Lasting Light Poetry

April 21, 2004

Greetings Everyone! I have a brand new poem to share with you. Many of my poems are about life and the strength of love. "Life Force" was a poem I wrote in the middle of a very distressing month. I will always believe that love is a force nothing can defeat. Please have a look.

Life Force
http://lastinglight.com/lifeforce.html
Life Force

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Deb and Lynn's Spot

Wee Inspirations - Deb's Website
Inspirational poems and stories, photo tour through Scotland too.
http://weeinspirations.com
Wee Inspirations

Cuddlee Bears - Lynn's Website
Original mouse drawn country graphics and so much more.
http://cuddleebears.com
Cuddlee Bears

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Deja Vu or Maybe New ~ I wrote "The Thread" to honor that faithful tie that exists between friends near and far. We are bound together by a silken thread so delicate, yet so strong. I hope you'll share it with someone who matters to you. ~ The eyes of a child possess such a clear and simple vision. I think that's why "Rainbow Heart" is a poem I have always been fond of. It is just a simple reminder of the miracles all around us. ~ "Woman Alone" is a poem about those special moments when everything is quiet and we connect to the source of love and strength. Have some tea, relax, and share these with me.

The Thread
http://lastinglight.com/thethread.html
The Thread

Rainbow Heart
http://lastinglight.com/rainbowheart.html
Rainbow Heart

Woman Alone
http://lastinglight.com/womanalone.html
Woman Alone

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Recipes From the Board ~ Once again let's check out some of the very best recipes on the web. The fantastic cooks at Lasting Light Message board leave the most delightful ideas and encouragement. Let's cook!

~~ Southern Beef Stew ~ Posted by Beatrice

2 lbs. stew beef cut into 1 inch cubes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, shredded
6 small new potatoes, cubed
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup dry red wine
2 cups beef broth
1/2 cup cold water
1/4 cup cornstarch
Salt and pepper

In a large saucepan heat oil and brown beef, add garlic and onion and cook until tender. Add celery, carrots, potatoes, thyme, red wine, beef broth and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 2 hours or until vegetables are tender. If needed mix cold water and cornstarch together until smooth and add to stew to thicken. Feel free to use a crock pot or other slow cooker for this recipe. We sometimes put a dash of hot sauce into the stew immediately before serving to spice things up a bit.

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~~ CROCKPOT CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE ~ Posted by Val

2 c. chocolate cake mix
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. creamy peanut butter
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Combine all ingredients in bowl mixing well. Beat about 2 minutes. Pour batter into greased and floured 2 pound coffee can. Place can in crockpot. Cover top of can with 8 paper towels. Cover crockpot and bake on high 2 to 3 hours.

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~~ Bourbon and Brown Sugar Flank Steak with Garlic-Chive Mashed Potatoes ~ Posted by Eulice

Pork tenderloin will also work in this recipe.

Steak:
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup minced green onions
1/4 cup bourbon
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (2-pound) flank steak, trimmed
Cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

Potatoes:
3 pounds small red potatoes
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/3 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Garnish:
8 fresh chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

To prepare steak, combine first 7 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; add steak. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight, turning bag occasionally.

Remove steak from bag, reserving marinade.
Prepare grill.
Place steak on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Let stand 10 minutes.

Cut diagonally across grain into thin slices.
Combine reserved marinade and cornstarch in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

To prepare potatoes, place potatoes and garlic in a large Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Return potatoes and garlic to pan, and place over medium heat. Add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mash potato mixture to desired consistency with a potato masher. Stir in chopped chives.

Mound 3/4 cup potatoes on each of 8 plates; arrange 3 ounces steak around each serving of potatoes. Drizzle 1 tablespoon sauce on each plate; sprinkle with chive pieces, if desired.

(Karen's Note ~ I checked for a substitution for the bourbon in this marinade for those of you who prefer not to use it, but was unable to find anything. Don't worry, we have plenty of recipes without alcohol in them, but this is a very special one if you don't mind using a bit of whisky in your cooking. Thank you for sharing it, Eulice...this looks fantastic for a barbeque!)

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~~ Flan ~ Posted by Beatrice (This is a fantastic caramel custard dessert!)

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup light cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
brown sugar

Directions:
Beat eggs until smooth and add remaining ingredients then beat until smooth.
Pour mixture into a well-buttered 1-quart baking dish.
Place dish in a large pan filled with enough water to come up around baking dish.
Place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees and bake for 1 hour, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Chill for several hours before serving.

Brown Sugar Glaze:
Spread a thin layer of lump-free light brown sugar on top of chilled custard.
Place under broiler until sugar is partially melted and lightly browned
Serve at once.

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Note From Karen ~ April showers bring May flowers.....we've all heard that. What if the flowers didn't come? What if a rainbow didn't follow the rain? Nature is a constant source of promise and hope. Life is full of storms, but it's good to know all storms will pass.

I'm here to remind you that there are good things going on in this world. I know what's on the news. I feel deeply that the only way to make a difference is to start with oneself. You and I have the power to make someone smile. You have a gift that someone needs. It might be your fresh-baked brownies, a listening ear and a kind word, or a few moments to write a note to someone who is alone or discouraged. We all need each other.

The things that matter....aren't things.

Shine on.........Karen

Lasting Light Poetry
http://lastinglight.com
Lasting Light Poetry

Lasting Light Message Board
http://disc.server.com/Indices/179852.html
Message Board

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Quotes ~

"Can I see another's woe, and not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief, and not seek for kind relief?"
-- William Blake

"Kindness is a language which the dumb can speak, the deaf can understand."
-- C.N. Bovee

"Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on;
'Twas not given for thee alone, Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears.
Pass it on."
-- Rev. Henry Burton

"Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act on it."
-- Pablo Casals.

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For A Smile ~

When the inventor of the drawing board messed things up...what did he go back to?
~ Bob Monkhouse

I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer.
~ Douglas Adams

He who laughs, lasts.
~ Mary Pettibone Pool

If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.
~ Harry S. Truman

When humor goes, there goes civilization.
~ Erma Bombeck

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
~ Robert Frost (This is definitely one of my favorite quotes ~ Karen)

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Until we meet again...stay safe and have a good journey.

Shine on ~ Karen

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