Kondo Sensei - One Year Later

Well.....we're nearing a year since the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake/Tsunami. 


Michael invited Pastor Yoshiya Kondo from Morioka Conservative Baptist Church to be the guest speaker today at our National Prayer Breakfast. 

Kondo Sensei grew up in a town in Fukushima. His home was 5 K from the plant. He shared about watching television on March 11th and seeing his friends, teachers, family, class mates running down the streets. He speaks of being allowed to go home for four hours.  He shared many stories and it was moving. 


Kondo Sensei is the coordinator of the 3.11 Iwate Church Network.  Teams go down to the most stricken coastal areas regularly. He said more than "things" - the people simply need someone to with which to talk.

Before the Tsunami communities were shut tight - very close knit. He said you could live in them for 20 years and still be considered a foreigner. NOW....communities are open...but he shared the people are still "closed" and "empty".  So his words to describe this area of Japan is "Open but empty".

For 20,000 March 11th was the day life ended. For those who survived but lost their family, homes, jobs, communities etc...March 11, 2001 was the day that time froze. They're stuck in a new and painful realith without hope. Many have committed suicide, many are considering it. Thus Franklin Graham's "Celebration of Hope" and "Tohoku Hope". Kondo Sensei and his staff are building relationships with these who have lost so much and are praying that the Holy Spirit will flow in to their lives and bring new life and hope. 

The Kondo family has a new baby born 2 months ago....I can't remember the Greek word they named him - but it means "flow in"... and is used in Scripture to describe when the life of Christ flows in and takes over our life....He shared  how the tsunami flowed in.....and left many empty...but we are believing for the life of Christ to flow in. May it be.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Oreo Cupcake School!

Happy 100th Birthday to Oreos. I used to love Oreos - Double Stuff. 


We made a treat today......we called it school.....In the absence of Oreos or Newman O's I asked Stacia to take apart some cookies. We put 1/2 in the bottom of a lined muffin tin.

I mixed up a cake batter and poured over the top of the cookies. 

This is Stacia's favorite part of helping me in the kitchen...though she valiantly tried to tell me she was learning a lot about mixing, cooking, being a Mom and "math stuff."

One by one...

They ALWAYS know when I'm baking....  We baked at 350* for about 20 min.  Let them cool. After the Prayer Luncheon we frosted... They WERE going to have the cookie TOPS on the top - but they vanished! Hmm...curiouser and curiouser!

The little clown actually is what prompted today's baking...because Stacia had it and said she needed a cake to decorate...I mixed up a cake and was thinking how long WOULD I bake cupcakes...did a google and discovered it was the Oreo's 100th birthday - I guess that means this was history too! 

To set the record straight we DID have Oreos when I was a little girl....that was just mean. ::snort:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sourdough English Muffins

I've written about my foray into Sourdough Mania . Thanks to Christina S. for giving me a cup of starter on 1 Jan....and here it is MARCH and it's still ALIVE.  I started with this recipe and lived at the GNOWFGLIN  site to learn about how to do this.  Check out the recipe for the gorgeous photos. I have more Sourdough Info on my recipe page.

I began to experiment. I used her technique and tried cast iron. Too done on the outside. I tried baking as I'd done with Uncle Bills - wasn't totally happy. I moved on to my Electric Griddle. PERFECT. I turn the heat to between 200 - 250 and do 7 - 9 min per side..... but I also have begun adjusting the SIZE of the muffins to ensure the middle isn't doughy.

After weeks of playing with cutting them with lids, or free forming them..........

And enjoying odd shaped, lopsided muffins.....

I decided to try a new technique....I would cook them in wide mouth lids......weighting them down as Uncle Bill instructed (See Uncle Bill's Whole Wheat Muffins).

YIKES they're blowing the pan off

Remember to grease the bottom of the pans if you are going to try this method

 I was so proud of my perfectly uniform muffins. I'd cut them before but when they bake they grow in alarming directions...so I was happy. BUT my family didn't LIKE them flat.... So next....

I baked them in the rings - without the weighted down bricks...they stay a smaller, round shape...but RISE nicely....though they are a bit lopsided since I remove the rings after I cook the first side (Or they bake into the things - what a mess).

Finally - the recipe that Michael says is "perfect". This is what I do....

At night (if I want to bake first thing in the a.m.) or first thing in the a.m. (if I want to bake right after school).....

Combine:
1/2 C Sourdough Starter
1 C Milk (any liquid will work)
2 C Flour (fresh ground hard white is what I use)
*You can use add ins but my kids like them plain....well they eat them so fast I haven't tried fancy ones.

Let it sit for 8 hours. Dough will be SOFT but the flour will absorb the liquid as it sits and rises. 12 hours will make a kick you in tail sourdough....8 hours is what we like.

Preheat Electric Griddle to 200 - 250.


Sprinkle on dough:
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Sea Salt
2 T Honey

Sort of mix in with wooden spoon.


Oil a board. Dump the mess onto the board and knead until all is well combined.


