Texas, My Texas

I'm a little late for Texas Independence Day, celebrated on March 2, when 59 (American) settlers in 1836 signed a declaration separating them from Mexico (as opposed to April 21 when General Sam Houston defeated General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.  And to think, I had ancestors living in the state way back then!  Yep, 5th-generation Texan.)  

I've been gathering my favorite recipes from home, ones I might consider typical Texas fare, at least for my family. (Which means there's no iconic chicken-fried steak, because we never made that at home.)  There are some kolaches from the Germans and Czechs of central Texas, some beef and barbecue, seafood, some family staples handed down through the 20th century, a few Louisiana dishes, and, of course, Tex Mex Chocolate Sheet Cake.  I will confess that my Chili Frito Pie recipe in no way reflects real Texas chili, which has no beans or tomatoes or even ground, but exactly replicates what I remember from school and football games.    I mostly included my favorites.

Makes me hungry just typing it.
(For a more comprehensive and gourmet exploration of Texas food, see Homesick Texans blog or cookbooks!)

-=-=-=-=-= Great-Grandmother's recipe for Kolatches (her spelling) from Her Friend Mrs. M

(Start the rich yeast dough first, then make all three of the fillings if you want to make a big to-do of coffee-time--any hour of day or night!)

Place in large mixing bowl and blend until softened

1 cake compressed yeast

2 tablespoons water

Add the following and beat until smooth to form a sponge . . .

2 tablespoons sugar

tall can of evaporated milk (note: 12 oz)

1 cup flour (not sifted)

Set above in warm place to double in bulk. Then return to mixer, punch down and mix in the following producing a smooth satiny dough, actually too soft to be handled . . . .

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup soft shortening

2 1/2 cups flour (approximately, not sifted)

Cover dough and let rise until doubled, then punch down in bowl and work out air bubbles. Turn onto floured board (using minimum to retain softenes of dough), and pat or roll out to 5/8-inch thickness. Cut in rounds of desired size; en route to cookie sheet dip in melted butter or margarine. Filling (one or all of the follwing should be cooled and ready to add not (my note: ??confusing??)--pressing a spoonful in center of each round. Makes approximately 4 dozen 2 1/2 to 3 inch kolatches.

Prune or Apricot Filling

Combine as listed in saucepan--then cook, stirring constantly, until thickened . . . .

1/2 cup sugar (or to taste)

1 tablespoon cornstarch

#2 or 303 can of "stewed" dried prunes or apricot halves

Cool before using--with "sweet topping" (details later). Makes enough to fill approximately 2 dozen.

Cottage Cheese Filling

Blend together in bowl, mixing thoroughly with a fork;

1 cup dry ( note: well-drained) fine-curd cottage cheese ("homemade preferred")

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar (or to taste) (my note: it might read 1/4 cup; hard to decipher)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon melted butter or margarine

Filling is ready to use--with "sweet topping". Makes enough to fill approximately 1 dozen kolatches.

Meat Filling

Place in skillet and cook slowly until well-done and lightly browned;

1 lb bulk pork sausage

1 large onion (finely chopped)

1 clove of garlic (crushed)

1 tablespoon pepper

salt (to your liking)

Drain off excess fa (or remove mixture from skillet) and cool Spoon on dough rounds, but instead of baking open, bring dough up around filling to form rolls--then place, seam downward, on cooking sheet. Makes enough for approximately 2 dozen "rolled" kolatches.

Sweet Topping to be sprinkled over fruit and cheese-filled kolatches is made as follows:

Combine in bowl and mix with pastry blender until light and crumbly:

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons butter or margarine

Now, in this order, top each of the fruit and cheese kolatches with "some" of the following:

Sweet topping

Chopped nuts

Melted butter or margarine

When filled, likely the dough will have risen the necessary 10 to 15 minutes--therefore kolatches will be ready to bake.

Bake kolatches (all types) in 400-degree oven 20-25 minutes, or until puffed and nicely browned. Remove and brush or dribble over tops at once melted butter or margarine.

Serve warm or cold--with coffee a must!

For quick kolatches, the up-and-coming Mrs. M uses roll mix, sayin git's not as rich but will do in a pinch.

A note: "From article in newspaper"

(the recipe was typed on lined school paper with a few handwritten notes and faxed to me by Aunt T)

Guacamole

People always compliment my mom’s guacamole.

2 ripe avacados

3 tablespoons minced onions

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

2 teaspoon Tabasco

½ teaspoon salt

2 tomatoes 

Mix; leave in pit to keep from turning brown.  Let chill before serving.

Mom

Dad’s Salsa Recipe

It’s too hot for most people but Ginia and Dad love it—they made it together during our trip over July 4, 2000.

can of diced tomatoes

onion

cilantro

jalapenos (without seeds)

black pepper

In blender, mix tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and jalapenos.

Pour into dish and cover top with black pepper.  Stir.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Dad

Seven Layer Dip

1 can refried beans

1 tomato, chopped

1 small can chopped black ripe olives

1-4 oz. can green chilies, chopped

Guacamole

grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 small jar picante sauce

1 pint sour cream

Layer ingredients in order listed.  Serve with chips.

Mom’s Pimento Cheese

I just finished reading Being Dead is No Excuse about Southern funerary foods, of which pimento cheese is a staple.  I remember my mom’s, by looks only, because pimentos were suspiciously tomato-looking and I wouldn’t eat it (12/08).

Grated cheddar cheese

1-2 tablespoons Hellmann’s mayonnaise (really just enough to bind it)

1 container pimentos, drained

Chunky salsa (this is a very recent addition)

Salt and pepper, if needed

Mix, chill, and spread on bread or crackers.

