Book Review: The Divine Proverb of Streusel

With Sara Brunsvold's author talk looming, I had only a few days to tackle her second novel, The Divine Proverb of Streusel. Not a problem! I sped through. I enjoyed this one even more than her first novel. Perhaps it was the personal connections I felt. 

I love to say, "I was born in the state of misery." It gives me a good chuckle and others an eye roll. This book takes place in Missouri and the main character explores her German heritage. My maternal grandmother came from Germany to the United States as a child. She lived and raised my mother in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Much like the character in the book, I didn't have an extensive relationship with my grandmother. We saw her once or twice a year. Those visits were brief. I don't remember my grandmother speaking German, although my mother dabbled in it a bit. She'd say things like "Ach, du lieber ganzen" (oh, you lovely goose!) or she'd sing "Mein hut er hat drei ecken" (My hat, it has 3 corners). Here's a 20 second video of the song. I spoke of this in my book review for another intergenerational German tale, Send for Me.

I don't remember my grandmother's cooking. But I do remember asking my mother for her family recipe for banana pancakes. She explained that when she got married, her mother gave her a file box full of recipes (did she cook side-by-side with my mother to teach her the steps? I don't know). Grandma included 5 typewritten sheets listing the recipes in alphabetical order with the code numbers that appeared in the top right corner of each 3x5 card. The banana pancake recipe card was A12. 

My mother warned that the batter is thin, which is what makes them light and fluffy. Horrible cook that I am, I failed at it miserably. Perhaps, like the character in Brunsvold's book, I struggled because it was a recipe without specific steps or explanations. I wrote to my mom because the recipe was confusing, calling for two separate installments of milk:

"1 egg, 1/2 C milk, 1-1/4 C flour, 1 C milk, dash salt, 3-4 bananas, Is that correct? Do you mix the first three ingredients and then seriously add even more milk? I'm guessing this would be like frying up something with the consistency of orange juice! Let me know if there's another secret ingredient I failed to transcribe."

My mom contacted her sister and my Uncle Dave wrote to explain the steps:

"The recipe is correct. To clarify, the egg and 1/2 cup milk should be mixed together before the flour is added. Then add the next cup of milk. After the bananas are added the mix will be very THIN. Make sure the lard and butter are very hot and be careful not to splatter the oil on your hands. I am going to try and scan the “original” recipe from your mother’s cook book. Dave"

I wrote back to my mother to explain my dilemma. This will give a bird's-eye view of my ineptitude in the kitchen: 

"Well, I tried the banana pancake recipe from your files, and I must be doing something wrong. Here's exactly what happened. I mixed the batter as suggested, mixing first the egg and smaller amount of milk together, then adding the flour, then the larger amount of milk and mixing again before adding the 3 large mashed bananas. The batter seemed thinner than my regular pancake batter, but I figured so far, so good. I have a small cast iron griddle and I thought that might produce a better pancake, so I tried that first. The pancake turned out somewhat close to what yours tasted like, but the middle wasn't cooked enough (please God, don't let me get salmonella from undercooked banana pancakes). Besides the undercooked middle, it didn't want to come off the cast iron pan in the middle. I set the pan on the counter to scoop off the pancake and when I picked up the griddle, it left behind a murky stain which turned out to be resistant to wiping with a dish rag - groan. I decided I'd better stop using it, not knowing what kind of damage I might be doing to my burners, counters, etc. So, I heated my normal small frying pan. The next one seemed to cook on the outside edges but never produce the air bubbles normally associated with a pancake ready to turn. Thus, I burned the next two, trying to get the middles done enough. Finally, I thought perhaps I should turn the stove down. This provided a slower, more even process. Although I am no longer burning them, they still don't appear to look like yours and certainly don't taste as good as yours. I don't know. Then, I looked up German banana pancakes on the internet and they are showing something otherwise known as a Dutch baby, but it is made in the oven. I don't think yours were made in the oven, were they? Well, my best effort still falls short of the mark. Oh well. I tried anyway."

My mom tried to clarify her experience with the recipe:

"I have never mashed the bananas and then added them to the mix. I have only sliced the bananas directly into the mix. Don't know if that will make a difference for you. Let me know."

I never attempted to duplicate my mother's banana pancakes again. Thus, I related to Nikki Werner's attempts at the family recipes. I enjoyed all the recipes in Brunsvold's book, but doubt I will try more than a few (after reading the above, you might understand my hesitancy). I intend to try the recipes for Hoppel Poppel (Egg Hash, p 75), Frikadellen (German hamburgers, p 108), Kohl aus Eddner (Scalloped Cabbage, p. 173), Kartoffelpuffer (Potato Pancakes) with Apfelmus (Applesauce, p 196), and Kartoffelgratin (Scalloped Potatoes, p 243).  

I noted a line from Grandma Lena's notebook of recipes: "Sometimes the hardest thing in the world to do is to keep trying to do something for which natural talents are lacking." Ha! Too true!

Enough about why this read resonated with me! So, back to the book. Nikki Werner is disillusioned with life and love after her parents' divorce and her dad's remarriage. With her boyfriend leaning in hard, she flees her home in Kansas City and heads to her Uncle Wes' farmstead, the home where her dad was raised. Eddner, a town her father left behind early in life, is near Hannibal (a town I lived in for a spell). Nikki finds her grandmother's German books and a notebook full of German recipes. As she helps her uncle restore the family home, she attempts the recipes and shares them with the Lutheran community there. Amid discovering her German heritage, Nikki grapples with reconciliation with both her boyfriend and her father.

