Dear God

Dear God,

Help me to put aside the things that are breaking my heart, long enough to think and pray about all the things in this world that are breaking yours.

Amen

♥ It's A New Year

Good morning friends. Well, we have a whole new year ahead of us now....and the question is, what do we plan to do with it? I would like to offer you a suggestion and challenge you to take a pledge.

What major change can we make in our liv...es to better the life of others? Even one other person. I'm not talking about New Years Resolutions or Weight Loss Diets or rearranging furniture. I am talking about making a difference in other's lives in some way. Oh it's easier said that done....you really have to take the initiative and get involved and make it happen.

Having a cause that you believe in can make your own life richer in so many ways. I'm not talking about donating to the Church. I hear that all the time..."I give to my church and they take care of all that stuff." I am talking about getting personally involved and doing something for someone that will make a difference in their life and in your life.

As you all know, I support the No Kill Advocacy Group who are out there everyday, working diligently to save the lives of innocent dogs and cats who are being killed unnecessarily while they wait in shelters for someone to love them and give them a new home. There is nothing for fulfilling for me than knowing I may have saved the life of an animal today. There is nothing that enriches my life more than seeing a dog trapped in a shelter go out the front door with a loving family than the rear door to it's death.

Some of you know that I have a homeless friend who walks the highway near where I live and I have sort of adopted him without him knowing. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about his safety and his care. I go out and search for him each week to give him food and things to keep him warm. That my friends has enriched my life more than you know. The other day I saw him walking down that same stretch of highway in the rain and bitter cold. On his
head was the new furry wool hat that I had given him on Christmas Eve. I am still smiling.

This year I pledge to do more....because God has blessed me in so many ways, why shouldn't I share those blessings with others? I'm not rich by any means. But I have a roof over my head and food on my table and God has always taken care of me. I think he expects me to do the same. I cannot imagine going to bed hungry or sleeping outside in the cold and it breaks my heart that a country as rich and prosperous as ours allows it. So it is up to me to make a difference.

I have always wanted to start a program where funds could be raised to pay the mortgage or rent payments of someone who is about to lose their home due to job loss or illness. I can't imagine anything being worse than losing your home and having nowhere to go. It literally hurts me to think about the indignity of being told you have to leave your home, knowing you have no place to call home anymore. I think of all the gifts God gives us, Home is the one we are most grateful for. Home is our sanctuary. Home is a place where we can go to feel safe. So this year, I will set out to search for such a program or create of my own.

You might be asking what you can do this year. I look at the power in numbers. Look at how many followers at Welcome Home on Facebook....over 465,000. What would happen if each and every one of us decided that everyday for the next 364 days, we were going to do something...anything...to make a difference in a life out there?

What if we kept a few dollars in our car to give to someone who we saw holding up a sign on a street corner? What if we baked bread or cookies to give to a shelter or mission in your area? What if we gave canned goods to a food bank in town or we dropped off a bag of dog or cat food to your local animal shelter? What if we handed out blankets or coats to the homeless? What if we just handed out a box of groceries to someone standing in the unemployment or welfare line?

And it's not always the needy or the hungry we can help. What if we set out to make someone's day better? Like buying that cup of coffee for the person in line behind you at your local coffee shop or paying the toll for someone at the toll booth. What if you see someone who might need help buying groceries at the local market and you help pay the bill? What if you can help that elderly neighbor in some way this year with chores he or she can no longer handle? What if we actually smile at people and say hello to a stranger at least once at day this year?

Judy Garland once said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be a little more gentle with each other, a little more loving, have a little more empathy, and maybe next year at this time, we'd like each other a little more...."

So there is a new chapter for Welcome Home this year and I challenge you to take the pledge to do something for someone on every single day of it. At the end of every day... just before the goodnight baby post... I will feature a post that will talk about kindness and goodwill towards each other. It's purpose will be to allow you to comment on what YOU did to make a difference that day. Like it?

I hope you will take the pledge and get involved....don't just say it. Do something today that will make a difference even in the slightest way...and tonight be ready to share it with all your friends here at Welcome Home. Together we can make a difference my friends. Let work together to do just that.

