Tomato Time!

 

One of the best things about late summer is the abundance of ripe, juicy tomatoes...hearty beefsteak tomatoes, regular red tomatoes, roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes...love them all! Recently I posted some references to my favorite fresh tomato recipes on my FB page with a promise of providing the recipes soon. Now that my first few weeks of settling into a new school year are past, I'm ready to think about cooking again!

Super Simple Fresh Tomato Marinara

This recipe is from a Kroger store flyer that I got in the mail a few years ago. I've modified it a bit to fit our taste, so I've included my changes along with the original recipe.

Ingredients:
  4 cloves of garlic, minced (modify to taste...if the cloves are large, I use only 2)
  1/4 cup onion or shallots, minced (I use more, about 1/2 cup, because we like onions! Sometimes I use a combination of white, red, and green tail onions for variety. Frozen onion are fine, too.)
  1/4 cup olive oil
  15-20 medium size, very ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped (Seeded?? Really?? Feel free to skip this step, as I do. I also chop the tomatoes and put them in a large bowl to sit for awhile before putting them in the pan. Drain out some of the excess liquid if you want your marinara to be thicker.)
  1 bunch fresh basil, chopped (Now that's vague! How big is the bunch? I use fresh basil from my herb garden, and chop about 15-20 large leaves, more if the leaves are small.)
  Salt and pepper to taste (I use sea salt and freshly ground pepper for more flavor with less salt.)

That's it for the original recipe, but I add two other ingredients:
  1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes to add a little heat (My mom used to do this with her sauce and my husband still comments on it to this day. Adjust accordingly...a little goes a long way!)
  20-30 chopped oregano leaves from my herb garden (These leaves are very small, so you need more of them to get the flavor.)

Cooking directions:
Saute onions and garlic in 2 tbsp. olive oil, just until softened. Add tomatoes, spices, and the remaining olive oil. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 2-4 hours. Leave the cover off the final hour to evaporate some of the excess liquid if you like. Serve over pasta or freeze for future use. Makes plenty to do both!

 

Enjoy! Come back tomorrow for my recipe for Bacon-Cheddar-Tomato Biscuits!

 

 

40 Days of Growth

 

 

The phrase "in like a lion, out like a lamb" is a definite possibility this year here in Ohio! Saturday, March 1, was rather pleasant, with a little sunshine and relatively mild temperatures. Sunday, March 2, was another story entirely, as the sleet and snow made it clear that Mother Nature wasn't quite ready to give up on winter just yet! Now, two days later, the skies are clear and blue, but the temperatures are still frigid and ice still blankets the north side of our driveway where it remains shaded all day long.

 

There are a few signs of coming spring weather around my yard and garden...little, brave sprouts of hopefulness that March will, indeed, go out like a lamb.

 

 

So while I wait for growth in the garden, I will turn my hope in another direction. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the time that Christians set aside each year to stretch our spiritual muscles and prepare for the joyous celebration of Easter. Everyone I know has a different way of honoring this season, which has traditionally been associated with penance and atonement, but which is for many others a time of reading, reflection, and a search for life's meaning in the context of the Gospel message.

 

I know several people who are choosing to give up something, such as social media, that they feel is taking up too much of their precious time that could be better spent. Others are taking time for daily readings, reflection, and prayer. Until this evening, I wasn't sure what I was going to do this year. And then I saw a post on Facebook about a 40 day challenge with an interesting title: 40 Bags in 40 Days. I checked it out and saw so much possibility for personal and spiritual growth, as well as a much cleaner house!

 

So I am going to focus my Lent journey on 40 Bags in 40 Days. Yes, I'm sure that I will be de-cluttering the rooms and closets in my house, but even more importantly, I hope to be de-cluttering my mind and spirit...getting rid of personal baggage along with the household clutter. So, I've printed out my Daily Progress sheet, found some unused Kroger bags, and put out my journal and book of meditations for the more traditional early morning quiet time. I don't know where this year's journey will take me, but I am ready to find out...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hints of Spring?

 

Yesterday the temperatures hit the high fifties and I hit the neighborhood sidewalks for a long-anticipated walk in the warmth of the late February sunshine. Wonder of wonders, I even had to discard my hoodie and tie it around my waist...a long-sleeved tee shirt was almost more than I needed in the mid-afternoon. I knew that the next day the temperatures were due to drop and the snow flurries resume, but for a few glorious hours I was able to face the sun and bask in its glow.

 

When I retuned home, I got my trusty camera and went back into the yard to photograph a few clear signs that winter is on the way out.

 

The last pile of dirty snow in a shaded spot by the deck

The green shoots of an early spring iris

Little buds of sedum bravely peeking out from the dried leaves

The first buds on the lilac bush

 

Little white blossoms by the garden barn...early birds!

 

Of course, not all the signs of spring are so beautiful...

 

Trash along the ditch...visible now that the snow has melted

Driveway potholes

Hundreds of little "land mines" from the sweet gum tree

 

Back inside, a few more hopeful signs of spring days to come...

 

My shamrock plant reaching for the sunlight

Furnace set to "off"...a few more dollars in my bank account!

An open screen door to the deck....but don't tell my husband!

 

All in all, it was a very good afternoon with the promise of more to come.

 

 

 

 

 

A little love for the real heroes...