My mother's mind, even before her death, was no longer accessible, but I have loads of questions I wish I had asked. Did her mother experience the effects of the world wars? Did they, like other German U.S. citizens, try to distance themselves from their heritage? Did they change to more Anglicized names and drop the use of German language and recipes? What a shame that, because of a nation's misguided actions, a whole worldview lost its freedom to exist and be celebrated! 

This book is a treasure! How comforting to delve into a heritage I share and a faith I espouse! I loved the emphasis on "doing the next thing." I have heard Elizabeth Elliot share from something similar to the poem by Minnie Paull listed in the addendum to this book (although the internet attributes this to an old poem by Eleanor Amerman Sutphen in 1897). Would that I might implement that wisdom in my own life. When I do not know what to do, I can "do the next thing!" 

I wish I had purchased a copy and requested the author's signature on the night of the author talk. My copy came from a nearby library. I wanted to finish her debut novel (The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip) first, so I didn't complete The Divine Proverb of Streusel until late on Sunday night. Once I finished, I knew I wanted to own it (not only for the story but also for the recipes and the beautiful sentiments expressed prior to each recipe). Sadly, no copies were available in stores nearby on Monday, prior to the author talk. I'm also kicking myself because the signing line was long, and not having a book to sign, I simply left without snagging a chance to meet the author. Who knows, perhaps she had copies to sell. I appreciated her talk and admire her firm foundation of faith. Moreover, I share her intense desire that writing be a form of worship, a gift given back to the Lord for His purposes and to reach whomever He desires. May it be so in my writing, as well!

I'm Infatuated

As frustrated as I am with my Facebook feed (go away quilt ads, women's underwear ads, local eyeglass ads that appear just after I text the photo of my new eyewear to my sister), I'm obsessed with two Internet sensations I've somehow missed. They've been around and have solid popularity. How did I miss this?? Without this invasive Facebook feed, they'd still be strangers. Oh, the hours I've whittled away watching videos. With the first, my husband is exasperated. With the second, he actually watches, too, sometimes. I know I don't watch television at all and make no attempts to keep up with current trends, but am I living in a cave?? Apparently so.

Celtic Thunder, how did I miss you in the past ten years of your popularity?? According to Twitter, they are a worldwide sensation and have topped the world music charts ten times. What a fabulous group of Irish male singers! Handsome, talented, theatrical, entrancing! Especially, the youngest member (never watched Glee, so didn't encounter him there, either). I've spent hours watching his progression from a tender teen to a young adult. I would ask for a DVD for my birthday (cannot just listen, must also watch) if they made a DVD of Damien McGinty songs through the years.

Here are my two favorites:

And who wouldn't love this sweet rendition of "Like a Bird Without Wings" by the baby-faced Damien McGinty? Love it!

My second new fixation is with Emmymade videos. I love her spunk and her style. She always teaches me a new recipe or a new treat I may wish to try someday. I've memorized her sign-off: "I hope you enjoyed this video. I hope you learned something. I'll see you in the next one. Toodle-loo, take care, bye!" She is delightful. 

Imagine my surprise when I discovered her YouTube video about balut, a fertilized duck egg popular in the Philippines. When I went on my summer youth mission trip to the Philippines in 1987, we had a running challenge to see who would try balut. In the end, my friend Andrew actually tried it, while I was only willing to drink out the juice, or as Emmy calls it, the soup. I think I would have been more adventurous had I watched this first.

Gratitude in a Pandemic Year

What a year this has been! Unlike any other year I've experienced. Last November we discovered our son's prodigal path. Then, at the start of 2020, my dad broke his arm, necessitating my stay with them in Florida, where I watched my mother almost shrivel away into death. In March, the pandemic arrived with lockdowns, inconveniences, and uncertainty. Month by month, as I've kept my own chart of the pandemic statistics for Indiana, I've watched the numbers climb. 

August brought schooling decisions. Sean wanted to play football (amid my worry that such an activity would be unsafe), so we selected in-person schooling for him. For Trevor, wanting to continue his morning hours at his ranch internship, we selected at-home learning. That has been extremely challenging. I think his teachers were unprepared for providing both in-person and remote learning options. So many glitches. For his engineering class, the students in the classroom have access to software and programs for completing their assignments, while Trevor is told to draw sketches of the work (a far more time-intensive method and so he just neglects it). He also tanked on his Algebra class. Without in-person instruction, he felt unprepared to tackle the many assignments. Plus, once you are behind in a math course, catching up is hard because concepts build on one another. It has been difficult to determine if his failure is due to insufficient preparation for requirements or lack of motivation. He has always been in the honors courses and is thankfully far ahead because his middle school courses counted for high school credit. Still, quite difficult to see a gifted student fail classes.

Isolating and avoiding exposure is less challenging for us, since my husband works from home and I only leave to get groceries (and books from the library - 😉 - but use curbside pickup for that). Nonetheless, in October, John grew sick. He had barely been anywhere and always wears a mask. However, he had been working in the attic where we thought mouse droppings may have exposed him to hantavirus (a very serious lung infection that leads to death in over half the cases). He had chills, fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing without coughing. Of course, the minute he suggested this as a possibility, I began envisioning my life, especially parenting my prodigal, without the support of my husband. To say terror overtook me is putting it lightly.

