For Thursday,November 18th, 2010

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

NOVEMBER 18th, 2010

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side

It's THURSDAY!

Today is Mickey Mouse's Birthday

Mickey Mouse is arguably the most famous of the Disney cartoon characters. Making his debut in "Steamboat Willie" at the Colony Theatre in New York City on November 18, 1928, Mickey went on to star in over 120 different cartoons. He also starred in "The Mickey Mouse Club" television show of the 1950s.

Disney gave Mickey the resilient personality to keep trying to do the best he could, whatever the challenges.

Having just returned from a wonderful Disney vacation, I will be celebrating this day for sure.

THINKING

There are two words in a person's life that will open a lot of doors for them... PULL and PUSH

P.U.S.H. That means "pray until something happens"

When everything seems to go wrong...just P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down... just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should... just P.U.S.H.

When your money is "gone" and the bills are due... just P.U.S.H!

When people just don't understand you... just P.U.S.H.

Pray Until Something Happens...

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

National Vichyssoise Day

Vichyssoise is a thick, French-style soup made from potatoes, cream, chicken stock, leeks, and onions.

Usually served cold, vichyssoise (pronounced "vee shee swahzz") has a French name but was actually invented in New York at the Ritz-Carlton. It was created by a French chef working at the famous hotel, who named the dish after the town where he was born.

This is a delicious French version of a creamy potato soup recipe. This soup is a little different as it is served cold.

The recipe calls for leeks instead of onions. Leeks belong to the same family as onions and garlic, they have a mild onion flavor and are not quite as potent as scallions.

This recipe uses crème fraiche or sour cream as the thickening agent, along with pureeing the potatoes.

You can lower the fat of this soup by using low fat sour cream or substituting fat free milk (skim) for the sour cream. Thin with the milk until the desired thickness.

4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 cups of fat free chicken broth
4 medium leeks, trimmed
2/3 cup crème fraiche or sour cream
Salt to taste
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives to garnish
4 tablespoons of crème fraiche or sour cream for garnish

ut the chicken broth and potatoes in a large pot and cook over medium high heat.

Bring to a boil. While potatoes are cooking, clean leeks under cold water. Dry and thinly slice leeks.

Reduce heat to a simmer and cook potatoes until they are still firm but almost tender (about 15-20 minutes).

Add the leeks, salt and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until leeks are soft. Stir occasionally.

If soup appears to thick, add more broth.

When leeks are soft, remove pot from heat.

Puree the soup in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Return pureed soup to the pot and add the 2/3 cup of crème fraiche or sour cream. Stir.

Let the soup cool, then chill until ready to serve.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with a small dollop of crème fraiche or sour cream and snipped chives.

I prefer my potato soup hot especially in November but when it gets hot and steamy outside a chilled soup would probably taste quite good.

PRAYERS

Loving God, thank you for the prayers of others that sustain us in our worst times. Help us to be mindful of others' needs and to remember them in prayer.

Amen

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

AROUND HOME

We had a pretty nice day here yesterday with the sun peeping out after the winds and rain cleared out in the morning. Sunshine is always nice. My thermometer said it was up to 50 degrees. Today it is supposed to be getting colder.

Mr. Wonderful and I stayed inside and didn't venture out. It seems like the day fly by when he is here. We eat, sleep, play and then start all over again...eat sleep play...what a life!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Unless you can create the whole universe in 5 days, then perhaps giving ‘advice’ to God isn't such a good idea.

33 DAYS UNTIL WINTER!

37 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

148 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…

Love,

ma