Nine Arrowheads

 

At our house, this is usually a main course in late spring or early summer. But this month we served it as a side dish along with baked potatoes. It used up some of the cabbage, carrots and peppers from this year’s vegetable garden.

 

Oriental Salad

 

1 large head cabbage, shredded (You can also use Napa cabbage.)

1 package ramen noodles, slightly crushed

2 large carrots, julienned

1 coarsely chopped bell pepper (any color)

1/2 cup sliced almonds

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

2 cups chopped cooked chicken (or turkey)

 

Place all ingredients in large bowl.

 

1/2 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup peanut oil

1 teaspoon ginger

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

 

Whisk together dressing ingredients in small bowl, then toss with vegetable mixture until well coated. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour.

Twelve Log Cabins

 

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken

 

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts

2 teaspoons each garlic and ginger, minced

1/4 cup honey

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

2 tablespoons sliced scallions

 

Place chicken in slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, ginger, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, oil and vinegar. Pour mixture over chicken. Cover and cook on high 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Pour teriyaki sauce from the slow cooker through a strainer into a saucepan. Place saucepan on range over medium high heat and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water until dissolved. Pour cornstarch into sauce and bring a boil. Cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened. Pour sauce over chicken and toss to coat. Garnish with sesame seeds and scallions.

Turkey Lurkey

"I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual." —Henry David Thoreau

"Be present in all things and thankful for all things." —Maya Angelou

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." —Oprah Winfrey

"If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share." —W. Clement Stone

"Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is."—Ernest Hemingway

"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest." —William Blake

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." —John F. Kennedy

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my only response is I am thankful I have a cup." —Sam Lefkowitz

Sixteen Rail Fence Blocks

 

A physicist walks in to an ice cream parlor, sits down and orders two sundaes. He eats one and offers the other to the empty stool beside him. He does this every day for a week. Finally, the owner comes up and asks, "We’re all wondering: what's the deal with the second ice cream? No one ever comes in with you.” The physicist replies, "Well, quantum mechanics teaches us there's a non-zero possibility through quantum tunneling for particles to spontaneously appear next to me in the form of a woman. Hopefully, she would accept my offer and maybe fall in love with me." The owner says, "Listen, we have girls coming in here every day. How about you just go up to one of them and ask her out? Maybe one of them will fall in love with you." The physicist says, "Yeah right! How likely is it for that to happen?"

Nine Nine-Patch Blocks

 

To be completely honest, we prefer both beef tacos and plain mac & cheese to this recipe. But it does make a nice change. It's easy to double, and it’s delicious with a southwest tossed salad and Texas sheet cake brownies.

 

Slow-Cooker Taco Mac

 

1 pound lean ground beef, browned and drained

1 packet taco seasoning

4 tablespoons butter

2 1/2 cups grated cheddar

10 ounces Ro-Tel drained

2 ounces cream cheese, diced

10.5 ounces condensed cheddar soup

1/2 cup sour cream (plus more for a garnish)

1 cup whole milk

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cups elbow macaroni

 

Dump all ingredients except macaroni into slow cooker; stir to combine. Cover and cook on low 3 hours. Just before serving, cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and toss with beef/cheese sauce. Serve hot, with salsa and extra sour cream. 

Nine Log Cabins

 

“It’s in the nature of a fallen world—where the devil rages and everyone is imperfect—that there will be disappointments and offenses, suffering and sorrow, failure and loss, persecution and injustice. It’s only by looking to God that individuals, families, and even nations can flourish. President Russell M. Nelson taught, ‘Because the Savior, through His infinite Atonement, redeemed each of us from weakness, mistakes, and sin, because He experienced every pain, worry, and burden you’ve ever had, as you truly repent and seek His help, you can rise above this precarious world.’ No promise is repeated more often in Book of Mormon scripture than this: ‘Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.’ The lived experience of the Book of Mormon peoples over centuries demonstrates the truth of these words.” - Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Six Arrowheads

 

Last week a seventeen-year-old youth was arrested for vandalizing a golf course in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He’d done “donuts” with his truck on the green near the second hole at 2:30 in the morning, while his passenger conveniently recorded the event with a cell phone. Employees at the golf course say damage to the course will come at least to $160K. Florida’s growing season is at an end, and temperatures are too low to replant right now. They won’t be able to begin repairing the course until spring. At a news conference, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the young man had confessed to the crime, explaining they were bored and couldn’t think of anything better to do. Sheriff Chitwood repeated something his grandmother used to say, that nothing good happens after 10:00 p.m. My grandma used to say that, too. In this case, I think she would have added, “If you’re bored at two in the morning, go to bed.”

Four Log Cabins

 

An atheist was walking through the woods when he heard a rustling behind him. He turned and saw a grizzly charging in his direction. He ran as fast as he could, but the bear was faster. The atheist tripped and fell. Suddenly the bear was on top of him, raising its paw to strike a deadly blow. The man cried, "Oh my God!" Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. A bright light shone from the heavens, and a voice came from above. "For years you’ve denied my existence. You’ve taught others I don't exist. Do you expect me to help you now?” The atheist replied, "It would be hypocritical of me to ask you to treat me as a Christian, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?" The light disappeared. The bear brought its paws together, bowed its head and spoke: "Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive…”

Five Churn Dash Blocks

 

In November 1970, a 45-foot, eight-ton whale carcass washed up on the beach near Florence, Oregon. The Oregon State Highway Commission decided to used half a ton of dynamite to dispose of it. They assumed the blast would blow it to smithereens. Most of the bits would wash out to sea, and the rest would be devoured by crabs and gulls. They invited the news outlets and public to come watch the spectacle. Things didn’t turn out exactly as planned. Instead of disintegrating the behemoth, the explosion sent huge chunks of rotting blubber and flesh raining down on spectators and vehicles up to a quarter mile away. The blast frightened away the scavengers that were meant to clear away the smelly debris. Most of the whale was left on the beach until heavy machinery was brought to bury it. Today, Oregon’s policy is to either bury beached whales, or just let nature take its course. 

One Dozen Rail Fence Blocks

 

We had this dish Sunday, with mac & cheese, Caesar salad, and a fruit tray. John roasted it in the Traeger, so the house wouldn’t smell of cruciferous vegetables. When dinner was over, we had leftover macaroni, salad and fruit, but no leftover broccoli.

 

Oven-Roasted Broccoli

 

8 cups fresh broccoli florets

1/4 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Preheat oven to 450F. Grease a jelly roll pan or use silicone liner. Place broccoli in large bowl; toss with olive oil. In a small bowl, stir together seasoning. Sprinkle over broccoli and toss again. Spread broccoli in baking pan. Roast about 15 minutes, or until lightly brown. Serve immediately.

Four Nine-Patch Blocks

 

Last Tuesday we visited the Titanic Exhibit. Most of the stories there we’d heard before, but not this one: Alma Sonne and his companion, Fred Dahle, were heading home along with four other elders—George B. Chambers, Willard Richards, John R. Sayer, and L. J. Shurtliff—after completing their English missions. But when the time came to meet in Southampton, Elder Dahle was delayed. Elder Sonne, who’d convinced Elder Dahle to serve a mission in the first place and had booked their passage on the Titanic, decided they shouldn’t leave without him. Instead, he canceled the reservations so they could depart the next day. Some of the elders were disappointed they wouldn’t be traveling on the Titanic, but they thanked God after they discovered what their outcome might have been. “You saved my life,” Elder Sonne told Elder Dahle. “No,” he replied. “By getting me on this mission, you saved my life.”

Log Cabin

 

“The instrument of truth that brought my healing from the Lord came as pages in a book, yes, the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ! It has been hurled at me that the means by which this book came to be were impractical, unbelievable, embarrassing, even unholy. Now, that is harsh language from anyone who presumes to know the means by which the book came to be, inasmuch as the only description given about those means is that it was translated ‘by the gift and power of God.’ That’s it. That’s all. In any case, the impact of the Book of Mormon in my life is no less miraculous than was the application of spit and dirt placed on the blind man’s eyes. It has been, for me, a rod of safety for my soul, a transcendent and penetrating light of revelation, an illumination of the path I must walk when mists of darkness come.” – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Four Arrowheads

 

The word “socialism” puzzles me. All my life I’ve heard what a bad thing it is, and I agree it would be terrible for the government (federal, state or civic) to own all things and employ all people. But it seems to me in moderate amounts, it’s actually beneficial. I really like the fact I can call the fire department if my house is burning, or the police department if there’s a break-in. And when they come, they won’t send me a bill. Most public infrastructure – bridges, roads, electricity, water and sewer systems – are owned and operated by the government, and paid for by a combination of taxes and user fees. Likewise most public transportation, like buses, subways and railways. Public schools are socialist programs, as are public parks, prisons, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, Social Security, FEMA, USPS and even the U.S. military. I wouldn’t want to eliminate any of these. Does that make me a socialist?

