Ever Ready: Parting Gifts for 2017

A belated gift to you is one of words from

One of my favorite books to be enjoyed all through the year. In a deeply moving poem, Maya Angelou inspires us to embrace the peace and promise of Christmas, so that hope and love can once again light up our holidays and the world. “Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward,” she writes, “and speak the word aloud. Peace.”

This poem was read by the poet at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the White House on December 1, 2005, Maya Angelou’s celebration of the “Glad Season” is a radiant affirmation of the goodness of life and a beautiful holiday gift for people of all faiths. Her poem was turned into this sweet little book.

Enjoy

“Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem"
by Dr. Maya Angelou

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes
And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.
Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche
Over unprotected villages.
The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.
What have we done to so affront nature?
We worry God.
Are you there? Are you there really?
Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.
The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,
Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.
Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.
Flood waters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us
As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children
It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.
Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,
Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. It is louder.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you, to stay a while with us.
So we may learn by your shimmering light
How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language
To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.
All the earth's tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We, Angels and Mortal's, Believers and Non-Believers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.

____________________________________________

Wait! There's one more gift for 2017- a New Year's brunch recipe and an orange, one of the symbols of the Chinese New Year. It may well be just superstition, but the Chinese believe that tangerines and oranges are auspicious symbols of a better year ahead. The words for tangerine and orange in Chinese resemble the words for luck and success, respectively. Their bright color also symbolizes gold, hence the fruits have a meaning of bringing good luck and wealth. During the celebrations, tangerines and oranges are widely displayed as house decorations and exchanged as gifts. Mandarin oranges are often called Christmas oranges. So my wish for you in 2018 is one of good luck, success and happiness.

Mini Bacon, Red Pepper, Onion and Cheese Quiche

Cook's Notes: Do your advance prep the night which includes dicing onions, peppers, ham or frying bacon. Bring ingredients to room temperature before assembling. A 10 inch tart pan can be substituted for 4 individual tart pans.

Ingredients:

1-15 ounce package rolled refrigerated unbaked piecrust (1 crust) save other crust for another use

1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend or Gruyere

1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper

1/3 cup finely chopped smoked cooked ham or 6 slices of bacon

1/2 cup sweet onions, diced

1- 1/2 tsp. flour

1/2 tsp. each Italian seasoning chives or parsley flakes or use fresh herbs such as basil, oregano or thyme

3 large eggs

1/2 cup half-and-half, light cream, or milk

1 TB. Dijon mustard

Fresh herb springs, such as basil, oregano or thyme (optional)

Directions:

If making one large tart you will follow the same directions.

Let pie crust sit at room temperature.
In a blender add eggs, half and half or milk, mustard and herbs.Blend and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Fry bacon until crisp, remove and drain some of the grease. Add onions and peppers saute 2-3 minutes. Set aside on a paper towel.
On a lightly floured wax paper surface, roll lightly the pie crust. Arrange 4 tart pans upside down on pie crust. Use a pizza or pie crust wheel and roll 3/4 inch around outer rim of each pie crust. Fit each cut out in tart pan and trim excess dough from top of pans.

Add bottoms back to tart pans and line each pastry shell with a double thickness of foil. Press foil snugly around edges.

Place pans on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove foil and bake 2-3 minutes longer or until pastry is set. Remove from oven and reduce oven temp to 325 degrees.
In a medium bowl combine cheese, ham or bacon, peppers, onions, spices and flour. Divide mixture among 4 tart pans on baking sheet.
In a blender mix eggs, half and half or milk.
Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to evenly distribute liquid among the tart pans. Note there will be some extra liquid if making 4 tart pans.
Sprinkle each tart with additional cheese.