Divide dough in 1/2.
Divide each piece in 1/2 - now you have 4 about the same size.
Divide each of those 4 pieces in 1/2 and you have 8.

You can form these on your own - pat out about finger width...but I now plop wide mouth lids on the griddle. Spray the insides of them. Pat each piece of dough into a round shape and plop in the ring. (I don't bother waiting for them to rise as they get all out of shape - and I don't have time).  Cook for 7 -9 min - depends on your heat.  Use some tongs (took me three times to figure THAT out OUCH)...flip.

Most of the rings will slide right off. Remove them. Cook another 7 min.

Cool on wire rack. Then score around the middle with a fork and split them open. I put them in bread bags when they're cool and split.

I usually make a double batch - 16 a day. We eat them for breakfast. I like to grill mine (soaked in balsamic vinegar) with some turkey and Swiss cheese....crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside.... I have broiled them with garlic and cheese....

After doing this for a few weeks it becomes second nature. I used to get up and start the computer and a load of wash. Now I get up, feed the starter, start the dough, turn on the computer and start a load of laundry...then I grab the Bible and retreat!

The beauty of this recipe is it's flexible. Figure out what YOUR family likes. You can use any flour, any liquid (water, milk, coconut milk, soy milk, buttermilk) and you can add all sorts of add ins - I plan to try cinnamon and raisin when I get ahead of the demand around here....but use a variety of seeds.....

Add ins I've tried:

•  double batch: 1 tsp cinnamon during first step, in second step add a  handful of craisens or raisens, increase honey to 1/3 C
• double batch: add 1 tsp with flour, increase honey to 1/3 C
• Add some chocolate chips (kids ASKED) when you add honey etc
• double batch: add 1 tsp of  Italian herbs and handful of dried onions with flour
• Throw in a couple of T of flax or poppy seed with flour

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Uncle Bill's "Whole" Wheat Muffins

Uncle Bill was known for his English Muffins. This is how I learned to make English Muffins over 20 years ago. One year for Christmas he gave me a dozen empty cat food cans, ends removed  and he and Grams cried as I tried to figure out a purpose for the gift and to graciously accept it. Later he produced the recipe, which follows.

You will need TINS made from cutting both ends out of cans you have opened…. Tuna cans, small olive cans etc.  Just make sure the tin cans are not to tall.

SPONGE

½ cup    HOT tap water

1  cup    WARM milk, half & half, or other

3  tbs.     Sugar, honey, or artificial sweetener

1  tb        Salt

1-2 pks.  Dry yeast dissolved in 2-tbs. HOT tap water

-----

1 cup   sifted white flour

1 cup   sifted whole wheat flour

1.    Pre-heat oven to about 175-200.  TURN OVEN OFF when temperature is reached.

2.    With electric beater on HIGH, thoroughly mix the first FIVE ingredients.

3.    Add mixed flours to the liquid a large spoonful at a time and thoroughly mix.

4.   Cover the bowl with the sponge and place in the oven and let rise until doubled.  If the sponge falls don’t worry.  It’s still useable.

MUFFINS

4 tbs.       Softened butter or margarine

¾ cup      Sifted whole wheat flour

½ cup      Sifted white flour

1.      Pre-heat oven to about 175-200.  TURN OVEN OFF when temperature is reached.

2.      Add the final three ingredients.  Mix thoroughly utilizing as much flour as possible.  If the dough doesn’t seem to have the right consistency, add additional flour until satisfied.

3.       Turn dough onto floured board.  Knead for 5 or 6 minutes.  Roll.

4.       Cut muffins with tins and place on a greased cookie sheet.

5.      Place cookie sheet and muffins in over and let rise to top of tin.  (Some muffins wonb’t rise as high as others.  So there is some inconsistency in muffin size.)

BAKING

1.        Pre-heat oven to 350

2.        Place another cookie sheet, bottom down, on top of the tins and muffins.  Weight the cookie

           sheet down with a brick or something similar.

3.        Bake for 20-25 minutes.

4.        Remove brick or weight and cookie sheet.

5.       Turn each tin and muffin over.  (use a pair of pliers.)  Gently push each muffin of of tin onto

              the cookie sheet.

6.        Continue baking muffins for another 20-25 minutes.  When the muffins feel hard-crusted to

              the touch, they are done.

7.        Remove from oven and let cool.  When cool store in a covered container of some kind.  When

              covered, the crust will soften.

In the absence of bricks...yes there ARE muffins under that baking sheet! 

We did love these. Why did I quit making them? I got tired of a drawer fully of cat tins and bricks.

Our family grew and I thought I'd never keep up with the demand...bread was easier.  I switched to baking lots of breads and rolls. That worked.

We moved to Japan....finding time to bake bread and all the ingredients I needed was a challenge. I began to buy Thomas English Muffins and realized all liked them better than bread...  For a once in a while treat I was fine with buying them...for a staple I wanted more control of the ingredients. I also noted that several LOVED sourdough...and this reminded me Michael had asked me decades ago to learn to bake with sourdough...but it was intimidating.  I decided 2012 was the year to learn how to bake with sourdough and begin baking muffins again.