Mom

Texas Black-Eyed Pea Dip

1 stick butter

5 scallions, chopped

8 oz. Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded

2 cans black-eyed peas (I used Sylvia's Specially Sesasoned Black Eyes, at Shop and Stop in the "Southern" section; Trappey's is traditional but not available here), drained 

1-4 oz. can green chilies, chopped (like Old El Paso)

1 clove garlic, minced, or garlic powder to taste

Heat butter in saucepan until melted, adding all remaining ingredients.  Heat through, stirring occasionally.  Mash beans to desired consistency (I like to leave it half-chunky).  Serve immediately with corn chips.  Can be reheated in microwave if it gets too cool.

Cheese Dip (Queso)
2 lbs. Velveeta
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes with chilies

Combine til melted and heated through.  Eat with corn chips.

(The slower version has you sauteeing some onions in a bit of oil and then adding the cheese and tomatoes. Eh).

traditional Texas party dip


"Fancy" Cheese Dip
1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. sausage

1 onion, chopped

2 lbs. Velveeta

1 can Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1/4 teaspoon garlic power

1/4 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

            Brown meats and onion.  Add remaining ingredients and cook until onion is tender and cheese melts.  Serve warm with corn chips.

Gommie Hungry

Ramen Salad

2 packages ramen noodles, crumbled

1 large package broccoli slaw

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 cup sunflower kernels

1 cup toasted sliced almonds

½ cup oil

½ cup sugar

½ cup rice wine vinegar

seasoning packets

Combine noodles, slaw, green onions, seeds, and nuts. Mix oil, sugar, vinegar, and seasoning packet together. Pour over salad and toss. Note: this makes a ton; you can cut the recipe in half.

Mr. G

Aunt Janie’s Hush Puppies

A staple of bay fish fries!  And Aunt Janie’s are the best ever.

2 ½ cup cornmeal

2 cup flour

1 ½ tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoon sugar

1 cup grated onion

Add milk until stiff.  Fry.

Aunt Janie

Mr. Campbell’s Barbecue Sauce

Very tart but real BBQ sauce, from Grandad's good friend, Mr. Campbell.

I remember the green-handled wire brush and the bay leaf floating in the saucepan on the stove where Mom kept it warm between bastings at the old Weber kettle.

1 quart vinegar (apple cider)

3 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon Coleman mustard

2 tablespoon paprika

salt to taste

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 Bay leaf

1 lemon sliced

¼ cup worcestershire

red pepper

1 tablespoon black pepper

            Simmer for 30 minutes.  Add ¼ lb. butter or oleo; cook until melted.  Can be frozen. 

            Brush on chicken before and during barbecuing.

                                                                                                            Mr. Bill Campbell

My Recipe for Baked Beans

4 slices bacon

½ cup chopped onion

2-1 lb. can Pork and Beans

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon mustard

1 teaspoon ketchup

chopped bell pepper

Cook bacon until crip, drain and crumble. In 2 tablespoons of drippings cook onion and bell pepper unil tender but not brown. Add with bacon to beans and other, mixing well. Put in 1 ½ quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 20-45 minutes.

Mommy Hungry's Mom

Black-Eyed Peas
As tradition goes, you have to eat all your black-eyes on New Year’s. 

1 bag black-eyed peas
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
garlic, minced.
salt, pepper 
olive oil

Soak peas overnight in salted water.  In morning, drain and rinse peas. 

Saute onion, optional pepper, and garlic in oil. Add peas. Cover with water (water is double the amount of peas or more). Cook until tender, about 2 1/2 hours.  *Goya's jambon bouillon makes this tasty if you don't use a ham bone.

Cornbread

1 ¼ cups flour
¾ cups yellow corn meal
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup skim milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 400°F. Leave cast iron skillet in oven while preheating. Combine dry ingredients. Stir in milk, oil, and egg, mixing just until dry ingredients are moistened. Do not overmix. Pour into skillet. Bake 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown and pick inserted comes out clean.

Mom

My Playgroup Frito Chili Pie

1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can Ranch style beans (there will be an homage to these later. I literally "import" them from Houston everytime my folks come up. It's the one thing I just cannot find up here, now that the stores have Pace Picante sauce and Rotel tomatoes. If only Blue Bell ice cream travelled as well.)
1 can light kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 packet McCormick chili mix
14 oz can diced tomatoes
Fritos
shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the ground meat, draining fat. Brown onions. Add all the beans plus the packet of chili mix and tomatoes to meat and onions. Add water if necessary (I like my chili soupy, so the Fritos can absorb some). Simmer. Serve with lots of Fritos and cheese.

King Ranch Chicken

1 chicken, cooked and cut in pieces (or, bake 3 breasts in oven at 350°F for 30 minutes)

2 cup grated cheese

1 dozen corn tortillas, torn into fourths (Gommie used corn chips)

1 onion, chopped

Sauce:

1 can cream of chicken

1 can cream of mushroom/celery

1 cup chicken broth (or bouillion cube and water)

½ can Rotel tomatoes/chilies

            Spray 9 x 13 pan with Pam.  Layer tortillas, chicken, onions, sauce, and cheese.  Bake 350°F for 30 minutes.

Gommie Hungry

Shrimp Remoulade
We eat this every Christmas Eve when we get back from looking at lights; it’s a tradition from Mom’s family. Dad always wonders why we don’t eat it on other days. I didn’t like it much as a child but it is a tradition and it’s growing on me.

4 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons vinegar
4 tablespoons prepared mustard (French’s)
2 teaspoons horseradish
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoons pepper (dark, cayenne)
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 cup salad oil
½ cup finely chopped celery
½ cup finely chopped green onions
2 –3 quarts cooked and peeled shrimp

Combine first 8 ingredients. Gradually add oil, beating with beater. Add shrimp, celery, and onion. Chill. Serve on shredded lettuce with crackers.

Mom

Muffaletas/Muffuletta/Muffalatta (who knows?!)
Very similar to those at Central Grocery, which I remember eating on our trips to New Orleans.

