride first class on the leg. Back to the mission, the services went well. We had lunch and then had 90 kids (60 from the orphanage) for Vacation Bible School. Our kids did a great job, loving and teaching these precious kids. The favorite were the pupits, which we had brought from Granbury along with a curtain setup for the pupits. Our kids and some adults did a great job with the pupits and all the children loved it. Mark Forrest does an amazing job playing the guitar and singing with the children. He probably needs to do this in church and show our member how talented he is.
But we are probably too high class for that. Oh Well!
The next morning was VBS from 9 to 12. Then off to the Juvenile Detention Center for half our group and the other half to the old folks home. I was in charge of this part due to my prison work. The Center is most depressing with about 40 or 50 teens. We did our service in the dining hall. Lincoln Wiseman led the music, followed by Carolyn George with her testimony. Next was a dramatic presentation by our kids of "The Prodigal Son". One of the girls read the scripture as our team acted out the skit. This is a real favorite with the kids in Texas Youth Foundation on Epiphany weekends. I ended up the service with a talk to "Choices" in which I compare two young men that I met in TYC in Brownwood. One, Matt, became a preacher and the other, Michael, is now in prison on a 28 year sentence. It is my prayer that one of the kids catches on and flys right.
Tuesday is day 3 of VBS. We have all gotten in and gotten started and here comes the rain. It rained, it poured, it rained and it poured some more. We watched as the water filled the yard, came up on the porch, covered the porch and came to the front door. There were big lightening bolts at times knocking out the power. I think we were more scared than the Belizians because this is normal for them. When the rain let up about 1 PM we got the kids off to home. Then we discovered that the entire sewer system of Belize City was backed up. Hence we had NO toilets for the rest of the week. The Praying Pelican (the mission group that we booked our trip with) quickly got portapotties delivered and we had that joy the rest of the week. The girls really enjoyed that part.
After this busy morning we got off to the detention center and the old folks home. The groups traded places. This time Lucas Byrd (who was by this time sick) played the guitar and a group of girls led the music. We were outside this time and it was hot though most were in the shade of a building. This time Nicholas Henney gave his testimony, another dramatic presentation this time it was Jonah and the whale. (I was part of the boat). Mark Forrest delivered a strong message to the children on following God. We had time afterwards to get with the kids and visit awhile. This is hard for our kids and for the children there. I was inside was this kid who was playing loud not so nice music which he would not turn off. I later saw him in the dining hall and he told me that he planned to go to school to be a chef and work at the Raddison Hotel in Belize City. The Raddison is one of two really nice tourist hotel/casinos in the city. I was impressed with him and wished him well.
The final day of VBS was Wednesday. The bible study was on salvation and that sweet Curstin George did a beautiful job of teaching. I was sitting next to a 10 yr old named Vince. We talked about Jesus and salvation and he accepted Jesus as saviour and lord. What an awesome experience for him and for me.
Later at VBS in recreation a 12 year old was caught with a knife. I followed him the rest of the morning. Another teenager from Belize who was helping out with VBS told me that the boy had come to the church to stab him. There was a lot of staring at each other. I called for a Belizean man to come and talk to the lad. Things seemed to settle down, then there was a commotion in that area of the church and a bunch of kids went out the front door. There was a drunk man up by the road who wanted his daughter to come with him. She was crying and did not want to go. I told her that she didn't have to go. A Belizeian woman from the church came and out told the man to leave and that the girl did not have to go with him. There was another teenager who came to pick up his siblings and that was allowed. I was emotionally drained by the time VBS was over. We drove to a country outdoor restaurant for lunch. Then on to the Belize Zoo for a visit.
That evening we had an awesome steamed black snapper dinner by Maria (food information). We all went to a downtown city park with big amplifiers, key board, guitars and puppet. The kids did the stomp with basketballs, bottles and the girls did their dance. It was quite an evening, after Pastor Mark and Pastor Maganua spoke two ladies accepted Christ.
Thursday morning we got up and caught a water taxi to Chauker Kaye, an island 45 minutes offshore. The bulk of the group went snorkeling, but I stayed in town and ate and shopped the day away. We had our final closing service on the rooftop of the hotel that night. Everyone got to share about this incredible week.
Friday morning we water taxied back to Belize City and took shoebox gifts to all the kids at the orphanage. Mine was to a 12 month old little girl who just looked at it all. I got to tell Christopher two things: 1) Jesus is Lord. 2) Education is Power.