We also wondered if bird droppings might be responsible. We still have our friends, the turkeys, hanging around, and John has been raking damp leaves full of bird droppings. Thus, we thought it might be histoplasmosis. When he at last went to see a doctor, they insisted on a COVID test and also performed a chest x-ray. The x-ray revealed bacterial pneumonia. They gave him antibiotics, and the symptoms vanished.

Then, his test results returned - positive. We were in disbelief, mostly because his symptoms cleared with antibiotics (antibiotics do not kill viruses). Also, he had hardly isolated himself from us (made many of our meals), yet none of the rest of us had any symptoms or difficulty. Still, Trevor's job required a test before he could return to work, and the CDC required us to quarantine for two weeks beyond when John's symptoms cleared. Sean became a remote learner, much to his dismay (and he also had difficulty - for example, for one test on "The Ride of Paul Revere," the teacher included questions with specific verse references, yet he could not leave the test page to seek those verses - the students probably had the poem printed out at their desks - he brought up the poem on his phone, but still had to count down the verses to get to the appropriate designated sections). Trevor's test returned negative, as expected, and they allowed him to return to work.

Bryce had planned a two-week Thanksgiving visit (working from home for the first week). Even though our quarantine would have ended the day of his arrival, he changed his plans to stay at his best friend's house for the first week in case we came down with the virus. The day of his flight, he learned his best friend had tested positive for COVID. So, he ended up at our house after all. Praise God! He learned the results prior to his flight and not after he had already gone to stay with the friend.

He also planned to attend a small birthday party/getaway in KY with several other friends the weekend before Thanksgiving. This filled us with dread, because his 92-year-old grandmother intended to come here for Thanksgiving. Not wanting to chance exposure, or infect his grandmother, he canceled those plans (praise God). Almost as soon as he cancelled, we learned that his grandmother's retirement center would not allow her to travel here (relieving some of my stress over preparing a big Thanksgiving dinner - although I roasted a turkey for the first time and, despite my lack of kitchen skills, succeeded).

Thus, I am settled into a deep state of gratitude this weekend. My prodigal son has improved some. My father and mother moved into an assisted living facility just prior to this whole pandemic explosion, and I have more peace of mind, knowing they receive thorough care. God has protected us from the pandemic virus and a worse virus (hantavirus). We drove over to Illinois on Friday and had an outdoor visit with Grandma in a heated tent (she has been desperate to see us all; she's a social individual, so the restrictions are excruciating for her).

Bryce and Sean have spent time together playing Rock Band (always a blessing to see them share this experience). Here is a photo of one of their stellar performances - 98% each with a score passing 1 million:

Later, they roped in Trevor:

Finally, they even called on me to participate. I took vocals on easy, but managed to help them get a score over 2 million.

Though challenges abound, God's grace and mercy abound ever more.

Gratitude in a Pandemic Year by Wendy Gorton Hill

G – od has given many things that I do not deserve

R – ight relationship with Him and freedom through His Word

A – nd with that firm foundation, amid this crazy year,

T – rials simply reinforce that He alone is dear

I – need not fear tomorrow, with all its troubling woe

T – rusting His protection is the only way to go

U – nworthy, though I may be, His promises are true

D – espite uncertainty, He’ll surely see me through

E – ach detail ever subject to His command and view.

Biding Our Time

We are, predictably, spending our pandemic-prompted-down-time in the following ways:

Baking:

I have made six or seven batches of bread. I'm not an outstanding bread baker and shy away from yeast breads (too difficult for this non-cook), but this recipe from Celebrating Sweets for Honey Oat Quick Bread solved a few dilemmas (solidifying honey and soon-to-be-outdated flour):

Plus, Trevor is on a cookie baking binge - we've made chocolate chip cookies, chocolate white-chocolate chip cookies, funfetti cookies, and sugar cookies, plus several batches of buttercream icing. Needless to say, we are also

Eating:

Good Lord, it seems like every time I turn around someone is wanting something to eat again (given the late hours of the boys, it is like running two different schedules of meals, so I think I prepare food and clean the kitchen about six times a day, seriously!). Food bills climb and waistlines expand. I am sad to say, almost all the weight I lost doing the time-restricted ketogenic plan has managed to find its way back to my mid-section. Groan. For the life of me, I cannot stay away from the fridge or all those baked goods we keep making. I tell myself I'll go back on the diet, but every day I put it off one more day.

Puzzling:

I've seen several families post photos of their puzzle adventures on Facebook and we are well behind the curve (indeed, saw images of some 40,000 piece Disney puzzle - insane). I like to choose puzzles with lots of different colors and patterns (i.e., easier!). I enjoyed this doors puzzle:

But, this White Mountain 1000 piece book covers puzzle was my all-time favorite - such fun!

Zooming:

Can I tell you how much I hate Zoom? I loathe it. You either get two extremes - nobody talks or several begin speaking at the same time and then you're scrambling to see who will take the floor. The connections feel artificial. Conversation feels forced. I have yet to find a location in my home that has a decent background (yes, I know you can add artificial backgrounds) with adequate lighting and little foot traffic. But, for now, I continue to attend my weekly Bible study group gathering (thankfully, we only have a few more sessions and then I may swear off Zoom altogether).

