I started the month of September in Utah and ended with a trip to Minnesota to spend time with family there. I love the change of seasons and this year the weather has been a welcome relief as we move into Fall. Hot days and cool nights help to finish off the fall crops and make them ready for harvest.
Covid has affected each of our lives in different ways. I have enjoyed the time of quiet study, pondering, renewal of spirit and body, family time, FaceTime, and making the house our home again. With all of that, our activity level, weight, overall health was not where we wanted to be or what we were used to. So, we decided to turn over a new leaf and to get Fit4Fall! I was having a hard time cooking for just the two of us and just was not motivated to do a lot in the kitchen. That all changed this month as I have made preparations for a 6 week wellness challenge. I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen and I have loved being back in the groove of healthy eating.
It all started with finding a great deal on long squash (like zuchinni) and cauliflower. I bought a case of each and came home and started the process of spiraling and cubing the squash and ricing the cauliflower to put in the freezer.
CAULIFLOWER SALAD
1 small Cauliflower - cut into small bites
3 hard boiled Eggs, chopped
2 Tbl. Dill Pickles, minced
1 Tbl. Red onion, minced
1 Tbl. Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 cup Mayonnaise
2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp. Celery Salt
1/2 tsp. Dried Dill
Salt & Pepper to taste
1-2 stalks celery, diced (optional)
Microwave Cauliflower until slightly tender 8-10 min. Can steam - Do not boil in water.
Drain. Pat dry with paper towel.
Put cauliflower in large bowl. Add pickles, onion and egg.
In separate bowl mix remaining ingredients for dressing.
Pour over cauliflower while still warm. Toss Well.
Store in fridge at least 1 hr. Flavors blend if made ahead.
This is one of my favorite recipes and it makes a large bowl.
My new bread is actually Egg Bread and gluten free. We use it for sandwiches, breakfast sandwich, open faced cheese bread, etc.
CLOUD BREAD
4 large eggs, separated
1/2 tsp. Cream of tarter
2 oz. low-fat cream cheese
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. Garlic powder or to taste
Preheat oven to 300*
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
- Separate the eg white and egg yolks
Place the whites in a stand mixer with whip. Add cream of tarter and beat on high until it
Turns into firm meringue peaks. Move to another bowl.
2. Place cream cheese in empty bow. Beat to soften.
3. Add egg yolks one a t a time to incorporate. Scrape bowl and beat until smooth. Beat in
Italian seasoning, salt and garlic.
4. Gently fold in firm meringue. Softly blend. Spoon 1/4 cup portions onto sheets. Spread
4 inch circle about 3/4 inch high. 6 per pan.
5. Bake about 30 min. Bake until firm on outside and golden.
Cool for several minutes. Store in airtight bag in fridge. Best within 12 hours
This is so good. It is good with Chicken salad, ham, turkey and cheese, It makes a great breakfast sausage cheese sandwich or any meat of choice. It made a great cheese and pepperoni sandwich. Possibilities are endless.
Lettuce Tacos
I could share pages of creations from this month, but I will spare you the rest of the details. Suffice it to say we have eaten really well the past few weeks and it is paying off.
We also participated in a virtual 5K Walk/Run - our first time on record. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and it took us 50 min. I know, not a record breaking event, but an enjoyable 5 K walk. Pictures are at the beginning and at the end. We walk two miles most mornings so this was just a little more of a stretch and it felt good.
Russ spends every day studying the scriptures and reading books from his favorite authors. He reads 2 or 3 different ones every day and finishes a book (novel) in just a few days.
I feel accomplished if I get my scripture reading and study in every day and a few pages in a good book.
I would highly recommend THE PILGRIM HYPOTHESIS as a great read. It is by Tim Ballard and I have also enjoyed his other books. It is very timely for our day and time. One of my grandsons is taking a History class in College. He currently is in on-line classes and has set up a study center in one of our extra bedrooms to come and do his work. It works really good for him to have a quiet place to go and to also feel like he is leaving home and attending class. We love the time he is with us Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 3:00. I am so impressed with his discipline to come and get all of his work done and then he an enjoy the weekend with no homework. He shard with me he was studying about Columbus and gave a very one sided view of him. I encouraged him to read just the chapter in this book about Columbus. He thinks he knows all about him and is not real interested, but I am working on him to expand this learning from just what the textbooks are teaching him. The story of Columbus began long before he set sail in 1492. I really enjoyed the added insights into the history of the world and where we are today as a result of those who came before us.
One of my other grandsons enjoys Japanese gaming and asked if I knew where he could get some Pudin (it is like Flan but firmer and sweeter). I did not know where to get the real deal so we looked it up on the internet - the "source of all knowledge" and found a recipe. We made it and he said it was the best he had ever tasted. It was so fun to see his delight in this wonderful dessert.
While I am speaking about these boys, they also celebrated their 19th Birthday this week.
