On Machines

"Right after my father died, I'd come up here a lot. I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too."

The battle is, in a way, all about finding the reason you are fighting it. You're here for a reason. Keep fighting.

Chicken Lo Mein

1 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 pound chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 sweet red pepper, cut into bite-size strips
1 small onion, cut into bite-size pieces
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 cups chicken broth
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp ginger
4 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained

In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil. Add chicken pieces and cook through. Add vegetables.



Saute until vegetables are tender. Add garlic powder and crushed red pepper.



In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, chicken broth, soy sauce, and ginger. Add to vegetables and heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Boil for about two minutes until sauce is thickened.



Add spaghetti noodles. Serve.

Berry Pie

Berry Pie
1 No Fail Pie Crust
5 cups berries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour

Prepare pie crust and chill. Combine berries, sugar, and flour.

Divide pie crust in half. Roll one half into a circle large enough to fill pie pan. Transfer crust to pie pan. Add berry mixture Roll out second half. Place on top of berry mixture. Crimp edges. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

No Fail Pie Crust
4 cups flour
1 3/4 cups shortening
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold water 1 tbsp vinegar
1 egg

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. In separate dish, mix water, vinegar, and egg. Combine mixtures. Chill 15 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Soup

2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cans chicken broth
2 cups chopped carrots
1 1/2 - 2 cups chopped celery
1/2 - 3/4 cup chhopped onion
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
2 cups cooked diced chicken
8 oz home style egg noodles, cooked (Country Pasta Homemade Style)
salt and pepper, to taste



Heat chicken broth and bouillon together. Add carrots, celery, and onions. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add cream of chicken soup and milk. Add cooked chicken and noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.

On Helen

I was cashiering that day. An older couple came through my line. As they placed their items on the turntable for me to ring them up, the man barked orders at his wife. He was so impatient with her. Then, he turned to me and struck up a friendly conversation like nothing had happened. He asked about my day, how school was going--just the usual small talk. But intermittently, he would turn to his wife and growl at her some more. She was loading the bagged groceries back into the cart. "Helen, be helpful," he snapped. Helen wasn't even fazed by his harsh tone. I kept my friendly smile on, but deep inside, I hurt for Helen. What could possibly drive this older, hardly gentle gentleman to treat his wife with so much disrespect? I don't know Helen, but she deserves to be treated better than that.

On Surviving

If I can just make it through today, then tomorrow will come.

If I can just make it through this week, then the weekend will come.

If I can make it through this semester, next semester will come.

If I can make it through this year, next year will come.

Then what? How long do you have to wait for it to be ok? Obviously, you're always waiting, always thinking somehow the next part is going to be better. But is it? Is it better if you're still waiting for that better part to arrive? That's why life is a battle, from beginning to end.

On Catering

When a very good friend of mine asked me to cater a meal for a meeting he was hosting, I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to use my skills for something big. He said I'd be feeding 12-15 people, which is bigger than I've ever done on my own, though I knew I could handle it.

He requested a traditional Sunday roast beef dinner. Over the six days I had to plan, my mind frequently reviewed the menu and everything that would happen on the big day. Roast, potatos and gravy, carrots, corn, and, of course, my incredible dinner rolls. Chocolate crinkles for dessert. Perfect.

Preparing the meal was so exciting for me. Chocolate crinkles first, so they'd be out of the way. Bring the roast to room temperature. Cover with carrots, onion, water, salt, and pepper. Pop it in the oven. Make roll dough. Let rise. Dishes. Rest for a few minutes. Check roast. Looks awesome! Punch down dough. Form rolls. Let rise. Check roast. Still awesome! Peel 14 potatos. Oops. Cut finger. Boil potatos. Boil water for corn. Make lemonade. Set roast out to redistribute juices. Pop rolls into oven. Make gravy. Mash potatos. Plate up. Serve. Breathe sigh of relief. Listen to seven happy men talk about how great the meal is. Dishes. Success.