Australian Memories – Banksia

 

Banksia

Cheesy Baked Portabellas

 

Some time back I made this simple, but elegant side for a dinner I was giving for family.  It is a little more expensive than some things, but really easy to make!

You will need:

whole portabella mushrooms
round cheese, sliced
seasonings of choice
salt to taste

Remove the stems and wash off dirt from portabella mushroom tops.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (optional) and lightly grease/oil it.  Lay the portabellas top side down on the sheet.  Bake at about 350F till they are approximately halfway done – a little of the juices should be coming out (see photo above).  (Keep an eye on it as it doesn’t take terribly long.  Sorry, I can’t give an exact time.)

Remove from oven.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and lay slices of a round cheese on top.  You can use whatever you like: Provolone, etc.  I used a Mexican melting cheese.  I had to cut the slices in half to get them to fit nicely on top. 

Then sprinkle with whatever seasoning, herbs or toppings you want.  Use your imagination.  I used French’s onion crisps and parsley here.  You could also use a number if different fresh or dried herbs, caramelized onions, seasoning blends, fully cooked bacon bits or sun dried tomatoes.  You could even make them into miniature pizzas and serve as a main dish!  Yum!  (Note: Adding more toppings may require longer cooking time, so take the portabella tops out sooner so they don’t get overdone.)

Return to the oven and finish baking just till the cheese is melted.  Serve whole, or cut in half.

The Promises of God – A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

 

Here is another beautiful poem by dear Annie.  How I look forward to meeting her at Home!

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God's promises are like the birds of heaven
That fill the hours with music all day long,
Too oft unheard and oftener unheeded
Amid earth's voices of despair and wrong;
Each one a thought of God, a joy, a comfort,
If we but pause to listen to its song…

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Berry Fun Saturday – A New Idea

 

I have had a great liking for strawberry motifs since I was around 11 years old.  I started “collecting” strawberry themed things then - some for my room, some for my hope chest.  I am working on a strawberry theme in my kitchen and have included a little in the dining room.  Some of you may remember my post about my old strawberry cookie jar.

I was poking around looking at strawberry things online and it occurred to me that it might be fun to mix up our Saturdays a bit and throw in some strawberry themed crafts and sewing projects.  I’ll give it a go and see how it works out.  Some of these will be things that I actually make myself, but probably a lot of them will be things I would like to make, or just a starting point for another idea.  I hope you enjoy my little side hobby.  (I have a niece who also likes strawberries, so I’m thinking at least she will find this interesting.)  :-)

For something pretty and easy I simply sewed strawberry ribbon onto a red hand towel that I use in the kitchen.  I pinned on the ribbon and sewed carefully down one side, removing the pins.  Then I sewed the other side.  Before I started sewing the ribbon on, I folded the ends under so that I could catch them as I sewed from the front, but I missed one side on both ends.  It was a simple matter of sewing them down by hand, though.  If you try this, make sure you use washable ribbon.

The Thousand Word Project – A Pleasant Reminder

 

Song of Solomon 2:11-12  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

 

 

 

 

Food Memories – Experiences with Chop Suey

 

Grandpa and Gramma in their yard at Gull Lake.
This was taken a few years before this story starts.

Gramma’s birthday was February 21st, so this seems like an appropriate post for this week.

Experiences with Chop Suey

Back in the "dear dead days" not quite beyond recall, we used to enjoy visits to Gramma's house at Gull Lake a number of times each year. These mostly occurred during good driving weather - spring, summer and fall - with an occasional trip during the winter. (Since Gramma's house was so small, I think we tended to avoid winter visits and she came to us during that season more than we went to her.)

During the years I am referring to we lived exactly 80 miles north of Gramma's house.  (She figured this out herself on one of her trips, though I don't remember which of the two routes she took.) Consequently, our visits to her usually involved at least two meals, a lunch and a supper, or dinner if you will. Of course, it was more if we stayed over night…

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Jesus Knows Thy Sorrow

 

 

Jesus knows thy sorrow,
Knows thine every care;
Knows thy deep contrition,
Hears thy feeblest prayer;
Do not fear to trust Him --
Tell Him all thy grief;
Cast on Him thy burden,
He will bring relief.

Trust the heart of Jesus,
Thou art precious there;
Surely He would shield thee
From the tempter's snare;
Safely He would lead thee,
By His own sweet way,
Out into the glory
Of a brighter day.

Jesus knows thy conflict,
Hears thy burdened sigh;
When thy heart is wounded,
Hears thy plaintive cry;
He thy soul will strengthen,
Overcome thy fears;
He will send thee comfort,
Wipe away thy tears.

--Rev. W.O Cushing

Psalms 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.