Combine:
1 jar salad olives, drained
1 jar cocktail onions, drained
4 cloves garlic, minced
celery—chopped fine
Bread
meats (cheap lunchmeats--ham, bologna,salami)
mozzarella cheese

Bake at 350°F until brown and cheese melts.


Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
I didn’t really love gumbo when I was younger but it has certainly grown on me now. So, for the first time, the night before the crash of Flight 587, I made gumbo, based on my mom’s recipes and my New Orleans cooking school class notes. And you don’t really need Andouille sausage—just any smoked sausage. Note: My mom adds a can of diced tomatoes; I don't.

4-5 chicken breasts
½ cup flour
½ cup oil
2 large onions chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 lbs. sausage
6-8 cups chicken stock
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons Tony’s (approximately)

Saute sausage medallions. Saute onions, celery, pepper in sausage grease.
Make roux (Mom says you can microwave til brown, stirring after every minute; I tried this to start but then but it in a pot to finish). Add chicken broth. Add onion, celery, pepper, and sausage.
Saute chicken until dry and stringy. Add to pot. Add bay leaf, garlic, Tony’s. Simmer for 2 hours.
Serve over rice. Freezes really well.

Mom

Dot’s Trout

Butter and parsley makes fish extra-tasty.  I haven’t managed to reproduce the recipe yet; Mama Hungry tried but there was perhaps too much flour.

Bread fillets in flour.

Fry in butter and parsley.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Pour lemon juice and butter over fish.

                                                                                                                       

Aunt Dot

Mom’s Fried Fish

Gommie made this during her October 2004 visit—we experimented with different fish we could buy at the grocery.  The catfish and flounder were the best; the tilapia was nasty.

My Mom’s email correcting the recipe:  After I rinse the filets I put them on a paper towel with newspaper underneath to dry.  I actually salt and pepper the fish on one side before putting it in the cornmeal, placing that seasoned side down in the cornmeal and seasoning the other side.  Some of the seasoning does get into the cornmeal.

The main thing is to have the oil hot (Uncle A.J. believed that to fry oysters (much the same) you should be able to ignite at match in the oil. It should also allow the fish to float in the oil. But... it can be tested by dropping a pinch of the cornmeal in the oil and it will sizzle when

ready.  The burner should be medium high-to-high, but the oil should not smoke.

The fried filet can be placed on a paper towel-over-newspaper to absorb the oil.

Main rule:  Serve immediately.

4-6 fish filets (in Connecticut, best to worst:  flounder, catfish, cod, tilapia; try rainbow trout and sole.  Mom has speckled trout)

cornmeal

salt

pepper

            Heat approximately 2-3” of oil in pot.

            Wash filets.  Mix cornmeal with salt and pepper to taste.  Coat fish filets.

            Fry fish in oil until golden brown.  Dry on paper towels.

            Serve with ketchup or homemade tartar sauce.

Gommie Hungry

Creole

This can be shrimp or ham.  We had extra ham and Mom mentioned this adaptation.  I barely remember it from childhood, recalling the shrimp version.  But it’s tasty and worth repeating.  If you don’t have crushed tomatoes, you can use 8 oz. of tomato sauce and ½ a can of Rotel.

1/3 cup olive oil (do not use with ham)

½ cup chopped onions

½ cup chopped green pepper

½ cup chopped celery

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

dash of cayenne

1 bay leaf

1 lb 4 oz. can tomatoes

1 ½ pounds shrimp, shellled and deveined (or leftover ham)

1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

¼ cup chopped parsley (optional)

cooked rice

Heat oil in large skillet or saute ham.  Saute onions, green pepper, celery and garlic for 5 minutes.  Stir in flour, salt, pepper, cayenne, bay leaf, and tomatoes.  Bring to boil; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in shrimp, sugar, and parsley.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until shrimp are cooked.

Serve on rice.

Mom

Frijoles Borrachos, or Pinto Beans Stewed in Beer

1 cup chopped tomatoes or lightly drained canned diced tomatoes

2-16 oz cans pinto or pink beans drained and rinsed, or 4 cups cooked pinto or pink beans (about 1 1/2 cups raw. I just used 16 oz).

1/2 cup beer

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (NOT in my beans!)

4 oz can mild green chilies

3 tablespoons pinto bean seasoning (I picked this up in Texas; not sure what goes in it but will look)

Combine all ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.

adapted from Nava Atlas's The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet

Miss B's Red Beans and Rice

This recipe comes from Miss B, complete with tips on ingredients—Camellia beans and Tony’s Creole Seasoning. I think this was my first Cajun food, sitting at her kitchen table with a bowl ladled from a simmering pot. Mama and I made it at the end of the 9/11 week and the beginning of fall—with Goya beans and Chicken Apple Sausage. And it was perfect! Just what we needed.

1 lb. kidney beans

1 large onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons ground bay leaf [or 2-3 whole leaves]

1/3 cup bacon drippings [or 3 pieces of bacon]

2 lb. smoked sausage

garlic salt, salt, pepper [or 1 tablespoon Tony’s]

Wash beans. Fill pot with water (2-3 quarts). Add onion, celery, green pepper, parsley, bay leaf, and bacon drippings. Bring to boil uncovered. Simmer and keep adding water until beans are softened, and gravy and beans are desired consistency (we added 1 quart more), approximately 2 hours. Add sausage, then Tony’s. Simmer uncovered about ½ hour longer. Turn off heat, let rest for 30 minutes. Make rice. Serve.

Miss B

Bread Pudding and Bourbon Sauce
I got this from Southern Living. Mom makes it now for all of her events and gets raves of compliments from real Southern chefs. I usually decrease the number of raisins, which will burn on the bottom if not floured. I know some people insist on adding fruit cocktail; I don't.

