Oct. 20th ~ International Chefs Day

International Chefs Day was started by the Late Chef Dr. Bill Gallagher in 2004.  Today's purpose is to celebrate chefs and spread awareness about eating healthy.

I found a fascinating website - World Chefs.  The website is full of information and events to include today's celebration.

Now for some of my favorite "Chef" Competitions...

Great British Menu (can be streamed for free on Tubitv)

Top British chefs compete against each other and are scored by a panel of acclaimed judges.

The Final Table (can be streamed on Netflix)

Teams of chefs vie to impress some of the world's toughest palates.

There are others but these are my favorite International competitions.

My favorite "chef" quote - "Chefs don't make mistakes; they make new dishes."  Elizabeth Brigg

Here's to International Chefs Day!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Oct. 19th ~ National Seafood Bisque Day

Happy National Seafood Bisque Day!  Bisque you ask?  Dictionary.com defines it as "a thick cream soup, especially of puréed shellfish or vegetables."

Bowl is Pfaltzgraff's Naturewood pattern.

While Longhorn Steakhouse calls this dish a chowder, it reminds me of a Bisque.  Today's "National Day" was reason enough for me to do a curbside order.

Buy online - I did find a few Bisques to buy online at Amazon (I'll add links later) and I found Tomato Bisque in our grocery stores.

Recipe - I found a recipe online for "Super Easy Shrimp Bisque" at 100 Days of Real Food.

Happy "National Seafood Bisque Day" everyone!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Oct. 18th ~ National Chocolate Cupcake Day

National Chocolate Cupcake Day - celebrating Chocolate Cupcakes is right up my alley.

Apparently Amelia Simmons wrote the first American cookbook, American Cookery.  Published in 1796 (Hartford, CT) and the cupcake was born.

I bought the cookbook (Kindle and Print).  The recipe is titled - "A light Cake to bake in small cups".  The recipe calls for... 1/2 pound of sugar, 1/2 pound of butter, rubbed into 2 pounds of flour, one glass of wine, one do (ditto - glass) rose water, 2 do (ditto - glass) emptins, a nutmeg, cinnamon and currants.

I love this!  The cookbook has a glossary and I'm thankful because I didn't know what "do" or "emptins" were.  Emptins were "semiliquid prepared yeast".

Ths Hostess company was the first to mass produce cupcakes in 1919 and they're still producing today.

Thanks to all who create and bake cupcakes.  Especially today on "National Chocolate Cupcake Day"!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Widowhood ~ God is with me

This week has been a tough week.  It was filled with some super things and some disappointments.  I found myself struggling.  I miss my husband - I really, really do.  This week was a time when his wisdom and down to earth thinking along with some bad words would have solved a few things for me.

Today I cried my way through the Spanish Communion song.  I didn't mean to but God touched my heart and there we were.  We sang one of my favorite songs - Pescador de Hombres.  As we sang, the words "O Lord, with your eyes set upon me, gently smiling, you have spoken my name; all I longed for I have found by the water, at your side, I will seek other shores", I fell apart.

 

Knowing that Jesus was speaking my name and I was surrounded by some of the dearest people I've ever known...I just cried and cried.  I try to stay strong - I think I've done a good job.  Today - the love of God, the love of my church family - it was my un-doing and I'll forever be grateful!

Thank you - all of you who love me on the good days and the bad days.  I'm so very blessed to have you in my life!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Songs in My Life ~ Thy Word is A Lamp Unto my Feet

 "Thy Word is Lamp Unto My Feet" - (Psalm 119:105)

I have sung this song so often over the years.  It never fails to speak to my heart and declare my love for God and my trust in Him.  (Psalm 119:105)

Photo by daniel petreikis on Unsplash

I spent a while pondering the thought of two lights.  I wondered why there were two lights.  Then one night I was outside and there was a tall light - it was helping me see the entire path ahead of me.  I also had my flashlight to see what was right in front of me and then it hit me.  Two lights!  I get it!

Photo by Julia Florczak on Unsplash

I was so thankful at that moment for a wonderful Heavenly Father that gave us His Word as a "lamp" for our feet and a "light" for our path!

I'll never be the same after that moment.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Songs In My Life ~ I'll Never Be Lonely Again, Never Again

I'm doing good.  I miss my Bill - a lot - but I'm doing good.

As I walked out of my pantry tonight, I thought, "I'm on my own, but I'm not alone."

Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash

I think every Christian that lives a daily life loving God and thankful for what Jesus did for us on the Cross shares this feeling.  I found myself singing an old song - used to sing it as a young child.  It means even more to me now.

Here's the YouTube link and the lyrics are below.  Just as I sang this as a child who loved Jesus with all of her heart - I'm still singing it.  I'll never be lonely again, never again.  You don't have to be either.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swm6Bs1TaQ4

Lonely days and lonely nights,

Filled with despair,

Caused me to long for

Someone to care;

Then I heard Christ say to me;

"This promise I've made:

Lo! I am with you

Now and forever,

Be not afraid."

Chorus

I'll never be lonely again,

Never again,

For I have opened

My heart's door to Him.

So I'll brush away the tears

And forget my

Foolish fears

I'll never be lonely again,

Never again.

If you're longing for a friend,

Loving and true,

Turn to the Savior

He waits for you;

He will do the same for you

As He did for me;

He'll never leave you,

Never forsake you,

Trust Him and see.

Chorus

I'll never be lonely again,

Never again,

For I have opened

My heart's door to Him.

So I'll brush away the tears

And forget my

Foolish fears

I'll never be lonely again,

Never again.

My Husband was a Genius...Logical

I loved having my girls and their families visit after my husband passed.  It was a good reunion and they helped me with a lot of things around the house.  One monstrous thing to deal with was the huge, gigantic desk Bill built for himself.  His favorite saying was..."I could sit on it."  Considering he was 250# that was quite a statement.

I loved something my son-in-law said as he took it apart for me.  He said, "Bill put it together so logically, it was easy to take apart logically."  That made my heart very happy.  Thank you, Bill, for your genius.  You did everything so well and I love you for it.

Thank you, Adam, for getting the huge desk out and giving me a new office to work in and teach in.  Life is good.

Thanks for visiting!  Reia