Holy Wednesday

Easter Ham recipe:

Cook Time: 2 hours
Ingredients:
1 boneless canned or fully cooked smoked ham, about 4 pounds
1 jar (10 ounces) orange marmalade
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup raisins
Preparation:
Place ham on a rack in roasting pan, fat side up; score fat. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes. In a saucepan over low heat combine marmalade, orange juice, mustard, cloves, and ginger. Simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon half of the orange mixture over the ham; continue baking for 30 minutes. Add raisins to the remaining orange mixture and serve with ham.
Serves 10 to 12

(recipe from About.com: Southern Food)

Wednesday of Holy Week

I looked for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, and I found none. (Psalm 69:21)

Reflection.
PRAY IT AGAIN, SAM

My mom has prayed the daily rosary for as long as I can remember. We used to say it together as a family. At home, she always used a large wooden rosary she had owned for many years.
After we kids had moved away, she started praying with the devoted group of parishioners who said a rosary after each weekday mass. At church, she began using a new set of plastic rosary beads she kept in her purse. An elderly gentleman named Sam led the prayers, and the others faithfully responded.

The count of "Hail Marys" through five mysteries everyday was always accurate except for the third decade. Here, as my mom fingered the last "Hail Mary" bead, Sam would always say one more "Hail Mary" and naturally everyone would give the "Holy Mary" response. "There he goes again," she'd think to herself as he began the "extra" prayer. "Why does he always say eleven 'Ave Marias' in the third decade?"

That pattern continued for several years until one day when my mom left her purse in the car and had to borrow a pair of rosaries from the lady sitting next to her. Lo and behold, this time when my mom fingered the final "Hail Mary" bead of the third decade, Sam dutifully followed with the "Glory Be."

This prompted my mom to do something she otherwise wouldn't have thought of: to check the rosary beads in her purse - that set only contained nine beads in the third decade!


Lenten Fact
A plenary indulgence is granted for those who piously exercise the Way of the Cross, actually moving from station to station where they are legitimately erected and while mediating on the passion and death of our Lord ("Enchiridion of Indulgences," No. 63).


Lenten Action.
Today is the day we remember Judas betraying the Lord.
Ask the Lord for forgiveness for all your sins.

Prayer

Father, in your plan of salvation your Son Jesus Christ accepted the cross and freed us from the power of the enemy. May we
come to share the glory of his resurrection, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

For more on Holy Week visit EWTN.

Holy Tuesday

Food Allergy tip: Got an egg allergy and can't color Easter eggs? Pick up some wooden ones at a craft store and use paints, markers, stickers, and glitter to decorate them just like the real thing (I paid about 79 cents each for mine at Michael's). The nice thing with wooden eggs is that you can keep them over years and see the children's art skills progress.

Today is the first day of Passover: Happy Passover to our Jewish friends! For tips on celebrating Passover with food allergies see KFA's Kosher for Passover page and "Looking for food allergy friendly products for Passover"? from AllergySense.

Holy Tuesday:

Tuesday of Holy Week

"I tell you solemnly, one of you will betray me!" (John 13:21)
Reflection.

A Simple Gesture

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder.
Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years.
Finally the long-awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met.
"Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mothers sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more, you saved my life."

Every little hello, every little smile, every helping hand saves a hurting heart. Pass it on.


Lenten Fact
After Constantine legalized Christianity in the year 312, the pathway of our Lord's passion was marked with its important stations. St. Jerome (342- 420), living in Bethlehem during the later part of his life, attested to the crowds of pilgrims from various countries who visited those holy places and followed the Way of the Cross.


Lenten Action.

Call a relative with who you have been out of contact with. Smile at everyone you meet today.

Prayer

All-powerful God, by the suffering and death of your Son, strengthen and protect us in our weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

For more on Holy Week see EWTN

Holy Monday

It's the start of Holy Week. This week is full of preparations in the home and in the heart for the upcoming Easter Sunday. Most of my posts this week will be centered around Holy Week and what each day means and reflections. For us Catholics, it's the holiest time of the year.

On a food allergy note: The Husbands work is giving out Heavenly Hams this year to their employees. Not one to turn away free meat (without full investigation), it turns out that Heavenly Ham is in the process of making their hams completely gluten free. In the past they have used wheat in the glaze that is on the ham. NOT ALL HEAVENLY HAM LOCATIONS HAVE GLUTEN FREE HAMS. But some of them do. So if you are feeling lazy this year (like me) and want to just buy a ham instead of making one (which I usually do and it's actually very easy), check with your location to see if they have gone gluten free.

