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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

"A - Z" is for Quaker Alphabet Soup . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,
Let me now go to the field,
and glean ears of corn after him
In whose sight I shall find grace.
And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."
Ruth 2:2  KJV
 
The idea for this particular post has been on my list since the very beginning. My thought that was this post might be a fun way to end this challenge! So, here I go . . .

“A-Z” is for Quaker Alphabet Soup . . . some Quaker Acronyms! Acronyms – are a series of capital letters that stand for a group of words.

Most Quaker Friends will know what at least some if not most of these acronyms are, but for my non-Quaker friends and family . . . this may not make a bit of sense to any of you. Some of these acronyms are ‘universal’ that is that they are more global – known by most if not all Friends. Others are more regional or local or only used by small groups of Friends. And yet others will have many variations.

Many of these acronyms will be better known by Friends in the United States or those associated with FUM (Friends United Meeting). I found these by looking on various Quaker websites.

Some Quaker Acronyms
  • ACFIA: Associated Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs
  • AFSC: American Friends Service Committee
  • AMO: African Ministries Office
  • AVP: Alternatives to Violence Program
  • CE: Christian Education
  • CFSC: Canadian Friends Service Committee
  • CM&E: Christian Ministry & Evangelism
  • EFCI: Evangelical Friends Church International (formerly EFI)
  • EFM: Evangelical Friends Mission
  • EMES: Europe & Middle East Section (of FWCC)
  • ESR: Earlham School of Religion
  • FAHE: Friends Association for Higher Education
  • FCE: Friends Council on Education
  • FCL: Friends Committee on Legislation (a state version of FCNL)
  • FCNL: Friends Committee on National Legislation
  • FCRP: Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology
  • FCUN: Friends Committee on Unity with Nature
  • FCS: Friends Committee on Scouting
  • FDS: Friends Disaster Service
  • FGC: Friends General Conference
  • FHA: Friends Historical Association
  • FJ: Friends Journal (publication of FGC)
  • F&P: Faith & Practice
  • FTC: Friends Theological College (Kenya)
  • FUM: Friends United Meeting
  • FUP: Friends United Press
  • FWCC: Friends World Committee for Consultation – World Office, Africa Section, Asia-West Pacific Section, Europe & Middle East Section and Section of the Americas
  • M&C: Ministry & Council
  • MD&N: Meeting Development & Nurture
  • M&O: Ministry and Oversight
  • MM: Monthly Meeting
  • P&CSC: Peace & Christian Social Concerns
  • PM: Preparative Meeting
  • PME: Pastoral Ministry Excellence
  • QCEA: Quaker Council on European Affairs
  • QEW: Quaker Earthcare Witness
  • QHCC: Quaker Hill Conference Center
  • QL: Quaker Life (publication of FUM)
  • QM: Quarterly Meeting
  • QM: Quaker Men
  • QMI: Quaker Men International
  • QPSW: Quaker Peace and Social Witness (Britain)
  • QRT: Quaker Religious Thought
  • QTDG: Quaker Theological Discussion Group
  • QUF: Quaker Universalist Fellowship
  • QUIP: Quakers United in Publications
  • QUNO: Quaker United Nations Office
  • RSoF: Religious Society of Friends
  • RSWR: Right Sharing of World Resources
  • SPICE: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community and Equality – Quaker Testimonies
  • USFW: United Society of Friends Women
  • USFWI: United Society of Friends Women International
  • YF: Young Friend(s)
  • YM: Yearly Meeting

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Recipes for the letter "A-Z" begin with Gooseberry Pie – Mooresville Friends Meeting’s USFW (United Society of Friends Women) decided to publish a new cookbook this year, it made its debut at our annual Fall Bazaar, November 1, 2014. Several members of the group asked me to please include Aunt Sylvia’s (see “X” is for X-Stitch post) Gooseberry Pie recipe. I looked and couldn’t find any of her cookbooks and have no idea what happened to them. I even called my mother-in-law a few months ago and we concluded that since Aunt Sylvia had gooseberry bushes in her backyard, she must have canned them ready to put into her pies . . . so who knows what kinda recipe she might have used! So, no Gooseberry Pie recipe was included.