Off to the airport, after 3 hour wait we boarded the plane and I got a first class seat next to Sheri Hammond. The Miami flight earlier in the day had been cancelled and consequently they came and got me and took me off the flight. Sheri said that I looked like "what do I do now?"
We had stayed at a hotel near the airport so I knew where to go as the next flight to the US was Saturday morning. I must have looked pretty helpless (I did not have one penny left) and a man from Maya Airlines (the Belizean airline) took me to his office, called the hotel and waited with me until they picked me up. I paid for my room and then paid for dinner with my credit card. Now I will call Anna on the pay phone, shouldn't cost much, right? The credit card has been cancelled because of the out of country charges (always call you credit card company before going overseas). No money, no credit card, what to do? The hotel owner allowed me a $5 phone card to call home, Anna didn't answer, so I called the credit card company and explained the situation. They put me on hold and the card expired. OK what now? I thought that the Praying Pelicans had a room there, so I asked if they had Toti's phone number. He said Toti here in her room. What a relief, she let me use her phone to call Anna and loaned me some money. Anna had cleared up the credit card situation, so I was set to wait at the airport the following day. They had told me that the flights were booked all day with few seats available. After a very, very long sleepless night I had the meager hotel breakfast and off to the airport to sit and wait.
I got checked in and the lady said it looked like I had a chance on the first flight out at 11 AM. People kept coming and coming. Large tour groups. Finally boarding, I got the very last seat, which was first class by the way. So after a nice lunch, another wait, by the way I am in Miami again. About 3 hours I think and the plane loads and loads and loads, I ask the gate agent and there are 5 people on stand by in front of me. The people just kept coming and finally they called my name and once again I got the last seat.
My sweet Anna was waiting at baggage claim.
A great trip, many adventures, Yes I would do it again.
FLY WITH JESUS
I woke up at 5 AM by knocking on the door and a car horn tooting outside. Someone had locked the door to the church and Maria and her helpers were trying to get in. I got my cold shower (no hot water) and got ready for the day. Someone had made the coffee, I got my cup and took a chair and went outside where it was cooler. As time went on several others made it out including my friend Cathy Childers. The paster, Mark Forrest, and Micky Shearon went on a five mile sweating run. I went by to ask Maria what was for breakfast. Some wonderful jack things much like a sopapia plus scrambled eggs and fruit.
Lakeside did the Sunday School and church service with Mark preaching. We had to put off our shorts and tees and dress for church. I had forgotten this so had to get out my "good pants" and the shirt that I had worn on the plane. I flew on a buddy pass thanks to Rick Huber, so I had to be dressed appropriately. By the way, I couldn't get on the direct flight with the group because it was book. I got up at 2 AM on Saturday and sweet Lou Hendrix took me to the airport. Thanks Lou. I flew to Miami where I waited 3 hours for Belize flight and got to ride first class on the leg. Back to the mission, the services went well. We had lunch and then had 90 kids (60 from the orphanage) for Vacation Bible School. Our kids did a great job, loving and teaching these precious kids. The favorite were the pupits, which we had brought from Granbury along with a curtain setup for the pupits. Our kids and some adults did a great job with the pupits and all the children loved it. Mark Forrest does an amazing job playing the guitar and singing with the children. He probably needs to do this in church and show our member how talented he is.
But we are probably too high class for that. Oh Well!
The next morning was VBS from 9 to 12. Then off to the Juvenile Detention Center for half our group and the other half to the old folks home. I was in charge of this part due to my prison work. The Center is most depressing with about 40 or 50 teens. We did our service in the dining hall. Lincoln Wiseman led the music, followed by Carolyn George with her testimony. Next was a dramatic presentation by our kids of "The Prodigal Son". One of the girls read the scripture as our team acted out the skit. This is a real favorite with the kids in Texas Youth Foundation on Epiphany weekends. I ended up the service with a talk to "Choices" in which I compare two young men that I met in TYC in Brownwood. One, Matt, became a preacher and the other, Michael, is now in prison on a 28 year sentence. It is my prayer that one of the kids catches on and flys right.
Tuesday is day 3 of VBS. We have all gotten in and gotten started and here comes the rain. It rained, it poured, it rained and it poured some more. We watched as the water filled the yard, came up on the porch, covered the porch and came to the front door. There were big lightening bolts at times knocking out the power. I think we were more scared than the Belizians because this is normal for them. When the rain let up about 1 PM we got the kids off to home. Then we discovered that the entire sewer system of Belize City was backed up. Hence we had NO toilets for the rest of the week. The Praying Pelican (the mission group that we booked our trip with) quickly got portapotties delivered and we had that joy the rest of the week. The girls really enjoyed that part.
