Bowling Green, Sewing Machine!

Scarborough Fair (Cello-Guitar Duo)

Canon in D - Pachelbel (Cello-Guitar Duo)

Secret!!!! Best Fat Boy from Detroit Creole Seasoning Ratios Shhhhhhh - Secret!!!

1.5 tsp of paprika
1.0 tsp of garlic powder
.5 tsp each of onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, oregano, basil, thyme.

This worked well in my courtboullion last night, and I will use it this weekend when we make our Jambalaya.

Blessed be God forever!

Recipe #28 - Catfish Courtboullion

Kevin Belton is a chef from Louisiana who I enjoy watching cook on our local PBS station. He is very animated, and enjoys doing what he does, no matter what he is doing. I caught just the end of one of his shows a couple days ago, and he was doing a catfish courtboullion. Now I've had catfish from the Kalamazoo River, the Detroit River, the Muskegon River, the Boy Scout lake that shall remain non-specified, and the Allegan River below the dam. But I've never ever heard of courtboullion. (You say co - boo - YON.)

So I went online looking for this particular recipe of his but it was not to be found. Actually, there were very few courtboullion recipes at all. But I found a couple, and then merged them into what I created last night for our Ash Wednesday dinner.

Ingredients:

turn of the pan EVOO
1 sweet vidalia onion diced
1 sweet red bell pepper diced
2 celery ribs diced
2 garlic cloves minced
4 roma tomatoes diced
several slices of pickled jalapeno slices, with seeds
dried garden herbs: parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil
creole seasoning (I will reproduce my version of this, but my list is in another room and I'm lazy)
14 oz chicken broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 bay leaf
1/4 c noir pinot
splash of lemon juice
dash of hot sauce
1/2 c long grain brown rice
1/2 c water
small drip of EVOO
1/2 c diced green onions, for garnish
2# catfish cut into slices

Now friends, I way overdid it on the heat for this one. I think I left too many seeds in those chili slices from last years garden, or maybe my 1/2 tsp Cayenne powder ended up being 1/2 tbs. Either way, I had a cold beverage to help out with the heat, but the flavor was absolutely spot on.

This is how we assembled it:

In my favorite dutch oven, I sauteed the onion, peppers and celery in some EVOO.

After about five minutes, I added the garlic, garden herbs, jalapeno, and tomatoes and stirred it all together.

Then I added the stock and soup, bay leaf, Creole seasoning, and hot sauce.

On the back burner I cooked the rice until the water was gone.

This got the lid put on it, and we let it simmer with the fire on medium high for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
I added the fish, making sure each piece was submerged, and let it cook on low another ten minutes, then turned off the fire and let it sit for another five.

Serve over rice and then top with the green onions.

What a treat this was! I'll make it again; thank you Kevin Belton!!

Ash Wednesday

O God of second chances, thankfully You give us this time during Lent to be filled, directed, and empowered by Your Spirit. As we enter fully into Lent, show us what we need to see to more fully follow Your Gospel. What in our lives needs the anointing of Your Spirit? What in our lives needs clarity on the direction we are being invited to? What in our lives do we need strength to feel empowered to go out and do in Your name?

We seek to be filled, directed, and empowered by Your Spirit, O God of second chances, to overcome the temptations in our own lives as Your Son overcame the temptations in the desert. We seek to be filled and directed by Your Spirit as we go out into our public ministries, as Jesus was directed to do after His time alone with You.

—Becky Eldredge, author of Busy Lives & Restless Souls and
The Inner Chapel

Monday Worship

The Lutheran Hymnal 239. Come, Thou Almighty King

1 Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise.
Father all-glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.


2 Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend.
Come and Thy people bless
And give Thy Word success;
Stablish Thy righteousness,
Savior and Friend!


3 Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art,
Now rule in ev'ry heart
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of Pow'r!


4 To the great One in Three
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore!
His sov'reign majesty
May we in glory see,
And to eternity
Love and adore~

Amen.

Text Information
First Line:	Come, Thou almighty King
Title:	Come, Thou Almighty King
Author:	Unknown (c. 1757, ab.)
Meter:	6.6.4.6.6.6.4.
Language:	English
Publication Date:	1941
Scripture:	Revelation 4:8
Topic:	The Church Year: Trinity

Tune Information
Name:	ITALIAN HYMN
Composer:	Felice de Giardini (1769)
Meter:	6.6.4.6.6.6.4.
Key:	G Major

Prayer

I get a forwarded prayer in my inbox most mornings, from a man named Steve Defever. I have copied to-day's prayer here.

