Recipe: Chinese Cabbage Salad

Here are two recipes for cabbage salads. Since I am growing Chinese cabbage as well as head cabbage these are both handy. The first recipe is from my mom and it uses Chinese cabbage. This was super delicious when she made it for us! I plan on making this one when my Chinese Cabbage is ready for harvest. The second recipe is from our family friend, Jane, quite similar and maybe a little simpler, but also quite delicious!

Chinese Cabbage Salad

1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
1 handful slivered Almonds (Pine nuts or Sesame seeds, optional)
2 pkg Ramen noodles, noodles only

Brown the above items in a skillet. Set aside.

1 head Chinese or Napa cabbage
2 bunches green onions

Slice cabbage and onions and put into a bowl.

Dressing:
1/2 c. sugar
1/3 - 1/12 c. red wine vinegar
3/4 c. oil
2 Tbsp. soy sauce

Whisk the above ingredients together for the dressing.

Pour dressing over cabbage and onions. Top with almond and noodle mixture. If the whole salad will not be consumed in one meal setting, leave the three mixtures separate and combine when ready to eat.

Alternate Dressing:
1/2 c. sugar
touch of sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp. minced onion
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. cider vinegar

Jane's Oriental Salad

1# pkg. slaw mix

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup sunflower seeds

8-10 green onions (chopped)

2 pkg. Beef Ramen Noodles

Dressing

NOTE: Make first and let set a couple of hours for the sugar to dissolve.

1 cup oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup white vinegar

2 pkgs. seasoning packets from Ramen Noodles

Just before serving, break Ramen Noodles on top, add dressing and toss together.

(noodles are not cooked)

Recipe: Russian Tea

This recipe came up in conversation during a visit with Mom and my sister-in-law concerning hot drinks and Tang...this is my mom's recipe.

Russian Tea

18 oz. Tang (powder)
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/2 oz. sweetened instant lemon tea
1 tsp. cloves

Mix these dry ingredients together. Store this mixture in an airtight glass canister or tub.
Use 2 tsp. of the mixture per cup of boiling water.

It's been awhile

Wow, February was my last post. Sigh! There have quite a few things to blog about and I blog in my head but having the time to put the thoughts here seems to escape me.

I haven't tried any new recipes lately but I have read a number of books. When I look at the book list on this blog I have been through several more piles of books since.

Things are getting ready to be more hectic as we ramp up for school. I have just gone to one homeschool conference and my sil is going to one next weekend. I had hoped to go with her but things didn't work out on my end so I am sending her with my last list of needs. Then it is getting busy with laying out the work and cleaning up from last year. A very daunting task to say the least.

I am off to St Louis, MO next Sunday for several days on a work-related trip. I hope it is a good trip and conference.

I have some posts in mind coming up so stay tuned...

Book Review: "The Longing" (The Courtship of Nellie Fisher - Book 3) by Beverly Lewis

I have been a Beverly Lewis fan for a number of years and have read all of her books. I have been fascinated with the Amish culture for a good many years. Perhaps it is having been raised near a German Mennonite community and having worked in a Mennonite company during and after college. I am not sure, but nonetheless I find their culture very interesting.

This is the third book in the Courtship of Nellie Fisher series. Once again picking up the book was impossible to put down, which why it was saved until last on my last reading list. Mrs. Lewis went all the way with this book and showed a revival amongst the Old Order, New Order and Beachy Amish folks of Lancaster County. Staunch Old Order families come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in a very realistic way. Mrs. Lewis provides the stories of several different characters and finishes developing them in this third and last in the series. Yet, she continues to offer a few twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Mrs. Lewis is also not quite so shy to lay out the plan of salvation and repeatedly. She shows the characters not just claiming salvation, but digging in the Scriptures to find answers to their prickly situations and finding peace in the Word and prayer. The characters that turn to Christ do so boldly and unashamedly at the risk of losing family, homes and honor. But those that resist the brazen plan of salvation to cling to their old ideals, soon come to a place where they can choose Peace or a damning place of stubbornness.

Updated my pile of books

My pile of books had dwindled down to two and I needed to replenish the stack. Mind you, I have two bags full of fiction my MIL has dropped off to me, but I needed more. I keep a running list of books that I want to check out in my Amazon wish list and another list on my laptop. These are the books I see referenced somewhere on a blog, a website, news article, or elsewhere that looks like it might be interesting.

So I went armed to my local library with a list of about 15-20 books plus various authors associated with that list. How many books did I actually find in my library?? Oh, only 2! I don't mean they were checked out - I mean the library didn't have them at all! (Time to turn in some book requests!) Now, I live in a quite dominant Christian community and probably at least half of the books were Christian in nature. They weren't even obscure Christian authors unless Max Lucado is considered obscure.

I have truly been spoiled in other communities that have absolutely wonderful and diverse libraries. Our family laments our libraries of past and seeks to improve our poor library system here. We turn in stacks of book requests on a regular basis. Fortunately, they have fulfilled a number of those requests.

Anyway, I was able to snag a stack of other books as I perused the dewey decimals that should have had the books on my list and found some substitutes. I have updated my list to the right and will try to give reviews as I go. I am also making more of an effort to add a biography to the list. There are so many interesting people to read about, I just can't decide - suggestions?

A Special Day...3 years ago....

Today is a very special day for 3 years ago, we were blessed with our fourth child. I remember the day vividly as I do with all four. The couple of days before I was having some cramping but nothing significant or consistent. When I woke up at 8:15am on February 20th, I was having a harder "cramp" or probably contraction. So I laid still to see if there was going to be some rhythm or consistency to these contractions. Yes, they were about 20 minutes apart...that was good, sort of. I had to quickly get my midwife and her assistant here - quickly! When contractions start for me, babies come fast! I called my midwife but she wasn't going to be at the house until close to noon. Her assistant who was my good friend made it to the house at about 10:30. She kicked into gear and took charge until the midwife got there.

Probably shortly after 11am I was dropped down ready to push. I tried to hold off until the midwife got there, but I wasn't going to make it. The midwife walked in the door at 11:45am and I was ready to push. My water broke with my first push at 11:47am. I then rhythmically got in my groove and started working this baby out. I had to breathe through a couple of pushes because the the little guy had his hand on his cheek. Well, that wasn't going to go through easily! So the midwife pulled his hand out and then a few pushes later out he plopped. I remember the midwife, assistant and my husband asking what it was - I looked down and shouted - "It's a boy! Another boy!" That was 12:03pm. (See, I told you they come fast!)

He was probably my most difficult baby, not to deliver, but to handle as a baby. I remember number after night pacing the floor with him pleading for sleep. He wasn't one to be rocked. He wanted to be on the move. He was a very unhappy baby. He wasn't colicky because he didn't have those symptoms, just unhappy. Finally at my wits end and fully understanding how babies get thrown into dumpsters or left somewhere, although I wouldn't do that, I knew something had to be done. My midwife suggested I take him to a Sacral Cranio Therapist. I immediately made an appointment and took him in. The first session seemed to help but we knew he needed to again. The second visit was much better. He probably could have used a third but we were much happier now. He was much happier!

This is what we always remember is how unhappy he was and how he is always happy now. He has always got a grin on his face and is usually always happy. He loves to horse around, wrestle and play. He is 100% boy through and through. He likes dirt, tractors, cars and being outside. He is lovable and sweet but has an independent streak that can drive you crazy. He takes initiative, turns off lights, shuts doors and makes sure things are "right" around him. He does not like to be corrected or reprimanded by the important men in his life. He puckers out his bottom lip and melts into a puddle of tears.

He is a special little guy and I think after 3 years, we will keep him! Just kidding! Happy Birthday!

We are the Wilderness Family!

Skunks! We can add skunks to our list of critters and bugs we have encountered living here. Tuesday morning I woke to the smell of pole cat. I figured there was some ruckus outside between a cat and a skunk and skunk won.

When I came downstairs my husband had been up early watching the Australian Open and told me about our new friend. He could hear something whining or crying under floor under the washer and dryer in the utility room. He could also hear it in the family room which is beside the family room. Then it stunk to high heaven! After awhile he saw the skunk meandering around the back patio and then lumbered up the back yard. The house smelled most of the day but it dissipated and we thought it was a fluke event.

Sunday morning about 1:30am, I heard something in the wall between the utility room and family room. It sounded like something walking up the one side of the wall, turning around and walking back. Now there is a little trap door between the family room and the utility room. This door allows you to get to the plumbing behind the utility room. I was terrified this critter was going to greet me in the family room and it smelled worse this morning than on Tuesday. I thought I was going to be sick. I scrambled around shut everything down and skittered upstairs to bed. I shut the door tight to the family room just in case my worst fears of a visitor in the family room appeared, it would go no further. It is almost 24 hours and the house still has that lovely pole cat smell!

We think that the skunk and whoever else got into the crawl space under our house. So tomorrow a pest control guy is coming to set traps outside the crawl space and see what they catch. I hope I didn't smell at church and I won't smell tomorrow at work!

Book Review: "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper

My latest read I finished yesterday was "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper. My daughter told me about the book because a friend from Sunday School had told her about it. It sounded like an interesting read. It was an easy and quick read too. The story is about a man, Don Piper, who was in a fatal accident and was dead for 90 minutes. In that 90 minutes he went to heaven and recounts what he saw there. Of the whole book only a small portion is about the 90 minutes in Heaven. The rest of the book is about the accident, his survival, the recovery and his ministry afterward.

While I totally enjoyed his testimony, I was kind of disappointed in the lack of description of what he saw in Heaven. He notes a number of times that he couldn't put into words the magnificence of what he saw - there were no words to describe. But in his description it whet my appetite and yearning for Heaven.

