Recent Read: Debbie Macomber Knit Together

I will be the first to admit that I don't usually delve into the nonfiction, self-help, goal-oriented book genre. But who doesn't love Debbie Macomber and combine that with a cover portraying one of my favorite hobbies, knitting, and you have a book that is a must read for me.

Expertly, as we've come to expect from Debbie Macomber, I found myself glued to this book in just a few pages. I loved the personal narrative that wove threads of truth throughout this thought-provoking handbook for living. The stories of her sometimes difficult rise to that of a New York Times bestselling author, her unrelenting belief that God had placed that dream in her soul for such a time as this, was inspirational and life changing. The depth of this work not only caught my attention but helped redirect the way I look at dreams, and what to do once they've been dreamed.

This book resulted in a treasured family time in our home. One Saturday, I asked my family to join me for a family meeting. The curiosity factor generally guarantees an attentive audience. I asked them, as Macomber asks her readers, to create a personal mission statement. I went a bit further asking my family to write, quickly (first things that come to mind), five things they valued, five things they wanted, and finally, five things they needed. We then created an individual mission statement, a purpose statement, if you will, that describes what we want others to see in our lives. We then drafted a family mission statement that will in years to come help direct the activities and projects we involve ourselves in. A pinnacle time that helped define and solidify what was already in our hearts and minds, a written statement we all now carry in our Bibles on what we stand for as a family and as individuals.

One of my favorite chapters in the book is titled, "Created for Blessing." Macomber says,

"There's no amount of goal-setting, success strategy, or just plain hard work you can do to earn God's grace. And yet, it's so easy for us to fall into working to please God, instead of accepting His love and the free blessings He has for you."

Knit Together: Discover God's Pattern for Your Life

"New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber dreamed of being a writer from the time she was a little girl. But she was dyslexic, a slow reader, and a just-average student. Her third-grade teacher summed up what so many thought of her: 'Debbie is such a nice little girl, but she'll never do well in school.' Today, Debbie is a wildly successful, award-winning, and beloved novelist, with more than sixty million copes of her books sold and nineteen appearances on the New York Times bestseller list. Not bad for a woman people thought would never make it."

Pretzel Log Cabin

Celebrate President's Day with your children by constructing a frontier, patriot village made from pretzels -- or even Lincoln Logs.

There is nothing more conducive to teaching our children America's history than by creating costumes, toys, and visual aids that allow them the freedom of creativity and imagination. This project I came across at Kabboose is something that even the adults in your home will love. And the best part is ... it is completely edible.

Pretzel Log Cabin
By: Amanda Formaro

What you'll need:

Small empty milk carton
Pretzel sticks
Chocolate frosting or peanut butter
1 Rolo or other tubular shaped candy
1 square cracker
Scissors
Hot glue or tape

How to make it:

Cut the top flap of the milk carton off and tape or hot glue it closed to form the roof.

Spread chocolate frosting or peanut butter on one side of milk carton then cover with pretzels. Repeat this step all over the milk carton until log cabin is complete. You may need to break the tips off of some of the pretzels to make then fit up the sides.

Break a square cracker in half, then break one of the halves in half. Spread some frosting or peanut butter on the back of the first half. “Glue” it to the front of the cabin as the door. Repeat this step with a smaller broken piece for the window.

Spread some frosting or peanut butter to the bottom of Rolo and stick to the roof.

Tips:

You can make this a larger project using any box and large pretzel logs.

This is an edible craft project, just be sure you check for allergies, especially if using peanut butter as your glue.

Ask children to save their milk carton from their school lunch and wash them out thoroughly before using.

Taking Better Pictures

We all want to take better pictures. It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent thousands of dollars on your photo gear or you’re just using the camera that’s built into your phone. What you need are some tips from the pros, and you too can take great pictures.

The most logical place to start any discussion about photography is with the camera. When I write this next line, it’s going to kill any chance of me getting Nikon to sponsor me: you can take great pictures with any camera. My local newspaper runs regular photo contests. Sometimes the winners are pros, but more often than not, the winners are average people using an inexpensive camera.

