10/15/2010

Barren Table...

My sincere apologies for not posting anything fun here, but my fun seems to be buried underneath all sorts of other "stuff". I'm working at digging it out. I've come across a few good recipes that I will share along the way, and hoping for some dinner guests... or even just family to visit soon. It's been a long, sad, and lonely summer. Not much to share in the way of gatherings. Usually our house is bustling with visitors, friends and family alike. This year, not so much. I'll have to work on that. Maybe I'll just take to inviting random friends over for dinner, or families from church. That would be fun. I love trying to do a theme night. Like Mexican with music to match, jazz with laid-back food, classical with comfort food or something like that. Of course, our church family is so full of wonderful cooks, I'll probably be intimidated. :)

Oh... I'll get there. My passion for cooking is still with me... I just haven't had anyone to cook for. My husband isn't home 5 days a week. When he does come home, I cook for an army and send it back with him to his brother's home where he lives during the work week. Whatever I don't send, I freeze.

A portion of my Bible Study on Hospitality (to share with you):

Hospitality: The Gift of Welcome.
Hospitality is the practice of welcoming, sheltering, and feeding - with no thought of personal gain-those who come to your door. Much more than elegant menus, elaborate table settings, or lavish entertainment-hospitality is sharing what we have and who we are with whomever God sends. Hospitality includes setting aside time for fellowship and being flexible in order to accommodate impromptu gatherings.

You can share your heart and life with others, even if the meal is simple and the setting is humble. The most important gift of welcome simply says I care,, I love you, and I have prepared a place for you.

Hospitality must begin at home. Christians are "through love to serve one another without grumbling, maintaining calmness and self-control".

My take on this whole hospitality thing is that although we expend physical energy and sacrifice to prepare a table to share... we are rewarded with meeting new people, making new friends, growing better friendships, and sharing each others thoughts from our hearts and souls.

Leaving you with these quotes -

"Laughter is brightest where food is best." Irish Proverb

"The company makes the feast." English Proverb



Chicken Marsala - One of my son's favorites.

Hugs all around,
Penny Sue

9/21/2010

A portion of dinner.. of sorts.. we were too full when it came time for dinner






The above three photos are reminiscent of my successful attempt to zucchini "fritters". Similar to being made in the fashion of potato latkes. The zucchini makes them so much lighter tasting. I will follow up with my version of the recipe. I took a drastic twist away from the seasoning that was being recommended.

If you're interested, let me know.

k? Penny Sue

9/10/2010

Yes, Hospitality has been obviously missing...

Hey ya'll...

I haven't been able to post in a long time. Tomorrow I'm going to be cooking up a storm... and hopefully getting out into the shop and getting it ready to OPEN!

I'll take pics... and hope for the best.

Upcoming on the menu...

Halushki
Chicken Noodle Soup (Low sodium)
Roasted Beef for sandwich meat for low sodium
Shredded zucchini...with a recipe for zucchini fritters (not mine, but amazing!)
Brats with beer, onions and kraut
and whatever else I find to cook! Woo-hoo!

Come join our table..
Penny Sue

PS-I'm gonna be a grandma in 2 weeks and 1 day... just FYI. I cannot wait to hold this newborn babe!

3/27/2010

Spring has sprung...

(If you follow "Penny For Your Thoughts", this is a duplicate... simply because my posts happen to focus on friends and food. So... pull up a chair and enjoy the company, in duo.) :) It's a good thing to smile!

I love spring! I love the smell of spring rain, I love the feel of spring wind, and I love how everything starts to turn green. It's amazing how I take for granted the color of green until the doldrums of winter have taken their toll... and everything you see is black, gray and white.

I've been gone for a long time, mostly due to the fact I have no computer of my own. My husband has been kind enough to leave his laptop at home with me when he goes to work for 5 days. For the past two weeks, I've had some contact with the outside world. Not much, as I'm sick with a nasty head/chest cold. I sound worse than I feel. I'm just exhausted from all the coughing and the heaviness in my upper chest area. I believe I might have some form of bronchitis, which, as I've researched, unless you contract a secondary bacterial infection, the bronchitis should go away after it's worked its way through your system. Hopefully, I won't need any extra meds. The over the counter stuff is bad enough.

Enough of my medical woes. Basically I contracted a computer virus through my facebook account. My account was hacked and it got to most everything... except, strangely, my computer files. Mostly it was internet stuff. But, my computer re-installation software is missing, tried one from the home computer, and cleared out my hard drive, but I cannot figure out how to get my laptop to communicate with my wireless. As I've said before, I'm computer challenged to say the least... and this is beyond my abilities. So, for now, I'm going to use the hub's laptop, and in moments of desperation, I can use the desktop computer (which is also on its last legs... it's very slow!)

Things that have been missed. Our house guest Phillip, a friend of my husband, who came to visit in January. He taught me how to make "Bot Boy" while he was here. It is a multi-generation recipe that has been prepared in his family from farmers to miners.

The beginning... preparing the chicken and stock... letting it simmer.

Phil is very generous with his sharing of such a traditional recipe. Anyone who wants to learn how to make bot boy only needs to ask. Here's Phil, The Bot Boy Master! Armed and ready to go.

One of my contributions to this meal. Pumpernickel bread bowl with dried chipped beef dilly dip... you can eat the entire thing... bowl and all.

Next came the "Bot Boy" part, the noodles, which are homemade and cut into pretty good sized squares. Phil worked up a good sweat hand mixing the dough. Then you drop the dough squares in a few at a time, stir and add a few more.... and stir, so they don't stick together.

The happy Bot Boy Student! (That's me!) As I reflect over this blog, I recognize the difference in height difference between Phil and I. He is so much taller than my stove... and I actually have to stand on tippy-toes to see what's going on in the pot. It struck me as funny. Phil is a big guy, but he's a teddy bear. No jokes!

The Bot Boy Observer... it smells so good, he can't leave the kitchen!

Table set and ready to go... all that's missin' is the "Pot O' Bot"!

And finally... the reward and fruits of our labor... chow time!

With smiling faces like that, you know it's got to be good... and it sure was! Thanks Phil... you were great!

Hope to be back soon... because up next, well, it's the husband's turn! Too cute!

Hugs,
Penny Sue

2/02/2010

M.I.A.

I'm sorry if anyone has missed me (not that anyone is reading this), but a girl can dream, eh? My laptop computer contracted a serious virus through a facebook disaster and I pretty much need to erase the hard drive and start over. I'm so not looking forward to doing this. The irony of all of this is the fact that my husband had just renewed our McAfee on his laptop, but hadn't gotten to the point of updating my computer. McAfee had this deal that the purchase would cover three computers. So, we ordered that last year, and the renewal came up. I was so close... but so far away. I'll be back soon.

Hugs, Penny