Check the "sourdough info" link under recipes for more info on how to start a sourdough starter.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Ubiquitous White Trucks & Me

We got a lot of school done! It took until 3:45 p.m. but we did it!!!!!  Actually, Zander asked for a chapter from Apologia tonight so we did tomorrow's science too! 


All other accomplishments in the day are icing on this cake....Michael came home from work a few hours after going in. This acid reflux is really knocking him for a loop. 

What do ubiquitous, little, white Japanese pickups have in common with ME? Both drive very, very slowly down the road during a snow storm. ::snort:: Yes, I broke the driving ban and drove to Shimoda mall. I wanted to buy some YUMMY, FRESH fruit for my gals tomorrow at PWOC. Stacia came with me....and though it got a bit intense with the blowing snow...we did just fine. She told Michael, "I like Mom's slow winter driving."  ::snort:: 


Arielle and Nolan took a taxi in to base. I  didn't want to drive on the roads at night. Someone will bring them home...and I'm thankful!  Stacia and Zander enjoy our quiet, stay at home Monday nights.

Stacia took advantage of the empty house to build a fort

I had three ministry Skypes today. Worked on some "stuff," did some research, answered a bunch of emails....packed our bags so we can leave home early in the a.m. We all go in to take Jared to work and then on to chapel for PWOC....lunch with Michael, Nolan has drama at 3:00; Arielle has book club at 3:00; I have a meeting at 1:30 and then Stacia and I will hope to get our weekly grocery shopping done. Zander has to come with us this week as Jared is working....he dislikes "base days".

As is often the case when I have things to think through......I decided to organize something...today the recipes on the blog...they'd been bugging me. It felt good. Last week Christie and I organized the chapel kitchen...this is the same sort of thing - it will stay done for a bit. LOL

I used the quiet evening hours to make breakfast cookies to go with the yummy fruit for tomorrow.....and English muffins for our consumption.

I've got a Lent devotional to go read....and need to make sure Zander and Stacia have plenty of school packed for the home school room and school in the chapel. LOL 


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"The Week"

This week took on a life of its own. 


The typical weekly events occurred: PWOC, PYOC, drama, chapel events, baking, cooking, cleaning, dental appointments.....


Ministry continued for both Michael and I...inside and outside of our home. 


Tuesday evening we received an email that Michael's father had been taken to the hospital on Sunday. We spent much of the rest of this week skyping with various family members, emailing family, checking in with nurses and nursing home staff and researching options for Dad Earl's long term care. He simply cannot bear any weight at this point. Mom Mary will not be able to care for him. 


My parents are busy getting our trailer fixed so it can be used if others visit Crescent City. Thanks, Mom and Dad. 


Josiah and Jamin are figuring out the best timing to visit Grandpa. Bre and Krista are happy to have gone down a couple of weeks ago. They've also helped us discover options near them for long term care and living arrangements. 


A joy has been that we've simply MADE time to talk each day with Mom Mary on the phone. Sure school starts later, Michael has to be up earlier....but it's been good to hear her heart and know firsthand how she is doing. We love skype.

A fun point of the week.....year's ago....like 9 1/2 years ago...a 8 yo boy had a favorite toy.....

TAZ.....Taz had first been Jamin's toy...Jamin gave him to Jared one year for Christmas. Taz had gone on many camping trips with us....but alas, somehow on the move from San Antonio to Alaska...TAZ DISAPPEARED! Jared has always had a theory that one of the packers stole him.  I assured him Taz would show up when we unpacked but he never did.

I have looked all these years for a Taz just like this one.....but never found one.....Jared posted the above photo a few weeks ago on his FB...Being a TCK (third culture kid) is hard...no child should lose his favorite toy in a move...or have his parents assure him it will turn up - and it not....

I went online one more time....and couldn't find the exact Taz...though I thought I had....

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Turkey Sausage Lentil Soup (Healthy Cooking)

I don't usually follow a recipe - but I thought it may be a novel snowy afternoon activity. 

8 C Water
1 pkg (16 oz) dried lentils - rinsed

1 pkg (19.5 oz) turkey sausage (casings removed and crumbled - I used some turkey I had)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/4 in slices
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 cans (14.5 oz ea) beef broth (Used veggie broth)
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes (used diced)
I med potato, diced
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper
I added 2 T dried Italian herbs - until I liked the look and taste

No clue what this is but a few shakes of this zipped it up!

Bring water and lentils to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 18-22 min or until lentils are tender. Drain.

In Dutch oven, cook sausage, onions, celery, carrots  over med heat until meat is no longer pink and veggies are tender.  Add garlic and cook 2 min longer.

Stir in broth, tomatoes, potato, seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce  and simmer uncovered 15 - 20 min until potato is tender.

Stir in lentils and heat through.  Serve with croutons and a shake of cheese if desired.

Stacia said this was "Beeee licious!"

Nutrition facts - 1 1/3 C equals 314 calories, 6 g fat, 17 g fiber, 24 g protein

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...