Paula Deen Beef Stew

The sun is shining and I can see some grass in the backyard.

The temperature is 15 degrees above zero.

Yesterday it was near 40 degrees.

It seems like a bad joke to have days fluctuating so much!

My feet are cold and I am just chilled so I decided to cook.  That always warms me up.

I grabbed package of frozen beef stew meat from the freezer and started to thaw it.

After a quick search on FoodNetwork.com I decided to make Paula Deen's Old-Time Beef Stew.  It was absolutely delicious!  Here's how to make it.

2 pounds stew beef
2 T. vegetable oil
2 cups water (I used 3 and could have used one more)
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 or 2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, sliced
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. paprika
Dash ground allspice or ground cloves
Better Than Bouillon (this is my addition to the recipe)
5 small potatoes (another addition I made to the recipe)

I always start cooking by filling my sink with hot, soapy water.  Especially with raw meat, I want to be able to wash my hands quickly and easily.

Assemble the ingredients you'll be using.

My stew meat was slightly frozen.  I've learned from experience that partially frozen meat going into hot oil can be dangerous.  Make sure your meat is thawed!

In a large stock pot, heat 2 T. vegetable oil.  When heated, add the meat to brown it.  I stir it all the time to keep from sticking too much to the pan.  You just want to see brown on all the pieces as you aren't cooking it all the way through.

Add the water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika and allspice. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours.

Remove the bay leaves and garlic clove.

Add chopped carrots, celery and I also added potatoes.

My secret ingredient is the Better than Bouillon beef flavoring.  About 1 t. is enough.  Add it now.

Cover the pot again and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer.  You can add cornstarch to some of the hot liquid (in a separate bowl) and re-add to the stew if you like it thick.  With the addition of the potatoes, my stew was plenty thick with veggies.

It was delicious and the perfect meal for a chilly March day!

Jury Duty, Cockroaches, Missing Airplanes

My thoughts are all over the place this morning, just like the subject of this post.  What do jury duty, cockroaches and missing airplanes have to do with each other?  Or better yet, why would I write those words?


Well, I am on jury duty.  For the next two weeks I am to be available in the event a jury is needed.  It is really a weird sensation to block and protect my activities in the event I am told to report in. Each day for the next two weeks I am to call after 4:30 pm to listen to a recorded message that will say "no jury is needed tomorrow" or "please report in".  At work I am not sure how I should plan to handle my projects.  I don't know how many times last week I found myself saying, "do I schedule this meeting for next week or not".  It is interesting not knowing what "tomorrow" may bring.


A famous man addressed this very topic.  In a great book of wisdom and guidance you will find these words:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Good words, right? 


Now onto the cockroach topic.  On one of the several trips to Mexico I've made, I stayed with a family in their home.  They didn't speak English and I didn't speak Spanish.  Our attempt at sign language and hand gestures would've made the game of charades look easy!  I was so blessed in that this home was one of the nicest homes in the area.  And there were cockroaches in the bathroom.  I showered with the cockroaches.  Those little pests were a part of their life.  I think that trip prepared me, somewhat, for the cockroach that fell from the vent above my desk, ticked my shoulder and then started scurrying across the floor to my co-workers open bag (on the floor).  I wasn't scared but just so surprised.  In a split second I stammered "bag....bag....PICK UP YOUR BAG" to my co-worker.  She reacted just as quickly scooping up her bag and then she saw the critter and screamed.  As she jumped up on her desk.  Meanwhile I was up and out of my chair to stomp as hard as I could on the over-an-inch-long invader. 


All of us in that office were moved to that building in mid-January.  We found out that the basement is infested with cockroaches after we moved.  Fumigating monthly is a common occurrence.  Really?  In Minnesota!  Well, we have been creeped out a little and none of us returned to the office on Thursday and Friday.  Over the weekend I think there will be fumigating again so next week, if I don't have jury duty, I'll need to report back to the bug office.  Again, I'm not scared of them but it is a little creepy knowing they are crawling above me and in the walls. 


Where is that airplane missing from Malaysia?  I do not know why I am so haunted by this but I find myself continually checking CNN's website for updates.  My heart does ache terribly for the family members wondering where their loved ones are.  I guess that is the driving force behind my obsession. 


All of this brings me to my knees.  In prayer.  I have learned how much I take "tomorrow" for granted through this jury duty unknown.  I have today and I need to enjoy today.  And for that I thank God for the reminder! 


For the cockroach situation.  I am praying that the pipes freeze in the basement of the building.  Okay, okay...some of you are shocked that I would pray such an expensive thing.  Well, the facilities people told our office that the cockroaches are living in the sewer and the adjoining building owners don't fumigate.  So this problem is going to continue forever and ever until everyone takes responsibility and goes after them.  Or unless the pipes freeze and have to be reconnected (they are the original sewer lines from the wagon train days) to the new city sewer lines. 