Let’s start by making an assumption that we are talking about digital cameras. Film cameras are getting increasingly difficult to find at camera shops – and increasingly easier to find on eBay.

I hate to break this to you but if you still have a film camera, it’s almost worthless... Sorry.

There are three kinds of cameras: DSLR, point-and-shoot and “included”. A DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera is a camera with removable lenses. If you’re a serious hobbyist, or you’re a wannabe, then a DSLR is the way to go. They give you more control with a host of manual settings. Being able to change lenses and filters are critical to high-end photography.

A point-and-shoot camera is one designed to be easy to use. Most have some manual settings but primarily they’re intended to be used in an automatic mode. Focus, shutter speed and all of the other worries are done for the photographer automatically. They also have built-in lenses.

A new category of cameras is the “included” camera. These are cameras built into other things. My phone has two cameras. My computer has a camera. My video game has one. My car even has one. The idea behind these cameras is that the camera you have with you is always better than the camera that you don’t have with you. To date, the one thing that all included cameras have in common is that they don’t take high quality pictures. They’re getting better but they don’t yet compete with stand-alone cameras in terms of quality.

Which model should I buy?

Once you have decided the category that suits you best, the obvious question is which model. A person could go nuts evaluating all of the options and reading all of the reviews that are out there. The options are constantly changing. Rather than trying to make a futile recommendation, let me share some information that will make choosing easier.

First, it’s not a Maytag. My mom has had the same Maytag washer and dryer my whole life. Good for my mom but bad for Maytag. Unlike Maytag, the marketing folks at Canon think of their customers in terms of “lifecycle”. They have designed their product plan around the idea that every 5 years you’re going to buy a new camera. To make that happen, they design obsolescence into their product line. Cool new features will keep coming out and eventually you won’t be able to help yourself and you’ll buy a new camera. It’s inevitable. The best hedge against this is to buy the latest and greatest. Buying last year’s model won’t save you any money because right away, you’re a year closer to obsolescence.

Another decision that you’re going to make is which brand. The two most popular brands are Nikon and Canon. I would stick with one of them because both are very active in their lines. They have the sales volume to justify developing new technology and releasing new models. Competitors like Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and Kodak simply don’t have that horsepower.

When you make a choice of brand, you should figure that you will probably stick with it forever. The controls differ so much between brands that once you learn one, it will be hard to learn the other system. If you’ve opted for a DSLR, the other reason for brand loyalty is that you’re going to have accessories that only work on that brand’s cameras.

How to pick a brand? Generally speaking, professional photographers will tell you that Nikon pictures are warmer and Canon pictures are more saturated. The difference is minimal but that’s the feeling. Both take great pictures and you can’t go wrong.

So what do I use? I have two cameras: one for work and one for personal use. Both are DSLRs. The work camera is a Canon 7D. I love it because it’s fast and loaded with features. It’s the top of the consumer line of cameras… a “prosumer” model. My personal camera is a Canon T2i. What I love about it is that it has most of the features of the 7D, it uses the same image sensor, but it’s much lighter which makes it great for carrying around.

Ron J. Miller
My Flickr Photostream

This is the first article in a series on photography. Watch Good Living Magazine for more tips. If you have any questions, write me at ronjm@yahoo.com

Currant Buttermilk Scones

I'm a tea party kind of girl. There is nothing I love more than chintz and Royal Doulton and Staffordshire and roses ... and the idea of tea. While my home no longer reflects this love, a house full of my men and china don't mix superbly, so I've found Pottery Barn works much better for them. However, I travel as often as I can to Victoria and soak in all the old English, tea loving rituals I possibly can.

Here is a recipe for one of my favorite tea party standards. For Valentine's Day, I make them into the shape of hearts and will serve on the morning of. Enjoy!

Buttermilk Scones

Makes 12

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks (or 6 ounces) cold butter, diced

1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon grated orange or lemon zest

1/2 stick butter, melted, for brushing scones

1/4 cup sugar, for dusting scones

1/2 cup currants or 1/3 cup raisins

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a medium bowl stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together with a fork. Add cold butter and using fingers or two knives, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles course meal. If larger pieces of butter remain, that will only add to the texture and flavor.

