SMALL BITES
Jan Kinzel
Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center
“Moving right along” is a catchy tune put out by the Muppets a while back. It has a message somewhat like “Don’t Worry Be Happy”. Living life with such a carefree attitude is fun and for a bit of time offers escape from real life. Problem is, it’s not practically sustainable. Remember the scientific axiom, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
When someone moves on, even in downsizing, even if remaining in the same geographical area, the pot gets stirred; the status quo isn’t anymore; discomfort is brought to some. Just a few weeks before we knew a move was in store for us, our daughter and her family learned they would be relocating to the southern part of our state, several hundred miles away. And, can you believe it? They took our delightful grandchildren with them!
Our lively and fun grandson, Andrew, became the fifth seven-year-old boy on his new court. Allison, our lovely and sweet ten-year-old 5th grade granddaughter, inherited a very thoughtful teacher who chose four girls in her class to be Allison’s new friends. At the end of the first day she told me via the telephone, “Gramma, it’s as though the whole school was just waiting for us to get here.” She was clearly moving forward to an exciting new adventure.
Meanwhile, ‘back at the ranch,’ Allison’s best friend was hurting as she realized the loss in her daily life.
Allison was moving on; Gabby wasn’t.
MENU
Comforting Bleu Cheese Twisted Macaroni
Steamed Broccoli
Brownies with an Ice Cold Glass of Milk or Silk
RECIPES
Macaroni & Cheese
Prepare a package of your favorite style of twisted macaroni, such as cavatappi, rigatoni or ziti. Add a little salt to the boiling water before you add the pasta.
Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the noodles. Return to the same pot and stir in a scant drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Set aside.
CHEESE SAUCE
Melt ½ stick butter in a sauce pan. Add 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil.
Whisk in ½ cup all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook until mixture is bubbling.
Don’t allow flour to brown.
Stir in 3 cups 2% low fat milk and cook until sauce thickens. If needed, thin the sauce with some of the reserved pasta water.
To this mixture stir in one package of Italian blend shredded cheese and 1 carton of bleu cheese crumbles. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is very smooth. If it needs to be thinned add some of the reserved pasta water. Taste the sauce and add more salt if needed.
Add the sauce to the pasta and gently mix the two.
Turn the mixture into a buttered or sprayed baking dish.
Top with some buttered bread crumbs.
Bake in a preheated 3570 oven until the cheese is melted, sauce is bubbling and crumbs are golden.
Steamed Broccoli
Wash the broccoli branches in warm water. Peel stems with a potato peeler, if desired.
Cut stalks into halves lengthwise. Place in a glass baking dish that has a lid, such as Corning Ware or Pyrex. Cover broccoli with boiling water, sprinkle with a little salt and place the lid on the dish. Don’t remove lid until the water has cooled somewhat and there is no more steam. The broccoli should be cooked perfectly. Drain water and serve.
Make or purchase your favorite chocolaty brownies and serve warm and gooey with a tall glass of ice cold low fat milk or Vanilla Silk Soy ‘milk’.
TIP: Be sensitive toward those ‘left behind’ as they must adjust to your and their new circumstance.
Isaiah 61:2-3 … to console those who mourn … to give them beauty for ashes … and the oil of joy for mourning …