Whats for Dinner?

Welcome friends...thanks for coming by. We're seeking beauty in all of creation... in our faith and our families; our art and our music; our crafts and kitchens, and even in our own backyard. We'll share a poem or a recipe, a picture or a memory; maybe a dream of how we wish our life could be. And though we acknowledge that the world can be harsh, we're keeping it pleasant in our little corner; endeavoring to keep the words from the Book of all Books: ...Whatsoever things are lovely; think on these things.

I so enjoy hearing from you...so leave me a comment; it'll make my day!

Photo: Bee and thistle: Taken high in the Cascade Mountains where there is a bee buzzing on every thistle. by Debora Rorvig

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Whats for Dinner?

Soup's on! Tonight I made Old Fashioned Lima Bean Soup with Ham for dinner. It's something my mom used to make when I was little. When I make soups I usually throw in a bit of this and a little of that; so I'm estimating the ingredients. The great thing about soup is, exact ingredients usually don't matter.

Old Fashioned Lima Bean Soup

16 oz dried large lima beans
About 8 cups of water or enough to cover the beans with some to spare
1 cup onion, diced
A chunk of cooked ham or turkey ham, cubed
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 chicken bouillion cubes
A bit of dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Sort the dried beans and discard bad ones. Rinse them well, then cover them with water and soak them overnight. The next day drain the beans and place them into a large soup pot. Cover with about 8 cups of water or as much as is needed to cover the beans with some to spare. Add themeat, onions, garlic, bouillion, parsley, salt and pepper. Simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender.

It's nice to serve this soup with a warm, crusty loaf of french bread.

***

5 comments:

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...: I'll have to try that one... I'm a HUGE soup eater! Thanks for the recipe.

Chris; January 4, 2011 at 6:56 PM
Scrabblequeen said...: I like soup, and I'm ok with Lima beans...but I've never had Lima bean soup! I'd make some, but doubtful I could get Hubs to even try it.; January 4, 2011 at 11:23 PM
ellen b. said...: Hi Debora,
I really love beans and this soup looks delish. I had the best eggnog from a dairy in Lynden from Twin Brook Creamery. Do you ever get anything form them? On my next trip to B.C. I want to stop by Lynden and check it out...; January 5, 2011 at 7:25 PM
Debora said...: Hi Ellen,
Thanks for your comment. I have not purchased anything from Twin Brook, but I just may have to! This is a terrible confession from a dairy farmer's grand-daughter...I don't like milk or anything that tastes too 'milk-ish'! But I am not surprise that your eggnog was delicious-I understand that Twin Brook have Jersey cows instead of Holsteins (as did my grandpa.)My family says that Jerseys produce much richer milk, but in less volumes-so dairy products from Jersey cows is harder to get these days. Let me know when you're traveling through!; January 5, 2011 at 9:53 PM
ellen b. said...: OK that's too funny that you don't like milk. Thanks for the info on Holsteins and Jerseys :o); January 7, 2011 at 5:36 PM

I Am From

I Am From...

by Debora Rorvig

I am from a lumber mill worker’s company house
with peeling paint and a sidewalk made of two by fours.
From faded flannel shirts that smell of pine and cedar boughs.

I am from Mason Jars of homed-canned pears,
from Dairygold milk with cream on top
in bottles on the porch.

I am from a garden plot with rows and rows of golden corn
that always wanted hoeing,
and from atop the highest branches of the Gravenstein apple tree in the Attolini’s orchard-
with apple juice dripping from my chin.

I am from saurkraut and wooden shoes-
the Millers and the Youngedykes,
and from the lively Scottish clan
who wear the McKinnon tartan.

From farmers and woodsmen
plain folk all,
who’s hands were calloused hard
but who’s hearts were tender-soft.

I am from ‘what will the neighbors think’
and ‘if you can’t say something nice,
don’t say anything at all.’

From saints and sinners who didn’t see eye to eye
but loved each other anyway,
and in their own way.

I am from the Western shores of Washington
strewn with agates, kelp and driftwood,
from Steelhead salmon, salty smoked
and chowder made from clams we dug
at Semiahmoo spit.

I am from my mother Ruby,
who taught me how to sew
on the old Singer treadle machine;
and told me all about my heritage.

And from my daddy, Raymond Claude
who took me nightcrawler hunting in the moonlight
and showed me how to bait my hook
and fish along the Nooksack River’s edge.

I am from an ancient, tattered Holy Bible kept safely on the upper shelf
with pictures of Jesus Christ
and a letter edged in black- carefully tucked inside.
There are births and deaths recorded there,
and a poem by great- great grandfather Alexander Laughlin Mckinnon
who I never met--and yet I know him
better than some I’ve met.

Precious is that Book to me.

And that is where I am from.

My Life List

*Seek first the Kingdom
*Never stop dreaming
*Make a difference in my students' lives
*Create alternate streams of income to fund my goals
*Dress with flair
*Master virbrato on my violin
*Try cross country skiing in Eastern Washington
*Lose those extra pounds and be healthy
*Be more active in my church
*Stop fearing things, people and confrontation; say what I think
*Stop Hurrying
*Inspire my grandchildren
*Own a Cottage on the Beach
*Live the Word
*Memorize the Book of Hebrews
*Find the perfect hairdo
*Be myself
*Look up old friends and make new ones
*Remodel the kitchen and bathroom
*Make my garden lovely
*Sleep under the stars in the desert and hear coyotes howl
*Write and publish a book(s)
*Travel toRio de Janiero, Cape Breton, South of France, Italy,Scotland, Wales, UK, Ireland, Norway, Turks & Caicos, New York City and the Eastern Seaboard; The Deep South, Africa

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Whats for Dinner?

5 comments:

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