Archive for the ‘Thursday Thirteen’ Category

Thursday Thirteen and Thankful Thursday

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

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Thirteen Things for Which I’m Thankful Today:

  1. I arrived home safely this evening from the city, driving in the dark, in the thick fog.
  2. My son-in-law brought in some delicious pizzas so I wouldn’t have to cook dinner after being out.


  1. Daughter #1 did the laundry.
  2. I found a couple awesome gifts this evening for daughter #5, who turns 17 in a few days.
  3. I’m thankful for Costco apple pie. Yum! That was dessert this evening.


  1. The music of Deuter, to which I’m listening just now on Pandora, is relaxing and uplifting.
  2. I feel better this evening, after awakening dizzy (ditzy?).
  3. I’m thankful to have our two grandbabies (and their parents) staying with us while they look for a more permanent residence. Tomorrow may be the day!
  4. The music of Paul Cardall is a blessing. He has a most inspiring life story, and his music is gentle and healing.
  5. I’m thankful that all these years my husband has borne with my faults, and I with his, and that we both want to do what pleases the Lord, though ‘in many things we offend.’ Yep; we love one another. We’re at our computers in the same room, back to back, talking about this and that every once in a while. I guess that’s what brought this blessing to mind.
  6. I’m thankful for daughter #4, who cheerfully lives her life with a major disability.
  7. I’m thankful for good medical coverage to pay for her expensive medications. I’m reminded of this because I picked up about $1,200 worth of meds today.

 


  1. I’m thankful to be able to stay in touch with friends so easily via the internet. That means you!


Thursday Thirteen

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

Thirteen things I’ve done today:

  1. Slept in. I didn’t have to get up early this morning, since school was canceled (SNOW DAY!).
  2. Was served a pancake breakfast by my 12-year old son. Thank you, Dearie.
  3. Made coffee about four times. What can I say? The only non-coffee drinkers in our home are the grandchildren, ages 2 and 6 months.
  4. Baked two loaves of Dutch Apple Bread.
  5. Am in the process of making four loaves of Honey Whole Wheat Bread.
  6. Got CAUGHT UP on laundry. With eleven people in our home, that doesn’t happen too often.
  7. Kept the kitchen neat (over and over).
  8. Watched the juncos eat birdseed outside the study window. Uber cuteness.
  9. Neatened up the mucky boot/shoe area in the laundry room.
  10. Did a Thankful Thursday blog post.
  11. Watered houseplants. They sure dry out quickly during these wood stove days.
  12. Checked my email.
  13. Read quite a few blogs using Google Reader.

A Vintage Fruitcake with 13 Ingredients – Thursday 13

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

GRAMMA’S PLAIN LIGHT FRUITCAKE (This recipe is from The Gift-Giver’s Cookbook by Jane Green and Judith Choate, 1971)

Preheat oven to:        300 degrees

Utensils needed:        3 8-inch loaf pans, foil-lined

Baking time:            2 to 2 ½ hours

1 cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

2/3 cup white corn syrup

4 egg yolks

1 teaspoon soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 ½ pounds currants

1 pound pitted dates

1 pound dark seedless raisins

2 cups chopped walnuts

4 ½ cups sifted flour

2 Tablespoons freshly ground cinnamon

4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Cream the butter and sugar until light-yellow and fluffy. Add the syrup and egg yolks and beat well. Add the soda to the sour milk, stir well and pour into the creamed mixture. Stir in all fruits and nuts.

Sift one half of the flour, together with the cinnamon, into the creamed mixture. Mix with your hands and continue adding flour until you have achieved a soft batter.

Stiffly beat the egg whites and fold into the batter. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake at 300 degrees for approximately 2 hours, or until edges pull away from sides of pan.

Remove from pans and cool on wire racks. If stored over one month, moisten from time to time with brandy.

Post YOUR Thursday Thirteen and get the code here!

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A You-Centric Thursday Thirteen

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

This list of questions for Thursday 13
was compiled by Maggie of Maggie’s Mind, Piece by Peace.