Six years ago we started a remodel of our home in preparation for going on a mission when we retired. We wanted our home to be in good condition for the next 10 years and it was about a 4 year project. When we returned home, there were new things that needed attention and that ongoing need to update and repair. Plumbing continues to keep us busy and we are so glad we have a son that lives close by and comes to our rescue. We keep him busier that he probably wants to be but we really enjoy the time we get to spend with him on his days off from work. One of our bigger projects was installing a new kitchen stove cooktop.
This is the original cooktop in the house that is about 40 years old. I finally wore it out. New electrical was needed and a few extra parts but again with the help of Josh we were able to get it installed and me back to cooking.
One of our favorite things we learned to enjoy was Swiss Raclette Cheese. We had a Raclette grill and really enjoyed the melted cheese with potatoes and other vegetables. It was always a party when it was served. I was shopping the other day at a little specialty market and what did they have - Raclette. It was the real deal and I bought enough for a good party - just need to be able to invite people over again.
September 2020 is truly one for the history books. School is not what we know as "normal". Families are trying to navigate the new norm and still keep peace and sanity in their homes. Everyone of our grandkids is in a different learning environment. Some are in school and others are on-line or in a hybrid program. We have tried to help in small ways as we can to support each of these families. We have returned to Church services on a limited basis and it has been nice gathering with others even in the limited capacity that it is.
I have felt an urgency to research and learn more about my relatives and to visit important places in their lives. I have wanted to visit Long Pine, Nebraska for many years to see the birthplace and resting place of many of my fathers family members. It is still on my list of things to do. In going through papers and reading histories, I found the Military papers for my grandfather. He was born in Ontario, Wisconsin and then moved to Duluth Minnesota and joined the army in 1918 to serve in WWI. I have heard his story of contracting Tuberculosis during his service and being sent to Denver Colorado to an Army Hospital for treatment. It was there that he met a nurse whom became his bride and they homesteaded 120 acres in Rand Colorado. After my father was born in Rand they decided to move back to the city and settled in Denver Colorado for the next 20 years. I had never heard about his life before Colorado. I was excited to learn a little about his birthplace and time in Duluth. So, I added those places on my list of places I want to visit. I spent last week in Minnesota with my daughter and her family and she asked if I would like to take a day trip North to see the Fall Foliage. When I heard we could go to Duluth I was anxious to make the trip. It was the most beautiful drive and the colors were stunning. Duluth is a quaint little town on Lake Superior. It sits on a steep hillside that leads down to the port. It is the end port for all of the Great Lakes with ships arriving about twice a day from New York or other ports on the Great Lakes. My great grandfather and grandfather worked on the railroad in that area. Ontario Wisconsin is next on the list on my next visit to Minnesota.
We saw a big clock tower on the hill from the port and wanted to go see it. It reminded me of Europe and so we drove into town. It turned out to be a historical High School and it still serves as the High School today. It was beautiful.
Picture bomb of the Fall Foliage.
We have been home from our mission for 6 months now. Where has the time gone? So much has happened and yet we feel like we are in a holding pattern just waiting to be able to land and resume "normal" life. I know we have learned to serve in different ways and to enjoy time with family that we would not have had.
I am most grateful for the lessons learned from my study of the scriptures. In 3 Nephi 17, Jesus Christ is visiting the people of Nephi in the Americas and directs them of what to do when they do not understand.
The Scriptural Process:
1. "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words . . . Therefore, go ye unto your homes."
2. "Ponder upon the things which I have said"
3. "Ask" Pray for understanding as told in James 1:5
4. "Prepare your minds for the morrow" - food, sleep, open and clear mind
5. Come Again, Go Back to Church, read the scriptures, Conference Talks (words of the living Prophets), go to the Temple
Those same principles apply to us today when we are trying to understand something.
The next few months will be a trying time for our Country. I hope we can all endure it and seek for truth and understanding in the process.
Jesus Christ said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
This week is one of the most spiritual weeks of the year as we gather as Saints to listen to our Living Prophet in General Conference. I am far more interested to hear what will be said on Saturday and Sunday than to listen to the current political arena for guidance. You can watch and listen to the conference on www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; BYUtv.org and also on YouTube. It will be broadcast on both days at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM MDT .
"Does God really want to speak to you? YES! . . .Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know". President Russell M Nelson
I would highly recommend THE PILGRIM HYPOTHESIS as a great read. It is by Tim Ballard and I have also enjoyed his other books. It is very timely for our day and time. One of my grandsons is taking a History class in College. He currently is in on-line classes and has set up a study center in one of our extra bedrooms to come and do his work. It works really good for him to have a quiet place to go and to also feel like he is leaving home and attending class. We love the time he is with us Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 3:00. I am so impressed with his discipline to come and get all of his work done and then he an enjoy the weekend with no homework. He shard with me he was studying about Columbus and gave a very one sided view of him. I encouraged him to read just the chapter in this book about Columbus. He thinks he knows all about him and is not real interested, but I am working on him to expand this learning from just what the textbooks are teaching him. The story of Columbus began long before he set sail in 1492. I really enjoyed the added insights into the history of the world and where we are today as a result of those who came before us.
