Thank you for making 2017 great

Where did the year go? Suddenly it is December — again — and we realize that with giant strides we started in January and within a blink of an eye, 2017 is almost on its back! A big “Thank You” to each and every one of you, for any impact you had on my life this year. Especially for all the e-mails — without you, I’m sure that 2017 would have been extremely boring.

From my side, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas Season filled with Loving Wishes and Beautiful Thoughts. May 2018 mark the beginning of a Tidal Wave of Love, Happiness and Bright Futures. And to those who need someone special, may you find that true love.

To those who need money, may your finances overflow.

To those who need caring, may you find a good heart.

To those who need friends, I am still here for you.

Thanks for being my friend! Merry Christmas and God’s Blessing with all the best in 2018.

These are the most requested recipes over the past several years. -Agnes

Grilled Cheese French Toast

In the blender put 3 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon flour, and a pinch of salt. Blend and pour into a square baking dish. Dip 4 slices of bread into the mixture and coat. Heat butter in a skillet and brown bread on one side. Lay toast aside with cooked side up. Dip 4 more slices of bread and brown on one side. Cover the cooked side of 4 slices of toast with your favorite cheese and top with remaining toast with cooked side next to the cheese. Cook the sandwiches on other sides until they are is brown and cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve with apple butter.

Citrus Punch

1 cup lemon and lime juice (mix like you like it. I do half cup of each.)

1 small can frozen orange juice concentrate and 1 juice can water

1can (46 ounce) pineapple juice

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

Mix all together and freeze in ice cube trays. About 30 minutes before serving put frozen mixture in punch bowl and let sit. Stir until slushy and pour in 2 bottles (2 liter size) chilled ginger ale. Serve

Breakfast Tacos

8 (or more) flour tortillas (8 inch) Fold each and wrap in a square of foil. Heat in 325 degree oven.

1 pound hot sausage meat

1/2 small onion, minced

1 dozen eggs (whisk together like you are going to make scrambled eggs.)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 and 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or Jack cheese

Cook sausage meat and onion until done. Drain and stir eggs into skillet. Cook until eggs are set but still have moisture in them. Un-wrap tortilla and put egg/sausage mixture down center, sprinkle cheese on top, fold sides together and serve with taco sauce.

Black-Eye Pea Salsa (My children and grand-children love this)

2 cans black-eye peas (the dry peas that have been soaked, cooked and canned)

1 rib celery, small chopped

1 small bell pepper, small chopped

2 to 3 large tomatoes, small chopped.

1 small sweet onion, small chopped

2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice

1 small jar pace salsa, the heat taste you desire

Salt and pepper to taste

Few dashes hot sauce

Open peas, pour in colander drain and gently wash. Set aside to drain. Prepare vegetables and gently mix all in a large bowl. Add more lemon juice and salt, if needed. Cover and let sit at room temperature a short time before serving. Serve with fried corn cakes or corn chips. Keeps well in refrigerator.

White Chili (Substitute leftover Christmas turkey for chicken.)

4 cans (15 ounce) Great Northern Beans (drained, rinsed, and drained.)

6 cups chicken broth and water (half and half)

4 chicken bouillon cubes

2 medium sweet onions, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

2 small cans green chilies, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon red ground pepper

4 raw chicken breast, cubed

Monterey Jack Cheese, grated

Chopped Chives or green onion tops

In a large pot, heat oil; add chicken, onions and garlic; sauté lightly–until onions are tender. Add liquids and seasonings and slowly bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add beans and green chilies; return to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. NOTE: This can also be made by cooking the chicken, remove chicken from broth, and adding a pound bag of pre-soaked dry beans. For a richer tasting soup, add extra bouillon, but taste before salting.

The following Recipe for Laughter has had the most responses:

ACTS 2:38 Conceal Carry & an intruder. (I love compassionate Christian Seniors)

A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’ (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: ‘Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.’ ‘Scripture?’ replied the burglar. ‘She said she had an Ax and two 38’s!’

Send this to someone who needs a laugh today and remember to study your Bible, because knowing scripture can save your life — in more ways than one.

The following came to me from an email buddy.

Perspective: Remember: “The best sermons are lived, not preached.”

Real life stories teach you many things in life. This is excellent reading…based on true incidences both wonderful and inspirational.

1. Today, I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I’m working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said, “Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.”

2. Today, I asked my mentor – a very successful business man in his 70s- what his top 3 tips are for success. He smiled and said, “Read something no one else is reading, think something no one else is thinking, and do something no one else is doing.”

3. Today, after a 72 hour shift at the fire station, a woman ran up to me at the grocery store and gave me a hug. When I tensed up, she realized I didn’t recognize her. She let go with tears of joy in her eyes and the most sincere smile and said, “On 9-11-2001, you carried me out of the World Trade Center.”

4. Today, after I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying. And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face.

5. Today at 7 a.m., I woke up feeling ill, but decided I needed the money, so I went into work. At 3 p.m. I got laid off. On my drive home I got a flat tire. When I went into the trunk for the spare, it was flat too. A man in a BMW pulled over, gave me a ride, we chatted, and then he offered me a job. I start tomorrow.

6. Today, as my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mother’s hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simply said, “I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this more often.”

7. Today, I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had given him a kiss since I was a little boy.

8. Today, in the cutest voice, my 8-year-old daughter asked me to start recycling. I chuckled and asked, “Why?” She replied, “So you can help me save the planet.” I chuckled again and asked, “And why do you want to save the planet?” Because that’s where I keep all my stuff,” she said.

9. Today, when I witnessed a 27-year-old breast cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughter’s antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again.

10. Today, a boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, “I hope you feel better soon.”

11. Today, I was feeling down because the results of a biopsy came back malignant. When I got home, I opened an e-mail that said, “Thinking of you today. If you need me, I’m a phone call away.” It was from a high school friend I hadn’t seen in 10 years.

12. Today, I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadn’t eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, “We can share it.”
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