A You-Centric Thursday Thirteen

  1. For what are you most grateful?

I am most thankful for peace with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

  1. Do you like turkey?

Not as much as I like chicken, beef, fish or ham.

  1. How many pets do you have?

One old doggie, three cats, and one fish.

  1. Have you ever eaten McD’s twice or three times in one day?

Possibly. When we travel, we sometimes eat at McDonald’s for breakfast. It’s possible that further on the way we stopped for lunch, too, though I can’t exactly remember.

  1. What languages do you speak (yes, language of L-O-V-E counts)?

I speak English, and a few words of Spanish and German. We are good at doing double-talk in our home. Maybe I’ll blog about it sometime.

  1. Do you talk to yourself, as in out loud?

But, of course, my dear Watson. How else am I supposed to put the proper ingredients in whatever I’m cooking? Or keep track of how many cups of flour I’ve put in the bread dough so far?

  1. What is your favorite scent?

For perfume, Green Tea. For nature, the scent of imminent rain, in the desert.

  1. What musical instrument can you play?

French horn, flute, soprano recorder, and acoustic guitar, but none of them very well.

  1. Can you juggle? (if so, skillfully enough for knives?) No and NO.
  2. Where do you call “home”?

The lovely Pacific Northwest, Washington State.

  1. Are you the popular one with a bucket load of casual friends or a quieter one with a handful of super close friends?

I love many people, and am friendly, but am a quiet person.

  1. Has 2007 er, 2008, so far been a good year, a bad year or a mixed/undetermined quite yet kind of year?

This has been a good year of enjoying my family, appreciating my church, and being challenged by the learning needs of students at school.

  1. Anything else you just want to answer that I didn’t think to ask?

I just want to say, Maggie, that this is a very clever idea for a Thursday 13!

Thankful Thursday and Thursday Thirteen

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Thankful Thursdayis hosted by Iris at Grace Alone . I’m listing 13 things for which I am thankful, so that I can participate in Thursday Thirteen also. Bear with me if I’ve said I was thankful for some of these things before, because I’m still thankful for them!

  1. I’m thankful for another day to be alive, that I might be helpful to others and enjoy them.
  2. Not only am I alive, I’m well. I’m surely thankful for that!


  3. I’m thankful for sufficient food and clothing for our family.
  4. I’m thankful that, even in these trying economic times, my husband has sufficient house design work.
  5. I’m thankful that we have the freedom (and responsibility) in this country to elect some of our officials, and to effect change peaceably (within the framework of our constitution).


  6. I’m thankful for love among our family members.


  7. I’m thankful for the faithful preaching of God’s Word, and for a loving church community.
  8. I’m thankful for a dedicated school district, with teachers and administrators doing the best they can, on a limited budget, for the students.


  9. I am thankful for reconciliation with God through the mediation of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
  10. I’m thankful that this short life isn’t ‘all there is.’


  11. I’m thankful for intelligence and a healthy mind.


  12. I’m thankful for an abundance of good books to read.
  13. I’m thankful for a great part-time job, the talented teachers whom I assist, the students with whom I work, and the insurance benefits that I receive for our family.


Thirteen things I enjoy about being a mom

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Thirteen things I enjoy about being a mom:

  1. During the time when I was expecting the baby (I had nine babies, in case you want to know), I did all the usual things to benefit my unborn child such as eating healthfully, getting enough exercise, and thinking calm thoughts. I prayed for my baby. And – I wondered: Who are you? What kind of person will you be? So, one of my favorite things was meeting my baby as soon as the baby was born.


  1. Back in ‘the baby days’, I enjoyed nursing my babies. Not only was it nutritionally good for them, I think it was emotionally a good bonding thing to be held close and snuggly.
  2. I enjoyed helping my children learn how to behave in various settings, and how to obey cheerfully without an ongoing conflict of wills.
  3. I enjoyed setting up a rich learning environment for the children. We had lots of art supplies, books, dress-up clothes, board games, etc.