My prayers for wisdom and revelation to the searchers of the missing jet continue.  That they may be guided to where this plane is quickly.  This is crazy, isn't it? 


I remain, So Amazed, that God has everything in control.  I know He does.  I have seen His hand in all areas of my life for years and years.  His hand will be in my tomorrow.  His hand will be with the cockroach problem.  And I know His heart is broken over the people in the missing aircraft.  May He give wisdom and guidance to the search teams and peace and comfort to the family members.


Enjoy your "today".

No Cancer!

The Israelites were running from Pharaoh's army and came to the Red Sea.  They didn't have boats and there wasn't a bridge.  They were trapped and going to be killed.

The Red Sea parted.  A pathway was created, the water held back, the Israelites raced to safety on the other shore.  When the army came to the Sea the water was let loose, the pathway closed, and the Army was stopped.

It was a miracle!

Moses climbed a mountain and encountered a bush.  The bush was on fire and never burned up.  How can something never stop burning and turn to ash but continue burning.

It was a miracle!

A huge wedding was taking place and the wine ran out.  The bridal party was humiliated that the guests wouldn't have wine.  Jesus asked the attendant to fill jugs with water.  He didn't wave His magic wand or repeat some mantra, he told the attendants to then dip into the water jugs.  Wine better than the bridal party started with now filled the jugs.

It was a miracle!

My dad had a PET scan four weeks ago and the report stated there were hot spots in his chest and all down his spine.  A biopsy of the chest lymph nodes was done two weeks ago and came back with a "no cancer cells spotted" report.

It was a miracle!

Last week a blood test and bone scan were done to check the hot spots in the bones.  After a week of waiting the report today was "no cancer". 

It IS a miracle!

Don't let anyone tell you that miracles were a thing of the past.  Miracles are for today!


No Cancer!

It is an amazing miracle and I would ask you to join with my family and I in thanking God for this miracle.  The glory goes to Him!

I am so amazed...

Impact

Last night I attended a concert in which five Christians artists performed.  It was an incredible experience.  One of the performers, Matthew West, sang a song I'd never heard.  It was an incredible song and it made an impact on me.

Impact.

Something that makes you stop.  It has an effect.


In the case of this song, the lyrics were being displayed as Matthew West sang them.

It made an impact on me because I needed to hear it.

I believe many need to hear this song and its message.

In fact, you may be one of the people that needs to be impacted.

Dear friend, would you please take the time to listen through the entire video that I'm linking here.  I found the YouTube version of the song and better yet, it includes the background of the song.

Please listen to it.
Let it soak into you as I did last night.  And I listened to it again today.
There is a message to bring healing and freedom to all of us.

I'm praying for you....

Hello, Old Friend!

Dear Blog,


I cannot believe it was last November that I last posted.  So many times I have thought of you and my fingers have itched to jot even just a few words on your page.  Tonight I am compelled and cannot go to sleep until I give an update of everything that has transpired since November. 

• My dad completed his chemotherapy
• Favorite Son-In-Law and Kidlet One announced they are having another baby
• Baby C learned to crawl
• My brother lost his job
• Kidlet Three gets playing time on the junior varsity and varsity hockey teams for his high school
• Christmas was sacred
• I was moved to a temporary office for my job and then in January moved to a yet a different location. 
• Kidlet Two celebrated a year at the restaurant-that-asks-too-much from him
• The Husband continues his sharing of candy at all hockey games
• Dad's PET scan in January caused some concern and the first biopsy came back negative of cancer.  Thank you Jesus!
• Believe it or not this old brain in my head allowed me to get two A's on my first college courses that I finished in December.
• Hockey boys have been growing their hair out and call it 'flow' and 'wings'.  With my natural curl I guess it looks like wings and Kidlet Three tells me I need to get that taken care of as in get a haircut.  Why can boys have wings but not their mothers?
• Grandbaby number two is a BOY and he will arrive end of June or early July (happy, happy, happy).

There's a whole lot more that I could list but let me end by saying that I've decided to have a Gratitude Attitude.  Every person I know has a bundle of trials they are mudding through and it is so easy to get down and bummed out.  However, that just sucks life out of us.  If that is where you are at, speak out right now and say "I am going to have a Gratitude Attitude".  And then start making that list of things to be thankful for.  Speak out a 'thank you' for the parking space you get.  Or when you start your grocery shopping be thankful you don't shop in open air markets with sides of beef or pork heads staring at you.  We have a lot to be grateful for.


