Quaint Restaurant in Indiana
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Monthly Archives: February 2018
Plan or Insanity
Plan or Insanity
With plan in mind
You stand in line
With lack of guilt
The plan you built
You take a life
You take a wife
A teacher too
A child you knew
You plant the fear
To those too near
You stand in court
And try to abort
The notion true
Wasn’t really you
Should you escape
The crime of hate
If you choose to play
You must have to pay.
Written by my feelings,
Terry Shepherd
02/27/2018
Daily Prompt/ One Word Prompt
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/premonition/
The word for today; Premonition
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.
“he had a premonition of imminent disaster”
Why is it that a young man is allowed the space to walk into a public school and take people’s lives with a weapon such as a gun? Why is it that premonitions were felt and yet nothing was done about it?
This seems to be the case about the Florida school shooting.
Are we getting so used to violence in schools that we purposefully ignore the arrow-on hints? It was stated from various people that this man was unstable. He purchased weapons with a planned intent to hunt, hurt and kill.
I am blessed or lucky to not have lived near an area where these school shootings have occurred. I have heard on the news though of nearby school threats. I have learned to be very careful when I am out after dark. I try to be aware of my surroundings even in the daylight.
I do know that if I hear any hint of a threat; even made in a joking manner; I will take notice and report. I want everyone to not get used to this violence. I want everyone to listen to the conversation at hand. If you suspect or get that premonition; please don’t ignore. Maybe, you can help save lives, a life.
Lemon Whipped Cream Frosting
Lemon Whipped Cream Frosting
yield: 24 CUPCAKES
prep time: 20 MINUTES
Light and refreshing, this Lemon Whipped Cream Frosting recipe is the perfect addition to homemade lemon cupcakes.
INGREDIENTS:
- 24 lemon cupcakes, baked and cooled
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp lemon extract
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 tsp instant clear jel
DIRECTIONS:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat heavy cream with a whisk (attached to a stand mixer or a handheld electric mixer) for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar,lemon extract, lemon zest, and clear jel.
- Beat an additional 2-3 minutes until desired consistency.
- Frost cooled cupcakes and refrigerate for one hour. Serve cold and enjoy. Keep cupcakes in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
*I added 2 drops of yellow gel food coloring to my cupcakes to give them a bright color! This is optional.
Creamy Mushroom Meatloaf
Creamy Mushroom Meatloaf
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Prep
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Cook
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Ready In
Recipe By:Chef John
“This technique keeps the meatloaf moist, while fortifying the sauce with its flavorful drippings. Regardless, this technique will work with just about any meatloaf recipe out there.”
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cups shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary, chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 (2 1/2 pound) uncooked prepared beef, veal and pork meatloaf
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Melt butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in mushrooms and a pinch of salt; cook and stir until mushrooms begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in fresh rosemary. Add flour and stir to coat the mushrooms; cook and stir for about 3 minutes.
- Whisk in beef broth, 1/2 cup at a time, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Turn heat to high and bring the sauce to a simmer. Simmer a few minutes until sauce starts to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream.
- Slide prepared meatloaf into the sauce. Spoon sauce over the top of the meatloaf.
- Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 1 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
- Remove pan from the oven and gently remove meatloaf to a serving platter.
- Skim off any extra fat from the surface of the sauce.
- Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat to reduce until thick, about 5 minutes.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2018 Allrecipes.com
Printed From Allrecipes.com 2/26/2018
Printed From Allrecipes.com 2/26/2018
Daily Prompt/ One Word Prompt
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/imagination/
The word for today is Imagination
the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.
I live with Parkinsonism/Ataxia/Dystonia. If you are not familiar with this, let me explain. I have some Parkinson symptoms. Daily constipation, in face I spent most of the wee hours last evening in the hospital from this. I have internal tremors from my gut down throughout my legs. My legs get weak quick. I can barely write my name so that it is legible. My swallow muscle is getting weak. Choking is becoming more of an issue.