~Marty

♥ Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Going through my photos this morning and realized I forgot to share a few of my holiday dinner recipes with you. So even though the holidays are over you can file them for the next holiday! Starting with my Sweet Potato Casserole with Pec...an topping I made on Christmas Day....yum! So easy to make and so good, you wonder why you don't make these more often!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

3 cups cooked sweet potatoes ( I used a drained 29 ounce can)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup half and half or whole milk
1/2 cup melted butter
pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients and with a hand mixer beat until smooth and creamy.

Pecan and Brown Sugar Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

NOTE: You can cut up your own potatoes and boil them until tender or use them straight from a can as I did for this recipe.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pour mashed sweet potatoes into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Combine the butter, brown sugar, flour, and pecan pieces in a small bowl, using your fingers to create moist crumbs. Sprinkle generously over the casserole. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan and the top is golden brown. Let stand for the mixture to cool and solidify a little bit before serving. 
 

 










 Photograph is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.

♥ Sometimes we just need to be a kid again.

Sometimes we need to go where we can hear that screen door slam, and bring back memories of Mom calling us at supper time. Sometimes we need to wish on a falling star and lay in the grass and make shapes out of clouds. Sometimes we need to climb a tall tree, and skip rocks across a pond and catch fireflies in a jar. Sometimes we need to remember when life was simple and innocent. Sometimes we just need to be a kid again.

~Marty

♥ Savory Beef Stew

I think beef stew is the ultimate comfort food for fall and winter and it just gets better as the flavors meld each day. I don't put a lot of things in my beef stew because to me it is a stew and not a vegetable soup. In this version you will find that the true meat and potato girl comes out because I only do beef and potatoes...oh yea, and a few carrots just to say I added vegetables! LOL!

Savory Beef Stew

2 pounds beef chuck roast, trimmed and cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (32oz) carton of beef broth
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup mix
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
2 tablespoons olive oil + 2 tablespoons butter for frying
4 tablespoons of flour
1 bag small baby carrots
1 can of whole kernel corn, drained
1-2 lb Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon corn starch as necessary for thickening gravy

Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. Saute onion and garlic until tender and lightly browned. Add flour, salt and pepper to a small bowl. Dredge beef cubes in flour and fry in same skillet until brown on all sides. Set aside. Transfer everything to your crock pot.

Sprinkle packet of Lipton onion soup over meat. Add peeled potatoes, baby carrots and corn, (you can add other vegetables such as celery, mushrooms, pearl onions, etc) at this time. Next pour entire carton of beef broth over everything and set your crock pot on high. Cook for 6 hours on high (or 8 hours on low).

At this point, your meat and vegetables will be fork tender and your gravy will thickened because of the flour you dredged your meat in. However, if you would like thicker gravy as seen in the photo, you can spoon about 1 cup liquid from your stew into a bowl and whisk in 2 tablespoons of corn starch until smooth. Pour mixture back in your crock pot and cook for an additional 30 minutes until gravy is thicker.

Photograph is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.

My Mother's Gift

As we all celebrate the holidays this year, please take a few minutes to think about those who have nothing to celebrate. Those that are less fortunate and have no place to call home.

I know you have heard this time and time again and you always intend to help...but someone else's sorrow is not always on the forefront of our minds. If you truly want to change your life this coming year, then make it a point to help others who have nothing.

Look for opportunities everyday and everywhere you go. I mean really set a goal to help one person anyway you can at least once a week. Your life will change for the better. The joy that comes from helping others is unlike any other emotion. All my young life I was taught to give and I am a better person because of it. I thank my Mom for that. It is one of the greatest lessons of my life.

My Mother's Gift

My first lesson came when I was only 7 years old and a drunk driver going 80 miles an hour on a local street struck and killed my Dad in front of me as I ran to greet him. It was pretty traumatic for a little girl. It was devastating to a young mother of two children who was left alone without any way of supporting us until she met my Step father three years later. But she managed on her own and we had food on the table, a roof over our heads and she made all our clothes.

One night, just a few days after my Dad's death, we went to visit the wife of the man who killed him. I can remember walking a short way to this old house and my Mom telling me to hold on to the hem of her skirt as her arms were carrying a big heavy box. With my other hand I was pulling my old red wagon behind us which had another box. When we reached the house, my Mom sat the box down and knocked on the door as I hid behind her still holding on tight to her skirt.

