Friday 24 April 2009

Twelve Rules for Raising Delinquent Children



(An Orchard View from one of our upstairs windows)

  1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe that the world owes him a living.
  2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute.
  3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is 21 and let him "decide for himself."
  4. Avoid the use of the word "wrong." It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.
  5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around . . . books, shoes, and clothes. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.
  6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.
  7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.
  8. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?
  9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink, and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.
  10. Take his part against neighbours, teachers, and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.
  11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, "I never could do anything with him."
  12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will be likely to have it.
~Houston Police Department



There's a lot of food for thought there. I hope you didn't mind me sharing this with you today. I believe I know one or two children headed in this direction. Thank goodness they are not mine, but . . . then again, having said that . . . when they are old enough to be out and about, do they not then become every one's problem anyways???

One of the first cookbooks I ever bought was a paperback cookbook entitled, Madame Benoit Cooks at Home. I think it cost me all of $2.50 and it's cover is now quite tattered and worn. I've had it for a very long time as I believe I was only about 15 or 16 when I bought it. Madame Jehane Benoit was one of Canada's most famous chef's when I was growing up. She used to appear quite regularly on the afternoon show, "Take Thirty," and cookery articles of hers regularly appeared in the Star Weekly magazine. I used to love watching her and this is one of my very favourite cookbooks. I truly cherish it. Yesterday I made Todd this delicious Pork Chop recipe from it called the "Manitoba Special." They truly were delicious and as I popped that first mouthful into my mouth I said a silent thanks to Mme. Benoit and her wonderful tutelage during my youth.



*Manitoba Special*
Serves 4 - 6

Imagine a tasty pork chop, all tender and brown and baked all nestled into a bed of delicious fruity stuffing. Mme Benoit said that this recipe was a combination of Scandinavian and Mennonite cooking. I quite successfully downed the proportions to serve just the two of us. This was really scrumptious served with some tiny boiled new potatoes and some carrots on the side.

6 rib or blade pork chops, trim off the fat and save it for later
2 TBS all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
2 TBS diced pork fat
(Trimmings from the edged of the chops)
2 cups dry bread crumbs
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 apple, diced
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 TBS sage
1 egg, beaten
2 TBS butter, melted




Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter an 8 by 8 inch casserole and set aside.

Roll the chops in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper and paprika. Heat the pork fat in a large skillet and melt. Brown the chops in this melted fat until they are nicely browned on both sides.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. You may find you need a little bit of broth or stock to moisten it. I added about 1/2 cup of warm chicken stock. Place this mixture into the buttered casserole dish. Lay the browned chops on top. Cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer, until the chops are nicely tender and the stuffing is a bit browned.

Serve hot with your favourite vegetable accompaniments. Delicious!

10 comments:

  1. Good morning to you. Happy Friday. It will officially be Fri for me in 27 minutes. I better hurry and post this because I might turn into a pumpkin at midnight. We just got home from the temple and I just had to stop by and say hello before I fall into bed.

    After teaching high school for 22 years I can second what you wrote today. ... and sadly I met many students and parents that followed the guidelines you posted... they made my life miserable.

    The pork chops look delicious. I will give them a try.

    Have a great day.... I am off to dreamland. Love, Lura

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  2. Good Morning! As I read that list this morning I couldn't help but agree with what was written for sure. Sadly there are too many that go this route and then wonder what went wrong. I say you can never love a child too much, but there is a difference between loving and ruining a child.

    You have a lovely view of the orchard. I would think it smells heavenly too.

    Have a great Friday!
    'On Ya'-ma

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  3. Great post Marie!
    I am so loving those pork chops! The stuffing looks amazing.

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  4. Those 12 rules are dead on. Dinner looks delish!

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  5. Hi, Marie! A very funny in ironic ways, but also very, very sobering set of rules there! Perhaps it's just as well hubby & I don't have children...The love part is so easy, but the raising, oh dear, a challenge for sure. That dinner looks wonderful. I know hubby would love it! Hope you & Todd have a lovely weekend there. Dare I hope we get to chat on Sunday--do hope so! A busy week here, so we look forward to a little r & r this weekend. LOVE YOU HEAPS, dear friend :o) ((BIG HUGS))

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  6. I REALLY like the 12 rules you posted! Too true, too true!

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  7. Good thoughts today Marie. I know some kids heading in that direction too. so sad.

    Your pork chops look so tasty. I have some sitting in my fridge right now. I am going to make this - it looks wonderful!

    I hope you have some fun plans for this weekend. We are going to plant the garden! I am so excited!!! My kids are off to do Baptisms for the Dead tonight in the new temple. They are excited about it!

    XOXOX
    Jen

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  8. I'm printing off those 12 rules and take them to work and hang up after I show them to my hubby, maybe I 'll make him his own copy!! Did you get the email from me about printing the recipes?? I have boneless pork chops in the freezer Marie, would the work as well as the bone in?? Maybe I could fry a couple slices of bacon for the grease??

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  9. Hi Marie! Like Bunny, I find I can no longer print off recipes, with obvious problems when I'm trying to follow one!

    I wouldn't - couldn't - scale down the stuffing quantity. I'd have left it big enough for the 5000 and ate it all! That's how delish it sounds.

    I'm a bit hang 'em and flog 'em when it comes to over-indulgent parents letting their offspring get away with any old thing. The trouble is our Nanny state backs them up doesn't it? And then they go bleating on about zero tolerance doing no good. It would if it was a first resort instead of a last.
    Angie, xx

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  10. awesome list! love it. too many parents sadly do these things. . .

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