I thought, perhaps, it was a matter of limited connection.You know, if I zoomed with my family - people I share more intimate connections with - would it flow better? Well, nobody in my family suggested a zoom meeting for Easter, but I recently saw an invitation from some old Salvation Army friends. Even though it had been years since I'd been in contact with the initiators of this group, I had high hopes. Sadly, only twelve individuals participated and I only knew 5 well, 2 peripherally, and the rest not at all. I was trying to figure out if we were mostly officer's kids, but don't know for sure.

While it was better than the Bible study sessions, I still don't think I'll join in if they schedule a second session of the get-together. I'll just be happy when we can go back to regular group gatherings and not the artificial, technological gatherings of Zoom.

What I have NOT been doing - cleaning or writing. Nothing will ever induce me to seek cleaning as a past-time, ha! (My poor husband breathes a sigh of frustration - all this time on my hands and no motivation to Marie Kondo our house or scrub our floors - ha!) Besides my morning pages, I cannot focus or concentrate on any writing. My mind is too cluttered with daily doses of depressing news (my cousin, a professor in Massachusetts, posted that his university is considering holding off on the resume button until January of 2021 and if they do, will others follow suit?; CBLI has been cancelled for 2020 - sob; options for a 30-year-anniversary trip dwindle daily - we weren't planning anything major, but perhaps a getaway to Mackinac Island; and they have begun work on the new development of homes coming to the field across from our meadow).

Book Review: Little Heathens

Although I enjoy taking my sons with me to the library (love encouraging them to use all it offers), generally their accompaniment infringes on my ability to wander and browse to my heart's content. Alas, I was in need of another audio book and my youngest wanted to pick up a movie. Knowing his patience would wane quickly, I skimmed the non-fiction section of audio books and pulled two titles with little forethought.

Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression is a fairly interesting memoir. Author Mildred Armstrong Kalish (of my mother-in-law's generation) reflects on her childhood with a great sense of nostalgia for the old-fashioned way of doing things. She highlights the values of thrift, diligence, and hard work (emphasized repeatedly). She doesn't necessarily scorn modern attitudes but certainly glorifies the way things used to be over how modern technology and advancements have devalued certain aspects of life she cherishes. The stories provide a clear and lively glimpse into life on a farm during the Depression. She talks of her education, her chores, her games and satisfactions.

The book offered great storytelling. I loved listening to the exploits of the young boys attempting to topple an old man's outhouse and his expert revenge the following year. I eagerly imagined what it would be like, as a kid, to keep raccoons as pets and to tame young wild horses. It was easy to put myself in the author's shoes and experience these moments right alongside her. However, I wish I had read the book instead of listened. It plodded. She provided many recipes for things I will never make and tips on how to handle chores I will never perform. That was tiresome. Indeed, my son entered the room and said, "What are you listening to? A cookbook?" Ha!

I may recommend this one to my mother-in-law, however, because I know it would appeal to her greatly. She would relish all the old tales. It would remind her of her own childhood (although I don't believe her parents moved from town to live on the farm until later in her life). Anyone who grew up in a rural area between the 1920s and 1930s would probably find something of interest in the life Kalish remembers.

Book Gifts for a New Adult

As much as I love receiving books as gifts, I also love gifting them. Alas, my boys have never really been too thrilled to receive a book gift. They smile, say thank you, and set it aside as one of the lesser gifts. This year, although tempted to get Sean the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book (he's already read the library's copy and John declared it would just sit on the shelf), I will probably skip book gifts for both of my younger sons (sob). However, I took great joy in researching the gift books I have selected for my oldest, Bryce. He is now out on his own and has said that after a full day of work, he really has a limited selection of options for meals in the evenings. I scoured the library shelves first to locate the best cookbooks to meet his needs.

Spoon University's How to Feed Yourself* When You Don't Know What You're Doing (not sure he'll like the second half of that title, but ... it is what it is) offers "100 fast, cheap, and reliable recipes." Written by a couple of twenty-something girls, it is directed to new adults who are relatively new to the expectations of preparing their own meals. I love the full graphic images of the recipes and the simple "spoon tips." The recipes all seem like something my twenty-two-year-old son could easily whip up in no time. The only thing I would change about this book is the section on vegetables. They offer three easy ways to prepare them, but leave off one of the best options, in my opinion: steaming. Still, the cover is appealing, the book is resourceful, and I think he will get some good use out of it.

The second cookbook I selected, Lickety-Split Meals, gives me a little pause, but only because of the cover. It is a bit more feminine than I would like for gifting to a twenty-something male. If I had been in charge of the cover, I would have selected a minute-timer alongside the spatula and spoon, instead of a perky red-shirted woman. Yet, I still bought it because of the features that really make this cookbook stand out above the rest: the book offers recipes categorized according to time-limitations (1-minute-mini-meals, 5-minute meals, 15-minute meals, and 30 minute meals - I love this option because Bryce will be able to skim the recipes and select one based on how much time he feels he can give to meal preparation that particular day); the recipes are simple and easy foods, not exotic or unusual; the book contains 7 different pizza recipes, five stir-fry recipes, a dozen slow-cooker recipes (yes, he owns a slow-cooker), and a multitude of oven recipes; teaches how to equip your kitchen for speed; and, most unique, has a cardboard mount to prop the book upright for easy reading on your counter. Although I doubt he will use the final feature, I was really impressed with the wipe-erase menu planner on the inside of the front cover - a great place for jotting down necessary ingredients to add to a weekly shopping list. The recipes are geared toward healthy eating and I love the extra tips and discussions sprinkled throughout the book (a frozen grape tip - a treat my grandmother used to always have on hand; best time of day to exercise; choosing between butter and margarine; etc.). This book is a powerhouse! The fact that I managed to snag it for one-third of the price at Half-Price-Books only made this gift sweeter. Hopefully, Bryce will like it as much as I do (despite the girly feel).

