Making Memories and Snowflake Sugar Cookies! CT Scans Clear a bonus!

Am I blue? Not me!

Sugar Snowflake Cookies

by Woman's Day Magazine

Recipe Ingredients
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp lemon extract

1/2 tsp salt

4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Decorating Icing (see recipe)

You also need: 4-in. tree, snowflake and flying-dove cookie cutters; small ziptop bags; green, blue and yellow paste food colors; candy flower and star decors; and fine white decorating sugar
Recipe Preparation

1. Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl with mixer on low speed until fluffy. Beat in egg, extracts and salt. Beat in flour just until blended.
 2. Divide dough in thirds. Shape each third into a 1-in.-thick disk; wrap separately. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
 3. Heat oven to 375°F.
 4. On floured surface, roll out 1 disk at a time to 1/4 in. thick. Using floured cutters, cut out trees, snowflakes and doves. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheet(s). Reroll scraps and cut once.
 5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden at edges. Cool slightly on sheet on a wire rack; move to rack to cool completely.
 6. Tint 1 cup icing green, 3 Tbsp icing yellow and 1/4 cup icing blue. Spoon 1/2 cup white icing into a ziptop bag. Put remaining white icing in a bowl.
 7. To thin icing for spreading: Add drops of water to tinted and white icing just until thin enough to spread.
 8. Trees: Spread green icing on cookies. Let dry 3 hours. Cut tip off corner of bag of icing; pipe garland. Add decors.
 9. Doves: Spread thinned white icing on cookies, leaving beaks un-iced. Let dry 3 hours. Dip a fine brush or a toothpick into yellow icing; paint on beaks and eyes. Using icing in bag, pipe wing outlines. Immediately sprinkle with white decorating sugar.
 10. Snowflakes: Spread thinned white icing on cookies. While wet, use a toothpick to drop on dots of thinned blue icing. Drag the pick through both colors to marbleize. Let dry 3 hours. Pipe outlines; sprinkle with white decorating sugar.
 11. Let cookies dry at least 6 hours.Storage tip: Store airtight with wax paper between layers at cool room temperature up to 3 weeks.

DECORATING ICING: Beat 1 lb confectioners’ sugar (3 1/4 cups) and 1/4 cup Just Whites (see Note) in a large bowl with mixer on low speed until combined. Add 1/3 cup water; beat until blended. Increase speed to high; beat 8 minutes or until icing is very thick and white. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Note: Find Just Whites (powdered egg whites) in your store’s baking section

call a friend and you can double the batch while you chat over Life's ups and downs.....

cherished memories of Mom or Grandma
my kids talk about how much it meant to them...
start a tradition...or just treat someone special

I like to bring containers to people I don't always think of:
the building service people in my school, the security staff,
the next door neighbor that collects my mail when I go away,
the sweetest checkout person at the grocery store, the woman at the pharmacy that always treats me with kindness. Sometimes they look so surprised when I tell them they make a difference in my day, make my life easier - but it's true. Amen.
P.S. 3 month chest scans, ct scans, blood work and tests - clear for cancer! whoopppeee!

Thank You Lord! jennifer
pssst do have have any suggestions for a different direction with my blog - I write about what I like, what I know, how I feel...what are you wanting to hear about?
What tweeks your interest?

Sister Act - Strength in Numbers

Sisters - Friends
I had a wonderful summer. Bridal shower for my cousin, wedding this weekend in California, lots of beach time. I think I've mentioned that I see things in a different way since #1 my divorce in 1995, #2 kidney cancer last year, #3 having lost friends along the way to Cancer and other illnesses. So, I enjoy big and little things. I saw my first rainbow this summer. Yes! Believe it - my first! I also saw dolphins leaping in the ocean while I sat in my beach chair with my cousins. Cancer free - 1 year mark in June. I ate sushi more than once. Jersey pizza more than twice. No cake because I don't like cake (carrot cake is an exception - home-made only).

My friend Lisa had breast Cancer and a Mastectomy at 33 (2 little boys) and this year she wore a bikini proudly to the beach. She had fought through the surgery and the struggles of reconstructive surgery.  She has Cancer again.

So we start fighting again and this woman is a fighter. I look back to the laughs on the beach, the sand castles, the shells we collected, the jars I have them in and will not get pissed. God holds us in HIS hands. Bra, no bra, bikini or pjs!

