"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.