Our Simple Journey of Faith, Family and Life

Friday, March 30, 2012

The History of 'APRONS'


I can't remember ever seeing my Precious Grandmother without one of her aprons on. It was who she was, It was the time she lived in, it's what all women did, and it wipped away many childhood tears thats for sure & for certain.

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven



It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.



When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.

After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.



In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Greek Yogurt vs Yogurt

Yogurt is a healthy choice to eat alone, with fruit mixed in, or as a substitute for less nutritious ingredients like sour cream, cream cheese, or mayonnaise. Regular yogurt contains a lot of liquid, so straining it makes it more suitable to use in recipes.


This straining technique can be used for whole-, low-, or non-fat yogurt. I normally go for the low fat as you can clearly see in above photo. For me, it has the right balance of flavor and health benefits.

Strained regular yogurt is the same thing as Greek yogurt. I use Low-Fat and usually buy the store brand.

To strain your yogurt, you can use either cheese cloth (I usually use cheese cloth) or you can use coffee filters. Today I'm using the coffee filter because most people have them on hand so you can see how easy this is to make. I also will cover mine with saran wrap before putting in refergator. I usually leave mine overnight so all the liquid has dripped out of yogurt.

That's right. The only difference between the two yogurts is that the liquid whey remains in regular yogurt. The liquid whey is strained from regular yogurt to create Greek yogurt. By using the simple technique of straining regular yogurt that is illustrated below, you can create your own Greek yogurt.

Taste and texture difference between regular and Greek yogurt.

When the liquid whey is strained out of regular yogurt, the consistency of the yogurt becomes thicker and creamier. Also, the flavor changes because the whey contains sodium and sugar (from lactose). So, regular yogurt is saltier and sweeter than strained (Greek) yogurt.


Nutritional difference between regular and Greek yogurt.

Yogurt is considered one of the healthiest foods around. It's rich in probiotics which aid digestion, reduce the risk of intestinal infection and colon cancer, and improve lactose tolerance and cholesterol profile--lowers LDL, raises HDL (source). Both strained and unstrained yogurt is very good for you, but there are some nutritional differences. When the liquid whey is strained from regular yogurt, the volume of the yogurt reduces by half. (This is why you can expect Greek yogurt to costs twice as much as regular yogurt.) That means it's more concentrated and results in some nutritional changes. (Source)

Protein - Greek yogurt has twice the protein of regular yogurt, because the protein is concentrated in the yogurt after it's strained.

Carbohydrates - Greek yogurt has fewer carbohydrates, because the liquid that is strained out of it is high in carbs.

Sodium - Greek yogurt has half the sodium of regular yogurt, because the liquid that is strained out of it is high in sodium.

Calcium - Both yogurts are considered a good source of calcium, but regular yogurt has 3 times more calcium than Greek yogurt, because the liquid that is strained out of Greek yogurt is high in calcium.

Each person can decide which kind of yogurt is best, depending on individual nutritional priorities. Choose Greek yogurt for higher protein and lower carbs and salt. Choose regular yogurt if your priority if to increase your calcium intake.

Strained (Greek) yogurt is recommended for cooking.

Strained yogurt is a healthy substitute for sour cream, cream cheese, and mayonnaise. It's creamier, thicker consistency makes it a better substitution in dips and dressings. Strained yogurt is also better for cooking because it doesn't curdle when it's heated; regular yogurt can curdle when heated.

ch-ch-ch-CHIA seeds.

I've been hearing a lot of buzz about the nutritional powerhouse in these teensie little seeds

What are chia seeds? These tiny, dark colored seeds can be found in most health food stores and are a nutritional powerhouse of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Chia is also a complete protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids.

have more Omega 3 fatty acids than flax seed (important for heart health)
are the richest non-marine whole food source of Omega-3 (better than salmon)
absorb 10 times their weight in water and transform into a gel-like substance--great for athletes for maintaining hydration and helps with weight loss by making you feel full longer
are as high in protein as quinoa
are loaded with calcium, potassium, Vitamin B, and anti-oxidants
help balance blood sugar via the gelling action of the seed and it’s unique combination of soluble and insoluble fiber that slow down your body’s conversion of starches into sugars
have a neutral taste so they will take on the other flavors in a recipe
can be eaten whole (unlike flax seed); they don't have to be ground before adding them to food in order to digest them and benefit from their nutrients

Overnight Oats ~or~ Summer Porrage Recipe

I have never heard of such a thing, The thought of eating much less adding chia seeds to oatmeal was almost a yuk sound to my mind, then someone sent me the recipe from Pinerest and I read it and thought, well maybe I'll give this a try. I made this recipe "Overnight Oats ~or~ Summer Porrage it's called.

From Pepper Lynn
http://www.pepperlynn.com/2012/02/overnight-oats-two-ways/ .



I did NOT put mine into jars, instead I put mine into a covered bowl with lid. This morning, I smashed a sm. banana and added 2 Tbs. of "Simply Fruit jam" to it, then divided into 2 servings, put the lid on one and put it back into the refergator for tomorrow, and gobbled up the other bowl before I took a photo of both of them. I felt this recipe was enough for 2 servings. Wonderful flavor, Great texture, and very satisfying.


