It's that time of year again--time for end of the year reflections. The media started earlier this week doing its annual re-cap of important news events. There are stories of great tragedy and sadness mixed in with incredible tales of love, compassion and kindness. The Wall Street Journal described it as: "a year of conflict, a year of tragedy, and for some a year of hope."
But there's just not enough.
In a world full of snarkiness (I know. . .I'm a chief contributor to snarkiness) there's just not enough kindness and compassion. All too often our reactions to those around us are less than kind. Someone cuts us off in traffic and we comment on the other driver's abilities or family heritage. Clueless people make comments to us that show no thought or kindness and we bristle then retort back.
What happened to "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."
I'm not much for making resolutions. But this one seems worthy. Rather than being the funny snarky girl I'm going to work on being the girl who treats others with kindness. Not a doormat. But someone who tries to remember that each person has struggles. And it's not my job to make the struggles more difficult. But to do what I've been put here to do. . .to help others. And I do so hope some kind soul out there is ready to help me out too because I'm just going to be honest here--I need help too!
Looking out into the world I see hardship and struggle. But I also see friends helping each other. Sometimes it's a simple note saying "you are wonderful!" and other times it's bigger stuff like taking someone shopping, paying off a debt for a friend or maybe even someone you don't know. The world needs more of that. And a little more prayer wouldn't hurt either.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Yummy English Muffins!
I used to wonder about people who started a blog then stopped posting to it. Now I know. It's not always easy to keep up with everything! We had a busy first semester of the school year and have been working to enjoy our Christmas break (despite a rash of illnesses across the family).
Yesterday my middle E and I made a delicious treat for the whole family--English Muffins! We doubled Isa Chandra Moskowitz's recipe in Vegan Brunch and did this:
2 cups of water
2 tbsp sugar
6 tbsp margarine at room temperature
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 c unbleached wheat flour
2 1/4 c all purpose flour
2 tsp yeast
Some cornmeal for dusting
Place the first 7 items in the bread machine in the order listed. Use the dough setting.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. The recipe calls for you to preheat your pans before you bake the muffins; we used a baking stone and did not preheat.
When the dough cycle is complete, take dough out and knead on the counter for 1 minute before you roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness and cut circles using a cookie/biscuit cutter (the double recipe we did got 16 muffins). Pat both sides in the cornmeal.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat. Brown each muffin for a minute or two on each side. Be careful to not crowd them in the skillet.
When you remove the muffins from the skillet put them directly into the oven. Bake for 6-10 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack for one hour before eating.
I'm told they freeze well. Mine disappeared well. Also I cheated and used my bread machine to mix the dough. And I used rapid rise yeast which goes straight in without the first step in water with the sugar (make sense?)
Yesterday my middle E and I made a delicious treat for the whole family--English Muffins! We doubled Isa Chandra Moskowitz's recipe in Vegan Brunch and did this:
2 cups of water
2 tbsp sugar
6 tbsp margarine at room temperature
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 c unbleached wheat flour
2 1/4 c all purpose flour
2 tsp yeast
Some cornmeal for dusting
Place the first 7 items in the bread machine in the order listed. Use the dough setting.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. The recipe calls for you to preheat your pans before you bake the muffins; we used a baking stone and did not preheat.
When the dough cycle is complete, take dough out and knead on the counter for 1 minute before you roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness and cut circles using a cookie/biscuit cutter (the double recipe we did got 16 muffins). Pat both sides in the cornmeal.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat. Brown each muffin for a minute or two on each side. Be careful to not crowd them in the skillet.
When you remove the muffins from the skillet put them directly into the oven. Bake for 6-10 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack for one hour before eating.
I'm told they freeze well. Mine disappeared well. Also I cheated and used my bread machine to mix the dough. And I used rapid rise yeast which goes straight in without the first step in water with the sugar (make sense?)
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