Lasting Light Poetry

August 31, 2003

Hello Again! It's difficult to believe we're about to greet September, but I'm looking forward to a brand new month. I also have a brand new poem to start out this newsletter. "There Is Peace" is a positive message for anyone going through a difficult time. It's also a message about serenity. I think you'll especially enjoy the music. Please have a look.

There Is Peace
http://lastinglight.com/thereispeace.html
There Is Peace

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Deja Vu or Maybe New ~ "The Thread" is about the sweet ties that bind us. It's about friendship and family. We really are all connected in ways we may not even know. ~ "Transformation" is a poem I wrote a few years ago. I actually wrote it in winter, but reading it this summer, it made me thankful for the sunny weather just now. I think you'll find it's a soothing and gentle page. ~ Sometimes life just doesn't make sense. We look for reasons and answers that elude us. "Who Can Know" was written on a day I was feeling that way. Relax and allow me to share these poems with you.

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

Transformation
http://lastinglight.com/transformation.html
Transformation

Who Can Know?
http://lastinglight.com/whocanknow.html
Who Can Know?

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Deb & Lynn's Spot

Wee Inspirations - Deb's website
Inspiring poems and stories, greeting cards and a picture tour through Scotland.
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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Recipes From the Board ~ We have a bounty of fabulous recipes posted on the Lasting Light Message Board. It's no easy feat to choose just a few! You'll find delectable home cooking and fancier fare. Here's a small sampling of what our cooks are up to. Try these out and go back for seconds! Let's cook! ~

~~ Roasted Portobello and Vegetable Club Sandwiches ~ Posted by Beatrice.

4 servings

2 large portobello mushroom caps
1/4 cup pure olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
12 slices of whole-grain bread, lightly toasted
1 avocado, sliced 1/4 inch thick
3 ounces shredded Gruyère
1 cup packed arugula leaves
1 small European cucumber, very thinly sliced crosswise
2 cups packed alfalfa sprouts

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the mushrooms on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush both sides of the mushrooms with the olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Roast the mushrooms for 15 minutes, or until tender and browned. Let cool, then thinly slice.

2. In a bowl blend the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice and cayenne. Season this aioli with salt and black pepper. [Minced garlic would be a great addition here – especially if we’re calling it “aioli.”]

3. Lay 4 slices of the toast on a work surface and spread them with aioli.

4. Top with the sliced avocado and the shredded Gruyère. Spread 4 slices of toast on both sides with aioli and set on the sandwiches.

5. Top with the arugula, cucumber, sliced portobellos and sprouts. Cover with the remaining toast, cut the sandwiches in half and serve.

(Karen's comment ~ I absolutely love Portabello Mushrooms. This is a fantastic recipe and if you don't care for mushrooms at all, you could easily substitute smoked turkey or just leave it out altogether. What a treat this would be!)

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~~ Inside-Out Roquefort Cheeseburgers ~ Posted by Eulice

4 servings

“Although cooking hamburgers to at least 160 degrees F – or medium doneness – prevents food-borne illnesses, it robs the meat of its juiciness. A delicious solution to this problem is to tuck a disk of ultra-rich Roquefort butter into the center of each burger. The butter melts as the burger grills, basting it from within. Another key to a really great burger is to handle the meat as little as possible.”

2 ounces Roquefort, softened
4 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 pounds ground sirloin
Four 1/2-inch-thick slices of sweet onion, such as Vidalia
Four 1/2-inch-thick beefsteak tomato slices
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil, for the grill
4 Kaiser rolls, split
4 ounces arugula

1. In a small bowl, blend the Roquefort with the butter. Scrape the butter into plastic wrap and roll into a 4-inch cylinder. Refrigerate the Roquefort butter until firm, about 1 hour. Slice the butter into 4 disks.

2. Gently scrape the ground sirloin into 4 thick patties. Using your thumb, make a depression in the center of each patty and fill with a disk of Roquefort butter. Fold the meat over to encase the butter completely and gently pat the burger into a plump, round patty.

3. Light a grill. Thread each onion slice onto a skewer. Brush the onion and tomato slices with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lightly brush the grate with vegetable oil. Grill the onions over a medium-hot fire until charred and tender, about 5 minutes per side. Grill the tomato slices until charred, about 1 minute per side.

4. Season the burgers with salt and pepper and grill over a medium-hot fire until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and let stand for 2 minutes. Brush the cut sides of the rolls with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and grill until lightly browned, about 10 seconds. Set the burgers on the rolls, top with the onion, tomato and arugula and serve.

Make ahead: The Roquefort butter can be refrigerated 2 days or frozen for 1 month. The uncooked burgers can be refrigerated for up to 6 hours

(Karen's Comment ~ This would be lovely to serve guests for a late Summer barbeque or for Labor Day weekend!)

