Author #114: Maryann Cocca-Leffler teaches us with truth and tact

One of the best books we've read on tact.  Princess Kim and too much truth  published in 2011  by Maryann Cocca-Leffler.  After having a lesson in honesty, Kim resolves to always tell the truth with some unkind consequences.  Her teacher shares with her that "Telling the truth doesn't mean you say everything you're thinking."  Kim also learns ways to tell the truth without hurting other people's feelings like finding one little thing that she likes.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans for winter time warmth

 Top picture with some of the ingredients including molasses, kidney beans, pork and beans and butter beans (also sometimes known as lima beans)

Bottom picture of the finished dish topped with cooked bacon.

Baked Beans p. 34 in the VV5th cookbook from 2008
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 small onion, chopped and sauteed
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1/2 c. catsup
2 T. mustard
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1 (16-oz.) can kidney beans
1 (16-oz.) can lima beans
1 (16-oz.) can pork and beans
3 slices bacon, browned and crumbled

Combine all ingredients except bacon in a slow cooker.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Top with bacon.

(Cook's note:  Lima beans and butter beans have a mixed definition- some people say they are the same others that they are different.  I could only find butter beans so that's what I used and we liked them in the dish.  Also, the cans of beans are now 15-oz instead of 16-oz.) 

Author #113: Trees in Israel with Sue Alexander

Text by Sue Alexander with illustrations by Leonid Gore, Behold the Trees chronicles the history of trees in Israel and the Holy Land from thousands of years ago to the present.  Written in 2001, the book tells of the changes in the trees through the years.  With the creation of the independent state of Israel in 1948, the return of trees has greatly increased.  The book also tells of some of the benefits of trees.

I've written about the value of trees before with a post about Wangari Maathai of Africa that can be found here: http://cookingandorscience.blogspot.com/2013/05/authors-107-109-plant-trees-of-wangari.html

Leonid Gore has illustrated many books with his beautiful artwork.  See more at http://www.leonidgore.com/

Chicken Tortilla Soup

 Let the soup season begin! 

Top picture features ingredients.  Second picture is the finished soup topped with cheese and chips.
 

Chicken Tortilla Soup 

(another recipe from our local congregation cookbook that we bought a few years ago)

2 chicken breasts
1 (15-oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained
1 TBSP chopped green chiles, mild
1/2 cup salsa
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
tortilla chips and cheese for topping

Cut chicken into large chunks and place in a large saucepan. Barely cover the chicken with water. Bring the water to a boil and cook chicken until no longer pink.  Remove chicken but do not drain the water.  Shred chicken.  Place chicken back in the saucepan with the water.  Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined.  Heat up and simmer 5 minutes.  Top with chips, cheese, etc...

Sunday Randomness #89: Inconsistencies in Life

• In the winter/spring transition we went through an episode where everyone was sick. Cold, coughs, fevers, headaches, tiredness and/or a combination. One individual remarked, through a haze of fatigue, that we were all decapitated in one way or another. (This was at dinner time so everyone heard the comment.) After the laughter subsided, they back-pedaled and clarified they meant incapacitated.  It was too late, the words had been spoken and we took a vote.  In our virus-plagued condition we agreed that "decapitated" did indeed fit our plight.

Don't attempt to relate simple Bible stories that have similar aspects late at night: 

Person 1: The Lord commanded Moses to build an ark.  Moses built the ark and the animals came aboard.
  
Person 2: Moses?!? It's not Moses, it's Noah. 

Person 1: Oh good, you caught the mistake even though it was unintentional. 

Person 2 (attempting to give some sympathy so Person 1 doesn't feel so bad): It's okay, they both deal with large bodies of water. 

While working on some family history recently I heard more about the story behind the "wrong" date on an ancestor's birthday.  Grandma Zina was born at home and the birth wasn't recorded until the next day.  Hence she always celebrated her birthday one day ahead of the "official" day.  

Her daughter remembers a long argument between Zina and one of her sisters over the official date.  The sister finally responded that Zina could celebrate her birthday whenever she would like to do so, but it would not change the official date.  The sibling still pointed out that the official date was the one that would be used for family history (and legal) information even if it technically was wrong.  

On our personal family list we have had the earlier date in honor of Grandma's actual birthday even if it didn't/doesn't match any official documentation.  This year we included both dates and the story that goes with the inconsistency.

Anytime Muffins: For snacking or breakfast

Anytime Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 egg, slightly beaten

3 tablespoons melted butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a bowl.  In a separate bowl mix the milk, egg and butter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until flour is moistened. Do not over stir.  Pour into greased muffin pan.  Bake for 16-18 minutes.  Makes 1 dozen.

Recipe is from a cookbook compiled by our ward congregation a number of years ago.  These muffins are simple and basic.  Great with butter and honey and/or jam or plain!