John B.
June 17, 1965 - April 6, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
How He Loves Us
John B.
June 17, 1965 - April 6, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Delicious Summer Salad
When my eldest was born 13 years ago, my dear sister took care of me because it was a rough, rough delivery. I'll spare you the details because you are here for a recipe, not a war story. She brought down several wonderful meals and sent recipes with them. This recipe was locked up with the last one.
By the way, this is THE best way to use up leftover steak, or even better, grill an extra steak and save one for this recipe for later!
Thai Beef Salad
Fast (15 minutes), Low Fat and Delicious!
10 oz. cooked steak, left overs work well here, trimmed of fat, sliced thin, across the grain
1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 2 small limes)
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. fresh grated (I sometimes sub 3/4 tsp ginger powder, in a pinch)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. crushed pepper flakes
6 scallions, sliced thin
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and sliced
2 red pepper, thinly sliced
4-8 cups romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces
1. Cut beef into thin strips and pace in a medium bowl. Add lime juice, soy sauce ,water, ginger, garlic and pepper flakes. Toss to mix. Add scallions, pepper and cucumber. Toss again. Cover and refrigerate until serving time (1-2 hours is good).
2. Arrange lettuce in large serving bowl . Pour beef, vegetables and any liquid in bowl over lettuce. Toss at the table just before serving.
By the way, this is THE best way to use up leftover steak, or even better, grill an extra steak and save one for this recipe for later!
Thai Beef Salad
Fast (15 minutes), Low Fat and Delicious!
10 oz. cooked steak, left overs work well here, trimmed of fat, sliced thin, across the grain
1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 2 small limes)
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. fresh grated (I sometimes sub 3/4 tsp ginger powder, in a pinch)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. crushed pepper flakes
6 scallions, sliced thin
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and sliced
2 red pepper, thinly sliced
4-8 cups romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces
1. Cut beef into thin strips and pace in a medium bowl. Add lime juice, soy sauce ,water, ginger, garlic and pepper flakes. Toss to mix. Add scallions, pepper and cucumber. Toss again. Cover and refrigerate until serving time (1-2 hours is good).
2. Arrange lettuce in large serving bowl . Pour beef, vegetables and any liquid in bowl over lettuce. Toss at the table just before serving.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Much Ado About Garlic
I first made this recipe in February 2000. We LOVED it and guess what? I lost the recipe. Well, not really lost it. I put it in a really, really safe place. It was in a storage tub full of my heritage recipes. Heritage recipes are those recipes that have been passed down to me from my mom and grandma. My grandma is, by the way, the best cook in the world.
So, you have to know that the first place my husband and I ate together was at "The Stinking Rose" cafe. To say we love garlic would be an understatement. It was at that restaurant that I was sure I had met my match. We went back, all the way to San Francisco for our 10th anniversary and the first place we ate was "The Stinking Rose." That night, the late-great Jeff Connaway fell in love with our then 3 year old daughter. He flirted shamelessly with her, came over and asked if he could tell us how beautiful she was and colored on her placemat with her. The signed it with "A hickey from Kenickie". He smootched her on the head and kept smiling at us through our dinner.
So, back to the recipe. It sounds like a lot of garlic, but don't cut back. You really should add ALL 40 cloves. By the way, my dearest brother-in-law John, who just passed away, adored garlic. His wife didn't adore the fact that he loved garlic, but didn't fuss as long as he used Beano afterwards. This recipe is for John.
French Farmhouse Garlic Chicken
(Low Fat)
4 small skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
40 small cloves of garlic - if you unpeel them, they make a fabulous sauce. If you leave them in the skin, that is fine, but you will need to peel them to eat them when they are cooked.
1/2 c. mushrooms (optional)
1 c. chicken broth (you can sub 1/2 with white wine, if you like)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. corn starch
2 Tbsp. broth or wine
Pat chicken dry with kitchen paper. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and garlic cloves (and optional mushrooms). Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side or just until browned, turning once. Add 1 c. liquid, lemon juice, basil and oregano. Simmer, covered 6-8 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a warm serving platter. You have a couple of options now. If you peeled the garlic, you can mash them into the sauce. If you didn't peel them, remove them from the broth and peel them (just use a butter knife). Just put it back into the pan. Mix together the corn starch and 2 Tbsp. broth or wine and add to the pan juices. Bring the pan juices to a boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Spoon sauce atop chicken. Serve with mash potatoes, boiled potatoes, rice, pasta or my favorite, zucchini!
Enjoy! And offer up a prayer for my sister and her family. Thanks!
So, you have to know that the first place my husband and I ate together was at "The Stinking Rose" cafe. To say we love garlic would be an understatement. It was at that restaurant that I was sure I had met my match. We went back, all the way to San Francisco for our 10th anniversary and the first place we ate was "The Stinking Rose." That night, the late-great Jeff Connaway fell in love with our then 3 year old daughter. He flirted shamelessly with her, came over and asked if he could tell us how beautiful she was and colored on her placemat with her. The signed it with "A hickey from Kenickie". He smootched her on the head and kept smiling at us through our dinner.