3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ cup butter, melted
2 ¾ cup whipping cream
4 cups cubed French bread
¾ cups raisins (or less)

Combine first 4 ingredients. Stir in butter and cream. Gently stir in bread and raisins. Pour in lightly greased 2-quart deep dish. Bake 375°F for 50-55 minutes, shielding with foil after 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Southern Living magazine

Bourbon Sauce

3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup sugar
1 cup cream (whipping, heavy, half-and-half)
2 (or 1) tablespoons bourbon (or your favorite--rum works well)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Melt butter in a small saucepan; whisk in flour and cook 5 minutes. Stir in sugar and cream; cook 3 minutes. Stir in bourbon, vanilla, and nutmeg, and simmer 5 minutes.

Family Circle

Tex-Mex Chocolate Sheet Cake

1 stick margarine or butter
½ cup vegetable oil
2-1oz. squares unsweetened chocolate or 6 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
½ cup buttermilk or sour milk (to sour regular milk, place 1 2/2 teaspoons white vinegar in ½ cups measure, fill with milk)
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine margarine, oil, chocolate and water in a saucepan and heat until chocolate is melted. Combine flour, baking soda, sugar, milk, eggs, cinnamon and vanilla in a large bowl, then blend with first mixture. Pour batter into a greased 12 x 18 sheet cake pan and bake 20-25 minutes or until cake is down (top springs back when touched lightly). Leave cake in pan and frost with Mexican Chocolate Icing while cake is still warm.

Icing

1 stick margarine or butter
2-1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate (or 6 tablespoons cocoa plus 2 tablespoons
of margarine or butter)
6 tablespoons milk
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup chopped pecans

Combine margarine, chocolate, and milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat until bubbles form around the edge. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar, a little at a time (this is important). Stir in vanilla and pecans. Beat to a spreading consistency. Spread warm icing on warm cake.
Mom

Banana Pudding

 It’s not traditional banana pudding—with the cream cheese—but I like the not-so-sweet rich texture.

12 oz. vanilla wafers

tub of Cool Whip (large)--I used 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream, whipped

package of cream cheese (large)

package of Jello Instant Vanilla pudding (large)

5 bananas, sliced in rounds

milk

            Line the bottom of the dish with wafers

            Make the pudding. Make the whipped cream. Add cream cheese, beating with mixer, and fold in the whipped cream.  Add bananas and more wafers and stir very gently.

            Spoon pudding mixture on top of wafers.  Cover with remaining wafers.

            Refrigerate and serve.

Mommy Hungry

Pecan Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup sugar

1 cup Karo syrup (light or dark; I usually have light)

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ¼ cup whole pecans

1-9 inch unbaked or frozen pie crust

Preheat oven to 350°F.  In large bowl, stir the first five ingredients until well blended.  Stir in pecans.  Pour into pie crust.  Bake 50-55 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between crust and center comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack.

 Karo syrup bottle

Fruit Pie (adapted from Aunt T's Dewberry Cobbler recipe)

Crust*:

2 frozen pie crusts

Filling:

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour, to thicken

2-10 oz. bags frozen mixed berries

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Remove both crusts from plastic bag. Place one on a cookie sheet. Cut the edge off the other so as to leave a circle of dough.

Mix sugar and flour together and then toss into frozen berries, mixing well (there is no need to defrost; the flour absorbs the extra liquid). Crush berries to extract juice.

Fill the pie crust with the berries. Remove the second pie crust (sans edge) and place it on top of the filled crust; it will overlap the edge of the filled crust. Pinch edges together and the impress with fork. Puncture the center to allow steam release, dab with pats of butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Cover edges with foil and bake 1-1 ½ hours, with cookie sheet below to catch spills, or until bubbling.

What Day is It?

It's another messy week.  We've had stomach issues and rashes and headaches and allergies and doctor's appointments and missed school and missed activities.

And it's only . . . Thursday?  Is it Thursday?

Whew.

I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Which is good because we have some fun planned for the weekend.

And the weather is beautiful!

In fact, we've got lots of fun planned in the coming months:

• St. Patrick's Day celebrations
• trip to Philly for friend's ordination (plus City Tavern, Franklin Fountain, and more!)
• Easter!
• Zentangle training for me in Providence
• spring break (Vermont?)
• GS field trips--local hike, local store for Savvy Shopper Badge, activities with Daisy troop
• piano recital
• Kripalu retreat with Gommie
• kung fu tournament
• lighthouse tour of NJ?
• play performance!!!
• Bronze Award ceremony for GS
• end of school!!

Stole-n Rainbow

We're attending the ordination of a friend as a new UCC (United Church of Christ) minister this coming weekend.  And I had asked all my UU minister friends for their suggestions on appropriate gifts (see below for the other suggestions.)  I decided to crochet a stole but couldn't find any patterns, just a few photos without any information or even original sources.  Most of the handmade stoles are quilted or woven.  But my friend's wife is an incredible quilter, so I wasn't going to sew anything.

Mama and I talked over a possible pattern, looking at the various shapes and ideas online.  We went with a basic "V" without any increases to widen the "arms."  I chose a Granny Square as the base of the "V" and the ends, though I also considered a mitered square.  I chose rainbow because my friend is also a lesbian and because of the UCC's embrace and support of same-sex marriage.  And I liked the rainbow with black, instead of white, suggestive of a stained glass window.  

I've never made up a pattern before.  I like how it turned out, though it's definitely handmade looking.  I hope she likes it.

-=-=-=-=-=-=

Crocheted Rainbow Granny Square Minister's Stole
(please note:  I don't usually write patterns, but since I couldn't find one for a stole myself, I wanted to share what I came up with;  this is more of a suggestion of how I did it than an exact pattern. You can use your favorite Granny Square.)

skeins of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black worsted weight yarn (I used Caron Simply Soft)
H hook

Note:  the stole "arms" have been twisted so
that the end squares face front in the photo.