So Dear Blog, I am glad you are still here for me after all these months.  I promise to not be such a stranger!


Signed,
So Amazed

As I listen to the wind tonight....

“At this my heart pounds

and leaps from its place.

Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,

to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven

and sends it to the ends of the earth.

After that comes the sound of his roar;

he thunders with his majestic voice.

When his voice resounds,             

he holds nothing back.
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’

  

and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor.

The animals take cover;

they remain in their dens.

The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice,

and the broad waters become frozen.

He loads the clouds with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through them.
At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water his earth and show his love.

“Listen to this, Job;

stop and consider God’s wonders.

Do you know how God controls the clouds

and makes his lightning flash?

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,

those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
can you join him in spreading out the skies,

hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

“Tell us what we should say to him;

we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?

Now no one can look at the sun,

bright as it is in the skies

after the wind has swept them clean.

Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
God comes in awesome majesty.
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
Therefore, people revere him,
for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?
Job 37

The Password Is...

Anyone out there remember the original game show called Password?  Alan Ludden was the host and he would almost whisper the words The password is as the TV screen revealed the hidden word for the television audience.

For me, the password these past few weeks has been:  mystery

Mystery not like the Nancy Drew books that I grew up reading.  In fact, I still have my collection of hard-covered, girl-sleuth books.  Oh yes, I enjoy a good mystery book.

Lately the word mystery seems to surround me.  Like I am living the word.  It is a mystery to me how I am able to work fulltime and do my homework for a college course and go visit my grandbaby every once in awhile and have coffee with friends and freeze apples from the abundance of our crop and give time to my husband and try to make a Christmas shopping list and pray for my Dad & Mom during Dad's chemo and...you know...the list goes on. 

It is a mystery that anything actually gets done <consider a smiley face inserted here>.

Living a life of mystery is bigger than the list of tasks that I did or did not get done.  Recently I listened to an online sermon from a pastor in My City.  He related a story of a woman that visited a Sunday morning service.  The pastor greeted her as she was leaving the sanctuary and she informed him she was in town for medical treatment.  She had been told she had over 20 cancerous tumors in her body.  With determination and faith, she told the pastor she knew she had been healed and that the week of tests in front of her would prove her healing.  The pastor admitted at this point in his message that he knew God could heal the woman but he doubted she would be healed.   At the end of that week, the woman called the pastor to report she had been found to be tumor and cancer free!  The pastor was amazed, humbled, and without explanation.  See, a woman in his congregation, the mother of several young children, had gone through exactly the same diagnosis within the past year.  This young mom did not get the healing and died. 

Was God mad and punishing the woman that wasn't healed?  No, because that would be contrary to His character and promises.

Did the unhealed woman have sin in her life and this was her punishment?  If that was the criteria, no one would be healed, right?   Our manual as Believers In Jesus Christ, the Bible, records several instances where people were healed.  In many of those documented experiences, the sins of the person were forgiven along with the healing.  So forgiveness isn't a criterion for healing.

God must have loved one woman more than the other and that is why just the one was healed.  WRONG!  God loves us all.  Period.  No conditions.  He loves us whether we love Him.  How could He choose who to heal?

That sermon is a true mystery.  As frustrating as it is to understand, I actually love it.  It leads me to believe that I only know and see a small fraction of who My Big God really is.  See I believe that He is in control.  He hasn't lost the battle between good and evil.  He has a plan.  He loves, loves, loves all people.  And I cannot begin to explain everything about Him.  He is a mystery.

He is a mystery.  I had to say it again. 

I did a Bible search on the word mystery.  Depending upon the translation of the Bible there are between 25 and 30 verses that have the word mystery in them.  Here is one of them:

Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does.  Ecclesiastes 11:5

 Yup.  That pretty much sums it up.  What is really interesting to me is that in the past few weeks I've probably heard a dozen people say the word mystery or talk about how mysterious and unexplainable God is.  He is really trying to get my attention with that word.  So I'll end this little post praying as I have the past few weeks:

God, my brain cannot fathom all of the concepts of who You are.  You are the Creator, the I AM, my Lord and Savior, Healer, Comforter, Joy Unspeakable, Peace Beyond my Understanding, Lover of My Soul, and so on.  I have experienced You in all of these ways yet I don't understand the how's and why's.  Yet I trust You and know that all of Your mysteries are maybe not things that I will ever understand.  Your timing is a mystery.  In all my life, lead me, guide me, and know that I love You with my whole heart.  In the Name of the All Powerful Jesus, Amen.

Whispering I leave you with this:  the password is....mystery.  As in living life with an incredibly Mysterious God.  He keeps me So Amazed!