(affiliate link). I’ve worked in the customer service industry for about a year now. It’s been quite a year, moving from the church into secular professional life–but for the most part I haven’t regretted it.
How to Pay Attention
Have You Read? — One Click: The Rise of Amazon.com
Life and Living: True Liberty
Make a Difference: BE Different!
The evangelist Billy Graham, someone whom I hold in very high regard, once said in a sermon, “If you want to make a difference, be different!” I think that’s a lesson everyone should learn, whether as a person of religious faith or simply as a matter of ethical principle. Read more 
Home Cooking: Go And See… Slow Cooker Guiness Stew
Oh. My. Goodness.
I just have to share this one. I was minding my own business this afternoon, reading through simplyrecipes.com, seeing what new home cooking ideas were being submitted and ran into this: Slow Cooker Guinness Stew.
It’s a traditional Irish beef stew… and I need to go to the grocery store immediately!
Check out simplyrecipes.com. It’s a favorite of mine, and I think could be yours, too!
What family-cooking blogs are your favorites?
Home Cooking: Grandma’s ‘Magic Candy’ (Divinity)
Image Credit: “Divinity” by praline3001 (Creative Commons)
Here’s one for home candy-makers: a Divinity Roll that my grandmother called “Magic Candy.”
I was sorting a box of books recently and discovered an old cookbook put out by the W.S.C.S. (a ladies’ service group) at the Fayette IA Methodist Church. It’s at least 50 years old. My grandmother’s divinity recipe is in the book, and I share it along with some warm memories. Grandma made this every Christmas, and I remember it being out pretty much every year starting when I was very young. It’s wonderful stuff! Enjoy! Read more
What To Think About
What To Think About? You Decide!
Why is America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, the land with open doors beckoning to “the huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,” going from melting pot to a land of divided enclaves in which everyone grimly does anything possible to make sure their turf remains theirs?
It occurred to me recently that our nation is floundering through a time of moral and ethical drift that is at least as bad as the Vietnam years. We have some hard questions that are not being answered which dictate the condition of the soul of our nation. Read more
Home Cooking: PDQ Snowstorms
Dairy Queen’s “Blizzards” are a great favorite in the family. The blend of ice cream and all sorts of “good stuff” makes for a wonderful taste treat. They’re also expensive. With times pretty tight right now, I wanted to figure out a more economical way of enjoying “Blizzards” with my family. It turned out that the solution is a very simple one: whipping your ice cream. (No jokes, please…) Read more
Who To Be Afraid Of
What’s This All About?
I don’t intend this as a rant. I hope it’s more received as a ‘word from the wilderness.’ I worry about the world my children are inheriting and a great deal of the worry comes from watching people refuse to look for what they have in common in favor of finding things to drive us apart.
Listen to the news. Listen to our country’s leaders. Listen to the prophets and the preachers. In all of the drive to be ‘for’ or ‘against’ something to define who you are, the underlying message seems to be that if you’re doing it right, you have to be afraid of something. Read more
Home Cooking: Apple Pie Cyser
Image Credit: J. Wynia, “Boiling Honey,” Creative Commons.
- Skill Level: Easy
- Time to Make: About 4 weeks total
- Quantity: 3 gallons
- Serves: Enjoyed in moderation, many happy people ;-)
If you like hard cider or mead, here’s a recipe that will give you a touch of both! If you’re new to making your wine or hard cider at home, this recipe is perfect for a beginner. All it requires is a little time and patience — a couple hours one evening will be more than enough to get it started. In three to four weeks, you’ll be enjoying the results. Read more
Home Cooking: Ham & Cheese Biscuits
- Skill Level: Easy
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Serves: 6–8, depending on appetite
Good for Breakfast, Brunch, or Snacks
I was first introduced to this easy and delicious recipe when I was living in rural northeast Texas. One of the ladies in our Bible study brought them for snacks one day and I was hooked.
They can be made with pretty much any kind of meat – if you’re not into ham, try sausage, ground beef, venison or another that catches your fancy.
The important thing is: you’re better off with lower-fat meat and low-moisture cheese unless you’re into greasy food. Read more
