Black-eyed peas are traditionally served on New Year's Day in the United States as a symbol of good luck in the coming year. Named for their brilliant violet pods, purple-hull peas are a variant of black-eyed peas. Try out this pea soup for your New Year's celebrations, or any time the weather calls for warm soup.
Purple-Hull Pea Soup
2 lbs fresh or frozen purple-hull peas
1/2 lb salt pork, smoked ham hocks, smoked bacon (not sweet), or a combination
(for my test batch, I used 1/4 lb. salt pork and about 1/4 lb smoked ham hock)
1 medium eggplant
2 portobello mushroom caps, large
Heat a dutch oven or soup pot on medium heat, dry, for 3-5 minutes or until the cooking surface is sufficiently hot. If using salt pork, rinse well to remove excess surface salt. Cut meat into small dice, and fry on all sides until a crusty, golden brown. There is no need to chop the ham hock - just sear it on all sides like a small pork chop.
Put the peas in the pot, then cover with hot water - - I used hot tap water. Cover by at least a spare inch of water. Into this, add your eggplant and mushrooms, cut into large chunks - about 1 to 1 1/2 inch. Cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer approximately 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The eggplant and mushrooms should be completely softened and changed in color from light to dark brownish gray.
Serve in shallow bowls. My husband likes to sprinkle chipotle powder over his, just before eating.
Suggested accompaniments: cornbread, white rice, or biscuits
**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT add salt during cooking. The cured meats have enough salt in them to season the whole pot sufficiently. Pass salt at the table, if necessary.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Book Review: Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, Book 4 of the Inheritance Cycle
Inheritance by Christopher PaoliniMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
One star. Really? But I checked, and one star doesn't mean "the worst book I've ever read," or "terrible bit of literature." It means, simply, I didn't like it. Which I didn't. At all.
It's a bit anti-climactic to dislike this book so much. I loved the first three books in the Inheritance series, but the last couple hundred pages left such an utterly disgusted taste in my mouth that I can't even say I'd be bothered to read it again.
It starts off well; Paolini effortless and ruthlessly follows his plotlines to their inevitable end. After the climax, however, he spends the next couple hundred pages floundering around, introducing new romances and hinting at an event worth the title, only to have his characters stand around in the end with their hands up the air exclaiming, "I don't know what to do!" It's a travesty.
If it were a comedy series, I could see having such a parlor trick of an ending, but this sort of ending does no justice to any of the characters. I find myself wishing that Eragon had actually died, rather than the ending Paolini chose. I kept thinking to myself, "and this is where the plot is going to turn in said direction, cleverly thwarting tricky prophecy with wording or some such," only to be sorely disappointed. It is one thing to dislike an ending because it is unhappy, or because you preferred things to go in such-and-such a manner. It is entirely another to be frustrated by what appears to be a case of writer's block passed off as literature.
In his note at the end of the book, Paolini said that he would be moving on to other characters and other stories, though he would likely return to Alagaesia in the future; Mr. Paolini, I sincerely hope that you do, because I would rather have a surprise finale in a few years than to have your wonderful series fall flat at the end. My deepest regards to Christopher Paolini, and I hope he takes my review not as a personal affront, but rather as an exhortation to better writing.
View all my reviews
Monday, November 14, 2011
Book Review: Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card (Serpent World #1)
Pathfinder by Orson Scott CardMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Like two points moving toward convergence, the book starts off slow and gradually crescendos to a collision. Brings interesting ideas to the table regarding the ideas of time travel and causality. Unfortunately, the limits of logic are stretched to a wearyingly thin line, making the reader as befuddled as the protagonist when trying to puzzle out the logic of how time travel does or does not function.
Though I liked the story well enough for its own sake, it seemed to me that more emphasis was put on the how and why of mechanics than on character development. The story concept was interesting, on the whole, but I feel as though I've reached the end no more attached to the characters than I was when I picked up Pathfinder at the library because it was written by Orson Scott Card.
All in all, a mind-stretcher with an interesting premise, but lacking in the texture and flavor development necessary for fulfilling characters. I will be interested to see if any future additions to this series fill in the gaps. 3 out of 5 stars.
View all my reviews
Monday, October 31, 2011
Making a Difference
Today was Heritage Sunday at the church where Charlie grew up. People from all over flocked back to South Union Baptist Church in Daingerfield, Tx to celebrate their part in the church legacy. South Union has been in Daingerfield for over 136 years, so as you can probably imagine, there were quite a few people there. Of all the many people who were there, however, two families stood out to me - - not because of their impact on the church history, but because of their impact on my history.
