The World According to Bella

I've Got Mail

Everyday Mr. C and I walk to the mailbox.  It's 2 miles round trip. I am always hopeful something will be in the box for me. Most of the time there's nothing. But today was different. I got mail and Mr. C got nothing. This magazine said TO BELLA and even had my picture on the front. I didn't care that Dr. Ekholm had listed all the shots I needed-I was just happy to get mail.  

On the last page it  listed a lot of things on how Labs got to be #1 on the AKC  Breed Popularity list. I just knew they were talking about me when I heard the words: trustworthy, playful, eager to please, good temperament, quick, enthusiastic learner and enjoys swimming and retrieving. Mr.C said the only thing they forgot to list was my OCD over digging holes.
Did you notice I got my picture on this page too?
I just love mail so send me some.
Love, Bella

  ________________________________________________________________

Peach Strudel

Cook's notes:Using puff pastry sheets  and fresh peaches makes a mouthwatering strudel easy to create. I was excited my recipe looked almost just like the picture from Pepperidge Farm.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 TB. water
• 4-5 peaches, peeled and diced
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 TB. flour
• 1/3 cup crushed almonds or chopped pecans
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. cinnamon, divided
• 1 sheet, thawed Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry
• 2 TB. coarse sugar or granulated sugar

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat egg and water in a small bowl with a whisk and set aside. 
• In a large bowl stir peaches, brown sugar, 1 TB flour , nuts, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and vanilla.
• Unfold the pastry sheet and place on floured sheet of wax paper. Roll out to a 14 x 12 inch rectangle.
• Use a slotted spoon to drain some of the juices and spoon the mixture down the center of the pastry. Cut slits 1 inch apart from the long sides of the pastry to within 1/2 inch of the peach mixture.
• Starting at one end, fold the pastry strips over the peach mixture, alternating sides, to cover the peach mixture. Tuck under the short ends of the pastry. 

• Mix 1/2 tsp. cinnamon with 2 TB. sugar
• Brush the pastry with the egg mixture. Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon mixture. 
• Bake for 25 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. 

• Let the pastry cool on the baking sheet on wire rack for 20 minutes.  
• Note: Avoid using the microwave to reheat pieces as it makes the crust soggy. Instead place pieces on a cookie sheet and heat at 425 degrees for 4 minutes.

 

Unusual Uses for Coke and Cola Chocolate Cake

Coca Cola is one of the most widely recognized brands of soda in the entire world. It’s a staple in most American refrigerators. But Coke is more than just a refreshing drink; it has tons of awesome household uses as well! Check out some crazy uses for Coca Cola. Perhaps you even have one to share.

1. Tenderize your meats: Have a tough or low-quality hunk of meat? You can soften it up with a little marinade in the world’s favorite soda. Just add some Coke to the crockpot, or marinate the meat in Coke before grill time or before popping it into the oven. Yum!

2. Clean your clothes: Have a tougher than normal stain on your work clothes, like oil, grass, or dirt? Soak it in Coke! The acids in coke will remove your stains without damaging the cloth. Then just toss your clothes in the wash like normal, and run the cycle as hot as you can without damaging the cloth. Your clothes will be clean and stain-free again.

3. Grill Sauce: Run out of BBQ sauce? Mix up some Coke with some ketchup, a dash of garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce and ta-daaa! Instant sauce for the grill! If you’d like it thicker you can let it bubble on the stove for a bit.

4. No more rust: Have a rusty bolt that won’t budge? Soak it in Coke! The combination of the acids and the bubbles in Coca Cola cause the rust to dissolve and melt away, leaving you with clean, easy-to-turn nuts, bolts, and screws. This will also help dissolve any other unsightly rust spots in your home.

And the list goes on and on...5. Defrost a frozen windshield. Apply liberally and wait (I’ll see if this works in winter)
6. Clean burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.
7. Clean car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.
8. Cure nausea; let a can of Coke go flat then take a teaspoon of Coke every hour. 
9. Also, flat coke can help relieve an upset stomach (aka “the runs”)
10. And don't forget coke added to a cake recipe 

Okay, I was skeptical. I had friends tell me they had tried this but hadn't myself. So today I did. It's great. You don't have to use chocolate cake mix. Any flavor will work. And it makes a very moist cake.

