Carne Asada

Today is Cinco de Mayo and I wanted to share a Mexican Recipe with you. In elementary school growing up in the Los Angeles area of Southern California we would always have a celebration at school on this day. We learned the Mexican Hat Dance and enjoyed performing it at our assembly. Cinco de Mayo is a date of importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the “Batalla de Puebla” came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day, September 16, 1810 is. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale in the U.S.A. than in Mexico.

Carne Asada (or Pollo Asada)

A great marinade for steak! You can even use it for chicken for Pollo Asada. Use skirt steak or flap meat, but any thin cut steak would work. I used what is called Flank Steak here in the Washington State. This recipe is for up to 4 pounds of meat. Cook time does NOT include marinating time. You can use 4 pounds of chicken breast meat also.

Ingredients:

1 – lime juiced
1 – lemon juiced
1/2 cup orange Juice
2 tablespoons chili powder
1-l/2 tablespoons dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons ground cumin
5 cloves of garlic chopped
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 Bunch Cilantro, chopped (not stems)

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a 1-gallon ziploc bag.

Add meat, seal and massage marinade into meat.

Marinate in bag for up to 24 hours, turning and massaging frequently. 4-6 hours for beef and 2-4 hours for chicken would work fine, also.

Grill to medium rare for beef and of course for chicken till it’s cooked thoroughly.

Serve whole, sliced, or diced for tacos or burritos! Serve with beans, rice, corn tortillas and guacamole.

Because it wasn’t grilling weather I cooked this under the broiler for 8 minutes on each side and it was well done. If you like meat that is medium rare adjust the cooking time.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Celtic Cross

It’s time for Jenny’s Alphabe-Thursday the letter C.

When we decided on the venue for Katie and Andrew’s wedding next January we started a quest to find a Celtic Cross that we could have in a prominent location during the ceremony. We were going to have the wedding in a church with the reception elsewhere but things could get real complicated because my daughter married a Marine. We might have to change the date at the last minute so we wanted an all inclusive venue to make that change easier. The venue we chose has a military change clause. Since the venue is not a church we wanted to bring in this symbol that is important to our faith. Now if you are a believer you know that Believers are the church so wherever they are together is the church but we still thought it would be cool to include a cross on the wedding stage. Katie and I stumbled upon this cross at a roadside garden art fly by night kind of place. We paid someone for the cross who wasn’t the owner so we hope the owner eventually gets our check. So far the check hasn’t been cashed. We thought it was a good deal at $35.00.

Curious to see your choices for the letter C! Thank you Jenny for being a grand teacher of the Alphabet!

Thursday is Cinco de Mayo and I have a recipe for Carne Asada Marinade at Mennonite Girls Can Cook on Thursday. Click and cook and enjoy!

Pico de Gallo

This is a simple recipe with a wonderful fresh addition to any Mexican dish you make. It’s great for an appetizer with chips. You can also add avocado chunks to it for an extra depth of flavor.

This is a very simple recipe.

Equal parts diced onion, tomato, and chopped cilantro leaves. Add one jalapeno pepper finely diced. Make sure you seed the jalapeno pepper. Add juice from one half or a whole lime. Salt and Pepper to taste. I also added 1/2 teaspoon sugar.

If you start with more than 1 cup onion, tomato and cilantro you might want to add more jalapeno. It really depends on how hot you like your Pico de Gallo.

A Lighter Spring Table…

…set for dinner with good friends of ours.

It’s fun to set a pretty table but it’s even better to enjoy a meal with our dear friends around the table.

I’m linking to Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Anyone Need a Rock?

Do these guys really think they know more than Jesus?

I spotted this on the way to Canada on the side of the road. Right away these verses came to mind.

Matthew 24:35-37 (The Message)

“Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

“But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

“The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.

Sometimes I think Old Testament consequences would be good for men like this who keep giving dates and times to the Lord’s return. Fortunate for men like this that we are living in the age of grace. The problem is that men like these lead others astray. It’s also fortunate for me that I live in this age of grace. I’m not saying I do everything right…

Deut. 18:20-22 (NIV) “A prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously…”

Mat 24:3-5,10-11 (NIV) …”Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name,.. At that time many will turn away from the faith… and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

It’s good to know what the Bible teaches so you aren’t caught up believing false teachers…

Hatley Castle

The last stop on our Victoria tour with Pondside was Hatley Castle. I can imagine how beautiful this location would be for a wedding when everything is blooming.

I really do thank God for many wonderful people I’ve met through blogging and blossoming friendships that continue. Pondside is one of those people who I thank God for bringing into my life.

The 4 Bagdanov sisters together at a castle in a foreign country…how great is that!?

Even though everything was 2 weeks behind in blooming this year the Peacocks came out in all their glory to treat us to some beautiful color and grandeur!

This post is my finale to our Sister Weekend in Victoria, B.C.

Back to Victoria on Vancouver Island

It’s been a whole month since my sisters and I took our weekend trip to Victoria. I want to get back and finish my posts from the wonderful weekend we had. This post is all about the panoramic views we experienced during our time with the dear lady of Pondside.

Here we are looking out from the Gonzales Observatory towards the U.S.A.

