Friday 29 January 2010

Friday Musings . . .



A little laughter, a little song.

A little teardrop
When things go wrong.
A little calm,
And a little strife.
A little loving . . .
And that is LIFE.
~Helen Steiner Rice

Oh, I do love the poems of Helen Steiner Rice. She always manages to say things perfectly with wit, wisdom, sensitivity and passion. Born in the year 1900, she was acclaimed as "America's beloved inspirational poet laureate". No stranger to sorrow, her father died when she was 18 from the Spanish Flu, and her banker husband committed suicide after the great Wall Street crash . . . somehow she was able to rise above her sorrows and penn wonderful poems filled with faith and inspiration to all who read them. The strong faith she had in God and the ability she had to express deep emotion have given her poems timeless appeal. For millions of readers the world over, her poetry is a living testimony to the reality of God’s action in human lives. She died in 1981, but her poetry still brings much pleasure and comfort to all who read it. I don't think there is a person alive who hasn't read something that she has written and loved it, or been able to apply it to their own lives in some way. She wrote from the heart and that always appeals to the heart, don't you think?



I am right at the pinnacle of my busy work weekend. It all kicks off today. It's quite exciting really. I just love it when I get to stretch my abilities like this. My hip and back complain about it all, but I am thankfully able to work through the pain most days. It is pouring bucket loads out there this morning, but I am just thankful it isn't snow, which it could so easily be this time of year! If I haven't been visiting your pages like I normally do, don't think I have forgotten you. I am just uber busy this week and haven't had a lot of time for blog hopping. If you haven't done so already, please hop over to my Blossom Times page to get in on the One World One Heart Giveaway over there. It's going on until February 15th.

And with that I must dash! I hope you all have a great Friday! I won't go without leaving you with a tasty recipe though. Who out there doesn't like a tasty burger. These are simple, but delicious. Adapted from the delicious cookery book, which celebrates that great American tradition, The American Diner Cookbook by Elizabeth McKeon & Linda Everett. (A treasure trove of roadside epicurean delights found on diner menus across America!)



*Deluxe Burgers*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Who needs Burger King when you can make these at home!

1 1/2 pounds ground round
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp garlic salt
4 tsp mayonnaise
2 tsp mustard
4 hamburger buns
lettuce
1 medium tomato sliced



Blend the ground round, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice together in a bowl, mixing thoroughly. Shape into 4 equal sized patties. (Here's a tip. If you want them to turn out nicely flattened when cooked, make the middles thinner than the outsides but indenting a groove in the middle of the pattie with your thumbs)

Heat a non stick skillet until very hot. Sprinkle garlic salt in the centre. Place the patties in the hot skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and sear both sides. Reduce the heat once more and cook for 3 minutes or until done through as you like them.

Spread the bottoms of burger buns with the mayonnise and mustard. Top each with a burger. Place the lettuce and tomato on top and serve.

Note - I also like to serve some thinly sliced onions and sweet pickle relish with mine. A slice of process cheese slapped on top is also very delicious!



This was a Marbled Fudge Cake. If you'd like the tasty recipe, hop on over to The English Kitchen to check it out! mmmmm . . . tis very scrummy yummy!

15 comments:

  1. Good Morning Marie,

    I hope things go very well for yout today and for the rest of the weekend. Take care.

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  2. Good Morning dear
    I am just dropping a quick line before I plop into bed tonight. We had a great shift at the temple but it is late and I am really tired. I put your name on the prayer list tonight. I figure you can use a little boost for your 3 super busy days. Good luck. I will be thinking of you with love and best wishes. Love, Lura

    P.S. that burger looks so good. I wish I had one right now!

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  3. Hi, dear Marie! Hope the super-busy weekend goes well for you... Boosting you with some ((LOVE & HUGS)) LOVE YOU HEAPS :o)

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  4. NOTHING BEATS A GOOD BURGER!
    HOPE THE WEEKEND GOES QUICK FOR YOU...

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  5. My maternal grandma was a wonderful woman - a Christian with a kind heart and a ready laugh. I spent lots of time with her when I was little - weekends full of jam or pie making, shopping for an Easter hat, singing hymns at the pump organ, both of us in the same bed reading books and eating the mints she kept under her pillow. When I moved to NS, I would often buy her little books of Helen Steiner Rice; she loved them. Now I have them. Thank you for bring back a lovely bunch of memories of my Nanny!

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  6. Did you make the buns, too? The buns look amazing!

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  7. Happy rainy Friday Marie! I hope your weekend goes well!

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  8. YUM...A GOOD OLD CHEESEBURGER, ALWAYS GOOD! I DID NOT KNOW ALL THAT ABOUT HER, I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED HER POETRY TOO, HAVE A GREAT DAY ANS COME SAY HI :D

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  9. I love HSR and have many books filled with her lovely poetry. I pull them out and read them often and share them from time to time too. What a blessing it is for us to have her writings. She truly wrote from the heart. I hope your long days are not too hard on you and that you are able to endure the hours on your feet with little pain and more SMILES than anything.

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  10. Marie, I do hope everything goes well. Has your package arrived yet? Please let me know when it does. Hope it will come today or tomorrow - it has some surprises that would sure help your feet! Much love - Raquel XO

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  11. Good morning, Marie! Hope you get to calm down a little very soon! I understand....that's how my next few days will be as well! No rest for me!

    Love that hamburger--sounds delicious even this early in the morning! Much love to you, and hope you get a few seconds to relax today!

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  12. have a great friday marie-sounds like you'll have a busy weekend! busy is good, right? :) sometimes anyways...loved the poem and thanks for sharing the background on the poet. i should stop wallowing in my own self pity this week. i've been complaining way too much. so many people experience things way harder than illnesses and busted ankles:)

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  13. I love HSR too Marie one of my favourites.I hope your back and hip pain eases and stands the hours you will be working.I love a burger from time to time, but they has to be homemade,like the one you are serving up.Yours are very similar to the ones I make myself.Enjoy your weekend even though a busy one.Take Care God Bless Kath xx

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  14. I am not too keen on burgers although I don't mind home made ones because you know what's in them.

    I do wish I could wangle an invite to one of Missus's luncheon parties. What a happy well-fed bunny I would be!

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  15. It is always such a pleasure to visit your blog. Beautiful words...beautiful pictures. Thank you Marie!

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