As I went through my Grandma Meller’s (my mom’s mother) recipe box, back in early November, I was surprised to find a Gooseberry Pie recipe there! Wondering why I haven’t found one in my mom’s, as her cousin, Weir and his wife, Mary, had gooseberry bushes in their backyard when I was a kid, and we had gone to pick some a time or two, so I would have expected to find the recipe in my mom’s recipe box. I’ve typed exactly what my Grandmother had typed on her recipe card, exactly as she wrote it – although I have highlighted all the ingredients. There are several versions for Gooseberry Pie given here, so one paragraph is all you need to follow for one pie.

The second recipe I’m including with this post is called What Is It . . . an all-time favorite from my childhood from very early on. I hope that you’ll try it at least once and let me know what your favorite flavor combination is!
 
Gooseberry Pie
Grandma Meller’s Recipe Box

For each make: 2- 9 inch pie crusts – top & bottom crusts.

1)   Clean & wash 4 cups gooseberries. On the bottom pie crust put 1 Tablespoon flour, ½ cup sugar & 1 teaspoon tapioca, mix together. Mix berries with 1 ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon tapioca, a pinch of salt, 4 Tablespoons water & 2 Tablespoons melted butter (or margarine). Pour it in the pie shell, put on top crust, cut slits in it. Bake at 450˚F for 15 minutes, then @ 350˚F for 30 minutes.

2)   Fresh gooseberries: Put 2 cups gooseberries in cold water & heat through. Drain them. Add walnut of butter (margarine) a pinch of salt, 2 Tablespoons flour & 1 ¼ cup sugar. Stir until sugar & flour are moist, & butter (margarine) in sm. Pieces. Pour into pie crust the slits. Bake until liquid bubbles up through.

3)   Remove blossom end & stem from other end, after washing them. Line pan with rich pastry & sprinkle a thick layer of flour. Put in the berries, cover generously with flour & 1 ½ cup of sugar. They are very tart. Dot with butter (margarine). Put on top crust & bake @ 350˚F for 1 Hr.

4)   It is hard to get fresh ones; I used frozen ones or canned (gooseberries) -in heavy syrup & cook until thick; after adding about 3 Tablespoons minute tapioca to the syrup. Remove from head & add 2 Tablespoons butter (margarine) then berries & pour into pastry shell. Add top crust & bake @ 425˚F for 50 minutes.
 
What Is It
(makes 9 servings)
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
1 small box instant butterscotch pudding
1 envelope Dream Whip topping
1 box of graham crackers
4 ½ cups milk, divided
½ teaspoon vanilla
 
Layer 1: Line bottom of an 8x8-inch glass baking dish with graham crackers.
 
Layer 2: Mix chocolate pudding according to package directions, and carefully pour over top of graham crackers.
 
Layer 3: Add another layer of graham crackers directly on top of chocolate pudding. Chill.
 
Layer 4: Mix butterscotch pudding according to package directions, and carefully pour over top of graham crackers. Chill.
 
Layer 5: Mix Dream Whip according to package directions, and carefully spread over top of butterscotch pudding. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 12-24 hours before serving.
 
Cut into 9 squares.
 
This was our favorite combination of flavors ~ and the original version that my mom use to make. Try replacing the butterscotch pudding with strawberry or any combination you like! Best to use the darkest color of pudding on the bottom. Be sure to let it sit, so that the graham crackers have a chance to get soft.