So, back to the recipe. It sounds like a lot of garlic, but don't cut back. You really should add ALL 40 cloves. By the way, my dearest brother-in-law John, who just passed away, adored garlic. His wife didn't adore the fact that he loved garlic, but didn't fuss as long as he used Beano afterwards. This recipe is for John.
French Farmhouse Garlic Chicken
(Low Fat)
4 small skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
40 small cloves of garlic - if you unpeel them, they make a fabulous sauce. If you leave them in the skin, that is fine, but you will need to peel them to eat them when they are cooked.
1/2 c. mushrooms (optional)
1 c. chicken broth (you can sub 1/2 with white wine, if you like)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. corn starch
2 Tbsp. broth or wine
Pat chicken dry with kitchen paper. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and garlic cloves (and optional mushrooms). Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side or just until browned, turning once. Add 1 c. liquid, lemon juice, basil and oregano. Simmer, covered 6-8 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a warm serving platter. You have a couple of options now. If you peeled the garlic, you can mash them into the sauce. If you didn't peel them, remove them from the broth and peel them (just use a butter knife). Just put it back into the pan. Mix together the corn starch and 2 Tbsp. broth or wine and add to the pan juices. Bring the pan juices to a boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Spoon sauce atop chicken. Serve with mash potatoes, boiled potatoes, rice, pasta or my favorite, zucchini!
Enjoy! And offer up a prayer for my sister and her family. Thanks!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Poor Wayfaring Stranger
My brother-in-law passed away 51 days ago and I still cry about it. He was a beautiful man, father and husband. I met John in concert choir. He was my dance partner in several songs in Swing Choir. He was a Senior when I was a Sophomore and he made the transition from middle school to high school easier by befriending me. I introduced him to my older sister. They hit it off, got married and had five beautiful kids.
John was humble and giving. When asked how he was, he often replied, "Better than I deserve." We could all learn a little something from his humility. John's life wasn't about calling attention to himself or his accomplishments. It was about quietly doing what needed to be done, often secretly and humbly serving God, by serving others. Sometimes I just need a reminder of what life is REALLY about. It's not about what you have here, but your journey to heaven. I love this video. I hope you enjoy it, too.
John was humble and giving. When asked how he was, he often replied, "Better than I deserve." We could all learn a little something from his humility. John's life wasn't about calling attention to himself or his accomplishments. It was about quietly doing what needed to be done, often secretly and humbly serving God, by serving others. Sometimes I just need a reminder of what life is REALLY about. It's not about what you have here, but your journey to heaven. I love this video. I hope you enjoy it, too.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Happy Star Wars Day!
All my Catholic friends are posting about May and Mary. Thank you (all of you who do that!) We will be donning the blue tablecloth and crowning our Blessed Mother.
However, many people do not know it is Star Wars Day. Get it? May the Fourth? "May the Force be with you."
The phrase dates back to at least 1979, on the day Margaret Thatcher was elected Britain's first woman prime minster. Her party took out a newspaper ad in the London Evening News that said "May the Fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations."
Typicalfestivities consist of inviting fellow Star Wars-obsessed friends to stay over, and then watching the series in succession. Lots of snacks, bring lightsabers and Star Wars-themed toys. Lightsaber fights in the early morning hours optional.
We'll be having drinking blue milk and eating Princess Leia Buns for breakfast. Lunch will consist of Han-burgers and Tusken Raider Tators. We'll snack on Yoda Caramel Corn (yes, it's green.) Dinner will be Jango Fett-ucine with Jar-jar salad (made with ingredients that come from a jar like marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers) with Carbonite Jell-o for dessert (and yes, I'm putting an action figure in the Jell-o) or Wookie Cookies. Tough call, need to appeal to the masses, may just make both!
Have a space-cial day!
However, many people do not know it is Star Wars Day. Get it? May the Fourth? "May the Force be with you."
The phrase dates back to at least 1979, on the day Margaret Thatcher was elected Britain's first woman prime minster. Her party took out a newspaper ad in the London Evening News that said "May the Fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations."
Typical
We'll be having drinking blue milk and eating Princess Leia Buns for breakfast. Lunch will consist of Han-burgers and Tusken Raider Tators. We'll snack on Yoda Caramel Corn (yes, it's green.) Dinner will be Jango Fett-ucine with Jar-jar salad (made with ingredients that come from a jar like marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers) with Carbonite Jell-o for dessert (and yes, I'm putting an action figure in the Jell-o) or Wookie Cookies. Tough call, need to appeal to the masses, may just make both!
Have a space-cial day!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
For love, if real, has no end
Even though there were tornado warnings in the area on Sunday, there were probably 700 people that came to pay their respects to my sister and her children. On Monday, that number was probably 500. The entire church was full with folding chairs everywhere and an extra 100 or so outside in the vestibule (where the 700 stood to wait to talk to my sister.)