The Dystonia is an out of muscle control. My toes can curl almost totally under. I can make some head jerks or leg jerks that make me feel as if I am going to fall. The Ataxia is what I seem to suffer from the most. Falls is what Ataxia causes for me.
I can start off walking pretty good, but within a very short time, my legs grow weak and down I go. It doesn’t seem to matter how much I walk for exercise; my legs don’t change. If you come up behind me and lightly bump me, I am on the floor.
What am I getting at you ask? The word for today; Imagination. I am so very thankful that I can still type. I thank God that I can still be an advocate and help Multiple System Atrophy families and patients. I praise his name that I am still able to write books. I am writing my third book at present. I can not write my name, but I can still paint. I paint mainly from my imagination.
I have to sit to paint and sometimes I have to hold my canvas on my lap, but my fingers still work and I really enjoy what comes to life on the board. Lastly, I can still use my camera.
I was asked to do a photo shoot this past Friday of a special dinner party here where I live. I was able to do this and upload them to my Facebook. If you would like to see any or all of my photos, just hook-up with me. Here is my link;
https://www.facebook.com/terry.shepherd1
So although, I live daily with challenges; I am still blessed to be able to do the things that bring me joy in my life. Here are a few samples of my photos from this past weekend.
Daily Prompt/ One Word Prompt
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/congregate/
The word for today is; Congregate
con·gre·gate
verb
ˈkäNGɡrəˌɡāt/
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1.gather into a crowd or mass.“some 4000 demonstrators had congregated at a border point”
synonyms: assemble, gather, collect, come together, convene, rally, rendezvous, muster, meet, cluster, group “huge crowds of teary-eyed supporters congregated in front of the hospital”
And the people congregated together under the large, brown, dome tent. People came from all around the city. The voice echoed across the valley. Birds scattered as if a gun shot was bouncing off the walls. Squirrels hustled, beavers stopped gnawing, skunks carried their young to safety.
The blue skies turned a dark gray and the sun peeked through a small opening, not wanting to miss anything. People looked up to the skies as if waiting for the clouds to disappear and the Gods to come soaring through like wild mountain lions. And the man said;
Acts 20: 28-30
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,which he bought with his own blood.
29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
Places to Visit in my Home State; Indiana
Daily Prompt/One Word Prompt
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/astral/
The word for today is; Astral
Definition of astral
1: of, relating to, or coming from the stars
- astral influences
- unusual astral occurrences
Stars in my Eyes
Minding my own business
Thinking nothing much
When suddenly a thought appears
With the slightest human touch.
I stop what I am doing
I think about memories
I feel a sense of closeness
And brings me to my knees.
I look up to the heavens
I know you are right here
I reach up towards the stars
And I thank you for being near.
Written by,
Terry Shepherd
02/24/2018
Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites
Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites
yield: ABOUT 4 DOZEN
prep time: 45 MINUTES
total time: 45 MINUTES
A delicious, eggless treat, these Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites are no bake, and perfect for parties. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough sandwiched between two mini pretzel twists and dunked in chocolate!
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- 6 oz Ghirardelli Dark chocolate melting wafers, melted (according to package)
- 6 oz Ghirardelli White Chocolate melting wafers, melted (according to package)
- sprinkles, optional
DIRECTIONS:
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and well blended. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat in flour and salt. Fold in mini chocolate chips.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay a single layer of mini pretzel twists onto the parchment (about 48). Using a 1 Tbsp cookie scoop, drop a scoop of cookie dough onto each pretzel. When finished, top with a second pretzel.
- Freeze for about 15-30 minutes.
- Dip half of each pretzel bite into melted chocolate and return to parchment paper. Add sprinkles immediately. Allow to set (about 10 minutes) and enjoy!
*Store in refrigerator in a covered container for up to 5 days. These are best however within 48 hours, the pretzel tends to get soft/stale.
Who I am 