I redid my bulletin board by my desk at school before the last day. It is so full of color that it soothes and pops at the same time! Cut out photos of roses in every hue, children, dogs, chairs, post cards of places I've traveled to, Bruce Springsteen, my kids, birdhouses, limes, lemons, sayings, students that have graduated, students babies.

how can I not feel blessed?

I get mad, impatient, pissy but there are such cool things in this world!

It just happened one day! The zest for Life! The appreciation!

Now I'm back to school. I love my job in the Health Room.

Friends peek in. Students I know by name. My good friend Karen came in yesterday. She is having a Mastectomy in 2 weeks.

It's not about bra size, she's a fighter too, gifted, loving, great support. God will help us in her care. But I'm feeling a little beaten down, well, not me - but that Life is picking on my friends. I want them well. I don't want them to have Cancer. Rose colored glasses I know. But the upbeat me is in fighting mode.

please schedule your mammogram, remind a friend or a loved one

remember self-breast exams

that you are loved, to give love, look for rainbows, fight against breast cancer

'A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves—a special kind of double.'

                                                                                                              Toni Morrison

Not Just Any Day At The Beach ... Recipes, Family and Summer NJ Style!

    hot news, hot grill and ME going on and on..

I'm always looking for new recipes for the grill. Something light. Don't get me wrong...coming from an Italian family - we're big on sausage, peppers and onions, lots of garlic, LOTS of garlic. Pasta, bread. Fresh crunchy crust bread. In fact the best bagels I've ever had are in New Jersey . They have a French Toast bagel that is....well it's yummo and not listed in the calorie counter book. I'm sure it's several days of Weight Watcher points. Holy Canoli! So, moving right along....

I've seen several recipes for Shrimp Skewers that sounded delish. Lemon wedges in between those garlic marinated plump babies along with red onions. Lime marinated sea creatures ready to be inhaled after you have roasted them with avocado wrapped pancetta. Ohhh Mama Leone! Slices of bread ready to sop up the juices. Yes... bellas SOP!
                
You Will Need

1/2 fresh pineapple, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
3 medium nectarines, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 medium pears, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 medium fresh peaches, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 to 4 medium plums, cut into 1-inch chunks

10 apricots, halved

3 tablespoons honey or light corn syrup, warmed

What to Do
1. Thread fruit alternately onto metal or soaked bamboo skewers.

2. Grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat until fruit is heated through, about 6 minutes, turning often. Brush with honey or corn syrup during the last minute of grilling time.

Serves 6

From Taste of Home Backyard Grilling

or...

How to make Grilled Fruit Skewers
1. Soak the skewers in cold water for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare a charcoal grill to medium heat.
3. Start threading the fruit onto the skewers,
beginning with strawberries, then pineapple,
then papaya, and mango. Continue alternating among the four.
 4. Grill the fruit, turning as necessary, for about 6-8 minutes.
 Grill time will vary depending on ripeness of fruit.
5. Remove the skewers from the grill and serve over scoops of Butter Pecan Ice Cream.
Ingredients
skewers
1 container large strawberries, cleaned
2 mangos, peeled and seeded
1/2 large papaya, peeled and seeded
1/2 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into even pieces
1 carton Butter Pecan Ice Cream

I'm an only child. When I was little I used to pretend I had 9 brothers and sisters. In fact, I used to tell people I had 9 brothers and sisters when I would first meet them. I think of was about 7. Then my mom would call and say "Can you please send Jennifer home, she's an

only child and I am a little protective of her." Awww Mooommm! But when I was with my cousins ... that Big loving family with the open door policy - heaven.

Two Grandmas lived there always.

Friends could stay over, friends could move in.

When I would ask if there was enough dinner for me to stay, my cousin Linda 

 would say "if we can feed 8, why can't we feed 1 more?".  So when I drive up from Maryland to be with the Mondelli's ... it's not about

romance

it's about.... family        
9:32 am doctor called blood work fine - ct scan clear - 1 year cancer free
thank you with all my heart for your prayers  Jennifer

Sailing off towards the weekend... God's Fingerprint's

so I'm sailing off towards the weekend with a lot on my mind...

thoughts of all the new people I've met this week while blogging

how thankfully I come home to new flowers blooming in my gardens every day

how exhausted I am working  full time job (my co-worker is out on sick leave for the rest of the school year)
&  a part-time job
and the usual home and hearth keeping

lucky to be employed I know!

that I wish Autumn would behave and not be ... well AUTUMN

I really really love her...honest!