 
 
 

Sunday, January 18, 2015

"Z" is for Zip Line . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,
Let me now go to the field,
and glean ears of corn after him
In whose sight I shall find grace.
And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."
Ruth 2:2  KJV 


Walking out to the
climbing tower
and zip line
‘Z’ is for Zip Line . . . yep, zip line! We not only have a Gaga Ball pit up at Quaker Haven Camp (Syracuse, Indiana, USA), but we also have a zip line and one needs only to make their way to the top of the climbing tower to get to it! I’ll tell you right now that I have never climbed the climbing tower or gone down the zip line while at Quaker Haven.
 

Climbing tower
and zip line
from a distance
The campers must hike out to the climbing tower and zip line, which is quite a hike from the cabins, where they’ll be welcomed by several Quaker Haven staffers when they arrive. The campers will receive instructions and in putting on the necessary safety equipment.
 
Camper at the top
of the climbing tower
The climbing tower is 50 feet tall and has three paths that can be climbed – with different degrees of difficulty. The zip line runs from the top of the climbing tower down a 600 foot tree lined path. Youth need to be at least 10 years old to fly down the zip line.

Climbing tower
and zip line
close up
The climbing tower and zip line are options for some of the campers during the summer. Campers in Adventure Camp (5th & 6th graders) may choose the climbing tower during free time. Junior High and High School campers may choose to go up the climbing tower and ride down the zip line during their free time. Friends and outside groups may contact Quaker Haven Camp at http://quakerhaven.com/ and schedule a time to use the climbing tower and/or zip line for a fee.
 
So, if you ever find yourself in or around Quaker Haven why not take a hike and check out the zip line on top of the climbing tower! 

Having some fun
on the way back
 
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Recipes for ‘Z’ digging through my mom’s recipe box I found Zesty Pot Roast which is totally awesome and some of my mom’s favorite zucchini recipes – I don’t eat zucchini as it doesn’t seem to ‘like’ me, but my mom loved zucchini and was always looking for recipes that called for zucchini – especially in the summer when it was fresh from the garden! I remember her trying out different ways to freeze cut and shredded zucchini for use during the winter months. So, looking through mom’s recipe boxes I found recipes for two very different zucchini breads and Zucchini Provençale.
 
 
Zesty Pot Roast
1 cup tomato juice
2 Tablespoons prepared mustard
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon crushed basil
1 cup crushed oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon celery salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 pounds beef pot roast
Shortening
 
Combine all ingredients except roast and shortening. Pour mixture over meat and marinate, covered, in refrigerator 24 hours, or overnight, turning occasionally. Drain meat. Brown in shortening in heavy kettle. Place on low rack, add marinade and simmer, tightly covered, 3 hours or until meat is tender. (A little water may be added if gravy becomes too thick.) Add carrots, onions and potatoes the last 40-50 minutes of cooking, if desired.
 
 
Zucchini Bread
(makes 2 loaves or 1 9x13 inch pan)
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup chopped nuts
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups peeled and sliced zucchini (remove large seeds)
 
Preheat oven to 325˚F. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans or 9x13x2 inch pan.
 
Beat eggs till fluffy and light. Add oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda and cinnamon. Add to zucchini mixture. Add nuts last.
 
Bake loaf pans for 1 hour or a little longer (till firm). If using 9x13x2 inch pan bake for 50 minutes or till firm.
 
Can use ½ cup pineapple instead of nuts.
 
 
(Chocolate Chip) Zucchini Bread
(makes two loaves)
3 large eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups finely grated zucchini (drain after grating)
½ cup pineapple - optional
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces (or less) chocolate chips
 
Beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla until thick in bowl. Stir in zucchini. Add pineapple if desired. Add flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda and beat in lightly. Add chocolate chips.
 
Bake in well-greased coffee tins (1/2 full) or 2 loaf pans – about 1 hour at 350°F.
 
Zucchini Provençale
(serves 8)
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup salad oil
2 pounds zucchini, cut
4 tomatoes, cut up
1 green pepper, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
¼ cup parmesan cheese
 
In skillet, sauté onion and garlic in salad oil. Add zucchini, tomatoes, green pepper, salt and pepper. Cook until tender.
 
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving.