Lagniappe

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Leadership, Not Showmanship

All weekend all you've heard about is Perry and Bachman...we have another how many months to hear this...and my husband is going to watch Hannity and listen to him on the radio every single chance he can...

But the only three words that i remember from Thursday's debate are Santorum's "leadership, not showmanship"...

How many people running for office, running our schools and communities, or even running into the local Walmart are more interested in making appearances and gaining public favor/popularity than taking a firm stand between right and wrong?

Way back in the 1600's Williams Penn advised us to avoid popularity because it has many snares and no real benefit. We should remember that right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it and that the person who does good for good's sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but is sure of both in the end. Ever thought that right-wing conservatives might be called the "right" for a very good reason(?!)...

Peanut Butter Rolls

Peanut Butter Rolls
5-1/4C flour
1/4C sugar
2 envelopes yeast

1-1/2tsp salt
1-1/4C milk
1/4C water
1/2C peanut butter
1 egg
1/4C chopped peanuts---Combine 1-1/3C flour, sugar, yeast, salt.

---Heat milk, water, peanut butter to 130^o.
---Gradually add to flour mixture.
---Beat 2min at medium speed of electric mixer.
---Add egg, 1/2C flour.
---Beat 2min at high speed.
---Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.
---Knead on lightly floured surface 10min.
---Cover. Let rest 10min.
---Divide dough into 2 equal portions.
---Roll each half to 14 x 8-inch rectangle.
---Combine 2/3C peanut butter, 1/3C sugar, 2Tbsp butter, egg.
---Spread peanut butter filling on each rectangle.
---Roll up tightly from long side, pinching seam to seal.
---Cut into 8 equal pieces.
---Place, cut side up, in 2 greased 9" round pans.
---Cover. Let rise 45min.
---Bake at 375 for 25min.
---Remove from pans.
---Cool on wire racks.
---Melt 2oz semi-sweet chocolate,1Tbsp butter. Stir until smooth.
---Drizzle over rolls.
---Sprinkle with chopped peanuts

Thursday, August 11, 2011

"My Quilt"

Started sorting through piles of fabric and WIP's today...determined to finish them between the first day of school and Christmas when I was reminded of this story that someone shared at Quilter's Guild in DeRidder...Remember this, Cynthia(?!)...

"My Quilt"

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment,
I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives,
like the squares of a quilt, in many piles.

An Angel sat before each of us
sewing our quilt squares together
into a tapestry that is our life.

But my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile,
I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.
They were filled with giant holes.

Each square was labeled
with a part of my life that had been difficult,

the challenges and temptations
I was faced with in everyday life.

I saw hardships that I endured,
which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me.

Nobody else had such squares.

Other than a tiny hole here and there,

the other tapestries were filled
with rich color
and the bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life
and was disheartened.

My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together,
threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed,
held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.

The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.

So filled their lives has been.

My Angel looked upon me,
and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.

I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes…

I had love in my life,
and laughter.

But there had also been
trials of illness,
and death,
and false accusations

that took from me my world,
as I knew it.

I had to start over many times,

I often struggled with the temptation to quit,

only to somehow muster
the strength to pick up and begin again.

I spent many nights on my knees in prayer,

asking for help and guidance in my life.

I had often been held up to ridicule,

which I endured painfully,

each time offering it up to the Father

in hopes that I would not melt
within my skin

beneath the judgmental gaze
of those who unfairly judged me.

Now I had to face the truth.

My life was what it was,

and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted
the combined squares of my life to the light.

Gasps filled the air.

I gazed around at the others
who stared at me with wide eyes.

When I looked upon the tapestry before me.

Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image,

the face of Christ.

Then our Lord stood before me,

with warmth and love in His eyes.

He said,

“Every time you gave over your life to me,

it became my life,
my hardships,
and my struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you

stepped aside
and let me shine through,

until there was more of me
than there was of you.”

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Buttermilk Bread

Buttermilk Bread
(Makes 2 loaves)

6-1/2C flour
3Tbsp sugar
2 envelopes yeast
2-1/2 tsp salt
1/4tsp baking soda
1C buttermilk
1C water
1/3C butter

---Combine 3C flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, salt, baking soda.
---Heat buttermilk, water, butter to 130°F.
---Stir into flour mixture.
---Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough.
---Knead on lightly floured surface 8min.
---Cover. Let rest on floured surface 10min.
---Divide dough in half. Roll each half to 12x7 inch rectangle.
---Roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seams and ends to seal.
---Place, seam sides down, in 2 greased loaf pans.
---Cover. Let rise in warm, draft-free place 45min.
---Bake at 375 for 35min.
---Remove from pans. Let cool on wire racks.

Fats Waller

Sometimes I think that I was born in the wrong decade...I should have been a flapper or lived in any era before World War 2...call me old-fashioned---because I am...the biggest compliment anyone can tell me when they visit my home is that "my grandmother used to have this..." or "this reminds me of back when..."

One thing that I really like is big band music---especially piano music by such pianists as Fats Waller and Art Tatum...so the first thing that I want to share today is this video...