Potato Salad

I love me some potato salad. Always have.  I don't make it often because if it's in the frig I have a hard time not grabbing a spoon and having "a little taste." Often. And of course, making potato salad can be labor intensive.  Boiling eggs, cooling said eggs, and then peeling and chopping them.  And then there's the potatoes themselves:  washing, peeling, cutting into chunks, boiling, cooling and then dicing them.  And making the dressing. . .  

I'm still loving my Instant Pot and was thrilled to note a recipe for potato salad on one of my favorite sites, Pressure Cooking Today (link on sidebar).  I checked it out and was amazed to see that the potatoes and eggs are cooked together in the Instant Pot!  Could this possibly work?  I am pleased to report that it does, indeed.  And works in wondrous ways!  I made the potato salad I took to my parents over Mother's Day weekend using the recipe, and I would say it was the best potato salad I've ever made.  

Cooking the potatoes for salad takes careful attention or the potatoes overcook and you end up with mashed potato salad.  Using the Instant Pot and dicing the potatoes before cooking produces perfectly cooked potatoes.  Truly!  And the eggs?  You nested them down in the potatoes and they cook to perfection and better yet, peel to perfection!  It's all like magic!  I made another salad last week and it was just as perfect.  

So, if you have an Instant Pot, or even a stovetop pressure cooker, give this recipe a try.  I'm sorry I have no picture because . . . we ate all the salad!  :-)  But there's one if you go to the recipe.  ♥

Now Appearing on the Breakfast Table...

For some strange reason, my favorite meal to fix is breakfast!  And this from someone who definitely isn't a morning person.  Poached eggs and hashbrowns, waffles and bacon, egg on toast, scones, coffee cake, and muffins.  The list goes on and on.  Of course I don't make these things every morning due to time constraints, but when I do have the time, I enjoy whipping up something tasty.  I even do eggs Benedict, thanks to my sister-in-law, Karen.  She makes them every time we visit and I love them and have copied her. Yum!

I had some overripe bananas a few weeks ago, but not enough for banana bread, so I tried some banana muffins for the first time.  They turned out well, so yesterday when I had more bananas, I made another batch.  

It's just a basic muffin recipe with the addition of bananas and chopped pecans.  And speaking of chopped pecans, I absolutely love this knife:

Its flat bottom and non-pointy tip make it easy to chop whole nuts in a flash.  The Pioneer Woman uses one often on her show and I was intrigued, so I ordered one from Williams-Sonoma when they had a tempting pre-Christmas sale.  It also works beautifully for thinly slicing both cooked and raw meats because its blade is very thin.  

Let's hear it for breakfast--the most important meal of the day!  ♥

Another Dayna Update

I'm late in writing this, but I do want to share the latest news about our friend, Dayna. She recently had another MRI and the results were amazing as you will see from what she wrote: 

Some very good news today during chemotherapy as we went over the scan results. Shrinkage of the tumor in two places and no growth in others, along with necrosis (cell death) in the center of the tumor!! A Grade IV glioblastoma can double in size every 2-4 weeks, so this is quite amazing. On a scale of 1-10 the doc said these results are an 8. We'll TAKE it.

And then a few days later this amazing woman wrote this:

In light of my recent (incredible) scan results, I often hear people rejoice with me and say that God is good. It is almost an instinctive response, I think, especially for people of faith. It is an answer to prayers, a reflection of both His goodness and my family's perseverance throughout treatment and so many unknowns.

Yes, indeed, God is very good.

I have had a sentiment echoing in my heart this week that I would like to share. God is good, and He has always been and will always be good. If the tumor in my brain had grown, He would still be sovereign and in control. He would still be good! If cancer takes my life tomorrow, God's goodness is unchanging. No matter the results of scans, or tests, or trials in life, our response should be that YES! HE IS GOOD! A resounding truth that honors His plan and our trust in Him.

No matter the circumstance, yes, God is good.

It is natural to praise God when outcomes are favorable, when they reflect our desires and deepest hopes. I appreciate and value every comment that 'God is good,' because I share that belief and conviction! How the tears filled my eyes when the results from my MRI were read to me on Monday. What an incredible thing to hear after a few months of treatment, five days a week, with no assurance that progress was being made. If the results had been different, however, would our reaction be the same? Would we still praise Him for being good? Would we still worship?

