Forty-Two Echoes

 

More work than most slow cooker meals, but worth it.

 

Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken

 

1 1/2 pounds chicken, cubed

3 tablespoons oil, divided

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons hoisin

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon grated ginger

6 dried red chili peppers

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 bell pepper, coarsely chopped

1 zucchini, cubed

1/3 cup peanuts

 

Heat half the oil over medium-high heat; brown chicken. Place in slow cooker with dried chilies. Combine water, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger in bowl. Stir until combined. Pour over chicken and peppers in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Whisk cornstarch into 2 tablespoons water; add to chicken. Cover and cook 10 minutes. Meanwhile, sauté pepper and zucchini in remaining oil. Add peppers, zucchini and peanuts to slow cooker and stir. Serve over hot rice.

Woven Heart

 

The butterfly effect is a way to describe how small events can have far-reaching and unexpected consequences. It was made popular by Edward Norton Lorenz, a meteorologist who discovered rounding a single variable in a weather simulation (like from 0.506127 to 0.506) produces a completely different forecast. In 1990, the Mars Climate Orbiter crashed because one NASA team used imperial calculations while another team used metric. Why is the US not on board with the metric system? Blame it on pirates. In 1779, the newly United States used different weights and measures, complicating interstate trade. Thomas Jefferson arranged for scientist Joseph Dombrey to bring examples of the new metric system from France. A storm blew Dombrey’s ship off course and into the hands of privateers in the Caribbean, where he died. Without this precious cargo, Congress refused to adopt the new system. Was the storm that doomed Dombrey caused by a butterfly’s flapping wings? I guess we’ll never know.

Square Knot

 

“The Savior invites all to serve him with all your heart. When we choose to do each thing the Lord has asked us to do—such as keeping the commandments, partaking of the sacrament, worshipping in the temple, and serving others—with a sincere heart and with real intent, each act of service and worship becomes a powerful spiritual experience that strengthens our faith and testimony and fills our hearts with joy and love for God and our fellow man. The prophet Alma’s question still echoes today: ‘Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?’ Brothers and sisters, I invite you to give your whole heart to the Savior today. Let each act of worship and service be sincere and intentional. Set aside the distractions of the world and strive to have meaningful time for the Lord every day of your lives.” – Elder Ronald M. Barcellos

Five Dancing Stars

Just before he was hanged, French aristocrat and Royalist Marquis de Favras read his death warrant. According to Victor Hugo, his last words were, “Permit me to point out that you have made three mistakes in spelling.” François-Marie Arouet was a French Enlightenment writer who went by the nom de plume Voltaire. He was often critical of religious dogma. As he lay on his death bed, his priest asked if he rejected Satan. “My good man,” Voltaire exclaimed, “now is not the time to make new enemies.” As Spanish Prime Minister Ramón María Narváez lay dying, he was asked if he forgave his enemies. “I don’t need to forgive them,” he replied, “I’ve had them all shot.” In November, 1900, Oscar Wilde was ill and impoverished in a hotel in Paris. Unhappy with his surroundings, he declared, “This wallpaper is killing me. Decidedly one of us will have to go.” 

 

Four Flags

 

The first week in January, I saw an article about the Quilts of Valor 2026 National Block Drive, and the block they chose for this year: the Echo block. I read about the blocks they hope to receive and thought, “I can do that.” Within days, I was tearing into my stash for red, white (or off-white) and blue prints. I love scrappy quilting projects. Rediscovering prints I used years (or even decades) ago brings back lovely memories. They do tend to make my sewing room look like the aftermath of a hurricane, but the results are just dazzling. I was midway through this indoor storm when our quilt guild announced this year’s project: a scrappy top filled with these red, white and blue American flags; one for each state in the union. The QOV project will be donated to a veteran, and the flag quilt will commemorate the semiquincentennial. I can do that.

Four Small Stars

 

Thoughts on motherhood:

“When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so someone in the house is happy to see you.” – Nora Ephron

“It’s not easy being a mom. If it were, fathers would do it.” – Betty White

“It just occurred to me the majority of my diet is food my kid didn’t finish.” – Carrie Underwood

“No one told me I’d be coming home in diapers, too.” – Chrissy Teigen

“If you aren’t yelling at your kids, you’re not spending enough time with them.” – Reese Witherspoon

“My sister said once, ‘Anything I don’t want Mother to know, I don’t even think of, if she’s in the room.’” – Agatha Christie

“I’ve been married fourteen years and I have three kids. Obviously, I breed well in captivity.” – Roseanne Barr

“Like all parents, my husband and I do the best we can, hold our breath, and hope we set aside enough money to pay for our kids’ therapy.” – Michelle Pfeiffer

Three Dozen Echoes

 

Squash Alfredo

 

1 large spaghetti squash

2 tablespoons butter

Salt and pepper to taste

4 tablespoons cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella

1 cup baby spinach

 

Preheat oven to 400F. Fill a baking sheet with about an inch of water. Cut spaghetti squash in half crosswise, scoop out the seeds. Place cut side down in the prepared baking sheet and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Use a fork to pull apart the strands of squash and set half of them aside. Season squash halves with salt and pepper, and then add butter, cream cheese and half the mozzarella. Stir to combine. Add spinach and reserved spaghetti squash; top with remaining mozzarella. Broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is bubbly. Makes 2 generous servings.