  1. I enjoyed noticing the particular talents of each child, and providing opportunities for the development of those talents.
  2. I enjoy seeing the children take responsibility for their own learning, and developing their particular talents.
  3. I enjoyed reading to my children, even for a couple hours at a time if they were really into the book we were reading. (This is something I really miss; now everyone reads his or her own book.)


  1. I enjoy preparing nutritious food for the children.
  2. I also enjoy seeing the children successfully fend for themselves in the kitchen now that they are older. I especially like seeing them make treats for one another, such as smoothies and pancakes.


  1. I enjoy playing games with my children, though this doesn’t happen too often during the busy soccer, track, or basketball seasons.
  2. I enjoy conversing with my children.
  3. I enjoy learning from my children. I called my oldest son for political advice recently, for example. He often fixes bloggy problems for me as well.
  4. I enjoy going out for coffee, shopping, to the library, or whatever, with my children. They are great folks, and I love being with them.

13 Things to Get Done Around the House

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

We have been living in our house for almost 20 years now. Over the course of that much time, it is easy to become used to clutter creeping in and staying. It’s also easy (for me, at least) to become so busy with the duties of the here and now that I don’t really take the time for deep cleaning. Here, for Thursday 13, are thirteen things I want to get done around the house:

  1. Recycle all magazines except perhaps the ones with lots of recipes in them.
  2. Take all the books off the shelves, dust them, and give away the ones we aren’t likely to read or lend out.


  1. I MUST make or purchase new curtains! Though I don’t have the time, I really want to sew them myself. We have simple tab top curtains that I love, but they are truly worn out.
  2. Take an honest look at everything in the closets, then give away/throw away items as needed.


  1. Take everything out of the kitchen and laundry room cupboards and drawers, wipe them down, and replace the usable items neatly. (Have you guessed yet that having an orderly environment helps me feel relaxed and happy?)
  2. Repot all my houseplants. Growth is slowing down for them, so this is an opportune time for that as well.


  1. Ask my husband to replace the windows that are damaged. The stained glass in the front door is damaged as well (Think: Lawn mower hits rock. Rock goes flying. Window is not quite the same afterward. This is why we don’t walk around outside while the lawn is being mowed!)
  2. Hmmm . . . I thought of another one for my husband, since I haven’t learned how to do this: Replace weather stripping around the doors. We get a powerful northeast wind here in the winter, so we have learned the value of weather stripping!
  3. Scrub the tile floors, including the grout. The Swiffer Wet Jet is great for keeping it looking good, but I want to clean it thoroughly.


  1. Dust all the ‘up high’ places I usually don’t look. We have log beams in the house. They give a really ‘homey’ look, and also collect dust!


  1. OK. I just thought of another one for my husband. (Wonder if he will read this post?) He has torn the carpet out of most of the house, after we learned that one of our daughters has a serious dust allergy. The carpet in our youngest son’s bedroom and in our bedroom still needs to be torn out, and glueless laminate installed. I’m not nagging, honestly. I know what a big, sweaty process this is. I’m just including it on the list for good measure.
  2. Get rid of any and all knick knacks that I don’t absolutely love. Down on dust collectors!
  3. Clean and polish all ‘supposed-to-be-shiny’ surfaces in the house such as windows, mirrors, French door panel panes, light fixtures, etc.

 

There. That should keep me out of trouble for a while. My husband, should he choose to accept this mission, will also be busy (busier than me, actually). It’s convenient that soccer season just ended. Maybe two of my daughters can be busy with me, too.


Thirteen Recipes I haven’t prepared in a long time, revisited

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

(This logo was designed by Hootin’ Anni.)

What a busy gal I’ve been this week. I suppose that shows in my blog, since my last post was done on Monday.