Granny Squares (make 3)
With red yarn, make a magic ring and chain 3.
Round 1 (red):  2dc, *ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2* 3 times, connect with sl st to first dc.  Fasten off (change colors.)

Round 2 (orange):  Attach new color (orange) in ch 2 sp with sl st, ch 3, 2dc, in next three ch 2 sp *3dc, ch 2, 3 dc*, in original ch 2 sp 3 dc, ch 2 and connect to first dc with sl st.  Fasten off (change color.)

Round 3 (yellow):  Attach new color (yellow) in ch 2 sp with sl st, ch 3, 2dc. In spaces between 3dc clusters, 3dc.  In each corner *3dc, ch 2, 3 dc*.  When you return to original ch 1 sp,  3 dc, ch 2 and connect to first dc with sl st.  Fasten off (change color.)

Round 4 (green):  repeat Round 3

Round 5 (blue):  repeat Round 3

Round 6 (purple):  dc in each stitch, and dc, ch2, dc in corner sp.

With one Granny Square (for the back/corner), begin crocheting along one side of the square in black to make the length of the stole (I attached the black with a slip stitch.)  I used a Trinity pattern--3 rows of sc, 1 row of dc--and repeated until I reached the desired length.  Do this twice, using adjoining sides of the Granny Square, so that it forms a "V" or "L" shape.

Attach each of the other two Granny Squares to the other end of the stole lengths using a slip stitch.  Be sure they are facing the correct direction; when the stole is laid flat, the right sides of the all Granny Squares face the same direction so that they drape correctly (in the photo, the stole "arms" have been twisted so that the end squares face front.)

Border the entire stole in black using single crochet.

Weave in all ends and block appropriately.

Mommy Hungry


-=-=-=-=-=-
Other suggested gifts:  Something hand-made (since you are an artist)--prayer shawl, colorful cloths or runners for decorating altars. A sculpture, "prayer" flags (there are a bunch in the Northern Sun catalog), sun catcher, dream-catcher, framed art/poster, a sculpture, book of poetry or story collections, a set of children's stories you think a minister should have, a really nice bottle of champagne, a gift certificate for a nice dinner for two (or four), flower seeds and a trowel and a pretty planter, a vase, a set of adult coloring books and 60 markers, a finger labyrinth, a stole decorated by the family, boxes of beautiful blank cards, Northern Sun for posters, an awesome angel.

Woodworking Weekend

Mama had a big weekend!  She was gone for more than 48-hours at a weekend-long woodworking class at Old Sturbridge Village.  She's exhausted--she thinks her arms will fall off--but she brought home a gorgeous "hope" chest.

See, even the cat likes it.

• It's bigger than I thought--3' long, about 2' tall, more than a foot wide.
• The instructor led them through the OSV collection and then a slideshow on the history of the chest to give them ideas for their own.  Points of interest:  long chests are probably older; chests then started to have a drawer underneath, then more drawers, then it was a "chest of drawers"; the backs weren't usually finished, because they were never seen; cabinetmakers made fancy furniture with polish and inlays and carpenters did rougher work.
• The course focused on historical woodworking, so there were no power tools and, when possible, they did everything by hand.
• While the instructor had cut many of the pieces beforehand, Mama still had to saw the legs all on her own.  And the details that she included with the legs, which included two overcuts and some lovely scrolls so that it kind of looks like a star.
• The nails were provided (apparently, nails are really hard--with the sturdy point and the head), but she made the rivets at a forge herself.  This turned out harder than she expected.  And she even burned her hand a bit.  
• She scalloped the edges with a chisel and made a molding along the top rim to make it fancy, both techniques she saw in the historical examples.
• There's a till, or little box inside. 
• And a secret compartment!
• And she sanded the whole thing by hand.  She desired a rustic look, including some rough bits and cracks, which don't affect the structure of it.  
• She made the paint herself--some parts shellac, some parts denatured alcohol, some parts red coloring, which is natural (the Prussian blue, however, was the first synthetic color; she painted the till blue.)
• And there are some mystery letters stamped around the box, only visible if you really look.  
• Finally, her maker's mark is on the lower right front corner.

We love it.  She's so proud.   (Though, she's not yet sure that it will be her new hobby.)

Now, only to find the perfect spot for it . . . . 

Today

8:15 a.m.  I hear a child downstairs, maybe too.  And a cat crying for breakfast

8:30 I get up.  Bud is downstairs eating ice cream for breakfast.  Sis is reading about the Greek Gods in her room.

9:30  After Sis ate brownies for breakfast and we all got what we needed for the day, we headed out of the house.

9:45 Dropped Sis off at ice skating

9:55 Drooped Bud off at kung fu.  I told his coach that I had to pick him up early for a school function (well, sorta--his sister's Girl Scouts takes place after school and this was our cookie booth day!)

10:10  I hand out at bookstore, get a magazine on Vikings and another on Doctor Who

10:30 I head to ice skating to watch Sis, one of my favorite things to do.

11:00 Sis and I eat bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches in the stands after her lesson.

11:15 We head to get Bud.

11:35 I run inside and fetch Bud so we can drive to his playdate.

12:01 p.m.  I drop Bud off at a friend's.  They have love of Minecraft and piano in common; both moms have been trying to get them together for awhile.  And she so kindly agreed to take him today.

12:15 Sis and I arrive at our Girl Scout Cookie Booth.  The theme of the booth is Star Wars.  "Buy Cookies, You Will."    She wears my Ewok hat; many of the girls have Princess Leia buns.  For 2+ hours, she interacts with customers, sells cookies, makes change, restocks cookies, and giggles with her friends.  I chat with a couple of the other moms who stayed to help chaperone.  Halfway through, I buy the girls a box of Samoas.  They finish it in minutes!  Next year, we must buy more Trefoils--we always sell out of those very fast.   "May the Cookies be with You!"

