MY LATEST WATERCOLOR PAINTING

I just had another painting from a class by a local artist, Randal Anderson.  This one was of floral picture.  I took some liberties with mine, printing out a picture of the flower from the Nebraska Botanical Society.  The flower is native to the grasslands of Nebraska and is called the Penstemon and is very pretty.  Anyway, it is quite different from the picture of Randal's painting.

QUICK & EASY LEMON CHICKEN & RICE

This is another easy and quite good recipe.  

INGREDIENTS:  1/2 cup Italian dressing.  1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips.  1 cup chicken broth.  1 cup small broccoli florets.  1 red pepper, cut into strips.  1 cup thinly sliced carrots.  2 cups Minute brown rice, uncooked.  1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning.  2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese.  

DIRECTIONS:  (1)  Heat dressing in large skillet on med-high heat.  Add chicken.  Cook and stir 1 minute.  (2)  Add broth, broccoli, red pepper and carrots.  Bring to a boil.  (3)  Stir in rice.  Return to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Cover.  Simmer 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Let stand 5 minutes.  Stir in lemon pepper seasoning.  Sprinkle with cheese.  I added some chopped pecans with the broth, etc. just because we had some and that was good.  This is good and tastes just as good reheated later.  

ENJOY. 

BERRY EASY COBBLER

This simple recipe is yummy.  This is good warm or cold, with or without ice cream.  

INGREDIENTS:  1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1-1/2 tsp baking powder, 3/4 cup milk, 1/3 cup butter melted, 2 cups fresh blueberries, 1/3 cup sugar for the topping. 

DIRECTIONS:  1.  In a medium bowl, combine the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and baking powder.  Add milk and melted butter.  Stir until just combined.  2.  Spread batter in a greased 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish (2 quart square).  Scatter blueberries evening over batter.  Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1/3 cup sugar.  3.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion near the center comes out clean.  4.  Serve warm with ice cream or frozen  yogurt, if you like.  Makes 10 servings.  

MOTHER ROGERS SETTLES INTO ASSISTED LIVING

I made a quick trip to Indiana to help my mother, Lucy, move into an assisted living room at a very nice place, The Hampton Oaks.  We moved some of her pictures and furniture, her TV, a couple of lamps and got her a new lift chair.  She is happy there, and so are we.  

GRANDMA LUCY AT ALUMNI BANQUET 2009

Mother sent me a picture of her and Edith at the Banquet where they got the honor of being the oldest grads there.  Representing their class of 1933, this is their 76th year anniversary.  I bet in those 76 years they have not missed may of these annual Scottsburg Alumni Banquets.  I think they both look pretty darned good.  I hope I look that good when I am 92.  

GRANDDAUGHTER GERTIE PETERSON

I drove up to Vermillion to deliver a "lefty" ball glove to Gertie and watch her play her first T-Ball game.  I got a really good picture of her in the dugout.  

MEALTIME PRAYER SUGGESTION

I am reading a good, little book "The Whispers of Angels" by Annette Smith and in one of the short stories her father finishes every mealtime prayer with "Father, we pray that each day will find us, in some way, a blessing to our fellowman."  I think this is a very good prayer.  Let's all go out and be a blessing to someone today.