I missed Ten on Tuesday, with the great prompt, “What are ten of the best meals you’ve had?” I missed Three Word Wednesday. I didn’t even get to check what those prompts were. Now it’s Thursday 13 time, and I’m debating whether or not to do that meme. I contemplated submitting another recipe with thirteen ingredients, but that’s kinda funky. Then I thought I’d borrow the Ten on Tuesday idea by listing thirteen favorite family meals. That seemed a bit cumbersome, since I would want to include the recipes then. That’s just too big of a post.

OK. Got it.

Thirteen Recipes I haven’t prepared in a long time, but am going to prepare again:

  • High Protein Pancakes or Waffles (from the More With Less Cookbook)

    1 cup cream-style cottage cheese

    4 eggs

    ½ cup flour

    ¼ teaspoon salt

    ¼ cup vegetable oil

    ½ cup milk

    ½ teaspoon vanilla

    Whirl at high speed in blender for one minute. Bake on lightly greased griddle or waffle iron. Serves 3 as a main dish.

  • Baked beans from scratch (soaking the dried beans before cooking, etc.)
  • Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
  • Corn Bread Dressing (from the More With Less Cookbook)

    Combine in large bowl:

        4 cups corn bread, crumbled

        1 ¾ cup croutons

    Melt in skillet:

        ¼ cup butter

    Add:

        4 stalks celery, sliced

        1 large onion, chopped

        1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

        1 teaspoon celery seed

        2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

        Salt and pepper

    Sauté until tender and add to bread mixture.

    Brown in skillet:

        3 ounces pork sausage

    Add to bread mixture along with 1 cup chicken broth. Combine and turn into greased casserole. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

  • Rice Pudding
  • Bread Pudding
  • Refrigerator Bran Muffins (from Set for Life cook book)

    1 cup hot water

    3 cups 100% bran cereal

    1 cup chopped dates or raisins

    1/3 to ½ cup vegetable oil

    2 eggs

    ½ cup sugar or honey

    2 cups buttermilk or nonfat yogurt

    2 ½ cups freshly ground whole wheat flour

    2 teaspoons baking soda

    ¾ to 1 teaspoon salt

    Pour hot water over cereal and dates in large bowl. Let stand while preparing other ingredients. In blender, combine oil, eggs, honey, and buttermilk. Pour into the bran mixture, and mix together. Combine flour, soda, and salt. Add to bran mixture, mixing just long enough to blend ingredients. Do not stir batter again. Drop by tablespoonfuls into nonstick muffin pans, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. Yield: 3 dozen muffins.

  • Mexi-Corn Zucchini (from Set for Life cook book)

    ½ pound lean ground beef

    1 medium onion, chopped

    ½ green pepper, chopped

    3 cups sliced zucchini, ½ inch thick

    1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

    2 to 3 fresh tomatoes, chopped

    1 to 2 cups whole-kernel corn

    ½ teaspoon salt

    1 teaspoon mild chili powder

    Brown ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Drain well. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Cook: 20 minutes Yield: 4 to 6 servings

  • Fruit Smoothie (from Set for Life cook book)

    2 cups pineapple or orange juice

    1 apple, cored and sliced

    1 orange, peeled and sectioned

    2 bananas

    1 cup fresh or canned fruit, drained

    Ice cubes

    Place juice in blender. Add fruits and blend well. Drop in ice cubes one at a time until beverage reaches desired consistency. Frozen bananas, broken into small pieces, may be used to thicken beverage. Add more juice if desired. Yield: 6 servings

  • Scones
  • Dumplings (on top of stew or hearty soups)
  • Chicken Jambalaya
  • Hot German Potato Salad

 



 

Thursday 13 – Chicken Curry with 13 ingredients

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

For this week’s Thursday 13, I’m presenting you with a recipe from one of my favorite cook books, The Warehouse Gourmet by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik. This excellent cook book is available at www.warehousegourmet.com.