2:35 We pass off the booth to the next shift and we head to fetch Bud.

2:50  Bud had a great time at his playdate.  They all play some more while the adults chat.  We'll have to do it again sometime.

3:20  Heading home, we place a take-out order at the local pasta place.

3:45  We pick up our early dinner.

4:00  We eat pink pasta, seafood pasta, and chicken fettuccine alfredo while watching Mockingjay Part 1

6:00 or so We take a screen break.

7:00 The kids have an hour left of screen time.  I take a bath, cuddle with a cat, and type here.

Whew.  I expect we'll have a snack, maybe read together.  And then I could go for an early night.  But I doubt it'll happen.

UPDATE:
8:00 They start the "Dance Stamina Dance Off" and move, as required, their arms, torsos, and legs for 12+ songs (about 40 minutes), with Bud lasting 1 1/2 songs longer than Sis.  My favorite the Octopus, which they would do together, moving arms and legs--8 in all!
9:00  baths and reading
9:30 Lights out (mostly)

Book Club of the Blue Dolphin

The cover of the book I had

We hosted our Mother-Daughter book club tonight, having chosen Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Sis chose it because she likes survival stories.  She even read my copy, marked clearly, "Jamie, Fourth Grade."  35+ years old.

The book imagines the story of the experiences of a woman, named Karana in the book but Juana Maria in the historical record, who was actually left behind on an island off the coast of Los Angeles in the mid-19th century when her tribe went away.  Yes, the bones of the tale are real--she lived on the island alone for 18 years (no one came for her and the boat of her people went down with all aboard)--archaeologists think they've even found her cave!  She  was eventually brought to shore, where she couldn't communicate because no one spoke her language anymore, and she died just a few weeks after her "rescue" of dysentery.  Her cormorant skirt was sent to the Vatican and some of her other belongings were sent to a museum.

But the book deals with the time on the island, from the original events that led to her people leaving, to her jumping in the water to go back for her mischievous little brother, her brother's death by the pack of wild dogs, and her skills at making weapons, shelters, food, and friends of some of the animal inhabitants.  Karana survives visitors, a tsunami, serious injury, a leaky canoe during an attempted escape.  As we discussed tonight, she was resilient, resourceful, strong, brave.  She secured food, shelter, weapons, clothing . . . but also needed companionship (Rontu, Rontu-aru, the otter, the birds, and the visiting fox; it was because she was lonely that she finally left the island) and even beauty (the cormorant skirt, the necklace and earrings she made to match, even the abalone wind-chime type things.)

We also talked about what we would take if we were stranded on an island.  Sis said iodine to purify the water (I thought she was really clever to think of this.)  I wanted a pot with a lid and a tarp.  Many of us wanted knives and matches in a waterproof box.  Some wanted blankets or a first aid kit.  A few said "log cabin" or "refrigerator," laughing at missing the point.  I also mentioned wanting a book but couldn't quite decide--the collected works of Shakespeare are long and complex, but then I'd want a good dictionary to go with it!   But there were very few non-necessities (even the most religious among us wasn't going to take a Bible or the Book of Mormon.)  I'm not sure most of us would last very long, any longer than Karana laster when she got to the mainland.

As we discussed the book, we all worked on our own little woven Jute basket, just as Karana made baskets in the book.  Ours had a plastic frame that we wove strands of twine through, adding colorful beads.  Each mother and daughter made different patterns and color choices; some drew them tight to change the shape and one even made the twine pass across the opening to section off areas for different pencils!  It took us awhile to settle into talking while we wove, but eventually it was one great "basket bee."

We also ate two loaves of banana bread, a ton of popcorn, some Red Zinger punch (this time with gingerale) and then the kids ended the evening playing with the cats and then having lightsaber battles outside.  All in all, a very successful book club meeting.

Anxieties Anonymous

When I told my mom that I had recently realized that I was an anxious person, she chuckled and said, "Of course you are.  I've known that since you were little."

How did I not know?

Sure, I would get stressful before tests and oral reports.  Most people do--you know the joke about people less nervous to be in the coffin than giving the eulogy.   I declined joining the Academic Decathlon team because competition made me too anxious; it still does.  But it didn't occur to me that I might be more anxious than other people.

I also got stressful--and would have digestive issues--before movies or theater performances or  meetings or on public transportation.   Or driving/being in the car.  Really, anywhere I felt "stuck."

New places also caused stress.  Traveling to new places caused stress.  As did something as simple as walking around--on campus, to the store, around the store, sightseeing, hiking--anything without a bathroom nearby, even if I didn't need it at the time.  Anxiety and its effects don't creep up every time--and I can't always predict when--I thought it was just the family stomach, IBS, really--my dad, my aunt, later I learned about my grandad probably too; now possibly one of the kiddos, which is another reason I've been exploring the topic.  I thought the physical was the dominant problem, with the anxiety swirling around it.  I wasn't like the stereotype of anxious that I had seen.  But I'm guessing the anxiety came first.  And no one ever really said anything about it to me, until very recently, even if/when they noticed.

Once I had kids, the stress was somewhat in abeyance.  New people did not make me nervous, nor did social activities; I was fine at playdates, music classes, Girl Scouts.

Though, carpooling and waiting in the car at pick-ups--more "stuck" places--were hard.

Are hard.

None of those are really in the past tense.

Once I hurt my back and later had abdominal surgery, I was nervous about re-injuring, over-extending, indications of pain.   The anxiety has definitely gotten worse since my emergency surgery and recovery.  I've had a few very overwhelming panic attacks and am more sensitive than I was . . . .

About all of the above, confrontations, phone calls, conflicts, things I've said, things I didn't say . . . . . unexpected or surprise events, things out of my control (and conversely, sometimes, being in charge),  being late, being embarrassed (feeling stupid), unpredictability, negative outcomes, possible emergencies, illness, death.