Please pray with me:

Father God,

The weeks go by at lightning speed sometimes and I believe its because of the way this world keeps us all so busy. Help each one of us to take time to be still in Your loving arms each day, slow down and seek You, seek Jesus so that through it all we keep You first in all we do. 

As I speak these words Lord, I know this is not what I do each day. I may seek You first but once I walk out my door, I go on my own mission and not look to You and Jesus for advice. Forgive me Father for these sins of the heart, help me to take time and slow down to think about what Jesus would do in all situations, both good and bad situations that come up each day. For I want to be a reflection of Jesus, I want to be a light for Him and I want people to know that You are in my heart and the center of my life. Take me over Lord. 

Father, I pray today also for those who have had major setbacks in their lives either financially, physically, mentally or because of someone else. Through these setbacks if we continue to seek You we will see how You will make a setback a comeback on our lives. It might not be today or tomorrow but sometime in the future we will see the comeback that You created from a setback.

Light of the world, continue to shine in the darkness of our lives, that we may reflect Your glory and stay strong in our hope and faith in You. 

Amen.

Pretty darn good movie as I remember (it's been years); Cadence 1990, with Charlie and Martin Sheen, Larry Fishburne, and Ramon Estevez.

I'm sure I've posted this before, but it was giving me chills again this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

[A quick google search tells me that Cantate Domino translates to Sing Dominoes :-)]

Latin text

Cantate Domino, canticum novum: cantate Domino omnis terra.

Cantate Domino, et benedicite nomini eius: annuntiate de die in diem salutare eius.

Annuntiate inter gentes gloriam eius, in omnibus populis mirabilia eius.

English translation

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, and bless his name: announce his salvation from day to day.

Announce among the nations his glory, and his wonders to all peoples

Prayer

All praise and honor to You: Father Son Holy Spirit! Aleluia! Aleluia!
I praise You for Your Word!
I praise You for Your plan!
I praise You for Your Son!
I praise You for Your Spirit!
I praise You for Your creation!
I praise You, for You are worthy of all praise!!

Father, I confess my sins of thought, word, and deed; in things I've done, and in things I've failed to do. For these and all my sins, I ask Your forgiveness: LORD have mercy; CHRIST have mercy; LORD have mercy.

I thank You for a beautiful new day, for the sunshine and birds and boomer and all our physical comforts and appliances, a warm bed, a furnace that works, running water, food and drink, family and friends, job, vehicles, and especially the LOVE of God.

And so this morning, I pray for 
Francis and all the priests, bishops, deacons and their families, and Your Church all over the world, especially where there is persecution
President Trump and his family, Judge Kavanaugh and his family, and Judge Gorsuch and his family, and all who are fighting to make America great
John Martignoni, the Bible Christian Society, and men of good will everywhere
Bill Patrick, Pastor Bob, Kurt Kramer, Mike Basner, Paul and his mom and dad and brother, Recker Don and Jim Stieart, and all the guys I sat at table with five and a half years ago, and the teams and candidates and their families for all the upcoming Cursillo weekends
Every child, and every one who does not know You
Every parent, grandparent, spouse
Those who are having a hard time making the rent or gas or electric payment or truck or mortgage
Those in prisons, those in hospitals
Those who work with their hands - the blue collar folks, including our rescue workers, military, police - LORD bring them home safely
The one who has no one to pray for him
Those struggling with addictions and physical or mental distress
Marty, Roger, Kevin, Tony, their children and their families
Rocky and his family, Carol and her family
Adam, Deb, Cheryl, Bonnie, Phyllis, Amy, Mary Joe, Dufort, Taleen, Ben and the rest, their families and their children
Tommy, Shelly, Vic, AJ, Ninny, Peggy, John and their families
Stan and Rita
Stan, Charlotte, Kathy, Justin, Dana, Aaron, Joey, Mary, Grace, Caleb, Stosh, Stacie and her baby, Carter, Ryan, Emily
Mary Ann, Dean, Courtney, Rusty, Drew, Mason, Ryan, Riley, Emery, Meggie, Jake, Quinn, Camryn, Deacon, Kacie and Alex, Brett and his girlfriend
Moni and Bob, Jon and Jay and Jen and Joslin and Liam - and I pray those beautiful grandbabies would grow up to love and serve You all the days of thier lives
Pam and Ken and Kenny and Kendall
Carolyn and Doug and his family, Angie, Peyton, Addie, Nash
Terry and Jeannie and her family, Tye, Sophia, Trent
Kevin and Justen and her family, Tori, Kaylee, Kristine and Cameron, Mike and his mom, Coret and her family
Mom and dad and all their cousins and aunts an uncles and nieces and nephews, and for healing for them
Nancy and Ruben and his family, especially baby Sullivan, Ray, Ricki, Ben, Belle, Alex, Carlos and Cheyenne and her family
Gary, Susie and her family, Joshua, Taylor, Jeremy, Lauren and her family, Mary, Nicholas and their family
All the brothers in the prayer group, the catechism group, and Steve and his family
May we all come to know you closer through the truth and fullness of the Catholic Church

