GF Recipes and Writings

Finding the Big “F”

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What on earth am I talking about? Why, forgiveness, of course! How do you find the ability to forgive? Why can’t I just forgive and forget?

Well, for me, as possibly for you too, forgiveness is a process. I used to come down the front steps and hold onto the railing, getting irritated when the bottom left post wobbled. He put that in. Just another reason to be angry at him. (Like I need more!) Now, I choose to say that I forgive him every time it wobbles. Some day I will set some more concrete around the post and fix it, but for now it’s part of my forgiveness protocol.

Are you like me? Are you finding you have to forgive over and over? Have you ever been able to finally finish forgiving someone?

I would like to be finished forgiving, and I have made progress. I know that if I refuse to forgive, I’m only hurting myself, and by extension, my children. The object in need of my forgiveness doesn’t care whether I can forgive him or not. It doesn’t affect him. It only affects us.

I choose to forgive. I choose not to be angry and bitter. I choose to be there for my children. What about you?

It’s all for you!

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Six Word Story #21

All of this will end soon.

What is Your Favorite?

We were having a discussion, Child #’s 2, 3, and I (child #3 being home sick from school today) regarding our favorite foods. Child #2 didn’t want to say. I’m like “Why not? Mine is chocolate.” She replied that hers was not. I couldn’t believe it! We come from a long line of incredible chocoholics. In fact, we probably should have started our own support group long ago!

I thought, well, maybe it’s pizza or ice cream. Something of the “younger” generation. Not that us “middlers” (I refuse to think of myself as old!!!) don’t like pizza and ice cream. Um, excuse me, have you lost your mind? Me? I never had one to begin with, so I don’t bother going looking for it!

No. I was wrong again. Okaaaaaaay…so what is her favorite food? Wait for it…wait for it…beef. Yup. I’m still scratching my head. Not that I don’t enjoy a good steak, but beef over chocolate…yeah. No contest.

This.

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Where Does Your Mind Go When the Wind Whips?

One of the first things I think of when the cold wind whips through the trees, is that I’m so very grateful for my warm home. Yes, I know it is not perfect. It may be very small, but it is not open to the elements. When the cold snow is swirling in the streetlights and beauty settles over the earth, what about the homeless?

If they are lucky enough to have an appliance box in which to sleep, at least they will be out of the wind. Covered with newspapers for warmth, he catches as much sleep as the wind will allow. In the morning he is chilled to the bone and sets out in search of food.

What if this were you? What if it were one of your family members? It happened to an extended family member of mine. She froze to death. What would you do to prevent this?

Do You Do Cheese…on New Year’s?

I had this idea to do a cheese ball for New Year’s Eve, but didn’t have a recipe. I had made some sort of cheese ball a few years back and all I remember was throwing it out after it had sat in the fridge for quite a while. Yeah. Not great.

So I decided to try again. This time I figured I would use things that my kids love – chipped beef lunch meat and bacon. Tasty! Here is what I did:

2, 8 oz. bricks of cream cheese

1 Tbsp. granulated onion

2 servings, about 12 slices of chipped beef lunch meat, chopped into approximately 3/4 inch pieces.

This is the brand of lunch meat I bought.

1 cup real bacon crumbles (either bacon bits that are real bacon or make your own with real bacon!)

Soften the cream cheese (I used my microwave at 50% power for two minutes, but be careful as microwaves vary greatly! To the softened cream cheese add granulated onion, beef lunch meat, and bacon bits. Mix together with a hand mixer. Place mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap and wrap it up. Form into a ball and place in fridge for at least an hour, or until firm.

Mix well and roll into a ball with plastic wrap.

When firm serve with Gluten-Free crackers, celery, or your favorite cheese ball holding device! Happy New Year, everyone!

Drive Safely!

Lights on, please!
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Just wanted to take this chance to wish you all a happy new year! Also, to remind you to drive safely. Child #2 and I took a trip over to the big town about 35 minutes from home today and were appalled at the people running red lights, riding down the lane-separating lines, and having no headlights on with a very grey day. It was terrifying to say the least!

I must admit, driving in inclement weather with no headlights on is a pet-peeve of mine. I do not understand the people who think that since there vehicle is red or another bright color, that other drivers can see them when it is foggy, grey, or precipitating in any way. Just because you can see the road in front of you does not mean that we can see you! Be safe – put on those headlights!

Wishing you a joy-filled and safe new year!
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So, have a lovely, healthy and happy new year and be safe, whatever you choose to do. And please…never drive impaired!

God bless you all!

The end!
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Nowhere

Where do I go from here, Lord?

Where do I go from here?

I ask your counsel but all I hear

Is the wind blowing in the clear night air.

Where do I go from here, Lord?

Where do I go from here?

Where are you now as I struggle along?

Where are your loving arms around?

Where do I go from here, Lord?

Where do I go from here?

Is it really my time to shine?

And how do I polish?

Do I take a chance and tell it all?

Do I start to dance and let it all go?

Do I run for the hills thinking I’ll escape?

Oh where do I go from here?

Six Word Story #20 (A Christmas Six Word Story!)

She thought it was Santa. No.

Is Your Jelly Jolly? Favorite Christmas Cookie Series

You may think, “What kind of title is that?” and you would be right. The title refers to a favorite Christmas cookie of mine: jolly jellies. Some people call them thumbprint cookies, but we have always referred to them as jolly jellies.

Originally, I suppose the recipe came from our favorite Betty Crocker Cookie Cookbook circa 1965 or thereabouts. It is called Thumbprint Cookies in that book. I have made a few changes to make them gluten-free, but they are still the same buttery, nutty, wonder-cookies that we remember from childhood. So, without further ado, here they are:

The Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

2 eggs, separated

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups white rice flour

1 cup potato starch

2 tsp. xanthan gum

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups finely ground nuts (I used pecans)

4 – 6 oz. of jellied cranberry sauce

The Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Mix your butter, sugar, egg yolks, (you save the whites in a small bowl for later!) and vanilla thoroughly. Add your flour, starch, xanthan gum, and salt and mix well. When it is all mixed, place your ground nuts into a small bowl alongside your egg whites.

With your impeccably clean hands, roll dough into about 1″ balls. Dip the balls in the egg whites and roll them in the nuts. Place on your parchment paper lined baking sheet and gently push your thumb into said cookie to make an indentation for your cranberry sauce. Repeat.

When you have a full sheet, fill to the brim with cranberry sauce. You needn’t worry about the sauce spilling out; it doesn’t. In fact, it doesn’t move!

Bake for 8 – 10 minutes or until slightly golden. Cool for five minutes on pan before moving to a plate or rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!