Serenity Sunday July 31st

You laid earth's foundations a long time ago,
      and handcrafted the very heavens;

Psalm 102:25
 

 Inside the world's largest cave National Geographic article and pictures

The Phone Call we all dread

     Wednesday night 9:45 my phone rings with my crying daughter on the other end they’ve just been in a car accident. 

     Rushing to the scene felt like the longest 2 miles I have ever had to drive.  Unfortunately I have been in 3 car accidents, however pulling over and seeing three of your children (though 2 are only biologically the third is a dear friend who is my blonde daughter)  standing next to a crashed car truly takes your breath away.  Though the two cars are in pretty bad shape all involved survived.  No one was at fault as the car the teenagers were in hydroplaned on a blind corner.  The girls were pretty much a wreck and my son held it all together making the necessary calls.  I don’t think I have ever felt so helpless.  The police and workers didn’t want Mom answering questions they wanted the 3 kids, two are 19 one 17, to explain.  Hearing another person point at your kids accusingly and without any charity wanted me to behave like the native New Yorker I am, though in fairness she was just involved in an accident.

   One hour later we had my son who was sat where the impact occurred at the Emergency Room.  He had pretty much taken control of the situation and the girls until I arrived.  Within minutes the reality of it all hit him and we went into shock.  Deciding to err on the side of caution we wanted him checked out as he was unresponsive for a bit.  He was given a clean bill of health and advised to take it easy for a few days.

     Today was rough on all, I’m pretty confident no one slept well last night. The girls just wanted to spend time together so we went to see Winnie the Pooh was a great distraction and a chance for us all to laugh.  My son slept most of the day away.

     No matter what we do, and all the safety precautions we take things are going to happen to our children that we have no control over.  We all know that no matter how much we want to encase our children in bubble wrap they’re going to get hurt.  From their first real boo-boo to their broken hearts we want to heal every pain that enters our children’s lives.  We can’t they grow through these experiences.....being an observer simply sucks.

    

One giant step forward, how many steps back?

I need to keep checking, this is America.  We are living in the year 2011. We proudly have a Black president.  Women have broken through most of the glass ceilings.
     Can anyone explain what happened in Arkansas? This past spring when the schools determined their students' final GPA's and announced their Valedictorian who would imagine that race would come into play?  A young woman earned the highest honor in her school yet because she was black had to share the honor with a white student! I had always thought Arkansas was one of the southern states that had come the farthest in terms of racial equality.  I just keep imagining the Clintons shaking their heads.
     How does this thing happen today?  How do we encourage our children regardless of sex, race or religion to strive for their best when there's a possibility that someone can change the rules at the last minute?  Isn't academics supposed to be the one area that is a level playing field?  While researching this further most of the articles were simply reposts of the original report yet a few mentioned that the student gave birth during her junior year.
    Excuse me!!! Are you telling me that while dealing with hormones, swelling feet, back pains and every other joy of pregnancy this girl continued to pull straight A's while in honors and AP classes?? I'm sorry Valedictorian doesn't even come close to what she has earned. 
     Kymberly Wimberly has sued the McGeeHee School District.  She seeks punitive damages for violation of equal protection rights secured by the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution. My response: You Go Girl!!

Serenity Sunday

I hope your day is full of peaceful thoughts

We need time to dream, time to remember and time to reach the infinite.

Time to be.

~Gladys Taber


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Trying to Regain some Skills

     So  prior to the great event (aka my stroke) this February I loved cooking.  Truly it didn't bother me when someone asked what was for dinner as I usually woke up thinking what can I make tonight.  OK not every day but most days.  For some reason I don't understand I just can't get back into the swing of it.  Cooking is close to a chore and well my family is paying the price.
     You see I was spoiled.  When I first came home, and during my incarceration ~ yes that is what I consider living at Rehab, check this blog out if you don't believe me, our church family was providing meals 4 times a week. Many of those meals were large enough to have again as left overs or at least be a part of my regular "Cleaning out the Fridge/Freezer It's Buffet for Dinner Tonight".  Then another friend made 10 frozen meals that continued the blessing.  So somewhere around the end of May dinner was back on me full time.  Much to my dismay they've pretty much been boring and served no purpose other than fulfilling the state requirement of feeding my kids.  I then lucked out for 2 weeks in a row of not feeding the crew.  WHY?  Because they were gone on Mission Trips, Camp and Church Dinners for VBS. 
   This past week the younger 2 are at camp so its just DH and Em.  So I have decided to try and get my groove back.  Yeah that doesn't sound right.  How about "I'm trying to get into the Apron"? Who cares you know what I mean.  So my approach is no longer cook the tried and true but to reach out and explore where my kitchen hasn't gone before. (OK enough with the puns, maybe)  With that in mind I am going to once a week feature a new recipe and let you know how we fared.  And in keeping with my Lady Bren theme the posts shall be titled  Cue Royal Fanfare Please

 From the Royal Table......come on you know you love it!!

Roasted Broccoli and Shrimp With Ginger Rice

• 2 cups rice
• 4 cups chicken or shrimp stock
• 1" piece of garlic
• 2 Pounds Broccoli or 1 pound Broccoli Florette's
• 1 1/2 pounds peeled and cleaned Shrimp
• 2 tsp cumin (divided 1 +1)
• 2 tsp coriander (divided 1 +1)
• 1 tsp chili powder (divided 1/2 +1/2)
• 3 T canola oil (divide 1 1/2 + 1 1/2)
• S/P how you like
• 1 large lemon (zest too)

The entire meal should take you 25 minutes! Serves 4

Preheat oven to 425 have top rack on second highest level

Line Cookie Sheet with Foil

Place rice, stock, ginger and salt in pot.  Bring to boil, stir.  Cover and reduce heat to low and leave alone until ready to serve. Remove and discard Ginger

Divide Broccoli Florets into small pieces.  If you like peel the Broccoli stem and slice into thin coins.  In large bowl combine 1/2 of the spices and canola oil.  Mix well, add S/P to preference.  If you like very spicy food you may want to increase the chili.  Add the Broccoli and toss to coat using the best tool in the kitchen.. your hands.

Place the Broccoli on a cookie sheet and spread it out. Cook 10 minutes.

While the Broccoli is cooking have slaves  family members peel and clean shrimp,  Save the shells and you can make stock for next time ~ Recipe below.   Using same bowl from Broccoli once again combine oil and the remaining spices and the lemon zest.  Toss shrimp to coat.

Remove Broccoli from oven and add Shrimp.  Continue to cook both for another 10 minutes.

By now your house should smell wonderful!!

Serve over Ginger Rice with Lemon wedges

Enjoy!!

We loved this.... Easy clean-up and healthy to boot!!

I cannot take complete credit for this recipe I tweaked (not much, mostly the rice) it from The Wednesday Chef who got it from Melissa Clark.  (think I've mentioned everyone)

Shrimp Stock

It is pretty much up to you if you want to make this basic or with veggies.  I prefer to make my stocks as simple as possible so I am in complete control of the flavors when using in a recipe.

I simply place all the shells in a pot and add 2 qt water and cover.  As I like a really concentrated stock I let it boil away til I have 1 qt.  While cooking be sure to skim the top of the foam.

I use shrimp stock in rice ~~YUMMY

Also in seafood recipes that call for chicken stock. 

My favorite way to freeze stock is in the soup containers from take out Chinese