I think the list could go on.

My general response to many stimuli is anxiety, which for me goes straight to my stomach (and sometimes to my back.)  I've been discussing it with my therapist and GP, and practicing mindfulness techniques; we don't think meds are necessary at this time.  I attended a workshop on anxiety in children recently, which put my issues in perspective.  On the spectrum of anxiety issues, I think I'm just outside the realm of typical, in the middle of the line somewhere.  I'm not OCD, I'm not socially paralyzed, it doesn't alter my daily life in extreme, but I know in 45 years that I've altered what I do to avoid anxious triggers.  Otherwise, I've come up with ways (some successful, some not so much) to deal with them and Mama has always been very helpful and understanding.  I try to surround myself with similarly understanding, compassionate, supportive people and now I have quite the little crew that gets my quirks.

Sure, the argument could be made that they enable me.  But I'm progressing at the speed I can . . . . awareness is the key, right?

I'm telling you this because, well, you already know, just like my mom knew.   Now that I'm more aware, I can see the patterns and patterned responses.  I can work on changing them.  But also on accepting them.  And helping others to understand and accept me and all the anxious people like me.

Affirmations 2016

My affirmation list has gotten longer and I realized that it desperately needed an update (my original list of Affirmations is from last March, April, and then again in October.)  So, I'm making a new one, mainly for this year.

I have not had severely debilitating back pain in almost 5 whole years (my major episode was 6 years ago!)  Two years ago, Memorial Day 2014 when I had back pain, I still functioned and did things.

My surgery was almost a year ago and I am so much better.  

• I can drive as far and walk as much as I did before my surgery.
• I can do so many things without my brace:  go on outings, play the piano, cook dinner, push the cart around the grocery store, fold the laundry, unload the dishwasher, watch tv from the couch, sit to meditate, sit at the dinner table, clean the litterboxes, meditating on my zafu/cushion, and do all of my stretches and exercises.  And I can do several of these in a row in one day without any problem, most days.  Some of these were hard before surgery; my PT thinks my core might be stronger than before.
• I know what foods most upset my system and can work around them.
• I am more skillful at staying in the present when I have pain or anxiety.

Recently, I have successfully navigated:

• evening performances at Lincoln Center and Broadway;
• the all-day rehearsal time and then performance of Bud's kung fu at Lincoln Center;
• walking 10 blocks, eating in a restaurant, and walking back 10 blocks;
• back-to-back museum exhibitions;
• test driving and buying a new car;
• conducting various GS meetings (including Bronze Award!) and (soon) standing at the GS cookie booth;
• being in charge--rides, meals, chores, etc.--as the only adult for the whole weekend;
• (soon) parented alone for a whole weekend, with all the driving and meals etc;
• complete a huge crocheted blanket;
• passing my CPR test, with 3+ minutes of demonstration of compressions, etc.;
• driving Bud to a performance, staying to watch, and driving home;
• walking the marsh and the beach to look for the Snowy Owl;
• lightsaber sparring with Bud; 
• cleaning the porch with Mama;
• pick up dear Mr. P and carry him when he was ill;
• walked on rocky/shelly beaches looking sea glass (home and Block Island);
• attending a weekend knitting retreat (with lots of sitting!);
• walking labyrinths (at retreat and Block Island);
• walking on wooded paths, where I saw an owl (retreat);
• attended several parties;
• sat through SW7 three times (once followed by dinner!);
• Chinese New Year, with several sessions of kneeling to pray;
• regular doctors' appointments;
• one word:  colonoscopy;
• and more that I can't even remember.

A Good Goo Day

Goo came for a visit this weekend, staying over Saturday, which was a lovely treat for us all, particularly the kiddos.  They played videogames most of the evening.  And then they woke up and cooked us breakfast!  We had pancakes with buttermilk syrup and bacon.  Goo also made candied orange slices and we tried some of the syrup in my yogurt.  So good.  The syrup is also really good in iced tea.  Oh, and the orange slices are tasty too.

On Sunday, we tried to find the owl and had a bit of a disappointment when what we (and a bunch of birders) thought was the owl turned out to be a rock.   So, we flew a kite, looked for sea glass, and Goo taught the kids how to skip stones.  

The visit finished with lunch (dumplings from a new place Mama found--and dumplings were easy for her to chew after her extraction) and more videogames.  All very nice.


-=-=-=-=-=-

Candied Orange Slices

from TasteMade

• 1 navel oranges
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 oz dark chocolate

1. Thoroughly wash the orange to get rid of any waxy residue. Slice off and discard the ends, and slice the rest of the fruit into ¼” slices. 
2. In a wide pot, heat and stir water and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Avoid stirring after this point to prevent crystallization. Bring to a gentle boil and add the orange slices. After 15 minutes, lower the heat to medium-low. Flip over the slices and continue cooking on low for another 15-20 minutes, until the peel becomes translucent and the syrup has thickened. Place a wire rack on top of a lined baking sheet, and transfer the candied slices on top to cool. Reserve orange syrup for other uses. 
3. Melt chocolate and dip slices halfway. Place slices on a parchment-lined tray and chill.

Not Meatless Monday

In fact, our dinner last night was the direct opposite of Meatless Monday:  Australian Beef Pie!  We first had Australian Beef Pie from Michele's Pies, a local pie place from which Mama buys sweets and savories.   Yum!  Salty, cheesy, beefy.  (I know, look how far from vegetarianism I've fallen.)  I got the recipe from the chef Michelle Stuart's cookbook, Perfect Pies, and had all the ingredients to make it last night.

Well, not all.  Not a cup--a CUP--of McCormick gravy mix.  Eww.  So I made my own beef gravy, but thicker and tastier than usual.  And it worked.  Not quite the same as the mini-pies from the shop, but Sis raved.  And everybody liked it.  It's a bit salty and beefy (maybe I could cut it with potatoes or veggies, but that might defeat the purpose), so I think it will have to go into our once-in-a-very-blue-moon rotation.  Maybe for ANZAC Day or something.