When I moved in with Mama, who was my grandmother at the time, I went to a little church north of Houston called Timber Lakes Baptist Church. While I went to TLBC, the Shireys took me under their wing. Mom was handicapped, so they drove 20 minutes out of their way every Sunday morning to give me a ride to church. I sat up front with Mrs. Sharron, and she showed me in the bible how that God was a father to the fatherless. We sat on the second pew back, on the right hand side, every Sunday morning until they moved back to East Texas.
Sitting on the second pew means that the music minister hears you singing, especially when you sing at the top of your voice as I do. It wasn't more than 6 months before Bro. Dean Watson told me to pick out a hymn, because I'd be singing a special. I sang, "What is That to Me?" When I was in junior high, and finally old enough to be in the youth group, Dean became my youth minister as well as my music minister. I was pretty sad when he passed the torch to a youth minister so that he could focus on the music ministry, let me tell you!
Being adopted by Mama meant that life was a little more difficult than "most" teenagers. Let's face it - - most teenagers are angsty and emotional; being raised by older parents who were physically limited just made it a little more difficult to understand the world. I spent many an hour in Brother Dean's office, trying to understand how to be a better daughter. Trying to understand why I felt so distant from everyone. When my best friend committed suicide, Dean came with the youth minister in the church van to pick me up from school. They would take me out to eat, just to make sure I was eating.
Brother Dean was the first person to teach me about memorizing scripture for panic attacks. I still remember the phone conversation where he instructed me to memorize Phillipans 4:4-8, and went through verse 8 word-for-word with me, instructing me to meditate on the things that would bring peace. He encouraged me to pursue music, and he's the reason I'm a church musician today.
When I was alone, discouraged, or bored, I'd call up Brother Dean or Mrs. Sharon at the church. I still have TLBC's phone number memorized, all these years later. I'd call up Mrs. Sharon when I wanted to know how in the world she made her amazing fried squash; in fact, I called her up just a few weeks ago to ask her about raising children in East Texas. I'd call up Brother Dean and make him listen (over the phone!) to whatever musical instrument I had taken up at the time. Have compassion on me; I was 19.
When I was in 7th grade, I went with the TLBC youth to music camp at Pine Springs Baptist Encampment in Henderson, Tx, where I met my husband. When we started dating 7 years later, I learned that the Watsons had been an integral part of my husband's family history as well. Charlie's parents had rented a house from Mrs. Sharon's family. Brother Dean had been my father-in-law's youth and music minister, and had sung at their wedding. It's no surprise that when Charlie and I were ready to be wed, we asked Brother Dean to officiate the wedding.
When we were dating, Charlie and I had a little conversation that went something like this:
It just keeps getting better. Mrs. Sharron was more than a little pleased to see my marriage choice. It was then that she shared with me how that, when they moved, they had always been a little anxious for me, to know what would happen to me when they left. They wanted to know that I would be cared for if anything happened to my elderly parents. When she found out that, of all the families in the world I could have married into, I married into The Guests from South Union, she felt that she could lay aside all concerns for my future, and glorify God for his provision.
As I sat in the service this morning, I marveled at how a broken child like me could grow up to be in such a stable family. I marveled at how my children were sitting in church with their family, surrounded by love, where I had been surrounded by a church family that took me in as their own. As I put my arm around my own daughter, I remembered Mrs. Sharron's protective arm around me as she opened her bible and showed me how much God loved me. As I watched Brother Dean's antics at the podium, I remembered the passion he instilled in me for church. Yes, church! As I sat in the service this morning, I remembered what it was like to want to stay at church, and not want to go home. I wanted to sing to God, with my family, with the people who loved me, and I didn't want it to end.
When I moved in with Mama, who was my grandmother at the time, I went to a little church north of Houston called Timber Lakes Baptist Church. While I went to TLBC, the Shireys took me under their wing. Mom was handicapped, so they drove 20 minutes out of their way every Sunday morning to give me a ride to church. I sat up front with Mrs. Sharron, and she showed me in the bible how that God was a father to the fatherless. We sat on the second pew back, on the right hand side, every Sunday morning until they moved back to East Texas.
Sitting on the second pew means that the music minister hears you singing, especially when you sing at the top of your voice as I do. It wasn't more than 6 months before Bro. Dean Watson told me to pick out a hymn, because I'd be singing a special. I sang, "What is That to Me?" When I was in junior high, and finally old enough to be in the youth group, Dean became my youth minister as well as my music minister. I was pretty sad when he passed the torch to a youth minister so that he could focus on the music ministry, let me tell you!
Being adopted by Mama meant that life was a little more difficult than "most" teenagers. Let's face it - - most teenagers are angsty and emotional; being raised by older parents who were physically limited just made it a little more difficult to understand the world. I spent many an hour in Brother Dean's office, trying to understand how to be a better daughter. Trying to understand why I felt so distant from everyone. When my best friend committed suicide, Dean came with the youth minister in the church van to pick me up from school. They would take me out to eat, just to make sure I was eating.
