Tag Archives: Strewn Words in the Stew

Feb5

A Conspiracy of Love

Posted on by
Standard
A Conspiracy of Love

The month of February brings a plethora of events worthy of celebrations. Ground Hog Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and at least one if not five snow days that keep most of us home. Many experienced the snowstorm or ice storm of the millennium the end of January. Then this week the groundhog as well as the armadillo in Texas predicted six more weeks of winter because they each saw their own shadow, despite this little girl having an important message to Mr. Groundhog. Wow, if weather prediction could be that easy all the time. We tucker in our homes, sip on our hot tea and coffee, find great movies to watch, a pile of books setting on the end table for those evenings under a lamp and warm throw, as well as stocked pantries and refrigerators to bake bread, prepare homemade soups, and sweet goodies. What better time to make your sweetheart or neighbor their favorite dessert?

I am sharing a favorite sweet goodie amongst children and the children at heart. Below is a recipe for Stuffed French Toast Hearts found in Volume 2 of Strewn Words in the Stew: A Memoir of Recipes, Poems, Short Stories, and Sayings. Click on the book title to go to the page about my writing adventures and where you can purchase my books.

Stuffed French Toast Hearts

The ingredients are 24 slices buttermilk or sourdough bread; 6 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup fruit preserves or jelly; 6 eggs; 1 cup milk; 2 teaspoons granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup butter

The instructions are:

  1. Using sharp large heart-shaped cookie cutter, but bread slices into hearts; set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and preserves; beat until blended and creamy.
  3. Spread 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in center only of 12 heart-shaped bread slices.
  4. Top each slice with matching heart-shaped bread slice to make 12 sandwiches.
  5. In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, extract, and salt; beat until blended and frothy, then set aside.
  6. Heat butter in a griddle or large skillet.
  7. Dip each sandwich in egg mixture, place in pan and grill on each side until golden brown.
  8. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Makes 12 stuffed sandwiches.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

Sep22

Summer’s Afterglow

Posted on by
Standard
Summer’s Afterglow

Autumn is summer’s afterglow. The trees radiate the sunrays. This first day of autumn, rain is what we need. Dark clouds rolled in a couple of times this past weekend provided a little moisture, but we need more. Earlier this month, while Dean and I journeyed through the valleys of Virginia and a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, embers of autumn ignited into glowing yellows, flaming oranges, and burning reds with a few trees and bushes on the hillsides. Puffy clouds in the sky so blue billowed from the mountain tops like smoke from the fires below. My Missouri will hopefully experience this colorful transformation soon. I am thankful the autumn equinox is here! Meantime, I enjoy the repurposed stain glass window from Dean’s parents’ Kansas City home of 50 years. This colorful piece is now hung in Dean and I’s cottage home.

A new season has begun. Self-care is high on my list of priorities. Discoveries await. Dean and I’s much needed getaway to the countryside gave us rest to our bodies and souls. I have experienced much pain this year, started in March. Two discs in my lower back and two discs in my neck are misaligned causing migraines and traveling pain down my legs and arms into my feet and hands. Thankfully I have had some good physicians, nurse practitioners, and physical therapists. Prayers for healing have been many to our God. More recently I am able to function in most everyday activities with less medication. Some activities will have to be eliminated altogether. Changes are forthcoming.

As many are aware, I have been writing for years. It began with journaling and moved into submitting to online publications, and have had my poems, short stories, and recipes published. My first full-length book has been published this week! It is a work that I have been after for over four years since my retirement from human resource management. Strewn Words in the Stew is a multi-genre 2-volume memoir of my culinary life. Recipes, poems, short stories, favorite sayings, and photos fill up the pages. Volume 1 is available now, and Volume 2 should be available on Amazon/KDP in November. If interested, you may purchase my book through Amazon. Formats include Kindle, paperback, and hardcover.

What discoveries are at and beyond the horizon for you? Keep praying, seeking, and discovering.