-=-=-=-=-=-

My Australian Beef Pie
adapted from Michele Stuart's Perfect Pies

1 cup onion, chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pie crust
1 cup beef stock
1 tablespoon oil, plus more for saute
3 tablespoons flour
salt, garlic powder, Worchestershire sauce to taste

Preheat oven to 425F.

Saute onion in skillet until tender, around 8 minutes.  Add beef and cook until browned, about 10 more minutes.  Strain mixture to remove excess liquid and oil.

Meanwhile, make gravy by browning flour in oil.  When roux is brown, add stock.  Bring to boil and remove from heat.

Stir beef mixture into gravy and then add cheese.   Taste and season with salt, garlic powder, Worchestershire sauce.   Pour mixture into pie plate and cover with pie crust.  Make several marks with knife or fork to vent.

Bake at 425F for 15 minutes, then reduce to 375F and bake for 35-45 minutes or until bubbling.

Mommy Hungry

Beginner Birding

I think I'm a beginner bird nerd!

Of course, I come by it naturally.  I heard my dad's duck calls for all of my childhood, both his and the ones on the records and tapes he listened to.  Decoys hung from the rafters of the garage and there was a lot of camo (he spent weeks designing and painting his own camo on an aluminum boat in our driveway); and yes, there were guns and even his own shell-loading machine.  We didn't eat duck much that I recall (and never goose); I think he often gave it away.  But there was that time I found the frozen duck, fully feathered, in the freezer . . . but I won't dwell on his hunting days.

Now, of course, he is an avid naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, and bird watcher, mostly waterfowl.  He has built a wildlife refuge in central Texas, protecting the wood ducks, for which he maintains a lovely pond (without the help of the local beavers.)  He keeps a log of his birds, and takes photos and videos of ducks.  When he visits up here, he checks out the local ponds--he found the special birder spot long before I did.  He belongs to all sorts of organizations--Audubon, Sierra Club, etc.--and worries about the future of the planet, as he watches bird migration patterns change.

And when I was young, I was definitely not interested in bird calls or camo and especially not in hunting. More recently, we've shared environmental concerns.  And then Mama and the kids and I became really interested in birds of prey.  I'd always liked the birds of prey show at the Renaissance Fairs; that was our gateway.  Then, as you know, we took a falconry lesson in England--wow!  And we saw  the Snowy Owl (one of them) that played Hedwig in Harry Potter.  And Mama and I went on a Saw Whet Owl banding excursion on Block Island.  And now, finally, a Snowy Owl has come to town.  And I've been looking for it.   I guess all those childhood influences will out.

As you know, we actually saw it last week, the kids and I, a tiny white speck on a log on the horizon. It was exciting, but I've wanted to see it again.  Sunday we took Goo to the special birding spot and saw a group of birders huddling, always a good sign.  And there, out on the breakwater, far far away, we thought we saw the owl.  We looked with scope and binoculars and all agreed.  Until a man with a bigger scope came and proved it was just a rock.  Such a disappointment.   But he was nice about it, didn't mean to burst bubbles, just wanted to make sure the reporting of the owl was accurate (all the birders seem to record their findings for scientists.)

Yesterday, I went out looking.  I saw a swan and some gulls and some ducks; I'm not great at identifying ducks yet--though, after a lifetime of hearing about ducks, I can at least recognize Mr. and Mrs. Mallard!   I had a nice talk with a birder (always identifiable by scope or at least binoculars, usually both)--a firefighter who drives home by way of local birding spots--and he had some great suggestions (eBird to report sightings and Merlin from Cornell Labs for bird identifications--it asks 5 questions and narrows down what you could be looking at and shows pictures!) and helped me identify some Snow Buntings and American Tree Sparrows, both apparently uncommon. All the birders I've met so far have been nice--from the first one we talked to who said she's a birder who looks for other birders because they know where the birds are (and that's how we saw the owl!), to those who have shared their scopes with higher resolution than my binoculars so we can see to the firefighter with the apps and help.  After we talked, it started to rain and I left.   And apparently, quite literally minutes later, the owl was chased around the breakwater by some gulls and some birders got great photos.  I hope the birder saw it.   I think the owl is teasing me.  But I'll go looking again today.  There's not much time left; as it gets warmer the bird will head back to the Arctic.

I tend to like these big, impressive birds of prey.  Hawks, eagles, owls.   I'm not sure I can usually get excited about sparrows and warblers and such.  I guess people specialize, like Pop likes ducks.    Who knows, maybe I'll expand.  We'll see if I go out in summer.  It's a good walk and a non-impact sport, as Pop says, and it gives us something to talk about besides Drumpf and the election, which is almost as depressing as climate change and the like (and certain to have long-lasting repercussions on the environment.)

And so I leave you with this video (because I'm heading out to the birding spot!),  "Sh*t Birders Say," which I find funny, having heard my dad talk like this for years.  Now I'm starting to as well.  See, beginner bird nerd.

March is Crochet Month

Well, actually, I think March is officially craft month.

But, since I'm mostly a crocheter, we'll go with that.

I actually finished a big long project just Sunday:  my rainbow Granny Stripe, based on the pattern and kit of Attic 24.  I changed the color order--I like my colors in rainbows--and dropped my least favorite (which is always orange.)  I think my stitches are bigger than the pattern, but I love how the blanket looks.  I also really like the "Spot On" border, which is my first like that.  I think it's neat and subtle.

Now, I'll be starting on a crocheted stole for a friend who is being ordained as a UCC minister soon.  We'll be attending the ordination in about two weeks so there isn't much time--especially considering that I'm making up the pattern.  Wish me luck.

And happy crafting!