Childhood Doesn't Wait

Childhood Doesn't Wait

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
"Pick me up," I heard him beg
but the mother's face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

"Don't hang on to me," she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I'd had the courage
to go up to her and say...

"The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won't ask for you to hold them
or won't freely give a hug.

"The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can't recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

"Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we've know.

"So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer...

"When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can't
'cause there's no time to talk

"Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn't wait.

"Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don't wait another day."

I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she'll pick them up
before her chances disappear

by Kathie Davis

Smoky BBQ Pork Ribs

Let me first say ..... MMMmmmm MMM these were good ribs!!!
Now, I love BBQ ribs, they are probably one of my favorite anytime foods.  But they are one item I have rarely made.  So when I found this recipe, the ingredients intrigued me and I just had to try it.  And boy am I glad I did.

4 racks of trimmed baby back ribs ( I used a 5.5 lb. rack of spareribs)
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup smoked paprika (very important that you use smoked!!)
2 tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp dried ancho chile powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp garlic powder (this is my addition to the recipe)
2 cups store bought BBQ sauce

Prepare rub by mixing all dry ingredients in a large bowl together well.  Make sure to break up any clumps.  Place ribs on sheet trays and dust all over with rub ensuring to get it in all the cracks.  Place ribs, meat side up, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for 3 hours or over night.

Remove ribs from fridge and discard plastic.  Place in oven set at 325*.  Cook for 2-1/2 hours until meat is very tender.  Finish under broiler or grill for 5 minutes to caramelize then remove and allow to cool slightly.

Serve with BBQ sauce.

Notes:
I hate the broiler and it was raining, so I did not put the ribs on the grill to finish.  I just basted with sauce and let sit in the oven for 20-30 minutes with heat off.
I used Kroger brand KC style hickory smoke sauce and I added some brown sugar to it, and it turned out really good.

Recipe courtesy of Kitchendaily

Family Inspiration - 16 May

I believe the most valuable contribution a parent can make to his child is to instill in him a genuine faith in God.

But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, to those who reverence him; his salvation is to children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant and remember to obey him!
Psalm 103:17, 18

Flourless Chocolate Cake

This cake if for the chocolate lover.  When this cake comes out of the oven it's going to look like a sunken-in brown mess, but once you taste it will be gone in seconds. 

7 oz really good (45-50% cocoa) semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar, divided
4 eggs, separated

1. Preheat oven to 300*. Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler.  Stir together half the sugar and four yolks; add to melted chocolate concoction.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites; slowly add remaining 1/2 cup sugar until stiff peaks form.  Fold mixture into chocolate.  Pour into greased 9" cake pan.
3. Bake 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few crumbs on it.  Cool 30 minutes before removing from pan. Dust with powdered sugar.

We served with a scoop a vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Notes:
I suggest using a spring form pan and not a cake pan.
If this is too much work for you, honestly you can make a really good dark chocolate brownie in a spring form pan and it will taste almost the same and look prettier. 
(Matt's comment to this cake was that it tasted like my brownies.)

Recipe courtesy of Dashrecipes.com

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff is a classic Russian dish that has proved its delicious worth time and time again. You can serve this dish over egg noodles (classic), rice or mashed potatoes.  This is one of my favorites and I've made it many times the "easy" way with cream-of-mushroom soup, but I wanted to make it true to the original recipe and completely homemade. You can use any type of beef from tenderloin to chuck roast, just remember the better the cut of beef the more tender when cooked.  ENJOY!! 

1 pound beef, cut into 2"x 1" x 1/4" strips
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 Tbsp canola oil (I used olive oil)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 pound white mushrooms, sliced 1/2" thick (I used baby bella's)
1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth (I used chicken broth)
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup sour cream
Chopped fresh dill for garnish if desired

1. Season beef generously with salt and pepper.  Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat.  Brown meat in two batches, about 1 minute per side; remove from skillet and set aside.
2. In same skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium heat.  Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add mushrooms; cover.  Cook until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes.  Add broth; simmer uncovered until liquid has thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Stir mustard into mushroom mixture in skillet.  Return beef to skillet; cook over medium-low heat until heated through. 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.  Season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped dill.

Notes:
I minced two cloves of garlic and cooked with my meat for added flavor, I love garlic.
I also cooked my onions longer than suggested, more to a caramelized state, again for more flavor.

Recipe courtesy of Everyday Food.

Tray-Baked Chicken

I cooked three new recipes this weekend.  We enjoyed eating all three!!

In this chicken recipe the brine is key.  Subtly you can taste the honey and lemon in the chicken and it's so good.  I hope you enjoy!!

Brine
1 quart water
2 Tbsp kosher salt
1/3 cup honey
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 sprigs fresh sage, leaves only
1/4 cup apple-cider vinegar
Juice and zest of 1 lemon

For the Bake
4 chicken breasts, bone in, skin on  (I used boneless-skinless)
2 slices smoked bacon, finely chopped
3 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and thinly sliced (I peeled them)
4 medium potatoes, scrubbed and thinly sliced (I used red potatoes)
1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
2 sprigs fresh sage, leaves shredded
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh black pepper
1-2/3 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
A few pats of butter

1. Mix brine in a large bowl, add chicken. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 to 8 hours. (I did 2 hours).
2. Remove chicken, let come to room temperature. Drain chicken, discarding brine, and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Preheat oven to 350*, in a roasting pan, toss the bacon, veggies, garlic, and sage with olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour in broth.  Cook 30 minutes.
4. Remove veggie pan from oven; pour in cream and sprinkle with pepper and Parmesan.  Add chicken, dotting pats of butter on each piece.  Cook 35 minutes, or until chicken is golden.

Notes:
Yukon Gold potatoes would have been my choice to use in this dish, but I only had red potatoes.
I'm going to use this brine when making BBQ chicken, the combination of flavors would go so well.

Recipe courtesy of Jamie Oliver at Dashrecipes.com

Family Inspiration - 9 May

Children need to be taught self-discipline and responsible behavior. They should be equipped with the personal strength needed to meet the demands imposed on them by school, their peer group, and later, adult responsibilities.

Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control.
2 Peter 1:5, 6