You can view their allergen statement here (we were told it's also free of eggs and tree nuts). For more ingredient information or to see if the ham at your local store has gone gluten free, please call your local store.

Monday of Holy Week

Then she dried his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the ointment’s fragrance. (John 12:3)

Reflection.


Adoration

Jesus, my God, I adore You, here present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, where You wait day and night to be our comfort while we await Your unveiled presence in heaven. Jesus, my God, I adore You in all places where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and where sins are committed against this Sacrament of Love. Jesus, my God, I adore You for all time, past, present and future, for every soul that ever was, is or shall be created. Jesus, my God, who for us has endured hunger and cold, labor and fatigue, I adore You. Jesus, my God, who for my sake has deigned to subject Yourself to the humiliation of temptation, to the perfidy and defection of friends, to the scorn of Your enemies, I adore You. Jesus, my God, who for us has endured the buffeting of Your passion, the scourging, the crowning with thorns, the heavy weight of the cross, I adore You.
Jesus, my God, who, for my salvation and that of all mankind, was cruelly nailed to the cross and hung there for three long hours in bitter agony, I adore You. Jesus, My God, who for love of us did institute this Blessed Sacrament and offer Yourself daily for the sins of men, I adore You. Jesus, my God, who in Holy Communion became the food of my soul, I adore You.
Jesus, for You I live. Jesus, for You I die. Jesus, I am Yours in life and death. Amen.


Lenten Fact
Hunting was for many ages considered as forbidden during Lent: the spirit of the holy season was too sacred to admit such exciting and noisy sport.


Lenten Action.

Let go of a long standing grudge. Practice real forgiveness after the example of Jesus.

Prayer

God of mercy, be close to your people. Watch over us who receive this sacrament of salvation, and keep us in your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

For more on Holy Week or Catholicism visit EWTN

Do you know what's in your food? I bet you don't. And the FDA doesn't either.

If you have food allergies, diabetes, are watching your weight, or are on any special diet for any reason odds are you are a label reader. For some of us, our lives or the lives of a loved one depend on it. We read labels to make sure that we aren't feeding ourselves or our families something that could potentially harm us (or lead to death in some cases). For the most part, we have to trust that food manufacturers and the FDA are doing their jobs and labeling the products as accurately as they can. No one is perfect and nothing is full proof. There is no guarantee that every item in every store is labeled 100% accurately. BUT most of them should be and if a discrepancy is found, it should be taken care of right away. And if a food manufacturer is found to be knowingly mislabeling products or doing so "accidentally" on a continual basis swift action should be taken. That's how it works, right? Wrong...

This article from US News and World Report, With Faulty Food Labeling, Who's Minding The Store, has me hopping mad. Here we go again with excuse after excuse as to why they can't label our food properly. As someone who reads labels for food allergies, I know that prepackaged foods are not the healthiest way to go. We try to stay away from them as much as we can. But I don't have my own farm so I do have to rely on food manufacturers to provide much of what comes into my house, whether it is fresh, frozen or canned. I expect to get what I pay for and nothing more (or less as the case may be). The article states "DNA studies done late last year by two New York City high school students found that one out of six products in their own kitchens had labeling that was flat-out wrong. This included cheese claiming to be made from sheep's milk that was actually plain old cow's milk and caviar that was Mississippi paddlefish instead of sturgeon, as advertised". I find it really hard to believe that the manufacturers of those two items were unable to tell the difference between what was labeled and what actually went into the products. If the manufacturers don't know, then how are we expected to?




In our country food allergies, diabetes and obesity are on the rise. If we are supposed to be controlling these diseases by diet, then we need our food to be accurately labeled for. Maybe part of the reason these diseases are on the rise is because there is so much "mystery" surrounding what actually is in our food.




Have you or someone you love been made ill by a mislabeled product? If we can't trust product labeling, how do we feed our families safely? How can we get the FDA or the food industry to supply us with safe food? Or are we as consumers just expecting too much?



For more on product labeling issues see:

MSU Launches Initiative to Combat Food Fraud - Passing one food off for another is not only cheating, but it can be deadly to those with food allergies.


A Closer Look at Gluten Free Labeling - From Living Without Magazine: Is it really gluten free or has it slipped through the loophole?


How To Report a Mislabel - From Living Without Magazine


Mislabeled Products Potentially Dangerous for Those with Food Allergies - WEGO Health blog post


(originally posted at WEGO Health)

Head on over to Asthma and Allergy Group on WEGO Health to continue this discussion or to start one of your own.