The funny thing is, this will be the first year where almost a third of his gifts will be books (he actually plans to send a list of nine books he wants to read - is this really my book-averse son???). Thankfully, he doesn't read my blog - so the surprise is safe between you and me between now and Christmas morning! If you're on the look-out for an additional gift for your new adult, consider these two options. They might just be a perfect idea for you, as well.

Book Review: Saving Grace

The cover proclaims that Saving Grace is written by New York Times bestselling author, Jane Green. I had never heard the name before. Nor was I aware that this audio book, read by the author, would delight with a British accent and story (well, the setting is split between New England in the States and Dorset in Britain). I always enjoy a well-told story narrated with a British accent.

Grace Chapman has it all. Married to the fierce and successful writer, Ted Chapman, she is a well-known cook in her own right. Their only current difficulty is their need of an assistant/household manager. When their daughter, Clemmie, introduces them to Beth, Grace believes her prayers have been answered. Beth, with her take-charge personality, begins to whip things in shape and both Grace and Ted are impressed. But, slowly, things begin to unravel for Grace and she can't quite shake the feeling that Beth is at the root of it all. Running from her own personal demons, Grace must face things from the past and iron out things in the present.

If it weren't for the delightful narration, I would have preferred a hard-cover version of the book, since each chapter ended with a recipe. As it was, I did pause the audio to jot down the recipe for Pavlova (a dessert our Australian matron used to make when I worked at The Salvation Army's International College for Officers). Of course, not being much of a cook, I didn't hold out enough hope to write down any of the other recipes (and I might even bomb the Pavlova, but I do intend to take a stab at it). Although parts were a bit unbelievable (Grace can cook up intricate recipes for the masses, yet cannot keep her own checkbook and hands it over to Beth without thoroughly double-checking references?), I'd be willing to try another book from this author.

A Card Perfect for Me

My beautiful niece, Kirsten, had a bridal shower a short while ago. I was unable to attend, but still wanted to send her a monetary gift and fill out the recipe card her sister had requested. Thus, I offered up my favorite Jell-O Pudding recipe for Berry Delight (a dish that was such a hit at the last women's gathering, where I brought it, that people were fighting over seconds). Then, I tucked it away in this little card I have been hanging onto for years (because it was so perfect for me, I never wanted to part with it). By sharing it here, I can still keep it forever - ha!

And for those interested in the recipe, you can find it here at the KraftCanada.com website. One look will make you click on that link:

 (Photo from the KraftCanada website)

Recipe Fiasco Friday - Baked Caulitots

This recipe is courtesy of the Cupcakes and Kale Chips blog.  I wasn't sure I should call it a fiasco or not because I only managed to screw up one part of the recipe. Thus, I would say that it actually IS a very easy recipe. But, I couldn't call it a find either, because we all pretty much agreed that I wouldn't make it again. The boys said they prefer store bought tater tots and John said while it was okay, it wouldn't be something he'd want to eat again. I guess the taste was just sort of bland, even with the cheese included in the recipe.

Baked Caulitots

3 cups (1/2 head) cauliflower, shredded
4 oz. (1 C.) shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/4 C. cornmeal
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground mustard

Spray mini muffin tins. Place cauliflower in towel and squeeze out moisture (I skipped this step with no real problems). Combine ingredients in large bowl with fork. Press down firmly into muffin cups. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

So, what did I screw up? Well the blog post doesn't specify the cauliflower state and I assumed that it would be steamed cauliflower. So, I began steaming 1/2 a head of cauliflower. Then, in the middle of the steaming process, I thought ... "I should check the comments and see if it specifies how the cauliflower starts." Sure enough, down in the comments another reader asked and the blogger responded that the cauliflower is RAW. Thus, I ate a half portion of steamed cauliflower for dinner in addition to the caulitots.

The shredding of the raw cauliflower was messy, but would have been a cinch if I had a food processor with a shredding setting as mentioned on the Cupcakes and Kale Chips blog. Adding the other ingredients was a breeze. I only have one mini muffin tin, so I used the rest of the batch in a regular cupcake tin and believe those came out of the tin much easier than the smaller ones. While they didn't look as much like tots, they tasted the same and were less hassle to extract from the pan.

When it all comes down to it, though, hubby and I both preferred the steamed cauliflower dipped in ranch dressing. Cauliflower is pretty bland on its own. Still, if you are crazy about cauliflower or all about slipping nutritious vegetables into your child's diet, you might want to try this recipe out (easy enough for a kitchen klutz like me)!

Actually, despite the dissatisfaction with this recipe, I might try another one Cupcakes and Kale Chips tweaked from a recipe on Momma's Meals for Zucchini Tater Tots. I even have some shredded zucchini in the freezer right now. (Cupcakes and Kale Chips made it gluten-free, but since I don't really need to do that I jotted down Momma's Meals' recipe, which seems simpler since it calls for Simply Potatoes hash browns instead of shredding the potato yourself. I'm all about making things simpler!)

Recipe Fiasco and Recipe Find Friday: Strawberry Desserts

Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a yummy strawberry dessert. Especially if it is an easy one to whip together. Easy enough for a kitchen klutz like me.