A woman answered the door and instantly buried her face in her hands and began to sob. My Mom reached in and hugged her and told her not to cry and asked if we could come in. She then struggled to pick up the heavy boxes and we went inside. The woman told my Mom that she was so ashamed of what her drunken husband had done and wished she could do anything to change the circumstances. She apologized for having nothing to offer us to drink and for the house being so cold that February night.

Even at 7 years old I knew that these people were poor....there was an infant with just a diaper on and the house was so cold you could see your breath. There were homemade beds made of old rags and worn blankets on the floor where the bedrooms were. There was a little girl about my age, hiding behind the curtains, her face was dirty and her clothes were ragged and torn.

I stayed right next to my Mom as she opened the box and told the woman that we wanted to give her a token of love and friendship. She reached into the box that was filled with my old baby clothes and clothes that might fit the little girl my age. She had packed some of her things too for the woman to wear. In the other box she had packed canned food and blankets and household goods. She even thought to pack a hair brush and some ribbons for the little girl's hair.

And the woman cried. Her little girl came from behind the curtains and tears also rolled down her cheeks as she saw a doll my Mom had packed in the box. She picked up the brush and asked her mom if she would brush her hair. Then she went into the other room and she brought out a small toy from a box of Cracker Jacks and handed it to me. My Mom reminded me to say thank you and I hugged the little girl.

Now keep in mind we didn't have much when my father was alive and now we were facing even less, but I watched my Mom's face as she handed this woman our things and I could see the joy that it brought. I knew it made my Mother so happy. Later, when I was old enough to understand the message that night, I knew that I wanted to feel that same joy of giving and to this day I have never stopped.

Oh what a wonderful and generous human being my Mother was. Instead of feeling hatred and anger for these people who took her husband away from our family, she reached out to them to ease their pain. In my mind there has never been or never will be a woman like my Mom and I thank God she was the Mother he chose for me. I strive everyday to be just like her.

Please make a pledge to help those that have no one and very little of their own. And tell yourself that from this day forward you will try to make a difference. It will make a difference in your life. I promise.

My Prayer

"Oh, God, when I have food
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me
to remember the jobless;

While I am in my warm home,
help me to remember the cold and the homeless;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer.

And in remembering,
please help me to destroy my complacency;
please stir my compassion,
so that I am concerned enough to help;
By word and by deed,
those who cry out for the very things I might
take for granted.
Amen.

By the way, for those of you who are new to my page, I always choose a pink rose when I write about my Mom. Pink roses were her favorite.

~Marty

The Cuisipro Herb Keeper

Are you a kitchen gadget lover like me? I am always finding neat gadgets that make my life easier. I decided to share some of them with you.

How often do you buy fresh herbs or even pick them from your garden and... have them wilt quickly before you use them? With this little gadget that has only two simple parts you can store herbs that will last for weeks.

The Cuisipro Herb Keeper Keeps herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, dill and so many other herbs fresh longer than just storing in the fridge. And it's great for keeping vegetables like asparagus and celery fresh and crisp. Slots in the removable tray hold and hydrate herb stems while keeping leaves above the water. Sized for storing large quantities of herbs; designed to fit in most refrigerator door shelves. Measures 4-3/4 inches in diameter and 9-1/2 inches tall.

Simply place herbs in tray and drop herb stems in water. Your leftover herbs will last for weeks. Two simple parts make this quick and easy. The tray suspends at midpoint of unit to load or take out herbs. The tray holds herb bunches together for easy access with no need to take the tray out of the container. The tray has holes so the water hydrates the herbs. Suspend the tray and holes are there for drainage making the Cuisipro herb keeper mess free.

No other herb keeper has a suspended tray that makes it easy to access herbs. The removable feature is also unique to refill with water or simply refresh water. There is no need to unscrew from the bottom to refill as other herb keepers do. This is difficult when your hands are wet and you need to juggle the herbs to keep them in the container. Other units require you to take container out of water then open to access herbs, dripping water as you collect more herbs.   


Watch the video to see how it works!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkOFnGhrfYs

This price is only $20.99 while supplies last. And remember whenever you purchase anything from Welcome Home proceeds go to support NO KILL which is a group that is working hard to save the lives of dogs and cats in this country who are killed unnecessarily while waiting for a home.