 

       

 Now that the Super Bowl hype has died down and the celebrity media crews have moved on from the latest Justin Bieber escapade to the Olympics, maybe it's time for the rest of us to sing the praises of the unsung heroes in our lives...the firefighters and police officers...the road crews keeping our streets and highways plowed and salted...the teachers, school administrators, and support personnel responsible for our children and grandchildren...the plumbers and electricians who keep our houses running efficiently...the store clerks and restaurant wait staffs who make our shopping and dining out possible...and how about the mommies and daddies who are doing their best to raise a new generation of responsible citizens?                                                             

                                                                          

By now you might be wondering, just where is she going with this? Where did this come from? Well, it came from a recent iPad message from my daughter. Her almost-four little boy, my sweet firstborn grandson, had just told her, "you're not a woman, you're a mommy, so talk like a mommy". She added, "Truth. As I sit here in my pajamas, dirty hair, and not enough sleep. About as far away from a woman as I can get." My response was to remind her that her children LOVE her as their mommy, that she is much more important to them than any other woman they know. These words were a little boy's only way of expressing this kind of love. And this little snippet of conversation got me thinking about the unsung heroes in our own families  

 

Not just the mommies who haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks, if not months, and who would love to get their hair professionally cut and colored, but instead choose to spend their hard-earned money on replacing those quickly-outgrown shoes, and coats, and shirts, and pants.


There are also the daddies, loving and dedicated family men, who work long hours and even second jobs to make sure that those precious children have every opportunity to grow up safe, and strong, and secure.




Add to this, the loving grandparents who give up their own days off to take care of the children while the mommies and daddies are off to work, or when they just need an hour or two to rest and maybe even spend a few hours renewing the closeness that came so easily when there were just the two of them.

 

So, as you watch the Olympics and cheer on those amazing athletes, don't forget about those amazing people in your own family, in your circle of friends, and in your community. Take a moment to give these unsung heroes a little love, too! 

 

                                                             
          

Snowy memories!

December and the Christmas holiday always mean a very busy time in my life, so it's no surprise to see that I haven't even looked at this blog since mid-December!

My delightful visit to Rochester, New York, was extended by two days, thanks to a New Year's night snowstorm. No complaints here!

Even better, when I returned to Ohio, we were blasted with more snow and extreme cold, so my Christmas break from school was also extended by two days. Serendipity for sure!

There were so many wonderful moments during my week long visit, but one small evening moment gave me a reason to smile when I returned home.

 

As I was unpacking after my return home, I decided to grab my camera and go outside to take a few photos and fill the bird feeders in the backyard. When I went to put on my boots, I felt something a little bit sharp in the toe of my boot. Upon pulling it out to investigate, I discovered a slightly crumpled package of Starbucks Via coffee...Christmas blend, which I had taken with me to New York. And then I remembered....

 

 

 This cute little guy who likes to play peek-a-boo with mommy's kitchen towels, also discovered my package of Starbucks Via packets.

Not wanting to induce unnecessary tears of frustration, we had let him continue to play with the packets and the box. Somewhere along the way, little Jackson must have toddled over to my boots, inserted a coffee packet, and then quietly returned to his play. All of which speaks to this truth...we spend money buying kids and grandkids all kinds of toys, but they are often most amused by the packaging!
                                              

                                         

Happy days...happy Christmas!

Finally! The first grade Merry Matisse videos were published. The second grade clay ornaments were fired, painted, glittered, and sent home. All the other grade level projects were put on the shelves for our return in January. At last! I am finally home for Christmas!!

The past week was a flurry of activity both at home and at school. My sister, Rosanne, and her husband, Wayne, came from Georgia to stay at Mom's for the week. Our evenings were filled with delicious dinners and plenty of laughter as we caught up on the events in our lives since our July family reunion. Mom, my sister Kathy, and I provided the meals, but the highlights were the desserts, thanks to Rosanne's week long baking and candy making efforts back home in Georgia......yum!!

Now, with two weeks of vacation ahead, it's time to prepare for one of my favorite times of the year...Christmas! Lights and carols to enjoy, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, and the joy of anticipating a visit with my two precious little grandsons.


The recent warm weather and rain have left our landscape a bit sodden and dreary, but here's a glimpse of the backyard as I left for school earlier this week...so lovely as the moon was setting just before sunrise.


I hope that wherever you are, and whatever your weather, your heart and home are filled with the warmth and blessings of this sacred season as we anticipate and celebrate the birth of our Savior so many years ago. Merry Christmas to all!

 

 

Snow Days bring Christmas joy!

 

Of course, too many snow days could mean going to school longer at the end of the year, but for now, I'm taking my December blessings as they come! This week I'm scrambling with my second graders to get their clay Christmas ornaments decorated and ready to take home, so I have to admit that I didn't mind sloshing my way to school in the unexpected (at least to me!) snow early this morning.
   

Freshly falling snow is so peaceful, especially early in the morning or later in the evening. With the Christmas lights glowing softly and the hush that comes when traffic is stilled, there is a beauty that we often miss in the rush to complete our Christmas shopping, baking, house cleaning, and other holiday chores.


A snowy day, whether during the week or on the weekend, gives us time to slow down and savor the moment if we will let it. It's so easy to worry about chores not done, lessons not taught, or errands not run, but those things will still be waiting for us when the flakes stop falling and the roads are cleared.

 

So wherever you are and whatever your weather, as we get closer to that magical time of Christmas, take time to breathe in the quiet joy of the season. Let peace, joy, and quiet expectation replace the hustle and bustle, if only for a moment.