I'm only 9 years too late (Another reminder to read every label, every time)

My trip to the grocery store was rather uneventful. I did the usual shopping and I checked the labels on almost everything I bought to see if my sons allergies were in any of the products. "I checked the labels on ALMOST everything".... Yeah. I forgot to check the cheese. The little man doesn't usually eat cheese, but yet again, this is just another reminder to read every stinkin' label on everything you buy. I bought German Butterkase cheese today. It was pricey, but it's good and I felt the need to indulge. After the Little Man went to bed tonight I thought I'd cut a few pieces for a snack. In doing so I noticed that there was an actual ingredient list for the cheese. What could possibly be in cheese besides milk, salt and some sort of "culture"? Well to my surprise, EGG WHITE is in Butterkase cheese. Thank goodness I didn't decide to get all "Martha Stewart" and make Rice Mac and Cheese with it. I decided to "Google" it and I found that in 2001 the same brand that I bought was recalled because it failed to list the egg white in the ingredient list. My son wasn't even born 9 years ago so recalls for mislabeling weren't even on my radar screen. At least now it's listed. Now bubble heads like myself just need to read the darn label to see that it's in there. Egg in cheese? Who knew? I'm kind of grossed out by that and my beloved Butterkase has lost something for me.
Although we aren't a house that is "free" of my sons allergens, there are certain things that we buy that are "clean". Cheese is one of those items. The Butterkase is now in the dairy compartment of the fridge, labeled in bright red Sharpy "CONTAINS EGG. NOT SAFE FOR THE LITTLE MAN" and it has a Mr. Yuck sticker on it. Just another reminder to read every label, every time.
So if you have an egg allergy, beware of the Butterkase.

Cook Book Review: Dollars to Donuts

Dollars to Donuts: Comfort Food & Kitchen Wisdom From Route 66's Landmark Rock Cafe

I am long over due on this review. But the good news there is that I've had plenty of time to try out this cook book and give you an accurate review.

The book is written by Dawn Welch (with Raquel Pelzel). Dawn is the owner of The Rock Cafe on Rt. 66 in Oklahoma. It's a landmark that people come to visit from all over the world. So far the boys like what I've cooked from the cook book, but they are most impressed with the fact that Dawn was the inspiration for Sally from the Pixar movie Cars (one of the Little Man's favorite movies).

The cook book itself is full of comfort food recipes similar to what is served at the Rock Cafe. And the book is designed with the budget conscious cook in mind. Dawn has a "use what you have" attitude throughout the book so if you don't have a specific ingredient, she helps you along with suggestions for "subbing". She also breaks down the cost of each recipe and gives suggestions on how to add things to it to make it a complete meal.

The book starts with a section called "The Big Bang Relay" which covers how to cook in large quantities one day and make it last all week long. I've used this one myself and it worked fantastic. The one I used was to bake 2 chickens on Sunday. One chicken we used for dinner, and the other chicken I put in the refrigerator so that I could make meals from it the rest of the week. Some of Dawn's suggestions for the 2nd chicken included: Chicken & Dumplings, Almond Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing, Cheesy Baked Chicken Enchiladas, and Chicken Soup (the carcass from the 1st chicken can be used to make the broth, or you can use store bought broth). Dawn also includes recipes on making all of your own broths, dressings, condiments, etc. so that you can save money on purchasing those items too.

This cook book covers breakfast, appetizers, main meals, desserts, canning, and more.

The book includes information on money saving tips, "Cook Smart" tips, "Shop Smart" tips, menu plans, shopping lists and cost per serving break downs along with all of the recipes.

I've made quite a few recipes from the book and we've enjoyed them all.

The recipes are tasty and homey but since my son has multiple food allergies, I'd be remiss if I didn't add that this is NOT an allergy cook book. The top 8 are frequently used in here, but I found it easy to substitute safe ingredients when needed and any of the recipes that were geared toward omelets or used multiple eggs, I just by passed.

Some of our favorite recipes from the book are: Everyone's Favorite Potato Soup with Bacon, Cajun Style Red Beans & Rice, Veggie Loaded Fried Rice, Buffalo Chicken Salad, and Route 66 Chili.

What I really like about the book is that this is from scratch cooking, made easy. Because you are making everything yourself, you know what is going to into it. There are no mystery ingredients here like when you purchase pre-packaged convenience foods at the store. And because the recipes are not time consuming anyone can cook, whether you're a stay at home mom with kids running around or a working mom or dad in a time crunch.

You can check out more about the book here.