I believe that my God heals. That He works miracles. I have been a beneficiary of some incredible miracles in my life, miracles of rescue and redemption and yes, of physical healing as well. It was one such miracle of rescue that led me back to walking with God, after years of disobedience.

The truth of the matter, however, is that not everyone is healed. All of us, every single one of us, is 'terminal.' We all have an expiration date on our lives here on earth. I may not be healed of cancer in my lifetime. Or, He may choose to heal me! (That would be incredibly in accordance with MY plan, in case God wants some input.) Both outcomes would mean that He is good. That He has always been good. That His plans are not my plans, and His ways are not my ways.

We can't see the biggest picture of all, the one where all of our lives are threads in a tapestry, and are interwoven and connected in ways that only the Creator could see. Every slight change brings about a different ending. God is good. He will always be good, regardless of what tomorrow brings. His plan is FOR us. His grace is for us… and my heart is for Him.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. With love and immense gratitude!

Dayna

This dear girl is an amazing gift to us all and continues to awe me with her attitude. I know many of my readers join me in praying for her and her little Maddie. ♥

The Wheels on the Car Go 'Round and 'Round

The wheels on our wonderful '04 Ford Explorer have gone 'round and 'round for almost eleven years. I can't believe we've had it so long--longer as our main vehicle than any other we've owned (Dan has had pickups that we had longer).  We've been toying with looking for a new "car" for a year or so and had pretty much decided that if we bought, it would be a Toyota 4Runner because we've been so pleased with Dan's Tundra since we bought it two years ago.  

Last Thursday Dan had a meeting in Coeur d'Alene and I went along because I needed a fun day. Bear Paw Quilting is just around the corner from where he had the meeting so I knew I could very enjoyably spend hours there.  And the Toyota dealership was just across the street!  Do you see where this is heading?

Yes, I have new wheels.  A gorgeous white 4Runner with all kinds of fun bells and whistles!

It drives like a dream.  I'm reading the manuals every day and hope to be up to speed on everything in a year or so!  The built-in GPS helped get me out of Coeur d'Alene alive (Ann and Eric are buying the Explorer so Dan drove himself home).  The salesman synced my cell phone with the car's system and all I have to do is push a button and say, "Call... ."  Amazing!!  Eric synced my iPod and between that and XM radio I'll never want for tunes.

We'll be adding running boards in the next few weeks, but until then I'm pleased to report that my hours at the fitness center have paid off and I can jump up and in with no problem.

I loved, loved, loved my Explorer and there was a small fear in me that no other car would fit me like it did.  I'm thrilled to report this one seems to.  ♥

A Tiny Little Book Review

I love history and in my college days, I was actually a history major for a year and a half.  Until I realized there was nothing I could do with a history major.  Ah well...

Recently when I was at daughter Ann's house, I noticed a library book on an end table.  A book on the Romanov family of Russia.  The story of the last Tsar and his family has always intrigued me, possibly because my great grandmother on my mom's side was Russian. Apparently Ann had an interest, too.

A few days later Ann mentioned the book and offered to loan it to me when she was finished with it. I accepted her offer and read it with great interest.  Turns out it's written for a young adult audience, but it is well-researched and very readable.  There are pictures and interspersed among the chapters are diary entries or remembrances by Russian peasants of the same era. It's fascinating reading if you, too, are interested in history and this time period. 

A Busy Month

Well hello there!  Apparently I've been in another non-wordy mood, but I'm going to attempt to do a little catching up.

It's been a family month as we've attended several events featuring family members.  Our littlest one, Daniel, graduated from his first year of preschool May 13 and we were entertained by a musical about the solar system.  Such a roomful of cuties!  And here's our little man:

Daniel's Preschool Graduation

We are so thankful we can attend so many events our grandchildren are a part of.  Cameron and Keaton's school put on a musical in which Keaton took part, and a Readers' Theater in which Cameron took part. We enjoyed both!