After this busy morning we got off to the detention center and the old folks home. The groups traded places. This time Lucas Byrd (who was by this time sick) played the guitar and a group of girls led the music. We were outside this time and it was hot though most were in the shade of a building. This time Nicholas Henney gave his testimony, another dramatic presentation this time it was Jonah and the whale. (I was part of the boat). Mark Forrest delivered a strong message to the children on following God. We had time afterwards to get with the kids and visit awhile. This is hard for our kids and for the children there. I was inside was this kid who was playing loud not so nice music which he would not turn off. I later saw him in the dining hall and he told me that he planned to go to school to be a chef and work at the Raddison Hotel in Belize City. The Raddison is one of two really nice tourist hotel/casinos in the city. I was impressed with him and wished him well.
The final day of VBS was Wednesday. The bible study was on salvation and that sweet Curstin George did a beautiful job of teaching. I was sitting next to a 10 yr old named Vince. We talked about Jesus and salvation and he accepted Jesus as saviour and lord. What an awesome experience for him and for me.
Later at VBS in recreation a 12 year old was caught with a knife. I followed him the rest of the morning. Another teenager from Belize who was helping out with VBS told me that the boy had come to the church to stab him. There was a lot of staring at each other. I called for a Belizean man to come and talk to the lad. Things seemed to settle down, then there was a commotion in that area of the church and a bunch of kids went out the front door. There was a drunk man up by the road who wanted his daughter to come with him. She was crying and did not want to go. I told her that she didn't have to go. A Belizeian woman from the church came and out told the man to leave and that the girl did not have to go with him. There was another teenager who came to pick up his siblings and that was allowed. I was emotionally drained by the time VBS was over. We drove to a country outdoor restaurant for lunch. Then on to the Belize Zoo for a visit.
That evening we had an awesome steamed black snapper dinner by Maria (food information). We all went to a downtown city park with big amplifiers, key board, guitars and puppet. The kids did the stomp with basketballs, bottles and the girls did their dance. It was quite an evening, after Pastor Mark and Pastor Maganua spoke two ladies accepted Christ.
Thursday morning we got up and caught a water taxi to Chauker Kaye, an island 45 minutes offshore. The bulk of the group went snorkeling, but I stayed in town and ate and shopped the day away. We had our final closing service on the rooftop of the hotel that night. Everyone got to share about this incredible week.
Friday morning we water taxied back to Belize City and took shoebox gifts to all the kids at the orphanage. Mine was to a 12 month old little girl who just looked at it all. I got to tell Christopher two things: 1) Jesus is Lord. 2) Education is Power.
Off to the airport, after 3 hour wait we boarded the plane and I got a first class seat next to Sheri Hammond. The Miami flight earlier in the day had been cancelled and consequently they came and got me and took me off the flight. Sheri said that I looked like "what do I do now?"
We had stayed at a hotel near the airport so I knew where to go as the next flight to the US was Saturday morning. I must have looked pretty helpless (I did not have one penny left) and a man from Maya Airlines (the Belizean airline) took me to his office, called the hotel and waited with me until they picked me up. I paid for my room and then paid for dinner with my credit card. Now I will call Anna on the pay phone, shouldn't cost much, right? The credit card has been cancelled because of the out of country charges (always call you credit card company before going overseas). No money, no credit card, what to do? The hotel owner allowed me a $5 phone card to call home, Anna didn't answer, so I called the credit card company and explained the situation. They put me on hold and the card expired. OK what now? I thought that the Praying Pelicans had a room there, so I asked if they had Toti's phone number. He said Toti here in her room. What a relief, she let me use her phone to call Anna and loaned me some money. Anna had cleared up the credit card situation, so I was set to wait at the airport the following day. They had told me that the flights were booked all day with few seats available. After a very, very long sleepless night I had the meager hotel breakfast and off to the airport to sit and wait.
I got checked in and the lady said it looked like I had a chance on the first flight out at 11 AM. People kept coming and coming. Large tour groups. Finally boarding, I got the very last seat, which was first class by the way. So after a nice lunch, another wait, by the way I am in Miami again. About 3 hours I think and the plane loads and loads and loads, I ask the gate agent and there are 5 people on stand by in front of me. The people just kept coming and finally they called my name and once again I got the last seat.
My sweet Anna was waiting at baggage claim.
A great trip, many adventures, Yes I would do it again.
FLY WITH JESUS
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