Doing Unto Others... It Isn't Just For the Holidays.

Today I tallied up my KG earnings and sent my semi annual tithe out to The Shade Tree, which as many of you know, is the local charitable organization I contribute to. They provide safe shelter &  services for homeless and abused women and children, victims of domestic violence, victims of street violence or gang violence, victims of elder abuse, the physically and mentally disabled, female veterans, the working poor and homeless youth.  

I posted a blurb about it on FB, just to get the word out to others, than I got to thinking? "What MORE can I do??" I often  say a simple prayer to be inspired to help others, who maybe will pay it forward. Each One, Reach One, right?

So anyway, I'm looking through the Shade Tree's website, and there's a link of their URGENT needs. Whats on the top of the list you ask? Deodorant. Girls Underwear. Toothpaste. Things we run to the local Wal Mart to get without even thinking about it. 

In wanting to do more, I'm reaching out to all of you out there in Cyber Land. I KNOW times are tough all around, but... How's the saying go? But For The GRACE of the LORD, Go I? 

That's how I feel every time I even think about the awful situations that must have driven these women and their children out of their homes and (thankfully) into this shelter, and others like it in each of our towns and neighborhoods.

This is their Website: 

http://www.theshadetree.org/AboutUs.html

And here are some testimonials I found on it from people they've helped:

During our last fiscal year we sheltered 3,512 individuals. That includes:

• 897 children
• 56 veterans
• 139 pregnant women
• 996 domestic violence survivors

Stories of Healing…

“My first day at The Shade Tree I couldn’t stop crying.  I couldn’t believe I was there, that my life had come to this.  Less than a year later, I moved into my new apartment.  I cried that day too, at the look on my son’s face when he saw his room for the first time.”
-Peggy, Former client of The Shade Tree

“When I came to the shelter I was what they refer to as a ‘victim of elder abuse’.  My own children had been exploiting my Social   Security check, and barely left me with enough for food and housing.  After 10 days in the Transitional Shelter Program, I was placed in an assisted living facility, which provided meals, my own living space, and wonderful new friends.”
-Susan, age 87

“As a single mom with a 13-year old daughter, I didn’t have much choice about leaving my abusive husband.  I went to The Shade Tree in the hope of finding a fresh start and brighter future. Thanks to the Job Development  Program I quickly found a new job.  Through the Victim Services Center I received education and support. With the help from the Children’s Activity Center, I grew closer to my ‘little girl’. Soon I was promoted and able to afford an apartment.  We moved out of the shelter with $2,000 in a saving account.”
-Amy, age 52

My son wants to start knitting

So, as many of you all may already know, I have an ADORABLE little boy. He's 7 1/2 years old, loves soccer, video games (he says "Mommy, I'm a total gamer," with a straight face), swimming... and now knitting. 


I actually tried to divert his interest for a while, tried to redirect him to more "masculine things" (we live in an all woman household - even the dogs are female - so I try to encourage as many "boyish things" as I can... to try and balance things out). 2 years later.. he still wants to learn how to knit.. soo.. I showed him, and he's in the living room right now, making a blanket, Lord love him.


I figure he'll take to it and become an amazing designer, and be totally fulfilled in pursuing his dreams... or he'll have picked up a new skill, try it out for a while, and eventually get bored, like kids usually do after they finally get that new toy they'd begged for and harassed you over.. lol We'll just have to wait and see. Whichever way it goes, I'll hopefully have a new blanket... or at least maybe a pot holder ;~D


I'll try and get a pic for you all to see.

A Puerto Rican Turkey Recipe from Me To YOU!

Hi Everyone! Happy Holidays!! How are you all doing? It's been a minute, right? *smile*


I hope everyone of you and all of your loved ones are having a blessed holiday season :) I LOVE the holidays - this is truly the BEST time of year. How have you all been preparing for it? This is what I've been doing:


1. Usually, we buy a fried turkey for Thanksgiving, but unfortunately (or fortunately, as it turns out), that fell through at the last minute this year. So I finally (after six years of us being together) got the chance to prove my (substantial) skills with the big bird! My dad gave me this recipe YEARS ago when I was a teenager, and visiting him at his place in the Bronx. It was so flavorful and JUICY! If you want to jazz up your next turkey, OR try it out first on a roast chicken, here's the recipe:

PUERTO RICAN STUFFED TURKEY


1 turkey (we bought a free range bird from Whole Foods for like $20)
Sea Salt (to soak and clean your bird beforehand - sea salt bring out all the impurities really well)


A Food Processor or blender
Sandwich sized freezer bags
2 Turkey sized oven bags
1 large bowl


1 1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup water
4 large green Bell Peppers (chopped in 1 inch sections)
3 large Red Onions (chopped in 1 inch sections)
3 Bunches of Cilantro, chopped
1 lemon, halved and seeds removed
3 large tablespoons of minced garlic
Season Salt (I prefer Lawry's)


Okay, we're going to make 2 things here, the 1st is a marinade/sauce that your bird will soak in, and the other is the vegetable stuffing that will also sit in the bird overnight.


the sauce is called SOFRITO - it's a Puerto Rican sauce that is used in EVERYTHING we cook, from beans to soups to well... Turkey! lol


My Sofrito Recipe


In your food processor, blend 1/2 cup Olive oil, 2 bunches of Cilantro, 3 green bell peppers, 2 red onions, & 2 tablespoons of the minced garlic. Add about 1/2 cup of the water to loosen the consistency if it gets too thick(if you need to, add more). Once it is well blended, squeeze the juice from 1 of the lemon halves into the mixture and blend again (this will preserve the pretty, bright green color, kinda like the color of this text). Voila! You have a lot of sofrito there, so set aside 2 cups of the sofrito, and then portion it off into servings in those sandwich bags for freezing! (try about 1/2 cup per bag)




Vegetable Stuffing


In a large bowl, mix the remaining peppers, onions, garlic & cilantro with 1/2 cup of olive oil and 1 cup of sofrito, squeeze the juice from the other lemon half over it, and mix again, sprinkle with some sea salt to taste. Set aside.


THE BIRD


 Okay, here's the best part! Place your bird inside one of the oven bags, Take the other cup of Sofrito that you had set aside, and Rub that bird down! This is going to marinate overnight, so definitely apply the sauce liberally! Get under the skin, inside, everywhere! Then get your bowl of vegetable stuffing, and pack it tightly inside your turkey. These veggies are going to marinate right inside of your turkey, adding to the flavor and juiciness (MAN I'm Getting hungry here!!), so make sure you stuff as much as you can!


Now pour a little more of the olive oil, about 1/4 cup over the turkey, rub it down with the marinade some moe, sprinkle it with some Lawry's (my preference), close up the bag and tie the end closed. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. 


The next day, preheat your oven to 350 degrees, get out the unused oven bag, and follow the directions on the box - it will tell you how long to cook your bird based on its size! ENJOY!!!!

I LOVE sharing recipes, so let me know how it turns out when you try it!