Overnight Oats ~or~ Summer Porrage {Lynn Pepper's Recipe}

Makes 1 large serving. (enough for 2 servings in our house)

½ cup rolled oats (not quick cooking)
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
2/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl or jar,
cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and allow
the mixture to sit in the refrigerator overnight.
In the morning, stir in the mix-ins of your choosing.


Variation #1 – Pumpkin Peanut Butter

½ cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon


Variation #2 – Strawberry Banana

2 to 2 ½ tablespoons strawberry jam (Simply Fruit Jam)
1 small banana, mashed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yummy Life Blog also has several recipes for this overnight oats recipe: check them out when you have a few extra minutes..
http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2012/03/293/Overnight%2C+No-Cook+Refrigerator+Oatmeal+--+A+healthy+breakfast+made+in+mason+jars+in+six+different+flavors%21

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Luke 5:32


"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:32

There is a misconception in many minds.

Some think that Jesus only came to save the righteous,  but not one was righteous at birth!

Jesus came to call each and every one of us from sin, into repentance, into righteousness.

There was not meant to be one overlooked!

He died for ALL.

He cares for all.

Each one is as precious to Him, as the next one, because He is very aware of the condition
of our hearts.
Faith does come by hearing the Word. If one is not hearing the Word, faith cannot move in.

Becoming aware that we need faith, in order to be considered righteous, as was Abraham, is essential.

We must believe and we must repent!


© 2012 Sandra Lewis Pringle

If Tomorrow Never Comes

If Tomorrow Never Comes if I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right.

There will always be another day to say our "I love you's", And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget, Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?

For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day, That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear, Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".

And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Guess What Pie

1/2 c. mashed pinto beans
1 stick of butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. coconut
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp. vanilla


Mix all ingredients well. Pour into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

People really like this pie and just won't believe it's made with beans; the flavor is great



-Linda Collins

Friday, March 9, 2012

What Do Angels Look Like?

What Do Angels Look Like?


God puts special people in our lives all the time. We just must open our eyes and look around. What do they look like?

Like the little old lady who returned your wallet yesterday.

Like the taxi driver who told you that your eyes light up the world, when you smile.

Like the small child who showed you the wonder in simple things.

Like the poor man who offered to share his lunch with you.

Like the rich man who showed you that it really is all possible, if only you believe.

Like the stranger who just happened to come along, when you had lost your way.

Like the friend who touched your heart, when you didn't think you had one.

Angels come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and skin types.

Some with freckles, some with dimples, some with wrinkles, some without.

They come disguised as friends, enemies teachers, students, lovers and fools.

They don't take life too seriously, they travel light.

They leave no forwarding address, they ask nothing in return.

They are hard to find when your eyes are closed, but when you choose to see, they are everywhere you look.

So, open you eyes and count all your Angels -- for you are truly blessed!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Irena Sendler

                                        Look at this lady - Let us never forget!


The world hasn't just become wicked...i...t's always been wicked.

The prize doesn't always go to the most deserving.

Irena Sendler died 12 May 2008 (aged 98) in Warsaw, Poland.

During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a
plumbing/sewer specialist.

She had an 'ulterior motive'.

She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews (being German).

Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she
carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids).

She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi
soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.

The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking
covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500
kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her
severely.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept
them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.

After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and
reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.

Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize.
She was not selected.

President Obama won one year before becoming President for his work as a
community organizer for ACORN and Al Gore won also --- for a slide show on Global Warming.


In MEMORIAL - 63 YEARS LATER


It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended.

This  is being shared as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated!

Now, more than ever, with Iran, and others, claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a  myth'.

It's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world.

Monday, March 5, 2012

E-Diets - BEWARE

Today, My Mother called E-diets (was on a comercial on TV) - (Biggest Looser use's this diet plan) and talked with someone named Charles. He asked her for her debt. card information right away (BIG RED LIGHT in my eyes) and told her to go on line and choose what foods etc she wanted. she explained she needed me to help her because using the computer confuse her, so I went next door to see what was going on, and told her this was NOT GOOD for her with her health concerns &  illness'es. She called Charles right away to cancel and was informed they were charging her for 1 week regardless if she used their program or not. I got on the phone and flat told this young man that they better not charge my mothers card. There was NO CONTRACT signed or finalization of these services and they had no right to take it upon themselves to charge my 82 yr old mother for this. He argued and I told him I had power of attorney over my mother and he did NOT talk with me and I refused these services. I refused to argue with him after threating to own his underware if he continued with this crazy service/charge and hung up.

From the moment Mom called and I went to her house and returned their call refusing this service was 15 minutes if that.

We then called the bank and they already had $169.- plus change on one charge and another for $139.- plus change on her card. The bank said they were testing Mom's acct to see if the charges will go through, and if they completed the charges I can go into the bank and have them reversed tomorrow. It's a little different then if it's a paper check with everything so fast on computers these days.

BEWARE of E-diets!!!!!!! They are not wholesome company. They are a bunch of crooks and taking advantage even after being told that because of health issues one can't use their services let alone afford them

A reputable company would have understood the delicate nature of this situation with my 82 yr. old mother, instead this company was after money, only money regardless of the effects it may cause for my mother... Shame on them!!!!