Steve's cabbage vegetable soup

Steve's cabbage vegetable soup

Ingredients/Shopping list:

1 head green cabbage (Don't use purple! - I have tried it, it is yucky!)

6 green onions (scallions)

2 red bell peppers (green works fine too - but the added color is nice)

1 whole stalk (bunch) of celery

2 large cans chopped tomatoes

1 package (envelope) onion soup mix

3 bullion cubes or equivalent

Instructions:

Chop up all vegetables and put in a 8 quart or larger stock pot or kettle. The size to cut them is from 1/4 inch to 1 inch - just however big you like vegetables in your soup.

Add the 2 cans tomatoes and the 3 bullion cubes (or paste or granules or whatever.)

Stir and add enough water to cover everything.

Bring to a fast boil and boil for 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to a simmer (slow boil) and continue cooking until vegetables are tender. (The cabbage and celery are the ones to look out for. I like mine cooked for about 30 minutes! Some people like them crispier.)

Add seasoning (like poultry seasoning or additional salt) if desired.

Enjoy a bowl of hot soup. It smells good and tastes good. And it uses more calories to process than it gives your body. This is a negative calorie food!

Let the rest of it cool, and then refrigerate. I like to put mine in pint size jars to make it easy to grab a couple before heading out for the day.

Presbyterian ruling elders & ordination

I am also preparing to be ordained and installed as a ruling elder at church, since I was recently elected to session. I am reading "Presbyterian Polity for Church Leaders" to prepare. (Yes, it does feel like a ginormous responsibility that is much bigger than I am prepared for. I am trusting in God that this is what He/She wants me to do and will guide me as long as I listen. May God bless me to always listen.)  

I found an article that I really like, so I am tucking it away in case I'd like to reread it.

Here is my favorite line in the article:
"To be ordained is to become a “rower” in the church’s boat, listening to the word of the coxswain, Jesus Christ, as he gives direction and marks the tempo for the way forward."

https://pres-outlook.org/2015/08/why-ordain-ruling-elders/

A picture of Ron, April, Kathleen, Pastor Bobbie, and me as April and I were ordained:

Grandma (Ellen) Deveraux's Gingersnap Recipe

Recipe as told by Wendy, Dave's wife. 

4.5-5 c flour 1 c sugar

1 c shortening ( don’t use butter)

1 egg

2 T vinegar

1/2 t salt

1 c molasses

2 t ginger

1 t cinnamon

1 t cloves

1.5 t baking soda

Preheat oven to 375* degrees. Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, vinegar and molasses. Beat well. Sift together flour ( I start with 4.5 cups), salt, soda and spices. Mix into creamed mixture. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.

Flour board and roll dough to 1/8” thick and cut with cookie cutter. Re-roll dough until all is used. Transfer to baking sheets. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for approximately 10 minutes. This will vary depending on how thick the dough is and the size of the cookie.

Cool on pans for a couple of minutes then transfer to cooling racks.

Grandma’s original recipe said you could use bacon grease if you don’t have shortening. It also said that you could use Karo Syrup or honey for the molasses. . I’ve never tried either of these.