chicken casserole

Pavlova Pastry

 This meringue pastry is named for the ballerina Pavlova.  

 Our friends always stop at this quaint bakery when they visit Estonia and the shopkeepers know them and exactly what they are coming in to buy! We cut this one in 4 for a divine taste! 

Those are delicious cranberries on top!

Then the next week we were back in Finland at dinner with other friends and she made this family sized version for dessert.  Lucky us!  

It too was delectable and she served it withfresh Finnish strawberries naturally sweet because they have been kissed by the midnight sun! 

 I've been wanting to try making it myself ever since we returned and got the chance when I was asked to make the refreshments for our ward's Relief Society meeting.  It was easier than I thought, even though you make the meringue part the night before. 

 I chose to put an assortment of fruit and berries on top.  

I used raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and kiwi fruit.  You may get the recipe here.

Veggie Tails

My Mother had a flair for making food look good.  She says that we eat with our eyes; that 75% of a food's taste comes from how it looks.  Her Mother taught her this.  She also taught me that you need to have color on the table and plate.  So if you are serving chicken with mashed potatoes, the veggie needs to be colorful like crisp, dark green beans and vivid red tomatoes instead of corn.  Color, texture and garnish make a difference.  Also, somewhere I heard that food scientifically tastes better if made with love.  I believe it!

This week I made a veggie tray for our evening Relief Society meeting.  I only had time for two quick snapshots before it was served.  I wish I'd had time for some close up shots.  This rounded basket with a handle is what my Mother used to use.  Descriptions of how to prepare the veggies are found at http://maijarecipes.blogspot.com/2012/11/veggie-tails-and-flowers-for-fancy.html.

While I was making it, one of my Primary girls came by the kitchen in the church and really liked how it looked.  She asked if I was going to make one for our party two days later.  So, I did. 

Store Unused Mason Jars With Water

This is our family's easy way to have water on hand when the power goes out. 

Store your unused mason jars with water!

 As you eat your canned cherries, peaches, beans or such from a quart or pint mason jar, wash it, then fill it back up with tap water, put the rubber side of the lid on upside down and put it back into your storage for emergency use. 

My Mother always said that we needed to have water on hand for when the power goes out and you need to wash your  hands, or need water to help the toilet flush, or even take a bath!  I can personally attest to the fact that having that water on hand comes in handy!

After, dutifully filling empty mason jars for years, and carrying them to our basement storage to the "fruit room" as we called it, the power went out!  Do you ever stop to realize how many times you want to wash your hands, when you can't run the water from the faucet? 

I remember one time when the power was out and my Dad, our ward's Bishop at the time, needed to go into town for a church meeting.  He was a farmer and needed to bathe before he could go.  So, I dutifully carried those mason jars filled with water back upstairs to the bath tub.  It took several quarts, but we had enough for him to bathe in!

 

So, as we began putting away the unused extra mason jars from the canning my husband and our sons did while my daughter and I were on vacation, my husband commented, 

"We should refill them with water like you grew up doing."  So, we did!  I have done this over our married years and also used it for hand washing, etc. but we were out.  

So, as I thought about his reminder, all the 650,000 who were out of power because of Hurricane Isaac,  and the current plethora of uses for mason jars--we filled our empty mason jars a.k.a. Kerr or Ball with water, turned the rubber side of the lid upside down and carried them downstairs to our "fruit room".  It's what I grew up doing, what I've done with my own family and it's something simple you can do too.  You'll thank me when when the power goes out and you can wash your hands.  And your power will go out sometime!

Note: This isn't drinking water although it could be used if treated correctly. 

Norwegian National Day

In honor of Norwegian National Day we made the flag 

with red jello, white whipped cream and blueberries.  I usually decorate a cake with an American flag but we would have other desserts, so I opted for jello. 

The Young Women made cupcakes with Norwegian flags on them!

Soccer Hair and Violin Festival Wear

 M is ready to do a header.  

He says he's about to come up and get the soccer ball with his head here. 

 His head hit the ball high and far!  I was thinking, "Oh great, just before he leaves for his violin recital he gets a concussion."  Thankfully that wasn't the case!

Here he is celebrating his header's height and length with a big smile and arms in the air.

I love how excited he gets about what he's involved in.  

I was thrilled when M was in as goalie and blocked 3 goals in a row!  

It's a challenge to film everything and everyone's event, especially when more than one are happening.  B went with K to her Saturday morning soccer game.  

So no pictures of her this time.  B ended up coaching as their "student" coaches didn't show up.  Maybe it's because it's their spring break!  

 

 With soccer smell and soccer hair, he quickly changed clothes for Festival. 

 

 Waiting his turn to play for the judge.  Gulp!

With his violin teacher after a great performance.

Afterward he's contemplating what his score will be.  

His prediction is 99 because she'll probably take off for his hair!

Big Things Happen

What BIG things are you 

affirming, believing and praying for?