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The Welcome Home - Good Things & Recipes Letter
March 20, 2004
The aged women
likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false
accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.
Titus2.3
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Hello Sisters---
I trust that you are doing well, working away in your homes! I have been
reading over some of my papers and lists and have been considering our
home schedules, routines, plans, etc. Maybe you do this sort of
reevaluating from time to time---as we go through different seasons or
ages and activities with our children or in our homes, it's necessary to
re-group from time to time, to re-think what we're doing and why.
Sometimes we get so accustomed to a routine that we forget why we ever
started doing things a particular way and realize that the routine is no
longer very efficient. Perhaps just parts of your routine are not very
efficient and so you need to make adjustments. I'm sure learning to go
ahead and make changes---life's to short (or too long!) to stay in one
particular routine just because it's the way you've always done things!
A keeper at home looks well to the ways of her household. We cannot know
the ways of our homes if we're not being attentive to our homes, our
children, our schedules, etc. Lets strive to be women who seek to obey,
who seek to keep our arms strong for the task, who seek to be available:
that our candles goeth not out by night!
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If you have Shonda Parker's
Naturally Healthy Pregnancy and/or Mommy Diagnostics, be sure and hang
on to your copy(ies) or at least try to remember who you loan it/them
to! These *must have* books are invaluable resources that are no longer
in print and are difficult to find!!
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A Baker's Dozen Reasons to Keep Baby Wipes On Hand
1. Baby bottoms! (Surprise---you thought I'd forget that
one!?)
2. In the car/truck/van for wiping children's hands and
faces
3. Car interior clean-up, steering wheel, dashboard,
console, etc.
4. To clean your hands after pumping gas, shopping, etc.
5. In the bathroom for quick clean-ups
6. In place of toilet paper
7. Use to soothe hemorrhoids or for after birthing
8. For quick household dusting
9. Blot up and clean spills from carpet
10. Handy damp napkins at the park
11. Wipe shoes & purses clean
12. The empty containers are great for cards, craft supplies, pens and
pencils,
crayons, sewing supplies, pictures, game pieces,
recipes, seed packets,
magnetic letters, jewelry, hair clips, barrettes,
bands, etc.
13. Memories... sweet memories!
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We're always looking for ways to add more vegetables to our diet! One we
really go for and have been enjoying is lots of broccoli! We like it
with dip or as a salad or steamed. Last week, for a vegetable side dish,
I tried to come up with a "Greek dish" to compliment the Spanakopita
(Greek spinach pie)
"Greek Tomatoes"
Slice several tomatoes and sprinkle generously with minced garlic, dried
mint (about a tablespoon) then sprinkle with salt and pepper (I like to
use garlic & parsley salt), olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) and juice of
a lemon. Turn the tomatoes to coat well. Then layer tomatoes & basil
leaves over the slices and then sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and feta
cheese then, layer again sprinkling the feta cheese and pine nuts over
all. (This is about 1 1/2 cups of feta and about a cup of toasted pine
nuts)
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Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)
2 lbs. fresh spinach leaves
1 Tblsp Dill weed (1/4 cup fresh dill chopped)
4 cups finely chopped green onions
1 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/5 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
2 Cups feta cheese, crumbled
5 eggs beaten
1 lb. filo leaves (These are sold frozen, so plan for thawing
thoroughly!)
3/4 cup clarified butter (ghee), melted.
1) Wash the spinach well, cut off and discard the stems. Chop the
leaves.
2) Combine the spinach, dill, and sea salt.
3) Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and sauté the chopped onions
until soft. Add the spinach mixture (from step 2) and sauté for a few
more minutes. When all the spinach is cooked, remove from pan and let
sit in colander to cool and drain---drain thoroughly.
4)Meanwhile, prepare the pan by layering filo leaves brushed with butter
for eight layers---Keeping the filo dough covered with a slightly damp
cloth at all times except when you are lifting one sheet for layering
and brushing with butter.
5) Mix the eggs, Feta , pepper and spinach mixture together until well
combined. Place this mixture into the filo prepared pan and spread
evenly.
6) Then over the top of the spinach mixture, repeat the layering of filo
leaves brushed with butter for eight or ten more layers, brushing each
evenly with butter.
7) With a sharp knife, cut through the top layers of filo but not
through the bottom. Make long parallel cuts an inch apart, and then cut
at angles an inch apart the other way---you'll end up with diamond
shapes.
8) Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.
Remove from oven, let cool for several minutes and then cut through and
serve!
(If you make "Better Butter" you can use this to brush the filo and it
will work just as well)
BETTER BUTTER is a blend 1/2 butter and 1/2 olive or canola oil. I like
to whip this in the mixer and keep in a plastic or glass container in
the fridge.
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***The Cook’s Book shelf***
Better Homes and Gardens - Old Fashioned Home Baking
This book is an excellent book, especially for those with some cooking
experience but desiring to learn more baking techniques and skills.
Great Cookies by Carol Walter
Are you reticent to make a recipe you’ve never seen or do you always
wonder if the cookies turn out like they’re supposed to? Well, Kathryn
checked out this book from the Library and it has the most beautiful
Cookies throughout the book! Almost every recipe has a corresponding
picture for the finished product and many baker’s secrets and picture
sequences so you’ll know the preparation process as well as the finished
cookie.
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This is from Betty Crocker Cookie Book (2003) pg. 37
Soft Molasses Cookies
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup butter or margarine, softened (we use butter)
1/2 Cup Shortening
3/4 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup light or dark Molasses
1 Egg
3 Cups all-purpose Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon ground Ginger
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Sugar if desired
Heat oven to 375. Beat 1 cup sugar, the butter, shortening, sour cream,
molasses and egg in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or
mix with spoon. Stir in ingredients except sugar.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased
cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes or until almost no indentation remains
when touched in center. Cool 1 to 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to
wire rack. ***Sprinkle sugar over cookies while still warm.
***[Kathryn made a thin eggwhite/powdered sugar/lemon glaze for these
instead of sprinkling with sugar] Yield: About 4 dozen
cookies
Spray the measuring cup with pan spray before measuring the molasses and
the molasses will slip right out of the cup!
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Remember: Bible Memory verses---these will help you keep your thoughts
right as you work in your home! As you go through the day meditating on
God's Word, you will be less apt to lean on your own understanding!!
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Titus 2 says we are to be teachers of “good things” so that’s the
purpose of these "Good Things & Recipes" letters and of The Welcome Home
letters, too.
Blessings! Eat well, Sleep well, drink lots of water and enjoy your
season!!
With love and prayers for your health and strength-------pamela spurling
http://www.achristianhome.com
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