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~~ CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE BANANA PUDDING ~ Posted by Beatrice

1 1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
4 cup Whole Milk
5 Large Egg Yolks (beaten)
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 Tbsp Butter
1 12 oz Box Vanilla Wafers
6 - 7 Bananas (sliced about 1/3" thick)
9" x 13" Cake Pan (lightly sprayed with non stick spray)
1 Large Container Whipped Topping

On medium low heat in a large sauce pan place sugar, flour, salt, and milk.
Stir until mixture is completely blended.
When mixture begins to softly boil, cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
The pudding will begin to thicken.
Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup of hot mixture to beaten eggs and stir until blended.
Place pudding mixture back on stove on medium heat and add egg mixture, continue cooking for 3 minutes longer.
After 3 minutes turn heat off, add butter and vanilla, beat until blended.
Remove from stove and let cool for about ten minutes while you prepare the pan and vanilla wafers.
Spray your pan with non stick spray and place vanilla wafers to cover the bottom and sides of baking pan.
Slice bananas and cover the wafers with bananas.
Pour pudding in pan, covering bananas and wafers.
Place banana pudding in refrigerate until completely cooled.
When pudding has cooled and set, cover completely with whipped topping.
Place plastic wrap on any leftovers and store in refrigerate.

Serving Size: 8 - 10

(Karen's Comment ~ Who can resist this fantastic comfort food!)

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~~ Frosty Fruit Smoothie ~ Posted by Beatrice

1 med. banana, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup orange, pineapple, grape, or apple juice or low-calorie cranberry juice, chilled
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 ice cubes

In a blender container combine the banana chunks, chilled fruit juice, milk, vanilla, and ice cubes.
Cover and blend until frothy.
Pour mixture into glasses.
Serve immediately.

(Karen's Comment ~ This is very refreshing and a great way to start the day as well.)

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Note From Karen ~ It's wonderful to have another little "visit" with my readers. A few days ago we had thunder and lightening and all kinds of crazy weather. I live in Northern California, and this is not typical for this time of year! Actually, I didn't mind it a bit. The booming thunder and the crackle of lightening were followed by a much outpouring of rain. Everything smelled so fresh and clean the next day and all my plants were happy. It reminded me that even though we may feel the strong force of adversity in our lives or face moments of fear, God sends us comfort and renewal to see us through.

I am so thankful for each and every one of you. Lasting Light Poetry continues to shine only because you are with me. When I read my message board, I see love in action. I see encouragement and laughter. Life is good. It doesn't matter what's going on around us if we have peace within. Take time to show some patience and understanding to someone who is hurting or suffering a loss. It only takes a moment to write a card or make a call. We're all we have. Let's be good to each other. The Internet is also fueled by positive forces. Look for the good in anything, and you will find it. I will be back soon with more things to share. Listen to the music in your life and enjoy the day! Shine on, Karen

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

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Quotes To Brighten Your Day ~

"What's the use of worrying?
It never was worth while,
So pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
And smile, smile, smile.
-- George Asaf

"The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it."
-- Richard Bach.

"Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response."
-- Mildred Barthel.

"Good nature is worth more than knowledge, more than money, more than honor..."
-- Henry Ward Beecher

"Happiness is like a cat, If you try to coax it or call it, it will avoid you; it will never come. But if you pay not attention to it and go about your business, you'll find it rubbing against your legs and jumping into your lap."
-- William Bennett

"What is the worth of anything,
But for the happiness 'twill bring?"
-- Richard Owen Cambridge

"He who sings frightens away his ills."
-- Cervantes

"If you want happiness for an hour -- take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day -- go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month -- get married.
If you want happiness for a year -- inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime -- help someone else.
-- Chinese proverb

"The joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days."
-- The Bible: Ecclesiasticus. XXX. 22

"Of cheerfulness, or a good temper -- the more it is spent, the more of it remains."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"The supreme happiness of live is the conviction that we are loved."
-- Victor Hugo.

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Here is a beautiful wish in all it's simplicity. Thank you, Debbie for posting this on the Lasting Light Message Board. You do shine brightly! ~

I WISH YOU...

I wish you happiness deep within...
I wish you serenity with each sunrise.
I wish you success in every part of your life,
I wish you knowledge and wisdom and grace.

I wish you a bright day with much to be thankful for
And special memories of all the yesterdays,
And a bright path that leads to a beautiful tomorrow.

I wish you dreams that sometimes come true
And appreciation of all the wonderful things about you!
I wish you the caring of close friends
And I wish you Love that never ends!

Have A Beautiful Day
Best Of Wishes My Friend

Posted by Debbie Yauch

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Until next time....Be good to yourself and don't forget to laugh! Hugs, Karen

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