Even in his struggles after he returned to life on earth, I found parts I could relate. Although I hadn't encountered the physical struggles as he had, I understood some of his attitudes - pride, stubbornness, independence, paste a smile on your face despite being miserable, depression, and more. Then there were times where I didn't understand what he went through. I suppose after you have gotten a good taste of Glory, you might be upset too for having to come back.

There is always skepticism around a book of this nature. While I can't be the judge of what he experienced or thought he experienced in Heaven, he still has a testimony of what he went through afterwards. There were lives he was able to touch even through those experiences. I would like to believe that what he experienced was true even based on the different accounts in Revelation from John.

Night Beauty

I stepped outside to take some recycling to the recycling bin and what a gorgeous night! It is one of those nights where it is crisp and quite cool. The extra clear sky where the almost full moon illuminates the sky like the brightest street light. Stars stand out against the darkness like twinkling diamonds. I look up and behold this beauty through the stark barren trees of winter that add to the scape. It is a night where you could sit and stare, be mesmerized and lose yourself the world that surrounds you.

The most profound wonder of this is even with the best camera, you can't capture the beauty. Our eyes are the one of God's miracles that the most high-tech and elaborate piece of equipment still cannot match. What we perceive with our eyes captures the realness of God's creation better than any photo or computer-generated image.

Great Quote for today

Check out the quotation from the bottom of my blog today:

We neither know nor judge ourselves; others may judge, but cannot know us. God alone judges and knows us.

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889)

Book Review - "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck

I just finished reading "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. As you might know Glenn Beck had his own show on CNN and in a few weeks he will be on FoxNews. He's actually done radio for a number of years. Anyway this book is about a story based on Mr. Beck's own personal experiences. It was a fast easy read, although there were some parts that I had trouble following until the end. When the story is complete I understood more and then Beck goes back and explains more of the story from his personal life. When I read the acknowledgments and then more about him from his website, I found he was Mormon. This is key to understanding the story more and seeing where he comes from if you can't quite follow from a non-Mormon background.

The truth I came away from this read is to let pride and stubborness go. Try not to self-sabotage and lose your joy. Who are you and what is important to you? It is also important to make the best of your circumstances and surroundings because sometimes bad things do happen to good people.

What's Cooking: Pasta e Fagioli (Soup)

Pasta e Fagioli

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 large carrot, julienned (1 cup)
3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 large garden tomato, diced
1 15-ounce can red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 15-ounce can great northern beans (with liquid)
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 12-ounce can V-8 juice
1 tablespoon white vinegar
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 can beef broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 pound (1/2 pkg.) ditali pasta

1. Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat.
2. Drain off most of the fat.
3. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes.
4. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 1 hour.
5. About 50 minutes into simmer time, cook the pasta in 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or just until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough. Drain.
6. Add the pasta to the large pot of soup. Simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve.

Serves 8.

Notes: I couldn't find ditali pasta in our stores, so I used small pasta shells. If you have leftovers and the soup seems thicker than you like, add some V-8 or beef broth to thin it out, depending on your tastes.

UPDATE: I was able to stumble upon ditalini pasta at our Kroger! - Kroger's brand Private Selection Ditalini. It comes in a one pound paper bag like package. Love it!

Happy New Year

2008 ended on a good note and I am hopeful 2009 will be better. The last news at work on 12/31/2008 was a plane ticket, hotel reservation and conference pass to the biggest yearly event in my profession. It was very uncertain if my admin and I would make it to the conference this year because of severe cut-backs and extremely tight budgets. However, our IT Director really felt it was a necessity for us to be there and I really appreciate that. So I am eagerly planning the sessions I will attend and what kinds of things I can load up on to better myself and keep myself valuable and employed.

2008 was better than 2007 although it really started out rough for me. About two-thirds or half way through the year things started improving. I can finally say I am getting back to the old happy me. There is still a long way to go and heal but every day is better. Although many around me are seeing bleak, uncertain and depressing times, I am seeing bright, certain and encouraging times. The last 3 or 4 years have been excruciatingly painful for me and things are looking up now - so you see where I am opposite of most around me?

I hope your 2009 is better than ever! :-)

Movie Review: "Marley & Me"

Well, this has been an unusual thing for me to actually go to a theater to see a new movie in one week! We went Christmas Eve and then I had a left over coupon for a ticket that was going to expire on 12/31. So I decided on "Marley & Me" with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

This was a pretty good movie. It was funny, sweet, and emotional. There wasn't a dry eye in the place at the end of the movie. I heard sniffles all over. It was pretty clean but families should be warned that there is one scene where Marley gets a little "friendly" with the dog trainer and then the ending might be difficult for kids to grasp or handle.

It seemed as though there was something for everyone to relate to in this movie. Since it was based on a true story it was very real. I would highly recommend this movie for a guilt-free indulgence and a possible family movie.