Recipe:
Everyone's Favorite Potato Soup With Bacon

Ingredients
1. 4 thick cut bacon slices
2. 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3. 3 garlic cloves finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
4. 2 tsp. salt
5. 9 (about 3 lbs.) russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
6. 2 cups whole or low-fat milk
7. 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped chives, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Fry bacon and onion. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the bacon in the pan, reduce the heat to medium and cook until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the onion, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the pan and cook until the onion is soft and the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Crumble the bacon back into the skillet, turn off the heat, and set aside.

2. Boil and smash the potatoes. Bring the potatoes to a boil in a large pot with 4 cups of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until they're tender and just starting to beak apart, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Using a potato masher or wooden spoon, smash the potatoes in the pot with the water until they're mostly broken up (you want to keep some chunky potato bits).

3. Finish the soup. Heat the milk in a small saucepan or the microwave until hot, and then add the potatoes. Stir in the bacon and the onion mixture, the remaining 1/4 tsp. of salt, and the pepper. Return to the stove, and continue to simmer until the soup is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with chives, if using, and serve hot.

Serves 6
Average cost $3.30
Freezes well
child friendly
Can be made ahead of time and reheated

(The book for this review was sent to me by publisher at no cost for the express purpose of doing a book review).

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Are you wearin' your green? I'm not yet but I will be later (I'm still in my work out clothes even though I haven't worked out yet).
I'm just about to get my corned beef in the crock pot so I thought I'd hop on for a quick post before the day gets away from me like has been lately.


Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Ingredients:
3 carrots, cut in 3" pieces
3-4 lb corned beef brisket
2-3 medium onions, quartered
3/4-1 1/4 cups water
half a small head of cabbage, cut in wedges

Directions:
1. Layer all ingredients except cabbage in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours, or High 5-6 hours.
3. Add cabbage wedges to liquid, pushing down to moisten, Turn to High and cook an additional 2-3 hours.

Who was St. Patrick? (from Catholic Online):

St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.

Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.


Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone's Irish.

There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.

Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.

As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.

During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."

He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Why a shamrock?
Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

In His Footsteps:
Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

Have a very Happy and Safe St. Patricks Day!!


Breastplate of Saint Patrick
I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Translation: Cecil Frances Alexander

Some good reading for you

Since I'm off being busy, I'll share some good reading with you:


Where do your food allergy non profit dollars go? from Best Allergy Sites. Ever give money and wonder where it goes? I do! Then read this post and you will know. And you just might be shocked. I was. And not real happy with some of it.


I am the empowered patients mother my post for the WEGO Health March blog carnival.


Until 1 pm on Thursday you can enter to win cookware over at The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Over 12,000 people already have but I thought I'd throw it out there in case I wasn't the only one who came late to that party. Check out her recipes too. I make them all the time and they are totally delicious!! But I'm sure you know that.... or you live under a rock (they aren't allergy friendly but you can easily convert them).

That is all. Peace out.

The boy has confidence

Yesterday I had the Little Man try on his Easter outfit to make sure that it fit.

Mom: "Oh look at you! You look so handsome. Just stunning"!

Son: "Yes I do. I look gooooood. I could be America's Next Top Model".

Mom: (Trying not to laugh) "Yes, baby. Yes you could".

(I didn't want to burst his bubble that he's not 5'9" or female so he may not make the cut).

Hey, here I am

You probably thought I went on vacation or fell off the face of the planet. Nope, just got so busy that I couldn't get to blogging. Today is no different, but I thought I'd at least jump on and say "Hi" and give a quick week in review for last week.

1. The Little Man is better. He actually went back to school on Tuesday and I was most thankful for that.

2. Friday was a snow day. It didn't look like we got that much snow, but when I finally shoveled the walk yesterday there was about 12-18 inches on it. I guess the snow day was warranted.

3. I was supposed to get my hair cut and my grays colored on Friday. With two boys at home, bad roads and no one to watch them, that didn't happen. My hair looks hideous. It's like a brown football helmet with gray roots. Not.Attractive.

4. The husband and I were supposed to go out Saturday night. We had a sitter. He got that stomach virus.

5. But he couldn't admit that he had it (typical man) so we went for an hour and then he left. I stayed and some nice friends brought me home later. The sitter didn't make much money that night, but I still had a nice time.

6. It was a party for the parents of Older Boys class. I like to go so that I can get to know everyone and I can get the low down on the school from the parents with older kids. I only know what happens up to second grade. We have six more grades to go.

7. Sunday was a lazy, "our house has the stomach funk" day.

8. This week is shaping up to be even busier than last week. I'm trying not to freak out about it.

9. If I don't post again until next Monday, just know that I'm here, I'm just totally swamped (and stressed and gray).