Cola Cake

Cook's notes:

• Incorporating soda into cake batter is a quick way to add flavor and replace other wet ingredients if you don’t have them on hand. For vegans, soda can replace eggs in a cake mix recipe. It can also lower the fat content of a cake by replacing oil as well. The carbonation in soda imparts lightness to the cake and many different flavor combinations can be achieved with a little creativity. Perhaps the simplest way to bake a cake with soda is to use a cake mix. This method limits your ingredient list to two common items found in many kitchens and will have a dessert on your table in less than one hour.
• Typically, using light colored sodas with light colored cake mixes and dark sodas with dark cake mixes work best. You can use a dark soda with a light cake mix and the flavor will be fine, but the color will be darker than normal.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of cake mix (I used a chocolate cake mix)
• 1 can of cola

Directions:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. 
• Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
• Combine the cake mix and cola in a large bowl. Use a hand whisk to mix ingredients until light and smooth. Do not over stir. 
• Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
• Bake cake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 25-30 minutes.
• Frost with your favorite chocolate frosting.

Northwoods Art and Book Festival-Poetry Recognition Event

Poets were honored today at the 18th Annual Northwoods Art and Book Festival in Hackensack. There were an impressive number of artists, regional authors and poets who participated in the festival. 
I chaired the annual Poetry Recognition and Display Event. Each poet who submitted had one or more of their poems on display. Those who attended the festival had an opportunity to vote for their favorite poems during the day. Four poets were recognized in the category Popular Choice. A committee selected four winners in the category Works of Merit. 

I facilitated the poetry reading and announcement of winners. Poets in attendance shared their poems with guests and reflection on why poetry matters. Some of their responses to Why Poetry Matters included:

• "Poetry is an invitation as well as a challenge to think and relate precisely in images that are universally appreciated.” 
• "I’ve come to believe poetry is the signature of one’s soul, and paintings are its portrait."
• “Poetry gives my thoughts in a creative way that touches the soul, the heart and emotions. To craft poetry, to choose just the right words, satisfies me unlike any other form of writing.”

John Harrington reading his poems. Three of the winners pictured below are 

Lea Johnstone, John Harrington and Sandra Burell.

Regional authors were eager to share their work, sign books and chat with attendees. 

This author enjoyed dressing as one of her main characters.

Outside there was something for everyone to enjoy, browse and even buy!

It was a enjoyable way to spend the day. I was inspired by the works of these authors, poets and artists.

Enjoy the imagery in one of the winning poems by Sandra Burwell.

“IRONING DAY”
I’m cozy here, pretending to dust, under the dining room table.
Mitch Miller and the Ink Spots are on the fold-open record player.
I will be 10 soon.
I see the kitchen, bright and clean, almost empty;
The checkered floor waxed and shiny.
It is Ironing Day
Mom is not pretending to iron, in a race with herself,
She is competing against the last shirt,
And singing “SWEET VIOLETS.”
Dad’s long sleeve white shirts are just out of the fridge,
Rolled like fat white sausages, chilled and ready
With the catsup and meatloaf.
Yesterday, washed and starched and hung on the line.
This morning laid out and wet with the coke bottle sprinkler.
Now in the crisper drawer.
I can see the plywood plaque holding macaroni alphabet letters.
They are varnished on: “Bless this kitchen, with all its pots and pans.”
Both of us singing PAPER DOLL.

Puff Pastry Tomato Tart

A quote to ponder by T.S. Eliot 

This is a quote from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by TS Eliot. The theme of the poem is the despair J. Alfred Prufrock has looking back over how he has lived his life. In this quote Prufrock is talking about the sameness of every day of his life. He is mourning the fact that now that he's older he hasn't done anything important with his life.
a link for more information if you want to learn more about he poem
http://lit.genius.com/Ts-eliot-the-love-song-of-j-alfred-prufrock-annotated#note-77240

Note there's a new  feature (right hand side toward the top) to the blog posting to make it more user friendly-thanks to my husband! Type in what you are looking for (example: name of the recipe) and a link should pop up.  