Pour buttermilk into the dry ingredients and mix only until moistened. Gently gather the dough into a ball shape and turn out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough slightly and cut in half.

Take one half of your dough and press or roll it into a disc shaped 7-inch piece. Brush the dough with half of the melted butter, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and half of your dried fruit. Cut the circle into 6 triangles. Place on an ungreased, parchment lined baking sheet and set aside while you prepare the second disc.

Bake the scones on the middle rack in your oven for 10-12 minutes and until both the tops and bottoms are golden. Transfer the scones to a rack for cooling. Serve warm and with tea. My favorite? PG Tips.

These scones freeze exceptionally well for about a month.

Watercress

Foodies have long savored the slightly bitter peppery flavored green known as watercress, adding it in abundance to salad greens, sandwiches and soups.

But watercress has amazing nutrient qualities as well. According to a study conducted by the University of Ulster, eating watercress daily can significantly reduce DNA damage to blood cells, which is considered a vital trigger to the development of cancer, specifically, the formation of tumors. Chlorophyllin in spinach and kale has been proven to reduce the risk of liver cancer.

Sometimes the most delectable flavors that foodies love, are a nutritional sacrifice. Not so with watercress. In fact, when paired with grilled salmon, nutritionists tell us that they limit cancer development and decreases the rate of both Leukemia and Kidney Cancer.

Watercress is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables to be consumed by humans. Native to Europe and central Asia, it is botanically related to the mustard and is in the cabbage family. It is a fast-growing, aquatic or semi aquatic perennial and is also closely related to the popularly known flower, the nasturtium.

For tonight ... salmon and watercress sound fantastic to me.

And here is a quick-cook recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food you might enjoy.

Soy-Glazed Salmon with Watercress Salad
Prep: 10 minutes Total: 20 minutes

Brushing fish with a citrusy glaze while it's cooking infuses it with flavor. Add a simple salad to round out the meal.

Ingredients:
Serves 4

2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 teaspoons honey
2 oranges, peeled, flesh cut into segments, and juice squeezed from membranes (about 3 tablespoons)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
1 bunch watercress (about 3/4 pound), thick ends trimmed
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

Directions:

1.In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, 3 teaspoons honey, and orange juice; season glaze with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon glaze, 1 teaspoon honey, vinegar, and oil; set dressing aside.

2.Heat broiler, with rack 4 inches from heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Season salmon with salt and pepper and broil 5 minutes. Remove fish from oven, brush with glaze, then broil until opaque throughout, about 2 minutes, brushing with glaze once more.

3.Add orange segments, watercress, and onion to dressing and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Divide salad among four plates and top with salmon. Serve immediately.

Espresso Brownie Bites

These chocolate delights are one of those tidbits that will absolutely satisfy those insistent little cravings that crop up at the most inopportune times. Freeze them, and you'll have on hand a delicious treat to satisfy any craving crisis. They are also perfect for after dinner desserts or coffees. I've also made these for Art Walks and receptions. And best of all, they are fail-proof and one of the easiest desserts you will ever bake.

Espresso Brownie Bites

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Espresso Powder

14/ cup hot water

1/2 cup canola oil

2 large eggs

18.3 oz fudge brownie mix

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup notes, chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and prepare mini muffin pan with non-stick spray.

Dissolve espresso in hot water. Let cool slightly. Then whisk in oil and eggs. Add brownie mix to coffee. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Bake for 12-14 minutes. Do not overcook as they will become hardened.

To garnish, be creative. A simple dusting of powdered sugar or if using nuts, place a halved nut on top of each brownie. Or ... leave plain and let the brownie bite speak for itself.

Yield: 38 mini muffins.

Super Bowl Party 2011

Super Bowl Sunday is a huge (and I would capitalize this if at all proper!) day in my household. Anticipated by my son for months; for the game and the food. This annual event at my house is loud and it is messy. And I'm absolutely sure the shouts and groans and referee complaints can be heard several blocks away. In fact, at some point during the game ... I usually find a way to sneak up to the relative quiet of our bedroom.

But I wouldn't have it any other way; this free-for-all. And when our team wins, well - when one of our teams win I should say, it is indeed precious. When they loose, it isn't so precious but ... memorable all the same.

Did you know that the Super Bowl has a relatively short history? Probably you did ... but I didn't! Super Bowl I was held on January 15, 1967 in Los Angeles. Prior to Super Bowl I, there were indeed football games that were more along the lines of conference and league championships, but due to mergers, the Super Bowl was created.

Average 2011 Super Bowl tickets are more than $3600 and each 30-second ad aired during this event will cost the advertiser over $3 million. Truly amazing, isn't it, what statistics one can find! Here's a comparison. Super Bowl tickets in 1967 at the Memorial Coliseum were just $6, $10, and $12 and ads ran for around $40,000.

And here's more: economic stats. Dallas is estimated to make $202 million from the Super Bowl, topping the record of $195 set from Super Bowl XLI in Miami Gardens. It isn't just North Texas who will benefit but all of the ancillary businesses, networks and services as well.

But in order to make money, someone has to spend it. And this year, Super Bowl 2011, cost more than ever. It is estimated that by calculating median incomes of the Green Bay and Pittsburgh residents and what they will need to spend for tickets, hotel rooms and such will cost upwards of 10-percent of their annual income. Excellent article on The Super Bowl Economy.

But ... Game Day is Sunday and I have to get busy with my menu and planning. I have hungry men with huge expectations.

Super Bowl Menu

Foster Farms Barbecue Chicken Wings

Meatball Sliders

7-Layer Dip

Kettle Chips

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Carrots and Celery Sticks

Green Salad dressed with spicy pecans, pear slices and blue cheese

Espresso Brown Bites

Molasses Crinkles

While my boys will be parked in front of the television and the coffee table will be stacked with chips and condiments, my food will be served on the breakfast table. And it is here where I'll use my football themed platters, plates and napkins. This year I came across a Football-Field runner from Martha Stewart that I will be making later today. It is these touches that help bring the celebratory attitude and ensure lasting memories.

If you have the time and desire, this is a fun and creative activity for the craft enthusiast.

For all you football fans and Moms who watch in spite of themselves, Happy Super Bowl!

Chinese New Year: 2011 - Year of the Rabbit

Living in the Pacific Northwest, my family has had the great fortune to be exposed to many Asian cultures and traditions that have enriched our lives. One of our most favorite celebrations is the Chinese New Year, which, incidentally, begins today. Whether we spectate at the Lantern Festival or visit Spring Festivals or feast with friends at their home or at a restaurant, we find great enjoyment not only in the cuisine but the symbolism of wealth, health, and prosperity that runs deep in the Chinese tradition.

As you are undoubtedly aware, today begins the year of the rabbit. If you’re not familiar with these calendars, let me give you a bit of history … and a bit of legend. After all, a bit of legend is what gives this celebration its sparkle and color.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the First Moon of the lunar calendar. That date varies each year with the calendar reset from as early as January 21st to as late as February 19th. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is one of the most ancient calendars in the world. According to legend, the Chinese emperor some 4,000 years ago held a race to figure out the sequence of animals in the 12-year cycle of his new calendar. The rat came in first by hitching a ride on the ox's nose and jumping over the finish line at the last possible moment. The rabbit was fourth, so we are currently in year number four in the cycle and year 4708 in the overall calendar.

While the Chinese have many colorful, meaningful and significant festivals and holidays, Chinese New Year, more than the others, are dedicated to renewal and thanksgiving and strengthening of family ties.

Days of preparation precede this day. Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China begin well in advance of this day. The 20th of the Twelfth Moon is set aside for the annual housecleaning. Every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned in preparation for the New Year. Spring Couplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper, adorn the walls or sides of the gateways. These couplets, short poems written in Classical Chinese, are expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year. In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits are used throughout the home, and yes, there is symbolism attached to that as well.

