How's the Dip Dip

For those who know me well, you'll be surprised that I'm posting a recipe. For those who don't know me well, it's not that I can't or don't cook, it's just not my favorite activity when there's so much reading or crafting to do :-) But this one is definitely worth the chopping time. I recommend making a double recipe!



Several years ago we were at a cookout for my son's baseball team. All four of us in my family were really enjoying a dip made with corn and beans and peppers, with tortilla chips. My daughter, in her early teens, was feeling a bit out of place; one of the kids nearly bumped into her and didn't know what to say. What came out was "How's the dip?" So we have renamed this recipe "How's the Dip? Dip".



My friend John, from Simply Delicious Catering, calls the dip "Autumn Salsa". He has given me permission to share it with you here; the picture and recipe are both from his website (http://sdcatering.net/). Enjoy! (Don't wait until autumn!)



Autumn Salsa
from John Mauro, Simply Delicious Catering

Ingredients:
1 Orange Pepper
1 Red Pepper
½ Red Onion
½ c Pea Pods
1 can Shoepeg Corn
1 can Black eyed peas

In large serving bowl combine:chopped orange pepper, chopped red pepper, chopped red onion, shoepeg corn, and blackeyed peas.
Blanch pea pods. Cool pea pods, chop and add to bowl with other ingredients.
Dressing:
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
½ tsp Tabasco
Sugar to taste
Mix dressing ingredients together and heat in microwave for 1 minute. Cool completely. Add dressing to the bowl and mix. Refrigerate.

Playing the Uncle Keith card

My dear sister was married for only 2 months when her husband was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 23. She was more nurse than newlywed for the next year and few months, and the week before she turned 24 she was a widow. That was in 1998 and we still feel the heaviness of missing Uncle Keith.


On a positive note, we now have an Uncle Chris, introduced by Keith's mutual friend to my sister the following year. We can't imagine life any other way than to have my sister, her (new) husband, and their two kids at every family gathering. However, the lesson has been learned...life is fragile and we need to enjoy all of the time that we do have together because we don't know what tomorrow will bring. I firmly believe that God is in control; we just don't always know how He is going to work things out.


So this week I was discussing with my sixteen year old daughter that I was beginning to regret spending money on tickets for the July 4th celebration at the Museum of Science in Boston. I was blabbering on about spending our money more responsibly, blah blah blah, and she said, "Mom, do I really have to play the Uncle Keith card with you?" I can't remember what I answered, but the lesson sunk home again. And I'm so glad to see proof that our values are being passed down to our children. I will gladly participate in another family outing to Boston, and my wish for you is for you to enjoy your family and friends and the blessings shared every day!

Is there such a thing as too much purple?

My site is purple. I just couldn't help it. Purple is my favorite color and I'm attracted to all things purple...lavender, purple clothing, bell-flowers, pansies. The only thing I've found that I don't like in purple is nail polish. Even the school where I work has purple as its logo color - lucky me!

I thought about designing my site in more neutral colors, but anything colorless seemed just too plain, and other colors just weren't me. I learned a lesson a long time ago from my dear friend Eric, who paraphrased the author Leo Buscaglia. If God created me to be a plum, but I try to be a banana because I think people like bananas or want me to be a banana, I'll never be a good banana; it's not what I was created to be. But I can be the best plum that God created me to be, once I accept that I am a plum. And plums are purple too!

Here I am!

Well here is post #1. Time to stop thinking about it, trying to perfect everything, and just post! I took lots of great pics today outside in the yard, but can I find my camera cord to upload them? Of course not! Hopefully the pics will be online soon. On a positive note, I did use some "found" time today to do some research into launching my new hand-made jewelry business, as well as design my logo and business card. You'll see more about that soon too!