Puff Pastry Tomato Tart

Cook's notes: After the first five tomatoes came in there was a lull but then many ripened  several days later and sent me scrambling for a recipe that showcased their beauty. Finding this recipe was a bonanza. It can be used as a main meal or cut into smaller pieces for an appetizer. The spices mixed with  3 cheeses were quite delicious. The recipe called for using an assortment of tomato sizes like cherry, heirloom and regular but I only had on hand one size. Different sizes did look lovely in the picture. Just when the puff pastry went into the oven I had a neighbor stop by giving us this huge zucchini. She said she had more that were even larger!! Slices of zucchini would have been a great addition as well as mushrooms to this tart. Something to try next time.  

Recipe from Country Living August 2014

Ingredients:

• 1 puff pastry sheet (1/2 box)
• 2 TB. olive oil
• 1 cup light ricotta cheese, drained
• 4 oz. softened goat cheese plain or garlic-herb
• grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1-2 tsp. Italian herbs
• 1-2 TB. fresh minced basil
• 3/4 lbs. assorted tomatoes,yellow ones, cherry, heirlooms
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl add ricotta, softened goat cheese, egg and spices. Whisk to mix.
• On a sheet of wax paper lightly flour work surface and roll sheet out to 10 x 15 rectangle. 
• Invert on to parchment covered baking sheet and peel off wax paper.
• With  a paring knife, score a border 1 inch from the edge all the way around the rectangle, cutting into, but not through. 

• Prick holes in the center. This is an interesting step because by pricking just in the center of dough this allows the border to rise higher than center that has been pricked. I was a disbeliever but by some miracle it really worked! Brush center of dough with olive oil. Spread ricotta cheese mixture in the center of the puff pastry sheet.

• Cut tomatoes and pat dry on paper towel-arrange over the center.
• Salt and pepper to taste. Grate Parmesan cheese over the top.
• Bake about 20 minutes until edges are brown and filling is set. 

A suggested addition: Cut cherry tomatoes to fill in spaces next to larger tomato slices. 

Bon Appetit!

Lemon and Orzo Soup with Chicken and Spinach

Cook's notes: Lemon and Orzo Soup with Chicken and Spinach is chockful of veggies and tender pieces of chicken in a refreshing lemony broth. It's pure comfort in a bowl and packed with lots of flavor. 
This recipe is perfect for using a rotisserie chicken to save time. Any leftover soup will need refrigeration. The soup will thicken some with the orzo pasta, use chicken broth to thin out and reheat.  
If possible make the soup early in the day for the flavors to meld. 
Serves 6 recipe inspired by CuisineAtHome.com 

Ingredients:

• 3-4 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1/2 package (5 0z.) baby fresh spinach 
• 1-2 TB. lemon zest
• 3-4 TB. fresh lemon juice 
• 1 cup sweet onions, diced
• 1 cup each celery and carrots
• 2 TB. olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. parsley flakes
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• dash red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. dried Italian herbs
• 2 dried bay leaves
• sprig of rosemary
• 3/4 cup dry orzo pasta
• 6 cups low sodium chicken stock or chicken broth (32 oz. box)

Directions:

• Saute carrots, celery, onions and garlic in 2 TB. olive oil over medium high heat until softened about 8 minutes.
• Add in thyme, parsley flakes, pepper flakes, Italian herbs. Cook until fragrant about 1 minute. 
• Add in chicken, broth, bay leaves and orzo. Cook on medium heat uncovered about 8 minutes. 
• Off heat, stir in lemon zest, juice and spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 1-2 minutes longer. Remove bay leaves. 
• Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.  
• Suggested side pairings-cornbread and fruit.

that orzo looks like a grain, but actually is just tiny noodles. It is usually found in the pasta section of large grocery stores. The small size is ideal for salads and side dishes. Cook orzo as you would spaghetti, then toss with butter, olive oil, herbs, cheese or vegetables as an alternative to potatoes or rice. 

Seasonal Plate

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." 

- Robin Williams

Seasonal Plate

Cook's note: The Seasonal Plate was published in the Pilot Independent on August 20th. Follow this link to the online version of the Seasonal Plate.  

http://www.walkermn.com/health/homelife/the-seasonal-plate/article_5e837794-26d8-11e4-bdc6-001a4bcf887a.html

Two of the recipes were previously posted 

Grilled Three Sisters Salad

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/08/grilled-three-sisters-summer-salad.html

Watermelon Salad

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2014/08/watermelon-salad.html

Spice Rubbed Rib-Eye Steaks
Cook's notes:
This versatile rub is a complex combination of flavors perfect for meat. Sugar enhances the flavor. It’s sweet and spicy all in one blend.
Ingredients:
2 bone in rib eye steaks
Spice Rub Ingredients:

• 1 TB. finely ground coffee beans 
• 2 tsp. each chili powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, and sugar 

Directions:

• Mix spice rub ingredients. Apply spice rub to both sides of the rib eye steaks, about 2 teaspoons per side. 
• Grill steaks to desired doneness with grill lid down which holds in the heat. 