Brother Dean was the first person to teach me about memorizing scripture for panic attacks. I still remember the phone conversation where he instructed me to memorize Phillipans 4:4-8, and went through verse 8 word-for-word with me, instructing me to meditate on the things that would bring peace. He encouraged me to pursue music, and he's the reason I'm a church musician today.
When I was alone, discouraged, or bored, I'd call up Brother Dean or Mrs. Sharon at the church. I still have TLBC's phone number memorized, all these years later. I'd call up Mrs. Sharon when I wanted to know how in the world she made her amazing fried squash; in fact, I called her up just a few weeks ago to ask her about raising children in East Texas. I'd call up Brother Dean and make him listen (over the phone!) to whatever musical instrument I had taken up at the time. Have compassion on me; I was 19.
When I was in 7th grade, I went with the TLBC youth to music camp at Pine Springs Baptist Encampment in Henderson, Tx, where I met my husband. When we started dating 7 years later, I learned that the Watsons had been an integral part of my husband's family history as well. Charlie's parents had rented a house from Mrs. Sharon's family. Brother Dean had been my father-in-law's youth and music minister, and had sung at their wedding. It's no surprise that when Charlie and I were ready to be wed, we asked Brother Dean to officiate the wedding.
When we were dating, Charlie and I had a little conversation that went something like this:
(me) "I know this is going to sound silly, because East Texas is pretty big and all, but ... have you ever heard of a Charles and Sharron Shirey?"
(Charlie) "Have I heard of them? Charles Shirey was ONLY my favorite Sunday School teacher!"
(me) !!
(Charlie) "They still go to church at South Union. I can take you to see them. In fact, I can even take you to their HOUSE."
(me) !! !! !!Needless to say, I was more than a little excited.
It just keeps getting better. Mrs. Sharron was more than a little pleased to see my marriage choice. It was then that she shared with me how that, when they moved, they had always been a little anxious for me, to know what would happen to me when they left. They wanted to know that I would be cared for if anything happened to my elderly parents. When she found out that, of all the families in the world I could have married into, I married into The Guests from South Union, she felt that she could lay aside all concerns for my future, and glorify God for his provision.
As I sat in the service this morning, I marveled at how a broken child like me could grow up to be in such a stable family. I marveled at how my children were sitting in church with their family, surrounded by love, where I had been surrounded by a church family that took me in as their own. As I put my arm around my own daughter, I remembered Mrs. Sharron's protective arm around me as she opened her bible and showed me how much God loved me. As I watched Brother Dean's antics at the podium, I remembered the passion he instilled in me for church. Yes, church! As I sat in the service this morning, I remembered what it was like to want to stay at church, and not want to go home. I wanted to sing to God, with my family, with the people who loved me, and I didn't want it to end.
As a church pianist, I help make the service, but I don't take it in the way a member of the congregation does. You don't have 500 strong people singing out behind you. You aren't surrounded by the choir. In fact, if I didn't have the lid down on the grand piano, I wouldn't be able to see the director clearly. But, this Wednesday night, when I return to my piano bench, I will remember. The next time I sing a solo, I will remember. The next time I see the unwanted girl sitting in the back of the church, I will remember, and I hope that I will act accordingly.
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference:" -- Jude 1:21-22, KJV
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Clump-Free Cocoa
Today's lunch with the small people consisted of cream of mushroom soup, crispy garlic toast sticks, and Clump-Free Cocoa.
For each serving, put about two tablespoons of Nesquik or other chocolate drink mix in the bottom of a teacup. I prefer Nesquik because it dissolves readily and has a little less sugar than other brands. You can buy it in bulk for reasonable prices. Pour scalding water into the cup, about six ounces worth. I keep a tea kettle on the stove with water all the time for this and other purposes. Top up the cup with heavy cream, half-and-half, or a little of both. You could use milk, but I don't. Whisk briefly, and serve immediately.
My kids love this. It is better than the cheap cocoa packets, and far less expensive than the "gourmet" ones.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
It's Been A Long Two Years
I came online tonight with full intent to merge my blogs and delete this one, moving the posts to a new blog. I was copying posts individually to an archive, and realized that there were comments on them - - comments from people who read about my struggles, identify with them, feel a connection, a lifeline through them.
I was shocked.
Humbled.
And felt the need to share again, because it's been a long two years. Two years of struggle, of wrestling against myself.
It is one thing to believe the Bible. It is quite another to be personally taught the truth of scripture by one's own weak and weary flesh. It is easy to comfort a friend with the words of scripture; it is quite another to comfort oneself under the real and pressing weight of sin. That which was easy to explain becomes difficult to accept. That which is written plainly seems too good to be true.