The first recipe I tried came from the Pillsbury website and promised "easy treats to say I love you." Not! Not so easy, that is. They still express love, but didn't quite turn out as the recipe photo promised.

These cookies look deceptively easy. The recipe recommends ready bake cookies and the cream mixture is simply a matter of stirring strawberry gelatin into whipped cream. They also suggested you could substitute sugar cookie dough for the chocolate chip cookies pictured above. Alas, this is where it turned into a fiasco. I had a roll of sugar cookie dough in the fridge which needed to be used, so I sliced the dough and pressed the slices into the mini cupcake pan. Yet, when I went to extract them, they crumbled and fell to pieces. I only managed to salvage a dozen. Here is the photographic evidence of my recipe's demise:

Still, they ended up looking okay. Only Trevor tried one and he decided he'd rather have the plain sugar cookies (which I had made up with the remaining dough after the first two batches flopped):

A far cry from the beautiful photo Pillsbury offers up. I doubt I'll try that again - easy or not!

The second recipe I tried this week came from a Facebook post by Courtney Luper, although I found countless other versions of this recipe on the computer. Apparently it is nothing new, but it might be new to you, so here you go:

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler

1 stick butter (I think you could use less of this - at least I will next time)
1 egg, beaten
1 C. milk
1 C. flour
1 C. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt (In my klutziness, I forgot this)
2 quarts strawberries, hulled and sliced (I used 2-1/2 pound containers)
4 oz. cream cheese, cut into small pieces

Melt the butter and pour into a 13x9 inch pan. Mix egg, milk, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and pour over butter, without stirring. Add strawberries in a single layer.

Sprinkle cream cheese over the strawberries (this was my least favorite step - the cream cheese was impossible to cut into small pieces, so I ended up tearing off little bits and my fingers were covered in cream cheese residue - I think if I did it over, I would use a knife and smear a bit of cream cheese on the backside of each strawberry as I lay it down in the layers).

Bake for 45 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

I think my final verdict is that I would rather eat a dessert with the strawberries fresh, rather than cooked into a cake-like background. While it was good, it wasn't as good as a different pudding/strawberry dessert recipe I have and used to make back in the day. Still, it received a thumbs up from my hubby and he was the critical reviewer in my book (neither of the boys wanted to try it, even though they like strawberries).

Happy Valentine's Day! Happy eating! May the kitchen odds be ever in your favor!

Recipe Find Friday - Chicken Roll-Ups

Okay, so my last installment of this feature was a Recipe Fiasco Friday. This time around, I found a recipe (once again via Facebook) easy enough that I nailed it. Yes! (fist pump) It was a huge hit!

There are lots of recipes for Chicken Roll-ups on the Internet (some with cream cheese, some with just milk instead of milk and broth and flour, etc). The one I found was from a link to a Facebook page called Foodgasm. I like the way this turned out. The only thing I might tweak is possibly cutting out the broth to reduce the salt content.

Chicken Roll-Ups

2 large chicken breasts (I simplified this recipe by using fully cooked grilled chicken strips)
1 can crescent rolls
1 - 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1/2 soup can chicken broth (I used a bouillon cube in boiling water)
1/2 soup can milk
1 Tbsp flour
6 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Place chicken in pot and cover with water. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium and cook till chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken (save broth). When cooled enough, remove the chicken from bone and shred, set aside [this is the step I skipped by using the fully cooked shredded packaged chicken]. Whisk together soup, broth, milk, flour, salt & pepper. Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. Place a little cheese over dough and at larger end, place a good heaping of the chicken. Roll up and place in 9x13 casserole dish. Repeat with remaining triangles. Pour soup mix around each one and drizzle a little over the tops (not too much). Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove and top with more cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes. (soup mixture will thicken up like a gravy).

Talk about easy! Talk about yummy! I served it with steamed broccoli and strawberries. The only problem I encountered? It didn't make enough for the four of us. John and Trevor both wanted more than two crescent rolls apiece. Next time, I'll make a double batch and we'll see how well it warms up the next day. This recipe gets two thumbs up! Easy enough for a kitchen klutz like me. Next, I'll teach Trevor how to make it (he loves learning new things in the kitchen - his father's child).

Recipe Fiasco Friday - Mozzarella Tortilla Stack

I'm thinking about starting a new feature on the blog - Recipe Fiasco Friday! One of my goals for 2015 is to spend more time in the kitchen. I've mentioned before that I'm not terribly comfortable in a kitchen. I love to bake, but that is about the extent of it. As for meals, even though I enjoy trying new things, they often seem to fumble in my hands. It is like handing two individuals a violin and asking them to play. One might screech and whine, while the other, more accomplished individual, can make that instrument sing. Well, I'm the screech and whine individual in the kitchen. The same recipe in the hands of someone with natural skills would turn out fine, but for me ... well, it turns out to be a fiasco.

Thus, I offer up the first new recipe I have tried in the new year. When I saw it on Facebook, it looked so amazing, I just had to try it. Since it is demonstrated with a simple three minute video, I mistook that to mean that it is an easy recipe (and for someone else, it probably is). Here is the video for the easy, peasy Mozzarella Tortilla Stack (offered up by Dairygoodness.ca):


Here is the recipe, for those accomplished individuals who can make it sing:

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
salt & pepper
2 C peeled, shredded sweet potato
1/2 C chopped cilantro
6 large tortillas
2 tomatoes, diced
3 C shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown meat, onion, and spices. Add sweet potatoes; cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add cilantro. Stack tortilla with 1/5 of the meat, tomatoes, cheese five times. Add final tortilla and top with remaining cheese. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Broil the last 2 minutes, if desired. Serve with sour cream.

