Reflections

What Cancer Can’t Do

It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill friendships.
It cannot suppress memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot steal eternal life.
It cannot conquer the Spirit.

MIRACLE

Do not pray for easy lives;
pray to be stronger…

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers;
pray for powers equal to your tasks.

Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle,
but you shall be a miracle.

Every day you shall wonder at yourself,
at the richness of life which has come to you
by the grace of God.

-Phillips Brooks

In Praise of Hands

Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One.
Blessed be these hands that have touched life.
Blessed be these hands that have nurtured creativity.
Blessed be these hands that have held pain.
Blessed be these hands that embraced with passion.
Blessed be these hands that have tended gardens.
Blessed be these hands that have closed in anger.
Blessed be these hands that have planted new seeds.
Blessed be these hands that have harvested ripe fields.
Blessed be these hands that have cleaned, washed, mopped and scrubbed.
Blessed be these hands that have become knotty with age.
Blessed be these hands that have become wrinkled and scarred from doing justice.
Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received.
Blessed be these hands that hold the promise of the future.
Blessed be the works of Your Hands, O Holy One. May your hands bless this world through the performance of good deeds.
May you enjoy good health, sweet melodies and an abundance of love.This Sabbath, hold someone’s hand and know that you are holding a blessing from God.

–Lois Silverman- Pomegranate Guild

Recipes

 

Cathy’s Mom’s Coleslaw Recipe

Cut up 1 head of cabbage and 1 medium red onion. Set aside.
Combine in medium saucepan:
1 cup sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Boil for one minute. Add 3/4 cup vegetable oil and pour over cabbage and onion.
Cover and refrigerate. Better the next day.

 

The Christmas Cheese Soufflé” Recipe

6 thin slices white sandwich bread
3/4 plus cups cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3 eggs slightly beaten

Butter bread and cut into finger slices. Arrange in a 1 1/2 quart buttered baking dish, alternating layers of bread and shredded cheese. Add seasonings to milk and add to beaten egg. Pour over bread and cheese. Let stand for at least 1/2 hour or overnight in fridge. Bake at 350 for 25 – 30 minutes or until it is that beautiful brown, puffy look. Call you friends and have a party!

Cathy’s Fish Chowder

Cream of Potato Soup (six cans is enough for a family of six)
Cream of Shrimp Soup (one can for each six potato)
2% milk – equal amount of soup cans used
Lobster – amount determined by price
Fish – The fish I use is determined by what there is available but “white” fish that holds together well during baking – I usually use at least four kinds
Butter – at least one tablespoon
Salt and pepper to taste

Bake the fish according to the individual need of the fish. I do this in foil so that I can pour all the juices when the fish is done.

Heat up the canned soup, milk, butter and lobster (sometimes I put tiny shrimp at this point – adds nice texture and color.

When the fish is baked I “dump” that into the pot. I try to avoid the black skin that is sometime on filets as that tends to float to the top and look horrible.

As long as it is hot, it is ready and can be kept hot easily in a crock pot on low.