Double Quartet

 

Last year, for his seventieth birthday, I bought John a t-shirt saying, “Being 20 in the 70’s was much more fun than being 70 in the 20’s.” He wears it a LOT, and wherever we go, he catches people reading it. Quite often, they’ll stop to say they agree. He wore it again last week, when we were out to dinner. A fellow passing by said, “Oh! You’ve got a Joe Walsh t-shirt!” I looked it up, and he’s right. Joe Walsh, the Eagles guitarist and singer who wrote “Take It Easy,” "Lyin' Eyes" and “Hotel California” has been credited with the quote my husband wears. Joe also said, “People ask if I believe in God, and I kind of have to, because I’m still here. I hadn’t planned to live this long.” And, “You can work on an album forever, but finishing it is a whole different deal.” I can totally relate to that.

Four Churn Dash Blocks

 

Do you know how many noses you have? Unless you’re an extremely unusual person, you’ll probably say you have one. But because human nostrils are separated by a septum (from a Latin word meaning fence, enclosure or wall, essentially “that which separates”) we each effectively have two noses. This separation is what makes it possible for our nostrils to perform independently. Nostrils have two basic functions: taking air in and expelling it. At any given time, one is doing mostly the former, while the other is doing mostly the latter. Every few hours, the right and left sides switch roles. Why would this be a good thing? The nostril with the higher intake flow is filling your lungs and keeping you alive. The one with the lower intake flow may be recovering, rehydrating and making it easier to detect subtle smells. Best of all, having independent nostrils can mean you might still sleep peacefully while one nostril is congested. 

Nine Rail Fence Blocks

 

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork

 

3 pounds pork tenderloin

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cup water

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce

 

Heat oil in heavy frying pan over medium heat; brown pork roast – about 2 minutes on each side. Add water and browned pork to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. In medium saucepan, whisk together remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring, until sauce thickens a bit. Pour over pork in slow cooker about an hour before it’s done. Recover and continue cooking one hour. Shred meat before serving with rice, potatoes, or in sandwiches. Makes about 8 generous servings.

Nine Patch

 

This recipe was a clever way to use up leftover hotdog buns. Sure, you have to wake up around 2:00 a.m. to start it (or 4:00 if you set the cooker on high), but I’ve always been an early bird.

 

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

 

5 cups bread, cubed

6 large eggs

1 cup half-and-half

1 cup shredded cheddar

1/2 pound cooked, crumbled bacon

1/2 bell pepper, coarsely chopped

 

Line sides of 2.5-quart slow cooker with foil. Coat with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat eggs and half-and-half with whisk. Stir in bacon, bell pepper and half the cheese. Fold in bread; stir to coat. Spoon mixture into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours or on high 2 to 3 hours, until the center is nearly set. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; cover and cook another 10 minutes, until cheese melts. Use knife to loosen and remove foil before serving. Feeds 4 to 6 people. 

Four Magnolias

 

“With each passing year, I feel greater love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for His merciful Atonement. His supreme sacrifice, securing victory over death and sin, is the most consequential contribution of all human history. Understanding His divine gift is for me an open-ended heavenly tutorial that will continue beyond the grave. The powerful compassion of the Savior in forgiving sin and in healing the wounds caused by the sins of others is a most miraculous manifestation of the love of God. My desire is to offer hope for those seeking forgiveness for very serious sins and to offer comfort to those seeking healing from the anguishing wounds caused by the serious sins of others. Healing and forgiveness are each found in their fulness in the atoning love of Jesus Christ.” – Elder Neil L. Andersen

Arrowhead

 

There are similar block patterns from the mid- to late-1800’s, but I believe the first block with this name and look was published in 1941. I suspect that pattern was a series of printed templates the reader was expected to trace and use to hand-cut (with scissors) bits of fabric before sewing them together. In 2011, Anita Grossman Solomon published a simplified method for constructing this block in Quiltmaker Magazine. Anita’s idea was to stack two pieces of fabric and then rotary-cut them in half, diagonally, twice. Then, each triangular piece would be sliced two more times and the colors swapped to create the finished design. I didn’t use a pattern for this block. Instead, I started with two 11” squares of cotton and ended up with two identical 8” finished blocks. I’ve got plenty of civil war reproduction scraps to play with, and I suspect when I’m done, all my blocks will nest together.