I forgot to take a photo before we started eating, but here is one which shows half of my completed product:

First of all, I bought too large a sweet potato (ended up wasting one third of it) and perhaps shredded more than two cups (so hard to judge just by looking at shredded ingredients). The meat and potato mixture never really blended well enough to provide even spreading of the mixture (resulting in bites of just sweet potato or just meat or just big chunks of cilantro, since I never managed to neatly chop them into tiny pieces like on the video).

The biggest mistake was that I simply didn't spread the ingredients evenly enough or flat enough over the top of the tortillas (indeed, I should have made sure I selected the largest tortilla for the bottom of the stack and should have pressed it all out to a thinner layer after placing the second tortilla on). Thus, instead of ending up with a nice layered cake-like appearance, mine had the appearance of a wobbling volcano, with ingredients falling off the sides before I could lay the next tortilla atop it all. Groan. Perhaps if it had been evenly spread and all nice and flat, as in the video, it wouldn't have burned the edges of the tortillas. It would have been easier to eat, as well, since mine turned out to be about 2-1/2 inches tall.

The only blessing in all of this is that it still tasted delicious. My husband was skeptical about the sweet potato, but ended up saying that he would eat this dish again, if I were willing to put in all the prep work the recipe took (it may have seemed like more than it really was, since we were both in the kitchen at the same time - him making the boys his amazing organic mashed potatoes and fish sticks - and thus my shredding and dicing and chopping took up space and time). Whether or not I am willing to try again is the real question. But, hey, knock yourselves out and try this recipe. Then, send me a photo of your attempt and gloat over your expertise in the kitchen. I can take it.

Seven Quick Takes

1.)  My novel!  I finished the Letters from Anne novel on November 27th after writing 65,347 words.  I'm pleased with it.  I will let it sit for a few months and then begin the whole tedious revision process.  I don't know if it will ever make it to print, but it was a fun endeavor and I enjoyed writing it.  I think it was even a bit therapeutic for me.

2) I attempted two new recipes this month.  The first one, "The Unsloppy Joe," which I noted on-line and decided to try, turned out to be a very, very sloppy joe.  It was basically sloppy joe meat mixture, crammed with cheese into a Grands biscuit.  The tough part was the cramming.  I ended up with messy fingers, a messy counter and very messy-looking pastries.  They DID taste good, but I'll never try it again because it was a disaster to put together.  They have another easier recipe which cooks in a muffin pan.  I think I'll try that next time.

3)The second recipe I searched for on the Internet because I had a can of sweetened condensed milk that was nearing its out date.  I discovered a recipe for truffles and also had some dark chocolate chips which needed to be used up soon, so the recipe seemed perfect.  Once again, the actual making turned out to be messy and very unattractive.  In fact, they look like poop chunks.  But, the end result was still tasty.  I'm guessing there won't be any left by the time my family comes for their visit at the end of the coming month.

4) I have been desperate to capture a photo of us, or at least the kids, for a Christmas card this year, but it seems like the fates are against me.  Two weeks back, I had everyone dress up and told them that after church we would ask someone to take our photo.  It was only while I was sitting in the pew that I realized that I had forgotten to bring my camera along.  Groan.  The following week (last Sunday), I remembered the camera and we asked the pastor's wife to take the photo.  When she tried with my camera, all she could get were blurry pictures (darn this camera for not having image stabilization).  So, she offered to take them on her more professional camera and e-mail me. I still haven't heard a word. I know she's busy so I feel bad asking about when she's going to send them.  So far, these are the best photos of the boys that I could come up with:

5) Plus, my sister took this lovely photo of me when she came for a visit and we took a walk on our property. 

6) During the walk, we chanced upon the dying body of a small cat (almost a kitten, really).  It was quite sad.  We had noticed the little black cat near our front porch on Sunday morning.  Then, Monday morning, Bryce called just after leaving for school (he's driving himself to school these days) to say that there was a cat in the garage.  John and I went out to see if we could shoo it out. It had pooped and peed in the garage - urgh!  The poop was green and John realized that the cat had eaten the poison that he had put out for a mouse that is in the garage.  Poor thing finally ran out of the garage and into the woods.  When my sister and I chanced upon it later, it was still breathing, but frozen with its eyes open.  So sad and I don't even like cats.

7) I snagged this lovely photo from Facebook.  The two sisters are my nieces.  Beautiful women!

Stupendous Salsa

I took Trevor for an annual physical last week. It was quite uncomfortable. I don't enjoy feeling shamed and that is exactly what I felt. The doctor indicated that Trevor's body mass index is at 23 and the desired goal would be 20 for a pre-adolescent boy.

Granted, Trevor is a bit thick. He has a solid body structure, very similar to his late uncle Rob. He has his uncle Rob's appetite. That boy can eat. We would tend to think that he eats fairly well. He has a fruit and vegetable with every meal. But, we do allow him to eat desserts. The doctor suggested we allow dessert only once a week. He's used to having one a day, so that will be the most difficult change to make.

So, I've been trying to think healthy for meals. I'm trying to adopt some eating changes for myself along with him, so he feels supported. Thus, I turned to a recipe my sister-in-law introduced at Christmas time (not that Trevor will eat this, mind you).