What an ingenious idea to speed up the process for bread rising using a heating pad. 

We were out of bread the other day and I didn't want to go to the store. Then I remembered I had some frozen bread loaves in the freezer. (Rhodes brand) Since I didn't want to wait all day for them to rise, I put the pans on top of an electric heating pad and set it to hi heat. (Ours has auto turn off~ so I had to check it occasionally). Anyway, a little while later, this is what we got to eat... I had read about this idea on Pinterest! it really worked :)

Looking for some creative ways to use those baking pans in your kitchen? Check out this new publication from BHG called One Pan. You can find it at a bookstore or the grocery store. The recipes showed innovative ways to use a variety of pans you already have in your kitchen.

The Scent of God

When I discovered Beryl Singleton Bissell's memoir, "The Scent of God", I devoured it, savored it, dog-eared the pages and filled it with yellow highlighting. I only do that with books that speak to my heart and soul. It was a mesmerizing read and I finished it in one day!
There are many kinds of courage, just as there are many kinds of intelligence. Beryl Singleton Bissell's "The Scent of God" is a love story that is as much about courage as it is about love."

The story she tells is simple enough. She is enraptured with the idea of God and God's love so Bissell enters  the convent at age 18. Growing up in a family blighted by her father's alcoholism, Bissell yearned for love so fiercely that the only place she could imagine getting it was from God. The same burning need for love that led her to a cloistered life ultimately led her to renounce it. As a love story, this one is distinctive and compelling. Bissell discovers that love and life are more complicated than they once seemed, so fifteen years later she leaves the convent and the life of a nun. Bissell marries a former priest and enjoys a few years of happiness before his untimely death. 

But above all, I see this appealing memoir as an exploration of courage. It takes courage to choose an unconventional course in life. It takes courage to challenge one's faith. It takes courage to realize that the most solemn vow one has made was a mistake, and then it takes even more courage to admit that error and correct it. It always takes courage to love, especially when the relationship blooms (however improbably) in the context of so many taboos. It also is a story about choices, commitments, faith and love. It is about the choice that Beryl had to make between her calling and an Italian priest who won her heart.

Beryl's memoir is beautifully written, weaving in the rituals of everyday life in the convent with the emotional and spiritual evolution of a young woman who comes to trust herself as well as God.

Note that this book is not just for Catholics. The prose is evocative and well written.  Bissell's writing draws the reader in to see where she was living and the people in her life. The book is a definite must read for anyone who enjoys pictures painted by words and stories of love, courage and faith.

Beryl Singleton Bissell was born in Saddle River, New Jersey, grew up in Puerto Rico, and now lives in Minnesota. She's been a nun, a wife, mother, a widow, a divorcee, and for the past twelve years has been happily married to a man nine years younger than she is.

Bissell's work experience is almost as varied as her personal history. After leaving the monastery, she worked with a set designer in Puerto Rico, spent a year as national coordinator for the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, designed and sold 18-karat gold jewelry, and spent eight years at Milkweed Editions, a non-profit literary press in Minneapolis. In 1996, having returned to school as a single parent, she received her B.A. from Metropolitan State University.

She was named Best of 2006 Minnesota Authors for her memoir, "The Scent of God: A Memoir" and the book was also a "Notable" Book Sense selection for April 2006. Her most recent book, "A View of the Lake," was released June 1, 2011. The Minneapolis Star Tribune named it as one of the Best 2011 Regional books. 

In "View of the Lake" Bissell shares her experiences on Minnesota's Lake Superior North Shore in a collection of essays that follow her journey to find her place in a small northern town.

Meanwhile she is working on her third book, tentatively titled "Looking for Francesca: A Mother's Story" which picks up where "The Scent of God" leaves off and the years leading up to her daughter's unresolved violent death at the age of 24.

For more information on this author go to 
http://www.berylsingletonbissell.com/index.htm