FAITH: Paying It Forward

Faith:  Paying It Forward

You hear many references today about "paying it forward".   I am sure that it is not a NEW concept... in fact, people have been encouraged to do this from the beginning of time. 

I am sharing today, because having the ability to do good things is a GIFT OF GOD. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13

12 I have concluded that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good during their life. 

13 also that everyone should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all his hard work.  It is the gift of GOD. 

Having a strong faith doesn't mean you have to bury yourself in deep intellectual pursuit of the Bible...  get out there, do good.  It'll DO YOU GOOD! 

Sometimes the simplest things in life catch your eye and bring pleasure.  Thoughts meander.  I wonder what the builder of this rock buck was thinking about as he packed all those rocks from the field??? 

GOD BLESS,

Karen

CAST IRON: Lentil Soup

Cast Iron:  Lentil Soup 

One of the most used pieces of cast iron in my kitchen is a very rough, Taiwan made 4 qt. soup pot.  My hubby picked it up off a prize table at Rendezvous one year.  I didn't think I would like it as it was NOT a camp oven.  If I use it over the fire, I need flat rocks or a rack to hold it over the coals.  Soup pot has traveled with me over many, many rough roads.  It has cooked over the fire, inside the tin tee pee, and in my kitchen at home!

The ingredients got laid out, and the soup came together quickly.  4 cups of beef broth and 2 cups of water were started in the pot on high.  1 Envelope of Lipton Beefy Onion soup mix was tossed in.  Then....

BAM!  1 1/2 cups of dry lentils were dropped in.  1 yellow onion diced, 3 cups of halved grape tomatoes ( a can of diced petite will do in a pinch)  2 carrots quartered lengthwise and diced, 5 cloves of garlic minced, 3 stalks of celery halved lengthwise and diced... and the funny looking pile is homegrown, home dried sweet basil crushed with the end of a rolling pin.  1 tsp of smoked paprika, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.  Lastly fry off a 1/2 pound of bacon ends and pieces finely diced until well browned and add to the pot.

  Bring to a boil, cover and set on the back burner with a very small flame.  Simmer until veggies and lentils are soft... about 30 minutes or so... depending on how you like the texture of your lentils.  45 minutes to an hour can be a little mushy for some!  

BON APPETITE' or however they say it... Good Grubbin'  !!!

Fresh Posts for 2017

Happy 2017! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful and BLESSED holiday season!

New Year, new transitions.  Moving forward and looking forward.  Stay tuned for the best of FAMILY  CAST IRON and TRADITIONS! 

At 21 months Mr. Eli Ray Fulbright can swipe his Mamaw's phone, and take SELFIES! 

All worn out from taking selfies, Eli hopped up on Papaw's lap to watch some football.  He truly is a little Fulbright... watching football from behind closed eyelids! 

STAY TUNED AS THINGS REV UP IN THE NEW YEAR! 

LOVE TO ALL

Cast Iron: Peach Kuchen in 12" Dutch Oven

Cast Iron:  Peach Kuchen in a 12" Dutch Oven

You might ask:  "What the heck is Kuchen?"   The German origin word means "cake"  I have tried several versions.  It can be a raised yeast dough or traditional cake form...  I chose the cake form today.. very much like a fruity coffee cake.  I mean, it's cinnamon and peaches... can't go wrong there!!!  

My husband's family has deep German roots, with some members coming to America in the 1700's.  The family name was Americanized but they do love their desserts!! 

Peach Kuchen

Dough:

1/2 c. Sugar

2 c. Flour

3 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 TBS Shortening or Lard

Mix with a fork until all the ingredients are incorporated.

To this add 1 egg, plus enough milk to equal 1c.... whipped.

I pressed the dough into the bottom of a 12" Dutch oven, making a well by pushing the edges of the dough up the side of the oven.  Any fruit will work, preferably fresh, but these were canned peaches as I didn't have any fresh on hand.  After the fruit is placed in the well add the following:

Topping:  Whisk 1 c. Sugar, 3 heaping TBS of flour, 1 tsp of cinnamon...  top the fruit and to the top of that add 4 TBS of cold butter thinly sliced around the topping.  Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes until nicely brown and the topping is bubbling. 

Cool slightly and serve with your favorite brand of vanilla ice cream.  I love Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.  Or you can use cream or whipped cream...  Whatever floats your boat!

Traditions: Carrying On

Traditions:  Carrying On

Another successful harvest.  YEP... harvest.  Despite the best efforts of those who seek to rape the resources, trespass, poach and generally give hunting season a bad name, the requisite 2 bucks were harvested... a few pheasants.  It's all about managing the resources and respecting property owners rights.

Coming up on the 3rd generation of hunting in this area, and it's all about the adults teaching their kids HOW to hunt, selective hunting, and having great quality family time.  Grandpas, Grandmas,moms, dads and friends all work to teach the next generation. 

Daralyn, Orrin and Leona
Love those smiles!

Next generation Justin

Breaking bread with a long time friends son.

Next generation Haiden learning from Grandpa Rick and friends. 

Genealogy: CATCHING THE PAST The Things We've Handed Down

Did you ever just have one of those days??? 
Tried to share this on the sister page on Facebook, seems that they are now censoring anything that someone will get their panties in a wad over!   So we'll try GOOGLE! 

FAMILY: Remembering Mama

Velma Mae Hascall Cross

Later years, mom didn't like to have her picture taken so much.  Thanks to Kyong Hui.... my lovely sister in law who I believe may have talked her into this one. 

There are so many things to remember, how she loved to do her "handywork"  Knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, embroidery.  It was sad when she couldn't see well enough to do a lot of it... and the arthritis in her hands kept her from creating the beautiful things that she would always "put away for good"  How I hate that phrase, but it was a sign of that generation.  Don't break out the new stuff until you have totally worn the old stuff to rags. 

Mom loved to write... she would keep her diaries, and write poems.  She loved to write down lyrics to her favorite songs, and that was a great view into the things that she really felt deeply.  Each time I come across something she "put down" on paper...  I love to see her handwriting.  She learned to write when it was an actual part of your schooling.  PENMANSHIP...  now the schools want to do away with cursive writing... what are they thinking. 

I miss her every day. 

This is one of her poems that she "put down on paper"  I cannot find where it is copied from anywhere else, I believe it to be her original work. 

  Just Life and Motherhood

by Velma Hascall Cross

I am unlike a mother Robin

When babies grow and leave the nest. 

For she has time from spring to spring

To do nothing but rest. 

To raise two families of children

Is just a hard old row to hoe

For poor old mother

Is always on the go. 

She wishes just for some time

To call her very own.

To just sit and read and daydream.

Just some time to be alone.

But I love being a mother

Also my husband's wife,

Rewards you reap (their love)

For such is Motherhood and Life.

I will never see one of these that I don't think of my mom! She had a whole flock of them that she fed with an old metal bucket full of wheat.  Mama and all the tiny topknot babies just bobbing along like chickens.

 Today is the anniversary of her passing, and although I'm sad, she gave me so many good skills and hopefully some common sense that I can't be too overwrought. The best tribute to someone who is gone is to remember the good things and live your life. I SO empathize with Mary Ann Low s post.... what we wouldn't give for just one more hug, or one more conversation. I am a little crazy because I have one sided conversations with mom all the time. Just the way it is.