On Saturday of Mother's Day weekend we drove to my parents' house to celebrate Dad's 92nd birthday (which had been that Monday) and Mother's Day with them. Bruder Bear was up and it was such a fun day of visiting and eating.  I made a poor man's cake and a potato salad and Bruder Bear grilled pork chops.  We made a good team!  

Last weekend was spent attending the wedding of Bruder Bear's younger daughter, Kirsten.  We drove Mom and Dad over and had a great time at the rehearsal dinner Friday night at Kirsten's house in the Tri-Cities and then on Saturday afternoon drove to a beautiful winery outside of Walla Walla where we watched and as Kirsten and Tim were married.  Such a special time with family!

Eric, Keaton, Ann, Daniel and Cameron

Kirsten and Tim with Mom and Dad

The newlyweds!

My niece Jennifer and her family were up from Texas for the wedding and on Monday she and her two little boys drove to my parent's house to spend a few days (her husband, Greg, had had to fly back to work on Sunday). Wednesday was spent here and it gave Ann and me a little more time to become acquainted with baby James and for Grant and Daniel to get to play.  

Grant and Daniel decorate the driveway

Ann and James

Jennifer and James

So blessed to spend time with family!  ♥

Scones

There used to be a little hole-in-the-wall breakfast and lunch spot here in town, and Dan and I loved to go there on Saturday mornings to have breakfast.  The lady who owned the place was also the cook/baker and we loved her scones, especially her lemon poppy seed ones. Mmmm...

But as things go, running a one-woman hole-in-the-wall restaurant is a sure way to make a person tired, very tired, and eventually the owner called it quits, took an eight-hour-a-day job, and found rest. We were left scone-less.  Then a bakery opened in town and they featured scones, usually good ones, but the owner played around with the ingredients and one never knew what the day's offering would be. Some were not so tasty.  Eventually this bakery went out of business for the same reason the restaurant did: the owner wanted a life and some sleep.  Scone-less.  Again.

Meanwhile our daughter had been given a recipe for scones.  By me.  The counselor at our school was a gifted baker and often brought treats to share with those of us in the trenches.  One day she brought in some killer scones and I was able to get her recipe. Except when we made them, they tasted not so good.  I finally realized the counselor was an instinctive baker and she made changes that seemed so natural to her that she didn't even realize she'd made them.

I wrote the recipe off, but daughter Ann (also a scone lover) was determined to see if she could come up with something that worked.  After weeks of tinkering, she did it.  Her new recipe made delicious scones and I made them frequently for a while and then they drifted off my radar.  

This morning I had a hankering for scones and had some extra time before breakfast while Dan was off doing an early morning hand-off of a forestry project he'd been working on.

Scones are biscuit-like in that the butter is cut into the dry ingredients before the liquid is added.  This process has never been something I've enjoyed; in fact, I'd say it sometimes keeps me from making biscuits and scones. But somewhere, maybe from the Pioneer Woman, I saw a terrific idea:  use a cheese grater to grate the butter! So I tried it this morning and it worked like a charm; it literally cuts the work time in half! I see more, many more, scones in our future.

We make drop scones rather than making a circle and cutting wedges.  It's much easier and I confess to liking the process of breaking off a craggy chunk and popping it in my mouth.  They are pretty good sized because the rack pictured above is 12 x 18" and twelve just fit on it. (We'd already eaten three when I snapped the photo.)

Ann said I could share the recipe, so here it is:

Scones

1 1/2 cups white flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 tsp baking soda

Mix above together until butter is chopped up fine

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 cup buttermilk (or 1 T vinegar with milk to
 equal 1 cup)

1 cup dried fruit or berries

1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract

Stir above into flour and butter mixture.  Mix until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Drop onto greased baking sheet (18 x 13" half sheet pan is perfect) making 12 mounds.  Sprinkle with coarse sugar.  Bake at 400 for about 17 minutes.  Remove to cooling rack, let cool for a few minutes and enjoy! 

Interestingly, I ran into the hole-in-the-wall lady at the grocery store recently, mentioned her scones and she said she'd send me her recipe.  She did, but it had two tablespoons of baking powder and a teaspoon of salt which I knew would be bad news in the sodium department.  Ann's recipe has a very small amount in comparison. WIN!  ♥