The Past
A lot of things weigh on my mind these days (which, at my age, can cause symptoms of dementia to appear). Seriously, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction and simple truth from hyperbole. When I was young, headlines appeared in bold type for events that were earth-shaking: Japan Surrenders, End of War!! Emperor accepts allied rule and then in just a few short years: Truman Orders U.S. Air, Navy Units to fight in aid of Korea.
I can remember standing in my front yard as the Korean conflict began and being frightened of the huge shadows passing over me as waves of B-52 bombers took off from Lowry Air Force Base less than 10 blocks from our home. But still, it was a predictable era. If there was murder and mayhem, it was sporadic and remote. Not a part of my world. My world was a simple one. No television, no computer, no money for toys or games. All five of us would rush out the door in the morning and play until we dropped.
The Present
It is no longer the black and white era of my childhood. Before the advent of the computer, cell phones, and every other electronic gadget, people relied on front porches, trusted neighbors, face-to-face communication. The newspapers carried the bylines of folks that were known locally and trusted. There were other elements that were perhaps the bedrock of this time period. People went to church…and they exhibited civility, honor, and integrity. Actually, I think the latter qualities were the inevitable outflow of a church-going populace. Preachers preached the Bible, not the watered-down, luke-warm version of the gospel being preached today that focuses on self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and whatever other ‘selves’ one can imagine. Perhaps that is what I am finding so confusing and mind-boggling these days. I have the distinct feeling that those qualities, civility, honor, and integrity plus quite a few others will be vital in the rapidly approaching days of tribulation. I intend to cover many of these aspects as God leads me.
Recipes
The recipes I will include in this post will not necessarily be mine. Some I have inherited, some I have found in books, a few I have invented. I will be sure to give credit where credit is due for those recipes which are not mine.
Hawaiian Chicken
4 large chicken breasts
1 large can of pineapple chunks
1 large can of mandarin oranges
2 large bananas, sliced
2 tbsps. Of Corn starch and water
A sprinkling of coconut
Bake the chicken in a casserole dish (350 degree oven) for approximately 30-40 minutes until no pink juice flows. While the chicken is baking, combine the pineapple, mandarin oranges and banana slices in a sauce pan on the stove. Heat the mixture until it begins to boil. Add enough water to the cornstarch to make a thick liquid. Add this to the fruit mixture on the stove and stir until thickened.
Remove the chicken from the oven and spoon the fruit mixture over all the pieces of chicken. Return to the oven and continue to bake for approximately15 minutes. Remove the casserole and liberally sprinkle coconut over the top and return to the oven until the coconut begins to brown. Be careful: It doesn’t take very long.
This recipe was given to me by a friend. Her father owned a ranch and a beautiful creek flowed through the property. We used to put a big metal horse trough loaded with pillows into the creek and let the current float us down the stream. When we were done floating, reading and gabbing, we would head back up to the ranch house for Hawaiian Chicken. Fond memories of a great way to spend a Saturday.
A lot of things weigh on my mind these days (which, at my age, can cause symptoms of dementia to appear). Seriously, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction and simple truth from hyperbole. When I was young, headlines appeared in bold type for events that were earth-shaking: Japan Surrenders, End of War!! Emperor accepts allied rule and then in just a few short years: Truman Orders U.S. Air, Navy Units to fight in aid of Korea.
I can remember standing in my front yard as the Korean conflict began and being frightened of the huge shadows passing over me as waves of B-52 bombers took off from Lowry Air Force Base less than 10 blocks from our home. But still, it was a predictable era. If there was murder and mayhem, it was sporadic and remote. Not a part of my world. My world was a simple one. No television, no computer, no money for toys or games. All five of us would rush out the door in the morning and play until we dropped.
The Present
It is no longer the black and white era of my childhood. Before the advent of the computer, cell phones, and every other electronic gadget, people relied on front porches, trusted neighbors, face-to-face communication. The newspapers carried the bylines of folks that were known locally and trusted. There were other elements that were perhaps the bedrock of this time period. People went to church…and they exhibited civility, honor, and integrity. Actually, I think the latter qualities were the inevitable outflow of a church-going populace. Preachers preached the Bible, not the watered-down, luke-warm version of the gospel being preached today that focuses on self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and whatever other ‘selves’ one can imagine. Perhaps that is what I am finding so confusing and mind-boggling these days. I have the distinct feeling that those qualities, civility, honor, and integrity plus quite a few others will be vital in the rapidly approaching days of tribulation. I intend to cover many of these aspects as God leads me.
Recipes
The recipes I will include in this post will not necessarily be mine. Some I have inherited, some I have found in books, a few I have invented. I will be sure to give credit where credit is due for those recipes which are not mine.
Hawaiian Chicken
4 large chicken breasts
1 large can of pineapple chunks
1 large can of mandarin oranges
2 large bananas, sliced
2 tbsps. Of Corn starch and water
A sprinkling of coconut
Bake the chicken in a casserole dish (350 degree oven) for approximately 30-40 minutes until no pink juice flows. While the chicken is baking, combine the pineapple, mandarin oranges and banana slices in a sauce pan on the stove. Heat the mixture until it begins to boil. Add enough water to the cornstarch to make a thick liquid. Add this to the fruit mixture on the stove and stir until thickened.
Remove the chicken from the oven and spoon the fruit mixture over all the pieces of chicken. Return to the oven and continue to bake for approximately15 minutes. Remove the casserole and liberally sprinkle coconut over the top and return to the oven until the coconut begins to brown. Be careful: It doesn’t take very long.
This recipe was given to me by a friend. Her father owned a ranch and a beautiful creek flowed through the property. We used to put a big metal horse trough loaded with pillows into the creek and let the current float us down the stream. When we were done floating, reading and gabbing, we would head back up to the ranch house for Hawaiian Chicken. Fond memories of a great way to spend a Saturday.