I will admit, when I first saw this salsa, I was convinced that I wouldn't like it. The only things I expected to like were the beans and the corn. The rest of it looked ... well, disgusting. She explained what was in it and that didn't help. I despise onion and don't care for quacamole. But, I agreed to try it with a tortilla chip and I was blown away. This is some darned tasty salsa. The fact that it is healthy and good for me, is just a big plus now!



Bernice's Salsa

Green onions, chopped
Red onion, chopped
2 avocados, scooped and cut into cubes (I only used one for this batch)
6 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 packet Italian dressing
1/4 cup vinegar, to taste
salt

She explained that it is best served COLD. I'm telling you this is some good stuff and so easy to throw together. I have been eating it all weekend long. Yum! Bryce likes it. Maybe Trevor will come around to it. I hold out no hope for Sean at all.

Simple and Delish - Cheeseburger Pie

Last night, I made this dish for the second time. I'm pretty sure it will be a staple before long. This was another recipe gleaned from the "Five in a Fix" section of our local paper. It was super quick and easy to prepare and tasted fantastic. The first time, I didn't know if the boys would eat it (given the large tomato slices on top), but the second time around I made them to try a bite. It was a hit!

This first picture is of the second time around, when I took time to flute the edges. The first time (next two photos), I was in a hurry and merely folded the crust over the filling. I was hoping to get better photos of the more attractive pie, but it was gone before I could snap shots of the finished pie or a slice of the pie.



I fudged on the recipe a bit, but it turned out fine.

Cheeseburger Pie

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 lb. ground beef (I used turkey)
1/2 C. finely diced yellow onion (I used frozen diced onion)
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce (I was out, so I substituted A-1 sauce)
salt and pepper
1 unbaked deep-dish pie shell
2 large eggs
1 C. small-curd cottage cheese
2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced (I only used one)
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 395 degrees. Heat beef and onion in oil in skillet until cooked through. Drain fat. In a large bowl, stir meat, onions, flour and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into the pie crust. In a small bowl, stir together eggs and cottage cheese. Spoon evenly over meat. Arrange tomato slices on top and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until set and the cheese has melted, about 30 minutes.

It is not low-fat (although you can take steps to pare it down), but it is sure to be a people-pleaser! For me, the fact that it only took ten minutes to whip up, coupled with the taste, makes it a winner.

It was definitely a winner with my kids. Bryce kept asking Trevor (the only one who had risked a bite) if it was really good or not. I think he suspected I might be trying to hoodwink him into eating something he wouldn't like. Trevor told him it was good. After Bryce's first bite, he grabbed the rest of the pie. He ended up eating half the pie all by himself (leaving none for dad, who settled for just salad). I have a feeling he'll be requesting this again!

Lessons from the Smitten Kitchen

I love the Smitten Kitchen blog. Even though I'm not one to spend loads of time in the kitchen myself, I adore bringing up her beautiful posts, chock full of pictures that make me salivate and wish I were more domestic. I will often find myself making a mental note to come back and try one of her recipes.

So, I finally did it. Only, I didn't exactly do it well. I attempted to make her Whole-Wheat Raspberry Ricotta Scones.

For starters, I didn't copy the recipe or take it with me when I went to the store. Thus, I remembered to purchase raspberries and ricotta, but failed to pick up any heavy cream (I had to google that to discover that it was half and half - it was always just called heavy cream when I purchased it in England). Alas, I had no half and half.

I googled substitutions for heavy cream and came up with something suggesting heating milk and butter together. The only time I buy butter is when I plan to bake Christmas cookies. So, I had no butter, either.

In my very own slip-shod fashion, I threw the recipe together, taking every short-cut imaginable. For the cream, I added a slightly smaller amount of 2 percent milk. Since I had no pastry blender, I used a fork (couldn't be bothered with slowly chopping a knife through the mix).

I also couldn't be bothered with rolling the darn thing out, so I just plopped it on my foil lined pan and pressed it down into a circular shape (she made a rectangle). She cut them into nine pieces. I cut mine into eight pie wedges.



I popped it in the oven and waited. The house began to smell deliriously yummy! The raspberry wafted all around our heads. My children even noticed it and asked what I was making.

When it came time to remove the scone from the oven, I began to see the error of my ways. While she had separated the small square pieces (allowing them to bake more thoroughly), I had left it all in a lump and the middle was not done, but the edges were beginning to look slightly burnt.

Still, I must say, it looked stunning when I finally pulled it out. The piece on my plate next to my cup of coffee beckoned me as soon as it had cooled.




Sadly, the thing was as dry as sawdust. Plus, the berries (I should have remembered that I don't care for raspberries for this very reason) were so gritty that little particles remained in my teeth.

I have eaten two wedges. The rest is wrapped in the freezer. I'm guessing it will take up residence there for a suitable amount of time (we'll pretend that it is sub-letting space in the freezer) and will eventually be tossed in the trash or fed to the birds. Hey, now there's a suitable end for it. It must be destined for the birds.

Lessons: 1) Follow Smitten Kitchen's every step - she knows what she's doing (after all she tests these things in her kitchen often enough to get all those stunning photos). 2) Make sure all ingredients are accurate. (Would the thing have been more moist if I had used butter and cream???) 3) Not every food that looks amazing will end up tasting amazing (an awful lot like "don't judge a book by its cover," right?). 4) For a good laugh, view Smitten Kitchen's photography next to mine!