While I find comfort in the Requiem Mass, there was a "memorial service" to celebrate my brother-in-law's life. There were a few Bible verses read, some preaching from the two pastors at their church, beautiful music, recollections by family and friends (including my husband). It was a lovely way to remember him but for me, it still feels unfinished.
My take away is that God is Love and whether there was a "memorial service" or a Requiem Mass, the end result is the same. What my sister needed was the memorial service to say goodbye as did her kids. Her five kids and their exchange students all went up and read a letter they had written to their dad. They were followed by my sister. She didn't cry. She is a rock. She thanked everyone for everything...for coming to the service, the flowers, the food (that they have needed to move over to their neighbors because they are out of room) but most of all for the outpouring of love. She finished off with a song (that she spoke of, not sang) that we sang together at funerals. She and I were often called to sing at our small town parish for weekend Mass or other services.
While I find comfort in the Requiem Mass, there was a "memorial service" to celebrate my brother-in-law's life. There were a few Bible verses read, some preaching from the two pastors at their church, beautiful music, recollections by family and friends (including my husband). It was a lovely way to remember him but for me, it still feels unfinished.
My take away is that God is Love and whether there was a "memorial service" or a Requiem Mass, the end result is the same. What my sister needed was the memorial service to say goodbye as did her kids. Her five kids and their exchange students all went up and read a letter they had written to their dad. They were followed by my sister. She didn't cry. She is a rock. She thanked everyone for everything...for coming to the service, the flowers, the food (that they have needed to move over to their neighbors because they are out of room) but most of all for the outpouring of love. She finished off with a song (that she spoke of, not sang) that we sang together at funerals. She and I were often called to sing at our small town parish for weekend Mass or other services.
Like a Seal on Your Heart by Carey Landry
Based on the Song of Songs 8:6-7
Set me like a seal on your heart
Like a seal on your arm
Set me like a seal on your heart
How right it is to love you
1)For love is stronger that death
Stronger even than Hell.
The flash of it is a flash of fire
A flame of the Lord Himself.
2)Come, then, my love,
Come, my beloved.
Come, my beloved.
No flood can quench our love,
For love, if real, has no end.
Friday, April 8, 2011
In Loving Memory
I don't have time to post a photo that could do him justice. A picture would not be able to show how beautiful and amazing he was.
I'm sorry my blog has been rather sad lately. It's not about to end right now.
At 7:11 am Wednesday, I received a call from my older (only) sister. She was calling to tell me her 45 year old husband died at 2:45am. John has had Type 1 Diabetes for over 30 years. He's managed it magnificently with diet, exercise and diligence. My sister has always helped make sure all that was possible, supporting him in any way she could. So while he had an illness, it had never had the best of him.
John was a fabulous individual with the most incredible sense of humor. He and my sister were parents to five spectacular kids - a 17 year old daughter and four (yes, quadruplets) 14 year olds, two boys and two girls. I think that alone would qualify you for sainthood - raising quadruplets with a girl three years older.
I could gush about how John would drop everything if you needed help, or how he would drop a joke, just when it was needed or even how he could bake a pie better than anyone I know. That would not, could not tell you even a little bit about him. He was an amazing man...a marathon runner, church elder, gardener extraordinaire, a wonderful supporting husband and father. And still that doesn't touch the surface.
My blog will probably be quiet for quite a while as I help my sister through this, as much as she will let me. Please pray for the repose of John's soul and for my sister and her family.
UPDATED WITH PHOTO: John loved babies. Here he is, loving my two youngest boys.
We used to kid John that his lack of hair only made him look younger, not older.
I'm sorry my blog has been rather sad lately. It's not about to end right now.
At 7:11 am Wednesday, I received a call from my older (only) sister. She was calling to tell me her 45 year old husband died at 2:45am. John has had Type 1 Diabetes for over 30 years. He's managed it magnificently with diet, exercise and diligence. My sister has always helped make sure all that was possible, supporting him in any way she could. So while he had an illness, it had never had the best of him.
John was a fabulous individual with the most incredible sense of humor. He and my sister were parents to five spectacular kids - a 17 year old daughter and four (yes, quadruplets) 14 year olds, two boys and two girls. I think that alone would qualify you for sainthood - raising quadruplets with a girl three years older.
I could gush about how John would drop everything if you needed help, or how he would drop a joke, just when it was needed or even how he could bake a pie better than anyone I know. That would not, could not tell you even a little bit about him. He was an amazing man...a marathon runner, church elder, gardener extraordinaire, a wonderful supporting husband and father. And still that doesn't touch the surface.
My blog will probably be quiet for quite a while as I help my sister through this, as much as she will let me. Please pray for the repose of John's soul and for my sister and her family.
UPDATED WITH PHOTO: John loved babies. Here he is, loving my two youngest boys.
We used to kid John that his lack of hair only made him look younger, not older.
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