Click on the link below to find it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RRN4E4/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B001RRN4E4&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20   
 

Fast Cut Herb Tool, by Zyliss

What is that thing you ask? Well, it is just about the coolest kitchen gadget there is. With all the cooking I do, I got tired of chopping and snipping and cutting up herbs. So last summer I bought this herb cutter....and my life has changed! LOL!

The Fast Cut Herb Tool, by Zyliss, is designed to effectively cut herbs with a minimal amount of effort and mess. It features sharp, high grade stainle...ss steel cutting blades. The soft touch ergonomic handle provides comfortable use. The blades on the tool rotate 90 degrees to offer the versatility of palm and grip use. Blade cover protects blade as well as hands. Top comes off for easy cleaning; top-rack dishwasher safe. 

Click on this blue link and watch this video to see this little gadget in action. You won't believe it. If you're like me, you'll wonder where it's been all your life!   I have given you a link to click on to see this little gadget in action and you will see what I mean. It has been such a time saver for me and I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW4hDEBUUpI

 This price is only $14.99 while supplies last. And remember whenever you purchase anything from Welcome Home at Amazon, proceeds go to support NO KILL which is a group that is working hard to save the lives of dogs and cats in this country who are killed unnecessarily while waiting for a home. Click on this link to find it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006GDRCHO/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B006GDRCHO&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20

Pickle Container

I love Kitchen Gadgets!  So I have decided to share some of my favorites with you today....

 This is a pickle container that I have owned for about 5 years and love it. So much so that I bought two of them. Put your pickles or olives or chopped celery or whatever is contained in liquid and it will keep them air tight and fresh. But it's true claim to fame is that you don't have to rea...ch into a messy jar of juice to dig out what you want! A great gadget!

This price is only $5.99 while supplies last. And remember whenever you purchase anything from Welcome Home at Amazon, proceeds go to support NO KILL which is a group that is working hard to save the lives of dogs and cats in this country who are killed unnecessarily while waiting for a home. Click on this link to find it. More photos and a video in the comment section below.

There are four reviews for this product on Amazon and two are good and the other two complain about it being too small. It is small. It holds a small jar of olives, or bread and butter pickles or small gherkins like I keep in mind. So I bought too! Simple solution. I love this gadget and highly recommend it. Can't beat the price! Click on the blue link below to review and purchase.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OO2NI0/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B009OO2NI0&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20&=home-garden&qid=1387675614&sr=1-1&keywords=pickle+jar

♥ Roast Prime Rib

The star of my Christmas dinner every year is the Prime Rib roast. It all starts with knowing how to pick the perfect roast to prepping it and cooking it. There's is no better roast then the standing rib roast for tenderness and flavor. And there is nothing to making one...just season it well and put it in the oven.

Roast Prime Rib

1 bone-in Prime Rib roast (4-5 lb)
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon course sea salt
1 tablespoon course ground pepper
1 tablespoon of Montreal Steak Seasoning

Mix seasonings together in a small bowl. Place beef, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Rub the meat with olive oil to make sure it is well coated. Then rub all sides and underneath beef generously with mixed seasonings. Let the roast sit at room temperature at least an hour before roasting.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Roast beef uncovered 15 minutes. Then cover entire pan with heavy aluminum foil and roast at a reduced oven temperature of 325 degrees; continue to roast 1 hour. Uncover and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted into center of beef reads 135°F (for medium).

Tent with foil and let beef stand 15 to 20 minutes before slicing. Keep in mind the temperature of your roast will continue to cook even after you take it out of the oven so if you like your prime rib medium to medium rare, take it out at 130 degrees. 

 Cooking times:
 

Make sure your roast is well marbled and that it has a nice strip of tenderloin along the edge. See the strip of meat along the upper edge? That’s the tenderloin and the most tender part of your roast.

 
For rare:  30-32 minutes per pound.
 
For medium: 34-37 miutes per pound.

For well done: 39-42 minutes per pound.











How Should Your Roast Look?                                                    

Rare: temperature should be 120 to 125 degrees
center is bright red, pinkish toward the exterior portion 

Medium Rare: Temperature should be 130 to 135 degrees; center is very pink, slightly brown toward the exterior portion

Medium: Temperature should be 140 to 145 degrees
center is light pink, outer portion is brown

Medium Well: Temperature should be 150 to 155 degrees
not pink

Well Done: Temperature should be 160 degrees and above
steak is uniformly brown throughout.

Photo Source: www.Critchfieldmeats.com