Pretty Happy Funny Real food-'31 days'-day 11

Pretty: roasted fennel with salami and prosciutto salad (well- it is sort of strange looking. I was using fennel from our CSA. I cooked with it for the first time and of course didn't bother with a recipe)

Happy: I was happy to do some 'save a step' cooking a la Leila from Like Mother, Like Daughter. I baked some butternut squash to make a puree and I sauteed some summer squash to use in recipes later. It will live in the freezer until I need a quick meatless meal. One of my sisters does squash, onions and potatoes with egg. Season with garlic. It is very yummy.

Funny & Real: I made basil pesto for the first time yesterday. One jar for the fridge, and one jar for the freezer. I didn't have pine nuts, so I used half raw almonds and half roasted pecans. I didn't have much fresh Parmesan, so I used half green-can-stuff. I didn't have enough basil, so I used one-fourth kale. And guess what? It is very, very delicious! I have no proof, however. The photos turned out beyond awful (even worse than the other photos on my blog- courtesy of a pay-as-you-go phone)

"There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.

There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.

There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things that we could use." ---Blessed Mother Theresa

Sin on the Internet: I'm so sad...and scared

Through my 'Google stats,' I can see which key words were used to find my blog. Usually the key words are something like "Catholic mom," "homeschool," or some variation of "Byzantine" or "married clergy." The silliest key words to get to my site were "What is Bill Clinton afraid of;" I thought that was rather humorous. 

Today someone used "little girls n*de *nderage (replace the stars with a 'u'). Google suggested my site, and someone clicked on it. I pray they clicked away quickly when they saw that my blog has very few photos of my children and most of them are not full-face. But this means they clicked away to find some prey for their thoughts and perhaps actions on another site constructed to exploit the most innocent. I know I should pray for this person steeped in sin. If he doesn't atone for his actions, he will suffer hell for eternity.

The world is too much with us. It makes me sad that evil such as this exists. It also makes me angry. I am racking my brain. I can't think of one time I (or a commenter) have written the words 'n*de' or '*nderage.' Why should evil be invited to click onto my blog?

Evil- You are not welcome here.

A prayer before logging onto the internet by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf:

Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thine image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter. Through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Eggplant Spread a la Old Country-'31 days'-day 10

Eggplant- lots of CSA eggplant. What to do with it? I made 'eggplant pane'(peel the fresh eggplant, cut into half inch slices, dip into beaten egg and saute in a hot, oiled pan on both sides). Eventually, I'll make eggplant Parmesan.  Today I made eggplant spread/eggplant salad. First, puncture the fresh eggplant and put under the broiler. Grilling the eggplant outdoors is even better and will result in a smokier dip. In any case, turn the eggplant until all sides have burnt skin.

Let the eggplant cool to room temperature. Cut off the stem area and then peel off the burnt skin, doing this step by hand will result in more eggplant available to use in the recipe.

Using a non-reactive tool like a wooden spoon, mince the eggplant as finely as possible. While it would save time to use a blender, I find that machine-processing makes for a watery salad. Add freshly crushed garlic or well-chopped onions (do not add both or all eggplant flavor will be overshadowed), salt, and mayonnaise or olive oil to taste. This is a typical dish in the old country, especially for meatless days.

Do everything calmly and peacefully. Do as much as you can as well as you can. Strive to see God in all things without exception, and consent to His will joyously. Do everything for God, uniting yourself to him in word and deed. Walk very simply with the Cross of the Lord and be at peace with yourself.---St Francis de Sales  

You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love at which we do them. --- St Therese of Lisieux

Dog Days of Lingering Summer- '31 days'- day 9

Duke gets to run free for an hour and a half on Friday mornings before Shakespeare class. While the big girls are in the dog park with him, I play with Baby Girl at the person park adjacent. Sometimes I have to 'offer up' this time because I'd rather be at home instead of getting sand in my shoes. It is good that I have children to force me out of my extreme introversion (I prefer to think of it as introversion rather than selfishness and laziness, but it is partially those things as well...baby steps).

God created man to work; work is one of the highest human values and the way in which men contribute to the progress of society. But even more, it is a way to holiness. Thus their work becomes a means to sanctify themselves and help others to do the same thing. --- St. Jose Maria Escriva

So They Think They Can Dance- '31 days'- day 8

David danced before the ark of the Lord. But I don't think he required shoes that are more expensive than any I have owned in my life. The girls received these shoes as a reward for their hard work in class and also as a babysitter payment. They will pay 50% or more after this for their next pairs. That is a guarantee that they will treat the shoes well. I sewed them bags for the pointe shoes with fabric from my stash. I just had to save some money somewhere. Baby Girl got a skirt from the same material. I hope she likes it. I finished it at 10:30 Sunday night with nary  a swear word- this can be an occupational hazard when sewing.

“Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8) and not by works.  But one must remember that it is not enough to simply say "I believe", and then do nothing.  The Bible says, "Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but rather he who does the will of my Father" - Matthew 7:21

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,  and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.  Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;  for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'  Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?  And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?  And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'  And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." - Matthew 25:31-40