I have 1 more MRI to clear to 
 mark 1 year 
from my Kidney Cancer surgery 5/09

My step-mom -"MOM' had heart surgery yesterday - is in Florida - I'm in Maryland and I hope you'll help me by keeping her in your prayers.

God's fingerprints on my life?

Why that's HE knows all about my worries

and joys and sees me through

and that I have friends like you to share it with!

Jennifer

Have a lovely weekend whatever you do and thank you.

1:10 your sweet comments helped me so  - another busy day

- girl fight at 7:20 this am - lots of sports injuries - the Main Office Secretary Patti just brought me in a box of flowers - I never get flowers!!! From my student aide Nick - a "thank you" from his family - he's had very serious health problems his 4 years of high school and this is his BIG year. What's in the box... happy, cheery, sun flowers. GOD...you enter my heart every day ....thank you for my friends.

Don't Let Life Ruffle Your Feathers!

Beauty, symmetry, nature, color and my friends James and Karl. Yes, I said James & and Karl.
Karl, because when he was little he asked if I thought it would be ok if he gave his little girlfriend a bouquet of feathers instead of flowers. I said "I'd be thrilled if someone gave me feathers Karl!". I hope she was...

A feather symbolize a new beginning! It means a new life ahead. A feather symbolizes hope and it means that the feather in the indian tribes means good luck.

So, I started looking at feathers outside, and they'd appear here and there. It gave me this little burst of pleasure. A grey one, a brown one, a white one & rarely a blue one.

 Then my dear Friend James passed away. The morning of the service I was walking into the church and on the ground was a little brown feather. I thought "Ok James, you're here.". I never dreamed I would feel the enormous loss I did that day. When we arrived at his home,as I walked to the front door - another feather. And I said "Ok James,now you're tweeking my sense of humor." I smiled.  

I would say six months later, I attended a spiritual & healing seminar. Not something I would normally seek out. I have strong faith and belief in God but I  don't want to get in touch with realitives that have passed on. One subject that did come up was FEATHERS. I said " I always seem to be finding feathers.". The speakers and group - not new to the gathering - said that 'feathers suddenly appearing could be a way for people who had passed on the reach out to people on Earth'. Is it true? I don't know. But every time I find a feather....I think of James and smile. THE END. Jennifer

 

P.S. I use feathers on some of the cards I design. Karl has chickens and saves pretty feathers for me. He has also been known to find one, or two or three on a woodland hike with his mom.

God's Fingerprints in my life and your's ....

I happily touched base with The Rusted Chain post  today and she has a very inspiring idea! Be sure to look it up.... How do you see God's fingerprints in your life? How do I see them in mine?
Well, I see HIM in my life by continued good health after having had Kidney Cancer in June and the last two CT Scans being fine (one this week).

I see it in the animals that are so darn cute and make people happy. What joy HE has given me with my furry friends!

Children that are a gift from GOD. Prayers for children that are ill and parents that need help and guidance or financial needs in this economy. So I see HIS footprints when I can see how others are so willing to jump in and lend a hand! HE helps me care more, do more.

HIS word being the key to balancing my day and helping be more than I hoped to have been and continue to learn.

I see HIS footprints on my life every day! Thanks for reminding me!

Please take a moment...

Today I've had so many examples of
people needing people, people needing
prayer, people needing God.

Two dear friends battling Cancer.
Rich in NJ and Michelle in MD - both
having a rough time right now (more than
usual and asking for others prayers).

A blogger ending a business and
beginning new adventures and travel!

Another blogger losing a beloved pet.

So in this time of rejoicing, love,

giving, family and God - I am pausing

to remember those in need, hurting,

surviving, venturing out, discovering new,

brave and strong. Asking GOD to hold

them in HIS hands with love and to help

remember that the little things

that bug me are just that little things!

Number 1 Number 1 Number 1 !!!!!!!

It's late....I'm rushed!

I'm befuddled!

I'm calm! I'm happy!




I have 1 ornament out!

No tree

No decorations

No cards

But I'm healthy!

Cancer free!
Fabulous friends!
New ideas are cooking!
No weeds right now.
Laundry is done.
Dishwasher is empty.
Husband is happy.
Kids are grown and safe.
Jobs are intact.
Oven in clean.
Meeting new friends every day.
Pets are healthy.

I'm taking Life one moment, 1 minute at a time.

Joy to the world! la la la la de la fa la lafa lalafa la la la