This view is looking back towards the Inner Harbor of Victoria.

It was a little climb to get to our worthwhile view.

Here’s Pondside pointing out the castle we had visited the day before. From the observatory we drove through some beautiful neighborhoods . This next photo is of the Oak Bay War Memorial.

Municipal Engineer ASG Musgrave oversaw the project and sculptor Hames Saull, a former Canadian Airman, who made his home in Victoria after the war, was chosen to design the monument.

Using his wife as the model, Saull created the sculpture in concrete. – with a granite/concrete facing. It faces the water, standing nine feet tall on a rock outcropping with the Garry Oaks of Uplands Park as the backdrop. The designated site features the central figure (Mother Peace) standing looking down, her arms protecting the 97 names of Oak Bay’s 1939-1945 war dead. The inscription reads:
“Roll of Honour” “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

From here we arrived for lunch at Adrienne’s Tea Garden at Mattick’s Farm. It was good home cooking at this restaurant and we all enjoyed our choices. I was a real bad blogger and didn’t take one photo at lunch!

After lunch we drove to Mount Douglas Park to get some more great views.

We really were amazed at all we could see from Mount Douglas Park. On a clear day you can see Rainier, Mt. Baker, The Olympics and more.

My next posts from Victoria will include Hatley Castle where we enjoyed the grounds including some beautiful peacocks. I’ll finish up my Victoria posts with our last stop there.

Our Canadian friends head to the Polls today to cast their votes in their 41st National Election. Praying that the right people get voted into office!

Welcome May!

“Among the many buds proclaiming May
Decking the fields in holiday array.
Striving who shall surpass in braverie,
Marke the faire flowering of the hawthorne tree
Who finely clothed in a robe of white,
Fills full the wanton eye with May’s delight.”

~ Chaucer

This is a pear tree, not a hawthorn tree. I’m enjoying it’s white blossoms with pink. I’m linking this to Mary’s Mosaic Monday.

This upcoming week is full for me with an overnight trip to Canada for our Mennonite Girls Can Cook book release party on Friday. Then we have book signings in Canada on Saturday. The following week Dear and I head to Washington D.C. for 10 days for a business conference and sight seeing. My book give-away will be coming up after our D.C. trip.

I’ll make sure and give you lots of notice and time to leave a comment with a chance to win the book. Hope all is going well for you.

I can’t let the news pass my post by today. The mastermind of the 9-11 attack on the United States has finally been found and done away with. This was good news late Sunday here in the U.S.A. I’m praying for our Military and specifically our Marine Son In Law as the world waits to see what kind of reaction to this news there will be. Praying for protection from evil.

O God of Light ~ Hymn

O God of Light

O God of light, O God of love,
Shine on my soul from Heaven above!
Let sin appear in Thy pure ray
As black as on the judgment day;
Let perfect love apply the test,
And all that’s wrong make manifest.

O take Thy plummet and Thy line,
Apply them to this heart of mine,
And thus reveal each crooked place,
By contrast with true righteousness!
Let holy truth condemn each sham;
Show what Thou art, and what I am.

O smite and spare not, faithful God!
A Father’s hand still holds the rod;
O make my sin-stained conscience smart,
And write Thy law upon my heart
So plainly, that my will shall bow
In full surrender, here and now!

Work on in me Thy perfect will,
In me Thy promise, Lord, fulfill;
O make me quick to fight for Thee,
And set my soul in liberty!
My soul can rest in nothing less
Than in a spotless holiness.

Words: Arthur S. Booth-Clibborn, 1895.

FFF ~ The Royal Treatment!

Since Friday is the big day my Friday’s Fave Five are all about the Royal Wedding! I know some people are yawning or even mocking the event but I choose to embrace it with hopes and prayers that things will go differently for this young couple and that their marriage will last as long as Queen Elizabeth’s reign. She’s been around a long time people! Make sure and bop over to Susanne’s at Living to Tell the Story to join in the fun of Friday’s Fave Five.

Because you would have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out my five I’ll spell them out for you before you scroll down. 1. Queen Mary Tearoom 2. Tea 3. Rings 4. Pasty 5. Royal Weddings

On Wednesday after booking Katie and Andrew’s wedding venue we decided to have tea at the Queen Mary Tea Room to get in the mood for the upcoming wedding of William and Kate.

The Tea Room is getting ready for the big event and is hosting a viewing party from 1:00 A.M. till 4:00 A.M. They have a special Royal Romance Tea for the occasion and a signature bubbly.

Katie wore her Princess Di ring. Well it’s not really a Princess Di ring but it is very similar and it’s fun to see Princess Di’s ring on Kate Middleton’s finger. Our Katie got her ring several years ago passed down from her Aunt Lana.

We enjoyed Cornish Pasties with salad and a very lovely carrot ginger soup with coconut.

Of course there were souvenirs that you could purchase commemorating the Royal event.

I was tempted to get this mug to commemorate my Royal event this year!

I hope your week was a calm one instead of one filled with panic!

Are you going to watch Prince William and Kate’s wedding? We just gathered up a few of our British souvenirs and set them out for the wedding day. We even included the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The Beanie Baby is the Princess Di Bear called Princess.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage