Oh my! The best split pea soup I’ve ever tasted. And super easy because you just through everything into a crock pot or slow cooker and leave.
Makes: Serves 8
Cooking Time: HIGH 5-6 hours or LOW 8-10 hours
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
What you need:
1 (16 oz.) package of dried green split peas, rinsed
1 meaty hambone, or 2 ham hocks, or 2 cups diced ham
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 ribs of celery plus leaves, chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup of fresh parsley, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1 tbsp. seasoned salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. fresh pepper
1 1/2 qts. hot water
What to do:
Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given above. Pour in water. Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on HIGH 4-5 hours or on LOW 8-10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off the bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Mach peas to thicken, if desired.
*Note: Great to freeze for later.
On Saturday, my husband, Steve and my sister-in-law, Shalina spent the morning in Martinez, California. Shalina takes awesome photos, so we went out there for a photo shoot. Our little Rosa dog came too. The pictures turned out amazing. Check out www.shalinalives.com to see more of Shalina’s work.
I’ve been thinking of getting a tattoo. It’s been on my mind for a while now. It’s definitely not something to rush into considering it’s permanent. Why do I want to get a tattoo? Am I going to feel the same way about it ten years from now? I don’t know. Who knows what I’m going to like ten years from now?
Right now, I like the idea of wheat. Wheat is symbolic of having abundance or being satisfied and content. The use of wheat dates back to before the time of Christ. In the Bible, Jesus uses wheat in many of his parables depicting provision, faith and life, but also death and judgment. To me, wheat represents being satisfied with God’s provision in my life.
After eating these rolls, I could just die and go to heaven. My mom has made them for years and I’ve only recently started attempting them myself. I tend to save them for a special occasion or holiday, because you will need a good three hours to make them. Great for Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas meals.
Makes: about 12-16 rolls
Cooking Time: 12 minutes (approx.)
Preparation Time: 3 hours
What you need:
2 packets yeast
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
5 cups flour (approx.)
1/2 cup butter
What to do:
Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 warm water (not too hot or cold) then set aside. Scald (not quite to a boil) milk in a pot on the stove. Turn off the heat and melt in shortening, sugar and salt. Pour into a large bowl and let cool slightly. Beat in eggs, yeast mixture and flour (first add 1 cup, mix, then add in increments of 3/4 cup as needed until dough).
Knead bread until smooth. Place back into the bowl, place a towel over the bowl and let it rise in a warm place for 2 hours or until doubled in size. *Note: I would recommend turning on the oven at a lower temperature and placing them on top.
After it has risen, punch down the dough and knead again. Break into sections and roll into balls (about the size of a golf ball). Melt butter in a 9×12 pan and roll the balls in the butter to coat them. Place the rolls in the pan and let rise again for 30 minutes before cooking.
Bake at 375 degrees (f) for about 12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
Enjoy!
Easter is a Christian holiday. According to Christian scripture (a book called the Bible), it’s the day that Jesus Christ is said to have returned from the dead. Christians believe that Easter is the holiest day in the year. Easter is a Catholic Holy Day celebrated on the first Sunday, following the first full moon, following the first day of spring. Some people who are not Christians celebrate the beginning of Spring on Easter. The word Easter comes from the ancient German word for April.
Christians believe that Jesus was killed on the cross about 2000 years ago by the Romans in a city called Jerusalem (most of which is in the modern country of Israel). The people who killed him did so because they believed that he was causing trouble for the government and because he was claiming to be God. When they crucified him (meaning they nailed him to a cross), they even hung a sign over his head to make fun of him for this reason. The day he was crucified is known by Christians as Good Friday.
Christians believe that two days after Jesus was killed (on Easter Sunday), his followers searched in his tomb and found that his body was gone. Later, Jesus is said to have appeared to them and preached to them. It was because of this that his followers knew that Jesus was God, just as he said.
Definition provided by www.simple.wikipedia.org. Read more about the Easter resurrection of Jesus Christ in the book of John, chapter 20 of the Bible.
Three days ago we brought home our new addition to the family. Rosa Lee Reinhardt. She’s an 8-week old Chihuahua but I’m going to consider her a newborn baby. She comes with all the attachments; feeding, crying all night, teething and potty training. I guess this is great preparation considering we are planning to have kids in the next couple of years. About a year after we were married, we got our Siamese, Fanny Mae. She came with some responsibility, but for the most part, she’s very independent. So, this is a big jump for us. But a good one.
Steve’s step mom, Denise, was given Rosa as a gift from her neighbor. They already have three dogs, so she offered her to us. She has been so much fun. What a little personality. Fanny is slowly adjusting to the idea. I found them curled up together on the couch today. So cute!
Franz Kline is one of my most favorite artists. I had the pleasure of viewing some of this paintings at the New York MOMA a couple of months ago. Click here to read more about Franz Klein’s life and work.
Franz Kline. (American, 1910-1962). Chief. 1950. Oil on canvas, 58 3/8″ x 6′ 1 1/2″ (148.3 x 186.7 cm).
Originally, my mom got this recipe from Olive Garden, but has changed it over the past few years to be simpler and, in my opinion, tastier. She uses less ingredients, but more of them. I love it! It’s a fast soup to make for a big crowd. Your guests will rave about it.
*Note: If you want to make a big pot of soup for many, I would recommend tripling or even quadrupling the recipe. What makes this soup delicious is the process of simmering all the flavors together, not necessarily the amounts of each that are used.
Makes: 4 as appetizer or 2 as entrée
Cooking Time: 1.5 hours
What you need:
2 ¾ cups chicken broth or stock
¼ cup heavy cream
1 medium russet potato
2 cups chopped kale
½ pound spicy Italian sausage (can be substituted with non-spicy sausage)
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
What to do:
Grille or sautee the sausage until fully cooked. Cut sausage into small (bite-sized or smaller) pieces. Slice the potato into ¼ inch slices (do not peel). Chop kale into larger chunks. Combine the chicken broth or stock and the heavy cream in a pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. While at a simmer, add sausage, potato, kale and crushed red pepper flakes. Let simmer for about an hour. Stir occasionally. Serve with bread for dipping.
*Change it up: Add chicken boulion and extra heavy cream for a creamier consistancy.
The instructions below will show you how to make a foundation row and single crochet stitch. If you follow them exactly, you’ll complete a 7×9 inch block. With these basics, you can make a number of other projects.
Beginner Crochet Block
What you need:
Worsted-weight yarn, any color or colors
Size G crochet hook
Yarn needle with big eye
Scissors
| How to beginStep 1: Hold crochet hook in right hand and make a slip knot on hook.
Step 2: Bring yarn over hook from back to front and grab it with hook. |
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| Step 3: Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto hook. This makes one chain stitch.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 in sequence 28 more times. You should have 29 chain stitches and one loop will remain on hook.
Step 4: Skip the first chain stitch. 
Step 5: Insert hook into center of next chain stitch. Draw yarn through the chain stitch and up onto the hook. There are now 2 loops on hook. 
Step 6: Bring yarn over hook from back to front, and draw it through both loops on hook. One loop remains on the hook, and you have just made one single crochet stitch.
Repeat Steps 5 and 6 in each of the remaining 27 chains–be sure to work in the very last chain. You have now completed one row of single crochet. Measure your work; it should be about 7″ wide. If it is too wide, try again with fewer beginning chains. If it is too narrow, try again with more beginning chains.
Step 7: At the end of the row, make one chain stitch, then turn the work counter-clockwise, leaving the hook in the chain. 
Now you can begin another row, working into the stitches of the previous row. 
Step 8: Make one single crochet stitch in first stitch and in each remaining stitch of the previous row. Be sure to work into the last stitch. Chain 1, turn. 
Repeat Step 8 until the block measures 9″ long.
Finishing: Cut the yarn from the skein, leaving a 6″ end. Draw the hook straight up, bringing the yarn through the remaining loop on the hook. 
Thread yarn into yarn needle and weave back and forth through stitches to secure. |
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