Today, Chinese families will gather, partake of traditional menus, the children and young adults will receive red Lai-See Envelopes filled with money and in some cases, presents will be exchanged. And many times when you leave the home of your host for the celebration, you will be presented with a tangerine or an orange, symbolic for luck and wealth in the coming year. For more on the symbolism of Chinese New Year, click here.

Chinese New Year is traditionally celebrated for two weeks. On the 15th day, New Year celebrations end with the Lantern Festival. On the evening of that day, people carry lanterns into the streets to take part in a great parade. This is known in my family as the Dragon Parade. Young men will highlight the parade with a dragon dance. The dragon was traditionally made of bamboo, silk, and paper, and might stretch for more than hundred feet in length. The bobbing and weaving of the dragon is an impressive sight, and a fitting finish to the New Year festival. My son was delighted one year to be the object of a dragon’s shaking, which is symbolic for good fortune in the year to come.

Traditional Chinese New Year menus vary as do American Christmas or Thanksgiving menus, according to family tradition. However, there are a few universal ingredients often found on the New Year table. These include; a whole fish to symbolize abundance, a whole chicken to symbolize family unity, dumplings to symbolize prosperity, noodles to symbolize long life, and oranges to promote wealth.

Here are a couple of recipes for dumplings I particularly enjoy.

Steamed Chinese Dumplings

Chinese Pork Dumpling Soup

To find out what animal represents the year you were born in, click here.

To those of you who celebrate, Happy New Year, and may your year of the rabbit be filled with God’s blessing and providence and wisdom. And may you always remember that God is the author of your future and He is your source. While legend is fun to celebrate and traditions are essential in the binding of our families and cultures, let us never forget that it is He and He alone that bring all good things into our lives.

Steamed Chinese Dumplings

One of my most favorite kitchen tools is a recent tool and a birthday gift. I absolutely love my bamboo steamer. I have found endless uses and countless recipes. I also adore the cleanup for it is virtually non-existent!

Among my favorite recipes is Steamed Chinese Dumplings. A word of caution, however, be sure to line your steamer with either lettuce or greens, or use a parchment liner specifically made for your steamer and available at stores that sell bamboo steamers. Otherwise, your cleanup will be very much existent. I buy my liners at Sur La Table.


Steamed Chinese Dumplings

Ingredients:
5 napa cabbage or lettuce leaves (or 2-3 parchment liners)
¾ pound lean ground pork
2 tablespoons minced green onions
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon finely minced ginger root
4 fresh shitake mushrooms, minced
3 tablespoons minced bamboo shoots
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
40 Gyoza or round won ton skins

Garnish:
Fresh cilantro or parsley leaves

Preparation:

Step 1

Place cabbage leaves on the rack of a steamer. Set over boiling water, cover pot and steam 1 to 2 minutes, or until leaves are limp.

Step 2

Remove from rack, pat dry with paper towels and finely chop to measure 1 cup. Combine with all remaining ingredients except won ton skins and cilantro leaves. Test the filling by placing a teaspoon of it in shallow dish on steaming rack over boiling water. Cover pot and steam 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Step 3

To form dumplings, loosely cup wrapper in the palm of your hand and place a tablespoon of filling in center. Bring sides up to cover the filling, making pleats around the top to resemble an opened tulip.

Step 4

The wrapper should tightly hug the filling and the top of the filling should be exposed. Place a tiny cilantro or parsley leaf on the filling. Gently flatten the bottom of the dumplings by pressing with your finger tips. As dumplings are made, cover them with a towel so they don't dry out.

Step 5

Use a bamboo steamer, preferably over simmering water in a wok. Place each dumpling on a 2" square or aluminum foil and set inside steamer. Foil may overlap, but dumplings should be at least 1" apart. Stack baskets on top of each other and cover top with lid. Steam 20 minutes.

Step 6

If you don't have a bamboo steamer, place dumplings on a wire rack in a large pot or on the perforated tiers of an electric steamer.


Source: Foodista