I offer You this day, LORD; all my comings and goings, plans and thoughts and words and deeds.

To You be the glory, hallelujah, hallelujah!

O Magnum Mysterium

Recipe #33: Saturday after St Valentine's Day Chicken Soup

This one is called 'chicken soup' because I used a whole 'chicken'. :-)

But there's other stuff in there, too...

I borrower several ideas from Ree Drummond, my second fave television personality (second only behind Jeff Probst). I've got two families I'm sharing this with to-day, so I'm making an extra large batch.

Ingredients used in the making of this dish:

For the stock and the cooking of the chicken:

10 quart stock pot
whole fresh chicken
red onion sliced
celery stalks and leaves
carrot chunked
garlic cloves halved
bay leaf
whole peppercorns
garden herb mix (parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano)
water to cover.everything


For the making of the soup:

1 c rice
1 tbs EVOO
4 tbs butter
1 small head of cabbage shredded
1 cup carrots sliced
1 cup  white onion diced
1 cup celery chunked
1/2 c green bell pepper diced
a little bit of pimento (there's a story behind this)
yellow food coloring (this is from Ree :-)


Typically, I will get the stock items with the chicken going and keep the fire on high for almost two hours, until the chicken falls off the bone. Then I remove the chicken from the pot to let it cool, and pour the entire pot through a fine mesh strainer into pot #2.

I add the cabbage to the stock in pot #2 and boil for twenty minutes or so

When the meat is cooled, I remove it from the bones, cartilage, gizzards, skin, fat, tendons, and then dice it into bite size chunks and set it aside in a bowl.

In another sauce pan I add the rice, one cup of water, and a swig of EVOO, turn the fire on medium, and let that go until the water is gone. Stir often! Set that aside when it is cooked and the water is gone.

Now, in my Cook's Essentials 11 Inch Chicken Fryer (seen below, along with pot #2 on the back burner, literally)

... I melt the butter, then add all the diced vegetables, to give them a good sweat. To this I then add the meat, along with maybe a cup of the stock, and bring it all to a quick boil.

Then this all gets dumped into the stock pot with the fire on medium low. I add the rice and four or five drops of the food coloring at this time as well.

I let this go on simmer for about twenty minutes or until it is done.

Sometimes I add a flour/butter roux to thicken the broth and give the soup more body. To-day's batch, I thought, was pretty darn good as it was - so no roux for you.

Blessings and peace to you and yours.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy are You almighty God! Holy! Holy! Holy!

1. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

From our old Lutheran Hymnal #246


Hymn #246
Text: Rev. 4:8
Author: Reginald Heber, 1827
Composer: John B. Dykes, 1861
Tune: Nicaea

To my wife: I love you, and I thank you for your love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness over the past 25 years.

To my parents: I love you. Have fun this weekend and drive safely.

To my brother: I love you, and I cherish our conversations on the phone and in person. All the best to you and your beautiful bride to be.

To my sister: I love you, and I thank God for you. I am abundantly blessed by your wisdom, courage, and faith.

To my cousins and aunts and uncles: I love you and miss you, even though I don't act like it.

To my grandparents, and all the others who have crossed over in the faith: I love you; please pray for us.


To the @POTUS, I love you, and thank you for having the gonads to stand up to the swine on the Hill.