After my spiritual mountaintop, my seeming defeat of my OCD, of laughing in the Devil's face, I reached what is what I hope will be the deepest and darkest valley of spirit in which I have ever journeyed. I made the slow journey into a pit of bondage, and when I reached the final step, I was not so far from the bottom as I had pretended that I was.
We are all one moment of weakness away from a lifetime of regret.
I searched the scriptures daily, looking for a shred of hope - but the weight of accusation in my mind bore down, crushing out any light that I had gleaned. Then finally, the ridiculousness of it all hit me. What had I been learning, every day since the beginning? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)" What, just because I had a change of heart, that suddenly meant that the whole of Scripture now stood on it's head and spoke backward?
Maybe you are as I am. Maybe you have made decisions that you instantly regretted. Perhaps it took a while. It is certain that the Psalmist had, and this is what he had to say:
"[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.]] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar." - [Psa 51:1-19]
David did not mince words. He did not try to justify his sins. He did not stick a pretty label upon them and call them something other than blackness and dung. He was completely aware that his actions were unacceptable in the eyes of a Holy God.
He also knew the nature of God - - that He is slow to anger, that He is full of mercy, that He pities His children, recognizing their frail natures, that He is ready to forgive (see Psalm 103).
And now, we have even more grace, abounding grace in the Savior, who is Christ! We have, on our behalf, a legal advocate representing us before an already merciful God, who longs to be reunited with us after our journey away from Him:
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" - [1Jo 2:1]
So, I say to you, stop cowering away from the Lord of Glory who is even now reaching into your pit to pull you out of despair! Christians, your deliverance now is even as it was in the beginning. It is as simple as your ABCs:
ADMIT - that you have sinned before a Holy God, and that you are unable to cleanse your own unrighteousness
BELIEVE - that God, in Christ, is able to do all that which He has promised: to cleans your from your unrighteousness, to pull you out of your pit, to set up upon a firm foundation and to establish your future
and
CONFESS - with your mouth, in prayer, these things before God.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." - [Rom 10:10-11]
**ALL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE ARE REFERENCED FROM THE KING JAMES AUTHORIZED VERSION**
I was shocked.
Humbled.
And felt the need to share again, because it's been a long two years. Two years of struggle, of wrestling against myself.
It is one thing to believe the Bible. It is quite another to be personally taught the truth of scripture by one's own weak and weary flesh. It is easy to comfort a friend with the words of scripture; it is quite another to comfort oneself under the real and pressing weight of sin. That which was easy to explain becomes difficult to accept. That which is written plainly seems too good to be true.
After my spiritual mountaintop, my seeming defeat of my OCD, of laughing in the Devil's face, I reached what is what I hope will be the deepest and darkest valley of spirit in which I have ever journeyed. I made the slow journey into a pit of bondage, and when I reached the final step, I was not so far from the bottom as I had pretended that I was.
We are all one moment of weakness away from a lifetime of regret.
I searched the scriptures daily, looking for a shred of hope - but the weight of accusation in my mind bore down, crushing out any light that I had gleaned. Then finally, the ridiculousness of it all hit me. What had I been learning, every day since the beginning? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)" What, just because I had a change of heart, that suddenly meant that the whole of Scripture now stood on it's head and spoke backward?
Maybe you are as I am. Maybe you have made decisions that you instantly regretted. Perhaps it took a while. It is certain that the Psalmist had, and this is what he had to say:
"[[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.]] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar." - [Psa 51:1-19]
David did not mince words. He did not try to justify his sins. He did not stick a pretty label upon them and call them something other than blackness and dung. He was completely aware that his actions were unacceptable in the eyes of a Holy God.
He also knew the nature of God - - that He is slow to anger, that He is full of mercy, that He pities His children, recognizing their frail natures, that He is ready to forgive (see Psalm 103).
And now, we have even more grace, abounding grace in the Savior, who is Christ! We have, on our behalf, a legal advocate representing us before an already merciful God, who longs to be reunited with us after our journey away from Him:
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" - [1Jo 2:1]
So, I say to you, stop cowering away from the Lord of Glory who is even now reaching into your pit to pull you out of despair! Christians, your deliverance now is even as it was in the beginning. It is as simple as your ABCs:
ADMIT - that you have sinned before a Holy God, and that you are unable to cleanse your own unrighteousness
BELIEVE - that God, in Christ, is able to do all that which He has promised: to cleans your from your unrighteousness, to pull you out of your pit, to set up upon a firm foundation and to establish your future
and
CONFESS - with your mouth, in prayer, these things before God.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." - [Rom 10:10-11]
**ALL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE ARE REFERENCED FROM THE KING JAMES AUTHORIZED VERSION**
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