Ingredients:

1 tray (about 6 pounds) boneless, skinless chicken half-breasts

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

2 cups (2 medium) chopped onion

¼ cup curry powder

2 Tablespoons minced ginger

2 Tablespoons minced garlic

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 Tablespoons chicken bouillon granules

1 Tablespoon salt

1 cup flour

4 cups water

4 cups milk

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

3 one-gallon freezer bags, labeled

Rinse and trim chicken breasts as desired. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Remove from heat and cool. Divide cooled chicken evenly among freezer bags.

Meanwhile, in a separate large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion in the butter until it is soft. Add curry powder, minced ginger, minced garlic, sugar, chicken bouillon granules and salt; cook and stir for two minutes. Add flour; cook and stir two minutes more. Mixture will be like a paste. Gradually add the water and milk; cook, stirring constantly until the sauce has thickened. Whisk to make a smooth sauce. Add lemon juice only after sauce has thickened. Cool sauce.

Divide cooled sauce evenly over the chicken. Seal and freeze.

Makes 3 entrees, 4 to 6 servings each.

To cook one entrée:

Completely thaw one entrée in the refrigerator. In a large skillet over medium heat, bring the chicken and curry sauce to a simmer. Do not boil.

The cook book authors recommend that you serve this curry over rice, and provide toppings to sprinkle over the curry, such as toasted almonds, fresh apple pieces, pineapple tidbits, raisins, dried cranberries, chopped green onion, chutney and/or sweet chili sauce.

Double Thursday 13 – A to Z Meme

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

Today for Thursday 13, I’m doing the A to Z Meme
which I saw over at my friend Storyteller’s Small Reflections blog a while back. I guess you could call this Thursday 13 times 2. If you play, too, will you please let me know so I can visit you to see your answers?

Attached or single? I am attached, having been married to my dear husband for 26 years.

Best Friend? My husband is my best friend. At this season in my life I am also thankful for many dear friends, both in the real and virtual world. Just had to say.

Cake or Pie?
Any apple dessert: apple crisp, apple pie, fresh apple cake, apple dumplings, baked apples, apfel streudel.

Day of Choice? The Lord’s Day, Sunday, when I have the privilege of hearing God’s Word expounded, and enjoy fellowship with the saints.

Essential Item? Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss

Flavor of ice cream? Vanilla with chocolate syrup, or better yet with hot fudge sauce!

Gummy Bears or Worms? Neither, thank you. No jelly beans (near relatives of the disliked bears and worms) either

Hometown? Originally I’m a desert girl, from Phoenix, Arizona, but have called the lovely Pacific Northwest home for far more years

Indulgences? One piece of good chocolate daily

January or July? I can’t really decide. Cozy inside times when it’s blustery outside, and leisurely, sun-filled days are both the best

Kids? Nine children, three sons and six daughters. Life is quiet now, with only four still young enough to live at home.

Last Movie I saw in a Theatre? Wall-e. I loved it. I cried. There are deep truths hidden in that animated film.

Middle Name? Marie, after my paternal grandmother, Florence Marie

Number of Siblings? Three brothers and one sister. I am an oldest child.

Oranges or Apples? Apples, of course (see previous pie/cake question)

Phobia or Fear? Fear of heights

Quote? 1 Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter in the Bible. I need frequent reminders of what love thinks, says and does, so refer to this often.

Reason to Smile? I am privileged to see our two grandchildren more often now that our daughter and son-in-law have moved to town!

Season? Autumn. Search “autumn” or “fall” on my blog. You may find a few posts.

Tag five more…. Please feel free to play, and let me know you have played, so I can visit your blog!

Unknown fact about me? I spent my days backpacking and sewing embroidered peasant blouses during the time one would usually go to college.

Vegetarian? Once upon a time, but wasn’t wise about it, so suffered some nutritional deficiencies. I am currently an omnivore, thankful for sufficient food for nourishment and enjoyment.

Xrays or Ultrasound? Both useful, for various things; have had both, accompanied with excellent medical care.

Your favorite food? Freshly baked Honey Whole Wheat Bread with a bit of butter. Search my blog and you’ll find the recipe, if you’re interested.

Zodiac? Not something I follow

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