Grace, so amazing

Who's next?

For my old friend Kurt.

O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken TLH # 143

Lent is a time of reflection on the passion and death of our Lord the Christ. I remember well the harmonies here - one of my favorite lenten hymns from younger days.

1. O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken
That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, --
What dark transgression?

2. They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;
With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee;
They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They crucify Thee.

3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.

4. What punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who would not know Him.

5. The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
The sinful child of man may live in gladness;
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted, --
God is committed.

6. There was no spot in me by sin untainted; Sick with sin's poison, all my heart had fainted;
My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me,
Such woe it wrought me.

 7. O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,
That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!
All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying
While Thou wert dying.

8. O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory!
How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story?
How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer?
What dare I offer?

9. For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder, --
Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder.
Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!
Can I requite Thee?

10. Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;
I will renounce whate'er doth vex or grieve Thee
And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly
All fires unholy.

11. But since my strength will nevermore suffice me
To crucify desires that still entice me,
To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me
And reign within me!

12. I'll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,
That earth's vain joys to me no more be pleasing;
To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor
Henceforth forever.

13. Whate'er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I'll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me;
I shall not fear what man can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.

14. But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;
Yet, Lord, for love's sake Thou wilt not disown it;
Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness
Nor shame my weakness.

15. And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven
To me the crown of joy at last is given,
Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,
I, too, shall praise Thee.

 

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #143
Text: Luke 23: 20-24
Author: Johann Heermann, 1630
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Herzliebster Jesu"
Composer: Johann Crueger, 1640
Tune: "Herzlebster Jesu"

Dear Father in heaven~

We lift up Stanley and the health issues

he is dealing with right now. 

Bring comfort, peace, and

healing to him; let him know

Your mercy and graces in new and wonderful ways.

Be glorified - and all praise to You!!

Amen

 

Recipe #13: Interesting Chili

Interesting because I wanted to use up food we had in the pantry and in the fridge - i like one-pot meals for doing this. This was perfect for a lonely Friday night, as my sweetie was out of town.
Our local meat guy does up ground breakfast sausage pretty regularly, so that was the only item I purchased on the way home; I knew the ground turkey was already thawed and ready as well.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey
1 lb ground sausage
1 turn of the pan Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 white onion diced
3 garlic cloves minced
1 medium avocado diced
1/2 lb asparagus chopped into bite sized pieces
1/2 lb sliced mushrooms
1 can black beans
1/2 lb heirloom tomatoes, processed
1 small can tomato paste
1 can chicken broth
Chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, paprika to taste


I started the sausage, onion, and garlic in the EVOO and in the chili pot. On the other front burner I fried the ground turkey until cooked through, then added the black beans, fresh mushrooms and seasoning.

I added the other canned items, avocado, and tomato sauce then to the large pot, and brought it all up to a boil, then added the ground turkey mixture.

I added the asparagus last, let it roll for about ten minutes, then turned the fire all the way down. It simmered maybe for a half hour, but even on low it started to catch on the bottom, so I transferred the whole batch back to the T-Fal pot and called it good.

I didn't break up the sausage much so there are huge chunks in with the finely ground turkey and sauce. In fact it boiled down so much, I actually ate my second bowl with a fork.

The fresh tomato sauce gave it a good tomato taste, and because I didn't add any beer, there wasn't any bitterness. Maybe too much cumin, I still don't have a good feel for the correct paprika/chili powder/cumin ratio in my Mexican dishes.


We are abundantly blessed in so many ways, and I am thankful for a tasty hot meal on a snowy February Friday night.

Pastime Paradise

I heard this on a weak station from Ann Arbor in the 88's on the way home from work tonight. I didn't know it was Patti Smith, and it is the only cover of this Stevie Wonder song from 1977 Songs in the Key of Life that I have ever heard.

Oh my goodness... and check this guy out:

And another take on this classic:

And then, from the first album I ever bought with my own money: (dig the percussion at the beginning)

I wore this record out as a freshman back in the super seventies.

Please loved ones, bitch-slap me ad nauseum should I ever forget this; from Helen Keller.

When I recollect the treasure of friendship that has been bestowed upon me, I withdraw all charges against life. If much has been denied me, much, very much has been given me. So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.

Thank You, Jesus, for Your love, for family, and for friends.