Bone Broth

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Last week I attempted my first bone broth using neck bones. It was very unsuccessful and I boiled the bones from thursday night to monday day off and on. I even switched to a crock pot in desperation. photobone broth

The broth was delicious, but the bones never softened.

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Today I’m trying knuckle bones on the advice of the HEB butcher.

Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 40 minutes. Place into a large pan of water, add 1/4 c of apple cider vinegar, and simmer for 8 hours. I’m not sure I will be able to hang out till midnight, but I’m going to give it a shot.

The best part of this cooking adventure was to hear my husband say, “Making bone broth?…I feel like I’m married to a french chef”.

Squirrels

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My backyard in Texas is a wonderland for two particularly playful squirrels that cause us to laugh hysterically from time to time.

The male squirrel is all guy, and you can tell that spring is in full bloom where he as day after day he seeks to swoon his lady, putting on his best little Fred Astaire dance for Little Miss Lady, the Ginger Rodgers of the backyard ballroom.

Forget Dancing With The Stars, we have Dancing photoWith The Squirrels, only their’s is a three-dimensional dance floor that extends into the trees and from roof top to roof top.

Fred lays around all day on our oak tree as if depressed, his arms and legs dangle from the branches of his perch unless he gets hungry, at which point he gets off his wooden couch at goes foraging for something to eat (Ladies know what I’m talking about).

Its funny, when his lady friend shows up its as if someone cued the lights and said “action!” Then, wow, what a performance: leaping and chirping loudly at our dog Daisy from his tree perch as if saying “beat it dog, my lady just arrived.” On one particular day he stood up on two legs and began to shake his booty from side to side, tail flickering in the wind and swaying from side to side.

I could almost hear Luther Vandrose and Lou Rawls singing backup for the little guy. It didn’t take a squirrel expert to help me realize that romance was in the air. Our ill informed desert dog Daisy, who never saw a squirrel until our recent move, has no idea what to think, nor did she care, Fred and Ginger were about ready to start dancing…

Loquat Salad

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photo (93)My neighbor Clara sent an email to everyone to bring baskets and pick loquats.  I was not sure what to expect, but found this newfound fruit spectacularly juicy with the consistency of a plum. As it turns out, logquats are also called Japanese Plum.  We chatted while we picked,  and she shared stories from her childhood. and how her mother came to visit, bringing with her one seed from an old neighbor’s loquat tree.  Clara planted the seed and our whole neighborhood is enjoying the fruit from the tree.

 May we be kind and generous with what the Lord has shared with us!   

A perfect salad for a graduation party with Japanese lanterns!

20 loquats peeled and pitted

1 c cooked Quinoa

Juice of 6 limes

1 shaved carrot

1 chopped tomato

1 chopped red pepper                                       photo (94)

1 chopped orange pepper

1 chopped green pepper

Handful of spinach!!!

Sugar Snap Peas

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Sugar Snap Peas are a lovely addition to your garden and grow about 3 feet tall.photo (92)

Plant your seeds in the spring and in two months you will have delicious farm to table in 30 seconds as you walk your crop from the back yard.
The recipe is very simple. Snap off one end of the pea, toss in boiling water till it turns bright green and serve. This only takes 5-10 seconds so stay close and be attentive to your peas and q’s!

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Words That Heal – Part 5

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Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise in later life. Proverbs 19 v.20 HCSB

Providing expectations for your children and young adults that live in your home is tiring.

ITC – exhausting.

Is it worth it!

Margaret Thatcher  left a powerful legacy for young men and women throughout the world.

In the movie the Iron Lady,  Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher remembers

her father provided clear instructions for her as she was growing up.

He did not leave her in the dark on his expectations.

Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become habits. Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.

Words wound when accusations are laid out. Words cut when punishment arrives in a  harsh sarcastic tone.

Instruction must heal and encourage.   Occasionally our children may come to us for advice. Hold your thought before answering and see what Gods Word says. When the answer is not present in scripture, pray and wait with them.

Watch as God reveals His good and wonderful things to your children.

NOTE – The Term ITC comes from Barbara Tompkins who has taught”The Moms Class” in Tucson,  Arizona for the past 31 years.

Words That Heal – Part 4

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Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and whan you get up.  Deuteronomy 6:7 NIVUK

On Good Friday we visited the Blanton Museum at the University of Texas with our daughter and a friend.
We have visited almost all the museums in Austin, and the expression – save the best for last – certainly fit here.
As our daughter grew we would always give her a clipboard with paper and pencil and eventually a sketch book. We pushed her in her stroller even as she was far too old and would visit for just as long as her interest held and left, making it a special memorable visit. Sometimes we would stay for an hour, but not much longer.
Museums give a great reference to see larger than life examples of Bible greats of the faith.
We were walking by the head of Goliath held by David and we overheard a little boy gasp in awe.

“What is that Mom?”
She and the grandmother dismissed him. “It’s just a myth”
Todd and I saw them walk away and everything in us wanted to shout “its true! ”
God can step in the most challenging situations and give His strength and His power. David was just a boy when He slayed Goliath with a stone.photo (83) I will never forget that young man and I’m praying for people around him to speak truth into his life.
Never underestimate the hope you can share as you are interacting with your child, their friends, a neighborhood friend just as you walk along.
Gods Word heals, gives strength, imparts hope, it saves, it gives wisdom. Those are just a few that come to mind.
You are special to me. You are a child of the Most High God.

Gluten Free Tabbouleh with Mango

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Prep time 15 -20 minutes

1 cup quinoa rinsed and drained and cooked

1/4 c HEB Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Juice of 6 Key Limes

1 c chopped fresh parsley                                   photo (61)

1/2 ts. salt

1 c of cucumber …diced

1/4 c diced red pepper

1 small diced Vidalia onion

1 c chopped cherry tomatoes

1/2 c chopped mango

Perfect company dish you can prepare the day before.  Great side dish with salmon or lamb. Excellent picnic dish.

PS I was not sure if this would turn out.  I wanted to serve it for Easter, and skip the bulgur wheat to help out all my gluten-free guests. They loved it!

Lamb

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Today is a perfect day to buy lamb. A leg of lamb will cost between $50.00 and $75.00 and  the monday after Easter is a great day to pick one up on sale for your freezer. Serve it anytime. We enjoy Lamb for holidays, and yesterday it was a big crowd pleaser for our dinner guests.

Rub lamb with kosher salt, olive oil and coat with minced garlic.photo (59)

The next layer is mint. Completely coat over the garlic with mint. A jar of dried mint will do if fresh is not available.photo (60)

Place lamb on a roasting rack in the oven at 425 degrees , reduce heat to 325 and continue to cook till internal temp is around 165-175 degrees.Lamb

Serve garnished with rosemary or mint sprigs.