ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

March 30th, 2011

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

It's WEDNESDAY!

TODAY is Take a Walk in the Park Day. It is an opportunity for exercise and relaxation. Are you stressed out? A walk in the park is just what the doctor ordered. Its calming and therapeutic. Taken after a busy work day, it helps clear your mind and reenergize you. Or, take the walk during lunch and you will find the afternoon of work goes by quicker and easier.

A walk in the park will likely be the most enjoyable part of your day. However, make sure to do so with a clear mind and with your eyes open. In addition to avoiding a fall, open eyes will allow you to take in the beauty of nature's wonders: flowers, and trees, birds, and wildlife.

THINKING

I’m alone, on my own and that’s all I know. I’ll be strong, I’ll be wrong, oh, but life goes on.

Taylor Swift, from A Place in This World

Today: Give words of encouragement to a friend

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

It's National Turkey Neck Soup Day

Stick your neck out tonight at home by serving your family turkey neck soup. Watch them freeze, wide-eyed, when you tell them what you're having. Watch them melt at the table when they taste what is a rich, meaty broth made from the tough but flavorful neck meat of a turkey, slow simmered to tenderize the meat and extract maximum flavor

This stock is made by slow simmering the tough, flavorful meat on actual turkey necks. But once it's strained of bones and cooked with vegetables and rice, your family will regard it simply as a delicious dinner of turkey soup.

Homemade Turkey Broth

3-5 lbs turkey necks, giblets or parts
1-3 lbs carrots
1-2 lbs onions
4-5 celery stalks and leafy tops
3-4 bay leaves
1-2 leeks, split, washed well and chopped
1 whole head garlic, peeled
1/3 cup fresh parsley
pinch thyme, Rosemary, oregano other seasonings (see above)
1/2 teaspoon black or green peppercorns
2 tablespoons olive oil and/or butter

In a stockpot sauté giblets, necks, and any smaller turkey or chicken parts with chopped onion, garlic and leeks (optional) in a small amount of olive oil and/or butter until they take on some color, about 10 minutes. Add remaining turkey and cover with cold water. Allow a little less than a quart of water per pound of turkey. Bring to a boil. When the broth begins to boil, reduce heat to a bare simmer (tiny bubbles will form near the edges). Add half of the vegetables and seasonings (except for just a pinch of salt which should be added mostly at the end after the broth has reduced), and all of the bay leaves you'll be using.

Use the larger quantity of vegetables and herbs listed if you've got more turkey. Turkey should remain covered while cooking; if broth reduces before the turkey is tender enough to cut up and return to the soup, more boiling water or broth should be added. Skim the surface of the broth frequently to remove any foam which rises in order to keep the stock clear.

Halfway through the cooking, add the remaining ingredients (more onions, celery, etc). This is usually a good time to cut up and return the turkey to the broth so that the level of soup in the pot may be allowed to reduce and concentrate. Remember not to allow the broth to boil or the sweet and delicate flavors will be lost.

When the broth is done and reduced to the degree desired, remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper (about 1 teaspoon of salt per quart). Strain out the turkey and vegetables, if desired and use in other dishes or add back to the stock for use in soup when needed.

Refrigerate the stock, and when cooled, remove any excess fat which has accumulated at the top. Broth tastes even better the next day.

If your broth tastes weak, either it hasn't simmered long enough, or you haven't added enough to flavor it. If you don't have the time or ingredients, a spoonful or two of low sodium Turkey or Chicken Soup Base (I use Chicken Bouillon cubes) may be stirred in on those occasions when you're in a hurry.

When making the soup I like to leave the vegetables in and then add rice or noodles

PRAYERS

Dear God, whenever and wherever we are lonely,

grant us assurance that you are near us.

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!

AROUND HOME

Due to financial difficulties the light at the end of the tunnel has temporarily been switched off.

Just kidding! I've got to say that except for the cost of my supplemental health insurance, my bills are really low. I was amazed to see that after the long cold winter my budget payment on my heating bill went down. Electricity has been very low for a long time and even with being at home now most of the time, it hasn't gone up.

The only thing that has really gone up is the cost of gas for the car and price of groceries. Of course the groceries are higher because it costs so much for the transportation to get them to the store. All in all I suppose it all evens out.

I still love life in the Land of the Poor but Happy!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

COUNTING THE DAYS

Life is not just a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW.... WHAT A RIDE !!

Author Unknown

84 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER!

19 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