Autumn Stars

 

This dish just says autumn to me. I like to use red, orange and yellow peppers, and let it stew all day. It’s the perfect foil for wet and windy weather.

 

Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

 

2 pounds Italian sausage links (You can also use bulk sweet Italian sausage.)

3 bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced

1 large yellow or white onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 cups marinara

 

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 4 hours, or on low 8 hours. Serve with a sturdy pasta, like gemelli or penne. It’s also delicious with roasted potatoes.

Churn Dash

 

I’m expecting eight for Thanksgiving. On one hand, it’s a relief I’m not feeding at least twice that many. I can buy a small bird, and the side dishes will be more manageable. On the other hand, eight people won’t justify the five+ pies I’d like to make for dessert. There must be pumpkin. If I don’t make pumpkin pie, Heather will say I did Thanksgiving wrong and must start again. There should probably be apple, too. That’s already more pie than eight people need, and I haven’t mentioned mincemeat, pecan, blueberry or lemon meringue. I just had an epiphany: I can make two kinds of pie – say, apple and mincemeat – in one pie plate. I’ll fill half the bottom crust with apple filling; the other half with mincemeat. I’ll cover my hybrid pie with a top crust, seal and flute. Apple and mincemeat have identical baking directions. If anyone objects, well, that can be my pie.

Four Rail Fence Blocks

 

I got this recipe from a friend who likes really sweet smoothies. It calls for three whole tablespoons of sugar, but I never actually make it that way. Honestly, with all the lactose and fructose in there, why would you need sucrose? If you try this recipe, I’d suggest making it without any sugar first. Taste it, and if you feel it needs to be sweeter, just add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup instead.

 

Peach/Strawberry/Banana Smoothie

 

1 1/4 cups milk (We use 2%)

1 cup frozen strawberries

1/2 cup frozen peach slices

1 small ripe banana, sliced and chilled

3 tablespoons granulated sugar (Honestly, just skip the sugar)

 

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 large or 3 small servings. When we’ve been out of milk, we’ve used the same amount of O.J. But then it’s a peach/strawberry/banana/orange smoothie.

Lucky Thirteen

 

A couple in their mid-sixties was celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary in a quiet restaurant. Suddenly – POOF! – a tiny fairy appeared in the middle of their table. “You’re such a lovely couple,” she exclaimed. “I’d like to give each of you a single wish.” The wife knows exactly what her wish will be. “I’ve always wanted to travel the world with my darling husband,” she said. The fairy waved her magic wand and – POOF! – in the wife’s hands were two tickets to an around-the-world cruise. The fairy turned to the husband. “Well, this is all very romantic,” he said. “But a chance like this doesn’t come by every day. I’m sorry, but my wish is to have a wife who’s thirty years younger than me.” The fairy looked genuinely disappointed, but a wish is a wish. She waved her magic wand and – POOF! – the husband was suddenly ninety-two years old. – Author Unknown

Peach and Strawberry/Rhubarb Pies

 

“Repentance opens the door to our new beginnings, fresh starts, and second chances. Our dear President Russell M. Nelson’s teachings have cleared up misconceptions about the divine gift of repentance, and I think we are finally beginning to grasp it. It is exciting to hear our youth describe what repentance means to them. I recently heard a young woman say, with a smile on her face, 'When I think of repentance, daily repentance, I feel incredible joy and hope. I feel the love and happiness of my Heavenly Father and my Saviour. I am not afraid to come to Heavenly Father in prayer and ask for His help with whatever I’m struggling with. I know They’re not trying to catch me doing something wrong. Their arms are open wide. This is repentance to me,' she said. This young woman understands that because of Jesus Christ, she can have new beginnings!” - Elder Patrick Kearon

November Door Banner

 

As a teenager, I took piano lessons Thursday nights. My teacher’s home was filled with the smells of dinner cooking. His wife would bring in a plate of hot food so he could eat without interrupting the lessons. I used to think how wonderful it would be to have someone do that. I don’t. But I do have a slow cooker.

 

Loaded Chicken/Potato Casserole

 

3 Idaho russets, cubed

1 pound chicken breasts, cubed

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar

3 scallions, thinly sliced

3/4 cup cream

 

Spray interior of slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread half the potatoes in bottom. Cover with half the chicken. Sprinkle half the seasoning, bacon, cheese and onion on top. Repeat with remaining potatoes, chicken, seasoning, bacon, cheese and onion. Pour cream over casserole. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Makes 3 or 4 servings.